Chapter 12 Part 1: The Results
Months have passed since the beginning of the training for Spyro and Cynder, and each have improved immensely. As each day passed the training became harder and harder, as well as the punishment for failing. Aaron even came close to killing both with the punishments in the first two weeks, but that never happened again for they worked even harder to make his training. Even his own training has gone well with theirs , but now on the last day, Aaron sat with his head down in the middle of the training room as Spyro and Cynder walked in. He looked up and observed them, both of their bodies have changed greatly as they processed through the training. Both had grown stronger, and their bodies showed that as each grow in height from the muscle growth. Spyro's body was taller and bigger as he stood tall. He had a few wounds from the punishments from Aaron still on his body, even a scar on his chest from it. His eyes shown he had no emotion, but Aaron knew behind that look was fake, at least when he isn't ready to fight. Cynder's body grow more sleek and agile. Her body had grown more length wise more than height. Her body had received less damage, but it still showed it had been through a lot. Her eyes shown she had seen only those lost in the shadows could see. Yet both of their eyes had shown they have seen only things those who were close to death had seen. Aaron stood up as they approached. He himself had changed as he had grown taller, his clothes and body more torn from his own punishments. He smiled as he crossed his arms, still looking over the two. Before they stood at hip level when they were on all four and his chest on two, now they stood at his chest and towered over him on their feet by several inches. They stopped and stood their two back legs as they looked at him.
"You survived three months, and today is the last of my training. I have nothing more to teach you, but that does not mean everything is done for you will still train, but on your own." He said calmly, unfolding his arms as both nodded. "But today will be the hardest, for if you fail once, the punishment will be either death...or close to it."
"If you have nothing more to teach us" Cynder asked. "Then what is today's training going to contain?" Spyro side glance at her.
"Yeah, what is today's training?" Spyro asked, looking at Aaron with a confused expression.
He grinned as he grabbed his shirt. "Today" He tore his shirt off and raised both his fist. "Is to see if you have taken in my training and can fight with it!" He said boldly, his fist still raised. Both looked over him, his training showing well as his muscles expanded. They grinned with him and sunk down, ready to fight.
"So, who first?" Cynder asked, ready to pounce, Spyro was ready beside her.
He didn't answer as he threw his fist out, one sending out fire, the other poison towards them. They each dodged easily by jumping away from each other. They looked at each other with a smile.
"Ready Cynder?" Spyro asked calmly as Aaron stood, ready to go.
"Yeah!" She said with excitement, looking back at Aaron. He crossed his arms and grinned as he disappeared.
"Where did UGH!" Spyro yelled as he got kicked in the side from Aaron.
"Remember! Today's punishment " Appears above Cynder, flipping down and kicking her back into the ground. "IS DEATH!" He yelled, jumping back. Both were on the ground, moaning in pain as they slowly stood. "I won't show mercy today. Malefor won't, and neither will I!" He yelled as they stood, facing him. Cynder Charged at him, trying to slash him with her claws, but he dodged as he bended back, but his eyes shot wide as she shot over him. Before he could react Spyro ran up, sweeping him off his feet with his tail, spinning Aaron in the air. "Not good!" He thought as Spyro flipped, using his tail to send Aaron flying into the wall. Cynder tried to slam him into the wall more but moved back, disappearing into the wall as she hit the wall. She pushed herself back and landed near Spyro, his back to hers as they looked around. They kept their eyes and ears sharp, listening for him to set himself up for an attack. Soon they heard the cracking of rocks and looked up to see two boulders flying down at them. They easily broke the boulders, but weren't prepared for two Aaron to smash through. The Aarons were too quick as they both hit Spyro and Cynder with a spin kick, knocking the two together as they landed. They tried to charge at the two, but Spyro and Cynder waited for the right moments before they flipped back, kicking the two Aarons, knowing one of them was the real one, but to their surprise they were both fake as they dissolved into black smoke as the real one came flipping down from the ceiling. He tried to smash the two into the ground with a double kick but he missed as they continued to flip back. As soon as the two landed they headed straight for him. Cynder went low before jumping into the air as she trapped him down using the shadows. She flipped in the air, knocking him in the head and forcing his upper back as Spyro rammed into it, pulling him free from the shadows and to the wall, but it didn't stop there as Spyro grabbed Cynder as she covered herself with poison. He set her ablaze as he sent her flying right into him with a powerful throw. He screamed as the heat tore his back apart, his body smashing into the wall and pushing more into it as Cynder seemed to somehow keep going. Once she stopped she jumped back as Aaron slumped down off the wall, but as soon as he hit the ground as flipped around and ran right towards the two, who in turn ran at him. Soon watching them fight failed as their speed increased, making them nearly invisible as they fought each other. You could see them stop as they hit each other. Spyro with Aaron, Him with Cynder, and even him with both as they connected with each other. They eventually stopped with the first as elements began flying. Shards of both Earth and Ice sent flying everywhere. Globs of poison and shadows being flung everywhere. The heat of Fire and crackling sound of Electricity mixed with roar of the Winds and the sweat of Fear as the fight continued on. On and on the fight went, all three showing no sign of slowing down as the fight continued. After four hours the three seemed to slow down, the exhaustion of the fighting finally catching up to them. Soon it all stopped as each stood still, breathing heavily.
"Seems the training has done well." He said between breaths.
"Yeah, but too bad for you that we surpassed the teacher." Spyro replied back with a smirk. Cynder nodded in agreement as she too smirked.
"Humph, really, then explain this!" He yelled before he suddenly began hitting each. Punch and kick coming after the other as they tried to block as much as they could, but to no avail as the punches and kicks came to quick. After a while the kicks and punches stopped as he held both by their horns, both looked to be knocked out. "Now, like I said." Before he could say anything they both grinned as they slammed their fist into his stomach before stabbing him in the back with their claws.
"The punishment for failing is death!" They yelled, getting a small chuckle out of him.
"Yes...it is." He said, before coughing out blood, his head falling down.
Soon everything around them swirled away, all the damaged to the training area disappeared as all three appeared to be sitting down next to each other. They each opened their eyes, staring each other down before they all broke out laughing. "I see you two improved." Aaron said as he laughed.
"Yeah, next time don't underestimate us like that!" Cynder said as she calmed down.
" We may appear dead or unconscious but doesn't mean we are." Spyro said in response as he calmed down.
"I'll keep that in mind." Aaron replied, standing up as he stopped laughing. "Well, like I said today was the last day you train under me, but that doesn't mean you stop training your powers to their full extent got it?" He said, crossing his arms. They stood up and looked at him with a smile.
"Of course!" They both said together.
"Now, go off you two and have some time together!" He responded with a smile. They smiled back before leaving the room together.
In the months that passed with their training the two had grown closer together, as they spent more and more time together, never leaving the other except when needed. They had down nothing much, but their love for each other grew like their powers did with the training. They quickly left to their usual place as Aaron headed into the vision room where all the guardians were waiting.
"Their training is complete, they deserve a long break." He said.
"Yes they do." Ignitus said in agreement.
"Tell me though, was physically hurting them when they failed to do the training the right thing to do?" Volteer asked and the others waiting for his answer.
"You aim to do everything right the first time when punishment is on the line for failing." He said bluntly as Hunter walked into the room, his body fully healed after months of bed rest.
"I see your better." He said patting Hunter on the shoulder as he stood next to him.
"I feel better, but I need to get going. The others of my village must be worried." He said, walking out of the room. Everyone said their goodbye a he left, well except Spyro and Cynder as they were away, cuddling each other.
"He'll be missed till he comes back, but for now. Time to talk to the Chronicler." Aaron said as they stood around the pool. Each other the elders nodded before Aaron jumped in the pool, vanishing into the Chronicler's lair.
"Are you ready?" The Chronicler asked.
"Yes"
To be continued....