TLoS: Challenge of Hearts (Chapter 26)
Chapter 26:** Not Quite a Dragoness**
"Are you comfortable Spyro?" Cynder asked, shifting to the extreme edge of her bed, after noticing Spyro didn't look comfortable.
"I'm fine Cynder, really." Spyro climbed to his feet, re-shaped the single sheet on the bed, and lowered himself back next to Cynder. "This is your room remember, I want you to be comfortable too."
"Don't worry about me Spyro," Cynder tried to reassure the purple male, Spyro not being convinced in the slightest by her words. "I'm just happy that you're here with me, instead of down the hall. It's good to be able to do something in here that isn't sleeping for a change." Spyro rolled his eyes. "Oh Spyro, you know what I mean. It's nice to be able to talk to you after the sun has gone down."
"I know Cynder." The purple dragon draped a wing over his black partner, laying his head down and closing his eyes. "It makes me almost wish we had nothing to do tomorrow."
Cynder gave Spyro a questioned glance. "We haven't had anything to do for weeks, why all of a sudden is it good to have nothing to do? Do you enjoy having nothing to do all day?"
"Of course we've had things to do. What did we have to do today?"
"We didn't have to do that Spyro. And if it wasn't for me, we wouldn't be here together now."
"Then what about yesterday?"
"Spyro, even you didn't want to do that. I only had to threaten you with my life before you agreed to become mates."
"But you see?" Spyro lifted his head and looked back towards Cynder. "We've been doing things all day for the past few weeks. I could name everything if you wanted me to. But in the end, tomorrow will be our first day together when we can actually do nothing."
Cynder stared out through the window, the gentle breeze causing the curtain to whip inwardly at the edges. "I guess you're right Spyro. I-" There was a knock at the door cutting Cynder off. She lowered her voice. "I'll see who it is, if they think we're not supposed to be like this, then stay in the corner." Spyro got up from the bed and stood behind the door. Another few knocks, so perfectly timed that it seemed strange if anyone she knew was actually at her door.
"Cynder, I would like to speak with you for a moment."
Through the wood of the door, Cynder found it hard to tell who it was. Slowly opening it ajar she got a full glance at the visitor. "Volteer? What are you doing here?"
"Ah, yes. You see, from the test today it was proven that you aren't to have a hatchling, but I believe that there might be something else at play."
"At play?" Both Spyro and Cynder questioned to themselves at the same time.
"Yes, well. Not entirely at play, but taking effect on you. But more about that later. I shall require your presence tomorrow morning so I can determine if my assumptions are correct. But I ask that you come alone, as there are matters which Spyro needn't be aware of."
The purple dragon revealed himself from behind the door. "What shouldn't I be aware of?"
"Oh, Spyro. I should've expected to find you here. It's nothing of concern. Believe me, if we had a female guardian she would be here, but, alas, Cyril doesn't know of such matters and Terrador, well, I needn't say anything there. But, it is nothing of concern Spyro, don't worry." Volteer returned his gaze towards Cynder. "Are you busy tomorrow at all?"
"No, we were just saying how tomorrow was our first day to do nothing." Cynder glanced towards Spyro who regretted saying such words.
"Excellent. I shall be ready from sun-up in the same room as today. Come at whichever time you wish, but earlier would prove less time consuming. Have a good night." And with that, the gold guardian turned around and walked back down the corridor.
"I don't have to ask what that is about." Spyro said to himself.
"As long as you know then its fine I guess." Cynder mumbled slightly, closing the door and flicking the latch across, locking it. "I wonder if Ember got called back for another test?"
"I don't know, I guess you can ask her tomorrow. Or I can while you're away. So much for our first day of nothing to do together."
*
"Spyro. Good that I caught you."
Spyro turned around at hearing his voice, finding it strange that Volteer was the one calling him. "What happened? Is Cynder alright?"
Spyro's immediate worry caught him off-guard. "What do you mean?"
"You called her back for more tests, didn't you?"
"Oh, yes. No, it's nothing, I told you not to worry about it." Volteer walked to Spyro's side, and motioned to continued walking. "I am actually here to ask you a few things while Cynder is waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"Waiting for the test to be completed. It does take some time, but I must know what is going on. Which is why I require you for a moment."
"Me? What do you need me for?" Spyro stopped in his tracks at the electric guardian's request. "Is there something wrong?"
"Of course not. I just need your help for a second, it won't take long."
"I'm not worried about it taking long. I don't have anything to do today. But, why do you need me?" Spyro continued walking alongside the guardian.
"It's nothing really. Just while you're not doing anything, instead of tearing you two apart again, I thought I might use this time to my advantage, and rule out any problems on your behalf."
"For saying that I shouldn't worry that much, something has to be wrong. We're not hatchlings anymore Volteer, we need to be told what's going on."
Volteer stopped and motioned for Spyro to enter the same room as yesterday, Spyro assumed it was across the hall where Cynder was, but was unsure as he hadn't been in this part of the temple often enough to know the way around entirely. "You always were one to question Spyro. Even when I first met you, you wanted to know everything about anything. But for the moment, it's best if you accept that this doesn't need to be known." Volteer walked in behind Spyro, asking him to sit on one of the beds at the far end of the room again. The electric guardian walked up to the centre table and opened a small vial, placing the lid on the surface and stood still for a few moments.
Spyro continued to look around the room, waiting for Volteer to issue him some form of command or task, but, silence. Spyro sat still looking around the room, while Volteer stood at the far end of the table, not saying anything or moving at all. "Hmmm, that's what I thought." Volteer spoke to himself, putting the lid back on the vial and turning back towards the door. "Alright, can you wait at the door to Cynder's room for a moment. After that, you are free to go."
"But I didn't do anything."
"Exactly." Volteer stepped out the door and walked across the hall to enter the room directly opposite it. "Sorry to take so long Cynder, but I was needed elsewhere for a few moments."
"It would be good if you could tell me what is going on." Cynder had lost all patience, she had been in the room for what seemed like all day, and done virtually nothing the whole time. "Or is this just another scheme by Cyril to keep Spyro and I apart for longer?"
"Cynder, please. I assure you that this has nothing to do with Cyril. In fact, this has almost nothing to do with him."
"Then why am I here?"
"Because..." Volteer trailed off, unable to tell the young dragoness the truth.
"Because of what?"
"Cynder you need to understand that I am speaking purely from an assumptive perspective."
"Can you please just tell me what is happening so I can go?"
Volteer took a deep breath, as he prepared to try and tell Cynder what was happening. "Cynder, when you were under Malefor's control, the magic he used on you was to control your mind and body. Of course, the magic controlling your mind has been broken, that was done by Spyro during the war, but, I am positive that the magic is still affecting your body."
Cynder took a step back, noting the focus Volteer used in his expressions, it scared her. "W- what magic?"
"Cynder, I need to know. At any time, over the past few weeks, have you felt an unnatural desire to mate with Spyro? Like you weren't being driven by your own thoughts at the time?"
Cynder was silent for a moment, thinking back over the past few weeks, carefully looking over each detail. "No." Ultimately, finding nothing.
"That's what I was afraid of." Volteer turned to a side, looking out the window, trying to put words together in the best possible way.
"Afraid? Afraid of what?" Cynder was more on-edge than ever. She was worried, scared, wondering what was wrong.
"Cynder, I know that magic is still affecting you because you..." Volteer still found it hard to pick and choose words without sounding cruel.
"What?"
"I mean that, when Malefor had you under his control, he cast spells on you that kept your reproductive system from functioning properly." Cynder took a step back, sitting down on the centre bed at the far end of the room. "Cynder, I'm sorry. I tried everything I could, but I just don't know what is powering the spell." The black dragoness lowered her front-half to the ground, not wanting to believe the words just spoken to her. Volteer stepped forward, closing the gap between himself and Cynder. "I'm sorry Cynder, really. I did everything I could to reverse the spell, but nothing worked." Cynder turned her head away, curling it around the rest of her form. "Do you want me to bring Spyro in?"
"N-no! He c- can't know!" Cynder jumped to her feet, her legs shaking slightly from the overflow of emotion. "I- it would kill him..."
"You can't keep this from him forever Cynder. One day Spyro will want hatchlings of his own."
Cynder collapsed back onto the bed, her tears already staining the material several shades darker. "T- th- they were r- right... I- I- am not g- good enough for s- s- Spyro..."
"Cynder, this is not your fault, and I will find a way to reverse it." Cynder gave no response, only tightening herself into a ball again. Volteer headed towards the door, stepping outside to see Spyro standing there.
"Can I see her?"
"No, she needs some rest. I'm sorry Spyro but she needs some time to recover."
"Recover? What happened?"
"Some of the tests had a few pre-requisites that needed to be filled before they could take place." Volteer lied, keeping Spyro occupied while Cynder could compose herself. "I'm not sure how long she'll be asleep for, but I advise you don't go in to see her, she will come to you."
Volteer continued down the corridor heading into the guardian's chambers, once more finding Cyril standing before the pool of visions, almost waiting for something to occur. "Cyril, I have bad news. My original fears have proven correct, Cynder now knows of her inability to conceive, but Spyro has remained in the dark."
"I guess that's some good news. But I don't know how long it'll take for Spyro to find out."
"I might be able to figure out what is powering the spell before then, hopefully Cynder can keep it to herself for at least a few days."
Cyril nodded, staring back into the body of liquid. "I shall keep an eye on them both, do you have enough information to try and pinpoint the source?"
"It's highly likely. After all, what I may be looking for could be inside Cynder's body. Which would make it almost impossible to find and remove, but I don't find that logical, as such a device could get damaged during combat."
"You don't think it could be something within the temple?"
"No, unless it is something of Cynder's that she brought with her. Otherwise it just wouldn't be possible to leave it here and hope for us to come back. Then again, if the spell is so advanced, then why shouldn't the carrier?"
"I trust that you can solve the problem Volteer. I don't want to be around when Spyro finds out though."