After the war: Painful memories
#5 of After the war
Hello! Draco978 here!
First of an appolgy, this chapter is quite short and nothing overly exciting happens in it. But this chapter isn't about action, i tried to aim it around emotion.
As i said it's a little short at this moment in time, so i will probaly add to it in time. But nothing drastic for the moment. ** But again, try listening to a sad song while reading it, i did and i thought that the chapter worked so hopefully it would work for you.**
Still i've said enough.
Enjoy
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Spyro was woken by a faint quivering, He heard a whimper from next to him and his eyes shot open. He felt another squirm and the sound of crying filled his ears. He looked down to see Cynder squirming in her sleep, tears rolling down her face as she writhed on the ground. She mumbled in her sleep.
"No! Please no! Leave me alone!"
Spyro instantly held her head gently and said with an attempt at a soothing voice.
"Cynder! Wake up! Cynder! It's just a dream!"
The black dragoness eyes shot open and she kicked out pushing Spyro off her. She jumped to her feet as her tail shot between her legs in fear. she growled viciously and Spyro kept his distance. He just said in a calm voice.
"Cynder... it's me, Spyro. Your safe, it's ok"
Cynder stopped baring her teeth but her tail was firmly pressed between her legs. She began to cry again and flung herself into Spyro, Spyro embraced her tightly and kissed her head. Cynder trembled in fear as the thought of what could have happened to her last night ran deep through her head.
There was a mumble and a groan from nearby, Cynder tensed up instantly but Spyro said calmly.
"It's just Terra... It's ok, I've got you"
He stroked her again and looked over, the green dragoness was stirring and she said in a concerned voice.
"What's going on? What happened?!"
Spyro just called over.
"It's Ok, Cynder just had a nightmare. We're ok"
Despite his reassurance, Terra still got up and went to Cynder. She hung To Spyro still but she looked up at the old green dragoness. Terra was full of concern as she looked into Cynder's fear stricken eyes. Spyro gave Cynder another squeeze and said tenderly.
"It's Ok, I love you"
Cynder rested her head On Spyro again, meanwhile Terra watched them with a look of understanding. Cynder relaxed a bit then looked up at him, Spyro kissed her softly again and Cynder whispered.
"Thank you Spyro."
Spyro just smiled at her and said.
"You know that I'll always be here for you"
Terra watched them intently, she went into deep thought for a moment and a look of upset crossed her face as delved into her memories. Her head dropped as her eyes began to sparkle with tears, but slowly she lifted her head and a smile was on her face.
"You are lucky have Spyro... A dragon like him would be desired by many"
Spyro looked over to terra quickly before looking down at his dragoness. Cynder wasn't crying anymore but instead she was looking at Spyro with a look of pure compassion. Spyro said happily.
"It doesn't matter how many dragoness's like me. I have eyes for one dragoness, and she's right here"
Terra let out a small laugh, as Cynder licked Spyro. The green dragon looked happily on the couple and suddenly she felt her mouth began to move.
" I had a mate like that once... Ancestors he was perfect. He would comfort me when I was sad, he'd protect me from anything. We were even having a child together..."
Terra trailed off as a wave of as a painful memory stung her, Spyro and Cynder were looking at her with a mix of interest and curiosity. Terra gulped slightly and her tone became hollow and empty.
"He's gone now though, they are both gone. My husband, my child..."
She stopped herself and she sniffed up a tear, the painful memory crushing her heart. Slowly she began to speak again.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to kill the atmosphere. When you get old you rely on your memories more and more, but sometimes they are just a sting at the heart. I'm happy for you two, I truly am. I'm glad you have found someone to care about."
Spyro looked at Terra and felt a pang of sympathy for her. Terra's face was smiling, but Spyro could easily see the hurt behind her eyes. Cynder said quietly to her.
"I'm so sorry... it... it wasn't me who..."
Cynder began, the fear that she had wrecked her family filling her. But terra just cut her off, shaking her head.
"No dear. It was before you were born probably, I've lost track of years."
She sighed slightly and said.
"May we stop talking about me now? We need to get some food before we head onwards, I don't doubt that you two are starving."
Spyro and Cynder sounded there agreements as together they ventured off in the search of a meal.
***********
Ignitus couldn't stop wondering, his mind wouldn't let him. The green dragoness was so familiar, his brain wouldn't let him think about his duty of a chronicler as the images of the green dragoness and his long lost mate swirled about in his mind.
He was slumped against a pillar, the visions pool was just in his view. But he didn't want to go and look at the pool, He was too scared to find out who she was, to scared to find out whether it was her or not.
The memories of his mate rampaged through his head like a stampede, forcing it's way into every single bit of his being. It seemed to push it's way into his eyes, the memories slowly turning from something in the back of his head, into his reality. Ignitus gave a long and antagonised groan a strain of it burst through his mental defences.
The night was so dark and so cold, rain was starting to fall and Ignitus felt such fear in his heart. But he had saved the egg, the river had taken it away from the fighting and danger. But as it left, a part of him died. The little purple egg disappearing into the distance, dragging along his hopes and soul with it.
Ignitus shook himself as he pulled himself from the awful moment, he panted slightly and said to himself angrily.
"No! I can't think about it! I must not think about it!"
But the more he tried to resist it, the stronger the memory became as it forced it's way into his mind. More of it broke through this time, as he began to hear the soft dripping of rain and the splashing of the river.
Ignitus turned around, and leapt into the air. He had to get back, he had saved the egg now he had to save his mate. He flew as fast as he could, he couldn't leave her to get captured. He needed her, there was no way he could let her go.
With all his force he forced his eyes open, but he was shaking and he felt psychically sick. He couldn't hold it back now as the memory merged with really life. He could feel the rain on his face now, his vision flashed between a vast bookcase to a dark and stormy sky, lightning bolts flashing across it, whether from nature or electric dragons he never knew, but nor did he care. He could feel his wings working, the concern and fear grew within him, pushing him onwards. Eventually Ignitus stopped fighting it, letting the memory consume him. Once again, he began to relive the most painful day of his life.
The temple had been sacked, the floor was littered with destruction and rubble. Bit's of boulder lay shattered around the main entrance, but inside there was a haunting silence except for the thundering of the rain outside. But Ignitus didn't care for the temple, he had something much more important to find. He ran to a giant staircase bounding up the stairs in giant leaps.
"ARIEL!!!"
He yelled to the silence, no reply came, deepening the fear within him. He ran to their room, there was a cold and moist draft coming in. The rain grew louder and louder as he approached it, yet there were no other sounds. The temple seemed completely deserted.
He burst into the room, the place was a mess. A window had been knocked wide open, rain was pouring inside, making the floor slick and slippery. The room was completely destroyed, nothing but the large bed in the corner stood. All of his possessions had been destroyed, he had nothing. Ignitus called out again.
"AREIL!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!! ARIEL!!!"
He waited for a reply, but again none came. The place was deserted, all the other dragons had fled or had been captured. Ignitus didn't care about the other dragons though, he walked over to the double bed which they had shared for years now.
"no... You can't have! You can't be..."
He mumbled as he fell to the ground, his heart drying up inside him. He rested his head on the torn up mattress and he began to sob uncontrollably. He began to shake in and he could hear nothing anymore, he couldn't feel anything anymore. The world had gone into black and white as all life got sucked out of it.
Ignitus's sobs became uncontrollable and he clutched the bed, imagining it was her.
"Ariel... no-no-no-no, this isn't happening! This isn't happening!"
He mumbled as another wave of tears truck him, he just stayed there in some desperate hope that she would return. He just sat slumped over the bed, his eyes red raw from the tears. He couldn't feel himself anymore, he just wanted her to be in his arms again.
For hours he waited for a sign, anything to show his love was still alive, But nothing came. That day would never leave him alone, it forced itself into his mind and it tortured him brutally for years on end. He had lost everything, his home, his child and his wife.
Ignitus's eye's opened to find himself slumped on the ground, a small pool of water forming around his eyes. He didn't move, he just shut his eyes once more squeezing the last remaining tears out of him.
He was shaking violently as he clambered back to his feet. He tried to walk, but all the strength in his legs had left him. He couldn't walk straight, instead he propped himself back against the pillar. He bowed his head as he regained his strength.
He had no idea how long he had been down for, but all the books which were open and writing had returned to their selves. He recovered what energy he could and made his way to the visions pool, the deliberately looked away from the green dragoness, instead watching Spyro. He was in mid-flight, a black head following closely behind him.
Despite the warnings Ignitus had given himself, he sat back down again. Watching the dragons soaring through the air in the world below.
***********
The group had eaten, and were now on their way back to the great dragon city, Spyro lead the way as he sort of the new way. Cynder and Terra were following close behind.
Cynder was watching Spyro fly ahead of the group, she loved the majestic beats of his wings and the way he gave an aura of power even when he wasn't trying.
She heard Terra call her name and she slowed down a little letting her catch up. The green dragoness gave her an apologetic look and said.
"I'm sorry youngling to cause you to slow down for me, but I'm afraid that's the problem with age. Be glad you are still in the prime of your youth."
The green dragoness laughed a little bit but then she said.
"I was actually interested in talking for a bit, though I must confess it has been sometime since I have had a proper conversation with someone and I might be a bit rusty"
Cynder smiled and said happily.
"Don't worry, I'm not the most outgoing person either... I'm sure you'll be no worse than me"
Terra smiled again and nodded in appreciation. She thought for a moment of something to speak of, but then she cautiously said.
"So, how did you two meet? I'm mean you and Spyro"
Cynder thought back to the days of her and Spyro's childhood, and to the memories of her and Spyro.
"He rescued me... I had been corrupted by the dark one, but he rescued me. He could of let me die, and any other dragon would off. But he still saved me."
Cynder looked at Spyro again and she felt a bloom in her heart for him. She sighed slightly and continued.
"When the other dragons attacked me, he defended me. He always tried to play games with me and have fun with me. He tried his absolute best to be my friend. I can't believe it took me three years to figure out my feelings for him."
Cynder stopped and looked at him with dreamy eyes. Terra gave a small smile and said.
"That reminds me of my own mate... he saved my life. Then he looked after me for almost a month straight. But we are going back many years now... What are you doing all this distance away from Warfang? Most dragons would have headed there the day the dark one was defeated."
She asked and Cynder said in a much more solemn voice.
"Spyro wanted to stay away from Warfang for a bit, we would have only got tons of attention anyway and to be honest I'm a little scared to be going back. Anyway, we had something far more important to do"
Cynder stopped again, but Terra asked.
"If you don't mind me asking, what did you have to do?"
Cynder was hesistant at first but then she said quietly.
"We... we came out here to honour someone. He was a true dragon and he was like a father to both of us, but Spyro was always so close to him. I wouldn't have been able to convince him not to something to honour his name even if I wanted to."
Terra nodded in acceptance, she waited for a minute and they flew in complete silence. Both paying their respects to the fallen warrior. After a while Terra asked quietly.
"If you don't mind me asking. What was his name?"
Cynder took a deep breath as if what she was going to say was difficult.
"His name was Ignitus"
Terra's expression froze, she stammered out in pure surprise and horror.
"W-w-w-hat?!"
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Well that was over quickly...
*Anyway, i hoped you enjoyed reading it. I mean if you didn't then i failed as a writer. *
NOTE: Once again i posted this on a group, i will try to remember to do this for future stories.
Either way, Comment, vote and if you liked it fav. (but only if you want) It's 00:02 here so i'm of to bed.
Till next time
Draco978