FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 5

The city has its special charm during night hours, Spyro had to admit that among the stars like some sort of a beaming, watchful audience Warfang looked like the main actor in the spotlight of the white, glowing moon.

There weren't many nights he spent in the Dragon City but the ones he did he mostly enjoyed. There was that specific serenity and peace hanging in the cool nightly air. A peace his currently troubled soul craved for, like a ravenous predator craves for meat.

Spyro didn't even notice when his legs carried him through one of the side paths, not that he complained, let the peace last as long as it can, his non-existing tank needed that specific fuel.

The dragon inhaled deeply, a strong blast of wind sprang up which was aimed directly at his snout. The gust striking his nose made breathing problematic, not to mention that it filled the dragon's head with that very familiar deafening hum, effectively killing the already scarce sounds of the almost sleeping city.

It didn't bother him in the slightest, he was one of the few brave enough to challenge the howling wind, most of the city inhabitants were safely tucked inside the four walls of their homes. He only met a couple of people on his way to the temple, who shared only brief glances with him.

And he was glad for it.

He enjoyed the company of others, no matter how different people are, given time he surely would start to like all of them. Yet as he tread through the empty streets he was overjoyed to be alone, not even the constant strange pull towards Cynder wasn't strong enough to make him turn back.

There is power in solitude, it's value depends solely upon one's self. it may be a sanctuary or a prison, a haven of repose or a place of punishment, a heaven or a hell, as we ourselves make it. He has been to every one of those places.

*

" The element of Fire is not to be trifled with young boy" sounded an admonishing mature tone

Spyro rolled his eyes as he progressed through one of the many stony corridors of the Dragon Temple " What can it do? It's just an element, and I'm the purple dragon, remember?"

" Every element carries it's boons and hindrance, it boils the energy within us. And what is elemental energy Spyro?"

" ignitus please" the young purple dragon whined " Not now"

The Fire Guardian observed his impatient pupil's body language closely as he followed him. "What is elemental energy Spyro?"

The dragon in front of groaned in irritation " Will you stop it finally?"

" What is elemental energy Spyro?"

The purple dragon growled, sending sparks flying as he spun around and ran his claws along one of the stony walls of the temple " Do you have to lecture me now?!"

Ignitus looked down upon his pupil with a calm expression on his snout, not even slightly taken aback by the dragon's outburst " What would you like to do?"

Spyro's eyes glowed with malevolence " I've just mastered Fire! Have you seen how I took care of those stupid dummies?! Let's get back to the training room! Send all of them at me! I'll smash them all in thirty seconds!"

" Then what?"

" Then! Then!" the dragon grinned arrogantly " Then you will tell me where to find one of the Guardians! I will go save him and nothing will stop me! I will kill every ape that will stand in my way, and if Cynder decides to show her ugly snout, I'll kill her too! I'm strong now, I can do it!"

Ignitus nodded soberly " A bold plan"

" Hell yeah!" Spyro exclaimed feverishly " We'll hit her when she least expects it! Let's go!"

" There is only one last thing you need to do Spyro"

" What is it?!" the young drake growled restlessly

" Tell me what elemental energy is"

Spyro roared furiously " This again?!", driven by anger he ran his claws along one of the walls again, sparks were sent flying as his claws left visible trails of scratches behind them

Ignitus watched his pupil with a stoic expression " Tell me wh-"

" I DON'T KNOW!" the young drake roared straight at the fire dragon's snout

A stern frown adorned the Guardian's snout " Follow me" with that he moved past the angry drake

Spyro wanted to ignore his mentor but there was that commanding tone in his calm voice that forced him to follow " Where are we going anyway?" he asked, more calmly this time, yet there was still that palpable tone of annoyance within his voice

The Fire Guardian didn't answer, he just calmly pressed forward.

" Ohhh I get it" the purple drake cackled pompously " You feel insulted and decided not to talk to me. Really mature"

Ignitus led his pupil through one of the corridors with a calm head, while constantly listening to the young dragon's bickering. The young dragon demanded to know where they were going but the Guardian never honored him with a response.

It lasted until they finally stopped in front of a massive, solid, stony door, Spyro was no specialist but he believed that if anyone tried to force their way through them they would have a hard time doing so. A delicate whizz of wind could be felt on their paws as it wafted through the delicate doorstep below.

" In here" Ignitus announced and pushed the door open

Spyro threw his mentor an irritated glance before he looked inside. The room, or more likely a piece of land walled away from the rest of the world, if you don't count the lack of ceiling above that is, was an odd place to find inside the temple. Why the Guardian led him here he had absolutely no idea.

There was nothing interesting here! Some grass, some rocks, a single big tree with a round crown and a piece of a trunk of some other tree, long gone by now that barely stood out from the ground. If you ignore the walls with delicate cracks inside them, there was everything one could find here. Spyro couldn't believe his own eyes, what nonsense is this?

" There is nothing here" the young dragon stated the obvious

" Walk inside"

There was that tone again, with a sigh of resignation the young drake did as he was told. When his paws touched the grass and his tail was quite a distance from the doorstep he turned around to face his mentor, completely resigned, bored and bewildered.

" Now what?"

Ignitus remained at the doorstep, blocking the exit " Elemental energy defines us as beings...

Spyro sighed " Not another lecture" he muttered

"...it is power but also a strong curse. This energy shapes us, it boils our blood. This is magic in its full capacity, no other creature is able to resist its side effects, no other creature is able to tame it. We dragons are defined by the element we wield, Earth, Fire, Ice, Electricity...and Wind, each of this elements is a reaper, it dictates our actions, it wants to be free, and if we let that happen it will overpower us. We are one with our element, it senses our grudges, it senses our troubles, if we lose control it will empower those feelings and force our paw. We are its masters, not the other way around, you need to remember that"

" As you can see Spyro mastering an element is not only based on learning its capabilities, this is simple, to be able to live with it later, this is the difficult task. Take Fire for instance, it's nature is , impatient, impulsive, reckless, destructive, arrogant, chaotic, and much more. You feel this already, don't you?"

" I don't know what you are talking about. I feel just fine"

A twitch of a smile found its way towards the Guardians snout " So to make you feel better I will leave you here alone and close the door"

Spyro laughed " You will lock me here? You are aware that there is no ceiling above my head? I can always leave. This is not much of a punishment"

" Isolation is punishment, it is aloneness that feels forced upon you, just like a punishment. What I'm trying to show you is solitude, because solitude is aloneness you choose and embrace. Yes you can always leave, but you also need to know that the element we wield only defines us, not make us, it's our parents teachings that give us true strength. And you parents Spyro raised you well"

The young dragon's cocking attitude vanished suddenly the moment his mentor mentioned his parents " But why do I need to stay here Ignitus? What's the point?"

" It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts. Today you will be visited by Fire and you will open the door, it will be up to you to choose Fire either as your guest or a roommate"

" Doesn't sound so difficult"

Ignitus nodded in acknowledgment, retreated behind the doorstep and began to close the door.

" Wait!" Spyro shouted

The door stopped moving.

" How long will I need to stay here?"

" You will know" with that the massive door closed

Spyro sighed " Great"

With that he turned about just to set his eyes on the brown trunk of the tree, impulsively his gaze traveled upwards, to the crown, and farther up, towards the sky. Without even realizing it his wings opened and his paws bent, preparing themselves for a jump like a huddled spring. His muscles tensed already ready for the leap, his skills in the air were pitiful as for a natural airborne creature, but he was sure that with the help of the huge tree he would make it past the wall.

Yet he didn't jump.

With another sigh his body relaxed, tail and wings returned to their natural positions, he felt a great weight pulling him down, he felt that somewhere in that clouds above his parents were watching him, if he would rise past that green crown he knew he would just disappoint them.

The young dragon made his way towards the small trunk, climbed on top of it and rested his rump. His tail was dangling from the trunk while impatiently sliding across it back and forth as his amethyst eyes scanned the surroundings.

" When are you going to start knocking?" Spyro threw a question towards an invisible listener

As he turned his head he spotted something moving in the grass up ahead. He frowned and focused on the part of the grass where he saw movement. At first nothing happened, for a moment there he thought that he was just seeing things, but then the grass moved again and from it bounced a small greenish silhouette.

A grasshopper.

How did this small guy get in here? Probably through one of the cracks in the wall obscured by grass. It was unimportant, at least he has someone to keep him company in this solitude of his.

Solitude.

Spyro chuckled, such a funny word that is.

Solitude.

The dragon laughed, it was indeed funny.

The wind blew again, caressing his body and filling his nostrils with the strangely intoxicating smell of grass, it had a funny scent in his solitude.

Solitude!

Soooooooliiiiiiiiituuuuuuude!

Spyro laughed hysterically, it was just so unimaginably hilarious.

Ain't that right little grasshopper?

Hey! Maybe we should write this funny word all around the walls?

What do you think little grasshopper?

Got any paint?

Nothing to say? Hop on that grass then.

The grass moved again, the greenish dot flew up and disappeared again soon after.

You're hiding that paint aren't you? I know you do!

Paint? A grasshopper hid paint? That's just a little, disgusting, pitiful bug, it couldn't have done such a thing.

But what if it did and plays stupid?

Time to catch it and ask then! It will be our game!

That grasshopper is just a weak, ugly bug and I'm a big bad dragon. It would be terrified of me. Chasing it would be cruel, it would not understand my game.

But this is my solitude right? I have freedom here, I can do whatever I want, even my parents can't stop me.

My solitude.

My freedom.

That little bug has nothing to say. I want to play and I will play.

Spyro hopped down from the trunk.

Hopped!

Just like a little grasshopper.

The young drake growled " But I'm not a bug! I'm the big bad dragon and I want to play!"

The purple drake frowned and began to scan the surroundings, moments later his eyes caught a glimpse of movement, grass wriggled somewhere behind that huge tree. With a sly grin and almost completely daft glimmer in his eyes Spyro darted behind the tree.

Nothing.

" Where are you little grasshopper? The dragon asked melodically

Then all of a sudden the grass moved ahead of him. With an excited yelp Spyro pounced forward stretching his front legs as par as he could. The moment he was about to land on his belly he pressed his paws together with a loud smack.

" Gotcha!" he exclaimed triumphantly when his belly scales hit the ground.

He pulled his legs closer and parted his paws. Spyro blinked when he noticed that there was nothing in his grasp, except some pieces of grass. It had to be the wind that moved the lawn, not the bug.

With a frustrated rumble in his throat Spyro pulled himself up.

The dragon once again began to observe the turf for any signs of movement. His vigilance paid off, the grass moved again and this time he definitely saw the grasshopper leaping from its hiding place. He instantly darted towards it.

When he reached the spot where he spotted the bug he stopped and chaotically began to turn his head. The grass swung at his right side, the dragon furrowed his brows on that spot. No greenish from was there, it had to be the wind.

His left eyes caught a glimpse of movement, he turned but as previously no grasshopper could be seen. It had to be the wind again.

Yet when his eyes located movement up ahead, he was certain it was the grasshopper, he clearly saw the bug's body stretching in the air. Spyro ran with his gaze set on the ground, it won't escape this time.

As he rushed through the lawn he spotted the grasshopper siting on a piece of grass, growling Spyro swung his paw, ready to catch it, but unfortunately for the dragon the bug slipped from his grasp just when he was about to clench his paw.

However this time he could see the bug landing nearby. Spyro darted after it but just as before the grasshopper slipped away just when he was about to catch it. With an irritated hiss the drake continued his pursuit but the grasshopper proved to be more elusive than he originally thought. Whenever he was about to grab the damn bug it always got away.

" Get over here!" Spyro roared after another unsuccessful attempt

He kept chasing the bug for who knows how long, and the longer it lasted the more furious he got, he didn't even realize that after some time he no longer clenched his paw but just slashed with his claws, sending pieces of grass flying in every direction.

When he missed a couple more times he had enough of it, he played fair all this time but now this is about to change. After another failed slash he dropped his paws on the ground and began to run at full speed. The grass moved in front of him, the silhouette of the bug rose to the air.

With a roar Spyro jumped extending his paws as far as he could, brandishing his fangs and claws like a tiger pouncing after its prey. It's impossible to describe the dragon's surprise when he felt that his paws were bending against something very solid and not squishy. Spyro only managed to gasp when his head made contact with the wall ahead.

The world swirled in front of his eyes as he dropped forcefully on the ground with an audible painful groan. He impulsively rubbed his head, still wincing from the numbing pain running through his whole spine. He lowered his paw and looked at it to check for any signs of blood, there were none, the paw returned to massage his achy head.

After a while of painful hisses the world began to slide back in place, the numbing pain running through his spine was gone, only the pulsing ache in his head remained, this will leave a solid bump. The moment the spinning world molded completely Spyro noticed the grasshopper hopping in the distance, now safely away from the big bad idiot dragon as it slipped through one of the cracks in the wall and escaped into the vast world ahead.

" What the hell am I doing?" he muttered incredulously

With a groan he pushed himself up, when he once more rubbed his achy head he instantly understood why he acted the way he did.

" Hey Fire" Spyro greeted the invisible presence with faked cheerfulness in his voice " Don't get too comfortable, you'll be leaving soon"

The dragon lurched towards the trunk he sat on before, when he adopted the same position as earlier he once again touched his wounded head. A numb pulse of pain shot through his body which forced his paw away just as if would be electrocuted.

" Too bad that I had to take a blow to the head to wake up. Idiot" Spyro cursed his stupidity out loud

He looked around the walled room " Now what?"

Nobody answered him, with nothing else to do he jumped down from the small trunk and laid down just next to it. The grass felt like the perfect, soft sheets of a bed he slept in back in his home in the Swamps. With a deep longing breath Spyro closed his eyes and didn't even realize when he drifted into sleep.

When he opened his eyes, the sun was slowly raising above the horizon, it was early morning. Did he slept through the whole previous day? Seems like it. He wasn't that much surprised, all the past days were nothing more than constant training, no wonder his body craved for a moment of respite.

As he stretched he wondered what Ignitus meant by saying that he will know when to leave. Spyro pondered on that thought a little more and came to a conclusion that this has to be the right moment. He connected the dots the other day, he realized that his rash actions were fueled by Fire's nature, it was undoubtedly a victory.

Yes, it was victory.

Time to leave this place.

Spyro looked up at the orange sky above and didn't feel any scolding gaze on him. This is definitely the right moment to leave, he figured it out, he is just so brilliant. He pushed open his barely used wings, flexed his muscles and leapt. He flapped his wings quickly and chaotically, slowly gaining altitude, much too slow for his taste.

It's time to get out of here and I CAN'T FLY!

Purple dragon of prophecy my tail!

The young drake growled, he will get out this place, this is the moment and he won't waste it. he can cheat, nobody is watching. With great effort he directed his body towards the hulking tree and sunk his claws into its trunk, it didn't protest, just another sign that his ingenious plan is valid.

Instead of flying he began to climb, the progress was even slower, it only infuriated the young dragon even more than before. He won't quit however, he will see the end no matter what. That rush made the drake blind, he didn't realize that instead of proper climb his uncoordinated moves were just tearing the bark off the trunk which slowed his already slow pace even more.

Growling impatiently Spyro pushed away from the tree, he swayed in the air and fall down, but eventually he managed to flap his wings forcefully, however the move barely made any effect, he maybe gained mere inches because first he needed to equal the loss of altitude.

The sky was gaining the upper hand so Spyro forcefully clung to the trunk again, bits of wood fell off when his claws sunk into the structure of the tree. With a roar he started to wriggle his paws faster and faster, the fast moves only crippled the tree than helped him gain any significant high.

As he rose the drake switched between wings and claws constantly, and every such switch made his even more furious. Yet after a very long while he eventually reached the thick branches that held the vast crown. With a triumphant growl he leapt from the trunk and managed to wrap his legs around one of such branches, he then rolled on top of it and began to slide across it sinking his claws as deep as they could go so he could maintain his balance and minimize the risk of falling.

He will still need to use his pitiful flying abilities to get out of here, but from the position he is currently at they will be enough, and finally he will be free and this stupid test over just as it was supposed to end all those hours ago. Spyro slid to the end of the branch, leaving extremely deep scratches behind him, he then pulled himself up, setting his paws firmly on the thick branch that shook slightly under his weight.

The drake looked up, still no gaze holding him back, this is the moment. He prepared his wings, flexed his muscles and bent on his paws, he was so focused on his goal that he didn't hear the sound of cracking wood. With a roar he pounced and...

...and then everything changed.

The branch gave up under his weight, the deep scratches he left ruined its structure and weakened the previously solid wooden arm of the tree. Spyro's eyes only went wide when he lost footing, he began to flap with his chaotically but everything he managed to accomplish was to gain mere seconds in the air.

When they passed time seemed to freeze for a while, just as his wings and the round pupils in his eyes. When the world awakened again, he fell down.

Spyro hit the ground with a hollow muffled thud, surprisingly he didn't feel any pain. As he laid on his back and stared at the orange sky above, his firstly shocked eyes began to flare up with an unimaginable wrath. The dragon began to roar as loudly as he could and thrash on the ground, sending pieces of grass everywhere.

He rolled onto his belly soon after and spotted the broken branch laying just next to him. Driven by fury he pulled up and darted towards it, roaring as a rabid beast he began to slash with his claws.

Left paw, right paw, left paw, right paw.

His legs were swinging so fast that they left mirage behind them. Pieces of wood and bark were flying in every direction as the dragon turned the branch to scraps. Just when he converted the once thick branch into a still considerable twig he grabbed the wood and hurled it at the tree with all his strength, empowered only by the furious roar leaving his throat.

The branch crumbled to pieces at the impact.

In the show of flying splinters Spyro leapt and the tree wildly, constantly repeating the uncoordinated moves from before as he climbed. He went up and up, no longer thinking straight, if he ever listened to clarity in the first place that is, just to free himself from this fucking prison. He pushed and pushed, there was no force in the whole world that would prevent him from escaping this hell.

Yet when he reached the middle of the tree he stopped.

Spyro pressed his forehead to the ruined bark of the tree and began to pant "I've...told...you...to...get...out!" the drake shouted with the last ounces of strength and dropped on the ground.

His paws shook, unable to hold his balance bent under his weight, the dragon collapsed. As he laid there on the grass his every bone began to scream in agony.

" I'm going to leave when I say so!" he let a determined painful shout.

Days upon days passed, after a while he lost count how many. Yet every next day felt longer than the last one, at first he sat on that small trunk, letting his imagination run loose, thinking about many things, like food, where is his brother, what is Ignitus doing, the sky above.

The sky above.

Whenever his imagination focused on that sole thought he winced, no longer allowing the craving for freedom take control of him. If Fire is impatient he will conquer it with patience, if Fire is impulsive, he will conquer it with serenity. So whenever his mind mentioned the sky above, he jumped down from the trunk and began to walk around the room.

He had been doing it for quite some time, since there was clearly visible path trampled down after a while. Sometimes the pull to free himself was so strong that he had to beat his head against the wall to quench it. Whenever that happened he knew he is still not ready to leave.

After many more hours he had enough of it, he remembered his mentor's words. This is not punishment, this is not isolation. This is solitude. My solitude. My own. There is nothing funny in that.

I choose to embrace it.

Surprisingly the next days passed more pleasantly, he thought about just everything, from his early childhood days, to his trainings just to stop on this particular test. And he understood now, elements we wield define us, Fire took advantage of his childish needs and temper and twisted it to its needs, just like Ignitus said it would, it looked for shortcuts. And there can't be none in the future he will one day face.

More hours passed and Spyro eventually had enough of this solitude, simply because he was bored to tears, yet the sky above never crossed his mind again. That was the shortcut, to leave he needs to take the hard path and convince his mentor that he understands now, which is always a difficult thing to do, and especially apologize for his behavior early.

Spyro plodded towards the door and gulped in anxiety " ignitus I'm ready to leave"

He waited but there was no response.

" ignitus?"

Still nothing.

Spyro extended his paw towards the door, but stopped in midair, not sure if this is the right thing to do. Yet after a moment of inward deliberation he decided to knock and announce his presence in a more solid manner.

" igni-" his voice trailed off when he touched the door and they suddenly creaked open.

When he pushed his head through the crack, his eyes watered. In the corridor stood a table with every type of food on it. When a drool slipped from his lolling tongue he realized that even if a task ahead seems extremely difficult it might sometimes pay off to complete it.

*

Spyro stood some meters away from the sturdy round door of the temple, his eyes were set on the huge statue looming above the entrance, the ball of flames emanating from the artificial dragon's opened paws created a perfect illumination, which only empowered the shine emanating from the many gems inserted into the door, or the marble path nearby.

This is the difficult path, to see if there is a prize waiting at the end of it he first needs to cross it. Anxiety, doubt and a bit of irritation boiled his blood, he didn't want to see the mole, and especially he didn't want to talk to him, when the Atlawa raised him to godlike status and wanted to worship him there is something about overzealous people that push him away.

Yet he has to do it for Cynder, this is one of the many steps he has to make to ensure that his friend will at least have a place in this world she can call home. The most important thing he needs to do is to remember who, or what, is their main enemy here, Brill is just one of the many obstacles on their path, nothing more, and they have trampled many worse barricades.

At least he hoped so.

There was that doubt again, he wanted to ignore it but just couldn't, as the dragon stood there, watching the sturdy round door, he felt that this whole task he set before him to convince Brill to see reason is just a waste of time. Even if that's the truth, he has to remember to stay calm, keep his emotions in check, don't give the mole another excuse to antagonize the people. He has to do it for Cynder's sake.

Spyro let out a deep breath " Here goes"

He pushed the door open, they invited him in without any sign of protest, an intimidating air wafted from the inside that sent shivers through his entire body. He felt as if he was entering a monster's den, a very refined monster's den where you are greeted with the aura of respect and delusional peace and ethics but take a wrong turn or overstay your welcome and you will have to face something more terrible than loud polite request to get your good for nothing tail out of here.

Spyro's eyes instantly traveled to the middle of the temple's interior, where directly in the middle of the yellowish column of light which found its way through the huge stained glass in the roof stood a recently raised wall with a couple of aggravated draconic snouts engraved on it. Just in between the artificial lizards faces were carved three words, using an extremely bold and gaudy letters.

EXPEL THE TAINT

The purple dragon swallowed seeing that wall and the recently constructed podium at its base. It was here where most likely sermons were held, or whatever you want to call this joke. Spyro already came up with an appropriate word to describe this whole thing, the only thing that held him back from spitting it out was the respect for all the deceased dragons who observed him with their cold, stony eyes.

It was no doubt that Brill was behind all those statues that litter Warfang, the temple only confirmed this. The columns previously held only braziers and weren't adorned in any way, now there were small images of dragons in many different poses carved within each and every one of the pillars. Old habits die hard it seems.

Spyro looked at the far end of the temple, where two entrances could be seen. He focused on the one with the blue curtain, where stairs could be found leading to the living quarters of the temple caretakers. Spyro wondered why most bosses hide in the very last floor of a building? Why can't Brilll stay on the lower levels, like the Catacombs for example and get lostin its maze like corridors or accidently wall himself up down there by expanding another set of tunnels, and remain in that place, preferably permanently.

Spyro with a shake of his head discarded those mischievous thoughts, he has to remember why he came here. Before the dragon reached the far end of the temple Spyro's legs suddenly stopped.

He turned towards the row of stony spectators, driven by impulse he made his way towards the statues and froze near the one he was very familiar with. With a nervous swallow he eventually raised his gaze to meet snout to snout with his late mentor.

The candles at the feet of the statue were burning brightly, to some point filling the stony eyes with the transitory spark of life. Why he was driven here he had no idea, was it to seek comfort or torture?

Because it like hell felt as torture, every second of that moment when Ignitus sacrificed himself for him and Cynder flashed before his eyes. The memory was so detailed that it felt like it happened yesterday and brought with it all the emotions from that memorable day. Especially guilt, the unbearable tear squeezing guilt.

" I'm sorry" Spyro sobbed and impulsively jumped away from the statue, he should be the last one standing near it. The nerve.

He didn't go far since his eyes momentarily landed on the white sheet covering the statue formed in his image. At least it stood here earlier, thanks to that blanket it is hard to tell if it's still here. Well...there's only one way to find out.

He yanked the coat upwards and when he looked under it Spyro had to squint, he has never before seen such white and polished marble, it was so pristine that nobody would believe that the sculpture is made from a building material. Whatever.

His eyes fell down onto the podium, just as he thought, it was clean like the whole rest. The writing he scratched from the bottom of his heart was gone. The blood in his veins began to pulse as if his heart announced its despair in the only possible form of tears it was capable of creating.

" I knew you'd come boy"

Spyro winced at the sound of the most hated voice he ever heard, right after Malefor's.

" I've expected you earlier to tell you the truth"

With a frown like some sort of a prison for his boiling anger Spyro turned towards the direction from which the sound came.

" Brill" he greeted the rodent using a very polite hiss. He would make a great first impression among snake-like people with his propriety. There is only one problem though.

The people capable of understanding the politeness in his voice don't exist.

" Seeker" the mole corrected the dragon with a slight note of irritation before he gently rearranged the white robe with a gold eye sewn just below the neckline that he was wearing.

" Show some respect for the Ancestor's chosen, you are in their home now"

It was obvious that Brill doesn't know what modesty means. For a moment Spyro wanted to spit the whole truth about the mole's miraculous arrival in the city while he would laugh mockingly seeing the rodent's bewildered face. Yet he kept his emotions in check, they would not help him here.

" And for what reason did the Ancestors chose you?" the dragon asked as calmly as he could, however there was that delicate note of taunt ringing in his voice

Brill's chest swelled proudly " To protect the living from the black stains that surround us"

" I've heard that a guy named Daz makes short work of all kind of stains" Spyro smiled inwardly, a little tease never hurt anyone, in fact it would make a certain black dragoness proud.

" Do not mock me boy!" the mole pointed an admonishing claw at the drake " Even if we don't see eye to eye I'm still older than you, show me some respect"

The young dragon blinked, the mole had a point. If right now they would be in another debate Brill would have him against the wall. The mole might have humiliated him in this moment, but he won't allow the rodent to have a taste of complete victory.

Spyro swallowed " Of course Br...Seeker" he said ashamed, just like he should have, and nothing more.

There was a satisfied yet not triumphant glimmer within the mole's eyes. He didn't hear what he expected to hear, the dragon's words lacked the regret, obedience and remorse he expected to hear.

With an irritated breath Brill made his way towards one of the statues and rekindled a candle " I've said everything I had to say about Shadow. You are just wasting your time"

" She has a name"

" I've just said it didn't I?" he turned towards the dragon " Nicknames are just like names, through our deeds we make them powerful, that power allows people to define us. We earn our other names through our deeds, so we and others can remember who we are"

" It isn't as simple as that, why it is so hard to understand? Why Cynder is judged by actions she couldn't control?"

" We have all the right to judge her, she allowed herself to become corrupted. The taint overwhelmed her and shaped her into an abomination. She couldn't control her actions because she surrendered when she had the chance to fight"

" That's not fair!: Spyro protested : Cynder was still an egg when she was kidnapped, she had no way to defend herself!"

" Ancestors would have guided her if she was willing to listen. From what I've learned she was the same age like you, and you Spyro followed the Ancestors guidance even if life threw obstacles on your path constantly"

He didn't feel any paw guiding him, however he chose not to mention this to the mole, somehow he doubt he would listen anyway " This is nonsense, you can't compare me with her. I had someone to show me what's right or wrong, like my parents and Ignitus. Cynder had no one, what was she supposed to do?"

" Die"

That single word made Spyro's head rear back.

The mole didn't wait for the dragon's response " The taint is powerful, so powerful that it is capable of killing, even those who flaw our good world. Yet she didn't succumb, she embraced it, and by doing so she is forever forsaken"

Spyro couldn't believe what he is hearing, does the mole really think that dying is considered to be an act to honor one's Ancestors? The dragon had a really hard time holding back his temper, nothing angered him more than hearing someone so blindly insulting his best friend, hearing Brill saying such insults only intensified that boiling anger by tenfold. Not only he taunted his best friend but also implicated that she should give her own life because that was the Ancestors supposed guidance. Ancestors are considered to be divine beings, what kind of holy creature would demand its faithful to throw away their lives, or murder in its name. How can someone so blindly believe that a godlike creature, which is usually is equated with good can demand death of another creature. Someone so blind like this should sit down for a moment and reconsider his actions, and maybe he would realize that he isn't working for the boss upstairs but the one in the basement.

However Spyro decided not to say anything, remembering that he is just here to talk, not to force his point of view on someone.

" How do you know so much about taint when you serve the Ancestors so loyally?"

The mole gripped the golden eye sewn into his robe and yanked it forcefully a couple of times " I'm the Seeker boy" he hissed roughly, Spyro noticed a delicate spark of insanity shimmering in the rodent's eyes " I have touched the taint"

Brill darted towards the young dragon and cupped sternly his right cheek while looking directly into the drake's eyes " I can see it! It's everywhere, even in you" he shook the dragon's head " That's why I have to fight it, you understand? I have to stop the corruption from spreading or it will overwhelm us. This is my mission, this is what the Ancestors require from me! I was given a second chance and I won't waste it!"

Spyro wriggled away from the mole's grasp, his sole touch disgusted him " Every one of us has his own dark side"

The Seeker nodded in approval " Probably the only thing we agree with, yet some dark sides are worse than the others. Like your...friend for example, she is a conduit for all this taint, and if we allow it to roam unchecked it will destroy us"

" You won't touch Cynder" the young drake growled threateningly

Brill threw his hands in the air in frustration " Look past the spell she cast on you and think for a while. From what I've learnt you saved her life some years ago, it was a naive and stupid thing to do, but noble. She repaid that debt when she saved you from Malefor's corruptive power while, now pay attention, while she wasn't affected by it in the slightest!"

" There's more, Gaul kidnapped your friend to offer the her to his master, so he could corrupt her again. Why he would do such a thing when he already had her in his service once and she failed? Simple, it was a ruse to lure you out. And you came, like a noble knight to defend the only female of your kind you knew. When you fell into the trap she is suddenly knocked out cold, the former general of The Dark Army defeated by a single blow to the head, who miraculously awakens when you most need her, which happened AFTER you vanquished Gaul and his lackeys. Knowing that you would be unstoppable after the corruption she had to act. Plan A has failed"

" Seeing that you two were through a lot, the taint, now in the possession of Malefor comes up with a new plan. After three years some grublins find you, and instead of slicing your throats they bind you together. Have you ever thought why?"

" Of course you didn't, why would you? You were just happy to be alive, just like she thought you will be. Months flow by, you two are inseparable, you do absolutely everything together. As time passes you listen to her sweet voice, you watch her smile, you become more and more attached to her, reaching the point where you will do everything for her, but you don't realize that because you have a goal which seems noble, you are headed to defeat the evil Dark Master"

The mole spun around while extending his forefinger in the air as he began to pace around the temple " And this is the moment where I have to admit I'm lost. I can't understand why the taint wanted Malefor dead, the world was at an end, it had nothing to gain. Yet the inevitable happened and you know are free from the chain that shackled you, however she is still beside you. Why when she could just leave? Is she so devoted to you that she will help you in every struggle and whisper a sweet word here and there co congratulate you and urge you forward? All for the sake of friendship of course. Pretty convenient don't you think?"

Spyro stared at the mole with wide eyes, listening to his monolog and having a very hard time understanding how can someone have such an imagination for sniffing conspiracy. He couldn't believe how the mole came up with such crazy conclusions. The rodent's words only confirmed his opinion, Brill is so blinded by the image of always good, always pure draconic image that he fails to realize that those images he created have feeling of their own, and not every such draconic figure had the comfort to grow up surrounded by friend and families. Some had to struggle, and such dragons were tainted in the mole's eyes, condemned even.

Ok Cynder hurt many people, she hurt Brill but is this the reason to blame all their misfortunes on her? Especially when she was corrupted then? Is this the excuse to leaven history so it would look like she is the main antagonist? Why it is so hard to accept the truth? Malefor was the enemy who sought to destroy the world, they tried to stop him earlier but just couldn't do it, so they defeated him in the last moment. No taint or whatever controlled him, such a thing doesn't exist, there was no great plan of some unknown force, it was only them versus the wickedness and cleverness of and utterly evil mastermind.

" You're paranoid" Spyro commented forthrightly

Brill sighed " I didn't expect you to understand, I'm giving you the opportunity to open your eyes but you just don't want to and I won't win with blind stubbornness. It's a pity you will have to see the truth the hard way" the mole waved his hand dismissively and began to retreat towards the bluish curtain " Go and enjoy your happy hours with your so called best friend, in time you will learn. We are only wasting our time here"

" There is one more thing"

" My attitude towards the taint remain unchanged, I've already explained the situations to the Guardians as the rightful rulers of the Dragon City. I won't make the first move here, but if more people, like the one today who arrived from the hospital will ask me for assistance I will act. For the good of the people and the dragons who stand proudly against the darkness that shrouds our city. If a draconic godlike creature will demand my attention I won't turn him down"

With that the mole was gone. Spyro remained in the temple for a while, watching the curtain swinging slightly, and he had to agree with the rodent. It was a waste of time, for both of them.

*

There was a loud thud of a slamming door which forced Cynder's head to raise in the direction of the noise.

" I'm done!" a cheetah roared furiously " I have enough of this idiotic child! You! Shadow! Wanna your pet to be clean? You're going to do it yourself! I'm leaving!"

The dragoness observed the angered cheetah leaving with a calm expression on her snout, the moment the dotty tail disappeared behind the corner Cynder with a sigh pulled herself from her sitting position from the opposite side of the corridor and knocked on the door.

" Flare? May I come in?"

A muffled male voice came from behind the door " Yeah"

In the room stood Flare. His body was still covered with blood, the warm slippery ground didn't seem to bother him, just like the many toppled buckets dotting the room, which once held the warm water. The dragon was just staring at the wooden bathtub with terrified eyes, judging from the claw marks on its wooden surface it seemed that the dragon didn't like to bathe.

Cynder scanned the room with surprised eyes " Flare? What's going on?" she asked calmly, effectively hiding her shock

He gulped " I think that the cheetah wanted to drown me"

Cynder's mouth twitched into a smile " Seeing that she was a friend of Amela's, you know the nice healer that checked you out earlier? I sincerely doubt by asking her friend to take care of you Amela meant killing you. She wouldn't be much of a healer then right?"

" What?" the dragon blurt out, as if not paying attention to her words

The dragoness shook her head " Forget it. Why do you think she wanted to drown you?"

" First she wanted me to get inside the...the..." he turned towards the dragoness " How's this wooden thing called again?"

" Bathtub"

" Yeah that's it" the drake turned towards the mentioned tub and gulped " I've got inside and she began to pour water in it, it kept raising and raising. It eventually reached my belly and...." he swallowed once more "...and I just had to get out of it, or I would drown, I just knew it"

Cynder huffed " Oh, now I know what that sound was. At least one mystery is solved"

" She somehow convinced me to get in two more times, but I just couldn't stay inside it! As I got out the last time I've accidently tripped some buckets and...you know the rest"

The dragoness smiled " I guess you aren't aware that your head would remain above the water no matter what. Besides nobody fills the tub to the very top"

Flare looked at the dragoness with wide eyes, she was right, he wasn't aware of the obvious. " She...she...could always hold my head underwater!" the dragon blurt out, just like a kid who tries to force his childish point across

" And why would she do that? You are a dragon , you would easily overpower her, or destroy the tub. It's made of wood, and you are burning"

The dragon swallowed " I might have panicked and forget how to use my powers"

Cynder noticed the uncertainty in his voice, now he is just making silly excuses to make the problem more serious than it actually is, trying very hard to hide his embarrassment.

" it's impossible Flare, but it's ok, I understand"

" No you don't" Flare's expression changed drastically, the feigned look of a lost child was gone, replaced by a sincere fear of a grown-up " I'm afraid of water, when I was young some bullies threw me into a pond, they wanted to check if I would go out like a torch. There was just too many of them, I couldn't break free, the only thing I've heard was their laughing as they kept me underwater, I've felt like I was dying. I don't know if you ever drowned, it isn't a pleasant feeling, it's kinda terrifying to tell the truth"

Tears shimmered within the black dragonesses eyes, partly from pity and partly from guilt. What she took for some simple overreaction turned out to be something much more serious, traumatic even.

" I'm sorry Flare, I didn't know" she apologized sincerely " I feel so stupid"

" Me too. I have dried blood all over me and I'm just too scared to wash it off"

" No" Cynder replied determined " Fear won't dictate our lives, we are both idiots so let's do something crazy and challenge it" she approached the red dragon " Do you trust me Flare?"

He looked at her, and instantly remembered the house his mind imagined back in the marketplace, the house shrouded with that welcoming darkness. " Yes"

" Get in the tub, I'll take care of the water"

The dragon looked at the bathtub, he felt horror gripping his heart, yet this time it was accompanied by safety and trust. Two are always better than one. He entered the wet tube.

Cynder grabbed the handle of a nearby still standing bucket between her teeth, got in the air, took the bucket in her paws just to flip it over so the water poured directly in the bathtub. She saw Flare wincing and tensing the moment his paws began to hide under the azure veil.

She landed near the tub " Sit Flare, relax, the water will reach only the end of your legs. Promise"

Her comforting words work, but weren't the main reason why he listened. He compelled because he didn't want to disappoint her, he didn't want to betray the trust of his only friend.

Two more buckets were enough to reach the level she wanted to achieve. With her goal accomplished she made her way to the corner of the room to give the dragon some space. At first he was completely still, but the moment he threw her a quick glance he began to slowly clean himself.

After some time the questions that was nagging her became unbearable and she just had to spill it out " What happened Flare?"

The fiery drake took a deep breath " It was all my fault. If I didn't break those vases nothing would have happened"

Cynder instantly looked alarmed " Someone attacked you?!"

" No!" he exclaimed but then took another breath " I mean...I don't know. After I broke that stuff the guy that owned it began to shout some really bad things. And then some other guy shows up and takes my side, at least he thought I would believe that, in truth he just wanted to fool me with his poor act of kindness"

The dragonesses eyes momentarily went wide open. That description fitted perfectly a particular dragon she met " How the other guy looked like?"

" A green dragon, he was huge, he had that funny horn on his nose..."

" Capro..." she whispered

" ...That guy is crazy Cynder!" Flare exclaimed " He began to cut himself in front of me and then jumped at me. Later he rolled off me with a scream, it was then when I realized that I'm covered in his blood! He also put the shard he cut himself with in my paw! Everyone thought I did it! He's crazy!"

" He's not crazy, he's driven by hate"

" Yeah, he told me something like that. I don't get it, how can you hate someone so much that you even maim yourself?"

" Listen..." she made her way towards the dragon and looked him straight in the eyes " Stay away from him, he's dangerous"

" You know him?"

" Just do it" she pushed away

Flare observed her carefully, it was obvious she did " Cynder whatever that guy says, don't believe him, he is a manipulator, don't let him get inside your head"

" If he jumps one of my friends again he better pray that I won't get inside his" she let out a stifled growl before taking a deep breath " We'll clean this place up when you're done"

*

After some time the place was clean and both young dragons were walking through the corridor towards the guests quarters. They stopped when they heard something bumping against the wall, the noise was coming from the staircase around the corner.

" Get back here young lady!" a commanding feminine shout came from the bottom of the staircase, both dragons realized that the voice belonged to Amela

The bumping sound only intensified after that, eyes of the both dragons went wide when moments later a bluish dragoness appeared from the corner, sliding across the wall, a bloody bandage covered the middle part of her body. The dragoness slid against the wall towards both young dragons until she suddenly stopped as if feeling their gaze on her. She raised her head, a pair of blurry white eyes met the dragons, which seconds later lost their scarce focus and the blue dragoness collapsed on the floor with an audible thud.

Moments later Amela came rushing from the staircase, not paying any attention to the two shocked young dragons she ran and kneeled near the bandaged dragoness. After checking her vital signs, the cheetah raised her head, wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled.

" Friends, meet Iris"