FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 15

Spyro groaned softly, feeling the bright rays of the sun poking at his closed eyelids. He tried to ignore it, but the light remained unrelenting. With a yawn his eyelids went up, revealing his rested, despite everything that happened, amethyst eyes.

He woke up with his head turned towards the balcony door, the sun greeted him with a beautiful morning. When was the last time he admired dawn he had no idea, he didn't remember if he done it at all in his whole life. Daylight like daylight, there was nothing special about it, he will see many of them in his life yet and all of them look just the same.

Or so he thought.

There was something magical about this morning that he just couldn't walk past it indifferently. The rays reached into the every corner of the room, he could swear they that never been so brighter before, as if they needed to be here and remind of him that light will remain with him no matter what.

It was so peaceful.

Spyro smiled when he spotted a small blue bird sitting on the balcony railing, bathing in the sun and singing softly. The musical tone it emitted from its beak reached to the room even through the locked glassy door, vibrating inside like the most prettiest of lullabies.

He inhaled a deep, wavering, daunting breath, taking a whiff of burnt candle and used oil lamp. For a moment there he thought that there was no better smell that could greet you in the morning. The light of the sun, the bird and the scent, it was like waking up in his own spot of paradise.

If he would notice the beauty the world has to offer in every dawn months, or even years ago, he would say that there was no way a morning could get any better.

A barely audible, soft feminine moan broke through the singing of the bird.

Spyro's eyebrows rose in unexplained surprise, he impulsively wanted to turn his head in the direction of the sound but found himself blocked by delicate, scaly blockade. He jerked his head back and the smile on his snout only grew wider when he laid his eyes on the sleeping snout of Cynder.

She was breathing slowly, sleeping soundly on top of his chest, one of her paws was hanging down from his flank, while the other was draped across his shoulder, right next to her head, chin of which rested on the bottom side of his neckline. She was coiled in an adorable posture, with her snout practically facing him, as if she unconsciously knew that the sight would make his heart skip a beat.

If she would be awake now she would feel that this was exactly what happened.

Spyro swallowed. The image of her lying on top of him poked at every nerve of his body, his heart blissfully hurt from all the exciting, peculiar pain. The events of the last night struck him fiercely, he was both intimidated and happy after the blow.

Here was his best friend lying on top of him, only now he felt how tightly he had his paws wrapped around her.

Best friends.

They are no longer only that, are they?

This sole thought filled him with an uncertain, peculiar dread. Not because he felt like he betrayed the trust of friendship, the burn he was feeling just by looking at her was enough to tell him that they were never meant to be just friends. He was afraid of the obligation that the last night put on him.

As friends they watched each other backs, their chaotic and dangerous lives demanded no less from them. Even if they didn't want to admit it the thought of losing your friend in one of those skirmishes was always there. Rooted deep down at the bottom of their souls.

If the world was cruel enough, if back then Fate decided to take her away from him he would scream himself hoarse, or even went crazy, but he would survive. As difficult as it would be, he would survive.

Now...he wasn't so sure anymore.

He's the guy in this relationship, feral instinct demanded that obligation, obligation to protect your partner from harm. Fight tooth and claw for her safety, their safety as a couple, it was more important than anything else. It is his duty to keep them both alive, keep the spark they share alive no matter what life throws their way.

The responsibility to protect them is his.

There was perhaps another notion behind this devoir. Self-perseverance, innate desire to stay alive.

Because he wouldn't survive without her. He was certain of that by just looking at her.

Spyro shook his head and aimed with eyes at the ceiling with an accusing sigh.

"What the hell are you thinking about?" he hissed quietly

He chuckled suddenly "I'm sick with love, it makes me crazy. Love is a disease"

His head went down again, when his eyes met Cynder's sleeping snout once more he came to a conclusion that he couldn't wish to be a victim of a better disease.

All the worriers evaporated like moisture in a breath on a cold winter day.

His eyes traveled slowly along her whole silhouette, absorbing every softness, curve and the tiniest discoloration between magenta and black. He just couldn't comprehend how someone can be so beautiful, nor he couldn't understand the fact that this divine creature is now held in his embrace.

Besides the obvious bewilderment and happiness he couldn't shake off the nudge of that selfish, arrogant and triumphant pride of his male ego.

He had a girl locked in his embrace!

A very pretty one, and she was crazy about him!

He is the king of the world!

Spyro smirked impulsively, offering the triumphant masculine grin to everyone who dared to glance at him in envy.

See what a male I am!

What a womanizer!

The room was silent, there was no one here, not a single person bowing his head to his new master. Only the bird sang, the same melodic tone as it did from the very beginning, it made him realize that nobody gives a damn about his ego.

Spyro laughed, politely muffling the sound to the best of his ability.

He had never woke up so happy before. It was either due to the fact that he finally got a proper night's rest, or it was because of the company he keeps.

His eyes once more landed on Cynder's sleeping snout, whatever arrogant grin that grimaced his snout vanished, replacing by a kind, loving smile.

It was definitely the company.

He watched her sleep countless times already, but never from so up close, where a slight crane of neck was enough to smell her breath. She was absolutely radiant from this proximity, like the brightest of stars on the night's sky. The white markings made her so charming, as he observed her like that he was sure that his favorite tattoos are around her eyes. He was sure that it was their fault that he is head over claws in love with her.

The delicate white dashes seemed to purposely underline her eyes, intensifying the emerald glow that he adored so much. It was a trap, a trap that he fell into the first day he saw her without even realizing it. Those eyes stole his freedom with their beautiful shimmer, making him the most willing slave in the whole world.

How he craved to see those eyes again as they emerge from underneath the black, closed eyelids.

The spark they emit as they come forth after every nap was blinding, couldn't be compared to anything else. He pitied the fools who never appreciated her and the things she has to offer, deliberately giving up the chance to witness this divine radiance.

He was also glad that they didn't see it, because now her breathtaking, godly grace was only his and for him only.

I am yours forever.

Goddess of mine.

He couldn't fight off the temptation to touch those white markings, to trace their length with his claw, thank them for what they did by tenderly caressing them. Spyro's mouth parted with an excited waver of lips, a puff of inflamed breath escaped his mouth the moment he gently pressed the blunt side of his claw right beneath her closed left eye, exactly where the marking was.

He started to trail its whole length tenderly, her eye responded to the gentle caresses by fluttering behind the closed eyelid. His claw bounced to the other eye and subjected the marking on this side to the same kind of treatment. He was silently begging for the magical sesame to open and reveal the two glorious green gems underneath. Coaxing the eyelids with all the loving care he could muster.

When he returned to the starting point funny wrinkles filled Cynder's snout and her nose twitched as if she was about to sneeze. He had a really hard time forcing down a burst of laughter, and yet he continued his massage. He really wanted to see her eyes, but it was not his intention to wake her up forcefully. However he couldn't help himself, he just had to touch her soft scales, he just couldn't get enough of her sleeping snout.

Before he knew it, he has finished trailing the marking, just when he was about to push his claw back to jump over to the second eye Cynder's paw, the one that hung from his flank, smacked his paw accidently away as her claws went to scratch the itching spot he created.

Her leg was moving on its own, her consciousness hasn't awaken yet, the moment her claws got rid of the itching sensation the paw dropped limply on her nose and slid down it numbly, just to rest in front of her mouth.

Spyro smiled, at the same time bottling the desire to see her glowing eyes, she was still sleeping, she deserves the rest, he will have to bare through the unendurable yearning. No matter, he'll wait, the look of her sleeping snout was enough anyway, he couldn't get enough of it. His heart screamed in joy as it is, and it was painful, if she would open her eyes now it would kill him no doubt.

He nuzzled her lovingly, affectionately and with the gentleness of a feather rubbed the top of her head with his nose before planting a soft, burning kiss. She shifted in his embrace with a cute purr.

"I'm so lucky" Spyro whispered heavenly, his mouth just inches from her head, he felt his own warm breath on his nose as it bounced of her sweet scales.

He withdrew his head, making it stop in his favorite position on this morning. With a smile he returned to his vigil, if it would be up to him he would stay like that for all eternity.

*

Spyro had no idea how much time has passed, in fact he felt like the clock froze in this room, but eventually Cynder shifted on her own, inhaling deeply and groaning cutely. Sliding her scales across his chest, her paws scratching delicately his own body.

His heart started to pound and his stomach made a flip, his eyes widened in ecstasy and impatience, knowing that something great is just about to happen. His paw started to pet her head on its own.

And then with the last smack of lips she opened her eyes, revealing the most beautiful gems beneath, the green spark they emitted blinded him like a fierce ray of the sun.

He didn't mind.

He was way too deep in love.

Spyro offered his partner an enchanted smile "Good morning" he cooed

Cynder smiled lovingly "Good morning"

She stretched with a yawn, running her claws along his chest, excited by the feeling of his muscles under her paws. Waking up on top of him, rubbing her scales across his well-formed muscular body, was like a very arousing dream come true.

She caressed his flank as she looked up at him, charmed by the amethyst eyes looking at her with passionate love that just seemed to be too good to be true.

"You're still here" she planted a grateful kiss on his chest

"I wouldn't trade this chance for all the gems in the world"

"What chance?"

His smile grew wider, revealing a set of pearl white teeth formed into an almost hungry and enthralled grin.

"I just love to watch you sleep"

Her eyes flared up affectionately "That's the other thing you like about me? To watch me sleep?"

Spyro nodded.

Cynder grinned playfully "Creepy"

Both of them laughed.

"Seriously" he continued when he finally managed to contain his explosion of joy "I could do it for the whole day"

The teasing smile never disappeared from her snout "Seek help"

"I can't help it. You're just too beautiful"

The cocky smile was gone in an instant, replaced by a shy squint of her eyes and a fierce blush "R-really?"

Spyro smiled and without a word leaned for a kiss.

"What are you doing?" she tilted her head back with a bashful giggle "I just woke up! My breath smells bad! I don't want to ruin your image of me"

"I don't care. Even if there would be slime dripping from your lips and rotten meat stuck between your teeth I wouldn't hold back"

To force his point across he pressed his lips to hers.

Cynder punched his chest playfully the moment she felt his lips, exploding with a happy giggle.

"You're disgushhting!" she mumbled joyfully as he caressed her with his kisses.

He smiled but never stopped kissing her affectionately, eventually she submitted to his loving treatment and began to bestow him with her own loving touches. Gently and passionately. Waking up to such blissful treatment was beyond her power of self-control. She wrapped her paws behind his neck and pushed his head forward, preventing him from breaking from this embrace.

Not that he wanted to anyway, she felt the grip on her tightening, his paws pushing her closer to him. She moaned softly, repaying him by kissing him more fiercely, more aggressively and hungrily. He was confused by her sudden boldness, his lips not able to keep up with her smooches.

She achieved dominance quickly, Spyro surrendered completely to her fiery caressing. She gently bit at his lip, pulling it slightly, wakening every nerve on his mouth. Sometimes she brushed her tongue across his lips, teasing, making his mouth part a little bit wider, invitingly and yet she always seemed to deliberately ignore it.

She acted like she wanted to eat him, this morning would be unforgettable without this, but now it reached his own podium of personal bests. He even caught himself on moaning sweetly as she passionately devoured him. This kiss couldn't be compared to the moments of intimacy they shared last night, this was different than all the rest.

It felt like some kind of bribe, or perhaps a bait. He instantly imagined himself as a thief who just took a peek inside a huge gold filled vault, doors of which closed in front of his eyes, but somehow placed the key in his hands. They would willingly open, but first he needs to make a run around the fiery pits of Hell.

If somebody would ask him now, he would gladly pay the price.

She most likely would caress his lips perpetually, but to his great displeasure they both were living creatures and to survive they needed air. They were completely lost in the moment, it would last probably for quite some time if Cynder wouldn't have to break the kiss to catch some breath. When she pulled her lips from his they foreheads met again. Eyes closed

The both panted heavily, their chests moving up and down in perfect, quick harmony.

"Wow" Spyro mumbled in sincere awe as he smacked his lips before inhaling another swig of air "What was that?"

Cynder licked her lips in between her heavy breaths "Apology"

He frowned as he continued to pant "Apology? For what?"

She removed her paws from behind his neck, put them on the bed on both sides of his head and lifted herself up, pleadingly looking at him from above.

"Please don't freak out"

Spyro furrowed his brows suspiciously "I don't like the sound of that"

She smiled weakly and started making little kittenish circles on his chest with her claw "I have more to offer than just that kiss if you play nice"

He grabbed her legs, making her stiffen with a gasp "You were trying to pay me off?"

She bit her lip and looked to the side "No..."

"Stop making dodges"

"I'm not! Honestly!"

"Well, I don't believe you"

"But-"

She never got the chance to finish what she wanted to say since Spyro swiftly lifted himself up, intensifying the grip on her forelegs. Then with one strong jerk of his body he forced her to tilt to the side with a surprised yelp. Before she realized what was happening they rolled on the bed once, the spin ended with Spyro lying on top of her this time.

He smirked "Now you're trapped"

"Come on!" she exclaimed with a giggle and weakly tried to push him off of her with her paws "You're heavy!"

He pretended to yawn "Oh boy, I'm getting sleepy all of a sudden"

The legs he placed on both sides of her body as a support bent, making his underbelly press stronger onto her chest.

She let out a happy coughing laugh "Get off!" she smacked his rump with her tail

His legs bent even further making her happily gasp for air as he drilled his cheek into her chest scales "I can't help it, you're such a soft pillow"

Cynder punched his shoulders playfully "I'm going to choke!"

He faked a snore.

She laughed heartily "Ok! You win! Only straightforward answers!"

He lifted himself up, offering her a loving smirk "There, it wasn't so hard was it?"

She caressed his cheek with loving attention "Before I say anything know that I don't want to ruin this mood"

Spyro tiled his head, pressing his mouth to the inside of her paw and kissing it fondly "Nothing you'll say will ruin this"

She smiled, feeling the pleasant itchy mark his lips created on her paw "Waking up next to you...well technically speaking on top of you, was the best thing that happened in my life"

"Why do I get the feeling that this sounds like one of those _what have you done_speeches?"

She looked to the side, surprisingly ashamed.

"It's about the dragon isn't it?"

Her eyes widened in fear "How did you know?"

"You have it written all over you"

She massaged his leg apologetically "He visited me last night"

He sighed sadly "And here I thought my presence would solve your nightmare problems"

She bit her lip "This is not the kind of visit I was referring to. He was HERE, in flesh...sort off"

Spyro's eyes widened "What? In this room? How come I didn't feel anything?"

"He...ummm dragged me on the balcony somehow"

His eyes sparkled with sincere hurt and shame "And you didn't wake me?"

She cringed underneath his gaze "There was no reason to..."

"No reason?" he shook his head, devastated "That thing ate a guy Cynder"

"He said it was an accident"

He sneered "You don't eat people by accident dammit!"

She closed her eyes, wincing painfully "Are you mad at me?" she whined

Spyro felt like a sword just ran his heart through "Of course not" he licked her nose before nuzzling her comfortingly "I just wish you would have told me. I don't know what would I do if something happened to you. You're my friend...my partner...my ma-" he swallowed "I need to protect you. I can't help it, not now"

She rubbed her cheek against his warm snout scales with a purr "If it makes you feel better I wanted to call you but he stopped me" she felt his muscles tensing "Before you say anything, no, he didn't smack me or anything. He stopped me because he said you wouldn't see him anyway, you would see me talking to a wall"

"So what? He's like a creepy voice in your head embodied?"

Cynder shrugged "Something like that I guess"

Spyro looked at the balcony suspiciously "Tell me this. If he's invisible to anyone but you then how you explain the mole's disappearance? He didn't want to kill him, you said so yourself, add to this equation that he is invisible to everyone else besides you and what do you get?" he looked at her again

"Nonsense. You get nonsense. If he's some kind of...I don't know, ghost that only you can see, then how is it possible that the old mole saw him before he died? Doesn't matter that the old guy was snatched by some kind black tentacle, that monster said he killed the mole so it had to be him. Who says he can't change shape?"

She kept rubbing her cheek across his leg, lost in concentration.

"I...I didn't think about that"

"You can't trust a monster that kills people"

"I was a monster too and now you're in one bed with me"

He felt the sword impaled in his heart making a painful turn.

"That's not what I meant"

"When it comes to monsters there is usually more than meets the eye"

Spyro leaned forward, resting his forehead on top of her head.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me"

Cynder kissed his leg reassuringly "No, you are right, I have to stay focused. He might have lied to me, or I simply asked the wrong questions. It was really difficult to talk with that thing"

He caressed her head "I don't know Cynder, if I would be in your place I would be skeptical. That thing gave you nightmares and now haunts you. Nothing good will come out of it"

"He doesn't haunt me, he's like a...he kept saying that we are one"

"We are one?" Spyro asked with fear in his voice 'What does that mean? He sits like inside of you?"

She swallowed, hearing it put like that made her nervous "Maybe, I'm not sure"

"Dear Ancestors" he mumbled intimidated "This is unnatural, don't you see this?"

"Of course I do!" she snapped back "I'm not an idiot you know! Before you come to any conclusion let me tell you that he also referred to you as one. We are one, those three words exactly, when I asked him about it he just said that you and him are one. Just like me"

"Come on Cynder, that thing lied obviously! I don't see any creature looking over my shoulder"

"Maybe it's different for everyone. I don't think it lied though. Didn't seem capable of it"

Spyro shook his head "You know what I think? I think that a creature that thrives on me is nothing else than a parasite. No matter in how many pretty words you are going to dress it"

She dropped her head on the sheets, with a defeated sigh titled her eyes up at the ceiling "I didn't think of that either" she shook her head depressingly "I am an idiot. Run away while you still can"

He smiled "So what if you have a loose screw? I'm still going to love you"

She sighed once more in the same manner "Bad timing Spyro. Very bad timing"

He winced "Sorry. Wanted to cheer you up. Can I...ummm....hug you at least?"

"Gods yes"

Spyro leaned closer while tilting his body to the side, he wrapped his paws around her neck and paw and rolled the two of them over. Back to the position they woke up, with her on top of him. He rested his head on top of hers and tightened his grip around her back.

"Better now?" he asked bashfully

Cynder kissed his neck softly "Yes"

"Listen, it wasn't fair of me to play the expert, I have no such right. I wasn't there, it was you who stood up against a creepy monster. I know that you did everything you could considering the situation. It's impossible to think of everything in the heat of the moment"

"You don't have to explain yourself, you have a point and there's no denying it" she licked her lips apprehensively "Want me to call him for some answers?"

He jerked his head back in surprise "You can do that?"

"Well...I never tested it, but I think he would show up if I wanted to"

He looked at her intensely, even if he wasn't saying anything she could see in his eyes that he was considering it. She herself would rather avoid it, but on the other hand maybe that was the way to solve all the question marks.

"No" Spyro finally said "I'm more comfortable with the idea of you staying away from that creature if that is possible"

She let out a heavy breath of relief "Good"

"Cynder you know that you don't have to do everything I say. If you don't want it don't do it. Be a part of my life as you always wanted, not the whole deal. I won't be angry"

She smirked "Would you look at that, someone here did his homework"

He grinned proudly "Did I earn some extra points?"

"You certainly did"

She kissed him softly and put her head on his chest once again.

Spyro scratched her back saucily "I think that falls into the nice category"

"Ouch!" his whole body shivered at the sudden, sharp pain striking his hind leg

Cynder swirled the blade tip on her tail in the air meaningfully.

"Don't push your luck"

He chuckled "I think I'm starting to understand how you managed to put a leash on that creepy dragon"

She lifted herself up, grinning proudly at him "You should have seen me. I was a badass, I even made that monster cringe before me"

"No kidding? You should have told him to get lost"

As if by some magic touch the grin on her snout faded away, every grimace of happiness followed suit. Only sadness ruled her expression now.

Unfortunately, it was addictive.

"I did that" she muttered

He tenderly rubbed her cheek "So why the long face?"

"Because I was killing him"

Spyro didn't respond to that, instinctively he felt that this was just not the time for his stupid questions. They knew each other for so long, he perfectly understands her relation with death, especially that of her own doing.

Instead of voicing his support Spyro gently pushed her towards him, she obeyed without any sign of resistance, finding herself once more in his caring embrace.

"Be glad that you didn't hear his howling" Cynder shuddered "I was so mad at that thing, I was yelling, swearing and all that. Simply put, I wanted him gone. Then he started screaming, bleeding, basically break apart in complete agony like I would be skinning him alive. It was torture, I wanted that thing to die, to leave me alone but...but I just couldn't stand and watch"

She swallowed bitterly "His howls of pain, the suffering, it reminded me of who I used to be. All that pain I caused...I couldn't do a rerun. Monster or not I let him live, don't know if it was the right thing to do, but I just can't be that girl anymore"

She pressed herself tighter to his chest "Never again"

"Hey" Spyro whispered while massaging her comfortingly "It's ok I understand. You showed that thing who's boss here, it will think twice before going against you. I'm impressed, honestly, you managed to influence an otherworldly creature...whatever it is, with fierceness and mercy. That's worth a lot"

He sighed "Still...I don't like the idea of it sitting inside of you...us. What the hell is it exactly?"

Cynder scratched her choker thoughtfully "I'm...not sure. My closest bet is that he is my element, at least some part of it, but then again you don't wield Dark and he said you are part of him too" she frowned "Since when I stopped referring to that dragon as it?"

"You did call that creature it a couple of times, what that has to do with anything? I think it's better to refer to that thing as him, it's more comfortable and less creepy if you ask me"

"Yeah, maybe it has something to do with bravery. Anyway as I was saying I don't know what he is exactly, probably a part of everything we think of. Something tells me that even he doesn't know his origins himself. He's a creep"

"You know what? I take back that less creepy and comfortable part"

Cynder snorted in amusement.

"Hey I think that I just found a good name for him. Creep"

"Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"Come on, I doubt he will be offended, even so, what worse can happen to us? He doesn't want to eat us"

"Then what does he want?"

Cynder paused, contemplating the events of last night "I think he wants to...live"

Spyro frowned surprised "Live? That's all?"

"He came seeking my help, he was afraid to die"

He looked up at the ceiling with a worried sigh "Why do I keep thinking of demons and parasites? Why you? Why now? From where the hell did he come from? He started haunting you because he needed your consent am I right? I'm guessing here, I mean since you almost kicked him out and made him rot, my guess seems like the only viable option"

He gulped "What if he was looking for a host?"

Cynder shifted uneasily "It sounds so terrible when you say it like that"

"But on the other paw, if he is your element, personified by some magical means then it's normal for him to seek your help. I don't buy it, but it might be my protective nature, I see danger everywhere, especially when it comes to you"

She smiled at him lovingly "The extra point basket is full for today"

He chuckled "No hidden intention, promise" Spyro started to pet her neck gently as he drifted away in thought once more "That would solve the why you question, idea of that thing being Dark is believable, so it answers the question for the time being. What about the other two, huh? Why he showed up now? And from where did he come from?"

"Good thing that you're lying because the thing that I'm about to tell you would kick you off your paws" she lifted herself up and looked straight into his eyes with somewhat intimidating awe "What if I told you that he is older than the world?"

He pushed his head into the sheets in surprise.

"What?"

Cynder nodded "Yep. I have something better than that. What if I told you he is not only older than our world but all the other worlds that came before ours?"

He was unable to utter a word.

"Better yet. What if I told you that he is here from the VERY beginning? From the VERY start of life?"

"By the Ancestors..."

"Yeah, pretty mind blowing right?"

"Whoa" Spyro rubbed his forehead "I don't know if I should be amazed or scared, probably both. Cynder if any of this is true then that thing survived who knows how many apocalypses!"

She scratched the back of her head "Damn, when you put it that way I feel like my legs are going to break. What if he's responsible for ending the previous worlds?"

"I wouldn't go that far, Malefor believed that purple dragons are destined to end the world, Flare confirmed that theory in his own way"

"Hello? You saved the world. Have you forgotten about the prophecy? Which you fulfilled by the way?"

Spyro looked around the room, as if checking if somebody isn't eavesdropping "Between you and me I don't believe in it"

Cynder jerked her head back "Oh my"

"In times of crisis people seek hope, it's understandable, they cling to everything that lights a spark of brighter future. Prophecy is nothing more than a prayer, if believing in greater power helps you to push forward so have faith. Same goes for Malefor's words, that was his own prayer, he had to justify his actions somehow I think. Who can truly know what sits in an evil mind"

"Would you look at that" she mumbled in awe while arranging her paws on his chest in such a way so she could lie her chin comfortably on them. From this position she observed his snout with craving curiosity and unexplained fascination

"A perfect body and a beautiful mind. How could a girl like me meet someone like you will elude me for the rest of my life"

Spyro pinched her nose playfully "Stop it"

She wrinkled her nose in amusement.

"I'm serious. I'm learning so much about you and I thought I knew everything. You initiated our first kiss, now you said things that would sound like heresy for certain people. It came from your mouth, the purple dragon of legends. I swear you became so much more manly"

He smiled flirtatiously at her "I'm loved, I kissed and spent the night in one bed with the girl of my dreams. Can you blame me?"

She cuddly shook her head, his words were hitting all the right spots, not that it was really hard to do it. Life made her vulnerable, unfortunately. However she is the brave one, the confident one, every sign of manipulation, no matter how sweet, will be condemned. It's all about independency, it didn't matter how badly she wanted to be stripped of it and entangle herself in his sincere loving web.

He's just a boy!

You stood your ground against hordes of bloodthirsty mercenaries!

Independency.

It's essential that you keep pretense of independency.

"Flattery will only get you so far"

Spyro caressed her chin reverently "Did it work?"

Cynder turned her head to the side with a shy snort, covering her blush filled snout behind one of her paws. Completely breaking under his warm touch.

"Yes"

Well done.

He laughed "You're so cute when you're embarrassed"

She giggled, realizing in horror that she is acting like a psychotic fangirl who just met her handsome hero. She jabbed his shoulder weakly, in a pitiful attempt to defend herself.

"Stop it"

"What? I can do it a-"

He was cut off by Cynder's unexpected kiss, she cupped his head and started to fondle with his lips in a grateful loving manner. No matter how many times they kissed, there was always something special about this, it always filled his head with a certain pleasant dizziness and his heart with a sweet touch, as if a jar of honey would cover it completely.

All that pride, all that male ego was completely gone during the beginning of those intimacy, loving touches, those were his brief moments of weakness where he would do anything for her without question, be on her every whim.

He had no idea if she knew that, but he was sure she sensed his pleasant confusion, feminine intuition is a fact. He became more certain of it when Cynder withdrew from the kiss just in the moment when he shook of the initial shock and wanted to repay her in the same way.

Cynder smiled at him, the blush that still covered her snout made her adorable beyond any imagination "Let's get back on topic, ok?" she whispered frivolously

"Mhm" Spyro muttered, as if he was drunk, the tone of her voice was so promising and enthralling, sending his mind wandering in a steamy place where young male minds enter without waiting in line

She cocked her head curiously and with a certain pride "Are all males so easily swayed?"

"I don't know, never kissed one before"

She giggled "Funny thing, until last night neither did I"

Their eyes met instinctively.

And they both burst out laughing.

Cynder wiped a tear from the corner of her eye "I'm so pathetic, look how old I am. I had to beat some record here"

Spyro chuckled "Come on, it's not so bad"

"Not so bad? I'm right behind chastity priests"

That realization was enough to ravage their throats with another dose of uncontrollable laughter. The explosion of joy was so strong that Cynder couldn't keep standing and dropped flatly on Spyro's bouncing chest.

Spyro wiped his tear filled eyes "Hey" he muttered in between laughs "I'm no better. You are the first girl I kissed"

"True, but you are a guy, it's different with you. I'm a girl, the supposedly fair sex. It's like our duty to wrap guys around our claws"

He shook his head in disbelief "Our lives are so messed up"

"I know, right?" she lifted herself up with watery eyes, full of sudden enlightenment "Maybe it's not our lives, maybe we are messed up. Look, we got portals opening to different dimensions, zealots in the city and some ancient being stalking our tails and what are we doing? Laughing and talking about stupid stuff like bunch of children"

She giggled wryly "What's wrong with us?"

Spyro shrugged playfully "Maybe nothing is wrong with us. Maybe we're normal and the whole world is crazy"

Cynder nodded with an amused smile "I'll buy that"

"Jokes aside, I just can't be angry, mad or sad Cynder. I'm just...happy"

She looked at him, with the eyes of her imagination she could see the loving electric charge jumping between them. Not even the Ancestors would be able to comprehend just how much she loves the boy under her.

"Yeah...me too"

Their eyes met again, they haven't said a word but the looks they offered each other were like an invitation to glance into each other's souls. It was intimidating, blissfully and emotionally intimidating.

Cynder cleared her throat "All right, I'm going to cry again soon so let's focus on something else" she poked his forehead "I want to look into your thoughts again, satisfy my curiosity. I know you aren't the most religious type, but I can't believe you didn't...well...believe in the prophecy"

Spyro took a deep breath and rearranged himself on the bed.

"I believed in it, when I was young. I was the only purple dragon back then, tales of heroism and valor can mess around every young boy's head. I kept hearing tales of people getting hurt, their houses destroyed, all families broken and as aspiring hero I just couldn't let it happen, I couldn't stand idle. Villains had to be punished"

He looked at her meaningfully, petting her leg caringly.

She understood that look, she planted a soft, reassuring kiss on his caressing paw.

"Go on, I asked"

"I hated you Cynder" he said finally, his voice filled with stinging, agonizing pain "I hated you so much. News of your cruelty reached my young, stupid head, Ignitus tried to keep the more harsh ones away, but I learned them anyway. The prophecy wasn't a simple prayer for me back then, it became my creed"

He grabbed her leg, lifted it and started to rub his cheek against the bottom side of her paw, she in turn began to scratch his scales lovingly. He closed his eyes and began to purr gently.

Cynder smiled, her eyes once more started dripping tears.

"I'm here" she whispered

"I kept playing different scenarios in my head" Spyro continued, his eyes were still closed, his scales were still pressing against her soft paw "I imagined thousands of them, where I beat you, kill you and humiliate you. I was going through my Fire regime back then, its fiery influence made those images so..." he swallowed "I still remember some of them, in every single detail when I think about them. It's horrible, I don't know how could I've been such an idiot"

Hearing him say that left a painful stinging mark on her heart, that was being poked over and over again. There was a brief moment of doubt, a fleeting one, impossible to remember, however when it crossed her mind she wondered for the tiniest of second, if this bond they share makes them stronger or weaker.

"Ignitus didn't make things any better" Spyro continued "I wouldn't call him zealous, but he was a true believer. I was all his hope, he was really broken when I met him in the Swamps for the very first time. Long story short, he kept reminding me of the prophecy and my destiny as a hero and I believed every word of it"

"Then came the apes, and the trail of bodies I left as I pursued you to save the Guardians. Here my faith in the prophecy and the good, valiant hero started to falter. Step by step and I eventually landed in your lair, where we went through the portal and I defeated you. It was then when all my faith in the prophecy went to hell"

He swallowed, looking straight into her eyes "I have no regrets. Do you wish me to continue?"

She smiled reassuringly "Don't worry about me. This is your story, does it feel good to get this off your chest?"

"A little"

"Problem solved. Go on"

"Before I-" he ended abruptly. His neck sprang forward, planting a yearning kiss on her lips, that caught her completely by surprise.

"I'm sorry" he whispered as he pushed back, feeling her wavering breath on his nose

"I was supposed to be a hero, warrior of the light, what kind of hero saves his worst enemy?"

He stopped there, observing her closely, watching for any reaction that would make his heart break. She didn't show any, she just looked at him like a curious student with those beautiful green eyes of hers.

He never believed that it is possible to fall so deeply in love in somebody.

And yet here he was.

"My destiny was to smite evil, to bring prosperity, not to extend my paw to help my enemy to get up. A true hero would let you die back there when the realm started to collapse on us, a hero wouldn't hesitate to end the evil once and for all, that hero would bring prosperity and peace to the Realms, believing that your death would complete the circle of destruction and Good would triumph"

Cynder couldn't hold back any longer. She dropped down for a tight hug while bursting in tears "But you are a hero" she sobbed "Good has never triumphed better than in that day. I had no idea I was the one who...who..."

"You are my hero"

She licked his cheek fondly "I don't want to ruin your faith, how can you help people if you don't believe in yourself?"

Spyro scratched her head "You didn't ruin anything, you opened my eyes. Do you remember when we were in the temple? Do you remember the words I scratched on the stone? Do you remember what I said? I wasn't doing this just to make you feel better, it was coming from the bottom of my heart, today we just understood the meaning"

He drew her closer into the hug "There would be no Spyro without you" he whispered "You're the reason of my existence"

Cynder cried in his embrace.

"Hey now" he uttered, moved by her reaction "Don't cry" he rubbed her back with loving care "Don't cry"

"I...I can't help it" she sobbed and then suddenly started to laugh in between emotional hiccups "You-you are going to be the d-death of me"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to happen"

"T-there's nothing to apologize for silly" she blubbered "Those are therapeutic tears. I wasn't making stuff up either when I said I'm deeply traumatized. I'm broken Spyro, and you are the one who is putting me back together. You can't possibly imagine the feeling I'm experiencing right now, being hated for my whole life and now there is someone who says that I'm the reason why he still sees life in brighter colors"

"Me!" she cried again "Ancestors this is too much" she blurt out, breathing heavily

He held her tightly, allowing the tears to cleanse her of all emotion. She was happy, there was no denying that, yet he didn't like to see her cry, not like this. The only acceptable form of tears are those coming from choking laughter.

"it's okay" Spyro whispered when she eventually calmed down a bit

"You are a hero Spyro" Cynder sobbed as she raised her head, her eyes were glistening with tears "You saved me. You saved the world"

"I saved you, yes, but not the world. I've killed more people than Malefor ever did, I got Ignitus killed, my mentor who was a draconic father figure for me, I created the Veils, not so long ago I slaughtered my own people. Heroes don't do that Cynder. I'm a normal dragon, period"

"Boy, you have an ability to ruin the mood" she poked his chest fiercely "Listen to me young boy, I know that in my current wrecked state I'm not a figure of authority but nevertheless pay attention. If you weren't a hero then why are you so eager to help people?"

Spyro shrugged "Because that's the right thing to do, if I would stand idle I would throw away all the lessons my parents taught me" he caressed her moist cheek with a kind smile "I know what you are trying to do here Cynder, you don't have to cheer me up. I accepted my fate, I have to live with the consequences of my actions. You can't change my mind about it"

She frowned "Ok if you are so sure of yourself, I'll give you an example that I am right. The Veils, you can't be responsible for them, remember that we have an ancient creature hiding in the shadows now. You said yourself that he survived countless apocalypses, which I'm not so sure about since we don't know if the Destroyer walked the world in the previous era, but I digress. Creep is a survivor, let's say all the previous worlds ended like our almost did, he had to escape somehow right? He might have been the one that created the portals. You unleashed all your power when you mended our world, maybe it was enough for him to break through from whatever past he came from"

"Huh" Spyro sifted on the bed and looked at the ceiling thoughtfully "I didn't think about that"

Cynder grinned "See? All those things you mentioned, none are your fault, I can go on if you don't believe me"

He smiled "No need, you win"

She rubbed his chest consolingly, locating her favorite spot "Bad things happen to good people. That's how the universe works" she let out a small excited breath feeling his golden heart pulsing underneath her paw

Spyro caressed her leg affectionately "Good things happen to, you're the example of that. You're brilliant Cynder, if any of the things you said are true we might have found the way to fight back against anything the portals throw at us, that dragon has to know the weakness of every possible enemy. Not to mention that he might be also the only one who can help us close them once and for all"

"Should I call him?" she asked bluntly

At first he wanted to say yes, that theirs is no time to waste, but then he remembered all the things Cynder went through with that dragon, how he dragged her into the balcony to talk with her. All those things and more seemed just to suspicious to him, not to mention that he is Dark most likely, a black element. That was a stupid argument when he thought about it a little longer, Cynder also wields Dark and she is anything but evil, even if her beginning was a rough one, mildly put.

And yet, considering all of those options by some strange instinct he didn't trust that dragon.

"No" Spyro finally said, pulling her gently into a hug and resting his head on top of hers, staring at the wall of the room thoughtfully "We'll figure this on our own, he will be our last resort if it comes to that"

Cynder let out a breath of relief "Good, I would rather not talk with him"

"Baby steps, we are going to find Volteer, I need to speak with him about my Time powers, maybe he'll help me figure out the portals and how to manipulate them. I know it's possible. Then we need to figure out what those crystals are that Flare and Iris have in their chests, they have to related with the Veils somehow. In the meantime the Guardians will open the training grounds so we will have the chance to hone our skills, we're gonna need them, there's no doubt about that. As we do all of those things we pray that nothing even worse happens in the world and Brill and his group of fanatics won't do anything exclusively stupid. One dead family is enough"

She let out a defeated sigh "My plan of spending all day in bed went to hell I'm guessing?"

He kissed her forehead apologetically "I'm afraid so"

"Then at least let's stay here for a while longer. Let's make the world wait for us. Just this once"

"You can't imagine how much I love this idea"

The young couple remained cuddled like that for maybe an hour or so, enjoying each other's company. Time froze for the two young dragons, they were entirely lost in the silent moment, unconsciously knowing that they both well deserve it. Besides each other's company nothing interested them in the slightest, all of their problems vanished, all daily troubles were rendered unimportant.

Like the sad fact that the world did not wait for them.