A Dragon out of Time, A Crash and Spyro Story

Chapter 18: Because Spyro Disappeared Part 3

What he had saved her from, that path Malefor had started her on... She owed him her life. Instead he would have her heart.

"I love you Spyro."

"I love you, too, Cynder."

It had been mildly difficult and took a bit longer than Cynder anticipated, but now Ripto lay underneath her, moments away from death. Her master had been very specific: be Ripto's tool to unearth and destroy the resistance, and when the rebels fell execute Ripto. But Cynder wanted to know something before she carried out her master's instructions. Ripto had claimed that he knew all there was to know about her. She would make him tell her everything, or else Ripto's last few moments of life would be in the worst pain he could ever imagine.

"Talk. I want you to tell me everything you know about me."

"Malefor... he, he will betray you."

Cynder dug her claws into Ripto's chest and began to pull downwards slowly, creating four parallel lines as Ripto screamed in agony. "Mention my master's name one more time, and this will happen to your face." Cynder again pressed her right front paw on top of Ripto, pressing down hard against his chest, making it difficult for him to breath and somewhat prevented the scars she created on his chest from oozing blood in order to prolong her captive's life for a few minutes longer. "Tell me what you know, now."

"Malefor..." Cynder pressed down on Ripto's chest hard because he mentioned her master's name again, but allowed him to continue without further interruption. "Agh... eight years ago, your grandfather offered you to Malefor after you were laid by your mother to appease him."

"Why?"

"Be... because your Grandfather worshiped him. Malefor believed you would have exceptional control over the Convexity when you grew up, as a purple male Dragon does, and demanded to have you."

"How do you know this?"

"Because I was the one who murdered your mother and delivered you to Malefor."

"So eight years ago, when the purple Dragon Malefor foresaw to be born was abducted and destroyed; and he also set in motion for me to be stolen from the Dragon Realms? That isn't possible; I'm much older than eight years."

Ripto took whatever satisfaction he could from Cynder's momentary remorse and chuckled. "You're current age is a result of Malefor's... tampering. You're father, Ignitus, was tasked with rescuing that unfortunate unborn purple Dragon from the thieves Malefor convinced the Sorceress to send, and in the process Ignitus' wife's fate was left to me. And the worst of it is you're grandfather Red, a member of the Dragon Elder's, intentionally tasked his son with perusing those three thieves, making it easier for me to abduct you, kill your mother, and deliver you to your precious master." Ripto coughed up blood before he continued with whatever moxie he had left to taunt Cynder. "You call him your master, but he has ruined your life. For whatever perverted reason [coughs again], he has made you his slave. I bet he plans to rape you when you grow older! It's what you deserve!"

Ripto laughed as loud as he could, Before Cynder set him ablaze. She moved away from the flaming caucus and stood still, lost in thought as Ripto shriek in pain and eventually died. She didn't want it to be true, but she searched her feelings and knew it to be so. Cynder had been completely obedient and loyal to her master for her entire life. But in this moment, she wondered what her life could have been like had she never been abducted from the Dragon Realms. It... It didn't matter. This was her life, this was her purpose. Malefor was waiting for a response and Cynder won't delay him. As Ripto had done minutes ago, she used his spell to summon a ghostly image of her master to speak to. After a few moments, he appeared and she spoke.