Spyro (classic version)

Chapter Sixteen: She is just like me

"Spyro?" called a voice "Spyro!"

Spyro opened his eyes slowly. He looked around, and when he saw who had spoken, he jumped.

Cynder was sitting there, watching him. Her eyes were now permanently kind and green, as opposed to their old sinister yellow. Her horns were no longer arranged in a demonic crown either, but rather small and round. Spyro had forgotten how she looked now.

"Where are we?" asked Spyro.

"The dragon temple," said Cynder, "Ignitus brought us back last night. You've been asleep for nearly eight hours."

"Where's Sparx?" asked Spyro. Cynder rolled her eyes.

"He's fine, he just didn't want to be in the same room as me," she replied.

"Why not?" asked Spyro.

"From what I've learned about him, he tends to hold a grudge," Cynder told him. She looked around the room fondly.

"It's weird seeing things from down here," she told him. Spyro went and sat with her.

"Why did you come back for me?" she asked him.

"I couldn't leave you behind, not after you learned the truth," said Spyro, "I wanted you to have chance to be yourself, not just a puppet."

Cynder looked at him, and gave a shy smile.

"Thank you," she said weakly. The doors opened, and in flew Sparx, keeping a wary eye on Cynder.

"Ignitus wants to speak with you both," he told them.

They walked into the main hall of the temple, where the guardians were waiting.

"Are you feeling any better, Spyro?" asked Ignitus.

"I don't know," said Spyro, "Escaping that place drained the last of my energy. I don't think I can fight any time soon."

"Yes, your escape will have taken a significant toll on your powers, but they will return soon enough," said Ignitus, "And what about you, Cynder?"

"I'm not sure," she replied, "This is all new to me."

"Yes, it will be," said Ignitus, "I believe I owe you an apology, Cynder."

"Why?" she asked.

"Everything that's happened since the night of the raid, everything the dark master made you do, it's all my fault, I should have read the signs more carefully, I should have prepared," said Ignitus.

"It wasn't just a fault of yours, Ignitus, we all take a hand in this responsibility, " said Volteer. The other dragons nodded in agreement.

"Be that as it may," said Ignitus, "We are all together again now, thanks to Spyro."

Cynder looked at him affectionately, and the guardians watched him in wonder. Spyro felt slightly embarrassed.

"You don't have to apologise, Ignitus," said Cynder, "What I did is my own fault. You shouldn't have let me live here, I don't deserve it."

"Cynder," said Ignitus, "You can pass through the gate of innocence, which means that your soul is pure and untarnished. Nothing you have done is your fault, and now is the time to show the world who you truly are."

Cynder looked down, not entirely convinced.

"You two need rest," said Ignitus, "You have achieved so much, you deserve some down time."

Spyro and Cynder walked out onto a balcony. Spyro looked out into the sky. He had an odd feeling, like they weren't safe, like they had forgotten to do something.

"See anything, Spyro?" asked Cynder, sitting next to him.

"No, but I have a bad feeling," he replied.

"Me too," she replied quietly. Spyro looked at her. He had an odd feeling, nothing bad, but he felt almost shy around her. He didn't know what it was. She was rather pretty...

"Hey, you guys gonna spend all night staring at the sky? I want to get to bed!" said Sparx. Spyro came to his senses, and walked away. Cynder, however, stayed where she was.

I don't deserve this... she thought sadly. She looked back at where Spyro had vanished, and sighed.

She knew, deep down, that it wasn't over for her. Spyro may have freed her, but the dark master was still looking for her, still out there. They weren't out of the woods just yet...