Spyro: Dawn of Light

Part 2, Chapter 20

"Hurry up youngsters or we shall be late!" Cyril called into the temple. "Honestly, one would expect more respect and dignity from ones such as yourselves. Think of your stature!"

"What stature? We're hardly even half your height," Flame mumbled under his breath. The others snorted with laughter as they picked up the rest of their supplies and touched them to their sides, watching them disappear. Cynder ambled into the room, looking rather shy and nervous.

"Do...do I really...have to go?" she asked. Neves cocked his head at her in confusion, then slapped his forehead.

"Damn it! I totally forgot...Cynder, you're gonna have to stay here with Spyro, you're training with him later."

She looked over at Flame, even more nervous now. He sighed, walking over to her and nuzzling her. "Don't worry. I'll be back soon, Cynder. Spyro's not gonna bite, I promise. He's the one who saved you, after all."

"But...I don't want you to go..."

He hugged her with his wing and gently licked her cheek, leaning his head on hers as she leaned against him. "I don't really have much of a choice. I don't wanna go either, but...I have to."

"He'd laze around here all day if he could," Plazyma grumbled, flicking her head to the side to toss her crests out of her face briefly. "C'mon guys, before Cyril goes on another lengthy rant about his ancestry."

Flame lifted Cynder's chin and touched his nose to hers, looking her in the eyes. "We do this to end the strife...after it's over, we won't have all this worry. Love you, Cynder."

"Be safe..." she whispered as he followed the others out the door to the balcony. She watched them fly off after Cyril, then sighed and went into the Pool of Visions room to wait for Spyro to come back. He hadn't returned last night... She didn't need to wait long, though; the door to the balcony rolled open again, Spyro coming in looking worn-out.

"Never...take...a girl...shopping..." he grumbled, then shook himself off. "Geez...sunrise to midday, how can a girl shop for so long?" He wandered around the dojo for a bit, then huffed to himself. "Guess I'll go get Cynder...or should I do some research downstairs in the temple library first...bleh. I should've found out what we're supposed to be looking into..." He headed into the Pool room, finding Cynder sitting by the Pool with her chin on the edge, staring idly into the swirling green depths. "Hey Cynder...you okay?"

"Yeah...just bored..." she mumbled.

"Wanna go do something outside before we leave?"

"Like what?"

"I dunno...a walk in the garden?" he suggested lamely, grimacing to himself at how stupid it really sounded. Cynder didn't respond for a few minutes, but finally stood up and shrugged with her wings.

"Sounds good I guess. Better than being in here." She followed him outside; Spyro didn't notice, but she was keenly watching him as he walked in front of her, her eyes half-focused. Something about this...felt familiar to her. She couldn't place it, but walking behind him made her feel more at ease than she usually was. Was he part of her memories; was she on the verge of remembering something? The silence was getting to her though. "Um...where...where's Sparx?"

"Eh...he went home this morning. Poor little guy was so bored following me around, I had to talk him into going home for a bit to chill. He hasn't been able to do much here ever since I...rescued you." He trailed off there; Cynder picked up unease in his voice at that.

"...Why..?"

"Hm?"

"N-nothing." She averted her gaze, turning instead to the outside as they approached the doorway to the garden. It was turning into a desirable summer afternoon: perfect temperature, a soft cool breeze rustling the leaves, colorful giant butterflies fluttering through the air like living stained glass made of gemstones, the fragrance of sweet flowers around them...it felt very comforting, and so very familiar to her. In the sunlight Spyro seemed to shine with his own amethyst glow.

"Caelos set up some rope swings by the pond, wanna go check it out?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder at her.

"Uh...sure I guess..." she mumbled. He led her through a maze of hedges and statues, looking a little wild and grown-over without Rivyera tending to them. "I should trim these back for her..." she whispered to herself as she ducked under a vine reaching out across the path. When they rounded the corner she paused, staring. The pond...it looked so beautiful, flanked with fruit bushes blooming and cooled by a shady tree leaning over it, soft lush curtains of lichens hanging from the branches, more butterflies clinging to the curtains and feeding off the tiny flowers within...but what struck her more were shards and flashes of memories. She knew this place; this was where she used to dream they all would chill and relax after rigorous training rounds! As she slowly stepped onto the flagged stone steps leading into the pond, the touch of the water seemed to bring back even more to her mind. She wanted more...she wanted to know what her mind was struggling so hard to piece together...

A soft creaking noise caught her attention and she looked up to the side to see Spyro sitting on a broad-seated swing attached to the shade tree with thick silver ropes. "He did a good job on this," Spyro muttered to himself, bouncing on it a few times to test its weight durability. The branch groaned a few times but the swing gave very little under his weight. Cynder watched him intently, almost like a newborn studying something. "Hey Cynder, you wanna try this out?" he asked as he stepped off. She sat there motionless, making up her mind, then shyly waded out of the water, shook herself off quickly, and climbed up onto the swing slowly, looking it over. Spyro was patient with her, watching her as she got on, catching her when her paw slipped and she slid back a bit. She sat down and looked around at the pond and surrounding garden. Her wings flared out subconsciously when the swing slowly moved forward, then swung back a little. Looking down at it, then at her wings, she gave a little flap, then leaned back and forth, getting the swing to move a bit. "Here...lemme help." Spyro sat down and laid his paw on the back of the swing, gently pushing her forward and letting it swing back. Cynder was almost transfixed by the new sensation as she gradually swung further forward and backward. It was monotonous, but...strangely soothing and fun. Spyro couldn't help but grin as a smile slowly spread across her face.

They went on like this for about an hour, Cynder leaning her head back and smiling wide as she felt the wind blow past. She opened her eyes and spotted a vivid yellow butterfly almost as big as her head right in front of her on the curtain, instinctively reaching out for it. In doing so she slipped forward off the swing with a yelp, spreading her wings but not catching the air in time to glide. It didn't matter though; instead of hitting the water and the paved pond bottom, she landed in Spyro's arms.

"You okay?" he asked. She yelped again and scrambled out of his arms, retreating a few steps before looking back at him, hunkered low in the water like a cornered animal. Spyro just stared at her in hurt confusion, then turned away with a sigh, climbing out of the pond. "Sorry..." He slowly wandered off through the maze, leaving her standing there watching in confusion. Silently she trailed him, wondering what was wrong. She located him a few turns into the maze, lying down near a small flowerbed, staring at...

"...Frezonias..." Cynder whispered to herself when she spotted them. Rivyera had planted them and Cynder had seen them sprout, but this first bloom...and Spyro sitting next to it...

Spyro looked over his shoulder when he heard someone sniffling behind him. Cynder sat there with tears trailing down her face as she stared at him. "Cynder? You okay?"

She shook her head, mouth quivering. "Spyro...I'm..I'm so sorry..."

He stood up, growing concerned. Was this another meltdown he'd need to go get Ignitus for? "For what?"

"For everything...everything I've put you through...that night that we promised not to hurt each other...all I've done since then is hurt you..."

"...You...remember?"

She nodded, wiping her eyes. "I remember that night...then Tephra took me and knocked me out...I don't remember anything else..."

He sat down beside her, nuzzling her. "Cynder..." She looked away, shivering. "Hey...it's okay. What's wrong?"

"I don't know...I don't feel like myself...I don't know who I am..."

He hugged her close, feeling her lean against him. "I do, Cynder. I know who you are. And I want to help you find yourself again." He pushed her back a bit and turned her face to his. "Will you let me?"

She managed a small smile, her jaw quivering. "Please, Spyro...I need your help..." She buried her face against his chest, letting him hug and hold her close. Breathing in his faint scent, it felt as if something were washing away from her head; she felt clearer, though she couldn't remember anything...but she liked the clearer feeling, as if she was breathing fresh air after being stuck in pollution for years. He gently stroked her back, kneading his paws against her scales... it all felt so familiar... she snuggled closer against him, tears silently streaming down her face. How could she ever have hated someone so caring?

Deep inside Mount Elamrof, Tephra paced up and down the vast lines of constructs. Huge, glittering golems made of diamond and corundum seemed to illuminate the entire chamber as they caught the light from the torches and lightgems and refracted it everywhere, a maze of prisms waiting to do her bidding as they hibernated. Many smaller crystal and stone and metal golems, fashioned like automaton mechs for infantry rhynocs and gnorcs, colored the floors as they stood organized by material. The thousands of troops were deeper in the mountain mining furiously for Ripto to build up their strength and endurance; the sounds of picks, magic blasts, energy engines and huge drills and conveyor belts echoed dimly through the halls. Tephra only heard her own claws clacking against the stone floor though as she surveyed her golems with a wicked grin.

"Grendor has thoroughly outdone himself," she cackled. Stopping by a golem still in progress, she took the time to carefully look it over. Such fine, careful precision... she sighed, her face softening. "He puts so much heart and beauty into these...it seems almost sinful to just march them into battle..." Looking back up at the assembled constructs again she frowned to herself sadly. Was all this really worth it? Putting Grendor's beautiful works of art through war...for what?

"Do they meet your approval?"

Tephra yipped and spun around to see Grendor standing there, donned in a white robe with trim and decorations the same color as his armored hat, which in the three years he'd been here had never left his head. The horn on his nose was still all she had ever seen of his face...but as she stood there looking at him, she knew there was so much more than just a rhynoc lord under that hat. It took her a bit to process his question. "Yes, they're wonderful."

He walked up to her, running his hand along her side. She felt her hide shiver a bit at his touch. "Tephra...are you positive you want to help Ripto?"

"If it will prevent Spyro from fulfilling his destiny, and will free him, then yes."

"You're doing all this just to get revenge on Spyro, Tephra. It's not too late to back out now."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked down at him. "What do you care? Why are you suddenly so interested in backing out?"

"I'm not. I'm just trying to advise you to do this for reasons other than just plain and simple vengeance."

"Why do you care about how I choose my life?" She snorted and walked away a few steps. "Grendor...why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you...look after me the way you do?"

His hat turned to the side and angled down as he looked at the floor. "Because..."

"And why have you never removed that hat? The whole time I've known you, you've had that smelly thing on."

His hand ran along the brim of his wizard peak. "Tephra...if my hat is removed, I die. It's a curse. I am who I am as long as this hat stays on my head, but once it's removed...I'm gone."

She stared at him, mouth slightly agape as she tried to think of something to say but only tripped over her own tongue. "I..."

"And for your first question... Tephra, I know it's odd and unorthodox and a myriad of wrongs, but...I..." He turned away from her. "I've...grown to like you over these past three years. More than like you... so... I apologize for my untoward behaviors, it's unprofessional. We sit on the verge of our triumph, so now it's time for us to focus on the task at hand."

"Grendor..." she whispered, doubling back and slowly approaching him.

"Any day now the troops will break through the sealing layer. Then it'll be time to engage those young brats and finally wipe them out."

"Gren..."

"I'm sorry Tephra. It was silly of me to-" He stopped short as she grabbed his horn and turned his head to look up at her. They stared at each other for the longest time, neither of them sure where to go from there, but finally Tephra gave him a quick, shy lick on the nose, then sank through the floor in embarrassment, the stone closing up over her. Grendor just stood there in pure shock, absently rubbing his nose. High above on one of the darkened observation decks, a sickly-green gemstone eye was watching in amusement. Turning away from the window, Gaul snorted to himself and shuffled back to the command room where Ripto was observing the outside world through several hovering black stone spheres. The red dinosaur creature was perched on his throne, got up in a fluffy purple cape with red trim and a darker purple vest, his staff floating nearby, the gem at its crown slowly shifting between elemental colors. Off in the corner, Gnasty Gnorc was chipping away at crystals, creating rudimentary gems to transform into more gnorcs for him to command. As Gaul neared Ripto's throne, Gnasty hefted himself up and grabbed his warhammer, using it as a cane as he limped over. He rarely weighed in on their discussions, but always listened, noting down how next Ripto planned to abuse his minions.

"Lord Gaul..." Ripto mumbled, glancing up with his eyes. "How soon until your forces break through the seal?"

Gaul chuckled in his deep, scratchy voice. "By my arts, I predict it will not be long. Long have we waited, long have we suffered, but soon...yes...very soon. Within the next three days or so." The huge ape drew one of the two huge scimitars from behind his back, running his thumb along the edge. "Tell me, Lord Ripto...when can I expect my prime student to be returned to me?"

"If you're talking about Cynder, I cannot say for sure. It's all up to her. Some sort of force I cannot comprehend is foiling my control over her. I doubt even your highest magic could restore it. She cannot endure there for long though, I see that much. Soon she will return to us. And Spyro, smart as he is, will eventually cave to his curiosity and return to the forbidden chamber beneath Warfang. The seeds have been planted; with just a little more goading, those two keys will be out of the way and our conquest will be more or less perfect. The other brats have left with one of the guardians and they're heading quite the distance."

"Shall I send in my ninjas again?"

Ripto stared into one of the orbs. "...Yes. They cannot infiltrate the island, but I sense that Spyro and Cynder are alone there. They will most likely have errands at the Settlement once more after that bombing run our friends the Skavengers so foolishly pulled off. Have your ninjas follow them, but do not strike...not just yet. Observe and look for weakness in both of them."

"Yes. Observation is vital."

"Take a few of Gnasty's gnorcs as well and have them wait in hiding, just in case something arises."

A heavy thud sounded next to the throne and they both looked over to see Gnasty standing there looking thoroughly angry. "You no ask me first, puny brat. How many times I tell you you ask me first how to use MY minions?"

Ripto shrugged. "Approximately five hundred and seventy-eight times, seventy-nine now."

The twin gems comprising the head of his warhammer began to spark and glow. "Why it not make difference to your ass of a head?"

"You fail to realize that as we're all in this plan, and I am leading it, I control your minions just as I control Grendor's and Gaul's. You are no exception, Gnasty. You will do as you're told." Gnasty roared, spinning and bringing his hammer whipping around straight at Ripto. The blow never fell though; a loud clinking of chain links rang out and the hammer stopped inches in front of Ripto, straining against a thick-lined steel chain extending from Gaul's bracer. Ripto boredly went back to gazing into his scrying crystals. "Gaul, do me a favor and show this insubordinate his place. Again."

The burly green gnorc pulled his hammer free, turning to Gaul, who drew his other sword, brandishing two enormous scimitars. Gnasty yelled and swung at him, Gaul teleporting just before the hammer struck him, leaving the blow to go wide and smite the floor with a bright yellow flash. Gaul reappeared behind him, lunged into the air, and brought his scimitars down blades-first into the floor as Gnasty rolled out of the way, the shockwaves of the impact catching the gnorc and sending him sprawling. He reached for his hammer, but Gaul glared at it, a green beam shooting from his gemstone eye and hitting the weapon, sending it skittering across the chamber. Gnasty stood up slowly, clutching his arm and sneering at Gaul.

"Fine. You win. Again. But someday I crush you, and Ripto, and anyone else who order me around." Limping, he retrieved his hammer and left the room.

"I almost pity how peabrained he is," Ripto mumbled nonchalantly. He didn't notice it, but Gaul glared at him sidelong. The huge ape grunted and sheathed his swords, the chain wrapping itself around his forearm again as he too left. Ambling down the hallway he soon encountered Gnasty pouting at one of the observation windows, watching Grendor at work on the unfinished golem.

"What you want..." he grumbled miserably.

"The runt's treatment of you is unfair for anyone," Gaul grunted, watching Grendor as well. "I'm not sorry for my part in that, but Ripto will be sorry for putting you through that."

"I crush that brat...Grendor say wait."

"Grendor too? Interesting..." the ape grunted to himself. "You will get your chance. I will see to it. I don't care who wins so long as he is restored."

"Who this 'he' you idiots talk about?"

"If Ripto has not told you, then you should leave and take your army with you. He's using you."

Gansty growled to himself with deep rage. "He promise me I crush Spyro, he promise Tephra she kill Spyro...Ripto is idiot. Spyro is MINE."

The ape nodded. "Indeed he is. And soon you will have him. You are the only one of us who cannot completely die, so even if things fail, you will still have your chance."

Gnasty stared at Grendor as the rhynoc mage carefully placed crystal components into the golem's chest cavity. "Is...is I...a golem too?" he asked, but silence was his only answer. He turned to see Gaul already walking away down the hall. Gnasty sighed sadly and looked back out the window at the thousands of glittering crystals he had to animate later with his gnorc spells. "I crush you, Spyro..."

As he delicately placed the golem's crystal eye, Grendor sighed to himself, his mind blazing with thought. "Once we break through the sealing layer, it's time for the Four-G movement... and then after that it's a patient wait until the appointed time... I just hope Ripto is correct about the mountain's contents and that this isn't a wild goose chase. If Mount Elamrof isn't the seal, then we've wasted an entire four years. He did say it was a hefty price for the information from Red and that ugly sorceress...but this had better be correct." He sighed, leaning back to observe his work, then rubbed his nose again, lost in thought. "Tephra..." He looked up at the ceiling and sighed heavily. "If only you knew, Tephra...if only this hat could be removed without that penalty..."

Tephra holed herself up in her own secret chamber deep within the mountain, an isolated pocket in the stone that no one else knew of, not even Ripto in all his vain scrying and magic power. She sat in front of a crystal-paned mirror backed with pure silver and lined with gorgeous deep-hued rubies, looking herself over sheepishly. Turning to a large gold-inlaid crystal sphere she draped herself over it, idly rolling back and forth with it under her chest as she thought. Grendor...liked her? Was she...did he consider her a friend? Could she consider him one? "He's been taking care of me...never exploiting me...always talking to me..." she whispered to herself, then groaned and dragged her paws down her face. "No no no no, what the hell am I doing...this isn't revenge against Spyro, but...for Sidian..." She sighed, flopping off the orb onto her back and staring at the gem-lit ceiling. "Sidian...are you even still alive? I miss you so much... Grendor is so much like you it almost hurts to be around him..." She snarled, the loose rocks on the floor around her skittering around the floor. "Spyro will die...because of him I lost everything...and everyone will lose everything if he's allowed to discover his purpose."