Cynder's betrayal Chapter 2 Some scars don't heal.

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#4 of Cynder's betrayal original

The unfinished draft of chapter two.


Flame's P.O.V

Twelve years have passed since Cynder killed Cyril, and Elder Thomas was not vary happy when he heard that she got away and he started to blame Spyro for it when we found his butterfly jar in the same cave we found one of Cynder's arms, but as time went on he came to realized Spyro wasn't really to blame, but he still scolded him for saying he'd do something stupid, something he said he regrets when Spyro decided to move to Skylands when a Portal Master known as Master Eon asked for he's help. As for Cynder, no one as seen her in all this time even though the Dragon Elders put a bounty her, I'm starting to think she has allies.

"Master Flame? Hay Master Flame!" I saw Bandit Armadillo, my brother-in-law, running up to me.

"You don't have to call me that Bandit," I said to him. "I'll already told you this."

"Sorry," He said a bit sad looking down. "I just don't what to sound disrespectful."

"It's cool, You have never once been disrespectful to us dragons Bandit," I told him. It's true that Bandit is never disrespectful to our ways, even though most dragons didn't like him because his an armadillo. "Specist jerks," I thought to myself angrily.

"Thanks Mas.. I mean Flame," He said happily rubbing the back of he's head.

"Don't mention it," I replied with a chuckle. "By the way, what is it you where running up to me for?" I asked.

"Oh yeah!" He said as his eyes widened. "Spyro has come back!"

"Really?" I replied with shock. "Where is he?"

"I'll show you," He replied.

"Okay thanks," I said with a smile.

"Your welcome," he said also smiling as he lead me to the Dragon Dojo and when we got there we headed east-south to the training ring is.

As we arrived I saw other apprentices around the ring, I thanked Bandit as he left since he said he had plans with my sister Ember, I pushed past some of the apprentices to get a better look and I saw the one, the only, Spyro The Dragon!

He was training against some Cynder clones as the training ring can make any opponent you want as long as you've fought it once before, something we got from the old Dragon temple which was destroyed during the Dark Master's war. Or at least that's what the Dragon Elders told me.

Even though the clones had all of Cynder's powers they where still no match for him as he used all he's skills to destroy them, when one clone tried to attack using it's fear element Spyro just used his wings to block it and send it right back at the clone causing it to feel the affects of the element, another one uses it's shadow element to try and get close to him but he uses Chi element on it which destroys it.

Chi is said to be the most powerful of all the elements, even Aether also known as Convexity to the avalerins doesn't even come close to it, so maybe it's was good that only two dragons in the whole world could use it, Elder Sensei who was the one who mastered it and Spyro who was the only person he deemed worthy of knowing this power. I mean seeing that it can take down most foes in one hit like some one-hit-ko attack in some game says something of it's power.

Spyro smashers one of the Cynder clone's head to pieces with his tail as another clone tried to attack Spyro with it's tail blade, but he teleports beside it and grabs and throws it into the air, the clone having no time to use it's wrings to stop it from hitting the ground hard.

The way Spyro was fighting I could guess he is using the Dragon Kata fighting style, another thing Elder Sensei Taught him, it is said that the moves of that style can hurt even non-physical foes.

Two more Cynder clones try to attack him from both sides with their claws, but he uses his tail to knock them back and then uses chi to destroy not just those two but all the others as well.

Even though I knew Spyro was awesome it always surprised me everytime I saw him in action, as a Purple Dragon there was no limit to how powerful he can become and no dragon breed that can match him.

I could see sadness in his eyes as the others left to do their own things, I knew that the reason he chose Cynder was because he still felt guilty for letting her go and this was he's way of punishing himself, something I didn't like seeing him do especially if he's been doing it twelve years. If anything Cynder should be the one punishing herself because off how ungrateful she was to everyone's kindness.

Flashback twelve years ago four weeks before Cynder killed Cyril.

"Are you sure about this Cynder?" My sister said as she and Cynder got ready for a sparring match at the Dragon Dojo.

"Of course Ember, I need to train and no one else wants to spar with me." Cynder replayed back getting into position. It was true, not many people trusted Cynder because of her past, and her attitude certainly didn't help win them over.

"Well, if you say so." My sister said as she too got into position. My sister wasn't someone who liked fighting, but only did it when it was necessary like sparring.

"This sparring match is between Ember and Cynder!" Master Conan said as he was going to be the referee for this match. "Remember no lethal blows and the match is over when one is unable to continue. There are some Physicians on stand by with red butterflies should any serious injury happen during this exercise." He said as he then looked at my sister. "Ember are you ready?"

"Yes master Conan." My sister said before bowing.

Master Conan nodded to her before looking at Cynder. "Cynder are you ready?"

"Ha, I was born ready," Cynder said as it looked like she was cracking her neck. "Let's to this." she said with a hint of cockiness in her voice.

Master Conan didn't look happy with that response but only nodded before saying. "Begin!"

Cynder was the first to act as she tried using her wind element on my sister who naturally saw it coming and dodged it by jump rolling to the side before countering with a fire ball in mid dodged, Cynder saw it coming and just managed to dodge it by jumping out of the way.

"Not bad." My sister said sounding impressed. "That attack usually gets you, your showing improvement."

Cynder shakily got up, it appears that even though my sister's attack didn't hit her, it's raw heat had effected her. That or she just winded herself when she dodged. When most looked at Cynder they thought she was built for speed, something that isn't all that true as she is only as fast as the average dragon as well as physically strong as one.

"Thanks, I've been practicing," She replied giving my sister a cocky grin. "Now it's my turn!"

She then turned into shadow and tried to attack my sister from below, my sister just stood there and waited, once Cynder was close enough she used her wings to block the attack and then she pushed her off-balance with them, before Cynder could recover my sister shoulder bashed her in the rips knocking her down.

As Cynder was got up she glared angry at my sister using a Siren Scream at her but my sister just countered it with a... Siren Scream? Wait since when did my sister have the fear element? Runes with those elements are extremely rare. Cynder was also seemed to be confused by this and my sister wasted no time in attacking with lightning which surprisingly seems to effect her greatly. The metal blades and bracelets on Cynder's body conducting the attack like lightning rods, Cynder screamed and fell to the ground in pain.

"That's enough!" Master Conan said "This match is over!" My sister lost her combat stance and went over to Cynder and extended one of her hands to her to help her up.

"Are you okay?" She asked with concern. Cynder just looked away.

"Don't touch me." She said bitterly, my sister frowned at that and so did I, this was not the first time Cynder did that because everytime she lost to someone she got upset over it. Maybe it's because she's an Undead Dragon who are known for their pride and greed, I mean she might not look like one but she dose have those markings that only the female ones have.

As the Physicians tried to approach her to make sure she was okay she snapped to them too. "I said don't touch me!" Naturally they backed off from her there eyes showing fear.

"That's enough Cynder!" Came a harsh voice, as we all looked to it we saw the Dragon Elders were standing there, well Elders Tomas, Red and Titan were anyway. "Let them do their job!" Elder Titan yelled glaring at her.

"But..." Cynder was about to protest until Elder Tomas spoke.

"Cynder... there is no shame in letting people help you when you need it." His voice was soft as he tried to assure her.

"I don't need help from the likes of you!" She spat glaring at him.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TALK TO HIM LIKE THAT!" Yelled Elder Titan who looked like he was going to sock her one before Elder Red put a hand on his shoulder.

"Titan don't," Said Elder Red before Elder Titan swats his hand away glaring at him.

"DON'T TOUCH ME TRAITOR!" He snapped at him. So Elder Titan still hasn't forgiven Elder Red for what happened all those years ago, Elder Red lowed his head in shame.

"Now Elder Titan," Came a voice causing us to turn to see Cyril landing a few feet away. "I'm sure Elder Red was only trying to help."

"Ha. That will be the day," snorted Elder Titan as he walked away. Elder Red still had his head down as Cyril walking up to him.

"Don't take it too hard," Cyril reassured. "It just takes time, isn't that right Cynder?" He looked where she was and just like me noticed she was trying to limp away. She most have been hurt more then she looked. "Hay! wait!" He yelled as he was going to go after her but noticed she had stopped.

"How can you?" She said not looking back at him.

"What?" Cyril said as he stopped a few feet from her.

"How can you love another male?!" She yelled glaring back at him. I was shocked by what she said and so was everyone else, but none was more shocked then Cyril.

"W-w-wha..."

"It's not natural!" Cynder interrupting Cyril before he could say anything.

"Cynder!" My sister said as she walking up to them. "You can't tell someone who they can and can't love."

"Bu..." Cynder tried to say but this time she interrupted by Cyril.

"Ember's right Cynder," He said as Elder Tomas walked beside him. "Love is love."

"That was vary open minded of you Cyril," Elder Tomas joked with a bit of a chuckle, putting an arm over he's shoulder. "Nothing like a noble."

"Perhaps your personality has rubbed off on me," Cyril joked back gently poking he's husband with he's wing.

I smiled at this, it was nice to see a couple show affection to each other... Not that I'm into romance or anything like that. I then noticed that Cynder was still glaring at them but didn't do anything as the Physicians got close to her again. I shook my head before walking off, maybe if she was more understanding other people would want to be her friend.

End of flash back.

Tears almost appeared in my eyes as I remembered that day. If I had took notice sooner then Cyril might still be alive. Just then Spyro flew out of the training ring over to were I stood, he didn't even look tired which isn't a surprise considering his a Purple Dragon. "Hey Spyro." I said waving at him after wiping my face to make sure I didn't have tears in my eyes.

"Hey." he said half-heartedly without looking at me as he walked past to get he's goggles and bag, I frowned at this.

"Are you alright?" I asked, I knew he wasn't but it didn't hurt to ask.

"I'm fine." He said continuing to walk so I walked after him.

"Spyro I'm your friend, if ther..." I tried to say before he turned around glaring at me.

"I said I'm fine okay?!" He snapped, I took a step back in surprise and fear. Spyro must have notice because his expression softened. "I'm sorry." He said with a sigh. "I shouldn't be taking it out on you, it's just..." he looked down as he continued "... Some people in this land still think I was in on Cyril's murder because I let Cynder go." He finished gritting he's teeth.

It was true that some people thought Spyro was Cynder's accomplice and wanted to see him punished, which meant imprisonment, banishment or execution, the latter being suggested by those who always saw Spyro as a monster just because his a purple dragon and were afraid he might up like Malefor and Stranger even though he is too pure heart, I mean Spyro has this darkness in him and he has 100% control over it.

Still at least the Dragon Elder's council wasn't willing to punish the one person who was the only reason we are all alive now, but that didn't stop people from pushing it or trying to take the law into their own hands. You would think that after the Peacekeepers started using force (more force then they already use) those 'vigilantes' would get it through their thick skulls that they are in the wrong. I mean Spyro did so much for all of us and this is how they repay him?! "ungrateful jerks." I thought.

"Look I don't know what their problem is, I mean I was with you when that worm killed the only person that was like a father to me." It was true I did see Cyril as a father figure.

Flashback fourteen years ago two years before Cynder killed Cyril.

"Concentrate Flame!" Cyril instructed me as I was trying to get the hang of my new ice breath, it was much harder then breathing fire. "No! No! Flame!" he yelled stopping me "Your trying to breath it like it's fire, with ice, you need to also use your saliva as well or it will not work at all."

"My saliva?" I questioned, that sounded really weird, with fire, all you needed to do was reach into your core.

"Yes, yes that's exactly right." He said in that way a noble did when they where proud of themselves. "Unlike the other elements, ice needs liquid to work otherwise your just breathing out air, and not the element one." He continued. "Each of the elements has a trick, one that is unique to that element." he said as he walked over to me. "Without it you can't use the element." he finished sitting down next to me.

"So you need to know the trick that only works for the el..."

"No no! those tricks aren't just for one and only one element." he corrected cutting me off. "The water element also requires the use of saliva or it won't work."

"Water element?" I asked curiously, I had never heard of it before.

"Yes water element." Cyril stated "It is a unique element as it can't kill the enemy it hits."

That confused me. "But if it can't kill your foe then how can it be of any use?" I asked.

Cyril looked at me with surprise. "Not all elements have to kill; Flame, some can weaken a foe." he stated "Sometimes weakening a foe is better then killing them."

"How So." I asked.

"Sometimes a foe might be powerful or being controlled by another, and you might need to weaken them without killing them in the presence." He looked me in the eye before finishing. "Not everyone who fights you is evil, Flame."

That did make sense, but then I had one question. "How do you know all this?" I immediately regretted saying that as it might seem like I was saying 'I think you shouldn't be this smart' but Cyril just smiled.

"I studied." Looking ahead he continued. "Most think that just because I come from a noble family that I'm pompous and oblivious to the more important things in this world like training a hero to save us all and while I'm proud of my heritage and nothing will ever change that, I'm not a fool as most people think. In fact; being a noble means I have to know more about these things than most common people." Looking back at me he finished. "It's both a blessing and a curse."

I looked to him and I could see some stress in he's eyes. "I never thought being noble could be so stressful." I thought. "If you don't f..." I tried to say before he cuts me off again.

"No no it's quite alright, after all, what kind of Guardian would I be if I didn't help the next generation." He smiled "But enough about that, let's get back to your training."

"Okay." I said as a training dummy appeared.

"Remember, Flame." Cyril said before I could start. "Ice is the first element dragonkind has ever used, so use it with pride and remember what I said about the trick."

"I will." I said.

End of flash back.

I almost teared up again at remembering that, Cyril was a good person, he was willing to train me, he didn't care that I was not the strongest dragon, all he cared about was making me the best me I could be.

"Flame," I heard Spyro say which brought me back to reality. "Did I do the right thing?"

"Huh?" I said confused. "What do you mean?"

"Did I do the right thing when I saved Cynder?" He said doubt in he's voice. "Because I'm starting to feel like non of this would hav..."

"Yes," I said honestly which obviously confused him. "You did the right thing Spyro," I walked over to him and put my hand on his shoulder. "You gave her a chance when no one else would have, it's not your fault she chose to forsake that trust for her selfish rubbish." Anger was in my voice now.

"But if I didn't save her than Cyril might still be..." Spyro replied looking down.

"You had no idea that Cynder was going to do that none of us did, so please," I said squeezing his shoulder a little. "Stop blaming yourself for something that was out of your control."

Spyro looked up at me shocked. "Bu..."

"No buts Spyro," I interrupted him. "Cynder alone is to blame, you have done nothing but try to help people. WELL man, even those Skylander dudes can see it if they let you join their club."

For a moment Spyro was silent, but then he smiled "Who are you and what have you done with Flame?"

"Huh?" Was all I could say before I realized he was joking. "Hay!" I jokingly replied before we both started laughing.

After a moment the laughter died down. "Thank you Flame," Spyro said to me.

"For what?" I replied.

"For setting me straight" Spyro answered.

"Your welcome man." I replied patting his shoulder as I took my hand away.

Spyro puts he's goggles on as he takes out a red bandanna from he's bag and puts it on, it looks like the same ones the balloonist wear all the time.

"I'm heading to the inn, do you want to come?" Spyro asked.

"Sure, I could use a day where I'm not the one cooking," I replied.

"I thought you liked cooking?" Spyro said raising an eyebrow.

"Doesn't mean I want to do it all the time," I replied walking up to him.

Spyro and I where walking through the streets of the Dragon Village to the inn which was located in the Dragon Shores. It was a silent walk as we didn't really have anything to talk about, at least... that's what I felt about it.

But as we got to the south gate four dragons blocked our way. We knew who they are as they caused problems for Spyro in the past.

The first is Zen, a female avalerin who always wears a metal mask with red and yellow strips down the sides to hide the scars on her face she got Dark Master's war, she has black scales and red eyes. She hated Spyro simply because he's a Purple Dragon and she feared he would be like Malefor, something that would never happen.

Second is Ashly, a female Undead Dragon, that unlike Cynder looked like a typical example of her breed, having pale eyes and purple scales ( honestly it was no surprise people thought they were purple dragons do to their scale colour ). She didn't like Spyro simply because he's a Purple Dragon and Undead Dragons fear Purple Dragons because of what Malefor did to them twenty thousand years ago ( at least that's what she tells everyone ).

Next is Telepath, a female avalerin with one eye who lost the other one in the Dark Master's war to Cynder when she was on Malefor's side ( maybe she still is ), she has red scales and her eye is yellow. She didn't like Spyro because he was one of the few people who could use the pool of visions better than her.

And last is Tyberius, a male avalerin with black scales and green eyes who has a crush on Cynder and thinks Spyro had something to do with her killing Cyril, at least he use to think that, he stopped saying that after Spyro left.

"You!" Zen yelled pointing at Spyro with disdain. "What are you doing here?"

"Do I need a reason?" Spyro replied crossing his arms.

"After everything you've done you have to audacity to ssshow your face around here," Ashly hissed.

"This is my home too," Spyro replied getting angry.

"Not after you left, what you think you can just leave and comeback when you please?" Telepath said glaring at him.

"I was helping other heroes save the world," Spyro yelled.

"But who is going to save us from you?" Zen replied.

"You're still going on about that?" I said. "You know that's not how it works."

"So they say," Zen said as she started to walk towards us with her friends fallowing. "But they also said that Malefor was like this Purple Dragon when he was young and look how he turned out."

"Malefor chose to become evil!" Spyro yelled fists clenching his fists, He was getting angry since most people use Malefor as a reason to hate him.

"Guys maybe we should stop antagonizing him," Tyberius said looking nervous, I don't blame him, he did see what happened the last time someone pushed Spyro.

Flashback fourteen years ago two weeks after Cynder killed Cyril.

I was heading home with my sister after my job working as a cook at the Dragon Shores Inn when I saw Bandit coming our why.

"Flame, Ember, come quite!" He yelled looking worried.

"Bandit? What's wrong?" Ember asked her husband concerned.

"It's Apate and Flicker! They've gathered some people to attack Spyro!" He yelled.

My eyes widen at this, Apate and Flicker are trouble makers and both would not have any problems doing something like this, without another word Bandit led of us to where the mod would be, it was at the north gate of the Dragon Village that we saw the mob yelling at some of the guards ( most of them being Peacekeepers ) to let them pass to the Dragon Dojo where Spyro was.

"For the last time we are not letting you pass so you should just go home!" One of the guards yelled obvious getting annoyed with the mob.

"No!" Apate yelled, she is a blue scaled female avalerin who wears a golden necklace, some would say she's a looker but her bad attitude make people stay away, most would call her a coward as she gets others like Flicker to do her dirty work.

Speaking of Flicker he is a male avalerin with red scaled, many would say he's simple minded and is too loyal to Apate, in truth he is.

"We're here to set things right!" Apate said. "Now you can go tell that lame dragon to come out here and face justice like a man!"

"Yeah! You tell him to come out!" Flicker repeated like an echo.

Before any of the guards can saying anything I saw Spyro appear behind them and spoke. "You want me? Here I am."

I could see some of the mob show some fear of him, if anyone tells you Spyro isn't intimidating than they have never seen him in action before, I've seen him in the training ring facing creatures five times the size of him and yet he throws them around like they are nothing.

Apate, being the mouthpiece of the mob didn't back up. "Why to you come out from behind those meat shields and stop being a coward!"

Her worlds making the mob regain their confidence. "Yeah! Come out coward!" Flicker repeated again.

"Hay! leave him alone!" Bandit yelled stepping up to Apate only for Flicker to swipe him across the face leaving three cut marks on his left cheek.

I ran up to try and save my brother-in-low only to be pined down by another dragon.

"Don't move!" The dragon who was Tyberius by the sound of his voice said.

I could only watch helplessly as Apate walked up to my brother-in-low knocking him to the ground and put a claw to his neck, the mob cheering her on. "You should have minded your own business common swine," her other paw grabbing his face to get him to look at her. "Now you will die for it."

"Yes! Kill him!"

"Death to the armadillo!"

"Freak of nature!"

I was disgusted with what I was hearing, this mob was so bloodthirsty that they were looking for any reason to kill someone and Bandit, being an armadillo was just as good enough reason for them. I was trying with all my might to get free to help him but the dragon on top of me was too strong.

Before Apate could end my brother-in-low's life a black fist hits her hard in the face sending her flying off of Bandit, my eyes fallowed the she-dragon as she hit the ground hard and bounced a few times before stopping, Apate spat out both blood and almost all her teeth before falling unconscious. Can't say I feel sorry for her. I looked beck to see Spyro, only his scales are black now and his eyes red and angry. When Spyro looked like that it met he was really angry. "Get away from him!" He yelled making most of the mob back up.

Flicker, being as smart as he is, tried to attack Spyro with his claws only for Spyro to grab him by the whist and throw him into the mob. A blue scaled female avalerin tries to stab Spyro with a spar only for Spyro to garb it and fling her in the air making her scream as she landed on her back.

Spyro swings the spar at the she-dragon when she tried to get up, hitting her in the side of the head knocking her out. He then took the sharp tip of the weapon and hit it on the ground braking it off. He then began to spin the now blunt weapon around himself and pointed it at the mob.

Flicker again tried to attack Spyro this time with fire, only for Spyro to hit the fireball with the 'battlestaff' and send it back at him, Flicker had no time react as the fireball hit him in the face sending him flying back into the mob.

I felt the weight on my back left as the dragon on my got off I looked back to see it really was Tyberius, he had a look of fear in his eyes.

I turned back to see some of the mob try to attack Spyro together, but Spyro simply used the 'battlestaff' to beat them back. I also noticed that the guards came forward to help Spyro. I looked back at Bandit who was frozen in fear, I also saw one of the mob's members a female green scaled Dream Weavers was moving to attack him, taking advantage of everyone's distraction I ran to help my brother-in-low,

"Enough!" Yelled one of the guards. "The next person who tries to attack Spyro will face justice here!"

"You can't by serious!" Said Apate with a lisp from her missing teeth.