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Cynder's gaze roamed around the dimly lit chambers of the grand hall that she made her throne room in Warfang. During the months she established her power as ruler of these lands, she had the throne in her castle moved to the dragon city, among other processions. To her right was Spyro, his scales shining in a deep amethyst colour. The light reflecting in his finely groomed scales. Infront of her were the three dragon guardians, their expression a mix of anticipation and concern. The months had not been easy. The ape army that she commanded had become more and more restless with the change of pace from conquering and destruction.

Cynder's emerald eyes met each guardian's gaze, capturing their attention as she broke the painful silence. "I called you all here to discuss the next step in my grand plan. The dragon empire has crumbled, yet there is hope. A second wind for Warfang and being made worthy of being called the city of dragon once more!"

Volteer was the first to speak up, his eyes looked like he was puzzling something together. "Rebuilding alone is a noble go, but we have lost so much knowledge. Between the attacks on the temple where the ape army stole your egg, Queen and the later attacks, we lost knowledge at the temple." Volteer's eyes drooped down. There was embarrassment in his eyes. "We failed to guard the knowledge entrusted to us, and now. I am not sure we can get that back."

Cynder hummed as an acknowledgement of Volteer's embarrassment. "Malefor has been partially to blame for this loss in our knowledge and history. I don't think lightly of the gravity of our loss." Her voice was sympathetic for a moment before she turned to a regal voice again. "Hidden caches of knowledge, ancient texts, and artifacts are still present in ruins."

Spyro interjected his queen with a hint of determination in his amethyst gaze. "I should lead an expedition to search for these remnants."

Cyril nodded in agreement. "Spyro is right. If we are to start anew, we need to document every single discovery."

Cynder gave an understanding hum. "Nobel of you, Spyro, but I need you here, by my side. We have our own objectives. After all, for a dragon empire to be started, we need dragons to be in that empire."

Spyro struggled with his duty as Cynder's general and her intense gaze. It left her unsure on how to respond. Volteer, always the scholar, broke the silence. Either unsure of what just happened or not fazed by it. Volteer, always the scholar, broke the silence by mentioning hidden knowledge. "It would be a hard case to track it down." Then his voice turned sour for a moment. "Ignitus would be the one who can track it down more easily. He always had a knack for earthly wisdom."

"And I doubt he would ever consider after what I did to him," Terrador chimed in, looking down at the floor. Spyro turned to Cynder with a puzzled gaze in his eyes. Somehow he expected her to be more harsh to the guardians, but she hummed an understanding hum.

"That might be true," she winked at Spyro, "I have a way with dragons. Terrador, Volteer, Cyril, search for ruins in your regions. I'll talk to Ignitus and convince him to see reason. If not, I have other methods to extract information."

Trough before the guardians could leave, suddenly the doors to the throne room flew open and three ape generals entered, followed by a small army of apes.

Between the generals, there was a leader who walked at the front and had his swords ready, and his face snarled into a vicious grin.

"General Krakar," Cynder spoke with acid in her voice. "You are not welcome here, and your intrusion is unwarranted. Did I not clarify that I forbade the Ape generals from creating the dragon circle?"

"We have had enough of your rule, Cynder," General Krakar's voice doomed. The generals behind him murmured in agreement. "We brought you victory and what we get nothing! We put ourselves on the line, stopping that purple dragon. The apes solely focused on our unwavering commitment to maintaining and upholding your authority. We absconded with your egg. Frankly, you got to serve us."

Soon, apes filled the room, all looking a little too eager to taste dragon blood. "You can't push us away, so we give you a last chance to put down your reign and help us restore the dark master's rule,"

Cynder's eye narrowed, and a thunderous roar escaped her maw. Shaking the foundations of the throne room itself. "How dare!" She growled, standing tall and facing the general's head on. "I will make sure that Malefor remains buried deep in whatever hell hole is in." She dragged her claws along the ground, creating sparks from the ground. "You three do not know what the greatness I seek, what my power beholds and the grand plan I hold in my mind."

General Krakar remained fearless despite Cynder's furious roar, continuing to advance with determination. "Your plan, your reign, is nothing but delusion. The dark master will set your right. "

Spyro was the first to move, placing himself between the ape generals and Cynder. His nostrils flaring, his eyes narrow and gazing at the generals with murderous intent. He was ready to defend Cynder as any cost, by any means necessary.

"You talk about Malefor like I have some obligation. He is in the past. The past is a cage, and I have broken free. There is no going back. Now, stand down or I will destroy you." Cynder hissed, her body tensing up, ready for what was about to come. She could feel the fire and brimstone that was boiling in her system.

Krakar was the first to move. Wary of the Queen's powers, he tried to sidestep the issue by first attacking Spyro. Even when the once hero was still recovering from the capturing of the city, he was not weak. He roared and met the ape head on, refusing to back down and using his scarp claws to meet the weapons of the ape. The high-pitched sound of metal on claws echoed through the chapter as the two forced met.

Krakar was pushed away by the sheer force of Spyro's bulk, pushed back into the group of apes. With a roar Spyro spread his wings to shield Cynder, fury painted deep, terrifying lines in Spyro's face. Cynder, however, was not one that would need to be shielded, no matter what Spyro's instincts told him. She pushed forward, past Spyro's wings. Red fog oozing from her maw.

She slowly released the fog, which scared and affected the weaker apes. Those who were strong enough to resist the fear that spread through the red mist jumped at the dragons. Swords, axes, and shield came out to meet the dragon's claws.

"Protect the guardians," Cynder growled, urging Spyro to assist them. The three guardians were more vulnerable because of their age and lack of breath weapon.

Spyro looked at Cynder for a moment, not wanting to leave her alone. She could see the plea in his eyes. Trough she did not budge. "Now" she commanded. Spyro jumped over the apes, knocking away their swords and crushing two of them with his claws.

"Tsss, Tsss so predictable little Cynder," Krakar came forwards from the mess of apes to face the Queen. "To think you know where one of our finished General's,"

Cynder did not speak. She bared her fangs in warning. Flamed leaped from the gaps between her teeth. She was going to enjoy showing this ape his place, making an example of him. She pushed forwards and spread out her claws, wanting to capture him alive. Trough the general was more nimble than she expected, and he escaped his grasp to smite at her scales. Cynder let out a gust of wind, pushing the blade away just in time not to touch her scales.

He wants to play? Well, let's dance. She thought, digging her claws into the stone and calling on the powers of the earth itself. She dislodged the rocks that formed the floor of the throne room and threw them at the general. Just as he thought he could avoid them, he faced another set of flames, roaring and crackling as they spread from Cynder's mouth. The unpleasant scent of brimstone filled the room as Cynder brought her force to bear on Krakar.

He backed away to avoid the rocks and flames that were thrown his way. He looked over to see the other of the apes trying to overpower Spyro and the guardians, but they too did not fare well under the onslaught of the dragons. Spyro was facing the brunt of the attack and stood tall and proud. His claws and maw bloody with ape blood and a blood lust in his eyes that was only mirrored by Cynder's gaze.

Krakar swallowed, backing away for more. "Retreat!" he finally called. Getting his apes away from the slaughter before more would fall. He needed their numbers for what was to come. He could not let them all fall just for his pride. Before Cynder could strike again, he turned around and ran to the door.

"Oh, no you don't" Cynder roared and let out a tight jet of her acid that splattered on many an ape that tried to escape. She missed the opening. Giving Krakar only a small window of escape, but it was more than enough for him to slip through the door and out of sight. Furious, Cynder followed, ploughing through the ape army that stood in the grand hall, caring not who she turned into a red mush under her powerful claws. She broke through the grand doors onto the plaza. Confused mole people watched the apes gathering around the temple and spreading throughout the city. Some apes stood, perplexed at the Queen with all her furious anger.

Cynder bore her fangs at the apes and wasted no time to unleash her anger at them, sparing no ape, caring not if they were a friend or foe. The mole people ran to their homes, closing their doors and hiding from the onslaught that was spreading across the plaza.

To join Cynder and stop her from attacking, Spyro fought his way through the ape army.

"my Queen!" he called out, reaching closer, getting nearly swiped himself by her sharp claws. "Queen, it is me!" Again, she received no reaction. Acid was splashing in front of his feet as Cynder spat more at two officers who could not flee in time.

"Cynder!" Spyro finally called, placing his hand on her shoulder. He drew in her anger to her and a claw came crashing down. Spyro flinched. He had not seen Cynder in such an angered state before. Trough before the claw could cut through his scales, Cynder stopped, resting her clawed hand on his neck. She looked into his eyes with a confused look.

"Cynder, it is me," Spyro spoke again. Even with his heart pumping and his blood boiling, he tried to keep calm for her. Cynder took a moment to look around at the chaos that was all around the plaza and spreading into the city. The few apes who survived the fight in the throne room, now escaped with Cynder no longer in a kill frenzy. With the ape guards who were still loyal to Cynder, now in disarray, chaos spread from the plaza to the city.

The icy bell toll echoed through the signal, sounding the alarm for the mole guards to take up arms and defend their city for the second time.

"Oh. By the ancients," Cynder softly spoke. Looking around to see the chaos that was caused, she took a deep breath to regain composure again.

"Spyro." She said calmy "Get to the barracks, get as many troops out there to remedy this situation." She turned to the guardians who, where just now seeing the chaos out in the street. "Cyndril, Theodore, Volteer, you make sure wayward Apes harm that none of the mole people."

"And you My queen?" Spyro spoke with worry, lazed in his voice.

"I," she whispered, in a whisper so only the purple dragon could hear, "Am going to hunt down Krakar and pry any information he has from his claws." In her tone, anger mingled with an undercurrent of concern and distress, catching Spyro's attention.

"Be safe," Spyro whispered back in the same tone before lifting off into the sky, flying over the city and straight to the barracks. Cynder watched him for a second before spreading her large red wings and lifting herself into the sky. She circled around the city and looked down at the chaos that was beneath her. It was worse than she hoped. Most apes were now either in full panic or were outright looting the place. This was unacceptable, but where was her prey, that damned ape Krakar who she would love to get her claws on? It was like he disappeared into a thin mist.

Cynder swooped down towards the city again, getting a close look in the streets and alleys. She thought she spotted Krakar with a few apes that were in the process of burning down a house with a mole family inside. They were climbing from the windows and tried to get out onto the roof. Away from the heat that was the fire. The ape soldiers were too busy with the fire to pay attention to the Queen of the dragons approaching them and looking down up on them.

"Where is Krakar" She growled in a deep threatening voice. The Solders turned around to look at Cynder. One tried to raise his sword, while the other two ran away as soon as they spotted her. Cynder struck out with her clawed hand, sending the soldier flying in a display of blood and gore.

"Help us," a child's voiced called out from the burning building. It was quickly shushed by the parent's voices, Cynder could not quite hear what they say but she could hear her name alright and it was spoke in a tone of fear and distrust. She should have just gone away. These people were not of her concern.

But it is my fault that this happened

She moved to a nearby basin of water and used her wind powers to throw it at the house and extinguish the fire. She repeated the action a few more times until she extinguished the fire and only some smouldering debris remained. With the fire out and the apes away, slowly other mole people got from their homes and also helped. They formed a line to get more water into the building to cool down the embers while others helped the family that was stuck to get down and away from the building. The child looked with big eyes at the red and black dragon that stood watching tall over the buzzing of the mole people. Unchanged by what happened.

She with cautious steps, she walked over to the Queen. She gazed up at Cynder with big eyes before speaking. "Thank you, miss."

Her parents, who were at the start distracted by the sight of their burned house, spun around and gasped in shock. They ran to their child to pull her away from Cynder's leg and bow deeply.

"Apologies Queen, she did not mean any disregard" Their bodies where trembling in fear, their voices shaking. Cynder looked down at them, lowered her head to look into the child's eyes. She was confused by their parent's reaction, and had a glimmer of wonder in her eyes. Cynder snorted softly, flushing some smoke over the mole family.

She did not speak, rather suddenly pulling away before disappearing into the sky yet again. Cynder had no time for the antics of these little people. She would need to find the general. Again, she swooped down across the city. The many scents of the city assaulted her nostrils, leaving her with no clear scent trail to any ape. Everywhere her shadow darkened the streets., apes ran and fled to safer grounds. They climbed over the walls, jumped through the canals, just to get away. When she turned herself to the main gate, she saw Spyro with a group of guards running down the street and rounding up apes who were looting. Even with no breath, weapon, Spyro's pure fury and determination proven enough of a force to subdue the apes. Many, however, choose death over arrest. With each ape, Spyro's scales became more covered in red blood.

Cynder could admire his fierce look and blood covered scales all day. The queen flew towards the gate to find useful people, but most of the apes had already left. The sounds of distress in the city died down as the guardians, Spyro, and the guards regained control of the city. It left Cynder with a hollow and gnawing feeling that she just made a terrible mistake. She walked to the top of the wall and gazed over the valleys beyond Warfang. She spotted Apes in the city and saw them run into the forest, but she couldn't chase them. Cynder hoped they would eventually reveal their plan to her. Cynder would have to deal with them then.

With a sigh, she turned around to walk across the streets back to her throne room. She could see the damage the chaos caused all around her. somewhere minor; broken barrels, knocked over tents, others where like the family she rescued, terrible; burned down houses, destroyed statues...or was that from her invasion? One statue called to her. An ancient statue of a dragon stood in the middle of a fountain, with its head broken from its body and lying in two pieces at the bottom of the fountain. Slowly, she picked up the parts of the head to inspect it. The damage was done with an axe; she was clear of it, but why? Revenge for her killing apes?

"They destroyed it during the invasion," an old voice came from behind her. Soon, a rather grey furred mole person who walked with a cane joined her. He did not seem to notice that he was talking to the Queen of the dragon's right now. Instead, he just looked with sadness at the statue that was missing it's head.

"Who are they?" Cynder asked. She had a gut feeling that she would not like the answer that she was going to get.

"Those apes who flooded the city." Was the answer. "Some mashed all dragon statues and anyone who wore the old insignia of the dragon as pride to our Warfang. They flooded the city, and the sound of rushing water echoed through the streets. By the time we restored the order, they had already done the damage to countless lives."

Slowly, Cynder picked up the second half of the head and pressed the two parts together. "And guess now a lot of dragon statues lay smashed. Why has no one informed me?"

The old mole person looked up at the queen with a small smile. "Many fear what might happen if the Queen found out, none dared to share the bad news."

Cynder growled softly and smoke emanated from her nostrils. "You know the Queen has now found out, right?" Her voice turned dark and threatening, with a growl as an undertone.

"Yes, Yes I am aware." Was the reply she got, before the mole person walked off again, walking back to his home. Leaving Cynder standing alone. Slowly, she put the halves of the head together and on top of the statue to look at how it would have looked when still standing tall. Slowly, she placed the head back on the edge of the fountain. Grumbling to herself before finally making her way back to the throne room.

The throne room had fared worse than the city with the fighting, however it saw the most mole people trying to repair the damage that was done. Some with wounds and deep gashes that were fresh, others still wore bandages from the invasion. They tried to scrub the floor clean, get rid of all the bodies. When Cynder entered, they bowed to her, waiting for her reaction.

"Leave," she said with a sigh. "You all have loved once to take care off and homes to restore." She called out, letting her word fill with regal authority.

The mole people around looked around with astonishment but slowly they walked away out of the throne room. Leaving Cynder alone with the mess. She sighed and called on her water to wash away the blood and cuts from the floors and walls. Cynder used wind to push the dead bodies away and with not too much effort; she made her throne room presentable. The bodies she left to the side of the main entrance. The plaza was still littered with bodies, but that would be a problem for another time.

Spyro joined her when she was just finished, and she covered the floor in a thin film of water that was left to evaporate. Red blood stained his body, and he gasped for breath, his chest rising and dropping.

"My queen," He spoke while bowing. "We restored the order, however, I am afraid all the apes left the city. I tried to hunt them down and get answers, but they all perished in the attempts to capture them. "

Cynder took a deep breath, looking at her one true general. "Come," she beckoned him deeper into the throne room and past the throne into the corridors behind it that made up their personal quarters.

Spyro carried himself with pride the whole walk, until the doors to the throne room fallen shut and they were alone in the corridors, lit by green flames. Here, his facial expression softened into a look of worry.

"Mistress, what happened?" He asked with obvious concern in his voice.

"You saw what happened," she snapped back, walking towards the baths further down into the compound that was their living quarters.

"You know that is not what I am referring to." He swallowed for a bit and suddenly got in front of her to block her path. "Cynder," He whispered her name. "You have taken care of me. You take care of the city. But who takes care of you?"

Cynder snarled at Spyro, who did not budge. "General!" she said with anger in her voice. You are overstepping your boundary.

"As a general, yes my queen," Spyro answered, "but as your mate? Am I really overstepping my boundary to ask what got you worked up? Please answer me honestly, we were mortal enemies, we have fought nearly to the death, and yet I never seen you this worked up, this angry as today at the general."

Cynder froze for a moment, looking at the dark purple dragon that she had laid her claws on. Her pet, her general, her consort, her mate. She created a bit of distance between them, letting him breathe more easily, only to find out that she had not been breathing ever since Spyro spoke 'out of term'

"What are you saying" She whispered, but still with a queenly determination in her voice. "Are you saying I am weak and I can't control myself?" With her last words, a growl came back in her words.

Spyro closed the gap once more. She could smell the scent of blood from his scales. "You are the strongest dragon I have ever known, but those who shoulder the burden of worlds are quick to forget their own woes. Is this about Malefor?"

That fucking name! She thought, but controlled herself in front of Spyro. Perhaps she owed him this much. She took a deep breath to regain her inner thoughts.

"Spyro." She softly said, "I don't know if I should kill you or kiss you right now."

"I prefer the second," Spyro said with a small grin.

"Silence," she said in a booming voice. This time, her tone struck something in Spyro, and his face turned from joy to more serious.

"Cynder." She spoke himself more hardened. "What is this all about?"

"Not here, the corridor's have ears. Besides, you need a bath and I need some hot water to relax." She pushed past Spyro and resumed their path to the baths. She opened the doors to a large chamber that housed the bath. Cynder sank into the bath, which was fed by a natural hot spring, and instantly felt the comforting warmth against her skin. She wasted no time to slip into the water and let the heat soak into her scales. The warm water did wonders on her muscles. Spyro locked the door before sliding into the water himself. The water turned red around him as soon as he slid into it.

"I am listening," He spoke, trying to pry Cynder a bit. She did not answer directly, instead laying on her back and soaking in the heat more. She could feel the tension between them as a silence fell between her and the purple dragon.

"I never told you what it was like to be turned like I am now," she finally spoke. "or more accurately, how I used to be, a puppet of Malefor,"

Spyro closed into her, laying himself next to her form. "I assumed you did not want to talk about that. "

"You assume correctly, I still don't like to talk about it," she spoke

"I expect a but here," Spyro answered softly.

Cynder let her voice rumble deeply. "That is true, and the but is that you are someone I never thought I would have, or even could have,"

"Like what? A lover?"

"No, Spyro, someone who I can trust." Her reply made Spyro snort for a bit but then stopped, gazing up as he realised that what he thought was ridiculous was true. "You surely had someone who you could trust, right?" his words rang with a hollow emotion.

"You saw how the trust of the apes work. You witnessed how the trust of the apes operates. Gaul, the ape king, was on top of me in more ways than one." She whispered again, trying not to have the memories flood her again and overpower her.

It took a while before Spyro caught on to the subtle hints she was dropping. "You don't mean he..." He did not finish.

"Well, he did never dared to take me out of fear that Malefor would be angry. He made it clear multiple times that only he was to claim my virginity. However, that did not stop Gaul from forcing me to pleasure him." She could feel bile come up when she spoke her words, a kind of sick that was drawn from all of her body into her stomach and almost felt all consuming.

"He..." Spyro stopped, unable to find words to speak. "That's horrible. I thought they only tortured you."

"They did that too. My transformation had not been as painless as yours. I was young, and they broke me with their potions, magic, and physical punishment. Until I was big, strong, and obedient. A true general to lead an army. The dark master's right hand, and his future mate. Ready to serve."

"That explained the bridge." Spyro spoke softly, still whispering. His voice was almost cold with shock.

"It felt satisfying to see that pig burn, to leave nothing behind but charcoal, to have him disintegrate under my might. It felt so satisfying, I hoped it would help with the memories. But today I realised they did not."

Despite the warm water, she felt colder than ever. Then Spyro pulled her close and warmed her up with his body. He did not speak, just holding her, caressing her back. The two shared the intimate moment together in silence before Spyro dared to whisper again. "I would not wish this treatment on my worst enemy."

Cynder let out a snort. "I was your worst enemy remember,"

"yes and I would have wished back then that this never happened to you. I wish it doubly now." He spoke with a softness in his voice. She did not hear him speak a lot. A softness she feared she had forbidden him to show with her constant show of force.

"And here I thought you choice my side, the side of destruction and evil, yet you are still sweet under these blood-soaked scales." Cynder snorted softly, enjoying the warmth he gave her.

"I choose your side, Cynder, not necessarily the evil side and destruction? You are the one who talks about restoring the dragon empire. Malefor is the one who wishes for destruction. In my eyes, that is still a win. If not, the same way that others expect me to defeat the dark master," He spoke with conviction before turning to Cynder again. "However, are you alright? I mean really."

Cynder shook her head softly. "Honestly, I feel so weak to let the emotions get the better of me. If not, I would have not alienated the ape army. Especially the Dreadwings would have been a useful ally to have."

"Worry not, love." Spyro spoke. Her heart fluttered more than she would have liked to admit it did when he spoke of the word love.

"Can you cut it out with the mushy stuff? I am supposed to be the evil queen, and you are supposed to be my pet and general." She said with a snarky voice but then added in a whisper. "Love you too,"

Cynder got close to Spyro for a while, but eventually she had to pull away because her mind couldn't handle her intense emotions. Besides, Spyro still had his scales to clean. Something Cynder was all too eager to help with. However, when Spyro wanted to return the feeling, she broke the touch.

"Sorry, my love, but not today. I feel off. Still have some memories of you know," she expected Spyro to be hurt by her rejection, but he simply nodded and climbed out of the bath to dry himself off.

He turned to look at Cynder and spoke with a hushed voice. "Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mistress."

The sun was setting when Krakar finally walked into the circle. The assassin and the Conductor were waiting for him with inpatient gazes.

"And?" the assassin asked sternly. "From the wounds, I suspect Cynder will not help us. "

Krakar shook his voice. "We never should have getting that bitch the city. All this power got to her head. She forgot where she belongs."

The assassin, grind his teeth. "Careful, you still talk about the Dark master's mate,"

"Mate!?" Krakar shouted, perplexed. "She no doubt is fucking that purple lap dog as we speak. We should have put her down the moment she betrayed Malefor!"

"Enough!" the conductor shouted. "None of this language now. The dark master can hear us here. Cynder will meet her punishment as his hand no doubt. But she still is the last female dragon we know of. She will become the mother of his clutch if she wants it or not. The only problem we have is that without her energy, breaking the dark master free would be a lot more difficult."

The assassin nodded softly. "I concur, however, not impossible. The three guardians gave us plenty of elemental magic to make spare crystals. The only problem is that we need the fire elemental to break open the prison."

Krakar let out a devious grin. He flicked his finger and soon from the forest path they rolled forwards a large cart with on it the unconscious form of Ignitus. The elder guardian laying there in a deep coma. "Cynder, in all her wisdom, let us guard the old dragon. He did not give a fight."

The other two ape rules looked at Ignitus before laughing. "Stolen right from under her nose" The assassin laughed devilishly. "Let's get this started. "