FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 6

It felt like they were flying directly into the sun, it was hanging just right above the mountain they were scaling. To make the illusion that much more real, it seemed to get hotter with each flap of wings.

He couldn't look ahead any longer, a moment longer and he was sure he would get blind, the bright specks of light that covered his whole vision the moment he turned his gaze away a clear indication that his presumptions were not that far from the truth.

The minute his sight returned to normal, no longer bothered by the fading, searing presence of the sun he was actually thankful to the huge, bright orb in the sky that it forced him to look away.

The black, slender and simply glance inviting, stretched silhouette of his gracefully soaring mate was that much more pleasant to look at.

With the city not so far behind them and the rather uneasy meeting ahead he shouldn't be focusing on anything else, but making sure that his concentration doesn't falter. He was however defenseless against the sweet, spoonful, honey taste of endearment washing over his heart when the figure of his life partner filled his sight.

He was no stranger to happiness, in fact he spent years bathing in it, a very long time ago when his only concern was to make sure that Sparx won't play any more tricks on him. Now he found the very same spring of joy that eluded him for so many years, disappearing from his tracking system the moment he took his first life.

He dived into that sea of glee every time he looked at his black goddess, siphoning every drop from the well whenever he could, never able to fill himself fully.

Not very manly this attraction, dependency, or hunger probably was, but that didn't bother him at all.

He was clingy, nothing can be done about this, there was nothing he wanted to do about it.

If someone would have a girl like her for a mate they too wouldn't be able to hold back.

He simply needed to spend every second of his life with his loving partner, even despite what she told him. They were bonded and it's simply his duty to keep that bond as sacred as possible.

He bit his lip, purposely slowing down his flight, breaking from their united with wing to wing ascent, letting her take the lead. She didn't notice anything, she was too focused on reaching their destination.

He remained behind her for much longer than he originally planned to, mesmerized by the sight of her swaying rump.

Sight that was as memorable as it was exciting.

Her butt, her thighs and draconic feet, all looked soft and tempting. As he stared at her, he hardly believed that just a moment ago that butt, those legs, those rear paws were all over him, touching and stroking him.

And he kissed and caressed every single piece of soft, smooth scale on them.

The part of his brain that still managed to resist the alluring call of passion sent a shocking pulse through the nerves. He gasped faintly, turning his gaze away, ashamed of catching himself on thinking about such personal things. He felt as if such thoughts were disrespectful.

Shaking off the dirty images away he immediately pushed forward, catching up with her with powerful flaps of wings, raising above the love of his life, stopping his advance the moment he found himself directly above her.

She started to wiggle uncertainly, her body already sensing the unusual interruption of wind current. Before however she truly managed to figure out what is happening, he dived down, timing it perfectly with her dropping wings, slamming into her back with all the gentle care his planed fall allowed him to achieve.

"Eeek!" Cynder squealed when unexpectedly some weight glued itself to her back, pushing her down, making her lose her altitude and air balance

Her first instinct was to fight off the alien burden, she already began to trash, yet that fighting impulse was calmed down the moment she felt familiar, strong, caring paws wrapping themselves below her shoulders and around her waist. The final spark of defense extinguished itself when a very familiar purple snout appeared next to her head, hanging from her neckline, chin of which nuzzled her affectionately.

Her mate dragging her into a hug, creating an airborne, draconic cradle of their stuck together bodies.

"I love you" Spyro whispered lovingly into her earhole

If there was a spark of doubt hiding somewhere deep inside her soul that wasn't convinced of the love he bestows her with by committing himself to that hug, his whisper effectively choked every uncertain impulse. There was so much affection in his voice, making every word palpable, opening the option to grab each letter if only she wanted to and mold it like clay.

Cynder giggled softly.

"Let's see if you're still going to love me if you will have to scrape me off from that mountain, because that's what's gonna happen if you won't start moving those wings soon"

He looked up at the closing cliff, narrowing his gaze on it as if it was his mortal enemy. Parts of rocks seemed to break from the mountain, escaping from his gaze.

"I will never let anything bad happen to you" to fulfil that promise he flapped his wings, so strongly that the gusts of wind easily held them both aloft and even allowed them to ascend towards their destination slowly

She smiled warmly, placing her paw on the purple cheek, stroking it slowly.

"I know" she whispered and nuzzled the loving snout of her mate "You don't have to prove anything to me"

He rubbed his cheek against the soft paw with a gentle purr before tenderly pulling away from its grasp, affectionately planting a kiss on the underside of the paw that just caressed him.

"I'm not proving anything, even if I do, it's your fault"

Cynder laughed.

"It's my fault you like to cuddle?"

Spyro licked her cheek with a smile.

"Sure it is, if you wouldn't be so perfect maybe I might have resisted"

"Oh Spyro" she mumbled weakly, a warm fist of emotion squeezing the air out of her lungs. She expected compliments from him, those weren't the first and won't be the last sweet words he will tell her, that's just his style, his gold heart had obligations to meet after all

However even if the compliments were expected and as certain as a moon appearing during the night, it was still nice to hear them, especially wrapped in that aura of real, honest affection.

Better to hear constant compliments than unending berating.

"You don't have to tell me compliments" she replied politely even if this wasn't the complete truth "I know how you feel about me" she smirked, a teasing smile appearing on her lips "Save your breath, we already mated, still, it's a good way if you want to drag me to bed again"

Spyro sighed, lips stretching into an endearing smile as he gently shook his head.

"You hear that? That's the sound of a romantic mood being flushed down the drain"

"I'm sorry!" she giggled, kissing his lips apologetically "That was a bad timed joke"

"I really hope it wasn't a joke since then we're truly never going to mate again. Compliment is the only weapon in my arsenal"

"Nah, we're good" she poked his nose with her claw playfully "The only weapon you ever need is locked in your ribcage and is currently pounding against my back. That's the spot where your arsenal lies and inside is the weapon that you conquered me with"

"Conquered sounds brutal, besides didn't you tell me that it was your victory that we are together now?"

"I don't brag, that is called being modest, but if you want to hear it again you dork, there it goes" she took a deep breath "Yes, it was me who-mmhm!"

She never finished since momentarily Spyro pressed his lips against hers, kissing her gratefully.

"The dork reminds you of his loyalty your Highness"

"Ok, ok" she whimpered, wiggling in his grasp, trying to slip away "It's getting too cheesy here, we are about to face the big, bad, black dragon and all you do is effectively making me want to turn my tail and forget about the whole world again. Let me go! You need to be intimidating and not a heart stealer!"

She let her go when her thrashing become more intense. Cynder momentarily spun around, eyeing him as she vertically hovered in the air in front of him.

"You need to be a badass male!" she slipped a claw under his chin, forcing his snout to jerk up "Keep your head high" she squeezed his eyebrows gently "Drop that puppy stare and narrow those eyes like everything was pissing you off, there!" she pinched his lip, making it roll back, jerking away from her grasp "Show some fang..." she pinched him again, he snarled impulsively, a sharp, gleaming fang popped out from underneath his upper lip "Perfect!"

She momentarily slid behind him, coiling like a lizard around a branch.

"Shoulders back!" she pulled at his upper body, making it tilt backwards "Spine straight" she gently thrust her claws into his back, making him automatically straightened like a board with a hiss "Nice!" she dropped down, tugging at his flailing tail "Tail stiff, you're pissed off remember? You want to be ready to stab with this thing!"

She pushed away from him, hovering in the air, examining him carefully, claws of a single paw scratching against the choker thoughtfully.

"And?" Spyro mumbled basically through clenched teeth, keeping his posture and snarl to the best of his ability, only his pupils moved to look at his partner, everything else remained unmoving

"Do I look badass enough?"

"Nah, it's for nothing" she waved her paw dismissively "Youi look so pitiful that all I want to do is to kiss you and make you feel better"

Spyro wiggled some more, straightening his already straight posture some more, puffing his chest out to make his attempt at badassery that much more visible.

"Look now! Look now! I'm even more badass!"

Cynder chuckled, seeing through his hilarious play.

"Nice try, but we don't have time for this right now. Get your head back in the game"

He relaxed, smiling at her endearingly.

"What if you are the only player I want to play with?"

"Cut it out Spyro, I'm serious!" despite her words she still giggled "Ancestors, you can be such a Sparx sometimes"

Spyro laughed, pushing forward, towards the peak of the mountain.

"Alright I'm stopping, hopefully we won't be reminding ourselves how good it was to fool around here when we get up there"

"That didn't sound ominous at all" she commented bitterly, following in her partner's wake "Have any more happy thoughts rattling in that head of yours?"

He impulsively looked at the mountainside, observing their climbing shadows up the cliff, his recently exposed fang discovered its asylum on his lower lip.

"Just one. Creep, where is it...I mean him"

"Oh shit! Creep!" Cynder yelped "I completely forgot about him!"

"It's not like I miss that thing, but earlier he didn't stop nagging you whenever we approached Danox. Now, when we're heading straight to him he's silent? What about that whole abomination stuff?"

Her paw returned to her choker, scratching at it thoughtfully. She couldn't believe that she forgot about a creature that somehow joined with her, as if he was a twisted image of her conscience, or a very strange kind of spirit that somehow got released after the defeat of Malefor.

Whatever he was, he wasn't with her right now and that thought strangely made her feel slightly lonely and sad.

"I really don't know" Cynder muttered "Maybe he figured out he was wrong and there was nothing to talk about. For sure I have been sleeping better lately and I've dreamt of absolutely nothing. Still, I don't know if it's because of him or you, maybe he wanted to give me some privacy"

His eyes widened, the thought about an invisible creature observing them while they mated never occurred to him before. Even if that strange creature didn't do that, the possibility of it stalking them during even the most personal of moments was terrifying.

"Danox is a black dragon..." Spyro huffed thoughtfully "...since we're already on the way to him, maybe we should ask him about that thing that haunts you? Maybe he will know something about Creep, or better, maybe he will know how to get rid of it"

"You're not a big fan of him are you?"

"You're my mate Cynder and I'll be damned if I allow some anomaly violate you. That thing appeared after we defeated Malefor and healed the world, I know what Volteer said about magic and how it influences dragons, but I also remember Meadow's words about it having the power to cause some unwelcome side effects. Truth be told, there is no one alive that can know anything about the power that was unleashed that day. That thing can be as dangerous as the Veils, what if a portion of that magic is somehow powerful enough to pierce a dragon's defensive system? Especially as weakened as we were after that fight. I would never forgive myself if I was the one that hurt you"

He was right.

No matter from what side she looks at it, Spyro was absolutely right. Creep might not be exactly what he believes him to be, but that doesn't cross out the option that he is unnatural and appeared after everything. The solution to sever the link with him was a viable option and probably the only reasonable one.

The problem however was that Creep was alive, in a twisted, odd way he was a living, sentient creature and what Spyro proposes is plain murder if you take that idea under consideration.

And murder is something she would never want to have a thing to do with ever again.

"I don't want to kill him"

Spyro balked, looking behind his shoulder with a wounded expression, partially feeling guilty and betrayed.

"Cynder, that thing is not a living creature"

"Just because I'm the only one seeing him doesn't mean that he's not real"

"Just think, put aside all emotions. Creep is inside you, making you feel odd and see strange things, influencing you in a way. I don't know how about you but that seems to me like a parasite spreading a disease"

"I agree with you Spyro, but I can't sentence anyone or anything to death" she looked ashamed to the side as if fearing that opening up her heart would remind him that she isn't exactly the goddess he depicts her to be "I did that way too many times already"

Depression slowly crept in, he didn't understand her burden, he didn't even try to, but he was familiar with the feeling about living up to expectations, even those that you place for yourself count. Forcing his point of view upon her, her traumatized soul was unfair, compassion was one of the veins that pumped inside his heart and making her turn around from the expectations she placed before herself corks that vein, killing it.

Injuring his mate, slaughtering the very thing she loves him for and cares about is purposely hurting her.

"Maybe there is another way" he said softly "One that will pull him out of you without killing him. Slowly, first let's figure out what the hell he is exactly"

Cynder nodded.

"Fair. Damn you're smart"

He winked at her with a teasing smile on his lips.

"I'll remind you of that the next time you call me a dork"

She grinned.

"Fair again"

The have beaten the final huge spikes at the top that looked like a palisade created by Nature herself, with the last sharp, rocky tip left behind them the ascent came to an end. A plateau opened up before them, rocky remains of some long forgotten structure appeared ahead, slabs of stone set into the ground that would undoubtedly form a circle with some sort of a ring in the middle.

The thick wall of cave that both of them knew was their goal stretched from the mountainside, looking like an enlarged, round shell of a turtle.

The rays of the sun seemed to be dimmer here even despite that this place was closer to the sky than the city they left behind. The entrance on the other side, obscured to them due to direction from which they reached the peak.

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"

Both young drakes stirred at the sound of the booming, dark embroidered, breathy voice that seemed to come from all around them.

"What in every god's name are you blabbering about this time?" another voice, as deep as the previous one, yet far more raspy, sounded from somewhere below them

This particular sound could be easily pinpointed to the yet obscured cave entrance most likely.

Spyro and Cynder stopped moving, hovering in the air the moment a pair of black paws appeared on the distant edge of the artificial turtle shell. Big, malicious silver claws dug deeply into whatever crack they could dive into and soon after the owner of the tinted purple toes showed himself.

Danox climbed up on the top of his home, springing up lively like a grasshopper. He dropped on his rear legs only, raising vertically up, big black wings opened fully, trimmed by gold hollow bone of his wings glowed brightly as if it absorbed the power of the sun itself. The move to present himself before his guests was as strong and confident as it was elegant.

Every muscle worked in perfect harmony with the other, flexing and relaxing, inviting to come closer and daring every bit of courage of everyone watching him to do so. Just a look was enough to tell that the experience would be an unforgettable one.

He was smiling, that polite, sharp smirk of a shark was as alluring and intimidating as would be a confession of love by a wolf to a lamb. An invitation from a predator that hunted you all this time, after each pursuit from which you managed to come out successful developing romantic feelings towards you rather than insatiable hunger.

Now displaying those feelings before you, leaving you to wonder if they are real. The prospect of loving a wolf both alluring and scary. Insane and perhaps immoral, but so very, very tempting.

Sentient creatures weren't the only ones influenced by this specific charm that either was a taste of paradise, or an unending passionate fall into oblivion. One such entity was the sun itself, the rays already weakened in this place dimmed even further, the sun ashamed of its beauty scampering away hastily across the sky, seeking the refuge of a nearby cloud.

The eyes of both young drakes widened, mouths opened themselves to voice silent gasps. Both of them trailed the wonderful figure of the towering dragon in front of them, examining it with the same, intense, feverish focus.

Besides uneasiness feeling also overwhelming pride.

"To what I owe the pleasure?" Danox sat down, straight as a board, like a soldier awaiting command "Do the Guardians doubt my friend's capabilities that they send two magnificent idols of my race to check up on me?"

"I would like to meet that friend you talk about, maybe he would have the patience to listen to your bullshit all day" came a snide remark from below

The smile on the black dragon's snout broadened.

"As I said, a friend"

"We didn't come here to check up on you" Spyro lied and somehow his response sounded like it was the truest truth in the world, if he was capable of realizing what happened he would blame it all on his focus

Focus that was entirely drawn by the black drake, making everything else unimportant, unimportant as putting emotions into his words.

"We would like discuss the problem you brought to us regarding the Veils, you are from the future, you must know something that would help us stop them from appearing. We could use your knowledge to prevent the danger and not counter it when it eventually arrives"

Black eyes of the dark dragon observed the purple drake with indescribable attention, it was like he would be looking through the legendary dragon as if he was transparent.

"In strategy, secrecy is highly regarded"

Spyro narrowed his eyes on the black dragon, ignoring his own reflection in the drake's obsidian eyes.

"What that supposed to mean?"

"Ignore it, my advice to you" the voice no longer belonged to an incorporeal entity, Ignus flew up on the ceiling of the mountainous cave, his eyes eyeing the mature black dragon with unhidden contempt

"He remembered some sayings of old wives and now keeps pretending he's smart. Don't pay any attention to that, just wave your paw and move on, if everyone won't bother deciphering his nonsensical words bouquets he will stop. Met enough weepers for attention in my life to know the pattern"

Danox laughed, even despite the low tone of his voice Spyro cocked his head in surprise, the laughter was pretty and so very familiar. Cynder also noticed some familiarity, not in the laugh however, but the smile that followed soon after. Her eyes momentarily sought Spyro out, she was unable to tell if they were looking for confirmation or something entirely else.

"Great talkers are commonly liars" the black drake recited seemingly to no one in particular as if the words would be aimed at everybody at the same time

"Stop fooling around boy" the fire drake growled before his paw opened itself and claws aimed at the young purple drake "Mind who is before you, the time of that boy is valuable and of immeasurable importance. Don't waste it on bullshit and do what your superior requires of you"

Spyro winced.

"I wouldn't-"

"Superior" Danox cut in, amusement fading back into the deep, breathy allure of his typical tone "Yes, I tend to forget myself, forgive my stupidity dear leader" he bowed apologetically, emotionless onyx eyes aiming themselves at the purple dragon "I'm used to you giving me orders and me asking the questions, I still see you as the proud and strong symbol of our race, I'm entirely oblivious to the fact of my time journey. It is solely my incompetence in acknowledging that tiny detail and remember that in this particular period of our lives you are still very young"

The dragon grinned, displaying all of his razor sharp teeth.

Spyro blinked, noticing a very brief change in the dragon's eyes, he could swear that they flashed white for a while, or perhaps it was the glimmer of his perfectly white smile that somehow reflected itself from the dragon's completely black eyes that were like a pair of cold stones inserted into his skull.

"Why, you are so sweet that I could almost eat you"

Both young dragons chuckled, yet their giggles were as fake as their forced amusement. It was a joke, it had to be, but simply looking at the nearly artificial eyes of the dragon somehow sucked out all the joy from it.

"Hey!" Ignus blared out, stomping his paw against the stony surface of the cave, tongues of hot flames shot from underneath his dropped paw, burning the nose of the black dragon and making him instinctively straighten up.

"What did I tell you about fooling around? Nobody here is interested in your sickening jester tricks. Behave!"

"it's fine!" Spyro blurt out, instinctively pouncing forward, single paw high in the air, back arched upwards, ready to accept whatever blow on his body that would hit the black dragon otherwise

"My protector is worried" Danox explained calmly, ignoring the gently flickering spark of flame on his nose that undoubtedly burned and stung his snout

He didn't seem bothered at all by the aggression of the fire dragon towards him.

"You see, my faithful companion is duty driven and lost in a paradise of his own, self-proclaimed valor and traits, ambitions of a king who was thrown down his throne if you will"

"Watch your tongue kid!" Ignus growled, old tail beaming with life, swinging wildly and spitting searing flames from the burning tip

Cynder touched her nose.

"You have something on-"

"Your appearance threatens his dominance" Danox continued with his monologue "Your presence here questions his competence and ambition, fragility of his age creeps into his heart in such moments, reminding him that he is unable to keep up with his imagined capabilities. You are threatening his position and he wants to prove himself before you, you, who's words carry so much weight in this Realms"

The black drake turned towards the burning like a lit barrel of dynamite fire dragon. Brazen grin stretching his lips.

"The great question is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with failure"

"You insolent brat! I will..." Ignus roared, raising on all fours and flexing his experienced muscles, adjusting his body as if it would be getting used to an invisible armor before throwing himself into the whirl of battle

His eyes landed then on the purple drake who was watching him anxiously.

"...I will..."

Amethyst eyes observing him closely, expecting him to pounce at the black drake.

"...will..."

Expecting him to be a disappointment, a freak unable to hold the reins of destiny he so believed to have a solid grip on.

Ignus shook his head fiercely, burning rage vanishing swiftly like it was never there.

"You are not worth it. Life has a way of teaching respect to those that believe they are above it"

Cynder observed the scene, scratching her choker fervently. It was so familiar, she too provoked and teased the hate directed at her, it was simply fair to rebound the aggression in the way of all those who couldn't see past all that fury.

She had an odd feeling, for a second she believed, she KNEW that she was that black dragon and it was her mouth saying those words.

No.

It was his mouth saying the words of her soul locked in that male body.

Danox smiled, the grin of a polite shark once more adorned his snout.

"On a small pretense the wolf devours the sheep"

Ignus shook his head dismally.

"Again with the proverbs. It's like talking to a wall"

"I would remember a few, who knows when the irony of such wise knowledge will catch up to you. Why, perhaps the truth of the last one might be the first to be met head on"

"I need a break" the fire drake rubbed his forehead with a wince

"We're here, you can go rest and if you need help we can always ask the Guardians to send someone to change you" Spyro proposed

"I don't need help" Ignus snapped bitterly and as if realizing what he had done he smiled warmly soon after "I would however take up on your offer regarding rest. I'll be close if you need me and if by any lucky chance you decide to snap that kid's insolent neck, call me, I'll be here in a flash"

The purple drake smiled.

"I hope it won't come to this" he joked

"I hope it will" the fire dragon replied with all seriousness before jumping off the cave and making his way to whatever resting place of his desire

Spyro believed that everything will do as long as it is far enough from the black dragon.

Danox smiled innocently.

"Our relationship blooms with each day, we might be the first pair of male dragons that will sire a hatchling"

"You're the best pair of friends I've seen" Cynder added sarcastically

The black drake shrugged.

"It's only fair if I tug at the leash occasionally, my owner needs to put some work into taming me. There is no fun to be found in docility"

She nodded with a giggle, it was funny, she would do exactly the same thing.

Danox looked down at the stony floor, his claws scratching at the surface of his new home.

"I would invite you into my humble abode, but it's quite cramped down there and the smell isn't too welcoming for outsiders. Besides I have several friends sleeping there right now, bats make for lousy party attendants, so if you don't have a thing for hanging upside down I suppose you wouldn't get along very well"

"But enough of that" his gaze rose up "Don't let me stall you, I still need to share my knowledge about the portals don't I? What is your familiarity with Time power Spyro? This is the most important part, from there we can decide on how to proceed, or if we can"

He opened his mouth, but words that his vocal cord formed froze at the edge of his mouth like some speeding runners that stopped just in time before they ran straight into the chasm that suddenly opened in front of them. A sudden feeling of wanting to preserve his secrets awoken inside his mind, an urge preventing him from spilling out the secrets of his very essence.

Especially to a dragon like that.

At that thought he shook his head fiercely, shattering whatever barrier that blocked his words. He had for a mate a dragon like that and from her he won't be keeping any secrets. Color of your scales doesn't make you what you are.

Spending so much time around all those biased people must be getting to him.

"I know how to stop time, but that's about it"

The black drake winced, undoubtedly looking disappointed even if he tried his best to hide it.

"No portal manipulation whatsoever?"

"Not really"

Danox' black paw rose to his neck, claws scratching at the neck thoughtfully.

"So very young" he mused out loudly, not even realizing that he spoken his thoughts aloud

They weren't sure, but they believed that a note of irritation could be heard somewhere deep inside that breathy, low voice.

Spyro rubbed his leg bashfully, feeling impossibly worthless for no apparent reason.

"I'm doing my best to learn"

The black dragon balked, wakening up from his short trance. He frowned when he noticed his paw near his throat, with a barely audible snarl he threw it back onto the ground. His glance grazing against the black dragoness standing in the distance before finally landing back on the purple dragon.

Cynder let out a muffled gasp of pain, paw immediately shot towards her chest, clenching the scales that hid her heart under them. The sting she felt seemed to stop her heart for a while, a sharp pain occurring in the very same moment when the somewhat annoyed gaze of the black dragon brushed over her surely coincidentally.

"With you possessing absolutely no insight into the matter of time manipulation I'm afraid there isn't much that we can do" Danox explained "If I would be in your paws I would do anything to somehow speed up the process of learning, the knowledge will be required in the difficult times to come. Many are counting on your ability to develop your time skills"

He licked his lips, drop of blood pushed from underneath his upper lip as one of his fangs dipped into the meaty tongue, drawing a crimson drop.

"Some you might say are starving even"

"I'll..." Spyro mumbled, unable to look into the dragon's eyes due to shame "...do everything I can"

Obsidian eyes kept reflecting the rather defeated figure of the purple drake.

"The end of passion is the beginning of repentance"

"So basically there isn't anything you can do to assist us in stopping those damn portals?" Cynder said, her tone carrying more anger than she intended to, she instinctively made a step forward towards her pride wounded mate, making him feel her support without betraying her real feelings for him

"As I already explained on our first meeting" if Danox sensed the contained wrath he made no indication of it "Your goal shouldn't be focused on destruction, but control"

"Spyro is alone, how is he supposed to control portals that randomly pop all around the world? That makes no sense, it would be better to close them all off"

"This is why haste in mastering the time ability is required, all those doubts and questions can resolve only one dragon. One thing is certain however, destruction and the goal to sever the link with the portals is not the correct route to take" Danox put a paw on his chest, bowing slightly "Yours truly comes from a time where that tactic was followed, in the end slow genocide is all we achieved, even if we got our victory with the Veils"

"You were sent back by me to try to prevent all that loss of life" Spyro chimed in, in his head picturing the terrible image of himself, the legendary purple dragon, bringer of peace, standing in the middle of a cemetery the size of a big island

Is this the peace he's destined to bring?

Danox nodded.

"He who follows his own advice must take the consequences"

"Trying to close them off is certain victory, if people will learn that some of them are going to die out completely and some not, problems might occur. People lived in uncertainty long enough, they might have liked something to hold on to" Cynder added another point of view, one that neither her nor Spyro would consider

"Shattering your community would be a disaster, that is why it's better to let people know of only one destiny. They either follow you or they face death, with a blade close to their neck even a coward can be capable of an heroic act. Guardians I believe in this moment are the ruling body of this Realm, Volteer possess the most knowledge of all of them, people would listen to him if presented with viable arguments if a riot would hang over your heads"

He waved his paw dismissively.

"That however is a song of maybes, one that never may be heard. The tone that rings right now is that of wisdom you didn't possess earlier" he poked his temple "And it's hidden inside here"

"My proposition is to alter the future, in those Veils not only foes hide, but also allies and friends" he looked up at the sky, claw pointing at the azure sea above "There is one such friend with the help of who it was possible to pinpoint the locations of Veils by reading patterns in the stars"

Spyro's eyes widened, he looked at Cynder, transporting his shock onto her before focusing on the black dragon again.

"We can find out where all the Veils will appear?"

"Not we" he looked down at the purple dragon "But you and that friend I talked about, and unfortunately not all of the Veils. The appearances of the portals is too chaotic and too quick truth be told, even as we speak portals open to your world, small ones, dropping a speck of dust here and some forgotten by time mineral there. Worlds collide as we speak, the tremors are so soft however that we don't feel them"

"Wait a sec" Cynder scratched her choker thoughtfully, the concentration radiating to her snout, making her frown "If that friend we talk about is in one of the Veils, how will he be able to read the stars from our world?"

Danox laughed suddenly, shaking his head.

"A known mistake is better than an unknown truth" he cleared his throat "I apologize, the misunderstanding is my fault. The term of worlds is the common source of problems in communication, that term became a habit. It's easier for the mind to understand that the things you never believed existed come from another world. In truth, the word worlds stands for time, the Veils are nothing else, but gates to an already faded generations"

"The legends about The Destroyer bringing the end of the world are true, but not literally. The creature doesn't destroy the world, it simply eradicates all known life, making room for new one to be born. The Veils allow entrance to a time period in the same Realms before the Destroyer made its walk around the globe, hence the sky remains the same, together with the stars. The names of the constellations may differ, but that is merely a view of different minds, putting different names onto the same thing, an accent if you will. Irrelevant"

Danox grinned.

"This I believe solves all doubts"

Spyro listened to the black dragon with an attention equal to that of a hatchling dragon listening to his parents giving him tips about his first flight, knowing that if he won't listen he will dig a grave for himself in the earth without even making a single swing with a shovel.

That drake is a well of knowledge, from him it would be possible to learn why The Destroyer ends the world in the first place, if Malefor's reason for summoning it was true, is there a way to stop it once it began without relying on luck. If the prophecy is true, if...

There are so many ifs and whys.

"It also opens up answers for difficult questions" Spyro mumbled

The black dragon chuckled.

"I believe that, yet for now I propose to focus on priorities and there are three I would advise you to pursue as quickly as possible. First, Time powers, I trust you know where to begin, if not then hurry up I beg you. Two" he frowned, train of thought interrupted "Are you familiar with the village of Boven?"

"Yes, that's where the first Veil appeared"

"Not so young then, good" Danox muttered under his breath before clearing his throat with a nod

"Precisely. That leads us to priority number two. The Veil in that village, it needs to be closed and that is a task that should have been done like a year ago. It will spawn golems that you are undoubtedly familiar with already, a difficult opponent that will bring havoc, yet in the end you will discover means to counter them. Unfortunately the same weapon won't work for the creatures that will come after them, if the portal opened I'm sure you heard stories about a whole race of purple dragons living on the other side. All of it is true and to make things worse they will be hostile"

Both Spyro and Cynder looked at each other, shock and fear wrinkling their snouts.

"That portal is what will cause a bloodbath known as Sibling Menace. The beginning of the war will be in your favor, you will find out that the purple dragons coming from there are nothing compared to you, or even the more talented single elemental dragons, since the only element our adversary will wield will be the element of Fire. However they are still purple dragons and I don't have to explain to you that this particular race has a special trait of learning new abilities and powers in a period of few hours, or days, instead of months or years. Before you'll know it the enemy will become so much stronger, overpowering your armies, yet in the end you will be triumphant, you two playing the key role in victory, your familiarity with the enemy being their downfall. It will take eons for the earth to absorb all the blood from that struggle"

"Finally, priority number three, the star reading friend. Find him, you'll need his expertise, judging from the period of time I am currently in and my quick calculations the portal leading to him will appear soon enough, luckily for you it will show up in familiar territory"

Danox smirked.

"In the Concurrent Skies"

Spyro shuddered involuntary, Cynder on the other paw whined softly. His amethyst eyes observed her with all the sympathy he could transmit in mere look. It was there where they truly met for the first time, it was there where it all began.

"Foul linen should be washed at home" the black dragon recited with unbridled pleasure

"This gave you too much satisfaction for my liking" Cynder growled at the smiling black dragon that she for a moment considered the most cruel motherfucker in whole world

And every period of time.

The sharp smile of a shark only broadened "Why" he made a slow wave with his paw, claws trailing from the neck to the belly "People set standards for me based on the color of my scales, I wouldn't want to be a disappointment"

The angry expression didn't disappear from the dragonesses snout.

Danox chuckled, bowing apologetically.

"I ask for your forgiveness, sometimes I can't help myself, but tease" the expression of glee vanished from his snout as if it was just an illusion dispersed by a blink of an eye "Trait that I fight very hard to free myself from" he looked up at the two dragons, snout again dark as his voice "Not that circumstances are of any assist in this matter sadly"

"You knew that your words would cause a reaction" Spyro stated confidently, watching the black dragon as if he would be an open book

It didn't escape Danox' notice.

"Such perception, marvelous. True, I knew it would make you flinch, considering the state of your relationship that is"

Spyro remained unmoved by the dragon's statement, already figuring out where it was leading. Cynder on the other paw didn't connect all the facts yet and visibly winced, alarmed.

"State of our relationship?" she hissed defensively "What do you mean by that?"

"He knows" Spyro added

The black drake nodded, clearly impressed by the perceptiveness.

"I took a guess truth be told, while your future spent by each other side is no secret and everyone with a little sense should come to a conclusion that you are meant for each other. It is even easier for someone like me, who met you in the future and listened how you joked about keeping your bond a secret. I didn't know how your relationship was progressing in this particular time, but thanks to our black friend here I can safely assume that you already..."

He bit his lower lip, fang wrinkled the soft flesh and it popped under the pressure like an egg cracking when dropped on the ground, spurting small tongues of blood.

"...have consumed it"

Cynder groaned, feeling the bile in her stomach erupting towards her throat, one retch, this is all that is needed to throw up all the contents of her today's and perhaps last week's meal on the ground. That was another needle shoved into their personal space even if this wasn't the dragon's intention. No matter the motives, accidental or not, she found this revelation extremely disgusting, the drake was a complete stranger, shouldn't interest her much, his words shouldn't touch her in any particular strong way.

Yet the abhorrence was real and nearly mind numbing, it was doubtful that smelling the combined scent of all the world's trash would leave such a vertiginous effect on her senses.

"Let's drop this topic" Cynder smacked her lips, with a grunt of uneasiness tasting her own vomit on her palate "Right now"

"Of course" Danox responded sharply, jerking back defensively "I'm here to help, not to upset you. Before we trail off our path I believe it is the time to say goodbye, remember what I told you and pursuit those objectives. In the meantime I would advise to hone your skills, a little more power never hurt anybody"

"While we will be working our assess of what you will be doing?"

"Staying helpful and holding back trouble"

"Not much of a stop if all that trouble will still come here if we won't do anything"

Danox smirked, his black eyes once more seemed to reflect the perfectly white glimmer of his teeth.

"My dear friend, I am the trouble. I don't have to seek power, I have it all on my disposal"

"Speaking of power" Spyro interjected, throwing a knowing glance at his partner, awaiting her consent which she eventually gave him by nodding her head, even if very, very reluctantly

"As a black dragon have you been stalked, or haunted to be more precise, by creatures only you could see?"

"I don't understand the implication, I'm afraid I need more details. I lived a long time, I need some nudge to remember certain things"

"Cynder" Spyro whispered her name

She sighed, not liking the idea at all, but perhaps there was no other way. She opened her mouth.

"Cr-"

Thump-thump-thump.

Her words died in her throat, a sudden overwhelming feeling of fear and protectiveness washed over her. She suddenly felt like a mother trying to coax her children out of the shadows to meet their new daddy after their true father vanished into forgetfulness.

All those strange sensations roused by the loud noise of a panicked, pounding heart playing against her every nerve.

She looked worriedly at Spyro, pleadingly and silently voicing her sudden change of heart, telling him that she is unable to call the one they wanted to ask about.

She can't do that to him.

He read all that from her look, sensing her fear, as much as he wanted to support her, he with the same intensity didn't like her sudden spook. For him it seemed like the disease was spreading and making something unexplainable pulling at the strings of his mate was something he would never agree with.

"Cynder is being tormented by some dark creature only she can see" he heard his mate whimper "She won't show you what it is, since she can't summon it" the squeak noticeably weakened "We would like to know what it is however, she-"

"Ah yes!" Danox cut Spyro off with a surprised gasp of realization, he shook his head with a warm smile "There is nothing to be afraid of, it is simply her element projecting its image to her. It is really an uncomfortable sensation I've been told, but definitely not the kind you should worry about too much. It'll pass eventually"

"Nothing to be concerned about?!" Spyro blurt out, irritated "Since when elements manifest themselves and take control over their wielders?!"

The black drake shrugged "Since always? During your training of elements didn't you act sometimes out of character? Pushed towards total recklessness when learning Fire, or towards total indifference when mastering Ice? You only had the benefit of evolution and settling of magical energy, which was already practiced over generations, hence you avoided the projections. The magical essence became one with the energy of dragons over all that course of time. From the stories I've read those images of elemental energy were sometimes quite interesting, cruel even, I've read about dragons being stalked by their burning self, imagine to look at your own roasting corpse every day"

He nodded at the black dragoness.

"Cynder over there is the first black dragon to ever grace this land, the first to wield the element of Dark. Really, the name speaks for itself, it is made of popularly, ugly and misunderstood branches of magic, this is why I imagine the creature she sees isn't particularly pretty and tactful"

"But why now?" Cynder inquired, forgetting about all her uneasiness due to interest reaping its spoils "It's not like I started wielding Dark a month ago"

Danox shrugged.

"Who knows? I never met any manifestation myself. Maybe you've grown of age for it to believe you are powerful enough to continue your training, maybe it waited for the right moment to show itself, maybe it slipped into the blank space when you cast one of your burdens away. It's magic, it's wild, who knows what it thinks"

"I've talked with it, it's not some artificial construction like a golem, it lives"

"Of course it lives, magic of our element is keeping us alive, without it we would be merely empty shells, big lizards with wings if you will. It's an entity, even if it speaks I doubt it makes much sense, all it does is just rouses confusion, don't try to understand it or you will only enlarge the pit of bewilderment"

"So she should simply ignore it?" Spyro asked hopefully

"Ancestors forbid"

Spyro instantly looked devastated.

"Of course you could do that, but severing the link with the force that keeps you alive wouldn't be a very healthy thing to do. Unless you have some fetish for craziness that is, because insanity is all you will get if you pursue that path"

Danox sighed, pointing at the sky above.

"The answer is as simple as the mystery behind the changing of the time of day. You don't question the sun hanging in the horizon during the day do you? Same comparison applies to the element, you don't question it, you let it do its thing. it wants to live and it lives through you, let it thrive, accept it and everything you get in return is more power"

"I don't believe it is that simple!" Spyro protested "That thing took control over her!" he yelled, pointing a claw at his partner "On what world is that a normal thing?!"

"Control, like domination of will?"

"YES!"

Danox cocked his head, a silent crack could be heard, a tiny piece of shed scale appeared on the ground next to his flank. Almost like a piece of skin of someone scratching himself unendingly due to excitement.

"Peculiar, would you be so kind as to share the story of it happening? Perhaps there is an explanation to be found somewhere out there"

"Well..." Cynder mumbled bashfully, she seemed extremely naked right now, she impulsively slid her tail in between her legs, squeezing her thighs together, covering her already invisible private parts even more

"I got into an ugly fight and got hit really bad, when I thought I won't make it my paw moved on its own...I think. I scratched my assailant with some strange power, making her very sick in the end, nearly killing her"

"There it is!" Danox exclaimed triumphantly "Your element protected you, it wants to live and it lives through you. It is an unusual thing for it to take hold of you I admit, but I believe there is nothing to worry about. You are simply inexperienced, your element must have found a leak in your magical system. You gain more power, you will learn to control it. And the trick it made you use is called Rot, infused poison element, very deadly. One scratch and you can kill your opponent, very boring really, kills everything that isn't of draconic origins on the spot"

"My enemy was a dragoness and I nearly killed her"

"Then your enemy was weak and clearly didn't know what she was up against. You can kill a dragon, yes, but only when he or she is weakened, otherwise she should purge herself with her magic. You have the benefit of ignorance, this world doesn't know how to fight against Dark. You can imagine how the odds changed in your favor with me on your side"

"Poison, Fear, Shadow" he counted the dark powers with great reverence "Beautiful things in the right paws. Only waiting to be embraced"

"And Wind" Cynder added

Danox jerked back as if struck by lightning, dreamy aura bursting like a bubble.

"What?"

"Wind" she repeated "Poison, Fear, Shadow and Wind"

"Of course" he snarled back unexpectedly just to shake his head soon after "I believe that solves all your questions?" once again the tone of irritation could be heard in his voice

"No" Spyro snapped, stomping his paw on the ground, he might be overprotective, obsessed perhaps with security, but he simply couldn't let things slide, not until he looks under every stone

"Didn't Creep tell you he wasn't your element?"

"Creep?"

"That's the name of the creature that haunts Cynder"

"Oh!" Danox chuckled with sincere glee "You gave it a name. Cute" he cleared his throat "Allow me to clear that out for you. It didn't tell you that it is Dark simply because it doesn't know what it is. It is an entity, a wild, magical one, don't expect straight answers from it, you will never get any"

"Sometimes it played tricks with my mind" Cynder added

"I repeat, it's wild, don't bother yourself with such trifles. Accept it, accept your power and everything will be alright. It's Dark, it works in different way than the more known elements"

"Insanity is doing the same thing in the same way and expecting a different outcome. This particular saying perfectly applies in seeking reason when dealing with an element. Don't. If you need help with mastering your powers I'm always here to help"

"Thanks, but we'll pass, we have things to do" Spyro snarled coldly before any more words could be put into the mix of a conversation he didn't like the outcome of

Not even a tiny, very tiny bit.

The black drake nodded.

"True, don't let me keep you waiting, the bells rang to announce that the table is ready"

He smiled, small holes could be seen in his lower lip his fangs created during the whole span of this conversation. They didn't leak blood anymore.

"Let the feast commence"