TLOS: AND: The Pink Dragoness

The Pink Dragoness

The little pink dragoness looked at them, tail swaying slowly behind her, a smile wide on her face. "Hi!" she said, her voice sweet and somewhat cute, though not extremely girly. "It's so amazing to finally meet you! Oh I've dreamed of this day!" she said, her voice indeed quite dreamy for that part…though said statement seemed directed more to Spyro than Cynder.

Spyro and Cynder both let out a small yell of surprise at the sudden arrival of this new dragoness. "Huh? Who are you?" asked Cynder, confused, and somewhat irritated by how she spoke to Spyro so dreamily. But she tried not to show it, she may have just misunderstood. Likewise, Spyro seemed a tad uncomfortable with her tone.

"Spyro, Cynder, this is Ember," introduced Cyril, referring to the pink female. "She's your age," he explained. Normally this would be a strange thing to state, but quite clearly, given circumstances, this was shocking.

Spyro and Cynder both looked at each other, then to Ember, absolutely stunned. "B-but how?" asked Spyro, very confused at how this was possible. "I thought our eggs were the only ones from our Year of the Dragon to have survived!"

"Yeah, if I remember right, Ignitus said all the other eggs went splat," said Sparx, in his normal manner of speaking. "So how is pinky here alive if she's their age?"

Ember smiled sweetly in response. "Oh, my egg wasn't at the temple," she said, pointing to herself with her paw. "I was laid a little late, so my egg was on its way to the temple when the attack happened. My dad told my mom to take my egg and hide out far away until she got word it was safe. Then he went to fight in the war," she explained, and then looked a little sad. "…We lost contact with him when I was just a little girl…so we stayed out there…a really long time…" she said, looking depressed. It was clearly sad for her father to disappear like that.

Cynder gave Ember a sympathetic look. "Ember…I'm sorry about your father…but at least you have your mother. Me and Spyro don't even know our biological parents…"

Ember smiled. "Thanks Cynder…" It was strange, she'd heard all these war stories her father sent them when he was still in contact, and Cynder had been this terrible monster…now here the same dragon was being nice to her, ironic. "Anyway, this nice cheetah came along looking for surviving dragons. He told us the war was over, so we came back…that was about…three weeks ago."

Spyro's jaw dropped. "So you and your mother stayed out in the wilderness for over 24 years?" he asked, that was rather impressive. Sure, he'd stayed 12 years with the dragonflies, but that wasn't really 'wilderness'.

Ember giggled. "Yeah, Spyro, it was actually pretty fun," she said. "Ever seen a sunrise from the top of a canyon?" she asked, getting her face close to him. "It's kind of…romantic," she said, sounding a little flirtatious.

"Uh no, no I haven't…" replied Spyro, uncomfortably scouting away from her a little. Did she not know he and Cynder were already mates?

Cynder snarled, she wasn't liking this. That little pink flirt had better back off. Then again, she didn't know much about Ember. Maybe she was always like this and didn't mean much harm. Plus, most people didn't treat her well the first time they met, so she didn't want to ruin it. She stifled her temper and tried to ignore it for the moment. "So, Ember…what are you doing here at the Temple?" she asked, trying to change the subject and keep things civil.

Ember turned to her and smiled. "Well, I'm the next Fire Guardian," she replied. Despite her apparent interest in Spyro, she didn't show animosity towards Cynder. In fact, she even seemed to look up to Cynder. It was more like she was simply oblivious to the fact they were mates.

Spyro and Cynder both looked shocked at this. "You? No offense…but aren't you a little young?" asked Spyro, trying to avoid offending her.

"Actually, no," said Terrador. "New dragons from your Year of the Dragon were intended to be all of our successors."

"As you know, we're not getting any younger, we're all actually past the age for Dragon Guardians to retire. We were supposed to become Elders, giving our roles to a new generation," explained Cyril. "Your Year of the Dragon was meant to be the group from which we chose who we'd pass the torch to and raise as our successors, but sadly, as you know, none of our types of dragons survived that year. That and given the war, changing the guard to any younger dragons would've been rather…ill-advised if at all possible."

"So, being the sole surviving Fire Dragon of your Year, it is Ember's birthright to become the new Fire Guardian and succeed Ignitus," explained Terrador. "Spyro is the only other dragon from your Year with fire abilities, but he's the Purple Dragon. His role is far greater than the Guardians."

"Wow…congratulations Ember," said Cynder, not sure what else to say. "That's quite the honor, isn't it?"

Ember nodded, a little embarrassed at the compliment. "Yeah, it is…and a bit of a shock to be honest. I was only here a few weeks when they told me about it," she explained. "Still a bit hard to believe honestly, but I'm trying my best! I'm actually getting quite strong…"

Spyro nodded. "Believe me, I know how big of a shock it can be to find out you're meant to be something great," he explained, remembering back to when he and Ignitus met. "When I met Ignitus for the first time, I didn't even know I was a dragon, let alone a Legendary Purple Dragon."

Ember nodded, smiling. "Yeah, I heard that," she replied, then cocked her head. "But no one ever told me why. I just know you didn't know you were one."

"Well, I…" started Spyro, a little embarrassed. He wasn't embarrassed about his Dragonfly family, he loved them all very much. It was more the fact he'd somehow never realized he wasn't one, despite being much larger, purple, and having scales…and legs.

"He thought he was a Dragonfly," said Sparx, jokingly. Even he, now that he knew, found it a little ridiculous that Spyro (and everyone else back then) had mistaken the little dragon for a Dragonfly.

"Oh and you didn't?" retorted Spyro, insulted by how his 'brother' said it. He then looked to Ember. "Yeah, I did…I was found as an egg by Sparx's parents and raised as a Dragonfly. I'd never seen another dragon before, so I never realized that I was one, and no one else that actually knew it mentioned it."

Ember couldn't help but chuckle. "It is a bit silly. You don't look anything like a Dragonfly," she said, smiling.

Cynder nodded with a well meaning chuckle of her own, but then decided to help her mate out just a bit. "Well, Spyro isn't alone. Technically speaking, I was raised by the Apes…if you call what they did to me raising," she said, disgusted at the memories she had of that awful time.

Ember shuddered. "I can't imagine what they did to you. No offense, but considering what I'd heard about you, it's certainly…nasty to think what happened to make you into that monster you used to be…" she said, trying to be respectful to her. "But thank the Ancestors Spyro was there to free you," she said, once again showing the dreamy tone of voice when directing a comment to Spyro, getting close to him. This caused him to move away a little, still very uncomfortable with it.

Cynder subdued a snarl at that statement, she seriously wished Ember would stop it already. Still, at least Ember understood that Cynder had been through a great deal of pain and suffering. Cynder appreciated that. "Glad you understand, and you're right, it was lucky Spyro saved me," she said, giving her mate a nuzzle, getting one back. She couldn't help smirking as Ember got a little flustered herself at this show of affection.

Terrador could see Ember's flirting had gotten under Cynder's scales and decided a change in subject would probably be helpful. "Ember, I'm sure Spyro and Cynder would like to tour the temple, why don't you show them around?"

Ember nodded cheerfully, snapping back to her normal state. "Of course, Terrador! I'd be happy to!" she said. "Come on, a lot has changed from the old temple!" she said, bounding off.

Sparx looked to Spyro and Cynder. "Excitable, isn't she?" he asked, getting nods from both.

---

"And this is the new training room," said Ember, leading them in. It was pretty much identical to the last one, only the statue of Malefor was now replaced with one of Ignitus. "They chose Ignitus because he was your teacher, Spyro," she explained, treating the subject seriously. She knew how much Ignitus meant to Spyro.

Spyro stared up at the huge statue, slowly getting a small smile. "…He deserves it."

"There is that…" said Sparx, respecting Spyro's admiration to Ignitus. "But where's my statue!" he said, still angry about that.

Cynder sighed. "All you did was float next to Spyro's head the whole time."

"Yeah…but I nearly died as often as he did!" Sparx retorted. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it was to do that!" he replied. "You nearly killed me like 30 times."

Cynder snarled. With Ember's flittering getting under scales, she was too stressed to deal with Sparx's insults this time. "Well sorry! I'll try to remember that next time I get possessed by an evil psychopath," she replied, still sensitive about it.

"Yeah well…you tried to eat me!" yelled back Sparx, not used to actually having to come up with counter insults.

Cynder gave a low growl in response "Why you little-"

"Uh…hey Ember! Why don't you show us where we can get some food?" asked Spyro, knowing if he didn't interrupt Cynder and Sparx before it got out of hand, he'd regret it. "We haven't had breakfast yet."

Ember nodded. "Sure, Spyro!" she said, eager to try and impress him. "Follow me!" she said, running off towards the cafeteria.

Cynder growled at Sparx and followed. "Thanks…" said Sparx to Spyro, glad Cynder wasn't going to hurt him...this time.

"I just didn't want another fight, you really need to lay off," said Spyro. "Cynder is our friend, and whether you're trying or not, those insults really hurt her," he said, before following Cynder and Ember. Sparx just shrugged and followed towards their rooms.

---

"I'm sorry, Spyro, you too Sparx," said Cynder, embarrassed. The threesome were in their room after nightfall. The rest of the day had been relatively uneventful, except the pair returning to the egg room to check on their adopted child several times and Cynder getting in a few more arguments with Sparx and even a few other dragons. "I don't know why I'm getting so aggressive today. It might just be how Ember is acting and I just snapped…I just feel so off for some reason."

"Its ok, Cynder," said Spyro. "It was awkward for me too, having her hit on me…" he said. "But that is a little strange, you're normally a lot calmer."

"It's dragon mating season, of course Cynder is cranky," said Sparx, staying as far away from Cynder as he could at the moment.

"What are you talking about?" asked Cynder, confused. What did that little dragonfly mean? Was that an insult or something?

"Uh…dad said something about mom getting a bit easier to tick off during mating season," explained Sparx, not really wanting to talk about it. "Go ask motor mouth, he'd know better than me."

"That makes a bit of sense," Cynder admitted. After all, dragons only reproduced once every twelve years and this was the first Year of the Dragon she was herself for. "I was going to go check on the egg anyway, I'll talk to Volteer while I'm at it. Thanks Sparx…and sorry for snapping at you, stressful day, you know?"

"No big, I know Pinky is getting on your nerves," said Sparx, trying to be a bit nicer so not to set her off.

Cynder gave a sigh. "You don't know the half of it," she replied, walking out of the room.

Spyro tried to follow, but Sparx cut him off. "Dude, stay," he said. "Odds are it's going to be some chick thing that neither of us really want to hear and little miss darkness won't want us to hear. And the way she is right now, do you really want to risk ticking her off?"

Spyro was about to retort when he realized that made sense. "Alright, Sparx…why do you know so much about girls?"

"Before I left home, dad insisted on having 'the talk' with me," said Sparx, rather disgusted. "Change of subject, now."

"But-"

"Now!"

---

Cynder walked quietly down the darkening halls. The sun was setting outside and torches were being lit by the dragons who worked under the Guardians. She came to the entrance to the vision room, where the Guardians normally stayed. She was about to enter when she heard voices. Curious, she opened the door a crack and peeked in.

"So Ember, what do you think of Spyro and Cynder?" asked Cyril, looking down at the young Fire Guardian in training, Terrador and Volteer nearby.

"Well Spyro is really nice, and strong!" said Ember, clearly happy to finally meet her crush. "Dreamy too…" she said, with the normal dreamy voice she had when she said such things.

Cynder snarled at that, was this girl trying to steal her mate from her? It made her blood boil to even think about. However, her thoughts were swiftly interrupted by the conversation continuing.

"And what do you think of Cynder, young dragon?" asked Terrador, trying to change the subject. Everyone found the young pink dragon's obsession awkward, including the Guardians. They hadn't said anything yet because the young dragoness was quite child-like in mentality and the crush seemed to be more due to Spyro's heroism than anything else. No one wanted to hurt her feelings over something like that.

"Oh…" said Ember, getting deep in thought. "Well at first, I was kind of scared to meet her to be honest…" she said, looking down, showing shame. "I'd heard so many stories about how terrible and scary Cynder was up until me and mom were found out there…I guess that made it hard to believe she'd changed completely…"

Cynder closed her eyes, wings and head sinking. It always hurt when someone said something like that. Even now, twelve years later it hurt. "And what about now, Ember?" asked Volteer's voice.

"Well I found out she has changed," said Ember, smiling. "She's a little cold, but I guess if I'd been a monster's slave for that long, I'd be too. She's very nice and I'm glad she's my friend now," she explained. "She was a bit cranky today, but I've kind of been too, more than normal anyway."

Cynder blinked with a gasp. It wasn't often she heard someone (other than Spyro) call her nice, even now. It felt good…it felt good for someone to say they were happy to know her. She smiled and walked away to the egg chamber. "She…she thinks I'm her friend…I guess she's not so bad after all…" she admitted, before continuing on to see her adopted egg.

---

"Oh I wouldn't get to comfortable child," said the blue eyed entity, watching Cynder from their cave with telepathy. "Things are about to get quite painful for you."

"Yes," said the red eyes, in its normal furious tone. "That little brat will get what's coming to her at last!"

"I think revenge will be fun!" said the yellow eyes, overly happy, as usual. "Can we go now!"

"Yes," replied the blue eyes. "Everyone! Prepare for battle!" she called. "Once all the dragons are asleep, we will strike, and we will finally have our revenge!"

The other two joined her in an evil laugh as an army of the snake-like creatures mobilized, along with several winged stone demon-like creatures that flew over the army.