Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters. Other canon characters are owned by their respective companies.

Exclaimer: To people who don't like the story, just don't read it.

Special Thanks to Alec the Dark Angel for being my beta for this story.

The OC "Pyrus" belongs to Alec the Dark Angel.

Chapter 11

Rival

"And do you love me?" Cynder suddenly blurted out, covering her maw when she realized what she had asked.

Spyro was taken aback at Cynder's last question. Cynder was taken aback at her sudden question. Both of them didn't expect the words that were just released and had clung into the air. Cynder felt her heart skip a beat. She was caught up at the moment, and the words just naturally flowed as her tongue slipped. The proceeding moments of silence felt like an eternity for her as she waited for Spyro's reply.

And when he did, the reply that Spyro gave was something she didn't expect.

Spyro stepped forward, surprising her. And then, he leaned in on her, locking eyes with her. Cynder felt herself drown as she stared into his amethyst eyes. She was so distracted; she didn't notice that Spyro had touched maws with her. The kiss had grounded her back into reality. The touch of his lips meeting hers made her feel a sudden elation. The world around her seemed to just disappear into nothing, leaving her and him, locked in an intimate kiss. All the doubt she had in her mind melted leaving nothing but one thought and one thought only.

Spyro loved her back.

The kiss felt right. And it felt natural; unlike how it had felt when he had kissed Ember. It was completely the opposite. This however; Spyro felt himself get slightly dizzy from the sudden rush of it all. When their lips had touched, there was an electric tingle that seemed to have spark and ignited a burning in his chest. It kept him warm and made his entire body relax completely. It wasn't his first kiss, but dang it sure felt like it. After what felt like a long time for the two of them, Spyro moved away from her. Cynder's cheeks were rosy red, as she was breathing heavily. The act of kissing had gotten her quite excited. Spyro on the other hand, just smiled, and gave her a affectionate nuzzle. Licking her maw playfully, he smirked cheekily.

"Yes, Cynder. I love you; no one else but you; ever since I've met you."

She just felt herself melt as she heard him speak the magical three words. This was it. She now had felt it. She now rightfully could say that she was in love with the Legendary Purple Dragon and she had him all to herself. She was happy. She was on cloud nine.

"Oh Spyro…you're such a charmer," she said, licking him back.

"I try to be. Besides, I already heard you before."

"Huh?"

"I heard you, back at the Volcano. I heard you say 'I love you' just before I pulled the world back together. I've just been waiting for you to say it again to me, since I didn't want to be upfront just in case you weren't ready yet."

Cynder sheepishly laughed. And here she thought Spyro was pursuing a relationship with Ember. How foolish of her.

"Oh, let's just put it all behind us," she replied. "What matters is now."

"Right you are." He gave her another short kiss. "Should we tell the Guardians though?"

Cynder scratched her head. "Uh…I don't think we have to, and I don't think they'll be surprised to find out either."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well…"

0

Volteer scratched his head as he looked at Flare. The dragon they were approaching seemed rather…he couldn't put a paw on it. It had been bugging him ever since he saw the name on the scroll. The name rang a bell deep inside his head that echoed memories that were long forgotten. The dragon…felt familiar to him. He tried his best to remember a dragon named Flare, but nothing seemed to come up. Maybe he was just mistaken?

"Congratulations, Flare, for winning the competition," said Terrador, speaking to the fire dragon.

Flare bowed his head. "It is an honor, I will truly relish."

"That voice…" Volteer mumbled to himself.

"You should. But you do understand this is temporary?"

"Yes," she replied, sounding a bit sad.

Sparx crossed his arms. "Don't be sad mate; with the way things are and how you were, by the time the Guardians are prepared to find a new Fire Guardian, you'd be too perfect to be replaced!"

"We shall see in the future," she replied.

Terrador turned to his side and noticed Volteer. He was awfully rather quiet; not usually his cheery, talkative self. "Volteer, is something the matter?"

"Huh?" he looked up. "What?"

Terrador just raised a brow at him. Flare however smirked. "You've changed Volteer."

Volteer looked at Flare. "How can you say so? I mean no disrespect, but you don't know me."

Flare's smirk turned to a smug smile. "You don't recognize this dragoness do you?"

Volteer blinked dumbly. Sparx however stared at Flare, as if seeing her in a new light.

"I…I…." Volteer cocked his head and examined her more. Flare…the dragoness. That name…it resounded deep within him. And like a key opening a locked door, it opened new memories for him. It all came crashing back: the lake, the predators, the intimacy, and everything else in between; everything.

"Why don't we leave you two to catch up? I'm sure old time friends such as you would want that, come along Sparx."

And with that Terrador excused himself. Sparx, catching the message, followed right behind him, leaving the puzzled electric dragon and the newly appointed Fire Guardian.

"She's a girl! And those two know each other!"

Terrador sighed. "Yes and yes Sparx. She's a girl. I don't really know her personally, but Volteer had mentioned her before back then. I only just remembered her now as well. It's quite nice to know that old friends you know have survived, doesn't it?"

"It does…" replied Sparx. Then he scratched his chin. "This is interesting then. Volteer and Flare…both Guardians…and both have history with one another. I wonder how this pans out."

"We shall see," Terrador replied.

0

Flare sighed dejectedly sitting on her haunches, and wrapping her tail on her paws.

"Really Volteer, you don't really recognize me?"

Volteer blinked and shook his head. "It can't be…"

Flare raised a brow. "Huh?"

"Is that really you…Flare?"

Flare smiled. "Finally, you remember me."

"It's been so long!" he exclaimed with new found energy.
"It has been. I'm glad to see you're still cheery as always. Though I think you need to get your memory in check."

Volteer rolled his eyes playfully. "My memory is fine. It was just hazy."

"Oh really now? Just a moment ago back told otherwise."

Volteer just glared at her. "I'm glad to see you're safe."

"Likewise to you; I was hoping you could do me a favor?"

"And that would be?"

"Show me the way to the Temple?"

"Why don't you just fly?"

"That would defeat the purpose of me catching up with you."

Volteer chuckled. "Fine then."

"Just like old times eh?"

"I suppose so."

0

"I can't believe she's a girl…" said Flame, as he walked beside Zaze.

The three off them were walking down the road of Warfang, heading back up the Temple. The initial shock of Flare being a girl had now passed and they were just doing small talk. Zaze however, got an idea as he looked at Ember. She was walking a few steps ahead, humming to herself.

"I can see why you like her," he said in a hushed tone. He didn't exactly want Ember to hear about this.

"Huh?" Flame blinked. Then realized what he was talking about. "Oh."

"She's beautiful," he replied.

"She is, isn't she?"

"Then why don't you go ask her out then?"

"What if she rejects me?"

"What if she doesn't reject you?"

"She will; she likes Spyro. The Legendary Purple dragon; most of the time we've been together, she always talks about meeting him one day in her life. I wouldn't be surprised if at one point she tells me she wants him to be her mate. I'm just a 'nobody' in comparison to him." He sighed, looking down the floor.

"You're not a Nobody; you have a heart. All you need to do is show it to her."

Flame just remained quiet, and kept looking down the floor. Zaze however, decided to go with his idea to help Flame get together with Ember.

"I'll prove to you that Spyro is not the apple of Ember's eye." Zaze perked up in hearing this. Zaze met curious eyes.

"How?"
He smirked smugly. "Simple."

Zaze trotted ahead and caught up to Ember. She smiled, seeing Zaze smile warmly at her. Flame however, just curiously watched, wanting to see what Zaze was going to do.

"What is it?" Ember asked.

Zaze shifted his tone into a suave like manner. "So, uh…want to hang out later?"

Ember blinked, a bit surprised at his sudden move. "Uh…this is all so sudden."

"I know." Zaze raised his brows, and leaned a bit forward. "But you're just too beautiful to pass up."

Flame's jaw nearly hit the floor. He couldn't believe it. Zaze was flirting, no, he was hitting on Ember. He turned his head and saw, much to his surprise that it was actually working. Ember looked a bit shocked, but there was a hint of excitement in her expression.

"T-thank you," she said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"No need to thank me. I'm only stating the truth," Zaze replied. "So, do you take my offer?"

Ember bit her lip; but then nodded. "Yes."

"I'll meet you later then; till then, farewell."

And with that, Zaze winked at her, before proceeding to conveniently drag Flame into a corner, getting both them out of her view. Ember however was just left to stand there, feeling puzzled with her emotions. Her first impression of Zaze was completely destroyed. She did not imagine how…charming the dragon really was. She smiled to herself, imagining how things would turn out later today.

0

"You did not just do that!"

"I did," replied Zaze with a smirk. "Was that enough of a clear message to you?"

Flame sighed. "I suppose so. Were you serious though?"

Zaze raised a brow. "Serious about what?"

"About the date thing? Are you really going to date Ember?"

The tone that Flame had used somehow sounded…threatening. Zaze smiled to himself, realizing his plan was working. Now all he needed to do was turn a push, into a shove.

"Maybe," he said, turning around. "Maybe not."

"What!" Flame exclaimed, realizing the meaning of it all. Zaze had now become another rival for him.

"She is kind of cute," said Zaze scratching his chin.

Flame could only just mentally punch himself; now his chances of getting to Ember only got slimmer. 'You have to make a move now. Or you'll lose her forever!' his mental self shouted at him.

"And besides," Zaze continued, derailing Flame's train of thought. "Competition brings out the best in everyone; most of the time. Now we'll see how serious you are."

Zaze spread opened his wings, before uttering his final statement.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date to prepare for."

And with that, he took off, leaving Flame, to brush off the dust he had conjured.

"What am I going to do…?" Flame asked himself.

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