FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 29

They are finally here, after all this stress, pain and weariness they have reached their destination, whenever someone reaches a goal set before them they sense some kind of feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction and relief.

They did not feel any of those things.

They came through a very stressful journey just to be on the way to the creature that is responsible for destroying many worlds.

How this can be considered an accomplishment none of them knew.

It was like having to exercise on a bad day, you had already planned it, you are already in the middle of it, there is no turning back now. You push through the training session, exercise after exercise, pushing yourself to the end and when you finally reach it you feel more depleted than ever, something that was supposed to make you feel better ripped apart all sense of joy.

The lift they used was moving slowly. It had a big rectangular shape and a high ceiling, enough for a couple of adult dragons, or golems to fit inside. It was devoid of any sort of decoration, one single lever was all to be found here.

The lift itself was made of some weird red rock, even Diazen didn't know what it was exactly, all they knew however was that the stone didn't transfer any sort of heat.

The lift had the same type of formidable and unbreakable glass running through its middle, wrapping the whole rectangular like a ribbon on a present box. Just like the stone, the window didn't transfer any sort of heat.

Which was a very welcoming property considering their surroundings.

The lift was moving down through the cone of lava they've seen from the windows in the hall some time ago. They were entering the neck of a volcano, they could see its dark rocks protruding from the constantly flowing lava all around them. The magma was also dripping from the elevator, flowing down the window like a soup from an overheating pot.

The scenery would be pretty in its own way of intimidating glory, none of the passengers however were interested in admiring it, they were too busy recovering and catching their breaths.

Spyro was slumped down on the wall near the lever, leaning against the red rock with his back pressing against the stone in a sitting position. His hind legs were extended with his tail stretching right in between, head tilted back, horns touching the rock. He had his eyes closed, releasing a panting breath after panting breath into the ceiling. Chest heaving with deep, quick breaths. Snout wrinkled in a pained expression.

The side of his body below the wound on his shoulder was completely red, covered with fresh and dry, dirty blood. The patches of red covered more parts of his body, pulsing brighter near the cuts and lacerations, none of it was as annoying as the burns however.

His heaving breathing annoyed the burn marks, constantly forcing his scales to move, the burned ones were dark, swelled and pulsing. Each breath stretching them, and forcing them to scratch against each other, some of those weakened scales couldn't withstand the pressure and popped, cracking like a boiled egg, spilling out blood that was as hot as probably the lava outside.

He groaned whenever that happened, a rest to recover is needed during battle, any free time you get to breathe before another skirmish is invaluable. The break however has one, big downside. It is cruel agony, during it you hear every ache and scream of your body, you can hear it yelling at you for putting it through so much stress and trouble.

Sometimes he wished that defeated enemies would drop a bunch of spirit gems to let him heal.

Cynder laid flat on the ground, stretched to her limits, pressing her underbelly to the rocks she panted heavily, pierced wings slumped down on the ground, unmoving like the rest of her limbs. The only thing that remained in a different position were her forelegs, one was on top of the other with her forehead pressing against them.

Her cut snout was burning and itching like crazy, she really wanted to scratch it and free herself of this irritating feeling, but she was well aware that annoying the wounds that are getting healed won't help her in any way besides prolonging the regeneration process. To make sure she doesn't falter she trapped her forepaws below her forehead, they were trying to slip away, but she had none of that, with tightly clenched teeth she kept them at bay.

Dreaming of nothing else, but claws scratching her itching snout.

Regeneration process was a bitch, when it can't torment you physically it will punish you mentally, it was like the body was warning its wielder that you shouldn't be putting it through pain, even if it can heal, it will reflect some of that agony on you, make you taste what it went through, at least to some degree, when all you want is some peace and quiet.

This is one of the reasons why people avoid pain.

Sparx was sprawled on his brother's thigh, with arms spread to the sides he stared at the ceiling, breathing slowly. He didn't lack air like the rest, dragonflies hardly get tired, this is a natural resistance built in their genes due to the fact that their whole lives they spend being held by their quickly flapping wings.

They however weren't resistant to pain.

Being small and swift is a natural defense, in most cases whenever a dragonfly gets in trouble it gets away from it unscathed, he proved that point over and over again during all this time he traveled with his brother.

This was the first time in his whole life when he actually got wounded.

He didn't really know how to handle this, every part of his body was screaming, even if his wounds weren't serious, his flesh simply wasn't used to being cut and to spitting blood. He could only admire both Spyro and Cynder, one has a hole in his shoulder while the other has slices of one side of her face ripped off and they are both holding up quite well, if not for the Convexity he was sure they would still have energy for some crazy party even if they lost buckets of blood.

He on the other hand had no vigor left in him.

All he could think about was the pain, he doesn't heal like dragons do, possibly this causes the pain he feels to be sensed with doubled strength. Or maybe he is simply a crybaby.

He just wanted it to all end, adventures are cool and all that, but only when he isn't on the receiving end of their bad side.

Diazen was the only one that wasn't lying on the ground, he listened to the creaking lift and bubbling magma outside as he sat on the red floor, clutching his throat with one paw that it practically glued itself to it thanks to all that blood. The noises were hypnotic, forcing his thoughts to constantly mix and give birth to new ideas.

He never before felt so dirty, the damn blood became so thick and sticky that it turned his stomach around, he never had to endure so much before, this world is about quick reaction and power, you accomplish your goals quickly without allowing others to react.

What a fool he was to expect that things would go smoothly, he fucking despised being pressed against the wall, after all this failures he hoped that finally he will turn the tables and get a free victory.

He lost his Source, unable to contain it properly he let it lash out on him, during the damn Trials, a grave offense that force him to sacrifice it, otherwise he would lose his dignity, prestige and sense of power. The Keeper that was supposed to do the job was gone, just like all the rest of the golems he sent to investigate that fucking portal.

It was obvious from the blood covering his paws and pain bolting through his bones that a victory never comes without a price.

He was in the damn lift however.

This thought alone made him see the table finally swaying on its legs, ready to topple over with him being very close, prepared to jump on top and roar his triumph.

These three had immense power, the dragons defeated a group of purple dragons and destroyed Keepers like they were nothing but toys. These two are fighters while the dragonfly is a portal master, finally everything is in place, one well timed tug and everything will turn around.

The only thing that made him worried was the constant surprising variables, like for example Cynder's creepy companion or the unusual attention the Constructor is giving Spyro. He didn't know what to make out of it, but he didn't like it one bit. Not now when things are so close to finally being tied together.

He looked his companions over, adding more layers of worry to his already troubled and anxious thoughts. They all seemed so tired, he was afraid that they might be unable to make that final step.

All this worry, all this stress, for a moment there he wished that the walls of this lift would melt away, or even that the Constructor itself would break out of its prison and smash a hole in it, letting all that lava pour inside and end everything finally.

It was a dreadful thought, but somehow he felt that was the only quick and smooth end he ever would get out of his situation.

"How long is the ride Diazen?"

He jerked back at the sound of the tired, raspy voice of Spyro, it derailed his train of thought rather roughly. His neck pulsed, the wound on it stretching, warning that it will throw away all the healing process it went through if he keeps provoking it.

"A-Around ten minutes"

"This is the only way to get to the Core?"

"The only way I know of"

In this world there was hardly a question you could simply answer with an yes_or _no. Knowing this world most likely the is someone out there who can give a negative response to this question.

Like the Aspect for example.

Diazen shivered involuntary, that was definitely one of the variables he didn't want to be added to this equation they just started processing.

"Why are you asking?" he prompted

"Just-" Spyro groaned, rearranging himself against the wall, one of his breaths irritating one peculiar, nasty burn, making it crack in the end and spit hot blood on his scales. He hissed in painful annoyance.

"J-Just trying to get a rough idea of how much energy we still need to pull through this and...well just to talk about something to get my mind off the damn pain"

Diazen nodded, a simple thing, but still an impressive one, he was amazed at Spyro's ability to think despite all the things that happened and the consequences he needs to bare through after. He never lost his head once, that feat alone is pretty damn praise worthy.

Not to mention that he also can benefit from that wisdom.

"Fair enough, what else do you need to know?"

"I dunno. Maybe you want to know something? We've been asking question about your world all the time, maybe you want to know something about ours?"

He frowned thoughtfully, it was a very tempting offer, he couldn't let himself however succumb to that allure.

"Maybe some other time"

Spyro coughed, toes ion both his hind and front paws clenched tightly as a surge of pain shot through him "Y...You sure?" he groaned, letting out a hiss of pain "We have dragonflies there"

Sparx patted his brother's thigh in a congratulating manner.

"Man, you know how to flatter if you want to"

His mouth twitched into a small smile, who could have thought.

"Thank you for the offer, but I have to decline. This world, it has a way of shattering dreams, I would prefer not to inhale the toxic fumes of polluted hope for the rest of my life"

"Now that's one good definition of grim if ever I've heard one" Cynder muttered, her voice barely an echo as she intoned her lines right into her folded paws, keeping her head pressed to her draconic hands

"I'm sorry" Spyro stated

Diazen shrugged.

"This is the world I live in, it's not that bad when you get used to it. People can adapt to anything if they have to"

Sparx raised his hand in the air, extending his forefinger, eyes still aimed at the ceiling.

"Objection. I can't imagine adapting with a creepy, world eating rock as my neighbor"

"I'm afraid I don't understand"

"You probably didn't catch it" Spyro commented "But when we were trying to get answers from our special, dark friend he said that the creature that lives in your basement is the same creature that lies dormant in our world. You call him the Constructor, we call him the Destroyer"

"Kinda ironic if you think about it" Cynder added her muffled thoughts to the mix "Constructor means creation, Destroyer means destruction, two opposite sides of the spectrum put into one creature. I'm pretty sure this is some cruel joke, if we really want to be stubborn about it both those names fit. After all when that things wipes out life from the world it frees up space for new generation to thrive. Construction and destruction, a pretty pair don't you think?"

"It has to be some cruel joke" Spyro scratched his head "Because nothing makes sense here. Why do you call this core creature the Constructor Diazen?"

"Its creations shape the world" Diazen responded bluntly, there was nothing special about the history of the name "Keepers open possibilities of power shift, hence change the course of the world, they build new possibilities. If the metaphorical meaning doesn't interest you, there is also the crude, rough truth. It is giving birth to the Keepers, it's responsible for the creation of the golems"

Spyro frowned, narrowing his eyes on the sitting drake in disbelief "That's it?"

The orange eyed drake shrugged nonchalantly.

"That's it"

He smacked his head against the wall, gold horns sending small sparks in the air, looking at the far wall, his gaze becoming distant, feeling around the blank, dark space of thoughts.

"Weird"

"Maybe it's for the better" Sparx folded his hands on his chest "I mean, dude, look, you have something in you that attracts all sorts of crazy and makes all of it kinda retarded. Just look at Cynder, queen of darkness my ass"

"Oh, a compliment" Cynder sighed "How unexpected"

"Remember Iris? The chick without a heart? Everyone expected her to lunge at you and you talked her out of it without even getting smacked across your stupid mug. Would anyone be surprised now if the Destroyer only wanted hugs and smooches? I sure wouldn't"

Sparx' argument was idiotic in the most crude way, Cynder in her corrupted form was a formidable opponent, it was not like she simply lied down and allowed him to pet her into submission. Iris also didn't falter easily, it never got to the point of exchanging blows, but she tried to freeze his heart, like literally.

There was however a point in all this stupid blabber, Sparx is just unable to pinpoint it without being snarky and annoying. Both those enemies he mentioned turned out to be more than just cold, murderous beasts, to a lesser or bigger degree of course, but the point still stood. Whether he was responsible for that change was not important right now, important was the fact that even in the most ugliest of creatures one can find a second bottom.

Spyro's eyes widened, his thoughts allowing his brain to latch on a tendril of one, specific thought and process it.

He felt like he already knew the result of that examination thought.

"Is the Constructor a sentient being?"

Diazen nodded, the question didn't trigger the same interest in him as his other purple companion, it was rather arduous to be honest.

"Of course, it is intelligent and very much alive"

Both brothers frowned, even Cynder who was unmoving all this time raised her head from her paws, wrinkling her nose in the same manner of thoughtful expression.

"I don't understand" Spyro muttered

"What is there not to understand?" Diazen inquired impatiently, answering obvious questions was rather irritating, no manner of respect of awe can change that

"It's a living creature like you and me"

"That is precisely the whole point!" Spyro exclaimed, the nervous excitement causing him to jerk his body a little too fiercely, making another scale snap in a sizzling, painful hiss

"It's awake, how are you still breathing then? Awakened Destroyer begins a stride across the planet forming a Ring of Annihilation, when completed the world we know turns to ash and cinder. With it being in that Core or whatever it is, I can presume it's not moving. Why? Why it's not completing its journey?"

The orange eyed dragon looked at his purple companions as if he would lose his mind.

"Are you certain Spyro we are talking about the same creature? I simply fail to see how a creature like the Constructor would be able to bring the apocalypse"

"Ohhh, trust me, it can, the question is why it's not doing it"

"Maybe it doesn't want to?"

Everyone turned towards Cynder, Diazen because politeness required to at least acknowledge another party when it joins the conversation. Spyro's and Sparx' motivation was different however, both of them believed they misheard her and wanted to confirm their suspicions.

"What?" the dragonfly blurted out

With the underbelly still pressed to the floor she raised her head higher, her paws already itching and inconspicuously preparing for a scratching attack on the snout. Even if her mind was elsewhere right now, there were those short breaks, pulses, that simply demanded instinctive, impulsive reaction.

She stared at the flowing magma outside, so destructive and uncontrollable, with no will to change its purpose. Its fate so very, very familiar.

"The Constructor is a living, sentient, intelligent creature, it has its own free will. Without a leash and a collar around its neck maybe ending the world simply doesn't interest it? Appearance might be misguiding, not everything that's big and scary is a murderer, you are born with your looks and there is nothing you can do about it. Being labeled as a killer is easy when you have no control over your actions, while in truth you are just like other people and know that by hurting someone you are actually causing pain"

Sparx slammed his head into his brother's thigh with a roll of his eyes and bored sigh.

"The feels again"

Spyro observed his companion with big, caring eyes, speaking from experience, this is what she was doing. It was painful and sad to listen to, even if her voice didn't betray any emotion, she accepted her fate, yet he still wanted to hug her nevertheless.

He never considered the idea of putting himself in her paws, being branded from birth was an ugly fate, a situation that was only worsened by the fact that you are unable to discard the label yourself.

He heard stories about the evil Cynder, during all the adventures he went through to prepare himself for the confrontation with the Terror of the Skies he heard many things about her, many bad, ugly things. He started to believe those stories himself at some point, which eventually formed one goal inside his head, there was no other way of saving all those lives without erasing this evil completely.

Who would have thought that the girl that wanted to shred him to pieces, the girl that tortured the Guardians, the girl that he finally dropped from the sky would be a complete opposite of the stories he had heard.

A girl that he respected, liked and eventually loved, a girl that was his companion, is his friend and finally became his mate. None of this would happen if he followed the nudge of populace, meeting Cynder opened his eyes to different possibilities, allowed him to see the world in more colors than simply black and white.

A creature many considered to be a soulless, murderous beast turned out to be the most beautiful dragoness he had ever met.

There is a chance that the Destroyer might share the same fate.

After Cynder he no longer measured the odds of something like that happening, he knew that there was such a possibility and his soul be damned if he ever forgets about that. No one is born evil, you become evil, being trampled under the unfortunate circumstances life throws at you, without anyone nearby to pull you out.

Assuming he wasn't there and Cynder would survive being sucked by the Convexity portal without his intervention, would she become the girl she was now in a world where every breathing creature saw her as an enemy?

Unlikely.

What if the Destroyer went that assumed path during its eons of lifespan?

He could only imagine the horrors one must face to switch from creation to destruction.

"Everything is possible, let's not jump to conclusions until we see with our own eyes what is going on. Maybe there is more to this than meets the eye" Spyro voiced his thoughts out loud

Cynder smiled warmly before pressing her head once more to her paws, it was always nice to hear someone willingly wanting to find out more about his possible foe than simply slash at him because that's what the world demands. She didn't expect anything else from Spyro honestly, but words are still words and hearing them is always a nice touch, even from your mate that is loyal and faithful to you.

Sparx shook his head in disdain, scornfully rolling his eyes.

"You are so whipped that it's no longer funny. Seriously dude? Forget about Inkpaw for a second, pretend she's not there and answer honestly. Do you really believe that the Destructor is a nice guy when it doesn't hunger for a slice of the world pie? Did you forget already that that thing wanted to KILL us just a moment ago?"

"That was a test, we can only guess the motives behind it" Cynder pointed out

"Motives?! Those things wanted to make canvases out of us and you're talking about motives?!"

Spyro's eyes didn't leave Cynder from his sight. It was really difficult for him to leave her out of the equation, especially now considering their current relationship and the knowledge about her past. He managed to push her into the background after Sparx' unending, irritating pokes and he came to the same conclusion nevertheless.

It was possible that there is more to the Constructor than the obvious, tests or not. Ignitus' training sessions weren't about life and death, but there were times when they were extremely cruel, making him hate his mentor. None of this meant however that he was evil and sadistic, his intentions were noble at heart.

There was that little chance that perhaps the Constructor followed the same doctrine, only its methods differed. No matter how many question marks there will be added to the equation, there was only one answer when it came to describing the creature living in the Core.

It was possible.

Whether it was experience speaking, or actually his feelings for Cynder that weren't silenced in the end, he didn't know for sure. He simply couldn't come up with another answer.

"I think we shouldn't jump to conclusions, first we need to examine every side of this story"

Sparx sighed deeply, throwing his arm on top of his head, covering his eyes.

"Sometimes I think I'm the only one left whose head is not manipulated by anything" he mumbled, disheartened "Always doing the big boy's work"

"We can always ask Creep, he'll solve this argument" Cynder proposed, biting gently on her restless paws, the itching on her snout became so much more annoying

Sparx propped himself on his arms, looking around the lift.

"Where is the guy anyway?"

"Hello? Look at me"

"All I see when looking at you is your big, fat, wrinkled ass spilling on the floor while aimed at me"

She shook her head, after all this time Sparx' snide and most of the time impudent remarks weren't as annoying as they were tiring.

"Lower" she wiggled her tail gently, raising her blade tip in the air

"Nope, nothing. Just another fold of fat ass"

Spyro poked the top of his brother's head with his claw.

"Hey!" the dragonfly exclaimed, slapping the claw away and smacking both his hands on the burning spot on top of his yellow head. He glared at his brother angrily.

"That hurt!"

"Good" Spyro stated indifferently, turning his gaze at his lying partner and her dancing like a cobra from a basket tail

"What Sparx was trying to say is that Creep doesn't seem to be here. Those black orbs on your tail and horns are gone, even your shadow is nothing more but just your shadow. However stupid this may sound"

Her head propped itself up.

"Oh?"

One paw immediately took the occasion to act, it supposedly reached for the horn, but the moment it touched the silver extension it momentarily dropped down to scratch at the itching snout.

The wounds started to sting.

Angry wrinkles appeared on her snout, she snarled and snapped her teeth at the impudent paw, it immediately shot back to the ground, pinning its companion under it.

Spyro smiled weakly, if they wouldn't be in such a dire situation her struggle with instinct would be adorable.

"I think Creep's gone"

"He helped enough" she retorted back, usually you try to keep your company together until the quest is over, but somehow she had no pressuring inclination to summon Creep again

Considering Spyro's worries and Creep's acting towards the Constructor she felt like this would brew only more unnecessary nervousness. Not to mention Creep's feelings towards the Wanderer really argued with her statement about benefit of doubt towards the typical bad guys.

She also had a feeling that she might have offended him in some way, probably by going against his will during basically all their adventure here in this world. She didn't know if Creep can actually be mad at her or anyone else, it was merely her feminine instinct speaking. She had a weird feeling that she somehow thrust a wedge in their specific relationship.

The odd thing was that she felt it had nothing to do with going against Creep's wishes.

"This is a bad idea" Diazen stated coldly "You will need all the help you can get against the Constructor, you can't simply cast away your power"

Cynder rested her head back on her paws.

"I know what I'm doing. Don't pressure the matter Diazen, it's more complicated than it looks"

He shook his head with a snarl, life was so unfair. How a creature that is reluctant at brandishing her powers reached such heights when he who used every ounce of obtained strength to gain standing got stomped into the ground?

The lift grew darker suddenly.

Everyone present looked at the window, the flaming, rocky edges of the what seemed to be a volcano surrounding the lift lost their curtain of magma. It was like below this point the lava was forbidden from entering, the last droplets of the deadly liquid trickled from the corners of the lift.

It got impossibly dark, there was practically no light here, the only source of illumination was given by the tears and streams of the remaining lava still clinging to the moving lift. Just when most of them thought they would be descending from now on in total darkness the walls surrounding them suddenly pulsed with red light.

Again and again until the pulsing ceased its rhythm and the walls were illuminated by a constant, dim, nearly romantic red hue as if many precious rubies would glimmer at them shyly from underneath their rocky covers.

Besides the gems there were also pure, crystalline, red veins glistening on the walls all around them, like the most beautiful of chrysalises they ever saw in their lives. They could only wonder what kind of butterflies would be the result of such an awe inspiring metamorphosis.

The reddish hue bounced off their scales and bodies, emphasizing Cynder's magenta scales and practically turning the purple scales of both draconic boys to an exciting crimson. Even Sparx' natural yellowish glow didn't remain indifferent to the illumination, adopting its hue to his own aura, turning it orange.

"Wow" Cynder gasped, her emerald eyes remaining locked on the light show ahead, she wasn't the most sensitive of females when it came to romantic aura and décor in general, but even she could tell when a scenery is exceptionally pretty

"This is nice" Spyro muttered his own astonishment as his head slowly turned, eyes following an invisible trail along the glassy window.

He will never cease to be amazed by the fact that even the most deadliest of adventures produce such memorable sights.

"Are you sure guys we're heading the right way?' Sparx voiced out his own shock, his usually blunt way of thinking had a difficult time accepting the fact that the way to the den of a world eating monster can be filled with such pretty sights

Why care for beauty if you plan to destroy it. It made no sense.

"We're almost there" Diazen wiggled his shoulders anxiously, the pretty sights making him sick, he was the only one who knew what they truly meant

He was the only one who knew that this is the borderline after which his life is going to change. For better or worse.

The lower they went, the farther the walls moved away from them, the crimson light loosing its poking power, the lift growing dark slowly once more. And then, suddenly, darkness evaporated, light filled every nook and cranny as the lift after a brief blank spot entered a massive gallery.

They forgot about the pain and weariness, like automated golems following the same order they picked themselves from the ground and pressed their noses against the glass. Their mouths dropping, chins leaving smudges on the glass.

They were inside a volcano.

It wasn't their first time, their adventures led them to volcanoes, or volcanoes related places many times already. They however never been in the heart of one before and this definitely felt like one. Core was more literal than they thought.

They weren't entirely sure why they were so excited, it was beautiful here in its own way here, true, but there was something else behind this feeling than mere sightseeing. They were in the Core and they just felt deep down, that the name had as strong literal meaning as it had a metaphorical one.

As the lift began to slow down the Core opened up before them. It was a massive gallery of flaming rock. The crystalline veins they saw before now dotted the entirety of the walls, the rocks were no longer black, but gleaming like pure rubies. Lava swirled inside the crystalline forms, like hatchlings wiggling in the eggs.

The red light they were giving away was almost blinding.

Their bodies shook gently, slapped tenderly by magical energy.

The magma also returned, instead however dripping likely earlier it flew and danced around the pretty, red veins, filling the rocks with fiery essence. They were quite sure that it was thanks to the magic in the air the lava adorned the walls, suspending itself on the rocks, without it they were sure that this place would be a huge pool of lava.

That thought made them nervous, the intimidating beauty of this place finally striking a blow. They will have to step out from the safety of the lift soon and enter the Core and when they'll do that all that suspended lava will be hanging above and all around them.

Held back only by a thread of incomprehensible magical energy they know nothing about, a magical band that can shatter at any time for all they know and drown them under its liquid, sizzling embrace without even forcing a scream from their throats.

Nothing would remain of their bones, all would be melted to ash, nobody would ever know that there were actual living creatures once in these tunnels.

The Core suddenly lost all of its appeal.

Especially now when the ground they are going to be undoubtedly walking on came into view. It was exactly the same red, veiny wall with magma painting its surface like the rest of the walls. Only after a close examination they noticed a smooth surface of stone, it was as transparent as a bottle housing wine inside.

So close and yet so far, thin glass separating the liquid from the touch.

You could feel the liquid if you held the bottle, they simply couldn't imagine themselves walking on that stone. You could feel wine in a bottle, there was absolutely no chance of not feeling lava under your paws behind a thin, basically transparent rock.

They could already imagine their scales being sucked to the hot rock and torn apart like used bandage with each step.

The lift came to a stop, the wall they were pressing their noses to disappeared swiftly, sliding into the floor, making them jump back with startled gasps. The trio winced, Spyro and Cynder covered themselves behind their wings, Sparx plastered himself to his brother, safely tucked behind the natural draconic shield.

They basically slid down into a heated furnace, there was only one thing that can happen when you open the door to an overheating place.

Surprisingly there was no gust of hot air, in fact the temperature didn't seem to change at all, it was still and warm like always.

They lowered their wings, only now noticing that at the opposite end of the gallery there was practically vertically flowing pool of lava, only when they narrowed their eyes they could see some strange silhouette, they guessed it was some sort of a weird fountain.

Fountain inside a volcano.

It made no sense.

"Come" Diazen commanded, stepping out of the lift and onto the swirling with magma floor

They all held their breaths, their eyes wide, all three of them were ready for the purple drake's inevitable howls of anguish.

He didn't even yelp.

"It's not hot" he stated roughly "Come"

"Dude, this place doesn't seem to be safe. You know there's magma above your head?" Sparx pointed out the obvious

"I'm aware, that's why I prefer to be done here as quickly as possible" he looked around the cavern with held back fear

He was here several times already, he gave up on the thought of ever getting used to being in this place a very long time ago. He felt like a rat in a cage whenever he was here, having this damn lava swirling all around you was unnerving. Especially if you didn't know what kept it from collapsing on you in the first place.

He already wanted it to be over.

"Move, please, we're almost there"

The trio exchanged nervous glances. With a gulp Spyro was the one to step forward, as his paw hovered above the fiery floor he felt a warm, soothing gust on the lower side of his extended leg. He looked down, spotting a small crevice between the lift and the gallery. It led deeper into the volcano, black void filled the hole, red veins and tongues of lava stretching like roots dragged themselves across the walls, but eye can only see so far.

There was an updraft wafting from the opening, he instinctively clenched the claws on his extended leg. The draft was probably present in every volcano. His nose moved, sniffing at the air, he didn't catch anything special, their air was scentless, there was something about it however that made him anxious.

He was paranoid most likely, but this updraft was so similar to the one that held Malefor's symbol of dominance aloft.

"Spyro, are you seriously telling me that you are scared? Now? After everything that happened?" Diazen asked, there was a tone of palpable mocking triumph in his voice

"I'm not scared" he replied, the waver in his voice was a clear indication that he was lying "I'm just careful"

He relaxed his claws, dropping his paw on the ground.

He heard Cynder and Sparx hissing from behind him.

The floor was pleasantly warm, like a spot in the house in close vicinity to the fireplace.

The tension in his muscles relaxed slightly, he rose his paw, turning it around to glance at its underside.

His scales were intact.

He stepped from the lift with newly gained confidence, stopping right next to Diazen he gave the cavern another look.

Seeing everything what was to see on the levels of his eyes he only briefly recorded that the cavern, like any other was dotted with stalagmites and stalactites. His eyes quickly traveled up, one glance was enough to say that they were with whole certainty inside a volcano.

There was another cavern right behind the lift, but it was dark, devoid of all these magical light sources. His eyes simply couldn't pierce through the dark veil.

Up above stretched the neck, the red light making the gusts of wind shine with a reddish hue, the corridor where they found the lift the size of a dot, like a star on a night's sky. What caught his attention was the fact that there was no mechanism operating the massive, rectangular shape that was the lift. Either it was flying or it was somehow magically connected with the updraft wafting from the bowels of the volcano.

He caught himself on not being at all shocked by this sight, many people could only dream about something like this while he experienced it with his own body and eyes. It was pretty funny honestly, people usually tell stories and glorify wondrous places all around the world, mostly those they haven't seen yet and when you finally get there, experience it, you find out that all this excitement is just a shade of indifference.

Passion is a cruel jester.

The rest of his team abandoned the lift, joining him in this quick examination of scenery.

"My blood!" Sparx exclaimed, smacking his brother's shoulder in a typical, manly congratulating fashion "You really need some dragonfly courage in you to taste the waters like that. I raised you well, you passed the test!"

"Hurray" Spyro mumbled unenthusiastically, eyes eventually landing on the far end of the gallery where the strange silhouette of a fiery fountain could be seen

He nodded in that direction.

"What's that?"

Diazen gave the fountain a stern look.

"That's the Constructor"

Spyro cocked his head, judging their guide, making sure if he's not toying with them

"That's the Constructor?"

"Yes"

Cynder craned her neck forward, from here she could barely make out any details. The only thing she could deduce with whole certainty was that the Constructor doesn't look like the creature that wanted to end their world in the slightest.

"That doesn't look like any golem to me" she noted

"I never said that the Constructor was a golem"

"That Destroyer guy is HUGE!" Sparx made an arch in the air, lowering himself to the orange eyed dragon's level, making a circle with his arms to emphasize his point "It would never fit in this cave"

"Again" Diazen hissed in irritation "I never said that the Constructor was a golem. I said it was complicated and it would be better if you saw it with your own eyes"

"Pfft!" the dragonfly waved his hand dismissively "Bring it on man! Ants like that are no match for us!"

"It's pretty empty here" Cynder pointed out "The Constructor seems like an important being, pretty strange that there are no guards in its living quarters"

"There is more to this place than meets the eye I'm sure of it, there are more rooms here than just this one, like the Furnace for example. This is irrelevant however" Diazen's eyes glimmered menacingly "What is important is the fact that guards were never needed"

Spyro frowned, throwing the drake a suspicious glance, for some reason he didn't like the sound of that, even if the perspective of approaching the famous Constructor without interruptions was rather tempting.

"What that supposed to mean?"

"Everything" their guide rumbled with nearly automatic precision, huffing out dreamily right after Spyro intoned the last letter

He moved forward, flicking his tail in such a way that gestured for them to him.

"That was pretty creepy" both Sparx and Cynder stated at the same time

They looked at each other in surprise, exchanging small smiles.

"Keep your guard up" Spyro followed the purple drake, this whole adventure was quite a big mess, but he never felt so anxious in this place like he did right now

They were on the way to the Constructor, the being that was supposedly the Destroyer itself. They were walking through a place filled with trapped lava where only a strong enough sneeze is enough to make all of it crash down on them. Not to mention Diazen seemed to show more determination and his cold arrogance than ever before, he didn't like that change, but understood it to some degree nevertheless.

He was sitting in this place his whole life like a cornered animal, in the beginning only smelling the opportunity for better perspectives, not truly believing in them. Now it all shifted around, what was once hope became reality and it was in every creature's nature to push harder when the goal is just right at paw's reach.

No matter what.

This was what made him restless the most.

As he walked after Diazen he noticed that their claws weren't making any sound, the three of them were like ghosts hovering above the floor. This would be fascinating and maybe even his natural curiosity would pursue the answer if not for the growing object in the distance.

The shape ahead started to adopt the form of a big stalagmite, glowing with a light so intense that it could match a glow of a Spirt Gem Cluster. He maintained the same pace during his walk and yet at some point his steps became heavy and the speed he was walking dropped down considerably.

He felt as if he would be pushing through damp earth, like a finger burrowing itself into wet ground, going slower and slower with each inch as the ground became more solid and thick. He kept on going, pressing against the invisible curtain with each step, pressing until he finally broke through, getting sucked inside like a sperm cell reaching the egg.

The burden of magical energy that suddenly surrounded him was overwhelming.

He felt like in some sort of a bubble, a familiar one at that, time seemed to slow down like...like... when they crossed the Belt protected by Ignitus' shield. After such experience he simply couldn't forget the tension and what exactly was lashing at the shield.

Belt of Fire.

Magical bubble of the Belt surrounded him.

He immediately realized why there were no guards here.

He looked behind his shoulder, throwing a meaningful, worried glance at Cynder. She recognized his fears, obviously going through the same thinking process as he was, coming to the same terrifying conclusion.

They are toys in the Constructor's playground.

There was no turning back now, he feared that this sentence in their current situation besides the metaphorical meaning had also a strong literal one. He felt in his guts that if they would want to leave right now, the bubble would push them back.

Whatever scene is going to be played out here was so crucial that no more delays are acceptable.

The closer they got to the shape ahead, the more details they could catch and due to that they could say that the object ahead is a combination of a stalagmite and a fountain. Behind this mass was a wall, the glimmering veins and tendrils were sprouting on it like wings of a hatchling.

The intense glimmer was coming from the wall, it basically bled fire, the scorching flames heated the wall that it was basically burning. The Belt devoured the rocks, tongues of its flame dancing like flags on wind.

All this fire dripped down the weird cone, at closer examination they noticed that the ground below the shape was a pool of fire, this was where the scorching tendrils of the Belt gathered. Sizzling and most likely constantly eating through the volcano's floor like acid.

They got closer and the cone began to take a more consistent shape, the vertical stalagmite was still there, burning like millions of torches, looking like some strange, overgrown rack. Only now they noticed that there was some solid shape protruding from the column, so similar to the carvings they've seen all around the complex above.

The shape was made of fire itself, it swirled within that figure like the magma underneath this thin, transparent floor they walked on.

If this place wasn't the Core and they wouldn't know who exactly are they planning to meet, they would say that the thing ahead is just some magical statue, some intimidating decoration. A gargoyle for example, unmoving and frozen in its silent vigil.

This particular statue was tilted forward, like a figure of a priest humbled in front of some temple entrance, locked in a pose of torture and respect, in painful reverence.

Except that this statue moved.

They got close enough to see now every detail.

The stalagmite was nothing more than a vertical torture rack, burning tendrils in the shape of pipes connected the statue's back with the wall to which it was held. It was as if the wall would be sucking the fire out and absorbing it into itself, becoming exactly like the statue.

The metaphorical unfolding wings were nothing more than branches shooting out from the pipes at the places of connection. Whatever pressure was used to transport the Belt from one place to the other had to be quite a strong one. It looked like the fire splattered at the moment of impact, the tendrils were nothing more than cracks that were created under the pressure and the increasing thickness of the fire that turned into lava the farther it went from the connection.

The crystalline, gleaming fossils dotted the wall, created by dripping tears of the magma from the cracks. It was like nicked veins softly crying tears of blood.

The statue moved its head and when glowing eyes appeared on the fiery, blocky head they realized that it was an actual living creature embraced in the flames.

The Constructor.

The fiery body showed more lines of a golem like figure the closer they got. They noticed that besides the pipes the Constructor had its arms also were jerked backwards, pressed against the wall as if they would be glued to it, unable to break free as if held by shackles.

This being was made of the Belt, blocky head with fiery, yellow eyes, partially dropped down torso that would undoubtedly smash into the earth if the pipes and hands wouldn't hold it in place. It was like a completely drained body held in the air only because the ropes wrapped around its arms were tied to the cross with enough strength to make the body wither for years to come.

They could recognize only half of the body, the flames made it unnaturally thin due to their unstable swiveling. Below the chest the body was nothing more than fire, dripping tongues of flames like black clouds spit out rain. They stretched down until they reached the pool, where they became a fiery, nervous twister of destructive flames.

It was obvious.

The Constructor was a prisoner, a drained prisoner with the ability to kill its oppressors if only it wanted to.

Why was that happening they didn't know.

And honestly didn't want to find out.

The Constructor looked at them, its features so similar to Cynder's dark, shadowy companions, mysterious and undoubtedly dangerous. Ready to shape itself into whatever form it wished, if only it would be free.

Even if the flaming creature was nowhere as big as the Destroyer, it probably was the size of a adult dragon, Spyro and probably not only him felt quite small in its presence.

"Finally" the burning silhouette of a face of the Constructor parted, revealing a mouth within which cracked a fiery throat. The voice however that came out was surprisingly toned down, like a raspy huff of a thirsty laborer

The burning body leaned forward, the wall brightened up like a blacksmith's forge behind it, fire exploded from underneath the tubes that were connected with the raw surface of the volcanic, eaten by magic, wall.

The Constructor examined them, it acted like it didn't see Diazen, its eyes expectantly jumping between the three, newly arrived in this world companions.

"This is most peculiar"

All three gently pushed their heads back with nervous frowns. Even if the voice was unexpectedly gentle, the creature's breath still carried the weight of flames, being warm and perhaps it would be soothing if not for the fact that all of them new how hungry the Belt is.

Under this warm wafts of magical breathing all three of them felt like food on a platter that is being toyed with a rather cruel fork.

They didn't know what was more scary, that they are facing a world eating fire, or that they are in front of an undoubtedly intelligent creature which controls that flame that they believed was mindless before.

"You do not have to fear me" the blazing creature backed away, its tortured form returning back to the original position "My will is not to hurt you"

It was difficult to say if the Constructor felt any physical pain, or even if it understood the concept of it to begin with, probably not judging from its situation. It was however intelligent enough to understand basic emotions of living creatures, like fright for example.

"Nope, nothing" Sparx let out a whispery rasp to his draconic companions "I'm still about to shit myself"

"But you have to fear us creature!" Diazen roared aggressively

All three of them gasped, their eyes widening, they didn't know if their companion is oblivious to the fact that this bubble they are in is basically a trap, or perhaps offering all their heads on a platter was his plan all along.

He was strangely confident to yell directly in the face of a creature that could melt him with a mere burp.

The Constructor seemed to acknowledge the purple drake for the first time, its blazing eyes glimmered with what seemed to be a combination of amusement and awe.

"No, this statement is false. The plural form is misguided"

"They killed things like you before, you will obey or perish! I demand more Fortune and you will do well to listen!"

Cynder narrowed her gaze on the yelling dragon.

Spyro followed her gaze, they both knew that aggression wasn't the best way of beginning this meeting. Diazen obviously held a grudge, but he was unable to tell just how close he is to pushing his luck to far. Especially if the Destructor in their world is indestructible, if this creature is its another version it most likely shared the same trait.

Threats don't work in their favor, pissing off a creature as strong as this is a bad idea, they need time to figure something out if things actually will come to blows.

"Diazen" Spyro hissed through clenched teeth, trying to sound as quiet and as sternly as it was possible without betraying his fears "Calm down, let's talk first"

"No!" he snapped, turning his wrathful gaze at the purple drake, pointing at the Constructor with one paw "You want to flirt with the creature that wanted to kill us just a moment ago?! No! This is the chance I need!"

"Mistake" the fiery being stated warmly, its body dropping forward as if in a bow "Necessity is a mistake"

"Aggression towards you was not my intention, I had to force you to silence the dark sibling. Your deaths would be a mistake, I evaluated. You made a mistake by touching my essence, you made a mistake by placing trust in your guide. Time is limited, Aspect is stalking, overwhelming force, you will not survive"

"I have will, it is not always my own. Basis for mistakes"

"Shut up!" Diazen roared, flames cracked from his nostrils "This thing can't do anything to you, don't listen to it, don't let it play with your heads. You can kill it, you can take what you want from it! Look at me! I'm yelling at this thing like it would be a retarded brat!"

"You are unfamiliar with the rules of this place" the Constructor said, his warm, labored voice sounding sad "Basis for mistakes. I am sorry"

"What?" Cynder blurted out in surprise

"You're sorry?" Spyro mumbled startled

Destructor, the killer of worlds is sorry.

"Your death will be a mistake Light Aspect. You have made mistakes. So close to change the path. Misguided trust. I am sorry, I never meant to take your life. A curious specimen you are, so many unknowns" the creature buried its sad gaze into Spyro

The purple drake gulped, Cynder felt her heart stopping in its tracks, she didn't like the sound of any of it. She realized that the creature was never giving them any assurance, it was merely stating facts.

She just felt that it just gave verdict regarding Spyro's life and there is nothing she can do about it.

It was a death sentence.

"We-we don't have to fight" Spyro stammered, channeling his element even if he knew that they were in trap and that the Destructor cannot be destroyed "I-I-I just need your help"

"Just beat it up! Make it obey!" Diazen demanded, his claw that served as a pointer shaking in the air due to nervousness

Sparx narrowed his gaze on the yelling purple dragon, his quickly thinking mind making necessary calculations way before others, people ignore it, but dragonflies are quicker than the rest of the world's population in other things than just flying.

He had seen all sorts of crazy and evil, learned what dedication meant, knew what it meant to put everything you have on this one plan you came up with. Fulfill it no matter what. Believe it or not, not even Cynder in her corrupted form pushed with such dedication.

It took him a while to notice it, this was a clear signal she could be swayed from her path, that she wasn't doing it completely out of her own free will. There was a deeply hidden doubt and remorse in her actions.

Diazen had no such thing.

He knew what he came here to do, and he will sacrifice everything to get it.

Whatever it was.

"What do you want Diazen?" Sparx said, his voice hollow and improbably manly, attention slaving

The orange eyes turned at him. The truth that they spoke was more scarier than even the chained, flaming creature ahead.

Dignified life.

"You are a fool boy" the Constructor's blazing form twirled in the direction of the drake, the scorching chains embedded into its back spitting the thick, gleaming droplets of fiery blood

"I can not be slain. You too make a mistake. Again"

Diazen's eyes glowed briefly.

Sparx gasped instinctively.

In that glimmer he saw everything, he saw cruel fate that has befallen on a small boy, he saw that boy forming his own shell, his own train which he rode to his dreams.

He saw that train derailing.

It was like watching a bullied boy finally having enough of it, after being humiliated and bruised for so long, he finally decided to do something about it. He grew thicker skin, he grew more clever, he done everything to outsmart his oppressors and gain an advantage. When he finally was satisfied he attacked with the intention to get some revenge and teach everyone that he is more than some weakling.

This story however had no happy ending.

The bullied boy found out that his attack was a failure, his oppressors became far more stronger than he anticipated. He tried to get his payback, but the only thing he got in return was a beating.

Diazen was however a bullied boy that was capable of anything, a boy at the border of a psychotic break. A boy that suffered and is not about to turn back now when he is so close, no matter what.

It was clear that Diazen truly despised this creature, had dealings with it and from the look of his eyes got reprimanded more than once. He wasn't a guy that accepts failure.

"Guys, I have a bad feeling about this" Sparx mumbled worriedly

Both Spyro and Cynder stirred, they had troubles focusing, the creature's last words, the death threats so to speak, the bubble and now this admission of immortality. What they were expecting by coming here they had no idea. They knew it wouldn't be easy.

And now Diazen, all they need for him to snap even more and things will undoubtedly be perfect then.

"I still have a speck of Fortune left brute, you will obey"

The Constructor groaned, its body flaring up, the pipe like tendrils attached to the back seemed to increase their suction tempo, absorbing more and more often the fiery essence.

"You do" the being sounded almost depressed, the barrier surrounding them whined, as if the Belt wanted to tear itself apart

"I want his powers for myself, now!" Diazen commanded, pointing his shaking claw at Sparx, his voice was nearly begging, like that of a slave who finally broke under harsh torture

Sparx' eyes widened, his mouth dropped open, everything went numb all of a sudden. It was like getting stuck on a railroad track and staring right into the face of the incoming train.

"Power?" he mumbled, his voice as quiet as a wind breeze

Both Spyro and Cynder jumped in alert, they immediately channeled their magic, bending on their paws, ready to fight. They were betrayed by the one that guided them, they didn't care about that right now, they didn't feel hate, all their focus was aimed at the Constructor.

The magical bubble around them started to condense. Tears of the Belt started to slip through the barrier.

The fiery creature straightened, its burning eyes widening, it looked genuinely surprised.

"So be it. You are a waste to me now boy. Remember that"

Its eyes turned at the dragonfly.

"I am sorry"

The barrier cracked, the flames of the Belt however remained in place, keeping the round form of the barrier, as if the cave would wear a burning crown. The magical barrier that they thought that held the Belt was the thing that moved.

It shot forward with the speed of light, looking like a stretched rain drop, it struck Sparx before anyone could react, trapping him inside a nearly transparent, round shape. The bubble muffled every sound, Sparx shouted and punched at the barrier from the inside, they heard nothing.

He was trapped and helpless.

All three shared the most devastating and knowing looks of their lives.

And then the bubble flared up from the inside, filling the bubble with a fierce light that could only come from a ignited furnace.

"NO!" Spyro roared at the top of his lungs and without even realizing attacked the fiery creature, unaware that he wasn't breathing his elements.

He attacked the creature with the power of the purple dragon, the one he used to defeat Cynder with, the one he used to create a shield during the Eternal Night, the one he used to mend the world back together.

The beam that came out of his mouth wasn't purple, it was a combination of colors, of his every element, stroked with thick dashes of red.

Blood.

The beam smashed into the creature.

Cynder didn't have Spyro's strength, she could use Convexity again, but she felt it would not be enough, she still didn't recover. With fear and depression beating at her heart she attacked the creature with every power of her Dark element she was familiar with.

Diazen gasped at the display of magic, he felt as if his bones were getting crushed under the pressure of all this magical energy, blood trickled from his nose in a constantly increasing in strength flow. He dropped on the ground with a howl, putting both his paws on his head, the strange music that filled his head was deafening, he felt as if his brain would be melting.

All of it lasted maybe for a few seconds, but for everyone it felt like an eternity.

Only one scream managed to pierce through the commotion.

"YES!" the Constructor howled into the air, a blare that was a combination of agony and...laughter

Joy, joy in all its glory.

"I'm alive!"

The second shout was weaker, far more weaker than the blare of the golem yet for Spyro and Cynder it was like an earthquake. They mouths shut themselves tight automatically, the beams that were coming out of their mouths drained away abruptly, cutting of in tongues like water from a recently turned off faucet.

They turned around, noticing Sparx hovering in the air with a loud grin on his face.

Cynder's tail made a quick, happy wag, tears filled her eyes, despite the situation she felt happy, extremely happy, the feeling could only be compared to the one she felt when Spyro kissed her. She was too overwhelmed to even smile.

Spyro however greeted the sight of his unharmed brother with a weak smile, blood trickling down from the corners of his mouth. He didn't know what he felt, all was empty just a moment ago and now simply, just like that everything was as it supposed to be.

There was no reason for worry or struggle anymore. This was a victory.

He can rest now.

His legs gave under him, the world made a quick, nauseating spin, he crashed onto the floor, dropping flat on the volcanic surface. Chin bounced off the ground slightly, he coughed out blood after the impact.

He was exhausted, everything sounded so distant, the world was a smudgy mess of weird lines and strange colors.

His tail was moving however, slowly wagging, mostly the tip, it was projecting the joy he was too tired to show himself.

"Bro!" Sparx dashed to his brother's side

With a yelp Cynder followed him.

"Are you alright dude?" he asked with a wince, wanting to touch his fallen brother but in the end merely curling his extended hands into fists, eyes dashing over the pool of blood in front of his brother's snout

"You okay Sparx?" Spyro's eyes closed themselves shut, his weak question stretching another smile across his mouth, he knew the answer already, he felt the warmth of his brother's glow on his scales

The glow showing his relief and emphasizing his painted with blood teeth.

"What's wrong with you?"

"He pushed too hard" Cynder laid her paw comfortingly on her mate's back, her soul screaming in fury that it didn't get the chance to cherish victory.

"Using elemental energy constantly is draining already, I can only imagine how depleting it must be to use the power Spyro just used right after Convexity"

"I don't feel anything!" Diazen howled, spitting out blood as he looked himself over "Why I don't feel anything! Why is that bug alive!?"

The sound that the Constructor was emanating became much clearer after a while, especially when the streams of energy striking it died down.

It was laughing through clear groans of agony.

When the fog of the magical energy striking it faded away, it revealed a battered body. The Constructor was hanging lower than usually, its head following suit. The fire its figure was made of dimmer than usual, it was dripping the fossilized tears from practically every visible spot.

It was bleeding.

The pool of fire below it bubbled and groaned, devouring the trickling magma hungrily.

"Answer me monster!" Diazen cried, literally, tears filling his eyes

Cynder growled, she was observing the scene unfolding before her in silence, battling down her fury, knowing well that they are at a great disadvantage. If they are going to die here, so be it, but she won't fall until she skins that purple motherfucker alive.

"No power" the Constructor laughed, swaying on its chains and bleeding profusely "No essence. No Source material"

"He's a portal master! I demand to possess his ability to travel between dimensions!"

The Constructor roared in laughter, the wall to which it was chained and practically the whole walls of the volcano where the lava flowed brightened up merrily.

"A fool, again a fool. The creature you sentenced has no magic inside his veins"

"W-What?" Diazen mumbled, his wet eyes widening, mouth gaping open as he turned towards the group

They were eyeing him triumphantly, the dragonfly was giving him the middle finger. No power in that creature. How? They said...

They lied.

He was fooled.

He was played.

Everything lost.

"NO!" he howled, charging the group, tears were flapping from the corners of his eyes like droplets of rain on a leaf

"Waste place is in the corner" the Constructor intoned with amusement

A big tentacle made of fire shot suddenly from the blazing pool, it lunged towards the running drake and smacked him. The force of the blow was so strong that it sent the dragon flying across the floor. The air was momentarily filled with the stench of burned flesh.

A rumbling, hollow echo resounded suddenly within the cavern, it was like someone would strike a bell somewhere in the distance. Cynder shivered, her bones vibrating under the tingling pressure of magical energy. She examined the flaming cocoon, she saw its blazing tongues quivering.

The Constructor straightened up in its bonds, trailing the barrier with its evaluating sight. Sparx noticed a big hole in the center of its body, it was filled with dry magma. It looked like a cauterized wound, it was here where the combined strike of Spyro and Cynder struck it.

"The barrier was pierced, Aspect is approaching. Our time is limited" the creature turned its attention to the group, its fiery eyes toning down their intensity, tilting down as if in regret

"Unfortunate result, could not be avoided, you were not prepared"

She heard those words before, somehow they sounded more disgusting than ever, she had enough of riddles and cryptic talk. This went too far and stretched way too long for her liking.

"Listen creature, if you want to kill us then do it, I don't care about your apologies. You tried to execute my friend. I'm not Spyro, I don't forgive something like that easily, or ever"

"Cyn" Sparx fiddled his thumbs nervously "Maybe ease down a bit?"

The Constructor nodded, as if in acknowledgment.

"I do not seek forgiveness, I seek Change. For that to happen you must live, you must escape. I will provide the latter. You can break the cycle, I believe it"

Another burning tentacle grew from the pool, it slammed onto the ground the moment it popped out. It slowly slithered towards Spyro, killing its blazing skin with each meter, becoming slowly like one of the glimmering fossils.

Cynder growled, narrowing her eyes on the tentacle.

"I will tear it apart"

"Do not" the creature rasped a begging response "I offer Time, your friend must absorb the power. He must challenge Destiny, he must become the star"

"You won't lie your filthy tentacles on him!"

"No time for arguments. Step back, please, I would not want to force you"

"Oh yeah? Why-"

"Cynder!" Sparx dashed, clamping her mouth shut and looking her straight into the eyes "Let it do whatever it wants, if it wanted us dead we would be dead"

She broke free from the clench with a furious growl and shake of head.

"No!" she snarled at the dragonfly, for a brief second in wrathful blindness regretting that he pulled through the death sentence "I won't let that thing mess with Spyro's energy! He's barely conscious!"

"He will not perish" the tentacle slithered closer "He is the force of Change, the Light, he will heal, I will make sure of that" the tendril stopped at her paws, silently asking for permission

Cynder looked at the creature, it was determined in pursuing its goal, even if there was some kind of understanding in its eyes the glare was clear. It won't be stopped, what it tries to do however is to ask for consent, for permission.

She never felt so helpless before.

With a defeated sob she raised her paw, burying her guilty gaze into the ground.

The tentacle continued under her risen leg , it grazed her paw scales with a comforting warmth.

"You will smile, you will win. This is not defeat, this is luck, this is where you become our hope. I was wrong, you do belong. You are what I was supposed to be"

The tentacle wrapped itself around Spyro's extended back leg.

He gasped, eyes shooting wide open, wings opening wildly, tail bouncing and freezing in the air. Throat rumbling a silent scream.

He felt as if a whole planet just went through his body, he didn't knew how to describe what he was feeling, it was everything and nothing at the same time. It was like something would be inflating him with air, but instead of puffing him out like a balloon, the air seemed to glue itself to every piece of his soul and body, like a root of a tree burrowing into the ground and claiming that piece of earth for its own.

He felt like that tree right now, finally sprouting a root strong enough to reach deep into the soil, finding a spot that would let it thrive for millennia to come. What he sucked from there was not water however, but magic, essence of the cosmos itself. It filled his being, it filled up the starvation, not enough to kill it, but enough to sustain himself.

He started to cough, the world was no longer spinning, it once again became a solid view that shockingly flickered like a flame on candle. Each cough seemed to freeze the time flow just for a second, he could taste Fate and Destiny on his own lips.

The taste clung to his palate, he knew he will never forget it again.

Cynder's head snapped in the direction of her coughing mate, she was no expert in healing, but she didn't need an immense knowledge about medicine to know that this type of coughing was no longer weak and ugly. It was a cough of life, the one you let out when you finally get rid of that choking bit of unfortunately swallowed saliva.

"Spyro!" she basically leapt to his side like a tigress, hitting the floor she crawled forward, gently wrapping her paws around his front leg "How are you feeling?" she whimpered

He smiled weakly.

"Sore, but not complaining"

She would kiss him, she didn't care about the blood on his mouth, the only thing that held her back was the fear of choking him. She didn't want to steal the air he just recently started inhaling again.

The tentacle withdrew quickly, slipping back into its sanctuary like an embarrassed roommate that just walked onto an intimate moment his friend was having with his girlfriend.

"You can traverse the time again" the Constructor intoned, his voice was anxious and nervous, quick

They were running out of time and there was still so much to say.

The bubble that once embraced Sparx shot in the direction of the group catching all of them in a protective cocoon.

Their scales shivered, they felt a cold finger of terror trailing their spines and it was not caused by the bubble that just some moments ago basically incinerated Sparx.

In the distance, where the elevator was they noticed the black shadows stretching towards them, swirling like hungry tongues of many gaping mouths.

"Find me when you are ready. You must. Find protection from my touch"

They barely recorded what the creature was saying, they all stared at the encroaching darkness, it was like all demons of every nightmare would slither towards them.

"Find a creature born of fire. Locate a Phoenix. Return prepared or you will die"

White eyes appeared in the darkness.

"Let Luck shield you still"

And with those words everything disappeared.

They heard every sound of the world becoming a whizzing whisper.

The Constructor heard the first torturing screeches of its bonds in this day.

Diazen heard the music again and for the first time he started to recognize the words.

It was their sense of touch that awakened first before any other of their senses started to acknowledge their surroundings.

It screamed of pain.

They slammed into some pretty rough ground, when they started to roll down they realized it was a staircase. Spyro reached the bottom first, after bouncing off the last step in a rather unlucky pose that played a chilling song on his ribs he crushed on the raw, ruined, familiar ground belly first.

He groaned loudly.

The groan turned into a whine when another body slammed into his, Cynder hit him right in the rump where his tail connected with the rest of the body. For a tailed, four legged creature getting hit in that spot is as uncomfortable as punching a thigh of a two legged being.

While the numbing pulse shot through his butt, his spine didn't remain behind in the race of pointing out agony. After Cynder bounced off his rump, she made a spin, slamming into his back, after that she was finally thrown sideways, the uncontrollable impact shoving her off of him and onto the ground. The last things that slapped into him of his usually favorite body were her tail which landed on his nose with a smack, slamming his snout into the rough earth as a result and keeping it there.

The last thing that added to the discomfort was one of her hind paws, her draconic foot pressed itself against his neck, the sole barely grazing it. It were the claws on her toes and that one blade on the back of her leg that pushed into his neck scales, threatening to pierce them.

His neck sent stinging pulses of warning through his nervous system.

Sparx landed as the last one, not possessing the weight of his two companions his momentum was much slower, he slammed into his brother's butt and stayed there, glued to his scales. Both brothers in that moment were glad that dragonflies are small.

"Fuuuuck!" Cynder voiced her pain in a guttural, vulgar roar

"Mhhmhmm"

Spyro frowned, panting in exertion, Sparx incoherent mumble stirring his concentration.

"What did you just say?"

He unglued himself from his brother's butt cheek by making a provisional push-up.

"I take it all back" he gasped in relief

"You take what back?"

"Forget about salads, stay fat bro, your big ass is like a cushion"

Spyro laughed, mixing his blurt of glee with occasional cough.

In every other situation he would find it disgusting, but right now he didn't care, he'll take every bit of comfort he can get, even if it meant rubbing against his brother's purple butt. With a content sigh Sparx pressed himself to the fold of cushy scale again, letting out a laborious breath.

"Where are we anyway?"

"Back on the starting line"

Cynder's sentence made both brothers focus on their surroundings, something that was unimportant before became suddenly everything they ever dreamed of.

They were back in the lava room, the Constructor teleported them back on the familiar staircase, it had to miscalculate or simply couldn't reach further. It didn't matter, all that mattered was the room.

They never believed they would ever miss the somewhat greasy and sharp ground, the thick, suffocating air, the heat or the soot. Spyro also didn't believe he would ever miss the familiar tingling around portals.

While his companions took into the surroundings his eyes landed on the Veil, the bluish, swiveling in the air slit in space was all that mattered to him. As he stared at the portal he realized that this was not some mere tingling, it was his magical essence dancing.

It was dancing to the rhythm of the Veil.

He realized in this moment that this particular song will be his magical soul's favorite from now on.

He didn't understand how it was possible that he couldn't commune with the Veils before, it all felt so natural right now.

"Spyro...?" his mate whispered shyly, green eyes landing on the portal, she only called out his name, but the tone with which she has done that spoke volumes. In that single word she asked about everything, about what was truly important.

She asked if they can get out of here.

"Yes" he replied confidently

The soft paw that was pressing against his neck disappeared, the tail that was no longer so bothersome also vanished. Cynder sprung on all fours, her whole figure beaming with the energy of second wind.

"Sparx!" she cried out "Stop kissing Spyro's ass! We're going home!"

The dragonfly shot to the sky, wiping his mouth.

"I didn't kiss anything!"

She grinned, nuzzling Spyro affectionately.

"Can you get up?"

He smiled.

"I think so"

He prepared all of his legs for the push, the ground felt strangely like a gum. With a groan he pulled himself up, giving his partner a reassuring smile as he swayed on his legs.

Legs that suddenly became numb and the ground that he was standing on acted like it just swallowed his paws.

He fell, Cynder with a gasp allowed her reflex to do the job, diving under him before he collided with the floor.

He chuckled on her back.

"Guess not"

"Are you sure bro you're up to it? Maybe you need a minute?" Sparx asked worriedly, his glow was uneven and impatient, he wanted to be out of here as quickly as possible, he didn't let that however be projected by his voice

"I can do it, just let me fly"

"No!" Cynder pinned one of his wings down "I'm going to carry you"

"You're tired Cynder and I'm heavy"

"I had you on top of me already, I didn't complain then I won't complain now" she gently laid her partner down on the ground

Sparx' brow raised itself in surprise.

"What games are you playing exactly when I'm not looking"

"The best kind" she retorted, stepping over Spyro, trapping him below her prison of paws "You fly only when we get to the portal, not sooner do you understand? You need all your strength, is that clear?"

It was probably not very manly, but he really liked when Cynder took charge, it always emphasized that ominous side of her he adored so much.

"Whatever you say"

She spread her wings, sliding her paws below the purple shoulders and jumped up. Flapping her wings quickly she lifted Spyro's dead weight from the ground. She groaned and panted already, tongue rolled out of her mouth and dripped tears of saliva onto the top of his head.

Without thinking she pressed forward, Sparx appeared in front of her, grabbing onto Spyro's horns. His muscles flexed as he pulled at them, trying to help her in any way his small body was capable of.

The sight was enough, she didn't know if Sparx was capable of easing the burden in a truly physical sense, but somehow Spyro felt lighter all of a sudden.

They managed to carry him to the edge of the ledge. He didn't wait for another breath, he spread his wings and put them to work. Seeing this Cynder slowly slipped her paws from underneath his shoulders.

He had more strength than he thought, or maybe the perspective of ending this damn journey pushed him beyond his limits. He only delicately swayed in the air, he gained balance quicker than he expected.

He put his front paws to work, one reached up, towards his horn where it picked up Sparx, with his brother in his grip he pressed the clenched fist to his heart. The other paw caught Cynder's withdrawing foreleg, he intertwined his front toes with her and squeezed tightly.

She returned the gesture.

He gulped, closing his eyes and without any second thoughts led the group towards the portal, confidently dashing right into the magical slit in space.

He didn't think about anything, but the safety of his loved ones, he wanted to get them on the other side, all the technical stuff of how and why didn't interest him at all.

It played out exactly as he wished.

At one moment there was everything.

At the other there was nothing.

And then once more there was everything.

"For the love of the Ancestors!"

This was the first thing they heard, the feline growl of shock, they registered it before anything else, before the world formed one solid picture.

In front of them stood hooded cheetahs with shocked expressions.

They once again smelled fur and glass.

They were home.

Spyro collapsed with a blissful smile, every muscle relaxing and falling asleep. If there was a moment in life to ever lose consciousness to, this one seemed like the perfect one.

"Medicine! Now!"

Both Sparx and Cynder were unaware that Spyro just fell to the ground, their widened eyes and tormented mind having a hard time processing all this information.

"What happened?"

They heard the yelled out question, another information to process, their brains catching the phrase and dissecting it.

What happened?

They were in a good place, landed in a bad one, fought for their lives, nearly died, learned that they are the key to victory in some crucial fight and that the future is a big, scary unknown.

Nothing happened.

They have been here before.

It was just another page in the book of their lives, not the one you see when moving forward, but the one you see again when you flip backwards.

It was the same old page.

End of Book VII