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A couple of days have passed since my last entry. Marching, waiting, and worrying. No matter what I do, I cannot shake these doubts. Not even Ember, after what happened between us at the time of my previous entry, has been able to really soothe my worries. More and more of my allies have been giving me funny looks as more days go by. They do not know the full story, but knowing that the emperor is being sustained through my mere existence is enough to give them reason to question my involvement in this war. Whenever I am out and about during downtime, I always feel so alone... Not merely from how alienated I feel knowing that I am a threat by proxy. I feel like my presence is at least inconveniencing my allies. I only really feel at peace when there is no one around me at all.

To that effect, I have gotten in the habit of going out on...patrol. Removing myself from the encampment and wandering around the perimeter and out of sight. Sometimes on the open plains. Sometimes through some woods that happen to be nearby. But always alone with my thoughts. It is not likely I could slip away so easily. I know my presence must surely get picked up by the sensor crystals situated around the perimeter. And I am certain Seaspray and his men are monitoring me every minute I am outdoors. Even if I never see them. But as long as I am out of sight and out of mind, I do not have to worry. I always feel so alone...but I at least take comfort in not being an issue to anyone when I am not around to be wary of.

My dreams have provided me no respite either. If I do not wake up in the middle of the night, I at least wake up feeling miserable and having to reassess what I know from the real world. Nightmares and stressful dreams in general have been consistently plaguing me. But not this night. The moment I fell asleep with Ocellus and Smolder by my sides, I found myself in something familiar. An open starry night sky with a field of fog below my knees. I was not alone.

"There you are." A voice I knew very well spoke from behind me. Upon turning, I saw her stepping out of the fog. The Princess of Dreams. Nightmare Moon herself. Of all the people around me, she is one of the few I know for certain will never lose faith in me. She was the first to join me on this journey and will be the last to abandon me. She then spoke, "You mind has produced some truly troubling visions in the realm of dreams lately. I could not trust you to sleep soundly tonight on your own, so I waited and took hold of your slumbering mind the instant I could. You deserve respite in these trying times, my friend."

Seeing her there... It made me wonder. And so I asked, "I don't suppose your sisters will be joining us tonight, will they? Another session?"

"No, not this time. Not after all the turmoil your mind has endured during your dreams. Tonight, you shall slumber in peace without conflict." Nightmare Moon declared with a calm smile. A very doting smile as her horn was ready to weave whatever it was I wanted to see. In a flash of magic light, I was clad in my armor without my helmet or weapons. Just a means for more convenient mobility unless I wished to discard it. "So then, what shall it be? A trip to sunny beaches? Perhaps returning to someplace familiar? I have much I can work with."

"It's my call, huh? In that case... Let's see..." I muttered before I began to pace about in thought. Something pleasant... Something familiar... I did not think it would be best to visit the dreams of another this time. I would be better off alone. But when Nightmare Moon entered my field of vision again, I paused. She was looking off to her side. Eyes narrowed inquisitively. But we were alone, right? "Um... Something wrong? Is someone out there? Is it Luna?"

Nightmare Moon shook her head, her eyes never looking away as they gazed out over that foggy horizon. "No... No, it's not her... But it is a presence. One I have noticed every now and then whenever I have peered into your dreams lately. It is always so distant... Lingering at the edges. Adrift... But it has wandered closer now... Aimless...yet searching..."

"Searching? Searching for what? What can you sense about it?" I asked in confusion. Had someone...somehow...wandered into my dreams and got themselves lost in it? Is that even possible?

The Princess of Dreams enshrouded her horn with her magic aura. In a matter of seconds, that focused scowl began to make way for a calm smile. She then turned my way and said softly, "It longs for you."

Those words awakened a nameless intrigue in my heart. Someone came looking for me? In the depths of my own dreams? I could not ignore this statement. I looked out over the fog where Nightmare Moon had been staring. I saw nothing, but she knew something was out there. "Bring them here."

Nightmare Moon did not refuse. With a flash of her horn's magic aura, she exerted her influence. "I have called them... They are drawing near."

I watched and waited. My armored fingers flexed in the confines of my gauntlets as I began to wonder if whatever was approaching was actually dangerous. But bit by bit... In the depths of that fog... I saw a form moving through it. Slowly as it shambled our way. But it was low to the ground... Quadruped, a long swaying tail behind it. A pair of wings reaching up while not quite folded. The body language... That gait was distinctly feline. The size... A griffon? Was it...Gilda?

I was more than happy to see Gilda, regardless of whatever contrived circumstances resulted in her literally getting lost in my head. She has always been stalwartly loyal in recent days. One of the few I could depend on. I almost laughed as I wondered how she even got there in the first place. But just when I was about to call out to her in greeting... I did not see fur. Or feathers. All I saw were scales.

A stinging shock struck me in the heart as I recognized the form that was stepping through the fog. As if guided along by an invisible force. But once the fog became thin enough to see through... The eyes opened and gazed up at me. Not a striking yellow, but a soothing teal hue. Not a griffon hen. A dragoness. Scales of dark violet and rosy red, bangles and spiny attachments of platinum. She gazed up at me while we were both rooted to the spot. "I found you..."

I remembered. Soaring through enchanted mushroom groves. Out over an ocean kissed by the setting sun. Through the void of space in the middle of a shimmering meteor swarm. And finally falling helplessly through a white void with a precious new friend in my arms. I felt...a single tear down my cheek... As I beheld her, I did not realize how much I had missed her until I had finally laid eyes upon her again. I dropped to one knee, gingerly holding out my arms to her. "You...?"

She did not delay. The dragoness approached at a brisk pace and placed herself in my armored embrace. She rested her brow directly under my chin with her horns tucking my jaw between them. "Do you remember me?"

So few words... So little needed to be said. We crossed paths the first time entirely by chance. With the royal sisters by my side, we all saved her. And then she saved me. More than once. My fingers on one hand slid between the row of small spines going down the back of her head as I held her tenderly against me. I whispered her name. "Cynder...?"

A long sigh of relief hissed below my head. "How long has it been... James... I swore I wouldn't forget. Your name..."

"It is good to see you child. I never expected us to cross paths again." Nightmare Moon then spoke while drawing near. She sounded pleased to see a familiar face that she herself had felt great pity for. So much so that she personally dragged the very curse that had infested Cynder right out of her body. But to be wandering the edges of my dreams... I had forgotten. She had no world to go back to. No home to call her own. Cynder was alone. And adrift like Nightmare Moon had said. She then asked, "Although I do wonder... What has occurred since we last crossed paths?"

Cynder remained silent in my embrace and I dared not move from that spot. The delay in her response gave me cause for concern. The silent dragoness finally spoke, but quietly. "After...the white void took me... I...don't really know. It's all a blur. Wandering... Seeing... But never stopping. Like I've been...dreaming all this time. Waiting to wake up. Searching for something..."

Nightmare Moon and I shared a silent stare for a moment. I began to wonder... Cynder was nothing more than a product of my dreaming mind. But unlike almost everyone else I have encountered in my dreams that carried a great familiarity to me... She was not an enemy. She survived. She lived to see another day. But she had no world to return to. That world is gone... So thoroughly erased that no one can restore it from the memories of it...because no one, not even I, remembers anything about it. Cynder was not merely a dream. She was a wandering vagrant in my own mind... Adrift until called to my side. I brought one hand to the back of her head, feeling a twinge of guilt for her pitiable situation. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be." She replied softly before finally lifting her head to gaze into my eyes. She...was smiling. A humble smile, but still a smile. There was hardly any angst in those beautiful eyes. She then explained, "It's not like I had a home to go back to in the first place. There's no place for a minion of the dark lord in the world he once terrorized. I'd much rather...be with those who have been kind to me. I know it sounds like I've got it rough right now, but...I'm just glad I found you again."

After all that happened before, I always expected Cynder to be reduced to a woefully angsty individual plagued by memories of what came before she was purified. What would have happened to her had we not been there for her immediately after the dust settled? She needed someone to turn to. But were our kind words enough to help her start over? As I pondered this, Cynder turned to Nightmare Moon as my grasp on her loosened. She gazed up at the dark princess who had personally pried the very curse that had consumed her right out of her body. She bowed her head, awestruck and humbled. "Your highness..."

"I have a name, child." Nightmare Moon replied calmly, prompting Cynder to lift her head to behold the royal alicorn. She then proceeded to properly introduce herself for the first time. "Nightmare Moon. Princess of Dreams. A pleasure to see you again, little wyrm."

"I may be small, but I'm no whelp. But...I'm sure I can't compare to your wisdom. Are you...a goddess of the night?" Cynder asked in awe as she took a seat before us. She then said softly, "I remember... You were the one. I felt the chains coming off when you reached deep inside me. Thank you..."

"That curse was a product of fiendish hexes and I am well versed in the dark arts myself. Although how I inherently know such malevolent magic in the first place eludes me..." Nightmare Moon replied while becoming noticeably distracted by her thoughts. Dark magic... Magic even Luna does not possess. Where did it come from? Whatever the case, it did come in handy that night. Nightmare Moon then shook her head and explained, "But no... No, you do not behold a goddess before you. Untouched by the flow of time, to be sure. But not an almighty deity. It is...complicated and difficult to explain."

"You could've fooled me. You look...divine. To do what you did... To challenge and defeat the dark lord himself... You must be at least comparable to a goddess." Cynder explained in awe as she beheld Nightmare Moon's ethereal form. I suppose even in Equestria, the royal family could be considered divine entities based on their appearance and power alone. Cynder then cast her gaze around at the foggy vista and asked, "Where are the other two? Were they your sisters? I'd like to thank them if they're here..."

"No, Celestia and Luna will not be here tonight. But perhaps another time. Although now that you are here..." Nightmare Moon explained before she turned her gaze back over to me. I remained respectfully silent to allow them to converse in peace, but that softer yet solemn stare reminded me of why she was there. "Perhaps...you can help this man find solace for the evening."

Cynder looked over at me, but her eyes then opened wide as she noticed something she might have overlooked. She stepped my way and said softly, "What's wrong...? Your eyes... Did something happen?"

I wonder... Could Cynder read me so easily because my troubled mind was not so dissimilar to hers from not so long ago? Did she recognize the underlying unease in my gaze? Perhaps Cynder's presence that night was no coincidence. Maybe she drew nearer than usual...because she sensed something she emphasized with? I could barely look her in the eye as I muttered, "Things...aren't well back home. There's been new discoveries... About me. And...how I'm connected to...a cataclysm that is growing..."

"No... No, I don't believe you. I can't believe...you could be at fault for something like that. You don't have it in you. You're just being used, right?! You're...not..." Cynder began to speak with unexpected passion before falling silent. Her gaze was aimless as the cogs in her head turned. And I recognized the parallels. Those words felt familiar. Very similar to those I told her last time. And what irony to see that they were much more effective when used on her than on me. She then turned her gaze up to me and said, "I...know how you feel. But...it's not your fault..."

"I want to believe that, I really do. But at least in your case, you're free. The strings were cut." I explained metaphorically as I remembered that night. The dark dragoness being little more than a puppet to her master. My hand rested upon my breastplate, knowing that the thread connecting me to the emperor was still there on my sleeping body. "But there's no cutting the strings that hold me... And that's what scares me."

A gaze of concern and frustration filled the beautiful eyes of the dark dragoness before me. Her brow furrowed as she tried to think of something to say. I am sure she wanted to soothe my worries in the same way I did for her, but she likely knew that was impossible while I was still connected to my own puppet master. Cynder read my body language and stepped forward before reaching out to me. I lowered my armored hand from my chest in curiosity and stared in some minor confusion as Cynder rested her own hand upon my breastplate. As if feeling for something to grab onto and tear free. Seeing that there was nothing so simple to deal with, she then turned to Nightmare Moon. "Is there anything I can do?"

The Princess of Dreams nodded as she said, "Stay with him tonight, if you value him. He needs a caring soul to be near him. Can I ask this of you, little Cynder?"

The dragoness glanced over her shoulder at me before taking an almost defiant stance before Nightmare Moon. "There's nowhere I'd rather be. Although...where exactly are we?"

Nightmare Moon cast us both a much more pleased smile before she said, "Thank you, child. As for where we are... You stand in my realm. But you should not stay here. I will cast you out soon into a world you should both be much more comfortable in. Just give me a little while to...find you a destination."

She was choosing her words carefully and I understood why. Cynder did not know. She was a product of my dream and could not have known that. It was such a sad thing to acknowledge, but it was best to keep the illusion going for her sake. Nightmare Moon then looked at me and said, "I am leaving you to her. Do you trust her?"

"I do. She's...a good person." I replied simply. Cynder conveyed her appreciation by glancing over at me with a very wide smile spread across her lips. That very expressive reptilian grin... Simply adorable. I think it even coaxed a small smile out of me too.

Having entrusted me to Cynder, Nightmare Moon spread her sable wings before soaring out over the cloudy horizon and out of sight. Now alone together, Cynder stepped my way and asked, "What happened after we last saw each other? Are things...that bad where you come from?"

"There's a lot to go over... Someone who once tried to conquer the world I call home is now sustaining himself through me. That world is the closest thing to a paradise you can realistically get and...he's preparing to open a rift to another world that is much more dystopian than mine. It's not a matter of whether or not an invasion will happen. It's about how that world will corrupt mine in the long run. And...I'll never forgive myself for it if that happens." I explained while knowing I should not talk too much about my problems.

Cynder said nothing. I think she understood that she did not understand and probably could not understand. She likely understood that at the very least it was not so simple as an evil overlord trying to conquer a world for his own selfish interests. It was more along the lines of two worlds being forced to intersect when their cultures and societies are inherently incompatible without one being overridden by the other. And that is a clash where Equestria would absolutely be crushed in the end. Cynder knew she could not understand. And I was not expecting a response. But she still acted. Cynder stepped gingerly over to me while I just looked away, still resting on one knee. But once she had reached me...

My eyes opened wide in surprise. Something lifted my head from below. Cynder had tucked her head right under my jaw and lifted it. Those smooth scales of beautiful violet hues tenderly rubbed my jaw in a manner similar to how a cat might nuzzle one's face from below. She spoke little, but what she spoke was worth its weight in gold. "I'm with you."

Those were words I had heard before. All spoken at the most fitting of times. I then said softly as that minor twinge of surprise faded, "You like saying that, don't you?"

"Does it annoy you?" Cynder asked with her head still tucked under mine in such an affectionate manner. I suspected she never really put much thought into the meaning or weight of that statement and only got into the habit of saying it because it felt right and nothing more. I felt her head tilt downward in a more downtrodden manner. As if she was worried that she may have displeased me. "I... I won't say it if it sounds stupid... I wasn't...really wondering how it might..."

"Say it as often as you want. It's...a wonderful thing to say." I replied at the first lull in her words to try and interrupt her as gently as possible. I never felt irritated with that phrase. Every time I heard it... Falling in that crimson sky with Cynder's hands planted against my cuirass. Standing together in that plummeting temple. Falling helplessly into that white abyss during our final moments together. Those words carried meaning. A powerful meaning. She was with me when I needed her and she wanted me to know it.

Cynder did not respond at first. At least not with words. But she did respond with actions. I felt her tilt her head back and lift it higher, pushing my jaw up as I was certain she was smiling in delight. "In that case... I'm with you."

Saying it again right after saying it before not even a minute earlier... I think she was just trying to be funny. And it worked. I cracked an amused grimace while resting my hand on her back and just between her wings. But not much later, Cynder twitched under me. "Huh? Wait... Does the ground feel...shifty to you?"

"It does? I mean... Huh, it does feel...unsteady now..." I replied before I rose to a standing position. Even through that veil of fog, I could feel the floor starting to feel like loosening sand. And then...it gave away entirely. Cynder and I plummeted right through the fog.

Cynder and I both let out a startled yell as we plummeted through that fog beside each other. Was it Nightmare Moon's doing? Although Cynder then cut her startled shriek short as she looked at me from just my right. "Wait... What're we screaming for? We have wings, right?"

"Heh, yeah! Yeah, I guess we could just break out into a glide. Not like we can see anything though. Let's wait for the fog to clear before we try to fly anywhere." I retorted while finding some levity in Cynder's observations. And as the seconds went by, the fog started to become thinner. And...light began to shine through it as well. As if we had gone from a starry night sky to the mid afternoon. And then the clouds gave away with us suddenly realizing what was below. "Um... I'm pretty sure that isn't the same ocean as last time."

Spread out far below us was the vast blue ocean for miles around. And the sky was virtually spotless with all the fog we had fallen through being nowhere to be seen. Cynder then glanced over at me and said, "Now might be a good time to break out into a glide."

"Yep! Spread your wings!" I called back now that I was very thoroughly distracted from whatever troubles had been on my mind just minutes earlier. It felt good to get all that wind in my face. And I did not need my helmet to keep the wind out of my eyes. No doubt a result of some foresight on Nightmare Moon's part. With one long swoop, Cynder and I came out of our fall and shot forward on our wings.

Cynder was quite taken with the beautiful summer day happening around us. While the ocean below was vast, we were thankfully not out in the middle of nowhere. There was bits of landmasses peaking over the horizon, so we had dry land to head to in case we needed to find a place to land. But where Cynder was scanning our surroundings, my eyes were focused only on her now that we were finally in a situation calm enough to let me observe her.

She looked utterly graceful in flight. That streamlined body being supported by those impressively large wings. But one thing I did not notice until I was seeing her from the side was just how pronounced her pectoral muscles were. Her rosy red chest stuck out surprisingly far and I quickly came to a conclusion. I pondered why such strong chest muscles would be necessary, but Cynder then just happened to flap her wings down. I began to brainstorm. Her wings were likely connected to somewhere around her shoulder blades. And when considering the kind of exercises one generally does to work their pectoral muscles... It would make sense that the strength of her wings would depend on the strength of her chest muscles. I bet they could deliver quite a slap if needed. And strong wings would be necessary to counter heavy winds. I then called out, "Impressive pecs you got there. That's good for your wings, right?"

"Huh?! Wha... Oh, I never really thought about it." Cynder replied before looking under herself to see her rounded chest coated in her rosy ventral scales. Not even Ember's chest is that filled out despite having a similar wingspan. But when considering how much stronger she is than she appears, perhaps Ember's species of dragon has muscle tissue that is much more condensed. Who can say?

We continued to glide along out over the sea. I did try to spice things up a bit by veering off to the side to change course. Wherever I went, Cynder followed. She always stayed just to my right and made certain I never left her sight. She did eventually speak up and asked, "Do you think we should head for shore?"

"Probably. We can't stay out here forever." I replied with my eyes trying to figure out which landmass on the horizon appeared closer. Some even had what appeared to be mountains, although it was difficult to gauge exactly how far away those were. Cynder simply followed along with whatever direction I chose. It came down to which landmass was the easiest to make out on the horizon. With my destination plotted, I began to soar towards dry land. "Shouldn't take too long at this rate... Wait... What's with that island up ahead?"

Something started to feel vaguely familiar about where we were as we soared onward across the sea. There was indeed a sort of island up ahead, but...its overall layout was very irregular. It was mostly composed of very thick naturally occurring walls topped with either rounded hilltops lined with grass and even dotted with trees or bare rocky crags with no reliable footholds to be seen. Colorful clusters of crystals dotted the island here and there or were even extending up out of the cliffsides or the sea itself. Cynder commented on what we were seeing before I could. "That's a strange layout... Looks...a bit fantastical. And that's saying something considering where I came from."

"Do I know this place?" I muttered as a certain sense of familiarity combined with complete unfamiliarity hit me all at once. There was something I recognized about the general setting, but I did not recognize the outward appearance of the place. "Are we where I think we are?"

As we glided over the island, Cynder started glancing about at the sound of a distant noise. "Do you...hear a buzzing of some sort?"

"Now that you mention it..." It was distinctly familiar to me. A sound I had not heard in some time. The buzzing of a turboprop aircraft engine. And once we were back out over the open sea, we glanced to the right to see exactly that out over the open bay. A small squadron of makeshift propeller aircraft buzzing along at surprisingly low speeds. The cockpits were fully exposed to reveal the pilots. A bunch of...green vaguely humanoid creatures. And I was all too quick to recognize them. "Huh... Gnorcs."

"Gnor... Huh?! I've heard of orcs and gnomes, but gnorcs?!" Cynder called out as she very abruptly turned her head to glance at me with a snap movement. That strange fusion of two separate creatures was hard to explain in the first place and they were most definitely not native to wherever she hailed from. "What even are they?! Or if you recognize them... You know where we are?"

I glanced back as we left that island while gliding across the bay. It was all starting to come back to me, even if it did not quite look the way I remember it. "Um... Kind of. I mean it doesn't quite look how I remember it, but it would be hard to justify this world looking like it's made of 32-bit polygon graphics when seeing it in person."

"You lost me..." Cynder mumbled while just staring at me like she had no idea what I was going on about. Not that she could understand it. As the minutes went by, the landmass ahead began to loom before us. And what a sight it was. Vast sweeping valleys and hills coated in droves of lush grass. Cynder was especially impressed as she spoke up, "So verdant... Don't know where we are, but I like what I'm seeing."

"Wherever we are, I'm sure you'll be right at home." I replied as I suddenly realized where we were. If Cynder was without a place to call home, then this world would easily suffice. But we first needed to find a place to set down. Best to not do so in the middle of nowhere. I kept my eyes peeled for any areas that appeared even vaguely familiar.

A spot carved out of the valley could be seen up ahead. And...there was a castle of sorts visible as well near a couple of waterfalls that emptied into a basin that held five round stepping platforms one could rest on. And reaching out from beyond the castle was a raised stretch of earth supported by a stone frame that led to an observation platform that overlooked the rest of the area like courtyard. A small hedge maze was nearby and reminded me of where we were. "Wow... Don't remember it looking like this, but the layout is the same."

"Should we ask that one for directions?" Cynder asked while pointing towards that one vantage point out in front of the castle at the top of the hill, the two of us circling overhead to find a good landing spot. While things were quiet in the courtyard, there was one person out there. And Cynder was quick to notice what he was. "There are dragons here? But...that one looks...strange..."

"Yeah, dragons are native to this area. I just don't remember them looking like...that." I added before we came to a sliding stop in front of the castle. The raised walkway was set before us and we began to stroll across it to approach whoever it was standing at the far end of it. We approached cautiously, each of us stepping lightly along the grass. The dragon before us was quite tall and slender, which did give him a great deal of individuality compared to what I was expecting to see. "Dapper fellow right there..."

He certainly looked like quite the artiste from where I was looking. Tall and slender with green scales all over him, the dragon was chiseling way at a block of stone set on a wooden stand. A red bow was tied around his throat while a black beret was atop his head. His horns were impressively curled and I could make out a long and thin moustache sticking out that had a pronounced upward curve. Cynder and I came to a stop maybe five paces away from him while we observed him from the guy's blind spots. She and I glanced at each other in equal curiosity. Neither of us had any idea who he was. The clinking of metal striking stone filled the quiet air as he went to work with a hammer and chisel. Cynder then whispered, "Are you going to say hello? Or should I?"

"Um... Sure, I got this." I replied before reaching out and lightly tapping an armored finger on his folded wing. "Excuse me, sir?"

"That you back there, Spyro? Something I can... Oh my!" He started to reply with a bit of flair in his voice before getting a good look at me and stumbling back in surprise at the very sight of something that must have looked completely alien to him. And he bumped right into his unfinished sculpture to knock it off its pedestal. Thankfully, I anticipated this and caught it in a levitation spell on its way down. The dragon sculptor then composed himself while I set the sculpture on the ground to let him reposition it on his own terms. "Well now... Can't say I've seen your kind around here before! And that's some very fine armor on you! I'd wager Delbin would be thrilled to put you on canvas if you'd have the time to pose for him! Anyway, the name's Nils. Sorry if I didn't hear you coming. I tend to get quite absorbed in my work."

His kindly response was not unexpected, for I was familiar enough with this world to understand that he was a member of the most peaceful caste of dragons in this realm. Artists always value the finer things in life by nature. "Nils? Uh... Huh. I could've sworn all you Artisans looked alike for the most part... Am I really just that out of touch?"

Nils took great amusement in my bewilderment while he hefted his unfinished sculpture back onto its wooden pedestal. "Oh ho, we Artisans wouldn't be able to really call ourselves that if there was no variety amongst us, would we? Variety is the spice of life, wouldn't you say?"

"Right you are!" I exclaimed as I felt myself identifying with Nils quite a bit. I am something of an artist myself, if the many novelistic journals I have written is of any indication. But it was then that I noticed Cynder had remained silent thus far. A quick glance down at my side revealed she was eyeing Nils with a most perplexed and inquisitive stare. The more fantastical nature of this world was definitely at odds with the dark fantasy aspects that likely made up her world. Despite being a dragon herself, she looked rather out of place next to Nils.

It was only then that Nils took notice of the diminutive dragoness beside me and casual motioned his left hand while still holding his hammer in it. "Ah, I didn't see you there, madam. And...hm... I don't believe I've ever seen you around these parts... You are not one of us Artisans... Yes, I'm very sure of that."

Cynder's eyebrows rose as she was completely ignorant to the terminologies used in this particular world. "Um... No, I can't really say I've ever done art before..."

Nils only became more curious as he observed the dragoness before her. "Which realm do you hail from? You're not an Artisan... Perhaps you're one of the Peace Keepers? No, maybe the Magic Crafters... Beast Makers? Wait, those white sigils engraved upon you... Ah, those silver bangles definitely have me pegging you for one of the Dream Weavers."

I found myself cracking a smirk and trying to not laugh as I watched Cynder's face looking more and more confused. She was desperately trying to make sense of the terminology Nils was using. "I'm...uuuhhh...neither."

That was not a response Nils was expecting. Eyes wide with confusion, he then asked, "Really...? Then...where are you from?"

This quickly became less funny now that Cynder had to recall a world that was lost forever. But she did not delay in providing a response. "The Dragon Realms..."

"Yes, we are in the dragon realms. But which region did you come from?" Nils asked again in complete ignorance. I was trying very hard to not laugh as this exchange kept going back and forth.

"There's no way I'm going to explain this well, is there?" Cynder grumbled while I finally held an armored fist to my lips to at least try to stifle an amused snicker. She then rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation and said, "What was that last one? Dream Weavers? Yeah, let's go with that. I'm on of them. And they call me Cynder."

This satisfied our host's curiosity even as I turned away for a moment to let out an unrestricted laugh. Nils then said, "Cynder, is it? In that case, welcome to the Artisan realm. Now then, I'd best find a lower altitude to continue my work on just in case I have another accident like that. I don't trust this to not happen twice."

The two of us watched Nils tuck his unfinished sculpture under one arm while holding its wooden pedestal in the other. He flapped his wings several times fairly clumsily to get enough lift to take flight with the extra weight under his arms, but he managed well enough. He set himself down beyond the hills nearby to continue his work on even ground, but we did not see him again during the rest of our stay. But when I looked down at Cynder, she looked up at me with a very annoyed and dry stare. "This world is weird."

"Meh, you're just not used to it. Not every race of dragon is the same, you know." I replied as I found myself not able to resist chuckling at the sight of Cynder's scowl. Although as I beheld her, my thoughts went back to the first thing we heard Nils say. That name... And I suddenly felt myself becoming uncomfortable as I pondered its potential connection to Cynder. "Say, before anything else happens... That name. Does the name 'Spyro' mean anything to you?"

Cynder immediately shook her head. "Not at all. Sounds kind of silly, honestly. Not like a name I'd ever have heard where I came from. Why? Should I know it? You sure you're even pronouncing it right?"

That last part made me laugh. The more I thought about it, the more that name sounded like an almost comical corruption of a more dignified name. I then said, "No, no, don't think about it too hard. If it doesn't sound familiar with you, that's the way it is."

She once again rolled her eyes dismissively. Cynder knew she did not understand a thing about where she was and was just rolling with it. But she then looked up at me again and surprised me with a smile. "You're in better spirits."

"I... Hm. I guess I am." I retorted as I realized that she was very right. I turned my gaze out at the lush courtyard and scanned my surroundings as a nostalgic smile spread across my lips. "I haven't seen this world in far too long... And it's much more beautiful than I remember. I guess...I didn't know how much I missed it until I saw it again."

Cynder stepped up beside me and nudged me with her wing. "Where to next? You lead, I'll follow."

"Good question... The Artisan realm is easily the most peaceful out of all of them. The land of the Peace Keepers is nothing but desert and canyons, the Magic Crafters reside on alpine mountaintops, the Beast Makers live in swampy areas, and the Dream Weavers... They..." I started to explain before my train of thought trailed off. I could remember what the home of the Dream Weavers generally looked like, but I was at a loss of how to describe it.

My draconic companion took note of my delay and asked, "And...what about the Dream Weavers? What's their homeland like?"

Out of ideas, I then let out a laugh. "Utterly incomprehensible! You'd have to see it to understand it."

"If you say so!" Cynder barked with her feet carrying her away with a quick hop. I think she was more amused by my response than anything else. She too then looked around from atop that convenient vantage point and said, "From what you just described... I'd say I'd rather stay here than anywhere else. The Artisan home is...beautiful."

We just stood there for a moment longer as a gentle summer breeze blew across the vale. A lovely view under the vast blue sky. It was a shame we probably did not have time to more thoroughly explore this world. How much longer did we even have together? This sudden realization saddened me with my eyes glancing down towards Cynder. I could still remember the last time. When I held her during her moment of vulnerability after all the chaos leading up to that moment. And how Luna went out of her way to buy us more time to be together. She was so fragile at the time. Now I was the fragile one. And Cynder was being strong for me. My eyes remained upon her for too long. Cynder soon noticed I was watching her and glanced up at me. "Yes...?"

"Nothing..." I muttered before turning my gaze away. I should not stare. But Cynder was not having that. I suddenly felt something tug on my armor's right wing. When I looked, I saw Cynder trying to pull me down to the ground with the tip of that metal wing clamped in her jaws. "OK, OK, I'm down."

I quickly took a seat there on that high ground. And Cynder was upon me. Seated across my lap like a panther. And once again, she lifted her head to tuck her brow under my jaw. She moved her head forward and back to rub my chin with those smooth scales while she said softly, "Everything will be all right. I believe in you."

"It's appreciated, Cynder." I said softly while draping my arm over her. She was so kind... So supportive. What sort of a wreck would she have been had we not been there for her? I hardly knew her at all when we first crossed paths. A blip in my memories that provided just enough material for my dreaming mind to work with. And now...so much more. Cynder's presence with me was truly a special kind of miracle. And I knew that had the royal sisters and I not been there to soothe her when she needed us most, she would have been so much colder. So much more bitter. But the wonderful young woman in my arms was not at all like that. She was still reserved and not the most talkative person I knew, but there was a genuine sweetness about her. Like a rock in a river. Something I could always hold onto, who would give me the support I needed most when I needed it. And all this...from just one event in the depths of my dreams. "Thank you for being here with me."

Cynder responded by pushing her head up under me even more. And her words were soft and tender. "There's nowhere I'd rather be. I'm with you."

"Yes you are." I said almost playfully. Cynder giggled softly at that matter-of-fact response. Although as I beheld the beauty of the courtyard around us, I let out a sigh of realization. "You should stay here. I'm sure you'll be happy here."

However, the response I received was not what I expected. "Why...? I'd much rather stay with you."

Did... Did she even understand what she just said? I could only hope she was not expecting to follow me out of the realm of dreams and right into my arms when I awoke in the morning. Unable to even really try to counter that, I fell silent in the hopes that I would not be forced to think about that statement further.

With Cynder facing towards my left, she eventually noticed something that I did not. "Was he always there?"

Upon looking to my left and towards the waterfalls we saw during our descent, I saw that we had overlooked someone else out in the courtyard. One the of the Artisan dragons was standing before the waterfalls and their basin with a canvas standing before him on an easel. Her was wearing a green sleeveless jacket and had a tool belt of sorts around his waist. In one hand was a pallet lined with dollops of paint. I immediately had a hunch of who that was. "Huh... And in the same location as last time too..."

"What is he doing... Painting?" Cynder asked as we both rose to our feet. From that vantage point, we spread our wings and leaped off to gently glide on down to take a closer look. He did not notice our approach, but we quickly realized how large he was. Covered in vermilion scales and sporting a pair of straight horns that were angled back on his head, a hard narrow spiny crest went down the middle of his head and neck. He could have easily passed for a Peace Keeper with such a powerful build. But I knew that like all Artisans, he was a gentle giant despite his form.

I thought for sure he would not hear us coming with the waterfalls providing a soothing backdrop of noise in the immediate area. But this turned out to not be the case. He happened to glance down as our shadows reached him before we could and turned around. Cynder and I both became rooted to the spot. We were not anticipating that we would be detected before either of us could say anything.

For a moment, we just stared at each other. Waiting for the other to make the first move. He probably was not sure of what to make of a couple of strangers just walking up behind him. And he could surely tell Cynder and I were not from around there. I tried to remember his name and wondered if he was exactly who I thought he was. Wanting to diffuse this awkward silence, I spoke first. "Um... Delbin, right?"

"That's me. Was someone looking for me?" He asked with an impressively gruff and almost fierce growl in his voice. He even sounded exactly how I remembered him, although he had some tough darker and craggier scales encrusted over his jawline that bore more than a passing resemblance to a beard. Had we not found him painting, I would have easily assumed he was a Peace Keeper visiting the Artisan lands on holiday. And just like Nils assumed, Delbin took an immediate liking to my armor. "Whoa, now that's some fine armor. You wouldn't mind modeling for me sometime in that, right?"

"Maybe some other time, but not right now. You look a little busy with one canvas already." I replied while looking past his burly form. It appeared Delbin had been painting a landscape. Specifically the waterfalls and their basin ahead of us. Although something appeared to be missing. "Wait a minute. Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of archway between the waterfalls?"

Delbin chuckled at my insight and said, "There is, but I closed it up for the sake of the painting. It clashed with the natural look of the place. If you really need to head on in, just..."

"I know, just hop on all five of the stepping stones in the basin." I retorted while cracking a smirk. Both Delbin and Cynder looked surprised that I would know anything about a secret lock mechanism, but Delbin just laughed it off.

"Haha, did Lucas tell you about that?! Anyway, if you want to head on in, go right ahead. I just finished this painting, so I don't need to keep the alcove closed up anymore." Delbin then proceeded to start cleaning his tools while I noticed that any dollops of paint on his pallet had been reduced to flat circles of color. He knew exactly how much he needed to get the job done. I took a step closer to get a better look at his painting as I felt my inner artist coming out. Delbin noticed my interest in his work and stepped aside. "Care to take a look at my results?"

"Sure. Let's see..." Muttered as I stood before the canvas. Hardly any of the paint on the canvas was dry and I was under the impression that Delbin completed it in a very short time span. I noticed that he had really piled on the paint in some spots. Such as the water falling into the basin and the five round stone platforms set in it. The thick layers of paint added a real depth that literally made the stones and waterfall pop out. I focused on the painting before looking past at the landscape it depicted. I then tried to give myself tunnel vision to only focus on the painting before me. I spread my armor's wings wide and reached them forward with fanning their feathers. They cast a white curtain around me to keep my eyes from seeing anything else. "This is good... Really good. How long did it take you to do this?"

Delbin's response was a very unexpected one. "I wasn't really keeping track of time, but I think in less than two hours."

"We've got a real Bob Ross here." I chuckled to myself as I had to acknowledge Delbin's art skills. I then folded my wings and took a step back. Cynder then started to step forward to take a closer look. "How's it look?"

"It looks...nice?" Cynder soon muttered while looking like she was at a loss for words. Or that she was not entirely certain how to describe it. I understood where she was coming from. There was a time when I had no real appreciation for art even when it was all around me. It was only when I familiarized myself with the creative process of making something that can be considered art that I started to develop an awareness of it. And Cynder was most certainly not an artist. Delbin cocked his head to one side while gazing down at the little dragoness before Cynder turned to him with a sheepish grin on her face. "I...uh... I'm probably not the best person to ask for any real critique. I never really had the chance to learn how to appreciate art."

"Allow me then." I sad before stepping forward again to try my hand at an honest critique. I extended my armored hand towards the canvas while being mindful to not touch anything on it. "The vibrant color depicted here oozes with an impressionism approach. Even the few shadows being cast here accurately depict the time of the day the painting occurred. But what I adore about this is the heavy layers of paint used to create the stones in the basin and the waterfalls. Its so thick that it rises up off the canvas as if you could reach out and touch them. A literal depiction of depth. Kudos."

Delbin could not contain himself. He reached out with both hands and grabbed mine between them and gave my hand a very hearty shake. "The form of a knight, but the art of a poet! From one artist to another, it's appreci...uh..."

A loud metallic crumpling sound reached our ears as we all froze. Like the sound of soda cans being crushed. And I found out why. My hand was suddenly hurting. Upon releasing my hand from his grasp, very slowly I might add, we found that Delbin's mighty strength had almost crushed my gauntlet and the uneven metal plates were now digging into the back of my hand. "Ow... That actually hurts."

"I...uh...didn't know my own strength. You can get that hammered out, right?" Delbin asked while sounding rightfully embarrassed over his thanks backfiring on him. He especially flinched when he noticed Cynder casting a very dry glare at him. He then lifted a fist to his face and falsely coughed into it. "Anyway, I... Um... I'll let you two get back to...whatever you were doing. I can't exactly move this painting until it dries anyway."

"Yeah, sure... See ya, Delbin. I replied before Cynder and I hastily walked away. I could barely even move my fingers on my hand with how badly the plates were bent out of place. "Man, this actually hurts... Like...hurts more than I ever thought it would. Ow..."

"Can you fix it? You know anyone around here who can repair it?" Cynder asked with a genuine gaze of concern on her face. She was there specifically to look out for me and knowing I was in actual physical pain went against that agenda.

"Now that you mention it... Let's see if I can make this work." I replied while coming to a stop. I focused on just my right gauntlet while channeling its magic energies through it. That golden yellow aura soon coated it before the metal plates on just my hand began to liquefy. I stopped using the spell just short of it becoming thin enough to drip off of me. Not able to fall off my body, the liquid metal began to harden and regain its original shape. I smiled in satisfaction as I saw my gauntlet quickly restored to pristine condition and even flexed my fingers to be doubly sure it was repaired. "Yep, that did it!"

Cynder tilted her head to one side. Confused, she then asked, "Was that metal...melting a moment ago? Can you really do that? Just...melt it right off?"

"Crazy, right? Yeah, this stuff is normally a puddle of liquid metal when not in use. It requires a specific spell to be removed easily, but that allows for easy repairs too. As you just saw." I explained before looking around as we found ourselves alone in the courtyard. I looked up at that castle atop to hill to our right, but there seemed to be a large lock on the door. No easy way to get inside. I then looked to our left and saw that hedge maze. I looked down at Cynder and pointed over yonder. "You wanna take a stroll through the maze?"

"I'm up for whatever you have in mind. You know this place better than I do." Cynder replied as she followed me along. I then led her right into it and...well... Perhaps calling it a hedge maze was a bit generous. It only had two paths leading out to the sides that wrapped around the perimeter before converging on the other side. In the middle was a small clearing with three gaps cut out of another inner hedge circle with the three walls being mostly circular in shape. It was less of a maze and more of a relaxation area. The tall walls of leaves did provide a lot of comforting cover. Once we came to a stop right in the middle, Cynder glanced up at me with a cockeyed stare and a snide smirk on her lips. "You call this a maze?"

"Well, what would you call a setup involving hedges like this?" I asked while Cynder lowered her head and wheezed with a chuckle. I then took a seat against one of the hedge walls lining the outer edge of that circle and sighed in respite. This was turning out to be a good time. And I was trying very hard to not think of how much longer my body would remain asleep. Cynder watched me for a moment before walking to one side and then to the other, eyes cast skyward to see the vast blue sky from within the confines of those tall green walls. She eventually slunk my way once I noticed those teal eyes were focusing on me. I quietly asked, "How're you holding up?"

"I'm having a good time. You picked a really nice place for us to visit." Cynder said softly with such a relaxed tone in her voice. She then stepped across me and draped herself across my lap like a relaxing panther. She kept her wings as tightly folded as she could in order to not have them get in the way. I started to bring my right hand towards her back, but resisted the urge to stroke her. She was my companion and friend despite her bestial appearance and this was only our second time together. But my hand's movement did not go undetected. As I lowered my hand away from her, Cynder spoke up. "I don't mind. Go ahead."

Perhaps I was overestimating Cynder's supposed introverted nature. There was nothing but kindness in that tone. I did not want her to feel the cool touch of my gauntlet though. I managed to disconnect the entire metal sleeve from my right arm and dragged my bare fingers over her back. Those smooth scales felt lovely and I slid my fingers along her back, down her tail, and over her haunches. Cynder responded by leaning more firmly into me. "You have the softest touch..."

"Well, I do consider myself an artist... Softer hands tend to be the hands of creators." I replied as I felt myself smile. Cynder's body language in response to my tender caresses was very catlike and only lend itself more to her generally feline movements. She arched her tail, extended her front limbs forward with digits splayed as she felt compelled to stretch herself, and I almost expected to hear her start purring at any second. And I could not shake the panther parallels I kept seeing in her. Between her size and dark colors, Cynder really did bring to mind a black panther in a reptile's body. "You're such a pretty thing."

"I am?" Cynder asked softly while glancing my way while I noticed a very wide and relaxed smile on her face. Although that smile faded once my hand slid over the platinum bangle that was wrapped around the middle of her tail. "I appreciate the compliment, but...I can't really call myself pretty. Not when I still carry the scars of what I used to be..."

Was she referring to those platinum attachments? And even the spikes on her tail tip and wing joints? And those white markings on her body... It was easy to mistake them for naturally occurring patterns, but that likely was not the case. Surely remnants of Malefor's influence on her. I continued to stroke my fingers down the center of her back and said, "These things don't serve a purpose anymore. Malefor's gone. His legacy is dust. Whatever happened then doesn't make a difference now. If you look past the context, I say it all looks good on you. It's unique and actually compliments your outward appearance. No one will care if you don't tell them what the history behind them is."

Cynder could only let out a sigh before she looked back at me. It took a moment, but she managed to force a small smile. I think she really wanted to believe me, even if there were some memories she could not disregard as easily as others. "You're sweet... Thank you. I'm trying, but I guess I'm not quite out of it yet."

"You'll get there eventually. Just know that no one out there hates you. Literally no one." I explained matter-of-factly. Granted, anyone who could have hated her no longer existed. But that was something we should not dwell on. I then draped my arm over her the best I could and held Cynder against me. "And there are people who care about you. People who want you to be happy."

Cynder lifted her head and nuzzled the side up against the side of my head. She probably would rather have tucked her head under my jaw like before, but that was difficult to achieve with how her body was draped across me. She then asked softly, "Like you?"

"Like me." I replied softly while moving my hand to her shoulder. I never had much of a history with Cynder's existence or even much knowledge about her to begin with. But I was gradually learning about her. And I was learning what a fine person she is. And I was glad that she was becoming a much happier person than how she likely would have been otherwise.

"Thank you for always being kind." Cynder whispered directly into my ear before even nudging it with her snout. But after a moment more, she started to leave my embrace. Something caught her eye and was luring her away from me. I slid my gauntlet back on and followed before I realized what had caught her attention. Beyond the round hedge wall to our let was an ornate archway that appeared to be a mirror at first glance. But instead of displaying what was before it, the image inside the arch displayed an open night sky. Cynder glanced back once the clinking of my armor alerted her to my presence before she asked, "What do you think this is?"

Not only was the archway not displaying us in its reflection. There were even three-dimensional ethereal letters floating near the top to name the location on the other side. While reading in dreams is difficult, this was easier to make out due to it not being flat text. "It's a portal. It leads to somewhere else in the Artisan lands. Although I'm not sure why its nighttime there when it's the middle of the afternoon."

Cynder then looked up to read the floating text above us. "Dark Hollow... Sounds ominous."

"I promise it's not as creepy as it sounds. From what I remember, it's quite relaxing there." I explained as I pondered why that area is always shrouded in the cooling night sky. Perhaps some sort of magic at work to provide visitors relaxation regardless of when? I then asked, "Wanna check it out? It's one of my favorite places around here."

"If you're so sure, lead on. I'm right behind you." She replied with an intrigued smile on her lips. Cynder then stepped aside to let me lead, but I stopped just short of stepping through the portal. We were both on foot at the time and there was no solid ground on the other side. My companion noticed my hesitation and asked, "Something wrong?"

"Come to think of it... The dragons of this world can just fly through these things. I never found out what happens when something that can't fly steps through it." I replied while sticking my head through the portal. I felt an immediate drop in temperature and a shift in the air pressure. A very pleasant atmosphere. "One way to find out, I guess."

I did not know what I expected, but I certainly got something I did not want. As soon as I stepped through that portal, I fell right down into open space. Tumbling uncontrollably, I shouted in disarray while event he very gravity started to twist. I went from falling downward to rolling to the side and then right back up and finally back in the opposite direction I came from! I was launched right out of the portal and past Cynder, clanking along the ground before slamming face first into the hedge wall before the portal while upside-down. I got stuck there for several seconds while Cynder could not help bursting into laughter at the spectacle. "Whahahahahat was that?! Are you OK?!"

"Kinda fun, but ouch..." I groaned with my legs coming loose first and pulling out of my leafy cushion before flopping onto my back. The whole experience knocked the wind out of me and just left me sore from crashing along the ground in ways I was not ready for. I stared at the sky in exasperation as I grumbled, "At least now we know why no one ever enters these on foot. If you can't fly, it kicks you right out."

"Ha... Haha... Sorry, sorry, I really shouldn't be laughing when you get hurt. I'm supposed to be watching out for you." Cynder said before hurrying to my side while looking like she could not decide if she should feel amused or worried. She held out a hand to me and asked, "Need a paw?"

"Looks more like a hand to me. And thanks, but I got this." I retorted before working my armor's wings, folding them to get them situated right under me before making them push me up by extending them straight back. I dusted myself off once back on my feet. "Man, these wings are useful. Anyway, now that we know that going on foot is a dumb idea... You first. It's at least safe in there."

"If you insist." Cynder muttered before rushing on through with wings spread. She jumped before she could fully enter the portal, but her wings carried her along once on the other side. Seeing that flight really was the only safe means of traversing these kinds of portals, I rushed on through too and spread my wings once clear to break out into a glide. I caught up with Cynder quickly now that we were soaring under the admittedly artificial night sky. The dark dragoness looked over at me and asked, "Say... If this is really still a part of the lands we were just in... What's the point of these portals when we can just fly here on our own?"

"My guess? For the sake of practicality. I suppose you could take the scenic route if you wanted, but you can't deny being able to go exactly where you need to get to by using a portal for instant travel makes some kind of sense." I replied while we beheld the moonlit vista below us. And up ahead were the gentle glows of lanterns and open fires in another vale carved out of the earth. "That must be it right over there. Dark Hallow."

I was in for quite the surprise once we started to come in for a landing. I did not know what to expect now that everything and everyone I knew from this world did not look at all like how I remembered, but I especially was not expecting what we saw. Large stone bookcases were sporadically spread out around the walls of the place. I cast my gaze around in awe once we landed. "An outdoor library... Now it all makes sense."

"If you wanted to curl up with a good book, this is the perfect atmosphere for it. Even the crickets are convinced it's the middle of the night out here." Cynder remarked as I too noticed that not only was Dark Hallow bathed in the dark of the night. Even the sounds of the night were filling the air from nocturnal fauna. Even the crackling of bonfires nearby added to the cozy atmosphere. Although there was a scattered pile of wooden sticks nearby that was probably meant to be used to make a bonfire, but never got around to being completed.

Cynder glanced my way while I noticed before she then looked around at the scattered firewood. I saw what she was implying and held out my right hand to cast a levitation spell. All of the bits of wood were coated in a billow yellow aura before they all congregated onto a single patch of bare earth that probably served as the spot fires should be built on. Once the pile had been gathered, Cynder then unleashed a gout of natural fire from her maw to set the pile alight. Except I was surprised to see that the flames were a startling shade of green. But this green was quickly lost as the flames that rose from the firewood quickly took on a natural hot orange hue. The crackling of burning wood filled the air as we were bathed with the warm glow of fresh orange flames. "Much better."

The two of us took a seat around the fire, although not quite at opposite ends. Cynder was not far from me while we watched the fire burn. The popping and cracking of darkening wood. The wave of heat from whenever a light breeze caused the flames to lean towards us. That warm glow cast over the immediate area. It was truly magical. And no one was around to interrupt us.

"I'm really enjoying my time with you today." I heard Cynder say while I was lost in my thoughts for a moment. I glanced over at her and was surprised to see just how lovely she looked with that glow bathing her dark body. Her eyes shone in the fire's light as an equally warm smile spread across her lips. "Are you having a good time too?"

All I did was nod before turning my gaze back to the fire before me. And that took my thoughts back to the color of Cynder's flame breath. I knew that such flame breaths can vary greatly from specimen to specimen when it comes to Equestria's dragons, but that green color did not even remotely compliment Cynder's floral hues. And the green fire... It carried an almost inherently malevolent presence with it. Just like...the flames that surrounded the Changeling queen when she told...

Just like that, I was reminded of everything that was happening in the real world. All because I just happened to witness a burst of green fire. How frustrating it is how a completely innocuous sight can trigger an avalanche of thoughts that forces unpleasant memories to surface. I hated it. I did not want to be upset in a time that was supposed to be a time of rest. And I certainly did not want Cynder to know she had triggered such unpleasant thoughts in my head.

My mood's shift did not go unnoticed for long. Cynder likely sensed something was amiss from my prolonged silence. She inched a little closer and asked, "Is...something wrong?"

Rather than simply say what I was thinking and why, I glanced her way and asked a question of my own. "Has your flame breath always been green?"

"All my life. I never really thought about it until now. And...I doubt it's natural. Probably just...another remnant of what I once was." Cynder muttered while she too started to look and sound rather downtrodden. In much the same way just seeing those green flames reminded me of what was happening in the real world, being reminded of that unnatural color staining an inherent ability of hers also instilled Cynder with angst. "It's part of why I don't do it more often... It doesn't look right. Fire shouldn't be green. It almost...looks like poison."

Now it was my turn to feel guilty. I did not mean to upset my friend by digging up bad memories. Trying to put her happiness before mine, I spoke up. "It's still just fire. I didn't notice any smell in the air that could mean it's poisonous. If you can't help how it looks, you shouldn't dwell on it too much..."

My words did little to soothe her. Cynder cast her gaze towards the bonfire we had built. Most likely longing for the natural warm orange glow those flames were emitting. That color was one of warmth. But that green... It looked vile. Green flames... But then I tried to think of another source of green fire. The display of those vile flames around the Changeling queen was not the first time. I had fist seen them utilized by Thorax. And then dear little Ocellus. And those little flashes of green fire whenever they change form never bothered me much before. Why was it bothering me now?

I did not want to see such a color being one to dread when associated with flames. At least not when emitted from someone like Cynder. And so I asked, "Cynder... Show me again."

Her eyes perked up while she lifted her head. I pointed my fingers upward, trying to coax her to try unleashing some of that green fire upward. And so she did. After a moment of composing herself, Cynder lifted her head and let out a long wheeze while a gentle plume of that green fire surged from her maw. That long exhale kept the flames going longer than one strong huff. Cynder looked at me almost in shame once it ended, but I then asked. "Again, please."

Over and over, Cynder did just that. Long sprays of green fire in a relaxed and almost tepid manner. The somber mood about her and those green flames... It brought to mind Ocellus when I first met her. That fragile little love bug... And Cynder was much the same. Trying to find happiness after having no home to go back to and having nothing but a life of shame behind her. Having seen enough, I reached out and pulled Cynder into my armored embrace. "Mia poca draghessa..."

"Wha... What was that?" Cynder asked as those words reached her ears. I suddenly realized what I said and immediately wondered if that was a good idea. That was a sacred term I only use when addressing Smolder. Perhaps I was going too heavy when I said it to Cynder and I fell silent in unease. Cynder then asked, "It sounded nice... Do I...not make you afraid when I do that?"

"I'll get used to it. It's not natural, but...it's still just fire. Nothing to be ashamed of." I whispered to her, ignoring my own troubles to focus on her. If I could bring a smile back to her face, it would be enough. She was doing so much just by staying by my side. I had to do my part for Cynder as well.

Cynder soon lifted her head to gaze into my eyes. From so close in that warm fiery glow, she could see clearly. "Did...those green flames...make you uncomfortable?"

"In a sense... But only because they reminded me of something recently... Someone else can summon green fire. And...there's something unsettling about it. And that...reminded me of what's happening back home..." I muttered while keeping a hand firmly upon her back to comfort her in case my words would instill guilt in her heart. I lowered my eyes, unable to look at her. "Don't blame yourself... It's just the reality of the situation for me. Don't concern yourself with it too much."

After a moment of silence that was broken only by the crackling of burning wood and the chittering of nocturnal life around us, Cynder whispered to me. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

It was a question that I did not have an answer to. Not a real one, at least. I sighed harshly and mumbled, "Stay with me... Just...be here for me like you have been."

Cynder pulled herself up higher and brought her brow to the side of my head. Resting her bare crown against me. Eyes closed, facing down. And she whispered to me. "I'm with you. Always."

The tender sincerity in those words... Why did I shed a tear? Her hand felt along my armored arm and found its way to my hand, wrapping her digits around mine as much as she could. She whispered again to me, eyes clamped shut. "You've done so much for me... Let me do what I can for you."

"Please... Anything... Anything to get me through what's ahead..." I muttered in a quiet plea. And Cynder answered. Her great wings wrapped around me in a manner that was so familiar. A protective shielding embrace. I turned my head and closed my eyes, our brows resting against each other. I felt...safe with her. Not simply a friend. A force to be reckoned with. A guardian. A defiant shadow given form. "Thank you for coming to me today. I...didn't know how much I needed you."

"You're going through dark times... I've been there. Let me watch over you while you're still in those shadows. I won't falter. Not for you." She whispered to me once again in that wonderful gentle glow of the flames before us. I opened my eyes with her face lifting just enough to gaze into mine. That beautiful shadow wrapped in violet scales with jewels of turquoise set into them. I began to lift my hand, her own hand grasping mine. "I'm with you... I'll say that as many times as I have to."

"You truly are wonderful..." I muttered in resignation. I just felt so tired... Yet so safe. I began to lean back with my armor's wings providing a cushion under me. Cynder's wings released me, but she stayed atop me. I rested by the fire. And Cynder... Her hand rose to my face. And with tenderness I would not expect from such a bestial entity she dragged a claw along my cheek and down to my jaw. Claws that could tear, but were merely tickling me with the lightest of scratches. "I know you won't hurt me... You're too good for that."

"I want to be better than I was... I want...to be worthy of that smile you show me." She cooed with such adoration in those eyes. I wonder what she thought she was seeing beneath her... But as she stroked me, my armored hands slid up and over her shoulders. And they soon made their way for the platinum bangle secured around her throat. I did not realize just how uncomfortable it looked until then. There was no way I could slide it over her head. A compulsion filled me. I wanted to remove it. There had to be some way. If one could get it on in the first place, it could surely be removed. I gripped it at both sides, pulling and twisting to try to find a connecting point to separate it at. Cynder noticed right away and let out an almost bitter sigh. "I appreciate what you're doing, but I really don't think..."

There was a click. And Cynder froze in stunned silence. With a gentle pull in opposite directions, the platinum band around her throat separated into two even halves. Cynder's hand quickly rose to her throat and ran its fingers around where it had once been covered. And I saw it. That look of almost delirious joyful realization. And I became inspired. I found a way to make her smile. And so I dropped the two halves of that band and went for the ones on her wrists. Cynder pleaded, "Yes, please... The others..."

One by one, the bangles around her wrists were removed. But before I could focus on the bangle wrapped around the middle of her tail, I took note of the two spikes affixed to the joints on her wings. Almost like a pair of elbows, they could probably jab at an opponent. But since they two were made of shimmering platinum, I was convinced they could be removed. "Hang on... Metal like this isn't natural on a living creature."

"Those? It...never occurred to me." She muttered while allowing me to do what I needed to do. I started with the left wing. And after a bit of wiggling, I felt that polished spike loosen and slide off. Beneath it was a small dull claw that nearly matched those on her hands. And once the other was removed, I sat up to have an easier time reaching the one affixed to the tip of her tail. Cynder curled it forward to me and waited impatiently for me to get it off. "I can't imagine what might be under this..."

That blade had served Cynder well in the battle against Malefor, but it needed to be removed. And after some wiggling and twisting, I got it to loosen. But I did not find what I was expecting upon sliding it off. Cynder's tail spade consisted of feathery soft fibers that strongly brought to mind those on Ember's tail, its color matching the rosy red hue of her ventral scales. Cynder gazed in awe as she beheld her natural tail spade for the first time. She grabbed it with one hand and dragged the fibers through her fingers. "It's...all so soft..."

Lastly, I slid off the bangle that was wrapped around her tail. And she sat before me. Body bare, those pieces of discarded platinum shining in the glow of the bonfire. No one had ever seen her without those platinum shackles. No one except me. Cynder closed her eyes and practically swooned as she dragged her claws over where she used to be covered. To feel her bare scales there for the first time in her life... It must have been like finally having the shackles of slavery thrown off for the first time. She looked utterly joyous. And that was enough for me to feel a sense of accomplishment. "I never thought I'd ever know what it would feel like to have those old relics finally come off... Like...so much weight has been lifted from my shoulders..."

I said nothing. This was her moment. She was already freed from the influence of Malefor, but now the symbols of her bondage were scattered on the ground. They did compliment her form well enough, but to see her bare and free of them... She looked truly regal. Her natural form bared for my eyes to see. And I merely gazed upon her in the glow of the fire beside us. Watching the results of my hands finding the means to cast off those shimmering binds.

Cynder's eyes soon glanced around. As if filled with a need. There were a trio of increasingly tall round platforms beside us that obstructed our view of whatever lay beyond that entry point of Dark Hallow and I think she was compelled to explore. She then looked my way very apologetically before she said, "I know I shouldn't leave you alone, but...would you mind if I went for a walk around the place? I want to know what it's like to actually move around without those old things."

"I won't stop you. I'll be right here." I replied while not wanting to restrain her in any way. Cynder then took several steps away, looked back at me one more time, and then went running off out of sight. And so I sat there by the gradually dying fire. Alone with my thoughts. Thoughts I should not be having during a dream where I was supposed to be resting my head.

Doubts. Fears. Unease. So many familiar sources of angst filled my thoughts while I gazed into the flickering orange flames before me. But my gaze also fell upon the discarded platinum shackles that now lay where Cynder had been resting. I looked at my armored hands. I did a good deed. And I could keep doing good deeds even after I awoke. I began to wonder... How much longer? How many more minutes... How many more hours before I would have to bid Cynder farewell again?

I should not have been squandering my time in that dream by spending it alone. Not when I was so vulnerable. I am uncertain with how much time passed before then, but I eventually rose to my feet and set off to find Cynder. I expected her to be gone no longer than five minutes, but she was taking her sweet time.

Stepping around those tall platforms and heading to the end of that courtyard revealed more of the same. A few bonfires, lush grass, and some more bookcases carved out of the stone walls. But I distinctly remembered a path off to the side. Heading off to the right revealed a tunnel carved out of the hill. This tunnel was also lined with shelves carved out of the walls that were lined with books. Many candles rested upon small ledges to cast light throughout the tunnel. I started to walk down the stone floor before I noticed someone up ahead in the space before the path turned right into another tunnel. Another one of the local dragons leaning against a wall while holding a quill in his hand and a scroll in the other. Where Delbin had a more muscular build and Nils was very slender, this Artisan had most of his body's mass in the lower area of his frame with a more rotund torso. I doubt there was much fat in him. All that mass was probably muscle.

I was not sure if I should allow myself to be discovered. The Artisans I had encountered so far were nothing if not sociable, but I felt unusually timid as I approached. Even if there was no way he would not notice me with the clinking of my sabatons on the stone floor. This Artisan was notable for the indigo color of his scales and his dull orange ventral scales. His angular jagged horns pointed straight back on opposite sides of a thick crest that looked more like proper hair. His thin tidy moustache granted him an air of sophistication. I suspected he was writing down poetry on that scroll. Right when I started to walk by him, he glanced down at me while I stared back. After a moment of rather awkward silence, he spoke first. "Can I help you, sir?"

Since he asked, I might as well answer. "Yes, I'm looking for someone. Did a young lady pass through here? About this high? On all fours?"

"Her? Yes, she passed by barely five minutes ago. Oswin over yonder can probably help you if she's nowhere around the reflecting pool." He replied before I continued on down the tunnel. I knew that these tunnels ended in a room with no other exit, so there was nowhere Cynder could go. Upon entering, I found another tall Artisan seated on a round platform that appeared to pull double duty as a bench and table. The room before me looked much more like a proper library with bookcases lining the entire perimeter of the domed room. There was even an indoor pond of sorts that ran through the middle of the room with the opposite end having the floor on a much higher elevation than the rest of it. Such architecture would be very impractical for anyone who did not have wings. I felt compelled to keep my voice down since such interior design would likely cause most sounds to echo all over the place.

The dragon seated before me was very focused on the book in his hands. His body consisted of shades of orange as well as some dark horizontal stripes on his sides. Not like his wings, where the membranes were a bold purple. Her rubbed a thumb along his rounded muzzle. Judging by the jeweled armlets he was wearing, that broad metal gorget atop his torso, and that vibrant red hat on his head that bore more than a passing resemblance to a turban, I suspected he was a stage performer. I did not see Cynder anywhere from the entry point of the room, so I approached him for answers. "Excuse me... Oswin, right?"

"Yep, that's me. Did Darius send you over? Or are you looking for your friend?" He replied quietly while looking up from his book. He sounded like quite the friendly fellow. When I looked around from where I was standing, Oswin pointed behind himself. "She's right over there. Never said a word after she got here."

I leaned to one side in order to see where he was pointing and found that Oswin's body had conveniently obstructed my view of Cynder. She was at the far end of the room on a tiny section of flooring set before the wall that was surrounded by the pool. It did not look like she was doing much. Just resting on the floor while gazing into the pool.

"Got it. Thanks." I said before channeling the magic in my gauntlets for a quick and easy teleportation spell to close the gap. Once I appeared behind Cynder in a flash of magic light, she visibly jumped upon seeing my reflection appear behind hers. "Found you."

Cynder, despite the initial start I gave her, burst into quiet giggling when she looked up at me. Even she was compelled to keep her voice down in the library. "Did I keep you waiting? I just found this place and... Well, I felt the need to relax a while."

"I see why. This is probably the spot everyone thinks of when they think of Dark Hallow." I replied before dropping to one knee beside her. We both took to watching our reflections on the surface of the pool. It looked reasonably deep, though it likely only would go up to my chest if I jumped in. After a moment, I glanced up and noticed that Oswin was watching us. But only for a moment. He soon closed his book and walked out of the library and even spoke to Darius halfway down the hall. The actor and the poet both looked our way while out of earshot and almost looked like they were on the same page about something. Together, the two Artisans walked down the other half of the hall and out of sight. Were they just giving the two of us some time alone? I then asked softly, "You just can't get enough of how you look without all that platinum on you?"

"No matter how I look at it, they were just shackles. Binds that used to be bound by invisible chains. And blades attached to me to be used as weapons against my master's enemies... To finally be free of them... It's...a feeling I can't describe." Cynder muttered before raising a finger to the white lines just under her eyes. She then lifted her hand to her forehead, against sliding her fingers over the white sigil atop it. "I don't think there's any way to get these off though... At least I don't mind them as much. I honestly keep forgetting these are even here."

"Are those really a type of marking that isn't natural? They honestly look almost like natural patterns on you. At least they really do look nice." I replied while stroking my hand over her back. Cynder did not look distraught at all. I think she was starting to appreciate that at least someone thought those symbols only added to her appearance instead of sabotaging it. I then tried to add an extra layer of sweetness to my words by whispering towards her ear. "You truly are beautiful."

Cynder shuddered and froze in place at those words being processed in her head. It was something I had never said to her once. A statement I had acknowledged to myself, but never vocalized as such. I said nothing else to let her think about my words, but she did soon look at me with a very crooked smile spread across her face. "And...and...you have...such beautiful eyes..."

"That's...kind of you to say..." I muttered as she turned the tables on me. It was not the first time someone had complimented my gaze, but to hear it from Cynder was exceptionally sweet.

"Sorry, I... I want to say something nice about how you look that doesn't involve your armor, but...I...don't even know what you are. So I have no idea what to gauge you as." Cynder explained before bursting into a nervous chuckle. She was right. I never revealed the name of my species to her. She then added, "But your eyes... They always look so gentle. I never get tired of that gaze."

That was the last thing that was said between us for a while. Cynder continued to examine herself in the pool's reflection while occasionally looking up at me. For the moment, words were not needed. Although there was one point where she gazed at me for an exceptionally long time. When I caught her staring, I winked one eye at her to try something new. This clever use of my eyes got a giggle out of Cynder as she lifted her hand to her lips while she looked away.

After a while, we finally decided it was time to see what else there was to see around Dark Hallow. Cynder and I made our way topside again and found ourselves out under the night sky. But by then, the air felt more alive. Like we were not alone. And not just because I happened to pass by Darius and Oswin. "I get the sneaking suspicion the place isn't as empty as it was when we first got here."

"Yeah, I feel it too... I wonder what's happening." Cynder added while we headed back towards the courtyard. The fire we had built had likely gone out by then and I could see a trail of smoke rising over yonder from the smoldering remains. But now that we were on a higher elevation than before, we could see the top of the three platforms in the middle of the courtyard. The tallest one, which provided an excellent vantage point, was topped with a round glowing glass rooftop. Perhaps a light source to add to the atmosphere? "Ooh, I want to get a look at that."

The two of us flew over and set down atop the glowing roof. Cynder slid a hand over the tough glowing glass, marveling at its display. "It's even a little warm."

"Man, it's amazing how much more beautiful this place has gotten since I last saw it. The Artisans have great taste in architecture." I said before we both took a seat atop that convenient light source. It was such a fine spot to observe things from. We could see out beyond the darkened vale. And the night sky... So many more stars than there really should be. It was dazzling. Although I then whispered to Cynder, "If you need a place to stay... A new place to call home... I think this world would suit you just fine."

"And I believe you." Cynder replied, but she appeared hesitant to discuss it further. I did not press her for further conversation on the topic. After a moment of silence, Cynder looked to her right. "Hm? What's happening over there?"

When I looked across the courtyard, there was an open area atop the walls of where she and I had been resting at the start. It looked like Darius was on a higher spot than that, using it as a stage while holding that scroll and a red rose in one hand while cradling an old dragon skull in the other. Oswin was seated before him, but he was not the only one. Several dragons were seated before Darius as he gave his performance and all of different shapes and colors. I could not hear Darius from the distance. Certainly not with the nighttime fauna joining in with the ambience. But it looked like he was reading aloud what he had written. "Looks like it's poetry night."

There seemed to be members of all five races of dragons in the audience. I recognized some that bore the appearance of bejeweled mages while bearing consistent slender builds. A couple of them looked like they were straight out of a bedtime story... Maybe from a land of colorful little bears with cute designs on their bellies. At least one of them had a very rotund form while chewing a sprig of wheat in his teeth with a tattered straw hat atop his head. Like someone fresh out of a swampland. And one... One was clearly armed with a small round shield on his left arm and a sword in a scabbard at his side. This mighty warrior dragon with an imposing muscular build. With a belly of yellow and dull vermilion scales, he almost looked bald from that angle and sported a craggy 'beard' of stonelike scales along his very strong lower jaw. Even the horns on his head looked more like large stone scales. There were long bands of belts tied on him that secured a spaulder to his right shoulder. Even the tip of his tail had a small domed shield affixed to it, but most certainly not for defensive purposes. My eyes wandered between these dragons as I muttered, "Artisans... Magic Crafters... Dream Weavers... Beast Maker... Peace Keeper. I never would've guessed the dragons of this world are such a colorful bunch."

"Wait... You mean those two there? The ones that look like they're wearing stripped socks on their heads? THAT'S what a Dream Weaver looks like? How do I look even remotely similar to that?!" Cynder all but yelled in annoyance over the prior observations Nils made when we first met him. And she was right. How did he ever get that idea? Or was there something we were missing.

While we could not make out what was being said, we could still appreciate the quiet sophistication of the poetry corner happening across from where we were seated. But the Peace Keeper... He soon glanced over his shoulder at the two of us while keeping his arms crossed. Our eyes met for a moment before he turned his attention back towards Darius. But after a minute more, he looked back over at us before again looking away. I was not the only one to notice this. "I don't like that look he keeps giving us..."

"I think he might just be wondering who we are...but it doesn't make those side glances any less uncomfortable." I muttered quietly while starting to think we should start to move somewhere else. Just when I was starting to think that dragon had only been looking at us in curiosity, something changed. He began to approach us by stepping sideways. Stepping our way without ever taking his eyes off Darius. I started to raise an eyebrow at this display while starting to ready my legs to stand up. And then he reached for his sword. "Uh oh."

The Peace Keeper suddenly let out a roar before turning our way with sword in his right hand. With a flap of his wings, he shot across the courtyard and tried to reach me with his right hand. Cynder and I responded hastily by flinging ourselves in opposite directions with a flap of our wings. But he did not seem to be concerned with her. I could see him looking right at me once we all landed and he then proceeded to slam his tail into the ground. This must have triggered some sort of mechanism since the three tall platforms in the courtyard started to retract into the ground in order to make the courtyard completely flat. Like an arena... Cynder and I were not the only one to notice this sudden show of aggression as I then heard Oswin call out from atop the wall. "Heads up, everyone! Ulric's getting rowdy!"

And just like that... They began to descend upon the walls. At least two dozen dragons in all came swooping in from all over to see the duel that was unfolding. Artisans, Peace Keepers, Magic Crafters, Beast Makers, and Dream Weavers. I suddenly got flashbacks from when I met Ember for the first time. Surrounded by hundreds of dragons atop the very edges of a volcanic valley. But these dragons... They were no brutes. They were here to witness this confrontation like it was just a big game. Perhaps our assailant was not actually trying to harm me?

Whatever the case, Cynder was having none of it. She rushed to my side and got between the two of us, body low to the ground as she looked ready to charge. Ulric was taken aback by her interference and even lowered his sword. When I looked down at her, she looked up at me with a defiant glare. "I'm with you."

I looked ahead at Ulric while he looked back at me. He then snarled excitedly and lifted his sword. Twice, he smacked the blade against his shield. That was when I understood. This was not a duel to the death. He was simply issuing a challenge. Was it my armor that gave him the idea I was a wandering warrior? And I have to say... Despite everything that has been happening lately, I was quite happy with the idea of having a friendly spar for once. I rested my hand on Cynder's head and said, "No, I've got this. I think the guy just wants to have a little fun."

"Wait, really?" Cynder asked with a look of utter surprise in her eyes. She looked up at me and said, "But...I'm supposed to be watching out for you! I can't just stand by and watch you get hurt!"

"It's OK, Cynder. He's not gonna hurt me. Not while my armor holds up." I replied while stepping past her. "Just find a good spot and enjoy the show. It'd be nice to have a round without my life being on the line for once."

Cynder hesitated, but she soon relented. She spread her wings and shot up to the highest vantage point she could find nearby. I then noticed one of the Magic Crafters raise an ornate scepter as a spell was cast. Veils of shimmering light rose up at the only two exits to that courtyard. No doubt barriers to keep us from bumbling into less ideal locations during the match. But just when I was about to consider my options for a weapon, a voice called out from behind Ulric. From atop the hedge arch at the far end of the ring. "Come on, Ulric! I've got twenty gems riding on you winning this!"

It sounded vaguely familiar. And when I lifted my head to see who it came from, I stood transfixed. The smallest dragon among the bunch. A young drake with purple scales and proud yellow horns and a large finlike crest atop his head, his orange wings spread to help him keep balance atop his vantage point. A big smile started to creep across my lips. It was so surreal... Like I was seeing an old friend I had not seen for nearly half my life and not knowing how much I had missed him until I laid eyes on him again. "Well, look who it is... Man, I missed that kid."

I quickly remembered the challenge at hand and knew I should not keep my opponent waiting. Summoning the Lunar Shield and Celestial Sword for use would just not be fair. And I certainly did not want to kill the guy. That was when I decided to get creative while keeping the odds fair and even. I held out my left arm to the side and channeled the frigid ice magic in it. Icy mist engulfed my arm before it all compacted around my vambrace. In seconds, a round shield of enchanted blue ice was affixed to my arm even as the audience around us marveled at my answer to Ulric's challenge. And it did not stop there. I focused my magic to craft an icy blade to wield. I focused on the sword in Ulric's hand. It appeared to be a gladius, so I decided to arm myself with a matching sword. The crackling of ice filled the air as a sword of purest magic ice formed before me in the air. Too cold to hold with bare hands, but I would be fine in the comfortable confines of my armor. I took hold of my icy gladius in my right hand and then tapped it twice against my shield to answer Ulric's challenge with my own. I deliberately left the edges dull. There was almost no armor on him at all, so I had to take care to make my attacks nonlethal. I was pumped and expecting a good time, especially since we were mostly on even ground.

"That's the spirit, new blood! I knew I saw a warrior in you when I first laid eyes on you!" Ulric called out with a deep rumbling voice. I sized him up from a safe distance. He was bigger than me by at least a head and surely much stronger than I was. If I focused too much on defense, he would just shove me to the ground. I would need to find a balance. When I saw Ulric ready his wings, I did so with mine as well. And with one strong flap, we charged.

Ulric and I met with shields ready, the steel and icy discs crashing into each other as we came to a stop in the middle of this makeshift arena. A roar from the crowd around us filled the air as we started strong. We struck each other with equal force and pushed back from each other once our momentum ran its course. Ulric took a defensive stance with his shield arm ready, even bringing the tip of his sword to it to tap on it a few times. He was constantly grinning in sheer glee, eager to test me.

I had my shield ready as well just in case this turned out to be a trap. That round shield of ice was smaller than the Lunar Shield, so I would have to be more active in its use to block incoming attacks. I strongly doubted that sword of his would chip away at it, but I was more concerned with just how much power would be behind his blows than the sharpness of that blade. I waited and watched before I suddenly lashed out with a stab of his shield.

This was exactly what Ulric wanted. He batted my sword away with shocking force and swung his sword at me in a wide arc. I only narrowly managed to get my shield up in time as steel struck ice. Now that the first blows had been struck we practically began to dance as we parried and struck with our blades. Our audience applauded and cheered as Ulric and I clashed under the stars. Ulric was careful as well. He was very mindful to never swing high to avoid lashing out at my unprotected head. Although I was then suddenly reminded that his sword was not his only weapon. With a sudden turn of his body, Ulric swung his tail at me and smashed that spare bulbous shield on it right into the side of my knee!

"Hey! I saw that!" I yelped as my leg very nearly buckled out from under me. My armor held up just fine since the shield was too small and light to deliver a particularly crushing blow, but that could have inflicted a nasty internal wound had my leg been uncovered. A very sly tactic. Having nearly lost my balance, I was forced to retreat with a flap of my wings. Ulric missed with a swing of his sword even as the crowd cheered from that momentary tipping of the scales. Now knowing what I had to watch for, I smacked my sword into my shield a few times more. "Try that again."

Ulric laughed before he charged with sword held high. I had my shield ready and managed to shove it aside once it came down. Acting quickly, I jabbed my sword's pommel into his exposed gut to stun him briefly and lashed out with a slapping strike to his craggy chin. When I found I still had just enough time to get in another blow, I kicked him squarely in the gut once more to send Ulric flying back a surprisingly great distance. It is easy to forget just how much power I have in my legs when wearing those enchanted greaves. But Ulric did not stay down. He was like a wall of stone and was already shaking off the discomfort of a few hard body blows.

We both approached each other carefully as I decided to exploit his tail attacks. I went mostly on the defensive, parrying his swings while making light jabs and slices with my sword. Sure enough, Ulric took another low swing at me with his weaponized tail. I was waiting for this moment and knew exactly what I was going to do. I first lashed out with a light kick to halt its movement before stomping down hard to pin it under my sabaton. This crushing stomp with all the might of an earth pony's hooves made Ulric lift his head and yell with unexpected pain. Acting quickly, I cast aside my sword for the moment and took him for a ride.

I yanked his tail up into both hands while casting a double dose of the levitation spell on just Ulric's tail. Before he even knew what was happening, I yanked him off his feet and started to swing him around in a circular fashion to make it impossible for him to claw his way back onto his feet. With the levitation spell bending the law of physics to make him feel much lighter than usual, I had just enough leverage to have some fun with this. Once I had built up enough speed, I swung his tail up high before slamming him down on the other side of me with a thud. Over and over, I slapped him around like a rag doll back to front and back again. I even found myself laughing now that I was actually enjoying myself. Even some of the audience was cracking up from witnessing this unorthodox tactic. Maybe it would be enough to convince Ulric to not take another swing at me with his tail.

This tactic would only go on for so long before Ulric would find a way to wiggle his way out of my grasp. After getting slammed around several times, he waited until I slammed him onto his back before making his move. Before I could start to pull him back up, Ulric looked down at me and roared with a blast or raw fire exploding from his maw! This forced me to relent with my ice shield rising to protect my face. My armor would protect my body just fine, but I had to prioritize shielding my head from such attacks. As that flash of fire forced me to step back, I heard another voice from atop the walls nearby call out. "Rush him, brother!"

Ulric was back on his feet in seconds and charged at me with a hard stab of his sword. I was not willing to risk taking a hard hit with that much strength behind it and flung myself to the side hard with a sweep of my armor's wings. I hastily called my icy gladius back to my hand. And this was the point Ulric started to really exert himself. His swings became faster and harder. So hard that anytime I did not parry his swings with my shield, his swings threw my arm to the side.

This guy was just too strong for me to take head-on. And he was much faster than he appeared. Ulric landed several blows onto my armored body that would have surely killed me had I be exposed. After getting some more distance from him, I very nearly tripped over something. And a quick glance at my feet revealed something I had forgotten about. Cynder's platinum shackles and the three blades that once adorned her tail and the elbows of her wings were still right where I left them. I glanced up and looked around, seeing Cynder perched atop a tower that bordered one of the two barrier walls that were keeping me and my opponent boxed in. She knew what I had just noticed and called down to me with nothing but confidence in her voice. "You've got this, James! Take him down!"

Cynder's words of encouragement inspired me. As if she had just cast some extra tools at me to utilize in this duel. Once Ulric came charging in, I realized I had to get his attention away from the shiny silvery bits of scrap littering the ground. With a quick use of the teleportation spell, I placed myself at the opposite end of the arena. Everyone let out a gasp of surprise to see me use anything as tricky as teleportation while Ulric was left stunned and confused over where I had just vanished to. I called out to him with my sword once again slapping against my shield of ice. "Over here, tiny!"

The instant Ulric turned to face me with a look of strangely delighted frustration, I took the opportunity I needed. I used the levitation spell through my left gauntlet to snatch up the scattered platinum bangles behind them and caused one to launch itself right into the back of his head. This hit with more than enough force to cause Ulric to stagger forward before he abruptly turned around to see what cheeky interloper had pelted him in the back of the head. "Hey! Who threw that?!"

"Over here!" I called out with the pieces of floating platinum floating around him to stay out of his field of vision. And when Ulric turned around, I blindsided him by launching one of those shackles into the side of his face like a metallic punch. Momentarily stunned, I had those four shackles bombard him in the face while calling the three sharp blades over to me. The shackles were too light to deal anything more than glancing hits, but they surely still stun. And from the look of things, all I was doing was getting Ulric pretty angry.

Frustration taking hold, Uric roared with another blast of fire blowing the four shackles away. He then cast his glare towards me now that I had thoroughly annoyed him. I had Cynder's tail blade and wing spikes floating above my upraised left hand like a trio of throwing knives. I knew these would draw blood, but weapons that tiny would only be a nuisance to such a tough dragon warrior. And Ulric was clearly far from concerned as he charged at me with shield raised to guard his face.

I let my shimmering projectiles fly with a sweep of my hand. Cynder tail blade glanced off his shield while the elbows spike did get lodged in his torso well enough to draw a small trickle of blood from each wound. This did not even remotely slow Ulric down. He still came charging right at me while I desperately tried to hold him off by pelting him from all sides with those platinum rings. He just too mad to care about the stinging pain he was in. "Oh, this ain't good..."

With a mighty swing of his left arm, Ulric shouted while smashing me clear across the arena. I tumbled along the ground for a few seconds before I managed to right myself once I ended up on my back. A sudden extension of my wings launched me from the ground into the air even as my momentum carried me along. Rotating backwards, I reached out with my left hand once I was facing forward again and launched a quick burst of magic lightning in Ulric's direction before landing. Ulric on barely hopped back enough in time to avoid a good zap, but the stream of blue lightning reminded me of what power was held in my left hand.

The magical display I exerted caused Ulric to keep his distance in caution for a moment. I looked down at my left gauntlet. The left contains Luna's magical energies. Lightning and ice. And I was holding a sword of that magic ice in my right hand. Celestia's magic rested in that hand and was incompatible with Luna's magic. But...perhaps I could find a workaround. With an idea forming in my head, I raised my sword to my icy shield and smacked it a few times to try and goad Ulric into coming in close for another clash of swords with no magic strings attached.

It worked. Ulric grinned menacingly before he came rushing at me. But I was ready. I forced the shield on my left arm to detach entirely from my vambrace, but kept it resting against it to give the illusion it was still stuck there. I readied my levitation magic, eyes focused on Ulric's face, before swinging my arm to fling my round icy shield at him like a discus. This was the last thing Ulric ever saw coming and his jaws opened wide for a startled shout before his head jerked back very violently. "Gwak?! What the?!"

A gasp filled the air as the crowd was left stunned. My shield had lodged itself right between his jaws and was firmly stuck for the moment. But that was only the setup for my next move. The instant Ulric came to a stop with his head jerking back, I charged. With my left gauntlet channeling lightning magic, I coerced it into arcing through my cuirass and up my right arm to reach my sword. The icy blue blade of my sword was charged with crackling magic lightning. And with a quick leap forward, I brought my sword down for one last slash.

The edge was too dull to cut. Certainly not through the touch scales of a Peace Keeper. But it did not need to. With a crack, Ulric was filled with that electrical charge as even the shield in his mouth was obliterated into a plume of frigid mist. I quickly regained my footing, having put too much faith into that slash to the point of compromising my stance during the attack. I stood ready with sword in hand, but Ulric... He just stood there in a daze, swaying with a few sparks of blue electricity popping off him for a few seconds. He slumped to his knees as I was left wondering if I went too far with that attack. "Uh... Ulric...? You all right there...?"

His voice was weak. At first. What I thought was dazed mutterings turned into quiet chuckling before he threw his head back and howled at the night sky in delirious laughter. That last hit must have hurt, but he was just laughing it off! "Hahaha, I knew I found a warrior when I saw you, boy! Good fight! That was fun!"

"Uh... Does that mean we're done here?" I asked in confusion while taking a step back. Ulric was climbing to his feet while only looking mildly exhausted. Would he strike?

"Yep. We're done. I yield. I wanted a good fight and you delivered." Ulric replied while looking so very pleased despite the small wounds still adoring his torso. All around us, the audience burst into applause. No real harm done. Just a fun and fair duel. Even my more magical counters to my opponent's abilities were evenly matched by Ulric's sheer might. Although while the two of us waved at our audience for the sake of being good sports, I suddenly jumped back when someone dropped down hard before us. And I think I went a little blue in the face when I saw him packing a most impressive battleaxe that no human warrior could ever hope to wield. Ulric turned to his comrade and asked, "How'd he do, Titan?"

Ulric's weapons of choice felt realistically reasonable, but seeing this other Peace Keeper wielding an axe that could thoroughly crush me through my armor left me feeling more than a bit apprehensive. Clad in a dark purple kilt around his waist composed of scale mail, a red scarf around his, and a pair of spiked epaulettes upon his shoulders, Titan looked even more menacing than his brother. Scales of orange and an impressive crest and wings of purple, some of the more stonelike scales on his limbs had almost taken on the shapes of spies. His crooked and thick horns reaching back and a narrow cluster of tough scales resembling a goatee under his chin added to his imposing visage. Even his wide purple tail spade looked like it was tough and sharp enough to strike like an axe. He did not even look particularly displeased, yet his very face had me expecting an act of aggression at any time. But instead of hostility, he held a fist to his chest and spoke with the voice I had briefly heard earlier in the duel. "You bested a Peace Keeper today. Well played, friend."

This cordial display soothed my concerns and I even dismissed my sword in a burst of icy mist. I glanced back and forth at the mighty dragon warriors before me and asked, "It was...a pretty good time. I hope I didn't disappoint the crowd."

"Not at all. You kept us all on our toes. And I can always respect when a warrior fights with honor." Titan replied before he began to smirk menacingly at me. "And guile. You displayed quite a bit of guile at times, but never in a malicious manner. I'd say you get a pass."

"Hey, I probably had it coming. I interrupted his night just for a little fun, so fair is fair?" Ulric added as I remembered he did rather abrupt challenge without even speaking at first. He even let out a laugh and gave my back a friendly smack after sheathing his sword. Of course, given his strength, Ulric very nearly sent me falling on my face. He then asked, "So, where you from, new blood? You got a name?"

They appeared convinced that I was a seasoned knight if my armor and combat prowess was of any indication. While I have never been officially knighted, I decided to play along. "Sir James of Equestria. It's a pleasure."

The two Peace Keeper brothers appeared understandably confused by my claim. Titan raised a fist to his tough chin and muttered, "Equestria, huh? Never heard of it... I wonder if it's somewhere in the Forgotten Realms..."

"I wouldn't know. I'm only familiar with this realm and Avalar." I replied while being mindful of just how long this world of dragons had been out of my thoughts. The world was just as I remembered, but...so much more as well. And I found myself adoring these colorful and amicable dragons. Far beyond what anyone would expect from the dragons of Equestria. If only Ember could meet them...

"In any case, I suppose that makes you the ambassador of Equestria. Wherever that is... Then allow me to be the first to say it's good to have you with us, Sir James. Any warrior of honor is welcome among us Peace Keepers. Stay a while. Make yourself at home." Titan explained while again holding a fist to his chest in a professional manner. While the Artisan dragons I had crossed paths with had been welcoming souls on their own merits, there was something special about being officially welcomed into this wondrous world I had not laid eyes on in roughly half of my entire lifetime.

Once again, the audience applauded as I suspect they were giving me a proper welcome. But it was then that Oswin called out over the makeshift arena while the two veils of magic at the only two ways in faded away. "A quick reminder! The theater show of the evening will be starting soon! And Spyro! You're up!"

"Right, I'll make it on time!" The young purple drake called out from the leafy arch nearby. One by one, the dragons around us began to take to the air on their wings before flying off for whatever theater was about to get its play started.

Titan and Ulric stayed behind a moment longer and both saluted me. Ulric then said, "May we cross swords again, Sir James. Make yourself at home. And I need to get myself patched up..."

I watched as the two Peace Keepers flew off to join their brethren while I was left alone in the arena. At least for a moment longer. Once the arena went empty, Cynder swooped down from her very high perch. But she was not the only one. That young drake also swooped down from his perch while I had completely failed to notice he had stayed behind. They both were converging on the same spot and had to stop short to avoid colliding with each other. I jumped back when the two small dragons bailed on their approach by coming to a skidding stop. "Wait, you're still here?"

"Whoa, sorry! Didn't see you there!" The drake said to Cynder while barely paying her any mind as he turned his attention to me. An excitable young boy, the tone and pitch of his voice was full of budding maturity brought on by adolescence. "Man, you were awesome! And you can just make stuff outta ice?! You've gotta show me how to do that sometime! Oh, and since I was betting on Ulric coming out on top, you owe me twenty gems now."

Cynder was not quite so amused with this presumptuous young drake's demands. Even if I was wearing a big smile to see this familiar face before me. "Does he even look like he's carrying any goods on him in that armor?!"

He glanced back and forth at us before rolling his eyes. "Oh... Well... All right, I guess I can let it slide this time since it was just twenty gems. Just be glad I didn't bet fifty!"

"What a kid..." Cynder grumbled while looking and sounding quite annoyed with our guest. But it was then that she finally got his undivided attention. "What...?"

"Huh... Pretty sure I'd remember you if I saw you around before. Where you from? You one of the Artisans?" The drake asked while tilting his head to look Cynder over. He probably would have assumed otherwise had she still been wearing her platinum accessories.

Once again, Cynder was not amused by all the assumptions about her origins. Not that I could fault anyone. "Dream Weavers. That's what everyone keeps assuming."

"Really? You sure don't look it... But if you say so." He replied before glancing up at me. And it was then he noticed that long protracted stare I was giving him. The drake then asked, "Uh...what's with that stare? You feeling all right?"

It was only then I caught myself and felt compelled to provide an explanation. "Oh, uh... Sorry... It's just that... You ever get that feeling where you haven't seen an old friend in...say...fifteen years? And then you don't realize how much you missed them until you just happen to meet them again?"

This time, both of them stared at me with blank gazes. Not like they could have understood. The purple drake finally asked, "Uh.....what?"

I admit that his deadpan reaction got a chuckle out of me. "Never mind, there's no way you would understand where I'm coming from... In any case, it's good to see you, Spyro."

"Hey, you know my name! What, did word get around after I trashed Ripto in Avalar? That's where you're from, right? I mean you kinda look like some of the weirdoes I bumped into over there..." Spyro replied while more than happy to meet someone who knew him. And I just could not stop smiling. He was exactly the way I remembered him. Although he did then suddenly spread his wings when he jumped in shock. "Oh, right! I can't keep them waiting! It's my big break tonight and I've got the star role! I'll see you guys later!"

"Uh...sure?" Cynder retorted before Spyro took tot he air and flew off with impressive grace for such a rapscallion. Once Cynder and I were alone, she glanced up at me with a cockeyed glance. "Spyro, huh? You know that kid?"

"Not personally, but I guess I didn't know how much I missed him until I saw him again." I replied before watching that little drake disappear over the dark horizon. Mischievous, rambunctious, but strangely endearing. A 90s kid who never grew up.

Cynder was not quite as taken with that drake as much as I was. She then asked, "Kind of a scamp, isn't he?"

"Trust me, Spyro wouldn't be Spryo if he wasn't a bit of a playful troublemaker. The guy's got more than a few adventures under his belt by now anyway. He's hard not to like, really." I explained while knowing that even though Cynder was not familiar with his name even though she should have been, it might have been for the best that any knowledge she had of Spyro at the time was a blank slate.

My companion just rolled her eyes. I suppose she just did not have the patience for someone like him. Although we soon glanced around as the ground began to shake. The three stumpy towers that had retracted into the ground began to rise back up out of the ground now that the duel was over. I was quick to hop onto the tallest one, which still had that glowing glass dome atop it. Cynder was slower on the draw and had to bound up the two smaller ones to reach me. She then asked, "Just us again, huh? After all that, I think I prefer it that way."

"Yeah, same here. I could use a break without anyone interrupting." I retorted before dropping to a seated position atop that dome. Cynder joined me while I began to do a little stargazing. Whether or not the night sky was natural, it hardly mattered. Dark Hallow felt like it existed solely for this purpose. To help visitors relax. "Nothing better after a grueling duel."

Cynder, her body still free of her platinum shackles, snuggled up to me. As if on reflex, we both extended a wing and draped one over the other. After all that, it felt comforting to recede back into tender affection. I did not come to this world with any plans on taking up the sword, so I was very eager to rest again. Cynder curled her tail forward and lifted it over to me, allowing my fingers to whimsically tussle the feathery soft spade on the tip. Dark Hallow felt much emptier by then and we appreciated the solitude. The lack of prying eyes or even the risk of someone stumbling upon us felt so liberating. My draconic companion whispered, "You did great, by the way. I'm glad those shackles came in handy for something."

"They did, didn't they? I'm just glad they didn't ask questions about it." I said while almost laughing at just how badly I caught Ulric by surprise with them. But as I gazed at the sky and started to count the stars, I felt it. At first, I thought it was just a muscle spasm. But then I felt it again. A rippling quiver not through my body, but through the air itself. Any relaxation or sense of peace I had been experiencing up to that point all but vanished in an instant. It was almost time to wake up. And...I did not want to leave her. "No... Please, not yet..."

My companion sensed nothing amiss. She had no idea we were about to part ways again any minute. But my words did not escape her ears. Cynder gazed up at me with those beautiful teal eyes and asked, "No...? No what? Is something wrong?"

I could not reveal the reality of the situation to her. Unable to even look her in the eyes, I said what little I could. "I need to leave soon..."

"Now...? Already?" Cynder asked with a disheartened tone. We had only been seated for a few minutes, but the time for departure was rapidly approaching. "You can't stay? Why?"

"I...can't explain it. I wish I could, but I just can't. There are some things words...just can't convey." I explained in brief. I did not want to say goodbye. Not yet. Not after how Cynder had been there for me when I really needed her. "I'll stay as long as I can, but...I can't stay long. But thank you for being here with me today. I...really appreciated my time with you."

Cynder did not speak at first. As if she was trying to contemplate what was actually happening. But before long, the slightest smile began to creep across her face. And...words she probably should not have said came forth. "I'll go with you then. Lead on and I'll follow."

It broke my heart to hear her say such a thing. She did not understand. And she could never hope to understand. But I shook my head and spoke with a bitter smile on my lips. "No... No, you should stay here. I know the dragons of this world are kind of weird by your standards, but...it's a good place to be. You'll be happy here."

Cynder immediately shook her head and began to lean into me. Her head appeared ready to tuck itself under my jaw again as she said, "No... I mean sure, this is a very nice world. I've enjoyed myself in it. And maybe I would be happy here. But even still... I'd much rather stay with you, if you would have me."

"It's...not that I don't want you with me... It's just... I mean... You..." I began to stammer as Cynder's gentle defiance left me unsure of how to dissuade her from even trying to follow me. Out of ideas, I asked the only question I could think of. "Why?"

"Because..." Cynder began to say with a smile. But she then fell silent. Staring, but not speaking. And that smile began to fade as she contemplated the weight of her response. There was no glee in those eyes anymore. All that I saw was a gaze of powerful longing and fear. "Because you're all I've ever had."

That hurt. There was such power in those words. Words that stabbed me straight in my heart. I could no longer gaze upon her, throat tensing up painfully as eyes became hot with my vision beginning to blur. I desperately tried to dissuade her one last time, "You...don't really mean that."

"What makes you so sure of that?" Cynder demanded with a firmer tone of voice. Her hand found its way to mine and grasped it like an iron trap. She looked into my eyes even as tears of her own looked like they could spill over at any time. "I never had anything to begin with... I lost the only world I could've ever gone back to. But you... I've always had you. From the very minute I began to live, I've had you. And...only you."

I wept. Squinted my eyes shut and gasping for breath in barely audible sobs. She was making this so much harder than it needed to be. I did not want to say goodbye. But this world in the depths of my dream... It was all an illusion. So then why did this all feel so real? Her words were real. Her thoughts were real. Her desires were real. And it hurt like nothing I ever felt as I understood she could never follow me into the waking world. Cynder pleaded tearfully, "So why... Why can't I come with you?! What are you not telling me?!"

When my tears slowed enough to see her clearly, I saw fresh tears trickling down Cynder's smooth dark face. She then asked again, "Tell me. Why can't I follow you?"

"I can't tell you! Because I don't know how!" I wept again and turned away. I could not look at her any longer. It was just too painful to know what I was going to have to leave her behind. But Cynder did not release. Her hand still clasping at mine, I felt her once again lift her head and tuck it under my jaw. "I... I do want you to come with me... But...there's no way you..."

"Fine. Don't tell me. Don't bother trying to explain anything. Because I'm coming with you anyway." She boldly declared before I felt Cynder adjusting herself beside me. Bit by bit, she embraced me. Wings draped around me. Limbs clinging to me. And her hand grasping my own like a vice. Her eyes before mine, she smiled. Even as fresh tears stained her face. "If I hold on as tightly as I can... If I never let go, then I'll have no choice but to be dragged along with you no matter where you go. Sound like a plan?"

She was so sure of herself. Her eyes and tone were filled with ironclad determination. And I wanted to believe. I wanted to believe that even if she logically could not leave the realm of dreams with me, then she would make it happen anyway. At that moment, the consequences of Cynder joining me in the real world did not matter. I did not think about how I would explain her presence to everyone else. I did not consider what she would do with herself before the war ended. I did not even contemplate what the future would hold for her. All that mattered was waking up with her in my arms.

I could only weakly nod. I whispered to her while sniffling in sorrow, "Please... I do want you to come with me... Don't leave me..."

"Then hold me. Hold on to me as tightly as you can." Cynder cooed with a tender firmness in her voice. And I did. I wrapped her in my armor's powerful wings. I planted my armored hand against her back. And I tightened my own grip around her hand. Her eyes gazed into mine as any fears faded away. "Good... Good, there's no way we'll slip away from each other like this."

She knew something was coming as we sat there under the stars, Dark Hallow having become empty. We were alone. And the world began to fade into an encroaching white void. I wonder if she could even see it, but the way I felt her tighten that embrace... Cynder was aware that something was about to separate us. Or at least try to do so. Dread filled my heart as I clung to her like a precious treasure. I wanted to defy whatever was coming. "It's coming... Please don't leave me..."

"Never. I'm staying with you. Wherever you go, I'll be right by your side." Cynder whispered to me as we both closed our eyes. Our grasp on each other could not have been more secure. A tornado could blow through there and we would still never release each other. And finally... One last time. "I'm with you."

White filled my vision. A gentle weight was draped across me. My mind transitioned from dreaming to awake in a way where I could not discern exactly when it happened. I never let go. I never loosened my grasp on her for an instant. I dragged her with me and yet...

Cynder was gone.

I was not alone. Smolder and Ocellus were sound asleep on opposite sides of me. But their presence did nothing to soothe my heart. I gazed at the ceiling, raising my hand high. Remembering her little clawed fingers grasping mine so firmly. And those wonderful words... "You said you were with me... But why are you not here?"

My morning was spent in misery. I could not even begin to explain to Smolder and Ocellus what was wrong with me. They know something is wrong and it has nothing to do with my concerns with the war effort. But I cannot tell them... I cannot tell anyone. Not about something as silly and inconsequential as a dream I was not ready to wake up from.

For once, I wish that dream was not so lucid. I would have an easier time forgetting about it. But those words were as real as my own. Her touch was real. And now I will never forget her. Why do I miss her so much?

I cannot keep writing this... I just want to drown myself in a glass of scotch. Please, for all that is good and holy, do not let us encounter the next wave today. I am in absolutely no condition for the battlefield right now...

I saw it all. Saw the little wyrm defy his departure. Heard every word spoken. And when the dream came to an end, when I was cast out by his waking mind, I dragged her out with me. It was too soon to let her fade back to the edges of his thoughts. Not when she clung so tightly to him in the throes of his fading dream.

I stood there in the nexus. Defying the rising of my sister's sun. That little wyrm floated before me. Curled into a ball as if contained in the very egg she had hatched from. She called herself Cynder. A name that would be not at all out of place among the dragons of Equestria. And yet...not at all like them.

I gazed upon the slumbering wyrm. And I was left perplexed. Too many times have I witnessed a dream where the dreamer has been most hesitant to awaken. Dreams...too pleasant to leave behind. But it is a much rarer phenomenon indeed when it is the dream that does not wish to let go. And tonight... That is exactly what I saw.

This dream child... This wayward wyrm I have crossed paths with only once before... She took hold of the one whose dreaming mind summoned her. And she desperately sought to follow him into the waking world. To pass the threshold between dream and reality. But...that curtain held. And she was left behind. The instant the dream ended, she lapsed back into slumber of her own. Once again adrift in the depths of her dreamer's mind. A mind that I could no longer enter so long as he remained awake. A rift remained open to his mind that I forced to not close, but even I could not enter until he would dream again.

I beheld this dreaming wyrm before me. One I personally purged of the evils that once shackled her. And the way she longed for him... Remained searching for him night after night... Such a desire felt so familiar to me. "You and I... We are not so different, are we not?"

The sleeping wyrm did not speak. Did not even respond to my words. But I was convinced she could hear me. I spoke again, hoping for some response. "You long for him in the same way I do. You desire to be held by him, do you not? To belong to him? To find happiness with him? Is this true, child? Do you seek...a future with the one who savors you?"

She did not speak. But I am certain she head me. For at that moment... Glowing streams of fluid... A trail of tears flowing from her sleeping eyes. Tears of longing. A desire to be with he who she would never be able to embrace beyond the realm of dreams. I pitied the child. I could see a fragment of myself in her. One who wished to be loved by one she could never have. There was nothing I could do for her. All I could do was shake my head at the sorry situation she found herself in. "It is not fair... Sleep now, child. When the time is right, may you cross paths with him again. And when you do... Savor you time with him. For he longs for you too."

With a gentle push, I sent her on her way back into the mind of her dreamer. She would begin to wander again. In stasis and unaware until the next time she would be summoned to his side. My duty fulfilled for the night, I awakened in my chambers. But once the hours went by and we bean to march once more, he remained indoors. My beloved and the driving force behind this entire conflict. He was troubled and trapped in longing. Even into the early hours of the afternoon, he was haunted by what he had to leave behind. He did not join his comrades in the field for his mind was elsewhere.

I could not leave his side after witnessing how his dream ended the previous night. I was under the impression that spending the evening in the presence of one so dear would soothe his heart. Not trouble it further via the desire to bring her with him. Alone for the moment, I sat before him while he barely even responded to my presence. "You are most troubled, my friend... Do you long for her? The dark wyrm who clung tightly to you at the end?"

"You saw that?" He asked in return, eyes barely able to raise themselves to me. He sighed deeply in disappointment. "I thought she could come with me. For just a minute, I believed her when she said she would... But she didn't... I shouldn't care so much, but...it hurt. And I miss her."

"I saw. She so dearly wished to follow you. Perhaps a day will come when you two cross paths once again." I replied with tenderness in my voice. He was careful to not reveal his concerns to those who were oblivious to the nature of his heartache. But there was nothing to gain by hiding it from me.

"I don't know if I should let myself see her again... It hurt so much... And it's not healthy to long for something you can never have." He said with his gaze wandering. Words that stung in ways I could not reveal to him. Although he soon looked my way and asked with the faintest glimmer of hope in his eyes, "Unless... Is it possible? For someone to leave the realm of dreams into the real world?"

A profound question, to be sure. One I too have pondered from time to time. "You would think so, yes? If one can enter and leave the realm of dreams so routinely, then logic would denote it should work the other way around. And yet, it does not. A most vexing predicament."

"Thought so..." He muttered with a look of bitter resignation. How his heart longed for her in that moment. Precious little wyrm... Did you know how deeply you touched him? Would you shield him within your wings forevermore were you to ever cross the threshold into our world? My beloved then lifted his gaze to me again and asked, "But...is it possible?"

An honest question. And despite my mastery and dominion over the realm of dreams... I did not have an answer. Not a conclusive one, at least. "That...is difficult to gauge. If such a means to do so exists, Luna and I have yet to discovery it. Although it does merit research... Perhaps I should delve into seeing if such a miracle is possible. Although I must say... Should I ever reveal such a discovery to you, please keep it secret. Not all dreams should come true and too many may seek for their innermost desires to become reality at any cost."

"It sounds too good to be true... I won't get my hopes up. Just...let me know if anything does come up, no matter how unlikely it might be." He spoke with a wistful sigh. Even now, I doubt such a miracle is even possible. Even I cannot defy the laws of dreams and reality.

They say dreams are but another reality. Only time will tell if such a statement carries any truth to it. But that is a project that must remain on hiatus for now. For we are still at war and it is anyone's guess on when the next battle will begin.

I must steel myself for the coming clashes... Mother... Just you wait. I will prove myself to you. When this war ends... Will you ever see me as the princess born under your crown?