Legend of Malefor Ch.8

Chapter 8

     After several seconds, Spyro sighed and said, "The bad part about her being able to read minds is the fact that you can't keep secrets from her. Nothing's private."
     "Sorry, Dad, but I can't help but hear you," Cyndra said sweetly. "Everyone's thoughts are so loud. I can hear everything."
     "It's okay. I know you can't control your power. Maybe one day you'll be able to block out people's thoughts." Spyro nuzzled her. Then he looked up at Malefor and his gaze was hard again. "Can we speak in private? You have a lot of explaining to do, like... how did you even escape that crystal?"
     "That's a long story. Son." Malefor smirked.
     "Aargh! Don't call me that!"
     "All right, I won't. My boy."
     "Rrrr..."
     "Let's go for a flight. I'll tell you everything once we're alone."
     Spyro looked to Cyndra, who nodded. "He's fine, Dad. Wow, it's a very long story, so sad. You should hear it, then you'll understand."
     Spyro sighed. "Fine. Let's go." He walked outside with Malefor following close behind. They took to the air, ascending until they were far above the city, mere specks to anyone looking up.
     "All right, you want to know everything? Very well, I'll tell you... It is a very long story," Malefor said.
     "Just start talking."
     For the longest time, Malefor told his story. His rough childhood as an orphan, finding comfort and friends in the guardians of that time... learning all there was to know about the elements from them. He raged about his unjust banishment for a while. After calming down, he told about forming his army and making the Well of Souls his fortress, renaming it the Mountain of Malefor. He lingered on the subject of meeting Pandora, since she was the best thing that has ever happened in his life. He never knew love before he knew her.
     Discussing Pandora irritated Spyro, though, so Malefor skipped to being captured and locked away in Convexity.
     "You know the story past that, though," he said. "I used Cynder to try and escape, but you foiled that plan, so I used the Night of Eternal Darkness instead."
     He skipped to his time spent in the crystal. Spyro seemed most interested in these stories. Malefor told of the half-conscious, memory-filled state he was in most of the time, and how he would slip into unconsciousness for the rest of the time.
     "I thought I would never escape," he muttered. "I was powerless both physically and magically. It was a dark gem; my magic reserves were completely drained. Elements and spells were impossible to use. I only managed to get out by clawing my way to the surface. Even then, it was the hardest task I've ever had to do...
     "During my time in the gem, though, I did a lot of thinking. There was nothing else to do for twenty years when you are unable to see, move, hear, or anything except for in memories. And I decided... I decided to give up. I'm done. My so-called destiny... impossible. I've been stopped every single time. Perhaps I've been misled... That's it, though. I've given up, and now all I want is to know the family I've never had before.
     "Pandora, my mate... you, my son. Cynder, my daughter-in-law. Syne and Cyndra, my grandchildren. Is that so wrong?"
     Spyro was silent for the longest time. It seemed like they had flown a mile before he spoke. "No, not wrong... but incredibly hard to believe. I always imagined you as a much different dragon than this. An-"
     "An emotionless, uncaring, self-serving evil dragon bent on destroying the world." It wasn't a question; it was a flat statement. "Yes, I assumed as much. But that's not what I am. Not anymore. I've changed. Don't you believe me?"
     "Hmm..." Spyro shook his head and turned, flying back toward Warfang. "I'll need to talk to Cyndra. That is, if you don't stab me in the back before we get there."
     "No need to worry about that. Go ahead, conference with your precious daughter." Malefor chased after him.
     With a huff, Spyro sped up to stay ahead. Malefor smirked, then hit his top speed, shooting ahead.
     "Hey!" Spyro chased him. "What do you think this is, a race?!"
     "That's exactly what I think this is. Bye, son!" Malefor laughed and dove toward Pandora's house with Spyro in hot pursuit.
     The younger purple dragon, clearly annoyed, tucked his wings in tighter against his body to make himself more streamlined. He descended faster, passing Malefor.
     Malefor just shook his head and continued at his normal speed. He waited until Spyro was on the ground, then spilled all the air out of his wings and fell the rest of the way. As soon as he touched down, he used the momentum from the fall to launch forward, tackling Spyro. Both of them ended up sprawling across the grass in Pandora's front yard.
     "What are you doing?!" Spyro shoved him away, jumping up and snarling, in full attack mode. Smoke furled out of his nostrils.
     "I was under the impression that fathers and sons play-wrestled."
     "Don't do that."
     "Fine, whatever you say. I'm sure you'll come around eventually."
     The two went inside. Cyndra playfully darted over and jumped up onto Spyro's back.He grabbed her paw and pressed it against his forehead, closing his eyes. She closed hers too. After several moments, she motioned for Malefor to come over to her. He did, and she touched his forehead with her other paw.
     Finally, she spoke. "Dad, everything he told you is true. Oh, and as for a few minutes ago when you thought he was attacking you, he was just playing around. Like when you and Syne play-wrestle."
     Cyndra pulled her paws back and clasped them, grinning real big. She was always in a good mood.
     "When she touches someone's forehead, she can read their memories as well as their thoughts," Pandora explained, having entered the room while no one was paying attention. "From a distance, though, only thoughts and a very few recent memories are apparent."
     "It's quite an amazing gift," Malefor admitted.
     "So Spyro, what do you think of your father?" Pandora asked.
     Spyro shook his head. "I just can't get used to the idea... it's so hard to believe..."
     Syne entered the room. "Well, I don't know about anyone else, but having the greatest villain in dragon history as part of the family is just swell to me. I guess, welcome to the family, Grandpa Malefor."