A Little Check-In

"A Little Check-In" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
It had been some time after Indigo Phantom’s trial, and as the Chief promised, she was giving Phantom a chance to show that he was improving since Nala destroyed the demon inside of him. She couldn’t help but be reminded of Skye…and Haddock. Skye had something poisoning his mind…making him do horrible things, and when the Warden possessed Haddock for a time in the Rebellion…making him turn against his wife and his comrades. 
He told her what it was like, and…of course, just as she promised, she never gave that information to anyone…not even after he died. She owed it to him to honor that wish. She took a deep breath as she waited in the interrogation room for the guards to bring Phantom in. Shadow sat in the corner and waited with her rider. She sent the Night Fury a small smile before pacing again…until a guard opened the door.
“Chief, we got him,” the guard said. 
“Bring him in,” Grey replied.
May 23, 2020
Indigo had been in a particularly good mood that day that remained all the way out of the jail and to wherever he was being taken by the guards. He hummed happily and looked a little surprised when he saw Grey and Shadow as the door opened.
“Well, hello Chief, ma'am. It’s been a while!” He greeted with a little bow. He also turned and acknowledged Shadow with a small nod.
“Good to see you again as well, miss Shadow. I hope you’ve been well.”
He sat down without needing much direction and gave a soft hum. “So, what’s up?”
May 23, 2020
“Thank you, Indigo,” Shadow crooned to the man.
As soon as Indigo sat down at the table, Grey did the same and sat down across from him. “Well, I’m keeping my word,” Grey said. “I wanted to check in with you. How have you been feeling?”
May 23, 2020
“Hmm.” Indigo seemed to slip into thought. “Well. Overall since the whole trial thing, I’ve felt overall quite a bit better, not having to constantly fight with myself. That’s a plus. Haven’t had any murderous thoughts since.”
He made some sort if weird chitter and tapped a finger on the table. “Not all roses though, I’ve been having a few other issues.” He told her, being quite honest. “I tend to space out here and there a lot now, and I lose focus easy it seems. It also made my…”
Indigo bit his lip and hesitated. “Self directed issues a little bit worse for a while. I have been improving there too, though. The letters I exchange with Farris help a lot as well, and I’ve barely managed to sort of befriend a few of your guards.” He said with a growing smile. “I hope that’s a good report, anyway.”
May 23, 2020
“It seems to be in my eyes,” Grey said with a small smile. “I’m glad the letters with Farris have been helping. I hope you know that I’m not trying to make you the bad guy here. I mean, you have done some horrible things, and you must face the consequences for your actions. However, I do hope that if you continue down this road, you will be able to leave here a changed person, and I have a village and a rebellion and a family to protect.”
May 23, 2020
Indigo’s gaze fell and his eyes flickered purple for just a moment. “It’s alright to make me the bad guy, ma'am. I am a bad guy. I let myself go much too far, I let my emotions take me a path I should never have gone.”
His hands shook a little. “I’m just glad for the chance to try and get back to a better path, perhaps even better than I’ve ever been on before. To make mother proud of me again.” He was distant for a moment and glanced at Shadow, his eyes filled with thought.
May 23, 2020
Shadow raised an eyebrow as Phantom looked at her. 
Grey noticed it too, but tried her best not to seem put off by it. She didn’t want to give him a reason to lash out. “I understand completely,” she said. “It’s normal to want to make your parents proud. Tell me about your mother.”
May 23, 2020
Indigo went silent, stiffening for a moment, then sighing softly. “She was wonderful. She took care of me and raised me and kept me safe right up till the day I lost her. She was all I had for a long time.” He murmured gently, looking a little small and almost as though he could feel her there. “Despite her grudge against humans, she never held anything against me. And I rather feel I’ve probably hurt her with my actions, wherever she is.”
A tear went down his cheek, but evaporated before it left his face. “I do miss her so, our flights together… when she ruffled my hair with her breath. Snuggling up every night…” He seemed entirely lost in the past as he spoke, looking wistful.
May 23, 2020
“Your mother was…a dragon?” Grey asked aloud. She listened intently to how he spoke about her, and from what he said, it didn’t sound like he was describing a human.
May 23, 2020
“The mother that took care of me was a Night Fury.” He told her, not really thinking about it much, still seeming distant. “My human parents abandoned me and I never met them. And they dont matter to me any more than I mattered to them.”
He couldn’t help but tense up slightly for a moment, but any signs of frustration were quickly gone from his face. “They weren’t my parents. Mother was.”
May 23, 2020
“I see…” Grey said astonished by his story. A Night Fury took this man in…when he was a baby…when his human parents abandoned him. She looked to her beloved Night Fury behind her before turning back to Phantom. “She has every right to be your mother. That’s…a very admirable thing to do.”
May 23, 2020
Indigo smiled widely, then his face fell a bit. “I’d give anything, even my very soul to speak to her one last time… to tell her how much she meant to me, how much she inspires me, even all these years and years later.”
He very suddenly seemed to change trains of thought, glancing back at Shadow again. He very clearly wanted to get something off his chest before they spoke about anything else.
“I’d like to apologize properly for separating you two, as I understand how much pain I must have brought, and I clearly didn’t help as much as I thought I had and… I’m sorry.” He murmured, staring down at his hands. “I never did properly apologize for that, I feel. I know what it’s like to lose someone close to you, I’ve felt it hundreds of times. I should never have made you… I…” Indigo’s words just kind of faded out.
May 24, 2020
The Chief and the Night Fury smiled as they looked at each other and then back at Indigo. 
“You are forgiven,” Grey said after a moment. She remembered when she told Brandt all those years ago that she forgave him for what he did to his father. It was still horrible…what he did, but…the action didn’t define who he was as a person. He didn’t let it. They refused to let it define their relationship and their future…just as she didn’t allow Haddock and Skye’s actions and shady pasts define her friendships with them. 
Brandt…Haddock…Skye…Akkey…Nala…and now Malak…and his sons…they all changed for the better after committing horrible actions and crimes. Brandt didn’t even really change. He committed a wrongful act under orders from his tribe…his people…just as she did in Ragnorak, but when he did, he was ashamed and sought for a chance to start over. 
Phantom deserved the same once his 20 years was up.
May 24, 2020
He seemed touched and gave her a nod, smiling a little. “I’ll definitely be doing more to help instead of hurt now. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know. The least I can do.” Indigo tapped his fingers together, thoughtful. “I still have a few dragons that respect me, so perhaps they and I can be useful. Although, I’d… hate to lose any more dragons, I do owe you for your mercy. I should return the favor.”
May 24, 2020
“You don’t owe me anything,” Grey said with a gentle smile. “Just focus on getting better and becoming a better person.”
May 24, 2020
Phantom sighed, recalling what Farris had told him. “I owe every good human my apology and my service.” He murmured. “After the horrors I’ve caused, I should do everything I can to try and do some good. Can’t undo the bad stuff, after all. Kind of like what Farris does. Whatever good he can. If only I could have explained this to the others better. Perhaps they’d be here as well, making a change for the better too.”
May 24, 2020
“I wanted a second chance…a chance to start over…to escape that life…”
Brandt’s words echoed in her head. However, her interest piqued when he mentioned “the others.”
“I’m sorry, the others?” Grey said furrowing her eyebrows together.
May 24, 2020
He shrunk a little. “The other half of my flock.” Indigo explained with a nervous shuffle in his seat. “The half that wouldn’t abandon me the day Farris and me had our little scuffle, because they liked the idea of killing all humans. They left me when I told them I was surrendering, because they didn’t respect my decision. No idea what they’re up to now, but I know Scarface is leading them, and he’s… very human unfriendly.”
May 24, 2020
“I see,” Grey said nodding. Dixie had mentioned that several Night Furies left when Phantom turned himself into Dixie. “Is there any chance they would turn their sights to Haligan Island? I know you don’t know what they’re up to now, but…” 
May 24, 2020
The Phantom winced, shrinking slightly. “Uh… yeah that’s a possibility.” He began to look a little nervous, his flames growing slightly. “I know they’re your enemies, but… you wouldn’t kill them all, would you?” He asked, clearly not happy about the thought of his previous friends, or even dragons in general dying.
He was shaking at just the thought.
May 24, 2020
Grey noticed his change in composure and furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and concern. She knew where he was coming from…If Shadow was threatened at all…she would not hesitate to protect her as well. 
“Of course not,” Grey said quickly. She stopped when she realized what she realized what she said. “Well…my first option would be for Shadow to reason with them, but…Indigo…you have to understand, if they can’t be reasoned with and they attack my family…my people…I have to do what I can to protect them…whatever it takes. It’s my duty as the Chief.”
May 24, 2020
Indigo visibly stiffened, looking like his heart just shattered, like he wanted to argue, and scream, and even for a split second he looked as though maybe even wanted to attack Grey, but he deflated and just looked defeated.
“I understand. Just please… Don’t hurt them unnecessarily. They’ve been hurt, tortured, had their families ripped from them, like I have. They’re… they’re making the same choices I have before, but they’re…”
Indigo paused. “They deserve the same treatment I got, because we’re all guilty, but I can’t stand to see them killed. I’ve lost so, so many friends…” His eyes flashed with horror and vivid memories, and he curled slightly, looking a bit like a cornered cat. “Do what you have to, but please… just…”
He didn’t seem to mean the words very much, he seemed torn in half. “I’m betraying the only thing I’ve held to in order to do exactly that thing…”
May 24, 2020
Grey gave a soft smile. “It’s okay, Indigo,” Grey said. “So long as they don’t attack Haligan, they have nothing to worry about, and if they do, Shadow, Furi, and the other Furies surely can reason with them.”
Shadow crooned despite the doubt inside her. Furi and Storm had told her about Scarface, and how he despised humans. She had hoped it wouldn’t end in a battle, but like she and Grey had said, they needed to do whatever it took to protect the tribe, the rebellion, and their family.
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Events
Category:Act I
Category:Indigo Phantom
Category:Grey Bergman
Category:Shadow