The Darkness of the Future

Special thanks to Ronin for letting me use Battlesight, Tide for letting me use Tideweaver, Lacey for letting me use MythTeller and Divine, Puppy for letting me use Prophetseeker, Sunset for letting me use  Equinox Bander for letting me use Nightleaf, Darkmoon for letting me use Ratsbane, Crystal for letting me use Smokeseeker, Starflight for letting me use Queen Moonseeker, Pokeball for letting me use Geb, and Starflight for letting me use Panther, Ember, and Abyss!
If you want your OC in this story, simply consult me
https://wingsoffirefanon.fandom.com/wiki/Thread:1099278
== Prophecy (By Salvation!) ==
The end is coming,
The start is over.
You better start running,
Or they will overtake Her.
This is your final warning,
This is the darkest hour.
Here comes the rivers of mourning,
The current that shrivels the flowers.
== Part One : A New Vision ==
== Chapter One : The Beginning ==
"Starflight?" A voice said outside. Starflight was sitting in his hut, thinking about the long nights under the mountain when he spend the nights reading his scrolls, thirsting for more knowledge. But now that was gone. Oh, what he would give for his sight back. Claws tapped along the wood floor and Starflight tipped his head in the dragons direction. The dragon reached out and brushed her cool wings with his and leaned their head out to nudge Starflight in the snout.
"Fatespeaker?" He guessed. The dragon pulled back. 
"Hi Starflight." Fatespeaker twined her tail around Starflight's placing her claw on top of his. "Sorry to bother you this late..." She trailed off. 
"Fatespeaker." Starflight tried to smile in the direction of her voice. "I couldn't sleep anyway. What is it?" Fatespeaker was quiet for a moment. 
"I had that nightmare again." Fatespeaker's voice had never sounded so wobbly or quiet. "It felt so...real Starflight, and I'm scared." 
"Don't worry, Fatespeaker." Starflight tried to comfort her by leaning in closer. "It was just a dream." Starflight could almost feel Fatespeaker's dubious look. 
"I don't know. What if...what if it was the future, Starflight?" 
"Fatespeaker!" Starflight couldn't help his voice being sharp. "We've talked about this. You can't see the future." 
"I know that's what Stonemover said, but maybe it doesn't apply to me!" Fatespeaker protested. Starflight sighed. As much fun as she was, Fatespeaker could not be convinced her powers were false. But, Starflight sighed. 
"Okay." He sat down. "Tell me about this nightmare." 
"Really!" Fatespeaker let go of Starflight's talons and the floor shook as she jumped up and down. "I mean, sure." She said in a pretending-to-be-causal-but-actually-super-excited voice.
"Describe it from the beginning." Starflight turned towards her voice and tried to put on a listening face. 
"Ok!" Fatespeaker sat down next to him, and Starflight put his wing over her back. "So, it starts in the rainforest. You, me and Queen Glory are walking through the rainforest, talking. Suddenly, I hear a high-pitched scream and a cackle of laughter. Suddenly, Queen Glory is on fire! Fire, Starflight! Deathbringer leaps forward to help her, but suddenly vines from the trees come down, on their own, trapping him! Then, I am screaming, and so are you." Fatespeaker's voice got quieter and quieter as she told him the story. Suddenly she cut off, shaking. 
"What happens next?" Starflight tried to sound kind. Fatespeaker took a deep, shuddering breath. She is really worried about something. Starflight thought anxiously. 
"Well," Fatespeaker said slowly. "I don't know! That's the part that scares me! I have no idea what happens next. It is all blurry!" Starflight's talons clenched and unclenched. That did sound scary. No wonder Fatespeaker was nervous. Fatespeaker was silent for a moment. 
"Fatespeaker." Starflight prompted her gently. "Anything else?" Fatespeaker took a deep, shuddering breath. 
"Well, yes." Fatespeaker's voice was barely above a whisper now. "You were...being dragged through the forest...by a dragon, shaking with fear and yelling for your friends." Starflight tried to keep his face calm, but in reality, he was really freaked out. Stop that Starflight. He yelled at himself. It isn't the future, it's just Fatespeaker worrying about me. 
"Do you know who was dragging me through the forest." Fatespeaker hesistated for a moment before replying. 
"No." 
"Alright then." Starflight nudged Fatespeaker towards the door. "Don't worry about it. Remember it's just a nightmare. Go back to sleep and stop worrying." Fatespeaker paused in the doorway to the hut. 
"Are you sure, Starflight?" 
"I'm sure. Now go to sleep. Remember we have a meeting with Glo-, er, Queen Glory in the morning." Fatespeaker finally opened her wings and flapped away, leaving Starflight with the slightest impression that she wasn't telling him something. Starflight waited until he couldn't hear her wingbeats anymore. 
"Alright." He said finally. "You can come out now."  Starflight heard the hidden dragon spread his wings and fly down from the rafters to brush wings with Starflight. 
"Excuse me for asking," Mangrove said in a slow, polite voice. "But why did I have to hide?" Starflight winced. 
"I just felt like Fatespeaker would start asking weird questions about why you are in my hut in the middle of the night. She's like that." Mangrove shifted. 
"That's the thing. Why did you ask me to read to you. I mean, I know you can't yourself, but why me?" Mangrove's question held no anger, just quiet curiosity. 
"You were the only one awake. Even Glory was asleep at this time." The floorboards creaked as Mangrove shifted uncomfortably again. 
"I...uh...couldn't sleep." Mangrove stammered. Starflight nodded. 
"Mangrove you've been learning how to write, haven't you." Starflight tilted his head towards where Mangrove was standing. 
"Yeeees." 
"Okay." Starflight nodded. "Take this scroll and write down everything I say." He felt around the desk until his claws came in contact with paper, and slid it over to Mangrove, who lifted it off the desk. 
"Ready." Mangrove said. 
"Fatespeaker's 'visions'." Starflight tapped his claws thoughtfully. "When we first met, she guessed my name was Bigtoes. That was obviously false." Starflight heard the scratch of claws as  Mangrove wrote this down. "But then there was when we were going to see Battlewinner. Then she said that she saw us standing in front of Battlewinner and it would be really scary. Actually, both of those were true. Hmmm." Starflight tried to list off all the "visions" that Fatespeaker had told him from when Starflight first met her to now. Hours later, Mangrove yawned. 
"Finally getting tired?" Starflight said with a smile. "One last thing before you can leave. How many of her visions are true, how many are false." 
"Ummm." Mangrove tapped his claws together thoughtfully, counting under his breath. "Er...ten true, and...um...eleven false. Two are undecided." A chill flew through Starflight. Ten true. Ten true. I couldn't be possible. Could it? 
"Thank you Mangrove." Starflight attempted a weak smile in Mangrove's direction. But Mangrove was already talking. 
"So, do you really believe Fatespeaker's vision? Well, nightmare?" Starflight tapped his claws together, a theory bubbling in his mind. He thought of how Fatespeaker had been hatched. Actually Fatespeaker told him, but she was told by Morrowseer, so it might be false. She explained that Morrowseer had taken her egg, but before he left, he got hungry, so he left her egg on a rock in the forest to go hunting. As he left, the moon broke through the clouds and shone down on Fatespeaker's egg. Morrowseer had come back to see a tiny dragonet sitting on the rock. Her eggshell was midnight black with swirls...of...silver. Silver. Moonlight. Starflight thought. He suddenly clutched his head. Of course! How could I have missed it! Darkstalker explained that NightWing powers came from the moon! But, the moon wan't full the night Fatespeaker was born. Or was it? Maybe it was almost full. Hmmm. So what powers would she have? 
"So it might be possible she has powers." Starflight mimicked his thoughts wonderingly. 
"I don't know, but she has a creepy ability to always know when dragons are sad. Like for instance, one time, I was sad because I lost a fruit gathering race to another dragon. What was his name? Ocelot? Anyway, I was really sad, but I wasn't showing it at all, somehow Fatespeaker must have noticed, and she took me flying." Starflight's theory suddenly sang loudly in his mind. 
"Yeah, she sometimes does that for me too. When I'm angry or sad, she'll always notice and come with new scrolls or my favorite rainforest fruits." Starflight twisted his claws nervously. "Do you...do you maybe think that Fatespeaker can sense emotions or something?" Mangrove set the scroll down on the table.
"That might actually be possible. But how would that explain the 'vision'?" Starflight thought about his question for a moment. 
"Maybe vision is the wrong word for it. If she can sense emotions, maybe she is sensing someone's emotions, and her brain is sort of sending her a warning sign." 
"That sounds reasonable." Mangrove tapped his claws together. He yawned again. Starflight flapped his wings at Mangrove. 
"Go on, sleep. And...thank you." Starflight heard Mangrove hesitate, but it didn't take long before he slipped out the window. Starflight laid back down, trying to quiet the whirlwind in his head. I've been denying Fatespeaker's powers for years. But is it possible that I'VE been wrong? Maybe, she's been right all along.
== Chapter Two : Jealousy ==
Fatespeaker grumbled to herself. Why doesn't he believe me? She thought, trying not get mad at Starflight. As she walked back into the NightWing village, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. The NightWing's were all trying to adjust to the "normal sleep schedule" that Darkstalker had told them about. Fatespeaker shook her head. Must not think about Darkstalker. But it was too late. His sneering face was stuck in her mind. She shivered and turned towards the river that flowed next to the village. The water was dark and cold, with a tint of silver with the moon reflecting down into it. She stuck her talons into the water and swirled them around. Then, she sat back on the smooth rock she was sitting on and looked at the twinkling stars. Nervous, jumpy thoughts were cascading in a waterfall around her head. Especially one. Her dream. Especially one part... When Starflight was being dragged through the rainforest. She told Starflight that she didn't know who did it, but that was a lie. How can you tell the one dragon you want to be with the most that it is you dragging them unwillingly through the rainforest. The image of Fatespeaker dragging Starflight through the forest, eyes blank and unemotional clung to her mind like a sticky web. A burst of bright laughter interrupted her thoughts. Slyeyes and his friends burst through the tree canopy, laughing. But their laughter died when they saw Fatespeaker sitting, twirling the water with her claws gloomily. Each of them murmured hastily that they had to be somewhere and left. All except Slyeyes. He smiled at her and nudged her with his shoulder.
"Hey Fatey!" He smiled at her with kind eyes. Fatespeaker, despite her grumpy mood, couldn't help but grin back at him. He gestured for her to walk with him. 
"So," He began when she was beside him. "Where have you been? You promised to go boar-hunting with me." He frowned, but his black eyes were dancing. Fatespeaker winced. She had been trying to hide Starflight from him because she was afraid he would be jealous.
"I was..." She hesitated, trying to come up with a convincing lie. "Helping Peacemaker make some pies." Slyeyes smiled and laughed.
"My little friend loves his pies." Slyeyes laughed again, more brightly. Fatespeaker nodded.
"Come flying with me?" She said quietly. "At least to my hut?" Slyeyes nudged her shoulder with his wing.
"Anytime, Fatey!" Fatespeaker took off from the ground, Slyeyes only a moment behind her. They flew in silence for a while, only the sound of flogs galumphing breaking the silence.
"Soooooooooo..." Fatespeaker started. Slyeyes looked at her out of the corner of his eye. How do I break this to him gently? She decided just not to tell him.
"Soooo, what?" Slyeyes said, blinking his huge, dark eyes.
"Nothing." Fatespeaker shook her head as they swooped into her house. "Um...good morning." Slyeyes laughed, but looked behind her.
"What are these?" He picked up one of Fatespeaker's drawings.
"Oh nothing."
"Who's this?" Fatespeaker realized that Slyeyes was holding the picture of Starflight she had drawn. Starflight's face was kind and he was holding a scroll.
"Starlfight." She said, not being able to hold back her sigh. Slyeyes gave her a sharp, confused look.
"Starlfight?" He said softly. Fatespeaker nodded. Slyeyes put the drawing back on the desk, a smile plastered onto his face. Fatespeaker gave him a quick hug.
"Thanks for flying me home." She said quietly. Slyeyes turned to the doorway.
"No problem." Fatespeaker waited for the pet name 'Fatey' to come, but it didn't. Fatespeaker wrinkled her snout. Slyeyes spread his wings and flew quickly away. Fatespeaker followed him, and caught a glimpse of his face. She caught a glimpse of something she had never seen on Slyeye's face. It looked like...
Jealousy.
== Chapter Three : Missing ==
"Starflight Starflight!" A voice piped up. Starflight turned his head towards the side of the room where it was coming from.
"Yes...Poppy?" A squeal of delight came from the seats.
"That's me!" Poppy said to the other dragonets. Starflight smiled. "Um...I don't get it." Starflight sighed as he heard a thump of talons.
"Here, let me explain it again." Starflight said, pointing to the board. A few RainWing dragonets grumbled under their breath, but they subdued. "Ahem! SandWings. They are sand dragons who can withstand heat and have fire." One of the dragonets cleared their throat.
"STARFLIGHT!" They barked. Starflight smiled in the direction of their voice.
"Yes?" He said again.
"How do they have fire? Wouldn't it burn them?" The dragonet, Starflight assumed it was Lemon, tapped their claws thoughtfully on the ground. Starflight's thoughts wavered for a moment.
"Well...I...Um..." He trailed off. "You know, I've never really thought about it that much." A gasp went though the students.
"Starflight doesn't know something." One of the dragonets whispered in a not-so-quiet voice.
"He might be lying." Another dragonet whispered.
"Dragonets," Starflight said in a soft voice. "I may be blind, but I'm not deaf." Silence.
"What's death?" One of the dragonets asked. Before Starflight could correct him, another dragonet peeped.
"I think it is when you can not hear some stuffing that dragons are saying." Silence.
"Oh." The first dragonet said. "What's stuffing?"
"A food I'm think." Another dragonet said thoughtfully. Starflight was losing track.
"Why would Starflight be talking about food?" The second dragonet said in a bewildered voice. Starflight sighed. He thought he heard a thump of talons outside.
"Hello?" He said quietly.
"Starflight?" A voice said. Fatespeaker. He thought. Starflight had been trying to avoid Fatespeaker ever since his theory. "What...Are you doing here?" Starflight wilted a little before realizing what she meant.
"Oh, Tsunami said she could take over my class. I decided to have a week off to teach the little dragonets here." He waved his talon at the dragonets.
"Um..." Starflight heard Fatespeaker waver for a moment. Even the class of RainWings suddenly became silent. "Star-Starflight..."
"Yes?" He asked as gently as he could. A pause. An eternity passed.
"Where's Divine?" Fatespeaker finally choked out. A sigh erupted through the class.
"Awwww, I really thought she was going to tell him she loved him." Poppy said, grumbling. Starflight felt his face getting red. Then he processed what she had said. Starflight dug his claws into the ground. He had been worrying about Fatespeaker's powers so much he had forgotten to do role call.
"Divine?" He said slowly. No answer. "Divine?"
"He's not here!" Lemon piped up. Starflight frowned. Divine was lazy and a little mysterious, but he had always done his schoolwork. That's odd. He thought quietly. I hope he's alright... Starflight shook off that thought.
"Um...Can you go look for him?" Starflight turned to Fatespeaker, shifting on his talons. Fatespeaker touched Starflight's shoulder gently.
"Sure." Starflight turned back to the dragonets.
"Shall we start again?" Starflight said. If only he had looked out the window. Then maybe, just maybe, he would have heard the dragon leaping out of the bushes to drag Fatespeaker down.
== Chapter Four : Betrayal ==
"Hey." Fatespeaker groaned. No...Don't wake me up... A bit of silence passed, then Fatespeaker was poked roughly. "WAKE UP!" The dragon roared. Fatespeaker's eyes opened a little.
"Hey! Tideweaver, what did we talk about?!" A new voice growled. A blurry figure hovered by Fatespeaker's snout for a moment. A webbed claw reached down and roughly poked her in the snout.
"Is she dead?" The first voice asked.
"I doubt it." A third voice cut in. This dragon was black and orange, frowning.
"Right!" The second voice said, nodding. Fatespeaker's vision was slowly coming to her. "When they knocked me out, I woke up only a few hours later." This dragon was red and black, with blue eyes and multiple scars across his body.
"Shhh!" The third voice said, shuffling closer. "She's coming to." Fatespeaker let out another groan.
"Wha...what happened?" She sat up slowly, and the red and black dragon gently pushed her down.
"We aren't exactly sure. All we know is you got conked by Prophetseeker and dropped off here."
"You got conked pretty bad!" The first voice said. They flexed their webbed talons and grinned. Fatespeaker shifted uncomfortably.
"Who are you?" Her head felt fuzzy. She couldn't remember anything except walking out of the classroom, wondering where Divine went.
"I'm Battlesight." The black and red dragon said. "The slightly insane poking one is Tideweaver. And the other one is Equinox." Battlesight pointed to each of the dragons in turn. Tideweaver narrowed her eyes and Fatespeaker shifted uncomfortably.
"Who are you?" Tideweaver hissed. Fatespaker looked around. They were in a small cave, open on one side, but bars lined the whole wall, patrolled by bad-tempered guards.
"Fatespeaker." She said absently. The cave went quiet and Fatspeaker blinked at the other prisoners, who were staring at her in shock.
"Like Fatespeaker Fatespeaker?" Battlesight breathed. "From the Dragonet Prophecy?" Fatespeaker winced.
"Um...sure?" Equinox raised an eyebrow, but Fatespeaker shifted her gaze away. Suddenly, a shriek rang out across the hallway. Fatespeaker dug her talons in.
"What. Was. That." She looked around at the other dragons and realized that they looked supremely unbothered by the shriek.
"Oh, just the RainWing next door." Battlesight yawned. Fatespeaker's mouth dropped open.
"But...WHO?" Tideweaver shrugged.
"How are we supposed to know?" He snorted. "He's been here longer than we have." Fatespeaker blinked. The sound of tramping talons suddenly rang out against the hall.
"Oh moons'..." Battlesight said, shrinking against the wall. For the first time, Fatespeaker suddenly noticed another dragon huddled against the wall, glancing at them all with emerald green eyes.
"Who's that?" She whispered to Tideweaver. Tideweaver narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but glanced towards the dragon.
"That's Nightleaf. He's the youngest, but he's been here most of his life." Fatespeaker glanced at the small dragon with a concerned look. "Now shush!" Tideweaver whacked Fatespeaker with her wings, ducking into the shadows.
"Why..." She began to ask, just as a blue and black NightWing stalked up. A sly smile was creased onto his face as he assessed Fatespeaker.
"So you're the new dragon!" He hissed, unlocking the door. Fatespeaker only blinked. "Well the queen is looking forward to seeing you." He cackled and Fatespeaker gasped. Queen? She thought worriedly. She suddenly lashed out, flipping her tail back and forth, slashing her claws. "OI! SOME HELP!" The dragon roared.
"I'm coming!" A voice said. It sounded...familiar. Then the dragon entered the light and Fatespeaker's eyes widened. The grayish scales. The intelligent green eyes. The silver swirls under his scales. The dragon, the traitor, the one she thought was her friend was none other than Slyeyes.
== Chapter Five : Disappearance ==
Starflight yawned slightly.
"Those dragonets." He muttered, then paused. "But they are so cute...And curious!" Deathbringer laughed.
"But you were neeeeeever curious." He said with amusement buried into his voice. Starflight rolled his eyes.
"Ok, enough sarcasm." He lowered his voice until it was barely above a whisper. "No wonder Glory likes you." Deathbringer froze and suddenly whacked Starflight with his wings.
"Enough!" He said. Starflight ducked out of the way of another wing-whack and laughed.
"But seriously. You two are perfect. And Glory says the kingdom needs heirs..." Deathbringer barked a laugh, and Starflight gave him a delighted look.
"Well she'll have to find them somewhere else!" Starflight bumped Deathbringer's shoulder.
"So..." He said. "I haven't seen Fatespeaker today. Have you?" Deathbringer's laughter dropped away.
"No, she's usually stuck to you like glue." Starflight wrinkled his snout.
"Well she isn't today." Deathbringer went silent for a moment. I hope she isn't avoiding me. Starflight's anxious brain chattered.
"She's probably out hunting or...hey maybe she is at Jade Mountain." Starflight shifted, nodding. Those were all reasonable guesses if it wasn't Fatespeaker. She wouldn't leave without telling Starflight or at least Glory.
"Um...Yes, that does sound good. But I'll have to check with Glory." Yes, that sounds good. Now that he said that out loud, Starflight decided he would ask Glory if she had seen Fatespeaker. Deathbringer lashed his tail and Starflight grinned.
"Good! I'll ummmm come with you! Yes, that sound like a good plan! Planning!" Starflight bumped Deathbringer's wing.
"Glory and Deathbringer, flying in the sky. Getting all K-I-S-S-Y!" Deathbringer hissed and Starflight shot forward, but not before Deathbringer could leap at him, knocking Starflight out of the air. He broke off, chuckling.
"Seriously!" Deathbringer said, thumping Starflight. "Glory would hate you if she heard you saying that!" Starflight frowned slightly.
"Oh! So yoooou know her soooooo well." Deathbringer sighed dramatically, and Starflight moved to another wind current. He was starting to get good at remembering where all the trees and vines were. He heard a familiar voice and slid up to Sunny.
"Hey." He said, brushing her wing with his. He felt a flutter in his heart, and pushed it down. She loved him like a brother. Nothing more. They could never be what he wished they could be. "Sunny?" He asked quickly, before the silence got awkward. "Have you seen Glory?"
"Right here." Glory brushed his wing with hers, pulling back quickly.
"Oh, good." He heard Deathbringer scoot over to stand behind Glory. "Glory, have you seen Fatespeaker lately." Glory paused and Starflight could tell she was thinking.
"Not that I know of." Glory said slowly. Starflight's shoulder slumped.
"Well...Thanks anyway." He said with a small smile. Glory brushed his wing again, and not for the first time, Starflight really wished he could see the colors fuming along her scales. Starflight nodded again, and turned to fly away. He heard scrabbling of claws behind him, but then they stopped. Starflight tried not to freak out, he tried to look calm, but it was impossible. He knew that it was unlikely something bad had happened to Fatespeaker. She probably had just forgotten to tell someone where she was going and would be back in a few days with an explanation and a small laugh. But something, something inside Starflight worried him. Fatespeaker's vision kept replaying in his head. Over and over. Again and again. Almost as if it was a warning. But warning about what? Starflight flew back to his hut, wondering.
What else could have happened to her?
== Chapter Six : A Queen's Secret's ==
"Slyeyes?" Fatespeaker breathed. She looked up and met Slyeyes' eyes. They were so, so sad it made her want to hug him and never let go.
"Hey Fatey." He said quietly, looking down. The other NightWing blinked slowly at Fatespeaker and Slyeyes.
"You two know each other?" He said a a rough voice. He had a dark blue and black body, with midnight red wings and startling purple eyes. Slyeyes' shifted uncomfortably.
"A little." His eyes traveled to Fatespeaker, the only clue that he wasn't telling the whole truth. The NightWing narrowed his eyes.
"Well," He said in a rough voice. "Her Majesty wants to see her in the throne room." A wave of relief washed through Fatespaker. They were talking about Queen Glory! Maybe she had terribly mis-read this situation. But if that was the case, why did Slyeyes still have that worried look? The other NightWing pushed Slyeyes aside and pushed Fatespeaker out of her cell. Fatespeaker couldn't help but note that the other prisoners didn't try to run or fight, they all just stood, cowering against the wall. What are they so afraid of? Fatespeaker was afraid to ask.
"You should be." The NightWing grunted. Fatespeaker glanced at him. Had she heard him right.
"Should...should I help, Prophetseeker?" Slyeyes muttered. Prophetseeker turned towards him scathingly.
"No. Her Majesty asked for me and this scrap ONLY." He pushed Slyeyes in the chest. "Stay. Here." Slyeyes bowed his head respectfully and Prophetseeker marched Fatespeaker down a long tunnel. The tunnel was wide, with black walls and mirrors hung on almost every inch of the wall. They suddenly took a quick, sharp turn and stepped into a dimly lit room. On one side, there was a small cave with a closed black door. But on the other half, there was a large cave, black stalagmites sitting darkly on the smooth floor. The stones led slowly up to a large throne with a beautiful NightWing sitting on it. She looked down her long, black snout at Fatespeaker. She was rather thin, with beautiful silver speckles along her body. But the most stunning thing about the NightWing was the necklace she wore. It was a beautiful silver crescent moon, embedded with small sapphires and set on a black chain. She hissed quietly as Fatespeaker was shoved up to her throne. Wait, who is this? Fatespeaker thought, confused.
"This is her?" The NightWing said quietly. Her voice was thin and silvery, with a small thread of impatience in it.
"Um...Who are you?" Fatespeaker squeaked. The NightWing arched her eyebrows.
"Who are you, Your Majesty." Fatespeaker wrinkled her snout.
"What?"
"What?" The NightWing answered, blinking.
"What?" Fatespeaker tilted her head.
"Ok, enough whats." Prophetseeker hissed, looking up at the NightWing. "MythTeller, I suggest you do it now." The NightWing, MythTeller, nodded.
"You see, dear Fatespeaker. The reign of Glory is over. I am in charge." Fatespeaker cleared her throat.
"Um...How exactly?" MythTeller frowned.
"With this." She held up the necklace. "The Succession Sapphire." Fatespeaker blinked. In all his lecturing, Starflight had never mentioned something called the Succession Sapphire. "You see. This Sapphire will trap any monarch unwilling to be queen in one of these sapphires." She turned the necklace so the sapphires glinted in the light.
"And it hasn't gotten rid of you yet." Fatespeaker breathed. "Which...Which means-"
"That I'm the queen." MythTeller grinned with all her teeth. "Are you're going to join us." Fatespeaker snorted.
"I don't think so!" MythTeller looked at her, amused.
"You really think that?" She leaned forward. "It's your destiny." She gestured to Prophetseeker. "Share your stuff." Prophetseeker rolled his eyes, but opened his mouth.
"The end is coming,
The start is over.
You better start running,
Or they will overtake Her.
This is your final warning,
This is the darkest hour.
Here comes the rivers of mourning,
The current that shrivels the flowers."
He paused dramatically. Fatespeaker blinked.
"You think that's about me?" She said, tilting her head. MythTeller gave her another amused look.
"Part of it." She hissed. "See, you will join us, like this pathetic RainWing." She gestured behind her, and for the first time, Fatespeaker noticed a dragon standing behind MythTeller. Fatespeaker lurched forward. Divine! Her brain screamed. But then she looked closer. Wait...what's wrong with him? Diving was standing bolt upright, wings bend, his entire body the same blackish silver. Fatespeaker's eyes travelled upward and she muffled a scream. Divine's eyes were red. A pure, ugly red that clashed with the beauty of his scales. Not only that, but he stared blankly ahead, unmoving.
"What did you do to him?" Fatespeaker whipped towards MythTeller who was watching with barely suppressed glee.
"Oh nothing. He did it to himself. Animi are very useful." She nodded towards Divine. "A little threatening, a little manipulation and he was ours." She leaned forward, eyes cold. "And you will be soon."
== Part Two : The NightWing Queen ==
== Chapter Seven : The Plan Revealed ==
Starflight hummed to himself, doing a backflip in the air. His heart was soaring as high as his wings, though he was still worried about Fatespeaker. The rainforest birds were singing loudly, the sun was shining on his ears, making him feel all woozy. He understood why the RainWings liked suntime.
"Hello?" A dragon suddenly called from under Starflight. He whipped around and nearly pummeled himself on a stray branch. "Ooh, ouch. Are you aright?" Starflight nodded, awkwardly landing on a tree. The dragon smiled.
"Who are you?" Starflight asked. The dragon paused. Instead of answering, the dragon, Starflight assumed was male, laughed.
"You must be Starflight!" The NightWing said. "I saw Fatey's drawing of you! Did you know she was that artistic?" Starflight shook his head. Fatey...Where have I heard that before? He thought, wrinkling his snout.
"I'm Slyeyes." He said eventually. Starflight nodded.
"You already know my name." Slyeyes thumped Starflight's shoulder. "Say. You haven't seen Fatespeaker around lately, have you?" There was an uncomfortable silence.
"No." Starflight got the sudden impression that Slyeyes was lying, but he didn't press it.
"Soooooo." Starflight said. Something clatters from far below, and the branch shook as Slyeyes leapt up.
"I...Have to go!" Starflgiht blinked.
"Why?" There was another pause.
"The RainW...Queen Glory said that...Um....I have to go...Help build some huts!" Starflight nodded. "But...I don't have time to run by my hut, so there are some papers on a desk. Maybe drop them off to me!" Starflgiht was about to point out that he was blind, but before he could speak, Slyeyes began to talk again. "My hut it the second from the left of the river! It should be empty!" Then he was gone. Starlfight sighed, but flung himself into the air. Second from the left. He repeated. Starflight flew down to the river, following it's spray until he came to where it bounces off to the tunnel to the Night Kingdom. He paused with a shudder. There were two huts in this area, but one of them had sounds of laughter coming from it, so that couldn't be it. Starflight landed, touching the smooth surface of the hut gently until he found a doorway. He walked slowly inside, walking around until he bumped into a table. This must be it. He thought quietly. Starflight felt around gently until his claws came in contact with paper. He grabbed the scroll under his talons, and upon pulling them away, discovered a tiny crack in the table, where a scroll was hidden. He felt his claws around and lifted it out. Hmmmm. He thought, turning it over. Better take this too. He sighed, muttering and shaking his head. Starflight took off, flying. He suddenly stopped, realizing that he didn't know where Slyeyes was. Oops. He thought to himself. Then a peal of laughter and a snarky comment. Glory! He smiled and turned to where it was coming from. He heard it again and shot towards Glory, nearly getting bowled over by Deathbringer.
"Halt!" The assassin said. Starflight stopped midair, his wings pulsing for a moment. He heard Glory give out an exasperated sigh.
"For the love of...IT'S STARFLIGHT MOON BRAIN!" There was a beat of silence and Starflight got the impression that Deathbringer was studying him.
"Ah." Deathbringer said quietly. Glory pushed him aside and briefly touched her tail with Starflight's.
"Glory!" Starflight burst out, putting the scrolls down. "Do you know where you sent Slyeyes to build the huts." Even without sight, he could tell Glory was confused.
"Starflight." She said slowly, deliberately. "I'm going to be honest. What are you talking about?" Starflight froze. But...But... Then he heard a gasp and a crinkle of paper.
"What?" He said, his voice shaking for some reason.
"Starflight. What is the Succession Sapphire?" Starflight wrinkled his snout.
"I'm...not sure." His brain flipped through all the jewels he had ever heard of. "I've never read about it. Why?" Glory inhaled.
"Because that's what's written. 'Her Majesty has the Succession Sapphire. We need NightWing support for plan to work.' That's what it says." Starflight gulped.
"I'm...going flying." He said in a small voice. Glory paused then, much to Starflight's surprise, brushed her wing with his.
"I'll give these to Slyeyes." She whispered. Starflight nodded and flew away, his thoughts tumbling over each other. That couldn't mean anything. Probably Slyeyes is just a history nerd like me. It doesn't mean anything. But somehow...He felt less safe in the rainforest now.
== Chapter Eight : "Let's Start Over..." ==
Fatespeaker took a step back.
"NEVER!" She roared. MythTeller didn't look at all worried. 
"We'll see." She said in almost an amused voice. Prophetseeker and another NightWing Fatespeaker hadn't known was in there both stepped forward to escort her through the dark hallways. 
"Was that real?" The NightWing asked. Prophetseeker glared over at the blue-black NightWing. "I mean..." She went on quickly. "We haven't had a true prophet in so long!" Prophetseeker rolled his eyes. 
"Yes, it's real, nitwit." The NightWing glared back. 
"My name's Ratsbane, snail eater." 
"Well, fat head-" 
"OK!" A dragon barked. A huge, looming NightWing stepped out of the shadows. He was the color of smoke, with blue and amber eyes. "I've heard enough. Take this one to the prison." Ratsbane and Prophetseeker both nodded, glaring at each other. Fatespeaker looked around. She felt like she...knew this place, though she thought she would remember it. The walls seemed all too familiar. A few minutes later of Prophetseeker and Ratsbane dragging her through the halls, hissing at each other and hitting each other with their wings, they came to the same prison that Fatespeaker had woken up in. They passed a few cages, one with three dragons in them. One was pacing furiously, he looked like a SkyWing and MudWing hybrid, another was glaring at the bars with fierce eyes, navy scales and glow patterns with stormy black underscales, the last one simply hunched in the corner, black and coloring changing scales chasing each other around and around in an endless loop. The trio passed another cage, this one holding a...was that a MudWing? She blinked. What was this dragon doing here? The MudWing looked up and locked eyes with Fatespeaker as they passed each other. What are they up to? Finally, they came to the cage holding the other prisoners. She recognized Battlesight's ferocious eyes, and Nightleaf's quiet staring. 
Prophetseeker shoved Fatespeaker into Ratsbane and took out a set of keys, inserting one into the lock. He yanked open the door, shot Battlesight a glare full of daggers and grabbed Fatespeaker, shoving her in. Fatespeaker tumbled forward as he slammed the door. 
"Lets go." Prophetseeker spat. Ratsbane gave Fatespeaker one last look before turning and walking away. Battlesight leaned over and helped Fatespeaker up, star scales glittering in the light. 
"Thanks." She said simply. It was getting a little uncomfortable how Nightleaf was staring at her, so she brushed past Battlesight and walked up to the small hybrid. "Hi." She said in a friendly voice. Nightleaf's eyes travelled over her for a moment. 
"Hello." Nightleaf said so quietly Fatespeaker wasn't even sure the dragon had spoke. Fatespeaker sat down next to Nightleaf. 
"Are you ok?" She asked, putting on the face she had seen Starflight use so many times. Nightleaf nodded without speaking. Fatespeaker said in a cheery voice.
"Well don't worry! Queen Glory will find us, free everyone and we can all go home!" Nightleaf looked up at her and snorted. 
"Sure." He said quietly. "Sure." Fatespeaker frowned. 
"I'm trying to help!" She said. Nightleaf glared up at her. 
"Well maybe don't!" He shouted. Fatespeaker pulled back, and Battlesight quickly steered her away from the hybrid. Tideweaver jabbed her painfully. 
"AHEM!" She hissed. "What was that for?" Fatespeaker blinked at Tide. 
"What do you mean?" Tide's frown increased. 
"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Fatespeaker wrinkled her snout. 
"Do I?" Tide growled and Battlesight ushered her over to another side. Fatespeaker sat down. Come on, act like Starflight. I can figure this out. She tapped her claws. Hmmm, first. Where am I? She looked around and suddenly spotted something at the back of the cave, behind where Nightleaf was sitting, face buried in his wings. Was that...it was! Fatespeaker squinted. Yes, that really was a giant canyon at the back. For the first time, Fatespeaker noticed something in the air. She reached out her talon and caught something. It was...ash. Fatespeaker sat up abruptly. She knew where she was. Fatespeaker ran to the bars. She knew this place. That was why it was so hot! She clutched her head. Why hadn't she thought of it before! Fatespeaker was in the Old NightWing kingdom, the one with the volcano. 
Ok, maybe NOW is the time to panic. She thought, breathing quickly. She looked over and realized that Equinox was staring at her. 
"Are you ok?" Equinox asked, her wings fluttering. 
"Um...Yes...Sure! I'm...totally...fine...The most fine...that anyone...has ever...been." She said, smiling. From behind Equinox, Tide narrowed her eyes suspiciously. 
"Are you su-" Tide was cut off with clanging noises coming from outside. As the cage door opened, all the prisoners cut off abruptly. The gray NightWing was hulking against the door, smiling ferociously. He reminds me of Morrowseer. Fatespeaker thought, chuckling on the inside. The NightWing stepped aside, revealing Ratsbane standing next to MythTeller. MythTeller stepped forward, tracing her claws on the bars. She smiled, flicked her wings, and Prophetseeker pulled out a small bracelet. It was silver and was so thin it was almost invisible.
"Is it done?" MythTeller asked in a smooth voice like she was just asking to see Fatespeaker's reaction. Prophetseeker stepped closer. 
"Yes, Your Majesty." A small hiss from behind Fatespeaker, but whoever hissed didn't dare say anything. MythTeller smiled, her long, elegant snout crinkling. 
"Good good." She stepped into the cage, growling at Battlesight and tracing one claw along Fatespeaker's chin. Fatespeaker shivered, though she didn't know why. "Let's start over..." Fatespeaker backed up against the wall, shivering with fright. There was something new in MythTeller's eyes. Something cold, something fierce. MythTeller flicked one claw at Fatespeaker and Prophetseeker stepped forward, bracelet glinting in the light. Fatespeaker couldn't pull her eyes away from MythTeller's eyes. They were so dark, like a black hole coming to swallow her up.
== Chapter Nine : Pain ==
Starflight was getting worried.
"Come on come on." He swooped around the rainforest like a butterfly, never stopping for a second. Until the small hybrid stopped him. 
"STARFLIGHT!" Sunny barked. Starflight stopped and his heart gave a little pulse. 
"Sunny?" He asked quietly. "What are you doing here?" She gave him a comical hurt look. 
"Should I not be here?" She asked, looking genuinely sad. 
"No!" Starflight said quickly, reaching out his talons. "I'm just...really worried." Sunny beamed. 
"That's why I'm here!" She piped, nudging Starflight's side. Starflight leaned over and hugged her. 
"I'm worried because Fatespeaker is missing." A small flash crossed Sunny's face, but Starflight couldn't interpret it. Was Sunny...Jealous? No. He thought. Not Sunny. He smiled down at her and opened his wings. 
"Well we'll find her." Sunny said. She hesitated, but then leaned over and curled into his wing, smiling up at him. Starflight leaned down at nudged her shoulder with his nose. Suddenly feeling strange, he pulled away. 
"Um...Come on, let's go look." Sunny nodded and flew off. Starflight sat down on a small branch and watched her go. He felt weird. Starflight, all his life, had loved one dragon. Sunny. But after meeting Fatespeaker...Starflight has no idea what to think. He folded his wings into himself and looked up at the shining sun, the beautiful birds flitting by. Starflight didn't feel welcome in the rainforest, like he was too dark or something. While on the other hand, Sunny was the dragon that was bright and cheery. Her smile could work miracles. Maybe he didn't deserve Sunny, maybe he was too dark and dreary for her. And Fatespeaker. She was like Sunny. Even though she was dark with her scales, her heart was warmer than the sun. Starflight didn't deserve either of them. He didn't belong. The familiar wave of despair rushed through him, the same despair of finding out that Morrowseer knew that he didn't have powers. Starflight looked up, tears staining his eyes. He didn't belong in the rainforest with the RainWings, he didn't belong in the village with the NightWings. He didn't deserve Sunny or Fatespeaker. Starflight covered his head with his wings. Maybe he should just leave the rainforest. Starflight spread his wings and shot into the air. He beat up above the canopy, breathing in the air. A small butterfly was flitting by and Starflight stuck out his claw towards the butterfly. The butterfly, a beautiful emerald color with blue stripes, hovered in the air for a moment, almost warily. Starflight flicked his wings and the butterfly panicked, flying away. 
Starflight's wings drooped. Even a butterfly doesn't like me. A horrible thought suddenly struck Starflight. Do my friends like me? He gasped, thinking of all the times under the mountain when they laughed at him or Glory got mad at him, or Tsunami yelled at him. A tear slid down his cool scales and splashed onto the ground below him. Do my friends really think I'm just some annoying dragonet? They have to. But no! Not Sunny! But here, now, even he couldn't believe it. Memories began shooting through his head. "Remind me again why we wanted him back?" "How about a trail of cow parts, too? And a map of where we're going? Or perhaps we could set this part of the forest on fire, just to make sure everyone knows how to find us. Would you like me to spell, 'DRAGONETS WUZ HERE' in giant rocks?" "No way. A tree in the forest?" So many voice shouted in his head, most of them from his friends. Starflight hung his head. They really did think he was annoying. And dumb. Well maybe not dumb, but definitely annoying. 
Starflight opened his wings and soared up up up until he was far above the canopy. Maybe I'll just leave. Go somewhere and live by myself. No one will miss me. Even Starflight had trouble believing it, though. He shook out his wings. Come on, just pick a direction and GO! He looked back briefly at the RainWing village, then turned to go. Just as he was coming out of the rainforest, he heard a noise, familiar and sad. Quiet, yet strong. And nothing like the dragon he had come to know.
"Starflight!" Fatespeaker yelled.
== Chapter Ten : Changes ==
Fatespeaker didn't feel different. It was strange. She thought that the moment Prophetseeker put the bracelet on her, something would change. But it didn't. She felt exactly the same. Fatespeaker turned in a circle.
"Are you ok?" A voice asked. Fatespeaker turned to the the hybrid...what was his name? Was it Battleship? No, Warsight? It was something like that. 
"Sure." Fatespeaker said, flicking her wings. "I feel a little odd." Battleship examined her, turning in a circle. 
"You look a little pale, but other than that, you look normal." Fatespeaker wrinkled her nose. 
"Hmmmm." She looked over and saw the other little hybrid. She definitely remembered this one as Nightleaf. She glanced over at the other prisoners. 
"Psst." A voice said. Fatespeaker's head shot up. It seemed that the voice was coming from the trenches. She turned her head just as a dragon popped their head above. At first glance, they were obviously a SeaWing / NightWing. 
"Oh Seanight, thank GOODNESS you are here. Anything to report?" Seanight shook her head wildly. 
"Well," She said in a high voice. "That RainWing-"
"Divine!" Fatespeaker blurted. Seanight glared at her, and then turned back to Battleship.
"Enchanted something. I heard him. It was some sort of bracelet. And MythTeller was standing over him, telling him what to do." Every dragon in the cave's heads suddenly shot upward.
"Oh no." Tide said in a hushed voice. 
"It can't be..." Battleship whispered. 
"EVERYONE MOVE IT!" Tide barked. In and instant every dragon except Nightleaf disappeared into the shadows.
"What are you-" Fatespeaker's question was cut off as a bolt of pain blasted through her head. Fatespeaker doubled over, clutching her head as if she was considering knocking herself out. Fatespeaker screamed as pain went through her chest, again and again repeatedly stabbing her. Then Fatespeaker collapsed on the cold floor. Fatespeaker suddenly sat up, grinning maniacally. Her eyes were pure white, but after a moment, they flicked to a dark, dark green that was nothing like her eyes. 
"Finally." She said in a cold voice. "Hmmm, that was easier than expected." Fatespeaker blinked. That wasn't what she had wanted to say. She shook out her wings. Oh my gosh. Fatespeaker thought. HOW DID I SAY THAT? 
"Fa..Fatespeaker?" Nightleaf choked. Fatespeaker wanted to burst out "YES", but something...something was holding her back. 
"No," She said instead. Fatespeaker stamped down another wave of panic. "This is not Fatespeaker." Fatespeaker was confused. 
"It's...not?" Fatespeaker laughed. WHY DID I LAUGH?
"This is MythTeller. But you can call me YOUR MAJESTY!" Fatespeaker laughed again. SERIOUSLY?! Then Fatespeaker understood. The bracelet. "Yes, the bracelet you fool!" Fatespeaker wrinkled her snout. Um...
"Stop this MythTeller!" Nightleaf said. Fatespeaker suddenly felt undying rage. She leapt forward and grabbed Nightleaf's throat, pointed one, hooked claws at his throat. 
"Don't." She hissed. "Disrespect me." Nightleaf stared back at Fatespeaker. I'm sorry. She tried to say, but it wouldn't come out. 
"Ha." Nightleaf choked out. "Never, MythTeller." Fatespeaker snorted and dropped Nightleaf onto the ground.
"You're the most pathetic thing I have ever seen." Fatespeaker snarled. She leaned down and traced on claw along Nightleaf's snout, watching as he glared, breathing heavily. "But that doesn't mean you aren't useful." Fatespeaker shoved Nightleaf away, watching as he fell onto the ground, wings flailing. Fatespeaker smiled and rapped on the bars. Immediately, Smokeseeker (How did she know his name was Smokeseeker??) stepped in front of the bars, his Morrowseer-like wings flicking angrily. He pulled out the same set of heavy keys and unlocked the door. Fatespeaker, despite her brain pulling back, marched out of the door and through the halls of the NightWing Fortress. As she walked, Fatespeaker glanced at was once the fortress. It was nearly completely destroyed, only a few towers left...moderately intact. Finally, they came to the tunnel, which looked worse for wear. It was dark, dreary and radiated gloom, but of course, that was exactly where she was headed. Fatespeaker stepped into the tunnel, crawling through the space. She felt like throwing up, but managed to keep her cool. 
"Ick." Fatespeaker said as she stepped out into the rainforest. "Dumb rainforest." HEY! Fatespeaker shouted in her mind. "Hey." She replied offhandedly. Fatespeaker blinked. This is confusing. She snorted. "Yeah, you think so." Fatespeaker desperately wanted to say something snippy back, but her snout stayed shut. "There!" Fatespeaker shouted. She looked up and her heart gave a jump. Starflight! "That's his name?" She said. "Pathetic." Fatespeaker suddenly saw what was coming. Oh no, don't! 
"Starflight!" She shouted. He's mine...I mean...OUR'S now. MythTeller laughed in her head. NO! Fatespeaker shouted in her head. He'll NEVER be yours! He won't trust you! Fatespeaker let out a snort of laughter. Which is exactly why you're here! He trust YOU. MythTeller whispered. Fatespeaker gasped. But it was too late. Starflight was winging towards them...her...MythTeller...
== Chapter Eleven : Different ==
Starflight gasped.
"Fatespeaker!" He cried, shooting next to her. He wrapped his wings fiercely around her smooth scales, definitely NOT crying. He brushed some tears out of his eyes and grinned. Fatespeaker wrapped her wings around him, slower than usual, as if she were dragging them through honey. They were freezing cold. Without sight, it was hard to tell, but he lifted her chin. "Are you alright?" Fatespeaker paused and clasped her talons with his.
"Yes. I'm ok. Just tired." 
"Where were you?" He asked, then paused. His question came out sharper than he expected. But she DID run off without telling me. One side of him argued. But you don't own her! His other side snapped. Fatespeaker hesitated again, shifting her wings uncomfortably.
"Glory...sorry sorry...Queen Glory said that I had tooooo...Go to Jade Mountain...and help...Clay out with the new shipment of scrolls." Starflight nodded, a little hurt that Glory had asked Fatespeaker instead of him. Maybe they do just think I'm annoying. He thought again, then shook himself. For moons' sake, stop thinking that! He scolded himself. But it stuck to him like ashes. 
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, letting go of her talons. 
"Well it was so sudden, that I didn't have-SHUT UP-time." Starflight yelped at her suddenly outburst.
"Who are you talking to?" He asked. He couldn't sense anyone else around. 
"No one." Fatespeaker said sweetly. "Just...an annoying thought." She paused again. "I don't care if it's mean." Starflight grabbed her talons again. 
"Are you sure you're ok?" Fatespeaker tensed, her claws suddenly curled.
"Yes!" She snapped. Starflight nodded slowly. I'll figure out her weird mood swing later. He thought, worried about his...friend. She took a deep breath, and Starflight looked up into the warmth of the sun, not for the first time wishing he could see it. Fatespeaker let go of his talons again, and she flapped her wings, creating a rustle in the leaves. They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the sounds of birds flying by. A leaf landed on Starflight's snout and he batted it away, coughing awkwardly, which was strange. He never felt weird around Fatespeaker. Silly Starflight. His brain scoffed in a voice that sounded, exactly like Tsunami. You haven't known Fatespeaker for THAT long. He shifted and frowned down at where his talons were rooted to the tree. 
"Um...Fatespeaker." She turned her head towards him, wings still and tense. 
"Yes?" She said quietly. 
"We have a meeting with Queen Glory and Deathbringer soon. Well...now." There was a moment of pausing and then Fatespeaker let out an odd sort of chuckle. 
"Right, yes, of course." She said, a grin in her voice. Starflight wrinkled his snout. Fatespeaker HATED the stilted talk of political meetings. Something wasn't right with her, but Starflight didn't push it. Most likely she was just angry at him. What have I done now? He asked. Starflight shook out his glittering wings and shook his head, throwing himself into the air. I'm overreacting. But still...something just felt off. Fatespeaker never radiated gloom like this before. They flew in silence (Which was DEFINITELY odd for Fatespeaker) until they heard some shouting. 
"No no NO! DEATHBRINGER! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU THIS?" That was definitely Glory. 
"About ten times, your majesty!" Deathbringer. 
"THEN LISTEN TO IT FOR ONCE!" Fatespeaker snorted and Starflight gave her a grin. "YOU HAVE EARS, DON'T YOU?"
"Yes." Deathbringer said flatly. 
"THEN USE THEM!"
"Why don't you listen to me?" Deathbringer shot back. Starflight landed on the branch beside Glory, but she was probably arguing too hard to notice. 
"Because I'M the QUEEN, you HOG-SNORTING SNORE-A-SECOND SON OF A SAUSAGE!" Glory paused for breath and Deathbringer burst out laughing. 
"That's a new one!" Deathbringer laughed. Glory snorted and finally noticed Fatespeaker and Starflight.
"Starflight! Fatespeaker..." Glory trailed off. "Starflight! You found Fatespeaker!" Starflight nodded and patted Fatespeaker's talon. Fatespeaker remained silent. 
"Yup, well...she found me!" Glory paused.
"Indeed." The quartet hopped off the branches and onto the soft ground. They began walking, chatting with one another. 
"So what-" Glory began. But she had barely opened her mouth when a high-pitched scream tore through the air. Then claws dug into Starflight's back, and a dragon attacked from behind.
== Chapter Twelve : Secrets ==
Fatespeaker leapt at Starflight sinking her claws into his back. No! She cried to MythTeller. MythTeller, please don't make me hurt Starflight! MythTeller snorted in Fatespeaker's head. Yeah right. MythTeller laughed. Remember idiot, I'm in control. Fatespeaker tried to pull her talons away from Starflight, but somehow couldn't.
"Fatespeaker!" Starflight shouted as she twisted his wing around. "What are you doing?" Fatespeaker desperately wanted to scream, "Starflight, it's not me!" But her snout stayed planted firmly shut, digging her claws into Starflight. Smokeseeker, now! Fatespeaker...not Fatespeaker...thought. In a moment, a dragon appeared over the horizon. Divine! Fatespeaker thought. That's the little RainWing's name? MythTeller said, sounding amused. Yes. Fatespeaker snapped. Call him Divine, not "The RainWing". MythTeller subsided, grumbling. I need to get out of here soon... Fatespeaker smirked. Yes, you do. Divine suddenly raised his talons, and just as Glory was leaping forward to help Starflight, she was surrounded by a ring of fire, completely blocking her off. Fatespeaker took a closer look at Divine. His eyes were blank, and dead as snakeskins. Deathbringer roared and leapt at Glory, trying to get around the fire. Divine lowered his blank eyes and tilted his head, as if...listening to something. Or someone. Divine flicked his tail and five vines shot down from the trees, grabbing Deathbringer's limbs and holding him in place. He roared again and tried biting through them. Let him go! Fatespeaker shouted. MythTeller laughed. 
No. Fatespeaker shuddered, watching Divine grin evilly. Then at least release Divine. MythTeller hesitated, then growled. Let's just get this stupid NightWing back to the island. We'll deal with the fake queen and the traitorous NightWing later. Fatespeaker suddenly realized what MythTeller had said. Wait what?! She opened her mouth.
"You're coming with me, stupid NightWing." Fatespeaker looked down at Starflight, who's claws were shaking. 
"What? Fatespeaker..." Fatespeaker wanted to burst out crying, to hug him, but she couldn't. She could only stand, helpless as her tail snaked out from its curled position and thumped Starflight. She gasped. THAT WAS UNNECESSARY! She bellowed to MythTeller as she curled Starflight's wings and tail in. 
Maybe, but it was fun! Fatespeaker growled loudly. YOU ARE SO MEAN! She began dragging Starflight by his tail through the rainforest, watching as he looked up at her dizzily. "Fatespeaker..." Fatespeaker eventually grabbed his wings and angrily yanked him up into the air, beating her wings until she was high above the canopy, head swinging from side to side, searching for the tunnel. No no no no. COME ON WHERE IS IT? MythTeller growled. Having some trouble? Fatespeaker said with mock pity. She felt cool scales as Starflight tenderly wound his tail around hers. Fatespeaker looked down at him, growling. 
"What?" She snapped. Starflight hissed, looking up at her, his bandaged eyes hurt. "Listen up you dumb NightWing. I'm taking you back to Queen MythTeller, and then she will hold you hostage and Glory will hand over the rainforest!" Starflight gasped and Fatespeaker felt dizzy. Starflight won't believe it's me! She thought fiercely to MythTeller. MythTeller chuckled again. But here you are, right in front of him. She growled. Fatespeaker felt like sobbing. It was true. Here she was dragging him through the rainforest. She gasped in her mind. MY VISION! She looked down at Starflight, regaining her will for a split second. TAKE THAT SCALE-SHOES! MY PROPHECY WAS REAL! 
Then she felt immidietly guilty for calling Starflight a scale-shoes. "Starflight." She whispered, before MythTeller took back control. Starflight grabbed one of Fatespeaker's talons, shaking as he looked up. Fatespeaker snapped at his talons and yanked hers back. I will defeat you. Fatespeaker thought fiercely to MythTeller. No matter what. Once I'm free. MythTeller snorted a third time, but behind her hidden thoughts, something wavered. It was unclear, but for a split second, Fatespeaker saw behind the anger and pain and regret in MythTeller's mind. It was blurry, but the shape was clear. It looked like...like...
Hope. 
Fatespeaker grinned. Aha! She thought. You're a LIAR! MythTeller hissed, flicking her tail. No. She thought. That was nothing. A passing, old memory. Fatespeaker laughed, for the first time feeling full of hope. But it wasn't. And you know it. I know you're secret now. 
== Chapter Thirteen : Back in Control ==
Starflight couldn't believe it. Fatespeaker had betrayed him. He sat in the prison, wings hunched around himself, frowning deeply. He could hear the breath of the other prisoners on the other side of the prison, listening as they shifted uncomfortably. The heat of the volcano was almost too much to bear, along with the rush of memories. Most of them involving tortured RainWings and Morrowseer yelling at him. The guard over by the door shifted, Starflight could hear his spear clinking along the ground. He could hear the cold whistle of the canyon behind him, remembering diving into it to avoid Flame and Ochre chasing him, willing to do anything to get off this wretched island. One of the closest figures in the prison was Fatespeaker, and she was breathing heavily, shifting uncomfortably on her talons.
"Starflight..." Fatespeaker began. Starflight turned his head to glare at her, though he couldn't see her. 
"Fatespeaker don't." He said softly. She took a step back. 
"Starflight." She tried again. Starflight whipped around. 
"Can't those dumb ears of your work!? I said leave me alone!" Fatespeaker yelped at his outburst.
"But why Starflight?" Fatespeaker voice cracked, and for a moment, Starflight felt bad for her. But then it went away, remembering what she did.
"This is all your fault!" He spat. Before Fatespeaker had a chance to respond, he continued. "If it wasn't for you doing...doing whatever you were doing, I wouldn't have been captured, and then MythTeller wouldn't have been able to use me and you to take over the rainforest." Starflight remembered MythTeller's cruel voice explaining her plan, and it made him shiver with anger. 
"Starflight, that wasn't me." Fatespeaker said quietly. "MythTeller was controlling me." Starflight paused. 
"Oh really? That whole time?" Fatespeaker hesitated and Starflight clasped his talons together. 
"Well...no. I was kind of a prisoner for a while." She paused. "I remember walking out of your classroom and hearing a rustling in the bushes. I went over to see what is was and then three dragons leapt out of the bushes, dragged me down and then hit me on the head. Then they must have dragged me here." Starflight paused, his anger wavering for a moment. But then it returned, like a wave on the ocean. 
"Well you were dumb enough to get caught! Piece of advice, Fatespeaker, if you hear a rustling in the bushes, WALK THE OPPOSITE WAY!" He heard Fatespeaker sniff, but he was too angry to care.
"Ok." Fatespeaker said, her voice full of tears. "I...I'm so so sorry Starflight. Truly, I am." Starflight hunched his wings, refusing to look in her direction. 
"No wonder you don't have any friends." He muttered. 
"What...?" When Starflight didn't answer, he heard her turn sharply and fly away, disappearing down the canyon. Starflight pressed his shuddering claws together.
"It's not her fault." The large one who seemed to be the leader said quietly. 
"I know." Starflight said, hunching his wings. 
"Then why did you yell at her?" He said, sitting down next to Starflight. 
"She needs to learn. She's too naive." The dragon, Battlesight, if Starflight remembered right, sighed.
"Yelling at someone won't make them more tough. It will just make them sad." Battlesight patted Starflight's talon. 
"She didn't sound sad." Starflight lied. There was a pause. 
"Um...I thought she said you two were best friends." Now it was Starflight's turn to pause. 
"She said that?" He whispered finally. Battlesight sighed.
"Yup, she did say that. Of course, she probably won't say that now." Starflight sat up sharply. His head whipped around as he staggered to his feet, catching his talons on some sharp rocks below him. 
"Why?" He cried.
"Well," Battlesight said, as if it was perfectly obvious. "You just YELLED at her. Like, a lot." Starflight clutched his head.
"I need to go apologize!" He said, sprinting towards the canyon. 
"Yes!" Battlesight called after him. "You do!" Starflight stopped himself before he plummeted off the edge. 
"Fatespeaker!" He shouted. No answer. She was probably mad. "Fatespeaker!" He shouted again. "I'm...sorry I yelled at you!" No answer again. He leaned down. No breathing could be heard. 
Fatespeaker was gone. 
== Chapter Fourteen : Escape ==
Fatespeaker wiped a tear out of her eye, sniffling. He yelled at me. Starflight YELLED at me. She straightened her shoulders, refusing to give in to her emotions. I suppose he wasn't the Starflight I knew and loved. She took a deep breath a folded her wings in, sitting on one of the ledges of the canyon. She remembered calling down these canyons, looking for Starflight. The thrill of disobeying Morrowseer's orders, the happiness she felt when Starflight trusted her enough to fly out of the canyon, the sadness at the prospect of her tribe capturing and torturing RainWings, and then worse, planning to kill them all for their own plans. Fatespeaker blinked, a new thought rising to her mind. If she had been raised with the other NightWing's, would she have helped to torture RainWings? Fatespeaker shuddered, feeling the scrape of rock against her talons.
"Are you alright?" A voice suddenly said from right across her. Nightleaf suddenly materialized, blinking. 
"Ahhh!" Fatespeaker yelped. "How long have you been there?" Nightleaf gave her an odd look. It seemed like he hadn't blinked the whole time. Yikes, this dragon just gets more creepy and creepy them more I see him. Nightleaf folded his wings around himself and looked down. For the first time, Fatespeaker noticed the silver scales next to his eyes. Oops, a mind reader. Nightleaf straightened his wings. 
"Longer than you could probably comprehend." He flicked his long, purple tail. Nightleaf looked up. "I have an idea." He said simply. Fatespeaker tapped a claw.
"Hmmm?" Fatespeaker said, only half listening. Nightleaf waved a talon in front of her face.
"Wake up moony-eyes." He hissed. Fatespeaker shook herself. "You said you grew up here, right?" When did I say that? Fatespeaker opened her mouth and raised a claw. She could see the moment when Nightleaf read her face.
"WHAT?" He shouted. "YOU SAID YOU DID!" Fatespeaker gave him an agonized look.
"For about...two days?" 
"TWO DAYS?" 
"Or one, I can't remember." The corner of Nightleaf's eye twitched a little.
"Ok, before that...dramatic announcement, I was saying that there must be a bottom to this. Maybe there is a tunnel that will lead out?" Fatespeaker looked down, down, down at the tunnel. 
"If you had this idea, why didn't you do it before?" Nightleaf frowned. 
"I'm not about to go jumping down a dark hole! Do you think I'm stupid?" Fatespeaker grinned.
"Well..." Nightleaf shot her a fierce, eyeball melting glare. 
"Ok, you first." Fatespeaker opened her mouth to protest, but finally agreed. Ohhhh, I hope this works. Oh, who am I kidding? Of course it will work!! Fatespeaker closed her eyes and leapt off the rock, soaring downwards. The wind pelted her face and she gasped, feeling the sting. But finally, her claws thumped on solid ground. Fatespeaker let out a breath and looked up.
"ALL CLEAR!" She shouted. After a moment of grumbling and flapping wings, Nightleaf came soaring down. It was dark and cramped, and Fatespeaker felt light headed. Nightleaf felt around the bottom for a moment.
"I found something." He whispered. "I think it might be a way-" He was suddenly cut off, and Fatespeaker saw him get yanked into the hole by orangish talons. Suddenly, the talons reached out again and yanked her in with Nightleaf. She thought she heard the scrabbling of claws above the stone, then a voice shouting her name, but it was quickly drowned out by the stone walls. 
"Who are you?" The dragon whispered ferociously. Fatespeaker looked over at Nightleaf and shrugged, not sure what to say. 
"Uhhhhhhh..." Fatespeaker stuttered. 
"Nevermind." The dragon hissed, greenish eyes blazing. "I already know who you are."
== Chapter Fifteen : A New Ally ==
(I known this is supposed to be Starflight's perspective, but I think it is better suited as Fatey.)
"Do you?" Nightleaf said, instantly on alert. "Because I don't recall ever meeting you." The new dragon simply ignored him, turning angrily to Fatespeaker.
"Is he your prisoner?" She spat. Fatespeaker snorted, and the orangish dragon's face contorted in fury. "DON'T LAUGH AT ME, STUPID MYTHTELLER LACKEY!" Fatespeaker yelped, pressing again the wall. The dragon was obvious a hybrid, probably RainWing and SandWing. She was orange and yellow, with gray horns and a beautiful green snout. But she was covered in scars, and her barbed tail was constantly lashing up and down, looking as angry as her face. 
"I'm not a lackey!" Fatespeaker said. At the same time, Nightleaf burst out.
"I'm not her prisoner!" The dragon gave them a slightly furious, but quietly confused look. 
"Really?" Fatespeaker opened her mouth, but suddenly the dragon slammed their talon on the ground. "LIARS!" Nightleaf snorted and the dragon turned to him. 
"STOP LAUGHING! I AM FURIOUS AND MENACING!" Fatespeaker smiled brightly. 
"Who are you?" She asked, trying to sound curious.
"Who are you?"  The dragon shot back, eyes narrowed.
"My name is Fatespeaker, and this is Nightleaf." The dragon narrowed their eyes until they were the thinnest slits Pyrrhia had ever seen. 
"Why would you both to learn a prisoners name?" Nightleaf gave out an exasperated sigh. 
"For the last time, I AM NOT HER PRISONER!" The dragon gave them a startled look, and Fatespeaker realized that she believed them.
"Sandstorm." They said, tilting their head. Fatespeaker blinked at her for a moment. The dragon let out an exasperated sigh. "My name is Sandstorm, camel brain." 
"Oh." Fatespeaker said. 
"Sorry to 'break up the party', but we should probably escape." Nightleaf said bluntly, flicking his purplish wings towards the tunnel, frowning. Fatespeaker looked curiously over at Sandstorm.
"How did you escape?" She briefly remembered passing this dragon on her way in from MythTeller's throne room. Of course, it was possible that she didn't. After all, she had just heard creepy prophecy. Speaking of creepy prophecies. She shuddered. The prophecy ran through her mind. What does it mean...?
"That is an extremely interesting story for another time." Sandstorm replied flatly. Fatespeaker rolled her eyes and then suddenly gasped, grabbing Nightleaf's talons. 
"Nightleaf!" Nightleaf looked down, surprised. "I remember!" Nightleaf and Sandstorm exchanged glances. 
"Know what?" They both said at the same time, looking confused.
"When I was inside MythTeller-"
"WAIT WHAT?" Sandstorm bellowed, eyes back to blazing. "WHY DIDN'T YOU MENTION IT BEFORE?" 
"Because last time I mentioned it, I ended up getting yelled at." Fatespeaker snapped. Sandstorm nodded and Nightleaf gave her antagonized look. "But anyway."
"Yes." Sandstorm said, flicking her orange wing. "Where were you?" Fatespeaker rolled her eyes.
"When I was...inside MythTeller, she thought about something, and now I know how to stop her!" She began to run down the tunnel. "Come on! To the throne room!"
== Chapter Sixteen : A Troubling Plan ==
Starflight looked up from the pit, feeling light-headed. Where did she go? There is no where to go! THIS ISLAND SCARES ME! He looked over at where Battlesight and Tide were last.
"Where did she go?" He asked, panicking. 
"How am I supposed to know?" Tide snapped from the other side of the room. He looked over, flapping his wings. 
"Well..." Then he cut off. "Do you know?" He asked Battlesight. He heard the scrape of wings as the dragon shrugged.
"I'm not sure." Battlesight said, sounding calm. Starflight's heart began to race, beating faster and faster. 
"Did she come back up?" He asked. 
"What's with all the questions!?" Tide bellowed. "WE DON'T KNOW." Starflight took a deep breath, but before he could say anything, Battlesight cut in. 
"Tide! Be kinder. Starflight is doing what he can. I mean, imagine if I disappeared." Tide snorted a laugh.
"I would be grateful!" Battlesight growled slightly. 
"Hey! Remember when you got captured? I helped you! Why can't you do the same?" There was another shuffle of wings. 
"Ummmmmmmmmm," A new voice cut in. Starflight glanced over to the edge. "Can we stop arguing." 
"YOU stay out of this, Geb! DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN JUST BURST IN HERE AND PRETEND YOU'RE THE LEADER!" 
"TIDE!" Battlesight said sharply. "TO THE CORNER NOW! You aren't helping!"
"You're not my parents!" Tide growled, but then cut off, voice wavering. "FINE! But only becuase I WANT to..." Tide stomped over to the other side of the cave, hissing and muttering to herself. Starflight gave Battlesight an amused expression.
"Sorry about that." Battlesight said, patting Starflight's talon. "Tide is a little...crazy. But she had good intentions. Most of the time. Well..." He paused. "Some of the time...Well...maybe a sliver of the time." Starflight smiled.
"This is distracting me from finding Fatespeaker." He couldn't believe it. He had just got her back, and then she just went and disappeared. "I mean, she couldn't have just fallen through the floor!" There was an awkward pause. 
"Uhhhhhh..." 
"Didn't that happen once to another dragon?" Geb said thoughtfully, large talons thumping the ground. 
"Yeah, it did. They went down the canyon, and we didn't see them again." Tide said, sounding maniac. 
"Who was it? Sandball? Stormcloud? Someone like that." Equinox mused.
"I don't know, that was a long time ago!" Tide gave a small laugh. "After all, she was pretty annoying." 
"Hmph." Battlesight said. 
"OW!" Tide yelped, and Starflight laughed a bit. It sounded like Battlesight had whacked Tide with his wings. Starflight touched his eyes, a sudden wave of sadness rushing over him. Enough self-pity Starflight! He scolded himself. 
"Battlesight!" He called. A thump of talons indicated Battlesight thumping over to him. 
"Yes?" Battlesight said kindly.
"I have a plan to get out of here." Starflight said, shifting on his talons. "But you need to do exactly as I say."
                                              *               *                *
"I don't like this." Tide muttered. 
"So you've mentioned for the hundreth time." Starflight growled, flicking Tide with his wings. Tide poked him back, hissing softly.
"I don't even understand this." Tide muttered. 
"Just stay in the shadows." Starflight said, looking around. He could feel the sharp black rocks pressing into his back, and felt Tide next to him, constantly shifting and hissing. "Would you stay still for five seconds?!" Tide poked him again, shifting and whacking Starflight with his tail.
"Look," Tide growled. "You aren't exactly a bundle of sunshine to sit next to either." Starflight flicked his wing. 
"Just shush you." He sputtered. Tide subsided, muttering. "Shhhh, here comes Prophetseeker!" Right on time, talons thumped the ground and stopped outside the cell, a tail lashing.
"Is everything...ok...in here?" He asked, sounding bored. 
"Uh...yup yup everything's ok in here!" Battlesight said. Tide snorted.
"How convincing." She muttered. Suddenly there was a thump.
"OH NO!" Battlesight shouted. Even to Starflight's ears, it sounded fake, but he prayed that Prophetseeker wouldn't notice. "Look Prophetseeker! Geb fainted!" Tide stifled a laugh and Starflight poked her with his tail. 
"Hmmmm..." Prophetseeker said. "So?" 
"Um...aren't all the prisoners super important to MythTeller's plan? You know, to have spies in all the tribes?" There was a pause.
"Yeeeees," Prophetseeker said, his voice cool. "How do you know about that?" Battlesight talked right over him. 
"Do you really want MythTeller's only MudWing to die?" Another pause, then a clink of keys. 
"Fine." Prophetseeker hissed. Another clank of keys, then the sound of the prison door opening. In a moment, Starflight felt Tide leap out of the hiding place, then a thump. 
"Hmmmm, I reconsider." Tide said. "That was a good plan. Of course, with Prophetseeker's mind-reading, I'm surpised he fell for it." Battlesight yawned, and Geb sprang up, shaking the ground. 
"Maybe he thought that some weak prisoners could never knock him out!" Battlesight laughed.
"Well let's go!" Tide hissed. Geb reached over and began to guide Starflight through the cell, before they bolted out of the prison. "Where are we going?" They stopped.
"To the rainforest." Starflight said with certainty. "We must stop MythTeller. With...or without Fatespeaker."
== Part Three : A Shift in Power ==
== Chapter Seventeen : The Hidden Truth ==
"Where exactly are we going?" Sandstorm grumbled. Fatespeaker sighed, Sandstorm had been grumbling NONSTOP since they had begun the long, tense journey along the NightWing Fortress. Fatespeaker stopped and looked back at the RainWing / SandWing with a exasperated expression.
"I'm not totally sure." She said, squinting into the rocks as she continued to crawl along the blackened tunnel to the throne room. 
"Oh GREAT! That's absolutely WONDERFUL!" Suddenly Fatespeaker stopped, causing a silent Nightleaf to slam into her back. 
"Ouch." Nightleaf said softly. 
"Sorry," She whispered, helping him up. He looked back at Sandstorm, who was examining her claws with a bored expression.
"Why did we stop?" Nightleaf said, flicking his wings with a frown. "The throne room is still a few doors away."
"Yes, I know...But when I was...uh...inside MythTeller, she let her guard down for just a split second, and...she thought something about this hallway..." She trailed off, looking at the black on black obsidian tiles. The only thing in the hallway was a large door, shut and possibly locked. Fatespeaker rubbed her head. There was something special about that door, but she couldn't quiet think of it. RRRRRRGGGGHHHH! This was BURNING FATESPEAKER UP! Then her eyes caught a glint of something... something blue. Just a little sliver of blue light, coming from a tiny crack in the door. A sudden bolt of understanding flashed through her, and she widened her eyes, touching the heavy metal door with one talon. "Here..." She breathed. Fatespeaker pushed against the door, but it didn't budge. Argh, locked.
"Um...What if it's lo-" Nightleaf started, but was cut off by Sandstorm charging at the door. 
"HI YA!" Sandstorm bellowed, kicking the door with all her strength. Under Fatespeaker's talons, the door groaned, and Fatespeaker heard the clatter of something falling on the other side. she pushed on it again, and this time, the door creaked open. 
"Come on!" Fatespeaker hissed. She slipped in, followed by Nightleaf and Sandstorm, who was cracking her talons loudly. 
"HA!" Sandstorm said rather loudly. "Did you see me kick that door open! NOTHING can stop old... Sand...storm..." But Sandstorm trailed off as she took in the scene before her. The cavern was mostly dark, lit only by a flowing river of lava disconnecting the room from the rest of the island except for the door, which Sandstorm slid closed with a soft thump. The other source of light were a collection of bioluminescent mushrooms Fatespeaker has frequently seen in little clumps at the rainforest. Fatespeaker wondered briefly how they could survive in such heat. The mushrooms were sitting underneath a small table, circular and covered by a small glass cover, engraved with dragons in multiple poses. Sitting inside of the glass dome was a small necklace. The chain was a shiny silver color, with tiny silver carved talons around the neck, and below that was a cluster of tiny sapphires, each no bigger than a raindrop, set in a circle, perhaps thirty or forty of them. Fatespeaker slowly circled the necklace and realized that only about three quarters of the necklace was covered with sapphires. A small glass globe (probably what the sapphires were embedded into) was sitting innocently, what looked like fog or mist swirling around inside it, tiny lights glittering. 
"Wow..." Nightleaf said softly. But Fatespeaker squinted. There was something... familiar about this necklace. She had seen it before... But where but where?  Her mind was reeling, trying to figure it out. Come on Fatespeaker! Get it together! Then it hit her, like a precise bolt of lightning. 
"What is it?" Sandstorm said, squinting at Fatespeaker. "You look like you just got stabbed by a SandWing barb." 
"That..." Fatespeaker said, pointing at the necklace, which looked old, very very old, but was still impossibly shiny. "Is the same as the necklace!" Nightleaf raised an eyebrow, and at the same time, Sandstorm barked a laugh and said,
"HA! Very specific." Fatespeaker rolled her eyes, then tried to decide how to phrase what she was trying to say.
"The necklace we see here is an exact replica of MythTeller's necklace." Nightleaf gasped, but Sandstorm shook her head. 
"Maybe she just keeps it here during the night." Sandstorm said, flicking her barbed tail. 
"No," Nightleaf said, catching on. "I've seen her wearing it all the time, she never takes it off. Ever." Fatespeaker gasped. 
"Why would she keep another necklace here? So secretive?" She asked, tracing the glass with her claws. 
"In case she lost it?" Sandstorm guessed. 
"I'm pretty sure she's not going to lose it any time soon." Nightleaf said, quirking an eyebrow. 
"Then what else could she use it for?" Sandstorm said, exasperated. 
"I have no idea." Nightleaf muttered, then paused. "Unless..." Sandstorm inhaled sharply. 
"You couldn't mean..." Fatespeaker looked between the two dragons. What was she missing?
"Um... What are you talking about?" She asked slowly. Sandstorm looked at her funny, but Nightleaf nodded.
"Well, the one that MythTeller wears all the time is not really as shiny as the one here, and it also has longer silver claws that are more spaced out, and it is missing the glass globe in the middle." He looked at her significantly. "Plus it is way newer looking." Fatespeaker blinked and Sandstorm curled her claws in, muttering. 
"How do you STILL not GET THIS!?" She shouted, her voice echoing loudly against the walls of the cavern. "It is LITERALLY SO SIMPLE!" Nightleaf stifled a laugh. What is happening? Ok Fatespeaker, imagine you're Starflight. How can you figure this out? Um... newer? So... more recently made? Or maybe it was just shined? And what does it matter whether the silver claws are different? And what about the globe? I mean, you really can't recreate something like that... Which means... Fatespeaker gasped aloud. 
"She FINALLY GETS IT!" Sandstorm griped, folding her claws along her chest grumpily. 
"So wait, you guys really think..." Fatespeaker said slowly, looking both Sandstorm and Nightleaf calmly in the eye, though her heart was racing. If they were right, this changed EVERYTHING. 
"Yup," Nightleaf said, his voice soft again. "MythTeller's necklace is fake."
== Chapter Eighteen : Starflight's Idea ==
The journey was long, hard, loud, and rather painful.
"OUCH!" Starflight yelped as his talon stubbed on a sharp chunk of rock. "OW OW!" He tripped, hitting his wings on the walls. He wished Fatespeaker was leading him. She was always so gentle, so tender, so kind and always warning him about even the smallest crack. He wished someone else was leading him. Someone with less sharp talons. Someone who wasn't rather... Starflight struggled to find a word that properly described it. Insane? He thought, then smiled. He wished anyone else was leading him, even Tsunami would be better at leading him, though she was loud and often gotten distracted. 
"Sorry." Tide said, in a I'm-trying-to-sound-sorry-but-clearly-you-know-I'm-not-so-what's-even-the-point voice.
"OW!" Starflight yelled again. 
"Would you two keep it down back there." Battlesight hissed from somewhere ahead of them. Perhaps... five feet. "The other NightWing's will hear us."
"Oops." Tide said with a yawn, not even trying to sound sorry. Starflight wiggled. Tide's talons felt like little leeches on his arm, and the hybrid seemed to keep forgetting that Starflight could still hear. "Well it's not my fault that we have a massively slow banana slug holding us back." 
"AHEM!" Geb said importantly from behind them. "You remember that Starflight can still HEAR, right?" Thanks Geb. Starflight thought, relieved. He did not want to point this out to Tide... again. 
"Oh, right. Sorry." Tide grumbled. 
"Ok." Battlesight said, and a second later, Starflight crashed into him. 
"Oops. Sorry, look out Starflight. Battlesight stopped." Tide sighed. 
"You really aren't good at this." Battlesight pointed out, and Starflight heard him pick up his wings. 
"What were you saying?" Starflight said, picking himself slowly up. 
"I was saying that we probably shouldn't go out the tunnel. They'll probably be guarding it. But be also can't fly across the ocean. What should we do Starflight?" Starflight shifted, thinking. He tried to remember back to when he escaped with Fatespeaker. Could they do that again? Pretend someone had been hurt? Doubtful... His brain chatted. They would definitely recognize you. He tapped his claws. Could they fight off all the guards? His brained snorted. Seriously? Sure, Tide maybe, but the rest of us... All I have to say is HA! Starflight frowned. That didn't sound very optimistic. Starflight tried to think of something, clicking his claws against the hard stone, but the only thing that came to mind were lava pools and sharp rocks. 
"Wait..." Starflight said, a question and possible idea forming in his mind. "Battlesight, where are we?" 
There was a pause.
"Whyyyyyyyy?" Battlesight said slowly, shifting on his claws. 
"Just tell me!" Starflight frowned. 
"Umm... well we are next to a small lake, with a river that runs to the beach that leads to the tunnel, kind of close to the fortress, or what's left of it, and pretty far away from the prison caves." Battlesight paused. "Why?"
Starflight grinned, his brain going lightning fast as he assessed. "I have an idea!" He said finally, excited. 
"Really?" Battlesight said. 
"Yes!" Starflight whispered, dropping his voice down. "Is this lake connected to the river?" There was a pause, then Tide spoke.
"Yes." 
Starflight's heart began beating faster. "Ok, I have an idea, but we'll need Tide to do it." A longer pause, then Tide snorted.
"Um...why exactly am I so necessary for this mission?"
"Because you can sound the most like a NightWing guard." Battlesight said, catching on. "Bored... but tough!" 
"Yes," Starflight said, looking in the direction of where Tide was. "And she's also the only one of us who can swim."
*                            *                          *
"I'm kind of insulted by this plan." Ge whispered. "I mean, I can swim too." Starflight looked in his direction. He wished he could move and stretch. He had been crouching in this small, cramped space for far, FAR too long.
"Shhhhh." Battlesight hissed ferociously. "Of course we know that, but Tide needs to get out of there FAST, and Tide would blend better with the water, in case the NightWing's look at the river. 
Geb sighed. "I guess, but still, I would be ok at it! Plus, I don't like putting our fate into Tide's talons." His voice dropped to an even lower height. "I think she's going kind of insane." Battlesight snorted a laugh. 
"Think?" He said with a chortle. "I know Tide's going insane!" Then, Battlesight shifted his wings, and Starflight tried to keep from making multiple squeaking sounds. His wings... were getting... crushed. 
"Is it almost time yet?" Starflight asked, trying to sound like he wasn't dying. "It feels like it's been forever." There was a shifting of wings again, and Starflight felt Battlesight looking at him. 
"Tide should be giving the signal any second now." Battlesight whispered gently, patting Starflight's talons. As if on cue, a dramatically loud roar rang out across the fortress, making Starflight jump. 
"PRISONERS!" The voice boomed. It took a moment of hysterics for Starflight to realize that this was Tide. He thought he could hear a bit of glee behind Tide's booming NightWing guard voice. "PRISONERS ESCAPING! THEY'RE HEADED FOR THE OCEAN! STOP THEM!" This was the moment where Starflight had gotten worried about his plan. He wasn't sure whether the guards at the entrance to the tunnel would run off to help, or stay to continue guarding the tunnel. They waited a few seconds in tense silence, Starflight praying and praying that the guards left. Finally, Battlesight let out a breath.
"They've run to go get help." Battlesight whispered. Suddenly, a splash was heard from in front of Starflight.
"Hi Tide!" Geb chirped cheerfully. 
"Hi yourself." Tide grumped, wading out of the water. Starflight heard the webs between her claws flapping on the ash-soaked ground. "You owe me BIG TIME!" Tide said, poking Starflight in the snout, right between his eyes. Then she leaned over and whispered in a whisper that smelled of fish. "Ok, NEVER tell ANYONE I said this, but that was an ACTUALLY ok plan." Starflight tried to give her a dazzling grin. 
"Of course." Tide snorted. 
"Well don't read too much into that compliment. It was a one time thing." Starflight laughed, but then Battlesight cleared his throat importantly. 
"Come on, they'll realize it was a trick soon. or worse, come looking for us. "Starflight shuddered. 
"Let's get out of here." He said simply. Battlesight took his talon and began guiding him to the tunnel. Starflight remembered with a shudder of pain the last time he was in this tunnel, he had been chased by a volcano. Starflight heard suddenly the noises of the rainforest, and found himself aching to just see the sunrise one more time. Stop it Starflight! He yelled to himself as he burst out of the tunnel. Enough self-pity! 
"Wow..." Battlesight said wonderingly. "It's so bright out here."
"And the TREES are GREEN!" Tide yelled. 
"AND THERE IS MUD!" Geb shrieked, then Starflight heard him dive into the ground. Starflight was just happy to be breathing again without the pain. Then suddenly, he heard something. It was no more than a tiny rustle in the leaves above, then the tiny thump of a dragon landing on the ground. 
"Halt!" A dragon shouted, and the tip of something sharp was pressed into Starflight's back.Category:Fanfictions
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