Flames and Shadows

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|-|Characters=
POV characters
Current (Fidget)
Crest
Skyrider
Firn (Fidget)
|-|Chapter One=
The sky was dappled with fiery red and orange, the color of flames, with rays of pure gold staining the snowy white clouds. The warm breeze of summer drifted into the hut, cooling the young dragon's scales as he skidded to a halt in front of the large, weird-looking school. 
Current smiled as he looked up at the school. It was sunset, but he managed to reach his destination. I'm finally here! Current thought, overjoyed as he folded in his wings to walk into the school, tilting his head sideways to examine it. It was a cave - a very huge cave. It had a round-ish roof that Current thought looked quite nice, and the walls were made of orange-tinted glass. Beautiful, truly beautiful. 
It was also huge - two times bigger than his own hut in Possibility. He looked around, wondering where to start. The sun was falling quickly, so there wasn’t much time before dark if he wanted to explore. “Hi!” Chortled a cheerful voice that sounded a year or two older than him. The young hybrid turned around and started at the sight of an IceWing with dark gray (almost black) stripes looking at him with friendly, storm-gray eyes. 
“Hey,” Current said, aware that he probably looked super scuffed in comparison to her shining, smooth pale blue scales. She was also a little bit bigger than him - also, probably five years old, if Current had to guess, so one year older than him - and wore a silver hoop earring in her left ear. He glanced down at his dark blue scales awkwardly. It was dusted with dirt from his awkward flight - which included a few crash-landings due to him not having many chances to fly - and looked so scruffy. 
The IceWing obviously noticed his awkward glance at himself, and chuckled, looking wryly amused. “Don’t worry. I don’t judge dragons.” Current tried not to show his gratitude, and instead, said, “Thanks?” 
She gave him a smile. “I’m Frostfly, by the way. You?” 
Current smiled back at her. “Current.” 
“Oh, that’s a nice name. You’re a NightWing-SeaWing, right?” Frostfly tilted her snout to study him - his star-speckled wings, his NightWing-shaped snout, his gills and glow-stripes - and said, “I’m an IceWing-HiveWing, by the way.”
Current gave her a careful look, registering her pale blue scales, her build, her dark gray-black stripes. She didn’t have any HiveWing features other than her black stripes, which made her look a little like a blue-and-black bee. “I am,” He said, in answer to her first question. “You don’t… look like one.”
Frostfly chuckled. “I know,” She said absent-mindedly. “Anyways, I’ve been here for a few years already. Normally dragonets are enrolled here at age one, but it’s also perfectly normal to join a few years later. I’ll introduce you to my other friends later.” She shrugged, and smiled at him again. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”
The young dragonet followed her inside, grateful to have a tour. 
“These are the Fitfh-Grade rooms,” Frostfly explained, motioning with her spiked tail towards a hallway. It seemed very obvious - after all, there was a 5TH GRADE ROOMS sign hanging from the rocky ceiling. She proceeded to show Current around until he knew every corner. He loved some places - like the music room! There were SO MANY INSTRUMENTS. And the library! Libraries in school! It was also huge! - and hated some others - who wanted to go to the underground places were nobody ever explored anyways?
Current had his own room, apparently. Frostfly shared a room with a RainWing called Vibrant, who’s scales matched her name - and was very naive to the world - and Current was to share rooms with a random dragon who would be in his class. 
“Hm,” Frostfly said. “Let’s go find yours.” She headed out of her room, murmuring a goodbye to Vibrant. Current nodded and followed her, and almost bumped into a MudWing with chestnut brown scales and reddish-brown eyes, who gave him an odd look. Probably a this dragon is so rude, he doesn’t even have any manners look. Or a what is wrong with this dragon? I was literally right in front of him, how could he not see me. Maybe he’s blind. Weird look. 
“Sorry!” Current called after her. 
Frostfly smiled at this. “Don’t worry about it. Chestnut is a very nice dragon - she’s in my class. I don’t think you’ll be in my class, ‘cause you’re younger than me. I think.” She waved her tail, exiting this hallway and entering another that said FOURTH-GRADE ROOMS then looked up at the signs that had the names of who resided in each room.  
Cerulean and Kapok, said one. Marina and Lark, said another. He couldn’t see his name anywhere and wondered if he forgot to enroll. After all, he could be very forgetful. Then he saw his name in a board towards the end of the cave, where a boulder blocked the further hallway. Firn and Current, it read. Who was Firn? Was that an IceWing name, or a SeaWing name? He glanced at Frostfly, who didn’t look like she knew who it was, either. Maybe another new dragonet. 
He poked his head inside, and gasped with awe. It was smaller than Frostfly’s, but more beautiful, in a more-new sort of way. 
Warm golden-yellow lanterns glowed from each corner, and though the walls weren't smooth, they were lit with a beautiful orange glow. There were two hammocks hanging from the ceiling, two desks on each side, and a large furry rug. 
And scrolls! There were two racks of scrolls, one on each side. They were empty - but Current unpacked his satchel, which contained a few scrolls, and he placed them on a random side of the room. 
“Great, here it is. So I’ll see you later in the socializing center, alright?” Frostfly tipped her head sideways. “First day, no classes. So, it’s pretty awesome, I’ll see you later! Bye!” She disappeared, and Current glanced at her. 
“Bye!” He called, frowning. Why had she left so quickly? Stop being an idiot. Nobody will like you if you’re clingy! He shook his head crossly, taking his pack off of his shoulders, opened the closet door and hung it on a hanger as well as taking out a few of his personal things, like a scarf (since it was fall right now, but nearly winter, after all), an inkwell and an inkstick. 
Firn is the upper part of a glacier, right? Current thought, his mind racing. He was good at studying, and he liked learning, but he’d never studied names before. But he guessed Firn would be an IceWing. 
He was right. 
A handsome-ish, white dragonet with scales tinted with blue narrowed his bright blue eyes the moment he saw Current. He was bigger than Current, but the same age. He gave a low hiss. “You’re a dirty hybrid, aren’t you?” He asked coolly, flicking his spiked tail. 
Current bobbed his head. I need to act FRIENDLY. JUST KEEP YOUR COOL. “Yeah. I’m Current.” 
The IceWing, presumably Firn, snorted. He had a silver chain around his neck, with a single circle loop, and Firn wore it with clear pride. “Fine. A NightWing.” He narrowed his eyes at Current. “Right.” 
“Half NightWing,” Current corrected him. “Half SeaWing, so I guess you’re kinda correct.” He flicked his tail and nearly knocked over his glass of water which was half-full. 
Firn sighed huffily. He took off his pack and stuffed it into the closet. He took out a sheathed knife - dangerous, dangerous, Current thought anxiously - and placed it on the desk on the opposite side of the room. He unrolled his scroll and proceeded to brood in complete silence. 
Current glanced awkwardly at the IceWing. “Uh,” He said. “We could go to the library and borrow scrolls and decorate our room,” He offered. Like Frostfly’s, he thought. “We could get some art, maybe.” 
A look from Firn, which said, SERIOUSLY. 
"I have two scrolls about mysteries," Current offered. "We can share our scrolls!" His eyes widened with hope. "Do you have coconuts? I love coconuts."
Firn sighed. He couldn't find anything to say to this pure dragonet. "Literally, how would I have coconuts?" He snorted and rolled his scroll up again, giving his new, naive roommate a scornful look. “I live in the ICE KINGDOM, and literally, how do you think coconuts grow there?”  
"I'm sorry," Current said, widening his eyes apologetically. Firn wrinkled his snout at him. "Being cute doesn't work,” He said, except he was lying this time. He didn’t know if days away from the Ice Kingdom made him soft or something, or Current was just so mellow and pure and unlike any dragon Firn had ever met, but Firn started to like the hybrid. No, 
"No, like, I'm actually sorry," Current said nervously, shuffling his wings, looking so abashed that Firn’s heart started to… YOUR HEART IS NOT MELTING BECAUSE HE’S SO PURE AND INNOCENT, Firn shouted at himself. YOU DO NOT START TO LIKE THIS WEIRD DRAGON. "It's alright," he said coolly, like it didn't bother him at all. 
“Sorry,” Current said. “But we can go to the library… right?”
Firn sighed, then nodded, a grumpy look in his bright blue eyes.
|-|Chapter Two=
"Hey, wake up, sleepyhead." 
The hybrid drowsily lifted his head and met his father's eyes. Prince Hawk looked down at him, and glancing sideways, he said, "Crest, we need to get to work."
The dragonet nodded, also instinctively glancing warily around. No signs of any cobalt-blue dragons with navy eyes, which was a huge relief. At least his mother wasn't going to scream and throw hard things at him today. 
Prince Hawk, Queen Ruby's older brother, had married a SeaWing, Tilapia. They had a fine relationship for a long time, Hawk had told him. They had an egg - him. Then Tilapia started going insane with health problems or something. Hawk tried to calm her down for a long time, but it hadn't worked. Tilapia started to want to kill the both of them, and Hawk had grabbed Crest, and fled to the Talons of Peace. A knife flew through the air, and scarred Crest for life.
Now he glanced at himself, wincing. He was fine now, obviously. The Talons of Peace were nice to him. Everything was fine. He had to get on with his day, and his father was waiting for him. 
"Coming," Crest called back, and heard the quiet lash of a tail on the floor. Crest adjusted his speed and quickly closed the door to his room. Hawk was waiting for him, his amber eyes uneasy as always, his pale red-faded-into-orange scales glossy. There were scars on his chest and on his shoulders. Crest winced inwardly when he saw them, but kept an emotionless face as lifted his chin. 
He couldn't help glancing at the plates, which were filled with chicken jerky. It made Crest hungry, but he tore his gaze off of the food and looked back up at Hawk, bowing politely. 
Hawk gave him an approving nod, poking his shoulder blades so Crest stood up very straight, then nodded and flicked his tail to allow him to eat. Crest ducked his head, and quickly, in a few neat bites, finished his meal. 
Time for... work, Crest thought with a sigh. He didn't let the prospect of work stop him, though. After all, he has survived his mother's drama. His father's sudden loss of interest in him. Being useless and the son nobody wanted. He folded in his wings. 
Crest was whimpering as his mother glared at him with her furious navy eyes. She looked absolutely insane, and Crest swallowed a whimper. His father, a prince of the Sky Kingdom, would not allow his son to cry. Even in moments like this. Tilapia raised her knives, hissing lowly as she tried to corner him.
Crest blinked out of the vision. Was that the past? Or maybe it was a future. He wasn't sure. Time felt like a whirlwind of memories. He suppressed a sigh, and took the two plates and headed to the sink, taking a sponge and dipping it in a small container filled with green detergent, and started to scrub. Normal, everyday things, but it made Crest sometimes wonder if his life really was worth living. 
Of course it is, He thought, feeling stupid. I'm very lucky. Hawk is right. It's great to be able to wake up every day and not have to fight a war or worry.
He soon finished, and carefully, carefully, placed them on the drying rack, where they would stay. Hawk was gone - probably doing royal stuff or whatever. Crest wasn't sure, since his father hardly paid attention to him, only training him to become a 'proper' prince or something. Not that he was a prince, but technically he was, as Queen Ruby's nephew.
"Crest?" A familiar voice drew him out of his thoughts. He turned around, his talons still foamy and wet from washing, and saw a familiar MudWing waiting for him. He was the son of Ochre, the false dragonet in the Dragonet Prophecy or something. Crest thought he was, at least, since no MudWings seemed to care about fathers or do the whole 'mates' thing. 
"Hey, Erosion," Crest said absently, glancing at the MudWing, who nodded at him. 
"Hey. So, what's up? I'm kind of bored, so I came over, do you wanna do something?" Erosion asked excitedly. Crest nodded - he wasn't in the mood for socializing, but he didn't want to upset Erosion two days before the MudWing's hatching day. 
~~
Hawk was staring at Crest when he came back, and there was an intense light in his eyes that made him look mad. His eyes bore into Crest's. 
"Y-yes?" Crest began to feel nervous as Hawk pinned him with his piercing amber gaze. 
"You're not safe with the Talons of Peace," He hissed fiercely. "You need to leave." 
Crest wrinkled his snout. "Why not?" He asked, frowning. The Talons of Peace camp was literally the safest place in the world. Dragons of all tribes came here, so they could defeat any enemy. He couldn't help thinking that Hawk just wanted to get rid of him. 
"The flames and the shadows," Hawk snarled. "You can't stay here, or the shadows will take over. You need to leave to be safe. I will not have my son taken from me. Go somewhere else. Stay there and be safe. Never let the shadows win!" He sounded mad to Crest's ears. 
Hawk seized Crest's talons urgently. "Leave. Now. Find somewhere to stay that's safe. Don't give in to the shadows. They'll try to take over you, but don't give in. Fight back. Be strong." 
Crest stared at his father, opening his jaws to speak. "What is it?"
"The shadows!" Hawk stared desperately at Crest. "Beware the shadows. Don't trust anyone. Be careful. You must leave to be safe. That's the only way you can be safe!" 
"Come with me," Crest begged. "I can't... just... leave the Talons! I can't do anything - I'm just a hapless dragonet."
For a moment, Hawk's eyes glinted with tears. "Be strong," He repeated. "You have to leave now. Stay safe." He took a deep breath and embraced Crest. "I love you." 
|-|Chapter Three=
Fire. 
The light of the blazing flames was blinding to the dragon watching, blotting out the stars with the bright intensity of the black, fiery smoke, like the black clouds during a storm. 
Crackle. Snap. Crackle.
The hybrid trembled anxiously, flicking his dark tail with worry. He couldn’t move - like all visions he had - and was still as the fire drew closer. 
“Something terrible is coming.”
Skyrider lifted his chin. He wasn’t terrified, he knew this was a vision, and he could do nothing about it. Not even a vision -  a message. He pricked his ears to listen. 
“Someone is coming. Someone who will change your life forever…” 
Is that all? Skyrider wanted to shout, but this message would only be delivered once. 
“He will save your life… and you will save his…”
What does that mean? Skyrider groaned, but kept it inside. A moment later, his eyes opened. Pain stabbed his head like a spear went through it, but that was normal. He glanced around rapidly - luckily for him, Riverdew wasn’t there - and grasped his flask from the desk, sipping it and feeling the water pour through his parched throat. 
Relief flushed through him as the headache started to cool down, and he sighed with relief, jumping onto the hammock and letting himself relax. 
Someone is coming. Someone who will change your life forever.
He will save your life, and you will save his.
So it was a he, Skyrider thought. He’s coming? What does that even mean?
~~
	“You might not win this time,” Frostfly crooned. “Why are you so bad today, idiot?”
	“Sure,” Skyrider teased, but it was true that his mind was distracted. Someone is coming. Someone who will change your life forever. He will save your life, and you will save his.
	Who? When? Why?
	Frostfly moved her piece, and Skyrider ended up winning anyway. How, he wasn’t sure, but he didn’t mind. 
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Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Fanfictions (Fanon)
Category:Content (Fidgetleaf)