Dragons of Sand and Night

WARNING: THIS BOOK HEAVILY RELIES ON DARKSTALKER TO SHOW THE PLOT. READ THAT BOOK FIRST!! 
Prologue
A pale dragon, whiter than IceWings, watched over the two dragons. It felt the two heartbeats in the two eggs. It felt everything. It extended its mind, into the one that was more SandWing. It shaped the dragon to its liking, into a dragon it could control. Into something powerful. Into a weapon. Once it was satisfied, it returned to where it slept, for it was finished. Soon after, a dragonet clawed itself out of its egg, and it was beautiful. She was snakelike, with a long tail and body, and long, slender legs. Sidewinder’s scales were a pale gray, and she had tan scales at her eyes, and a speckling of tan instead of silver under her wings, and her wings themselves were a sandy color. She was gray for most of her body, but her hind legs were a rainbow of desert colors. Her tail barb was a sandy color as well. Her tail barb also made a rattling sound when she shook it. Her mother named her Sidewinder. She had the ability to see the future, read minds, and was an animus. Her brother hatched. He was named Nightwatcher. He had black and golden scales, with gold running from his went to his upper torso, and black going down the rest of the way. His sail was a combination of the two, and he had no tail barb. His black wings had silver and golden specks across it, like a sandstorm with the night sky poking through. Instead of silver teardrop scales at his eyes, there were golden scales. Suddenly, she had a headache, and she had a new vision. It showed Nightwatcher being stabbed through the chest, by HER. She vowed never to do this, and caught herself before anyone could notice.
I won’t do that, will I? Sidewinder asked herself, in far fewer words, of course. I won’t.
Part One
Beginnings
Chapter 1
Sidewinder
2 years later.
Sidewinder asked her father, Fatereader, “When will I go to school?”
“Soon, Sidewinder,” Her father said, “Soon you and Nightwatcher will go.”
A few weeks later, Sidewinder and Nightwatcher were told that they will be going to school today. They both ate squirrels, and then went to school. Flying through a ravine, she felt small compared to the massive terrain. As they went through the ravine, and headed towards the school itself, Sidewinder noticed a NightWing rushing to school. A vision told her this is Clearsight, a NightWing with very powerful foreseeing. Sidewinder decided to stay away from her, in case she knew about Sidewinder’s powers. 
When they got to the school, Sidewinder saw that a dragon seemed to be waiting for someone else. She recognised him as Darkstalker, another animus, and also a powerful mind reader and foreseer. Sidewinder decided to meet him. 
“I believe you are Darkstalker, right?” She asked.
“Yes, and why are you asking?” He said, suspicious.
“I have heard a lot about you, and my visions have told me just as much about you.”
“So, you are like Clearsight,” He said, not quite a question.
“Not quite. I am not as powerful as you are, or her, but I am more like you.”
“You can read minds and see the future?”
“And, I am an animus.” Sidewinder whispered.
Darkstalker, surprised, said, “Well, it was nice to meet you, but I have to go.”
Sidewinder went over to Professor Truthfinder, and said, “Sidewinder and Nightwatcher coming for placement.”
I hope she got mine and Nightwatcher’s tests. I don’t want us both to have to do them all over again. “Yes, I have both of them. And Sidewinder, you did so well that I have decided to put you with the three year olds.”
“Ok.”
“And Nightwatcher will go with the other two year olds.”
“Sure.”
Sidewinder went to the room for the three year olds, and stepped in.
Chapter 2
Current
As Queen Lagoon said, “But I’m the queen…” Current backed up, making sure no one saw him. He watched as the knife spun around, caught Eagle in the heart, and then flew towards Princess Sunset, catching her in the bottom of the throat. The knife then flew towards his father, killing him, then killing his brother. Terrified, he rushed into the water, to get away from this massacre. He swam down the bottom of the continent, just trying to get away from Albatross. He swam through freezing water, and eventually found a beach with rain coming down hard. He got into one of the caves, and pulled himself through the cave until he found a good size puddle, and lay down. 
He noticed that he had a large gash on his left side, and just didn’t think about it, just knowing he had to get to it eventually, and went to sleep. When he woke up, he noticed that two black dragons were in the cave with him and he hissed, “Nightwings.”
The female one asked, “are you hurt?” and then noticed the gash on his left side. 
“I see… blood, a knife, and… tentacles?” the male one said.
“Albatross.” Current said.
“You were attacked by an albatross… with tentacles?” the female nightwing asked, sceptically.
“Albatross is Queen Lagoon’s brother,” The male nightwing told her.
“Oh no…” the female nightwing said, a look of horror on her face.
“He went mad, he attacked us. He killed… everyone. My brother, my father. I barely escaped with my life. I swam and kept swimming…” Current said hoarsely.
“Everyone?” the female nightwing asked.
“I don't know if anyone is left alive. Albatross killed the queen, I saw it. He killed two skywings and the princess and the king and my-” He choked on the words, letting out a sob. “He was still killing when I fled into the ocean. But I don’t know why. He was our prince. We loved him. He was loyal to the queen. He made such beautiful magic for her. Why would he do this?”
The two nightwings exchange a look, and the male one said something, but Current cannot hear. “I think I know why he did it. He used his magic a lot, right? He wasn't careful with his soul at all.”
Current lunges out of the water, and said, “Maybe it was another tribe. Maybe they put a spell on Albatross- that could happen, couldn’t it? The IceWings have magic too; maybe they were trying to wipe us out. Or maybe the RainWings drugged him. They have lots of plants that do weird things in the jungle, that’s what I’ve heard. That makes sense, doesn’t it? It must have been someone else using him. It wasn’t Albatross at all.”
The female nightwing guided Current back to the small pool, and said, “We’re going to get you help. Queen Vigilance will want to hear about this. She’ll make sure you are taken care of in exchange for your story. Just. . . wait here.” The two NightWings left, and Current fell back asleep in the small pool.
Chapter 3
Listener
Listener heard a dragonet come into the classroom, both with her ears, and with her mind reading. I wonder who else is going to come into here. We already have Clearsight. The dragonet is a pale gray, with golden tan scales flecking her under wings. I wonder who I will meet! The dragonet thought excitedly. “Umm, you could meet me,” Listener told her. OOH! Another mind reader! We can talk in our minds! “Umm, yeah, we can.”
“Hi, my name is Sidewinder,” the black and gold dragon told her.
“I’m Listener,” Listener told her, “I’m also friends with Clearsight.”
“Talons and tails!” Sidewinder exclaims, “I’ve seen her in way too many futures.”
“Huh, so you are a mind reader and a foreseer. Any other abilities?”
“Yeah, I’m an animus,” Sidewinder whispers to Listener.
Three moons. Listener thought. “How old are you, two?”
“Yeah,” Sidewinder said, “I honestly tried my hardest, but I still enchanted the paper to do the questions one hundred percent correct anyways, just in case, and before that, to figure out whether it was true or not, I enchanted a coconut to explode.”
“Huh, I don’t know if that is cheating or not, and also, did you do that just to get into the class with Clearsight?”
“Yeah,” Sidewinder admits, “I wanted to meet the great and powerful Clearsight.”
Listener laughs, and brings Sidewinder over to Clearsight. “Hi, Clearsight, I wanted you to meet someone. Her name is Sidewinder.”
“Hi, Sidewinder, I’m Clearsight, and wow, I like those scales under your wings.” Who is this dragon? I wonder- Clearsight doubles over, obviously in pain. “The dragon of sand, the dragon of night, always dark and always light. You are not who you think, and when the tribe is on the brink, you will not be the one to save them. The dragons of sand will take your brother away, and only you will save their day.”
“What was that?” Listener and Sidewinder ask together.
“I believe that Sidewinder triggered a prophecy,” Clearsight said, “I hate when they come out like that.”
“Holy smokin’ scavengers, that scared me!” Sidewinder said.
“So, there are two animus dragons in the tribe now, I guess,” Clearsight said a little too loudly. 
The teacher asked, “One of you is an animus? Which one?”
Sidewinder said, “It’s me.”
Chapter 4
Sidewinder
Sidewinder flew towards the great palace, home of Queen Vigilance. It’s black spires reached towards the clouds, it’s walls imposing and unbreakable. When she got into the palace itself, Queen Vigilance said, “I can not believe you are an animus. Your parents and yourself will move into the palace, next to the guest rooms.”
“Thank you, your majesty.” Sidewinder bowed, and went through the mirror-filled hallways to one of the rooms next door to the guest rooms. Having heard of the SeaWing Massacre, Vigilance obviously did not want to have Sidewinder enchant anything yet.
A few months later, Sidewinder got word of another animus dragon. Darkstalker. She already knew about this, but never mentioned it to anyone. Then, four SeaWings move into the palace, along with Clearsight. Sidewinder went to meet the SeaWings, and when she got there, the blue one told her, “I like your scales under your wings.”
“Thanks, it’s because I am half sandwing. Also, don’t freak out, but I am sure you have met Darkstalker, I also have the same powers as him.”
“Great, another mind reading and future seeing animus.” The purple SeaWing said.
“Please don’t use your magic ever!” The blue SeaWing pleads, “Oh, and I am Fathom, and this is my guard, Indigo.”
“I will only ever use my magic if absolutely necessary,” Sidewinder said, “Oh, wait, I haven't told you guys my name yet. My name is Sidewinder.”
“I think you should never use your power.”
“Well, I guess you can be happy without magic, but I also think that you should be able to use it in an extreme emergency. Of course, I could also make you not an animus,” Sidewinder said.
“No thank you anyway.” Fathom told her.
“I should leave now, I don’t know if Darkstalker will come back,” Sidewinder said.
Hmm, I wonder why this dragon is so agreeable. Indigo thought.
“Ok, but don’t you want to meet him?” Fathom asked.
“I  already did, and it was not a very… pleasant meeting,” Sidewinder said, “He seemed surprised and afraid of me.”
“Hmm,” Fathom said, “Now that is surprising.”
“Well, see you soon?”
“Did I hear someone talking about me?” Darkstalker came through the window, and noticed Sidewinder. “I believe we have met before. Sidewinder, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Sidewinder said, “I believe we are more alike than you would think.”
“How so?” Darkstalker asked, “If we are from different tribes, how so?”
“Because we both have the same powers, but I know how to be careful with them,” Sidewinder states, and with that, she whirled around and walked through the door out of the room.
Chapter 5
Indigo
Wow, she’s fierce. Indigo thought.
“Fathom, there’s an epic lightning storm coming. Want to fly up to the Royal Tower and watch it with me?”
“Sure,” Fathom said.
“Doesn’t the tallest tower in the palace get struck by lightning the most? By definition: the worst place ever to go,” Indigo said.
“Nah,” Darkstalker assured them, “We’ll be fine!”
“I’ll go with you guys,” Indigo said.
“Actually, how about Lionfish comes this time?” Fathom said. 
“Huh? What?” Lionfish mumbled.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Darkstalker said.
Then, a faint rolling sound comes from the window as they leave. As she watched the stone come in, her sight slowly became black. What is happening? Indigo wonders. “Wha-” Her voice was cut off, and she was there no more.
Part two
Betrayal
Chapter 6
Nightwatcher
“Hey, uh, what are we learning about?” Nightwatcher asked his friend, Foresight.
“History.” Foresight told him.
“Uh, ok,” Nightwatcher said, “But where will we sit down?”
“Right over there.”
“Ok!”
Their teacher, Allseeing, started talking about The Scorching. “The Scorching was a very important event in history. It is when we dragons took the world from scavengers.”
By the time class ended, Nightwatcher was sooo bored. But, when he started heading back home, he noticed no one was with him. Then, two sandwings leapt out of the dark and grabbed him.
Chapter 7
Sidewinder
“What do you mean he’s gone?”  Sidewinder asked her father.
“He never came back,” her father said.
“He’s gone, and you never LOOKED FOR HIM?!”
“We did, we just don't know where he was.”
“Oh no, the prophecy! It said: ‘The dragon of sand, the dragon of night, always dark and always light. You are not who you think, and when the tribe is on the brink, you will not be the one to save them. The dragons of sand will take your brother away, and only you will save their day.’ This is what that meant! I need to go find Clearsight and the others!” Sidewinder said, left the room, and walked towards Clearsight’s.
“Clearsight?” Sidewinder asked, “your prophecy! It's coming true! My brother is gone! I need your help to find him!”
“Ok!” Clearsight said, and came out of the room, “Let’s go get Darkstalker and Fathom.”
The two dragons went over to Fathom first, and Sidewinder said, “Fathom, I need your help. My brother is gone, and I think that the SandWings kidnapped him.”
“Sure!” Fathom said. Then, the three fly to Darkstalker’s home, and find him already outside, ready to go.
“Let’s go save Sidewinder’s brother!” Darkstalker said energetically. Just then, Darkstalker and Clearsight both seemed to get the same vision at the same time.
“Darkstalker, did you see that?”
“Yes, Clearsight. My sister is in trouble!”
“She’s being brought by your father to the Ice Kingdom. If we go there now-”
“-We can save her.”
“Hey, uh, since we were also already wenting into the Kingdom of Sand, we can still go. When we get to the kingdom, you, Clearsight, and Fathom can go save your sister, and I can go save my brother,” Sidewinder said.
“Let’s go!” Darkstalker announced.
Chapter 8
Foresight
Foresight leapt into the air, and flew quickly, until she caught up with Sidewinder and her friends. “What are you doing?” she asked.
The four were startled, and Sidewinder said, “We are going to save my brother.”
“Nightwatcher? From who?”
“Sandwings have abducted him. You are welcome to come with me,” Sidewinder informed her.
“Of course! I have to save my friend!” Foresight exclaimed.
“This way,” Sidewinder said.
When they finally get to the Kingdom of Sand, Darkstalker, Clearsight, and Fathom split off from the group, and went towards the Ice Kingdom, while Foresight and Sidewinder went towards Queen Scorpion’s stronghold. The stronghold was quite large, with imposing walls and tall towers. It was a place built to protect dragons in the desert. It was built to survive the desert. They saw two dragons carrying a smaller dragon, flying towards the stronghold. The dragons got into the stronghold just as Sidewinder and Foresight saw them. The two dragons flew towards the front gate, and when they got there, the two guards just let them in. When they got to the dungeon, Sidewinder and Foresight crept in, and when they saw Nightwatcher, they walked towards his cell.
“You came for me!” Nightwatcher said.
“Of course we did,” Sidewinder responds, “Foresight came to help! Now, let's just get you out.”
Foresight pulled a little piece of metal out of a bag she had around her neck, and stuck it into the lock. After a few moments of muttering and jiggling the lock pick, the cell unlocked, and Sidewinder rushed in and said, “Are you okay, Nightwatcher?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Nightwatcher said.
“Ah, we’re all here,” said a deep voice from the darkness, “I truly expected more of you, though.”
“W-who are you?” Foresight asked.
“Ah-ah-ah, you don’t get to know that,” the voice said, “but you can call me Shadow.”
“It was nice to meet you, Mr. Shadow, but now we have to leave,” Sidewinder said.
“How about no?” Shadow said, and then Foresight feels a sharp pain in her skull, and falls unconscious.
Chapter 9
Nightwatcher
Nightwatcher woke up, only to find that his arms and legs were bound, and he looked around, and found that Sidewinder and Foresight were similarly tied up. Sidewinder, Nightwatcher thought, Use your magic to get us out.
But what about my soul? Sidewinder thought back, what if it tips me over?
You won’t lose your soul, because that's not how you lose it. It’s not your magic, it's your choices. You can use your magic and not be affected by it, if you only do good things! Nightwatcher thought.
Ok… Sidewinder thought, here goes.
Sidewinder focuses on the chains, and thought, I enchant these chains to break, but without a sound, and to hit the floor silently. The chains then did just that, and when all three of them were free, they started to creep through the hallways, and just when they were out the door, Nightwatcher thought to Sidewinder, what about Darkstalker and Clearsight? We have to get to them right now!
Yeah, Sidewinder thought back, We have to get to them. When they were out of the palace, they started flying as fast as they could to where they saw Darkstalker and Clearsight took off to. They met them just as they started to head back, and when Nightwatcher saw Arctic following silently behind them, he asked Clearsight, “What happened?”
“Darkstalker enchanted him to obey his every command,” Clearsight told him.
“WHAT?!?!” Nightwatcher, Sidewinder, and Foresight exclaim.
“Yeah,” Clearsight practically sighs. The group continues flying until they reach the Night Kingdom. When they get to the Great Diamond, Darkstalker snarls to Arctic, “You will land beside me and stand there quietly until I tell you what to do next.”
Arctic’s eyes were blank, trapped. He could do nothing but obey.
The group landed on the stage set up in the center of the plaza where there were supposed to be concerts for the next few weeks so running a series of coming hatching days in the royal family. Nightwatcher could tell that all of them were here.
“My friends,” Darkstalker boomed, “You’re about to see something no dragon has ever seen before. Gather your families; everyone come watch! This is the most important day of your lives!”
Part three
Hope
Chapter 10
Sidewinder
Sidewinder could hear Clearsight and Darkstalker whispering, but decided not to listen in very closely, because she knew that they were talking about mushy stuff and all that.
“Thank you for coming!” Darkstalker boomed to the crowd. “What a beautiful night! A perfect night to punish a traitor! First, let’s consider the evidence. Tell them what you were about to do, before I stopped you.”
“I was going home, I'm not a traitor!” Arctic roared, his voice set free again.
“Tell the truth. Tell them exactly what you were planning,” Darkstalker said.
Arctic lashed his tail. “I was taking my daughter to Queen Diamond. I was going to offer her talons in marriage to whomever Diamond chose, so she could hatch some heirs for the throne who might have animus blood. I was going to live in an ice palace again, sleeping at night like a normal dragon. I was going to find out if Foeslayer is still alive. I was going to offer the IceWings a detailed map of the Night Kingdom and a way to get inside to destroy you all, in exchange for her life.” The NightWings stared in shock, and Sidewinder, Clearsight, and the rest of them on stage were too.
“You see, he admits it all. He would have wiped out our entire tribe without a shred of remorse. He is the worst dragon who ever lived, and he deserves to die. Don't you agree?” Darkstalker hung his head, obviously in sadness, and then brought it back up to give Arctic more orders.
“Kneel.” Arctic kneeled.
“Admit I am the greatest animus of all time.”
“You are the greatest animus of all time,” Arctic choked out.
Darkstalker spread his wings towards the audience. “Tell them there is no more powerful dragon than me.”
“There is no more powerful dragon than you.”
“Now say you wish you were a better father.”
Arctic let out a startled, incredulous laugh. “I do wish I were a better father,” he said. “If I were, I would have strangled you the moment you hatched.”
“Cut out your tongue,” Darkstalker said coldly.
Arctic’s eyes became round holes of horror as he reached up to his mouth, pulled out his long blue forked tongue, and sliced it off with his own claws.
This is enough. Arctic is humiliated, and Darkstalker is going too far, Sidewinder thought.
“Now,” Darkstalker said, “Take your tal--”
“Darkstalker, enough!” Sidewinder yelled, “You’re going too far!”
“This traitor must be punished,” Darkstalker said.
“Well, maybe you should leave it to the queen!” Sidewinder retorted, angrily.
“And why should I do that? The queen is a traitor. She tried to kill me, tried to get rid of the dragonets in my future, tried to get rid of me and my tribe’s beautiful futures.”
“Well maybe you should at least give him a second chance.”
“Never. He made me lose too much.” Darkstalker turned back to Arctic, and said, “Now, take your talons, rip open your stomach, and show us all what you’re really like on the inside. Pour out your life on this stage.” At this time, Sidewinder, Clearsight, Nightwatcher, and Foresight crept off of the stage into the crowd.
Chapter 11
Clearsight
“Clearsight! What. Is. HAPPENING.” Listener whispered, grabbing Clearsight’s shoulders.
Clearsight shook her head. “I can’t… I can’t explain.”
“I can! Your boyfriend is a psycho!” She finally noticed the tracks of tears on Clearsight’s snout and leaned in to wipe them away. “Oh, moonbeam, you’ll be alright.”
“No. Listener, this is important, remember when you told me that you did want to know the future if it meant saving your family’s lives? If something really, really bad was about to happen?” Clearsight said.
“What's going to happen, Clearsight?”
“I don't know exactly, but it’s really bad. Please, Listener, if you've ever believed anything I've said, do this for me. Find my parents, gather your family, and leave the Night Kingdom. Fly as far and as fast as you can. Take them somewhere safe where…  where no one will ever find them”
“Ok.” Listener said. Sidewinder, Clearsight, and Listener hugged, and then Listener went into the crowd, and the rest of them went to the palace. “Did he suspect anything?” Fathom asked as they came in.
“Not yet,” Sidewinder said, “We have to keep you away from him until it’s done, or he’ll hear it in your thoughts. Here.” she pointed the scroll at him.
“I don't want to touch that.” Fathom said, “It might do something bad. It might kill me or something.”
“I’m not sure it would, he wasn’t that devious or anything when he made it, but still, he might have added something later.” Clearsight said.
“I should do it,” Sidewinder said, “I can do it fine.”
“No, you shouldn’t have to, Sidewinder. I will do it.” Fathom said, surprising all of them.
“But Fathom, your oath,” Clearsight said. 
“I have to do it. No one else should have to do it. I was sent here to try to stop Darkstalker from doing just this. I have to be the one.”
“Okay. You should use my bracelet, so he won’t suspect anything.” Clearsight gave Fathom her bracelet.
“Okay.” Fathom took the bracelet.
“And remember, he’s immortal and invulnerable, so you can’t kill him.”
Fathom concentrated on the bracelet, then handed it back to Clearsight.
“It’s ready,” he whispered.
“You’re sure it will work?”
“You know better than I would.”
“One more thing. I-I’m afraid he did something to Indigo. Search through the scroll and find it. Maybe you can bring her back.” Fathom nodded, barely breathing.
“Then hide that scroll and get as far away from the Night Kingdom as you can. Don’t destroy the scroll, though, or he will get all his power back. Goodbye, Fathom.”
“Goodbye Clearsight. Good luck.”
She was out in the sky a moment later, flying on aching wings toward Agate Mountain, far to the east, with Sidewinder, Nightwatcher, and Foresight close behind. She didn’t look back, but she knew Fathom was standing in the window, watching her go.
The timelines were all narrowing to one moment now.
She flew towards her last chance to save the future.
Epilogue
Nightwatcher
5 years later
Nightwatcher watched the sun go down. He missed his sister, who was… gone. He missed everyone. He was the only hybrid on their new island, the new NightWing island. The tribe had welcomed him, considering he had done not much. The tribe was building a new home, and it was a fortress. The tribe also was not going to leave their eggs up on hatching pillars anymore, for they were afraid of another Darkstalker being born. Nightwatcher sighed, for he missed everything that he knew. He hoped for a brighter future for the tribe, and hoped that future generations would be better off than his. He did not know what the future held in store for him, and simply waited. What he did know is that he was not normal. He had some… power inside of him. Not quite an animus, something else. Something more. He knew he could help his tribe, and help them he would.
Category:Fanfictions (Fanon)
Category:Fanfictions