The Price of Happiness

by Atoxkal

Clearsight always worries so much about Darkstalker, and the various, nightmarish futures that lie in wait. Perhaps there was something he could do to help ease her fears...? (A short one-shot to get me back into writing again, trying to capture Darkstalker's desire to do what /he/ thinks is best for his friends, no matter the cost. Spoilers for Darkstalker (Legends) within!)

He closed his eyes, trying to let himself slip off into sleep. But doing so only made it worse - the idea just wouldn't leave his mind no matter how much he tried to block it out for some much needed rest. With a gruff sigh, he pushed himself from his bed. Swiftly, he started to the scroll rack of the other side of his room.

Pausing slightly, Darkstalker hesitated a split second before moving the scroll rack aside. Perhaps he should wait for Clearsight. But almost as quickly as the thought came to mind, he dismissed it. He would have loved to have her here, sharing in the excitement of his newest - and if he would say so most brilliant - idea yet. But would she understand?

Shaking it off as he moved the scroll rack aside, he sighed quietly. No, she wouldn't. Not yet. For so long, she spent so much time worrying about all of the different futures where he might have a small chance of becoming a dangerous, dragon-killing monster that she never had the time to focus on the most possible, happy futures that stood just before her.

And for as much as Clearsight worried about the future, Darkstalker couldn't help but worry about her own future, although not in the same way she seemed to fear for his. No, not the same way. With all of this fear and worry, she was missing all of the good things that would still be ahead! Also, he imagined she must have a few sleepless nights, and that could certainly affect one's health. So wasn't this a good thing he wanted to do, no matter if she'd understand it immediately or not?

Sighing quietly as he moved the protective rock out of place, Darkstalker reached for his scroll and the invisible ink he devised a few days prior. Pushing doubts aside as he brought the two objects to his desk, he set them down with a quiet grunt. It had to be a good thing, after all - protecting your friends from fear. And as much as this doubt plagued his own thoughts, he knew Clearsight would eventually come to understand his reasoning. She had to, just as everyone else would one day come to realise how brilliant of a dragon he truly was.

What other Animus had ever thought to design a gift to protect their loved ones from fear? From doubt? From torment? None he had heard of. He, Darkstalker, would be the first. Letting a smile of self-pride slip into his features, he reached for the Moonstone earrings he planned to give to Clearsight as a gift. Moving them gently with one claw, he opened the scroll as swiftly as he could without the risk of damaging it.

Soon, it would all be right. Soon, he and Clearsight would be able to reach the happy future that he could see so easily. And soon she would see that future just as easily. Soon… Shaking it off, he dipped his quill into the ink before starting to write in one of the spaces he had begun making between spells.

Enchant these earrings to help the dragon who wears them focus on only the brightest and happiest futures ahead, hiding anything truly bad that might happen up ahead.