A/N: Decided to due the havoc I caused around the fandom, I think it's only fair that I attempt to contribute a story as well. Intentionally, used an ask title in the process!

Chapter 1: Just Ask Peril

Ever since his victory, since his escape they are but puppets that dance to his will. Savior? Perhaps. He did a lot of great things towards dragon-kind. He used his powers freely in order to help dragons he deemed worthy. He's fair, he's kind but also with a certain sense of humor. He decided to make Peril his messenger and enforcer of his will, compelled by animus magic, obey she tried.

A command that wasn't even difficult… something Clay himself requested. Clay wanted Peril to socialize with other dragons. Peril did not. She preferred isolation compared to contact and potentially burning someone else. A deal was struck, a pact was made, Darkstalker would maintain the peace but all the questions would be directed to Peril, and Peril alone.

Peril wakes up from her slumber. She knows what she has to do, it's yet another day, answer and relay requests to Darkstalker himself. Darkstalker is an animus dragon but Peril was made to be his one and only messenger. Peril travels between Jade Academy and the Ancient Kingdom of the Nightwings every month. Some requests are answered instantly by animus magic, but Peril still has to relay them.

It is a system created strictly for Darkstalker's amusement. One that everyone agreed upon, it was the best way. A way Peril herself disagreed but who is she to deny the will of many? A chance to finally atone for her sins.

Peril looks at her surroundings, an empty cave, one where no one dares to enter. She remembers a few of her past… mishaps. Not everyone was patient or polite, they barraged her with demands, with questions sometimes with force. The contact wasn't her fault but she feels guilty just the same. Death by immediate contact. Pure desperation was felt in the demands of some, lunacy in others.

Today, is another day at Jade Academy. Peril hopes that she won't be asked many questions and prays that she doesn't have to answer or care for any of it. Glory decides to come by Peril's cave.

"When is it going to rain?" Glory asks.

Peril hears the question and waits for the great Darkstalker to give a reply, a reply that she hasn't received yet. She decides to answer on her own. "Why should I know? Stop asking me these questions! You're so irritating, annoying, don't I have any freedom?"

Glory is shocked at Peril's reaction. It was the first time, Peril publicly lashed out to someone for asking a question. "I'm sorry," Glory replies, she didn't mean to offend Peril at all. It just kind of happened. "Why haven't you said something about this before?"

Peril tries to embrace Glory only for her to back away, despite being unable to be touched, Peril still desires the physical affection of another. Something, that she could only receive from Clay. Peril tries to embrace Glory with tears in her eyes. Glory backs away still, Peril chases for the affection that she cannot receive. They take into the air, Peril is gaining on Glory, another dragon decides to tranquilize Peril. It's been quite a chase, Glory could not persuade Peril to stop. Peril was deaf to her suggestions. They flew all the way towards the rainforest.

Safety of the queen is better than someone who couldn't be touched. Peril falls from a great height, no one dares to try to save her, no one even tries to make the attempt. Her scales would burn away anyone that tried, and they might not even succeed.

Contact with the ground shatters her bones. Peril feels immense pain, no one is there to help her. The surrounding grass catches on fire. They ran, they ran away unable to help, unable to extinguish the fire that she caused. No one is there to help at all.

Glory feels regret, she never meant for Peril to be harmed this way. She knows the only one that can possibly help Peril, Clay. She gives the order, her guards spread out and search for Clay. Glory herself stays in a burning rainforest to keep Peril company. It's not that she can do something, but it's that she doesn't want to leave her.

Glory says, "Peril, don't worry, I'm getting Clay to help you. I don't blame you for any of this."

Peril barely creaks out, "Why, why did you run?"

Glory responds, "I didn't want to… you know, you couldn't be touched. You know what happens. I tried to tell you, I tried to ask for you to stop."

Glory begins to cough from the smoke in the rainforest but she stays by Peril's side regardless. Peril decides to tell her how she really feels. Peril's voice is hard to hear. Glory has to lean in close… Glory trusts Peril enough not to be scorched. Contact would be fatal. Glory hears the whisper, "I don't like being an ambassador or a messenger. I don't like this deal at all."

"Why, why didn't you tell me? or anyone?" Glory asks, trying to stay conscious. It was her choice not to flee. It was her choice to prove that she's a friend.

Another whisper from Peril, "I didn't want to disappoint anyone. I deserve this, Clay himself wanted it. We couldn't stop Darkstalker, it's what he wants, it's what you all agreed upon. It was one of the better options."

Other options offered on that fateful day were less than pleasant. This seemed to be the best one, the best that everyone could agree upon, the only one that didn't involve the death of another, or the torture of someone else. A burden Peril agreed to bear, to be an ambassador and a messenger for Darkstalker.

Peril never voiced her concerns toward Clay and Clay never knew, Peril acted as if she was fine all along. Both of them are weak now and barely conscious. Clay and Tsunami finally arrive to save them.

Peril will still play Darkstalker's game since that fateful day, but she was no longer alone. Glory told Clay of all of Peril's concerns. Clay cared for Peril ever since that incident. Dragons understood, even though she was the messenger of Darkstalker, she still has wants and desires of her own. Some of them were repentant for the way they acted towards Peril, demanding answers.

Darkstalker's will could not be changed, but Peril doesn't have do it alone. She has Clay now, and they would act as Darkstalker's messengers together.

A/N: One-shot, hastily written.