You Guys: LEMON! You made another story that you're never gonna finish! Why do you do dis?

I know, I know, I JUST CAN'T HELP IT. This is another kind of story.

Tiger Eye curled her talons closer. She heard the clanging of the chain-clad army coming closer.

Things had changed. The Ancient Queen didn't lie. She hid in the shadows as the dragons passed by. Should she capture one? Interrogate them?

She wasn't quite sure she would approve... Sighing, Tiger Eye slipped back to the small stalagmite-ridden cave she called home.

"TIGER EYE!" the shout the sound of a whisper echoed around the cave.

Stumbling over the rocks around the cave, she found a snarling Vermillion.

"Where have you been!?" the aged dragon swiped at Tiger's nose and flared her wings, "You know we have to stay hidden!"

"Vermillion, I told you! I know what I'm doing! I'm not a dragonet." Tiger retorted.

"Might as well be, you listen as well as one." she grumbled in her snarled voice.

"You know, she is the oldest. Ever since..." a voice sounded behind her.

"I know, Hematite. I'm also almost 20. I know what I'm doing. She treats me like a dragone-" Hematite held up an orange talon to silence her.

"And she's 86. You really should listen. She was there when it all happened. She was a guard and overseer." Hematite reasoned and gestured to another section of cave.

"At least she got to see the world." Tiger grumbled, "Everyone here has. Last time I was above was when I was 1."

"I haven't seen sunlight in over 15 years, Tiger. You might outlive this war. I won't." she admitted with a serious face. They were almost to the sleeping section.

"Death seems to be a release to look forward to. I have nothing to look forward to." she flopped onto the sandstone formation.

"How about I tell you a story tomorrow. That gives you something to look forward to other than your hatchday." Hematite added as she put her wing over Tiger, "I hope you know each and every dragon here cares for you. And your mother does and did to." she added the last sentence with a compassionate note.

Tiger sighed at her late mother's memory, "I hope so."

After that night...

Tiger opened her eyes to an empty cave. Missing the warmth of the others, she headed out to the center, where a cool pond of freshwater was as still it looked like a giant mirror.

Tiger Eye looked into the pond, scanning her reflection. Her scales were the same reddish-brown as the stone she was named after, streaks of darker pigment marked her face to tail.

Looking into her green amber eyes, she saw memories.

"Momma, when will I be able to see the sun?"

"Don't worry, in time, I'm sure. Look into your reflection. See your bright eyes? They are even brighter than the sun to me."

"Really!?"

"Yes. And whenever you feel lost or alone, look to your reflection and remember I am part of you, and you are never alone."

The reflection rippled and dissappeared as Tiger's tear hit the surface.

No longer needing the drink, she headed off to a well-known part of the cave to catch mice.

She walked in to see five mice in the center of the room and five old dragons smiling proudly at her, "Surprise!"

Hematite spoke up, "We decided to hunt after you fell asleep to get you a meal! They're all yours!"

"Guys, I can't- Not when you stayed up to catch them! At least have the tails!" Tiger smiled as she approached the pile, the earlier moment by the pond forgotten.

"Aw no. Tails are your favorite! We already ate, go ahead." Amber, a 77 year old dragon nudged her wrinkled wing with Tiger's.

They all left before Tiger could complain, so she ate the five mice. The stomach's of each of the dragons below the ground were shrunken, used to only a mouse or nothing a day. Eating this many mice in a sitting was almost too much for her small stomach.

After she made away with the mice, she headed over to the sleeping caves. Without much to do, most of the old dragons slept, being old and feeble.

Tiger didn't know what else to do, so she followed their lead. As she headed for the sandstone surface, Hematite came over.

"You're gonna sleep your hatchday away?" Hematite crossed her arms.

"What do you suggest? Everyone else is too old to do anything." Tiger sighed.

"Hold on, are you saying a 53-year-old dragon can't keep up with you?" Hematite flared her wings, "I'm not as old as Vermillion, I can still swim. Come on, let's got to the Springs."

"Isn't that a little dangerous to be swimming in?" Tiger said, a hint of worry in her voice.

"Come on!" Hematite raced off.

Tiger grinned and sprinted after Hematite's orange shrinking form.

They were heading for the heated waters of the underwater spring. Vermillion, with her vast knowledge of the world, told the others that the heat from the fire within Pyrrhia caused the water to warm.

When Tiger asked how the fire got there, Vermillion told her of giant SkyWings with wings as big as the universe battling, good versus evil, and within their final blast of flame, because they were so evenly matched, the center of the world of Pyrrhia was made.

"Good is never as strong as evil by itself." she said wistfully, "It is only paired with the knowledge of evil and of hope and love will the truest of true rise forward and stop the tyranny and darkness of the rival." her eyes became misty, "Only the strong, paired with knowledge of the weak can bring peace,"

"Why are you standing there?" Hematite snapped Tiger out of her thoughts, "Get in! It's not getting any warmer!"

What do you think? I worked really hard on this one. It's loosely based on an old RP in my forum, Fanwings of the World. Go and check it out, i mean, only if you want to, it's no big deal, but it'd be cool to see you there I mean-