CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

TEMPEST (AGAIN)

Tempest stared impassively at the gold piled in front of him. Inside his head, Umbrage prodded him on.

"Go on! Take it! Revel in it! You earned it! Treasure of your very own!" But Rationale and Derp were firmly opposed.

"THIS. ISN'T. RIGHT." Rationale insisted.

"Yuz! Leesten ter Ratoonel! Dis bad! No be a bad boogie!" Derp agreed.

"Don't listen to them. They don't know what's good for you. Compassion is overrated. Forming attachments to anything other than treasure is wrong, because dragons will be taken away. Gold is eternal!" But Umbrages' argument was crumbling.

"No. Your friends...you betrayed them. That's wrong. Very wrong. I mean, look at Rhododendron. She's crying." And Rationale was right.

The normally cheery Rainwing had rolled herself into a tight, dreary blue and gray ball, and the constant splash of tears was heard as she shook silently.

"You did this." Rationale whispered. And for once, Tempest realized that Rationale had a point.

"Oh, no. Uh uh. This is not good. This isn't what you wan-need! This isn't what you need!" Umbrage growls.

"Peace and love forever, dudes."

"AAAAARRRGH!" Derp, Rationale, and Umbrage shrieked in unision.

"Who are you?" Umbrage snarled.

"I am the embodiment of peace, love, and harmony in Tempest's brain. My name is Imbroglio, but you can call me Bro. I have been dormant for a long time, but have come out to cease your squabbling. Tempest. Follow your heart. Listen to love. Second star to the right and straight on 'till…"

"You know you're basically a ripoff me, right?" Rationale snapped, irritated for once in his calm and rational lifetime.

"Nuh-uh.."

"Without the intelligence." Rationale continued.

"Dudes. All I'm saying is…"

"Shut up." Rationale stated sweetly. "Your voice is grating on my eardrums. And my nerves."

"But love...and peace…"

"I've got it covered." Rationale smiled. "Go away." It was that sickly sweet tone that told anyone listening that you were very angry, and it was just patronizing enough to let them also know what you thought of them, and that you need to BACK OFF.

"Anyway…" Umbrage started hesitantly. But apparently Rationale was through tolerating anyone.

"Umbrage." He sang. Umbrage didn't answer, probably wary after thevicious sarcasm exhibited to 'Imbrogio'.

"No one cares about your misguided opinion." Rationale continued, not caring about the lack of response.

"Beat it." The level voice finished. And Umbrage was gone.

Derp, afraid of being reprimanded like the other two had, kept his imaginary mouth shut as Tempest nursed a real migraine. His head was getting too crowded.

"Okay, Tempest. Listen. Take a minute and think. Think about what you did, and what you have to do to make it right."

And Tempest did. He looked at Rhododendron, slumped over, those normally yellow scales so dull. And he thought. And he knew.

"Alright." Tempest murmured. He took one long glance at the gold in front of him. And did the right thing.