A Dark Cloud story with an never ending tale. I hope you enjoy this tale with a smile throughout the end of this.

Chapter 1, Part 2 - Sun Drive.

Darren's POV

I started to walk home today. No, more like running in a graceful movement.

I have got a date to the Moonlight Rift; a date with the most popular girl in school. It may sound like a stereotypical story but you try to be in my shoes and give a proposal to the girl you have a crush on. It's not as easy as you think if you're also a nerd as well.

My house come into perfect view. It is a small wooden house that I can cherish in my heart. This is the house that can help me and what little hope I can hold onto. Although... I wish it can be more better for my heart.

"I'm home." When my own presence enters into the household. My eyes searched around for the most important person in the household.

"Oh Darren, welcome home dear." A female that look like her in teenage years, about taller than me by a few inches speed walk happily towards me. I hugged her happily as she hugged me as well.

She's dressed in a apron and a classic dress with the colors purple and white. Both my favorite colors and hers. How do I know this female and cheerful in her presence?

Remember my mother being mentioned earlier? This is my mother, hundred percent of the way. She's probably the best mother ever yet. She made me these glasses that hide my real eye color as she makes contacts to hide her own. But since it's the both of us, I take my glasses off and put them in my bag while setting my bag aside to the wall. "How's your day sweetie?"

"Great." I replied with more joy in my voice. "Oh, something must have happen today to make my boy more excited than ever. Come on, tell me the dirty secrets!"

I couldn't help but chuckle as my mother give me a smirk. "Sure."

After giving my reply, my mother heads into the kitchen as my feet made quite well to catch up with her. My eyes soon calm down to turn into it's pure gold color. My mother isn't wearing her contact currently. When she turned her own eyes to me, I can see her shining yellow eyes. When my mother wear her contacts, they change to purple instantly. I still try to get used to the magic on my eyes with my glasses so they won't get after effects. I managed to get them to reduce down to a minute after taking them off.

"Mother, I have great news." Soon my mother's smile widens a little. "And I would love to hear it Darren. Tell me about it while I am cooking."

That gives me a chance to take the chair from the table and sit by the counter as I look over it, watching my mother cook. Watching every move so I know new recipes or new techniques from the master.

"Well, my classroom gained a new classmate. For once, she's different than the rest of the others. She's cool." My mother give off a soft chuckle. "Cool? Never heard that come out of your mouth in a while." I nodded. "I know right."

"What's her name?" She asked me. "Oh, Aki Marie." "Aki Marie?" My mother repeated. "Aki Marie." I gave her confirm, she's right. "Doesn't that remind you of your idol at your school?"

I blushed. "S-shush." I hold my head. "Y-you're making me blush."

"Darren." My mother called my name in a sing-song voice. "Seems like you have more than just a good classmate."

"Yes, yes I did. I bumped into Ari again but this time it's different. Instead of a tour of the school and being a good friend. She.. she.." I trembled in excitement.

"What did she do?" Thank you mom. "She asked me to the Moonlight Rift! She, herself, asked.. M-E to the Moonlight Rift."

I can tell my mother stopped cooking because she paused. She turned to me quickly with shocked eyes. "My boy.. got a date?"

I nodded. My mother soon reaches over and hugged me quite tightly. "My boy, my boy, my sweet baby boy. I am so happy." Soon my mother release me a bit but only from the hug, she still has my shoulders. "Young Mathis, you made sure to give that girl a sweet time. You are going to go out on that date and prove to everyone that even you can get the ladies." My mother is like two parents put together.

She's everything to me. She's the best mother that can relate to me, and I would never replace her. She's just in her early 30s, about 34 to be exactly. Ah heheh. People mistake her to be either my sister or my girlfriend. Geez, it's excruciating to say the least.

"I will." I laughed a little nervously.

"Darren, let's go shopping downtown once I get dinner done." My stomach responsed before I can say anything. "I'll take that as a yes." We both laughed in this little wooden home of ours.

Time passed a little as the sun is still in the sky. Me and my mother are in our little express vessel and we head into town. Everyone has various rides that travels them to town. My own mother has three transportation vehicles for our household. The one we are currently in is a small car.

It felt quite nice to be in this car. "Hey, Darren?" "Hmm?" My mother soon gain my attention. "I may upgrade this car after your graduation. You may get to keep this car as a present from me." My eyes soon gleamed. "Really?" "Really."

I pumped my fists. "Yes!" I feel like such a kid, I feel so bad in my own way.

"But for now, I'll get our 'special' ride ready fro the Moonlight Rift. Gotta give a good impression ya know."

I smiled. Mother is the greatest, she can do anything I swear. She's anything beyond belief. And slight part of town knows her very well.

The drive is beautiful, especially out in the daylight. I let the breeze flow through my hair as I take my time to enjoy the scene.

When we reached downtown, it's filled with people brimming in joy and carefree personality. Every time I get near this town, I enjoy it every way I can. It takes me about 45 minutes to get to school but 15 minutes here. 5 minutes anywhere by my mom's driving. I wonder who my mom is before I came into the picture.

"Sweet, crowded but a good parking spot."

"Eh?" That did kind of brought me out of dreamland. My mother soon made a harsh turn then skid the car to land by fountain in the middle. Full force have been soon pushed onto my body as slight scream comes out of my mouth as my mother did that.

"W-whoaaaahhhh!" My mother may be great at many things but there's a few things I wish she's not quite skillful of. One.. perfect racing skills. That was a harsh drift.

"Here we are Darren." I stand up wobbling side to side. "Yaaaay." "Now let's get shopping." A loud thud can be heard. "Darren?" It was me, I couldn't handle it no more.

It was just 5 minutes and we are just shopping like mad. My mother wanted me to have a good look for myself but also be prepared for anything. She allowed me off the hook to wearing sneakers of any type as long they are black. They can be black and white but, it has to only black or black and white to pass her test.

It's a little embarrassment to say the least. My mother is acting what people would call the fashion police, although I am not much the one to judge. I understand what my mother wanted me to look good for the rift. But I wish she can calm down a little on the dating part.

It's not even a minute break that she kept going about dating a little. "And Darren, try your best to be a better man. You don't want your date stolen by those jerks at your schools. You're going to have to stand on your feet and be proud of who you are. There's guarantees of them backing off."

"Got it." I am wearing some outfits. I hope I can look good for the Moonlight Rift, anything can happen and mother's right about me looking good. I want to be good in my own way. "Hey, mother?"

"Hmm?" She looked up from what she's doing to look at me.

"Do you think I can be the perfect guy for my date?" I said it softly and cautiously. I feared for a bad answer.. maybe almost like usual.

My mother smiled to me and come up to pet my head. Her pets are calming and great to me, it helps me in the best situations. She looked at me with a smile. "Yes. Oh Darren, your my son and I have taught you enough. And teached you more than you think. In my own point of view, you're the best guy that there is. You were like your father when he was a teenager but more of a darker yet cool personality. Compare to then and now, you'll prove to make a lady lucky compared to others with yourself. You seem dark and annoying to others, but you can show your worth if you can extend to where everyone can truly see who you are within." Those words enough give me some form of confidence within myself.

Thanks mother. If you're that positive. And with those words and a new outfit by my side, I am prepared for the Moonlight Rift!