Hello folks! I'm ADAC, and this is my first effort here. I love WOF, and I hope that my little nonsense things might add to your experience of the series as well. A few things: This

represents a perspective change or time skip, or I'll mark it with a stamp (I.e. Two Hours Later or something). I'm going to try with grammar and proper writing, but you may notice a mistake or two, especially with spacing and such. You hopefully know all the canon characters, so you can tell which are mine. This story in particular is probably overdone, but after rereading books 3 and 4, I got inspired. Also, my segments/ chapters are incredibly short, so sorry. Without much else to go on, let's take it away!

Blacklight sighed again as he stared at the empty scroll before him. There were so many options, none of which he would excel at. He hated his current job, having to constantly fly around the fortress through the unbearable air of the volcano, spying through the smoke for threats. Eventually, one of the choices caught his eye.

"RainWing test specialist," he murmured aloud. Living on the NightWing island, you didn't get many opportunities to meet the other tribes or learn about them, the only information coming from a few scrolls in the library. And RainWings, by the description, were by far the most interesting. Imagine being able to change color at will, or vanish into thin air. He knew that some others like Mastermind were involved, so he would have some teaching at the least. He hesitantly checked the box. Here's to a new start.

Of course, it was a really long while until the transfer actually happened. Soon enough, Blacklight found himself standing in front of the many prisoner caves, with no indication on what to do. They hadn't even told him anything on how to start.

"Just great." He looked around, and deciding to figure it out himself, he chose one three caves from the far right. The guard gave him a suspicious look, but he flashed the new ID card and she relented the gaze. Relieved, he entered. Before today, Blacklight knew not much about the scenario with the RainWings, only they were being taken in to be tested for some greater purpose. He'd even heard rumors of invasion and war, what with the issue plaguing the SandWings.

But he never thought any NightWing would do something like what was before him.

A female RainWing was chained strictly to the far wall on all limbs, a large clamp covering her mouth entirely. Her scales were pale and sad, not green or vibrant like the scrolls had described, and if he didn't know better by gentle breathing, she was dead. Enemies in war, he could understand. But the RainWings...they haven't done anything. No one deserved this. Her dull eyes opened, and she watched him with the expression of a dragon who had given up all hope and resigned to her fate. The whole thing was just so wrong. He glanced back at the card in his claws, with his name and new title etched in. He suddenly despised the phrase "RainWing testing". Glancing to make sure no one was listening in from the entrance, he turned to the gloomy rainforest dweller with sorrow and apology in his eyes. Right then, he would make an important choice.

"Hi. I'm Blacklight. And I am going to get you out of here."

Neon stared with growing curiosity at the NightWing across from her as he searched around the small cave. Unlike the green that was common among his tribe, his eyes glimmered a deep purple at her, likely the cause for his name. Similar violet highlights glowed on his wingtips and talons like little gemstone deposits, and it was beautiful. He was beautiful. The only thing ruining his handsome features was a long scar running from the back of his head to the bottom left corner of his maw. It looked fresh and still appeared red in the dim light, and she wondered if it was still painful. Still, something about this Blacklight seemed different from all of the other cruel NightWings that had performed their experiments. He had a more...soothing, majestic aura. That, and he had just said he was planning to free her. Neon felt something click clumsily against the bonds holding her jaws shut. With a few more clacks and fiddling, the metal clamp landed loudly on the stone floor. Just like that, she had gained more freedom in the blink of an eye than ever in a week. Blacklight pushed the clamp aside, also setting down the key spear he had just been using.

"You don't have to worry, I'm not going to be doing any testing. I wouldn't even know how. And, on the topic...I am very sorry. For anything they may have done to you." She said nothing in response, watching as his violet eyes investigated hers for a bit. They were very caring.

"I...I would free you now, but there are a lot of my…'tribemates' around." Realizing this, Neon saw this was a huge risk for Blacklight to be talking openly with one of the prisoners, and in such a kind manner. A large risk for her.

"Uh, b-but don't give up on it! I'll make it a goal. Maybe in a few days, when everyone will be busy with whatever it is that's going on. Yeah, that'll work…" It dawned on her that he was actually serious about this and it wasn't some cheeky prank to rescue her. She would normally argue she didn't need some knight in shining armor, but with the circumstances...The NightWing muttered to himself about what to do some more, and she found the courage to finally say something, the first word she would ever speak to one of his tribe.

Her dry throat cracked and ruined her voice as she asked, "Why?"

He blinked at her again, in thought. She noticed that whenever he was contemplating something, his ears flailed like little hummingbird wings on the sides of his head, as if trying to shake off a pestering bug during sun time. What an adorable quirk.

"I guess...this whole imprisonment thing is just wrong to me. Capturing the subjects instead of gaining consent and respectfully observing them in nature? The RainWings aren't meant to be treated in such a way. I mean, aren't they dragons too?" Neon flexed, surprised. She had similar thoughts herself. The whole war seemed wrong as well; so many were fighting and dying, and for what? Another coughing fit erupted from her lungs, brought on by the putrid air and harsh conditioning.

"What's wrong? No, that sounds stupid. What do you need?" She looked back up to meet his face, where the legitimate concern had nearly multiplied, and he looked as if he were caring for a family member rather than a total stranger. The NightWing was unconsciously drawing close to her before he caught himself and pulled away.

Not that...I would necessarily mind…

"Oh, I'm an idiot. Water, right? I'll be back." He bustled away, purple-tipped tail twitching anxiously. The cave grew cold and silent without Blacklight there. Everything felt a little dimmer without a friend, Neon always found. Is he a friend? Several minutes passed. She was just beginning to think he had up and left her when the signature sound of claws on rock echoed in the dull room.

"So sorry. It may not be up to standards, but it's the best I can do." She tried extremely hard to suppress the color that was rising in her scales at seeing him return. Blacklight was about to set down the small metal bowl, and corrected himself with much chagrin, knowing her condition.

"Uh..here." He nervously held it instead to her snout, allowing her to draw from the clear reserves. Is he scared of me? Or maybe just nervous to not mess anything up and make a good first impression. The cool water relaxed her throat, and she felt refreshed.

"There. Three moons, this treatment of you all is hideous. I can't imagine how much more beautiful you would look under normal circumstances."

...Does he mean that?

"Say, I never did get a name. If you're willing to share it, that is." She looked at this NightWing, who had cared when no one else did, who had called her beautiful and given her hope, even in the worst of times, who needed a friend.

"I'm Neon."

And there we go! Thanks for dropping by, and I'll be stopping by to these two again pretty soon. (It's a lot easier being stuck at home a while). ADAC, away!