By the time Peacemaker had realized what Ermine intended to do, it was already too late. Fiercely, the IceWing drug him into the deeper parts of the water, all the while her talons threatened to open his throat. As the water went over his eyes, Peacemaker could only see the shimmering reflection of Ermine, her eyes glaring down at him as she closed her grasp around his throat.

Eventually, the water covered his snout and mouth, effectively cutting off his oxygen. No matter what he did, Ermine would either kill him by suffocating him or slitting his throat. Her grip felt as strong as iron, even if she was just a student Peacemaker knew at that moment that she was trained in combat.

The voices in Peacemaker's mind that would normally urge to be calm were silent, as if not expecting this to happen. However: in the darkest corners of his mind, he could hear a whisper.

Fight back…

It was a voice he knew.

She's going to kill you if you don't!

How could he not know this voice?

Kill her!

After all, it had once been his.

Kill her now! Or you're dead!

His voice, when he was Darkstalker.

With the voice, came an instinct. An instinct to reach out and claw at his attacker. To fight back at all costs, no matter the consequences. It was an urge Peacemaker was tempted to obey. Despite his gasping for air in the grip of Ermine's talons, he knew that he could reach and slash at her throat. He could raise his wings and beat them against her head, then reach up and attack her.

The need to survive at all costs was tempting, all he would have to do was attack Ermine.

But he wouldn't!

While his vision began to grow spotty and dark, a single thought passed through Peacemaker's mind.

"I deserve this."

After everything he had done as Darkstalker and what had happened to Tempest, his life wasn't worth living. Not when everything had been chosen for him since his transformation into Peacemaker.

All he had to do…was accept his fate.

…

…

…

"Ermine! Enough!" A muffled voice echoed through Peacemaker's ears from above the water as he felt Ermine's talons release from his throat. Opening his eyes, he saw a white dragon standing behind Ermine, his talons reaching for the nape of her neck. "Release him."

Ermine was sent flying away from Peacemaker as the larger dragon pushed her away from him.

Raising from the water, instinctively he started breathing again as he coughed for air. Sitting up Peacemaker looked up to see who it had been that had pulled Ermine off of him. To his surprise, he recognized the white scales with the light blue hue over them.

It was Winter…The first dragon Darkstalker had enchanted upon waking from his two thousand year slumber.

His light blue eyes stared down at Peacemaker, he looked just as surprised as Peacemaker at what he had just done. Why had the IceWing saved him? After everything he had done to Winter as Darkstalker, Peacemaker did not know why the former prince would want to save him.

"You're defending him!" Ermine's snarl made Peacemaker turn to her. She was back on her feet, her lips were curled upwards, baring her teeth in a snarl. With her wings flared she stormed up to Winter. "Have you forgotten everything he has done? To our Tribe? To your family…to you?!"

Winter did not flinch nor back down in the face of Ermine's yelling. Instead, the older dragon stepped towards her. Unlike Ermine, Winter's wings remained by his side, his body language much more peaceful than hers'.

"I remember exactly what he has done," Winter's reply was calm, but underneath Peacemaker could hear him biting back frustration and anger. His words were not a denial of Ermine's, but an agreement.

Yet he still stood between them. Whatever Winter's reasons were, he did not move an inch.

Looking at Ermine, Peacemaker saw her glare at him. While she glared at him with so much hate and spite, all Peacemaker could do was stare back at her, remorsefully. Nothing he said or did could undo the things Darkstalker had done to the IceWings, to Ermine personally.

He took away a brother from her before he could even live life. Now Tempest, his oldest and best friend, was comatose because of him.

To his surprise, he saw Ermine's demeanor and gaze soften. Her wings fell to her side as she stood up straight. Her eyes softened, ever so slightly as tears returned to them.

"Ermine…" Peacemaker whispered. He didn't know what else to do but say her name.

"Don't…" Ermine growled. Just as quickly as she had appeared behind him before attacking, she turned her back on him and Winter and stormed out of the cave.

It was just him and Winter. The former Prince stood where he was, his gaze at the ground. He couldn't imagine what he was thinking about. When Winter's gaze turned over to him, Peacemaker diverted his eyes from the IceWing.

"Why does it seem that I have to be the one who saves your family?" Blinking, Peacemaker looked back up at him. In Winter's eyes, he did not see hatred or resentment. It was just an apathetic stare. Winter continued, clarifying. "First, I saved your mother from the ice caves. Now? I save you."

"What?" Was all Peacemaker could say. What was he talking about? Saving his mother?

Wait...the Ice Caves? The ritual that Ermine had talked about earlier in the term, that Winter had supposedly ruined and cost him his name and status in the Tribe? Somehow, his mother had been involved in it? And Winter risked everything, to save her?

Winter examined Peacemaker closely with a raised brow. As if expecting some kind of reaction from him. When it seemed Peacemaker's reaction wasn't what he expected, he continued.

"You don't really remember everything, do you?" Winter asked, clearly suspicious but he didn't seem angry.

He knew Peacemaker had been Darkstalker, so there was no point in denying it.

Shaking his head, he looked at the ground, ashamed.

"Only bits and pieces…" Peacemaker muttered. In his head, he remembered parts of his dragonethood, the Night Kingdom along the southwestern coastline of the continent. He remembered moments of his father treating him like a mistake, he remembered how he always loved being around Whiteout.

Of course, he remembered some memories that occurred when Darkstalker had awoken from his imprisonment under the remnants of Agate Mountain. Flashes of the darkness and confinement of the stone always caused his scales to rustle. Then, he remembered hearing Moon's thoughts, scared and confused, and how, in a desperate attempt to stay sane, reached out to her.

From there, they had become friends.

But these were not the only memories he saw pieces of…he saw the horrible things he'd done as Darkstalker. He saw his father's murder in front of the NightWing tribe, done by his magic. He remembered casting the enchantment on the IceWings…and using magic to make Winter trust him, so he did not have to worry about hurting any of Moon's friends.

All of these memories made Peacemaker sad and angry…They were passing images, not complete memories.

Winter sighed as he heard Peacemaker's answer.

"How do you feel?" Winter asked. It sounded like concern, but Peacemaker did not sense any kind of genuine concern in the IceWing's voice.

"Confused," Peacemaker's admitted, trying to keep his tears from tearing up. "Everything I thought I knew…was a lie." Looking back at Winter, he asked. "Why, why did you save me? You of all dragons…Darkstalker enchanted you first."

Winter answered, coldly. "Because I know you being alive is a better punishment than letting Ermine kill you"

He should have felt hurt, angry, that Winter said that. But he didn't…in his heart, he knew Winter was right. Being alive meant that he was struggling to find out who he was, death would have been a mercy to what he was enduring now. At least, in death, everything was over.

This was Winter's punishment to him, for everything Darkstalker had done to him and the IceWings.

Yet, Peacemaker did not just see cruelty in Winter's eyes. He could have sworn he even saw…sympathy?

He knew Peacemaker had seen it too, evident when Winter looked away.

"Are you going to tell…everyone?" Peacemaker asked. As he asked this, the idea of the whole world knowing who he was scared him too death. But he knew there was nothing he could do to stop the Quartz Winglet or Winter from telling the truth.

"No," Winter answered, surprising Peacemaker. "I made a promise."

"To Moon?" Peacemaker realized, faintly recalling visions Darkstalker had of Moon where she and Winter could have married, though those had always been unlikely when compared to the number of futures she had with Qibli.

Peacemaker realized why Moon had so hurriedly rushed into Sunny's class cave when Peacemaker and "Hope" had a conference with Winter. It was no secret Winter had connected the dots and had spoken with Moon afterward.

But for Winter to keep his secret entirely?

Winter was slow to respond to his question, but he nodded.

"Yes," Turning his gaze, Winter kneeled down to Peacemaker's eye level. His light blue eyes examining Peacemaker's own. "But my brother had been under an enchantment for years, just like the one Kinkajou put on you. Even if it had been the briefest moment, I still remember the feeling of slowly forgetting who I was."

He didn't know that. Whatever had happened during that time, clearly impacted Winter's view on enchantments like the one that "Created" Peacemaker.

"I can't forgive you for what you've done," Winter explained. "But as much as I want to see you suffer, I can never agree with what the others did to you. For now, you living with this confusion and torment is good enough for me."

All Peacemaker could do, was nod at Winter. There was nothing left to say, the former Ice Wing Prince stood up and walked away from him.

Before he left Peacemaker realized something he needed to say. Even if he was angry with the lies his mother had told him: Winter had saved her.

"Winter," Peacemaker called out, looking at him. Curiously, Winter stopped and glanced back at him with a suspicious gaze. "Thank you…for saving my mother."

She had lied to him his entire life. But that did not stop the fact that, deep down, he was thankful that the IceWing had sacrificed his name, status, and reputation among the IceWings for ruining a bloody tradition. He could not remember how his mother had been involved in the trial that Winter and his brother fought in, but all he needed to know was that she was free because of him.

The least he could do was thank Winter for that sacrifice. For giving her a second chance.

He almost seemed surprised when Peacemaker thanked him. Was he wondering if it was Peacemaker who said those words? Or Darkstalker? Whatever was going through his head, he acknowledged Peacemaker's thanks with a nod.

Then, as quickly as he had arrived, Winter walked out. Leaving Peacemaker alone in the cave, with the unconscious form of Tempest's submerged body.

Glancing back at her body, he saw that Tempest had not moved an inch under the water. She was oblivious to the struggle of Ermine's attempt to end his life. Oblivious that Ermine had tried to avenge her.

"Tempest," Peacemaker whispered as he returned to the lake's shoreline. "What do I do?" He pleaded quietly. Parts of his mind encourages him to live the lie that had been constructed for him. Others encouraged him to get angry, to lash out at the world. Then, there were the voices that told him to just end it all. This conflict rang through his head like a drum, and it hurt. "Please…tell me something…anything…"

There was no answer. Tempest remained still.

Edging closer into the water, Peacemaker allowed it to rise above his chest, neck, and his head. Eventually, he was completely covered in water. Holding his breath, he descended to the lake floor until he was near Tempest's body.

Reaching out with his talons, he lifted her unconscious head and slowly pressed his forehead against hers.

I'm sorry… Peacemaker thought.

He stayed there for the longest time, under the water with Tempest's body, their foreheads pressed against each other.

The last memory he had of her flashed in his mind, moments before he and Cliff had awoken. Whatever the message she had spoken to him in aquatic had burned itself into his mind. A memory that would likely be the last he would have of her.

As much as he wanted to stay below the water longer, his lungs convinced him it was time to surface as they screamed for air. He was tempted to not comply with them and to just suffocate. That would end all of the confusion and misery.

But a thought crossed his mind, and that thought urged him to ascend to the surface.

His entire life as "Peacemaker" had been in the Rainforest, living among the NightWings and RainWings

He needed to return home. What he hoped that would accomplish? He didn't know.

But anywhere was better than here, in Jade Mountain. Ermine hated him, the rest of the Quartz Winglet likely hated him, the thought of being close to Moon right now was unbearably painful, and being anywhere near Tempest's body only filled him with grief.

After breaking the water's surface, Peacemaker swam back to the shoreline after regaining his breath. Once he shook himself dry, he spared a glance at Tempest's unconscious form sadly. Realizing there was nothing he could say that would bring her back, he turned around and walked out of the cave with the intent on leaving Jade Mountain altogether.

It was time for him to return home…

Whether anyone knew he had gone, or just didn't care, did not matter to him.

What did matter was that no one stopped him. That would make leaving the Academy much easier. By the time he had snapped his wing and took to the air, the sun had largely vanished from the sky leaving nothing but darkness in the air. He had no idea how long it had taken him to leave Jade Mountain entirely and reach the Rainforest, but it was long enough for thick rainclouds to form and start to brutally downpour.

Normally, he enjoyed it when the rain was thick. But now? Every drop just made him feel heavier the closer he flew to the Rainforest.

The closer he returned home, the more anticipation he felt.

What should he expect when he arrived home?

Would 'Hope' be in their house? Or in the RainWing village?

He didn't know…all he knew, was to return home and stay away from Jade Mountain.

Once he came into view of the Rainforest's thick treetops, Peacemaker began his descent. His wings had begun to grow heavy the more he felt uneasy returning home, meaning it was best to walk the rest of the way to the NightWing village.

As he glided through the tree branches and descended to the ground, something flashed before his eyes.

"Slow down Peacemaker!" Somebody laughed loudly.

"Come ooooonnnnn Kinkajou!" Replied a tiny voice.

Gasping, Peacemaker felt his wings close. Without the support of the air, gravity took effect as he fell several feet from the ground, landing in the dirt and grass. Despite feeling sore, the worst Peacemaker felt was in his head as the voices continued.

"You are a very fast climber for such a little dragonet!" Came another voice, happily.

"Faster than Kinkajou?!"

"Nah uh…Definitely not faster than me, Moon."

"Maybe not as fast as Kinkajou, but still very fast."

"YAHHH!"

"Stop it!" Peacemaker shouted as he dug his talons into his scalp, his ruff opened fiercely. "Just shut up! SHUT UP!"

The voices went silent, leaving only the sound of rain beating against his scales and the leaves of the tree.

Standing to his feet, he forced himself to trudge through the mud and grass that caked around his feet. Despite the soreness, he felt he could still walk. If the voices could just remain silent and out of his head, he could reach the NightWing village.

Thankfully, he did not need to go far as he reached the outer edge of the village. In the distance, he could see huts (many of which were built around trees and offered NightWings a multi-leveled village, not unlike their RainWing neighbors) with firelight inside them, where NightWing families enjoyed the peaceful, rainy, night. Hardly any of the tribe were ever out at this time of night despite the name of their tribe.

Because he and his mother lived on the outskirts of the village, it took him even less time to find the hut that had been his home for the last six years. Approaching the medium-sized hut, Peacemaker stopped as he approached the front door…allowing himself a moment to look up at the home.

Wrapping his wings around him as a way to shield himself from the raindrops, he remembered how he would race in and out of the huts small door. Always not far behind him, were either his mother, Moon and Kinkajou (sometimes all three of them at a time.) He remembered giggling so happy whenever he left the house with them.

He'd always eager for what the new day would bring.

Three moons…that felt like a thousand years ago.

Taking a deep breath, he pressed the palm of his talons up against the wooden door and pushed it open. The familiar creaking of the hinges graced his ears as he felt the warm air rush out the door and brush against his face and nostrils.

As soon as he entered the hut he was met with the familiar sight of the living room and the kitchen. The fire pit in the middle of the room had not been lit for hours, confirming to Peacemaker that his mother was not home. Had not been home for the entire day, even.

He almost sighed in relief when he realized he was alone.

While his mother would be coming back, but he didn't want to confront her now.

If today had been better, he would have felt relief at the realization that he had not been home…for months. Not since the morning he left for the academy. This realization, however, became hampered as he remembered everything he had learned.

Now he started to feel that his eyes were heavy with exhaustion from his flight home.

Obeying his body's desire for sleep: Peacemaker stepped towards the far end of the house to the place he knew he could rest in peace.

His room.

Peacemaker felt some relief when he entered his room and saw his bed and blankets…Trudging over to his sleeping area, he was about to lay down.

Until the wall beside his bed caught his eye.

It was his "art wall." A collection of drawings he made starting from when he and 'Hope' first moved into the NightWing village. Some of these paintings were from when he was a baby dragonet, just blotches of paint spread everywhere across the parchment. As he got older the paintings became much more concise. They were not masterpieces, but the imagery he could recognize.

Many of these paintings were of when Moon would take him exploring in the Rainforest.

One such painting, in particular, was of one night they had climbed up to the top of a large tree in the Rainforest and watched as a full moon hung in the sky. The bottom of the painting was covered in dark green paint, the trees he saw. Most of it was dark blue, representing the night sky. Then, the yellow circle…the moon that hung in the sky that night.

Walking up to it, Peacemaker felt his heart flutter when he placed his talons up on the wall and touched the painting with the tip of his claws.

He remembered the night as if it had happened yesterday. His mother was gone in the Mud Kingdom that day, leaving Peacemaker alone with Moon as she took care of the year and a half Dragonet.

An entire day was spent in the Rainforest. Moon guided him across the forest floor, they followed streams, watched animals from a spot in the trees, looked for strawberries (Peacemaker remembered he was looking for the "biggest Strawberry in the world" that day.) The afternoon was filled with lunch and naps before returning to roaming around the Rainforest for hours.

When it began to get dark, Moon told him to climb onto her back, and hold on tightly to her neck. He did just that while she scaled up one of the largest trees in the rainforest. Occasionally Moon would stop for breaks on branches of the tree, before continuing to scale up it again.

After a long climb, Moon reached the topmost layer of the tree. From the top of the tree, Peacemaker was given a beautiful view of the top of the Rainforest, his blue eyes widened in awe as he looked out at the see of treetops, with Jade Mountain rising in the distance.

Higher in the sky, Peacemaker gazed up at the single full moon that hung in the sky, it's silver light washing over the land. This had been the first time he had been so high above the rainforest. He felt so mesmerized.

"Pretty!" Peacemaker had said, looking up at Moon as she lowered him onto a branch they sat on. Looking at the full moon, he grinned and pointed up at it. "Moon!"

At this, his oldest friend giggled.

"Yes, a moon," She said. "I was born under two full moons."

"Cooooollll…" Peacemaker said, his grin only growing.

Together, the two friends looked out at the night sky, watching the stars blink in the distance like those of a NightWing's wings.

He couldn't wait for mom to…to be here…

"Peacemaker?" Moon whispered. Her talons touched his chin and tilted his head up to look at her. "What's wrong?"

"Just…I want mom here…" Peacemaker sighed, trying not to sound like he was pouting. Mom didn't like it when he pouted.

"I know she wants to be here," Moon explained. "But she has important things to do for the Queen."

"I knnnoooowwww…" He sighed, deeply. "But I miss her."

He felt Moon's wing drape over as she pulled him close to her side.

"My mom had to leave me so many times when I was your age…" Moon explained. "She, had important things to do, to protect me." She seemed sad when she said this. Peacemaker hated it when she was sad. Resting his head against her shoulder, he closed his eyes. "But, I promise: You won't be alone. Even if your mom isn't here, you'll always have me or Kinkajou. And if I'm not here? Then your mother will always be here. You're never going to be alone, Peacemaker. As long as you're with us, you'll never be sad."

Peacemaker looked up at her.

"Promise?" He asked, hopeful.

Moon smiled down at him.

"I promise, on the moon."

Peacemaker blinked the tears from his eyes as his talons stroked the painting.

That memory…it had been one of his favorites. It offered him security that he'd never be alone. As long as he was with his mother, Moon, Kinkajou, and their friends, that he'd be happy.

He'd be safe…

But…that was then…this was now.

A sensation crawled into his brain as Peacemaker heard a small ringing noise in his ears. At first, it was small. But every that second passed it grew louder…and louder…until his entire head ached. Clutching his head, Peacemaker backed away from the art wall and fell onto his back, writhing on the ground in agony as the noise echoed in his ears. He felt as though he wants to rip his scales out!

"I don't want to lose all my memories! I'd forget Clearsight…she'd be even more gone than she is now!"

…

"What? But…how-I didn't see-"

"I know! Never saw me coming! Taking down by a ball of fluff! Who's insignificant now, frogface!"

They were leaving him…not just his magic, his foresight, or mindreading. His entire being, it was leaving him. His memories, his emotions…the faces of every dragon he had ever known. One by one, he forgot their names. Arctic, Fathom, Whiteout…Clearsight.

They were gone…forever…

…

Gasping for air, Peacemaker opened his eyes as the ringing noise grew silent and his head stopped throbbing. Tears fell from his eyes as he looked up at the ceiling of his room, the memories of his last moments as Darkstalker flooding back to him. Remembering the moment he…no…he was forced to forget them, and who he was.

The moment he started living the lie crafted for him.

Sitting up, Peacemaker looked up at his wall of paintings…and at the painting of the night sky, his most precious memory.

The one where Moon promised that he would be safe and happy when around her, Kinkajou, their friends, and his mother.

A lie he believed without a second thought.

Like the rest of his life.

Grinding his teeth together, Peacemaker bared his teeth at the wall, a growl originating from his throat and echoed through the room.

Opening his mouth a cloud of fire blew forth from his throat and struck the paintings, instantly burning a section of the wall. Glaring at the unburnt paintings, his anger grew hotter than the sun as he rose his claws and swiped at the wall.

As the scorched pieces of paper fell to the floor, Peacemaker glared at the rest of the pictures he'd made. All of the "memories" he had were just as much of a lie as the lies his mother and Moon told him! Raising his claws, he started to slash at the remaining paintings and tore them to pieces.

Eventually, the entire floor of his room was now covered in parchment, some reduced to ash while others shredded. After the wall had been completely clawed up, the anger in Peacemaker had not subsided. The anger only grew! The entire room he had slept in, a form of security for years, had been nothing but a cocoon of lies!

The toys of his dragonethood? Lies!

Books? Lies!

Everything he had crafted? Lies!

In an only growing fit of rage, Peacemaker stood in the middle of his room. Nothing was unturned or undamaged. Looking around, he looked for anything else that had contributed to the lie he was forced to live.

His eyes turned to a wall…and he saw a dragon looking back at him.

Light blue eyes, black scales, a ruff, white horns and features of a NightWing/RainWing hybrid.

A mirror…with Peacemaker's reflection glaring at him with hatred.

Glaring back at the mirror, Peacemaker stormed up to it.

The worst lie he had discovered today? He was an enchantment! He was not a dragon! Just a cage for someone else!

Screaming, Peacemaker balled his talons into a fist and threw them at the mirror.

CRACK!

The mirror shattered on impact. Once a perfect reflection was no broken into many pieces. Most of the glass just barely remained hanging on the frame of the mirror while others had fallen to the floor pathetically. There were some shards that had stuck to his scales but had not penetrated the skin beneath.

As his rage began to cool, only then did Peacemaker feel the soreness in his talons. In the end, he didn't care. All he could do was glare at the reflection that stared back at him.

Pulling his talons away from the fractured mirror Peacemaker looked back at his shattered reflection. And then all of the rage he had felt seconds ago was transformed…into horror.

Gasping, Peacemaker backed away as he stared at his reflection. He saw his light blue eyes widened, mouth agape. His reflection looked back at him with just as much horror.

But on the other half of the mirror? He saw a different reflection…

A NightWing, like Peacemaker. But with no RainWing features. His horns were twisted, contrary to Peacemaker's smooth ones. While his eyes were closed, his scaly brow wincing tightly as if caught in a horrible sleep, Peacemaker spotted a white teardrop marking on the corner of his eye just like the one Moon has.

It was him…

Peacemaker…as Darkstalker.

Breathing rapidly, Peacemaker quickly raised his talons to his face. Desperately he felt his horns, eyes, and the rest…but he only felt the same face he had known.

Still, the other dragon remained in the other half of the reflection.

Blinking his eyes once, Peacemaker opened them to look at the mirror…only to see his normal reflection staring back at him with horror.

His breathing continued to grow faster despite this, to the point he was gasping for air.

Struggling to reach his bed, Peacemaker felt the world turn upside down as gravity pulled him down onto the bed.

Even as his body hit the bed, Peacemaker felt his mind fall into the darkness of sleep.