A Brighter Future Ahead
AN: Another short chapter done in two hours. I love how fast these things get done.
I'm going to respond to 2 reviews before I get on with it. I'm not naming names because that just feels too personal to me. It feels like I'm purposefully singling people out when I do that, so I'll just respond without doing that.
First, Whiteout will be at least mentioned in the next couple of chapters. I don't know if she'll appear later, but since you pointed it out, she probably will.
Second, I realize that Fathom forgave Darkstalker in the actual book, but in my defense, in canon, he had five years to think about everything that happened...not five days. The sense of anger and betrayal would be much stronger this soon after the events in my opinion. This is just my take on this, but I completely understand where you are coming from. I hope that you'll enjoy it, nevertheless.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire.
Darkstalker:
They had been flying leisurely during the nights and resting during the days. He had originally wanted to fly with all haste in order to reclaim his scroll, but Clearsight had wanted them to take their time. Right now, they were in no hurry. They answered to no one anymore.
For the first time in a long while, their future wasn't filled with darkness and despair…yet. There were still a few lingering strands, but they were the minority now.
Almost a week had passed since they set off from Jade Mountain, and they were finally approaching their destination. Daybreak was almost upon them, but they had pushed through the entire night in order to make it here. At this point, even Clearsight wanted to see her friend again.
They could see two lumps huddled up next to each other—obviously still sleeping. One was a very welcoming green color…the other was a not-so-welcoming purple shade. He sighed at that. If she was here, then Fathom had obviously read his scroll and freed her.
He could hear the excitement in Clearsight's thoughts. She was obviously happy to see both of them again, but Darkstalker couldn't care less about them at the moment. Where is it? Where is it!?
He searched frantically yet quietly through the small camp. He didn't want Clearsight to suspect anything as she tried waking the slumbering Seawings. He even went so far as to search through both of their bags. "What are you doing!?" Clearsight whisper-yelled at him.
He payed no attention to her once he noticed a small mound in the sand. Black leather was peaking out from under its cover. He crept forward and brushed the sand off almost reverently before picking it up. He just stared at it with an almost dark satisfaction. Finally! At long last!
He realized now that his scroll could easily fall into the wrong claws if he wasn't careful, so without another though, he threw it back onto the sand and bathed it in his fire. All at once, he could feel the energy returning to him. He could feel his claws tingling with all of the magic now at his disposal.
Through this time, he could feel Fathom panicking. He had woken up right when he set fire to his scroll. He looked towards the other three and smiled warmly at them. He could hear the fear in the two Seawings' minds—especially Indigo's—now that he had his powers returned to him, "I apologize for that display," he started smoothly, "but this whole thing made me realize that my magic is safest within me."
He walked over to them with a cool swagger and sat down with a grin, "You should relax, Fathom. I won't use it unless absolutely necessary; I've learned my lesson. Besides, if we stay here away from everyone else, why would I use it?"
Fathom's face suddenly hardened, and Darkstalker was so caught off guard by the sudden change in demeanor that he was unprepared for the fist that connected to his jaw. Darkstalker's face has snapped to the side, and he merely looked at an equally shocked Clearsight before turning back to the Seawing standing in front of him. He could hear several different vulgarities that Fathom was throwing at him…as well as why he was so mad, "Listen, I was just—"
Another fist came flying at him, but he was prepared this time. Darkstalker caught Fathom's claw in his own with a snarl. Fathom was the first to speak. When he did, he was accusing and angry. He sounded like a completely different dragon than the one he knew only a week ago, "You tried to enchant me! You tried to take Indigo away from me! Why should I trust you after what you did to us—to everyone!?"
The snarl on Darkstalker's face fell to be replaced with guilt, and he turned before walking away. "You shouldn't," he whispered as he wandered away.
He knew that Fathom would be angry, but he didn't expect him to be confrontational or physical. It was shocking—a crushing blow to his spirit. All but Clearsight had forsaken him, it seemed.
Speaking of which, "Are you okay, Darkstalker?"
He sat down on the beach and watched the tide roll in. "Did you know?" he asked quietly. She was silent as she sat next to him. He turned to gaze at her and sighed when he realized that she did.
"I knew that it was possible, but I honestly did not expect it," she whispered back to him, sympathetically. "I thought that he would be happy to see you again despite everything that happened."
"How likely was it that this would happen, Clearsight?" he asked her. "I need to know, please," he looked her in the eye, pleading.
She didn't answer for a long moment before she leaned her head against his, "About one in ten…I'm sorry," she replied, regretfully.
He wrapped a wing around her as he rested his head atop hers, "It's not your fault." He was quiet for a moment as he thought about everything. It was true that he wouldn't use his magic unless there was no other choice. He didn't want a repeat of what happened in the City of Night.
He didn't want to be evil. He wanted to be remembered as the hero, not as the villain. He wanted to be the Nightwing's savior…not the instrument of their destruction.
He closed his eyes as despair began to overwhelm him. Clearsight would never abandon him, true, but his mother, his sister, his Queen…his best friend…they had all abandoned him. He was truly forsaken. A tear escaped his eye and landed on his soul mate's head.
She looked up at him in surprise. He could hear her thoughts: Is he crying!?
He sniffled as he wiped his eyes, "I'M N-NOT CRYING!" he yelled. His voice had cracked in the middle, and she smiled at him, affectionately. "I'm just sweating out of my eyes!"
She laughed, lightly, "Whatever you say, my love."
He was quiet for a minute as he looked back at the two Seawings. They looked to be gathering a few supplies here and there. He could hear that they wanted to build a house…raise a family.
He could hear that Fathom was truly happy now, and it was all because of Indigo. Despite that, he still despised the purple Seawing. Even now, he had unsavory thoughts toward her. He turned away in a rush before shoving his snout under Clearsight's jaw and breathed in deeply. Her scent instantly calmed him down. However, she was glancing down at him curiously, "Are you okay, Darkstalker?"
"No," he answered truthfully. "I need your help, Clearsight." He could feel her confusion at his words, so he pulled away and looked into her eyes. "Help me be the dragon you think I can be."
AN: I hope you enjoyed this. Tell me what you think.
Until Next Time
AdmiralCole22
