After a week (and a bit more), Starflight still had no luck. In fact, after two days, he just gave up and stopped going down to the cave for anything. He needed a long break, where he could just do normal things like he used to before the whole meeting. He wanted to forget.

In fact, Starflight wiped his mind clean so thoroughly that he almost forgot to come down and meet Cometchaser again.

Wait… weren't you supposed to meet Cometchaser again today or something?

He sat up. Thankfully, the door was right next to his mat, and he simply needed to rush down the stairs through the door (which was always open), bursting into the cave in the dark of night. He could see Cometchaser, just standing by the table with a lit candle, and could already see the conversation that was about to follow. He braced for the inevitable preppy, annoyed voice, asking why he had taken forever.

He was surprised to find out that nothing happened, and Comet instead just smiled and impatiently gestured for him to come over. Starflight sighed, and walked over to stand beside him. Dragonets would never change.

"Starflight! I found some of the stuff I told you about. It's here!" Comet gestured to a bottle of white powder. Starflight picked it up, and examined it more carefully. Actually, calling it a bottle could have been generous. It was less than half-full. Starflight's shoulders sagged. How was he supposed to conduct tests with such a small amount? (And how was he supposed to make something fireproof with a powder anyway?)

Like he heard his thoughts (he actually did, though), Comet immediately piped up. "You just put some in water. About the same amount of the alum as with the water. Then you soak the paper in it. If you're good, you could probably do at least one test."

Walking away to put the not-quite-a-bottle on a shelf, Starflight raised an eyebrow. "How am I supposed to get more?"

He was quite astonished when Comet simply shrugged. "I don't know. I got it from some humans–"

Starflight's brain was turning itself upside down. Comet apparently had some way to contact (and trade with) humans. And they knew how to make it!

"What… can you say that again? You got it from some humans? But– how? No-no one know how to talk with them, except Sky, and Cricket and Winter, and that's it! How… how?" he paced around the room, trying to comprehend Comet's sentences.

Meanwhile, said dragonet just looked seriously at Starflight. "Alright… keep this a secret. Actually, it would be best if I could show you…"

With that, Comet touched his chest, seemingly grabbing something that didn't exist (or was invisible?) and then, something unbelievable happened.

He melted away. (Not quite, but still…)

His wings and tail disappeared, and he grew smaller. Standing on two legs, and without horns. His snout was slowly flattened, like it was being pushed into his face. His scales melded together and turned a funny color he couldn't describe: somewhere between yellow, white and pale pink? The low light made things worse: it gave everything an orange glow.

And then, of course, he started speaking. It was easier to recognize the words than what Starflight had expected. Sure, somewhat higher-pitched, but still okay.

"Phew. Alright, there. Yeah, I can turn into a human. So I just became one, and got some of the stuff you wanted. Oh, and it's dragon-sized because I was touching it and willed it to also grow."

Somehow, Starflight didn't grow crazy with excitement or fright. His mind was calmly saying, Winter would pay anything to get this guy.

Of course he asked who Winter was, and Starflight just brushed off the question.

"Oh yeah, I can also do something else."

With that, he transformed back into a dragon, but this time he stopped halfway (more like almost to a dragon, but still on two legs) and smiled.

"So, you get wings, horns and everything, and also get to walk on two legs. I can't say whether I'm more impressed at how cool the transformation looked or how freaked out at how weird you look right now."

He just smiled, before promptly completing the rest of the transformation back into a dragon.

"Now, remember. Don't tell anyone this. Or I will haunt your dreams."

Comet said this in such a serious voice that Starflight couldn't help but crack up, and remember his own not-quite-a-secret that was still plaguing his mind. He just blurted it out. Maybe he thought it would help: the burden would finally be removed. He could finally talk to someone.

"I'm still in love with someone who rejected me at least I think so and I have no idea what to do ahhhhhhh please help me I'm so confused."

Comet just stared at him, which gave Starflight enough time to comprehend the gravity of the mistake (or perhaps great move) he just made.

Eventually, the dragon sitting across him came up with an answer.

"Why don't you just follow your heart… you'll find the answer eventually."

Comet turned his head, and smiled up at the stars.

"Thanks… you just gave a beautiful inspiration. Purple and white, together forever. After so long…"

Starflight looked at Comet with a feeling of longing. He wished he could do that. Just ignore the whole world, and get lost in his imagination. He desperately wanted to join him, and follow him in that fantastical world.

He picked up his story notebook, and smiled as he looked at a drawing on the page. It was unexpected: you were reading, and suddenly… here was a drawing, of a dragon. It looked different. There was a cone at the end of its tail, among other things. Turning the page, Starflight picked up a pen, and started writing.

…and it marked the beginning of the end for the war…

"Starflight, I want to draw something."

The voice scared him, just like it had the first day he met. Comet had been so silent, Starflight forgot he existed, while he just sat there, staring off into the stars right beside him.

He could see his face, illuminated by the candlelight. One without pain, or suffering. Without any sort of bad experience. He wondered how long that would last.

Hopefully, a long time.

And so he stood back and watched, as Cometchaser picked up a pencil (he had made that for the Academy'a art classes, so that students could erase lines they drew) and started sketching roughly. Every once in a while, he would pick up the eraser, and adjust the lines slightly. And over the process, a clear shape took place. It was a dragon, but on two legs, and with assorted pouches full of things. He was holding a scroll. After finishing, Comet erased the whole thing until it was barely visible, before picking up the pen and tracing over, forming a clean outline of a dragon. Finally, he erased all the remaining marks. Starflight smiled. "That's a good drawing."

"I know."

"..."

He couldn't say anything, and he didn't know why. Maybe he was still thinking about everything, about Sunny…

"…Starflight?"

"Yeah, Comet?"

"I… I need to go now. Please, keep the drawing. I… I want you to remember me when I'm not there. Test the alum, tell me if it can stand dragon fire. The humans only tested it on their flames. And… just don't get overwhelmed with your feelings, think." At that, he shrugged. "But hey, I'm two. What do I know about love?"

And with that, Comet stretched open his wings, and took off into a sky dappled with stars.

And the notes came, in his head. A perfect melody, and it expressed his thoughts well. The longing, heartbreaky feel was evoked by this song. He extinguished the candle, and walked back up the stairs to his bedroom, before curling up on the mat once again…

An update! What could it possibly mean?

And can you catch the reference? Here's a hint, chapter title.

Anyway please review and all that jazz, I need some kind of motivation.

(I don't feel like any of my chapters will ever exceed 3k, but eh, we'll see.)