Finding Peace: Winglets

For a friend

It was not often Cliff was able to sing in front of his tribe during the festival of the Long Sun. Ever since he turned four: he would travel with his mother, Queen Ruby, across Pyrrhia and as far as the eastern coastline of Pantala. The young SkyWing Prince indeed wanted to show off his talent for singing to his tribe, but he also wanted to take an active role in the politics of his Tribe.

After all, his future dragonets were to succeed his mother, which meant he needed to be well-versed in politics so he could help make his Tribe as best it can be if, and when, his dragonets entered the world. Sadly, all of this gave him little time to pursue his passions, especially with school.

Yet, with this festival, his mother had asked him (no…ordered) to take the night off from his duties and sing to the tribe during the opening night of the weeklong festival. The best part of this? Was that Peacemaker was attending. That was an added plus to the entire gig.

While he was having a hard time remembering the last days of the fall term at Jade Mountain Academy, all that mattered to Cliff was that his friend was staying in the Sky Kingdom during the festival.

That's why he wanted to make sure his performance was perfect, for his best friend and his mother.

"No pressure," Cliff thought to himself as he sat in of the stage, waiting for Uncle Vermillion to announce Cliff's performance.

Taking a sip from a cup of grape juice, Cliff hoped the cool drink would help ease his nerves. Yet, the drink's flavor did nothing for him. He could not help but sweat as he waited…When did it get so warm?

...Wait a minute…

Cliff's head raised towards the entrance of the backstage room, seeing the arrival of a bright red SkyWing with orange and copper scales enter. He could not help but smile at the dragon who had been his closest friend for so many years.

"Hey, Peril." Cliff greeted.

"Feeling nervous, little Prince?" Peril quipped with that contagious grin of hers, all the while saying the nickname she knew would ruffle his scales when he was little.

"Nope, not one bit," Cliff lied, playfully rolling his eyes at Peril's previous comment.

Though Peril easily saw through that lie.

"Uh-huh, is that why you asked for several pitchers?" Peril said, eyeing empty pitchers on the table.

Where had those come from? Had he drunk that many?

But regardless, he knew hiding something from Peril was like hiding something from his mother. Both could read him as easily as a scroll. They knew him all too well.

"Well…you try singing in front of Clay and the rest of your Winglet," Cliff said as he put his cup away and fully faced her.

"Yeah, I think I'd burn the house down if I started singing," Peril replied. Okay, that made Cliff laugh a bit. "But I know you'll do fine, you are a much better singer than when you were a dragonet."

"I was good!" Cliff replied, pretending to be offended.

"Uh-huh," Peril playfully rolled her eyes. "All I'm saying, just do what you do best."

That's all he could do, wasn't it? Just do his best. Keep moving forward. It was really simple, but it was good advice from Peril.

He always loved that about Peril, her honesty. Indeed, she did not mince words, but she told you how she felt.

In the distance, he heard the crowd clapping their talons and cheering. Confirming Uncle Vermilion had completed his speech.

"Well, kiddo," Peril said, walking out of his room. "Break a talon…wait, I don't mean…"

"I get it, Peril." Cliff laughed. "I'll be fine."

Just like that, Peril's smile returned. It was at that moment, Cliff knew he was going to do great.

As Peril made her exit, Cliff decided to take one last sip from his cup of grape…

…No…Apple juice? Who gave him apple juice?

Fine, whatever, he was interested in apples recently anyways. Perhaps his servers knew him all too well?

After putting his cup away: Cliff walked out onto the stage. Instantly, he was greeted with the sight of many SkyWings that had gathered in the stands to watch the various performers for the festival. Cliff noticed that the crowd got a little noisier when he made himself known. Whether it was because he was a good singer or the Prince, he could never tell.

Honestly, it did not matter to Cliff. After all: only three dragons were who he wanted to impress tonight.

Peril, who stood guard in the distance.

His mother, Queen Ruby, who sat in a space in the stands that were reserved for the Queen and her brothers.

Lastly, and most certainly not least, was Cliff's best friend: The most awesome NightWing/RainWing hybrid on both Phyrria and Pantala.

Peacemaker.

Said dragon had a seat right next to Queen Ruby (Cliff had made certain his best friend was seated with the royals, rather than a random spot.) From where Cliff stood, he spotted Peacemaker and his mom chatting away. Whatever the hybrid had said, it was making Queen Ruby laugh.

As soon as the crowd had started cheering louder, both dragons turned their attention to Cliff's arrival and their eyes brightened with excitement. Cliff could have sworn he heard his mother's cheers over the crowd.

As the cheers died down, Cliff lowered his head to look at the ground. Taking the moment to mentally prepare his throat, Cliff raised his head and began the first lyrics of his song.

"It's a dream," Came a familiar voice from behind Cliff.

Suddenly, the entire crowd of SkyWings froze in their seats…and the world around Cliff grew gray. Blinking, Cliff looked at his surroundings in concern. None of his people seemed hurt, but the way they froze scared the prince.

Then, he remembered everything…

Frowning, Cliff turned around to see an approaching aqua green SeaWing.

"You could have waited until after I had sung," Cliff grumbled at Tempest.

"Time in the waking world flows slightly slower than the dreams themselves," Tempest replied as she stopped in front of Cliff. "But we will need as much time as we can get while we are in the Dreamworld itself."

"Sure, whatever," Cliff said, glancing at the dream audience before him.

Specifically his mother and Peacemaker.

This was a dream he'd had for at least a month. A dream of himself performing in front of his tribe, with his mother and best friend watching him. Even though he wanted to continue this dream, Cliff knew that Peacemaker needed him and Tempest more at this moment. He still had a chance to make this dream real.

"Let's get going," Cliff muttered as he turned back to Tempest and purposefully brushed passed her.

The sooner they got to Peacemaker's dream, the sooner he would not be alone with Tempest.

"It's not my fault, you know that, right?" Tempest said, suddenly. This caused Cliff to pause as the SeaWing spoke.

Cliff could feel anger swell at the bottom of his chest. The anger he tried to push down, for both Tempest and Peacemaker's sake.

"I know," Cliff answered as he turned around to stare at Tempest. "But you failed him."

"I did the best I could…" Tempest said, her head lowering as she stared at the ground. He could see it in her green eyes, the guilt. Part of him wanted to sympathize with her. Yet most of him remembered how she had said Peacemaker would be fine.

"Maybe," Cliff said. "But after what happened in the woods, how my best friend attacked us…"

"He will be alright," Tempest interrupted, taking a step towards him. "He will be safe, with me."

These words made Cliff's anger erupt like a volcano. The arrogance of this SeaWing! After everything that happened, after she failed Peacemaker! She dared to say Peacemaker is safe with her?!

"You said that he was safe, before!" Cliff snapped. "Yet, turns out something has been happening to him. You'll have to forgive me if I don't think you're capable."

Tempest glared at him, she looked like she was ready to take a swing at him with her talons. Though Cliff had a feeling not much would happen to him. After all, they were in a dream.

"I'm here, trying to help, aren't I?!" Tempest shouted, the SeaWing was visibly struggling to keep calm, Cliff thought she was tempted to run up to him and yell in his face. "He doesn't need you protecting him 24/7!"

The anger inside Cliff threatened to break loose at that moment, hearing Tempest accuse him of thinking that Peacemaker was too weak to take care of himself. This made Cliff want to storm up to the SeaWing and strike her with the back of his talons.

But he remembered, she could influence dreams, even his own. Whether he liked it or not, he was in her domain.

If he and Tempest physically fought…then Peacemaker would likely hear about that. How would that affect his friendship with Peacemaker?

Instead, Cliff remembered all of the lessons his mother and uncles told him: Do not show weakness by causing a physical altercation. Instead: stand your ground.

"You're right," Cliff muttered, collecting his thoughts as he answered Tempest's accusation. "He doesn't need me protecting him…but that doesn't change the fact he's the first dragon, outside of my mother, uncles, and Peril, who treats me more than just a royal!" Stepping towards Tempest, Cliff glared back at the SeaWing. "He's the first of my peers that I consider my best friend. That's why I will not leave his safety solely up to you!"

While Tempest glared at him, her mouth would open but close several times. She was attempting to counter what he said. But either Tempest was too exhausted to argue with him, or she had no words to rebuttal his.

In the end, he knew that Tempest saw that he was not going to back down. It did not matter whether he understood the dangers of the Dream World, what mattered to Cliff was that he was with his best friend. To support him if and, hopefully not, when Tempest failed.

Eventually, Tempest looked away from Cliff and walked towards the edge of the stage.

"I care about him too, you know?" Tempest muttered with her to Cliff. The anger and hostility from before had largely become absent.

That was something Cliff never doubted about Tempest, her care for the Quartz Winglet, Peacemaker in particular. One thing Cliff always counted on in the SeaWing was how she stood with Cliff, Peacemaker and the others throughout the short time they have known each other. Good or bad, she would not let the Winglet face something alone.

But after seeing Peacemaker's…" transformation" briefly into a dragon that was bent on killing him and Tempest. Then watching helplessly as reality caught back up with Peacemaker over what he had almost done. Watching Peacemaker's terror over something he'd been influenced to do broke something in Cliff. He hated seeing Peacemaker blame himself for something outside of his control.

When, a day earlier, Tempest had told Peacemaker he was fine.

The trust that Cliff had placed in Tempest had been proven wrong, and he was wary about fully trusting Tempest. At least until he was sure Peacemaker was okay.

"I know you do," Cliff answered, walking up beside Tempest. His red eyes met her green ones, his expression calm. "But until Peacemaker's mind is safe, when whatever it affecting him is driven out, I need to see if I can trust you again."

This was his attempt to tell Tempest that he was giving her a chance to prove to him that, this time, Peacemaker would be okay. To leave things open that he was willing to change his opinion when he saw improvement. Yet to also let her know that he was sticking with what he had said prior.

Even though Tempest wanted to say more, she at least nodded in acceptance of what he had said. For now, she would accept the state of their friendship.

Deep down, Cliff hoped that he could trust Tempest fully again.

Looking away from Cliff, Tempest held out her talons and closed her eyes.

"I've found Peacemaker's dream," Tempest muttered a few seconds later. "Trust me enough to use my abilities to take us there?"

"Do it," Cliff answered, nodding.

Slowly, Tempest draped her wing over Cliff's shoulder. Next thing Cliff knew, Tempest's body began to glow an aqua green light, completely different than the bioluminescent markings of a SeaWing. As the light engulfed Cliff, he could not help but feel his entire body grow warm, as if he had dived into the water of an oasis.

As the light completely consumed his surroundings, the SkyWing prince saw his dream begin to vanish.

Only for the surroundings to shift and change from the stage they had been on in Cliff's dreams, in the middle of the forest.

Not just any forest, Cliff realized. It was the Rainforest.

Peacemaker was dreaming of his home.