Chapter Four: Grow
Vivace was drained. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. He tried to reignite that passionate regal fire that he'd had just a day before. His heart has other ideas.
He'd dreamed lucidly the night before. He saw her flesh. Her body was scarred in his mind. The cuts her body had had were transferred on her now, still fresh and bleeding, as if her soul was dying too. She was off in the distance, kneeling down.
"Bravura!" He cried.
"M-my son…" she said, with a soft, forced smile.
"I wish I could've saved you," he whispered, tears staining his eyes.
She kneeled to his level, just like she had before his audition.
"You can't sway everything. You couldn't have saved me. No matter what you did."
He hugged her tightly. "I'm adrift...pathless, like a leaf of a tree."
"You must learn to not fret in things that are outside of your control. Don't worry, my son. Your wings will ride the wind, as that leaf would, and the wind will take you where you must go."
Vivace pulled away, but still held her talon. "But I can't go without-"
"Yes you can Vivace," She interrupted him. "You can't stay under my wing forever. In my shadow. You must eclipse me, and do things grander, extravagant,and more awesome than I ever have in my life."
He was silent, contemplating her words.
"I wish I could turn back time. Remove my afflictions and stress. Go back to my old life. My old self."
Bravura just shrugged. "Sometimes the only way forward in through hardship. Maybe you'll grow now, without me as a crutch."
"Crutch?" He repeated.
"It seems I was one for you. And now you've fallen, without the cane to keep you up."
"So what can I do?" He asked.
She turned and began to walk away. "Fix your broken bones and learn to walk Vivace."
He chased after her, but she always seemed ten steps ahead. His wings faltered. She faded into dust in the distance.
Darkness circled him quickly. It was suffocating. It pressed down on him, squeezing his spine and wings. He tried to fight, but eventually, submits to the presence.
Vivace awoke, drenched in sweat, and feverishly hot.
The dream made him torn. He wanted to take her words as inspiration, but the more logical side of him said otherwise.
It was a dream, a figment of my mind. I created her, so what she said was what I wanted to hear. At least I hope so.
A sullen ambivalence was about him. He felt in a sense that those words were true, yet false all at once.
He sat up with a sigh. He had slept in one of Thorn's guest bedrooms. This one happened to be designed with an IceWing In mind. The room was painted in soft whites and blues, with a single, Ice white dresser in the corner. The roof was a mural of Dragonets of all tribes in unity, at round table, seemingly discussing their problems with words, not steel.
That's a large hope. But the chance of that is minimal.
He got up, slowly. He knew he wasn't going to sleep for any longer tonight. He opened the window to the room, and perched himself on the precipice of its drop. He leapt out with a small dive before spreading his wings. He flew out, past the square and past Sanctuary's outskirts.
He saw a duo of Oases. Reflected in their surfaces was the cloudless purple sky, still stylized and dotted in faraway stars. Beside one of the pools, a dragon sat. His face was freckled and a nasty scar ran over his snout. He recognized him as Qibli.
Vivace flew over to the pond, and sat beside the dragon. Vivace put his talons in the water.
Qibli looked up cautiously, still flicking the water with his talons "Aren't you supposed to be at the wedding? Vivace, right?" He asked, blinking as he studied the hybrid.
Vivace kept his head down, solemn. "It's not time yet," he said. "We still have two hours before it starts."
"I'm sorry for your loss. You're Bravura's son. Everyone in the kingdom heard what happened to her. But while I can't fully know how you feel, know that I'm grieving for her, too," Qibli said, turning to meet his eyes.
"I know everyone knows," Vivace said, with a little edge. "I never liked the spotlight. Sometimes I wish She wasn't so famous." He pulled his talons out of the water, pulling them to his chest.
"I feared losing her. I realize that now. I feared that someone would get jealous or envious of her. Or hate her just to hate."
"And then she left you, she was stripped away from your life without a chance for you to ever tell her goodbye, or anything for that matter," Qibli said. "Three moons, I might have lost my mother too, but this must feel a thousand times worse," he added, his eyes meeting his as his look changed from empathy to sadness.
Vivace nodded. "I can't escape her. She's like a wraith, looking for revenge before she finally passes on."
"She's your mother. She loved you. And I'm sure she looking over you right now" Qibli said, smiling at him sympathetically.
"If so, that's loads of pressure," Vivace said. "Imagine someone you honor or look up to watching everything you do and judging you for it." He looked at him. "Wouldn't that stress you out? Psyche you out?"
"I didn't mean it that way. But you have music, right? That helps with did for me anyways."
"It does, but only do much." Vivace became s little more curious. "Since when were you a musician?"
"When I was smaller, and lived with my mother, I used to go to this 'Play Center', if you could call it that. I played percussion instruments for the most part. And when I went to Jade Mountain, it sparked back my love for music. It helped me..." Qibli explained
"That's nice," Vivace said. "It just feels...sad without her there to hear it. Especially today. She was supposed to be here to support me. Now I feel like a building with no support. Collapsing under myself."
"Vivace, she might be gone physically, but she's still in you. Don't think she's gone. Think she's there, listening. Perform to honor her, Perform to surpass her. And do it with your heart, like you have always done," Qibli said, unconsciously tapping his talon on the ground to an inaudible beat.
Vivace knew he was right, but he couldn't admit that. He tapped along with him instinctively.
"Just focus on your performance. You'll do great," Qibli said, punching his shoulder friendlily.
Vivace felt a connection to Qibli. Deeper than just their tribes. Qibli felt almost brotherly to him. Especially in how similar they were. Vivace could tell he wasn't a solivagant anymore when it came to his emotions. He could turn to Qibli, and he would be there.
Vivace smiled, Just a bit, but it was a start. He looked at the sun. "We should head back and get dressed," Vivace suggested. He spread his wings and took off, Qibli following not far behind him.
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Vivace landed beside Qibli, and they both rushed to their rooms to get dressed. Vivace opened the dresser, revealing the two things he asked to Oryx to keep for him, taken from his home, as they carried sentimental value.
One was a piece of music, with a bit of dried blood on its corner. The title was unrecognizable. He could see that only half of it was done however. Oryx guessed that she was killed while finishing the piece.
The other was Bravura's Treble Clef earring. He took it out and put in on.
Vivace shoved the drawer closed. He headed toward Qibli's room, as he realized He didn't have any clothes.
Qibli gave him one of his duplicate earrings, a suit with a gradient (they matched him quite nicely,) and a small bracelet, decorated with a small percussion clef.
Vivace got dressed, as Qibli did. Qibli was wearing a duo of contrasting colors. His Amber earring in his left and a Labradorite crystal in his left. Vivace noticed he didn't wear a vest, and inquired why.
"SandWing weddings are a little strange," Qibli admitted. "Usually, the wedding pair decides how the family and visitors should dress. With Thorn being a minimalist, they want us to dress light."
Smolder stopped at the doorway. Not much later. "Are you two ready?" Dissimilar to Qibli, Smolder had a pure royal purple vest, but with only one earring: A single Pyrope gemstone. Red like spilt blood.
"I could ask the same of you," He said, greeting him with a hug for a moment.
Smolder broke away, and peered at Vivace. He glanced at Qibli who nodded solemnly.
"It's sad to see a life wasted," he said. "I've lost a majority of my family. As destabilizing as that is, and with how much venom I have have for what they've done to those I've loved, they were still...caring while they lived."
Before Vivace could respond, a loud bell sounded from the hall.
"That's a warning," Smolder, said. "We need to go."
Vivace filed down the halls of the Palace, towards the main Plaza. He knew the songs they were playing eight times over. He was ready, inspired, reinvigorated. Ready to honor his kin.
He stepped out into the plaza. It was humongously high, with a round roof, decorated with stained glass. The walls were spotted with wreaths, tassels, and garlands. The stained glass let in lights of all colors, focusing on the stage set on the far side of the room. The room was full of dragons, ones Vivace had never seen. To the side was where the band was. Vivace rushed there.
The NightWing Conductor turned to him. "The blacksmiths in town wanted you to have this."
She handed him a instrument case.
He opened it to reveal a shiny and new silver Trumpet. Then he realized the embroidery on the metal. It was phrases from various smiths across the kingdom. One stood out to him. It said: We will remember the music.
The other said had his mother's name, written in beautiful calligraphy.
Vivace was speechless. "How'd you all make this so fast?"
The NightWing smiled. "The tribes can do wonderful things when they come together."
Vivace smiled, a true one this time. He was holding the caring work of his whole kingdom. It was almost surreal.
Vivace sat down and waited for the procession to start. Not much later, The conductor, who Vivace learned was called Songmaker, made a small announcement, with a piece of paper in her talons.
"As most of you know," she began, "We lost a great composer roughly two days ago. In honor of her, we are playing her music today. Furthermore, her son is here." She gestured for him to come forward. He did so, a little hesitantly. She passed him the paper she was holding. It was a new piece.
"He will be playing his own special part, just for her, before we begin our precession."
Vivace stepped out, back into a spotlight. He wanted to hide. To disappear.
But this is for her. To show what she has done for me, and everyone in the kingdom.
The band put there instruments up, as did Vivace. The song began warm, but quickly became conflicted. The chords were balanced yet lamented in their style. Vivace cut through the colors with his own, standalone line. It was flowing, smooth, but still fit with the rest of the sounds.
/PKyBFCip-H4 This is the url to the songs being played here.))
The band quickly transitioned into the processional song. It was similar to the first, but much more happy and cheerful. Thorn walked down the aisle, through the purple light that poured in from the glass overhead. She was a classical white gown, shaded by the lights to look much more regal. The Eye of Onyx was around her neck as well. Her Bridesmaids contrasted her with stark black gowns, and much more pompous dresses.
Smolder wasn't very far behind. The color of the light changed to Orange in the aisle, the color of his namesake. It wasn't long before they both were in the stage, beside the priest. The band was put on standby Songmaker. The priest was exchanging vows with both of them. Afterwards, he said those five words.
"You may kiss the bride."
The band quickly played the played three chords, ending as the two lovers connected, with a cataclysmic amount of applause from the citizens.
Vivace could see the love and care in their embrace. It was calming almost, the two of them. They soon parted with a mirthful smile.
The procession departed into celebration. Dances between the celebrated, music, food, and gifts. Vivace saw a few dragons he could recognise. He saw Blaze talking to Thorn and decided to talk to her. She was dressed in a dress so thick, Vivace couldn't see her back talons. She was wearing type of jewellery possible: Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, et cetera.
"Oh yeah, I lost my two sisters. One tried to kill me. Probably jealous of my looks. Or my leadership skills."
Thorn spoke. "Hey Blaze, that Dragon has a diamond ring," she said, pointing off into the crowd.
"Really?! Where?" She rushed off into the crowd.
Vivace was stupefied. "What's up with her?"
Thorn sighed. "She's ditzy and probably insane. Ignore her. I don't see how an apple can fall so far far away from its tree."
"Oasis wasn't like that was she?"
"No. She was an acceptable Queen, who produced three despicable daughters. But this is beside the point." She ran a talonover his ruff playfully, making him laugh.
"Thanks for the musical backdrop," she said. "You changed a lot in so little time. You're a little Bravura in the making." He nodded to her.
The celebration lasted quite a while. When it ended, the sun was nearly down. He looked at the setting sun, and at the glitter and shine of the dragons flying back towards Sanctuary.
You made this possible...no. We made this possible. How you nurtured of me. Your cheerful nature.
We brought happiness to many. You and I.