Nyx, the Dark Rift Dragon
Celtic, Ellie, and Rain stopped to check on Bane on their way to the Western most edge of the island. "How is he?" Rain asked.
"He's hanging in there." Justin replied.
"Hang in there, mo chroi*, don't give up on me." Celtic knelt beside Bane and held his hand.
"Celt, you need to hurry." Justin laid a hand on her shoulder. She nodded and then stood up.
"Let's go." Celtic took one last look at Bane before heading West.
-on the Main Island-
"I wonder how it's going..." Joy thought out loud.
"We need to focus on stopping the Silence." Andy replied.
"I'm sure everything is fine." Grim said.
"What are we going to do about the Generals of Light and Dark? They need to be awakened, right?" Eme asked.
"Just the General of Light." Nate sighed. "The General of Dark has already awakened."
"But how?" Adriano asked. He had already been filled in about the past.
"Somehow Blue got to her." Nate answered. "A new General, especially one of an element like Dark, is susceptible to manipulation. Blue can fill her head with stuff and turn her against us."
"Can we do anything to stop it? Wolfie asked.
"It's already been done." Nate replied.
"How do you know all of this?" Bre asked.
"Justin sent word." Nate laid a sheet of parchment on the table.
"Interesting..." Andy was suspicious. "I don't think we should trust Justin so quickly."
"Why not?" Bre questioned. "He's made mistakes in the past... we all have."
"I'm just saying... it's not like he hasn't attacked us before." Andy countered.
"The Enchantress seems to trust him..." Nate started.
"Well, she isn't always the best judge of character..." Andy mumbled.
"That's a lie and you know it!" Latias spat.
"She trusted Shadow..." Andy started.
"Hey!" Shadow took offense to that. "So did Liber."
"..." Andy couldn't say anything to that.
"She trusts everyone in this room." Grim said. "So if she isn't the best judge of character, what does that say about any of us... including you?"
"If you have a problem with her and Bane, or her trusting Justin, then that is something you are going to have to work through." Nate stated rather forcefully.
"If you, honestly, think Celty trusts the wrong people or trusts too easily, then you don't really know her." An old friend walked into the room.
"Heat, what are you doing here?" Frost shook hands with his brother.
"I heard about Celty's engagement and I thought I'd stop by to congratulate her, but I see she isn't here."
"She's with Ellie and Justin, trying to save Bane's life." Eme said.
"So is it Bane or Justin Andy has a problem with?" Heat made himself comfortable.
"It doesn't matter. We have bigger things to deal with." Latias said. "Whatever problem Andy has, is his problem."
"Now, about this Silence..." Nate said after a moment of awkward silence.
-on the other island-
"So, are you just going to ask again?" Ellie joked.
"We all are." Celtic laughed.
"Say what?" Rain's eyes grew wide.
"Come on." Celtic started walking into a herd of Dark Rift dragons.
"These dragons are really big..." Ellie said as they passed between a few dragons.
"I think..." Just as Rain was about to say something, one of the dragons snorted.
"Excuse me, we're looking for Nyx." Celtic approached the dragon. It growled and bared its teeth.
"Slythe, calm down, they mean no harm." Another Dark Rift dragon came up to them. "Sorry about that. Slythe doesn't like strangers. I am Nyx, how can I help you."
"We need horn dust from a Dark Rift dragon." Ellie said.
"I see, Mistress. Why?" Nyx asked.
"My Guardian's life hangs in the balance." Celtic answered.
"I see you have talked to Hemera already." Nyx pointed at the pendant around Celtic's neck. "If my cousin sees the good in your intentions, then I have no problem helping you, Enchantress."
"Thank you, Nyx." Celtic said as she broke off a small piece of the dragon's horn. "I will forever be grateful for your help."
"It is my honor." Nyx bowed her head slightly. "Here is the other part of that pendant. May you find luck on this quest, Celtic."
"Thank you again, Nyx." Celtic attached the crescent moon to the sun.
"You will need to speak with Astraeus, leader of the Dusk dragons. The pendant will help you find him." Nyx looked at Rain. "Things are going to be hard, people probably won't trust you so easily. Hold on to the truth, General. The truth will be your light."
"I will." It was all Rain could think to say. Rain, Ellie, and Celtic headed back to the center of the island.
"Two ingredients in a day. That's good work." Justin commented as the women joined him.
"The sooner we get everything, the better I'll feel." Celtic said as she sat next to Bane. "He's getting weaker."
"How can you tell?" Rain asked.
"I can feel it. Plus, look at the trees..." Celtic looked up at the branches that hung above them.
"They look sad." Ellie noticed for the first time. "He really is connected to Nature, isn't he?"
"Yes." Justin replied. "He is as connected to Nature as Celtic is to the elements. That is why he needs a special Blue Moon dragon egg."
"What's the difference?" Rain asked. All of this was new to her.
"In terms of appearance, nothing. Azura, Pickle's Blue Moon dragon, is a 'normal' Blue Moon dragon. A Blue Moon dragon that hatches under a Blue Moon enhances the 'power' of its rider, especially if that rider is connected to Nature." Justin explained. "For example, a special Blue Moon dragon would enhance Bane's power over weather."
"You mean, he could control weather?" Rain asked.
"Not exactly. It isn't as though he could make it rain just because he felt like it... he can use different types of weather to defend or attack someone."
"Huh?" Rain didn't understand.
"Bane used a tsunami against me once." Justin tried to explain it better. "He was able to use the force of a tsunami against me, in defense of Celtic."
"Ah, I think I get it." Rain was beginning to understand. "So a special Blue Moon dragon will make those attacks stronger?"
"Basically. The same works with Sonnet and my visions." Celtic said. "But... that is something better discussed at another time."
*mo chroi = Irish Gaelic for "my heart"