Every day, Moonlight trained her daughter. Evening Star often cried and wanted to give up, such as when she couldn't swing a sword properly. Her mom just kept pressing on and told her to stop crying. Meteyo began to join her in the training sessions at times. While he didn't contradict her mother's harsh teaching style, he encouraged Evening Star to keep trying.
"It's alright," Meteyo said. "You will get there. Everyone stumbles. Even Starshine and I needed practice."
Her mother didn't comment. However, Evening Star saw her smiling at that. She was stunned by how close Meteyo had gotten to them over the past few weeks. While Evening Star always knew her mother and the Lord of Time were friends, Meteyo had never been close to her until now. Yet she could always sense he had a pained look in his eyes when he saw her, though the girl could not understand why.
Evening Star became slightly better but was not up to the standards her mother wanted her to be. The girl, thankfully, never saw conflict. The one time Flora walked toward her, Moonlight hid her daughter in the clouds before facing the Empress.
The Empress was frustrated that all the elements and seasons had avoided their foolish war. She had come hoping to manipulate the girl into taking her side. Flora started screaming insults at Moonlight when she realized she wouldn't let her near her daughter.
"Old fool. Siding with Fauna, oh you witch," Flora taunted. Moonlight just rolled her eyes. Perhaps she would calm down after she vented, and things could return to normal. "Well, I'll get your little brat anyway. Teach her how plants are better than animals no mat-"
At that moment, Flora discovered why one should never threaten a mother. Moonlight took the form of a giant black dragon with yellow eyes. Her claws pressed against Flora's neck, and her fangs shone. The Empress watched on in horror and realized her mistake.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't-ahh" Flora screamed. The dragon pinned her down and snarled in her face. "Please don't-"
Moonlight shouted, "Don't ever go near my daughter again!"
Flora nodded and ran off. That was the last time Moonlight saw Flora until the final battle.
Moonlight saw blood and plant matter flying everywhere. As she went to find the Great One, Moonlight locked her daughter in a room in the temple with her favorite toys. Instead, she stumbled upon Dark Heart and Meteyo dueling on the staircase.
When she finally reached the duel, Moonlight realized Meteyo wouldn't last long. Dark Heart's sword skills outpaced any of the council members. She could see Meteyo getting tired as his eyes grew more expansive with Dark Heart's words.
Moonlight couldn't make them out, and she didn't care. All she wanted was to save her friend. She summoned a gift from Meteyo, the sleeping sand, into her hand. Moonlight mainly used it to calm children so they could enter dreamland, but this time, she had a harsher purpose in mind.
Meteyo spotted her, though he kept his face in shock to ensure Dark Heart didn't realize they had company. He rattled his sword against Dark Heart's as he stepped toward Moonlight's side. Meteyo pushed him closer into the position. Moonlight got ready to toss the sleeping sand on Dark Heart. She grinned when the fallen one stepped only a yard away from her.
Suddenly, Dark Heart shouted, "I will have my revenge!" The tone of his voice caught Meteyo off for only a second, but it was enough. Moonlight could barely keep herself from screaming as she watched Dark Heart's sword plunge into his chest.
She watched as he fell on the staircase rail, and tears sprung from her eyes. Moonlight didn't hesitate and threw as much sleeping sand as possible at Dark Heart.
The fallen one felt his eyes grow heavy as Moonlight stepped towards him. Fury twisted her face, which didn't match her tone when she began to sing.
"Lay down your head and I'll sing you a lullaby
Back to the years of loo-li lai-lay
And I'll sing you to sleep and I'll sing you tomorrow
Bless you with love for the road that you go"
Dark Heart fought to keep his eyes open, knowing Moonlight had no plans of letting him awaken again if he fell under her spell. The entity snarled at the mention of love. He had done all this for his love, Starshine. Rage boiled as the sleeping sand forced his body to stop tensing.
May you sail fair to the far fields of fortune
With diamonds and pearls at your head and your feet
And may you need never to banish misfortune
May you find kindness in all that you meet
Images of time with his childhood friend, Cats, filled his head. All the riches he enjoyed before Flora and Fauna killed him. Those riches were the only thing he had left of him. Dreams began to fill his head. Images of him, Cats, and Starshine living as mortals far from Etheria, happiness surrounding them. His wrath was starting to lose control over him.
May there always be angels to watch over you
To guide you each step of the way
To guard you and keep you safe from all harm
Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay
Moonlight's anger didn't dissipate, though her voice remained as soothing as ever. Satisfaction rippled through her as she watched Dark Heart fall to the floor, slumber slowly taking root in him. She planned on leaving him in eternal sleep for all time. He could have his peace, and the creatures of Earth and her daughter would be safe. After all, the amount of sand she had used him would have put hundreds of humans to sleep forever. Her lullaby was just helping things along.
May you bring love and may you bring happiness
Be loved in return to the end of your days
Now fall off to sleep, I'm not meaning to keep you
I'll just sit for a while and sing loo-li, lai-lay
Dark Heart began to obey those words. His thoughts of revenge began to seem like dreams. He still cringed at the words love and kindness. Once, he may have looked upon those things with joy, but now they disgusted him more than anything. Regardless, his world began to turn into dreamland.
Moonlight came closer, about to savor her victory, when she heard someone shrieking Meteyo and Dark Heart's names. The sleeping sand's spell broke at the sound of the newcomer's voice. Dark Heart's red eyes opened as he glared at Moonlight. Their hatred made her shiver, and she knew he would come after her as soon as possible. He transformed into mist and disappeared before Moonlight could attack.
The Immortal turned around, ready to snap at the one who had ensured Dark Heart's escape. Her heart broke when she saw Starshine holding her brother's corpse. Her sobs echoed throughout the temple. Moonlight let the tears fall, and she went to join her.
They cried together for Meteyo, the dreary future ahead of them, and all the meaningless bloodshed. The Great One came and saw the carnage everywhere. He wept at the sight of Flora and Fauna's corpses. All the mistakes he had made over his long existence had come to haunt him.
He took a deep breath and realized what he had to do. The Great One approached Moonlight and Starshine.
"I'm sorry," he said. Moonlight didn't look at him as she began to laugh coldly. Now that she had shed all her tears, it was all she could do. Starshine, on the other hand, looked up at him, her eyes pleading for answers.
"Great One, what is this happening? Why?" Starshine asked. Her voice filled with complete brokenness.
The older man sighed and spoke, "Moonlight, you were right.
The immortal finally lifted her head to face him. She didn't smugly smile or coldly glare at him. Instead, her eyes held despair. She had wanted to be wrong—oh, she had longed for it. She had wished for a happy life for all her fellow immortals and the creatures below.
"Etheria isn't safe anymore, and you, your daughter, and Starshine cannot stay," the Great One announced. Starshine fell to her knees at hearing those words, and her sobs returned, echoing throughout the temple.
The Great One sighed and turned to Moonlight. "Go get Evening Star," he commanded her.
"Wha-What?" Moonlight responded, startled.
"Please go to her. She needs her mother now, and I have to speak to Starshine alone," the Great One said.
Moonlight frowned but obeyed. She ventured inside the temple and unlocked the door. Evening Star sat happily at a table beside her stuffed bears and rabbits. The star and heart creatures flew around her, making the girl giggle. Her shadow was seated in the chair opposite of her.
The girl waved at her mother, not knowing what happened.
"Hi, Mom. Do you want to join us at our tea party?" she sweetly asked.
Moonlight was about to grab her daughter and tell her they had no time when Starshine appeared.
After seeing her kind mentor after so long, the little girl's smile glowed, and she ran to her immediately.
"Starshine, Starshine, Starshine, I missed you," Evening Star cried out. She hugged her teacher, and Starshine hugged her back.
"Where have you been?" Evening Star asked.
The purple-haired priestess sighed and said, "I've been trying to help. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you."
Evening Star cried, continuing to hold her. "You promise you won't leave again?"
Starshine sighed and shook her head. "I can't."
"Why?" Evening Star howled.
"There's something I have to do," Starshine explained.
"I can come with you," Evening Star said proudly. "I've been working on my magic."
Starshine smiled though tears were in her eyes. "That's wonderful, but I have to do this alone."
Evening Star was about to ask why when Moonlight took her hand. "Come on, we have to go now," Moonlight urged as she dragged her daughter away.
The little girl began to cry as Starshine waved her goodbye.