(they look so bad, but, the gloves lol)

Rogue...

... It was nightfall when Dark returned, holding a scroll and hopping from foot to foot excitedly. He even wacked me with his tail accidentally. 

"Ok, I have a spell, and I think you'll actually like this one!"

He says in a barely controlled and excited tone, startling me out of my light sleep along with him moving so much. I yawn a little, but shake off my drowsiness to listen, smiling in amusement. It's nice seeing him this way, especially after how down he was before.

So I sit up, stretching my violet wings before he continues. 

"I know, you said it had to be something not just to hurt or kill others... And mind control was already out..."

He says a little sheepishly, as he seemed to recall his past mistakes.

"...but this will be the best option, I know it is!"

He lays out the paper in front of him, and I look over his slightly scratched and excited writing. There's a few scribbles, as if he's crossed off a few things in favor of others. It's complicated... But genius. 

"This is... Amazing Dark... Alright."

I did promise he could use the magic to create it, so, with a small twist of my silver ring, he's temporarily given back his animus gift. I can easily know what spells he casts though through the bond, there's nothing he can sneak past me.

I can watch his face, as he feels his power return. There's that Dark glint in his silver eyes, but, it fades as he takes back the paper, saying the spell in his head almost in a whisper. 

Before our eyes, after he finishes, the paper crumples and shifts, turning black and gold.. before two gloves are in their place, with no fingers (talons?) at all. They look harmless, with the black leather and simple gold trim fabric. 

But they're anything but that.

He slips them on eagerly, and flexes his talons, getting used to them. His magic fades as he does so, but, he's to excited about the magic he just brought to life. It briefly crosses my mind that this spell could be dangerous if he uses it wrong, but, I trust him.

It's then that Jupiter graces us with his grumpy presence, the slightly smoking Skywing landing on the window ledge, eyeing Dark with suspicion and intrigue.

"What do those do hmm? Warm you claws?"

He teases, but with a mocking edge. Dark flicks his tail, but it's the only sign he shows he's annoyed.

"Well, Skywing, just to demonstrate..."

Dark starts, before slashing seemingly at air.... Before the entire bed in the room snaps, crushed by an invisible force. The power he'd gained... Control over gravity itself.

Jupiter looked impressed for once, tilting his golden head at the destruction. I could see the wheels turning, and he glances at me almost questionably.

I just give a slight smile when Dark isn't looking. Me and Jupiter, so far, seem to understand each other better than I thought. Which is odd, since he did sort of almost kill me the other day.

Meanwhile Dark grins triumphantly, his head held high and his wings as well, the silver scales glittering.

"See? Powerful, flexible, and easy to use. A perfect weapon, and tool, for whatever we end up facing!"

I watch a reluctant Jupiter sigh.

"Fine... You were actually useful, for a fossil"

Dark ignores the insult, smirking as he finally gets some sort of praise from the walking inferno. I find it silly he's so happy about it, though I guess there's a lot I still don't know about Darkstalker.

Then they both turn to me. Oh yeah, my turn.

"Ok...we got two down, and one last thing...sort of"

I say a little nervous, sliding out my own idea, the scrap of scroll covered in my neat handwriting. It was something Dark might approve of, since I got the idea from him.

"When we're at this new place, there's always the chance we'll get separated. So I wanted to think of a way to stay in touch if that happened"

I hold up the sketch, three circular orbs that look quite plain in ink. I love to draw and paint, but, with only one color it's more difficult.

Dark lights up, instantly understanding, but Jupiter looks at me lost. I have to explain some things, of course.

"Their communication orbs, one for each of us. We can talk over any distance, and, anyone can use them so it's not just for us. I got the idea from one of Dark's old spells, the dreamvisitors. Though these work any time, not just when your asleep"

Jupiter nods, tapping a claw on the stone. I couldn't tell if he liked it or not, and, I only get fire and purple light from his thoughts. Sometimes I forget I can actually hear others thoughts, since over the past few months I've been alone.

Dark looked thoughtful, and a bit... Hmm, something I couldn't place, but he smiles at me softly. I can't help the smile on my own face. What was this? It reminds me of how I used to feel around Thysan... No, nope, I already decided not to think about love again, especially not with Darkstalker.

"Well, I think it works just fine. Once we've made those, we'll have everything done when it comes to magic. Right?"

Dark says with a now charming smile, the other look fading. 

...a while later, I've got all my artifacts tucked away in my bag. My ring, the scroll holder, that one necklace from Thysan that didn't work on me. And, of course, an orange glittering orb that looked like glass, but was as tough as a diamond. It felt warm to the touch, like a tiny sun. I had to make a fireproof chain for Jupiter's, so he could carry it safely. Despite his grumpiness, he could be a bit aloof at times.

We weren't leaving today, or at night. We all wanted time alone to think, since we weren't coming back to Pyrrhia any time soon. 

I chose the beach, my talons resting in the shallow waves as I thought about my life so far.

I hatched in a storm, was flown across the ocean and dropped in a desert.

Was adopted by an Icewing, and lived happily my first few years gardening in the cold plains with my new father, and plans for a future serving the queen. 

I ran away with Void, where we hid as Sandwings and lived with Harpy, learning and growing close before I met Thysan. 

My heart was broken, and I went off alone, meeting my uncle for the first time. That's where I had my vision.

I learned everything about the night kingdom, restored history, and soon enough freed Darkstalker from his prison of rock.

Now? I've met a god, and a flamescales, and we're about to fly into the unknown to help dragons we've never met or seen before.

It's... A lot more than I realized. All this time I've wanted to make a difference with my magic safely, but so far it's only ever been used to hide myself and stay safe. This is my chance to shine, but I won't even be able to use my power half the time.

And... I miss my dad. And Void. And Harpy too... If I leave, I might never get a chance to see them again. 

I dig around in the wet sand, my claws settling on a small white shell, that glitters in the light. Perfect. I whisper to the tiny and fragile thing, before it disappears. Now at least I've left one thing for Void, if he ever wants to see me again.

All these memories remind me of my real father, who had basically tried to sentence me to death. I hope he's ok, as well as my brothers I never got to meet.

Darkstalker...

I sit in the square, staring at the rotted and almost completely destroyed stage. This place was once filled with laughter, and dancing, and screams too because of me.

It wasn't the nicest place to reminisce, but, this is where I really went too far. My breaking point. Where I was betrayed, to save everyone.

Somehow, after losing my magic, I slowly realized how wrong my actions were, and how it affected my only friend and love. I've always blamed Fathom for what happened, but, it was Clearsight's plan from the start. 

A tear slips down my face, my obsidian scales glimmering in its wake. I should be shedding tears for my father, but even now, I feel hatred for him burning. At the very least, he hadn't wanted to kill me like I thought.

But I'd killed him. So I was the bigger monster really. I'm still going to be better now, with Rogue, but I've still done horrible things.

And my mother and sister... I hope Whiteout lived a happy life, and not too bothered by the tribe after my fiasco. And my mother... I hope she knows I'm doing better, even if only a little.

And my tribe, the state their in is terrible right now, but Rogue assured me it wouldn't be for much longer. The things we could have accomplished... Sigh...

I walk closer, gently running my claws over the decayed stone and wood.

"...goodbye father..."

Jupiter...

I hate water, and plants, so I opted to stay near the edge of this broken kingdom. On the mountain range.

There's a lot of bones, everywhere, below me but it doesn't really bother me. Death is normal in my life, always has been.

Being like I am, it's not really a surprise. There was that other flamescales, the pet to the queen, but I never got to meet her. Probably better that way, since I can control my fire and she couldn't.

My life was more boring, always hiding my power and from everyone else, my own mother shunning me at times in fear. At least my brother still cares.. I wish him luck in his new life and home, where he truly will be happy.

Me... I was sent on this mission, by the god I owe my life to, so that's all I care about. My own future can be decided later.

So other than those things... Nothing is left for me here in Pyrrhia. This new place should be better, and more exciting, for me...

...when the day came, we all stood on the beach together, looking at the setting sun.

Darkstalker looked solemn, but curious, as he gazed out over the ocean.

Jupiter looked almost impatient, his claws slightly melting the sand into tiny glass globes. His lavender eyes are burning with what seems like excitement.

And Rogue, her purple scales glowing, was sad as she gazed back at the castle instead. All she's known is here, and she's scared to leave it all, but knows she has to.

They take off in unision, the sun guiding their wings as they start their journey, finally, to a place hidden from time...

....P'herosa.