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This was the moment she had been waiting for.
When Darkstalker had swallowed the strawberry Foeslayer knew she was going to get her son back.
''No other dragon's magic can work on me.'' Darkstalker said as he swallowed the strawberry, yet when he did something felt wrong. He felt pain immense pain the kind of pain you'd experience when you were growing or shrinking and a slow dawning realization hit him.
''No other's except your own you doofus'' Kinkajou said with a triumphant smile as Darkstalker began to shrink.
Darkstalker looked in horror at himself he felt the shrinking, the pain, the anger, but most importantly the sadness. He quickly tried a spell in his mind 'I enchant myself to reverse the effect's of this spell' but to no avail. He felt his mental barrier and foresight dissapearing as well, and looking at the dragons in front not one of them seemed to react, Qibli the one he considered his equal was calling him evil chiding him hard, Kinkajou had joined in wih Qibli doing the same, Moonwatcher was looking with hurt at him and his mother, wait was his mother doing she was walking over and before he knew it she hugged him.
''I am so sorry son, that I failed you this hard.'' she whispered tears flowing into her eyes as she looked at him, she had heard his minds thoughts, fear of death, fear of loneliness and most importantly the sting of betrayel. Not in her right mind could she allow him to go out with pain like this.
Before Darkstalker knew it he returned the hug tears from his own streaming out causing the other 3 to react shocked, Qibli staring in horror that the great evil he had succeeded in defeating was returning the hug, Kinkajou looked utterly bewildered not knowing whether she should step forward or protest loudly and Moonwatcher was looking suprisingly less hurt then before. Then in his final moments when the shrinking had nearly finished he spoke.
''I am so sorry mother, for everything. Goodbye.'' he said and then Darkstalker was no more, in his place was a RainWing-NightWing hybrid dragonet just about the size of a 1-year old one.
Foeslayer couldn't hold it in anymore she cried even harder as she looked at the 'thing' that her son had become, this wasn't the son that she wanted, this wasn't the future she wished for, this 'things' exsistence nearly drove her to kill it. But she couldn't because she knew deep down her son was still inside this 'thing', when the 'thing' that was her son spoke ''Hungry!'' Qibli and Kinkajou laughed but she and Moonwatcher didn't they just looked mortified at the thing Darkstalker had become. Then Moonwatcher broke the silence.
''You should name him, what will you call him?'' she asked with a reluctant tone.
Foeslayer's mind had had a name prepared and all, 'Peacemaker', what a sick joke it would be to call it that now. This thing wasn't even close to the peace she had sought and so after a bit of thinking she spoke in a soft and hurt tone.
''Painmade.'' she said the other dragons around her gasping.
''S-sorry what?'' Moonwatcher said with a shocked look.
''Painmade, because this is nothing but pain for my son.' Foeslayer said with a hurt and dissapointed tone.
'That is not a very happy name.'' Kinkajou said her scales shifting to a depressed blue-gray.
''DOES IT LOOK LIKE I AM HAPPY!'' Foeslayer screamed with hurt and anger as she began crying again Kinkajou backing of in shock and horror.
Qibli sensing the moment was getting unhappy spoke up ''Well you should be you got your son back.'' he said which caused Foeslayer to turn to him.
''What?'' she said the tears stopping as she looked at him in the eyes.
''That you should be happy, you got your son back from the evil that had corrupted him.'' Qibli replied back.
''Do you not even feel an ounce of remorse over what you did?'' she asked her tone slowly rising as she faced Qibli.
''Nope not even a little bit, I was thought that evil should be defeated no matter the cost.'' Qibli said flashing a toothy grin at Foeslayer.
Foeslayer was fuming, she wanted to pounce on this dragon she believed to be her friend and rip him to shreds, but enough tears were spilled tonight. She got up putting down the thing that was her 'son' now walked up to Qibli lifted her talon as far back as she could turned it around so it wouldn't scratch him and gave Qibli the back handed talon slap of the century which send him flying to the ground.
''Owwww, what was that for?'' Qibli asked hurt as he clutched the part of his face Foeslayer had slapped him, getting up from the ground.
''You know what you did.'' Foeslayer said as she walked to the thing that was now her son and picked it up.
''Qibli, that was incredibly insensitive to say. I thought you knew better.'' Kinkajou said looking at him with hurt her scales reflecting a dissaproving pale orange.
Qibli outstretched a talon to Moonwatcher but she also looked away in shock and horror of what her supposed best friend had just said and walked up to Foeslayer.
''What are you going to do?'' she asked her tone soft an supportive.
''Fix this mistake, I know someone who can help.'' Foeslayer said turning to leave but before she could Moonwatcher stopped her.
''Take these before you go, they may be useful.'' she said handing Foeslayer a few Scroll scraps of her son's scroll which had started all this she took the scroll scraps and let out a hesitant smile.
''Thanks Moonwatcher, I won't forget this.'' Foeslayer said clutching the thing that was her son now and flew off, to fix the mistake she had started.
***
It was all quiet on the bay near Jerboa's hut, the water of the river streaming slowly as the moonlight shone down.
Jerboa was just finishing writing a scroll on the dangers of Animus Magic when she heard a knock on her door, the SandWing got up and openend it to reveal a female NightWing clutching what appeared to be a NightWing dragonet but it had weird RainWing scales that made Jerboa identify it as a hybrid.
''What brings a NightWing to my door this late?'' Jerboa asked with curiosity her eyes still lingering on the dragonet clutched in the NightWing's talons.
''I heard you have experience with animus magic, can you help me I made a mistake.'' Foeslayer said with a subdued voice looking at the dragonet in her claws.
'It has something to do with this dragonet and animus magic doesn't it?' Jerboa said looking at the dragonet and Foeslayer nodded.
''Yes it does, it's a long story I hope you got time to hear me out. My name is Foeslayer by the way.'' Foeslayer said and Jerboa gestured for her to come in.
''The name is Jerboa now tell me the story in full please. Would you like some tea?'' Jerboa said as she looked at Foeslayer who nodded and Jerboa put down a 2 tea cups and started preparing the tea.
''Where do I even begin.'' Foeslayer said and then she explained in full what happenend, her imprisoment in the diamond trial for 2000 years, Darkstalker breaking free from the mountain after his scroll was burned, the things her son had done and the IceWing plague he had cast, the final confrontation and then the incident that had started this path.
When she finished Jerboa looked with melancholy at the RainWing-NightWing hybrid dragonet still clutched in Foeslayer's talons ''And so you want him back after all that, that's incredibly pure of you but how will you make sure this doesn't happen again?'' she said looking at Foeslayer with a gaze that looked almost judging.
''Because I believe this experience has taught him something, and I want to believe that deep down he's still there. Desperately seeking a friend or figure who can be there for him.'' Foeslayer replied with a sob in her tone looking at Jerboa with hopeful eyes.
Jerboa just sighed ''I will give it a try, but know that research into animus spells like this takes a while so you may have to stay here a while.'' she said to which Foeslayer nodded and followed her into a guest room.
Ever since then several weeks have passed, with both sides working tirelessly for a solution, until today Foeslayer heard a scream that sounded like ''Eureka'' coming from Jerboa's room.
Rushing into her room Foeslayer saw the SandWing looking with joy at the solution she had written down and as she turned to Foeslayer with a smile.
''The spell is irreversible but not overrideable.'' she said with joy looking at the RainWing-NightWing hybrid dragonet whom was now looking at the strawberry patch outside with hunger in his eyes.
''So does that mean my son is saveable?!'' Foeslayer said in excitement to which Jerboa nodded as she pulled out a scroll scrap from Darkstalker's scroll.
''All we need to do is write a spell that overrides the previous spell. So how do you want it?'' Jerboa asked with curiosity.
This question caught Foeslayer of guard, sure she wanted her son back but then there was also the fact that Moonwatcher had been incredibly kind and determined to make this version of Darkstalker follow her vision. Something which although she hated in the first few days she had grown quite apologetic too, and seeing as she didn't want either side to be hurt she decided on the following option.
''I want it so that Darkstalker and Painmade are split seperated from each other. One will be my son, and the other the version Moonwatcher envisioned that way it will be easier for both of us.'' Foeslayer finally decided and Jerboa looked a bit puzzled.
''Why would you go about it that way, didn't you hate what your son has become?'' Jerboa said with a curious look to which Foeslayer let out a sigh and looks at Painmade.
''I did at first, but this innocent version has grown on me. I want it to be able to experience live seperate from my true son.'' Foeslayer said with a look that suggest weariness and thought had been put into this decision.
''Okay if that is what you wish then so it will be written down.'' Jerboa said picking out a quill and writing down the following spell on the scroll scrap ''I enchant Painmade and Darkstalker to split into 2 separate bodies, with Darkstalker's body keeping the original soul and all it's memories and Painmade's body keeping the original spells instructions, this spell is irreversible. Unoverridable, permanent and everlasting and shall not and will not be removed even if this scroll piece is destroyed. Also for safety reasons Darkstalker's new body will spawn outside of Jerboa's hut.'' she added as a precaution to which Foeslayer let out a giggle, when the spell is finished a big flash happens and outside Foeslayer could see him again, her son, her Darkstalker.
Darkstalker himself was shocked he was back how and where though that part he did not know. But when he felt something embracing his leg tears of joy welled up. There she was, his mother the one he had said goodbye too and the one that had comforted him.
''Son I missed you.'' Foeslayer said whilst crying herself out with Darkstalker following the example and also crying, this went on for a while until Darkstalker controlled himself.
''Mother why-why did you bring me back? I thought you hated this version of me.'' he said with a shaky voice and Foeslayer just shook her head.
''Not after those last words, they were genuine, no lies, no manipulation just pure truth. I missed that son, I wanted those times back and I did so.''Foeslayer says with more tears looking into Darkstalker's eyes whom mirrored her feelings as he took in a breath.
''I know what needs to be done next, I didn't want to originally but now maybe I do.'' Darkstalker said looking down at his colossal talons ''Should I do it now or later?'' he asked looking at his mother whom just hugged him a bit tighter.
''Later, just allow the one whom helped me to get the required objects.'' Foeslayer said turning to Jerboa who nodded and went of to retrieve some jewelry.
''Mother what-what will we do after this?'' Darkstalker asked and Foeslayer looked thoughtfully before speaking
''We head towards an abandoned island, a place where no one will ever find us again, and we chance our names. I don't want your name to inspire fear and mine to be well what it already is.'' Foeslayer said to which she looked at the sky, it was night again and stars where shining like a hope given light and then she turned to her son ''How about we name ourselves both after the stars, no more darkness only light.'' she said to which Darkstalker smiled and nodded.
''Yeah let's do that, let's be the light of the stars.'' he said before his name already clicked into place ''Mother call me Starlight from now on, I want to be the star that makes you proud.'' he said and Foeslayer nodded with a smile.
''Then I will be Stardreamer, dreaming for the safety of my little star.'' she said tracing a heart on Darkstalker now Starlight who smiled.
''An excellent name mother.'' he said.
Just then Jerboa returned with a jewelry box and Painmade putting them both down to which Starlight looked a bit hurt upon noticing the RainWing-NightWing hybrid.
''You kept that falsehood of me around, mother I thought that you hated that version.'' Starlight said hurt but Stardreamer just gently placed a claw upon her son's colossal head.
''I don't anymore, plus I want this dragon to live a life just like us. We will give it to Moonwatcher and have her take care of it, it's what she would have wanted to do. And she helped me bring you back by handing a scroll scrap of yours.'' Stardreamer said to which Starlight took a moment before hesitantly nodding.
''Okay I can see that, one final favour before we both dissapear.'' Starlight said and Stardreamer just poked his snout.
''Not dissapear be a star in someone else's world.'' she said as she openened the box Jerboa handed her and pulled out 2 silver starlike earrings handing them to Starlight.
''I enchant this earring to remove my foresight and mind reading when worn and that it can only be removed with the help of my mother Stardreamer.'' Starlight said before plopping the first earring into his right ear ''And I enchant this earring to remove my animus magic and make me about the size of a regular dragon when worn and that it can be only be removed with the help of my mother Stardreamer.'' he said before plopping it into his left ear and he shrunk quickly back to about the size of his mother whom smiled.
''How does it feel son to be willingly powerless?'' Stardreamer asked and Starlight took a moment before smiling.
''Refreshing, I don't feel the need to use them anymore to my advantage and know that this is for the best.'' Starflight said hugging his mother with genuine joy before his eyes fell on Painmade ''And what of him?'' he asked with curiosity.
''We give him a better name first, I think Visionmaker is a more suitable name than the one I gave in my emotional outburst, it will help a lot as well he will find the joy he needs. Now before we go thanks Jerboa for this opportunity.'' Stardreamer said to which Jerboa just smiled softly.
''Don't come knocking later when you need it fixed, I don't want to deal with more issues.'' Jerboa said to which both Starlight and Stardreamer smiled before they took of heading to finish one last hurdle.
***
Arriving in the Rainforest at night with Visionmaker in claws Stardreamer knocked on the doors of the house of Moonwatcher only to be suprised to see an IceWing answer instead.
''Who knocks at night, don't you know that an Ice- wait Foeslayer?'' the IceWing said recognizing Stardreamer and then turned to face Starlight whom although shrunken down he recognized causing him to bare his fangs ''And Darkstalker, have you come here to ruin my life again you soul sucker.'' The IceWing said in anger.
''No not today and ever again Winter, and it's Starlight now as for my mother it's Stardreamer remember that please.'' Starlight said to which Winter became even angrier.
''And you want me to just forgive you, you who killed my queen and caused a plague on my entire tribe that let nearly to an extinction of half my race.'' Winter said with anger to which Starlight looked dissapointed down at his talons.
''Yeah I did that didn't I, I know no words can forgive my actions nor can my mothers. But know that genuinely today we didn't come here to start a war again, besides why are you here I thought Moon had something with Qibli?'' Starlight said with as much honesty as he could muster and curiosity at the last sentence to which Winter gave him a still angry but less venomous response.
''Well after Stardreamer's last escapade with Qibli he got clingy, like overtly clingy. He tried to apologize to Moonwatcher constantly for what he said so much so that it started bordering on psycho levels of crazy. Moonwatcher couldn't handle it and I stepped in and bravely chased him away. It was for the best.'' Winter said looking a bit dissapointed at what Qibli had become hoping that maybe later Qibli would realize that this was not okay.
''Oh I didn't intend for that to happen.'' Moondreamer said with a dissapointed tone to which Winter just placed a claw on her shoulder and sighed.
''It wasn't your fault, I had long since confronted Qibli about this matter before that we need time and all but he just wouldn't listen.'' Winter said looking a bit melancholic at the stars ''But what was the reason you came to visit, Moonwatcher is out currently so I can handle any matter of importance. Even if I have to tolerate it with him.'' he said pointing at Starlight.
''We just wanted to inform you that we will be leaving Pyrrhia for good. And to have Moonwatcher take in the reason this whole mess started.'' Stardreamer said showcasing Visionmaker ''It's what she would have wanted I hope. His name is Visionmaker by the way.'' she added to which Winter looked at Visionmaker before back at Starlight.
''So you are just going to dissapear, like genuinely dissapear?'' Winter said a hopefull tone rising in his voice as both Stardreamer and Starlight nodded ''Well I normally would want to settle things with Starlight but IceWings don't fight opponents who have no will to fight. That is dishonourable.'' he said before accepting Visionmaker and looking at the 2 of them ''Although I normally wouldn't say this I hope you 2 at least find peace. Even if it would be for him.'' he said pointing a claw angerly at Starlight whom just allowed it to happen.
''Peace is what we all seek now Winter. It's time to let bygones be bygones.' Starlight said with a melancholic tone looking up into the sky to see the stars shining.
'Thanks for this Winter, and if you see Moonwatcher tell her that I succeeded and that if she ever misses her friend to just look at the stars and think of him.'' Stardreamer says looking beside her son to the stars a smile forming on them.
''I will see if I will tell her that, and now go I don't want any other NightWing to see Starlight.'' Winter said to which both Starlight and Stardreamer nodded and they flew off.
In the sky Stardreamer was held by Starlight, she had done it, she had gotten her son, her star back and was now resting in his arms towards a hopefull future for them both.