The Blood Moon Killer

Chapter 16: Alter-Ego

Everyone looked at Peacemaker who just began slicing more pie. "It's alright guys, it happens most of the time. I get it though! They just want to be safe." He bent down to grab another pie and brought it up to began slicing it again. "And besides, dragons and Scavengers are eating the pie and seem to enjoy it" he said, motioning to the family of Seawing and some others approaching his stand "that's all that matters to me."

A group of dragons came up to the stand "four slices please." After slicing the pie, Whiteout placed them on the plate and gave it to the dragons who said a quick thank you and left while stuffing their snouts with strawberry pie "but it's not fair. The stand making the strawberry smoothie isn't getting 'checked' and neither is the strawberry cookie, bread and cake!"

Peacemaker picked up Whiteout and threw her in the air with a smile "don't get too upset cuz, and besides. If I over-think it too much, I'll always be worrying about what they think of me. It's a mystery what makes them so afraid me. They'd be much happier and less worried without me around. As would I, frankly. I don't particularly like dragons who point sharp things at me. Or threaten the ones I care about." 

Whiteout fell back into Peacemaker's claws as he nuzzled against her "once I get older, I can go travel around, meeting new dragons and maybe even start a family." Peacemaker gently placed his cousin on the ground with a smile as he patted her head with his tail "now come on, no need for those sour faces! We have pies to give out!"

Aardvark looked at Kelp who was facing Winter and Turtle. The two adults looked at each other and sighed. Peacemaker went to work, but soon realized that at the pace his pies were going out, he'd need more than he thought. He looked at the other dragonets with a smile "can you guys head back to my mom's? We need more pies." Aardvark, Jet, Whiteout and Kelp looked at one another for a long moment "you sure you'll be fine without us? It's getting busy." Peacemaker flexed his claws "no worries. I can handle it." Whiteout was hesitant, but after a convincing smile from her cousin, she and the others left to make more pie.

Peacemaker was left with Turtle and Winter and they began to help our the dragonet in any way they could. "Do you want to talk about it?" Turtle asked in a calm voice, kneeling down to seem less-threatening to Peacemaker. 

"It's alright. Not the first time it's happened. They just want to make sure I'm not putting any enchanted pieces of paper into the strawberries." He said with a slight snort as he cut more pieces of pie and placed them on plates, that way he could just give the pie and not need to waste time cutting it.

Winter snapped his head back in shock and so did Turtle, giving shocked glances at one another. "W-What are you talking about? Enchanted pieces of paper?" After giving out some more pie, Peacemaker turned to face the two Princes. "I believe you both deserve to know the truth... Or, re-learn the truth." Peacemaker put a sign on the front of the stand that read 'going to make more pie, be back soon!' and led them to a secluded part of the forest with some logs to sit on.

"It first started when I met Whiteout for the first time after she hatched. I felt attached to her but not like a cousin way, like she was my little sister who I adored. After that day I was having a re-occurring dream about a dragoness, very beautiful. But for some reason I always knew her name was Clearsight. Then I saw Whiteout, but not my cousin, no she was my sister. I remembered all the spells I did to help her, paint that never ran out or ran dry, a doll that would always appear on her bed if she lost it..." He sighed shakily and could feel the tears form in his eyes. They began to sting as he tried to blink them back. "I also dreamed of all the bad things I've done. I turned Fathom's friend into a statue, I lied to Clearsight on multiple occasions and manipulated her to go along with everything I did, I mind-controlled Prince Artic and forced him to disembowel himself on a stage. In front of a lot of dragons and even Whiteout, who loved our dad. I forced the Nightwings to go into hiding, I sent out a plague to kill all Icewings, I wanted to take over the continent and even the world, I wanted everyone to like me.... And I even enchanted everyone I met so they would like me."

Peacemaker chocked down a sob and hugged himself with his wings. "I'm Darkstalker. More like was."

Turtle looked at Winter who began to cry, he remembered himself saying that he would kill Darkstalker slowly and painfully for everything he did, but he found out the truth and he still wanted to for a time, but now looking at Peacemaker, all that anger vanished, and it was replaced with pity. Winter had to witness everything Darkstalker did. Peacemaker had to live with it.

"When I-I as-sked m-mo-mom abo-bout it... S-She t-tol-old me the t-truth." Peacemaker began to sob "I'm sorry!" He cried out over and over again as his body began to shake. Turtle was about to step forward and comfort the dragonet, but he was stopped by Winter who approached the Night/Rain dragon. Winter stopped a few steps from Peacemaker "Peacemaker. Look at me." Slowly and nervously, he obliged and looked up at Winter "you're not Darkstalker. Not anymore. Sure at one time yes, but not now and never again. Sure you may remember but that's not who you are anymore." The Prince pulled Peacemaker into a hug "you are Peacemaker. A dragonet whose friendly to everyone. A dragonet who loves strawberries. A dragonet who'll find love and grow old with his loved ones. You are you and have always been. Darkstalker is dead, he's gone, just a memory." 

Turtle joined the hug and wrapped his wings around them. "Winter's right, we decided to give you a second chance at a good life and so far, you've done an amazing job. You're no Darkstalker, you're better. A peace maker."