The Night and Sky Collide (Partly Quinter)

Chapter 6: Nightmares erupt

Skyfire didn't feel like sleeping tonight. It was... Different. But her night terrors.. Haunted her. It stayed in the darkest pits of her mind until it was time for her to sleep. The warmth that radiated from the desert sand, and Qibli were kind of comforting, but she still didn't feel much like sleeping. She rolled over to look at Stargazer, sleeping peacefully. Her breath was steady. It had a sort of.. Rhythmic feeling to it. It was soothing. It made her feel calmer... More at peace with her body and mind. She decided to steer herself into the steady breathing of her Nightwing friend. She's probably dreaming about something fun and happy, like .. Not depressing? She wasn't completely sure, but she didn't think much of it.

After some moments, the feeling of sleep started to drift onto her. She yawned, and her eyes drooped heavily. Soon enough, she succumbed to the slumber over-taking her.

She was in the Ice Kingdom, in front of the queen. She looked over to her left, over to Stargazer, who looked terrified. "Why are you.. Creatures here?" Queen Glacier growled at them. 'Now I know why Stargazer's terrified' she shivers. "Take the Nightwing and kill her. Right. Here. Right. Now." Queen Glacier demanded. Her eyes widened to the max, her heart started beating faster and faster. 'Kill Stargazer?! no, No, NO!' She wanted to scream, to say something. She yelled, but no words came out. Some guards chained Stargazer into a sitting position, her under belly exposed.

The biggest guard grabbed an intensely sharp spear from... Winter. Winter?.. But why would he allow this?! She couldn't understand what was going on. The guard aimed the spear at Stargazer's heart. He stabbed Stargazer with the spear, straight through her heart. Blood shot around the room, and Stargazer's screams of pure pain filled her ears. She wanted to yell 'NO!' but every time she tried to speak, nothing came out of her mouth as if she had lost all her power to do anything. Her eyes filled with tears that flooded down her cheeks. She glanced over at Winter, only to see the Qibli's mangled body on the ground next to him.

No... NO NO NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! THE ICEWINGS COULDN'T HAVE FOUND US IN THE DESERT! RIGHT!? RIGHT!? She doubted herself. Suddenly, Queen Glacier's voice boomed. "Now. Kill the Skywing." She shot an evil grin at her. The guard yanked the spear out from Stargazer's dead body, and strutted over to her. Skyfire didn't say or do anything. She lost all her hope and just gave up. She was ready for the Icewing guard to end it all, like he had with Stargazer. He was right about to stab a spear through her heart. She stood there, still , letting it all hap-

"Skyfire!" a voice yelled. Someone was shaking her shoulders. "SKYFIRE!" A different voice yelled. She blasted her eyes open, to see the worried/panicked looks of her friends. "Are you okay? We heard you crying!" Stargazer wrapped her wings around Skyfire, comforting her she could feel her shaking. "W-what? No I.. I dont wanna talk about it... Can we just go? Please?.." Skyfire muttered to them. "But.." Winter sighed, "Alright." She could see the want to help her in his eyes... But.. She really didn't want to talk about it.... She felt like a coward but the little thought of it was just too much to handle.

She felt Stargazer's wings drift off her body. Still not being able to process what just happened in her night terror. She needed... Time. She started to calm down, beads of sweat started to drop off her face. Stargazer gave her a look as if to say 'I'm here if you need to talk or let some emotions out'. The Nightwing sighed, and went to take a drink from the oasis they camped next to. The look almost convinced her to spill her emotions out like a waterfall. She just wanted to forget everything she didn't wanna tell Star because then she might have thought less of her.

She noticed that Star was taking quite a while to just drink water. She looked over at the Nightwing, to see that she was staring deeply at the water. Is she... Thinking? Qibli and Winter were talking about who had a better queen. "Star? Hello?" She slowly approached Stargazer, trying to not startle or scare her. "Staaaar?" she gently waved her talon in front of her. Stargazer suddenly blinked a few times and glanced at Skyfire. It was as if she was in a trance before. "You okay?" Skyfire asked her. Stargazer nodded and looked back at the water, breaths quick but steady. I shouldn't bother her. Skyfire's mind whispered to her. She sat next to Stargazer in silence. The silence was peaceful.. Until she heard the sounds of quiet sobbing from Stargazer.

"Are you sure you're okay?" She asked again, still staring at the water in front of her. "Star, I don't know exactly what you're crying about, but I'm not gonna stand by, do you wanna, I don't know, talk about it?" Skyfire asked softly. Stargazer nodded, her crying dying down. "I'm not taking that. It's clear that you're NOT okay." Skyfire insisted. Stargazer sighed, and dipped one of her claws into the water. "Just... Thinking about... Things.." Stargazer murmured. Skyfire wanted to help her friend, but it was... Harder than it looked. "What are you thinking about?" Skyfire wondered. Stargazer paused for a moment and then took her claw out of the water. "Just.. Past memories." Stargazer answered. "I don't wanna pester you and I won't force you, but do you mind telling me what memories? You don't need to be specific."Skyfire asked, her voice gentle and serene. The question seemed to hit Stargazer, mainly because the blank look on her face changed to a more.. Depressing one?

"Well.. I guess I didn't exactly have the best life. I've been told that... I'm not a true Nightwing because I didn't grow up on the volcano like the others." Stargazer said, her head hung low, eyes staring deeply at the water, breathing steady. "So you've been told that you're not good enough to be one? Or been underestimated?" Skyfire gave her two choices. "Well..." Stargazer lifted one claw up, indicating the first sentence that was stated. "Star i know you've been teased by this, and that may have driven you to thinking it's true, but just so you know I don't believe that you may not think your a good Nightwing, but one thing I can say is that, your a great friend and I believe that you can prove yourself"Skyfire encouraged. Stargazer made a soft smile, her crying stopped completely. "Thanks.." The Nightwing muttered. "I know it may not be the best encouragement, but I mean it sincerely, would a good friend leave their friend in a dungeon?" Skyfire smiled, and gently placed a talon on Stargazer's shoulder.

Skyfire turned to look over at Qibli and Winter, to see that they were laying there, watching the clouds together. Wait.. Are they.. Holding talons? "Stargazer? Am I hallucinating or are Winter and Qibli holding talons?" Skyfire asked, puzzled. Stargazer gave her a confused look, and looked over at Qibli and Winter. Instead of being confused, she made a playful smirk. "Oh, we have to make sure this ship sails." She whispered to Skyfire. The copper dragon mimicked the smirk and nodded. "For now though, we should probably give them some time." Skyfire suggested. Stargazer slowly nodded. The two walked over to Winter and Qibli, and lay down with them. "It's such a peaceful morning." Qibli claimed. Skyfire nodded. It was quiet... For a couple of seconds until... ",Guys! We gotta run!" Stargazer abruptly stood up. "What? Why?" Qibli asked, panic striking through him. "I SAID 'LET'S GO'!" Stargazer repeated, trying to drag Skyfire up to her feet faster. Winter and Qibli stood up, Winter, worried but calm, Qibli, Confused and slightly panicked, Skyfire, confused.

"We have to get to the Stronghold, RIGHT NOW!" Stargazer yelled. She started flying up into the air. The three dragons decided to listen to her, and fly towards the Stronghold. As Stargazer flew, she kept turning her head to look behind them. "Why are we flying?" Skyfire blurted out. "Do you want to be stuck in a dungeon again?" Stargazer asked, sounding slightly menacing. Skyfire shook her head. "THEN FLY!" Stargazer yelled. Her words boosted the group to fly faster. That was when, at the corner of her eye, she saw an Icewing about to stab one of Qibli's wings with a spear. "Qibli!" Stargazer yelled, she flew over to the Icewing, and knocked him away. He growled at her. Winter looked over at the guard, and frowned. A deep, angry, frown. "Just one thing." Winter said aloud. He flew around to glare at the guard. "I never liked you anyway. I'm having the best time of my life, and YOU'RE NOT TAKING IT AWAY FROM ME!" He yelled.

The guard was confused, which bought them enough time to fly. "C'mon!" Winter motioned his friends to continue flying. Skyfire, being a Skywing, had bigger wings than the rest of them, so she flew a LOT faster than the rest of them. That was when, in the distance, they saw it. The Stronghold.