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"Zeno." The night before the war, Sara walked to the small garden behind the palace. It was private, with many tall trees covering her from the moon. She heard the sound of twigs snapping, and turned to meet the source of the sound, her twilight hair swirling around her like liquid night. "I see you have been watching me."
The boy smiled. Sara knew he was at least two thousand years old, but she was surprised every time by how young he looked. How bright he seemed. She could never have stayed sane for that long.
"Sara. You've grown." The yellow dragon tilted his head to the side. "What are you doing this late at night?"
"To see you. You think I don't notice every time you're around the palace, observing me? Or rather, the black dragon." She chuckled bitterly. "Were you waiting for me to do something? To attack your beloved King Hiryuu?"
Zeno was surprised. He had never met an incarnation of the black dragon that was as calm and composed as her. She was the first female incarnation as well. "It seems you're well aware of the legends. Yes, you're quite right. I've been waiting for you to make the first move. What do you intend to do, knowing that the four dragons are near you, knowing the role of the black dragon?"
Sara took a moment to contemplate before answering. "Yona hasn't gathered them all to her side yet. I think I'll wait for a while. And besides, I see no reason for the legends, or my role, to have any relevance in my life. I have no intention to be killed by any of you, nor do I intend to kill any of you. I have been plagued by visions and voices of the past these past few weeks, and all show only my own gruesome death."
The yellow dragon was silent in shock. He saw now that the young queen seemed both tired and resigned, fed up with the roles she had been given and forced to fight. She was wiser than any he had met, and suddenly, he was filled with pity for the young woman who almost seemed as old as he was, despite her youthful beauty.
"Feel no pity for me, yellow dragon. It disrespects me. I have not worked this hard, fought this hard, to be met with pity by you or others. I will not lie and say that I do not understand the Black Dragon, for I find myself feeling the same sometimes. I yearn for the youthful happiness Yona seems to always enjoy, and I scorn the pity I receive from others. Yes, the Black Dragon and I are the same. We have accepted each other within my soul. But I will not do as he did, for I am not as unwise."
Zeno stepped forward. "The Black Dragon does not deserve you as his incarnation. He is-"
"Do not blame him so harshly, Zeno. He has felt pain, and wanted to inflict it on others because they did not wish to sympathize with him. He was wrong, but it would do you well to recognize Hiryuu was not without flaw."
"You speak as if you are my age, as if you are older than even I."
"Perhaps so; he and I are one after all."
"He drains you."
"So he does. And yet, his anger powers me."
"You must not let him become you." Zeno stepped even closer.
"You still fear I will harm Yona?"
"No. I fear you will harm yourself." The yellow dragon sat down next to Sara on the tree, letting his feet dangle off the branch. "Let us talk for a while longer. It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to talk to you, and to talk to one so like myself."
The two gazed at the view before them, at the ancient mountains and the rivers that snaked around them. At the flowers flowing among the green covering land, as if painted in long strokes by an artist.
"I find myself becoming more and more tired by the day, Zeno. And yet I find myself desiring to live, to feel true happiness, more and more by the day. The war that is upon us will soon come and go, and perhaps after that, only more war will come."
Zeno leaned his head onto Sara's shoulder. "I promise you, Sara, that you will be happy. I will ensure it. The freedom which you seek will be given to you." His heart filled with sorrow for the young woman, who's face now gleamed with heavy tears.
"Do they loathe me? I and the Black Dragon."
"No. Not anymore, not after what you have done for them. They pity you, I think, but that will also soon pass. They will see your strength, your honor."
"Ah. I see. They are kind people." Zeno watched as Sara's hair shifted in the wind, and he thought he saw the silk black locks gleam like dragon's scales for a moment.
