Don't Fall in Love with the Night

Chapter 10

     "Ugh, I'm positively exhausted!" gasped Mirage, flopping onto Prism's hammock.

     "Exhausted in a good way, though." True, Prism's muscles were sore, but she still felt energized. She frowned, remembering the thought that had bugged her all through training. "The funny thing is, I like fighting, but I don't know if I could actually hurt another dragon."

     "Even if it was a Dark - I mean, NightWing?"

     "I mean, they're just soldiers like us, right?"

     Mirage snorted. "Wrong. Attacking peaceful dragons? That's not easily forgiven."

     Prism sighed. She knew her friend was right, but... She noticed Mirage grinning at her. "What?" she asked.

     "Sooo... Hyacinth?" Prism rolled her eyes. "I'm serious!" Mirage pressed. "I never would've guessed, but now I totally ship-"

     "I have no romantic interest in anyone whatsoever," Prism announced. "Unlike you," she teased, trying to change the subject.

     "Well, I wouldn't call Iguna a "romantic interest". I prefer the term soulmate." Mirage sighed dreamy, then saw Prism's doubtful expression and scowled. "Doubt all you want, but it's true. He's very sweet."

     "Just tell me when he proposes or something."

     Mirage took her jest seriously. "Of course! You'll be the dragoness of honor in our wedding, you know."

     Prism's reply was interrupted by a knocking on Prism's tree. "Who is it?" she asked. 

     "It's Iguana," came his muffled voice. "May I come in?"

     Prism froze with embarrassment, too busy wondering if he had heard their conversation to answer him. Mirage did it for her. "Of course!" she called, and Iguana pushed through the vines and into Prism's clearing.

     "General Tsunami sent me to tell you that we have a new battle tactic," he announced, immediately going to sit next to Mirage. "The golden dragon... her name's Sun, or Sunny or something, and she has a new idea for fighting - a RainWing idea." He quickly explained that the RainWings chosen to fight would use camouflage and sleeping dart guns to attack the NightWings. "This way we'll have the advantage. And we'll attack tonight."

     "Tonight?!" Prism and Mirage exclaimed at the same time. Iguana nodded.

     "That's so... soon," murmured Prism. She resolutely replaced her nervousness with hate, thinking of the crimes the NightWings had committed.

     Mirage trembled slightly, and Iguana wrapped a wing around her. "It's okay," he soothed her. "They'll never see it coming. Literally." He grinned at his joke, and Mirage weakly smiled back. He really does care for her, Prism noticed.

     A knock, tap, knock-knock, scratch sounded on the tree bordering her clearing. Prism immediately recognized the pattern. "Come in!"

     Buttercup entered, looking worried, and immediately flew into Prism's arms. "Are you really going to fight tonight?" she blurted out.

     Prism studied her niece sternly. "Were you eavesdropping?"

     Buttercup shook her head. "I heard Marigold talking about it to Poinsettia. You're... you're not going to die, right?"

     Prism wrapped the dragonet in a hug. "No, I won't," she promised. "I'll be fine. Everyone will be." Buttercup looked up into Prism's eyes tearfully. "How did this all change so fast? One day we're out training together, and the next you're going into battle and leaving me."

     Prism glanced over at Mirage and Iguana, both looking solemn. "I think it's always been this way, and we've just been too blind to notice it," she whispered softly. "But we're not going to live the same way again."

     Iguana, Mirage, and Buttercup nodded. Prism thought for a moment, then scratched a sign on one of the trees that held up her hammock. She didn't know how to read or write yet, but the buttercup she drew would always remind her of her duty.

     Well, friends, we need a ship name. Mirauana? Wait, nope, not that one. Iguage? Let me know! :3
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