Nightshade

As the great war between Plague and Light approached, Clan Pineapple began to prepare, training soldier after soldier for Glittermom's great army. Among these soldiers was a pearlcatcher named Dreamcatcher, who would later become Nightshade. Dreamcatcher arrived in a cohort of new soldiers, a fodderling. As she walked through the clan with the other fodder, she looked around and saw something that made her stop in her tracks. Beautifully-attired pearlcatchers, feasting and enjoying conversation on the hill, watching the line of fodder pass by. Immediately, the injustice of it made her want to scream. What made them better than her? What made them 'distinguished pearlcatchers' and her mere fodder? Sure, she had the "honor" of becoming one of the Lightweaver's army, but what great honor was that to her, a water dragon? She was no less beautiful than any of them. The only reason no one could see it was because she didn't have fancy clothes and jewels. All that separated her from them was wealth.

An idea occurred to her, just as a warrior prodded her to keep on walking. If she could look like them, maybe they would believe she was one of them. She waited until the warriors momentarily looked away and then made a run for it, heading toward the nearest cavern. Her heart thumped as she hid inside the cavern and she was so anxious about the dragons outside the cavern that she did not think to look around the inside of the cavern at all. When she finally did, she saw someone watching her from what appeared to be a pool of mud right in the middle of the cavern. A dragon of some sort, although in the darkness, Dreamcatcher could not really tell that what kind. Later, she would learn that the other dragon was the heroic pearlcatcher Nightmare. The muddy pearlcatcher spoke, "They will find you, you know. They always do."

"....it's not fair," Dreamcatcher told the other dragon. "I am no worse than any of them. I'm just as pretty. It's just they have jewels and silks and all these things... and I don't. I don't want to be part of the Lightweaver's army. I just want to have a life of my own. Is that too much to ask?"

The mud-covered pearlcatcher, Nightmare, grinned, "You remind me of me, once.. wanting to escape. If you think all it'll take is some clothes... well then, I could help you. For a price." "What price? I have nothing." "If this works out, and they believe you, you swear to me that you will never join the Mallory's Order of the Pineapple and will be loyal to me and only me." "How do I know that I'm not selling my soul to the Shade?" "You don't. But what are your alternatives?"

(Art by NecroIzu)

Dreamcatcher considered her options and nodded, agreeing to the other pearlcatcher's terms. "I swear it, by the Lightweaver." "Swear by the Tidelord, I can see your eyes - and given you feeling - I do not think you are loyal to our mother." "By the Tidelord, then." Nightmare smiled and exited the pool. She found a shroud and threw it on top of Dreamcatcher. "Put than on and follow me." She then led her out of the cavern and right across the clan territory. Dreamcatcher noted that no one stopped them. The warriors did not seem to even see them, although the warriors did look behind them. Unable to resist her curiosity, Dreamcatcher turned around and saw what the warriors were looking at: in the shadows, following behind them, was a gigantic black imperial, wearing the cape of a wolf. "We're being followed," she told Nightmare, who smiled. "And thus we are safe," Nightmare answered. Only much later would Dreamcatcher learn that the imperial who had followed them was Subconscious, Nightmare's terrifying mate.

They arrived at another cavern, and this one had piles of apparel, jewels, and accessories, all arranged by types and colors. There, they found the coatl Tanith, who greeted Nightmare warmly. "Nightmare! To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? Have you finally decided it is time for a new look? Something.. cleaner?" "Afraid not, but I was wondering if you might dress up my.... sister." "Your sister? Well, let's have a look..." Tanith removed Dreamcatcher's shroud and clicked her tongue, "I have to say, I do not see much resemblance, although I suppose she does have some black on her too..." "We are half-sisters," Nightmare added and Tanith nodded, knowing how some dragons went from mate to mate. "Well, she has lovely color and bone structure, I am sure we kind find something appropriate. What do you like, my dear?"

Dreamcatcher thought of those other pearlcatchers, in their beautiful attire. "Silks... and jewels." "Expensive tastes, I see. Well, I suppose that could be arranged... I do have these droplet-jewels here somewhere..." and with that, Tanith began throwing things on Dreamcatcher and taking them off, trying combination after combination. After what felt to Dreamcatcher like hours (but was in fact only twenty minutes), Tanith settled on a look and led Dreamcatcher to a pool of water, "What do you think? Does that suit you?" The pearlcatcher examined her reflection and hardly knew who it was that looked back at her. This dragon - with her glimmering nightsky silks, her expensive blue flowers, her fine teardrop jewels - was it her? Dreamcatcher had suspected that with the right attire, she may look like the others, but now, she had proof. She smiled. "Yes, yes, I think this will do just fine."

(Art by Lyfesaver)

(Art by Meonox)

No one ever did find Dreamcatcher. The warriors looked, but nowhere could they find a fodder pearlcatcher. One of the warriors, Atlas, even questioned Dreamcatcher herself, but in response, she merely said: "Fodder? No, I have no idea who you're talking about. I am Nightmare's sister, Nightshade - newly arrived." The name had been a spontaneous invention. Dreamcatcher knew that her name was the name of a fodder dragon, so she knew better than to call herself that. Especially not with all these dragons looking for her. In the corner of her eye, she had spotted a Nightshade flower and inspiration had struck. Nightmare.... Nightshade. It was perfect. Atlas stared at "Nightshade", making Dreamcatcher fear that she might be found out, but then he shook his head and said, "Wow, who knew Nightmare had such an elegant pearlcatcher for a sister? Makes me wonder what she'd look like without her mud... thank you, sister of the honored Nightmare, I will not trouble you further. Clearly, a lady like yourself would have nothing to do with a runaway fodder, but you know how it is, I must question everyone." The newly-renamed Nightshade forced a smile and tried to laugh in the light way she saw the other pearlcatchers laugh, "Oh of course, of course. Formalities must be observed."

He departed and Nightshade smiled again, this one a real smile. Yes, formalities must be observed, because she was no longer a fodder. Nightshade looked up at the sky, "....not today, Lightweaver, not today."