LordBlackOpal

It was a cloudy night a atop a peak near the edges of the Windswept Plateau, a place that had always drawn him since he had found it, on his first flight around the world. It felt like it was only yesterday when that happened. The soothing currents of the ever-moving air stroked and teased his long dark purple whiskers, fluttering his half-furled midnight wings. The air always felt so…wonderful here.

He closed his golden eyes, breathing deep of the air, relishing the freshness and fullness he could sense within the nearby realm. Here he was granted solitude to immerse in his thoughts, wondering at his fate within the world. As the offspring of an Ice and a Lightning Imperial, he had discovered that his personal element was Light, which he found hard to believe, based on his coloring. He hadn’t even chosen a name for himself, yet, because he was so confused about it all.

The unexpected sound of wings caused him to open his eyes, finding what appeared to be a young Guardian dragon flying his way, pale in color, but not appearing to be hostile. After a few moments, the dragon came to rest on the peak with him, composing her wings and introducing herself, “Greetings, Imperial One, I am Lady Rose Quartz of the Shard Clan. I couldn’t help but notice you as I started to make my patrol this evening and wanted to introduce myself, as I am a newly established Progenitor here within the Windswept Plateau. Might I inquire your reason for looking so pensive this night?”

Evading the name portion of the Guardian’s introduction, he answered politely, “Forgive my intrusion to your Lair space, Milady. I’m seeking answers for my own existence and had found that this beautiful view is a very nice place to think about one’s place in the world.”

“Your heart sounds heavy,” She answered, offering an encouraging dragonish smile. “How would you like a friend to talk to?”

This Guardian dragon, Lady Rose Quartz, seemed quite friendly and attentive to him, so he nodded, “I would not mind a fresh view on my thoughts, if you would hear them.”

With that he began pouring out his heart and mind, finding his companion to be quite easy to talk and listen to. For more than an hour they spoke to each other, never noticing that the winds had cleared the sky of all the clouds to reveal a shining full moon. By this time, they had began conversing more about themselves, each of them now even more curious about their companion.

It was when Rose said something that made him laugh heartily, his whole body stretching and heaving in mirth, that he heard her gasp in surprise. Stopping, he turned a curious gaze to his friend, finding her staring at his scales with intense fascination, her own scales drawing his eyes.

She was the color of a new dawn, pale and blushing pink, the great sails of her wings a rich salmon that complemented her beautifully. It was no wonder she was a Progenitor.

“By the Winds, you are quite handsome, my friend! I do not understand how you can not understand your affiliation? Look at your scales beneath the moonlight!”

Looking down at himself, he found a new and, up to that moment, unnoticed lustrous sheen to his scales. Different shades of blues, greens and purples swirled over his scales in whirls of iridescence, almost seeming to celebrate the touch of the light of the moon and stars. Spreading his wings, he could now see patterns of stars that had been hidden from his view, as well as similar speckles on his belly when he looked farther down on himself. He was astounded.

“I don’t understand,” he whispered.

“Don’t you?” she replied, bowing her head slightly to him. “You are a softer, cooler light than the sun. You are the moon and the stars, the calm draw of the night to relax, and flow with ease, away from the bustle of the day. And you are beautiful!”

He couldn’t believe it, but his body showed the truth. He wasn’t elementally mis-aligned, he was a night-light dragon. The term clicked with finality in his head and he knew that this was the answer he had been seeking, all thanks to the gorgeous dragon who watched him with rapt attention.

Feeling a confidence that surprised him, he stood and shook himself, training his shining gold eyes to her, his voice warm and hopeful, “May I join you in your Lair, Lady Rose Quartz?”

{extended version}

She fluttered her wings and moved closer, nuzzling him with a warm and welcoming press of her snout to his, "I would gladly welcome you, Lord Black Opal, to join with me, mine, and my Lady. Come, we will celebrate the hope a fresh nightwind brings to a budding day; together."