open Rise of the Stars roleplay (1x1 with CatponeCerberus)

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
"Nah!" Cinder simply shouted in response, life was too short for decency.

Ruby was...disappointed about Quasi's response, she wasn't trying to get a reaction out of him, this was her style and she just genuinely asked for his opinion, not that it would have changed anything, but still, she was also slightly proud of her creation, mainly because she hadn't made clothes before and she actually liked what she had created, if nothing else, could have asked who's head she had ripped off for the headwear, not that she remembered who it was, but some acknowledgement of effort would have been nice. 

She was quite literally shining when she entered the throne room, not because she was especially happy or anything, she was her usual self, but because of the gem-dust in her clothing, it was actually hard to see her expression from distance due to it, which Ruby didn't mind. 

She was positively surprised about the shortness of the marriage speak, no nonsense, just getting right to the point, that's how she liked it, though she wasn't fan of the morality stuffed into her part, she didn't 'defeat a great evil' she 'ripped a self-important wannabe god into pieces'.

She also would move her head for the nose-touch so that it wasn't one-sided. Even if she would have had the anatomy to do what was defined as a 'kiss', she would still prefer something like this because honestly the idea of tasting each other's tongues was very weird concept to her. 

 

Vix and his dragon family had arrived as promised, they were sitting near the door with Charis sitting on top of Danthe and Vix sitting on Enduur's head, and surprisingly, Cinder was actually with them rather than annoying Ember who was close to where ever Arrow was.  

 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

And now they were married. There wasn't much shouting or anything like that, from what Quasi could read, the nightwings didn't exactly know how they were supposed to react at a royal wedding. Though, what some would think of as the boring part was over.

Everyone would head out to a room with tables of all kinds of foods from the worlds. Except from the fourth one probably, since it was only just discovered. Guards kept a close watch on everything especially with the whole Darkstalker returning problem.

"*You know, you're quite pretty for someone wearing the scales of other dragons. Most dragons that do crazy things like that don't put much effort into it.*"

It wouldn't be long until a dragon, a nightwing specifically would walk up to them. Quasi wasn't sure who she was, just that there was one problem. He couldn't read her mind.

"Hi, I hope you're having a g-"

She had disk blades appear in her talons.

"Those won't exactly even scratch our scales. I don't know what you up to achieve."

She looked at him, emotionless.

"Darkstalker wishes you a happy wedding."

Then she slash at Quasi, who instinctively jumped back, though with less effort expecting his scales to be fine. The thing was, the blades cut through. The injury wasn't serious as his movement kept them from cutting too badly however, when guards jumped in to kill the nightwing, she'd simply throw her blades, slicing the throats of the guards. Quasi picked a spear up from one of the dead guards and attacked, only for the dragon to grab it and then Quasi, throwing him against the ground.

  "Darkstalker is the true king of the nightwings. You are a pretender."

Quasi looked at Ruby.

"*I'm getting nothing from her mind.*"

"Now, I'd like to make this as painful as possible. To make a good example out of you."

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
"*That's because I'm violent, not unhinged*" Ruby remarked, it was a joke, but it was also true, there was a difference between those who collected scales for sake of it and those like Ruby who did it because they were useful, sure she collected bones as trophies but as she saw it, it was different, because at least her trophies didn't require skinning, since they tented to be things like horns and claws, which both grew outside the body. 

She kinda just watched for a moment as thing went down, she didn't know if she should be flattered or insulted that the nightwing entirely ignored her existence, depended really if it was because it didn't see her as a threat, or if it was because it saw her as too big of a challenge. She without warning thrusted her claws towards the nightwing's throat, her goal being to stab through it and make the attacker drown in her own blood. 

She wasn't the only one ready to fight though, in the spot where Cinder, Vix and the three dragonesses were was now mostly purple and green glow of magic with Vix's and Cinder's less dark magic glowing faintly through as the group of five had all activated their magic ready to make some more dragon-goo if anyone threatened them. Though if Ruby's first surprise attack failed, Cinder would separate from the group and start shooting magical crystal-like projectiles at the nightwing, it probably didn't do anything if it managed to survive Ruby, but it sure was annoying. 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

The dragon was going to dodge Ruby's attack but the magic being use caught the dragon off guard. She would simply do as Ruby intended and die.

More guards ran in and saw the dead dragon. One would start to disinfect Quasi's wound.

"Darkstalker, what a fool attacking another nation's leader."

"*If this is war, we shall stay here to rule the nation, our soldiers should be sufficient. Our intel suggests Darkstalker doesn't have animus magic this time. However, he is likely immortal, except is organs can be damaged. We could make him brain-dead though. Perhaps certain toxins to the eye or tongue.*"

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
The dragon family calmed down as the attacker went down, but they were now more wary than before in case there was more, Cinder didn't seem any more or less on guard than before. 

"*He wants us to attack, let's not, we'll need to focus on defenses, if he wants a war, he can come and get it, he is strongest at his own land, so if he wants to fight, he has to come here.*" "*And when he does, I'll meet him face to face, even if I can't damage him, I am the most likely to survive his power, I can play with him while you figure out a way to get rid of that waste of air permanently.*" Darkstalker's clones had made it clear he was creature of fear, so Ruby was the unmovable object to his unstoppable force, and honestly, they would have probably made great allies if Darkstalker wasn't so overly power hungry. 

She addressed the crowds "Return to enjoying your time, things are under control." she then cleaned her claws from the Nightwings blood, by licking them clean. 

"*He could probably be suffocated, my kind is adapted to live in the volcanic ashes of the Homelands, so if there was a way to put us two in a space with toxic and low oxygen air, I would easily outlast him.*" sure even she had her limits, but they were lot higher than most species due to the air of her homeland.  

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

One soldier came in. He seemed to be part of the ones using those scouting drones.

"This is probably a good time to tell you." The dragon motioned to his head so that Quasi could read his mind. And then Quasi would relay the information to Ruby.

"*That Darkstalker is not a clone. Darkstalker was turned into a small dragon named Peacemaker. From what we've gathered, the Darkstalker in Peacemaker was separated from him. They are now two separate beings. Of course, Peacemaker has nothing to do with this besides that, he's just an innocent dragon. We're dealing with the actual Darkstalker. His animus magic was replaced though. Some sort of Equestrian magic. This significantly weakens him in terms of what he can do but, he's still dangerous. I suspect this was a timed thing set by Gladia before she died, wanted to use Darkstalker's land as a puppet regime. With Gladia out of the picture though... he calls the shots.*"

"*We aren't sure if he can see the future or not, I doubt it because the assassination attempt failed. He's a lot smarter than that. He can however read minds and he can do it well.*"

He'd write an order down on some paper and give it a wax stamp. He'd give it to the soldier.

"I want our navy to not allow anyone trading with Darkstalker to enter our world. Follow all rules of engagement."

The crowd would go back to the event a little bit wary after what happened. The medic tending to Quasi spoke. As guards came  in and took the bodies away.

"Nothing serious, it's clear you've moved a little bit before being hit, had you not, the injury would've been instantly fatal. I disinfected, you should be fine. If I may ask... will there be a war."

"Darkstalker wants a war. It would fit the deadly agenda he has. To go to war would be to give him what he wants. I have other plans for him."

"Should you go to war with him, Dasonia will aid you."

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
"*Either he's trying to scare us by letting so much information leak, or he in fact is not smart.*" Ruby remarked "*And I'm not concerned about his mind reading, his type of wannabe gods are the exact thing I protected my mind against*" Blocking Quasi was just a side effect, not that she minded the peace of knowing that even he can't see into her head, but he was not the reason she did it, and while shielding her mind had its limits, it was not the only thing she did, she also did what was basically encryption for her mind, so even if you could brute force through the protections, all you would find is nonsense. 

"Only war that will ever come is a defensive one, at which point we will of course make the attacker regret their actions." this was a statement to really anyone who heard it, less she had to repeat it in the future, the better. "Get that weapon to someone to look at, figure out what it is." there was clearly something going on with it, so they needed to know what.

 

 

 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

Quasi would speak on the weapon used.

"The weapon itself is nothing out of the ordinary. Nightwings used this weapon before. Deathbringer, Queen Glory's lover and bodyguard was an assassin before Rainwings took control of the nightwings after the nightwing kingdom of that time was invaded by the rainwings and destroyed by a volcano. The nightwings do not miss the island. The odd part is the fact they can harm our scales. Sure most dragons here that makes sense, but my scales are as strong as yours. So it doesn't make sense."

Arrow spoke up.

"I have weapons enchanted to pierce you from when me and Somnus took you into custody to get you in on the war. Could it be the same magic?"

"Certainly not impossible..."

A nearby nightwing would step over and stare at the blades. This seemed to be a civilian, not any sort of military. A little bit unhealthy, probably hasn't fully recovered from living on that volcanic island.

"The edge is black..."

She looked at the body of the attacker being dragged out.

"Gloves, they don't seem to be made of neither plant or animal... special... what those earthlings and equestrians call plastic. Still able to give a good grip on them though."

She took a piece of meat and touched it to the blade. Where it touched the black part, damage was done to the meat.

"A dry version of rainwing venom. Somehow, still very corrosive. Any biotic material is immediately damaged on contact. Though... how did they get rainwing venom?"

"I've been in contact with Queen Glory, she said rainwings were going missing again. I assured her it wasn't us."

"*We'll enjoy the rest of the wedding then we will make a plan to take down Darkstalker.*"

He'd turn to one of the guards.

"See to it that this dragon here is compensated for her help."

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
Quasi's scales may have been as hard as Ruby's, but they weren't as thick as hers were, so she wasn't overly worried. 
"Tell Queen Glory we found her rainwings, they are used to make weapons by Darkstalker." she didn't really have anything much to comment on the topic, she had asked a question and gotten a response to it "*This explains why she targeted you, my dress is made of my kin's scales but covered in metal, the blade wouldn't have gone through.*" she started heading towards Enduur and gang, she was glad they came, would have at least someone to talk to about something else than politics. 

 

 

(see OOC)

 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

"*Hmm... it seemed too easy. Why did she stall before trying to kill me?*"

This was more of a question to himself truly.

Moonwatcher would looked at him. They talked in each others mind but one thing, he slipped out.

"If it's bad how do you not fully know what it is that will happen."

But he knew the answer. Her foresight wasn't something she had full control over. It was why she was being trained on certain days, of course not enough to terribly interrupt her time at Jade Mountain Academy, a condition she gave. Though, Quasi wouldn't take that away even if it wasn't a condition, he knew how much her friends meant to her.

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
Quasi may have not been looking for answer, but since Ruby was still in a hearing distance, she responded "*Because those like Darkstalker have a need to make things dramatic, they can never just shut up and attack.*" 

When she got to the other dragons, she greeted all of them, the the two older ones with a nod, and Charis by lowering her head to her height and letting her touch it, she may have been cold hearted, but even she knew how to treat a hatchling. She then started speaking with Enduur and Danthe, commenting about the assassination attempts before proceeding to discuss the challenge from Danthe. 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

Some guards would come in. Two coyotes in armor that looked different to Sky's and Myra's. But it was the same in the fact that on the sides of both of their shoulder areas a cross was engraved.

"We were notified by nightwing guarda of the incident. We feel it would be smart to stay around you."

"That would be best. How come you weren't here, you know Quasi said in the invitation that you were welcome to partake in the festivities."

"We were there for the ceremony as to show respect of course but, we just were trying to stay in a place with less noise."

"Crowds aren't for everyone I suppose."

"My statement in the invitation still stands help yourself to anything."

"You don't stand there and look all serious while guarding your leaders?"

"Well, we're serious about protecting our leaders of course but we don't stand still with a blank expression. We're not plants and even they respond to things. Actually, people say they grow faster if you sing to them. Anyway, we think and feel emotions like everyone else. Like when my camp was destroyed during the war. We were serving as a distraction for Ruby so that things would turn out the way they did. I was off gathering wood for a fire when I saw Miror injured and the camp destroyed. I was pretty sad to see it happen."

"As was I."

"We hold no anger. Hatred towards other is wrong. So is consuming blood actually, that's why we cook our meat. This is quite a weird thing to me still, being in a place full of these lizard-like creatures that fly. Even crazier, you can actually talk! Most dangerous lizards living in my land are alligators. Animus magic though. Crazy. Doesn't work on me or Miror."

"Really? I might talk to you later on that."

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
Ruby didn't much care for the guards or the conversation, she personally didn't feel like she needed guards, mainly because if anyone powerful enough to take down her or Quasi actually appeared, they wouldn't be much help, as evidenced by the amount of dead guards from just the last few days....they really needed to do something about that....and she was frankly more interested in what Enduur had to say, even if it at the moment was her talking about her past before getting captured, kinda went of topic from the challenge but Ruby was bit curious to hear what the homelands were like before she hatched. Cinder leaned on a wall not far from them, balancing a knife she made with her magic on her finger, while day dreaming about things better left unspecified. 

Though she did comment on the mention of her, she was starting to have very selective hearing regarding that "No matter how much you mention it, I won't apologize for killing what then was enemy troops!" Didn't hear them complain about all the individuals she killed when fighting on their side. 

Ember wandered on her own and headed to a more quiet corner of the room, parties weren't really her thing, and since she had not real connection to either party involved, so she just decided to avoid most things, she would go see if there was anything to eat or drink after the worst crowd would disperse a bit. 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

Arrow went to see what Ember was up to.

"Crowds aren't your thing I'm guessing. It's pretty odd being around so many dragons, after my job was killing them. Though only the not good ones. "

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
"Crowds of strangers specifically." Ember admitted "And want to stay out of the middle of things, in case there's another...situation." she had left her equipment home, so she wanted to avoid violent conflict. "What's your take on all this? The nation, Ruby, the attack?" "I'm...conflicted."  the crow was sleeping in Ember's mane, how did it manage to get sleep in all this noise? who knew. 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

"Well, the way the nation is set is interesting. It seems to be a democracy type nation, specifically a monarchist democracy. Or maybe a monarchist mixture of democracy and republic. From what I've heard from the nightwings, Quasi's goal was to create a new system of government in his world and to reform the nightwings and fix their reputation. This Sandwing war they were in crushed the reputation they once had. He felt the reputation of his tribe was causing them to be treated poorly by others. This was his solution. Though, I get Quasi is immortal in terms of natural causes and Ruby has a long lifespan but, with all these assassins, they really need an heir to the throne in case things go wrong. As for Darkstalker, he's a tyrant, I hear he has icewings in these places just to torture and kill them."

"Honestly, I think the Quasi is basically creating a renaissance for his people if not his world, and for his people at least, it's a faster one than on Earth."

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
"Yeah, that's the reality of this, but that's exactly why I'm conflicted." Ember stated thoughtfully "It's no secret that  Ruby is exactly the type of individual I would go after if she wasn't several times my size and unscathed by my weapons." And a political leader, she didn't go after liked political leaders "But...I can't ignore that she's clearly the right one for this nation, the enemies this place will face are lot more...evil, than her, my ideals just won't work in places like this." "And I do believe in second changes, and can see Ruby's view point, nobody has really proven her wrong." 

"On topic of heir I'm also unsure, it's true they should probably hurry considering how long it will be until the offspring is mature, apparently Ruby's kind's full maturity takes 50 years, but in the other hoof, could anyone else do what they are doing? their experiences have an effect on their believes, and no amount any kind of upbringing can give that experience to their offspring, hay, my father was part of the guard, yet still, you know how I feel about armies. I believe that if they go down, everything will fall apart, regardless of if there's heir or not." 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

"I can see why you'd say that. But, Quasi did a very good job in building the national culture. The thing is, before this nation became a nation, Quasi led a movement called The Rising Star. It was a succession movement with the goal of the nightwing tribe leaving the rainwings and forming a democracy-type government. Quasi put much work into bringing in this idea of freedom and now it truly is part of their culture to the point that the idea of not having freedom is absolutely absurd. He also set in place a list of rights, a council, and a court. They all keep each other from gaining too much power. Truth is, the heir couldn't become a tyrant even if they wanted to. And the military? It's purpose is to protect those rights, should a leader give an illegal order, they have the right to refuse to carry it out."

"Though there are outside threats and a question of whether or not their leader will be strong enough to face them. Should there be no heir, the citizens will vote on a leader. The heir thing is more of a way to keep tradition alive. It actually once was that only females could be queens and certain females related to the queen could challenge the queen to open combat for the throne. Quasi, however has gotten rid of that, viewing the idea has barbaric."

He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Who is better then Ruby to make a dragon strong? And who is better than Quasi to make a dragon kind? And what better than the culture to give the experience to help gain the idea of freedom for their people? Quasi and Ruby are great leaders and if it's true without them, the kingdom would fall, then what better than a dragon with the genes of them both to lead?"

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
"I actually meant the strength part more than the culture part." Ember specified "I wasn't worried about tyranny, and rather the opposite, Ruby's stubbornness will help them to deal with the Earth, while I don't support them any more than any other government, I rather not have Earth puppet a nation like this." "Though now that you mention it, their offspring would be terrifying, imagine it, a dragon with Ruby's, skills, durability and adaptability, but also with the ability to read minds." "They would be able to counter any strategy you come up with the moment you think about it." she looked towards Enduur and her daughters "Add to that Ruby's kind's apparent capability to be infused with magic with the biggest side effect seemingly being loss of limb or two, their bloodline could in theory become unbeatable." 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

"Well, mind reading isn't genetic. It's actually to do with hatching under the moons in a certain way. So, they can choose to let them not be able to read minds. And honestly Quasi probably could do the same. I don't know if Quasi will allow dragons to hatch under the moons. To be honest, he could see how it could be a problem. Though... he quite likes the idea of having someone seeing the future. I wonder what system Quasi will have in place to ensure this future sight will serve the kingdom. I guess the nightwings have done it before with both mind readers and future seers. So maybe he will use the old system or a similar idea. And it's not like all nightwings will read minds and see the future, you can't choose was day an egg hatches."

"Though, perhaps having Moonwatcher does help. She can see the future. She can't do it potently yet, but, Quasi has found a way to train her and she's improving from what I know. If she gets as good as a dragon from long ago such as Clearsight, she'll do pretty well. It's quite interesting according to other nightwings. She really liked Queen Glory as a queen and wasn't truly with The Rising Star. I guess because Quasi managed to be diplomatic, he managed to get his goal while remaining on good terms with her, so Moonwatcher was able to go here without fear of upsetting Queen Glory."

"There were conditions that Moonwatcher had. She wanted to keep going to Jade Mountain Academy and be able to be with her friends. It wasn't an issue for Quasi, she just needed Moonwatcher to go on with her life, train her ability on certain times on certain days, and report to him if she sees something important. It doesn't quite interfere with her life. And I guess the benefits don't hurt, free schooling for any future hatchings and free housing for her for the rest of her life. Soldiers only get the free schooling should they attend a college or university though that is extended to their children too. Also a lot of businesses give discounts to active military and former military. Seers and seeresses don't typically get the discounts."

He looked thoughtful again.

"It must be stressful though seeing scary possibilities and hearing what people thing of you. She's pretty trustworthy, gave an animus touched object named skyfire to her friends so she can't read their minds. I guess that helps with her relationship with that Sandwing named Qibli over there. He isn't from here though, he's from the Sandwing Kingdom and is a citizen of that nation."

He pointed to a sandwing with a scar across his snout. He seemed friendly.

"Quite an interesting dragon, that one."

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
"The ability itself may not be genetic, but the potential is, you don't see Ruby's kind being able to read minds regardless of when they hatch." Ember pointed out "From what I have seen from her, Ruby seems to be obsessed with getting better, getting stronger, her mind was used against her? she blocked it off, you used magical net against her, she made magical restrains no longer work on her, and if what Cinder said to me is true, she has now also increased her resistance against some magics." "So who is to say that for example hundred years from now, she hasn't figured out a way to unlock mind reading for Nightwings later in their life? You can have many opinions about her, I for one don't like her style of life, but you can't deny she's intelligent, and who knows what she can come up with if she manages to put her focus on right things." 

"I do agree with you on mind reading and seeing the future though, I for one would never want such abilities, sometimes not knowing something is the best option." 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

"Quasi seems to see good in her. To him I think, Ruby's hatred comes from her life in that land. Maybe she hates others because others hated her. Perhaps... maybe how she was raised did it to her. I hear that Quasi erased her past trauma but... even with that gone, I can imagine living like that for so long turned her way of thinking into a habit. Somnus, a batpony guard, well... technically a wyvern turned into the form of batpony making it his new default form... complicated stuff, where was I? Right, Somnus was alive for a long time over a millennium and a half. It was a time when dragons and similar things weren't exactly liked. His adoptive parents, some batponies hated him, thought he was a monster. Got abused until he was kicked out as a child. His story is a known one. Resorted to stealing and had that thieve's mindset along with a trust no one attitude. Took forever for him to get out of it."

"I think Ruby is like that. Though, likely worse for her, the culture of her land is very different than Equestria's culture. Actually... I found an animus touched object, they're letting people play with it a bit. It's like a... soul reader. It measures the amount of good in someone with an hour glass. Black for good and white for evil. The coloring is because of tense times between icewings and nightwings long ago."

He motioned to an object, it's a thing that had an hourglass. He'd pointed it at himself. The hourglass would show the black sand really outweighing the white, showing mostly good. It also showed mostly good for Sky and Myra. More good for their baby, made sense, didn't have a chance to do any wrong. He pointed it at Quasi. The good also heavily outweighed the bad. He pointed it at Ember and looked.

He then tried Cinder. And finally, he pointed it at Ruby.

"Truth is, I feel that this thing measures good and bad by the typical standards of the common individual. If someone with a heavily different view of good and bad enchanted it, perhaps the results would be different. They say that this was enchanted by Darkstalker before he became evil. He was good long ago. But, he became very bad and this thing showed that he became bad over time. The choices he made are what made him evil. I believe that if someone evil changed their ways, the reader would show good."

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight
"You can't really erase trauma, you can block the memories, but you can't get rid of the effects without fundamentally changing the individual." Ember pointed out "They are part of us." "And I agree on the effect of Ruby's past on her view on life, that's why I think she too deserves a chance, and like I said, we didn't really prove her wrong." "She was basically blackmailed into a war she did not care about, was thrown out like used tool when she wanted to stop fighting, and almost died fighting someone she originally had no interest in fighting, while those doing that to her constantly complain to her about her being evil and wrong, while doing the exact same things they blame her for." "I fully admit I'm part of that problem, I too kill while condemning her killings, and I'm not defending her actions, but my point is, we aren't exactly helping with her flawed world view." 

For the results the hourglass, Ember was overwhelmingly good, she wasn't perfect of course, but she was as good as anyone willing to kill others could be, and even that willingness came from view of necessary evil, in a imperfect world one had to sometimes go against their own morals to do good. Cinder however, was in the middle, as in, the exact middle, true neutral, she was a jerk yes, and didn't really follow the usual morals, but she also had no evil intent in her, and did have some limits, she was a menace, not a monster. 

For Ruby however, it was more on the evil side, no surprise there, nobody in their right mind wouldn't claim she was good in the sense of commonly accepted morals, but it wasn't as far into the evil as one maybe would have expected, and was actually closer to the middle than the far end of pure evil.

This would also be true for Enduur, Danthe and Charis if Arrow checked them, though in different amounts, Danthe being in very similar position as Ruby, Enduur being slightly more toward the middle, And Charis, who by their kind's standards was still a baby, was more a neutral than evil, though she was more on the evil side than good side, this was probably mainly caused by their kind's lack of empathy, as even a baby was perfectly happy to kill someone bothering them without feeling bad about it. Vix, if tested, was overwhelmingly good, though bit less than Ember, as the company he kept had twisted his morals slightly. 

 

"Yeah, Cinder actually said something that made me realize something, seeing things in black and white like we tend with morality is not a good way to look at things." "Using my own work as example, those who I go after are unarguably evil, even they themselves don't disagree with that, but if one of them has a daughter for example, who they treat well, and I kill them, is that daughter really wrong to call me evil? Is it not evil to harm a child by taking away their parent? Even if that parent is pure evil?" "Would it then be evil for that daughter to kill me as revenge? or for me to kill her in self defense?" 

"Or what about my temporary alliance with my enemies? Am I evil for working with evil to combat greater evil?" 

"Morality is complicated, and I have come to realize that to try to simplify it with objects like this one brings more harm than good." 

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Catpone Cerberus

"Good and evil is... something. You can look at things and tell if an action is good or evil or not. The question is, can someone evil become good. I personally think so. I believe a person becomes good upon more their change of heart though that change of heart can be a process of realizing what is good or not. Sometimes it's fast, maybe instant."

"I never doubted you were good. That's probably one things I like about you."

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

@Lucid_Nightlight

"That's a pretty low bar don't you think? Especially in the land of Friendship." Ember joked "You aren't half-bad either, we can actually have a conversation even though we disagree on some big things." mainly military. 

Meanwhile Ruby had started to interact with Charis, and with permission from Enduur, she let the young dragoness climb on her back, where Charis then went to examine Ruby's horns, Enduur had told her about black-horns, but she had never seen one before Ruby. As the young hatchling was busy looking at Ruby's horns, she and the two other dragons walked to get something to eat, picking the most raw meat they could find.

Vix was just chilling on Enduur's head, which didn't seem to bother Enduur at all.

Cinder had moved on from her day-dreaming and was now interacting with some random nightwings of various genders, seemingly flirting with them, which seemed to actually work!?

Edited May 2, 2022 by Catpone Cerberus