//------------------------------// // The Trip Down The Cliff // Story: Convicted Hearts: The Dragons Stone // by SaphireHoyt //------------------------------// I had leaned against the tree smiling a little as I watched Flutters Shy and Zecora work on the fire, looking at the forest around us. They were being far to cautious, but I suppose it's for the best out in this place. We were in the middle of a less dense part of the forest, where there was more space between the trees. They were still wildly tall, crooked and horrid looking, but they were a bit more distant. This part of the forest was extra quiet, and extra secluded. They were extra far off, and I was soon to be returned to the Dragon's isle. The only thing between us and the isle were a few more days of travel, and a cliff a few meters forwards from the camp. The tent was well behind the safety line, but I was still on the side of the campsite that did not face the cliff. We were smiling at the stories that Zecora had been telling, as well as enjoying the night. We had run into a Manticour that Flutter Shy apparently knew somehow. She explained the story of the elements, and the dozens of times she had conquered her shyness. It was amazing to think that such a shy mare could be so talkative. It's refreshing. The stories carried us to midnight, and I was tired as I struggled to keep myself awake enough to fully appreciate the story. "Hey..." Diamond Shine smiled at me, nuzzling my head as I leaned it against her for the third time. "It's alright if you need to sleep, Savra. Don't push yourself. You're going to need the energy for the walk tomorrow anyways." I gave a small huff. I knew she was right, but I didn't want to agree. I felt more as if I wanted to stay awake. To be like the older ponies. Of course, I wasn't really considered a pony was I? "Alright... I'll go to bed. When are all of you going to sleep?" I looked at them, concerned as I could be for their health too with an exhausted mind. "We are going to bed very soon here, but you must get some sleep first dear." Zecora nodded to Flutter Shy and Diamond Shine was quick to take me to the tent they had set up for me once I had informed them that I was a male. They didn't mind sharing a tent with each other, and I was glad, because it was cramped in the tent even just on my own. I waited for sleep to come as I curled up under a blanket. I held my stuffed animals close, smiling a little as I closed my eyes and slept. It sank in like a rock in water. I was out in a mere moment, curled up and asleep. The sleep I had was rather dreamless, flooded with the thought of brightness for the future. I could save the Dragon Lordess, and maybe, one day I'll be remembered as a hero for the Dragon Isles. I awoke though, the next morning, to the scent of sweet bread and honey. I sat up and peeked out of the tent, seeing the three had awoken and started eating small rolls of bread with honey and butter. They had set aside a plate for me, over the fire to keep it warm. It was fun to watch them for a moment, but I was getting bored. I stood up and walked out of the tent, leaving my stuffed animals inside and closing the tent flap slowly. I walked forwards and rubbed my eyes, stretching, and picking up the plate slowly after I sat down. "Good morning Savra!" Flutter Shy was smiling at me with a full smile, her eyes wide and happy. Her pink mane was somehow still perfectly preened. Zecora was looking tired, and ready to move on. Quickly, I ate and I packed up, throwing my items into the wagon and smiling tiredly. "Good morning, Flutter Shy!" My response was just as enthusiastic. She was quick to pick up the hitch and put it on while I was trailing behind it next to Diamond Shine. She was trotting beside me, humming something as we walked. I was smiling and talking to her about the Dragon's Isles and how nice Midnight was most of the time. It struck me that I missed the isles, but not only the isles.. I missed Midnight as well. She was the first dragon I had come to officially know, and the one I had come to trust, other than the Dragon Lord and the Dragon Lordess. This seemed mildly impossible. We had started a our way down a slim path, almost scarily thin for the time. The wagon barely fit, and I had to walk in the very back of the group as we moved. I wasn't to thrilled at this, but I relaxed and let it slide as we walked, taking the steepening path down. I was uncomfortable with doing so until I saw Diamond Shine was fine with it too. I was walking slowly, looking at the ground with boredom as I planted one foot in front of the other. I heard the sound of buzzing as I walked, and swatted around my body at various times to get rid of the sensation of bugs and itching. I scratched my arms wildly, and Flutter Shy looked back at me as I swatted, and her eyes went wide with terror. I stared back at her with confusion as we stopped. Zecora looked back and gasped as I tilted my head and turned around. Behind me was a huge cloud of a strange type of bug. It was blaring red with anger as I backed away, and as suddenly as the ground was beneath my feet, the ground was slowly rising away from me as I slipped down. The wind started to pick up, blowing through my hair as I fell, and I remembered the fun I've had over the passed few months. The good and the bad. The promises I made slipping through my hands and just... Disappearing into the distant echo of memory. Everything was going to go back to the way it was before I got here... The Dragon Lordess would continue on crying in the darkness forever... The Dragon Lord would disappear... There would be no more Dragon Lord prophecy... No more Dragon Isle's... No more friends, no more memories, and.. No more hope... No more happiness... There would just be darkness. I'd been in this world for over 3 months. I woke up in this strange place... And not once have I shed a tear of fear, sadness... pain. But now? Now I was sobbing. Full blown sobbing, tears running down my face as I called out the only name I felt I could in the moment. "MIDNIIIIGHT!!" In a moment, I was caught. Just before everything was supposed to go black. I cried out, still sobbing as I opened my eyes, barely enough to see the black shimmering scales of a dragon, flying upwards before I passed out from stress.