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The night had shown itself once again. Almost complete blackness had taken over like all times before, a shroud of the canvas of space, filled to the brim with shining constellations of stars, planets, suns. Of course, they were all distant, but they still revealed the might of their great bursts of power, even light years away, and all of it wouldn’t be complete if it wasn’t for the sacred celestial body that was the Moon, its craters difficult to see, but a source of comforting light in the shadows it remained. It was like a father to the children that were the far away forms of cosmic power that seemed to explode in brilliance. It made one feel so small, so insignificant.

How could it not? Many creatures didn’t even pay any attention to it. Most just saw it as another phase of their programming, knowing what to do and what not to do, all for the sake of survival. Perhaps that was why the peepers quietly made their nightly sounds that both annoyed and…calmed all the other critters. Sure, it could’ve got on one’s nerves, but at the same time, the repetitive nature could just as easily hypnotize anyone into a sense of security, knowing that this occurrence happened all the time simply as a part of nature. Perhaps it was a lullaby to those willing to hide away, to stay safe from the unforgiving wild that was the day’s polar opposite, to provide something…familiar to fall asleep to, even under the illusion of safety it provided, or maybe it was a distraction for those nocturnal masters of the dark, using it as a tool to easily grab a kill to live another day, or to possibly steel their nerves, to give them the utmost focus on what they want, what they need.

It was how life went. This was just the start, and yet, was the end of something, anything, case and point, them. Shelby Grant’s home was empty, but not for reasons one may think. Sure, there were a couple lights on, shining through the windows like some mock Sun, but the creature that was meant to inhabit it was absent. No, nobody was there. Instead, the woman with muddy blonde hair was in apposition in a place one wouldn’t expect, for she wasn’t inside the shelter. Instead, she was on it, and she wasn’t standing or sitting, but lying down. Her spine, head, and shoed feet were on the dark blue navy shingles that granted some smoothness to her posture, her knees propped up into the sky at a slight angle than on a level surface.

One could ask, how on Earth did she get up here?

Was…magic? Serendipity? Or just some hidden compartment that held a ladder or simply a window? The answer was also nearby, but the source wasn’t expected either. It was a body, a creature, an organism known simply as a dragon. Those white scales, slightly ash-colored breast plates, that prehensile tail, those great draconic wings of powder-white membranes, those two horns of perfect cones, and the eyes, the bright blue eyes that shimmered greater than even the brightest of sapphires. The dragon, a drake, was placing his spines from his back with his folded wings relaxed to his sides, his three toed and clawed forepaws bent forwards on his breast, body a bit to her right.

The woman, a human, was Shelby Grant, and the drake, a dragon, was Sybus. Shelby had a brown sweatshirt on with some jeans on as the bumpy bottom of her boots gave her some traction. Even as the folded roughness of the pants went into her joint, it also gave her some additional friction against the minor slope. Sybus’ snout and orbs faced what he had known for all of his lifetime, taught meticulously by his caretakers when at a young hatchling age, the stars.

They were the most familiar to him, able to identify if this one had more brightness than that one, or if a new twinkle had come into the fray to join its shining siblings. It was the ghost dragon way, to chart these celestials in your mind, and to cherish and remember them for all of time. How else were they to survive? They thrived on the night because most other dragons didn’t or couldn’t. It wasn’t their domain, but they played by its rules to take the utmost advantage of it. To them, the night was a woolen blanket, comforting them compared to the brightness of the day, which exposed them before their peers. Such a thing terrified them to no end, especially when…w-when…

No. Enough. Sybus couldn’t think about that. He just couldn’t. He couldn’t when in such a moment like this…with Shelby. Now, one of the great scholars of the world may wonder, how did they get here to lie next to each other?

We needed to start from the beginning.

Shelby was back from her work, her job, hanging up her jacket and getting out of her boots to retire for the night, only to be met once again by the ghost dragon Sybus. It was like the other times where the drake just simply phased through her walls and made his way inside to greet her, not with something…unexpected like their second meeting, but like the other ones after. Yes, Sybus and Shelby have been meeting up at her house over the last few months, and it was both difficult and easy to see why. On one hand, or paw depending on who you were asking, there was always this…fascination between the two, an interest if you will.

For Shelby, it was obvious. This was a new dragon species the likes of which the world has never seen before, and she was establishing first contact, so there was an unmistakable privilege there. However, there was also something else, something that the woman couldn’t pinpoint regardless of how hard she tried. The workaholic’s mind just kept coming back to him, how kind and sensitive he was to cater to her despite her being a different species than him. It just didn’t make any sense. All other males of her own race simply discarded her like nothing, or she cut them from her life before they did any damage to it with their false promises and masks of generosity, only to realize that they looked at her in all the wrong ways instead of love, by Sybus?

He treated her with the utmost respect, not as a female of objectification, but as a person. He was shy and afraid to be prone to failure, but it was towards himself, not to make her like him or to butter her up for something else, but to simply appear like a being of good will, one of kindness and compassion. Besides, his personality both made her curious and sympathetic. The latter was because he was once a mess, a thinned out dragon who had no right to suffer that way and always shaking upon making the slightest of mistakes and feeling terrible for those insignificant errors not of any fault of his own, and the former since it made her ask…questions. How did he end up like this? God, no dragon should’ve been like that! It was sad, him slowly shriveling away into nothingness right before his body began cannibalizing itself…

It wasn’t right, so why was he so silent about it? It’s been about three months since they first met, and he was still quiet about it. Why? Was it because he didn’t have the courage to speak up about it, quietly believing his doom would come if he so much as vibrate a vocal cord about it? Or was he simply a victim of the instinctual pride the vast majority of Dragonkind had? Was it something else entirely? Did he…not want it to concern anybody? No, such things had to be taken seriously! Sybus shouldn’t handle this burden by himself! It was selfless, but it was also ridiculous.

But what did she know? She was living in an organized society with none of the dangers associated with the draconic one in the background, always within the shadows. It wasn’t her fault for not understanding the dragon way, even if she was bonding a bit with Sybus. Yes, she was…

Sybus above all else was kind and warm despite his scales being quite cold. Hell, he smiled and laughed with her, even if his soft-spoken nature may have gotten in the way, but all in all, he was getting better around her. The drake wasn’t as deprived of nutrition and looking like a stick as before, fleshing out his muscles characteristic of a dragon while still remaining sleek and lean. Why? Was it some sort of boost in confidence? Shelby was inclined to agree as the human noticed little things about him that changed ever so slowly, but came out nevertheless, like his stutter, or…lack thereof. Before, he stumbled with his words, always shaky and jumbled while still portraying ideas and sentences. It gave off the impression that he was seriously nervous about speaking with somebody else, or, well, a human anyway, but that was the kicker. Sybus did it both out of fear and in an attempt at carefulness. He always thought that one of his letters or even the way he would speak one of them would be offensive, which was obviously a little too much, but the other reason was something else entirely. He always felt indebted to her, regardless of how much she told him that it was generosity at heart and that she didn’t want anything else in return. But he always put her on a pedestal, not as some item like other people, men especially, but in terms of…friendship.

The ghost dragon was special, not just because of what he was, but also who he was, a person caring about her values despite not having any reason to. He could’ve just went and vanished into thin air and never return, but he came back. Was it…something else? Did it have to do with why he was living on threads when they first met? She didn’t dare ask him about it. It was likely personal, and she didn’t want to overstep boundaries. It had to come naturally, so she didn’t press or even question it.

Sybus also had a bit on his mind. He kept coming back to her home at night because of her being his lifeline when he was about to starve and have his insides eat itself out, but…again, what was it for? Shelby…s-she was…kind, compassionate, generous, careful…honest. She was honest about herself. The female didn’t run away in fear, and she made that stance clear, giving the deprived dragon food and a person to talk to, and she was truthful in her intentions. The giver of such gifts didn’t even ask about his personal life.

Why? Was it for…some bit of trust? Yes, it likely was…

She didn’t want to barge into his affairs by forcing him to reveal it, of why…t-they…

No, stop it. Sybus, this is something that you…Y-You…should…

S-Should he…?

He sought to meet her again tonight, after so many Moons. It’s gotten a little more chilly as of late, but still quite warm enough for his friend. Yes, Shelby was a friend…

She respected him, and he back to her. He wasn’t some annoyance, but a companion, one who thought, talked, worried, laughed, cried. Bahamut knows he’s been alone for so long. It wasn’t because he was a lone wolf, but because…b-because…right, right. He flew to her home and just walked through her walls with his ghostly strengths and greeted her.

Of course, she said hi and that it was nice to see him. It appeared that she was a bit of a lonely soul too. The woman asked if there was anything in particular that he wanted to do, or if he just wanted to talk the night away before her eyes began drooping. The very idea that the human was giving him the reins on the night’s activities was in of itself a sign of goodwill. But what would they do?

Hmmmm…

Now, the art of conversations was a surefire way to chip away at the hours left in her system, but…there was something else. As Sybus flew here, an idea hatched in his head and spread to his spirit. It was quite dark out today, except…the Moon, the stars, the lights that guided all ghost dragons to their destiny, to their way home, or what would be their home.

Was this…a sign? What…w-what was it? Bahamut always had his ways needling thoughts and ideas into existence within the embroidery of time and space, fate being one of them. The sky held by the night was his canvas, to paint the known and unknown, the beautiful and the scary. Perhaps that was why the Ghost Dragonkind cherished the sparkles in the sky as a piece of his truth, always shining, and yet remaining hidden some nights. Maybe even his creator had a sense of humor. However, there was one thing Sybus couldn’t deny.

They were beautiful tonight, shining like a million comets in a still shower, gazing upon him as if to ask, ‘What will you do young dragon?’. Perhaps it was another one of Bahamut’s trial, making him feel this way.

‘Why don’t you show her what your kind holds sacred? Show her the beauties of the world you value so dearly?’

It was something all creatures shared, but whether or not they understood it was a different story. The stars and the Moon were a tale in of itself, always open, always gazing upon the world below, beckoning them to act, to speak, to feel, a guiding wing, and yet openness incarnate. Yes…he knew what to do.

The conversation started between the two like any other, except Sybus wanted to go further…

“Shelby, I have an idea.”

“Why don’t we stargaze tonight?”

“W-What?”

“Y-Yes. T-They’re quite beautiful tonight.”

“S-Sybus, there’s no place to do that, well, besides the ground outside.”

“W-What? B-But don’t you have a perfect spot on your cave?”

She didn’t correct him for not turning cave into house.

“W-What? B-But I can’t get up there. Unless I get a big ladder.”

He didn’t ask what that even was. How would they do that? Was his idea dashed? Wait…there…yes! That’s right! He knew what to do, but…would Shelby want to do it?

“I-I know how to get there.”

She listened.

“I’ll just fly you up there.”

What? F-Fly?

“I…I…”

She didn’t know what to say.

“I-I don’t know Sybus. Y-You don’t have to, I mean…I-I mean, what if I fall off? I…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall and get hurt.”

“I promise_.”_

Surprise and warmness filled her. He…he was doing this? F-From the kindness of his heart? W-Why? Shelby didn’t deserve such a thing, at least…nobody told her she did. She already said that Sybus didn’t owe her anything, but this? This was of his own volition from his own soul. The human knew what it was, for it was courage and compassion. The dragon wanted to do this, but…for both of them? Or her? The larger drake had a big heart, the massive goof he was, but that was only a part of the equation. Sybus put forth an idea for what to do.

That wasn’t to say that she already wasn’t nervous. Sybus would…have to…carry…her. For one, it seemed like a fever dream experiencing such a thing human only think of in their wildest fantasies, and on the other hand, it seemed…like…God, she couldn’t put her finger on it. It felt a smidge…wrong…and…selfish. Why would the dragon want to spend such energy…on her? And he would…hold her with his paws as he lifted her up with his wings? It seemed like such an honor, and yet she didn’t deserve such a privilege.

She always gave, but never asked for anything in return, and yet, Sybus was doing the same. Now that was true friendship.

“I-I, uh…o-okay.”

The drake noticed the trail before the permission, but saw through her eyes and mind that she was simply nervous, that she didn’t know what to think. No, he would share this beautiful gift with her, the gift of flight, if only for a few seconds. Sitting on his rump, he extended his wings and held out his paws out to grip onto her. Shelby gulped before she stepped towards him, right in front of his chest plates, feeling the coolness emanating off of his scales despite not touching them yet. The human was within the dragon’s reach, and yet, he didn’t move. He waited until Shelby got her bearings to decide for herself when to act.

That was true consideration for one’s own thoughts…

Her face gained a bit of a pink flush that warmed up her cheeks. She’s never been this close to him before. However, the one with the surname Grant was an adult. She’d find her way out of an uncomfortable situation of it ever came to that, not that she would when she was with Sybus. Why?

Hmmmm…

Not even she truly knew. The dirty blonde inevitably and slowly took her bare hands and bent her elbows to surround her arms around Sybus’ barrel. The scales were very cold, but…not too uncomfortable. She couldn’t help but notice the drake flinching at the sense of his hide being touched…

…

Those hands felt…warm. Ghost dragons usually hated the warmth, but…it was like the feeling you would get from a nest…home. Yes…this was supposed to happen. The one of pale plates then removed his forepaws from the ground and pulled them around the human, gripping her from just under her shoulder blades.

…

Shelby flinched as she got a jolt from it, but it dissipated quickly. She’s never felt the power, and yet, gentle strength of those paws before, but they gave off the sense of…of…a bond…? But…wait…why did they hold each other…inside? Weren’t they supposed to…?

However, the next part drew great shock out of her. The dragon expanded his great wings, and yet, they never hit anything. Why? They became ethereal, morphing from physical into semi-translucent as he has done before. It went from the tips of his wings, to his body, and inevitably, his legs and paws, and finally to Shelby. The one being held didn’t have time to comprehend it as she felt the alien sensation of somewhat cold shower on her body as it spread to her too, even if she looked to the right and left to see why…and then…the liftoff.

Matter was of no concern, for with this power, it held little barrier to them. The dragon’s human friend gasped as her feet no longer felt the ground, like she was in free fall, but instead of down, she went up, they went up. Sybus held his snout to the ceiling to gauge their journey as his back paws left the floor’s surface as well, for they floated.

The smaller of the two was in somewhat of a mental frenzy trying to perceive what was occurring, but…she knew she was safe, safe with big dragon…

She looked up, and let out a sharp gasp again when the ceiling was about to possibly smash into her face, except, it didn’t. Her eyes shut, expecting her head to bang against it, only to feel…nothing. The human, always accustomed to actual physics, just felt her body phase though the objects, like she was being slid into a new pair of clothes with the transition from the first floor, all the way to her attic. When her eyelids peeled open, she instantly became mesmerized.

Shelby Grant saw them, the Moon, the stars, the tome of existence. Her mouth was agape. Sybus…floated them up here, to her roof. Even on a slope and when the larger being made them a part of the physical world once more, she held her balance as she looked where she was stepping…and that ended up into here and now.

They were just stargazing, quiet as they silently counted the faraway suns, either, white, blue, or something else entirely. In fact, they may be something else. A world out there? Or…perhaps another realm of possibilities? One with people like them? Sentience was such a gift, to understand, to feel, and to worry. It was something humans and dragons held so dear, for without it, they would be nothing but animals. Such a thing was all thanks to God and Bahamut for such a thing.

And so, they both lied down on their backs, looking at the stars in their own way. To be honest, Shelby never quite understood them. The grounded human knew what in essence they were, at least scientifically. They were suns, so unbelievably far away that it only served to prove that they were the brightest things in the universe, or perhaps faraway planets, both habitable and uninhabitable. The fact that some created such great tales in constellations was also an interesting story to tell, the very idea that some of them were choregraphed into such great pictures of the day’s polar opposite. However, she never spent her time looking at the night sky for anything. They never moved, although, they only sometimes came out to play. It wasn’t her fault, for she was so busy and her capacity for activity after hours at her job was rather low, so there was no reason to face something that was always there.

However, the woman did this because of him, Sybus. The smaller being didn’t understand it, but she surmised that the dancing twinkles meant a lot for a dragon species accustomed to the night. However, it only served to showcase the differences, and yet, the similarities. Of course the everyday human didn’t pay the most attention to it except the most nocturnal of night owls, but the dragon race was more serious about values and traditions. Shelby realized that earlier than most, even after only about four years after the integration, and Sybus was getting to her. He started to engulf her mind a bit, especially after the continuous meetings that went from a month gap in between their first confrontation and the second, to weekly, to now after a day or two. The working woman enjoyed the company, even if she was a bit of an introvert from all the men ogling at her before.

This world thrived on cooperation, now more than ever with the dragons.

Still, Sybus was…different. Again, she couldn’t place the feeling anywhere except her bowl of a skull to let it stew in, a mystery, both in of himself, and to her feelings. Why…was she so…?

…

Sybus also wanted to do this, but for a different reason. Ever since she saved him that fateful night, his debt to her was sealed, despite her protests that she didn’t need such gratitude or even any sort of thank you. No, she deserved it all. He would be a goner without her, and, with these new implementations of his powers, it asked him to rethink what he could do, made him a bit more…creative…more…brave. The friendly interactions with the woman also helped with that.

Perhaps…not all humans were bad? No, that didn’t change those people before chasing him with loud bangs and flashes with their boom sticks, but it gave him hope, and such a thing led to even more praises for the soft-skinned creature in his mind. However, that didn’t change the frequency of the visits to her. Why was he always drawn here? To Shelby?

Now, a dragon would simply attribute this to Bahamut. He always worked in such strange ways, but here? It was more of a jumble than he thought, almost as if it was essentially untangling his tail out from a shrub. It happened all the time, but you still had to figure it out. Regardless, for now, it was just him, Shelby, and the stars and Moon, something Ghost Dragonkind praised. It was Bahamut, pure and simple, as he knew these stars like the back of his paw. They formed complex webs that all had meaning, all had purpose. The alignments were a map and a way to find home, along with one’s destiny, which likely led him here all those Moons ago…

Why?

Hmmm…

The sheet-white dragon was still figuring it out. Regardless, they were also beautiful, even if he had studied them countless times. He could go on and on about it if he really wanted to, but just relaxing with his great friend would suffice for now. Still, there was this nagging feeling in him, one that wanted to break out.

Sybus knew for certain that he could place his trust in her. She wasn’t afraid of him, and instead wanted to do things with him despite their sleep schedules being completely different. It was an unnecessary sacrifice, but one she chose to make, something he couldn’t decipher like the stars. Why? After all she’s done for him and how much kindness he received without reason as to why besides her just…wanting to, he had that thought fly around in the sky of his cranium once again.

Should…should he…t-tell…her…?

However, he was interrupted for the first time during the night on her…uh…roof.

“Y’know…”, Shelby began to break the ice, to begin such a conversation, one that could affect him in more ways than one.

The snowy drake tilted his head to her to listen.

“I’ve never taken the time to look at the sky at night, but there’s a whole other world out there. There’s…billions upon billions of stars…out there, I mean. Probably more than I can count or can even see. And some of them? People say that the different colored ones are even planets just out there. Some of the stars are even suns, like the one we have, or some are moving that are comets, well, I least I think they are.”

Sybus had to unpack this. However, what he got instead was a slightly open maw and an…emotional shock.

W-What…? All of his life, he dedicated his life like many other ghost dragons to harness his powers and understand the mystery of the stars, but…the one right next to him brought him many possibilities he never even thought of. The dragon saw many stars and go their meanings, but…b-billion_s? Even the alien word seemed like a lot. The ones that were observable made complete sense to him, but the mere _idea that there were possibly an infinite amount of them compared to the scope of the planet shook him, a-and speaking of…planets?! H-How could there be…? T-There were worlds like theirs, just hanging out in the great beyond?

It…i-it was…what…how…

And comets! Sure, he knew what a shooting star was, but a comet? What was that?

It just hit him. Despite the fact that the ghost dragons have spent their lives to the night, Shelby, a human, a creature feared by them, knew of this already? I-It simply made no sense. How? Bahamut, how did…wait…what was…

Sybus saw it, his neck curving to get a better posture to glimpse at it. It was…i-it was red! And…moving! The object was a bit above them and moving to the left! And it was…going on and off, but…wait. Bahamut, why was it red and…moving?! Was it…

He let out a gasp. C-Could it be? On this night?

“O-Oh! Is that a shooting star?!”, he let out like a child leaning from his caretakers what this phenomenon was.

However, despite his excitement it was instantly shot down. Why? Because of Shelby.

“Uh, no. That’s a helicopter.”

Uh…wha…what…? A…a_…heli_…cop…ter…? W-What…was a…heli…copter? The draconic maw was unlatched a little in confusion. He had…no idea what this…thing was, even as his strong ceruleans were glued to the faraway crimson glint that was unbelievably a long distance from them as it went to the left of their location. Just…what was this…helicopter? A…human thing perhaps?

And…now he was flush with embarrassment, as evidenced by the slightest tint of red on his white cheek scales.

Sybus, you incompetent child…

The owner of the white scales was the pride of the ghost dragon race, and yet he didn’t know or even consider this when he made himself appear to be a scholar of the observable stars, and in front of Shelby no less. He probably gave off the impression that he was really more than he made himself to be, especially after telling his friend about his knowledge of the night sky before.

No. Now he felt a little bad actually. He wasn’t a liar. Dragons were many things, but only the most selfish of dragons were unfaithful with their words, but that didn’t matter, as he may have given off the idea that he was full of himself instead of making a genuine mistake.

Just…what…how could one know about such a possibility, like this…helicopter? It also felt like his worldview was narrower than it should have been. It only made sense because…b-because…

Bahamut.

No, Sybus, she wouldn’t reject you because of this, right?

No, no, she was a friend.

A f-friend…

“O-Oh…”, Sybus admitted his error, gazing down at his ashen chest plates after the light disappeared behind a forest to their left.

Shelby understood. He likely felt a little ashamed to be not only be inaccurate about the red glare being something it wasn’t, but was also in a weird spot where he was honest about what he knew about the other side of celestial coin to the day, but didn’t know what they knew. Humans were astronomers for forever, for it was always something that fascinated those willing to learn about the great endless space outside this piece of existence. Such was a strange and great mystery that captivated Humanity for most of its time on this planet, even when they never fully understood it. Even now, nobody had concrete answers about its laws and what could be out there. Maybe another time in the future, but…that’s if they even wanted to.

The expanse of eternal blackness in the void was something that was defined as a part of the unknown. If there was one thing all creatures feared, it was just that, the unknown. In a way, perhaps the ghost dragon perspective was for the best. They knew Earth’s star systems better than even the best of Humanity, regardless of if the scope didn’t expand beyond that, so Sybus was not to blame.

But that was the thing, he did blame himself. The poor drake likely saw himself in the thought that she saw him as a liar, when in reality, nobody knew about everything, the drake being no exception. To her, it was rough seeing him like this, especially since his world view with these revelations was being challenged. The fact that he was concerned…at all…showed how much he cared.

It was rough all things considered. Poor Sybus…

However, everything changed after that. Why? Sybus.

The one of ghost powers released his lack of confidence around his friend and regained a sense of calmness once more.

What? She…s-she…didn’t comment on it? Why? Was it…oh…oh Bahamut…was it…respect?

Hmmmm…

They appeared to know both ends of the spectrum in the knowledge of the night, that was for sure. Sybus knew the planet’s stars and Moon, and she knew some of the mysteries outside of that.

Humanity and Dragonkind…

His powers drifted a bit around her mind, asking if she felt this way about understanding his limits and didn’t point it out, and instead…accepted it…and…his friend did. She saw that he felt bad and understood, understood that it was no fault of his own, that…_that…was _friendship, trust, and honesty. As such, this inescapable voice in his head began asking the question…the…forsaken question.

Should…s-should…h-he…t-tell her? Tell her his deepest and darkest secret? The explanation for everything? Why he ended up in her house to feast on her food in an act of desperation all those Moons ago? Why he looked so…disheveled and on his last flicker of life? Until…s-she…saved him…? Saved him?

Bahamut.

Yes, he…no, she deserved to know. They were friends, no deception, no lies, but heartfelt, powerful, in the soul. Shelby Grant cared for one about to literally become nothing more than a ghost, only for her to save him out of the goodness of her spirit. Yes…one deserving of such a thing. It was the sole thing he could do after all the time they’ve known each other. Sybus needed to.

Bahamut, guide my words, and give me strength, and if not, then grant me your eternal mercy…

His draconic face went to Shelby’s with a very fearful and concerned gaze, his arches bent in the most extreme bit of nervousness as he began to curl his barrel towards her, propping himself on his foreleg, the woman doing the same in his direction, but on her right elbow. This instantly grabbed her attention as the human looked to the right into his bright sapphires that glowed in the moonlight.

…

Why…why was Sybus like this?

Unfortunately, her answer was to come, and to say it wasn’t pretty would be an understatement.

“S-Shelby, I-I…”

He faced down towards the rough shingles.

“I-I have a confession to make.”

What? Wha…w-what…was this? What was Sybus talking about?

His eyes went back into her chocolate ones.

“B-Bahamut, I-I’ve never told another soul about this, I-”

“No, you don’t have to if you don’t want to Sybus.”, Shelby stated firmly, shaking her head a bit in emphasis.

Shelby was truly a light amidst darkness, one that even a ghost dragon couldn’t flee from. Such a thing was a reinforcement of her kind nature, but no, he couldn’t stop, for he had to tell her. It was the only way, the only way to get this off of his chest, not only for Shelby, but also himself.

“N-No. I have to.”

W-Wha…w-why?

“S-Shelby, I-I’m sorry, for being a mess and everything, I…”

A damaged sigh from his maw came out.

“I’m a dragon, and yet I was barely one, u-until you saved me.”

Her heart got warmer at that, but Sybus shouldn’t feel this nervousness! He…wait…w-why…was he saying this? W-Why…why was he this way?

“I-I’m sorry. I-It’s just that there’s so few of us left, and…”

W-What...? S-So…few of us? W-What could…oh…o-oh God. Oh dear Lord. No…i-it…it…was…?

I-I…

Lost. She was lost. He was lost. They were both lost.

“F-Few of us?”, she repeated.

God. Shelby wished it wasn’t true what she was thinking, she wished it wasn’t fucking true.

…

Sybus curled his eyes to the dark roofing once more. It was out there. It was a slip of the tongue, but now she had an idea. There was only one place to go once you reached the tip of the mountain…down.

He returned his brutally honest and scared face to the woman’s and spoke once again.

“Y-Yes. I-I…”

He gulped.

“S-Shelby. Our numbers are low.”

Dear God.

“I-I…I-I could be the last ghost dragon for all I know.”

No. Don’t say that! P-Please…n-no…

“B-But…”

Another exhale.

“I-It’s…b-because…”

Bahamut, preserve me. Help me find a way out of this eternal nightmare…

Save me…

“I-I-I-I-It’s…because…”

Bahamut did save me. She saved me.

“It’s because…”

Shelby.

“It’s because we’re being…hunted.”

No. God no.

Nonononononono…

H…h-hu…

Wha… WHAT?!?! God, Lord of all, w-what…w- why!? She wanted to believe it wasn’t true, but…why…Sybus…why? By…humans?

“B-Because of our powers, the others, t-they…”

No.

She felt like throwing up.

“T-They’re…afraid of us.”

Christ.

“T-They’re scared that we’ll…kill them in their sleep, scared that we could walk through their caves and steal their food, a-and…”

F-Fuck me…

“T-Take their hatchlings away…”

Shit, fuck.

“N-Not even shadow dragons could do that. They didn’t want to be scared anymore, so the dragons, t-they’re…killing us. Killing us all.”

_Fuckfuckfuckfuck_fuck!

“W-We’re all so scared and try to hide, but that stopped working, so we always have to move, a-and…”

Oh.

“T-Then the humans tried to shoot us with those…Bahamut-forsaken boomsticks. T-The other dragons took all of our hunting grounds, a-and…we didn’t have anything left, w-we…S-Shelby, I-I’m sorry, I-I…”

“No. Don’t be.”

W-Wha…w-what?

“N-No, Shelby, I…a-am I…a monster?”

No, no, he wasn’t, never.

“No. It wasn’t your fault Sybus. It never was.”

His chest swelled with higher temperature than usual. W-Why…did he feel…this way…?

“You’re not a monster.”

H-He…h-he’s…not?

“You were about to die. There was nothing you could have done.”

A few moments passed of nothing, then, a depressed sigh from the human came from her mouth.

“I-I don’t want you to die, I…”

A pause of sadness.

“I’m sorry Sybus, sorry that this happened to…you all, I…”

Now, a swallow from the woman’s throat.

“I-I understand.”

Wha…

“Y-You’re my friend Sybus. I…care about you.”

W-What? F…Friend…?

“I promise you.”

P…pro…m-mise?

“You’ll be safe…with me.”

What? Why…? Why him? Why do help him? What did he ever do to deserve such kindness?

…

Damn them, damn them all, damn the dragons, damn the humans, damn the world. Fuck…fuck them all.

How…w-why…Jesus Christ, why?! W-Why…

This was enough to make people everywhere full of fear and bring them to tears. She was almost driven to tears. How…could the world be this way? Horrible, terrible, putrid, disgusting, shitty, fucking…

She barely kept a cool head as her mind was slowly being eaten out by the Grim Reaper with all the death in the world. The ghost dragons were now just that, ghosts. They were nothing, dead, gone, deceased, just a figment of one’s imagination, a tale to keep hatchlings in line, and it was mortifying. It showed just how dangerous Dragonkind could be. It wasn’t just the ones left in the Old World finding offense in Humanity, but also amongst themselves.

The ghost dragons had the privilege of life like all creatures of the world, hell, the whole universe. They were just different. It was the gift of life that you used to create your own path, with your own choices, not the color of your scales! Of…what blessings…B-Bahamut gave them! And humans! Shame on them! Didn’t they see their suffering and how much pain they felt? How desperate they were? Did they just see them as nothing more than a nuisance?! Like… a mosquito that you wanted to zap with an electric swatter? Like a doe…that ate your feed and that you wanted to get rid of…w-with a cannon?

A…a poor and lonely soul with nothing. It wasn’t fair, but that was the thing. Life was never fair. It didn’t matter how much you tried, a curve ball was always headed your way, but this was too much. How could the dragons do this? How could her race do this? It was much more complicated than one may think. While in the integrated society, dragons seemed to be all for happy cooperation, but now, it felt so much darker outside of her walls than she thought, and…Sybus goes home every single day and constantly be under the shadow of fear?

Was this what they wanted from them? To forever terrified of death? Why? So they couldn’t be scared themselves?! To her, it was bullshit.

You think that they are the most dangerous creatures in the world? Look at yourself in the mirror. Ask yourself that question.

They…

Fuck.

This was too much, but she was honest. Shelby Grant knew the truth now, and she understood. Sybus was her friend, one of the only ones, and with his knowledge, now she had an even stronger connection with him.

…

W-Wha…? S-She…s-s-s-s-she…speechless, quiet, torn apart…but put back together…by her, his savior, his friend, his…

His chest was…warm? W-Why…did he feel…tingly…inside? How? How…why did she…?

That was when it hit him. She was not just a friend, but a best friend, the ones that stood by your side through thick and thin, not because they wanted something in return, but just because they simply could. Now he processed it in full, all why her incessant kindness confused him. Now he saw her as a person who cared. The human was a purely heartfelt soul who loved life, one who wasn’t perfect, but looked past them for the sake of others, to help them from a deep hole so dark and so cold.

His draconic face went from timidness to gladness, like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. Sybus felt…happy, not laughing or satisfied, but just…happy. The back curve of his mouth went up ever so slightly in a small smile. Bahamut sent him to steal from her, and now, he understood now that it was for a reason. What was that reason? One of the surviving ghost dragons still needed to walk this path, but now he had help to find his way…Shelby Grant.

“T-Thank you.”

The creature that stood out on the shingles with his lack of colors had to hold back his emotions to keep his head on straight, but it was the most gut-wrenching, and yet soul-warming thing he’s ever said. It was true in every sense of the word. The male dragon would be dead without her, and now, he would have nobody to talk to without her. Shelby…was truly a beautiful soul. The fact that she promised him safety was brave. Dragons never broke promises, so this made the vow impact him even harder, for she was willing to do anything to help him…and you know what? He would be her friend either way.

And she…

She…w-why did he feel like…her soul…completed his? His massive heart was pumping more blood in his veins and created this…feeling in his chest. Why…did his heart…feel like it was jumping out from his rib cage? And…d-did Shelby feel the same way? Then…

That was it. It was comprehension and understanding. The rest of the night of stargazing was more…calm. Both gave each other a nod before returning to their spines and watching the night together, and, as Shelby placed her hands on both sides of herself to stick herself on the slope of her roof, something…happened.

The dragon moved, but not in a way most would expect. Almost like instinct was acting on its own, Sybus unfolded his long left foreleg from his chest and raised his wing the best he could while his joints scraped against the friction-inducing fake ceramic on the house, placing the paw on the rough and coarse flat pieces of synthetic material. The texture was a bit uncomfortable, but that was hardly the point.

His paw mindlessly slid along the joined surfaces of the shingles, and…and…Shelby noticed it, right away in fact. The woman’s hand, palm down on the roofing, felt something on top of hers. Her warm flesh…felt another’s. It was Sybus, for his paw engulfed her own, but not in aggression but…in this newfound bond of theirs, this unbreakable friendship. Even though she felt the underpaw of his foot on her hand, it was only a minor note that she took in her brain.

Why? Why did she…not do anything, or…say anything about it? She barely even paid a single note. Why?

Yes, the strange great mystery of not knowing answers to questions. While one may be disappointed or even irritated at that fact, another way to look at it was to just let go, to accept it as reality and leave it at that, but this…this never left Shelby’s mind, not for a second. Why…w-why did she…accept it? Accept him? Why…? Why didn’t she notice it as…different…out of place?

Only God knew.

However, that didn’t change reality. The smaller, softer-fleshed one of the two paid it no mind as the drake joined his paw with her hand and they mindlessly released their worries and simply defined it as the strange way their creators toyed with fate.

Yes…fate…such an odd thing. Sure, you could change it, but that may end up getting you there to begin with. Sometimes you had to let loose, to release your tension and not ask questions. No needs, no wants, just be…happy for a change.

As they joined their hand and paw together, they continued facing the starlight above, for as the stars looked down, they saw the start of something. The start of what? The start of something new? Something bright and warm? Or…cold, dark, dangerous? Either way, there was one certainty, something they couldn’t deny. Maybe this bout of stargazing was to lead to something special.

Yes…they were special…to each other. Well, they didn’t know the full story, minds too preoccupied with these revelations, and they wouldn’t be the last ones. Why? Then there was this nagging feeling contained within the confines of their cranial bone. Why…w-why…

Why did they…feel this way?