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Sparkling Stone
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And with that, let's finish things off. We'll be inviting the whole gang!
I'll invite all my friends! It'll be picnic 2.0!
Hopefully with less of your 'spaghetti'.
What's wrong with my spaghetti!?
N-no! I meant-- you know how Ceri--!
Hehehe! Gotcha again!
Dangit.
Anyway, now that that's settled, why don't you tell us about your day?
Today was oddly dramatic for some reason.
Let's see...
-Daatra-
I hung out with Daatra today. We talked about the whole... you know, Zesmirl visiting and them breaking up thing.
Is she doing okay?
Yeah. She even seemed proud of herself being, as she put it, "All confident and shit".
It's never easy to lose your first love.
!!!!
What's with that look?
I wasn't your first!?
Why are you so surprised by that? You had like two other boyfriends before we met, right?
That's different!
How is that different, exactly?
That-- it's-- you-- but--
I clearly got my flirtatious nature from Mom, but you've never struck us as the type to seek out romance.
It's more that I only needed two tries to get it right.
I'm a pretty good judge of character, and I didn't run into a lot of people I felt I'd be happy around.
But-- but I was the one known for being picky!
Haha, you got that reputation by being as social as you are.
I wait in silence for the right target... and then I strike.
Wasn't the entire point that you didn't strike?
That's the beauty of my methods. You don't realize I'm flirting with you until it's too late.
All this time...!
We're getting a bit off-track.
Heehee, sorry.
Knowing you, I give it a week before you have several potential suitors lined up to take Daatra's hand.
!
Y-you don't think the members of my hoard will...!?
I know that feeling well, having to compete with someone so powerful.
T-they're my hoard! They're not allowed!
There's that dragon side of you poking its head out again.
!
Y-yes, well.
I'll... think about if and when I'll find Daatra a new boyfriend some other time.
For now, how about I tell you more about my day?
All this time... I never knew...
If it helps, she wasn't even close to being as lovely as you are.
Obviously.
Aaaand she's back.
Now then. Let's see...
-Gulketi-
Oh! I spent some time with Gulketi!
For a while there, I was convinced something was bothering him that he was being cagey about.
But it turns out he's just Like That.
He's small and fluffy is what he is.
...I might have to show you two something later, if your hearts can handle it.
Oh~! How mysterious!
I'm not sure how many more 'surprises' I can handle.
Maybe it's a good surprise!
It's... an interesting surprise?
I might have mentioned it before, but the small fluffy guy isn't Gulketi's true form.
Wait! Are... are you saying he's not small and fluffy!?
He's not either of those things, not even a little bit.
No! This can't be! I won't believe it!
You might want to give him a moment, dear.
So nothing was actually bugging him in the end, then?
Yeah. He actually seems to be in pretty high spirits.
BRING BACK THE FLUFFY.
Y-you'll still mostly see him as a ketza! It'll be fine, Dad!
He'll probably survive.
Probably??
But I'm glad to hear he's doing well. He seems like a nice guy.
Yeah, me too.
Anything else you did today?
....
I-I'm not sure we can move on yet!
Think of the fluff... think of the fluff...
I'm okay now.
You and Daatra would have a lot to talk about, it seems.
Anyway, what else did I do today...
-Skif-
I spent some more time with Skif today.
He's not still upset about what happened when you sparred with him, is he?
No, I think we're on the same page there.
In fact, the experience has made us closer than ever.
How was the make-up sex?
Myra!!!
WHY IS THAT THE FIRST THING YOU ASK???
It was really good, huh~?
We might not have even done that for all you know...!
Yeah maybe they didn't do anything!
You expect me to buy that after the multiple things you've confessed to us in your panicked ramblings?
T-that-- I--
okay fine it was amazing and romantic and oh gods it felt so good skif really figured out what he's doing and saw to my every need in a way he hasn't done before and I love him so much okay are you happy now
That's my girl!
I don't know if I'm okay with how okay I'm starting to feel about all this.
The sooner you two adjust, the sooner I can brag to Ceri about my techniques.
H-hang on now!
....
I don't know if I'm okay with how okay I'm starting to feel knowing this stuff about you two.
RIGHT!?
In that case... maybe I'll think about asking you for some ...tips... at some point.
I have much to teach you, young one.
F-for now, let's see what else I did today, hmm?
Let's see...
-Outissa-
I um, I took Outissa out on a date.
Aww, how sweet!
How'd it go?
Really well. We connected on a deep level.
I feel silly holding back my feelings for so long.
That's great, dear! Another person for your Hoard of Dragon Romance!
Should we really be encouraging this behavio(u)r?
If this is what makes Ceri happy, then we should support her.
I guess that's true...
Good job adding another body to your concerningly large hoard!
...We'll work on it.
Thanks for trying, Dad.
But yeah, she's such a sweet and kind girl. In a way, I kind of understand how Skif feels now.
I just... want to be her knight and protect her. To hold her close and never let go.
Be sure to invite her to dinner sometime! We have to get to know her better!
Maybe once Eezeryh works out some of the kinks in her translator device.
For now, is there anything else you did today?
-Saint Duke-
I saw Saint Duke, and...
....
Did something happen?
I...
That's it-- where's my shotgun? I swear, if he did something to you...
And I'll bring an actual weapon, like my fists.
Please don't. Look, I...
You sigh, and explain what happened to them.
Damn it. I can't believe we let our guard down!
If anyone dares lay a finger on you...
You know I appreciate you two having my back, but...
For the moment, it at least seems like it might be fine.
You're really going to take him at his word that he'll tell them it was a false alarm?
I know it sounds naive of me to trust someone who just revealed they'd been keeping things from me...
...But what kind of dragon would I be if I didn't give him a chance to redeem himself?
A smart dragon.
....
...Oh, babygirl. I know how hard it is to forgive someone. I just hope you don't regret that kindness one day.
Yeah, me too.
Now, I don't want to say 'I told you so' about trusting everyone so readily, but...
....
....
Look, it'll be okay. You're not alone, remember?
Yeah. You have us, and Daatra and Skif. And your new friends, too.
It did help that Siphon was there. She offered to keep an eye on him, too.
See? At times like these, you need to remind yourself of all the good surrounding you.
For every bad actor, there's hundreds of unsung heroes trying to do right by everything.
Yeah... I know.
It's just a lot to take in. I want to believe that he really has switched to my side, but...
Don't feel guilty for protecting yourself, babygirl. It'd be foolish to believe him again immediately.
Time will reveal if he's truly sincere, or if he has ulterior motives.
If he does, he has my fists to contend with.
Thanks, you two. For now, I'll just... give it some time, and see how it goes.
I guess it's good that I'm able to charm someone out of killing me, huh?
Maybe I'd even be able to talk down a dragon.
Like mother, like daughter!
Just don't try to talk to any dragons without Mr. Ilan around.
Yeah.
Speaking of which, he's coming back soon, huh?
It'll be nice to not have to worry about my seal all the time.
Your D-WINGS glimmer gently, a somber reminder of how close you've come to losing everything.
You spend the rest of your time bleeding D-ENERGY in silence, your parents rubbing your back encouragingly.
....
Okay, that should be enough for now.
Mom, Dad... thanks for everything.
For spending so much time with me, for always being there for me.
Especially knowing I might one day lose... myself.
You'll never lose yourself with us around, sweety.
No matter what happens, we'll find a way to bring you back.
In fact...
Oh~! Is it time to do the thing~?
Thing? What thing???
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