a/n: this is kinda shitty but yknow what idrc

for explanation, this is an au where peacemaker is haunted by darkstalker in his dreams, and the magic suddenly starts to wear off.

ps. im aware this could never happen in canon, it's just a dumb little au i created in 5 seconds. the only thing that is canon in this, is the fact that peacemaker would just fucking dissolve if the animus magic ever wore off

--

Peacemaker awoke, trembling, eyes as wide as the moons. The nightmare had surfaced once again, after a few days of false hope when it had went away. He kept having a nightmare where a massive dragon, the biggest dragon Peacemaker had ever seen, was watching over him in silence. It was awfully unnerving, how the dragon would never speak, but instead just watch.

The dragon's eyes were prominent in the darkness, and it stayed in Peacemaker's mind even in the waking world. He couldn't escape the gaze of this dragon.

The next night, Peacemaker curled up beside his mother. He stared out in the darkness of the rainforest, listening to the occasional drip, drip echoing from the trees. The little dragonet felt his eyelids grow heavy, and without control, he drifted off to sleep.

He awoke.

His eyes opened up to the dreamscape, an endless realm of shadow. The only thing that broke it was the flash of white that headed towards him. Eyes, he realized. The dragon was coming towards him. Peacemaker stayed in his place. Perhaps the dragon was friendly.

Now that he was up close to the massive mystery dragon, he could see the detail of scales and shining silver teardrop scales next to the eyes. He could make out the shape of the snout, head, neck, and body. The jaw opened slightly, in a stiff way that seemed as if the dragon hadn't spoke in a long, long time. Peacemaker could see the flash of pink of a tongue, and glittering flashes of white of teeth. Moons, was this dragon enormous.

The dragon gave a distorted noise. It sounded like he was talking, but no words were identifiable. Then the dragon said it again, and Peacemaker froze, his body rigid. The dragon was saying his name.

"Peacemaker," his voice was a raspy hiss. "All I dream of is to be free."

The dragonet met the strangers gaze, lifting his chin.

"I'm trapped here. All I wish is to live again. I want to see my mother. I want to see the world."

Images flashed through Peacemaker's head as if on instinct. An image of his mother, Hope. An image of a kingdom that he didn't recognize, but it felt like home.

"Who are you?" Peacemaker asked finally. His voice was tiny compared to the booming, echoing voice of the stranger. The huge dragon tilted his head slightly to one side, his eyes glinting. "Don't you know?" His voice was lowered, it was somewhat gentle. "I'm you."

The little dragon was confused. "How? We don't even look the same."

"You'll find out soon, little dragon. Now, why don't you work on trying to free me?" Asked he. The dragon raised his talons a little, giving Peacemaker a light touch on the head. "Go on, now. Tell mother that I love her."

And with that, he awoke. Blinking in the dawn light, Peacemaker raised his head. There was a slight tingling feeling in his talons. Beside him lay his mother, still asleep. He would tell her about the dragon later.

--

When his mother awoke, Peacemaker was playing around with the other dragonets. He hadn't realized he was being rough.

"Peacemaker!" His mother's voice scolded, her eyes wide. "You can't be rough like that. Play nice."

Peacemaker looked down at his talons, which were speckled with blood. He glanced over to the dragonet he had been playing with, who stared at him with a faraway expression. Her shoulder had glistening scratches. He ducked his head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen," he apologized guiltily. "It won't happen again, I promise."

The dragonet beside him looked a little less sad at his words, but trotted away to her mother, seeking comfort.

Hope lowered her head, meeting his gaze sternly. "What has gotten into you?" She asked, a little more concerned than demanding. Peacemaker shifted his claws nervously. "I dunno," he mumbled. "I'm sorry."

"I know you're sorry," said Hope. She looked less angry now.

"Mama?" Asked Peacemaker, remembering the dragon. She tipped her head. "Yes?"

"I saw a dragon in my dream last night. He wanted to tell you he loves you."

His mother went silent.

"Mama?"

"That's nice, sweetheart," said Hope, looking as sweet as ever, although her voice faltered with uncomfort.

--

That night, Peacemaker didn't feel right.

His scales itched and burned.

They felt like they were sliding off his skin, like plates of earth in an erosion.

He watched as a couple of his own scales crumpled to dust, horror running through his body. Dragons around him watched in horror at the sight. None of them knew what was happening. Except one. His mother. She watched with a different kind of horror on her face. She knew what was coming, and she didn't know how to stop it. She wouldn't have ever thought of this happening.

As the last of Peacemaker turned to dust on the rainforest floor, the dust stirred after a moment. It began to pile up, forming something else. As the shape grew and grew, the crowd of NightWings and RainWings watched, dumbfounded.

"No, no, no," Hope choked out, tears stirring in her wide eyes.

Obsidian black scales began to form, occasionally broken up by white scales painted all over the place. Gray twisted horns poked out, while the glow of black eyes fixated onto Hope, his silver teardrop scales catching in the moonlight.

"Hello, mother," he rumbled, his voice echoing through the canopy. The crowd was struggling to get away as easily as possible.

Time seemed to slow down as the continent of Pyrrhia seemed to sense that Darkstalker was awake once again.