Listen, And The Stars Shall Speak

Stardust and Sky

Stardust thought he was going to have a normal day. That thought, of course, went flying out the window as soon as he was tackled by three princesses. 

"Stardust!" Apple exclaimed.

"We need your help!" Rin cried. Then they released him, letting him stand up. Ander crossed her arms, having recovered from her momentary assault from the stars.

"We need to work your powers." she explained. "As tainted and evil as they are."

"My what?" he questioned. Ander sighed.

"Your powers. Your magic. Your voodoo- hoodoo mumbo jumbo." Stardust raised an eyebrow.

"Um, in comprehensible terms please?" Rin frowned at her sister.

"I'm gonna go out on a limb," she began. "And say that Ander thinks you're an animus."

"A what?! No I'm not!" 

"Prove it." Apple insisted. She held up a fruit. "Tell it to stop." Without another word, she threw it towards the forest.

"Uh, stop?" Stardust asked. The fruit slammed against a tree and Apple sighed. 

"No, you have to mean it. Try again." she threw another fruit.

"Stop!" The four of them froze as the fruit paused in midair. "Oh crap." Stardust swore, letting the fruit drop to the ground. "I'm an animus?!"

"Yes, now shut up and pay attention." Ander continued. "There are four dragons in Sandwing territory in great need of your assistance. Without your help, they're all going to die. I need you to figure out a way to get them out of their current situation and preferably to somewhere with medical help." Stardust stared at her.

"I literally just found out I'm an animus, and now you want me to help some strangers I don't even know?" Ander threw up her hands.

"Why else would I be here?" she said, exasperated. 

"I don't know, because we're friends? Because you found a new blunt object to hit me with?"

"For the love of-" Ander processed to let loose a long strand of Latin curses before sighing. "I JUST NEED YOU TO HELP THEM OKAY?"

"Why should I risk my soul to help strangers?" Ander groaned.

"Am I speaking Latvian to a deranged mongoose?" she asked. They others stared at her. "No? I DIDN'T THINK SO. IT'S CALLED MORALS. LEARN THEM." She rubbed the spot between her eyes and glared up at the sky. "This would be so much simpler if I could explain who you would be helping." she growled.

"Them why don't you?" Rin asked. 

"The stars won't let me."

"Well too bad! Lives are on the line!" Ander looked hesitant, and slightly scared at the thought.

"I've never disobeyed them before." she whispered.

"Well, now's a good a place to start as any, cause I want to know what's going on!" Ander took a deep breath and turned to Stardust.

"Two of our Jade Mountain companions are in danger." she began.

"WHAT!" Apple and Rin exploded.

"Is Shore okay?" Rin demanded.

"Is Ember alright?" Apple questioned. There was a slight pause as they all glanced at Apple, who's scales went pink. "What?" she demanded. "I can be a concerned friend!" Rin snorted.

"Friend. Sure."

"SILENCIO!" Ander yelled. "Every second we waste is one step closer to death!" She grabbed Stardust by the arms. "Stars forgive me. If you do nothing, then a dragon who is potentially your father will die, along with a dragonet that's potentially your cousin. In addition, a dragon who's had a very sad life and deserves to die peacefully will perish and his four-year old son won't survive to adulthood. If they die, they leave behind half a family who may start a horrible murder massacre in the Scorpion Den due to grief. NOW, shut the hell up and enchant something that will get them out of the Scorpion Den, and to the nearest safe place!" 

"Okay." Stardust agreed, his eyes wide. Ander sighed.

"Thank you." She froze suddenly and slowly paled.

"Ander? Are you alight?" Rin asked. In response, Ander dropped to the ground, gasping like she couldn't breathe. The other surrounded her in concern. "Ande? What's wrong?"

"T-the stars, "Ander croaked, clawing at her throat, like she was being choked by an invisible hand. "I- i disobeyed them." Her face started to go blueish and she began to cough. Apple bit back a gasp as Ander coughed up a bit of blood. 

"Ander!" Rin exclaimed, grabbing onto her sister in fear. Ander grabbed her arm.

"They're punishing me-" she whispered, looking frantically around until her eyes landed on Stardust. "H-help them." Ander's whole face went white, and she passed out. 

There was a moment of silence, until Rin screamed.