Strings of Sin

Chapter 4

"If I'm a hero, then I need a nickname!" Stardom brightened and suggested. "Just call me Star from now on."

"Okay, Star," December blushed. "I have a nickname too that you could maybe call me..."

"What is it?" Stardom asked him.

"Des," the icewing said.

"That's a good nickname," the nightwing commented.

"I've been holding onto it for a long time," December responded.

"I think I might have to go. My dad will want me to train," Stardom began to head out.

"Can you come over again soon?" December frowned and pleaded.

"I'll come over tomorrow," the nightwing told his friend. "See me to the front door."

"Okay," the icewing responded and guided Stardom through the hallway and down the stairs.

They reached the bottom of the stairs and arrived in the middle of an argument. "No more McWings! I don't trust what these nightwings put in their food!"

"So who cares if I'm a little fat! You'll still love me for my beautiful personality, right?" Chill asked sincerely.

The icewing father eyed her curiously as she opened her mouth wide. "Bwwuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrp!!!!"

Stardom admired the irony of the moment as December began to giggle. "Hahaha!"

"What are you laughing at?" Bitter turned around aggressively. "And sure you have a beautiful personality, Chill!"

"Nothing," December rolled his eyes as Stardom pulled him to the door.

"You aren't usually like this, and neither are you, Chill! What has gotten into you two? Are you responsible for this, Stardom?" the icewing father moved closer to their guest.

"Excuse me, what?" Stardom looked offended. "Is this how icewings treat their guests? You can't blame your messed-up family on me."

"Roasted!" December giggled.

Bitter was taken aback by the dragonet's intelligent observation and tried to defend himself. "Everyone has influence, and ever since you stepped inside my home, these two have been getting more rebellious."

"And they should be. Goodbye, December!" Stardom retorted and shut the door.

The nightwing started on his way home and thought about his visit.

***

"Des is a good friend. He has interesting parents that certainly need fixing up. But how can I help them? Is it really my job to influence another and change them?"

"They say dragons are perfect the way they're made, and it always seemed that way with my mother. But now that it is just me and my father, I wonder if some of us need help but never ask for it. Maybe some of us don't even know we need help, and it seems that way with my father and Des' father."

"And then some can't even be helped. Des' mother is hurt, and it's unknown to us how and how to help her. How would Des ever be able to bring his mother to a hospital all on his own, when his father wants to keep them both under his control and away from society?"

"There are many problems in society I wish I could fix, but I'm not strong enough to fix society's problems, yet. I need to get stronger, and the only way to do that is by gaining influence."

"I need to help my father, and I need to help Des."

"I need to grow 'stronger'."

***

Stardom arrived at his father's door and let himself inside.

He was greeted quite unexpectedly by his father, standing there waiting for him. "The chains pull you back. I can sense their presence on you. Are you hiding someone from me?"

"You call my friend a chain?" Stardom posed angrily. "I did make a friend recently. I see it took you a while to figure that out because you haven't been around for weeks."

"They will only hold you back," Dignity told his son truthfully. "That's what dragons are to you. You make a relationship, and you face the burden of breaking that relationship. If they die, they pull you down with them. If they mess up, they pull you down with them."

"What happened to all your friends?" Stardom yelled. "Did you abandon your chains because you think you're better than them? Do you think you can break free of dragons' influence?"

"I didn't need them, and I won't tell you to abandon yours if you can prove yourself to me," The Carnagebringer stated and moved closer. "How much have you trained? How strong are you? How much do your chains pull? Let's put you to the test."

Dignity cornered his son and Stardom cried. "Fine! I'll fight you if it makes you happy! I'll prove you wrong!"

"We will see about that, Stardom," Dignity taunted and prepared to show no mercy. "Prepare to die, son."