Unity

Chapter 3

Emerald sang the childhood lullaby loudly in her mind, blaring the verses across the still thought-scape. She knew her classmates-nor the teacher for that matter, since Miragewings typically had a average mindreading range-- would hear her. She wanted one dragon's attention, and she was going to get it.

Sunset, that bright fire's glow! The stars shine like silver scales in the night as little eyes close and the eggs are all snuggled tight!

Emerald took a deep, mental breath for the grand finale.

SUNSET-!

Would you cut that out?

Sunset's irritated mind-voice interrupted her.

I'm in a class here! And that's really annoying.

I know, that's the point. Emerald commented cheekily. I'm bored and this class is taking forever! Please tell me you're learning something interesting in your class, so that I'm not completely wasting this period.

You should be focusing on your own lesson, Emerald. Maybe then you would actually be able to advance past Operation Silex like you're wanting to!

Ooo, ouch. Emerald chuckled, then asked eagerly, But you have, right? You started Section B today?

Sunset let out a frustrated groan.

We're going to get in trouble again. . .

Emerald snorted and shot back,

And whose fault was it last time?

Embarrassment spiked through Sunset's thoughts.

Hey! I- you know that my telepathy is super advanced! That class was a joke! I learned more eavesdropping on your leafspeaking class.

Uh-huh. So. . .? Emerald trailed off hopefully, pleadingly.

Sunset was quiet for a moment, then sighed.

Fine, here.

Emerald flicked her tail excitedly as she felt Sunset hand over a mental package of memories, her recollections of her last history lesson.

Yay! Thank you, Sunset! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the greatest best friend ever!

Yeah, whatever. Sunset grumbled, but Emerald could hear her smile in her mind-voice. I'm going to go back to my lesson now.

Emerald shifted slightly in her spot, getting more comfortable as she prepared to delve into the first part of Sunset's history lesson.

Not so fast.

Emerald physically and mentally flinched as a sudden, mental wall was slammed between her and Sunset's memories. At the same moment, there was a knock on the door. The teacher paused in her lecture as an older male Risewing entered the classroom. Emerald groaned as she not only saw what was about to happen, but also recognized the dragon as Sunset's older brother, Sunpillar. The newest member of the telepathy patrol.

As he makes a point of bragging about, constantly.

Sunpillar caught her eye and smirked for a moment before turning his attention to the confused teacher.

"Forgive my interruption, Professor Moontide. But I'm afraid that. . . Someone-,"

He looked pointedly at Emerald and every eye in the classroom followed his gaze.

"Has violated the quiet-mind mandate. Again."

"Yeah, yeah!" Emerald growled before anyone else could react or speak, grumpily rising from her desk and stomping to the front of the class. "I know the drill. Let's go, you big ball of gas!"

Sunpillar chuckled as Emerald shoved past him and started down the hallway toward the headmaster's office. He closed the classroom door and stepped to her side smugly.

"You never learn, do you, Emie?"

"Don't call me that!" Emerald snapped. "And no, I don't! I literally don't! That's kinda the whole point!"

"You would think that Sunset's wisdom would rub off on you." He remarked snarkily.

Emerald groaned, "Not this again. . ."

"After all, we Risewings are considered the wisest and most insightful dragons in the known lands!" Sunpillar declared proudly, spreading out his oversized wings as much as he could in the cramped hallway. "I mean, look at me! Graduated top of my class last year and now, one of the most trusted members of the patrol! Why, at this rate, I could-!"

"Become headmaster and start your own school, blah blah blah. . ." Emerald interrupted irritably, then muttered, "Sunset does rub off on me."

"Really? Huh, I guess it's hard to tell when you don't seem to retain any of the knowledge you've been learning for-what, three moons now? Of course, I'm sure that's hard when you have the attention span of a gnat."

Fiery rage erupted in Emerald at his mocking words and she snarled,

"I'm not the only one who does it, you know! Last time, it was Sunset who-!"

"And who taught her that behavior?" Sunpillar shot back, his voice hardening as his eyes flared with anger as well. "Sunset would never engage in such foolish behavior if she didn't have you influencing her!"

"Sunset is her own dragon, Sunpillar!"

Emerald exclaimed, digging her claws into the packed dirt floor. If it wasn't for the layers of magical restriction embedded in the school, she would summon a thousand vines to wrap around Sunpillar's stupid, self-righteous snout.

"She can make her own choices! Maybe that's why she likes hanging out with ME, because I actually treat her like her own dragon! Not some stupid legacy-bearer!"

Sunpillar straightened for a moment, glowering down at her with burning eyes. He stalked to face Emerald, who stood defiantly as he shoved his snout in her face.

"And what do you think will happen when she realizes what a liability you are?" He growled lowly, glaring into her eyes. "When she realizes that one day, you will lead her to death and destruction with your childish ways and stupidity? How will you like her ability to choose then?"

Emerald felt an unexpected jolt, as if someone has struck her hard in the chest with a heavy tree branch.

Is that true? If I don't get my act together. . . Would she really leave me? She's so smart and kind. . . She could really do great things. But if I'm still- well, like this, could I hold her back from doing those things? Or worse. . . Hurt her, like Sunpillar just said? Kill her?

Emerald felt fear rush through her. She reached out instinctively for Sunset in her mind, hoping that she would prove her brother wrong in this moment. Take the sting out of these words, extinguish this fear before it took root in her heart. But instead, she felt herself bump into the mental wall that Sunpillar had kept up in her mind, blocking her from any kind of telepathic activity.

The anger in Sunpillar's eyes melted away and his face softened, a flicker of guilt crossing over it as he sensed her swirling thoughts and churning emotions. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to apologize or comfort her but then decided against it. Instead, he turned away from her and continued down the hallway.

"Come on." He muttered.

Emerald took a shaky breath, trying to shove her anxious thoughts into a really big raindrop as she took a step after him.

That's when a large crack emanated from the other end of the hallway and a swarm of Hivewings flooded into school.