Second Mercy - Video; after Darkness

[returnsmagic]

[ The view shows the city after Dark, illuminated by its sparse, lukewarm lights that dotted the streets and the buildings. It seems like the recording device is floating in the air, thanks to this view. There is a heavy, repeating noise, like massive wings flapping in a steady, rhythmic beat.

The NV's owner is not seen, but he speaks, a heavy, clearly inhuman voice. ]

So much despair and bloodshed in these past nights. By evil or by evil's victims, it is hard to say.

In some ways I miss the evil of home, where it is clear where and how to fight. There the causalities, and they are either missed or celebrated in its demise. But here, the difference is not as so clear, even to me, who has lived for so long. A shame of my fault. As a son of Paladine, the god of justice and all that is good, I should have hold the wisdom to know the difference.

But I do not, it bothers me. So tell me this: how can you tell?

Comments

[kal_el]

[ He's actually genuinely lost by that explanation, but smiles sadly none the less. The variation between worlds will never cease to surprise him. ]

This may seem like an odd question, but--are you always a dragon?

[returnsmagic]

From the moment of hatching from my egg. My mother was the first gold dragon and my father is Paladine, the god of light.

May I ask you something? Have you ever seen the other dragon, black in scales?

[kal_el]

I have seen her, but not recently. It doesn't surprise me... There's a bounty out on her, and she hides for days at a time.

Where do you stay, when you're not flying around the island?

[returnsmagic]

Understandable, as it has been reported that this Khisanth damaged the docks some time ago. But I must ask a stranger question: did she ever spat acid? Black dragons from my world are the only dragons capable of that breath weapon, excluding the coppers.

Oh, I dwell in crooks and crannies of the city. [ Vague, but he doesn't want poor House to be pestered because of her tenants. ]

[kal_el]

I was at the docks at the time--it wasn't her fault. She was under the influence of something...

[ He knew what, but had sworn never to mention it, or how she came to be affected by it. ]

She spat acid. It made things a little more difficult.

[returnsmagic]

When a dragon becomes involved, anything can be made difficult.

I see. So it is highly likely that a dragon of Takhisis have set foot on this world.

[ Very disturbing news. ]

This makes locating her even more important.

[kal_el]

You really think she's from your world? I'm not sure it's enough proof.

[ He tilts his head up toward the black sky, and for a moment he can see the specs of radiation through his exceptional vision--but it's radiation, not stars, just specs in the enshrouding Darkness. ]

There's people here from different places, and a lot of them have powers, but even then they're from different worlds. If dragons can spit acid in one world, why couldn't they spit fire in another?

[returnsmagic]

That is a good point. I have seen the photographs of the rampage, and she has the size and the overall shape of a black dragon from home, but I wasn't sure. Have she ever mentioned of home to you? Performed magic?

[kal_el]

She didn't I'm afraid. And I wouldn't know about magic.

[ Except for, you know, how she could turn into a humanish woman. ]

What about your home?

[returnsmagic]

It is a vast land, Krynn. It have all sorts of races, like humans and elves, ogres and dwarves and minotaurs, and there are the gods of Light, gods of Neutrality, and the gods of Darkness. Together they make up the balance so the world will not stagnant.

[kal_el]

And is it beautiful?

[returnsmagic]

Yes. More so when it is not plundered into war.

[kal_el]

I'm sorry.

[returnsmagic]

Do not be sorry. Evil have been defeated, and all is at peace.

[ For now, anyway. ]

[kal_el]

Then it's...good that you knew that before you came here. Many aren't so fortunate.

[returnsmagic]

Yes. I am truly am the few who are so fortunate. I have lived out most of my life doing what I enjoyed the most.

[ A shriek echoes in the skies and Aurican spots some strange, humanoid beast heading in his and Superman's direction. ]

[kal_el]

[ Clark glances up, waiting for a moment for it to get closer, then shoots a blast of heat vision off at a distance, catching the creature in its wing and sending it spiralling downward.

He looks apologetically after it. ]

I hate doing that.

sorry for the slowness, internet got messed up

[returnsmagic]

[ Aurican looks at the poor beast falling out of the sky. ]

They are to be pitied.

If it wasn't for the fact that this city is so flammable, and that they come back anyway, I can easily slay them all.

[kal_el]

They're more than that--they were human once. Living, breathing, and even if they've lost that shape, that's what most of them still are. I don't... If they can be left be, then I prefer it. I'd rather nobody was out fighting them, if it meant an equilibrium.

[ If people would just get inside before Darkness fell... ]

[returnsmagic]

They will still attack the innocent, whether or not they fight back. As tragic as the beasts are, it is not merciful to grant them the chance to do so.

[kal_el]

There's a difference between killing out of necessity and deliberately hunting them down.

[returnsmagic]

And I agree. If there was a way to contain their souls so they won't hurt anyone again, like I have done with the chromatic dragons, I would have taken the opportunity. Live and let live, or we might be forced to live and let die, as that human song goes.

It is frustrating to be in a world where I have no control, like I have back home.

[kal_el]

I'm sorry--even if I know the feeling. You can't try and control everything, save everyone. It doesn't work like that.