Artist’s Description
 
Crystal’s raspy croaked breathing could be heard from one end of the cave. Her once raven black hair turned a frosted white, almost completely. As the months had gone by, her condition got worse and worse. She stopped going outside… She couldn’t run… Her magic ability too had declined along with her health. Once she was bedridden, her two children began bringing her flowers everyday to cheer her up, as she couldn’t play with them anymore. Mako and Lady placed light red Dragon Snaps beside her where she lay in their home earlier in the day. She smiled, only to be brought into a coughing fit. Even though they coward in fear, Crystal gently remeasured them she was okay….. if only that were the truth.
 
Late in the night….
 
 
Crystal: …. Claudis…. Claudis, come here please….
 
Claudis: quietly approaches and kneels next to her Yes, my Love..?
 
Crystal: opens her eyes I’m not, going to last much longer…. This pain in my chest… my body… It’s too much… winces as she tries to talk
 
Claudis: ears droop, gently taking her hand Please, try and push through it… I can find a way to reverse the affects of the spell, I just need to-
 
Crystal: No…! COUGH … It won’t do me any good, Claudis…. If this- holds up a lock of her white hair doesn’t kill me… then my weakened state will.. I’m dying…. I can’t recover from this.. I can feel it…
 
Claudis: No.. I won’t allow it, please.. Just let me go, I’ll find help.
 
Crystal: From who, Love…?! winces, laying her head back … My own kind turned their backs on me years ago… They won’t help us… and Father…. Goddesses bless his soul….
 
Claudis: … It’s all my fault..
 
Crystal: Ssshhh, Claudis…
 
Claudis: If you never met me, they wouldn’t have abandoned you….! They wouldn’t have shunned you…!
 
Crystal: looks at Claudis with pained eyes And we never would’ve gotten them…
 
Crystal turned her head to look into the corner of the cave. Mako and Lady curled around each other, sound asleep, letting out soft purrs as they slept. Claudis’ heart ached as he stared at them.
 
Crystal: I don’t regret, any of this… If I had the chance to start over… I’d repeat my actions just as I did the first time… tightens her grip on Claudis
 
Claudis: But they need you, Crystal…. I need you… tears run down his face
 
Crystal: smiles softly They have you, dearest… I know you’ll keep them safe… raises her other hand, gesturing to come closer
 
Claudis: leans in more so her hand can touch his face
 
Crystal: I love you so much…. I cherished, every moment spent with you… And our children… I wouldn’t trade the life I had with you for anything else in the world..
 
Claudis: C-Crystal…. sniffs
 
Crystal: reaches for something in her cloak I need you to do something for me… But not so soon… It has to be done, at the right time…
 
Claudis: … What..?
 
Crystal: When both are safe… and happy… I want you to give them this… pulls a gem pendant out of the cloak pocket
 
Claudis: ears perk slightly before drooping again …. Your necklace…?
 
Crystal: nods The first gem I made…. looks up These clusters… Do more than make your magic stronger… You just have to use them to your specific need… looks over at Mako and Lady again … They deserve the best out of life… I just wish, I could be there to watch them grow….
 
Claudis: ………….
 
Crystal: …. holds up the pendant …. When they reach the right age… the right time in their lives… I want you to present this to them both….
 
Claudis: What time….?
 
Crystal: You’ll know when… takes a breath …. You’ll know why…. pulls him closer, placing a soft kiss on his lips I love you, Claudis…. I always will..
 
Claudis: … I love you too… With all my heart..
 
Crystal: smiles, tears running down her cheeks Forgive me for what I’m about to do…
 
Holding the pendant close to her chest, Crystal’s horn slowly glowed brighter and brighter. She struggled to keep the aura flowing as much as she could. A white stream of shine came from her horn, traveling to the pendant and making it glow. The longer she kept the stream going, the white of her hair traveled all the way to the roots of her mane. As the thin beam left her and finished transferring into the pendant, her breathing started up rapidly. She whined and whimpered before laying her head back and letting out a sigh. Claudis’ heart shattered as he watched her eyes slowly close…. her chest stopped rising…. her hand slid down to her stomach, letting go of the pendant…. she was gone.
 
Claudis’ shoulders trembled as he held his wife’s hand to his face, tears falling and not stopping as he sobbed. Curling his wings, he hid himself and Crystal under the membranes, wanting a moment with her.
 
Claudis: G-goodbye, Crystal…. My precious gem…. I love you….
 
Once he collected his mind, he glanced down at the pendant. It shimmered brighter after the spell Crystal cast now. As he picked it up, he could hear the softest whisper coming from the gem wrapped in copper. Bringing it closer to his ear, he heard a voice… a familiar, sweet voice he wished he could hear clearer.
 
Claudis: Crystal…. So that’s what you planned…. looks down at her resting body …. I promise, this gift will be protected… They will have this one day.. I promise…
 
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