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Every day seemed like a repeating pattern. A story that kept revolving around the central fact that no one would ever love him and that his life was meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Just a small dragon out on his own in the world. After his parents had thrown him out of the cave to go live his own life, he'd felt more alone than ever, leaving him to constantly find the strength to push on every day. Sometimes though, he just wished that it could all be over. This world was almost like another one of his countless dreams that seemed to always stay just a paw step away from him, able to glimpse it, yet always fall short. That was until one dream did come true, the day he met Scafen.

Scafen lit up his world and gave him that fire and flame he'd been looking for his whole life. He took the shattered pieces of his life and helped to put them back together. He gave Derek's life meaning again, meaning to provide and protect his love. To care about him and cherish him forever, and though it seemed like everything he'd dreamt of was finally falling back into place, the worst possible thing happened.

He had found a tribe a few months after leaving his families cave, and they welcomed him in with open arms, but after a few years, even the ones he thought loved him most turned against him when he chose something out of the normal. It was when the tribe heard of his intimate interest in another male that they rejected him, telling him he had one hour to collect his things and leave. They treated him like was insane because it was against their morals, and because of that, they threw him out from the tribe. He was left all alone, abandoned by his loved ones because of the deep love he finally found in a male. It ripped him open to see them reject him, and while his emotions seemed to be out of control with no source of how to fix it, one feeling remained the same, growing as every day went by his love and devotion to Scafen.

Scafen had been with him through all of it. He had heard that Derek was gone shortly after he was throw out, and immediately dropped everything to go out and find him and when he did find Derek, he stayed up with him the whole night, comforting him, never leaving his side. He held his paw and with the two of them together, they found a new place for Derek to call home. It was a small cave with a few other dragons that managed to get by on their own. They all had different views on things, but the difference between them and the tribe was that they respected him and let him make his own decisions. He wasn't forced into a corner to do something just so someone could be happy. But even with this new freedom, things weren't the same. Scafen loved him with all his heart, but he had to stay behind and return back to his tribe.

Scafen still had his family and friends back there, and though he loved Derek deeply he just couldn't leave them yet for him. They'd only know each other for a few months, and they both needed time to think about things between both of them. Derek understood why he couldn't stay with him, but his heart still broke and longed for the connection he'd always wanted. The physical touch and the freedom to live his life as he chose, and not be punished by his decisions.

His tribe had told him the night he had left that he could return one day if he wanted, but only if he promised to never be with and love Scafen, and he couldn't do that. His whole being knew it was right. He'd thought he'd felt love before with a few females, but the love he felt toward Scafen, even on the first night they met made him realize that true love wasn't just a fairy tale. So, with his newfound home in the woods, he started a new life. It wasn't the same though without Scafen by his side, and tonight Derek was determined to change that.

Scafen would weekly leave the tribe to spend time with Derek by a large lake in the middle of a dense area of the forest, far enough away from the tribe so that they could be alone together to think and talk about things that had been going on. It had been nearly 4 months though since he'd known his love now, and at this point, he couldn't hold it back any longer. All he desired in this life was Scafen, and he wanted to tell him this, but it seemed something always held him back. A lot of somethings actually, and it was because of this that he had arrived at their usual spot on the edge of the lake a little earlier than normal, thinking to himself as he watched the water below him. He was lying on his stomach with his paws hanging over the edge, letting a claw play with the water, watching it ripple around his digit as his eyes stared back at himself in the reflection, just thinking about everything.

There was a rare blue moon tonight hanging high up in the sky, but it hid it's face behind a blanket of clouds above, leaving the night a little darker than usual. Many dragons would wish on this blue moon, tales being that it brought good luck, and although he couldn't see it, he silently sent up his own prayer, gazing wonderingly at the rays of blue moonlight shining through.

"God, I don't know what I'm doing. I just... I wish I didn't have to feel so confused!" Derek scuffed a paw at the water in the lake, sending a spray off to the side in his frustration. "I know I want to be with him, I know I do. It's just..." He then paused, looking back down into the water at his reflection, frowning as he saw a confused dragon staring back at him. "If my heart feels so right, then why does every other dragon say I'm wrong to feel this way? Just tell me what to do..."

He then closed his eyes, just dangling his paw in the water as he listened to the sounds around him, hoping it would calm him or give him some answer to his prayers. There was a very faint chirp of crickets rustling around him and an occasional hoot from an owl, and within moments he began to get lost in the sounds, taking in a deep breath through his maw.

It seemed like something had heard his prayers though as a snap of a twig alarmed him from behind. He quickly turned his head around to locate whatever made the noise and was frozen in amazement and shock at the sight before his eyes.

A blue beam of light broke from the clouds above him, revealing a thin ray of moonlight that swept behind him and landed on the ground, breaking the clouds above. Shortly after a trail of small stars floated down to the ground behind him, swirling around each other in a dance as a blue aura began to form around the stars, modeling the blue outline into a familiar face that Derek hadn't seen in years.

The blue aroura took the form of a slender calm dragoness, the little stars from above floating within her as she stared back at Derek with love, her eyes a mix of deep violet and ocean blue. She softly swayed her tail behind her, and when she opened her mouth Derek was met with that same genuine caring tone that he'd always loved, "Hey there, darling.~"

Derek had to take a moment, slowly getting to his feet as he watched her, maw still hanging wide open in shock. Finally, though, he managed to form words as his eyes continued to blink as if he was dreaming. "Cos... Cosmic. Is that... Really you?" He then started forward as she nodded with a smile, "Wait, how is that possible?! How did yo-"

"Calm down purple eyes." She chuckled, smiling in a way that seemed she would be blushing. "I know you've missed me. I've... been here for you. The whole time."

"But Cosmic... You died. You died in that cave three years ago. How are you... Here?" Derek took in a gulp, looking more worried than anything. "No, I must be dreaming..." He then began to pinch himself with two claws, causing himself to yelp back in pain. This only caused Cosmic to laugh back at him, grinning widely before responding.

"No, Derek, I did die. But I heard your call for help, and so I came back, but only for a short while." She then glanced back up at the clouds above, making Derek look up as well at the deliberate hole formed to let the moonlight through the clouds. She then continued, drawing his attention back to her. "I can only hold those clouds back for so long, and yes I know you have a lot of questions about me, but I'm here for you."

"But Cosmic..." His mind continued to race, looking back into her eyes, glittering like diamonds. "You... why would you be here for me? I mean, I was the one who said I didn't think we'd work out together... Why would you, after all this time... Still care about me?" He then looked down at his paws, trying to comprehend it all.

Instead of answering, she then walked down to the side of the lake, laying on her stomach as well while she looked out at the water, slowly rippling. Following her lead, Derek walked over and laid down beside her, just admiring her body and then shaking his head in annoyance at himself.

Cosmic laughed back at him, giggling. "Still are a horny one, aren't you?~" She then placed a paw over her muzzle, winking at him. Derek blushed at this, wiggling his tail behind him as she continued, "Derek... I know we didn't work out together, but I've always cared for you, I just knew that while I was here on this earth that we couldn't be. So since the first day I died, I've been watching over you, making sure you made it through all those hard times... But now I couldn't stand by and watch you like this. So conflicted on what to do about your love for him, and so I came here for you, but I need you to talk to me for me to help you."

She then tilted her head at Derek, giving a loving smile while they lay next to each other, and he relaxed, glancing at her for a moment longer before staring down at the water below him. "I'm just so confused, Cosmic... My whole entire life I've been waiting to find that one person who could truly love me for who I am... Some dragon that would make me feel whole and loved, and I know I found that in him. I've never felt like this before for any dragon, and yet..." He then let out a deep growl, slamming a paw down onto the surface of the water, causing a huge splash to smack into his face. "Everyone I love thinks I'm crazy! They literally think I'm making the worst decision of my life, and I chose him... I've already done the hard part of giving up my family and friends because that's what it took. But now I'm wondering... If he really is the one for me, then why the hell does his have to hurt so much leave everything else behind?"

He looked over at her, expecting a response as he huffed, but she just met his eyes with a knowing gaze, blinking calmly as she listened before turning her head to watch the water again. Derek then continued, ranting and gritting his teeth in pain. "I just DON'T FUCKING GET IT! WHY CAN'T I JUST love him!?" He then let out a loud cry, slamming a paw back at the lake, covering his face in water, making him close his eyes and whimper to himself. "I'm so confused Cosmic! Why does it have to be this way? Why does it have to take so much just to get the one thing I've always wanted?"

He then just stopped and cried, curling to put his head under his wing, hiding it from her view as he sobbed, so confused. "This is what I wanted... I wanted love but I didn't want to lose everything else. I don't regret my choice but I'm so sad that the ones I loved can't respect me for who I want to be. They'd rather throw me out and exile me just because I love another male. WHY IS THAT SO WRONG?!?!"

He then used a paw to wipe his eyes and noticed a bright light beside him. Lifting his wing, he found her, curled up beside him with her eyes meeting his. Without a word, he looked at her paw, lifting his a placing it on hers for comfort, but it was then he realized she really wasn't real. His paw fell straight through hers, and she frowned, letting out a soft purr as she watched him stare at his paw in hers, unable to feel that physical touch. "Can you say something? ...please?" He gazed up into her eyes, pleading for some sort of answer, and in response she stood back up, motioning with her tail for him to do the same.

Derek slowly collected his bearings again and rose to his feet, a little shaky but still stable. He wiped his snout once more from the tears and watched as she lifted her stary wing and placed it over his body. Though he couldn't feel it, it almost felt real, just watching her eyes as beautiful as they ever were staring back at him, her wing over his back. He walked closer to where their sides would be brushing and let out a sigh of his own. Then, spoke again, watching the blue moon above as the clouds shifted around the ray of moonlight. "Cosmic, why can't I just be happy and be with him? Why do I still have to hurt? And does this mean I'm wrong if I like a male?"

It seemed like she was pondering this for a moment, looking down at her paws with a blank expression, but when she spoke she sounded loving and sympathetic, and yet at the very same time confident and wise. "If you had one choice, to pursue a dragon that just felt right, that you loved with all your heart, whether they may be the one or not, male or female, would you give it up?"

He responded, tilting his head at her, "Well, no. I'd give anything for that, and that's how I feel!"

"Does your family hate you? Do they not love you anymore because of your decisions?"

"They... They still love me."

"Are you safe and at a spot where you can choose for yourself and live your life the way you want to live it?"

"I... Yes."

She looked him up and down, pulling her wing back to just watch him for a moment before looking up at the moon. "I know what you've been through, and no dragon should ever have to go through that... But it's not all over. You're still here Derek. You still have time to choose for yourself who you love."

"But what about my family and friends? They think I'm crazy and... My family doesn't even want me to meet their grandchildren because I love Scafen... How can I just forget that?" He asked, shaking his head in confusion and anger.

She smiled back at him, her eyes lit with a flame of hope that I hadn't seen in years. "Your family is worried for you, Derek. They want to protect you from the danger they see. Once they see that you're alright and both of you are okay, I think they'll learn to respect you. They did a horrible thing by throwing you out, but if you stay strong and pursue your dreams then I think they'll come around. But that doesn't mean you can sit by and wait for them to accept you. You have to do something, and I think you're making the right decision by choosing Scafen." She then frowned, looking back out at the water while she continued.

"...I always loved you Derek, and it hurt a lot to hear that you didn't feel the same for me after all those years, but it made me realize something. Sometimes things hurt a lot, like a hell of a ton, but what comes afterward is a stronger dragon. Someone who can push through the difficulties they face to work towards a brighter future. You got out of that pit of despair and followed your heart. You're finally at a place where you're free to be you, so do it! Show him your love and let him know how you truly feel."

"So... Should I just forget my parents? Or..?"

"No." She then began to slowly walk back away from the lakeside to the forest, still talking. "The best you can do is talk to them and apologize for anything you did to hurt them. Tell them you're alright because they love you, and choose Scafen. You can't make them change right now, so don't fret over it. Talk to them every once in a while so they can keep in touch with you, but follow your heart. I think once they see that you're are fine and aren't so bad a dragon for loving a male that they'll turn around and accept you again. But that will take time."

Derek then widened his eyes as the light from the moon began to thin and the stars within her body began to shift, threatening to change her back into the aroura she was before. "No! Cosmic, please don't go! I have so much I want to ask you! I miss you so much!"

"I know... but you have someone else who's more important now. Someone who can truly give you the love I never could. Let your heart soar and don't let anything tear you down. Love everyone, no matter what they think of you, and everything will turn out okay. I promise." She then walked towards him again, and with a shocked gasp, she reached her muzzle forward and rubbed it against his, for the first time feeling her warming scales touch his as they slid against one another in a warm embrace. Derek let out a moan, feeling a tear stream from his eye, "Wait. How are yo-"

"Shh... This is for you. Go get him, Derek.~" Instantly a jolt of energy passed through his body, and he let out a large breath he didn't know he'd been holding as the wisp of starlight filled his body with strength, filling him with the confidence he needed.

It didn't last long though. Only a few seconds after the touch between them faded, and her muzzle became like a ghost again. She smiled back at him once as he watched her tail slowly begin to scatter as the stars began to float back up into the sky. "I will always be watching you, Derek, and I always have. Don't give up on your heart, because it will always guide you in the right direction."

Derek frantically tried to hold her close, but once again felt no touch. As her body began to fade, he noticed a silent tear stream down her cheek as well as she murmured, "I'll miss you, Derek. You got this, Scarecrow." and with that, her face slowly dissolved into a wisp of stars, drifting up into the sky like a tail until the clouds above finally closed around it, blocking the moon from view once again, leaving Derek alone on the lakeside.

He opened and closed his eyes a few times, looking over himself to try and decide if that was real or not. But after a moment, he just smiled, walking back over to the lake as he sat on the side, watching the water ripple. He then looked back up to the stars, feeling her confidence radiate within him as a single star seemed to poke through the clouds for a moment, shining through. "Thank you, Cosmic. I won't let you down."

He closed his eyes and just thought about her words... Her touch... and he knew she was right. He had the one chance for love that he'd always dreamt of, and there was no way in hell he was giving up now. His did still love him, and it wasn't like he could never see them again, it would just take time. All he had to do was take that one big step to choose Scafen, and then they could slowly work together to build back everything he'd lost.

Derek was a dragon in need of love, but finally, he'd found what he needed most in Scafen, the love of his life, and the spark to his fire.

Interrupted by his thoughts, a voice spoke out from behind him, and Derek smiled widely at the lake, wagging his tail in love when he heard his lovers voice, "Oh, hey Derek! You're here early."

...To Be Continued~