Archive of Our Own

There's been issue in Mink's little corner of Jade Mountain Academy and it all revolves around the dragon eating with right now, Cliff. Valentines day was coming up and all of the dragons in Jade Mountain are gearing up or locking in to ask each of their favourite dragons, because there was a planned dance to take place only a few days from now. Soo problem being in Mink's little friend group there were two dragons who was trying to court him, Peacemaker and Auklet and to say that they're competitive would be an understatement. Heck the only reason why Mink was eating with him right now and not either of them is because Cliff managed to find a blind spot in their plans where neither of them knew where he was and managed to go to her and get a break from the both of them.

"You know I could help-"

"Shhh shh shsh" Cliff rudely clamped her snout then scanned his surroundings, "You'll summon them!"

Mink rolled her eyes, "They're not that pereceptive"

"You don't know that!" Cliff exclaimed, "Let's just... eat"

Cliff smiled at his cow and started munching on it, eh sure if Cliff doesn't want to talk about it it's not her place to force the issue - even though it was pretty funny.

"Hey Cli-"

Two voices called out at the same time and interrupting each other. Cliff went silent and froze. Mink caught in the middle of it all looked round to see Auklet calling out from the right of Cliff while Peacemaker was on the left.

They both realised each others presence and then started staring each other down with furrowed eyebrows, no words past between the both of them, it was almost like they were arguing with their eyes. Cliff stayed completely still like he was surrounded by two predators. Mink continued eating her ice cubes thinking that the entire scenario was pretty funny but didn't want to risk making a sound in case of... something happening. The rest of the prey center didn't really payed them any mind and the ambient chatted of the cave was the only sound that filled the air.

Then like a silent truce, or more likely a covert verbal ceasefire. Peacemaker and Auklet left, going in opposite directions.

Mink chuckled, then looked back at Cliff who looked... distraught.

"Wow, that bad huh?"

Cliff nodded, "Can we uh-"

 Mink was already picking up their food and tucked it under her wings, "Yea sure, let's go"

Cliff fell into his bed, "Mink what do I doo?"

Mink crawled into her own little hole in the cave their cave that was her bed, "Can't you like... make them call it off"

"That'll break them!" Cliff exclaimed, "I don't want that"

"Choose one of them?"

"That'll destroy one of them" He puffed out his wings.

"But they're destroying you though"

Cliff paused, "It's not that bad, well at least if it's just one of them, like..." Cliff turned to his side and rummage through his hoard, then laid down a bunch of shiny jewelry, little gizmos and gadgets, "Look all the stuff I got from them"

Mink recoiled when she saw what he had, "Woah!"

"Right! And not to mention all the food I got- Like seafood apparently taste great when cooked and Peace made me a pie! I don't even know what that is? But it was one of the best things I've eaten!" 

Cliff then slumped back down in his bed, "It's just this... feud they're having"

Mink tilted her head, "Why don't you just... ask them both out?"

"What!"

Mink tilted her head at him, "Seems pretty simple no?"

"Mink, they hate each other!"

Mink click her tongue and scrunched up her nose, "Hate is a strong word, they mildly dislike each other at worst. Trust me I know hate"

"The point is they don't like each other!" Cliff exclaimed.

Mink hummed in thought, an idea then hit her like a bag of rocks. She grabbed her chalk and shot out of her bed and scurried over to Cliff's side of the cave.

"I have an idea," She said urging Cliff to look at her, Cliff's head peaked out of his bed to see what Mink was doing.

She then started to crudely draw out Cliff, Auklet, and Peacemaker in a triangular pattern.

"Peace and Auklet love you right," She drew a line connecting Cliff with Auklet and Peacemaker.

"Love is a strong word" Cliff fidgeted with his claws.

"Oh but hate isn't," Mink rolled her eyes, "They're both competing each other vying for your affection, if it isn't love then they both really really like you, but that's semantics anyway"

Mink turned her attention back to the drawing, "So they both already love you enough so the problem here isn't on you, it's these two, ipso facto..."

Mink drew a line connecting Peacemaker and Auklet then grinned at Cliff proud of her genius.

"Mink that is insane"

"Come onnnn, it's so simple"

"How in the three moons are they gonna fall for each other?!"

"Okay fair that we are far from that, but that's the best case scenario" Mink clarified, already running through ideas in her head "But they don't need to fall in love, they just need to like tolerate each other enough to share you, which is more likely than you think"

Cliff shrinked, wrapping her wings around himself and groaned, "I can't believe this is because two dragons are fighting over me!"

"Eh I can, you're kind of a catch, funny, caring, compassionate, musically talented, and also like naive and stupid in kind of like a cute charming way, three moons Cliff save some for the rest of us" Mink chuckled, she mocked pat him, "I bet their are dragons outside of our little group that would kill to ask you out"

"You're not really making me feel better" Cliff said.

"I'm saying how privileged you are dummy" Mink poked Cliff's little wing cocoon, "But yeah, that's the plan"

"How're we going to even pull that off"

Mink smirked, "It's simple really"

Mink had a plan, she always had a plan for romantic crisis such at this, she is Jade Mountain's self proclaimed premier matchmaker after all. Well Jade Mountain's only matchmaker really but that just means that really just means that she's the only suited for this impossibly difficult task.

But to pull this of she can't do it alone so the first course of action was talking to the dragon that is currently very pretty-ly weaving silk decorations up.

"Duskyy!"

He turned around to face her, "Oh Mink, what's up?"

"I need your help" She said, "Since you're our resident Peacemaker expert"

"Ookayy" He said skeptically, "This isn't about Cliff right?"

"It's about Cliff!" She chirped.

Dusky closed his eyes and huffed, "Allo dragons. So did they set you up for this? Because good luck going through Auklet"

"Oh no it was Cliff actually"

"Hmm?" Dusky froze, "ohh, oh no"

"No no no he didn't choose, you know he can't choose, but hold on hear me out" Mink said, "I'm going to get Auklet and Peacemaker to share him"

"Oh" Dusky said amicably, "Are you stupid?"

"Rude"

"Sorry," Dusky said, majestically floating down from the walls, "But they hate each other!"

"Ugh what is it with you guys with 'hate' but avoid 'love' like it's the plague, they don't hate each other! They just have this weird... feud right now, but it's farrr from hate"

"You haven't seen Peace in their room have you?"

"No, that's why I came to you but we also need Auklet's buzzing clawm-"

"What're you guys talkin about?"

"Three moo-" Dusky almost fell over, "Don't do that!"

"Bee!" Mink exclaimed, "Okay this is perfect all of you are here"

"I literally just walked up to you" Bumblebee said to Dusky, "Anyway, what's this about Auklet? Cause if it's anything to do with Cliff, I'm down with whatever plan there is to stop from her scheming all night"

"Oh you too?" Dusky said, "Peace has been taking over our cave walls with their plans like a fungus, the constant sound of scratching chalk, chalk falling down, the chalk ashes falling, I dream the smell of chalk now ugh. And they're not even quiet about it themself, every time I'm about to fall asleep I here another 'hmmmm' why do they even do that!"

"Well Auklet made our cave into a dump" Bumblebee grumbled.

Dusky raised a brow, "Isn't already-"

"Well it's even more of a dump now, more than I can handle. Okay look it used to be our dump, now it's just her Cliff themed dump!" Bumblebee threw her wings up, "And even more than that I can't sleep from all the 'hihihih' 'hahahaha' Auklet has been doing all night, grah it's like she's a witch or something"

Bumblebee turned to Mink, "So?"

"She wants to have Auklet and Peace get together so they could 'share' Cliff" Dusky said.

"What!" Bumblebee exclaimed.

"That's what I said"

"No, you said 'I'm stupid' don't lie in front of my face" Mink scowled at him, "And come on ponder on it"

"It was implied" Dusky said, "And pondering on it ain't going to change- Wait speak of the devils"

Dusky pointed in front of them. There was Auklet and Peacemaker looking around them more than in front of them, they were on a collision course towards each other but they realise just in time when they simultaneously looked in front of them and caught each other eyes. They once again engaged in a cold war, where neither of them spoke but a million messages were being sent - mostly threatening - through their aura alone. They slowly walked passed each other keeping track of each other with side eye glares.

"Oh there he is!" Auklet said

"Huh?" Peacemaker looked and Auklet dashed away.

"You cur!" Peacemaker exclaimed before flying after her.

"What are they even doing here?" Dusky said.

"Trying to find Cliff duh" Mink said, "This is the usual path he walks after he's done in the music cave, but I found a little tunnel through the other side of the cave that leads to outside, then there's a hole that has a crevice that pops out almost directly in front of our cave, it also throws off their rhythm of Cliff's schedule since he'll arrive a minute or two later than they expect"

Bumblebee and Dusky looked at her funny, "You made a tunnel?!" Bumblebee exclaimed.

"I found a tunnel, we live in a mountain! There's tons of nooks and crannies around this place" Mink said, "And yeah I would, because unlike you two I'm clawmates with the target here!"

Dusky looked like he was about to say something but changed his mind, "Okay fine, but after that do you really think they could get together"

"Okay look them 'getting together' is the best case scenario here, the point being is that they need to at least tolerate each other enough around Cliff"

"I still think it's-"

"Wait no no, I'm with Mink here" Bumblebee said.

"What!" Dusky exclaimed, "Bee, they hate each other"

"'Hate' is a really strong word, it's more like mild distaste plus a side of competitiveness" Bumblebee said, "Besides they're more similar than they think, there's a common ground here"

"There moons, yes Bee I love you!" Mink exclaimed eyes sparkling.

Bumblebee was stunned for a moment, "Uhh sure"

Mink then turned to Dusky again and grinned, "So, you're outnumbered now"

"I have agency in my descision independent from yours" He countered.

"But you won't" Her smile grew bigger.

Dusky rolled his eyes, "Lay it on me"

"That is the stupidest plan ever conceived"

The day before the valentine dance was came with the excitement for tomorrow dance was palatable throughout the entire academy. The halls were lined with hushed word and giggles if dragons planning for tomorrow night, even the teachers were being more lax just so they could let their students plan the night after. Decorations were being finalised, the halls of Jade Mountain Academy were now vibrant with colour of all sorts of flora and weaved silk.

Although for two dragons this was the penultimate day of both their work. They finished their school duties and briskly went out of each of their caves, they're expression were that of cold hard laser focused and their destination the same. They bobbed and weaved their way through the dragons in the academy with almost trained precision, determination pumping through every step they took. Coincidentally they both reached their destination at the same time.

At first they both were surprised at each others appearance - and more than a little bit annoyed. But after a moment they both individually realised that this truly was the only way this could end. Peacemaker and Auklet entered Cliff's cave at the same time almost in perfect sync and-

Were stopped by Dusky exiting the cave.

"Oh uh hey guys" Dusky said getting nervous with every word because both of their lasers of focus-ness was now all directed at him, "Uhm pardon me, I'll just uh go"

With that Dusky dashed away, Auklet and Peacemaker entered the room to find the red dragon they sought after.

"Cliff you have-"

"I'm taking Dusky!"

The cave went silent, the only thing heard were the ambient chatter of dragons outside. Cliff said that with no hesitation almost like a defensive instinct.

Peacemaker and Auklet on the other talon were stunned, almost like statues. Auklet was twitching her talons and her luminescent scales were dimly lighting up and down like she was a decoration. Peacemaker in contrast was almost completely still, the colours on the scales around their wings and neck shifting from black and white like static. The three of them stood there for what felt like a thousand years until Auklet shook her head and said,

"What!?"

Cliff flinched, "Uhh yea, I'm taking Dusky to the dance"

"I- wuh- you- since when?!" Peacemaker exclaimed

"Uhhh just now, he was here, you two probably saw him so... Yeah"

The two of them simultaneously, looked at the cave entrance like it was the culprit of a murder, then back at Cliff who looked very very scared.

"I thought- I thought Dusky was not- like that" Peacemaker was able to say in spite of themselves.

"We're going as friends" Cliff said with a strained smile, "You know, philia and stuff"

Both dragons still looked they were gonna combust into a venomous hurricane with the look they were giving him, Cliff could only act calm - well as calm as he could be - in the face of such an impending disaster. The three dragons held their poses and their emotions for what felt like an eternity, until Peacemaker let out a sigh.

"Ughhh that's... fair. Ugh gg Dusky I guess. Have fun Cliff" They said before leaving the room in a dejected slump.

Which only left Auklet,  who's eyes followed Peacemaker as they exited and then back at Cliff who felt a bit better that it was only one highly combustible dragon that was eyeing him now. Auklet's mouth opened then closed then opened then closed then-

"Gah they're... Right" Auklet sighed,  "Hope you have a great time Cliff" She said with a bit of bite, before also exiting. Though Cliff could hear a faint 'stupid stupid stupid' whilst she was exiting.

Finally Cliff was left alone in the room that with all the tension release leaving a very relieving but also not nice air behind.

"Uhhh Mink that didn't feel very good" Cliff called out to a lump under a blanket on top of Mink's bed.

Popped out Mink out of that lump gasping for air.

"Okay that... That was uglier than I... i expected" She said in between gasps of air, she took a massive breath, "But don't worry, we're still on course"

The day of the dance came and... that part isn't important, the sound of a band playing and dragons having fun are distant in the halls of the student caves. Most of the caves are empty since most of the dragons are at the party, the ones that are left are the ones that either decided not to come, finished with their night already, or are severely behind in their assignments - even then that didn't stop most dragons.

For one room in particular there was a black rainbow hybrid lying in their hammock, staring at the ceiling contemplatively like it was talking to them. They could go to sleep early, but sleep apparently hated them right now and didn't want to see them. Well screw you too sleep.

"Figured you'd be here"

Peacemaker grumbled at the voice, they knew who it was but they still force their neck up to peek out of their hammock to see Auklet leaning against the cave's entrance.

"What do you want Auklet?" Peacemaker said groggily, they didn't expect to use their voice again for the remainder of the night.

Auklet rolled her eyes, "You wanna go out? Not like to the party or anything but like out of JMA y'know"

Peacemaker squinted their eyes, they were really tempted to just stay in their hammock and soak in all the misery they were feeling. But on the other talon they really didn't wanna stay in here either, and something in the back of their mind guessed that Auklet didn't want to either.

"Where we going?"

Auklet smiled, "I know a place"

Before they knew it they were flying on top of jade mountain, on the other side where the prey center was located. The shrubbery was dense and Peacemaker was skeptical of Auklet and guessed that she was just picking a random spot on top of jade mountain that was far from the prey center.

"Down here" Auklet said before diving down like she was trying to save some falling dragon, Peacemaker rolled their eyes and followed her down with a calmer glide.

Peacemaker was a bit curious when they saw that Auklet while still diving recklessly - as per usual - also looked like she was aiming for something. They followed Auklet down and as they got closer past a coupled of trees that were covering it, they could start to see a clearing illuminated by the moonlight. It was a small grassy circle, with rocks lining the edges of it. Separate from the foliage of the mountain was carefully planted flowers that of different shades of orange purple and red.

Auklet landed with unnecessary roll and immediately fell on to her back with a sigh of relief, Peacemaker landed beside still taking in the unusually serene view. They looked at the sky and they were correct that the moon was literally on the other side of the mountain. Peacemaker followed the moonlight and saw that it looked like it weaved through the trees surrounding them and landed on this spot specifically without any regard of physics or reality.

"What in the three moons is this place?"

"Anemone showed me" Auklet said wriggling her way into a comfortable spot on the ground.

"This place looks physically impossible"

"Cause its magical" Auklet giggled.

"I thought magic was broken" Peacemaker squinted their eyes, they've been taught about the danger of magic since they were born.

"Would you relax" Auklet groaned, "This was made a long time ago, the grass ain't gonna eat ya and the flowers aren't poisoned or anything, this was garden made for her girlfriend or something"

Peacemaker was still skeptical, "Are we even allowed here?"

"Yes, we are, three moons Peace!" Auklet rubbed her face, "I didn't bring you here to kill you jeez, have some faith would ya"

"Well excuse me, but considering our... circumstances. I think I'm allowed to be a little skeptical" Peacemaker huffed

"Ugh you're still on that?"

"Aren't you?" Peacemaker looked at Auklet who now had her eyes close while lying on her back.

Auklet growled lowly, "I'm trying not to"

"Then why invite me?" Peacemaker managed to be comfortable enough to sit down beside her, "I would think I'd be the last dragon you want to see, so I'm guessing that you at least wanna talk abou-"

"Alright, fine!" Auklet exclaimed, "Ugh I forgot how much of a hardass you are"

"It's called being pragmatic"

"'iT's cAllEd bEinG PrAgmaTic'" Auklet said, doing mock impression of them, "Ugh would it kill you to at least ignore it for a bit"

"Sorry for not entertaining your delusions of normalcy"

"Three moons, I hate when you talk like that" Auklet rolled, "You sound like one of my mom's cartoonishly written villains"

"Oh my bad for having a larger vocabulary than yourself" Peacemaker grinned before being lightly whacked in the head with Auklet's tail

"Screw you" Auklet chuckled

Peacemaker chuckled alongside her and they fell into a calm silence in between them, it was just the them and the night. The gentle swishing of wind and crickets was the only thing that filled the air. Peacemaker found it themself to lie down on their belly, letting the night wash over them.

"We really messed up huh?" Auklet said.

"Yup" Peacemaker said with a chuckled, "Honestly how did we miss the fact that Cliff hates it when his friends are-"

"-are fighting each other" Auklet groaned, tossing and turning on the ground, "Ugh, like I had some time to think about it and like... at a certain point in my plans was less about wooing Cliff and more preventing you from wooing him"

"Well unlike you I'd always had a clear plan in mind, since I wrote it down" Peacemaker haughtily said, "It was always about him"

"Uh huh sure, I'm guessing strategically hovering Cliff exactly when I had my breaks was also apart of your master plan" Auklet said shooting them a side ways glare with one eye open.

Peacemaker's eyes shot wide, "I... shoot you notice that?'

"I'm not dumb Peace" Auklet rolled her eyes, "Admit it, we lost the plot"

Peacemaker scruched their nose, "Alright fine maybe my plans did... diverge a bit"

"Yeah sure 'a bit'" Auklet shot a raspberry at them.

"Oh come on, you cannot act like you're better than just because you're self aware!"

"Umm actually," Auklet tapped her chin sarcastically, "I think I can" She chuckled

"You're insufferable, you know that right" Peacemaker grinned.

Auklet countered with a 'meh meh meh meh' mocking Peacemaker's voice. Peacemaker didn't want to spare her the dignity of a response, so they didn't. Instead they let the night sit for a another moment in silence again. Peacemaker looked up at the stars, watching them twinkling above them, they always took the night view for granted, practically always living under a mountain does that to you, the night sky stars always looked brighter than a nightwing wings reminding them how they were only a pale imitation of the vast view of the world.

Then a new light started to glow around them, fireflies. Slowly they started surrounding the garden, Peacemaker looked to the side to see Auklet still had her eyes closed while the fireflies flew all around her. How... peculiar

Peacemaker snorted, "Is the darkness of your closed eyes a better view than what we have right now?"

"Oh shut up, I don't have them all the way closed, besides your dopey face is only a vague blur like this"

Peacemaker rolled their eyes and let the silence sit again.

"Do you suppose we could've done something different?"

Auklet hummed in acknowledgement, "That's a good question... But considering how I am and considering how you are - " "What's that suppose to mean?!" "- I don't think it could've gone any other way"

Peacemaker scrunched their nose, "Really? That's it?"

Auklet laughed, "Well what do you think genius?"

"We could've... worked together?"

Auklet barked out another laugh, "Yea like that could work out"

"I mean I feel like we work well together outside of this" Peacemaker thought about it some more, "Actually put an asterisk on that, 'we work well together' if you actually listen to me"

Auklet blew another raspberry, "I'll listen to you if you actually say something of substance. Besides with Cliff, really?"

"Mmm, Moonwatcher..."

"Oh please" Auklet scoffed, "Moonwatcher and her little circle of relationships are outliers"

 "Who says that we can't be too" Peacemaker said.

"Look in the context of Cliff you see me as a problem, and I see you as an obstacle. It's literally just isn't compatible" Auklet waved a talon at them.

"I know that, that's like the problem, I'm trying to be constructive here!" Peacemaker exclaimed, "Ughh fine whatever" Peacemaker turned away from her.

Auklet opened her eyes and turned to Peacemaker, then groaned, "Ugh dude we failed anyway, what're we even constructing on?"

Peacemaker turned back to Auklet, "Wait you're giving up"

"Aren't you?"

"Uhh no" Peacemaker said, and they had a stare down, "I mean if you are, I completel-"

"No no no, nah hell no, if you're gonna keep trying I'm gonna be trying too and-" Auklet sat up from her lying position, "We'll be in the same spot as last time"

Another batch of silence ran through the both of them, letting the thoughts sink in to each of them.

Auklet groaned, then extended a talon to Peacemaker. Peacemaker flinched back when presented by it and started inspecting her talon.

"Shake on it dummy"

"Oh" Peacemaker tilted their head, trying to piece together the situation again, "Oh. You're agreeing to it?"

"I mean, it feels like we would have a higher chance of success like this"

Peacemaker smirked, "Look who's thinking rationally"

"Shut up and shake"

Peacemaker grabbed Auklet's talons shaked on it. The hand shake itself was limp and almost half hearted - it was more like two thirds hearted - but neither of them could let go of the other. They both felt like the longer they held each other talons the more solidified this unholy alliance is. They both looked at each others eyes, the sparkling fireflies illumnating each other faces, the crickets filled the air with some calm ambiance, the birds singing a calm a smooth tune as they gazed into each other

.

.

.

Wait birds?!

"Auklet..." Peacemaker started.

"I hear that too" Auklet said letting go of their talon and started checking her surroundings.

There was only one thing that could sing really well and as well mimic the sound of birds.

Or more specifically, one dragon.

"Cliff, we know you're there buddy!" Auklet called out standing up to face the foliage behind them.

There was nothing for a few moments until a bush spoke.

"'sIng fOr tHem thEy wOn't noTice' frickin great idea Mink" One bush grumbled.

The bush beside it rustled, "I was limit testing! And now you completly blew our- Woah!"

An icewing fell out of the bushes. Peacemaker was pieces the pieces together and Auklet was already rubbing her eyes with her talons

"Did- did you know they were there?" Peacemaker turned to Auklet.

"No, but I'm guessing there's a reason why Bee 'advised' me to talk to you"

Slowly emerging from the thick dark jungle, were four more dragons after Mink.

"Three moons this was a Mink idea was it?" Peacemaker felt the dawning feeling of inferiorty in them, "I knew the fireflies were a bit too convenient"

"Yeah yeah, I'm the mastermind behind all of this, played you like pawns" Mink laughed evily

"You could've just talked to us right?"

"Please like that's gonna work" Mink waved a talon at them.

"She's kinda right you know" Bumblebee backed her up.

Peacemaker turned to Dusky, "What was his role in all of this?"

"Oh I was bait" Dusky smiled.

"Look guys I was the one who wanted her to do this" Cliff stepped up, "So it's all my fault"

"Oh shut up Cliff!" They all said simultaneously.

"It's her stupid idea" Bumblebee said pointing at Mink.

"Yea dude it's her idea, you're like completely valid in wanting us off your back. It's just her plan is stupid as hell" Auklet said.

"Yea it's was my idea not yours!" Mink exclaimed, "and besides it's not done, before we were rudely revealed" Mink glared at Bumblebee, "I was going to let Cliff reveal himself, it would've been so cool but bah we're improvising, come on guys"

Mink pushed Bumblebee and Dusky to leave, they both flew away leaving only the distant sounds of hushed bicketing. leaving Cliff alone with Peacemaker and Auklet. Peacemaker and Auklet watched the dragons that left making sure that they indeed left. Then they turned their attention to Cliff.

They both start simultaneously, "Cliff we're-"

"Guys stop" Cliff interrupted with a smile, he walked up and sat comfortably in between them, "Let's just.... enjoy the night for now"