It's harder to draw here. The energy of the planet below... no, it's not that. Even if she can't capture it, can only get across squiggles that become angles that she adds little dots between, trying to convey what's going on down there: the final glorious battle of people who need dragons, or people who are trying to become dragons, who can't stop themselves from fighting, who...

Who are very Ceronian.

If an enemy is not provided, they will invent one. Isn't that the way of Ceron? To always be looking for a new challenge. Always pitting yourself against someone, and discovering whether they are weaker or stronger than you. If weaker, then good, bully and tease and steal. And if stronger, then use them to sharpen yourself, to become better, to become worthy.

Maybe that's why she's tempted to go down there. To challenge herself again. To learn what inside her isn't good enough, still - or was that sufficient, being reflected against herself so many times inside of Bella? To lose at infiltrating. To win at teaching them how to be a little kinder, a little better, a lesson she never truly noticed.

Or maybe it's the chill. The familiar feeling settling into her bones. Comfort and safety, in their own ways. She's never let either hold her back for long, but... would it be such a bad thing to linger here a little, Bella? Where it's easier to hear your heartbeat and feel your breath? Where things feel...

[i]Right.[/i]

Another itch. It's harder to draw here. Sometimes she catches herself in reverie, and sometimes she has to get up and pace, and the pacing turns into running, and the air is cool on her skin, and she talks herself out of descending and helping, as best as she can, to contribute to the work of Jupiter. This isn't quite right. But Gaia's getting closer by the hour, by the minute, by the second slipping past her, and Jupiter's another part of it.

They aren't ready for the stars yet. But one day [i]they will be.[/i]

What if they needed a guide?

What if they all need...

Somewhere, a beloved bride is writing. And Dany sits nearby and draws stars. Draws hands. Draws her wedding ring.

Isn't it funny how this whole time she thought she knew what she was going to wish for?

Eventually, the pens get put down, rather mutually. Bella always was good at sniffing secrets out. Maybe they linger a while on certain sketches, and then the sketchbook gets set neatly on the desk next to Bella's journaling.

In the cool of the underworld, there are secrets which can only be learned in the dark. And one of them is: [i]You were following me and now I'm following you.[/i] And another is: [i]We both want to help, deep down.[/i] And another is: [i]I love you, and I love you, and I love you. I have seen your weakness and your strength, and I still want you.

And I'll say it over and over again.[/i]