A chunk of malachite sat in a place filled with cut and polished diamonds. The jagged green rock was different than the others, hiding when the diamonds rejected her. "You are ugly and vile!", the diamonds would cry, "Look at that hideous green color! You are not pure like us!" The diamonds' hardened exteriors cut into the malachite, scarring her. She was shunned and rebuked, her rough body cut deeply by the threatening diamonds.

And then one day, she managed to escape their torment. The broken stone now sat alone, away from the entitled diamonds. She finally was able to rest, though her mind was cluttered from their words and actions upon her. She began to tell herself that she was not wanted, unloved, ugly...

"Oh look at you!", another rock said nearby. The malachite did not realize that there was another there, a jagged chunk of amber. "What a beautiful stone you are!", the amber spoke.

"What? How could you say that? I'm a monster!", the malachite cried.

"Nonsense, who would ever say you were?", the amber asked.

"Well...the diamonds told me I was ugly and impure.", the malachite told him.

"You actually believe those diamonds? Listen, diamonds have been pressed so tough that they believe everything they say is true. They don't like any other stones and think that if you're not a diamond, you are imperfect or just wasted magma. The thing about diamonds is that they're never right - they don't accept anyone who isn't a diamond. In fact, they don't even accept who they really are.", the amber spoke.

"What do you mean by that?", the malachite asked him.

"Diamonds are merely hardened pencil lead.

Inspired by Quad sitting with his friends at the Ruins as well as my own experiences.

-----------------------

The stars have mottled the sky. We can see them from here, through the old pillars and bricks of the Ruins. The Moon is full and bright in the distance, barely escaping the treetops in the distance.

Some of us have fallen asleep, dreaming their dreams without any cares in this Forest. Others are awake and alert tonight, staring into the blackness, worrying of any danger that comes near. I am staring up at the sky, my eyes on the stars. Thinking...dreaming about them. They flicker down on us like souls trapped above us all. Those who dream tonight take the stars for granted, while those who are wary of the danger at night underestimate the protection the heavens give us all. They also forget I am here with them, the light itself to drive away the dark.

I then move down to the Moon, my eyes adjusting to it's bright and glorious light. I can feel the night circle calling to me, I feel it's beautiful body pulling me toward it. If I was not bound to this land, to this Earth, I would be swept away to the Moon.

The lunar glow illuminates the land beautifully, and even the fireflies play nearby, their own lights a beacon for anyone who has lost their way in the dark. Rest your weary souls tonight, my friends. Dream your dreams. Let your bodies ease their burdens and pains. The land may be dark, but the light is never far away.

And if I wander with the wind, f'r a while
Will you say you understand?
If I vanish in the summer rainfall, babe
Will you take me back again?

I don't want to be your burden
Or rain on your parade
But there's a light in the sky oh darlin'
Don't let me change

Don't let me change

When your mind flipped and you cried aloud
Did you think of me at all?
When you timeskipped and the marriage tore
Did you rip apart the dress you wore?

Oh when I wandered, with the gypsy lords
And we broke bread and drank the wine
I lost all trace and thought of you my love
My beginning, your demise

I don't want to fix the damage
Or feel bitter remorse
But there's that light again for us
Could you let it pass?

Could you just let it pass?

See the skies break, and the truth you fear
Did you hate my soul at all?
In the rivers from your backstab spear
Did you dance for me, my scorned-heart dear?

Let the light pass
And the wounds of time will scar you
Let the meadows sing again with me
And leave you in the wind

Let the light fall down
And the summer rainfall soothes you
Let your marriage memory of me
Remain with you unsinned