A ring of seven dragons was seated around a large, round, marble table. These were the queens of the dragon kingdoms of Pyrrhia.

The Nightwing was not actually a queen, but a representative sent to participate in this meeting. Secrecy seemed to be a prominent feature among the Nightwings.

"Everyone is accounted for then. Let us begin the meeting," said Queen Mire of the Mudwings.

"Yes," agreed Queen Siren of the Seawings.

"Listen," spoke Queen Chameleon of the Rainwings, "Before we begin, I must warn you all that there must be no fighting. I know tensions are high but please control your tempers."

"Yes, yes. Now let's get on with it," said Queen Sahara of the Sandwings, "Queen Crimson, you may begin."

The Skywing Queen nodded, "Thank you. Now, I summoned you all to my palace to discuss a matter that has weighed heavily on my mind." Her gaze snapped to Queen Crystal of the Icewings, suddenly blazing with fury. "It would appear, Queen Crystal, that you want to take over my kingdom!"

"What? That's absurd!" exclaimed Queen Crystal.

"Oh, is it really?" Queen Crimson retorted, "Well killing two of my three heirs would be a good start to such a feat!"

"What?" said Queen Crystal, "I've never killed an heir to anyone's throne!"

"You may stop the façade. My guards saw you kill them but three days ago!"

"Wait," Queen Crystal said, realization dawning on her expression, "I did have two female Skywings executed for stealing from the hatchery. Oh no! I had no idea they were the heirs!"

Queen Crimson glared at her even more harshly, "Do you take me for a fool? Not only do you deny that you had dark intensions, but now you try to make my daughters look like wrongdoers! You must pay for your crimes!"

"Yes!" agreed Queen Sahara, "You have done a great wrong to Queen Crimson!"

"I agree what I have done is wrong," Queen Crystal said candidly, "but at the time, I had no idea that it was your heirs that I had killed. My intension was only to rid Pyrrhia of two more thieves!"

"Well, I might've dismissed this as a folly on your part if not for one detail," Queen Crimson turned her head to glare dramatically at Queen Crystal. "You've known my daughters for many years. Why, all of the sudden not recognize them?"

"Maybe they were in disguise," suggested Queen Siren.

"They were," said Queen Crystal, "It was an honest mistake." Suddenly her eyes narrowed and she cast a suspicious glance at Queen Crimson. "An interesting thought just occurred to me," she said, "Why was it, exactly, that it was your heirs were there, stealing my eggs? If they had succeeded in stealing a female egg, you could just as easily face the accusations that I myself face."

"Good point," said Queen Mire. "Did you know of your daughters' actions?"

"Ha! As if I'd want your little frozen wasteland, Queen Crystal. And even if I had wanted it, I would simply smash the eggs in the hatchery, and much less risk my daughters for it!" said Queen Crimson, shrugging off the accusations.

"Oh, is that an excuse to cover your idiotic mistakes in your 'grand plot'!" Queen Crystal spat crossly.

"This whole story about my daughters stealing eggs is just a ruse! Yet, I have noticed you have great conviction. Why believe your own story? What do you get out of it?"

"It's not a story! If it were, I wouldn't be missing an egg!" Queen Crystal yelled furiously.

"What? You never said anything about an egg actually being stolen," Queen Crimson said.

"No. I never said anything about an heir being stolen," Queen Crystal retorted, "The egg that was stolen was one of my male eggs. What you got out of stealing him, I'll never know. But no matter, you must return the egg to me!"

"I stole nothing!"

"Then you wouldn't mind if I sent a few of my Icewings to search your palace, would you?" Queen Crystal said slyly.

"NO! I won't let you anywhere near my last heir after what you've done! Any attempts to enter my palace will be met with fire!" said Queen Crimson, enraged.

"And poison!" said Queen Sahara, "Queen Crimson will not be alone in this!" Queen Crimson nodded gratefully at the Sandwing Queen.

"Fine! But know that I will get in and rescue my son, no matter how many I stand against!" Queen Crystal said boldly.

"The Mudwings are with you, Queen Crystal," offered Queen Mire.

"The Seawings, too, will fight alongside the Icewings," said Queen Siren.

The two sides of the conflict turned expectantly to the Queen of Rainwings and the Nightwing representative. However, Queen Chameleon shook her head, "I will fight for neither side. If I wanted a fight, I would have picked it myself." The Nightwing quietly agreed with the Rainwing Queen.

"So be it. I think it's time this meeting was adjourned," said Queen Crimson.

The dragons rose from the table to file out of the meeting chamber. Queen Crystal was the last to get up and make her way to the doorway.

"Farewell," Queen Crimson said menacingly.

Queen Crystal stopped in the doorway and chuckled lightly. She turned her head to look at the Skywing Queen.

"No. This would be goodbye."