Hello~ This idea has been plaguing me for quite a while but I finally got it down on paper(or computer, if you will)! I really don't know how this will go, haha. I'd really like your opinions on this fic, on whether I should continue it.

I don't own Shugo Chara!

X

"Amu! Amu!"

The rosette looked up to see Rima flying down, Nagihiko close behind her. Rima stopped in front of her and folded her wings back clumsily, unlike the prim Rima Amu knew.

"What's going on?"

"It's Ami. She killed someone."

X

Amu was a dracon; she was half human and half dragon. Which meant she could be in either form if she wanted. Dracons were one of the bigger groups that existed. There were only a handful of humans and the rest were either spirits, nymphs, dryads, fairies, or others. The dracons were the rulers and it only made sense: they were the strongest and the largest.

Between the dracons, however, there were two separate groups; the fire dragons and the water dragons. The whole of dracon race had a war called the Seasons war where the two races were forced to make a compromise. The water dragons would rule the land for 6 months and the fire dragons another 6 months.

The compromise was still going strong, but there had been minor issues along the border recently. Amu could already sense the change in the winds; something big was about to happen. The dracons were getting restless and Amu had recently noticed the citizens of the fire country beginning to sharpen their claws.

Amu was the eldest daughter of the family. She had a younger sister, Ami, who tended to be reckless. This wouldn't have been very important if they hadn't been the king's daughters.

"What do you mean Ami killed someone?" Amu asked, fear filling her stomach.

"It means she killed a water dragon. The King is calling you, we have to go, now!"

As if to make a point, Rima flapped her orange wings once and flew a few feet up. In a matter of seconds, Amu was up in the air next to Rima, a pair of wings having grown from herself as well. Nagihiko flew up to them with ease and they began to fly, skimming the forest trees.

Soon enough, they reached the palace. The palace was a stunning mix of vibrant colors, ranging from yellow to green. It was a magnificent sight to view indeed: the towers rose into the heavens and it was bustling with life. Flowers and trees in the garden could be seen from far away and the palace itself sparkled from the sunlight reflecting off the glassy surfaces.

The three landed in the courtyard and raced up the stairs quickly, their wings disappearing into their backs. When Amu finally got to the door, she could hear someone crying. She thrust the door open and saw her father pacing back and forth with Ami being comforted by her mother.

"What happened?" Amu asked breathlessly.

"Ami killed someone," her father grounded out, stamping the floor angrily.

"It was an accident!" Ami wailed, fresh tears pouring down her white cheeks.

"She was friends with a winter dragon—illegaly if I may add—and while they were playing around, she accidently killed him," her father said bluntly before growling in frustration once more. Amu could see his horns peeking from his hair and gasped lightly. Her father never got this angry.

"And so what happened?"

"The winter dragon king is asking us for a sacrifice—'a life for a life,' he says—but it's ridiculous."

"Why? Who is it?"

"You."

Ami let out another heartwrenching sob at this and she burrowed her head into her arms, wildly sobbing that she didn't mean to, she didn't mean to.

Amu stood, her jaw dropping in shock—or was it fear? She didn't know—and her blood running cold.

"Nagi, call the council."

X

The council was made up of 20 dracons that were elected by the dragons themselves. They were wise, talented, and most important of all, loyal.

"What do you plan on doing, Your Majesty?" Haku asked, wrinkles forming on his forehead.

"I don't know. I wanted your opinion. The only thing I can think of is war. But that is the last resort."

"It is a wise choice, Your Majesty. How about we send a messenger, asking if a treaty of some sort can be created?"

"That seems good, but what kind of treaty?"

"We could offer some of our land," someone said.

"Or we could give them an extra month to rule."

"That's ridiculous!" Amu said, "You know how much work it took our ancestors to fight to rule for six months!"

"My daughter is right. The best we could do is offer some land. Nagi, send a messenger out to the Winter Kingdom."

And so the decision was made.

The only thing left was to wait.

X

Ikuto sighed, propping his legs up and leaning back.

"Yo!" a voice said, and a mop of touseled brown hair came into his view.

"Ugh, shove off Kukai," Ikuto said, unamused.

"Oh, come on Ikuto. I didn't even do anything yet!"

"We're on the brink of war Kukai," he warned.

"What? We just need to get the princess from the summer kingdom, where's the war in that?"

Ikuto rolled his eyes.

"Okay, look. Obviously the summer king won't want to give up his daughter so easily so we'll probably end up in a war. We should being to start training."

"Oh. But we train every day!"

"Not us. The troops. The army. They aren't ready."

"Ah."

Silent ensued as Kukai tried to take in the information. Ikuto waited patiently.

"OH! WE HAVE TO GET READY!" Kukai shouted, finally understanding.

"Ikuto?" A voice echoed from the hallway outside. The door was flung opened and Utau walked in, dressed in a simple, long, icy blue gown. Ikuto got up, surprised to see her wearing something so formal.

"Is something happening? Why are you dressed so…," he wrinkled his nose, "formally?"

"Apparently, an envoy is coming from the summer kingdom. Get dressed. Father wants you there for whatever decision they make."

Utau's gaze flitted over to Kukai and the faintest pink tinged her cheeks.

"You, are coming with me," she said, and Kukai smiled at her crookedly before walking out with her. Ikuto rolled his eyes; if he heard a moan in Kukai's bedroom one more time, he was going to find some dryads and shove them into his room. The dryads would totally make a ruckus when they saw the complete disorganization. He would definitely get a chuckle out of that one.

Ikuto got up and changed into a navy blue suit before walking down the corridors and into the large throne room. Aruto was tapping his fingernails against the armrest impatiently, wearing his formal robes and crown. Souko was gently whispering into his ear, her arms around his shoulders in an attempt to calm him down. She too was dressed in a deep azure, her gown swishing across the floor, the sounds somehow calming Aruto's frayed nerves. The council filed in one by one, muttering and arguing over political matters, and no doubt about the whole ordeal.

"Your majesty! The envoy is here!" The voices died down quickly and they expectantly stared at the majestic doors.

"Let him in."

The doors opened slowly, revealing a tall man wearing bright red armor. A red flag was strapped to his back to symbolize his job and he walked in. He stiffly bowed once before straightening up once more to deliver his message.

"The King of the Kingdom of Fire, King Hikaru has requested a treaty. He is offering parts of the Kingdom instead of the sacrifice of the Princess."

Murmurs ran through the hall as everyone contemplated the idea. It seemed to be a somewhat fair deal, but they had to admit the Fire Kingdom would get the better end of the stick. The messenger bowed once more and walked out into the waiting room, where he would receive the message he would send back.

"Your majesty! This seems to be a fair trade."

"I agree, Your Majesty."

Voices piped in, voicing their opinion, but Ikuto took one look at his father and realized the decision was made.

"No. Had it been more, I wouldn't have complained. But land?" he scoffed, "We have land. Are we beggars? No. Akio, send King Hikaru the head of the envoy."

Gasps filled the room. It was common policy to return the envoy unharmed; what was he planning?

"Aruto, dear. Wouldn't you reconsider this?" Souko asked, getting up.

"No. My decision is made. And you may all go." The council left wordlessly but Ikuto stayed behind with his mother.

"Father?"

"Yes?"

"May I know the reasons behind your decision?"

"It is simple. I want the better end." Ikuto opened his mouth to argue but he was dismissed with a wave of his hand. He looked to his mother and she returned his gaze worriedly. 'I'll try,' she mouthed. Ikuto nodded and returned to his chambers.

Aruto had always been temperable, but he was rational and smart. Something was off. He would never act so rashly and harshly. The dragon that had died wasn't even someone too close to the King.

Ikuto rubbed his temples and sighed. He brushed the problem off quickly; he would have to get ready.

A war would begin soon.

X

A/N: What do you think? Oh, and for those who are confused: Ikuto's parents will be Ikuto's parents here but for Amu, I'm making OCs for her parents because, lets just try to imagine them as Kings and Queens. I honestly can't, haha. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed!

Any comments?

Review~