Prologue
A Seawing was patrolling the ocean in his usual spot. He always went here to stop and admire the beauty of his kingdom. He had stopped at one of the islands, like he usually does, when he saw something unusual. He saw a dragon, black as night lying on the beach of another island not too far away. He jumped back into the water and swam over there. He came to the beach and saw the dragon was unconscious. He walked over to her. She was a Nightwing. This dragon seems almost starved. he thought. What is she doing here? Where did she come from? He looked more closely at her. Is she ok? "Hey!" he poked the Nightwing who grunted. "Are you ok?"
"If you want me off this island, you are going have to throw me off Seawing." the Nightwing said weakly. "This is the best sleep I've had in a while."
"What are you doing here?" the Seawing questioned.
"Does that really matter?" she responded. "I'm sure you are here to get rid of me or take me to your Queen. I honestly don't care either way. As long as I get, food, I'll play the game."
"I'm not here to do either of those things." The Seawing stated. "I just want to see if you needed help. You said something about food? Wait here!" The Seawing bounded to the water as the Nightwing slightly laughed and muttered "As if I have a choice." He returned a few minutes later with a few fish. She had fallen back asleep. He poked her again.
"Don't you dragons ever sleep around here?" she yawned as she looked at the fish.
"It's the middle of the day! What do you mean sleep?" the Seawing exclaimed.
She ignored this remark. "Alright Seawing. What's the trick here?" the Nightwing responded.
"I'm sorry. What do you mean?" the Seawing replied.
"What is in exchange for the fish?" she said. "There's always a catch."
"Catch?" he questioned, confused. "There is no catch. You said you were hungry, and you looked starved. I decided to help."
"No dragon helps another because it's the right thing to do." the Nightwing sighed.
The Seawing took a noble stance. "Well this one does!" he exclaimed in his royal voice. The Nightwing chuckled. "Eat. I insist. You'll feel better." The Nightwing looked at the fish for a little longer before hungrily devouring it. "Are you still hungry? I can get more." Kelp asked once she finished.
"No. That won't be necessary." the Nightwing responded. "So, who are you, Seawing?"
"I am Prince Kelp of the Seawings!" the Seawing returned to his mocking stance. "The smartest, handsomest, and noblest of all the royalty in the Seawing family line!"
"Obviously the most humble, too." The Nightwing laughed. Kelp joined her in laughter.
"That was pretty good." Kelp admitted. "So, what is your name? Or would you prefer to keep that a mystery since you are a Nightwing?"
The Nightwing smiled. "Well, I don't have an impressive title like 'Prince of the Seawings' or anything, but my name is Fierceheart."
"Ah. So, why Fierceheart?" Kelp questioned.
"I could ask you the same thing for 'Kelp'." Fierceheart countered.
There was a pause. Kelp smiled. "Alright." he chuckled. "I'll tell first." He turned to show her his side and indicated to the longs green stripes running down his body. "Makes sense right?"
"I suppose." Fierceheart agreed.
"Alright. Your turn." Kelp smiled. "And don't think you are going to worm you way out of this."
"I'm not trying to worm may way out!" Fierceheart exclaimed.
"Suuuurrreee you aren't." Kelp responded as Fierceheart smiled. "If you're not, then what is it?"
"Alright." Fierceheart said. "I was given this name in hopes that I would be a fierce, strong Nightwing. Didn't entirely live up to it."
"I see." Kelp realized he should get back on patrol. "Oh. I got to resume my patrol. I'll check on you again tomorrow if you are still here."
"We'll see." The Nightwing stated. Kelp started to leave. "Oh! Kelp!" he turned around. "Thank you for the fish."
Kelp smiled. "Now that wasn't so hard was it?" He jumped into the water.
Kelp had come to the island for four days before he noticed something. She was on a haunted island. Kelp rushed onto the beach startling the Nightwing.
"What's wrong?" Fierceheart asked. "Are more Seawings coming or something?"
"No! Worse!" Kelp exclaimed. He grabbed one of FIerceheart's claws and started trying to tug her towards the water. "We have to get you off this island."
Fierceheart slipped her claw from Kelp. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on."
"You are on a cursed island!" Kelp explained. "This is where Albatross murdered most of the Seawing family!"
"That's the panic?" Fierceheart asked with an amused look on her face. "Really?"
"This is serious!" Kelp argued.
"If you say so." Fierceheart chuckled as she sat back down. "Even if I wanted to leave, I can't. I'm still a little too weak to travel." This was a lie. Fierceheart wasn't worried about her strength. She had just enjoyed the Seawing's company and wanted to stay with him longer.
"Fine, but the second you have the strength, you need to move." Kelp said as he looked around the island. He expected some specter to appear. "I'll get you some more food." He ran back to the ocean and jumped into the water. After two days, the Nightwing, to Kelp's relief, agreed to leave. Kelp took her to the mainland.
"Thanks for all your help." Fierceheart said as she landed.
"No problem. Honestly." Kelp responded as he landed next to her. There was a small awkward pause. "Ssssooooo. Are you going to head home now?"
"There is no home for me." Fierceheart responded.
"I'm sure the Nightwings would welcome you back. I think saying you have no home is a little extreme." Kelp comforted.
"No." Fierceheart responded. "That's not the problem. We live on a volcanic island. The island is literally choking the life out of my tribe. The volcano is producing smoke that the entire tribe has to inhale. It burns our lungs, our eyes, and our throats. It hurts to live. I left because I wanted something better. Existence shouldn't mean suffering. I flew for three days straight until I found a small island. I stopped and continued flying. Another two days later, I end up on another island. I fell asleep there. That is where you found me."
"I see." Kelp responded sympathetically. "I'm sorry your tribe is in such a heated situation."
"Really?" Fierceheart questioned in an annoyed voice. "A paronomasia after I talk about the suffering of my tribe?"
"A what? That was a pun." Kelp responded.
"Same thing." Fierceheart sighed.
"Oh. Anyways, I didn't do it out of disrespect. Just did it to take your mind off the subject." Kelp stated awkwardly. "Looked like it was depressing you."
"That's because it is a depressing subject." Fierceheart replied.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Kelp apologized.
"It's fine." Fierceheart sighed. "I'm not going back. I can't'."
"Have you thought about the Talons of Peace then?" Kelp suggested. "They'll probably accept you."
"Possibly." She thought for a second. "Kelp. Would you mind coming back here every once in a while?" Fierceheart requested. "I really enjoy your company."
Kelp had enjoyed spending time with her, too. It had become the highlight of his day. He smiled. "I'll come back every night. I promise."
"I don't want you to strain yourself. I also don't want you to get in trouble." Fierceheart fretted.
"It'll be fine." Kelp soothed. "I'll be careful."
They continued to meet for two weeks until one day Kelp's friend burst into his room.
"Kelp! How could you?" his friend exclaimed in Aquatic. "How could you betray us?"
"Wait. What do you mean? I haven't betrayed the Seawings!" Kelp responded, astonished.
"Don't lie! Moss saw you leaving yesterday and followed you. He saw you giving our secrets to that Nightwing!" his friend flashed.
"Moss is an idiot! You know that." Kelp put his claws on his friend's shoulders. "I haven't told her any secrets. You have to believe me."
"Then what are you doing visiting her?" his friend fired back. Kelp sat there for a little staring at his friend. "Well?"
Kelp sighed and after a slight pause, he dimly flashed, "I love her." He never said it out loud before.
His friend gave him a confused look. "What?"
"I love her." Kelp flashed again this time brighter. "I know it's strange, but I do. I don't want to leave her."
"And you're telling the truth?" his friend asked with a stern look on his face.
"As the most honorable and noble dragon in the Seawing Kingdom, I swear I am not lying." Kelp said as he put a talon over his heart and made two crossing motions. "Cross my heart."
His friend chuckled a little. "Still an idiot even when being threatened by arrest and execution." his friend smiled.
"So you believe me?" Kelp grinned.
"Of course I do. You have never lead me astray before." his friend responded. "But you might want to leave now. Won't be long before the guards arrive."
Kelp hugged him. "You are the best friend ever, Reef."
"I'll try to clear your name. Just stay safe. I'll leave you a note by the Mudwing border where we fought the Skywings a few months back." Reef flashed.
"Okay. Take care Reef! Hope to see you again soon."
Kelp meet up with Fierceheart. They decided to head to the Talons of Peace. The two were welcomed there. They settled down with the Talons of Peace for a few months before deciding to have an egg. This joyful moment in their life would be short lived for something terrible was coming- Morrowseer. When Morrowseer arrived at the Talons of Peace to deliver the back-up Nightwing prophecy dragon, he discovered that Fierceheart was there and had an egg with a Seawing.
"Only a few more months." Fierceheart smiled as she looked at the egg. "Do you think it will be male or female?"
"I don't care. Whichever one, he or she will be loved no matter what." Kelp said as he walked to her.
"It still fun." she smiled at him. "I think it'll be male."
"What makes you think that?" Kelp asked.
Fierceheart shrugged. "Call it 'mother's intuition'."
"I think your Nightwing is most certainly showing. You think you know best." he teased.
"I think it won't matter either way." a mysterious voice said from behind. Both parents turned around. "Hello Fierceheart."
"Morrowseer." Fierceheart growled. "What are you doing here?"
"Just finishing up some Nightwing business. Better question: What are you doing tainting the Nightwing bloodline?" Morrowseer responded.
"That is none of your concern. Leave now." Fierceheart growled. She took a defensive position in front of the egg as did Kelp.
"This is your only warning Fierceheart. Step aside. I don't wish to spill Nightwing blood." Morrowseer frowned.
"And this is your only warning to leave before we do Pyrrhia a favor." Fierceheart spit.
Morrowseer slashed at Fierceheart. She dodge as Kelp sliced at Morrowseer. Morrowseer jumped back. Fierceheart then sliced at his left. Morrowseer saw and grabbed her. He threw her at the wall. Kelp then slashed Morrowseer's chest causing shallow cuts. Morrowseer attacked back. Kelp started dodging his attacks, but one got through. Morrowseer slashed Kelp in the face. At the same time, Morrowseer felt a sharp pain on the end his tail. He turned around to see Fierceheart biting it. He kicked her off. Then Kelp grabbed Morrowseer, but he was quickly thrown at Fierceheart. They crashed into each other. Kelp helped her up. They both tackled Morrowseer as he rushed for the egg.
Fierceheart knew this battle wasn't going to end well. Even with the both of them working together, this was a losing battle. Morrowseer was stronger and more skilled than the both of them. She thought some of her ribs were broken, and Kelp was starting to limp and he was leaning off one leg.
"Kelp." Fierceheart said as she and Kelp held down Morrowseer. "Take the egg and my necklace and run!"
"What?!" Kelp exclaimed. "I'm not going to leave you!"
"We aren't going to win this battle. Take them and run! Keep the egg safe." Fierceheart pleaded.
Kelp sat there with wide eyes for a little. "Promise me I'll see you again." Kelp demanded.
"We'll meet again." She put her snout to his and handed him her necklace. "I promise."
Kelp rushed off of Morrowseer, grabbed the egg, and ran out the door. Morrowseer pushed Fierceheart off of him and looked at the door. "You won't find him Morrowseer. You failed." Fierceheart smiled.
"That opportunity will pop up again. You think it's safe?" Morrowseer laughed. "Wait until Burn gets word of it. There will be a new Seawing/Nightwing hybrid exhibit in her collection."
Fierceheart growled and attacked Morrowseer again. They dodged each other's attacks for a little. Fierceheart eventually sliced his face. Morrowseer then hit her in the chest. She knew something broke this time. She stumbled and Morrowseer sliced her face. She fell and Morrowseer kicked her. She lied there gasping for a little. She could hear Morrowseer trying to leave to pursue Kelp. No! Not yet! She bit the end of his tail again. Morrowseer roared.
"Again!?" he growled. He turned to attack her, but she was already up and dodged. She tripped him and he hit his head on the wall. There, he lied still. Fierceheart smiled. Her ribs where killing her and the scratches were painfully throbbing, but she had an egg to take care of. She was almost to the door when Morrowseer grabbed her from behind.
"You aren't going anywhere!" Morrowseer roared. She couldn't turn and attack him. She started flailing and roaring in frustration. Morrowseer hit her hard on the top of her head. Her vision went blurry and her movements turned sluggish. He let her go and walked to the front of her as she fell. She was trying to crawl out the door. Morrowseer picked her up again. "This is what happens to Nightwings who put their self above the tribe's wellbeing." Morrowseer smiled and snapped her neck.
Around this same time, Kelp had a feeling like the world just crashed down around him while he was escaping. He found a good hiding spot and collapsed. He had a feeling that he wouldn't be seeing his love again. Devastated, he sobbed in the cave. After a few moments, he remembered the whole reason she sacrificed herself. He drew the egg towards him and said, "Don't worry Fierceheart. As long as I live, I will protect our egg. I will make sure he knows of you and how much you loved him. I will make sure he will be the happiest dragon in all of Pyrrhia."
After about a year of taking care of the egg, it started to hatch. Kelp had been waiting for this day. He was about to meet his first and only dragonet. He had tried to do as Fierceheart had asked. He put the egg out in the moonlight, but it was a cloudy night so only some of the moonlight touched the egg. I wish the night was less cloudy. I'm sorry Fierceheart. I'm doing my best. He watched as the egg started to slowly break. After a while of great anticipation, the dragonet emerged. He looked like his father, but he did have some of his mother's features. He had black scales with dark purple under-scales, blue webs, and blueish-greenish luminescent scales; his face had some of his mother's features; he had gills so most likely he couldn't breathe fire; he looked like he had a bit more of a Nightwing physique even though he looked like a Seawing. He was a mix of them. Kelp smiled at his son. He's perfect. Kelp thought. And then he thought of the perfect name. I hope you approve of this name Fierceheart. The dragonet looked at him. "Hello there Abyss." Kelp smiled. "I'm your father and I'll always be here for you."