Dear Queen Coral,

It has come to my attention that our tribes have been at each other's throats over some border disputes that were made during the Brightest Night War, when my mother was the Queen of the Skywings. I hope to schedule a meeting between us sometime in the new future, to resolve these difficulties. I have lately been free on the first day of each new moon, and hope that this is a free day for a meeting. As I was the one to suggest the time for the meeting, I believe that it would only be proper for you to choose who's palace we would meet at.

Best of hopes,

Queen Ruby of the Skywings

Dear Queen Ruby,

I have been thinking the same thing about the border troubles; I know that our tribes have not forgiven each other and need a strong alliance to stop their constant raids— and I know it is not only your Skywings, but my Seawing subjects that have been being overly aggressive. I too believe that if our two tribes were to create an alliance, the whole of Pyrrhia would fear to attack but one of our dragons. And since you have so generously given me a choice, I would like to meet at my palace, on the day that you have named.

Best wishes,

Queen Coral of the Seawings

Dear Queen Coral,

I appreciate your acceptance of my proposed day, and shall happily agree to meeting at your palace. I believe that if both of us put enough effort on either side of the border, the dragons will put up their weapons and cease their fighting. I hope that we both shall be successful.

Thank you,

Queen Ruby

Dear Queen Ruby,

I have come to the awareness of the fact that you have a son named Cliff. It is my understanding that sons are, generally, less valued because of their lack of potential for the throne. I have a daughter by the name of Auklet— I am willing to marry her to your son, Prince Cliff, to strengthen our alliance. I trust that you shall see the sense in this and comply with my request.

Thank you,

Queen Coral

Dear Queen Coral,

I do not presume to correct you in any way. But I do love my son as much as any daughter as I will ever bear. However much I love him, you are correct in that sons are not as prized as daughters because of the ascent to the throne. I am willing to marry Prince Cliff to your daughter Princess Auklet, but they should not know of it until they are of age.

Thank you,

Queen Ruby

"Auklet, come here!" Queen Coral called. "Mother, I'm right here." Auklet complained, as Coral tugged her harness so she was dragged through the water to her mother. "Darling, Ruby and I—"

"Ruby, the Skywing queen?" Auklet asked, her annoyance forgotten.

"Yes, Queen Ruby—"

"Weren't the Skywings the dragons who attacked us in the war? Aren't we supposed to not like them anymore? Because Anemone said theys are all really mean and stupid and we shouldn't be friends with them."

"Now, darling, that was a long time ago, and Ruby and I are friends now. Anyway, it was Scarlet, the old queen, who attacked us, not Ruby. Ruby is much nicer than Scarlet." Coral reassured her daughter. "So anyway, Ruby and I are having a meeting here in our castle. Ruby is bringing her son, Prince Cliff, and he is… very nice."

"What is your meeting about?" Auklet asked suspiciously, intuitively thinking that it had to do with her.

"Nothing to worry about, darling. We will just be talking about an alliance that our tribe and Ruby's tribe want to have, and some border issues that we're working on since the war." Coral said evasively. Then a door slammed somewhere in the palace, and a guard came into the room. "They're here, your Majesties." he said, bowing low.

"Good!" Queen Coral said excitedly, clapping her talons together. "Come here, my darling," she said to Auklet (who was literally sitting right beside her). "You will be playing with Prince Cliff through the duration of our meeting, and I want you to be very polite and kind to him. Perhaps you can show him your favorite cave—"

"Mother, he can't swim!" Auklet cried, giggling.

"Oh— er— well, I suppose— but you can still play together." Coral said, embarrassed.

"How old is he, Mother?" asked Auklet, snuggling into her mother's side.

Slight relief colored Coral's expression as the conversation veered to a more agreeable note. "Just your age, darling! I think you'll be absolutely perfect together."

"But it's just one meeting, right?" Auklet asked, confused.

"Oh yes… of course." said Queen Coral, laughing nervously. Then the doors swung smoothly open, and the young blood-red queen and her son entered. Everyone in the room bowed, not exactly sure whether they were showing allegiance, respect, both, or neither— to either queen. But the queens and their dragonets stood tall, for they were equals and the queens would never have their beloved children acting like their subjects.

"Good morning, Queen Ruby, Prince Cliff." Coral said with dignity, brushing off her earlier embarrassment.

"Good morning, Queen Coral, Princess Auklet." Ruby responded in the same tone of voice, inclining her head to acknowledge the other royals. Their guards were staring daggers at each other.

"All right, both of you! Prince Cliff Auklet, you may go explore, play, do as you wish, but pase don't leave the castle." Queen Coral said briskly, nodding at two guards. Ruby did the same, and two Skywings and two Seawings followed the dragonets as they scampered away.

"My name is Auklet," the little princess said to Cliff, raising her chin as if daring him to challenge her on that fact.

"I know. My name is Prince Cliff," Cliff responded.

"Prince is not your name,," Auklet said exasperatedly, rolling her eyes. "Your name is Cliff. My name is Auklet. You are a prince and I am a princess."

"Yes… okay. My name is Cliff." Cliff said, grinning a little.

Auklet returned his smile, then she asked him, "Do you want to—" then she leaned in a bit, and whispered. "—get away from our guards?"

"You can do that?" Cliff whispered incredulously. "My mother would never let me do it!"

"We don't ask, silly." Auklet said, a bit condescendingly. "We just go. We swim and fly and walk and sneak and crawl until they can't find us anymore."