Hello! Welcome, boys and girls and dragons and whatever else you identify yourselves as, to, another SIDE STORY OF WINGS OF FIRE! XD I'm sorry I haven't updated in forever, it's been a crazy while. Also, happy 2015! Hopefully, you'll see alot of me. So, before I start this little short story, I wanna say something: Thank you. This has become my most popular fanfiction, which is kinda sucky being how this was the one I just wrote down randomly one day and didn't give much effort into. We have over 100 reviews, which, is amazing for me. You're reviews have all been seen and taken into account, and I still have to update a few chapters. It's alot of work. But, I'm not complaining, because this is an awesome series with an awesome fanbase.

GET ON WITH IT ANNIE!

Right, so, as you hopefully all know, Moon Rising has been released. As expected, it's amazing. I love all the characters, I love the plot, I love how Tui's using things she left hanging in the last installment. Ugh, it's just too amazing. So! I got inspired for a side story-a tale of history, taking us back nearly two thousand years ago-when animus magic was considered a gift, and a certain Seawing had the brilliant idea to create the ultimate pavilion in the Summer Palace...

The entire palace rumbled. The lake in the middle of the palace let out ripples that soon descended into small, choppy waves. Dragons floating on the surface of the lake frowned nervously and took to the air, staggering a bit-as going from floating to flying was sometimes a difficult task. One-a a dark blue dragon with green scales freckling across her snout, flew up to join Paddlefish. She blundered straight into him, knocking him back into the cave. They rolled together, their talons and tails and wings a mess. Finally, Paddlefish felt his head bump the end of the cave and they stopped.

Paddlefish found Lamprey lying against his chest. Her wings folded over his, just a tad bit smaller, her talons were clasped against his ribs. Paddlefish froze, his heart thumping so loudly he was sure she could hear it. Lamprey groaned and lifted her head. The lack of light made it impossible to see anything but their silhouettes, so Lamprey set her scales alight. In Aquatic, she was signalling the word "light" over and over repeatedly. Lamprey had a knack for doing that. When she realized what position they were in, she let out a startled yelp and desperately tried to back off Paddlefish. Now, she was flashing "embarrassed" a million times.

"Oh, oh by all the waves-ugh, I'm sorry Paddlefish! I just saw you and got worried and wanted to be next to you and-" at her words, the pattern brightened even more. She was practically screaming it, and it hurt his eyes.

"Lamprey-" He was cut off with a grunt as her hind talon stepped on his stomach. She gasped and stepped off carefully. "Lamprey, please-you're hurting my eyes."

Lamprey took a moment to calm herself, her scales's glow reducing to a bearable level. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

Her whisper reminded Paddlefish they had to be quiet. Pond scum like him were not allowed in the Summer Palace-he was supposed to be hiding.

Although, he was pretty sure if Lamprey wildly flying into him wasn't enough, the dragons would have seen the light from Lamprey.

Lamprey tried once again, more carefully, to slide free of Paddlefish. At first, she couldn't find the rock beneath them. His wings were too large, she ended up stepping on them. When he winced, her lights flashed the word "sorry" once, before continuing with their "embarrassed" pattern. Her scales were too wet. Paddlefish tried to help, pushing her talons away from his.

After at least a three minute, wordless struggle, both managed to get to their feet. Both were a bit flushed, but the only one who could really tell was Paddlefish thanks to her mindless Aquatic.

"Come on. Let's see if anything has happened yet." Paddlefish finally murmured.

Lamprey nodded. At once, she flicked off her scales. As one, although neither noticed, they walked to the entrance of the cave. Paddlefish lowered his head while Lamprey stood tall.

Outside, the only visible difference that had really happened was the waves were now sloshing against the banks of the lake. More dragons had taken shelter on the caves, muttering incoherently.

"What do you think of the idea?" Lamprey asked. Paddlefish didn't need her scales to tell how nervous she was. Her light blue eyes scanned the Palace.

Paddlefish shrugged. "Dunno. Isn't Albatross...kinda going mad?"

Lamprey looked at him. "Is that what the citizens are saying?"

Paddlefish nodded. "They say he's got this wild look in his eyes."

Lamprey thought about that. She tilted her head down when she really started to think-something Paddlefish adored. He wished desperately they could be together. Unfortunately, it was frowned upon-Royals falling for "pond scum".

Paddlefish flicked his tail. It wasn't fair. Paddlefish had been born at the bottom of the sea. All his life, his family and himself had to struggle to get by. Whether by stealing, selling, or any other means. Paddlefish had met Lamprey that way-his brother had gone too far. He had kidnapped the niece of the Queen-and for which, he was executed. Lamprey, the first time Paddlefish had laid eyes on her, had been tied up by many ropes of seaweed. It was pitiful, but Lamprey had proven how strong she was by nearly killing Paddlefish.

Paddlefish found it funny how a mere five years later, Lamprey was helping him sneak into the Summer Palace to witness things like this. He knew all about the inner workings of the castle, and how the monarchy worked, and even some secrets he shouldn't have ever known. But Lamprey trusted him, and Paddlefish always swore he would never, ever, betray her.

"Oh, oh, look! Here's Albatross now." She said, her head tilting up.

Paddlefish lifted his head a bit, risking sight.

Albatross radiated royalty. He rose from the middle of the lake, water droplets sliding down his wings and talons back into the water. The water he misplaced even flowed out across the water in two smooth waves-heading in opposite directions. His scales were pure white-like an Icewing, only with the body build of a Seawing. . Even the water he had misplaced spread out in two, perfect waves. As he flicked his head towards his tail-towards the water, he flashed his royal patterns under his wings.

But Paddlefish thought he saw something in Albatross's pure blue eyes. They were vibrating madly.

And then, Albatross flew up so quickly Paddlefish didn't even see it. A loud, grinding sound rumbled across the Palace. Lamprey grabbed his talon, in fear or excitement, he couldn't tell. Ether way, he was happy.

Directly where Albatross had first emerged from the salty waters, a stone circle appeared. On top of it, a small blue pearl tied with vines. Slowly, the circle spread out, pushing aside the water. To Paddlefish's astonishment, more vines snapped from the water and wrapped around the stone. It spread farther and wider, until it was easily big enough for twenty dragons to stand comfortably.

It began to spin, slowly, as it was lifted out of the water slowly. Water that had sloshed over the top of it slowly dripped off. Albatross landed on top of it. At his touch, the start of the stone pavilion seemed to grow faster. Albatross raised his voice. "Let this Stone Pavillion be a symbol of the Seawing's power!" He thundered. His voice was commanding, but yet...shaky. Unstable. It was as if he was about to laugh. "I have enchanted it to grow..." His voice grew very hoarse and he had to stop. He took a breath then continued as if nothing had happened. "...to grow like the very plants now surrounding it!"

All around the Palace, the Seawings began to applause and cheer. Lamprey jumped up and down, next to Paddlefish. She clapped desperately, then took a breath. She let out a thundering roar.

Paddlefish felt a smile tug at his lips. Risking being seen, he stood next to Lamprey. In a stance similar to her own, he took a breath and let out his own roar. He was not the only one. Before he knew it, the entire Palace was filled with only the roars of Seawings. For the first time, Paddlefish felt united with his kingdom. For once, it didn't matter that he was born in the deeper parts of the sea. And for once, he felt a love for his tribe-his home, that he could not explain. All of this for one sweet, perfect moment.

But then a scream tore through the air.

All of the dragons roars were immediately silenced by maniacal laughter. Paddlefish looked down, dread settling in his stomach.

During some point of their celebration, the Queen had flown up to the pavilion to stand next to Albatross. Probably to thank him, but now she was backing away rapidly. A wide gash in her flank was spilling blood all over the still spinning, still growing pavillion. She was shaking. The pearls wrapped around her horns were rattling with her movements.

Albatross stalked after her like he was on a hunt. Only his stance was horrifying. It was perfect, but his head was tilted. His eyes were glazed over, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. As Paddlefish watched, his back arched up and his front legs stopped moving. However, his back legs skittered across the pavilion, his tail whipping around crazily.

A shudder ran through Paddlefish-he'd seen drawings of horribly disfigured dragons-dragons that had longer backs then necks, and their legs were stubby and far apart. Albatross was now taking the form of that dragon, just in the way his back legs seemed to be trying to move him. But his front legs stayed still.

"Albatross!" The Queen cried, desperation and fear ruling her voice. "Albatross, please!"

Paddlefish couldn't blame her for feeling so much fright. To be underneath that crazed stare-Paddlefish's wings twitched in fear.

Albatross let out another crazy laugh. "What are the Seawings without their Queen?" He rasped. "What what what what what?" He laughed again.

Lamprey screamed. "No!" Just as he lunged. Albatross didn't use his talons. He bit down on the neck of the Queen, snapping his jaws so hard Paddlefish could see the light leave the Queen's terrified eyes.

Her head plopped to the ground of the pavilion, the pearls breaking and scattering to the stone pavilion. Amazingly enough, the stone pavilion suddenly had crevasses. They caught the pearls and closed around them, locking them into the stone. It was beautiful, but Paddlefish was disrupted as he heard retching.

Lamprey was throwing up over the side of the cave, and she wasn't alone. Paddlefish looked at Albatross again and felt his own lunch start to fight it's way up his throat. He swallowed and looked away, choosing instead to run his talons over Lamprey's wings soothingly. "Just don't look." He advised. "Don't look."

The Seawings were so disgusted-because Albatross was now tearing apart the carcass of their Queen. From what Paddlefish had glimpsed, Albatross was digging in the carcass like it was dirt, tossing aside organs, bits of scales, flesh, and blood. Paddlefish had even seen him press his chest and front talons into the body, crushing it beneath him before he looked away.

Albatross was laughing all the way through.

Lamprey finished vomiting, spitting out some bile. "It's horrible." She sobbed, spitting.

"I know, I know." Paddlefish soothed. "We need to get-"

But just then Albatross's laugh was cut off abruptly.

Paddlefish dared a look over. He avoided looking at the Queen's body, and instead saw that Albatross had been knocked aside by his own daughter.

Her scales were a light blue, but not white. Next to her, stood her husband. The husband looked bristled, while she looked scared and yet determined. "Stop it, father! What have you done?" Her voice screamed it so loud Paddlefish winced and a new wave of vomit came from Lamprey.

"What is wrong with you?" Her husband added, in a only slightly less loud voice.

Albatross scrambled to his feet. His neck was doing something weird-throwing his head in a circle direction. His tail lashed so hard it actually dis-balanced him. He laughed again, cocking his head as it moved. "Me?! ME?! " With that, he lunged again.

His daughter met him with a snarl in mid air. She jumped over him and spread her wings menacingly. Her scales flashed some rather rude words, before she landed on Albatross's back with a thump. But Albatross was not fazed. He curled his wings in and rolled, knocking her off her feet.

"No!" Her husband lunged forward, but was knocked away by Albatross's wings as he sprang up and lunged at his daughter.

"Lamprey, look away-" Paddlefish covered Lamprey's eyes and closed his just as he heard a sickening rip.

Lamprey felt warm and she leaned into Paddlefish as her husband screamed in fury and grief. "Why?" She murmured. "Why is he-?"

"I don't know. I don't know." Paddlefish murmured. He felt fear rippling through his scales, and he never wanted anything more than to dive into the ocean and swim away-as far away as he could.

"Enough!"

He heard battle cries. The knights were trying to pin down Albatross.

He didn't watch. He didn't need to. He simply held Lamprey as she sobbed, and kept his eyes shut. Listening to Albatross disembowel and destroy however many dragons had dared challenge him, he had a horrifying thought that he would fly up and kill Lamprey and him as well.

Over my dead body. Paddlefish thought with a snarl.

Lamprey finally took a huge breath. "I can't take this." She ripped away from Paddlefish.

Paddlefish opened his eyes and looked at her.

Lamprey's scales were flashing angrily. He caught cuss words, along with words like "enemy", "traitor", "murderer", "blood", and "kill".

"Lamprey, wait, don't!" But his words were wasted as the niece of the Queen launched out of her cave. She swung around the Palace, her head dipping in tunnels to look for something.

Meanwhile, on the pavilion, a total of nine dragons lie dead around Albatross. By now, it wasn't water dripping from the still growing pavilion, it was blood. Albatross was laughing hysterically, splashing and floundering in the blood pools. It was sickening.

"Albatross!" He heard a mighty yell and looked down just in time to see Albatross's grandson and granddaughter emerge from the water. "Stop this!" They flew up, and Paddlefish could see both of them lighten with sickness at the sight. They were floating right in front of him, watching the spinning pavilion still grow taller.

Albatross opened his wings towards them. "Ah, Pearl and Fathom. What a wonderful surprise!" He laughed maniacally again. His talons slipped in the blood and he fell, laughing hysterically.

"What has happened to you?" Pearl demanded, leaning backwards with her snout wrinkled in disgust.

"It's the animus magic." Fathom realized. He looked towards his sister, and that's when Albatross lunged.

"Look out!" Paddlefish yelled. Without really thinking, he dived out of the cave and smashed headfirst into Albatross's side. Perhaps it was because he was closest, but Paddlefish thought about how many royal heirs he had already killed.

Albatross let out a roar of rage as he fell back and smacked into the water.

"Paddlefish!" Suddenly Lamprey was winging over to him, colliding into him in mid air. "Do you have fish in your brains?!" She screamed. "You could have been killed!" She clutched his talons in hers, and he just had enough time to notice the narwhal spear in her grasp before Fathom cleared his throat.

"Lamprey, who is this?"

"Not," Pearl interrupted, giving her brother a glare. "that we aren't thankful for him saving Fathom's life."

Fathom nodded, but looked at Paddlefish.

Paddlefish's chest tightened.

Just then a massive splash rose up and Paddlefish was sent spinning as a tail smashed into the side of his ribs. He spun until he hit the top of the pavilion. He rolled and then stopped in the middle. He felt like he was lying on something squishy, and with a shudder of disgust he realized it was the Queen's liver. He rolled off it immediately, standing up. He shook, spattering blood everywhere.

The smell of dragon flesh destroyed his nose. He couldn't breathe, his gills flared in rebellion.

But then Albatross was there, in front of him. He stepped on a poor knight's body without even a glance down. He cocked his head wildly again, his eyes still glazed. Like with the Queen, his hind legs scrambled again while his front remained planted.

I was right, it's horrifying to be under the gaze of these eyes. He thought, backing away.

Albatross smiled, his head lifting in a series of seizures. "Ah, so you're Lamprey's lover. We've been wondering who she's gone starry-gazed for."

Common sense returning to Paddlefish at the mention of her name, he spread his wings and took to the air, only to be slammed to the ground again when Albatross grabbed his tail.

"Oho! And where did you think you were going?"

He cackled again, standing over Paddlefish. Paddlefish's heart hurt from thumping so loudly. He thought, this is it. This is where I'm going to die.

And as Albatross came boring down on him, Lamprey was there.

"Lamp-!" His shriek was cut off by Albatross's.

Paddlefish squirmed to the side and what he saw made him gasp. Lamprey had stuck her spear into his chest deeply. She stared down at him, disgust lining her features. Her scales flashed dark words. "You. Are. Not. Albatross." She growled. She thrust the spear in deeper, but Albatross rose to meet it, for some reason. "And. You. Will. Not. TOUCH. Paddlefish." With that, she thrust the spear in to the very end, pressing it in with her palm.

Albatross had a spasm, then his eyes glazed over and he dropped to the side of the pavilion. He splashed in a puddle of blood, his eyes blank.

They were sitting in a cave above water, watching the rain pour down relentlessly. Lighting flashed and thunder boomed. Lamprey sighed and lifted her head from their tight ball of intertwined scales.

It had been a month since she had killed Albatross. Since that month, Queen Pearl had taken over the kingdom. Fathom had sworn never to use his powers, and the stone pavilion had grown a bit more. The legend of Albatross haunted nearly all the Seawings.

Lamprey looked down at the dragon sleeping soundly next to her. She remembered how terrified she had been. How horrible she had felt, watching him stare up at Albatross in complete fear while he was covered in other dragon's blood. It was a sight she never wanted to see again. Her talons twitched. She remembered the feeling of feeling Albatross's last heartbeats through the spear she had driven through it. She remembered watching the light leave his eyes. She remembered it all.

Did she feel guilty? No. Albatross would have gone on a complete genocide mission. She had saved the Seawings-only thinking of Paddlefish. Afterwords, both Paddlefish and her had decided. They left the kingdom and decided to roam the seas together. It had been the best month of her life, and she looked forward to spending the rest of her life like this.

She sighed and settled her head back on Paddlefish's warm shoulder. Why was she thinking of Albatross in the middle of the night? Maybe she was worried about her kingdom. Leaving had been hard, but her love for Paddlefish and urge to get away were too tempting. Queen Pearl had been understanding, and she wished them luck and told them to come back anytime.

Paddlefish had once mentioned seeing the entire world with her.

Lamprey couldn't wait.

And there we go! Sorry for any grammar mistakes, this was written at midnight. *snorts* Watch Tui reveal more about what really happened to Albatross and this become completely false. Oh well. That took a dark turn. I didn't think I'd be writing so much gore. Hope you enjoyed nonetheless, and remember, review! XD