AN: Okay, I'm a few days late, but I do have another chapter ready for you today! Thank you to everyone who's still reading after all this time. And a special thanks to those who voted in my poll! It's still open, so if you haven't voted yet, please head over to my profile and answer the question! Your feedback really helps me out as a writer.

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Cornice instinctively settled into a fighting stance, the icicle spikes along his back bristling. Beside him, Ozone had gone completely frozen.

Written all over the SkyWing's face was a mixture of fear and pain, as if the mere sight of the dragon who had once been his friend was like a sword digging into his heart. Jackal hadn't even lifted a claw now, but he was still hurting Ozone.

Cornice felt a surge of rage. How dare Jackal do this to his friend? Cornice had never felt protective of another dragon like this before, but the anger was familiar; it settled over his scales like a suit of armor. For the first time since he'd left the Ice Kingdom, he embraced the feeling. It made him stronger. He knew from experience if he got angry enough, he wouldn't feel any pain, even in a fight.

It would hurt later, he remembered, but for now he would be invincible.

He forced away the memories. He had to control his anger for the moment, not give into it. Not yet. He curled his claws, preparing to attack. Soon.

Jackal chuckled, seeming completely at ease. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Cornice didn't budge, but Ozone blinked, slowly coming out of his petrified state.

"Gravel told me he saw you at the concert," the conniving SandWing went on, still smiling pleasantly. "But you didn't even come over to us and say hello. So I waited here at the corner, hoping you'd come this way. Like I said, I haven't received a letter from you in a while, Ozone. I've been… concerned about you."

"Concerned?" echoed Ozone, looking confused.

Cornice narrowed his eyes. He recognized this dragon's name, scales, and voice from the day of the attack. He had tried to kill the SkyWings. But Jackal was acting like he and Ozone were still friends. He was acting like nothing had happened that day.

Was the SandWing actually crazy?

Or was this a calculated move?

Jackal's dark eyes took in Ozone's appearance and then widened, as if he was noticing the SkyWing's lingering injuries for the first time. "Ozone… you're covered in scratches and bite marks. Did you get into a fight? What happened?"

Ozone searched his former friend's gaze, as if looking for a hint of remorse. He swallowed. And then his expression settled into as fierce of a look as Cornice had ever seen on him. He lifted his chin defiantly. "I think you know exactly what happened."

For a moment, Jackal didn't react at all. And then, slowly, the smile returned to his face. "So our plan really did end in total failure. Barracuda and I were hoping that after our catastrophic loss, at least no one had recognized us. I suppose you told your Commander it was us, too. That's a bit of an issue." His barbed tail tapped thoughtfully on the pavement. "But I'll deal with all that later. Actually, I'm glad we ended up losing the battle. It would have been a shame to have to kill you, Ozone."

The SkyWing glared at him. "Stop pretending you care."

For a moment, Jackal looked genuinely hurt. "But I really do care."

"You're lying," Ozone said, his claws curling into shaking fists. "This whole time, you were just using me. You're not really my friend."

"Oh, Ozone," said Jackal, sighing. "You see this world as so black and white. Just because our goals don't align doesn't mean that I dislike you. On the contrary, I found your letters relatable. In another life, we could have been closer. But in a revolution like this, I can't afford to be sentimental. Our goal, the change that Pyrrhia needs, is more important than the feelings of any one dragon. You understand that, don't you?"

"No," said Ozone, his voice quiet but steady. "I don't understand."

Jackal's barb skated along the ground as his tail moved to curl around his front claws. Cornice kept his wary gaze fixed on the poisonous tip. "What a pity. I thought you were more open-minded than that, honestly."

Ozone didn't seem to know how to respond. He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. His orange eyes welled with tears.

"There's a big difference between being open-minded and sympathizing with a dragon who wants to conquer the world," Cornice interrupted. "Especially when that dragon also thinks that deciding to kill his friends for power makes him a tragic hero."

Jackal's gaze jumped to him, narrowing furiously. "And who are you?"

Cornice's tail lashed. "Ozone's real friend. Unlike you."

He was still furious, but something in his chest bubbled with grim satisfaction. By antagonizing Jackal, he'd landed a real blow. It would be difficult for the SandWing to continue manipulating Ozone's emotions when he was clearly livid.

And now, Cornice was back in his element.

Living in a world outside the Ice Kingdom was difficult. Making friends instead of enemies out of everyone he met didn't come naturally to Cornice.

But goading another dragon into a fight? That wasn't difficult at all.

He'd done it a million times.

He was ready. Ready to lunge into battle, carving wounds into another dragon's scales and seeing red blood spill out. Ready to taunt and goad and push and push until this SandWing's smooth charade came toppling down and he retaliated and Ozone could clearly see what kind of monster he really was on the inside.

Of all things, after all those years, that was what came naturally to Cornice.

What would happen without his father appearing to pry Cornice and his brother away from each other? Would the citizens of Possibility interfere in his place?

Or would Cornice actually keep fighting until he couldn't fight anymore?

Could I actually kill this despicable SandWing? Would I?

Grimly, he accepted that it was time for him to find out.

"Wait," said Ozone, grabbing Cornice's shoulder. "Don't fight."

The SkyWing's words seemed to knock some sense back into Jackal, whose angry expression dissolved behind a curtain of nonchalance. "Yes, let's not. It would be brutal to fight one another in the middle of the street. Possibility is a peaceful city, after all."

Cornice's bloodlust ebbed, although it had nothing to do with Jackal's words and probably everything to do with the desperate look on Ozone's face. And hopefully a little to do with the fact that despite his feral nature, he wasn't a murderous dragon. Think about that, Cornice. Don't be like Jackal. Don't fight just because it's easier.

Ozone turned to Jackal. "Why are you here?"

"Well, I was here in Possibility with a few friends, and we saw you in the crowd," said the SandWing. "And I wanted to find out how much you knew about who we are, which unfortunately turns out to be a lot. But I might as well let you live. Killing you wouldn't accomplish anything at this point. And I don't really want to kill you. Contrary to the IceWing's beliefs, I don't think that would be heroic." He glared at Cornice.

"We'll stay out of your way," said Ozone.

"What?" hissed Cornice.

Ozone shook his head. "There's nothing we can do anyway. Trying to interfere would only cause more bloodshed. That's what Jackal thinks, right?" He looked back at the SandWing, his expression tired and defeated.

Jackal only smiled. "I'm glad we're on the same page now."

Ozone turned to look at Cornice. "See? We'd be better off leaving Possibility, and leaving this entire mess behind us. It's not even like I really disagree with the Tribeless, deep down. I just don't want to be involved in any violence."

"Hmm," said Jackal. "So you know what we call ourselves, too. It sounds like you've been snooping around, my friend. Where exactly did you learn that name?"

Ozone shook his head. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that it turned out you were fighting for a cause I could relate to. You just never gave me a chance."

"I can't believe you," growled Cornice.

Jackal's eyes shone with something that looked almost like regret. "I thought you might, but Tumbleweed and Kulta convinced me that it wasn't worth endangering our plan to tell you. We had to win a battle against real warriors, before we made our grand entrance on the political stage. We had to prove that we're a force to be reckoned with."

"That doesn't matter," Ozone said. "I just don't want to fight anymore. Please."

Cornice glared at him, trying to will some courage into this spineless dragon with the sheer intensity of his eyes. Take that back, you coward.

But Ozone didn't falter, even under the weight of his fury. Of all possible things, this was what he refused to back down from. Cornice grit his teeth. "Fine."

Jackal studied them, and then relaxed. "Good. That works best for me, anyway."

"For all of us," said Ozone, avoiding the SandWing's gaze.

For a moment, all three dragons were silent. Jackal seemed to be sizing them up. The crowd from the concert had fully dispersed by now, leaving the street relatively deserted, but Cornice was sure that someone would hear if a fight broke out. He glanced around, looking for something that would make a racket, if necessary.

Jackal stepped back, leaving the path free for them. "Then I'll let you go."

Ozone hesitated, then nodded and kept walking along the path.

Jackal didn't move.

Neither did Cornice, keeping his suspicious gaze fixed on the SandWing.

"Come on, Cornice," said Ozone, turning back to look at him.

Reluctantly, Cornice followed his friend. Jackal's dark gaze tracked him intently as he walked by. Cornice felt uneasy breaking eye contact with an enemy, but even as he turned his back on the rebel, Jackal didn't attack. It seemed the SandWing was letting them go after all. Perhaps, in his own way, he really did care about Ozone.

Still, even after Jackal was far behind them, Cornice didn't say anything. He was too angry to speak. How dare Ozone admit defeat, right after they made a plan to act against the Tribeless? Then every risk they'd just taken was for nothing!

He growled deep in his throat, a sound of pure frustration.

Ozone glanced at him timidly. "Are you angry at me?"

"Am I angry?" asked Cornice, disbelieving. "No, I think the two of us and Jackal just frolicked in the fields of friendship. Of course I'm angry! What was that? You don't want to fight?! You don't want to stop the Tribless?! You agree with them?!"

Ozone ducked his head. "Did you… actually believe what I said back there?"

Cornice stopped dead in his tracks.

"We couldn't just admit that we're trying to stop the Tribeless," explained Ozone, looking anxious. "Or Jackal wouldn't have let us go like that. Even if he didn't attack us then and there, he'd probably send someone to follow us and finish the job. It's better to convince him that we want to disentangle ourselves from the Tribeless' plans and live a quiet and peaceful life. Then, when we leave Possibility tomorrow, he'll assume that we went somewhere completely irrelevant. But really, we'll be off to the Rainforest."

It took Cornice a long moment to process this. "So you were tricking him?"

Ozone shrank even further under his piercing gaze. Then he nodded.

"You… you…" Cornice was speechless. "You are a genius, Ozone. A genius."

Ozone looked embarrassed. "Not really. I just did the same thing you did earlier, when you let Loess believe that Jackal's still my friend so he wouldn't suspect anything. You said to me what Loess was expecting to hear you say. So I just told Jackal what I thought he would expect me to say. And I guess it worked."

Cornice couldn't have held back his grin even if he'd wanted to. "My point is still valid. I don't mind calling myself a genius, too, if that's what your words imply."

Ozone straightened up. "So you're not angry at me anymore?"

"Nope," said Cornice.

"That's a relief," said his friend, managing a shy smile. It faltered a moment later, replaced with a more serious expression. "Cornice, I know going to the Rainforest was your idea, but… you don't have to come with me if you'd rather stay here."

Cornice blinked. "What?"

"I know how much you love Possibility," Ozone said, in a rush. "And you're not the one involved with the Tribeless. You don't have to get involved. It would be simpler for you to stay here, where it's safe and wonderful. You can make the city the new home you've been looking for. You've already done more than enough to help me."

Cornice let the SkyWing's words sink in.

It was a tempting offer. Ozone was right; he did love Possibility. He could easily imagine building his new home here, on a foundation of diversity and welcome. He did want to stay here. He did want the relaxed, everyday life the city offered.

But not yet.

He couldn't bear the idea of Ozone flying off into unknown danger without him. They were friends now, and friends didn't abandon each other in their times of need.

He snorted, trying to look insulted by Ozone's suggestion. "Are you kidding? I'm already involved. Besides, I'm not keeping score about who's helping who. I'm sticking by you because that's where I want to be. End of story."

Ozone blinked, looking suspiciously misty-eyed. "Thanks Cornice."

"Don't mention it," said the white dragon, flicking his tail dismissively.

In the end, staying behind didn't feel like an option anymore. Somehow, he and Ozone had become friends. They'd already been through a lot together; and, working to bring down the Tribeless, Cornice knew it could only get harder from here on in.

Their lives were a huge mess; that much was indisputable. But that didn't matter so much to Cornice now that he had someone facing it all right by his side.