Fruit Bat II, Greatness II

Fruit Bat

It's really easy to hide from someone you're mad at, as a Rainwing. Especially when the dragon in question isn't also a Rainwing. I thought about hiding out in my hut (in all this time, I still hadn't shown him my own bedroom), but thought better of it. He could always ask Grandeur or one of the Villagers where I live. Instead, I went to my favorite hiding spot as a dragonet - a large, hollowed out tree surrounded by ferns. I turned invisible, wrapped up into as small a ball as I could, and wept.

How could Xero do this to me? Was everything we did together nothing to him? I thought he loved me! I gave myself completely to him, and yet the first time he's out of my sight, he gets himself engaged to a Nightwing Princess. Was I not good enough? Was Maggy not good enough? Were we just glorified booty calls to him?

I cursed myself through tears, damning my own stupidity. He grew up surrounded by royalty - of course he'd trade up with an actual, future Queen over a "volunteer" Queen like myself. Of course, typical male, he'd go after the younger, prettier dragoness the moment the opportunity presented itself. Of course he'd go after the beautiful, mysterious, magical Nightwing, and dump the silly, lame, "easy" Rainwings who welcomed him.

I came up with all these reasons to be mad at him, finding anything to drown the pain burning my heart. But nothing could take away the ache in my soul. I don't know how long I sat there, crying in that tree, but at some point, I felt a comforting wing stroking my back. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I was surprised to find Maggy on the other side of the tree. I decloaked myself, leaning over to hug her. She pulled me close, rocking me gently as the tears continued to fall.

"It's okay, love," She whispered comfortingly, stroking my neck, "It's alright. Xero still loves you."

"Why, Maggy?" I sobbed, desperately holding onto her, "Why did you let him do it? Why did he promise himself to a stranger?"

"I wasn't there," She sighed, "He went off with that Mastermind tool in private, and they negotiated without me. Believe me, if I were in the room when that went down, I would've smacked the taste out of the Nightwing's mouth for making such a demand. If it makes you feel better, Xero doesn't like this any more than we do."

"Then why do it?!" I demanded, feeling anger bubbling in my gut. "Why agree to something that no one wants? If he loves us, why would he hurt us?!"

"Politics often involves doing things we find terrible," She huffed, "With dragons we don't like, to get the things we want. Xero can explain it better than I can, but it was needed to get Mastermind back to Nightshade's side. You know if there was any other way, he would've done anything to avoid hurting you."

"He betrayed us!" I cried, "He broke the one rule we have in love! He used us, and then went and picked up a younger, better-looking Princess when he was done with us! What does she even have that we don't?!"

Maggy's expression hardened. "Batty," She warned, "You have every right to feel mad at this situation and at Xero. But you must promise me not to take it out on Greatness. She's just as much a victim in all this as you, and she had no choice in any of this."

"Why would I be mad at her?" She huffed. "She's barely out of dragonethood, for Spirit's Sake. It just makes me more mad that Xero had to go and 'rob the nest' like that!"

Maggy snorted. "Well, it's not like he's the only one who's got an interest in younger dragons."

I blinked. "...Wait, how old are you?" I asked.

"I'm thirty," She admitted, "I'm not that old. Grandeur and Flying Fox are forty, after all."

"Oh...Thirty's not old. I'm twenty-five."

Maggy smiled, gently nuzzling me. I closed my eyes and nuzzled back. I didn't love her like I loved Xero, but she was my best friend, even closer than Grandeur. It wasn't just because we were sharing the same drake, or that she'd been my first. She was a source of calm and strength in our lives, keeping us from becoming too obsessed with our projects. She was the one who encouraged me to go out and dance with her at the celebration, taking the first step to making him our boyfriend. She taught me how to fight, and how to be a strong, confident dragoness and Queen. I trusted her more than any other dragon in the world, save for maybe Xero.

"I know you're mad," She said, stroking my neck, "Believe me, I'm mad, too. But don't give up on him yet. If you need time away from him, take time. Spirits know we've been spending almost every day together, we could use some time to ourselves. The next time all three of us are together, we're going to talk this out, and we all can decide whether we want to fix this or call it quits. Does that sound good?"

My scales briefly turned orange, before I forced them back to my normal colors. "...I can do that," I agreed, "For us."

She flashed yellow, and held me close. And we just held each other, finding comfort in our little quiet spot in the jungle...

Greatness

The next couple of days were a blur. I'd wake up, eat their gross fruit, drink their water (the cleanest, most delicious water I'd ever tasted), sulk myself asleep, and repeat. That damned Sandwing would come to visit now and then, but after the fourth or fifth time I tried to burn him, he stopped coming.

By the end of the week, just as I started getting used to life in my cell, someone new paid me a visit. I tensed up, readying myself to strike as I heard approaching footsteps. I readied my fire once again, but instead of seeing that bastard again, I was greeted by a Rainwing dragoness, middle-aged and almost as tall as me. She wore a simple gold band around her neck, and several feathers and flowers decorated her horns. I figured between her age and garments, she was one of the former Queens that worked Xero.

"Hello," The new dragon said, bowing slightly, "I am Grandeur."

"...Hello." I returned, my eyes narrowed but remaining polite (who knew if there were any nearby guards with tranq darts or arrows at the ready). "I'm Greatness." What was she doing here?

"Nice to meet you, your highness... Oh, I'm sorry, do you not like your title?" The Rainwing turned a weird orange-purple, tilting her head slightly.

"It's..." I started, but stopped. How do I explain to a stranger that being a Princess sucked? That I never wanted to be part of the politics and scheming that mother always forced me to watch? That until a week ago, becoming Queen was a curse I would've gladly flown away from? "...Complicated. Just call me Greatness."

"As you wish." Grandeur agreed, as she glanced around my cell. "How have the guards been treating you? Is the food and water to your liking?"

I didn't know how to respond to that. It was a simple question, but for all the attention I had as a Princess, no one - not even mom - had ever asked me how I felt about, well, anything. Having your day-to-day life managed down to the minute didn't leave a lot of room for my opinion.

"The fruit's... kinda gross, but the water's the best I've ever had." I answered honestly. That was the best option, right? Sometimes Mom would ask me something she already knew the answer to, and get mad when I tried to lie. But other times she'd get annoyed with something I'd say, and tell me, "That's amazing, my daughter, but I don't remember asking you." She could be very... difficult, that way.

"Yes, I suppose you'd be more like Xero in that regard. Most dragons eat more meat than we do. I'll be sure to inform the guards. Speaking of which," She leaned her head through the bars, looking over my cell, "How'd you like a change of rooms?"

I blinked, surprised by the offer. I studied her, trying to pick up any hint of deceit. There was none. "...I think I'd like that." I said. Anything's better than being stuck in a prison cell - even a Rainwing one.

"Wonderful." Grandeur said, her scales turning from lavender to gold. She motioned over a guard to unlock the door, and instructed, "Follow me, if you please."

We walked through the little hamlet as the sun rose above the trees. My legs ached as I tried to keep up, between being stuck in a cell and, well, not being physically active before the war. It also didn't help that the ground was covered in potholes and giant roots to trip me up, and the air was so thick and moist it felt like I was in a sauna. As much as I still hated the thick, smoggy air of the island, at least I didn't have to worry about tripping every four steps on the stone floor of the palace. The older Rainwing would stop now and then, waiting for me to catch up before trekking onward into the jungle.

It felt like we'd been walking forever, when we finally reached the "true" Rainwing Village. The forest was becoming more organized and "managed", as our path turned to dirt, and trees on either side were being pruned or built into treehouses. There were dozens and dozens of Rainwings busy at work, building more housing and work projects, some stopping to stare at us or wave as we passed. We came to a large, wooden palisade, a handful of guards sitting above us with their RFCs. I shuddered, remembering what those hellish devices could do.

"Don't worry," Grandeur told me, "They won't hurt you. We don't attack without reason."

I did a double-take. "Yes you do!" I snapped. The guards all focused their attention on me, they didn't raise their weapons. Grandeur looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"You demanded that we work with you!" I snapped. "You demanded my mother hand over me and our Animus or you'd bury our one way off our island! And when she said no, you attacked us, killed her, and took me anyway!"

"After Battlewinner got involved in the Sandwing War." Grandeur pointed out, counting off her talons, "After attacking us first. After we gave you chance after chance to end this peacefully. After we offered to forgive you and work with you anyway, despite your mother's arr- insistence."

"But...But..." I stammered, trying to think of a rebuttal. "But you were trying to marry me off to that Sandwing fuck, and force Stonemover to serve you! Mother was trying to save us!" The Rainwings around us glared at me with their angry red scales. I ignored them all.

"If you must know, my dear," She said, "Both things have happened. As part of Mastermind's deal for taking the throne, you and Stonemover are Xero's problem now. You're a Queen now, Your Highness."

I just stood there, dumbstruck and blindsided. Did I just trade one hell for another? Forced into a job I didn't want, forced to become another harem girl for my mother's killer?

No...NO...NO!

I felt my fire rising, as did my fury. I opened my jaw, ready to set this emotionless, impertinent bitch on fire. I wasn't going to go through with this. I wasn't going to become a megalomaniac's whore. I am a Nightwing, and I would have my pride, come hell or high water!

"Now, here, follow along and-" She continued, before she stopped and noticed me. "Ah-ah-ah, I would suggest you don't do that. Would your mother want you dead?"

I stopped. Looking up, the guards all had their 'bows and blowguns aimed at me. Around us, more Rainwings watched us - some nervously, some looking ready to pounce. I hesitated. I'd already almost died once, trying to kill Xerophilous on the island. Mother had always protected me from the dangers of the world, up to the very end. She was strong and brave, but she knew when not to press her luck (at least, except for the final battle). I cautiously closed my mouth, controlling my fire even as I held the Rainwing's gaze.

"A wise decision, Your Highness." Grandeur said. "It's said the wisest Queens are those who listen to their advisors and others. Now come, your quarters are this way." She nodded to the soldiers above us, who relaxed the tiniest bit as we passed. My anger simmered and petered out into a sense of sorrow and hopelessness, as I followed her down the path.

We continued through the gate, entering the Rainwing capital simply called "The Village". It couldn't be any different from the Nightwing architecture and style I'd always known. No Nightwing had heard of or seen the Lost City of Night in generations, considering it more of an ancient legend than historical fact. The Castle on the Island, meanwhile, was a massive labyrinth built out of black rock, with statues and monuments honoring and glorifying our knowledge and power. Everything about it was old and hard and cold.

If there was any place that could be it's exact opposite, it was this Village. It was kind of charming, in its quaintness. Every building and structure was made of wood, some of which was still green with freshness. There were a few huts and houses that looked a bit weathered, but almost everything had the look and smell of being new. A lot of them were treehouses and huts built way up in the treeline, but the path we walked was lined with bamboo huts built like boxes, looking very modular, almost prefabricated.

"Over there's the Council Building," Grandeur explained, pointing out some of the buildings as we walked by, "And over there's our barracks... That right there's the Nightwing Embassy. Mastermind says he'll have a representative appointed soon, but in the meantime we lend it to travelers from your kingdom as a sort of hotel. And up ahead of us, your new home, the Palace."

I stopped and looked up. While not what I would've considered a palace, it was easily the largest building in the entire Village. There was a large tree in the middle of the whole thing, the tallest branches sticking out of the top of the two-story structure. This building was, of course, also made of wood, but this time the walls were made from planks painted white to give the appearance of marble. It even had columns and frills along the edges to make it look more classical and regal (which was canceled out by all the rigging and construction work still going on).

This was to be my new prison.

"If you'll follow me, we'll be entering from the western entrance. Don't worry, your room will be on the opposite side of Xero's quarters. You won't have to worry about one of us accidentally bumping into you."

"'Xero'?" I asked, as we walked inside.

"Xerophilous, the Animus-King." She replied, rolling her eyes. "Although knowing my former subjects, they'll be coming up with new titles for him all the time. He was the one you tried to stab back on the island?"

"...Oh. Right. My husband." My throat started to tighten, but Grandeur grabbed my foreleg, pulling me away from yet another breakdown.

"Don't worry, you're not married yet, merely engaged. Now come, you can tell me all about how much you hate him when we reach your room."

It didn't take long, going up a flight of stairs and down a hallway, to find my room - marked by a sign with my name, written in black ink and big, blocky letters.

"I hope you don't mind the poor quality," She apologized as she led me in, "Most of the construction started a few weeks ago, and it's still ongoing. The workers managed to finish this room yesterday in fact, but hopefully-"

The Rainwing's droning explanation faded away, as I took it all in. My quarters back on the island weren't exactly ostentatious - we couldn't afford too much in the way of treasure, and it wasn't like we were showing off for anyone besides ourselves. Outside of my jewelry and high-end furniture, though, it was just a box carved out of obsidian. This room, however, felt truly livable. There was a large, comfortable bed with thick pillows and cotton sheets, and a hammock next to the windows that faced away from the afternoon sun, complete with blackout curtains. Opposite of the windows was a scrollshelf and a writing desk next to the bed, and a boudoir with all my jewelry and possessions laid out for my inspection. This wasn't just better than the cell; this was better than my old room, period.

I smiled despite myself, as I heard Grandeur say, "This is everything Mastermind sent us from your quarters, as well as many other accommodations provided by our Tribe. If you ever need anything else, the servants' quarters are just down the hall to the left."

"This is... nice." I admitted. "Really, really nice. Thank you."

"You're welcome." The Rainwing gave a polite smile, though she didn't turn yellow as I turned back to her. "Now, since we're here, I'd like to talk to you about Xero, if that's alright."

I froze. Suddenly, a terrible realization came over me. Xerophilous - the drake who broke my kingdom, who stole my throne, who killed my mother - was going to be sleeping in the same building as me, as his prisoner. Three moons, he might be walking by my door right then and there! And what was I going to do about it? What could I do about it?!

This was all too much for me. I closed my eyes, focused on my breathing, and tried to calm myself and my mind. You're not afraid of him, Battlewinner's voice reminded me, You're not going to cower in fear or succumb to rage every time you hear his name. You are a Princess and a Nightwing, and you will behave as such.

"If you don't mind, Grandeur," I said, before she could start talking, "It's been a long day, and there's... a lot to process. Can we talk about this tomorrow, after I have time to settle in?"

"But of course," She nodded, taking her leave. "I'll talk to the kitchens and have them send up your meals. You're free to explore The Village, so long as you don't try to go back to the Portal. I have some matters to attend to, but I'll be sure to meet with you by tomorrow afternoon. Goodnight, Greatness."

Goodnight, Grandeur." I replied. She closed the door behind her as she left, and I was once again alone.

The rest of the day and night was long and sleepless. Spirits know why. My body clock was all over the place, and most of my time in my cell was spent asleep. The bed wasn't too comfortable - it was the same one from home. I think it might've been the noise outside. The Rainforest can get so loud at night, much louder than a cavernous castle. The bird cries, the bug sounds, the gentle breeze, all sounded so loud, and even after a week I struggled to tune it out. It might've also been knowing that Xerophilous was in the same building as I was. That he was within striking distance of me (and vice versa) set me on edge, keeping me tense and alert no matter how tired I felt.

Frustrated, I growled and got out of bed. The Village was asleep outside (outside of a few torches used by vigilant guards), and there was nothing for me to see or do outside. Instead, I lit a candle and went over to the scrollshelf. Looking them over, some of them were scrolls from home (I had to ignore all the ones mom gave me on the top shelf - too much pain and drama for one day). Most of the scrolls below scientific journals and texts, with a scattered few Sandwing tales bought or given by Sandwing travelers. I scowled, as a lot of them were written by Xerophilous, long before he became a king. What a perfect way to boost his ego, reminding himself that he's the smartest dragon in a land of simpletons. Then again, most of the psychology and statecraft scrolls mother had given her to read were written by Mastermind, and he wasn't a narcissistic self-promoter (a myopic coward, maybe).

Reading in the dark isn't a problem for a Nightwing. Trying to understand the dragon who wrote it in the dark is another thing entirely. The writing styles of Xerophilous and Mastermind were mirror images of each other - dry, analytical, the kind of textbook reading that'd put you to sleep faster than warm milk and a babbling brook. But as I read, I kept on coming across mentions of the "Scientific Method". Mastermind mentioned it often when talking to mom about his projects.

I never paid much attention to those talks, the few times mom allowed me to accompany her down to his lab. But then again, I never had to bother with much. Every aspect of my life had been preplanned and charted out. One day, I would become Queen (whether I wanted to or not), take a mate (likewise), have some eggs, and pass the throne to them when I died. It was beyond annoying, but it gave me structure, something to work with every day. But now it was all gone. Mastermind was King now (with a wife of his own), and I was engaged to... to...

I wanted out. I needed out. So I read Xero's version of the scientific method. It was really easy to understand, something a hatchling could figure out. Start with a question, make a guess (or "hypothesis"), make predictions about that guess being true or not, conduct an experiment, then analyze said experiment. Five easy steps to solve any problem.

With nothing else to do, I decided to give it a try. I pulled out a blank sheet of vellum paper and an inkwell, brushing aside the scroll.

Question: What do I do with my life? I wrote. I stared down at it, thinking of what to put down next. Maybe the scientific method wasn't meant to help figure out open-ended questions like that? How about something more immediate, more tangible? I scratched out the first line.

Question: How long can I go without killing that murderous asshole Xerophilous?

Hypothesis: Not long. A week, tops.

Prediction: I'll rip his throat out next time I see him.

Experiment: Meet with Xerophil-

I stopped, rereading what I just wrote. "Ffffuuuck." I swore under my breath. I shook my head - why was I surprised? I'd have to meet him again at some point. Three moons, he was probably sleeping with his bodyguard down the hall right then and there. Sooner or later, he'd want to talk to me. After all, we were... engaged, as much as the thought made me taste bile. Still, at least now I had a plan. It wasn't much of one, but it was something. Satisfied with what I'd done, I cleaned my paws with a rag and went to bed. Sleep took me, and I dreamed of being a dragonet again, with my mother smiling proudly as we flew through a clear blue sky...

Fruit Bat

That was the hardest week I've lived through. When I wasn't working in the gardens, I was camouflaged, secretly watching Xero and Greatness, figuring out how I stood with both of them. Some Tribes might consider this to be creepy, but it's a game we Rainwings play from dragonethood.

Greatness, for her part, was very easy to study from her cell. Like a scavenger or parrot trapped in a cage, she spent most of her time sulking by the bars, staring at the forest and the dragons going about their day. She just looked so... sad. And why shouldn't she be, after the week she had? She truly lost everything, and might have to marry the drake who took it all from her. And yet, I struggled to feel sorry for her. I wasn't mad at her. I certainly didn't hate her either. I think I was feeling... Jealous? Threatened? It sounds so petty and shallow, and I hate myself for feeling that way, but knowing that they were supposed to be wed, I kept comparing myself to her, and I couldn't help but feel... inadequate.

Nightwings always had a reputation of being mysterious, exotic, attractive. Before Xero's time, a lot of dragon romances involved a protagonist wooing or falling for a Nightwing, with their visions of a perfect future or knowing exactly what a drake or dragoness wanted. Meanwhile, if Rainwings were mentioned at all, they were bumbling sidekicks or one-night stands, someone easily forgotten and never mentioned again. Who would ever want to settle for a lazy fruit-muncher?

Xero, meanwhile, was as down as I'd ever seen him. I never saw him cry, but whenever he was alone, his eyes were always so sad. I was so tempted to join him in his workshop, take him in my wings and tell him things would be okay. But then I'd see a Nightwing pass by, and then that pain and betrayal would come screaming back once again. So I hardened my heart, and I waited for the 31st to come, so I could give him a peace of my mind.

I had Maggy tell Xero I was ready to talk, and that I wanted to meet in a secluded part of the Gardens, far from any eavesdroppers. Early in the morning, we gathered together in the shade the giant ferns and croaking just as the Village was starting to come alive. Maggy arrived with me, as we found Xero standing nervously under the largest fern. As we got close, he leaned in to sniff my neck as he always did. I almost let him get away with it. I had to remind myself why we were here, and (as much as I wanted it), I couldn't, shouldn't let him get away with a slap on the wrist. So I reared my head back, flared my frill, and shot him an angry glare as I turned red.

"You haven't earned that right back." I growled, gathering all the righteous anger I could. There was surprise and hurt and guilt in his eyes as he stepped back, bowing his head.

"You're right," He agreed, "I'm sorry."

"There's a lot you should be sorry for," I huffed, tail quivering angrily behind me, "You went behind our backs with the negotiations. You did the one thing we Rainwings can't stand! And then the moment you're out of Maggy's sight, you get engaged to a Princess! The daughter of the Queen you just killed, too!"

"I know," He said, bowing his head, "I'm a terrible king."

"You're not a terrible king," Maggy insisted, resting a wing on his back, "But you were very inconsiderate as a lover. We understand that you have a lot of responsibilities, and sometimes you have to make a decision on the spot. But if we're your equals, you must remember to talk with us. There's three of us here, and we all should have a voice in matters that affect us." I nodded in agreement - Majestic was always the wisest of us.

"You're absolutely right, of course," He agreed, turning to face me again, "And I'll do anything to make it right, Batty."

I sat up, crossing my forelegs. "Okay then," I replied, "Send Greatness away."

What I wanted to hear was, "Sure thing, Batty. I'll send her away tonight. Please forgive me." What he did instead was wince like I bit his ear, and said, "You know I can't do that."

"Why?" I demanded sarcastically, "You're the King after all, aren't you? You can make the calls without going to the Council, right? You made the engagement with her, you can cancel it just as easily!"

"It's not that simple, Batty," He tried to explain, "I can't just send her back to the Night Kingdom, not with the old generals still in command. Mastermind's reign is still extremely precarious. If Greatness goes back, we run the risk of a coup, and then we're right back where we started."

I snorted. "That's a pathetic excuse, and you know it! We kicked their butts twice already, and we can do it again, easy!"

"Slaughter and Morrowseer work for us now, Xero," Maggy chimed in, "And the Nightwing Army's already back in the Sand Kingdom. All the dragons who'd fight us are either fighting for us or heading to the Jade Mountains."

"But why risk it?" He countered, "Why send her back to that hellscape they call an island? She's already been through so much already."

"And so forcing her to marry you is better?" I demanded.

"Considering what our other options are, yes! Yes it is!"

I scoffed, not believing what I was hearing. "So you do find her attractive, then?"

He blinked, squinting his eyes suspiciously. "The hell's that supposed to mean?"

I sniffed indignantly, finally unloading all my fears and worries on him. "I'm starting to think you have a secret royalty fetish. First, you had a crush on Burn. Then you come here and woo me with your smarts and your charm. Then, when you've had your fun, you go and trade up for a younger, prettier, more special Nightwing Princess. What better way to make yourself look more powerful and legitimate than taking the heir to an ancient line of Royalty as your war prize?"

His jaw opened in shock, before his eyes were filled with an indignant anger. "You think I'd just toss you aside for a girl I've never met? After everything we've done together?! Do you really think so little of me?!"

I stepped back, looking away as my anger was thrown back at me. My fury dissipated, replaced with sorrow and shame. He displayed his wings angrily, as he growled, "Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted to kill another Queen? Do you think I want to be in an arranged marriage with an orphan? That I would risk EVERYTHING I have, with a dragoness I love more than I've loved anyone before, if the alternative wasn't so damn awful that I couldn't live with myself if I went through with it?"

We both stared back at him, unsure of what he meant. His wings came down, and that angry fire lost its fire. "Her mother is dead," He explained, "Her crown is gone. She's banished from her home. She's a prisoner in a foreign land, thinking this whole war's been fought over her. So imagine how she'd take it if we just up and said, 'Sorry, babe, we don't want you anymore, now get out,' and just let her go? Just give her a small dowry and hope for the best? We'd be damning an orphan to a life of loneliness and grief, if not outright creating a lifelong enemy out to get revenge on us. I can't stand by and let that happen. I won't let that happen."

"So rather than letting her be miserable and free," I demanded, "You're going to keep her miserable and caged?"

"If that's what it takes to have peace and save the world, yes," He said gravely. "Because at the end of the day, this whole thing is bigger than any one of us. I am King, and I have a responsibility to my subjects, my Tribe and the world. And sometimes that means doing things that... that kill you inside."

He held his head up, trying to keep his pride even as tears started to fall. If there was any redeeming moment from that, it was that he still loved me. This wasn't something he wanted to do. But my heart still hurt, because he was putting the needs of the Kingdom ahead of us. That made him a great King, but...

"Fruit Bat," Maggy asked me, "Do you still want to be with us?"

I felt myself turn into dark blues and grays. I tried to fight the tears welling up, only to feel them stream down my face. Maybe I was being selfish, but I couldn't get over the fact that I'd been made replaceable. If Greatness was to be Queen by law, and Maggy was Captain of the Guard, what did that make me? If he was willing to go behind my back "for the good of the kingdom", that made his priorities clear. But could I just let him go?

"I... I don't know," I said, almost sobbing, "I really don't. I love you, Xero. More than I've loved anyone. But I don't know if I can do this anymore. Not with her."

The look on Xero's face cut me deep, like I'd taken away his entire world. I couldn't take any joy in hurting him like he hurt me. It took everything I had not to take it back.

As always, Majestic came in clutch with the rescue. "If I could make a suggestion," She spoke up, placing her wings on both of us, "Before we make any permanent decisions. Batty, if you're still unsure, why don't we take a break for awhile? We've been spending almost every single day together, after all, and we haven't had much time to see how we are when we're apart. We should all take time to think about what we want, who we are as dragons, and how we feel about Princess Greatness. If, at the end of this time, you still feel like you don't to be with us, we can separate amicably with no hard feelings. All I ask is that you give Greatness a chance, alright?"

I considered this for a moment, but only a moment. I didn't want to commit to leaving Xero, even then. I looked back and forth between them, and nodded. Maggy looked over to our King, and he too nodded.

"Alright then," She finished, "Then we're all in agreement. Fruit Bat and Xerophilous, you two are now taking a break. In one month's time, we'll all meet up at this spot, and then you two will decide if you want to get back together or separate permanently. I will stay with Xero, but I will also council Batty if she ever needs it."

And so we each left that meeting, heading off to handle our responsibilities. This wasn't the end for us, but I felt nothing but emptiness and sorrow as I walked away from my heart...

Greatness

It shouldn't be a surprise that Nightwings aren't morning dragons. I'd spent most of my life up at sunset, and asleep by dawn, and it'd take many nights for my body's rhythm to change. So hearing someone loudly knock and open my door at 8 in the morning was a very unwelcome surprise. Opening my eyes the tiniest bit, I saw a yellow-green Rainwing pushing a little cart in, setting up breakfast on a folding table.

"Good morning, Your Highness," The servant greeted, her tone far more cheerful than any dragon should be at that time of day, "I hope I didn't wake you, but I was instructed to bring you breakfast in bed."

I groaned, stretching out and sitting up in bed. I thought of sending them away, but I was already up, and my stomach was starting to rumble. When was the last time I'd eaten, anyway? "Very well," I said, "What is it?"

"Well, today we have crocodile meat in a mango reduction, served alongside emu eggs sunny-side up, and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Hope you enjoy!" The servant explained all this in such a sickeningly cheerful tone that I feared she'd break out into song. For Spirit's sake, she literally started skipping as she pushed the cart back out. Were all Rainwings this ridiculously happy?

My first taste of Rainwing cuisine was rather... interesting. Nightwing cooking wasn't exactly four-star ever since the volcano started becoming active - charbroiled venison, fish and seagulls were staples of our diet, and seasoning wasn't exactly common. The forest dwellers, however, seemed to spend a lot of time refining their culinary arts. I thought most of them didn't eat meat, but I figured Grandeur made a special order for me. Cutting the meat with my claws, I found that it wasn't that bad: the mango, while a little sweet for my tastes, helped cover the gamey flavor of the crocodile. Maybe I was just hungry, but I devoured the meat and eggs in just a few bites, downing it with the juice.

"Blegh!" I gagged, spitting it out and tossing the rest out the window. Dragons drank that?! How the Rainwings didn't all have diabetes was beyond me. Maybe Mastermind had been right, and they weren't entirely dragon like the rest of us.

As I cleaned up, I noticed the paper I wrote the night before. I glanced back at the door. She didn't see or read it, right? Embarrassed, I rolled it up with the scroll on the scientific method, and stuck it in a cubby. So what if I was being childish, I thought angrily with a snort, wanting to kill that Sandwing asshole? After everything he did to me, he deserved it. Totally.

Whatever, I thought quickly, Doesn't matter. What does matter... What am I going to do for the rest of the day? No one had said I couldn't leave my room and explore or anything. I briefly considered trying to make my way back home to the Island, but quickly dismissed it. Even if I made it past the guards, their crossbows, their trackers, and Spirits-knew how much jungle brush, would my tribe even accept me? How many would even recognize them, if they saw me? Many of them loved my mother, but hardly any of them knew about me. I was always in the corner, watching and learning, never allowed to participate in the Council meetings. More than that, she was pretty over-protective, keeping me up in the royal quarters atop the volcano for most of my dragonethood.

Now that I was out of my castle (and my prison cell), all I wanted to do was stretch out my legs and wings and explore this strange little town.

Gathering my courage and will, I readied myself for anything as I opened the door. The hall was empty. I listened, and was surprised to hear nothing inside the building. I thought it was odd, especially so early in the morning, but then again I'd always been told that Rainwings were lazy and dumb, so I figured they were just out getting an extra nap or something. No matter. To my left, I saw the hallway ended in a balcony overlooking the rest of the Village. I walked over, felt the morning sun warm my ebony scales, and took flight.

The Village was a large, sprawling mess, dozens of construction projects trying to impose order on it and the jungle around it. Most of the treehouses were built randomly atop various trees, rope bridges connecting them like sporadic vines. Now, work was being done to put everything on a grid: dirt paths carved into straight lines and right angles, new buildings being built in large squares, trees and bushes being dug up and replanted to make room for the roads. This was meant to make things simpler and more efficient, and it probably would be when it was done... or if it was done by Nightwings. As it was, Rainwings aren't exactly the most creative of Tribes - every street had "Xero" as a placeholder name. This was also my first time walking around a town, and despite everything, I ended up getting lost in a maze of roadwork and construction.

I must've been wandering around for the better part of an hour, when I felt my stomach growling in protest. Breakfast was kind of light, now that I think about it. I wondered if I'd be allowed to leave the Village and do some hunting on my own, or if I could even catch anything in the wild thicket outside. Fortunately, I'd just walked into the new business district, and there were stalls upon stalls of vendors selling different goods, especially food. Most of them were selling fruit (ugh!), but I was so hungry I was willing to try anything. I was drawn to a stand full of these red, spiky fruits - a poorly-written sign above them said "Lychees". The vendor offered me a bag, saying that "The Palace will pay for everything". I couldn't complain - I didn't have any money. As far as snacks went, they weren't so bad. They were sweet and tart without being gross, and he gave me a large bag made of banana leaves full of them. By the time I finished the meal, I felt pleasantly full, and had somehow made my way back to the Palace. Did all roads lead back to the biggest building in the Village? I was about to walk back inside, when a familiar Rainwing descended in front of me.

"Greatness, there you are!" Grandeur called out, stepping up to me. "Sorry I couldn't come greet you this morning. I had to oversee a Council meeting while Xerophilous was preoccupied. I take it you've already had lunch?" She gestured to the bag in my paw, where one lone lychee sat awaiting its doom. I nodded.

"Good," She nodded back, "Now, would you mind following me back to your quarters? There are matters we need to discuss."

I considered this. Now that I'd spent some time exploring the bustling town and the palace, my anxiety had dwindled, and the fruit snack had been comforting and filling. I still didn't consider that room in the palace mine, but it'd be more comfortable there than out here on the street. I nodded and followed her back inside, back through that same set of halls and into my room again. She motioned for me to rest on the bed, and I did, stretching out with my propped up on a pillow opposite her. We sat there for a moment, waiting for the other to start talking, the sounds of the bustling town echoing through the window.

"So," Grandeur began, "You already know you've been engaged, but I wanted to talk to you so you understand what to expect-"

"I want to meet him."

She flashed yellow, looking very surprised. "...I'm sorry?"

"I'd like to meet him," I repeated, "Xerophilous, I mean." Why not? I figured. Not only could I test my hypothesis, but I could (confront) better understand my mother's killer. What was that line Mastermind always said? "You can't fear what you understand"? I don't know how true that really is, but if I could just talk to him (loathsome bastard that he was), maybe I could get a better grasp of my new life, and figure out what to do next.

"Are you-" She started.

"I'm sure," I insisted, waving away her concern.

She stared at me warily for a time, before slowly nodding. "Alright then. He's down in his workshop right now. Come with me."

We got back up, as she led me out of the Palace through a backdoor. My wings shifted again and again, unable to stay still. My tail twitched irritably, and all my muscles felt tense as we approached a large shack in the shade of the Palace-Tree. I can do this, I told myself, I asked for this. I can look my mother's killer in the eye. I can... Wait, what am I going to do? I started to panic, realizing that I hadn't thought this out. I couldn't kill him now, not with Grandeur right next to me. What was I going to say to him? What did I even-

"And here we are," Grandeur announced, snapping me out of my thoughts. She opened the wooden door, and there he was.

Xerophilous was sitting at a large writing desk, one covered with a number of scrolls and parchments. Now that I could see him up close, my first thought was that the drake was surprisingly handsome. His scales were a sandy beige that shined in the sunlight, save for the black stripes along his neck and body and the thin brown fin along his spine. His right paw, with claws currently with ink, had been stained a dark gray from prolonged writing. His forelegs rippled with muscle, no doubt from all the work he did as a builder and blacksmith. His long stinger tail was curled tightly around him as he sat, at rest yet ready to strike. His eyes weren't black, but a reddish-brown that looked... kind of sad, actually.

As the door opened, he turned to look at us. In the moment when we were finally face to face, I did the first thing that came to mind.

"FUCK YOU!" I shouted, as angrily and venomously as I could muster. It's so cringey to think of now - it was an impulsive, childish, powerless act of defiance and anger. But at the same time... Three Moons, it felt so right. I stood tall, daring him to get mad. There was a moment I saw his eye twitch, before he bowed his head and sighed.

"Yeah, I probably deserve that," He said defeatedly, cleaning his paws. "I was meaning to talk to you, anyway. Grandeur, if you would?" Grandeur nodded and left, closing the door behind her, and leaving me alone with Xerophilous. I was about to shout something more, but he spoke first.

"Before you say anything," he said, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. It probably doesn't mean much coming from me, but I didn't want any of this to happen. To you, to Battlewinner, to the Nightwings. I didn't want to invade your homeland, or fight another Queen, or..." He shook his head, avoiding my eyes.

"I never planned for this, you know. I didn't want any of this to happen. It was a bargaining chip, a negotiating tactic. I didn't want to marry a stranger. Hell, I didn't even want to keep your Animus. I only wanted to get myself a magic mirror, and for our Tribes to work together to save my homeland. I didn't think Mastermind was such a coward that he'd just give me both of you!" He grew frustrated, starting to pace next to his cold, unlit forge. I just stared at him, confused. He didn't want to add me to his harem? Then why keep me here?

"Well, why didn't you say no?" I demanded.

"I couldn't," He explained, "Not if I wanted to keep our alliance. Mastermind made his conditions clear, and I'm already asking so much of him. Besides, I think he's afraid of you. As long as you're in the same kingdom, you're his biggest competition."

I snorted, despite myself. "Competition?! Puh-leeze, I don't even want to be Queen! What's he so scared of?" He blinked, and only then did I realize I made a big mistake. I tried to think of some excuse, but Xero beat me to the punch with a curious head tilt.

"You don't want to be a Queen?" He asked, "Why's that?"

I couldn't think of an answer. A Princess that didn't want to be Queen? That was like a dragon who didn't like flying - it goes against the very thing they're supposed to do. And yet, without thinking about it, I'd spoken from the heart. All that power, that responsibility, it scared me. Mother had coddled me and kept me from growing into my role, and as much as I resented it, I was also thankful.

Still, I didn't want to keep making a fool of myself. So I just sat there, my jaw firmly shut, as he stared back, politely waiting for me to continue. After an uncomfortably long time, he sighed, and stood up. I tensed, readying myself for whatever he might have in store.

"You know," He said, in a voice barely above a whisper, "I didn't want to be King, either. When I first came here, I just wanted to work on my projects in peace, get away from all this political crap. But the Spirits have a funny way of blessing dragons they've taken a liking to."

I looked up at him, genuinely surprised. He smiled reassuringly.

"This whole King business," He continued, waving around at the room, "This was just dropped in front of me. But, by luck or divine intervention, I become King of a Tribe nobody knew or cared about. And, not to brag or anything, but aside from some... personal issues, I like to think I'm doing a pretty damn good job. And that means you can as well, my dear."

"I-, Uh-, Um-" I sputtered, stepping back. This was the exact opposite of what I thought would happen. I was expecting blood and tears and violence. Instead, I found a tired, humbled Sandwing, who managed to strike the chink in my armor without even trying.

"This isn't what either of us wanted, I get that," He told me, meeting my gaze. "But this is what we've been dealt. Tomorrow, we're having a Council Meeting. If you're interested, I'd be more than happy to have you join us. I want to hear what you have to say."

'I want to hear what you have to say.' Why did you have to go and say that? I loved mom - I STILL love mom - but she'd never said that to me. Not once. And yet this total stranger I tried to kill wanted to know my opinion. He welcomed it. I didn't know if I should love him for being so earnest and caring, or hate him for doing something my own mother never bothered about. Why was he so Spirits-damned charming?

As much as I instinctively wanted to tell him to shove his offer where the sun doesn't shine, the thought of moping about in my room or wandering around a city I didn't know (with dragons I didn't understand) was horrifyingly boring. At least with this, no matter what happened, it'd be interesting.

"Alright then," I said, holding myself up taller, "I'll be there, Xerophilous."

"Excellent!" He replied, a big smile growing on my muzzle. "But please, call me Xero!"