Fruit Bat III, Greatness III

Greatness

Why do Rainwings have to be such early risers? I was having a wonderful dream about raining lychees and Battlewinner and I sharing an entire whale carcass, when I was rudely awakened by the loud knocking and squeaking of my door.

"Mmmph," I groaned, "Go away. I don't want breakfast!"

"Don't worry, you already overslept that."

I opened my eyes, looking up to see Grandeur standing above me, yellow with amusement. "I wanted to let you know," She continued, "That the Council's about to meet in about an hour. Xerophilous wants you to sit next to him."

I closed my eyes, groaning again. Just because I was sitting next to him didn't mean I had to talk to him. "Alright. I'll be out... soonish." She nodded and left as I dragged myself out of bed.

Xero had given me over a dozen different scrolls and reports to go over, detailing the state of the Rainforest and of the "Phyrrian War", as it was coming to be called. Papers and dossiers and the like were something I went over before every one of Battlewinner's meetings, so there was something comfortable and familiar about doing a late-night study session. I read them, reread them, scribbled down notes to take with me, and went to bed later than I should've.

Now I was paying for it, rushing about quickly to collect all my notes, clean myself up and put on my jewelry before heading out. As I was putting on the finishing touches, my tail brushed the desk, and I noticed the paper I'd written on the other night. Had I left it out this entire time?

Question: How long can I go without killing that rat bastard Xerophilous?

Hypothesis: Not very long.

Prediction: I'll try to kill him the next time I see him.

Experiment: Meet with Xerophi-

Thinking it over, I dabbed the very tip of my claw into the inkwell, and added:

Analysis: Further meetings required.

With that, I cleaned my claw, hid the paper in the desk's second drawer, and went to ask a servant just where exactly the council met.

The first Council meeting went a lot better than I thought it'd go. There was a lot of intel to go over - much of it going over my head - but it was the first time that I actually contributed to the discussion. More than that, it was the first time someone listened to me and considered what I had to say. It was so satisfying and thrilling to finally receive recognition. I just wished it'd come from my mother first, instead of my mother's killer.

It felt so strange, being so happy and grateful with someone I thought I should hate.

It was enough to make my head hurt, as the meeting ended, and we all started heading to the exits. In front of me, Grandeur was talking to another, larger Rainwing decked out in ceremonial armor. "Maggy", that was what they called her. The large, purple dragoness noticed me, stepped away from the older Rainwing, and padded up to me.

"Hey there, Greatness!" She greeted, giving me a polite bow. "I don't believe we've been formally introduced. I'm Majestic, Marshal of the Royal Guard."

"Oh. Hi." I bowed back.

"Those were some very good points you made back there," She said, flashing yellow, "I'm glad you decided to participate."

"Um, thank you?" I replied, "I'm just thankful that you all listened to me. Most meetings, I was just supposed to listen and not be heard."

The Rainwing frowned, the yellow turning to orange. Did that disappoint her? "Well, you can speak your mind as much as you want here." She said, standing a little taller. I hadn't realized until that moment just how big Majestic was. I'd been a full head or more taller than most dragons I'd seen so far, but this one I could meet her gaze without the slightest head tilt. She was also pretty big, her thick frame holding up strong, rippling muscles under her lavender-purple scales. Her armor added to her regal figure, and if I didn't know better, I would've assumed that she was the Queen of the Rainforest.

"Anywho," She continued, "If you haven't made any other plans, would you mind having lunch with me? Grandeur says you could use the company, and I'd like to get to know My King's fiancée a little better."

"Oh?" I uttered, suddenly confused and anxious. No one had ever offered to take me to lunch before (My Tribe had begun losing all their manners once food began to become scarce on the island). I hadn't eaten formally with anyone besides mother and her Council. Still, I had nothing else planned for the day, and I could use a friendly face to talk to. "Um, yeah, sure. I can do that."

"Great!" Majestic said, her purple scales now a banana-yellow. She extended a wing over me, gently guiding me to the door. "Come with me. I've already got a table reserved for us."

"Have fun, you two." Grandeur said flatly as they passed by. Her neutral expression was blown by the hints of yellow present along her frill.

Lunch was weird. The walk to lunch was odd on it's own, walking under a stranger's wing for everyone to see. Was this normal? Was this how dragonesses acted with their friends? Was she flirting with me? Rainwings were known to be a bunch of tail-sniffers, was she one, too? How do I respond? By the time we reached our table, I was a blushing, embarrassed mess, trying and failing to keep my composure.

"Take a breath, Greatness," She said, offering me a seat, "It's just lunch. I'm trying to be friendly here, and get to know you a little better."

I sighed, shaking my head at such silly thoughts. "You're right, I'm sorry. I'm just... not used to this. I appreciate this, all the same."

"Of course. I hope I didn't make you feel uncomfortable. We Rainwings are a friendly tribe, and I'm learning what other tribes are okay with, just like everyone else."

"It's alright, it's..." I looked over to the side of the table, noticing the extra chair left unoccupied. "Are we waiting for someone?"

Majestic glanced at the seat, her frill briefly turning blue-gray. "I'd asked Batty - er, Queen Fruit Bat - to join us so we could talk things out, but..." She sighed, as we both took our seats. A servant came by and handed us a bowl of durians. The royal guard cut into one of the spiky fruits, releasing the scent so strong that I almost gagged. I waited until the wind picked up.

"But what?" I asked.

The Rainwing sighed, idly playing with a durian skin. "Well... Don't take this the wrong way, but I think she thinks you're going to take her drake away."

"Who, Xero?" I asked. "Are they a couple?"

"Xero and Batty and I are together, yes." She told me, a playful smirk gracing her muzzle. I almost choked on my durian, coughing up bits and pieces onto the ground.

"Oh, right, she chuckled, "I forgot most tribes don't do that. Or at least, they don't admit to it."

"And you're okay with that?" I asked, catching myself (and ignoring the second part of her statement).

"Of course I am," Majestic told her, a playful, amorous smirk across her face. "It was my idea, after all. It might be hard to see now, but Xero and Batty used to be a pair of shy, easily flustered nerds. They both liked each other, but neither knew how to..." She batted her frill at me as it turned a bright pinkish-purple (magenta, as it turns out), in what I could only assume was a lewd gesture. I made sure to go through the durians more slowly this time.

"So," She continued, "Doing my duty as Captain of the Guard, I took them both under my wings and showed them how to do their duties as King and Queen. If I also had some fun, and they wanted to add me into their throuple, then what better way to help my Tribe and Kingdom than by personally counselling them in both the battlefield and the bedroom?"

I ate another durian, trying not to think of what kind of "activities" they'd been getting into. "Alright then, and what about Fruit Bat?"

"We're friends. She knows I recognize her as Queen, and we're Rainwings. It's just something we do. The problem is..." She spun a durian on her talon, considering her words carefully, "...Well, you're a Nightwing."

I tilted my head curiously. "What's that mean?"

"You know what other dragons think of Nightwings, right? Your Tribe has built this reputation of being mysterious and powerful and cool and... well, kinda sexy." I felt my cheeks warm, and I focused on peeling my fruit as she continued, "Lots of dragons see Nightwings as desirable, certainly more than Rainwings. Combined with you being an actual Princess, and Batty being a commoner like the rest of us, it's easy to understand why she might feel insecure about you. Your engagement shattered her world."

Just like mom's death shattered mine, I thought sadly.

"I, um, I understand," I told her, "But you can tell her I didn't want an engagement when I came here."

'When I came here'? I chewed on a durian, confused. What's that supposed to mean? Surely I wasn't changing my mind already, was I?

"I'll tell her, though I don't know if it'll change things. Spirits knows how we're going to work this out. Xero's got a lot of making up to do, that's for damn sure." She popped the last durian in her mouth, chewing slowly in thought.

"Listen," She said after a moment, extending her paw to me. I handed her mine, her grip gentle. "If there's anything you need to talk about, that you don't want to tell Grandeur or Xero, you can come to me about anything, alright? You're a Queen now, and as a royal bodyguard, I promise to help you any way I can."

"Oh...Okay." I hoped I wasn't blushing too much. This dragoness was being so nice to me, so genuine, and - if I was perfectly honest with myself - she was kind of attractive in a bodybuilder kind of way. "Thank you. A-and I will."

"Good," She said, letting me go, suddenly getting out of her seat, "Now, if you don't mind, I have to go and check on my sloth. It's been really nice talking to you, Greatness. Would you be up for doing this again, tomorrow?"

"I'm looking forward to it." I told her, and I meant it. I might not have looked forward to spending hours going through Council documents, but I was looking forward to seeing her again...

Fruit Bat

Something was wrong with me. I didn't know what, but I could notice and feel these changes within. It was subtle at first; so obvious now, but I had no idea what to expect, or what was happening.

For one thing, I was hungry all the time. I'd spend so much time gathering fruit and vegetables, stuffing my face with every sweet thing I could find. Still, it was never enough. Worse, I started developing this... craving. I wanted something warm, and wet, and bloody. I wanted meat. Crocodile, jaguar, capybara, it didn't matter. I'd never had meat before in my entire life. Day and night, I'd find myself prowling the jungle, hidden in the trees as I stalked whatever poor, innocent creature caught my attention. A swift claw-strike, a tailwhip, even a few drops of my venom in their eyes or ears, and they'd be dead before they knew it.

The first couple times, the taste grossed me out so much that I ended up puking it right back up. But my craving persisted, and I forced myself to get used to it. Of all the animals, I found iguanas and anacondas to be the least awful, and often the only thing I could keep down. I still feel uneasy being around them, the memories and queasiness coming back every time I see one.

I hunted far from the Village, late at night, so that no one would see me kneeling over an animal, covered in blood. I think Sparkling might've known about it, the way he looked at me sometimes. He probably followed me around on my hunts, keeping me safe from other predators. At least he had the decency to keep my activities a secret.

For another thing, I was becoming short-tempered with, well, everyone. Dragonesses can get a little emotional before and after our "season" (our peak fertility), and I wasn't an exception to that. But this was different. I was getting riled up so easily, snapping at whatever or whoever triggered my wrath.

Magnificent got it the worst. I feel bad for what I did to her, even though she had it coming. I'd been taking a break from tending the orchard, gathering seeds to start another, when I felt someone behind me.

"Oh, how the mighty have fallen." I heard that arrogant, snooty voice sneer. I tried to ignore her, focusing on gathering up as many seeds as I could. She'd been petty and broody ever since Xero and I started dating (and rejected her). The "most beautiful queen in the jungle" had been reduced to hatchling-sitting duty and menial labor, and the line of suitors outside her hut seemed to fly away onto better prospects. I almost felt bad for her. Almost.

"It must be so sad," Magnificent continued, "To be rejected by someone you thought loved you. He tells you how special you are, how smart you are, how pretty you are, just so he can turn sun-time into fun-time. Then, when he's had his fun, he tosses you aside like a latrine leaf, and flies over to pick some fresh new fruit." I could feel my scales turning orange, but I continued picking.

"Can't say I blame him," Magnificent continued, "I mean, Greatness actually is a Princess, from the most prestigious kingdom in all of Phyrria. Tanwen is a Princess, too, now that I think about it. Why, he's becoming a real 'King of the South', isn't he? Taking kingdom after kingdom, picking up Queen after Queen, all while you toil away here with all the shrubs like everyone else."

I felt my scales turn red, the anger within me burning hotter and hotter. My claws were wrapped around a mango, squeezing it into a pulpy mass in my paw. Still, the clueless, bitter THOT prattled on, "Yes, Our King has a thing for larger girls, doesn't he? Princess Greatness, Majestic, his old boss. I suppose I came on too strong, and I scared him off the first time. Virgins can be sooo easily intimidated by a strong dragoness who knows what she wants. But now that he's got some experience under his wing, maybe he'd give me a second chance. Spirits knows he could use another female who can take his-"

I snapped. The next thing I knew, there was a CRACK! as my tail slapped Magnificent's face. Hard. A thick, red welt appeared over her muzzle, tiny beads of blood already starting to appear. She stepped back as she covered her face, her scales turning a bright white of pain and fear.

"You...You hit me." She whimpered, looking back at me with wide-eyed disbelief. "I can't believe you just-"

"SHUT UP!" I hissed, rearing up to face her. My frill was flared, every part of me an angry, violent red. "You listen to me, and you listen well! You don't talk to Xero like that. You don't talk to me like that. Until the day I'm no longer part of the Council, you will treat me as your Queen, and you will treat me with respect. Is that clear?"

She stared back at me in abject fear, nodding quickly and taking a step or two away from me. I gave a low, angry hiss, and she scampered off, turning invisible before she passed the first tree. I stood there by the tree, breathing deeply, trying to calm myself down and understand why I did what I did. I'd never felt that angry before, and I'd never struck another dragon before. Magnificent might've had that coming, but Rainwings don't fight like other dragons do. Even in my current state, I knew that what I did went over the line, and that something was wrong with me.

Of course I don't tell anyone about this - it's none of their business - but some of the other Rainwings started giving a wide berth after that. I don't know if Magnificent told anyone about our fight, but they were noticing something different about me. My pink scales were now red more often than not, as my mental state soured more and more. Most dragons kept their distance from me, except for Grandeur and Maggy and, well, Xero.

My Sandwing was persistent, visiting me almost every sun-time, offering to cuddle up with me like we used to. Sometimes I had to rebuff him, his approaches reeking of desperation. But other times, that pull between us was so strong I had to let him back in the hammock. Feeling his legs and wings wrap around me again, feeling his heat and the tickle of his breath on my neck, it made me almost forget everything that happened. I wanted us back. I wanted it so bad.

But then, like any pleasant dream, they had to end. Grandeur or Flying Fox or Majestic would come asking about something, or (Spirits forbid!) Greatness would pass by while talking to someone, and like bright sunlight, I was reminded of the truth. You betrayed me. You cast me aside. You value the opinion of a pretty little princess over me. I'd run off as soon as I could then, to get away from him and so he wouldn't see me cry.

Of course, it was only a matter of time before Majestic found out what I'd been up to. I'd just come back from another successful hunt, and a full belly had dulled my senses, leaving me caught off-guard when the much larger Captain of the Guard appeared in front of me, looking so much like a mother catching her dragonet with the hard cider.

"Oh, hey Maggy," I greeted, trying to sound casual and innocent, "Are you looking for a sun-time spot? I think I found a-"

Her tail stroked the top of my head, and came back red and sticky. She sniffed it, and grimaced. "Out hunting, I see?"

"All the other tribes seem to enjoy it," I said quickly, "So I figured I'd give it a shot. You ever had snake meat before? It's delicious."

"You don't eat meat." She pointed out.

"Maybe I want to try something different. All the other tribes do it. I want to see if it's as good as they make it out to be."

"What's going on, Batty?" Her expression didn't change - she wasn't buying it. "I heard on the grapevine that you got into a fight with Magnificent."

"Yeah? So?" I retorted defiantly, "The bitch needed to be put in her place. The way she was talking about us..."

"I'm sure she deserved it," Maggy conceded, "But that wasn't for you to do as Queen. It's unbecoming."

"Am I still a Queen?" I demanded, "Are you sure I haven't been replaced by the Princess? At this point, maybe my title is just a formality!"

"That's not fair, Batty," She chided, "You know Xero respects your advice above everyone else. Even if you aren't together, he still wants to be your friend."

"I highly doubt-" I stopped, as I heard laughter in the distance. Familiar laughter. Looking behind Majestic, I saw them - Xero and Greatness - walking down a path. Even from far away, I could see his smile, and hear the Nightwing's pretty little laugh. It was probably about something that happened at the meeting or historical happenstance between their kinds, but in that moment I was absolutely certain they were laughing about me. I felt an angry flame erupt within me, and my scales must've been beet-red as I started moving in their direction.

"Whoa, hey, what're you doing?" She demanded, stepping in front of me, "You're not going to talk to them like this."

"Know your place, bottom bitch!" I snapped, and immediately regretted. She squinted at me, as if really seeing me for the first time in weeks. "I'm sorry!" I apologized quickly, turning an embarrassed pink and white, "I didn't mean-"

Thank the Spirits I never had to fight her in an actual battle, because in that moment, she demonstrated how hilariously outclassed I was. Before I even had time to think, my back was on the ground, her tail wrapped around my forelegs, my mouth clamped in her paw, as she towered over me.

"Don't move." She ordered in her drill sergeant voice, and any impulse of resisting bled out of me. Her free paw went to my belly, carefully feeling around and squeezing softly. I felt her talons close around something hard - something I knew wasn't bone. Her eyes went wide, her scales flashing white. I writhed out of her grasp, rolling away and keeping low.

"Batty," She gasped, "You're-"

"I know!" I snapped, looking away. "I know..."

"Does Xero know?" She asked.

"...No."

"Batty," She chided, using that "disappointed mother" voice that did nothing to improve my mood, "You have to! He's our King, and those would be his-"

"What about you?!" I challenged, "Have you checked yourself yet? You were with him just as much as I was. Hell, you've been with him since the break!" She looked down, turning an embarrassed pink.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," I sniffed, "Have you been having odd cravings, too? Mood swings? Odd stomach pains? And you haven't told Xero either, have you?"

"I'm not his Queen," She deflected, "My eggs aren't automatically his heirs. Yours are."

"Yeah, well, he hurt us by keeping us in the dark with his decisions. It's only fair we do the same. He'll find out about us after we've laid, same as everyone else." She just stared at me, and sighed.

"Just be careful when you're out hunting," She cautioned, turning away, "It's not just your life on the line."

I rolled my eyes as she left. What I didn't know was just how prophetic she really was...

Greatness

The next couple of weeks were all blurred together. I woke up around 10 or 11 in the morning, put on my jewelry, and did a quick walk around the Palace and the Village to familiarize myself. I'd have lunch with Maggy, and we'd talk about this and that, as she'd offer me different Rainwing dishes to try. Afterwards, I'd return to my chamber, going over the various scrolls and documents Grandeur, Xero or the messengers provided for me to study. In the evening, I'd have tutoring sessions with Grandeur, as she'd teach me how to become a proper Queen. Some nights Xero would invite me to dinner, and we'd talk about our days, our lives before now, our homes. After that, I'd spend the nights staying up with Stonemover, helping him with his lessons, talking about his day, and together we'd head to bed around 2 AM.

It wasn't all that exciting, especially compared to what happened last month. Reports were few and far between, as the war had entered a stalemate, the Coalition and Nightshade's forces both preparing for another round of battle. But really, my life back on the Islands wasn't any more lively. If anything, being honest with myself, life in the Rainforest was a LOT less stressful.

The biggest reason for it all was... Xero, honestly. For starters, he listened to me. When we had our meetings, he encouraged me to speak my mind, add my input to plans, bring an outsider's perspective. He didn't take all my suggestions like spineless yes-drake, but when we disagreed, he'd explain his reasoning or where I was wrong. He respected me as a partner, an equal. Something that Battlewinner never really did.

For another... Well, perhaps mom was right, and I was a foolish romantic, but Xero really was a charming gentledrake. We'd have long conversations about politics or science or history. We'd share dinners together as the sun set below the canopy. We'd watch the moons and stars at night, sometimes talking about old myths and legends, and sometimes just enjoying the beauty and majesty of nature. I found it harder and harder to view him as my kidnapper and enemy, and more and more as a host and a friend. And an attractive one, at that.

Spirits, it sounds so silly now, but the longer I spent around him, the more handsome he seemed to become. When he started talking passionately about a subject, I found myself gazing into his deep brown eyes, or trailing the black stripe along his neck and sides, or marveling at how muscular his forelegs were. Sometimes, when we looked at the stars, I'd risk leaning against him, only to be surprised by how warm he was. If I closed my eyes, I could imagine myself resting against the rock walls of the island, feeling the warmth of the volcano against my scales.

Then again, maybe my heart was just broken, and I was looking for anyone to help pick up the pieces. But I was starting to understand how Fruit Bat and Majestic had fallen for him. Maybe I was the dumb, naïve little girl Battlewinner thought I was. Maybe he wasn't trying to woo me - maybe he was just trying to soothe his guilty consciousness and befriend a sad, lonely orphan - but he was wooing me all the same. I think Mastermind once told me that dragons could adapt to any situation, if given enough time to adjust. Maybe I didn't know better, being so young and inexperienced, but as quick as it all was, I didn't want to fight it. As much as I missed my old life, I didn't want to go back. Not anymore.

Things came to a head around the second week of my stay, during another evening dinner with Xero. They'd started off so awkward and tense, but by that night I'd gotten used to them, even kind of looking forward to them. At least with the King of the Sandwings, I could expect more meat in my meal than fruit.

"So," Xero said, snapping me out of a momentary distraction, "I've been thinking. You've been doing wonderfully in the council. Everyone's proud of you, none more than me. But... do you want to do anything different?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, in-between bites of roasted jaguar.

"I mean, yes, you agreed to participate in our meetings, and you've shown quite a bit of insight and talent, but all this time I've been wanting to ask if... If there was something you wanted to do."

Go home and cry, I thought, even though I didn't know where my home was, anymore. Mother hadn't asked me that question since I was a hatchling. I'd become used to others telling me what to do, and having every part of my life scripted and written up for me. And now this stranger... Now Xero was asking me what I wanted to do with my life. And the sad truth of it all? I had no Spirits-damned idea.

"...I don't really know." I admitted quietly. I looked up and scratched my neck, hiding my rapidly blinking eyes. I wasn't going to cry in front of him. I was stronger than that.

"Alright then," He said understandingly, "If that's the case, I might have a job for you, if you're so inclined." I stared back at him, forcing down a bite of water buffalo. I nodded, urging him to go on. "There's a lot of Sandwing refugees in the Jade Mountains," He explained, taking another bite, "I was planning on visiting soon, but I'd need someone to stay behind and organize the whole thing. What I'd like to know is if that dragon could be you?"

"I... uh..." Why was I being so hesitant around him? I was a Princess and a Nightwing, and Xero was a gentledrake. I could be honest with him, couldn't I? "...I'd rather not. There has to be dragons with more experience than me. I don't know anything about refugees-" Except being one, maybe, I left out - "-And they should have someone who knows what they're talking about."

"Hey, it's alright. Don't beat yourself up over it." He leaned in, close enough we were almost snout-to-snout. He smelled of smoke and iron, of course, but also lavender, I think. Had he been out gathering flowers for Fruit Bat? "You're a lot better at this than you give yourself credit for. You're a lot smarter, too. I've seen you get better and better every day. I'm proud of you, really."

When was the last time mom said that to me? I thought, feeling sad and guilty at the same time. He looked like he was going to say more, and I feared he'd pressure me into doing it (like SHE would), but instead, he merely added, "But if you don't feel up for it, that's okay. You should do what you want to do, Greatness. I just want you to be happy."

"You mean that?" I asked.

"Of course I do," He said, gazing into my eyes. He reached out and took one of my paws in his own. They felt warm and rough, like sandstone in the desert sun. "I won't make you do anything you don't want to do."

"What about the engagement?" I asked.

His eyes lost focus, as they often did when he was deep in thought. When he looked at me again, he placed his other paw over mine, and when he spoke again, he spoke like he was giving a solemn vow.

"I promise you," He said, "I will never force you to do anything you don't want to do. If you don't want to marry me, I can talk to Mastermind and we can work something out. Is that what you want?"

A few days before, I would've leaped at the chance to get out of that arrangement. But now? Now that I knew him, now that I had friends here? Choosing my words carefully, I said, "This... is a lot to consider. I need to think about this."

"Of course," He said, returning to our meal, "You take as much time as you need." We finished our meal, discussing more fun and trivial things. When we finished, he escorted me back to my room, as the moons began illuminating the jungle and the palace.

"So," He said, opening the door for me, "I hope you had fun tonight. Let me know when you've made your decision."

"I will," I told him, "And... Xero?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you, for being so nice to me."

He smiled, taking my paw into his again. "Thank you for being so patient and understanding. You are, by far, the best Princess I've ever met." He paused, and then, holding eye contact, he kissed my paw. I swear to the Spirits, I felt my heart flutter, as we stared into each other's eyes, and all the world came to a stop. Was this really happening?

"...I'll see you tomorrow." He said after a long time, stepping away from my door.

"...Yeah," I replied, closing the door, "See you then."

I waited until I heard him walk away, before hopping into bed, staring up at the moons as I tried to understand these feelings. Sometimes I wonder what I would've done, if he asked to come inside my room that night. I'm sure now I would've let him in, and let him go as far as he wanted to take it. And as I realized that, that was when I realized that I was starting to fall for him.

Oh, what would Mother think of me now?