Swordfish whirled around to face Vine. "We need to go. Now." He whispered. "Why?" She asked. "I want to see what Expendable has to say. Maybe this dead dragon is linked to Adnachi-whatever." "Adnachiel hunts dragons who mess with the order of the worlds." Swordfish said, and only now did Swordfish realize what that meant about Rainfall.
"I don't think anyone in this world could really do some damage to the worlds." Swordfish argued. "The dragons here, they didn't seem capable of knowing they were in a story. I think this death was supposed to happen. Adnachiel didn't do it." "Well, that Rainwing and her Nightwing friend seemed pretty mean." Vine said. "How do we know they didn't do something to mess with stuff?"
Swordfish paused. That Rainwing was just mean, but the Nightwing, Twister, gave off some sinister vibes. Swordfish and Vine watched in silence as Tsunami got answers out of Expendable. The dead dragon was named Islet. Suddenly, an Icewing cried out. "She was the only realistic character here, albeit an insignificant background one, but at least she had a good name!" The Icewing stopped descaling his trout and stared at his talons. "I can't believe it. I can't believe it. We had one decent dragon in our winglet, and someone had to go kill her."
Swordfish stared at the Icewing. Everything he had just said contradicted what Swordfish had thought about the dragons in this world. He was fully aware. He knew this dead dragon was a background character.
Swordfish was faced with two options. Stay here like Vine wanted and find out more about this Icewing, and what he might know, or run away from the high-pitched noise that Swordfish had figured out was inexplicably linked with Adnachiel. Swordfish watched as Oceancurse said that she would avenge Islet, and then she turned to the Icewing. "Subzero, I promise I will get justice for her."
Subzero. Swordfish thought. If anyone here knows anything, it would be him. Vine began walking forward. "What are you doing?" Swordfish whispered. "I'm going to go talk to Expendable." Vine said. Swordfish grabbed her wing. "Don't." Swordfish said. "Can you imagine falling for someone that isn't even from your universe? Don't you think the visitor that rules this world would already have someone for Expendable?" That made Vine stop. Falling for someone outside of your own universe, a love that could never be, because you shouldn't even exist to one another.
Swordfish continued to watch as Oceancurse gave a speech to the prey center, talking about saving them all, and being relatable. Subzero walked over and sighed. He nodded slightly to Oceancurse. "I'll help." He said, sounding exasperated. "If only to make sure I'm not killed before writing my exposé of this institution."
Swordfish and Vine watched from the sidelines until a Sandwing showed up, and began talking to Oceancurse. "You can help too, Hotness. I'm sure you'll be a big help. I mean, like, like with the mystery and everything. That 'big' comment wasn't innuendo or anything. Because that would be totally inappropriate." Oceancurse said, turning pink. Vine nudged Swordfish. "What does 'innuendo' mean?" Swordfish stared at Oceancurse a bit longer. "It means the visitor is having some fun."
As the group that was going to investigate the dead body was leaving, Swordfish ran up to Subzero. "Excuse me." Swordfish said. Subzero looked at Swordfish and tilted his head. "Who are you?" He asked. "My name is Swordfish, and I need to ask you if you know about the demons, and the visitors that control us all." Subzero stared at Swordfish. "Seriously? I really did not need more weirdos." Swordfish opened his mouth to talk again, only for Vine to lightly thwack him with her wing. Subzero walked off, and Swordfish turned to Vine. "What?" He said impatiently. Subzero was getting away.
"She's here. We have to go." Vine said, and she pointed out the opening of the prey center. Swordfish could see the form of Adnachiel, bow slung over her shoulder. Her dark eyes once again made contact with Swordfish's. She didn't draw her bow. She just stared. Swordfish and Vine ducked behind the large figure of Clay who was passing by. Adnachiel was far enough away that nobody else had noticed her, and Swordfish wondered how Vine had been able to.
The two dragonets ran off out of the prey center. "Is there a safe place to open the rift where we won't attract attention?" Vine asked as they rounded a corner. My cave. Swordfish immediately thought, and then remembered that the new caves most likely didn't exist here. "The art cave." Swordfish said. "Nobody ever goes there."
When Swordfish and Vine got to the art cave, Swordfish took off the necklace. "Do you want to do the honors?" Swordfish asked, smiling at Vine. He was trying to lighten the mood. "Sure." Vine said. "I probably am going to need to learn to do this anyway." Vine took the necklace from Swordfish and put it on. "Okay, so I put out my claw…" She began. "And then imagine the rift opening in front of you. Like you're tearing a piece of cloth." Swordfish said. Vine concentrated, and then the rift opened.
The two dragonets began to walk into the rift, when they heard a voice. "What in Pyrrhia?" They turned to see a Nightwing dragonet staring at them, his eyes wide. Swordfish recognized him as Mightyclaws. He had an assortment of paintbrushes with him. "What is that?!" Mightyclaws asked, gesturing to the rift with a trembling wing. "Who are you?!" He then said, staring at Swordfish and Vine. Swordfish acted without thinking. He grabbed a stand with a canvas on it, and tore off the canvas. He chucked it at Mightyclaws. It hit him square between the eyes. Mightyclaws fell to the ground, out cold. Swordfish and Vine stared at the unconscious dragon. "Nice throw." Vine finally said. The two entered the rift, and it closed behind them.
The rift lead to a large bush. Swordfish went in first and got a face full of prickly branches. Vine came through after him, and laughed. "It's just like the bushes in the rainforest!" And then she stopped. "I just remembered something! The bushes I used to play in when I was young. I would jump off of trees and land in them." Vine was suddenly interrupted by the sound of dragons cheering. Swordfish peeked out of the bush to see that they were definitely in the Sky Kingdom. The mountain town was filled with Skywings, most of them walking with their families towards a giant arena. "Oh dear." Swordfish muttered under his breath. He turned back around to Vine. "We're in the Sky Kingdom." He said, and Vine perked up. "Isn't that a good thing?" She asked. "Won't Queen Ruby help us?" Swordfish looked worriedly at the group of Skywings headed into the arena. "Ruby didn't do the gladiator fights. That can only mean that her mother, Scarlet, is queen right now." "Do you think Scarlet will help us?" Vine asked hopefully. Swordfish turned to look Vine in the eyes. "Scarlet was possibly one of the worst queens in history. If she is queen now, that also means we're deep into the War of Sandwing Succession. They'll kill me on sight."
They waited until the group of Skywings had filed into the arena. Okay. Swordfish thought. So, I should probably head to Queen Coral for help, as she is the only one that won't kill a Seawing trespasser. But what will I say to her? How will I be able to convince her, let alone get an audience with her? What would the council think? Should I warn the queen about Anemone going crazy? Should I drastically change the course of the war?
Swordfish suddenly realized that Vine had left the bush, and was walking towards the edge of the arena, which now had cheers echoing out of it. Swordfish looked around, and then quickly flew out of the bush to catch up with Vine. "What are you doing? Didn't I just tell you that Scarlet was a dangerous queen? She's probably in there right now!" Swordfish shook his head. Vine had no regard for her own safety. "But you don't know that." Vine said. "And don't you want to know what's going on?" Swordfish paused when he heard the announcer announce the two combatants. "After last month's battle with Blaze's army, our queen's dungeouns were stuffed with Icewing prisoners of war. Only nine have survived. After two wins, I give you – Fjord of the Icewings!" The dragon's voice boomed through the arena, and Vine took a look through a small hole in the arena wall. Swordfish sighed and looked through too. They could see a good part of the arena from the hole, and the large Icewing lashed his tail at his opponent, which Swordfish could not see.
"And in this corner, an unusual case – a Mudwing, but not one of our allies. No, this dragonet was found hiding under our mountains, protected by the Talons of Peace. Is he one of the dragonets of destiny? Not if he loses this battle!" Swordfish's mind suddenly clicked. That's it! The dragonets of destiny and the Talons of Peace! They would help! Vine looked up at Swordfish. "Clay? Like the Mudwing that rushed out of the doors in the weird grass world?" Swordfish nodded.
The announcer continued. "If these prophesied dragonets are as wonderful and legendary as they're supposed to be, this should be a showdown to remember. I hope you're ready to impress us, dragon of the mud. I present to you… Clay of the Mudwings! Claws up, teeth ready! Fight!"
From Swordfish's point of view, it appeared that Clay was trying to talk to Fjord, but Fjord lashed out with his claws, and Clay just barely dodged them. Clay continued to talk to Fjord, and Swordfish's eyes wandered up to the prisoners chained to the towers. He spotted a lone Nightwing, most likely Starflight. He saw a Seawing, itching himself like a dog, and Swordfish had a bolt of realization that that was Gill, the old King of the Seawings, who had been killed in Scarlet's arena after going insane from a lack of water. Swordfish managed to drag his eyes off of Gill. He knew he couldn't save him, and even if he did, it would only affect this world. If Swordfish ever found a place like home, Gill would still be dead. Swordfish resumed watching the fight.
Clay continued to try and talk to Fjord, but Fjord took a deep breath, calling the snowstorm inside him, and then blasted Frostbreath in Clay's direction. A bit hit Clay's wingtips and he made a face of pain. Swordfish cringed. He was never able to understand why the Skywings enjoyed the arena. The crowds applauded the fight as it went on, and Swordfish noticed Vine was watching the fight, obviously repulsed at the crowd's reactions. They probably didn't have things like this in the Rainforest. Even if she couldn't remember it, she still had an upbringing there. Swordfish suddenly stopped to ponder that. If you couldn't remember your upbringing, would it still have an effect on how you live and react to things? If there was an Icewing who couldn't remember anything of being raised as an Icewing, would he still think they were the superior tribe?
Swordfish shook it off, for he could not think about that right now.
Swordfish's eyes wandered up to Scarlet's seat, and he spotted Glory, resting on the small tree. "See her?" Swordfish pointed Glory out to Vine. "That's Glory. Before she was queen, of course." Vine stared at Glory. So did Swordfish. Part of him told him to look away, but he had always been curious about what the fated venom had looked like.
Suddenly, a commotion rang out. Swordfish and Vine looked up to see a Seawing trying to get off her podium. The chains held her down. "Hey that's…" Vine began, and Swordfish answered her. "Yep. Tsunami." Swordfish kept his eyes on Glory. He watched as she opened her eyes, and her jaws opened wide. She spat the venom down on Fjord, who began screaming. His screams echoed through the arena, cutting through the commotion of Tsunami and the crowd watching. Vine looked back down to Fjord, and then at Glory, and then Swordfish.
"She didn't… She wouldn't…" Vine said, but Swordfish just nodded. "She used her venom!" Vine said, with a betrayed look on her face. "And she's QUEEN?" Swordfish just watched as Fjord's face was eaten away by the acid. The flesh was turning black and crumbly. As the screaming stopped, the crowd cheered for Clay, and the Skywing soldiers took the body away and put Clay back to his podium. Swordfish turned and looked at Vine, who was staring at Fjord's body with a look of horror. Well, if Adnachiel ever gets close enough, Vine can just… No. No. I wouldn't force her to use her venom to hurt someone. Or SOMETHING for that matter.
But the announcer began to speak again. "Yes, that was quite the last fight, but now we have another special fight for you folks." The audience cheered, hungry for another special fight. "This time however, is something quite peculiar. On one side is a dragonet who was captured at the base of a mountain last night as a suspected spy. This is a dragon that no one has ever seen the likes of before, with barely any memory of who he is. I present to you, Static of the Unknown!"
Swordfish's eyes widened as a dragonet landed on the arena floor. He was silver, and had back spikes like a Nightwing. He had a large black scale design down his neck and onto his body. He had horns that were jagged, not smooth like others. Like a Seawing's but not as rounded. "What tribe is that?" Vine asked Swordfish. "I… I don't know!" Swordfish replied. What was this place? Why had none of the worlds been normal? "The announcer said he was unknown." Swordfish said. "Do you think he could know what's going on?" Vine asked, and Swordfish studied the dragonet's confused face. "I doubt it."
The announcer began introducing the other fighter. "On the other side, his opponent will be a confirmed spy that was caught working for Blaze. With one win so far, its Sahara the Sandwing!" Sahara landed in the arena, and Swordfish looked at her. She looked almost like Blister, what with the pale yellow and patterns as black as her eyes. Swordfish shuddered, remembering the dark eyes of the dragons he once knew in the old world, coming for him, bent on his death.
"And with that, claws up, teeth ready, fight!" The announcer finished, letting the crowd's cheers take over. Sahara immediately bolted towards Static, and when she was almost on top of him, Static faked a move to the left, and then did the complete opposite, taking a sharp right and ending up behind Sahara.
Swordfish smirked to himself. That was something he used to do against his brother Starfish. He would dodge his brother's forceful attacks, and end up behind him. "You're at least good at one thing, Swordfish." His father would say. "What's that?" Swordfish would ask, hopefully. "Running away! That won't do you any good as a guard in the palace!" Then his father would go back inside and leave Swordfish alone with Starfish.
Swordfish gasped. That was a new memory.
"Oh!" Vine said out loud when Static flung sand off the ground into Sahara's eyes. Sahara herself howled in fury, and began using her claws to get the sand out, lashing her poisonous tail around. Static stood there, looking around the arena. He was thinking.
Suddenly, Sahara looked right at Static, and charged at Static with a scream of fury. Static stood up tall, moving his legs, and then Swordfish and Vine took a step back as out of his mouth shot a bolt of lightning. Swordfish could hear the sound of the electricity crackling. Sahara went flying backwards and slammed down on the ground. Her body thrashed and shook, a look on her face unlike anything Swordfish had ever seen. Her mouth was open in a perpetual scream, but no sound. She stopped moving. Her scales on her chest began to turn black.
At first, there was silence from the crowd. Like everyone had become a mute like Sahara. Then they started cheering. Static looked at Sahara, defeated. Even though he was alive, he looked like he lost.
Swordfish was staring at Static from his hidden spot, when he heard a voice call out. "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?" Swordfish took a sharp inhale and turned around to see a lone Skywing soldier flying towards them. He wore the traditional helmet and the spear the Skywing army carried into battle. "Move!" Swordfish said to Vine. They took off.
Swordfish flew as fast as his tired wings allowed him. He was grateful Abyss had healed his wounds, and eased the pain. Vine was smaller than Swordfish, so Swordfish had her fly under him. But the Skywing was fast. He had the large wings of a Skywing, and he was full-grown. "Vine! Are you sure you don't want to use your venom?!" Swordfish called out. "Never!" Vine said. Swordfish sighed. They began to descend on the village that surrounded the palace and arena. Swordfish tried not to let the cries of a Skywing dragonet on a roof worry him. "Look! A Seawing! In the capital! I hope he dies!"
The Skywing was covering ground much faster than Swordfish. He and Vine were only keeping ahead because they had been further away when the chase began. Swordfish thought back to what Static had done in the arena. If he could just trick the guard…
Swordfish flew down much closer to Vine. "Follow my lead." Swordfish flew forward after Vine nodded. He started to lean right, like he was going to dash that direction. He waited until the Skywing put on a burst of speed in the right direction, and then Swordfish turned to the left, away from the village and into the mist coming off the mountain. Hopefully, the Skywing wouldn't be able to find them in it. He and Vine disappeared into the mist and the Skywing stopped, confused. He was still facing right.
Swordfish and Vine landed on a clearing and took deep breaths. "Good thinking." Vine said. "Thanks." Swordfish said, and then coughed. Vine's scales had lost their pale green hue, and were now attempting to become blue, as if she was trying to calm herself. "Where do you think we are?" She asked. Swordfish exhaled. "I don't know. Somewhere in the past, in the war, with that Unknown lightning dragon." He said. "That… I already know that." Vine said. "Well, you know just as much as I do at this point." Swordfish said. And then he felt claws on his back.
Swordfish fell to the ground. Vine turned invisible. The Skywing soldier was back. And he had the spear pointed at Swordfish's throat. Swordfish was pinned down by the soldier's legs, who raised the spear. "You think you could lose me? In my own hometown? You filthy spy." The soldier gripped the spear. "I should turn you in, but I think I'll just kill you right here. Just you and me here." Swordfish began choking out words. "Use… venom… use… it." "WHAT? WHAT VENOM?" The soldier cried out. Swordfish was right. Rainwing venom wasn't common knowledge at this point, and the soldier hadn't even seen Vine.
Swordfish waited for Vine to do something. He looked at the spot where she disappeared.
Nothing.
"Quit your blabbering! Prepare to die, you Blister-loving sea-snouted heirless…" The soldier never finished his sentence. He stopped, a look of shock on his face, and fell to the ground. Swordfish jumped up and Vine revealed herself, her scales red and green, anger and fear.
Out of the soldier's back, was an arrow. Lodged right in the small of his back. Swordfish looked in the direction it was fired from.
There she was again. Her dark eyes staring right into Swordfish's very being.
The soldier's body began to bleed from the wound as Adnachiel dashed forward, her prey sitting ducks.
Big thanks to Xtremesilly1563, Fatespeaker, and thegamersdragon for letting me use their stories. Go check them out!
On another note, has anyone ever looked at the cover image? What do you see…?