Part One: Depression

Chapter 1: Day -5

Ray of light shone through thin veils of water surface, penetrating thick layer of water which flows between the surface and the seafloor. The sea, in the face of sunlight, reluctant to show its greatest treasure to the world as the seafloor reflected its light to all who marvel at them. Thousands of corals and seaweeds spread wide and long across the seafloor. Its length of hundreds of wingspans. Displaying its magnificently beautiful colors to the world. And between the vast numbers of corals, there is a canyon which contains one of Pyrrhia long kept secret: The Deep Palace.

The Deep palace was the underwater palace which resided by the royal family of the SeaWings and many other important SeaWing dragons. It was said to be the most marvelous place on Pyrrhia as it was swarmed with all kinds of creature such as the bright colors Parrot-fish, cute seahorses, and harmless docile reef shark which lay at the bottom of the seafloor. Had it not for its secrecy of its location, it might had been long destroyed by the raging wars between tribe; Most notably, the ongoing war of SandWing succession.

Unfortunately, she wasn't in the mood for sightseeing. Her teal scales glided across the sea, dodging fishes and dragons, while making her way to the canyon. Stream of water, warm and cool, intertwined and flowed through her iridescence wings as she hurried herself to one of the tunnels to the servant caves. She reached the cave and was please to found herself that she was, again, the first one to reach the cave. She quickly went to her chest, took her uniform and from another she took out brush and a mop. Then swam herself into the halls.

Today's schedule: the gathering hall.

She swam through the currents and slowly creaked open the doors to the hall. No one would be here now. The princes would still be asleep right now. She thought it would be the best time of the day to clean the hall as the princes loved to gather here for all sort of activities during the day. Compare to others, the gathering hall was more worn out than any others in the palace. But it is to be expected, there are about twenty-four princes in this palace, three more is about hatched. And most of the time, half of them would occupy this hall for most of the day. The images of the princes spending their time here floats across her vision. The younger one would play tags, racing against each other while the older one would be wrestling or just talking to each other. They never seem to have left each other alone for long.

Yet, it always reminded her of dreadful recurring events happening in this palace. There was no princess. There was one, princess Orca, died years ago. And another who was rumored to have been stolen by mythical 'Talon of Peace' for 'The Dragonet prophecy'. And since then, none of them had made it out alive in the SeaWing Royal Hatchery. Most of dragons believed there was an assassin prowling in the palace. Killing all the female royal eggs before they hatch.

Some say that Queen Coral had kill those eggs herself in order to rule the kingdom longer. Some even say that the palace its self was cursed. Cursed by Princess Orca when she had died fighting against Queen Coral for challenging the throne. That the royal hatchery no longer harbored a safe place for Queen Coral's daughter to incubate.

The thought itself send shivered down her spine. But she wasn't going to bother herself with those. She, like many hundreds of other servants, just another normal Seawing in this palace. She had no business in those whose job is to lead the kingdom and serve the greater good of her tribe. She just has a family to tend to and live her rest of her life peacefully as she could.

She stopped herself in front of a sculpture, resemblance of an old royal Seawing, and began to dust off the moss around it.

A flash of light caught her attention as she spun around to look at it. It was Tidal, the butler of the palace, head of all servants. Though he may have aged pass half a century, his scales shone bright aquamarine with stripes of pale green around his side as rays of light shot through the gaps of ceiling above. Just like his spirit, always energetic and radiant all around him. He signaled her to come to have a talk with him.

"Rainbow." He flashed with his scales. "The first one to duty as always."

She gave him a courteous bow as a response.

Seawing communicate with each other by ways of their scales all across their bodies. Some part of their scales were luminescence stripes and dots which they can lit up. Long ago, it was believed that SeaWing dragon were first communicate through voice just like any other dragons. Only after an ancient wise SeaWing came up with a brilliant idea and devise a method of communicate through flashing scales. Since then, SeaWings were able to communicate with each other by flashing to each other in combination of different scales and stripes for many thousands of years. This proven itself ever more important when one is in underwater.

"How is your life working in the palace?" Tidal flashed, ending with a lit dot of scales on his face which indicated a 'How' question.

"It has been good, wonderful, and great." She flashed back. "Times fly so fast when you're busy."

"Indeed. You have been working in the palace for a few months now. Since, I last hired you for the job." Putting his talon under and around his snout. "Sorry for my bluntness, but I have to ask whether you have any difficulties faced during the job?"

Difficulties. She has not really faced anything she had not able to handle. Sure, maybe there were some reluctant to provide help from other servants was a bit of annoyance. Maybe the sudden mysterious missing tools that she needed to perform was a bit of troublesome. And maybe, the interference from other princes who tried to flirt with her was a bit of nuisance. But all of them is nothing worth to complain about.

"No. All is fine." She reassured him. "It has been a pleasure working here."

Tidal stared at her, maybe just a bit too long before continued.

"I'm glad to hear that. Remember, I will do my best at keeping dragons living here happy. Even the ones working here. After all, happy dragons make happy places."

Rainbow returned a grin and nodded.

"In any case, I wish to talk with you on the preparation of feast." His talon whirled around and pull out a slate energetically. "The council of dragonet are anticipating the hatching was about to come around these few weeks. Two female dragonets. Can you believe it? After years and years of trying, Queen Coral might able to have not one, but two daughters again."

"We have to prepare decoration, feasting and a whole lot of cleaning beforehand." Tidal flashed his scale as he peered down through the list of items in the slate. "Though I must admit, we are a little short of talon for this. So, I would like to ask you lend me a talon on this."

"Me?!" Flashing her scales with startled expression. "Shouldn't a more senior, older and wiser maiden handle this? I'm not sure if I'm up to the task."

"Nonsense." He reassured her. "I'm saw your work. You did a splendid work on your cleaning duty. You are quick to catch up on the Royal etiquette. Your attentions to detail was remarkable." He looked up into her worried eyes. "Don't worry, we'll start small. I gathered that you like to organized small team focusing on cleaning the dining hall at the Summer Palace before the feast."

She nodded. Behind Tidal she saw the other servants were swimming across the hallway. No doubt starting their duty as she had. Soon enough, the princes would be awaking soon.

"Good. I'll send you the detail of later on. I have a meeting that is right around the corner. Have a good day."

"Before you go." Rainbow caught herself flashing before she could stop. "How is my grandfather?"

"Oh yes. I just received words that he had been transfer back to our healers. He's at the Garden of Wounded." He paused before continued. "Sorry but that's all I know. In regard your grandfather's sickness, you would have to see for yourself. The healer mentioned they would require few days before they could settle him down. So, give it some time."

Rainbow nodded. Bow down before she flashed.

"I'm grateful that you had taken us in, Tidal. My grandfather would had been long gone if it wasn't for you."

Tidal waved his talon, dismissing the gratitude.

"It was the right thing to do."

Then he swam away. And she hurried herself to clean the rest of the hall before the princes awake.

A flash of light flickered at the corner of her eyes before she turned to spot Mako at tunnel entrance.

"The butler's favorite." Mako teased.

"I'm just doing my job." Rainbow replied. Putting down a slate which had past to her earlier on.

They were in a cave which the servants used to rest, put away their tools and sometimes exchanges gossips. She was taking a rest after cleaning up the gathering hall. Maintaining a huge palace would require a lot of dragons, so there is a whole wing dedicated for the servants. For those required to be at the palace at all times, there are bedrooms prepared for them.

"Now, now. Humble as always." Mako smirked. "Didn't the butler visit you this morning? Some of dragons saw u working at hall of gathering this morning before butler gave us update meeting on the palace."

Gossips. Gossips.

Mako was one senior servants of the Royal SeaWing family. Bright blue scales with tinges of purple along her side. She move herself ever so gracefully from the cave entrance to her side. From what she knew, Mako's family had been in service for the royals for at least few generations. Her family had been renowned for their services. Some had even served close to the queen sides. It was no wonder Mako held the senior position in the palace to which she only needed report to those very few above her.

"He did. He told me about that Queen Coral's two daughters in the Royal Hatchery was about to hatch. And that we would be busy to be preparing many things for the hatching." Rainbow replied.

"Ah yes. He did tell us about it at the meeting." Mako smirked. "Anything else?"

"Also, that I would be organizing a cleaning team to tend to the dining hall at Summer Palace."

Mako flashed so sudden. She almost blinded by the intensity of it.

"Rainbow. You're handling that? Oh my. Shot straight up the ladder of life, aren't you? The Summer Palace."

The Summer Palace. She hasn't been there for a very long time. A twelve-level stone pavilion built on center of an island, its ceiling covered by the canopy of tree above and surrounded by high cliffs with cave holes on each of the levels. It was said that the whole pavilion was grown out of the corals which sounds so absurd. But then again, having a twelve levels monster structure was indeed an absurdity on its own. From top to bottom, the pavilion was studded with decorations of jewels and pearls. Symbolized the wealth and power of the SeaWing tribes. Only the senior servants of the Royal SeaWing was appointed to work there because the dragons who often visit them are the royal's families and the council.

"I don't know." Rainbow flashed uneasily. "I think he's trying to test me or something."

"Better than being unnoticed. Only the seniors get to work there. You must have done something to impress him. If you need any advises, I'm here. On the talon, I'm going to be preparing the decoration for the feasting AND" She emphasized with bright intensity. "I'm going to be running errands for the eldest prince."

"Prince Hammerhead?"

"Yes. Him." Mako replied gleefully. "He's going to be so busy preparing for all the invitation to all the nobles. He also tasked to do some speech which some of us are going to help in the rehearsal. I heard that he's considering to find a mate in the mist."

She gave a sigh as stream of bubbles coming out of her snout.

"Anyway, which one did you prefer?"

Rainbow was visibly confused by that question. One of the scales on the side of her snout lit to indicate 'what' question before she could stop herself.

"Don't be such a jellyfish." Mako puffed. "Everyone knew that the servants here are finding their way into the Royal families. Or at least tried to. Well, the female one of course. There hasn't been any princess for the guys to pursuit. Haven't you notice the servants are mostly female?"

Rainbow shook her head and replied. "I haven't thought of it. I only came here to work."

And for my family. She thought.

"You're young and good looking. There's certain a chance for it." She flashed incredulously. "Anyway, you don't wish to tell. I won't force you. But do let me know if you do have someone in mind. Maybe we could work something out together."

Before Rainbow could stop her, Mako swam through the tunnel entrance and out where she came.

Oh, tidal and sea. What I'm I getting myself into.

She really hoped that she had not gotten on Mako's bad side. She shook herself sideways and thought.

Focus. Rainbow. Focus. The only duty you have here is be a good servant. Anything else might jeopardize your job must be avoided.

A vision of dream shot through her brain. She was sitting with one of the handsome princes. Her talon on his. His over hers. Her whole body embroidered with emerald jewel and a necklace chained around her neck which matches her green scales; Rings that studded with all kinds of precious jewel on both of her talons. Her prince right besides smiling at her. Feast and orchestral rolling out to celebrate their anniversary. The queen and king nodded their head approvingly. Her family seated around her applauding and giving their blessing.

But she forced herself back to reality. Knowing that was both unlikely to happen and a dangerous thought. Her only focus was to keep herself out of trouble, which means avoid meddling with the royal families. And hope for her grandfather to recover.

She picked her slate besides her, sliding it in her chest and wandered into the dining hall.