Chapter 3: Day 1

Rainbow had never really like questions in her life. Questions like 'Who is the great SeaWing Queen built the Deep Palace', 'Who's the greatest warrior in the SeaWing history', 'What's the name of Animus slayer?'; These questions often made her scratch her head inside out just to answer them. Her history teacher had given up on her that she would never have able to get any of those answers hammered into her head.

But last night, millions of questions were flooding in her mind. First of all, why Prince Turtle had suddenly swam out into the sea? Where did the strange coral go? And Snapper. How did she end up there? Why was she killed? How did he knew where was Snapper? Or was it just a coincidence?

She heaved a sigh while her talons wiped the algae off a SeaWing Royal statue. As many tests in the past had proven, she wouldn't able to figure out these answers by just pondering about it. Probably that was why she stuck with a cleaning duty instead of a scribe in the Deep Palace.

It seems like every day there were new mysteries unresolved. But she had one answer. A scout had confirmed that a nearby underwater volcano had erupted causing an earthquake. The rumour of possible volcanic eruption had been apparently true. Just little off with its timing. The council had sent guards to evacuate nearby SeaWing villages just to be safe from the spewing volcano. She hoped no one was hurt but she was just as grateful that she and the prince weren't close to the volcano just as it erupted.

Just as she was finished cleaning the statues, groups of SeaWings had starting entered the gathering halls. Slowly filling the hall with luminesces flashes and gestures. They were the SeaWing princes. Each of them staying with their own clutches.

Wait. Wasn't it way too early for them to gather here for fun and games? Didn't the princes have their duty to tend too?

As the hall filled with the princes, the servants were ushered in as well. All of them gathered in the around the hall, talking to each other. Rainbow joined the servants at the back and glancing around. Wondering why half of the palace dragons were gathering here.

Until she saw a large SeaWing, with deep navy scales and with his aquamarine luminescent stripe lit, swam into the hall. Followed by two smaller SeaWing behind him closely and one green SeaWing further back. The large SeaWing has his scales glow in slow pulses. Emitting soft but determined aura around him. A sense of authority none other than a royal SeaWing was able to confidently possessed them.

It was Prince Hammerhead. The eldest of all SeaWing Princes. He swam to the far end of the hall where a raised platform was and there he stood. His strong, burly muscle wings outstretch from side to side, shapes of spiral and starbursts along his wing membrane lighten up. Catching every dragon's attention in the hall. No doubt exhibiting his unquestionable authority over his audience.

Beside Prince Hammerhead was two other princes whom followed him closely behind. And on the other side was the green SeaWing. Who had his head bowed and wings folded into himself. He looked as if he was going to huddle himself into a green puddle and disappeared.

"Yesterday. Was a terrible day."

Pain shot through her eyes as Prince Hammerhead flashed as bright as a sun.

"Some of you may have already known. Two more of our sisters had been killed by the cowardly assassin in the hatchery."

Many of the servants were wide-eye, exchanging flashes with each other while the princes flared their wings and gills in response, their luminescent scales roaring with rage.

"Those dragonets. They were only weeks before the hatching but they were killed. Murdered in their sleep. Not knowing smell or taste of sea. A fate, I dare say, worse than death itself. An investigation team have been assigned to look for any clue of criminal. Searching every stones and corals. Hoping there would be any lead to the heartless creature who kill them."

Sensing uneasiness from the crowd. He paused. Shifting his wings before continuing.

"Though they may have fought valiantly. Or not. Our queen had sent execution orders on both council member of Dragonet Care, the chief and his deputy. She had personally taken action on one of them. May their soul find resting in cradle of the sea."

Snapper? Rainbow shaken by the thought. And probably Abalone too.

"As you all must know, the queen and king were not at all - pleased with this. Should you have anything of use to the investigation. Any witnesses or clues. Please make an arrangement with any member of the council or any of the royal members. Should your information prove to be any use, we shall reward you accordingly. Regarding any news about murderer, it would be best to refrain yourself from spreading any rumours and wait for Council's further notice."

The prince's eyes moved side to side. Inspecting two smaller SeaWing princes and a glare, much like a shark about to feed on its prey, at the green puddle on the other side.

"Furthermore, there is one more announcement I would like to make before we dismissed. As you know, the King himself have occasionally visited the Royal hatchery to check on the eggs. It was his last visit that he found out the chief council of Dragonet Care have fallen ill during his shift. For fear of leaving the ill-fallen chief alone against the assassin, the King sought help from these dragonets, who were happened to be near hatchery."

He waved his talons indicated the SeaWing dragonets at both of his sides.

"Admirably, one of them had offered himself to help our king. But he failed to do what needs to be done. Which ultimately led to the death for both of the princesses. From what we gathered from our king and these two young princes, Cerulean and Octopus, that he had been fiddled around the palace. Fooling around the coral reef. Taking his sweet time swimming around instead of looking for help."

As if a stone statue had turned alive, Prince Hammerhead turned towards the green SeaWing on his side. Pinning the little SeaWing to the ground with his menacing gaze.

"Turtle of the SeaWing Prince. Son of Queen Coral and King Gill. I hereby sentence you to your punishment: Isolation. For failing your task at its utmost importance, neglecting your duty which resulted death of two SeaWing princesses. Your term shall be carried from today onwards until…

Indefinitely."

Rainbow stared at the green SeaWing, then at the Prince then back again. Stone cold glacier had suddenly formed inside her mind. Freezing her from inside out.

Prince Turtle killed the SeaWing princesses?

Rainbow caught herself right at the entrance to the Garden of wounded. Her mind was still spinning from gathering. The idea of a prince killing his own sisters echoed in her mind like an empty chamber. Reverberated on every stroke of her swim.

It was past evening as Rainbow slow inched herself into the coral reef. It was therapeutically beautiful resting place for SeaWings who had served the kingdom well. Few of the coral beds were occupied with wounded soldiers who fought the war above. Some had gashes on their sides and one of them even had ripped a hole wide open under her wing. All of them were laying there, emitting a faint glow at a peaceful pace. She wondered if any of them missed their family or vice versa.

Some of healers were swimming around, checking patient's seaweed bandage and consoling them. She felt sorry for them. Both the soldiers and the healers. It was a war that nobody is going to win but everyone is going to suffer. Sometimes in her mind, she would curse Blister, the second sibling of the SandWing Princesses that she would one day drown on her way into the Summer Palace. It was her fault that dragged the SeaWing Kingdom into an unnecessary war. And rumour has it that it was her fault that the SeaWing lost their alliance to MudWing. Her fault…

Rainbow shook herself. It was not the time to ponder about the war. Someone precious of hers was here and she had to find him. Somewhere around here.

"Rainbow."

A flash of light. Warm, yet familiar to her eyes. She turned around to find a SeaWing with his wing coloured in jade scales outstretch to welcome her.

"Grandpa Bony."

She swam across the reef. Gently, she brushed her wings against his, from end to end and caressed his talon with hers.

"Good grief. Was it really that long?" He flashed.

"Too long. Too lengthy. Too wait-y." She settled beside him. "I got your slate that you sent me days ago and all I wish was to rush here to find you. But the butler told me that you needed some rest after you had just arrived. So tell me. Where have you been and what happened?"

"It's nothing much." His grin instantly melted her heart. "Dragged around the around world to find the perfect cure. That's all."

"Nothing much indeed." She flashing her amused scale.

"Actually, around the sea would be more appropriate. From the Summer Palace, to the most beautiful reef. The highest coral mountain to the deepest trench. I think I have met all the SeaWing healers by now."

All of them? She thought with dismay.

"Now, now. I know that look when I see one." He consoled her with another of his talon. "They are working on it. I promised you; they will find a cure so don't go stressing yourself needlessly."

He continued.

"Besides, why would any young snapper wanted to hear story of an old dragon. Let hear yours. How's your days in this grand palace."

Snapper.

She quickly pushed away the horrified Images of her body and smiled.

"It's had been eventful days. Have you heard the news?"

Her grandfather nodded. Glanced behind her at the healers who were working.

"They told me about it. The death of heirs to the SeaWing throne. How dreadful. At this rate, we might not only lost princess. The whole kingdom might throw into chaos if the queen dies. Like once the MudWing Kingdom. No queen. So many deaths."

"Queen Coral wouldn't die, would she?" Rainbow flashed.

"At times of war, I'm afraid we'll never knew."

Rainbow followed her grandfather's gaze. The solider beside them were wincing against the healer who was trying to change his seaweed bandage.

"Fear not. There is an heir even if the queen does pass away. I knew the Defence Commander had a daughter who can inherit the throne." He said.

"I was assigned a new task." Trying to steer the subject of war away as she brushed his wing. "Well, I was supposed to be at the Summer Palace. And – Oh, did you saw how beautiful, pretty, gorgeous that place was? It was full of coral reefs around the island and the pavilion was incredibly huge, monstrous and- "

"Yes dear, yes." Grandfather Bony chuckled. "I told you I had been everywhere. Even the Summer Palace. Haven't I mentioned that?"

"Yes, grandpa. But what you didn't know is that I was assigned to taking care of one of the dragonet princes."

Her grandfather's eyes shone with sense of pride as her heart swelled like a balloon going to explode. But it made her difficulty to continue her next line.

"Who's the lucky prince?" He asked.

"I'm thinking of backing out of it." She replied.

Her grandfather's gaze moved away from her. Soft and undemanding. Patiently awaited her answer.

"It's Prince Turtle. He…" She explained. "He killed his un-hatched sisters. And I don't think I can babysit a killer like that."

"Where's he now?" Her grandfather asked.

Rainbow last saw Prince Turtle was at the Gathering Hall. When Prince Hammerhead finished his announcement and the crowd dispersed, she stayed back. Prince Turtle had not moved ever since he was there. Hugging into himself with his wings and tails so that he took as little space as he could. Trembling, like a pudding wobbling on an uneven plate.

She felt she should but she could not bring herself to comfort him. So, she hid herself behind one of the pillars and watched. Prince Turtle lifted his wings and peeked through them. Once he noticed everyone was gone, he swam quickly out of the hall and into the sea. Never once looked back.

"He's could be at the Summer Palace now." She replied.

She followed him into the sea and thought that he might be swimming towards there.

"How old is he?"

"Two."

"You should go and look for him."

"What? Why?"

Her grandfather shifted on his bed before continued.

"A two-year-old dragonet would never go out his way to kill his sister. It must be some sort of accident. No dragon born in this world just to harm his sibling. Have to ask anyone for what had actually happened?"

Rainbow shook her head and flashed. "But the eldest prince said so. He said that the prince had forgotten his duty and cause the death of princesses."

"Rainbow". Her grandfather smoothed her talon in his and stared into her eyes. "Don't make the mistake of thinking that a result of an action is the cause of one's intent. There can be evil dragon doing good things for all the wrong reason. And good dragon doing the wrong things for all the right ones. "

"And my guess that it was later." He finished with tone of finality.

Rainbow gave that a thought before finally she replied.

"I wished I could."

She explained that just before Prince Hammerhead dismissed the crowd. He had explained to everyone regarding the 'Isolation' punishment. Basically, all dragons should maintain minimum contact with the prince. Which means given the least amount of word and emotion support. Provide only the necessity and none other. All princes are enforced with the rule while the servants are encouraged to join in.

"But how are you going to do your duty without breaking that rule?" Her grandfather stroking his chin. "Besides, it's not breaking rules if one is 'encouraged'."

He grinned in response of her confused look.

"Nevertheless, it's best to find out the other side of the story and decide upon them. And…"

"I'm sorry." A Healer came beside them and flashed. "The visitation hour is over."

Rainbow looked longing at his grandfather in which he replied.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to dissolve into the water and disappeared. I'm here whenever I'm needed."

"Alright. Until next week?"

Her grandfather nodded. She left while watching the healer tending her grandfather's need.

She wondered what the little prince would say. Would anything able to excuse the death of two princesses?

But most importantly, where is Prince Turtle?