Hello! I am uploading this much sooner than usual, but I have a plan. I am going to upload this and Edge of Dawn on rotating weeks. So, this week it is Moons. Next, it is Edge. I actually did a cover for Edge, which can be found on my twitter and Deviantart. Additionally, I have a discord server! It can be found here. Plz be 16+: Discord . gg/mVZqEU3eSU If it doesn't work just DM me or something
It was a new day in the Sea Kingdom.
Tsunami sat upon her throne, eyes shut as she tried to contemplate the day's events. First was a regular briefing of the state of her kingdom. Things were running smoothly, all things considered. Tsunami was a natural leader, given things. But she barely got a day's rest. It was either trying to fix things on the outskirts of her kingdom, overseeing trade, and so on. It was exhausting, and she barely had time to spend with Riptide as a result.
Only in the rare quiet moments or at night did she get a chance to spend any alone time with her boyfriend. Riptide was understanding and helpful but Tsunami could tell that even he was not prepared for what the role entailed.
That wasn't even getting to the time when they'd have to make dragonets . Ugh. Tsunami did not want those little gremlins. Yet she knew that one day, she'd have to. Unless she planned on giving it over to Anemone or Auklet, and there was no way she was going to saddle this burden on them. Well, at least Riptide would enjoy the making part… oh, who was she kidding, she probably would too.
But, the biggest event of the day was meeting with Queen Snowfall. The two of them had become quick pen pals, bonding over their shared experience. Truthfully, when she first met the Queen, Tsunami did not have a good impression. Neither did most dragons. But now, almost four years later, they are meeting as friends.
Funny how time changes many things.
"Tsunami." Riptide snapped her out of her thoughts. They were in the Summer Palace, where Tsunami was conducting her business as to not make Queen Snowfall wait.
At the sight of the other Seawing, though, Tsunami's mood lifted tremendously. His handsome, blue scaled face oozed compassion. His eyes danced with both worry and affection. Riptide would make a good king indeed, if only for his ability to keep Tsunami calm when she wanted to hit something. Her lack of proper combat training was also getting to her these days…
"What broke this time?" Tsunami asked wryly, leaning on her palm. She lay on the throne, ordained with a beautiful pearl necklace and a crown. She hated both of them at first but had grown accustomed. The necklace in question, especially; it was her mother's most beloved piece of jewelry.
"Nothing, this time," Riptide said with a wink. "But, I wanted to let you know that I'm going to be returning to Sanctuary in a few days. Big transition period, what with our Pantalan Pals being recalled and an influx of refugees. I probably won't be gone for longer than two weeks, though."
"Ah yes, that whole mess," Tsunami grumbled.
The moment she heard of what happened to Possibility from Turtle, Tsunami couldn't believe it. A time of peace was finally upon them, and then a town was blown apart. Just her luck. She hoped she wasn't thrown into another war, but she doubted that would be the case. Although, her kingdom did have its own band of pirates that she needed to keep an eye on. If they teamed up with Vulture, the culprit of the attack, then who knew what could happen.
Well, they hadn't met her! Coral was no real fighter, relying on words. Tsunami? Oh, she'd wreck all of them and send them crying into the depths.
"Mess is an understatement." Riptide shook his head. "My friends almost died."
"I didn't mean mess in a - ugh, you know what I mean." Tsunami tried to correct herself, only to have the words die as she spoke.
"I know," Riptide smiled and nuzzled her quickly when no one was looking. "But, yes, I wanted to give you ample warning. I used Turtle's bowl to duplicate Dreamvisitors, too. I think Blue and the others will need it."
"Thank you for telling me." Tsunami held his claw firmly in response. Riptide was far, far too good for her. Always making sure his presence and intentions were known. Being there when she needed him the most. The two weeks he went to Sanctuary were going to be painful, but she would manage. After all, she had a ton of other support.
Who knew, maybe Snowfall had extreme coping tricks?
"Oh, and by the way, Queen Snowfall is here."
"I - Riptide!" Tsunami stood up in a flurry. "Why didn't you say something!?"
"Because I just saw her fly past." Riptide indicated outside. "Given how shiny Icewings are, I'm surprised you didn't notice."
"I was distracted by you." Tsunami scowled..
"Aw, I'm glad I take up so much of your attention."
Tsunami swatted at him as he laughed quietly.
The Summer Palace was a place that Tsunami found herself liking far more than the Underwater Palace. She'd spent so much of her time above the sea and getting used to the ocean and its confinements was… interesting. Not bad, but certainly not what Tsunami wanted to get used to. She missed the sounds of the world and having everything muted bothered her.
She'd trained herself to be a warrior. Someone who relied on her senses to guide her claws. Yet, hearing was all but gone, as was scent. If someone was coming up to her, she had a much more difficult time telling. Not to mention that everything moved that much slower underwater. In her training sessions with Shark, it took her ages to get used to the movements.
Tsunami knew she'd have to learn it. Didn't mean she didn't want to spend every chance she had in the Summer Palace.
Sure enough, though, as she walked out into the plant-filled courtyard, a small group of Icewings awaited. Although this was met on peaceful terms, both queens had agreed that it was best to bring an escort. Not because they feared attack from each other, but after Vulture's assault, anything was possible. Turtle's message had also indicated that something else was coming, but Tsunami hadn't had the chance to speak to him yet.
Admiring the scenery was the Icewing Queen in question. She was downright gorgeous , with sparkling white scales that held a glimmer of pink. That wasn't getting to her icy blue tiara and bracers, which only amplified her look. A cloak that looked like a shimmering aurora covered her back. Tsunami briefly wondered if that made her warmer, but knowing Icewings, that cloak probably did the opposite.
Her honor guards shimmered and sparkled alongside their queen, with royal blue and purple armor. They had a stiffness to them, but no hostility. Tsunami supposed that some traditions were dying quite slowly.
Her Seawing royal guards stood behind her, ready to leap in at a moment's notice, as did Riptide. Again, nobody feared an intertribal attack, but times were changing.
"Queen Tsunami." Queen Snowfall bowed graciously, an action Tsunami mimicked. Bowing was still difficult for her. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you in the scales once more."
"Same to you, Queen Snowfall." Tsunami smiled warmly. "The trip wasn't too bad, was it?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle." Queen Snowfall shook her head. "I've been here before, back when I had to meet Queen Coral over a supply route. Despite the heat, I find this place… pleasing."
"Oh, she never told me." Tsunami was surprised.
"You were teaching at Jade Mountain. I imagine a visit from another queen would not cross her mind to write about." Snowfall smiled thinly.
"No, I suppose not." Tsunami chuckled. "Let's get you inside. I don't want you to burn up after landing."
Tsunami led them inside, where a dining table had been set. Tsunami had to research what Icewings liked and made plans specifically for them. Admittedly, chilled meat sounded disgusting , but she supposed it made sense. Especially frozen fish. Bleh. But, Seawing eating habits must be strange for Icewings.
She chuckled at the imagery of Winter and Kinkajou discussing food. Although she hadn't seen the two of them since the funeral, Winter and Riptide had kept in touch and the latter shared some of the letters.
Tsunami made sure that the royal guard could eat as well, which was apparently strange for them.
"Things are changing slowly at home." Snowfall explained. "My mother and most queens before her had it that royalty dined by themselves, and to have anyone else join them was unheard of. However, as Queen, I require my guards to be at their best and within reasonable distance. Which means, dining with us," she added to her guard, who shifted uncomfortably.
Nevertheless, they did as ordered. They remained quiet though, averting gaze with their Queen, who gave Tsunami a sardonic look. Tsunami couldn't help but chuckle, noting that her guard was much less rigid. Tsunami had no time for formality; if someone wanted to say something, just say it. This applied to other areas. The happiness of her dragons meant happiness for her. As well as a lot less stress.
"How are you finding being Queen?" Snowfall asked pleasantly after they began to eat.
"Not as expected," Tsunami answered truthfully. "In more than one way."
"Mmm… I felt the same, as I said." Snowfall nodded understandingly. "At least you didn't have a cursed crown that made you more paranoid and hateful toward another tribe."
Tsunami nearly dropped her food at Snowfall's words. "Pardon?"
"Oh, yes, it turns out the Icewing crown was enchanted by Queen Diamond to make the wearer forever be hostile with Nightwings." Snowfall chuckled. Some of the Icewing guards shifted again. "This had a trickle down effect where other tribes were roped in. While not wearing the crown, I was still under its influence when I turned you and the Pantalans away."
"That… explains a lot." Tsunami eyed her own crown. She doubted it was animus touched, but she was now second guessing.
"Indeed." Snowfall laughed. "It is why I wear this tiara now. I think it fits my head better, in addition to being much less cumbersome. One day, I shall wear a crown again, but I am in no rush."
"I certainly wasn't in any rush to wear one." Tsunami smirked, holding it in her claws. It was made of pearl, the iridescent coloring reflecting light beautifully. She smiled internally; now that she thought about it, Snowfall's scales were pearly. Explained the pink.
"No, neither of us were, were we?" Snowfall's face fell slightly, dark blue eyes sullen. "But, life is unfair. It takes, and takes, and takes until we join the Great Ice Dragon. Or, in your case, the Endless Ocean. Yet, if life was all joy, we would be bored and crave for release."
"That's… dark."
"Yes, I suppose it is." Snowfall mused. "But I am a realist. I see things as they are. And besides, we would not have gotten along so well – at least, over letter – had things gone our way. For every loss we suffer, we must also seek the tiny victories where we can."
"Yeah, you have a point." Tsunami nodded slowly. "Did you wish to speak of this more in private?"
"I think that would be best. No need to bore the guard with our angst, do we?"
Tsunami barked out a laugh, which Snowfall accompanied with a giggle. Even Riptide looked bemused.
After they finished, Tsunami decided to show Snowfall around the newer renovations of the Summer Palace. Namely, the upper part, where a wonderful garden showing plants from all tribes. With it came other birds and insects and a mixture of contradicting scents that somehow worked together.
Strangely, Snowfall reached into one of the plants and plucked a small… snail ? Tsunami blinked. She expected Icewings to be rather stuffy and averse to such slimy creatures.
"A friend of mine enjoys these creatures." Snowfall noted Tsunami's look. "His name is Sky, a Skywing. I cannot fathom why he enjoys them but seeing his eagerness… it is somewhat infectious."
"Oh, Peril's brother!" Tsunami recognized the name. Snowfall raised a brow. "Yeah, Clay told me when he visited JMA."
"I had no idea that he was Peril's brother." Snowfall watched the snail crawl along her finger. "From what I understand, they are opposites of each other."
"I've never met him, but from what I was told, yeah you got that right."
"He spoke to me about attending Jade Mountain, however." Snowfall put the snail back. "I'm sure you are aware that I plan on sending Mink there."
"Yeah, I figured as much. I know she'd fit right in." Tsunami nodded. "I'm not sure exactly who's going, but if she's as excitable as you make her out to be, she'll get along with her winglet most likely."
"I hope so. It would be interesting to see them in the same Winglet. But we'll see how it goes, I suppose. I wish I had the chance to bring her, or send Lynx, but alas running a kingdom through a time of change is… taxing," Snowfall said wearily. "I do not mean to vent but count yourself lucky that you do not have a conservative crowd who is determined to limit your progress."
"Yeah, Seawings are pretty affable about things so long as I don't demand they stay on land for an extended period or whatever." Tsunami snickered. "I'm going to assume they tried to use your grief and inexperience against you."
"Yes, yes they did." Snowfall's face fell. "I hadn't any form of chance to accept my mother's passing before the crown was thrust upon me. My advisor, Winter's mother Tundra, was all but aiming to mold me into the queen Icicle never would be. I was alone, terrified, and jumping at shadows. I was even convinced that my best friend, Lynx, was out to get me at one point."
"Jeez, that's awful." Tsunami winced.
"Tell me, what do you know of Icewing culture? At least, before I came along."
"Admittedly, not much other than what I saw," Tsunami shrugged. "I got the impression that, at least for royalty, the lot of you were stuffy and had an extreme superiority complex."
"You are not wrong." Snowfall nodded. "The Icewing nobility had an animus object called 'The Gift of Order'. The queen would reshuffle ranks and the like for nobility. Seventh is the lowest of the low, next to commoners. First is second only to the Queen, so on. That damnable object would give me nightmares for a reason I understood much later. I was to decide the fates of dragons that were mere names on a wall, and to change without so much as a reason some of the time. For something titled 'The Gift of Order', it only caused chaos."
"What in the Seas is that kind of object?" Tsunami recoiled in disgust. "I could never do such a thing."
"Yes, that's why I shattered it in front of the whole nobility." Snowfall's queenly demeanor faded, replaced with a cheeky, if not mischievous, look. Tsunami burst out laughing, Snowfall joining. "It is my opinion that dragons, be they nobility or not, are more than titles. The poorest of Icewings can be better than the richest of nobles. And I wish to promote that growth."
"Now that I can respect." Tsunami grinned. "I may be nobility, but I grew up in a cave and had to make do with my own strength and wit. Dragons can be so much more than where they are born. Heck, I'm queen!" Her mirth slowly faded at her own words. "Yeah… I'm queen…"
Snowfall gave her a compassionate look that was not at all what Tsunami expected from an Icewing outside maybe Winter.
"Have you the time to grieve?" Snowfall asked softly.
"Yeah. I got closure before my mother died, too." Tsunami looked away, tail flicking along the ground. "It just… feels unreal. I knew it was coming. Yet two months later, I'm still expecting to see her turn the corner." She sighed. "It's not even her death that gets to me. It's the absence."
"Yes, I know the feeling." Snowfall looked toward the sky in thought. "It took me a year to fully accept what had happened. What Darkstalker took from us." Her claw curled in a flash of anger. "I am still livid at my own powerlessness to fight against that monster. I had my chance on the battlefield, but there was naught for me to do. Instead, I heard everyone's thoughts about me , and that only fueled my paranoia." She shook her head. "But, I digress."
"If only I had something to hit." Tsunami chuckled dryly.
"Yes, your mother's illness was natural, but it does not make it any better."
"The only solace we have is that we didn't have to kill our mothers, right?"
"Indeed." Snowfall smiled thinly. "Every dragon who wishes to succeed the queen must kill the other. That is how we are taught. That is how it has been as far as we know. Yet, I do not think it is the best way."
"Honestly? Same." Tsunami nodded swiftly. "What does that tell a dragonet? 'Yes, to be a queen, you must have your mother's blood on your claws. And if you fail, she will have yours on hers.'"
"It's barbaric, I agree." Snowfall shut her eyes and turned back to the flowers, lidding her gaze as she watched the snail from before slither along. "We have evolved past such notions. Challenges should still exist, mind you, as there will be terrible queens in the future. But a queen should also be allowed to retire and transition to their successor without blood being spilt."
"We must be the change we want to see in the world." Tsunami murmured. "I remember Riptide saying that to me when we discussed Sanctuary."
"He's right." Snowfall indicated around them, where dragons of all tribes walked together or otherwise went about their business. Traders, visitors, so on. "And as Queens who were thrust into the role, we have the power and experience to be said change. There will be a day where I have a dragonet of my own, and I do not want them to lay awake at night thinking of ways they must kill me."
"Them?" Tsunami raised a brow. "Don't you mean her?"
"Well, yes, but I have heard a very interesting story from the Nightwings who aren't afraid to venture to us." Snowfall began to walk along the edge of the Summer Palace, overlooking the seas. They were calm today, and the crystal-clear ocean showed wildlife swimming past. "Apparently, there is to be a king if things go smoothly."
"Are you considering an Icewing King as well?"
"I'm not opposed to it, but as I mentioned, it is convincing the rest of the kingdom," Snowfall said. "My steps must be graceful. Shake the castle too much, and it'll all come crumbling down. I know that some are looking for any excuse to challenge me. However, the commoners and open-minded nobility far outnumber them. They'd never accept a queen who retracted everything I did."
"So, you live with the threat of assassination daily?" Tsunami grimaced. She really had it lucky here.
"Yes. The Icewing Kingdom is very cutthroat, but unlike the Sand Kingdom, it is quite subtle. A poisoned drink, an accident in the halls… you never know. They tried to pass me off as dead when I joined you to Sanctuary that one time." Snowfall slid an eye to Tsunami. "They tried to make Mink my successor. I did not have that at all."
"I'm going to imagine they'll be scrutinizing every detail about you, including your choice of mate." Tsunami leaned against the railing to the seas. "I'm guessing they hate Sky acting so casually around you. Imagine if it turns out he has a crush on you."
Snowfall coughed on her breath, and for the second time today, her Queenly demeanor fell. This time, it was replaced by shock.
"Aw, do you return the feelings?" Tsunami teased.
"I find him to be incredibly endearing and a joyous distraction from my duties, but I fear romance is… not something feasible." Snowfall regained her composure. "Mostly due to his personality. According to Wren he's… stunted. I doubt he'll even know what romance is."
"He'll take one look at you and go 'hey wait, where's your d - ?"
" And besides ," Snowfall cut her off sharply, although Tsunami could tell she was laughing internally at Tsunami's line of thinking, "if I were to ever romance outside my tribe… oh, you better believe there would be civil war. Icewings like me for the most part, but there is still the mindset of 'the bloodline must be pure'."
"Mmm, I don't see that changing even here," Tsunami mused. "I get it, though. You want a Seawing for the Seawing Kingdom. Poor Glory and Deathbringer, though, are dealing with that consequence."
"I do not envy them." Snowfall shook her head. "But, going back to before, I tell you all of the strife in our kingdom to set a picture. You are a formidable warrior, Tsunami, but I am uncertain if you know assassination tactics. I would teach you how to keep an eye out for them during my stay."
Tsunami looked at the battle scars along her blue hide. Yeah, nobody would dare try and strike her down in the open. If someone wanted to get rid of her, it'd be through subterfuge.
"For example, there is a particularly deadly poison known as cyanide," Snowfall continued. "It will kill you swiftly if ingested. You may recognize it through an odor that is not unlike a bitter almond."
They spent the next few hours going over experiences and how to detect various traps and so on. Tsunami had been briefed on a number of them, but some – such as the cyanide – were beyond her knowledge. Snowfall did not talk down to her, but rather seemed genuinely concerned. Like an actual friend.
If this was the start of an alliance, then Tsunami was all in for it.
I was actually gonna include this chapter in Anywhere, but I decided to save it for the first chapter of this. Glad I did cuz I have no idea how I woulda fit it in.