"Your majesty, we got news from the Ice Kingdom." Armadillo held out a letter to Sunny, his claws stiff.

Queen Sunny grasped it in her talons, and rolled it open. She gave Clay a glance. Even if he hadn't been able to help too much with her queenly duties, just his presence had made the last two days easier. With someone she knew, the palace had felt far more friendly.

As Sunny scanned the letter, Armadillo explained its contents. "It's from Blackice, Queen Blackice now. According to her, she attacked the IceWing Palace yesterday morning. Her forces killed Icicle and Tundra and took the palace. They killed a large number of the aristocrats, almost anyone with a Circle Ranking living in the palace. She claims that her hold on the throne is unbreakable, and asks that each of the other queens recognize her as the rightful queen of the IceWings."

Sunny continued to read down the letter, becoming as stiff as Armadillo. Armadillo's description fit what it said. Every dragon with a Circle Ranking. Adults and dragonets alike.

"Three moons. She massacred everyone with a Circle Ranking in the palace?" Clay asked, shocked. He knew that Changbai and Ermine had been chosen by Queen Glacier to go to Jade Mountain Academy, and that their families were highly-ranked and lived in the palace. If this was true, that meant their families were dead, and they'd have no place to return. Clay's expression drooped.

Queen Sunny stared at the ground, horrified. "I made the wrong decision, didn't I," she gulped, ashamed of herself. "Icicle would never have done something like this. She only attacked us because her brother's life was on the line. I should have supported her."

Armadillo shook his head. "No. You made the right decision to stay neutral. Even if you'd supported Icicle, there was nothing you could've done to prevent Blackice's victory. You can't send dragons to the Ice Kingdom — all it would've done was put a strain on your diplomatic relations from the start."

"A 'strain on diplomatic relations'?" Sunny snapped. "She massacred hundreds of dragons. Innocent ones! Dragonets! I can't just stand by and let her become queen!"

"The SandWings won't want to get involved in another kingdom's politics," Armadillo warned her. "We just had twenty years of war, and Aloe's threat still looms. As awful as it may be, Blackice's massacre brought a quick end to what could have been a civil war. She holds the palace, and almost every IceWing who had enough power to fight her is dead."

Sunny made a face, disgusted. "She killed dragonets. The IceWings have a lot of lords with armies, doesn't it? Can't they fight against her?"

"It's possible," Armadillo answered. "Blackice attempted to scare them into submission, but many of them had family in the palace. I doubt she'll be forgiven quickly. Some may refuse to swear fealty on grounds that she cannot be queen by Queen Glacier's orders, but if she manages to put on the Eye of Diamond, they'll likely be forced to submit. But we're busy enough with Aloe as it is, and there's little opportunity for support."

"Aloe isn't going to ally herself with Blackice, is she?" Clay asked. If Aloe wanted to pose a threat to Sunny, she needed numbers, and an alliance with the IceWings would be one way to get them. "I don't want another world war."

"I'd be surprised," Armadillo replied. "If Aloe is as smart as Blister, she should know that Blackice isn't a trustworthy or reliable ally. It would be poor image for her to announce an alliance with an IceWing who just massacred her own kingdom. But Aloe is desperate, and it's possible there could be behind-the-scene dealings going on."

Queen Sunny sighed. "So what you're saying is, you don't know?"

Armadillo shrugged his wings. "In a somewhat more detailed fashion, yes."

Sunny thought for a moment, and turned to Clay. "Clay and I talked it over a bit yesterday." She gritted her teeth, knowing the decision she was about to make. Maybe it was the right decision, but it still felt wrong to her, and every bone in her body seemed to physically reject it. "I think we should fight Aloe in battle. And I'm willing to commit troops, as long as they're volunteers ten or older. And I don't want a drawn-out war, with the other kingdoms getting involved. Better yet, I don't want a war, maybe a single battle. Can you promise me that?"

Armadillo swished his tail back and forth, deciding how to respond. "I can't be certain, but I can try my best. Ultimately, how long the war lasts is up to you, Aloe, and fate. But from the reports I've received on the size of Aloe's forces, I doubt it'll take long to force a surrender."

Sunny wondered what Glory would think about her decision. Maybe she'd have figured out a better way to do this. Like having Deathbringer go in at night and capture Aloe. Although she doubted Glory would be willing to send him on a mission like that. "So . . . is that it?"

"We need to issue a proclamation. Something explaining to the public what's going on. Preferably something that makes them agree with you. Queen Thorn kept a small standing army that's I've maintained, volunteers only, seven and older. I can have dragons between seven and ten stay behind for training, although it will reduce the size of our force, and may make some SandWings unhappy they're not allowed to fight. Should I have someone draft your announcement, then deliver it to you?"

"Sure," Sunny sighed apathetically. "Go ahead."

Armadillo bowed, and walked off into the palace halls, leaving Sunny and Clay alone.

"It feels like all I've done since I became queen has been trying to keep myself queen," Queen Sunny grumbled. "I thought I'd be able to help SandWings, like my mother."

"It's only been a week," Clay said, trying to cheer Sunny up. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You're doing fine."

Sunny shook her head. "No I'm not. One week and we're already at war."

Clay was silent for a moment. It was a few awkward moments before he broke it. "You don't want to be queen, do you?"

"Of course not," Sunny scoffed. "But it's my fault my mother got the throne. It's not like I didn't knew I'd have to take it someday."

"You still have a choice," Clay suggested. "Just because you don't have the Eye of Onyx doesn't mean you can't give someone else the crown. Did Thorn have other relatives? Sisters? A niece?"

"I asked her once," Sunny grumbled. "She said she was an orphan. It's why she joined the Outclaws in the first place. And with Blister's daughter trying to take the throne right now, Armadillo thinks I shouldn't try to start yet another dynasty by choosing someone new. Maybe after we stop Aloe, I'll try and find someone to rule the kingdom better than I can." She showed a glimpse of a smile. "Then I can go back to the academy."

"There's always Glory," Clay joked. "What's one more kingdom to her? And if she refuses, I doubt Tsunami would pass up an offer to be queen."

Sunny laughed, a hint of warmth in the cold world. "I doubt the Sand Kingdom would accept a RainWing or a SeaWing as their queen. Although they've already got half a NightWing, so I guess we've made some progress."

Clay chuckled. "Oh, speaking of that, does Armadillo know?"

"Yeah," Sunny answered. "He's one of the few dragons my mother ever told about Stonemover. Him and Six-Claws."

"I guess she had to have trusted him a lot," Clay mused.

Sunny shrugged. "Yeah. I don't know. I want to trust him, but it doesn't seem like he trusts me at all. It feels like he's keeping information from me, and trying to undermine my authority as queen. For a little bit, I was worried he was the one who sent the assassin on me. And there was the whole conversation with Kudu I never got explained."

Clay thought for a moment. "Do you think he's a hybrid?"

"A hybrid?" Sunny asked, surprised. "Why would you think that?"

"I dunno," Clay replied, his voice wandering. "His scales are a bit orange, and his barb's kind of small. It might be why Thorn told him about you."

Picturing Armadillo in her head, it did make a bit of sense to Sunny. "I guess it's possible. Even if it's true, I don't think it really matters."

The two stood in silence for another moment, not really sure what to discuss.

"You don't have to stay here, you know," Sunny sighed. "If you want, you can go back to Jade Mountain."

"Oh," Clay replied, a little surprised. "Do you not want me here? I'm sorry I haven't been able to help much."

"No, no," Sunny said. "You've been plenty of help. I just don't think you'll be happy here."

"You're not happy here either," Clay pointed out. "I don't think it's right to leave you to suffer."

"Maybe things will get better. I'm also a bit worried about Tsunami and Starflight and the academy. With the drought and the IceWings, I think they might need you."

"You also need me. I'm your bigwings. It's my duty to stand by you during your greatest challenges. Right?"

Sunny smiled. "Alright," she submitted. "You can stay in this old, dusty palace, if that's what you want."