The Fallen Prince (Dark Seas Series)

by Riokodragon

As Orca, Crown Princess of the SeaWings, attempts to hide her powers, her family works to uncover her secrets. In the aftermath, one of her remaining brothers sets out into Pyrrhia to stop animus magic for good, joining a thief with Queen Glacier on her scales, a captive-hatched MudWing, and an enchanted stone gryphon. Fic series containing Dark Seas, Stone Cold, and Rising Flames.

142. RF: Part 2: Chapters 21 to 26

Chapter 21

A warm wind whipped across Midnight's snout, the smell of salt in the air. She opened her eyes, only to close them again as the evening sun blinded her. She turned away, batting away a small group of dragonflies that had decided to land on her horns. An expanse of tall amber grasses stretched out before her, breaking up glittering blue water. Something felt different here. Clearer. Cleaner. Like she was finally free. The hybrid took a step forward, only to hear a squelch as her paw sunk into wet peat. She sighed. Not free of mud.

"We're still in the Mud Kingdom," Midnight declared, looking over towards Ecru. Her hybrid mate seemed quite satisfied in the mud herself, stomping around it gleefully. Midnight's gaze turned to the ring of blue light, shrinking until it disappeared in a small burst of light. "I guess the portal didn't take us very far."

"I'm just glad we survived the trip," Ecru admitted. "You never know with creepy blue portals. One false step, and the other half of me might be halfway across the Mud Kingdom. Hey, is that salt?"

"Mhmm," Midnight replied. Her gaze went back to the sky. There was no sign of black wings or the shadow of a dragon anywhere. Was Tattoo Deathbringer lying in wait somewhere, or had he fled? "We could be near the Sea Kingdom."

"Yeah, that would make sense," Ecru agreed. She stuck her head into the wind, letting it whip past her horns. "Although the Bay of a Thousand Scales is to the north-east of the MudWing coast, right?"

"It is," Midnight confirmed, not quite sure what Ecru was getting at.

Ecru lifted her head up, checking the sun's position. "Well, these are warm evening temperatures, which means the sun should be in the west. Which means that the wind is coming from the west, not east."

"Weird," Midnight frowned. Something did feel strange about this place. She could hear everything better, see everything better. What was it?

"It's possible the sun is actually more to the north, but that would mean it being winter, and it's not winter," Ecru continued. "Unless we time-travelled. But then it would be colder here."

"Or there could just be a marsh on Pyrrhia that's near a western coastline," Midnight suggested. "Or the wind is just weird today. Wind does that."

"Hmm," Ecru replied, still uncertain. "Maybe."

Midnight took a step forward, and spread out her wings. "I don't know why, but I feel so much more alive. You think that was a healing portal or something?"

Ecru shook her head, splashing her tail through water. "I don't feel much different."

"Maybe I stole all the healing from you," Midnight joked. "But really. My mind feels clear. Like someone cleaned my ears."

"I'm not cleaning your ears when we get back to Crosswinds," Ecru laughed, looking around the marsh. "So, we should probably get going. I don't want Tattoo Deathbringer anywhere around when nightfall hits."

"Good idea," Midnight replied. "Towards the sea? I've always wanted to visit the Deep Palace." She started walking in the direction the wind was blowing from, splashing through the mud and water.

Ecru smiled, following. "Midnight, I can hold your breath longer than you can," she gently reminded her. Maybe Ecru felt the same, but she could tell something had changed for Midnight. She seemed happier, like a weight had been lifted from her wings.

The sun lowered further in the sky as the two hybrids traversed the salt marsh, until their shadows stretched across the golden grasses. Eventually, small lumps rose above the horizon, soon coalescing into the repetitive shapes of a city. Rounded mudhuts on the outskirts gave way to square adobe structures. Each was retained the same cubical shape as the others, but their sizes varied from ones Midnight could comfortably walk around in even with Ecru riding her back, to building with doors so tiny a dragonet could barely enter. The broad houses seemed to block all view of the interior city as the two approached, barely catching a glimpse of a brown tail from the outside.

"I guess we're in the Mud Kingdom after all," Midnight admitted. "The question is, where in the Mud Kingdom."

"We could ask someone to tell us," Ecru suggested. "Maybe ask if they've seen any NightWings, too."

The two stepped into one of the city streets, stepping onto mud hardened and flattened by years of use. For what looked like a large city, it seemed strangely quiet to Midnight. Where was the shouting, the noise, the smells? As she curiously examined one of the tiny houses, a MudWing caught her eye.

"Hey!" Midnight yelled out, running over to the MudWing, who gave her a quick glance of alarm before turning his head back to the ground, continuing on his path. Midnight run up to him, walking side-by-side. "You, do you live here?"

The MudWing tried to turn his head away, even as Midnight attempted to make some sort of eye-contact with her. "Quiet," he hissed. "No loud noises during the evening."

Midnight frowned. "Fine," she grumbled. "Do you know where we are? This is the Mud Kingdom, right?"

The MudWing lifted his head up, giving her a glare. "Don't talk to me," he growled. "I'm on duty. I'll report you."

Unsure what the threat meant, Midnight let the MudWing go, seeing him quickly turn a corner, walking away from her as fast as he could without running. She clicked her tongue. "Well, he was unfriendly," she commented, turning to Ecru.

"Shhhh," Ecru whispered at Midnight. She pointed a talon around the corner of a building. "Over here. Quietly."

Midnight raised an eyeridge. "You too?" she asked. "I really didn't think I was being that loud." She carefully walked over towards Ecru, peering around the building, curious what Ecru had seen.

"Scavengers!" Ecru murmured excitedly. "Look!"

Sure enough, three scavengers were walking down the street, in Midnight and Ecru's direction. Midnight had seen a few before, but there weren't many to be found in Crosswinds before. She wondered what they were doing here: she'd never heard of scavengers intentionally going into a dragon city before. Were they trying to steal treasure?

"They should probably hide," Midnight said quietly, not wanting to scare them off. "I'm surprised no one has eaten them already." She looked back towards the unfriendly MudWing, already walking off. "Oh no, they're going towards him, and I'd bet a few scales that he's the scavenger-eating type."

"Maybe I can scare them in the other direction?" Ecru suggested. "Ooh, I'll surprise them when they come around the corner!"

As the three scavengers walked past the corner of the house, Ecru suddenly reared up, and let out a loud "Boo!" One of the scavengers jumped back and let out a high-pitched squeak as he fell back on his butt, while the other two stared up at Ecru in surprise. Yet, instead of running away, the scavenger who'd fallen just stood back up, and squeaked something angrily at Ecru. The other two just shook their heads as if they were more disappointed than scared, calmly turning away and continuing down the street with their third companion.

"No loud noises during the evening," Midnight sneered, dripping sarcasm. "That MudWing might even report you."

"Wow," Ecru said, flabbergasted. "I couldn't even scare a scavenger. Did you see that? They didn't even think I was a little bit scary."

Midnight frowned as the scavengers walked off into the distance, not even a little bit disturbed. Her eyes landed on one of the tiny adobe houses. "Hey, do you think they live here? I'll bet that's what those little houses are for! Maybe they don't eat scavengers in the Mud Kingdom."

Ecru gave Midnight a strange look. "No, they definitely eat scavengers in the Mud Kingdom. I have seen way too many MudWings in Crosswinds eat scavenger. Ew. I'll stick with plants and the occasional mushroom, thank you very much."

"Hmm, maybe this is like an experimental community where they don't eat them, and instead build them cute little houses?" Midnight suggested. "Hey, maybe there are more vegetarians here!"

"Maybe," Ecru replied. She wanted to be as excited as Midnight, but something seemed strange here. She glanced up at the evening sky. Two of the moons were lagging behind the sun on it's journey beneath the horizon, while the third was just becoming visible. "C'mon, maybe we can try asking someone else."

The two hybrids walked further into the streets of the adobe city, going up to some of the MudWings and trying to ask their questions. But each of their responses were similar to the first. A nervous glance before scampering off at best, and a scowl with a threat to 'report' at worst. No one here seemed willing to even talk to the two hybrids.

Finally, Midnight turned the corner to see something she hadn't expected — on the corner of a street, a dragon who wasn't a MudWing at all. Although many of the RainWing's scales were brown, she clearly wasn't trying to fit in, with odd-colored scales peeking out beneath the suit of dull armor she wore. A spear was fitted into the RainWing's paw, and she sat back on her haunches, like she was observing the passersby.

"Hey!" Midnight opened with a friendly smile, looking up into the RainWing's armor. "Thank the moons. Are you from the camp?"

The RainWing stayed silent and still, her eyes darting towards Midnight to give her a strange look.

Midnight sighed. "Alright, I'm not sure why everyone here is being so silent, but could you at least tell us where we are? The Mud Kingdom?"

The RainWing glowered, and Midnight stepped back as the spear swung out, prodding the hybrid in the snout. "Beat it if you don't want to be skewered."

Midnight placed her paw against the spear and slowly backed up to safety, next to Ecru. "Wow. Everyone here really is mean."

"Yeah," Ecru replied, as the two quickly left the RainWing behind, narrowly avoiding stepping on a group of scavengers who turned around the corner at the wrong time. "It's so weird. I'd at least expect a few vendors, or con artists." She peeked down a small alleyway. Empty. Ecru sighed. "I never thought I'd miss con artists so much, you know? Half the fun was figuring out how they were conning you."

"Maybe the Mud Kingdom is just really different than you expected?" Midnight suggested.

Ecru shook her head. "I don't think so. I have friends who've been there. There's a huge difference between the city around Moorhen's palace and the Diamond Spray Delta, but this is entirely different."

The two kept walking through the city, getting more and more lost in the maze of streets. The adobe houses seemed to repeat themselves wherever Midnight looked, each road intersecting at a perfectly right angle with the other. Gradually, the sun sunk beneath the horizon, and evening turned into dusk. And like all the city's residents ha been swept away by a burst of wind, the streets were empty.

Without dragons and scavengers populating it, the city had become a labyrinth. Midnight and Ecru walked out in the center of one of the intersections. Midnight turned, staring at each of the four directions in turn. Featureless cubic buildings lined every direction along the straight roads.

"I don't even know which way we came from," Midnight admitted, her voice projecting out into the cool night air. "Do MudWing cities normally look like this?"

"No," Ecru answered. "Adobe buildings are pretty common in the south, but this is too planned. Cities are usually more chaotic than this." A blast of wind whipped against Ecru's scales. "Speaking of chaos, where did everyone go? Dragons are normally out after dusk in Crosswinds."

"To sleep?" Midnight suggested. "Maybe they have to get up early." She turned her head towards at Ecru, who seemed strangely distracted, the hybrid's eyes focused on the sky. "What is it?"

"Look," Ecru whispered, pointing a talon at the top of a building.

Midnight squinted, a white light coming above the building, into focus. "It's a moon. It's the smallest one."

Ecru shook her head. "No. I saw the smallest one rise not long ago. And two more set after that."

Midnight's eyes darted to the other moon currently visible in the sky. Ecru was right. It was about the same size as the moon currently rising. "Are you saying there's four moons?"

"Yeah," Ecru said quietly, touching her paw to her right ear, where three silver moons hung from. "Four moons."

"Maybe it's like the fourth moon a few years ago," Midnight suggested half-heartedly. "It might just go away." She winced. Why was she trying so hard to pretend like this place was normal? "Oh, who am I kidding! We stepped through a glowing blue portal after seeing a second Deathbringer, and now we're in a city unlike any in the Mud Kingdom with four moons over it. Ecru? I'm pretty sure this isn't Pyrrhia."

The wind blasted into the two again, Ecru's moons earring jiggling. She suddenly turned her head, hearing the shout of a dragon through the wind.

Metal clinked as two RainWings came into sight, each holding out a spear as they approached the hybrids. Midnight took a step back as once again, a spear swung out towards her. "Hey! Watch where you're pointing that."

The RainWing narrowed his eyes. "Stop. You're out after curfew. Both of you."

Ecru took a step away, only to see that the other RainWing had moved around them, and now had her spear out and ready, glistening with a strangely-colored liquid in the end.

"So now someone is talking to us," Midnight muttered bitterly. "Couldn't your city have a welcome center, or something like that? I can't exactly follow the rules if I don't know what they are."

"Give me your names, identification numbers, and places of residence," the RainWing demanded. "Do you work here? Work passes too."

"I'm Ecru, and this is Midnight," Ecru smiled, introducing herself. "We don't know what an identification number is, but my favorite number is three. We're from Pyrrhia."

The two RainWings exchanged glances, immediately stiffening up. "Do you think they crossed over?" the one in the back asked worriedly.

The other one shook his head. "Probably just malfunctioning memories. We'll take them back to the Empress to get fixed." He glared, baring his fangs at the hybrids. "Stand down, or when you wake up, you'll have holes poked in you." The RainWing jabbed his spear again, this time almost hitting Ecru in the neck.

That was the last straw. Midnight suddenly jumped out at the RainWing, landing on the wooden spear and snapping it in two. "Don't touch her!" she snarled, barreling into the RainWing, knocking him into the hard ground with a clank.

The RainWing let out a yell as Midnight pinned him to the ground, struggling under her as she bared her fangs. Almost immediately, the second RainWing brushed past Ecru, placing her the tip of her spear at Midnight's head. "Stand down," she hissed.

Ecru took a step forward, trying to position herself between Midnight and the second RainWing. "Can we please just calm down, and lower our weapons?" Ecru pleaded. "I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding."

Ecru let out a squeal as the second RainWing swung her spear, whacking Ecru's head with the blunt end. Ecru winced, and put a paw up to her snout, a trickle of red blood running down it when she pulled it away.

"Should I sedate the one who attacked you?" the second RainWing asked. "She looks like the more dangerous of the two."

"Yeah, I am the dangerous one," Midnight snarled back, the spear just inches from her neck. "Let me go or I'll curse you."

"Don't sedate her!" the RainWing that Midnight had trapped beneath her quickly answered, ignoring Midnight's threat. "If she fell asleep on me, I'm pretty sure I'd be crushed."

"Didn't you hear me?" Midnight asked. "I'm an animus. I'll enchant your tongue so everything you eat tastes like camel dung."

"Shut up," the second RainWing hissed, raising her spear to whack it across Midnight's head. "You, other hybrid. Tell your mate to get off my partner if you want her alive by the end of this. The Empress won't notice if only one of you comes with us."

"Midnight?" Ecru gulped, talons shaking. "Maybe we should surrender."

Midnight snarled, and snapped at the RainWing holding the spear up to her neck. "How about you surrender, and I'll let your partner go, and we never see each other again."

"Ow!" the RainWing beneath Midnight suddenly yelled out. "She's digging her claws into me! Alright, just put her to sleep!"

The RainWing holding the spear suddenly brought it down, scales flashing gold and red. Ecru jumped forward, trying to stop her, but she was too slow. The glistening metal tip of the spear easily punctured through scale, and the RainWing heard a loud yelp from beneath her.

"What was that for?" the RainWing beneath Midnight said woozily, looking up at his partner, scales turning a dark grey. The spear had landed in a crack between his armor, sinking into his flesh. Within moments, his head flopped to the ground, the RainWing's mutterings turning into snores.

"Huh?" the second RainWing said, confused. She was sure that she'd aimed at Midnight. She looked back down again, only a moment before the flash of steel shot up from beneath her, slicing across the side of her neck. She let out a roar as she leaped away, fangs out.

In the space between her and Midnight, a small figure crouched against the ground, holding a slim metal sword in one hand. Ecru was just barely able to catch a glimmer of moonlight on the masked scavenger's face before it leaped from the ground, so fast it became just a blur in the night. The RainWing stepped to the right, but not before another gash appeared across her scales, this one beneath her left-wing. She turned, swiping her paw at the scavenger, but was too slow, and just let out a squeal as her talons met steel.

The RainWing took another step back, hissing as she stared the scavenger down, long brown curls of hair falling from behind her mask. The scavenger leaped forward again, but this time, the RainWing's scales faded to the colors of her surroundings, and the scavenger's sword ripped through nothing. The scavenger effortlessly landed on the ground, skidding as she put a gloved hand to the floor, raising her sword up into the air. She turned her head to the left and right, the RainWing nowhere in sight.

"Wren, venom from your left!" a voice called out from above the crossroads. The scavenger immediately leaped forward as a shot of venom fizzled against the ground where she'd been a second earlier, somersaulting across the mud roads, almost into Midnight. The scavenger dropped her sword, exchanging it for the hefty tip of the spear that Midnight had broken earlier.

Ecru glanced behind her as she felt the burst of wingbeats. A similarly-masked black-winged dragon leaped from the houses above her, landing nearby. "Roll left, jab up!" he called out.

The scavenger immediately followed his orders, rolling to her left as she narrowly avoided another blast of venom, then jabbing the spear up. It hit scale, and the RainWing yelled out as it poked into her side, her scales turning a dull white. A few seconds later, the RainWing fell on her side, the scavenger leaping out from beneath her, dropping the spear as she lifted her sword from the ground, quickly sheathing it.

The masked dragon stepped over to the fallen RainWing, giving her a push with his paw. "Yep. Asleep. She won't be waking up anytime soon."

Ecru breathed a breath of relief, and grabbed Midnight's claws, helping her to get back on her paws. "Thank you for rescuing us," she quickly said, wiping blood from her head as she turned to the masked dragon. "We were really in trouble there. Hey, does this mean that you have to flirt with me now? Cause I'd like that."

Midnight gave Ecru a playful thwack with her tail, careful not to accidentally touch her already hurt head.

"Don't worry," Ecru grinned. "I think we've rescued each other too many times for there to be any competition. You're doing just fine on your rescuing game."

"I don't think you're my type anyways," the scavenger replied.

Midnight's head swivelled down as she stared at the scavenger, blinking a few times before she was fully able to connect the words and who spoke them. "Wait, you can speak? How — actually, you know what? Nevermind. I've seen two of the same dragon, a glowing blue portal, four moons, a scavenger-MudWing city, and violent RainWing police today. I'm not the least bit surprised by this."

"Told you they were smart," Ecru quietly smiled.

The masked scavenger looked up at the black dragon, moonlight glinting off silver scales at the base of his wings. "Who did you say these two were again?"

The black dragon turned his mask towards the two hybrids. "They're not from around here. Midnight, don't freak out. There are a lot of humans — what you call scavengers — that can speak Dragon here, and many dragons that speak Human. It's normal. This is Wren. She's a friend."

"Friend is a pretty strong term to describe our relationship with," Wren replied, turning her head left and right as she checked the streets. "C'mon. We need to get out of here before more of the Empress's goons come after us. Question time can come later." Wren quickly turned, running into a nearby adobe building.

"Follow," the black dragon ordered. "You can trust us."

Midnight exchanged a glance with Ecru, before the two caught up to the black dragon. Midnight frowned. It wasn't like they had much other choice, especially if there'd be more dragons after them soon.

The adobe house was empty, and the scavenger walked through it, leading the dragons into a small closed off square in the back, walls of mud enclosing around them. Wren grasped her hand around the edge of a huge dragon-size door, pushing her whole body against it to get it open. Inside, a dark well descended down, the stairs slanted from years of use. The black dragon shut the door behind him, enclosing the group in darkness.

Midnight put a wing around Ecru as her eyes adjusted, carefully guiding her down the stairs. "Watch your step," she said quietly. She glanced back at the black dragon, and opened her mouth.

"This is a different world altogether than yours," the black dragon explained, cutting Midnight off before she could speak. "You entered it when you followed Deathbringer into the portal."

Midnight frowned. "How—"

"Mind-reader," the black dragon answered, tapping a talon to his mask. "It comes in handy. For example, Wren here would be dead many times over if I hadn't read those RainWing's minds."

"Thanks," Wren muttered, pulling her own mask off. "Really feelings glad you saved me back there just to hear more of your bragging."

"I'm just disappointed I didn't get mind-control powers right now," the black dragon retorted.

The stairs finally flattened out, and the four walked into a dark tunnel. Dampness seemed to creep from the walls, mixing with the smell of death and decay. The black dragon slowly lifted his mask up, and picked up a torch from the ground. With a burst of flame, the torch was lit, and the tunnel was filled with light. As Midnight stared down it, a cold shiver shook through her scales. The bones of dragons and scavengers covered the walls of the tunnel as far as she could see. Her gaze unwittingly fell on a skull, the dragon's eyesockets staring back at her.

"Oh wow," Ecru whispered. "This is so cool."

Midnight turned herself away from the skull. Not quite the words she would've used to describe it.

The black dragon handed the torch off to the scavenger, and the four continued down the tunnel, quickly splitting into two. The black dragon turned to the right.

"These are the catacombs," he explained. "Well, they are now. Apparently this used to be the old city, until the Empress built the new one on top of it. It's so confusing down here that they'd have trouble following us, even with the Obscura."

An Empress, Midnight wondered. Talking scavengers. Four moons. This really is a new world.

"Yep," the black dragon replied. "We'd been following the two of you since you entered the city, trying to figure out what you were. Your thoughts really stand out among everyone else. You're from Pyrrhia, right?"

"Wait," Wren frowned. "Are you sure they haven't just regained their before-memories, and you're reading them wrong?"

"I'm sure," the black dragon said. "Absolutely. Their Pyrrhia is an entirely different world than ours. The resemblances are coincidental." He turned to Midnight to explain. "This world also used to be called Pyrrhia, funny enough. But that was back before the Empress, and I can't remember much of anything before that. Only a few can."

"Before the Empress?" Midnight asked.

The black dragon nodded, before suddenly stopping. He raised up a talon, and shut his eyes. "C'mon," he said, a slight bit of panic in his voice. "They're coming down here. We need to go faster." He lowered his head, allowing Wren to leap up on it, and started to run.

Midnight and Ecru followed, almost losing track of the two a few times as they turned around tight corners, up and down slopes. Unlike the city above, the catacombs were a mess of tunnel, with barely rhyme or reason to them. In a strange way, it felt more like the winding alleys of Crosswinds.

Eventually, the group slowed down, and the black dragon walked into a small off-shoot chamber, with a comforting lack of bones in it. "Alright," he panted. "I think we've lost them. We should be safe here for the night."

Wren leaped from his head, walking to the corner of the room. She grabbed into a loose brick, and pulled it out, revealing a small chamber behind it. Midnight's gaze landed on a large sack, Wren needing to drag it across the floor. "Supplies," she explained, pulling out a loaf of bread that seemed far too large for a scavenger. "We've been trapped here before."

Midnight turned to the black dragon, who had already start to settle himself down. "Now that we're safe, can we have an explanation?" Midnight frowned.

The black dragon nodded. "That would probably be a good idea. We'll tell you what we can. I think you might be able to help us figure out what the Empress is planning."

"Planning?" Ecru asked, slightly worried.

"She's been preparing to move troops to Pyrrhia," the black dragon continued. "Your world is in danger."

Midnight grimaced. Pyrrhia, in danger? An attack from another world? That wasn't good. The continent was already fractured, in three wars. But what would a leader from another world want with Pyrrhia? "Who are you?" she asked. "And what is this place?"

The black dragon grinned from ear to ear, raising his head to meet Midnight's gaze. "Glad you asked. I'm Darkstalker, leader of Trustbreaker's Rebellion. Welcome to Antigonia, or at least what's left of it."

Chapter 22

Deathbringer stared as Midnight and Ecru disappeared into the glowing blue ring, clutching the animus-touched scroll. His eyes seemed unable to move from the ring as it shrunk, finally coalescing into a point and disappearing in a small flash. A warm wind lifted under the tent. No trace was left behind of the portal or the dragons who entered it. Deathbringer wondered — would he ever see the two hybrids again? Would he ever find out why there was a second him?

The NightWing shook his head, letting out a long sigh. If Glory had been here, what would she have done? Deathbringer knew. She would have dove straight into the portal, and Deathbringer would have followed. He would have followed her anywhere. To the edge of the world, and beyond. He shut his eyes. Why hadn't he gone with her to her meeting with Sunny? If he had, would things have turned out different? Or would they both had ended up dead, Firefly left without a parent?

Deathbringer turned away from where the portal had been, light glimmering from the flaps of the tent. Right now, his duty was protecting all the dragons that Glory had left behind. He shut his eyes. "Glory," he whispered, "I swear on your grave. Even if it costs me my life, I will make sure that the RainWings and NightWings have a bright future. All of them. I'll make you proud."

With that, Deathbringer wiped a paw across his eyes, and stepped into the light. Tents all around had been blown over by the blast of air, and dead birds littered the ground. The nearby dragons were running around through the mud, frantic. Deathbringer glanced up to the sky. The blue light was gone.

"Everyone, quiet!" Deathbringer yelled out, trying to project his voice out over the chaos. "Calm down! Is anyone hurt?" If a dragon had been caught in whatever killed those birds . . .

The roar of the dragons quieted. Deathbringer's eyes darted around. No one seemed dead. There were no corpses that had splashed in the mud. He breathed a sigh of relief. They'd been lucky — the sky had been clear.

"Over here!" a voice yelled. Deathbringer's eyes immediately darted over to a young RainWing. "Someone help!"

Deathbringer quickly flapped over, landing in the mud. The RainWing was holding onto a log, struggling to lift it up. Beneath it, a mud-soaked cloth was wrapped around a black tail. An elderly NightWing glanced up at Deathbringer.

"Finally," the elderly NightWing grumbled. "I've been trapped under this log forever."

Deathbringer looked over to the RainWing, and put his forepaws around the log. "On three," he ordered. "One, two, three!"

The two lifted the log up, waddling half a tail-length away before setting it down in the mud. The elderly NightWing sighed, pulling his tail back in and giving it a look. "It better not be broken," he grumbled.

"Take him to our healers," Deathbringer told the RainWing, already looking to see if there was anyone else around here who needed help. It seems like the blast of air had been mostly contained to the tents in Tattoo Deathbringer's immediate vicinity, and the unlucky birds in the sky above. "If there's no one else in danger, I need a few dragons to volunteer to help clean this up."

A few NightWings cautiously raised their paws after a few moments of hesitation, and Deathbringer smiled. "Thank you. If everything else is good, I have other stuff to attend to."

Deathbringer quickly turned. What was next? He needed to check on Firefly. He'd left her in the care of a NightWing named Greyhorn during the previous night, and new she'd be glad to see him.

Deathbringer made his way over to his and Firefly's tent, as dragons around him continued to work, trying to repair their tents from the recent storm and the blast of air. He sighed, knowing it was almost futile. Soon, they'd all have to leave the Mud Kingdom anyways, and abandon the camp.

Deathbringer lifted up the flap to his tent, putting on a smile. "Hello, Firefly," he said cheerily. "Daddy's back!"

Firefly leaped from where she'd been sleeping, running through the mud before she grasped onto Deathbringer's leg, pink roses suddenly unfurling across her scales. "Ouch," Deathbringer winced with a grin. "Claws."

The tiny dragonet started to climb up Deathbringer's leg, until she reached the NightWing's neck, grasping onto him with little talons. Deathbringer shook his head, and rolled his eyes.

"She was crying all night," a voice grumbled.

Deathbringer looked up to see Greyhorn, an elderly NightWing resting in the mud across the tent, the dirt somehow making her scales seem even more dull than normal. "Were you, sweetie?" Deathbringer cooed, putting a paw against Firefly to keep her from falling. "Aww, I'm sorry I left you alone for so long."

Greyhorn snorted contemptuously, invoking a look from Deathbringer. "She shouldn't cry so much," Greyhorn scolded him. "If she's going to be queen, she'll need to learn how not to cry all the time. No one is going to take orders from a whimpering dragon."

Deathbringer shook his head, unconcerned. "I'm sure she'll be as strong as both her parents when she gets older. That's right Firefly, won't you?"

Firefly let out a quiet growl in response, perching herself on top of Deathbringer's neck, grasping on to both sides.

Deathbringer let out a yawn, shuffling his wings. "Thanks for taking care of her, Greyhorn," he said. "It means a lot to me."

Greyhorn let out a hmph, then nodded, quietly exiting the tent. Deathbringer let out a small sigh as the flaps shut behind her.

"We really should sleep, shouldn't we," he said to Firefly, doubting she really understood him. He hadn't gotten any himself last night, not with having to deal with his doppelganger. "But we probably shouldn't. We can't waste a day of training, not when we have so few left."

Deathbringer's eyes looked down to the scroll Midnight had given him. Right now, the little magic it contained it was their only hope. Would it be safer with him, or not? Thoughtfully, he placed it with his other stuff. This way, it wouldn't get lost if he accidentally set it down somewhere.

The sunlight hit into Deathbringer and Firefly's eyes as they left the tent. Right now, they needed better fighters, to protect the old and weak. But the scroll changed Deathbringer's battle plans. It only needed line-of-sight to work, which meant that during the inevitable fight, he'd be able to heal NightWings on the front line when they got injured. It meant that they'd be able to take more risks. Deathbringer had spent a lot of time teaching his fighters how to keep themselves safe in battle, and attack from a distance, like how he did things. Now he could have them focus more on claw-to-claw combat, knowing they could be easily healed. It might not be enough, but it was something.

Deathbringer suddenly jumped, seeing icey-blue scales in the corner of his eye. He turned, and let out a sigh of relief. It was just Firefly's tail, hanging down across his neck. The dragonet had changed colors again.

"You look like an IceWing," Deathbringer teased, scratching Firefly beneath her snout as dim flashes of green lit across her scales. "Don't worry. Daddy's not angry with you."

The two slowly made it across the camp, eventually reaching the clearing that Deathbringer had designated for training. Plenty of NightWings and RainWings were already there, practicing even before Deathbringer arrived. He understood. All of them had the same drive he did — to protect their friends and families, even if it cost them their limbs or lives. Deathbringer smiled. As long as he could magically heal them, only the latter would be an issue.

Deathbringer stepped in front of a line of dragons, all nodding their heads to him. "Sorry I'm late," he apologized. "Something came up. But we can start after me."

Firefly clung onto Deathbringer's neck as the ex-assassin demonstrated a few battle techniques. Ducking from a swipe, biting the arm, and rolling the opponent over. Deathbringer closed his eyes as he imagined taking down his opponent. Normally, it was easy to imagine Blackice. Even though Deathbringer had never seen her, he had some idea of what she looked like, although is imagination likely took some creative liberties. Like a younger, crueler version of Queen Glacier, with painted black accents on her scales. Reportedly, she'd gained venom and burn scars after attacking the rainforest, along with losing a leg and a wing. At least Glory had managed to get some damage in.

But today, the dragon who Deathbringer imagined wasn't Blackice, but off-puttingly, himself. He shook his head after performing the maneuver. Hopefully, his trainees hadn't noticed he was off. If not for the previous day's events, he would've thought it to be some sort of metaphor of self-loathing, maybe even the remnants of a vision. But here, it probably just meant that he was slightly disturbed at meeting himself. That was alright. It wasn't every day that you got to meet your own clone.

"Sir! I have messages for you!"

Deathbringer glanced over to the side, as the shadow of wingbeats landed beside him. A young MudWing waved two thin scrolls in his snout, anxious to give them off.

"All of you, keep practicing that!" Deathbringer ordered, the line of dragons eagerly practicing on their own. He turned to the messenger, and took the scrolls from MudWing's talons. "Thank you for that."

"I'm so sorry," the MudWing honestly replied as Deathbringer glanced down at the first, bearing the royal MudWing seal.

Deathbringer sighed. "You've done enough," he said. "There wasn't anything more you could do."

The MudWing bowed his head, then opened his wings. "If there's any more news, I'll bring it to you right away."

After the MudWing left with a burst of wind, Deathbringer peeled away the seal. Grimly, he opened the scroll. The message was short, and Deathbringer already had a good idea of what it said even before he read it.

King Deathbringer,

Under royal orders, you are to leave the Mud Kingdom, along with the other dragons in your constituency. You are to be cleared from the area by the sunset of the tenth day from the sending of this letter. I have attached a map for your use, drawn by the best of our cartographers, of the area from the western edge of our border to Jade Mountain.

My sincerest apologies,

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Moorhen of the Mud Kingdom

Deathbringer let out a huff, grimacing. If not for the map, he would have torn the scroll right then and there. "That coward," he growled, clenching his talons through soft mud. "She doesn't give a damn if we're all slaughtered."

Firefly's snout nervously peeked down from Deathbringer's neck, dark red stars forming across her scales. Deathbringer took a deep breath. "You're right, Firefly," he said quietly. "There's nothing to be done about it. We already knew this was going to happen."

Deathbringer set the scroll to the side. He hadn't been expecting another scroll. When his eyes landed upon the blue seal of the second scroll, he almost jumped, and threw the scroll a few feet away from him. A few of the training dragons looked over, unsure what was going on.

Deathbringer lifted Firefly from his back, placing her on a very confused NightWing. Taking a deep breath, holding it in, he grabbed a stick from the ground, and poked the scroll with it, until he could see the seal again, now half-covered in mud. The seal of the IceWing royal family. It was from Queen Blackice.

Slowly, Deathbringer opened the scroll with his stick, gently prodding beneath the seal until it rolled open. He squinted, staring at the scroll, and let it shake a little. No poisonous powder, at least nothing visible. He inched closer to it, finally letting in a small breath. No strange smells. He glanced over the claw-writing, unwilling to touch the scroll with his own talons.

To the Assassin King,

I have contacted you because we need your help, and you need ours. I shall keep this message short, in case it is intercepted. In three days time, I would like you and the leader of the RainWings to join us where you failed your final mission.

The enemy of an enemy is a friend,

Storm

Deathbringer stared at the scroll for a few moments. It didn't sound like it was from Queen Blackice, but he didn't want to take any chances. Who else would have the royal seal? Suddenly, it came to him where he'd heard the name Storm before, his blood running cold. Storm was Glory's name. The name she'd used when she'd first met him, disguising herself as an IceWing. Was this some sort of prank? Or a trap?

Deathbringer thought for a moment. If it was a prank, whoever had written it had certainly done their research. And if it was a trap, it was a weird one. Why would Queen Blackice send a message with her own seal if she was pretending to be a potential ally? And why would she use the fake name belonging to a dead dragon? Deathbringer started to suspect it was real, but that just made him think it was probably a set-up again.

How would Queen Blackice even know about Deathbringer's final assassination attempt, where he failed to assassinate Blaze and the Dragonets? She'd been banished on an island north of even the Ice Kingdom then, along with all of her closest allies. Deathbringer paused. He could go to the meeting, but that would mean leaving the dragons here alone, during their last days of training. Deathbringer looked over the measly forces of NightWings and RainWings under his command. Even with the enchanted scroll, he was desperate for allies. They needed help if they were going to survive this, and maybe this was it. Or maybe he'd end up with his head next to Glory's.

Deathbringer read the letter again. That was right, they wanted him to bring Jambu. Maybe Jambu would have some advice on what to do. Deathbringer chuckled. Now he was so desperate, he was turning to Jambu? He sighed. He needed to go to the rainforest anyways — he'd planned on taking Firefly and the last few dragonets and eggs at the camp there to keep them safe. He supposed could just take them tomorrow, and say goodbye to Firefly a bit earlier than he had hoped.

Deathbringer turned back to the crowd of dragons, still practicing their fighting skills. But until tomorrow, while there was still light in the day, they would train.

Chapter 23

"You're not supposed to be here," Aurora growled, eyes locked on Inferno. "Calamity didn't warn me about interacting with you again."

Inferno stared at Aurora pleadingly, her paws shaking. Her head suddenly twisted back and forth, like it was jerked by some external force. A splash of shimmering liquid rose up as Inferno pounded her paws, Inferno's normally white claws stained by molten gold. "Stop!"

Aurora paused. Why hadn't Calamity told her about Inferno? Had he just not thought she was important enough to be a part of her mission? She might have been one of the five, but their part to play was over. They were irrelevant.

But . . . what if Calamity hadn't warned her because he didn't know Aurora was going to be here? What if something had gone wrong? The thought chilled Aurora.

The chill was immediately washed away as a sudden blast of warmth hit the hybrid. Aurora looked back to see that the aura of heat around Inferno's scales shift colors, whisps of smoke rising through the cavern. The fireborn's fire-red scales had suddenly changed to a bright blue. It was like a blazing bonfire had been lit in the center of the cavern.

Aurora took an instinctive step back, placing a wing in front of her to shield her from the heat. But just as soon as the blue hues had appeared, Inferno's scales and flames turned back to their normal cool red.

"P-please," Inferno whimpered, like it was a strain for her to make even a single word come from her throat. "I'm not in control anymore."

Aurora narrowed her gaze. Not in control? Did that mean that something had taken over Inferno's body? Calamity had that power; did that mean that he'd left the Crystal Caverns inside of Inferno? No. If Calamity was controlling Inferno, he would have let Aurora know it was him. It was something, or someone, else. If it wasn't Calamity, that whoever it was wasn't part of the plan, and didn't matter. Aurora just needed to treat this situation like she would normally.

"I've been ordered by Queen Scarlet to bring you to her court," Aurora stated. "This includes whatever is controlling you. Come with me peacefully, or I'll be forced to subdue you."

"You're working with Queen Scarlet?" Inferno asked. Even if the two had previously been enemies, the SkyWing had a look of almost betrayal on her snout. "How could you? Don't you know wh—"

Inferno's scales suddenly jolted, a tremor running through her body. Her jaws opened themselves, and with barely a hiss of smoke as warning, a great blast of orange fire burst from her throat. Heat surrounded Aurora as the fire engulfed her, the sky-blue dragon lost in the cone of flames.

When Inferno's breath finally ran out, and the flames subsided, the only thing left in her path was a black scorch mark on the cavern wall. Inferno stared at it in horror. "Wait, no! I didn't—"

"You seem like less of a pacifist than the last time we met," Aurora commented as she walked in through the cavern wall behind Inferno. "I'm surprised at your willingness to fight."

Inferno turned around, almost jumping as she saw Aurora. She let out a sigh of relief, before her expression quickly changed to a frown. "You're one to talk! I remember what you did to Ink. And you came here to fight me!"

"Ink attacked me," Aurora responded. "And I didn't come to fight you. I came to capture you by whatever means necessary. You're the one who attacked me."

"I'm not!" Inferno replied. "I told you, it's not me! It's—"

Inferno's legs suddenly propelled her forward, her golden claws reaching out to attack Aurora, smoke and flame rising from them. She twisted her head back and forth, trying to open her wings and get away, but she no longer had any control over the rest of her body. "Get away!"

Aurora stood in place as the fireborn leaped at her, making her body incorporeal. As hot as Inferno's talons were, they could do nothing so long as they couldn't touch her.

Pain suddenly ripped through Aurora's head as Inferno's talons entered her. The hybrid tried to move or scream, but her body couldn't respond. Images started to pour through her head, blinding her to the world. The smell of seared flesh. A thousand wordless whispers. Calamity's voice, asking for someone's name. A dead IceWing princess. Dark clouds of stone forming in the sky. A flash of pink scales, talons around Aurora's neck.

The images switched to bits and pieces of Aurora's own memories. Crystal's cold scales, holding her close. The sound of her own screams, violet blood dripping from her mouth. A city of dragon bones. A sculpture of Crystal and Calamity, made from ice. The blue blood of an IceWing, pouring down Aurora's talons. Scrambling beneath her mother's wings in terror. The taste of blood and feathers. A salmon-colored snout staring down at her, the SkyWing's weight crushing Aurora's neck.

Stop it. Aurora's talons grasped at the pale pink scales, digging into them. Get out. More visions. A scavenger's greedy eye. Talons around Calamity's neck. A pleading NightWing with the sunset in his scales. A young Inferno, hiding beneath a slab of stone. A glass palace reaching up to the sky.

The salmon claws tightened. Aurora could feel her consciousness fading, scattered and scrambled. Tourmaline, falling as slow as a feather. The unintelligible yells of Crystal and Calamity. An eye, crushed in Aurora's talons. Tortured whispers of voices Aurora would never know. The heat of lava, slowly rising. Torrent's yells and Nightreader's frightened eyes. Calamity gentle voice, telling her it's okay, she can try again. The salmon SkyWing, teeth bared as he choked the life from Aurora. Darkness.

"ASH, STOP IT!"

Inferno's voice pierced through the black veil, and Aurora saw a blurred image of the fireborn take a step back, moving her claws away from Aurora. Aurora's head pulsed like it might split in two. She stared at the ground, for a moment, unable to do anything but breath.

"We don't need to fight her!" Inferno shouted to herself. "You were going to kill her!"

The moment passed. Aurora lifted her head up, the world around her still blurry. Pain jolted through her scales, her flesh burnt from Inferno's attack, though it barely bothered her. She took a deep breath, trying to push what she'd seen from her mind, already trying to mend her worst physical injuries.

"Ash," Aurora whispered, blood running cold. She turned towards Inferno, taking a few steps away from the fireborn. "Did you - did you say Ash?"

Inferno nodded, unable to get the words out. She lurched towards Aurora again, and the hybrid jumped back, slamming into the cavern wall.

Aurora's eyes opened wide. She knew that name. Something had gone wrong. Terribly wrong. And Calamity wasn't here to tell her how to stop it. Her breath started to shorten, talons shaking, teeth chattering. How long had it been since she'd felt such fear?

Aurora tried to still herself. What could she do? She could phase away. Return to the Crystal Caverns. Abandon her mission. Would Ash be able to follow her? What did Ash want with her?

She shook her head, taking a deep breath. No. She needed to keep her resolve. She couldn't abandon her mission. She still had things to do. She glanced at Inferno, the fireborn shaking herself. Aurora had just let her guard down. Inferno wasn't a real threat, but Ash was.

She needed to examine the situation. So far, every fight she'd been in had been easy. But she'd been trained for stuff like this. Ash hadn't been able to hurt her until Inferno touched her. So trying to fight by phasing wouldn't work. But as long as Inferno couldn't touch Aurora, she was safe.

Aurora bared her fangs, crouching down, ready to jump away if Inferno tried to leap. Ash would want to attack her immediately, but Inferno was still in control. Which meant she had time to prepare. A black sheen started to cover Aurora's scales, growing over them until there wasn't a hint of blue left, only the a small glitter of color from the hybrid's eyes. A heat-resistant alloy, something that Inferno's talons wouldn't be able to break through.

Aurora slowly lifted one of her paws up, straining against the weight of the armor she'd created. She'd be less mobile in this, but the most important thing was to avoid another psychic attack from Ash. Why hadn't she known about him? Even Torrent hadn't reacted to Inferno — had Ash not shown up on his map?

The hybrid raised her tail through the air, as the alloy-covered spikes on it extended, huge black hooks forming on the end. Aurora's talons similarly lengthened, becoming covered with similarly shaped spikes and hooks. The battle-ready Aurora took a step forward, eyes glinting. If Ash couldn't touch her, then hopefully, he couldn't hurt her.

"Aurora . . ." Inferno whispered, her hopeful expression turning to fear as she saw herself reflected in one of Aurora's blade-like talons. Aurora wasn't planning to save her. She was planning to kill her. "Wait!"

No hesitation, Aurora thought to herself, hesitate, and you die. The stone beneath Aurora's paws shifted, propelling the hybrid up and forward, her heart bouncing up and down in her chest. Her wings stretched out, but provided little lift with the heavy armor, and she crashed down towards Inferno.

Inferno's expression suddenly shifted, and the SkyWing's claws stretched out, leaping into the air. She made contact with Aurora, the hybrid slamming into her like a boulder. Inferno's talons screeched as they raked across Aurora's armor, smoke sizzling ineffectively. Aurora's forepaws wrapped around Inferno, the SkyWing letting out a yell as sharp hooks dug into her either side, keeping her in place.

A moment later, the two slammed into the ground, Aurora crashing down into Inferno as molten gold splashed around them. Aurora's weight pinned Inferno against the ground, crushing her as she tried to move.

"Stop!" Inferno cried out, her arms flailing, her talons grabbing onto Aurora's snout. The sight of one suddenly flashed in front of Aurora's eyes as Inferno tried to poke it into the holes in her armor.

Aurora twisted away, rolling off of Inferno, back onto her paws. She barely had a chance to look back before Inferno leaped onto the hybrid's backside, Aurora feeling the armor heat up against her scales, starting to burn. Molten gold splashed as she staggered forward, trying to get Inferno off her. Inferno grabbed onto one of Aurora's arms, using her other forepaw to claw at Aurora's eyes once more. But when she reached them, all she heard was the screech of stone.

Aurora closed her eyes as armor covered them. She couldn't have a single weak point, not if she was really fighting Ash. She would just need to fight this battle blind. Her tail lashed onto her back, the hybrid able to feel resistance as it sunk into scales and flesh. The hooks extended inside Inferno, and Aurora twisted her tail away, dragging Inferno off her back as the SkyWing let out an ear-splitting scream, the sound muted beneath Aurora's armor.

Before Inferno had a chance to do anything, Aurora leaped on top of her, using her tail to guide her. A blast of flame started to heat up the armor, and Aurora slammed her paw down just beneath the source of the flame, whacking Inferno's neck as she let out a choking noise. The scales on Aurora's belly started to burn. She had to keep focus. Inferno's talons grabbed ahold of Aurora's snout again, letting the hybrid know where they were. Aurora moved her talons to Inferno's forelegs, the weight allowing her to easily slam them into a pool of gold. Her hooks latched onto them, piercing through Inferno's paws as the SkyWing screamed out, extending through to the ground. Aurora's hindpaws moved until they found Inferno's, stabbing through them until all four of Inferno's legs had been hooked to the ground.

Aurora allowed the hooks to disconnect from her paws, and stepped back until she hit the cavern wall. Her talons were still shaking. Had she won? Slowly, she removed the covers over her eyes, allowing herself a glimpse at what she'd done. Inferno was lying on the cavern floor, belly-exposed, whimpering. Boiling crimson blood mixed with molten gold in a pool around each of her paws, a thin black spike running up through each of them from the cavern floor, hooked on the end.

Aurora breathed a small sigh of relief. So she hadn't killed her. If she had, Ash might have been able to escape, but here, it seemed like he was trapped. Still, her talons wouldn't stop moving back and forth. Why was she still terrified?

Inferno's head suddenly whipped up from the ground, staring directly at Aurora. The hybrid staggered back, burnt scales slamming into the wall. "I don't know what Calamity told you," Inferno calmly stated, "but you really didn't have to go this far just to stop me. Now you've hurt poor Inferno."

Aurora trembled as she stood back up, pain coursing through her entire body as she struggled to move in the armor. She walked forward, until her head was almost over Inferno's. The SkyWing seemed to grin as Aurora put a black paw against her snout.

"I know what you are," Aurora whispered. "You don't get to speak. I won't make the same mistake that Calamity did."

Where her paw touched Inferno, a black ring of shimmering stone grew, tightening around Inferno's snout in a muzzle. Inferno's expression shifting, pained whimpers returning to her voice as her eyes looked pleadingly up at Aurora.

Aurora glanced towards Inferno's paws, spikes running through them. That was right. That was probably painful for her. Aurora moved her paw down between the SkyWing's horns, down to the side of her neck, and concentrated for a few moments. She needed something that would both dull the pain and keep her unconscious. Taking pity wasn't part of Aurora's mission, but if Inferno was kept unconscious, it would be easier to transport her back to the palace.

Inferno woozily lowered her head to the ground, her eyes shutting, not opening again. Aurora pulled her talons away. She walked a few tail-lengths back before turning her armor to cold water, splashing down over her scales. Pink and red had seeped into the blue, warped and disfigured from touching the hot armor. No matter. The wounds were light, she could heal them later.

Aurora looked back at the sleeping Inferno, heart still pounding. She'd been trained to suppress her fear on her mission, but that had all fallen apart. The mission. Her duty. This changed it all. If Ash was really here, if he'd somehow made it to this iteration, did any of it matter anymore?

"Calamity," she whispered to herself. "Please. You have to tell me what to do."

Chapter 24

A large bang reverberated throughout the guest room as Skytaker slammed into the door. For a moment, it seemed like the door would be torn from its hinges, before Skytaker bounced back, skidding onto the ground. They growled, backing up again until they bumped into an unimpressed Tiger.

"There's no use," the RainWing commented. "It's clearly magically locked, like the unbreakable window or the tapestry that keeps reappearing."

"You don't know that," Skytaker snorted. "Maybe it's just a really big bolt. Hey, do you think that the door will burn?"

Tiger winced, shaking her head. "That's a horrible idea," she muttered. "You really have no sense, do you? It'll set the entire room aflame. Regardless, even if we manage to get out of this room, we won't be able to get out of the palace. And even if we got out of the palace—"

"—we wouldn't be able to get back to Pyrrhia," Skytaker replied. "Yes, I know. But at least if we get out of this room, we'll be able to try something. Using the Obscura again, getting more intel on the Empress's plans or whatever her powers are."

Ermine's head peeked over side of the bed at the mention of the Empress's powers, eyes going wide as he stared down at the other two dragonets. "Oh no," he fretted. "But what if she discovers us? What if we learn something that we're not supposed to know?"

"Huh?" Skytaker asked.

"She'll make us forget," Ermine answered anxiously. "She'll use her freaky powers on me, and then I'll forget just like Mangrove, I'll forget Jade Mountain and everyone there and all the IceWings in the Ice Kingdom and both of you and she'll make me forget my parents and then I'll be stuck in Antigonia forever not even knowing who I am." Ermine dug his snout into the feathered mattress, cold tears running down it. "No one will know I'm trapped here, not even me."

Skytaker walked over towards Ermine, placing a paw over his head as the IceWing sobbed. "Don't worry," they tried to reassure him. "I won't let that happen. I promise, we'll get out of here, memories and all."

"How can you say that?" Tiger asked, a few of her black stripes turning sea-green. "You're making a promise you can't keep. I see no reason why escaping is the likeliest outcome. Do you expect us to get out of here on sheer willpower alone?"

"Just because you've given up doesn't mean I have," Skytaker remarked. "We failed last time, but we got out of the palace. That's an accomplishment. We can still get out of here."

Suddenly, the door to the room swung open, and the dragonets' heads swivelled to see it. Ermine's tears suddenly stopped, the IceWing too terrified to make a movement.

"No, you can't," Empress Liliana remarked as she stepped in through the doorway, multi-colored light glinting from her crown. She gave the guest room a quick scan, glossing over Ermine and Skytaker, before finally meeting Tiger's eyes.

"Y-you," Skytaker stammered, eyes wide. The hybrid bared their fangs, letting out a low growl. "What are you doing here?"

The Empress stared down at Tiger with a bored look, walking up to the trembling RainWing dragonet. "I promised to answer some of your questions, didn't I? I plan to make do on that promise. Come with me."

The Empress turned her back, Tiger just staring breathlessly. The Empress was going to answer her questions? Just like that? No, this had to be some sort of trap. Except they were already trapped. Was she trying to separate the three? "Can Skytaker and Ermine come with me?"

"No," Liliana answered, without a second thought. "Just you."

Tiger frowned. Why would the Empress need to separate them? It wasn't like she couldn't just do it by force if Tiger refused. So there was no reason for her not to go along. She glanced towards Skytaker, hoping for their input.

Skytaker spread their claws out, crouching down. There was no one in the hallway behind the Empress. She was alone, without any guards. If there was any chance the three could fight her in battle, now was the time.

"If you try to take me on in combat, I'll crush you," the Empress threatened, not even bothering to glance back towards Skytaker. The hybrid's eyes darted to her forepaws, as they saw a small arc of light cross between two of her talons.

Skytaker sat back, tucking their claws away. So the Empress had powers other than the memory manipulation. At least they'd learned something.

"Even if you did manage to subdue me and escape the palace, I'm the only one with the power to return you to Pyrrhia," the Empress continued. "None of my subordinates have it; they only are able to create a way back to Antigonia if I mark them. Be patient. In time, you'll be free to return." She turned her head towards Tiger. "Well? Are you coming, or not?"

"I'll come," Tiger hesitantly agreed. Trap or not, this might be her only chance to ask the Empress directly. She ran up to the Empress, beneath her wing.

"Wait!" Skytaker yelled out as the two exited the guest room.

Liliana extended her wing, and the door closed behind them, blocking off whatever Skytaker was about to say. Tiger stared as a loud bang sounded from the door. She would have to do this alone. She took a deep breath, staring up at the glittering Empress as the two walked down the hallway. The Empress stepped into the golden circle in front of the doors to the moving rooms, and Tiger posed her first question.

"How come you know you're the only one with a way back to Pyrrhia?" Tiger asked. "Maybe there are animuses on Antigonia you don't know about."

Empress Liliana smiled as the doors opened wide, stepping into the circular room, positioning herself in the center. Tiger didn't budge. If the Empress wasn't going to answer her questions, she wasn't going to willingly follow her.

"I looked into it a bit more after you mentioned it," Liliana replied, motioning Tiger to follow. "None of the Pyrrhian animuses are animuses here. In fact, I'm pretty sure that animus magic was removed from my world."

"Removed?" Tiger asked. She frowned, slowly stepping into the circular room, the doors closing behind her as it started to move. "Were you the one who did it?"

Empress Liliana chuckled. "No. It had nothing to do with me. It was that way since long before my birth. I suspect it happened not long after the Scorching."

It was only a moment before the circular room stopped, and the doors opened again. The Empress stepped out onto a sunlit balcony, Tiger following behind. She hadn't seen this floor before. She put her claws up on the balcony's rail, peering over the edge. Beneath her, the palace opened up into a flat courtyard, filled with rows and columns of RainWings, as far as Tiger could see. Each held a spear in their claws, striking at the air with it in unison. Glory's orange crest was visible across the courtyard, shouting out orders.

"An army," Tiger whispered.

"I have some powers," Liliana continued. "But they're nothing compared to what an animus could do."

"Then how did you do what you did to Antigonia?" Tiger asked. "Everyone's memories, the map, the queens abdicating their throne. That was you, wasn't it?"

Liliana smiled. "I answered one of your questions for free, but if you want to learn more, I'll need something from you in return. I'll make a deal. If I tell you what you want, you will answer some questions for me."

"Deal," Tiger replied, without a moment's pause.

The Empress stared for a few seconds, slightly taken aback. "I'm surprised you agreed so quickly."

"And I'm surprised you proposed such an offer," Tiger retorted. She narrowed her eyes. If the Empress was willing to let Tiger ask anything, that meant she didn't see the three dragonets as a threat, but if she wanted to ask questions, she thought they knew something important. A potential weakness she was trying to cover for? In that case, the questions the Empress asked would be as important as her answers.

A sly smile appeared on Empress Liliana's snout, and she let out a laugh. "So Glory really did bring you here for a reason! I shouldn't have underestimated her, or you. Go on, ask what you want."

Tiger paused. Did she really have permission to ask anything? No. If she asked about an escape route, a secret weakness, or something like that, then the Empress would just keep an extra eye on that.

"Did Antigonia used to be like Pyrrhia?" Tiger asked, repeating what she'd said back when their escape had been foiled. "And did you use your powers to make Antigonia how it is today, firmly under your control?"

"That's two questions," Liliana mused. "Though I suppose it would be difficult to answer one without the other. No. I didn't have powers when I made Antigonia how it is now, I instead used an ancient artifact. I believe you'd call it animus-touched. However, you're more or less correct; Antigonia was much like how Pyrrhia is now, before I changed it."

An animus enchantment, Tiger wondered. Something from Pyrrhia? Or something that had been made before animus magic disappeared from Antigonia?

"My turn," Liliana smiled. "Do the NightWings have powers on Pyrrhia? I've received conflicting reports."

Tiger glanced up at Liliana. A question about Pyrrhia. A strategic question, maybe? Did she think NightWing powers were a threat to her? Skytaker would've been able to figure that out, they'd always been better at reading dragons than Tiger.

"Some do," Tiger replied truthfully. "They only just started to regain them over the past few years, since they'd lost them when hiding from the Darkstalker."

"Really?" Liliana chortled. "They hid from Darkstalker? It's quite difficult for me to imagine that, given the absolute failure of his 'rebel' group."

"You know the Darkstalker?" Tiger asked. Wait, did that count as her question? "How? He died long ago on Pyrrhia."

"Perhaps," the Empress replied. "I don't remember hearing Trustbreaker ever speak of him, so he might not have made a mark on this world. But he wouldn't be the first dragon from long ago who's now alive. When I used the Wishstone to create a better world — the name I have for the artifact I mentioned — one of the strange side-effects was accidentally recreating dragons from the past, who should have been long dead. The current residents of Antigonia are dragons and humans pulled from all periods of time, although most wouldn't have their memories."

The Empress shook her head, tsking. "I was young and naïve. At the time, I didn't have a clear image in my mind of what a better world would look like, and so, things ended up like this." She turned to Tiger. "I hope that satisfies your curiosity. Now, did you know the NightWing you saw me kill, or anyone who looked like him?"

Tiger thought for a moment. "I saw him a few times in the rainforest," she replied. "Duskwind. But I didn't know him well. I'm not even sure I ever talked to him. He's Pyrrhia's version of Trustbreaker, isn't he? Does Trustbreaker have the Wishstone? Is that how he got to Pyrrhia?" Her eyes looked down towards the army of RainWings, training beneath them. Was that what she was looking for in Pyrrhia?

"So you figured out I don't have it," Empress Liliana smirked. "Good job. Yes, Duskwind was your world's Trustbreaker. I believe that Trustbreaker has the Wishstone, and that he used it to escape Antigonia to Pyrrhia after his rebellion failed. I didn't know where it was for a long time, but I used the powers I gained from it to travel to many different worlds. Your Pyrrhia was the only one with living dragons I could find, and I could sense the Wishstone's presence. Something that powerful is difficult to hide, if you know how to look. Now, how many animus dragons do you know of, and where are they?"

Probably looking for potential threats, Tiger suspected. If she lied to the Empress, would she know? Likely. Tiger still didn't know any of the details behind whatever powers she'd gotten from the Wishstone. She closed her eyes, trying to remember.

"I can think of three," Tiger replied. "Two at Jade Mountain. A SeaWing, Princess Anemone, and a NightWing named Stonemover. The third is a hybrid, Princess Aurora. I don't know where she is."

"That's it?" Liliana asked, mildly surprised. "So it's not common."

"Those are the only three I know of," Tiger clarified. "There could be others, each with the same power that created the Wishstone you're looking for." Maybe she could scare the Empress away from attacking Pyrrhia, if she knew there were dragons there as powerful as she was.

"Doubtful," the Empress replied. "They lose their souls, don't they? The dragon who created the Wishstone used practically his whole soul to do it. Regardless, along with the hybrid in Crosswinds that Deathbringer found, that gives at least four animuses. Each of which could interfere."

"What do you plan to do if you find the Wishstone?" Tiger asked.

The Empress raised her head, looking out to the sea. "I think you already have an idea. I'll transform Pyrrhia, but this time, I'll make things better than Antigonia."

"So you'll take everyone's memories, make them all your slaves—" Tiger started to protest.

"No!" the Empress hissed. "I told you. That was a fluke. Something that I would have corrected here by now, if Trustbreaker hadn't stolen the Wishstone from me. I know better now. I might need to change a few memories or personalities here and there, but it won't be the same. Your world is much like the world I used to live with, where humans lived in terror, and dragons were constantly at war. How many wars is your Pyrrhia fighting right now? Antigonia may look bleak, but can you honestly say it's not better than that?"

Tiger paused. Ermine's parents. The destruction of the rainforest and attack on the NightWings and RainWings. And not long before that, twenty years of war. Objectively, how could she disagree? Empress Liliana might have violated the individuality and sense of self of everyone on the continent, and everyone seemed unhappy, but at least they were alive.

Tiger shook her head. Just because Antigonia was marginally better than Pyrrhia didn't mean that it was the only option. If she'd learned anything at Jade Mountain, it was that. There was a better way forward, a Pyrrhia where everyone was kind and peaceful, not because they were forced to be, but because they wanted to. And if the Empress had her way, that future would disappear, for all of them.

"Fine," the Empress snorted. "Reject my ideals, or accept them, it doesn't matter. I'll succeed, regardless." She turned to her army of RainWings, and let out a sigh. "Thank you for your time. I plan to leave for Pyrrhia tomorrow. The next time we meet, both our worlds will be better places. General Glory will watch over the three of you while I'm gone. Please escort yourself back to your room."

Tiger nodded, bowing her head as she turned away from the balcony, the army shouting from behind her as metal clanged. She learned something. Now, she knew how the Empress could be stopped. However, whether or not the three dragonets could stop her was a different matter.

Chapter 25

Midnight took a frightened step back, staring up at the black dragon with new eyes. "You're the Darkstalker?" she exclaimed. The evil animus to trump all evil animuses, the dragon who Torrent couldn't even stop while he was sleeping, the hybrid whose hatching had led to two-thousand years of wars between the NightWings and IceWings.

"Wow," Ecru remarked, taken aback. "I'm really regretting asking you to flirt with me right now."

"Just Darkstalker, actually. No 'the.' You know me? Do I lead a famous, highly successful rebellion on Pyrrhia?" Darkstalker smiled. His smile quickly faded as he read Midnight and Ecru's minds. "Oh. That's a little . . . wow. Okay." He glanced towards Ecru. "Wait, seriously? I did that? I think you're just messing with me."

Midnight glanced up at him, concerned. She took a deep breath. Tattoo Deathbringer was different than Pyrrhian Deathbringer. Maybe this Darkstalker was different than the one she'd heard so many stories about.

"Please, don't worry," Darkstalker said reassuringly. "I'm not an evil nightmare dragon. I wouldn't kill a bunch of IceWings for whatever reason. I've got no problem with IceWings. They seem pretty chill." He grinned at his own pun, but Midnight and Ecru's expressions didn't change. "So, am I really that awful on Pyrrhia? Hey, we're related? That's pretty cool. See, I can't be that bad."

"Please stop with the mind-reading," Midnight winced. "It's getting disconcerting."

"Sorry," Darkstalker replied, "but your thoughts are pretty freaked out right now, screaming my name, so it's pretty hard to ignore."

"Your father was an IceWing prince who betrayed his kingdom and took IceWing magic," Ecru quietly explained. "There was a war, and you were going to kill your queen. The entire NightWing Kingdom fled from you. A SeaWing prince named Fathom probably brought you down. There are a lot of gruesome legends about you, but they're of limited historicity."

"Limited historicity," Darkstalker mused. "So they're probably not real. Wait, I'm half-IceWing?"

Ecru shook her head. "Something you did was bad enough it made the NightWings leave Pyrrhia, and have two tribes treat you as a legendary evil for two-thousand years."

Darkstalker paused for a moment. "Well, that's not the me here," he finally replied, glancing down at Wren. "The rising up against my queen thing, yes, but the Empress deserves it. And I don't kill unless it's necessary for the rebellion. Wren, am I anything like the legend?"

Wren rolled her eyes. "No," she replied. "You're annoyingly bossy and totally self-centered, but you're not quite effective enough to be hiding in childrens' nightmares."

"See?" Darkstalker replied. "Even Wren doesn't think I have the capacity to do such evil. In fact, I think your two-thousand year old legend is wrong, since that sounds nothing like me. Also, what's an animus? You keep thinking about that term, and I don't know it."

Midnight tilted her head. "You . . . don't know? Magic? Enchanting stuff?"

Darkstalker shook his head. "Nope. I can't do that. Only mind-reading."

Midnight let out a sigh of relief. If Darkstalker was telling the truth, that meant he couldn't use magic like his Pyrrhian counterpart had been able to. He didn't have the power that he'd used for evil. And he also couldn't lose his soul to magic. Maybe he really was different here.

"You can't see the future?" Ecru asked, surprised. "The legends always said you could."

Wren let out a laugh, drawing Ecru's eyes down. "This world has no future," she explained, shaking her head.

"What Wren is trying to say is that there's something wrong with this world. We have no past, and no future," Darkstalker quietly explained. "We also aren't sure how much longer this continent will be habitable. The Empress has been trying to fix things, but even her powers aren't enough. Midnight, you're an animus?"

Midnight closed her eyes, very much starting to regret being around a mind-reader. Her most important secret, and it had already been revealed. "Yeah," she responded uncomfortably. "I'm able to do enchant things to do whatever I want them to do, at the cost of pieces of my soul."

"That sounds pretty powerful," Darkstalker replied, "I'd be able to do a lot of great things here if I were an animus, but as far as I know, there aren't any here. Ooh, you have an enchantment that heals anyone? That seems pretty useful. I'm surprised you can make things that powerful."

"Yes, but as I was saying, it's very dangerous," Midnight muttered. "Because of the whole losing your soul thing."

"With a power like that, we might be able to win the rebellion," Darkstalker mused. "Hey, if you're ever interested in freeing a continent from a ruthless dictator, would you mind using your powers for me? I've got a lot of great ideas."

"Er—" Midnight replied uncomfortably.

"Stop it!" Ecru hissed, baring her fangs at Darkstalker. "Thank you for saving us, but you can't just tell Midnight what to do, and how to use her powers for you! Aren't you listening?"

Darkstalker frowned, and opened his mouth to say something, but Wren responded first.

"There's no point in this argument," the scavenger said. "I doubt magic would work on the Empress anyways. She has her own powers that can counteract most anything."

Darkstalker sighed, taking a step back, and sitting down on his haunches. "You're probably. Sorry. We're just . . . desperate."

Midnight stared down at her paws for a moment. She took in a deep breath, trying to focus. "Yeah," she replied, her voice hushed. "I don't think it would work anyways. There's something odd that I've noticed ever since we got to Antigonia. Whenever I think about using magic, I no longer have that strange surge of power that normally would come to me. I don't have any desire to use it anymore, like I did back on Pyrrhia. I didn't even realize that I did want to use it before I came here. My mind feels clear."

"So you're saying you can't use magic?" Ecru asked, surprised. She considered that for a moment. It was a good thing, wasn't it? It was dangerous, and if Midnight couldn't use it, she couldn't lose herself to it. Yet, if not for her magic, the two of them would have been dead by down. Without it, they needed to be much more careful. "Maybe there's something wrong with magic in Antigonia. That could be why Darkstalker doesn't have it."

"Meaning that if Midnight lost her magic when she came to Antigonia, I'd be able to use magic if I went to Pyrrhia?" Darkstalker asked.

Midnight suddenly tensed up. Another Darkstalker on Pyrrhia, magic and all?

"Hey, I told you, I'm not your evil nightmare dragon," Darkstalker replied, mildly offended by Midnight's thought. "I'm just trying to save this world."

"I can attest to that fact," Wren affirmed. "As irritating as he can get, Darkstalker is the best leader our rebellion has had since Trustbreaker. Which isn't saying much."

"Rebellion?" Ecru asked. "Against the Empress, right? Who is that? Whoever is in charge of those RainWings that attacked us?"

"Yep," Wren frowned. "Empress Liliana. She's the sole ruler of Antigonia and everyone in it. She controls the RainWings that tried to take you to her, along with pretty much everyone else in Antigonia. Dragons and humans alike all bow to her."

"Years ago, the queens all stepped down to her," Darkstalker explained. "Probably through mind-control or blackmail or something else. Her closest ally, a dragon named Duskwind, better known as Trustbreaker, started a rebellion against her. They fought bravely, but vastly underestimated her. They were slaughtered, and Trustbreaker disappeared. The Empress and the remaining rebels searched to the edges of the world to find him, but he was gone."

"You said Duskwind, right?" Midnight asked, surprised. "That's the name of the NightWing who disappeared from Deathbringer's camp. What if the Empress found him on Pyrrhia?"

Wren stood up straight, placing a hand on her sword. "You think the Empress caught him?"

Darkstalker shook his head. "Doubtful. We would have known by now if she had."

"Maybe it was our world's Trustbreaker," Ecru suggested. "Like we have a Darkstalker and a Deathbringer too."

"Regardless, even if he's gone, we still fight in his name," Darkstalker continued.

"You're missing the most important part," Wren interrupted. "The oldest members of the rebellion claim that Trustbreaker told them secrets about the world. That the Empress used her magic to do something horrible to the entire world, and that we're all living in a fake world, with fake memories."

Ecru frowned, and touched her paw to the ground, scratching her talons against it. It certainly felt real.

"Fake memories?" Midnight asked. "And you're sure this Trustbreaker is telling the truth?" Using magic on an entire world? If an animus did that . . . would they even have any soul leftover?

"Pretty sure," Darkstalker responded. "Sometimes dragons regain memories that shouldn't be there. Usually not much, but enough to piece some stuff together."

Midnight paused for a moment. "So you think I can help you get rid of the Empress. Even without my magic."

Darkstalker shrugged his wings. "Maybe. Maybe not. But we need someone to stop her. Ever since she took over, Antigonia has been dying. Plagued by storms, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Even the Empress isn't able to do much more than delay it. But if we can get her to undo whatever magic she did . . ."

Midnight shook her head. "You do realize what you're asking of me, right? Ecru and I have been fleeing for our lives over the past few weeks. We're only alive because I had my magic, and I don't have it here. You had to rescue us from two RainWings. We're not even battle-trained. We can't solve your problems just because we're from a different world."

Wren stepped forward, glaring up at Midnight. "You're wrong," she stated. "We're not asking you to solve our problems. We're asking you to solve your problems."

"You mean getting back to Pyrrhia?" Ecru asked.

Wren shook her head. "In the morning, after we leave the catacombs, there will be a blue light in the sky to the north. Our intelligence has told us that the Empress is opening another portal, this time, large enough to fit an army of RainWings."

"She's invading Pyrrhia," Midnight whispered in realization.

"Why did you think she sent the assassin?" Darkstalker prodded. "She wanted you out of the way. And, well, looking at where you ended up, she succeeded."

Midnight turned towards Ecru. "We have to get back to Pyrrhia," she said, "so we can . . ."

"Use your magic," Ecru sighed, closing her eyes. "I know. Just . . . be careful. Consider it talked over with me."

"I still don't think it will work," Wren replied.

"Maybe not directly, but the Empress sent Deathbringer after me for a reason, right?" Midnight asked. "I have to be at least some sort of threat. Along with the rest of the animuses."

"There are more?" Darkstalker asked, almost surprised. "Pyrrhia has multiple dragons as powerful as the Empress?"

"Well, less than we used to, thanks to my father," Midnight replied, trying to remember the blotches on Torrent's map. "There's you, but you're in some sort of magical slumber. I remember five at Jade Mountain. Three of them are my uncles or aunts, I think, I only know one of them and he probably won't be helpful. The other two might. The fourth I don't know, and the fifth . . . my half-sister. She's evil. Not helpful." Midnight winced. "The Empress really chose her timing well. A bunch of NightWing and RainWings are going to be travelling to Jade Mountain soon, and there'll probably be some battles with the IceWings. It'll be difficult to get their help, even if they're willing."

"Which of course assumes we can get back to Pyrrhia, and get to Jade Mountain in time," Ecru sighed. "The Empress is creating a portal, right? Could we go through there?"

"It's too late for that," Wren replied. "We wouldn't get there in time, and even if we did, we'd have to get through the Empress and her army."

"So we can't stop her," Midnight grimaced. "Yay. Another war on Pyrrhia."

"War implies that one side is capable of fighting back," Darkstalker snorted. "I think the proper term for this is a 'slaughter.'"

"Really making me feel better," Midnight muttered. "So, what do we do? You're the glorious leader of the rebellion. You have a plan, don't you?"

"I've got a lot of plans," Darkstalker sighed. "Whether they'll work or not is a different question. For now, we should sleep before going to headquarters tomorrow. I'm sure everyone will be glad to see me. It might be the last good rest you get for a while."

Midnight stared down at her paws. She'd hated her animus magic for all her life, and now that she really needed, that all of Pyrrhia really needed it, it was gone.

Ecru let out a loud yawn. "Good idea. We didn't really get any sleep last night. Midnight, c'mon."

"Yeah," Midnight replied as Ecru placed a wing over her, pulling Midnight close. With all that was going on, could she really sleep? As Wren doused the torch, and the catacombs turned black, a wave of fatigue finally washed over Midnight. She rested herself down against Ecru, beneath the hybrid's wing, her eyes already closing.

---

The night was uneventful. Just as Darkstalker said, the catacombs were too maze-like, and no one happened upon them during their sleep. Eventually morning rose, and torchlight woke Midnight from her slumber.

She stared for a moment at the glittering torch held by the scavenger, before shutting her eyes again, hiding her snout beneath Ecru's wing in hopes that the light would go away, and she'd be able to go back to sleep. No such luck. As Wren lifted Ecru's wing up, Midnight's memories of the previous day quickly returned. She couldn't sleep, not with Pyrrhia in danger.

"Fine, fine," Midnight grumbled, gently shaking Ecru awake. She lifted her head up, already trying to suppress her thoughts so that Darkstalker wouldn't barge in on them. She frowned as she looked around the small chamber, not seeing the black hybrid. "Hey, where's Darkstalker?"

"Already left for HQ," Wren tsked. "Didn't want to stick around just to see the two of you snoring away, so left me here. C'mon. I'll lead you there once you're both up."

After fully waking, Midnight and Ecru quickly got their share of the rations, before Wren stuffed them back in the wall. In case they ever needed to use this as a hiding spot again, Midnight presumed. She glanced up to the cavern. It was so dark underground, she had no idea what time it would be outside.

The two dragons followed the scavenger as she led them through the winding catacombs. Wren seemed to know the place better than the back of her own hand, but every turn seemed to look the same as the previous one to Midnight. Every so often, Midnight or Ecru would catch a glimpse of something that wasn't bones — a remnant of the hold city, like a half-destroyed adobe house or something that seemed dragon-made, like a weapon or decayed scroll.

"So, is like the talking scavengers thing something that the Empress did?" Midnight curiously asked Wren. "Cause the scavengers on Pyrrhia don't talk. They just make weird squeaking noises."

Wren let out an audible sigh, echoing through the quiet catacombs. "That's the Human language," she replied. "Each of those squeaks means something, just like your words."

"Huh," Midnight mused. "So, er, just to be clear, I've never eaten a scavenger before."

"Only because I stopped her," Ecru quickly added, getting a glare from Midnight in response. "Hey! It's true."

"Really, I don't care," Wren responded. "I've always cared more for dragons than my own species for whatever reason. Some stupid before memories. I was captured by the Empress once, and she told me a little bit about it. Said I reminded her of herself."

"Does the Empress like scavengers more than dragons?" Midnight asked.

Wren turned back, giving Midnight a strange look before realizing her confusion. "Oh. Of course you wouldn't know. The Empress is a human."

"Wait, really?" Midnight said, mildly shocked. "I've been imagining her as this super-scary RainWing this whole time; you're saying a scavenger conquered the continent?"

"Well, she's not always a scavenger," Wren explained. "She can turn into a super-scary RainWing. To be honest, she's mainly appeared in dragon form the past few years. I think she's decided it's more intimidating if you're not a third of half your subjects' heights. And she didn't really take over Antigonia alone, either. Trustbreaker helped her, before he turned against her. That's why everyone calls him Trustbreaker. He's not just broken the Empress's trust, but by originally helping her, the entire continent's."

Wren turned her head away from the tunnel and put her hand up as a blast of wind whipped through the catacombs, blowing her hair back. "We're almost here. Watch your step; you won't be able to fly here. The winds will slam you into the cliff."

"Cliff?" Ecru questioned. The three turned another corner, and Ecru saw what Wren had meant. Sunlight hit her eyes as a vicious wind slammed against her, almost knocking her back into Midnight. The tunnel suddenly ended, giving way to a vast blue sky.

"THIS WAY!" Wren yelled, getting down on all fours to crawl the remaining length of the tunnel. "TURN LEFT, THERE'S A LEDGE!"

Midnight ducked her head down as the wind blew over her, tucking her wings in so they wouldn't catch it. Were they that high up? Wren crawled around the corner, the two dragons following until their heads poked out from the tunnel.

Midnight let out a gasp as she stared down. From all sides of the tunnel exit, up and down, left and right, a sheer cliff extended, perfectly flat. The cliff extended on for what seemed like the height of a mountain, before abruptly reaching a grassy field. As Midnight stared out, white clouds turned into dark storms, all beneath her. The MudWing city had been that far up?

Midnight turned to the left as the winds barraged her, making her way into what looked like a downwards-leading staircase carved into the side of the cliff, one side open to the winds. As she dared to poke her head out from the small inset, the cliff seemed to extend as far as she could see, the edge as straight as a blade. Above the horizon, the sky was lit it in a radiative blue, just like the flash of light above the portal had been. Darkstalker had been right. Someone was creating a portal to Pyrrhia, far larger than than the portal Deathbringer had used.

"THIS WAY!" Wren called out, making her way down the staircase backwards, careful that the wind didn't whip her away. Midnight and Ecru followed the scavenger, the stairs at once both too small for dragons and too large for scavengers.

Midnight stared out from the cliff-face again. Wren had been right. There was no way Midnight or Ecru could fly in these winds. Even the strongest SkyWings could barely stand these. They'd be dashed against the cliff. Midnight suddenly understood what Darkstalker had said about a fake world. A perfectly smooth cliff-face like this couldn't have happened naturally, and the winds it caused would have only been seen in a hurricane. This had been created magically.

The three were silent as they descended the staircase, winds roaring past them. It felt like they had been walking for an hour, yet still, it didn't look like they were any closer to the bottom. Finally, the staircase opened up into a large hole, a cavern leading back into the cliffside.

Wren mentioned them inwards, and the three turned a corner, finally putting them out of the windstorm's reach. "Here we are," the scavenger said. "The rebellion's headquarters."

The smaller cavern opened up, and Midnight stared as she turned her head up, surprised by the sheer size of the cavern. It reached far above her head, giving her enough space to not just easily fly in, but to fly across. Dragons of all tribes and scavengers alike swarmed the headquarters, making it look more like a small city than a base. Stone and wood platforms extended erratically from each wall, haphazardly placed ramps and ladders extending through the nearest ones.

An IceWing suddenly swooped over Midnight's head, and she looked over to see a small group of scavengers riding on his back. He landed on one of the platforms, letting a few scavengers off, before flying back across the cavern.

"How do you stay hidden?" Ecru curiously asked Wren. "I'd think that the Empress would have discovered your entrance by now. No offense, but a tunnel cut out alongside a huge featureless cliff-face isn't exactly hidden."

Wren shook her head and laughed. "Hidden? It's pointless. The Empress could just watch anyone leaving and entering anyways. Honestly, Darkstalker likes to brag, calling this a rebellion is a bit of an exaggeration. We're useless, we'd be crushed if we actually tried anything. The Empress just keeps around to use as scapegoats and occasionally terrorize; we don't pose a threat."

"We pose a threat now!" a familiar voice yelled out, from over the ruckus. Darkstalker walked out from behind a group of MudWings, waving a paw at the newcomers. "Welcome to our humble city of freedom!"

Wren frowned as she glanced around the cavern. "What do you mean?" she asked warily. "Darkstalker, why is everyone so excited? It's usually dull around here."

Darkstalker grinned devilishly. "Someone important was captured. Apparently, he literally just stumbled into our talons."

"Important?" Wren asked, a concerned expression coming over her face. "Who?"

Darkstalker turned back at the group of MudWings. "Bring him out!" he ordered. Immediately, two of the MudWings pushed forward a familiar NightWing into view, forepaws and hindpaws bound together, a muzzle around his snout.

"Wait, you caught him?" Midnight said, surprised.

As the prisoner saw Midnight and Ecru, the NightWing's expressioned turned to a savage glare. Midnight took a step back, baring her fangs back at him.

"The Empress's greatest assassin, bound and captured," Darkstalker grinned. "I present to you, Deathbringer. Not so bad for a useless rebellion, right?"

Chapter 26

The lush green rainforests of the Southern Isles spread out beneath Deathbringer, glittering golden beaches surrounding their coasts on all sides. If there were RainWings hiding beneath his wings, Deathbringer wouldn't have been able to see any traces from up here. He had a good idea of where most of the RainWings were hiding, but unless an IceWing tried to burn it down again, or a NightWing accidentally sent up a smoke signalling their location, it would be impossible to find the makeshift village.

Deathbringer glanced anxiously behind him as he glided over a reef, the water a luminescent green. No one appeared to be trailing behind him. Now, more than ever, he had to be careful. If he led Queen Blackice's forces to the RainWings . . . he glanced down to the harness against his chest, where a small green snout peered back up against him.

"Nyar?" Firefly asked, shaking her wings as she tried to wiggle out of the harness. "NYAR?"

"Yes, we're near," Deathbringer smiled, a beautiful pink rose unfurling on Firefly's back. He patted her head with a paw, gently running his talons along her snout, brushing against a small silver teardrop scale behind her eyes.

The NightWing dragonet hanging the harness to the right of Firefly suddenly let out a loud squeal, and rolled from side to side, rocking Deathbringer mid-air.

"Don't do that," Deathbringer scolded the dragonet, "you can't fly, you know, and that water is further down than it looks from up here." His eyes went towards the NightWing dragonet to Firefly's left, who'd been sound asleep for the flight. The dragonet swished his tail, but didn't stir more than that.

The three youngest dragonets, all too small to fly, Deathbringer thought. Here, they'll all be safe. He hated having to take dragonets from their parents, not knowing how long it would be until they'd meet again, if ever. Himself included. He was the only parent Firefly had left.

Deathbringer suddenly tilted left, diving around the crest of a mountain-ridge before descending. He checked back behind him once more, eyes watching out for just a whisp of white scales. Seeing none, he quickly soared into a small clearing of trees, splashing down into clean water as the rainforest enclosed his view.

Firefly's tail dipped down into the water, and she swung it back up, splattering droplets of water on father's snout.

"Not now," he whispered back to her, quickly stepping beneath tree-cover, staring up at the sky, checking for wings of enemies. That had been the life he and Glory had wanted for Firefly. A carefree life in the rainforest, where the three of them could've taken trips down to the coast. All of them could have splashed around in the water together, without worries or fears. Everyone was going to be happy, NightWings and RainWings alike. But now . . .

Deathbringer slowly walked down the now-familiar trail, knowing where it was even though it was barely a deer-path. The three dragonets bounced up and down on the harness as he pushed past ferns and trees. It was better to walk, if he landed too close to the RainWings, it was more likely they'd be found.

Deathbringer suddenly froze up, as a rustle sounded through the undergrowth. Had he been followed. He slowly turned his head, staring over at where the sound had come from, and grabbed a silver disk from his pouch. Firefly let out a small whimper. His eyes narrowed on the space where the noise had come from. Nothing was there. Had it just been a small animal? No. It was too loud. Whatever it was, it was dragon-sized.

"Don't attack!" a voice squealed. Dark-blue scales started to appear from beneath the trees, like they were slowly being painted onto the landscape behind them. "Not an IceWing!"

Deathbringer breathed a sigh of relief, and lowered his weapon as a RainWing came into full view. Liana. "Sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Liana shook her head. "Lower the dart-gun!" she called out. "It's just Deathbringer!"

A rustle sounded from the trees above Deathbringer, and he looked up to their branches to see more RainWings coming into view, each holding out a dart-gun, ready to fire. Firefly let out a happy squeal as she saw them, clapping her front paws together.

"We didn't mean to scare you either," Liana laughed. "We're all just a bit on edge."

Deathbringer smiled. He knew the feeling well. "I'm glad you all are being careful. I'd have been a bit worried if I could've just walked into the village freely."

Liana nodded. "Dart training has become practically mandatory, and we've got more lookouts than ever. To be fair, it's a lot easier to check for intruders when you don't have much space to guard. C'mon. Come with me. Everyone else, get back to your stations."

Liana swiftly turned, heading down the path. Deathbringer panted as he followed the RainWing, struggling to keep up with the three squirming dragonets attached to him. As he looked to his left and right, RainWings appeared out from the trees, staring down and giving him the occasional wave hello. Deathbringer sighed. Whereas the rainforest had been so lively, now, everyone looked frightened and scared. He didn't blame them.

The ferns and branches parted, and Deathbringer stepped into the makeshift village. Hidden against the mountainside, wooden platforms had been clumsily built up into a tower, vines and hammocks hanging down from the edges. While the jagged cliff of the mountainside protected the village from prying eyes, it also cast a great shadow, although the stack of platforms wouldn't have let much light through to the bottom ones anyways. Solemn-looking RainWings with dull scales had been packed into the platforms, some of them barely able to sleep in the darkness without being prodded or pushed by neighbors. A few black splotches stood out between the lusterless dragons — NightWings, or just black RainWings?

"If you're flying upwards, keep the structure to your right," Liana warned Deathbringer. "Try and keep the dragons flying downwards to your left. Hatchery and dragonets are second platform up. Stay away from the top two platforms, that's where the sick are."

Deathbringer glanced to the fringes of the platform structure, seeing what she meant. RainWings and the occasional NightWing were flying up and down between platforms in a tight circle to keep out of the sunlight, and out of the eyes of any dragons above. Even with those rules, many seemed awfully close to crashing into each other.

"Thank you," Deathbringer replied, spreading out his wings as he stepped up to the base of the structure. He took off as a RainWing dropped down to his left, narrowly avoiding the collision. As Deathbringer passed the bottom platform, he couldn't help but look to his right. A hundred eyes seemed to stare back at him, a murmur travelling among the crowd.

Why did the RainWings have to suffer for this? Deathbringer wondered. This is the NightWings' fault. We tried to invade them, and they let us live here peacefully. We're the ones who invoked the IceWings' wrath, who extended the war. They've done nothing wrong.

Deathbringer landed on the second platform, wincing as splintered wood poked between his scales. He carefully walked across, looking left and right as dragonets of all ages lifted their heads, wondering what their king was going here.

"King Deathbringer!" a voice called out. Deathbringer turned towards it to see a RainWing dragonet, maybe half his height, running across the platform towards him. "Please, have you heard anything about Hornbill?"

The dragonet stared up at him with pleading eyes. Her friend? Deathbringer wondered. He didn't even recognize the name. If Hornbill had appeared at his camp, he probably wouldn't have known.

"I'm sorry," Deathbringer grimly answered. The dragonet's expression fell, her scales morphing into a deep blue. Deathbringer closed his eyes. "Maybe Hornbill is at Jade Mountain?" he suggested. "You should ask Greatness the next time you see her."

"Maybe," the dragonet replied, the blue on her scales starting to fade. She turned around, running back to the rest of her friends.

Deathbringer watched as she told them what he'd said. Had it been right to give her hope? Maybe Hornbill was at Jade Mountain, but Deathbringer had no idea. If Hornbill wasn't dead, they'd most likely been captured by IceWings, taken back to the volcanic island as a prisoner, a hostage, or a slave. He supposed it was better than what Hornbill's fate would've been if they'd been a NightWing. They wouldn't have been taken back alive. At least this way, maybe there was a chance of rescue. Of course, for that, they needed to fight and win against the IceWings.

Deathbringer's mind drifted back to the letter, as he approached the hatchery. An IceWing trap, or potential allies? It didn't matter. He knew he had to go, whichever it was. If it was just his own life on the line, he'd gladly give it. Whatever it took, whatever risk there was to him, he had to win against Blackice. It's what Glory would have done, right?

Deathbringer stepped up to the hatchery, peering inside. It was smaller than the one back in the rainforest had been. Ferns and leaves softened the wooden floor, while woven vines created an enclosure to keep the dragonets from escaping. A tiny RainWing met his eyes, flicking out a forked tongue. Deathbringer smiled. The hatchery might have been a step-down from their previous home, but it was something. Did any of these dragonets even know what was happening in the outside world? Would they grow up in this cramped cage, or would they be free to roam the rainforest as it rose back up from its ashes?

Firefly made a small squeal of annoyance as Deathbringer unlatched the two NightWing dragonets from their harness, placing them down into the hatchery as other dragonets started to crowd around the newcomers. "Don't worry, you'll get your turn," Deathbringer said quietly. "You'll have as much time as you want to play with your new friends, won't you?"

A deep blue color started to drip down Firefly's scales as Deathbringer lifted her up. The NightWing took a deep breath. She knew. "Goodbye, Firefly," he whispered. It wouldn't be for very long, would it? Just a couple weeks. And she'd be safe, that's what was important.

Deathbringer started to set his dragonet down in the hatchery, trying to place her in the small opening of the ropes. Small claws started to dig into his scales, Firefly refusing to let go. The hybrid let out an angry squeal.

"Please, I promise, I'll be back soon," Deathbringer whispered. He paused — would he really be able to keep that promise? What if he was flying into a trap, and he didn't make it back? She'd grow up without either parent. He supposed it shouldn't have mattered; the RainWings didn't even do families. They'd take care of her well. Yet, Deathbringer suddenly found that he couldn't let go, that he was holding as tightly to Firefly as she was holding him back.

Deathbringer sniffled as he tried to set her down again. "No matter what happens to me, I want you to live a good life," he said. "I know you're going to grow up, and you'll be a wonderful queen, just like your mother. You'll be stronger than either of us. Glory would—" he whispered, choking on his words "—Glory will be proud of you. We both will be."

Tears started to run down Deathbringer's face and neck, as blue and pink ribbons climbed up Firefly's legs from where she grabbed her father. He grasped his talons around her, shaking as he set her down into the hatchery. Would he ever see her again, at the end of this?

Finally, Deathbringer let go, lifting his claws from the hatchery. Firefly let out a loud squeal as Deathbringer sat back on his haunches, sobbing. He suddenly felt wings wrap around him, as another dragon's head rested against his neck.

Deathbringer turned to see blue-grey scales through his tears, as Jambu held him tight. "I miss her too," Jambu said quietly, trying to comfort the NightWing. "We all do."

Deathbringer nodded, returning the hug as he placed his head over Jambu's shoulders, between his wingblades. They'd been so happy. They would've been a family, but now . . .

Jambu waited patiently as Deathbringer cried over him, Firefly wailing in the background. "Don't worry, your little majesty, Uncle Jambu is here," he said.

Eventually, Deathbringer raised his head, wiping the tears from his eyes. "We should go," he murmured. "I'm not sure I'll be able to leave her if we don't."

Jambu nodded, letting Deathbringer up as he waved goodbye to Firefly, the dragonet trying to poke her head out from the hatchery. Deathbringer gave her a final glance back as he pulled himself away. He had to leave. She had to be safe. He had to make the world safe for her.

"I have some news I need to share with you," Deathbringer spoke as they reached the pavilion edge, straining to get each word out of his throat. "Is there anywhere private we can talk?"

Jambu grimaced. "Er, no. Nowhere private. We're kinda at maximum capacity here. The pavilion up is a little quieter though, less dragonets."

Deathbringer took a deep breath as he followed Jambu up to the next platform, unable to avoid glancing back at the hatchery. Firefly's screams had stopped, and he could no longer see her through the vines. Hopefully, she'd play well with the other dragonets.

"So, what type of news is it?" Jambu asked anxiously as the two landed by a small group of RainWings sleeping in the dark shadows of the platform, huddled up next to each other. "Good news, or . . . bad news?"

Deathbringer paused. "Good news, I think," he said. It all depended on who the letter was really from.

"Really?" Jambu exclaimed, a hint of his usual jubilance coming through. His grim cobalt scales started to flush a familiar pink, his tail twitching. "That's great!"

"Maybe," Deathbringer replied, unwilling to get his hopes up too much. "Queen Moorhen plans to kick the NightWings out."

Jambu frowned, the pink disappearing as quickly as it came. "That's not good news."

"It's not just that," Deathbringer continued. "We already knew she was going to do that. I got a scroll, from the Ice Kingdom. Someone there wants to meet with us. I think they're also one of Queen Blackice's enemies, and want to ally with us."

"Allies?" Jambu replied, eyes opening wide as the pink started to return. "In the Ice Kingdom? That's great! We need to go meet them as soon as possible!"

"I know," Deathbringer sighed. "I'm just . . . worried. What if it's a trap? They used the IceWing Royal Seal, and it was signed Storm, the fake name Glory used when I met her. They want to meet me somewhere around the place we met, where I failed my final assassination."

"If they're using Glory's fake name, that means they know us, so they're friends, right?" Jambu suggested.

"Maybe," Deathbringer said. He hoped so. But he couldn't be as trusting as Jambu. Queen Blackice had used the old NightWing island in order to ambush Queen Glory, and attacked the rainforest with fire. This could just as easily be a trap. "We need to be there soon, maybe two days. That's when they want to meet."

"Two days?" Jambu asked. "Wait, this is the Ice Kingdom, isn't it? That's really far. The only day we can get there that quickly is if . . ."

"The tunnels," Deathbringer grimaced. "We'll have to use them."

"They're heavily guarded by IceWings," Jambu gulped.

"And if Queen Blackice set this up, they'll know we're coming," Deathbringer continued. "Are you up for it? It'll be dangerous, but they wanted you there."

Jambu thought about it for a moment, flicking his tail. He narrowed his eyes, and the pink on his scales flashed hints of red. "Yes," he growled, baring two sharp fangs. "I'm one of the best dart-gunners in the rainforest. You'll need me. And I want to get back at the bug-eaters who killed my sister."

Deathbringer nodded, in full understanding. He'd always wondered how Jambu and Glory could be siblings, yet so different. But for a moment, he'd seen that same determination in Jambu's eyes that Glory had. Maybe it was just a lack of sun time, but Jambu seemed angrier than before. Good. He'd need it.

"Then get your darts ready," Deathbringer smiled. "We attack at nightfall."

---

Deathbringer squinted as he saw brights lights dotting the horizon. As he flew closer, he was able to make out the shapes of white orbs, illuminating twig-like trees, many scorched or felled by the fires. The silhouettes of IceWings walked among the ash-laden ground, the moon globes projecting their shadows onto the trees.

Deathbringer silently circled above the soldiers' camp, far enough up that any onlooker would only see the star-speckled bottoms of his wings. The area beneath him was almost unrecognizable after the fires, but he could pick out bits and pieces of familiar terrain. This camp was almost directly on top of the tunnels Stonemover had made, so many years ago.

There were a number of tents to house soldiers, but all of them had been positioned away from the tunnels themselves. It didn't make tactical sense, but Deathbringer understood — the tunnels gave off an eerie feeling, and no one wanted to sleep near them. However, that didn't mean they were unguarded. Maybe a dozen IceWings stood in front of each of the two tunnels, moon globes illuminating the surrounding area. Deathbringer stared over at his target, a huge boulder perched over a small waterfall.

Deathbringer swooped down, making his way to the edge of the circle of light the moon globe had created. Keeping his head close to the ground, he crawled forward, ash coating his underbelly as the IceWings came into view. One turned their head, and Deathbringer quickly ducked behind a large stump. The soldier's eyes passed over him, the ex-assassin hidden in darkness and shadows.

Where was Jambu? Deathbringer wondered. He'd told the RainWing to sneak up from the ground, but Deathbringer hadn't seen him from overhead. That was probably a good thing — if Deathbringer couldn't see the camouflaged RainWing, that meant the IceWings couldn't either. Still, was he in position yet?

A loud crack sounded, and Deathbringer winced as he heard one of the IceWings yell something out. He snuck closer as their attention was drawn away, maybe six of them running off into the rainforest after the noise. If that had been Jambu, that wasn't good.

Suddenly, one of the IceWings that had remained at the tunnel slumped to the ground, catching Deathbringer's eye. A sleeping dart. Had Jambu thrown the stick as a distraction?

"We're under attack!" one of the IceWings yelled out, before falling down himself. Deathbringer's heart raced as he pulled out his own dart-gun, aiming it towards another one of the IceWings still at the tunnel, running towards it. Jambu had fired too soon — he needed to get into the tunnel before the IceWings who'd gone after the stick came back.

Deathbringer let out a puff of breath, and another IceWing fell. The NightWing's paws clambered through the ash as he weaved between the trees, moon globe glinting in his eyes. An IceWing turned their head as they saw Deathbringer coming, yelling out a curse as Deathbringer leaped into plain sight, a few tail-lengths from the tunnel. Three IceWings still on the tunnel, six more to be here in a few moments. He had to do this quick.

One of the IceWings let out a roar as he jumped at Deathbringer, trying to grapple ahold of his neck. Deathbringer quickly ducked, three small knives appearing between his claws. As the IceWing toppled over him, he brought his talons up, flinging the knives into the IceWing's neck.

Almost immediately, the remaining two IceWings attacked, serrated talons scratching against Deathbringer's scales. As Deathbringer pulled a second set of knives from his weapons pouch, fangs bit down into the back of his neck, cold air filling the wounds on his scales. He lifted a forepaw up, clamping it down on the side of the IceWing biting his neck, and twisted, sending the IceWing crashing into the second soldier and into the side of the boulder. The motion coming naturally to him, Deathbringer flung the knives from his other forepaw, blue blood splashing as they sailed into the IceWing's throat.

The third IceWing suddenly threw her fallen comrade off her, opening her jaws as a horrible hissing noise came from them, mist enveloping her fangs. But before she could fire her frostbreath, she slumped to the ground, another dart in her backside. Pink scales appeared over the top of the boulder, as Jambu leaped down from it, dart-gun between his claws.

"Not bad for a not-assassin, huh?" Jambu grinned.

"Yes, yes, very impressive," Deathbringer snorted. "I didn't have time to make snarky comments to them." He glanced back to see the remaining IceWings out of the corner of his eyes, running back towards the two from Jambu's distraction. "Alright, looks like their hospitality has ended. Into the tunnel!"

Deathbringer scrambled after Jambu into the tunnel, the IceWings running after the two. "Faster!" Deathbringer yelled, yelping as the IceWing in the front let out a blast of frostbreath, chilling his tail even though it fell short. He took a look back as he ran, to see that the IceWings had filed in one-by-one, grabbing ahold of spears and other weapons. Deathbringer's heart raced as he saw the moonlit exit of the tunnel in front of him, scales still shaking. How long had it been since he'd done something like this?

Jambu and Deathbringer burst out into the Sand Kingdom, running out onto a platform, the tunnel in a dune behind them. A large group of surprised-looking SandWings stared at them from the edges of the platform, grabbing ahold of spears in confusion.

"We're friendly!" Jambu yelled out as he rushed towards the SandWings. "Don't attack!"

Deathbringer paused for a moment, staring at the SandWings, the shadow of the palace in the background. Whose soldiers were these? Sunny's, or Aloe's?

Another hissed sounded from behind Deathbringer, and he made his choice, leaping forward after Jambu. "We surrender!" he said as an IceWing snapped at his tail. Even if these were Aloe's guards, he would prefer to be her prisoner than Blackice's.

As soon as Deathbringer squirmed past the front line of SandWings, they lowered their spears in unison, pointing them towards the end of the tunnel. The first IceWing ran out, before suddenly stopping himself, almost running himself into a spear. The SandWing holding it growled, baring her fangs as she prodded it, the IceWing soldier taking a careful step back as the IceWing behind him ran into him, the spear almost puncturing his scales.

"Stop!" the IceWing in front yelled out as he walked back towards the exit, the circle of SandWings closing in on the intruders. He caught his breath, and bared his fangs at the SandWings.

"Those dragons intruded on our territory," he hissed, pointing a talon to Deathbringer and Jambu. "They killed two of our guards. Give them over."

The SandWing holding the spear up to his neck snorted. "Really?" she asked bitterly. "I didn't realize that RainWings were no longer allowed in the rainforest." She glanced down to the sandstone platform, and suddenly jabbed her spear at the one of the IceWing's forelegs. He let out a squeal and stepped back, a trickle of blue blood running down his scales.

"As a matter of fact, I think that you're intruding on Queen Sunny's territory," the SandWing continued. "I'd advise you to leave right now, if you don't want trouble."

The IceWing narrowed his gaze. Finally, he turned, pushing the soldier behind him back towards the tunnel as he whipped his tail around, almost hitting the SandWing's snout with his spikes. "Fine," he growled. "This isn't over. Queen Blackice will hear about this."

"About you intruding on our territory?" the SandWing asked. "I sure hope so. I would think she'd want to discipline her soldiers for such a horrible incursion."

Deathbringer breathed a sigh of relief. They'd gotten through, and these were their allies.

"Nah nah nah nah," Jambu taunted as the IceWings went back into the tunnel. "You can't catch us, and now you're gonna get in trouble!"

Deathbringer smiled. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. "Thanks for the help," he said to the SandWing, lowering her spear as she turned towards them. "Although we may need an escort on the way back. I doubt they'll let us through again so easily. Can you take us to General Six-Claws? We need to speak with him immediately."

"Of course, your majesty," the SandWing replied, bowing her head. She looked over at the guard next to her, his spear still diligently pointed towards the tunnel. "Please, escort King Deathbringer and Prince Jambu to General Six-Claws."