"Well, that went better than expected." I sighed, relaxing in my bed back in the Palace.

"You're not wrong." Maggy agreed, popping a grape into her mouth. "We had a moment back there, the four of us. Like we were all thinking the same thought. Everything seemed to flow together, like... Spirits, what's the word? Begins with S?"

"Synergy?" I suggested.

"Yeah, that's the one! Synergy." She tossed the empty grapevine into the trashbin by my bedroom door, stretching herself out against my side. "Greatness will make a great addition to the Council, once she gets her confidence up."

"That's why I wanted her to attend," I said, matching her movement and leaning back, "She was hatched and raised in politics and diplomacy and intrigue. She knows this game at a level that we don't. Her insights are incredibly valuable."

"She just needs to build her self-confidence," She said, "With a little guidance, and some faith in herself, she can become an excellent Queen."

That gave me pause. What was I going to do with Greatness and Fruit Bat? I well and truly loved Batty, and I missed our talks and our sun-time and her perfumes. But I had made a deal with Mastermind over Greatness, and until the war was over, there was no way I could cancel it without leaving my home at the Coalition's mercy. Plus, I was curious about the Princess, and I wanted to know more about the Nightwings as a tribe and a culture. And though I wouldn't have admitted it, I also wanted to get to know her more, personally.

"I had lunch with her afterwards, you know." Maggy told me.

"Oh? And how'd that go?"

"I think it went well. She's a really sweet girl, if a bit shy and self-conscious. She seemed rather surprised by our arrangement."

"Most dragons find polygamy strange, Maggy." I pointed out. "Hell, polyandry is pretty rare, too. Most royals only have one partner, and when they have more, they keep it on the down-low."

"I suppose. Still, she doesn't seem as against the idea as you would think. If you treat her like you treated me and Batty..." She shrugged and smiled, letting the implication settle.

I sighed, leaning against her, taking comfort in her mass and warmth. "What am I going to do with you three?" I asked. "I'm torn between love, duty and guilt. I'm trying to thread the needle between all three, and it just feels like I'm floundering."

"All I can say," She advised, "Is that you keep minding your responsibilities, and treat them both right. If you're meant to be with them, then they'll both come around. And if you're not, then you should respect their decisions, even if it hurts you or harms our plans." She nuzzled my neck, rubbing my back fin. I closed my eyes and relaxed, letting her lavish me with affection. As chaotic and frustrating as things were with Fruit Bat and Greatness, at least I could count on Majestic as an oasis of calm and stability.

"In the meantime," She suggested, her voice taking on a suggestive smolder, "I know it's been awhile since My King has been 'cared for'. Would you like me to stay and help you relax?"

I smirked, shaking my head. "I'm not feeling it tonight, I'm afraid. But, if you feel so inclined, perhaps tomorrow night we can conduct a 'personnel review' of my Captain of the Guard?"

"I'll hold you to that, My King." She purred, nuzzling the black stripe on my neck. "Remember, you and Batty may be on a break, but you still have me."

"I know." I caressed her frill, bringing her up to meet my kiss. She fluttered her eyes as she became a loving rose-pink, and hopped off our bed to take her leave. I considered asking her to stay, but decided against it. I knew that by Rainwing customs, there was nothing wrong with continuing to lay with Maggy while Batty and I were on break. But at the same time, whether out of respect for Batty or trying to punish myself, I felt obligated to go at least one night without sex or companionship.

I struggled to sleep that night. My sleeping schedule had already out-of-whack with the addition and removal of afternoon naps, even as I tended to stay up late. Now that I was back to having an empty bed, I was too tired to concentrate on my kingly or scientific duties, but not tired enough to rest. So I decided to walk for a bit, checking out the newest additions to the Rainwing Palace. My Palace, I reminded myself.

In the weeks since the Battle of the Portal, the Palace had been in a state of constant expansion and renovation. While my quarters remained attached to the tree (the workers opting to build around the thing), the structure itself had grown to encompass it and the surrounding space in a wooden cocoon, cut boards and walls painted white in a facsimile of a castle. What had been a few rooms in one tree was now three stories stretching out across several hallways, complete with a kitchen, several guest rooms, multiple bathrooms (complete with new toilets and plumbing), a treasure room and a renovated throne room. It wasn't quite like the Sandwing Palace, but it was the biggest building in the whole Village.

I was over in the Eastern Wing when I heard two dragons talking. At first I thought my guards were shooting the shit, but then I realized that those weren't Rainwing voices. I followed the sounds until I reached the end of the hall, which terminated at a newly constructed balcony overlooking the Village around us, and the clear, starry sky above us. Sitting by the railing were a pair of Nightwings, one much smaller than the other. I knocked on the doorway, and Greatness and Stonemover turned to look at me.

"Hey guys," I greeted them, "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Oh? Good evening, Xero." Greatness said, giving a slight bow. "Stonemover and I were just looking at the constellations. The clouds from the volcano have blocked out the sky since I was a dragonet. This little one's never even seen the moons or stars before." Her wing brushed the little drake's back, who playfully batted it away with his tail.

"Is that so?" I asked, stepping out into the moonlight. "Would you mind if I joined you? I'd love to learn about the Nightwings' take on astronomy. It's kind of a bucket-list thing, to be honest." There were several scrolls in the Sandwing Palace's Library that were bought from the Nightwings long, long ago, that were the basis of much of the Sandwing's knowledge of the sciences. They were my favorite scrolls to take out, and I'd spend many a night going to the top of the Palace, gazing at the stars and tracking the movements of the celestial bodies.

"Of course, Xero." Greatness gestured to her right side, opposite of Stonemover. I walked over and sat down, careful not to get too close or spook them.

"So," I asked, "What're we looking at, exactly?"

"The moons!" Stonemover chirped. "They're so big and bright tonight, but we can only find two of them."

"Yes, the Mindreader's Moon is almost full, and the Seer's Moon is in a waxing crescent," Greatness explained, pointing at the two celestial bodies above us. "The Queen's Moon isn't due to rise for another six months or so."

"Those are interesting names," I observed, "My Tribe refer to them as the Three Pearls of Queen Scorpion. And I've heard the Rainwings call them the Lost Eggs of the Forest Mother."

"In the old days," She explained, "Before the volcano was active and we could see the moons, we still had our mental powers thanks to the moons. Those that hatched under the light of the Mindreader or the Seer were psychics or seers, and those under the Queen could have either power or even double the power if two or even three moons were up."

"I wish I'd hatched under the moons," Stonemover lamented, "Then maybe I could've been as powerful as The Darkstalker."

"Hey!" Greatness slapped the dragonet's side with her wing, "Don't go saying things like that! It's bad enough there's a cult out there worshipping your ancestor. We don't need our Animus wanting to become the Boogeyman, too!"

"Wait, The Darkstalker was real?" I asked incredulously.

"Indeed. He's the reason we had to abandon our ancestral home and live on that island. We feared that one day he'd return and exact vengeance upon us, so we fled to the farthest, most isolated place we could find. Fortunately for us, The Darkstalker had a sister, named Whiteout, and it's from her that his line continued throughout the ages, all the way down to this little one."

"I don't know who my parents are." The dragonet admitted, though perhaps less emotionally than I would've expected. "I grew up with the other orphans at our school. When I was three, we did this test where we were told to make a rock fly up to our paws." He held out his hand, dropping a small black stone on the floor. His talons twitched, and in defiance of all I knew of science and physics, the stone floated back up to his paw. "I was the only one that passed," He continued, "And Queen Battlewinner had me move into the Palace. She said that when I was older, I would use my powers to make the Nightwings great again, and get us a new home."

"So they sent you all the way to the Rainforest and Sand Kingdom all on your own?" I asked. Magical demigod or not, sending a hatchling out across the world didn't sit right with me.

"I'm a big boy!" He protested indignantly, holding himself up proudly. "I'm five years old! I can take care of myself!"

"He went with a team of Royal Guards," Greatness said, ignoring the Animus's glare, "Mother wasn't dumb enough to let such a valuable dragonet go all on their own. Not to mention we didn't know if he could pull it off, safely or otherwise."

"It was exhausting," Stonemover admitted, playing with the floating rock, "I slept for three days after that."

I nodded, mentally filing that information away. There were many tales about Animus dragons who, after abusing their powers one-too-many times, succumbed to madness and murderous rage. Albatross and Darkstalker are of course the biggest ones, but there are dozens of others whose names have been lost to the sands of time.

"And how has school been going for you?" I asked.

"It's weird," The dragonet answered, shrugging his wings, "Everyone's so friendly and nice. None of them seem to care that I'm an Animus. They just keep asking me what it's like being a Nightwing, and if I can really read their minds or see the future. It's kind of annoying, but I guess it's better than having them be afraid of me." I nodded in understanding - hopefully he'd end up making some friends among the Rainwings. It'd be nice to make some connections with dragonets his age.

"Xero," Greatness said after a time, "I want to thank you for inviting us to the meeting. It feels... nice, being helpful."

"Thank you for speaking up," I replied, extending a wing over her back, "You gave us unique insight to a problem with no easy answers. I'm proud of you."

She smiled shyly and looked up at the stars, the hint of a blush on her cheeks. "I've... Well, I've listened to a lot of meetings before. I know how they go. This is just the first time I've been allowed to contribute."

"Why is that?"

Her smile fell away. "My mother had certain expectations for me." She explained, "I think she wanted me to be a copy of her. I had to know everything she did, think the same way she did, lead the same way she did. And yet, she never trusted me enough to do those things. Before you attacked us, I was given a dozen dragons to train and command, only for Battlewinner to just take me away and hide me in the Palace. I know she loved me, but I don't think she trusted me."

"She still saw you as her little dragonet," I observed, "She wanted to get you ready for the crown, but still couldn't replace the dragon you were with the dragon you could become in her mind."

"I tried to stop her," She whispered, more to herself than to me, "I begged her to stop. Why couldn't she just listen to me for once?" I didn't know how to respond to that - if I even should respond to that - and the three of us sat there, staring up at the beautiful black tapestry above us.

"When are you guys going to get married?" Stonemover asked, blunt and to the point as most dragonets are. I glanced over to Greatness, who looked back at me with surprise and apprehension.

"Oh, don't worry about that," I assured both of them quickly, "There's so many things we have to attend to right now, we couldn't possibly think of having any official ceremony for a good long while. And for something so important as a... a marriage, I couldn't possibly think of rushing it." This was definitely the right answer, as the princess visibly relaxed.

"In the meantime," I continued, "You two are my guests, and I am your host. If there's anything that you want or need within the Rainforest, just come talk to me, and we'll work something out. All I ask in return, is that you-" I nodded to Stonemover, "-continue your studies and make some friends, and that you-" I nodded to Greatness, "-continue attending our Meetings, and train with Grandeur to be the best Queen you can be. Does that sound fair?" The Nightwings both nodded in agreement.

"Good," I finished, "Now, do either of you recognize that constellation up over there?" We spent the rest of the night looking up at the sky, telling the stories of the stars, putting all the drama of the last few weeks behind us...


And so the next week or two passed. There were preparations to be made for the raid on the Skywings. There was the daily grind of overseeing the growth and development of the Rainforest. There was the movement of dozens and dozens of Nightwings and Sandwings into the Jade Mountains and Rainforest, which was becoming an increasingly complicated subject (and one that'll be elaborated on later in this book). All the while, I was trying to balance and work things out with my three ladies.

Majestic, thankfully, remained the helpful neutral party in all this. She was having lunches with Greatness, training with Batty, relaxing with me in addition to all of her many other responsibilities. She truly became the heart and soul of our group, keeping us polite and together even as we wanted to pull away. She also served as the main intermediary between Batty and I outside of the meetings, as my mate continued to give me the silent treatment.

Indeed, the days had become something of a hide-and-seek game between Batty and I. Outside work, we stopped hanging out like we used to. I could still find her at the gardens, or getting sun-time in the hammocks, but now I had to time it right, or I'd miss her. And even then, I'd never know how she'd react to me. Sometimes she'd flash red and glare at me, clearly not in the mood to talk. Other times, she'd smile, shift a little, extend her wings as an invitation. I'd join her in those little beds, curling up alongside her, talking about things we'd been doing in the day or from our pasts. Times like that made it so easy to believe things were good again, and that she'd forgiven me. But every time I was about to ask her to come back, something would remind her of why we broke up.

Sometimes Grandeur or Fox would come around with urgent business, killing the mood. Sometimes Maggy would check up on us, and Batty would turn a sad blue-gray, skulking away as though she were embarrassed by our state of affairs. And then other times we could hear Greatness talking nearby, or see her walking past us, and my love would turn such a furious red as she'd push me aside and fled into the brush. It'd hurt me a little more every time, but I wasn't going to give up. I still loved Batty too much to let her go without a fight.

Yet as Fruit Bat kept pulling away from me, Greatness and I were only getting closer. We ended up spending lots of time together, between the Council meetings, late-night dinners, midnight hours stargazing on the balcony (sometimes with Stonemover, but usually just the two of us). I wasn't trying to woo her or anything, at least not intentionally. Greatness and Fruit Bat couldn't be more different, after all: Batty was my age, but Greatness only turned 18 a few months before; Batty was small enough to carry on my back, but Greatness was as tall as me (and still growing); Batty was hatched a commoner like me, but Greatness was as Royal and Noble as Coral and Glacier.

More than that, I was instantly attracted to Batty the moment she bared her neck to me. I knew what I wanted before I knew, if that makes sense. With Greatness, however, what started out as guilt and pity started to morph into a strange friendship and camaraderie. She was smart - not in a scientific-minded way, but in a quick-witted, adaptable way, easily grasping the basics of any subject, thinking of solutions and alternatives I never would've thought of. It made me think of a younger, kinder Blister, cunning but not heartless. She was getting brave enough to contribute to the meetings, but was receptive to any advice or critiques we gave her. She was becoming confident with time, transforming from a shy, nervous princess to a more self-assured, capable Queen.

And, in truth, I was starting to recognize how pretty she was, too. She was starting to fill out, now that she had a regular diet. Her scales were becoming stronger, taking on a glossy black hue that reflected moonlight. And her eyes... Spirits, her eyes. I could get lost in those twin pools of purple or gunmetal-blue. Watching her talk, to see those windows to her soul light up with passion or excitement, it resonated with me as much as Batty's perfumes.

I sensed, perhaps, a growing connection between us, like I had with my Rainwing lovers. But unlike Batty and Maggy, I stayed friendly, not amorous. I still didn't know if I wanted to go through with any marriage, and I was more focused on making Greatness feel welcomed and accepted. Our dinners together were just dinners, and the nights spent watching the stars were just cordial outings among friends. And if we just so happened to brush wings, or intertwine tails, or lean against each other for comfort... Well, friends do that all the time, don't they?

As such, because I was coming to like and respect Greatness, and because my responsibilities were growing by the day, an idea came to me. Late one evening, as Greatness and I were having our now semi-regular dinners together. Truly, it was nice just to be able to share a flame-broiled hippo and roasted jaguar with someone who didn't gag at the sight of blood.

In between bites, I started, "So Greatness, I've been thinking. You've been doing amazing work in the Council. Everyone's proud of you, none moreso than me. But I was wondering if you wanted to do something... different?"

Greatness looked up, swallowed. "What do you mean?"

"You've agreed to participate in our meetings, yes," I explained, "And you've shown great insight and talent, but I realized that I haven't asked if... If there's something you'd want to do here."

She looked outside at the twilight sky, her gaze distant and a little sad. Had no one ever asked her that before? Oasis tended to let her daughters do as they wish, but perhaps the Nightwings had higher expectations of their royalty? Or maybe Battlewinner was less of an ideal mother than I'd thought?

"...I don't really know," She admitted, scratching her neck nervously.

I nodded. "Alright then. If that's the case, I have a job offer for you, if you'd like." This caught her interest. Looking at me intently, I explained, "There's a lot of Sandwing refugees in the Jade Mountains right now. I was planning on visiting soon to check things out, but I'd need someone to stay behind and organize things between them and the Nightwing settlers. What I'd like to know is if that dragon could be you?"

"I... Uh..." She started, and then caught herself. She closed her eyes and inhaled, something I'd noticed she'd do whenever she got flustered. It was kind of cute and endearing, one of those little quirks that every dragon has. "...I'd rather not," She added, "There has to be dragons with more experience with me. I don't know anything about refugees, and they should have someone who knows what they're talking about."

"Hey, it's alright. Don't beat yourself up over it." I leaned in, close enough to be snout-to-snout. With half of her face illuminated in sunlight, I looked into orbs of purple and gunmetal blue. I was close enough to smell remnants of ink and beeswax from her time in the office, and a hint of shea butter for her sore paws. "You're a lot better than you give yourself credit for," I continued, "A lot smarter, too. I've seen you get better and better every day. I truly am proud of you. But if you don't feel up for it, then that's okay. You should do what you want to do, Greatness. I just want you to be happy."

"You mean that?" She asked.

"Of course I do," I insisted, holding her gaze. I reached out and took one of her paws. They were black and smooth, like ebony wood or jet stone. "I won't make you do anything you don't want to do."

"What about the engagement?" She asked.

And there was the ultimate question. What about the engagement? What about the thing that had caused so many problems? The whole thing had been arranged for her benefit, as well as Mastermind's. But as I considered it, I found myself hesitating even more. And my fear wasn't for ruining my puppet's regime, or the guilt of what I'd done, or the threat of revenge. No, what stopped me was the thought of Greatness leaving being a bitter fruit to swallow. Despite everything, I'd come to like and admire the plucky Princess, and I had a feeling that it was mutual. She was my friend, just as much as Flying Fox or Grandeur or Majestic or... Batty...

I took their choices away from them, I realized, That was my biggest mistake. I won't make the same one twice. If we're doing this, I need to hear it in her own words.

Snapping back to here and now, I placed my other over hers, and I gave her my word. "I promise you," I said, I will never force you to do anything you don't want to do. If you don't want to marry me, I can talk to Mastermind and... and we can work something out. Is that what you want?"

She paused, and the world grew silent. Speaking carefully and concisely, she said, "This is... a lot to consider. I need to think about this."

"Of course, of course," I said, as we returned to our meal, "You take as much time as you need."

The rest of our meal was a lot less serious, as our conversation went to more fun and trivial matters. When we finished, I took her back to her room, just as the moons rose above the trees, lighting up the jungle and the palace.

"So..." I said, suddenly feeling a little nervous, "I hope you had fun today. Let me know when you've made your decision."

"I will," She replied. She started walking in, stopped. "And... Xero?"

"Yes?"

She turned to face me. A crescent moon hung behind her and above her horns, giving her the halo. Those gunmetal-blue eyes softened, complimenting a gentle smile. "Thank you," She murmured, "For being so nice to me."

I smiled, taking her paw again. "Thank you," I insisted, "For being so patient and understanding with me. You are, by far, the Best Princess I've ever met."

The rainforest can get so loud at night, and yet now it seemed so quiet I could hear my heartbeat. I remembered old stories my mother and father told me, of brave knights and beautiful princesses and courtly romances. Backlit by the moons, she looked every inch a Queen of the Night, fresh from ancient legend. Following an unspoken compulsion, I held her gaze and kissed her paw. She shivered and blushed against my touch, and I was sure she could see my backfin rise. As a tension began to build between us, I realized what was happening, and I took a step back.

"Goodnight, Greatness," I said quickly, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"...Yeah," She replied, just as flustered as I was, "See you then." She closed the door, and I was in darkness. I walked back to my room, hopped into bed, and stared up at the ceiling as I tried to work out my feelings. Batty, Maggy and Greatness dominated my thoughts, as sleep eventually took me.

I thought my life was a mess. What I didn't know was that the worst was yet to come.