Sleep came a little easier, once I hobbled my crippled ass back to bed. I'd burnt all my energy between the writing and talking to Fox and Stonemover, and I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. And as before, I dreamed.
I found myself in the middle of a cobblestone street, twin rows of trees offering shade from the tropical sun. Buildings of marble and limestone were built with a mix of geometric and organic architecture, allowing even larger, older trees to within and without. Around me were Rainwings - at least, at first blush. The more I looked, however, the more I realized that a lot of them were, in fact hybrids. Yes, there were Rainwings and Sandwings and Nightwings and even Skywings - but there were also bright pink dragons with stingers, black dragons with lines of translucent scales along their backs, and golden dragons with wings displaying the sky at sunset. All of them chatting, bartering, walking side by side like there was nothing at all weird about it. It reminded me so much of the old days in Scorpion's Den.
"It's quite an accomplishment, isn't it?" Someone asked behind me, "All these different dragons, living and working together for the common good?"
I turned around, and saw the most curious-looking dragoness I'd ever seen. She looked a lot like a Rainwing at first glance, though I'd yet to see one with a yellow-gold base and lavender markings along the wings and sides, akin to a blue-ring octopus. But then I noticed the short, thin fin along her spine, terminating at the tip of her tail, where a tiny stinger curled up. She was part-Sandwing, I realized. A hybrid.
"To think, not so long ago, all our Tribes were once divided and set in the old ways." She continued, walking down the path beside me. I moved with her without thinking, as one often does in dreams. "We judged one another based on scale-color, on shape, on bloodlines. It's no wonder we languished in stagnation for millennia. Thank the Spirits someone came along and showed us a better way."
"There are so many hybrids around," I thought aloud, looking at dragons with bizarre mixes of bodyshapes and color patterns, looking more like works of art than natural scales.
"A sign of an advanced society," My guide told me, "Or so our leader says. Research has shown that while offspring of mixed parents have weaker natural weaponry - such as fire or venom - they have a much greater range in coloration and pigmented mutation. In the old days, when we were still but animals, these might've proven a hinderance. But in a world where the crossbow is more deadly than any stinger, beauty and intelligence matter far more than strength or lethality."
We continued walking until we entered a large, ornate plaza. It stretched out over a city block, with dozens and dozens of dragons and dragonets milling about, and a band of musicians playing a gentle tune. In the middle of the square was a large sandstone statue of a dragon the size of the largest trees. The dragon in question was a Sandwing, sitting up straight, tail arched and wings stretched triumphantly. His arm was outstretched, palm up, as if beckoning us to join him on a grand adventure.
"None of this would've been possible," The hybrid continued, "Without my father's vision. Only he had the strength of mind and character to bring about a kingdom guided by Reason and Merit. Only King Xerophilous could show us the future we could achieve."
I looked back at the dragoness again, really taking note of her this time. Those lavender scales were the same shade of Maggy's, and her eyes were the same that stared back at me in the mirror. "...Who are you?" I asked.
"Auntie Rio!" We looked over to our right, just as a dragonet came rushing up to us, taking my guide in a big hug. At first I thought she was a Sandwing like me, but then I noticed her distinctly golden scales, the oddly-shaped face, and the lack of a barb on the end of her tail. Wait... auntie?
"Hey there, Sunny," My guide said, leaning down to crane her neck around the child, "Heading off to school with your friends?" I looked up to see a group of dragonets - a Nightwing, a Rainwing, a Seawing and a Mudwing - some distance away. Even from a distance, everyone but the Mudwing looked strangely familiar...
"Yep!" The dragonet chirped, turning to point at a nearby band of musicians, "But before we go, we wanna hear the band play your song!"
"Your song?" I asked, as the band began a happy, fast-paced melody.
"Oh yes," My guide chuckled, "My song, the one my parents named me after. Father told me that they played this song when he married my mother. He said he'd never felt more happy than when she said yes, and she never looked more beautiful than when they danced together under this song." As my daughter and granddaughter (Spirits, that was a weird thought to process) began to sing, I recognized the song as the same one my father would sometimes sing to my mother, as it was the song they heard when they first met:
"Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land
And when she shines she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande"
As the Rainwing and Sandwing sang and danced together, the world began to melt and ripple, and I felt myself fading away. I looked at the pavilion, the statue, and my descendants one last time, committing this all to memory. One day, I promised myself, this would come to pass. One day, Spirits willing, I would make a kingdom, a world for my children and grandchildren to grow up safe and happy.
One day, I'd make them proud of me...
I woke up to the first rays of dawn peaking out over the canopy. For the first time in what felt like weeks, I felt well-rested and energized, ready for the day ahead. I got up, prepped myself for the day ahead, and headed back to the prison cells - I had an appointment to keep.
Again, I flew out of my window and headed off to the prison, making it just as the sun was illuminating the pavilion. Again, it was hard to land with only three legs, but I managed it, skidding to a stop just in front of the guards. It was in the middle of the shift change, with twice as many dragons present (albeit having looking tired and exhausted). A few approached to help me, but I waved them away. I dragged myself over to the gate, where Stonemover was waiting for me. He'd tried his best to make himself look presentable, but the droopy eyes and sagging wings let me know he either just woke up, or had been up all night. I smiled, biting back a laugh.
"Hey there, bud," I teased, "Did you stay up past your bedtime, or did you get up early just for me?"
"No," He said quickly, then blinked as he realized what I asked. Despite everything, I chuckled - how could I stay mad at the little guy?
"Well, here I am," I said, "I came back, just as I said I would. Tangerine, If you'd be so kind?"
The guard glanced warily between me, the other guards, and Stonemover. After a moment's hesitation, he went to the door, and undid the triple-knot sealing it shut. The door swung open, and Stonemover was free. In an instant, he ran out of his cage and tackled me in a hug, forcing me back on my rear and to use my rock-limb as a crutch.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He cried, tears falling freely down his muzzle. I hushed him and patted his back, trying to calm him down and keep him from making a scene - for his sake, more than mine.
"It's alright, little buddy, it's alright," I assured him, "I forgive you." After a time, the crying eased up, and he pulled back, sniffling yet more composed.
"I'm sorry," He repeated, wiping away tears. He looked at my arm, and without any warning, reached out and gently touched it. There was that strange, static shock sensation, and the numbness which I'd almost come to ignore was now bleeding away, as feeling returned to my dead limb. In mere seconds, the rock encasing my foreleg cracked and fell away, restoring it once more. I lifted my paw up, flexing my talons, inspecting my scales. Aside from my tan-scales now looking slightly more gray up to my shoulder, everything was as good as new. I was free again. I was me again.
"I promise to stay and make that magic mirror you've been talking about," He said quickly, "And all the other stuff you wanted. But Greatness wanted me to tell you I should be able to play with her more, and with the other Rainwing dragonets."
I raised an eyebrow. "When did you talk with Greatness?"
"Last night, after you left," He explained, "I asked the guards if I could talk to her. She said that if I really felt bad about what I did, I should apologize for what I did, and fix it. She also said that... that she understood what it was like to be alone in a tribe full of strangers."
"...Oh." Guilt touched my heart again, as I was reminded why we were all here. I also had a brief flash of memory for me, stuck in my room or workshop, my only company being books and half-finished contraptions. It might've been okay with me, but was it good for him? I glanced over, away from the prison. Not twenty body-lengths away, a trio of Rainwing dragonets - pink and purple and blue - were running about, playing some game.
"Sure!" I said quickly, "Absolutely. In fact," I leaned in whispering conspiratorially, "If you promise to play nice and not use your magic, you can go play with those dragons over there, right now."
The little Nightwing's eyes lit up at that. "R-really?!" He asked, all hints of sadness gone as his tail started to wag excitedly.
"Yes, rea- and there he goes." I couldn't help but chuckle, as he ran off before I could finish my sentence. He went up to talk to them, and I actually felt a little nervous for him. Fortunately, the other dragonets flashed yellow and gave happy cries, and soon all four of them were running around playing "catch the most lychees" or whatever.
There you go, kid.
Satisfied, I walked off back to the Palace. One errand done, two to go...
Once Stonemover was freed and forgiven (and with my foreleg restored), it was time for my second obligation of the day: Setting a future path for my kingdom. Everyone looked at me in surprise as I walked in, carrying several scrolls and maps. They were equally surprised to see Stonemover follow behind me (albeit accompanied by Tangerine, having turned himself invisible to shadow him). All the Rainwing members were in attendance - Mastermind was back on the Island, handling some local affairs. Greatness and Fruit Bat sat at either side of me, but there was no tension in the air, Thank the Spirits.
"Your Highness," Grandeur asked, "I take it you're feeling better?"
I lifted my foreleg up, wiggling my claws and balling into a fist. "Much better, in fact," I said, "Thanks for asking. Why, I believe this is the best I've felt in weeks. And not just because Stonemover and I have made amends, right, little guy?" The little Nightwing smiled and nodded, looking much better after catching a quick nap.
"Before we begin," The older Rainwing said quickly, "I just want to apologize about what the things I said yesterday. I hope you understand that I meant none of it. I was just trying to provoke a reaction out you, to snap you out of your malaise. I would love all three hatchlings raised together and given a fair chance to rule. If they're anything like their parents, they'll be the greatest kings or queens Phyrria's ever known."
"I know that now," I told her, "But thank you. I don't know if I'd ever snap out of that mental funk if you hadn't triggered me. You woke up the Poppa Wolf in me, and got me to focus on what mattered." She flashed a happy, relieved yellow, as I took my place at the end of the table.
"Last night," I explained, "I had a revelation. An epiphany, if you will. I realized that, over the past few months, I've been doing things like other Queens, bouncing from crisis to crisis. I haven't had any long-term plan or vision that I was working to. Last night, however, that changed."
I took out the scroll I'd written, unrolling it across the table for everyone to see. "This," I told them, "Is 'Project Technocracy'. This is the future I want for our kingdom. Detailed within are reforms I wish to make, as well as predictions of what to expect for the future of Phyrria, once this war is concluded."
The dragons leaned in, reading various parts of the unrolled scroll.
"This is the future I want," I repeated, "But this isn't a future I can make on my own. This, ultimately, is a decision I need your permission for. If there's one thing this month's taught me, it's that a good King doesn't rule alone, and he needs to listen to the advice of his Council. And so, I need you to read this-" I gestured to the scroll, "And I need to know what you think of it. If it's not something you agree with, I'll drop all these lofty goals, and commit to being a normal King. I'll pull us out of the war, focus on the domestic duties of the Rainforest, leave the Jade Mountains alone, all of it. But if this is something you all can get behind - if we're going to commit to Nightshade to the end, if we're going to implement these reforms - then I need to know I have your support. I need to know that this truly is what's best for us, and Phyrria."
I waited as they read, wondering what they were thinking of all this. There were times when I got to show off some of my creations to Char and Oasis, years and years ago, and the twisting, nervous pit in my stomach didn't feel much different between then and now. Fox glanced up at me now and then, giving me a smile and a wink. He probably read his copy during the night. By the way Grandeur was speaking to the others and pointing things out, I took it that he showed it to her, too.
"Xero," Maggy asked, "You wrote all this in one night?"
"Yes, ma'am," I replied proudly.
"Did you use your tail at the end?" Batty asked, squinting at the paper. "It goes from mostly legible to barely legible." It sounded like an insult, but the glint in her eyes and the flash of her scales told me she was just teasing, which set me more at ease.
"My paw started cramping," I admitted sheepishly, "I had to improvise."
"This is really good," Greatness said, after finishing her part, "Like, seriously, I don't understand how no one thought of any of this before. We could've avoided so much bloodshed if we tried these things." She looked up at me with no small amount of admiration, and I felt guilt and pride in equal measure under her gaze.
"I think we're all ready to take a vote upon this," Grandeur announced, looking at everyone around the table, "King Xerophilous, I support this plan. Flying Fox?"
"Hell yes!" Fox declared, "You know I'm fly or die with you, bro!"
"Splendor?"
"I vote yes," The former Queen assented, "Our King hasn't failed us yet."
"Majestic?"
I felt a wing on my back, as Maggy entered my field of view. "I stand with My King," She promised, "Forever and always."
"Greatness?"
The Nightwing smiled and nodded. "You've done so much for me and my Tribe," She explained, "If there's any way I can help you make the world a better place, I will."
"Fruit Bat?"
All eyes turned to the pink dragoness. Of everyone there, hers' was the opinion that mattered the most to me. She looked up at me, and it felt like I'd placed my heart in front of her. Would she accept it, or destroy it?
"I'm not an expert of government or politics," She said evenly, her expression and colors evenly neutral, "Never have been. But you've proven yourself a dragon of many talents. You accomplished so much in such a short period of time, Xero. You've made some mistakes along the way, but that's only proof that you're just as normal as the rest of us. You're the best thing that's ever happened in our Kingdom... and it would be downright selfish to keep your brilliance all to ourselves." She glanced over to Greatness, then to Maggy and myself, flapping her frill once. She offered me a gentle smile, and I felt her tail brush against mine. "My vote is yes."
"And my vote is yes," Grandeur announced, flashing yellow happily, "The vote is unanimous. The Council approves of Project Technocracy. Long Live The King!"
"Long Live The King!" They cried out in unison. All the Rainwings were beaming gold, and Greatness and Stonemover were sitting proudly alongside them. I felt a weight slide off my back, and a peace of mind come over me. I now had a goal, a way forward within and without.
Two down, one to go.
After the meeting I had only one last thing I needed to take care of, and it was the thing I was most nervous for. Everything else I had done was mere window-dressing to what I considered the most important things in my life - my ladies, and my eggs. Other things could prove far more important in the greater scheme of things, but else mattered more than making things right with my future family.
At the end of the day, the one thing that mattered to me the most was the fate of my eggs. That was my lodestar, the one thing I judged everything else on. Fruit Bat and Majestic were the mothers of my children, and I had to make things work with them, no matter what. Greatness would have to understand that any life with me would have to involve them, and she'd have to accept that. If she didn't, then the engagement would be cancelled, she'd be given a generous dowry, and be allowed to go where she wished. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't clean, and I'd still hate myself for a long time afterwards, but at least I'd finally make things right for my children.
Then here it was, the moment of truth. They all arrived on time, blue and pink and black scales glittering in candlelight, all lined up and waiting for me to start talking. My heart was racing a mile a minute. I'd had faced angry queens, powerful Animus magic, dangerous experiments of all kinds. But standing before the three dragonesses I loved most, going over what I wanted to say over and over, hoping against hope that this didn't end in heartache and tears, I couldn't think of a time I felt more nervous.
"Thank you, Ladies," I began, "For coming tonight. I know things have been… difficult between us these last few months, and a lot of it's been my fault. I'm sorry. I realized that we haven't really had a chance for all of us to come together and just talk about what we were feeling and what we wanted, and I thought that now would be a good time to clear the air and be honest about what we want out of this."
The two Rainwings and Nightwing looked at each other, eyebrows raised in Should we tell him? expressions. Maggy and Batty nodded at Greatness, who turned back to me and said in the most ordinary, casual voice you could imagine, "I have eggs."
And just like that, all the carefully thought-out speeches and points I'd thought up for this conversation went up in a fiery explosion.
"Twins, in fact," Batty added, holding up two claws, "I checked myself."
"I know it's not a competition," Maggy joked, "But I'm starting to get a little jealous. Like maybe I need to catch up?"
The floor beneath me felt unsteady. I reached back, grabbing the edge of the bed for balance. Five, I thought, shocked and overjoyed, Five dragonets. I haven't even been King six months, and I almost have as many as Oasis.
"Xero, easy, easy." They came over and grabbed me just as I was about to tip over. Greatness and Maggy guided me over to the bed to sit. As I did, Batty said, "It's okay, Xero. After Stonemover… Nessy and I-"
"Nessy?" He asked.
"That's me!" Greatness said cheerfully, "Batty and Maggy have nicknames, and I wanted one myself. I chose Nessy."
"It's a cute name," He said, "It suits you well." She smiled, taking a seat next to me.
"We talked things out while you were recovering," Batty continued, "And I apologized for how I treated her. I was just so angry and sad, because I thought you were replacing me."
"No one could ever replace you, Batty."
"I know. It took me a while to realize that as much as we love you, you love all of us. You proved that every day you came to visit me, staying by my side even as furious as I was. I forgive you, Xero, and I'm not going anywhere."
I exhaled, releasing all the built up tension I'd been holding on for weeks. Those three words - I forgive you - were what I wanted to hear her say above all else. Not just because it meant she still loved me, but also because I no longer had to hold onto that guilt of betraying her, or the fear of losing everything. I had emerged from the other side of the tunnel, and everything was going to be alright.
I rubbed my eyes (all those flowers from the garden outside were releasing pollen at once, I was sure). "I must be the luckiest dragon in the world," I chuckled, "To have the three smartest, beautiful and most amazing dragonesses in the world by my side."
"Oh, stop," Maggy laughed, hopping on the bed behind me, "But please, do go on."
"Well, I think we're lucky," Nessy said, "To have the smartest, sweetest and most handsome dragon in Phyrria all to ourselves."
"Speaking of which, I just thought of something," Batty said, suddenly growing a devilish grin, "I don't believe we have a Council meeting tomorrow. We don't have to be anywhere until late in the afternoon." Maggy and Nessy looked at Xero with the same devilish grins, and I suddenly felt like a gazelle surrounded by hungry lions.
"Whoa, hang on," I said nervously, "I appreciate the sentiment, but didn't you just say you're gravid? I wouldn't want to do something that might, you know, hurt you."
"Then don't," Nessy replied, nuzzling against my neck, "I trust you."
"I don't mind just cuddling," Maggy added, leaning against my back, "You're so warm in the morning, it's almost like sun-time."
"I was only teasing," Batty said, kissing me, "As much as I might look forward to having more dragonets, I don't want to have them all at once. We just need to pace ourselves, and enjoy the little things while we have them, before we get swarmed by little things..."
And so, the four of us all laid down together in bed, the larger dragonesses on either side, Batty laying atop me with her wings spread out like a blanket for all of us. I rested a paw on Nessy's belly, feeling the new life beneath the surface. As I nuzzled her, and felt my Rainwings nuzzle me, I felt myself falling into the deepest, most comfortable sleep I'd ever felt. I swore upon everything sacred that this family was the most important thing in the world to me, and that I would never, never do anything to hurt them again...
A/N: The song sung in the dream sequence is "Rio" by Duran Duran.
