I do not own Wings of Fire.

Chapter 2

Cerulean stood on the shore and braced herself for what she knew was about to come. She wrapped her talons tightly around the new pendant that swung from her neck; a beautiful onyx carving of an orca, leaping up out of the water. Precious stones glittered on the creature's back, and the necklace chain was of purest silver, treated with a special SeaWing solution to keep it from rusting.

This would be the first test of the necklace's powers since its creation only a few hours ago. After learning more about royal history - in which the queen had conveniently skipped over the details of her own coming to throne, saying that it was for another day - it was finally time to visit the Deep Palace. For the first time ever, Cerulean would get to see it.

"Are you excited?" Orca asked. She adjusted a string of pearls on her body, arranging them just so, and then with a flick of her tail, summoned the royal carriage. Within seconds, it had arrived.

Cerulean couldn't speak, so she just nodded, still clutching at the necklace. The jewelry seemed to hum with the animus magic it had been enchanted with, and it set a shivery feeling down Cerulean's body. It wasn't a bad feeling. It was the feeling of power, and the humming sound it seemed to emit harmonized with a sound that seemed to always fill Cerulean, a sound she'd never noticed before.

"It'll work," Orca promised as she entered the chariot. Two royal guards held open the doors for her. A bit relieved, Cerulean saw Eddy was one of them. He sent her a wink as she followed the queen aboard. "If not, I can enchant something else."

But won't I have drowned by then? Cerulean wondered to herself, but didn't voice the worry aloud. She was nervous and excited. But mostly nervous.

Orca smiled at her heir. "I remember the first time I saw the Deep Palace," she said fondly. "My mother wouldn't allow me down there until I was two, so it was quite an honor the first time I went."

"Queen Coral?" squeaked Cerulean, her voice cracking as she finally spoke. She hoped she didn't sound as terrified as she felt.

Orca's eyes darkened suddenly. "Yes, Coral," she said, and her voice seemed to have a layer of ice over it. "Although she wasn't really queen of anything."

"Did you love her?" Cerulean asked, still clutching the orca pendant.

The queen shrugged. "I knew I would have to kill her some day," she said.

Cerulean cocked her head, feeling jittery and nervous. "But won't I have to kill you some day?"

Something glinted in the older SeaWing's eyes. "Maybe someday. Or maybe not. Maybe I'll die on my own. We'll see, Cerulean. Let's get going!" she called out the window of the carriage, to the two dragons steering the dolphins. With a slight jolt, the carriage came to life, and Cerulean could feel it slowly sinking into the sea. Feeling even more terrified, Cerulean stuck her head out of the window, desperate to catch the last glimpses of sunlight and sky. As unlikely as it probably was, she feared that it might be the last time she saw them.

"Let's hope this work," she muttered.

"Oh, I'm sure it will," Orca assured her. "My animus magic is strong."

"And you feel okay, right?" Cerulean asked. "Soul still intact?" She worried away at the necklace.

"Stop playing with that," the Queen commanded, batting Cerulean's talons away from the jewelry. "You'll break it, and then I'll have to make another one. And no, Cerulean, I feel absolutely fine. I would've told you otherwise, wouldn't I?"

Cerulean looked down. "Yes."

With one smooth motion, the carriage glided into the waves and under the water. Unconsciously, Cerulean took a huge breath, fearing she'd drown if she didn't. Gently, Orca took her talons in hers and held them, squeezing them tightly to reassure her heir that everything was okay.

It happened quickly. One moment Cerulean's scales were dry, and the next, the salty water was eating at her scales, her eyes burning as they got used to the water. Then she was in pain beyond anything she'd ever experienced before. The sides of her neck burned, and she inhaled a sharp gasp of pain. However, instead of feeling like she'd just taken a deep breath of air, she felt like she'd taken a deep breath of - well, water, but she still couldn't breathe. Her body attempted to cough up the water it had just inhaled but instead she swallowed even more. She was drowning! And her neck hurt so much!

And then the pain went away, and her coughing eased off, and she realized that she was breathing - actually breathing underwater.

Queen Orca gently brushed her talons over Cerulean's neck, and Cerulean felt something there that hadn't been there before.

Gills, Orca flashed. You've got gills now.

Oh, thought Cerulean, feeling along her neck, feeling the new openings there. She flashed, Why did it hurt so much?

Looking sheepish, Orca replied. I enchanted that necklace to give the wearer gills. But I guess I didn't think about how painful the transformation might be. But hey, it worked, didn't it?

Yes, Cerulean agreed, and then she inhaled deeply. While breathing underwater was definitely better than drowning, it still didn't feel right. Dragons weren't supposed to breathe underwater. They were supposed to breathe the air - or at least she was. The feeling of the cool water rushing into her gills and then rushing back out felt strange and unnatural, just like the water pressing down on her and stinging her scales. Being in the water was unnatural.

Fish flashed by in schools, scales glittering in the sunlight that reached through the water like desperate fingers. Bits of seaweed whirled past like tumbleweeds, and every now and then a magnificent coral reef seemed to spring up from the ground, a rainbow world teaming with life. On the ocean floor were mountains of sand, swept into odd shapes and formations by the current, as if blown by wind.

It's beautiful, isn't it? asked Orca, capturing Cerulean's attention again. We live in the best place. We are a blend of water, land, and air.

I wish it was just land and air, thought Cerulean. She wished the cool liquid running over her scales was the wind whipping through her as she flew quickly among the skies. She wished the fish were birds, soaring high with their wings spread wide. She wished she were anywhere but where she actually was.

Beautiful, Cerulean agreed when she realized the queen was waiting for her answer. She decided that maybe the coral reefs were kind of pretty, after all.

We'll be here shortly, Orca promised. Look ahead, and you'll see the Deep Palace emerging.

Cerulean looked out the window.

There was another thing about the ocean that she didn't like, she realized as she squinted into the waters ahead. In the sky, you could, for the most part, see for miles around you. In the ocean, you could only see a little in front of you, before a blue wall of water seemed to descend like a mist and obscure vision. It was also very difficult to distinguish things from a distance, because they just looked like dark hulking shapes.

And that was exactly what the Deep Palace looked like when Cerulean first saw it; a large, terrifying black object looming out of the darkness, nearly scaring Cerulean out of the carraige.

Orca flashed her lights, the Aquatic equivalent of laughter. It's not that bad, she teased. It's quite beautiful. You'll see.

In a short moment the carriage had pulled up to an underwater docking bay, and Eddy was helping Cerulean out. He smiled discreetly at her as she floundered onto the sand, which slid around her talons wetly. The water weighed down on her, and she decided that, even without having seen it, she hated the Deep Palace. She wanted air, she wanted natural light, she wanted the sky.

The queen was grinning widely, though. Come on, she flashed, and then she was swimming gracefully away. Struggling greatly, Cerulean set off after her, feeling extremely embarrassed as she saw guards and other dragons looking at her critically. A difficult swimming journey later, they stood in the throne room of the palace. Much more elaborate then the one in the Summer Palace, it was filled with many animus-touched items, both from Queen Orca, but also Princess Anemone, who, at the queen's urging, had made many animus-touched items for the Kingdom's safety.

Don't touch anything, Orca warned, shooting a look around at all of the powerful objects. You don't know what they do yet, and I don't want you messing with them.

Okay, Cerulean agreed. She determinedly looked ahead of her to the throne, where the queen had gracefully seated herself. She focused on getting there; she was quite some distance behind.

Hmm, the queen said thoughtfully. I have a meeting in the council chamber in a few minutes, so I'll get someone to give you a tour of the Deep Palace. How does that sound?

Fine, Cerulean consented. She didn't see much of a choice.

The queen flicked her tail, and immediately a stately looking dragon appeared.

Yes, Your Majesty? he flashed.

Hello, Octopus, Orca greeted, flashing him a toothy grin. This is Cerulean. My heir. This is her first time in the Deep Palace. Would you mind giving her a tour?

Octopus looked Cerulean up and down, a less-than-satisfied expression twisting his snout. Very well. I'd be honored.

Excellent, the queen beamed. I'll be back very shortly. Have fun, Cerulean!

In a cloud of bubbles, she was gone, and Cerulean was left with Octopus. The latter SeaWing was looking extremely skeptical as he paddled in a circle around her, as if examining something he was thinking of buying. His eyes were blue, and Cerulean realized with some alarm that he was missing most of his teeth.

H-hi, she tried, endeavoring to banish her unease and fright. I'm Cerulean.

She mentally kicked herself. He already knows you're Cerulean, stupid!

I know, replied Octopus, his scales flashing in a short and clipped manner. Let's go.

The next hour or so proceeded in a very awkward manner. Octopus swam several tail lengths ahead of her, kept forgetting she was there, and got annoyed when he had to wait for her to stop. He didn't explain much; just waved his talons in a general direction and said that's the kitchens or that's Seal, a maid or those are the stair leading to the next level.

Cerulean didn't pay much attention, focusing her attention instead on swimming. It helped alleviate some of the awkwardness, and she also found that she was able to swim a little faster if she thought about it.

This is the nursery, flashed Octopus in a bored manner. The queen has ordered guards to watch it continuously, as - well, you probably already know.

Cerulean was suddenly very interested. This was the place where countless SeaWing princesses had been murdered in their eggs. This was the reason she, Cerulean, was here in the castle.

She darted inside, her curious out causing her to swim faster than before. Upon entering, a sense of foreboding settled on her, but there was nothing in the nursery to cause terror. Eggs nestled in warmth, six in total, four female and two male, with soft glowing lights lighting up the place. The statue of the queen had been removed seven years ago, when Princess Tsunami and her friends had visited and discovered the statue'a murderous powers. But it seemed that there was something off killing off the eggs, and nobody could find what it was.

Perhaps I could! Cerulean thought. Maybe that will earn the trust of my tribe, and prove that I can and will be a good queen.

Two very sleepy looking guards stood watch, weary. They sat up straighter when they saw her, and narrowed their eyes.

Who are you? flashed one. How'd you get in here?

Or maybe not, Cerulean thought sadly. I guess I'll never get my tribe to believe in me.

Which once again brought up the question; why was she the one chosen to be the next queen?

Octopus was telling the guards a detailed story about who she was. He appeared distracted, and so did both guards. No one would notice if she just left...

I could find the queen I could swim back to the surface.

Let's go. Octopus had returned. The queen should be back by now.

What do you know about SkyWings? Orca asked once they were alone together in the throne room.

Well, the last time we fought them was seven years ago, when they attacked us by air, Cerulean replied knowledgeably. In the village she'd grown up in, every dragonet knew and learned about the War of SandWing Succession that had happened seven years ago. They were repeatedly told how lucky they were they weren't alive during that period of time, but Cerulean kind of wish she had been. She especially wish she'd been born on the brightest night thirteen years ago. With all her heart, she wanted to be a dragonet of destiny so that she'd actually have a purpose, particularly the SkyWing one who'd died. When she was younger and the other dragonet were playing games she couldn't participate in, she liked to pretend that somehow, she was the missing SkyWing in disguise, miraculously having survived.

There were obviously many flaws with this fantasy; she was nine years younger than the dragonets of destiny, for one, and she was also a SeaWing.

That's correct, Orca flashed with a grimace. I tried to stop it, you know.

With your animus powers? Cerulean asked, awed.

No, Orca contradicted, but didn't elaborate.

How, then? Cerulean pressed.

I'll tell you later.

How?

I said, I'll tell you later, Orca repeated, looking annoyed.

But - began Cerulean, but suddenly she felt pain in her neck. For a moment she panicked, thinking her gills were disappearing, but then realized she could still breathe and that the pain was only brief.

Startled, she examined the necklace, wondering if it had done something. But what? It was only enchanted to give its wearer gills...she'd heard Orca say the incantation herself. Enchant this necklace to give the wearer gills the moment he or she enters the water so that he or she may breathe freely, and upon exiting the water, allow the wearer to return to normal.

So why was she so certain that the necklace had punished her insistence? Was it possible for an animus to add on spells to an object without speaking them aloud?

Afraid that she'd experience a similar feeling of pain if she dared to ask, Cerulean dropped the necklace and looked up at her queen, alarmed to see Orca studying her as intently as she'd just examined her necklace.

Good, Orca flashed. Come along now. We've got more important things to do.

The queen swam to the doors of the throne room, preparing to open them so that she and Cerulean could step through and go attend to the more important things that needed doing. Before she could even touch the white surface of the narwhal horn handles, the doors were thrown open. Orca quickly jumped back to avoid being squashed, her tail propelling her way backward. Her scales flashed in blinding outrage at the two dragons, who Cerulean recognized as the nursery guards, came swimming frantically into the throne room, looking terrified.

Your Majesty, one began. He looked absolutely dismal, as if the news he bore would cost him his life.

Yes? asked Orca. If she were speaking, her voice would've sounded sharp like the tips of the narwhal horn door handles, and as hard as her eyes were as she gazed unforgivingly at the two petrified guards. What is it?

The first guard shook his head, eyes wide and pleading. The nursery, the second guard began when she realized her partner wouldn't say a thing. We turned our backs for only a moment when Octopus stopped in for a chat...and in that moment, the assassin struck! The eggs...we're so sorry.

Orca looked absolutely livid. How dare you, she flashed. You had only one job. You only needed to watch those eggs, and you failed.

We're sorry! the first guard flashed despairingly.

Sorry won't bring those eggs back, the queen flashed severely. You know what happens to the guards who fail me.

The two guards exchanged terrified looks. Please, Your Highness, please give us a second chance.

Run away, Orca warned. Run away now, and your lives will be longer.

Once again exchanging terrified looks, the guards turned around and began to paddle frantically in the opposite direction, their tails swishing and their wings beating as they swam away in powerful strokes, exiting the throne room and disappearing down the corridor. Their glowing underscales flashed, letting all know how truly terrified they were.

How sad, Orca flashed to Cerulean, looking like she could care less. Another hatching, gone. Looks like you'll be queen after all, Cerulean.

A crushing feeling overtook the little purple dragonet. She knew she was to be queen, but how could Orca care so little about her unhatched dragonets? And what about the guards.

The second question was answered. With a lazy flick of her magnificent and powerful tail, the narwhal door handles detached themselves from the doorway, and shot out of the throne room and away from the queen and Cerulean like disembodied swords, fifteen feet of solid bone ready to impale anyone in the way, and designed to kill the guards who'd failed to protect the eggs.

Come on, Cerulean, Orca flashed. Now that that little issue is out of the way, it's time to deal with more pressing matters.

The queen swam from the throne room, and after a moment of shocked stillness, Cerulean hastened to follow. Somewhere in the palace, she knew two dragons had met their death.

Author's Note: Sorry it took me awhile to update this story! Chapters are much longer than my usual fan fictions are, so they take a lot of time to write. Additionally, I have several other fan fictions that I update regularly, and until I finish those, I can't promise a regular updating schedule for this story. Luckily, one of my fan fictions will be finished up very soon, for a brief while, so that should mean I can update more frequently. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. :) I do know where I'm going with this story, which is pretty amazing for me, because normally I kind of improvise until a plot comes to mind. But I was writing this chapter and then, like Athena from Zeus's brain, a fully fledged plot sprung from my mind and I think it's really good and it explains a lot of things. I also did some math and realized that if I want this plot to work, I have to make Orca twenty-six years old and not twenty-one, so I will change that as soon as possible in the first chapter. Also, just so you know, this story takes place seven years after the war, so Tsunami and the other dragonets of destiny are thirteen years old. Some things in this story may not line up with the plot line of the actual series, so apologies in advance!

Also, I will accept OC's for dragons working/living in the SeaWing Kingdom. I would actually really appreciate OC's, as I am absolutely terrible at coming up with dragon names and have only four characters of my own: Cerulean, Octopus, Eddy, and another dragon I have yet to introduce, Archipelago. So yes, I would like some OC's, please and thank you!

Sofie-Sandwich: Thank you so much! It makes me so happy to know people like my writing, and I appreciate you taking time to read it! I will definitely keep writing. Thanks for reading!

jadewolf334: You are AWESOME! And thank you for pointing out the error with the sword/shield...I feel so stupid...but in my defense, both words begin with the letter s and they look and sound similar. Maybe it's just me. But I will definitely fix that error as soon as I can, probably when I also fix Orca's age. And don't worry, I will explain Orca's living existence in future chapters. I have a whole plot planned out...Thanks for reading!

Happy new year by three days...