I do not own Wings of Fire.
Chapter 8
The way the scroll settled back on the table was much too calm and smug, if a scroll could be considered smug. But considering the chaos Cerulean sensed was about to ensue, it looked far too satisfied with itself.
She wasn't sure what she herself was thinking. Her mind was whirling with unintelligible thoughts, disconnected and random, without any real meaning.
Archipelago is an animus. He must be. But he didn't finish the spell. But that would mean. And I'm. And that can't be. Because. Because he's an animus. Has to be. Must be. I am not an animus. Azure is an animus. What is happening?
"What - but," stuttered Archipelago. His glowing scales lit up, before fading away slowly. "I'm not an animus." He shook his head in denial, as if to prove his point. "I can't be."
Freakwave flicked his tail. "Seems pretty obvious to me that you are."
"But - I've tried," Archipelago protested. "I have tried to cast spells before. They've never worked. Why would it be different now? So I can't be an animus dragon."
Storm turned away from the table with the scroll, her gaze flickering over Cerulean with reserved curiosity before moving past her. "Azure," she said to the only known animus, who looked just as confused as Cerulean felt, "did you cast a nonverbal spell?"
The subject of her question frantically shook his head. "No, no, I assure you. I didn't say anything, or think anything. I told you, I'm not nearly powerful enough to actually cast spells with my mind."
"Say the spell, Archipelago," Puddle interrupted. She'd settled her eyes on Cerulean, and though the heir had only viewed Spindrift's friend as carefree, joking, and amusing, much like Spindrift himself, she was surprised to see Puddle looking so serious and thoughtful.
"What?" Archipelago asked, and Cerulean felt momentarily frustrated with his slowness.
"I – I," Cerulean started, wanting to instruct him to do as Puddle said. But her earlier certainty had vanished. She was no longer sure that Archipelago truly was an animus.
But I felt the magic in him, she thought, her mind less scattered than before, but nonetheless still confused. He wields magic of some sort – so if he's not an animus, then what could he possibly be? And if he's not the one that cast the spell…then who is?
It dawned on her then, as Archipelago spoke, his voice shaking, "I enchant this scroll to soar to the ceiling and come back down on this table."
Nothing happened, but Cerulean, now that she understood, wasn't surprised in the slightest. Even though she felt embarrassed by all the stares she was now receiving from Puddle, Storm, and Spindrift (Freakwave was still oblivious), she was no longer confused.
"You're not an animus," she said quietly, looking Archipelago in the eye. He looked a bit disappointed, staring at the scroll as if he was trying to will it to do as he commanded.
"Yeah," he agreed. "I knew that. We all knew that."
"Actually," Freakwave interrupted, "we didn't know that, and I'm still convinced Archipelago's an animus. Like, I secret animus. Like a ninja."
Spindrift snorted, but he shook his head. "No. Cerulean - you're - did you know?"
"No," Cerulean replied honestly. It was strange. Suddenly everything made sense, but at the same time everything was different.
And she had to be certain this time – no confusion in who actually cast the spell.
"I enchant this scroll to soar to the ceiling and come back down to this table," she ordered, quoting Archipelago's earlier spell. There was barely time to catch her breath in anticipation; the scroll was already rushing to do as commanded.
Perhaps she'd expected some dramatic gasp of surprise, because Cerulean was both relieved and unsettled at the silence that filled the room. Even Freakwave and Spindrift seemed at a loss for words.
"So, an animus," Puddle stated, not looking the least bit shocked. The others exchanged looks, their expressions unreadable. "I take it this is a surprise."
"Definitely a surprise," Cerulean agreed, her voice catching in her throat.
"I like surprises," Spindrift mumbled. "When they're good surprises. Like a surprise party, where everyone jumps out and yells 'SURPRISE' at the top of their lungs and then you're like, 'whoa! Where did all these dragons come from! I am totally surprised!' Like that."
"I don't get it," Cerulean spoke over Spindrift. "I'm...I can't be an animus. Azure, are you sure you didn't do anything?"
Azure shook his head. "Why would I do that? What could I possibly gain by convincing others you were an animus dragon?"
Her stomach was sinking even before he uttered these words. Of course she knew he was telling the truth. She'd known that she truly was an animus the moment she'd said the spell this time.
"And it's not totally impossible, you being an animus," added Storm, studying her talons instead of looking at Cerulean. "You're related to the royal family, and we all know they carry animus blood."
"I just don't understand, though," Cerulean persisted. "I'm...I'm just Cerulean. Just Cerulean. I can't be anything special."
Freakwave snorted. "Come on! You're the hair to the throne, for ocean's sake. Of course you're special!"
"So long as I'm not the animus," Archipelago muttered under his breath. Then he looked up, catching her eye, and gave her a nervous smile. "No, but really. It's great that you're an animus. You're even more qualified for the throne. And, um, I'm sure Mother would be very proud. We should tell her, she'll be thrilled – "
"No," Cerulean cut across sharply, her voice oddly cold. The others looked at her, curious, some gazes filled with lingering shock, others with unappealing pity. Even Storm looked up to fix her blue-gray eyes on Cerulean, unreadable, her earlier friendliness evaporated.
"What do you mean, no?" the other princess asked. "It's our duty to tell the queen. She wants to know about her subjects."
"I said no," Cerulean repeated. "And I mean it. What happened to the 'everything that happens in this room stays in this room' part? Only minutes ago you were determined to protect Archipelago from everyone should he happen to be an animus dragon. What's different with me?"
"Nothing," Puddle interrupted quickly.
"Well, no," Storm corrected. "It's just…Archipelago's a prince, and you're…well, you're going to be…"
The queen someday. Storm's unfinished sentence hung in the air.
"So?" asked Cerulean, feeling uncertain, which she hated. The queen someday. I'm going to be queen! So start acting like you're ready to rule the kingdom!
"So...so maybe the current queen can start training you with your magic," Puddle suggested kindly.
Spindrift sniffed. "Or, you could be boring like Azure and put your magic in a boring necklace so that anyone can wear it and use it."
"That's my line," Freakwave complained. "I'm supposed to annoy Azure by telling him about his idiotic choices."
"It wasn't an idiotic choice! Not everybody can use it!" Azure defended himself angrily. "I specifically enchanted the necklace so that - "
"Blah, blah, blah, we get it," Freakwave and Spindrift said at the same time, giving each other a funny look.
And with that, the brothers turned away from the table, bantering good-naturedly. Azure tagged along, shooting one last confused and slightly apologetic look at Cerulean, before he attempted to break up his brothers.
Suddenly it was if nothing had just happened. Storm returned to the couch, lost in thought. Puddle looked contemplatively at Cerulean, opened her mouth as if she intended to say something, and then abruptly whirled around and disappeared after Spindrift.
"Well, you were right," Cerulean said softly, turning to Archipelago, who was the only one still standing with her. There was a lump in her throat; she felt like she was on the verge of tears, and she wasn't sure why. She wasn't sure if she had a reason to feel like crying. I'm an animus, she thought, but she felt neither horrified nor joyful and knowing this. And it felt like because she carried magic in her talons, the others no longer wanted to be her friend. But that's silly, she reprimanded herself, Azure's an animus too, and everyone gets along just fine with him – even Freakwave, who just likes to tease him.
She did understand why she was an animus. That humming that had started with her arrival to the palace, that had surrounded her like a second skin finally made sense; it wasn't because of the animus jewels that Orca had given her. It was, of course, because she actually was an animus. Fine. That all added up. But Archipelago wasn't an animus, and yet he carried the same animus aura as she did; so the question was: if he wasn't an animus, then what was he? And how was Cerulean an animus? For some odd reason, she felt that she hadn't inherited the magic trait; it would be too perfect, too coincidental that she, the deformed and disappointing dragonet of the family, had been born with animus magic.
"I'm not sure if it's a good thing, though," Archipelago replied to her statement, sounding sullen.
"I thought you didn't want to be an animus dragon," Cerulean said.
"Well, you don't really get to choose to be one," came the reply. The prince looked at his talons, which were shaking. "I know I'm not an animus. I knew before this, even. I'm not going to pretend that I didn't try to enchant objects when I was alone, just to see what would happen. Didn't you? How come you never figured out your powers before?"
That was the other part. Cerulean, like all the dragonets in her large family, had gone through a phase where she'd been convinced that she was an animus. She'd order inanimate objects to do ridiculous things: telling a teapot to dance, or the bedsheets to sing (did they have mouths? Could they actually do that? She could find out now.), or asking the dishes to wash themselves when she was stuck with that chore. Of course, nothing had happened, or she would've known about her powers before.
So why now, here, with a watching audience, did they manifest?
"I did," Cerulean replied cautiously. "But perhaps I was being too nice. Didn't something similar happen to Prince Fathom during his animus testing? He was too polite to the coconut he needed to enchant, so nothing happened until he ordered it?"
Archipelago flicked his tail thoughtfully. "I, um, do recall something like that in History Class. But it's hard to pay attention and focus in that class – Baja teaches it, and she gets off topic a lot."
"Like you," Cerulean replied. "And you don't know why you were so convinced that nobody could find out you were an animus?"
He looked her right in the eye, which scared her a lot, because he looked so serious.
"I swear, I have no idea," was his reply. "It's like…the reason is in my mind, but there's a fuzzy cloud surrounding it."
Cerulean narrowed her eyes. "Sounds like animus magic."
Archipelago nodded in agreement. "But I don't know why Waterfall, Mother, or Azure would ever do something like that."
"So maybe there's another animus dragon, one we don't yet know about," Cerulean said.
"Maybe," he agreed.
Storm approached them now. "Sorry if I came off a bit rude earlier," she said brusquely. "I've very intrigued with these new turn of events! This calls for an intense research session. I'm off to the library for a bit of research, and then I'll be back when I find something.
She swept majestically from the room.
Cerulean's attention returned quickly to Archipelago. "And can you tell me anything, anything at all, about whatever happened two years ago that's so scandalous and that everyone has conveniently forgotten about?"
He shrugged. "I could. But I'm not supposed to. And, well…it's, uh…It's kind of embarrassing and private, and in all honestly I really don't want to talk about it. Maybe it's better everyone's forgotten."
She huffed in annoyance, and then decided that a visit to the library sounded like a good idea, so she made to move out of the room, although she doubted her exit would be anywhere as magnificent as Storm's had been.
"Where're you off to?" called Spindrift from across the room.
"The library, like Storm," she replied. "Come on, Archipelago."
"Oh, me?" asked the prince. "Is the queen back yet? Because otherwise everyone's still hunting me down."
"I don't know," Cerulean replied, but was glad when he followed her; he could easily have refused to come, and there would've been nothing she could've done.
"Ah, sweet love," came Freakwave's sarcastic comment as the door shut. "They make a cute couple."
"They're not dating, you idiot," Puddle's sardonic voice responded.
Cerulean didn't know what to think of this exchange, so she settled for politely annoyed.
The two walked in silence. She allowed Archipelago to lead the way, because she still didn't know how to find her way around the castle, and didn't want to get lost.
At last, they reached the main hallway, which Cerulean recognized. Chrysocolla, the maid, rushed up to them in a hurried fashion.
"Your Majesties!" she cried. "Come, hurry. Tsunami's arrived at the Palace. Cerulean, it's time you met your honorary sister, I think?"
Tsunami. The SeaWing dragonet of destiny. Everyone knew about her. She was famous in the Sea Kingdom and all of Pyrrhia.
Cerulean would've loved to meet her, to ask about Tsunami's life experiences, ask if Tsunami ever intended to challenge for the throne, but importantly, ask about Anemone and Auklet and if Tsunami knew of their demise, and how it had happened (and ask about how Orca could be alive, and the statue from years ago that had killed the female dragonets...) but now was such an inconvenient time. Everything seemed to be happening at once.
"Not now," Cerulean decided. "Archipelago and I - we're on a mission." Wow, she chided herself. 'On a mission.' Could you be any cheesier?
"On a mission?" Chrysocolla echoed. She smirked. "Sounds important. Well, Tsunami's not going anywhere soon. But I thought you'd be ecstatic to meet her. So I went to find you."
"And I appreciate that," Cerulean assured the maid, giving her a shy smile. "But...what we're doing is important. There's been an unexpected - well, slightly unexpected - I guess, I don't know, it was shocking but not all that shocking - "
"Are you going to get to the point?" asked the maid.
"She means to say that there's been a turn of events," Archipelago supplied, giving Chrysocolla a shrug. "Something that nobody really understands, so we're going to do research. Exciting."
"Can I help?" asked Chrysocolla. "Not with the research - I hate that - but with anything else?"
Cerulean and Archipelago exchanged looks.
"What do you know about animus dragons?"
Chrysocolla was not an animus. Not that Cerulean had thought she was. But the maid, eager to be helpful, provided them with a long myth that she'd been told as a young dragonet, involving and animus dragon, a walrus, seven scrolls, and a game of hide and seek.
"And that," the maid concluded this wild fantasy, "is why we've always been told that animus dragons are bad."
Cerulean and Archipelago exchanged puzzled looks.
"Okay then," Archipelago ventured. "Now, can you tell us anything actually, you know, useful?"
Chrysocolla looked crestfallen. "I'm sorry!" she exclaimed. "I'm a terrible storyteller."
"No, it's not that," Cerulean reassured her. "It's just...that doesn't sound at all accurate."
"I guess it was only a myth," the maid agreed. "But I believed it with all of my heart for the first few years of my life. Now, Your Majesty," she said to Cerulean, "you were saying that you too are an animus?"
The purple dragonet nodded.
"Interesting," Chrysocolla said. She looked around. She, Cerulean, Archipelago, and Storm (who was buried amongst a huge pile of scrolls, reading furiously) were situated in the library, tucked away in a corner. So far, their researching expedition had gone unnoticed, but that was mostly because Orca had returned from the Deep Palace and was too busy with important queenly things that Cerulean wasn't old enough to understand yet to find her heir.
"And you're sure you're an animus?" the maid asked.
"Yes," both Archipelago and Cerulean said at the same time. Immediately, the princess felt a bit embarrassed, but pressed on. "We're positive."
"Can I see?" Chrysocolla asked, her voice very eager. "Oh - wait. You're soul. I forgot what happens when animus dragons cast magic - "
"Actually," Archipelago interrupted, "it's been, um, speculated that animus magic may actually not destroy the soul..." he trailed off, clearing his throat nervously, clearly unsure whether he should continue.
"Ooh, yes," Storm's voice joined the conversation. "I saw that! It's a fascinating theory, actually! It basically states that it's only a dragon's belief that their soul is destroyed through casting spells that causes them to feel as cold, as though they've lost a piece of their soul."
"But that can't be," Cerulean protested. "Everyone knows about Albatross. He was the first SeaWing animus that we know of, so he couldn't have known he'd lose his soul, because there was no one to tell him that."
"That's an exception," Storm agreed.
"Unless, he was, well, already evil," Archipelago pointed out.
"So, animus magic please?" begged Chrysocolla. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be asking you, but if it's safe, then I'd love to see some! I haven't before."
"We think it's safe," Archipelago mumbled. "We're not sure if that theory is actually correct."
"Well, we'll be extra careful to not waste any of Cerulean's precious soul," Storm said, discarding her scroll. Her voice was stoic, and Cerulean couldn't tell if the princess was being sarcastic or scathing or serious. "If we're going to see some magic, we might as well make it a worthwhile spell."
"Like what?" Cerulean asked. She flexed her claws almost unconsciously, nervously. Her mind streamed with all the possibilities - she'd been so caught up with the logistics of her being an animus dragon that it hadn't even occurred to her what she could do with all her newly discovered power. Now, she thought of the few enchantments she'd heard Orca say; her orca necklace, the armband, the earring she wore in her ear that let the queen find her should she get lost, and to symbolize her royal status, an armband around her left forearm, whose enchantment she didn't actually know. Plus, the narwhal tusk door handle that had murdered the guards in the Deep Palace, a rather cold and cruel act on Orca's part...plus, she knew the queen had also enchanted the sword and the staff.
Now that Cerulean reflected and really thought about it, Orca had lied. She'd cast a lot of spells - perhaps minor ones, but many nonetheless. Cerulean hoped the animus soul theory that Archipelago and Storm had talked about briefly was true, because was starting to fear the Orca had no soul left after all.
The others, too, seemed to be thinking. Chrysocolla, having never seen an animus spell before and didn't know what it could do, suggested simple things, like cleaning up the library, or making the table fall over and get back up all on its own, spells similar to the one that had revealed Cerulean's power. Archipelago and Storm, on the other hand, were trying to come up with something beneficial.
"Perhaps a scroll that will tell you what you need to know?" Naturally, after barely a moment's thought, Storm spewed out a suggestion, her eyes alight with the thought of unlimited knowledge.
That would be nice, Cerulean thought. Then I could figure out who I am, what I'm doing as the queen's heir, what happened to Anemone and Auklet, if Orca's going to be okay, what's up with Archipelago...I'd basically be creating a sea of knowledge!
"That sounds cool," Archipelago agreed. "But I'm pretty sure we already have a few of those, right?"
Storm shrugged. "Yeah, but I can't get my talons on them because the queen keeps them under such close watch, only letting those she deems worthy enough actually use them. And because I'm a no-good princess who can't ever inherit the throne, I'm not worthy. So if Cerulean created one, we could use it secretly."
"Maybe," Cerulean agreed. But the idea of the scroll, as good as it was, didn't seem like the right thing. Not if there were similar scrolls in existence.
"What about a mirror that shows the user whatever he or she wants to see?" Archipelago suggested.
"Don't the SandWings have something like that already?" asked Cerulean, trying to recall the unit about SandWings she'd done a long time ago in school at her old home.
"Maybe not, then," Archipelago agreed. "I think I do remember something like that."
"We want it to be a unique, creative spell," Storm added, as if nobody already knew that.
"Ooh, how about something that turns a dragon into whatever they want, as long as they're touching it?" Chrysocolla suggested eagerly. It had been the first interesting idea she'd had so far, in terms of complexity and usefulness for a spell.
"So, like, if they wanted to be a table, a dragon could turn into a table?" asked Storm, snorting in amusement.
The maid bristled. "Hey! There might be dragons who dream about being a table! You don't know! It's not fair to judge! Personally, I've always wanted to be a feather duster."
Storm appeared to be trying very hard to keep a straight face, but ended up bursting into laughter.
"Excuse me!" Chrysocolla snapped. "I do not appreciate your mocking of my dreams!"
"You - you have a s-sad dr-dream then," Storm said between hiccuping giggles. "A f-feather d-duster? Seriously?"
The maid huffed, looking down at her snout at the hysterically laughing dragonet. "Maybe I'm secretly a feather duster, for all you know! Maybe that's who I truly am!"
"That's it!" Cerulean said, having an extremely pleasant AHA! moment. She clapped her talons together. "Chrysocolla, that's a brilliant idea!"
"See?" the dragon stuck her tongue out at the still-laughing Storm in a very child-like manner. "Her Majesty realizes what a genius I am and agrees."
Storm rolled her eyes. "A pure genius. A feather duster. You want to be a feather duster. I can't believe it. Cerulean, please don't tell me you agree with her."
"But it's a great idea," Cerulean said, barely listening. "I mean, I don't think it's been done before, so it'll be something new, and it might answer a question I have, so I'm definitely thinking..."
"What is it?" asked Archipelago.
Searching for something that would be a good object to enchant, Cerulean replied triumphantly, "Something to that will reveal a dragon's history, reveal who they truly are."
"AHA!" Storm yelped, looking very smug. "So you didn't actually agree with the feather duster's idea, just something she said."
"I am not a feather duster!" came Chrysocolla's indignant reply.
"I thought you wanted to be one, though," Storm said, looking at the angry dragon with wide, innocent eyes.
"Please don't fight again," Archipelago pleaded. "You did that last week, and the week before that, and the week before that. You always end up fighting."
"Well, if Storm wasn't always so smug and annoying - "
"I'm smug and annoying? Says the dragon who constantly bugs everyone with her bad sense of humor!"
"I've got a great sense of humor. You just don't appreciate it!"
"Yeah, yeah. You don't even call Cerulean Cerulean, you call her 'Your Majesty' like some pompous frog, so if anyone's smug it's you."
"I'm being PROPER and POLITE, a term you seem to be unfamiliar with!"
"Shh," Cerulean reprimanded them. "I've found what I'm going to enchant." She held up a glass paperweight that she'd found on a shelf, holding down various assortments of important and boring looking documents.
All three of the others blinked at her.
"Well then," Storm said. "I guess you're not supposed to wear it."
"Obviously," Chrysocolla agreed.
"Do you have the words for the spell?" Archipelago asked, his normally quieter voice raised in excitement, which both surprised and delighted Cerulean.
Her heart was beating in her chest, exhilarated with the prospect of casting magic - not a spell to send a scroll to the roof and back down, but an actual enchantment. Whatever this stone told her regarding Archipelago's history would hopefully explain so much of the mystery surrounding the prince and the palace. And she could also find out about Anemone and Auklet, and Orca's history too, how the queen was still alive.
She cleared her throat, and immediately Chrysocolla and Storm, who'd been bickering quietly, hushed, fixing their eyes on Cerulean and the paperweight with quiet anticipation.
"I enchant this paperweight to reveal the history of any dragon or object the user desires," Cerulean said, her voice low and rhythmic as if she were singing a song. "I enchant this paperweight to answer any question the user has, to the best of its ability." She paused, wracking her brain, trying to think of any other spell to add to her current enchantment. When she came up with nothing, she did not continue, instead gazing down at the paperweight.
She wasn't sure if it actually worked. The glass surface gleamed unremarkably, transparent like the glass it was made of, and its weight remained the same in her talons.
Did it work? she wondered. Or did I mess it up? It should've worked. I did it right, I think. But who am I to know a lot about casting animus spells?
"Was it successful, do you think?" Cerulean asked, finally looking up from the object. She was surprised by the look of pure shock on all three faces. "Um. Everything okay? Should we test it?"
Both Storm and Chrysocolla said nothing, simply exchanging looks that were beyond confusion and shock. It was Archipelago who spoke.
"I - I don't think we really need to..."
"Hmm?" Cerulean asked, confused, glancing down curiously again at the paperweight. Nothing had changed about its appearance, and she couldn't imagine why there was no need to test it. "What do you mean?"
"Look at your talons..." Archipelago said, his voice low.
Cerulean did. And she saw why, and she knew her spell had been successful. More than successful, actually.
Her talons were no longer purple. They were shaking, the talons too long and sharp, clutching desperately onto the thing that had revealed their true nature, bright red like the sinking sun, or the blood from a wound.
Author's Note: Sorry for the late update. I originally tried writing a frantic chapter so I could update sooner, but then I decided that there was no purpose to it, and that it wasn't quality. I'd rather write good stuff, not just update to update, if you know what I mean, so I hope you don't mind.
A couple of things regarding this chapter. First off, I'm sorry that Spindrift, Freakwave, Azure, and Puddle sort of took a backseat - and to all of you who have graciously given me an OC of yours to use, I also apologize for not introducing them/bringing them back yet. This chapter had a definite starting and ending point, and as you can tell, it's longer than usual, and I didn't have time to introduce/bring back characters. But luckily, this is the end of part one, and I'm thinking that there will be opportunity for more introductions in the next part! Thank you for understanding, and I hope it isn't a problem.
Secondly, I hope all of this was written both realistically and convincingly. I like the second half of the story, but for some reason I feel dissatisfied with the first half of the story, in the prince's room, and I don't know why. I've gone over it multiple times, and I can't think of anything to change, but I just don't like it. Oh well. If inspiration strikes me with a better version, I will update this chapter and change some things.
Third, I would like to comment on part of the chapter, regarding the animus soul theory. This is not a real thing, at least that I am aware of. However, after reading the last book (no spoilers) I kind of wondered if animus magic really does cause a dragon to lose their soul, or if it's just the belief that causes animus dragons to feel like they are losing it. I'm not sure if this is actually what Tui T. Sutherland was going for, but it was an interesting theory that I had, so I incorporated this in the book, and I may explore this later on. I'm not sure. So just to clear up confusion, if there is any, the animus soul theory is not a real thing.
Fourth, thank you so much for all the amazing feedback! It's always so thrilling to see that I've gotten a review, follow, or favorite. I appreciate all the support!
Remained unnamed: Good! I'm glad the last chapter was suspenseful! No problem, I love Freakwave. And yes, I saw Cerulean, and she is FABULOUS! I'm going to post the link to the drawing in the next chapter, because this one is so long. Thank you! I appreciate your support SO MUCH that my gratitude cannot be expressed in the English language. Maybe Russian or French though? Parles-tu Français? Anyway, thanks! I'm just amazing, aren't I? ;) I will definitely keep this up. You have my infinite support as well! Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Jaysong: Glad you liked that ending! I'm also glad you liked Spindrift and Puddle's character, and apologies that they weren't featured much in this chapter...but I'll try to do more with them later! And duh duh duh...Tsunami's arrived! Although her arrival also took a backseat...that was me setting up for future chapters. Hahahahaha. I'm so happy you liked that chapter, and sorry that there wasn't much regarding Archipelago's history...I'm debating whether or not to have a reveal regarding who he is in this story, or if I should do a sequel from his point of view. Whaddaya think? And thank you for reading and reviewing!
Queenyisthebestmedicen: Yes, I saw it! Although you probably know that. I'm hoping to start writing a draft for the first chapter soon, but I'm not sure when I'll actually be able to publish your fanfiction idea, which is amazing by the way. And about Cerulean, you might just be right! ;) Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Pancake Unicorn: MWAHAHA! I am evil, and that is how I did this. I'm glad you liked it, even if you're annoyed. I hope you also know more now. You're right, Cerulean's an animus, but you probably know that by now. I'm sorry about no updating schedule; I was thinking of trying to come up to one, but I'm afraid I won't stick to it, and I also don't really write well when pressured...but I'm flattered to know that you check this story constantly for updates! Haha, dat's cool. :D And you're totally cool! And the Bahamas sounds sweet! I've never been there. Haha, not Dolphin. What would your SkyWing name be? And thanks for the compliment! I'm glad to know you like this! Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Someone: Thank you! I'm sorry that there isn't an updating schedule, but know that I generally will try to update this once a week at least, because I love writing this when I can! School gets in the way, and sometimes I'll sit down with the intention to write a chapter and then have absolutely no inspiration, even though I know where I want to go. But I'm glad you think this is amazing! That's really flattering, and appreciate the compliment so much! Hmm, my secret...MWAHAHA, you shall never know! Actually, I really don't know. And thanks for another OC! I think there will be a part with other tribes later in the story, so if Cerulean ever encounters a NightWing during this, then I will definitely use Happenstance! Thanks! Aw, your welcome, and thank you! I love to respond to reviews - it makes me so happy to communicate with my awesome readers, like you! It's really amazing, as well, to know that people enjoy this! And your welcome, and thanks again! The internet memes are after you...MERCI BEAUCOUP, for all your support and for reading and reviewing!
Hamburger: Thanks! I'm glad you're still enjoying this! Regarding Pelican, thank you for the information! And sorry about not coming up with a backstory. I like letting people come up with a bit about their OC, and then, based on the information they give me, to create a character from there. Expect to see Pelican in future chapters, and thank you for reading and reviewing! I appreciate it a lot.
Firestar is OP: Hi! Thank you! I'm glad you like this, and that the prologue hooked you! I will definitely continue! Thank you, I'm really flattered. And maybe I'm secretly a professional. Like, a ninja writer. I don't know. But sadly I'm not. :( I have to say, I do like Firestar more when he was a 'paw and a warrior. Anyway...thank you for reading and reviewing! Bye!
xXSilverdreamXx: Thank you! MWAHAHA! I love cliffhangers...when I'm the one who's written them. I am so sorry that I have not done much with Wave! However, I'm going to bring Eddy back into this, and since he and Wave are acquaintances, I will MAKE SURE SHE APPEARS AGAIN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE AMAZING. No problem. Ooh, Archipelago Turtle? That's a very interesting speculation! Hmm, hmm, hmm...honestly that did not occur to me until now but I kind of want that to be true...thank you for reading and reviewing!
dragonwritergirl112: Sure! I will try to include Swift Current (I love her name) into the story. No guarantees on when, but hopefully she'll show up. I'll also try to include the part with her egg and being a SkyWing. And interesting theory about Cerulean...and about Cerulean, you might just be right! I can't say...MWAHAHA. Thank you for reading and reviewing!
MystycDragon: I am beyond thrilled to know that you like this story and think it's awesome! Also, it's great to know that the mystery is good. Thank you for the applause. I definitely agree with what you say, though, about fanfictions. I will definitely take that advice to heart. Thank you for reading and reviewing!
MysticFire101: Not making sense is my special suite! But I promise, this story will all work out in the end...hopefully. Don't tell anyone I said that. I'm glad you think it's awesome, though! I'm flattered by your compliment; it means a lot! About Cerulean, you might just be right! I can't say...you'll have to find out more details...MWAHAHA. I've been laughing evilly a lot lately. I'm glad you love it, and thank you for saying so! I know where I'm going with Orca's character, but I'm battling with her personality in the future, but I'm glad you like her characterization so far. I will explain how she's alive too. You'll also find out about Anemone and Auklet soon! Also, I'm going to do a character catch up with Tsunami in part two, regarding what happened with her life after the events of Jade Mountain. I'm glad you like Storm and Cerulean! I say this with basically every character, but I love writing Storm's scenes. Of all the OC's, she's the one I find I'm using the most, along with Chrysocolla. Yes! My mystery attempt has been successful! I'm glad to know that! Thank you for reading and reviewing!
BrightMind: Did this chapter answer questions regarding the SkyWing? Or are you just as confused as before? I'm laughing evilly. I'm glad that you're happy Archipelago's back! Haha, I like Cerulean and Archipelago together too, so maybe I'll do something with that in future chapters. Cerulago - I love it! Regarding the guards and Archipelago, I'm going to address that in future chapter, so hopefully that'll be cleared up. And there is a reason Archipelago isn't an animus...OR IS THERE? Yes, animus magic is confusing. I don't know if you've read Talons of Power yet, but the limits of animus magic were really explored in that book, but there's still a lot of questions left unanswered...I'm very fascinated with the concept. Maybe that's what I should be when I grow up. An animus dragon expert. Because that's a thing. Any way, thank you for reading and reviewing!
This was over 6,000 words long! This is the longest chapter I have written for a story. I'm so proud! Although some of it was author's note, but still...