Thank you for those of you who have liked my writing. I hope you enjoy it all. I will be adding more short stories to this book. Also if you feel I have left you on cliff hangers I might add more to the story. Anyway enjoy meeting Core!
Prince Core
Core never thought anything about himself. He knew he could never ascend the throne and he was never worried about his life in the palace. Instead he wanted to be out of the palace. He was always distant with his family. Except one of his brothers; Turtle. Turtle was always invisible when he wanted it. Though he was mostly teased and tormented by the rest because he was the youngest. He and Core were similar. Core didn't care to talk with many dragons unless they needed help.
"Mother." he bowed to Queen Coral. "I'd like to speak with you about me mentoring one of our healers."
"You? A healer?" Queen Coral was surprised. "I do suppose you show great strength in helping others. Very well. Talk with Shoebill about getting a message out to all the healers around." she waved a claw.
"Thank you, you're majesty." He bowed to his mother. He saw his only sister sitting next to his mother, bored out of her mind. He winked at her as he left the pavilion.
He flew up the next few pavilions to the Queen's private messenger. Shoebill. Shoebill was a quiet seawing with glasses and a strange green color. He was about the Queen's age but never treated anyone any less than they were.
"Good morning Shoebill." he said as he landed down.
"Oh hello Prince Core." SHoebill turned towards him. "What can I do for you?"
"I talked with Queen Coral and she said for me to ask for your help. I need to send a message to all of the healers in the kingdom." He walked close to the table in the middle of the pavilion.
"Oh? I can help with that." Shoebill walked to the table and sat across from Core. "Finally got the Queen to accept your request to be a healer?"
"Yeah. It may have taken a few years but I did it." his wings dropped a little. "I just hope someone will mentor me."
"Someone will take you." Shoebill said as he grabbed a scroll. "Now what do you say we write?"
"Done." Core said, letting his talon fall. He had written up four letters exactly, each the same as before. He let out a sigh. "Do you really think someone will take me on?"
Shoebill walked over and grabbed the last letter. "One of them is bound to. I mean why wouldn't they? We need more healers with the war going on."
Core nodded to himself. "Yeah I guess you're right."
"Well I should get these to them. I'll let you know as soon as you get a response." Shoebill rolled the scroll up.
"Alright. Thanks Shoebill." Core walked over to the edge. He let himself drop down as his wings angled him away from the other pavilions. He spread his wings fast before he hit the water hiding over it. Most seawing weren't as good at flying as he was. He worked on it more than the rest did.
He flapped them harder to go upwards towards one of the caves along the sides of the inside of the island. Queen Coral had given him one of the caves in the middle. She respected him more than the rest of his brothers but never bothered with them. Being the oldest he got more than the rest of them.
He landed with a slight thump in his cave. It was a little empty with one table with a scroll scrawled over it. In one corner of the cave was a chest filled with all his coins and jewelry. In another was a pile of damp moss as his bed.
Core looked around his cave and sighed. He felt cramped all around the Summer Palace. But Coral had wanted him to come along with her for an unknown reason. He had tried to ask her why but she avoided the question. He secretly wondered if she had found out he was an animus as well. But surely if she knew she would have confronted him, right?
"Core, there you are!" a voice said from the entrance. A strong silver-blue seawing was flapping her wings to land.
"Hi Spiral." Core said to her as she entered the cave.
"Her majesty was wondering where you were. She said she wanted to speak with you." Spiral straightened up.
"Oh. Ok." he simply said. "Let me grab something first." he walked over to the chest and opened it, pulling out something. He put it in the bag around his neck. "Ok. Let's see what she wants."
Spiral nodded then turned around and opened her wings. Core followed her more slowly as they flew up towards the Queens pavilion.
Core maneuvered his wings as he got ready to land. The pavilion was higher up than most others. The dragon who created it wanted it that way. Core was related to him, but he never thought about Albatross as a relative. Only a murderer.
Spiral was ahead of him already talking with Queen Coral about the battle front. "I've noticed the skywings falling back a little. I've heard rumors about the dragonets' of destiny running amuck in the sky kingdom."
"The dragonets'?" Coral thought for a moment. "Blister would love to see those dragonets' and have them choose her. Tell the others to keep an eye out for them."
"Of course you're majesty." Spiral bowed.
"Ah Core. I wanted to talk with you about something." Coral seemed to notice Core. "Spiral you may go. I need to speak with him alone." Anemone looked hopeful as her mother said those words and tugged on her silver pearl cable. "No you stay here dear. I don't want anything to happen to you." Coral waved a claw.
Anemone looked down at her talons. "But mother, you never let me go anywhere by myself."
"And for good reason." Coral gave one last push. "Now. Core, I wanted to talk with you about finding a suitable mate for you."
Core froze suddenly. "Uhh…" he could only reply. He shook his head. "Aren't I still young to have a mate? I mean I'm only 8."
"Nonsense. When my mother was queen she had betrothed one of my brothers at the age of 5." Coral said to him. "And besides, it's time for you. You have been moping around the palace for days now." she pointed out.
Truly he had been moping. But not because he's lonely. He doesn't like being here in the Summer Palace.
"Now I have some ideas but do you have anyone in mind who you'd think would make a good mate?" she continued.
He in fact had not been thinking about someone in particular. Having a mate didn't seem to be a top priority at the moment. "No one I can think of."
"Hm. Well here's a list I made up of possible ones." She handed him a scroll. "Let me know when you decide."
"Yes mother." He simply said. He put the scroll in his pouch and pulled something else out. A stone dolphin with sapphire eyes. He winked at Anemone and handed it to her. Coral rolled her eyes but said nothing.
"Thanks Core." Anemones eyes shone.
He smiled at his sister. He was about to fly off when he noticed a dragon approaching the pavilion. It was Riptide. He was a good friend to Core. Behind Riptide were Shark, his uncle, and a seawing he didn't know. Shark, as usual, looked like someone stabbed him with a sea urchin. Riptide looked a little uneasy and the seawing behind him was in awe.
Curious, he stepped back closer to Anemone and watched the dragons with her. As the three seawings landed more dragons came into sight. Core began to stiffen as a mudwing, nightwing, rainwing and what looked like a sandwing landed behind the seawing.
The strange seawing saw Coral and her eyes widened. "Mother!"
Coral jumped up so fast it all happened in a blur. Anemone was suddenly ripped away at the tug of the cable and one of her claws chipped.
"My baby," Coral spoke as she embraced the seawing. "I knew you'd find your way back. I knew you were out there."
"Mother," Anemone groaned. "You're going too fast."
The strange seawing let go of Coral. "Who's this?"
"This is your sister Anemone." Coral strode over to Anemone to look at her chipped claw.
"Hi," the seawing put her talon up in a kind gesture. "I'm Tsunami."
Anemone looked at the seawing. She lifted a talon and placed it on hers. "Hi."
"'Tsunami.' At least Webs did one thing right." Coral growled deeply. "Where is he? I've been planning his death for years. It won't be slow."
Riptide grimaced at Coral. Her words are like thorns about his father.
"Please don't hurt Webs." a small high pitched voice said. The little golden dragonet who kind of looked like a sandwing was up next to Tsunami. "He was the only one really nice to us."
Coral snorted a response then saw the Mudwing. "WHY IS THERE A MUDWING IN MY SUMMER PALACE?" she yelled loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Wait," Tsunami said, before Coral could advance on the mudwing. "We're the dragonets' of destiny. I promise you we are."
Shark gave a snorted laugh response.
Coral recompose herself. Still weary she went on. "Oh I see. I heard there had been rumors. Blister will be so pleased to meet you." She turned to Shark. "Put those four in one of the caves. And make sure to set a guard."
At that the four of them began to back up. The golden dragon spoke first. "But we came here to be safe, not prisoners again."
The rainwing was turning vivid reds and oranges. "No one touches me." she snarled.
"Wait!" Tsunami yelled. "You're majesty…mother. I brought them here so you could protect us."
"That's what I'm doing." Coral looked bored. "Most of my dragons will attack if they see mudwings or unknown sandwings."
"Or whatever that is." Shark snarled.
"Your majesty if I may," Core stepped forward into the flow. "Why not send them to one of the more… seeable caves. That way we can keep an eye on them but they don't have to be chained."
"Hmm." Coral tapped a claw on the ground. "That sounds like a reasonable thing. Unless one of your dragons disagrees."
Tsunami looked at the others. "That sounds doable."
The mudwings' wings drooped. "I guess that means no feast."
"Lagoon. Take these four to one of the caves. Supply them with food as well. Keep a guard on their cave." Coral turned to a light blue seawing.
"Don't worry. I'll see you soon." Tsunami called after them.
Core stepped back to where he was. Anemone came up to him. "Do you really think she's our sister?"
Core shrugged his wings. "I don't know. But trust mother. She's Queen. You and I know how she handles things."
Core looked back at Coral. She was placing one of her pearl necklaces onto Tsunami. They embraced again, taking in mother and daughter. Tsunami spoke. "Can we talk alone?"
"Of course." Coral replied right away. "Guards you are dismissed. Shark sends a message to Queen Blister. Core-" she cut off seeing him nod. "Good."
"See you Anemone." He gave his sister a little scuff. He turned and dropped off the pavilion diving towards the water. He wanted to talk with Riptide about Tsunami.
He splashed down into the water, his gills working instantly. He swam past the few dragons below the surface heading towards the underwater pathway. He slipped in the wide but narrow tunnel and made his way through. Little air sockets were at the top for visiting dragons, like Blister, to breathe into.
Once he made his way through the orange kelp bed at the end of the tunnel he made his way to a separate island, not far from the Summer Palace. Riptide had often been sent there to guard. Coral alway thought bad about him, but really he was a good dragon. Core knew his secret though. Core was even a part of it. No one in the palace suspected a prince to be a part of The Talons of Peace. Though he had no idea it was Webs who stole his sister's egg or why he had stolen it. He only got cryptic messages from other talons. They never truly believed that he was a true Talon of Peace.
He caught the current, drifting towards the island. It did have a name but he always thought it was funny. It was called snail island. It was a smaller island with few trees. In the middle of it stood a big rock pillar carved from the years of weather.
He saw it coming into view above the water. Once he did he angled his wings to take him up out of the water. On the beach sitting and sulking was Riptide. Riptide looked up as he saw Core come out of the water.
"Core what are you doing here?" Riptide said in a panic. "If the queen knew you were meeting me she would have both our heads."
"She's busy." he waved a talon. "Besides, I wanted to talk to you about something."
Riptide looked around to see if anyone was watching. His wings relaxed as he saw no one. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Tsunami," Core sat down. "Is she really my sister?"
Riptide began nodding. "She had the royal markings. And she's the same age as the dragonet that would have hatched."
Core nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. I trust you, friend. I don't trust the dragonets. How can we be sure they're the real dragonets of destiny?"
Riptide shrugged his wings. "Why else would a Seawing, Mudwing, Nightwing and Sandwing travel together? What's even more confusing is there's no Skywing."
"I saw that," Core spoke up. "Instead it was a rainwing. I haven't seen one in years."
"You should go." He said suddenly. "Nautilus said he was coming to meet with me. I don't want you to get in trouble with the Talons."
"Alright," Core nodded. "Thanks for telling me about Tsunami."
Riptide nodded. "You should give her a chance. She is your sister after all."
Core didn't say anything. Instead he looked at the sand beneath his talons. He stood up and shook his wings. "I'll see you around." he then dove into the water in one swift movement. He swam fast as he sped back towards the Summer Palace. The current he was in held some other creatures as well. A pod of turtles was using the current to get somewhere. A few fish were stopping to rest. He left them alone, thinking about life.
He looked over and saw the Summer island. He shook himself then powered through the current, ending up in front of the tunnel. He swam through it snaking his way along the path. A seawing rushed past him and flashed something. Sorry. In a hurry. He flashed back, No problem. She raced past him in a hurry. He watched for a second seeing her purple blue scales disappear into the tunnel.
He shook himself, turned and swam through the entrance. He swam up to the water and took off. His wings soared as he made way to his mothers throne. He landed to see Coral talking with Shark. Anemone was behind her looking bored as usual. Tsunami was nowhere to be seen.
"Core there you are," Coral looked away from Shark. "I want you to attend the council meeting tomorrow morning."
"Me?" he asked, surprised.
"Yes. It'll be good training for when you become a healer."
"Alright." he only replied.
"You may go now."
"Thanks." I guess, he said silently. He dropped off the pavilion slowly not wanting to waste energy. It was growing dark outside and he was already feeling tired. He turned towards his cave ready to land.
He touched the cold stone floor. He didn't mind the cold. In fact he was more used to it. He rubbed his talons together. The silver arm band sparkled and sapphires dudded it. The spell he had put on it was sort of working. He sighed. He walked over to his bed of wet moss and lied down. It sometimes worried him that he was the only one who knew about his powers. He slipped off the armband and placed it in front of his snout looking at it.
Why him of all dragons? Why was he the one to get this power? Animus magic was dangerous. He could feel it every time he used it. He closed his eyes and slept.
He woke up with a start as a dragon tapped on the cave wall. "Core. Core come on. Wake up Core." It was Stingray. His dark green scales heaved on his sides as he spoke, tension in his voice. "Core. The meeting is starting soon."
Core got up rubbing his talons over his face. "I'll be there in a second." Stingray nodded then jumped out of his cave. He grabbed the armband and put it back on. All tiredness gone from his mind. He shook his wings. He walked over to the edge watching as dragons flew around the Palace. He spotted Shark, Moray and Whirlpool as they found the Council pavilion.
He straightened out his wings and dived down ready for the meeting. He had been in a few others so he knew the gist of it. Queen Coral would ask all the dragons in charge of each operation how it was going. The war front, the eggs, everything. She never left a single detail out. Usually the healer would be out, healing dragons from the war front, so Core would sit there. Even though he wasn't a true healer he could answer Coral's questions.
He landed onto the pavilion and, as usual, the healers pool was empty. Queen Coral herself wasn't there yet. Shark glanced at Core as Core stepped into the pool. Out of all the princes, Core was the one who was treated well most of the time. Shark actually enjoyed seeing him sometimes. But he never smiled. He had always told himself it was the perks of being the first born prince.
Core glanced at Moray as she sat up right. She was always trying to look her best around any of the royals, except the princesses.
Wing beats took his mind away from Moray. He sat upright like she had, as the Queen dropped down onto the pavilion. Of course Anemone was right behind her. Also behind her was Tsunami. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Moray tense up. She still held her position.
"Here we are." Queen Coral Mused. She slipped into her pool with Anemone at her side.
"Mother, you're squishing me!" Anemone protested.
Queen Coral ignored Anemone with an eye roll. "Tsunami you can sit there." Queen Coral pointed to the pool labeled 'Dragonet Care'. "Tortoise is at the deep palace guarding the hatchery. She won't be joining us."
"Good morning your majesty." Moray bowed. "I hope you slept well after yesterday. I know it was very stressful."
"Thank you Moray." Queen Coral waved a talon.
A loud slurping noise interrupted Coral. All heads turned towards Tsunami, who was chewing an octopus tentacle. Many of the council members gasped. Tsunami, who looked around confused, finished the tentacle.
"Naturally I forgive my long lost daughter," Coral calmed them. "She was raised by barbarians, so she couldn't know any better." She waved a talon at the food platters. "I give you all permission to eat."
Tsunami looked down at her talons. Queen Coral grabbed a talon full of crabs and fish squares. She dropped some into Anemones mouth. "Pearl," she turned her head towards the dragon in the pool labeled treasury. "Report."
"No change," Pearl said, sitting taller. "All of the jewels are safe, as always. No scavengers can get to them, and no dragon would dare to try."
"Splendid," Coral said happily. "Shark, report."
"I am concerned about our internal defenses. The intruders in our midst are a danger to us." He hissed.
"Now now." She dropped a piece of food to Anemone. "Those are our guests, not intruders."
Tsunami looked up. "Oh good. I thought maybe they could join us for breakfast."
Coral shook her head. "Only council members and royals are allowed at council meetings, darling. But they certainly won't go hungry. Lagoon," she turned to Lagoon, a turquoise seawing. "Did you make sure they were served an ample breakfast?"
Lagoon nodded.
"They can have the rest of this as well." Coral flicked her tail at the platers. Core watched the small seawings grab the platter then take off towards one of the lower caves. "Whirlpool, report," she turned to him.
"Anemones lessons are going wonderfully," he spread his wings. "And your scrolls have never been more popular. The latest has been bought by every Seawing in the tribe."
"Mostly the underwater editions," Moray said all of a sudden. "Those tend to sell the best. Of course, I spend all my energy prompting them-"
"But I've organized another reading," Whirlpool flared his wings to interrupt Moray. "Every high ranking dragon is clamoring to attend. We're charging an emerald a piece this time."
"I want to be sure I'm reaching the eel eating masses as well, though," she waved her tail. "I mean, my writing should be shared with everyone, not just those who can afford it."
"Of course. That's why the schools have all changed their curriculums again to be sure the dragonets' have enough time to read everything you've written. It's the most important subject they study." Moray said in a slithery voice.
"You can't be serious!" Tsunami sat up. "More important than how to fight the war?"
Some of the council members looked at each other. Coral was the first to speak. "Darling, my writing is about everything. As you would know if you'd finished the scrolls I gave you. What do you think of them?"
"Uh," she looked around to see eyes on her. "The Missing Princess is still my favorite."
Core, and a few others, gave a snort of laughter. The Queen gave them a flash saying, that's enough. "That reminds me," she turned to Whirlpool. "Tsunami needs lessons in Aquatic. Can you believe she never learned it, poor thing." Queen Coral said, in a tragic voice. "Such a sad upbringing." She flashed at the council again. We will find that traitorous worm, and kill him.
"Of course your majesty. I would be happy to instruct the princess." Whirlpool inclined his head to Tsunami.
"Piranha, report." Coral said to a dark grey-blue seawing.
"Still no information about the dead Skywing." she replied. Core cocked his head a little. He hadn't heard of a dead skywing. "A war party returned early this morning. Do you want to hear their report?"
Queen Coral sighed and nodded.
Piranha called out and two seawings came down. As Core squinted to see them he saw black against the blue of one's scales and on the other blood gushed out of an open wound. They landed and Core could see the deep burns on the blue one. The green one was bleeding. From his gills. His blood seeped into the floor spreading to the channels between the council members.
"Let's hear it." Queen Coral demanded.
"Something strange is happening in the sky kingdom, your majesty," Core recognized him. His name was Codd. He was covered in burns though. "The battalions, its as if nobody knows whos' in charge." he choked out. "We were patrolling the outer islands, and we were attacked by three separate wings. The first was half skywings, half sandwings. During the second attack, we heard the skywings yelling, 'For Ruby!' and in the third, at least one dragon shouted, ' The queen is not dead! Long live the queen!'."
Queen Coral shot forward in her pool. "For Ruby?" she echoed.
Piranha snarled. "One of Scarlet's daughters." she looked to the two who had arrived. "Does that mean Queen Scarlet is dead?"
"We would have heard if there had been a challenge, surely." Moray looked at the others.
Queen Coral looked over to Current, the dragon in control of secrets and spies. "Why son't you know anything about this?" she hissed.
Current waved his wings. "None of my spies have reported in for days. I had no idea anything strange was happening in the sky kingdom."
Core looked over to the seawing covered in burns. He was slowly falling down the others shoulder. "Mother," he spoke. "I think they should go get some help. He doesn't look too good." he pointed to Codd.
Coral eyed them. "Anything else to report?"
"Twelve casualties." Codd looked down at his talons. "All the rest badly injured."
"But nobody followed you back to the palace?" Shark questioned.
"We were careful," Codd winced from the pain. "We took the longest routes back."
"Very well. Core, take them to the healer then come back." Coral said to him. He nodded and corralled them to fly. He helped Codd fly up to the healing level. He left them there and flew back to his pool.
"If there is chaos in the sky kingdom, maybe this is a time to strike," Coral weaved a strand of pears between her talons. "We should send the rescue team now. We could get him back today."
"We don't know enough." Current shook his head. "If Scarlet is dead, how did she die? Did Ruby kill her, or is she fighting with her sisters for the throne?"
Moray was cleaning the blood from before. "Like the Sandwing rivalry all over again. Making the war even worse."
"Or," Piranha started. "Has Burn taken over? She would, if she was there."
"But Scarlet's daughters might not listen to Burn the way Scarlet did." Moray turned to Piranha.
"What could have happened? Queen Scarlet was so strong." Coral thought.
"Um," Tsunami started. All eyes wear on her. "That…might have been us."
"You!" Piranha barked a laugh.
"Ridiculous," Shark snarled.
"Queen Scarlet found us under the mountain. She held us prisoner in her palace, and when we escaped, we sort of might have killed her, Maybe. I'm not sure. I will say we tried." Tsunami explained.
Coral shot up and bolted next to Tsunami holding one of her forearms. "You were at the skywing palace? Did you see a seawing named Gill? Green scales, big and powerful, with brave eyes?"
Tsunami hesitated. "I…did see him," the council member gasped.
"Can you tell us where he is?" Coral asked." We've been planning a rescue mission, but he's not in any regular prison."