Part X: Not So Different

A Week Ago...

Even now, in the middle of the Rainforest, Hailstorm found himself consumed by the Ice Kingdom's chill. The bitter winds of the tundra seemed to sweep through his thoughts.

His argument with Jambu had done more than ruin their date. It reminded him of the Revolution.

What will happen to our justice system? he wondered. As it was, the queen controlled the laws and courts of the Ice Kingdom. Everything, even justice itself, had been written into the Circles. If the Revolution tears down the system... what happens next?

Had Winter and the other young rebels even thought about that?

If there was one thing Hailstorm had learned from the chaos of Rainforest politics, it was this: it's a lot easier to promise change than deliver on it.

He thought back to his time in Sanctuary. The bright blue banners. The shouting crowds. A wild year of hope and rebellion. It had all been very thrilling. But what would happen when the Conference of Circles ended?

Fatespeaker, he thought. I should write to her. By now, she should've been back in Sanctuary. She could keep him up to date on the Winter Roses and the Talons of Peace.

As he headed back to her hut, he realized that he hadn't received news from her for quite some time. That's odd, he thought. She writes like a storm, and she promised to send a letter every week.

With all the chaos in Sanctuary, anything could have happened.

He flew faster now, worry quickening his wings.

Days passed with no reply from Fatespeaker. With no one to confide in, Hailstorm found himself steeped in dread.

When Kinkajou returned from her brief trip to Sanctuary, Hailstorm decided to check in with the chatty young RainWing.

"Excuse me, Kinkajou," he asked politely. "Are you sure you passed my missive on to Fatespeaker?"

"Missive...? Oh! You mean that scroll!" Kinkajou smiled and nodded. "I gave it to Turtle, and he said he gave it to Riptide to deliver. They're just waiting for Fatespeaker to arrive. Maybe she got sidetracked?"

"Oh. Thank you." Hailstorm frowned. That didn't sound like the Fatespeaker he knew. As ditzy as she seemed on the surface, she was dedicated to helping the Talons. Surely she wouldn't shirk off her friends. Not unless something serious had gotten in the way.

Hailstorm's concern grew, adding more worries to the storm in his head. His quarrel with Jambu sure didn't help, for the handsome RainWing had been his only confidant.

Who else could he go to for help?

With a mix of trepidation and IceWing pride, he decided to consult Glory herself.

And if he coincidentally bumped into Jambu while on his errand... Well, that wouldn't hurt, would it?

He flew into the crowded center of the Rainforest, toward Glory's royal treehouse. All the while, he kept an eye out for flashes of pink, his ears searching for the sound of Jambu's loud laughter...

That was purely out of concern, he told himself. Jambu was the head guard, after all. It was only proper to seek him out.

But there was no sign of Jambu. Not even hanging around the banana and mango trees, which Hailstorm now knew to be Jambu's favorite. Hailstorm tried to ignore his sinking heart. Focus, he told himself. This is far more serious than your little dalliance!

Glory greeted him with a frown. It was early in the morning, so most other RainWings were still fast asleep. But Glory appeared awake and alert as ever, her bright colors betraying no trace of exhaustion or fear.

"Hailstorm." The RainWing queen dipped her head politely. "Prince Hailstorm...?" she added, confused.

Hailstorm really had no idea what to call himself. With a shrug, he said, "Just Hailstorm now."

"Well, anyway, I'm sorry about last month's mess." Glory sighed. "How can I help?"

Hailstorm appreciated the apology, though he doubted it was sincere.

Queen Glory almost reminded Hailstorm of Greatness. Both bore the same weight of responsibility on their wings. But there was something sharper behind Glory's gaze. A cold, calculating look, more like a crafty IceWing noble than a sunny RainWing. No matter how many flowers she wore, or how brightly she colored her scales, shadows lurked in her stare. Hailstorm couldn't believe she was related to Jambu, let alone his sister.

"I haven't heard from Fatespeaker lately," he reported. "I'm worried. You must know, she rarely goes quiet."

Glory's frown deepened. "Yes, Jambu was asking about her, too," she said. "You just missed him. Fatespeaker, uh... she seems to be missing."

Missing? Hailstorm felt a wave of guilt. He'd been so caught up in his own romantic troubles, he hadn't noticed his own friend's disappearance.

"I'll write to my connections in Sanctuary," he said. "The Talons can help search. I'm sure Riptide is already on the case."

"I've contacted the other dragonets of destiny," said Glory. Her jewel-green eyes grew cold. "But I can't promise Fatespeaker will be welcomed back. Maybe it's for the best, if she - if she stays in Sanctuary, for a while."

If she stays missing, you mean, Hailstorms thoughts filled in darkly.

"She means well," she said plainly.

"I know." Glory turned away. "She's just... naive." She shook her head. "I have a duty to my tribe," she said. "I have to put them first."

Hailstorm nodded. "I understand." He had his own promises to keep. Then, in a rare impulsive moment, he asked, "Where did Jambu go?"

"I'm not sure. He spoke with Deathbringer." Glory eyed him carefully. "He likes you, doesn't he?"

Hailstorm gulped.

"I'm not saying you shouldn't date him," Glory quickly added. Her eyes sparked with laughter as she added, "Three moons, I don't think I could handle Jambu going through another break-up..." She paused. "But you two make an odd couple, don't you?"

"We're not so different," Hailstorm said. "Jambu himself would be called a radical revolutionary, if he were in my tribe."

Glory bit back laugh. "Imagine that," she said. "Jambu in the Ice Kingdom!"

For a moment, as her scales shimmered with cheerful emerald, Hailstorm finally saw her resemblance to Jambu.

"I've learned quite a lot from him," said Hailstorm. Then, blushing a bit, he clarified, "About the Rainforest and, erm, politics. I came here to learn about different forms of monarchy. I'm not sure I understand your ways, but I'd like to learn."

Glory's scales shifted to a pensive shade of teal. It was a color that Hailstorm recognized from Jambu's scales. A deep, ambivalent green.

"There are other ways, too," Glory said carefully. "Queen Ruby and I have discussed reforms, new ideas for government." She paused. "Like writing a constitution."

"A constitution?" asked Hailstorm.

"A document of the kingdom's laws, signed by its queen," Glory explained. Then, after a moment she added, "or its subjects, through representatives."

Hailstorm could hardly wrap his head around the idea. In the Ice Kingdom, it was radical for representatives to even suggest laws. It had taken a whole revolution, just to win that simple right.

To sign the laws themselves? That sounded like a crazy dream.

"Queen Ruby has been discussing it with the Sky Kingdom's government. She hopes it will prevent a tyrant like Scarlet from taking over in the future." Glory gave a quiet huff. "I'm not so optimistic, but at least Ruby is trying."

"What happens now?" asked Hailstorm. "Was the constitution signed?"

Glory frowned. "Not yet. Ruby's court has discussed it for years. Last summer, it seemed like things were coming together. Then..." Glory politely glanced aside. "Then the unrest in the Ice Kingdom caused a whole new wave of trouble."

Hailstorm felt an icy prickle. He'd been so concerned about his own tribe, he hadn't even considered the Revolution's impact on the rest of Pyrrhia.

But lately, Hailstorm had been learning how to view things from other dragon's scales. He considered Queen Ruby's perspective: she'd agreed to reform her own kingdom, even meeting with Queen Glory, the most controversial and progressive of all the queens. Then, just as she began to make reforms, the IceWing revolutionaries had unleashed chaos across Pyrrhia.

And Hailstorm's own family had led the charge.

Hailstorm studied Glory again. After days of hanging out with Jambu, he'd gotten used to the moody, shifting RainWing colors.

Three moons, he realized. She's just as scared of me as I am of her.

"My tribe is in a unique position," he said coolly. "We are only seeking reform. But under our government, this has been... complicated."

"I see," said Glory. "Frankly, I understand Ruby's choices." Her queenly facade slipped as she raised her brow. "But I run my kingdom the way that I want. And I promise you, Hailstorm, I won't ally my tribe with tyrants, no matter what happens in the rest of Pyrrhia."

Hailstorm felt a rush of hope. Did this mean she could be their ally?

What if our negotiations with Coral and Thorn work out, he thought, and Glory joins the alliance? We'd have over half of Pyrrhia on our side. We'd be unstoppable. It was a crazy dream, like the idea of a constitution. But now it seemed within reach.

He decided not to push it.

"That is reassuring," he said carefully. "Thank you."

He was not sure how to feel about Glory. Was she a friend or a threat... or both? His messy relationship with Jambu just made things even more complicated.

Clearly, Glory was trying to do right by her tribes. On the other wing, she had also clearly failed. Hailstorm's thoughts flashed back to Mastermind, along with all the other wrongfully imprisoned NightWings. Is Fatespeaker really naive for seeking justice? he wondered. Or she just too revolutionary for Glory's monarchy?

One thing was certain: He wanted to stay on the RainWing queen's good side. He had enough foreign enemies already.

Hailstorm bowed formally as he left. Glory just nodded, looking rather uneasy, as if she, too, had no idea how to deal with the strange, suspect dragon in front of her.

Of all the dragons in the rainforest, Hailstorm found himself confiding in Fierceteeth.

Really, he just needed someone to talk to. Someone who wasn't a handsome pink RainWing, with stunning green eyes and that heartbreaker's smile...

"Hey! Frosty!" Fierceteeth snapped him out of his sad reverie with a poke. "Don't you want some of these leftovers?"

She tried to pass him a bit of half-rotten tapir. Though Hailstorm appreciated the offer, he had to refuse.

"No thanks," he said, politely stifling his gag. "I, uh, already ate."

"Suit yourself." Fierceteeth shrugged and bit into her meal, which was already buzzing withf lies. Her carnivorous plants would be eating well today. "So," she asked, still chewing, "are you still a subject?"

Now Hailstorm shrugged. "Honestly," he said. "I've lost track."

"What about me?" she asked.

Hailstorm shook his head. "No, I believe you are now in the clear."

Fierceteeth huffed. "Well, Deathbringer has still been stalking me, questioning me all the time," she growled. "He's like a Mini Morrowseer. Ugh!"

"Jambu has reasoned with him," said Hailstorm. The mere mention of Jambu brought him sorrow, but Fierceteeth deserved an explanation. "There was some suspicion surrounding you and Strongwings, but your alibis have been confirmed. Jambu saw to it himself."

Fierceteeth stared at him. Then, wiggling her brow, she asked, "You and Jambu are twisting tails, aren't you?"

Hailstorm choked. "Pardon?"

"Whatever." Fierceteeth sighed. "I wouldn't marry into Glory's family, if I were you. She's a real snake."

"I'm not... with Jambu," Hailstorm stammered. "Not at the moment."

Fierceteeth shrugged, mercifully uninterested. "Hey, maybe he poisoned Glory," she suggested with a smirk. "Three moons, imagine having that snob as a sister."

Hailstorm shook his head. "If there's anyone we can certainly cross of the list, it's Jambu."

Fierceteeth seemed unconvinced. "We're all suspects here," she muttered. "In this moons-forsaken forest."

"Why do you stay?" asked Hailstorm. "Honestly. If it's so terrible here, why hang around?"

Fierceteeth paused. Apparently, the question had stumped her.

"It's better than before." Fierceteeth shifted awkwardly, as if ashamed to admit how happy she actually was. "I... I do think things will get better. Things will change. It's worth sticking it out." She quickly went back to scowling. "But that doesn't mean I won't growl about it!"

Hailstorm's mind drifted far away. Back to the hope and danger that filled his own kingdom.

"Yes," he agreed. "I understand."

"I also..." Fierceteeth breathed more smoke, her voice gravelly and quiet. "I'd like to fix things with Starflight, one day. He's a total worm, but..." She paused, her dark eyes shifting. "Back when Jade Mountain was attacked, and I thought he'd died, I... It made me realize, it's time I make things right. He's all that's left of my kin, and, uh, I guess he's not that bad. Maybe we could be friends. I don't know."

Hailstorm nodded silently.

"I feel real bad now," Fierceteeth murmured, "about the way I treated him. I was rotten, back then. I want to tell him that I've changed, but..." She shook her head. "But I'm not sure I have." She paused, then added, "I'm going to speak at Mastermind's trial. Who knows, maybe it'll help make things right?"

Hailstorm thought of his own family. He realized, with a jolt, how much Fierceteeth reminded him of Icicle.

Did Icicle feel the same way, deep down in her ice-cold heart? Could she and Winter one day find peace? Hailstorm's family seemed fractured beyond repair. But if there was still hope for Fierceteeth, surely there was hope for Icicle, too.

"So I'm gonna stick around," Fierceteeth declared. "And if Glory wants to kick me out, she can come and do it herself!"

"I think you have changed," said Hailstorm. "You're friends with an IceWing. That's quite radical, I think."

Fierceteeth narrowed her eyes, thinking for a bit. Then she brightened up. "Yeah," she finally said. "I am. What a world, huh?"

"What a world," Hailstorm agreed.

"It's good, I guess," she mumbled, "to have someone to talk to." Her glare quickly returned. "But don't you dare tell Starflight what I said earlier," she snarled. "Or his weird, crazy girlfriend, wherever she's gone."

Hailstorm nodded.

"I mean it!" threatened Fierceteeth. "I'll burn your face off!"

"Of course." Hailstorm smiled.

Hailstorm drifted back toward Fatespeaker's hut in a fog of confusion.

As if to oblige his mood, the rainforest air became thick with mist. This heavy, humid weather used to drive him crazy. Now, after months of living and breathing the rainforest, he slogged through the wet sky without a second thought. It almost felt nice, honestly. A bit of warmth on his chilly scales.

Speaking with Fierceteeth had brought him some sense of closure. After all this chaos, with all that rage in her heart, she had still found happiness. She was on the right path, anyway, befriending IceWings and mending her ways.

If someone like Fierceteeth could do it, so could Hailstorm. She was oddly inspiring, in her own rough-edged way. Hailstorm should have felt more hopeful than ever.

There was just one thing.

One big, fuschia hole in his heart.

Jambu, he thought. I need to find Jambu.