Hey all. Here again. I'm glad that there are some people who have read my story and want it to keep happening. I'm doing all I can to psych myself up to keeping this story going until I conclude it. The main issue for me has just been where to start diverging from the main story line, and I think i'll be doing that in a couple of chapters from now. I'll try to make my chapters a little longer than I have been, but again, It all really depends on where I want to end the chapter, and how much I can stuff into it before that point, so I'm targeting around 3800-4200 words per chapter. For now, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer, I do not own anything from Wings of Fire.

Normal speech

"Thoughts"

Tsunami looked to Wither as Coral finally started to regain control of her emotions, the Seawing princess looking concerned. "You're right... I tried fighting back, but they had armor on, so... It had to be someone in the palace." Wither nodded. "A good observation. Did anyone see you leave the palace at the time?" Tsunami blushed. "Um... I wasn't exactly quiet when I stormed away from Whirlpool's lesson..." Coral's head snapped over towards her. "Why would you do that? He's an excellent teacher." Tsunami groaned. "Mom, All he did was make me recite the first chapter of one of your scrolls. A scroll that I have had literally no time to myself to read, with the assassin, catching up with you, and learning about the palace and your stories... I just... I can't do ten things all at once." Wither have a sympathetic look to both of them. "Royalty isn't fun. The high expectations can become quite harrowing."

Tsunami and Coral look to him, confused as Coral spoke up. "How would you know about any of that?" He coughed lightly, blushing a little. "Um... I am the last of my tribe, so I am, by all technicality, a king." They all looked at him for what he knew was 10 seconds, but felt like hours. He coughed lightly again, focusing on Tsunami. "Anyway, back on topic. The question then becomes, why would you be attacked? What's the motive? Who stands to benefit from Tsunami's death?" Everyone thought on that as Auklet and Wave started playing with each other in the sand. Then the entire palace reverberated with the sound of what many thought to be an extremely deep whale call until it started to sound more like a growl. They all tried to listen to pinpoint the sound, until their ears directed them to Wither, who was doing his best effort to not look completely mortified. "Ah... I... Haven't had anything to eat since yesterday... Perhaps some food would give us a better idea of how to proceed?" Clay was the only one who didn't just stare dumbly, expressing loudly, "Yes! Yes Please! Food is always good."

Coral nodded with a sigh. "Yes, I suppose something to eat could help." She looks to the other four dragonets of destiny. "... If you four can be on your best behavior, I can see to it that you all get seats." Starflight was the first to nod. "Of course, your majesty. I'll make sure they all behave." Glory looked to him indignantly. "What's that supposed to mean?" Starflight raised his talons in defense. "I was referring to Clay's endless chasm of a stomach." Glory blinked, before nodding. "Fair." Clay didn't seem to care as he thought out loud. "I wonder if there will be any hippo..." Coral couldn't help but giggle lightly. "For ones who are supposed to end the war, you four are quite silly." Wither rolled his eyes. "Well, the bond they share despite the differences in their tribes should be a good inspiration for those who want this war to end. If they can put aside their differences, why can't others? Not to say there aren't those like Queen scarlet who will never change, but there are many who could change their opinions on others by seeing these five. And most of all, they aren't being coddled from the affects of this war. By being raised outside any of the tribes, they can view this war for what it is without any personal bias that one might have instilled on them from an early age. They've grown up with trials and challenges, but as far as I've seen, that only helped to make them and their bond stronger."

Coral gazed on the five dragonets of destiny for a long moment, that last statement seemingly hitting her hard. "That's... a good way to put it..." She scooped up Wave and Auklet, before looking to Anemone, who had been sleeping next to her in all the commotion due to being way too tired for this morning." She looked hesitant, before gently nudging Anemone, waking up the small Seawing princess. "Anemone, We're going up for breakfast..." Anemone nodded sleepily, before choral touched her with her snout. "Anemone... You can take the harness off. I... I don't think you need it anymore." Anemone was fully awake now, blinking up at her mother. "R-really? I... I can take it off?" Coral nodded, Anemone almost jittery on her talons as she touched the stretchy, seaweed-like harness, causing it to expand and fall off, Wither giving a small look of surprise, but didn't say anything.

They all flew up to the dining level of the pavilion, where a large table was set up with all sorts of seafood set out for them to eat. Crabs, salads, fish and more were piled neatly on the table as they all flew up. The captain of the guard and Coral's brother, Shark, looked suspiciously at Wither and the other Dragonets. Shark's daughter Moray had been cleaning off a few leftover specks on Coral's place at the table, and next to it, Blister was already waiting. Wither landed silently, sitting next to the dragonets as they sat down, using a talon to smack Clay's claw from reaching to the bowls. "Proper manners in the presence of royalty is to wait for the queen to give permission before eating." Clay nodded sheepishly as Coral set her two dragonets down, both shark and Moray's eyes widening as they stared at the princess they had thought to be dead. Blister eyed her suspiciously, her gaze swiveling between Wave, Coral and Wither.

The rest of Coral's council started to land in, giving curious glances at the dragonets, but mostly at Wither himself. Wither stayed in his spot, even though he was mentally starting to freak out from even more dragons putting their attention on him. Whirlpool came in last, Wither unable to stop a snort coming from him as he held back laughter from looking at Whirlpool. He looked just like a blob fish on land, and a ugly one at that. He forced himself to not burst out laughing as everyone settled down, The two dragonets at Coral's side nearly diving at the food at this point as their mother held them back for now.

Coral looks to her council. "Last night, the mystery of who had been attacking my eggs was solved. My first born, Orca, had hidden that she had animus magic, and enchanted the statue she created to kill any potential Seawing heirs, which we had placed in the royal hatchery in her honor. This was a shock to me, but... We owe the gratitude of this revelation to Wither, for bringing this possibility into the light." Wither mentally screamed as all eyes were on him, but held a calm expression. He nodded to Queen Coral respectfully. "I merely made the hypothesis, your majesty. It was your daughter's courage and determination that saved Auklet." Coral nodded, before gazing to Wave. "And yet, by some miracle... you have brought me back the daughter I thought I had lost forever." Wither winced lightly as Blister looked very intrigued, but then Coral clapped her talons together. "But there is also the matter of who attacked my daughter in the tunnel. It couldn't have been the statue." Blister's ever familiar cold smirk appeared. "It must have been Webs. He's the only one unaccounted for. I say we execute him" Wither noticed Riptide, hiding in a cavern down below but within earshot, only because of how hard the dragon had winced.

Wither shook his head. "Afraid that wouldn't be possible. Tsunami's attacker was armored. It's nearly impossible for someone to sneak in, grab armor, sneak out into the tunnel, attack, sneak back in to put the armor back, and then sneak out. And only a pure idiot would try to sneak back in two days later in a manner that would leave a lot of evidence. It makes no logical sense for him to try to have done that all successfully and then end up where we found him." Blister frowned, growling lightly. "Coral, don't you think this... outsider, is getting a little too comfortable. He already knows too much... He could be using you to learn your people's secrets... In fact, he could be the one who attacked Tsunami." Coral blinked, frowning as she thought about it. She had trusted blister for years, but something felt... off now. A part of her telling her that she was missing something obvious. Blister continued. "He even has the gall to put his talons on one of your daughters. He's poisoning your mind, manipulating you to see things his way. He convinced you to spare a traitor's life." The dragonets looked as if they were about to speak when Wither held up a talon to silence them, looking to Coral. "I am merely your humble guest, Queen Coral. If you wish for me to leave, I will do so. You need only make your decision and say so."

Coral thought for a long moment, looking down at her two newborn dragonets, who had begun playing with each other in the midst of them. As she thought, Blister's words started to echo through her head. "Using you. Poisoning your mind. Manipulating you." As these words echoed through her mind, her memories of her interactions with Blister, the sandwing dragon who had promised justice and fair treatment to her tribe and more treasure than they could ever want, began to fall into place. Her eyes widened as a... realization started to dawn on her, but she just couldn't place her talon on it. or rather, she didn't want it to be true. She returned to attention to Blister, who hadn't stopped talking. "You know I have been your most trusted ally in this war, and this outsider is just using your emotions and family to get what he wants. He wants to control you to take over the Seawings."

Everything in Coral's mind... clicked.

Coral could only stare at the ground for a minute as the revelation sank in, before giving way to righteous anger. Coral spoke in a straight, calm voice "No." Blister blinks, looking completely surprised. "...No?" Coral growled loudly. "I realized something while you were talking Blister... You have promised me justice, gold and treasure beyond imagination once this war was over, and it's been nearly twenty years and you have given me nothing... But Wither... He's given me a gift that has no price in the span of two days. And now you want me to kill or drive off the one who saved my dragonet?" Blister frowned. "But Coral, you He's trying to trick you into letting him into your most private secrets. He's using yo-" "NO!" Coral's tail lashed the stone behind her, cutting Blister off as the queen pointed an accusing talon at the Sandwing. "All those things you just pointed out. Using me, Poisoning my mind, using my family to get what they want, using my emotions... that doesn't describe him, Blister... It describes YOU." Coral rose up to her full height, glaring at Blister. "I have given you everything for this war. My kingdom. My subjects. Even my own husband, who is now dead! And even now, you have sought to use my Anemone as a weapon and use my emotions to turn me to your ideals! You have done nothing but use my heartache against me to get more support for your cause for the last eight years! I have been a fool for not recognizing what you were doing, well no more! Our alliance is through, Blister! Take your guards, and leave my palace!" Blister growled. "You are making a mistake, Coral. This dragon has blinded you!" Coral never broke eye contact, her glare cold enough to freeze flames. "No, Blister. I see clearly for the first time in nearly twenty years. I see what a fool I've been in aiding you in your war. What I've lost because of you... I wont warn you again. Take your guards, and leave. The Seawings will no longer support you."

Blister had no choice but to get up, her guards following as she shot a glare at them all. "You will all regret this... Especially you." She points her glare at Wither, who couldn't help but swallow the lump in his throat. "... You only have yourself to blame for this, Blister. Lies will always be revealed, and truth will prevail." Blister seethed as her guards followed her, flying to swim out the tunnel as everyone watched. Coral sighed, feeling a huge weight lift off her shoulders. "I should have done that years ago... What a fool I've been... How many of my subjects have suffer because of my naïve belief in her? How... How many innocents have died because of my anger?" Wither shook his head. " You were in an emotionally vulnerable state for nearly a decade. You've lost many dragonets due to the statue, And blister took more advantage of that for her own desires. You are not to blame here. While yes, you should not have acted violently against your own subjects... all you can do now is look at those mistakes, and learn from them." Coral stared at him for a long moment, before giving a sad chuckle. "I'm increasingly confounded by how often you know exactly what to say." Wither gave a small smile. "Not really. I just speak logically and considerately."

Coral nods, before nodding to the food. "I think formalities can be ignored today. Everyone, eat." It took all of five seconds for an entire bowl of boiled crabs to disappear into Clay's mouth. He burped loudly, all of the council staring at him with appalled expressions as Wither chuckled. "Seems at least someone here isn't worried about manners." The council shook themselves out of their stupor as they all began to eat. Wither went for the shark fin soup and shark meat, wanting something a little more tough to chew on today. He kept glancing at wave, having to suppress a laugh as she Wrestled Auklet straight into a bowl of octopus tentacles, the suckered appendages now sticking to their scales as they ran in circles, trying to eat the sticky food. Anemone was eating a salad topped with sliced tuna, the meat glistening and red. Coral was watching with a smile as her youngest daughters ate, idly picking at a whole bass she had pulled to herself.

They ate in relative silence in the chaos of the two dragonets playing with each other, Before Coral began. "We still have some issues to discuss. The fate of Webs... and who attacked my eldest daughter." The council nods. Wither nodded, before thinking, raising a talon to scratch his chin. "Well, It couldn't have been webs who attacked, so... it had to be someone from the palace, but needed to have some benefit to Tsunami's death." Shark growled. "And what makes you so sure of that, outsider?" Wither gazed at Shark. "Because it is too much of a coincidence that an armored dragon attacked the newly returned princess when she was alone. It had to be premeditated. And seeing as her arrival doesn't affect many..." He looked up with a grimace, locking eyes with each of the members of Coral's council. "...The one who attacked Tsunami is here at this table. Nobody else would have any motive for her death."

The council looked to each other. some with worry, some with outrage, Shark glaring at Wither. "You're saying one of us is a traitor!?" Wither looked to him, taking a lot of his energy to keep calm. "It's the only way the attack makes sense. You all are the only ones who knew where she was that day, know her, and know what position she holds." Shark seethed in anger as Wither looked to the remains of the shark. "Attacks like this have to have a motive. No one would kill a princess for no reason. Besides anger. Anger can be a powerful motivator, but the only times I've ever seen it result in attempted murder was fights between partners, usually one of them eloping with a different dragon." He took another bite of shark meat, chewing and swallowing. "Or, in an arranged marriage that one or both of the two partners hates." The murmuring stopped so suddenly, he wondered if they had all been frozen, but then noticed everyone other than the two newborns and the 4 non-Seawing dragonets, staring at Whirlpool.

Whirlpool frowned lightly, speaking in a voice so slow, Wither thought someone had slowed down time somehow. "You really think I would do such a thing, your majesty?" Coral frowned. "... You are my favorite publisher, Whirlpool... But your arrangement to marry my eldest daughter changed when Tsunami appeared... Your situation is the only one that Tsunami's presence changes." Whirlpool looked offended. "My queen, I would never do such a thing." Wither looked to him skeptically, before tilting his head, then turned to look to Coral.. "Paired with what you said to blister and with the harness... Would it be safe to assume that Princess Anemone possesses the power of animus?" Coral blinked, Before nodding, looking confused. "You really are too clever... Yes, she is... Why would you want to know that?" He nodded, before looking to the food in front of them, then to Anemone. "... Well, there's one way to find out." Wither picked out a larger octopus tentacle, handing it to Anemone. "Anemone... could you enchant this? Just repeat after me." Anemone nodded, touching the tentacle as Wither spoke. "I enchant this tentacle to fly and stick to the neck of The dragon who attacked Tsunami two days ago, in the entry tunnel of the Seawing summer palace." Anemone repeated it, and the tentacle instantly flew to Whirlpool, wrapping around his neck, suckering to him. Coral looked absolutely heartbroken. "... You as well, Whirlpool?"

Whirlpool gave out an indignant retort. "My queen, I would never do such a thing! This dragon must have tricked your daughter into framing me." Wither looked him over, noticing that Whirlpool's eyes were slightly bloodshot, in a way that suggested he had been exposed to directly looking at the sun or some other bright source of light. He looked to Tsunami. "What did you do to throw your assailant off of you?" Tsunami growled at Whirlpool. "I flashed all of my scales as brightly as I could without passing out." Wither nods. "Makes sense. A distraction to create an opening by depriving your opponent of one of his senses." He looked to Whirlpool. "Your eyes are heavily bloodshot. I think you still have a little vision impairment even now from Tsunami's flash, judging by... well, putting it bluntly, the flash must have hit you hard from how freakishly huge your eyes are. Might have even caused permanent damage. I swear, you're like the Dragon version of a blobfish." In the tense moment, the sound of Tsunami failing to hold in her laughter didn't belong. Whirlpool looked as if he was about to bolt, but Shark was right there behind him, cutting off his escape.

Whirlpool growled. "Fine... I wanted to still marry into the royal family, but your new eldest daughter is insufferable and disobedient." Wither scoffed. "You mean she's too stubborn for you to mold or control. I think I'm seeing the motive now. You want to be king, but with a queen you could use for your own needs. Tsunami is too independent for you to manipulate." Whirlpool growled, before trying to turn to fly away, only to realize he had momentarily forgotten that Shark was right in his way, growling loudly. Coral sighs. "Well, that's two traitors I need to deal with now..." Wither have a sympathetic smile to her. "If I might make a suggestion, I think we can solve both of these with one solution." Coral looked at him curiously. "Go on..." Wither picked a piece of meat from his teeth. "Well, the trouble with Webs was that he fled from a fight, and Whirlpool has visions of grandeur in politics... so, switch their places."

Coral blinked, all the council looking baffled as Wither continued. "Look at it this way, Webs has proven to be useless as a soldier, but from what we've heard from our dragonets of destiny, he's an excellent history teacher, which means he knows how to structure the lesson into ways that are clear and make sense. Whirlpool on the other hand has an ambition to become the king and rule the Seawings with a puppet for a wife. So... Imprison whirlpool until a battle is needed, or just make him an outcast like Webs was, throwing him all the way to the bottom from where he stands. As for Webs, make him your story scholar, which will make it so he cannot run away as you can keep an eye on him at all times. A proper punishment for both, and in both cases, I'm sure they'll take it as a fate worse than death. Whirlpool especially, being so close to his ambition, only to stumble and fail at the last possible stone."

Coral gave credence to the horrified look on Whirlpool's face, thinking it over. "... You are an odd dragon for not suggesting execution or death." Wither shrugged. "What can I say? I lost my taste for bloodshed a long time ago. I prefer the least amount of violence possible... with the odd exception, such as the crazy queen Scarlet." Coral smiled, before nodding to Shark. "Go get Webs, and place Whirlpool in the cell. Bring Webs to us. I want him to know how much I expect from him..." she sighs. "... and... bring Riptide." Wither chuckled. "Wont need to go far for that. I think he's been trying to eavesdrop since we flew up here." Tsunami blinked, looking worried as Wither pointed off the balcony, moving his talons in a 'come over' gesture. Riptide sheepishly flew up, bowing to queen Coral, who have a instinctive... look. It was almost a sneer, but seemed more out of habit than genuine. Whirlpool tried to protest, but a firm poke of a spear from the nearby guards got him moving, the Seawing growling loudly. "You'll all regret this!" His protests became silent as they flew off with him, the guards being none too gentle in leading him to the prisons.

Shark returned with Webs a few minutes later, Coral giving an actual sneer at Webs, before taking a breath to calm herself. "I have determined what to do with you, Webs... From this day forth, you will act as my publisher. You will spend every day looking over my stories to ensure that they are structured properly, made well, and organized. you will have two guards with you at all times to ensure you don't try to run again. This will be your task until I say otherwise." Webs blinked, before bowing deeply. "Th-thank you, your majesty. I swear, I will never betray you again." Coral rolled her eyes, before looking to Riptide. "... Having my child stolen, and another truly lost, yet both returned to me... Seeing my own mistakes... It made me realize that I had made an error with you, Riptide... the fault of betrayal is your father's alone... You did not deserve the persecution you have had to endure due to your father's choice. I... permit you to return to the palace, freely instead of sneaking in this time." Riptide blinked, before bowing as well. "Thank you, your majesty."

Coral gave one final sigh, before cradling her two newborns in her talons, bringing them closer to her. Sunny smiled to her. "I hope they get to grow as big and strong as their older sister." Glory rolled her eyes. "Two more Tsunamis in the world is the last thing we need, Sunny. One is enough trouble already." Tsunami's head shot up with a look of outrage. "Hey!" Glory snickered, going back to a salad she had pulled to herself. Clay was munching on eels by the talon full. Sunny was the slowest eater, picking at some mollusks and clams while Starflight glanced at Sunny every so often from his cod that he was roasting himself. Wither rolled his eyes. "Well, I suppose that solves all our problems for now." He picked up a shark fin, tearing into it. "Maybe we can finally have five minutes of peace." Coral gave a long groan. "It's been years since that happened. I'd take five seconds at this point."

Wither smiled at her, before his expression fell. He snapped his head up, looking towards the Canopy above. He saw something that glowed moving silently behind the leaves. "... I hate to cut this short, your majesty, but... I think the summer Palace needs to be evacuated... I smell Mudwings and Skywings." He looked to Webs as the council stared at him. "It seems Webs was followed after all."

I'm glad this chapter went so well. I will be throwing my hat into making a fight scene for the next chapter, but I haven't been super good at those in the past, so I can only hope it lives up to the rest of the story. I'm happy to know that there are those who read this and want to encourage me to make more, And I will do everything I can to make sure I finally finish this story, but it could be quite awhile. There's a Lot of Pyrrha to go through, and I'm still trying to figure out diverging from the main story. But anyway, review if you liked it, and I'll see you guys next Friday.