Requite for Glory

During this Monster's Terrible Reign of Lie and Deceit.

Others will become Terrible as him.

Remember to not stay Apart, Dragonets.

Remember to Stay Family.

You Share a Bond, you Share a Blood.

Remember that Blood, Remember that Love.

Help your Friends, they are your True Family.

The fight had begun. The battle between Ruby and Scarlet raged on for ten minutes in the SkyWing arena, built right next to a canyon leading down to the endless mist below. The sun beat down on them, but the fog grew heavy, surrounding the crowd, and among them . . . was Winter the IceWing. He stood and watched as the conflict unfolded, remembering what he had done the day prior - he had no other choice. He had to save his brother, but even that was a lie told by Scarlet. What purpose was there to help fight the cruel sovereign? He only stood, watching as Scarlet threw claw after claw . . . the same lashes she did to kill Hailstorm.

The two dragons thrashed, breathed fire, and lashed tails as hard as they possibly could. They fought like the monsters they are, their roars echoing throughout the arena, and Peril sat away from it all with Ruby's only son, Cliff. Peril stared at her claws, recalling everything that had happened in the past few days. Her mother was truly Scarlet; her adopted father Chameleon, who disguised himself as many different dragons only to keep himself hidden. Peril wanted to release all of her anger out on Scarlet, for everything she did to her entire life. . . . But without her burning scales . . . she was powerless, just a regular dragon, something she wanted but cursed for as well. The fire, taken away by her father with only one sentence from that strange piece of paper . . . .

A roar of utter pain was heard behind her, and Peril knew just by that sound, the fight was about to come to an end. Then . . . something reached Peril's ears. It was so faint, but she could hear a sign of hope. Her head perked up. She and Cliff looked to their left. Out beyond the canyon, deep inside the fog . . . were five silhouettes.

Ruby tried to pick herself back up, but Scarlet kicked her in the head, causing her to spit blood. Scarlet grabbed her by the horns, growling: "It's funny how you always wanted to be queen. To make the lives of these dragons 'better,' 'happy,' more 'joyful.' I know you longed for my death . . . how you craved to sit on my throne. Now . . . I will listen to your screams of pain and watch, you, die."

With a sadistic grin, Scarlet raised her claw. All Ruby could do was watch as her death came, slowly, and painfully.

Then, as if a miracle happened, wingbeats were heard inside the fog. The battle stopped. All the dragons in the stadium looked up, and so did the queens. There! They emerged from the fog like angels. Tsunami, Clay, Deathbringer, Moonwatcher, and Qibli swooped down from the fog, down from the sky, and landed one by one in front of the queens.

Pure, utter rage came across Scarlet's face. She threw Ruby to the ground, standing up, giving off the hardest glare to the Dragonets of Destiny she could make.

" . . . You," Scarlet growled, " . . . you . . . insolent, little toads." Her glare was stone, but she forced the most wicked smile. " . . . Did you like my little . . . art project I did for your . . . friend?"

Tsunami had the same anger Scarlet expressed.

She charged, but Clay stopped her.

"My friend," Deathbringer said, "my only friend. The one who changed my life for the better. You horrid monster, you killed her."

Scarlet spat on the ground. "She was never your queen. A RainWing, of all dragons, ruling over the NightWings. . . . She was weak to your cursed tribe. She would have gotten all of you killed because she was so frail."

Tsunami roared, Clay struggling to hold her back. "Don't you dare say that about her. She was our friend, our sister."

"Tsunami, calm down," Clay shouted. "She could kill you."

"I will kill her."

"Sister!?" Scarlet laughed. "She? A RainWing? I'm surprised Kestrel didn't even try to kill her when you were training to be the 'Dragonets of Destiny.'"

"Shut your mouth," Deathbringer screamed.

"Ooooh, finally! Someone brave enough to talk to me in that tone of voice."

Deathbringer bared his teeth, straining his claws that glistened in the sunlight.

Moon faced Scarlet, then something in the corner of her eye caught her attention.

" . . . Winter," she said.

Qibli heard what she had said, and too saw the IceWing. He scowled, remembering what his "friend" had done to the RainWing Queen. Winter noticed them, and in Moonwatcher's three eyes . . . he saw the pain and sorrow on her innocent face.

Scarlet took notice of what they were looking at, and craned her neck. She turned back to the Dragonets, her head down with a smile of malice. " . . . You shouldn't blame me for her death, Tsunami . . . he is the one who truly killed her." Tsunami's face turned to complete rage, staring the queen down. "Heh, heh . . . it was all so, easy. Just a Dreamvisitor, then everything falls into place. Only one thing to compel him to commit the act. I watch as it happens, then I relish in the satisfaction of the final stage of murder. I, could not keep myself together when he came in and watched as I killed her.

She looked at Deathbringer, who glared at her with all of his teeth. "It . . . was the greatest moment, of my entire life. You think you can just walk away from your troubles, and not pay the price!? The consequences!? What made you the 'Dragonets of Destiny?' She was so horrified to see me. The screams she made, the tears she shed, and the look she had on her face!" Scarlet was laughing to the point of tears. She slapped her own face at the morbid joke, then slid her hand down, her eyes scowling hard at the Dragonets. She held her hand up. " . . . Right when . . . I pulled, her head, off, her, TTTOORRSSOOOOOOOO!"

Scarlet roared, charging at the Dragonets on all fours. Anger took over Tsunami's actions. She shoved Clay to the ground, charging at the SkyWing Queen. Scarlet was the first to lash her claw at Tsunami's face, throwing her to the floor. Scarlet grabbed her by the tail, throwing her across the arena. Discs were then thrusted at her neck by Deathbringer. The queen growled and pulled the blades out of her head, throwing them back at the NightWing. He managed to dodge them, but one hit him right in the shoulder. Clay charged next, ramming himself into Scarlet's side. She roared and thrashed at him as hard as she could, then kicked him down.

"Clay!" Moon cried.

"Get out of here," Clay shouted. "Right now. This fight is not for you. Get out of here!"

Scarlet grabbed him by the tail, and tossed him aside. "Yes, little Dragonets. Run away, before you're all dead."

Just as Scarlet conjured a laugh, Tsunami leaped on her back, lashing at her head, giving Moon and Qibli the chance to run off . . . towards Winter.

Tsunami had one arm wrapped around Scarlet's throat, and struck her with the other, roaring in her ear. The queen hissed, grabbing the SeaWing by the head, and pulling her down. She stomped on her, then threw a claw, just as Clay breathed fire, blinding Scarlet. Deathbringer threw more discs, driving into the queen's left wing. Scarlet roared as she was bombarded by fire. Tsunami dove at her, bringing her to the ground in a tumble. Right when Tsunami was about to draw blood, the queen grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the ground.

"You know," Scarlet growled, "I grow tired of you Dragonets most of the time." Clay and Deathbringer charged, roaring while straining their claws. "I get tired of all of you worthless Dragonets." With one arm, she threw Tsunami at them, bringing all three dragons to the ground. "I wake up everyday, thinking about how I will kill all of you. The blood I will shed, the souls I will break, and revenge will finally be mine."

Scarlet flapped her wings hard, going straight for Tsunami. She slashed a claw at her face, kicking Deathbringer in the neck, then breathing fire at Clay. Death was about to come, but Queen Scarlet was thrusted to the floor face first by a claw that was lashed at the back of her neck. She growled, stood up . . . facing Ruby.

"You think you can kill me!?" The queen snarled. "You were never fit to be a true sovereign."

Ruby glared. "I do this for my son, my family you took from me."

"You were always so soft, weren't you, Ruby?"

Scarlet scoffed a laugh, then both dragons roared, flying at each other.

Moonwatcher and Qibli made their way towards Winter, taking flight, going over the crowd. Winter saw them coming. With a fearful gaze, he shot ice at them, making a wall in their path, giving him time to fly away.

Qibli lashed the ice wall down to pieces and shouted: "WINTER! What have you done!?"

Winter only looked back to see the SandWing scowling at him, then turning and flying faster.

"I thought you were our friend," Moon called on the brink of tears.

Winter craned his neck to blast ice at them after every five wing flaps. He ignored their calls and cries, pushing back his feelings of remorse, reminding himself that he never cared about them anyway.

Scarlet grabbed Ruby by the head and slammed her down, dragging her across the ground. She lashed, kicked her in the side, then brought another claw down.

Before Scarlet could attack Ruby again, Clay rammed into her, bringing her to the ground. He thrashed hard, but after a few strikes, Scarlet caught his arm, and threw him off. She got up, roaring at him, building fire in her mouth.

Tsunami hid herself behind a large rock. She took flight, diving at Scarlet. As she was about to strike however, the queen suddenly turned, blasting a wave of fire at the SeaWing. Tsunami's eyes went wide, and she was knocked out of the sky before she could shield herself from the flames. Queen Scarlet diverted her fire and proceeded to burn the others who were about to attack.

The queen stopped, and roared viciously at her enemies, screaming at the top of her lungs, screaming louder than the hollering crowd, screaming until it echoed throughout the kingdom. Her mouth dropped wider with every scream, until blood fell from her face, and pain shot around her head. For one last roar, she lifted her head to the sky, and her shriek seemed to be heard all around the continent itself.

Scarlet dropped her head, panting from the fight and the howling. Blood poured from her face at an alarmingly fast pace. She lifted her hand, and watched blood fall into her palm. For some reason, memories flashed through her mind, and recalled this was the same kind of pleasure her mother wanted - she was just like her, Scarlet realized. She was as cruel, evil, and horrible as her mother, just as she taught her to be. In some ways, they loved one another, but held grudges - they both knew it. They wanted to kill the other, they knew they had to. However, somewhere, deep inside both their souls . . . they had doubts.

That was until their allies turned against them. It was five years before the War of SandWing Succession. Scarlet was standing in front of the mirror, telling herself this was the day she would kill her mother . . . suddenly she heard clashings outside. IceWings were attacking, attempting to take the land for their own, as they have been trying for the past few months.

Scarlet hesitantly joined the fight, attacking every enemy she came across. As the SkyWings were on the brink of triumph, a roar echoed throughout the mountains. Scarlet turned to see SkyWing soldiers killing her mother, then throwing her body down into the canyons - a rebellion. A small group of dragons turning against their queen. Scarlet went straight for the traitors, but that was when someone almost knocked her out of the sky. Scarlet turned . . . to see the hidden dragon she cared for. A SkyWing, a close friend . . . now adversary.

The battle didn't last long with Scarlet's fury, and in less than an hour, the conflict had ended - the IceWings did not return. Unbeknownst to everyone in the kingdom, Scarlet had taken her "friend" back to her room, where her everlasting rage was hatched. She pinned him to the ground, and suddenly found interest as to how she would kill him. One cut at the back of his neck drew more blood than she thought. Afterwards, she thrusted her claws into the space where the wing met the torso. She was soon able to tear the wings off his body. The floor had almost been painted in red, and Scarlet - as for the final stage of torture - the dragon had gone blind before he was thrown out the window.

Although it was inevitable that Scarlet became the next queen, it still felt to her as if she had lost everything, that all she knew and loved was taken from her. The trust of allies, and the affection towards a friend . . . taken away in one battle. That was the grudge. That was the hatred she had towards the world, and the fiery rage of the tyrant she had become. It all came back to her in the form of the Dragonets of Destiny.

Scarlet slowly turned her head to the Dragonets, her eyes filled with pure hatred as she spoke: " . . . You were there . . . you have always been there. All my rage . . . all my anger . . . my anxiety, my loathe . . . it all came to me because of you. My passions, everything I've ever loved, I've ever cared for . . . because of you it's gone. Everything.

"You were there to see it. You were there to watch me suffer. To torture me. You loved my weakness, my tears - it was pleasing to you, wasn't it? You were there to see it all happen." She looked at her hand, and balled it up, digging her claws into her palm to feel pain, to make herself feel better. " . . . It's all your fault, and it has been ever since I hatched. My sorrow . . . my anguish . . . I am living with agony because of you. You were there from the beginning, weren't you . . . DRAGONETS!"

The rage returned once more. Scarlet charged, going for Ruby - she was weak from the previous fight. Queen Scarlet grabbed Ruby by the horns, clawed at her face, then slammed her on the ground as hard as she could, and threw her to the crowd; the audience did not make a sound. Deathbringer came alongside Clay. They breathed fire, scorching the queen. She spun around, breathing her own fire, overpowering the two dragons. She attacked them, lashing Clay across his chest, then grabbing Deathbringer by the tail, and clawing at his stomach.

Scarlet stopped, took a moment to catch her breath, then slowly turn her head . . . meeting eyes with Tsunami. The SeaWing had her head down, eyes covered in vengeance, and a hard glare on her face.

The queen scoffed, running at her, bringing her claws down. Tsunami caught the strike, and Scarlet said: "This is a good opportunity to kill me. That's what you think, isn't it, Tsunami? It's you who wants to kill me, because I killed your little RainWing friend. What was her name again? Oh, yes, Glory. She really was a Dragonet of Destiny, wasn't she? But, not the strongest, don't you think?" As she spoke, Tsunami's anger rose, as if fire itself was building inside her blood.

"She was weak, as all of you are. It is truly hilarious that you can easily lose something so quickly. Where is your NightWing friend? Starflight - wasn't it? Why isn't he here? Oh, that's right, he's blind. What about that mess up of a SandWing? Oh, I remember, she died. And you. Not only did you lose two of your 'greatest friends' . . . but the one thing that truly devastates you . . . is that you lost all of your mother's love."

All of a sudden, every hint of rage fell from Tsunami's face. She stared at Scarlet with a weak expression. " . . . W-What?"

Scarlet kneed her in the stomach, forcing her to back off. The queen gave the most wicked smile Tsunami had ever seen. " . . . So . . . you haven't found that out yet. Honestly, I'm not surprised. I knew I would have to be the one to explain it to you, but I was expecting Coral would kill you because it would be so easy for her, considering she is the strongest SeaWing in the kingdom . . . or, was, at least. Who is the queen now? You? That I would be surprised to hear." She sighed. "But, you brought it all upon yourself, I suppose. You thought you could hide the secret from her. No matter, she's already dead . . . and I will have to be the one to kill you." She strained her claws.

"What are you talking about?" Tsunami demanded, her anger returning. "How do you know I killed my Mother?"

"Did you really think that she would ever love you? Tsunami, Coral was insane. She killed one of her children, and worships her as a god. She keeps her children ever so close to her as if they are a pet. Then she tears them up whenever they go against her. She never loved her husband either, yet she tried to avenge him by killing you. Even if she did succeed in your murder, she would build a sanctuary dedicated to you, and treat your corpse as a holy symbol, and kill whoever disrespects you. Her madness plagued her mind, as it has been throughout your entire family. Look at yourself, Tsunami. You are as bloodthirsty as I am. You are cold as I am, and you are evil as I am, and always have been.

"You love to watch dragons die, don't you? You ask for death, you ask for blood, and it is given to you when another innocent little dragonet dies. Is that why you and your friends abandoned the world? After the NightWing's home was destroyed by the volcano, stabilized by my daughter, who is too cowardly to fight me now," Scarlet looked over, and saw Peril hiding behind a large rock, watching the battle take place, "and all the blood you have seen in your quest to stopping the war, you loved every second of it."

"LIAR."

"You crave to see blood, you beg to see dragons suffer, and that is why you, and your friends turned your backs on the world, to see everyone die. You are your mother. Evil, psychotic. Why do you even come to fight me? Because you want to watch me die? Watch me suffer? Watch me beg for my life? If that is the case . . . then . . . maybe, you wanted Glory to die.

Everything in Tsunami's face fell, and all of her blood rushed to her head, containing pure, utter, rage, and grew more intensely as Queen Scarlet continued: "Maybe . . . deep down inside . . . in the darkest part of your heart . . . you prayed for your friend to die. Because the only thing you value in your life . . . is blood. You wanted to see as much of it as you could, that is why you were not there to save her, that is why you never came to visit her . . . because you were waiting for me to kill her!"

The last sentence was enough to make Tsunami snap. With the loudest, most rage filled roars they could make, Tsunami and Scarlet charged at each other on all fours, slamming their claws and talons against the ground, the adrenaline flying throughout the arena - the crowd could feel their anger pound in their hearts. The two dragons leaped off the ground, flapping their wings hard, colliding, the clash echoing throughout the mountains, and they landed after the first strike.

Tsunami spun her body around, throwing the first claw. She struck Queen Scarlet in the lost half of her face, causing her to scream in agony. Tsunami then kicked her in the stomach, lashed across the neck, then elbowed her in the back of the neck, knocking her down face first. She proceeded to kick her in the side, until Scarlet grabbed Tsunami with her tail, tripping her, giving the queen the chance to fight back.

Scarlet grabbed the SeaWing, lifting her up, and throwing her off the arena, to the endless canyons. Tsunami was falling, but a wind current helped her to flap her wings, turn, and dive straight at the queen. She was ready for this. When Tsunami was about to strike, Queen Scarlet grabbed her arms, swinging her around, and threw her straight into the rock Peril was hiding behind.

Tsunami let out a yelp of pain and slumped to the floor as pebbles fell on her head. Scarlet roared and took flight, charging, her face filled with madness and anger, thrashing her claws in front of her. She rammed into Tsunami, causing more rocks to fall. She clawed as hard as she could, giving her no chance to fight back. Tsunami soon did have the opportunity to fight, and she slashed the queen in the stomach, forcing her into the middle of the arena. Both dragons roared at each other, thrashing hard; the other dragons in the corner, watching as the battle took place; the crowd unblinking at the sight of something so historical.

Scarlet lashed a claw, but Tsunami caught her arm, then swung her tail across the queen's head. The pain in Scarlet's face started to become more irresistible. She growled, trying to force back the pain as she grabbed Tsunami's tail, and threw her over her head. She continued to lash claw after claw, but the SeaWing deflected every blow. Scarlet slammed her arms down, but Tsunami caught them. The queen gnashed her jaws, dragging her across the ground, and to the edge of the arena - the winds of the canyons howled below Tsunami's head.

The SeaWing growled and grabbed the queen by the mouth, forcing her onto her side, slashing at her wings. After a moment, to Tsunami's unexpectations, Queen Scarlet began to laugh maniacally. Tsunami snarled and continued to strike, but the queen continued to cackle.

Tsunami grabbed Scarlet by the head and screamed: "SHUT, UUUUUUUUPPP!"

"Another corpse in the ground?" Scarlet shouted back, blood falling down her face as she continued to laugh. "How many do you have? One hundred? It's always about killing, isn't it? This scar can only be mine . . . but it can belong to every soul in all of Pyrrhia. You have it too, Tsunami. The anger, the rage, the lies, the grudge you have towards everyone around you. It is lovely, beautiful, the only thing that makes you happy, isn't it?" Scarlet smiled wickedly, her laugh sadistic and beyond sane. "It is written in your family, and you, will live on, to continue, that BLOODSHED!"

Queen Scarlet's laugh was the most horrendous thing Tsunami ever heard. She shut her eyes tightly, the queen's words ringing in her mind, along with the terrible things that ever happened in her life. Sunny's sacrifice, Coral trying to kill her, Starflight going blind . . . and the death of Glory. She remembered her smile, her face, her voice - everything she loved as her being a friend, a sister. Now gone, all because of Winter. But the true puppeteer of the carnage . . . was Queen Scarlet of the SkyWings.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Tsunami opened her mouth, and let out the loudest roar she could make, Scarlet doing the same, laughing at the same time. With one powerful thrust . . . Tsunami twisted the queen's head to the side . . . the sound of bones breaking echoed throughout the arena.

The entire continent went silent. Tsunami's face was a dead glare, Scarlet staring back with her one good eye in her final seconds of life. Her breathing was crooked, but managed to sputter a few breaths. Her eyes tilted upwards, not bothering to smile - every terrible thing she wanted to happen had already been done - this was somewhat of her dying in peace. Tsunami stared at the corpse for what felt like days, but finally forced herself to move, and push the body off the cliff. Queen Scarlet fell for eternity, her figure getting smaller and smaller as she descended, disappearing into the fog.

Tsunami wanted to scream and roar after her, but found that she was too exhausted to do anything. A SeaWing had killed the former SkyWing Queen, but as Ruby stood in the middle of the arena, everyone knew that she would be their new ruler. Clay and Deathbringer picked themselves up, growling at the pain they took, then looked towards their friend.

Just then, Qibli and Moonwatcher landed, dropping Winter on the ground - he was exhausted and looked like he took a few scratches to the head and wings. He lied there, his face a scowl, claws digging into the floor, hatred and vengeance infecting his mind.

Moon stared down at him, trying to feel sympathy, but could find no reason to. She decided to say: " . . . Winter . . . when I first saw you, I thought you were just angry, and needed a friend to comfort you. I saw you as a friend. But . . . ," she tried not to cry, " . . . I can't see a bright future for you anymore. I did see one, where we're all together, grown up, living together as friends. Now I see . . . misery . . . for the rest of your life." She looked into his mind, craving to know what he was feeling, but only saw him, his back turned, sitting on the ground in a dark ice cavern . . . alone . . . .

. . . Forget about him, Moon . . . he was like this from the beginning . . . .

Tears could not be held back. Moon fell into Qibli's shoulder, hugging him tightly.

Tsunami was on her hands and knees, tears falling into the canyons far below, remembering Glory.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and someone sit next to her.

"It's going to be okay," said Clay's voice.

" . . . No it's not," Tsunami said. "Glory is gone . . . and she will never come back. . . . How can we live without her? Who will rule the Rainforest Kingdom?"

She continued to cry, then Deathbringer spoke up: " . . . I will rule them." Clay turned to him. "Half of the kingdom houses NightWings. I can help them, and the RainWings prosper as well."

Tsunami turned to him, her face filled with sorrow and tears. She looked back at the ground. Clay continued to rub her back, knowing their lives will never be the same.

As the mourning continued, Peril peaked behind the rock, and stared at Clay. What would he do if he saw her here? What would happen now that Scarlet, her mother, was dead? . . . Where will she go now?

Without saying anything else, and not even looking at Cliff, Peril turned, and flew away into the fog.