Chapter 6

Frost walked down the corridors. She passed dragons all weirdly shifting their eyes. She fingered the rock in her hand.

"What did Winter want?" She thought.

Eventually, she winds up outside. It was dark and the three moons were out. She jumped into the air and flew. Noticing a forest nearby, she flew towards the middle of it. She found a little pond full of little fish, swimming about.

She landed beside it.

Is Darkstalker bad? Is Darkstalker planning something? Fathom did live long ago, but how did Darkstalker speak to her?

She looked down at the black rock in her talons. She laid down on the cool grass and placed the rock in front of her.

"There you are." The same husky voice spoke through her mind.

"Were you looking for me?" She asked.

"You kind of disappeared. Tell me, did you find a dark rock? Almost black?"

"Maybe.." Frost said, hesitant.

"Well you better get rid of it. It's nothing but trouble for us."

"Are you keeping something from me?" Frost asked.

Darkstalker went silent for a bit. "That's an odd question to ask."

"Just answer it." She demanded.

She heard him let out an amused chuckle. "No one demands me. What do you think I'm keeping from you?"

"Like how you were a powerful dragon-"

"I still am." He interrupted.

"Whatever, and how a Seawing defeated you with a bracelet and horn ring."

"Horn ring?" He asked, confused. "What horn ring?"

Frost bit her lip. She forgot that Turtle told her the horn ring was a precaution.

"Just something I read." She lied.

"Ok.." He said, unconvinced.

Suddenly, Frost found her answer. She was an Icewing who could only read this dragon's mind. Only Darkstalker's. It started happening after she woke up. Fathom had created the items both for Darkstalker. The bracelet worked and she wore the horn ring.

She was connected to Darkstalker.

"Frost?"

"I'm here." She paused. "Are you planning something?"

"Kind of. I'm planning a world where no one can worry."

Frost stayed quiet, listening to his words. They sounded a bit.. poetic.

"A world where there are no wars."

Tears filled her eyes as she remembered the drawing of her mother and the stories of her father.

"A world where children don't lose their parents. A world of hope. Do you believe me?"

Frost nodded her head, sniffing slightly. "I do believe you.." she spoke, softly.

"Then follow me."

She felt her worries and pains leave her. She felt like she could do anything as long as Darkstalker approved.

He would make a wonderful king.


A couple days later

"Qibli! Give me an earring, right now!" Winter cried out.

"Okay, okay calm down. We'll make enough for everybody." Qibli said, shocked by Winter's cries.

"No, I need one now! How soon will we leave for Jade Mountain?"

"Soon, but you gotta be pati-"

"I've been patient long enough. Our friends are probably under that blasted Yak's spell already! Frost-"

Winter stopped himself. Qibli stopped what he was doing and looked at Winter.

"Frost what?" Qibli smirked.

Winter scowled. "Just give me an earring."

Qibli held the earrings away. "First, tell me what you were going to say?"

Winter let out an annoyed sigh. "Fine!"

Winter self consciously rubbed the back of his head, lashing his tail.

"I was going to say Frost might be under the spell too."

Qibli smirked again and held out an earring to Winter. "You better fly fast."

Winter stared at Qibli and the earring. He picked it up. "Thank you Qibli."

Winter ran out the door into the hot dessert.

"I hope I'm not too late." He thought, taking flight.


Winter flew for about a day till he came to Jade Mountain. Looking behind him, he saw Qibli following with the earrings in hand. Winter flew inside, startling a couple dragons. He landed and ran through the halls.

"Frost? Frost!" He called. Qibli caught up to him after handing out some earrings.

"Did you find her?" Qibli asked.

Winter shook his head, still running. He started looking inside caves. Suddenly, he walked into a cave and bumped right into Frost.

"Winter?" She asked, surprised.

"Frost, put on this earring." Winter panted.

Frost backed up. "Is it enchanted?" She asked, worried.

"Right," Winter thought with a groan. "Moon told me about her traumatizing experience with enchanted items."

"Well, kind of. It will protect you."

"From what?" She asked, still backing up.

Winter caught Qibli walking up behind her. He quickly looked back at Frost. "From Darkstalker."

"What are you talking about? He just wants a better world. A better life for everyone." She said, bitter.

"No, he wants to rule over all of Pyrrhia. Don't you see what he's doing?" Winter said, glancing at Qibli, then back at Frost.

"I see him doing great stuff." Frost snarled.

Winter sighed, "I'm sorry about this Frost."

Qibli pounced and grabbed Frost by the shoulders. She roared, falling to the ground.

"I got her!" Qibli cried, holding down Frost's lashing body. Winter ran up to her and pinned her down, trying to put the earring in her right ear. Frost roared.

"Keep her still!" Winter roared, avoiding her thrashing claws.

"I'm trying!" Qibli cried back. Qibli grabbed her head and exposed her right ear. Winter finally pierced her ear and she stopped thrashing around. Winter and Qibli let her go and stepped back.

"Winter? Qibli? What-"

"You were under a spell." Qibli replied.

"What?!" She roared. "Oh three moons, not again!"

"Darkstalker put you under a spell." Winter told her.

"I'm going to rip that dragon's tail off and shove it up his snout!" Frost growled. Winter kept himself from chuckling.

"Well, we have another plan." Qibli chuckled. "Follow me!" He called out, running into the hallway. Winter started to follow till he felt Frost's cool talons on his left shoulder. He looked at her, her dark blue eyes staring into his.

"Are the others-"

"They're fine. Qibli already gave them their earrings." Winter spoke softly. He turned toward the door.

"Winter,"

He stopped and looked back at her.

"Thank you." She spoke softly, brushing her wings against his. Winter froze up at the touch of her wings. She walked past him and ran after Qibli. Winter watched her as she walked off, then raced after the dragons as they took off to the sky.