"Icicle!" Lynx's voice was more authoritative then the Icewing had ever heard it. Icicle's head turned briskly to look down at Lynx whose tail was stuck in the same spot, completely unmoving. Her breathing was slow and calm but underneath she could see hints of her demeanor cracking. "Well? Are we going to eat?" Her eye darted for a split second to where the Mudwing once stood and Icicle bit her lip.

"She knows." The best thing Icicle could do was try to ignore it. "Of course. Why wouldn't we be?" She asked innocently, trying to smile at Lynx but it came off just as forced as she was trying to make it.

Lynx's eyes narrowed. "What were you going to ask your brothers about again?"

It was a leading question and Icicle felt the ice on her back sharpen like hair standing on end. Her mind went blank for a second. "What was I going to ask them? About my time in the dungeon…no! How they're doing. That should please her." Icicle rolled her eyes, acting as if Lynx was just being a nuisance. "What they've been up to in Sanctuary? What else?"

But then Lynx tried to read her and Icicle felt her anger start to die down. Was she really going to lie to Lynx? "Yes. Lynx is a pathetic advisor. Why should I care how she feels?" But that thought also weakened her anger. The pit was opening back up and she couldn't stop it. "Because she gave me a chance. I…I can't…" Lynx's tail lashed upward before Icicle's face weakened. She could feel the fake smile drop to a frustrated frown which would then sink even deeper into a confused look of sadness. "Can we talk…in private?"

Lynx seemed a little more open to that and she nodded. "Crystal? Do you mind heading on and telling Winter he can start dinner? We'll be there soon." Icicle's cousin simply nodded and ran ahead, not questioning what Lynx was doing. When she was out of earshot, Lynx whipped her head back to Icicle with a concerned but stern stare. "Tell me. Please, I don't wan-"

"I know that was Sora." Icicle hissed, feeling her claws deepen into the dirt. "Why is she FREE after killing two dragons? Why is she allowed HERE after what she did?" She felt her chest breath heavily as the words left her mouth. This horrible feeling of weakness…of…jealousy? Was that what this was? It felt like her body was a piece of crumbling food.

Lynx waited for her to finish and probably calm down. "I can explain just…promise me you won't do anything extreme? Freeze down a tree, kill a cow, just promise me you won't hurt anyone?" She asked desperately, her talons shivering.

Icicle glared down at the advisor. "Am I not going to like this answer?"

The Icewing shook her head and sighed. "I just-you've changed so much. I really don't want you to end up back in a cell or worse, imprisoned on an outpost. I don't want you to go back to where you were before." She said sadly, looking Icicle deep in the eyes.

The former prisoner tried to read Lynx, hoping to see a sign of selfishness in the Icewing. If Icicle was her big project, then of course she would need to know that Icicle wasn't going to go off and make her look bad. But that wasn't what she saw. Lynx seemed entirely honest in her fear and wishing Icicle to be better. "Fine. I promise." Her chest thumped with boiling rage but she couldn't say anything else if she wanted to hear about it. "Just tell me why I got thrown in a cell for a few years and she gets off free."

Lynx winced at the phrasing but didn't deny it. "It…for one, she isn't exactly 'free'. Her and Umber are exiled from the Mud kingdom, Sky kingdom, and Rainforest kingdom. She's also banished from the Sand kingdom out of Queen Thorns closeness to Queen Ruby. Basically, she's banished from everywhere that isn't the ocean." Icicle seemed to be keeping up but her visible frustration was noticeable. "After her and Umber left the school they went into hiding. Queen Moorhen sent multiple scouting groups to find them but after a year, they gave up. It was clear she wouldn't be captured like that. Before you say it, she wasn't hiding at the school. Glory wasn't willing to let her slip since she hurt one of her Rainwings and two Nightwings. Clay was very heartbroken when he found out but didn't try to stop the Mudwings from looking for her."

Icicle didn't need Clay and Queen Glory's sad stories. "So why is she here? Why hasn't Winter SAID anything about this? She tried to KILL ME!" Her boiling blood was making it rather difficult to stay calm.

The advisor looked over her shoulder then back to Icicle. "Sanctuary is a place where those who are miss treated or unable to return to their tribes can live. As long as the dragon doesn't do anything wrong while living here, they can't be banished. I'm sorry icicle, but that's how this place works." She waited for Icicle to explode but she just stood by, waiting for more from Lynx. "So…that's it. Winter can't really banish her himself. He isn't the leader. There isn't anything any of us can do so it isn't worth thinking about."

"I can do something about her." She thought darkly but tried to push it away from her mind. "Cool. So the Mudwing that tried to murder me and SUCCESSFULLY murdered two other dragons, dragonets by the way, is allowed to be free and walk around this den of outcasts while I get disowned by my mother and locked away to never see the sun for two years. What a great new world I finally get to be a part of once again." She hissed violently before looking away from Lynx. She tried to squash This miserable feeling of weakness. She was going against what her mother taught her but she didn't care. Shouting at Lynx didn't FEEL amazing but saying those words did ease her up a bit.

It still didn't make this situation fair.

Lynx took a step towards Icicle and rested a wing on her shoulder. Surprising both of them, Icicle didn't stop her. "I-I'm sorry…I-none of us knew. About her I mean. Ok, I knew she wasn't imprisoned either but I didn't know she was here." She seemed to weigh something on her wings before letting them drop. "When I DID find out, I told Queen Snowfall and asked her if I could maybe try and get you into a state where you could finally be free as well."

Icicle wasn't sure how much she believed Lynx. She remembered how much the annoying Icewing was when she sided with Winter and Hailstorm whenever they all did team events but for the past few weeks…she was really one of the two dragons that Icicle was semi-ok to be around. She took a deep breath and blew out some ice. "Fine…let's go eat. I'm hungry."

She didn't mean to sound so defeated but she couldn't stop herself. Icicle wanted SOME form of justice but it was clear that no one else was willing to do it. "Stop thinking like that. Just stop." She thought harshly. "If you want…we can fly back to the palace. I'll tell Winter an-"

"No, I agreed to make it up to my brothers. I'm not going to let that coward stop me again." She said truthfully, trying to smile at Lynx. It was still pretty small but at least it was honest this time.

Lynx smiled as well. Her eyes shining with hope. "That's good to hear. Come on, we've been gone for too long." and she led Icicle down the road. She could see the giant building from their spot and Icicle had to admit that the leaf roof was a nice touch. But there was a small tick gnawing at the back of her mind. Reminding her of the stalactite falling just a hair away from her skull. The cactus bomb set just for her…

The dining hall was large and crowded. Icicle had it in her head that the Queen of the Icewings would be allowed her own private table away from the noise of regular dragons but Snowfall was eating away in the center of a long table with the group next to her and different dragons all around them. There were two spots to the left of Snowfall that Icicle guessed were for her and Lynx. Sitting across was Winter and Hailstorm.

Snowfall barely acknowledged their presence with a simply grunt while Winter waved at Lynx and gave Icicle a nervous smile. "He's trying. I need to as well." She took her seat and nodded to Winter. She then grabbed a piece of pig leg and looked at it as she mentally took a breath. "So, you uh, saved the scavengers or something? How did that go?"

Winter looked a little surprised at her question but his smile grew slightly at the thought of talking about his favorite subject. "I wouldn't say saved…just learned they were way smarter than we thought." he finished eating his fish before continuing. "One of the scavengers in a nearby den is wanting to learn how to speak dragon and uh…Sky set me up with her so now I'll be taking her here in a few days."

She nearly choked on the pig leg when she thought about Winter talking to a small creature like that while sharing a room with it. "I see. And who is Sky?"

Lynx, Winter and Snowfall shared an exasperated look before Lynx grinned at Icicle. "Not someone you would EVER get along with. Not on an emotional, mental or…really any level."

The Icewing narrowed her eyes at Lynx. "Are you saying I'm not smart enough to talk to this lizard brain?"

She did not expect the rest of the group to laugh hysterically at this. Snowfall cleared her throat to try and pretend she wasn't about to fall over at Icicle's comment. "Uh, not exactly. Just take our word for it, you wouldn't want to meet him."

Not exactly a great way to continue their conversation but at least they weren't laughing AT her. She waited for the giggling to die down before asking another question, this time at Hailstorm. "What made you choose Sanctuary over the Ice kingdom? I figured everyone would love to have the epic hero back."

Snowfall raised an eyebrow at Hailstorm. "Yeah 'famous hero of the Skywing Queen'. Why did you reject my generous offer?" It seemed like the two had a conversation like this before. Or Snowfall just wanted to poke fun at her cousin.

"I just feel better here!" He said, a little annoyed. "I like all of the dragons and I can laugh as Winter struggles to tell a scavenger that they can't sleep in his spot."

That was probably a story that Icicle hadn't known about given Snowfall, Lynx, and Crystal were snickering at the comment while Winter shot a frustrated glare at his brother. "Ok. Nobody liked it when you made fun of Winter. Wait until someone else says something."

Luckily she was saved by Crystal. "How about we ask you three what it's like in the castle. I've heard it's been under renovation."

Icicle's eyes drifted to a table of dragons. On the far end was a single Mudwing, looking around with an annoyed expression. He seemed hungry before a smaller dragon came over and whispered something to him. "Well Lynx's brilliant idea to try and make our relations with the Rainforest ended poorly. Glory is a terrible dinner guest."

"She only acted like that because you suck at talking to others sometimes." Lynx remarked.

Crystal and Winter gave each other a not at all surprised look before the Icewing addressed her sister. "I don't know how you two don't get along."

Winter nodded in agreement. "You both started ruling when you were pretty young, you both get headaches from dealing with your royal duties, it just seems like you two would have a lot to talk about"

The Queen of the Icewings simply rolled her eyes and took a drink. "Whatever. She's a jerk and rules over jerks."

"I don't know how you can say that about Rainwings." Lynx said.

"Can we change topics?"

Icicle just watched as the others laughed at Snowfall's failed attempts at speaking to the Queen of the Rainforest. Their laughter had disrupted her watching the rat of a Mudwing escape. The Icewing needed to remind herself that Queen Glory was about the same age as Snowfall which didn't sit well with her. What also didn't sit well with her was the strange rush in her stomach. It kept pushing and rolling, trying to escape or point her towards something. With a flash, Icicle was back staring into the forest, seeing a dark shadow hide away among the wood.

"Icicle?" Crystal asked. "I asked how Blizzard was doing?"

She blinked as she was pulled back into reality. "Oh? Um, good I think. She's the same as she was last time I saw her." Icicle wondered if she said that too harshly but judging from Crystal's simple nod, she was probably fine.

But there was something on her mind. The little bug kept gnawing at her, making Icicle wish she could bash her head against a rock. The stupid buzzing in her ear made the other dragons' conversation mute. Icicle needed a moment to herself, or just a space to think. She looked over to Lynx and frowned. "I'm full. Where am I sleeping tonight?" She tried to be silent so the others couldn't hear but she could sense that Winter was listening.

Lynx gave her a small smile and nodded, getting up and looking over to the group. "Hey, we're going to call it for tonight. See you guys in the morning?" They all nodded and Snowfall huffed in amusement. "Alright, let's go." And she led Icicle down the path and out of the crowded hall.

The rest of Sanctuary was dark as the Moons started to rise. She figured everyone would be heading off to sleep in a few minutes so leaving early would give Icicle enough space. Space to think about the awful dragon she had the displeasure of see-

"It's pretty out, isn't it?" Lynx asked. She turned back and realized that Icicle was falling behind so she slowed down. "The Moons I mean." She looked up, smiling at the two crescents and one full moon. "Well, let's get over to our tent. I think you'll like it. The bed feels like it's from the castle."

Icicle just nodded, barely paying attention as her head looked around the grotto. She didn't realize how hard her teeth were grinding against each other as she heard Lynx talk. "Yeah." They were getting closer to the forest with each step. Each step reminding Icicle of the rock falling next to her in the academy. She just needed to think. "Mind if we look at the trees?" She knew it sounded stupid. "We just don't have many in the Ice kingdom."

"Oh, sure. I didn't take you as a plant fan." Lynx laughed as the two walked over. It didn't take long for Icicle to reach the trees. She looked behind her and could see the spot where she first spotted the Mudwing. She then looked back and could see a scratch on the tree.

Lynx was staring at Icicle, clearly waiting for her to be done and head off to sleep. "Sleep…that sounded good a few minutes ago but now? I need something else." She glared at the tree before giving Lynx a sharp look. "What do you think I should do?" She asked, her head swirling. It was like waves crashing against each other with differing ideas. Do what her heart wanted, or do what her mind told her?

"I don't think I get the question." The advisor said quietly.

The former prisoner shook her head, holding a small rock in her claws. "I've just…ever since Snowfall put me away, ever since I've been trapped in that cell…I've wanted something. Something that I thought I could never have. But today? I-I think…" She stopped herself, trying to steady her breathing. She looked back to Lynx, staring desperately at her. "I don't know what I want anymore."

She took a step past Lynx and ran her claw along one of the trees, leaving a massive mark. "My parents trained me, told me to spend every free chance I got to train so I could be Queen. To kill Queen Glacier before any of her daughters could. Blizzard always told me to start acting like a dragonet and not like a soldier. To stop trying to be the best and just be a dragonet. But now I can't do either!" She shouted, slamming her claw against the tree, feeling the pain pulse in her claw but not caring. "I don't know what to do now. I-I hate this awful feeling of uselessness. That I can't DO anything right."

It took Lynx a second to realize Icicle was done speaking, looking to her for answers. She raised her wings in a comforting manner. Her eyes were locked onto Icicles as the former prisoner could see her gaze soften. "I think…" She looked over her own claws. "I think you've been told to do a lot of things in your life. But maybe you try doing what you want for a change?" She asked, setting a wing on her shoulder.

She had a feeling Lynx would answer like that but honestly, that was all Icicle needed to hear. She nodded at Lynx and took a step back, sighing. "I-yeah…that sounds better." Her thoughts were clouded by a single image that caught her eye. Two small dots flying in the distance, away from Sanctuary. She knew now what she wanted to do. She held the rock and followed Lynx who turned back. She raised her claw and felt the hole in her chest disappear once more, engulfed in the flames of her anger. "Thank you, Lynx."

Lynx turned to look at Icicle, clearly worried about her tone. It was a truthful statement, but underneath it was something more sinister. "Icicle, you need to sleep, it-it was a long flight." She tried to put a claw on Icicle's shoulder but the Icewing was shoved back as Icicle knocked her down, her face still looking off into the sky. "Icicle! Remember ho-"

"I do remember." Icicle said cruelly, a smile etching onto her face. "I remember the cracking of the stone as that mouse failed to kill me. I remember the smell of smoke and fire in the history room that I was supposed to be in." She flexed her right claw and chuckled. "I remember how fun it was to be like this. You wouldn't get it. No one has ever been afraid of you." Icicle muttered, feeling bad that Lynx would never know how great this rush of power felt. "But I can't let that Mudwing get away with what she did. She knows I'm here, and I can't wait to show her how EXCITED I am to see her again!"

She prepared to take off but she a blast of ice hit her back. She turned and snarled as Lynx shivered like she had never done so before. Her tail and legs trembled as her mouth hung open. "Y-you can't! You've changed so mu-"

"And I'm done changing." Icicle said flatly. "I want to be me again. I want to know that I haven't become the thing I used to mock." She bared her fangs but was still smiling happily. "And I know just how to prove it." She looked behind Lynx then herself. There were two giant trees. The one behind Lynx looked dead and decaying while her's was much stronger. She looked back to Lynx and shifted her jaw.

Lynx opened her mouth. Whether it was to roar or cry for help, Icicle didn't know. She rammed her head against Lynx, shoving her with all of her might into the tree behind her. She heard the cracking of the tree and the harsh groan that Lynx emitted as the wind was knocked out of her. Lynx looked up and gasped, stretching out her already hurt wings as the tree came crashing down. It wasn't that heavy, Icicle could move it easily, but Lynx was scrawny and never had to carry something this heavy in her life. She grit her teeth and struggled to hold it, looking to Icicle to help. "I-Icicle! It-agh-"

But Icicle was already moving. She shot a blast of ice against the base of the tree and slammed her body against it. "Sorry Lynx. But my name is PRINCESS Icicle." She muttered, slamming her body against the tree again as Lynx tried to yell but couldn't. "And I am going to show that Mudwing why NONE of my stupid siblings or cousins could beat me." She slammed her body into the tree one more time, feeling her right side bruise as she hit the bark. "Night Lynx. I have a dragon to catch."

Lynx let out one final gasp as the weight of the two trees was too much for her. She was buried beneath the bark and the only sounds anyone would be able to hear was her body forcing itself to breathe, showing she was still alive but badly hurt.

But Icicle didn't see any of it. She was too busy flying after the spot where she last saw the two dots. Somewhere out in the darkness was the dragon that Icicle wanted to see, even if it would be for the last time. She felt the wind sweep through her wings as she took flight. THIS was the greatest she ever felt. This sense of ease.

Finally, she was free.