Icicle awoke in a cold sweat. She had the same nightmare about the Queen of the Icewings looming over her, slowly impaling her with one of the many spears that the guards held. It was a horrible dream that haunted her ever since she first laid eyes on the Icewing she would have to challenge one day. A challenge that would almost certainly end in Icicle's death. She wasn't in the throne room, she wasn't in the colosseum being watched by everyone, she was alone in her room. Just Icicle and in one piece.
She took a few breaths before hearing a noise in the hallway. She quickly bit her tongue to try and gain her usual annoyed expression that looked as if she stepped on a spike. She heard someone snickering and that was when she realized Winter had probably fallen and that was what woke her up.
"Maybe watch where you step." Her elder brother said, taking a peek inside and seeing Icicle. "Why are you sitting up there like a raven?"
The princess rolled her eyes and stretched. "I'm sitting like a hunter. What are you doing with two right claws over there?" She asked, scowling at Winter who quickly sat up.
Winter did his best to not smile but she could see past it. He was hoping she wouldn't give him the dark look that their parents did but until he proved himself, she wasn't supposed to give him that. It didn't stop Hailstorm though."We were going to get some ice cream and Winter here was wondering if you wanted to come along. Of course I told him you would say-
"No, I'm busy and stop bothering me." The two said in unison. (Much to Icicle's discomfort)
"Exactly, so with that time wasted." He turned to Winter and nudged him out of the room. "Let's not keep her waiting! See you, Icicle."
Winter didn't follow immediately. He looked up at icicle who was glaring at the foot of her bed. He titled his head and tried to match her angry look. "Why not? You aren't even doing anything."
He was trying to sound intimidating like her. Probably in an attempt to persuade her the way she made him go away. "I am. You just aren't important enough to know about it." She said and his face fell, probably being reminded of his recent drop in the rankings. Some odd emotion rumbled in her throat and she felt like biting her own leg. "Hailstorm isn't either. It's just something I can do so go get some icecream. I want this hall to myself for a while."
He opened his mouth to counter but couldn't come up with anything. Winter simply turned to follow Hailstorm who was giving Icicle a sad but distant look. "I'm sure it's SO important. Just leave her to be upset that Lynx is still ahead of her in the rankings."
She growled as the two ran off, getting away from their furious sister. She took a breath and released it. She didn't care about Lynx's stupid placement. Lynx didn't have a giant boulder hovering above her that said "KILL GLACIER OR BE A DISAPPOINTMENT FOREVER!" threatening to crush her. What she REALLY wanted was some time to herself. Her two stupid friends couldn't help her with this since they were probably studying for a test without her.
She finally got off of the bed and made her way into the hallway where her family lived. It was a long, luxurious hallway with four rooms. Hers was the closest to the exit which made her usually the first to eat and first to sleep if her parents didn't have any training session planned.
Speaking of parents, Icicle heard the cold call of her fathers voice echoing through her ears. "Icicle. Come in here."
She stopped in her place and walked into the room that housed Tundra and Narwhal. Both were unpleasant to be around but unlike Winter, they actually needed her so they at least pretended to sound decent sometimes. Their room was a simple white with no decorations. There was a single window that shined onto their bed and sitting in front of the window was her father, Narwhal. She nodded in his direction, her face unmoving. "Yes father?"
He scanned her for aunty signs of weakness and since he didn't say anything, Icicle figured she succeeded. "Your mother is waiting for you at the ocean." And that was all he said. He didn't care that today was supposed to be her free day. (Yeah she didn't plan on using it to do anything fun but they usually let her think about how to kill Glacier)
Icicle nodded and turned, walking out of the room. She had her day planned without even doing it herself. Just like most days.
Icicle wasn't allowed to argue with her parents or else she risked being treated like Winter. But what annoyed her was how nothing she did was EVER good enough. It didn't matter if she perfectly executed the test her parents set or how good her school reports were. They simply told her to go back to the castle without even a hint of acknowledgement and prepared their next stupid test.
Part of Icicle wished Hailstorm or Winter could have taken her place. Maybe then they'd see just how much HER life sucked compared to Winter's. Maybe SHE would be allowed to go out and get ice cream without worrying about wasting her time not preparing to kill the unkillable Icewing Queen.
But there was a small light in her mind telling her to keep going. If she did as her parents said and kept succeeding, she would be Queen one day and raise the family even higher than they already were. Finally Winter's failures wouldn't affect them. Maybe she could allow Winter to study those odd little creatures he liked. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world and it WOULD get him out of the kingdom if he ever bothered her.
Hailstorm could be the head guard or something. He was smart and everyone liked him so maybe she could use that to boost her popularity after killing a Queen that every Icewing loved. That would mediate most of the backlash and possible assisination attempts that she definitely wasn't worried about. Why would the future Queen be afraid?
The sky had grown even darker as the clouds shrouded the three moons. Icicle felt a cold sprinkle of rain fall onto her wings which made her already long flight even more annoying. But feeling her wings flap freely like this was able to push back her more negative thoughts targeted at the rain.
The Icewing had a mission and she intended to finish it. To finally take her fate into her own claws and teach that murderous Mudwing a lesson on what happens when you mess with the wrong Icewing. Flying out into the open air sent a rush of joy through her bones that had ached for the sky to finally be open once again.
She soared through the sky and snarled when she realized the two dots she was tracking had vanished. Icicle had no idea where they had fled to and now she was stuck out in the open air as water poured down. "Think, they probably went to hide inside of a cave." She scanned the area and rolled her eyes. Of COURSE there would be about twenty caves in the area, not counting any that were ahead of her. "Guess I better start searching."
It wasn't Icicle's choice to go and negotiate for Hailstorm's release. Her mother had advised Queen Glacier to send her, not only to make up for Winter's failure, but because she was related to the prisoner. That was how she found herself standing inside of the Sky palace.
The beginning negotiations hadn't worked at all. Since Icewings didn't have any prisoners, the only dragon she wanted was Blaze's head on a spike which obviously, they couldn't honor. They tried trades, peace talks and even giving up one of their treasures but nothing worked. Finally, Icicle decided to take matters into her own claws and talk to the Queen one on one.
It wasn't a good sign that the Skywing agreed to speak to her without any guards. That meant she didn't see Icicle as a threat. Though the Icewing had no intentions of harming her, that wouldn't really help the situation.
Queen Scarlet looked over her jewelry, smiling cruelly as if each gem was a dead dragon's head. "So, what is it that you have to offer? Another sad story about how many dragon's would be hurt if this Hailstorm wouldn't return?"
Icicle knew she couldn't be reached by sorrow and pleading. She only understood power, which was something Icicle wanted as well. At least it was what her parents wanted her to want which was basically the same thing. "No. I have something far more interesting." She raised her right claw and held it out, showing the small ring she stole from her parents room. "I'm guessing a Queen like yourself knows what this means?"
The red dragon moved her mouth to the side an a bored expression. "That your family can't afford anything notable?"
She pulled back her claw and shook her head. "It means that I'm an heir to the Icewing throne. A possible candidate for challenging Queen Glacier." She internally prepared herself for this speech. She had been practicing it for about two days and she only had one chance to get it right.
"I was sent here because Hailstorm is my brother and they figured that would drive me to try and save him. Of course my parents wanted me to go because my other brother, Winter, got Hailstorm captured." Scarlet looked way less interested after hearing that Icicle had some kind of personal interest in Hailstorm. "But I could care less about that." Just saying that made it feel like her chest was being squeezed. "I'm here for my own reason. One that I'm sure you would be far more invested in." She began walking back and forth, looking between the torches that were hung on the wall. "I am already well known as the Queen's niece, but challenging her isn't enough. I need the backing of the kingdom or else I'll just be hated for unseating a beloved ruler." Scarlet actually seemed slightly invested in this story as she stopped looking at her necklace. "Returning Hailstorm, who is a very well liked and high ranking member of the tribe, would get a lot of Icewings on my side. Then I could finally challenge Glacier and take the throne for myself."
Scarlet waited for her to continue but Icicle was finished. The Queen sat down and seemed to take a second to think. "All well and good, but why should I be concerned about your kingdom's transition of power? Last I checked, I wasn't an Icewing."
Icicle shook her head, digging her claws into the palace floor to steady herself. "No, but I'm sure a new Icewing Queen could mean a shift in the war. If that Queen was willing to side with Burn. Of course Queen Glacier never would, but I might be swayed." She said with a small, dark smile.
But all she was met with was laughter from the Skywing Queen. Her tail fell to the side as her voice cackled like lightning. "Oh, YOU think your kingdom would let you just switch sides?" She asked, pointing at Icicle who was doing her best to not look frustrated. "Let me give you some advice, one royal to another. If a Queen lets her niece of all dragons live-" She jabbed a talon at Icicle's chest, pushing that Icewing back a bit. "Then she doesn't consider you a threat. Probably not even worth thinking about."
Icicle let out a small growl then tried to calm down. She needed to sound composed if this was to work. "We Icewings do it differently. It wouldn't be right to kill an heir." She responded, hoping she sounded fierce and determined.
"I'll tell you this Icicle, was it?" She questioned before continuing. "It's clear that you think VERY highly of yourself. So let me squash that high podium before you tumble off of it yourself. You have nothing I want. You will NEVER have something I want, need or desire. But most of all, you will never take Glacier's throne. Our negotiations are done. Now run home and tell your tribe how much of an utter failure you are so you can join your not captured brother." And with that she turned away, not even worried about icicle attacking her from the back.
She had failed. Her brother would still be captured and probably die in the arena all because she couldn't convince Queen Scarlet that she was a candidate for the throne. She expected some form of punishment from her parents, not for failing Hailstorm, but for failing in negotiations. She wanted nothing more than to kill some small creature in anger. This horrible pit of darkness in her chest was swelling up as she turned and walked away and she vowed that this feeling would never show up again. The feeling of failure.
The night was long and Icicle hadn't found a trace of the two Mudwings. Each cave was either empty or was inhabited by a very unfriendly bear. The rain had gotten worse with lightning crashing down around her and making sure her ears wouldn't be helpful for a while. Her wings were getting even more exhausted with each flight from cave to cave.
She decided to start running on the ground which only ruined her shining scales. For some reason, she didn't care that her claws weren't as perfect as they could be. If anything it would add fear to Sora when she saw Icicle which only inspired her more to keep moving.
She was getting closer and closer with each step. She hoped they would be in one of the nearby caves but then she realized that maybe jumping into a cave wasn't the best idea. So she decided she would sneak into the next cave instead.
She wondered how long Lynx would be out. Actually, she wondered how long it would take any of them to realize she was missing. If she and Lynx were sharing a tent, then it could be assumed that they were together. "A genius plan, of course." She said to herself as her wings flapped to take off once more.
Hopefully she had until morning at least before anyone started looking. Yes, hurting Lynx didn't make her feel better as it would have in the past but at least the hole in her stomach was gone. She had forgotten how powerful anger was. It consumed her body and pushed away any other emotion she might have had. It allowed her to keep out doubt and fear. She loved it and Icicle planned on keeping that emotion until the lying rat was dealt with.
For some reason, the thought of her being Clay's sister only just crossed her mind. If Icicle was being honest with herself, Clay was the only one of the five dragonets of destiny she grew rather fond of. Not because he was a great teacher or anything, but because he didn't seem upset when she messed up on her quiz. She had no idea how someone like Clay could be related to a cruel schemer like Sora. It wasn't like she had MUCH time with Clay but he reminded her of a nicer but less wise Blizzard who didn't need her to be perfect all the time.
Icicle was alone in her cell, still awaiting trial. Snowfall might have been sick but the least she could do was hold her trial! How difficult was it to sentence Icicle to the outposts? No, she didn't deserve it but everyone would think she did even though Hailstorm wouldn't have been freed without her. And NEITHER of her brothers had visited her yet.
That was when she heard someone turning the latch. When the door opened, she saw the uncaring look of her mother. Icicle sat up and felt a small sigh of relief escape her throat. Finally SOMEONE showed up! She knew not to smile but she hoped her body language gave away how much she missed talking to someone. "Mother, is there any news about my trial?" She asked with a little bit of hope in her eyes.
Tundra simply waited for her daughter to stop speaking before beginning. "It is not my place to tell and that is not what I am here to discuss." She said coldly. Icicle knew this voice. It was one she only ever heard when Tundra was talking to Winter. It was the ultimate 'You messed up' voice. "I came down here to say that you have somehow disappointed me even more than Winter." She said darkly and Icicle winced. "You have remained at the bottom of the rankings longer than any dragon in the history of our kingdom." She scowled.
"Well I'm sorry I tried to save Hailstorm." Icicle said quietly but didn't have the stomach to say it any louder.
Tundra just stared unhappily at Icicle. Queen Snowfall is removing the rankings. As of tomorrow, you will be unranked. But everyone will remember who sat at the bottom. Your father is probably rolling in his grave." She turned to look at the mirror, seeing nothing but hatred looking back.
Icicle needed a second to understand that. "F-father…he isn't-" She felt a lump swell up in her throat. Had he died of a disease? It must have been recent…it wasn't the greatest of dragons but in the little hints she got of his affection when they went to the coliseum…
"He died shortly after Queen Snowfall took over. During the battle of ice and night." She said, seemingly hiding some tragedy in her voice. "He was killed by a Nightwing."
Icicle fell mute, her voice had abandoned her after hearing this news. "Y-you didn't tell me?!" She tried to say in anger but only felt an emptiness in her heart. She sat down, her tail flopping to the floor as she remembered sitting next to him as the colosseum fights began. He never looked too interested in them but she could see a small sparkle in his eyes…now she would never see that glimpse again.
Tundra sighed and glared down at her. "I figured someone would have told you. But it doesn't matter now. We expected so much from you and somehow you ruined it. I doubt he would have wanted you to know anyway." She didn't look so sure but Icicle couldn't believe Tundra would ever give her anything as small as that.
She felt like the walls around her were collapsing. The earth shook or was it just her own mind? Either way, it was like a piece of her was gone and it could never return. She had that feeling when one of the guards told her that Snowfall was now Queen, meaning she could never take the throne. But at least she still had her parents at that time, even if they never went to see her.
Now she had lost her father.
"But there is another reason I am here." Tundra said, getting back into her cold, unlovingly voice. "It turns out that Winter survived the diamond trial and the Queen has welcomed him back." She said this with disdain but Icicle suspected that she was at least relieved that someone else could continue their family line. "With that, I might as well tell you that before the rankings were destroyed, your father and I agreed to wipe you and Winter off of our list. Not that it matters much given that you will probably never be allowed to join back with the Icewings, but if you are able to, you won't be able to return to me."
The list, in other words Icicle had just been disowned. Or was disowned at least a year ago. She was utterly speechless as Tundra left the room, slamming the door shut behind her and leaving Icicle alone once more in total isolation with small glimpses of other dragons when they needed to give her food. That was when she believed the hole in her heart would never heal.
She was truly alone.
NONE of the caves had any sign of Sora. How could she NOT find her?! It wasn't like that slow witted slug could have seen her and taken measures to hide better. Icicle needed a second to herself. How long had she been running and flying? Maybe five hours. The moons were near the edge of the sky meaning she didn't have much more time to search before someone noticed her and Lynx were missing.
She needed to find Sora NOW. But where?
She landed by a large waterfall and felt her body shake violently against the strain she was forcing it to go through. She needed a second but how could she stop? Her body collapsed into the water and she took in the liquid, drinking it up and rising back to land on the ground next to her. The loud water rushed near her and she sighed, starting to wonder if her endeavor was fruitless. "She's not here. I've failed…just like always." She wanted to roar out, kill something. ANYthing.
That was when she heard a small noise behind the rushing water. It was faint, just barely audible through the noise but it was definitely there. SomeTHING was definitely there. A voice speaking. Icicle pulled herself up against her muscles protest and pressed her ear against the water, feeling the rain pour against her back.
"I still think you were seeing things." That was definitely what's his name. The brother that wasn't Clay.
Then she heard the small and frightened voice of Sora. It was a short tinted whimper like a dragonet getting caught sneaking snacks. "Didn't…she was THERE!" She said slowly, probably shaking in fear. "S-she's still after me…she might be after you! W-what if she goes after Clay? She already tried to kill Starflight!" Well that was stupid. Why would she go after Clay? He hadn't done anything except be Sora's brother.
Icicle never felt so giddy in her whole life. Her smile widened as she found her prey. The best part? She was trapped in a cave with no escape! Sora, the nightmare that haunted her in the shadows was RIGHT HERE! Icicle had no intention of letting her slip by. Sora had already tricked her once before.
Crystal hadn't been wrong when she wondered if Icicle had made friends at the school. In fact, she believed that one of those dragons could be someone Icicle could be great friends with. A dragon that listened to her about how much she had to deal with and what it was like fighting on the battlefield. The dragon was small and weak, the perfect dragon that her parents would want Icicle to use as a way to look tougher around others.
But Icicle had other plans. Wouldn't it be far more impressive to turn a weak little runt like that into another Icicle? Of course she wouldn't be royal but being friends with Icicle was enough. All she needed to do was break that shy dragon out of her shell. Of course she didn't know that this dragon was only using that information to plot her death.
Icicle believed the school would just be a stupid distraction that was intended to keep her away from the throne. She didn't expect to meet a dragon she could sympathize with. Well sympathize wasn't the best word, but Icicle could see that her winglet member wasn't as well suited to a setting like Jade mountain academy. On the first day she figured out that Sora was to be her clawmate. She was timid and didn't have much but as long as she was quiet, that was all Icicle could ask for.
They were sitting on their beds, Icicle reading a scroll when she yelped as Sora was staring directly at her from the foot of her bed. She nearly dropped the scroll and scowled. "Did anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on dragons like that?"
The Mudwing didn't move and simply muttered a small "Sorry" before falling silent again. Icicle waited for her to mention a reason for her putting her nose where it didn't belong. "Um…have you fought Mudwings before?"
That was an odd question. "Yes, but you look to young to have been out in combat so we probably haven't fought." Would talking about her fight against Mudwings scare her? Hm…maybe I could tone it down just this once. "How about I tell you one of my epic battles? I actually gained some respect for your tribe after one of the battles."
Sora nodded her head and Icicle smiled. "It was a pretty foggy day. The battalion I was a part of didn't think the Mudwings would plan an ambush but when they leaped out of the swamp water around us, we knew we were cornered. I got separated from my group and in an attempt to find them, I saw a Mudwing unit formed around one of their siblings. I saw it as my chance and took out the biggest one, at the least the biggest one I saw." She stopped, shivering as she recalled the fiery anger in their eyes. "I was almost killed myself and they chased me back to my group where I wasn't by myself again." Wow, she made the story sound so lame…she needed to work on that. "That's uh…that's all."
Icicle could have sworn she saw a familiar pair of burning eyes but then it was wiped away in an instant and Icicle thought she was just seeing things. "Ok. Uh, where was it again? What swamp?"
"Not sure. Near the Rainforest I think." The Icewing said.
Sora nodded and saw Icicle yawn then got off of the bed. "Ok, thanks."
"Um, no problem?" Icicle said with confusion. This Mudwing was a little strange but at least she looked content with the story. Icicle knew she could get her to open up, then she'd be way better around others. "I'm probably going to Webs' class early to study. Want to go with me? Not that you'll be doing anything obviously."
Sora stopped, her head looking like her mind was racing before she shook her head. "Nope. Got to do something." And her tail swayed with interest.
Icicle shrugged and laid back down, a chill going down her spine for some reason. "Suit yourself." And then she found sleep in the dark abyss before being met by the terrible former Queen of the Skywings.
Icicle's heart beat as she pressed her ear against the opening in the water once more. "You're just hungry. I'll go get something alright?" And she heard footsteps approaching.
Icicle dove into the water, keeping herself hidden as a dragon emerged from the waterfall and flew out. Icicle waited until he was far enough away so he wouldn't hear Sora scream for help in case she did. Icicle rose out of the water and grinned wickedly as she heard the murderer's voice once more. "I hate being alone…" She said weakly, the Mudwing was curled up in the corner of the cave that was lit by a small fire.
"Oh, then it's a good thing I'm here to keep you company." The Icewing said, making her way into the cave. "Sora, long time no see!"