Chapter 2 - The Perilous Prophesy pt. 2

A/N. The period when Peril and the rest got zapped into this world is a little post-canon, though the things that happen are minor and are explained later anyways, but that's why Peril knows Sky exists.

Scarlet's prisoners were kept in the sky.

This was nothing new to Peril. However, actually being a prisoner did put things into perspective. The rods and clamps keeping her trapped were all lined with that weird fireproof material. Where did Scarlet get it from? There certainly wasn't any of the sort back in the other world, otherwise she definitely would've abused it. But what changed here? But besides that dilemma there wasn't much to do or think about. Well, things that she wanted to think about, anyways. She'd rather not dwell on what happened to Dune. Or any one of her friends and family, for that matter. So being a prisoner was rather boring. How did Clay and the others manage to deal with this?

She sighed, shifting her position. These pillars weren't built with comfort in mind, that's for sure. Already one day into this, how could she survive? One thing she noticed, though, was that there was an arena but no battle had occurred yesterday. She wondered whether that meant there were any fights or if Scarlet had a champion, actually. Peril raised her brows at the thought. Yes, that was something to think about. Would Scarlet have a champion? There had certainly been some before her, but their purposes had been varied and most were under a different ruler.

… Had Scarlet found a different 'weapon'?

Peril huffed out a warm stream of air, flicking her tail. The sentiment had made her unusually irritated. Jealousy? She was familiar with the emotion, but never in this context. But there was also… sympathy? A sense of kinship? Whatever it was, she felt for whatever dragon Scarlet had turned into her instrument, if they existed. Once more stealing one's life to further her own goals… that certainly sounded like Scarlet.

Peril was so engrossed in thought, however, that she did not notice a flurry of wings approach her, landing on the edge of her pillar.

"...I've brought you your breakfast." Peril looked up at the speaker, shocked that there was a dragon there. She couldn't make out any details as he was standing in front of the sun, but his voice was clear and… humble. He sounded like hot chocolate and almonds, if that made any sense. The strange dragon pushed the hunk of meat towards her, drawing back quickly in a way that was both encouraging and tentative. "No one else wanted to deliver food to the firescales." Peril sighed. That wasn't anything new. "They were too scared." She took the meat and began eating.

"And you weren't?" she asked between bites. She didn't recognize his voice, which was unusual. After she was un-banished she got to know most of the dragons working in the palace. Sure, some dragons may have quit, been fired or retired between this point in the other world and then, but he sounded very young and so he was probably really good at what he did and was unlikely that he was fired as Ruby took over soon after. He shifted, allowing her to see a glimpse of color, a splash of purple beaming off of his face. That wasn't a skywing color.

"I'm fireproof." he responded quickly, automatically. He flinched back soon after, covering his mouth with a talon. "Sorry." he mumbled before throwing himself off of the pillar. Peril didn't look after him, instead choosing to sit stunned about what he had said. How did Scarlet always seem to find a dragon with fire-related abilities or abnormalities? What tribe was this dragon? He didn't look like a mudwing or skywing - the two tribes she knew of with such dragons - his colors were all wrong and he had a different build.

She peeked over the edge of the pillar to try and get a look of him. He was far enough now that any details were lost, but she managed to catch him gliding down to the Queen's box. He seemed to have blue and purple scales and rather large wings. Was he a hybrid? At least now she had something interesting to think about.

She then realized that she forgot to thank him for the food.

The arena battle was nothing interesting. The champion was some skywing she didn't know who dealt with Horizon pretty swiftly. It was really, really hard to not pay attention to the fight after she had satisfied her curiosity on the champion. Not because she enjoyed watching but because the sounds were just so loud and clear and she could visualize what was going on in her head without looking and even though she tried to block out the sound she just couldn't -

She didn't have a good time.

The dragon who had given her food had, surprisingly, turned up again late afternoon as the last bits of sun were leaving, lying down on her pillar. Apparently, there was a party going on that he didn't want to attend and he figured that she might be lonely because of her condition. Which was weird. And nice of him. But that wasn't what she was focusing on right now. He was a silkwing . One she recognized, too.

" Blue? " she blurted out, causing him to look up at her.

"Yes…? I am." he said slowly, clearly not understanding what she actually meant, "Oh. Did you not notice before? …Right, I was standing in front of the sun, sorry." Peril shook her head.

"No, I… never mind." She sighed, resting her head on the grainy, dusty surface. Blue wasn't somebody she had known particularly well ; she had interacted with him a few times when he happened to be in sanctuary at the same time as her and when the second inter-continental Queen's Council was held. But seeing him here was especially strange. What else has changed? Did she really know anything anymore? Or was she going into this blind? She decided to do the polite thing to take her mind off of her problems and introduce herself.

"I'm… Spark. It's nice to meet you." There was a pause before she lifted her talon for a talon-shake, remembering that he was fireproof. The realization filled her with an unreasonable amount of giddiness of being able to actually do so, for once. Although it was a little embarrassing to almost mess up introducing herself for the first time; she was about to refer to herself as Peril. Older-Blue (from what Sky had told her, he had gained his wings after the false-brightest night in the other world, yet he had them here) glanced at her outstretched talon, choosing instead to dip his head in a bow, placing a talon over his heart.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said, "my name is Cobalt."

Peril pulled her talon back, a bit disappointed.

Cobalt… it's not a bad alternative name, by any means.

She nodded, nudging the air with her snout in his direction.

"So, Cobalt," she asked, "I've noticed that you're not a skywing. What do you do here?"

He shifted uncomfortably, averting his gaze to the fleeting orange streaks in the sky.

"... It's hard to describe," he replied, "I do many odd jobs around the palace," he grimaced, "sort of like a servant, I guess, but I'm not. I don't really want to talk about it…" he trailed off. Peril hummed absentmindedly.

"That's fine." she said. "I don't like talking about my previous job either."

Blue - or Cobalt, as he seemed to be called here - appeared to be mollified by that, the corners of his mouth twitching up slightly and lying back down. They remained in comfortable silence until the party was over.

It was sunny and windy as always on the sky pillar. Peril had taken up just resting her head on the stone as there had been little to do but positioning her head close to the edge so she could see if there was something interesting going on. Which was how she was able to see four guards take four prisoners to the palace, one being a nightwing. There was only one nightwing prisoner. This was not good news. She was considering attempting to escape when a now familiar face came into view. Cobalt hovered over her like the moon on a clear night, looking down on her not in contempt, but because that simply was where she was.

"You have an audience with the Queen," he said. There was no inflection in his voice, it was not monotone, it was just a statement, nothing more. "Please do not resist." That, too, had been part of whatever protocol he seemed to be following, but there was a hint of pleading in there. Peril nodded in agreement as he unlocked her bindings. She shook out her wings; they were free for the first time in days. Blue- Cobalt - inspected her, head tilted as she oriented herself.

"Trying to fight every guard wasn't something I was planning to do, but now I guess I wont get the chance to, anyway." She commented jokingly, turning her head up to face him properly. His eyes widened slightly before he turned around.

"Follow me." he said, voice wavering faintly. Peril nodded, instantly face-taloning as he was facing away from her.

He stooped down, gliding to a once familiar balcony. She sighed, taking longer than usual to take off.

They landed softly on the outermost protrusion of the balcony to avoid stepping on the carpet. They walked a few steps in, Peril closely inspecting the floor fabric as she approached it. It was red with gold, orange and yellow patterns along the edges. Surprisingly, it was not tasseled. She had pinned Scarlet as a tassel dragon.

Scarlet smiled, displaying all of her teeth and malice in one efficient motion.

"Ah, Aqua, you've finally decided to join us!" she flourished, stepping down from her embezzled chair. Cobalt flinched. "And you've brought our little friend. How wonderful ."

Peril bristled, trying not to visibly react. They were much less than not friends.

"Now," Scarlet continued, "we have several matters to discuss. First and foremost, Kestrel's daughter!" she turned to look at her, "Your dear mother was so rude as to not introduce you to me," and Peril would've preferred never seeing her again, "would you be so kind as to do so yourself?"

There was a pause longer than warranted with the Queen never wavering in her expression, smirking down at her with all the air of superiority Peril remembered.

"... Spark." she replied, empty face, dulled voice, "Your majesty." she added reluctantly, not wanting to brave the consequences. Winter shot her a weird look at that. Scarlet's grin somehow grew even larger.

"Ah, Spark ." she said her name as if she were turning food over inside her mouth, feeling over the textures and flavors. "What an… unexciting name." Peril really, really wanted to point out that 'Scarlet' was objectively worse in that department. Instead, she just, quite literally, bit her tongue. "Spark." Scarlet went on, wrinkling her snout in amusement, for what Peril didn't know, "I have an… opportunity for you."

Peril instinctively took a step back, pupils contracting. Cobalt glanced at her out the corner of her vision. Scarlet rolled her eyes.

"Oh, don't be like that." Scarlet flared her wings. "I assure you, this offer is quite… thrilling ."

Peril started breathing heavily, feeling faint. Scarlet raised a brow, turning to the other dragonets, who looked equally as confused but considerably more concerned. She simply shrugged at that and continued her spiel.

"Now, I don't believe in blaming dragons for their relative's mistakes, even their parents," a lie , Peril knew, "so I'd like to give you a chance." she paused for dramatic effect, holding out her arms and spreading her wings full length in a grandiose pose. The effect was slightly inhibited by her stature. "How would you feel about working in the palace, directly under me?"

There was a yelp of surprise, the perpetrator receiving a death glare from the Queen. Peril hadn't noticed that there were other dragons besides the guards, Scarlet herself, Cobalt and her group. Despite the glare, Vermillion still spoke.

"Your majesty?" he said, talon raised in half step. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Scarlet sat like a patient snake, clicking her tongue, eyes narrowed. Ruby gave her brother a concerned look.

"Are you doubting your Queen's decision, Vermillion?" Her voice was level; a genuine question in tone, but behind her eyes was a detailed vision of the pain and suffering he would endure should he answer incorrectly.

Vermillion shrunk back.

"No, your majesty."

The brilliant, blinding crocodile smile returned to Scarlet's face in full force, uncanny and razor-sharp.

"Good." She turned back to Peril, inspecting her claws. "I'm terribly sorry for the interruption, dear, where were we?" Nobody answered. Scarlet snapped her claws and brightened, "Ah, that's right , the job offer. So, do you accept? I'm afraid that if you don't, then you'd be officially an exiled dragon within our borders and we'd, unfortunately, have to kill you on the spot."

There were a few yelps of protest from her friends (except Moon), but they were swiftly silenced by their guards.

Peril thought her options over. On one talon, she really didn't want to be involved with anything remotely connected to that dragon, but on another, these dragons definitely had the tools to take her out. She couldn't protect her friends if she was dead. But Scarlet probably - most definitely - didn't have anything benevolent planned for her. She grumbled, closing her eyes. Then again , it would be much easier to get everyone out if she was 'guaranteed' safety, because that was literally the only reason Clay and his friends escaped last time, even if she betrayed them first. …Yeah, not one of her proudest moments. She glanced at the dragon beside her. Cobalt didn't look very happy with Scarlet's rule… maybe she could convince him to help? But if Scarlet found out… she could threaten to hurt Turtle and the rest.

Peril placed her talon securely on the ground.

"I accept."

The way Scarlet's smile widened could not be described. The way her friends reacted was predictable. The way her heart dropped was probably a warning.

Scarlet clasped her front talons together.

"Wonderful, wonderful!" even the seasoned, stone-faced guards were perturbed by the Queen. "Aqua, lead her to her room, would you? I still have other matters to attend to." she gave the rest of the dragonets of destiny a predatory smile.

Cobalt paled.

"Yes, your majesty." His voice was barely a whisper.

All of the floors were carpeted. Usually this would be a problem for Peril. Apparently, this time it was not. When she initially hesitated stepping on it Cobalt had assured her it was fine. She was still a bit worried that it might spontaneously combust. Peril had noticed that almost every dragon they passed looked at Cobalt before noticing her, which was beyond weird for her. Not because she thought she was really all that important, that is, it's just that she's a random firescales that's walking around the palace hall. He might be getting the treatment because he's not a skywing. That… It's not okay , but it makes sense. Cobalt had his head down for almost the entire trip. She wasn't sure if it was because of the looks or not - he had been like this before they had encountered another dragon, maybe he anticipated it? - but he did seem rather troubled in Scarlet's presence, also. They had traversed about two floors already - the palace had five and they had started on the second, where in the world did Scarlet put her room? - when she decided to say something.

"... Cobalt?" she asked, probing as gently as she could manage, "are you alright?"

He only lifted his head an inch, turning his eyes to her. His scales seemed to gleam less, their shininess dulled. Cobalt sighed.

"Not really…" he walked hastily but not fast, placing each talon with a desperate want to get away but lacking the motivation to do so, his voice was muted and lacked shape. He was shaking. "It's been hard since mom died."

Oh.

Is he an orphan? Or is he not because he's now an adult? Is he considered an adult? I'm pretty sure silkwings are considered adults when they get their wings at six, but here in the Sky Kingdom it's at seven.

Peril shook her head, trying to clear it. Those things weren't really important right now. She opened her mouth, hesitated, then committed.

"... Do you have a father?"

Cobalt stopped walking. As she was now trailing him from her contemplation she couldn't see his expression. He lifted his head up like a crane. She was starting to worry she had made a grave mistake before he turned to face left with a neutral expression.

"We're here." He lifted a talon to present the door on the left to her. He thought for a moment, turning his head to her. "Did you say something?"

Peril sat there, staring, like a dragonet in the market.

"Uh… nevermind?" she lifted her wings in a shrugging motion. Cobalt accepted the answer, tipping his horn to her before walking into the room, pushing past the door. Peril watched him go, for a moment, fiddling with her wing-claw. She must've not said it out loud, which was lucky because she was starting to regret the choice. Spark had an odd habit of saying things in her head instead of out loud; it seemed some of her habits had stuck despite the new memories. She followed Cobalt into the room, talon hovering over the doorknob. Cobalt looked up from the scroll he was inspecting, hearing her enter.

"Oh, don't worry. Everything in here is fireproofed."

Peril looked at him blankly. Everything in here was fireproof? Everything ?

"... Everything?" she asked, voice cracking. He tilted his head curiously, giving a small nod.

"Everything." He confirmed.

Why? Why would Scarlet just have a room entirely fireproofed? Did she predict having a firescales guest? Was she planning this all along? Or was this prepared in the last day and a half when she was captured?

"When?" she asked, taking a step forward.

He dipped his head down, studying the ground in thought.

"... Maybe five, six years? I'm not sure, but I know it's been a while since I did it."

Perils' brain halted once more. She should probably get that checked out, because, honestly, it was quite obvious with the whole flamesilk thing - which he was because he was fireproof and silkwings weren't fireproof normally, as far as she knew - that he was the reason Scarlet, and the Sky Kingdom by extension, had such good fireproofing.

… wait, did he say five to six years ago? He would've been, like, two , max.

Cobalt shifted uncomfortably in her silence, rolling up the scroll.

"... I'll show you around the room?" he said, more of a question than a statement. Peril let out a breath.

"Sure." He nodded, turning and sweeping out one pair of wings.

"This is the main living area. You have this desk here," he gestured to the cedar structure he was standing next to. On it was an assortment of stationary - an inkwell, a wax stamp, ect - and a scroll fashioned from paper with a yellow-ish tint and a slightly glossy surface, "next to this shelf for scrolls and other items," the shelf was, too, made of cedar and the few scrolls under the space labelled 'blank' - the second from the top on the left column of the two - had the same color and texture as the one on the desk, "you have a floor lounge over there," he flicked a tail towards the other side of the room where, in fact, there was a soft-looking, half-ring shaped piece of furniture. It was an orange-y red and made of fleece, and scattered on top there was an assortment of cushions of various textures and sizes, but they were all of the same color scheme: red and orange with muted yellows and brown tones like beige and chocolate. The whole room in general held a very warm, cozy feel, all the wooden furniture being made of cedar. This was backdropped by a grey stone wall and the familiar gold-filled cracks, though it was mostly covered with all of the furniture and fabrics, "that," he gestured to one of two archways on the far side of the room to the door, "leads to your sleeping area. You should have a bedside drawer? But if you don't you can just ask the furnishers to get you one, if you want. I think you have a balcony from your room, too. The other archway leads to storage. Food, paper, ect. There's also a basin in there, I don't know why, though."

Peril had been silently nodding along, taking in the information.

"Okay." she said, not sure what else there was to say. She walked over to the lounge, looking to Cobalt for assurance. He made a head gesture that said 'go ahead' so she stepped onto it and got comfortable, laying down. She found it was less of a lounge and more of a really big, fancy bean bag that was very comfortable. Cobalt stayed standing by the desk, awkwardly watching her.

Peril wasn't paying attention to him, however, she had other things on her mind. She closed her eyes and tried to sink lower into the soft fabric.

Despite how calm things seemed right now, she was in a very tight position. Scarlet probably had or will have eyes on her, watching her every move. She might've bought herself and her - she didn't have a better word - family, but there was a very slim margin of error. One wrong half-step could kill everyone she cared about here. And, also, Ruby. This wasn't really related, but Ruby held no contempt for her here. Peril could kindle a relationship there. If she had still been the champion here, she didn't know if she could do it. A very specific set of events had to have happened for them to be on good terms last time. There was also the issue of did Scarlet still have access to Chameleon ? She assumed yes, as Ruby existed - wow how was going to handle that ? - but also he still, apparently, had a good relationship with her mother, so… Wait, Osprey's still alive . … He probably won't die this time, that was her fault. She can contact him after they solve the whole war thing. If they solved the whole war thing.

As she was musing there was a knock at the door. Blue- Cobalt , dangit - immediately straightened his posture, ears flicking up as Peril looked to the door as well. He looked to her, gesturing to the door, to which she nodded. He cleared his throat, shaking out his wings. His voice when he spoke was nothing like she had heard before. It was clear, very clear, and had weight but still carried his characteristic humility, encouraging an equal conversation.

"You may come in."

The door creaked open, revealing a skywing, crimson and holding himself straight, clad in black armor.

"Your presence is required in the throne room, Prince Cobalt."

A/N. Blue was originally going to be the book 8 protagonist (And the champion), but I scrapped that. He's still here because, honestly, why not?