The Parents AU Ark1

by Jp90k

What if the Dragonets of Destiny’s parents actually really cared about them? How would that change the events of series?

6. Into the Sky Kingdom

I do not own Wings of Fire, that credit goes Tui T. Sutherland; the Author of the series. I only own the OCs, Stone the Mudwing and Boar the Rainwing.

"" = character talking

() = character thoughts

Clay was a tall stone pillar. His wings were so he couldn't fly, he was also chained to the other two dragons on the pillars to his left and right. There's were a bunch of pillars in circle, some pillars had dragons on them and some were empty. A burned dead rabbit drops beside him.

?: "Hello! I brought you something to eat."

Clay looks at female Skywing dragonet with bright orange scales that looked like they were glowing, and she had dark blue eyes.

Skywing: "Hi! I'm Peril. The Queen's champion. Aren't you going to eat? What's your name?"

Clay: "Clay."

Peril: "Come on, you have to eat."

Clay: "Why?"

Peril: "Because I don't want you to die before I kill you."

Clay: "What?"

Peril: "You know, in the arena."

Clay: "But you don't want me to die first."

Peril: "Right! I've never fought a mudwing, you know, because we're on the same side of the war. I'm so excited!"

Clay: "Do we have to fight?"

Peril: "Are you serious? Have you been living under a rock or something?"

Clay: "Pretty much."

Peril: "Really? All right. That's the Queen's arena down there. There's a battle almost every day for her majesty's entertainment. If you win enough battles, you go free."

Clay: "How many is that?"

Peril: "I don't know. No one's ever done it. After a dragon has few wins, her majesty sends me in. I always kill them. I'm really dangerous. I can't wait to fight the Nightwing! Nobody knows what that will like. What if he can read my mind and knows what I'm going to do before I do it?"

Clay: "Starflight! Where is he?"

Peril: "Somewhere over there."

Clay: "What about Tsunami?"

Peril: "The Seawing? Boring. I've fought plenty of seawings."

Clay: "Have you seen my other friends? Glory, the Rainwing? Or Sunny? She's small and kind of odd-looking and—."

Peril: "Haven't seen any dragons like that. But I'll keep an eye out if you want. Cheer for me!"

Peril flies down to the arena.

Queen Scarlet: "Welcome to today's battle!"

Glory was chained to a tree looking structure. She was sleeping. Her scales were a mixture of pink, purple and navy blue.

Clay: (Glory! Is she all right?)

Queen Scarlet: "Well? What do you all think of my new art?"

Clay: (Glory's not art, she's a dragon! But why isn't she finding back? What has Scarlet done to her?)

Queen Scarlet: "Bring in the combatants!"

The crowd cheers for the fight. Peril enters the arena.

?: "Get off me!"

Sandwing held prisoner to his right was taken by the guards and then put in the arena.

Clay: (I don't want to see this. But I should learn how Peril fights.)

Skywing: "After four victories, Horizon the Sandwing—formerly, and unwisely, a soldier in Blaze's army—has been challenged to a match with the queen's champion, Peril."

Clay: (He's bigger than her! Why is he afraid?)

Queen Scarlet: "Claws up…Fire ready! Fight!"

Horizon runs away from Peril. Peril flies ahead and blocks Horizon's escape. Horizon tries to strike Peril with his tail bard. But instead of stabbing Peril, his tail is burned. Horizon screams in pain.

Clay: (What just happened? Does she have fire in her claws?)

Horizon hold his now burnt tail, as Peril comes closer. She places her talon on his wing and then take it off, Leaving a burn mark. Horizon screams in pain again. Clay notices that the burn mark on Horizon's wing looks similar to Kestrel's scar. Horizon then tackles Peril holding on to her tightly and he burns up and dies.

Queen Scarlet: "Well, that was boring. I hope tomorrow someone will at least try to amuse me. Today's games are over!"

Later at night. Peril arrives and drops a burnt bird in-front of Clay and the he starts eating it.

Peril: "Oh, good. Now you're hungry! Whoa."

Clay finish's the bird quickly. Peril land on the pillar.

Peril: "It's okay! I'll stay really still, I promise. Do you want another one?"

Clay: "I'm all right."

Peril: "Do you want me to go away?"

Clay: "No. Stay and talk to me."

Peril: "Aren't you afraid of me?"

Clay: "Of course I am. But you're still better company than than the pigeons. All they want to talk about is who to poop on."

Peril laughs at Clay's joke.

Clay: "Are—Are you all right?"

Peril: "Uh? I—… That was weird today. That Sandwing—He just gave up. Why would he do that? Her majesty was angry."

Clay: "Angry at you? That doesn't seem fair."

Peril: "It doesn't? No. The Queen is right. It's my responsibility to make the fight exciting."

Clay: "Why do you do what she says? Do you — like fighting?"

Peril: "Of course. I'm good at fighting. Scarlet's my Queen. I'm her champion."

Clay: "Why you?"

Peril: "No one else would want me. No one can even touch me. I was born with too much fire. Usually, they kill dragons like me. My mother was about to snap my neck when Queen Scarlet killed her."

Clay: "Wow."

Peril: "Yeah. If want to know everything. I burned up my twin in our egg. I sucked out his fire and burned him to a crisp. I've been a killer since before I hatched."

Clay: "I tried to kill the other eggs in my nest. First thing, as soon as I hatched."

Peril: "So maybe we were both born to be killers."

Clay: (Is she the monster I'm supposed to be?) "I hope that's not who I am."

Peril is speechless at what Clay just said.

Clay: "Not—Not that—I mean—Maybe I was born that way…But does that mean I'm like that forever? I guess I hope I have a choice, is all. I want to be who I want to be. Not who I have to be. Right?"

Peril: "Her majesty says I must follow my true nature."

Clay: "Don't you ever wonder—wouldn't you want to be different if you could?"

Peril: "No. I've accepted myself, and I like who I am. You should do the same thing. I should go"

Clay: "Wait! Tell Scarlet not to make Starflight fight tomorrow. He's not ready."

Peril: "I can try, but she's pretty excited to see him in the arena."

Clay: "Tell her to send me in instead."

Peril: "You wouldn't kill yourself like that, would you? The way Horizon did."

Clay: "I don't think so."

Peril: "Oh, good. I'd much rather kill you fair and square. Good night!"

Peril flies away. (Later) It's now daytime, and two Skywing soldiers come to Clay.

Skywing soldier 1: "Private audience with the Queen."

Clay: "Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing?"

Skywing soldier 2: "Shut up."

Clay: "I don't know because I've never been a prisoner before. Unless, technically, maybe I was, but this is a lot… winder. Plus, there's the Queen, that's new. Dose she normally meet with prisoners? Maybe right before letting them go?"

Skywing soldier 2: "I said shut up."

The Skywing soldiers unchain Clay and take him toward the castle.

Tsunami: "Grrrrrrr…"

Skywing soldier 3: "Keep her still!"

Clay looks back and sees Tsunami trying to fight off the Skywing soldiers.

Clay: (Should I have fought them, too? But our wings are still clamped…We can't fly away.)

They arrive at palace and walk through the dungeon, and Clay sees Kestrel in a cell.

Clay: "Kestrel!"

Skywing soldier 2: "Other word and there's going to be an unfortunate accident."

They pass Kestrel's cell and the soldiers push Clay into the throne room. Queen Scarlet was sitting on her throne that looked like a cloud, Glory was sleeping on the tree stand, and Starflight was bowing before Queen Scarlet.

Clay: "Are you all right?"

Starflight: "Shh!"

Queen Scarlet: "He's trying to tell you that it's rude to talk to anyone before the Queen in her own throne room. What do they teach dragonets these days? Bow."

Clay: "Sorry."

Clay bows to Queen Scarlet.

Tsunami: "Oof! Let me go!"

The soldiers push Tsunami into the throne room

Tsunami: "This is an outrage! We're the—."

Queen Scarlet: "Dragonets of destiny, yes, very thrilling. You know, not everyone wants this war to end. Personally, I love it. I get lots of contenders for the arena from the battlefield. And it's a terrific distraction for dragons who might have challenged me for the throne. Saves me a lot of trouble."

Tsunami: "So it's all right with you that dragons have died all over the world?"

Queen Scarlet: "As if you know anything about that. Have you ever seen hundreds of dead dragons? Do you know anything, really, about this war?"

Tsunami: "We've studied it… We know it's awful… Innocent dragons are getting hurt!"

Queen Scarlet: "It's easy to say war is awful, but hard our dragon problems without one. Who should be the next Sandwing Queen? Burn, Blister, or Blaze? I'd love to know what you've decided from the wisdom of your underground cave."

Tsunami: "That wasn't our fault! We wanted to be out in the would."

Queen Scarlet: "That's what you think hilarious. As if you'd have survived this long out there. Your guardians did tell you what happened to all the Skywing dragonets born on the bright night, didn't they? I won't go into details, but it was very sad."

Clay: "Excuse me! I have a question, your majesty. Where's Sunny? Is she all right?"

Starflight stamps on Clay's tail to get him to be quiet.

Queen Scarlet: "Oh, the odd-looking Sandwing. I think Burn will like her very much. She collects curiosities. You should see her palace. It's quite horrifying. Full of two-headed lizards…And seven-toed dragon talons…And stuffed Scavengers with weird pale skin…Your little friend will fit right in."

Tsunami: "You can't give Sunny to Burn!"

Queen Scarlet: "I can do whatever I like."

Clay: "What's wrong with Glory?"

Queen Scarlet: "Nothing. She's quite perfect, if you ask me."

Clay: "Why is she all…sleepy?"

Queen Scarlet: "Rainwings are naturally lazy. Hadn't you noticed? But then, Mudwings are naturally stupid."

Tsunami: "You have to let us go! The prophecy—."

Queen Scarlet: "Oh, shush. Your spunkiness is starting to bore me. My hatching day is tomorrow, and I want a trilling arena. But I want to see at least one of you fight today. So which of you is most likely to survive? The Nightwing?"

Clay/Tsunami: "ME!"

Queen Scarlet: "Adorable. But seriously."

Tsunami: "You're delusional. I beat you all the time."

Clay: "A Mudwing would be more exciting than just another Seawing, wouldn't it?"

Queen Scarlet: "I love your enthusiasm, dragonet! Guards, take these two away."

Queen Scarlet points at Tsunami and Starflight with her tail, and points to Clay with her talon.

Queen Scarlet: "As for this one…prepare him for the arena."

Later in the arena.

Queen Scarlet: "After last month's battle with Blaze's army, my dungeons were stuffed with Icewing prisoners of war. Only five have survived. After two wins, here's—Fjord of the Icewing!"

Fjord had blueish-white scales and a long scar that started under his jaw and ended just under his chest.

Queen Scarlet: "And in this corner: I'm sure a legendary dragonet of destiny will have no problem surviving my little arena. Isn't that right, Clay of the Mudwings?"

The crowd: "Kill the Mudwing!" "Whooo!" "Burn him up!" "Eviscerate!" "Rip his talons off!" "Huzzah!" "Freeze his face!" "Kill the Icewing!" "Shove his tail down his throat!"

Clay: (I really didn't think this plan through.)

Queen Scarlet: "Claws up! Teeth ready! Fight!"

Clay and Fjord circle each other to begin the fight.

Clay: "Uh, hello. Fjord, right? I've never met an Icewing before before. I've never met much of anyone, really. I didn't realize ice would look so, you know, blue. Very surprising."

Someone in the crowd: "Booo! Somebody bite somebody!"

Clay: "It's cool, though. Oh, ha ha. No pun intended."

Fjord: "Are you trying to get us both killed? Shut and let me kill you."

Clay: "I'd rather not. Do we have to fight?"

Clay notices Starflight trying to get his attention.

Clay: (What's Starflight trying to tell me?)

Starflight points to his mouth.

Clay: (Oh!)

Fjord then blast his frostbreath at Clay. Clay dodges and the frostbreath only the end of his right wing.

Clay: (Oowwww! Oh, right, Icewings have freezing death breath. Thanks, Starflight. He's going to do it again!)

Clay breathe fire into Fjord's mouth, and charges at Fjord.

Female Skywing: "Booooooo!"

Male Skywing: "A sheep could have won by now!"

Female Sandwing: "Bite his snout off!"

Male Sandwing: "Less talking! More killing!"

Female Skywing 2: "Claw him! Claw him!"

Clay tackles and pins Fjord down.

Fjord: Whoof! What's wrong with you? This isn't how Mudwings fight! I was trained in Mudwing techniques!"

Clay: "Well, I wasn't."

Clay then grabs Fjord's throat and starts to choke him.

Clay: (Now! Kill him now! Here's where that monster inside saves the day! But I don't want to kill Fjord. I don't want to kill anyone. He's as much a prisoner as I am.)

Clay let's go and Fjord tackles him, and pins him down and tries to choke him, and Clay tries to stop him.

Fjord: "Time to die, Mudwing."

Tsunami: "Nooooooo! Aaargh! Ugh! Aaar!"

Everyone looks up to Tsunami struggling to get to Clay.

Tsunami: "Don't…hurt…Clay!"

Then some black liquid lands on Fjord.

Fjord: "Eh?"

Fjord goes to wipe the liquid off, but then the liquid starts bubbling and burning through Fjord's scales, causing him immense pain.

Fjord: "Eeeyyyaaahhhh!!! Help me! Make it stoppppp!"

Fjord falls down dead, with some parts of his body melted. Queen Scarlet was pleased. Starflight covered his eyes with his wing. Glory was still sleeping. The dragons in crowd were cheering. And Peril looked…scared.

(Later at night) Peril lands next to Clay.

Peril: "You were amazing today."

Clay: (What happened?)

Peril: "I have no idea what you did. I was looking at the prisoners and then suddenly—that was scarier than me. How did you that? You don't have to tell me. In case you have to do it to me. You probably will. I never thought about what it might be like for prisoners, watching me kill other dragons. But I saw that—and now I'm thinking, that's going to happen to me. So. But still amazing."

Clay: "Stop. Peril, it wasn't me."

Peril: "It's all right. I'd keep it secret, too. Are you okay?"

Clay: "My wing's a little stiff. It can't be that bad. I've been hurt before."

Peril: "Not by an Icewing, I bet.

Clay: "It feels better with you near it. Your heat, I mean.

Peril: "Oh! I know what to get wait here."

Peril flies off.

Clay: (Because I was going to go where? For a walk?)

Peril comes back, carrying a cauldron filled with hot mud.

Peril: "This will heal you. Spread your wing."

Peril lands.

Clay: "Is that mud?"

Peril: "It heals Mudwings. I don't know why I didn't think of it before."

Peril takes out a glob of mud.

Clay: "What are you doing?"

Peril: "I can't rub it on you. You'd burn up."

Clay: "Oh. Right."

Peril throws it onto Clay's wing. Peril takes out other glob of mud.

Clay: "Have you ever thought about leaving?"

Peril: "I'm not allowed. I've never been outside the sky kingdom."

Clay: "Why not? You must be the most powerful dragon here."

Peril: "I would never disobey her majesty!"

Peril tossed the glob of mud into Clay's wing.

Clay: "Beside, I have to eat the black rocks every day, or I'll die."

Peril takes out other glob of mud.

Clay: "Black rocks?"

Peril: "It's part of the curse of having too much fire. They're really rare. I'm lucky Queen Scarlet gets them for me."

Peril tossed the mud onto Clay's wing.

Clay: "Have you ever tried not eating them?"

Peril: "Once, when I was a lot younger. I got mad at her majesty because she wouldn't tell me anything about my m. So I stopped eating them and I got sick. Like, dying sick. Queen Scarlet cares enough to keep me alive. My mother didn't."

Clay: "Is that why you don't challenge her for the throne?"

Peril: "That's awful! I don't want to be Queen. Stop saying treasonous things!"

Peril pours the rest of the mud in the cauldron onto Clay's wing.

Peril: "Feel better?"

Clay: "Yeah! Thanks."

(Later)

Clay was having nightmares. Sunny was trapped in a cage.

Sunny: "Let me out! Please! Someone help me!"

Starflight was being pinned down by a skeleton dragon

Skeleton dragon: "He can't read minds at all!"

Glory was being fed herbs by another skeleton dragon but this one had lab coat on.

Skeleton dragon 2: "A few more herbs…Keep her safe and sleeping…"

Tsunami was trying to fight Queen Scarlet, but two Skywing guards spear her form behind.

Tsunami: "I'll…fight…as long as I can!"

Queen Scarlet: "Witch won't be much longer."

Queen Scarlet spearing Kestrel from behind, right through her chest.

Kestrel: "I knew these dragonets were useless. So much for the great prophecy "

Later in the day. Peril flies up to Clay.

Peril: "Quick, spread your wings! I don't want anyone to see me!"

Clay: "Wa—? What, why?"

Peril lands on the pillar.

Peril: "They're having a trial, and Queen Scarlet said I wasn't allowed to watch! I never go to trials. They're boring. So why would she tell me I can't go? Something's going on, and I want to see what it is. Remember, you owe me. I brought you the mud."

Clay: "It's okay, Peril. I'd help you anyway."

Peril: "Oh, I found your Sandwing."

Clay: "Sunny! Where is she?"

Peril: "If you hide me, I'll tell you. But if you turn me in, I won't."

Clay: "Peril, I told you, I'd help you whether—(sigh). Okay. But won't someone be looking for you?"

Peril: "Not today. I'm supposed to be down in the caves looking for black rocks."

Clay: "Why dose Queen Scarlet bother with trials?"

Peril: "She likes the drama of them. They're starting!"

Down in the arena there were a few Skywings watching, and two Skywing guards. And next to Queen Scarlet were a Skywing on either side of her. The Skywing on her right was male and his scales were deep dark red. The Skywing on her left was also male, he was very old, his scale were a light purple and he didn't have wings.

Peril: "That's Vermilion, Queen Scarlet's oldest son. He always argues for the prosecution."

Prince Vermilion: "You look particularly deadly today, your majesty."

Queen Scarlet: "Yes, yes. I know I do."

Peril: "And the old one's Osprey. He's my friend, but he talks like a scroll."

Clay: "So dose my friend Starflight."

Queen Scarlet: "Where's our defendant? Someone fetch her!"

Two Skywing guards dragged Kestrel out. She chained up, her snout was covered.

Clay: "Kestrel!"

Peril: "You know her?"

Clay: "She's one of the dragons who raised us. They didn't like us much, but they kept us alive."

Peril: "I guess even terrible parents are better than no parents."

Queen Scarlet: "Loyal subjects! This dragon, Kestrel, stands accused of highest treason—disobeying me!"

Prince Vermilion: "Your majesty, the facts are clear. You gave an order. Kestrel disobeyed you. She deserves a long and painful execution."

Queen Scarlet: "Very compelling. Well said. Sounds guilty to me."

Osprey: "Your majesty. I do have a few words to say in this prisoner's defense."

Queen Scarlet: "If you must."

Osprey: "You ordered Kestrel to destroyed her egg. It was a single egg, but inside there were two dragonets. One had no fire at all, but the other—had too much."

Clay: "Too much fire? Like you?"

Peril: "No other dragonets like me have hatched in years and years…"

Clay: "Is Kestrel…your mother?l

Peril: "My mother is dead! Queen Scarlet killed her to save me!"

Clay: "Maybe that was a lie."

Queen Scarlet: "We know all this. Skip to the part where we execute her."

Osprey: "You ordered her to destroy the defective egg. However, she fled with it—When you caught her, the dragonets had hatched. I know, because I was one of the guards who was with you. You told her you'd forgive her and let her live—if she killed one of her dragonets. So she killed that dragonet with no fire, right there at the river, with her own claws. But even though she did what you said, you told us to kill her other dragonet anyway! She grabbed her daughter. She tried to fly away—But she was too badly burned and was forced to drop her. So she fled, leaving her only dragonet at your mercy."

Peril: "No! My brother died in the egg! I killed him! And my mother tried to killed me! Scarlet is the one who saved!"

Clay: "At least, that's what she told you."

Queen Scarlet: "You admit Kestrel disobeyed me. I think we're done here."

Osprey: "But she tried to obey you. You're the one who reversed your order."

Queen Scarlet: "I changed my mind. I'm the queen. I can do that."

Osprey: "Kestrel was always a faithful soldier to you. She followed your orders, and what did you do? Ordered her to kill her own dragonets!"

Queen Scarlet: "Enough! We'll execute her tomorrow. And while we're at it, execute him, too, for boring me."

As Peril flies down to the arena, the tip of her tail touches the chain connecting Clay to the dragon on the pillar to his right, and that causes to burn up a bit.

Peril: "It's not true! Tell them! My mother wanted to kill me, and Queen Scarlet saved me!"

Peril lands in front of Kestrel.

Queen Scarlet: "Surprise! Your dragonet is still alive—and working for me! Peril, you're not supposed to be here."

Peril: "You lied to me! You said was dead!"

Queen Scarlet: "Would you have wanted to know your mother was alive somewhere, wishing she'd killed you? She could have escaped with your brother. She thinks she chose wrong. That's why she never came back for you."

Kestrel was very mad, smoke and fire coming from her nostrils.

Queen Scarlet: "Who kept you alive all these years? Finding you black rocks, feeding you, making you my own royal champion? Aren't I a better mother than her anyway?"

Peril looks to Kestrel. Kestrel looking a little sad.

Peril: "I call upon the tradition of the champion's shield. I want to fight for my mother."

Queen Scarlet: "What?"

Peril: "As the Queen's champion, I can stand for any condemned dragon. If I win my next fight, you have to let her go."

Queen Scarlet: "Now where did you hear about that old law. You."

Queen Scarlet grabs Osprey with her back legs and flies up.

Peril: "Stop!"

Queen Scarlet flies very high and outside the arena. She then released him. Peril tried to grab him to save him, but her fire scales were burning Osprey and she had no choice to let him go. Osprey fall to the ground and died.

Peril: "He was my friend."

Queen Scarlet lands on the platform.

Queen Scarlet: "Not anymore. The champion has asked to stand for the prisoner. I'll choose her opponent and they'll battle at the end of tomorrow's games. If Peril wins, Kestrel goes free. If not, I'll have a dead champion—But at least we'll get to execute Kestrel right away. What a wonderfully bloody day for me and Queen Burn!"

Clay: (Poor Kestrel. Poor Osprey. Poor Peril. Wait, Queen Burn? Oh no. She'll take Sunny!.)

Peril flies off really very fast. The guards stay out of her way.

Clay: "Peril! Wait! You have to tell me where Sunny is! What are we going to do? Starflight won't survive the arena tomorrow…and Burn is coming for Sunny…Is that Peril…? No. Can we save Kestrel? Starflight and Sunny won't make it. Please, Peril…come on. Think about something else. Think about cows. Mmmm, cows. I wish I could share a cow with my friends right now. I miss them. Peril! Finally! That's not Peril."

A big Sandwing wearing an armor chest plate flies toward the palace with two other Sandwings.

Clay: (That's Burn…)

Clay then noticed the loose chain and takes it out. He then rubs it against the other one and it makes music. He keeps playing and the other dragons held prisoner start singing.

Dragons: "(singing) Oh, the dragonets are coming..They're coming to save the day..Oh, the dragonets are coming! They're coming to save the day! They're coming to fight! For they know what's right! The dragonets! The dragonets.."

Then Princess Burn and Queen Scarlet showed up.

Princess Burn: "Stop that infernal noise!"

Queen Scarlet: "Bring the three troublemakers."

The guards bring Tsunami, Starflight, and Clay into another room, and Peril was in there.

Queen Scarlet: "If anyone else sings, burn out their tongue. You: out."

Peril: "This is my room!

Queen Scarlet: "Out!"

Peril leaves the room.

Queen Scarlet: "You interrupted my feast. You will not do so again."

Princess Burn: "Why don't we just kill them."

Queen Scarlet: "That wouldn't be fun. We have a whole day of entertainment planned for tomorrow. It's my hatching day! I want it to be trilling."

Princess Burn: "I don't care about your "fun." We need to stop the prophecy. Let's kill them and get over with."

Queen Scarlet: " Well…yes. But think if we kill the dragonets now, out of sight, it dose us no good. Even if we hang them from the palace walls, no one will believe it's them. But if we put the dragonets in the, everyone can see them die. They'll lose all faith in the prophecy. Much more powerful that way, with gruesome visuals! Don't you agree?"

Queen Scarlet then lays down a line of black rocks.

Princess Burn: "What if they win?"

Queen Scarlet: "They won't. But killing them ourselves is a solid backup plan."

Tsunami: "You know we're right here, right? Don't you want to hatch your evil plans somewhere more secretive?

Princess Burn: "Who do you think you'll tell before you die."

Queen Scarlet breathes fire on the rocks and they light, making a wall of fire.

Queen Scarlet: "I thought I'd get to play with you longer, but I guess you all have to die tomorrow. Nobody lets me have any fun. Sleep well, so you'll be trilling for my arena."

Queen Scarlet and Princess Burn leave.

Clay: "I don't like them. Ow!"

Tsunami: "I'm so glad you're alive! You incredibly huge idiot."

Clay: "So am I. But I'm glad you two are alive."

Starflight: "Playing that song was pretty smart, Tsunami."

Tsunami: "I thought you did that!"

Clay: "I was me."

Starflight: "It was?"

Tsunami: "Wow! Well done!"

Peril pokes her head through the wall of fire.

Peril: "What's going on?

Clay: "Peril! I thought you were mad at me."

Peril: "I'm not mad at you."

Starflight: "I guess she can't be hurt by flames?"

Tsunami: "That dragon is psychotic."

Starflight: "Keep your voice down."

Peril comes through the fire wall.

Clay: "Are you all right? Where have you been?"

Peril: "Queen Scarlet is pretty furious with me. I didn't want her to take it out on you, like she did on… you know."

Tsunami: "Can you help us escape?"

Peril: "I wish! That would make her madder than anything. But I can't get you through that fire."

Clay: "What about Sunny? Can we get Sunny?"

Starflight: "You found Sunny?"

Peril: "You talk about this Sunny a lot. Is she really that important?"

Tsunami/Starflight/Clay: "YES!"

Tsunami: "Peril. Listen. Sunny is like a little sister to us. To all of us."

Peril: "A sister, right, I understand. Her cage is in Queen Burn's guest chambers. I can sneak in and get her tomorrow during the arena fights."

Clay: "Oh, thank you!"

Clay was going to hug Peril but he remembered her firescales and stopped himself.

Peril: "Oops—Careful."

Tsunami: "What about Clay and Starflight? I can survive the arena, but we have to get them out of it."

Clay: "I can survive the arena! Hello, I already have."

Tsunami: "Right, and how did you do that? I happen to know you don't have secret venom in your claws."

Clay: "I… Ok, I have no idea where the venom came from."

Tsunami: "Hmm. Maybe it was Scarlet, trying to keep things interesting?"

Starflight: "I know what to do!"

Tsunami: "In the arena?"

Starflight: "To get us out of here! Peril, the fire doesn't hurt you! Could you pick up the rocks and move them? So we can get out?"

Peril: "You are smart. I suppose I could do that. If you're really sure you want to escape tonight."

Tsunami: "Of course we are! We can hide somewhere until you free Sunny tomorrow."

Clay: "We'd be really grateful. And Glory. We'll figure out how to save Glory, too."

Peril: "Who's Glory?"

Clay: "The Rainwing. Queen Scarlet's new "artwork"."

Peril: "Her? She's very beautiful."

Tsunami: "Also like a sister. Can we run away now and figure this out later?"

Peril: "Fine."

Peril lifts some of the flaming rocks out of the way to make a gap big enough for Clay, Tsunami, and Starflight to get through.

Clay: "Careful!"

The three of them carefully walk through. Peril puts the rocks back the way they were.

Peril: "There. Now she'll have no idea how you got out. Follow me. I know a secret cave you can hide in."

They follow Peril.

Starflight: "Can you get these things off our wings?"

Peril: "Maybe I'll wait until I know you won't leave without saying good-bye."

Clay: "We wouldn't leave without our friends."

They reach the end of the hall where there is a door.

Peril: "Once you're free… What are you going to do?"

Clay: "Find our parents! I've never been to the Mudwing kingdom."

Peril: "You're going straight there?"

Clay: "Absolutely. As soon as poss—."

Tsunami interrupts him by stomping on his tail.

Clay: "OW!"

Peril: "Since you can't fly, I'll have to go around and open the door from the other side wait here."

Peril flies over to the other side of the door. She is about to open the door but she stops herself, and then she flies off .

(Back inside)

Tsunami: "Stop making her mad!"

Clay: "Me? What did I do?"

Tsunami: "Well, you're a handsome idiot."

Starflight: "She has a crush on you."

Clay: "She dose?"

Starflight: "It's pretty obvious."

Tsunami: "And she definitely doesn't want to hear you talk about leaving. Or about rescuing other girls."

Peril opens the door. But Clay sees Queen Scarlet flying towards them.

Peril: "Ready to climb?"

Clay: "Peril, look out! It's the Queen! You can't be seen us. She'll kill you! You have to hide!"

Clay grabbed Peril to try to hid her from Queen Scarlet. But he wasn't burning up when coming into contact with her firescales.

Peril: "Why—Why aren't you burning up?"

Queen Scarlet: "So, you've finally figured it out."

Queen Scarlet enters the hall.

Queen Scarlet: "Mudwings hatched from blood-red eggs have fireproof scales. Didn't the talons of peace teach of peace teach you anything?"

Clay: "But… Kestrel used to burn me in thee…"

Tsunami: "Remember how quickly you healed though?"

Queen Scarlet: "Thank you, Peril. You may be excused."

Clay: "Thank you…?"

Tsunami: "Peril turned us in! I knew we couldn't trust her!"

Queen Scarlet: "Guards! Lock them up!"

The Guards put the three of in a cell.

Clay: "I don't understand why Peril betrayed us."

Tsunami: "Because she doesn't want to lose you, you great lummox this is what happens when you're too nice to psychotic killer dragons."

Clay: "That's so sad. I guess she doesn't have any other friends."

Tsunami: "Stop feeling sorry for her!"

(Later in the arena)

Princess Burn was standing next to Queen Scarlet. And Clay and Starflight were chained up in the arena.

Prince Vermilion: "Fellow dragons! Loyal Skywings! Visiting Mudwings! Honored Sandwing guests! We have a full slate of thrilling games today!"

Queen Scarlet: "But first, let me welcome our honored guest, Queen Burn of the Sandwings!"

Princess Burn: "Is that a Rainwing pet? This is a frivolous kingdom."

Queen Scarlet: "Careful what you say to your allies."

Prince Vermilion: "First, we have a so-called dragonet of destiny. Can fulfill the prophecy? Let's see if she can survive the arena first. I give you… Tsunami of the Seawings!"

The guards bring in Tsunami. Tsunami take off her collar.

The crowd: "It's really them! The dragonets of destiny!" "You saw what the Mudwing did to Fjord! What was that?" "Wooo!" "Did you hear the singing last night?" "Hoooray! Hope she wins!"

Prince Vermilion: "As for her opponent… some of you may remember a Seawing a few months back who refused to fight."

The crowd booed.

Prince Vermilion: "And what's the best way to punish a Seawing?"

The crowd: "Chop off his head!" "Drown him!"

Prince Vermilion: "Take away their water. All their water for months."

A male Seawing with bright green scales and he was looked dehydrated and a little crazy.

Prince Vermilion: "Dehydrated, mentally unstable, and ready to fight at last. It's Gill of the Seawings!"

Queen Scarlet: "Claws up, tails ready! Fight!"

Gill attacks Tsunami, but she jumps over him to dodge.

Starflight: "He's fast."

Gill bites her tail and claw her underbelly. Then she kicks him off her.

Clay: "Tsunami's fast, too…"

Tsunami trips Gill and then jumps onto him pins him down.

Tsunami: "I've won. You can all see that. I ask you all to let me let live!"

The crowd: "Kill him!" "Snap his neck!" "Death!" "Pull out his teeth!" "Gouge his eyes!" "Blood! Blood! We want blood!"

Starflight: "What's she waiting for? It's her life or his."

Clay: "That doesn't make it any easier."

Queen Scarlet: "Perhaps our "Dragonet of destiny" doesn't have the stomach for battle. Maybe war is too scary for her."

Tsunami: "No. I do have the stomach for battle, but I'm not going to kill an innocent dragon for your entertainment."

After a bit of silence, Queen Scarlet can see she can't change Tsunami's mind.

Queen Scarlet: "Fine then. Gaurds! Chain up that Seawing, I'll figure out what to with him later."

Tsunami gets off Gill. Then the guards take Gill and chain him up tightly in a corner of the arena.

Queen Scarlet: "Disappointing."

Princess Burn: "Catastrophic."

Queen Scarlet: "Don't worry, I have a plan. But now it's time for the Nightwing! My hatching day present to me!"

The guards unchained Starflight.

Clay: "Wait! Let me fight for him instead!"

Queen Scarlet: "These dragonets constantly pushing and shoving to save each other. It's the weirdest thing."

Princess Burn: "Mmm."

Prince Vermilion: "The rarest of all dragons—a real live Nightwing! Let's see what happens when two dragonets of destiny have to fight each other!"

Queen Scarlet: "Tsunami of the Seawings and Starflight of the Nightwings! Claws up, teeth ready! Fight!"

Tsunami goes over but doesn't attack him, instead she hug him.

The crowd: "Boo?" "Awwwwww."

Princess Burn: "This is getting worse and worse."

Queen Scarlet: "You're right. This isn't nearly as thrilling as I expected. Guards! Bring in the Icewings!"

Princess Burn: "Finally a smart idea."

The guards bring four Icewings with their mouths chained up into the arena.

Queen Scarlet: "Unchain them all! Four Icewings shouldn't be too much for the famous dragonets of destiny!"

Clay: "Put me in with them! Let me fight, too!"

But before the guards could unchain them, something above the arena got everyone's attention. It was Morrowseer and he had a bunch of Nightwings with him.

Morrowseer: "That Nightwing dragonet is ours."

Clay: (What about the rest of us?)

Morrowseer lands in-front of Queen Scarlet and Princess Burn.

Queen Scarlet: "Our who? We found him with the talons of peace."

Princess Burn: "Have the Nightwings chosen a side? Are you allying with traitors now?"

Clay: (Morrowseer, over here! Dragonets of destiny!)

Morrowseer: "No. I come to claim this dragonet as ours. We will take him and go."

Queen Scarlet: "Oh, will you?"

Morrowseer: "Do not anger the Nightwings, sky dragon."

Clay: (Come on! Can't you hear me? We need help!)

Queen Scarlet: "No! I want to see a Nightwing fight Icewings! It's my hatching day!

Morrowseer: "Those Icewings? Very well."

Morrowseer signals the other Nightwings with his tail. Four Nightwings dive down and then they each slit the throats of all four Icewings who all instantly die and lay on the ground motionless. Clay, Starflight and the crowd were shocked and speechless. But Queen Scarlet was furious.

Morrowseer: "There. We've taken care of your Icewing problem. Now we'll take our dragonet and go."

Morrowseer picks up Starflight and takes off flying.

Starflight: "Wait! What about my friends?"

Clay: (Yes, what about us?)

Starflight: "Wait."

Morrowseer and the other Nightwings fly away.

Queen Scarlet: "I will have one thing go right today. Guards! Clean up that mess down there! And fetch my champion!"

Peril enters the arena as the guards cleaned up the dead Icewing bodies.

Queen Scarlet: "On behalf of the prisoners Kestrel, my champion Peril has asked to fight a dragon of my choosing. If Peril wins, Kestrel goes free. If she loses—then I suppose I'll have to get a new champion. I know: you think Peril can't lose. Well, it so happens we have here today a dragon whose scales are impervious to fire!"

Clay: (Uh-oh.)

Queen Scarlet: "It's that… thrilling?"

Tsunami was chained up, and a guard unchained Clay. Peril lunges Clay and Clay blocks witched knocked her back to the ground.

Peril: "I know you're mad. I'm sorry. I just—I thought you were trying to get away from me."

Clay: "Well, I am now."

Peril: "I had a whole plan. A plan where I saved you after Kestrel, and you liked me best of all."

Clay: "Peril, I don't care if you save me. I want you to save my friends. That's what's important to me."

Peril takes off in flight and was upset.

Peril: "I'm your friend! It's not fair! The others can have any dragon! I only want you!"

Clay throws some dirt in Peril's face and she fell to the ground. Clay then rushed to Peril and pinned her down.

Clay: "Peril, it doesn't have to be like this. We don't have to kill each to kill each other."

Peril: "We do! Dragons kill each other all the time. That's how we are. Especially you and me. We're the same. We were killers from the moment we hatched!"

Clay: "That's not who I want to be. Maybe that's what the prophecy is about. Maybe we're supposed to show everyone how to get along without all the killing."

Queen Scarlet: "Hurry up and do it! Use your venom! I didn't even get to see it the first time!"

Clay: "But I didn't—."

Peril: "It really wasn't you?"

Glory then surprised everyone but lunging from the tree changing her scales to shades of yellow, red and black, and her eyes were red. She shot some venom from her top front fang towards Queen Scarlet and Princess Burn. Princess Burn use Queen Scarlet as a shield, and the venom hit Queen Scarlet on the left side of her face. Queen Scarlet screamed out in pain as Princess Burn and the Sandwings with her flew away. This caused the whole crowd to panic and fly away.

The crowd: "What was that?" "It's a Sandwing attack!" "No, it's the Nightwings again!" "Scarlet is dead!" "We're dooomed!" "Run! Fly while you can!"

The Guards: "Did you see who did it?" "Is the Queen dying?" "Medic!"

The Gaurds carry Queen Scarlet and fly away. And that left the arena mostly empty, the only dragons in the arena was Clay, Tsunami, Glory, Peril, and the Seawing: Gill.

Tsunami: "What just happened?"

Clay went over to the platform where Glory was.

Clay: "Glory! You're awake!"

Glory: "Of course I am! Couldn't you tell I was faking? You seriously thought I was asleep this whole time?"

Glory changed her scales back to their default colors.

Clay: "Uh—."

Tsunami: "You looked pretty asleep."

Glory: "Well, that's great. For the first time in my life, I pretend to be as lazy as everyone says Rainwings are, and you actually believe it. So glad my friends have so much faith in me."

Tsunami: "We have to get out of here. Glory scared Burn off, but she won't stay gone long."

Peril: "Clay, wait!"

Peril touches the binds on Clay's wings melting them off.

Clay: "Thanks, Peril. Now my friends? Please. If we're really friends."

Peril: "All right."

Peril then melts Tsunami's and Glory's chains off.

Clay: "Now take us to Sunny."

Tsunami: "Wait! Peril, can you melt his chains too?"

Tsunami points behind her at Gill.

Glory: "Tsunami, what are you thinking?! He just tried to kill you!"

Tsunami: "He's only like this because of what Queen Scarlet did to him. If we put him in water, he'll be back to his normal self. I'll take care of this."

Peril: "Okay."

Peril melts Gill's chains and Tsunami pins him and holds him tightly.

Clay: "Be careful, Tsunami."

Tsunami: "Don't worry, I'll be back a few moments."

Tsunami flies toward the river while holding Gill tightly. The others then follow Peril to the tower where Sunny is being held.

Clay: "Glory, you never told us you could venom!"

Glory: "I never could before."

Clay: "But how did you do it?"

Glory: "Oh, well, there's a logical scientific explanation and, seriously, right now you want to have this conversation?"

They all enter the tower. Finding Sunny locked in a cage hanging from the ceiling.

Clay: "Sunny!"

Sunny: "I knew you'd be all right! I just kept thinking about the prophecy and how we can't die because we have to stop the war!"

Peril melt the lock, and Sunny comes out of the cage.

Sunny: "Wait… where's Starflight?"

Clay: "He's all right. Escape now, explain later."

Tsunami then returned.

Clay: " Tsunami!"

Glory: "What happened to the crazy Seawing?"

Tsunami: "He's fine, he's himself again. He's on his way home."

Peril: "Clay, wait. My mother! If Queen Scarlet isn't dead, she'll kill her."

Clay: "You're right. We have to get Kestrel out."

Tsunami: "Why? What do we care?"

Sunny: "We care. We can't help it. She raised us."

Glory: "I don't. She was going to kill me."

Tsunami: "She didn't raise us to care about her. She raised us to stay alive."

Clay: "I want to be something more than alive. I want to be the kind of dragon she doesn't think I am—the kind they write prophecies about. That kind of dragon would rescue her no matter how awful she is."

Tsunami: "Fine."

Glory: "Do what you like, but I'm not a mushy ball of forgiveness like you, Clay."

Tsunami: "Glory, take Sunny somewhere safe."

Glory: "Where?"

Peril: "I know a place. There's a cave way down by the river, behind the waterfall."

Peril points to the waterfall.

Peril: "This way!"

Clay and Tsunami follows Peril, and Glory and Sunny fly toward the waterfall. Clay then spots a scavenger climbing down the palace wall.

Clay: (Poor little scrappy creature.)

Clay grabs the scavenger.

Clay: (Can't believe I'm feeling sorry for a scavenger.)

He drops the scavenger near the ground and flies off.

Clay: "And stay away from dragons from now on." (Ha! As if it can understand me!)

They go to where Kestrel is being held prisoner.

Kestrel: "Peril? What are you doing here?"

Tsunami: "Rescuing you against my will."

Peril: "Stand back."

Peril melts the bars to make a hole big enough for Kestrel to get through. Kestrel then climbs out.

Kestrel: "I…I thought you dead."

Peril: "I thought you were dead."

Peril melts the chains off Kestrel.

Peril: "But I guess I didn't need you. I turned out all right."

Clay/Tsunami: (All right?)

Peril: "Queen Scarlet took care of me. She kept me safe and found me black rocks. She gave me a purpose."

Kestrel: "Black rocks?"

The guards: "Hey! The prisoners!" "Stay where you are!"

Two guard come and breathes fire at Tsunami, but Clay gets in-front of her and protects her with his fireproof scales. The guard then tackles Clay, Tsunami is fighting with the other guard and the guard pushes Tsunami down.

Kestrel: "Kill them and let's go!"

Peril flies toward the guard.

Guard: "Wait—."

Peril quickly kills the guard. Peril then lands in-front of Clay and the guard.

Clay: "Run."

The guard flees, and Clay stops Peril.

Kestrel: "Stupid worm! That guard will raise the alarm. We'll be caught in moments."

Tsunami: "Don't talk to Clay that way! Just—follow us and stop talking!"

Peril melts Kestrel's wing bindings. Then they all take off.

Tsunami: "Let's find Glory and Sunny at the river."

Kestrel: "Stay low. We don't want to be seen."

The arrive at the waterfall, where Glory and Sunny were waiting.

Tsunami: "You think those Skywings are searching for us?"

Glory: "Isn't it nice to be wanted?"

Sunny: "Kestrel! I'm so glad you're all right!"

Kestrel: "No thanks to you five. You wanted so badly to be free. Now do you see why we had to protect you?"

Tsunami: "You're welcome. We welcome. We could have left you there. I would have."

Kestrel: "Oh, we did everything wrong. Blame us, but we did what the talons of peace asked."

Tsunami: "We're not going back to the talons of peace."

Sunny: "We're not?"

Kestrel: "Oh? What's your magnificent plan?"

Tsunami: "We're going to find our homes. And our parents. We're going to see this war firsthand and then then figure out for ourselves what to do."

Kestrel: "Fine. What do I care? You're on your own now, and good riddance."

Sunny: "Oh, Kestrel, you don't mean that."

Kestrel: "Peril, are you coming?"

Clay: "I thought you were coming with us."

Peril: "I—I don't—."

Tsunami: "Over my charred, dead body."

Glory: "Why not? Maybe Peril's your missing dragonet. Your "wings of sky."

Peril: "Oh, could I be?"

Glory: "The largest egg in mountain high." If you hatched with a twin, your egg must have been huge."

Clay: "Wow. Do you think so?"

Peril: "That's true! Maybe I'm part of your destiny!"

Kestrel: "Nota chance. Peril hatched over a year before the brightest night. Your Skywing died in the egg. I saw the shattered shell. Come with me. I'm not much, but I'm better than Scarlet."

Kestrel puts her talon on Peril's shoulder, but quickly takes it off so she doesn't get burned by Peril's firescales.

Peril: "I can't go with either of you. How would I get my black rocks?"

Kestrel: "Tell me about these black rocks."

Peril: "You know, the rocks! I have to eat the every day to stay alive."

Kestrel: "More of Scarlet's lies. You don't need anything like that."

Peril: "But—I stopped taking them and got sick—."

Kestrel: "Poison in your food. One of Scarlet's favorite tricks."

Peril: "Was anything she told me true."

Kestrel: "Scarlet? I doubt it."

Tsunami: "Before you go, tell us what you know about our eggs. We deserve to know where we came from."

Kestrel: "No surprises with you. Webs stole your egg from the Seawing Queen's hatchery."

Sunny: "Tsunami! You really are royalty!"

Kestrel: "Morrowseer brought us Starflight's egg. Dune found Sunny's egg hidden in the desert, near the Scorpion Den. And before she died, a Mudwing named Asha brought us your big, strong hero from the diamond spray delta. Where the lowest-born Mudwings live."

Clay: (The diamond spray delta! I bet that's not far from here.)

Glory: "What about me?"

Kestrel: "Webs scrounged you up when we lost the Skywing egg. I never asked him where. I knew you weren't important."

Princess Tsunami: "Oh, go away! You're just mean all the time."

Kestrel: "Everything I say is true."

Peril: "I never imagined you like this."

Kestrel: "I'm the way life made me. Take it or leave it."

Clay: "She's not the kindest dragon, but she did try to save you."

Peril: "No. Not now. Maybe—. Maybe someday."

Kestrel: "Fine. I've been on my own before. When you realize you need me, send a message through the dragon at Jade Mountain. Not that I'll come running. You deserve all the trouble you'll get."

Sunny: "Thank you for… something, I guess."

Kestrel: "Listen, Mudwing. You can't protect the others if you won't kill for them. Just think about that."

Kestrel flies off, out of sight.

Sunny: "It's okay, Clay. She doesn't really mean it."

Clay: "Yeah. She dose. You can still come with us. Even if you're not in the prophecy."

Peril: "No. I don't think… I don't think I deserve to."

Clay: "What dose that mean?"

Peril: "It's like you said. There are dragons they write prophecies about… And then there's me. You're the hero. I'm the bad guy."

Clay: "you got us out of the sky kingdom."

Peril: "Only because of you. Maybe we were both born killers. But I let myself become one. You chose to be something else. I have to do that, too. I'm staying here. It's where I belong."

Clay: "Don't you want to see the world outside the sky kingdom?"

Peril: "Not until I feel like the world can be safe from me."

Princess Tsunami: "Can we get going? Before we attract company?"

Peril: "I'll wait till you're gone, the fly in a different direction. Maybe I can lead them away."

Clay: "Are you sure? What if Burn tries to punish you?"

Peril: "There's only one good thing about me. No dragon can hurt me. Except you."

Clay: "That's not the only good thing about you, Peril."

Peril: "You make me hope that's true."

Princess Tsunami: "Clay. You have to go."

Peril: "When you end the war come find me."

Peril flies off, out of sight.