A Sky Of Secrets
Chapter 1: A Wish Fulfilled
Cherry was flying on the outskirts of the Sky Kingdom. She loved the feel of the wind beneath her wings. Of course, all Sky Wings did, but it was different for her; she never got to do this. Usually, she was at home studying with her dad. Dad isn't here anymore, and that's for the better, she thought with a sharp pain of sadness and a shiver down her spine. Maybe that's enough flying, I should go back. She landed back in the place, hoping nobody noticed she was gone, but of course, the universe was like good luck of Cherry, no way that could happen. Cliff ran up to her with a mix of anger and happiness on his face. "Where were you?" he screamed at Cherry while crying. "Hey, it's all right, don't cry, I'll get in trouble," she said with a smile. She knew Cliff wouldn't let her get hurt as long as he had any power. "There are dragons being mean to me," he said, pointing behind him while staying nuzzled in her stomach. "Who?" she asked, looking up when her heart flipped. Standing in front of her was Solstice "Him "No other mean ones," "He's been like this ever since we realized you weren't here, he's like your son, you know," Solstice said. "I know it's just," she said, fumbling her words. She could never talk right in front of Solstice, it was very annoying. "I still feel cooped up in here." "I know," He said, "Just try to stay with him, it is exhausting with everyone frantic about Queen Ruby dying," he said, then paused and looked up at her. She couldn't have grief about the queen or her dad with Solsitce around, she was more worried about Cliff. She looked down and saw him crying, even softer, snuggling even closer. She looked back up and Solstice with a stern look, but couldn't keep it on for long with his funny and cute apologetic face, so she quickly brought Cliff to his room away from everyone and let him sleep, and wiping his tears, she waited and waited until she felt a small claw poke her. She turned around, and it was Cliff trying to pull her into the bed with him. "I wish I could, buddy," she said, "But I'll get in trouble." "Me protect you," He said.
"Sorry, you wouldn't have a say in that."
"Ok," he said, sniffling. He's gone through so much for being so young, she thought.
"How about I tell you a story, would you like that?"
"Yes," he said, "Can you tell me one about mommy?"
"Sorry, I only saw her once and didn't talk to her."
"Ok, but I don't want to hear fake one,"
"Uh, I only have one about my dad, and only one has your mom in it, but not in a good way." "You mean Mommy gone in that story?"
"Yeah, Mommy gone in that story."
"I want to hear it, no one will tell it to me."
"Fine," she said, "Here we go, I was in my room studying as always, when I heard my dad getting his coat and something else I came out, and he was holding a knife 'What are you doing' he said 'Get back to your room!' so I listened and went back when I heard the door open I looked throught the crack in my room door and saw my dad leaving so I trailed him keeping quiet when I saw him tell the guards queen Ruby requested him I followed but the guards stoped me unil I told them what happened and how my dad had a knife and he was an they darted inside with my and we saw Queen Ruby on the floor dead and my dad with a bloddy knife the gaurds imedditly caught and killed him and told everyone what happend exept you, The end," she said as Cliff took a step back with a fearful look in his eyes
"You no hurt me?" he asks, his voice shaking
"No, I will never hurt you," She said
"Thank you," he said, cuddling her now, shaking a little less
"You're welcome," she said
"Can I hear m-more?" he asked
"Yes, do you want to hear about Animus magic?" she asked
"Yes," he said, eyes wide.
"Ok, well, did you know your mom was a different dragon, but Animus magic made her an entirely new one, but she loved you no matter what form she was in."
"Whoa, that's cool," he said when Solstice burst open the door and said,
"There's trouble."
"Do we need Cliff?" asked Cherry.
"No, leave him here, there fighting over if he should be king or if we should pick someone else. "Then let's bring him to see what he wants."
"Yeah, that's are a good idea," said Solstice, and inside Cherry was so happy she might burst, but then she remembered the fighting, why can nothing good last long, she think's while picking up Ciff "Let's go," she said and they started walking to the throne room she burst open the door and anouced "King Cliff is here stop talking at once," Cliff giggled and tried to jump down to the floor but failed and luckly Cherry caught him before he hit the floor and set him down "Ok King Cliff," said Crimson in his most slimy voice and stepped towards him but was stopped by Solstice "Would you like to hand over all the resposibiltys of king to someone else like a queen," said Crimson "Oh, no more work?" Cliff asked Cherry,
"Yes, but no more room, you'll have to find a new place to live and still work at school, and would kick me out since you're the only one protecting me," she answered when Solctice said "Ahem."
"Oh, and that guy over there," She said, pointing at Solstice
"No, no, I stay king, and she stays with me," Cliff said, hugging Cherry
"Well, how about a compromise, my king?" said Crimson said "You are allowed to live here plus you still get all the privliges, and any really big decisions are up to you, and you can kick whoever is in your place, and then you become king when you're of age."
"What's the age?" asked Cherry.
"How about Queen Snowfall's age when she turned to Queen?" he replied..
"Yes, I like that," said Cliff. "Is good choice?" he asked, turning to Cherry.
"Yes, I like it," she said.
"Then it's settled, who will you pick?" Crimson said,
"Someone on the board?" Cherry helped.
"Yes, her," said Cliff, pointing to Gem. She's reasonable, thought Cherry.
"Ok, it's settled. Gem will be queen until Cliff is of age," said Crimson. "Dismissed," and everyone left, including Stolace, which stabbed a dagger in Cherry's heart. As they were walking through the halls, Cliff said, "Can I go play?"
"In the gardens?" asked Cherry.
"Yes," said Cliff.
"Yeah, climb on," she said, pointing at her back. She knew the real reason he wanted to
"Ok," Cliff said with a happy voice, and tried to climb and fly up to her back until Cherry lifted him on and flew to the gardens. When she landed, she was surprised when Cliff screamed "Amber!" and struggled off her back, his wings flapping frantically. When he got off, he awkwardly ran towards Amber, they talked, and played Amber being shy and Cliff being loud. "They're perfect for each other," said Solstice as he landed.
"Yeah," she said. Like we are, but you don't see that, Cherry thought, wait, where did that come from
"I got you a present," he said, "It's a little wood statue of a panda, I know you like them.
"Oh, thanks, you didn't need to," she said, but inside he did; she was never sure if he liked her or not. The panda reassured her. After a while, Cliff ran up and said, "I'm hungry."
"Alright, let's go to dinner," said Cherry
"Um, can I join you?" asked Amber in a small voice
"YES!" screamed Cliff with a red and happy face that almost scared Amber off.
"Come on, let's see if Queen Gem is having a feast," said Cherry.
"Fa-east?" asked Cliff while he and Amber made confused faces at each other.
"Lots of food in celebration of something," said Solstice.
"Oh, I like food," said Cliff, his whole face lighting up. "UP, GO TO FOOD," he screamed, climbing onto Cherry's back with Amber. I wonder if I act like that with Solstice, thought Cherry when a guard came flying up to them. "There's a Night Wing possibly attacking. Get the King to safety." Why are the Night Wings attacking us now? We're all at peace. I wish I could just think 'I enchant this stick to grow bigger and trap the Night Wing and bring her to us. Cherry thought when the stick she was thinking of grew huge and all the sudden the Night Wing was trapped at their feet Hmm, she has little silver tear drops at the corner of her eye's that's interesting she thought as a Sand Wing flew down beside the Night Wing and tried to break the stick but failed "Alright, which one of you is the Animus, and how did you use it WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE broken? " said the Sand Wing
"Um, that might be me who wished the stick would do that, but I did not expect it to work," said Cherry. And heard Cliff gasp and wriggle off her back with Amber and run over to Solstice she looked back at him holding Cliff and Amber hugging Cliff to, Oh Cliff, don't be scared, I'm not going to hurt you, she thought, while making a sad face at Solstice who made a funny face trying to cheer her up which it did a little then the Night Wing made a face at her that was intrigued and sad at the same time
"Well, could you please wish it off the dragon who was trying to warn you guys about another impending doom?" said the Sand Wing.
"Oh, she's not coming to attack Cliff?"
"Wow, did you guys really think that?"
"Yeah, so when a random Night Wing flies towards the palace with a Sand Wing, we think she's going to kill Cliff." Cherry said in her most angry voice, and the Sand Wing almost started to argue back until the Night Wing said, "It's fine, Qibli, she was just worried, like you are when the dragon you love is trapped." Qibli Cherry thought I've heard that name before "Are you the dragons who stopped Darkstalker?" Cherry asked,
"Yes, we are," replied Qibli