I felt proud, honestly. I managed to intimidate the Lavawing queen herself. She looked nothing alike the stories though. But she ended up telling a guard something and he brought us down to some type of dungeon. One guard at the front glared while the other coward away in fear but not quite leaving his post, both went rigid. "I guess word gets around here pretty quickly." Tidal whispered. She was looking quite better. The bleeding stopped. When the bleeding started, I had to look the other way and run. My heart and my head were pounding in rhythm. It was more sicking then the noise. Tidal never really liked me much, or just didn't act like she did. Going behind my back and using me, *cough* escape plan *cough*. I was closer to Scales because she understood how I felt. It made Tidal jealous, which satisfied me. It means she would crawl to me right? Wrong... I mean don't get me wrong, Tidal was great! She just suffered from self-loathe. She always thought so lowly of her scales. Hating them and falling in love with mine. Being her idol made me look down on her. I made sure to put extra water on my scales, I even got between the scales to look even better. I don't know when it happened... I guess it's in my blood. I know it was wrong, and she was nothing more than kind. I know I should stop and be like Forest. She would be happier... I shook my head slightly, slipped my tongue out, stood a little straighter, and glared down my nose at the weakling guard. A small high pitched "eeh" came out and he ran as fast as he could, riping his scales off against the wall as he tried to go out the door while staying far away from me. The other guard look mortified. Success! "Heh. So, which way to my mother, Gory?" I sprinkled in my mothers name for the extra fear factor. This time, both of the Lavawings went rigid. As if the just the mention of the sound, "G" would strike fear into the hearts of all those who heard. I was begining to like my mother already.
But if I had a time machine, I would've slapped the past me.
We walked down a long hallway. There was no light what-so-ever, so the further we got, the harder it was to see. "P-Please watch yo-your s-step..." the guard said quietly. I found the steps with a petrifying SCRAPE. Storm followed behind me with Dasher under her right wing and Tidal under her other. Forest was not as lucky... He missed the first step and face planted into Storm's back. A horrible squish sound happened before Forest started screaming at the top of his lungs. Storm made sure Tidal and Dasher couldn't see him, and I wish I couldn't see either. Right smack dab in the middle of his pupil was a trail of dark blood oozing out of his eye, but clear slimy stuff was also pouring down. Poor Forest was my second reaction. My first was to scream at the top of my lungs with Forest. The noise got quieter and quieter as we kept screaming. The hallway getting darker and darker. Then out of nowhere, I was on the floor... I felt mildly dizzy and 100 percent nauseous. I woke up in a cell with the others. Forest had been treated apparently. The oozing of both materials had stopped and there was no sign of it. A white bandage patched his eye with a discolored spot in the middle. It was really small so I assumed the bandage had been changed multiple times. Poor Forest... He was asleep, and the closest to the cell door. It was a pretty big size to be honest. I don't know how far back or how wide it was but it was big. I picked Forest up carefully and brought him a little further back into the cell. The others were fast asleep. At least that's what I thought until Dasher appeared put of no where. I was trained to be better and not let these things scare me. "Hmf. Was that supposed to scare me?" I joked. Dasher rolled his eyes and stiffles a yawn. I could tell he was exhausted. He may have black scales, but his puffy eyes and numerous yawns told me he wasn't fine. He looked like crap to be completely honest. I felt truly bad. I got everyone into this stupid mess! I just hope- no PRAY- that they didn't see Forest. "D-Did you...-" Dasher interrupted me, "No, Storm made sure of it. Tidal was scared though, she thought another guard had stabbed Forest behind us. When she saw you faint, she fainted herself from fear." I hadn't even considered how they would react when I reacted. I know Tidal was a dragonet, but I didn't think she would faint. "I-Im so sorry..." Dasher's jaw dropped in awe. "W-What was that. The Desert I know is super sarcastic and NEVER apologizes..." He stared at me for a bit. I decided not to be in a bad mood and started laughing softly. Dasher soon joined and we stayed like that for a bit longer. Just a bit longer was all I could think. I didn't wanna face reality, that's why I live in a made up world. Sarcasm is an escape, a backdoor. My hiding place. But like Scales always said, "Stuff happens, that's life. Either get over it, or it gets over you.", some surprisingly wise words I took to heart. But just as I expected, the laughing ended quickly. Dasher sighed and looked at the ground confused. "What's on your mind?" I asked him. He sighed again and looked up frowning. "Why were we raised separately? It just doesn't make sense." He grumbled. I chuckled and looked him in the eye. This was an answer I knew. "Scales told me that people didn't approve of them, well more of their beliefs. Many people keep quiet, they don't wanna be a traitor for who knows which ruler we will choose. So Scales and Fossil had separated and took few children with them. It was so we couldn't be found and killed. Fossil only took two because he was headed to a cave, some other dragons may find." I said. Dashed nodded his head and looked backed down. "So, how did it happen?" Dasher pointed to Forest as he whispered. I looked over and my stomach turned. "He... missed the first step-" *Gulp* "-and hit Storms spike..." I replied softly. Dasher covered his mouth and gagged. Tidal shuffled in her sleep, which made Dasher jump. "Pfft-" I bit down on my tongue as hard as I could. Dasher stuck his tongue out at me and moved to the other wall to sleep. I sat down then stood back up again. I hate this. This isn't going at all as I planned. I squinted into the back of the cave and walked slowly towards it. A couple steps later my claw wuz hovering above a dark pit with bits of lava at the bottom. "Volcano." I said. I blew out a shaking breath and spread my wings. I flapped and flapped higher and higher until I heard at loud crack. I looked next to me and flew still. An old lavawing who looked about 98 was clawing at the wall. A guard holding a spear was at his side. The spear looked different though. It had some kind of orange at the tip. It took me a little to realize what was going on. The old dragon had holes in back and the guards spear was pointed at it. These horrible people! Heating the tip of the spear just to jab it into a fellow dragon! The disgust and horror that ran through my body had no words. I dove back down and stopped halfway. If the cells open up like this, can't I go visit my mother? The thought make a warm mushy feeling rise up inside of me. I went from cell to cell until I found one just at the bottom. Most were empty. Closer to the lava was a cell with a dragon in it. She had a nasty scar that took up half her face. But the one part I was wondering about was the fact that she had no scales. She was pink and wrinkly. I landed on her ledge and gripped my tail around a rock. "Hello?" I called. The dragon raised her head to look at me. She tilted it slightly and smiled. "Hello dragonet. What brings you to the cell of Gory?" Gory had a tone in her voice which made my scales wanna jump off my body and bolt. "Hi Gory." I tried to mimic her tone as best as I could. Her head tilted to the side a bit again and her smile quickly vanished. "I'm Desert. The beloved daughter of the most despicable dragon..." I stood up straight and looked down my nose at my mother. Gory's face went from shock to hatred. She lashed out and me but thick metal chains held to the the ground. "YOU LITTLE BRAT! IM GOING TO KILL YOU!" She screeched. I flinched back and broke the rock in my tail. Gory laid back down again and sighed. "Sorry. I thought you where another's child. I must be mistaken though." She smiled at me and I almost fainted. Now I know why the land feared her. "Yes... I am Gory's daughter." I stated, choking down a blood curdling scream. "Ah yes, my offspring." She tapped her claw on the ground. I couldn't help but stare. "My skin?" She asked me, cooing. I nodded. "Well, it's my punishment. I was chained down and had each of my beautiful scales burned off from the lava you see below you..." Gory sighed and lifted her claw. "The lava was meant to burn my scales, but ended up burning my wings too." I looked at her wings and realized what she meant. Giant wing sized holes where on her back. I whipped around and hurled. I looked back and my mother was smiling, even more terrifying than the last. I jumped up and screamed. I flew up and up until I found our cave and curled up into a small ball and laid their shaking until I slept. Tidal nudged me awake, her face curved in worry. "What's wrong? I've never seen you this scared." She whispered. I felt bad for lying, but I couldn't let her down- could I? "I just had a nightmare, that's all." I tried to keep my voice from shaking horribly. Tidal looked down. Probably remembering me fainting right in front of her. The poor dragonet... Maybe it was possible my mother was talking about another dragon. I forgot I'd have to worry about these ones. I loved my mother, she was scary and powerful. All I ever wanted. Maybe, just maybe, we could escape together and live as royalty amongst the other Lavawings. Just maybe. While food was brought to us, I snuck into the darkness of the cave and flew back down to my mother. She was gnawing on a bone. "H-HIII mOther!" My voice hit so many octaves I couldn't count. Gory laughed and looked up at me. "Back for another game of Love?" Gory spit out the last word as if it was poisonous. I nodded slowly. I let out a loud *GULP* and sat in front of my mother slowly. Looking down at her, I collected all of my courage and asked, "Gory, will you accompany me in escaping?". Gory's eyes shined like a thousand little stars. I could see what my father must have seen in her. The passion burning in her soul. She flicked her tongue out at me. "I have a key. A couple keys actually. It's in my bone pile." I have Gory a confused look. "I have killed many guards, but without my wings, I can never escape." She said. Oh right! I stabbed my talon into the tip of my tail. I forced my self to tear my gaze away from her and look at the pile of bones. A couple helmets and chest pieces were lying near them. A deadly shiver ran down my scales. Gory flicked her head sideways, beckoning me to grab the key. I stood up and walked slowly, reminding myself to breathe. One talon in front of the other. I repeated this phrase constantly until I made it to the pile. I could feel small but of heat radiating off of my mother's sides. I held a shaky talon out and picked up a random key laying furthest away from the bones. I turned around slowly. A loud clank made me realize I dropped the key, due to my shaking. I quickly picked it up and squeezed my eyes shut. I imagined me, Tidal, and Forest. We were playing One Talon Two Talons. Forest went first. He chose Two Talons. *cough* *wheeze*, Gory pulled me out of my fantasy as I ski. Realized all the locks where done. "Wow." I breathed out, "Security really sucks here doesn't it?" I asked. Gory laughed and narrowed her eyes at me. "Whoever ventured down here, it's left to die." She responded in a cold, harsh tone. The felt thinner. "Now let me hop on your back, we can use the key to get out of here and fly away." Gory stated. Was I READY for this?! I shook my head and Gory crouched down really low. "I-I mean I can't! I'm too weak!" I yelled. Gory stood back up again and sighed. "Go eat! Get your strength up. Come back to me when your not completely useless." She pointed out of her cave. I nodded hesitantly. When I landed back in our cave I crept forward, as not to alarm anybody. I ate my food just like anyone else, laid down, and tried to dream of One Talon Two Talons. When I awoke, everybody was fast asleep. I knew I had little time until we were brought our next meal, and I kinda wanted to prove my mother wrong. Being useless isn't me. I rushed back down. Making loud wing flaps. Gory smiled cruelly. I wanted to turn into a Shadowwing and disappear entirely. We unlocked the door and silently slipped out. I kept the key, just for a slight detour. When my mother wasn't watching, I opened the door to our cell as wide as I could and dashed off before anyone noticed. Gory slipped onto my back, watching my scales. We crept alone the dark walls and flew out as fast as we could when and opening was visible. I heard wingbeats behind us and saw Storm emerge. Dasher was carrying Forest and Tidal was too sleepy to argue. We all flew away, keeping my mother tucked in my wings, out of sight. Flying was the easy part, landing was not. We landed right inside of Core's palace. Turns out Light was planing to kill her brothers before they could be crowned. Star was dead and Light was coming to kill Core. The throne room was were we landed, right in the middle of the chaos. Core smiled, delighted. "Oh my goodness! Sister look! They have come to choose a ruler!" Core shouted. Star's limp body hit the floor and Light stared at us, gawking. Poor Light. Murder was not a good look on her. Core started clapping and Light screeched in fear. She ran to her brother and speared him in the throat in rage. She whipped her head around and laughed. "Haha....haha...HAHA! IM THE NEW QUEEN, RIGHT?! I KILLED THEM ALL! IM THE STRONGEST! THE ONLY ONE ALIVE!" She screamed. Everybody went still. Light laughed softly and looked around. "Right? Why isn't everybody clapping?" She asked. Tidal woke up and took at step forward. "If the chosen ruler ever bows." She recided. Light growled and ran towards Tidal. Storm lurched in front of her and threatened to bite Light. Light looked around and shouted, "FINE!". She got down low and bowed to Storm. Slow applauding arose and it soon turned into a rapid clapping. Like a thousand dragons all roaring in union. A black misty line arose from the ground and wrapped around Light. I covered her from head to tail and tightened until Light was screaming and trying the rip it off. The applauding continued as she struggled for air. Finally, the black mist stopped. As Light tool a deep breath, the mist disappeared into her snout. Light exhaled and a thin trace of black mist blew out. The applauding got louder and louder until it was deafening. Everybody was hugging in celebration. The war was finally over! I reached around and hugged my mother. "Fool" she whispered. I almost didn't hear it until a sharp pain arose in my throat. It burned like a thousand little fires dancing around. A slicing pain so unbearable I couldn't scream. After a little bit I fell nothing and watched as my headless body spurted blood while I cried my last tears, seeing all my friends smiling and laughing with the crowd. My happiest memory. Then it all went black, I lost all sense, my last wish was for eternal happiness for all whom I loved. The darkness grew greater and greater. I felt myself smile, releasing all pain and suffering.
THE END