Chapter Text
The SkyWing palace was such a grand sight to behold. The golden spires, the glittering red wings of civilians flocking around, and looming towers. The pristine gates were kept by guards in golden armor and tall spears. The weapons the guards held were several tail lengths above them. It was fascinating.
At least she thought so.
Her impression of them would change once she got closer as they shuddered. All 4 guards held their positions, looking at her as if she'd been a SeaWing intruder. Yes, she was darkly colored compared to the rest of the SkyWings, nonetheless, you'd think they would have reacted a bit more calm.
Moonfall had an interesting collaboration of color in her scales, but nothing so outrageous that would make them act the way they did. She had a pale pink color along her underside and deep navy blue covering the remainder of her. Spectacles were placed over her nose. Her eyes probably looked laughably huge behind the lenses. Lots of potion bottles, chains, and bags of gems clinked together around her neck. Beaded homemade jewelry was looped around her ears and horns.
She fluttered her wings haphazardly and landed with pressure spiking up through her talons and into her forearms. Her flying abilities were shockingly awful. She, unfortunately, got her flying abilities from her hermit of a mother who was a NightWing. Her father's useless traits all went to her appearance.
"Halt! Who desires to enter Queen Scarlet's palace?" This guard was covered in orange scales. A hideous orange on its own, but it suited him enough to be considered decent-looking.
"My name doesn't matter." She stepped forward further, her wings still aching from the flight over the mountains. "I'm here to make my acquaintance with the queen." She lifted her nose, making her form seem larger. "She is in a meeting with Burn, I know." She unraveled the tangled chains around her neck.
They all appeared confused.
The jewelry and spell jars clinked together around her neck. The potions sloshed and her glasses reflected the light off the dark purple liquids. Her glasses had beads swinging down.
She waited for the guards to do something apart from stare at her and each other.
"Well?" She impatiently stepped forward. "By all the moons, I'm a seer. I'm here to speak with Queen Scarlet. Now let me through!" She bore her teeth as she flicked her ears back, one earring swinging so wildly that it smacked the teardrop scale behind her eye.
The guards hustled, almost corraling her through the gates down a wide-open hall.
Moonfall could only continue to admire Queen Scarlet's decorations. Her wealth was obvious. The SkyWing queen held herself high up on the list of Pyrrhia queens. Her wealth was exploding onto every surface in the castle. Gold ran up the walls, marbled with the stone. Portraits of the Queen were on the wall every ten feet. The red carpet under her talons was lush and carefully placed. Everything was sparkling, there was no such thing as dirt here.
Two of the guards went first, stepping into the large and open room. They lined the entrance of the throne room, bowing to their queen who sat in the center of the room. Her tail was flicking back and forth. She was watching the surrounding dragons, but then quickly pulled her gaze away and onto Moonfall.
When Moonfall entered the throne room, it was just as she'd predicted.
First, everyone would turn and gape at her. They would mainly be SandWings occupying the throne room. Including Princess Burn who would appear the most menacing. Many had begun chattering silently amongst themselves, but the SandWing guards surrounding Princess Burn had stayed still, pointing their spears and stinger tails toward the Night/SkyWing hybrid.
Next, the guards would be accused of letting a civilian into the throne room during a private meeting-
"I specifically ordered you all to keep civilians out!" Scarlet whined. She held out her claws, the rings on each talon were sparkling under the rays of sunlight cast through the open ceilings. "Bring me another glass." She ordered toward her servants who all were ushered out and started gathering back around with different trays of fruit and kabobs. Glasses of wine were set next to the queen's throne.
Third, they would try to attack Moonfall since she resembled a NightWing vaguely. They would think she was there to spy on Burn and Scarlet's meeting to report back to one of the other SandWing sisters. They had good reasons to assume, but at the same time Moonfall thought it was silly, especially since the NightWings hadn't claimed to be allying with anyone.
One of the guards stepped forward. "Your highness, we apologize, but she-" He began explaining how Moonfall had refused to leave and was claiming to be a seer.
And lastly-
"My, my, your scales are lovely." Queen Scarlet complimented. Her ears flicked around. Her entire body was covered in jewelry and bling. "They would look nice on me, wouldn't they?" Her wings shifted back and reflected light off of the gold armor and into Burn's eyes on accident.
Scarlet had to comment on Moonfall's clashing pink and blue scales. Moonfall admitted that her scales were pretty, but she never would have thought that Queen Scarlet would think so.
"Your majesty," The NightWing, SkyWing hybrid bowed, her horns tapping against the chains holding all her potions to her neck. She felt the eyes of SkyWing advisors and SandWing guards watching her every move. She hungrily stared at all the jewels against Scarlet's scales. Moonfall loved royal jewels and armor, but had never had the courage to steal from royals, nor had she the money to buy them away.
Queen Scarlet huffed.
"What do you want, NightWing?" Burn exclaimed, her voice a deep rumble. "I don't have time for spies in my midst." Burn's scars made her suddenly more menacing as the SandWing Princess puffed out her chest and stared right into Moonfall's soul.
Moonfall nodded, "I can assure you I am no spy." Her chains clattered loudly. "I'm a seer." She proudly announced it, feeling self-conscious now that she looked around and saw more SkyWings decorated in glittery jewels. She was the least decorated dragon in this room. Even the servants had armor or masks, or pretty sheer cloth around their necks like scarves.
Burn hissed. "And? What of it?"
Queen Scarlet made a noise of interest and her ears perked up. She leaned forward, closer to the edge of her throne, listening. Her claws were wrapped around a glass of red wine, and her tongue flicked in and out like that of a servant smelling the air for its prey.
"The NightWings, one of my native tribes, have rejected me." She breathed in. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm a SkyWing and NightWing hybrid. I have no reason to hide this." Actually, she'd never personally gone to see the NightWing tribe, she knew they were in a bit of disarray after Augury took over. But she'd seen all the outcomes, there were a few that allowed her to join the NightWings, but the majority of the outcomes had Augury telling Moonfall that she'd be a "liability". Whatever that meant. "I was hoping to seek asylum in the SkyWing palace as Queen Scarlet's advisor."
Queen Scarlet snickered. "How do I know that Battlewinner hasn't just sent you to get information for her? How do I know you are a seer?"
Moonfall didn't expect that question surprisingly. This outcome was supposed to be unlikely as Scarlet in most outcomes usually wouldn't have questioned anything. Scarlet was one to mainly look for pretty dragons to roam the castle halls or ones that had enough of a reputation to fight in her arena. Moonfall could only hope that Scarlet wouldn't decide to put her in the arenas.
Moonfall sighed. "Because. Queen Battlewinner is dead." There was an audible gasp throughout the throne room. "She's been killed by her top advisor, and so has her only heir." Moonfall hated watching the pictures of how it happened over and over. She hated that she seemed to be able to predict the bloodiest outcomes.
Burn didn't look surprised. Scarlet looked pleased.
"So the NightWings have fallen." Burn spoke, acting as if she'd been informed of wondrous news. The SandWing Princess had obviously been waiting for something bad to happen to the traitorous NightWings.
Moonfall hated to correct the SandWing Princess. One wrong move and Burn's tail would be lodged through her throat. "No."
All the SkyWings and SandWings turned back to look at her again. They were still unsure of this strange dragon in front of them. Should they be afraid of her? Should they question Moonfall? Or should they let her do whatever she wants? Should they let her become a SkyWing advisor?
Moonfall glanced around, feeling the lush red carpet beneath her talons, spotting the guards move back to leave only two with her. The sunlight split through the open-air windows and arches in the walls. The warmth of the room was because of the SkyWings huffing and puffing smoke from their nose as well as the summer air.
"The NightWing tribe is under a new command. A much more dangerous one." Moonfall stepped closer to Burn. "Her name is Augury, and she's the strongest NightWing in her tribe, the old queen's advisor." She chuckled. "Need I say more? I'm on your side." Moonfall eyed Scarlet's expressions and her jewels. The SkyWing queen was much more beautiful than given credit.
Most would have heard her say that and doubt it, but she knew that Scarlet saw directly through her confident persona and into her shy and nervous personality. Scarlet knew she was telling the truth. And that was all Moonfall needed right now. She needed the queen to believe her and give her some stability from the SkyWing tribe. Moonfall needed Scarlet to give her the highest place in the court, apart from being the ruler.
Queen Scarlet sighed. "Guards, return to your places, and Ruby. why don't you make yourself useful for once and show our new quest to the guest quarters." Scarlet waved her bejeweled talons at the connecting hallway and her head toward a less-blingy SkyWing who stood awkwardly in a corner.
She was a mousy SkyWing who Moonfall knew as the queen's heir. Ruby ducked out from the shadows and began to ask Moonfall to follow behind her.
Burn scowled at the Night/Sky hybrid as Moonfall walked past. And the hybrid knew she had failed the second part of her goals.
First, she needed Scarlet to trust her. And second, she needed to have Burn not hate her. But alas, she already failed that second part. Hopefully, she'd be able to gain enough of Scarlet's trust to fight off Burn's wrath, have Burn decide that Moonfall is a threat after all. She could only hope that Burn wouldn't decide that too fast.