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Chapter Text

A long time ago, during an age where political marriages between tribes were more common, a little princess was born in the land of the Night Kingdom, the place that is known in modern days as the Lost City of Night, where some NightWings reside in the encampment called Renewal.
In the time this story takes place, the NightWing Tribe and the IceWing Tribe forged a strong alliance with the engagement of a NightWing prince and an IceWing princess and from their union, Snow White was born.
She was a dragonet of great beauty, with scales so white they could shine under the light of the sun and small, spikes like her mother's, but as black as the darkest night like her father's scales, short and curved like their sharp points were hiding in fear of hurting someone. Her eyes were sweet and dark, carrying the warm light of gentleness and purity and her wings, tinged by a touch of cerulean, had a collection of silver star-like scales forming shapes like droplets of clear water.
Even the nobles who were the most adverse to that marriages between tribes and to a hybrid in their lines were soon won over by the sweet dragonet, her contagious smile and her happiness, something that seemed to heal the heart of her father, who mourned his beloved bride for months to come after she died laying their daughter's egg.
A tragedy, really, while many thought birth complications could strike only mammals, the miracle of bringing new life into the world never came without risk, not even for majestic and invincible-looking creatures like the dragons inhabiting Pyrrha and Pantala.
As if that wasn't enough, the prince's family found itself short of heir to the throne and with lack of sisters, daughters and nieces to earn the crown, the NightWing prince was once again faced with a dragoness he didn't choose first, hoping to find the same love he had found in his departed beloved.

« Snow White, darling, come meet Majestic¹. »

He told his daughter, as the young princess shyly walked up to the future queen of the tribe and wife of her father.
Majestic lived up to her name, a NightWing with scales like polished obsidian that changed in a deep purple along her underscales and on the wings, lightened up by the silver pattern that seemed to mimic the feathers of the raven perched on her shoulder.

« It's an honor to make you acquaintance, your highness. »

The dragonet said, bowing respectfully as the older dragoness smiled gently.

« The honor is mine, Snow White, but please, there's no need for such formality. We'll be a family soon~ »

Majestic said with a warm smile, her green eyes glinting with an invitation to take advantage of the lack of nobles around them to leave the strict etiquette aside for a while.
As Snow White rose, the future queen placed a gentle talon on her shoulder and lowered her head to speak eye-to-eye.

« Now, I know it's a big change and many will probably expect us three to become the picture perfect royal family. But don't feel pressured, alright? Until you feel comfortable with calling me “mother”, just use my name. »
« I will. »

The dragonet smiled.
The future king felt like a heavy weight was lifted from his shoulders, the fear of his daughter growing up without a maternal figure sounded like a distant memory at that moment.
If only he knew of the venomous snake behind that beautiful smile, a snake that was being allowed to slither into their lives.

Chapter Text

Years had passed since the wedding that made Majestic the queen of the NightWing tribe and the dragons of the Night Kingdom had been as happy as ever, guided by a royal family that no NightWing spoke ill about.
The happiness seemed destined to last under the blessing of the three moons and Snow White thought she had found the maternal figure that was ripped from her the day her egg was laid.
But fate had other plans for her, starting with an unknown illness that afflicted her father, something nobody would expect to happen to a dragon as young and healthy as he was. Even more unexpectedly, none of the medics hired by the royal court seemed capable of finding the source of the problem, nor a cure to fix it.
The gentle king faded day by day, but his heart was at peace, for he thought he would leave his kingdom and his daughter in good claws, those of his beautiful queen, currently handing him a chalice full of fresh water, watching his eyes as the lights in them suddenly vanished in front of her and the young princess that sat crying at the feet of her father's bed, before searching for comfort in her stepmother's wings.
The queen was silent, with a grim expression as she held her close.
Soon the royal council would be informed of the king's death and the kingdom would mourn for him, after all, even if queens held all the power in Pyrrhia, he had been just as important during his reign and his benevolent nature had earned the love of every single subject in the kingdom.
Soon Majestic would be alone to ponder the next step in the grand game that was leading a kingdom, a game she was really good at playing, it only took acting as nurturing and nice as a lovesick dragonet at her first crush, to endure endless days of family dinners filled with the cheerful voice of the same princess that she had been doting on with long walks in the castle courtyard and time spent in meaningless activities like picking flowers together or talking about the future and their feelings.
Oh, she had weaved such a big web of lies to hide her true colors behind, sometimes she was afraid she would slip and forget something and dragonets could be so nosy with their questions, but that wouldn't be a problem anymore.

« Stay here, I'll be back. »

Majestic said to Snow White, who obeyed and went back to cry over the king's corpse.
The NightWing left the room, the chalice held tight in her claws before she threw the content in a pot full of flowers, knowing the poison she had crafted herself would act just as slowly as it did with her deceased husband, as if nothing but time and something noone could stop were working.
The dragoness walked away slowly, she'd search for an empty room first and try her best impression of a grieving widow, after all, a great play couldn't miss a tear-jerking performance.

Chapter Text

A few years had passed since the king's departure and things had drastically changed.
Even with the appearance of a kingdom full of happiness and life, the Nightwings worked and lived in the shadows of fear, for the mask of the queen had been thrown aside in favor of the cruel reality.
And in the cold light of reality, Majestic was as cruel as she was beautiful.
More taxes, stricter laws, harsher punishments for those who happened to cross her, careful to keep her subjects subdued and obedient but never crossing the lines that would start a rebellion from the entire kingdom. Some dragons that had been taken by the royal guards, never came back from her castle and while her subjects had entertained the idea of starting a riot, the queen seemed to be always one step ahead and sent her loyal guards to stop everyone that had those traitorous thoughts, even before those were clearly expressed, even if the dragon thinking of a rebellion had been trained to block NightWings with mins-reader powers, nothing escaped Majestic.
Snow White was suffering as well, struck by two heavy wave of grief as she cleaned the marbled stairs of the courtyard.
The gentle stepmother she had grown close with, the dragoness that pretended to love her, that took her on long walks among flowers and taught her about the important of beauty and elegance for a royal, that promised to be there for her and fill the void left from her father's death... everything was nothing but a lie.
A beautiful, cruel lie.
Ever since the king wasn't there to protect her, the young princess had been treated by the queen like a servant, forced to clean more than any other employee of the castle and never wear the jewels left by her birth mother, unless they had to attend events and meetings that required the presence of both dragoness. She had tried to appeal to the mask she had known since the day her father married Majestic, but each time she was met with cold indifference, or a sickening "sweet" smile as the queen poured venom in the form of insults against her, her beauty, her... her everything.
One time, the cruel NightWing made a comment about her birth mother being "lucky to be dead, because she didn't have to see how weak her daughter was", Snow White snapped back, nothing more than a simple retort about Majestic having no rights to talk about her family like that.
That day, her already scarce rations of food were suspended completely, leaving her to face the pain of hunger until the next dawn.
The princess was already four¹ years old, but looked as delicate and harmless as a younger dragonet and the queen didn't seem to care that her stepdaughter was malnourished, most of the time, she didn't seem to notice the princess' existence at all.
But despite all of that, Snow White had the strength to stay positive and keep her heart open to hope and kindness, refusing to break under the feeling of loneliness and the hardship of dealing with the abuse and the confusion that would still swim in the mind of all young dragonets forced to deal with the real colors of someone they had cared for.

« And this is finally over... »

The princess sighed, watching some doves perched on a nearby tree, cooing at her and waving their heads like a polite greeting.

« Are you here to keep me company? »

She asked, walking closer, slowly and silently, trying to make sure the doves wouldn't be scared and fly away.
They cooed again, studying the dragonet and flying closer, landing near a well as she followed them.

« Oh? Do you know the secret of the wishing well too? »

Snow White asked gently, as if the birds could really answer.

« You tell your wish to the well, if you hear it echoing back, it will soon come true. »

The dragonet explained, looking down at her own reflection with a thoughtful smile.
It was her father who told her that story and now that her chores were over, her youthful mind craved some respite from the usual gloomy atmosphere of the castle. Perhaps, to indulge in a happy memory and a story of magic and wishes could help everything feel normal again.

« I'm wishing... »

She said, her voice a delicate song as it echoed throughout the "cramped" (for dragons at least) walls of the well.

« For my love, to find me today~ »

She sung, allowing herself to bathe in that romantic dream most dragonet her age would meet while growing up.
After all, wouldn't it be much better, if she really met someone to make her feel loved and cared for again?

« I'm hoping. And I'm dreaming, of the nice things he'll say~ »

Like those stories her father read to her before sleeping, where dragons found their true love and lived happily ever after.

« It's so sad and lonely, Wishing Well, longing for someone you never see~  Make him love me only, Wishing Well, won't you grant this favor to me~? »

To others (the queen especially), the princess would probably look as childish as a hatchling with her head in the clouds, while she sang again as her father taught her.
But what harm could there be in dreams?

« Tell me, Wishing Well, will my wish come true? »

Snow White asked, her eyes staring at her own in the clear water.

« With your magic spell, won't you tell my loved one what to do? »

She asked.
As she sung again, as the word "today" left her mouth, another one joined hers.
Another silhouette appeared in the reflection and as she looked up, she found herself snout-to-snout with an unknown dragon.
He was a RainWing with brown scales, adorned by patterns that looked like sprouting buds² in shades of red, which roots reached the white belly like veins. The crests and the wings were blue, a bit darker than hers and his eyes, those gentle, warm eyes, were like that morning sky.

« Hello! »

Chapter Text

Being a prince was many things, some may have thought that "boring" was among the various adjectives, but Wax Flower had found the perfect way to fight boredom.
The prince started exploring and going on long trips outside of his kingdom's borders at a very young age, that would always worry his poor parents, he loved them and he appreciated their care, but found their worries too exaggerated.
It was normal for dragons to worry about their dragonets (except for MudWings, of course), but he was old enough to care for himself and, considering that only dragonesses could inherit the throne, he thought his parents should have been smothering with extra-care his sisters more, instead of acting like sloths could suddenly turn evil and eat him.
So the RainWings rulers found the perfect compromise: their adventurous son could accompany the royal messenger, in that way, he could travel as far as he wanted and he would have the protection of the guards escorting them both.

« I'll be back soon. »

Wax Flower smiled at his pet, a stallion as white as the clouds and as fast as the wind.
The prince would have loved to bring his pet with him, but the trip would be too long and he heard many dragons ate even animals as majestic as horses, the stallion was much safer in the village.

« Please, keep an eye on him. »

The RainWing queen told the guards and the dragons took flight, traveling quickly toward the Night Kingdom.

---¹

« It's... a bit less dark than I expected. »

A guard said, watching the halls of the throne room where the group was waiting as the queen graced them with her presence.
The NightWings had been welcoming, though there was an air of... discontent around the kingdom, as if things weren't as "alright" as they appeared to be, but the young prince couldn't pinpoint what it was to stand out in that picture perfect place.
Queen Majestic herself didn't give off those vibes, there was nothing about her that made him think of someone who was satisfied, yet not entirely happy with how things were going in the Night Kingdom. The dragoness had a genuine smile, her gaze carried on a subtle light of victory and each step she took, all that was emanated by her elegant posture was confidence (seasoned with a big sprinkling of expectation about the guests' opinion of her magnificence, but Wax Flower didn't catch that).

« Thank you for receiving us, it's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. »

The young prince said, bowing.

« The pleasure is all mine. It's not everyday that your entrusted allies send you a message and the company of their own prince. »

Queen Majestic said, her voice warm like honey as she sat on her throne.
She had already met the prince's mother, all the queens of Pyrrhia held a peaceful meeting once a year (or every few months, if there was an emergency) and those who wanted to would bring their daughters over so they could learn more about being in charge the day they would claim their throne. Wax Flower had never been to those meetings before, only kings could attend and just in case their wives were unable to, but he had heard about Majestic from his mother and, looking at said queen, now he understood what she meant when she called her "someone who needs attention".
Each one of the dragoness' movements was slow and careful, as if the simple act or motioning for the RainWing messenger to handle her the scroll was a display to admire and her arm was a precious piece of jewelry as precious as those adorning her body.

« I trust the journey has been pleasant and my subjects welcomed you with the proper respect. »
« Yes, Your Majesty. »
« Very well, I had my chef prepare something for us all... »

The queen turned her eyes to a NightWing that sat a few tail-length behind the throne, puffing his chest out and raising his head with pride.

« Something to properly welcome you in my humble palace~ »

"Humble?"
Wax Flower looked at the walls of the hall and all the queen's portraits, then thought back of the statue welcoming every newcomer right at the palace entrance, a perfect replica of the queen herself.
"Yes... I guess the palace is the humble one between the two."
Hiding an amused smile at his own joke, the prince bowed his head and thanked the queen.
Suddenly, a raven with a ring flew into the room and perched on the throne, motioning to the direction it came from as Queen Majestic's smile widened subtly.

« I beg your pardon, my good guests, but I have a really important matter to take care of. I trust my loyal servant to show you the beauty of our palace, before the feast will be ready. »

She said, snapping her claws as a young, shy-looking NightWing with dark green scales walked closer, seemingly unbothered with being called "the servant" instead of his actual name.

« No problem at all, Your Majesty... »

Wax Flower said, though the idea of a queen leaving her guests alone wasn't exactly nice, especially if they come to deliver messages and weren't just doing a pleasure visit.
The RainWing prince almost asked about it, but his words were interrupted by the queen's departure and the servant's invitation to follow him around for the palace tour.

« Well, at least we get the food after this. »

One of his personal guards said under her breath, chatting with her colleague.
But among the whispered chatter and the voice of their guide leading them through a corridor, Wax Flower heard another sound, gentle and melodic, a sweet voice singing.
It was brief, as if something had suddenly muffled it, but he was sure he heard a dragoness singing and that caught the young prince's mind's curiosity.

Chapter Text

The first reaction to a complete stranger appearing right beside her, should have been to fight.
Or at the very least, to stand her ground and assert her authority as the princess of the palace.
Yet, faced with a dragon older than her (though not that much older) that appeared out of nowhere like a ghost, catching her in such childish act as wishing in a well was, Snow White was startled and, caught by surprise and unprepared, felt her body move before her mind, running away from the stranger and right inside the palace.

« I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you! »

The dragon called behind her.
The princess quietly peeked from a window, taking a deep breath to asses the situation properly.
The stranger was a RainWing, it wasn't a surprise that he had sneaked up to her without anyone noticing, but it was simply impossible that no guard even caught the scent of an intruder and said dragon hadn't attacked her, despite having all the time and advantages.
"Alright, maybe he's not here with ill intentions..."

« I'm prince Wax Flower of the RainWings. I've come with my tribe's messenger to speak with the queen. »

"Oooor... he's the prince of another tribe and I just made a fool out of myself."
Snow White came out in plain sight, sitting up straight and trying to act like she hadn't just run away from an important guest.

« Ahem! I beg your pardon, prince Wax Flower. You've caught me... by surprise. »
« No need to apologize, Your Majesty. I shouldn't have startled you... »

The prince smiled.
His scales shifted into shades of yellow and golden to indicate playfulness.

« I just couldn't help myself. I heard you singing and your voice... it was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. »
« I wasn't startled! »

The princess protested, an unconscious attempt to change the subject as a burning warmth crept up her muzzle at the compliment.
It was the first time someone complimented her, someone that wasn't part of the palace staff.

« Of course not, Your Majesty. »

Prince Wax Flower said, though not without the hint of a smirk on his muzzle.
He must have caught the protest on her fangs, because he asked right away: « May I apologize properly for startling the heir to the throne? ».

« ... yes. You may. »

Snow White said.
Prince Wax Flower smiled, clearing his throat like he was preparing for a big speech.

« One song, I have but one song, one song only for you~ One heart tenderly beating~ Ever entreating, constant and true! »

The prince sang for her, his voice soft and gentle as the Ice/Night hybrid felt her muzzle burn.
Could a reptile blush?

« One love that has possessed me~ One love thrilling me through~ One song my heart keeps singing~ Of one love, only for you! »

It was exaggerate to speak of love, that was sure.
But young dragonets were dreamers, a beautiful voice and look could easily swipe the most serious dragonet out if their paws thanks to what many adults would have simply called "hormones doing their job". In that moment, with very few words spoken between them and a less-than-ideal first impression, the RainWing prince was at a loss of better words to describe the sensations he felt the moment that singing brought him there and his eyes fell on the beautiful princess and Snow White, on her part, felt equally speechless against the first time someone flirted with her.

« One song, I have but one song~ One song only for you! »

The princess looked at the doves, still perched beside her, as if to ask for help or for an explanation.
Because she had met that dragon mere moments prior, yet his words of flattery made sense to her in a way she couldn't explain.

« One heart tenderly beating~ Ever entreating, constant and true! »

In fact, they made so much sense, Snow White had started humming that song as well.
It was nice, it was pleasant to hear after years with a stepmother who barely acknowledged her and constantly spat insults when she did.

« One love that has possessed me~ One love thrilling me through~ One song my heart keeps singing... »
« One love, only for you... »

The prince looked at her, sitting in silence and waiting, as if that song he had just made up out of nowhere was the most perfect apology for the princess he had crept upon and scared.
The young princess brought a paw to her muzzle, as if to check her temperature was still as cold as an half-IceWing should have been, a single thought echoing in her mind.
"Did my wish come true?"
It was illogical, but what else could a young, romantic mind think?
She had wished for love and for someone to take her away from her stepmother's shadow, now a prince had come to her and was flirting like she was the most beautiful dragoness he had ever seen.
Everything made just sense to her.

« Your Majesty? »

Prince Wax Flower called her gently.
A dove landed on her shoulder, as if to give her the strength to find an answer to that new and sudden situation, so the princess let it jump on one of her claws and, careful and slow, brought it to her muzzle, placing a soft kiss on the bird's head. She then motioned toward the prince, extending her arm as the dove flew to him, landing on his claw instead and pressing its head against the RainWing's maws, as if to pass him the princess' kiss.

« Am I forgiven for my crime? »
« You are. »

A low, crackling noise chased the doves away as a raven suddenly landed the window, looking at Snow White and motioning for the corridor with its beak.
"Right, I must prepare myself to meet the guests..."
After all, there was no chance her stepmother hadn't prepared a small feast to better welcome their guests and that meant she had to attend.

« I guess I'll see you soon, prince. »
« I can't wait. »

Chapter Text

« On time as always, bird. »

Queen Majestic said quietly, following her raven to her own chambers as it perched on a window.
Leaving the meeting with a royal messenger, many would have thought the NightWing queen had some important matter to attend and so it was, to her at least, for noone could have ever found the idea of reaffirming their own beauty daily as important as her.
But there she was, sitting in front of a mirror, staring at herself with the same adoration her own servants held in their eyes when they looked up at her, searching for mercy and approval.

« Slave in the Magic Mirror, come from the farthest space. Through wind and darkness, I summon thee. Speak! Let me see thy face. »

The queen said, words that would have sounded empty to those unaware of her secret.
Queen Majestic wasn't born under any moon, not even one of the three, for in the night her egg hatched, clouds had obscured the silver beams shining upon her and her siblings, a joke played by fate, truly. She couldn't see the different, possible futures laying ahead of her path, nor receive prophecies or read the minds of others, the silver tears near her eyes, a usual sign of mind and, or emotion reading abilities, were nothing but a tattoo. It was right in her teen years that she had decided to make up for the lack of most powerful abilities only a noble and powerful species light NightWings could have, so she searched all around Pyrrhia, until she found an animus dragon and, after some favors and money, they sold her an enchanted scroll with some spells that could be performed by anyone reading them and an enchanted mirror.

« What wouldst thou know, my Queen? »

Asked a voice coming from the mirror itself.
It belonged to what looked like the disembodied head of a dragon of an unknown tribe, white and boney like a skeleton, too blurry to recognize if it was the long, thin muzzle of a SkyWing, or the big and flat face of a MudWing, like a reflection in a body of water that had been disturbed by a rock that someone thrown in it.

« Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? »

Queen Majestic asked, puffing out her chest and spreading her wings, her head turned slightly to the side, like an invitation for the enchanted artifact to admire her better.
It wasn't the first time they had done it, every single day the queen would spend time in front of the mirror to look at her own self like she was bathing in the light of the brightest star and once every week, she would call that entity (or whatever it was, she did not bother to ask) and ask it to reaffirm what she already knew: that the superiority of her beauty was unchallenged.

« Famed is thy beauty, Majesty. »

The voice answered and Majestic smiled, each time like it was the first.
She never knew why the mirror spoke in rhymes, nor why the dragon using it had to do it as well to make the spell work, maybe the animus that enchanted it was a poet in their free time.

« But hold... »

The smile stayed on as the dragoness looked at the mirror, expecting it to say something more about her perfection.

« A lovely maiden I see... »

Then, slowly, the smile started to fade.

« Dust and fatigued can't hide her gentle grace. Alas, she is more fair than thee. »

Queen Majestic waited.
One, two, three moments, expecting the Magic Mirror to laugh or to say it was still speaking about her.
But the Magic Mirror wasn't a dragon, it had no ability to joke around, nor the humor to play her such a trick to scare the queen and she knew it, deep inside, she knew that the answer she longed to hear every single time, was going to disappoint her.

« Then she better pray the moons I won't find her... »

The dragoness hissed through clenched fangs.

« What's her name? »

The mirror was silent.

« Reveal her name, tell me who dares try to bring the image of beauty to shame? »
« Blood as blue as the ocean, spikes black as ebony, scales whiter than the purest snow. »

Queen Majestic's mask of composure cracked as the name: « Snow White?! » slipped on her snake-like tongue like poison.

« That can't be... »

The NightWing felt rage bubbling in her chest, the king of rage a dragon wouldn't notice until the last strand of restraint snapped.

« There's no way that half-blood creature's beauty surpasses mine! »

As if on clue, the princess' gentle voice came from the courtyard.
Queen Majestic went to look out of the window, staring down at the Ice/Night hybrid with disdain.

« Look at that... »

She said coldly, only the raven could obey.

« Cleaning like a servant, too weak to stand up to me. Where's the beauty in that... mutt? »

The raven stared in silence.

« There's nothing fair in her. Not in those weak, bent spines, nor in her voice. Then how can her beauty be greater than mine? »

"The mirror must have lied..."
The dragoness thought, but she knew the only lie would be the one she would be telling herself.
The mirror was enchanted to say and show whatever the asking dragon wanted and she had demanded the truth and only the truth.
The NightWing would have loved to open the window and spit fire at the princess, especially seeing the RainWing prince, Wax Flower, coming out of the shadows to sing with her, like some lovesick fool.
She should have been the one being praised by a young, handsome admirer, not that creature, yet there Snow White was: blushing and hiding like some innocent hatchling, while Prince Wax Flower sang about love and tried to impress her

« ... pathetic. »

The NightWing queen muttered, tempted every second more by the idea of breathing some flames in the direction of the dove carrying a kiss between the two.
But that would have to wait, she had a feast to attend.

Chapter Text

« What do you think? »

Snow White asked the raven, showing off some a necklace and some jewels, wearing a robe of a beautiful scarlet color that seemed to appease the bird, who croaked and nodded its head in confirmation.

« Thank you. »

The princess smiled, carefully caressing the chest of the raven with a claw, brushing its feathers like they were frail and precious.

« Let's go, we better not make mother wait~ »

Snow White had to remind herself to keep her composure as she went through a corridor that felt endless against the excitement of the first celebration she was going to attend since her father's passing.

« You're just on time, Snow White. »

The cold, deep voice of her stepmother made her jump in surprise.

« Yes, Your Majesty. I... »

The words died in the princess' throat as she looked up at the queen.
There was something different about Majestic, maybe it was the fact that her smile was thinner than usual, but the Ice/Night hybrid could tell that her stepmother seemed, if it was even possible, to look at her with even more loathing that the usual amount.
Without another word, Majestic preceded her in the dining hall, where their guests awaited them and sat at their usual spots, all the time, the queen was holding back her annoyance as much as she could and it was becoming harder than she would have liked to admit.
Most of the time, her stepdaughter wasn't of much interest to her, Majestic would either ignore the princess or remind her of her place with a few well placed "constructive criticism", the hybrid princess was nothing but a second thought in the queen's mind, yet in that moment, the NightWing dragoness couldn't shoo her stepdaughter's image from her brain, as if it had suddenly carved into it.
All of sudden, those little details that had always been insignificant, seemed impossible to ignore, from the way she sat (her posture was less ungainly than usual, or was it just an impression?), the way she looked (had her scales always been so polished and bright?), the way their guests were looking at them both and yet, she didn't feel as many eyes on herself as there would usually be, as if that disgraceful creature sitting at her side and smiling like an innocent hatchling was really outshining her.
In short, the queen could feel that emotion that was unbecoming of a royal as powerful as herself: envy.
Queens didn't feel envy, a powerful queen like her shouldn't have felt envious of any lesser being, yet there weren't many way to describe the venom boiling up in her stomach and the way her body seemed to escape her control. Relaxing her muscles amd unclenching the fists her paws had clenched into without her realizing, the dragoness took a deep, silent breath to focus back on lunch and most importantly, on herself.

« Mother? Are you alright? »

Snow White's soft voice reached Majestic, almost making her snap.

« I am. »

The NightWing said, trying to stop the annoyance in her tone from showing.

« Perhaps, the weight of the crown is simply giving me a headache. »

The dragoness said, turning her attention onto the food and away from the annoyingly cheerful and caring creature that kept worrying too much about her.
A queen wasn't some helpless hatchling after all, she could snap that hybrid's neck like a twig, with a single paw only and the temptation was there.
She didn't even know when such dark thoughts blossomed inside her mind, the idea of killing the princess had never come to her before, mostly because she spent only the minimum amount of time thinking about her stepdaughter. Yet in that moment, as Majestic spied Snow White in the corner of her eyes, taking in all those little, cursed detail that made the princess far too interesting for her own tastes and how the RainWing prince was looking at her, at that half-blood creature and not the queen herself, that simple sight seemed to tug at the side of a dragon's brain that would mostly stay hidden and quiet. It was unbecoming for a civilized and noble creature, especially one of her importance and role, to think like a rabid animal with no self-control, it was a soldier's job to get their claws dirty and leave aside any semblance of civility for the cause of a battle, or a war started in favor of protecting and serving their kingdom.
"Mh... it's the same thing..."
But a kingdom needed a strong ruler to be safe and protected and a ruler needed a strong bloodline, that mutt wasn't strong and wasn't worthy of that bloodline.
Or at least, that was the line of thoughts slithering around Majestic's mind as the Magic Mirror's voice echoed in it, like the song of a bird annoying others in the damn morning instead of letting dragons sleep. For a dragoness as vain and obsessed with herself as the queen was, those little things that would have been nothing more than second thoughts in the mind of anyone else, were subtly boiling over a mix of envy and territorial rage that bordered on complete folly.
It was wrong, it was complete madness, but her heart had been closed off from any kind of motherly feeling since she had married Snow White's father and her mind soon followed, closing the door on what would have been the right path to choose as she once again looked at her stepdaughter and then at her own body, comparing the two.
"I am perfect. Beautiful. How could she ever hope to be better than me? How can these brainless lizards look at her when I am sitting right here?!"
That was it, at least for the queen that was mad with envy and jealousy, the easiest solution to her problem: getting rid of Snow White permanently.

« I was thinking of going on the balcony to admire the courtyard and those beautiful roses. May I invite you, princess? »

Prince Wax Flower asked Snow White, not her...
Not the most beautiful, perfect NightWing in that forsaken continent, but that ungraceful creature and her annoying voice.

« I'd love to~ »

She needed to act fast.

Chapter Text

« And just like that, my sisters decided it would be a good idea to use me for their painting practice. Of course, they didn't tell me beforehand I would have been used as a canvas. »

Snow White tried to hold back her laughter as Wax Flower concluded his story.
The RainWing's scales were a bright mix of golden and pink as he chuckled, the fond memory of his sisters' was just as fresh as it would have been if everything happened the day before, though sometimes it was too fresh, especially if the princesses in question used it to tease him.

« It must be nice to have siblings you can play with. »

Said the princess with a wishful smile.
Having dragonets her age to play with would have probably made her days less lonely and sad, especially since Majestic didn't have dragonets of her own and didn't allow her to leave the palace and search for friends inside the tribe.

« It is. When they're not being a nightmare, at least. But it's my duty as an older brother to be the test subject of their activities. »
« I didn't know older siblings had such an important duty on their shoulders. »

Snow White bowed playfully to the prince.

« You have my respect. My father himself didn't have a job so dangerous when he became king! »

The two laughed together.

« Well, queens are the ones holding all the power, so the dangerous job would fall on your mother. »
« Oh, trust me, she would probably leave all the work to a servant. »

The princess sighed.

« She may be good at ruling and politics, but would never do the "dirty job". »
« Yeah, she looks more like the kind of dragoness that would spend time watching the royal treasure... no offense. »
« None taken. She is just like that. »

Snow White cleared her throat and tried to mimic her stepmother's voice, puffing her chest out and bringing a paw to it.

« Ah, Snow White, I see you're still alive and breathing the same air as me. How tragic... »

She said, making the prince laugh.

« Stay out of my sight now, I have to spend my entire day looking at my reflection in every mirror I see. Because I'm just soooo beautiful and special! I'm just like any other NightWing could be, but I'm going to act like the three moons put me on this Earth for some mystical reason! »

Wax Flower had to cover his muzzle to stifle the laughter.

« You sound just like her. »
« I do? I finally found my ability then~ »

The prince tilted his head in confusion.

« Don't you have one of those cool NightWing powers? Or the deadly frost breath? »
« Unfortunately, no. I took only my mother's spikes and they're too curve to be a threat. »

Snow White sighed.

« But I got her claws too. »

The princess offered her friend a paw, showing off the deadliest and sharpest claws in all of Pyrrhia.
IceWings were notorious for their claws, as sharp and deadly like blades, Wax Flower seemed impressed, holding the princess' paw and caressing each finger carefully.

« You know? Some would say it's unbecoming for a princess to be touched. »

Snow White teased him.

« I'm a prince. I'm allowed to touch royal things. »
« "Things"? Is this how you talk to dragonesses? »

The hybrid asked in mock offense.

« Only those who talk with wells and wish for me to appear~ »
« ... that was... I... »

Snow White's young mind had already accepted the idea that her wish had come true.
But one thing her father always told her was to never let a dragon win so easily.

« Especially not young boys. »

He would say, in a classic protective father fashion.

« Just because you were spying on me while I was singing, it doesn't mean you're the one sent by the well. »

Snow White said.
Of course, her friend seemed to have an answer ready for everything.

« I wasn't spying. I was just admiring your beauty and letting the melodic sound of your voice lull my ears. »

He said, smiling innocently and making her blush, though the princess tried to hide it behind a fake coughing fit.

~~~~

« Look at them... »

Queen Majestic said through clenches fangs, watching the two dragonets with disgust.
It was getting harder and harder to focus on the guests and keeping up appearances, especially if she had to study a good plan to get rid of Snow White.
Using the enchanted objects she owned would have been easy and quick, but also dangerous, since animus magic could cause the user to lose their soul in case they abused or used it strictly for cruel actions and she needed her soul.
How could a queen hold a kingdom up if she was as good as a brainless beast?
Of course, she would just be using pre-enchanted tools, but noone knew for sure how powerful the influence of animus magic could be and if it could affect as deeply someone who was using enchanted items but wasn't the animus that cast the spell first.
"I can't use that poison again. If that mongrel dies in the exact same way her father did, someone could suspect me."
A single dragon or a few couldn't hurt her, but voices spread quickly, inside and outside tribes, she couldn't afford to take risks with the accusations.
"Maybe I could have someone do the job for me..."
The queen thought.
If she let another dragon kill Snow White, she would have more chances to avoid facing the consequences of her plans by pinning the blame on them alone.
"Even if they tried to speak up, who would believe them over their queen? It's easier to discredit the words of a murderer."
With a smile on her muzzle, Majestic finally found the strength to focus on the feast and her guests, every hint of the previous tension had disappeared from her eyes and her posture.
"Tomorrow..."
She thought
"Tomorrow I'll find the perfect dragon for the job. Snow White will be gone before sunset."

Chapter Text

It was time for the guests to go back to their home.
Snow White had to admit that she was going to miss Prince Wax Flower, even if they hadn't talked that much, just the time to eat together and let the messenger take care of royal affairs, but it felt nice to have someone close enough to her age to talk to and that RainWing had been nothing but charming and, well, a flirt, a terrifying combination for the heart of the young dragonet in her “romantic phase”.

« Well, I'll see you around, Snow White. »

Was Flower said with a smile, preparing to depart.

« Oh really, will you? »

The princess asked with a soft smile.

« Yes. After all, you wish for me~ »
« Oh, stop it. »

As the two chuckled, Majestic watched the scene in disdain.
She had told herself to wait until the next day to put her plan in motion, but there was something in seeing her stepdaughter so… disgustingly happy and admired, that made her decide to act that same evening.
After all, procrastinating was never a good thing, especially for the ruler of a kingdom.

« It has been an honor to have you in my palace. Please, send your mother my regards, Prince Wax Flower. »
« I will, Your Majesty. Thank you again for your hospitality. »

Before he took flight, the prince kissed Snow White's paw.
The queen had to put all of her will into not snarling at them, it was insulting that someone would choose to kiss any other paw when hers were right there, perfectly elegant and deadly, as any respectful dragoness had.
Watching their guests fly away, the Ice/Night hybrid had such a ridiculous and childish expression on her muzzle, a smile the queen could have called simply “dumb”.

« You seem to like the young prince, Snow White. »

The queen said coldly, watching the princess squirm under her judgmental stare.

« He's nice. But… I mean… I met him today, I can't like him that much… »

The princess said quietly.
The queen nodded, muttering something on the line of: « Good. At least, you can live with your head out of the clouds » as she walked away, ignoring the dragonet’s offended expression, how her wings slumped sadly, like her stepmother's criticism hurt in a deep way.
“It would be disgraceful for that brat to fall for a dragon from another tribe. Her blood is dirty enough.”
The NightWing walked silently back to her room, fetching a coffer embedded with jewels and heading to the throne room right after, turning to two guards standing right outside the entrance.

« Make sure the princess goes to her room. »

She ordered one of them, turning to his colleague with a low, almost whispered: « Call Tracker and tell him to come quickly », before going to wait on her throne.
Tracker was one of the most capable hunters of her kingdom, enough for Majestic to often consider his abilities wasted, he could have been a valuable soldier, maybe even an assassin, but his family had been in the hunting business far before her coronation and she didn't care enough to police on her subjects’ choices of career. He and Majestic had already worked together on a few “interesting” job the queen needed help for, like getting rid of her competition to get the attention of Void, Snow White's father, when he was still a prince.
She knew that Tracker was the right dragon for the job, so easy to convince of what was the right thing to do.

« Your Majesty… »

“There he is!”
Majestic invited the hunter to get closer with an elegant motion of her head.

« Ah, my old friend, come. I am in need of your assistance. »

The older NightWing walked closer and bowed, his chin brushing against the floor.

« Your wish is my command. What is that you need help with, my queen? »
« You see, I have a very important job for you. It's about Snow White. »

Tracker's eyes lit up at the princess’ name.
He was a parent too after all, his sons and daughters were adults, but that didn't take away his paternal instinct and each time he and the other hunters visited the royal court, he would stop to greet and and speak with Snow White, sharing a few stories and information about the plants and the animals in the forest outside the royal palace.

« I want you to take her out, far from the kingdom’s border, somewhere secluded she can pick enjoy herself. I do not care where. »
« Yes, Your Majesty. »
« And then, my faithful hunter, you will kill her. »

The hunter's eyes widened in horror.

« K-kill her?! »

He repeated, the words sour on his tongue.

« B-but she's your dau- »
« Silence! »

Majestic growled, her voice just a shy away from erupting in a complete roar.

« It's not the first time you drained your claws in the blood of the innocents. She is no different that a young noble-blooded dragoness at court, or my sisters… »
« But she is a dragonet. »
« Oh? So, it is the age of a dragon that determines their right to live and die? A egg posses the rights to hatch, but an elder shouldn't enjoy all those years the three moons left for them to live? »

Majestic asked, a mocking smirk on her fangs.
Tracker didn't have an answer to that.

« You know the penalty if you fail. »

The queen said, her tone holding a sharp edge, a threat that just became louder as her grin widened.

« We don't want to have to pay a visit to your family and inform them of their father's… lacking focus on the job, wouldn't we? »

The hunter’s black scales seemed to pale, if it was possible, the threat hanging over his wife and their dragonets’ head finally did the job.

« No, Your Majesty. »
« Then it's settled. And to make doubly sure you do not fail… »

The queen pushed the coffer in front of her with her tail.

« You'll rip her heart off and take it to me. »

The dragon lowered his head, her gaze wide with disgust as he struggled to accept the cruelty in the orders that were given to him.
He knew Majestic was cruel, he knew it since the day she had threatened his wife (girlfriend at the time) in exchange for his help to get rid of the competition, but he clung to the notion that dragonesses killed each other for a throne naturally, such was how things worked in Pyrrhia. Queens fought their sisters, cousins, daughters and nieces, shed blood to secure their throne and their own relatives became enemies for a crown, that was the nature of dragons.
But that?
There was no logical reason (if murder could ever be considered logical) behind that order, he knew it, he could see it in the queen's eyes, there was nothing but hatred and resentment for a princess that did nothing wrong to her.
It wasn't the same as a queen fighting her own daughter in a noble and fair duel for the throne, it was mere folly and he had to obey and protect his family.