Wings of Fire - Court of Lies

10 - A Mother's Nightmare

<< And so, my queen, I thought this was the best idea and- >>
<< Yeah, I get it. >>

Queen Coral stared motionlessly at the SeaWing talking in front of her.
Her eyes focused on an invisible spot, her mind on something even further away as the thoughts of her life were running trough her head in a painful river of memories and none of them was a pleasant one. They went from the misterious murderer destroying every single one of her eggs that contained a daughter, to Webs kidnapping one of them and then the disappearance of her beloved husband; the stress caused by the war wasn't helping either.

<< Mom? Are you alright? >>

Asked Anemone.
Queen Coral tried to comfort her daughter with a smile, gently caressing her back where the harness she kept her on didn't covered her scales, some found strange and unhealthy to keep a daughter like an animal on a leash, but she wanted to keep her safe, she wasn't going to lose another daughter.

<< Yes my dear, I'm just tired. >>
<< You should rest then, but can I stay up for a bit more? >>

Coral was about to deny that, but she noticed one of her sons talking with a guard and thought he could have been useful as a dragonet-sitter.

<< Hey, you... >>

She didn't remember his name, or the names of every other son she had, they were too many to remember and they were useless, not meant to take the throne after her and only good to work as soldiers or something else, she couldn't care less.

<< Yes? >>
<< I'm going to rest, you'll guard the princess. >>
<< Of course mother. >>

The green SeaWing bowed and followed them in their bedroom, waiting for Coral to fall asleep before going with Anemone on the surface of that room filled almost entirely with water.

<< So, how's the training going? >>

Asked Turtle, the prince, as he smiled to his sister and the pale blue and pink SeaWing looked down with annoyance.

<< I hate this, I can't have a life and all the kingdom probably thinks of me as some sorta of weak useless beast. >>
<< I'm sure our subjects respect you, our mother is simply worried about your safety. >>
<< Please Turtle, don't try to make this look like a good life... >>

Whispered the princess, her mother was suffocating her every single day and it was clear as water that things weren't going to get better: Princess Blister held coral in her claws, the SeaWing's queen followed her words like she was one of her guards getting ordered around and the SandWing wanted to use Anemone's powers to kill her sisters, but what would have done that to her?
When Turtle told her that he had enchanted her to give her the same powers he had and that he was the SeaWing's animus¹, she still didn't know Albatross's story and how he lost his own soul, would have killing other dragons done the same to her?

<< Maybe we should say the truth to our mother... >>

Proposed Turtle.

<< Are you crazy?! She had too many delusions already, to know that her "precious princess" is not that special wouldn't be pleasant... plus, they'd turn to you for that disgusting plan and I don't want you to get involved. >>
<< But you'll become a monster too if you go on with this! I can't let you do that! >>
<< Oh, don't worry Turtle, it would still be better than marry Whirlpool. >>

At her words, Turtle looked like he was going to puke.

<< "Marry Whirlpool"? Why would you marry that slimy salamander? He's not even a good teacher. >>
<< Because mom thinks he's an handsome dragon and would make a great king, only 'cause he acts like he's her number one fan and keeps complimenting her manuscripts. He's tricking her and he's not the only one. >>

The two dragonets remained silent for a bit, they cared for their mother, but they couldn't deny how easy to manipulate that dragoness was and how bad it was for her, her family and the whole kingdom.

<< Hey... >>

Turtle held Anemone by her shoulder, smiling in a comforting way.

<< Things will get better, I promise you. >>

The princess smiled after a bit, right before a loud knock on the door scared them and woke their mother up.
Diving underwater, the princess stared at the messenger at the door.

"What is your problem?! I clearly said I was resting, didn't my guards warn you?!"

Asked Coral using Aquatica language to communicate underwater, her scales shining bright as the glim of anger in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but this is really important. I have a message from queen Burn and..."
"And what does she want with me?!"

Anemone found that strange too.
"Why would our enemy send us a message? Maybe she wants us to deliver it to princess Blister?"

"She said that one of her allies captured some members of the Talons of Peace and with them they got the Dragonets of Destiny and..."
"Slower, I can't follow you."
"The SeaWing with them has the royal marking and it's a female!"

The queen didn't answer, her eyes filling up with surprise and hope, yet she tried to stay calm and composed.

"... what?!"
"They proposed a meeting and..."
"I'll be there."

And with that, Queen Coral slammed the door shut and went back to her bed, swimming nervously as she lied down on it, ignoring the other two dragons in the room.
Turtle and Anemone exchanged worried look, there were more chances of that being a trap than a real possibility of them meeting their long lost sister, but they knew for sure that their mother was about to throw herself right in that situation without even thinking, something that could have been really dangerous considering how ruthless the other two dragonesses were.

"You think princess Burn says the truth?"

Asked Anemone to her brother, Turtle just shrudded his shoulders and looked at his paws.

"Even if it's true, I seriously doubt they're going to give us back our sister without something in return."

The queen would soon had to choose among the hope to find her daughter again or her and her own kingdom safety.

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Author's Note: (¹)= in the original saga, Turtle doesn't reveal the truth to Anemone untill: "The Jade Mountain Prophecy" arc, when they fight.

- LaraEndlight