Wings of Fire: The Glorious Tower (dead)

Part 2: Toad

Note: Deathbringer is not married to Glory in this. 

Toad flew, determined, towards the steadily approaching rainforest. They needed to get to Queen Glory and tell her everything. They were hoping to get a RainWing and a NightWing to aid them in their quest. After all, Queen Thorn had suggested they enlist the help of two dragons under Queen Glory, some 'Aloha' and 'Andromeda'. 

Queen Thorn was smart, and she noticed the little things, things that no one else did. Bighorn trusted her. Their own Queens trusted Thorn, and since Thorn trusted Bighorn, the others had to too.

One day, Queen Thorn had thrown a party. An intertribal feast, to celebrate the end of the war.It was wild, and fun, and then Queen Thorn had invited every queen, and all their relatives, as well as some of their most important guards. Queen Moorhen had brought him, Toad, and his sibs, Heron and Alligator, as well her two daughters, Lily Pad and Hazelnut. The trio were Moorhen's trusted bodyguards. Queen Coral had gotten Angelfish, Princess Tsunami, Princess Anemone, and Princess Auklet. Queen Thorn herself, had Qibli, Six-Claws, and Bighorn, And Princess Sunny. Queen Glacier got Caribou and her cousin, Floe, as well as Princess Snowfall, Princess Icicle, and Prince Winter. Queen Ruby got Ember and his friend, Gale, and Prince Cliff. These  were all the guards and the royal family. Queen Glory got King Victorious, Prince Vivid, and Princess Stellar, and the two guards were Aloha and Andromeda.

Queen Glory had to go early, because Princess Stellar got sick drinking too much cactus juice.(ATLA reference!)

Queen Thorn gathered the remaining four Queens into a small private room, away from the sharp, prying, eyes and ears of common soldiers like Toad. Queen Moorhen and the other Queens were in there for what felt like forever, but finally, they came out. 

Queen Snowfall and Queen Thorn seemed quite grave, and a little relieved, the way you'd feel after you told someone your biggest secret. And they had told everyone what it was. Toad's reaction was to stare at the sandstone wall for what seemed like forever. Princess Sunny turned pale in fear, Princess Tsunami roared and started throwing curses at anyone who bothered to look her way, and most others growled in anger. Queen Moorhen, however, nodded gravely. She looked Toad in the eyes, and Toad felt a growing sense of despair. 

"Toad will go on this quest. I would trust him with my life, and I feel like he is the only one who can complete this." Queen Moorhen announced. A million curses went through Toad's mind, but he knew there was little he could do to change the Queen's mind. Alligator and Heron, however, thought differently. Alligator bucked like a wild horse and roared at the queen, "NO! I REFUSE. I AM HIS BIGWINGS, AND I WILL NOT LET HIM RISK HIS LIFE TO GO ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE! I can't... I can't lose anyone else." Heron wrapped a wing around her. Queen Moorhen looked at her, and pity passed through her eyes. 

"Alligator, I understand you are still grieving Summersweet, but this is important. Not just for the Mud Kingdom, but for the fate of Pyrrhia as a whole. He needs to go, understand?" Alligator looked up and slowly nodded.

Queen Coral smiled "Dolphin will go! Won't you, dearie?" She added, smiling a bit wider and turning her emerald green eyes onto the nervous blue dragon.

Dolphin laughed nervously. "O-of course I will. Anything for you, Your Majesty." Queen Coral managed to smile even wider at the statement. "Well then, that's settled." She announced with a little bow of her head.

Queen Thorn nodded. "C-" She was interrupted by an overeager Qibli. "Let me go! Please, Your Majesty, will you let me go?" Thorn sighed and shook her head. "Qibli, you're too young. Bighorn shall go instead."

Queen Glacier stood up a little taller. "Caribou will go." Caribou nodded, emotionless.

Queen Ruby turned her head towards Ember. "Ember shall go." Ember looked defeated, but he nodded.

Queen Thorn nodded. She turned towards all the selected dragons and bowed. " I wish you all the best of luck. May you all win. The moons stand by your side."

Toad nodded. as did everyone else. 

And now they were here, back to the present. Bighorn glided next to him and swiped a talon over his face. "YOOHOO! PYRRHIA TO TOAD? We're here, MUDSUCKER!" Toad blinked and gasped;  they actually were here. Caribou sighed and dropped down on the muddy ground. The others followed her lead. Toad sighed as his talons sinked into the comforting mud. 

Dolphin faced them all. "Ya ready?"

They nodded. "Ready."