Gradient unchained Glory from the marble tree, she glared at him clearly untrusting of him. As Gradient finished unchaining her, he was suddenly tackled by something small and invisible. Gradient quickly pushed the thing up and made it hit the ceiling, as it fell to the ground it became visible, revealing it to be Vine.
"Vine? Why are you here?" Gradient asked, Vine then said, "Shut it traitor, I'll show you what you get for betraying Queen Scarle-" before she could finish her sentence she was hit in the neck with venom from Glory causing her to quickly fall to the floor in pain before seemingly passing out from pain.
Glory then looked at Gradient and said, "Listen, I don't know you and I don't want to owe you anything for freeing me, so consider that me paying you back." Glory then quickly flew off, Gradient watched for a moment before going through Vine's pouches and stealing all her stuff, she tried killing him, he was owed this.
For a few moments Gradient was reminded of his time before Judgment but after his father died, he was a traveling painter but did take up other jobs, such as stealing. Gradient shook his head as he finished taking everything from Vine, he might as well free everyone locked up here, Vine would probably be unconscious for quite some time.
He glided down toward the arena cells, everyone had run off in fear after Scarlet went down, not that that gave Gradient much time, but nobody would question what he was doing as he was a common guest and he usually took dragons from their cells to go to Judgment. Gradient quickly unlocked and unchained many dragons, eventually he came across a skywing in a non-arena cell, he also saw Peril talking to her.
There was a moment of hesitation but Gradient walked toward them and said, "Hello Peril, who's this?" She quickly jumped before looking ready to attack Gradient, "W-Wait, don't attack me!" Peril seemed to quickly calm down as she realized he ment no harm and she said, "What are you doing here?"
He simply said, "Well.... With everyone gone I figured I'd... Free most dragons here...." Peril looked at Gradient dumbfounded but then said, "Ok... Well this is my mother, Kestrel, I was about to free her, not that I want a relationship with her." Gradient nodded and said, "Ok, well if you want I could take her to Judgement to be safe after she's free."
Peril glared at Gradient and said, "Do you really think that's a good idea, Scarlet won't like that." Gradient nodded and said, "That would be a problem... If I hadn't sent Silver and Red back to Judgement to lock her up." Peril looked shocked and said, "You got Red to agree to that?" Gradient nodded, Kestrel and Peril both seemed shocked but neither of them could think of anything to say.
As Gradient quickly unlocked the cell holding Kestrel and said, "If you want to go to Judgment just go north, actually you probably already know where it is so just go there if you want, oh, also Peril, you are welcome too if anything you want, Red says your a good dragon." Kestrel scoffed and said, "I'd rather not deal with you pathetic pacifist." Gradient glared at her and scoffed back mockingly.
Kestrel then said, "Well, I should get going, I doubt Red will stay loyal to you for long." Kestrel then quickly flew off, "I see why you don't want a relationship with her, she's worse then my mom." Peril looked at Gradient and said, "What's your mom like?" Gradient then simply said, "Dead."
There was a moment of silence, then Gradient said, "So, wanna help me lock up Vine's wings?" Peril shook her head and said, "I actually have to go check on something." She then quickly flew off, Gradient then flew up to the Royal arena watching platform, Gradient quickly glanced around looking for Vine, she was gone.
Gradient internally shouted at himself for accidentally letting her escape, suddenly a large number of talons landed behind him, and a voice sounded behind him, "Gradient, where is Scarlet." The voice was Ruby, Gradient then turned and quickly said, "I... I um... I don't know... Where's Vine?"
Ruby raised an eye and said, "Why do you want to know that?" Gradient then said, "She tried to kill me." Ruby nodded and said, "Guards, put your weapons down, if Vine attacked him he must have done something against Scarlet." Ruby's guard then put down their weapons as Ruby motioned for Gradient to follow her.
They quickly flew off toward the Skywing castle, as they landed Ruby began to talk, "Gradient, as you know with Scarlet gone, I am the new queen and I'm actually far more interested in supporting Judgement then she was." Gradient nodded and said, "That's good to know, um.... Also I did release some dragons from their cells."
Ruby nodded and said, "I am aware, we saw those dragons flying home, I decided to let them go, so don't worry." Gradient let out a slight sigh of relief and said, "Thank goodness, anyways, what do you need?" Ruby then said, "Well, I assume Scarlet is at Judgment, being locked up, so I simply want to ensure she is kept that way, and if she does happen to show improvement I want to know of it."
Gradient nodded and said, "Ok, well anything else?" Ruby thought for a moment and said, "Yes, have you seen either Red of Peril, I don't trust either of them." Gradient then said, "Well, Red actually helped lock up Scarlet and Peril freed Kestrel against what Scarlet would want." Ruby seemed a little surprised and said, "That's a bit surprising..." Ruby was silent for a moment before saying, "Ok, thank you for the information Gradient, you should head back to Judgement." Gradient nodded and quickly flew off back towards Judgment.
