Skyrise

The Rival Kingdoms

Dragonfly

The island is actually a tiny kingdom, and the town is in the Northwest corner of the island. The whole gang went there the next day, late afternoon.

We met up outside the gates. "So this is the new guy?" A black girl asked in a Southern accent.

"Yeah. I'm Dragonfly. You are?"

"Oh, I'm Songbird. You must've been so nervous! I'm sorry for not being there, friend, I just live far away. Up on that mountain." She said, pointing. It was weird. I had imagined Songbird different in my mind.

"Okay. I see."

"Shall we?" Dawn asked. We stepped up to the gate.

"Ey! The Countryside Gang!" The guard smiled.

"The one and only! And this is the newest member of our crew, Dragonfly. He arrived just last night!" Oak grinned.

"'Sup." I nodded.

The guard shook hands with us as we entered. "Oak, when are you gonna propose to that lovely lady of yours?"

"The second she stops looking so good. That's how I'll know I've got her for good."

"I'm not your property!" Dawn shoved him playfully.

"Dawn, looking good as ever." She flipped her curly blonde hair in reply.

"Fox! How's your project coming along?"

"Pretty good. It just needs some paint."

"Songbird, are--"

"I'm not selling my crops, Mark."

"Fair enough. You must be Dragonfly. Welcome to Skyrise! Spectre! How are you doing, man?"

He smiled. "I'm making progress. Thanks."

"Don't overdo yourself."

The kingdom was bustling with activity. Fox leaned over and explained that all of the richest people on the island loved to hang out there. He then pointed out a crucial example: The Royal Shadow Siblings.

Prince Cerberus loved making havoc. At age 23, he was unafraid of doing crazy things to accomplish his goals. He hated Skyrisians, but he loved the chaos they tend to bring to the table. He was trained for war.

Prince Mephiles, at 21, was quite the opposite. He wanted to blend in. He hated rocking the boat and everything about Shadow Monarchies. Apparently you're a bit more impartial when you aren't the heir to the throne.

Princess Lilith, 19, was the middle man. She tried to keep her brothers from killing each other but, based on her tiny body frame, didn't succeed very often. She was small, timid, and proper, apparently just like her mother.

     "So do you think that fire rains down from the sky like at home?" Cerberus asked.

     "I doubt it. All of these buildings are made of wood. They'd burn in seconds flat." Mephiles frowned at the thought.

     "Guys...? Didn't Dad say to be back by sundown?" Lilith looked around.

     "Who needs to know?" Mephiles asked.

     "Well, yeah, but...hey! Who are those guys?" Lilith asked, pointing straight at us. "They're stari--."

     "OH MY GOD!!!" Cerberus screamed. He then leaned over to his brother. "Those are Skyrisians, right?" He asked.

     "Yeah, buddy. They sure are, but don--"

     "SKYRISIANS!! YOU ARE OFFI--!" He received a quick elbow to the forearm from Lilith.

     "Stop shouting! You'll get us in trouble!"

     "No I won't. Not if these Skyrisians cooperate and accept that they've been captured by me, The Amazing Cerberus!"

     "What an honor." Mephiles rolled his eyes.

     "Don't encourage him." Lilith scolded.

     "Wait...captured?" I asked.

     "Nah, he's all talk." Mephiles smiled amiably.

     "I AM NOT!!"

     "Yes you are."

     "AM NOT!"

     "Am so!"

     "Gentlemen, we're drawing a crowd!" Fox stepped up and dispelled the tension. "Let's at least address our audience with a dance."

     We received a duet of approval from the two younger siblings, but Cerberus frowned and crossed his arms at us.

     "Come on, man." Spectre grabbed him. "There's no need to ShaDOW that to us!!" I was the only one to laugh.

     And with that, we were off. Mephiles ranted and raved about who they are, and why they're there. Cerberus and Songbird, Dawn and Oak, and Spectre and Lilith all took to the middle of the makeshift dance floor. Fox and I hit up all of the street performers until we had a ragtag army of musicians playing something that might've resembled a song if they'd practiced. By the end of the song, I had grabbed a beautiful girl to dance with. Sadly, not Dawn, but she was pretty all the same. The Shadows were so pumped from the afternoon, they decided to take their new Skyrisians friends to dinner at an awesome restaurant on Pine Street, wherever that is. Luckily, Fox guided us.