The CloudWings

28 - A Visit to the Ice Kingdom

Mist's POV

Mist stood, shivering, on the imposing ice steps of Queen Crystal's palace. A bitter icy wind blew through the Ice Kingdom and swirled around Mist. It wasn't even this cold up in the tower where she had been kept by Stratus, although it was as windy. The whole place was made from ice and snow, with carved ice pillars, clear ice-floored balconies, and icicles hanging everywhere. Snow blanketed all the buildings and structures, as well as Mist's feet. Moreover, the sheer size of the place was enough to make a dragon dizzy. She wondered how Crystal found her way through the palace without getting lost every time she turned a corner.

Raising a talon, she lightly tapped on the enormous double doors, then immediately shrank back. The doors felt cold enough to freeze her claws off. Nevertheless, the doors swung open, revealing two guards. 

"Who are you? What is your business with the Ice Kingdom?" one of them asked.

Mist tried to steady her voice and appear more powerful and influential, but it wasn't easy as she continued to shiver, with her teeth chattering in an inelegant way. "I am Princess Mist of the CloudWings, and I wish to see the queen. I am her sister."

The guards muttered amongst themselves for a moment. Then they turned to Mist and said, "You don't look like Queen Crystal's sister." They looked at Mist as though she were something they had dug up in the permafrost under the palace, with a gaze of contempt, disbelief and fascination rolled into one like a rocky, icy snowball. A snowball that smacked and bruised Mist's pride.

Mist realized that she was hopping up and down repeatedly while shivering. She tried to speak despite her chattering teeth. "You can ask the queen if you have any doubts."

"We will be right back. Thank you for your patience." The guards closed the doors.

Mist wanted to scream, "WHY DON'T YOU BELIEVE ME?! IT'S TRUE!!," but she kept silent. She knew she probably didn't look anything like Crystal anymore, not because she had changed, but because Crystal had.

I enchant myself to easily adapt to any climate and remain comfortable even in the extreme cold of the Ice Kingdom or any other extreme-weather place.

She stopped shivering. The snow underfoot felt delightfully cool and pleasant. She swept up a few snowflakes with her tail and enjoyed the glitter of the light reflecting on them.

The doors opened again. "You are welcome inside, Princess Mist." 

Mist was led inside through a bewildering array of hallways, corridors and rooms. Then they went up several flights of ice stairs, Mist slipping and sliding on every step.

I enchant my talons to easily walk on ice without slipping or skidding.

"Here you are," the guards announced to Mist. "The entire floor belongs to Queen Crystal only. She will see you in a few moments."

Mist was left standing there awkwardly, waiting for Crystal.

When Crystal finally arrived, Mist started. She couldn't believe how much her younger sister had changed. Her scales had become a pale blue, not the light grey they had been formerly. Her eyes were black instead of their old bluish-grey. She had a ridge of spikes running down her back, and more spikes on the back of her neck. The end of her tail had become thinner and had small spine-like protrusions on it. Her claws were serrated and sharp. She had embedded small diamonds and pale blue sapphires into her wings.

"You don't look much like a CloudWing anymore," Mist said, having nothing better to say.

"No, I don't. I'm not a CloudWing anymore," Crystal replied, the diamonds on her wings glittering. "I'm an IceWing. Now, why are you here? What do you want to say to me?"

Mist was at a loss for words. She wasn't sure what to say to begin her speech to Crystal. "I want you to see something."

"What?"

Mist held up her fore-talons. They had scars on them from the chains Stratus had made her wear in the beginning, when she had struggled to escape, before she had known of her magic abilities. "Stratus did this to me, when I was in the tower."

"Well, you probably deserved it."

Mist wanted to enchant Crystal into understanding her point of view, into sharing her beliefs. But that was not the right way. She had to first try to make her see.

"Don't you get it? Stratus is evil, and nothing can change him."

"No, Stratus is not evil. He does good things. He hopes to unite all of Pyrrhia into one kingdom, one kingdom under his rule. And that way, we will flourish. We will prosper. That is the best way."

Mist sighed. She had to try a different method. "Don't you want to stay queen of your own tribe? Stratus will take that away if you let him rule Pyrrhia and the CloudWings."

Crystal thought for a moment. "I suppose... but Stratus is probably a better leader than I am." Mist felt Crystal's determination wavering.

Mist didn't want to flatter Crystal and boost her ego, but she had no choice. "No, you are a better leader. I know it. I'm sure. My room--the room Stratus kept me in--was right above the meeting room. I heard everything, more than you could ever in your meetings. I know of the plan. Stratus does not wish to unite everyone to make us all prosper. No. He wants to kill everyone except those who follow him and make Pyrrhia into a CloudWing empire. He hates every other tribe, Crystal. Including the IceWings."

"Really?!" Crystal's head snapped up with rage in an instant. "He has lied to me then!" Then she whirled on Mist. "You could be lying to me also!"

Finally she turned away, her snout in her talons. Mist faintly heard her muttering, "Don't know who to trust these days..."

"I cannot help you make your decisions, Crystal," Mist said. "You can choose who you will be loyal to, but you cannot change your decision after it is made."

Crystal paced back and forth down the long hallway, her tail sweeping back and forth in agitation. "You may be dismissed, Mist. I will let you know once I have made my decision."

Mist bowed her head and started down the hallway.

"Wait!" Crystal's voice called to her from above. "You may stay in the Ice Palace as you feel fit. I will find you a room and make sure that you are comfortable."

Mist tried to hide the growing smile on her face and restrain her feet from bouncing up and down like an excited dragonet. She would finally get to see the inside of the Ice Palace in all its glory!

Her room was smaller than she had imagined, but it was cozy and comfortable. The snow and frigid temperature inside did not annoy Mist anymore, as she had enchanted her scales (and feathers) to withstand the cold. The last rays of the sun streamed in through the window, and Mist assumed that it would become quite dark at night.* A collection of polar-bear-fur rugs lay on the floor next to a thick ice shelf that Mist supposed was a place to build a nest. She bent down and picked up all the rugs, heaping them onto the shelf. Then she plopped down on top of them.

Would Crystal really believe her? She had been thinking about enchanting Crystal to see the truth and every dragon's motives in any argument, but that might prove detrimental to her. Yes, it would be better not to use anything other than pure persuasion to change Crystal's mind.

She picked up a handful of snow from the floor. Tell me if Queen Lightbringer of the NightWings and her sisters the queens of every other tribe except the IceWings and CloudWings have received my note. Tell me their location.

The snow began moving, twisting itself into letters, words, sentences. Yes. They are currently hiding in Queen Puffin's hideout in the Sea Kingdom. 

Perhaps she would have to enchant herself to be able to breathe underwater, but for now, she was done giving herself other abilities using her enchantments. Oh Crystal, please make your decision in time for tomorrow. Mist clapped her talons to her head. Oh no! She had enchanted Crystal on accident! That was okay though, as she hadn't used any magic to change Crystal's mind, only to speed up the decision-making process.

*This story takes place before the creation of the animus-touched Moon Globe Tree--Mist did not create it.