The Seer of Stars (BOOK ONE OF THE SPACEWING PROPHECY)

Chapter 10

The soft golden wyrm had tinges of pink around her wings. That was how she got her name. 

"But - Rose-" Pisces tried to say. "It's-" 

"I know who you are, StarWing," she hissed. Pisces's eyes widened. 

"How-" she started. 

"Sh!" Rose said. "I'm here to help. I need to get out of this place, you have no idea!" 

"Okay," Pisces said. 

"Come on," Rose prodded her along, telling her to move. A little later, they arrived in the throne room. 

There was a brilliant golden throne, adorned with gems and jewels and comfy looking cushions everywhere. A shining dragon, with scales nearly as bright as Celestial's and gems wedged between her scales, sat on it, splayed out as if bored. She sat up as they entered the room. 

"Queen Solar," Rose bowed, and so did Pisces, Twilight, Tectonic, Streak, Orbit, and, after a moment, Celestial did, too. 

"Rise," she said, waving a claw. SHe stared down her snout at the wyrmlings gathered below her. Then her glare softened. 

"C-Celestial?" she asked weakly. 

"Solar!" Celestial cried, running into her older sister's arms. 

"Oh, Celestial!" she held back tears. "Where have you been? Why were you in the forest?" 

"Kidnapped," Celestial said. "But I escaped." 

"Kidnapped?" Solar asked, her eyes narrowing. "How dare they?" she looked around, then calmed down a bit. "And who are these charming companions you have with you?" 

"I'll explain about the kidnapping later, and these are my friends. They helped me escape. And we even have a proph-" 

"SHH!" Twilight urged. 

"What?" Solar asked. "I can help you do whatever you need to do." She waved her claw. "I'll send you with my most trusted warrior, Rose! She looks young, but she has an amazing ability. SHe can see through any disguise, and she can tell if someone is lying." the queen added with a smirk. 

Oh, Pisces realized. That's how she knew who I was. Wait, kidnapping? Why did Tectonic lie to me? Or is Celestial the one who's lying? her head was full of questions. 

"Please, my sister," Queen Solar pleaded. "Tell me what you need to do." 

Twilight sighed, and slowly nodded his head. 

Celestial held out the scroll. 

"It's a prophecy - about us," she explained. The queen took it. 

"What she said is true, Your Majesty," Rose bowed. "I can tell."

"Where did you get it?" Solar asked finally. "Why are the SpaceWing islands on it?" 

Celestial looked to Twilight, but he was shaking his head. Don't tell her about Nebula, his eyes said. Celestial sighed. 

"We - Pi - Um..." Celestial look to Pisces for help. 

"Pluto," Pisces whispered. 

"Pluto found it," Celestia said sheepishly, giving a version of the truth.

"She's telling the truth," Rose said. "Or close enough to it that she isn't super guilty." she winked at Pisces. Pisces grimaced. 

"Hm..." the SunWing queen seemed unconvinced. "And you want to... fulfil this prophecy, correct?" 

Celestial nodded. 

"Do you know which leader dies?" she asked. 

"How would we know-" Orbit demanded, but Celestial stopped her. 

"We honestly don't know," she said softly. "I really hope it's not you." 

The queen sighed. "I suppose you may go fulfil this prophecy if-" 

"If what?" Streak asked. 

"If  you bring Rose with you. She will protect you, I promise. 

"Very well," Rose and Orbit both growled. Rose was really good at acting, and Orbit really didn't like any SunWing other than Celestial. 

"Then you may leave," Queen Solar said, clapping her talons twice. Rose was off down the hallway - the others in tow - before anyone could blink. As soon as they left the palace gardens, Rose broke the act. 

"Thank goodness we're out of there," she sighed. "I needed her to trust me enough to let me come with you. 

"Pisces, do we know this wyrm?" Orbit asked. 

"...yes," Pisces admitted. "I've only met her once, though."

"Ooh! Two stories in one day!" Streak enthused. "Tell us please!" 

Pisces caved. "Fine," she sighed. 

"Yay!" Streak was positively beaming. 

"One time, I was out for a midday fly. You know, when you just can't sleep?" everyone nodded. 

"Then I flew into a tree." she stifled a laugh. "I was not watching where I was going.

"I regained my balance and started flying home. Suddenly, I heard a giggle. 

"I whipped around only to find none other than this goofy ball of scales!" she elbowed Rose in the side.  

"She pointed and laughed until she was crying, and she almost fell out of the sky! I just stared at her. 

"'What are you doing in StarWing territory?' I hissed. 

"'This is neutral territory, you goof!' she had laughed back. I lunged at her, but she dodged it easily. 

"'Whoa! Calm down,' she had said, barreling out of the way. 'I was laughing... because you... um... got a little something... now you got it.' he helped me get the most ridiculous looking twig untangled from my horns. I took one look at it and realized why she had been laughing. 

"'I'm Rose, buy the way,' she had said, still holding back giggles. 'And you are..?' 

"'Pisces,' I had replied almost automatically. I wondered why I was telling her that, but it didn't really matter. She didn't feel like an enemy, and I've  never seen her since except for today. 

"I wondered why she was so... un-Rose like, until I realized she was acting. Rose is good at that," she added.

"Let's go see the rest of the continent!" Rose proposed (haha that rhymed :), leaping into the air. 

"Why not?" Twilight said, following her. "I'd love to meet the King of the PlanetWings before this paint starts rubbing off anyways." 

"Then off we go!" Pisces shouted, spreading her wings and leaping into the sky after them. Celestial, Orbit, Streak and Tectonic soon followed suit, beaming with enthusiasm. Even Celestial cracked a rare smile. 

This is gonna be great, thought the grinning StarWing, looking around at all of her friends. It has to be.