Wings of Fire: Melting Ice #2

Chapter 21

After the argument with her mother, Aurora had clambered to her quiet place. Sadness hung around her, like a constant cloud. Her throat felt tight as she sniffed. It's not fair.

After opening the door, Aurora dropped down into the underground room, her talons clicking on the stone floor. She closed the door and walked over to the shelves plastered on the wall. She had her eyes fixed on her shiny, glimmering stone.

"Stone... where is my father being held?" Aurora asked, calming picking up the stone.

The stone moved slightly. "He in being held in the lowest level of the palace," it informed.

"How many guards are there?" Aurora asked, walking over to her her comfy bed.

"There are two of them," the stone answered. "Each with armor and narwhal horns."

Aurora sighed and plopped down on the polar bear fur, her talons sinking into the softness. She picked up a scroll near her, thinking for a moment. Maybe I should write something down. She got up and grabbed a jar of ink, then grabbed a graphite stick.

Aurora sat down near the small wooden table, placing the scroll down. It was slightly tattered and discolored, but she didn't care. She gripped the graphite stick in her talons and dipped it in the ink, then held it inches above the paper. 

Aurora began to write down what her father had told her. She wanted to remember it, so that she could convince her mother. After doing that, she boxed off the section and made another box. In that one, she wrote down the description of Charming. She made sure to get every detail.

"Aurora?" A voice called. 

Aurora turned, seeing the door open, along with a head poking through. "Abysswatcher?" She asked. "What are you doing here?" She questioned.

The large hybrid stepped into the room, shutting the door. "I had arrived here two days ago, to apologize for how I acted. But unfortunately you weren't here at that time. I was worried sick, Aurora."

Aurora narrowed her eyes, putting down the graphite stick. "Well, for your information, I was at the Rainforest Kingdom," she sighed. "My father brought me there. I know the full story, so don't listen to anything Iceberg tells you."

"She told me Hyacinth kidnapped you, and wounded you," Abysswatcher stated, sitting down.

"That's not true! He saved me. I got wounded from HiveWings, and he took me back to his home and treated my wounds. If it wasn't for him, I would be dead," Aurora hissed, lashing her tail. "I tried to tell my mother, but she refuses to believe me. I can't convince her, and Hyacinth probably won't be able to convince her either."

"I... I'm sorry for trusting her. I can help convince her, if you'd like," Abysswatcher offered. 

"No thanks," Aurora sighed.

The room was silent for a moment, but Abysswatcher stepped forward. "Hey... I'm sorry for acting like I did all those days ago. I want to try again, Aurora."

"I accept your apology, but listen, Abysswatcher. I've already found someone else for me," Aurora told him. "In the Rainforest Kingdom, there was a RainWing. He was nice and funny."

Abysswatcher backed away, looking hurt. "Oh... I see," he mumbled. He tried to smile. "Well as long as you're happy, I'm happy."

Aurora nodded. The two dragons sat in silence for a few minutes, then Aurora rolled up the scroll. "Did my sister say anything about me?" She questioned.

Abysswatcher turned his head. "You probably won't believe me, but she seemed somewhat worried. She said that she wondered where you were."

"Well.." Aurora sighed. "She- she doesn't even know about the situation! My mother will lie to her! Abysswatcher, get Plum in here!" She demanded.

The large hybrid dipped his head and flew out the entrance, his wings flapping in the cold air. Now Aurora was left alone again, sitting on the stone floor to only be comforted by the quiet whistle of the wind. It soothed her.

Aurora dug her talons into the wooden table, almost catching her claws on the special scroll. She looked up and turned, her neck stretching forward to look at the wooden shelves. The picture of her father was still there, although it had collected some dust since she had been gone. 

Aurora grabbed her scroll and walked towards the shelves, her tail dragging along the floor. She placed the scroll behind the picture frame, blinking. She stood back, looking at the picture of her father for a few seconds longer. Execute him, huh? 

"Aurora!" A voice shouted. Plum darted into the room, rushing towards her sister and tackling her to the ground. What is this all about?

"Aurora, I'm sorry!" Plum cried. She shoved her snout to her sister's cheek, her eyes wet with tears. "I've been a terrible sister, and I'm sorry. I should've said something earlier. I thought you died!" She whined.

Aurora stood up, dusting off her scales with her giant wings. "Plum, what has gotten into you? I thought you hated me," she growled, lashing her tail.

Plum suddenly looked hurt. "Look, Aurora. I've treated you so cruelly. I don't know why I decided to be that way. But now I can see clearly. After you went missing, I realized something. I... I," Plum trailed off.

"Listen, Plum, explain this later. Right now, we have something to worry about. Our father will be executed tomorrow. Our mother will kill him in front of everyone. Plum, we have to stop this! I can't have my father to die, I just met him only a few days ago!" Aurora whined. She sat down, digging her claws into the cold floor. She looked down at her talons, her mind going fuzzy. "But I don't know what to do. She is the Queen, I can't stop her. Our father will die without ever getting the truth out."

Plum sat down next to her sister. She stroked her tail along her back slowly. "So he came here? Tell me what happened. And.. what is this 'truth' you speak of?" She questioned, her eyes glowing.

Aurora lifted her head. "Well, Hyacinth saved me. I almost died from blood loss, but he somehow found me and cared for me. He spoke to me about Charming. He told me of a hybrid that he was friends with. This hybrid could see the future and warned him of what Charming would do."

"What... would he do?" Plum asked.

"He.." Aurora turned her head. "He was going to kill me. I know that sounds hard to believe, but it was true. So Hyacinth killed him. I know it's hard to believe a NightWing when he speaks of the future, but I certainly have proof."

"What kind of proof?" Plum asked. 

Aurora blinked slowly. "Charming appeared to me.  He told told me that something bad will happen soon. He said to me that he was glad he had been killed. I felt so angry at how he could think that. But... then I understood. He saw a vision where he killed me. He felt horrible and wondered how he could ever turn out like that," Aurora explained. Poor Charming. Having to deal with that as a dragonet? 

"So.. he would've killed you if Hyacinth hadn't killed him? That's..." Plum trailed off. She looked saddened. "How... how could he of turned out like that?" She questioned, but it sounded as though it was more to herself.

"Listen. Before Charming left, he gave me a message. He stated that it was for Iceberg. He told me to tell our mother that he forgives Hyacinth. I hope that Iceberg will cancel the execution once she hears about this. I hope that once I deliver my message, she will change her mind," Aurora stated, sighing heavily.

"I.." Plum began. "I will stand by you as your sister and help you. I want to fix our relationship. So I'll help you, Aurora. I want to get to know our father too."

Aurora sighed in relief. She wrapped her wings around her sister in a loving hug. Our relationship is fixed? Just like that? A few words and... Aurora shook her head. No, here I go again. She stood up. "Tomorrow, we will try our best to convince Iceberg that what she is doing is wrong." Maybe with Plum by my side, we can save our father. She suddenly had doubts crawling into her thoughts. But.. it's not going to be that easy, is it?