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Chapter One:The Rainforest Kingdom(night)
DOWNSIDE walks through the jungle, not a sound coming from the environment around zir.
DOWNSIDE:Hello? Is anyone…there?
The eeriness of the silence starts to create a feeling of unease inside zir, but once ze gets to a clearing, a faint crying is getting louder.
DOWNSIDE:Hello? Are you okay?
In the center of the clearing is a green-and-grey RainWing dragonet wearing black shorts, a pink t-shirt, and a grey blindfold.
DOWNSIDE:What’s wrong? Why are you crying?
Ze gets closer, noticing the splotches of purple scales on the dragonet’s thighs and wrists.
DOWNSIDE:No…not…not this…I…I thought I was…
The dragonet slowly turns their head, the blindfold soaked with tears.
DRAGONET:Some things just can’t be forgotten.
DOWNSIDE slowly backs away, bumping into another NightWing, one that looks identical to zir but with a crown of white roses.
NIGHTWING:Stop trying to let it go.
DOWNSIDE:Why? It’s been years! Why should I still care?
The NightWing grabs zir wrist, a few petals falling from the roses.
NIGHTWING:Because you want them dead!
DOWNSIDE pulls out of the other dragon’s grasp, glaring at them.
DOWNSIDE:Killing them won’t do anything.
NIGHTWING:But don’t you want to save the others? Keep them from getting hurt? If you want to, then accept the fact-
DOWNSIDE:I don’t have to accept anything. It was my fault anyway. I didn’t know what I was doing.
Ze points at the RainWing.
DOWNSIDE:I suffered as a result of my own ignorance!
The other NightWing gets closer and louder.
NIGHTWING:YOU WERE JUST A KID!
There’s a long pause between the two of them, as DOWNSIDE glances at zir own hands for a moment.
NIGHTWING:You…you were only fourteen…
DOWNSIDE:And so was he.
NIGHTWING:It still doesn’t justify what he did.
They gently hold DOWNSIDE’s hands, a single tear trailing down their face.
NIGHTWING:Or what the other one did. They both need to suffer for what they did.
DOWNSIDE:But it doesn’t feel right. Killing two dragons for something that happened years ago? Something…they couldn’t…control-
NIGHTWING:That’s my point, Downside. They won’t stop until we make them stop. And to do that…we have to take their lives.
DOWNSIDE tries to look away from them, but they hold the side of zir face and force zir to make eye contact.
NIGHTWING:You know you have to. You want to, deep down. You want to kill them, with your own hands, and not feel guilty about it. You won’t feel guilty about it.
They let go, and DOWNSIDE wakes up in zir room to the moonlight coming in through the window.
Chapter Two:Diamond Caves Casino(day)
JACKAL walks through the room full of casino machines, roulette tables, and poker tables, the sounds of guests and employees filling the room.
JACKAL:Thank god the hotel rooms are soundproofed.
He continues to walk through, noticing a group of SkyWings in various types of gold jewelry, and he approaches them.
JACKAL:Hello, ladies, you all look stunning today.
The group is dressed in long dresses of different shades of red and orange, heavy makeup, and fake horn extensions.
SKYWING 1:Of course we are! We always look fabulous!
The other group members agree, and the IceWing smiles at the sight of their happiness and playful sass.
JACKAL:And, may I ask, where you got such beautiful adornments?
A second SkyWing, who’s holding a martini, shows her hand to make the many gold and diamond rings more visible.
SKYWING 2:I got these from a jeweler in The Kingdom of the Sea. Not far from the Summer Palace.
SKYWING 1:We all went there not too long ago. He makes it all himself, and doesn’t overcharge. If you want some good jewelry, he’s the guy to talk to.
JACKAL:Well, thank you. I’ll have to check it out sometime.
He glances at the minibar in the other room, then back at the group.
JACKAL:How about I buy you all a drink. Think of it as a thanks from me.
The SkyWings look at each other, then at the IceWing.
SKYWING 1:Why not? Come on girls, let’s have some fun!
They all walk to the minbar, and DOWNSIDE steps out of the elevator to see JACKAL paying for the SkyWing’s drinks.
DOWNSIDE:Jackal?
The IceWing turns around to look at zir, his smile fading as he notices zir nervousness.
JACKAL:Are you…is everything okay?
DOWNSIDE:I…I just had a weird dream…that’s all. I know it means something but…I…I just wish it didn’t.
The IceWing gently takes zir hands.
JACKAL:Do you want me to stay with you tonight? Would that make it better?
The NightWing looks away from him, zir voice becoming quieter.
DOWNSIDE:I…I mean…if you want to. I don’t want to…interrupt your preparations to leave.
The IceWing moves zir hands up a bit to interlock their fingers.
JACKAL:I don’t go to The Island Palace for another two days. I can stay with you and still get other s*** done.
He slowly lets go of zir hands to hold up zir head, their eyes meeting.
JACKAL:You know you can tell me anything. I just want you to be safe…to be happy .
He kisses the top of zir head, and ze then gets closer to hug him, resting zir head against his chest.
JACKAL:Remember that I only want the best for you.
He puts his arms around zir, his smile returning.
JACKAL:I love you.
The SkyWings look over, seeming to think this was adorable and heartwarming.
SKYWING 1:You don’t see a lot of IceWings being this nice nowadays.
SKYWING 2:Well, most SkyWings aren’t any better. Remember that one guy?
SKYWING 1:Yeah, I do.
They continue to drink, occasionally glancing over at the two dragons.
Chapter Three:Scorpion’s Room(day)
SCORPION stands in their room, looking down at the scroll.
SCORPION:I’ve figured it out…but how did that guy even get his hands on this?
The sounds of dragons outside the door startles them, and they transform the scroll into a golden earring on their right ear.
SCORPION:Hello?
The sounds disappeared, and then slowly, FLIPSIDE phases through the door as PERIL’s footsteps get farther.
SCORPION:What do you want?
The SkyWing looked at the necklace they were wearing.
FLIPSIDE:That’s Chameleon’s. I thought I recognized it.
The SandWing starts to look defensive, as if expecting him to try to take it.
SCORPION: And ?
FLIPSIDE:Did you kill him?
SCORPION:No, I just discovered his body. The Talons of Power killed him.
FLIPSIDE:Have you used the scroll?
SCORPION:Not yet.
They take a few steps forward, glancing at the mirror to see the silhouette of a RainWing in place of their body.
SCORPION:I remember using it though.
The SkyWing looks at them, confused.
FLIPSIDE:What? Are you like, Downside or something? You got voices in your head?
SCORPION:They aren’t voices , they’re thoughts. And only one. The dragon I took the scroll from. His soul exists in me now, but I can’t take the form of his original body. Only the ones he made. And he’s shown me what you did to him.
They unsheath the machete attached to their belt, and FLIPSIDE backs up until he’s against the door.
SCORPION:You’re the only Demi-God I know who’s managed to f*** up an entire kingdom and get away with it, even if it went unnoticed.
FLIPSIDE’s eyes widen as he notices the words “Talons of Silver” carved on the blade.
FLIPSIDE:Where…where did you get that?
The SandWing glances at the machete, then back at the SkyWing.
SCORPION:A pact.
The SkyWing slides down to the floor, now looking absolutely terrified.
FLIPSIDE:You…you formed a pact…with Silvertalon ?
SCORPION:Yes. She’s mentioned you before. How you tried to claw her eyes out, and how she kicked your a** afterward.
FLIPSIDE:You…you weren’t sent here to…kill me…right?
The SandWing chuckles, leaning down to get to his eye level.
SCORPION:If I was sent here to kill you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
They gently hold up his chin.
SCORPION:Are you really that scared of me? Don’t worry…I don’t bite.
The SkyWing laughs nervously, looking over at the machete occasionally.
SCORPION:I’m not the kind of Demi-God to act on petty revenge plots.
FLIPSIDE:So…you won’t hurt me?
The SandWing smiles.
SCORPION:No, I’m not going to hurt you.
Chapter Four:The Rainforest Kingdom(night)
DOWNSIDE stands in a clearing, shadowy figures of RainWings surrounding zir.
DOWNSIDE:Go away…go away…go away…go away…
The figures start to hiss, their eyes beginning to glow a bright white before one dashes forward to grab zir wrist.
DOWNSIDE:LET GO OF ME!
The figure, for a moment, looks like an actual RainWing with yellow scales.
DOWNSIDE:PLEASE! I DON’T WANT THIS!
The RainWing’s jaws slowly open, the venom dripping from his fangs being white instead pitch-black.
DOWNSIDE:WHY WON’T YOU LISTEN TO ME?
There’s suddenly a stinging feeling on zir legs, and the figures disappear, the NightWing hearing “Hermit the Frog” by MARINA as ze slowly gets up.
The NightWing can hear a familiar voice, sounding like a younger version of zirself.
But DOWNSIDE sings first, the pain in zir legs fading just a bit.
Ze stands up straight, the moons above having a sort-of red staining on them.
Ze looks up at the moons, noticing their strange colouration.
The moons begin to crack as the music goes into the chorus, like their about to shatter.
The RainWing dragonet appears again, this time the blindfold stained with blood.
She starts to join in, and DOWNSIDE turns around once ze hears them.
They walk forward as they sing as well, the NightWing looking with a bit of denial.
The RainWing continues, and DOWNSIDE goes back to the chorus.
Ze falls to zir knees, white rose petals appearing around zir.
The music slows down.
The RainWing continues to walk towards zir.
They add in their own sounds, the NightWing looking up slowly.
They take the NightWings hand, who stands up and dances with them, sending rose petals flying in all directions.
They both harmonize, their voices so similar it almost sounds like they're becoming one.
Ze hugs the RainWing, zir eyes starting to tear up as ze says the last line with a defeated tone.
They both stand together alone, no shadow figures, no wildlife, just two dragons finding comfort in each other's pain.
Chapter Five:Jackal’s Office(day)
JACKAL sits at his desk, WINTER across from him, and various photographs of dead SeaWings spread across the table.
JACKAL:So…you knew for two months…and didn’t tell me?
WINTER:Well, to be honest, I was afraid you’d kill me.
JACKAL:Now why would I ever do that ? Kill my own cousin over something that happened centuries ago ?
The other IceWing thought for a moment, breaking eye-contact.
WINTER:That’s…fair. You don’t seem like the kind of guy to do that anyway.
JACKAL:I wouldn’t dream of it.
He looks down at the photos, picking up one that showed a deep-blue SeaWing in pearl jewelry, her head in a red fountain with her throat slit.
JACKAL:There are only certain dragons who deserve to be killed at the hands of an Animus.
WINTER tried not to dwell on the gruesome photos, but he couldn’t help look at the one JACKAL was focused on.
WINTER:Is that…Queen Lagoon?
The other dragon puts the photo down, looking irritated as if even thinking of her was enough to piss him off.
JACKAL:Yes. She wasn’t as bad as Seal, but was close enough to make me kill her.
His cousin looks up at him, surprised and nervous at the same time.
WINTER:Are you saying…you actually want to… kill Seal?
JACKAL:I almost did. I could’ve, if I hadn’t let her go. If I told you to shoot her…would you?
The prince becomes more anxious.
WINTER:I mean…I…I was really close to…
JACKAL:But what if she came back again? Would you kill her, even if I hadn’t told you to?
WINTER looks back at the photos, then answers in a quiet tone.
WINTER:Yes.
His eyes fall on a photo of a knife, in a puddle of blood next to a SeaWing’s hand.
WINTER:Is that you?
JACKAL looks down at it as well, and lets out a soft growl.
JACKAL:Yes, that’s me. My death was…confusing to some. I could’ve healed myself with magic, but I didn’t have the strength to. My body was stabbed from multiple angles, by several spears. The only thing I could do was make sure that if someone had healed me, I wouldn’t suffer the consequences. I was a prince, I wasn’t going to prison that easily.
WINTER:So you…you died the same way Lagoon did. Throat slashed open-
JACKAL:Starting from the jugular.
A silence fell over the room for a few seconds.
JACKAL:A part of me wishes I did have the strength to get out alive. I was an Animus, I could’ve used magic to get me out of there, out of prison, I could’ve become king.
WINTER:But…doesn’t using magic f*** up your soul?
The other IceWing glared at him, and stood up, placing his hands on the desk.
JACKAL: No .
WINTER sat back, his tail wrapping around his feet in fear.
JACKAL:It all comes down to who’s raising the Animus. Lagoon drove me to insanity, not my power. It’s her fault those dragons died. I wouldn’t have done that if she didn’t try to control me. She almost turned my grandson into a weapon.
WINTER:I…I’m sorry. I didn’t know…
JACKAL:Not many dragons do. Schools are trying to re-write their books on Animi, but it’s not enough. There are still those who think we’re all monsters.
He stands up straight and walks to the other side of the room, where a box sits on a shelf on the wall.
JACKAL:I still have it.
WINTER turns his body a bit to better see what he’s talking about.
WINTER:Have…what?
JACKAL:The knife.
He opens the box, which is black leather studded with pearls, and inside is a long steel blade with a black seal-skin handle.
JACKAL:I managed to buy it off some auction site. Some SeaWing found it when The Island Palace was being reopened, and I got it for fifty-thousand dollars.
The prince’s eyes widen.
WINTER:Fifty- thousand ?
The other smiles as he carries it over to WINTER.
JACKAL:Yeah, it was worth it though. Why wouldn’t I want such an important item of mine?
WINTER quickly gets out of his seat, his eyes glued to the knife.
JACKAL:Coral said I could protect the palace, and her children, any way I wish.
He watches his reflection in the blade, a small grin appearing on his face.
JACKAL:Meaning I get to use this again.
WINTER froze, feeling a chill down his spine as he glanced back at the photographs.
Chapter Six:The Sky Kingdom(day)[ten years earlier]
FLIPSIDE and SOAR fly above a vast forest with a battalion of twenty other SkyWings.
SOAR:What are we even doing? What is this for?
FLIPSIDE:Scarlet heard a rumor that an Animus might be living nearby. She wants us to charge in and take as many enchanted objects as possible.
SOAR:But what if she’s wrong?
FLIPSIDE growls at him.
FLIPSIDE:Scarlet’s never wrong.
Several soldiers behind him agree, and the group makes their way to a lake with a large cabin.
FLIPSIDE:This is it.
A few soldiers land on the grass, only to be caught in large bear traps that sever limbs, puncture torsos, and even decapitate them.
FLIPSIDE:WHAT THE F***?
More soldiers try to fly directly at the cabin, but are quickly shot down with arrows from someone hiding in the trees.
FLIPSIDE:HEY A**HOLE! STOP BEING A COWARD AND SHOW YOURSELF YOU F***ING P-
An axe is thrown at a soldier next to him, which sends them plummeting into the lake.
SOAR:We should retreat-
FLIPSIDE:No. We’re not leaving empty handed.
He sees a tall, Night/RainWing Hybrid step out of the cabin, carrying a large machete.
FLIPSIDE:Oh…oh f***.
He recognizes the other dragon, who’s silver eyes turn bright red.
SOAR:Who is that? Are they an Animus?
FLIPSIDE:No…worse. That’s a f***ing Demi-God.
The hybrid walks off her porch, her tail thrashing like an angry cat.
FLIPSIDE:Silvertalon. Didn’t think The Great Ice Dragon’s brat was hiding out in the woods.
SILVERTALON:And I wasn’t expecting a Child of The Dark Goddess to appear on my doorstep, with the SkyWing military, no less.
Her wings turn a mixture of emerald and yellow.
SILVERTALON:Did you go from taking orders from your mother to taking orders from a different stuck-up b****?
FLIPSIDE growls and swoops down, swiftly clawing at SILVERTALON’s eyes and nearly knocking her to the ground.
SILVERTALON:Is that all you got, pipsqueak ?
FLIPSIDE:F*** YOU, YOU PIECE OF S*** LIZARD!
He bites down her neck, and she roars before tossing him off, which causes another SkyWing to trip over him and land face-first into a bear trap.
SOAR:WE SHOULD RETREAT!
FLIPSIDE:WE’RE NOT LEAVING! WE STILL NEED TO-
His attention is back on SILVERTALON as he notices her spine start to glow with a blue light.
FLIPSIDE:What? The…the hell is-
His eyes widen and he pounces out of the way as a strange blue fire comes out of her mouth, but it freezes into ice once it makes contact with several soldiers.
SOAR: NOW CAN WE GET OUT OF HERE?
FLIPSIDE looks at SILVERTALON’s terrifying glare, as she slowly opens her jaw with a hiss.
FLIPSIDE:Maybe, in like, five minutes?
SOAR:FIVE MINUTES? FLIP, WE ARE GOING TO DIE IF WE DON’T LEAVE RIGHT F***ING NOW !
SILVERTALON shoots venom in FLIPSIDE’s direction, but he manages to shove a soldier in front instead, which causes the other SkyWing to be hit directly in the eye.
FLIPSIDE:Okay, yeah, maybe we should leave now.
He flies back up into the air, looking down at the carnage.
FLIPSIDE:RETREAT!
Out of the twenty other SkyWings that came, only five make it back into the air, most of them bleeding out from scratches or missing limbs.
SOAR:I told you this was a bad idea.
FLIPSIDE:You don’t get to talk. You didn’t even try to help us. You just hovered in the air like a f***ing hummingbird, you coward.
SOAR:It’s your fault they got killed!
FLIPSIDE growls at him, glaring before leading the group away from the area, at which SCORPION wakes up in bed to find FLIPSIDE standing over them.
SCORPION:Uh…what are you doing?
FLIPSIDE:You had a memory, didn’t you?
SCORPION:I forgot you have access to dreamvisitors.
FLIPSIDE:You must hate me, don’t you?
His tone of voice is a bit off putting, as it’s so calm, but mixed with his unblinking stare makes the SandWing feel unsettled.
SCORPION:No…I don’t hate you. You’re just…a bit annoying, that’s all.
The SkyWing doesn’t give a response, he only slowly sits down on their chest.
SCORPION:Why…why are you acting like this?
FLIPSIDE:Because I’m afraid you’ve been lying to me. I’m afraid you really are here to kill me.
SCORPION:For the last time, I’m not going to kill you!
The SkyWing blinks a few times, seeming to snap out of his weird tone.
FLIPSIDE:Well then, I guess there’s no need to interrogate you then.
He moved off of them, the SandWing sitting up.
SCORPION: That’s what you were trying to do? Creep me out to the point of giving up information? If anything I thought you were possessed by a Deity or something.
FLIPSIDE:Do I really seem like the type of person to get possessed? I’m not that stupid.
SCORPION:But you are…kinda stupid. Just not a complete dumba**.
They move a bit forward, accidentally placing their hand on the SkyWing’s tail.
FLIPSIDE:I’m not stupid.
SCORPION:You’re lonely.
They notice their hand on FLIPSIDE’s tail, and moves it away, but FLIPSIDE grabs it.
FLIPSIDE:Why do you think that?
SCORPION:You’re a Demi-God with a history of failed relationships. You’ve got mommy issues. Your siblings haven’t talked to you in person for a while, and you are so desperate for a kid that you adopted one of The Sky Kingdom’s most notorious killers.
The other dragon looks a bit down as those words settle into his mind.
FLIPSIDE:You…that’s…what about you?
SCORPION:Oh, I’m lonely as f***, just better at hiding it.
They smile softly.
SCORPION:Ever thought of being lonely…together?
The SkyWing looks at them in utter bewilderment, but then becomes suspicious.
FLIPSIDE:Are you…what are you trying to do?
SCORPION:Keep you occupied. It’s what Silver wanted.
FLIPSIDE:So this is nothing more than just you just trying to keep me out of trouble?
SCORPION:I’m trying to keep you safe .
They sit there, quietly, then FLIPSIDE moves his hand away and breaks eye-contact.
FLIPSIDE:I…I’m going.
He gets off their bed and walks out the door, then stands alone in the hallway.
FLIPSIDE:F***, f***, f***, f***, Silver’s after me. Scorpion’s trying to get my guard down, and then they’re going to kill me. I can’t let my guard down, I can’t repeat what happened with Scarlet. Not again.
Despite him trying to stay quiet, SCORPION can hear everything.
SCORPION:It’s always the strongest ones that are insecure the most.
To Be Continued...