Sunset Fading

Sunset Fading takes place roughly one year after the events of The Flames of Hope.
This was the first page I created here back in 2019. It has lots of sentimental value to me. I've decided that I'm gonna rewrite this story. Since book 15 has been published and arc 3 has been wrapped up, there won't be near as many plotholes. Please correct me if there are any grammatical errors or incorrect information about canon.
This story is dedicated to my awesome aunt who introduced me to Wings of Fire. I am eternally grateful to her. Also, special thanks to all my friends who have given me feedback and constructive criticism. And, of course, thank you to Tui! None of this could exist without her.
Also available on: Wattpad · Quotev
Next books
*Bloodred Skies (Auburn)
*Buried Beneath Ice (Permafrost)
*Maintaining Chaos (Mason)
*Between Two Fates (Jaguar)
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=Welcome to Jade Mountain Academy!=
At this school, you will be learning side by side with dragons from all the other tribes, so we wanted to give you some basic information that may be useful as you get to know each other.
In light of recent events, we will be accepting students from the three Pantalan tribes. This is an excellent time, as it is this school's mission, to share your cultures and learn more about each other. You will be assigned to a winglet with nine other dragons to learn alongside each other. Since the Academy has become immensely popular, we have added a new winglet in order to accept new students. We never could have expected so much support, and we are ever so grateful.
Thank you for being a part of this school. You are the hope of the Pyrrhia and Pantala's future. You are the dragons who can bring lasting peace to this world. We wish you all the power of wings of fire!
Click to view winglets, dragon guide, and prophecy
==Winglets==
Referenced coding from Wheatproduct.
<tabber>Gold=
===Gold Winglet===
HiveWing: Mason
IceWing: Permafrost
LeafWing: Eucalyptus
MudWing: Sora
NightWing: Sunset
RainWing: Tamarin
SandWing: Adobe
SeaWing: Pike
SilkWing: Pria
SkyWing: Auburn
-
|-|Jade=
===Jade Winglet===
HiveWing: Aphid
IceWing: Spearmint
LeafWing: Cobra Lily
MudWing: Umber
NightWing: Moonwatcher
RainWing: Kinkajou
SandWing: Qibli
SeaWing: Turtle
SilkWing: Dusky
SkyWing: Peril
-
|-|Silver=
===Silver Winglet===
HiveWing: Sting
IceWing: Changbai
LeafWing: Mandrake
MudWing: Sepia
NightWing: Fearless
RainWing: Boto
SandWing: Ostrich
SeaWing: Anemone
SilkWing: Glider
SkyWing: Thrush
-
|-|Copper=
===Copper Winglet===
HiveWing: Izula
IceWing: Alba
LeafWing: Lacewood
MudWing: Marsh
NightWing: Mindreader
RainWing: Coconut
SandWing: Pronghorn
SeaWing: Snail
SilkWing: Calleta
SkyWing: Peregrine
-
|-|Quartz=
===Quartz Winglet===
HiveWing: Clover
IceWing: Ermine
LeafWing: Cypress
MudWing: Newt
NightWing: Mightyclaws
RainWing: Siamang
SandWing: Arid
SeaWing: Barracuda
SilkWing: Viceroy
SkyWing: Garnet
-
|-|Emerald=
===Emerald Winglet===
HiveWing: Deathwatch
IceWing: Mink
LeafWing: Poison Oak
MudWing: Bayou
NightWing: Peacemaker
RainWing: Jaguar
SandWing: Khamsin
SeaWing: Auklet
SilkWing: Illia
SkyWing: Cliff
-
</tabber>
==A Guide to the Dragons of Pyrrhia and Pantala, Updated and Edited by Starflight of the NightWings and Cricket of the HiveWings==
Referenced coding from Wheatproduct (again). All references are from the canon wiki w/ proper credit.
<tabber>Hive=
	
===HiveWings===
Description: Red, yellow, and/or orange, but always mixed with some black scales; four wings
Abilities: Vary from dragon to dragon; examples include deadly stingers that can extend from their wrists to stab their enemies; venom in their teeth or claws; or a paralyzing toxin that can immobilize their prey; others can spray boiling acid from a stinger on their tails
Ruled by: Queen Jewel (though some dragons do not support her, as the role of queen is highly disputed)
|-|Ice=
	
===IceWings===
Description: Silvery scales like the moon or pale blue like ice; ridged claws to grip the ice; forked blue tongues; tails narrow to a whip-thin end
Abilities: Can withstand subzero temperatures and bright light; exhale a deadly frostbreath
Ruled by: Queen Snowfall
|-|Leaf=
	
===LeafWings===
Description: Scales come in shades of green, brown, and sometimes gold/orange; leaf-shaped wings
Abilities: Can absorb energy from sunlight and are accomplished gardeners; some have powerful control over plants known as leafspeak
Ruled by: Queen Hazel
|-|Mud=
	
===MudWings===
Description: Thick, armored brown scales, sometimes with amber and brown underscales; large, flat heads with nostrils on top of the snout
Abilities: Can breathe fire (if warm enough), hold their breath for up to an hour, blend into large mud puddles; usually very strong; MudWings hatched from blood-red eggs have resistance to fire
Ruled by: Queen Moorhen
|-|Night=
	
===NightWings===
Description: Purplish-black scales and scattered silver scales on the underside of their wings, like a night sky full of stars; forked black tongues
Abilities: Can breathe fire and disappear into dark shadows; some hatch with the power to read minds or see the future (or, very rarely, both)
Ruled by: Queen Glory (see recent scrolls on the NightWing Exodus and the RainWing Royal Challenge)
|-|Rain=
	
===RainWings===
Description: Scales constantly shift colors, usually bright like birds of paradise; prehensile tails
Abilities: Can camoflauge their scales to blend into their surroundings; use their prehensile tails for climbing; shoot a deadly venom from their fangs
Ruled by: Queen Glory
|-|Sand=
	
===SandWings===
Description: Pale gold or white scales the color of desert sand; poisonous barbed tail; forked black tongues
Abilities: Can survive a long time without water, poison enemies with the tips of their tails like scorpions, bury themselves for camouflage in the desert sand, breathe fire
Ruled by: Since the end of the War of SandWing Succession, Queen Thorn
|-|Sea=
	
===SeaWings===
Description: Blue or green or aquamarine scales; webs between their claws; gills on their necks; glow-in-the-dark stripes on their tails/snouts/underbellies
Abilities: Can breathe underwater, see in the dark, create huge waves with one splash of their powerful tails; excellent swimmers
Ruled by: Queen Coral
|-|Silk=
	
===SilkWings===
Description: SilkWing dragonets are born wingless, but go through at metamorphosis at age six, when they develop four huge wings and silk-spinning abilities; as beautiful and gentle as butterflies, with scales in any color under the sun, except black
Abilities: Can spin silk from glands on their wrists to create webs or other woven articles; can detect vibrations with their antennae to assess threats; some have a rare ability called flamesilk
Ruled by: SilkWing Assembly (they do not have a queen, but rather self-govern as common folk; see: Pantalan Othermind)
|-|Sky=
	
===SkyWings===
Description: Red-gold or orange scales; enormous wings
Abilities: Powerful fighters and fliers, can breathe fire; a very rare subtype, firescales, can burn anything they touch
Ruled by: Queen Ruby
</tabber>
==The Light of Hope Prophecy==
Beware the dragon with seven names.
Beware the queen who cannot maintain.
A storm shall come to disrupt the peace,
And the light of hope shall slowly cease.
Those among you could be your very bane;
Old enemies will rise for their own regain.
One must choose between two fates,
Or the future will never be the same.
-
----
=Prologue=
Shadowhunter was going to escape the island. Forever.
Quite frankly, he felt guilty. He was leaving behind all his friends. Everything. But his mind was set on starting a new life and leaving all the ash and smoke behind.
It took five days to get to Possibility. Shadowhunter was surprised that no one had been sent after him, but then again, Queen Battlewinner had always hated him. She didn't care if he lived or died.
When Shadowhunter arrived, he was exhausted. Were the other tribes all this sickly? The air quality was so much better here.
I need somewhere to stay, he thought. There had to be an inn somewhere, right? Aha, I'll ask that SandWing! He walked over to the dusty brown dragon who was staring into a shop window. She spun around.
"Oh, hello. Who are you? We don't get many NightWings around here," she said. She was old and kind-looking.
"Shadowhunter. Is there an inn here?"
"Yes!" The SandWing pointed with her talon. "It's over there. My friend Redtail is the owner."
"Thank you." Shadowhunter walked down the gravelly road, passing several dragons as he walked towards the inn. They were mostly SkyWings and SandWings, but there were a few MudWings here and there. Some gave him stares; most of them had probably never seen a NightWing before.
Shadowhunter stepped into the inn. He greeted the SkyWing at the front desk. "You're Redtail, right? Are there any rooms I can take?"
"Yes and yes. You can take room 8B, to the right." Redtail handed him a brass key. "Now what's a NightWing doing here in Possibility?"
"I'm here to, uh, start fresh." Did that sound suspicious?
"I see. Everyone needs a fresh start sometimes."
~
Shadowhunter awoke at some point early in the morning. His muscles were much less sore, and he was hungry, too. But then again, when was he not starving?
His room was small and compact, yet comfortable. In one corner, there was a small desk with a kerosene lamp, and in the other, a bed made of sheep's wool. An old wardrobe took up the wall by the door.
Bored and very awake, Shadowhunter decided to explore the room for anything interesting. He found a scroll titled History of Possibility in the desk drawer and decided to read it, since he'd be living here now. Halfway through the scroll, he dozed off.
~
"You never payed! Wake up!" Shadowhunter awoke once more to the sound of Redtail's aggressive knocking on the door.
He opened the door. "I don't have any money."
"Hm. Help me clean the rooms," Redtail replied.
Shadowhunter helped clean; he mostly just dusted. Many of the rooms were vacant, though there were dragons in some of them.
Redtail unlocked a door with one of her many keys. A silver IceWing lied curled up in the corner. "I'm trying to sleep!" he complained.
"Sorry, Cirrus," Redtail apologized.
Who was that guy? Shadowhunter wondered. And what's an IceWing doing here in Possibility? ... Okay, I look just as out-of-place as he does.
Redtail returned to her spot at the front desk. "I never asked your name," she said.
"Shadowhunter, the broke excuse for a NightWing."
Redtail laughed. "Well, I can change that." She grabbed a talonful of gold coins from the cash register and handed them to Shadowhunter. "You can stay here and earn your keep."
"Thank you." Shadowhunter accepted the coins gratefully. "Now I won't be broke, at least." He smiled.
"Staff rooms are in the basement. Follow me." Redtail lead the way down the spiraling metal staircase. Her scarlet scales glistened in the torchlight.
"Aaaand here you are," Redtail said. She gave Shadowhunter a key from her keyring. "Mocha was just fired, so you can have her room." Shadowhunter wondered who Mocha was or what she could have done.
"Thank you," Shadowhunter said once more, "so much. I know this fresh start is off to be a good one."
----
=Part One: Special Delivery=
==Chapter 1==
Sunset wandered the streets of Possibility with her twin sister, Scorch.
"What do you think we should get father for his hatchday?" Sunset asked, bouncing along the path.
"I mean, does he really like anything other than coffee?" Scorch asked rhetorically. Her violet wings glistened.
"Blegh! How does he even like that stuff?" Sunset mimicked vomiting. A random SandWing who was drinking coffee from across the street gave her a nasty look. "Besides, we have about thirty years' worth of coffee grounds at home."
"You're exaggerating, but you're right," Scorch admitted. Suddenly, she spotted the perfect thing. "The bakery! Father loves this place!" Her face lit up with joy.
The sisters raced each other to the bakery and greeted the MudWing behind the counter. The small shop smelled like sugar and freshly-baked bread.
"Hello. What may I get for you today?" the MudWing asked.
Sunset thought about what her father liked. "Donuts! A dozen of them!"
"Are you sure we can afford that?" Scorch whispered. Sunset shrugged.
"Sure!" the MudWing exclaimed. "What kind?"
"Father likes chocolate, right?" Scorch asked.
"And strawberry!" Sunset said. "Let's get chocolate donuts with strawberry frosting," she told the MudWing.
"Absolutely. I can get those ready in a bit." The MudWing disappeared into the kitchen. Sunset and Scorch sat down and waited for the donuts to be ready. They goth them rather quickly, thanked the MudWing, and headed home to the hotel.
"Why hello there, my two favorite dragons!" Fennec the SandWing greeted them at the front desk. He was a young adult and like an older brother. He hugged the sisters with his freckled, pale brown wings.
"Hi, Fennec," Sunset said, muffled by his tight hug.
"Are those donuts I smell?" Fennec asked.
"Yeah," Sunset replied, "and they're for father's hatchday," she added, pulling the box away after Fennec tried to grab one.
"Speaking of which, where is he?" Scorch questioned.
"Oh, Shadowhunter's downstairs sorting money." Fennec pointed to the stairwell.
"Thank you," Scorch said. They headed downstairs, guided by torchlight. Sunset knocked one of her red horns on the low ceiling.
"Ow," she mumbled.
Scorch knocked on their father's door. Shadowhunter poked his head out. "Oh, it's you. Come in." He smiled, though his face still looked tired and sad.
"Happy hatchday!" Sunset and Scorch both exclaimed at the same time, hugging their father. Sunset handed him the box of donuts.
"These are my favorite! Thank you!" Shadowhunter grabbed one of the donuts and ate it. "Oh, Sunset! I almost forgot!" He handed her an envelope sealed with jade green wax. "The postdragon arrived with this today. It's addressed to you."
Sunset snatched the letter from Shadowhunter's talons, her dark claws trembling with excitement. She broke the seal, revealing several loose pieces of paper inside. She read the first aloud:
Dear Sunset,
I have been discussing with Queen Ruby for about a week regarding whether or not we should send you to Jade Mountain Academy. Ultimately we have decided to send you an invitation as there is a slot open for a NightWing in the Gold Winglet.
Thanks to Prince Hailstorm of the IceWings, it has been brought to our attention how wonderful and creative you are. We think you would be a great student.
Signed, Queen Glory
==Chapter 2==
"I'm going to Jade Mountain!" Sunset jumped up and down, not sure what do do with her joy. She hugged her father once more, wrapping her black-flecked, red wings around his shoulders. Scorch stood in the corner and had a weird expression on her face.
Why isn't she happy for me? Sunset wondered. No, that sounds selfish. Why isn't SHE happy?
Scorch broke the silence. "Is there a list of things you'll need?" she asked. Sunset could tell she was trying to change the subject. She jumbled through the papers from the letter and picked one up that said:
"'All learning resources will be provided by the school, though students are allowed to bring personal items, so long as they are responsible with them,' and—SCHOOL STARTS IN ONE WEEK?!" Sunset dropped the scroll and ran to her room, rummaging around for things to pack.
"You do realize it's not like the world is ending, and that's still several days, right?" Scorch hollered.
"I have to pack now, before I forget," she yelled back.
"Poor Sunset, always thinking she has to be punctual..." Scorch muttered. Sunset scowled, glad that Scorch wasn't in the same room as her, but then she had to try hard not to giggle at her own immaturity. She tossed an entire pile of scrolls and some of her secret candy into a leather bag.
"Alas, time to let this collect dust in a corner for the next week," she said to herself, plopping onto a pile of blankets. Scorch came in, looking mopey, and closed the door behind her. She sighed and sat down, her scarlet scales looking oddly dull.
"What's wrong?" Sunset asked instinctively. She didn't get a reply in return. We ALWAYS talk to each other about how we feel, Sunset thought. Something must REALLY be wrong. "Scorch?" she asked again.
Scorch sighed. "Doesn't it seem unfair?"
"What do you mean?" Sunset queried, surprised.
"Well, that Hailstorm guy obviously had a lot of good to say about you. Me? Psh." She rolled her eyes. It occurred to Sunset that she didn't remember ever meeting an IceWing named Hailstorm. Perhaps he was with the Talons...
"But," Scorch continued, "we all know you're the social sister, great at everything."
Sunset thought about what Scorch had said for a few long seconds. "You're great at math and science. You know I don't understand any of those weird formulas."
Scorch stared at her scroll about alchemy. "I'm not a genius," she mumbled.
"You could be," Sunset encouraged. "You could be the next, uh... somebody. I don't know any scientists."
"Maybe. I just want to be known for myself."
"I bet you'll get another chance at Jade Mountain, or some other important school," Sunset reassured. "I know you'll get recognized one day for your talents."
Scorch sat up. "Thank you. I'll just have to hope."
==Chapter 3==
Sunset soared through the warm air, feeling the heat from the breeze between her black scales. She was uncomfortable. Her father and Scorch flew closely behind; it had been a week since the letter from Queen Glory had arrived, and the twin peaks of Jade Moutain were now looming over them.
'We're here!" Sunset exclaimed, gliding down and taking in her surroundings. The green vale surrounding the mountain starkly contrasted the vast, boring desert. There were dragons from all the tribes (even some odd, four-winged ones, which Sunset assumed were from Pantala), filling the vale like a rainbow.
"Are you sure you have everything you need?" Shadowhunter asked, looking oddly stern.
"Yes, father," Sunset said, rolling her eyes. He had been very concerned that she was forgetting something, which she usually didn't, and had been nagging her all week. "I brought some scrolls, and the school is providing all the resources we need."
"Please visit us!" Scorch hugged Sunset with her scarlet-and-purple wings.
"Of course I will! Goodbye." Sunset adjusted the straps on her bag and wandered off. She felt excited and apprehensive at the same time—School will be so fun!—but also, What if the dragons here are different than in Possibility? Will they REALLY want to be my friends? She smiled at random dragons, trying to make a good impression and look approachable. A dark reddish-orange SkyWing walked over to her.
"Hi. Who are you?" The SkyWing stared at her with large, brown eyes.
"Sunset." Am I this outgoing? "And you are?"
"Nice. I'm Auburn. Your wings remind me of a ladybug." Sunset looked at her wings. They were red with many black dots. She'd never seen them that way before. "Which is a compliment, by the way." Auburn's eyes darted around. "Who's that dragon behind you?"
Sunset turned around. "Father. What are you doing?"
"I want to follow you inside," he said simply.
"I'll be fine, really," Sunset said, annoyed. I'm not a hatchling anymore, she thought.
"I'm just worried for you." Shadowhunter looked especially sad. "It'll be lonely without you."
"You still have Scorch and Fennec," Sunset pointed out. "And I won't be gone forever." Shadowhunter nodded and flew off. "Overprotective parents..." she mumbled.
"So," Auburn started, changing the subject. "What class are you looking forward to the most? Personally, I can't wait for history. And lunch."
"I never looked at the class schedule," Sunset admitted. "Is there a music class?"
"Probably." Auburn soared into the entrance of the school. Sunset followed. They were greeted by a large, orange-ish MudWing.
"Welcome! You must be Sunset," he said.
"Yup, and she's Auburn," Sunset replied, pointing.
"Actually, it's they," Auburn corrected politely. "Anyway, you're Clay from the prophecy!"
"Yeah, that's me," Clay said awkwardly. "And Fatespeaker's over there, somewhere... probably." He handed both of them a sheet of paper with the day's schedule. "I assume both of you know how to read. We'll start the day in the Great Hall where you can meet your fellow students, and then the staff will give a welcoming speech."
"Thank you." Sunset and Auburn entered the Great Hall, which was mostly empty except for two IceWings; a tall, green dragon with round wings; a tiny, wingless, lavender dragonet; and a NightWing and a SandWing sitting in the corner. Sunset overheard the SandWing talking to the NightWing.
"Everything will be fine, Moon, I promise. We defeated Darkstalker. It'll be a good year."
"I don't know, Qibli. There could still be evil out there..."
Sunset sat down with Auburn as more students flowed in. She tried to guess who would be her clawmates as they walked in. Who was the SeaWing again? Pike? I hope they're not grumpy... Is that them? No, they look too fancy...
"Hello students!" The wall was full now as a royal blue SeaWing, followed by another SeaWing, a bright golden SandWing, two NightWings—one wearing a blindfold, Clay, a Pantalan dragon with glasses (HiveWing? Sunset thought), and some other MudWing with vitiligo, entered. They walked onto a stage of sorts at the front of the Great Hall. Everyone snapped to attention as the royal blue SeaWing started her speech.
"Welcome to a new year at Jade Mountain. Some of you are returning students, and some of you are new. We are grateful to you all." Sunset began to zone out and fidget with her claws. This was booooooooooooring.
"The Gold Winglet is—" Sunset snapped back to attention as the blindfolded NightWing spoke, "—Mason, Permafrost, Sora, Sunset, Tamarin, Adobe, Pike, Pria, Auburn, and Eucalyptus."
Everyone started shuffling into groups after the winglets had been announced. Sunset found herself standing between Auburn and a four-winged, pinkish dragon.
"...and Mocha seems sooo cool," Auburn said. "I can't wait for her class. What about you, Sunset?"
"Huh?" Suddenly the whole winglet was staring right at her. Who was Mocha again? That other MudWing? I didn't pay attention at all... "Music!" Sunset blurted.
"Me too," the IceWing said. Her scales had a brownish tint to them, like old ivory. She was pretty. Sunset had a feeling that they would be good friends.
Thank the moons I didn't say something stupid, Sunset thought. I hate it when I zone out and my brain gets all mooshy...
The winglet continued to chatter, heading to the prey center for lunch. Sunset noticed that Sora and Tamarin didn't talk much. Were they feeling left out? She offered them a bit of her goat.
"Thank you," said Sora. She had a quiet voice.
Tamarin smelled the goat leg. "I don't eat meat. Sorry." Sunset realized by Tamarin's mannerisms that she was blind.
The winglet continued to chatter over lunch, getting to know each other. Sunset's clawmates were all nice (though Pike DID turn out to be a bit grumpy), and she knew that they would grow close. She was optimistic.
</div>
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Fanfictions (Canon)
Category:Genre (Prophecy)
Category:Genre (Mystery)
Category:Genre (Adventure)
Category:Content (Moonwatcher908)