Hell's Paradise

== Preface ==
"Hell's Paradise" is an idea I've been tampering with ever since I started reading Wings of Fire. It's a story about oppression, self-discovery, tragedy, love and coming of age. As a result, it will feature many topics others may consider offensive or uncomfortable, and is not intended for readers who are squeamish towards violence or prejudice. That said, the story has unfolded beautifully in my mind, and I hope those that do read it find it enjoyable (if anyone reads it at all, haha).
While the mature topics mentioned in the content Warning aren't what the entire story revolves around, they are reoccurring issues faced throughout the story. I won't be blatantly out and about with them, but they will still be there.
Aside from that, I hope you enjoy this story. It's been a work in progress for over a year now, and I'm excited to finally bring it to life in the Wiki. If you're stumbling upon this now, and would like pings for progression in the story, please notify me on my Message Wall. 
== A Note From Adder ==
To the dragon or dragons reading this, I will assure you that everything that happens in this story is very real. This is a retelling of my life through a third person view, written very kindly by one of my closest acquaintances, Copperhead. Throughout the story, I ask that you relate my experiences to real-life issues, as the vice grip my father (any many before him) had over Auroborous is loosened, but not gone. It is still a work in progress to this day. Of course, by the time you're picking this book up, the issues may have already been resolved. This story will long outlast my own life, of course, so I am unable to speak on whether or not you are still suffering from the actions of my ancestors. Regardless, take the story with a grain of salt, as my memory is still dull, and I might have not retold the story 100% accurately. If you are reading this book for the second time, I advise you reflect on how you felt during your first reading, and see if the reread changes how you feel, or modifies it in any way.
- Signed with valor and pride, Head Justice Adder of the SlitherWing Court
== Prologue ==
The rain was heavy, and cold. And damp. Scarab had a lot of complaints at the moment, more than they could think of. His wings beat hard and fast, trying desperately to lead his tribe, or at least those of whom had fled Pantala with him, through the storm. They had fled their homeland because of an overwhelming force, an oppression so strong that it was almost impossible to comprehend. The worst part? They were being oppressed by a plant. The Othermind. A name that sent shivers down the spine of any BeetleWing who heard it. The plant had the ability to control those of which consumed it, or inhaled the smoke from its burning, and it had driven roughly 50% of the BeetleWing population away from their homeland. 
Scarab blinked, unsure if it was tears or water that was clogging his eyes. Was he seeing things, or were those the shadows of trees swaying violently in the wind? "BeetleWings! Land ho!" He shouted, pumping his wings harder. They were almost there, almost free! He burst through the storm, emerging at a large island covered in vast ecosystems. He gasped. He was facing straight at a tall, lanky, black dragon, who had a frill of scales on their neck in the same shape as a cobra's. He smiled. "Welcome, dear friends, to Auroborous." The dragon, later to be revealed as a "SlitherWing" (something Scarab had never heard of), graciously said, bowing his head.
== Part One: Euphoria ==
=== Chapter One: ===
Adder was a simple dragon. Well, at least, they were in the eyes of their father. Head Justice Pit of the Royal SlitherWing Court, a father no dragon would ever wish to have. Adder snapped back into reality as Pit's heavy tail slammed into their face. "Are you listening?! Pay attention!" He snaps, hissing. This was no unusual occurrence. Adder stared blankly at Pit. "Yes, father. I am paying attention." They said dully, drifting back off into their subconscious. Adder was, by no means, a simple dragon. They were complicated, and layered. Adder, for instance, had wild ideas that Pit would never approve of, such as allowing the BeetleWings to coexist among the SlitherWings instead of being oppressed. That was a silly idea, for sure. Pit hissed quietly. "As you know, you are my sole heir. As a result, it is your job to take on the position of Head Justice when I pass." He says, pacing. Adder's eyes followed their father slowly. "Your mother and I have made the executive decision that you will be marrying the dragon of our choice. No complaints." Pit continues, glaring Adder down. Adder returns a cold, dead stare.
As much as they hate it, Adder is next in line to be Head Justice. Hopefully, after their father's death, they can change how Auroborous works for the better. "We have decided that your wife will be Lady Rattle's daughter, Racer." Pit says, not giving Adder time to speak their mind. There it was again, that word. In truth, Adder already had their eyes on another dragon, one that their father would never approve of. A BeetleWing by the name of Stag. There were so many things wrong with that, in Pit's eyes, which is why he would never and could never know. Adder nods slowly. "Yes father." They say quietly, eyes narrowing slightly. Pit's face twists in disgust. "Narrow your eyes at me one more time!" He shouts, slamming his tail into Adder's face once more. Adder falls to the floor, wincing. This had happened too many times to count, but it had started hurting less recently, as if Pit's repeated abuse was now something Adder had built a resistance to. They stood up shakily, still dazed. "Apologies, father. I did not mean to-" They were cut off abruptly by another strike from Pit's tail, launching them across the room. As Adder's body slammed against the wall, and hit the ground, Pit snarled. "I care not for your apologies, Adder. Get up, and get ready. We depart in one hour's time." He snaps, leaving Adder's room with wicked grace. Adder stumbled to their feet, shooting a glance at their personal maid, who had been sitting silently for the past hour while Pit yelled at them.
She glanced at Adder, pity in her eyes. "Should I... go? Or would you like assistance getting prepared?" She asked quietly, using a small cloth to dab the blood from Adder's mouth away. Adder winced, blinking back tears. "No. You are free to go. I do not wish to be like my father, I will not control you." They say quietly, managing a small smile. She smiles, nodding. "As you wish." Adder watched her go, listening to the sound of her claws clicking on the marble floors. Adder sighed, moving to the other side of their room. As they slowly slotted earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry on, they stared at their talons. Shaking, as usual. There was never a dull moment in the Royal SlitherWing Court, that was for sure. Adder half expected their mother to burst into their room, screaming some nonsense about the failing state of the SlitherWing economy, again. Oftentimes, she wasn't in the right state of mind, but Adder didn't mind. At least she didn't hit them. Adder clicked the final bracelet into place, listening for a moment as their adornments clicked softly. A sigh escaped their jaws as they gazed longingly out of their window, wishing they could be free from the prison that was royal life. 
A quiet knock at the door caused Adder's head to whip around. "Yes, come in." They say quietly. In comes a copper-colored dragon, a smile on their face. "Hey, I'm here to cheer you up." Copperhead says quietly, slipping into Adder's quarters. "My my, don't you look fancy?" He teases, gesturing towards the more than extravagant amount of jewelry on Adder's body. Silver dripped from their ears and neck, clashing violently with the gold wristbands. Glittering gems sat quietly and obediently in the multiple rings scattered across Adder's claws, held down by their silver prisons. Adder nods slowly. "Yes, well, one must look good for a gathering as large as this one." They say, a small smile on their face. Copperhead stifled a laugh, using their long tail to slide Adder's door shut. That was what was gnawing at the back of Adder's mind, the gathering. Every month or so, all four tribes of Auroborous would gather at the Royal SlitherWing Court and discuss current issues. Here's to another night of father blabbering on and on about the BeetleWings and how "proud" he is of me. Adder thought dully, glancing around. "So, what brings you to my quarters?" They ask, locking eyes with Copperhead. He takes a deep breath, a smile on his face. "Right, right right! So, I brought you a letter from a special someone!" He says, doing a little dance. Adder's heart fluttered hopefully, knowing exactly who had sent that letter. "Give it here." They say, taking the letter from Copperhead's talons. It was in remarkably good condition, considering where it came from. Adder slowly unrolled the parchment, reading the message enclosed aloud.
"My dearly beloved, I will be attending tonight's gathering alongside a sizable group of BeetleWings. Tonight, we are there on official business about the SlitherWings rapidly encroaching into our swamps, consuming our land bit by bit. Annoying, right? Anyways, I look forward to seeing you again. Oh! I almost forgot! In two weeks time, Hercules and I (alongside other members of our tribe) will be visiting the Royal SlitherWing Court to touch up on the architecture! Thank the moons, we'll get to see each other more often these next few days. You know, assuming your father doesn't lash out at us again and forbid us from attending any formal events for a while."
-Signed dearly, Stag
Adder smiled, brushing a claw along the paper. Stag's handwriting was messy and unkempt, but Adder had no trouble reading it (at least, not anymore). "Thank you, Copperhead." They said, wrapping their friend in a hug. Since their birth, Copperhead and Adder had a certain bond, one that transcended friendship. They shared everything with each other. Secrets, crushes, pet peeves, anything. Copperhead was one of the only dragons Pit could put up with Adder knowing, since they were related. Copperhead's mother, Viper, was Pit's sister, making Copperhead and Adder cousins. Copperhead squeezed Adder tightly, letting out a happy squeal. "Ah! You two are just so adorable together! Definitely perfect for each other!" He said, poking Adder's stomach playfully. Adder recoiled, feigning offense. "How dare you poke the heir of the Head Justice?" They say, gasping dramatically and putting a talon to their head. Thankfully, there were times in Adder's life where they were genuinely happy. Still, though, those were far and few between. 
----
An hour had passed, it was time. Dragons were flooding into the Court through the main doors, which were constructed out of a remarkable quartz. There were spiraling serpents engraved in the doors, with the crest of the Head Justice placed directly in the middle. It was flamboyant, no doubt about it. Flamboyant and annoying. Adder squinted as sunlight poured through the entrance into their eyes. It felt as if the sunlight was scorching their eyes, but they had to keep looking. Hundreds of dragons were already there. StoneWings, ShroudWings, SlitherWings... but no BeetleWings were present yet. Adder let out a disappointed breath, glancing over at their parents who were sitting quietly beside them. Adder's jewels glittered brightly in the painful light, drawing their attention. They tore their gaze away from their jewelry, glaring into the crowd once more. There! They thought, recognizing the turquoise and black scales of Stag. He was a remarkably beautiful dragon, a deep shade of black from head to toe with bright turquoise underscales, and glowing golden eyes. Adder cleared their throat. "Mother, father, please excuse me." They said respectfully, slipping away into the crowd. They slid around various dragons, finding their way to Stag. 
"Hey." They breathed, briefly tapping noses with Stag. He smiled, wings fluttering happily. "Hi." The BeetleWing replied, eyes sparkling. Adder wanted nothing more than to tackle Stag into a hug, but they had to stay professional for both of their sakes. Adder smiled, not knowing what to say. "I missed you." They said, settling on something simple. Stag chuckled. "You're completely at a loss for words, aren't you?" He asks, raising an eyebrow. Adder nods, unsure of how to feel in the current moment. "How've you been holding up?" Stag asks, a gentle look in his eyes. Adder shrugs. "Same as always. Hanging by a thread without you." They reply, shooting a nervous glance at their parents, who were now talking airily with Bandit of the ShroudWings (and her idiotic representatives). "And you?" They ask, trying to maintain a cordial and upright stance. Someone of Adder's stature shouldn't ever be publicly seen without a regal appearance. Stag groans. "The swamps are dying, quickly. Since all of the rain floods to them, its hard for plants to grow as well. And without plants, animals begin to die. But we're managing. The StoneWings, gracious as they are, have allowed us to hunt in their territory until the ecosystem balances itself out again." He says, rubbing his temples.
Adder and Stag continued to talk, laughing and smiling. There were a few close calls, where Adder and Stag had to pretend to be nothing but business partners, and Pit had called them up once or twice to meet some distant relative they didn't care to know. Overall, it was a good night. As the sun's light bled into the distance, casting an eerie orange across the sky, Adder waved goodbye to Stag and the others. This was always the hardest part, the goodbyes. Adder's heart felt as though it had been pierced with a silver dagger, and they wished they could go with Stag. Pit approached from Adder's left, hissing quietly. "Speak with me in my room. Now." He snapped, turning around sharply and walking off. Adder glanced over their shoulder. This should be good... They thought, tailing Pit silently.
As soon as they had both gotten into Pit's room, he slammed the door. "I saw how you were speaking with that disgusting BeetleWing, son." He snapped. Another word Adder despised, "son." Pit continued to speak. "You look at that thing like he's all you live for! I'm so sick and tired of you disobeying every single order I give you. I am your FATHER! You listen to me, or else!" He shouted, whipping Adder across the face with his tail again. Adder coughed, a few drops of blood leaking from their jaws. They swiped their talon across their lip, tasting the warm and metallic blood in their mouth. "Disobey me again and watch what happens, Adder..." Pit warns, tapping his claws on the floor. Adder slowly stood up, glaring at Pit. "It wouldn't be disobedience if you gave me any sort of freedom!" Adder snapped, hissing. A series of strikes later, Adder was thrown out of Pit's room. They coughed, shaking their head. This was the life they lived, the wondrous life of a royal heir.
Adder slowly walked back to their room, blood dripping from their mouth. The taste of blood was all too familiar. Comforting, even. The curled up in their bed, biting down hard on a cloth to absorb the blood. This was a little trick they had learned after all the years. To avoid drowning in their sleep, they had to hold a cloth in their mouth to absorb the blood. Though... maybe death would be a good escape from this hell. Adder shook their head, ridding themselves of such foolish thoughts. No. I must continue to live. If for nothing else, for Stag. They thought, eyes drifting shut. It would be a while before they were asleep, as the pain would keep them squirming, but the darkness was some sort of consolation, a calming embrace.
=== Chapter Two: ===
Adder awoke to another morning just as bleak as the others. They sighed, barely having the motivation to get up at all. What was the point? All they would get in return was shouting, beatings and hateful looks. No matter what they did, Adder was never good enough. They looked out of their window, watching the trees sway gently in the wind and the birds soar over the mountain peaks. They had always admired the beauty of Serpent Valley, where the Royal SlitherWing Court resided. Of course, the massive quartz building smack dab in the middle of the clearing was a bit of a mood killer, but Adder had learned to tune it out. Whenever they were allowed to actually leave, they would soar around the open landscapes, free from all that bound them. That was rare though, and nothing but a lie.
Pit threw Adder's door open, scowling. "Get up. There are things to do." He snaps, glaring down at his child. Adder looked over silently, sliding out of bed with a grunt. "Yes, father." They said obediently, beginning to clip their bracelets and rings on. Yet another boring day, full of duties that Adder didn't even necessarily need to perform. They sighed. Pit stared Adder down with fury in his eyes, clearly mad at something. "Hurry up." He hissed, slamming Adder's door and walking off. Adder winced, as usual, when the noise assaulted their ears. "Yes... father." They muttered, knowing Pit couldn't hear them. They took one last look out of the window before they slipped out of their room and into the grandeur halls of the Court. One deep breath at a time. That's what Adder needed to focus on. 
Today was the day. More specifically, the day Stag and his group visited the Court to touch up on the architecture. One thing Adder liked about their father was that he wasn't smart enough to think to separate the two lovers, instead giving them plenty of time unattended to do whatever they wished. That was his biggest weakness, his intelligence. Adder smirked, listening to their jewelry jingle as they walked the halls silently, falling in toe with Pit. As they entered the breakfast hall, passing by the magnificent statues of past Head Justices, Adder noticed one single repeated feature: A smug look. For the past few thousand years, all of the Head Justices had been nothing but cruel and judgmental, just like Adder's father. Can't wait to be up there, ruining the trend. They thought, tracing the elegant lines in the quartz with their eyes.
The massive pearly white doors swung open, giving Pit and Adder access to the outside world. And there he was. Among others, Stag was standing patiently outside of the Court, giving instructions to a few of the other BeetleWings. When he caught Adder's gaze, he smiled at them in a formal, friendly kind of way. That was the smile they had to use around Pit. The fake smile. Adder returned the smile, stepping quietly over to Stag and his group. "Hey." They say, waving their tail briefly at the other BeetleWings. "Hi." Stag replies, a goofy grin on his face. "Walk with me, would you?" He asks, pretending as if he has something to discuss with Adder. They nod, following quickly behind the handsome dragon. The rest of the group began to work on their contribution to the palace garden, which was many small beetles constructed from carved stone. They were actually pretty magnificent, in Adder's opinion, but that might be because Stag had made them. They glanced back at the dragon in question, his golden eyes reflecting the sunlight. "Hey... I have a question." They said quietly, catching up to their BeetleWing lover. Stag nodded. "Yeah, what's up?" He asks.
Adder thinks for a brief moment. "What... what would we call ourselves? Boyfriends? Partners? Nothing at all..." They ask, looking away shamefully. Stag smiled sweetly. "What do you want us to be?" He asks gently, walking at Adder's pace. They looked back into Stag's eyes, watching the way they glittered like magnificent gemstones. "I... I want us to be happy." They said honestly. Stag nodded, a solemn look on their face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the mood..." Adder said, looking down awkwardly. Stag shook his head. "Nope. No. You didn't do that. You have every right to tell me what you want out of the relationship. And as soon as your father passes his rule down to you, we can be happy and together. Of course, that means he has to die but... would anyone really miss him?" He asks. Adder laughed, for the first time in a while. It was true, what Stag suggested. Even the SlitherWings didn't like Pit. He was egotistical, abusive, rude and arrogant. Adder grimaced, thinking of how many dragons their father had publicly executed. "I don't think they would." Adder replies, smiling again.
Stag shoulder bumps Adder playfully, grinning. "Hey, chin up babe..." They say. "It won't be too long until your mother murders him in a desperate attempt to save her own sanity." He half joked. Adder barked a laugh. "Sometimes I think she's so detached from the world that doesn't even occur to her." They reply. The architecture of the Court, admittedly, was stunning. Beautiful spiraling pillars supported thick, powerful foundations that held up all of Auroborous, in a way. The way the quartz glowed in the sunlight was intoxicating, giving it this alluring shimmer. It was polished to perfection, no bumps or lumps present. Adder half wished Pit would roll over dead, but they knew they wouldn't be able to take on the responsibilities of being Head Justice just yet. As much as Adder hated it, they did need training before they could take the position. Adder leaned against Stag as they both slowed to a stop, snuggling into his shoulder. Stag put a large wing around Adder, kissing the top of their head. "Oh, lemon... it'll be alright..." He says quietly, twining his tai around Adder's thoughtfully.
Adder smiled. Lemon... a nickname they had gotten from Stag a long, long time ago. Stag had made a joke about Adder loving to eat lemons, and the nickname just stuck. Good memories cascaded over Adder's subconscious, bathing them in a happy light for just a brief moment. "I don't think I could ever love any dragon as much as I love you, bug." Adder said, feeling the warmth of Stag's chest as his chest rose and fell with each breath. His heartbeat was loud, and rapid, showing how much he cared for Adder. Stag rubbed Adder's back slowly, smiling. "I feel the same way." He says, listening to the way Adder breathed. Deep, controlled breaths... good. So they were calm. "Hey, lemon... guess what?" He asked quietly, wings twitching.
Adder looked up. "Yes, bug?" They asked, smiling at Stag. He thought for a moment, giving himself some time to plan out his words. "Well, I'm going to be here a lot more often now, given that the Head Justice and King Hercules are going to be debating the land disputes. As his second in command, I'll be here for almost every meeting! Isn't that exciting, lemon?" He asks, nuzzling Adder's nose. Adder nodded, a hopeful look on his face. "Very exciting, my love... very exciting." They say, leaning further into Stag's warmth. "Every time you leave, my scales miss your warmth, and my heart bleeds... please don't ever leave me after I become Head Justice..." They whisper, fitting against Stag's sturdy body like a puzzle piece.
Stag laughed. "You're such a romantic..." He says, holding Adder tightly. He heard the Head Justice's voice off in the distance, but payed no mind to it. He was far, too far to see the two dragons being so wildly in love. Adder just wanted to melt into Stag's body, become whole. It was like nothing they had ever felt before, a sense of belonging and of happiness. They felt nothing but joy in the current moment, and they wished that they could stay like this forever. "Bug... can I show you something cool?" They ask, standing up straight. Stag nodded. "Come on." Adder said, leaping into the air. They flew for a few moments before arriving at the sprawling gardens of the Court. Filled with thousands of species of fruits, flowers and vegetables, it was the perfect blend of beauty and usefulness, and it was arranged in a way so that it still looked beautiful. Adder took a breath. "This is... this is where I go to calm down. To escape. To think of you..." They said, smiling.
Stag was awestruck. "Woah..." He whispered, wandering into the garden. His tail dragged lightly against the flowers, taking in their graceful scent. "This place is... stunning..." He says quietly, standing in the shade of a massive mango tree. Adder smiled. "Isn't it?" They ask, wings brushing against various fruits. A vine with heart-shaped leaves dangled down, and Adder wrapped it around their talon, staring at it longingly. "Isn't everything in nature just so... pure and carefree? True beauty and elegance..." They said, picking a juicy lemon from a tree and tracing their eyes across it. "The fruit here is ripe and juicy, and always beautiful..." They said, peeling the lemon gently. "And there's every kind of fruit here imaginable. I just want to spend my whole life here with you." They said, eating the lemon. It was sour, but sweet. Like a distant melody dancing at the edge of Adder's tongue, and was juicy enough to feed a colony. 
For the next few hours, the dragons laid together in the garden, wrapped around each other in silence. The love they felt for each other was undying, a raging flame in the soul that could never be extinguished. And then their perfect world was shattered by Pit's angry voice calling for Adder. Adder sighed, standing up and untangling from Stag. "I'm so sorry, bug... I need to go..." They say, slipping away into the fading sunlight. Stag stays for a moment, disappointed and sad, but quickly rejoins his group and flies back to the swamps. Adder appeared next to Pit. "Yes, father?" They asked, striking a cordial pose. Pit hissed. "You smell like a BeetleWing. Wash yourself, now." He snapped, stepping back inside the court. Adder's head bobbed in response and they quickly hurried off into their quarters.
=== Chapter Three: ===
Adder had, for the past few days, been dreading the arrival of the land disputes between the Royal SlitherWing Court and the BeetleWings, but now that they knew Stag was going to be there... that changed things. As always, Adder found themselves clipping on jewelry, the twinkle of the golden bands in the sunlight making them go partially blind. But, this time, there was some new feeling, something Adder hadn't felt in a long, long time. Joy. No, perhaps... excitement. Adder shook their head. Whatever this new feeling was, they didn't like it. It was all fuzzy and warm, like how they felt around Stag, but he was nowhere in sight. Adder frowned slightly, unsure of what to do about this new feeling. As they slipped out of their room, they nodded respectfully at their maid and made way straight for the dinner hall, snatching up a goat leg or two. They took a quick, hairy bite and headed directly for the Royal SlitherWing Court's courtyard. 
After finishing their meal, Adder spent the next half hour picking the fuzzy gray hair out of their teeth. Bleh... goat hair. They thought, ridding themselves of the last of the parasitic hairs, that seemed to be attracted to their teeth as if with a magnetic force. At least the sun was out, barely hanging her scorching talons over the horizon, making the sky bleed a glorious orange and pink tint. Adder remembered that, a long time ago, one of the traveling merchants of Auroborous had told them that a red sky at dawn's earliest hours was some sort of ominous warning, but Adder couldn't quite remember why. They shrugged it off, opting to enjoy the strange light of the world while they could. It wouldn't be long until the sky's wounds closed and it's usual bright, blue demeanor returned. Adder frowned. In such a beautiful world, why is it that dragons can't seem to even get along with each other? They thought, turning towards the forest near the Court. The trees shook gently in the wind, sending a chilling whisper through the air as their leaves brushed against each other elegantly.
Adder stood, proceeding to wander down the path paved in marble as they approached the massive fountain at the epicenter of the courtyard with a frown. It was a fountain of Head Justice Pit, with water spewing from his massive fangs, a memorial built to represent the venom that SlitherWings had in their teeth. It was ugly, really, in Adder's opinion, but it was out of their abilities to demolish it. For now, they had to settle with ignoring its existence for the most part. Sweeping past the fountain, Adder found themselves face-to-face with the front gates of the Royal SlitherWing Court. Massive golden bars connected by elegant, flowing strips of gold etched to resemble serpents barred entrance to the Court. It was rather strange, actually, how the gates kept dragons out despite being low enough to the ground to jump over with a single flap of one's wings. Why? Because Adder had enchanted it to do so.
Adder winced. They remembered that day with brutal accuracy. Pit had been screaming at them, telling them that as an Animus it was their job to enchant whatever he wanted whenever he wanted them to. Adder was his favorite little plaything, and their magic was just an extension of that toy. Adder hissed under their breath. Truly shameful was it that Pit abused the control he had over Adder. They placed a talon hesitantly on the gate, feeling the electrical spark surge through their body, but the pain was welcome. Sometimes, Adder would go to the gate and feel the electrical shock just to remind them that they could feel. The only time they felt really anything was around Stag, and those times were far and few between. Regardless, it was Adder's duty to keep their head down and put up with everything Pit put them through, regardless of the pain and suffering. 
The gate was beginning to singe their scales, and Adder pulled back. If Pit had seen how their scales had been burned, he'd be more than furious. Adder stared down at their scales, watching the pale smoke rise from them and sighed heavily. Was this really the reality they lived in? One where pain was their only escape from the brutality of their father's rage? Adder's head filled with whispers, their own voice furiously telling them how useless they were, and how nothing they would ever do could please their father. You should just die... what's the point of living... pronouns are for wimps... father hates you... rip out your own tongue... die, die, die! The whispers slowly evolved into screams as Adder stared at their shaking talon, the pain resonating throughout their whole body. Useless, useless. Useless little dragon! Adder blinked back tears, knowing everything they were telling themselves was true. Yes, their death would bring peace to the world. Yes, they should die. But... they still didn't want to. No matter how close to leaping off of a cliff with their wings tied they were, something always held Adder back. Something... peaceful. An anchor. And that anchor's name was Stag.
Adder hurried back to their quarters, plunging their talons in cold water to soothe the burns. As the water hissed and sizzled, Adder gazed down at their warped reflection. The dragon staring back at them was sad, unstable, and miserable. That much they knew. What Adder had been looking for was, in fact, a sign that they still had a spark of happiness inside of them. All they saw was a raging inferno of misery and self-loathing, nothing more and nothing less. They frowned. Pulling their talons from the water, still lukewarm and dripping, they glanced out their window. Oh, how they wished to be a bird, soaring through the skies without a care in the world, singing a beautiful song of happiness and love. Instead, they were stuck in an endless loop, reliving each day more miserably than the last, the shadow of their father growing larger and larger behind them with each step they took towards escape, despite knowing it was near impossible. 
They thought back to the golden gates at the front of the palace. Adder had enchanted the gates, along with the entire wall surrounding the Court, to keep all dragons out by shocking them electrically and repelling them with a magical barrier unless they were granted access by verbal confirmation. For some reason, which Adder now understood, Pit had demanded they enchant the wall to also keep them in. It was a strange request at the time, Adder remembered thinking, but had followed their father's orders without a second thought. If asked to do the same now, they might have modified the enchantment, or worded it so there was still a way to escape. Pit had known what he was doing, asking a dragonet to lock themselves inside of the Court forever. He knew that, at the time, Adder was too young and naive to understand exactly what Pit had planned for them. It was shameful, and horrifying, but genius. 
Adder set their talons down, slipping back out of their room and exploring the massive Court for a time. The sky still bled, and the sun was slowly beginning to peek over the edge of the horizon with her massive head, eyes shimmering menacingly. It was going to be a brutal morning for Adder, and the sun knew it well. She glared at him with malice, a sick grin on her face, and shone so brightly that it made Adder's skull pulse painfully. Their eyes narrowed and their lips curled into a frown. Across the hall, Adder could hear his mother's shrill voice screeching something about curtains, and how blasphemously ugly they were. They sighed, walking at a slightly faster pace to catch up to their mother before she could do anything irrational. They rapped at the door lightly, peeking inside. "Mother?" They said gently, watching as their mother paced around her room with a furious expression. Adder pitied their mother, who had long since lost a large portion of her mental stability. Despite what Adder had gone through, Mamba had been through worse. 
Mamba whipped around, her black scales shimmering with a distant, shallow light. "Have you seen these curtains, Adder? They are hideous!" She said, gesturing towards the curtains over her window. Adder had to agree that she was right. The curtains, talon-picked by Pit himself, were a hideous shade of pink with swirling green flowers, a color clash so repulsing it made Adder want to regurgitate just thinking about it. Besides, what species of flowers were green? Adder shook their head. "Yes, mother, I have seen them. Are you thinking of taking them down?" They asked quietly, slipping into her room and shutting the door. Mamba mulled over the thought for a moment, staring intently at the curtains. "I don't know. I want to rip them from the post they hang on, but your father would be furious. He put such care into picking these out for me, and he'd hate to see them go to waste. Despite that, they are rather putrid." She said, pacing. Adder nodded. They knew that, despite the lie Pit had told her, he had spent no more than five seconds picking out the curtains for Mamba's room, as he had simply grabbed the first set he saw and installed them. Still, though, he wasn't going to extinguish the last remaining embers of love that Mamba felt for her abusive husband, it was the only thing keeping her as sane as she was.
Adder smiled thoughtfully. "I don't think father would be all that upset if you removed the curtains. He never comes in here, and it's not like it would matter as much to him as a mosaic or vase." They said gently. "So I say take them down. If he wants you to put them back up, put them back up, but I doubt he'll care very much." They said, tilting their head. "Would you like some food? I could slip down into the dining hall if you'd like me to." They offer, tail curling slightly. As much as they hated their father, Mamba had been a steadfast mother and had done her best to protect Adder from their father's rage as a dragonet, taking beatings for them instead. Neither of them appreciated Pit, and they knew he felt the same, but they were too afraid to try and stand up to the Head Justice, as they both knew it was beyond foolish to attempt it. Mamba shook her head. "No, child, but thank you for being considerate." She said. The strangest part of their relationship was that Mamba respected Adder and their pronouns, using them whenever they were out of earshot from Pit. "Son" was replaced with "child" and "he" was replaced with "they" whenever the two were alone. It was thoughtful, and showed that Mamba truly did love Adder.
Adder nodded, sliding their mother's door open slowly. "Well then, mother, I shall depart. Call upon me if you need anything, I would be more than happy to fetch it. You know where I'll be." They say, exiting the room slowly and sliding the door shut. It was always nice to catch up with Mamba, but she was bad at communication and often shut Adder out without knowing it. They dragged themselves through the halls, wishing that Pit was a better father in any way. More than anything, Adder was furious with Pit for hitting their mother. As much as they hated the abuse they had to withstand, they knew that Pit was truly evil for striking Mamba any number of times, let alone almost twice as many times as he had struck Adder. Their claws curled dangerously, wishing they could kill their father and end the suffering of themselves and their mother. It was almost time for the territorial dispute meeting to begin, and Adder was beyond nervous for it...
=== Chapter Four: ===
WIP~ will update soon! Stay tuned!
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Fanon)
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)