Scarlet Blood: Queen Scarlet AU

=== Chapter 1 ===
Jewels were beautiful the way they shimmered in the light like small suns. Their surfaces were smooth and shiny and they made everything look beautiful, even the ugliest of dragons. But these rubies were more stunning than anything Scarlet had ever seen. It was like they were forged of blood and fire and cleaned in spring, making them the shiniest little gems anyone had ever seen. 
“I love them!” Scarlet hopped joyfully, beaming at her father. “They’ll match beautifully with my scales.”
The big, ruby red Skywing chuckled, ducking down to nudge the small dragonet. “I know, my little ruby. I got them just for you. They came from deep within the Sky Kingdom, in the Forbidden Caves.”
“The Forbidden Caves?” Scarlet eyes grew wide with curiosity and wonder. 
The Skywing nodded, laying down so Scarlet could curl up next to him. “There's an old legend about caves somewhere in the mountains, with treasures as beautiful as heart desires. And that’s where I found these.”
The Skywing grabbed the rubies and strung them around Scalet’s neck, letting them dazzle in the firelight. 
“Where is it?” Scarlet asked, jumping up closer to her father.
“Well… you have to look for the mountain that looks like giant claws reaching out of the ground,” he held up his talons, representing the mountain top. “Then you follow the stream that runs through it. The stream will lead you to the Forbidden Caves where you can find as many beautiful gems as you like.”
“Wow,” she said in awe before looking down at her rubies. They were from somewhere many have tried and failed to find. They were special. No one else had them. They were her treasure, no one could take them from her. “Thanks, daddy.”
“Happy hatching-day, my little ruby,” he nuzzled her softly before a soft hiss echoed from the doorway.
Both of the Skywings looked towards a large menacing queen, her yellow eyes glimmering with malice in the firelight. She had many pieces of jewelry hanging from her scales, making it obvious she was royalty. She passed a hatful glance at Scarlet before she looked at the king, who nodded.
He stood up and looked down at Scarlet. “I have to go. Go find your brothers, I'll be with your mother attending a meeting.”
“Aw. but meetings are boring. Why do you have to go?” Scarlet whimpered.
“I’ll be back, don’t worry,” he nudged her affectionately before walking out the door with the queen, leaving Scarlet alone.
Scarlet looked down at the rubies hanging from her neck. She was young but they were probably the best hatching-day present she had ever gotten. She loved them. 
She smiled with excitement, excited to show her brothers her known jewels. She quickly bolted out the door to find them. When she did, they were doing what they always did. Harpy, a similar orange to Scarlet but a bit darker, was trying to read a scroll. While Garnet, a dark red dragonet, was bugging him, trying to get him to play. They were in the courtyard so the moonlight lit them up like fireflies. 
“Come on Harpy, just one game,” Garnet said, crouching down in a playful position. 
“I’m busy,” Harpy said bitterly. “I’m reading about the Skywing history.”
“Me and you both know you can’t read,” Garnet laughed.
“I can read some!” Harpy snapped.
“Not enough to actually know what it says,” Garnet poked at the scroll.
“Yes I do, watch me.” Harpy cleared his throat, holding up the scroll so he could see it better. “W-hen t-the Sky-wings were vic…. vicorish-”
“It says victorious,” Garnet corrected.
“I know what it says!” Harpy snapped, making Garnet fall over laughing. 
“Hey guys!” Scarlet said joyfully, bounding over to them. “Watcha doing?”
“Oh hey Scarlet,” Garnet said, standing up. His eyes went wide when he spotted her jewels. “Woah. Where’dya get those?”
“Daddy gave them to me for my hatching-day,” Scarlet said, holding her head high so they could see them.
“Cool! I got a cool looking helmet. I’ll show you later,” Garnet said.
“Ooo,” Scarlet giggled. “What about you, Harpy.”
“Scrolls, obviously. Which is much better than a few pieces of rocks tied with a string,” Harpy said.
“They are not just rocks,” Scarlet said with offense, holding her rubies to her chest. “They special rubies from the Forbidden caves.”
“The Forbidden caves are just a myth,” Harpy said.
“No they’re not! They’re real. And daddy found them and that’s where he got these,” Scarlet said. Why would anyone think that they were fake? They sounded pretty real to her. Besides, why would her dad ever lie to her?
“Well I think they’re pretty,” Garnet said, trying to stop the argument. 
Harpy went to open his mouth when a loud scream/roar echoed throughout the kingdom, sending chills down Scarlet’s spine. All three of the dragonets turned towards the screaming. It was coming from the throne room, the place where meetings were always held. 
Skywings flew towards the throne room from all around to find out what was happening. 
“What was that?” Harpy asked.
“I don’t know,” Garnet said, “but it sounded a lot like mother.”
=== Chapter 2 ===
Blood. Blood was a horrible thing. It stains your mind once you’ve seen it, like a horrible disease unable to leave your train of thought. It keeps you up at night, reminding you of what once was. It never leaves. It just drowns you in a pool of crimson red, not allowing you back up for air. You’re just stuck. You’re never the same.
“S-scarlet?” Garnet stuttered from the door. “M-m-mo-m..” He stopped for a second, taking a deep breath. Whenever he got really upset or nervous, his vice seemed to fall apart like he forgot how to speak.
“Mother said it’s time for the execution,” Garnet managed to say.
Scarlet didn’t respond. She was laying down on her bed, looking out her window. She hadn’t left her room for the past three days. Her scales looked dull and lifeless, as did her eyes. She hadn’t slept since it had all happened, and she never wanted to. She couldn’t close her eyes and see the scarlet blood that stained her mind.
“S-she said you have to come, and to wear your rubies,” Garnet said. There was still no response, so he just sighed and left. 
Scarlet sat up once she heard his talon steps fade out. She got off of her bed and walked over to her jewelry table and picked up the chain of rubies her father had gotten her. She stared at them for a bit before she draped them over her head, feeling a chill go down her spine. They didn’t feel right. It felt wrong to wear them.
She ignored the feeling and walked out of her room. The hallway snaked throughout the Sky Palace until she arrived at a tower that overlooked the courtyard
Dragons sat along the edge of the courtyard or up on posts that were made for an audience. In the middle of the courtyard was a green Seawing tied down with chains. He was hissing through his gag and lashing around. Skywing guards surrounded him, pointing their spears towards him.
Scarlet walked towards the edge of the balcony where her mother stood, along with her two brothers and a few guards. Her mother’s face had its stern look as always as she stared down at the Seawing. 
Once Scarlet arrived next to her mother, the queen spread her wings, signaling for the crowd to quiet down. Everyone turned towards the queen. 
“Conch of the Seawings, found guilty of the murder of King Crimson,” the queen announced. A few of the Skywings bit back tears at the thought. 
Scarlet felt like she had just been stabbed in the chest. It hurts more for someone to say it out loud than to just have her mind say it. A tear slid down the side of her cheek, which she tried not to act like she noticed. Her mother said the Seawing was guilty for his death, but Scarlet felt responsible. 
It had all been a blur when it happened, but it was all coming back to her. Her father's motionless body on the ground with that scarlet blood surrounding him. She remembers running over to him, getting that scarlet blood on her talons. She remembered a Seawing and a Skywing pulling her away from him as she yelled for him. She remembered scratching the Seawing, spilling his scarlet blood over his scales. 
The blood. That’s what her rubies reminded her of. Blood. All of it. Her father’s, the Seawings, and now it’s the killer’s. 
The queen flicked her tail. The Seawing roared and one of the guards stabbed his spear into his chest. 
Scarlet felt a surge of energy. Her eyes went wide, not with fear, but astonishment. She watched closely, gripping her ruby necklace, as the Seawing’s life spilled onto the ground. The trails of red blood, running across the stone like small rivers. It was beautiful. The sight of revenge, the sight of that scarlet blood.
=== Chapter 3 ===
   “Mom!” Scarlet shouted with joy, bounding after the queen.
   “What is it?” The queen, Oriole, asked.
   “Can I learn how to fight?” Scarlet asked.
   “And why would you want to do that?” Oriole said with uninterest.
   “So i can defeat the enemies of our kingdom! Plus, I’ll have to fight you one day so why not start training now,” Scarlet said. Oriole flicks her tail with annoyance. “Pleeeeeeaaaasssse?”
   “Fine,” Oriole said after a few seconds of hesitation. “I’ll have general Zeolite train you tomorrow morning.”
   “But I want to start noooooooow,” Scarlet whined. 
   “Don’t pester me child,” Oriole snapped. 
   Scarlet flinched back a bit and stopped. “Yes, mother.”
   Oriole continued to walk out of Scarlet’s sight. Scarlet watched her disappear then got filled with excitement one more. She was going to learn how to fight! How exciting was that? All she had to do now was find Zeolite and bother her into training her as soon as possible.
She bolted down the hall and found the nearest window to fly out of. She wasn’t the best flier at her age, so she could only glide around a bit before having to land again. Thankfully, Zeolite wasn’t very far from where she was and Scarlet could fly over to her.
   She landed down behind the dull red Skywing general. She had scars covering her body and armour strapped to her scales. She looked unstoppable and really cool. She was yelling at some soldiers in an open field. They were all training in formation like they did everyday. 
   “I will not have another assassin break into the palace again, you ash-brains! I expect twice as much persistence than before! Finch! Straighten out your wings and stop bumping into everyone!” Zeo shouted.
   “Sorry, general,” A Skywing said from somewhere in the crowd.
   “You better be sorry! I don’t want any Skywing blood spilled because of your mistakes!” Zeo hissed.
   “But we don’t have to worry about that, right general?” Scarlet said with a smile. Zeo looked behind her at Sarlet, slightly surprised by the little dragonet’s sudden appearance. 
   “We shouldn’t have to if a certain someone would watch what he was doing,” she mumbled, a small puff of smoke billowing out of her nostrils. “What do you need, Princess Scarlet?”
“Mother says you get to train me,” Scarlet said joyfully.
   “Is that so?” Zeo said, slightly unbelieving. 
   “Uh-huh! She said we start tomorrow but I really really really want to start today,” Scarlet said.
   “I’ll speak to the queen about it later. And if what you said is true, then  if your mother said to wait ‘till tomorrow then we wait ‘till tomorrow,” Zeo said before turning back to her soldiers. “I honestly think you're a little too young to start training and way too clumsy,” she muttered under her breath.
   Scarlet heard this and was taken aback. Clumsy? Sure she wasn’t the best flier and her big talons made her fall over a times, but she wasn’t that clumsy. Plus, she had watched their routines almost everyday from a window, so she knew part of what was going on. She wasn’t an idiot. 
   Scarlet dug her claws into the dirt, slightly frustrated at this. She looked at the soldiers and watched their routine. They did the same thing everyday so it wasn’t hard to remember their pattern.
The day continued on, being long and boring as she sat and watched them repeat stances. As the group started to break up, Scarlet left, disappointed about the day.
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)