Dynasties and Diamonds

Dynasties and Diamonds is a fanfiction that follows Princess Snowfront. Every character in this is my own, and I am making character pages as we speak!
== Part One: A Troubled Princess ==
Snowfront walked quickly down the freezing hallways of the palace. Her fear was making her tremble. Her mother had called for her; and Snowfront was unsure of what to do. She pushed open the double doors to the throne room. On the throne, Queen Cryo sat. Snowfront's mother towered over Snowfront, but she was thin, and her lungs wheezed with every breath. Snowfront was Cryo's oldest daughter, and she worried about her mother. Cryo was old though; Snowfront's sister and niece were planning to challenge, Snowfront knew it. "Mother," Snowfront said, bowing. "You asked for me?" Cryo nodded, then started to cough. Snowfront took a step forward, but she was waved off. "Where are Gelid and Perish?" Cryo asked an attendant.
"They should be here by now." the attendant (Subarctic, I believe. Snowfront thought). As he said that, Gelid walked in her glassy, stiff way into the room. Her daughter, Perish, followed. Snowfront had never trusted Gelid. Gelid had always been vaguely distant, and Snowfront would sometimes catch her looking at Cryo and smirking. "My apologies, Mother." Gelid said, dipping her head in an almost-bow. "I was outside the palace when you called."
"Hush." Cryo said firmly. She coughed again. Snowfront bit her lip anxiously. Queen Cryo was unlikely to be challenged, but she'd die soon. And Snowfront- Snowfront would take the throne. And then Gelid would challenge and kill her. "I am old." Cryo said. "Soon enough, I shall die, and my throne will pass to my daughters." Snowfront felt her mother's piercing gaze stay on her. "And I know if I do not make a choice, there will be war." Snowfront shivered. What did Cryo mean? "I will make a choice." Cryo said. "My choice and her daughters, and granddaughters, will be the royal bloodline." Snowfront tried to protest.
"Perhaps not yet?" she said. "You still have time in you. Enough time for Ge- one of us to challenge-"
"Silence!" Cryo shouted, which sparked another bout of coughing. "When I die, which will be soon, my crown will pass to my oldest living daughter. For now, that is you. Snowfront." Snowfront stared at her mother. Her? Not calculating Gelid, or intelligent Perish? "I have spoken." Cryo said, which usually meant that Snowfront could leave and get back to whatever she was doing before. Snowfront bowed again, and left, walking towards the Wingery. She'd left Arcticize there a few hours ago. He'd be very clingy. She reached the doors, nodding to the guards, who stepped aside. Inside was a huge icy room. There were dozens of ledges and cushions, where dragonets could practice flying and play. As she took a step closer, a little blue-grey-white cannonball hit directly into her. "Mama!" Arcticize said, hugging Snowfront. "Hello, my little icicle." she said. "Time to go."
"Yay!" Arcticize said, bouncing up. "Bye bye, commoners!" he waved back to the other dragonets, and Snowfront smothered a laugh. She loved her son, just as much as she loved her daughter. "Want to go back to see Kolyma?" Snowfront asked. Arcticize looked thoughtful for a moment, then happily said "No!" Snowfront laughed again. 
"Too bad, baby." Snowfront chuckled. "She's your sister." She turned round to look at him. "At least you don't have to be Cousin Perish's brother."
"That's right." Arcticize said. "She'd stabby me until I stopped moving!" Snowfront had to silently admit, that was true. They finally reached Snowfront's chambers. Usually, that was where Arcticize and Kolyma stayed when Snowfront had to do royal stuff. On the second smallest bed, a tiny freckled dragonet was bouncing up and down. "Koly!" Snowfront said, depositing Arcticize on the rug. "You know you're not allowed to bounce on the bed."
"But it's fun!" Kolyma replied. "Anyway, I spent almost THREE WHOLE HOURS hiding from Cousin Perish!"
"Cousin Perish?" Snowfront asked. "What was she doing in here?"
"I don't know." Kolyma said. "She said she wanted to play. I don't like playing with her. She scratches me."
"Hmm." Snowfront said. "That sounds right." She lifted Kolyma down and onto the rug she put Arcticize on. "You stay here, honey. I need to have a talk with Aunty Gelid."
"No need." Gelid's smooth voice said from the hallway. Snowfront spotted Gelid in the doorway, with Perish at her heels. "I thought we might need to talk after Mother's announcement."
"What?" Arcticize said. "What did Grandma say?"
"Nothing you need to worry about." Snowfront replied, then turned back to Gelid. "That's exactly correct. You heard what she said. The oldest daughter. Living daughter. I know your plan now."
"Pray, do tell." Gelid said drily.
"You kill me." Snowfront whispered. "And almost certainly Kolyma and Arcticize too."
"Do I look like a monster?" Gelid replied. "I wouldn't kill my niece and nephew."
"You wouldn't. I bet Perish would, for a chance at the throne."
"She's three!"
"Exactly. You become queen, you abdicate, Perish takes the throne. My dragonets can't do anything about it." Snowfront said. "But to cover your back, you'd kill me."
"I wouldn't." Gelid said. "You're the only chance I have at keeping Perish safe while she grows up."
"I wouldn't mind letting you be queen," Snowfront said quietly. "But Mother would never allow it. You know that."
"She never trusted me because I was smarter than her." Gelid replied. "I wanted to challenge, but just because I wanted to be queen. When it's just you and me-"
"And Dryas." Snowfront added. "Deice's daughter."
"Again, she's three."
"Four."
"Not old enough. Anyway, I don't want to have to kill you, or your dragonets. I just want peace."
"We didn't get a peaceful life. We're female royalty."
"MAMA!" Kolyma cried. "PERISH SCRATCHED ME!" Snowfront turned, and started trying to calm Kolyma. When she had finally succeeded, Gelid and Perish had gone, leaving Snowfront to worry. Worry about her dragonets and her own safety.
== Part Two: A Dying Queen ==
Snowfront stood silently next to Queen Cryo as her mother coughed harder. "Mother..." Gelid said from the other side of the bed.
"Gelid." Cryo said, taking both her daughter's talons. "You remember what I said."
"Yes, Mother." Gelid said, for once showing emotion. Snowfront could see the extra shine in Gelid's eyes, the shine of tears.
"I said, when I die, Snowfront will be queen." Cryo said. "So, you know what that means."
"Mother, why me?" Snowfront asked. "Why not Gelid?"
"Because-" Cryo was cut off by a hard bout of coughs.
"Mother-" Snowfront said, as Cryo kept coughing. Suddenly, Cryo was still. "Mother?" Snowfront said. "Mother?" She felt a splash on her shoulder as Gelid came over to her. "Mother!" Snowfront cried. "Mother!"
"She's gone." Gelid whispered. "She's gone."
~A week later~
Snowfront sat on the icy throne. So far, being queen hadn't been very fun. She didn't know how Mother had been able to do it. In the tiny thrones that Snowfront remembered from her dragonethood, Kolyma and Arcticize sat on either side. They'd been sad for a while; Cryo had never been very close to them, but they still missed her. Snowfront just wanted things to go back to the way they were; where she wasn't anxious or tired, when she was just the princess. "Mummy!" Arcticize said. "I'm cold. I wanna go back to our room." 
"Me too." Snowfront replied. "We can't though."
"Why?" Arcticize asked. "Is it 'cos Grandma died?" Snowfront froze for a moment, before nodding. She let her thoughts wander. Soon, it'd be Kolyma's third hatching-day. That meant Dryas's fifth and Perish's third. Snowfront and Gelid had had Perish and Kolyma at the same time, and Deice's wife, Algid, had had Dryas two years before, but still in the same month. Snowfront heard the click click of Algid walking in, and looked up. Snowfront had never really liked Algid. She was too quiet, too pretty. Like a decoration. Snowfront sat up further. "Yes?" she said.
"I thought I'd alert you to a certain exciting fact." Algid said emotionlessly. "My new dragonet is going to hatch in a few hours. I would delight in your presence there." Snowfront stood up, stiff. "I'll come then." she said. "Come on, Kolyma, Arcticize." Algid led them into the Hatchery, where Gelid and Deice waited. 
"There you are." Deice said. Snowfront had always been neutral towards Deice. He was nice enough, but Algid was a major downside. "She's almost here!"
"She?" Snowfront asked, trying not to panic.
"I just made an assumption." Deice mumbled. "I don't actually know."
"Of course she'll be a female." Algid said imperiously. "She'll be perfect." Algid's imperious nature always annoyed Snowfront. The white egg was splintering. The egg cracked open, and a tiny pale dragonet slithered out. Deice gasped in awe of his new dragonet. "She's perfect." he said. Snowfront felt a burst of terror. A female heir. Who would be raised by a sister-in-law who hated her. "What are we going to name her?" Deice said, turning towards Algid. Snowfront felt sick with fear. She shut her eyes. "Snowfront, are you okay?" Gelid asked, gently putting her talon on Snowfront's shoulder.
"Y-yeah." she said. She opened her eyes and saw that Algid and Deice had been looking at their new daughter.
"How about Diamond?" Deice asked.
"Diamond sounds sufficient." Algid said in her stiff fashion. "A beautiful name." Snowfront dipped her head to her brother, and stepped out of the room. She grabbed her temples and tried her best not to start crying. A niece. Snowfront knew Kolyma wouldn't challenge. Perish wouldn't either. And Dryas was a soulless creature that existed as a clone of Algid. But Diamond- Snowfront had seen something in her eyes. An ancient ferocity. What could that have been? Other than a sleep-loss-induced hallucination. Suddenly, Snowfront remembered her uncle. Nilas. She vaguely remembered an enchanting ceremony. For a huge wall. Cryo had told Snowfront that Nilas was an animus. He'd made his gift, and then lived out the rest of his life. He'd died a few years before Cryo. That could mean anyone descended from him could be an animus. Like Diamond. An animus heir. Snowfront thought. "Snowfront?" Gelid asked, walking out of the Hatchery. "You left so suddenly. Are you okay?" Snowfront nodded, still holding her head. Her head started to hurt.
"You aren't okay." Gelid said. "Look, I can very easily understand being scared. Diamond's another heir to challenge you."
"It's not that." Snowfront said. "Dryas and Kolyma have had their animus test. Diamond- I saw something in her eyes. I'm scared. I don't want an animus to kill me."
"You know the rules." Gelid said. "Even if she was an animus, she'd only be able to cast one spell. Her gift. Then you'd be safe."
"Dragons have broken rules." Snowfront replied. "It's not hard."
"You'll be okay." Gelid said forcefully. She put her wings around Snowfront. Snowfront leaned into her sister. She didn't know where she'd be without Gelid. Probably in a permanent state of panic.
== Part Three: A Dangerous Heir ==
~Two years later~
Snowfront sat on her bed. It was Diamond's second hatching-day. Diamond would be animus-tested today. Maybe she wouldn't be. Maybe Snowfront would be safe. Probably not, though. Knowing her luck. She looked up as Kolyma and Arcticize peeked in. "Diamond's ready." Arcticize piped up.
"Okay." Snowfront said, rubbing her eyes. "I'm coming." She stood, and followed her dragonets into the courtyard. Diamond stood straight in the middle. Snowfront picked up the Gift of Discovery, a pendulum of sapphires that detected animuses. Snowfront took the pendant over to Diamond, who stared right back at Snowfront. Diamond still had the cruel ferocity in her eyes; it always scared Snowfront. Snowfront shook her head, and held the Gift of Discovery over Diamond's head. Please no, please. Snowfront pleaded mentally. The pendulum stayed still for almost thirty seconds, and Snowfront had just started to relax when the pendulum went red, and started spinning in a circle. No. No no no no no. Diamond was an animus. Snowfront stepped back in fear. She felt Algid's cold presence at her shoulder. "Very good, Diamond." Algid said. "I'm very proud."
"Proud of what?" Diamond said in her Algid-like voice.
"You-" Snowfront said. "You're an animus." Diamond's face lit up. She let Algid lead her away. Snowfront stared at them as they departed. She'd knew it from the moment Diamond had hatched. Snowfront was dead. Or, at least, might as well be.
~Six years later~
Snowfront rubbed the dark rings under her eyes. She knew what Diamond wanted to do. Snowfront could see it in her eyes. At least Diamond wasn't ready. Dryas quite liked Snowfront, and Kolyma wouldn't kill her own mother. Also, Dryas was expecting her first dragonet. She kept saying she'd name her dragonet after Snowfront. Diamond, on the other hand, scared Snowfront. What with her cruel glare and imperious attitude. It was annoying on Algid, it was terrifying on Diamond. Snowfront looked around the throne room at her family members. Diamond was planning something. Snowfront could tell. Probably a challenge, but she couldn't yet. Snowfront was glad Diamond had made her gift. A pair of narwhal horns. That healed frostbreath wounds. Useful enough. Diamond seemed to decide something. She stood up and made her way out the door. Oh no. Oh no. She wants to challenge. Snowfront thought. She just knows she can't make it look on-the-spot. Snowfront stretched, and stood up. "I'm exhausted." she said, pretending to be calm. "I'm going to bed."
"Goodnight." Gelid waved. Snowfront lay completely still on her bed. She was actually tired. She woke up suddenly in the morning, and walked out onto her balcony. She could see a few dragonets in the courtyard. Snowfront knew she probably should go into her throne room. A few hours later, as she sat in her throne, Diamond walked elegantly in. Oh, moons. Oh moons. she thought. She's going to challenge. "D-Diamond," Snowfront said. "You're late."
"I took a detour." Diamond replied. "Queen Snowfront," Diamond continued. "I challenge you for the throne of the IceWings." Snowfront felt a wave of terror, washing over her and drowning her. She didn't want to accept. She really didn't. But she had to. "I- I accept." she said with a heavy heart. "At noon, we will battle in the courtyard." Diamond nodded, and walked back out. As soon as the doors closed, Dryas ran over.
"Snowfront, you can't!" Dryas said. "Diamond's too young! She could die, and so could you!"
"She'll only challenge later." Snowfront replied. "It'll be okay."
"No it won't." Kolyma said. "You're my mother. Both me and Arcticize would be heartbroken. So would Dryas." Snowfront immediately felt guilty. Kolyma was right. Arcticize was the youngest of all the dragonets in the room. He was only nine. Kolyma and Perish were eleven and Dryas was thirteen. All four of them were young, too young to be experiencing this. Then again, Diamond was eight. Only just old enough to challenge. Snowfront stood up. "I'm going to prepare." she said. "I love you." As the sun rose over the palace, Snowfront met Diamond in the courtyard. "I assume you know the rules." Snowfront said. Diamond nodded.
"Fight each other until one of us is dead."
"Good." Snowfront replied, not meaning it at all. "Gelid, call the start." Gelid had been weeping for an hour, but she managed to call;
"Begin!" Diamond leaped straight for Snowfront. She tried to dodge, but Diamond was quicker. Diamond held Snowfront's head down and whispered in her ear,
"Enchant this dragon to have a slit throat." Snowfront felt a gash open in her neck. She started to choke on the blood that poured out.
"Diamond-" she said, as black spots danced in front of her eyes. "What-" Then everything went dark.
== Epilogue ==
Diamond stared at her aunt's body, the blue blood dyeing the stones of the courtyard. And covering her talons. What have I done? Diamond thought, horrified, before calming herself. I had to. Otherwise, she'd end up like Cryo. "Snowfront!" her sister's voice cried behind her. Dryas rushed forward. "Snowfront!" Diamond felt the crunch of guilt. "I won." she said. I cheated. she thought. No, I won. I used my own power. And I beat her. Now I'm the queen. Queen Diamond of the IceWings.
Book 2: Crowns and Crystals
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Fanfictions (Semi-Canon)
Category:Genre (Adventure)
Category:Genre (Mystery)
Category:Fanfictions (Completed)