Cry of a Pheonix (Angel)

Cry of a Phoenix is a fanfiction written by Angel Of Madness 001 for SmokebirdFlies's story contest. Do not edit unless you are a mod, have permission, or are fixing grammar/spelling mistakes. This will be updated frequently. Cry of a Phoenix takes place in a timeline close to that of the canon one, and is set far after the events of Book 15.
Thank you to ParakeetLover3 for their OC of Dart Frog! 
== Chapter 1 ==
Phoenix knew she was a lucky dragon. She had hatched from two of the best-looking dragons on both sides of her tribes, and was beautiful upon hatching, her parents told her. She had bright orangish scales with a bright yellow underbelly, beautiful flecks of red like a blood-red galaxy on her wings, a long, sweeping tail. Phoenix had bright gem-green eyes that gleamed with the most intelligent look than any other dragon. Yet for all her gifts, Phoenix was still extraordinarily humble. She had become friends with the royalty from both of her tribes: Princess Smoke, Queen Lyre's daughter, and Princess Teardrop, Queen Nighteye's daughter. It was days like these when the three of them would fly in the waning hours of the day together, joking and laughing and playing.
"Phoenix! Slow down!" That was Smoke. Phoenix had inherited large, strong wings from her mother, and Smoke was a full SkyWing, but Teardrop couldnt keep up if they flew as fast at they could. She forced herself to hover and wait while the elegant dark green dragon rejoined them. Smoke elbowed Phoenix gently. "Say something!" she hissed, quietly. Phoenix smiled faintly. Smoke could be so demanding sometimes, but it only took a little act of kindness to get her right back to laughing with the rest of them. "Sorry Teardrop," Phoenix said calmly. "I lost myself in thought and forgot you're not as fast as we are," she spread her talons out for an apology hug, Teardrop's way of accepting apologies. When the hug came, Smoke decided to join in.
"Smoke, you're squashing me!" Teardrop exclaimed, sounding out of breath. Her small cheeks were puffed out so that the hints of green on her dark gray scales were much clearer than usual and stood clearly against her sky-blue glasses. This was what Phoenix liked about her friends. Teardrop was quiet, nerdy, and usually went along with what made people happy, with dark scales that gleamed like a lost ring in the mountains. On the other talon, Smoke was loud, kind of bossy, and often got into trouble. She didn't listen to Lyre a lot, but always came back when the situation got bad. She had dark red scales like fresh blood and an underbelly like volcanic ash, and large bright red wings that could trap both Phoenix and Teardrop in a hug at once.
"Okay, okay," Smoke backed out of the hug, and Teardrop squirmed free as well. "Mom's probably wanting me back home soon anyway, and we all saw what happens when Lyre's mad. I don't want you guys actually getting banished from entering the Sky Kingdom!"
Teardrop snorted. "Queen Lyre can't banish me. I was never a subject in the first place, and she needs her kingdom open to the other royals. Phoenix though, she could easily banish."
Phoenix scoffed. "Don't talk like that, Teardrop."
Smoke sighed. "You guys are acting like Peregrine. Moons, I miss that dragon's beautiful face." 
Teardrop and Phoenix giggled. "Still chasing after him, are you?" Phoenix asked, jokingly. "I never saw the point in mates."
Smoke looked offended and stuck her tongue out. "Peregrine says he loves me, and that he'll be back after he meets his precious little IceWing friend."
Teardrop held in laughter, but swallowed it as she tapped her claws together nervously. "It's getting early, so...I should go back home. Nighteye said that she was going to attend a meeting with Queen Dragonfruit and Princess Divine, and she wants me to come too. I dont understand why I have to, though, but I'll see you later, Phoenix."
"Yeah, we'll see you tomorrow!" Smoke wrapped Phoenix in one last hug. "I wish you all didn't have such controlling parents," Phoenix said dreamily. "Mine are good parents, but they're not strict or anything," she rubbed her talons together. 
Teardrop shivered. "It feels...colder. I need to go home," she said. "But before I go, Phoenix, you know how queens are. Protective of their daughters until they're old enough to challenge, then all bets are off." Teardrop turned and began flying away, and it wasnt long before she was just a dark figure against the darkening sky. The first stars were even starting to come out. "You'll be alright Nixie," Smoke said. Nixie was a nickname that Phoenix had gotten when she first hatched. When she heard her parents say her name, she tried to say it too, but all she could get out was "Nixie". Her parents thought it was cute and started calling her that, and the nickname spread quickly. 
Smoke nodded to Phoenix before speeding away, hopefully returning before Lyre noticed she wasn't in bed, and leaving Phoenix alone once again. Then, she too, flew down, down, all the way to the smallest mountain where her parents would be waiting for her with open wings and a warm meal already prepared.
== Chapter 2 ==
Phoenix landed outside her small cottage home, made on top of a flattened mountaintop. It was made of entirely stone, stacked together and hardened by time, that her mother, Ragianna had insisted they live there. She was fierce-looking, quick to anger, and took it out by rage cooking, sometimes inviting a few other dragons over to eat what she cooked. But deep down, Ragianna was also incredibly tender and gentle, which was probably what made her change her name. Phoenix didn't know what it was before, but she knew that her mother had probably served in the war, with all those scars. Phoenix and Ragianna looked incredibly similar colorwise, with Ragianna looking mostly like a darker version of Phoenix, except for Phoenix's defining NightWing traits. 
Speaking of NightWings, a large, muscular NightWing stepped out of the house and when he saw Phoenix, a smile broke on his face like an earthquake. This was her father, Timeless, who had almost black scales with bits of dark brown poking though here and there, but his wings were what set him apart. He had stars spattered like a galaxy, but also additional stars in the rough shape of an hourglass on his left wing, which was how he was named (or so he said). Timeless was strong, both mentally and physically, and he too was gentle on the inside. He often helped other dragons build their homes or other buildings, and he was the one who built most of the house the family called home. 
The two had met each other after the war. Timeless was heading back to the Night Kingdom after exploring for more suitable territory to occupy, and Ragianna was flying down to get some seasoning herbs after she was put to work in the kitchens. The two kept seeing each other, and Ragianna started making excuses, such as hiding the oregano and then going out to 'get more', when she just wanted to catch Timeless on his way back to his house. Once they made their relationship official, they both asked their queens for permission. Lyre said yes. Nighteye said no. So Timeless ran from the Night Kingdom and joined under the Sky Kingdom so he could marry the dragon of his dreams. Ragianna moved out of the palace so Timeless could join her, since only chefs, servants, or royals could live in the palace, and once she had filled all the papers and got her things together, Timeless had built a house for them. 
Then came Phoenix, unplanned, but loved immensely before she even hatched. The house was expanded to add an extra room as an addition to their bedroom so their dragonet would always be close. While the love from her parents was nice, Phoenix did think it was a bit ridiculous to still sleep only one room apart from her parents. She had lots of friends, always entertained by something. Ragianna wanted to teach her how to cook, Timeless wanted to teach her how to make maps. They agreed to try both.
Timeless watched with helpless laughter as Phoenix failed at everything she cooked. She burned her first pie badly, cut herself with the chopping knife, and even managed to burn water. Ragianna was infuriated, and she made so much rage food that the small family had a feast that night. But the tables were turned as Ragianna got to watch with a pleased expression as Phoenix drew landscapes and scavengers instead of lines and map keys, which would prompt Timeless to sigh and shrug. While she didn't do what her parents wanted, Phoenix found her own path: Helping others. She was full of advice, good ideas, and liked seeing dragons happy.
After he smiled, Timeless opened his wings and soared away, probably off to help the next dragon family that needed a house or had a scavenger infestation. Phoenix watched him go until she couldn't see him anymore, and then walked into her house. The smell of freshly baked bread still hung in the air, and Phoenix instinctively walked into the kitchen. "Still cooking?" she asked. "It's almost midnight." Timeless was usually doing jobs around this time. Ragianna was usually asleep. But Phoenix heard a small laugh as Ragianna turned around, covered in flour. "I guess you could say that things got messy. I tried to teach your father to cook!" Ragianna laughed, and Phoenix did too, but the anger behind the laugh was poorly covered. Nothing made Ragianna more angry than bad cooking. 
Except for maybe that time when Phoenix tried to fly on her own when she was only three, but that was a story to think about later. Now was the time for rest.
== Chapter 3 ==
Phoenix woke up to the sun hanging high in the sky, shining down through her window. She tried to go back to sleep by pulling her woolen sheet over her head, but that nearly suffocated her, so she sat up in bed. It dawned on her that Smoke was probably waiting for her. Teardrop would be burnt out from that meeting last night, so she wouldn't come today. That was fine, Phoenix wanted to talk to Smoke. Her friend's seventh birthday was upcoming, about a week from today. But if she didn't get up and out of bed, not even Smoke would keep waiting for her. Phoenix hurled herself out of bed and raced to the kitchen for breakfast, rustling up some maps her father made. "Phoenix, I've talked to you about fluttering out of your room before."
"Mom I wasn't-"
"No fluttering out of your room. That's final. Understood?" Ragianna's voice was final. Phoenix wanted to argue back, but the smell of french toast wafting from the pan her mother had made her stop and nod. "Verbal," Phoenix rolled her eyes inside. "Okay, I get it mom." Ragianna smiled as she blew out the fire and put the pan on their counter, a smooth sheet of rock on top of strong wooden drawers. "Good," she picked up a container of powdered sugar and dusted the french toast with it. Say what you would about Ragianna, she was an excellent chef.
Once she had finished her breakfast, Phoenix asked her mother a question. "Can I go to the palace and see if Smoke is awake?"
"Certainly not."
"Why?"
"Only royalty can go there dear. Your little friend is. We are not."
"You lived there."
"I was the head chef. Now, if you stop arguing with me, you can go to the Spikepoint Crest and wait for her."
Phoenix nodded and calmly walked out, but once she was out of the house, she raced to the cliff, jumped and vigorously flapped, flying as fast as she could to meet up with Smoke. To her relief, she saw the blood-red shape waiting impatiently on the Crest, alone. Perfect. Phoenix glided, almost missed her landing, and did a quick turnaround to land next to Smoke. "I almost thought you deserted me," Smoke said, elbowing Phoenix again, this time hard.
"Calm down Smoke, I wouldnt leave you unless I had to. I do have one question though," Phoenix said. Smoke arched her brow. "Shoot," she said, curious about what Phoenix could say. Phoenix waited for a second, hesitant. She didn't know whether or not Smoke had actually thought about her seventh birthday, or how the mother-daughter relation between her and Lyre would change for the worse. "You know you'll be seven soon, right?"
Smoke shot up like she had been struck. "I didn't even think of that! Phoenix, help me! Mom's-Lyre's gonna kill me as soon as possible! I won't get a chance to tell Peregrine how I feel! I already heard she was planning on making some other SkyWing the queen! It's the daughter of that advisor...um...her name is..."
"Red-Crown," Teardrop finished, landing beside the two. "What's this about Lyre and Smoke?"
Phoenix and Smoke took turns explaining, and by the end of it Teardrop was pale. "I never worried about Nighteye harming me but-Im seven! What if she kills me and makes...I dont know...Blacksight queen!"
"Blacksight?" Phoenix and Smoke said at the same time, skeptically. "I'd make myself queen before her," Smoke added. Phoenix knew this was, hopefully, a joke, but she drifted into the thought of what would happen if Smoke became queen. She could see her friend grumpily staring at a bunch of angry-looking dark dragons who all hated everything except themselves. She would have stayed in thought and not heard a thing if not for Smoke's scream of disbelief. 
Phoenix opened her eyes. Teardrop was silently stunned. Smoke was paralyzed with fear, tears running down her face. And a SkyWing hovered in front of them. She was much bigger than them all. "Smoke? Teardrop?" Teardrop didn't respond. Smoke responded with small gasps of air. The SkyWing in front of them sighed. 
"Could you two help calm my niece down?" The SkyWing said, nervous. "Im afraid something terrible has happened other than Queen Bristlefront returning." Oh, it was Burgundy. Smoke's aunt.
"What happened?"
"...Queen Lyre is dead."
== Chapter 4 ==
For a moment, none of them moved. Smoke was the first to break, lunging at Burgundy. "You're wrong!" she screamed, lashing out with claws, teeth, fire, anything she could do. Burgundy struggled to fight back, slowly clawing at the air and missing as the small, angry SkyWing attacked her. "You're trying to make me not want to be queen! Guys, help me kill her, she's lying!" Smoke yelled at Teardrop and Phoenix. Teardrop was even paler now, and suddenly fell over, probably fainted from fear. Phoenix caught her and gently laid her down, making sure she was comfortable-looking. Then it was time to deal with Smoke. 
Phoenix was equally stunned by the news, but she couldn't let Smoke tear her aunt to shreds over it. Lunging into the air to join the grappling fight of fire and teeth, Phoenix tried to wrap her wings around Smoke, but she never stopped moving around her bigger and older uncle. Burgundy was bleeding from several cuts and bite wounds, a few of which were cauterized from the flames, but she was weakening in the fight. "Smoke!" she said desperately. "Listen to me! Lyre is dead, go see for yourself. Mother-Bristlefront-killed her," she wheezed. Smoke reeled back as if diving for another attack, but it never came. 
"That wretched coward!" She screamed. "Phoenix, Teardrop, we're going to the palace. Now." Smoke shot away while Phoenix hovered next to Burgundy, who was trying to come down for a landing next to an unconscious Teardrop. Phoenix tried to lift her NightWing friend, but she wasn't strong enough alone, and cast a helpless glance at Burgundy, who was in no condition to assist. Frustrated, Phoenix kicked Teardrop in the side and almost overbalanced off the peak. She arose groggily, still looking pale. "I...what happened," she said. "I remember Smoke being-Smoke!" she spread her wings and tried to fly, but spiraled downwards instead of up, barely latching onto the cliff face. "Phoenix! Where's Smoke!" 
"Smoke's gone to kill Bristlefront. We have to go with her," Phoenix said, seriously. "Cmon," she took to the skies, and turned to see a dark green dragon flying shakily behind her. Burgundy had taken Teardrop's place on the peak and was curled up, resting. As she should be, Phoenix thought. Smoke had just attacked her with everything she had, and was now letting that rage carry her all the way to the Sky Kingdom. Phoenix couldn't bear to imagine what things would be like once she arrived with Teardrop. It might just be safer to take Teardrop home first, Phoenix realized. She heard that Bristlefront had murderous tendencies, so saving one friend was probably a good idea. "Hey, Teardrop?" 
"Yeah?" 
"We should probably take you home," she noticed the droop in Teardrop's wings right away. "It's just...Bristlefront probably would hurt you. Then what would Nighteye do? Come attack the SkyWings! How would I pick a side? In a Night-Sky war?" Teardrop nodded solemnly. 
"I know the way home, Phoenix. You catch up to Smoke," she said, breaking away and diving for the clump of trees that marked the rainforest. Phoenix tried to argue, but Teardrop was already gone. At least now she could power herself full speed to catch up to Smoke. She beat her wings harder than ever, flying up the mountain, until she could see the walls of the stony palace before her. 
She'd never been here before. Ragianna had forbidden it, but now the roars and shouts of fury echoing around were impossible to ignore. Even the SeaWings could hear them, probably. Unfamiliar and scared, Phoenix didn't want to enter. A wail of pain echoed from the palace, and that was enough to drive her in. The screaming started again as she wound her way through the maze of the palace walls. It sounded feminine, and young, was it really Smoke? Had Bristlefront killed her too? She fought back tears as she stumbled into the throne room, and a ghastly spectacle was before her eyes. 
Lyre's body, matted and torn, lied in front of the throne. An unfamiliar SkyWing for Phoenix's eyes stood in front of a wounded Bristlefront, wings spread and wounds splitting through their fire-red scales. Next to them, looking just as tall and menacing, was Smoke-more heavily wounded, but still alive. Every now and then, either Smoke or the other SkyWing would dart in for a quick attack against Bristlefront, who wasn't getting a chance to fight back. Her wings were shredded and burns scorched her dark, gray-orange scales. 
Then, Smoke turned and smashed her tail into Bristfront's snout, slamming it to the ground with a loud crunch. The other SkyWing grabbed the older dragon and heaved her out one of the large windows of the palace. The screams of the dying dragon echoed loudly and Phoenix wondered if they'd ever get out of her head. Smoke's head sank onto the edge of the throne as she stepped up onto it. 
The name of the other dragon struck Phoenix like a stone: It was none other than Red-Crown, the very dragon gunning for Smoke's royal position. 
== Chapter 5 ==
At first, nobody noticed Phoenix standing there like a stone. Red-Crown was the first to react, hissing violently and taking flight out a large, crumbled window. Smoke slid her head off the throne and approached Phoenix. "You're here," she said, breathless, softly. Her eyes didn't meet Phoenix's, as if she was staring at something beyond. "Yes, Im here. I sent Teardrop home though," Smoke lunged and gently ran her talons across Phoenix's cheeks. 
"Phoenix, it's all wrong!" she cried. "I wasn't supposed to take the throne this way, this..." she began to weep. Phoenix helped her sink to the floor and supported her friend with a wing. There wasn't anything to say, only things to do. A lone dragon came out from behind a curtain. He was large, bright orange, and wore a ridiculous amount of jewelry. Phoenix tried to shoo him away, but instead he cleared his throat. 
"I would assume this means Bristlefront and Lyre are both dead?" he asked. Phoenix nodded, solemnly. "You can leave now," she added. The other dragon shook his head. "I'm actually waiting for somebody to come back," he said. "Red-Crown flew out so...I need a place to wait? She's my daughter and got along quite well with Lyre."
"This is the last place she'll come to. Smoke isn't accepting of her, and she should know it. After all, Princess Smoke inherited most of her personality from her grandmother," Phoenix added. "Who are you, anyway? Why were you hiding?"
His eyes darted around the room. "Well...I didn't want Lyre to see me in the same room as an ex-queen, she'd see it as treachery. She payed well for the spell," he murmured. "Er-My name is Grouse." He added quickly, trying to cover up what he said before. But Phoenix heard it in his voice, that avoidance of accusation that she heard Smoke use all too much. "What spell? What did you do?"
Grouse took a step back, and before Phoenix could react, he whipped his tail around to hit both of them in the head, and took off through the same window as Red-Crown. Despite the stars dancing around her head, Phoenix tried to follow. Dizzy, she collapsed instead as black edged around her vision. Smoke had already gone limp, probably not dead. But there wasn't a point to fight the pain, and Phoenix let it swallow her whole as she blacked out.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
She awoke on a soft white cot, surrounded by high, steep walls, sitting on a stone floor with bits of sand and spatters of blood on it. This must be the hospital that lay in the middle of the kingdom. Sitting up, she was greeted by seeing a dark golden dragon with a bored expression sitting next to her. She blinked her eyes several times, as it looked like a SandWing sitting next to her. But her vision was fine, it was a SandWing next to her. Lyre had brought in a lot of doctors to teach any SkyWings who wanted to learn. Of course there's another tribe here. "Ah, you're awake," they rumbled deeply, their voice almost incomprehensible. Phoenix looked around, but didn't see Smoke anywhere. 
Phoenix could hear a book being shut. "You were out for only a few hours, but-" he was interrupted by a soldier flying down. Wearing armor, covered in scars, and with an entire missing eye and a crippled front leg, it seemed as though he shouldn't be fighting. "No sign of the attacker, Dust," they reported. "I'm off to notify Queen Smoke after this," and they flew off. Must be one of her personal guard. Smoke had always talked about which dragons she wanted to be her personal guards in the throne room. One of them matched the SkyWing's description, but without all the scars and wounds. His name was Falcon, if Phoenix remembered correctly. Phoenix felt herself hoping that he was still assigned to guard her friend, even with his cripple. 
Phoenix lifted herself off the cot and stood up, much to the SandWing's , named Dust, surprise. "Eager to see the new queen?" he asked, half-jokingly. "As a matter of fact, yes," Phoenix said. her voice sounded high-pitched and wrong, but she was okay. She needed to be okay to see Smoke and how she was doing as a brand-new queen. With a sudden thought of sadness, Phoenix realized that the friend group's flying trips would be cut down to just Teardrop and Phoenix now. Queens couldn't spend much time for leisure activities, they had kingdoms to check on, to run, to rule. 
When she arrived, Smoke had just dismissed a pair of dragons: A SkyWing and a SeaWing, which was odd until she remembered how couples from different tribes needed queenly permission to officially marry. Aw, I knew Smoke would be a good queen. Speaking of, Smoke's face seemed to light up when she saw Phoenix. "Phoenix! Sear, Rockslide, dismissed," she said as her two guards flew out, likely just outside the door. As Smoke approached Phoenix, all she could do was bow. Smoke wasn't just a friend, she was her queen now. "Phoenix, I needed to see you-Get up," she said, almost whining at the last words. "This is serious. I need help to rule. Your mother was close to Lyre, even to Bristlefront. She has passed at least some of that onto you, Im sure. And you're almost full-grown, so Im asking you to be my advisor." 
Phoenix stumbled backwards. "Are you sure-" but Smoke shushed her. "Just say yes or no." Phoenix wanted to say yes. She wanted to more badly than anything, she could her friend everyday, even be closer to the way her friend would run the kingom. 
But it meant giving up the life with her parents, for the most part. A room in the palace was nice, but family was nicer. And then Teardrop wouldn't have anybody to fly around with anymore. The Kingdom did need help though, and if Smoke really thought Phoenix was the most capable dragon, then she would be willing to say goodbye to her parents and miss Teardrop often to help Smoke. "Yes," she said, the answer radiating down to her bones. 
== Chapter 6 ==
Phoenix knew being the personal advisor to the queen meant taking diplomatic trips to confer with other tribes.
She was not expecting to have to fly to the Kingdom of the Sea, where they wanted to build a village that barely took up some SkyWing land. Smoke hadn't been happy, so she sent Phoenix to negotiate with a SeaWing advocate about the land, but of course, this SeaWing was frustratingly slow and stubborn, not taking any possible solutions and threatening war with the SkyWings. So Phoenix was incredibly happy when she saw Queen Cerulean rise out of the water, since this was a queen who knew how to talk peace. She bowed gently in respect, but no too deeply, since she was no SeaWing herself. Her former negotiator was basically lying on the sand with his bow, though, and after which he promptly dove into the water and swam away.
"Queen Cerulean, it's an honor to meet you," Phoenix said, gracefully and diplomatically. "We were not able to reach an agreement with your advocate. Apologies," she added on the end. To her surprise, Queen Cerulean gave a dismissive wave of her talon and spoke brightly, as though she were talking to her own daughter. "Listen, Phoenix, was it? I have an offer that might entice your queen into letting us have this village. We know your tribe has been through a lot lately, and it needs stability, correct?" Phoenix nodded, though the answer was obvious. Cerulean smiled. "So, in exchange for letting us have this land, we'll give your our protection when you need it for the next century, hm?" 
Phoenix considered it carefully. It did seem like a good idea, but would Smoke accept this protection? She would see it as an insult to her ability to rule, surely. "Your majesty, I would have to notify Queen Smoke before I agreed. I fear she may have objections."
"That's exactly what I thought too! Which is why I had my servants prepare a room for you!" Cerulean clapped her talons together, looking excited. "It'd be a true honor for you to stay here and write to your queen, she can write back!" Phoenix stared at Cerulean for a long time before thinking it over. This would either prove Cerulean as a trustworthy queen or an untrustworthy one. Besides, Phoenix didn't think Cerulean would hurt her, and she did want to try seafood...so she politely nodded. "I will notify my Queen Smoke via letter right away."
Following Cerulean into the new summer palace was easier said than done. Phoenix's wings felt in the way all the time, and everytime she went underwater it felt like she was going to drown. Somehow, by following the larger queen, she made it and Cerulean lead her into a large room, where Phoenix could spread her wings fully out and still have room to spare. Flopping down on a rock ledge she sighed and closed her eyes. Cerulean nodded to the stack of papers. "Phoenix, your letter?" she said, before leaving her to her own devices.
Getting up from what would have been a comfortable nap, she grabbed a paper and dipped her talon in the ink. Considering it for a moment, she began to write to Smoke:
Dear Queen Smoke,
Im spending a few days inside the Sea Kingdom's Summer Palace, where Queen Cerulean promises I'll be well attended to. It's just so that I can rest and negotiate easier without having to exhaust myself by flying. Cerulean proposed that we let her have the villages, and associated land, in return for protection by the SeaWings for 100 years. Please think it over, Smoke. The continent can't take another war right now, especially not the Sky Kingdom. 
Is Red-Crown much of a problem anymore? I really hope you haven't done anything rash.
Warmest regards,
Phoenix.
Once the letter had been written, she rolled it up, tied it with string, and used a bit of the candle wax to seal the string together. She opened a window and mimicked the cry of a hawk. It was no owl or pigeon, but a hawk cry was the only one she knew. And somehow, a hawk carrying a letter seemed more appropriate to show the SkyWing Queen than a seagull or albatross carrying one. A beautiful brown hawk with a razor sharp golden beak perched on her sill, and she gave it the letter, tying to to it's foot. "Go fly to the Sky Kingdom, cutie," she whispered, and set it off.
Once more, she curled up on the stone slab of a bed, and this time, she drifted off into the best sleep she'd had in days.
== Chapter 7 ==
When she awoke, Phoenix noticed a letter slipped under the door to her room. Two of them actually. She got up, padded over to the door, and picked up the first one. It was tied with a periwinkle blue string, and more than slightly damp and smelling of fish. "Wonder who that's from," she said sarcastically to nobody in particular as she opened it. The scroll was small, short, and direct. 
Dear Phoenix,
I, Queen Cerulean, ask you to join us at the top level of the palace for a feast in your honor. You should just be able to fly up there. I'll see you there!
Queen Cerulean
Phoenix tossed it aside lazily. Be in the Queen's royal feasting spot soon, got it. She picked up the other letter, this one tied with fiery red string and perfectly dry. Her skin prickled under her scales. Smoke had responded so quickly to the letter, it seemed. She unrolled it, and a small necklace fell out. Forgetting the letter, Phoenix picked up the necklace and examined it: A golden feather shape, speckled with red and orange, and an actual feather on a thin silver chain. She set it down on her desk and picked up the discarded letter.
Dear Phoenix,
We heard you were in the Sea Kingdom for a few days, but just because you're far away doesn't mean you're far from our hearts. Don't ever forget you mother and father love you, Nixie, alright? I found this feather from a harpy eagle that made a nest near the house lately. Your father made a gold replica and flecked it with ruby and jasper, just for you. 
Sending love and cuddles,
Ragianna and Timeless
Not Smoke, just her parents. Though, it was nice to know they still cared about her. She hadn't heard from them in a while, it seemed. Taking the necklace in her talons again, she traced over each smooth line in the golden feather with a claw. Her father had gotten it so perfectly right, it seemed almost magical the way he was able to work with stone, metal, or paper. Her eyes scanned the floor for the letter, since she wanted to keep it with her, and her gaze saw the SeaWing invitation first. Grabbing the letter off the floor and stuffing it in her pouch, she ran out the door and frantically flapped her wings. Realizing her grasp on the necklace, she slipped it over her head to not lose it.
When Phoenix arrived to the feast, it seemed like she was the last one. But then a tough-looking, purple-ish SeaWing took her seat after she did. Phoenix sat at the right of Queen Cerulean, as an honored guest. To distract her from the feeling of being trapped and from all the eyes on her, she examined the food on the table before her. Enormous plates of sea snails sat next to full lobsters, a few even still moving. There were squids, octopi, crabs, and in honor of Phoenix, a few roasted seagulls. As expected from a SeaWing, there was about twice as many fish as anything else. Various kinds of fish, in different shapes and sizes. Phoenix was interested in trying that one with the giant frill on it's back when two more giant bowls were place down. One, with a large salad-like mixture in it, dotted with octopi tentacles and clearly seasoned. The other, full of raw shark meat. Phoenix nearly gagged.
Queen Coral clapped her talons together. "Alright, everybody is here! First, I'd like to welcome our SkyWing ambassador, Phoenix!" She smiled warmly and Phoenix tried to hide. All the staring eyes, and the purplish one that sat down after her kept looking suspiciously like she was going to make a comment on something. But as soon as she opened her mouth, Cerulean spoke again. "You all may begin to eat."
The other SeaWings dug in, snapping up fish and feasting, nothing was wasted. Phoenix, on the other talon gingerly reached for a seagull as though it might be tainted. She hadn't tried it before, but it was bound to be good, right? She opened her mouth, took a bite, and smiled slightly. Seabirds tasted good, apparently. Smoke needs to try this sometime, she really missed out on things. 
While she thought, Pheonix could hear Cerulean talking and being responded to. Things like, "Cyan, report," and "Wave, report". They would respond about how their army was, or how Cerulean's latest scroll was doing. She didn't start listening until a dragon named Whale, the same one who had been staring at her, spoke. 
"I have reason to believe something happened to our ambassador. Nobody has heard from him since, and Phoenix seems quiet," the entire table was silent for a second. Phoenix would have been happy to melt into a puddle of orange and yellow scales just then. It was Cerulean who saved her. "Now, now, Whale. I saw him swim away, perfectly unharmed by our guest. I assure you, he is safe." It made Phoenix wonder why Whale cared. Did she think she was plotting against her? Did she worry she'd kill their queen? If anything, that was something Smoke would do, not her. She wondered when Smoke would respond to her letter. 
Once the food had been eaten, the dragons all reported, Cerulean dismissed them all off. Before she could leave, Cerulean stopped Phoenix. "Did your queen send you this?" She asked, eyeing the necklace. 
"It was a gift from my parents, ma'am." 
"Tell your parents that I'd pay for a shell necklace like this. I can supply the shell of they don't want to fly and get one, I understand how SkyWings can be," Phoenix nodded. It appeared Smoke hadn't told about her advisor's heritage yet. Then again, it wasn't a good look for the Sky Kingdom to have a hybrid representing them. This was going to be a secret taken to Phoenix and Smoke's grave. 
She arrived back in her room late that night, after a failed attempt to catch seagulls and being shown up by a group of dragonets. She felt like a fish out of water, or, in this case, a bird in water. It didn't matter. A good night of sleep would set her head straight and prepare her for Smoke's letter of response. She settled on the ledge, curled her tail in, and fell asleep to the sounds of the waves and night creatures. 
== Chapter 8 ==
Phoenix had dreamed of flying with her friends, Teardrop and Smoke. Flying so high, higher, and suddenly, one by one, they fell like stones into the endless sea that swallowed them whole while an odd purplish SeaWing watched with empty eyes. 
In fact, that was what woke her up. The sun was lazily climbing in the sky in the early morning. The palace wasn't awake as far as she knew, gathered from the silence of the place. It was in her nature to explore, but a small green SeaWing knocked on her door and opened it a crack. "Urp," she said, embarrassed. "You're up early." She slid a small parcel into Phoenix's room and left. Phoenix got up to investigate.
Tied with a fiery red ribbon, was the package, with a scroll stuck on top. While trying to gently slide it free, her claw tore the letter a bit. She bit her lip and unrolled it.
Dear Advisor Phoenix,
It has come to my attention that Queen Cerulean wishes to make an agreement. Despite my well-known fierce temper, I am willing to agree under the term that protection includes no fighting us and helping us fight. The villages will be left alone by SkyWing talons. 
Tell this to Queen Cerulean by tomorrow, and then fly out for the rainforest. Meet me at the heart of the village. I've-
The rest of that phrase had been torn by her claw. But Phoenix got the main point of the message. She was to tell Queen Cerulean that the agreement would go into effect and then Phoenix was to meet Smoke in the rainforest. The heart of the village...that's where Teardrop lives! We could finally see each other again! She gathered her things into a small pouch, and quickly began racing up to tell Queen Cerulean of the news, before she skidded to a stop. She had left the package in her room, and that could contain something for negotiating with the SeaWings more. Doubling back once more, she picked up the package and tested it's weight. Small, with a bit of weight to it. When she couldn't stand the suspense anymore, Phoenix opened it up to see nothing but a small cup, made of stained red glass with designs of flames tracing the edge. But it was just an ordinary cup otherwise. No sender was written. No place to send it back. Nothing.
Phoenix turned and was on her way to see Cerulean again when she left her room and ran right into a dark blue SeaWing that looked like Queen Cerulean. Oh no! I've-I-Please don't ruin the peace! "Queen Cerulean! Im so sorry-are you alright? I wasnt watching and-"
"Im not Cerulean" the dragon corrected. Now, after the shock, it was clear this dragon was smaller than the queen, even though their scales were identical. "I'm her sister, Aquamarine. I was coming home to check on the kingdom. Yknow, make sure my sister hadn't done anything crazy? I heard something about a dragon from another tribe negotiating as well, so I came to meet you I guess."
"Phoenix. Pleased to meet you, Aquamarine," she gave a polite bow, but nothing more. Much to her surprise, Aquamarine recoiled. "Ooh...please never say that again. It sounds weeeeird." Phoenix nodded and bit her tongue. "Do you know where your sist-The queen is? Queen Smoke said she's ready to accept the terms of the negotiation." To her dismay, Aquamarine shook her head. "If you have somewhere to be though, I can tell her. She might be in the Deep Palace, since it's so quiet." 
Phoenix agreed and told Aquamarine she was to meet Smoke, which made Aquamarine laugh before leaving Phoenix alone. With a deep breath and a sigh, Phoenix headed out of the Summer Palace, swimming through the narrow entrance on her own and gasping for air the entire way until she found the edge of the beach again. Finally, dry land. But just as she hopped on the island, she shivered. It felt colder than usual, and as she poked around for prey Phoenix found frost covering some of the plant life. IceWings? Out here? Unlikely, but what else would have created frost like that? Pushing the thought out of her mind, and coming up without food, Phoenix set out in the sky for the rainforest, eager to see Smoke and Teardrop again after so long.
== Chapter 9 ==
It took about a day's flight to reach the rainforest, and by the time she reached there, Phoenix was tired and ready to collapse. But she didn't see Smoke anywhere, which meant she was far from the Kingdoms. Instead of aimlessly wandering around the densely packed trees, she waited and listened. After about an hour, she could hear somebody coming closer. Heavy, tramping talons nearby, branches shaking with their leaves hitting each other, the deep voices. "I can't believe Im looking out for RainWings," one of them said. The noise in the branches became silent. The talonsteps stopped. "Uhh......Starfruit? I-I was kidding! You know that..." No response. "Don't-don't leave me here."
The dragons made no further sound for a few minutes, which made Phoenix tempted to check on them, until she heard a loud yell. She rushed forwards and saw a pale yellow and bright red RainWing pinning a skinny-looking NightWing. "AAAAAAAAaaaaaa....STARFRUIT WHAT IN THE MOONS ARE YOU DOING?!" The NightWing bellowed, trying to escape the RainWing's grip. Amazingly, the NightWing was powerless to free themselves, so Phoenix sighed and cleared her throat. Both heads turned towards her, with changed expressions. Hostility from the NightWing, Excitement from the RainWing. "Hello, can you take me to the village?" Phoenix asked, politely. She must have missed something, or said something wrong, because the NightWing exploded forwards and grabbed Phoenix by the wings. "Hey-Let me go!" she furiously yelled. But her wings were pinned thoroughly. "I need to see Queen Nighteye!" That made the NightWing grip her tighter. 
"Nobody sees the queen!" he announced. Out of the corner of her eye, Phoenix saw movement from the RainWing. But she was still too busy struggling with the NightWing to pay much attention. "I'm Phoenix! SkyWing Advisor, friend of Princess Teardrop and Queen Smoke!" Nothing she said worked, and the NightWing's grip only became tighter and tighter. "Please-!" Phoenix felt a sharp pain, just for a moment, on her neck. She accusingly turned to the NightWing and said, "I-". Her words didn't form properly, didn't come out. She couldn't feel the NightWing's grip, couldn't feel her entire body as her vision blurred. "What-" she still couldn't talk. She couldnt even form a single word the next time she tried, and for a moment, she felt the ground shake and heard a commanding voice like Smoke's fill the air, but not too long after, Phoenix slipped into a peaceful rest.
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She awoke in a slightly different area, more on the outside of the rainforest than before, and around Phoenix were two dragons: Smoke, plus an unfamiliar RainWing. "Phoenix? Are you awake?" Smoke asked. "Phoenix, I demand you get up." Phoenix turned over groggily, looking up at Smoke and her oversized crown. "Phoenix, I'd like you to meet Dart Frog. He's probably both our best bet into the village and, as it turns out, incredibly helpful. I mean, it's not everyday you find a RainWing who will sell you a nice herbal tea to help a dragon go the sleep, right?" The RainWing, named Dart Frog, had bright golden scales, similar to Phoenix's necklace, with neon blue around his snout and a neon blue tail. He had purple accents, but the strangest part was that he had several black patches all over him. Odd. What else was odd was the he looked...really huggable. Like a good friend that would give you a hug and make everything feel better 
"Yup, Smoke was talking about how hard it was to be a new queen, so I suggested she try one of my teas," Dart Frog spoke loosely and sounded as though his head was in the clouds. Smoke, the friend Phoenix had thought violent and so headstrong, had been talking to and actually getting along with a RainWing? And one that seemed so laid-back as this one? It just didnt add up. "But, ah, I can get you into the village. Im sure Queen Dragonfruit would like to see the new SkyWing queen." 
"It's more than just seeing our NightWing friend, Phoenix," Smoke said. "I need to discuss all sorts of things with Queen Glory. Like all the agreements she had with the SkyWings before. I doubt they'll change, but who knows? Anywho, Dart Frog says to watch out for RainWings in the trees, and that some NightWings are in the village today." 
They walked for most of the trip, as neither SkyWings could fly through such dense trees, which Phoenix guessed had to make Dart Frog at least a little ancy. But nothing seemed to bother his loose demeanor, and before long they were on a platform in the village. A NightWing came up and stopped them, and that was when their RainWing friend left them. "Wait! Dart Frog, come back!" Smoke yelled, but he was already long gone. Juts Phoenix, Smoke, and a smug-looking NightWing. 
"Who are you two? SkyWings in the rainforest? How unusual," the NightWing peered closely at Phoenix's wings, and she shut them up tight. Rude. Does he suspect Im a hybrid by looking at me, or is he just being weird. I may have to teach this dragon a lesson! Even if I am half NightWing! She bristled and took a menacing step forwards, but that was when the platform was shaken by two dragons. Phoenix knew them, but she dearly hoped Smoke did too. 
Especially since they were looking at Queen Dragonfruit and her step-daughter, Divine. 
== Chapter 10 ==
Queen Dragonfruit wasnt as big as Phoenix had thought she was. And she didnt look terribly mad that a NightWing was harassing such a royal-looking dragon like Smoke. "Shadow," she said, in a warning tone. A warning tone that didnt fully sound committed, and some blossoms of rose pink bloomed around Dragonfruit's feet. Divine's face lit up and she hugged the NightWing. "It isnt your job to interrogate new visitors, especially not the SkyWing queen and her advisor. Dismissed." 
"Ah, but you are not my queen," Shadow said. "Unless-"
"OUT! You can talk to me later, but for goodness sake, just take Divine home and leave us alone for five minutes!" Dragonfruit huffed. Shadow nodded, and with a small dragonet clinging to his leg, he flew off the platform and disappeared. "Sorry about that. He's been unusually clingy lately," Dragonfruit said, rubbing her temples. "Queen Smoke, I assume you're here to discuss the current stance of things?"
"Y-Yes, Queen Dragonfruit," Smoke said, awkwardly bowing. Phoenix held her breath and gave a small bow too. "But I am also here so that my advisor, Phoenix, can talk to Queen Nighteye and Princess Teardrop. For...additional negotiations! While we're talking, she can talk too."
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Content (Angel Of Madness 001)