Eclipse’s heart couldn’t stop racing faster and faster. He didn’t even want to check the timeline with now; seeing all the ways this would destroy the future and how badly he messed up. After all there was probably a high chance Scarlet just killed him when she got the chance. Though for once in Eclipse’s life, his own thoughts were louder than everyone around him; rather than being comforting however, it just made him feel worse.

  They landed on the platform that led directly to Scarlet’s throne room; she made her way comfortably to it and sat. Her golden-yellow eyes pierced into Eclipse.

  “So, tell me… Falcon, why do you clutch your head so much? Did you suffer some injury as a dragonet or are you that feeble minded you can’t handle a little violence?” She smirked.

  “No…no your majesty, I can handle the violence I just…. I get these really bad dizzy spells and it makes my head hurt really bad, so I’m sure you understand.” Eclipse nodded quickly.

  “Ohhhhh I completely understand, however, that doesn’t just answer my burning question.” Her expression became still and stern. “Who are you? I’ve never heard of any dragon by the name of falcon and one with scales such as that I would remember. Plus it’s so strange you only appear after I’ve captured the dragonets. Surely you aren’t a spy from the Talons of Peace, now that…. That would be much more egregious.”

  “Of course not, what even is the Talon of Peace? I’m just good old Falcon the SkyWing” He nervously chuckled.

  “Oh don’t worry your mind about them Falcon… the SkyWing.” Her voice hung on that last part. She looked him over once more and he could hear a faint thought enter her mind. “My, that is a beautiful bracelet, I’ve never seen anything like it. Where did you get it?” She smiled but not that creepy one, it was soft and kind making Eclipse feel a little bit less tense.

  He took his wrist in his claw and looked it over. “Oh this thing, it’s nothing I just uh… uh I found it… somewhere and I thought I’d match my scales.” He looked at her and smiled insecurely.

  “Oh, yes and that black jewel in the center… really brings out your eyes.” Scarlet moved her claw under her chin and frowned slightly. “I am quite jealous though, I feel like a piece such as that belongs somewhere special don’t you agree?”

  “Of course, your majesty, it really does.”

  “Exactly so I trust you know where it belongs.” Her sweet smile crooked upward.

  “I’m not sure what you mean, I mean I feel it’s pretty special on me, I mean I am a special dragon.” Eclipse bit his tongue immediately after that slipped out.

  “Oh really,” her eyes widened as she stood up. “So what makes you so special, Falcon? Surely you aren’t in my court or in my army as again, I’ve never heard of you. So what does make good old Falcon, the SkyWing so important?” She stood in front of him and stared down. Eclipse wasn’t smaller than her but he sure felt like he was.

  “Sorry, I get a little intense.” She said as he noticed the white line of smoke coming from her nostrils. “So like I said before, that piece belongs somewhere special don’t you think?”

  Eclipse reached for his wrist and placed his claw on the bracelet; slowly he slid it off his wrist. The moment it was fully off, the timeline and visions began to scream at him once more.

  “AHHHHH!” He cried out before falling to the floor and crumpling in on himself, clutching his head that threatened to burst open.

  “My, my, must be one big dizzy spell,” Scarlet laughed.

  Finally the visions calmed and so did the timeline, and he looked up to see Scarlet marveling over the bracelets “This fits so well and is very comfortable, you have good taste I must say.”

  Eclipse started to feel those really warm thoughts again, Peril. The door to the throne room opened and the unmistakable iridescent scales came into Eclipse’s vision.

  “Peril, what are you doing here? Did I summon for you?” Scarlet’s voice raised.

  “I just came to ask who my opponent is going to be and who is this? Is this my opponent? He doesn’t look like much.”

  “You’ll find out when I tell you,” she hissed. “As for who this is… I could ask you the same thing. Peril walked closer and the guard around nearby all walked out her path like they were scared.

  Are they scared of her or something? Eclipse wondered as she started to stalk around him. “I’ve never seen a dragon like this, I doubt I know who he is.”

  Eclipse tried to walk past her — not liking how much she was observing him; he nearly bumped into her, she jumped away from him this time and eyes wide. “Careful, do you want to get burned?

  “What? Why would you burn me?”

  “What do you mean why? You know why?” She tilted her head. “You do know why right?” Eclipse shook his head and Scarlet laughed.

  “This dragon is very interesting, oh I’d love to make him tell me jokes for the rest of time because I haven’t had this much fun since that MudWing killed Fjord with his venom.” Peril’s lipped curved at the mention of Clay and she looked down ever so slightly.

  “Falcon, tell me, where did you grow up as a dragonet?” Scarlet smiled.

  Think Eclipse… this is easy somewhere in the mountains. It’s true and it has to be the correct answer. “I grew up in the mountains… like all dragonets do.”

  Scarlet moved her claw under her chin, “really? That’s news to me.” She turned to the dragon beside her. “Vermillion?”

  “Ye- yes your majesty,” he bowed.

  “Did we stop raising dragonets in the wingery?”

  “Not to my knowledge, no.”

  “That’s what I thought.” She looked back to Eclipse. “Guards, arrest this dragon, take him to the arena, and just in time for hatching day tomorrow. How beautiful is this.”

  Two guards quickly restrained him, clamping his wrists and wings. He looked to Peril and her expression shifted to one of slight shame. He nodded to her softly and mouthed. “It’s ok.” Before they drug him away and flew him to the arena. They hooked him to one of the pylons and he felt the dread in his stomach open completely into a pit of nothing.

  Stupid, stupid, stupid. He cursed himself and then curled up, placing his head over his claws. He looked over and saw the orange of Clay, just three pylons away. So far but still close enough to make him feel just a bit better. Clay was awfully worried about Peril and if she’d return to help him and his friends.

  I’d like to be his friend. A thought shot out into his head. Someday… maybe. The timeline reassured him softly and that filled him with a small hope for once. A group of SandWings flew over the arena around dusk. The one in the center had such an icky mind like Scarlet’s that Eclipse wanted to stay as far from it as possible. From Clay’s mind, he deduced that this was Princess Burn.

  Another significant dragon and one that if crossed could end many futures. Soon night arrived and Eclipse began to ponder just taking off his ring and disappearing into the night but that would be a bad idea and staying put was the best course of action for him. He curled up and shut his eyes. Then he heard eerie sounds filling the arena and yet they were oddly musical.

  “Oh, the dragonets are coming…” someone sang.

  “They’re coming to save the day…”

  “They’re coming to fight!”

  “For they know what’s right!”

  One by one every dragon on the pylons began to sing, getting louder and louder.

  “Oh, the dragonets are coming! They’re coming to save the day! They’re coming to fight! The dragonets! The dragonets…”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “Stop that infernal noise!” Princess Burn roared.

  “Bring the three troublemakers,” Scarlet snarled.

  Skywing guards quickly took Tsunami, Clay, and Starflight. Eclipse was worried but he also knew that the chance anything truly bad happened was slim, they still were in the futures he could see, so they had to be fine. He curled up and closed his eyes, just hoping that he’d be ok.

  “Fellow Dragons! Loyal SkyWings! Visiting MudWings! Honored SandWing guests! Today’s games are set to be quite thrilling.” Vermillion announced.

  “But first let’s welcome our most honored guest, Queen Burn of the SandWings.” Scarlet announced. Eclipse noticed that Scarlet and Burn certainly weren’t fond of each other; while he wanted to go in their minds and see why — if they actually didn’t, he’d rather not feel how horrible they made him feel.

  “First, we have a so-called Dragonet of Destiny, Tsunami of the SeaWings,” Vermillion paused as he listened to the crowd cheer. Tsunami got drug out by two SkyWings.

  “Get off me you overgrown lizards.” She barked in her head as she tried to break free.

  “Let’s see if the prophecy has any weight or if she’ll die before ever even getting to it.” Vermillion laughed.

  The crowd began to cheer but in shock mostly of the Dragonets of Destiny actually being here.

  These… Dragonets of Destiny. I’ll have to find out why they are called that. Eclipse mentally noted before his vision focused on the opposite corner. A mind that made him more scared and worried than anything entered in. There weren't many words, but rather feelings that he could only pinpoint as primal and feral in nature.

  “How do you punish a SeaWing?” Vermillion asked.

  “Burn them, cut off their wings, starve them.” The crowd all eagerly answered.

  “All good answers but no, you deprive them of something more simple, more on the snout...” The sickly green scales finally poked out of the darkness and Eclipse saw the gaunt figure of the SeaWing; the sight was sickening.

  “Water.” Vermillion finished. “After so long of refusing to fight, we finally give you Gill of the SeaWings.”

  Gill wasted no time to immediately come in and rush a Tsunami; his claws scratched against her chest and she quickly retaliated by clawing at him. Gill was fast, but he was unfocused, his mind was so scattered that the dragon who probably was in there was long gone.

  What a horrible way to end up, Eclipse thought

  Tsunami eventually pinned him under her and placed her claws around his horns as he feral tried to break her grasp.

  “I will not kill him,” Tsunami exclaimed.

  “Oh look at the dragonet, wanting to end this peacefully. How cute. Wars aren’t won by softness however. In all honesty I think you don’t want to kill him because you’re too weak to.” Scarlet smiled and something in Eclipse’s mind told him this wrong, very wrong. Tsunami’s mind however just grew firm and she twisted gills neck with a loud snap.

  The whole crowd began to cheer and Burn just looked at Scarlet with disappointment.

  “You made them love her.” Burn sneered.

  “Well this is going horribly,” Scarlet frowned. “All right, release the NightWing, those two will battle each other.”

  The guards quickly released starflight and he cautiously stalked towards Tsunami but when they got beside each other, they hugged. The crowd was a mix of boos and cheers.

  “This is just awful,” Scarlet pouted.

  Why am I allied with this incompetent queen? Burn snarled in her head.

  “Release the IceWing prisoners.” Scarlet roared.

  “Finally, your first smart idea.” Burn smiled.

  But wingbeats behind Eclipse and the arena became apparent; a large gathering of dragons filled his head and one of them seemed oddly familiar. Then as he looked up he noticed the dark figures of multiple NightWings and a large one landed before Scarlet and Burn.

  “You must release that NightWing to us.” His voice was deep and gravely and Eclipse instantly remembered; how could he forget?

  Morrowseer.

  “No I don’t, it’s my hatching day and he is part of my entertainment, so I won’t.” Scarlet scoffed.

  “Do not anger the NightWings, SkyWing.” Morrowseer growled.

  “So have you NightWings chosen a side since you’re trying to protect these dragonets?” Burn asked.

  “No, we’re merely protecting our own.” Morrowseer stated.

  Maybe they could free me… if I take off this ring and call out… but checking the timeline showed they’d either not hear him or not care, plus now a lot of eyes would be on the new NightWing that just appeared.

  “Well it’s my hatching day and I want to see a NightWing fight IceWings!”

  “Those IceWings?” Morrowseer smirked. “Very well.” He circled his tail and the NightWings above swooped down and quickly killed the IceWings.

  They couldn’t even fight back… Eclipse thought.

  “There, we’ve taken care of you IceWings, now we’ll just take our NightWing and be out of your scales.” Morrowseer grabbed Starflight in his talons; the dragonet looked so small compared to Morrowseer. He quickly carried him away.

  “Wait! What about my friends?” Starflight called out as he faded into the sky.

  Morrowseer, I’ll find you and when I do…. Eclipse pondered what he would do.

  These dragons… my day, how dare they? Scarlet hissed. “I will have one thing go right today! Clean up this mess and fetch my champion.”

  Peril soon entered the arena.

  “On behalf of the prisoner Kestrel. My champion Peril had asked to fight a dragon of my choosing. If Peril wins, Kestrel goes free. If she loses — then I suppose I’ll have to find a new champion.”

  The crowd all looked to one another and murmured softly but one Eclipse heard one universal thought: Peril lose?

  “I know you all think Peril can’t lose. Well it so happens we have a dragon whose scales are impervious to fire.” She looked at Clay. “Is that… thrilling?” She hissed through a smile.

  Peril and Clay stared at each other for a moment before Peril tried to spear at him, but he just rammed his shoulder against her. They paused for a moment then Peril rose back up with a new anger.

  “I’m your friend! It’s not fair.” She began to dive down to him. “The others can be any dragon! I only want you!” She roared before Clay through sand in her face, knowing her down.

  Poor Peril… She just wants a friend, I wanna be her friend but I can’t… Can I? The timeline didn’t respond which was arguably worse than if it just told him no. A new frown dawned his snout as he continued to watch.

  “Peril, we don’t have to kill each other.”

  “We do! Dragons kill each other all the time. That is the kind of beings we are. Especially you and I; we were killers the moment we hatched.”

  “You’re wrong, that’s not who I want to be. Maybe this prophecy isn’t about killing, maybe it’s about bringing everyone together without more bloodshed. Maybe the prophecy isn’t meant to be taken literally.”

  “Hurry up and do it! Use your venom! I didn’t even get to see it the first time.” Scarlet yelled.

  Eclipse closed his eyes, thinking about what Clay had just said. “Alone he’ll, alone he’ll stalk.” He whispered to himself. I don’t want to be alone, I don’t. I’m tired of hiding, of being nothing. No more. I won’t be hidden, prophecy or not. I am my own dragon and I can be who I want to be. But a new thought intertwined in his.

  You want to see my venom so bad?

  He looked up and noticed the RainWing hiss and turn a very aggressive shade of red almost like a SkyWing… almost like me. The RainWing shot her venom into Scarlet's face and she immediately cried in pain.

  “Run! Scarlet’s dead!” The crowd began to screech as they quickly dispersed.

  This is my moment. Eclipse wrapped his claw around his restraints. “I enchant these restraints to remove themselves from me and all the restraints on every dragon attached to them; make them want to go home and attack no one, but only after I’ve left the area.” He felt a cold shiver run though his body after his enchantment but he couldn’t think about that.

  The clink of the restraints being removed rang out and he quickly slid them off. He stood up to the amazement of the dragons around him. He looked down at Clay, Tsunami, Peril, and the lone RainWing.

  “Glory! You’re awake!” Clay exclaimed as he moved over to her.

  “Of course I am! Couldn’t you tell I was faking? You seriously thought I was asleep the whole time?” Glory sounded hurt.

  “You looked pretty asleep.” Tsunami chuckled.

  Eclipse swooped down and all of them turned. Three possible futures flashed. One where Glory shot her venom at him and he got horribly injured, one where Peril tried to attack him and another where they just talked.

  “Falcon?” Peril shifted her gaze.

  “You know him?” Clay asked.

  “Well not really, but he seems to be a spy or something, that’s why Scarlet put him here.”

  “Well if he’s looking to spy on us, I may as well just knock him out right now.” Tsunami's stance changed.

  Eclipse raised his claws. “Wait, I don't want any trouble. I just have… two questions or three.”

  “I don’t know, it sounds like the perfect thing for a spy to say.” Tsunami inched closer.

  “Wait, let’s just hear what he has to ask… it can’t hurt.” Clay placed his wing out to stop Tsunami.

  Thank you Clay… oh I could hug you. He told himself.

  “It really could hurt Clay, but I guess we can entertain the questions.” Glory nodded.

  “You’re the Dragonets of Destiny?” He asked.

  “Yes, we are?” Tsunami raised a brow, but her mind said. Of course we are who doesn’t know that?

  “Who are the Talons of Peace and is Morrowseer with them?”

  “Well they raised us, and I assume so considering he was the one sent to assess us.” Clay answered.

  “Assessed then tried to kill most of us.” Glory chimed in.

  “Oh he couldn’t do that, you’re all in futures I—” Eclipse quickly cut himself off, but they clearly heard it.

  “What?” Tsunami twisted her head.

  “It’s, nothing, it's probably one of those dizzy spells he said he gets or whatever.” Peril said.

  Thank you Peril. He sighed internally. “Well I guess the last thing is… do you know where I can find the Talons of Peace?”

  “No, we don’t. The only dragons who may know and are alive to tell us, is Webs or Kestrel and I’m not going to ask Kestrel. Plus we don’t know if Webs did survive.” Tsunami answered.

  “Ok… thank you. I wish you all… luck on your prophecy and what you’re trying to do.” He turned back and got ready to fly off. “Um Clay…” he turned. “You're a really… nice dragon.” Is all Eclipse said before he quickly shot off into the air.

  He left the Sky Kingdom and finally took off the ring; his scales returning to their normal black. He touched down on a cliff face and looked out at the setting sun.

  Well I certainly broke a lot of my own rules and the timeline probably hates me but… I don’t regret it. I need to find the Talons of Peace and Morrowseer. I don’t know who Webs is and I know Kestrel isn’t going to last long… her futures end soon, I can see that. Maybe if I go to the Kingdom of Sand… no that will end bad. The SeaWings are my best bet… but that also has a high likelihood of ending badly.

  He picked up a branch. “I enchant this branch to lead to the Talons of Peace, once it gets there, turn into a normal branch.” Another cold shiver ran through his body and he started to feel very strange. I need to stop enchanting so frivolously… I see if I keep doing it like this, bad futures become more and more likely and the SandWing becomes further and further away.

  The branch began to lift up in the air and shoot off as Eclipse flew past it, as fast as he could.