18 years later...

"Galaxyturner! Wake up!"

"Idon'tWANNA," Galaxyturner groaned, turning over and burying her face under her talons. Her scales shifted to an irritated yellow-green, then back to their usual purple.

The dragon's angry thoughts crept closer, intruding like a sharp spear prodding into her mind. I hate her, they were thinking. She's so useless and lazy. But Galaxyturner was used to thoughts like that, so it didn't bother her empty, hard-hearted shell.

"Galaxyturner, if you don't get up right now, Shade is going to gut you and hang your innards on the walls!" He called, now standing at the cave entrance.

"All right all right all right, I'm coming!" Galaxy yelled, throwing herself off her sleeping platform - a hard rock lodged in the cave wall.

The dragon outside her room, a disagreeable NightWing named Hostile, watched her with contempt. "Shade wants you in the training room," he said.

"Sure," Galaxy said with a shrug. She brushed past him and walked through the corridor. NightWing guards lined the walls and glared at her as she passed, but as with the angry thoughts, she was used to that. She was so used to being a prisoner now, it was like she ran the place.

When she arrived in the training room, Shade was standing there waiting for her. He was a muscular NightWing with dark scales and starry wings, and he wore a sinister, red mask over his face so his features would always be hidden. According to Hostile's thoughts, this was because he was a criminal. Privately, she thought it was because he was just too ugly.

"You're late," Shade said grimly. "Morrowseer and I have been waiting for hours."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Galaxyturner said sarcastically, rolling her eyes at Shade and at the shadowy dragon who stood next to him. Of course, it wasn't the real Morrowseer - he'd been killed in the volcano a few years ago, but the NightWings had summoned his ghost into these tunnels so he could continue training her. He had trained her personally for all her life to be the best assassin there was, even while orchestrating the Dragonet Prophecy. Shade was his battle dummy, basically - the dragon she sparred with to practice her skills. He hated her and often bullied her, but Morrowseer had always thought of her as his favourite pupil (she'd heard that in his mind).

Morrowseer flicked his tail dismissively, then signalled for them to begin with a dip of his spectral head. He never spoke out loud - spirits never did, and he had no thoughts either - but he communicated through gestures and writing.

At once Shade lunged at her. Thrilled to be in battle, Galaxyturner ducked underneath him and slashed her claws along his side. Shade faltered, panting, and she drew back. She could easily beat him, but she liked to let him win. Suddenly he lunged once more, and slammed her to the ground. He dragged his talons through her scales, causing her to hiss in pain, and Morrowseer raised his talons sharply to halt them.

"Very good," Shade said, but there was hatred in his eyes. One day, he thought, I'll kill her.

Right back at you. Galaxyturner got up wordlessly. Her scales smarted with pain at the gruesome cuts, but her expression and scales didn't change. One of the advantages of being raised in such a cruel place was that she'd learned to hide her emotions.

"Sir!" Hostile burst into the cave suddenly. Morrowseer's ghost huffed indignantly and disappeared.

"What is it?" Shade snarled.

"There's been an invasion," Hostile panted. "Our tunnels are under attack!"

"Attack?" Galaxyturner frowned.

"Shut up," Shade snapped. "Go to your room and stay there. Hostile, take me to the scene."

"But I want to help!" Galaxyturner protested.

"GO. Now." Shade glared at her, his mind projecting angry thoughts, then turned and ran out of the room.

"Fine," Galaxyturner huffed, storming away. Why didn't she ever get to do anything fun? As dragons began to yell, she burst into her sleeping cave, buried her head in her talons and began to sob.

Why can't I help them? She wondered to herself, feeling as if her world was crumbling.

Why am I so useless?