Frost covered cobwebs hung loosely around the ice room, frozen in place by the extreme subzero temperature. The underground cave was dead. Well, it wasn't truly dead. A hard working Mississippi Kite was there, digging through the ice. He was using a Titanium Blade to cut through the ice. He was working hard. Way too hard. Frozen sweat lay in fractured pieces on the ground, and there was a unnatural glint of hysterical desperateness in his eyes. His breath came in a ragged form. But he kept on digging.

    He dug so far into the ice, it was a wonder how he had not frozen to death. Mist wafted out of his beak, his feathers coated in a thick layer of ice. And he kept on thinking, I can do this. I can do this. I CAN DO THIS. THIS IS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. THIS IS YOUR  LIFE'S WORK - AND YOUR SOLE PURPOSE. DON'T STOP DON'T STOP DON'T STOP DON'T EVER STOP. His thirst for vengeance was so high that it kept him going. That was probably why he hadn't died yet.

    His eyes were the color of a deep, shimmering blue.

    Finally, he struck something hard. He finally got to what he had been working so hard for. He excitedly flapped out of there, went to grab a leather pouch that lay flopped over a stone, and sprinkled some silver dust onto his finding. The dust seemed to whisper, "Let us free. We'll fulfill your needs. We are magical. Use us." And as soon as the dust disappeared through the armor of scales underneath, a sapphire blue eye opened under the ice. The Kite backed out of the ice hole. And from underneath, a superior voice roared. It broke free of the heavy ice, and from all of the heavy collapsed pieces and shards of ice, an Ice Dragon was revived.

    The Kite bowed down low to him. "Master. I will serve you from here on out." He paused, as if not sure if he should say something else. "And for this eternal service, you will give me revenge!" His voice wavered a bit at the trade.  He probably was going through this way too fast, but he knew his new master - a cut to the chase was just what he preferred instead of long introductions.

    The Ice Dragon chuckled, a mighty sound that sounded like an avalanche tumbling forth. "Now, now, little warrior. You have the right to fear me. Yes, serving the Knightly Birds have cost you no good. Your family was in danger because of them. The Knightly Birds fought, with you alongside them. Oh, Strikimir. What a pity. You scarred your wing in that battle, you never flew again, and what did they do?" This was obviously no question. "They barely cared for you. They just said they tried. What good is it to just try? They must succeed! Succeeding is what we Ice Dragons strive for!" The Ice Dragon was trying to rile up his subject. It was working. 

    "They just left me! They had to work harder! Instead, they turned their back on me and turned to the weak!" Strikimir yelled. He had to do that, to feed his rage, to keep him going. "Sorry, Ice Talons."

    "No, Strikimir. From now on, you address me as King Ice Talons." Ice Talons corrected.

    "King, Ice Talons." Strikimir repeated a bit hesitantly. 

    "Do not bow to honor. Honor is for the weak, Strikimir. Bow to pride. Bow to Power. Pride and Power is the most you can bow to in this dimension...aside from me." King Ice Talons stated. "We will rule out tonight once our army is revived. Come, Strikimir. Come and raise my army of Ice Dragons to kill the Phoenixes once and for all."

    Yes, Strikimir thought, and drive away the memory of stupidity of honor. Say, weren't they up against the phoenixes, and it was the Fire Phoenixes that had driven them out?  Wasn't it the Fire Phoenixes that finally dwindled Ice Talon's strength? Wait...Ice Dragons are weak against Fire Phoenixes! I better tell King Ice Talons that!

    "King Ice Talons, I forgot to tell you about the particular Fire Phoenixes! You are weak against them!" He wished he hadn't said the last part out. Saying weak in front of a superior would be the ultimate mistake when in service.

    King Ice Talons stopped in his tracks, and wheeled around, facing Strikimir, blue eyes meeting blue eyes. "You dare say that? You dare say I am weak?" And surprisingly, he threw back his head, and laughed, shaking icicles above. "And I suspect that you have a solution to that problem, I suppose? Well, why not you tell me HOW TO GET RID OF THEM!" He roared at Strikimir.  

    Strike cowered in fear for a moment, then stood up."Okay, then..." Strikimir hesitated. "First, why not we free the others, shall we?" Ice Talons grumbled, but knew it was for the best. He and Strikimir started to work at the ice.

    Strikimir could make small dents in the ice, but King Ice Talons could gouge deep holes which made the process go faster. And wherever Strikimir sprinkled just a little piece of dust on a frozen Ice Dragon, an Ice Dragon would roar within. Strikimir could feel the raging ice power emanating from them strongly. This was exactly the type of power and soul he wanted.

    Phoenixes, Strikimir began in his head, good thing I'm an ally with the Water-Xs.

    Once that last of the Ice Dragons were freed he, turned towards Strikimir."Now, tell me how." King Ice Talons said, striding towards him purposefully. The other Ice Dragons waited behind him, in a perfect formation. It was as if not another day had gone by of Ice Dragon training.

    Strikimir raised his head to meet the Ice Dragon King in the eyes. "Well, I'm an alliance with Water-Xs." When King Ice Talons gave him a questioning look, Strikimir started talking more. "You know...Water-Xs. Water Phoenixes. The only phoenix capable of destroying Fire Phoenixes, but fuel the ice. You remember...?" Such sufficient power.

    King Ice Talons suddenly laughed out loud. In a true, cold, mirthless laughter. Perfect. "Of course I do now!" He paused. "A world with frost, tundra, ice, and Water-Xs! What a perfect dimension I happen to live in! We will conquer our true enemies just as easily as they...conquered us..." The Ice Dragon King faltered for a moment, then regained his posture by lashing his tail furiously, making deep scratches in the ice behind him.

    The Ice Dragons roared, and charged out of the ice prison. King Ice Talons had Strikimir on his back. And Strikimir yelled at his comrades," Let's defeat the Phoenixes once and for all!"

    This was it. He was finally, after so many years, finally getting his vengeance. Pure vengeance. A vengeance that was un-honorable. Finally. A chance at revenge. Again.