Winter's POV

Winter didn't expect to visit Jade Academy today, nor did he expect to find out that his grandfather, Penguin, was just a mask of the king of the mysterious and odd dragons that he saw, nor did he expect to see him in person, nor see him make Darkstalker whimper nor expect to find out that Peacemaker was Darkstalker. Nor did he expect to see his friends today, especially Qibli.

But, you never know what can happen. 

Winter sat next to his friends, Peril, Tamarin, Anemone and Inkheart. Next to Qibli, of course, that sandwing would never miss a chance to sit next to him. Winter looked down on his plate of roasted meat, his grandfather had made. Winter still had his suspicions on his 'Grandfather' but he kept them to himself.

His grandfather, King Victory Strike, was busy preparing some meals for some of the students alongside two other 'Grim' dragons, a Cavern tunneler and a Thunderhorn. His grandfather was using water to move and cook the food while he prepared salads and desserts with his talons. The Cavern tunneler was using his sapphire blue fire to cook the food while the Thunderhorn reheated pastry.

"It sure is a show," Inkheart, aka Winter's adopted uncle, said with a smile on his face saw he ate his salmon.

"Agree," Dead-eye, the Quickstrike, responded, "Then again, the king loves cooking up storms sometimes, both metaphorically and literally."

Qibli watched the four dragons with his pining stare as Grandfather stared back with emotionless eyes at Qibli, making Winter want to shield his friend from those eyes that changed from a maniac to a protective grandfather to a royal king and then to a bored psychopath like a river changes.

 Grandfather finished the last meal he made today, Kinkajou's salad and brought it over before sitting down and taking jars sealed bowls from his bag of what Winter saw as infinite holding. He proceeded to eat and drink in quick succession before watching us eat.

"G-grandfather, how did you meet umm you know, Grandmother," Winter tried to sound formal, he never seen his grandmother, Ex-queen Borealis, before his Father said that she had died before Hailstorm had hatched.

 "You mean Borealis," Grandfather said softly looking at Winter with sad, but hopeful eyes, "You have her eyes, her pettit nose and scales and her taste in other tribes from what I heard."

Winter felt himself blushing as he anxiously eyed both Qibli and Moon. They both seemed to have realised what Grandfather was talking about and blushed deep red.

Grandfather laughed before continuing, "Your grandmother was fascinated with Sandwings, infact, when she found out about my masks, she asked me to make her one, a Sandwing. Ha, she always asked me to use my sandwing mask when we went out of the Ice Kingdom and when we slept together. Then, she met a sandwing and I felt so jealous because I was afraid that she would up and abandon me for her! However, that relationship went nowhere!"

Winter felt slightly calmer, he didn't know about his crush on Moon. Does he think that I like Qibli? I did like him, as a friend though.

"Victory Strike, the poor dragonet is asking one question. Don't go into stories," the Thunderhorn yawned as she sat down close to the group. Turtle seemed to be waiting to ask a question.

"Okay, so what happened was that one night, I decided to go to the Ice Kingdom to see the Northern Skies when I heard someone sobbing, only to find Borealis curled up on the snow-packed ground, bawling her eyes out. So, I went to investigate," Grandfather began, "I had to calm her down, before she started sobbing on my chest. After she had finally cooled down, we talked. I found out that her sister, Antarctic, was killed by her mother,Snow, during a fight for the crown. She had planned to escape with her younger sister, Bowhead, but she didn't want to leave. Then, I needed to comfort and convinced her to return. I then showed her my masks and we started to have a nice chat, before a bunch of guards came, looking for Borealis. They 'thought' I kidnapped her, so they dragged me to the palace where I met Queen Snow. She falsely accused me of taking Borealis because she was so full of herself that she couldn't understand why Borealis would run away from her psychotic mother, so I cursed her and she shut up. I have to admit the fear in her eyes was satisfying as I cursed her to have a terrible remainder of her life, where she would be mocked and ridiculed, and be unable to have another heir."

Winter stared at his grandfather in amazement and terror. He still didn't believe what he heard. His grandfather made his mother-in-law the most unregal queen in the history of the tribe. He was always hearing from his father, when he taught Icicle on being queen to never be another Snow.

Turtle seemed to have dropped the question he had and Qibli was looking for signs of lies or confirmation with the older dragons in the small huddle.

" Borealis also vouched for my innocence as well and after that night, we became good friends and then lovers," Grandfather reminisced, "We then had Narwhal and Glacier before we planned for our wedding. But, tragedy struck on that fateful night."

"Darkstalker's dagger," Winter hissed knowing the story from this point onwards.

"You are a sharp fellow," Grandfather complimented, "But, yes, she d-d-died that night. Bowhead became Queen and your father and aunt were hatched and what adorable little hybrids they were."

"Wait, what," Winter gasped surprised.

"Why didn't you just use your mask," Qibli asked.

"Simple, me and Borealis want to have hybrid dragonets to symbolise our alliance," Grandfather explained, "However, Bowhead convinced me to make Icewings that we didn't trust to see them as Icewings, till the two dragonets decided to be completely Icewing, so I did that. However, you, Snowfall, Hailstorm and umm Icicle have a trait that I choose to give you all!"

Winter felt a bit shocked, but he could understand why his father chose to be a pure icewing, he cared more for his image than his own family, that was clear. Still, his aunt wasn't a dragon like that. Then again, Winter remembered the last time his Grandfather came to the Ice Palace.

———————————————————————————

-Three Years Earlier-

Winter stood in a line with his brother, sister and cousin, Hailstorm, Icicle and Snowfall, his parents and Queen Glacier standing behind.

Winter felt a bit shocked, but he could understand why his father chose to be a pure icewing, he cared more for his image than his own family, that was clear. Still, his aunt wasn't a dragon like that. Then again, Winter remembered the last time his Grandfather came to the Ice Palace.

———————————————————————————

-Three Years Earlier-

Winter stood in a line with his brother, sister and cousin, Hailstorm, Icicle and Snowfall, his parents and Queen Glacier standing behind.

"Are you ready to see Grandfather," Hailstorm jokingly teased Winter, "He personally trained me to be well, me!"

"I know," Winter replied, after the messenger stated that their Grandfather was coming today, Hailstorm went on rants about his three adventures with their Grandfather. Snow suddenly began to fall in thick sheets out of the blue as Winter heard a thunderstorm brewing with loud, sudden booms and crackles.

The front door of the palace burst apart at the hinges and flew aside, frightening away any guard that were close by. An elderly Icewing around 70 years ago walked in through the destruction with ice crystals leaking out of his mouth. He wore a large toothy grin, a horn band of pure silver encrusted with emeralds, two arm bands of brass-gold with opals that glinted like small fires on his arms. His eyes were a bluish-green, more fitting of a seawing. His scales were slightly dulled by age, but still shone a brilliant icy blue, ocean blue and light, faint pink on his back, a very odd Icewing color. One of his horns were broken, snapped off in the middle. Several sapphires and topazes were embedded in his scales around his eyes, wings, nostrils, tail and talons. Light pink and ocean blue spikes coated his neck and back. Long and wicked spikes lined his tails.

 He looked more like a work of art than an Icewing, which Winter scoffed at mentally. How was Hailstorm so close with an unsophisticated dragon, how was his family related to this dragon. And how did he seduce Winter's grandmother.

He towered over Winter's parents and Queen Glacier. Hailstorm was smiling warmly.

"Grandfather," Hailstorm chuckled as he walked over to the older icewing. In the blink of an eye, the ominous dragons turned into a very un-icewing, informal and friendly dragon.

"Hailstorm, my boi! How have you been? Still at the top I see,"Grandfather exclaimed before hugging Hailstorm very fiercely and then moving on to Winter, "Hailstorm talked a lot about you." 

Winter bowed appropriately to his grandfather, only for him to get Winter up again.

"No need to bow, little one. I am a simple outcast, no rank here," Grandfather hastily stated before moving onto Snowfall.

"Snowfall, I heard from my daughter that you are quite the dragonet, second placed in the ranks. Excellent job, second is still better than third afterall and Hailstorm is one of the best dragons," Grandfather complimented, making Snowfall a tad frustrated. That topic was always a bit of a sore spot for her.

Grandfather proceeded to ignore Icicle must to his parents' annoyance. He stood in front of Glacier with a face that Winter couldn't intercept except maybe betrayal.

"I have the army you so desperately wanted, daughter," Grandfather said coldly, almost snarling at Queen Glacier, "You useless, lout! How did your campaign against the mudwings go?"

"Poorly," Narwhal spat, "Like you said, a failure. Are you happy now!?"

"Yes," Grandfather hissed, "Like I said, don't go into unnecessary wars over crowns that aren't yours! But then again, Glacier, you do have a thing for sand-"

"Enough, Penguin," Queen Glacier hissed, "Is the army ready for storming Burn's stronghold, we need her dead."

"This army is not for marching against any armies, but I can kill Burn," Grandfather calmly stated.

"Then, what is its use for it, cause if it is for decimating armies, we will need it inorder to wipe out Blister's forces after this," Glacier countered.

"I can kill her if you want, no need for a bloodbath as long as Blaze is not the Queen of the Sandwings. We don't need another war after this," Grandfather scolded.

"Then, what use is the army for," Narwhal retorted.

"You both asked for it," Grandfather snapped back, "I told you that I could have them both killed at any time. As long as you give the respect that I deserve!"

"As your queen, I command you to do it," Glacier snarled, "Or it will be the dungeons with you."

"I am your father," Grandfather exploded, making Hailstorm wrap his wing around Winter with a scared expression on his face. The unsheathing of spears filled the air as the guards prepared to subdue any troublemakers.

"I am your queen," Queen Glacier hissed dangerously, "so, you better cooperate or there will be trouble for you,Penguin!"

"Borealis is my queen, not you," Grandfather snarled treasonously as the guards sprang.

Grandfather whipped up a cloud of snow , blinding several guards, slashing at anyone who got too close with his whip-like tail before launching himself into the air and flying away with an army of dragons on his tail. Winter watched as a lightning bolt struck the guards out of the blue, making most of them fall onto the snow and the palace walls.

Winter watched as his Grandfather made his escape into the thunderstorm with his father's and aunt's shocked expression and his brother's frightful eyes scanning the now storm-ridden skies.

———————————-

"Lighting," Grandfather exclaimed before one of his tails became crackling with electricity. The barbed tail curled in and brushed against Winter causing a jolt to shake him.

"What was that about," Qibli exploded before Winter raised his right talons, it was coated with crackling and sparking blue electricity.

"Told ya," Grandfather happily cheered.

"Cool," Kinkajou butted in, "So, is this bio-electricity? I have seen fish that do this."

"Knifefish," the Thunderhorn said.

"Yeah, also Anemone, I need you to do a small spell for me," Grandfather asked Anemone, who wasn't staring longingly at Tamarin, "Because it works against my limitations and if I do it I might die."

"Sure. What do you need, Master," Anemone asked before Grandfather gave her a note and a small arrow, Anemone looked at it before looking up at Grandfather and nodded, "Enchant this arrow to kill Queen Wasp of the Hivewing, only stop when she is dead."

The arrow whizzed away as Qibli and Moon stared at Grandfather with morbid shock.

"What, she is a tyrannical dictator who mind controls her subjects," Grandfather defended himself, "Plus, Pantala is almost safe enough to leave alone!"

"What do you mean," Moon asked.

"I did have my dragons save the Hivewings, Leafwings and Silkwings," Grandfather boasted, "Say Anemone, Tamarin, when are you two getting married."

Both dragonets blushed deeply, Anemone looked away, embarrassed. Tamarin also looked away as well. However, that went over Winter's head as he stared at his talon in awe, horror and surprise. Winter also noticed that his Grandfather expertly dodged the question with a very embarrassing one to Anemone and Tamarin.

"Don't worry, I will protect you too lovebirds if your mother has her grievances, Anemone, "Grandfather winked before turning to Winter, "All descendants that are 4 or less generations apart from a Thunderhorn of Triple-Slasher will have this one ability guaranteed . It just takes a spark to set off the electrodes."

Qibli nodded observantly as he captured all this information in hopes to get understand these dragons. Winter scratched his talon against the stone causing cracking as electricity spark and surged over the rocks before dying out.

Grandfather looked over on his right foreleg and signed, "I have to see to other matters, but I will be back after classes end, meet me where Anemone has her swimming sessions, it is an excellent place to learn about water element and what I did at The Rainforest was by using water elemental."

Winter gasped he had seen have his Grandfather single-talonedly incapacitated the nigthwing village and controlled Darkstalker liked a puppet for a few seconds.

With that Grandfather opened a 'portal' and jumped through. Winter watched as he left and the Thunderhorn announced, "Break is over."

The gong sounded at that moment.