Ruby's POV

Queen Ruby looked down on the head of her father; Eagle. Victory Strike told her that resurrection only lasts for a day at most, before the individual dies painlessly and all that is left is the piece of organic matter that was used.

Ruby signed, at least she got closure from her long deceased father. Ruby sighed again before leaving her room. She saw Cliff and a bunch of his friends chasing both Crimson and Fluffball, both of who took several toys from the nursery.

"Hello, Mother," Crimson wheezed as she sprinted past only to trip on a toy ball, making Fluffball topple over her. Ruby whined feeling quite worried that Crimson or Fluffball may have hurt themselves. Before she remembered that both Victory Strike and Peregrine both said that they would get into all sorts of troubles when they get the chance.

Then Cliff shouted, "They have fallen!"

And they proceeded to take the toys from the fallen two and jumped on pile, making Ruby silently chuckle.

After helping Fluff and Crimson from their prisoners, Ruby made everyone apologise and took the two to the medical ward, once known as the arena.

Ruby was happy with how it turned out, after the war, there were many injured soldiers, so she had it built to make room for them all. The air had a faint scent of antiseptics and antibiotics. Several dragons walked in and out of tents with various symbols pertaining to different purposes.

There was a small station where a Brain-Hunter was milking venom from several dragons, including itself. Master-Mind had mentioned that Brain-Hunter venom was an incredible numbing agent if used in small doses directly on the skin.

Ruby walked passed and into a familiar tent belonging to her family's personal doctor; Hummingbird. An ancient dragoness with dull carmine-red scales and sparkling red eyes. Hummingbird as far as Ruby knew didn't enter battle but had helped soldiers from the frontlines. Of course, her mother preferred to have her here for herself.

"Good morning, Hummingbird," Ruby greeted the older dragoness.

"Good morning, your majesty," Hummingbird greeted, "What brings you here, today?"

"I was wanting to have a checkup with these two," Ruby explained while taking her wing from over the two dragonets.

"What are their names," Hummingbird asked, eyeing both Fluffball and Crimson.

Ruby took a breath and said, "This is Crimson, you know my daughter, and this is Fluffball a friend of hers. I just wanted to have a checkup because they were piled under a bunch of dragonets. Long story."

Hummingbird's face changed from shock to stunned to holding back a laugh and finally an 'are you serious' expression. Ruby nodded.

"So, you are Crimson," Hummingbird asked Ruby's daughter a bit stunned, "and you have a triple-slasher as a friend?"

"My best friend," Crimson corrected.

"Girlfriend, actually," Fluffball whispered cheekily making Crimson's face turn more red. Ruby knew of course, after all, they weren't subtle in the slightest. She also didn't care, after all, she had been unwillingly absent from her daughter's life for most of her life, so if she likes a girl, she has no reason to argue, plus Peregrine and Victory Strike made it very clear that they ship those two. So, no she was not going to ruin this adorable couple. 

Hummingbird was a little exasperated but nodded, "They should be fine, after all, I seen a Triple-Slasher destroy a slab of rock twice his size with a punch, so I think that Fluffball will be fine as well as Crimson."

"You must mean Stone-wrecker, Miss Hummingbird," Fluffball said, "From what I heard he is a bit of a brute."

"I agree, he thought he could defeat Uncle Victory. He must have been off his medicine," Crimson finished, "Only a fool fights him alone."

"Or Uncle Insanity," Fluffball added.

"Or Uncle Insanity," Crimson edited her comment,

Ruby was intrigued, Victory Strike was respected and feared by the kings and queens of the grim tribes, but Ruby thought that was because he was persuasive, a good actor and intelligent. But, she should have expected that. The way he held an axe just gave off an aura of power, skill and experience. Ruby knew because she had seen how hard it is to wield an axe from her time as a general.

"Seriously, our uncle wouldn't let anyone win," Crimson continued, "However, he does cry himself to sleep every night."

"And drinks himself till he is plastered," Fluffball finished, "Though, he tries to hide it. He really is a good mentor and king, he just has some issues that no one tells us about!"

 "Okay," Hummingbird simply said, she had that look in her eyes that said that she wanted to press Victory Strike on that, "Good to know."

"Say, I heard that there is a sparring arena over near the mine," Fluffball mentioned offhandedly much to Crimson delight and Ruby's dread. Grim spar as a form of settling arguments, feuds or for fun, that was how Thunder-claws put it.

Crimson and Fluffball stared at Ruby with pleading eyes, she knew that they want to go, they will go no matter what and that they will be watched by several dragons. So, Ruby signed.

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For an arena crafted overnight, it was more family friendly, safe and overall more fun, than the Skywing Arena ever was. Several banners that displayed the Sky Kingdom symbol, a Golden Eagle over a blood-red sky and the Grim symbol; Two dragons fighting over a mix of sea-green and Crimson-red backgrounds. The arena resembled a colosseum more than the once arena in the Sky Palace. Most of the seats were taken with several dragons serving snacks for the onlookers. The Arena grounds were a mix of sand and stone.

Ruby sat between Peregrine and Basalt, who Ruby didn't pay much attention to during the first meeting they had. Out of the three weirdest dragons of the primary council, Basalt was the strangest with large shove-like horns, a split lower jaw, a large ruff that is the equivalent to a shield, she was odd. They were sitting on an elevated row of seats.

Fluffball and Crimson sat on the Sparring arena's grounds right in front of Ruby, weapons at the ready. Crimson had a mace, five chakras, two throwing knives and an axe. Fluffball however, had an axe, a crossbow, seven 'grenades' and a pair of daggers. 

Their competitors were a heavily armed scavenger and Basalt's daughter; Granite. The scavenger had a 'hunter's gun' and a scavenger claw. Granite had a club, a poleaxe and a saber.

Vermilion and an Amber- Caster flew above, ready to start. Vermilion had been rather enthusiastic about working as an announcer again, especially since no one dies in these games.

"On one side, we got Niko the Scavenger, infamous for his skill as a hunter and Princess Granite of the Cavern Guard, know in the under-rings for her perseverance and strength," Vermilion announced as the Crowd began to chant either "Crimson and Fluffball!" or "Niko and Granite!".

"Then on the other side, we got the champion duo; Princess Crimson of the Skywings and Princess Fluffball of the Triple-Slasher. Both are revered for their swiftness. Crimson for her Shadow magic and Fluffball for her cunning. Let the spar, Begin," the Amber-Caster bellowed in a honey-sweet tone.

Crimson flung her chakras at both the Cavern Guard and the Scavenger. Fluffball pulled a pin from one of the grenades and flung it between the two. Granite opened her frill and crouched to block the three chakras while Niko hide under his shield, which was attached to his gun. Before the charkas hit, Crimson's eyes glowed a shady-dark blue and she jumped into the ground, now a shadow with red glinting eyes and a mischievous grin. The grenade detonated and covered Granite in a cloud of dust and flung Niko away before he crashed onto the ground with several cuts on his side. The chakras flew back to Fluffball before she flung them at Granite and unsheathed her axe.

 Niko screamed as a Crimson appeared under him as a shadow, she flung him into the air. As he fell, he shot a column of fire from his weapon, which gave Ruby a bit of fright; the smell of burning eggs filled her nose, driving Crimson back. However, when he hit the ground, it was a knockout.

Crimson giggled before setting her sights on Granite, who was now trying to hit an ever-evasive Fluffball. Both their cheeks glowed a earthy brown as columns of earth and stone erupted to either ensnare, crush or block.

"Fluffball really is getting good at Earth magic," Basalt noted.

"And Crimson is getting better at controlling her shadow form," Peregrine added, eyeing the battle like hawk.

"She pretty much master it," Everwyvrn interrupted with Cliff on his back, "Cliff had wanted to see what was happening, Queen Ruby."

Boom.

Granite's club striked thin air as Fluffball stabbed the titan with one of her daggers, now slightly red with blood. Granite howled before turning towards Fluffball and dug her horns into the ground and charged, dragging up stone, pebbles and sand into a large ball as Fluffball evaded this way and that. Granite then launched it, before Fluffball forced it onto the larger dragoness, making her tumble onto her side.

"What was she thinking," Basalt exclaimed outraged.

Crimson took this opportunity to engulf Granite in shadows as Fluffball held her axe over Granite's underbelly.

"I yield," The Cavern Guard bellowed in defeat as Crimson materialised next to Fluffball.

"That's what you get, Granite," Fluffball chirped, brandishing her axe, "when you mess with me."

"That was an excellent spar," Granite admitted before shaking their talons.

"Crimson and Fluffball won," Vermilion announced, "Up next, we have The Forger twices; Coal and Robin VS Crimson and Fluffball."

"Ah, that will be good," Basalt noted, "Coal is a firescale and Robin an expert of Metal and Water Element."

Ruby stared with wide eyes of shock at Basalt.

"I thought-", Ruby started before Peregrine cut in.

"Relax, Ruby. Coal won't be able to touch Crimson because she can turn into a shadow and she is an up and coming fire master, so she is immune to those kinds of heats and Fluffball can encase herself in rock, so they are both fine. Besides, Victory Strike wouldn't let anything happen to them on his watch," Peregrine tried to assure his frightened mate.

"But he isn't here," Ruby interjected as a portal opened and Victory Strike walked out before morphing in front of Ruby's eyes into a dragoness.

"Hello, Everyone! Said what did I miss," The now Queen Victory Strike asked observing the arena began to cheer for Crimson and Fluffball to win the next round.

"H-how," Ruby started again wide eyed at the fact that Victory Strike is now a dragoness.

 "Sometimes I feel like I wanna be a dragoness and sometimes a dragon," Victory Strike waved it off, "Don't worry, darling. It is still me!"

At the moment, Granite reached the group. She had a small knife wound on her flank that had stopped bleeding.

"Crimson and Fluffball fought Granite and Niko," Basalt explained, "They will be fighting The Forger Twins after this."

"Now, that is a rumble," Victory Strike cheerfully exclaimed before saying, "Look, they are here."

As on queue, a pair of skywings landed on the far side of the Arena. The larger one was a molten iron colour with bright purple eyes and metal gloves. The smaller one was pinkish-orange with several axes, chakras and a bow strapped to her.

"Here on the opposing side, we have the firescale Coal of the Skywing and her sister, the master of Metal and Water magic; Robin. Known for their skill in the forgers. How will the current winners deal with these fiery fiends," The Amber-Caster sang.

"Remember what I told you," Basalt scolded Grantine, "Don't do a boulder dash against Earth magic users."

"Yes, mom," Granite sighed, "I got a bit carried away."

Ruby noticed that Hummingbird was eyeing the Grim Queen suspiciously looking for details to pertain to what Crimson said about him. Ruby had nearly forgotten but turned to the Queen.

"My daughter is going to fight -," Ruby started before Victory Strike calmly cutted her off.

"She is too smart to do something as stupid as that, Fluffball can handle Coal. Crimson, however, can handle Robin. They both know it, as I taught them so. I am also a bit concerned after they are particularly family," Victory Strike interjected.

"Are you sure about, or you are drunk," Ruby hissed back a little too hastily, much to everyone else's shock and terror.

"Where did you hear about that," Victory Strike hissed staring right into Ruby's eyes with her Bluish- green ones, a mix of conflict, anger and sadness. Ruby hoped that hers showed no fear.

"My daughter," Ruby stated with unstable finality as the battle below began. She kept her eyes on Victory Strike trying to pin her, while the dragoness began to watch the fighting below with a shaken interest and puzzled eyes.

Ruby noticed that her eyes were welling up with tears. She also noticed that Peregrine was mouthing "Don't even think about it!"

"So, she knew. For how long," Victory Strike asked as a small tear dropped down, insignificant and one that Ruby thought of as a fake, and she signed, "I know why you are doing Ruby. You want me to stay as far away from Crimson. But, she is fine, she actually looks up to me as a role model, so I tried to hide it. Ha, I often drink when I feel overwhelmed or anxious or when I just feel that I am doing so many things wrong."

Ruby noticed that Crimson was in a brawl with Robin, who was using swords, spikes and axes to try to overwhelmed Crimson. While Crimson countered with shadows that popped out of the ground, either blocking or destroying said weapons. Fluffball was mad-handling Coal with punch, swipe and trips.

Coal in a fit of rage, chased after the retreating Triple-Slasher over to meet Crimson who jumped onto her back as Robin quickly stopped the projectiles. Fluffball took that moment to uppercut Robin into the air, before she crashed down. 

Crimson used her momentum to slam Coal's head into the ground before moving away for Fluffball to toss several seeds on the ground, before her eyes glowed green and the seeds germinated into dragonflame cactuses.

"See, you don't give her enough credit," Victory Strike chuckled before looking at Ruby sternly as an explosion of cactus seeds and fire erupted in the arena, "They are fine."

Ruby stared in fear and anxiety, she felt hollow and she was going to kill that stuckup dragoness, at the smoke as a dome of stone opened to reveal Robin, Crimson and Fluffball. Coal was flung to the side like a ragdoll coated with several already burning cactus seeds.

"We have our winners folks, Fluffball and Crimson Strikes Again," Vermilion announced, "And with a very fiery finishing move!"

Ruby turned back to see Victory Strike grinning, "Told ya, I trained them myself. H.... Ruby don't worry, I do care for them, but I also know that they can handle it, so I let them."

"Correct, see Ruby, I told you that it was fine," Peregrine said with a forced smile trying to save Ruby from Victory Strike.

"For your information, Ruby. I do have feelings. I laugh when I try to lighten the mood, try to relax or when humoured. I cry when sad. I get angry when I or anyone else is wronged, when I feel pissed with a bad day and when someone threatens my family and I will kill anyone who does threaten my family or proves a problem to my kingdom and rule," Victory Strike hissed, grinning with a very toothy grin, his eyes glistening blue.

Ruby instinctively back down which made Victory Strike scowl in annoyance.

"You insult me and when I strike back, you turn tails like a coward," Victory Strike snarled with fury, "You are lucky that you have all that you have. Otherwise, I might only remember as a flash, a corpse burned into my mind to make me hate myself even more."

Victory Strike's demeanor instantaneously changed as soon as Crimson and Fluffball landed on the platform to one of warmth and friendliness.

"Crimson! Fluffball ! I saw the whole spar between you and The Forger Twins, excellent job! I couldn't be any more prouder," Victory Strike complimented with a honey-rich voice, "So, how was it so far in the Sky Kingdom? Crimson, I hope you have gotten to learn a lot of the kingdom you will be ruling later."

"Thanks, Uncle," Fluffball chirped, causally sharpening her already very sharp axe with a whetstone.

"So far so good, I got to see the daycare, the hatchery, the medical ward, my room. This sparring arena and the kitchen," Crimson said before sipping water from a flask Victory Strike passed to her, "Did you see how I wrecked Coal with that slam down?"

"Yes, I saw everything. I have to admit that Insanity and Alexander are doing an excellent job teaching you," Victory Strike noted, "You and Fluffball kicked them in the bum! This calls for a celebration!"

Ruby stared wide-eyed at the trio, she was very shaken with how fast Victory Strike went from Osprey to Scarlet, she was also pissed that she had threatened her. And she was worried because no one tried to stop it and how much Crimson looked up to her.

The Triple-Slasher Queen looked up at Ruby with a murderous glint in her eyes before nodding to Crimson.

Ruby knew that if Crimson didn't like her, Ruby was as dead to the Triple-Slasher. She mentally noted that for the future.

It was going to be difficult to get on Victory Strike's good side from then on. Ruby signed, I shouldn't have said that.

I should not have said that.