(Before Jade mountain, after war)
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It was early in the morning, and I was flying over the kingdom. I was a proud warrior, one of the strongest, most ferocious dragons in the sky kingdom. I served Queen Scarlet and only Queen Scarlet, the greatest Queen in history. Well, in my eyes.

I watched the sun rise, thankful for the luck I had.

"General Kestrel!" I heard Inferno call.

I turned to see one of my soldiers fly towards me.

"What do you want now?" I rolled my eyes, he'd been nagging me all of yesterday with unimportant reports like "the wind is dyeing down" and "Spark just caught a eagle" and so on.

"Queen Scarlet is requesting an audience," he reported.

"Finally something important." I sighed.

He smiled at me, showing that he thought of me more than just his General or friend. But sadly for him, I wasn't interested, so I just nodded.

We flew together towards the palace, a structure of beauty and grace.

"Soooo....." Inferno twirled his spear in his talons, " I was wonderi..."

"General Kestrel!" Tailwind bellowed, "the Queen has sent me to get you."

"I herd," was the Queen so impatient that she sent another to tell me?

The startled expression on his face made me tilt my head.

"But, I was the only one she told to get you," He looked from me to Inferno.

I raised my eye brow at Inferno, the first smile today spread across my face. He returned the smile awkwardly.

As he left, I followed Tailwind, another one of my soldiers, down to an entrance of the mountain side palace. Golden veins were carved into the stone on the floor and walls, making outlines of talon prints, fire and clouds. We continued down the endless hallways that were decorated with treasure, until we turned and entered the throne room. The throne room was even more beautiful, lined with even more gold such as the throne. The throne had a magnificent orange/red beauty of a dragon on top, who was encrusted with glittering rubies and adorned with gold jewelry- that was Queen Scarlet.

"Splendid, you're here," The Queen majestically waved her talons.

I bowed, spreading my wings and crossing my talons, "yes your majesty?"

"I've got thrilling news!" She smiled.

Spare me, any 'thrilling' news of hers is practically a death wish. I stood up right.

"Since you are my best general," she went on, "I thought a dragonet of yours would have same strength in its blood."

"Sorry?" I was confused, "I don't have a dragonet."

"Of course you don't," she narrowed her eyes, but her face grew back into a smile when she said, "that's why I'm putting you through the breeding program, isn't that just thrilling?"

It felt as if all the air was sucked out of my lungs, as if the wind beneath my wings was gone. The breeding program? I didn't want dragonets!

"But..." I started to complain, but I was cut off.

"No need to thank me," she waved her talons to shoe me.

I turned and ran, tears rolling from my eyes. My dream was to be a warrior, not a mother. I didn't think I was ready, to leave behind being general and take care of a infant. On the way out of the palace, I collided with Inferno, tears still poring out.

"Kestrel " he held my talons, forgetting to use my official name. "What's wrong?"

I pulled away from Inferno, getting a hurt look from him. He wouldn't understand.

I went around him and charged out onto a balcony. Taking to the sky, I beat my wings as hard as I could, getting as far away from the palace as I could.

"Wait!" He called, "Talk to me!"

When he said that I fell, stopping my wings and letting myself plummet. I was seriously considering letting myself hit the ground, I closed my eyes and waited for the pain. I thought how I would of gladly led the Skywings into battle, how she would of gladly fought for my Queen. But now, my life was ruined. I would have to pull back from general and standby while my dragons were killed, to watch a weak youngling grow.

Suddenly, I was grabbed by three dragons that lowered me to the ground.

"Get your hands off of me!" I fought back, "don't you know who I am?"

"Yesssssss... General Kesssstrel," a hiss came from the Icewing.

I was startled to see that a Mudwing, Icewing and Seawing were on our territory. They were not fighting, and they rescued me?

I arched my back and brewed hot flames in my chest, making a sizzling noise.

"Whoa," The Mudwing held her hand up, "if we wanted you dead, we wouldn't of caught you."

I let my back fall, but just in case, I kept my flames ready.

"What would make you do such a thing?" The Seawing looked me up and down, "you don't look hurt, and your a high ranking general."

I stared at him blankly, letting a growl come out. "It's personal."

"Well Kestrel," the cherrie brown dragon smiled, "I'm Asha, that's Webs, and the creepy hostile Icewing is Hvutir. We're from the talons of peace."

The comment on Hvutir made him hiss. But she was right, he was a little hostile.

When I herd the phrase 'Talons of peace' I arched my back again. "What do you want?" I growled, "here to try to make me steal the egg are you? Well your out of luck, I'm not willing to and the brightest night is in three years from today."

The statement I made seemed to be funny to them. Their all delusional Nightwings.

"No, we weren't looking for an egg," The Icewing was the only one to keep his cool, no pun intended, "and why would we expect a general, ssssso high in ranking, to join usssss? You just ended up to fall into our armsssss."

I raised my eye brows, did the strange Icewing just try to make a joke? I snorted out a plume of smoke, anger growing inside me. I was still overwhelmed from the fact that I was being put into the breeding program.

"Kestrel!" Inferno landed beside me, "there's two enemy's on our territory, and a spy!"

Now smoke curled around my horns.

"That's General Kestral to you," I snapped flames licking my teeth, the smoke thickening, "do you think I'm stupid? All DAY and all NIGHT you've been constantly reporting, OBVIOUS reports, THAT A NEWBORN DRAGONET COULD PONT OUT!"

The smoke around me filled the air. Now black as coal and thick as ash, choking the entertained trespassers.

He shrank back, looking like a terrified dragonet that was shivering. Yes, that is the reaction I get from anyone who angers me. But something seem innocent in those eyes of his, something that made me want to strangle him.

"S-s-s-s sorry," he was shivering, and was that a tear? Small as small could be, a tiny tear was sitting on his eye. Then he surprised me, he stood up straight and looked me in the eye, a little bit of courage sat in the pool of Amber cowardliness and sadness. "You know what, I've been trying to make you happy for my whole time being a soldier. I've had love in my heart for you as long as I can remember. That's why I constantly come on back to you, hoping you'll share my feelings. But you can't see any of that, you can only see the disrespectful fool I am. I'm a fool, because I actually loved you. Now order me around, tell me what to do with them!"

The pain that stung my heart when he told me, it was nothing like I ever felt before. Was it love? Surly a beast like me wouldn't have weak feeling like that in my heart.

"Leave them alone," I grumbled as I looked at their interested-shocked, yet pleading faces.

"What?" Inferno looked even more shocked than me.

"You heard me," not lifting my harsh tone, "let them go."

And with that, I stormed away. Taking to the sky while leaving a trail, of what seemed to be volcanic ash, behind me.

"Kestrel," Flicker, another one of my soldiers, but also my sister, sounded worried. She held her talons out.

As much as I wanted to collapse into my sister's arms, I was not in the mood. So I continued to fly quickly into the castle. I soared down the hallway, making various turns, until I entered a small room with a deep river in the entrance. After closing the door, I crawled into my bed and started to bawl.

So much things were changing; I had to have an egg with a total stranger, Inferno hated me, and I let trespassers GO? What was sharpening to me? My life fell apart in one day.

An hour went by before the door creaked open, I didn't look up but hiccuped. "Don't you know how to knock? And anyways, I'm not in the mood. SO GET OUT!!! Unless you're the Queen.

"I am the Queen," Queen Scarlet hissed at my sudden hostility

"Sorry," I said blankly, was I really sorry? She'd ruined my life.

"Anyways, ignoring your rudeness," She went on, "Come, the sun is going down, time for the program, save this emotional nonsense for later, no need to say thank you!"

She grabbed my for arm and pulled me up, sweeping me out the door.

We passed a few other guards and some servants. Passing the Queen's archway, I caught a glimpse of the arena, and three dragons flying away. One greenish blue, one brown, and the other was hard to see, he was the same colour as the sky- the trespassers, the ones I should've killed.

The Queen finally let go of my arm, but I still pursued her not knowing why. I couldn't run away, I still wouldn't get to be General. And where would I go- the talons of peace? No, I would never join them, what a disgrace I would be.

I once again, I ran into, literally ran into, the one dragon I did not want to talk to- Inferno. Once We recovered, I was going to scowl and leave, but I had a change of heart.

"I'm so sorry Inferno," I held his talons in mine, "just listen to me."

He looked a little interest, but in disgust as well.

"Look, I relies now that you love me, that I shouldn't push you away. I thought that I was tough, and didn't need love, but now I know that everyone needs love, even if there beastly like me. And I love you, your the first dragon who pulled me out of my monstrous self and saw the dragon behind the scales, not the scales themselves." I let my feelings poor out, "there's a lot going on in my life, like how Queen Scarlet is forcing me into the breeding program, like right now, but I shouldn't let that be a reason to be mean to you. You don't deserve it. If you still hate me, I understand, and I don't hate you back. That's all I want to say."

He looked at me for a moment, a nervous hope lit like fire inside my chest. The tension broke as he pulled me in, wrapping his wings around me. My heart tingled inside of me for the first time ever.

"I don't hate you, I never did, I was just mad. I love you and I always will." He squeezed me with his wings, then pulled back, "and WHAT? You are going into the BREEDING PROGRAM? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Um..." I looked down, "I only found out today, and I wasn't really in the mood."

"Well... don't do it," he looked at me, "I mean... with a random dragon. Why not have an egg with me? That way, we can take turns watching the egg or dragonet together."

My heart pounded, how was I supposed to answer that? 'Yes!' My mind screamed at me.

"I-i-i... don't know what to say," I stammered, "what I mean is, ye..."

"KESTREL!" Queen Scarlet boomed, "WHY ARN'T YOU FOLLOWING ME?"

She impatiently stomped back and waited for an answer.

"Can I not go in the breeding program?" I asked, wincing at her furious expression, "I mean, I want to have an egg with Inferno instead.

"Oh, why didn't you say that before," her mood lightened, the. She yelled at the nearest servant who was cleaning the floors. "Tell the male better luck next time!"

The young female nodded and scurried off down the corridor.

"Okey," She grabbed us and pushed us into the nearest room, "work your magic!"

***

I wrapped my tail around my huge egg, it's been a year since I laid it. Both Inferno and I were watching it, twins, about to hatch soon.

I laughed at how big the egg was, if it hatched two years earlier, my egg would fit the prophesy.

My mate looked at me because of my sudden noise, "what?"

"Nothing," I smiled, turning my glowing egg, "Inferno? Is it supposed to do this?"

But this glow was not the natural glow. We looked closer, inside I could see two dragon bodies. But the first one twitched. Then something unbelievable happened, a fire-like
glow came out of the second one' nose. Twisting and spiralling, it entered the first one's.

*CRACK!* the egg shattered, one dragonet flying one way, the other the other way.

I picked up the second one. A male with cold, dull scales and white eyes. A weak and frail thing, but something in my heart made me love him.

"Whirlwind," I muttered, it sounded right, "don't you agree?"

Inferno nodded.

"Awrk?" I looked up at me with moony eyes.

I went for the other one. She had bright flaming orange scales that looked like they were smoking, with bright blue eyes. An odd one, but strong and healthy, she would be a great warrior someday.

But when my hands went near hers, pain seared my hands. Fire scales?

"A dragon born with too much fire," my mate starred in wonder, "she sucked all the fire out of her brother!"

She looked up to me with innocent eyes, "Perilous." I muttered, "Peril! That's her name, Peril."

I repeated the beautiful name in my head, my dearest daughter would someday conquer many lands, raining mighty peril onto it.

"But..." Inferno sounded scared, "your supposed to kill dragons with too much or too less fire."

"WHAT?" I screamed so that every dragon in Phyrria heard it.

Then Queen Scarlet popped in. "is something wrong with the Dragonets?" She looked down her snout to the little beasts, "ooooh, this ones adorable! The other... not so much, I see why you screamed."

She went to touch Peril, then quickly pulled back. "A dragon with too much fire and one with too little? Now I see why you screamed. They must be executed."

"No please!" I grabbed her arm pleading, "their my babies! Don't kill them!"

She pulled her arm away from me pondering for a moment.

"Fine," she smiled a queenly smile, "I'll give you mercy."

"Thank you!" Me and my mate gratefully bowed.

Then she stopped for a moment, and reconsidered.

"On one condition," we froze, faces frowning, "kill one, and I'll let the other live."

And then she tuned and added on her way out, "we kill by the diamond spray river, you have an hour to decide." Then she left.

"No," I had finally found love in my heart, and I had to let some of it go. A tear ran down my eye.

"Mommy," Peril called. She walked forward, trying to cuddle close but I jumped back. My heart sank, would I have to kill this one for being untouchable? No, she's strong, the other one is weak and pathetic. I had made my choice.

We both went to speak, but I said Whirlwind and he said Peril.

"What, no!" I whacked my tail across his nose.

"She's dangerous," Inferno pointed out, "she'll never fit in."

"You can't judge her for what she was born with!" I growled. "Besides, Whirlwind is pitiful and weak, he'll never fit in! Plus he's so cold, he's in pain."

Just as I said that, Whirlwind shivered too hard and fell onto his face. I looked over to Inferno with a look that said 'you get my point?'

"But you just said that I can't Judge Peril by what she was born with you hypocrite!" He complained, when I furiously starred at him he added with a sigh, "but he is in pain. We should end his misery."

We looked down at the two playing separately. My heart broke, what else could we do? Then a idea struck my mind.

"The Talons of Peace," I told him, "let's run away to them, they can protect us!"

"How?" He said, "we don't know where they are, and how will we bring Peril."

"I don't know?" I smiled at him, "and we could always put her in a stone bowl!"

We grinned at each other, from horn to horn. I picked up a large bowl and coaxed Peril into it.

"Let's go!" I told him, he nodded and picked up Whirlwind.

We flew down the hallways until we broke into open sky, I saw the commotion over at the arena.

"Queen Scarlet must be watching a battle," Inferno pointed out.

"Perfect way to distract her," I looked over.

We continued to soar through the mountains, until we stopped to take a break near a stream.

"We made it," I watched My two dragonets brush sides while drinking, they could touch since Whirlwind was to cold to care, "we don't have to kill either of them!"

I was almost exited until a angry orange dragon stepped out of the bushes, followed by Tailwind, Flicker and Spiral.

"Actually, no." She growled, "Kestrel, I don't understand. I thought I was merciful enough."

I starred down at my talons, guilt burning like fire in my chest.

"So what's your choice," she inquired, "Peril, or that weak one."

"You mean Whirlwind," I corrected her, "and I will kill him myself."

Inferno looked at me, the pain in his eyes was a reflection of mine. He made Peril get back in the bowl and surrounded her with his wings.

I picked up my precious gem and started to cry, "I'm so sorry!"

Whirlwind looked up at me, so innocent, so pure, so worthy of a good life. My heart broke there, I wished that I'd just had normal twins.

"Awrk?" He was shivering, "Mommy?"

Tears started pouring down my eyes. I looked over to see Queen Scarlet looking impatient, my sister Flicker crying and Spiral and Tailwind looking worried.

I was shaking now, harder than Whirlwind ever hadt then I repeated, "Sorry."

"Mommy," He rubbed against me.

"I love you," I sobbed, and with that, I shoved him into the river and snapped his head.

I fell tithe ground, my baby, by boy. Watching the body continue down stream, I got up.

"I killed him," I toughened my voice.

Inferno and I turned and took to the sky, we'd both seen something that hurt us that day. Wether the Queen liked it or not, we were going to the talons of peace.

"Actually, I changed my mind," She growled, "you ran away, Kestrel, you disobeyed me when I gave you a gift. Kill the other one, or I kill you."

We hovered in place for a moment, not knowing what to say. I was not about to loose more of my heart. I looked ver to Inferno and he looked at me. I made the signal to flee, he nodded.

We both turned and flew away at top speed, but they were right on our tails. We were high above the mountains when I twisted and set Spiral on fire, I hit Tailwind over his head which sent him spiralling to the ground. Suddenly, Queen Scarlet pulled back, flicking her tail at Inferno. Flicker dove for him and held him in the air. He was not able to get free.

"Flicker, please!" I begged my only other kin than Peril or Inferno, "let them go."

She looked from me to the Queen with a confused expression, then her eyes narrowed at me, "Kestrel, your a traitor!"

She took his head and made a violent twisting motion.

*SNAP* Inferno's neck broke.

With his last breath, Inferno mumbled. "I love you Kestrel, I always have. Save yourself, and Peril." The bowl slipped from his hands as Flicker let him go.

"NO!" I cried, watching him plummet, "FLICKER, I am disgraced to be your sister. You killed my love, prepare to DIE,"

I flung myself at her, teeth barred and claws up. I held her tight like she did to my Inferno.

"Now, feel the pain he did!" I grabbed her head.

"Kestrel, Please!" She whimpered, "let me go."

I looked down to the falling body, it was only half way to the ground.

"Funny, didn't I ask you that? I did, did you let him go? No. So you will die just like he did," I snapped her neck, "Goodbye sister."

I dove, letting my victim's body go. I reached out to grab Peril. I felt the heat as my scales touched hers, too much fire.
I screamed in agony, but held on and kept flying. The pain was to excruciating, I let go to my baby, my own blood.

"Mommy help!" She screamed as she plummeted not to far down before Queen Scarlet scooped her up in the rock bowl.

"Sorry," I whispered as I turned my back and began to fly.

I only looked back once, to see Queen Scarlet flying back to the castle with my only family.

I had lost everything that day, I was to never love another soul again. I was not a proud warrior, but still one of the strongest, the most ferocious warriors ever to set foot in the sky kingdom. I serve no one, not even Queen Scarlet, She was the most treacherous Queen in history. Well, in my eyes.