Seven weeks later...
Envy's ears perked forward as heard someone knock on his bedroom, disturbing his peace. It's been a few weeks after the events of discovering the scroll near the Ice Kingdom. Every dragon across Pyrrhia had been getting the news of two dragonets on the verge of finding the Gem of Tyranny, and while most were astonished, others despised of the two and occasionally attempted to kill them. Luckily, with such praise from the community, Envy and Newt has been dubbed as the 'new kings of the continent', however, they never understood their actual goal. Envy and Newt did not want to rule over every dragon in Pyrrhia or take over the entire continent-- they didn't want anyone to rule over the continent at all. Maybe there was a worthy dragon out there, but how could they make sure?
Envy reverently rubbed his talons along the silken mattress before leaping off of the bed, and walking to the door. They were treated like royalty here in Cinderfell, almost as if the city was their own kingdom. The dragons of Cinderfell honored Envy and Newt for their help and their objective, and now, the citizens were even under the protection of the two dragons. There was no need to hide their identity anymore. They were pretty much famous.
"Good evening, Prince Envy. Good evening, Newt," said Conger, Envy and Newt's personal servant. The SeaWing was spruce-blue, matte green eyes with specks of green within the membrane of her darker blue wings. She had pearl earrings and golden bracelets on her ankles, in the summer sunlight it glittered like the sun-kissed ocean lapping the sands. Her lighter blue horns were unusually curling downwards, and more pearls were wrapped around her horns.
"Good evening, Conger," Envy and Newt says simultaneously. Newt lifted his head up from the cool, velvet pillows, opening his small wings to stretch them. Conger gave the two a small smile.
"Caracal has some news for you two," Conger stated. "The SkyWings has just defeated the MudWings in a small battle a few days back and, unfortunately, took their soldiers. Lots of dragons suspect that the SkyWings are now aiming for other bigger tribes, and maybe even us. They've gotten the news of you're accomplishment of finding second scroll, and I reckon that they may be coming after you two."
Newt flicked his spiked tail angrily, a cold mist leaking from his nostrils. "I dare them to come after us," the IceWing hissed.
Envy felt like "daring" the SkyWings too. They have no idea what kind of abilities he and Newt has-- plus, with a flawless army that knows how to fight in multiple dragon styles, Envy and Newt could easily wipe them out. But, Envy thought about his decision for a moment or so. Would threatening the sky dragons increase the probability of them attacking? Envy curled his tail lightly. The chances of the SkyWings attacking was high, and he wished his foresight powers could show him every potential timeline and how to get to a certain outcome. Now that could be very beneficial. The risk of their entire army getting killed wasn't certain, though it was possible, but Envy doubted it. It's not like the SkyWings were dumb enough to send their whole army to battle two dragonets and an average-sized military force.
"Send a dragon to Queen Ruby's palace," Envy finally says to Conger. "Tell her, that if she even attempts to attack me or Newt, no mercy will be shown in the battlefield. They will undergo our wrath and the same fate as the very MudWings they had conquered. Surrendering will not be valid if they choose to battle us."
Conger bowed slightly, lowering her wings. "Yes, Prince Envy," she says. The sea dragon turned, and softly closed the bedroom door on her way out.
Once the door shut completely, Envy's ears swiveled back. "I don't think that was a right choice," he sighed. Newt's tail flicked again.
"Well, we can't just let those donkey-faced creatures walk over us. We gotta, y'know, show them that we're not some rambunctious dragonets that wants gold n' crap. We're looking for the gem for a reason, remember? And sometimes, dragons get in our way, and we have to show em' that we're tougher than we look."
Envy smiled lightly. "...I guess you're right."
"Don't worry," Newt adds with a smile. "If the SkyWings do fight us, oh ho ho-- they'll regret it."
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Envy and Newt sat under a tent, their thrones were carved of a fine oak, crested with several jewels and decorative metals forming an elegant coat of arms. The seats were simply just gifts from talented craftsman who decided that Newt and Envy needed something to show their importance. A rug was laid in the center of the tent, cream in color but inlaid with a fine green silk; leaves embroidered so delicately that they might have landed there in spring and just sunk in, in reality, it possibly took hours, maybe even days to sew. Envy and Newt really did look like royals, too. Envy had a gold-chained necklace around his neck, three moonstone droplets on them. He wore a velvet red cloak that had an ombre of a lighter red, lined with gold. Newt, on the other hand, had a translucent white cloak, supposedly representing snow or cold. It was lined with fluffy, white plush, almost as if it was polar bear fur, and it sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight. They had to look their best while confronting the SkyWing queen.
Queen Ruby walked down the pathway, wings opened, covering many dragons in the shadow of it. Her guards trailed behind her, and Ruby's escorts stayed next to their queen. Queen Ruby looked pretty much the same from the last time Envy and Newt encountered her-- fierce yet beautiful, and red gems around the ridges of her eyes and wings. She towered over most of Envy's soldiers, including her own soldiers. She'd be a beast in the battlefield, Envy fearfully thought.
Ruby ducked her head, entering the tent. Fear and terror traveled through Envy's veins, but never made it to his facial muscles or scales. He had to make Ruby overestimate his skill level, to assume his lack of fear came from mastery instead of a raw nerve.
Ruby cleared her throat. "The SkyWings are powerful, majestic tribe," she begins to say. "With our... fearful reputation, and our strengths.. we were truly meant to be feared."
Ruby blinked slowly. "I will accept your surrender. Hand me the scroll, and I'll be on my way. Otherwise, if you refuse my offer, you'll suffer, just like the MudWings."
Envy'd bit the edge of a smile when a thought popped in his head, a vain attempt to keep his creeping grin at bay, however, Newt was already laughing. The furious glare that Ruby delivered only made Envy feel even more cocky. Envy flicked his tongue, before responding, "I do not understand why you think that you're just going to come to Cinderfell, accost me and Newt, and think that a few words will make us automatically surrender, Your Majesty. Newt and I may have fled from you and your soldiers the first time we met, but things has changed, Queen Ruby."
Newt's giggles finally ceased. "How about we make a deal, Ruby."
Envy could hear a low growl rumbling in the queen's throat. Calling a queen by her name without the title 'queen' was the most disrespectful thing a dragon of a lower rank could ever do. Ruby must've thought highly for herself, and she was peeved by the disrespect.
"Now that the idea of... taking something is now in my mindset, you've given me the thought of this. You will give us all of your gold and the dragons you have captured, dragonets and eggs included. If you resist this offer, Envy and I may as well forcefully take everything we need ourselves."
Ruby shuffled her wings, her expression hardening to anger. "I would take great pleasure in killing you both," she hisses, her tail lashing and knocking over a small table, causing a glass vase to fall and shatter into thousands of pieces. "Maybe even imprisoning the survivors, enslaving your dragons."
Ruby craned her head towards the two dragons, smoke rising from her nostrils. "Perhaps, I can enslave you both myself! Then who'll have the upper hand, hmm?"
Envy's horns were growing into a spiral, his eyes flashing silver as he grinned at the SkyWing. The spikes on Newt's back grew in size, shooting outward, like porcupine. This obviously was not their full form, but they enjoyed taunting Ruby with the potential of their powers.
Ruby stared as if Envy had just produced a rhinoceros from his behind his back. Envy could just imagine the sparks in the queen's brain, desperately trying to connect the dots and instead just causing a short circuit.
"It'd be wise to take our offer, Queen Ruby. Now, get out." Newt got into Ruby's face, baring his teeth.
Muttering curses, Ruby whirled around, stomping out of the tent as her escorts and guards following her.
"Imbecile," Newt says as he flared his wings. "I assume she's known for underestimating dragons."
"She underestimated the MudWings and she managed to capture them."
"The MudWings aren't like us," Newt huffed. "Plus, they have the smallest territory in Pyrrhia. It wasn't much of a surprise that they were defeated by the SkyWings."
"And how much territory do we have?" Envy frowned.
Newt was silent for a few moment, his eyes widening with realization. "Well-- I mean, territory doesn't completely matter, anyway! We have powers, we have an unsullied army, AND we have fans. At least we have a chance against them, right?"
"Don't forget, Newt. We're not battling them just to show who's boss. We're defending ourselves, and saving other dragons."
"I know that."
"The faster we get Ruby out of our way, the faster we can find the gem and stop this madness."
Envy just wished everything was as easy as it sounded.