Legends: Gladiator, Part 1, Chapter 2

Hey! Chapter two has finished and I'm exceeding my NaNo goal! (My NaNo goal was 1,200 words per chapter) I have 3,893 words 22,675 characters so far. Technically, the prologue does not count as a chapter, but I'm counting it in. So, basically, we'll just say it's Chapter 0.5. :D Anyways, hope you like it! And I'm always counting on suggestions!

Unfortunately, Scarlet never got to devastate the SandWings with fiery rage because the dust-snorting scoundrels quickly left after stealing the both of the gold dragons from Citrine.Even more unfortunately, Queen Citrine didn’t even seem to notice, so Scarlet decided that she would try to subtly note that the gold dragons were gone.

“Ah mother, I really love all of the gold statues in here. Sooooooo beautiful,” said Scarlet in a very cheerful and light-headed voice that she herself thought that she sounded like the overly cheery SandWing.

“Of course, of course,” replied Citrine, smiling, “I always loved them.”

“Yes, I like them very much, too. They’re so . . . dragonlike,” said Scarlet, meaningfully, but Citrine didn’t notice.

“Yes, the IceWing statue is absolutely fabulous! The quartz in there is dazzling!” said Citrine dreamily.

“Yes,” said Scarlet, barely hissing, “But IceWings are not as beautiful as SkyWings.”

“Of course, the IceWing horns are so splendid,” said Citrine ruefully, “If only I could have glittery horns like that.”

Almost growling in frustration, Scarlet slowly said, “But of course a SkyWing statue would be so beautiful. Wait, we already have one!” She turned around with dramatic confusion, and gasped in surprise, “Mother! The SkyWing statues are gone!”

Citrine screamed loudly, yelped with so much force that she leaped off the throne, and flopped over to where the SkyWing statues used to be.

“G-gone,” she choked out, “M-my beautiful statues . . . gone.”

Citrine began letting out choked sobs every once in a while, and even Scarlet felt bad for tormenting her mother like this, and so she decided what she needed to do.

“Mother,” said Scarlet in a formal tone.

“P-please. Leave me,” said Citrine, turning away.

“I would like to go try and find the statues,” said Scarlet forcefully.

“You. . . what?” said Citrine, turning back with a new light in her eyes, “You would really do that . . . for . . . me?”

“Well, it’s for me too. I mean, I really liked those statues,” shrugged Scarlet, embarrased.

The queen suddenly leaped up violently and screamed joyfully, “Of COURSE! You can lead the expedition! Who do you want to bring?”

“Well, I want to bring . . . Jasper?”

“Jasper? That backstage theater cleaner?” cried Citrine, genuinely surprised, “What could you hope to accomplish with him?”

“He’s a friend,” said Scarlet indignantly, “I also want to bring Mockingbird and Finch.”

“At least those two are more acceptable,” muttered Queen Citrine, “Is that al-”

The Queen was interrupted by a dragon bursting through the entrance.

“Mother! Scarlet!” said the new dragon. Both Citrine and Scarlet glanced at the entrance

“Condor!” cried Scarlet, “You’re out!”

Condor smiled, “Yes. I was permitted to leave the infirmary yesterday, but they still wanted to check on me.” Condor leaped over to her sister, ready to embrace her, but Scarlet backed away fearfully, not wanting to hurt her.

I hurt her before. I almost killed her. All because I wanted to fight. It was all my fault. All my fault.

Condor embraced Scarlet anyways, not even seeming to notice Scarlet’s backstep.

Citrine suddenly made a joyous hop, “Condor can come too!”

“Definitely not!” cried Scarlet at the same time Condor said, “Yes! Of course!”

The two glared at each other, and Condor then said in a slightly heated tone, “Why do you not want me to come?”

Scarlet glanced away embarrassed. She wanted to scream and yell and claw her way to the sky roaring that she did want Condor to come. She wanted Condor anywhere she went. No matter the danger. In the past, Scarlet would have told herself that she would be able to protect Condor from any threats. But now, after the incident, Scarlet had a newfound sense of fear and paranoia for her sister. Condor could be put in imminent danger at any moment on the journey that Scarlet was about to take. Scarlet would not allow it.

I want you to come. I really, really do.

“I just . . . Well, it would be dangerous!” said Scarlet.

Condor looked at Scarlet suspiciously, “And?”

“And . . well, I don’t think that you would be able to . . .” Scarlet blurred off at the end of the sentence, not wanting to insult her sister.

“Protect myself,” finished Condor angrily, “I can protect myself just fine!”

“Well what happened there at the beach? You almost died!”

“That wasn’t my fault! That was yours!”

“My fault? MY fault? I was protecting you!”

“Fine job you did there!

Scarlet roared furiously and Citrine took action before the situation got worse. Citrine calmed them down with soothing words, but it didn’t stop the seething, boiling, raging anger that burned and screamed inside of Scarlet. My fault! She said it was my fault that she almost died! Deep inside, Scarlet realized that it was her fault, and that she would never be able to compensate for Condor’s wounds. Condors large scars were showing on her chest, and Scarlet was overcome with grief.

Scarlet put her sister through this. Scarlet battled SeaWings for fun. Scarlet yelled and insulted Condor. Scarlet deserved to be the one who got all those wounds. Scarlet didn’t deserve to be as shiny as a ruby while her beautiful sister looked like she was ripped to shreds.

Scarlet didn’t deserve to live. She was only a burden. A burden. That was all she was.

The following night, she flew up to the top of the Palace and brooded, eventually falling asleep. 

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Claws raking on the ground, Scarlet backed up against the cave wall. What was left of the staggering SkyWing stumbled and creaked, clawing her way towards Scarlet. Scarlet tried to scream, but nothing could come out of her mouth. Angrily, she pushed the screaming thought aside and attacked her undead attacker. Scarlet ripped the SkyWing to shreds. 

After a seething moment, Condor flew down into the cave angrily and stabbed Scarlet.

Scarlet woke up with a gasp.

She didn’t normally have nightmares, but this day was apparently an exception. Shaking her head, she leaped off her cloth bedding and flew out into the sky.

There were a few kinks in her wings and back, and she took a few minutes to steady. Swooping low, she saw her mother standing near the entrance of the Sky Palace and landed down next to her.

“What’s happening?” asked Scarlet.

“It’s Condor! She’s missing!” said Citrine.

“What?” exclaimed Scarlet. It must have been me! I made her mad. I was the one who made her leave!

“Yes, she’s gone,” said Citrine ruefully, "I've already sent out a few search parties, so-"

“I’ll search for her!” blurted Scarlet suddenly, “I can find her!” She lunged forward and was prepared to fight through everything to get to her sister. Citrine grabbed her daughter’s tail, and Scarlet howled with fury.

“I need to save Condor!” cried Scarlet, glaring.

"I have something to give to you," said Citrine, defeated, "Something to help you both in finding Condor and finding the theives."

Scarlet almost hugged Citrine with joy. Citrine was usually so distant. Like a cloud in the sky. She had no bad intentions. She didn't purposefully shun Scarlet. Scarlet thought that Citrine tried to love Scarlet, but most likely found it hard. After all, Scarlet did almost get Conder killed. She also loved beating up guards in training. She also antagonized Kingfisher too much. 

"What is it?"

Citrine sighed, "Follow me and I'll tell you where it is less open."

Flying through into the entrance of the Great Hall, Citrine turned and walked into a corridor. Grabbing a torch, Citrine lit it on flame, and Scarlet repeated the act. Then, the Queen turned a few corridors until they were lower and lower into the depths of the palace. The two of them finally ended up in front of a gate and Citrine pulled out a key, unlocking the gate. They then continued on. This was repeated a few times, until Scarlet was sure that there would be no way out and that she was lost.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" asked Scarlet tentatively.

"Yes."

Finally, finally, they reached a large chamber. with a few pedestals with everyday objects on them. One had a rock on it. Another had a rope. Another had a crown of IceWing scales. (That was the most interesting thing that Scarlet saw.) There were many pedestals. Many more things were placed on the pedestals: a shark skull, a conch shell, a painting that closely resembled a map of Pyrrhia, and at the end, there was a golden pedestal that had a small metal sphere on it.

"What is this place?" asked Scarlet, glancing back at Citrine, who had a very ominous look about her.

"This," said Citrine intensely, "Is our hall of Animus Objects."

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