Sunny woke on her seaweed bed, it was soft, but also slightly slimy. She looked around the room they were given, the last time she had woken up in the Summer Palace, Clay was chained to the floor and it was starting to flood. She looked around and noticed that Starflight was draped over her, snoring lightly. She nuzzled his snout, making him chuckle and smile at her. “Hey, we got dragonets to chaperone.” She told him. Starflight groaned. “Coral said she would watch over them.” “But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t watch over them. We were entrusted with their safety.” The original Jade winglet would beg to differ. “That was a fluke.” Sunny replied. “Hopefully.” They’re famous too now. The Dragonets of Destiny, the Original Jade Winglet, and the Heroes of Pantala. Starflight rolled his eyes. “Everybody loves their heroes.” They got up and stretched, then made their way to the main feeding hall. There was lots of seafood, mostly raw fish, but there was some fruit for the rainwings. Sunny ate her fill of whatever she could find that looked okay, Starflight smiled at her as she picked through her food, and devoured a plate of salmon. Then, they walked out into the main area of the palace. Students were spread out, talking and relaxing all over the place, and Sunny wondered when the first lesson would begin. An old, beat up, seawing walked into the main area and called out. “The first lesson starts here in fifteen minutes, spread the word.” He called. The students started to gather around him, and he had them sit down and get comfortable. “All seawings are excused from these lessons.” He told them The seawings smiled and ran off to enjoy their time back at home. “My name is Barracuda, and today were going to start at the beginning of our tribe.” Michael walked up and sat down, raising an eyebrow. “The first queen, Queen Anemone, was given her power after the scorching, she ascended to an empty throne, and earned the loyalty and trust of her dragons. The seawings weren’t really threatened by the scavengers at the time, the only harm was their fishing nets.” Michael rubbed his forehead. Is that off? Sunny asked. The first queen was Queen Anemone, but a different Anemone, it was a long time before the scorching. She gained her loyalty through me telling everybody that they should be ruled by a queen. None of the kingdoms here have anything from before the scorching, so they base all their information as from after it. “We aren’t sure exactly when we received the gift of animus dragons.” Barracuda continued. “Right at the end of the scorching, given as a reward for fighting hard in the scorching.” Michael told them. “The three first animus dragons, Pearl, Tuna, and Trench, helped bring our tribe it’s traditions. Now, the Pearl line married into the royal family, and our Queen and her children are descendants of her. The Tuna line died off a thousand years ago, while were not sure what happened to the Trench line.” “Also married into the royal line, which was a poor choice.” Michael replied. “Soon after the scorching ended, our civilization started to advance, and we developed our art and our own forms of entertainment. You may know, or have read, some of Queen Corals works of writing. Writing is a very common practice in the sea kingdom, thousands of works can be found in our libraries.” Michael sighed, and walked away from the group. Sunny and Starflight chose to follow him, and found him walking back towards the palace entrance. “Where are you going?” Sunny asked. “The students want to spend the afternoon on a beach, so I’m going to pick one out, wanna come?” Starflight smiled at Sunny, and she nodded. “Sure.” He dove into the water, and they followed. After making their way out of the cave, they found themselves on a nearby island. Michael looked around, then nodded. “This’ll do.” He spoke, then collapsed on the sand. “You okay?” Sunny asked. “Fine, but I can’t just sit their and watch them forget their own history.” “Does that always happen?” “Almost always, they just can’t keep ahold of information.” Michael sighed. Starflight walked over to a random spot, and started digging a hole. Sunny watched him with mild interest. He dug a large indent in the sand, then settled into it and sighed. Sunny walked over to him and raised an eyebrow. “What’s this about?” “The sand is cooler down here.” He told her, then opened a wing. Sunny shrugged, and curled up with him. The sand was cooler under the surface, and it felt good on Sunny’s scales. “Mhm, this is nice.” Sunny replied. “How did you learn about this?” “I figured it out a while back.” Starflight replied. “Too much heat bothers my scales.” Sunny closed her eyes, and enjoyed the peaceful sound of the ocean for a while. The peaceful crashing of waves was eventually interrupted by the sounds of wingbeats. She looked over to see Starflight on his back, smiling in his sleep. Sunny rolled onto her back and looked over to see the Jade Mountain students were landing at the beach, laughing and chatting excitedly. “Sunny!” Kinkajou rushed up to them. “The seawings are so cool, they have their own language and their own art style. Painting underwater must be so fun.” “I’m glad you think that.” Sunny replied. “I want to learn aquatic, so I can understand Turtle better.” Sunny smiled. “That’s nice of you.” “He can always understand my mood when I change, so I want to be able to understand him when he gets all flashy.” Sunny chuckled. “Tsunami does that too, but it’s gibberish.” “I still want to learn it.” Kinkajou decided. Tamarin landed nearby, and Kinkajou went over to talk to her. Sunny watched as various dragonets ran around and played. Bumblebee and Willow landed near them and Sunny smiled at them. “Hey.” Willow called. “Can you watch Bumblebee for a few hours, Sundew and I were going to check out a seawing village and eat at one of their restaurants.” “Sure, have a nice date.” Willow blushed, and nodded, then turned to Bumblebee. “Bee, your going to hang out with Sunny for a little while.” Bumblebee nodded, and yawned. “She usually takes her nap around now, so she shouldn’t be too crazy.” Willow told her Sunny smiled. “Okay, see you in a few hours.” Willow flew off, and Sunny rolled over to face Bumblebee. “You tired?” Bumblebee nodded “C’mon.” Sunny opened her wings, and Bumblebee laid down next to her stomach. Starflight opened his eyes and looked over at her, and smiled. “That’s cute.” He curled up around her, and sighed. “This is nice.” Bumblebee murmured slightly, and covered her face with her little wing. Sunny smiled and enjoyed being curled around a small dragonet with Starflight curled around her. I can’t wait for my own. she thought, then did a double take. I guess I really think that, or it’s my instincts. Sunny smiled to herself, Guess I’ll just enjoy this. She felt her eyes droop, and Bumblebee’s breathing slow as they both fell asleep. “Sunny.” The gold dragon opened her eyes and looked up, the sun was starting to set, and the students were watching it fall, talking happily. Moon was standing over her, looking at her with a confused expression. “Have you seen Willow or Sundew, I haven’t seen them or Bee for a while.” Sunny yawned. “Bee’s right here.” She lifted her wing, and Moon melted as she saw the small dragonet curled up against Sunny. “That is just adorable.” Moon smiled. “It just looks… Right somehow.” “I feel that too.” Sunny replied. Bumblebee yawned and stretched, then opened her eyes and looked around. “Are they back yet?” Sunny shook her head. “No sweetie, but they will soon, for now we can go back to the palace and get something to eat.” Bumblebee nodded, and got up. Sunny got up as well, making Starflight groan and open his eyes. “Wow, it got late fast.” He smiled over at Bumblebee “Hello, how was your nap?” Bumblebee smiled. “It was warm, I like the warmer nap.” “I do too.” Starflight replied, making Sunny blush a bit. “Do you need help flying, I’ve usually seen you riding on someone’s back.” Sunny asked. “I can fly really good.” Bumblebee replied. “But only for a short time.” “Well, you can ride on my back, how about that?” Starflight asked. Bumblebee gasped. “Really?” “Yeah, hop on.” Starflight helped the little hivewing onto his back, and beamed at Sunny. He’ll be a good dad, she thought, He looks so proud right now, it’s adorable. “Let’s go.” Sunny told them, and they all took off. After making their way back to the palace, they stopped by the feeding hall to eat a quick meal, Bumblebee refused to eat most of the types of fish. But Starflight used his fire to cook some more salmon, and handed it to the little hivewing. She sniffed it for a moment, then took a small bite. Starflight beamed as Bumblebee smiled and dug into the fish. After a few minutes, Sundew and Willow walked into the hall and smiled at them. “Hey Bee, how was your day?” Willow asked. “We just napped, but this fish is really good.” Bumblebee replied “Your eating fish?” Sundew replied “Yeah, Starflight made it better with his fire.” Bumblebee told her. She looked over at the nightwing in surprise. “You actually got her to eat fish, wow.” Starflight smiled back. “I know some tricks when it comes to food, Clay talks a lot.” “How was the trip?” Sunny asked “And the restaurant?” “The seawing villages are cool, and the restaurant was cool. They served us a lot of fish, but also some weird underwater fruits.” Willow told her. “Nice.” Sunny smiled. “How was Bee?” Willow replied. “She was perfect, she just slept against me the whole time.” Sunny answered. Willow smiled at her. “Good, glad that your first dragonetsitting experience was a positive one.” Sunny nodded. “It was cute.” “Alright.” Sundew called to the little hivewing. “Time for bed.” “Aww.” Bumblebee groaned. “But I’m not tired.” “C’mon.” Sundew replied Bumblebee sighed, and followed willow and sundew out of the room. Sunny smiled as they left and looked over at Starflight. “What’s the plan for tomorrow.” “A trip to the ancient palace.” Michael walked up behind them. “And a lesson on the Albatross massacre.” Sunny raised her eyebrows. “Is that a good idea for a bunch of young dragonets?” “Not really, the idea is supposed to teach people the dangers of animus dragons. But the only animus genes here aren’t even going to go to the lesson. Unless you two are coming.” “Maybe.” Sunny replied. “I do want to learn more about that whole incident, and more about Fathom.” Michael nodded “That whole fiasco was a mess.” “Where you there?” Starflight asked. “Sadly, I was one of the ‘servants’ who was ‘killed’ in that massacre.” “Really? That must have been weird.” Sunny replied. “Yeah, getting stabbed by a random knife while I was minding my own business.” Michael replied. “I may have helped Fathom finish him off in the end, but don’t tell anyone.” Michael nodded, and walked out of the hall. Sunny and Starflight made their way to the center of the palace, and noticed that one of the moons was shining right into the palace through the hole in the ceiling. “Michael never covered up that gap with foliage.” Sunny noted. “I think the queen told him not to.” Starflight replied. Sunny nodded. “It looks much better with the moon like that.” Starflight looked over at her. “It really does.” Sunny felt herself blush. “Tsunami wants me to review some scroll.” She blurted. Starflight chuckled, and nodded. They walked back to the guest room and Sunny sat at the desk. Starflight laid down on the seawing bed and smiled over at her. “What are the scrolls about?” He asked her. “Oh, just reports from the seawing instructors about their lessons, and how they went. There were a few rowdy dragonets but mostly everybody seemed interested.” “Nice, I bet things would be much different in Pantala.” “Probably for the worst, but it won’t be our problem. Michael made sure we’ll be free during that trip.” “We still going to the Jewel Hive?” “Yeah, then check out the new leafwing forest.” “And the academy is going to…” “The Wasp hive, I think, then the new leafwing forest.” “I know that Moon and Qibli are going with Blue and Cricket to the Cicada hive.” “Maybe we can check it out too.” Starflight smiled. “Of all places, Wasp Hive.” “They’re supposed to be changing names, but have been slow with everything.” “But why that hive?” “Because it has that massive temple, and contains the most historical stuff.” “Jewel has that massive library, right?” “Yeah, another reason why I want to go.” Sunny smirked. “And I bet you do too.” “Yeah, seems cool, I heard they have the best art there.” “And the best parties.” Sunny added. “Which we will have to attend.” Starflight chuckled. “Of course, being the royals we are.” Sunny looked over at him. “You’re letting it get to your head.” Starflight laughed at her. “And you’re going to tell me that you haven’t been letting your royal powers influence people just a little bit.” “Well, not really.” Sunny thought for a moment. “Maybe once.” “Since nobody knows I’m a prince, I don’t really use it.” “You should let the news come out.” “Sure, why not.” I can tell the queens, and they can tell their dragons. “Go ahead, the nightwings should know the truth.” Starflight replied “But what about Glory, won’t the nightwings see this as a chance for a nightwing to be back on the throne?” Sunny asked. “I don’t think so.” We’ll find out. “I hope not.” Starflight added. Starflight pulled out a scroll and started reading it, after a while Sunny finished her work and joined him. “Wonder how Tsunami and Anemone are doing.” Sunny spoke. “They’re probably fine.” Tsunami tapped her claws on the desk repeatedly. Her mother had been writing on the massive desk for hours. Auklet was asleep next to her, and even Anemone was passed out nearby. She looked over at her mother, and sighed. This wasn’t what I had in mind when you said ‘Family Time.’ She groaned. Coral looked up suddenly, as if she had forgotten that they were there. It’s after midnight. Tsunami added. Coral glanced at her two sleeping daughters, and smiled. They’re used to it, let’s go to bed. Coral bent down, and woke up Anemone while Tsunami picked up Auklet. Then, they swam out of the office and over to the royal bedroom. Coral helped Anemone settle down, and relaxed on the bed. I do want the best for you, you know that right? She asked Tsunami I want you to be happy, with Riptide. But your kingdom needs you, Anemone doesn’t want to be queen, she never did. Auklet’s too young, and I’ve been queen for a long time. But isn’t that normal for good queens? Tsunami asked. Sometimes, but the seawing kingdom needs a change, it needs a new queen that won’t be pushed around. Coral told her. I know that will be you, a kingdom is as strong as its queen. But what about you? I’ll be fine, I’ll stay here with Auklet, Anemone is probably going to move to the rainforest, Turtle as well. And all of my brothers? None of their daughters will be challenging you, I made sure of that. Wait, what? I raised them to make sure their daughters don’t challenge me or any of their sisters. Tsunami looked over at Riptide, who had been asleep in the corner of the room the entire time. I love him. She told her mother. Coral smiled. Then I’m very happy for you. Tsunami lowered her head, and fell asleep.