Chapter Text
« What do you mean? »
« I mean what I said, it might take a while to do this. »
Queen Scarlet huffed, looking at Chameleon with a frown as the RainWing looked over the sleeping dragoness.
Pyrite was the young SkyWing sleeping at their paws, enchanted to stay in her dreams as they spoke.
Such a loyal dragoness, noone could ever doubt her desire to serve Scarlet, the enchantment trapping her made sure of it, keeping her mind in a constant loop of worshipping Queen Scarlet and self-loathing, one thought was about loving the SkyWing queen and the other was to remind herself of being clumsy, useless, worthless and to never take off her necklace, the object holding the spell that made Pyrite exist. In reality, she was nothing but a mere mask, just like Chameleon's alternative forms were, a mask to make a dragon loyal to Scarlet and unable to think for themselves with the risk of finding out the truth, the dragon behind the mask was noone but Prince Hailstorm of the IceWings, the brave prince that offered himself in sacrifice to allow his brother to escape.
Such a brave and strong dragon, a prey worthy of being kept alive and, as Pyrite, a loyal dragoness that Scarlet knew could be used for everything she wanted.
« But why would it take a while? It took you a few moments only to create Pyrite. »
« I know and it would take even less to take off that necklace and bring out Hailstorm. But the spell had been in place for years by now, had influenced his mind and when you damage someone's mind or heart, you might make damages far bigger than those a physical duel could do. Hailstorm could have mixed memories, could feel his soul torn between himself and Pyrite, it's like being traumatized and suffering from the mental scars it leaves you. »
« So... he could come out with a split personality disorder? »
« Either that, or the biggest case of gender dysphoria Pyrrhia has ever seen. »
The two dragons looked down at the sleeping Pyrite.
« It's a risk worth taking, we just need to make sure he won't remember that we have been the one to order this... »
Scarlet said.
Hailstorm remembering her as the dragoness ordering the spell could only mean trouble, he could tell her other pawns.
« Someone has to take the blame... »
« Who are you thinking of? »
Queen Scarlet smirked, knowing really well she could take care of two problems in one.
« We need two spells only for this. First one: make sure that noone can emulate our Dragonets of Destiny's abilities. Other tribes have animus dragons too, they could use them to find out those abilities and create fakes. »
« Alright, I'll try to make those as protected as possible. »
"Easier said than done. Nothing stops me to put all the protective enchantment on our pawns, but nothing stops other animus dragons from making more enchantments to try and fight ours."
Chameleon thought as he started preparing the piece of his scroll to write down the spells.
Animus magic wasn't an exact science after all, with the only known limit being the inability to bring back the dead, everything else was like a chess game between dragons trying to find the right spells to avoid counter attacks and their opponents doing the same.
« The second enchantment? »
« Make it so that Hailstorm will believe it was Ruby that orchestrated Pyrite. »
« Ruby? Isn't she already inoffensive? »
« Yes. But we need someone to take the fall for this. We could make the accusations public, tell my subjects she's a secret animus and was working against me and that you found out and used your powers to stop her. So, while Hailstorm believes we and the dragonets saved him and will help them without exposing us, we can use this to get the favor of the IceWings as well in this war. And it will even stop my subjects' fear of magic, you will be known as a hero and the first official SkyWing animus! Me getting rid of that disappointment of my daughter is just a bonus, I can always make Peril my official heir or have more eggs. »
The queen explained.
« Scarlet... you are a damn genius! »
« I know, but please, don't stop saying it~ »
The RainWing suddenly got an idea, the perfect plan for a dragon that loved richness.
After all, there was noone richer than a royal dragon.
« I'll do it Scarlet, but for the right price. »
« Naturally. I always paid you fairly and you served me loyally, I'd never betray our arrangement. »
Scarlet said with a nod.
« Very well. When I, Soar, will become a respected SkyWing animus and the hero that stopped Ruby, I want you to take me as your new husband. »
Chameleon requested.
He knew really well the sad end King Canyon encountered when Scarlet got tired of him, but the RainWing wasn't a normal, boring SkyWing, he was a powerful animus and most important ally in Scarlet's plans, she could never replace him.
The dragoness seemed taken aback by his sudden request, taking a few moments before answering.
« What a thrilling request, so thrilling... »
Scarlet said, a smirk slowly forming on her fangs.
« If our plan goes as it should, it will be my pleasure to make you my trophy husband. »
« "Trophy husband"? Darling, I could overthrow you and take over the entire tribe, I should be the one making you a trophy wife when you're not working. »
Chameleon knew that dragoness wasn't the most stable of the queens in Pyrrhia, but he had to admit it, the widening of her smirk and the excitement in her eyes surprised him.
« Let's see how the plan goes first. »
« Don't worry, my dear wife-to-be, our plan will never fail. »
Queen Scarlet smirked again, walking out of the room, still murmuring to herself about that "thrilling" situation.
Chameleon went back writing down his spells, making sure to take extra precautions to make sure no animus could replicate the Dragonets of Destiny's powers and looks and moving right after of the spell for Hailstorm.
"A really thrilling situation indeed."