Here’s part 9 chapter of The Decisive Victory!
Part 9:Interlude: The Isle of Healers
part 8 below:
💬 2 🔁 6 ❤️ 7 · Part 8:Family? · Part 8 of The Decisive Victory! Part 7 below: 💬 0 🔁 6 ❤️ 8 · Part 7:The Library of The Earth · Part 7
-The Mud Kingdom throughout the war has had many losses throughout the now 18 year long war, but it had also had many successes and gains
one such gain was The Isle of Healers. Formally a seawing post, it was overtaken by Prince Mire and Princess Autumn just 2 years before, and had been repurposed by Princess Creek as one of many healing facilities
This isle also had the bonus of being relatively closed off from others, thanks to precautions taken by the royal trio, and as such, acted as a spot to hold all sorts of things, and keep them hidden from any potential threats… One such hidden thing was a nightwing, a sandwing, and a shattered seawing
-Starflight felt like he was still at the delta, cowering under Moorhen, worrying about Tsunami, and being able to do nothing but watch as Clay was taken away from them…their predicament had only become worse since then, being monitored by a group of 8 mudwings in the west wing of a hospital
in reality however, it felt more like a prison, even with the accommodations and luxuries, he and Sunny were still trapped on the island, and disbarred from entering the other areas of the island, feeling more like a royal locked in a castle than the so called guests the guards claimed
the head guard was the largest of the mudwings, he seemed to be somewhat serious, though also not much for words. The only thing he seemed to fear was a woman named Creek, whoever that may be, based on his reaction to her name when said by another of the guards.
This guard was much jollier of the assignment, going on about how he felt honored to work for Queen Moorhen, and be one of the substitutes for the head doctor/warden of the establishment, the aforementioned Creek
-Starflight was most familiar with these two, with 4 of them trying to calm Sunny in her cell, and 2 of them attending to the unconscious Tsunami
Tsunami…she hadn’t woken up for days, barely even showed signs of life, and Starflight felt more scared by the day that the worst could happen. Moorhen made a deal to let them all live, but that was only AFTER making Tsunami collide with a boulder and fall dozens of feet from the air, so he was doubtful she was included. If she was awake, she’d know what to do, she could help Sunny better than he ever could
Oh Sunny, she was the only one left trying to do anything, trying to get back to Clay. It’s why she was put in a cell and had to be attended to by 4 mudwings, to make sure she didn’t escape and fly off to get herself killed, whether by Blister, Blaze, or ESPECIALLY Burn.
A sanctuary, the guards claimed, it was a sanctuary to keep any one of the tribes from killing them, until Moorhens plan went through. Starflight hadn’t bothered asking for her plan, he suspected he’d hate it for one reason or another, and with how she took Clay away for it, he had no idea what she might use him for to do it…oh even he knows that’s a load of scavenger leavings
Clay gave his freedom away to save them all, Starflight owed him the decency to ask what would happen, and he knew it…
“What is Moorhens plan with Clay?” Starflight asked the head guard
“Oh, it’s simple, he is to wed her daughter Breccia, and declare Burn his choice for Queen at the wedding.” The head guard explained.
Starflight felt a bit of relief knowing Moorhen wasn’t a sociopath like Scarlet at least, and didn’t plan to do something insane like put Clay against a dartboard, or turn him into a jenga puzzle, or something else that made Starflight disturbed at how detailed his imagination could go.
He had to admit as well, while simple, it could be an at least decent strategy. Even if some didn’t agree with Clays decision, there would be many who at the very least would agree due to stress from the war, weakening the other groups enough for a decisive victory. Though that also left him with a new question
“What is Breccia like, exactly?”
“SHE’S ONLY THE GREATEST PRINCESS EVER! AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL! AND KINDEST! AND- OW” The jollier guards tail was stepped on by the head guard, who turned to Starflight
“Can’t really say I know for myself. Her and 2 of her other sibs mainly stay in the capital. Can’t fault em though, Breccia’s considered too much a gem to just send out to die. Another one, Obsidian, is probably one of the most innovative and intelligent dragons in Pyrrhia, let alone the mud kingdom. And the princess named Cocoa…well, only a monster would make someone in her condition fight.” The Head Guard told Starflight, who felt more interested with each royal he told him about, “On the topic of Breccia however, my brother is correct that she’s beautiful, as for kindness, I can assure to her character of what I have seen she is indeed a generous woman.”
“I see…” Starflight thought, maybe if he explains this to Sunny, he can help calm her down? After all, Sunny would want Clay to end up with someone kind and beautiful, and it’s probably a step up from…that thing.
"You should also know that Clay would be extremely protected in the capital, he'd be living the easiest life someone like him possibly could. The capital is the most secure of them of the tribes, aside from possibly The Icewings, of course." Spoke the head guard, "A lot of our fortresses are quite secure in fact, especially this one, it's likely why Moorhen went to the trouble of having you all brought here."
"I've been wondering about that...How is an island in the control of mudwings? Wouldn't Seawings have overrun you by now?" Starflight asked, and before the head guard could answer, the jollier one stepped in
"Well that all started 2 years ago! This used to be an outpost, but Mire and Autumn took it over. The seawings tried to reclaim it a few months after, but Mire happened to be here at the time and managed to outmaneuver them and force a retreat! A few months after that, they tried again, this time with a much larger force, and with a legendary general named...well she kinda became irrelevant after how handily she lost here, so I forgot her name, but I think it was Cerulean? Well, she fought pretty well and probably could had even beat Mire at the time, he was only 6 at the time after all. HOWEVER, it was not just him there this time, but his mysterious sister Creek, having come to make renovations of the island into the hospital it is today, and the undisputably greatest warrior of all time, the blood-soaked warrior goddess, Autumn! They managed to crush the seawing's like 3 hammers, and they did it so thoroughly that the seawings never so much as come NEAR this island! In fact, your friend here is the first one here in over a year!" He said, pointing towards the still unconscious Tsunami
"That's...slightly exaggerated, but it is true. Though the reason Cerulean became irrelevant is because well, she died. Autumn killed her with her own spear in fact, but after this, Creeks reinventing the island to be a center of care also took it off of many dragons radars, as while cruel, even Icewings and Seawings aren't foolish enough to attack a hospital...let alone one that has the protection of Princess Autumn." The Head Guard added on
“I see…Autumn’s quite vicious then?” Starflight asked, as he then mentally cursed himself for asking
“You could say that- Oh, but don’t worry, she’s great with other Mudwings, never hurt any of them…well except for this one time-” The head guard quickly stopped himself. “I’m getting ahead of myself here! But as I said, that’s how we secured this island, and also why you were brought here. And to the note I said before that, you can trust that with Autumn there, Clay is more than safe in the capital!”
“I see…thanks for telling me.”
“No problem, now how about telling the gold thing then? I’m sure you can calm her nerves.” The Head Guard said, making Starflights eyes widen
“You really think so!”
“Um, sure. You guys are practically family, right?” The Head Guard said, as Starflights eyes lost all the shine and hope the guard had given him in his previous sentence
**
Sunny felt like she was still at the delta, desperately trying to get Clay back, being held back from trying to rush over to him, and having her world shattered when Moorhen made it clear what would happen if she continued
She couldn’t let this happen though! She couldn’t lose Clay! Not like this! Not ever! She didn't care about this Breccia gal that Rouen, one of her guards, told her about, not only did Clay not know who she was, but even if she is as perfect as Rouen and her sibs say, she still wouldn't be good enough for Clay! Putting aside even that however, she refused to let her and Clays story end like this, to have Moorhen start a false end to their prophecy, even if they choose Burn, there's no way it's gonna be like this, with them all separated!(Though Sunny DID enjoy the storybook like appeal, it's completely manufactured)
And above everything, she just...she just couldn't lose the dragon that looked out for her ever since they hatched...she refused to accept the idea she'd never see him again. Moorhen might've rattled her back then, but she wasn't gonna let that hold her down, and she certainly wasn't gonna have it stop her from wanting Clay back... the problem now was HOW she'd get Clay back.
Right now however, she needed a way to convince the guards
“Sunny, you gotta understand at this point! Breccia’s practically the most perfect dragon there is! I told ya she’s pretty, I told ya she’s strong, and I also told ya how important she is!” Spoke a female Mudwing named Rouen, who had spent Sunny’s entire imprisonment going on about Breccia
“Don’t forget she saved the capital!” Chimed in Hookbill, one of Rouen’s brothers, who as the name implied, had a slight hook to his snout. Unlike Rouen, he spent the entire time talking about conspiracy theories he heard through the grapevine, which was either funny or exhausting depending on how invested he would be on it.
“Oh for the last time Hookbill, Breccia wasn’t the masked hammer!” said another of the siblings, named Smew, who currently was chopping up food for Sunny, despite her insistence on not eating previously.
“She totally was! She’s the only one who could’ve worn something that pretty!”
“Really now? Okay smart guy, explain the hammer the size of The Queens Skull then.” Smew sneered, as they ate one of the sliced pieces of food they intended for Sunny
“Well, Breccia IS as strong as she’s beautiful after all! And I’d go as far as to say she’s the most beautiful dragon around, even more than Blaze ever was!” Rouen added in, as Smew rolled their eyes
“I don’t care if Breccia is the incarnation of Imperial herself! I refuse to just stand by while Clay gets taken away forever! And I ESPECIALLY refuse to have Clay just get pawned off for a marriage, even if Breccia was strong, pretty, and royal! In fact, if you wanna keep going on and on about how amazing Breccia is, why don’t YOU marry her?!” Sunny yelled, tired of them constantly trying to make her okay with this situation, and especially tired of how they had her sidelined like this.
Instead of taking Sunny’s words seriously however, Rouen focused on the last sentence, seeming to get starry eyed at the idea of marrying Breccia, before shaking herself to get her head out the clouds
“Alright, alright, let’s calm ourselves now.” Sunny heard from outside the room, she assumed to be Lacha, who was another guard for her and the others, who seemed to be much more methodical than the three stooges currently gossiping in her room.
“Look, Sunny, I get it. You’re under a lot of stress right now, I would too if one of my buddies got nabbed, but, you really got to not worry! Clay’s gonna be living a great life now. And if ya don’t wanna hear it from me, that’s fine, Gander and Duck are talking the nightwing through it too, and I’m sure you’ll prefer hearing it from him.” Lacha told her as she peaked her head into the room, meanwhile, Rouen seemed to be mumbling to herself about a romanticized ideal of marrying Breccia, which honestly just made Sunny more annoyed.
“This isn’t just a “friend” getting “nabbed”!-”
“Oh, I didn’t know he was your lover.” before Lacha could smirk at her joke she saw too puffs of smokes from Sunny’s nose and shut up
“ITS ESPECIALLY NOT THAT. Clay’s my brother, and he’s Starflights brother too! Starflight’s not gonna let some doctor prison guards or whatever you guys act like you are talk him into selling Clay out! We care about each other, through and through! If your brother got kidnapped and forced to marry a girl he never so much as MET to meet someone’s own agenda, would you sit idly by on some prison island? No! You’d be demanding to get him back! And you ESPECIALLY wouldn’t get convinced otherwise!” Sunny yelled, as the mudwings all looked at her with a mix of surprise and awe, letting Sunny’s words soak into their scales in spite of her small stature.
“Woah. No wonder you’re a dragonet of destiny.” said Lacha, which actually made Sunny smile
Her smile only grew more when she saw Starflight be escorted into her chamber, as she rushed over to him
“Starflight! You’re okay!” Sunny said as she hugged the small Nightwing, as he kept a nervous look to himself
“…I think…we need to talk about Clay.” was all Starflight said, as Sunny’s smile turned to a look of worry
**
(note, the following is a dream)
Tsunami gazed upon the 3 moons in the sky, illuminating her scales as she swam through a never ending river
“I need to get there! I’m also there!” became almost a mantra to the blue scaled dragon as she went through the rivers currents, the ice, fire, and bloodshed surrounding it feeling nonexistent as she moved forward.
She was almost there! She could feel it! She wouldn’t let anything distract her
“Tsunami!” The shout of a familiar mudwing voice made her burst out of the water, and put herself next to the river, and stared towards her goal. Stare towards the only four dragons she could count on in Pyrrhia
“Heh, what do you need now from your daring leader?” Tsunami laughed like some royal princess, “well, whatever it is, let’s get away from here! We shouldn’t have to deal with this junk anyhow!” Tsunami spoke…and yet none of them moved
“…Very funny guys, now quit the statue act!” Tsunami went over to them, as Glory scoffed
“Oh please, you’re all clearly not good enough for me! I’m gonna go to my secret awesome rainwing society.” as sudden as she spoke, Glory disappeared
“Wh- HEY! YOU CAN’T JUST DITCH US CAUSE YOU GOT ANNOYED! GET BACK HERE YOU BABY BANANA!” Tsunami shouted to nothing, as she went towards the remaining 3, “Whatever, we still got a whole life to live here! We don’t need some war or Glory! Right Clay?” Tsunami said, as she went back to Clay, and went towards him…and towards him, and towards him…she started running now, and kept running, and running, and running…she began to fly towards him now, and yet no matter how far she flew, she never reached him.
“Clay! Come on! We have to stick together-” Tsunami was palmed to the ground. Her, Sunny, and Starflight all placed under the claws of a mountain of a dragon, who gripped Clay in her other talons, and began to take him even further away.
“NO, NOT HIM, I ALREADY LOST GLORY, I AM NOT LOSING HIM. LET HIM GO!” Tsunami shouted in vain under the dragon, as she attempted to thrash around from under their talons, yet felt as if more and more weight began to be pushed down upon her, “I won’t…let you!…”
**
Starflight paced around the room, confusing Sunny and the guards at his lost in thought
“Starflight, what is it you wanted to say about Clay?” Sunny asked worryingly
Starflight wished he could answer, he wished he could simply say it. Not just this, but so much he wanted to say, but even those feeling’s fell to the wayside as his thoughts focused around Clay.
Could they renegotiate with Moorhen? No, they didn’t have something to offer. Could they sneak in to get him? No, the mudwing capital was among the most guarded in all of Pyrrhia, it’d be suicide. Storm in- Starflight decided to not try to think like Tsunami, and went to other options. What could they do?! They practically lost already, they lost the moment Starflight froze like a coward when Moorhen attacked!
Starflight began taking deep breaths, turning his face away from Sunny, as he began to try and pull himself together…he didn’t know what to do…
“I…I think it might be best for Clay where he is.” Starflight said
“You don’t believe that.” Sunny said immediately, a haste to her voice
“I wish I didn’t Sunny! But…I’ve tried to think of everything, and we can’t do anything for him. The people surrounding him, they’re…” Starflight began to think of Clay again. Of how Clay was stuck with one of the most vicious dragons he’d ever heard of, how Clay was away from all of them, how the only friends Starflight could fathom having were 3 completely unknown dragons, one of which was intended as a forced marriage for Clay. Clay was likely in a place lower than any one of them now, especially since Glory left them all over what Starflight feels was almost nothing.
And here Starflight was, worrying over how to tell Sunny, the most determined dragon he knew, to give up. It was suffocating to think about
“Starflight, look at me.” Starflight heard Sunny speak, as she gave him a concerned but determined look, “I know that look of yours Starflight…you’re worried about Clay, aren’t you? You’ve been thinking about him and everything…You wanna know why Starflight? Because beneath your meeker side, is a really brave dragon!” Sunny began speaking once more, as the mudwings present seemed to prepare a snack while they listened
“…I’m just not, Sunny…I…want to, but I’m just not! You and me, we can’t do anything! If we do, Clay will be even worse off, and we’ll be dead. I think…we have to accept that-” before Starflight could finish, loud thrashing was heard outside the room, as Sunny and Starflight thought of the same brash Seawing and rushed out faster than the other guards to see a Tsunami with a fading consciousness struggling beneath Gander and Duck attempting to stabilize her
“She must be suffering from a night terror or something!” Duck said as he held her down, before being slammed by Tsunamis thrashing tail into a wall, and Rouen and Smew taking his place while Lacha and Hookbill checked on the larger Mudwing.
“Tsunami?” Sunny said, a certain fear in her voice, as the unconscious seawing thrashed
**
waves, waves of muddy water was all that surrounded Tsunami now as she tried to break through
“I’ll get him back! I’ll get him back!” Tsunami shouted to herself as she went through the stream, even as she felt pushed down, even as she felt something cold and most certainly dead attempt to drag her down. SHE had to save Clay! He’d do the same for her! She couldn’t fail now.
“You’re too weak, seawing.” she felt as though Queen Moorhen threw another boulder at her.
“You were so feeble minded so as to kill a man at a taunt. What makes you believe you’re any hero?” She heard Queen Scarlet now, hearing that cruel creep cackling now as she felt the cold, webbed talons behind her try to drag her down
“You’re going to die for a boy who attempted to kill you when you hatched.” Kestrel’s insults and lies rang in her, as she felt pushed down more and more
yet through all this, she held on, and continued to try and surge forward. She thought of the 6 years in that cold, dark cave, and how even through it all, she still had people she could rely on, and especially how a certain mudwing held them all together.
“As if I’d let something like broken bones stop me!” Maybe she was weak minded, the snapped neck of a seawing was proof enough after all. But NOTHING would make her give up!
“I can’t leave him to be a prisoner! I’m…I’m!…” Tsunami pushed forward more and more
“Tsunami!” She heard two familiar voices call out to her. Sunny and Starflight! She still had them to help her even now! She wasn’t alone for this!
“Tsunami.” Glory was now what Tsunami heard. Even if she left them all behind, Tsunami knew they had to find her! And if they’re gonna find her, then they’ll need everyone there! They’ll need
“Tsunami!” Clay. The closest thing Tsunami had to a brother. The best friend she could ever have. Someone she’ll never give up on!
And with that, Tsunami was pulled out of the muddy stream by the four she held closest, as she finally awoke on a warm floor, greeted by at least 2 Ko’d Mudwings, 4 others, and 2 of her best friends.
**
“Wh- where are we? Where’s Clay! Is he alive!” Tsunami immediately asked, as she attempted to get up only for her to fall immediately, gritting her teeth as she felt all of her broken bones at once.
“Tsunami!” Sunny shouted as she went to hug Tsunami, before stopping herself. As she did, the KO’d mudwings, Duck and Gander, got themselves up, and looked at her in shock and awe alongside their siblings.
“Her entire body’s been shattered, and she can move like that…she can even talk.” Gander commented
“Not just that, she wanted to see Clay immediately!” Lacha began to show excitement for the first time as she squealed, “The Dragonets of Destiny are so cool!”
“…I asked, where. is. Clay.” Tsunami said again, still trying to get herself up
“He’s at the royal capital of the mudwings. Moorhen wants to-” Starflight attempted to continue, before Tsunami interrupted him
“Where is that from here.”
“south-”
“Good, we’re going.” Tsunami stated simply, still trying to get herself up.
“Wait! We can’t just do that!” Starflight shouted, as Sunny looked at him with a little shock.
“Starflight! You can’t mean that!” Sunny shouted
“I…I’m sorry! But Clay’s surrounded by some of the greatest generals the mud kingdom has! Queen Moorhen alone nearly killed you with a single throw! If we flew to try and get him back, we’d only get ourselves killed, and leave Clay all alone!” Starflight admitted, now letting his tears begin to flow as he admitted this.
“I’m sorry, but the Nightwings right! I mean, Autumn alone is probably the strongest, coolest, greatest fighter you’d ever seen! You’d have no chance against her. At best you’d get your scales turned into a bracelet.” Duck stated, edging into fanboy territory as he explained Autumn to Tsunami. Sunny wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Tsunami
“It doesn’t matter how strong those people are! We just need to get Clay back!” Tsunami shouted, “I don’t care if the three moons themselves tried to stop me!”
“That’s a fun metaphor, but it doesn’t mean anything against someone who defended a small island against dome of the greatest soldiers the seawings had.” Gander commented, holding his bruised jaw.
“We don’t need to fight them! We just need to get them to give us back Clay!” Sunny managed to speak out! “They’re strong! But we’re Dragonets of Destiny! I doubt that means nothing outside the Sky kingdom!”
“Sure! But Princess Autumn herself is Burns protege!” that comment made Starflight visibly tense up, “Sure, we Mudwings don’t fall in line as easily like those cowards in the mountains, but that doesn’t mean we can do whatever for you! Especially the royals! If Autumn knows Burn wants you dead, she’ll kill you! And that’s coming from the bigwings of a bunch of royal family fans!” Gander stated. Sunny could tell he wanted to keep them safe, but that wasn’t enough! She needed him to help, all of them to! If they’re going to save Clay, they’d need someone to let them go free first!
“Well, if you’re fans, then I take it I’d hold a little weight?” An unknown voice said, this time interrupting Tsunami as she prepared to say something. Everyone turned and saw a large Mudwing outside the window. He wasn’t the size of Moorhen necessarily, but he was definitely gigantic.
“M-my-”
“Substitute boss for today, yes. Creek is luckily busy in the capital for Breccia’s upcoming wedding, so I took it upon myself to take her place for this check in. And I must say…I am impressed.” The large mudwing said, as Starflight gasped
“You’re one of Queen Moorhens brothers! You’re-”
“Yes, yes, you know my name. You have a one in three shot of it anyhow.” The royal spoke, making himself chuckle.
“We were, we didn’t mean what- Please don’t tell Moorhen!” Starflight stumbled on himself
“At ease, dragonet. I have no intention of reporting you to my sister. Moons know what she’d be forced to do. Not like she doesn’t hate herself enough already for not crushing Scarlets skull.” The Royal bemused them with that final comment, before continuing, “Now, as I understand it. You want to save your friend, yes?”
“Yes!” Sunny and Tsunami shouted, as Starflight nodded with tension, still unsure if this was a trap.
“Well. I suppose the right thing would be to let you retrieve him.” The Royal said, shocking the sibling guards
“But Prince-”
“I was not finished, Young Mudwing.” The royal began to fly around the tower. It was almost difficult at times to wrap around that they were all the same species, barely divided even by age, especially as he landed himself upon the spire of the tower, “The right thing would be let you retrieve him, but on one single condition.”
“Tell us! We’ll do anything!” Sunny stated, as The Royal peered his eyes into the tower
“That Seawing must prove she so much as has the strength to stand. Let alone walk. Let alone fly. Let alone fight for the people she cares about.” He said simply, as Tsunami gritted her teeth.
“Is that meant to be some impossibility?!” Tsunami tried to laugh, before coughing up blood.
“I don’t know. Is it?” The Royal taunted, “Tell you what, if you manage to stand up, I’ll even take you there myself…well, within a certain distance. Can’t have my sister seeing me commit High Treason.”
“Tsunami, I want him to be safe too! But we have to consider everything.” Starflight told her, but when Tsunami looked in his eyes, she could see his desperation for her to stand up.
“Tsunami…please.” was all Sunny said, and Tsunami understood immediately.
“…I…will get Clay back!” Tsunami gripped her right talon to the ground, “Maybe it seems impossible, maybe we’re outnumbered, maybe we can’t fight Moorhen or her kids.” Tsunami gripped her left talon, “But I don’t care about that! All I care about right now is us getting Clay back!” Tsunami began to lift herself, “Clay is my brother! If any of us were in the situation he was in, he’d have already gotten up, flew down there, and saved us!” Tsunamis muscles struggled for a moment, as she planted one of her hind legs, “We’re gonna save Clay! No matter when! No matter how!” Tsunamis planted her other leg, and stood in triumph, “NO MATTER WHAT!”
“You…you did it!” Sunny shouted, as she hugged Tsunami, who hugged her back
“She…she really did.” Starflight said, as he joined the hug, the two placing themselves under Tsunamis wings in case she faltered.
“Hm…congratulations, Dragonets of Destiny. You’re free to go.” The Royal turned to the mudwing guards, “If this goes wrong, and anyone interrogates you, just say I forced you. I’ll say the same myself, so you won’t suffer the consequences in any way.”
“I…We wish you the best of luck.” Gander said, as his sibs nodded
“…can you tell Breccia I said hi? And maybe even tell her my name-” Rouen’s tail was grabbed and she shut up.
“Well, if that’s all then…” Tsunami looked at the others, as Sunny gave her a smile and Starflight gave her a nod. “Let’s go save Clay!”
