Winglet : Isolation

Part Two: Anxiety

Chapter 9: Day 11

Rainbow wasn't sure how to make out of Prince Turtle. Ever since the day of his interaction with Prince Fin, Prince Turtle never seem to recover from that. Torn away from much need companionship. He resigned himself to wallow in the depth of loneliness.

But Rainbow was not without an attempt. She tried to pull the little prince out of that hole by prompting a question about his favourite scroll, past-time activities, and even his favourite food. But the only response he gave was mindless floating. Weightlessness against pull and push of the current.

Time after time, she would catch a glimpse of him flashing something like 'worthless', 'useless', and 'hero', as if he was scolding to himself of something. Something which she couldn't make sense of.

Still, Rainbow chose to stay close to him. Cleaning the decorative and hallway while trying to follow him. Though, she would admit, it wasn't hard to follow a jellyfish-like SeaWing across the hallway. She still had to stay discreetly as not to raise suspicious from the other servants and royalties.

Oh, Prince Turtle. Was there anyway he could be make him happy again? She had been thinking aside while her body doing cleaning duty all these days. But it just seem so hopeless to her.

Until later in the day, someone else did it for her.

***

"Prince Turtle."

Rainbow almost spun herself in circle by shock of seeing another one uttered the name-not-be-spoken-of.

At the hallway, a dull green dragon was standing some distance in front of the little prince. One of his ear has a large gold hoop while he dark ink stain around his talons. He intercepted floating path of Prince Turtle. But he did not seem to give any acknowledge to the green SeaWing. His body, having a mind of its own, floating ever slowly towards the dragon. Even his head poke against the green SeaWing's chest did nothing for the little prince.

The green SeaWing's intense flashes finally got his attention.

"Whirlpool?" flashed the little prince.

"I don't care whether you wanted to be a kelp or a seaweed, little prince." Whirlpool furrowed his muzzle. "My time is precious. I have things to do and places to go. However, I have something announce to you."

Whether or not Prince Turtle gave any response, she did not know. But Rainbow do know that she would like to slap that green dragon in the face for being such disrespect.

"As any dragonet that reach of age of two, they shall attend the Talon of Power ceremony. You are to be expected there."

"Talon of Power?" Prince Turtle flashed aloud her question.

"Yes. Have you not learnt that from your tutor? Good gracious. How our standard of education had deteriorated just over these past years." Whirlpool shook his head. "Talon of power ceremony is where the dragonets are to be tested. To see whether they inherited the long-lost power. In these times of war, our kingdom would finally have a way to end the war. Once and for all."

What 'Power'? So strong that it can end the war? Was it the 'Talon of Power'?

Rainbow scratched her head but judging the reaction on Prince Turtle's shocking expression and the widening eyes, he knew. The little prince was trying to suppress his light and yet, his scales still let loose a sudden burst of lights through them.