Me and Crystal were flying back home from the market island, our wings beginning to feel weary from the flight, the sun was inching its way lower in the sky by the time we touched down on the Arctic isles, the chill of the iceberg beneath me comforting me the same way a warm blanket might another dragon.

"So what shall we do now?" Crystal asked, her slightly high pitched voice breaking me free of my calm, my wings tensed by my side as I cast a narrow-eyed glance sideways at her.

"How about you leave me alone. I don't need you following me around and annoying me, all the frost-blasted time!" I snap, keeping my voice low as to not be overheard, I lowered it further still to growl the next bit at her. "Why don't you just tell my parents I would rather bake to death in the sun than marry the likes of you..."

Hurt flashed in her eyes and she opened her mouth to protest but I cut her off. "Tell them that if they want any luck on making me marry anyone that they better assign someone more quieter... like a librarian..."
I couldn't help a slight flush, that was a bit too on the nose wasn't it...

Crystal tipped her head to the side, casting me a thoughtful look, I didn't even know she was capable of looking like that. "A librarian huh...?" Her mouth cracked through then into a smirk. "Like Quartz?" Her long curly mane fell over one eye.

I turned away so she wouldn't see the flush that went over my face. "I was just meaning in general! Librarians literal job is to keep quiet."

Crystal's face was still held in a teasing smirk when I glanced back, I barred my teeth at her, an growl itching to escape my throat.

"I mean I wouldn't blame you, Quartz is pretty great..." she spoke then, her gaze going distant. "Very studious, focused."

"Yeah, she's the exact opposite of you." I spoke, sweeping away from her majestically.

"I don't want to be enemies with you Permafrost." Crystal mumbled as she trailed along, her expression more subdued, almost sad. "You seem nice to be around when you're with your friends."

I ignored her, stalked towards the palace, it was carved from one of the hugest chunks of iceberg, towering high above every other building, the second largest was the library only a short walk and even shorter glide from my room's window.

I felt my wings snap into place as I crossed under the large entrance, i unconsciously reached a talon up to smooth back the fluff on my head, holding my head high, Crystal had shifted to a more regal walk as well instead of her normal skip-canter that she moved with.  

The Winterhorn library was said to be the largest library in the kingdoms of Palera, holding vast collections of knowledge dating back far, some scrolls and carved stone slabs I even believed might be from before the iceberg landed at the archipelago.

Some of the history contained in the library were about the other tribes, like I knew of one from Queen Lily herself, or so it was labeled, telling some about her mysterious reign with her mate queen Glory ruling alongside her, she was rumored to have one day disappeared with her mate, leaving the Rosewing tribe leaderless, her younger brother Oak ended up having to take charge in her unexpected absence.

"Greetings Crystal dear." A sharp voice spoke, it was slightly softer directed at Crystal of course, I glanced over as calmly as I could maintain, my mother stood a little ways ahead in the corridor her gaze snapped to look over at me son as I slowly approached. "Hello Permafrost."

I did have to give myself credit, I had managed not to flinch at the coldness of her tone nowadays, so that was a improvement. "Greetings mother." I spoke with a dip of my head, a show of respect.

"You seem to be in a frosty mood." Blizzard remarked, staring down her nose at me.

I shifted ever so slightly on my feet, casting a side glance over at Crystal who met my gaze warily for a moment then drifted back to staring at my mother.

"I'm fine, just... a minor fight between us..." I mumbled, gesturing to Crystal vaguely.

Crystal tipped her head to the side, shooting me a look. "Minor..?" She spoke up. "I wouldn't say minor... you told me you didn't want to be matched with me, that I'm sooo terrible and annoying." She ruffled her wings indignitly.

"Oh really?" Queen Blizzard spoke, glancing between them with faked interest. "And just who do you think would be sooooo much better, might I ask?" Blizzard asked

"Not Crystal." I replied warily "I definitely don't want her as my mate."

"So who do you think would be a better mate?" Blizzard asked again, stepping closer so she towered over me like a column of menace.

"Quartz.... our librarian.." I responded, my voice barely a whisper.

"I think you'll stay with Crystal for the time being." Blizzard replied, her tone sounding almost merciful. "I'll think about it though."

I had a feeling that would be the answer after I finally admitted my true opinion, I just had hoped she would change hmy arrangements, I'd much prefer to be with Quartz overall.

Crystal's wings drooped slightly and she dropped her gaze away from me, looking sad.

Quartz probably wouldn't want to follow me around all the time like Crystal, she would want to stay in the library, her library, it had belonged to Quartz since a few months after she finished her school since her parents wanted a smart young dragon to be the new librarian.

I walked off not replying to my mother and I went to my room, I have managed to leave Crystal behind, i won't have to deal with her annoying me...for right now at the very least.

I have a large window carved into the wall opposite the door in my room, the sunlight shining through it filled the room with the warm light, I have curtains over the window, when Crystal came in she would pull them open to let the sunlight in, I walked over and closed the curtains since Crystal wasn't there to open them again.

"Prince Permafrost are you in here..?" Crystal asked from the doorway, her voice subdued, oddly quiet.

Normally if he didn't answer she would go away to look for me somewhere else, other times she had came in without asking, the click of her talons coming closer signaled that she wasn't waiting for an answer.

"Go away Crystal I want to be alone." I snap, casting her a glare when I turned around.

"I'm sorry..." Crystal mumbled. "I shouldn't have told on you like that."

"Just go away!" I brushed her off with a exaggerated wave of my talon. "I don't want to deal with you now!"

"Or ever for that matter..." I mumble turning back away, I could hear a slight sigh and the retreating talonsteps, she'd actually listened for once in her frost-blasted life.

I have a pretty plain room for a Winterhorn, a shelf for my books and scrolls I liked to read along a portion of a wall, a large bed in the corner of the room, I also had a desk in his room, but he had some personal touches like stars made of carved ice that hung on clear threads from the ceiling, I enjoy carving things, the top of my shelf was lined with some of my other works, mostly Winterhorns, though there were some polar bears, and a penguin too. Just alot of what I've seen the most.

My parents didn't see the point in me wasting away my Precious time on carving with ice, making such intricate designs with a material that if left out in direct sunlight could be ruined in a matter of moments, I liked it though, I especially liked that it bothered them, like a little bit of disguised revenge for how much of my life they controlled like manipulative puppet-masters. 

I quite liked the stars and the night sky and Quartz helped me learn more about it since my parents didn't want me to study things like that, I should focus all my time and energy learning more about manners, proper posture, diplomatic junk that could put me to sleep, it was a bore, a bore and an annoyance since Crystal always attended with me, seeing as she is meant to be Queen when I have to take charge...

I opened my bag and pulled out a few meteor pieces I had bought in the market and set them on my desk, when I had purchased the meteor pieces I had momentarily escaped Crystal in a crowd, she soon had caught up with me though, she always somehow did.

I could jump out the window and fly off to see Quartz, I thought wistfully,  then I wouldn't have Crystal watching us hang out... alone, just me and her...

I would go and help Quartz out with her work around the library restocking the returned stuff and other things that needed to be done with

I could remember the time he met Quartz, before Crystal followed me around, before my parents even thought of a dragon for me to be mates with.

I walked into the library, needing to do some research for my class, I just had hope the library had what I was looking for.

A clear voice rang out through the cavernous space as I crossed through the entrance. "Anything I could help you with?"

The voice sounded surprisingly youthful, when I looked he found a dragon about my age, she wore glasses balanced carefully on her snout that were kept up by being tied to her horns, she sat behind a desk, notes and books lay out in front of her, she stood and crossed around the edge of the desk, striding calmly over.

"And before you ask, yes. I am the librarian... and no, I'm not too young to be owning this place." She spoke carefully, eyeing me up and down.

I felt a gasp escape my throat at her, she was breathtaking. "I... err, came here to do some... uh, reading." I stuttered.

She gave a laugh, a lovely sound, her head being thrown back by the force of her giggling. "Well I mean of course you did!" She gasped around a few remaining giggles. "Why else would you be in a library?"

I found myself smiling at this dragon, she seemed so free, her wings were loose at her side, her tail swishing around in a almost playful way, her expression was true, not a mask she put on for the public eye... she was perfect... or at least that's how she seems to me.

"Soooo?? Is it a school thing?" She asked, tipping her head to the side. "Or just a genuine interest in reading."

It took me a few moments to remember to breathe, and a few more after that to figure out my response. "Err... yeah it's for school..." I spoke, my voice sounding unsure, almost questioning, I wanted to slap himself, 'As a royal nothing you say or do should look out of place, always seem like you have everything figured out, then no one will question you.' My mother's voice reminded me from my brain, I shook my head and cleared my throat. "I mean yes, it's a school thing, although I would like to spend more time here.... if you'd have me?"

She smiled at me. "The library is a public space, no one isn't allowed, that's plain silly!" She paused before continuing. "Anyways, my name is Quartz, what's yours?"

"Permafrost, I'm Permafrost." I respond, a smile lighting on my face.

"Well Perma, how about we go and find what you are looking for?" She asked, and we walked off together in the library.

Present time))

The sky had slowly shifted and changed over the past hours, darkening towards the evening, everyone thinks I'm asleep, Quartz told me we would meet up and do our hangout and the lesson tonight, I often kept what I liked to learn about a secret, secrets filled so much of my life, having to withhold the little bits of rule free safety I have like bits of food in a crowd of starving dragons.

I opened my curtains cautiously, glancing around before I jumped out the window, taking off into the night sky, flying off to the library my wings billowing in the night breeze, I landed down at the door, it was closed for night hours, keeping it more secure for Quartz on her evening shifts, I knocked on the door, four quick taps against the metal surface, it was a code Quartz came up with, to let her know it was me there rather than anyone else.

Quartz opened the door, her grinning face greeting me. "Hello Perma!" she said cheerfully.

"Hi Quartz" i reply with an kind smile, my face flushing slightly, she moved aside so I could walk past into the library, I stepped past and she cast a wary look around the outside area before shutting the door behind me.

She is the only dragon I feel I can be my actual self around, perhaps there will be someone else.... someday...

"I found some ancient-y stuff today. Wanna check it out with me?" Quartz asked, turning to look at me.

"Sure." I answer, how could I possibly resist that face?

Quartz lead me to the table we normally sat at, I reached over and grabbed one of the scrolls on the table, the paper crinkling slightly in my grip, I unrolled it, it was pretty old but not as old as some stuff I'd seen before.

It was a scroll from King Creepvine which ruled the Rosewings after his father King Oak's long rule but it didn't have anything on why or how Queen Lily and her mate, Queen Glory had disappeared long ago, that was a mystery that puzzled me greatly, so much so that sometimes I wished I could go back in time and see it for myself.

We spent our time looking through the old books and scrolls, eventually I pulled himself up onto my talons. "This has been fun but... despite how much I'd rather stay, I should get back before someone tries to check on me in my room." I spoke, my wings drooping lower at the mere thought of leaving Quartz.

"Alright see you later, Perma." Quartz said, not looking up from the book she had her nose practically buried in, I smiled, she was so obsessed with her studying, it gave her so much joy.

I opened the library doors, striding out and letting it slowly close behind me, once I was out I spread my wings, taking off to fly back to my room, I landed in and walked to my bed and climbed inside, my wings hung loosely at my side as I curled up and fell into sleep.

I awoke the next morning for a fresh cold day, I get out of my bed, and stretch like an cat, how they would stretch their front paws out, I spread my wings wide as I stretched, then I rose up and climbed free of my bed.

~Knock knock knock~

"Who's there?" I call in a clipped tone.

"It's time for breakfast Permafrost... Queen's orders." Crystal called back, it appears as she has finally listened to me and has stopped calling me 'Prince Permafrost'.

I could hear the faint click of her talonsteps walking away outside, Crystal was one of the dragons who was permitted to live within the palace despite not being of royal blood, her family was fairly high in the hierarchy though, with many that respected them as 'royalty adjacent'.

I was currently the only heir to the Winterhorn throne, since my parents were still unsure whether they wanted to have another dragonet or not, I imagined if I spoke up too much they would be all to happy to get a replacement in order though.

I walk out of my room and over to the dining room, the dragons who were there already were my father, king Icecube, Crystal,  Crystal's father, Emperor, and her mother Flurry, like me Crystal was an only Dragonet.

"Good morning your majesty." Emperor said to me, giving me an respectful nod.

"Hello Emperor." I reply, striding calmly closer, my translucent cape swishing softly across the floor with my ever so fluffy tail.

Blizzard was always the last to come out for any meal, preferring to make her grand entrance after beautifying herself.

I always had to sit next to Crystal at our meals, I sat down in his spot.

"Sorry for annoying you yesterday." Crystal whispered to me, leaning closer into my personal space.

I was going to reply that she was annoying all the time but then my mother walked in, Blizzard seemed to want quiet when she entered a room, she hated dragons defying her, she would be furious when she learned about me and Quartz's secret meetings, especially that I did them without Crystal.

"Good morning your majesty." Flurry greeted the queen after a few minutes of silence. "Morning." Blizzard replied curtly, her tone less frosty than usual.

I felt a unwilling wave of ice seem to wash over me, frost glittered from my cloak and talons, hardening into ice when my mother's gaze passed towards me, catching on my face for a little longer than anyone else, I took a few deep breaths, slowly forcing warm thoughts through my mind until the frost and ice dwindled away into nothing but a little water.

My mother is the main one to command the tribe, in other tribes the King and Queen ruled together, like with the Cometflight tribe with King Shade and Queen Midnight, or the Tidestream tribe with King Mako and Queen Manta, although I had heard those two's relationship had been more rocky as of late.

Technically Blizzard was only royal by marriage, as Icecube was the one with royal blood.

"Well, let's eat." Blizzard said, sitting down dramatically on her seat, curling her tail around her talons, servants began to bring in the plates, setting them at the occupied spaces, placing proper utensils with them.

The Winterhorn tribe never really had any alliance with any other tribe due to Blizzard's more harsh behavior towards outsiders.

We began to eat then, I using a fork to spear up a piece of chilled seal, biting it with my sharp teeth, I ate my breakfast fairly quickly, I quietly pushed my plate to the side and stood from my seat, sweeping majestically from the room while Crystal was distracted, I glanced back every so often to see if she had caught me but luck was on my side as it appeared.

Perhaps I can go visit the library and see Quartz..? As long as Crystal doesn't guess I'm going there..

I walked into the courtyard and took off, instinctively tilting my wings in the direction of the library, I took a look back to that Crystal still hadn't caught up with me yet, when I saw she hadn't I landed down and opened the doors and walked inside, shutting them behind me.

"You're here! And without Crystal to bother you I see!" Quartz observed, running over and giving me a small hug, I felt my cheeks heat up as I flushed at the contact.

"For now, she was distracted in a conversation when I left." I replied after she pulled back.

"Did you come to help me out? Or something else?" Quartz asked.

"Help you out of course, though chatting with you is a added bonus." I answer. Giving an small smile.

"Kay, that'll be helpful." Quartz replied. "More talons make hard jobs easier."

I walked off and grabbed a few books from the return pile and brought them to the shelves they belonged on.

There was a Winterhorn reading there, I think his name is Penguin but I don't know that for sure, I began to put the books I grabbed in the right order on the shelf and put books that were misplaced back where they were supposed to be.

I don't know how Quartz handles this place on her own, she's just incredible.

I went to grab more, though one thing I'm surprised about is that no other tribes come to this library to read it's expansive collection of books and scrolls, I liked to keep stuff looking nice.

"So Perma, you still into ice carving?" Quartz asked as I walked over to grab more off the pile.

"Yeah." I answer.  "It's my second favorite pass time."

"That's cool." Quartz replied, pausing before asking. "What's your first favorite.?"

"Helping you here.." I admit sheepishly, hoping I wasn't blushing too badly.

"Aww, that's sweet!" Quartz grinned, leaning over to scrawl a note on one of the papers she had on her desk. "I was thinking about expanding the library to have a section where dragons can bring in their own works and I was wondering if you'd maybe make some carvings for me to display?"

"Of course I'll help!" I blurted. "I'd love to."

I stopped leaning against the desk and grabbed some more stuff from the pile, I walked off to where they were supposed to go, I helped Quartz for most of the day, Crystal eventually found me but I had got quite a bit of time with Quartz, it had been nice to be with Quartz without Crystal watching them.

"Hey Perma looks like Crystal found ya." Quartz said as Crystal walked in and saw me, the librarian's gaze was curious as she watched the approaching dragon, Crystal must not come here too often alone.

"Permafrost... why did you sneak away from me?" Crystal whined, her wings flopped indignitly at her sides. "Oh also, hi Quartz!"

"Because I don't feel like having to be watched everywhere I go!" I answer, my voice now edged with a growl.

"You really feel that way about me?" Crystal asked, her face shifting to more of a glare. "Like I'm some sort of spy for your mom?"

Quartz cast a wary glance between them before ducking her head and walking swiftly away to the opposite side of the library, I felt my heart tugging for me to go after her, to assure my true friend that I wasn't truly this loud, growly dragon, but I couldn't, not with Crystal's eyes on me.

"Uh yeah it seems like mother doesn't trust me to go anywhere by myself!" I snap, turning back.

"I'm sorry you feel that way Permafrost." Crystal said, her eyes still looked mad but her voice was back to normal. "If you want to make me happier stop following me everywhere!" I growl at her, my teeth bared in a snarl, I could hear the whispers of the various occupants of the library who were watching, my parents would surely know about this fight within mere minutes.

I then grabbed a few scrolls off of the returned pile and walked off shooting a glare back at Crystal as qi stormed away, I looked at the titles of the scrolls and went off to the place where the most of the scrolls were supposed to be in.

After a little bit more work, mostly spent so Crystal would leave to go home on her own, I eventually took my leave as well, mumbling a goodbye to Quartz who had shot me an concerned look, she was worried about how Blizzard was going to treat me after the argument with my arranged mate.

I was the first one in the dining room when I arrived for dinner, I sat and waited for the rest of the families to arrive, Flurry came in next.

"Hello Prince Permafrost." Flurry greeted me.

"Hello." I reply with an nod, not meeting her gaze.

Flurry was yet to annoy me ever, the complete opposite of her daughter.

"Emperor is just finishing up the thing he was writing before he comes down." Flurry spoke, seeming to be creating small talk.

Emperor was the one who normally wrote for the royal family and Flurry was the one who did the carving around the palace so they were both pretty important to the royal family.

"Where have you been today? Crystal told me she was looking for you at lunch." Flurry asked.

"I was just helping out a friend today." I answer.

"Ah alright." Flurry replied.

Sometimes I wish Crystal could be more like Flurry, a kind dragon not someone who is constantly annoying. Emperor walked in then.

"Hello Permafrost." he spoke with a nod.

"So are you done for the day?" Flurry asked Emperor.

"Not yet I still have some work to do after dinner." Emperor answered

"Oh okay" Flurry replied

Flurry turned back to me

"I heard the owner of the library was planning on expanding maybe I can help with that" Flurry said

"Actually she asked me to help with that" a small smile forms on my face.

"Oh then do you like to do carving?" Flurry asked

"Yeah I do." I answer.

Winterhorn's could become very great at caving cause of our long claws.

I got taught by Flurry and Emperor as was Crystal.

And Crystal came in with Icecube

"Hi PermaFrost" Crystal said

"Hello" I reply.

"Get anything done today Emperor?" Icecube asked

"quite a lot of writing yes" Emperor answered

"That's good" Icecube replied

"but I'm not done for the day" Emperor said

The next day

I had been at the library for a little while now working on some carving for Quartz and well I was there an Blizzard struck

I hear the door open I take an glance back and saw there was a cloaked Winterhorn carrying a pile of books and scrolls and they put them all down in the donation bin

I walked over and looked at the stuff

It was all the we had been wanting for months

The Winterhorn was then rushing out as quickly as they came.

"Thank you" I called after the stranger.

Quartz came over

"Is she really going back out there?" Quartz asked

"I guess so but how do you know it was a girl?" I reply

"I suppose I don't I just guessed." Quartz answered

"She brought all the books and scrolls we have been trying to get for the library" I say

Quartz turned to stare at me

"Seriously. She went through the Blizzard just to do that for us" Quartz replied

"I know she is a really nice dragon" I say

Later that day

After the blizzard had ended I headed home since there was an worse blizzard coming and I didn't want to get caught in that

I landed down

No one was out in the courtyard though that was normal since most of the two families who lived there often stayed inside and the time for hearing the tribes problems had came and gone

There was only a made time the king and Queen could hear the tribes problems was because they only could hear so much and they often had other things they needed to do for that day

I walk inside and through the halls to my room.

I was going to make a few small carvings for the library and plus Quartz's hatching day was coming up and I would like to gift her something.

I walk into my room.

I had been expecting Crystal to be waiting for me somewhere since I hadn't seen her anywhere else in the palace since the morning.

But she wasn't there which was a good thing since I didn't have to deal with her annoying me.

I walk over to my desk and sat down

I grabbed a chunk of ice and began to carve it. This would be Quartz's hatching day gift, once it was finished of course.

I heard the tap tap tap of claws against the floor coming towards my room.

A guard came in.  "It is dinner time your majesty" they say and leave before giving me an chance to respond. That is not how you treat royalty.

I got up from my work and walked down the hall to the dining room

"Hey uh PermaFrost can you take this up to Crystal she isn't doing well" Flurry asked.

"Uh okay" I answer taking the plate of food from her.

Even though Crystal was the annoyingest Winterhorn I still will do it for her.

I walk to Crystal's room and open the door quietly.

It occurs to me then, that I have never actually been in Crystal's room before.

She had a large bed against the window and she had quite a tall mirror and lots of room to store her jewelry and she had a chest in a corner. Her room seemed glitter with how much jewelry there was.

Crystal lay sprawled out on the bed.

"Oh hi PermaFrost" she greeted me.

I didn't reply instead gave her the plate of food and left.

Here is a pic of Flurry and Emperor
(A/n this is very Very Very old Winterhorn's no longer look like this.)
(They look more like how Perma does on the cover)