It was common knowledge throughout Pyrrhia that only daughters, sisters, nieces, and granddaughters could challenge the Queen for the throne. But even so, no one expected what happened in the rainforest. 

The Rainwing and Nightwing throne didn't have an heir, seeing as Glory didn't have a daughter. But since Glory and Deathbringer had two eggs just weeks away from hatching, no one worried. But there was technically someone in line for the throne, someone no one had considered until afterwards. 

Pineapple was Jambu's daughter. Jambu was Glory's brother. That made her Glory's niece, and able to challenge her for the throne. But no one ever expected her too. So, it was a shock when she did. But it was even more of a shock when they found out what Pineapple did when she lost.

It was another busy day in the rainforest. Glory followed her jobs and attempted to avoid questions related to her recent challenge. It had been a camouflage contest and Glory had won, so she kept her throne. Deathbringer followed her throughout the day, and Rainkeeper spent time sorting fruit with Mangrove. Even he was rattled by the challenge. Pineapple was only five years older than him, at the near adulthood mark of seven. He had never really considered what life would be like if his mom wasn't Queen. 

It was near sundown. Glory sighed as she slumped down at her desk to answer letters. 

"Anything you need me to do for you?" Deathbringer asked, knowing she wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. 

"Could you check on the eggs for me?" Glory asked. He nodded and left the hut en route to the hatchery. 

*****

Pineapple fumed, pacing the forest floor. How could she have lost? She was prepared to win! Not to lose in some stupid contest. She expected Glory to fight her, not some entertainment charade. I have to be queen, she proclaimed. But how? There was an easy way, of course. Just make sure she was the only heir. That plan had a problem though. Glory had two eggs in the hatchery, one of those could be a girl. 

Well then, Pineapple thought evilly. I guess I just have to get rid of them.

Pineapple stormed into the hatchery, brandishing a thick branch she'd pulled off a tree. There, on a slightly raised dais, was the two royal eggs. Left or right? she thought. With an evil grin, Pineapple walked to the right, and raised the branch like a club.

Deathbringer walked to the hatchery. When he neared the entrance, a furious yell shot through the air, coming from inside the hatchery. Deathbringer rushed inside to see Pineapple smashing a dragonet egg. 

Without a second thought, he lunged at her, wrestling her to the ground. Pineapple fought viciously, while Deathbringer attempted to take more care, trying not to harm any more eggs. Pineapple didn't care about that as she lept out of Deathbringer's grip into a clutch of eggs, smashing them. Her abandoned branch had crushed two more when it had been thrown away from her. Instead of fleeing while she had the chance, Pineapple launched herself at Deathbringer, on the attack. She was surprisingly strong and her eyes glittered like fire. 

Eventually, Deathbringer managed to get her outside the hatchery. Figuring he would have her arrested, Pineapple took off into the sky. Deatbringer watched her go before rushing back into the hatchery. It was bad. At least ten eggs had been crushed, including one of the royal ones. Deathbringer stared at the broken shell and collapsed to the ground in defeat and grief.

*****

Rainkeeper had just walked into his mother's office when a frantic-looking dragon burst into the room. 

"Your Majesty!" he cried as Glory ran to him. "There's been an- an- I don't even know what to call it, it's horrible." 

"What happened?" Glory demanded. 

"The hatchery was attacked." the messenger explained. "Deathbringer's been hurt. He's in the healer's hut." She didn't wait to hear the rest. Glory bolted from the room and flew as fast as her wings could carry her. The messenger followed her. 

Rainkeeper stood there, stunned. His dad was hurt. He should go to the healer's hut. But his siblings were in the hatchery. What if the dragon that attacked it came back? With that, Rainkeeper flew off to the hatchery.

*****

Glory burst into the healer's hut, her eyes searching. They landed on a wiry Nightwing laying on a cot in the room. 

"Deathbringer."she whispered, rushing over to him. He opened his eyes as she sat on the edge of the cot and grabbed his talon. The regret in his eyes almost made her want to cry. 

"I'm sorry." he whispered to her. "I'm so sorry. Pineapple....she attacked the hatchery. I tried to stop her, but I arrived too late. I was too late. She broke one of ours. I'm so sorry Glory." his eyes filled. Glory found herself crying as she gripped his talon harder. They had lost a dragonet, the most painful thing in the world, and it had happened to them. If it had just been two weeks later, it would've hatched. But now it never would. 

*****

Rainkeeper slowly entered the hatchery, taking in the sight. There were smashed egg shells and untouched ones everywhere. He couldn't leave it like this. So he decided to clean it up. Rainkeeper went and got a broom and swept up the broken shells, taking note of which couple's eggs had been smashed. But then there was only one thing left to clean up. 

The other dragonet eggs were new, so there was just an egg to clean up. But the crushed shell on the dais had a dragonet inside. It didn't feel right to Rainkeeper to just sweep this dragonet, his own brother, away. So he thought of a different plan.

Carefully, Rainkeeper picked up the dead dragonet and carried him into the forest. There, he found a suitable tree and began to dig. He rested the dragonet into the small grave and buried him. But this job wasn't over yet. Rainkeeper walked around the forest, grabbing vines and glory flowers. Then he went back to the grave and wrapped the vines around the tree, marking it. Then he placed the glory flowers on the little grave and carved into the tree, My brother.

After a moment, Rainkeeper went back to the hatchery. There was still another egg on the dais, this one unharmed. My sibling, Rainkeeper thought. No one can harm this one. He sat down on the dais behind the egg and watched it. I wonder if she can hear me, he thought.  

"Hello little sister. I don't know how I know you're a girl, but I do." he began, talking to the egg. "I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can, listen up. I'm Rainkeeper, your big brother. I'm going to protect you, no matter what. Nobody's ever gonna hurt you, even after you hatch. You'll like it out here. We have a great Mom and Dad. Just don't let Dad teach you how to fly." he added with a laugh.

Meanwhile

"I am so sorry." Jambu apologized. "Is there anything I can do?" Glory nodded. 

"Yes." she said with a sigh. "And you don't have to keep apologizing. But could you find Rainkeeper for me and bring him here? And try to figure out whose eggs were smashed so we can notify the parents." Jambu nodded and left.

He felt so guilty. He should've been able to stop Pineapple- he was his daughter after all. He sighed and began looking for Rainkeeper. But the playful dragonet was nowhere to be found. He wasn't anywhere. Jambu frowned and made his way to the hatchery, dreading to see the damage Pineapple had done. But instead, he found Rainkeeper sitting defiantly behind an egg.

"What are you doing?" Jambu asked cautiously. 

"I am protecting my sister." Rainkeeper declared. "Whoever attacked the hatchery could come back and if they do, I'm not letting them hurt this dragonet. I am not leaving here until it hatches safely." Jambu stared at him, and he stared right back, his facial expression identical to Glory's. Jambu could see the Glory in him just begging him to argue. 

"Alright." Jambu said slowly, leaving the hatchery.

*****

Glory glanced up as Jambu entered the hut. 

"Where's Rainkeeper?" she asked. Deathbringer had been given a sleeping dart to help him rest and she wanted to see the little dragonet's face. 

"Um....He's in the hatchery." Jambu offered. Glory frowned. 

"Why?" 

"According to Rainkeeper, he is protecting his sibling and is refusing to leave the hatchery until it hatches." he announced. Glory blinked. 

"Well.... Make sure he doesn't go hungry." she ordered.