It was him

[moonshadows]

"I need to see the Life-Binder!"

The naggingly-familiar Red let out a bark of laughter. "You think I'm going to let one of you crazies near my Queen?"

"Look, I'm a Blue and I'm not crazy." Azureon cocked his head to one side and looked at the Red again. "...do I know you? I swear I've seen you before."

"I don't traffic with traitors," he sneered.

The Blue blinked. "You were this thick-headed ten thousand years ago, too."

"...what?"

"I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice." Azureon drew his narrow body up to his full height, inhaled...

"...what?"

...and blew a stream of purple smoke that resolved into a line of little waddling shapes that marched through the air towards the crown of Wyrmrest Temple. The Red craned his neck around in confusion while Azureon settled onto his haunches and kept happily blowing purple smoke.

"What are you doing?"

Azureon didn't answer. Several minutes later, a female voice bellowed from the top of the temple.

"WHOSE ARE THESE?!?"

The Blue grinned, and the line of smoke creatures began to reverse direction, marching back towards him. At the end of the line, two enormous red dragons swooped down and chased them back to their creator, settling in the snow to either side of the startled guard.

"What, exactly, are these?" The Dragon Queen asked intently.

"Purple penguins," Azureon said proudly.

Alexstraza leaned back in surprise. "Azureon! It was you?"

Beside her, Korialstrasz shooed the guard away. "It was him what?"

"It was me, ten thousand years ago. With the eggs."

Now it was the male Red's turn to lean back in surprise.

"Ten thousand...well, you would be the right age now. It's no wonder you didn't recognize him, my love." She turned her attention back to the little Blue. "Why are you here, Azureon?"

Claws kneaded the frozen ground. "Because my Flight has gone crazy, and that's not Malygos!"

Korialstrasz looked skeptical. "If it's not him, then who is it, and where is he?"

"I don't know," Azureon whimpered, crouching down with his wings pulled in. "But we need to find him. Dad's going to be so mad when he gets back. The impostor is very good, but..."

"...But you spent a thousand years alone with him," Alexstrasza said gently. "Come with me. I can't promise we'll be able to convince many to aid you, but we'll try."