This story is fanfiction based off of the adoptable site Dragon Cave. All mentioned dragons, dragon abilities, landscape layout, etc. is copyright of T.J. Lipscomb, his staff, and the artists who made the dragons for the site. This story is meant only for the enjoyment of the public; it will never be published or otherwise sold unless those at Dragon Cave give permission for its sale.
~A Guardian of Nature~
Finished on 4/14/16 | Dialogue edits on 9/4/18
There was once a coastal kingdom, a rather wealthy one. It sat overlooking the sea, a forest flanking its side and its back protected by mighty mountains. This kingdom was prosperous and happy, as a good king reigned it. The king ruled with a mighty White Dragon, an uncanny healer with a heart purer than newly-fallen snow. The king did many good things with the help of his dragon; they healed those who were sick or wounded, be they citizens or strangers, and fed those who couldn't till the ground for themselves. They provided shelters for the growing town at the castle's feet, encouraged the spreading wealth, and cast up walls of safety so the townspeople would never have to worry about fearsome beasts and quarreling dragons. But alas, the king's White Dragon was becoming old, and thinking of retiring from his side; and what is a king without his dragon? So, as a gift for the shelter the king provides for them, the townspeople can together and pondered about the perfect gift for him.
“Perhaps we should give him a Magi?” one person asked, “If the king is threatened, the Magi can send him away to safety!”
“No! We must give him a Guardian Dragon! They are loyal even unto death, protecting their masters until the end! Only a Guardian is fit for a king!” another objected.
“What about a Tsunami Dragon? Our king goes on lots of voyages over the sea; what would happen if the boat is capsized?” another wondered, “Surely a Tsunami Dragon he needs!”
“Too large and too dangerous! He needs something soft and sweet,” another cooed, “Only a Pink would do; so motherly and caring, a Pink Dragon will help him with every problem he has!”
“All of your dragons would be too weak in the face of their opposites,” a wise man spoke up, “He needs a dragon that cannot be opposed! We trust our king; can he not have a dragon worthy of not only defending him, but us as well?”
“What do you propose?” a villager asked, “I can't think of any dragon better than these!”
“Ah, do you not believe in legends?” The wise man's eyes sparkled. “Tales tell of a dragon summoned by a powerful trio, the God of all Dragons! A Guardian of Nature! A Protector of Light! What better for our king than that?”
The townspeople mutually agreed that indeed, the Dragon God would be perfect for their benevolent ruler! But how to get it? The wise man explained:
“We need a fiery Magma Dragon from the hottest volcano, a frigid Ice Dragon born only out of mountain blizzards, and a mighty Thunder Dragon who burns the desert sands with lightning! These three dragons shall pool their power together to summon the God of Dragons.”
It was settled then, and three groups were assembled to go find these dragons. The first group went over the sea, past hundreds of atolls and reefs, to find a volcanic island. The second group grabbed their picks and headed for the mountains, bundled up for the cold. And finally, the third group took the longest route through the forest to visit the desert down south. These groups had one sole task; find a powerful dragon and bring it back to the kingdom.
The first group set sail immediately, and spent a day at sea searching for an island. Much to their surprise, they came across one, and a very new one at that! Still jagged around the edges, a torpid stream of magma flowing down its side, the dark volcano was impressive. The crew was excited, it seemed to take no time at all! Quickly disembarking from their craft, they took an adventurous hike up the volcano, cautious about where they stepped and keeping their eyes on the peak. Blessed by fortune, they made safely to the top, but there seemed to be nothing there aside from a lonely pool of lava. Having trekked all the way up to the caldera, one man in particular felt very cheated.
“We came for a legendary dragon, but there is nothing in sight!” he muttered, “A waste of time!”
“I thought for sure we would find something,” another said glumly, “even another fire dragon!”
Staring out over the lava lake and the dark stones that poked up from out of it, the third man couldn't help but agree: “ Perhaps this volcano doesn't hold the Magma Dragon, and we should turn back? There might be other volcanoes nearby.”
Just then a loud rumble sounded, the lake began to quake. The explorers, jumped, startled at the sight, and began to flee. “It's going to blow!” they cried.
But, fortune smiles again! The tremor was not the volcano shivering, but rather a stirring dragon! A draconic head reared from the lava lake, blinking sleepily. As it was covered in lava, it was hard to tell what kind of dragon it was, but it was indeed a large being.
Who is talking? What is going on? The thoughts echoed in the explorer's minds; an unfamiliar voice, the dragon's telepathy. Are you that Falconiform Dragon again? I thought I told you to-
“Great dragon, it is only us!” the first man shouted, becoming alarmed by the dragon's rising tone. The dragon blinked once more and peered down at the volcano's rim, becoming surprised.
Why, you're no bigger than a pygmy! And who are your friends? she rumbled.
“We are explorers from opposite shores, seeking a great Magma Dragon! We wish to take him to our kingdom, where he will meet a Thunder and an Ice Dragon, and they shall summon a worthy companion for our king!” The man trembled under the dragon's gaze.
Why, that is I! the dragon said, further astonished. I am a Magma Dragon! I came from deep beneath the earth, and to prove my worth to my fellow Magmas I raised this volcano from the sea floor. It was quite a difficult task, you know. The dragon held her head proudly.
The men were delighted. A Magma, right here in front of them! They wouldn't have to search for another volcano!
“Would you be so kind as to visit our kingdom?” the first explorer asked, “It is not too far away.”
I would be delighted to visit your kingdom; oh, but there is so much water to cross, the Magma worried, How could I possibly get there from here?
Two of the men were stumped, but the third had an idea. “Great Magma Dragon!” he called, “You said you came from deep beneath the earth? Perhaps you could return there, and then resurface at our shores?”
Ah, a splendid idea! The dragon's bright green eyes lit up. But I wouldn't want to burn your land. I will resurface a safe distance away, out into the ocean; like I raised this volcano, I shall raise a plinth of which to perch upon so I can see your kingdom.
As such, the first dragon of the mighty Trio, the Magma Dragon, was found!
The second group of explorers had less luck on their venture, having been stuck on the mountains for several days. It was cold, and there was little food about. Fierce wild dragons judged the small group and their goat tag-a-long from distance clefts and treetops. As the trees thinned out, so did the cold grow merciless, the dragons rarer but more dangerous. It was quickly seeming hopeless; the group planned on turning back, but found themselves in the midst of an impending snowstorm, and were forced to seek shelter underneath a frigid overhang in a cave.
As the four men shivered they contemplated their fates, murmuring amongst themselves and wondering if they could ever make it back? The blizzard was only growing more relentless, pelting their shelter with drifts of wind-driven snow.
Yet, even they had some luck, as a small Nilia Pygmy Dragon seemed to dislike to storm more than they did. It snuck under the overhang and curled up by their fire, practically ignoring the strangers around it and nursing a wounded wing.
The first man jumped up at the opportunity of a meal, as the pygmy was small and helpless, but the second man jumped to stop him.
“Do not hurt it! It simply wants relief from the storm, much like us!” he objected.
“Yes, but I can imagine it's not as hungry as we are!” the first man shot back.
“Perhaps we should wait and see if it attacks us?” the third man wondered, keen on the idea of some food.
“Our fire is dying out too quick for us to cook it, even if we did manage to slay it,” the fourth man pointed out, aching from the long trek up and down the mountains.
“You're too pessimistic. Here, we will use our clothes to fuel the fire to cook the pygmy,” the first man offered, making a grab at the mentioned dragon. The Nilia barked and stumbled backward into the second man, scrambling behind his back.
“You scared it! Don't be so cruel!” he defended the pygmy, standing up in challenge. His companion answered the challenge, standing up himself.
“Give me the pygmy and we may eat!”
“I'm not giving you a defenseless creature!”
“Oh no, we're going to starve,” the third man moaned, rocking back on his haunches. The fourth man watched the Nilia Pygmy with curiosity, getting an idea.
“Nilias are small dragons who eat smaller rodents. Perhaps we could work together to get food?” he suggested.
“A simpleton's idea! A Nilia wouldn't want to hunt for us!” the first man scoffed.
“I rather like the idea; we could coax it, if you would stop shouting!” the second man argued. The mentioned Nilia was rather agitated by the bickering, hissing and scrunching up into a corner nearby.
My my, what an interesting reaction, a cold voice penetrated the air. Everyone froze, even the pygmy.
“Who was that?!” the first man cried. Suddenly, an icicle fell down and took on the shape of a tail!
“AAAAHHH!” everyone yelled. The tail swept out from behind the group, and in the depths of the cave to blue eyes glowed.
It's not every day I get visitors. The voice emanated from the eyes. If we're talking about food, perhaps I could cook you up in a stew?
“Don't hurt me!” the first man begged, falling to his knees. Recognizing that they were looking at a dragon, the others took the threat very seriously, and started to make a break for it, but the dragon raised her icy tail in their path. For the tail to be so long, the dragon had to be huge!
“Please don't hurt us; we are only travelers!” the second man pleaded, “Is the Nilia yours? We weren't going to touch it! Honest!”
The Nilia squealed from its position on a crag, pawing at the air where the eyes were. The unknown dragon raised her head, staring quizzically at the group.
I have no interest in pygmies, she rumbled, Anything smaller than my claw is not a worthy meal.
“T-Then we're safe, right?” the third man chuckled nervously.
“We're doomed,” the fourth muttered, “We come all this way to find an Ice Dragon, only to be eaten by some cave dweller!”
'Ice Dragon'? The voice suddenly questioned, Who told you about Ice Dragons?
“A wise man, back at our kingdom!” the first man said hurriedly. “ He said to look for an Ice Dragon, born only out of the fiercest blizzards! W-We came looking for one!”
What for?
“A gift for our king! An Ice, and a Thunder, and a La- er, Magma, they would summon a dragon for our king!”
'Summon'? 'Dragon'? 'King'? The dragon burst out laughing. Legends, at best! We cannot summon an entire creature out of nothing!
“'We'?” the fourth man echoed. “Wait! You're one of the three?!”
An Ice Dragon true, she answered bitterly. Not that it matters, I'm just another dragon. I may have frosted these mountains with my own breath, but it does not matter. Frostbite Dragons have the power just the same. Bleeding Moons and Brutes, Tri-Horns too, they are all braver than I. Storms and Ridgewings command my weather. But I? I simply rest in the back of my cave, complacent in my ways.
“Then you wouldn't be opposed to coming with us to our kingdom?” the man asked hopefully. The Ice Dragon barked out a cold laugh.
I would comply, but I would melt! What good does a puddle serve your king?
“Your Frostbites!” he said confidently, “Could they not escort you to the closest peak where you may stay until you are needed?”
Hmph. I suppose. The Ice Dragon didn't seem pleased. I doubt I could help in any way though.
“You can help us, I know you can! And if you can't, you can return here as normal,” the man assured.
Fine, but it won't be long. Frostbites are only good at covering windows, you know, the dragon complied.
Yes, the Ice Dragon will now travel to the kingdom! With the mountain group on their way back home, the only group left was the desert group. Now, this group had even less luck than the second one did in terms of time; they were away for a whole week! And their fears would not be freezing or starving; rather, being cooked by the relentless wasteland's sun. With the heat beating down on them and with no trees in sight, it was no wonder why the group ran into the first cave they saw.
The three men collapsed gratefully in the shade, barely thinking about the possible consequences.
“That's odd; this cave is made of glass,” the first man realized, looking around in wonder.
“Perhaps it grew so hot as to melt the sand?” the second wondered.
“I doubt it's even glass,” the other huffed, taking his dagger and cutting into it. It most the most horrendous screeching noise, causing the other two men to cover their ears.
“Goodness, would you stop that?!” they bellowed.
“But look at the way it cuts!” he exclaimed, pointing. “Why, I could draw my daughter in this, or a map to the way home! It's no ordinary glass!”
Suddenly, it struck them all. "Not ordinary"? The only things that weren't ordinary were dragon things!
“Run! It's a dragon's cave!!” they shouted, jumping up and racing outside into the blistering heat. But, much to their misfortune, a large figure was fast approaching in the distance, and there was no shelter in sight!
“Into the cave! Perhaps we can hide!” the first man shouted.
“No, we'll be found and eaten!” the other cried in horror.
With the third man looking about vainly for another shelter, he began ushering his companions back into the cave. “It's our only chance!”
The men scrambled about in the cave, finding that it branched into two chambers. One of the chambers looked much like a stony nest, and the other was filled with various junk items and treasure; a dragon hoard. Without any ado, the three chose to hide in the hoard, draping and burying themselves underneath the golden coins and tattered cloth. All they could do know was hope that the dragon didn't find them.
When the dragon came back to its desert cave, it was already glum from an unsuccessful hunt. But, as it entered, it noticed some shallow scratches in the floor. Its slitted eyes widened greatly, and it let out a great moan.
Oh nooooo!! Who did this?! Who scratched my beautiful floor?! It snarled and stomped about. It took so much time to get it this smooth! Why, I'll EAT the creature who did this!!
You can imagine the looks this man's companions were giving him.
With the dragon bewailing about such inferior scratches, the men waited, wondering when they would be allowed to escape. Unfortunately it didn't seem to be soon, as the dragon could still be heard plainly out at the cave entrance, grumbling and muttering to itself about its “pristine floor” being “horribly ruined”.
“Perhaps we should go meet her?” one of the men whispered.
“And get eaten? I don't think so!” the other objected.
“If we tell her another dragon did it, maybe she'll leave for our escape?” the guilty man said.
“As if! I'm not lying to a dragon! Especially not an angry one!” the second snapped, “I'd rather wait here!”
“But we'll be stuck here forever! That dragon is still out there,” the first man pointed out. “We ought to do something or we'll be no better off than the skeletons in this hoard!”
While the skeletons were only of small animals, it was still a grim thought that made everyone hesitate.
“I'm going out there,” the third man said, getting up from underneath a ragged cloth. His companion grabbed him by the leg.
“Only if you're telling her the truth!” he said sternly, “I'm not letting you get eaten just because you shirked a responsibility!”
“She said she was going to eat the man responsible!” he shot back incredulously, “You can't force the words from my mouth!”
“Then I'm telling her the truth!” The first man jumped up and ran out.
“No! Don't-!”
It was too late. He ran out to the dragon - a Spitfire, by the looks of it - and immediately began to speak.
“Dragon! I was the one who scratched your floor!” he claimed loudly.
You? the dragon said dubiously. Where did you come from?
“Drat it all, he's going to die for my mistake!” The guilty man shoved away his companion and ran out too.
“No, come back here!” Now the third man was out, chasing him!
“He lies to you! He didn't scratch your floor!” the guilty man said.
What? Where did...? Then who- The dragon was cut off again as the third man entered the scene.
“They didn't scratch your floor, I did! They said not to but I did it anyway!” he shouted.
“What? No you didn't!” the others shot back, “I scratched it!”
“No, I scratched it!”
“Stop taking the blame for me! I scratched the floor!”
Hey! We're talking about MY floor here! The dragon stood up abruptly, cutting the quarrelers off. Now seriously, where did you guys come from? And what are you talking about?!
“Dragon, it was me!” the guilty man pleaded, “We sought shelter from the sun, but... I didn't realize this was your cave, honest! I-I just started carving! Please don't eat me!!”
“We hid in your hoard!” the first man added, “We didn't want to get caught, or eaten.”
There was a stunned silence, before the Spitfire Dragon began to laugh.
Typical humans! I couldn't eat you even if I wanted to! No, I thought it was that rival Brimstone again, coming in here and ruining my walls with his blundering claws and stinky breath! she assured them. But... is the sun really that bad for you?
The men simply stared, unsure on how to respond, and the dragon's eyes widened. Oh, look, you're all red! Don't look like that! She nosed one of them.
“Oh, ow!” He fell over, twitching. “Owwwwww.”
“Sunburns! See, it really is bad for us!” the guilty man said hastily, wanting to get on the dragon's good side.
Sunburns? I never realized that was a thing! Now um... let me think... She bunched up her scaly brow, thinking. Ah yes! To the hoard!
With the men following her dutifully, wary of their sunburns as they made themselves known, the dragon went to her hoard and began digging through it. There's a plant in here somewhere that's really nice for those cuts that Brimstone gives me, she explained, ruffling through the treasure. Maybe it will work for you. Ah, there it is! She picked up a thick prickly leaf in her jaws and crushed it, giving it to the men. That should do the trick!
The group was surprised by the hospitality, considering what the dragon said earlier about the consequences, but with their burns soothed by the strange plant the Spitfire started chatting with them, enjoying their company very much. She tore up the scratched floor and showed the men how she made glass by melting sand with her fire, and then she let them watch her patch the floor! After that they were exceedingly glad that she was an amiable dragon; they would have been nothing against the sheer heat of that fire!
With the patching done, the Spitfire turned to the men and asked what they were doing all the way out in the desert, and they explained that they were hunting for a legendary Thunder Dragon. Fortune smiled again; the Spitfire knew just what to do!
Climb on my back; I can't fly much, but it'll be faster than walking, she offered, There's a sand plain a ways south from here that's always alive with thunderstorms, and I can't think of a better place than that for your dragon!
With the trio safely situated on the dragon's scales, she ran out the cave and took flight! She was correct, not much flying was done, but eventually a gentle rhythm of leaping and gliding settled in, and if it weren't for the occasional landing it would have been nearly the same as flying. The Spitfire traveled quickly, using boulders to her advantage to perform greater leaps and longer glides, and it wasn't long before the sandy dunes turned into a rocky steppe, and the sun was shrouded by gathering clouds.
“This place is perfect! Perhaps we could find a live thunderstorm? Maybe the Thunder will be nearby!” one of the men suggested.
Sounds good to me! the Spitfire said, slowing her glide so less ground was covered as quickly. The four looked around, searching the darkening clouds for any letting out rain, but it seemed quiet...
Then suddenly, a flash up ahead. The Spitfire perked up and slowed her pace to a quick trot, folding her wings in.
“Was that lightning?” the first man asked.
“Can't be; there's no rain!”
A dry thunderstorm, it seems to be, the Spitfire mused, Don't know if that's good or bad.
“Maybe good?” the second man asked. Just then, a loud rumble sounded from up ahead.
“Probably bad.” the third whimpered, hunkering down on the dragon, who even jumped when the next rumble sounded!
I dearly hope your dragon doesn't have wings, she said, concerned.
“Probably does,” the first man said, as the sky grew dark and a flash appeared over their heads. They were directly under the storm now, and despite the lack of rain the air tingled with electricity. The group decided to look around, scanning the skies and the ground for any particular dragons, but every beast was hiding at the moment as the storm loomed all around.
After an hour of searching and quite a few unnecessary scares, the Spitfire was content on the idea of turning back. I live in sand dunes, not thunderheads! she scoffed when the men asked her why. I'm surprised I haven't been zapped yet!
“Agh! Look out!” one of the men suddenly shouted, pointing behind them. A ball of lightning, hurling right at them, crackling dangerously!
RUN!! The Spitfire threw dust and dirt into the air as she propelled herself forward, running with a speed no one knew she had. The men screamed and held on tight, staring at the lightning ball as it came closer.
“It's catching up to us!”
“We're doomed!”
“Faster, faster!”
I'm going as fast as I can! the Spitfire moaned, mouth wide and panting. She bounced off boulders and wound between cacti, but still the ball came closer!
“It's sentient!!” The men wailed as it deftly flew around a pillar or rock.
Suddenly, a half-crazed voice penetrated their minds, as if just to mess with them.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeheeeheeeheeeeee!! Under! Over! Above! Around! The lightning ball demonstrated the voice's narrative. Go under the rock! I'll go above!
Ack! The Spitfire gasped, killing her momentum and digging her heels in.
“No no no, keep going!” The men cried, certain they were going crazy. The Spitfire, already coming to a stop, decided to jump over a boulder.
Crash!! Bolts of lightning scattered about and everyone had a brief numbing sensation hit them. Then suddenly, they were met with dirt and a feeling in their limbs again.
“Whoa... what...?” The first man to get up was greeted by the sight of a dragon - certainly not the Spitfire! - recovering from the impact. It flared its stiff crest and wrapped a wing claw around a pillar, putting so much force on it that the pillar crumbled and crashed to the ground. It looked a little confused.
Bleh, it muttered, spitting out a bolt of literal lightning. The bolt struck a rock, which certainly made everyone else get up on their feet rather quickly. Now, when I said 'under the rock'...
“You're a dragon! A lightning dragon!” one of the men gasped.
THUNDER dragon, mind you, the dragon corrected, clearly disgruntled by the impact.
Why, these humans were looking for a Thunder Dragon! the Spitfire realized.
“Yes! We want to bring it back to our kingdom with us!” The second man picked himself up, elated. “You are a Thunder?! Would you like to return with us? For the sake of our king?”
The Thunder Dragon snorted, yellow eyes narrowed. Leave? Here? Why would I ever want to do that?
“There is a legend that the God of Dragons can be summoned by three rare dragons; a Magma, an Ice, and a Thunder. We wish to gift our benevolent king this dragon, because his current companion is growing too worn to be with him anymore,” the first man explained, “If you come with us, we might be able to do that!”
“It has been long; if the others have found their dragons yet, they may already be leaving,” the other man piped up, “We need to leave quickly.”
I go where the storms go, the Thunder Dragon huffed, turning away.
Wait! the Spitfire spoke, What if we race there? You enjoyed the chase; perhaps race to my cave, and then travel from there? The humans said they didn't come from too far away; only a week's travel on foot.
The Thunder immediately perked up at this. 'Race'? 'Not too far'? Now we're talking! You're on, Spitfire. He grinned. A week's travel is nothing for me; that will just be an extra bit afterward!
Greatly brightened by this, the group agreed to the race. The explorers jumped back up onto the Spitfire, the Thunder ready for flight.
Ready? Set... Go! The two dragons leaped into action, a rush of wind! It was a thrilling start for the return home!
When the race ended (the Thunder won “by a landslide”, as the Spitfire insisted), the explorers waved goodbye and transferred rides to the Thunder, who assured them that he didn't mind, nor would snack on anyone on the way home. Thrilled by the race, even as short-lived as it was, the Thunder was complacent to follow his riders' directions to the kingdom. And he really wasn't lying either; a week's travel was only a day with him!
Now, our explorers have returned safely to their kingdom, some later than others but all with their dragons. The Magma stood on her plinth, just on the coast safe from the ocean's spray. The Ice patrolled the nearest mountain, barking at her Frostbite escorts to keep the air cool. And finally, the Thunder arrived on the scene, spending most of his time flying around and cracking jokes with the other dragons.
Now... we just have to find a way to summon the egg!
The townspeople gathered around the wise elder, wondering what to do next. “We have the dragons!” they said, “How do we summon the Dragon God?”
Unfortunately though, the wise man simply stared blankly. “I don't know...” he admitted quietly. “The legend never went into detail about that. It simply said the summoning was possible.”
There was a start though as a voice cut the air: “Why is there a gathering here, and why are there massive dragons all around?!”
“The king!” The people realized. They had never told him about their present! And the Dragon Trio were far too obvious to hide!
The king pushed through the crowd, giving everyone a quizzical look, his eyes falling on the wise man. “Are we being attacked?” he wondered, “Shall I amass our soldiers?”
“No dear king, the dragons are friends!” one of the villagers explained, “We brought them here!”
“Without my consent?” the king said, shocked. “What if they plan to raid the village?! They could have lied, you know!”
With their plan being a gift, the townspeople became tight-lipped and said nothing; they couldn't spoil the surprise, could they? But the wise man knew better than to keep a secret, especially if things were looking wrong from the start.
“Oh king, ” he explained, “these dragons are of the mighty Trio, and have great powers. As a gift to you, we brought them here to summon the egg of a deity. We wished to give you the God of Dragons. But, we don't know how.”
“Oh my,” the king realized, “Well, I appreciate the thought, but what could I do with such a thing? I have a hard enough time with my White Dragon as is!”
Now now, let's not make things complicated, an aged voice came up. The king looked at the ground.
“I'm sorry, my friend, but you are my one and only dragon. What would I do with a deity?” he murmured. The White Dragon came to his side, calm and understanding.
Your people love you, he said, and I said so myself that I was falling behind. Raise another dragon; it's what you deserve. He turned to the crowd. I have heard of the legend myself, but I can only fathom how the summoning works. Perhaps we should ask our participants? he suggested.
“But they are all up so high!” someone pointed out, “The Thunder is in the sky, the Ice atop a mountain, the Magma surrounded by the sea! How could we ask them?”
I will fly to them, the White offered, stretching his wings. I will ask each in turn if they have heard of the legend. As long as the Thunder keeps circling, it will be a straight shot through the kingdom.
“But your wing!” the king objected, grabbing his companion. “Ever since that battle you haven't ever flown straight! You cannot strain your wing; I won't allow it! Let one of the villagers take their own dragons.”
You are very altruistic, the White Dragon praised, nosing him. But the Trio will respect my age and experience here. And judging by that Ice's behavior, the venerability will be needed.
The king finally submitted to his companion's wish, concern still lining his face. “Be careful,” he said. The dragon nodded and turned, taking flight and heading first to where the Magma was perched.
Excuse me, he said, alighting down next to her, Do you recall the legend where the Dragon Trio summons the God of Dragons into existence? We can't remember the specifics.
Oh yes, that's why we're all here, isn't it? the Magma recalled, thinking. Hm, can't say I have dearie. I spent an awfully long amount of time underground, you see. The others might know though.
Ah, thank you, the White bowed his head and took leave, heading next to the Thunder who was circling the castle.
Hey White! the Thunder barked, seeing him first. I saw you leave this castle; pretty impressive pad, I must say!
Yes, it's quite nice, the White answered truthfully. Say, you remember the summoning legend? Do you recall any specific information about it?
HMMMM, the Thunder thought loudly. Well, I remember the part where the thing goes BOOM and it's all bright and stuff. The process is really fast too. Lots of swirls.
Do you remember anything else? the White asked hopefully.
Nah, can't say I do. The Thunder grinned. Hey, mind if I strike down a turret or two?
Absolutely; reserve your lightning for less destructive things, the White said, flying off toward the Ice Dragon. The Thunder snorted, but obeyed.
The Ice Dragon was still disgruntled by the heat, despite the furious workings of the smaller Frostbites. All of the dragons looked up at the White's entrance, and the Ice gave a silencing look to her servants before speaking.
I'm presuming we're doing the summoning now? I missed my cave as soon as I left it, she muttered.
Almost; stay patient, the White chided. Do you recall the process at all?
Hmph, don't know what you're doing, do you, she stated, flicking her tail. It's simple, and simply dangerous; the Magma conjures a ball of lava, and the Thunder zaps it with his lightning. The lightning will stabilize the fiery goop only for a moment, where it must then be frozen by an Ice. Timing. Is. Everything, she emphasized. Now, are we doing this or not?
Absolutely, the White said gratefully. Thank you; I will go inform the others of the task, and then we may perform the summoning. With that, he left to do just that.
The message spread quickly, and soon everything was in position. The Magma Dragon was hesitant to start the process, as the lava would be suspended in mid-air, reliant on the timing of the other two dragons. If things didn't go well... the lava would be above the village, suffice to say.
Ready when you are! the Thunder called, once the villagers had all evacuated from their homes.
Can't you be ready before me? the Magma sulked, This is not going to go well...
Don't worry, everything will be fine, the White Dragon, having landed back down next to her, was assuring. The villagers will be safe. We cannot delay any longer; the Ice will become too warm, and she will leave, preventing all of this.
Okay... the Magma sighed, raising her glowing orange head. She concentrated out in the air, close to the Thunder's position, and slowly a ball of fiery goop began to form.
WOWZERS that's close!! the Thunder cried, backing off. The goop ball almost fell, but the Magma concentrated harder, and the dripping lava began to stabilize and grow larger.
How big does it need to be?! she stuttered, trying not to lose focus. The White Dragon looked hopefully at the Ice across the valley, but she said nothing. Instead, the Thunder took initiative.
Now's good! YEEHAAAHH! He clapped his wings together and a thunderous roar rang out, accompanied by a flash brighter than the sun. The lightning struck the lava ball but did not upset it, instead allowing the electricity to collect all over its surface. Electricity is short lived however, and the Thunder had to conjure more lightning to replace the first blast.
Finally, a steady stream of lightning and fire was held, suspended over the village in a dangerous inferno.
This is getting hard! the Magma whined, and the Thunder simply grunted as he forced his energy into the ball. The Ice picked herself up, admiring the sight only for a second.
Finally, perhaps I can put myself to use, she muttered, staring intently at the ball. The intense moments ticked on by, worry mounting exponentially on everyone's mind.
FLASH!! The bright yellow light turned cold and blue, and a frigid breeze ran through the town. Ice crackled and shattered, melting as it fell to the ground. The Magma and the Thunder stopped immediately, staring at their frozen prize in awe.
A massive ball of ice, hissing and steaming at the contact of the hotter elements, dropping to the ground like a stone.
Get it! The Thunder dove quickly, panicked. The Magma was unsure on what to do, hopping up and down on her fragile stone pillar.
Is that the deity?! It's going to shatter!
Ma'am! the White cried out, flapping his wings to maintain his balance. There was a deafening crack; not from the Thunder, but from the plinth.
The Magma roared out in surprise as her plinth crumbled from underneath her, the White escaping rapidly. The Ice raised an eyebrow as broken rocks tumbled into the sea, creating monstrous waves that began a quick advance toward the village.
This isn't part of the process, she commented, standing up. Her Frostbites stared in curiosity as she flared her wings and leaped from the mountaintop.
No! You'll melt! The White, hovering above the chaos, noticed the Ice's decision.
The ocean should be cold enough! she answered, trying not to think about the tiny salt crystals that would find their way underneath her scales. She spat out a beam of raw elemental magic at the advancing waves, turning them into sheets of moving ice. While the waves were already flattening the trees inland, threatening to overwhelm the village, the Magma's fiery scales steamed and hissed as she hit the water; vast amounts of steam erupted into the air like miniature volcanoes! The Magma moaned as her glorious warmth faded away and became cold and wet.
The ocean is even less comfortable than I remember! she gasped. The Thunder snatched the ball of ice the three conjured in his rear talons and began beating furiously up into the sky, but his efforts were almost hopeless and he merely slowed its descent. The Ice spat more magic at the advancing waves, but the sea simply spewed more water back at her, which froze upon her form at the slightest touch.
This is disastrous! the White realized, turning to his king and his people. Thankfully they were still out of harm's way, safely holed up within the castle at the foot of the mountains, but they wouldn't be for long if things didn't look a bit brighter around here! But, where to start?
Deciding that the summoned ball of ice was the priority, the White dove toward the Thunder, avoiding his massive blue wings. He grabbed the ice ball in his talons and flew upward with him, but as small as he was in comparison to the Thunder - who was smaller than the ball, suffice to say! - the impact was minimal. And yet, the ball slowed just enough that, as it finally struck the ground, it simply broke apart instead of exploding like they had feared.
Crack! Massive chunks of ice parted from a stony core, which quickly broke apart when the Thunder almost landed on it. The two dragons alighted around it, staring at the prize within.
A small purple dragon egg, with a blue sheen and a fiery essence deep within.
The God of Dragons is an EGG?? the Thunder scoffed incredulously. The White didn't hesitate to grab it, heading for the castle upon hearing the roar of the waves.
The villagers are the priority! Strike down parts of the mountain and use the stones to build a barrier! the White commanded. The Thunder, having nothing else to do, decided it was worth doing. He flew up to isolated sections of the mountain range, striking cliffs with his lightning and allowing great chunks of stone to break off. The Ice and the Magma were retreating from the ocean's fury; the Magma's scales were hardening into immobile basalt, and the Ice had no choice lest she freeze herself in salty water. Things still weren't looking good!
The Thunder though had an idea. Grabbing a large hewn stone in his claws, he flapped his way over to the Magma Dragon.
I know you're running from the shore, but if we can melt these rocks together we could form a barrier! He dropped the stone at the Magma's feet.
Anything to get me out of the water! she gladly complied, picking up the stone in her jaws and wading out a bit. She dropped the rock, looking expectantly at the Thunder who was already delivering the next boulder.
What are you fools doing? A massive wave is coming! The Ice trudged by the two, the water freezing around her feet and making it difficult to move.
We must construct a barrier to protect the village! the Magma didn't hesitate explaining, If you can freezing the little waves coming in, we can make the barrier faster!
Hah! As if I have any power left! the Ice laughed. The Magma simply stared, accepting another stone from the Thunder and allowing it to congeal with the small pile of rocks in front of her. The Ice rolled her eyes.
Fine, I'll help! But don't think I'm being altruistic! With that, she turned back the way she came, blasting more elemental energy at the incoming waves.
Watching from the castle's turrets, the townspeople knew that even the mighty Trio were too slow for the tsunami. So when the White Dragon landed next to his king with the egg, they wasted no time in gathering their own dragons for the cause!
Tons of dragons, from the mountains, forests and sea! Brute Dragons, Annagalis ones, wyverns of all kind! Imperial Fleshcrownes, Blacktips, even shining Silvers and Golds! Drakes, dragons, splits and pygmies, all taking to the air and helping the trio! The heftier dragons flew with the Thunder, chipping off rock from the cliffs and carrying it to the Magma, who arranged the stones with the help of tons of dragons. Those who wielded ice or fire magic fought the waves, reinforcing the Ice's efforts with every chance they had.
It was thanks to these dragons that the tsunami's fury was mitigated, and though the town at the base of the mountain was submerged and swept away, the castle stood firm, with the sea lapping at its feet. Every dragon and beast fled to the mountains, escaping the raging tides, and many returned to the castle to safety. The Trio retreated to the mountaintops, watching the water level rise.
It was unusual... the water levels was still rising!
“What is going on? Surely the water would have retreated by now?” the king asked his White Dragon.
I don't understand, was all the White said, nervously eyeing the ocean. The sky rumbled, and the townspeople on the battlements turned and saw an incoming storm gracing the top of the mountain range.
“A thunderstorm?” the king questioned, looking accusingly at the Thunder. The said dragon, perched upon a turret, simply stared.
I FOLLOW the storms, they don't come to me! he pointed out with a huff. The Ice, up higher on the mountains than the Magma, was suddenly relaxing in the face of the storm.
It's nice and cold... say, it might be a snowstorm! she wondered.
Oh no... the Magma wailed, the earth practically boiling at her feet. I hope not! At that, a boulder suddenly split next to her, hissing steam. Oh, dear!
“What is happening? It's like all of the elements are coming together!” one of the villagers shouted.
“Are the Trios doing it?”
“Is our town gone for good?”
“What a gift to our king; we're doomed!”
The townspeople began to panic, their dragons with them. The King took the egg from his White, holding it in his hands.
“Is this truly a young god I am holding? A God of Dragons?” he demanded, “Is its mere presence upsetting the balance of the world?!”
I don't know, my king! the White cried, This has never happened before...
“You!” The king spun around and pointed at a Red Dragon. “You can help eggs to hatch, correct? Hatch this egg! If it really does hold a deity, perhaps we can restore this calamity!”
Lightning crashed and thunder roared, and the sea level began to rise faster. The skies began to darken, a cold wind picking up and sweeping down the mountains. The Red trembled, but nevertheless came closer to the king, pushing through the panicking crowd.
I can warm it and encourage it! the Red claimed, taking the egg in its forepaws and focusing on its magic. The egg began to glow with a reassuring warmth, and yet it didn't even twitch.
It will take too long! the White panicked. The storm descended, and a roar from the Ice Dragon declared the first drops of hail, pelting down from above. The frigid wind from the storm buffeted the sea below, causing waves to form. A lightning bolt lit up the darkened sky, granting vision only for a second.
A tempest! a dragon cried, flying into the Red. The latter juggled the egg, trying not to drop it, and the White advanced on the dragon.
Why you-!
“Wait!” the king halted him, “You there! Can you hatch this egg?”
I - er, um! the dragon stammered.
It's a Red, it can incubate! the White answered for it.
Yeah, yeah, I can! The dragon simply nodded numbly.
With two Red Dragons focused on the egg, it began to grow warmer faster, sheltered from the freezing winds. But, while the egg occasionally trembled, it still would not hatch!
Lightning struck a nearby cliff side, and the cliff exploded into steam and boiling mud. The White Dragon was alarmed by this, recognizing the implications.
Trapped by the sea and grounded by the storm, and the mountain range is trying to erupt! He ran over the ramparts over to the Magma. You must do something!
It won't listen to me! she said, digging at the ground and throwing clumps of earth into the air. Magma is rising within the range; I can't stop it!
Ice Dragon! The White, panicked, flew over to the other side of the castle. Ice! But the Ice Dragon wasn't listening to him, enraptured by the cold weather and the hailstones that battered at the ground.
Wheeee!! The glee heard from above already informed the White that the Thunder Dragon was enjoying the storm too. Simpletons! he thought, racing back over to his king, I'm getting too old for this!
The strange purple egg still hadn't hatched, but it seemed to be getting close. Despite the warm glow from the Reds' paws, it had a cooler, softer glow surrounding it. The king was so focused on the egg, he didn't see a potential helper nearby.
Green Dragon! the White ran over to the large creature, who was sheltering under a castle buttress. Can you not shake the ground and cause an egg to hatch?
Why would it matter? If I shook the ground, surely the castle would fall apart! She hugged the bricks around her.
It may be our only hope! the White implored her, and finally she was ushered out from underneath the buttress. Shielding herself from the hail with her wings, the large dragon followed to the group.
King! This dragon can cause an earthquake that might encourage the egg to hatch early!
“Would it kill it?” the king roared over the storm.
It might!
The king bit his lip, looking around at the destruction being caused. “Do it!” he ordered.
The Red Dragons put the egg on the ground, and the Green began to jump nearby it.
Slam! The first landing caused the ramparts to shake.
Crack! Everyone began to back away nervously as the stones themselves groaned and split.
Crash! The Green's mighty weight threatened to destroy the wall!
The Green reared for another testy jump, but a softer crackling sound interrupted her. She slowly lowered herself, peering through the darkness and the fury of the storm at the ground.
Everyone leaned in...
Curled up on the ground was a small purple dragon. It had no wings, and was no bigger than the egg it came from. It curled up against the cold, and whimpered.
The whimper seemed to penetrate the chaos.
The raging ocean began to calm.
The storm began to cease. The hail retreated.
The earth cooled down and the super-heated rocks relaxed.
The terror of the townspeople turned to bewilderment.
On a dime, like a fire being put out or a stopper being put in a bottle, the storm receded and the ocean became calm, the howling winds died down and the carpet of hail began to melt. The sun's light penetrated the cloud cover and swept away the gloom.
The purple dragon hatchling uncurled a bit, and opened its eyes. Eyes glowing white with knowledge. It tested its muzzle and pawed at the stone, every bit as curious as any other hatchling, and yet just as unique. The king looked around in wonder, and back to the hatchling.
“It must really be a deity!” he murmured in astonishment, “No other explanation would make sense!”
I have never seen such a storm in my life! The Thunder alighted back on the castle, glum that the storm was leaving.
I have never seen so much hail, nor felt colder winds, the Ice claimed, coming down the mountain toward the scene. The Magma uncurled from her position on a cliff, staring at the ground.
Even the lava wanted to rise and cause chaos. It has always listened to me before, she sulked.
What should we name it?! one of the Reds blurted out.
If it's the king's dragon, it must be something good, the Green suggested.
“A gift fit for our king.” The wise man in the crowd smiled, pushing his way to the front. “The Trio's power indeed summoned a mighty creature! I... did not expect it to be so small though.”
“Small works!” the king said happily, scooping up the hatchling in his arms.
A name, we should give it a name! a dragon chanted.
“What should we call it?” a villager wondered.
“Something impressive!”
"Something strong!"
“Something miraculous!”
“Something worthy!”
"Something kingly!"
“We'll call it...” the king mused, “Valiant.”
It's perfect! The White Dragon beamed. Valiant, the Guardian of Nature!
Thus, the first legendary dragon was summoned, as a gift to a beloved king. A week's celebration followed afterward, as well as plenty of work rebuilding the town; but the Dragon Trio stayed to help for that part. The Magma rebuilt a large, solid stone wall to shelter the city from any future floods; the Ice promised to migrate across the mountain range so as to cause the winters to be warmer and the summers to be cooler; and the Thunder made a pledge to bring storms rather than to pursue them, causing plenty of precipitation to allow the lands to flourish. With the kingdom rebuilt and a holiday named, Valiant was raised by the people and their king, and proved to be a decent, honorable dragon. He was found to be valuable to the people; he could divert natural disasters, calm enraged wild dragons, and encourage growth in the forests, providing an endless supply of food and wood for the people. He additionally fought off enemies and kept the kingdom safe, and was strong enough to battle with rival kingdoms! He quickly sprouted his wings and aged into a wonderful protector - a true Guardian of Nature - and continues to live on, even until this day.
“Perhaps we should give him a Magi?” one person asked, “If the king is threatened, the Magi can send him away to safety!”
“No! We must give him a Guardian Dragon! They are loyal even unto death, protecting their masters until the end! Only a Guardian is fit for a king!” another objected.
“What about a Tsunami Dragon? Our king goes on lots of voyages over the sea; what would happen if the boat is capsized?” another wondered, “Surely a Tsunami Dragon he needs!”
“Too large and too dangerous! He needs something soft and sweet,” another cooed, “Only a Pink would do; so motherly and caring, a Pink Dragon will help him with every problem he has!”
“All of your dragons would be too weak in the face of their opposites,” a wise man spoke up, “He needs a dragon that cannot be opposed! We trust our king; can he not have a dragon worthy of not only defending him, but us as well?”
“What do you propose?” a villager asked, “I can't think of any dragon better than these!”
“Ah, do you not believe in legends?” The wise man's eyes sparkled. “Tales tell of a dragon summoned by a powerful trio, the God of all Dragons! A Guardian of Nature! A Protector of Light! What better for our king than that?”
The townspeople mutually agreed that indeed, the Dragon God would be perfect for their benevolent ruler! But how to get it? The wise man explained:
“We need a fiery Magma Dragon from the hottest volcano, a frigid Ice Dragon born only out of mountain blizzards, and a mighty Thunder Dragon who burns the desert sands with lightning! These three dragons shall pool their power together to summon the God of Dragons.”
It was settled then, and three groups were assembled to go find these dragons. The first group went over the sea, past hundreds of atolls and reefs, to find a volcanic island. The second group grabbed their picks and headed for the mountains, bundled up for the cold. And finally, the third group took the longest route through the forest to visit the desert down south. These groups had one sole task; find a powerful dragon and bring it back to the kingdom.
The first group set sail immediately, and spent a day at sea searching for an island. Much to their surprise, they came across one, and a very new one at that! Still jagged around the edges, a torpid stream of magma flowing down its side, the dark volcano was impressive. The crew was excited, it seemed to take no time at all! Quickly disembarking from their craft, they took an adventurous hike up the volcano, cautious about where they stepped and keeping their eyes on the peak. Blessed by fortune, they made safely to the top, but there seemed to be nothing there aside from a lonely pool of lava. Having trekked all the way up to the caldera, one man in particular felt very cheated.
“We came for a legendary dragon, but there is nothing in sight!” he muttered, “A waste of time!”
“I thought for sure we would find something,” another said glumly, “even another fire dragon!”
Staring out over the lava lake and the dark stones that poked up from out of it, the third man couldn't help but agree: “ Perhaps this volcano doesn't hold the Magma Dragon, and we should turn back? There might be other volcanoes nearby.”
Just then a loud rumble sounded, the lake began to quake. The explorers, jumped, startled at the sight, and began to flee. “It's going to blow!” they cried.
But, fortune smiles again! The tremor was not the volcano shivering, but rather a stirring dragon! A draconic head reared from the lava lake, blinking sleepily. As it was covered in lava, it was hard to tell what kind of dragon it was, but it was indeed a large being.
Who is talking? What is going on? The thoughts echoed in the explorer's minds; an unfamiliar voice, the dragon's telepathy. Are you that Falconiform Dragon again? I thought I told you to-
“Great dragon, it is only us!” the first man shouted, becoming alarmed by the dragon's rising tone. The dragon blinked once more and peered down at the volcano's rim, becoming surprised.
Why, you're no bigger than a pygmy! And who are your friends? she rumbled.
“We are explorers from opposite shores, seeking a great Magma Dragon! We wish to take him to our kingdom, where he will meet a Thunder and an Ice Dragon, and they shall summon a worthy companion for our king!” The man trembled under the dragon's gaze.
Why, that is I! the dragon said, further astonished. I am a Magma Dragon! I came from deep beneath the earth, and to prove my worth to my fellow Magmas I raised this volcano from the sea floor. It was quite a difficult task, you know. The dragon held her head proudly.
The men were delighted. A Magma, right here in front of them! They wouldn't have to search for another volcano!
“Would you be so kind as to visit our kingdom?” the first explorer asked, “It is not too far away.”
I would be delighted to visit your kingdom; oh, but there is so much water to cross, the Magma worried, How could I possibly get there from here?
Two of the men were stumped, but the third had an idea. “Great Magma Dragon!” he called, “You said you came from deep beneath the earth? Perhaps you could return there, and then resurface at our shores?”
Ah, a splendid idea! The dragon's bright green eyes lit up. But I wouldn't want to burn your land. I will resurface a safe distance away, out into the ocean; like I raised this volcano, I shall raise a plinth of which to perch upon so I can see your kingdom.
As such, the first dragon of the mighty Trio, the Magma Dragon, was found!
The second group of explorers had less luck on their venture, having been stuck on the mountains for several days. It was cold, and there was little food about. Fierce wild dragons judged the small group and their goat tag-a-long from distance clefts and treetops. As the trees thinned out, so did the cold grow merciless, the dragons rarer but more dangerous. It was quickly seeming hopeless; the group planned on turning back, but found themselves in the midst of an impending snowstorm, and were forced to seek shelter underneath a frigid overhang in a cave.
As the four men shivered they contemplated their fates, murmuring amongst themselves and wondering if they could ever make it back? The blizzard was only growing more relentless, pelting their shelter with drifts of wind-driven snow.
Yet, even they had some luck, as a small Nilia Pygmy Dragon seemed to dislike to storm more than they did. It snuck under the overhang and curled up by their fire, practically ignoring the strangers around it and nursing a wounded wing.
The first man jumped up at the opportunity of a meal, as the pygmy was small and helpless, but the second man jumped to stop him.
“Do not hurt it! It simply wants relief from the storm, much like us!” he objected.
“Yes, but I can imagine it's not as hungry as we are!” the first man shot back.
“Perhaps we should wait and see if it attacks us?” the third man wondered, keen on the idea of some food.
“Our fire is dying out too quick for us to cook it, even if we did manage to slay it,” the fourth man pointed out, aching from the long trek up and down the mountains.
“You're too pessimistic. Here, we will use our clothes to fuel the fire to cook the pygmy,” the first man offered, making a grab at the mentioned dragon. The Nilia barked and stumbled backward into the second man, scrambling behind his back.
“You scared it! Don't be so cruel!” he defended the pygmy, standing up in challenge. His companion answered the challenge, standing up himself.
“Give me the pygmy and we may eat!”
“I'm not giving you a defenseless creature!”
“Oh no, we're going to starve,” the third man moaned, rocking back on his haunches. The fourth man watched the Nilia Pygmy with curiosity, getting an idea.
“Nilias are small dragons who eat smaller rodents. Perhaps we could work together to get food?” he suggested.
“A simpleton's idea! A Nilia wouldn't want to hunt for us!” the first man scoffed.
“I rather like the idea; we could coax it, if you would stop shouting!” the second man argued. The mentioned Nilia was rather agitated by the bickering, hissing and scrunching up into a corner nearby.
My my, what an interesting reaction, a cold voice penetrated the air. Everyone froze, even the pygmy.
“Who was that?!” the first man cried. Suddenly, an icicle fell down and took on the shape of a tail!
“AAAAHHH!” everyone yelled. The tail swept out from behind the group, and in the depths of the cave to blue eyes glowed.
It's not every day I get visitors. The voice emanated from the eyes. If we're talking about food, perhaps I could cook you up in a stew?
“Don't hurt me!” the first man begged, falling to his knees. Recognizing that they were looking at a dragon, the others took the threat very seriously, and started to make a break for it, but the dragon raised her icy tail in their path. For the tail to be so long, the dragon had to be huge!
“Please don't hurt us; we are only travelers!” the second man pleaded, “Is the Nilia yours? We weren't going to touch it! Honest!”
The Nilia squealed from its position on a crag, pawing at the air where the eyes were. The unknown dragon raised her head, staring quizzically at the group.
I have no interest in pygmies, she rumbled, Anything smaller than my claw is not a worthy meal.
“T-Then we're safe, right?” the third man chuckled nervously.
“We're doomed,” the fourth muttered, “We come all this way to find an Ice Dragon, only to be eaten by some cave dweller!”
'Ice Dragon'? The voice suddenly questioned, Who told you about Ice Dragons?
“A wise man, back at our kingdom!” the first man said hurriedly. “ He said to look for an Ice Dragon, born only out of the fiercest blizzards! W-We came looking for one!”
What for?
“A gift for our king! An Ice, and a Thunder, and a La- er, Magma, they would summon a dragon for our king!”
'Summon'? 'Dragon'? 'King'? The dragon burst out laughing. Legends, at best! We cannot summon an entire creature out of nothing!
“'We'?” the fourth man echoed. “Wait! You're one of the three?!”
An Ice Dragon true, she answered bitterly. Not that it matters, I'm just another dragon. I may have frosted these mountains with my own breath, but it does not matter. Frostbite Dragons have the power just the same. Bleeding Moons and Brutes, Tri-Horns too, they are all braver than I. Storms and Ridgewings command my weather. But I? I simply rest in the back of my cave, complacent in my ways.
“Then you wouldn't be opposed to coming with us to our kingdom?” the man asked hopefully. The Ice Dragon barked out a cold laugh.
I would comply, but I would melt! What good does a puddle serve your king?
“Your Frostbites!” he said confidently, “Could they not escort you to the closest peak where you may stay until you are needed?”
Hmph. I suppose. The Ice Dragon didn't seem pleased. I doubt I could help in any way though.
“You can help us, I know you can! And if you can't, you can return here as normal,” the man assured.
Fine, but it won't be long. Frostbites are only good at covering windows, you know, the dragon complied.
Yes, the Ice Dragon will now travel to the kingdom! With the mountain group on their way back home, the only group left was the desert group. Now, this group had even less luck than the second one did in terms of time; they were away for a whole week! And their fears would not be freezing or starving; rather, being cooked by the relentless wasteland's sun. With the heat beating down on them and with no trees in sight, it was no wonder why the group ran into the first cave they saw.
The three men collapsed gratefully in the shade, barely thinking about the possible consequences.
“That's odd; this cave is made of glass,” the first man realized, looking around in wonder.
“Perhaps it grew so hot as to melt the sand?” the second wondered.
“I doubt it's even glass,” the other huffed, taking his dagger and cutting into it. It most the most horrendous screeching noise, causing the other two men to cover their ears.
“Goodness, would you stop that?!” they bellowed.
“But look at the way it cuts!” he exclaimed, pointing. “Why, I could draw my daughter in this, or a map to the way home! It's no ordinary glass!”
Suddenly, it struck them all. "Not ordinary"? The only things that weren't ordinary were dragon things!
“Run! It's a dragon's cave!!” they shouted, jumping up and racing outside into the blistering heat. But, much to their misfortune, a large figure was fast approaching in the distance, and there was no shelter in sight!
“Into the cave! Perhaps we can hide!” the first man shouted.
“No, we'll be found and eaten!” the other cried in horror.
With the third man looking about vainly for another shelter, he began ushering his companions back into the cave. “It's our only chance!”
The men scrambled about in the cave, finding that it branched into two chambers. One of the chambers looked much like a stony nest, and the other was filled with various junk items and treasure; a dragon hoard. Without any ado, the three chose to hide in the hoard, draping and burying themselves underneath the golden coins and tattered cloth. All they could do know was hope that the dragon didn't find them.
When the dragon came back to its desert cave, it was already glum from an unsuccessful hunt. But, as it entered, it noticed some shallow scratches in the floor. Its slitted eyes widened greatly, and it let out a great moan.
Oh nooooo!! Who did this?! Who scratched my beautiful floor?! It snarled and stomped about. It took so much time to get it this smooth! Why, I'll EAT the creature who did this!!
You can imagine the looks this man's companions were giving him.
With the dragon bewailing about such inferior scratches, the men waited, wondering when they would be allowed to escape. Unfortunately it didn't seem to be soon, as the dragon could still be heard plainly out at the cave entrance, grumbling and muttering to itself about its “pristine floor” being “horribly ruined”.
“Perhaps we should go meet her?” one of the men whispered.
“And get eaten? I don't think so!” the other objected.
“If we tell her another dragon did it, maybe she'll leave for our escape?” the guilty man said.
“As if! I'm not lying to a dragon! Especially not an angry one!” the second snapped, “I'd rather wait here!”
“But we'll be stuck here forever! That dragon is still out there,” the first man pointed out. “We ought to do something or we'll be no better off than the skeletons in this hoard!”
While the skeletons were only of small animals, it was still a grim thought that made everyone hesitate.
“I'm going out there,” the third man said, getting up from underneath a ragged cloth. His companion grabbed him by the leg.
“Only if you're telling her the truth!” he said sternly, “I'm not letting you get eaten just because you shirked a responsibility!”
“She said she was going to eat the man responsible!” he shot back incredulously, “You can't force the words from my mouth!”
“Then I'm telling her the truth!” The first man jumped up and ran out.
“No! Don't-!”
It was too late. He ran out to the dragon - a Spitfire, by the looks of it - and immediately began to speak.
“Dragon! I was the one who scratched your floor!” he claimed loudly.
You? the dragon said dubiously. Where did you come from?
“Drat it all, he's going to die for my mistake!” The guilty man shoved away his companion and ran out too.
“No, come back here!” Now the third man was out, chasing him!
“He lies to you! He didn't scratch your floor!” the guilty man said.
What? Where did...? Then who- The dragon was cut off again as the third man entered the scene.
“They didn't scratch your floor, I did! They said not to but I did it anyway!” he shouted.
“What? No you didn't!” the others shot back, “I scratched it!”
“No, I scratched it!”
“Stop taking the blame for me! I scratched the floor!”
Hey! We're talking about MY floor here! The dragon stood up abruptly, cutting the quarrelers off. Now seriously, where did you guys come from? And what are you talking about?!
“Dragon, it was me!” the guilty man pleaded, “We sought shelter from the sun, but... I didn't realize this was your cave, honest! I-I just started carving! Please don't eat me!!”
“We hid in your hoard!” the first man added, “We didn't want to get caught, or eaten.”
There was a stunned silence, before the Spitfire Dragon began to laugh.
Typical humans! I couldn't eat you even if I wanted to! No, I thought it was that rival Brimstone again, coming in here and ruining my walls with his blundering claws and stinky breath! she assured them. But... is the sun really that bad for you?
The men simply stared, unsure on how to respond, and the dragon's eyes widened. Oh, look, you're all red! Don't look like that! She nosed one of them.
“Oh, ow!” He fell over, twitching. “Owwwwww.”
“Sunburns! See, it really is bad for us!” the guilty man said hastily, wanting to get on the dragon's good side.
Sunburns? I never realized that was a thing! Now um... let me think... She bunched up her scaly brow, thinking. Ah yes! To the hoard!
With the men following her dutifully, wary of their sunburns as they made themselves known, the dragon went to her hoard and began digging through it. There's a plant in here somewhere that's really nice for those cuts that Brimstone gives me, she explained, ruffling through the treasure. Maybe it will work for you. Ah, there it is! She picked up a thick prickly leaf in her jaws and crushed it, giving it to the men. That should do the trick!
The group was surprised by the hospitality, considering what the dragon said earlier about the consequences, but with their burns soothed by the strange plant the Spitfire started chatting with them, enjoying their company very much. She tore up the scratched floor and showed the men how she made glass by melting sand with her fire, and then she let them watch her patch the floor! After that they were exceedingly glad that she was an amiable dragon; they would have been nothing against the sheer heat of that fire!
With the patching done, the Spitfire turned to the men and asked what they were doing all the way out in the desert, and they explained that they were hunting for a legendary Thunder Dragon. Fortune smiled again; the Spitfire knew just what to do!
Climb on my back; I can't fly much, but it'll be faster than walking, she offered, There's a sand plain a ways south from here that's always alive with thunderstorms, and I can't think of a better place than that for your dragon!
With the trio safely situated on the dragon's scales, she ran out the cave and took flight! She was correct, not much flying was done, but eventually a gentle rhythm of leaping and gliding settled in, and if it weren't for the occasional landing it would have been nearly the same as flying. The Spitfire traveled quickly, using boulders to her advantage to perform greater leaps and longer glides, and it wasn't long before the sandy dunes turned into a rocky steppe, and the sun was shrouded by gathering clouds.
“This place is perfect! Perhaps we could find a live thunderstorm? Maybe the Thunder will be nearby!” one of the men suggested.
Sounds good to me! the Spitfire said, slowing her glide so less ground was covered as quickly. The four looked around, searching the darkening clouds for any letting out rain, but it seemed quiet...
Then suddenly, a flash up ahead. The Spitfire perked up and slowed her pace to a quick trot, folding her wings in.
“Was that lightning?” the first man asked.
“Can't be; there's no rain!”
A dry thunderstorm, it seems to be, the Spitfire mused, Don't know if that's good or bad.
“Maybe good?” the second man asked. Just then, a loud rumble sounded from up ahead.
“Probably bad.” the third whimpered, hunkering down on the dragon, who even jumped when the next rumble sounded!
I dearly hope your dragon doesn't have wings, she said, concerned.
“Probably does,” the first man said, as the sky grew dark and a flash appeared over their heads. They were directly under the storm now, and despite the lack of rain the air tingled with electricity. The group decided to look around, scanning the skies and the ground for any particular dragons, but every beast was hiding at the moment as the storm loomed all around.
After an hour of searching and quite a few unnecessary scares, the Spitfire was content on the idea of turning back. I live in sand dunes, not thunderheads! she scoffed when the men asked her why. I'm surprised I haven't been zapped yet!
“Agh! Look out!” one of the men suddenly shouted, pointing behind them. A ball of lightning, hurling right at them, crackling dangerously!
RUN!! The Spitfire threw dust and dirt into the air as she propelled herself forward, running with a speed no one knew she had. The men screamed and held on tight, staring at the lightning ball as it came closer.
“It's catching up to us!”
“We're doomed!”
“Faster, faster!”
I'm going as fast as I can! the Spitfire moaned, mouth wide and panting. She bounced off boulders and wound between cacti, but still the ball came closer!
“It's sentient!!” The men wailed as it deftly flew around a pillar or rock.
Suddenly, a half-crazed voice penetrated their minds, as if just to mess with them.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeheeeheeeheeeeee!! Under! Over! Above! Around! The lightning ball demonstrated the voice's narrative. Go under the rock! I'll go above!
Ack! The Spitfire gasped, killing her momentum and digging her heels in.
“No no no, keep going!” The men cried, certain they were going crazy. The Spitfire, already coming to a stop, decided to jump over a boulder.
Crash!! Bolts of lightning scattered about and everyone had a brief numbing sensation hit them. Then suddenly, they were met with dirt and a feeling in their limbs again.
“Whoa... what...?” The first man to get up was greeted by the sight of a dragon - certainly not the Spitfire! - recovering from the impact. It flared its stiff crest and wrapped a wing claw around a pillar, putting so much force on it that the pillar crumbled and crashed to the ground. It looked a little confused.
Bleh, it muttered, spitting out a bolt of literal lightning. The bolt struck a rock, which certainly made everyone else get up on their feet rather quickly. Now, when I said 'under the rock'...
“You're a dragon! A lightning dragon!” one of the men gasped.
THUNDER dragon, mind you, the dragon corrected, clearly disgruntled by the impact.
Why, these humans were looking for a Thunder Dragon! the Spitfire realized.
“Yes! We want to bring it back to our kingdom with us!” The second man picked himself up, elated. “You are a Thunder?! Would you like to return with us? For the sake of our king?”
The Thunder Dragon snorted, yellow eyes narrowed. Leave? Here? Why would I ever want to do that?
“There is a legend that the God of Dragons can be summoned by three rare dragons; a Magma, an Ice, and a Thunder. We wish to gift our benevolent king this dragon, because his current companion is growing too worn to be with him anymore,” the first man explained, “If you come with us, we might be able to do that!”
“It has been long; if the others have found their dragons yet, they may already be leaving,” the other man piped up, “We need to leave quickly.”
I go where the storms go, the Thunder Dragon huffed, turning away.
Wait! the Spitfire spoke, What if we race there? You enjoyed the chase; perhaps race to my cave, and then travel from there? The humans said they didn't come from too far away; only a week's travel on foot.
The Thunder immediately perked up at this. 'Race'? 'Not too far'? Now we're talking! You're on, Spitfire. He grinned. A week's travel is nothing for me; that will just be an extra bit afterward!
Greatly brightened by this, the group agreed to the race. The explorers jumped back up onto the Spitfire, the Thunder ready for flight.
Ready? Set... Go! The two dragons leaped into action, a rush of wind! It was a thrilling start for the return home!
When the race ended (the Thunder won “by a landslide”, as the Spitfire insisted), the explorers waved goodbye and transferred rides to the Thunder, who assured them that he didn't mind, nor would snack on anyone on the way home. Thrilled by the race, even as short-lived as it was, the Thunder was complacent to follow his riders' directions to the kingdom. And he really wasn't lying either; a week's travel was only a day with him!
Now, our explorers have returned safely to their kingdom, some later than others but all with their dragons. The Magma stood on her plinth, just on the coast safe from the ocean's spray. The Ice patrolled the nearest mountain, barking at her Frostbite escorts to keep the air cool. And finally, the Thunder arrived on the scene, spending most of his time flying around and cracking jokes with the other dragons.
Now... we just have to find a way to summon the egg!
The townspeople gathered around the wise elder, wondering what to do next. “We have the dragons!” they said, “How do we summon the Dragon God?”
Unfortunately though, the wise man simply stared blankly. “I don't know...” he admitted quietly. “The legend never went into detail about that. It simply said the summoning was possible.”
There was a start though as a voice cut the air: “Why is there a gathering here, and why are there massive dragons all around?!”
“The king!” The people realized. They had never told him about their present! And the Dragon Trio were far too obvious to hide!
The king pushed through the crowd, giving everyone a quizzical look, his eyes falling on the wise man. “Are we being attacked?” he wondered, “Shall I amass our soldiers?”
“No dear king, the dragons are friends!” one of the villagers explained, “We brought them here!”
“Without my consent?” the king said, shocked. “What if they plan to raid the village?! They could have lied, you know!”
With their plan being a gift, the townspeople became tight-lipped and said nothing; they couldn't spoil the surprise, could they? But the wise man knew better than to keep a secret, especially if things were looking wrong from the start.
“Oh king, ” he explained, “these dragons are of the mighty Trio, and have great powers. As a gift to you, we brought them here to summon the egg of a deity. We wished to give you the God of Dragons. But, we don't know how.”
“Oh my,” the king realized, “Well, I appreciate the thought, but what could I do with such a thing? I have a hard enough time with my White Dragon as is!”
Now now, let's not make things complicated, an aged voice came up. The king looked at the ground.
“I'm sorry, my friend, but you are my one and only dragon. What would I do with a deity?” he murmured. The White Dragon came to his side, calm and understanding.
Your people love you, he said, and I said so myself that I was falling behind. Raise another dragon; it's what you deserve. He turned to the crowd. I have heard of the legend myself, but I can only fathom how the summoning works. Perhaps we should ask our participants? he suggested.
“But they are all up so high!” someone pointed out, “The Thunder is in the sky, the Ice atop a mountain, the Magma surrounded by the sea! How could we ask them?”
I will fly to them, the White offered, stretching his wings. I will ask each in turn if they have heard of the legend. As long as the Thunder keeps circling, it will be a straight shot through the kingdom.
“But your wing!” the king objected, grabbing his companion. “Ever since that battle you haven't ever flown straight! You cannot strain your wing; I won't allow it! Let one of the villagers take their own dragons.”
You are very altruistic, the White Dragon praised, nosing him. But the Trio will respect my age and experience here. And judging by that Ice's behavior, the venerability will be needed.
The king finally submitted to his companion's wish, concern still lining his face. “Be careful,” he said. The dragon nodded and turned, taking flight and heading first to where the Magma was perched.
Excuse me, he said, alighting down next to her, Do you recall the legend where the Dragon Trio summons the God of Dragons into existence? We can't remember the specifics.
Oh yes, that's why we're all here, isn't it? the Magma recalled, thinking. Hm, can't say I have dearie. I spent an awfully long amount of time underground, you see. The others might know though.
Ah, thank you, the White bowed his head and took leave, heading next to the Thunder who was circling the castle.
Hey White! the Thunder barked, seeing him first. I saw you leave this castle; pretty impressive pad, I must say!
Yes, it's quite nice, the White answered truthfully. Say, you remember the summoning legend? Do you recall any specific information about it?
HMMMM, the Thunder thought loudly. Well, I remember the part where the thing goes BOOM and it's all bright and stuff. The process is really fast too. Lots of swirls.
Do you remember anything else? the White asked hopefully.
Nah, can't say I do. The Thunder grinned. Hey, mind if I strike down a turret or two?
Absolutely; reserve your lightning for less destructive things, the White said, flying off toward the Ice Dragon. The Thunder snorted, but obeyed.
The Ice Dragon was still disgruntled by the heat, despite the furious workings of the smaller Frostbites. All of the dragons looked up at the White's entrance, and the Ice gave a silencing look to her servants before speaking.
I'm presuming we're doing the summoning now? I missed my cave as soon as I left it, she muttered.
Almost; stay patient, the White chided. Do you recall the process at all?
Hmph, don't know what you're doing, do you, she stated, flicking her tail. It's simple, and simply dangerous; the Magma conjures a ball of lava, and the Thunder zaps it with his lightning. The lightning will stabilize the fiery goop only for a moment, where it must then be frozen by an Ice. Timing. Is. Everything, she emphasized. Now, are we doing this or not?
Absolutely, the White said gratefully. Thank you; I will go inform the others of the task, and then we may perform the summoning. With that, he left to do just that.
The message spread quickly, and soon everything was in position. The Magma Dragon was hesitant to start the process, as the lava would be suspended in mid-air, reliant on the timing of the other two dragons. If things didn't go well... the lava would be above the village, suffice to say.
Ready when you are! the Thunder called, once the villagers had all evacuated from their homes.
Can't you be ready before me? the Magma sulked, This is not going to go well...
Don't worry, everything will be fine, the White Dragon, having landed back down next to her, was assuring. The villagers will be safe. We cannot delay any longer; the Ice will become too warm, and she will leave, preventing all of this.
Okay... the Magma sighed, raising her glowing orange head. She concentrated out in the air, close to the Thunder's position, and slowly a ball of fiery goop began to form.
WOWZERS that's close!! the Thunder cried, backing off. The goop ball almost fell, but the Magma concentrated harder, and the dripping lava began to stabilize and grow larger.
How big does it need to be?! she stuttered, trying not to lose focus. The White Dragon looked hopefully at the Ice across the valley, but she said nothing. Instead, the Thunder took initiative.
Now's good! YEEHAAAHH! He clapped his wings together and a thunderous roar rang out, accompanied by a flash brighter than the sun. The lightning struck the lava ball but did not upset it, instead allowing the electricity to collect all over its surface. Electricity is short lived however, and the Thunder had to conjure more lightning to replace the first blast.
Finally, a steady stream of lightning and fire was held, suspended over the village in a dangerous inferno.
This is getting hard! the Magma whined, and the Thunder simply grunted as he forced his energy into the ball. The Ice picked herself up, admiring the sight only for a second.
Finally, perhaps I can put myself to use, she muttered, staring intently at the ball. The intense moments ticked on by, worry mounting exponentially on everyone's mind.
FLASH!! The bright yellow light turned cold and blue, and a frigid breeze ran through the town. Ice crackled and shattered, melting as it fell to the ground. The Magma and the Thunder stopped immediately, staring at their frozen prize in awe.
A massive ball of ice, hissing and steaming at the contact of the hotter elements, dropping to the ground like a stone.
Get it! The Thunder dove quickly, panicked. The Magma was unsure on what to do, hopping up and down on her fragile stone pillar.
Is that the deity?! It's going to shatter!
Ma'am! the White cried out, flapping his wings to maintain his balance. There was a deafening crack; not from the Thunder, but from the plinth.
The Magma roared out in surprise as her plinth crumbled from underneath her, the White escaping rapidly. The Ice raised an eyebrow as broken rocks tumbled into the sea, creating monstrous waves that began a quick advance toward the village.
This isn't part of the process, she commented, standing up. Her Frostbites stared in curiosity as she flared her wings and leaped from the mountaintop.
No! You'll melt! The White, hovering above the chaos, noticed the Ice's decision.
The ocean should be cold enough! she answered, trying not to think about the tiny salt crystals that would find their way underneath her scales. She spat out a beam of raw elemental magic at the advancing waves, turning them into sheets of moving ice. While the waves were already flattening the trees inland, threatening to overwhelm the village, the Magma's fiery scales steamed and hissed as she hit the water; vast amounts of steam erupted into the air like miniature volcanoes! The Magma moaned as her glorious warmth faded away and became cold and wet.
The ocean is even less comfortable than I remember! she gasped. The Thunder snatched the ball of ice the three conjured in his rear talons and began beating furiously up into the sky, but his efforts were almost hopeless and he merely slowed its descent. The Ice spat more magic at the advancing waves, but the sea simply spewed more water back at her, which froze upon her form at the slightest touch.
This is disastrous! the White realized, turning to his king and his people. Thankfully they were still out of harm's way, safely holed up within the castle at the foot of the mountains, but they wouldn't be for long if things didn't look a bit brighter around here! But, where to start?
Deciding that the summoned ball of ice was the priority, the White dove toward the Thunder, avoiding his massive blue wings. He grabbed the ice ball in his talons and flew upward with him, but as small as he was in comparison to the Thunder - who was smaller than the ball, suffice to say! - the impact was minimal. And yet, the ball slowed just enough that, as it finally struck the ground, it simply broke apart instead of exploding like they had feared.
Crack! Massive chunks of ice parted from a stony core, which quickly broke apart when the Thunder almost landed on it. The two dragons alighted around it, staring at the prize within.
A small purple dragon egg, with a blue sheen and a fiery essence deep within.
The God of Dragons is an EGG?? the Thunder scoffed incredulously. The White didn't hesitate to grab it, heading for the castle upon hearing the roar of the waves.
The villagers are the priority! Strike down parts of the mountain and use the stones to build a barrier! the White commanded. The Thunder, having nothing else to do, decided it was worth doing. He flew up to isolated sections of the mountain range, striking cliffs with his lightning and allowing great chunks of stone to break off. The Ice and the Magma were retreating from the ocean's fury; the Magma's scales were hardening into immobile basalt, and the Ice had no choice lest she freeze herself in salty water. Things still weren't looking good!
The Thunder though had an idea. Grabbing a large hewn stone in his claws, he flapped his way over to the Magma Dragon.
I know you're running from the shore, but if we can melt these rocks together we could form a barrier! He dropped the stone at the Magma's feet.
Anything to get me out of the water! she gladly complied, picking up the stone in her jaws and wading out a bit. She dropped the rock, looking expectantly at the Thunder who was already delivering the next boulder.
What are you fools doing? A massive wave is coming! The Ice trudged by the two, the water freezing around her feet and making it difficult to move.
We must construct a barrier to protect the village! the Magma didn't hesitate explaining, If you can freezing the little waves coming in, we can make the barrier faster!
Hah! As if I have any power left! the Ice laughed. The Magma simply stared, accepting another stone from the Thunder and allowing it to congeal with the small pile of rocks in front of her. The Ice rolled her eyes.
Fine, I'll help! But don't think I'm being altruistic! With that, she turned back the way she came, blasting more elemental energy at the incoming waves.
Watching from the castle's turrets, the townspeople knew that even the mighty Trio were too slow for the tsunami. So when the White Dragon landed next to his king with the egg, they wasted no time in gathering their own dragons for the cause!
Tons of dragons, from the mountains, forests and sea! Brute Dragons, Annagalis ones, wyverns of all kind! Imperial Fleshcrownes, Blacktips, even shining Silvers and Golds! Drakes, dragons, splits and pygmies, all taking to the air and helping the trio! The heftier dragons flew with the Thunder, chipping off rock from the cliffs and carrying it to the Magma, who arranged the stones with the help of tons of dragons. Those who wielded ice or fire magic fought the waves, reinforcing the Ice's efforts with every chance they had.
It was thanks to these dragons that the tsunami's fury was mitigated, and though the town at the base of the mountain was submerged and swept away, the castle stood firm, with the sea lapping at its feet. Every dragon and beast fled to the mountains, escaping the raging tides, and many returned to the castle to safety. The Trio retreated to the mountaintops, watching the water level rise.
It was unusual... the water levels was still rising!
“What is going on? Surely the water would have retreated by now?” the king asked his White Dragon.
I don't understand, was all the White said, nervously eyeing the ocean. The sky rumbled, and the townspeople on the battlements turned and saw an incoming storm gracing the top of the mountain range.
“A thunderstorm?” the king questioned, looking accusingly at the Thunder. The said dragon, perched upon a turret, simply stared.
I FOLLOW the storms, they don't come to me! he pointed out with a huff. The Ice, up higher on the mountains than the Magma, was suddenly relaxing in the face of the storm.
It's nice and cold... say, it might be a snowstorm! she wondered.
Oh no... the Magma wailed, the earth practically boiling at her feet. I hope not! At that, a boulder suddenly split next to her, hissing steam. Oh, dear!
“What is happening? It's like all of the elements are coming together!” one of the villagers shouted.
“Are the Trios doing it?”
“Is our town gone for good?”
“What a gift to our king; we're doomed!”
The townspeople began to panic, their dragons with them. The King took the egg from his White, holding it in his hands.
“Is this truly a young god I am holding? A God of Dragons?” he demanded, “Is its mere presence upsetting the balance of the world?!”
I don't know, my king! the White cried, This has never happened before...
“You!” The king spun around and pointed at a Red Dragon. “You can help eggs to hatch, correct? Hatch this egg! If it really does hold a deity, perhaps we can restore this calamity!”
Lightning crashed and thunder roared, and the sea level began to rise faster. The skies began to darken, a cold wind picking up and sweeping down the mountains. The Red trembled, but nevertheless came closer to the king, pushing through the panicking crowd.
I can warm it and encourage it! the Red claimed, taking the egg in its forepaws and focusing on its magic. The egg began to glow with a reassuring warmth, and yet it didn't even twitch.
It will take too long! the White panicked. The storm descended, and a roar from the Ice Dragon declared the first drops of hail, pelting down from above. The frigid wind from the storm buffeted the sea below, causing waves to form. A lightning bolt lit up the darkened sky, granting vision only for a second.
A tempest! a dragon cried, flying into the Red. The latter juggled the egg, trying not to drop it, and the White advanced on the dragon.
Why you-!
“Wait!” the king halted him, “You there! Can you hatch this egg?”
I - er, um! the dragon stammered.
It's a Red, it can incubate! the White answered for it.
Yeah, yeah, I can! The dragon simply nodded numbly.
With two Red Dragons focused on the egg, it began to grow warmer faster, sheltered from the freezing winds. But, while the egg occasionally trembled, it still would not hatch!
Lightning struck a nearby cliff side, and the cliff exploded into steam and boiling mud. The White Dragon was alarmed by this, recognizing the implications.
Trapped by the sea and grounded by the storm, and the mountain range is trying to erupt! He ran over the ramparts over to the Magma. You must do something!
It won't listen to me! she said, digging at the ground and throwing clumps of earth into the air. Magma is rising within the range; I can't stop it!
Ice Dragon! The White, panicked, flew over to the other side of the castle. Ice! But the Ice Dragon wasn't listening to him, enraptured by the cold weather and the hailstones that battered at the ground.
Wheeee!! The glee heard from above already informed the White that the Thunder Dragon was enjoying the storm too. Simpletons! he thought, racing back over to his king, I'm getting too old for this!
The strange purple egg still hadn't hatched, but it seemed to be getting close. Despite the warm glow from the Reds' paws, it had a cooler, softer glow surrounding it. The king was so focused on the egg, he didn't see a potential helper nearby.
Green Dragon! the White ran over to the large creature, who was sheltering under a castle buttress. Can you not shake the ground and cause an egg to hatch?
Why would it matter? If I shook the ground, surely the castle would fall apart! She hugged the bricks around her.
It may be our only hope! the White implored her, and finally she was ushered out from underneath the buttress. Shielding herself from the hail with her wings, the large dragon followed to the group.
King! This dragon can cause an earthquake that might encourage the egg to hatch early!
“Would it kill it?” the king roared over the storm.
It might!
The king bit his lip, looking around at the destruction being caused. “Do it!” he ordered.
The Red Dragons put the egg on the ground, and the Green began to jump nearby it.
Slam! The first landing caused the ramparts to shake.
Crack! Everyone began to back away nervously as the stones themselves groaned and split.
Crash! The Green's mighty weight threatened to destroy the wall!
The Green reared for another testy jump, but a softer crackling sound interrupted her. She slowly lowered herself, peering through the darkness and the fury of the storm at the ground.
Everyone leaned in...
Curled up on the ground was a small purple dragon. It had no wings, and was no bigger than the egg it came from. It curled up against the cold, and whimpered.
The whimper seemed to penetrate the chaos.
The raging ocean began to calm.
The storm began to cease. The hail retreated.
The earth cooled down and the super-heated rocks relaxed.
The terror of the townspeople turned to bewilderment.
On a dime, like a fire being put out or a stopper being put in a bottle, the storm receded and the ocean became calm, the howling winds died down and the carpet of hail began to melt. The sun's light penetrated the cloud cover and swept away the gloom.
The purple dragon hatchling uncurled a bit, and opened its eyes. Eyes glowing white with knowledge. It tested its muzzle and pawed at the stone, every bit as curious as any other hatchling, and yet just as unique. The king looked around in wonder, and back to the hatchling.
“It must really be a deity!” he murmured in astonishment, “No other explanation would make sense!”
I have never seen such a storm in my life! The Thunder alighted back on the castle, glum that the storm was leaving.
I have never seen so much hail, nor felt colder winds, the Ice claimed, coming down the mountain toward the scene. The Magma uncurled from her position on a cliff, staring at the ground.
Even the lava wanted to rise and cause chaos. It has always listened to me before, she sulked.
What should we name it?! one of the Reds blurted out.
If it's the king's dragon, it must be something good, the Green suggested.
“A gift fit for our king.” The wise man in the crowd smiled, pushing his way to the front. “The Trio's power indeed summoned a mighty creature! I... did not expect it to be so small though.”
“Small works!” the king said happily, scooping up the hatchling in his arms.
A name, we should give it a name! a dragon chanted.
“What should we call it?” a villager wondered.
“Something impressive!”
"Something strong!"
“Something miraculous!”
“Something worthy!”
"Something kingly!"
“We'll call it...” the king mused, “Valiant.”
It's perfect! The White Dragon beamed. Valiant, the Guardian of Nature!
Thus, the first legendary dragon was summoned, as a gift to a beloved king. A week's celebration followed afterward, as well as plenty of work rebuilding the town; but the Dragon Trio stayed to help for that part. The Magma rebuilt a large, solid stone wall to shelter the city from any future floods; the Ice promised to migrate across the mountain range so as to cause the winters to be warmer and the summers to be cooler; and the Thunder made a pledge to bring storms rather than to pursue them, causing plenty of precipitation to allow the lands to flourish. With the kingdom rebuilt and a holiday named, Valiant was raised by the people and their king, and proved to be a decent, honorable dragon. He was found to be valuable to the people; he could divert natural disasters, calm enraged wild dragons, and encourage growth in the forests, providing an endless supply of food and wood for the people. He additionally fought off enemies and kept the kingdom safe, and was strong enough to battle with rival kingdoms! He quickly sprouted his wings and aged into a wonderful protector - a true Guardian of Nature - and continues to live on, even until this day.
-The End-
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