Conqueror

Mother dragon had awoken from a deep slumber to hear the faint cries of a child. Her slit-like eyes fluttered open to the dim light seeping through the entrance and she could discern the world around her had changed.

How long had she rested for?

How did the world she helped create look in her absence?

Have men learned to be more civilized?

Were they more appreciative of the world she created?

Her curiosity had provoked her to rise to her feet and stretch her tremendous body that reflected her beautiful scales. There was a lingering thirst, and the sounds of fresh water nearby encouraged her to take her leave of the cave she had occupied for many years.

The sun shone down on her and the welcoming sight of lush green trees and healthy life adorned everything around her as far as she could see. The tranquility of it would have been more peaceful if not for the cries of a child, and the distinct smell of man’s fire.

With a cautious step, she drank from the refreshing stream to quench the thirst she had longed for. After her fill, she followed the downward stream until it met a cliff leading to a waterfall. That is when she saw the young child-or that of a toddler crying at the edge of a cliff opposite the waterfall.

She watched the vulnerable boy, wondering where his guardians were and why he had been abandoned. The stifles had prompted a reaction of sadness and grief to worm its way inside her heart for she was granted life to serve the creator above all and to not physically interfere with the lives of men. She was not one of the creatures she had brought to life with the warmth of her blazing fires but an envoy of life to observe and protect.

It had been long since she had rested. The waterfall roared beneath her and due to her enormous body, it was nothing but a short stretch to reach the boy. Nonetheless, she was careful of her approach. She moved slowly, not to startle him.

She craned her neck as she climbed down the rocks, never taking her eyes off him. She had never honored any man by speaking directly to them. The poor boy had not noticed her presence until she was merely a couple of feet away.

“Why do you cry?” She questioned in the common ground language that was known throughout. Her strong voice was gentle, and immediately got the boy's attention.

His earthly-colored starstruck eyes gazed up at the magnificent being before him. His sand-kissed skin was covered in red bruises and black ash that hinted at his predicament. The child being unable to form any coherent sentences sat there struggling to breathe with tear-stained eyes. Mother dragon watched the boy shakily stand up with his tiny legs and suddenly tripped, grabbing ahold of her nostrils.

Flaring and puffing air through her nose from the intrusion the boy had fallen. Not a second later, a loud cry left his lips that made Mother’s dragon ears pull back from it. Her entire body rose and settled from a short-lived sigh. She laid her head back down and nudged the child with a simple soft touch to ease his loud cries, for her touch could ease the worries of any being or creature she crossed paths with.

“Look here, child.” She spoke, calmly demanding the child to gaze up at her.

The boy with more tears still staining his face looked at her and she saw the unforgivable transgression that was passed through his simple village and home through his eyes. The ability of her sight allowed her to see the bloodshed the boy had witnessed as men bearing the mark of the Deceiver mercilessly swept through the boy’s village. She had seen that mark since the more ancient times when darkness threatened all, and demons from the Seven Hells emerged to make their claim on their world by seducing the lives of men.

She had prevented that for so long and took her long-needed rest in the continent of Klakea where many clans had settled after the War of the Gods had affected every continent. Those who had served the creator had been given eternal rest for their heroic efforts and those men who had helped in their efforts were rewarded in the afterlife.

There was peace but now that had changed. Mother dragon was fortunate she had awoken from her rest but had she been the only one?

Did she alone have to deal with the situation at hand?

“Emmo! Efaÿ!” The child cried out in a dialect she was not familiar with in her time, for she was blessed to know all languages but it would be rather effortless to learn in no time.

The child desperately stared up at the Mother dragon- conceivably hoping she would understand him. She was sure he was referring to his mother and father. She rose her head above the tree line, and in the distance, black smoke rose and an unnerving sickness she had never experienced latched onto her soul. She looked over at the devastation that had decimated the flourishing life just a little way from where she resided.

All this happened whilst she slept soundly. It angered her and though the Gods that had once defied the creators were trapped in stone as punishment and kept away with blessed relics many followers had tried to take up their stead. She needed to thwart their efforts and before she took another step through the ash-riddled forest she looked towards the little boy before her. She was forbidden to harm the life and breath given to men by the creator. If she was alone, she had to act quickly. She needed an envoy whom she would bless to help save others and themselves.

She lowered herself to the boy, and in his eyes, although he would free Klakea from the dark hold of the Deceiver’s followers it was was uncertain of the path he would take when he matured.

This was not her chosen envoy to save the realm for she would not be born for another four decades and five years and not look upon her until 18 years after that. Still, she helped the boy to his feet.

Inquisitive eyes watched her as she took in a heavy breath and a white light emitted from her belly. “You will be blessed as your home’s protector.”

She inhaled once more as the fire within her belly lit up her scales and long neck before escaping her mouth into a fiery explosion engulfing the child in a captivating light. “I bestow upon you the strength to fight your enemies and the ability to control beasts to serve and protect by your side.”

Her voice echoed in the boy’s mind as the fire did not burn his flesh and a strange understanding of the world around him was born.

“Now climb.” Mother dragon lowered her back, and the boy climbed her back without hesitation. Holding onto her scales with his small hands, she stretched her large wings and ascended to the skies to see the damage. Her wings boomed that of several crashes of thunder uniting as one, and the skies darkened like a deadly omen to the invaders.

Mother dragon was careful of the young boy on her back as she watched how far the enemy had destroyed everything for miles leading from the mountains all the way to the shores of the Dresca seas leading into the vast blue ocean. It stunk of ancient magic, deteriorating the life that inhabited the area and as she descended she saw stone towers filled with black smoke, and soldiers with the dark mark harbored a field of natives in shackles who were to be sold as slaves.

She calculated the distance and straightened her wings to accelerate her speed, targeting the stone towers. She inhaled deeply, as the fire within her belly was hotter than man’s fire, and burned her insides for the consequence of what was to come for harming humans.

That was the price.

The yells, and alarms of the black shadow in the skies quickly approaching set off the natives and soldiers alike to start screaming. In an instant Mother dragon let out a furious roar before a violet and blue hue of fire destroyed the towers in one blast. She followed through destroying the enemy towers, camps, and sacrificial posts they used to spill blood and pay homage to the Deceiver.

From the mountains to the shores she burned the enemy within mere minutes. The captives were terrified by the magnificent creature but alas were in awe at this unforeseen hero. Mother dragon circled back one more time destroying the same fleet of ships that were ready to take more captives.

If she saw any more lingering foes she would rid them without a second thought. The violet and blue hues swallowed up everything to a blackened crisp and once she found everything was sufficient she hovered above the frightened natives who were worried she too would turn on them.

She shook her body which rattled her shiny scales that seemed to be absorbing the light of the surrounding fire. Her outstretched wings could hug a mountain and crush it if she so wished. Taking her time to land all the natives got down on their knees and watched her with tears in their eyes and praised her with raised arms.

She knew the enemy would return in time.

She took her time to lower her body and the small boy who she had not forgotten was elated to see his people. His hair was in a disarray standing up humorously, and the villagers watched as she helped the boy with her long arms to the soot-covered ground.

A young girl no older than ten years jumped up with joy. “Brother!” She cried out running and embracing him. She looked up at the magnificent creature and although she was terrified and her heart pounded she couldn’t help but be grateful. “Thank you.” She smiled.

Mother dragon without a word bowed her head and ripped one of her scales from her body so the natives could free themselves from their shackles. For dragon scales were an impenetrable force to be reckoned with.

She turned to the destruction of the forest behind her, and the few tyrannical lizard beasts that consumed meat scattered from her gaze leaving behind a large egg. Taking it into her mouth she was careful to give the egg to the boy as a gift as proof of her blessing. He would be the first to tame such a beast, and the people would look to him for guidance.

She kissed the ground, praying the green life of nature would return. It would take time and their homes had to be rebuilt but never again will it be destroyed.

17 years passed as the young boy had grown into a man, standing tall at 19. He was praised for being the one who woke the dragon in their time of great need and was anointed as the Great Chief when he came of age. The natives worshiped Mother Dragon, and though she did not want them doing so, she confided in the Great Chief in secret to express those concerns. Though he would often brush it off, and grin saying she had earned it, she realized he had not been taking the matter seriously.

The great flourishing home was more beautiful than she could have ever thought, and though some areas were too thick and dense for the natives to pass through, they found ways without ruining it. The Great Chief rode his tyrannical beast that had grown four times its original size as a youngling. When the beast would challenge her, it was amusing to see it tuck its tail and hide when she spread her massive wings. She grew as well and kept herself within caves to prevent it.

One day she had been resting watching some creatures roam around her when she got a vision, clear as day. The marked soldiers were planning to return and this time they were going to wipe out the natives. They had time to revise their strategy as they hid away in the north to the Qeistren continent.

“You must stop them at sea. Board your ships and make sail but do not set foot on Qeistren. Their lands reek of ancient magic and curses.”

Mother dragon spoke to him. For she knew of ancient curses and their true powers. For during the long war before his time, the Goddess of Plagues had left behind a curse to those she would bless that would eventually lead to harming her envoy. Their families and heirs will be cursed and their daughters after them will be cursed as well and resemble the likeness of the Goddess to spite her.

“Mother dragon, you can trust me to stop them. I do not fear curses or ancient magic. They will never enslave a free man or woman or their children ever again.” He answered with a prideful smile.

Mother dragon wanted to believe her Great Chief, and she fondly remembered the day she had blessed him when he was only a toddler. She had to remind herself that he was not her chosen envoy. She could no longer interfere with the lives of men, and could only influence such with words of wisdom or warnings.

She foresaw the many paths the Great Chief could take that would later determine his fate. Her love for him was strong as he grew into a strong warrior protecting his people and keeping the peace. They had built a more sophisticated life from resources of they were provided and were never ungrateful. Though some were sad for their families had been already slain or sold to Qeistren and only the creator himself would know where they were now.

It was upsetting and if Mother dragon was young and could still breathe her violet and blue hellfire she would defy the creator to help the world she had also carved. Perhaps that was the reason he took her ability to breathe fire the day she had destroyed all the marked foes.

“My blessing is with you.” Was all she said watching the Great Chief leave her side with the hope he would make her proud. “Do not stray down the wrong path. Your duty is to your people, nothing more.”

After another year had passed, Mother dragon would be sad to inform the Great Chief of his older sister’s passing. She was a kind woman who raised her younger brother into the Great Chief he was. She birthed a son who she adored. Now his nephew was only three years of age when his father died at sea and lost his mother to a plague-like sickness.

If the Great Chief had only listened.

Upon finding out about his sister’s death, the Great Chief was stricken with grief and his heart hardened, blaming the people of Qesitren and fallen Gods.

He searched for their leader, Kazamir the Wicked, the one who had been blessed with the Deceiver’s ancient magic, but to no avail. Searching throughout Qesitren with his dragon sword in hand and invincible armor, he had slain foes who did not want to pledge their allegiance to Mother dragon and serve the Great Chief. After some Qesitren individuals fled their homes, the Great Chief swore he would track them down.

When he found out the enemy had a slave trade in the southern continent of Inox, he invaded and conquered the continent. With no remorse. Destroying the marked ones, and freeing the slaves who lived there.

He vowed he would do so until all men were free.

Mother dragon, understanding his plight, was not pleased with his conquest and hunger to rule-which only hid his true intentions. He showed mercy and brought back many to his home Klakea and those who had not sworn loyalty to his name were executed. His heart felt empty and this hunger to seek out those who harmed the free men would be punished. He had grown to believe his duty was to expand his rule to other continents to ensure what happened to his parents and people would never happen again.

She did not speak to him when he declared that vow under Mother dragon. She only saw the pain and the sorrow that would befall his future family.

If only she hadn’t blessed him, if only she hadn’t interfered…would he have been worse off?

She knew he would and he would not have spared so many countries and cities with their people as he saw fit.

If she could show him her visions, and tell him all the details to avoid such devastation she would. For now, she turned towards her cave and had never spoken another word to him. He had so much great potential but now he was the Great Chief Conqueror.

Angered by this, he thought about why Mother Dragon no longer spoke to him and took it as a sign for now. And when he had taken a wife to rule beside him, he asked for her blessing and he received none.

He shared the birth of his son with her, and she only gazed upon the babe with distress in her eyes. When nine years had passed and he had been blessed to have his third and last child it was a girl. Mother dragon gazed at the babe in his arms, and she knew she would be the reason for another Great War.

When 12 more years had passed, the Princess would decorate Mother dragon’s horns with flowers and would talk to her in secret when her family was not around.

“Mother dragon, you know father has sent my brothers to marry far across the seas to these strange royal families for his expansion. I miss my brothers but would this be the last time I will see you too? Yuīele deëaÿ tehaÿkû emmë?”

Until death takes her?

Mother dragon knew the answer for she foresaw it when she was born, and even if she took the honorable path in life, it would end the same. The young princess reminded her of her father, and she did have a close likeness to the Goddess of Plague she had regrettably fought almost a millennia ago.

”Yes, my child.” The Princess grew sad, not wanting to leave her home. Her people told her that it would be an honor to conquer more land and rule but it was far from home. She was curious for she always felt a looming presence lingering over her every so often, watching her from afar. Though it did not frighten her, Mother dragon knew of the presence of what was to come. “Do not cry, for I am always with you.”

She had given the Princess armor she would grow into, and a sword for she knew the darkness would return once more. However, they were not exactly gifts for her. Her last gift to the Princess consisted of her own tears, which she made the Princess collect in a vial that could be used to heal anything and bless anything. Doing so, Mother dragon warned the Princess to only use them unless it was undoubtedly crucial.

She knew the Princess would listen, and try her best to stir away from the wrongful path. The Princess would be a great Queen during her reign, although she would not be able to witness it herself.

If only she had the strength.

If only she could have helped the Great Chief Conqueror and his children.

The years had finally been taking their toll on Mother dragon for she knew that after her last rest she would be granted rest for all eternity. She just had to wait for her chosen envoy that would bring peace to the entire world. It would not be an easy journey and she would face much sorrow and pain like those before her.

Just two more decades and four years now.

The Princess and the Great Chief Conqueror had boarded their ships, accompanied by his nephew who he took under his wing and anointed General to his daughter's future army soon to come. He and his large fleet would make for the Cirend continent which was far west of home. The place where one son married a princess of a royal kingdom while the other son married a commoner of another, which he was most disappointed of.

He had a plan to slowly take control of Cirend, and what better way was there than through conquering their lands and marriage proposals. This was to ensure loyalty to his family name and bring freedom to the many that were reportedly enslaved.

Mother dragon made it her duty to see the Princess off for it would be the last time she would gaze at her beauty. The Great Chief was surprised to see his old friend had left his cave and although Mother dragon was not bidding him farewell, it left an aching feeling in his heart.

Had he not done enough to help people? To make her proud?

He placed his skull helmet made from the bones of a dragon youngling he had shot down in his youth that was being manipulated with magic from a marked foe. He was no longer the toddler she once knew but a conqueror who condemned his family. Mother dragon turned back to her cave when they were no longer in sight and was accompanied by many small dragons who took refuge with her.

She sadly closed her eyes and decided she would take her rest and wait for her chosen envoy to come to her.

The Great Chief with his beloved daughter at his side raised his sword, and as his soldiers cheered for him it echoed across the Dresca seas.

“All hail King Osephtis and the Great Mother!”