Hey everybody! I am total crud at doing summaries but, long story short, I was going to play a Fire Emblem Fates tabletop game, clearly following the story but also AU, and had an awesome character and everything. Issues happened with the DM and instead of letting mah boi sit and collect dust I figured I'd just make a fic out of it. He is a specific Camilla romance boy because I adore her and think she's a strong and well-made character. Anyway, yes, the guy's name is indeed a bit odd, but he was based off historical references I will mention later. Here's chapter one! If you have questions, please leave them in the comments section. Thanks!
Also, the story does start from when the characters were young, and it builds from there.
Chapter One: A Boy, A Dragon, A Lance
Neither guard wanted to be out that cold snowy night. They'd rather be home or at the barracks, warm and away from the harsh weather that battered them so. However, people of this small town near the edge of the Bottomless Canyon had been sending letter after letter to the capital, requesting aid in ridding their home of a terror that had taken shelter in an abandoned barn. Whatever this creature was, it was eating some of the livestock and crops, fire randomly spewing from the opening in the roof of the structure at sporadic times of the day. These two men, part of a group of five out patrolling, were the help that had been sent out.
Trudging through the snow towards a lonely building in the distance one guard asked, "Do you think these folks might be telling the truth? There might be a dragon hiding inside and that's what's eating everything?"
"Ha! A dragon? I doubt it. Maybe a wyvern or some other beast but actual dragons are rare my friend. Whatever it is, if we find it, we'll kill the damned thing and then head back home. I'm done with this job." The second one said, scoffing at the idea that filled his comrade's head.
Just as the pair neared the structure a stream of brilliant gold flames shot out through the roof, a low moan following and quickly being silenced by an unknown factor. Nervous and not wanting to go back on what he said, the second guard, Arcturus, gave a small smile to the other and motioned for them to duck behind a large snow coated boulder. He watched to see if anything else would happen, sighing in relief when this settled and grew silent, save for the howling wind.
"Alright Simon, things seem okay but, I'm going to go check it out first and see what we're actually dealing with. If I call you by your first name, it means it's alright to come in. If I call by your last name, go get help. Got it?" Arcturus explained, waiting for the younger guard to nod. Content with the answer he put a hand on the lad's shoulder and added, "Things will be alright. I'm sure this is nothing big; maybe just some smart bandits using magic to scare the villagers."
With that the middle-aged man crept out from behind the cover and advanced forward, lance held ready and steps carefully measured out. Sound on and off was drowned out by the furious winds that ripped and tore at the lone figure, trying desperately to bend and knock him over. He stayed up though, straining his ears to pick up noise from the intimidating barn, whose shadow loomed over him like a dark cloud. It was not until he reached the partially open doors that he caught the faint mutterings that were uttered inside. That lead him to believe his own bandit tale until he listened again and discovered something he did not expect; the voice belonged to a child.
Lost as to what this could mean he lowered his lance some and cautiously stepped to where the opening was. Heart racing, he thought about his words before speaking, asking loudly, "Hello in there! I know you are in there, I heard you speaking! Are you alright child?"
Minutes passed as hushed noises echoed inside the building, feet scampering next to what could only be claws clacking on the ground. Soon a small, timid voice answered, replying with, "He-hello. I'm fine there's no issues. Please go away! I'm not hurting anyone!"
"Okay." Arcturus muttered to himself before continuing with, "I'm sure you haven't hurt anyone son. My name is Arcturus. I'm a Squad Captain from the capitol. Do you know the city's name?"
"Uh…no. No, I don't. Why are you here?"
"Well, the people here are scared of you…or what you might have with you. What's your name boy?"
Once again it was quiet, but there was the sound of the kid whispering to someone. The answer came close to five minutes later, voice shaking all the while. "I don't have one. I can't remember it. I don't know the city either. Are people really scared? I didn't mean to scare them."
"I am more than sure you didn't mean to as well. Can I come in? I won't bring any weapons with me. I promise." The shivering guard told him, doing all he could to make himself sound friendly to this lost child.
When he heard a reluctant 'yes' he disarmed himself, staying true to his word, and set his lance and dagger together off to the side of the doors. Then, steadying himself for whatever lay behind the wooden entrance, he held his hands up and walked inside. Nothing could have prepared him though as he found the rumors to be true and then some. Pressed against the leg of a young dragon, an actual dragon, was a small child. His brilliant gold eyes shinned in the moonlight with fear, dark blue hair a long and tangled mess, lightly tanned skin coated in grime, and hands tightly grasping a marvelous red lance that was pointed at Arcturus. Obviously, this child was afraid and possibly abandoned, yet he had to be braver than half of the soldiers he knew in order simply because he had been surviving and living with such a creature. Looking up at the dragon whose dark scales shimmered in the gloom, he saw the beast was crouched protectively above the kid, front legs guarding either side of him and head just a foot above him.
Arcturus steeled his nerves and, with a gentle smile, took only a couple of steps forward before speaking again. "Wow, that is a beautiful dragon there. Are they yours?"
Coughing some the kid said, "Yes. I hatched him and have taken care of him. You won't take him from me!"
"Oh no, I would never! Besides, he's very fond of you. Why are you two here anyway? It's the dead of winter and it must be terribly cold in this barn. I can't imagine food is easy to get either."
"Well, it was the closest place that was safe. People tried to take both of us, separate us, even when he was an egg. I don't know where I am and everyone I go to just tells me to leave."
"That's awful. I'm truly sorry you had to deal with that. Are you hungry?" He asked, watching the kids face brighten at those words. "I have some rations on me. They don't taste great but it's something."
Fidgeting with the heavy lance the child looked at his hands, and then the guard, trying to decide what to do. It was as the man kneeled slowly and brought out said rations that his willpower faltered, and he replied, "Is it okay? Aren't you hungry too?"
"I'll be alright. Here, this is for you. I'm not going to hurt either of you."
Warry but also starving the blue haired child walked over to the black-haired man, eyes glued to him and lance weighing him down. Tentatively he reached a small hand forward to the bar in the guards outstretched hand, tiny heart racing and threatening to leap out of his throat, as his fingers wrapped around the food. As fast as he could he snatched it away and took a few steps back, sniffing the snack before munching on the odd tasting bar. Lowering his hand Arcturus watched happily as the child ate, mind still abuzz about how all of this came to be. This whole scenario perplexed him yet, his biggest hope was to first get the kid somewhere safe.
"Is it good? Do you like it?" Arcturus asked once the kid finished and looked to him with big eyes.
Nodding he answered, "Yes. Do I need to pay you? I don't have any money."
"No. I was actually going to ask if you wanted more; I have a second one."
"Really? Are you sure?" He asked, completely lowering the red lance and finally, at last, showing a small smile.
"Yes. Here, it's all yours boy." Arcturus replied with a laugh as he handed the second bar over. Content that he was making progress he added, "You know, you must be really brave to be able to live with an actual dragon. Some of my friends have wyverns but they are not as fierce as dragons. They'd all probably like you."
"But George isn't scary. He's my best friend. I would be dead without him. What's a wyvern?"
"They're like dragons but…smaller. Some have front legs but usually they don't. His name is George?"
"Yeah. I thought the name fit him. Your friends…they wouldn't hurt him, would they?"
"No. If you want you and George can come live with me in the capital. It's not everyday that we find someone that's brave and smart enough to befriend a dragon. We could take care of you and him. I could even teach you how to use that lance. And there are kids your age there too, so you'd have friends. It's better than being out here in the cold." Arcturus explained as he fully sat down. In the dirt he drew a basic layout of the capital, pointing out where his barracks were and where they kept the wyverns.
Thinking long and hard about it the child turned to his dragon and spoke in a language that Arcturus couldn't understand, amazing the captain as the creature seemed to respond with gentle nods and snuffs, communicating intelligently. After many minutes of conversation, he turned back to find the awe-struck man watching him in deep fascination. He blushed as he felt awkward, second guessing his decision for only a moment. Dusting himself off and setting down the lance he answered.
"George agrees with your deal, but only if he can have some blankets to help him stay warm and he can have some apples." He told Arcturus, trying to sound strong and unmoving on his terms.
Roaring with laughter the man nodded vigorously, he replied happily, "Of course. By the Gods, George can have all the blankets he wants and many apples, as well as you. You can have a name too if you'd like. We can find one that fits."
"Yeah? There is one, but I can't read it. Could you?" The boy asked, hefting the lance up again and bringing it over to the friendly man. He pointed to the word etched into the side of the lovely red weapon, saying, "This. I want this to be my name."
Warmly the guard ruffled his dark hair and read the word aloud, officially beginning a new chapter in his life he never knew would happen.
"The word here, your new name my boy, is Ascalon. It's from an old story about a man who tamed a dragon, which I think is perfect. Let's go home now."
Together the small group left the barn, the man holding the child's hand with his left, the lance in his right, and the magical dragon following them closely. Then they left the town, meeting with the rest of the team, and soon they would be in the capitol, returning with a what they thought to be fake, and a new life quickly approaching them all.
So that's the end of chapter one! Hope you enjoyed. I'll probably be posting a few chapters quickly and then slow to a more regular pace. No clue how long this fic will be but it follows Revelations. Thanks for reading!
