Regina in Dracones:Praefatio(Prologue)
Hello my lovelies! I know I have a lot of stories already started, but this story has been naggling at me to put it on the site. I'm actually kind of worried what kind of feedback I'll get from this story. I've had this typed up and working on it from my Google Drive and I thought it should be time that I actually posted it. Now, on with the quote!
"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life."
-Richard Bach
So, let's get on with the story!
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o Regina in Dracones o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Numerous cries of different dragons reached the ears of a young, small white dragon whose luminous aureolin eyes watched over the colorful masses in the vast blue sky. White glimmering scales sparkled in the sunlight before they disappeared to reveal pale alabaster skin of a ten year old girl with calf length pure white hair but the same yellow eyes of the dragon. Upon closer inspection, the girl was wearing a royal dress colored in white, pink, and silver with an almost transparent wrap around her shoulders that shimmered silver in certain angles of the light.
"Theia!"
At the sound of the young male voice the girl whipped around, causing her long hair to fly up and around her little body as her head turned to face the approaching boy. The boy turned out to be a few inches taller than her with sakura pink hair, very dark eyes, and a long white scarf that looked to be made of dragon scales wrapped around his neck.
"Na-chan!" a chime like voice sounded from the girl to greet the boy.
"Now many times do I have to tell you Natsu?" questioned a large red dragon who trailed behind the boy. "You are to address her as Ohime-sama."
"Igneel," Theia interjected. "It's fine. I don't mind."
"See?!" Na-chan gloated gleefully. Igneel let out a huff of exasperation yet he said nothing. "You wanted to see me Theia?"
"Yes. You've heard of a dragon's Horde and how dragon slayers can have their own, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I would like for you to be the first member of my Horde," she confessed with a blush while she played with a big lock of hair that fell over her shoulder. Igneel's eyes widened in shock while Natsu grew a smile that took up almost the whole bottom half of his face.
"You mean it Theia?!"
"Of course I do," she huffed in embarrassment. "You should know how intimate a Horde is to dragon culture."
He blinked to register her flustered appearance before he put his arms behind his head and flashed his fanged pearly whites in a blinding smile.
"You're cute when you blush Theia."
This caused the blush Theia already had to deepen as she puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
"Mō Na-chan," she huffed. "Do you want to be in my Horde or not?"
"Of course I do," he beamed. "Just tell me what to do."
"Alright. Hold out your left hand."
There was no hesitation in his following Theia's order. Theia then reached out her own left hand to take Natsu's arm at the wrist in her grasp which Natsu quickly reciprocated.
"Now, I need you to visualize your magic pulsing around you along with your heartbeat. Then I want you to visualize your magic flowing from your body into mine. I'm going to do the same, but I must warn you, it will feel like it's invading you and make you uncomfortable. Please do not resist my flow of magic. Instead let it flow into your heart and let it mix with your magic. This will begin our vows to each other in the ancient dragon language. You needn't worry about what you are going to say. Just let the words flow through you."
Natsu slowly closed his eyes and a red aura settled around his form as his magic manifested that pulsated like a heartbeat. The same thing happened with Theia except her aura was silver. Slowly their magic inched across their arms that made its way straight to their hearts. There was no delay in Natsu's red magic being absorbed into Theia's heart while Natsu almost shut down the flow of Theia's magic when it touched the edge of his heart. However, he remembered Theia's words about not resisting the flow of magic. A deep breath was taken and released before Natsu let her magic reach his heart. Once Theia could feel the steel like threads start to take root in each other's hearts, she began reciting her vows.
"Ego, ut Euryphaessa, caelestius Draco Dracones est, et regina et Theia Baelfire, caelestis Draconis Slayer Natsu Dragneel accopere ut unum de meis et de me ttorde pugiles (I, as Euryphaessa, Celestial Dragon and Queen of the Dragons and Theia Baelfire, Celestial Dragon Slayer accept Natsu Dragneel as one of my Horde and one of my Champions)."
More threads came to strengthen the bond after Theia's bond that had both slayers smiling. Natsu couldn't help but feel his heart beat frantically in excitement.
"Ego autem Igneel Slayer Natsu Dragneel Ignis Draco Dracones Ardentes pignus meus rex, ut in eam fidem ad Euryphaessa et Theia Baelfire Horde et viri fortes. Iuro vita mea dum suscipiet eam vivam (I, Natsu Dragneel, Fire Dragon Slayer of Igneel King of the Fire Dragons pledge my allegiance to Euryphaessa and Theia Baelfire as one of her Horde and Champions. I swear to protect her with my life for as long as I shall live)."
With those last words, the final threads of their bond wound tightly into a steel cable connecting the two. Both of their heartbeats beat as one and they could feel the others happiness and contentment at being connected so intimately.
"What did I say?" Natsu questioned softly after the aftermath of the bonding settled down. "Igneel hasn't taught me much about his language yet."
"You pledged yourself to me," Theia told him. "This binds us together for the rest of our lives. We are each other's family."
"Wow," Natsu breathed out since he couldn't get over the excess emotions and heartbeat he felt from Theia. "Is this what is feels like to be part of a Horde?"
"Yes, it is," Theia confirmed with a small smile. "Isn't it wonderful?"
All she got was a roar of victory from Natsu as he scooped up Theia and twirled her around. Theia giggled happily when she felt the overflowing joy that Natsu had from the new bond.
"We're gonna be together forever!" Natsu cheered.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
The sound of a boy screaming could be heard for miles as a sixteen year old boy with ear length spiky black hair came hurtling through the sky. There was another spec in the sky that waiting right underneath the boy's trajectory. That spec happened to be Theia with her wide white wingspan, waiting for the boy that had been thrown off a cliff. Right when the boy thought he was done for, Theia caught him by his wrists. Unlike what would have happened with a human girl, Theia was able to stay where she was and not have her arms pulled out of their sockets.
"Did you make Metalicana angry?" giggled Theia down at the boy who was clutching onto Theia's wrists like a lifeline.
"Shut up Hime-chan," the boy huffed, a light blush on his cheeks as Theia touched the ground. "The Old Man is always angry."
"Whatever you say Ga-chan."
There was a comfortable silence between the two dragon slayers as Theia settled down on the grassy field with the boy's head soon finding its place on Theia's lap.
"How's Euryphaessa?" he piped up once he was comfortable.
"She's fine," Theia assured him as she ran her hand through his thick locks. "I haven't seen her in a few days. She's been really busy."
The boy relished the feeling of Theia playing with his hair with closed eyes before he answered.
"That must suck," he commented with his eyes closed, unconsciously leaning into her touch. This caused a small smile of gratitude to grace Theia's face.
"We make it work."
Another peaceful silence settled between the two except for some rumbling from the boy and humming from Theia.
"Ga-chan."
"Yeah?"
"There was something I wanted to ask you."
The boy immediately smelled her anxiousness over the question so he answered in a way that would soothe her nerves.
"Shoot."
"Will you join my Horde?"
He seemed to choke on his spit from his spot on her lap, causing Theia to hasten to pat gently on his back. Within minutes he regained his breath and sat gasping softly.
"Ga-chan?"
"You want me to join your Horde?" he echoed in disbelief.
"Y-Yes."
"Why me?"
"Because you're Gajeel Redfox, somebody who is very important to me."
Another blush broke out on Gajeel's face as Theia's somewhat blunt answer. Even though they had a six year difference between them, Gajeel couldn't help but develop a crush on Theia because of how she treated him. She respected his need for silence, encouraged him in his training, and most of all she accepted him for himself without judging him. While he wanted to further question her choice, Gajeel knew she stood fast in her decision.
"What do I need to do?" he asked instead. And like that Theia had Gajeel's left wrist in her grip while Gajeel had her left wrist in his. She then explained what would happen just like how she had sone for Natsu. Like before Theia glowed silver while Gajeel glowed gray. Because of Gajeel's age, the flow of magic between the two took a bit longer than Natsu's seeing as though Gajeel was a teenager who, most of the time, found it hard to form intimate relationships like being in someone's Horde. Nonetheless the flow was successfully started so that Theia could say her vows.
"Ego, ut Euryphaessa, caelestis Draco Dracones est, et regina Theia Baelfire, caelestis Draconis Slayer Gajeel Redfox accipere ut unum de meis et de Propugnatores Horde (I, as Euryphaessa, Celestial Dragon and Queen of the Dragons and Theia Baelfire, Celestial Dragon Slayer accept Gajeel Redfox as one of my Horde and one of my Champions)."
Gajeel was quick to utter his vows once he picked up the rhythm of the bond.
"Ego Gajeel Redfox Sabaei, de Metalicana Slayer Draco Dracones in meque recipio fidelitatis ad regem Metalli Et Euryphaessa Theia Baelfire ut Multitudo sui et de. Me fauturum et eam providere mea usque ad extremum spiritum (I, Gajeel Redfox, Iron Dragon Slayer of Metalicana King of the Metal Dragons pledge my allegiance to Euryphaessa and Theia Baelfire as one of her Horde and Champions. I swear to protect and provide for her until my last breath)."
Just like with Natsu, their bond cemented. Their hearts beat as one as well as their feelings were conveyed through the bond. Both could also feel Natsu through the bond that included all of them. Gajeel changed his hold on Theia where they had their left hands clasped together while Gajeel kneeled down a bit so that their foreheads rested against the others with a chuckle. No words could be spoken to explain their feelings about the bond. Natsu sent feelings of happiness and welcome to the new edition while Gajeel was in shock of the whole thing, and Theia was simply happy to have two of her most important family members in her Horde.
"Gajeel!" called a deep male voice. "Where have you gotten to boy?!"
The voice was enough to break the little moment the dragon slayers were having, drawing a heavy sigh from Gajeel.
"It's time for me to go."
"Good luck Ga-chan," offered Theia in a teasing tone while Gajeel pulled away.
"Shut yer trap Hime-chan," Gajeel affectionately replied, tugging lightly on a lock of her hair.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Good afternoon Ohime-sama," a large white bird-like dragon greeted the small white haired girl who reclined on a boulder to enjoy the nice breeze.
"Good afternoon Grandine-sama," Theia returned happily then brightened when she noticed the little bluette at Grandine's feet.
"Wen-chan!" Theia exclaimed, slipping down from the boulder to hold out her arms to her.
"Onee-sama!" the younger girl squealed as she ran into Theia's outstretched arms.
"How have you been little one?"
"I've been great! Grandine was just teaching me to heal!"
"Ohime-sama," Grandine piped up. "Would you watch Wendy while I tend to my duties? Some dragons are getting restless."
"Of course Grandine-sama. I'll be happy to look after her."
With that being said, Grandine took off into the sky.
"Onee-sama."
"Yes, Wen-chan?" Theia questioned, settling down onto the ground with Wendy on her lap.
"What is a Horde to dragons and Dragon Slayers?"
Theia's eyes widened in surprise as the question while she blinked rapidly.
"Where did this question come from Wen-chan?"
"I remember Grandine mentioning it once and I was curious."
"Well," Theia began. "A Horde is a group of either dragons or Dragon Slayers who are like family to the Alpha of the Horde. The bond between Horde mates is one of the most special and intimate things a dragon or a Dragon Slayer can ever have with the bonds between mates being the only thing that is the most sacred and most cherished bond."
When Theia looked down at Wendy, she saw that Wendy was looking up at her in awe.
"Can I be part of your Horde Onee-sama?" Wendy asked as she turned to face Theia with her palms resting on Theia's legs.
"Of course you can Wendy. Are you sure you want to do this now?"
A determined nod was all Theia got from the younger bluette. Theia smiled at her little sister figure and helped her up so that they could take each others left wrist in their left hands. She explained what to do to the young Dragon Slayer and Wendy took to it like a duck to water. Silver magical aura glowed around Theia's from while a calming blue aura glowed around Wendy. This time the magic exchange went faster than both Natsu's and Gajeel's. One could attribute this to Wendy's young age that allowed her to easily accept the bond. Theia was quick to say her vows while staring down into Wendy's amber eyes.
"Ego, ut Euryphaessa, caelestis Draco Drcones est, et regina et Theia Baelfire, caelestis Draconis Slayer Marcus mireris quod de meo accipiet,et unum de Propugnatores Horde (I, as Euryphaessa, Celestial Dragon and Queen of the Dragons and Theia Baelfire, Celestial Dragon Slayer accept Wendy Marvel as one of my Horde and one of my Champions)."
Wendy beamed a smile at the cable threads that she could feel latching onto her heart and heartily launched into her vows.
"Ego, Marcus mirari, Sky Draco Slayer de grandine, regina aeris draconum, meque recipio et fidelitatis ad Euryphaessa Theia Baelfire quod super eam est, et Multitudo de. Testor me, ut pascas eam usque ad diem moriar (I, Wendy Marvel, Sky Dragon Slayer of Grandine, Queen of the Air Dragons, pledge my allegiance to Euryphaessa and Theia Baelfire as on of her Horde and Champions. I swear to support her until the day I die)."
Small tears had fallen down Wendy's cheeks at the complete and utter peace and acceptance she had found with Theia through the bond as well as Natsu and Gajeel through the Horde bond. At the sight of little Wendy crying in happiness, Theia pulled her into a hug.
"Now you're an official member of my Horde," Theia announced happily into Wendy's dark blue hair.
"I'm so happy Onee-sama," Wendy mumbled into Theia's clothed shoulder.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Theia-sama/Ohime-sama!" two young voices called out, causing the addressed girl to turn towards the source of the shouting. Before she could blink, Theia was tackled by two forms that knocked her to the ground. An 'ooph' left Theia as she hit the ground all the while keeping her arms around the figures to make sure they weren't hurt.
"Su-chan, Rai-chan," Theia wheezed out from under the two six year old boys. One of the boys on top of her had short but wild blonde hair and dark blue eyes while the other had silky black hair like a raven's wing that covered his right eye and a red eye that was uncovered on his left side.
"We missed you," the blonde whispered into Theia's chest as he breathed in her scent.
"I missed you too Su-chan, Rai-chan," Theia smiled up at the two younger boys.
"What took you so long?" the raven haired boy questioned sadly.
"I've had to focus on my training and visiting other Dragon Slayers," she explained, sitting up so that the boys ended up in her lap. After one particular long and strong sniff, the blonde frowned and elbowed the black haired boy. He took the hint and in turn began to sniff Theia's scent. Theia's eyebrows flew up in surprise as their actions.
"What are you two-,"
"You go to see other guys?" the blonde grumbled unhappily.
"Well, two of the three other dragon slayers are male," Theia explained only to get cut off by the red eyed boy.
"What are their names?"
"Natsu Dragneel, a Fire Dragon Slayer and Gajeel Redfox, an Iron Dragon Slayer."
"Natsu Dragneel," the blonde repeated, jealousy clear in his facial features.
"Gajeel Redfox," the raven haired boy said in the same way and tone as the blonde.
"Su-chan? Rai-chan?"
"I don't wanna share you!" the blonde exploded at once. "Ryos doesn't wanna either!"
Theia turned to see the raven haired boy, Ryos, nod in agreement.
"Boys-,"
"Make us a part of your Horde Theia-sama!" the blonde pleaded.
"Su-chan?"
"We want to be as close to you as possible Ohime-sama," Ryos told Theia.
"We love you Theia-sama."
A small smile grew on Theia's lips at the confession. She loved the two troublemakers too.
"Alright you two, each of you take a hold of my wrist with yours."
The two younger children were quick to jump to their feet and take Theia's wrists to pull her to her own feet. Once she was stable on her own feet, she instructed them on what to do. Pure black magical aura glowed around Ryos while the blonde had pure white aura on him, and Theia had her silver. Due to their young age and their eagerness, their initial bond was the quickest to form. Big smiles broke out on the boys' faces at the feeling of the cable like energy that attached to their hearts. Theia was surprised at the speed of their bonds, but she let it pass and let her vows pour from her lips.
"Ego, ut Euryphaessa, caelestis Draco Dracones est, et regina et Theia Baelfire, caelestis Draconis Slayer accipere Sting Eucliffe Rogue Cheney et pars mea, et viri furtes Alliance (I, as Euryphaessa, Celestial Dragon and Queen of the Dragons and Theia Baelfire, Celestial Dragon Slayer accept Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney as part of my Horde and Champions)."
The blonde was the first to speak.
"Ego, Sting Eucliffe, de Weisslogia Slayer Albus Draco, Albus rex et Dracones (I, Sting Eucliffe, White Dragon Slayer of Weisslogia, King of the White Dragons),"
Then came Ryos's vows.
"Ego, Rogue Cheney, de Skiadrum Slayer umbra Draco rex in dracones Umbra (And I, Rogue Cheney, Shadow Dragon Slayer of Skiadrum, King of the Shadow Dragons),"
This is where both boys finished their vows in unison.
"Ut sponderem fidem, et Euryphaessa Theia et Baelfire unus of Horde ejus, et viri fortes. Opus esse iuro donec desinam(Pledge my allegiance to Euryphaessa and Theia Baelfire as one of her Horde and Champions. I swear to be anything she needs until I cease to exist)."
As their bonds solidified, the boys could feel the many other people sending acceptance to them through the Horde mate bond. Theia could feel their displeasure with the others seeing as though Theia had told them she went to see other male dragon slayers, but they held it in and let the others welcome them.
"When I get older," Sting began with a pout. "I gonna ask you to be my mate Theia-sama."
"You'll have to get passed me Sting," Rogue told him with a playful smile.
"My, oh my," Theia sighed in exasperation.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o
That night found Theia in her dragon form on a large boulder surrounded by five much larger dragons.
"The time has come Ohime-sama," a large red dragon began in a grave voice.
"I know Igneel-sama," Theia sighed softly, her scales glittering silver under the moonlight. "How far away is Acnologia?"
"He is a day's flight away," the white birdlike dragon, Grandine, told her.
"When is the jump?"
"Tomorrow morning," a large metallic dragon answered. Theia nodded her head as she thought through something.
"Who has fallen today?"
"Camelia, Queen of the Nature Dragons, Hydra, King of the Water Dragons, Winter, Queen of the Ice Dragons, Jormungand, King of the Earth Dragons, Elektra, Queen of the Lightning Dragons, Belladonna, Queen of the Poison Dragons, Terra, a Cavern Dragon of the Earth Dragons, Poseidon, a Sea King Dragon of the Water Dragons, and we also took some casualties to our subjects," a pure white, ethereal dragon confessed.
Theia looked like she was ready to cry, but she swallowed past the lump in her throat and soldiered on.
"Who?"
"Lilith, a Purgatory Dragon of the Fire Dragons," Igneel said.
"And Kamikaze, a Gale Dragon of the Air Dragons," Grandine admitted sadly.
Now that the casualty report was finished, Theia took the time to let the grief take over her mind. All of the dragons that were on the list had been her teachers for Dragon Slaying magic as well as part of her Horde as Euryphaessa, Queen of the Dragons.
"We only managed to save the lacrima from Camelia, Hydra, Winter,and Jormungand," a dragon that looked to be made entirely out of shadows finished.
"Thank you Skiadrum-sama," Theia sniffed. "Could you implant them for me?"
And like that, four bowling ball sized orbs were pulled out into the moonlight in Skiadrum's claws. One was a vibrant green, one a glimmering blue like water, one was a shocking light blue that radiated off cold, and the last was a very rich brown like the earth. With a gentle hand, each of the orbs were pushed into Theia's body. Even though the warmth of her former teachers' and Horde mates' souls comforted her, Theia couldn't help the sudden wave of despair that wracked her whole body. All of the dragons present plus her dragon slayers were taken aback at the raw emotion that came from her and hastened to comfort her. Well, her slayers tried their best in their sleep while the dragons came forward to wrap their bodies around the young dragon in a sort of group hug. No one said a word as they basked in the comfort of their close proximity.
When the sky began to bleed from the dawn, the older dragons pulled away from the now sleeping Celestial Dragon who had reverted to her human form sometime during the night. Igneel was the one to scoop her up so that he has a slumbering Natsu in one claw and Theia in the other. The others went to fetch their slayers then they all met up where a very beautiful and elegant woman with blonde hair and brown eyes who stood waiting on a grassy hill.
"Anna, if you would," Igneel called down to the small human. Anna simply nodded and held up the key that she possessed that made a large golden gateway appear in the sky. Just as the group was preparing to pass through, they could all hear the sound of powerful wings beating against the wind getting closer and closer.
"Once we're through," Grandine said to the human, her mothering instincts kicking in. "You need to get out of here as soon as you can. Acnologia will not be pleased that the Queen is out of his reach."
"Of course."
"How dare you!" roared a very deep male voice a few miles from the portal. "Where are you taking my mate?!"
All of the dragons steeled their nerves then took the plunge through the portal one by one. Igneel was the last to pass through and the portal closed once his tail made it through the opening. The dragons all let out a sigh of relief before they all split up and went off in different directions. They all knew that with the Horde bond in place, the slayers would all find each other in the future.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o Regina in Dracones o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Well there we have it folks. The first chapter of the story all transferred over. What do you guys think about Theia's relationships with the dragon slayers? Which relationship do you like best? I hope to hear your guys' thoughts on this story. As always if you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to leave a review or shoot me a pm. Remember, reviews are magic!
-White Wolf