Prologue: An Unfortunate Fate
In the streets of the capital of Sufaria, formerly known as Uru Baen, a young boy ran through the streets, covered in rags and soil. Behind him trailed several city guards, yelling for the boy to halt. Their armor only served to slow them down, as such the boy was gaining distance with every step. The crowds parted as the young boy ran through them, every person displaying their disgust in some form or another. "What's a lower-class rat doing here?!" one shouted. The boy cared not for the words however and ran on.
His goal was a simple one, find some way to provide for his family, and he traveled great distances to do so, he was not about to give in to the looks of the prosperous. A spark whizzed by him in the form of a blunt electric arrow, it's purpose to stun any who run from the shooter. A look of fear entered the boy's eyes and in response he dipped into a nearby narrow alley between two tall buildings, looking for a way out.
He was far enough ahead that the guards didn't see where he disappeared to, giving him time to figure something out. He found some clothes, the same size as he, they were in good condition and could make him look upper class, or at least middle. He threw the clothes on and placed on the matching hat to cover his greasy hair, then proceeded to darted back out into the streets, trying his best to blend in. He had wiped off most of the dirt on his face, hiding his dirty looking appearance from anyone who didn't look closely enough, and the guards didn't recognize him. Realizing this the boy wandered deeper into the capital city, looking for anything of value. His search took him all the way to a great palace, where he was spotted by another set of guards, who called out to the boy, "Hey boy, you're not allowed in here!"
The boy darted off, his hat falling off his head, revealing his messy hair. It took the guards a few seconds to realize what was going on than they began to chase the boy as he ran deeper into the palace. Royals and officials alike joined the chase as they see a mere street urchin running through their palace. The boy was quick enough to evade capture and ran deeper into the palace, until he was at an entrance into an open building.
A young prince, in the middle of sword training saw a boy outside, covered in mud and with hair that looked as if it was never washed ran past, then followed by a small mob of people yelling out at the boy. The prince interested went to the window to see what the commotion was all about. "Get back here boy, we're not done." His instructor yelled. The man's face was stern and detailed with several scars. His green faded eyes and face were hard, lacking compassion of any sort. The Prince walked back, hanging his head in defeat. This action was met with a wap on the head by the practice sword, and an angry look from the instructor. A tear in his eye, the boy threw down his practice sword, gave an angry look to the instructor and shouted "I don't want to do this anymore! You're mean, and I don't like training with you!" The instructor's face narrowed at the boy, his eyes sparking with a hint of content. The boy stormed out, then broke into a run to see what was going on.
He burst out into a room where a sole object was being held, a dragon egg of great value. And there the dirty boy was, holding the egg, and trying to look for a way out. He was surrounded, and quickly apprehended. The young prince was also grabbed and hauled out with the boy. Not knowing what was going on, he took solace that he'd go through it with another, lower class or not.
The two were brought before the king, the king looking at the prince confused. "What is the meaning of this?" The king bellowed. They started with the street boy. "My lord, this boy broke into the palace, and attempted to steal the dragon egg." The king stared at the boy, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "And? What do you want me to do about it?" The man talking stroked his red beard, smiling. "Nothing my lord, we just need your permission to execute this trespasser." The boy's face went white and his eyes filled with fear.
The king however, only laughed. "Execute him? And you say he tried to steal the dragon egg, no?" The bearded man nodded. "Then tell me, did he touch the egg?" Half the men in the room went pale, knowing what the king was saying. The bearded man slowly nodded. "Then if you execute him, you may very well harm the dragon you and your people hold so dear, no? So I say you keep him alive for a few weeks in the dungeon, and if the egg doesn't hatch, you may execute him then." The bearded man nodded, accepting his, then motioned for the guards to carry the boy off, and they did so, leaving only the prince left.
The king's tone changed, more serious and darker. "And what of my son?" The prince looked down, ashamed. This time, it was the bearded man who was smiling. "Ah my lord, your heir has been nothing but a failure time and time again. As such we demand you banish him!" The prince's face was now the one pale. The kings was the opposite, a bright red. "And why would I do that?!" Another man stepped up, his hair and lack of facial hair, as well of posture made him look very professional. "Because if not, King Zalfar, there will be war. We will not stand for a failure of a king in our nation." The King's eyes flared with anger, "War?! Over a boy? How desperate are you?" The King stood threateningly, and a few men drew their swords at the king. In turn all the supporters of the king drew their swords as well.
The professional man spoke, "Do you really wish to start a war over a stupid child? Because if so, I can happily oblige." The king drew his own sword this time, taking a few steps to the man. "You really think I'll sit idly by as you Jathin scum try to take away my only heritage?"
The Professional man laughed, drawing his own sword. The prince stared up in fear as the sword was pointed at him. "You realize that starting a war will begin with the death of your son, and end with the death of hundreds of thousands of your very own people, do you not?" The point of the sword was poking the throat of the prince at this point.
After a few long minutes of a stalemate, the king relented, sheathing his sword. In a painful voice, he managed to get out "Fine, take him with the street boy, and let us discuss his fate."
Two long weeks passed, the boy and prince sitting in the palace dungeon. Suddenly, the boy was torn out of the cell, and taken to the egg room where he had tried to steal the dragon egg before. As he got there he was thrown into the middle of a circle of about twenty men, all official looking, each dressed in red. In the middle was a shattered egg and a baby dragon, the color of the forest, sky, and sea, all wrapped into one, bright color. The dragon's eyes locked onto the boy and approached him cautiously. The boy became frightful, thinking that he was going to be food for the young dragon, despite the difference in sizes.
The Dragon slowly stalked up to the boy, who had no way to escape. The boy closed his eyes, waiting for his end, but instead was met with a gentle brush of small scales. He opened his eyes and saw two things. The first being the dragon rubbing against his arm, and the second being the horrified faces of the men in red. Trying to read the situation, the boy reached out to pet the young dragon, and the dragon met his motion in return. A searing pain rushed up the boy's arm and he passed out.
The men in red wasted no time grabbing the boy, still shocked at what had happened, and dragged him into a room of his own. Then they looked at the dragon. "The strongest dragon of our time will have to be riderless…" With that they summoned their strongest mages. As for the prince he was deemed necessary to the palace and would be thrown out. Both boys were thrown in the same room, and after hours of spell weaving they sealed the powers of the rider bestowed upon the boy away, and then replaced all his memories with that of stealing coins from a wealthy merchant. The boy now passed out was moved to near the town gates and was given a sack of coins and left there. Upon waking the boy took the coins and left for home, none the wiser of what had occurred on his visit to the capital.
As for the prince, his memories were wiped entirely, and he was left on the streets, knowing nothing of who he was, nor how he got there. He wondered for five days and four nights, as a beggar would. One day he disappeared from Sufaria, and the followers of the king never found him again, as such, the king wept for his one and only son.