AN: Guess what?! I'm BAAACCCKKK! Oh looky PruCan. This is dedicated to DredPirateBones on DA.
So yeah, this is going up cause I need encouragement to finish so I can move onto 'Turning Tricks' (I need sassy Alfie in my life). This is nearly finished, but is fighting me something fierce.
So please enjoy and remember I only own the story. Comments and favs get chapters out faster.
The sun beamed down brightly in the warm noon time blue sky and warmed the earth with its brilliant rays. A soft breeze blew through the branches of the evergreen trees that surrounded the clearing in front of a large cave. Birds sang cheerfully on their perches as the other animals skittered about the forest floor. All in all it was a beautiful, tranquil day.
Matthew languidly sprawled across the large granite outcropping that jutted out above the cave. He stretched out his massive leathery wings and reveled in the feel of his violet scales warming in the light.
"This feels amazing," the dragon muttered as he closed his violet eyes and his one curly golden fringe fell across his right eye. He let his lithe body go lax and his left hind leg hung casually over the ledge.
As the periwinkle reptile dozed he failed to notice as an azure scaled dragon stealthily crept toward him from the forest. The beast smiled as he moved forward like a silent, predatory cat. The blue lizard moved so that he was under the purple creature and slightly covered by the cave opening. Once he was in position the wheat gold fringed reptile took a massive breath and bellowed out a gargantuan roar destroying the peace of the day. All the creatures of the forest cried out in fear and scrambled madly for safety.
Matthew started in surprise and fell off of his perch. His wings snapped closed tightly to his body as the massive beast landed on his left side. Worried that he was in danger, the violet dragon quickly leapt to his feet with smoke emanating from his mouth. He quickly rounded on the possible threat and opened his mouth to shoot forth a mighty blast of fire. Disappointingly, only more smoke came forth.
"Aw...I thought for sure that would work," the cerulean dragon whined as he moved closer to the violet dragon from his place at the mouth of the cave.
"Damn it Alfred! You scared me to death!" Matthew exclaimed as he glared at his brother and growled deep in his throat.
Alfred flinched at his brother's harsh tone and gave him an apologetic look. Somehow managing to look like a wounded wolf pup.
"I'm sorry, Mattie. I was just trying to help you find your fire," the azure reptile said and hung his head making his golden fringe droop. Well all but that once piece that defied gravity.
Matthew looked at his downtrodden sibling and gave a weary sigh with violet eyes rolling toward the sky. He knew that Alfred meant well and sincerely thought he was helping.
"It's fine, Al. I know your heart was in the right place," the violet lizard said as he affectionately bumped his snout against the cerulean dragons. "It's not your fault I'm such a pathetic excuse for a dragon,"
"You're not pathetic, Matt!" Alfred cried head shooting up and unfurling his wings in frustration. He hated when his brother got down on himself. "Just because you don't have your fire doesn't make you any less of a dragon,"
"Al, really it's fine…" Matt started to protest.
"No! You are so good at other things. You are the fastest flyer I know. Your sight is so sharp you can spot prey, even tiny prey, like it's a super power," the cerulean eyed dragon said as he placed a clawed foot on his brother's shoulder. "Fire does not define your worth,"
Matthew blinked at the wise words that had come from his usually childish sibling.
"Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" the periwinkle reptile asked teasingly.
"Don't be mean, Matt," the indignant beast said puffing out his cheeks in a pout.
"Sorry and thanks. I feel better now," the lemon gold fringed dragon said with a snort and friendly smile.
"Anytime, bro. I am a hero after all and it's my job to help others," the wheat gold fringed reptile said with a dopey grin and set his foot back on the ground.
"You know that humans usually cast dragons as villains in their stories that you love so much," the purple dragon teased.
"Well I plan on changing that stereotype. Dragons can be heroes too," Alfred retorted holding his head up proudly.
"Whatever you say, Alfred," Matthew said with a chuckle before changing the subject. "So how is Arthur?"
"Grumpy and adorable as ever. Though he's been getting on my nerves with how over-protective he's been since we found out I'm pregnant. It was cute at first, but now I want to set his eyebrows on fire," the azure beast said with a chuckle and his blue eyes full of love. A clawed foot instinctively reaching down to caress his swollen stomach.
"It still is slightly weird to me that you're pregnant," the slender reptile said as he eyed his brother's belly. Honestly, when he had been initially told the news the purple dragon had thought it was joke, but now seeing his sibling swelling with child the reality settled in.
"Try being the guy it's happening to. Especially, when the little wiggler moves. First time that happened I had a panic attack," Alfred said jovially a warm smile on his face and his eyes alight with pure joy. His clawed foot continued to caress his midsection.
"I would have loved to have seen that," Matthew said with a chuckle, but his periwinkle eyes were wistful. "I am happy for you and Arthur. I hope someday I can find someone like you did,"
The cerulean dragon felt his heart clench at the sad look in his brother's eyes. The sad truth was that for a dragon there weren't many options for finding a mate. Other dragons were few and far between. Especially female dragons. Finding a mate among other species was very difficult as well. Alfred had been one of the lucky ones.
"Hey," the wheat gold fringed beast said softly bumping his snout to his siblings affectionately. "Don't lose hope. There's someone out there for you and you'll find them someday,"
Violet, doleful eyes locked with optimistic, azure ones and Matthew couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face.
"Yeah. Someday,"
"Gilbert!" a strong male voice cried out angrily rousing Sir Gilbert Beilschmidt from his slight doze beneath the courtyards apple tree. The silver haired man cracked open one of his ruby eyes to see his younger brother, Ludwig, storming towards him glaring daggers.
"What is it, West? I'm trying to take a nap," the albino said as he rolled to his side using an arm as a pillow and turning his back to the approaching man.
"So this is where you have been hiding. Get your lazy ass up now," the ice blue eyed man stated fiercely as he loomed over the prone man his arms crossed over his broad chest.
"Later, West. I'm tired," the pale man said with a yawn and a wave of his unoccupied arm.
Suddenly, Gilbert was seized by the back of his tunic and was yanked to his feet with a less than manly yelp. As soon as he was released the older man whirled around and glared at his younger brother.
"What the Hell, Lud?" the enraged man exclaimed his arms flying skyward fiercely.
"Why weren't you at training? You are supposed to be helping me train the new recruits," the larger man demanded as his blue eyes locked angrily with the smaller man's red ones.
"I'm a knight of the realm, not a damn babysitter. Why do I have to help train some wet behind the ears new recruits?" the silver haired man retorted with a roll of his eyes.
"As punishment for flirting with the queen and, thusly, falling out of favor with the king," Ludwig said pinching the bridge of his nose. He could feel a massive headache starting behind his eyes.
"Kesesese. She came onto me first. I can't help that I'm so awesome women throw themselves at me," the ruby eyed man laughed.
The stoic blonde opened his mouth to further berate his brother, but stopped when he heard his name being called. Turning, his blue eyes fell upon a page boy named Peter rushing toward him.
"Peter, what do you need?" the large man asked as the boy came to a stop before him. The small blonde paused to catch his breath, but quickly straightened into a salute.
"Captain Beilschmidt, have you seen your...Oh there he is," the pageboy said with surprise and glee as he looked past Ludwig to see Gilbert. The blue eyed boy quickly scurried toward the albino knight and held a piece of parchment out to him.
"What's this?" the ruby eyed man queried as he took the parchment. Red eyes quickly scanned the document and then a bark of laughter rang out from the silver haired man.
"Well?" Ludwig prompted. He wanted to get back to his work with or without his brother.
"Out of favor with the king my arse. He just gave me an assignment to go and slay a dragon. This is awesome!" Gilbert said waving the parchment above his head. The younger man quickly snatched the paper and his steely blue eyes scanned its contents. His brow furrowed with concern and his frown deepened.
"Bruder…" the tall blonde started but was cut off by his sibling.
"Kid, go tell His Highness that I accept his task and will leave immediately. A dragon! Damn I'm the luckiest, most awesome person ever!" the albino gloated as he spun on his heels and made his way toward his lodgings. He needed to gather his gear and prepare his horse. Too bad his best friends, Francis and Antonio, were off on their own quest. They would be so jealous.
"I'm not a kid, jerk" Peter exclaimed to the departing knight. He made a quick salute to Captain Beilschmidt and turned on his own heels to return from whence he came. He'd been given an order after all. If he wanted to be a great knight he always had to follow orders. No matter how jerky his superior was.
Ludwig returned the boys salute and watched the retreating form of his brother. A heaviness slowly settled into his stomach filling him with dread. He had heard many tales about the dragon his brother was being sent to kill. The beast had been terrorizing the village of North Ameland which lay on the kingdom's northernmost border.
It was a relatively small village, but it was vital. The villages northern border was dense forest and tall mountains. Much of the lumber used in the kingdom came from North Ameland. The area had been very peaceful until a few months ago when a dragon had appeared. It was a massive creature with a tough hide the color of amethyst and fringed in silver.
The beast had already killed many villagers that had neared it's layer while logging. It also had killed the small battalion of knights that were there to protect the village as well as two other more experienced knights sent to slay it. It had mercilessly killed all these men in a brutal and savage manner. Thankfully it had yet to turn it's rage fully upon the village itself, but that did not mean that they should falsely hope it never would. This monster needed to be dealt with swiftly.
A shudder trailed down the blonde's spine as his brother disappeared from his sight. Worry clenched his heart in it's clawed hand and made him ache. Would this be the last time they would see each other? Would Gilbert meet the same fate those other men had? Should he plead with the king to spare his brother? He knew Gilbert was quite skilled (though he would never admit that aloud. His brother's ego was big enough as is), but still this dragon was very powerful.
The captain shifted his weight to follow after his brother, but stopped when he again heard his name being called frantically.
"Luddy! Luddy!" a distraught voice called and the blue eyed blonde felt the sudden impact of another body striking his back. Lifting his right arm and looking behind him the knight found Feliciano, the barracks cook, attached to him.
"Feli?" Ludwig queried and arched an eyebrow momentarily forgetting his worry.
"Luddy, you have to come back now! The recruits are picking on me. They are eating all my pasta and it's not even lunch time! Please, Luddy!" the excitable man exclaimed as he released the bigger man. He then took the blonde's large hand and began tugging on it earnestly.
A weary sigh escaped the tall man as he allowed himself to be lead back to the barracks by the smaller man. He had his own duties to see to. He just needed to have faith in his brother. He needed to believe that he would succeed and be hailed as a hero. He would have a message sent to his brother before he left wishing him luck and safe journeys. He would also make an offering at the temple for his brother's safe return.
AN: I know this is a lil slow, but it picks up next chapter. Yes, Al is pregnant and the explanation is that lizards can change sex (I did my research. Hey it happens). Now Al is still a guy, just a pregnant guy. You know what we'll just go with mpreg since it is a simpler explanation. Anywho...Until next time!
