DRAGON HEROES
So far, so good. We've only got a few more stories to go before I close this season. And it looks like I got a new follower who faved my recent story. Thank you very much, Moore98Luke! Would be nice if these stories get some reviews. Still, likes and follows are efficient enough. Anyway, this upcoming story takes some inspiration from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and we're introduced to a couple of new characters. We won't be seeing the main cast until later on in the story. Enjoy!
Hero in the Making
Chapter 1 – Assault on Mexico
There was a remote village in the Chihuahua Desert of Mexico. All kinds of anthropomorphic animals reside in this particular village, some of which are native to the land like Sceptiles and Swamperts. The days were harsh with the sweltering heat while the nights were very chilly, which is expected in any kind of desert.
One night, the desert was at its coolest, and a young adult lion was on his way to meet up with the elder of El Sarosso, the name of the village. He was on a top secret mission to obtain some vital information from the elder, which would be of great assistance for an organisation that was determined win the war against the Obsidian Devourers.
The village elder, a Sceptile, greeted him warmly from within his tent. "Ah, Jimmy Lionheart," he said. "Please, come on in, amigo."
Jimmy bowed in respect. "Thank you very much, Elder Bosque," he said, and he went inside as he turned nodded to his pet phoenix Firestorm perched on his shoulder.
Bosque served some chilled jarritos. While Jimmy took his seat and had his drink, the old Sceptile unlocked a chest and took out a piece of paper inside. He held onto it zealously to make sure it stays safe in his possession.
"Here is the map that you must offer to our allies in Japan," said Bosque. "I've travelled so far and seen too much despair and chaos that is getting worse by the minute. Unless we put a stop to the diabolical machinations of the Obsidian Devourers and Queen Vildouleur, the world will see no freedom, peace, and balance."
Jimmy nodded in agreement as he was handed the paper. He was well aware of the devastation the Obsidian Devourers had inflicted, and with each day, they seemed to be getting closer to achieving their nefarious goals.
"It was not easy getting the map that leaked the location to their hideout," continued Bosque. "Many of our spies have perished at the hands of the Obsidian Devourers to bring the information, and with this, we can finally make things right."
"Hopefully, we will," said Jimmy.
Firestorm was wandering around the hut, when suddenly, he sensed something disturbing, and it was getting closer to El Sarosso. He flapped his wings desperately and excitedly to warn Jimmy and Bosque about the impending threat. Jimmy could tell what Firestorm was trying to tell him.
"Looks like we got company," he said, ominously.
Sure enough, as Jimmy went out of the tent to see what was going on, he could hear other villagers panicking. In the distance where groups of western dragons flying towards the village, and Jimmy could sense that they mean trouble.
Bosque came outside of his tent too, and could sense the same thing as well. "Jimmy, you better get out of here right now," he warned.
"What about you, Elder?" asked Jimmy. "You're going to have to hide."
"Don't worry about me," said Bosque. "Now hurry up and leave! The fate of the world rests in your paws!"
With no other choice, Jimmy dashed off through the village with Firestorm flying close behind.
Armies of Obsidian Devourer grunts came raiding the huts, sending the villagers scurrying for their lives as they try to avoid getting slaughtered by their assailants. Some of the grunts even set the huts on fire among the chaos that ensued.
"That's it! Round them all up!" hollered Sardius. "We need to find the map of our hideout's location and know what they're planning to do with! Queen Vildouleur has no doubts that they're going to reveal our location to the Anthro League!"
Jimmy managed to reach his aircraft and climbed into the cockpit to begin taking off. But before he could start, several Obsidian Devourer grunts spat a barrage of fireballs which struck the aircraft, damaging it critically which left it grounded as a result. Fortunately, its mounted weapons were still functioning and as Jimmy spotted a couple of Obsidian Devourer grunts coming his way, he opened fire its dual machine guns and managed to down the approaching dragon soldiers. Without wasting any time, Jimmy quickly jumped off the grounded aircraft and used its underbelly to hide with Firestorm. Being fully aware that he cannot be able to carry out the mission on his own now, Jimmy took out the map and a tiny case, folded the map so that it was small enough to fit inside, and then attached the case to Firestorm's collar. The phoenix could only wonder what the lion was planning.
"Take the map with you," said Jimmy. "It will be safer with you than it will with me. There's not much time! You must fly away to Japan right now, and as fast as you can! Make sure it reaches the Anthro League safely!"
Firestorm could only look up to Jimmy, feeling very worried for his friend.
"I'll come back for you once I find another way to escape," said Jimmy. He pulled out his sidearm, ready to battle the Obsidian Devourers. "I'll be alright, Firestorm! Now go!"
As Jimmy rushed out of his hiding place, Firestorm nodded understandingly. He spread his wings and flew away as quickly as he could.
Meanwhile, as the battle raged on, a silver-coloured Obsidian Devourer dragon looked on without even joining the fight. The dragon's name was Heronix, and although he served the Obsidian Devourers for many years, he was on his first combat mission to Mexico, his own homeland. He was deployed by Commander Desdemona, who hoped that sending him on the mission will make him understand what it meant to be a proper dragon.
When he saw one of his comrades mortally wounded from the battle, Heronix rushed to his aid, and dragged him along to a spot away from the fire fight. Gasping for air, the fallen Obsidian Devourer soldier slowly raised up is paw and planted it on Heronix's belly, leaving a bloody imprint caused by his wound as he collapsed to his death. This made Heronix felt very conflicted and begin to wonder about what he was doing.
This just doesn't add up, Heronix thought. Queen Vildouleur swore to me that all she and the Obsidian Devourers wanted was to bring peace and justice to the world, but what I'm seeing here is the complete opposite. Was this what I have signed up for? I never expected that we would be murdering the lesser beings. This just doesn't seem right and now that my friend Rusty is dead…
"Heronix!" barked Sardius. "What has gotten into you? Quit dawdling and kill those wretched scumbags!"
But still, Heronix hesitated to take part of the massacre.
Eventually, the Obsidian Devourers have caught Elder Bosque, and he was brought straight to Sardius, who scowled disdainfully at the old Sceptile. From a distance, Jimmy watched as the Bosque gets interrogated while some of the Obsidian Devourer held the villagers hostage.
"We know you're the one who has the map of our whereabouts!" declared Sardius. "Now tell me, where is it?"
"This war won't get you anywhere," said Bosque, bravely. "You will not accomplish anything by terrorising those you considered to be inferior to your kind."
"I will repeat this again," said Sardius. "You have the map, and you will hand it over to the Obsidian Devourers, or else."
"This is not about the map you seek after," replied Bosque. "This is about you and your organisation wanting to alter history to what you believe to be the truth. Clearly you have forgotten that those were the dark times for dragonkind, where many of your ancestors were put to the brink of extinction. It is the seventeenth and eighteenth century where dragons flourished once more, and if it were not for those you deemed unworthy of living, your kind would have disappeared from existence."
Enraged, Sardius reached up with his hand and impaled Elder Bosque on the chest, putting an end to the old Sceptile.
"No!"
Jimmy raced towards Sardius with the intention to attack Sardius, but two tall muscular dragons flanked in front of him. They overwhelmed Jimmy as they slugged him on the gut, bringing the lion down to his knees, and then they grabbed him. Jimmy struggled to get himself free, but it was no good as they held their grip tightly. He was brought over to Sardius, who was able to sense that he was the current holder of what he was after.
"The old dino-dragon gave you the map," began Sardius. "Now, hand it over."
"I-I have n-no idea what you're t-talking about," stuttered Jimmy.
"Search him!" ordered Sardius. The two grunts immediately searched Jimmy's jacket and pants pockets.
"He doesn't seem to have anything," replied one of the grunts.
"Take him to the brig," commanded Sardius.
As the two grunts hauled Jimmy away, Commander Desdemona arrived.
"Sir, what do we do with the villagers?" she asked.
"Kill them all," replied Sardius.
With that, Desdemona signalled the Obsidian Devourers to massacre the rest of the surviving villagers. While most of them complied, only Heronix did not follow. He tried to open his mouth to let out his fire breath, but something inside of him was stirring up mixed emotions. Through all the events that just transpired, Heronix felt something he had never imagined; an awakening of his conscience. As the flames of the burning huts raged on, the young dragon pondered deeply on what to do now.
Author's Note: Another intense start like the previous one, I must say! By the way, the name "El Sarosso" means "The furry/scaly one" in Spanish, appropriately so as it is indeed a Mexican village full of anthropomorphic animals. We also see how not all the Obsidian Devourers are pure evil, with one of them being hesitant to kill for the Dark Queen.