AN: Hello, hello beloved readers! You asked for, well you more begged for it, so here it is: The UKUS prequel to 'Dragon Fire'. I know you are all on pins and needles now. I'll go ahead and warn you that updates will be monthly at best. So please don't spam my in box begging for updates. If I can update more than once a month I will. I love you guys and hope you like this story.
I just own the plot and kind of the AU.
The moon was a sliver of silver just barely lighting the midnight blue sky as night settled over the small port city of Notselrahc on the southwest coast of Ailateh. The evening was peaceful as the townsfolk closed their doors and shops for the day. The only life that could be found were in the pubs along the pier. Rowdy tradesmen and sailors moved drunkenly from pub to pub as they sang bawdy songs and enjoyed the quiet night. It wasn't surprise that no one took notice of the two figures that crept along in the shadows of the city's alleyways headed toward the waterfront.
They moved along on cats paws as they traversed the darkness taking care to go unseen. Their appearance was haggard and dirty. Ill fitting clothing hung loosely from their frames and their postures spoke of a deep weariness. Dark rings circled their eyes from days with little to no sleep. Any exposed skin was marred with cuts and scrapes while their hair was matted with a variety of debris.
They paused at the edge of the alley that opened to the docks and the one nearest the opening quickly looked about to make sure that no one was nearby. His wavy, long hair swayed as he looked around cautiously and once he was certain they were safe he signaled for the other man to follow behind him. A cloud passed over the moon just as they scurried out into the open casting the world into total darkness and aiding in hiding their movements. Creeping swiftly the pair ducked behind a stack of crates near the edge of the dock and slumped to the ground with their backs resting against the wooden containers.
"Do you think they're still following us, Matt?" Alfred asked as he brushed his dark blonde hair out of his sky blue eyes and tried to slow his labored breathing.
"Maple, I hope not, Alfred," Matthew said breathing deeply as he let his head fall back to rest against the crates and closed his tired violet eyes as his lemon blonde hair fell away from his face.
Alfred glanced over at his brother and could see the deep weariness marring his usually gentle face. Guilt seized his heart painfully and he dropped his head in shame.
"I'm sorry, Mattie," he muttered as he drew his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them with his head resting on his knees.
Matthew cracked open his eyes and took in the remorseful posture of his sibling before shutting them again a sigh.
"It's okay, Al," he said passively yet his words carried an underlying tone of exasperation.
Alfred lifted his head and glared at Matthew.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen, but what was I supposed to do? I couldn't just let that thief get away," he snapped angrily.
"Yes, you could, Al. The humans were closing in on him," Matthew opened his eyes and his brow creased into a scowl as he shifted so that he sat facing Alfred. "But, no. You and your damn hero complex just had to intervene. What were you even thinking when you ran in front of his horse and started breathing fire?"
"I was thinking it was the right thing to do," Alfred countered defensively his eyes becoming incandescent spheres of blue flame. His arms came away from his legs and he turned toward his brother.
"No, protecting the fact that we are dragons was the right thing to do," Matthew growled as his eyes also began to glow an iridescent violet. "but you didn't do that, did you? Now, we have been driven from our home and have a battalion of soldiers chasing us,"
"I said I was sorry. What more do you want?" Al questioned as little coils of smoke curled out from the edge of his mouth and his hands curled into fists as he tried to control his anger.
"I want to go home, Alfred. I want to go back to our cave in the cove. We had it good there. No one bothered us. We were safe and living happily," Matt stated in outrage his own little smoke plumes forming.
"You may have been happy, but I wasn't. Hiding from the world isn't living, Matt," Alfred barked his fist coming up to slam against the crates they hid behind.
As his hand connected with the wood it was accompanied by a very loud and uncharacteristic thud. The brothers looked at Alfred's fist against the crates and then each other in total confusion. It was also at that moment that they took notice of the unnatural fog that had slowly crept in from the sea and had begun to surround them.
"Where did this fog come from?" Matthew questioned as his eyes drifted out to look at the ocean. At least he tried to look at the water, but he could see nothing other than the weird fog.
It moved not in the normal rolling manner as characteristic of fog, but more en masse. As if it hid something within its depths. The thickness of its form was so that one could not see the end of their nose and it had an odd green tinge.
"Matt, something isn't right. Do you feel it? The magic controlling the fog?" Alfred asked as realization hit him in the face like a slap when he discovered the source of the fog and made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"I do," Matthew said as he rose into a low crouch. "Let's get out of here, Al. Something's about to happen and we need not get involved,"
Alfred ignored him lowering his hand and turned so that he faced the docks as the cloud of moisture made its way further up onto land. He focused on listening to the sounds around him and soon heard footsteps falling upon a wooden surface. He concluded that the thud they had heard was that of a gangplank being dropped onto the dock. He focused his magic into his eyes and his vision became clear as day.
A large ship with black sails, that had not been there before, now sat anchored to the dock and a gangplank did indeed extended from its side where several surly, armed men had gathered at the bottom of the ramp. Alfred caught sight of movement at the center of the group and a man stepped forward leading the others toward the town. He wore a black tricorn hat with a large white feather adorning it and long, blood red coat trimmed in black and gold. His knee high black boots clicked smartly as he walked purposefully into the city with his scabbard hanging readily at his side.
"Matt, there are pirates making their way into the town. We need to do something," Alfred said with panic in his voice as scrambled to his feet and moved to follow the pirates.
"No, Alfred," Matthew said firmly as he shot to his feet and grabbed Alfred by the arm pulling him up short. "We're leaving. There is more going on here than some mangy pirates,"
Alfred glared over his shoulder at his brother before jerking his arm free and turned to face him.
"We can't just leave, Matt. Those men are up to something diabolical and we need to stop them," he stated with conviction as he gestured in the direction of the pirates.
A hand came up to Matthew's face and dragged downward in exasperation.
"Alfred, this isn't our problem. In case you have forgotten we are on the run from the last group of humans you helped," Alfred's glare deepened at those words. "Let the humans take care of themselves and get out of here. The magic in this mist is making me uneasy," Matthew said as he extended his hand and expected Alfred to take it.
Alfred looked at Matthew's hand for a moment before taking a small step backward.
"No, Matt. I'm not going to run. These people need help and I intend to aid them," he said determinedly taking another step back.
"Alfred, please don't do this," Matthew pleaded his voice soft and full of fear as he gestured with his still outstretched hand hoping Alfred would take it.
Alfred's face fell as he gave his head a negative shake and turned his back toward Matthew.
Matthew stared incredulously at his brother's back before his eyes narrowed in anger and irritation.
"Stop being foolish, Alfred, and come with me now," he grounded out through clenched teeth as he gesticulated more violently with his hand.
Alfred looked back over his shoulder with his eyes full of sadness and regret.
"I'm sorry, Mattie," he said before facing forward and running off into the mist. Matthew called after him desperately, but his words fell on deaf ears.
As he charged off to do his daring do he found that the enchanted fog seemed to have followed the pirates onto land hiding their movements. This did not deter him in the slightest because with his enchanted eyes Alfred was able to move through the fog easily. His shoeless feet helped him to move quietly along the cobblestone street as he made his way in the direction he had seen the group of men walking and he soon had the ruffians in sight.
As he drew ever closer, being sure to keep out of sight, he realized he had a small hole in his plan; he didn't have one.
What was he to do? There was only one of him and (two, four, six) six of them. Even if he were to take on his half dragon form those were some bad odds. Six full grown, burly men could very easily surround and subdue him. That and he knew that at least one of them had to be a magic user which was his biggest problem.
A flash of crimson at the head of the group caught Alfred's eye and the image of the man in red from before came to the forefront of his mind. He remembered how the others had fallen in step behind this man indicating that he must be their captain.
A sudden idea sparked to life in Alfred's mind at this new information and a pleased, shark like smile crossed his face. Large, sapphire scaled wings burst from his back ripping his shirt to ribbons. His hands and feet became more claw like while his glowing blue eyes became reptilian slits.
Alfred crouched slightly before pressing downward and launched himself up into the sky. He gave his wings several hard flaps to gain altitude so that he was above the group of men. Looking down he saw the man in red walking just ahead of the others leaving himself open for Alfred's aerial attack. He maneuvered himself through the air so that he was a few feet ahead of the pirate. He then turned himself in mid air so that he would face the group and pulled his wings in tight to his body. Wind whistled past his ears as he careened toward the earth feet first and changed back into his human form as he fell.
When he landed he was directly in front of his target and as his feet met the ground he pulled his body down into a crouch.
"What the?" the man in red said his voice full shock at Alfred's sudden appearance.
Using the momentum from the fall Alfred launched himself forward and wrapped his arms around the pirates torso tackling him to the ground. The red coated man grunted in pain as his back slammed into the ground behind him and Alfred landed on top of him.
Taking advantage of his position Alfred maneuvered himself to straddle the pirates hips and he started throwing punches at his head. If he could take out the captain he knew the others would fall easily without their leader.
The pirate captain brought his arms up so that his forearms protected his head from Alfred's blows. While Alfred continued to rain punches down upon his opponent he failed to pay attention to his lower half. Jerking his hips up and twisting the downed man managed to unbalance Alfred.
Alfred fell to the side and soon found himself pinned under the captain who had rolled with him. He barely had time to bring his arms up in defense before he found punches flying at his own head. He jerked and twisted trying to dislodge his assailant. Unfortunately, the pirate had his knees tucked into Alfred's armpits making it very difficult to unbalance him.
Alfred tried to sit up in hopes that the sudden movement would send the pirate tumbling backwards, but instead the other man grabbed hold of Alfred's arms at the wrists allowing him to keep his balance. Grunting in effort he managed to force Alfred back onto his back and pinned his arms above his head.
"Be still, boy," the man in red barked, his words carrying an unspoken threat of bodily harm. Undeterred, Alfred continued to struggle against the man that held him, but after days of little sleep and no food his energy reserves were running on empty.
His body went lax from exhaustion and his head lulled to the side as he tried to even out his breathing.
"That's better. Now look at me. I want to be the last thing you see before I end your miserable, foolhardy life," the captain said his accented words laced with icy promise.
Alfred's heart sank and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. As he slowly turned his head to face the man who intended to kill him he was filled with a great sadness and despair.
Why? Why didn't he listen to Mattie? Damn his heroes heart. Now Mattie would be left to face the trials of this world all alone while Alfred would die at the hands of this filthy, despicable…
Alfred's brain completely shut down when his eyes met the pirate captains emerald green eyes. His blood felt like it had been replaced with electricity and coursed through his body making him tingle all over. The places where he could feel the pirate touching him burned with a heat he had never known before. His breathing became labored and his heart took on a staccato beat that he was sure would break through his ribcage. He felt so content and complete.
The pirate looked down at him with a mixed expression of confusion and affection. Alfred felt the grip on his wrists disappear and then a hand was suddenly cupping his cheek. He pressed his face into the gentle touch and an almost inaudible purr rumbled in his throat. His eyes never once left the captain's and a small smile graced his face as he stared into those beautiful orbs.
Suddenly, the pirate's eyes narrowed with anger and a deep frown pulled his face downward. Alfred didn't understand the sudden change and opened his mouth to ask what was wrong. He was cut off though by the man in red placing his hand over Alfred's eyes.
"Sleep," the captain said with something mystical wrapped around that one word. Green light filled Alfred's sight blinding him before everything slipped into blackness.
AN: Well there we go guys! Hope you like it and I'll see you next chapter!