Hello, ToS fandom! It's been many years since we last spoke! Let's shake things up with a new fic! Anyone still here? Yeah? Excellent!

About This Story: This fic actually has a bit of history behind it. A number of years ago (10ish, give or take…good grief, I'm getting old), I offered to collaborate with an author on this site who wanted to write a ToS story with elements of the Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini. Stories about dragon riders are my fantasy bread and butter, so I loaned the author a couple of OCs, and the fic got off to a great start. Sadly, like many stories, it fizzled and died after a couple of chapters, and the author went MIA. I pondered the idea of revising and continuing the story but never got too far. Fast-forward to a few months ago, I started dusting off some old ToS fics out of boredom and revisited my notes on this story. Some ideas started coming together, the characters introduced themselves to my brain, and the plot and lore just mostly wrote itself. I've tried tracking down the original author, but either they're a fanfic ninja, or their account is no more.

This fic is basically my ultimate guilty pleasure. I'm a busy, married, working adult, and if I'm going to devote time to writing fanfiction, then it's going to be a story I also enjoy. So, buckle your seatbelts for a high-flying, adventure/romance story starring a colorful cast of OCs. I repurposed a couple of OCs from my Beyblade fics and gave them a personality overhaul, but make no mistake. Some of our favorite ToS characters will play major supporting roles or make unexpected cameos. Oh, and if you play Guild Wars 2, then you'll recognize the names of a couple of dragons, since I've shamelessly thrown them (and my game's human character) into the mix as well.

I realize I'm writing to a small, probably dying fandom, and that's okay! If you like an OC-centric story of dragon riders set in the ToS universe, then leave a review! If not, that's cool too. At the end of the day, I'm still going to write this thing for my own enjoyment.

Disclaimer: I do not own any portion of the Tales of Symphonia franchise or its characters. This fic was originally inspired by another long-lost author on this site whose name I can't remember (shame on me) but that I'd love to talk to again. Some plot elements of the first couple of chapters came from that original story, but after that, the rest is all me. All the OCs, both two-legged and four-legged, are my beloved fictional children. Lore elements related to the Inheritance Trilogy belong to Christopher Paolini, and I want to thank him for originally getting me hooked on dragon rider fantasy stories back in my teenage years.

Over 1,000 years ago, the world of Aselia depended on mana – the source of all magic –to survive, and the rebirth of the World Tree by the legendary hero Lloyd Irving heralded the dawn of a new era. However, the balance of nature was disrupted by conflicts between the peoples of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla, and a small band of humans and half-elves sought to revive Ratatosk, the Lord of the Monsters, and restore balance. To protect the world from demons, Ratatosk sealed the door to Niflheim with mana and began rewriting the world's laws so that it no longer depended on mana to survive, instead using the World Tree's mana as the seal. After 1,000 years, the world had changed, and Ratatosk fell into slumber.

However, Ratatosk's new world order created a power vacuum, and the eight primary elements of magic – light, darkness, water, lightning, fire, ice, earth, and air – gave rise to the dragons as the embodiment of the Summon Spirits' powers. Eight races of dragons, each one bound to an elemental Summon Spirit, led to the creation of the eight Clans of Riders, and they became guardians of peace.

For hundreds of years, the Order of Riders thrived, and magic, bound by the laws of an ancient elvish language, thrived in Aselia once again. However, the peace would not last…

Chapter 1: Flames of Rebirth

War had fallen on the Shadow Dragon Clan.

Vrael, Lord of the Dragon Riders, was dead.

Glint, Queen of the Dragons, was enslaved.

The Dragon Riders as Aselia knew them were on the verge on destruction.

The roars of battle-hungry dragons echoed through the labyrinth of caverns that composed the clan's hideout, deep in the southern part of the Fooji Mountains. They had felt Vrael's death as an assassin's dagger slipped through his ribs and into his heart and had wailed their grief as Glint, nearly slain from bereavement, succumbed to the blackest of magic to enslave her mind. Their throats cried out for blood, vengeance, and death. Dozens of Riders clad in black leather uniforms raced down the stone halls, shouting orders to make themselves heard above the din, and panic hung like a thick fog over the dragon stronghold.

For 50 years, Vrael had led the eight Clans in a bloody war against a young, talented Rider who had been driven mad from grief over losing his dragon. No one knew his true name, just his alias: Mithos the Usurper. He had secretly built up an oath-sworn army of Dragon Riders from the various Clans, and once the time was right, he had struck in force, conquering each Clan one by one. Vrael and Glint had fought him at every turn, but now Mithos had struck a mortal blow to the Riders who were still loyal to him. Only the Shadow Clan remained free, but tonight's battle could change all of that forever.

Nineteen-year old Kane Vellanis sprinted down an obsidian-coated passageway with his dragon partner, a yearling black male named Aedan, at his heels. "Father! Mother!" he shouted as he rounded a corner and entered a cavern overlooking the rest of the mountain range. His elven father and human mother were hastily strapping saddles to their dragons, a mated pair of sleek, powerful beasts, both as black as the night. Aedan was their only offspring. "What's happening?

"The Elders of the all the Clans have called for any Riders still loyal to Vrael to wage a mass offensive against Mithos," his father explained. "It's a last-ditch strategy to free the Clans from his twisted control." His finished tightening the final strap on the saddle and gave his dragon a fond pat.

"Let me go with you. Aedan and I can fight," Kane urged. Aedan puffed out his chest and snorted in agreement.

"No, my son, that would doom you both," his mother replied. "Aedan is still growing and isn't ready for battle." At a mere one year old, Aedan's shoulders were only as high as Kane's, and he was still too small for an extended flight to the battle zones.

Kane's father clapped a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Your time will come, don't worry. For now, you can help by staying here. The Clan will need promising young Riders like you to lead in the coming years."

For some reason, his words carried a sense of foreboding. Kane's parents were highly skilled, respected Riders. Surely, they would come back safely. "Yes, Father," Kane replied with a sigh of reluctance.

"We'll be back soon," his mother reassured him as she and her husband mounted their dragons. They touched snouts briefly with Aeden. "Take care of your brother!" With those final words, the two dragons leaped into the night sky to join their brethren.

It was the last anyone ever saw of them.

The battle had been a brutal massacre. Kane and Aedan had searched the aftermath for days but couldn't even find the bones of his parents or their dragons. All that remained was blackened, scorched earth. The days that followed were among the darkest in Kane's life. He spent many nights sitting up with his twelve-year old brother Cecil, holding and rocking the boy as he cried himself to sleep over the loss of his parents. And all the while, Kane silently swore cold, bloody vengeance on the ones responsible for destroying his family.

'Your time will come…' Those words constantly echoed in Kane's mind over the next two years as he and Aedan grew together in body and spirit, their shoulders bowed under the savage, heavy-handed rule of Mithos the Usurper and his newly minted Empire. A black dragon had hatched for Cecil not long after their parents' death, a female named Kinir, and the two brothers devoted themselves to their training so they would not meet the same fate as their parents.

Their time did come at last. Mithos' Takeover was finally complete, but the Clans still found the courage to fight one last time…

All through the night, Shadow Dragons and Riders fought a losing battle against Mithos' massive army of Riders. Kane and Cecil fought as one, with Kinir constantly watching Aedan's back. Their strategy and teamwork were the only things that kept them alive while their fellow Riders succumbed to the overwhelming onslaught and dragons fell from the sky screaming their death throes.

To the left! Kane shouted mentally as he and Aedan dodged a blast of deadly fire from a red Efreet Dragon. Calling upon his inner well of magic, Kane battered the Rider's mental walls and broke through his shields. He held out his right hand, the one with the gedwey ignasia, and unleashed a black lightning bolt at his opponent. The Efreet Dragon jerked to dodge, which gave Aedan the chance to bathe it in dark fire. The enemy fell from the sky wailing in defeat and death.

Well done, partner, Kane complimented, patting Aedan's neck.

I'm afraid it's too early to celebrate. Our forces are greatly outnumbered, Aedan replied grimly.

The pained scream of a familiar dragon drew Kane's attention. Cecil! He had lost track of Kinir during the fighting. He looked back and saw his brother's dragon grappling with a much larger light blue Celsius Dragon. Her back right leg was bleeding from a deep wound, and the delicate membranes on her wings were badly torn. Let's go, Aedan!

Hang on! was the only warning Kane got before Aedan tucked his wings and went into a steep dive, building momentum to come back up underneath the Celsius Dragon. Kane drew his black Rider's blade and stabbed the beast in his vulnerable underbelly. The dragon screeched in agony and retreated, though Kane knew he wouldn't last long with that wound.

Thank you, Kane, came Kinir's weary voice.

"Stay close to me, Cecil," Kane shouted over the din of the battle. Cecil nodded in reply, a bit shaken but unhurt.

Suddenly a booming roar, much larger than any Kane had ever heard, sounded in the distance, sending a dread chill down his spine. His eyes followed the sound to its source, a massive gold dragon – easily twice the size of a normal dragon – flanked by eight others, one from each clan. It was Glint, the one dragon bound to Origin. Astride her shoulders was a blond half-elf, the one calling himself Mithos. Following the assassination of her chosen champion, Mithos had forcibly bound Glint to his soul through the darkest of forbidden magic. The eight following Mithos were his most trusted and powerful supporters, the Forsworn.

It's him. He's the one responsible for this, Kane hissed mentally. The sight of these Riders – these traitors – made his blood boil, and he tightened his grip on his sword.

Patience, Kane. We have not the strength to oppose him, Aedan warned.

We cannot hope to win. Our only chance of survival is to retreat, Kinir added.

Just then, Mithos held out his hand in an order to attack, and the Forsworn swept out in front of him to engage the remaining Riders that still opposed him and make his Takeover complete.

The rest was all a blur to Kane. Without warning, Aedan dived again, Kinir close behind, and tried to retreat. However, their escape was cut off by the looming gold mass of Glint, her verdant green eyes dark and unfeeling.

Kane, duck! Aedan shouted desperately before Glint unleashed a jet of white-hot dragon fire. It was at point-blank range, too close to dodge. Aedan willingly bared his underside to the hellish onslaught, shielding Kane and Kinir with his own body. He wailed in agony, and Kane screamed as Aedan's pain screeched through their link back to him.

Then they were falling. Falling faster than Kane ever thought possible. His dazed consciousness barely registered Kinir plucking him from Aedan's back before his beloved partner crashed into the ground.

Kinir touched down gingerly, careful of her wounded leg, and set Kane on his feet. Reality came rushing back. "NO!" Kane screamed as he staggered to Aedan's side and collapsed next to his burnt, hardly recognizable body.

Kane… His dying voice whispered through Kane's mind like a feather-soft caress before his onyx eyes closed for the last time and the bright, shining thread that joined their minds fell silent, its song extinguished forever.

"Aedan…" Kane whispered numbly. His consciousness railed against reality even as his eyes betrayed the horrid truth in front of him. His dragon was dead. Heart-wrenching sorrow threatened to rip apart his sanity, and he slammed his fists against the ground and howled his agony into the blood-soaked earth.

Children, we are still in danger. We must flee at once, Kinir urged.

"I won't leave him," Kane ground out between clenched teeth.

You must! Without warning, Kinir picked up Kane in her front claws and took to the air, still bearing Cecil on her back. He struggled against her hold but to no avail. Having exhausted all physical and mental energy, he gave himself over to unconsciousness.

Kane huddled in the back of a long-abandoned dragon den, his chin resting on top of his drawn-up knees. Kinir stood guard at the mouth of the cave while Cecil tended to her wounds as best he could. Despite her injuries and exhaustion, Kinir had flown non-stop for the remainder of the night, bearing the weight of two Riders and staying low to the ground to avoid detection, until the froth had dripped from her mouth and she had collapsed in front of their current hideout.

"Kane…" He glanced up to see Cecil standing in front of him bearing an expression of worry and sympathy. "I'm so sorry…"

"Just leave me alone," Kane snapped, turning his head away. "I don't need your pity." He could almost feel the hurt radiating from Cecil as he left. Kane got up and wandered back farther into the cave, away from the light of the breaking dawn.

He followed the tunnel until it opened up into a massive chamber filled with stalagmites and stalactites – the previous occupant's sleeping quarters, no doubt. Kane's body moved forward of its own accord, his mind still numb with grief, until his foot bumped against something hard. He looked down and, concealed behind a stalagmite and under a pile of sticks, lay a white dragon egg.

Kneeling, Kane picked up the egg and carefully turned it over in his hands, a fresh lump rising in his throat. Did the Spirits mean to add to his torment by reminding him of what he had failed to protect?

Suddenly, the egg rocked in Kane's hands, and a tiny peep sounded from inside. He quickly set the egg down as a tiny crack appeared at the top. The shell shattered, and a tiny white dragon hatchling tumbled out onto the ground.

Kane could hardly believe his eyes. White dragons were rare enough, but Mithos had nearly wiped out their Clan for opposing him so fervently. Cautiously, he reached out his right hand to touch the hatching. He made contact as the dragon reached out and touched its nose to his palm. Instantly, blinding pain seared Kane's arm as the hatchling's light magic flowed from his gedwey ignasia and coursed through his body. Kane grunted and fell back from the shock. Love and adoration radiated from the dragon through the newly-established bond as it – no, he – looked at Kane with amber eyes. In deference to the twin Summon Spirits of Light – Luna and Aska – the Light Clan was divided into two equal halves. Females were known as Luna Dragons, while the males were Aska Dragons.

Fresh tears streamed down Kane's face, not of sorrow but instead humility, as he stroked the dragon and listened to its satisfied thrumming. "Lunash," he choked out. "I name you Lunash." The dragon hatchling, so small and vulnerable, crawled into Kane's lap and stared adoringly up at him, his eyes emanating unconditional love and trust. Kane carefully picked up Lunash and cradled him against his chest, his head bowing forward as tears streamed down his face. In his heart, Kane made a new vow to protect this dragon with everything he possessed.

Two years passed in this manner…

End chapter 1

If you enjoyed this first chapter, leave me a review and let me know what you thought! This is my first story starring a male OC instead of females, and it's been surprisingly enjoyable! If this fic is well received, the next several chapters are already written and ready for editing. Take care!