Far to the south of a certain island a few degrees south of freezing to death, past the heart of the Barbaric Archipelago, on the outskirts of the Meridian of Misery, sat an island shrouded in thick smog and defended by a deadly maze of jagged reef. A deep red glow sank into the heavy mist like blood into cloth, staining the shadow-plagued sea with ominous light. From the mist rose a charred and split mountain, lava running in poisonous veins down the sides. Caves and jagged outcroppings dotted the treacherous cliffs, the red glow betraying the tunnels hidden in their shadowy depths.
Far from even the faintest reach of light, cloaked in the heavy shadows of the mountain catacombs, two beings moved soundlessly as the night itself. Only a trained eye could even see in the utter darkness of the world around, let alone thrive, and there were none more trained than these. The two Night Furies, possible the last two in existence, traveled without a word but communicated flawlessly their direction to one another through a bond older and more precious than the supposed gods themselves.
Only as they finally approached their destination, did they slow their pace and dare to speak. The larger of the two, a male with vibrant turquoise eyes, held up a silent wing to halt his partner's approach as he peered around the corner of the dark tunnel. Satisfied that they were alone, he breathed a sigh of relief but remained on guard.
"Right, we're nearly there. Are you ready?" He eyed his companion with determined yet sad eyes. The smaller dragon, a female with soft golden eyes, set down a small black bundle on the ground before her before turning to her counterpart.
"Yes," she replied simply, her voice barely more than a whisper. The large dragon let out a sad, knowing sigh and leaned down to the small bundle.
"Son," he nudged the softly bundle with his snout. "Wake up, it's time to go." He stayed close as the black bundle unfurled itself, leathery wings fluttering out, and a long bluntly studded tail slithered across the ground. Heavy eye lids lifted slowly, revealing two stunning green eyes faded with sleep.
"Dad?" The small dragon blinked blearily. "What's- oh… right," his green eyes widened, and his head tipped up to look at the blue and gold eyes hovering above him, filled with worry and pride.
"You remember what we told you, little one?" the hatchling's mother cooed softly, straining to keep the fear from her voice for the sake of her son.
The little dragon jumped to his small feet. "I'm going on an adventure!" He whispered excitedly.
"To do what, son," his father drew his attention.
"To find a Bewilderbeast," he said slowly, his young voice filled with awe and his eyes glazed over as he recalled his mother's stories of the graceful giant of legend. It was said to reside in the far north of the world in an icy Haven where dragons lived in peace. It was a far cry from the world the young dragon was brought into, from the shadows he was born of and in.
His thoughts were cut off by the harsh sounds of claws against stone and drawn to his father's quick movements. The large Night Fury wasted no time hastily moving his small family back into the shadows as a Monstrous Nightmare skittered down the adjacent tunnel towards the source of the red glow, a large animal dangling limp in its maw. After a few tense moments, it disappeared from view.
"We need to move," the large dragon turned back to his family. He locked eyes with his mate, sharing a silent moment to steel themselves for what was to come. They couldn't waver now. There would be no turning back from what they knew must be done.
"Is everything alright, mum?" The little green eyed dragon caught his parents' gaze, which promptly broke.
"Fine, dear. Time to go, is all. Come on," his mother picked him up once more by the scruff of his neck and they set off down the tunnels once more, cautiously making their way towards the ominous red glow.
The two older Night Furies knew what awaited them. The one thing that could send the most fearsome dragons cowering in terror, the cause of the greatest horrors dragon-kind had ever endured, the reason for their actions tonight; the False Queen. Deep in the corrupted heart of the island, reveling in the misery of her subjects, the False Queen dwelt in a nest of death and fire. She ruled over her domain with an iron jaw and ruthless law. She commanded legions of dragons, and any who defied her died by the maw they fed.
Their hatchling was blissfully unaware of the horrors they were trying to spare him from. But while their intent was to spare their son, their hope for him was far beyond what he could comprehend as of yet. They had heard rumors, whispers in the wind and hardly anything more than that, of a King. He was titan of legendary proportions and of even greater kindness. The Bewilderbeast was a myth, a legend, but every legend rings with truths, and it was enough for the two Night Furies to put their hope in. The King could save them. But first they had to find him, and there inlaid the problem.
The False Queen held a ruthless grip on the minds of every dragon in her domain. She controlled their wills and actions and none could escape her vicious command…except the hatchlings.
Hatchlings, however, were few and far between. So when it came to light that the two Night Furies, of all dragons, were expecting, the expectant father did everything in his power to hide the fact from the False Queen. Had she found out that the most powerful dragons in the known world were carrying a being even she would not be able to control, she would have killed them without a moment's hesitation. Only a few very close friends had even known about their son, let alone been aware of their plan.
Trust was more scarce than hatchlings.
Their plan, simple yet terrifying, was for their son to find the Bewilderbeast. That is what they told themselves and their son, but the older Night Furies knew that the faint hope of their son just being able to live beyond the reach of the False Queen was enough for them.
So here they were, creeping their way towards the one place they hoped their son would never see, for the only exit lay beyond the False Queen's pit.
Their surroundings were eerily quiet and the few dragons that slunk about the tunnels were either unaware or uncaring of the two Night Furies creeping through the shadows. They wove their way around the edges of the pit, through collapsing caves and crumbling tunnels riddled with bones and scorch marks, ever wary of the menacing red glow beneath them. Their hope was to catch the corrupt dragoness asleep.
But hope was in shorter supply than trust.
A deep rumble shook the ground and seeped into the air, settling heavy like a weight on their shoulders. Fear clenched the mother's heart she looked panicked towards her partner. His sharp eyes conveyed his message, hold. A simple command as they waited to see if they were noticed. She felt her son stiffen in her jaw and lowered her head in a desperate attempt to shroud him from the False Queen.
Then She made her presence known, a heavy and primal sensation struck them as solidly as any blast.
And where do you think you're going, Devil Spawn.
Whatever dragons remained in the cavern cowered. The couple froze stiff with fear as their queen's question hung in the air, unable to answer.
"Mum, what was-" the frantic mother quickly hushed her child with a wing, but the damage was done. The entire mountain went deathly quiet, and curious and terrified eyes peered down at the black dragons. They could feel the queen's wrath rising and pitied the souls towards which it was directed.
Is that a hatchling, Night Fury? Her voice was terrifyingly quiet, laced with malice and pure hatred.
Terror gripped their hearts and in the split second they locked eyes, that terror screamed one word.
RUN!
A thunderous roar split the air and the earth heaved, and the massive armored head of the Beast rose from the depths. Cries of terror erupted from all around and in the chaos, the Night Furies streaked for the only exit at the far end of the cavern.
The larger Night Fury stayed ever between the queen and his family. A massive jaw crashed down immediately behind them, decimating the cave wall like it was nothing more than paper.
In her rage, the False Queen all but lost track of the two shadows making a break for it.
TREASONOUS MAGGTOS! GIVE IT TO ME! Her outraged roars shook the air, her will threatening to break through the fear of any and all, but fear held their wills their own. Fear, and the weight of an innocent life who dangled from the mouth of a golden-eyed shadow.