Author's Note - In which our dedicated protagonist, having found his purpose in life and dedicated himself to his art for decades, finds an ally in the most unlikely of places.

Ally

Drago Blood-Fist, staff in hand, stared at the sight within the remote nest in awe and horror.

It had seemed a good idea at first. Use the trapped dragon to lead the hunters to a nest. Nearly a hundred of his best men had volunteered to go with him on this dangerous venture to purify the island.

The massive nest of ice did not seem very filled with dragons from the outside, but there were enough of them to make this mission worth the while. The traps were prepared and set. Shields were ready and spears were in hand. Twenty years of experience hunting dragons were behind him by now. Everything had been anticipated.

Everything except the presence of a Titanic tusked dragon larger than two Great Halls stacked end to end. It was a colossal dragon with grey scales, and the type of which he had only heard whispers of among terrified seamen with horrified tales of such leviathans. Its massive, piercing blue eyes stared directly at him and seemed to gaze directly through his soul.

His men were among the bravest men in all the isles, and they had come to this island with only one purpose in mind. Dying bravely in battle against monsters was not an objection to them.

They raised their spears and cried aloud a battle cry, ready to charge at the dragons nearby.

But he understood. This Titan was an Alpha and would not allow any harm to its nest. To stay here and do violence would be the death of any humans on this island, and he preferred to live.

"STOP!"

All his men froze in place and lowered their weapons, still staying wary of the dragons around them but not willing to disobey his command.

A very deep rumbling growl echoed in the massive chamber as the Titan slowly walked toward them. Every one of its steps shook the ground underfoot. But its deep and piercing eyes were narrowed on him in an expression he had never seen before from a dragon. It looked at him not as prey but as a curiosity.

Nearly a dozen of the nearby dragons roared on their own and charged, their maws filled with glowing fire. Ready to attack and drive off those who had entered the nest.

All the men behind him quivered and quailed, barely able to stay on their feet as several dragons approached on the ground.

Drago remained defiant as he stared back into those massive blue eyes.

Then something impossible happened.

The Titan growled, and all the dragons that had been on the ground and in the air froze or turned away. Peace came over the frozen nest.

And he understood why.

"You control them, don't you?"

The blue eyes blinked.

"You could have let them kill me. So why didn't you?"

Then he had a crazy idea.

"Ivarr, go get the Nadder right now!"

Ivarr left with several other handlers and slowly exited the nest. Drago remained where he was, doing nothing but staring into those blue eyes.

Could he see something in those eyes? Something he had never thought he would see in a dragon's eyes?

This Alpha could control dragons and use them for its own purposes. That was not so different from how he and other leaders could control soldiers and normal people. Just tell them that they are fighting for a great and honorable purpose that is expected of them. That it is not truly their choice. Their only place is to obey those who know better.

Then Ivarr returned leading a Nadder by a leash.

"FREE IT!" Drago roared.

Ivarr and company did not question his command. They unlatched the captive Nadder, removed the leash, and stepped back from it.

The Titan narrowed its eyes on the Nadder, and Drago watched as the Nadder stiffened, its eyes turning to slits. Then the Nadder jumped and flew off to join the nest.

There was something new in the Alpha's eyes now. Understanding and respect. Usefulness and purpose.

"Boss, now what?"

He ignored the question and stepped toward the Alpha as it did the same to him. He craned his neck up to keep its gaze as it bent down toward him. Its massive breaths rustled his hair and disturbed the ground where he stood. The massive tusks hung in the air around him.

Something felt very important about this moment. This was a moment that would change his life and would change the world.

The staff in his hand fell to the ground as he stared into the Titan's eyes.

It was as if he were looking into a mirror. He looked into its eyes, and he saw himself. Control and purpose.

His one hand lifted up into the air before him.

What would the Alpha do? It knew the offer well enough, that much was certain.

A moment of total silence passed in the nest.

Then its great tusk, longer than most longboats, shifted very slightly and gently brushed up against his extended hand.

Drago grinned and gave a quite draconic growl, understanding well the bargain he had just struck.

"You need dragons to conquer other dragons," he chuckled.

The Alpha's whispers were heard clearly enough as it touched his hand with its tusk and as he stared into its soul. Its purpose was to be great, to win battles, and to control other dragons. But its flock was too small.

His own purpose was to free the world from the fear of dragons. Maybe he had not understood that purpose all along. Maybe killing them all was not necessary.

Dragons that were controlled were tame and obedient. He could bring the Alpha more dragons for its flock, and it could fight battles that he and any human army could not fight.

This forbidden friendship would certainly benefit them both and let them rise to new, glorious heights together.