Dragon Heart

2874

Chapter 4

The Alternative

The people worked on growing their crops for the king. They did not want any trouble from the king, or his men. A young child playing with his friends looks up to the sky and screams for his father. The villagers followed suit as a dragon flew overhead and set fire to the crops. It roared around scaring the villagers as they ran for their lives. Corin came out of his mansion, half dressed, and shocked at what he was seeing. He heard the sound of a bike and looked to see the arrogant slayer riding up to him. "Annoying critters dragons. Their like, big rats, you never seem to get rid of them. Unless you pay me 30,000 credits, in advance." Corin hated it, but he had to get rid of the dragon.

Kei set up his launcher right near a lake, just as he and the dragon discussed. He charged the magnetic accelerators and waited for the dragon. "Come on dragon. Come on dragon." He saw the dragon come into range, he waited for the targeting regulators to lock on and fired the spear. The dragon caught the spear and acted like it was a fatal blow. The dragon fell until he landed in the lake. He never came back up. Once Kei got his credits, he roared off to the point where he and the dragon would meet. After looking around he yelled at the lake. "You can come up now." With a massive burst, the dragon jumped out of the water and landed near Kei. "Bout time, do you know how long I've been holding my breath?"

"Relax, I had to make sure that no one was watching. I like my head right where it is, thank you. Now lets go." With that said, the dragon shook off all the water, which hit Kei a lot. "Sorry bout that."

"Thanks." Kei rode off to the west, to find a spot to sleep, and the dragon followed. Kei put the bike on a slow cruise and he made sure his 30,000 credits were his 30,000 credits, he was happy to see that it was. "Ha ha, most profitable dragon, I should have met you along time ago." The dragon flew by Kei, matching the speed he was going. "There are many credits in the world. Once your done, I'm out of here."

"Please, the only reason I like this is to annoy and get credits from Marcus and his lap dogs. Its like a hobby of mine."

"Really? A wise man once said that when you squeeze the nobility, its the peasants who feel the pinch."

"Please, why should I stick my neck out for those who are too afraid to risk their own? I don't waste time on such trivial things dragon."

"Whatever. Knight of old code."

"If I wanted my conscience pricked, I would have stayed with the priest. What does a dragon know of the code anyway?"

"His blade defends the helpless, his might upholds the weak, his words speak only truth."

"Shut up. No more. Its a memory, thats all. A forgotten memory. No one can bring it back. Its gone."

"You sound like someone who tried already."

"And failed. Its something don't want to discuss. Its something I've rather forget."

"Well, its better than death."

"Really? Surprised you'd welcome death. You know, you being the last of your kind, hunted everywhere you go." The dragon stopped and looked at Kei. "You think I enjoy you reminding me? Fine, yes. I can't wait for death. But, I don't want it." Kei stopped and looked at the dragon. "Why? If all you have left is your misery, then what else is their to lose?"

"My soul." They exchanged looks and began moving to a spot to sleep.

The castle was alive with excitement. Nico was facing off against other knights in a game of Forge Ball. He threw the ball and immediately knocked out one of the opponents. Marcus watched with joy. "Finish him Nico." Helba went back to her meal and tried not to notice her son's outrageous and cruel behavior. Nico launched the ball and took out the other guard. The people cheered and the others exchanged their wagers. Marcus looked to his mother. "Well mother, who should be the next opponents?" Helba looked to Marcus. "Oh, no. The only strongest is mighty Nico." Everyone laughed and Marcus went to get a drink and looked into the silver bottle. He saw the girl from the mines in the walls. He saw her move with the sole evil in her mind. He acted like he noticed nothing. Once the woman attacked Marcus, who caught her and held her on the table, the guards grabbed her knife as Marcus spoke to her. "The mines. First you grieve in your fathers death, then you try to avenge it, so now you will share in it."

"And your kingdom will crumble beneath your feet."

"Maybe it will." He looked to thew guards and ordered them to take her to the dungeon. She kicked and screamed at Marcus as she was dragged away. Marcus looked at his mother and stormed off into the castle.

Shana stared down at the hard steel. She was ashamed at her failure. She should have been more careful about her plan. She looked up as the door opened to show him. Marcus. She waited until he was in front of her and the guard closed the door to attack. Before she got to him, she was stopped by the energy bands. He looked at her and as he moved up to her, she moved back. "I remember you. Yes, I remember. Your hair, was fire." He moved his shirt to show an ugly scar. "You. You gave me this scar. Didn't you?" He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "I. Really. Owe. You." He let go of her and turned to the guards. "Take her to my chambers."

Kei knelt over a small pile of wood with a pair of ion shockers. He tried to start a fire to make his food. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get it started. The dragon just smiled and watched. "I can, umm. I can. Really." Kei ignored him and continued to start the fire. The dragon breathed in and let out a small stream of fire. Kei backed off and then dragon stopped and laughed. "Eh, sorry Kei. I umm, hope you like yours over medium well." Kei sighed and pulled off his food. He ate it and set up his spot to sleep. He set down his pulse blade and energy shield. He pulled off his necklace of dragons teeth and laid then down with his weapons. The dragon looked at them. "You must have, hated our kind, very much."

"I. I hated one of you. But I suppose I'll never find him, and I'll never will. But, I suppose if you are the last, he must be dead."

"Yeah, I guess. So, what was he like? This, dragon you really hated."

"He only had half a heart. But I guess even that was enough to save an innocent boy."

"Marcus was not innocent. He infected the heart."

"How do you know about that? How do you know about that dragon?"

"Errrr. Well...all dragons know about that story. What was to be their salvation became their damnation. A rotten and ungrateful child was given the greatest gift in the world, and he destroyed it."
"No! I was Marcus' teacher. I taught him the ways of honor, of justice."

"Then he betrayed you, just as much as he betrayed the dragon whose heart he shattered."

"Thats a lie dragon."
"Stop. Calling. Me. Dragon! I have a name."

"Well, what is it?"

"Ha! You couldn't possibly pronounce it in your primitive tongue."

"Lets go."

"Its..." He stopped, looked at his shoulder and roared in pain. Kei ran up to him. "Are you alright?" He grabbed a wet blanket and covered the wound. The dragon sighed in relief. "Thank you"

"What by the Gods was that?"

"Just an old war wound that acts up every now and then." He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Marcus fell backwards and caught himself on the wall. He looked done at the wound the woman gave him. Fresh, still bleeding. Yet he was not dead. He looked up at her, a knife in her hand, and moved towards her. "Next time, a little more flesh than clothes please."

"I'll strike your heart." She charged forward, but Marcus caught her and slammed her down on the bed. He grabbed the knife and eased off her. "You already have. A very special heart, unlike any other in the world."

"A dark, unholy thing without mercy." Marcus just smiled as he got up and left the room. Shana dressed herself and was looking for a way to escape when sudden;y, she heard a noise. The floor in front of the heat regulator opened and a woman arose from the opening. "Don't worry. My son will not have his way with you. Come with me. I'll get you out of here." Shana nodded and followed the woman down the path which lead to the waste routes. The woman pointed in the direction to go. Shana left and before she turned around to thank the woman, she was gone, and Shana made her escape to her village.

The dragon woke up to see Kei standing by the cliff, looking up at the stars. "You've been watching me all night?"

"I've been thinking."

"'bout what?"

"Alot of things, but mostly what to call you. I think I have a name."

"You make it sound like you grabbed it from the sky."

"Well I kinda did. Do you see that group of stars?" Kei pointed up to the sky and the dragon looked up. "I know those stars very well."

"Do you see the shape they make."

"Yes. They make a dragon."

"They call it Draco. It means 'dragon' to old Cerican scholars."

"So instead of calling me dragon in your words you'll call me dragon in some other words."
"Your right. Its stupid."

"No. I would be honored to be named after those stars. I would love it. Thanks Kei. Draco. Draco." The dragon looked up and he rolled in his new name.