Desperado II

Needless to say, the next several years were night and day to the days of my youth. Dusk was my teacher in all things, and it's no exaggeration that she helped shape me into the drake I am now. Before, I was just a thug; a con-drake and brute doing whatever it took to survive day by day. I cared for myself, and only myself, for my whole life. But now? Now I knew what love and loyalty was. Now I knew what it meant to truly belong to something bigger than myself. I had friends who liked me, a town that needed me, and a mate who loved me.

My life might've been simple, but it was happy, and it was good.

Though that's not to say it was perfect, or easy.

Early on in our relationship, Dusk and I had a make-or-break moment. She'd just made me her apprentice, which (among many other things) included having me move into her home. The official reasoning was so I could learn all the secret, intimate knowledge that only the leader of the Coven and Mayor of Crossroads could know. But really, it was so we could continue hooking up without having to sneak out into the desert like some star-crossed lovers.

I remember one night in particular, I tried out this little move I learned from a pair of Skywing "entertainers" that used to work for Queen Scarlet's mom - a little secret of draconic female anatomy. I can tell you right now, Dusk was loving it. I was surprised no one else in town heard or knew what we were doing, the way she was howling my name. By the time we were done, we were both laying in bed, panting, exhausted but beyond content.

"Night King Below!" She declared, little dots of pink and yellow twinkling along her giggling body, "You sure know how to make a lady feel good. I don't think I've ever felt this tingly after a mating session."

"You're pretty damn amazing yourself." I sighed, my wing extended over us to make a canopy of stars. "Hell, I'll say it right now, you're the best I've ever been with! I got to bring out my A-Game just to keep up. It's like-"

"We're made for each other?"

I stared into her eyes. I listened to the sound of our breathing. I felt my paws wrapped around her waist, and her paws around my chest. In this moment, when all the world faded away from us, I had but one question: "Is this what making love is like?"

"If this isn't, I don't know what is." She admitted. We pulled each other close, our lips meeting. Not with force and passion as before, but slow, gentle, pleasing. What had been a roaring fire of lust was now quenching and solidifying into something more. Love. Real love.

When we had to break the kiss to breathe, I rested my head against her neck, listening to the gentle beat of her heart. We laid there for who knows how long, quiet as a tomb, and it got me thinking. Thinking about my future with Dusk, with Crossroads, about what I wanted in life.

"Dusk?" I whispered.

"Hmm?" She grunted, fading into sleepiness.

"Do you want to have dragonets?"

"Mmm. More than anything in the world."

"Do you want to have dragonets... with me?"

"Mmm. Love to." She purred. "If the Night King wills it."

"Do you... want to try... tomorrow?"

"Hmmm... sure." Her voice was a barely audible mumble now, and I didn't know if she truly heard me. No matter, I'd ask her again in the morning. Kissing her snout one more time, I relaxed and fell asleep in no time.

When I woke up, Dusk was gone. This wasn't unusual for her, but something about this time made me worried. I got out of bed, looking around our home. I found her outside, watching the sun rise over the distant mountains. Her scales were dark blue, a color I'd never seen on her before.

"Hey," I greeted her, nuzzling her cheek, "You alright?"

She glanced at me, her eyes red and watery. "Hey." She replied weakly. "I had a great time last night."

"Dusk, what's wrong?" I insisted. "What happened?"

"Nothing, it's nothing." She said, trying to wave off my concern. "I'm just... I'm just so happy to have you in my life."

"Don't lie to me, woman." I hissed. "I know the difference between happy and sad tears. Please, tell me what's wrong. How can I help you?"

"There's... there's nothing you can help me with, Des'." She said, her voice catching her throat. "I'm a broken 'ness."

I took a step back. "What, what're you talking about?"

She sniffed, wiping her eye just as a tear began to form. "I... My womb is as barren as the desert around us." She gestured to the dunes only a few body-lengths from the door. "I've tried and tried for so long, with so many different males, but nothing works. No matter the stage of the moons, or the herbs and treatments I take, or the virility of my partners, the Spirits have denied me the one thing my heart truly desires. It got to the point where I just stopped trying, giving all my focus to Crossroads and the Coven. But then the Night King showed you and me, together, and I've never been happier. I can see myself spending my entire life with you, growing old together. I love you, Des, and I don't want to promise you something I can't give."

I craned my neck against hers, gently pulling her against my chest. I shushed her, stroking her as she let her emotions flow out. We stood there in that doorway for who knows how long, the sun slowly creeping above the dunes and into the sky, giving what comfort I could provide.

"Dusk," I said, after the silence became overbearing, "Its okay. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you. You've given me your love, a home, a purpose. I'm not going to leave you over this. You know me: whatever damage you think you have, I'm worse. I didn't think I deserved love, but you proved me wrong."

"But, you said you wanted a family? I-"

"I said I wanted a family with you. You are my mate, and all I want is for you to be happy. I'd rather be here in Crossroads, with the Coven as my family, than raising young with some random 'ness I can't stand. I am happier here than I've ever been anywhere else in my entire life."

"...I believe you." She admitted, sighing into my shoulder. "And I'm so, so grateful that the Night King has brought us together. Thank you, for reminding me to be thankful for what I have, rather than lamenting what never was."

Things were different between us, after that talk. Sometimes I wonder if it'd secretly been a test, some clever ruse to see how loyal I really was. Maybe the Night King had given her another vision, and she wanted to make sure I was the one meant for her. If it had been a test, I must've passed.

Dusk wasn't just the wise, seductive mentor that she'd been the months before. She was more relaxed, more open, more playful and teasing. Before, she'd only tell me her dreams if they were of the greatest importance. Now, she'd wake up every morning and tell me what she saw, regardless of how minor or unlikely it seemed. Sometimes, as we had our breakfast and prepared for our daily chores, she'd tell me of things going on all across Phyrria, of big political maneuvers within the Sandwing Palace that (almost) always turned out to be true. Other times, she'd giggle and gossip about silly things that were about to happen the Brothers and Sisters in town, of funny accidents and new couples and potential new recruits. It was nice, knowing that our bond was stronger now, and that whatever barrier she had up had finally opened for me.

And that was what our life was like, for ten or so years.

Until the fateful night a bunch of scavengers killed a Queen, and changed the fate of Phyrria forever...

I made my journey to the Scorpion's Den a few days after the Battle of the Palace, just as it started to feel like we were reaching a climax. The night Queen Oasis died, Dusk dreamed that the Darkstalker came to her, and gave his blessing upon the warlord Nightshade. Out of all the potential claimants, only he truly came close to the Night King's vision of an equal and free Phyrria.

I talked it over with Dusk, of course; dream visions aside, I trusted her instincts better than anyone else. Two nights before I left, she had a dream of Nightshade wearing the Eye of Onyx. The enchanted necklace transformed him from a male Nightwing to a female Sandwing, truly making her worthy of becoming Queen of Desert. She saw the heads of the princes and princesses on pikes, lining the walls and gates of the Palace. But most importantly to all of us in the Coven, she saw the Darkstalker standing behind Nightshade, guiding their movements and leading them to greatness.

For better or worse, our future laid with the Republican.

With all that in mind, I decided to make the journey to the Palace to get an audience with the new Queen. I got many dirty looks from both Nightwings and Sandwings as I was allowed into the throne room, but I ignored every single one of them. Their opinions didn't matter to me, not when I had a job to do. I saw (him? her? them?) Nightshade sitting upon Oasis's throne, the Eye of Onyx adorning their neck.

"My Queen," I said, bowing as low as I could, "My name is Desperado. I am the Mayor of the town of Crossroads, and I've come to swear my loyalty to you. It is clear that you are meant to rule our fair kingdom, and my followers and I wish to help you make that a reality."

Nightshade stared down at me, appraising me with blue eyes that seemed out of place on a Sandwing - a reminder of who and what they used to be. Their claws tapped away on the throne, and I held my position, waiting for them to speak first.

"Do you have a militia?" They asked, their voice deep and androgynous.

"We have 800 inhabitants-" I started.

"That's not what I asked." They cut me off, their tail twitching angrily. "Do you have dragons that know how to fight? Do you have dragons that can take orders? Do you have dragons that have killed before?"

I had to think an uncomfortably long time before I answered, "...Maybe thirty or so?"

"That would be a no, then." Nightshade hissed. "I appreciate your support, Mister Mayor, but if you wish to aid me, you need to build a militia to fight with. We're facing off against the greatest armies in all of Phyrria, hundreds if not thousands of dragons who wish to kill us. We need to build our numbers if we're to survive and win. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes, my Queen."

"Then consider my first orders for you to go out and build a militia in my name." They decreed, before waving me away. "Now go, Mayor Desperado. We both have many things to do this day."

I bowed, taking my leave. For my first encounter with royalty, that went a lot better than I imagined it'd go. But now I had another problem: How the hell was I going to turn my town of misfits into an army? Worse, how was I going to get hundreds more to join the Coven?

"Have you seen the Shadow passing through your dreams?" I recited.

"I have, Brother." The Sandwing replied, eyes closed, head bowed.

"Would you follow this Shadow wherever it may lead?" I pressed.

"Yes, Brother."

"Will you dedicate yourself to the Shadow, working day and night to see His Return, and bring about a world of equality, brotherhood and prosperity for all dragons?"

"I will, Brother."

I smiled, dipping my paw into the bowl of blue paint. "Very well, Sister Cactus. I shall mark you in the blood of The Father, and have your sins bled away. I mark your legs, so you cannot run from your duties. I mark your mouth, so you cannot speak lies of others or yourself. I mark your heart, so that your soul may be emptied of all wickedness, weakness and destructive vices. Rise again, and know that day or night, the Darkstalker guides your path." I touched the Sandwing's body as I recited the ritual, marking her as the Darkstalker marked the wicked Prince Arctic.

"Thank you, Brother Desperado." She bowed deeply, the blue marks glistening in the firelight.

"All is well. Now, go off and join your brothers and sisters. Tomorrow we shall begin teaching all of you how to fight..." The Sandwing bowed and joined the others, who cheered and welcomed their newest member.

"How many does that make? Two hundred, two-fifty?" I turned around expecting to see Dusk, only to see a pureblooded Rainwing at my side instead. He was a tiny thing, pale green with a scrunched-up snout that looked so crooked as to be broken. His green eyes were red and baggy, the sign of someone who never had a full night's sleep in his entire life. He smiled, but it was that tired smile of those who suffered their entire life yet still try to find the positives (or else what's the point of living?).

"Three-hundred, Chameleon," I answered, nodding to the crowd, "Three-hundred loyal followers of Queen Nightshade and the Coven."

"'Loyal' might be a bit of an exaggeration." Chameleon hedged. "How many of them are actually interested in learning more about the Night King, compared to, I dunno, getting a free meal? I mean, who else would mark initiates in blueberry juice, unless they were loaded with food and money?"

"The berries we use in initiation aren't the eating kind."

"I know that, but these suckers don't. They see you using something edible for a religious rite, and they think, 'Wow, these guys are rich. They've got food to spare! We should totally work for him and pretend to listen to what he says!'"

"Don't you worry, they'll come around." I insisted, cleaning the juice from my claws. "When we start making moves, winning battles, and put Nightshade on the throne, they'll be much more receptive to our message. The Coven will grow as our success does."

The Rainwing looked skeptical, but said nothing more. I didn't blame him. Of course dragons wanted a free meal, who wouldn't? But these desperate souls from the Palace and the Scorpion's Den were fresh and malleable and eager to oust the foreign occupiers controlling our lands. After a few weeks of training and fighting they'd be made into proper warriors, and with a few victories, they'd become true believers, too...