AT LEAST IT DID NOT TAKE MONTHS TO FINISH. ENJOY.
i do not own mlp
The Fall of Innocence.
Chapter 5Dragonbond had now turned seven-years-old. Growing stronger and healthier with the passing of days and the help of his new diet he had adapted to. Dragonbond was now staying up for a week without sleep like dragons his age could. Filled with so much energy, Dragonbond would run all across the area leaping, rolling, and climbing anything that was in his way whether it be a boulder, tree, or creature.
He had practiced with flying and the use of his tail for the last couple years and having more lessons from his dragon father about the world around him. Dragonbond still wasn't a fast flyer like the rest of the young dragons in the clan, but what he lacked in speed, he made up in agility and wing dexterity. With his light weight and strong wings, he had more control in his maneuvers and that helped him with executing aerial stunts. Though, what drove him to fly with such skill was just the feel of the flight. Showing off and pride in his ability were of small interest compared to just the freedom flight gave him. The troubles of the world would be left anchored to the earth while he would let himself get carried away in the wind and lost into the sky. He could go anywhere and do anything. He was free and unleashed.
Dragonbond was also taught how to survive off different parts of the land from the highest peaks of ice capped mountains to the sandy shores. Since the land and many different landscapes, Dragonbond was able to learn much about nature and its natural order. Mostly herbs from plants that could be made as a cure for ailments. Also, plants that could be used for other uses that could be an enhancement, harmful, or fatal. Scalefang told him those should be for tactical advantages over certain situations of survival. Since Dragonbond's sense of smell was improving, Scalefang would teach him to use his nose to tell which plants would give off a certain scent to use for detecting the chemicals in the plants to use for ingredients for cures, enhancements, ailments, and poisons.
These were the things Dragonbond spent most of his days learning with his dragon father in his knowledge of survival, but this day was special. Today, Scalefang was going to take Dragonbond into the outer world of their homeland to meet with a brother clan they were allies with. He would also show him different plants and landscapes to learn from. He would even show him how to hunt prey from the sky. They prepared to leave as the light of dawn began to rise. They didn't need to take anything with them, so they would just take off from their home cave. "Are there going to be dragons like us there, Father?" Dragonbond asked excitedly as he ran around in front of his dragon father unable to contain his excitement.
"Out from these lands, dragons of every kind live in their own groups. They each try to preserve their specie's culture and traditions as one group." He said as he observed to weather for their flight.
"They don't want to stay here?" Dragonbond asked confused to why they would wish to stay in lands far from one that welcomes them.
Scalefang nodded. "They wish to control an area to keep other creatures from turning it into a civilized population. We may not be guides to the creatures of the world anymore, but we will preserve parts of the world from being converted to magic infected places." Scalefang said with a bit of hostility in his tone when he mentioned magic.
"Like you said about that pony land that froze over because it was ruled by magic?" Dragonbond asked remembering that story Scalefang had told him once before. Scalefang had always wanted to tell his son the dangers of magic if it is made as a means for a land's survival including the creatures that live in it.
Scalefang nodded again. "That is why we do not tolerate magic in these lands or in our ways. Lands that need magic to thrive are easy to corrupt and easy to destroy."
Dragonbond looked to his destiny mark on his flank. "I'm glad I don't have magic anymore." He said grateful to rid himself from magic. He remembered when the magic left him and how weak and sick he felt without it. Now that he was free from it, he felt stronger and, in some ways, free. Now he didn't have to worry if something tried to take magic from him because he wouldn't have magic anymore for that thing to take and it would not weaken him now that he had his own raw strength to rely on. Yet one question he had to ask. "What about the strange creatures that are made of things like water or air?" Dragonbond asked.
"Most creatures like them are not made of magic. They are the spirits of those elements. A life source that has been given a body that many would mistake as magical creatures when they are simply creatures that are more supernatural than things tied to the laws of this world." Scalefang explained to Dragonbond. Dragonbond's eyes grew in curiosity and wonder, wishing he could one day see those kinds of creatures.
"Come, we should go now." Scalefang told his son as he flew off.
Dragonbond flew up after to catch up with his dragon seeing the land started to fall below under him and the sky clouds rush started to draw closer towards him as he flew higher and higher. With the lifting arms of the wind to pick him up under his wings with each flap he made in the gentle currents on the wind in its currents. Dragonbond flapped rapidly to catch up to his dragon father even though Scalefang flew at a decent speed. There was only one pass through the volcanic shore to exit the land safely. A gap between the volcanoes on the beach that would allow easy passing over the hazardous shores. It was more of a that gap allowed the sea and rivers of the land to meet bringing aquatic life from both sides. It was a large bay with a crescent beach where some dragons would come to lie on the heated sandy shores and relax in the ocean mixed temperatures of fresh and salt waters. Passing the gap, Dragonbond took a deep breath in smelling the salty air of the ocean and the brisk wind mixed with ocean mist. He could almost smell the fish that swam deep in the sea in schools. Dragonbond would fly low over the water to see some swimming close to the surface before they scattered as he flew over them. He would drag a hoof through the waves as he flew over wishing he had time to play for a while, but he knew they had a long journey ahead of them and little time for fun and games if they wanted to make good time to travel to their first stop to rest for a while before making the final flight of their journey.
After catching up with his dragon father flying after several minutes, Dragonbond looked back to see his homeland becoming a distant landmark behind him as the ocean became his next destination of travel on the distant horizon.
Dragonbond was feeling nervous leaving the only home and land he knew and was raised in. But he would trust in his dragon father to make this a safe journey. He had been out this far with his dragon father before, but the difference this time was that he was leaving it all behind now. Yet now wasn't the time for doubt. He had to be strong for his dragon father. He had to bravely face the unknown they would travel to. Then came the boarders of their territory, the Fog Gates.
There was only one pass through the volcanic shore. A gap between the volcanoes on the beach that would allow easy passing over the hazardous shores. It was more of a bay with a crescent beach where some dragons would come to lie on the heated sandy shores and relax in the ocean temperature water.
Passing the gap, Dragonbond took a deep breath in smelling the salty air of the ocean and the brisk wind mixed with ocean mist. He could almost smell the fish that swam deep in the sea in schools. Dragonbond would fly low over the water to see some swimming close to the surface before they scattered as he flew over them. He would drag a hoof through the waves as he flew over wishing he had time to play for a while, but he knew they had a long journey ahead of them and little time for fun and games if they wanted to make good time to travel to their first sop to rest for a while before making the final flight of their journey.
They needed to pass the Fog Gates fog gates that protected their lands and Scalefang had to hold Dragonbond in his hand to protect him from hidden terrors that dwell within the fog. Dangers that infested the dark icy cold waters that waited for anything to drift low enough for them to pull under for a feast. Over the dense fog were more dangers of horrid screeches and loud monstrous caws echoing across the skies above the fog, and in the large rocky columns that towered over the water, unseen nightmares hid waiting to pounce. Hissing and snarling for their next meal to pass by near their dwellings inside the rock columns. Dragonbond covered his ears and eyes to block out the soul freezing sounds of the unforgiving fog. Scalefang would see skeletons of different creatures lying around scattered on the rocks. He could only tell they were different creatures by the skulls that were left behind. Most of the remains of skeletons were lost to the dark depths of the sea.
Once they cleared the Fog Gates, Scalefang opened his hand to let his son know that he was safe to come out. Dragonbond looked around cautiously to only once more see the open clear skies of clouds and sunshine above and the ever blue and sparkling sunlit sea. Dragonbond then leaped off out from his dragon father's hand and back into the sea scented air. Dragonbond would begin to fly closer to the sea hoping to find playful dolphins. Sure enough, some dolphins caught sight of him and started swimming and leaping from the water next to him. Dragonbond would then play by swooping under them when they swam out of the water. It would only last a while before the dolphins would swim off after having their fun.
No later did he see a school of fish swimming near the surface. Dragonbond would then swoop down to snatch one that was breaking the water. It was a small fish so he wouldn't have to worry about it being heavy enough to pull him into the water. It was only a small snack during their flight. Then he would return to his dragon father in the sky.
They continued on their long journey across the ocean to their first destination. It would be was a long travel over miles of sea, but Dragonbond didn't mind it at all as he was flying everywhere around his dragon father. Dragonbond spun, twirled, a dived through the air feeling the freedom of flight once again with the free-spirited wind fueling his own.
Scalefang flew at a slow pace since Dragonbond couldn't keep up. Despite Dragonbond's slower pace of speed, he flew very professionally with agility, precision, and dexterity. He flew more like a dragon than a pony after taking his dragon father's flying forms to adapt to his own. His wings had also grown bigger as well to keep up with the weight of his body. His set of feathers were denser making it more effective to decrease the wind's penetration through his wings. They seemed to gain some weight. It was an odd thing to happen, but on the bright side it exercised his wing muscles to handle the extra weight. His wings could even be able to deflect a rock without having to worry about it passing right through his feathered wings. They now acted becoming more like a wooden shield adding more to his training in combat.
Scalefang was proud of the way his son excelled in flight. He just needed him to work on his wing speed to fly like a real dragon. He watched his son fly all over the place never ceasing once to take a rest. Dragonbond was now able to stay awake longer and rarely got tired mostly because of his youthful energy. Scalefang had taught his son much to help him gain this level of a dragon's life. When Dragonbond was ready for what would lie ahead in the future, he would surely become more than he ever would have expected.
Soon land came into sight as father and son flew in from some clouds. Dragonbond was amazed to see this land as it looked untouched and wild with life all over. The shores were only cliff sides that towered high above the crashing waves. On top of the cliffs, as they flew up and over, revealed a vast land of hills and flat lands and far in the distance were tall mountains. The lands seemed to be covered in wheat plants as they danced in the wind. On the far ends of the flatland were vast forests that led to the mountains. The air was a bit chilly, but the scent of its fresh untainted air made up for it.
"Father, what is this land?" Dragonbond asked marveling at the breath-taking landscape.
"This is called the highlands, but its current residents have given it the name of the hay-lands. Do not try to mingle with their kind. They resent us and will kill us for their kind of sport to gain fame and glory for themselves." Scalefang warned his son. For this land had its inhabitants of different species other than dragons or even horses. Some wished to be left alone and others wished to destroy or conquer for more land.
"If other creatures live here, why hasn't the land been taken over?" Dragonbond asked. Figuring these inhabitants would have spread their villages over the land like a plague.
"Our brother clan had lived in these lands longer than any creature here. They allow them to thrive in their small villages as long as they do not expand into their land territory by penalty of fire fang and fire." Scalefang said talking about how the dragons of this land became its guardians from being pushed back or destroyed for them to be taken over by the settlements.
Dragonbond viewed down on the land to see it was still untouched and flourishing with wildlife and vegetation. "So, we still try to keep the lands safe and preserved?" he asked more about the role in their kind in the world.
"Only the lands we are native to. Our old ways to guard the world are over." Scalefang said becoming nostalgic of the role they had played for many millennia in days long past. They had more of a role other than preserving the lands, but after events that changed the world, their roles have been abandoned as the world turned their backs on them.
Dragonbond felt sad about the way things were now. He had wished he could have lived in those days to be a part of something great and important. "Are there any creatures left that we ally ourselves with?" he asked hoping there were some left.
"A very few, but that is for you to know after you are old enough to take the dragon trials to become an official part of the clan, and that is where your true lessons will begin." Scalefang said feeling it was too soon for Dragonbond to know any of that knowledge yet.
"Yes father." Dragonbond said obediently. Although the anticipation of knowing he will one day know all about the deep secrets of dragons excited him. He then began to feel his stomach growl. "Father, can we get something to eat?" Dragonbond asked.
Scalefang thought about it and decided it was high time for Dragonbond to start his next lessons of hunting. "Yes son, but this time you have to hunt for your own meal." He said as they flew down for a landing.
Dragonbond was now excited about catching his own food other than fish. Dragonbond was trying to look for his first prey. "I want to eat a sheep, no wait, a crocodile! I could catch a buffalo or a bull! How about…"
"A mouse." Scalefang said. Dragonbond slumped in disappointment about having to have a mouse not just as a meal, but as his very first prey to hunt.
"A mouse? Why a mouse?" Dragonbond asked disappointed.
"We will first see if you spot and catch the smallest of rodents before we see if you can hunt the largest of beasts. Now fly my son and search for your first meal." Scalefang said as he laid himself down to watch.
"Yes father." Dragonbond obeyed before taking to the sky. Dragonbond had developed a long sense of vision, not as long as a dragon, but enough to see from a certain height if he concentrated hard enough and Dragonbond was all about concentration when it came to train himself.
When he was high enough, he began to survey the ground looking for the first mouse. His pupils widened shrunk to zoom his vision in on the ground to search for his prey. He could see the critters below wishing he could hunt down one of them, but his obedience to his dragon father was stronger than his desire. He focused harder to look of for any mouse as impossible as it was to spot something no bigger than a small rock in the thick bushes and grass that covered most of the ground. Dragonbond had to be aware of his shadow so not to accidentally alert his prey to his presence. He had learned from that when he would try to catch certain bugs. When his shadow came over them, they would run away. From then on, he made sure to know where the sun was shining to keep his shadow out of view.
Then finally, he spotted a tiny thing moving that happened to crawl onto a brightly shaded boulder. A small mouse that took a moment to survey the area for food. Dragonbond had to make sure to fly in carefully and effectively as he swooped in for the catch. Of course, this meant he had to catch it with his mouth. He wished he could use fire breath like a normal dragon, but this was why his dragon father wanted him to hunt like this and also due to the fact that he had no fire breath at all. Other than that, this was Scalefang's way for his son to hone his skills without the use of fire breath.
Getting into position, Dragonbond started his descent down upon the unsuspecting mouse. Keeping his shadow out of sight and keeping down wind, he had to fly down further from the mouse in order to pull up enough to with a glide at a fast speed without hitting the ground. Dragonbond did as he planned and now was the hard part to reach the mouse hoping it wouldn't turn in time to give it time to run away.
The mouse did turn and see a flying Pegasus speeding towards it, but it was too late to react as Dragonbond flew by catching it in his mouth. The mouse was caught by the back as Dragonbond dug his sharp teeth into it. The mouse struggle to try and turn itself to bite at its predator in an attempt to free itself. Dragonbond had to act fast after landing. He bit it again to get a better grip around its neck so he could suffocate it and shook his head side to side to foil the mouse's attempt to struggle out. This was not hard for him since he had eaten fish, turtles, and other small rodents his father fed him. He was just following the natural order of the food chain. Even though he was a pony, he was still raised to be a dragon. As such, he needed to place himself at that level of the food chain, at the top. Dragonbond kept on shaking the mouse in his mouth until he felt no more resistance from it. He then happily hopped back to Scalefang to show that he caught his first meal. He fell back to sit down with the mouse still in his mouth as he wagged his tail.
Scalefang gave no outward expression, but inwardly he was proud that Dragonbond was a strong hunter from not looking like he hesitated to kill his prey. Something every dragon had to avoid when hunting or someday needing to attack something before it tried to kill them. "Eat your kill, my son." Scalefang told Dragonbond.
Dragonbond dropped the dead mouse and started eating into it. He would start eating flesh and bone happily feeling like a real dragon.
Scalefang watched Dragonbond as he innocently ate his meal. That was one thing these dragons tried to preserve as much as they could. For one day, every young dragon would be faced with the cruelty of life whether it would be the death of their parents, the true face of evil, or the harshness of a battle. Usually dragons never had to see that until they reached the age of twelve. It was only on rare misfortunes that dragons younger than that had to face that cruel reality. Scalefang hoped that would never come for his son. He would promise himself to do everything in his power to keep his son from that reality. But sometimes the reality of life is unmerciful to any creature.
"Now!" a loud deep voice shouted out.
Scalefang saw large harpoons being shot at them from all directions. His first instinct was to protect his son. This ended up the harpoons piercing through his limbs, wings, and tail. This was followed by a group what looked like to be a small army of large horses in barbaric armor and war painting over their bodies to tug on chains that were connected to the harpoons. They pulled on the chains to try to restrain Scalefang's arms, legs, tail, and wings.
"Hide my son!" he commanded Dragonbond to flee for cover. Dragonbond did as he was told thinking his dragon father was going to ferociously fight back. He did as much as he could start breathing fire and catching some of these horses in flames. The other horses started to fire more harpoons into his limbs and tail. Other horses started throwing large bolas towards his head and neck with as many as they could. This started to weigh him down and use most of his energy.
"Father!" Dragonbond shouted in fear for his father. He knew he wasn't strong enough or skilled to fight in a battle, but when one's father is being attacked, those facts don't seem to matter.
Scalefang roared at Dragonbond. "Stay where you are!" he shouted wanting to keep him safe no matter how the outcome was looking.
One overconfident horse tried to throw a lasso made of a chain to swing over his head, Scalefang would pull and lower his neck and head back before swinging it in from the side of the horse and chomping him in one bite. Some horses tried jumping on Scalefang's back to save their party member. A grave mistake when Scalefang leap over to the side and onto his back. Crushing them all in a gruesome mess of blood. The horses regrouped in their formations and small teams to retake the dragon. Scalefang caught sight of some as they raced to their groups. He readied his tail with a sharpen edged on the bones on the end of his tail. With one swipe, the tail sliced them clean through in two parts.
After what seemed like hours of struggling and with enough horsepower and added weight on Scalefang, he was pulled to the ground with more chain thrown over him to restrain him completely down. Dragonbond watched in horror as his dragon father was weakened from the long fight. Then what seemed to be the leader of the hunting party stepped forward to Scalefang with a large war axe held in his mouth. He then swung it into the ground so he could speak.
"Did I not say this would work? Attack the dragons when they have their young with them is the easiest way to take them down." He boasted. "Have you found the young dragon yet?" he asked his trackers.
"No sir, all we found were some sort of small hoof prints. No sign of a young dragon." They reported.
So, they didn't know Dragonbond was a pony that had a dragon for a father. They would not search for him if they continued to believe that there was no other dragon to search for. Dragonbond remained hidden even though every inch of his body was telling him to save his father. He just didn't know how he would do that.
"Well he seems to be just a weak dragon that can't hold himself in battle. No real fame in killing a dragon like this, but it's still enough to make my name famous." The lead horse said laughing. Scalefang glared at the boasting horse as he took his war axe and held it tight in his hooves. "You'll look so great on my wall." He said as he raised the axe up.
Dragonbond's will broke through controlling his body. As he saw the axe rise in the air, his instincts took hold and he jumped into action.
"Father!" a young voice cried out. The lead horse turned just in time to see a green Pegasus colt fly at him before it chomped down at the horse's throat with his sharp teeth. Stricken with shock, confusion, and fear, the horse fell back on the ground trying to get the attacking colt off his throat. As the other horses stared confused, shocked, and horrified at the scene, Scalefang took this chance to use every bit of strength he had left and pulled himself loose from the horses holding the chains. Now that he was freed, he unleashed his fire, tooth, talon, and clubbed tail to slaughter every horse that was in range. The rest of the horse hunting party panicked seeing that their forces were not enough anymore, and their leader was being mauled at the throat by some monstrous colt. They fled as fast as they could, but some weren't so lucky when Scalefang would swoop down over them chomping them in half and picking them off one at a time.
Dragonbond still bit hard on the horse's throat even as he struggled to get him off. Dragonbond was only acting now on his basic instincts to attack and never let go as he bit deeper and deeper. Finally, Dragonbond ended up pulling on the throat he had bit into for so long and hard that with one tug, he ripped a chunk of the horse's throat out. Dragonbond felt himself fall back, but still tasting the blood and flesh as he still had the chunk of horse flesh in his mouth. He looked up in horror as reality set into what he was doing. The horse got up and trying to cover the missing chunk of his throat as blood gushed out. He tried to scream but his mouth only gurgled with blood. The horse finally fell forward with the last moments of his life as he stared at the terrified colt. Dragonbond frozen at the horrifying image looking into the eyes of his own kind, knowing he took the life of this horse in such a brutal way, Dragonbond dropped the flesh from his mouth and tried desperately to wipe the blood from his face and tongue. Whimpering as his efforts were in vain as the blood was staining his fur and the sinking deeper into his taste buds. but this moment would be one that would be forever burned into his memory. He would always remember the feel of tearing flesh, the taste of blood from his own kind, the sound of death as he drowned in his own blood, and the look of the horse's face as his life slipped away. The worst thing about it was that he liked found the taste of his kind's flesh and blood tasty.
Dragonbond curled up with his eyes shut and his ears down covered by his hooves as he tried shutting the world out. He sobbed with his entire body shaking from the traumatizing experience of killing something else other than just a wild animal for food. He had killed another sentient being that had a life he was living and maybe his own family. Now Dragonbond had taken that all away from him. Scalefang returned to see his son in a state of fear and panic at what he had just done. Scalefang's heart was torn for the young colt. His innocence was now gone at such a young age.
"My son." Scalefang said in a low soft tone.
Dragonbond turned to look up at his dragon father with eyes full of tears. He quickly ran to him pressing his face against Scalefang's wrist crying into him. Scalefang gently wrapped his tail behind Dragonbond as a way to give a comforting hug to him despite his large size. "F-father… w-what happened? W-what did I d-do? Why d-did this happen?" he asked not knowing what to say about this. Killing a wild animal was different than killing something that had a conscience like him. Something that had a life and a purpose despite his intentions. Something that was the same race as he was. Dragonbond was still too young to fully understand the whole concept of killing another except for food. Even though Dragonbond had learned to behave like a dragon and face down wild creatures he was never prepared to face his own kind
"It wasn't your fault. They chose to live like this. This would have happened either way if they continued to hunt dragons like this." Scalefang said trying to comfort his son. There was nothing he could do to take back what his son had gone through, all he could do was help him through it.
Dragonbond looked up at his dragon father with eyes full of tears. "T-they were going to hurt you. I-I didn't kn-know what to do." He stuttered and still shaking. "I'm sorry father."
"Come my son. Let's continue on our journey." Scalefang said lifting Dragonbond on his favorite spot on Scalefang's head. Dragonbond continued to curl himself up sinking as far as he could in his spot between Scalefang's brows. Scalefang took off leaving the blood-stained battleground of corpses burned and mutilated left to rot and feed the ravens.
Soon they arrived at the brother clan made of mostly drakes than dragons. Wingless four-legged beast that traveled by foot. One of them was a close relative to Scalefang. His name was Basher. Every dragon knew of his name for his tales of doing a lot of bashing with anything he could use whether it was an object, an arm, a tail, or even his own head. As a hatchling, his tale was that he bashed into a large small rock and split it in two. Since then the name stuck with him and was well known for it.
Basher was in the middle of taking on any dragon that wished to challenge him. There were a few battered drakes to the side that had tried already. Basher was busy with his current opponent. To Basher, this was all for fun and the thrill of a fight as the other drakes were trying to do this for their honor. His opponent rushed to grapple Basher, but he only received Basher's head butt to his face knocking him back as Basher preformed a body slam with his own body to crush his opponent. Basher then got up victorious as his opponent was out of breath and bruised on his face and body. Basher was quite the skilled brawler after many years of using parts of his body for bashing, he almost became immune to every strike made at him.
Basher then spotted Scalefang flying in for a landing. It had been a long time since they had seen each other. Basher was glad to see him again and surprisingly looking in better spirits since all those years ago. What was strange was how he came in for a soft landing.
"Scalefang, you ol reptile! It's been a dragon's age since I last saw you laddie!" Basher said in a rather loud tone. He had a Celtic accent and it was just his own way of speaking loudly that was normal to him. He then noticed the small green ball over between Scalefang's brow. "Oi, what's this ball of fur?" he asked curiously. "Something you missed during a meal?' he joked.
Scalefang had more of a serious look. "This is my son, Dragonbond." Dragonbond peeked up from his curled position to look at Basher. His eyes were still a bit red from crying.
Basher was dumbfounded at the sight of the small Pegasus on Scalefang's head. "Aye Oi, what's this here and why would you adopt a wee snack for a son?" Basher said before having Scalefang's talons wrap around Basher's neck and slamming him into the ground.
"He is my son and his name is Dragonbond! You will show him respect! Draco has deemed him worthy to live among my clan and be raised as a dragon!" Scalefang growled viciously. Other drakes watched intimidated by Scalefang's fury.
"Aye. You could have said that in the first place laddie." Basher said quickly learning his lesson and trying to breathe. Scalefang then let go and grabbed Basher's arm to help him up. "So, the wee laddie is special, eh?" he asked rubbing his neck.
"Something I saw before I brought him to the clan. He has shown much progress over the years he has lived with me." Scalefang said.
"Why does the wee lad weep then?" Basher asked not knowing what could have happened.
"Dragon hunter horses east of here. He ripped the neck off of one of them to save me." Scalefang said both proudly of his son and with pity that it had to come to this at his age.
Basher now had sympathy for the young colt. No child of any specie should have to go through this. "Oh aye, I understand now. Poor wee lad. Did you give them good slaughter to them galoots?'
"Most of them. I didn't want to go too far after them leaving my son behind.' Scalefang said.
"Well where are year manners, ya big oaf? Aren't you going to introduce the wee lad to his new Uncle Basher?' Basher shouted excitedly loud. "It's an honor to be an uncle of a mighty powerful young dragon!" Scalefang sighed at Basher's behavior. He knew Basher meant well. He just tried to make Dragonbond feel that what he did wasn't all too bad and should be proud of saving his father even when he wasn't truly fit for battle yet.
Dragonbond looked nervously at Basher a bit startled at his loud attitude. "B-but it was scary." Dragonbond said still shaken up by the experience.
"Aye, it always is wee laddie. But you saved year father and that is all that is important you wee warrior." Basher encouraged Dragonbond. Dragonbond wiped his nose and sniffed before giving a small smile. "Ahh, That's the spirit Dragonbond! How about you let ol Uncle Basher show you what a real fight looks like and then I'll teach you some of meh own moves?' he said rather loudly.
Dragonbond didn't mind anymore as he was now excited as he jumped to his hooves wagging his tail. "Can I father, can I?" he asked eagerly.
Since this did lift his spirits, Scalefang thought it would be fine for now. Especially after that battle, Dragonbond may need to start his combat training early. "Show him everything you know." From saying that, Basher knew that he wanted him to show him everything there was to prepare him for the future.
"Aye, I will, and you know it!" Basher said as he lifted his tail up to Scalefang's snout for Dragonbond to cross over onto Basher's back. "Come wee laddie, onto battle!" Basher said as a war cry.
"Yeah!" Dragonbond said raising a hoof up as if charging into battle on Basher's back. Scalefang could only hope things would go well. Due to this turn of events, Scalefang would have to extend their stay there in the highlands. But it would be all for the best for Dragonbond's sake if this should happen again.
Another set of fights was prepared against Basher and any dragon that wished to challenge him. Dragonbond sat on the side hooves covering his mouth with excitement watching with wide eyes full of suspense. He had never seen drakes fight before. He knew it would be different from battles with dragons. The dragon race had wings to use in battle, but to see the race of drakes fighting was new and exciting for Dragonbond and wondered how they would fight without the aid of wings.
Basher and his opponent stood on different ends of the battlegrounds. The fight started after a dragon shot out fire in the air to begin the fight. Basher could have ended the fight with one hard bashing strike to the opponent, but he was trying to show Dragonbond how to fight like a drake. Through the rest of the day, Basher showed Dragonbond how he fought and certain tricks he could use to outwit or overpower his opponents. Dragonbond sat cheering, covering his mouth in excitement, or just watching mesmerized by the skill involved in fighting. He quickly learned that as dragons would use their wings a lot to gain an advantage in a battle, drakes would use their tails the same way to give them an advantage. Drakes were very skilled with grappling with their tails, using them to give them an extra spring boost to jump like a third leg to jump with, and helping them turn themselves over or different directions by using it to push or pull themselves in another direction or using them as an anchor the keep their ground, to help them make sharper turns, or stop faster from running into something.
When night came, Basher would then start teaching Dragonbond how to fight like a drake by first tying his wings to his body. He was surprised and glad to find out that Dragonbond had a long flesh tail unlike the race of ponies would have. Also, he found that Dragonbond had been exercising it to become strong enough to support his weight when pulling or pushing himself up. Now Dragonbond would be able to learn drake combat without too much trouble. Since Dragonbond could stay up longer, they kept going through the night and the next morning. Dragonbond was catching up quickly as he was a fast learner with everything he found most interesting. Dragonbond was now able to stay awake for two weeks over the past two years. Soon he would be able to go for almost a whole three weeks, but that would come when he grew out of his childlike body and grew into a teen.
Basher began to have Dragonbond spar with other young drakes. This would test what he learned and apply them to actual combat. Dragonbond had a harder time to adapt and apply his training without the use of his wings. He had been using his wings all his life. Even if he was just sparring right now, it was still hard to fight without using his wings as it became a second nature to use them in everything he did.
Every spar that began, Dragonbond would have been tossed or tackled and pinned down when he would stumble and fall forgetting his wings were tied down when he tried to use them. Face in the dirt, dangling by his hind legs, hung by his hooves like a hunted animal, or being sat on, Dragonbond had lost every spar in many ways. Still he wasn't about to give up. Dragonbond would chomp on a nearby rock in frustration. But after thirty tries, Dragonbond was getting the hang of using nothing but his tail and legs to fight. He still wasn't winning, but he was showing improvement. Dragonbond was also taking mental notes about how his opponents would win the spar. How they would take him down, grapple him into a restraint, or pin him. He also noted how they would always get out of every hold he tried to use on them. Soon after he would remember and use the same techniques to win his first spar. Sure, it may have taken a lot of losses to make a win, but that is something he was beginning to understand. Out of every loss is a lesson to learn to win another time. Dragonbond began to win more and more until he was beginning a winning streak.
When he had learned enough, he would then be placed against multiple drakes to spar against. Scalefang had been watching the whole time in every spar he had. He was satisfied to see his son improving fast as he kept training hard and stayed committed to his training every day. The months had passed and Dragonbond had become a very seasoned fighter in drake combat. From time devoted to every moment of training, he was able to take on three drakes at once. He even learned to use Basher's technique of head butting another drake to knock them out to make the spar easier. Dragonbond soon became one of the top young fighters in the drake clan. Some of the other young drakes were too intimidated to fight him anymore knowing he was going to win in the end.
Scalefang nodded approvingly at Basher for teaching his son more about combat. "Ha! I had no doubt in the wee laddie to become the second-best fighter in the clan. Of course, I will always be the top fighter." Basher gloated.
Scalefang just shook his head. "You never did learn humility after all these years I see."
"Ha! Why have need of it when I get to show off my meh strength." Basher said proudly.
"Well just you wait. When I grow up, I'm going to take that title from you." Dragonbond said in a challenging tone.
Basher laughed making Dragonbond cover his nose from his breath. "That will be the day, but I will proudly accept the challenge when the day comes." Basher said. Dragonbond flew up to Basher's head to do a head butt together. Basher had to lightly do on so not to give Dragonbond a concussion.
"Come my son, we need to return leave." Scalefang said to his son.
Dragonbond gave Basher a hug against his chest. "Thank you for everything Uncle Basher."
Basher was trying to keep his composure from the tender moment. He cleared his throat before speaking. "Awk, be off with you now wee laddie. You got much more to learn." He said giving Dragonbond a light pat on the back with his large hand.
Dragonbond then flew off with his dragon father waving back to the drake clan. They all roared as their way of saying their farewell.
"When we return home, we shall make ready for our next travel to meet another clan of dragons. There you will learn everything you need to know about our kind's form of combat." Scalefang told his son.
"Does this mean we get to travel the world?" Dragonbond asked excitedly. He was always one for adventure and travel, so this was a dream-come-true for him.
"In a way, yes. But we are only going to visit the clans only, we are to stay away from any other civilizations." Scalefang warned. "But we may stop in isolated areas to improve on your hunting skills."
Dragonbond was very excited now. He would learn to be a great warrior and a hunter at the same time. He couldn't wait for all this to begin after coming home.
Later, Dragonbond would learn dragon combat, then wyvern combat, wyrm combat, amphiptere combat, and finally, lindwrum combat. The six styles of combat from each of the dragon races would be taught to Dragonbond for the next several years. with his ability to stay up longer, he would be able to learn them quicker. He would only learn the basic moves of each set of combat and would have to practice them every day to get used to them for it to come as second nature to him. This also meant he would have to be traveling to many lands of the other four dragon races around the world. Dragonbond had a lot to learn, but Scalefang wanted him to learn everything he could and as fast as he could so he would be prepared in the future. After he would receive all his training, Scalefang would then ready him for warfare tactics and history of dragons. Then Dragonbond would be fully ready to properly defend himself.
Although for him to breathe fire, that would have to wait until the dragon trials.