Aww, Raxtus such a good dragon.

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OO OO OO OO

Raxtus was a dragon.

It was kinda obvious, what with the scales and claws and wings.

He was a dragon, but he really wasn't.

There were lots of things that differentiated him from proper dragons.

He was small for one, and never seemed to grow larger nowadays. He was bright for another, but he held no breath weapon of light. He was a rainbow as well, scales shining a thousand shades. His breath weapon grew plants as well, not very dangerous. And he could turn invisible, how cowardly. He couldn't even take a proper human form.

But what stood out to him the most was the most basic part of being a dragon.

He didn't have a hoard.

He didn't even understand hoards. There was nothing he wanted to keep in his claws, nothing he wanted to guard behind impenetrable walls.

And yet hoarding was an undeniable part of a dragon. Even their sacred temples, which he defiled allowing Kendra to go free once, were hoards. They are the hoards offered to their Gods. They are the hoards to honor them, to honor the storms from which they came, the stars above that gave them their magic, the Earth below which holds their treasures.

He's seen his father's hoard, endless gems, endless books, endless weapons. In the center, surrounded by spells and traps and everything his father could make, stood the treasured remains of his own egg, of his siblings eggs, of his mothers horn.

Raxtus could understand those treasures, but he had nothing of equal value for himself.

Gems didn't hold his gaze, nor do books or weapons. Nor did any known things he could find.

He treasured flying free.

He treasured the stars above.

He treasured his family.

He did not treasure anything material, and he has no others to wish to guard.

He felt like a fake dragon.

Or at least he did.

He understood now.

He understood the urge to cradle something in your claws and never let it go.

He understood the terror of others holding that perfect treasure.

He understood the need to keep it with you, keep it safe, always and forever.

But his treasure was not a gem.

It was not a book or a weapon or egg shards or a gift.

His treasure was a living breathing being, with their own life and own goals.

So, he buried his urge to cradle his treasure deep, and ignored it.

He ignored it and let his treasure go. Let them go and defile their most sacred hoard.

He couldn't resist following them into the dark though, not when they were alone (alone and scared and oh no he needs to follow what if they're in danger).

He imagined his treasure thought he killed the threat, the other dragon trying to steal his treasure, because it had dared to threaten his father (it wasn't, he knew that the other was no threat to his father, none could match his father). He didn't kill the other for that.

He killed Navarog because he'd dared to try and take his Kendra.

She was his shining treasure and he wouldn't allow any to take her.

He guarded her through the night, purring at having his treasure in his claws.

He didn't want to let her go, not now not ever. But he had to.

She had her own life. She had her own goals.

She was not a treasure he could keep close and tight and never let go.

And so he let her go.

He let her return to her nest, let her return to her sires.

He let her leave his place of safety and watched until long after her light was gone.

He was anxious long after she was gone.

He could go to Fablehaven, he could check on her, he could-

But would his treasure want that?

His father noticed he was acting off, despite not spending much time with him.

His father always knew.

But he could hardly say for the first time he understood. He couldn't say he had a treasure to hoard. He couldn't tell his father he had let his treasure go.

His treasure was a human. His treasure was fragile, small, easy to break.

His treasure would die, one day soon even. Her life was so short compared to his.

He couldn't keep his treasure safe and it scared him.

It burned in him.

He wanted his treasure in his claws, wanted his wings wrapped around her.

He wanted his treasure safe.

His father kept him in his hoard for a week while he tried to figure out why he acted so.

(This was how he knew his father cared, for none of his siblings were ever kept in his fathers hoard. Raxtus was a treasure to him. Raxtus was something treasured to the extent he was kept next to the egg shards, next to his mothers horn. Raxtus was his precious child)

Raxtus left and couldn't resist checking on his treasure.

She shone so bright, so lovely. He wanted to guard his treasure from all things.

He watched silently from the boundary and said nothing.

He let his treasure learn and train (she was too young for that, she needed to be kept safe until she grew into her power, no dragon would train their hatchling at such an age). He let his treasure go off to gather a treasure of her own.

He distracted himself in her absence by visiting his father, who said nothing in the face of his agitation.

His father had a knowing look in his eyes, but he did not call Raxtus out.

He did not say anything when Raxtus left once more, only to find his treasure grieving.

Her nestmate was gone.

Raxtus wanted to sweep her away then and there, but the house would withstand his claws. He was not a strong enough dragon to steal his treasure back.

He realized his thoughts and fled once more, staying with his father again as he resisted the urge to sweep his treasure away, to take her somewhere safe.

He regrets staying away when a Fairy comes to him with a summons from the Fairy Queen.

His treasure is the Fairy Queen's handmaiden.

He reaches the shrine in record time. He passes through even faster.

At last he stands before his treasure once more.

Her light is blinding, brighter still than the unicorn beside her.

He did not like the way the unicorn looked at her.

That was his treasure.

His treasure is happy to see him, she hugs him, and he preens. His treasure needs him, she's happy to see him.

Of course she is, she's his treasure.

He did not enjoy taking his (human) Fairy form. He was weaker in the form, small and delicate. He could not guard his treasure in such a way. But it is fast, and he is once more a dragon, able to be a shield for her.

He reluctantly grabs the other two but takes extra care how he cradles his treasure in his claws.

He is delighted by her delight in his flight. What a treasure she was.

When the threat came he considered dropping the other two. With just his treasure he could flee in an instant. But the others do something of use, even if it's just falling for one.

He brings her to the place they needed to be and insists on checking the place first.

Just because he brought his treasure here did not mean he'd allow her to be in danger.

But it is empty, dead, and he is glad. His treasure would be safe a moment later.

He did not appreciate the reminder that he held no breath weapon.

But then they flew once more, and he impressed his treasure with his stamina.

He cradled her close, offered her his warmth. He kept her eyes on him, not the unicorn.

He learned his claws were sharper and his scales stronger than he'd ever known when they face the enemies.

He cut them down quickly, fangs flashing.

His treasure was mourning, failing to save the stupid eternal.

The eternal should've listened to his treasure instead of putting his selfish desires first. His treasure was just a hatchling, just a little star stretching her light out.

She couldn't fight such threats. She should've been tucked away to be safe.

The next threat was worse. She was in the battle, out and open and facing arrows and fangs.

He killed his enemies quickly, angered that his invisibility was stolen from him.

He was ready to go with her to the demon prison.

He knew it was inevitable. He knew there was no choice. His treasure, his star, she would not survive if the prison opened. It needed to be destroyed.

And then his treasure asked him to bring other dragons.

She asked him to leave her.

He wanted to rage. He wanted to roar and sweep her up and carry her away.

But he did not.

The instinct to keep her safe only grew with each day, he feared one day he may not resist.

But today he did.

Today he agreed to her request and promised to gain the aid of his father.

His father would never aid humans, but Raxtus thought he knew how to get the aid.

And so he returned to his father. He returned home and curled into his father's hoard. He looked up at his father and he told him.

He told him of his treasure. Of his shining star in human form. He told him how he wished to clutch her close. He wished to guard her fiercely, to never let her go.

His father curled around him and crooned. His father spoke of the days when dragons would sweep royals of great beauty away. Of dragons who found that a treasure unmatched.

Raxtus did not think his treasure was equal to that, and his father agreed.

His treasure was no royal, she was a star.

But he could not keep her.

(his father disagreed)

He had to let her go.

(his father did not see why)

She had her own life to live.

(she was his treasure she should be with him)

And so he asked his father to make sure she could live that life.

His father's tail swished, he mused over it while his wings draped over Raxtus in the same manner they did when he was young (so young, so small, could fit in his father's claws).

His father agreed to bring his guard. His father agreed to negotiate a deal, a deal with his treasures life.

Raxtus was relieved.

He was pleased when his father says he shall be joining them.

It is his treasure they do this for after all.

The deal is struck and the dragons rage over the demons.

The demons flee before them and Raxtus is pleased. His father is too, he can see the fang filled grin glittering.

Raxtus lands next to his treasure (and oh how she shone when she slayed the demon king, her light visible for miles) and he smiles.

Even his father had said she was a good treasure. He was pleased, his father's hoard was the best there was.

The other dragons eyed her, he knew they agreed with his father as well. But none dared to take what was Raxtus', none dared to anger Raxtus' father.

His father did not approach his treasure, content to watch over Raxtus as he met with his treasure once more.

His father did follow her though. His father aided him and his treasure and all of hers in clearing the preserves.

They saved her nestmates and Raxtus smiled.

Letting her go was harder that time. It was so much harder to release his treasure when she was so small, so bright, so easy to break, so easy to steal.

But he had to.

She had a life to live.

But he treasured the hug his treasure gave him, and he nuzzled her in turn.

His father said nothing of him leaving her, but he seemed displeased.

The other dragons watched her light long after it left their sight.

That night, in his hoard, his father told him tales of the Fairy Kind. The last long before the Unicorn Queen's time.

His father wove him the tale of a man who shone like the sun, who was coveted like the rarest of jewels.

His father told him of the last Fairy Kind, slaughtered by the Unicorn Queen herself when she took control.

His father told him of the wrath of the Dragon King of the time, who burned the many shrines that the Unicorn Queen built.

And his father warned him.

A Fairy King was a treasure unmatched.

They breathed life into the world. They brought light wherever they walked. They healed and strengthened.

They were a treasure very dear.

Raxtus would need to fight hard to guard his treasure, for the dragons had seen her.

And Dragons Hoarded.

And so Raxtus learned.

His father trained him as he never had before.

His treasure was always so happy to hear of his training as well.

He was glad she was in the small preserve now. In this preserve she was safe. In this preserve she could not be touched by other dragons.

One day his treasure (would be with him) would know he could defend her from anything.

It was all going well until the war.

His father told him, told him of the deal broken.

Raxtus would have fought beside his father regardless. He knew the state his brother's preserve was in. He knew the fear his brother lived in.

He did not expect the wizard (the traitor) to bring his treasure to stand against him.

His father told him when he returned.

His father told him of the star standing beside the night, shining all the brighter for it.

His father told him how he'd accepted them as caretakers.

"Why"

"Because they are yours"

Raxtus did not understand.

But he came to.

His treasure was risked callously. Her life in danger due to the wizards idiocy. He was proud of his treasure for standing firm even before his father. He was furious that his treasure viewed them as enemies.

He would have fought beside his father regardless. But now his treasure had been threatened by their enemy.

You didn't let those who threatened your treasures live.

Raxtus still visited his treasure, none could judge him for it.

Only three days later his father sprung his trap, inviting his treasure (and two others he cared not for) to the dinner where they would declare war.

And oh, his treasure shone there.

He was pleased that she preferred his flight over that of her mount. He was the only one who should be carrying his treasure.

He did not like the unicorn looking at her.

He grinned when she told the unicorn off and walked away.

It may have been in honor of the traitor, the enemy, the other unicorn, but she still did not allow his words to influence her.

He preened when they saw his fathers might.

He frowned when the potion master went behind them to retrieve parts of a dragon. The two none the wiser.

He watched as they left, and followed them personally (as his father decreed).

And when his treasure was forced off the road and scooped up, he followed.

His treasure deposited in front of his father, who informed her he would be taking caretakership.

His treasure stiff and afraid yet standing firm.

His treasure looking at him and asking if he would kill her.

His treasures confusion when his father said that he was going to return her to where she should be.

He did not understand the hurt in her eyes when Raxtus curled around her in his fathers hoard (the very center, where only the most precious of treasures went) for he did not have one prepared himself.

He did not understand why she asked to leave.

She was his treasure.

She was his star.

She was right where she was meant to be.

OO OO OO OO

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Come yell at me on my tumblr: FairyQueenOfTheDragons
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