Disclaimer: This story was written by a fan only for the enjoyment of other fans, without any monetary compensation. Gundam Wing and its characters are registered trademarks of Bandai Entertainment Inc.™ and Sotsu Agency. All rights reserved.
A big Thank You to KT who is taking time out of her busy schedule to help me proofread this story.
The Dragon King
Book 1- Of New Kings and New Friends
Chapter 7
Despite the bravado in his voice Wufei could not completely suppress the butterflies in his stomach. I am not afraid of the dark! I am not afraid of the dark! He kept repeating those words in his mind like a mantra as he slowly, hesitantly followed the king into the cave.
Once inside he realized that the place was even larger than it appeared from the outside, leading deep, deep into the mountain. But what amazed him even more than the size was the fact that it was not dark at all. The entire cave was cast in a soft bluish light. It seemed as though hundreds of small torches were lining the walls. But as the boy stepped closer he noticed that it was actually the walls themselves that were glowing. A gasp of awe broke from his lips. When he turned his head to face the king he saw that the older man was smiling.
"What do you think?"
"It's beautiful," Wufei breathed. "But how… Is it magic?"
Still smiling the tawny-haired man shook his head. "No magic, I assure you. The light is created by little worms living in the rocks."
"Worms?" the boy echoed in disbelief as he stepped closer to get a better look. The walls were covered in some kind of sparkling, clear crystal. And indeed, upon closer inspection Wufei could see countless little worm-like creatures wiggling their way through the rocks. Slowly, cautiously, he reached out to touched the wall, and let out another gasp of surprise when he discovered that the stone felt slightly warm beneath his fingertips. "How do they make light?"
"I'm not quite sure about the how," Treize admitted with a shrug. "But I can tell you why."
Wufei turned his head, his fingertips still ghosting over the illuminated walls. "Why?" he asked.
"If you look closely you will notice that not all of them are glowing. Those that are, are the males trying to attract potential mates. The females will choose those with the strongest light. During mating season in late summer this place lights up like a ballroom."
"Truly? I have never seen anything like it." Wufei turned to Zechs who, after taking care of the horses and unloading their provisions and sleeping rolls, had finally caught up with them. "Have you?"
"No, not until His Highness showed them to me the first time, about two years ago," the fair-haired knight replied. "I had heard of glow-worms before, but I had never actually seen them."
"Glow-worms? Is that what they are called?"
"That's right," the king confirmed. "There are only a very few places suitable for them to live. This cave is probably the only one in Galados large enough for humans to enter. But I've heard that there are several caves in the High Mountains of Lhankor and Beregoth that are much, much larger. In fact it is said that female dragons preferred glow-worm caves to build their nests in. The soft light and consistent warmth must have been perfect for their eggs and hatchlings.
"The worms are also creating heat?"
"No actually, the heat comes from a hot spring that is running through the mountain," Treize explained and his bodyguard added.
"Glow-worms can only thrive in a certain kind of crystal, which only grows in warm, moist caves."
"Oh, I see," Wufei nodded. "The glow-worms like the crystals and the dragons liked the warmth as well as the light. Too bad there aren't any dragons left in Galados."
Treize laughed. "Actually I think we should consider ourselves lucky. If this cave had been occupied already, our journey might have ended here. There isn't anything more ferocious than a mother dragon protecting her offspring. Well then, shall we set up camp a little deeper in the cave, where it is warmer?"
#
Wufei couldn't take his eyes off the sparkling walls as he followed the two Dragon Knights deeper and deeper into the mountain. At one point the path they were following split into two. Directing them to the right, the king led his fellow travelers into a smaller cave.
"This is it. A perfect place to spend the night, would you not agree?"
As he looked around in the chamber the boy realized that the sound of rushing water was stronger here than it had been at the entrance to the cave. "I can hear water."
"I told you there is a hot spring running through mountain, did I not?" Treize nodded. "It is breaking the surface right around the corner from here, forming a perfect pool. Would you like to take a bath while we set up camp?"
"A bath?"
The king gave another nod. "Let me show you."
Treize had not been exaggerating when he said that the spring was just around the corner. In the very back of the small cave was an opening in the rock wall, partially obstructed by a large stalactite hanging from the ceiling, but still wide enough for a grown man to squeeze by with little effort. Behind it lay yet another, even smaller chamber. In its center, a large rock pool filled with water reminded Wufei of the hot spring his mother had taken him to when he was little. Of course the spring near its village had been outside, not inside a cave like this. This was prettier though. The glow from the walls reflected on the water's surface and vice versa, bathing the cavern in a soft bluish light. The air was warm from the water's heat and thick with steam.
"Hop in," Treize encourage the boy. "But do not stay too long or you will feel lightheaded. I will go and help Zechs."
Wufei waited until the tawny-haired man was completely out of sight before he quickly started to strip. Cautiously he first dipped one toe into the spring then stepped in. The water was hot but not scalding, and once his body got used to it it felt perfect.
Leaning his head against the rocky rim of the pool the boy closed his yes. He wiggled his toes under water as him mind drifted off. …glowing worms that live in crystal walls, caves were dragons once came to lay eggs… his head was almost spinning from everything he had learned today. Nataku, I have so much to tell you next time I see you. For a brief moment Wufei wondered if she would like this place. He was inclined to call her,but didn't know if it was safe to perform a summoning inside this cave.
The boy wasn't sure how much time had passed when he heard footsteps. Slowly he cracked open his eyes to find Zechs standing a few steps away.
"Here catch!" The fair-haired Dragon Knight threw him a soft piece of cloth and Wufei nearly had to jump to catch it before it fell into the water.
"A towel? Even though you had no idea where we were going, right?" The hint of sarcasm in the boy's voice was hard to miss.
"If you are around his Highness for long enough you will learn to always expect the unexpected." Zechs replied without missing a beat. "Get out now, unless you want us to go ahead and eat without you."
"No!" Wufei protested. "I'm hungry too."
"Hurry up then."
"I would, but…" The boy could feel himself blush. "At least turn around."
Rolling his eyes Zechs complied and started to walk away. "I assume you will find the way back on your own."
#
The camp the two men had set up while he was bathing was really no more than a few makeshift beds, made up of sagebrush and blankets. There was no need to light a fire since it was warm enough without it, and the cave protected them from the elements.
Dinner was a simple, but satisfying meal consisting of smoked fish, cheese and bread. In the end Wufei felt like he couldn't eat another bite.
"Ready to turn in for the night?" Treize asked.
"Already? But I'm not tired yet. I don't think I'll be able to fall asleep."
"Oh? Well, how about a nighttime story then? Do you think that might help?"
"Yes, please. That will most definitely help." The boy nodded enthusiastically.
"Zechs," Treize gave his bodyguard a most charming smile. "Would you do us the honor? I'm sure there must have been some tales you loved to hear when you were a child."
"I think not." The look on Zechs face left no doubt about what he thought of the king's suggestion.
"Very well," the older man shrugged. "Then I'll tell a story. And I think I know one you might really like, Wufei."
"What is the name?" the boy wanted to know.
"It is called 'The Dragon Princess'."
"I do not think I know that one."
"Well then, settle down and I will tell you."
The king waited for Wufei to slip beneath his blankets before he started:
"A long, long time ago, during a time when dragons still roamed this world, in a small kingdom lived a beautiful, young princess named Alana. The kingdom was so small and so poor that even the king and the queen had to work for their daily bread. Alana, who loved all creatures big and small, helped out wherever she could, and grew up happily.
Then the kingdom was struck by a terrible disease. Many people became sick and died, and the healers seemed helpless to do anything about it. One day even the queen herself fell ill, and the king immediately summoned the best healers in the land. One of them suggested that perhaps a piece of water crystal, a mysterious rock that could only be found deep within the Forbidden Forest and that was rumored to have magical powers, might be the only thing that could save the queen. There was just one problem. The Forbidden Forest was home to dragons and many other dangerous creatures. Still, desperate to save his wife the king sent out several of his bravest and strongest men, but neither of them ever returned.
After watching her mother getting sicker and sicker Princess Alana decided to set out on her own. Of course the king tried to stop her but she had already made up her mind. With her loyal steed Alana traveled for days before reaching the Forbidden Forest. It was a dark and gloomy place and it took all of her courage to enter it. That night the princess got caught in a mighty thunderstorm. She managed to find shelter in a cave, where she and her horse spent the rest of the night. The next morning, when she was about to continue her journey Princess Alana came across a large fallen tree that had been struck by lightning during the storm the night before. Alana was startled when she realized that the tree had fallen onto a large, dark-scaled dragon, pinning it beneath its heavy trunk. She had heard many tales of dragons attacking and killing humans, so her first reaction was to reach for her sword and slay the dangerous creature…"
Gasping in shock Wufei's fists clenched his blanket. Treize smiled at him gently. "Don't worry, the princess was not only beautiful but also a very kind person. Shall I continue?"
"Yes, please."
"Like I said, Princess Alana was a very kindhearted person, and once she looked into the dragon's eyes she could not help but feel sorry for him. So she sheathed her sword and tried to think of what to do. Leaving the creature there to die seemed even crueler than to just kill it. The tree was large and heavy. She hitched her horse to it, and together they were able to move it just far enough for the dragon to free itself.
Alana was brave and kindhearted but she was not reckless. She was well aware that the creature could assault her at any moment, so she stayed on guard and kept her hand on her weapon. But instead of attacking the dragon suddenly spoke to her in a human voice. He thanked her for saving him and asked what she wanted as a reward. Surprised the princess told him that she wasn't looking for any kind of reward, but she needed a piece of water crystal, and if he knew where to find it she was hoping that he could show her the way. He replied that his kind had been protecting the water crystals since the beginning of time and he could not give them to just anyone. However, if she would consider marrying and living with him, he would be willing to make an exception.
Alana agreed without hesitation. As long as she was able to save her mother and the other people in her kingdom she didn't care what would happen to her.
The dragon told her to follow him. Deep in the forest they came to a large, clear lake. The dragon dove into the water and returned with a beautiful blue crystal. As he handed the stone to Princess Alana he reminded her of her promise and told her that he would come to fetch her within a year. She assured him that she would be waiting for him and left the forest happily…"
Wufei pulled his blanket tight around his shoulders as he stifled a yawn.
"Tired?" Treize asked. "Perhaps we should stop here for tonight and finish the story some other day."
The boy wanted to protest. He really wanted to know how the tale of the dragon princess ended, but his eyelids were already growing heavy. So he agreed.
"I'll go check on the horses," Zechs, who had been sitting quietly the whole time, suggested and the king nodded in silent acknowledgement.
When he returned the boy was fast asleep. There was no sign of his Highness but Zechs had a pretty good idea where he would find him. Sure enough, as he rounded the large stalactite that partially blocked the entrance to the hot spring, he could hear water splashing. Treize was sitting, submerged to his neck, in the warm pool, an expression of total contentment on his face.
"This is the real reason we came here, am I correct, Your Highness? Showing the boy the cave was only a convenient excuse."
"Look who is talking," the king smirked. "At least I try to take interest in his tutoring; where you on the other hand did not even want to tell the poor child a nighttime story."
Zechs huffed. "I will teach him how to ride his dragon when the time comes. I will even show him how to use his sword in battle. But I do not tell bedtime stories."
Treize threw his head back as he burst into deep, bubbling laughter. "Oh, Milliardo, I do love your prickliness."
Intentionally or unintentionally the older man called him once again by his birth name, but this time Zechs chose not to correct him. Instead he just let out another snort.
"So, are you just going to stand there or will you come in already? The spring is more than large enough for two people." Treize asked after a few moments.
With a quick glance over his shoulder to their campsite where Wufei was sleeping, Zechs replied: "What if the boy wakes?"
"I doubt that he will. It has been a very long and eventful day for him. He is probably exhausted." Treize responded. "And even if he does; he will only find two men sharing a bath. Nothing wrong with that, is there? Unless of course…." His lips curled into a sly smirk. "You had something else planned."
A faint hue of crimson stained the younger man's cheeks even as he glared daggers at the king. "With all due respect, You Highness, I do not like your sense of humor."
#
Zechs wasn't sure what woke him; perhaps one of his companions had stirred in their sleep. He was always been a light sleeper.
The fair-haired young man rolled onto his back. For a few long moments he stared at the glistering ceiling above him. With a little imagination one could almost convince himself that the glowing worms were actually stars that sparkled in the sky.
His mind wandered back to the remark Treize had made earlier. …unless of course you had something else planned… He always says things like that. I think he just likes to see me flustered.
Zechs was well aware that his Highness had an appetite for pretty young women… and men. He would have to be blind not to notice. Treize seemed to attract them like moths swarmed to the light. He could not say that he could blame them. There was just something about his Highness. Somehow he always managed to make anybody around him feel like the most important person in his life. Zechs knew it shouldn't bother him, but he could not help it. There was no denying that he liked Treize; the man was charming and attractive. But for that very reason he hated those flirtations. He knew that they weren't meant seriously and the last thing he wanted to become was just another name on the king's dance card.
Sighing inwardly the young man turned back onto his side. Only then he realized that Treize wasn't asleep either.
"Can't sleep?" the older man asked softly. "Another bad dream?"
Zechs shook his head. "No, that was not it." For some strange reason he never had nightmares when he slept outside.
"It is almost morning. Should we go outside and watch the sun rise?" Treize suggested.
"Hm…" Zechs grunted in agreement. "We should probably check on the horses anyway."
T.B.C.
Author's Note: In addition to writing I have been playing around with my legos lately. In fact I'm creating some MOCs (MyOwnCreations) based on Dragon King. It will probably take as long to complete as the story will take to write. For the moment I have about half of the Capital of Galados build along with several of the characters.
Unfortunately doesn't allow me to post links inside the story, but you can find a link in my bios page if you would like to check out my creations. Let me know what you think.