Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

Hey everybody! So Nikolias' story has turned out a bit longer than anticipated. In fact, I was half way through when I realized I was approaching 10,000 words. So I decided that it was probably for the best to break it up. Hopefully, Chapter 13 will be the last part of Nikolias' past, but it depends on how it goes. Anyway, enjoy Part 1 of Nikolias' past! Thanks for reading!

Fairy Tail—The Master and the Dragon

Chapter 12

AGE 8

"You little punk! Get back here!"

Nikolias turned his head around as he ran and stuck out his tongue. "Yeah right, old man!"

"Someone stop him! Thief!"

Nikolias turned into an alley, the bread loaf that he stole clutched firmly in his hand, before diving into his secret crevice that he called home. He hid in the darkness and held his breath, waiting to hear the sounds of the food vendor pass him by.

"Damn it, where'd that little shit go?" he heard the man say as he ran down the alley.

Nikolias snickered. "Too easy." He bit into his dinner and savored the taste. It had been a day and a half since his last meal. "The guy may be slow but he's a good cook." He wolfed down the rest of the bread loaf, brushed off the crumbs that clung to his ratty clothes, peered out of his "house" to make sure no one would see him, and walked out into the alley, acting as casual as possible.

Nikolias had been an orphan since birth. His mother died giving birth to him and his father died a few months after due to disease. He was taken care of by the church in town until he was four, but due to sicknesses creating many orphans, he was forced to leave the care of the nuns to make room for the weak and young. He had been roaming the streets ever since, stealing food to stay alive and venturing a couple miles outside of town and past a mountain range to a river for water. Stealing food was difficult early on. He was easily seen and caught by the vendors before he could take a bite and he was beaten severely each time. With each attempt to steal, he learned new tricks and tactics to avoid being seen and escape with some food. At the age of six, he found a small hole in the side of a building in an alley where he could easily fit. After clearing out rotted pieces of wood and a few dead animals, he knew he had a place to live where he could be sheltered from the weather and a place where he could hide once he successfully stole some food. It was also at this age that he realized that he needed a new set of clothes as the set the nuns gave him was wearing away. It took a couple weeks, but he finally managed to "acquire" new clothes from a merchant while she was helping a customer.

"Okay, I've eaten now, so what to do next?" he asked himself as he wandered the streets of his hometown, Shile. He had no friends or family to visit. He had eaten, so he wouldn't have to steal any food for a while. He had learned early on that it was best not to be greedy and to only steal food when he was in need of sustenance. His two year old clothes were worn, but they still covered him and kept him warm enough, so there was no need to steal new ones yet. He shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I'll go to the river and get some water. Maybe I'll even get lucky this time and catch a fish to eat." He ran out of town and towards the river.

Although Nikolias lived in Shile, he often stayed out of the town. After all, he was rarely treated well. He received a lot of hate-filled stares and was even unjustly attacked by brutes on rare occasions. He didn't really care too much, though. He understood that their actions were brought on by his stealing. Also, for the most part, people did ignore him which he appreciated.

After roughly an hour and a half, he arrived at the river bank. He scanned the area before spotting a particular tree with a large hole in it and ran to it. He stuck his hand in the hole and pulled out a stick with a sharp stone tied to one end by a rope as well as a poorly constructed net. After obtaining the two items, he ran to the river and stared into the water, looking for a fish to swim by. This particular river didn't contain a lot of fish, but he would see some occasionally, although he never succeeded in catching one. After twenty minutes of no fish, he put down his gear, kneeled on the edge of the river, and stuck his head in the water, drinking up as much liquid as he could. He wiped his mouth dry and released a sigh of satisfaction before returning to his hunt for fish.

Hours went by before Nikolias threw his gear back in the tree and settled down by the river. He stared at the now starlit sky with his arms behind his head. "Well, no fish again, I guess," he said to himself. "Guess I'll just sleep here and make my way back tomorrow." He actually preferred the wilderness to his hole home. It was far more comfortable even if there was no roof or shelter from weather or low temperatures. He closed his eyes and was lulled to sleep by the sounds of the calm, flowing waters.

The warmth of the morning light stirred Nikolias from his slumber. He yawned and stretched before jumping to his feet and continuing to stretch the rest of his body. Once he felt loosened up, he began his trek back to Shile.

He ran through a possible plan for the day, deciding which vendor he would steal from today for food. This week, he had hit the bread maker, the butcher, and the pastry chef and he didn't like to hit the same people within the same couple of weeks for fear that they would have a plan to catch him once he showed his face. "I guess I could steal some fruit today. Maybe some apples, some grapes. Yeah, that should be good. After that, I could just walk around the town. Eh, it's not much, but it's something."

He approached the mountain pass that separated the river from the town of Shile and began to climb the rock face. He had climbed these mountains many times over the years, so despite the difficulty of the climb, he was a natural. To get back to town, Nikolias had to climb up a 70 degree incline before arriving at a path that cut through the mountain. Then, at the end of the path, Nikolias had to climb back down the mountain face at the same 70 degree angle to reach the grassy field that sat between Shile and the mountain.

Nikolias reached the path and took a short breather. No matter how many times he took that path, it still took a lot of energy. "Man that was exhausting. Alright, better keep moving. I can always rest at the end of the path." He straightened up, took one last deep breath, and began to walk the path.

About halfway down the path, a few small rocks started tumbling down the mountain side. He turned quickly at the sound, but saw no massive boulders heading his way. He released a massive sigh of relief and continued walking.

A few seconds later, the same thing happened. A few small rocks started to fall from the top of the mountain, causing Nikolias to turn quickly again. This time, Nikolias was starting to freak out. There was no reason for these rocks to be falling. "Hello? Is someone there?" he called out. He couldn't see anyone, though. His mind was running a mile a minute as panic filled his small body. There was only one thought he had. 'RUN!'

Nikolias bolted for the end of the path, his eyes wide with fear. The sound of small rocks falling down the mountain side was following him. He knew he was right; something was out there and he really didn't want to meet the creature that was living on the mountain peak.

'I can't die here. Not like this. I've been though too much to end up being some animal's meal,' he thought as he ran.

Suddenly, Nikolias was hit by an intense wind that pushed him backwards. He tried to hold his ground, but the gust was too strong. It forced him to the ground and sent him tumbling backwards into a boulder. He tried to open his eyes, but there was too much dust and pebbles flying through the air. He tried to wait it out calmly, but fear was taking over.

'What the hell is going on?' he thought.

After a while, the wind died down and Nikolias slowly opened his eyes—until he saw what was sitting in front of him, which made his eyes shoot open in surprise.

Sitting in front of Nikolias was a massive black dragon.

"A dragon…" he breathed as he stared at the majestic beast.

"Hello, young one," it spoke. Its voice was deep and Nikolias could feel the vibrations from its voice as it said each word.

"Y…You can t…talk?" he stammered.

It chuckled. "Of course I can. How else would I communicate?"

"Dragon talk?"

The dragon let out a deep and heartfelt laugh. "I suppose you are correct in saying that there is a dialect specific to dragons in which we can communicate with each other, but we dragons have picked up the language of humans over the years in order to convey our wishes, thoughts, and feelings, if ever the need arises."

Nikolias stared blankly at the dragon. "I have no idea what you just said to me."

The dragon brought its head closer to Nikolias. "I suppose you would not. You look no older than ten."

"I'm eight."

"I see," the dragon pulled away from Nikolias. "I have seen you pass through these mountains quite a few times over the years. Pray tell me your purpose for crossing through my domain?"

"Your domain?" Nikolias repeated.

"My kingdom. My home."

Nikolias gulped. "I'm sorry, I didn't know this was your homeland. The mountains are the quickest way to get from the river to my hometown."

"The nearest town is Shile, young one. That is a few miles from the river. Why travel so far for a resource that your town possesses?"

"Umm…" Nikolias was trying to understand what the dragon was saying to him, but he was using a lot of big words. "I go to the river to get water."

"Yes, but why? Surely the water in town is cleaner."

"Getting water is hard. I don't have a bucket or anything to carry it in."

"Why would possessing a bucket make acquiring water a simpler task?"

"Well then I could get some water, but I'd probably be caught before I could drink any and then I'd have to run and probably spill it all before I could get away. That's why I don't try."

"Young one, why do you speak as if you have nothing?"

"Because I have nothing except for the clothes I'm wearing and a small hole in the side of a building."

"For goodness sake, that is no way to live. Why have you chosen such a difficult life?"

"I didn't choose it," Nikolias said as he puffed out his cheeks. "I had no choice. There was no room for me in the church."

"The church?"

"Where I was raised until I was four."

"So am I to believe that you have no parents and have had to live on your own for four years?"

"Uh, yeah I guess that's right."

The dragon brought its head close to Nikolias again. "Then you are as brave as I predicted."

"Huh?"

"Like I said, I have watched you travel through my home over the years. The path you travel is most difficult, especially for one your size. That takes courage. In addition, you travel alone in what is well-known dragon territory."

"Like I said, I didn't know."

"Of course, I understand that. Tell me, had you known, would you have still travelled this path?"

Nikolias thought for a while. "Umm…I guess I would have. It is the quickest way to get to the river and it's not like I eat a lot so saving energy is kinda important."

The dragon hummed. "An intelligent one, too. You are more than I expected. Will you tell me your name?"

"Nikolias."

"A pleasure to meet you, Nikolias. I am Dagor, the Shadow Dragon and King of all dragons."

"You're the King?"

"Yes I am."

"Wow, is it hard?"

"At times."

"Are you strong?"

"Quite."

"Wow."

"Nikolias, I have one last question for you."

"Okay."

"If given the opportunity for a better life outside of Shile, your hometown, would you take it?"

Nikolias thought about his life; the struggle for necessities, his hole in the wall, the stares, the beatings, the loneliness. Then he imagined a life where none of that existed. A life where he could eat until he was full and drink plenty of clean and fresh water. A life where he lived in comfort. A life where no one hated him and no one beat him for trying to survive. A life where he wasn't alone. "I guess I would."

Dagor lifted his head and looked down at Nikolias. "Then would you like to come live with me?"

Nikolias just stared at Dagor. "Live with you?"

"Yes. I would raise you as my own. I would teach you, train you, and show you a better life. Would you accept?"

"Do people do that?"

"Currently, there are 25 young humans living with dragon parents."

"So there would be others like me?"

"Indeed."

Nikolias thought about it. Living with dragons sounded fun, but at the same time it sounded terrifying. If they got hungry, wouldn't they just eat him? However, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that this way, he wouldn't be alone. He would have a father again. He would have friends for the first time in his life. He had the chance for a good life and he was going to take it. "I will!"

"Excellent. Now, rise my child." Nikolias did as he was told. "From this day forth, you are Nikolias, son of Dagor and Prince of all dragons."


AGE 13

"Again!" Dagor demanded.

Nikolias nodded and once again, drew shadows into his mouth. "SHADOW DRAGON ROAR!" he bellowed before unleashing a massive vortex of shadows towards a huge tree. The tree trunk already had several markings on it from previous Roars. This Roar collided with the tree, causing it to groan and threaten to topple over.

"Stop!" Dagor called out and Nikolias obeyed, ceasing his Roar. Dagor flew from his position on the sidelines and landed next to the tree. He examined the damage and huffed. "Excellent control, Nikolias. Perfectly placed and the exact amount of power needed. You continue to improve significantly."

"Thanks Dad," Nikolias said with a smile.

Dagor returned his attention to Nikolias. "Alright, now show me your Fist attack. I want to see a perfect indentation exactly in the middle of the markings from your previous Roars."

Nikolias narrowed his eyes and nodded before charging the tree. "SHADOW DRAGON FIST!" Shadows enveloped Nikolias' clenched fists. He leapt at the tree, cocked back his right fist, and let out a battle cry before unleashing his attack at the tree. His fist collided with the tree trunk and sent out a blast of air from the impact. Nikolias leapt back from the tree to admire his work. "How was that?"

Dagor once again examined the tree. "Exactly in the middle and you certainly left quite the crater in this trunk."

"I try."

"Your improvement in your control of power is baffling. When we first started, you were far too focused on destroying everything. Now, you have realized how to hold back. I am most pleased."

"Well, it's been five years. I'm not a kid anymore."

"That you are not. Well I think you have worked hard enough for today. Come, let us return home."

"Sounds good. I do feel pretty beat." Nikolias leapt onto Dagor's back. "You know, you run me ragged sometimes, Dad."

"It is for your benefit. You are strong enough to train with this intensity and that is because I never once took it easy on you."

"I guess I'm grateful now, but back then, I was constantly pissed off. Then again, more often than not I was pissed at myself for not being able to do much."

Dagor spread his massive wings and took to the skies. "And now look at where you are. You have mastered multiple Shadow and Shadow Dragon techniques. You are truly deserving of the title of Prince."

"C'mon, you're making me blush. I'm not that deserving."

Dagor chuckled. "Your attempt at modesty amuses me."

"Whadya mean 'attempt'?"

Dagor laughed, making his whole body tremble.

"Hey Dad?"

"What is it, my boy?"

"How can a human ever be King of dragons?"

Dagor huffed. "It is complicated. I will eventually explain everything, though."

"Heh, you know I always hated the word 'eventually'. To me, it was always a fancy way to say 'never'."

"Perhaps when humans say it. However, a dragon never goes back on his word. I will tell you when the time is right."

"And when will that be?"

"Sooner than you think, son. Sooner than you think."

They flew the rest of the way in silence. Nikolias rested after yet another rigorous training session with his father and Dagor flew while deep in thought. Nikolias thought while he rested, too. He thought about how far he had come in the past five years. When Dagor first told him that he was going to train him, he became very confused. After all, how was a dragon going to teach a human how to fight? His question was quickly answered, though, when Dagor breathed a mist of shadow on him and instructed him to inhale. He begrudgingly did as he was told and was thankful that it didn't smell like dragon breath. He fully inhaled the shadows and from that day forth, he was able to use shadow techniques. Dagor told him it would take some time to master this newfound power, but he practiced whenever he could and quickly picked up the tricks and became very skilled. He smiled at the memories of the past years training with Dagor. He was thrilled with how supportive Dagor was and he also loved the constant praise that he got for improving.

Eventually, they came across their home in the mountains. Nikolias woke up, having smelled the air of his homeland. He had found that by inhaling those shadows, his senses increased dramatically. He could hear things from far away, he could detect the faintest smells and determine what they were, he could see things that stood a great distance from him, he could sense the presence of things before they came too close, and things even tasted better.

They flew over a field where Dagor could land and Nikolias could see countless dragons lying in the field napping with humans sparring and hanging about. All of the humans that lived among the dragons were Nikolias' age, so getting along with them wasn't too difficult, especially since all of the kids were orphans.

"We are home, Nikolias," Dagor said as he lowered himself to the ground.

"Yup, I can see that."

"Do not be brat."

"I would never."

Dagor chuckled, but said nothing.

Nikolias hopped down to the field before Dagor fully landed and stretched his muscles. "Man, I could go for a nap right now."

"It is only midday. Do not tell me you are tired."

"Nah, I just feel like being lazy."

"That is not an option. Go and speak with the others. I have business to take care of." With that Dagor flew back into the sky and towards the Grand Hall of Dragons where he ruled.

Nikolias watched him fly off and sighed. "Man, why can't I ever rest?"

"Yo, Nikolias!"

Nikolias turned to see a small group approach him.

"Grego, Alec, Chloe. How you guys doing?"

Alec was a tall, well built boy with very short, light brown hair and gray eyes. However, he was quite the punk at times and he was the kind of guy who was always looking for a fight whenever he could. He truly believed he was the best ever. He was orphaned at the age of six after his parents were killed in a car accident. At the age of nine, he was found and raised by Ignais the Fire Dragon.

Grego was a bit shorter than Nikolias, standing at 5 foot 11 inches. He had short and thick dark brown hair and brown eyes. He was a very kind and understanding person and was probably the smartest of the dragon children. He was orphaned at the age of three when his parents died in a fire. However, no one was able or willing to take him in and he surely would have died if he hadn't been found by Weisslo the Light Dragon.

Chloe was shorter than all three of the boys, standing at 5 foot 6 inches. She had shoulder length brown hair and blue eyes. She was very shy and kind and she was always sticking around Nikolias. Of course, he didn't mind. He thought she was pretty cute and it's not like she was clingy or unable to take care of herself. She was strong for her size even though she was more adept at healing than fighting. She was orphaned at the age of four when her parents decided they didn't want a child anymore. It was because of this that she had trust issues growing up. And it was because of Grandeeyus that she felt any sort of attachment again. When Grandeeyus found her, Chloe was close to death and she nursed her back to health. She became a mother to Chloe and that allowed her to open up again. She was always nervous around the others until the age of eight when Nikolias showed up. After that, she stuck close to him and started getting close to the others through him.

Alec gave him a thumbs up. "Doin' good! I'm getting closer to passing you, buddy."

Nikolias raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"He has gotten better," Grego said with a nod. "However, I don't think he's remotely close to you. I mean, you are being trained by the King."

"Shut it, Grego!" Alec shouted. "It's not about the dragon trainer, it's all about the trainee."

Grego laughed. "That statement hurts your case, Alec."

Alec thought it over. "How?"

"If it is actually the trainee and not the trainer and Nikolias is still ahead of you, then that means he's better than you."

Alec thought about his words and realized what he was saying. "Th…That's not what I meant!" he stammered. "I meant that I have more heart!"

"Then why not just say that?" Grego asked.

Nikolias laughed at the argument and turned to face Chloe. "And how are you doing, Chloe? Getting any stronger?"

Chloe blushed and looked down at the ground. "Y…Yes, I think I'm getting stronger. At least, Grandeeyus says I am."

"That's great!" Nikolias exclaimed with a big grin.

Alec stared at Chloe. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" Chloe asked.

"What do you mean 'what do I mean'? You aren't looking at Nikolias and you're blushing."

She blushed even more. "I…I am not blushing!"

"You're blushing even more!" Alec laughed.

"Alright Alec, leave her alone," Grego said calmly.

Nikolias sighed. Even though he was good friends with all of the people here, Alec, Grego, and Chloe were his best friends. However, sometimes Alec went a bit too far with his teasing and Nikolias could see that now was one of those times. Chloe definitely seemed uncomfortable and embarrassed. He wasn't sure why, but he knew it was because of Alec's big mouth. "Alright, alright. I don't have the energy to deal with you today, Alec, so just knock it off."

Alec turned his attention back to Nikolias and smirked. "Heh, make me."

"Oh come on, I just got back from Dagor's training. I seriously don't have the energy right now."

"That's coward talk."

Nikolias gave him a deadpanned look. "Fine, I'll make you."

"Good! Now I can show you up using the moves Ignais taught me!" Alec leapt back a few steps and allowed fire to swirl around his body. "Bring it on, Nikolias!"

"Oh for the love of God," Grego sighed as he smacked his forehead. "I swear, all Fire Dragons are so hot headed. Sorry about this, Nikolias."

"No need for apology," Nikolias said with a smile as intense shadows danced around his body. "I'll take him down with minimum energy."

"G…Good luck, Nikolias," Chloe said.

He shot her a big grin. "Thanks Chloe! I'll win this for sure, so no worries." He turned to face Alec, completely missing the blush on Chloe's face.

"Alright, begin!" Grego called out.

Alec was the first to charge. "FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!" Flames engulfed his fists as he made to attack Nikolias. As soon as he was in range, he fired his fist at high speed right at Nikolias' chest.

Nikolias waited until the last possible moment before ducking the fist and countering. "SHADOW DRAGON FIERCE KICK!" Shadows enveloped Nikolias' foot as he sent it right at Alec. Alec moved his arm and blocked the kick, but it still had enough force to send him into the air—and that was what Nikolias was looking for. As soon as Alec was airborne, Nikolias quickly planted his foot back on the ground and shot out multiple shadow tendrils from his arm right at Alec. "SHADOW WHIP!" The shadow tendrils wrapped themselves tightly around Alec, preventing him from using his arms. He pulled down on the Whip and sent Alec towards the ground with force.

"Damn it, no fair!" Alec cried as he collided with the hard ground. "Let me go and fight me like a man!"

"I did fight you like a man," Nikolias said with a smile. "And I won."

Chloe clapped her hands together. "Good job, Nikolias!"

He gave her a wink. "Told ya I'd win." He turned to Alec. "Do you yield?"

Alec groaned. "Fine, I yield this time. Next time you won't be so lucky, though."

Nikolias laughed as he released his Shadow Whip. "I guess we'll have to wait and see until next time."

"Nikolias!"

Nikolias turned to see his father's closest advisor, Sheek the Ice Dragon, and her child Kate walking over to him. "Hey Kate. Good afternoon, Sheek." Sheek bowed her head and Kate waved. "What can I do for you guys?"

"Your father wishes to see you," Sheek said.

"Really? He just saw me ten minutes ago. What could have happened in that small amount of time?"

"I am not aware of the details. All that I am aware of is that he told me to bring you to the Grand Hall of Dragons," Sheek explained.

"Well I guess I'll go then, even if I am really confused." He turned to wave at Alec, Grego, and Chloe. "See ya later guys!" He jumped onto Sheek's back and sat behind Kate. Sheek then spread her wings and took to the skies.

"Hi there, Nikolias," Kate said. Kate was Nikolias' age and height with shoulder length blonde hair and dark brown eyes. She was considered one of the more attractive of the dragon children. She was also by far the most energetic and fun loving of the children.

"Hello Kate."

"You look beat. Another tough training day?"

"Heh, aren't they always tough?"

"I guess, but you look more tired than usual."

"I had to fight Alec right after getting back. I really didn't want to, but someone has to shut him up on occasion."

Kate giggled. "I suppose you're right. He is pretty cocky."

"That he is."

The two continued to make small talk for the next five minutes until Sheek landed in front of the Grand Hall of Dragons. It was a magnificent structure built into the mountain side and was actually made from the mountain itself. It was extremely tall and wide so that dragons could move about with ease. If anything, it was a glorified cave, but it was still impressive when one considered that dragons used their fire, claws, and tails to build and shape it.

Nikolias hopped off of Sheek's back and gave a wave. "Thanks for the lift, Sheek. I'll see you both later."

Both nodded before Sheek took to the air again and flew off.

Nikolias waved goodbye before turning around and heading inside. He walked through the massive, torch-lit halls before arriving at the Main Room where his father ruled. He threw open the massive wooden doors and walked inside. Sunlight poured in from a massive hole in the ceiling, illuminating the entire room.

Dagor sat on his hind haunches at the back of the room and smiled. "Good to see you, my boy. Thank you for coming so quickly."

"Your welcome, but seriously Dad, you just saw me. What could have possibly happened?"

Dagor huffed. "I had some time to think on our way home and more time to think on my way here. I believe you are ready."

"Ready? For what?"

"Hop onto my back and I will show you."

Nikolias shrugged and did as he was told. "So where we going?"

"Out onto the training field."

"Oh come on, not more training," he groaned.

"No, not training. A place to discuss things."

Nikolias felt really confused now. "Oooookaaaaaaay."

Dagor spread his wings and leapt through the hole in the ceiling. Once clear, he started flapping his wings and flying off to the training field.

The entire way there, Nikolias tried to figure out what this could be about. 'If this is political or something, why couldn't we just do it in his chambers? If this isn't training, then why are we going to the training field? Gah, what the hell could this be?'

Dagor landed on the training field several minutes later and Nikolias hopped off, stretched, and faced his father. "Alright Dad, what's this about?"

Dagor lowered his head. "This is about two things, my boy. I will discuss the most important one first."

"Shoot."

"I have already given you the power of Shadow years ago and your mastery of the techniques has been most impressive."

"Thank you."

"Also, I feel quite close to you, as if you truly were my son."

Nikolias raised an eyebrow. He didn't see how the two related. "Umm…well I feel close to you, too. I mean, you're the first father figure I've had—or at least remember. We're family, right?"

"Yes, my son, we are family. That is why I believe that you are deserving of and prepared for the true power of a dragon."

"Huh?"

"You asked me how a human could be King of dragons. I am about to answer that."

"Awesome!"

"You see, when a dragon and human form a close, unbreakable bond of friendship and that bond hits its peak, the dragon may choose to perform a ritual with the human. This ritual is called Dragon Spirit and it is the ultimate bond between man and beast."

"Dragon Spirit? What is that?"

"A dragon and human give pieces of their essence to the other."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, it is a high honor."

"So what exactly happens to me and you if we give pieces of our souls away to the other?"

"For dragons, we obtain higher emotions. We are able to feel more than just pride, anger, and joy. For humans, however, they obtain the power of dragons."

"Part of me feels like that's not an even trade."

Dagor laughed. "We dragons feel it is. After all, we are the ones who decide to make this bond."

"Well if you're sure. So what is this true power of the dragon and how would it help a human be king?"

"The power you obtain will be my power. You would be able to use the same techniques that I can use and, with time, you may find new techniques that you can use."

"Okay that's pretty kick ass, but how will this help me, a human, be King?"

Dagor grinned. "With this ritual, you will have the ability to completely or partially transform into a dragon at will."

Nikolias froze at this comment. He didn't know what to say. "I…I would become a dragon?"

"Yes, my son, and that is how you would rule."

"Are there others who go through this ritual?"

"In time, all of your friends will go through this ritual. However, at their current levels, they would not be able to survive the ritual."

"What do you mean?"

"Although their bonds with their parent dragons are at their peak, their control of their power is not where it needs to be. They will most likely reach the needed level within the next couple of years. Currently, our bond is at its peak and your ability is extremely high."

"So…I'm taking it this ritual is gonna hurt?"

"It will."

"Fantastic. Well, anything worth doing has risks." Nikolias pumped his fist. "Let's do it, Dad!"

"Excellent!" Dagor pulled his head back. "Then when you are ready, close your eyes and imagine yourself fusing with incredible power."

Nikolias nodded and closed his eyes. He forced himself to think about what it would be like to have Dagor's power. He saw himself flying through the air. He saw himself blasting away enemies with ease. He saw himself standing proudly as Dagor's successor.

And then the pain came.

It was like nothing Nikolias had ever felt before. Searing pain ripped through every organ, every muscle, every tissue, every nerve, every cell. He felt like he was being torn apart by wild and hungry beasts. The pain was unbearable and yet he couldn't scream. He couldn't even move. He had no choice but to stand where he was and endure. Minutes turned into hours, hours into days, days into months, and months into years. The pain remained.

'It won't end! This won't end! Holy crap, I feel like I'm disappearing into nothingness!'

And then, it was over.

Nikolias' eyes shot open and he gasped for breath as he fell to the ground. Sweat clung to his body. He coughed as he tried to take in as much oxygen as he could.

"How do you feel, Nikolias?"

Nikolias slowly looked up at Dagor. "Fantastic," he rasped. "How long was that ritual?"

"A few seconds."

'A few seconds? No way. That was actually a lifetime.'

"You are surprised?"

"Well yeah. That pain felt like it would never end."

"But now it is over and you survived. You are now a Half-Dragon."

He continued to pant. "Awesome."

"Can you stand?"

Nikolias fought against his screaming muscles, but managed to stand on his feet.

"Excellent. Tomorrow, after you have rested, I will train you in your transformations."

"More training? Will it be just as tough?"

"On the contrary. If anything, training will be easier for you. It will feel natural and it will feel like you have been doing it your whole life, like breathing and walking."

"Okay, that's pretty helpful." He wiped away the sweat the clung to his brow. "By the way, what was the other thing?"

"Hmm? Ah yes, the other matter." Dagor lowered his head again. "If you are to rule, you should decide on a few things."

"Like?"

"Your Advisor, your General, your Diplomat, and your Queen. That's a good start."

"My queen?"

"Yes, you will choose someone to rule by your side."

"So I have to get married?"

Dagor released a massive laugh. "Heavens no! Unless you desire to wed, marriage is not necessary when choosing someone to rule with."

"That makes no sense to me. Kings and Queens are married, aren't they?"

"In human culture, yes. However, with dragons, we don't force marriage."

"Why not?"

"Dragons mate for life once they find the one that they wish to be with for the rest of their life. We know we have found that someone when we find ourselves attracted to their scent. Unless we find that someone, we don't wed."

"Huh. Well that's interesting."

"Nikolias, if you wish to wed you may."

"Well, I'm only 13, so I'll think about it. However, I won't be ruling any time soon, so there's no need to worry about marriage now. When should I decide on who should fill those four roles you mentioned?"

"As soon as possible."

"So now?"

"That would be preferred."

Nikolias thought. "Let's see. Advisor's should be wise, so I choose Grego for that role. He's the smartest guy I know."

"Ah, Weisslo of the Light's son. A wise choice."

"For my General, I would choose Alec for that one. He's overconfident now, but I believe in his ability and I think when the time comes, he'll have the mind for military tactics."

"Ignais of the Fire's son. Another intelligent decision."

"For my Diplomat, I should choose someone who sees both war and peace as possibilities so that the proper negotiations can take place. I guess I would choose Kate for that one."

"Sheek of the Ice's daughter. I see the logic in that decision as well. Now what about a Queen?"

"That's easy. I pick Chloe."

"Grandeeyus of the Wind's daughter? That is an interesting choice that I certainly did not see coming. Do you have your reasons?'

Nikolias blushed. "Of course I do. Don't worry, I thought everything through."

"Well I must say that you are thinking like a King already. I am most impressed."

"Thanks Dad."

"You should inform your choices of the roles expected of them."

"So you want me to tell them all that I've drafted them?"

"I would not use those words when telling them, but yes."

Nikolias scratched his cheek and blushed. "So I have to tell Chloe that I'd like her to be my Queen?"

"Yes. How else will she know? Give her time to prepare."

"Fine, I'll do it. Is that all you wanted to discuss."

"Yes. We will head back and you can explain things to your friends."

"Alright." Nikolias made to leap onto Dagor's back, but overshot it by a mile. "Whoa! What they hell?"

Dagor laughed. "I suppose I forgot to mention that your overall strength has increased. Certain actions require less force. Keep that in mind."

"Thanks for the warning," Nikolias grumbled. He made a small leap and landed easily on Dagor's back.

"Good. You adjusted quickly."

"I guess my brain got a boost too, huh?"

"It is possible." Dagor lifted himself into the air and flew off towards home.

Nikolias spent the time looking at his hand. He still couldn't believe that he was this Half-Dragon. He couldn't wait to see what he looked like and how much stronger he really was.

When they were almost home, Dagor spoke. "Nikolias, a word of warning. Do not spar with your friends until they, too, go through the Dragon Spirit. You may accidentally kill them."

"Noted. Thanks for telling me that part. I'd never forgive myself if I seriously injured any of them."

"It is good to know how much you care about your companions."

"I love 'em all."

Dagor landed in the field where the dragons and humans still were. Nikolias made a small leap down and landed gracefully on his feet. 'I gotta say, so far this Half-Dragon stuff is pretty nifty.'

"Nikolias, I will see you later," Dagor said as he took to the skies.

"Yeah see you, Dad." He waved goodbye and headed over to his friends. "Hey Grego, Alec, Chloe. Miss me?"

Alec grumbled his hello while Grego and Chloe smiled.

"Of course. It's been a whole twenty minutes," Grego said.

"That's a long time to some," Nikolias said with a laugh. "By the way, have you guys seen Kate?"

"Yeah, she's over there with Sheek." Grego pointed to where Kate was talking with her mother. "Why?"

"I'll explain in a minute. HEY KATE!" Nikolias called out to her. She turned and waved and Nikolias motioned for her to join him. She nodded and skipped over.

"What's going on, Nikolias?" Chloe asked.

"In a minute," he replied.

"Hey guys! Nikolias, did you need to speak with me?"

"Yeah, I actually need to speak with all of you, so do you mind following me to a place that's more private?"

They all looked at each other but nodded, curiosity driving them forward. They followed Nikolias away from the group and into a small forest.

"Alright, what's this about?" Alec stated.

Nikolias turned to face his four friends. "Alright, this may be weird, but Dagor has told me to start making decisions about who will serve certain roles when I eventually take over for him."

"Really? So soon?" Grego asked.

"Apparently. You four were the first ones I thought of for the roles he told me to decide upon."

"Wow, really? That's so nice!" Kate said excitedly. "So what am I?"

Nikolias smiled at her. "Kate, if you accept it, I would like you to be my Diplomat."

Her face lit up. "Oh, that's so cool! I think I'd rock that job!"

"I thought so, too. So you'll accept?"

"Absolutely!"

"Thanks, Kate." He then turned to Alec. "Alec, if you accept it, I would like you to be my General."

Alec stared at him in shock. "Seriously? You want me to lead the armies?"

Nikolias nodded. "I think you're perfect for the job."

Alec smirked. "Hell yeah I am! I'll do it!"

"Thanks, Alec." He then turned to Grego. "Grego, you are the smartest guy I know. If you accept it, I would like you to be my Head Advisor."

"I'm honored, Nikolias. I will gladly accept that job."

"Hey, that's the job my mom does," Kate said. "You'll rock that job for sure, Grego!"

Grego nodded his thanks.

"Thanks, Grego. Now if you all don't mind I'd…" He paused as blush lightly painted his cheeks. "…I'd like to talk with Chloe alone, please."

Everyone nodded and walked away leaving a heavily blushing Chloe behind.

"Wh…What is it, Nikolias?"

Nikolias took a big breath and then took her hands in his, making her blush even more. "Chloe, of you accept it, I would like you to rule by my side as my Queen."

As soon as those words left his mouth, she fainted.

"Chloe! Crap, Chloe, are you alright?" he called out to her. He lowered her gently to the ground, shaking her lightly in an attempt to bring her back to consciousness. "I didn't mean to upset you. Please, wake up!"

Chloe's eyes began to flutter open. "N…Nikolias?"

"Oh thank God, you're awake. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Umm…Nikolias?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you want me to be your Queen?"

"Well, you're one of my best friends for starters."

"You're good friends with the other girls, too. Why me?"

"Because…you're always by my side and I've always thought you were cute and—"

He was interrupted by Chloe pulling down his head and meeting his lips with hers for a kiss. It only lasted a couple of seconds, but it was enough to make both of their faces red.

Finally, Chloe spoke up. "I'd be honored to be your Queen." There were tears in her eyes and a huge smile on her face.

Still blushing, Nikolias smiled at her. "Thank you, Chloe. You have no idea how happy you've made me."