I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
Story 21 (A): Dragons and more.
A large creature traverse the skies of the underworld. This large creature was no other than the Welsh Dragon. While the dragon continued to fly, two girls were sitting on his head. These girls were Le Fay and Tosca, who were enjoying the trip.
"What do you think we'll learn once we get there?" Tosca asked as she turned to her friend.
"I have many questions, but I want to understand why my body changes in so many ways. I'm your "father's" bride, but there's a lot I don't know." Le Fay admitted.
"That's understandable; Mom and the old man's explanations are too simple and lack many details. Nonetheless, who would have thought that the first child of Tannin is the expert in regards to much of the knowledge relating to dragons."
"... I'm sorry. I'm not a sage regarding all the details about dragons and their mates. I'm still new to this." The dragon said.
"Is alright, dummy. I don't expect you to have an answer to everything." Le Fay smiles while she pats the head of the dragon.
"Don't let him get off so easily, Le Fay. This whole situation is thanks to him. Make him take responsibility at all times. You already had mom; there was no need to make Le Fay into your bride. She's too young." Tosca argues. The young daughter of Welsh didn't seem to support that her father had a second wife that was the age.
"..." The Welsh Dragon sights.
Le Fay turns to her friend after hearing her husband's reaction to his daughter's words. Le Fay and Tosca had become good friends over the months. She had voiced her dislike towards the fact that her father had made Le Fay into his bride. The young Pendragon still remembered the heated discussion between father and child a few months ago.
"Why not just help her and not ask for a reward? You took care of the problem based on what everyone said."
"Tosca, I didn't want to deal with the island curse. Heck, she wasn't supposed to be there to begin with. That curse was not my business, but if I didn't do anything, Le Fay would have gotten killed. I took her as a bride because she offered herself to me. She was raised as a sacrificial pawn, and I wouldn't allow it to go on."
"You're just a greedy and lustful idiot dragon! Saving her? You just wanted to have her as your bride."
"And you're a child that knows nothing."
The discussion ended with the father and daughter not speaking to each other for several days. It was still a delicate issue between them, and it could have been worst if her father had more official brides besides Le Fay and Tiamat. Tosca was still not used to the fact that her father was likely to gain more brides as time passed. She was a young dragon that didn't understand all the ins and outs of being a dragon.
"Tosca, come on. Your father is the best husband I could ever hope to have. Yes, the circumstances behind my marriage with him are not the best, but he has been very good to me. Maybe after speaking to Primus Tannin, we'll understand dragons more." Le Fay said with a charming smile.
"We'll see about that," Tosca said as she turned her sight towards the mountain area straight ahead them.
"We're are almost there. Just a bit more." The Welsh Dragon said before he started to descend.
Numerous plants of different types covered the mountains, but a specific kind of tree stood out amongst all the flora. Their bright yellow leaves and incredible height made them stand out from the rest. In some of their branches, one could notice small pink apples with a small crimson dragon symbol.
"Are those dragon trees?" Le Fay asked.
"Yes. Those are the precious trees that Tannin's family grows. Long ago, a group of gods from different pantheons tried to create dragons to match us, members of the first generation. So while Gaia slept, they sent those dragons after us. That moment in history is known as the first dragon crisis."
"Why didn't you talk about it before?" Tosca asks.
"It was a mess. We killed many of those dragons. It left a disgusting taste in our mouths. They had only one purpose: fight and die for their creators' sake. Just imagine that situation, all the blood, and carnage. It was far from enjoyable. After the fight, we forced the survivors into submission and found the lab in which they were created. Tannin, Midg, Tiamat, Albion, Yu-Long, Fafnir, Crom, Vritra, and I united our forces before going after the creators of those dragons. After reaching their lab, the creators cowered in fear. They even forced newborn dragons to fight us and called them failures. We killed most of those bastards and freed the remaining dragons. They lacked a leader after the remaining creators ran away, so Tannin took responsibility for them. He has been their leader since then."
The two girls looked surprised and amazed after hearing the story. Neither of them expected such a story, but curiosity arose within them.
"Wow, was that the last time you ever fought together with Tiamat and the rest?" Le Fay began.
"What about the gods that got away?" Tosca followed.
"Leave the questions for later. Primus will likely answer many of them. He has been alive for a long time and has been recording almost all information regarding dragons."
Some minutes afterward.
The trio was walking through the marble tunnels within the mountain while being led by a tiny pink dragon. Columns and arcs supported each of the tunnels; some even had murals depicting the dragons' past.
They encountered many dragons and their descendants along the way. There were also many members of other races, which included humans, elves, and yokais, just to name a few of them.
The place was peaceful and gave an atmosphere of unity that few places could match.
Yet one little problem was starting to form.
Behind the trio, a large group was starting to form. Each of its members had their eyes focused on the Welsh Dragon. Their faces showed curiosity and concern for some reason unknown to our trio.
"Excuse us, Ms. Guide," Tosca said as she called the dragon.
The dragon turned around. Its tiny wings continued to move, thus keeping it in the air. "Yes, just call me Susu. Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, who are they?" Tosca pointed her finger at the group behind them.
"Oh, they are many of the children of Great-grandpa Tannin. Just say hi to them." Susu replies in a cheerful tone.
The trio looks at the group and turns back to Susu. "They are creeping us out. Did the old man do something to them? They looked like a mob that's ready to kill their target." Tosca asks.
"None of that; they are just concerned about a certain sister of theirs. Rumors have started to spread around about Yukime and the Welsh Dragon." Susu says.
"Damn my stupid luck." The Welsh Dragon turns to face the group. "Any rumors you might have heard about me are fake. I haven't touched a single hair in Yukime's hair." Issei says.
The group shakes their heads in disagreement. A tall man that resembles Tannin with purple horns and crimson eyes walks forward.
"My name is Balthasar Tannin, the second born of Tannin. My siblings and I have many questions for you. We ask for your collaboration. That is all." Balthasar replies.
The other members of his group nod and keep their eyes focused on him.
The Welsh Dragon feels the determination behind those eyes. The dragon scratches his head as he thinks about what to do. "What should we do, Ddraig?"
"Choosing the peaceful option is the only viable one. We're in Tannin's home, and I doubt they will attack us."
The two heads of the Welsh dragon decided what path to take. Issei takes a deep breath before he speaks.
"If you let me get these two to Primus, I'll follow you afterward. Just wait until then."
The group talks amongst themselves for a few seconds before showing their thumbs up.
"Are you sure about this? You haven't done anything to Yukime." Le Fay says as she approaches him.
"Is alright. Let's go to Primus, and I'll take care of this problem afterward."
A few minutes afterward.
The trio followed Susu until they finally got to Primus's office.
"Dr. Primus Tannin, Historian, Doctor, and Specialist on Dragons, Elves, and other races. Didn't you say that he was an expert only on Dragons?" Tosca asked as she turned to her father after reading the sign next to the door.
"Great Uncle Primus has expanded his knowledge far beyond dragons. As our group grew from just dragons, we also needed to evolve. We have vampires, a few fallen angels, and even Jaguar people. Primus was the one that saw the importance of knowing more about other races beyond just ourselves." Susu says before approaching the door and smacking it with her tail a few times. "Great Uncle Primus, your visitors are here!"
Her voice turns louder than before as she calls Primus out.
Suddenly the door swings open, and an angry nurse comes out. She had black feathered wings, pale green short hair, caramel skin, and gold eyes. "Susu! How often do we tell you to keep your voice down?" The fallen angel says with a heated tone. Her hands grab the neck of the small dragon.
"Sorry! Head nurse Sahaqiel." Susu's eyes start to tear up.
Sahaqiel turns to the trio. "You three get in."
The trio looks at each other before they go in.
The nurse then turns to the group that is waiting for the Welsh Dragon. "If you have no appointment, stay outside or face my fists."
The group backs away a few steps but doesn't dissolve.
Sahaqiel then turns to Susu. "This is the last time I tell you this, Susu. Next time you'll sleep with the fish. Understood?"
"Yes!" Susu replies.
Sahaqiel releases her and closes the door after she goes back in, leaving Susu on the floor, barely alive. The pink dragon takes a long while before she can get up.
Sahaqiel POV.
The nurse turns to the trio. "Welcome to our clinic/hospital. Follow me, and don't touch anything."
The trio nods and starts to follow after her. They walk through several hallways filled with patient rooms and labs.
"Excuse us, but could you answer a few of our questions?" Le Fay asks.
"Sure, go ahead." Sahaqiel's tone softens compared to before.
"You're a fallen angel; why are you here and not in Grigory?" Le Fay asks.
"I was never part of Grigory. When I fell from heaven, I did so to join Primus. The boy was a fascinating individual, and he captured my attention. He was only 12 when we met, but he was already a bright individual, one with no equal at the time." Sahaqiel replies as her face twists into a smile. "That boy was too captivating to be left alone."
"12 years old? He was a kid!" Tosca says.
Sahaqiel chuckles. "Dragons age differently. They are not humans, so stop seeing it that way. Most dragons back then were practically adults by the age of 5. They used to grow faster due to the dangers that surrounded them. It has changed since, and now most of the children of dragons take far longer to grow up. So when I met Primus, he was fully grown, and his human form was close to that of a human in their early 20s. Different races, different things."
Tosca and Le Fay look at each other before they turn to Issei. The Welsh Dragon nods in agreement.
"Am I an adult then?" Tosca asks.
"No, you're still a kid. Those were different times; your mother and I will consider you an adult when we feel that you're ready or when you turn 18. Whatever happens first." Ddraig takes over. "Nice to see you after so long, Ms. Sahaqiel."
"Nice to hear your voice, Mr. I'm the strongest dragon, and nobody can defeat me," Sahaqiel replies.
Ddraig feels a dagger in his heart as his past comes to bite him back. "Issei, take over; I need a few minutes. That hurts much deeper than I imagined."
"Got it," Issei replies.
"Any more questions?" Sahaqiel asks.
"Do all male dragons have harems?" Tosca stops walking and focuses her eyes on the fallen angel.
Sahaqiel turns around and faces her. "That's a complicated answer. Over the years, I have seen many dragons and learned about their methods of choosing mates. Female dragons will always select one mate, a male capable of putting his life at risk for her and their children. They don't care about physical appearance or even the strength of the male; it is all about their determination, guts, and ability to provide for the family. After they have found that male, they will stay together for life, there are no divorces in dragon relationships. A female dragon will likely prevent other females from getting closer to their mate in most cases."
"But what about mom and the old man?" Tosca points her finger at he father.
"That's where the case gets a bit complicated. Male dragons attract females; "Male Dragon Syndrome" is real. At any point in a male dragon's life, females can get attracted to him, and if that dragon forms a strong connection with the female, he's bound to keep her with him. Male dragons are genetically and anatomically predisposed to reproduce with all the female that he forms a connection with. But this is not always true, as some male dragons will choose to have no mates or just one. Yu-Long is the most significant example of a male dragon with just one female. Based on our information, Yu-Long has never had another mate since meeting Jing, Queen of Jade. They are still growing strong and have had a least 12 children since they got together."
"Jing? Who is she?" Le Fay asks.
"If I remember well, Jing was a human princess who escaped her father by jumping into the misty jade valley that Yu-Long calls home. The valley is one of the few areas in the human world that has not changed since the creation of Gaia's planet, which means that the animals inside are beasts capable of quickly destroying human armies. Before capturing the dragon's attention, Jing went into this valley and barely survived its dangers for months until Yu-Long rescued her. These days, she only comes outs once a year alongside her children to get a check-up with us." Sahaqiel admits.
"Could I ask what her age is?" Le Fay asks in a curious tone.
"Well, she was born on April 2, 2065 BC. You can do the math with that." Sahaqiel watches as Le Fay falls to her knees. Sahaqiel approaches the girl before anyone can move and pats her shoulder. "Yes, the mates of dragons become ageless. After a dragon and its chosen mate exchange blood, a particular process begins. We called it "The Dragon's mate transformation." This process varies in speed and is not the same for each mate, depending on their race. A dragon's genetic material is too complex for other races to accept, so all mates undergo this process which prepares them for reproduction. I know that is a lot of information. Are you afraid?"
Le Fay shakes her head. "Is just incredible. That means that she is the oldest human alive. That also means I will outlive my father and brother."
"Yes. Get up; we can continue our conversation in Primus's office." Sahaqiel helps her to get up.
Le Fay turns to Issei and approaches him before grabbing his hand. "I'm going to need you for all of this. It might be too much for me."
"I will," Issei replies as he strengthens his hold.
Tosca watches them in silence, slowly taking all of this information and starting to think about her own future.
A few moments afterward.
Sahaqiel opens the door for them, and the trio gets invited into a large room filled with books, jars filled with the flesh of unknown creatures, and much more.
At the end of the room, there's a desk where a single figure sits. This figure was holding several documents in his hands, which he put to the side after seeing them come in.
A black coat covered his body, with dual-colored hair; some strands were pink, while others were primarily black. A pair of oversized glasses covered his draconic magenta eyes. He possessed a skin tone similar to that of his father. He lacked a bear, and his appearance screamed that he was still in his early 20s when he was far older.
"I was waiting for all of you. Welcome to my office." The male cheerfully said as he stood up. "My name is Primus Tannin, and it is my pleasure to be your doctor today."
Primus approaches the group. "Thank you, honey, for bringing them to me."
"One, that's my job. Two, don't call me honey while we're at work, or I'll crush your-"
"Alright, Nurse Sahaqiel, you don't need to finish that sentence." Primus was quickly scared off by his bride's words. Primus then turns to the Welsh Dragon. "Is nice to see you again in the flesh, although much different than back then." He stents his hand.
The Welsh dragon shakes it. "Nice to see you again, Primus, or should I say nice to meet you for the first time? Since this is a different body, and I have two souls."
"Either one is fine. Can you present these young ladies to me?"
The Welsh Dragon releases his hand. "This young girl is my second bride, Le Fay Pendragon."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Primus." Le Fay says as she bows to him.
"No need for such formal actions, child. Just call me Primus or Doctor if that's what you want."
"Doctor then." Le Fay says.
The Welsh Dragon smiles before moving to the next person. "This young girl is my firstborn, Tosca Welsh."
Primus turns to Tosca and looks at her from head to toe. "Is nice to meet you, young Tosca; I have been hoping to see you since my father told me about you. You're a pretty unique case, just like your dad. Both possess human bodies that were transformed into the bodies of dragons."
"I appreciate your help, doctor. We have many questions, and hopefully, you can answer them." Tosca says.
"Come and take a seat." The doctor snaps his finger, and three chairs appear close to his desk.
The group moves and takes their seats except for Sahaqiel, who stands up next to her mate.
"Well, go ahead and ask your questions," Primus says.
Le Fay raises her hand. "Can you explain the dragon's mate transformation with all the details? I want to understand what is going to happen to my body."
"Ok, is an excellent place to start. The genetic material of different races can make it almost impossible for certain races to reproduce. In the case of dragons, the chances of reproduction are zero if a dragon were to have sexual intercourse with anyone, even other dragons. When my mother and father tried to have kids many centuries ago, they were unsuccessful. The genetic material of the Blazing Meteor Dragon was far too complex for a manufactured dragon such as my mother to accept. They try many times but fail each time until Great Red offers them some advice. The tale goes as follows: Tannin reaches the realm of the True Dragon and asks him for advice. The True Dragon said, "Tannin, exchange your blood with her, and she will become your mate. Only a mate will give birth to your kin. Let the other know this knowledge as well." So with this knowledge, Tannin returned to his home and exchanged this knowledge with most of his fellow dragons."
"So Great Red knew about this before everyone else?" Tosca asks.
"Great Red is a bag of mysteries; to this day, he likely holds many more. I have theorized that he's behind my father's creation and the rest, but he has refused to answer my questions. Gaia hasn't been that helpful, either. So the mystery continues." Primus admits.
"What about the genetic material between the first generation? Are they siblings or relatives?" Le Fay continues.
"No, the first generation holds no similarities between each other. I have tested my father's blood, Tiamat, Midg, Yu-Long, Vrirtra, Fafnir, and Ddraig. None shared similarities, thus why I believe that if Tiamat and any other first-generation member were to reproduce without exchanging blood, they wouldn't be able to reproduce with each other. I have to test Tiamat and Ddraig's blood again to see how they have changed after becoming mates. This condition also applies to the descendants of other dragons. Unless we exchange blood, we cannot reproduce. It has to be a willing exchange. If one were to steal and drink a dragon's blood forcefully, no effects would occur. It is a ritual that secures the dragon's blood from being misused."
"How do you know this?" Tosca questions his knowledge.
"Lots of research and few distasteful events have backed my theories. One of my descendants was captured by a group of distasteful fellows. They tried to get his seed and make an army with his children but couldn't achieve their goal. You cannot force a dragon or its descendants to breed. Yet you can try to clone a dragon."
"The second dragon crisis. I'm trying to forget about that." Ddraig takes over.
"What's the second dragon crisis, old man?" Tosca asks.
"Primus, go ahead. I prefer not to be the one to talk about it." The Welsh Dragon says as he closes his eyes.
"Got it. Excuse Ddraig; the second dragon crisis is one of the worst events the first generation faced. Long ago, before humans were created, one member of the first generation was captured and controlled by an evil god. He got used as a lab guinea pig, and his flesh and blood were used to create a group of dragons that we know today as the evil dragons. The name of that dragon is Crom Cruach, the black sheep of the first generation. The remaining members of the first generation dislike him because after they rescued him alongside Lugh, the Celtic god sun, Crom didn't want to take responsibility for the dragons that got created from his flesh."
The two girls turn to the Welsh Dragon and watch as he closes his hands in anger.
"Dragons such as Apophis, Grendel, and Ladon ran wild in several realms. They became significant enemies of many gods. They even inherit the primary ability of Crom. Even if their bodies get destroyed in battle, they can return to life after seven days, thus making them semi-immortal beings." Primus says.
"He should have taken responsibility at the beginning. They are his children, and yet he let them run wild. We haven't forgiven him for that. Those children didn't listen to any of us, and instead of doing something to stop them, Crom ran away to who knows where. What kind of parent is that?" Ddraig says while holding his anger back.
The two girls could notice the anger in his eyes.
Tosca turns to Primus. "Where are those dragons now? Where is Crom?"
Sahaqiel joins in. "Last time we saw Crom Cruach was two years ago when he tried to seduce a family member. We saw Grendel alongside him, which means they are acting together, but we know nothing more than that. So we asked the alliance's other members for information, but nobody knew where Crom was or any of his children. Is a mystery."
"One thing we could do is use the Dragon's gate, which is a spell that forcefully summons a dragon, but my father has argued that it shouldn't be used unless it was an emergency. I think that he is still angry and wants nothing to do with Crom. It doesn't help that Crom tried to seduce one of my sisters." Primus says.
The atmosphere feels tense after the last conversation.
Le Fay decides to change the theme. "Doctor, could you tell me more about the changes my body will experience as a bride of a dragon?"
Primus smirks. "Aren't you a curious bride? Well, my dear, you should know that you can't reproduce with anyone else anymore. So if you planned to start a new family with anyone else, you're out of luck. The same applies to dragoness grooms. There are no divorces."
"Huh? So Le Fay can't get away from the old man?" Tosca joins in.
"Not possible. Le Fay's fate got sealed as soon as your father and she exchanged blood. Her body is likely going through those changes right now. Higher internal temperature compared to other races, physical rejection with other males, an increased desire to be close to her mate, all of those are signs of your body changing. So, around your 17 or 18th birthday, your body will stop aging. You will notice a higher libido around him as well. You may end up pregnant during your first night together. You might not be able to control your desires that night." Primus explains.
"Pregnancy will also be a much longer process than a human—pregnancies for brides and dragonesses last a minimum of 1 year. You will become far more aggressive during this period, and you'll likely only allow those closest to you to get close. Think of it as a defensive mechanism. In the case of young Tosca, after you become pregnant from your future mate, around the 6th month, you won't be able to transform into your human form. You'll be in your dragon form for the remainder of the pregnancy, so be mindful of that." Sahaqiel joins.
Both girls blushed after hearing this information, but Le Fay had one more question in mind.
"Am I human anymore?" Le Fay asks.
"Physically, you do like any other human, but internally you're not. Brides and grooms of dragons are practically a different race. Due to the many changes a bride/groom goes through, they stop being members of their previous races. It is a decision that ends your previous life; when you exchanged blood with him, you hit the point of no return." Primus says.
"Are you scared? Or are you sad about it?" Sahaqiel asks the girl.
Le Fay remains silent for a few moments. She turns to her mate and smiles. "Thank you for making me into your mate. It will be sad to see father and Arthur pass away from old age, but as long as I have you and our family, I will be alright. Eternity doesn't seem that bad when I have others alongside me."
The girl's smile is sincere.
Tosca looks at her and takes a few moments to come to terms with the new status quo. "Old man."
"Yes?" The Welsh Dragon turns to his daughter.
"She is not the last bride, right?"
"... I don't know. You already know that Kuroka likes me, and Yukime teases me. Others will approach me, and I can't say whom I will form a connection with. I can only promise you this; I'm not Fafnir. I'm not following my lustful desires. If I get a bride, I will make her happy. She will be another member of my family. Another member that I'll protect and worry about until the end of time."
Father and daughter look at each other.
"We're not humans anymore. Don't make me regret accepting this. You need to love each one as much as mom, or I'll kick you several times in the balls." Tosca says with a serious face.
"My balls?"
"Yes, your balls, even dragons, feel pain down there." Tosca turns to Sahaqiel.
The fallen angel looks at her and wickedly smiles. "They do, child. They scream in joy as you hit them a few times."
Primus was sweating bullets as his bride continued to speak.
"Tosca, that will never happen. I'm a dragon of my word."
"We'll see about that, old man." Tosca then turns to Le Fay. "I approve of you, but if he messes up, he'll regret it."
"I don't think he's going to mess up. Anyways, doctor, can we talk about your knowledge of other races?" Le Fay asks as her curiosity increases.
"Sure," Primus says.
The Welsh Dragon looks at the two girls before he stands up. "I'm leaving these two with you for now. I have to deal with your siblings. I'll be back as soon as possible."
"Oh, they are doing that thing. Well, I wish you luck but before you go, let Sahaquiel take a few blood and flesh samples from you. I hope to test you and see if you and Tiamat have been affected since becoming mates. Usually, female dragons become infertile with other males while males are unaffected. So I just want to confirm it." Primus says.
"Understandable, Sahaqiel. I'll follow you. Le Fay, Tosca, wait for me in here. Don't go anywhere."
"Got it." The two girls replied.
Sahaqiel and the Welsh Dragon exited the room.
"So, what do you want to know?" Primus asked.
"Devils, why do they have such a low birth rate?" Le Fay asks.
"That's mostly due to their genetic similarities. All devils are descendants of Lilith and Lucifer, but only one devil is born naturally. Rizevin Livan Lucifer is the only child that was naturally born from the union of Lilith and Lucifer. Everyone else is a product of what Lucifer made Lilith into. Lucifer took her and twisted her into a womb of devils; her purpose became giving birth and nothing more. It is one of the most atrocious actions a god has ever taken."
"A womb of devils. I can't imagine what that could be." Tosca says.
"I never saw it with my own eyes, but Sahaqiel did, and she claims that is the most horrible thing she ever saw. Lilith was no longer herself after being transformed into that and gave birth to legions of devils daily. Because of that, the genetic material of devils is so broken. There are maybe one or two differences in the genes between two different devils. Two devils will have a harder time breeding as their genetic material rejects each other. But a devil and anyone else will have an easier time reproducing. I have suggested to them many times that the only way for devils to increase their numbers is to continue embracing other races. Blood purity won't help them at all." Primus says as she pulls out some documents.
"This is the census of births in the last fifteen years. Pure-blood couples had an average of 2 births in five years. Reincarnated devils had an average of 5 births with pure devils and 10 with members of other races. Pure devils had an average of 6 with members of other races. If devils want to survive, they must ignore their blood purity ideals."
"I see. What about humans? Aren't all descendants of Adam and Eve?" Le Fay asks.
"No, exactly; Adam, Eve, and Lilith were primordial humans, there's a bit of them in each human, but Eve didn't give birth to all of humanity. The original plan of the Bible God was to have Adam and Lilith as the leaders of humanity, but Lilith rebelled and escaped, thus why Eve was created to replace her. Besides them, the Bible God and Gaia created at least one million humans, the birth parents of the rest of humanity. These humans are the ones that reproduce all over the world and lead to the humans we know today. Adam and Eve only had two sons, Abel and Cain. You already know the story. Humans won't have birth problems unless they mess it up somehow. Even then, Gaia is likely to interfere and do something to fix the problem."
"So Isaiah won't have problems." The young dragoness was deep in thought as she remembered her friend's current status.
The visit continued for at least one more hour, during which both girls learned more about dragons and other races.
Story 21 (B): The Bride of a Dragon.
London, United Kingdom.
A city that barely sees a clear sky and the home to millions of humans. The capital of one of the strongest human nations around the human world, this city was the place in which our story continues.
Within the streets of this city, a pair of young lads continued to walk as they approached the Palace of Westminster. One of these two was a young girl with golden hair covered by a crimson hood covering most of her attire. Under the hood, a short red dress with rose patterns and matching boots adorned her body. The boy next to her had a full suit that matched her attire, and each wore matching golden rings.
"Le Fay," Issei called out to her.
"Yes?" The girl turns to him.
"Don't be afraid of any of them. I won't allow them to touch or take you away from me. I make sure of that." His tone was severe.
"I know. I trust you." The girl continues to hold his right hand as they continue to approach the building.
The streets were practically empty as the government moved its forces to keep any civilians from interfering with today's event. Instead, the pair could feel the eyes of thousands of guards watching their every move from different locations.
As they got closer to the main entrance, the tension increased. When they finally reached the main entrance, the pair found a fully armored guard waiting alongside two other people.
One was an older gentleman dressed up in a black suit. His silky brown hair almost shone due to the amount of hair product used. He hid his eyes behind a pair of dark glasses. Next to the gentleman was a good-looking young lady. The lady appeared to be the man's secretary due to her attire.
A particular scent reached the nose of the dragon. "You have no shame." The dragon told himself as they approached them.
"My god, look at you. You're such a cute girl." The man said as he focused his sight on Le Fay.
Le fay felt a shiver running down her back as soon as the man's eyes focus on her. "This feeling, is this what the doctor meant about rejecting the advances of other males?" Le Fay ignores the words of the man and doesn't reply.
This action incites the man to take a much more forceful approach. "Hey, Ms. Pendragon, you shouldn't ignore the compliments of others." So the man took a step closer to Le Fay.
The Welsh Dragon's anger quickly met his action. His neck got almost pierced by the sharp trident-shaped tail of the dragon. A few centimeters is all that separates the man from moving on to the next life.
"Try something else against my bride, and I'll make sure that you never see the light of the sun ever again." The Welsh Dragon says as he bares his fangs at the distasteful man.
The man gulps and takes a few steps back.
"Excuse Mr. Hartford's actions, Mr. Welsh. He was trying to be friendly with Ms. Pendragon." The knight says while keeping his distance.
"He should keep his compliments to himself and stop trying to get close to my bride with that disgusting scent. Have you no shame? Did you come here while smelling like that?" The dragon questions the man.
"How dare you claim that I smell bad? I use the best perfumes and colognes. I bathed with the most expensive of soaps and shampoos." Hartford says as he takes offense to the words of the dragon.
"If you and that girl want to ignore your scents, go ahead but keep your distance from Le Fay. Shameless bastard. Knight, let's move on with this. I want to get this over with as soon as possible." The Welsh Dragon says as he ignores the words of the man and his secretary.
"Very well. Come this way." The knight says as he leads the way.
Le Fay continues to hold his hand and follows her groom while the other two adults compose themselves and follow after them. The tail of the Welsh Dragon didn't disappear and stayed active as it prevented anyone from getting close to his bride.
The group followed the knight through the building. The dragon and his bride showed no interest in the building or the items found inside. Instead, they found guards and knights everywhere, each one armed to the teeth. Evidently, the Welsh Dragon wasn't welcome, and the British government was willing to start a conflict if necessary.
Call it pride or a death wish, but the British seemed brave enough to face the consequences.
"... Issei, will you do it?" Le Fay asked her groom.
"Only if necessary. I won't pull the trigger unless they do it first." The dragon tried to calm the girl down, but he wasn't doing well.
Le Fay had prepared herself for the possible conclusion of this event. The British government showed no fear and prided itself in being able to face any army. They didn't understand the reality of facing a dragon with human weapons. They didn't understand the uselessness of explosives, missiles, and bullets. They ignored the speed of a beast such as her groom. They had forgotten the legends that surrounded the fall of Atlantis.
"Please, don't destroy the whole nation."
"I'll try."
The small conversation between them alerted those around them to the ticking time bomb they had within their hands.
It didn't take long for them to reach the meeting place.
The knight opens the doors for them into an oval room. Two chairs were placed in the center of the room while the members of the British government filled in the remaining seats around the room. Then, on a balcony on the second floor, a golden throne was placed for a particular member to sit on.
"Mr. Welsh, Ms. Pendragon, take a seat in the center. Mr. Hartford and Ms. Firby come this way." The knight said.
Le Fay and her groom made their way to their seats.
The young girl felt the eyes of the lords and ladies on her, their eyes exuding disgust, greed, and many more distasteful emotions.
To them, she was a pawn, an object they could sacrifice like it always had been done. They saw profit in a marriage. They saw it as a business where they could create connections and form alliances.
But they weren't gaining any of that with the Welsh Dragon. The dragon wasn't one to bend the knee to them, nor was it human, although it took the appearance of one. It was an enemy they needed to defeat in some way to regain control over their merchandise.
They continue to voice their complaints and plans with the lowest voices, hoping neither the dragon nor the child listens to them.
Yet they didn't know how sharp the ears of dragons are or how effective a magician's spells can be.
Both Le Fay and Issei were listening to their conversations.
"Mr. Hartford agrees to place his factories within our territories."
"Just think about how much money that will bring."
"We can't let that dragon get away with his actions."
"The witch and her family will always be our pawns."
"We must get that girl and marry her off to Hartford."
"He likes her, wants a bride to show up to others."
"A Pendragon bride for profit."
"As it always had been."
The Welsh Dragon's killing instinct increased by the second as the conversations about his bride drove him mad. The only thing keeping him under control was said bride, who continued to hold his hand.
Minutes go by until the last person finally arrives, surrounded by a group of knights dressed in the fanciest of dresses; the lady takes her seat. Her face was covered by a dark veil that didn't let anyone see her face. She lifts the golden scepter in her right hand and knocks on the floor a few times.
"Silence on the floor." The lady says.
Everyone goes silent.
Le Fay and her groom focus their eyes on the figure.
"Her Majesty." Le Fay says.
"The head bitch." The dragon looks unamused by her presence.
"Welsh Dragon, we offer thanks for your actions regarding the cursed island. We understand that such actions deserve some sort of reward, and we are willing to offer any amount you ask for." The queen says.
The dragon looks unamused. "Don't try your false words with me. I do not need any money you can offer me. I have already taken my reward and do not need anything else."
"Piece of shit."
"How dare he rejects our offering."
"It was to be expected of a bastard like him; Uther was right."
The comments were extensive, as every lord and lady had something to say, but the queen quickly shut them down with her scepter. "Silence!" The queen says before she composes herself. "Welsh Dragon, that girl wasn't meant for you to take as a bride. She's not a reward."
"Nor is she a pawn for you to sell off." The queen gets shut down by his words. "I know what you plan to do with Le Fay and Arthur. To you, to your families, the Pendragons are nothing but pawns. You can't talk to me about doing all this for her sake or thinking about her future. You don't care about the Pendragons; you don't see them as human. None of you do, so don't try to brainwash me into trusting any of your fake "righteous" claims. If I'm a bastard for taking her as a bride, all of you are worse than me for doing this for years. How many girls and boys have you sold off as merchandise to your so-called "allies"? How many lives have you stolen away from this family? You think you can claim the high ground in this situation?"
The dragon stands up alongside his bride and bares his fangs at each human present. "If you have the guts to take her away from me, I won't back down, and I will kill anyone that tries to take her away."
The humans' present watch as the dragon's body gets covered by armor and his wings spread out.
"Who wants to die first?"
The lords and ladies back away while the guards and knights step up. They lift their spears and surround the duo. They are scared shitless, yet their allegiance to the crown seems much stronger than common sense.
Before anyone could make a move, a voice broke up.
"Hey, let's all calm down. There's no need for violence." Mr. Hartford says as he stands up from his seat. He slowly approaches the center of the room. "Mr. Welsh, there's no need for violence. Look here, why would a dragon such as yourself want a human as a bride? She's a child and has nothing that can benefit you."
"I don't look to gain benefits from my brides."
Mr. Hartford stops. "Then what can you offer to her? You're a beast with no place in the world."
The Welsh dragon snaps her finger. A large golden sword appears before the dragon. "This is pure Asgardian gold. Its price runs higher than any mineral on earth. One of these swords can pay for the needs of up to 9 generations of any human family. I got many others like this. I can provide for her needs if that's your point. I'm the enforcer of the alliance; I'm an ally of fallen angels, angels, and devils. The Japanese government acknowledges my existence and has agreed not to interfere with me. If I wanted, I could take her right now to Japan, and no matter what you do, you can never force her out. Any mercenaries you try to send after her will be eliminated by hands. I already talk to Golden Dawn, and she can continue her studies in magic there. What is the point you're trying to make?"
Mr. Hartford sweats profusely. "She's a human. She should be alongside humans."
"Alongside you, the guy that reeks of sex. You came here after having intercourse with that secretary of yours and didn't even take a shower. You claim that YOU can make Le Fay happy?" The Welsh Dragon's words embarrassed the guy and his secretary.
"Preposterous, I-"
"Idiot, my scent is far stronger than that of any animal. I have been enduring your disgusting scent through this whole farce. Not only you, I know who was snorting coke in the bathroom before coming here, who was drinking a glass of whisky, and even who was eating a ham and jelly sandwich before coming here. Call me a liar, but their reactions will prove my words."
Around the room, several gasps are heard, and the secretary of Mr. Hartford is seen hiding behind a chair.
"You can argue that she is human, but she has stopped being one since she became my mate. But none of that matters; if someone here gets to decide what's best for Le Fay Pendragon is only her." The dragon turns around and faces his bride. He gets on a knee and lowers his head. "My bride, here we are in front of the ones that have used your family as pawns. I promised to make you happy and love you, but I want you to tell everyone, including me, what you want. What are your desires? Your dreams? What is the future that you hope to reach? Let us hear your voice."
Le Fay is put under the spotlight as everyone turns their eyes toward her. The girl looks around and sees the many faces of the people that treated her family as sacrificial pawns. She takes a deep breath. "... I just wanted a life. I wanted to go to school and enjoy having friends. I wanted all of you to stop calling me a witch. I wanted all of you to stop telling me how I would get sold off soon. I don't know what I want to do in the future, but I might like music. I also want my powers to be accepted and not seen as a curse. I'm not Morgan Le Fay; I have no business with her actions. I don't deserve any of your hate. I'm just Le Fay Pendragon, and I only know this. The only one of those present who cares about me is my groom."
Le Fay smiles and turns to the queen. "You're a whore, a greedy one at that. I hope that you get what you deserve." She looks at the other people present. "That all of you get exactly what you deserve."
The dragon smiles and stands up. He grabs the golden sword and throws it at the queen. The sword gets stuck in the wall next to the queen. "Take that sword as payment for everything you gave her throughout the years. If that's not enough, let me know, and I'll give you as many as you want, greedy assholes. If you still want to fight it out, send your armies, and I'm willing to face all of them. I'll make sure to erase your armies from the face of the planet. I will come into your castle and burn every royal family member into ashes. Pull the trigger, and you'll face the consequences."
The queen is silent and doesn't move an inch. The guards and knights backed away even without receiving orders.
The dragon looks around and sees that nobody has the guts to make a move. "Very well. This event is the last time we have to discuss this. Le Fay will stay with her father and brother until the two years are up, and if you try anything against her, I'll consider it a declaration of war. Don't even try to get our kids either."
"Leave, you beast." The queen says.
The Welsh Dragon smirks and picks her bride in his arms. "Everyone pays for their actions at some point; one day, the blade of vengeance will come to claim each of your heads." The dragon disappears alongside his bride before anyone gets a word out.
Each one was confused by his words, but it sounded like a prophetic message to many. This day has been known since then as the day when a whole government was humiliated by a dragon and his bride.
Le Fay POV.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a much different location. Her groom placed her down, and she quickly looked around. It wasn't London, as the structures looked much different than the usual architecture.
"Where are we?" Le Fay asks him.
"Venice, I told you I was taking you out after talking to those bastards," Issei says with a smile as he offers his arm to her.
Le Fay blushes as she locks arms with him. "Thank you for being my groom."
The dragon continues to smile. A nice date awaited them.
*Notes of the author: We have finally reached story 21. The next one will be the last side story. I hope to finish it on time. See you later. *