Disclaimer: 'Ignus Dragon of the west is a non profit fanfiction for fan entertainment based on 'Raya and the last dragon'. all official characters, setting, and everything else related to Raya and the last dragon is owned by Walt Disney Studios. Please support the official release. Enjoy.
Update: apologies for the false update. I was originally planning to delete this chapter for certain reasons but than i decided know what, screw it ill keep the chapter. yet again, sorry for missleading.
Chapter 15 - Reflections and reconciliations
(Ignus POV)
For the rest of the day, Ignus continues on doing any chores the villagers requested. This time he is actually trying to be nicer for once. After all the reseeding, fixing, tending the livestock, and many more Ignus is finally getting a break. For the sudden good behavior, the villagers are starting to have second thoughts about him to Sisu's joy.
The following night, Ignus finishes plowing another crop field. "Phew, finally" Ignus whips his brow with his forearm. He takes a bucket of water that Sisu would give him from time to time. While Sisu is probably talking to the village mayor, he decides to move to a patch of green grass and sits like a dog holding the bucket like a cup. After taking a sip of water, the human brained dragon sighs and looks up at the moon shining bright, reflecting what happened. For so long believing everyone are inherently selfish including his own family even though they tried to help him.
He could just remember the day his father, brother, and others members of his family were planning a surprise party for his graduation only for him to shut himself away like an ungrateful brat. Before that party even started his father tried to peacefully talk to him to understand why he was acting like such a jerk. Ignus makes a sadden sigh, thinking more how much of a jerk he probably was to his father for wanting to help him, leading him to becoming what he is. Another thought comes to his head.
After helping some kids with a bully, the kumandrians in the village showed alot of kindness he did not expect. While he worked, Ignus has heard the bullies, including the head bully have made amends with the other kids promising not to be jerks. Ignus looks to the village to see the people are still up and they look... happy. Reminds him of other villages back home just as kind. Yet a part of him wants to think of the bad ones. He spots Sisu helping out the villagers, woodcutters by carrying some planks or stones. The dragons of Kumandra seem to have alot of respect among the Kumandrian people. Especially the way they treat Sisu like some kind of god. Then he spots what looks like a campfire right by a guard tower.
With a squint Ignus sees what looks like a gathering of at least nine guards. Three of them he recognizes. the hunters that attacked him. On thier faces they look guilty as they chat. Wondering what they are up too, Ignus decides to use his magic to shift into his human form. With his hood up, he walks up to the campsite. Further inspecition from behind a bush, the ex-hunters look almost identical to each other. Ignus wonders if they are triplets.
"This has to be the first time I saw that creature do something nice like that," One male ex hunter says.
"Kind a makes you think right? and the fact that he glows like a dragon. You think he is a?" the only female guesses.
"Yeah right," the other male huffs, "Dragons are supposed to have fur around their scales. Not to mention they are not supposed to have wings!"
"Maybe he is a different kind of dragon!" Ignus in his human form buts in earning the attention from the ex-hunters looking surprised.
"Who might you be?" the first male questions with a raised brow.
"You could say i am kind a like tourist of sorts, more like a visitor who came across this world."
"A visitor? as in a traveler?" the woman asks Ignus about his mention of the word 'visitor'.
"Kind a like that," Ignus guesses with a shrug. "Mind if I join you guys for a moment?"
"Um sure?" the other male hesitantly agrees. Nervous that a random stranger comes out of nowhere to speak with them.
"OH OH, sit next to me!" the female offers and pats the ground beside her Making Ignus look a bit awkward.
As Ignus sits down on the ground next to the woman who seems to be checking him out with her eyes, he asks, "I hear you guys are talking about a creature?"
The ex-hunters turned guards get uneasy at first. The female speaks with a hint of eagerness in her voice, "Yeah, let's just say we were so stupid enough to try taking out a creature unknown to us. Yet now because we led him into the village, we got shammed and the elder took away our jobs and puts us on guard duty.
"We were hunters! It is part of our job to hunt for food and take out an invasive species," the taller man moans before calming down crossing his arms with a huff, "But yeah, We should have known better. I mean, we did not even know he was a sentient being!"
"Aaaaand I am guessing you chumps are sorry about it?" Ignus asks with a teasing tone earning some soft glares from the former hunters for being called chumps.
the shorter man calms with a breath and says, "We are indeed. At first we really thought he was a very nasty hate filled guy but seeing what he did for the youngsters...we feel even more guilty at we did to him."
"Don't sweet it," Ignus pats the man on his back making him flinch. "Honestly, If I was in your shoes, i might have done the same."
"How so?" the woman asks Ignus looking curious.
"Lets just say back home I had to deal with alot people and other creatures who likes to break into my home," Ignus explains starting to look a little frustrated. "I mean, sometimes people just dont know how to mind their own business. And dont get me started with annoying Kobolds who wants to take my treasure!"
The three ex hunters look at him with confused looks with a mix of worry. the woman breaks the silence, "Yeeeahh, you mention that the creature is a dragon from another world?"
"Yup" Ignus confirms and tells them about what he knows about his world, the kingdoms, his family, and of course the dragons. the Ex-hunters also tell bits about themselves like confirming that they are indeed triplets. They also give Ignus some insight about family life in Kumandra. Ignus picks up that they are a very spriritual people believeing in ancestoral honorship. The more they speak, Ignus gets into thought.
The Bullies reforming, hunters feeling sorry, villagers acknowledging his deed to easily forgive him, and even the strange dragons like Sisu give him chances to redeem himself. Despite what happened, he is still conflicted. He Looks to Sisu now speaking with the mayor. As he looks at her, has to wonder why she is so willing to help him become a good person again. Is it a noodle dragon thing? or something else? Eventually he decides to leave the ex-hunters. He excuses himself and says his goodbyes now in good terms. as he walks to a nearby river, a woman hunter speaks up.
"HEY WAIT!"
Ignus pauses and looks at the three.
"It was really great speaking with you...Iggs. Maybe we should hang out more some time." the woman replies with a blush, showing she developed a strange crush on him earning an elbow from one of her brothers. "Ouch! what gives!?"
"Seriously sis, you just meet the guy, and also." the short brother looks to Ignus. "If you ever see the red guy, please tell him we are very sorry for what we did to him. We really hope he understands we were just doing our jobs."
Ignus smiles at the three ex-hunters turned guards and says, "No need to worry about that. Lets just say i believe he already knows."
Then Ignus continues his walk to the river leaving the ex hunters confused by what he said.
()
Right by the river, Ignus is back into his dragon form sitting like a person hugging his hind legs. His face is best described as sorrow, regretful, or simply has a lot in his mind. After what happened, he looks up to the moon and reflects some happy times. Times that he stubbornly ignores. Suddenly a familiar voice calls to him.
"Hey Iggs"
Ignus perks up out of his thoughts and turns around to see Sisu trotting up to him with a smile on her face. She trots up beside him and sits next to him.
"What you did back there, It was so sweet standing up for the young kids!" Sisu says.
Ignus could not help but chuckle with a blush, "Well...I have this soft spot for young kids. I always believed them to be very innocent compared to adults you know. I could not just let a bully being mean to them...Just like what happened to me."
Sisu gives Ignus a curious look raising a brow. She is wondering if there is something to be said from his heart. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you so grumpy?"
Ignus gets a bit hesitant. He still does not know whether to open up to her or not. At this point, she is basically his caretaker not a slave master.
"Well, the truth is, it is not that i 'hate' people, It is just i dont..."
"Trust them?" Sisu guesses for him.
Ignus flinches a bit with a shiver from his orange spines before confirming, "Hey, you could say that..."
Ignus struggles to give Sisu a complete answer. He still does not know if he should trust her. So he says is, "Lets just say, I had a really bad bulling problem."
"Oh dear...you poor thing," Sisu sympathizes as she puts on a comforting paw on Ignus's shoulder. "If you're not comfortable telling me yet, i won't pester yah. But we better get some rest. The next morning, we are about to meet a good friend of mine before returning to Amuedo, you dig?"
Ignus nods with a smile before he is escorted by the fluffly dragon noodle back into the village.
This fanfiction is brought to you by, 'Tales in Scales the empty throne', A fantasy dinosaur adventure book about a young Raptor who must save his mother while his kingdom is in Civil war for the throne of Alpha-King. It is only available for purchase online. Stay tuned for future chapters of 'Ignus, the dragon of the west'.