Mikoto stood at the edge of the lake, or what used to be one. It was now just a rocky shoreline stretching and disappearing into the horizon. Around its rim, dozens of protective females tended the smaller nest, each watchfully guarding her hatchling.
Far out in the distance, a massive battle had felled an enormous dragon. And was now nothing more than dinner for those who dared. Above, dragons hovered like crows, waiting to swoop down and strip the carcass. Across the rocky ground, many dragons swarmed, bumping and pushing for position.
Inside of Mikoto's consciousness. "Wow, talk about a cutthroat dinner party," little misaka replies as she stands, large screens hanging around in the blackness of inner space. She was wearing a long sleep shirt with a large yellow smiley face and taking a milk drink next to a large tray of cookies. Chewing, she brushed crumbs off her chest.
Screeching and roaring filled the air as frenzied dragons descended on the carcass. Powerful jaws and claws tore and ripped at the still-warm flesh as they battled each other for position. Clouds of dust and blood swirled as they gorged themselves. As the others fed, two massive dragons faced off, each with the same clump of meat clenched in their jaws. With one tremendous jerk, the meat falls to the ground. The two dragons, so intent on their struggle, didn't notice the meat between them. One dragon surged forward with a tremendous roar. The other dragon reared back, swinging its tail. They collided in a rage of thrashing limbs and snapping jaws. And between them, going unnoticed, a smaller dragon darted in, snatched the meat, and ran off.
Mikoto smirked and chuckled, watching the melee. The dragon queen nodded. "So goes the spoils of battle. Sometimes, the smartest thing to do is wait and watch." She said, thinning her eyes.
Little misaka chuckled. She was now sitting in a large, comfortable recliner, legs propped up. The attractive woman on the recliner's arm. "That's right," little misaka said, "sit back and let the idiots fight it out." She grinned. "I'm beginning to really like her." the attractive woman frowned.
"That young male thought he was tougher than he really was," the dragon spoke in a gruff, feminine voice. "A large bull fought and killed him quite easily," she said without a care, eyes gleaming. "Of course, I had to help myself." Her tongue rolled over sharp teeth. "I am the biggest, after all." With a sense of pride in her tone, expanding her massive chest, her wings puffed up and slipped back.
"Ah, yes, another dragon with a massive ego," little misaka scoffed. "How original?"
The dragon's expression turned somber, as if she was remembering better times. "And such a shame to lose one," she murmured.
Mikoto glanced up as the dragon beside her sighed heavily, scales rippling like dominos down its neck. "It wasn't always this way," the dragon grumbled.
Mikoto furrowed her brow. "Something…wrong?" she asked. Watching as the distance seemed to shrink as the dragon's red eyes darkened. The dragon swallowed hard, its neck scales rising and falling, their edges turning red like molten lava. "it wasn't always like this," the dragon said again, a hint of sorrow in its voice.
"Bahamut?" Mikoto asked, already knowing the answer.
The dragon nodded. "And what would you know about that?"
Mikoto shrugged, watching the dragons feeding. "Just a guess?" Keeping her cards close to her chest, she wished not to say anything to upset the massive dragon. Remembering the tragic events when they first stepped through the portal. Dropped her chin, arms over her chest, "sounds like the kind of thing a power-hungry ass would do, one who likes to dish out punishment." She shrugged.
"Punishment," the dragon growled, shaking her head. "Yes…that is a good word for what it was."
"So…what did he do?" she asked.
The dragon's eyes darkened with a rage still remembered and felt to this day. "He took everything from us." She choked the words out, "We're just big fire breathing brutes, no magic, no advanced weapons, just fire, teeth, and claws." She paused, chest heaving. "They outmatched us." She turned her gaze down at Mikoto. "He pinned me down under his claws and made me watch as his minions slaughtered my kind. They massacred hundreds of thousands in less than a day." Her voice cracked as she continued. "they left the ground covered with our shredded bodies, the water thick with our blood. They even crushed our eggs underfoot. To compound the destruction of my race, he had his underground beasts turn the ground upside down, burying the landscape and draining out waters." Her claws dug into the rocky soil. "What you see here is the definition of what he called mercy."
Mikoto listened, holding her breath. She understood all too well the pain of losing and failure to protect those under her care.
"And it was I who failed." The dragon's chest expanded, scales bulged and settled, and smoke rolled from her nostrils.
Mikoto waved her hand before her face, trying to clear the unpleasant fumes. "Well…. you don't have to worry about him or many of his minions anymore," she said, squeezing her burning eyes. She covered her mouth with her fist and coughed.
"There's always another big bad lurking around the corner." Little misaka added. Mikoto clenched her fists, hearing little misaka comments. She just wanted to tell her to shut up. But she couldn't. At least not yet. But she would.
The dragon's head swung around, red eyes piercing, smoke rolling from her nose and mouth. "Yes, I have heard the stories…" the dragon smirked, "over and over…"
Mikoto gave a surprised look, unable to speak.
"Seems you made quite the impression on the queen of blood." the dragon queen spoke.
Mikoto's face quickly changed, rolling her eyes and showing annoyance. The dragon shook her head. "Yes, she is quite talkative…and always has been." She chuckled. "Even now, she is spreading your legend to others. You will be quite famous." The dragon's brow arched over her right eye. " And wanted," she said in a warning.
Mikoto huffed and shrugged. "Great, just what I didn't want. To be famous and wanted."
"Famous and wanted?" little misaka huffed, "couldn't you have settled for mildly respected and left alone?"
"I wish," Mikoto whispered.
The dragon queen's eyes, once dulled with tears, sparkled as she raised her head to the sky, "she is annoying, but she has a good heart." She reared back, scales rippling, and let out an earth-shaking roar. "This is for the ones no longer with us!"
"Oh, yes, yes, very moving," little misaka said sarcastically. "I'm sure all the dead dragons are just thrilled you're honoring their memory by nearly deafening the living ones." Cupping her hands over her ears. The attractive woman did the same as she buried her head underneath a pillow.
The dragon queen's chest bulged, scales spreading like a blooming flower, edges burning white hot. Her cheeks swelled as she gathered her flames. The other dragons stopped and, watching, did the same. Heads pointed to the sky, cheeks bulging. She opened her mouth and blew fire into the sky.
The sky rolled with flames, turning it into a billowing inferno as the queen dragon's breath merged with the others', spreading out in uncontrolled chaos with shades of orange and crimson.
"one more, and we're home? Right?" Vita said as she climbed over the ridge.
She looked up, shocked and amazed, to the burning sky, watching as fire dripped down like melting wax, crashing to the ground. The dragons did little to avoid it. But the females guarding their nests spread their wings and covered their young.
"It's not something you see every day," Vita said, rubbing her tired hands together. Then, she brushed off her armor, keeping an eye on the large dragon sitting close to her mistress. Miriam followed behind.
"The little one is recovering fine," Miriam spoke. watching the flames falling, "I have torn some meat off the bone, ripping it down to make it easier for her to eat." Turning her attention from the fiery spectacle, licking the blood from her fingers. She had a subtle smirk, almost imperceptible to the normal eyes. But Mikoto could see that hidden sense of pride. Both in the corners of her mouth and reflecting eyes.
"one more?" the dragon spoke. She was looking out, spitting out a mix of flames and smoke as she watched as the dragons began to feed again. "little ones…" she continued, turning her head and looking down at them. "Do you really consider this abomination a garden?" smoke rolled out her nostrils.
Mikoto swallowed hard, "but you said that….."
"Indeed, I told you my story," she said. "But this place hasn't been a garden for a very long time." She opened her wings and spread them wide, shadows spreading outward. "Where are my magnificent trees and clear waters?" Her wings flapped slowly as she lifted herself off the rocky ground, walked forward, and turned to face them. Her wings folded and lay against her body.
"you still have another garden, an actual garden. A proper garden the other strangers have taken excellent care of," she said, "and fought many battles over." She stretched out sleepily, her long body settling on the ground. With long front feet extended forward, claws tucked neatly against her chest. She put her large head pivoted sideways atop her claws, chin tucked in, eyes closed, or maybe a contented squint. Giving them a rather disturbing picture.
"I have been there only once." She whispered, as soft as a dragon could, "It is many days travel for me and mine." She exhaled.
The dragon's breath rolled over them. Mikoto coughed, her breath reeking, making her eyes water. She looked over at Vita and Miriam and thinned her eyes. Vita was wearing a small gas mask, and so was Miriam. Both look at her with heads tilted, asking why she isn't wearing one.
"I am sure the smell of raw meat can be rather," the dragon opened her red eyes.
Mikoto reached into her utility belt, pulled out a small mask, and stared. And for a moment, she thought she might have offended the dragon. With quick, quick puffs of breath, she could swear she had seen the dragon laughing.
The dragon to a deep breath, as if she was going into a dream. Happier times."This was all once a flourishing home for my kind," she spoke wearily, her head tilting slowly. "lush forest, cool running waters, teeming with fish…" she let out a long, soft sigh, red eyes opened a little more. It was like she had become comfortable with them. Tired eyes, slow breathing. "Let me sleep for a while, little ones," she whispered. "When I wake, I will tell you of the next garden." Her eyes shut, and her body relaxed.
"Wait! What do you….?" Mikoto's eyes went wide. You're taking a nap!?"
"she's a dragon!" little misaka said, pulling the blankets to her chin. "she can do whatever she wants!" the attractive woman lifted the edge of the blankets and slipped underneath.
Mikoto grumbled, glared, and turned around. "worse than…." She shot a glare at Vita and Mariam.
"problem? mistress?" Vita asked with a wide-eyed, what did I do expression and smile.
Miriam, waiting for her mistress to speak, raised her hand.
Mikoto huffed, "Yes…"
"I will take care of the little dragon if you like?"
Mikoto sighed, smirked, and glanced at Vita. "I knew I liked you better than that one," she said, pointing to Vita.
Miriam smiled, bowed her head, and lept over the ridge.
Vita rolled her eyes, huffed, and crossed her arms over her chest. "Mistress's pet."