Chapter 1: Dragon

Daniel woke up with a groan. His whole body were numb. How long had he been asleep for? He did not know.

Wait…asleep? I was awake a while ago. Slowly he opened one eye to look at his surroundings. A large, black towering structure stood in front of him. Fully opening his eyes, Daniel gasped upon noticing the structure. A darkened sky above him lit up with lightning. Okay, I admit it. I'm dead.

"You are not dead."

The same voice spoke to him. Daniel whirled head around, soon regretting the movement. He fell the pain in his muscles ache, he let out a groan.

"Do not move," advised the voice. "I shall soon make you feel comfortable about your new form."

New form? Daniel thought.

As if reading his mind, the voice chuckled. "You have been changed. You are no longer the species that you call human."

Daniel tried to open his mouth…muzzle…but no words came out of him.

"The red gems will heal your injuries from the teleportation. Give him the gems."

Daniel watched, as some creatures — humanoid in shape — walked over to him. Unable to move, he allowed them to touch him with the gemstones, which he recognized as Spirit Gems.

"Bringing back some memories, doesn't it?" the voice spoke again. "You seem to be familiar with the Spirit Gems. That's good. This should make the healing process easier for my minions to give you."

Once the injuries were sealed off by the red gemstones, Daniel could only watch in astonishment at his form. He was no longer a human. Instead, bat-like wings of the color black were on his black scaly body. A long, serpentine tail with a blade-like tip was noticeable behind him.

"Truly incredible, isn't it, my friend?"

Daniel nodded in agreement. He finally found his voice, as the words came out. "I…never expected you to help my dream come true. I'm a dragon."

"Indeed you are," said the voice. "Look over to the throne, if you can."

Daniel did as commanded. On a black, spiky throne was a white dragon sitting on the surface. It had large white wings, green eyes, and golden horns, as well as underbelly. "Where are we?" he asked.

"We are at the Concurrent Skies," the dragon replied, standing up on his paws, walking forward.

Daniel immediately retreated back.

The dragon stopped briefly, chuckling. "I forget that you have never seen one of my species before until now. My apologies."

"I'm sorry about my reaction, but I did not know this place existed." And that was true. Daniel only saw the world of the Dragon Realms through a screen, appearing in a fantasy of his dreams.

"It's understandable, young one," said the dragon. "However, I do not wish to harm you. Instead, I have a proposition."

"A proposition?" Daniel tilted his head.

The dragon nodded. "But first, I should introduce myself. My name is Scalon. And you are?"

"Daniel."

"Hmm. A strange name it would be for a dragon such as yourself," said Scalon. "For now, when you are in the Concurrent Skies, you are able to use it. But should you travel outside of the area, use a more common name amongst the residents."

"Excuse me for askng, but why have you brought me to this place?" asked Daniel. "I also want to know why you of all dragons would want me here, and not someone else?"

Scalon raised a paw, silencing him. "One question at a time, please. First, I have brought you here for a more…personal reason. I do not wish to bring it up yet, if you would be kindly not to question me."

Daniel nodded.

"As for why I brought you, and not just any other human from your world," continued Scalon. "It's because you are unique."

"Unique?" repeated Daniel. "In what way am I unique?"

"Your love of dragons, of course, as well as your understanding of what had transpired thirteen years ago."

Thirteen years ago? What happened in the timeskip after…the war? wondered Daniel to himself. "Alright, let me ask a different question. What should I do while I'm here?"

Scalon smiled. "A good question. For now, you shall feel accustomed to your new body that I gave you through the teleportation from your homeworld. After that, we will begin the lesson of using your magical elements."

"Whoa! Hold up! Elements? I thought a dragon could only wield one?"

Scalon nodded. "That is true. But since you are unique, you are allowed to wield four elements. Those elements that you possess are Fire, Shadow, Steel, and Sound."

Since when did Steel and Sound get here as elements? thought Daniel curiously. "Do you have any of these…people whom use Steel and Sound?"

"Yes, in fact, I do."

Daniel blinked. "You? But you are a…"

"White dragon, yes," Scalon interrupted. "Those would be more commonly known as albinos. However, I was born with elemental magic such as those you possess."

Daniel slowly nodded in understanding.

"Now," continued Scalon, "since we are done with the talk, I will let you go to your assigned quarters. Please escort him there, my faithful servant." He looked over to a fire dragoness, who nodded.

Daniel raised an eye ridge, when the dragoness approached him. "Allow me to guide you." He nodded, walking beside the dragoness to a platform.

Once the platform shook, Daniel balanced himself before the platform raised itself to an upper level of the Concurrent Skies. When it stopped at level four, he stepped off the platform with the dragoness following beside him, remaining silent through the trip.

Daniel was preoccupied by his thoughts. If I were summoned here in the Concurrent Skies, then…would Spyro and Cynder consider me an enemy? I know that this area was known as Cynder's lair during the war with the Apes.

"Please step forward to your room."

Daniel blinked, noticing they had reached his room in no time. The dragoness had spoken for the first time since she was assigned to him by Scalon. Her voice was sweet, if also beautiful in tone.

He looked at her, then at the large, black door. He stepped forth and pushed the door open. When he got through, there was a room the same size as the tower. A red carpet was on the gray floor. There was a window overlooking the area outside of Concurrent Skies. To the right was a staircase to the upper level of the room.

"If you need anything, I shall be waiting with the others." The dragoness had spoken again.

Daniel looked at her with a grateful expression. "Thanks."

She remained silent, turning and left him alone.

Daniel walked over to the window and looked toward the horizon. The sky was turning orange, meaning it was soon evening. "A small nap wouldn't hurt," he muttered to himself, turning around to the carpet and curled himself to a ball.

•••

Daniel was awakened by the dragoness a day later. He grunted, opening his eyes to see her standing over him with a frown.

"Master Scalon wishes to see you."

Daniel uncurled himself, standing before stretching his limbs. He walked beside the dragoness to the platform, which shook for a moment and lowered itself to the lower level of the Concurrent Skies. Daniel was surprised to see the area was around him. He thought that, if he had slept, he would return to his own world.

But no. He was still in the Dragon Realms.

Once the platform stopped moving, the dragoness stepped off, followed by Daniel who continued beside her to the throne room. Arriving there was a short trip with silence.

"He's here, Master," she said, bowing respectfully.

Scalon nodded, pleased. "Thank you for your assistance in retrieving him, Fira. You may leave."

The dragoness, Fira, looked at Daniel for a short moment, before turning to leave the room.

"How was the trip to your room?" asked Scalon. "Were you able to be comfortable?"

Daniel turned to him, rolling his eyes. "Well, it would have been better with a couch. Sleeping on the floor was strange to me. Especially when I slept like a dog."

"Apologies," said Scalon. "I expected nothing less from someone who used to be human. Anyway, I summoned you so that we could begin your training with the elements."

Daniel pondered, but nodded.

"First we should begin with your Fire element," continued Scalon, stepping down from the throne. "If you want to defend yourself, you will need to learn how to breathe fire from your body. Follow me to the training area."

Daniel watched him go to the northwest, and he followed soon after. A couple of the humanoid creatures bowed to Scalon, who waved a paw to them in response. Once they got to the training area, which was an open field within Concurrent Skies, Scalon turned to him.

"Before we begin, I want to explain what you don't know," he spoke. "All dragons can only master a single element, however there are exceptions to this rule. If there were to be two dragons of different elements mating with each other, then their offspring could very well receive both of their elemental powers."

"Like Steel and Sound?"

"Like Steel and Sound, for example," Scalon nodded. "When they have been born, the hatchlings would grow up to train under their parents' guidance before venturing to a Dragon Temple for further training with one Guardian under the chosen element. When they succeed in using the basics in elemental magic, the dragons will be allowed to advance to produce attacks that are much more powerful than the basic attacks.

And when we begin with your Fire magic, I want you to hit that target over at the corner by unleashing a fireball. Can you do that?"

Daniel looked at the dummy, uncertain. He knew that this was all new to him. He had never done this before in his entire life. How would he be able to use his inner powers? He stepped forward, claws extending from his paws, digging into the earthy soil.

"Good. Concentrate all your focus on the fire within you. Let it burn, until it wants to be released."

Daniel felt a burning fire deep within him that wished to come out. He focused his attention to the training dummy, then opened his muzzle, and — a fireball shot straight out toward the dummy, incinerating it to splinters and ash.

Daniel panted, trying to regain composure.

"Well done. For a first timer to use his element, that was not bad," congratulated Scalon, giving him a pleased nod.

Daniel exhaled a breath. "Well, I did memorize how one were to concentrate the energy wihtin you." From watching Spyro do it, he thought.

Scalon hummed. "Well then, shall we get on with the next element?"

"Yes," was all Daniel could answer with.

"Then you may as well try using your Steel element," said Scalon. "By tapping into your blade at the tip of your tail, focus all of it if you want to turn it into an iron clad weapon. Try it."

Daniel nodded. He closed his eyes, and focused all of his thoughts to his tail. A moment passed, as he continued to focus on his tail, when he heard a click sound from the end of his tail. He opened his eyes, turning around to look at it, spotting a sharper iron clad sword tip at the end.

"Hmm, how was the feeling?" asked Scalon. "Disturbing? Or…?"

"Strange," answered Daniel. "It all hit like a click when the tail sprung into what it is now."

"Yes. It can be strange using the Steel element on yourself," said Scalon. "However, there is also an affect to it."

"An affect? What kind?"

"By using the Steel element, you can also turn your claws into sharp shapes, but it comes also with something where you can Push or Pull your enemy toward or away from you by using a coin. If you do it with someone who is heavier than you, then there will be a consequence to Pushing Steel on the opponent."

"How so?"

"Try it with the guard over there," Scalon motioned his head to the guard who was tall, probably weighted a lot, too, because of the armor he wore. "See if you can feel the side effect from Pushing his armor. They are of Steel, of course."

Daniel nodded. He took the coin from Scalon, tossing it in the air, then Pushed it toward the surprised guard, but he himself was Pushed toward the guard. The guard turned to him, stopping him with his paws on his shoulders.

"Whoa there!" gasped the guard, widening his eyes. "Are ya alright, partner?"

"Ye-yeah," responded Daniel shakily. The guard helped him on his paws, then returned to his post. Daniel turned to Scalon, whom was chuckling. "That was…unexpected."

"I'd knew you would be surprised by tossing the coin," said Scalon, walking over to pick up the fallen coin. "This is something unique that only Steel elemental dragons can do whenever they have a pouch of coins to their disposable. Here, take this pouch. It will serve you well when you know how to control the Steel element much better in the future."

Daniel took the pouch from him and let it slide down from his neck. "Thank you. I shall remember to only use it when I'm attacked."

"Good," said Scalon. "I think we should call it for the day. You look exhausted after two elements. And you must be hungry since you barely did not get anything to eat yesterday. It is soon to be evening, too."

Daniel blinked, glancing up at the orange lit sky as the sun was slowly setting from the horizon. He heard his stomach growling at the mention of food. He chuckled embarrassingly.

Scalon clapped his paws, and two servants came forth. They were an electric dragon, and an earth dragon. "Show us to the dining hall, please."

"Of course, Master." The two dragons bowed, leading them away from the training area.

This day keeps getting more and more interesting, Daniel thought, letting the event that had transpired sink in. He had never known that Steel dragons could use coins to Push or Pull themselves to fight against their enemies. Odd. I feel like I've known that from somewhere, but I can't picture what, though. Oh well. Maybe once I've eaten and slept for the night, then I will know what to do afterward.