Hatch: A Dragon Story

Chapter V: The War

"W-what!?" Marman's face was in complete shock.

"Yes," said Ancalagon. "Your mother grew up on the island of More with her normal human family. On that island, she discovered a small bottle of potion. She drank it, and after a few days, transformed into a dragon. Her family, thinking of her as an outcast, threw her out of her home when she was eighteen to live in the dragon world. When she arrived at the Dragon City, she met me. We were married and then had an egg. We brought the egg to the Tester but failed the test because the Tester sensed human blood in the egg. The night that I told your mother to run away, was the same night I fought with Earendil."

Ancalagon went silent but then said, "You need not tell me that your mother is dead, my son. She lived a wonderful life and has lived most of it with you. She loved you dearly, and love is the most powerful thing that even Smaug cannot harness. People will come and go, Marman, as will I, but you will make a new family someday, and your family will be full of wonderful, joyous, delightful missborns. Keep that in mind, dear son. Goodbye for now."

Ancalagon slowly faded away and then became nothing but air. Marman looked at the spot where his father used to be, but then looked at the object which was clasped in his hand: The stone of Garman.

"I won't let you down, father," he vowed silently. "I promise."

Marman turned to look at the horizon and saw to his horror fire spread across the land. The Dragon City was falling.

~~

Smaug the magnificent looked out across the Dragon City, a gleam in his eyes. The city was finally coming to its end. Females and Males were running for their lives. The giant stone dragon had toppled onto its side. Smoked dragons were prowling the lands, burning every inch of the city.

Many warrior dragons were trying to fight back, but it was no use.

Many dragons lay on the ground, either severely wounded or dead.

A smoked dragon flew up to Smaug and bowed.

"Any sign of the stone?" asked Smaug.

"Not yet, your magnificence. We have tried all we could."

Smaug killed the smoked dragon with one quick swipe of his claw and roared aloud, "FIND ME THE STONE!!!"

Suddenly he turned around to see hundreds of ships armed with humans riding towards the shore. Flying above them were Handel and Barnabas.

Smaug grinned, obviously delighted to see them.

"You're late," he said. "The city is destroyed."

"But you're not," hissed Barnabas.

"Ah, yes. Did you expect me to? I'm so sorry for... bursting your bubble."

With that, Smaug let out an eruption of flame which caught alight on most of the ships. Barnabas flew forward and rammed into Smaug, his claws digging into his chest. The two dragons toppled over into the flames and began wrestling each other.

Smaug managed to grab Barnabas around the throat and toss him into the fire below. Barnabas landed hard and patted out the flames which had caught onto his wings.

"FIRE!" roared King Tiberius and all the cannons thundered aloud hitting smoked dragons in the chest and instantly killing them.

"Fools," spat Smaug just before he let out another wave of fire sending men jumping into the sea.

Barnabas flew back up towards Smaug and let loose flames from his mouth. Smaug, however just smiled and turned to look and Barnabas.

"You think you're so clever," he said. "Sending these... humans to fight for you, but they are weak, and so are you."

"Handel!" cried Barnabas towards Master Handel. "Send out reinforcements towards the hall! There could be people trapped inside!"

Handel, however, did nothing but give Barnabas an apologetic stare.

"Handel!" cried Barnabas.

"I'm sorry, Barnabas," said Handel. "But this is for the best."

He turned around and began lighting all the ships on fire.

"HANDEL!!!" cried Barnabas, swooping towards Handel and grabbing him by the throat. Both dragons toppled into the sea and began fighting underwater, tearing at each other's flesh. They came back up and Barnabas cried, "Handel, you traitor! Who's side are you on!"

"I'm on the only side that has to be taken," said Handel. "Hail Smaug."

"HOW DARE YOU!" roared Barnabas. "HOW DARE YOU!"

He leapt for Handel and dug his claws into his chest.

The humans had swum for shore to meet the smoked dragons, who they began to fight. Tiberius was shouting orders. His blade tore through the scales of a smoked dragon, who screeched in pain.

Handel lifted Barnabas out of the sea and dangled his limp body over the Dragon City.

"Do you think I had a choice!?" he spat in Barnabas's face. "Do you think I wanted to join the dark side? It was either that or death!"

"If I were a noble dragon," said Barnabas horsely. "Then I would take death in a heartbeat."

"Fool," said Handel and then took a swipe at Barnabas's chest.
Barnabas roared and bit into Handel's flesh.

"WHERE IS THE STONE!!!???" bellowed Smaug, circling the Dragon City. "WHERE IS THE STONE!!!???"

The smoked dragons were slaughtering the humans one by one.
Barnabas and Handel were having a war against each other.
The Dragon City was falling.
Many dragons ran for shelter.
And all the while, Smaug was crying, "THE STONE! I NEED THE STONE!"

But suddenly, a small dragon crawled out in the midst of the war. His face was tired and his wing was torn.

The whole world seemed to stand still with the last little bit of hope dangling on the edge of disaster.

"I..." said the dragon, in a worn-out voice, "Have the stone."

It was Marman.