Dragon Origin: Scales Kingdom's Rise

Chapter 1: The Land Of Power

Location: Xitlalachu, No man's land - 1708

The flight had been long and her wings had grown tired. Dragoc had gone up in flames in the fight for the land. The larger dragons had now starved from the fight and prayed on the smaller dragons with more intensity than before. Many tried to flee but were caught or simply died of fatigue on the attempt to flee. It was unknown to them how the fight had started between the larger dragons but now everyone and the lands paid for their fight.

Xochimtl a cotton candy and nightling dragon mix was one of the few that had taken flight over the large body of water. Exhausted she landed on the sandy shore and walked a bit away to where she could get some shade before she finally collapsed.

When she woke she could feel something softly touching her muzzle. When she opened her eyes she saw a small creature. "You're alive, let me bring you water," He said, running as she tiredly raised her head. He came back with a small bucket helping her drink. "...I had never seen a dragon before, there are stories of your kind in an island far away but never here," He said, hauling the fifth bucket to her. He talked and continued to talk some more before her stomach grumbled. His eyes widened as he stared at her, "...Don't eat me alright, I can get you something... I got goats in my settlement but I kinda need those, Um I'll try to hunt something to bring back to you," He said as she got up. "I don't eat meat," She said as he froze. "You talk? Why didn't you say anything before," He said looking up at her.

"You talk too much, I eat gems, stones, minerals if you may. I have no interest in eating you or your so-called goats," She said he sighed. "Of thank goodness, well I mean we have a lot of mines nearby that is why many people came here on expedition in the name of the Lavin King, I have found a few but they are not very much worth it. The main goal is the large green stone on the mountain further up north but getting tools to make the climb is difficult and Avians wouldn't have the strength to bring such a stone down on descent." He replied. "I'm not picky, I'm just hungry," She said as he nodded. "Okay, I'll be back, please remain hidden, others don't take well to monsters," He said as stared at him.

As he continued walking she made her way back though she had never considered herself a monster as she was typically smaller than the other dragons not counting faelings who shifted in size at will she was significantly larger than this small creature who spoke too much. When he came back he returned with a wheel barrel with dusty minerals. "They won't pay me enough for my work for these so if you can get more use of these go ahead." He said, tilting it in front of her. "You said they wouldn't take well to monsters like me... why do you?" She asked as he raised his gaze to her. "...Ah, well I've always studied different creatures like dragons and monsters like those in the forest, though many believe they should be hunted and killed. I think we can learn to live along with them like the night seekers." He said as she began to eat the stones.

"What do they call you?" She asked as sat down on the ground. "Oh well they call me many things, stupid, idiot, crazy, lunatic-" He began as she raised her brow. "Your name, what is your name I am Xochimtl," She replied as he blinked a bit. "I'm Mael," He said as she nodded softly. "Thank you Mael for the help you have given me, I am grateful for the assistance," She said as he nodded. "Yeah, of course," He replied.

Mael helped her make a better place to stay until he could find a better place she could stay away from others, possibly seeing her. It had been a few days since she had seen him. He usually came by after working in the mine a bit bringing her some stones but he hadn't returned. He had moved his settlements so she watched his goats graze around. She knew he'd be back at least for them but it had been a while.

Finally in the distance she could see him make his way back on his horse pulling a wagon. He waved towards her as he got closer. "You still live? I thought you might have been crushed in your job," She said as he chuckled nervously, "That sounds quite specific, but no. Some guys asked if I wanted to try to help get some of the stone that seemed to have broken off that mountain I had mentioned. Seems something toppled the tip and fragments fell down but they needed help picking it up so they asked around, in exchange we could bring some back for ourselves... I got some for you," He said, hopping off his horse and pulling the tarp off to show the large glistening green stone with the red speckles.

"For me? I have no use for it unless it's for eating, I thought you saw this as precious," She said as he smiled. "Yeah, well I have some to sell the kingdom but I figured you might want some more... better quality food," He said as she smiled. "Okay, thank you." She answered.

During the following days she ate the stone slowly as it felt very filling and she still felt a bit of guilt eating it when she had seen how much he had earned from the bits sold. On the fifth day she had grown light headed. She had tried to help out with getting the field ready for planting but she could feel herself getting weaker. He felt the ground shake and heard the thud when she fell. As he ran closer he lost sight of her, as he got to the field where she had been, the tall weeds that had been flattened by her only had a woman in the middle unconscious.

"Xochimtl?!" He called out looking around as he cautiously approached the women looking away, noticing she wore nothing. The closer he got the smell of cotton candy grew stronger, a sweet smell Xochimtl always had. He removed his shirt covering her as he checked for a pulse. He took a deep breath as he carefully and cautiously picked her up taking her to his makeshift house.

He quickly grabbed all the blankets he could find and threw them on her as he paced back and forth. He wasn't sure what to do, nor was there anyone he could ask. Dragons as a whole were still seen as a myth or things of children's stories. There was nothing that said what to do when one became human. It hadn't even occurred to him nor had he seen other monsters in the Night kingdom have that ability. Xochimtl finally opened her eyes and saw him walking back and forth. She looked around at the strange place. He suddenly seemed bigger than she had remembered him. As she got up she noticed her body looked similar to his. Her claws now hands, her tail completely gone and wings were smaller. She tried to get up but she stumbled crashing onto the table getting his attention.

"Are you okay?!" He asked, quickly covering her again. "What have you done to me?" She asked, seeing the long strands of hair that fell beside her the color her coat and feathers had been. "I didn't do anything... Wait, do you not have the ability to become human?" He asked. "No... this is not right- I- what are you doing?" She asked, trying to push off the blankets he continued to move to cover her with as he looked away. "Keeping you covered... it's not right to see a lady nude without marrying her," He said, keeping his eyes to the window. "A lady? You had no issue seeing me as a dragon?" She said as he shook his head. "Well no, but you were a dragon now you're a woman and I- I can't see you like that" He said as she looked down for a moment smiling softly.

"Then what do you suggest I do now?" She asked as he raised his brow glancing back at her. "I... I don't know, I can go to town and get you some garments for you to wear," He said as she nodded. "Okay, let's do that. It'll be easier to help you out more I suppose." She said as he smiled. "Okay, um please wait here, I'll be as fast as I can," He said hurrying quickly.

He came back with a few different things for her to wear. Did her best wearing them as she spined around in them. "Are you sure this is how it is worn?" She asked as he watched her. "Yes- you look very lovely. I brought a brush for your hair." He said as she took it looking at it. "Okay?" She asked as he chuckled, taking back and brushing her hair. "...Isn't this what you do with your goats?" She asked. "Somewhat but with your hair we can braid it and tie it up," He said, getting a ribbon from one of the garments and tying her hair back in a ponytail. "Huh, Interesting, will you teach me more?" She asked as he nodded. "Of course, There is a lot I can teach you," He said smiling.