Rising Dragons

What if Sky and Rya never met?

Someone commented something in A Dragon's View when Sky was being a jerk to Rya and I... Well, I wondered what would have happened if Sky and Rya had never met. And so, this came about. Hope you guys enjoy this. 

There is no Sky and Seeryath, only this – a girl bitter that she has not found her dragon, forever trying, but forever failing. She dies in a tragic accident. She dies forgotten. There is no Sky and Seeryath, only this – a dragon watching the skies and hoping her life will change, watching and watching, but unable to do anything.

There is no Sky and Seeryath, and so there is only this – a growing suspicion that something is wrong, Aaron and Daisuke carefully, carefully, reaching out and searching for information. There is no Sky and Seeryath, only this – Alvah rising and no one daring to strike out, Mark and Thirak rising beside her. Or, at least, Mark rises beside her and Thirak wonders and guesses and thinks that there are so many things that are wrong.

In one world, people follow Alvah because of Mark and Thirak. They follow because they feel like someone cares about them. They follow Alvah because she says things and beings listen, they feel as if it is the right thing. In another world, Thirak wonders and second guesses and, well, he knows you are only alone when you make yourself isolated – so he reaches out.

Aaron and Daisuke, Alu and Drake, Daphne and Apollo, and so many others are biding their time, barely exchanging words, keeping their heads down, keeping themselves safe, but planning and thinking and working together at the same time. Aaron and Daisuke know Fáelán and Aldrys in one world, and this remains the same in another. However, when Thirak wishes to reach out – he reaches for someone who once reached out to him. Aaron gives quiet words, gives thoughts, and so Thirak thinks in return.

And so, Thirak reaches out to those around him, to those following Mark, to those following Alvah, and asks his own questions. He will never be as charismatic as Alvah or as Mark, but sometimes caring is better than how well a person can speak, how smoothly they manipulate others. Sometimes caring wins out against everything.

Aaron and Daisuke will rise in protest. Of course they will, they care. They are not alone, either. So many rise up with them, rise against Alvah and Mark. But they are still outnumbered and prepared to flee. And they do flee because they are outnumbered, but Thirak knows that they will wait, they will prepare.

Mark and Alvah start conquering villages, destroying other academies, gathering their forces whilst they do so. Thirak is amongst them, but he reaches out to others who look angry, soothes them, welcomes them, looks out for others, and greets everyone by their names. Meanwhile, a group of dragon riders do their best to combat the growing power and authority of Alvah and Mark. Meanwhile, a black and scarred dragon meets a colony of wild dragons and finds himself healing. Meanwhile, a group of dragons and riders continue hiding, continue helping, continuing reaching out. They gain Fáelán's help, gain Aldrys' help, gain the elves' help, gain the help of wild dragons – even that of a dragon going by the name Azrael.

As things are, there will always be a fight to come, always a battle to be fought, because you can destroy reputations and influence, but until you kill the source, it will only grow again. So, one group rises against another, calling on one another, depending on one another, working with one another.

Whilst all this goes on, while the dragons and riders against Mark and Alvah grow stronger, grow smarter, grow faster, Thirak makes plans of his own. He is not intelligent or people smart like others, but he is a fighter, a tactician. Mark and Alvah do not care for those beneath them, ignore them for the most part until they are needed. And so, Thirak works with them, sending them to places where there is unrest. He sends the angry ones first, those eager to defeat Mark and Alvah. They do not come back, gaining refuge elsewhere, and Thirak keeps contact with Aaron and Fáelán the whole time. He sends others, banished riders and dragons who are unhappy. He sends groups to defeat slaves, sends groups to destroy the enslavement of dragons, he will free Seeryath without knowing it, and she will thank him and join the fight, but they are not friends here.

At some point, Mark will realise their forces have been depleted over time, and he will rage and scream. Alvah will not hear him, her mind is elsewhere, but Thirak will be there. Thirak will be there, will be a traitor, and he will be the one who says, 'Come, I have seen something.' And so, Thirak will take Mark to a place where they once left Sky to die. And Thirak will stand here and say, 'Wings are not for humans,' and he will say, 'You are not the hero of any story but your own,' and he will say, 'I loved you once, but you are not the boy I hatched for, but maybe in another life, we will be better.'

Thirak will kill Mark because Thirak has been training for years with everyone who will test their skills against him. Mark has no chance against a dragon by himself, even with magic at his side. Even though Thirak does not understand his power, doesn't know what he can do, he is still strong. And so, Mark will die. He will die betrayed. He will die, not feeling betrayed, but angry; hatred carved into his bones. Thirak will mourn, he will grieve, but there is no time for such things in a world of war. Thirak is a soldier and he knows how war goes.

There is not much time now, and Thirak knows that there is little time until Alvah realises that he has betrayed her. With this in mind, Thirak goes amongst all those who call themselves part of Alvah's forces and tells them he is leaving and that they can come, that they can accept. Many accept, but not all. Regardless, they offer their once-allies safe passage out – and this is due to Thirak.

Yes, there will be a final battle. There always seems to be one. Except, with better numbers, there is no chance that Alvah's opposition wins against her. Alvah goes down a screaming, bleeding figure falling from the sky. She dies, at last, and although there is not peace across the land, there will be eventually. It's not a happy ending, but it has the potential of a happy future for everyone, and that's all that matters. 

Edited: 3/02/2021