Dragonkin

A new dawn

“Dragonkin”: Powerful and majestic draconian evolutions, known for their strength and intelligence. Feared and admired simultaneously, they are the image of the perfect being; a legendary hero to which everyone- draconians and otherwise- can aspire.

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CRYSTAL EMPIRE

DIAMOND DISTRICT

7 YEARS AGO

In the middle of a lonely park, on a lonely bench, sat a young boy. Shane “Spike” Drake. 8 years old and already homeless.

For his whole life, Shane had lived with his mom, 6 months ago, he came back from a typically horrible day to find his house empty, an ABANDONED sign tacked to the front door.

Ever since then he has been squatting in this park He hadn’t gone feral- Shane still went to school, and an elderly neighbor allowed him the use of her tub, leaving him with some food to go by for the day. She felt pity for the young draconian, having once found herself in a similar position with her daughters.

Once, she even offered Spike a place to stay. He declined, put off by the idea of becoming someone else’s ’full-time’ burden- particularly the 74-year-old lady who had shown him the only kindness he had felt in ages.

Ever since his parents abandoned him, Spike had the same routine: Wake up, fold Ms. Potterwitts’ blanket and walk to her house to get some breakfast and his lunch, barely survive school, go to the library for his advanced class’ homework, pass by Ms. Potterwitts house for dinner and his bath, thank her, go back to the crumbling treehouse he called home, work on his magic (which seldom brought results), before sliding into bed to repeat it all the next day.

Saturday- Spike slumped atop a bench at the center of a forgotten trail; a pitiful, short, chubby kid. Had anyone walked down the trail, had anyone stopped to speak with him, would notice the hot line of tears which poured across his cheeks.

Why did this happen to me? First dad, then mom... I can't understand! Did I disappoint them? Was I that weak?

His mind wandered to school, mulling over the daily wave of insults: fatty, geek, nerd, freak, useless- anything a fifth grader could think of saying, Spike had heard.

"Why does everyone hate me? Why did my family forsake me?!" Spike roared.

BANG!

Police sirens swelled in the distance as Spike looked up to the sky and saw a great plume of smoke. He leapt up, sprinting to the clearing near his treehouse.

When he arrived and shot a look downtown, his cheeks went as pale as fresh snow. In the center of the city, a Bahamut raged. A level 100 beast, rumored to be the devil's personal pet. Nearly impossible to kill- even for a whole group of elite level 90 fighters, the cream of the Crystal Empire’s crop.

After regaining his composure and making sure he hadn’t wet his only pair of pants, Spike climbed to the enclosure in his treehouse and retrieved his backpack, running full speed towards the local safe house.

"Why the fuck is this happening? Can this fucking day get any worse?" Spike swore, his panic blinding the boy to the jinx he had placed on himself.

When Spike clattered into the safe house, he started to relax a bit. He sat down to take a breath, and prayed to God that this monster was swiftly shot back to Hell.

For nearly five minutes, Spike lingered in the darkness. As each second ticked by, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

He stumbled, the realization like a punch to the head.

"Where is Ms. Potterwitts?" Spike got up and desperately rifled through the safe house, growing more nervous and sweaty by the second, the kindly old woman nowhere to be found.

Then Spike remembered; Ms. Potterwitts had trouble walking, and used a cane.

Oh no- did she fall on her way here, was she ok, was she ALIVE?!

The questions galloped through his head at a lightning pace. Without a second thought, he darted through the shelter and back onto the mutilated streets. As Spike was running, he could see both defenders and first responders guiding hordes of people towards the shelters, aiding the injured, and valiantly- though hopelessly- attempting to battle the beast. Went Spike bent the corner to enter his old residential area, he stopped dead in his tracks.

His eyes swelled. In front of him lay the remains of a middle-class neighborhood- now a lifeless field of rubble encased in a sheet of flames.

"Ms. Potterwitts!" Spike hollered as he broke into a sprint towards what was once the old lady’s home.

"Ms. Potterwitts,where are you, please answer me!" Spike continued, tears streaming down his face.

When he arrived at the burned-out carcass that used to be her house, he desperately began to claw throughl the rubble to find her.

After a couple of minutes, Spike’s battered hands hefted a small shred of rubble. Beneath it, he found a weathered woman’s hand.After seeing this, he felt a burst of superhuman strength.Spike stretched, launching away the big chunk of wall that was crushing her.

"Ms. Potterwitts- Ms. Potterwitts... c’mon… wake up, wake up, please!" Spike screamed, his hand grasping her shoulders while he shook her.

Ms. Potterwitts’ eyes slowly crept open and she forced her vision to focus on Spike

"Spike," she said, her old voice weak and low. "What are you doing here? You have to get to safety!"

"I came to get you and I'm not leaving alone." Spike said, while hefting away more scraps of the rubble

Ms. Potterwitts forced out asaid as loud as a whisper. "Spike, go- It is too late for me… Please, leave while you still have the chance." "Never! You are the only person that’s been nice to me this whole time; you treated me with dignity and respect. The only family I... I always thought of you as my own mother" Spike pleaded, tears in his eyes.

"Spike… that is why I'm telling you to leave. I was also a mother, and now a grandmother; but I am old Spike. You are but a child. Throwing your life away to save an old lady? It’s just not fair, not right." She pled with Spike, faint glistening tears collecting in the corners of her eyes.

"But... But, you have to live! If not for me, what about your daughter, her kids? Please, keep fighting! I’ve almost got you out!" Spike said, once again sobbing.

"No Spike. Please, Spike, grant me this dying wish; I can not bear to imagine you dying so young. That scares me more than leaving my family behind. Please, Spike. Don’t waste your life… I’m old, it’s my time. Go… live..." Her eyes drifted shut, her hand went limp, and her chest rattled it’s last breath.

"Ms. Potterwitts?... Ms. Potterwitts!!” Spike screamed.

Spike gazed down at Ms. Potterwitts’ body one last time before he took off in the direction of the city. His mind, full of confusing emotions, thrust two forward; Hate, and sadness. One idea echoed in his mind. Despite what Ms. Potterwitts had said, he would avenge her. He would kill that thing, or die trying.

"Why the fuck should I care, no one is waiting for me anyway." Spike grumbled, steeling his resolve as he ran towards the city center.

He couldn't believe the destruction. Far more concerning was the total lack of a 300-meter tall monster among the ruins of the flattened city.

All of a sudden he heard an ear splitting, blood boiling roar coming from the south side of the city. Standing in the remains of Spike's old elementary school, the Bahamut was surrounded by first responders, who were still fighting desperately to contain it.

As Spike approached the battlefield, he overheard their leader shout.

"Retreat! It’s too powerful for us! If we don't leave now, we’re all going to die!"

"Isn't that our mission? Kill or be killed" A female responder shot back.

"Maybe back in the '40s! But to me, you are not pawns- there’s no point dying with no chance of victory!" He repeated his command, the first responders finally allowing themselves to flee the condemned area.When Spike came face to face with the beast, he felt scared, all the bluster he carried drained away. What am I doing here? I can hardly use basic magic! Ms. Potterwitts’ dying face, twisted in pain, drifted across his mind. His determination rushed back as his rage and hatred towards the beast boiled over.

Spike concentrated as hard as he could and summoned flames towards his mouth. A mighty blast erupted from his mouth., Although it was far more powerful than anything Spike had ever cast, it barely seemed to scratch the monster.

It turned around, devilish eyes squinting to focus on Spike, an incredible flash of jet black light surging from his maw towards the boy.

Spike was barely able to dodge it and ducked for cover behind the remnants of a large wall.

"Anti-matter? Screw level 100, this thing has to be a God-Killer! 200, maybe even higher!"

What should I do... Behind him, Spike could hear the monster sift slowly closer, hunting for his hidden prey. Spike started to feel warm- his head spun, briefly panicking, thinking that an attack was bearing down.. He squeezed his eyes shut, totally convinced that it was his end. Deep within his mind, a faint green flame gently flickered. He reached out to grab it, and his body became engulfed in the emerald flame. When Spike opened his eyes, he glanced at his hands. As if wearing a magical gauntlet, the fire danced across his skin. Feeling a strange sensation, he glanced behind and saw that from the back of his tattered shirt, two hefty muscular wings had sprouted.

He leapt into the sky, pressing an attack against the beast. Following one pass, the creature roared and stumbled back, favoring its neck.Spike launched an attack on what he believed was its weak point, but the monster was not that stupid nor slow. Spike was suddenly met by a wall of flesh as the monster hit him, launching him through the remains of 3 nearby skyscrapers.

When Spike landed he felt groggy, and his body screamed. He tried to move, to rise to his feet, but was met only with biting pain. Is this it? I can't feel my body, I can't move. I feel so cold... So tired.. I just want to sleep...

The flame swelled, glowing brighter than the first time, engulfing his entire body as bright beams of fire leapt from his eyes and mouth.

After a few seconds, Spike lurched up and looked down at his body. He was no longer chubby, his stomach fat replaced by a chiseled eight-pack, his pillowlike arms now hard and muscular. Spike pulled himself to his feet, surprised to see his perspective climb to a respectable 5’9”..

Oh yeah, now we're talking. Spike grinned, jumping back into the air to resume his battle with the confused Bahamut.

All of a sudden the beast launched a strike. Spike instinctively clasped shut his eyes and waited for the sting of impact.hen he opened his eyes, he saw he was hovering behind the Bahamut, looked down to where he was standing just seconds ago.

Draconian level 25 counter-attack arts Pyroportation... but I thought only Rogue fighters could use them!

He failed to notice the Bahumut recover from the stunning move and launch a roar at him. Again, Spike waited for the impact that never came- this time, when he opened his eyes he saw an ethereal shield glistened in front of him.

"Draconian level 20 defensive arts Holy Scaled Shield," Spike audibly said, surprised.

After the roar died out, Spike tried to think of a way to weaken this monster.Suddenly, a spire of green flame appeared in front of him. Spike held his claw, felt as if he was holding something. He grasped the object, heaved against the magic, and wrenched it free.

Impossible! The legendary Dragonknight Holy Sword... This… this is a level 150 attack art!

The Bahamut tried to strike him again- on sudden impulse, Spike swung the blade.

The Bahamut's whole arm was severed at the shoulder, the twitching limb now lying on the ground in a soup of black liquid which Spike assumed was the beast's blood.

After realizing what he had done, Spike launched his attack. He flew high, chopped off the other arm before flying low and taking both legs.

He put the sword away in his interdimensional storage and sighed in relief.

Wait… that’s not right...

The Bahamut was slowly regenerating. Spike aimed his mouth at the beast and a powerful shout burst from his lungs. "Level 150 Draconian attack art, Dragon Roar!" A tremendous flame came flying out of his mouth and engulfed the Bahamut whole.

After 30 seconds, Spike stopped and looked down at the blacked-out corpse of the Bahamut in the middle of a deep crater. With a sigh of relief, Spike suddenly fainted.

His limp form plummeted towards the ground. Moments from impact, a figure dashed down and caught him.

"Hey! Hey kid, you still in the land of the living?"

Spike groaned, looked up."I guess, unless we’re both dead"

"Nah, I'm pretty sure I'm alive." "Who are you, kid? What’s your name?”

"Shane, but the few friends I have called me Spike. Who are you?”

"My name is Devin Drake, Arch-count of the proud Draconian house of Drake...” He grinned “But my friends call me Dovah."

In the distance, they heard sirens."You’d better come with me- God only knows what they will do if they discover that a boy of your age defeated a level 180 Bahamut."

"How do I know should I can trust you?"

"We are both draconian! Our code of honor ensures that we must support one another." "Bullshit" Spike spat.

Dovah grimace slightly, biting back a reaction to the harsh language. "But it is true."

"No! If it were true my parents wouldn't have abandoned me!"

"What are you talking about?"

"6 months ago, my Mom just left!Dad disappeared when I was 1 year old! I don't even remember how he looks.” Spike’s face fell. “Where is this ‘code’ of yours, huh?”

Dovah just stared at Spike, a quiet anger simmering in his veins.

"For a male draconian to abandon his family... coward. But a family to abandon their child... I can't even bring myself to call them living.Garbage, wastes of space and air." Dovah kneel and hug Spike.

The sirens drew even nearer.

"You're going to have to trust me, kid " Dovah said, firmly grabbing Spike beneath his arm and flying away at top speed.

When they landed, they were standing in the middle of the park Spike had called home.

"So, what do you intend to do now, Spike?"

"I don't know, maybe... live in the streets again."

"Spike, as a fellow draconian I can not allow you take that path of life. And seeing that we are both Dragonkin,w-"

"Dragon-what?"

"Dragonkin- powerful and majestic evolution of Draconian, so rare some have taken to calling us Gods."

"But I don't want to be God."

Dovah chuckled. "No one wants to, my boy. We already have one, and all things considered he does a fairly good job! I am willing to train you, to forge you into the greatest greatest Dragonkin in history. Seeing as we share the same last name- funny coincidence, by the way- I was thinking maybe you... wouldn't mind me… adopting you."

"What?" Spike was taken aback, hardly able to process the words Dovah had said.

"My wife wanted to have another child… but I said no. Eventually, she got me to agree to thinking about it. So what do you say?"

"I think you are the second best thing that has happened to me so far... If you are happy to have me as your child, I would be honored."

"Wonderful! Just allow me make a call..."

From his pocket he fished a cellphone, quickly punching in a well-memorized number.

“Hello Dear, I'm just calling to tell you that-"

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN THESE WHOLE TIME?! I SAW THE NEWS AND WAITED FOR YOUR CALL BUT IT NEVER CAME I WAS EVEN ABOUT TO CALL KALLUM TO GO AND LOOK FOR YOU AND-"

"Jenny, Jenny! Stop screaming, I'm fine! I was just calling you to tell you that I adopted a little kid just like we talked about. His name is Shane and he’s a dragonkin... I just had to, I wasn't going to let him go back to living on the streets... like the last 6 months and... He is 8 years old... yes, both abandoned him... of course not, I already did plus I can be his instructor... yes, I'll- we'll be on our way home soon... yes, you can tell Kallum... Bye dear, see you soon.” The phone fell from his ear and was thrust into his pocket. “Well, should we head home...son?"

"There is something I have to do first, may I borrow your phone?"

"Sure."

"Hello, Angela? You don't know me but I was a… A good friend of your mom... I'm sorry to inform you that she passed away while I was trying to get her out of the rubble of her house, I'm so sorry... My name is Shane, but you can call me Spike... I'm 8 years old... I already told some rescue workers about her body so you ask them where they have her body and once again... I'm so sorry." Spike finished delivering the news to Ms. Potterwitts daughter.

"Ready?," Dovah asked

"Yes, ‘Dad’. Where is home?"

"Vanhoover."

"We’re not flying all the way there, are we?" Dovah let out a hearty laugh. "Heavens no! We’ll be taking my jet!"

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THE NEXT MORNING

"Welcome home, Spike." Dovah flourished, his house revealed to his new son.

"I know you said you were royalty, but I didn't expect this!" Spike said in awe.

"I know, this castle is far too small!" Good hearted sarcasm dripped from Dovah’s tongue.

"No, it's massive!" Spike answered, his eyes almost popping out of his skull.

"Glad you like it. Are you ready to meet your new mom? Oh and- ah, be ready. She is probably going to scream for awhile towards me, and then kiss you until you find her annoying" Dovah deadpanned.

"What?""Hey- she may be 42, but that woman behaves as though she was half her age.”

"OooooKayyyyyy,"

"Ready for your new life?" Dovah asked, swinging open the entry door.

Spike nervously nodded.

As soon as he opened the door, a woman suddenly tackled Dovah to the floor.

The bullet of human energy made a fantastic display, beautiful golden hair, an hour-glass figure and a double DD rack on full display.

"I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT BOTH OF YOU! YOU TOOK SO LONG TO COME HERE" Jenny started but then looked at Spike. She suddenly pounced on him, and hugged him and kissed him all over.

"Ohhh, you were right he is just so adorable!" Jenny said, squeezing Spike tightly between her boobs.

"Mom, I think you’re suffocating the kid." Came a voice from behind them.

"Oh! Sorry, son! I couldn't help it!" Jenny innocently chuckled, loosening her grasp on Spike.

"I'm Jennifer Drake. You can just call me Jenn or Cheghuri- or better yet, just call me mom"

"Hi, my name is Kallum Drake but you can just call me-"

"KOVRUS, THE CHAMPION OF THE SKIES!" Spike interrupted him with a surprised glee.

"Or ‘brother’. C’mon, I'll show you to your room"

"All this is my room?" Spike asked."What too small? ‘Cause if you want I can show you a bigger one."

"No, it's perfect! Thank you!" Spike quickly answered.

"Alright, I'll let you settle in. Remember: lunch is at noon, but you can eat anytime you want. See ya around."

Spike just collapsed onto his bed. He couldn't believe it. In the last day, he went from a homeless nobody to the son of a Count. More importantly, he couldn't believe he now had a family that cared so much for him, and a mentor who would help him master his new powers.

My life is about to get better,. I just hope I don't scare them with my powers... or even worse than this is just me having a dream this being in heaven, cause that would suck greatly, Spike thought as he stared at the landscape below the massive window in his room.