Chapter Text
Alice awoke from her glazed vision with a small gasp, her eyebrows furrowing as her sight dawned on her. She stood from the sofa, happy to see Edward was too busy playing with Nessie and Lela to hear.
Bella tapped her shoulder, and Alice sighed, leaning into the hug.
"Do you need to go?"
She nodded, turning and looping her arms around Bella's shoulders as the dragon picked up her lower half, carrying her outside as though Alice were a baby koala, and launching them into the air with one powerful flap of her wings.
Alice found comfort in her mate's heartbeat, how it sped up the faster she flew, how she was warmer. A hand tucked Alice closer to her chest and they shot through the waterfall, slowing down until they landed in her den.
Bella smiled, leaning back to smile at Alice with her burning eyes and soaked hair.
"You're beautiful…" Alice found herself whispering, to which Bella's eyes softened, and she pulled Alice closer.
"You make the moon lose its glow, and the sun envies your shine."
The vampire found her heart beating once more, but she had to restrain herself as her body moved closer.
"Bell, I didn't…"
Her eyes darkened, she leant forwards as the dragon, shockingly, leant back.
"You didn't need to get away to be with me. There was something else, a vision?"
Alice smiled, bouncing on her tippy toes and throwing her arms around her in another hug.
"You know me so well!"
Bella smirked, eyebrow raised as she shuffled to the side, taking herself to her golden throne of treasures, and away from the heated vampire.
"So.. what is it Alice? What did you see?"
Alice sighed and sat on Bella's lap.
"I saw… I saw us leaving, being alone again."
The dragon tilted her head.
"Are we due another honeymoon? Not that I mind or anything, but-"
"No, this is different. We're… we're gone."
Bella felt the mood somber, her eyes flickering as concern bit at her stomach.
"What- you mean we die?"
Alice snorted, settling back with a bemused look.
"Like that would ever happen."
Visions of Bella's hellfire and Alice's fury marred both of their minds.
"Eh good point."
They stay silent, and Alice leans her head on Bella's chest.
"How soon?" The dragon asks, Alice shrugs.
"I know Nessie is taller, she comes to your hips when we leave."
That was a worrying thought, the vampire hybrid was growing taller everyday, so that means the vision would be-
"So it's soon then."
The look they share is grave.
"Jacob stripped in front of my dad."
Bella gasps and chokes on her food, the newborn smacking her back a little too hard to clear it.
"I'm sorry, what."
Lela laughs and stares back at the view. They sat on a Pride Rock type of perch, looking over several thousand trees in the forest below. Bella had flown them out here to practise Lela's control, but by the looks of it she was never better.
"Yeah, got down and showed him a wolf, too. Didn't tell him what I was, just that I was… different. He met Renesmee too, loves her."
"It's good he got to meet little Reluctance, she's adorable."
Lela offered a loose glare at her words, but smiled anyway. Her eyes were a strange amber colour, a mix of human and animal as she aged as a vampire.
"You suit immortality well."
Lela shrugged.
"I guess I have to."
Bella leans back on her elbows, staring at the clouds about them. She considered telling Lela about the vision, how something could happen. Her worry over the vampire losing control due to emotions won out.
I'd rather be far away from her right hook when we do vanish.
"So, did seeing Jacob awaken anything in your dad, or-"
The vampire laughed and smacked her arm, Bella hiding her wince with practiced ease.
"Fuck you-"
"Oh come on, you've seen his mustache! Very 80's-!"
The vampire's laughter filled the valley, Bella joining her soon after.
While her creature wasn't as bloodthirsty as the Cullens', the dragon still had its vice of violence. Her hunts meant going to either large cities and just watching the utter chaos of a simple day. It calmed her greatly, and if her monster was hungry, well a few wild animals would go missing.
She came home after two days, and Bella knew there was an issue as soon as she returned from her hunt.
Alice looked worried, her eyebrows together as she tapped her fingertips. Bella landed and shrugged her wings back in, clicking her neck out of habit as Alice gave her a tight hug, which she returned.
"What happened?"
"The Volturi know about Nessie," her voice was a whisper, "they want to take me, to take Edward. I saw us standing with them, Marcus cut my tie with you-"
She hugged her tighter, her dragon enraged at the prospect.
They won't touch her.
"I'll kill them."
"No!"
Alice grabbed her arm, Bella stopped. The vampire's gaze was dark and glassy, she spoke through her venom.
"Some will survive, they will hunt us, enlist others- Bella if you go to their castle countless humans will die, and… and many of our friends… our family."
Bella sighed, the breath gently blowing Alice's hair with a warm heat.
"Then what can we do? I won't let them take you from me, Alice. None of you."
Alice stood on her tiptoes and pressed her forehead to Bella's.
"I have an idea, Carlisle will agree. We'll gather friends to fight, but that won't be enough."
The fire in her throat was painful, but she contained it.
"So what can we do?"
She could tell by the look she gave, that Alice hated the idea, but she was so desperate… it's the only real shot they had.
"We find people, at first but eventually?"
There's a silence between them, they both knew what the vision meant, and dreaded the moment she says the words.
She does anyway.
"... We have to go."
Leah was a difficult nut to crack, but Alice had a feeling about her, which is why she was so insistent to try with her.
"Smidge, if you don't get your stinky ass away from me we're gonna have a problem."
The vampire shrugs and continues to dance around her.
"I can't see your future, you know cuz you're so wolfy and all-"
"Good."
"But I'm getting a… a vibe? I guess? A good one! Something positive is going to happen-"
There's a thud as Bella lands from her jump off the roof, arm slipping around Alice's waist and kissing her temple.
"To wolfy?"
Alice sniggered and Leah gagged.
"You two are disgusting, if I ever get like that, you have permission to kill me."
There's a knock as the three walk around the house to the front, finding the odd sight of two blondes and two brunette vampires at the front of the home.
"You guys know you don't have to ask for permission, right?"
They turn, three females and one male, all breathtakingly beautiful. They're old, even Leah can sense that, but Alice smiles and waves.
"Denali clan! I thought you were coming next week!"
The tallest blonde smirks and steps forward.
"Can't blame us for wanting to come help out early, considering… well, everything."
The other blonde looks down, taking her sister's hand, when a grumble comes from Leah's chest. She looks as shocked as everyone, and Bella raises an amused eyebrow.
"Did… did you just growl?"
The shifter looked from Bella, to Alice, and finally to the tall vampire.
Her earth stopped, and there was one thing keeping her anchored.
Fuck.
"Oh my god!"
Alice tugged on Bella's arm, fire burning behind both their eyes.
"She imprinted on Tanya!"
Leah was shaking violently, took two steps back and burst into her wolf, and she ran into the forest, tail between her legs.
"I'll still kill you if you want!" Bella shouted, a howl the only rebuffing she got in return. Alice giggled and danced to the Denali leader, who was staring after the wolf with an odd look.
"What… what just happened?"
Alice pats her on the shoulder.
"I think you need a long chat with Jaz!"
The house is busy. Old and young vampires alike are migrating in and around the home, going on hunts, having no real courtesy about hiding their diet from the wolves either.
God, the wolves. I don't have enough scent to go around at this point.
The pack had many different rules it seemed, one of them was not harming an imprint, and by extension protecting them. So now, the wolves came by to practice fighting. Jake, Leah and Seth stayed, of course, but the pack came and went whenever they pleased.
Rosalie practically lived in her garage now, keeping a dirty oil rag under her nose at all times. Bella thinks she's seen her relax once, and that was when the dragon had fallen asleep on the sofa to wake with the vampire sitting on the floor in front of her, absorbing her scent like a drug.
Bella didn't comment on it, she could tell Rosalie was thankful. Since then she'd been pushing out as much of her confusing scent as possible, and found a small gathering following her at varying distances.
Out of all of Carlisle's friends, there were two Bella didn't like. They stared at her, but never spoke, not even to each other. They had red eyes and papery skin, and an aura she didn't like.
Alice was busy, helping Carlisle again, when they finally cornered her.
"We haven't had the pleasure, I am Stefan, and this is Vladimir."
They don't extend their hands, and she's glad as she wouldn't have taken them. Instead she raised an eyebrow and removed her sunglasses.
"I'm Bella, I've noticed you… lurking nearby. Finally gathered the courage to talk to me?"
The blonde smiled, he looked pained.
"You are not like us, or even those… children playing wolf. You're… before us, before even the vampire's, aren't you?"
Her eyes itched as they became slits. She stood taller and let out an aggressive grumble.
"Keep your queries to yourselves. I have little interest in them."
She snatches her book from the ground and storms inside.
"You could kill them all, couldn't you?"
The rest of the vampires stare. The dragon grumbles instead of replying, slamming the door, rushing up the stairs and locks herself in her room until her mate returns.
There's one group she likes, they're just as mysterious as she hopes to be, with the air of danger and superiority she knows Rosalie craves.
Kachiri, Zafrina and Senna. The Amazon's. They were wonderful.
Alice was kinda scared of them, though. In fact all of them seemed to be. Bella supposed it was due to their age, and considered that maybe the Voltori used this intimidation to control their subordinates.
Maybe.
Zafrina had a gift and Carlisle had given her a run down.
"Zafrina has a strong illusory talent. She can make her target see any illusion she wants, or see nothing at all. Her range includes anyone in her eyesight."
He seemed uncomfortable talking about it, but Bella was exhilarated. She was down the stairs and in the garden faster than Carlisle had ever seen her move.
That's how she found herself before the three sisters; they were tall, dark, beautiful and so intimidating.
Not to Bella, though. The vampires were probably shocked to feel the same sense of discomfort they often gave out.
"Name's Bella, I figure that I'm to be your new best friend!"
None of them smiles, but amusement shone in Zafrina's gaze.
"You think you can keep up?" She asked, accent as heavy as her war paint around the eyes. Bella grinned, eyes slitting at the excitement of a challenge.
"Absolutely."
They didn't say it, but Bella knew why Alice was spending so much time with Nessie, Lela, and avoiding Edward when she couldn't keep her mind focused.
Jasper had caught on, which was shocking considering he'd just accepted he was mated to Seth, and the two had been platonically inseparable. Platonically being the keyword, as Jasper wasn't going to pursue anything until Seth was older.
Or Leah would have his hide, after me… and Esme.
Despite that, he'd sensed Alice's emotions change, and the dull acceptance of Bella's. He gave them comfort whenever he could, but it didn't change the truth.
They spent their last night on the roof of the Cullen home, the only quiet place with how… full the house was.
"How long?"
They spoke quietly.
"A while, a few months at least."
Bella sighed, watching as a star shot across the sky.
"I'll miss them."
"Me too."
They huddled closer together, basking in each other's presence.
The following day Lela stumbled across a note in their small home, and Edward held her tight as she dry sobbed, cursing the lack of tears falling.
Alice knew where they were going, sort of. She would spend hours searching for the right path, drawing out outcomes and decisions a mile a minute.
They only stopped when Bella had to sleep, and now was one of those times. The dragon was exhausted, flying them across the ocean to get them to their current location.
I'll need to get a hat… a really big hat.
The sun was scorching, and Bella was almost constantly purring at the sight of her glimmering skin. Alice adored her attraction to jewels, and loved her adoration of Alice in the sun. No other vampire, just herself.
It was very sweet.
African sun was definitely going to be a problem, and the small shack they'd found was a welcome relief to avoid the people.
They arrived seemingly just in time; Bella stood in the trees down wind, watching as her mate rushed across the field to Aro, her oversized black Milford coat flitting in the wind.
The Cullen's all pause with an intake of breath, seeing Alice, alone, after so long hurting more than they'd expected. Aro was bemused by the small vampire's appearance, but took her offered hand anyway.
Visions of his guards and soldiers falling one by one, the Cullen's working together, until finally the newest family member, Lela, took a torch to his head.
The small Cullen released his grip.
"That's your future, should you choose to harm us."
Aro's mind rushed, there was something he was missing. The shock from the Cullen army at Alice's appearance, the tension between the seer's eyes.
He refused to fall for it.he grabbed Alice's arm in an iron grip.
"Well now I know all your little tricks, what's to stop me avoiding it?"
Her eyes darkened as the Cullens snarled alongside their army. He watched with thinly veiled curiosity as her vision shifted, snapping back an instant later.
She grabbed his wrist in her own, and jumped to the side in an overarching cartwheel. Aro's hand tore with a screech and Alice threw it to the snowy ground.
There's a grumble from behind as she begins sprinting to her family.
"Jane!"
Her knees buckled, Jane's gift crumpling her to the muddy snow. She yelled as the pain increased, and she could hear Aro get to his feet.
"Shame, we wanted you to join us, young one! I will not accept this… blatant disrespect!"
Felix made his way to her, her family hissing in fury, only staying put at Carlisle's raised hand.
"Aro please-"
"No!"
He actually sounded angry, a shock from the usually intimidatingly light vampire.
"This will not go overlooked! First you disobey our rule, then your coven turns against me, and one of your own attacks me!"
A whine comes from Alice's throat, Jane increasing her gift, determined to get more sound out of her. Alice hated that she was successful.
A foot is in contact with her back, someone grabbing her arm as her face is shoved into the snow.
"You'll learn that even friends can't avoid the law."
They start pulling, Alice's arm cracks and she shouts in agony, finally giving in at the incredible pain. Esme snarls with a voice of terror, the Cullens and their army start running, the wolves sprinting ahead as the battle ready to commence.
Of course, her mate wasn't going to stand it for much longer, the only reason she'd waited was per Alice's request to try and talk them out of it.
Talking was off the table the second he touched her mate.
There's a screech, deep and high all at once, rough and echoing through the sky like thunder. Alice smiled, using the pause in Jane's concentration to stagger to her feet and rush to her family.
"...what is-"
Another roar followed, a constant beating of something large getting closer and closer. The clouds shifted, and out of the snowy sky came their saviour, and also their nightmare.
Bella had arrived.
Saying the dragon was large would be doing it's titanic size an injustice. Its wings were gigantic, with long scales, tail and haunting fangs, which were half as long as Emmett was tall. It's horns were shaped like a crown, arching back in gruesome angles, black with blue and red tints. It's eyes were burning, and it landed with a huge crash just before the Cullen army, separating and freezing the enemies with a heavy stare as its tail flicked.
The creature stood tall, head leaning back as smoke left it's nose. Alice rushed to its side, dancing up the beasts body and sitting safely between it's brow, taking the time to bask in her mate's presence and power.
"That's… not possible!"
The dragon, so large it almost barely fit between them in the space provided, did not speak, but the voice resounded in all of their heads.
"And yet, I am."
"So that's what she looks like?"
Emmett voice what they all thought, not even the wolves were able to look away from the horridly beautiful sight.
"Yes."
The black scales gave way to reds and blues, the eyes burning with a yellow flame as the mouth opened and fury tore from its cavernous mouth.
"We've been living with a dragon."
Edward stated the fact, shifting closer to his daughter who was tense on Jacob's back.
"I demand an explanation, Carlisle!"
Aro turned his glare back to the leader, who's eyes were dark and somewhat frightening.
"Don't look at him, look at me."
Aro, and several other vampires found themselves doing just that. Thirty had already fled, and the Volturi were suddenly very small.
"You hurt my mate."
The voice was somehow heavier, the red in her scales brightening.
"They broke the law you insufferable-"
"I have existed for much longer than you, runt. Do well to not speak down on me."
She followed with a grumble, her chest vibrating as anger slitted her gaze. Alice touched her head, and she huffed.
"You're lucky my mate wishes to explain her family's actions."
The dragon moves, it's colossal head ducking down and allowing Alice to jump off, it's eyes never leaving the Volturi leader.
"What do you-"
"You're wrong, she isn't an immortal child. She is a half breed."
Thankful for any distraction, Aro glanced at the small vampire.
"How are you certain?"
Alice looks to the right, and under the dragon's heavy stare, they look. In the trees, not willing to get too close, they can see four figures. They are shirtless, and one is shifting on his feet awkwardly.
"That is Nahuel, and his three half-sisters, Serena, Jennifer, and Maysun. They are hybrids, and have stopped aging. Nahuel is 170, but stopped at 18."
The hybrid gives an awkward sort of wave, and Aro grits his teeth.
"You said they had an immortal child…" he snarled, turning his ire to Irina Denali, who looked absolutely horrified.
"I- I thought she was!"
There's venom in his words.
"Kill her."
There's screams from her sisters, and Irina is frozen in her place, locking eyes with her siblings and getting her apology off as efficiently as she could, hands wrapping around her neck and arms from the henchmen around her.
That's when the dragon roared again, and were they human, their ears would be bleeding, and the voice in their heads began booming once more.
"You have no right to pass such a judgement. Anyone who harms her in this moment will face my ire!"
They release her, and Irina sprints to her sisters, collapsing in a pile of tearless sobs. Carlisle finds his voice, and raises it to shout.
"Leave, Aro. Don't bother us again."
The man laughs, insanity pouring out.
"One day, we will find you without your pet, and you will suffer for what has happened here. Your days are numbered, Cullen's. All of you are living on lost time."
Alice rushed to her mate's side again, sighing uncaringly.
"You were so close, too..." she muttered, when the dragon spoke once more.
"You do not threaten what is mine, you unquestionabe pillock. Offend my family, and you loose yours."
The echo is back, and the vampire army behind the Volturi felt an urge to run as far and fast as they could, an orange heat growing up inside the dragon's chest chilling their spine.
There is a worldess order to retreat, and they turn tail and run, a wave of pure heat and lava exploding from the minister's maw, and burning half the army in its wake.
Purple smoke rose from dying yells, and the dragon stopped, the fire still burning trees and the ground with a furious desire.
"They won't be back for a while…" she thought privately to her mate, who grinned.
"If ever."
There's a silence, comfortable for the mates, unbearable for the Cullens, as the opposing army fled with incredible speeds. The dragon groaned,a rumbled huff as smoke flared from its nostrils.
"You might want to avert your gaze."
With that, the creature began to shrink. Scales lightened, horns and wings recceded, and terrifying jaws shrunk. It was bizzar to see, but soon enough Isabella Swan was before them, naked as the day she was born. Or, well, hatched.
Alice removed her coat, buckling it onto Bella with vampiric speed, settling in her arms with a content hum. They faced the family, wolfish grin on Bella's face.
"So I guess I- oof!"
She was tackled out of Alice's grip by Lela, who was sobbing tearlessly.
"I am so angry with you! But I'm so fuckin' happy you're home."
Bella held her tighter, tucking her mate under her arm as well.
"Can you guys tell me something?" She whispered to them, the two vampires nodding in her embrace.
"Did I get all preachy like Smaug again? It's really hard to contain in my bigger form."
Lela snorts and Alice giggles.
"Oh why must thou asketh such questions?" Alice asked, hand over heart as she broke away, Bella ducking her head in embarrassment.
"As it do be the correct way of speaking-ith, lady Alice!" Lela continued, and they both broke into laughter at the dragons expense.
"Maybe I should've let the Volturi kill you-"
"Nah," Lela interrupted, "you'd be bored without us."
She sighed and nodding, hugging her friend close once again.
"You're right."
The others approach, the wolves still shifted, and Emmett speaks first.
"Woah, nicely done, beasty!"
Rosalie scoffs, but even her scathing glare has a subtle kindness to it.
Progress!
"Who's gonna put out the fire? Might be too obvious a sign for humans."
Bella laughed and tapped her forehead.
"Right, thanks for reminding me."
With confidence and grace, she faced the fire, one hand lazily extended, and she clicked. Like a switch the fire died, leaving plumes of purple smoke behind.
"Now, I'd like to get something to eat, what'da'ya say?"
Three Years Later
Things settled down after that; Esme smothered Alice in hugs, and even Rosalie seemed to accept Bella's continued presence in the household. Nessie was still a little weird around her, as her only real memory was of Bella becoming a huge monster, but they eventually got over it and managed to get on again, as aunt and niece.
The Volturi didn't bother them again, and the family were more than okay with it. Years had passed with no real issue, and finally the time had come for Nessie to join them in highschool.
"You got everything?" Esme asked, "your lunch? Drinks, books, snacks?"
She grinned with a laugh, tucking her hair behind her ear. She was the spit of her mother, dark complexion, thick hair and hazel eyes from Edward's human life.
"Yes, I have everything, grandma!"
She hugged the vampire as tight as she could, butterflies of nerves tickling her stomach. Her mother hugged her from behind, already disliking the idea of calling her 'cousin' for the next few years.
"I'm so proud of you!" She whispered, kissing her cheek as the hybrid laughed.
"Thank you mom, I was wondering though…" she turned with an awkward bite of her lip, eyebrow raised with worry, "can… can I ride in with auntie Alice and Bella?"
Lela paused, but shook her head with a fond look.
"Of course, my love. Whatever you want!"
Nessie hugged her, and danced with her hybrid elegance to her waiting aunties, Alice almost shaking with glee.
"Ah! I told you she'd want to ride with us!"
Bella chuckles and kisses her wife on the head.
"Of course she does, we're so fun! And you have the best car."
Alice beamed, reaching out and catching a wrench before it could hit her mate, throwing it back at Rosalie with a scowl.
"Stop trying to hurt my mate, Rosalie!"
"Enjoy the smell of wet dog, Alice!"
Jacob grinned awkwardly, running a little late as always, and only had eyes for Nessie. They were friends, as she had requested, but Alice could tell her niece was ready to attempt to be more, much to Edward's chargin.
"Ready for your first day of school, Ness?"
Alice grumbled and tucked into Bella's side, her scent constantly pushing out to keep the other vampires from going insane.
Seth almost fell down the stairs, his excitement making him bounce on his feet as Jasper caught him. He was eighteen, had stopped aging, and was finally comfortable dragging Jasper around almost everywhere. His boundless happiness doing wonders for Jasper's mood.
"Are you excited for school too?"
He nodded excitedly, Jasper smiling fondly at his joy.
"I never got to graduate last time I tried, I'm excited to add my hat to the wall! Leah thinks it's dumb, but she said she'd come with Tanya to any dances!"
Jasper kissed his temple, and Seth held him close. Bella slid into the passenger seat as Alice got behind the wheel.
"Well, let's go be town gossip for the next few years, ooo, shall we have a scandal?"
Jake laughed and got in the back with Nessie, Seth and Jasper heading to Rosalie's car. She liked Seth, no matter how much she denied it.
"Ooo, let's tell everyone I may or may not have killed a guy, that'll make them leave us alone!"
Nessie held Jake's hand tighter and leant her head on his shoulder.
"I think my mom and dad will have that rumour anyway, with their glares whenever someone looks at me."
The two up front laughed while Jake grumbled in his chest.
"Ah calm it down, Fido. I'm sure your presence will scare off any big nasty suitors of our little Nessie."
He kicked her chair and she flipped him off.
"Watch the interior!" Alice yelled, glaring at him in the mirror while he shrugged.
"Tell Bella to stop being a dick!"
"Then you stop being a dick!"
Alice groaned and Bella kissed her cheek.
"Another fun few years of highschool, huh?"
They pulled into the parking lot, almost instantly the eyes of the student body found them, and the rumours began.
Bella got out and opened the door for Alice, taking her hand, twirling her and finishing with a kiss. They parted, eyes dark as the others arrived.
"I think this time will be better," she offered, taking her hand and kissing the ring on her finger.
"This time I have you."
The dragon grinned, eyes shining as Lela joined them, hugging her daughter tight as Jake and Edward glared at anyone looking or thinking about Nessie, before walking to the school building.
"Let's do this, Cullens."