Chapter Text
Once upon a time… a dragon lived in the thorn forest, and he lived alone.
He was used to living alone, though he couldn’t say he enjoyed it. He simply existed in his small area of the world. He didn’t remember how old he was; dragons rarely breed, due to their self isolating nature and their immortal state. But age did not matter for something like himself. He was a proud, ferocious, strong, fearsome beast that very few dared to mess with. He grew up as alone as he lived, with no parents to shelter and coddle him. Either both parents were slain by greedy humans or they saw no need to raise him, but the dragon honesty didn’t care. It was a calm, quiet existence. He couldn’t say he liked or disliked being alone; he simply was. His forest provided all he could ever want or need in a constant… well, constant. Never changing, never withering away, much like himself. Sunshine and flowers were rare in his forest, but he never minded it.
Now, dragons in myths were stated to be collectors of sorts, gathering gold or jewels for their nests. This was true, at least until most grew out of this behavior. The black dragon of the thorn wood was no exception, never truly desiring a hoard of his own aside from the roses along the border of his home. It was all he needed. Until…
It was on a fresh spring day that two hunters came into his forest on horseback. At least, the dragon thought it was spring. With his land being so charred and blackened by his own fire, the seasons barely touched his area. Not even snow dared to fall in his forest. The black dragon saw a good opportunity for a meal. Technically, he didn’t need to eat, but he still wouldn’t pass up a free human treat when it encroached on his land. It was how he kept his beloved thorn forest from being cleared away, after all. So he crouched down low and slowly made his way to the open path.
“Ace, come on,” the older of the two said. “We really shouldn’t be here.”
“What’s wrong, Knave? You’re not scared are you?”
“Just cautious; look at the ground. It’s completely scorched. That’s a sign we’re in an area with a dragon.”
“Dragon? Ha! Please, I’m not five years old anymore.”
“I’m serious, Ace. They are real.”
“Come on, they’re just fairytales. If not, how come I’ve never seen a flying lizard like them before?”
The black dragon grinned to himself. This red-haired boy will see soon enough how wrong he was. His ignorance shall lead to his own demise.
“That’s because dragons are near extinct. In fact, I’d bet that this place has the last dragon in all of Twisted Wonderland.”
The dragon stopped. Rather than pounce on his would-be victims, he decided to continue listening and crouched lower into the shadows of the vines.
The younger redhead sighed. “Okay, I’ll bite; what happened to the other dragons?”
“I don’t know. They all just started disappearing one by one before you were born.”
“How convenient.”
“Ace, please. If I’m right and there is a dragon here, it will kill us both!”
“Fine. Let’s go already. I’m ready for dinner anyways.”
“Thank you.”
With that, the two brothers rode away as the dragon watched, unseen in the shadows.
The last dragon…
Could I truly be the last?
………………………
The black dragon did not know why this simple conversation between humans rattled him so much. Men are simple creatures themselves. Just because two of them have not yet seen a dragon, it doesn’t mean he is truly the last. Dragons are the strongest of creatures, after all. It was possible for them to be killed, especially if enough humans worked together to subdue it, but this was a very rare occurrence. Perhaps the others are in hiding. But that thought did nothing to ease the black dragon’s worries; why would his brothers and sisters need to hide in the first place? Dragons mostly keep to themselves, but they don’t just vanish. No, he couldn’t be the last. It was just not possible.
Right?
It was then, on a warm day in a clearing in his thorn forest, that the dragon heard a soft humming. He had no idea where it came from; the voice was so small, it was too hard to tell.
“Show yourself.”
As the dragon scoured his land, his eyes finally landed on a butterfly mere inches from his face. The beast was stunned; butterflies normally don’t enter his domain. They were rarer than humans.
“Greetings!” The butterfly said in a surprisingly deep voice. He was mostly dark with spots of bright pink on his wings that fluttered ever so slightly. “A pleasure to see a new face on my travels.”
“If you seek refuge in my forest,” the dragon began, “you will find no such lodgings. The only flowers that grow here are the roses at the boarders. The are protected by sharp and thick thorns that would tear your wings to shreds if you were to get too close. Even if you are not harmed by the thorns, the other predators that live here will come after you. I think it best you find another area to call your home.”
“Oh, fear not. I am not here to settle down. I much more prefer the life of a nomad. I’ve traveled all across Twisted Wonderland and I still haven’t seen all of it yet.”
“Really?” The dragon questioned, his mind once again returning to the conversation with the hunters. “Say, butterfly. You mentioned earlier that I am a ‘new face.’ Does that mean that you have not seen another like me?”
“My boy, everyone is different in their own way. It’s like snowflakes; no two are exactly the same.”
“I mean have you seen another that looks at least similar to me? Another of my species.”
The butterfly hummed in thought. “It’s hard to say.”
“Do you even know what I am? If you do, then please say it.”
“Well, you’re curious for one.” The butterfly stated playfully.
The dragon was unamused. This small creature was likely playing with him for fun.
“Nevermind. When you leave the forest, follow the path and stay low to the ground. You’ll avoid the thorns that way. Farewell, butterfly.”
With that, he turned to leave. The black and pink butterfly watched this with his deep pink eyes, before finally calling out;
“Wait, dragon!”
The black dragon’s ears immediately perked up. Then he quickly turned back to the butterfly.
“So you do know of me!” The beast started with joy. “Have you seen any others?! Have you seen another dragon?!”
“That’s not what’s important.” The butterfly said in a serious tone. “The important thing is how they all vanished.”
The dragon's ears drooped backwards. Vanished? Were they truly gone?
“They raced down the roads and traversed the skies long ago, but a creature of malice and fire scoured for them. It gathered them one by one and none have been seen since.”
“What? What creature?!” The dragon asked, feeling slightly insulted. “What could possibly be able to overpower a great beast like me?! Do you dare lie to me?!”
“Of course not. I am no fool, and neither are you, I hope. Just as you have warned me of the thorns, I will warn you of the creature that will hunt you should you leave. But there is a chance for you to save the others, if you are brave enough to do so.”
The dragon scoffed. “I am a noble dragon. I am the embodiment of strength.”
“You say that as if it is bravery.” The butterfly remarked, sounding completely unimpressed.
This one comment completely caught the dragon off guard. Noticing the larger creature’s silence, the butterfly continued.
“Whatever you choose to do, do it wisely. The path you wish to take to save the others is surely one of pain and hardship. Goodbye, dragon.”
And with that, the butterfly was gone.
The dragon watched it go for a moment before shaking his head, growling, and turning to find the plot of land he would rest on.
He was suddenly very tired.
……………………………
It burned…
A numbing, harsh, painful burn right beside his wing.
His… his wing…
When did it get so torn up? So damaged? What could have possibly caused all of these holes?
And who… who is that yelling? What are they saying?
RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!
He suddenly got up, his wing still aching, and began to run with all his might. Blue flames sprouted beside him, roaring with anger. And he could feel it. For the first time, he felt the heat of the flames near him. He never knew fire was so… hot.
Then the lights came on; it blinded him, causing him to stumble and fall.
And fall…
And fall…
He didn’t feel himself land, but he was on the ground. That was good. That was fine. He just needed to stand. And so he did.
He could see the ocean. Big, vast, and stretching out for miles. It looked so calm, so peaceful. The sound of the waves crashing on the sand in such a rhythmic manner eased his beating heart. It was perfect. Rest, comfort, water to ease his burns from whatever had attacked him…
The blue flames sparked up again, forming an entire wall behind him. He growled as they started to close in on him, trying to force him into the water. It wasn’t until this happened that he truly didn’t want to go into the ocean anymore, as his choice to do so was taken from him.
Then something began moving behind the flames; something large, dark, and hulking as it came closer…
…closer…
He shot out his own fire, but the green fire was swallowed by the blue wall. And the creature behind it didn’t stop approaching him.
And then it leapt at him with cat-like grace and-
………………………………
The dragon roared as he woke up. The normally strong and stoic creature breathed heavily as he tried to calm himself.
He was still in his forest. He was safe. He was…
Afraid.
Growling, the dragon got up on all fours and began to run. He normally didn’t have dreams, but when he does it likely means something. An approaching army of hunters, another predator bringing competition, anything that might pose a problem to his peace and solitude. But this one was different. What if that was what happened to the other dragons?! If that thing, whatever it was, truly caught all the dragons… and if they are all still alive, then he could find them. He could bring them back. He would no longer be the last! Dragons would return to the world and reclaim their lands. They would be back.
And so the black dragon continued to run until he passed the entrance to his thorn forest. The screeching or bats and him of crickets began to fade. Even the light of the moon was brighter out in the open than in his home.
The dragon turned back to his forest for a moment. What would become of his beloved domain? His sanctuary? His home and safe ground? Would the humans blaze it down, rip out his precious rose garden and slaughter the nocturnal creatures that dwell with him? The thought almost made him turn back and re-enter his safe haven. But…
“They raced down the roads and traversed the skies long ago, but a creature of malice and fire scoured for them. It gathered them one by one and none have been seen since.”
The dragon growled as he shook his head.
I shall leave now, he thought to himself, and return soon. Surely this journey cannot take that long. After all, I have all the time in the world where humans do not. It will only seem like a brief flight to me.
And with that, the dragon spread his wings and took off onto the sky, the clouds and the shroud of night providing him cover.