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Those mighty beats which once coiled the sky between its tail, leviathans concealing the stars in the night with their wingspan alone. Breath of fire from which scorching heat conjured the eternity of Muspelheim. Neither demon nor angel, above fealty and servant only to their ancient code. Dragons of yore, mighty hunters of inferior pray. Majesty of the air.
Yang thought as she looked out into the early morning rain, grey clouds pouring down into the meadows below. Her scales itched terribly, normally her dad would bear the brunt of trimming the dead skin, but she could not meet him now- perhaps now never. It was a tough job to change the world but she had to do it. Especially now as everything seemed hopeless… especially now as everyone had already abandoned her.
Luckily her recent captive had yet to awaken, there was still hope her luck would change soon… as soon as something happened. Ancient lime walls were nothing like carved timber, and wet stones were no substitute for a warm bed. A fireplace but no roof, a room for oneself but no family.
This really was the first day of her new life.
Just a few minutes into yesterday’s witching hour, Yang had traded the warm seclusion of Taiyang’s forest cabin for the broken fundament of Urquhart castle. A derelict ruin in the east which only remained a home to lost sheep and the occasional delinquent looking for adventure. Last it ever held a function was as a hunter’s bivouac, but that was in the time when the Grimm would still prowl the horizon and pray on the villagers beneath the nearby mountains.
From the ashes rises glory. Now this castle full of lost valor -desolate and ruined- would gain a new purpose. Like the legacy of dragons, the eminence of the past will cease to degenerate. It would serve as the cradle for a new age, a new frontier to expand the domain of superior reptiles. Yang jumped unto the balustrade, flapped her arms and inhaled deeply, preparing to unleash a mighty roar.
Unfortunately, exposed to the freezing wind, she was stricken by a coughing fit and almost fell down the ramparts.
“ehh, are you okay?” She heard a voice say behind her. Prepubescent and severely nasal; it frankly shocked her. No, this would actually not be the greatest moment in history, she was now convinced her luck was probably not going to change any time soon.
She might have made a mistake, somewhere… at some point.
-----10 hours earlier---------
“WE ARE DRAGONS” Yang shouted as small sparks, literally and figuratively, started to fly across the room.
“Yes, that is true.” Her mom Raven rebuked. “However, most importantly, you are still a GIRL. So sit down and stop your nonsense.”
It was not the first of these kinds of arguments, and the heavy sighs both Raven and Tayiang drew seemed to insinuate it would not be the last. Summer was currently upstairs reading a bedtime story for Ruby, but Yang had chosen to forego this usual ritual in order to take her problems straight to the chief, so to speak.
“BUT MOM, you can’t just say you’re satisfied living a life like this… no fire, no life, … just domesticated comfort.” Yang snapped back and threw the full length of her arm towards both of them, extended with a long accusative finger. “THIS IS A NEW FORM OF SLAVERY.”
However both of them failed to heed any drama from the gesture as Tayiang continued brushing her mother’s tail, the small exfoliated dregs of skin landing on the towel beneath them.
“Ha.” Raven laughed dryly. “Without any of this ‘domesticated comfort’ you better believe you would never have been born in the first place. Count yourself lucky you will never experience the old ways of the dragon patriarchs trimming the weak from the herd, the agoge of skulls and bones and- ahhh that’s right dear, that hits the spot.”
“NO ONE IS SAYING WE HAVE TO DO ALL THAT AGAIN.” Yang howled in great fury. “But we got to have FREEDOM. FREEDOM TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!”.
For the first time, Raven now looked directly at Yang. Her eyes focused with a menacing gleam, signaling she had one last chance to stop the discussion herself before she would be made to obey.
“Take over the world? The ancients fought that war for centuries, and what are you? Just a child up past her bedtime. If this truly is slavery just know it is the best you will ever get! Now, you can either face the immediate future of going to bed right now or the incrementally not-so-distant future of being grounded for a week!”
Yang, having never experienced a greater anger in her life, was not about to make any choice willingly. In a fit that shut out all sense and reason, the draco-sapien started jumping around the small living room. There, flapping her wings as an occasional emphasis to the stomps, until she finally leaped on top of the couch and -with élan of complete defiance- flexed every muscle in her body to finally spew out one golf ball seized fireball, which instantly ignited the rug.
Raven and Taiyang used to her antics were quite desensitized, however, they failed to note how quick Yang had gotten over the years. She might still have the erratic nature of a young wyvern, but she was no slouch. They hardly had time to raise an eyebrow before fires engulfed their surroundings, spreading to couch coffee table, potted plants and housecat.
“Not again.” Groaned Taiyang.
Luckily Summer had at that point finished putting Ruby to bed and -predicting heated tension downstairs- had already prepared a bucket of water.
Appearing like a galleons figure cruising into the room, her long dark hair wavering against the billowing light, her red dress dancing with the flames. The tin bucket flying out of her hand, creating a veritable torrent of water, dousing all and everything. The fire instantly quenched, the room damp and Yang, Raven and Taiyang soaked.
“Alright, I’m just going to take Yang to bed as well. See you guys later.”
Gripping Yang with one sole arm and squeezing her tight under her elbow, she hurried to depart with even greater agile leaps, allowing no other word to be said before both were at a safe distance. When the room was once again empty for noise of distress, Raven soon found it content to break the silence.
“You know, despite the fact she has all my dragon blood she takes on remarkable well after your mother.”
“Yes dear”. Taiyang shrugged again, before going back to trimming the skin.
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Upstairs in Yang’s timber lined bedroom, she found herself in Summer’s tender arms. It was completely dark outside, so only the mellow light of her nightlamp provided any resistance to the night. The faint orange glow could barely illuminate the room, but it made Summer’s alabaster like face light up, almost to the point it would shine in the darkness. Her eyes caring, her mouth adorned with a subtle smile.
“It was a shame you didn’t come to today’s story time; Ruby says she is getting too old… and you definitely have heard quite enough already. Perhaps we should just quit it entirely…”
“NO! We cannot let the stories of the dragons be forgotten!” Yang erupted.
“Hush now Yang, I know, but you got to think about this like you would think of our family. In this family of us five, we all got to work together. We all got to help each other when we can, whenever we can. You’re a growing dragon my dear, soon you will have to go into the world so you can become a hunter like me, your dad, your mom…”
“But the dragons could take over, wipe out the Grimm! We could make a better world, with force!”
“That’s not how it works, this world was meant for everybody, humans and dragons alike. No one gets preferential treatment, we all got to make our own way in a manner that does not involve the subjugation of tons of innocent people. We all got to live together… it’s what is best for all…”
For a moment no one said anything. The sound of the wind outside rushing through the trees made a subtle accompaniment to nothing that needs to be said. Then Summer stood up, pulled the duvet over Yang and turned off the lights.
“Sleep well Yang, we have another long day coming tomorrow.”
“Alright mom.”
Summer went up and started walking out the room, casting one last look into the dark interior. Yang lay still, no motion or expression could betray what she thought in this moment.
“Love you my little draco-lass.” Summer said, as she had said a million times before.
“I love you too.. mom.” Yang responded, as always.
Then she left and Yang pulled away the duvet again. It was true, she loved Summer. She loved her dad and perhaps she even loved her mother, but that was not going to stop her. Somber raindrops gathered along the windowsill, the night was about to curl into a meandering cavalcade of rain and indifferent storms. A night far from ideal -nowhere near perfect- but never the less, the night she would abandon her family to become a real dragon.
She opened the window and began the transformation process. The scales began to spread through her entire body as her limbs grew larger and larger, soon there would not be much left of the familiar Yang. With rehearsed familiarity she leaped out into the cold dark night, but her body did not plummet. Instead, it grew and grew until it reached the size of a small bus. She glided across the treetops and disappeared into the sky.
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In the Arc household, the candles were still burning but the clocks were silent. A sack of burlap cloth placed over the ornamental cuckoo on the wall, for tonight’s work session was just about to begin.
“Okay, could you just give me one good reason for why I have to play the princess?” Jaune stood in the family study -currently a makeshift dressing room- wearing a makeshift shawl from stitched doilies and a makeshift dress from curtains and tablecloth.
“Because it redefines the role of women and their relation to the power dynamics in feudal society, the transfem expression of vulnerability displayed within the contradiction of regalia and identity, meant to give the role the necessary depth to truly become a transcendental portrayal of kismets cruel tenacity.” Saphron said while fervently stitching more and more fabric together beneath him.
“Well, at least you wouldn’t say it’s because it suited me better.”
“You only asked for one reason dear brother.”
“Whatever…” Jaune curmudgeonly grunted. “Anyway, this dress heap is getting hot… mind if I open a window?”
“Knock yourself out, just be careful. It seems like there is a storm brewing” As the final needles were put in place, Saphron returned to her drawing board to further contemplate her sketches. Meanwhile, Jaune took off the window haps and allowed the smooth air of the night to penetrate their study. The rain could only reach the limits of the window frame, and gave little evidence of whatever her sister had warned him about. Tenuously, Jaune leaned closer, trying to feel more of the night’s sweet elements.
“We’ll be done soon, so hold still…” He heard Saphron say from somewhere behind him, but he did not pay much attention to her. All he could think about now was getting rid of this stupid dress (why did he always end up in these situations?) and, when all is said and done, tuck into a warm bed far away from her.
Suddenly a mighty thunderbolt struck the ground outside, a majestic flash reigned through the windows and turned the darkness inside out. For a second the night was clear as hell and the room dark as the grave, and then immediately back to normal, or… almost normal.
“Wow, did you see that Jaune?” Saphron turned around but Jaune was already gone. Far, far gone.
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At present time in Urquhart Castle, Yang had just about recovered from her earlier foible (thanks in no small part to some hankies offered by Jaune.)
“So, where am I? What’s going on? Who are you?” Jaune asked fervently confused and bewildered by... everything, from the young scaly girl to his present derelict location.
“PPPFTFFFF” Yang loudly blew her nose in another part of what was previously a garment from Jaune’s costume. “You are a curious mortal you… so curious and selfish that you immediately set to assault me with trivialities while ignoring the actual issue at hand.”
Yang paused for dramatic effect before launching her own full frontal assault.
“WHY ARE YOU WEARING THAT DRESS, YOU MANMADE MAN THING!!!”
“My sister’s idea, she said something about living a society, so I guess that’s why.” Jaune said, his tone calm- trying to retain composure.
“Yes, it is true we are living in the society of man…”
“Yes, the female role in a male dominated-“
“I SAID WE ARE LIVING IN THE SOCIETY OF MAN BUT NOT FOR LONG!!!” Yang furiously flapped her dragon wings up and down, leaping around the murky stones of the tower keep. “It’s time for DRAGONS! It’s time for DRAGONS to dominate the WORLD. No more puny humans, no more degenerate crossbreeding-“
“Okay- I get your point.” Jaune muttered while studying the young lady. She was about his own age and with long golden hair as well, though hers grown into long streams of blonde garlands. She had strange horns and strange wings, obviously she was part draco of some kind. Scales on her legs and arms, and her hands had claw like resemblance- but the soft tissue areas like the neck, thigs and stomach appeared to be human skin… she was really quite stunning in her own way, quite beautiful-
“HEY You!” Yang suddenly sauntered up to square him off. “You’re supposed to be cowering in fear! Why are you looking at me like that!”
“Uh, eh, I was just wondering… I remember being carried away by some enormous creature before getting dropped on my head and going out cold, so I was just wondering-“
“Wonder no more human, despair instead!” With uttering those words, Yang set to demonstrate her transformation abilities. Each feature Jaune had just noticed earlier now overtook her body completely. The horns on her head grew to the size of a bull’s, the scales thickened and covered every inch of her, including her head, which now took a much more dragon-like shape. It did, all together, not take more than 90 seconds for her to receive the form of a true leviathan, a literal myth made flesh. However, as quickly as she became a dragon, just as quickly did she undo her spell and return to her human form.
“That’s how I brough you here, my TRUE form is far more convenient for my abduction schemes. However, my human is how we can live a relatively normal life amongst ordinary effete humans, virtually undetected.” She concluded with a snap of her fingers. “We have done this for centuries, yep. We even wear special clothe that can withstand the muster of all that stretch and pull, so don’t get any perve ideas you guaranteedly pervy male-y manish man thing.”
“Wow, that’s amazing” Jaune looked at her in awe and she was positively beaming. “What’s your name? I mean, mighty dragons are supposed to have names, don’t you think? So can you tell me yours?”
“Excellent idea, when the times come to beg for mercy, you would know by which name you can conduct your insufficient prayers.” Yang hollered. “I’m the mighty dragonborn Yang from the house of Xialong. Progeny of fierce warriors, resurrector of the most sublime dragon breed. Imminent ruler of the universe.”
“Great to meet you I’m Jaune, smooth, short- rolls of the-“
Jaune had hardly time to answer before he was pounced on by the fierce warrior spawn.
“Insufficient to know Jaune, you were supposed to be my hostage… my kidnapped princess. Now you’re my biggest regret in life- tell me how does that make you feel?”
“Kidnapped a-what now?” Jaune replied, flabbergasted.
“A PRINCESS! That’s what dragons do! They kidnap pretty princesses to lure in knights or other figures of authority so they can make them into barbeque! Now I only have you, a delicious blonde to satisfy my appetite- and how do you think that’s going to work? Do you think you’re enough to satisfy my needs-“
“A-aappetite?” Jaune squalled.
“Yes- my-“ *GGGRRRHGGG*
This time it was Yang’s stomach squalling.
“oh, eh, h-hungry?” Jaune stammered out.
“I… haven’t had breakfast yet…” Yang finally admitted after having looked crestfallen for about a minute.
“Okay…” Jaune replied without much emphasis of tone.
For a moment neither of the teenagers said anything. Jaune was resigned to his position under Yang and Yang seemed lost in her current stream of thoughts.
“You know if you had any ingredients here I might be able to make your breakfast.” Jaune finally suggested.
“Right… okay. Since you’re no princess I know you’re technically not kidnapped, so that means you won’t try to escape. Yes, that makes sense. Anyway, I’ll be go hunting.”
And just like that, Yang leaped off from the tower to get grub. As she glided across the sky her shape once more took a much more immense and dragon-esque shape, and -as her silhouette slipped into the moist morning air- one very baffled blond boy was left behind.
“Guess I should just check this place out then.” Jaune muttered.
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Meanwhile, two very similar scenarios were playing out in the households of Taiyang and Arc, one missing family member at the breakfast was not good news… especially when neither were old enough to drink. There were searched in the vicinity, then outside the vicinity. The last place they were remembered to be seen, and the most likely and unlikely place for them to turn up. The Arcs, comprising of seven sisters, an old warrior dad and fierce mother were all devastated for the cancellation of the planned theatrical performance, so they immediately sought to plan a rescue party. A party comprised of the last person who saw Jaune alive:
Saphron, who failed to notice the abduction, just figured Jaune had slipped out to watch an episode of that anime with girls and guns. She figured she was going to spend the day watching romcoms on the couch. Now she figured there was no way of getting out of this.
And just a few miles away at the other end of the forest; Summer was crestfallen, but never the less allowed Ruby to go looking in her place. She knew the woods much better than any of the adults, and she had her silver eyes and- there was just SO much work to be done when you had to rebuilt half a living room…
Back at the castle, Jaune found himself in the remnants of a great hall. One which once occupied state affairs of supreme importance- banquets of fervent festivities and lavish ceremonies of grandeur. There was nothing left of that now, just some armors flanked the halls and most of them missing their integral plating. Rubble covered the floor and heaped alongst the corners. Cracked dinnerware and broken tables disassembled the empty monotony, but otherwise nothing reserved this mighty space.
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“Well, that’s another dead end.” Jaune sighed.
Suddenly a mighty bang resonated through the building as Yang broke down through the ceiling, taking with her most of the supporting buttresses and lumber crossbeams.
“There you are my wonderful slave; did you miss me? Huh? Huh? Huh?” Yang erupted gleefully.
“Your slave? I thought I was supposed to be a mere kidnapped princess?” Jaune replied slyly.
“I think we did clear up how we failed to achieve that, besides you gotta learn to work for your food now, that will be the first commandment for the thrall of a dragon lord. Speaking of which, look what I got you!”
In her outstretched hand, Yang handed him what looked like charred roadkill. A squirrel covered in dirt, hide brushed and burned.
“And how do you come across that?” Jaune asked.
“I flew into the branch this thing was sitting on, we both plummeted to the ground. When I realized I was still alive, I gave it a good grilling to make sure it was not.”
“I see.” Jaune thought for a moment. “How about we don’t eat that… I actually have another idea. When I went exploring I found an abandoned quail nest in the rafters which contained some unhatched eggs… Similar in the catacombs I found a rotten pillar on which some wild chanterelles were growing. We could make some omelets.”
“OOOOH, that IS an excellent idea.” Yang clapped her hands together. “Then we can gut this furry thing as well and fry up some of the-“
“Actually I don’t think we need to use t-the eh furry thing… but we can use some of these armors to cook the eggs in. These cuirasses are all made both deep and hollow, and the iron looks like it can withstand the heat. And with your incendiary breath we don’t even have to make our own bonfire-”
“Well, look at that princess boy, seems like you got blessed with some brains in leu of all that brawn you’re missing.”
Despite the sting of Yang’s jab, Jaune was quick to move and soon managed to gather all the needed ingredients, and soon they had two sizzling mushroom omelets prepared to satiate their most immediate appetite. As Jaune watched Yang wolf down her plate, many new and curious questions filled his mind.
“So you’re a dragon, right?”
“Nothing gets past you, eh?” Yang muttered as another load of omelet got gulped down.
“Well, I was just thinking… I’ve heard about the ancient wars from long ago but never figured I would actually run into a real life one, at least not out here.”
“Well I guess this is the day your life got turned upside down. Like, allow me to lay it out for you blondie. At first you thought; ‘well it isn’t possible for dragons to live in massive opulent castles’, then you thought; ‘where’s that mighty pile of treasure she is supposed to be resting on’ -which I’m still working on so you might as well cough up if you got any cash- and then you thought; ‘well I never thought I would find a purpose in my useless life’ and now you’re my slave. All these things you used to believe turned out to be WRONG. Might as well admit it right now, this is great. All great. Please say thank you to your mistress.”
“Thank you- but that’s the thing I was wondering about. If dragons really want to reign supreme then why are you here all alone? Isn’t there supposed to be entire armies and mercenaries working to fight humans- I mean, I thought we put an end to it all but-“
“They gave up.” Yang put down her plate and laid down on her back. “They thought it was better to be petted and groomed and eat delicious cake and rest in warms bed than to be master the universe. So they just stopped fighting and settled down to have families and stuff…”
“Sounds like they found a way to be happy.”
Jaune’s eyes gazed upon the now sad looking dragon girl. She had become rather pensive and listless, her large lilac eyes stared into the ceiling hole with motionless vigor. Her clothes were disheveled, festered with leaves and twigs. The scales on her skin blemished with muck and dirt. Despite her earlier insistence her clothes were made for the transformation act, it seemed just as prone to neglect from the elements as much as the ones he was wearing.
“You know...” Jaune began. “When my mom and dad were out of town, I used to take care of my small sisters. Helping bath them and groom their hair. Perhaps I could fix you up as well? I still got my brush and it’ll only take a second. I’m sure I can make you look as splendid as a… a dragon’s stolen princess.”
“Nice try humy!” Yang disdainfully erupted. “We dragons don’t take to such foolish- AAAHH.”
While Yang answered, she had incidentally also let her gown down. Or at least, let it down long enough for Jaune to sneak up with a comb to brush her air. Twigs and fags, leaves and acorns. All thing dirt got filtered out and the long strands of golden hair was left in waving furrows down her backside.
“AAAAH.” Yang gasped beneath him. “AAAAAAHH”.
“I’m sorry, I’ll try to be gentle.” Jaune said while internally scolding himself for the transgression.
“A mere mortal can never hurt a dragon, nor can his strokes feel overwhelmingly delightful. NOPE! This does not bring me one ounce of pleasure AAAH.” Yang’s face gradually contorted into a strange ecstatic frensy, eventually leaving her speechless.
“No pleasure huh? Well, I’ll take a note of that. In the meantime, I’ll just make sure we get all the muck out of you. Can’t be a majesty while covered in filth.” Jaune continued until nothing spoiled her strands of golden luster.
“Ha ha boy, slave.” Yang muttered. “Tell me, how did you get so good at this? Sisters you say- surely that cannot be all?”
“Perhaps, but when you have seven of them, it kind of offers a lot of opportunities (and compulsions) to improve your skills.”
“Seven sisters… that sounds-“
“I know what it sounds like, but a perchance for fecundity is just something that runs in our blood.”
“Sounds like it’s not just about the fecundity of the blood but WHERE it so perchance runs to-“ Yang stopped herself before going on, not quite sure where her line of thoughts would have taken her. “Anyway, I would deem your skills sufficient.”
“For my bloodline or?”
“For your skills with a brush, thank you!” Yang snapped. “Please keep your head out of the gutter.”
“I see.” Jaune was not quite sure what she meant but figured an angry dragon was not one to do a manicure on, so instead he continued to brush the hair clean, finally concluding with a long braid running through in a wave like pattern. Yang did not speak, sometimes it sounded like she would purr but for the most part she would be quiet.
“Alright, done.” Jaune finally said. “Since there are no mirrors around you can’t actually see it, but I bet it feels nice.
“Thank you, it really does.” She admitted with a faint blush. “Now, tell me, I know I took you from your mom and dad and siblings but… is there anyone else from which you will never see again? Like, a lover of some kind? Perhaps a girlfriend waiting with consternated gaze aimed at the far horizon?”
“Eeh, no.” Jaune answered, taken aback by the sudden question. “I mean, the ladies, eh, I got so many waiting around they can’t keep track of me. They know I’ll be around so they won’t bother for a night or two.”
“I understand.” Yang answered without looking at him.
“How about you? Got some dreamy eyed dragon lad coming to peel the flesh from my bones?”
“EH!” Yang’s earlier blush had now conquered her entire face, and made sure every part from the chin to the earbuds where completely covered in a rouge taint. “HOW DARE YOU?! WHY WOULD YOU CONCORT TO SUCH INDECENCY!? HAVE YOU NO SHAME” She all but screamed.
“I’m sorry to offend you…” Jaune did not expect that reaction and was now quite flustered himself. “But the way you described your plan earlier, it sounded like something which would take generations to unfold- something which would require a mate of some kind… someone to scheme and-“
“Sounds like you should just shut up princess boy.” Yang snapped back, perhaps it was impossible to accurately say where the blush ended at this point. It might just have covered anything that was not covered in scales. Her eyes flared briefly, but she found it difficult to keep the composure. Something about the boys puppy like eyes and shaggy appearances was… no!
“Anyway, now we are done eating I suggest you get out of my room.” Yang leaped up and said in a voice stern and defiant.
“This whole massive space is your room?” Jaune asked, not that he actually minded. This place was damp and dingy -not to mention- with one massive dragon shaped hole in the roof.
“Yep, this is just what real dragons LOVE. All this room needs is one heaping pile of gold, but don’t you worry; I accept checks as well- so you can just write one out to me when you feel like it.”
“So where do you want me?- wait!” Baffled, Jaune had hardly time to finish his sentence before Yang had pulled him off the ground by the hems of his trouser. Even when not in her dragon transformation, the blond still carried an inordinate wallop of strength.
“Oh don’t you worry; I have the exact right room for you.” Yang bellowed with laughter. “A place so despicable, so grim and awful that you would beg me to put you out of your misery rather than to leave you there for more than a mere one second.”
With Jaune literally being dragged to his demise, Yang continued to crackle as they went further into the castle. First up opulent staircases, then down dusty corridors. Gradually the halls seemed to become darker and darker, only a few rays of light seemed to slip in through crevasses in the mortar joints. At some point Jaune lost his sense of spatial awareness… as well of his sense of awareness in general, but perhaps that is just what happens when you go on for so long being dragged on the ground.
Eventually they stopped. Jaune could just about make out one large oak door in the darkness.
“This is it foolish princess boy, this is the place where I will leave you to your fate!”
And with that she opened the door. Bright light streamed through the threshold and blinded his eyes. It took a full minute before he could see gain; see the entrance they stood in. See the room beyond. When he finally got accustomed to the light in his eyes, he finally discovered the place Yang had carried him to was… just a nice ordinary room…
actually a lot nicer than most other places in Urquhart.
Jaune walked in and looked around, it was an antique bedroom furnished with a large wooden canopy bed. The windows faced east and still contained all their glass panels intact, ornamental figures in a myriad of colors shined through the panes. There was a small fireplace too, and the addition of a bundle of dry fags kept next to it. The place was still dusty but without any visible deterioration. The walls were covered in mahogany panels which offered a faint bonus of insulation, while the floors were solid oak and somehow sustained without any of the water damage common to most other parts of the castle.
“I don’t get it.” Jaune finally said. “This room is better than just about anywhere else in this bumtown for kings. Why did you built it up to be something awful?”
“Well you see dumb foolish human.” Yang slowly closed the door, turning the lock around carefully.
Her eyes were apathetic, large wells of bleak contempt. She held a wild paused, then leaped across the room with fury, jumped atop the bed with her arms stretched out, brandishing her nails to make herself look as imposing as possible.
“Once my natural birth mother -who was one of the GREATEST and MIGHTIES of all dragons who have ever lived- entered a room just like this one. There was a door, there was a window and there was a BIG bed, however, the man who will later become my father ALSO happened to be in that room. Now! No one is quite sure what happened between them, but when my mom returned from that room, she was a completely different person. She was no longer bent on world supremacy, she no longer wanted to enslave the human race. She had lost her spark for rebellion; she was no longer! She was hardly anything! She had become a toy, demure and tamed.”
‘Is that so?” Jaune said trying to hold on to a face that would not get him instantly incinerated.
“For years and years I have asked her to tell me what she was made to suffer, what devious torture she was put to endure… but mom always said the torture only really began nine months later. Truly there are few mysterious in this world that confounds us to such gruesome speculation!”
“Look, I’m sorry but don’t you think you might be misunderstanding some things- OOHEAY”
In an instant, Jaune was swept of his feet and thrown down on the bed. Yang had once again taken the opportunity to remind him she had the upper hand.
“Misunderstood what little princess boy? Are you saying it didn’t happen?”
“No, no, no oh no, I’m just saying things probably happened in a different way, that’s all!”
“Are you calling me a liar?” Yang allowed her fingers to transform into long hook like shapes, and trailed them along his smooth chin.
“No! I’m not! An Arc would never press doubt on the validity of a lady’s regale, that is just not our style. I just-“
“Wait, what did you just say?” Yang suddenly jolted up, her eyes now much more furious and confused.
“Regale, that’s like when you-“
“Not that you blabbering imbecile of a diminutive imp, an Arc would never do what? What do you mean by that?! An Arc of what?”
“Well uh that’s my name Jaune Arc, short sweet-“
Jaune completely forgot he had already tried that line, but that was perhaps understandable as he now felt the sharp point of a razor claw pointed directly against his throat.
“An Arc from the Arc family, the once infamous but celebrated hunters of dragons.”
“Well, that happened in the past.” Jaune tried desperately to diffuse the situation but that claw seemed very keen not to leave its place.
“There is no way such vile beasts could ever change… You set this up. You tried to lure me here so you could finally slice and dice the last truly free dragon in the world. ADMIT IT you welsch!” Yang pressed him down against the bed with the weight of her whole buddy, her brow furrowed. Her face now contorted in maniacal frensy.
“Honestly that’s not what I wanted at all!” A thousand different thoughts went through Jaune’s mind, but not one single idea or plan seemed to crystallize in his mind. At this point he could already feel her hot breath against his neck. He had never been so close to another women before, and she was steadily moving to straddle his body completely.
“Trust you?!” Yang shouted back at him. “Why should I trust you when I can already see you’ve got your weapon primed and ready for me. I can see it right here in your pants!”
“Wait- what do you mean? That’s not a-!” Jaune’s eyes immediately rolled into his own frensy of sublime horror. He knew what this meant, he knew there was no way back now. This would be the end, no matter what happened afterwards.
“Oh you bet it is!” Yang grabbed the outline of the strange angular bulge which had started to form along his crotch. “You thought you were real slick trying to hide this for me, but this position finally compromised your true intentions. I can now at last observe the dagger… or baton… or other sausage seized weapon you seem to carry… or whatever it is you tried to conceal from me.”
“NO YANG!” Jaune screamed. “THAT’S NOT WHAT IT IS! YOU HAVE TO LET GO RIGHT NOW!”
“LET GO OR ELSE!” Yang screamed back.
“ELSE you will be grounded for one BAZILLION YEARS!” A third party screamed.
Suddenly the door flew up again, this time it was Ruby, her mother Summer, her mother Raven and Taiyang kicking off the lock and throwing themselves into the room.
“WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING TO MY DAUGHTER YOUNG MAN!” Taiyang bellowed.
“I’m not doing anything to your daughter!” Jaune shouted back. “I’m actually trying to stop this!”
“MY DAUGHTER IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU IS THAT IT?” Raven was furiously shaking with her fists.
“You’re doing such a bad job being useful.” Yang whispered to the frankly berated and bewildered Jaune.
“Mom is this seggs?” Ruby’s voice could be heard bellow all the bickering.
“I’m not sure darling but you better close your eyes for now.” Summer responded.
“Wait… wait! Wait…” Jaune suddenly began. “So you are all… her family?”
He looked around at the strange menagerie… it was not difficult to get which women had shirred her (possibly the one with shark like teeth and a black tail). But what where they doing here… all of them?
“Yes, we are.” Raven cleared her throat and began to explain. “You see, when a dragon comes to reach a certain age -male or female regardless- some natural instincts starts to kick in, we call this the brooding phase. It is their most rebellious phase, but also the time when it becomes natural to start courtship with a compatible mate of their own choosing.”
“MOM!” Yang shouted. “This have nothing to do with this, I just happened to think Jaune was a princess like in the old stories-“
“Listen honey-“ Raven interrupted. “Girls, boys, whatever you are into. We will always support you and all the gay sex you want.”
“This. Is. Not. About. THAT!” Yang started to scream. “This is about dragons… to restore… restore our might. Majesty.”
It was the same words she used the day before, but this time it all seemed different. It was like all the air had been let go and now she could barely muster to fill the words with any pathos.
“Dragons must rule supreme.” She finished at last.
There was a moment where nobody said anything. Instead, they just looked at each other.
“Look dear” This time it was Taiyang stepping into the discussion. “How about you put all that on the shelf for now and come back with us. No one is saying you have to give up on your heritage, but you must be able to see the world isn’t going to change by hanging out in a crummy old castle.”
Then there was that silence again, but this time it seemed unpredictable. Yang was evidently considering the question very seriously, weighing the importance of each option against each other. Sure, the last 24 hours spent between these moldy walls were quite harsh, but she got to think about the future! Omelets, long braids, golden puppies… NO! NO! NO! It was… too early. But perhaps, with time? Maybe???”
“Okay…” She then said. “I’ll go home if I can take this boy with me.”
Everyone breath a sigh of relief, except Jaune.
“Wait! Don’t I get to home too?!” He injected into the seemingly placid resolution.
“Of course you do dear, Yang will have to attend school soon, so it’s not like she gets to keep you… forever that is” Summer responded. “Still, it’s wonderful our daughter have found something else to care about besides world domination… even if it happens to be a boy.”
With the mood seemingly lifted up from manic hysteria to amiable accord, they succeed to depart all together. Yang had still not managed to let go of Jaune as they left the castle, but this time he did not really mind. She was already too tired to walk by herself, so he opted to carry her for the trip back. The tired dragon girl had just enough strength to grope around him tightly as they left, drowsily sitting on his back. At least she was not holding on with her claws anymore, and her embrace was otherwise quite comforting.
“You’re my treasure now.” She whispered as they left Urquhart behind. Jaune did not know exactly what she meant, but he figured she was just tired after quite a restless day.
“So… what school will you attend after you get home?” Jaune asked as they kept on walking. “A school for dragons?”
“Beacon.” Taiyang answered promptly. “Do not doubt these arrangements, our accord with the headmaster goes back centuries.”
“I see.” Jaune said. “Actually we have our own arrangement with that very same school. Perhaps we would meet again very soon then.”
“Is that true- wait who is that?”
Drawn to the noise, Saphron suddenly appeared from behind the trees. Thinking he would just had come home on his own volition, she had spent most of the day not really putting an effort into finding him, but when she heard the small procession of the Summer/XiaLong family appear she took the opportunity to investigate.
“It’s my sister! Sapphron what are you doing here?!” Jaune shouted.
“IT’S ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE ARC HUNTER FAMILY!” Yang suddenly perked up and jumped on top of Jaune’s shoulder. “A VILE DRAGON EXTERMINATOR BENT ON KILLING US ALL!”
To which Saphron lifted her arm and pointed at her shouting back.
“AAARG, IT’S A FEMALE SPECIMEN DESIRING MY BROTHER’S PENIS!”
Yang’s face instantly went beet red, and immediately curtailed any future comments. The rest of the company just looked on without any visible reaction to Sapphron’s outburst, perhaps too shocked to even comprehend her words.
“What, am I wrong or something?” Saphron shrugged.
This time Jaune grunted loudly.
The future had now been irrevocably changed for both Arcs and the mighty dragons.