Taming the Dragon Prince

VI: Our Unpleasant Meeting

After spending my whole morning exploring the abandoned ruins in the dragon kingdom together with Didi, the talking--sometimes annoying-- crow, I have learned a lot of things about the history of the dragons and how they came to be. Just like what miss Vasatti and princess Thalia told me, they were indeed the peacekeeper between the different races. When orcs tried to invade the land of the fairies, the dragons were there to stop any form of dispute. When mermaids plotted to change their tails into feet so that they could see the surface, the dragons bestowed them magical pearls that can see anything in the world so that they can marvel at the world's beauty without the need to infiltrate the land. Harmony was maintained, all thanks to the dragon queen 'Stheorla' who as Didi mentioned, is prince Alec's mother. They were deemed as gods and goddesses.

"We have to hurry, prince Alec usually wakes up as soon as the sun is perfectly at the center of the sky!" Didi flew past me, the look in her small eyes shows that she is afraid of what consequences she might face if that dragon found out she toured his prisoner around his beloved kingdom.

"Don't you mean at noon?" I hesitantly trailed behind her, glancing one last time at the buildings completely enveloped with nature. There were small animals living in each crevice found and would always grovel in fear whenever they hear a slight sound, probably because of that guy Alec who would mercilessly burn everything down to the ground.

Speaking of Alec, taming him would be like asking the fish to learn how to fly, impossible! Even though his looks were out-of-this-realm kind of beauty that I myself lost sight of the reality I am in and kept fawning over him, his personality is so... how do I say this... so violent.

He kept shoving me across the room, without even thinking that I have bones that could snap and break, thank heavens I was still alive. If it wasn't for his handsomeness then I would have fought back. Aside from being abused by him, I do not remember anything else as I passed out and woke up the next day with a talking bird on my face.

But after speaking with Didi that claims she has been with the dragon for a month searching for the princess, I came up with a few ideas in mind. Obviously, seducing him won't work with this face of mine so let's just forget about that, it pains me to say that I couldn't even seduce the palace guard let alone a dragon who has been alone for two decades.

"Remember Aerith, I originally planned to abduct the princess since she was known to be gentle and kind that can help tame prince Alec's aggressiveness, but after knowing you I came to believe that you can do this!" Didi spoke some encouraging words as we entered the main hall, but it sounded more like her last words before I am burnt to a crisp.

Looking at the very end of the gigantic room, there the dragon prince aggressively sleeps with his loud and hoarse breathing. With a shadow casting that area, all we could see is a puff of smoke and fire whenever he breathes out.

"Go on, wake him up." Didi flew to my back and pushed me that made me take a few steps forward, I quickly turned around to evade her small attempts to push me to my doom.

"Are you crazy?!" I whispered but sounded more like a breathy yell. "Even though he is fast asleep he can still cremate my body, what more if he is awake?" 

"Aerith, the first step in taming the dragon would be earning his trust and to show that is by waking him up instead of plunging a dagger to his heart." Even though she does not have lips but a beak instead, I can still hear her smiles behind her voice.

"Didi, I am having second thoughts about this taming plan of yours, maybe it is much better if it was princess Thalia here instead." I began walking towards the direction of the gigantic doorway but Didi managed to stop me by flying and stopping in front of my face.

"You can't do that, we have to revive the dragon race at all cost!" 

"How about I propose another plan, just straight up tell that dragon over there that you need him to be kind and pure-hearted to open the portal." 

"That, I cannot do. I already told him that we need the holy powers of the princess. If he finds out that I lied to him then I would be toasted."

I grabbed her small body and slightly squeezed her making her yelp, "And then what do you think would happen to me if he finds out I am not the princess and I do not possess any holy powers?! I would be more than toasted if that happens."

"Ack! That is why we can't back down at this point, just go with my plan."

I released her and we both stared blankly at each other, sure I would love to stay in the outside world instead of scrubbing floors or quarreling with Angela or lady Rina. I have dreamt for the moment I step outside those walls to happen, that is why I accepted this plan and also because I want to help Didi revive the dragons.

But I still don't have the guts to tame that aggressive dragon in exchange for this freedom! I might get killed in the process.

When Didi thought that I had given up, I used the opportunity to run past her.

"H-hey!" She was caught off guard, watching me run towards the exit but she was fast enough to catch up to me and block my way again.

I stopped and she stopped, I shifted my weight to the right and she did as well in preparation to catch me when in fact I was going to run to the left that once again caught her off guard.

"Stop!" She yelled, good thing we were very far away from the slumbering dragon that our small chase scene was not noticeable.

"I want to die of old age, not by flames of a dragon." I quipped, still trying to outrun Didi who kept blocking my way and I had to swiftly turn around and run to the other direction.

"Wait, just stop. Hear me out first." She begged, her sorrowful eyes were not enough to stop me. "Prince Alec will never kill you!" When I heard that, I stopped. In this day and age, seeing a bird cry is not enough to sacrifice your own life for her sake.

"And why is that?" I crossed my arms over my chest, impatiently tapping my foot on the concrete ground with tiny plants growing out of each crevice.

"It is because he needs you alive until the 3rd month, he believes that your holy powers were needed in opening the portal."

"So?"

"So he won't kill you, you can't use your holy powers if you are dead."

"Oh my god, that is great! But Didi, I think you are forgetting something, I do not have even a drop of holiness inside me." I mockingly pointed at myself, and smiled crookedly "Just a palace maid, remember?"

"It would be fine if he does not find out. Just keep getting close with him for three months. Then after that, when I am back in my original form, as the lost princess of the fairy kingdom I would bestow numerous riches to you so you could explore the world."

"Hmmm,"  I placed my hand over my chin, feeling my invisible beard as I think of the possibilities of discovering something new with the wealth this fairy princess will give me. I think I might be able to buy my own palace, and then I will invite lady Rina over to knock some tea on her gaudily colored dress.

Alright, I guess I am in on this plan after all.

"Okay deal, as long as that dragon prince won't kill me I will do it."

"Great! Now please wake him up."

"Heh, no problemo." I proudly walked back to the direction of his gloomy sleeping area. It took me 3 minutes to reach him since the hall was so big and the path to his throne was so long.

I sneakily avoided his mouth as it releases a fume of fire every time he exhales, so I was standing next to his enormous scaly wings. Didi was hovering at least 10 meters away from us as if she was looking at how this dragon prince would react if awoken by a human.

But I have no fear, he needs me. As long as I do not reveal my real identity, I would be fine and in 3 months' time, I would be touring the world.

"Ehem! Prince Alec Zelphyr Druettus?" I lightly tapped his wings but it served to be fruitless as his breathing rhythm was still consistent.

I glanced at Didi and she ushered me to do it again but this time, much harder so that it could penetrate through his thick skin.

"Prince Alec! Wake up!"

I was so sure that I heard series of thunder sounds the moment he snapped his eyes open but I think those were just the sounds of his stomach, his eyes were a mixture of yellow and red and a black slit settles at the middle that served as his pupils.

"Oh... Umm, good morning?" I wryly smiled, waving my hand in front of his eyes that is 3 times bigger than my head.

There was a moment of silence, it was like the calm before the storm. We both stared intently at each other, or should I say, it was just me staring at one of his eyes. The only thing I heard next was the sound of a small wing flapping away, I was certain that it was Didi who was trying to run away to avoid being caught by this prince since his giant wings were gradually extending skyward, preparing to fly.

"Umm, just to clear things up... I... umm... it was Didi who... told me to wake you... up." I said in between pauses as I watch him sit up.

He growled, and seconds later he lets out a deafening feral noise whilst grabbing me with his clawed hands and lifting me up in the air.

"Ahhh!!!" I screamed, I felt gravity pulling me down but the dragon did not let me as he flew towards the doorway while carrying me.

His hands were so big, his claws kept me inside it almost like a cage for me. I watched where we are headed and it seemed like he was flying towards the edge of this floating kingdom. 

"H-hey! Where are you taking me?!" I tried to smack his claws away but he only roared, I felt my eardrums ring from hearing it so I stopped bothering him.

I looked to my side and saw Didi trying her best to catch up with this dragon's speed.

"Didi you stupid bird! I will make sure to haunt you as soon as I die!" I angrily yelled, putting my arms between the claws to try and grab her with me but she swiftly avoids my hand.

The dragon stopped from flying as soon as we were at the edge and positioned his hand that held me to drop me off.

"H-hey! Stop!" I yelled, although I am sure that he did not hear me from all his aggressive growling. I think I should remember that he does not like to be woken up, if I manage to survive this situation that is.

"Y-you won't kill me, you need me!" I yelled, but hearing that only made him angrier.

With a loud and husky voice, he said: "I do not need anyone." and then continues to drop me to my death. Great.

I screamed my lungs out as I felt a strong gust of wind fighting against my hair as I fall down to my impending doom. I looked in his direction and saw him just watching me as if waiting to see what I would look like if I landed on the ground, spoiler alert, I would look like a smashed watermelon.

---

"Prince Alec! We need her holy powers to revive your clan! If she dies now then you will remain alone in this world for all eternity!" Didi flew close to Alec's ears, he disliked being called the prince and was about to snap at Didi again but what she just said brought back his senses, and remembered why he captured Aerith. That is to use her powers to open the portal where the souls of the perished dragon remain. He needs her alive for the next three months when the portal would be available to open.

"Hurry and save her! Or else it would take another century for a person with holy powers to be born in this world!" Didi was not even finished with her sentence when Alec flew down to retrieve Aerith who he just sentenced to death by falling.

Alec felt water on his skin, he looked down and saw that Aerith was crying and it was her tears, hands covering her eyes as she fell.

"You stupid dragon..." Aerith noticed that Alec was going after her and it was not long until he had her back in his grasp. Gently pulling her up back to his lonesome kingdom.

"Thank goodness!" Didi sighed and looked as if she was holding her breath the whole time. 

"I thought I was going to die..." Aerith said as she finally saw the grassy land, "You can let me down now." She knocked at Alec's claws and once again she was thrown on the ground, rolling over a few times before stopping herself with her hands.

"Err..." Didi was frozen as she watched Aerith roll around, she was sure that after making Alec realize Aerith's worth that he would treat her much nicely from now on, but instead, he tossed her again just like when she was first captured.

"From now on, do not wake me up." Alec lands down on the ground as well, looming over both Didi and Aerith as his height is 10x taller than them.

Aerith's whole body was shaking as she tries to stand up after being thrown, she was shaking not because of the traumatic experience she just had of almost falling to her death, she shaking because of anger directed towards Alec.

"Umm, princess... are you alright?" Didi asked but was flying away from the scene.

"You..." Aerith began, hands trembling in anger. "You stupid dragon!!!" She revealed the rock she was holding and threw it in his direction, hitting his nose.

Alec stepped back and growled, "How dare you hit me!" He was about to charge but remembered that he needs her alive so he stopped halfway. Aerith seemed to have noticed that and took it to her advantage.

"Hah! What are you gonna do about it? Throw me off the edge again? Try me!" She clenched her fist and positioned herself in a fighting stance as if she is asking for a fistfight with Alec. "You can't kill me, you need me alive to restore your race. So you should at least treat me with kindness!"

Aerith demanded but being ordered by a human is not Alec's thing so as usual, he growled back.

"Yes I need your powers, but I do not need any of your limbs so I might as well cut one off." His voice was drowning with anger as well but Aerith did not back down.

"Touch even a hair on me and I will jump at the cliff myself! Once I am dead all your searching and planning would come to waste so fix that attitude of yours."

"Tch!" Alec turned around and flew back to the palace, being talked down by a human surely hurts his dignity but he has no choice as he needs her.

"Yeah that's right, go home and cry in your gloomy throne!" Aerith threw another rock but it did not hit him.

"Oh my gosh! You managed to make him submit to you, that is a great achievement!" Didi flew close to Aerith without a clue that Aerith plans to pluck out each of her bird feathers after forcing her to wake Alec up.

With a swift motion, she caught Didi in her grasp and smirked ominously at her.