The Last Dragon

Yuna has a wild mind and a pure heart. When she finds, cares, and loves the last dragon, she sees it as a ticket to freedom. However, she is betrothed to a dark elf and must decide: love or duty?

1

“Princess Yunalesca, what are you doing?”

“Look, mama,” the tiny elven princess held a large, scaly frost blue egg in her small arms. It seemed much too heavy for her, “Look at this! I think it’s a dragon egg!”

The mother, Queen Celica of the peaceful and knowledgeable Eyrian Clan, smiled sadly at her only daughter. She knew Yunalesca had a heart for adventures, like the Queen’s late husband. “Princess Yunalesca, you know dragons do not exist anymore. They became extinct. This egg could only just be the shell of a long lost…”

She lost her words as the princess gently and barely wrapped her arms around the egg and held it carefully; a small light seemed to emanate from within the rudiment. The Queen could only guess that her child’s love and warmth brought life back to the once extinct beasts. That was the nature of the young princess. Still a child, Yunalesca had a gift to make anything grow and thrive.

 As the dim light beat like a calming heart, Yunalesca felt it match her own. She felt the animal's life reignite as she held the enclosed roe, its reawakened mind connected with hers. While a shell separated the two, they felt a bond form one that was as strong as steel and as warm as fire.

In that interval, the innocent princess knew she could never be parted from this creature, no matter what.

“Sweet darling, we must go. Please set the egg down.” Celica had no idea what the dragon would do if it hatched. Would it take revenge upon the dark elves in the north? Would it destroy all in its path and try to reproduce more of its kind?

“Mother please, can I keep the egg?” the young girl clutched the egg as if holding a precious child.

“No!” the queen’s fierce green eyes frightened her daughter; Celica calmed herself and explained, “Yunalesca, dragons are dangerous, they are fire breathers. We live in a heavily wooded area, if something were to happen, he could set our home ablaze.”

“But, mother,” the child whined, “I know magic; I can prevent him from breathing fire. I can turn it to ice.”

The child’s golden green eyes were bright with anticipation. Celica now felt the influence of her late husband’s doting on their child. Against her personal wish, she consented, “You may have him, but only if you prevent him from breathing fire at all.”

“Thank you!” Yunalesca’s excited smile melted the mother’s hard heart with adoration.

Celica thought to herself, as she and Yunalesca stepped from the Southern icescapes. Maybe it would be a good idea for Yunalesca to have a guardian, one she can trust. Every guard I employ to watch her, she’s eluded all of them without raising the alarm.

Young as the child was, Yunalesca knew how to slip past the guards like a sly fox and venture out of the woodlands. So maybe such a creature would be able to keep watch, to protect her; even if it was the last dragon.

2

Sharp talons clutched the slight shoulders of a peacefully sleeping woman; twelve years have passed, but Princess Yunalesca knew the familiar scaly claws that climbed on top of her.

A broad smile crossed her delicate features as the golden rays beat down in her tall, open tower room. “Kanri, it’s too early.” She groaned and shifted uncomfortably.

The nose of a seven-foot dragon nuzzled and tickled her neck, “Yuna,” its inhumanly deep voice called, “It’s the perfect time to be up! And I’m hungry.”

The princess laughed and felt the full weight of her wingless friend as he lay down on her back, “Kanri, you are getting heavy.” She chuckled, her voice muffled in the feathery pillow.

The dragon bent its long neck and head upside down; the icy winter blue eyes stared into the princesses own golden green gaze. It was moments like these that Yunalesca loved dearly; her companion was her confidant, and her best friend. He was someone she could open her heart to, especially as they shared a strong bond. And although she kept this secret from everyone, even Kanri, she had dreams of living alone with him; far away from responsibilities, rules, and even the burden of being a princess.

Yuna picked herself up, and Kanri slid off the bed with a loud thud and a rumbling chuckle.

 The dragon watched wistfully as Yuna changed out of her pale green nightgown and slipped on her plain, floor-length periwinkle dress with a golden ring belt around her waist. Her long, wavy, dark golden-brown hair fell past her shoulders and nearly to her waist.

“Ready, let’s get some food.” Yuna smiled as she placed the golden leafed circlet on the top of her head and opened the door.

Kanri jumped up and made her room shake as he landed on his four clawed feet. “Sorry…” He apologized when she cocked an eyebrow at him.

The glee was uncontained in his voice. Yuna chuckled, she had to guess that if he had the body of an elf, his cheeks would blush a furious red.

 

Together, they walked down the hallway, passing the guards who greeted the princess with a bow. Living under the same roof with a dragon for twelve years, they greeted him politely; and with a sharp toothy smile, he smiled at them. Yuna remembered when Kanri first hatched, the guards were terrified for their life, and their princess’s, but the baby blue dragon was so playful and friendly that the guards of the Eyrian people quickly appreciated him and treated him as a friend, brother, and royal member of the family.

As they entered the dining room, Yuna noticed something different; sitting in Kanri’s seat was a dark elf. Instead of Yuna and her kin’s fair and lightly tanned flesh, this dark elf had dark blueish-black skin. Unlike Kanri’s warm presence, even though he had blue and lilac scales; the drow felt cold, distant, and dangerous.

“My darling, Yunalesca,” Queen Celica stood up and welcomed the newcomers from the head of the table, “And dear Kanri, how did you two sleep?”

“Very well, mother.” Yuna’s gaze moved from her mother to the stranger.

He had neither moved from his seat nor had he stood when she entered. While he was handsome, with his long silvery-white hair pulled back, something about him made the princess feel uneasy; Kanri too felt it.

“Oh, forgive me; this is Prince Ailwin, the Prince of the North, of the brave and mighty Firon clan.”

Both Kanri and Yuna recoiled in sudden fear. “Mother,” Yuna said quickly, “This is the grandson of Airdan, the man who caused the extinction of the dragons!”

“And yet, there is still one that breathes.” The dark elf prince spoke for the first time.

His voice made Yuna’s flesh shiver with uneasy fright. As he stood up from the table, the Princess stepped in front of Kanri, as if to protect him from an unwarranted attack.

“My darling,” the queen intervened before blood was spilled, “May we speak in private?”

“Yes, mother. Come, Kanri.”

“Yunalesca,” her mother stopped them both, “I wish to speak to you, alone.”

Yuna reluctantly complied; she feared the thought of her companion, the only dragon, being left in the room with a violent, bloodthirsty clan member. Yuna held Kanri’s serrated jaw as if to reassure both him and herself. "I'll be back."

 

Once alone in the hall, Celica said, “Sweetheart, you are turning seventeen, nearly an adult. You need to think about the future, a husband, someone who can help you rule our homeland.”

Quick as ever, Yuna knew exactly where this conversation was going, “Mother, I cannot and will not marry a dark elf, I cannot marry a man whose blood is the same of the monster that killed the dragons.”

“Yuna,” Celica sighed wearily. “I will not be here forever; I need to know that you can rule this land with a trustful husband. I need to know that our people will be left in safe hands.”

Yuna did not answer, much like her other unspoken dreams, she glimpsed images of Kanri. Instead of his dragon form, he took the figure of a handsome elf. He had pale bluish skin, icy eyes that gleamed with warmth and love. He had the same horns atop his head, and he was always smiling at her, holding out his hand for her to take.

During a few memorable moments in her life, Yuna envisioned him standing tall at an elven alter as he watched her walk down the aisle, graceful and glowing in a wedding dress.

“Darling,” Celica pulled her daughter from her adventurous and wild thoughts, “If a princess of the Eyrian Clan can wed the Firon Clan prince, then our lands will be protected and sheltered.”

“You mean destroyed!” Yuna bellowed with anger, “Mother, I have seen the dark elf lands, it is a desolate spot! They scrounge for food and water; their forests are bulbous and tainted. I…” she teared up, “I cannot marry one of them. Besides, if I give Kanri his breathing ability, in a few years he would be able to save us. Kanri is protective and caring and…”

Her voice faltered, every dusk and dawn, it was Kanri on her thoughts. They were, after all, around the same age, and they both could live a very long life if they so wished. And if she could find a spell or a potion, she would find a way to give him the ability to shapeshift into any being of his choice.

Although the princess was still young, she loved Kanri and trusted in her heart that he loved her too.

“Mother, I’ve lost my appetite, I need to go.” Yuna was on the verge of tears as she walked past her stone still the mother and rushed to the dining room.

Stopping in her tracks, the princess noticed both Kanri and Ailwin baring their teeth at each other from across the chamber. The scene would have made Yuna laugh, if she wasn't in such distress.

“Kanri,” her voice shook as tears threatened to pour out, “We have to go.”

The dragon glared at the dark elf until he walked around the corner, and disappeared.

He followed her without a word, even though he felt her emotion run wild with anxiety.

 3 

All too soon, they had reached the flowered garden. It was a large courtyard with tall crape myrtle columns; around them were vines of red and orange flower buds. Vast orchards with plump apricots, apples, and peaches were scattered with bushes of roses, peonies, and azaleas surrounding them. Along a winding stone, pathway were small tree saplings, and the choicest buds of baby forget me not.

When they were alone and in the heart of the Garden, Kanri stopped the woman by blocking her pathway, “Yuna, what is going on? What happened?”

“If you could shapeshift, if you had the ability to become any animal, human, elf, anything you want. Would you take it?” Yuna asked as she neared the peonies, lavender, and snapdragons and sat down on the carved stone bench.

Kanri was stunned by this question, “I suppose, it would be… interesting to gain that ability.” It was hard to tell what he felt about this new suggestion.

“Why?” she pursued.

The tip of his tongue. He desparately wanted to confess his thoughts, his hopes, his love for the woman. But feared her response; he feared that she would turn away. He could not stand being away from his companion, so instead, he diverted the question, “Yuna, please tell me what is going on.”

The princess stroked Kanri’s forehead and he nudged her shoulder, tears threatening her soft eyes, “My mother wants me to marry the dark elf.”

“What?” his outrage shook the surrounding area, “How can she? She knows what monster those elves are! How can she ask you such a thing?”

Tears slid down Yuna’s warm cheeks as she wrapped her arms around his neck. His scales dug into her flesh, but she did not care; they were happy as long as they felt each other’s heartbeat.

“Mother thinks this marriage will save this land.” She whispered wretchedly.

“How could she think that? She knows what they did.” Kanri stood on his hind legs, wrapped a clawed arm around her and rested his large head over her shoulder.

“I only know,” Yuna assumed, and held him, “If I marry him, it will be the end of us. He will try to kill you the first chance he gets. I cannot let that happen. I vow never to let that happen.”

Kanri gazed deep into her eyes, “Then we don’t, Let us go to the archives, to the Athenaeum. We can find something that will save both of us. And if you don’t mind, I would appreciate having my breathing ability back.”

In spite of herself, Yuna chuckled. She pressed her hand against his chest and murmured a soft chant. At once, they both felt their hearts skip a beat as the same glow Yuna remembered when Kanri was just an egg, illuminated again.

“I feel it…” Kanri looked up towards the heavens; the bright sun beat down on the pair. He took a deep intake of breath and released not red fire, but glistening blue ice. It shot high into the air before melting into water and raining down on their laughing faces. At the same time, great blue and teal wings sprout from his back, near his shoulder blades.

“Did you give me wings?” Kanri asked with glee.

Yuna was stunned with jovial delight, “I’m not sure. I was confident I only held back your breathing. Maybe I did.” Her smile broadened, “But you can fly!”

The princess stepped away as Kanri readied himself, tested his newly discovered wings and took flight.

The dragon felt the great sensation of freedom. After gaining momentum, he flew high into the air and blew great blasts of ice just to show that he was a true dragon.

Yuna clapped and cheered. She was so happy that Kanri had both abilities, and yet she was sad. It was because he had his flight and power; he could leave and travel the world. He was free from commitment; he was unbound to duties, unlike her.

“They grow large.” A dark voice said from the shadows. Yuna whipped around to see Ailwin leaning against a delicately designed column. The dark elf prince said again, “Dragons grow large, dangerous, and have a temper. The moment you gave him the power, he became a danger to you and the world.”

“The only danger is you.” Yuna spat at him, “I raised my companion when he first hatched. He and I share the same calm pulse, unlike you. I heard your heartbeat; it is fast and unnerving, like a pack of wolves beating the ground, waiting to strike an innocent prey.”

Before he could respond, Kanri landed gracefully behind Yuna and glared at the dark elf. “What do you want, dark elf?”

“You have grown larger.” Ailwin stated.

Yuna turned to see Kanri was no longer seven feet; he was nearly twelve.

“Mark my words, princess.” The elf slid into the shadows and disappeared.

The princess wrapped her arms around Kanri’s chest; her fingers could barely encircle him. “He said you were dangerous.”

“I’m only dangerous to those that try to harm you.” Kanri leaned down and Yuna slid on his back, between two horns, “Let us go. Let us find that spell.” He stated with excitement.

  

4

 

One week later, Yuna and Kanri were once again in the Athenaeum looking through the age old texts on the shelf. Although they had not found any spell that instructed how to shapeshift, they did find other useful spells.

Kanri could now use his mind to pick up delicate objects without destroying them. He rummaged through the books he had longed to read and study. Both he and Yuna learned to use defensive and offensive spells. 

To preserve the fading books, they practiced new spells on each other in the large courtyard.

It was nearly a new day when Yuna found what she was looking for, the shapeshifting spell. However, it was also the day when a revelation crashed down on her.

In two days, she would be seventeen.

Her mother would force her to wed the dark elf who continued his unwanted stay in the Glen. Without her knowing, the Queen had already sent notices of their union, she had already planned the day when her daughter would take the throne with a husband.

 

“Ready Kanri?” Yuna and her dragon stood once again in the courtyard. She had the book held in mid air as she studied the operation of the spell.

“I’m ready.” The dragon dug his claws into the ground and braced himself, ten feet away from the princess.

Yuna followed the instructions. Every natural step, every hand gesture followed the book.

Magic, unlike any they had seen before emanated from her fingertips. It was gold and silver. It sparked like a flame but moved like the wind. At the last step, Yuna hesitated for only half a heartbeat before she aimed it towards Kanri’s chest.

It struck true.

********

Bells rung a gentle tone, doves and blackbirds flew above a large congregation as they release white and lilac petals that fell gently to the ground. Small pixies and elves sang in a soft chanting chorus that carried throughout the lands.

On one side of the congregation, fair elves of the native woodlands sat, tall with flowing colored pastel robes. Each head with platinum to light brown hair had a headpiece, diadem, or hair pin. On the other side, elves of a darker, bluish and even pale purple skin wore robes of raven black; they had long, silvery straight hair and full red eyes that made them look menacing.

At the altar, an aged elven minister stood with a large brown scroll in his hands; his head was covered in a white hood. Next to him stood Ailwin, a smug, triumphant sneer etched on his face as he watched a lone woman walk down the aisle.

Her stride was graceful and rythmic.

A pure white, laced veil fell in front of her eyes, her auburn hair in a high bun with strands strung in gold bands. A pure white, floor length dress embroidered with violet designs. Silver-made shoulder pads that curved upward shimmered with the family crest.

Because of her mother’s magical charm, Yuna glowed as she paced down the aisle. However, the light did not reach her heart; she wept silent tears as she felt her feet walk towards her doom, to her untimely death.

Celica had forbidden Kanri from attending the ceremony; to her and Ailwin’s delight, the dragon left the area, never to bother them again.

The dark prince held his arm out to Yuna; she saw the exultation within his eyes, and it disgusted her. Refusing to accept the gesture, Yuna strode to the altar alone.

“We are gathered here today…” the minister started.

Yuna did not listen, without moving her head, she gazed around her home, her world, as if threatened to remember it. She knew she would taken from here. And while she loved her home, it was nothing to her, so long as the dark elf made his presence known.

She felt him straighten near her; his dark, triumphant aura was visible to her eyes.

He won…

 “If there is anyone who objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace.” The minister paused to the silent congregation.

5

After a silent moment, Yuna was about to speak when a loud roar shook the grounds and made the elves cry out with fear.

With a broad, teary eyed grin, she looked up to see Kanri glaring down at the parishioners as if he had appeared out of thin air. He roared in fury and blew ice at the angry crowd of dark elves.

“Attack!” Ailwin called to his clan.

As one, the Firon clan pulled out swords and bows and arrows; the archers shot the dragon, but they could not, penetrate his hard skin.

Kanri landed on the altar; he was larger than ever. At least thirty feet, the frightened minister ducked under the table where the goblet of wine spilled and stained the white and gold sheet in red.

Yuna was just about to reach out and climb on her companion, her lover when a firm grip grabbed her wrist and pulled her away.

She was about to retaliate when Ailwin held a blade against her neck. “Move and she dies demon!” Ailwin snarled like a beast at Kanri.

Kanri was about to retreat; he had done this to save her, not get her killed.

“You will leave and never return.” Ailwin snarled, pressing the blade closer to her, “She is mine! And I will take this land by force if I must!”

Too focused on the dragon, Ailwin was caught off guard when Yuna used her brand of magic to ward off the evil creature. His knife just barely cut into her soft skin as he went down.

Yuna was free. Without hesitation she climbed on top of Kanri, Ailwin grasped her veil, but it did not stop the two. The veil fell and with it, Yuna’s hair fell out of the tight bun.

Even before she was secure, Kanri took off. Away from her home, away from the attacking clan, away from the dark creature, both elf and dragon felt free. The chains and bonds had broken as they flew over the land; they tore away from the prison that held them and felt that they could finally breathe fresh air.

Yuna sat up and outstretched her arms, her torn clothing, and disheveled hair did not bother her as they whipped in the wind. They flew through the clouds, receiving the cold spray of water and life.

“How did you know I would come?” Kanri asked as he beat his large wings against the wind.

“I didn’t.” Yuna roared as she wrapped her arms around his neck, “I only hoped. You saw the danger in his eyes; he was the true demon.”

She kissed his long neck; Kanri’s heart skipped a beat, as it did every time she beheld him.

**********

It was only until the pair reached a large, abandoned farmland, far from the Woodlands, or any Human city, Kanri gracefully landed as he always did and Yuna dismounted.

Nearby was a large abode carved out of great bulbous trees; they subjoined together with wooden bridges. Within this small housing, a large pond surrounded the area; it was abundant with fish. Along the side of the pond grew a large, fruitful garden. It was the perfect secluded home; this was their private utopia.

The exiled princess sighed with happiness and turned just in time to see Kanri disappear behind a torrent of wind.

It rushed around the dragon and died down.

Instead of the giant frost reptile, that Yuna was so accustomed to, there stood a tall man, he had long locks of black hair that became white at the tips. Within his wild hair were only sprouts of curved horns, and his eyes gleamed a wintery blue as he grinned from ear to pointed ear.

“Hello, Yuna.” His voice was not deep as before, but the elf still heard the familiarity from the dragon within.

“Kanri,” Yuna could only breathe his name, the utterance carried in the wind and eloped the two. “You are here, truly here.”

“All thanks to you, my love.”

In a few steps, he strode towards her and wrapped his strong arms tightly around the woman.

As soon as they made contact, they felt their heartbeats connected, as one. His breathing, which was once heavy, was gentle as he clutched the woman closer, not daring to part.

“I love you Kanri, my wonderful dragon.” Yuna whispered as her heart pounded against her chest.

Without letting go, Kanri stared deeply into her eyes, then slowly leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers for the first time; eyes closed, their gentle kiss deepened and filled them with exhilaration.

 It was a kiss of life as they felt the passion only grow like a spark and flame,

“And I love you Princess Yunalesca, my darling bride to be.” Kanri’s clawed hands stroked her warm cheek and lowered to the back of her neck, holding her closely.

For the longest time, they stood there, embraced with a passion for only each other. It was only reluctantly that they released each other. However, arm in arm; they headed to their new home. They were free from the world, free from the chains that bound them and once forbade them from each other. They were free to love each other for all eternity.

 Yunalesca knew that one day, she would have to return to her home and take the crown. She knew she would have to answer for the troubles she and Kanri caused on this day. But not now, not when everything seemed so right; in place. Today and the days ahead, she would spend as a free woman, with the man, her true love, beside her; the last dragon.

Author's Note

Something I wrote when I was much younger - and it has been updated.