There was once a time when humans were new, and dragons were old. The humans have braved their new world and had colonized the land. They built kingdoms and villages. They learned new skills and learned how to survive their environments. The dragons, however, have lived on this earth for many years. Sent down by the stars themselves. The dragons have learned to cherish the land they were placed on and understood the way of life. The stars had told the dragons that one day a new species would be placed on this land and that dragons must learn to live with them, or they shall soon meet their end.

The dragons understood this and waited. Soon humans alike emerged as the stars had said. Instead of approaching the newcomers, the dragons kept their distances and watched the humans as they began to colonize and multiple. The dragons were horrified when the men started chopping down their forest and killing without mercy. They cleared many trees and built up their homes. The way of humans brought great discomfort to the dragons as they did not understand them.

"They must be destroyed!" Said a dragon. The dragons had gathered together on top of a hill surrounded by tall rocks. This was their sacred place.

"No," said another. "We must try and live amongst them. Do you not remember what the stars had told us?" The dragon argued amongst themselves. These were tough times for the dragons. For centuries they have lived on this earth. They have lived among many creatures, some more violent than others, but the dragons have never seen any creature like man.  Man was destructive, they witnessed. Tearing down their trees, killing and running animals from their homes. They have built large stone structures everywhere.

"My home is gone!" Cried a dragon. "My hatchling and I had to find a new nest. They must pay for what they did!"

"We should talk to them," reasoned another dragon. "Perhaps they do not understand the way of this world. They are new, they do not know. We could learn and teach one another." Uncertainties went around, but after a long discussion it was decided. They would talk to the humans. When sun was high above the world, a small group of dragons took to the skies. If there was one thing in this world that dragons loved, it was flying. No boundaries in their way, nothing but open skies and cool wind.

The dragons decided that the best place to talk to the humans was at their nest with the large stone structure that was surrounded by smaller structures. As they began to descend the dragons began to hear screams and shouts from the humans below, and before the dragon knew, small sticks began to fly up towards them. One of the sticks flew straight through a dragon's wing, causing the dragon to roar in pain and in anger. He breathed out a heavy fume of fire.

The small structures had quickly gone up in flames and the humans began to panic below. "Enough!" Called one of the dragons. "Quickly, back into the forest." The dragons retreated back to the safety of the woods.

"They attacked us!" cried one of the dragons. "We didn't even do anything!" Dragons are peaceful creatures by nature. They do not attack unless provoked. Mummers echoed throughout the sacred hill. These humans were becoming more of threat than they thought. One dragon pulled out a stick that got caught between his scales. He showed to his fellow dragons.

"They attacked us with this," he announced to them. The stick was no other than what humans called an arrow, but the dragons did not know what this new weapon was.

"They should all be destroyed!" Roared a dragon. "It is clear that they attack without reason. They are animals!" Agreements mixed with uncertainties went through the crowd. The dragons did not wish to upset the stars, but they also did not want the humans to wipe them all out. These were trying times.

"We cannot destroy them," said a rather burly dragon. "We must obey the stars command. If we cannot reason with these two legged creatures, then we must keep our distances. Do not go near the humans." After a long discussion, it was decided that they would keep their distances. And as hard as they tried, it was all for not. Shortly after the dragons had gone to the village, the man that they called, King, declared that the beast must be hunted down.

Men armed from head to toe went on crusades to hunt down the dragons. The humans tracked many dragons and found them in caves and nests. No dragon was safe again. This became clear to a dragon who went by the name of Ladon. He watched helplessly as many of his brothers and sisters died at the hand of man.  Ladon often times found himself a top of the sacred hill praying to the stars. "What are we to do?" He would ask them. "You said we must learn to live amongst them, but how can we do that if they will not stand to reason?" The stars would not reply, only twinkle in the night sky. "Our brothers and sisters are dying, being slaughter! How are we meant to live with such thoughtless creatures?"

Ladon would continue to ask these questions to the stars, begging them to respond. When Ladon did not think they were answer him, he heard them say:

"The time of dragons is at its end. The day will come when you must return to us among the stars."

Ladon was startled by this news. "What do you mean? Our time cannot end! Not like this! There must be a way." The stars did respond. They twinkled high above. "Answer me!" Ladon had shouted at them. When it became clear that they would not respond, Ladon roared out into the night. Unlike the dragons, the humans did not have a special connection to the stars. They instead used the stars as a way to the guide them through the land, and that was exactly what young Clement did as he made his way back to camp.

The lad was no older than fourteen, serving as a squire to the Great Knights of the King. The knights were on a mission to find where the dragons all lived. To officially wipe out all of the scaly beast. It was then when Clement heard Ladon cry into the night, giving the young lad a fright. The boy had never ventured outside the kingdom before and found himself often times jumping at the slightest shadows. The Great Knights often tease Clement of this. The lad was determined to prove himself to the knights and therefore decided to set up a trap out in the middle of woods, hoping to capture and kill his first dragon.

Ladon had crept through the woods that faithful morning, searching for an early breakfast. He knew of course that man often roamed these woods, searching for dragons. It was then that Ladon picked up a particular scent. He followed it to small clearing. There he saw part of a rabbit hanging from a tree. Ladon took a cautious walk to it. He had sniffed the corpse and saw nothing out of the ordinary. He had grabbed the rabbit with his teeth and gave a gentle tug. The ground had given underneath Ladon and had found himself entangled in heavy ropes. Ladon gave a might cry of anguish that echoed through the forest, waking up a certain squire.

The boy grabbed his dagger and took off running to his trap. It was there he found Ladon tangled in his ropes. Clement gave a cheerful shout and ran towards the dragon. He watched as Ladon wiggled and clawed at the thick ropes. The boy had never seen a dragon before but have heard the stories. According to the stories, they were monstrous beast that attack without reason and steal damsels. Clement watched with awe as Ladon's dark gold scales glittered in the morning sun. By standing there too long, Ladon had spotted the boy and snarled in his direction.

Ladon had taken in a deep breath spat fire towards the little human in front of him. He watched as the boy cried and dodged the fire spit. "Release me from my prison!" Ladon demanded, as he continued to struggle with the ropes.

"You talk!" Said the lad in astonishment. He had never known that dragons could talk. What a discovery! The young squire had considered going back and getting the knights but decided against it. He watched as Ladon continued to struggle against the ropes.

"Of course I can talk!" Ladon replied to the boy. "If you humans would listen instead of attack us, you would have known that!"

"You attack first," Clement said. "You attack our village." Ladon had growled at that statement.

"We did no such thing," he said. "My brothers only wanted to speak with your kind, but instead you attack us. We merely defended ourselves." Clement opened then closed his mouth. Was it true that they just wanted to talk?  Clement knew nothing about dragons than what he was told. The young lad had begun to wonder what else he didn't know about these beast.

"If I release you," Clement decided, "do you promise not to kill me?" Ladon stopped his with struggles and stared at the young human in front of him. The lad had foolishly crept closer to Ladon, so close in fact that Ladon could snapped at the young human. The golden dragon nearly considered it, but instead he chose to look up at the sky as if he could see the stars through the blue sky and white clouds.

"I will not kill you if you do not do the same," Ladon said, and the lad agreed. He took out his dagger and cut the ropes that held Ladon. It was a sight to see as Ladon shook off the ropes and stretch out and being this close to a dragon. Nobody would believe Clement.

"I have never met a dragon before," the boy said. "Tell me where do you come from? Your kind?" Ladon regarded the little human in front of him. A human, actually wanting to talk to him, a dragon.

"We come from the stars," Ladon told him. "The stars sent us down to this earth to live among the creatures that roam it, to help keep the balance."

"Balance?" Inquired the squire.

"Yes, the balance of life and death. To see the world as it is, not what it can be... something you humans clearly do not understand." The boy did not understand this. He looked around the forest, as if he could find the meaning himself. Ladon had continued, "you destroy our forests, you drive us from our homes, you do not consider who or what is living there. You humans, merciless." Clement was about to argue when he saw Ladon's point of view. He was not born yet when his home was built up but had seen what his people had did the forest and other creatures.

"But we are merely trying to survive," the boy said back. "How do you except us to live on this earth if we cannot do what we must do in order to thrive?" Ladon snorted at that. Humans. All the same. "We do not mean to take away your homes," Clement continued. "But we cannot defend ourselves as easily as you dragons do. We have no claws or breathe fire." Ladon looked down at this scrawny boy. It was a miracle that he has even lived this long. Most small creatures don't survive past their birthing.

Ladon saw the young boy's point, but defenseless most these beings were not.  "We are a dying breed," Ladon told the boy. "And your kind is to be blamed for. If something is not done, I fear we will be gone for good." Before the boy could say more, shouts could be heard in the distances.

"You must get out of here," Clement told Ladon. "The Great Knights are on their way here. If they see you, they will kill you, sir dragon." Ladon grumbled at being called such a name.

"I have a name," he snapped at the boy who cocked his head at the dragon in front of him.

"What are you called then?" The young squire asked. Ladon had hesitated to answer, as he did not realize the young human would ask such a question.

"I am called Ladon," he answered him. The boy smiled at Ladon.

"I am Clement," the boy said with a bow. "Now leave, quickly, there isn't enough time." Clement watched as Ladon took to the skies. His leaps were huge and the winds from his wings were strong. The Great Knights had just missed Ladon as flew high into the sky.

"Squire Boy!" Shouted one of the Great Knights. "Why have you left our camp? You are not allowed to venture off alone with dragons about." Clement had told the knights about his trap but told the Great Knights that his trap had failed, and a dragon had gotten away. At this, the Great Knights laughed at the boy.

"Capture a dragon?!" Laughed one knight.

"You fool!" Hollered another. The Great Knights will soon not let the young squire forget about this. The stars twinkled brightly that night as Ladon stared at them as he often found himself doing every night. He could not get that boy, Clement was his name, out of his head. There was something about him that Ladon could not forget. He, a dragon, and him, a small human, actually talked! If the other dragons were to hear about this, they would not believe such a tale.

"Could he be the answer our problems?" Ladon asked the stars. "Is it possible that we will not have to leave this earth?" But as Ladon stared at the stars, they did no more than twinkle and shine. Just like Clement was in Ladon's mind, Ladon was in Clement's mind. The boy felt thrilled to have even been close to such a magnificent beast! Not only that, but to have talked to one! He'd be the first human in history to have such an experience. It made Clement rethink everything he thought he knew about dragons. Was it true? What Ladon had told him?

Somehow Clement wished he knew what to do, how to fix this. If the Great Knights and the King could only see that the dragons just wanted to talk, maybe there could be away for humans and dragons to coexist. It would sure give time for the lad to get to know Ladon much better. The boy wondered if he could convince Ladon to do the same with his fellow dragons. Clement knew he couldn't waste any more time. The Great Knights were going to destroy the dragons once and for all, they had made it their long life crusade to do-so.

It's now or never, thought the boy. Grabbing what he needed, the young squire set off. He knew Ladon flew in the eastward direction and would start there. The forest was no place for a human to wonder alone, especially for a boy as small as Clement. Brave this boy was, as he ventured into the woods with only the stars to guide him. The stars twinkled more brightly that night, as if they were leading Clement exactly where he was supposed to go. The young squire soon found himself in a place filled with small hills. The further the boy walked, the taller the hills became, and on one of these hills was Ladon himself, staring up at the stars.

Clement came up to the bottom of that hill and called Ladon's name. The golden dragon was startled by Clement's appearance. "What are you doing here?" He hiss down at the small human.

"Something must be done!" The boy replied. "The Great Knights are quick on your trail. We have to convince my King and your fellows dragons to come together as one." Ladon had snorted at that statement. Like they haven't already tried that. Ladon wasn't sure if could trust a human.

"My brothers and sisters are preparing for war," Ladon told the boy. "There is no convincing them."

"But there must be something we can do!" Clement said desperately. Ladon bent down to the boy. Why did this human care what happened to them?

"Why do you care?" The dragon inquired.

"Because," the boy said. "I just met you and I wish for us to become friends. There is so much we can learn from each other. I do not wish for you disappear." The boy's words surprised Ladon. Here was this small human, offering his friendship to him, a dragon. Ladon looked to the stars, hoping they would say something to confirm his worst fears or calm his nerves. They did no more than twinkle.

Ladon was not ready to leave this earth. He loved it too much. He would do anything just to stay on it. Looking back at the boy, Ladon felt a confidence that he had never felt before. Maybe, just maybe he and this boy could become friends, and maybe the rest of the dragons and humans could as well. Their moment was gone too soon as a dark dragon snatched the boy from up in the sky. He cried a mighty roar that woke the other dragons from their slumber.

"A human!" Called the dark dragon. "A human has entered our sacred place!" The dark dragon then took Clement to the tallest hill surrounded by tall rocks. Their sacred hill. Soon other dragons began to gather. Ladon had to act quick. Their whole existence relied on him and this boy. "It has begun!" Continued the dark dragon. "The humans had found us! We must act now! The humans must perish, starting with this little one."

The other dragons roared in confusion and anger. Never before has a human come to their sacred place. It was unheard of. "Kill the human!" Many dragons said.

"There must be something else we can do!" Many others cried.

"Think of the bloodshed!" Others shouted. Arguments piled up as many did not know what to do.

"No! Listen!" Clement tried to call to them, but his small voice was only drowned out by the dragons' mighty voices. Ladon landed in the middle of the hill and gave a mighty roar that shook the stars in the night.

"Enough!" Ladon called to them. "The boy is not dangerous." Many cries of disagreements went up with uncertain murmurs.

"What is this?" Demanded the dark dragon that still held Clement in his claws. "All humans are dangerous." Arguments rippled through the crowd.

"No," Ladon defended. "Not this human. "He will actually listen to us. He is not like the others."

"How do you this?" Called a dragon.

"Because we have talked," Ladon answered. "And come to terms with one another." Gasps and murmurs went up in the crowd.  "This human wants both our species to live together. Like the stars had told us to." More whispers and uncertainties among the dragons.

"Prove it!" Said a dragon.

"Let the human talk!" Agreed another. Ladon looked to the dark dragon who set the boy on the ground. Clement went to stand next Ladon before he spoke,

"It is true!" He shouted to the dragons. Most of the dragons were shocked to hear this small creature talk. "I do not wish for your deaths or for you all to disappear. I believe we can all coexist; we just need to convince the King to stop the dragon hunts."

"How do you suppose we do this?" Questioned the dark dragon. 

"I will go to the King myself and convince him to call off the hunts. That you are willing to talk and come to an agreement." The dragons voiced their concerns. "It is the only way," continued Clement. "Please let me try."

"And if you can't," said the dark dragon. "What then?" The boy was at lost for words. He truly did not know what would happen if he failed.

"Then I fear you must disappear. Move away, somewhere where we humans cannot touch you." Roars of outraged radiated from the other dragons and only did Ladon mighty cry silence them.

"It is the only way," Ladon told them. "The stars told me the other night that we would one day join them among the stars. If Clement's plan is to come to failure, then I fear that we must listen to the stars and join them in the skies." This was news that the dragons did not enjoy hearing. Was it true that they would be forced to reunite with the stars?

"It is settled then," the dark dragon said and looked down at Clement. "Our future is in your hands, human." Clement felt nervous with large responsibility, but was ready nonetheless. Ladon crouched down in front of the lad.

"I will take you where you need to go," Ladon told him. Excited, frightened, and nervous, Clement climbed on top of Ladon's back. Once the boy was secured, Ladon prepared for flight. In one swift move, Ladon took to the skies with Clement hanging on tightly. Once the boy felt Ladon level out, he dared to take a peek. He gasped. Never before has a human ever been this close to the heavens! Clement reached up as if he could touch the stars. The stars twinkled and glistened so brightly. The night sky was alive as Ladon flew them through its dark scene. Their joyous night flight was soon taken from them as something came flying toward them.

Ladon cried out as he soon found himself in yet another net. He and the boy came crashing down. Luckily for the boy, Ladon crashed on his stomach, only causing the lad to have a bloody nose. Distance shouts from men could heard as they gathered around Ladon. The golden dragon thrashed and snarled. He took in a deep breath and released a jet of fire onto  his attackers. The men were smart as they piled onto Ladon's snout and tied his mouth together.

When Clement had regathered his wits, he struggled with the ropes and got off Ladon. "Stop!" Yelled the boy. "You must stop!" The men were shocked to see the boy tangled in the ropes with this beast.

"Squire Boy?!" Said one of the Great Knights. "What are you doing with this monster?"

"He is no monster!" Said the boy as he was helped out of the ropes. "And if you were stop and listen, you would know that." At that statement, the Great Knights laughed. They had just finished tying the ropes around Ladon. The golden dragon could no longer move or protect himself. "You must listen," continued the boy. "I need to speak to our King. We can all live in peace!" The Great Knight in front of him would not listen. He roughly grabbed the boy and threw him to the side.

"You are a traitor to the crown," the Great Knight said. "There is no speaking to the King. He will not listen to the likes of you, Squire Boy." The Great Knight stood in front Ladon, admiring the golden dragon.

"What shall we do with it, sir?" Asked another knight.

"We shall take this beast back home," said the knight. "The King wishes to slay a dragon in front of his people. A dragon as beautiful as this one. It would be a great celebration."

"No!" Said Clement.  He rushed to Ladon, to try to cut the ropes free. But the boy was grabbed before he reach his friend.

"And tie this boy up," The Great Knight said. "So he does not interfere what has to be done." It wasn't long before Ladon and Clement were dragged along back to the human kingdom. High in the night sky, the dark dragon circled about, observing the scene before him.

"I must tell the others," he said and flew back to the sacred hill. By the end of the next day, Clement and Ladon found themselves being paraded through the village. Men, women, and children gathered to watch as the Great Knights wheeled Ladon through the streets. Nobody as ever seen alive dragon this close before. They were in awe by Ladon's dark beautiful golden scales. The way he tried to move and break free from his restraints. The great gates drew closer, its wide berth opened giving Clement and Ladon a grand view of the courtyard.

Ladon was brought to the center of this yard. Above on a balcony, stood a man, a man whom Ladon could only assume to be the King. He stood tall, prideful with a golden crown on top of his head.  A Great Knight stepped forward and bowed. "My King!" He bellowed. "We have brought you a beast worthy of your sword." The King said nothing as looked down at Ladon. He gave a slight nod.

"Excellent, Great Knight," he said. "At sunset everyone will see me slay this mighty beast."

"It will be done, My King," the Great Knight said. The King then disappeared back into his fortress. "Prepare the beast!" The Great Knight commanded the others. "This dragon must be ready for the King's blade." For the first time in Ladon's life, he felt fearful. Was this how he was going die? Was this it for dragon-kind? Were the stars correct? Ladon couldn't fathom it.

"What do we do about the Squire Boy?" Asked a Great Knight.

"Tie him to the poles," answered the other Great Knight. "He can watch as this dragon dies before him." Much like Ladon, Clement couldn't believe this was happening. He felt like he had betrayed Ladon. He was going to watch his friend die and he couldn't do anything about it.

The sun began to set, and a crowd began to gather. They were excited to see their King slay this monster. It was nearly time and Clement had to think of something and quick. The lad looked down at his belt and saw that he still had his dagger. He wiggled and stretched as he tried to reach his weapon. A loud bell rang in the distance and the doors to the castle open with the King strolling out. The crowd cheered at the sight of their King.

The sun sunk deeper, and the stars began to show themselves. Ladon looked at the stars, begging, pleading them to find another way. "Tonight marks the start of a new era!" The King said. He drew out his sword and approached Ladon. "With the death of this dragon we will begin a new part of our lives." The King raised sword high above Ladon's neck who squeezed his eyes tightly shut.

Just before the King swung his blade down, Clement had just broken free from his restraints and grabbed the King's wrist. The crowd gasped. "Stop!" Demanded the boy. "You must listen!" The King looked shocked and angered by this boy's interruption.

"How dare you stop me?!" The King demanded. "You have no right to interfere with your King. Where is your head?"

"I will not let you kill my friend." The crowd of people gasped and murmured to one another. Did that boy really said what he said? A dragon? His friend? The King laughed.

"You foolish boy," he said. "This is a merciless beast. It cannot be your friend. Now move aside!" But the boy stood his ground.

"He is my friend," Clement continued. "His name is Ladon, and he does not wish for us to be at war with each other. He told me so." The King laughed at that.

"A dragon cannot talk!" He laughed.

"He can and I can show you." With his dagger, Clement quickly cut the ropes on Ladon's snout and body. The crowd screamed as Ladon shook away the ropes and stretched out. The sight of it made the Great Knight take on arms and the King went tumbling backwards.

"The boy speaks the truth!" Ladon said to the humans around him. The people didn't know what to think. The dragon actually talked. They were all in awe by such discovery. "Let us end the bloodshed and live in peace with one another." The crowd began to mutter and murmur. Ladon looked to the King. "If you kill me, the land will be stained with blood, dragon, and men alike. Is that what you want?"

Before the King could answer the golden dragon, a Great Knight stepped forward, his weapon at the ready. "Do not listen to this monster!" He shouted. "They are full of trickery. They will murder every single one of us until they are the only ones standing!"

"That is not true!" Clement said coming between the knight and Ladon.

"Traitor!" The Great Knight said and  smacked the boy across the face sending him sprawling onto the ground. Ladon snarled  and lunged at the knight. The Great Knights reaction was slowed, but not slowed enough. Just as Ladon swiped at the man, the knight drove his blade into Ladon's chest. Ladon felt heat rise where he was struck and let out roar of agony.

"No!" Cried Clement at the same time the rest of the people screamed and ran away from the scene. Ladon fell to his side and Clemet ran up to him. He came to where the sword had impaled his friend. It was in too deep. "No..." whispered the boy as ran around to Ladon's face. "Why? Why did you do it?" Ladon's breathes became hard and short. He looked at the boy.

"Because I had to... like you said... we're friends... and friends protect... each other." Ladon's eyes closed, and his chest flattened. Ladon was gone. Clement bowed his head. He placed a hand on Ladon's snout and allowed the tears to fall freely. The crowd began to slowly gather as they witnessed this interaction.  A woman screamed and pointed  to the sky. A group of dragons began to descend, but they did not attack. They hovered over their fallen brother.

The dark dragon landed beside Ladon and the boy. "He died trying to save me," the boy whispered. The dark dragon didn't know what to think, but before he could speak, a bright light shined down from the stars above. It hover over Ladon's body. Something amazing happened that night they say. Ladon's body began to glow and rise into the sky towards the stars. He glowed so brightly that many had to shield their eyes. Clement watch as his friend suddenly exploded into a million of starlight dust.

This starlight dust continued up into the sky forming a star pattern high in the sky. This star pattern glowed brightly among the stars, brighter than the stars themselves. The gathered dragons looked at this star and knew what it meant. The dark dragon bowed his head. "It is time," he breathed and without another word, the other dragons began to fly up towards this star, each dragon glowing brighter with each ascend and disappearing into the stars, becoming one with them.

The dark dragon gave Clement a small nod of his head and took off after his brothers and sisters. Clement watched with awe and sadness as the dragon disappeared into the starry night. He looked at Ladon's stars  and heard the stars whisper its name,

"Draco."

It was that very name that Clement, who became knighted as Sir Clement the Merciful,  began to tell Ladon's tale, spreading its story to those who were willing to listen, hoping one day the stars would bring back his friend...

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Bonus content: Artwork! Here is some AI art that I created based on an illustration I did of Ladon previously. Absolutely them!