October 14th 2020
Prompt: Dragons
MOSTLY UNEDITED
Inspired-ish by How To Train Your Dragon
******

Dragons.

They were said to be untameable beasts.

Mythical monsters that raged through our cities and took down our greatest armies.

  Many in Ninjago loathed the serpents with passion. It was no different in Kalarun. Kiara was a young teenage girl there. She worked at her mother's apothecary, helping her bring salves and remedies to their customers. But Kiara didn't want to remain a healer's apprentice forever. Her real dream was to join the dragon slayers, the Doragonkirā,  in Ninjago City and become one of Ninjago's best defenders.

  "Killing every dragon in the world will never bring your father back." Kiara's mother, Sarah tsked as she ground her herbs.

"It will prevent others from growing up without their parents." Kiara said confidently. "Da had been a doragonkirā. I want to make him proud."

  Sarah smiled softly, holding her daughter's head in her hands. "He is proud of you. You don't need to kill a dragon for him to be."

  "But if you insist..." Sarah turned to the chest in the corner of the shop. Sarah pulled it open with a loud creak and took out a long item. Kiara gasped as her mother held the weapon horizontally over her palms. It was a sword, a long katana with a beautiful leather sheath, it's handle was simple but the faint initials of her father were engraved in the metal.

  Kiara took the blade, unsheathing it and holding it to the light. "Mami," she breathed. "I can't...no this is Da's sword." She quickly placed it back inside its cover and tried to give it back.

  Sarah shook her head. "No. You will need it in the city."

*           *           *

  "Kiara!"

  She jerked her head up, quickly fastening the last strap of her great plate as she made her way over to her captain.

"The Dragon Masters are heading to Ryōshi." Captain Iesha nodded to her. "I need you to go to group four on the north side."

  Kiara nodded, saluting the leader quickly before quickly alerting the rest of her squad. The Dragon Masters were are group in the rebellion against Lord Garmadon's rule who had managed to mount and control the dragons. Kiara had fought against them before but had barely managed to make a dent. She was among the best archers but the green master had managed to stop her arrow from piercing the flesh of the ice dragon that had been freezing the rivers of the small town.

  "Not this time." Kiara swore the oath with malice. Determined that she would not be thwarted again. She attached her sheath to her belt, sliding her sword in, smiling softly as the initials glimmered in the light before grabbing her bow and quiver and joining the rest of the squad.

  "Kiara!" Her friend Xavier grinned wildly at her as he mounted his steed, the helmet looked huge on the small boy's head as he gathered the reins. "Iesha promoted you to squad leader! Freya is sick with dragon pox!"

  Kiara gasped, drawing her horse beside the boy. "Are you serious? That's awesome! Uh- That I got the promotion not that Freya is sick."

  Xavier shrugged. "I dunno, she's sort of annoying." He whispered with a smirk.

There was a series of four short whistles and Kiara recognized it as the command to move into formation. She relayed the command, raising her hand to the sky as she moved into position.

  "For Garmadon!" Iesha yelled. Kiara pounded her breast plate with the rest of the doragonkirā, digging her heels into her mare's sides and breaking into a canter as they headed for Ryōshi.

  They got there just minutes after the Dragon Masters did. Kiara cursed when she realized they were already making damage. Ryōshi was one of the biggest and best of the dragon hunting cities. The Dragon Masters already worked at releasing a horde of angry fire dragons.

  Kiara yelled commands, drawing her bow and notching an arrow. She narrowed her eyes at the sky, setting her sights on a young earth dragon. She held her breath for a moment before exhaling, releasing the arrow as she did. Her aim was true and the dragon roared in pain when it pieced the soft skin under its left wing. The beast began to fall from the sky. There was a mighty roar and a flash of green as the dragon was caught just before it crashed into the cliffs surrounding the city.

  Kiara scowled. The green master had come. He was mounted upon one of the rarest dragons of all, the emerald dragon with beautiful green scales and golden horns. The dragon's eyes seemed to glare at Kiara as she tried to focus on its riders figure. The Dragon Masters all dressed in gi's and wore masks of fabric, covering their face and making it impossible to see their identity. The doragonkirā were starting to retreat, angry yells and screams erupting from Captain Iesha as she cursed and used insults Kiara would get in trouble from her mother for using.

Kiara moved to shoot one last arrow, hoping she could piece the green rider. But just as she was about to let the arrow fly a loud growl rumbled. Her surprise made the arrow slip and it shot, just missing as it clipped the green dragon master in the shoulder. Kiara turned around, drawing her sword as a fire dragon prowled closer. It's yellow eyes were full of hate as it let out another throaty roar. Flames shot through the air and Kiara ran, unfortunately she tumbled straight off a cliff. Screaming Kiara felt the heat on her neck as she narrowly missed being cooked alive. She plunged her sword into the side of the canyon. The fall was over a thousand feet, so far she couldn't see the bottom. Kiara looked up, thankful to see that the fire dragon had taken flight. But a loud cracking noise jolted fear inside her as she noticed her blade slipping.

"No, no, no, no-" she whimpered as it slipped. Her heart plunged into her throat, the air slamming against her body as she fell, gravity dragged her down and another scream erupted from her mouth.

She could barely see as the wind stung her eyes but when she forced them open she became aware of a green beast free diving beside her. The green dragon master's eyes were steady but as he glanced at the ground below there was a flash of panic.

"Grab on!" He yelled, stretching an arm to her.

"NO!" Kiara shook her head stubbornly as her words were whisked away.

The rider looked exasperated. "Take my arm or you're going to die!"

Kiara bit her lip, looking down to see the ground getting closer and closer. It was either take his arm or break every bone in her body.

She reached to him, he drew his dragon closer and Kiara shrieked when it's head came right beside hers. An arm wrapped around her waist and tugged her onto the creature, drawing her body against his chest.

"HOLD ON!" The green master shouted over the plummeting wind as he signalled the beast, gripping a handle attached to the saddle and yanking it up. Kiara felt her throat close as she slammed her eyelids shut, grabbing into the rider as the earth appeared under them.

They weren't going to make it.

The green rider shouted and Kiara cried out as they pulled up but a little too late.

They had hit the ground.

*       *      *

  "Wake up." A male voice jarred her as Kiara blinked blearily. A water skin found its way into her hands and she took it with aching arms and shakily raised it too her lips.

  As she became more aware of her surroundings, Kiara recognized a familiar gi.

No.

  Kiara leaped to her feet and the green rider staggered back as she groped for a weapon. Her hand found a small throwing knife and she pulled it from its sheath, pointing it threateningly at the other presence.

  "Hey!" He snapped. "I saved you!"

  She didn't reply, keeping wary eyes on him as he grabbed his own sword and whipped it out faster than she thought possible.

  They both stood there. Blade to blade. Silence hung thick in the air. As Kiara stared at the person before her she became aware of the pain in her side, the scrapes on her legs and the dust coating her clothes. Her opponent was in a similar shape but there was blood bleeding from the small cut from her arrow and deeper scrapes from taking the brunt of their fall.

  A loud groan split through the silence. Kiara didn't falter but she frowned when she recognized pain in the noise. The green rider (more like a ninja as she observed him closer ) jerked at the sound. He kept his sword point on her as he skirted around her, an obvious limp showing in his right leg. Kiara watched him but didn't move, gaping shamelessly as he lowered his weapon and ran to something that lay in the shadows behind her.

  As she looked closer she realized it was the dragon. A magnificent creature but it lay on its side, it's breathing ragged as it whimpered in pain. She stared as the green ninja skidded to his knees, ignoring the dirt that got into the cuts already there as he whispered reassurances and examined its condition.

  "Who are you." Kiara spoke up finally, her voice holding authority even though her head was pounding and there was blood starting to well from a scrape on her hip.

  "The green rider." He replied smoothly, a smirk slipping into his tone but his eyes were wide with worry as he took some gauze from some satchels on his belt and wrapped some of the dragons injuries.

  Kiara couldn't believe her eyes. This....this vigilante was showing care and concern towards this beast- the very species that killed her father. As well as showed mercy towards her. Kiara dropped her weapon, keeping it grasped in her hand but letting her arm fall to her side.

  "Why did you save me." Kiara asked, voice a little hoarse and soft.

  His violent green gaze flicked to her. "I couldn't let you die." He said like it was obvious. "No kills, that's our rule."

  "Lies!" Kiara spat. "Millions of people are killed every day from dragons!"

  "And billions of dragons are killed every day by people!" The rider rose, eyes flashing. "More are taken into slavery and anyone who stands in Lord Garmadon's way... Anyone looking for peace is killed too! How- how is that right?"

  Kiara faltered slightly but quickly shut the thoughts out. "Lord Garmadon is an honourable leader! He only is trying to protect the people!"

  "I know that!" The rider seemed to grow frustrated. "I know that! But there are other ways to protect people without wiping out an entire species!"

  "What do you know about this outsider." Kiara said coldly.

  The knife was up again and he stumbled back a few paces as she pointed it at his collar bone, stepping forward intimidatingly. "My father was killed by these monsters. There will be no piece with these beasts in our world. I don't expect you to understand."

  Suddenly a hand gripped her arm, blocking it from piecing his flesh as his green eyes hardened. Kiara's eyes widened as he pushed against her, forcing her backwards as he gripped the blade through her own hand and overpowered her, now pointing it to her own neck.

  "My mother was killed in a war against the dragons. We never even found her body." The green rider hissed dangerously. "But that wasn't the dragons fault. It was my father's. He started this war and I'm working to end it!"

  His words rose into a yell as he reached up and yanked off his mask, revealing blonde hair and a fair face everyone in Ninjago City knew.

Lloyd Garmadon. Lord Garmadon's son and heir to the war kings throne.