This story takes place in a tribe of fire dragons, where Ignatius was born. He was born to a pure red fire dragon and an orange dragoness with a bright gold underbelly. His father was a former warlord that was very hot tempered and violent until he met his wife, who while also hot tempered, but also a good nurturer, and tried to teach Ignatius to control his temper and his fire. Ignatius always came to her when he lost his temper like a hatchling and was in great distress. 

"Come on now, Ignatius. You gotta learn to meditate properly" said a frustrated sensei, an eastern dragon who had migrated from the eastern continents. 

"Bah, why should I?!" Ignatius snapped.

"Because you need to control your fire and your temper. Now obey your sensei" he said assertively. 

"Okay, okay..." Ignatius closed his eyes. But as he was about to meditate, some other students started to pick on him. 

"Hah, man! What kind of fire dragon can't control his temper at all?!" 

"Yeah! He's a nonstop volcano!" 

"He's a fire that can't be put out!" 

"SHUT UP!!" Ignatius roared loudly, tail whipping the other students against the wall. They yelped in pain upon hitting the wall. He then charged at the sensei and was about to breathe a fireball, but the sensei grabbed his snout and pinned him down. Ignatius squirmed, trying to get free. 

"That is enough, Ignatius! You are lucky if I don't tell your mother and father! Next week you'd better calm down and shape up, or you're out of martial arts!" 

"Fine, as if I wanted to be in this class anyway!" Ignatius snorted as he stormed out. He was so angry, he really wanted to swallow a dragon whole. But his good nature deep inside him wouldn't allow that. He knew he had to calm himself. But as he walked into town, he saw a horrible sight. He saw two fire dragons picking on a poor innocent eastern dragon! 

"Come on! Stand up and fight!" 

"Yeah! Don't be such a cowardly noodle!" 

"No! Stop! HEEEELLLLLPPP!!" the eastern dragon cried for help. There was no way Ignatius was going to ignore this! He watched in horror as the bullies played with the eastern dragon's body by twisting it and tying it into knots. He roared as loud as he could and charged at the bullies, headbutting them down to the ground. 

"Ow! This ain't your business, Iggy!" one of the bullies protested. 

"Yes, it is! I'm not gonna let you hurt this poor innocent any longer." 

"Whatcha gonna do about it?" the bullies taunted. 

"THIS!!" he roared as he inhaled and then breathed a long and hot stream of fire towards the bullies. They got scared and ran away, their tails between their legs. 

"Looks like they were the cowards after all..." Ignatius snorted, untying the poor eastern dragon. 

"Oh, thank you sir! I'm in your debt!" the eastern dragon bowed. 

"No need. Now go find a safe place" Ignatius said, before walking away. He felt so distraught by what happened. He wondered, how could God let such a horrible thing happen? He knew there was one person he could talk to. One that could help him get over it. And that was his mother. He knocked on the door of his mother and father's cottage, hoping to talk to her. Instead, who would answer the door was another fire dragon. A doctor. 

"Yes, little one? How can I help you?" 

Ignatius seemed confused. Where was his mother? 

"I want to see my mother. Where is she?"

"I'm afraid your mother is very sick. It will be a long time until she recovers" 

Ignatius' heart sank as he heard that. 

"No...that can't be! Please, let me see her! Please!" 

"Alright, but keep your distance. I don't want you to catch her disease"

Ignatius nodded and went to his mother's room. His dad was there too, looking very sad. Ignatius hugged his father the instant he saw him. 

"Dad...what's wrong with mom?" 

"She's gravely ill son. She can hardly move or talk to anyone"

"But father, I had a bad day. I want to talk to her..." 

"I know son, but your mother has it worse right now...you can try to talk to her but it won't do much good". 

Ignatius had to try. He called out to her. 

"Mother?" 

"Iggy..." she groaned in her bed. 

"Yes, mom. It's me. I came to see you..." 

His mother reached her claws out slowly, her claws touching his. 

"I'm sorry...I can't be with you for a while...you must face your own challenges now until I recover...I believe in you..." 

"No, mother. You gotta be there for me. I don't want to be alone. What'll I do?!" 

With that, his mother went back to sleep. The doctor returned. 

"Visiting time is over. Give your mother some space" requested the doctor. Ignatius dug his claws into the ground. 

"I'm not leaving her..." 

"You need to go, son. She'll recover before you know it..." said his father. 

"F-fine. I'll GO!!" Ignatius roared as he stormed out of the hut, running out of the tribe fields and into the forest, sobbing the whole way. Eventually he stopped at a creek in the forest, laying down, continuing to sob away. He felt like he lost everything precious to him. Especially his mother. 

It was then that a golden dragon named Percival was strolling along the forest, and then heard the distressed crying. He came over to Ignatius, speaking in a soft voice. 

"Hey big guy. What's the matter?"

Ignatius was a little startled. He gasped and stood up. 

"I-I wasn't crying! I had something in my eye!" 

"I've never seen a fire dragon cry so hard. You must be very upset. What's wrong?" Percival asked. 

"Okay, okay...I'm sad because I lost my temper in martial arts, I saw a dragon get bullied, and my mother is very sick...and I'm scared and all alone!" Ignatius cried some more. Percival laid a paw on Ignatius' shoulder. 

"There there...I'm sorry that happened to you. But these things happen for a reason. Do you know that God still loves you?" 

Ignatius snorted. "How does God care so much if he lets all this bad stuff happen?" 

"I know some things are hard to explain. but they're always for a reason. Listen...I'm looking to start a group called the Dragon Defenders. And you seem perfect. I think if you joined me in helping defend the lives of innocent dragons and other creatures, you'd feel a lot better and feel like you're fighting a worthy cause. How does that sound?" 

"I don't know how that's supposed to make me feel better. My answer is no" Ignatius answered. 

"Come on now. Don't be like that. You gotta let go of your anger so you can cope with the pain you suffered. If anything you can use that energy to save the lives of good creatures. Is there anything I can do to convince you?" 

Ignatius then grinned, looking down at Percival. 

"Possibly. If you want to convince me, you have to beat me in a fight! And let me tell you, I an unmerciful!" 

Percival smiled at the challenge. 

"Well then, if it's a fight you desire, bring it on. We'll see who comes out on top!"

With that, the fight began. Ignatius charged at Percival, breathing fire. But Percival leaped over the stream of fire, landing on Ignatius' back. Ignatius' roared, trying to shake Percival off. He successfully did, but Percival landed and skidded across the grass to a halt. 

"You are a tough guy. But I'm not giving up!" Percival growled as he breathed a beam of light energy towards Ignatius, but Ignatius dodged as well. 

"Heh, you are not too shabby yourself!" Ignatius grinned. Then they both charged at each other, pushing each other head to head. Percival then seized the opportunity to claw at Ignatius' side, making him roar in pain. From there the battle became tooth and claw, as they inflicted blows upon each other. It was a battle of strength and a battle of wills. With all his strength, Percival barely manged to pin Ignatius down. Then he locked him by twisting Ignatius' legs in an uncomfortable position. Ignatius roared and squirmed, trying to get away. 

"Ow, ow! Stop it" Ignatius cried out. 

"Do you give in and promise to be a good dragon?" Percival twisted more. 

"Okay, okay! I will! You win!"

With that, Percival let Ignatius go. Ignatius whimpered as he shook his muscles and stood up. 

"You really bested me..." Ignatius whined. 

"Yes, I did. Are you convinced? Now will you join the Dragon Defenders?" 

Ignatius thought some more, then he smiled. 

"Since you bested me and have proven your strength, then yes. I will join" he nodded, shaking paws with Percival. 

"Then it's settled. Say, what's your name? I am Percival" Percival said. 

"Ignatius. Some also call me Iggy"

"Heh, I'll just call you by your proper name" Percival said. "Now let's see if we can recruit any more dragons. 

"You got it!"

And that's the backstory of Ignatius. How he became the dragon he is today and how he joined the Dragon Defenders. He would make new friends and learn godly lessons along the way. Here's to more adventures, and the hope that Ignatius will become a godly dragon...