Tri, a white dragon just older than a child, looked on with delight on his surroundings. He was the only son of the king, and an albino. Both cases being extremely rate, he was taken for a symbol of blessing. And for as long as he lived, he had known only prosperity in his father's lands.
The boundaries of the Raug mountains were the Amlung Hills to the north and the Peaceful Plains to the south. No one dared to enter those lands, for there were dragon hunters in the Hills, and an unknown creature lived in the forests beyond the Peaceful Plains.
A slender red dragon, quite larger than Tri, alighted on the soft grassy spot next to him.
"Are you enjoying yourself, son?" she asked sweetly, stroking his white scales.
He smiled back at her.
"It sure beats studying in that musty old cave," he answered truthfully.
His mother surveyed his soft rose eyes, then looked over the valley where the little dragons played.
"Someday, you will be king and you will have to ensure it stays this way."
Tri tilted his head curiously, "But why wouldn't it stay this way, Mother?"
Her smile faltered and she heaved a great sigh.
"It is said that Dragons come from Raug...that is not true. They come from the west. There is a giant black pit where no one can see the bottom. In it's walls, dragons first emerged." She shook her head. "The first ones were weak, and had no moral standing. They acted like animals, and were tamed like animals too. Then, once they aged a good deal, two groups emerged. One to seek out wisdom and truth-" She turned her jade green eyes to his and said softly, "-and the others to lie, steal, and kill."
Tri jumped to his feet.
"But a dragon cannot lie!" he said, trying to defend his kind.
His mother laid a kind claw on his shoulder, "It is true a dragon can tell if someone lies or not, but a dragon can also lie. Here in these peaceful surroundings, it's hard to believe some would stoop so low for a simple item."
Tri sat once again, he had guessed what his mother spoke of.
"Gold?" he said, more of an answer than a question.
She nodded solemnly, "Yes, and jewels, and precious metals. These are the downfall of a dragon. But if you place a second treasure in your heart, and desire it with all your being...you may be able to stop the lust for such things within yourself." Her gaze fell back on the valley. "Our wisest one, the great Sui Riu has done so. He loves knowledge and his people so greatly that no corruption can touch him. I hope you can place the love of your people in your heart, Tri. Look at them! Cherish them! And always desire this peace you have now."
Tri nodded. "I will do so, Mother. For nothing is more precious than seeing those small dragons at play in my sky. I hope never to lose that," he said resolutely.
---
200 years later.
The emerald king of the dragons, Soel, faced two younger dragons, who had grown great in size.
"Fafnir...Torm," the king said gravely, observing them both, "You have been seen flying beyond our boundries. What have you to say about this?"
Both dragons hung their heads.
"We won't do it again, Your Majesty," Fafnir answered.
The king snorted in anger, "You lie, foul child! Both of you have hearts black as the night." His eyes were smoldering. "To exit the lands of Raug is death. And though you are young you two are no exception!"
The entire court nodded. These two, and especially Torm, were known as black-hearted dragons. Torm had hatched from a black egg, an ill omen.
Torm pulled himself to his full hight, several feet taller than Soel.
"To reign as a tyrant and keep your subjects as prisoners is a crime, you slimy snake!" he spat.
The dragons were so shocked at Torm's statement that they were unable to stop what happened next.
Torm reached under his wing and pulled out a sword, then stabbed it deep into the king's heart. Fafnir spun toward the court, spewing fire so hot that many dragons had to flee.
Torm stood over the dying king with an evil smirk on his face.
Soel gave a smile as his eyes glazed over, "Torm-Wrath is your name...and you will be defeated by small creatures who are children in comparison to you!"
Hate filled the Torm-Wrath's eyes and he lifted the sword once again, beheading the king.
"I will never be defeated, but I thank your royal bloodiness for the name." He turned to Fafnir. "Let us see if there are any dragons who appose our new rule? Shall we?"
Fafnir looked concerned, "But what of the prince?"
Torm-Wrath frowned. "He is with the Stupid Riu. But he will come for revenge and then we cane take him the same way we took down his idiotic father!"
---
Tri was quite a large dragon now. He wasn't used to eating vegetables and leaves only, but the ones about the Great Sui Riu's home were especially good to eat, and quite large too. He had never been able to eat a whole plant in one sitting,
Tri floated on a tranquil lake bed on his back. The water was light blue and crystal clear. His wings outstretched and perfectly relaxed, Tri made an excellent boat for the small rabbits sitting on his chest. Where he was from, they were considered seasoning for the meal, but here, in the Great Sui Riu's lands, they were friends. Tri wondered how he would ever bring himself to eat meat again after having these tiny creatures look at him with their large brown eyes. It was heart-wrenching!
His head bumped gently on the shore and he tilted his chin till it touched a log.
The rabbits skipped playfully across him into their new home shouting 'thanks!'
For the rabbits here were intelligent.
Tri turned over and soaked for a minute in the cool water, before realizing Sui Riu was nearby.
Looking up, he smiled at the giant. "Hello, master."
Yet the great Sui Riu did not smile, "It is time for you to come in, young dove."
Tri wasn't too thrilled with his nickname. It seemed far too feminine to him, but the Sui Riu was a friend of birds and probably didn't think that way at all.
Tri followed his mentor as fast as he could as Sui Riu walked into the hollowed out mountain. It was only as big as a single room to Sui Riu, but to Tri it seemed like a cathedral, if he knew what a cathedral was.
"Find a seat, Dove. I must speak with you," Sui Riu said softly, for his room echoed.
Tri found his usual spot, a place where he wove together the soft grasses of the field, and listened.
Sui Riu looked out the doorway as he spoke, "Two renegades have taken over your kingdom...the news was not brought to me until it was too late."
Tri leapt to his feet, "I must go an-"
"SIT," Sui Riu said harshly.
Tri did so immediately, looking crushed by the sternness of the great master's voice.
Sui Riu continued. "Your father and mother have passed on...and it has been nearly one hundred years since they have. The dragons holding your kingdom are too powerful for you to defeat."
Sui Riu paused, letting his student speak.
"I cannot do nothing! I must go gather my people to fight them!" Tri said, tears in his eyes.
Sui Riu shook his head, "You must not go."
Tri lowered his head, "I must. I am sorry, Master, but I cannot stay even if you command me to."
Tri took flight, then heard the Sui Riu fly behind him. As Tri reached the borders of Sui Riu's land, the giant called for him to stop. He landed on the peak furthest from the great Sui Riu's home.
"Yes, Master?" he said, looking very regal.
With one puff of wind, the great Sui Riu turned Tri into a white stone dragon.
"You will rest here, until the time of the dragons to save the world of men. Then you will have an aid. A great dragon who knows the ways of men."
With that, the Great dragon hid the white prince with large leafy plants, not to be found until an age had passed.