Based off of the �Dragoness Stomp War� comics by Markie
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�I�m sorry Jonathan there is nothing I can do for you.�
Jonathan looked at the wise old man with dismay, �But I can�t get her out of my mind� It�s like we linked somehow that day. Ronnie is all I think about. Even when I dream, my dreams are of her.�
�Perhaps she has some sort of hold over you, Dragons are very powerful. If so, there is nothing that can break the spell.�
�But healer what am I to do?� Jonathan pleaded desperately.
�Go to her my son. For the dragon is the only one that can help you now.�
�How� How will I find her?�
�Follow you heart... It will lead you.� The wise old man replied with a reassuring smile.
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�Sir Jonathan, Sir Jonathan�� A young man hollered as he rushed into the cottage, �Is it true? Are you leaving us?�
�Yes Thomas�� He replied and patted the boy on the head, �I must seek out Ronnie. My place is by her side.�
�But will I ever see you again?� Thomas replied with a frown.
Jonathan looked down at the young messenger that had served him for years. The son of peasant family that served his family for generations, Thomas had been both a trusted servant and friend for years. He would go to the village to pick up supplies and help with chores around the house. Only rarely did he ever deliver a message, yet that was the traditional role his family had filled for generations.
�Don�t worry, someday I�ll return. For now, I�ve made arrangements to ensure your family is taken care of. You have served me well and will be missed.�
The young man smiled and hugged his former employer, �I will miss you too Sir Jonathan��
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After almost 20 straight hours of travel, Jonathan decided to find a place to rest. His horse was exhausted and the sun would be setting soon.
Just over the next hill smoke was drifting into the sky. Perhaps it was a village?
Giving his faithful stead a well-earned rest, Jonathan made his way up the hill on foot. As he approached the top an awful stench filled the air and voices could be heard in the distance. Something just didn�t seem right, so the cautious traveler dropped to the ground and slowly crawled to the top.
The valley below was filled with hundreds of soldiers, one of Blackton�s many armies. Scattered throughout the ranks were dozens of gigantic footprints. In each one were the gruesome remains of men and those left partially crushed, moaning in pools of blood. Apparently they�d been in battle with the one he seeked.
Quickly, he worked his way back down the hill to his horse. If the soldiers found him it would almost certainly mean death, Blackton placed a bounty on his head. It was one of the many prices he�s had to pay for summoning the dragon.
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It had been three days since he left home in search of Ronnie. As the healer instructed the young man followed his heart, allowing intuition to guide him. However now the weary traveler found himself lost in a vast forest with a frightened horse.
�What? What is it boy?� Jonathan asked, trying to calm down his only means of transportation.
Suddenly, the beast threw its front legs in the air knocking him to the ground. Jonathan managed to climb up just in time to see his horse and supplies run off into the woods.
However as the sound of his once loyal friend diminished another became noticeable. It was a faint echo in the distance, which had been inaudible over the horse. It sounded like boiling water, perhaps someone making dinner. The desperate man closed his eyes and tried to focused�
It was difficult to block out the rustling of underbrush to follow the noise but not impossible, and something else seemed to be guiding him. Soon Jonathan could see the edge of the tree line as the faint hum gradually transformed into a loud roar. Something was definitely cooking but he still couldn�t smell what it was.
Swiftly the traveler made his way out of the forest and into a field. The first thing he noticed was a pair of huge familiar feet. The owner of these peds was laying in a ditch or crater surrounded by steam.
Cautiously, Jonathan walked up to one of the towering green soles. He curiously reached out and began to probe it with his hand. The surface was soft, yet firm, like a worn leather saddle. There was a sweet odor and greasy substance on the surface, probably from lotion of some sort. Slowly, he leaned forward and his hand sunk several inches into the leathery pad.
Next he maneuvered around the massive foot and two hands and a head came into view. The rest of dragoness�s body was apparently submerged in a massive hot spring, hidden by a thick cloud of steam. Her eyes were shut, a sign that she was probably asleep.
Soon the immense heat began to make the human tired and weak. Standing was becoming difficult� then�
�Hello Jonathan.� The dragoness said, and gently picked him up in one of her hands.
Jonathan immediately collapsed in the enormous palm, �Hello Ronnie��
�Actually I�m called Nina now little one.�
�Nina??? You changed your name?�
�It�s my new human name. The people of the village gave it to me to honor their queen.�
Jonathan scratched his head in confusion, �I don�t understand?�
�My dragon name is unpronounceable by humans. So the village that I serve gave me a human name.�
�But I thought they served you?�
Nina let out a soft feminine laugh, �Jonathan they�re not my slaves. They tend to my needs and I tend to theirs.�
Jonathan just smiled as Nina ran a finger down his back. He knew how dangerous the dragoness was, yet felt perfectly safe. There was just something inside that told him she would never harm him.
�You don�t look well�� She commented in a concerned tone.
�The journey here was long and hard� But I have so many questions��
�Shhhh, little one. There will be time for that later.� The dragoness replied and placed him on the ground next to one of the villagers, �This is Tinto. He will take you to the village for a good meal and bath.�
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The village was rather far from Nina�s spring. Jonathan was full of questions but too tired and confused to ask. Tinto, a middle-aged man with a distinct look of wisdom, didn�t seem to be in the talking mood either. However as they approached the outskirts of town the escort spoke up.
�Nina knew you would come��
Jonathan stopped dead in his tracks and announced, �She�s been summoning me through my dreams��
Tinto let off an amused chuckle, �She hasn�t been summoning you my friend, you�ve been summoning her!�
�What???�
�So you don�t know the power of the horn then?� Tinto asked curiously.
�Yes� I mean the horn was used to summon the dragon. But what does that have to do with my dreams?�
�The horn isn�t used to summon the dragon my ignorant friend, it�s used to bond with her!�
�Bond� With Nina� But it was only suppose to call her� I mean�� Jonathan stuttered bewildered.
�Do you recall exactly what the legend said of the horn?�
Jonathan closed his eyes and concentrated on the ancient text his father made him memorize, �It said that when the dragon was needed the chosen one would summon the beast. When the creature was finished the chosen one�s soul would become one with the beast.�
�Ah and you thought that meant she was going to eat you�� The villager commented and let out another amused chuckle, �Nina doesn�t want to eat you, she wants to bond souls with you.�
�But if she wanted to bond with me��
�You were not ready and needed time. That�s why she left you. She knew that your soul would call out and eventually lead you here. But I fear you are still not fully prepared for what is ahead.�
�But�� Jonathan started to ask but was swiftly interrupted.
�I�m sorry but there is nothing more I can tell you. Only Nina can help you now.�
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The weary young traveler woke refreshed in the Inn that Tinto put him up at. For the first time in a while he got a full night�s sleep. Dreams of the dragoness that had dominated his nights were replaced with visions. Blurry visions of a castle... Although the castle didn�t look friendly, somehow the visions were reassuring. It felt like� like� desti�
KNOCK� KNOCK� KNOCK�
�Come in.� Jonathan yelled while climbing out of bed.
�How did you sleep last night my young friend?� Tinto asked.
�Better than I had for a long time. But you already knew that, didn�t you?�
Tinto let off one of his amused chuckles, �I�m a seer and know many things.�
�A seer, then you can tell me��
�No my son. I can not.� The wise man replied, �You and Nina must discover your destiny together. I can only guide you.�
�But��
�Get dressed my son. The one you seek wants to see you.� Tinto interrupted and left.
By now Jonathan had his share of wise men and prophecies. He just wanted to know what had to be done. But they were right about one thing, Nina was the one who had the answers he seeked.
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�Hello Jonathan.� The dragoness said and gently picked him up. �I can see that Tinto has not answered your questions.�
�No. I�m more confused now than when this whole thing started.�
�Then perhaps it�s time I told you what this is all about.� Nina replied and covered his body with her free hand, �Close your eyes and relax��
Jonathan did as told and visions began to flood his mind. It felt just like before�
�Almost a millennia ago an evil sorcerer tried to take over the world. He is the man you know today as King Blackton. Back then he was just called Blackton.�
As the dragoness spoke the visions focused. It was like seeing what happened back then through someone else�s eyes. The images quickly became completely clear and precise.
�Blackton had discovered an ancient and powerful spell. The spell allowed him to control men, it suppressed their free will and turned them into mindless minions.�
�But if he can control men like this, why raise an army? Why not just dominate their minds?� The young man asked.
�The spell can only control the men after they have killed in his name. That is why he creates the armies and encourages the men to pillage the people of conquered lands.�
What Nina was saying made perfect sense. Blackton�s armies were actually known to win by sending wave after wave of soldiers into a battle. It was an unorthodox but effective strategy. And the atrocities his armies wielded against the innocent were feared throughout the land.
�As word of Blackton�s intentions spread, a coalition was formed and a course of action determined. Another great sorcerer from the north, Blackton�s nemesis, had agreed to perform a rare and powerful spell. The spell would transform a newly born human child into a great dragon. I was that child.�
After taking a moment to digest the story Jonathan inquired, �So what do I have to do with all of this?�
�I was created to protect innocent from Blackton�s evil armies but couldn�t be everywhere at once. So those of my human bloodline were scattered throughout the coalition. You see the spell took away my humanity but at the same time bonded me with those within my bloodline.�
�So we�re related?�
�I think you�re a cousin.� Nina replied somewhat bewildered, �It�s been so long I�ve lost track.�
Jonathan let out a sign of relief and asked. �So if this is true why don�t you just hunt down Blackton?�
�The sorcerer hides among the masses. The spell also gave him the ability to take the form of any human under his control. It makes him invisible to me. However you will be able to find him.�
�What???�
�The bonding has brought out your vision, the other part of the spell. Only one of my kin can find Blackton. That is why he put a bounty on your head and all others whom summoned me in the past.� She replied earnestly.
�Nina I�m not sure that��
�It�s alright Jonathan, I won�t let anything happen to you. All you have to do is tell me where to find him.�
�But I don�t know!� He replied frustrated.
�Well Tinto can help you with that. He�s told me the visions will become clearer now that the bonding is complete. All you need is time and a safe place to stay.�
�But��
Jonathan was suddenly interrupted by a horrified young villager, �BLACKTON�S ARMY IS COMING! BLACKTON�S ARMY IS COMING!�
Acknowledgements:
- Nina (Ronnie) and the �Dragoness Stomp Comics� are copyrighted to Markie. Used with permission.