Note: This is a story that includes sex, not many sex scenes connected by a story. It will happen, but not until it makes sense in the story. I promise a happy ending, but remember: "The course of true love never did run smooth."
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PROLOGUE
Ethan's ancient clock radio warbled the old country song. "You can spend your whole life building, Something from nothing, One storm can come and blow it all away, Build it anyway."
He grabbed the radio and threw it across the room so hard it broke open and spilled electronic components everywhere.
"What was that?" Ethan's mother asked over the phone.
"The radio was spouting lies and I couldn't take it anymore." He replied while trying in vain to keep his voice even.
"I know it looks bad right now, but I promise it'll get better." His mother repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time. "You couldn't have known."
"I should've known." He fumed and resumed his pacing with such vigor that an observer might think that the floor had done him a great personal wrong. "She always liked him a lot."
"Honey, you can't--" she started, but Ethan cut her off.
"I don't want to talk about it right now." He said. "I just called to let you know the wedding is obviously off, so there's no point in you and Dad flying out tomorrow."
"We should anyway." She said. "What about your business? I thought you two were partners."
"Oh, that's the best part." Ethan curled his hand into a fist so tightly that it hurt. "They must've been planning this for a while because my name disappeared from a few key documents; he got a controlling interest and kicked me out."
Ethan aimed a kick at the nearest object. Unfortunately, it was his old gas stove and he kicked it so hard that it pulled away from the wall. He winced as a sharp pain shot through his foot.
"But you started that business and built it up from nothing..." She trailed off. "Your dad and I are flying out anyway."
"Well, I won't have a place for you to stay." He flopped down in a recliner to get off his painful foot. "Almost all my money was in the company accounts and since he kicked me out, I've got nothing. I won't make rent and it's due in a couple of days. You know what my landlord is like."
"I know this looks bad honey, but--"
"Please don't say it could be worse." Ethan cut her off. "A man's fiancée running off with his best friend and leaving him penniless is pretty hard to top. I have to go."
"Okay." She said. "We'll be praying for you, and we'll see you soon."
"Sure." He said and hung up.
A tiny part of him felt guilty for the way he'd talked to his mother, but the train wreck of his life buried that part pretty well. He pulled the recliner back and winced as he elevated his foot. The old gas stove was still there, the dent in the side mocking him as it sat cock-eyed from its original position.
"If there's a God out there, can you please give me a fresh start?" He wished idly. "And while I'm asking for miracles, could I meet the perfect woman for me?"
He shook his head.
Only idiots believed in that shit. Given the events of the day, he certainly seemed to qualify. He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, then leaned his head back in the recliner and closed his eyes. He just wanted to sleep; to have this miserable day end.
The last thing he remembered before he drifted off was the faint smell of gas in the air.
A Dragon's Tale, CHAPTER 1
Ethan slowly returned to consciousness, trying to remember a dream he'd been having. He had been hovering above his own body in his apartment, but everything had a strange purple color to it. He remembered seeing that the gas pipe on his old stove was broken and then drifting upward towards a bright light. His dream got very fuzzy after that.
He vaguely remembered seeing other people and creatures that looked like they were from another world. Everything was that strange purple color and they were all drifting upwards toward the bright light together. And then there was a dragon...
And...
And...
Ethan tried to remember, but the dream was slipping from his mind as he tried to hold onto it. He remembered something heading for the dragon, but it had missed the dragon and latched onto him instead though. He had felt a sharp pulling sensation, then nothing.
"That is not my son." A deep voice said from right above Ethan.
"I did say it was a long shot." A squeaky voice responded from somewhere nearby. "I'm sorry I couldn't return your son to you my lord."
"It's no matter." The deep voice said, sounding like he was yawning. "I can always find another mate."
Ethan groaned. He felt like someone had used his head as a punching bag. He tried to move, but his limbs didn't want to cooperate.
"What shall I do with this one?" The squeaky voice said, and Ethan felt someone kick him in the...
Well, that was strange.
Someone had definitely kicked him somewhere, but not in a place that he'd ever felt before. It wasn't in the arms, legs, torso, or head, but what was left?
Ethan opened an eye. He was going to open both eyes, but that would've taken a lot more work than he was willing to do right now. He was clearly inside some sort of cave. He could see the mouth in the distance and the rock walls confirmed it. He glanced around and that's when he noticed that something was attached to his face. It looked like someone had put one of those fake wolf snouts over his nose, but small scales covered its surface.
"I don't care what you do with him." The deep voice said. "You may dispose of him and drain the magic to replenish your reserves."
Ethan's eyes snapped open. Despite feeling like someone had turned his limbs into jelly, he summoned a massive effort and raised himself up on all fours.
It felt surprisingly natural.
"Wait a minute." Ethan managed to say. Talking felt weird. His mouth and tongue seemed a different shape.
"He wakes." The squeaky voice said.
Ethan turned his head and saw the strangest person he had ever seen. He had thin white hair and a frail body that made him look like he was on death's doorstep. Yet Ethan saw vigor, cunning, and coldness in his eyes. His irises were completely black with no color showing, which made them stand in stark contrast to the whites of his eyes. He was wearing a simple robe and clung to a wooden staff inscribed with strange runes.
"Indeed." Said the deep voice.
Ethan turned his head towards the deep voice and his jaw dropped. He was looking at a dragon -- a real, live, speaking, talking, and breathing DRAGON.
The dragon was at least 50 feet long and must've weighed several tons. Its head alone was easily the size of a full-grown man and towered at least ten feet over Ethan. Each of its four legs was as thick as a small tree trunk, and had claws that could easily grasp a full-grown man. It had massive, bat-like wings that probably had a greater wingspan than the body's considerable length. He only saw the wings for a moment before the dragon tucked them up against his body, again much like a bat.
Ethan just stood there and stared for a moment.
