“Are you coming out?” Bowen asked as he made his way into the rather large cave that sat under Tintagel.

“No!”

Bowen made his way further inside, impressed at the levels of comfort the Dragon had dragged into the dark cave.  He lit a few of the torches to find the fearsome Draco curled into the back of the cave, crouching low, his tail wrapped around him as he licked the wound.

“He didn’t mean to harm you.”  Bowen pulled out some rags to help ease the blood flow.  “He’s just very protective of the new Queen.”

“I would not harm the Queen!” Draco snapped.  “He attacked me with no provocation.”

“He’s willing to apologize.”  He cleaned the wound then wrapped a large cloth around it.  “Besides you gave as good as you got, he had his own injuries.”

“Good!”

“Draco.”  Bowen got up to his nose, and gave him a look.  “Why him?”

“He’s a Dragon Slayer!”  He shuffled back, not wanting to look at his friend, enemy, companion. The two had an turbulent yet strong relationship.

“I was…”

“It’s different.”  He huffed, shuffling around letting Bowen sit next to him.  “He’s THE Dragon Slayer.  The one in the legends, a Saint now.  A Roman Soldier who took out the biggest meanest bastard, not that the creature didn’t deserve to die, but if he could take out him … what am I?”

“My friend, who I will defend.”  Bowen in a rare show of emotion between the two, laid his hand on his nose.  “You’re saying this John Rhys has the soul of a Saint or is that Saint.”

“Soul, but he knows it. I can see it in him.  He knows exactly who he was, it’s how he fought me easily.  He’s deadly, and older than even the Dragon Slayer.  I would be more worried if he were an enemy.”

“Then it’s a good thing he’s loyal to the Queen.”

Draco huffed.

Hiccup looked at the ‘innocent’ dragon, arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowed.

Toothless stared back.

“Did you do this?”  He waved his arms around the destroyed laundry room.

The dragon looked away, as if he hadn’t heard Mod’s Lead Hunter.

“Toothless?”

He shifted, turning his back to Hiccup.  He lifted his paw and looked at his claws as if he was contemplating doing his nails.

“Don’t give me that.”  Hiccup rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in the air.  “Dolores is upset with you!  And she likes you, remember that.”

He dropped his head, then belched … a ton of bubbles were released into the air.  Toothless shifted again, this time letting a rather loud fart rip.

More bubbles.

“You’ve been watching those stupid Youtube videos with Grug haven’t you.”  He waved his hand around shooing away the bubbles.  “Well I can say it’s the only time your farts smell lavender fresh.”

More bubbles.

“Dude!”  Hiccup tried not to laugh, but he really couldn’t hold it in. “You can stay in here and let loose all the bubbles you want, next time do not eat the Laundry Soap Pods, especially just before cleaning day.”

As he left the room, he was followed by a trail of bubbles.

“It’s what?”  Muldoon stared at his son like he had lost his mind.

“Dragon Appreciation Day!” He held out a piece of cheese to Tiny Terror who grabbed it and scurried off to eat it in the corner.

“Why would I bloody appreciate the bastard?!”

“Because he’s a Dragon!”  Owen gave him a look.  “And he’s our resident Dragon.”

“He’s a pain in my arse!”  Muldoon pointed at the thing in the corner.  “Do you know how many shoes I’ve gone through…”

“224.”  The Caretaker’s voice broke through the argument.

The two gamekeepers turned and looked at him, it was the rare moment it was obvious the two were related.

“You asked.”

Muldoon glared back at his son.  “I would appreciate it, if it went away!”

“Ah dad you hurt his feelings.”

“I don’t care …”  He sniffed, sighed, and then looked down at his shoes which where were now on fire.

“225.”

“Honey.” Katsumoto whispered, reaching out gingerly touching his Mate.

Ever since they had returned to Japan, after the end of the war, he had been cautious about startling Nathan.  After everything he, and the rest of the Westerners had gone through at the hands of the Japanese Army, Nathan had a wide sense of personal space.

The fact he was sound asleep was a win as far as Katsumoto was concerned, he couldn’t remember the last time Nathan had slept through the night.

“Honey.”

Nathan blinked a few times, tensing slightly at the pressure on his arm, only to relax when he realized it was his Mate.  He shifted onto his side, smiling softly at Katsumoto, loving him more each day for the patience he showed.

It was then he realized why he was trying to wake him up.

“I think something’s come between us.” He whispered over Mushu’s nose.

“Yes, it has.”

“Shhh I’m trying to sleep here.” Mushu muttered, before shifting until he was on his back, all four paws in the air.

“Dragon out.”  Katsumoto pointed towards the door.

“Protecting my human.”  Mushu pointed out, his new American accent so different than the softer Japanese he had previously.

“Protect him from outside.”  The Clan Leader poked at him.

Mushu just shuffled closer to Nathan.

“Mushu can you please leave I would like to cuddle up to my Mate.” Nathan asked softly, getting both Dragon and Vampire to stare at him.

Katsumoto didn’t want to startle Nathan, but if he had drag the damn dragon out by his tail he had no qualms, it had been years since he had felt his Mate curled up to his side.

Mushu shifted, narrowed his eyes at Nathan, huffed then slinked out of the bed.  He opened the door, closed it and promptly laid in front of it.

Nathan smiled at his Mate, scooted over and curled into the strong arms, and easily fail back to sleep.

Katsumoto held onto him loosely and ignored the tears that ran down his cheeks.

Ezio stared at his Mate, looked over the edge of the cliff down to the ravine, then back to his Mate.

“We have a what now?”  His hands gesturing wildly at the edge.

“He is a Dragon and his name is Drogo.  He is old, cranky and you do not want to get on his bad side, pup.”

“Like you.”  Ezio grinned at him, before looking back over the edge.  “What does he look like?”

“He is dark brown and red, massive in bulk, I was never able to measure him fully.  He has been here as a long as there has been Masyaf.  Dastan discovered him first.”  He pulled the young Italian away from the edge.  “If you are lucky, he will come out at night and rest up here on the ledge.”

“Does he hurt people?”

“Only those who threaten his home.  He does not like Templars.”  Altair laughed lightly.  “There is only one Assassin he avoids, Rhys.  It would seem in another life, the Welshman killed his brother.”

“I have yet to meet this Welshman you have talked about.”

“He comes by on occasion brings his Mate to hide from society.” Altair paused when he felt a sudden rush of air.

Ezio turned around to see the largest creature he had ever encountered perched on the edge of the cliff staring at the two of them.  His head tilted slightly, as if studying them, and then with a huff as if unimpressed.  There was a large crack as the wings spread wide and carried him effortlessly upwards, just before he dove back off the cliff, only to reappear a few moments later flying up into the evening sky.

“At least he is on our side.”  Ezio’s eyes were wide with shock and admiration.