The first 200 lines.
In ages past,
the dragons and their crystals of power
came to this barbaric land
through the portal from Dragon World.
The crystals brought strength and wisdom,
especially the great Aurathon,
the mighty crystal
with powers so vast it could only be wielded
by the Dragon King himself.
But though the dragons wanted only peace,
their human allies wanted war.
The kingdoms of Norvagen and Draigar
misused the knowledge brought by the dragons,
and battles erupted.
Seeking to end the wars,
the Dragon King made the wizard, Xenoz,
ambassador between the dragons and the two kingdoms.
He was given dragon-gifts and immortality.
And for a time, Xenoz and the Dragon King
forced peace upon the land.
But peace imposed by others cannot last.
Then came the great betrayal.
Evil forces arose,
and the Dragon Queen was slain.
In his anguish,
the Dragon King and many of his followers
returned to Dragon World,
closing the portal.
The great Aurathon,
the receptacle of all dragon knowledge
and the only crystal whose powers
could open the portal itself,
went with them.
That's what it looked like.
'Course, no one's seen it for a thousand years.
But... but we still have dragons, Dad.
Eh? Oh, yes, Targon is an old friend of the family,
so he stayed behind.
You ready?
You always tell me never to let myself
get distracted by an opponent!
Right you are, lad.
Help me up.
What else do I always say?
Never trust a soul...
except a dragon's.
So how many dragons are left?
Targon there is all we Norvagen have these days.
Although the legend says they may return
when the war is over,
I doubt it.
Not if the Draigar keep hunting them.
Those rotten Draigar!
I like the attitude, son,
but you swung before you were ready.
Think, lad. Plan.
You're too impulsive.
But other than that, an excellent practice.
I do believe you're ready.
For what?
Ah, Xenoz!
Thank you for coming.
I have a surprise for you, my boy.
We are in harmony.
Let your senses seek the wisdom of the ancients.
I feel you, Father.
When you are ready...
you may... strike!
Your skills have grown impressive.
I have a good teacher.
Aurora!
Hey, no fair!
That's cheating!
That is battle, Kyra.
Norvagen do not fight by the rules.
You assumed we were finished and we were not.
You think too much.
Sometimes a soldier must simply act.
Don't think I'm going to forgive you, Aurora.
Even if you are the last dragon we have.
Oh, I think you shall.
After all, someone must stand against
those dragon-hunting Norvagen.
Is that not right, Xenoz?
Oh, absolutely.
I have come as you requested, King Siddari.
Although sometimes I wonder.
As the dragons vanish, the need for
a dragon ambassador grows questionable.
I could retire...
Looks like Aurora doesn't like that idea, Xenoz!
How complimentary.
I understand you have a special surprise
for your daughter?
Indeed I do.
Father!
You mean my first dragon flight?
Well, perhaps not?
As I recall, you are upset with Aurora at the moment...
With Aurora?
No way!
We're best friends! Tell him, Aurora!
Well, what do you think, Xenoz...
Great dragons, sir!
Are you sweating again?
As always, Your Highness, I find it
too warm here after the chill of my ice palace.
But as for your daughter, I think she is ready.
Then will you give her your blessing?
By the powers bestowed upon me by the dragons,
may these two fly together as one.
Can I go? Can I?
She's all yours, but be careful.
Then come on, Aurora!
Let's fly!
Have you ever seen Aurora accept a rider so completely, Xenoz?
Xenoz?
Aye, the boy was born for that dragon!
What?
What?
Aurora!
Where are you going?
Stop!
Something's wrong! Soldiers!
To me!
No! Turn!
I said turn!
If this is the doing of that Draigar, Siddari...
You!
Stay back!
Norvagen!
Over here! This way!
Norvagen!
Draigar!
I knew they were behind this!
Attack!
Warriors!
So... it begins again.
You are troubled, son.
Yeah, you could tell?
The wind speaks your mood.
It always has.
I sometimes wonder if it is affecting you
or whether you affect it.
That's absurd!
Sure it is.
And yet the wind is angry, and so are you.
Why shouldn't I be!
I mean, this latest skirmish with the Draigar
has lasted eight years!
That's half my life!
What's eight years
when the war itself has lasted a thousand?
When you reach my age...
When I reach your age,
I want peace!
And the sky...
I want to see the sky filled with dragons again!
You know the legend says they'll return
when the war is over!
Wishful thinking.
This war has sapped our land, our people, our energy.
But tomorrow's battle...
Will be the same! Again!
Let me end this... tonight!
What!
Let me take Targon.
I'll come in fast and hard,
right into the Draigar castle itself.
I can capture the princess
and be gone before those Draigar can even respond!
And with her as our captive,
they'll be forced to surrender on our terms!
What?
The princess is a respected fighter, son.
- She's a girl! I can do this! - No!
Wars are won by armies, not individuals.
Besides, we need you for tomorrow's battle.
No.
This has to end.
Tonight.
I'm serious, Father!
Too many Draigar soldiers have fallen
in this battle.
It's time to end it!
By sacrificing you? No. Out of the question.
It's not a sacrifice!
How do you do that?
Sorry, you know I can't control it.
But this I can!
Issue a challenge!
The Norvagen prince against me!
One-on-one!
To end the war once and for all!
The risk is too high.
I can take him, Father!
He's a clumsy brawler. A Norvagen.
I'm the best fighter you have, you've said so yourself.
And you can prove that tomorrow, in battle,
with soldiers beside you.
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