#uncle will

(You ask about the dragon!Nerron au and I am very happy about that! The answer is long and a scene that probably won't be in book 5, but it sure would be awesome. "It's a great and sad message to have some of the most iconic fairy tale creatures wiped out by humans in the Mirrorworld, reflecting the damage our species does to ecosystems in our world" and "but I love dragons and Cornelia loves dragons so we should get the return of the dragons. As a treat" are equally strong in my heart.)

She reached for the fallen bodies and minds of the Goyl who had died in battle. Not all of them had faded into nothingness yet and she called to them. She promised to give them deep caves in the ground as their homes. Promised to restore their strength, the air in their lungs and the fire in their hearts. A new chance at life called them and they answered. She reached for them and let the world reshape their broken bodies, restoring a balance humans had destroyed.

The beat of distant wings carried them through the air.

The dragons were back.

~~~

However, Will Reckless did not know about the Fairy's spell. He had retreated into a cave with his niece, discovering there was no exit in the back, but he knew that Warrior was on his way here. They wouldn't be able to leave out front without being spotted and he was frantically looking over the interior of the cave, maybe there was a way-

"Hello, dragon." Great, one of the giant cave lizards of Nerron's tales was just what they needed.

"Your father says there are no dragons anymore, Joie-" His voice faltered at the sight that greeted him when he turned around to his niece.

And for a moment, he forgot the danger they were in. He forgot he was responsible for the girl who would reshape their world. He forgot that Hentzau had brought him news of his best friend's death a few hours ago.

Because there was a dragon standing in the entrance of the cave. Green like leaves or precious stones, colours fading from the almost black of its snout to pale green at the tip of the tail twitching behind it as it looked at the humans.

"Hello, dragon", Joie said again, waving. "Is this where you live?" This was the first dragon Will had met in his life but Will thought it didn't look like it lived here. The cave showed no signs of being inhibited by something this big -more than twice Will's height- and at Joie's question, it looked around as if taking in the space for the first time. Now Will was looking for it, he noticed that there were also other things that seemed... off about the creature. The way it slowly swayed its head around and gingerly took a step further into the cave were of the unsteadiness Will had witnessed in some of the animals he had taken care of. Perhaps they could slip past...

No, they couldn't. As soon as Will took a step forward, the scaly head whipped around to face him, even though the slitted pupils didn't seem to quite focus on him. Instinctively, Will froze in his tracks and raised a hand. Hopefully, this gesture was a peaceful one for dragons as well and the creature wouldn't bite it off. The dragon's nostrils widened as it took in the smell of Will's skin, which had turned into jade at the unexpected appearance of a giant creature with fangs and claws and... probably fire as well. But for the moment, it didn't seem like a threat. After inspecting Will's hand, the dragon lowered its head to look at the little girl next to Will. She turned into her fox shape, probably to show off in front of her new acquaintance. The dragon huffed a little smoke out of his nostrils, either confused or intrigued by this. Perhaps both. It gave Will an idea.

"Joie", he whispered, hoping his voice was quiet enough so the dragon wouldn't hear it in case he understood speech. "I think the dragon is just curious about this place and won't stay here long. I'm going to distract it and you'll climb onto its back and grab one of those spikes. If it flies off before the Elves get here, you'll be safe. You need to do as I say!" Not giving Joie a chance to object, Will stood and moved a few steps to the side so the dragon would need to move its head to keep looking at him.

Just talk, Will. It doesn't matter if it understands you, just keep it calm and focused for a while.

"I always hated it when dragons were killed in a story. My brother said I was too soft, but I couldn't stand it when they were killed just because they stole sheep or fought a human who wanted to rob their treasure. I always wanted to find the dragons and tell them to move somewhere far away from humans so they were safe. I... I never would have thought I would be here today, talking to you. You are even more beautiful than I could have dreamt." Joie had inched her way over to where the dragon's tail was coiled on the ground and she would be able to start climbing onto its back.

"My brother told me there were none of your kind left in the world. Did you do it, then? Moved to a place where humans couldn't find you?" Joie was now crawling up the dragon's back. At one point, her foot slipped on the smooth scales, causing a slight shiver from the dragon, not unlike a human sensing a bug on their skin. The dragon started to shift to look around-

"It must be a good shelter, there are many hidden places in the world. Look-" Keep its attention just a while longer. Two minutes, then you can leave or burn me. It won't matter because at least you'll be carrying her away. He reached into his shirt and pulled out the unfamiliar weight of the jade pendant around his neck. "This belonged to the best friend I ever had. He was killed today. He knows- knew a lot about hidden and lost places. In fact, he... he wanted to show me some of them, after this fight is over. We made plans to see many things. There are cities underground, from stone as green as your scales. I told him about dancing lights that appear over the sky in northern lands. He would have complained endlessly about the cold, but I know he would have loved to see the lights. I hope you get to see beautiful things, too, after you fly away from here. It was good to see you." Maybe this had been how Nerron had felt, Will thought while taking in the dragon looking down at him with glowing golden eyes. This awe and wonder at a beloved fairytale come true.

The thought that Nerron had died for the fairytale he believed in was almost too much to bear.

The dragon looked at him and there was... Will was convinced there was something in the golden eyes looking down at him. At the jade stone in his hands. Perhaps the stories about dragons' fondness for treasure were true. Will wanted to ask about it. He wanted to be safe. He wanted his friend back. He wanted to look at the dragon just a little longer to remember that there was more than death and heartbreak in the world. But suddenly, the dragon bared its teeth and raised its head, seeming to sniff the air. Something was approaching. Or someone.

A race to the cave entrance and a tentative glance outside revealed multiple someones. Warrior and a group of mirrorlings. Too many for Will to handle. He was weary and his wounds hurt. Now he only needed to get the dragon to take off and carry Joie away and he would have done his part.

The dragon had stepped out next to him, looking down at the approaching elf. Not going anywhere.

"You need to leave", Will hissed, pushing against the scaly body. The dragon was unyielding. "Please." He was begging now. The dragon twisted its neck to look at the girl clinging to the spikes on his back, then back at Will.

"She is very important. The people coming here mustn't get her. She will do good you would benefit from, as well. So please, go!" The dragon huffed out a wisp of smoke and dug its claws into the ground, visibly upset but still staying.

"Greetings, mighty dragon!" Warrior had stopped about ten meters away from them, smiling at the dragon in a way Will did not like at all. "It has been long since I had the pleasure of dealing with one of your kind. For I am proposing a bargain. Step aside and let us take this man and the girl that's with him, and we will fill your cave with all the precious metal and stones you desire. I hope you would part from your prey for this. What do you say, dragon?"

If the dragon was capable of understanding speech, as Warrior seemed to expect, they were doomed. For why would it decline these riches for two humans who weren't even a decent meal?

"I say..." The dragon's voice was deep and rough and curled around the words like they were unfamiliar things not yet quite explored. But it spoke. It lowered its horned head to face Warrior.

"I say that I won't let you kill me a second time." With that, its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of gleaming teeth and white fire shot out at the elf. Before any of their enemies could react, they were engulfed in the bright light and when the flames receded, their shapes emerged as unmoving stone. The dragon walked over to inspect them, pulling its lips back in what looked like a grin.

"That should hold nicely until you figure out how to make them go away for good, girl", it said to Joie, who was still on its back. The dragon turned to look at Will. Any signs of aggression had disappeared from its face and Will stepped forward, afraid of the impossible hope inside him. His eyes searched the dragon's face, not quite sure what he was looking for.

"Nerron?" Please. One last miracle.

"The Fairy offered us a new life and I wasn't going to pass up on that. Places to see after this is over, like you said." Will stumbled forward on numb legs until the only thing keeping upright were his armed, wrapped around the dragon's- Nerron's neck. He tasted salt on his lips and realised he was crying. Nerron let out a deep hum and Will felt a pair of leathery wings wrap around him in an equivalent of a hug.

"Some memories aren't back yet and I'm still getting used to being a dragon, but... it's me, pup. I'm sorry for leaving, but I came back as soon as I could."

"You didn't leave. You died. You were killed and it was my fault."

"Will, it wasn't your fault. I took the risk because I saw no other way. If the Elves win, my people would have been wiped out anyway." That still didn't make the pain disappear. Will looked at his hand through a haze of tears, watching it glide over smooth, warm scales.

"You're green", he mumbled.

"When she called us, many of our souls had already started to fade. I didn't remember who I was, but I remembered green was important and it must have influenced my new appearance. After waking in this body, I followed your trail. I knew you were what I was looking for, but I didn't really recognise you until started talking to me."

"You are very calm about this."

"I might not be, once I have time to actually think about all this. But... I died and then I got another chance at life. And it could have been worse. I could have been a fish. Disgusting things." Will was grateful for this attempt at humour.

"Have other dead goyl come back too, the way you did?"

"See for yourself." Wiping his eyes, Will looked up at the sky. At swarms of dragons descending on the zeppelins the elves had launched. Claws tore trough fabric and flames destroyed the vehicles, sending them towards the ground.

"Of course bloody Nesser has to show off again", Nerron grumbled as they watched a brown dragon rip the wings off a plane. "But this is a great distraction. Your parents will be expecting you, Little Fox. Let's make our way back to camp."

"Can you even carry two people?", Will asked while climbing on Nerron's back and sitting behind Joie. Nerron's wings unfurled beside them and gave an experimental flap.

ANONNN 😂😂 you’re totally right!

I think when Maddie was very little, Will would sing this to her every time he got to see her. Of course, he’d change the lyrics to “Oh Maddie” instead just to make her laugh.

Can we talk about amazing this episode was... SPOILER WARNING

.

.

.

.

.

.

.