A sharp, jagged sound filled the air. Crackk!!! What's the sound? Crunch!! There it goes again. The maids turned to each other.
"No...., it's too soon! It should be another six months!"
"Maybe?" the other maid replied.
Another sharp crack echoed through the hall. Both maids rushed toward the room where the sound was coming from. They ran through the corridors, finally reaching the door.
There lies in the center of the room an egg—cream-colored, spotted with yellow and blue dots—sitting upon a plush pillow enchanted to stay warm.
Crack!!! The maids exchanged looks again.
"GET THE QUEEN!!!"
They both sped down the hallway, catching the attention of other maids and workers trying their best not to trip or fall.
The Head Maid heard quickly paced foot steps headed in her direction. As she step into the hallway. The two maids tried their best to stop, but end up tumbling onto the ground stopping just a hair away from the head maid.
"NOW WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?!" the Head Maid shouted, placing her hands upon her hips. "It better be a good reason. Spit it out!!!"
"The EGG!!" they shouted in unison. "It's hatching!"
The Head Maid's eyes grew wide.
"What are you waiting for? GET TO THE QUEEN!"
All three begin to make haste, as others watched in confusion. Finally reaching a large chamber door.
"Okay, okay, deep breath," the Head Maid instructed. "Let's not embarrass ourselves and the Queen, she have visitors."
That advice went in one ear and out the other as the two maids burst through the door, collapsing onto the floor.
"What's the meaning of this?" the Queen stood from her seat.
"I am so sorry, I will make sure these two do not cause any more disturbances," the Head Maid said apologetically.
"THE EGG," one maid shouted.
"IS HATCHING!" the other maid added.
The Queen looked at them, then back at her visitor. "Would you please excuse me?" she said calmly. Then, without warning, the Queen leaped out the nearest window, her wings spreading wide as she took flight, leaving everyone behind in shock.
Flying towards the room she lands gracefully on the window ledge near the egg, tucking in her wings as they vanished.
Crack!!!
She rushed to it,
"That's it, come on, child," she whispered with a wide smile, her body trembling with excitement.
Snap!
A piece of the shell fell away, and tears welled in her eyes. Then, a loud jagged snap—a tiny hand could be seen. She covered her mouth, overwhelmed with emotion.
CRACKK!!!
The egg shell split apart.
Her eyes overflowed with tears of joy as her first child emerged. The little dragon wiped her eyes with her tiny hands, blinking them open for the first time.
"She's beautiful," the Queen said softly, Gorgeous silver scales shimmered with even the slightest light, and silver hair traced from the center of her head down to her cute little tail that faded into red at the tips. Two blue nubs protruded from her head where her horns would eventually grow. Her stunning eyes were a deep blue with hints of golden yellow.
"Ain't you just a mixture of me and your fathers love," the Queen mused. "We'll have to hide you, little one, or everyone will rush to spoil you."
Suddenly, the door burst open.
"DEAR, I heard there was an emerg—" The King froze. "Is that... is that our child?" the Queen nodded. He rushed over to her and the child, eyes wide with love.
"Our child is beautiful," he said, looking at his wife with adoration. Grabbing her hand, he continued, "Our first child has been born." He grinned as he tried to hold back his tears. "But so early..." as he begins to worry.
"Get the healers, now!" he shouted to the guards at the door.
Yes your Majesty, The guards sprinted off without hesitation.
"Our child is healthy," the Queen reassured him.
"Well, I want to be sure! She's still six or seven months early."
"Honey, you know time is different for every hatchling," the Queen said gently. "Some arrive early; others take longer."
The healers arrived promptly. "We are here, Your Majesty,"
"Please check if she is healthy, check everything."
"Right away, Majesty."
Three of the best healers gathered around the little dragon, hovering their hands over her. A faint green glow illuminated from their palms. The little dragon tilted her head, and the entire room cooed in unison.
"Awwww," one of the healers said, "just precious."
"Indeed," another agreed. "She is fine, Your Majesty. Healthy in every way."
"Good, good," the King replied, turning to the maids waiting by the door.
"You may enter."
"Yes, your Majesty," they said, bowing. "We've brought everything needed."
With a slight bow, one maid handed the Queen a blanket enchanted to stay warm and fluffy.
"Make sure you gather every piece of the eggshell. It will be her first meal and is vital for her growth."
"Yes, my Queen," they responded in unison.
The Queen wrapped the blanket around her child, lifting her with great care and bringing her close to her chest. "My first child," she whispered, gazing into her daughter's eyes. "Who would have thought you'd arrive so early?"
"She's going to be a troublemaker," the King said with a laugh.
The Queen bumped into him playfully. "Don't say that," she giggled as he wrapped an arm around her waist.
As they walked down the hall toward a room already fully decorated, for the new addition to their family, the Queen cooed, "Aww, look, she's getting sweepy."
"Oh no, not the baby talk already," the King teased.
"Hey, it's my first time being a mother!" she replied, smiling.
"I'm sure it was tough breaking out of the egg."
"It hurt me that I couldn't help," the Queen said softly.
"It's a must that a child breaks free without interference," the King reminded her.
"Yes, yes, I know," the Queen sighed.
"I suppose it's time to think of a name," the Queen said, gazing lovingly at her daughter.
The King smiled, his eyes still on the baby. "How about Vaeloria?"
The Queen scrunched her nose. "After your mother?"
"What's wrong with that?" the King laughed. "Alright, maybe not. Hmm... Vyrinia?"
"Another 'V' name?" she teased, chuckling softly.
"Well, I did marry a V," he grinned, squeezing her waist.
"Okay, okay. What about... Elyssia?" she suggested.
As they continued down the hall, trying to chose a name worthy of their child.
the King leaned over and kissed his wife's forehead.
"I love you, my Queen."
"I love you too, my King," she whispered back, their daughter sleeping peacefully in her arms.
Little Dragon Pov
Dark. Warm. Safe.
This feeling has become too familiar lately.
My tiny body pressed against smooth walls, curled up in the warmth cradling me. But something is changing... the space around me feels smaller, tighter.
Guess there's only one thing left to do—get out of here and begin my new life.
Crack.
What was that?
I stretch my limbs, instinctively trying to move, to reach out. But it's too tight. I kick.
Crunch.
There it is again. Another sound.
The shell surrounding me begins to weaken, and suddenly the space feels suffocating. I need to get out. Now!!
I push with all my might, claws scraping against the walls. One more kick, and—Snap!—a piece of the shell falls away. Light pours in, blinding and sharp.
Cold air rushes in, chasing away the warmth I've known. It's different, unfamiliar... but not unpleasant.
My little limbs grow heavy, exhausted from the effort, but I manage to push one tiny hand through the broken shell.
The cool air fills the space around me, more soothing then calm I felt. I take a deep breath, and instinctively, I feel something else
"Is this what the goddess spoke of, Mana?"
I breathe deeper, my lungs pulling in the energy like they've done this a thousand times. Inside me, I feel it something being formed, is this also what the goddess mention, the mana creating a dragon soul within me, colliding and swirling with my human soul. The two of them dance, merging into something new, something stronger. My once heavy limbs became lighter, feeling a burst of energy. I gather my strength and push again.
"What's out there?"
A sound reaches me—soft and gentle, a voice. I can't make out the words, but the tone is soothing, encouraging, making me push even harder.
Crack.
The egg splits apart, and I blink into the light. My vision is blurry, but I rub my tiny eyes and begin to see shapes. The first thing I notice is the glow—a soft light illuminating the space around me.
Then I see her.
A face, beautiful and kind, with shining golden eyes filled with wonder. Long velvet like red hair, her skin gleamed like polished bronze under the warm light. She's staring at me, her expression warm and loving. As a tear rolls down her cheek, and her smile softens.
"Is she the voice I heard?"
She whispers something I can't understand, but it doesn't matter. Her voice wraps around me like the warmth of the egg I just left. My limbs tremble as I try to move, but I'm too tired. The effort to break free has left me weak.
"She's beautiful," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.
I blink up at her, trying to take in every detail....
Then, I sense another presence. It's different from hers—stronger, more solid. I blink again, adjusting to the world outside the egg, and see him. A large figure, his deep blue eyes wide with awe, hair, a striking shade of silver, a chisel face like it was made by the gods themselves.
"Is that... our child?" he asks, his voice trembling.
He kneels beside me, and though he's much larger, there's no fear. His gaze is filled with the same wonder I saw in my mother's eyes. I know instantly—this is my father.
His hand trembles as he touches my tiny hand, and I feel a warmth different from my mother's but just as comforting.
"Our child is beautiful," he says softly, glancing between me and my mother. "But to hatch so early..."
He calls for the healers, his voice filled with urgency,
Three figures approach—green-haired, dressed in white cloaks. They hover over me, their hands luminating with a soft green light. I tilt my head, confused on what they were doing.
Are they... doctors?
"Awwww," they said in unison.
"She is healthy, Your Majesty," one healer says, his voice filled with relief.
I'm still tired, my limbs heavy, and my eyelids droop. But I feel safe. Safe in her arms, with him watching over me. The world outside the egg is big and bright, but I'm not afraid. I know right away I'm loved.
I yawn, my tiny mouth stretching wide. My mother laughs softly.
"She's getting sweepy," she whispers, her voice like a lullaby.
"Oh no, not the baby talk already," my father teases, though his words are full of affection.
As I drift toward sleep, their voices become softer, fading into the background. My mother's arms tighten around me, holding me close. And as my eyes close,
I know this world—vast and new—will be okay.