Silmeria: Welcome! Dragon Chronicles: The Sworn Blade is my project. This tale will expand into three books and this will be one of the longest stories that I have written since I've started on this site over ten years ago. So, I ask that you bear with me on the launching of the first book: The Sworn Blade. Thanks for reading or continuously reading.

Disclaimer: I claim no rights to Yu-gi-oh!

Chapter Four: The Dragon's Flame

Yuugi was bruised and battered and his horse was the on the verge of collapsing but he urged it on, an apology on his lips as he fought to keep up with Atem's pace, but never in all his scrolls and books did he read a horse keeping up with a dragon-

A Dragon.

He had found a Dragon - The Last Dragon.

The thought forced his heart into overdrive and not for the last time, did he wish that Yoshimori and Kratos were alive to see such a magnificent sight. He wanted to watch as their eyes glowed with awe and their jaw drops with fear and reverence, but he would do it in their stead. He would make sure that their sacrifices wouldn't be in vain. He would live and breathe for them and he would revel in the sight of the Shadowed One's destruction. All of this would not be for naught.

The rumble of Atem's massive form landing near the gates of Illyrian Village forced Yuugi out of his thoughts and his eyes forward to see Rebecca and the Knights of Illyrian watching him with wary eyes and bows were drawn tight against the cold and fear that was racing down their spine despite their brave faces. He snapped the reins of his horse and placed himself between the Knights and Atem with a sharp order on his lips.

"Lower your weapons, Knights. This is no enemy." Yuugi slid off his horse and handed the reigns to the stable girl who was staring at Atem with dread as she all but pulled his horse back through the village gates and out of sight as if the wooden barrier would protect her and his beast. Yuugi would have felt amused if the situation placed at his feet wasn't so harrowing.

"What is this that you bring to my doorstep?" Rebecca demanded, her sword still aimed at Atem's neck. "I asked you to bring back a solution not a - a beast."

"Don't you see, Elder Hawkins." Yuugi pointed at Atem, lowering his hand when he heard a huff from above their heads. "He is our solution to the Shadowed Ones." Yuugi swallowed at his next confession, pressing on because Rebecca deserved to know the truth - they all deserved to know the truth. "He is our solution to the Dark Elves."

Rebecca turned sharply in his direction, his confession a mere second off his lips. "What do you mean Dark Elves? Did you tell this-dragon that Dark Elves were our enemy? To draw him to us?"

"He did not, Wise One." Atem's deep voice rumbled from above as he lowered his massive head to Rebecca's height. "He speaks my words - of the truth behind these Shadowed Ones that plague your lands."

Hesitant, Rebecca lowered her blade and waved a hand towards the Knight, urging them to do the same before turning back to Atem with a look of shock. "You mean to tell me that Elves have haunted our door and not monsters? What evidence do you have of this, Dragon?"

"Beings dressed in clothing as black as night and ride steeds that scream of corrupted magic with flames of azure licking at their heels." Atem lowered his head further, staring into Rebecca's startling blue. "With swords caked in blood and screams that pierce the heavens as they rip the souls of their prey out of their bodies. You call them Shadowed Ones, but during my era, they were deemed Dark Elves, long gone from the Light." Atem tilted his head in amusement to Rebecca's shock. "I would not know of these beings if I have never encountered them - burned them with my flame in the name of honor and vengeance."

As if the thought of vengeance was enough, Rebecca lowered her blade and allowed it to fall in the snow as her eyes gleamed with unshed tears - relief. "You will help us, Dragon? Free us from this torment that took my son away? Took Yuugi's beloved master?"

Atem turned his head in Yuugi's direction and huffed in exasperation. "I owe this one debt and I am not inclined to be indebted to a curious human who thought it would be a good idea to free a dragon." Atem's wings twitched in visible irritation. "I will rid you of this problem and that will conclude my debt to you, Yuugi of Illyrian Village?"

"Aye."

Atem lifted his head, nostrils twitching at the sight of the barrier before lowering it in distaste and staring down at Rebecca in what Yuugi would describe as a disappointment.

"You do all to protect your people, Old One?" Atem lowered his head and met Rebecca's resigned gaze. "Dabbling in Blood Magic?"

"It was all that we could do, Dragon," Rebecca uttered, refusing to lower her eyes, refusing to take back her actions, however regretful. "I have done all that I can and I do not regret my actions. I have done what it is needed to keep my people safe and I will continue to do it. But, now that you are among us, my actions will no longer have to be harsh and a danger to around those whom I deem family."

"No." Atem lifted his head and turned towards Yuugi who was watching the proceedings with a thoughtful air. "You shall not. I will act as your repentance, Old One. I will erase your sins through flame and death, but I shall need a witness to these actions. You will join me, Yuugi of Illyrian."

"Yes, Atem, I will bear witness to your deeds on this day. It will be an honor to watch for those who are not here to do so."

"Come." Atem's wings beat once, twice, three times before he was airborne and above the village proper, his voice booming across the small town. "Ride with me and witness their end."

Yuugi didn't need to be told twice, grabbing the nearest fresh horse before turning to Rebecca who still looked awe-struck. "We will return soon, Elder."

"S-see that you do, Yuugi."

Yuugi urged the horse forward, racing after their savior - their freedom.

The Aeterna Fields was an expansive set of plains that served as a witness to countless battles between Ascien and Ceslan and while beautiful, it held the blood of countless soldiers and spirits that refused to enter the afterlife, still in mourning over the loss of their life, over the failure of protecting their comrades and homeland. Yuugi had no love for the bloodshed land, but Atem led him across it with a confidence that could only belong to The Last King of Dragons.

Yuugi opened his mouth to demand how much longer this ride was going to take when the screech of the Dark Elves reached his ears, sending a shiver of fear down his spine.

"Atem!" Yuugi roared over the wind, clenching the reins of his horse as it started shivering underneath his thighs. If he didn't control the beast then it would buck him.

"I am aware of the death screams." Atem descended, careful not to cause the horse to buck and throw him off. "Are you ready?"

"What-"

"You have the Bow of Yggdrasil, correct? I sensed its power the moment I landed outside your village. A gift from Kratos, correct?"

"How did you-?"

"Kratos, Son of Rebecca Hawkins. His soul yearns to protect you even in death. It attached itself in the last moments of death and even now, yearns for revenge. So, Yuugi of Illyrian, shall we let the arrows fly? Allow this Kratos to have a taste of revenge?"

In response to Atem's question, the bow that had been strapped to Yuugi's back glowed a bright yellow and Yuugi fought back his tears as he reached for the bow and arrow. He didn't know if this would work or not, but if Kratos was with him then it would have some effect, right? Yuugi knocked the arrow, drew back the string and let the arrow fly, jumping when Atem added his own fire causing the first group of Dark Elves to burst into flames and ashes.

"The darkness within the Dark Elves is unique even to me, and a Dragon's flames are considered blessed by the Dragon God, Ra, so I am afraid the arrows as holy and just as their aim may be, will not completely destroy these beings alone. So, we shall work together to defend your home and bring it the peace it deserves. You, who was brave enough to wake a dragon from the dredges of its slumber. You, who loves his land and will breathe his last defend it. Come, Yuugi Motou of Illyrian Village, Knight of the Frontier of Ascien, defend your home."

Yuugi swallowed back his fear and took aim again, careful to aim the arrows towards the Dark Elves who seemed to be almost infinite, but as infinite as they were, nothing could stop the arrows and dragon flame. Internally, Yuugi was horrified at the number of Dark Elves that stemmed from the forest just beyond the fields. If he hadn't found Atem, then Illyrian Village would have been wiped out in a matter of time. It sent a shiver down his spine that forced them to fight harder, his aim becoming more precise.

It was unfortunate, that despite their combined efforts, neither of them could predict the last moments of their long battle. Neither of them was prepared for the cloaked elves that stood as the last defense, murmuring spells of darkness under their breath, their voice desperate and painted in hatred and hunger.

The blast of energy knocked Yuugi off his horse, killing his beast in a burst of black flame and knocking the Bow of Yggdrasil out of his hands and out of his reach. Yuugi yelped as his body hit the ground and vaguely he heard bones crack before immense pain radiated from his leg but that was nothing compared to his abdominal area where black smoke was emanating. Yuugi cared little for the pain and more the fact that if he didn't stop the remaining Dark Elves, that his home along with the Frontier would be destroyed.

"I do apologize." Atem's voice echoed through the pain. "I am afraid that I have absorbed your bow and arrows and seeing as you're not readily available to use them on your own. I will have to finish this job alone, I'm afraid. Do me a favor and not die, yes?"

Yuugi could do nothing but stare as he watched Atem fly towards the remaining Dark Elves, wiping them out in a burst of flame and rage that caused a swell of pride and relief to swell in his chest. It was over. All of the pain and suffering that his village endured at the hands of these beasts was over at long last.

Yoshimori and Kratos would be proud of him and his efforts.

"I have forgotten how fragile human beings could be in times of war." Atem's head appeared next to his own, staring at him with a touch of impatience as if Yuugi dying was an inconvenience to him and his time.

Who knew Dragons could be such assholes?

"You are not on the edge of life just yet, little one." Atem nudged his head with his own. "You and I, we still have much left to do in this poor excuse of a world. Do you still wish to walk among it? This poor excuse of a world?"

"...yes." Yuugi gasped out, reaching out a bloodied hand touch Atem's snout, receiving a huff in response. "...yes."

"Good." Atem closed his eyes, huddled closer to Yuugi's dying body and took a deep, shuddering breath. "Your soul will join with mine and we will walk this world together for as long as we deem it so. Do not reject the pain, little one."

Yuugi felt as he was being seared from the inside out and his voice as weak it was, cried out for it to end. He was never one who had a strong tolerance for pain, but this was what brought madness to even the strongest of warriors. Yet, despite the burning and wanting to run from it, he embraced it, listening and heeding Atem's words as he wrapped metaphorical arms around his will to live and gripped it tightly and never breaking his gaze from Atem's crimson gaze, staring as his body healed from the dark magic inflicted by the Dark Elves and breathing out a sigh of relief as the pain tapered off, but at what price?

"What-?" Yuugi took a deep breath, grateful that it wasn't met with pain. "What have you done?"

Atem raised his head and Yuugi couldn't help but notice that his scales were darker? The scales of his belly a darker tan, and his claws almost a midnight blue rather than the peach color.

"In return for your life, I have bonded our souls into one and in return for the gesture, it has granted me the power that your soul has held since the moment of your birth."

"Power of my soul? Since birth?" Yuugi struggled to his knees, staring up at Atem in awe. "I don't understand."

Atem's wings twitched, a telltale sign that he, too, didn't completely understand the situation that was laid out before them, but the next words that left Atem's mouth was met an inexplicable horror that made him wish he had taken death instead.

"You and I are now what the legends have spoken in reverence of, little one. We are now Dragon and Dragon-Borne."