And that was how the legend of the ghost bride came to be. Myrena was no longer tied to any man; she was free. But freedom always comes at cost. She had no money, no roof over her head. Just her, the sky, and the horse she'd named Shadow. Money soon wasn't as big of a problem, she found. There were many opportunities to come across it on the main road. Myrena would catch scoundrels and vagabonds, successfully battling them and leaving them tied up for authorities as she took off with her gratuity.

She mostly came upon men who'd dragged away girls from the nearby villages with ill intentions. Myrena hated them more than anything. She'd pry the beast off the maiden and brutally fight him off, stripping him of any riches he might've carried. Often times, it were the sons of lords and masters who found themselves above the law, only to come in the clutches of the ghost bride. She'd often make sure to check up on the girl when she was allowed the minute, and maybe even slip her a coin or two for her troubles.

Three years into her tirade and the ghost bride had become a sort of saint for young women about town. Sometimes, Myrena would walk the girl home, and the family would reward her with dinner at least, or a night's stay at most. It wasn't often when she accepted the offer, but not once did she stay till morning. She'd sneak only a little food (if there remained sufficient for her hosts) for her journey, and slip out into the night, finishing her rest in any forest she could find.

One night, sleeping high up in a tree, Myrena woke from a nightmare with a start, catching herself as she fell down to the ground. Her landing would have been softer had her horse been there, but Shadow was not where she had left him. Perfect, Myrena thought as she got out her dagger and began searching for her midnight horse in the middle of the dark. It took her a long minute to find him, lapping up water from a lake.

"THERE you are, Shadow! I thought someone took you from me, or worse. You'd left!" Myrena cooed as she stroked the horse's mane. The beast allowed her to pet only for so long before he whipped around and reared, warding off a possible threat. Myrena grabbed his reigns to steady him, and held out her blade.

"Who's there?" Myrena asked the apparent nothingness.

"Your beast, he's protective of you." A deep voice came and she snapped around to find a man step out from behind a tree.

"I've heard of you, the ghost bride. I only came to see if the legends were true." The curly haired man coolly spoke as he leaned against the tree, cool as a cat.

He was an odd man, Myrena thought, as he only wore an open red coat above his leather pants, held up by two belts.

"You've heard of me, but you don't cross my memory. Have we fought before?"

The question merely amused the man and he laughed a deep laugh, which she felt in her spine.

"Oh no, I don't believe we've met. I cannot reveal my name, but I will admit: I'm sort of a legend around these parts."

"Are you now, master legend? Pray tell, why have our paths crossed this unfortunate night?"

The man in red dared step closer, and Myrena jutted her dagger out in warning. He laughed and put up his hands,

"Oh I don't dare risk the ire of the ghost bride. I come as a friend; a forewarning."

"Speak your will and leave. I am not fond of company."

"A kindred fire, you and I, but as you wish. Do not travel further tonight, my bride. You'll only find trouble you can't hope to fend."

"It is not for you to discern my capabilities, but thank you for your suggestion. Good night, master legend."

The man only smiled at her noncooperation and left her be, receding into the darkness from whence he came.

"Strange fellow, that one. Don't you think, Shadow?" Myrena asked as she mounted her steed, ignoring the "legend"'s advice.

Regret was second thought when she heard an arrow whizz by before hitting the horse's ankle, making it rear in fright and topple over, trapping Myrena below.

"Oh gods! I'm so sorry, Shadow." Myrena cooed, knowing he could no longer go on.

"Sorry for the horse?" Came a man's taunt. "What of what'll happen to you?"

"You know not who you deal with!" Warned the ghost bride, pinned under the writhing horse.

"It matters not; so long as you're you, and we're men!"

Myrena picked up on their intentions and frantically struggled under Shadow's weight.

"Help the lady out, lads." One said before another arrow whooshed by, taking her only companion away from her.

Quick to overcome her mourning, Myrena pried herself from the dead horse and came to her feet, only to land in the arms of a man. He wasted no time getting to know her, much to her dismay. Myrena wasn't shy about her feelings though, and stomped on his foot and elbowed him in the gut, making him retract. This seemed to anger his friends, and she swiftly borrowed a sword from her captor, ready to defend herself.

Myrena put up a good fight, with her fancy sword skills and fisticuff, but they were more. And they were bigger, and they were armored. They wounded her more than she did them, and after a long fight, Myrena found herself defeated and losing consciousness. She felt them drag her off the main road as one undid his belt in front of her, taunting her.

She heard their muffled jeers and laughter, and then she heard the wings beating clear as day. The men shouted at each other and quieted, wondering what had come by. And then the creature flew overhead, its glowing underbelly as recognizable as the moon.

"D-dragon!" One whispered as the men stood back to back, weapons ready.

Mynena felt the dragon land, with enough force that the world shook. The men shrieked in fear but still ran out to slay the dragon. Myrena, still in a daze, crawled after them, hiding behind her horse's body.

The serpent was ginormous, covered in dark maroon scales. Any weapon the men used against it only bounced off against its armored body. The dragon found it amusing to let the men try, Myrena noticed, and then he got bored. One wing jabbed in front, stabbing through some men like a fork. He tossed them up in the air and down into his mouth they went. The ones running away were struck by his tail, and they died of extreme shock. The remaining he trapped between his talons, roasting them with his fire breath before he bit their heads off.

Myrena was growing weaker and tired, and she cowered away from the gory scene by burying herself into the horse's neck. The dragon felt her presence, and snaked his head around close to her. Myrena could swear she heard him laugh.

"Silly girl! I did warn you, did I not?" she heard the man's voice, the man in the red coat.

Suddenly there came a windstorm as the dragon beat his wings, ready to fly. Myrena was just on the edge of consciousness, pressing herself into the dead horse to keep warm. She felt the dragon lift off the ground and sighed in relief, but then his claws clasped around her and Shadow, and he flew them to his lair as Myrena finally gave in.

After some time, Myrena woke with an insatiable urge to scratch her skin off. As she furiously ran her nails down her arms-making sure to really dig in there- she looked about to find herself sitting on boar fur.

Just great! Allergies! through all the crap she suffered, it was allergies now! Nope, scratch that. There was something much more worse than hives lurking around. There was a dragon!

Suddenly remembering the events before her passing, Myrena frantically searched her body for injuries, only to find a new dress hiding her bandages.

"Oh good, you're awake. I was starting to get bored." A dismembered voice sounded, and she remembered it belonging to the man in red. Master legend.

Looking around, she finally acknowledged her surroundings: an ocean of gold and stones and jewels. She heard a landslide behind a pillar, and walked around to find the man walking down a hill of coins. He walked with sure confidence, knowing exactly where his next step would be.

"You don't listen well, do you? I tried to warn you." Mr. Legend said, approaching her level.

Just as Myrena remembered the dragon, there was a giant movement higher up the gold mountain and the ghost bride quickly grabbed the man's hand and led him behind the pillar, rescuing them from the avalanche.

"What are we hiding from?" the man asked from behind her as she peaked around the column.

''Shh! There's a dragon!"

Master Legend laughed loudly, his echo bouncing off the high ceiling of the castle.

"Are you quite mad?! You'll draw attention! We have to get out!"

"Worry not, my ghost bride. He won't bother us. I'm certain if he'd wished, you'd be dead already. The dragon sleeps tonight, having had big dinner and all," The man in red told her, walking around as if he owned the place.

Suddenly, it struck to her that he actually might.

"You... You're a dragon rider?" Myrena asked him, as he spoke of the beast as if it were merely a horse.

"Dragon rider?" Mr. Legend stopped and turned his torso to her, amused by her accusation.

"My dear, if anything, the dragon rides me!" The man enforced his claim with an exhibit, his eyes changed from mere human orbs to blazing serpent pupils.

Myrena let out a startled gasp as she took a step back, only to jut forward brandishing a sword.

The shifter only oohed mutely as he fingered the blade aside, impressed by her wavering courage.

"Shiny!" He simply commented as he stepped closer.

"W...what are you?" The ghost bride dared ask, stepping backwards still.

For a second, the shifter only chuckled at the floor. And in the next he snapped back up, glaring at her with his petrifying orbs. He easily overpowered her and pushed her against the column, trapping her within his arms.

He smirked with his face a breath away from hers, then growled:

"I. Am. sMAUG!"