A Dragon Against Chaos ~ Western Arc.

Fire came down on the ocean, threatening to burn all the water away but it wasn't aimed at the water, no it was aimed at a single being who stood on the water, a green bubble around him that took the brunt of the heat and remained intact. Lael watched as the dragon roared in rage before falling down toward him like a meteorite threatening to kill him in an instant, he was impressed but not that much.

He met Korval head on causing the air to compress and explode around them in the form of a ripping gale of wind. Lael didn't back down, he grabbed Korval's wing and turned it to stone, materialized a large hammer in his hand and smashed the wing clean off Korval. "No, how dare y—!" His roar of pain was cut off by the shoulder chop that came after throwing him into the water and crashing onto the sea floor. Lael appeared in the water, his body nolonger with legs but a large beautiful tail which allowed him greater movement.

He wove a net of mana, rather several and sent them up to cover a wide area, Korval seeing this he fled, pumping his legs to go fast and shoot out of the water but the moment he touched the green glowing mana net he was electrocuted with ten times the electricity found in lightning, Lael smirked swimming around the dragon then blasted him with aqua jets that tore off chunks of flesh. Korval knew any more time spent underwater would be fatal for him since the temperature was quickly plummeting to be below freezing and the mistress was toying with him.

So with one final roar, golden energy burst out of him, but that's not all, he had finally taken a full transformation, his wing was also healed so with one giant leap he was out of the water. "You won't win!" He yelled telepathically toward the mistress but Lael simply shot out of the water, his large strong tail disappearing with his legs appearing again, in the instant he faced the dragon almost the size of a small island it was smacking his whole body onto Dolciers island.

Lael arched his back feeling the raw pain that came with the hit, and it didn't stop there as Korval rained down fire on him, he allowed it to burn him, burn his insides to his core because this was chaos and the dragon was unleashing it.

When the fire stopped the sky turned green, a portal opened and from it shards of meteorites fell onto Korval, but that's not all from the mana net in the sea came threads that pulsed green and whipped at the dragon some of them tearing off flesh, with two heavy attacks Korval was growling in pain before he unleashed fire everywhere.

Lael watched in satisfaction as the dragon lost himself to rage and burned everything, that's exactly what he wanted, he wanted the chaos deep beneath those hard scales and he would draw it out.

Everything stilled, only the sounds of fires raging around Korval and Lael, the dragon flapped his wings recovering his strength whilst Lael smirked before shooting up toward the dragon, lunging at him with silent ferocity, Korval flexed his talons and moved to strike but he couldn't have known Lael coming at him was a diversion.

On contact, the illusion of the mistress vanished and in its place were several conjured large iron spears with spiked heads that were aimed directly for the dragon, a golden barrier encased Korval but it stood no chance against the green beam of dense light that hit it, shattering it to pieces and the spears that pierced his body right then, tearing his body apart.

In the air Lael waved his hand pulling out the spears that also tore flesh away, ripped apart wing membrane and left the dragon hissing in pain and in his frenzy finally Korval revealed his ace. "The great dragon finally appears." Lael chuckled deviously fascinated by Korval turning completely golden, now this was a true challenge because the dragon also shifted back to the form of a man with golden scales but all the features of his draconian power.

He appeared where Lael was and went to punch his gut, the mistress caught the fist and headbutted Korval who groaned but also attacked with another punch to Lael's face, he put his strength in it but it seemed to not even dent Lael who smirked and created an energy bomb detonating it between them causing them to separate, but Korval became more aggressive as he lunged for Lael again but this time faster and harder.

Lael blocked every kick, punch, body slam and spear, the two were a blur of speed and precision, Lael made it seem as of he dropped his guard and Korval took the bait, grabbing Lael's whole body to slam him into the island beneath them with a neck breaker, he didn't stop there, his jaw opened and bit down on Lael who didn't so much as squeak, thrashing him around and slamming his body into several trees that fell to the scorched land, Lael still laid in wait.

Korval created several golden spheres of energy, once he punched right through the mistress's torso and threw him into the side of a cliff, he unleashed the spheres that exploded in an amazing burst of golden fire, ferocity and beauty.

The cliff fell on Lael's body with a loud boom or so the dragon thought as he heaved and waited for the mistress to attack, and he wasn't disappointed but the pulse of green that came from beneath his scales shocked him, Lael round housed Korval throwing him into the forest, he appeared above him with a large hammer he pummeled the dragon with.

"Ah!" Korval wailed as the hammer had shattered his leg and crushed it right off, but the mistress wasn't done as he flew up toward the sky and held out his hand toward Korval who flapped his wings trying to get away but was slow, a frenzy of scorching green flames engulfed the dragon. "How, no, no!" He yelled again, fire was not supposed to touch him in this golden form but it did and burnt his body until the scent of charred scales permeated the air.

Lightning came crashing down on Lael, the moment he touched it, it was absorbed into him then he unleashed it on the dragon who had conjured it causing him to roar and hiss in pain. When the attack stopped Korval lunged for the mistress forgetting his torn off limb, he amassed one of his strongest attacks combining the elements and set the ball of chaotic energy on Lael, it was an explosion of color and the dragon expected the mistress to plead for his life but instead he stood there silently.

His attack had landed and sufficiently weakened the mistress but there was no plea only the sonic boom of several banshee screams converging on one point and that one point was Korval, he groaned loudly, ears bleeding and wings barely keeping him afloat as another green pulse came from his body, this time much stronger and it made him wonder what was happening to him, it also urged him to fight harder so that whatever it was, it wouldn't happen.

Lael was in bliss, the foolish dragon had forgotten what he was, who he was, and kept feeding it to him like an imbecile, but no matter, he lunged for Korval again who used his still intact leg to flip out of the way of Lael's attack but the mistress switched his movements causing a gasp to come from Korval at such agility, he readied his materialized golden sword that met the one the mistress was holding, sparks flew, as they both went all out causing tremors for miles away.

Korval began gathering energy above him, concealed from the being he was fighting who took pain like nothing he had ever encountered. He kept the fight going, taking several cuts and punches to his face that when it was over, he would need to reset his bones, it did not mean the mistress was not taking damage, he was and yet it seemed he recovered quicker than he could ever anticipate.

Another pulse came from beneath his scales, this time much brighter, much more frightening and in a millisecond paralyzed his body, but he ignored it. Pulling the tips of his wings together he created a nexus of golden energy that he imbued with his fire then blasted the mistress with it, yet again fire consumed Lael, he loved its scorching heat, the sheer power within it and he let the dragon believe it had dettered him. "Finally its ready." Korval whispered narrowing his eyes on the mistress who had just cancelled out his attack making it look weak.

He knew the mistress was sufficiently hurt and this was his moment to finally win, so he shot up into the clouds, appearing above them where an attack created in the form of his dragon waited, he fed it the last of his golden energy and with it the green pulse came, brighter and quicker in its intervals, he could feel it paralyzing him. "Oh, so you were entertaining me whilst creating this, I'm impressed." Lael complimented looking at the proud dragon, broken and battered but sure of himself.

"Lets get it over with then." Lael told the dragon who growled, he hated how condescendingly the mistress looked at him, as if he had not just battled him and showed him his strength, so he poured the last of his strength into it and released.

The attack was like a dragon indeed, hissing, roaring and powerful, it did not come as an all out attack, rather it rammed into Lael, unleashing fire then lightning, compressed explosions of hot air then lastly a golden vortex of fire that built up into one tremendous explosion.

Lael watched the world around him, his body intangible, and the attack from the dragon dissipating yet it left a large chunk of Dolciers island in rubble, he had to commend the dragon, he had lived up to his legend, he just wasn't strong enough to fight on his level. "Alright, I'll admit it, I'm impressed." Lael commended clapping his hands, he hovered in the air watching as Korval spat out green blood.

All the chaotic energy around them both being pulled into Lael without pause. "How?" Korval choked. "Simple, I am stronger." The mistress replied, a green glow encased him healing his body, threading back his torn clothes and finally showing what Korval had missed.

"You are a being of Chaos, instead of actually fighting me with force, you taunted, pushed me over the edge so I would go berserk, lose myself to the chaos, that you would feed on." Korval exclaimed, he heaved, body sagging  and surely his wings were first to succumb to the paralysis.

The mistress snapped his fingers and a green bubble wrapped around Korval, then he held out his other hand and green waves of energy were emitted, they reversed all the damage done to Dolciers Island and the ecosystem, he also reversed the damage done to the sea floor as well, with one step he was on land, in front of a wide expanse of trees that waved gently in the wind. "I was never a match for you." Korval scoffed and Lael smiled. "Now you realize that, kind of late don't you think." He told the shallow breathing dragon who chuckled.

"I should have seen it, seen you, the whole you." Korval confessed and Lael smiled, he had no words for the ones Korval had said. "All my life, I've always wanted one thing, peace, with a love unlike any other, I'm pretty sure I've almost gotten it right, and as for you, you just wanted a place for yourself and your children, you should've accepted that this new world, needed a new perspective." Lael told the dragon with a smile.

"It was never going to happen." Korval argued. "On the contrary, it might've, your children will be safe, and I'm sure they will build your legacy in a better light,  any last wishes?" Lael asked the already half dead dragon who nodded and materialized two golden scales, two names written on each one. "I'll be sure to give it to them." Lael smiled reassuringly then spread out his green energy that moved the earth around Korval and slowly took him down under.

A green blade forged from chaos itself appeared in the air and fell into the grave severing off Korval's head, taking the last vestige of life that he had, it was also to make sure no one could resurrect the dead dragon, when Lael closed the grave, a soul appeared next to him, he smiled toward Korval. "Try be good in your next life." He told the man as the sound of large wings took the space, Korval vanishing when it did too. "Thank you sis." Lael whispered, he turned to open a portal that led to where Cagli was.

No one was around, and Cagli lay peacefully on the bed, the machine next to him checking his vitals being the only thing that made a sound in the room. "You sure gave me a fright." Lael muttered wiping the tears away. "Goddess knows I tried my hardest to avoid this but in the end, even I couldn't prevent it." He wept, tears streaming down his face as the guilt hurt to feel. "Brother this was not your fault, if you hadn't actually intervened in time, they would have ripped apart his soul." It was Fate, his ever loving brother.

"Yet he's not awake and with me now, this does not feel like success." Lael argued and his brother chuckled. "I don't need to be the embodiment of Fate to tell you this, just your brother Jasper, he'll be fine and in no time back to making you groan but more so matured, the fracture in his mind is almost done healing, all you have to do is be yourself and everything will be okay." Jasper reassured and Lael hugged the taller man. "Thank you." He whispered and Jasper nodded separating from their hug.

"You're welcome, and now its time I go sort out some issues with a few little witches who think by sacrificing children in my name they thwart Fate, its really amusing." Jasper chortled earning some laughter from Lael. "Don't be a stranger okay." Lael told him. "You can always come to my domain you know, its like one portal away." Jasper chuckled, with a wink he was gone.

"Oh Cagli, its all gonna be okay." Lael muttered squeezing the vampire's hand, a teenager stumbled into the room and green eyes turned inquisitively toward him. "Oh sorry, I didn't know someone was in here." He quickly apologized, gulping down because he felt true dominating power, yet it wasn't what he feared the most, it was drowning in those ever changing green eyes.

"It's okay Seris, he's your uncle you're welcome to sit with him always." Lael reassured him and Seris was surprised that he knew him. "How did you know my name?" He questioned taking a step toward the bed. "Your uncle talks about you all the time, Kolby has had an array of feelings and words for you and I met you once when I was visiting Esterden, you were so young and adorable back then, Cagli had brought you on our fourth date trying to impress me." Lael chuckled making the teen smile.

"He's always gone way too far with way too much." He joked and Lael laughed, for Seris it was soothing, like Kolby was. "I know, overzealous to the point that you're forced to consider chaining him down, but that's just Cagli, spirited, wild, overly curious with a bleeding heart, just like you." Those words were a shock to Seris but Lael smiled gesturing him over to sit next to him. "I don't think I could be a good person as he is, I've made tons of terrible mistakes." He argued and Lael caressed his cheek.

That comforting gesture alone made Seris realize why everyone loved the mistress of The Stag, he was just so warm. "You know what I think?" Lael asked and the vampire nodded eagerly. "I think you are on your way to being a great person, realizing your mistakes, rectifying them and pleading with the people you love to make amends shows that you know you were wrong and want to better yourself, it never takes a few drops to fill a well, it takes a buttload of water, add a monsoon or two;" Lael paused as they both laughed.

"So what I'm saying is, you won't just get where you want to be simply by wishing to be there, you'll need to work on it daily, so don't worry Seris, keep pushing, don't force it, do it slowly and youll realize that you have built something strong and beautiful in the process." Lael reassured and the advice, Seris Mencini had taken to heart. "Thank you mister Mercia." He exclaimed with a blush. "Call me Lael." The mistress told him and he nodded.

"Am I losing my future boyfriend to my dad already." Kolby teased standing by the door to the large bedroom where Lael and Seris were. "Never gonna happen kiddo." Lael chuckled opening his arms for Kolby who was eager for the hug. "Oh my baby." Lael cooed placing a kiss in Kolby's unruly curls.

"So this is where you're hiding, well I came to get you all downstairs, family dinner!" Ashanti announced with a happy grin. "I would love nothing more." Lael accepted wrapping a cocoon of protection wards all over Cagli.

"It was totally random, we thought he wanted to jump over the fire or something but instead he actually wanted the fire to cover his wholly naked body." Nelson told the story eliciting laughter from everyone at the table. "There was that one time when Nelson seduced the former district attorney, the woman had it so bad she started stalking him." Monnet mentioned earning curious glances.

"Wait isn't she the one who announced her love ontop of the Stag, I had to pry her off the roof at two am." Lael interjected and everyone looked at him before bursting out in laughter. "My love." Dunkan whispered pulling a chair for Lael next to him, on the other side of Lael, Danton sat with Dan on his lap, both of them mouthing an I love you dad toward their father.

It was a simple evening, celebrating life, their time together and being grateful, it couldn't be more perfect, Lael knew that there would always be threats to his peace but with his children to help him through it all, he didn't need to feel anything at all except a content happiness.

"Cheers to life, to our dad, to our new papa and to this family, one that I know will always be here for me when I need it." Kolby toasted earning cheers from everyone, Lael also knew that his sweet baby, would be okay, despite the challenges ahead.

The party was in full swing, Dunkan had allowed the kids to go wild in the liquor cellar with Rod supervising and drinking, but mostly drinking, he and Lael sat on a carpet that hovered in mid air above the manor, they looked to the moon drenching everything in silver light. "Such a breathtaking view." Lael muttered. "I'm so glad I get to have it with you forever." Dunkan asserted drawing his love closer.

Lael was indeed happy, and soon Cagli would be awake, he was patiently waiting to have a moment like this with him, and also with all his men, whatever their relationship would be like, he knew it would be chaotic that was for sure but most of all, it would be loving and that was all he would ever want, the doors of The Stag would always be open to those who truly needed a home.

The Stag.

Im not crying, you're crying, Okay Fine!
I

am crying.

I hate endings but my dearest readers, my clan, my people, the end to the first arc of The Stag has come, I do hope you enjoyed reading about Lael and his home, with his many children, and even more men that he loves.

I sure did!

I don't know when I'll be publishing the second arc but when I do, y'all will know.

So Please Please Pleaaasee! Don't Forget To-:

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I am the ever loyal, happy, quirky, moody and dramatic Saint Jay.

Saint Jay.