1 Raenon Targaryen, The Lone Dragon (Prologue I)

~~~(POV: Raenon Targaryen)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 12 Years)~~~

~~~(Location: The Shadow Lands, Essos)~~~

~~~(Date: 296 AC)~~~

My eyes set upon the large dark cave I've come searching for. I've been on my own ever since I could remember. Fighting for my life and thriving in the wilderness of the lands I've been in. I've never had a teacher or guardian.

And I don't know why I know the things I do. I know how to speak, read, and survive even though I've never had a teacher.

The cave retakes my attention, and I don't know how long I've been searching for this cave... Maybe a year, perhaps two... I see it in my dreams... The sky rains down drops of blood, and I ride atop a dragon. Why I have this dream, I don't know.

But the dream always ends here at the mouth of this cave.

And in the dream, I hear a name called out from the cave.

Raenon Targaryen.

That's my name. I don't know much about my name. Only that it's mine, and this is where my dream has ended every night. Except I lack the dragon and the rain of blood.

"This is where I've been guided... I don't know why..."

I've always had so many questions... Like why I'm alone in these lands and why I only see monsters. And fight beasts with my fire... It makes me wonder what I am... The word human comes to mind, but I've never seen another like me...

The cave calls to me, and I start climbing the rocks to reach the entrance. I stand in front of the large opening, and the pull inside becomes stronger. I step into the darkness, and yet I know exactly where to go.

After what seems like minutes, I'm deep inside a massive chamber. And I look at the single beam of light shining down from a crack above.

The light shines down on a solitary black egg. Of what, I don't know. And in the stone it rests upon, a sword has been driven in.

"Why have you called me!!? Why do you plague my dreams!?! Why am I alone in this world?!!"

The anger inside me is quick to boil. The isolation I've felt my entire life has affected me in ways that I can't explain.

My words bounce off the walls of the cave and echo. Showing how massive and deep this cave goes.

As my words stop echoing, a rumbling takes the cave. Causing dust and dirt to rain from the cave ceiling above. The sword in the stone is vibrating. The Black Sword emits a red light, and pulses in the casting moonlight.

I step forward, almost against my own will. I stand in front of the rock that holds the sword and the Black Egg rests upon.

"Your destiny... It's waiting for you..."

A Whispering Voice that's soft and unlike anything I've ever heard comes from all around me.

"Take up your birthright... A Lone Dragon... You will be no more..."

It's the first time I've heard words that weren't my own, and the red light from The Black Sword continues to pulse.

"You're nothing but a voice. Whispering in my ears. There is no reason for me to do anything you say. I have no notions of destiny. Nor birthright."

All I know is my name, and that I'm alone. Alone with my Red Fire in this cursed world. My rejections of the enticing words cause The Black Sword to react. Glowing with anger at my response.

"You aren't alone in this world, Raenon... These lands have held you tight and kept you safe... But there are places and people beyond what you call home... Take up Fate Breaker... Take up the egg... You can't run from destiny..."

The sweet voice is only telling me what I want to hear... Whispering my hopes, masking their true intent... There are no others like me... This is the world that I live in, and there is nothing beyond the beasts and monsters that stalk me...

As I'm about to turn away, my eyes land on The Black Egg. The longer I stare at it, the harder it becomes to look away. I reach out to it and place my hand upon it. It's warm to the touch... It's the first warmth I've felt other than my fire...

There is an unexplainable feeling when my hand rests upon The Black Egg... Like a force pulling us together...

I lift The Black Egg from its resting spot and hold it close.

"You cannot run from destiny, Raenon... It'll find you... Take up Fate Breaker along with your destiny..."

The sweet words return with new hope to them. A part of me is making this last longer, just so I can hear someone else's voice... The Black Sword is a weapon that I don't have... All I have in these accursed lands is my Red Fire...

The temptations of the voice... It's impossible to know where they're coming from... Are they coming from the sword? No... Maybe?

"Tell me who you are."

My words are even and cold. I'm shaped by the world I live in. An instinctual part of me that takes over in times of stress or confusion. To preserve my life by helping me think calmly.

"There is no name for I, Raenon... There has never been a name for I... The Lone Dragon will never know loneliness again... Take up Fate Breaker, and fulfill your destiny..."

She repeats the same again, and I'm feeling like I'm not even being heard. But her response to my question negates that feeling.

If there was something that I'd long for, it'd be to look upon others like me... But the words I'm being fed are empty and hollow, for this world is without others like me...

"Nothing but words to lead me to my doom. Keep the destiny, for this world holds nothing of what you claim it does."

I turn away from the blade and look toward the darkness that I came through to get here. The Black Egg is in my arm, and I feel its warmth even now. My bare body is screaming at the cold of this cave.

But the moment I step into the darkness, the rumbling starts again. The red glow from The Black Sword drowns the cave. No longer the dim moonlight fills it.

There is a strange sound from behind me. One that I can't describe. I turn around to the sword, and I see it slowly lifting out of the rock. Once fully free, the red light calms down. And before my next breath, it rushes toward me.

I don't have enough time to react, but I manage to fall to the ground. But there was never any need to. For the bladed edge of the sword turns away from me, and the handle shoots into my right hand.

"There are no rejections against destiny... The Lone Dragon shall never know loneliness again..."

As the voice speaks, there is burning on the palm of my right hand. I hold The Black Egg in my left arm, keeping it safe from any harm. The Black Sword named Fate Breaker glows in red light and is quickly enveloped in a cloud of black smoke.

I watch as The Black Sword disappears, and the red light and black smoke shoot into my right palm. I lift the shaking hand, and there is a brand. It's a horned dragon head, that's black and red. The same head of the dragon in my dreams.

I stand up and feel the shaking of the cave. But it's not stopping this time. I know what's happening, and I don't want to stay here when it does. I rush through the darkness, letting the same pulling sensation guide me out.

The moment I'm out of the cave, I have to make a leap into some trees. But I've made similar escapes before. I land on a branch unharmed and safe. The Black Egg rests in my left arm, and the throbbing of my right palm makes my senses on edge.

"Head to The City of Night... Follow The Ash River... It'll lead you to The City of Night..."

The voice is carried on the wind from the direction of the cave, and I turn to look up at it and see the entrance collapse. Closing the cave off from the rest of the world.

I know not what The Ash River is... There is only one stream of water that cuts through this land, and that's the only notion I have to go off. I gently climb down the tree and make sure not to cut up my bare body on the bark and branches.

My feet rest on the soft grass and ground, and I look in the direction I know the only river around is.

"The City of Night..."

I'm tempted to not listen to the voice's final words... And just continue surviving as I have... But if there is the slightest hope for others like me, I have to take it... I'll no longer be alone...