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Chapter Text

"You think this is going to be a good idea, Ellen?" Mark asked, finishing up the paperwork for what they were about to do. "The two hatchlings are not used to ...adult dragons. Especially since most of these dragons are odd."

Ellen smirked at him. "Little Gregory and Cassie are going to love their new flightmates."

"Ugh! Really, again with the human names for these dragons?!"

"Yes." Ellen lightly laughed. "Anyways, introducing the two hatchlings to the flight will be the best idea since they no longer have one of their own. And the last flight did try to kill them. Poor guys."

"Okay. If you think they won't kill him."

"We have sedation protocols put into place, Mark."

Mark nods, "This will be my first time seeing this! I'm so excited. Do you think I'll be able to observe how this affect their dynamics now that hatchlings will be introduced?"

"I hope so!" She squealed too.

"Of course, the squealing was you two." Daniel noted as he entered the room. "Well, we do have a problem."

"What?" Ellen took the offered clipboard that Daniel, nearly dropping it when she read it. "No! No! This is-"

Daniel sighs, "Yup, Gregory has Scale Rot."

Mark looked confused. "What's Scale Rot?"

"Newbies." Ellen rolled her eyes. "Scale Rot is a dragon disease that hatchlings get if they do not get the proper care. Scales start to crumble and rot away, causing an intense itch or burn. It can also lead to fever and fatigue. Even death."

"It's high contagious and deadly if not treated correctly." Daniel finishes up.

"But we can cure him, right?" Mark looked between the two older researchers. "Right?"

Daniel pursed his lips. "There have only been two successful cases so far out of a thousand."

Mark gasped, "But we have to do something!"

"Daniel...Sun."

"Really?"

Ellen took her pen and put it into her mouth to chew on it for a second. "Him or Freddy. But Sun is more...hatchling oriented than Freddy is, but Freddy is too sweet to hurt a hatchling."

"Yeah, but Sun literally cannot be separated from Moon too long before he goes crazy. And Moon's not a... hatchling type of dragon."

Mark tilted his head, "But won't Sun catch Scale Rot?"

Daniel rocked his head back and forth, "Well, there's debate still that a dragon can't catch Scale Rot twice. I have never seen it, but-"

"It's not proven." Ellen finished.

"Oh."

Ellen slammed the clipboard on the counter. "Okay. We'll take Roxy and put her into the Quarantine Habitat 1 with Cassie and Sun with Gregory in Quarantine Habitat 2. We just have to make sure that Sun sees Moon a lot."

"Alright. That's all up to you, Mrs. Lead Researcher."

"Of course, Mr. Vet."

~~~~

Gregory whined halfheartedly as he was placed on a bed of hay inside, yet another human made nest. He didn't like it since it didn't smell like a dragon or himself, but it'll do for now. He was too tired to care. His scales on his sides and back hurt so much that he couldn't sleep, a burning itch that hurt to touch by begged to be scratched. Gregory snorted, trying to get comfortable in his own scales. A mother would normally take care of the sick if they had the time, supplies, and dedication. If not, they'll either be killed by the Broodfather or left for dead in the woods alone. Gregory never had a mother though. His egg was hatched by man. Always been men.

An intense smell of another dragon hit him in his nose strongly. Gregory knew he had to try to protect himself. He had to get up and defend himself. But moving hurt! The hatchling huffed, struggling to put one claw on the ground to stand up despite everything. He struggled so much that he didn't realize he wasn't alone. Until a warm nose tapped the top of his head. He opened his eyes to see a golden drake staring down at him. The Sun dragon had a crown with spikes that were made from his horns that circled his head. A long body, thin and lanky that ended with a long-spiked tail.

Gregory collapsed back to the ground with a heavy thud. A whiny chirp escaping his snout.

He waited for something to happen. Blood, pain, and death. But all he received was a gentle tongue swiping across his head. Teeth take a hold of the scruff at his neck and Gregory is carried away from that spot and further into the habitat. The mysterious dragon searched for a place to set up a nest of sorts, climbing and jumping around. His wings were trapped against his side to prevent him from flying away. Finally, the dragon picked a cave near the filtered river flowing through the area and into the next habitat. The drake put him down on the cold ground then disappeared.

Gregory chirped out a pained complaint. But it was unanswered. He watched the drake move around and gather materials for a nest. Mostly the hay from where he had been laid. The drake also loved putting leaves and flowers on the nest as well. Finally, the golden dragon deemed the temporary nest okay enough to place Gregory's pained form into. He would voice his opinion on the matter of being treated like a baby, but he was too tired. Gregory huffed, closing his eyes. Only to be reawakened by a heavy body wrapping around him. The Sun Dragon was a very rare dragon to even see. Less than five were ever recorded. He, himself, had only ever heard about them.

The dragon used his claws to turn the hatchling in his grip onto his stomach. Then he used his teeth and tongue on his scales. Gregory notes that the drake would nibble at his scales, all of them despite the pained whines coming from the hatchling, then would sooth them over with his tongue. He repeated that action on all of the scales. Gregory sighs when after a while, it started to feel good. The itch that so plagued his scales lessened thanks to the careful grooming the older drake did. He spent so much time just grooming him that Gregory fell asleep without a fight of pain or itch, or anything. Just peace for once.

When Gregory opened his eyes next, he was surrounded by a golden and cream body. A wing was draped over him to keep him warm and safe from dangers. He was still tired, so he closed his eyes again to sleep just a bit more. Gregory remembers how he even got here. The dragon traders had hatched his egg and were training him to use as a mount. A stupid horse that can fly. He was a powerful dragon for crying out loud! But his time in that horrible place had taken its toll on the hatchling's body. His scales lost its luster and shine, started rotting from the inside. Then he was thrown into a new cage and brought to an odd human home with white walls and a clean smell. There he was patched up from his many wounds of failure.

Cassie was there too. Her dragon form comforting to see while he waited. She was also there because the traders hatched her egg to use as a future breeder. Dragon maturity is really early, only two years before they can start breeding. Cassie and him only chirped to each other whenever they were placed in the holding cages together. Which wasn't often since they were under different schedules. Now, where was she? He should be worried that this older dragon was going to kill him, worried that his death was coming. But something told him that this one, this Sun Dragon, wasn't going to hurt him.

Gregory slowly wakes up, blinking open his eyes. He was still surrounded by giant claws. But the dragon was looking off behind his own back. Gregory blinks again. No, the Sun Dragon was picking at his own scales. Literally ripping them off his own body. Gregory watched as he chewed one out, spat it into a pile, then licked over it. Dragons do not regrow their scales so why was he picking at them? Gregory lifted up his heavy head before letting it fall back down when it proved too tiring. The drake stopped picking and looked down at the hatchling in his care. He goes to start licking across his face, behind his ears, and down his back. The start of yet another grooming session.

In the faded distance, an angry roar shouted into the enclosure.

The Sun Dragon lifted his head up high, stopping his grooming to start roaring himself. It was a high-pitched sad tone as if he was lonely without that other dragon who roared. And maybe he was. That other dragon could be his mate or something similar. Which lead to another issue that was coming to Gregory's mind. Why did the humans separate him from his mate to care for another dragon's hatchling? Normally, one would kill a hatchling that isn't yours. At least, as far as Gregory has learned from watching the other older dragons from his cage.

Gregory swallowed with a dry mouth, smacking his lips a few times. He closed his eyes yet again.

~~~~~

"Yes!" Ellen clapped her hands together in excitement. "Sun has accepted responsibility for the hatchling!"

Mark nods, "And Roxy is quickly taking care of Cassie! We are so lucky we chose the perfect pairs."

"No. We didn't." Daniel comes into the room as well, looking into the monitor of Sun and Gregory. "Change it to the Glamrock Flight."

Mark quickly changed it to their cameras. "Why?"

"Look." He points to the screen that had Camera 2a on it. "Moon is freaking out."

All could see the Moon Dragon slamming his head into the concrete wall. His dark blue scales littered with yellow spots that resemble the night sky, hence his name being Moon, were not as shiny as before. The moon shaped placement of scales on the dragon's face were very bright though. He was angry, scared that Sun was being mistreated again. Scared of losing another member of his family. His ivory white horns scratched at the wall before he uses his claws to do the same thing. Spinning around, he slams the tail spikes against the wall as well. When none of that worked, he lets out a loud roar. Sun seems to answer him, but it didn't calm his nerves. The broodfather, Freddy, comes into frame of the camera, stopping near the other dragon. Using blue claws, he tries to grab ahold of the smaller dragon. Nothing stopped him from freaking out for Sun.

"Oh. Moon is not doing okay." Ellen sighs, saddened by the poor dragon's behavior.

"And we don't know how long taking care of Gregory would take. We have to put Sun back before Moon kills himself trying to get to him." Daniel gestures to the camera yet again.

Mark asked, "Then what about Gregory. He needs a member to be accepted right? Freddy?"

"Well, I was thinking more on that. If we take Freddy away, then the entire flight will go crazy. Freddy is the Broodfather after all. Monty isn't kid friendly either. Chica, maybe, but we are still iffy on her hyper behavior. She might accidently hurt him. Roxy is taken, maybe later on when Gregory is better... If he gets better." Ellen leans back in her chair.

"We could just introduce them now?"

"No!" Both researchers screamed in unison. "You trying to make Freddy kill the hatchling!"

"Okay. Okay. I'm just the vet here." Daniel defended himself.

A thick silence fell over.

Ellen suddenly looks like she got an idea. "No. Maybe you are right."

"How?"

She flips over to Roxy and Cassie, who were playing chase together. "These two are still bonding, right?"

Mark and Daniel nod.

"Well, what if we, let Freddy meet them for a few hours. Then flip him over to Gregory and Sun. Freddy will still be under the possible acceptance that he'll have to accept the hatchlings before he realizes what is going on. Put Gregory and Sun into the flight along with Roxy and Cassie, and bam! There all together."

"Sounds...complicated."

Mark shakes his head, "No. That won't work. Cassie and Gregory are two different dragons for Freddy not to notice. And with Scale Rot-"

"True." She pursed her lips.

Another silence spell.

"Okay. Last idea...." Ellen stands up, flipping back to Sun and Gregory. "We put them back into the flight and pray to whoever that Freddy doesn't kill Gregory."

Daniel quirked an eyebrow.

"It's all we have. Moon will kill himself if Sun isn't there, for good reason too. And Gregory needs the attention of an adult dragon. We will just have to do extra tests to make sure none of them get Scale Rot. And when it's safe, introduce Roxy and Cassie back into it as well."

"It's risky. But it's literally all we have." Daniel agrees. "I've got four more dragons coming from another rescue and could use the space to place them when they are deemed ready for quarantine."

Ellen perked up at the mention of more dragons. "Oh, what types?"

"Um...there's another Moon dragon, subspecies, I think. Not quite sure from the horrible pictures. The very lovely earth dragon. A subspecies of the bat dragons. And an unknown dragon. Pretty excited to know what that one will be."

"Alright! I can't wait to see them." She flipped the camera to the Glamrock Flight. "Okay, first, we need to prepare them for a hatchling."

Chapter Text

Sun continues to chew on the scales he could reach, hating how they felt on his skin. While he was with Moon, he would stop Sun from doing this. Destroying his own body. From everything that he has gone through, Sun needed the relief. That is probably why the humans chose him to care for a sick hatchling. He was more tentative to offspring than most of the others; save for Freddy of course. Though, it's very obviously something that Moon doesn't like. He has never been one for hatchlings or even wanting any of his own. Part of why he chose another of the same sex as his partner.

But here, Sun had no one else but a perpetually sleeping sick hatchling passed out between his claws. Though, pretty soon, he would have to give the young one another grooming session. Earlier, he found some herbal leaves that should help soothe the inflammation and itch. Sun leaned down to take the leaf into his mouth. His teeth crunched and chewed into as much of a paste as he could before looking back down at the hatchling. He was so small, too small, for a dragon hatchling should be. Sun loved taking care of him though. 

Sun chuffs before dragging his long tongue slowly across the side of the hatchling. Most of the scales that were infected were on his back and side. None, thankfully, were on his tail yet. If they were, then it's over. Nothing could cure that now. Sun continued to spread the foul-tasting paste across all of the scales that needed the extra attention. His tongue stopped just around the head. He had a few there, but none so urgent that needed the paste yet. Dragons didn't know when or where Scale Rot started, probably when humans first started interacting with dragons. But they were wise creatures who started to develop their knowledge on medicines for their kind that were completely natural. 

Without warning, the hatchling turned over to his other side, wrapping his legs around his bigger ones. Sun nearly squirmed away in happiness. His tails swished across the ground, kicking up dirt and causing a scene. He was so excited that the hatchling did that to him. Sun leaned down and nuzzled his head against the smaller one, loving the way this felt. God, he loved hatchlings. They were so cute! Moon never wanted any so Sun had to accept the fact that he'll never get to take care of his own. He still helped raise the younger dragons in his flights. That was good enough. Yeah. That's good.

~~~

Ellen squinted at the camera with Roxy and Cassie. They were hunting together which was so cute. Roxy seemed to be very different with Cassie than with the original flight. She was less competitive than before, allowing Cassie to win some of the times. She seemed to really care about what Cassie was doing and what she liked. Cassie wasn't much of a fruit dragon, but she loved eating fish. Roxy caught onto that and kept bringing her fish to eat instead of anything else. Roxy also loved personal attention, making her scales shine and her claws kept sharp. This she taught the hatchling as well. In all, Ellen loved their interactions so much.

"Wow, having a hatchling has changed Roxy so much." She whispered as she wrote that down in their shared file.

Mark turns to her, "Did you say something?"

"No. Talking to myself. How are Sun and Gregory doing?"

"Good, I think. Sun seemed to eat this weird plant he found, then set to grooming Gregory. He was spreading whatever he was eating on his scales."

Ellen rolls her chair towards his section of cameras. "Really? Sun does something similar to his own scales after a particular bad stressful day of picking them. It could help with Scale Rot."

"Nice. How are the Glamrock Flight taking to the items added into their enclosure?"

"Good. Freddy tends to keep the others calmer than most flights we have met. That helps."

Mark flips his screens over to the Glamrock Flight. There was a concerned broodfather pacing where Moon was slumped against the wall of the enclosure. Moon had been sedated and patched up after he started bleeding from hitting his head so many times. Freddy had deemed him too dangerous for the others to be around, taking to keeping them separated from each other. Moon was not doing good being separated from Sun. And that had more to do with how he was separated from his flight a long time ago. His brothers and sister from the parents, different years. The humans found evidence of that when they raided the old factory that the poachers were using as a base. Similar to Sun, Moon had a rough background.

"Let's wait a few more hours before we transport the two into the Glamrock habitat."

"Okay." Mark goes back to the cameras showing Sun and Gregory. "Sun doesn't seem to be doing too well without Moon either, though."

"Hmmh?" Ellen had already started writing more details on Roxy and Cassie, her new favorite pair. "Yeah, yeah. He's anxious all the time." She dismissed.

"Shouldn't we be concerned?"

She didn't answer him, though.

~~~

Sun sunk his body into the river, taking a few sips as he did. His eyes drifted over to where he placed the little hatchling in a small pool of water on the edge. Hopefully, that helps with the itching. The hatchling wasn't awake yet, but his head was set on an elevated rock that kept it out of the water. The cooling water helped him after all. Sun could say that there was some shine back to the hatchling's scales after the paste he put on it. Keep that up and he'll be as good as new. Sun started cleaning his own scales, what he had left, as he swam through the filtered water.

Stepping out, Sun shook his body free of the water as the droplets started pooling around his claws. Or what was supposed to be claws. His time with man was not kind. While the hatchling slept in the pool, Sun took to sunbathing on a nearby rock. The warm rays from the actual sun hitting his skin warmed him up from the cooling waters that he had just swam in. His tail lightly flickered around in happiness, eyes closing. It was helping him not pick at his scales now that him and Moon were separated. No one was able to stop him from doing it now. A sick hatchling and a broken drake. 

RAUGH!!

Sun perked up at the mysterious roar that rumbled into the enclosure. It wasn't someone he knew. Not Moon, or Roxy, or any of his other flightmates. This was new, this was dangerous. Sun moved as fast as he could to stand over the hatchling, wings stretching as far as it could, which wasn't much. He could only pull the hatching under it. His lips set in a snarl, ears pinned forward as he listened. IT sounded close. Sun wasn't much of a fighter, but he could protect his family if he needed to. The sound of branches and leaves being hit as something rushes through them faded into his ears. Closer now.

A green Toxic dragon burst into the clearing. A deadly set of fangs on this one. Sun sent out a warning rumble. The Green One sent one back. Before he had time to get out of the hatchling's way, the two engaged in battle. Teeth ripped into Sun's back as he tried to dodge the attack. He roared in pain. Sun used his front claws to push the other back letting him keep some distance between them. The Green One leans down to snarl at Sun. It was Sun's turn to attack. His teeth found the softer scales of the intruder's neck, dragging him away from the hatchling's pool. 

The Intruder got loose quickly ang goes back into the attack. His claws swipe at Sun's chest, hoping to catch him. And it did. Long, painful, bloody scratches down his neck area. That didn't stop Sun! He charged forward to swipe his own blunt ones at the dragon. They only succussed in pushing him backward. Sun goes to bite him in the second that it took the dragon to realize that Sun didn't have sharp claws. This time, Sun's teeth found purchase in the Green One's neck again. His claws wrap around his neck as well, just to hold the intruder in place. His teeth squeezed down harder. Blood dripped into his mouth.

They struggled like that for a few minutes, Sun staying on top. He got free again by digging his claws in Sun's legs causing him to spin away from the pain and the one who inflected it. The intruder took the opportunity to clamp his teeth on the scaleless back of his opponent, blood spurting out from the fresh wounds there. Sun struggled, kicked, bite, clawed, anything to get away. He couldn't free himself though. Well, unless he used his horns. They were more for decoration than fighting like other dragon breeds. Sun dragons were usually bigger dragons that could take down most other breeds without the use of their horns. They had spikes on their tails that they used or their very sharp claws and teeth. His tail!

Sun thrashed his tail to stab at the intruder. He let Sun go, pushing him away. The sun dragon took his tail back by ripping it out. The Green Dragon snapped his teeth at Sun. There wasn't much else going on at that moment that could be done. The two of them stared at one another before the intruder's eyes darted over to where Gregory had set up to watch what the noise was coming from. His tired eyes looked slightly scared, tail tucked, and ears pinned back. His body was half-in, half-out of the water with a claw placed on the edge in case he needs to escape from the intruder.

That was it. Sun was not going to let them touch his hatchling.

Sun charged forward, teeth already going to snap at the foreign dragon. They tussled for a moment. Teeth dug into each other's skin, trying to rip at whatever they could get into their mouths. Claws scratched at each other. Sun pulled his head back, jammed his horns into the other dragon's eyes. He roared as he tossed his head back. It was now; Sun snapped his teeth around the dragon's neck. His teeth squeezed deeper into the scales and the neck. Claws dug into him, but he ignored it. Sun bite down harder until the dragon's body stopped struggling, stopped moving.

His rage still present until something small hit his chest. Looking down, a small feather like item stuck out of his skin. His eyes feeling droopy, legs suddenly too heavy to hold up his frame. His wounds were hurting until just a second ago. He knew he needed to go check up on the hatchling. Sun had to look after him. He dragged as much as he could over to the pool area until he couldn't anymore.  Sun could barely touch the tip of his snout to the tip of the hatchling's. God, he was tired. So sleepy...

~~~

"Fuck! Fuck!" Daniel had rushed out the second Sun had passed out. "This isn't good! He's losing too much blood. Mark, get the dragon transport."

Mark stood stalk still looking at the barely breathing dragon.

"MARK! Get the damn transport. NOW!" Daniel screamed, causing the younger researcher to scramble off. "Stay with me, Sun!" He digs into his bag to get some medicine that should help him. 

"Come here, little one." Ellen picks up the hatchling. "What are we going to do now, Daniel?"

Daniel just finished measuring out how much he needs, based upon Sun's last recorded weight. "I don't know! I don't know."

"Who even-what is-who is this dragon?!" Ellen tapped the dead body of the other dragon. "How did he even get in here?!"

"I don't know." The tone in his voice was final. "Right now, all I care about is getting Sun the medical attention he needs. He doesn't have the scales to protect him like the others because of his problem."

"His problem?" Ellen asks, then felt stupid. "Picking...right."

Daniel shakes his head. "Moon is going to be angry."

Ellen nods. Things are going a lot faster than she and the others had hoped.

Chapter Text

Mark walked around the deeply sedated dragon in the ICU cage for dragons. Sun had been very badly wounded during his battle with the other dragon despite winning. He could have put an end to the attack early on if he had claws and scales. Though, Sun had never been a fighter of a dragon. Mark liked dragons ever since he little, when his mom had bought him a book on the creatures known as Dragons. That was why he took this job. To see them. To study them. To touch them. His fingers hesitantly reach towards the beast.

"Don't always assume a dragon is sleeping, kid." Mark whipped back his hand so fast, turning to see Daniel standing in the doorway. "Some of them are smart enough to pretend."

"I'm sorry, I was-You see, I am-"

Daniel smiled, "But Sun would never harm you unless you try to hurt his family...or hatchling."

Mark bit his lip, happily, as he touched the surprisingly warm scales on his side. The ones that were there. The leathery skin under the scales had this weird texture that was actually fun to feel. Sun had always been a lovely dragon. Sweet, caring, and always happy to be with everyone else. But he was more so with Moon. Moon didn't seem to mind his behavior either. When Mark first came here, he entered the enclosure of the Glamrock Flight to give them their much-needed shots. Sun had been the only one to allow him to give the shot, already used to it thanks to be getting one nearly every month for his problem. Keeping the skin healthy.

"How did Sun arrive here?"

"Oh? You want to know?" Daniel sat down on his chair. "I remember that day. It was one of my first days here. The researchers had gotten word of a circus that had a dragon. And as you know, that is forbidden and highly illegal. I had, at that point, only heard what was done to the animals there.... but that wouldn't have prepared me when I saw him...For the first time. He was chained up so long that the scales around his neck pressed into each other as he grew. Those were long ago picked away by this point. Sun had the unfortunate thing of having his claws dulled, filled down."

"Filled down?" Mark looked closely at the dragon's claws, and sure enough, they were not sharp.

"Yeah. It's sad. What's worse was that they had tied his mouth shut so he couldn't bite anyone. Sun had been tazed, beaten, burnt, poked, prodded, you name it, all in the name of entertainment. He had grown so much with so little that it affected his growth and body. Which is how he is not like the other Sun dragons out there. "

"God. Some people can be so cruel."

Daniel shakes his head, "No. What's cruel was finding out that those same humans clipped his wings."

"Sun can't fly?!"

"Never will." Daniel picked up Sun's file. "Sun started picking as a self-soothing method, but it's only a self-harming one."

Mark looked between the human and the dragon.

"I had spent weeks trying to get him healthy again....And I do say, he has gotten there."

"How did he meet Moon?" Mark asked, rubbing at the scales around Sun's claws. "And the others?"

"Um, I think he met Freddy first. The Glamrock Flight had already been established with Chica, Roxy, and Monty. We took Freddy away for a few days so he could meet the very shy, at that time, Sun. Remember, Sun hadn't met any other dragon before then. Freddy was calm and caring. Took him under his wing, so to speak. Not long later, they were reintroduced to the rest of the flight. They are a pretty accepting bunch, so it wasn't that bad. Monty had his gripes, but Freddy shot them down quickly."

"And Moon?" Mark didn't look up from his petting of the scales. 

Daniel sighed, "Moon was brought here after Sun went into the quarantine enclosure." 

Mark stops petting Sun and stands up. 

"Moon wasn't as bad off as Sun. He grew up wild with his family. Evidence of his siblings were found in the records, but they were already sold off to others. The poachers tried to make him a mount, to live the dream of Dragon Riding. Fuck them! ALL of them. They had tortured him a little, but I think there is a part of him that is just mad that he couldn't protect his family." Daniel turns around to put Sun's file away. "We decided to slowly integrate him into a flight, but he nearly killed two of them. Then I thought of Sun. The lead researcher at that time agreed. The two were placed together and... hit it off really well."

"I wonder how Moon is going to take this. He was really upset that he just left. Imagine Sun hurt."

Daniel smiled, "I wouldn't want to be the one to be in that cage with him when he does."

"What's going to happen to Gregory now?"

"Oh, um, he is getting doubled checked as we speak then he will be placed in with the rest. Sun's scent should help him integrate into the flight better."

Mark walks over to the door, "Wait, who was the other dragon?"

"Not one of ours, that's for sure." Daniel stands up, goes over to Sun's side. "Wouldn't surprise me if it was a decoy dragon or something like that."

"What?"

"Don't worry about it."

~~~

Gregory had awoken, yet again, on a bed of hay out in the open. The humans really didn't know much about the dragons. He chirped for the other dragon, the golden one, to come back. The rustling of the trees told him that someone was coming. Gregory lifted his head up, shaking some stress off. That fight he witnessed was pretty intense. He was glad the Sun dragon won in the end though. He could have been killed if it was the other way around. He waited until the heavy footsteps of the older dragon came out of the trees and into the clearing. Only, it was much heavier than the others.

The dragon that came out was a brown one with blue claws. Gregory stands up shakily, snarling at the stranger. He sniffs at the hatchling with a strange chuff. If the hatchling could think straight at the moment, he would have realized that he smelled faintly of the Sun dragon. Freddy shakes his head over a few times to think. Who was this mysterious hatchling and why did he smell like his flightmate? The two stared at each other, just staring as if there was an invisible connection that neither could see. 

Just then, a black and blue blur pounced over the hatchling. His tail slightly wagging, then stilling at the sight. The hatchling smelled like Sun, but he wasn't his Sun. Unless the humans have somehow found a way to revert Sun into a hatchling of a different breed. Moon slammed his claws down near the hatchling, digging deep into the dirt. He was warned by Freddy with a snort. Freddy drags Gregory towards himself using a slow gentle tug of his claws. Moon rumbled, taking in a deep breath of Sun's scent. He took a glance at the trembling child hiding between Freddy's legs.

He weakly chuffed out a sorry, walking away. Freddy chuffed back then picked up Gregory by the scruff. Once back in the den, the others came to investigate the familiar scent coming off the tiny hatchling. Chica was the first to come look at the new hatchling placed in the nest. The nest was for whenever Roxy and Freddy decided it was time to have offspring. Now, it held a flightmate's scented hatchling despite that flightmate  not being here. Chica licked across Gregory's face, tail swishing around in happiness. She jumped around the outside of the nest. Freddy chuffed at her to calm down. Gregory noted that she was a pure white dragon with a pair of horns that leaned sideways instead of forward. Her scales had a pink and green tint to them that was almost unnoticeable in this light.

Monty finally came over when Chica was chased away to find food instead of messing with the hatchling. Gregory was more afraid of this green dragon. He wasn't the same as the toxic dragon. This one had less horns and more bumps on his body. To be completely honest, he looked more like a crocodile than anything else. Snout, thinner and longer, than a dragon's is supposed to be. Tail shorter than others. He dragged his nose across the hatchling's body before looking at Freddy for more information. All Freddy could do was chuff a please be nice to him. 

While they all decided to sleep, somewhat surrounding the hatchling, Moon came over to look at the hatchling. He was a small light brown, regular dragon. Nothing too special like the ones in this flight. Sun is the rarest out of all of them, part of what made him so special to have in this Dragon Research Center. Sun dragons are barely seen by even dragons. Next, surprisingly, is Monty. The Replica Dragon. Roxy and Chica were on the same level of rarity being Replica Dragons but of different subspecies. Very few were reptilian, but land mammals were more common. Lastly was Freddy, a Rockstar Dragon. A funny name for a dragon. Moon was Between Monty and the girls. Moon Dragons were rare but there were many subspecies that caused the rating to go down. Regular dragons were the most common. Think of the traditional dragon and just add in whatever color you want, and you have Regular dragons.

The hatchling sighed in his sleep, shivering a little. His scent matched Sun's too much for Moon's liking. He wasn't his real hatchling or anything like that, so why should Moon care for him? Moon didn't really hate offsprings. He used to take care of his younger siblings a lot; he just didn't necessarily want to always be around them. Have to put them first. Take time away from his and Sun's time together. And, all this time, it didn't seem like Sun cared that he didn't have a hatchling to care for. Moon thought that they were all good the way they were. Together forever and living the life.

Another shiver. Moon snorts loudly just in case someone was watching before curling around the hatchling, tucking him into his side.

~~~~~~

Ellen squealed, "Oh my gosh! Cassie caught her first fish!" 

"Yeah, that's nice." Mark looked Ellen up and down.

He looked back at his screens where Moon had curled around the little guy. He looked back at Ellen. Then slowly switched his feed to the medical bay with Sun still struggling to survive. His wounds were deeper and more deadly than first predicted. Daniel had been up for two days now trying to keep him alive. It was a sure struggle, and the fight was still going. Mark made it his chore to eat lunch and dinner in there with the dragon, so he wasn't alone. If he died, Moon would not be able to do anything. And that guy had been through so much sedation that he now just walks around sluggishly. Daniel fears that he may be getting too much.

"Something wrong, Mark? You are awfully quiet."

Mark quickly switched back. "Just upset that some random dragon entered in and the security team can't figure out how it got in."

"Yeah, that was scary. We were all surprised that happened. No dragon had ever wanted to get in before." She laughed at the end there. "Anyways, don't think too much into that. Probably was flying by and saw them from the glass above and decided to attack."

"True. There is a glass top." Mark looked back at Moon. "Moon is probably upset that Sun still hasn't come back."

Ellen looked at her screens again. "Moon has always given me the creeps. The way he looks at you in the dead of night, those red eyes boring into your soul. He just likes to lurk around."

"Really? I think he's cool looking." Mark then remembered the other dragons that are getting checked out as they speak. "Have you seen the new dragons yet?"

She shakes her head. "No. We can't until Daniel gives us the permission. Don't want them to give us anything or us them anything."

Mark glances at her from the corner of his eyes, still watching Roxy and Cassie. "I heard that one of them has stumped Daniel as what breed they are."

"Really? I can't wait."

Mark made a mental note to talk to Daniels about something later on.

Chapter Text

Gregory was getting better, but Freddy knew he needed some of that paste that Sun makes for his own scales. The only problem was that Sun was the only one who knew the plant to chew on. And Moon had been so moody as of lately, hissing and snarling at them for getting too close. He refuses to come anywhere close to the hatchling. It was the faded scent of Sun that hurt him, the older dragon thinks. Probably doesn't want to come too close because of that. Freddy just wishes that he'll try to be friends with the newest addition to the flight. If Sun liked him then, they all would. It has only been four days since the hatchling had been in here and five since Sun has been gone. If Sun doesn't come back soon...well, Moon might not make it that long.

Freddy unwrapped his body from around the hatchling, gently putting the head on the ground as to not wake him up again. Gregory got a little defensive when he was awake. He would be safe in the nest in the den as long as one of the others were still around in case, he needed something. Monty was in the back, sleeping off the recent hunt. Freddy heads over to where he knew Moon would be. Glaring at the transport door where Sun was taken from his place on the boulder. Moon chuffed at him when he came closer. Freddy paused, sitting down, curling his tail around his legs.

Freddy looks at the door wondering if the reason Sun wasn't here was because of that mysterious dragon's roar they all heard. Did Sun die? Freddy knew he wasn't much of a fighter when it came to flight dynamics. Sun was, by all accounts, an easy-going dragon that tried to please everyone in the flight. Freddy noticed that he tended to try to match the energy of whoever he was with. With Chica, they run and played and ate. Monty and Sun hardly hung out together unless a third was introduced. Roxy hung out with Sun only when the two were being competitive like catching fish or catching rodents. 

The Rockstar dragon whines at the dragon; claw placed on the rock in a kind gesture. Moon rolled on his back as he looked at him upside down. A snarl on his lips. Moon snorted. The two stared at each other for only a minute that really didn't feel like that much. Any normal dragon would have taken that as a challenge instead of just Moon being Moon. They would have started brawling and whoever won got to lead the flight and the other was banished. But Freddy knew the difference. Moon, here, was in pain and lonely and needed Sun back. Despite the snarling growl or the lousy way he treated everyone else. 

Freddy tried to whine at him again. Moon snapped at him before jumping off the rock and goes to lay down against the door. His nose pressed snuggly against the outline of the frame. Freddy had to remind himself that Moon was in pain and didn't really mean it. Too mean anyways. Figuring that he couldn't get anything out of Moon right now, he left to head back to Gregory. The sparky hatchling has grown on him. A lot. He curled back around him. This was the life Freddy has always wanted.

Moon felt bad for being selfish like this but Sun....why was he gone? Did something happen to him? Is this just another round of testing? That happens to all of them some time or another. If that is the case, why did it last for so long? That wasn't normal. A day at most, never five long, painfully long, days that drove Moon wild. He loved him so much. It was odd to describe. At first, he thought of Sun as a brother. A dumb, fun loving younger (?) brother that made him smile at the end of the day. Then one day, it just felt like he couldn't live without him. As if the two of them were once one being, sharing a body, and loving life. Moon couldn't live without Sun.

Moon got up, found the plants Sun uses on his scales, and headed back up to the den. Chica was sleeping on top of Monty who looked slightly happy to be involved in a flight even in his sleep. Freddy was curled around a sleeping Gregory in the nest that he and Roxy built together. Moon and Sun thought about nesting, but what was the point. Using a careful claw, he picks up the hatchling and heads over to the furthest part away from everyone else. There, he settled down with the sleeping hatchling between his claws. Moon's powerful jaws chew up the leaves in his mouth until he could start to taste the awfulness spewing from the juices and tried to continue like Sun always does. Finally, he was done.

A single thought entered his mind; he had to give this 'thing' a grooming session to apply the paste to his scales. The scent of Sun long ago faded, replaced by Freddy's. But this is what Sun would want. Slowly, his tongue started spreading the paste around his scales like he had watched Sun do so many times. The soft content sigh that left the hatchling's snout gave Moon one last push to continue before stopping completely and returning him to Freddy's side, whose tail curled tighter around Gregory now that he was back. Moon's claws took him to the river to wash out the horrible taste. 

Where was Sun?

~~~~~

"Daniel?" Mark knocked on the door before entering. It always amazes him to see such a big infirmary, but it was for dragons, so it had to be. "You here?"

A couple of rumbles were his answers. Not from the human either. While Sun was still sleeping (sedated), a dragon that looked almost like him but entirely different all the same was the first one to catch his eye. The dragon had the traditional Sun dragon look. Tall, lean, long, and powerful with a full crown of horns. His colors were more orange and less yellow, reds and darker colors for accents. He was a hybrid! Not many survive infancy due to the fact that most flights deem them weak and inferior. But this one was...amazing. Even better were the ones in similar cages. Another Moon dragon was next to him. Quite different than Moon, this one was more teal and less dark. His face didn't have Moon's signature scale pattern, but he did have a complete circle of lighter blues on his face and snout. Almost like a full moon. He was smaller than most dragons he has seen, probably a hatchling still. The last male was odd-looking? He reminded him of a pumpkin with a face, oranges and blacks littered his scales in patterns that he couldn't figure out. The last dragon was a female with greens and blues all over. Pretty long and sharp horns on her head. Each had this same feature that looked like someone else....he just couldn't place it.

"You four are amazing looking!" Mark walked over to the cages, still keeping a distance just in case.

The door opened up to Daniel. "Oh. Mark, hello. Did you need something from me?" He was putting files together on the new arrivals.

"Yes." Mark looked back at the dragons. "These are some amazing dragons. So pretty and beautiful." 

"Yup. Found them in another researching center. They had to be moved due to space. I think they found them during another raid of a poacher's warehouse. Apparently, they sold tons of dragons there."

Mark hummed.

"Mark. What did you need?"

"Oh, yeah. I was wondering if I could ask you some personal questions." Mark tried to take his gaze off the new arrivals and look somewhere else. Daniel or Sun, anything else.

Daniel put the files down on the table. "If it's about love, man, I can't help you there. I'm Aro-Ace."

"No. NO! It's about Ellen."

The only question he got was a quirked eyebrow.

"Does it seem-Um, Is Sun like-You know, Ellen's brilliant woman."

"Spit it out, Mark."

Mark takes a deep breath. "Does it seem like Ellen doesn't like Sun or Moon?"

"Well, she's...complicated. She likes Sun. But Roxy has always been her favorite since she got here so seeing her with a hatchling just probably got a hold of her."

"Really? Are you sure? Because it really felt like there was something else going on behind her words."

Daniel looks around before settling his gaze on the younger researcher. "I understand where you are coming from. Ellen tends to forget her tone when she is distracted. Please just move on. Tomorrow will be better."

"Okay."

"Now. I want you to meet: Solar, Lunar, Jack, and Earth." Daniel gestured to the dragons before him before noticing the look from Mark. "I didn't name them."

"They are amazing."

~~~~~~

Sun heard the soft rumbles of concerned, and frightened, from other dragons. Moon was probably waiting on him to wake up so they could cuddle or sunbathe together. Then again, if it were Moon, he would just roar in his ear or flop on top of him until Sun woke up. Drowsily, Sun opened his eyes. He didn't realize how heavy they could be to keep up. He really wanted to see what was going on, but his entire body hurt too much. When he could finally open his eyes fully, he was greeted by four other dragons looking at him. Each felt familiar in some way that Sun could not think of with his head being so fuzzy.

The others rumbled a little out a warning at Sun.

The one that looked a little like him cocked his head at Sun and twitched his nose. Then he pinned his ears back, would have displayed his wings, and lowered his head to the ground. A submissive posture. Sun weakly greeted him as well. Every dragon there seemed happy and content with him. That was until the human doctor rushed in with Gregory. He was snarling and snapping his jowls at the humans holding him down. Sun struggled a lot, but he put all four claws under him. He rumbled as deep as he could go at the man holding his hatchling. Gregory was HIS. 

"Calm down, Sunrise, buddy. I'm just checking on him and putting on scale repair solidifier. It'll just make his scales better." The human said, sticking something sharp into Gregory who not even a minute later fell asleep. "I'll put him in there with you while we wait."

Another snarl at the human.

Sun did not like this, but he could only watch as the human took off the muzzle from the hatchling. The human moved over to a wooden box that held a bunch of odd smelling scents. Then he mixed together some different things until he deemed it good. From there, he went to put it on the tiny dragon in certain spots. The human hummed a soft song as he slathered it. It settled Sun's nerves a little; he kept a careful eye on the hatchling and the human as well. Once the human stopped whatever he did to Gregory, he left the room for a long while. Sun tried to gain Gregory's attention by chirping at him. Though Gregory stayed asleep.

The smallest dragon, Lunar, chuffed at Sun in mimicry. Sun didn't respond back. He only settled down back to stop the hurt from pulsing through his body. The only part of him that didn't hurt was his tail. Everything else hurt a lot. So much so that Sun needed some time to sleep it off as to help ease some of the pain tension in his muscles. He wrapped his tail around himself. Sun yawned big. Solar grumbles out a concern at Sun when he settled down. Sun responded with pinning his ears back and wagging his tail. They all were really nice so far. But sleep was hard to avoid.

Sun woke up to something small burrowing into his side. Looking down, he saw Gregory there trying to sleep as well. Soft snores of the other four filled the room. This was almost perfect. Just missing one little (big) thing.

Chapter Text

Sun licked over top of Gregory's scales as the others rumbled something at Sun. They really seemed interested in getting to know Sun a lot since Solar had sniffed at him when he first woke up. Gregory didn't like them, so he hid himself under Sun's chest. Sun decided that was the perfect time to groom Gregory. It blocked him from having to really talk to the other dragons. The four of them were nice, but it was a little awkward. Yes, Sun was nice to everyone, and he also had this need of being content in his ways. Gregory's scales had this rocklike substance holding them together in places that confused Sun when he licked over them. Yet, it was a good distraction from the others. 

The human entered again. "Alright, you four, I'm putting you in the quarantine habitat tomorrow. Then we'll find a new habitat to place you guys' in. We might have to see if we can place you in another flight. Got a couple that might work."

Sun tilted his head at the man. 

"Sun, buddy, you and Gregory are going back to your flight soon too." The human sighs, "But I'm going to miss seeing your beautiful face here every day."

Solar growled at him for getting too close to Sun's cage.

The human chuckles. "Reminds me of Moon just a little bit, protective of Sun."

Moon? God, Sun missed Moon. They were never separated this long before. A couple of days at most, but this is far longer than either were used to. It's sad to think that at one point, in both of their lives, the two of them could live alone forever without even thinking about having someone else by their side. Now? They'll die from loneliness. Sun put his head down next to Gregory who was now pouncing on the older dragon, hoping to get some attention. He had been super glad that Sun wasn't dead. Don't get the hatchling wrong! He liked how considerate the others were, especially Freddy. No, he liked Freddy a lot. He was calm, fun, caring, and a good example of what a father was. Sun was just someone who saved him when he needed it the most.

Solar rumbled first, followed by Lunar and Jack, and finally Earth.

Sun looked over at them. Now, he was staring to see it. They had Moon's way in every fiber of their beings. Gregory pounced on his tail, biting down as hard as he could. Sun scoffed out a sound of pain to encourage the hatchling to be fierce and brave in his future hunts. He watched Gregory out of the corner of his half-lidded eyes do whatever hatchling who were bored and trapped in a small cage with a bigger, lazier dragon. Sun listened to the pitter-patter of the small claws racing across his cage. The soft rumbles of the other dragons. The ticking of whatever the humans called the annoying round thing that hangs on the wall. All of it seemed to lull Sun into a sleep he didn't know he needed.

Something pounced on his head, waking him up. Solar chuffed a warning to Gregory who hissed at him for even thinking of getting onto him. Sun yawns, smacking his jowls together a few times. He was thirsty and the cage's bowl that hung on the bars was empty. Gregory rubs his body along Sun's neck now that he was up and looking around. Sun leans down and taps the hatching on the head to get him to calm down. Gregory huffs, settling down again. Sun lets out a breath of air before laying his own head on the hatchling's head. He loved this feeling...even if he was in pain from his wounds.

"SUN! My dragon friend! I got news for you!" Daniel burst into the room, heading straight to the cage. "You know that plant you use to turn into paste, right?! Well, I got some for myself and made that paste. And you won't believe me, but the FDA and the EPA actually agrees that this could be the next thing to help with anything dealing with scales. Scale Rot is saved thanks to you!"

Sun rumbled, still just laying down on top of Gregory.

Daniel smiles, "Do you understand how great that is for all dragons?! Who ever said dragons were not smart should meet you."

Lunar aggressively attacked the cage when Daniel made to touch Sun. 

"Alright, Lunar. I won't touch him. Got it." The human steps back. "Just don't get too attached, Sun is going back to Moon Tomorrow and you four are going to the Quarantine Habitat tomorrow."

Daniel leaves the room after that.

Sun and Gregory look over at the other dragons. Lunar was all puffed up from his anger. They had found out that Solar is the oldest followed by Lunar (who wasn't a hatchling, though he was as small as one), and lastly it was Earth. She was the youngest out of all of them. So, to see such a young-looking dragon try to act as though he was king was kind of funny even to other dragons. The three others looked down fondly at Lunar. Even Jack, who was a bit slower than the others, seemed fond of the small dragon. Sun chuffed out a thank you to him before returning to laying down. He was still in pain, but no longer in danger if he was going to be returning to Moon soon. He couldn't wait for that actually.

Now, that he has time to think. Without that fuzzy feeling blocking him that is. Are Sun and Moon really together? Sure, they were really close and trusted each other like other relationships. Dragons mate for life. Would this be taking that option out for Moon? He loved Moon with all his heart and, yeah, at first, it was just them being good friends. Then best friends. Finally, brothers. It only seemed logical that when they realized that they couldn't live without the other that they'll be bonds, fated together until they die. But was that the right decision? He really didn't want to find anyone else.

Gregory snorted at him, claws digging into his snout. Inside Sun's mouth was another one of his scales. He was picking absent-minded again, wasn't he? Gregory chases after his scale that fell out of his mouth and scattered across the cage. Moon would always be the one to stop him whenever he started doing that. He quickly hides himself under his tail, trying to ignore the concerned chuffs and whines from the other four. Earth especially sounded concern for him. Sun curled deeper into himself, facing away from every dragon else in the room. His eyes glazing over.

~~~~

A tiny, soft noise wakes him up. His body had gotten too much sleep so he was less tired than before and could wake up as such. He saw a human gently open the door to the infirmary. His smell unfamiliar. He comes over to the dragons, flashes a box at them, walks around Sun and Gregory, before gently leaving again. Sun settled back down to sleep again. He'll finally get to return to his home again. Back to his flight. Back to Moon.

~~~~

"Alright Sun, it's time." Daniel had stood on the other side of the cage where it was attached to the dragon airlock. Once he opens the door, the dragon can dash into the enclosure and then they can shut it completely and be safe. A cautious human was a safe human. "Moon is on the other side waiting verry impatiently. We know he can smell you."

Sun picked up Gregory, wagging his tail. He could smell him too.

The door beep! open and Sun steps out into the grassy plains. He barely gets two steps in before Moon pounced on him, causing him to drop Gregory. The two dragons rubbed against each other, pouncing and licking and doing anything that they could to touch each other more. Nips and bites were not out. Chuffs and whines and grumbles were shared. Moon and Sun butt heads to rub each other's head. Their scents were mingling more. God, they missed each other so much. Moon pounced on last time on Sun who rolled on his back to let the older dragon lay on his stomach on top of the dragon. Sun rubbed his head against Moon's again. 

Moon licked his cheek.

Gregory hissed at them. Sun rolled a little over to grab him and pull him closer, bringing him into the session. Moon didn't even care so much. They groomed each other, Gregory, and whatever they could touch just because they were so happy to be back together. Sun nibbled on the dark scales of Moon who licked across Gregory's tiny ones. Gregory chuffed, groaned, and fought to get away from the love and attention they were showing each other. He was home. HE was HOME! Moon was here, Sun was here, and his flight was here. Even his new hatchling was here! He was home!

Moon was knocked away from him by a hyper white dragon who rubbed herself along Sun's body the second she stood up from knocking him down. Sun rubbed his head along Her's as well. Chica chirped excitedly as they rolled around together. Moon snarled at her but allowed her to continue her welcome home bit. Monty grunted his welcome and Freddy offered up his own nuzzle, mostly because Chica was still laying on top of Sun and he couldn't give much more than that. Freddy snorted, puff of smoke leaving his nose. Sun snorted back. His flight was here, welcoming him home. 

Gregory pounced on Freddy and the two shared their own little welcoming.

Moon snarled, nipping at Chica to get her off Sun. And all of them ended up in a pile in the den together. Sun was the center of it all and he was loving the attention he received. He looked around at the pile. Chica was on top off Monty who was on his left, literally on top, and Freddy was next to Monty. Gregory was between him and Freddy. Moon was on his other side, licking on his wounds. Sun leaned over and licked across Moon's cheek. The two looked at each other with such care and love in their eyes that anyone who looked at them knew they were made as one. 

Sun whined when Moon licks his face.

Moon stands up, nodding his head away from the group. Sun looks back at them just to deem them as safe as they were all sleeping and Gregory was asleep against Freddy. He stands up, heads over to Moon, and they head away from the flight. Moon and Sun lay down together, cuddling int he tall grass, with their necks laying on top of each other. Sun let out a dep sigh as he nuzzled against Moon's back. This was his life. He felt at home here. 

Sun shakes his scales as he stood up to get a drink from the river nearby. He had been thirsty for a while now and he was thankful for the cool refreshing drink. Moon snuck up behind his Sun, crawling near, then pushed him into the water. Sun breached the water in a hurry, wadding in the water. He squirted a stream of water in Moon's face. Moon jumps in after him, swimming after Sun who started swimming away. Sun turned to splash Moon in the face before swimming faster away. Moon chuffs his complaint. Then chased after Sun. Moon dived under the water.

Sun turns around to see nothing. He stops paddling his legs to look around him just in case Moon decided to sneak out of the water and track him by land. There were no moving leaves, no rippling of water, no noise. Nothing going on. He turned back the way he came. Where was Moon? Then something slammed into him from under, dragging him into the water again. They emerged together. Snorts and grumbles of laughter. Moon squirted water into Sun's face. Sun pouted at him.

Taking one final dive, Sun pulled himself up on land again, shaking off the excess water from his body. Moon copied him. He walked through the trees until he came to find his plants again, taking them, and chewing them up. He proceeds to spread the paste over his body again. What surprises him most is that Moon also chewed up some of the plant and help spread the paste across the scales that he couldn't reach with his own tongue. Thanking him, he licked across Moon's head. Some of the paste lingered there until Moon used a claw to wipe it away. Finally, they were home.

Chapter Text

Sun was back in that awfully small cage, fowl smelling hay under his claws. A too tight chain was wiped around his mouth. He tried to claw the chains off. He wanted to scream! He wanted to bite, chew, crunch. But he couldn't get it OFF! The bars seemed to close in on him, pressing in on his worries and anxieties. The smell was starting to get to him too. Why was he stuck in this cage? Why him?! Just because he was a Sun Dragon? What was so cool about that? He was by no means the standard of what the dragon breed should be. He was too skinny, too lanky, too weak...

"You stupid dragon!" A metal pipe banged against the bars, vibrating the air around him. "Let's go!"

A pointy stick was jammed into his hind counters making him move forward towards the opening door. He unfurled himself as he stepped down onto the dirty ground. He flapped his wings, but he was going nowhere. There were at least a dozen humans stabbing into his sides and back to keep him moving towards another cage that was more like an air lock than a regular confinement. A roar of a crowd echoed around him, ears overwhelmed by the sheer amount of noise. There was too much NOISE!! So much. Straps pinched into his skin painfully as he crouched down trying to be small. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, people of all ages! Let me introduce to you, the so terrifying that we had to put a muzzle on him Sun Dragon!" The husky voice called from outside the cage. "Give him a big hand everyone!"

The cage door lifted up and there were more pokes into his skin urging him to step into the ring. Bars blocked his escape and the door to the cage was closed behind him. More noise filled his ears. He couldn't focus. Everything seemed to be in a blur, fading into each other to the point that it was one mass. He needed help. Someone to help him. Someone to save him. His wings flapped anxiously in the air as he twirled around to look at the swirling mass that was NOISE. He knew that there was a single human inside the cage with him, walking around, talking. But he couldn't focus where he was.

Then the only thing that became clear was a small, brown, regular dragon hatchling sitting in the center of the ring. A poor excuse of what he used to be. Small, fragile, lonely. Claws pointy and teeth sharp. She was scared in front of him. Sun looked down at her, felt the weight of the noise release as if it faded into the background to go unnoticed again. The only two things left were him and her. She slowly stopped shaking in her spot and looked up at him. For a moment, a clear moment, he wanted to protect her. Bright, hopeful green eyes stare up at him. Begging him to do something.

And he did...because the moment was over.

The pressuring noise slammed into him full force and his mind unfocused. He whipped back on his hind legs and threw his body back against the bars. Men poked and prodded him. Someone used something hot against his exposed skin. Sun clawed and tore at anything his claws could get on, despite the dulled nature, they still hurt on soft, weak flesh. A person screamed in his ear but then faded into noise. Sun race across the ring into the bars there with his head. Maybe if he broke his horns off, he could use the pieces to stab into his heart. No such luck yet. His claws jam through the bars at the happy crowd. Why didn't they see his pain?! Why didn't anyone try to help him?

Sun pushed his head as far into the bars as he could, only getting his snout out. Something squeaked. Something tugged. He whipped his head back and forth for a second when he thought he was stuck there. Then...he really was stuck. The chain around his muzzle caught an exposed hook used to connecting the bars together. He tugged, clawed, wiggled, struggled to get free. More men came to urge him to move with their sticks and pokers. At a particularly hurtful burn, he reared back forcefully hard that the chain came loose. Scales ripped, painfully from around his nose. But...he...was...free.

Sharp, aching teeth glared at the human in the cage. Something took Sun over, a need to do anything he wanted to do. His teeth found purchase in soft flesh as crunching of bones filled his ears over the dying noise. Noise that turned to silence, then panic. More humans rushed into the ring, poking and trying to get Sun to move away. He did. Only to snap his jaws around two of them before the rest when running away as well. Sharp teeth ripped and tore at any flesh it could. Anything that moved. That caught his attention. 

Sun burst out of the bars using strength that he didn't know he had hidden away. His mouth filled with the blood of a small human child, then another, and an adult, and anything that he caught. His tail thrashed wickedly behind him as he looked around for more to do. More to kill. He slammed his claws down on the circus's horse. It neighed and pleaded for mercy before Sun killed him too. His wings unwrapped from his side and rewrapped many times as he looked around following the movement of his tail. His nerves were so wired that he didn't feel the two darts enter his side where he was missing scales. His body still had some energy left that he followed the line back to the ring, to go back to her. One last time. Eyes starting to droop. Legs going numb. His body flopped near the center of the ring. Where a tiny, mangled, body of the hatchling lay as still as the day her egg came into the world. The collar had the letters 'EVELYN' written.

The nightmare spooked Sun awake, unable to breath air into his lungs. Gregory was sleeping between his claws with his soft breathing hitting his chest. Sun jolted, clawing away from the hatchling there until he was racing out of the den with five pairs of eyes watching him. Tears fell down his snout. He stuck his head into the bottom of a tree, trying to dig a hole to put it into so he could hide. He didn't deserve a hatchling. Not one at all. Sun was a monster! A filthy, ugly, bloodthirsty monster that kills everything it sees. He couldn't hurt another hatchling again in his entire life.

Moon whines at him in concern. Sun instantly found himself tucked into Moon's chest, his horns jabbing into the under jaw of the older dragon. He knew that his eyes were spilling tears full of regret and spite for himself. Moon nuzzles what he could of Sun's head, licking away his tears. Sun figured that being trapped in a cage for so long due to his wounds just got the drake stuck, in his subconscious brain, of his past. He hated being there. So, so much. Why did it always come back to him being there when he thinks his life couldn't get any better? It is like the universe wanted to remind him that his life is a lie. He was broken, a murderous broken dragon. He should never have gotten a little joy in his life for anything.

Sun settles to lay down on the ground, taking Moon down with him as well. They just lay down there. Together as Sun cried to himself. Occasionally, Moon would lick across his head, trying to be comforting to his Sun. He heard the labored breathing slowly start to calm to a hiccupping pace. Sun curled tighter against the other dragon, trying to make himself as small as possible. Moon had only seen Sun like this once before when he met the younger drake. They had just started getting to know each other. Sun refused to get closer to Moon because he was scared, and when Moon pressed, he freaked out.

But here, Moon didn't know what to do. 

Moon watched on as Sun cried and cried and cried. Finally, Sun stopped crying and just whined. Not all the time, but every once in a while, as if his mind kept replaying whatever scene was stuck in his head. The morning sun peeked into the habitat as a loud beeping sound called the dragons for their daily meals. They had fish flowing through the river but not every dragon preferred the scaly meat to eat, also the meat they are given is packed with vitamins and minerals they do not get thanks to being trapped. And maybe that meat will help Sun in some little way. Moon carefully unwraps himself from Sun to go get some of it. 

Chica was already there, chowing down on bloody piece that stained her white scales. Coming down the path were the others. Gregory stopped just short of the other dragon, snarling and growling. Moon snapped his teeth at the little hatchling causing Freddy to chuff out a warning at his flightmate. Gregory hid between the leader's legs. He snorted. Then Moon grabs a couple of pieces of the meat sitting on the metal platform that raises up and down. Before the others could question him, Moon disappeared back into the trees. Sun was still where he left him. Laying on the ground near the river.

Moon placed the meat right in front of Sun's snout with a snort. Sun didn't even lift up his head, staring right into the air over the river. Tears were silently coming out and he was just blank. Moon pushed the meat closer to Sun. But his eyes remained fixed on the horizon. This is the worst he had ever seen Sun ever! The drake was just there, taking up space. His pinned wings didn't twitch with the need to spread out. His claws didn't want to dig into the soft dirt. Hell, Sun didn't even want to move and run around anymore. He just stayed there. Not moving. Not even thinking. 

Moon snarled, nipping at Sun's snout. That got him to look at the older dragon with not so much as any emotion besides pain in his eyes. Moon's resolve crumbled so he just laid back down next to his Sun, nibbling on the meat he brought with him. Sun buried his head under Moon's chest just to lay there. Moon's heartbeat pounded in his ears...which didn't feel nearly as bad as Sun thought it would at the moment. Actually, it made him feel sort of better. Not enough to bring him out of the pain he was feeling, but enough to lick Moon's snout in thank you. Sun then put his head back down on top of Moon's outstretched legs, leaning on his chest just to hear his heart pound again. The rhythm was pleasing.

Sun closed his eyes but all he saw was red. Red blood, red flesh, red, red, red. He lifted his head up and leaned over his back. There were still scales there that he could pick at. His teeth scoop up a few in a pinch and started to pull at them. The pain was what he needed to feel, what he always needed to feel better. Teeth snapped at him, trying to get him to stop pulling out his scales. Moon didn't stop until Sun stopped. He never would allow Sun to pick at his scales like this. Always good at getting him to stop. 

There was a small whine off to their right. Gregory and Freddy were standing just out of the tree line, looking at them. Sun didn't even move to look, not even glance. Just stayed staring off over the fast-flowing river. Gregory tried to come closer, but Moon's growl stopped him. Moon knew that everyone was worried about Sun, who wouldn't be?  It was just that he didn't seem up to dealing with anyone since he hasn't moved. Or ate. Or did anything. Something was seriously wrong with Sun. Something that happened in his past that Moon didn't know about. Something that haunts Sun to this day.

Chapter Text

"What's wrong with Sun?" Mark asked the air in general, but Ellen leaned over to look at him. "He won't move from that spot."

Ellen squints at the screen for a very long time, "Don't know. Probably just still feeling hurt from the battle."

"Oh. That's...probably true. He just looks blank."

"Poor guy."

Daniels smiles, "Could be that he needs a minute to stop hurting."

Mark looked at Ellen then back at Daniel who made a O.K sign with one hand and pointed with the other, putting the point in the hole. 

"Daniel!!" Ellen and Mark squealed as they left the man to go back to their individual screens.

"Oh, come on! We're adults! They are animals. Animals fuck all the time. We're animals!" Daniels was laughing his butt off as he walked out the room calling, "It's just sex between lovers!"

Ellen huffed, "That man has always been...something."

"Yeah. But he's cool."

"Anyways, Roxy and Cassie are ready to come back to the flight. Gregory seems to be in better condition too." Ellen dismissed and changed the topic.

~~~~~~

Moon was on patrol, that he did most nights by himself, when he heard something different. Like leaking air, as if wind swirled in the area around him. Something sweet mixed with the cleaning agents that the humans used invaded his nose. He was getting really tired which was out of character for him. His head felt fuzzy with dizziness and a pounding of a headache. Moon felt his nose and throat seize up with an intense burning. His muscles relaxed too much that the laid down right where he was. God, he was tired. His eyes closed, opened, closed again. And he forced them to open again, noticing his lungs were taking in air a little less than usually. His eyes closed again. 

"...Not this one. He's just a Moon dragon. The Sun Dragon is this way." A high-pitched voice walked past him. "Remember, he has taken human life before. July 16th was a very bad day for that circus. It was how we came to possess the drake."

"That's fine. We want a killer and someone we can use for...other activities. We own a pretty little-"

~~~~~~~

Sun heard footsteps come closer to him. His head lifted up but the thought of why move had him dropping it back down. It was probably one of his flightmates coming to see if he was alright again. It hurt to see their faces, his face. God, Sun hated himself so much at that moment. He wanted to bury himself in a mound of dirt all day and burst out of it at night to go wander aimlessly for his next resting place. Just who was he to everyone here? Everyone else had a reason to be here, a place that they fit in. Freddy was the born leader of this flight and Roxy was his mate after all. But she was no pushover; she could kill someone if she wanted. Though, where she was hadn't occurred to Sun until now. Monty had come from a bad place too. His last flight kicked him out at a very young age, so he had to learn to be tough and mean just to survive. And Chica? Well, that one has an appetite that got her in trouble. She was always hungry for all types of food. Her flight told her that it was dangerous, and it was. Poachers had found them because of it. But when Freddy accepted her into the flight, she became great at getting food. Even Moon had his place. He was great at patrolling during the night when everyone was sleeping. So where did Sun fit in all this?

"Got the hatchling, now it's time for the dragon." 

Sun lifted his head up at the mysterious voice.

Standing there were about ten humans all decked out in black clothes and guns. One of them was holding Gregory.

"What about the female hatchling?"

"Don't worry about that. We'll get her later. For now. Get this one loaded up."

Gregory was passed out, head lolling around as they held him. That was HIS...no, he was not his hatchling anymore. But that didn't mean that he couldn't protect the kid that his flight had. He put his claws under him, pushing his body up and into a standing position. His body seemed weaker than usual. His stomach was hollow. Against humans with guns, he didn't stand a chance in a fight with them. They were all pointing their guns at him. Sun growled, snarling and roaring at the humans in his home. Where was everyone else? Could they be hurt somewhere? Sun had to step up and protect his flight.

Sun snapped his teeth.

"Don't you dare." The leader of the humans points his gun at the dragon. "I'll shoot you before you could even move."

"I can't believe we are just leaving the other rare dragons here."

The leader sighs, "Why have them when the cash cow is right here?"

Sun takes a step forward, claws digging in the dirt. Then he charges at the men with his teeth going to find the first soft piece of flesh they could. That ended with several shots hitting his skin and one man screaming in his mouth. He ended up dropping the human, laying down on the ground, and falling asleep. He couldn't even protect his flight from the intruders. He was useless. Sun was not a good dragon by any means. That much was for sure.

~~~~~

Sun's first thought waking up was 'Not again'. Cage bars block part of his vision of the other cages surrounding him. Gregory whines from a cage near him, but he wasn't the only one. There were so many different dragons and hatchlings. A red dragon with what looked like fox ears and bumps from where his horns are coming in and a white dragon that looked similar to Chica were placed in the same cage as Gregory. In the cage right next to them was another brown dragon that had some similar markings to Freddy. What was going on here? The red dragon growled at him, showing pearly white teeth and a closer look at him. A yellow star like scattering of scales were placed on his right eye. The white dragon joined in when she realized that Sun was looking at them. It was Gregory's happiness to see Sun that stopped them.

Sun cooed to them. They were all so small, lonely, and in desperate need of a good family that will give them the hatchling life that Sun never got to experience. He looked over the room. It was a huge warehouse type of place with cages stacked upon each other and one large double door that were across the way. Above them was a broken skylight that shone the bright full moon. The light wasn't too bright but for a dragon, it was enough to see everything that was around the area. Sun's cage was the biggest out of all the ones in here by far and most of the only other dragons were younger than he was.

The only other dragon that was old enough to be in a cage by themselves was a cream-colored dragon with blue horns that were really long that they curled downwards around her shoulders. She was pretty for a female dragon. But she wasn't anything that caught his fancy if you asked him. He really didn't have a type that he looked at more than anything. She, though, was looking at him with those eyes. If anyone wanted to know how dragons court, then all you'll have to do was rewind this footage. If there was any of course. A female dragon will look at the male. Showing that she liked what she saw. That being said, it was up to male to start the courting session if he also finds the other appealing. Usually, that involved gifts and power displays. Horns that look good are just that, but they can always be used to battle with. 

Here, though, there may not actually get any chance to do those things. Not like Sun has those thoughts about her. He had Moon! That's all he needs in his life. She grumbles at him to which he turned around to face a different direction than she was in. The others all collectively roar in unison after she did. Everyone here is just like him in some way. Broken, used, alone, looking for an answer to life when all else seemed to have failed them. They all took care of themselves. Sun looked around the area one last time.

Nothing.

The humans came into the room with their guns on their backs and talking to one another.

"I heard the Sun Dragon is malformed. Got his wings clipped and everything. Man, if he weren't so rare..."

"I know, man. I have seen him. He's still an impressive beast though. Tall, lanky, shiny bright like all Sun Dragons do. His scales are very pretty."

"Dude, he's a broken dragon. All he's good for now is making babies. Lucky him!"

"Do you really think that?"

"It's our jobs. We get two dragons to fuck. We watch and make sure eggs are produced then we do it all over again."

"...yeah, I guess...."

"You get the dragon you like so much, and I'll get Miku." 

The one who talked last was a broad shouldered, balding man with dead eyes. He walked over to the female dragon and started getting items that were attached to the cage itself. He started heading towards the door, undoing the latch. Sun's view was stopped when the other human came to him. He already had some items of his own in his hands now. This human was shorter, more wired, and had a full head of hair. In all, he was more attractive. But what was beauty to a dragon. Dragons were not good judge on human's beauty standard. The human had a metal rod with chains attached to it. He stuck it into the cage. Sun could see it better this close, and the end had an open top that looked like it could attach to something. As he was admiring it, the end closed around his snout, locking on his mouth. He adjusted another ring on the rod to scroll up. Sun struggled and squirmed around, swatting at his head with his claws. But the chains wouldn't come off. The second ring got caught on his horns.

The man opened the door. "Fuck. I thought this might happen with those horns of yours."

Sun whipped his head around but came to realize that the chain was attached to the cage, not going anywhere. With his mouth closed, he had no hopes of defending himself from this human. Surprisingly, the human was very gentle. His hands were steady as they nimbly worked the chains over the ray-like horns on his head. Then he gently smoothed them over his scales. His entire body wasn't tense or scared as one should be dealing with dragons. Maybe that was because it was his life that he became numb to it. Or this one had heart. Sun kept his eye on him as the human sighed heavily, still petting his scales. Across the way, the other human slammed his fist against the cage as he dragged the female out of the cage. She looked terrified. 

"It's okay, boy." Sun didn't realize he was scared that much until that soft voice brought him back to look down at the human in front of him. "Soon, everything will be okay. I just know it."

The drake glanced over at the hatchlings next to him. They looked on with scared interest. 

"Maybe, I can let you see Frank. He's a....odd one. One of the first hybrids we tried to make. Between a Sun Dragon like yourself and a Moon Dragon. Actually, he might just be yours!" There was a laugh in there somewhere. But it never reached Sun's body. 

Finally, the human unclipped the rod from the chains around his head and lightly tugged on them to get him moving. He followed. The soft rumbles from Gregory had him stopping at the cage to nuzzle him before getting dragged away into another room. This one had...The Cage. He snarled and growled through the chains on his snout at it. There was no way he was going back there. Not again. He can't. He tried turning around but there was a sharp poke on his neck. The chains had thorns stabbing into his neck whenever he tried to pull away from the human. His eyes found the female dragon standing not far away before he was shoved inside with her.

Chapter Text

The female dragon displayed her wings in interest, but Sun snorted out a no thank you. She came closer. Sun responded with a snarl of his own. Why wasn't she getting the hint?! He was not interested in mating with her. He had all the love and attention he needs with Moon. Moon gave him protect, love, fun, and all the time in the world. What more does he need in life when he ...had everything he wants? God, he almost destroyed his life because of his past. When he gets back to Moon, and he will, he'll make it up to the poor dragon. Sun needed to get his head out of the past and remember all that he has now.

Sun shakes his body, relieving some of the tension in his muscles. He was getting out of here. He wasn't weak anymore. He wasn't dumb. He was the ferocious Sun Dragon, powerful and strong unlike so many others. Sun was not someone the others can take advantage of anymore. He rears up on his hind claws, slamming his body against the cage, pushing with all his might. It didn't budge. Sun repeated it. Over and over and over. The humans started yelling and throwing things at him, but, clearly, they were not used to a dragon who didn't want to fuck another one. Sun reared back one more time. His claws landing harshly on the metal, feeling it break and bend under his scales until finally, he was free! 

"Fuck! Get the gun!"

Sun wasted no time in racing out of the broken hole. His claws took him back to the warehouse portion where the hatchlings started chirping at him. He nuzzled each and every one before using his claws to rip it open. Metal bits bending down and towards the floor as he pushes it wider and wider. Each hatchling escaped the cage, hiding under Sun's belly. He turns towards the last hatchling, almost a teen at this point. He did the same as he did to the others. Bending and crunching the metal bars until he could get the last one free. Sun nuzzled each one again before he looked around them. They had to go back down the way he came.

The humans were racing down the hallway when the odd flight came running through the double doors. The two men stopped in their tracks. Sun snarled and growled, standing in front of all the hatchlings to protect them from the weaker beings that had to prove they were the apex predator. The bigger of the two humans raised the gun in his hand to point straight at Sun. His eyes glared at the dragons. Then he grunted, falling to the floor. Sun looked at the other man who had just hit the other in the back of the head. His hand lowered and dropped the gun to the floor. The man flattens himself against the wall.

"I know you don't fully understand human speech but if you head straight, the last door is freedom. Go. There's a flight in the Fazbear Forest that can help you return home."

Sun stands in front of him while the hatchlings race towards the door. The man struggles for a full minute to take off the chains on his snout and head. 

"That feels better, doesn't it, boy?" 

Sun nuzzles the human gently before leading the hatchlings towards the door. There were still some good humans left in this world. They broke open the door, into the expansive sun. The hatchlings chirped as they ran around in the light. But they were not safe yet. A siren alerts to their escape. Sun gently picks up Gregory and nudges the rest to follow him. Gregory squirms in his mouth a bit but Sun moves towards the trees followed by the others. He felt a bit better about his life now. They were safe in the trees for now, but he could hear the faded yells of the humans.

The drake urged the others to hurry up as they race onward. They maybe traveled half the night before Sun decided to let the hatchlings rest up for the next bout of traveling, he decided they needed to do to get away from the humans coming after them. That being said, who knows how longs the humans will continue to track them down just to get them back. They may have stopped hours ago, or they could still be on their tails. Sun had to be prepared for anything that might come. He was the oldest here by far and needed to protect the little dragons following him. 

They all curled up inside a small cave, almost too small for him, with Sun as the center of the pile. Gregory was curled in his chest area while the red and white dragons were curled against his stomach. The other hatchling took his back side as he dug his snout under the warm scales there. They were all asleep before too long. Soft breathing. Happy subconscious tail flicks. Sun couldn't sleep though. His mind was full of unanswered questions and stomach-turning feelings that weighed heavily on his mind. He wanted to bite at them until they went away but that never worked. Hiding from them only gets you so far, he knows that too well.

Sun watched the moon slowly fade into the distance, lightening up to a faded purple. Thankfully, there was no evidence that the humans followed them this far, so he was safe for now. The oldest hatchling had curled tighter into a ball on his side with his tail covering his snout. The other three were piled on top of each other with the red one on bottom and the white one on top. Gregory was smashed in between the two of them. All were sleeping soundlessly. Carefully, Sun nuzzled each little face for a few seconds each before looking out the cave entrance. He'll let them sleep just a bit more.

It was funny how when Sun is trying to avoid hatchlings he ended up having to take care of a bunch of them by himself. He had to be...okay. He couldn't run off with Moon to get away to cry, like he so much wanted to do, or get lost in his head. Sun was the leader in this situation. Something he was not used to. Being alone? Yes, he could manage himself, not great, but enough to keep him alive. Leading a bunch of other dragons that look up to him to get them home safely? That was more difficult. 

~~~~~

Daniel glared at the screen for the millionth time, grinding his teeth together in rage. "It's gone too far, boss."

The director looked at the man speaking next to him. "Understand this, Daniel, I have everything under control. We have been trying to get Ellen for months now. Stealing DNA and selling it and now actually kidnapping one of our dragons! She's going away for a long time, but we still need to get the people she sold it to."

"Him. Sold Sun to. She allowed them to take Sun. He may not even realize it, but he's the backbone of the flight. Sun is the only one to keep the peace between such outgoing dragons. He keeps Moon sane and happy. He allows Monty to get out some aggression when fighting. He plays with the hyper Chica. Even Freddy likes his company at times. Roxy wouldn't have anyone to constantly pamper her. He's great with hatchlings! Director, you don't understand how they reacted when he was just a habitat over. Imagine now that they can't hear him." 

"Daniel, I understand your concern. We are dealing with it."

The screen replayed the incident of Sun getting taken along with Gregory.

The director clicked the camera over to the Glamrock Flight. There they were all together. Ellen thought it was a good idea to put Roxy and Cassie back into the flight as a way to keep them all calm after what had happened. Freddy was going insane alongside Moon. Gregory was gone. Sun was gone. Strangers entered their home, and the entire flight was pissed. Monty destroyed a tree from the rage he was holding in at not being able to help in any way. Chica stopped eating. And Moon...Moon was worse. He wasn't slamming his body against the wall anymore, instead he was pacing the door as if he could see a way out. 

"I can't believe I let you talk me into pretending I didn't see anything all that time ago and using these poor dragons as bait." Daniel slammed the file of Sun and Gregory on the desk before leaving the room.

"I wish I was smarter about this too, old friend." 

Daniel heads straight to the habitat. The rescue team had lost the signal of Sun a long time ago and had returned with the bad news that the two were gone. For good. Ellen would have gotten away with it, making everyone else mad. Sad part, Daniel kept up the part that everything was okay and that he was oblivious to the ongoings of a certain female researcher. Why is she doing this? That's all Daniel wanted to know. He liked her when they first met. She had this character that he knew could be good friends with. Then something changed one day. She came in with tears and fits of rage that didn't match, never going back to her happy dragon-loving self. She stopped caring too much about any of the flights here except the one with Roxy. He supposed she was what Ellen wanted to be. Free, brave, and powerful.

"Daniel!" Mark called from behind him. "Daniel!"

"Yes," He answered through gritted teeth. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Mark's expression suddenly turned serious. "I'm in."

"In on what?"

"Let's let the dragons go. All of them. Not just the Glamrock Flight. The entire center!" He twirled around with his hands out in an open gesture.

"You know what? I was already looking for another job anyways. You take the south side; I'll take the north. Don't get caught!" 

~~~~~

Moon snarled at the door. There was movement on the other side that he wanted dead. They needed to stop taking his Sun away from him before he decides to go on a murderous rampage. Just as he was fixing to ram into the metal, the glass above them separating from the concrete. The real sky above them. Then the band around his wings beep before falling off his body completely. Moon spreads his wings out wide in excitement. The others roar in the background. He bolted up into the air, letting his wings stretch fully out and beat against the air. They felt sore from not using them at all for so many years. Moon saw the others had a similar idea and plan. They were leaving to find their lost flightmate and hatchling. 

Upon reaching above the glass, Moon saw dozens if not a hundred other dragons doing the same thing. The Glamrock Flight took off towards the closest trees to land and regroup. Roxy flew faster than every other dragon, landing down with Cassie in her mouth. Freddy liked the hatchling but with so much going on, he hadn't the time to really get to know her. She was a smart, sassy child. She was taken in by Roxy so that had to mean something. They all just thought that it was odd for them to be free as such. But Moon was not questioning it. He is going to find Sun and bring him to a new home. A new place together, maybe with the Glamrock Flight. Maybe it's time they go on their own and find their own flight somewhere else. 

Moon's nose caught the smell of something familiar. Something he recognized. Just like home. He looked up at the other dragons rushing through the air until he spotted four figures, he thinks he sees through the fog of all the others. Moon's excited tail started wagging causing the rest of the flight to look at him. He chirped and whined. And made noise to gain their attention. Four dragons landed down in front of him just as excited.

Chapter Text

Sun woke up each hatchling when the sun had fully shown itself. They had to get going before the humans found them. Looking down, he was thankful that there were too young to fly since he couldn't, but it was also bad since they could fly faster than walking. Each hatchling yawned, scratching the stone floor with their tiny sharp claws. Gregory snuggled into his chest in an attempt to refuse getting up for the day. Sun nipped at his ears. The dragon's way of correcting behavior that wasn't good. Gregory shook his head before standing up and heading towards the other two younger dragons. The older one circled back to bring up the rear. 

Together, the all the hatchlings followed Sun as he led them out of the cave and into the light. It was a hot day, and they traveled through the woods with only a playful march. Literally, a playful march. Each hatchling lined up in a row and started marching with one claw raising high in the air with each step and their tails laid straight behind them. Each head held high in respect and demanding mannerisms, even from Sun. The oldest among them followed the younger one's lead. It was rather cute. Sun felt like a mother duck with her little ducklings following behind him. Really cute.

The sun dragon continued until the little patter of claws on the ground faded into dragging their claws into the dirt as they walked. He turned to see the hatchlings with their heads down, looking up at him with pleading eyes. They were tired, hungry, and wanting to go home...wherever that may be for them. Who knew who their parents were or where those parents were. Sun snorted, letting them know it was okay to rest up and get some sleep. He sat down as well. The sun was higher in the sky and beating down on them with a force that nearly hurt. If he was just sunbathing then it would be fine, but walking made it nearly unbearable. He kind of wished there was some cold water.

Sun looked down at his scales. He wanted to pick at them and ripped them off, but he knew he couldn't. Not at this moment with so many young ones relying on him to be sane. He sighs heavily in that dragon way before looking back at the resting hatchlings. All were on their sides, panting with their tongues out hitting the dirt with each pant. He wished Moon was here. He'll know what to do and how to do it well. He was the smart one between the two of them. Sun crossed his claws over one another before settling down himself. Who knew what or how long they had until the next place that could keep them safe.

The red dragon hatchling pounced on Sun's tail, claws trying to pierce the scales there. Sun lifted his tail up off the ground and the hatchling as well. He brought him to his face, noticing the bright yellow scales that form the star over his eye. They were shining brighter now. Then the hatchling jammed his teeth into his tail. Thankfully, the scales were tough, and their tiny teeth would never be able to bite into his flesh from there. He snarled to seem big and tough. Sun put him back on the ground, letting him bite the scales on his tails as long as he wants. The white one is inspecting his missing scales with a too gentle for a child's claw. She whines when she looks up at him. He nuzzles her to portray what he was feeling. Calmness, scared, fear, acceptance.

Gregory and the last dragon were still resting nearby.

After a while, it was time to start walking again...only something started moving in the woods. He jumped up, snarling, allowing the hatchings to cower behind him and between his front legs. They waited with baited breathes for the mysterious being to come out and just get this over with. He let his head fall downward to protect his throat and sensitive areas so he could protect the hatchlings longer. Sun locked his stance over the hatchlings as a proper caregiver should. The rustling of leaves and trees getting louder and louder. Coming closer and closer. He was getting less and less sure he could take this being. He was certain that the other thing was bigger than he was and taller probably too.

The next thing to come out was a brown dragon head. He was cautious and trying to appear friendly, despite how fast his tail was wagging. Before Sun had time to react, the white hatchling dives towards him, happily chirping and nuzzling. She was super happy to see him. Not even a second later, the red hatchling shoots off towards him as well. The two were nuzzling and yipping and doing anything that involved touching. Certainly, they knew him. Sun relaxed, allowing himself to calm down and let this happen. Gregory and the oldest hatchling remained hiding behind Sun. 

The strange dragon looked up at Sun, noting that there were still two hatchlings in his care. Sun lowered his head in submission and twitched his wings to relieve the tension in the air. Something he learned from Moon. He learned a lot from Moon. God, he missed having him near. Taking care of each other. Spending time with each other. Doing whatever the two of them wanted. He missed that. Moon had meant so much to him especially after he accepted the insane sun dragon as he was. And Moon's not the nicest to get along with either, so to have them both be able to coexist together is amazing.

Sun scoffed, shaking his head.

The other dragon shook his head in return. He took careful steps forward, placing one claw in front of the other, until he was standing in front of Sun and the two hatchlings. He took a deep breath in to smell Sun's scent before letting out a puff of smoke out towards Sun. Sun took the smoke and puffed out one of his own. They were in an agreement. Nothing to worry about from either side as they were both friendly creatures. Odd, but he did save his hatchlings so that had to be something. All hatchlings jumped around in joy after that. The two from the stranger's flight and the ones that Sun was taking care of. 

The other dragon scoffed, picked up the white hatchling, before twitching his head towards the woods. The red hatchling happily followed. Sun was going to refuse but one look at the two tired hatchlings near him stopped him. He picks up Gregory before nudging the other to follow. The group was led back into the thick woods towards a den of strange dragons that may not be as acceptive to him as the brown one was. That sort of scared him and made him want to turn around, tail tucked and ears flattened. He kept following though. His own body was exhausted and tired, hungry and thirsty. 

Sun almost dropped Gregory on his bottom, at the sight of so many dragons. All of them were lazing around a natural hot spring that lay near a waterfall that looked cool to the touch. So many dragons were chattering and grooming, spending time with each other. The red hatchling shoots off towards another similar older red dragon that didn't have his right eye. He slammed his body into him, rolling around together for a moment. Then the older one nuzzled the younger one. Sun cooed when they started a grooming session right there. While all that was going on, a white dragon that looked very similar to Chica but yellow came over to the brown dragon he met and nuzzled the white one in his mouth then nuzzled the brown one.  

The two were home.

Gregory squirmed when a few other hatchlings came over to greet them. So many different breeds and hybrids were all living together in peace. Sun put him on the ground so he could go play if he was allowed along with the other one who followed Gregory in almost brotherly way. They were getting along well it seemed. The brown dragon handed off the hatchling to what Sun presumed was his mate before turning towards Sun. Guess, he was the leader after all. Every other dragon didn't seem to care about him though. The leader offered a small nuzzle to calm down Sun's fears, turning to allow them to head towards the hot springs. A few other dragons were soaking in there. A black and white lanky dragon that looked more like death than they should and an odd-looking dragon that Sun has never seen before. He would be saying she looked like a human ballerina. 

Sun hesitated before allowing himself to soak in the waters and rest for a little bit, feeling safer than he ever has before...well, when he's not with Moon that is.

~~~~~~~~~

Moon flew fast ahead of everyone else, wings beating against the wind as he flew. He had gotten Sun's scent a while ago and was heading there now with his entire flight, including his long-lost siblings. That had been the best feeling in his life. Solar, Jack, Earth, and Lunar were all safe and sound and flying beside him again. The Glamrock flight also flew next to him as well, above and below him as well. All that was left was his Sun. He needed him back to complete his family. No one was better than him. Sun was his light in the dark. His best friend. His brother. His family. His one. His everything.

There were concerned chirps before beside him. Solar. He came to fly right beside him, his wings slightly touching his older brother's. He begged to land, seeing how everyone was tired. Lunar was flying really close to Earth. Monty was helping Chica and Roxy keep afloat and Freddy was struggling carrying Cassie. He even saw Jack stumble in the air a few times before correcting himself. Moon sighed heavily before landing down so his family could. He couldn't wait to see Sun. He needed to get to him, save him. Sun needed Moon to save him from the awful clutches of the stupid humans.

Once landed, Solar and Lunar and even Earth nuzzled all around Moon again. He loved feeling his family, his real flight surrounds him like this and care for him like they used to. It made this separation more bearable from his one. Moon hated to think of Sun away from him. But what they have isn't technically mated pairs. They never done anything other than cuddle with each other. They spend all their time together, too. But being away from each other and feeling that loneliness creep was only made worse when Sun and Moon were not together. Moon can't think of a time away from Sun now that they are together. Like how the Moon is always chasing the Sun. That endless battle between light and dark, good versus evil. That is Sun and Moon. Two halves of the same coin. A yin and a yang. Opposites yet the same. 

They all ended up sleeping as the day turned to night. Moon let Lunar and Earth curl up on one side with Lunar in the middle and Jack and Solar on the other with Jack in the middle as well. Moon felt Solar lay his head on his back so he can watch behind them, taking the position Sun would have if he was here. Why did everything remind him of Sun? He really needed Sun back and soon. Hopefully, nothing happens to Sun while they are resting. Nothing bad. Nothing awful. Maybe something good. He'll let something good happen like a big fish or getting free. Moon looked up at the sky, the moon slowly crawling it way across the sky and he remember something his parents told him. 

About two dragons who once lived on the lands like everyone else. One a bright light and the other a covering darkness. They were in love, spending all their time together. But the trees and grass grew jealous of their love, taking the only source of light, they had that they tricked the darker one from meeting the brighter one. In distrust and sadness, the brighter one flew off to the sky to cry. She cried so hard that she became what is now the sun. Trying to catch her from leaving, the other one raced into the sky as well. He turns himself into the moon so he can always be chasing her. To one day catch her to let her know how much they were in love.

The Sun will always run away from the Moon and the Moon will always be chasing the Sun.

Chapter Text

Gregory pounced on top of Sun, waking him up from the nap he had taken. It had surprisingly been good here. No nightmares crept into his dreams. No restless nights. He did wish that Moon was here to enjoy this paradise with him, soak in the waters together and make a home here. With his flightmembers all together in one place. Sun looked at where the hatchling was trying to bite into his scales that were not picked off on his back yet. He picked him up, wrapped him up in his claws and started to groom him. Gregory hissed and clawed to get free, but after a while, he realized that he was not getting free and relaxed. The brown dragon hatchling came to lay near Sun as well, watching as he groomed the hatchling with interest. 

Sun leaned over, still keeping Gregory locked in his claws, and started grooming the brown dragon. His tongue tasted years of dirt and grime. This one probably had never had a bath in years. He needed a name too. Something that was him. Frankie...that is it. He'll name him Frankie. Frankie seemed to enjoy getting some attention from anyone even if that meant he had to endure some grooming sessions. His tail swished behind him, kicking up dust and dirt. Gregory huffed at being ignored. Sun licked his lips after cleaning Frankie's face. Then he returned to cleaning up Gregory. Once finished, Gregory and Frankie left to play with the other kids.

Sun yawned, stretched out his body with a satisfying pop of his bones. His wings spread out wide before closing back up against his sides with a pleasant weight that wasn't locked in place with a band that hurt after a while. Some of the other dragons came over to him...one of them was a Sun dragon hybrid. He was not happy looking or anything of the sort, his tail thrashed behind him in annoyance. His teeth snapped in his direction. But the leader was quick to correct him on his behavior. The hybrid snarled before walking away. Sun noticed that some of the hatchlings followed after him as if he were the best dragon to hang with. His grumpiness snarled at the hatchlings, snapped his teeth at them, but they kept coming back.

A spindly dragon with the face of the leader...in a way?...but so many extra bumps and ridges and horns that he looked more like wires than a dragon. He came over to Sun. His nose bent down to smell at Sun since he was a lot taller than Sun was. Then he nuzzled him just a bit. Sun nuzzled back before the two of them got into the hot spring together. It was peaceful here with all of these characters. So much noise and happiness filling the air. Reminded him of the circus a bit, but a lot different. He didn't feel overwhelmed here at all. Sun rested his head on the edge of the springs, sighing heavily as he looked around. The other dragon, Sun calls him Molten because he looks like molten wires fused together, sinks beside him.

Just then a blue dragon leers over him. His mouth agape and drool pooling out as he breathed at him. His eyes were odd too. One was sideways looking into the distance while the other stared right at Sun. Sun looked at Molten who growled in annoyance at the new dragon surrounding him. Sun lifted his head to rumble his displeasure when two red, one light and one dark, moon hybrid dragons pounced on the blue one's back and bites at him. Blue threw them off then ran away with his tail tucked between his legs. The two, in sync, looked at Sun. Both wagged their tails in though, looked at each other, then growled. One would growl a beat, then the other, then back to the first as if finishing each other's sentences. Kind of creepy. The moon dragons raced off at a roar from the Sun Hybrid dragon to come to him. 

Sun cocked his head at Molten who in return did the same to him. Finally, the two relaxed a bit more into the hot springs. It had been a day, and he's barely been up for half of it. He started to notice there were a lot of hybrids in this flight, too many for just one flight to produce. While Molten didn't look like a hybrid, he was definitely too many different dragon types to be able to tell. They were so many dragons here that he couldn't tell who the parent might be of who. Though some didn't even look old enough to have kids that are that old. He wondered why that might be.

Finally, the flight leader brough him some food and everyone ate together at this large open space. Sun felt at home here. So many dragons, all of different kinds, seemed to exist in harmony with one another. Molten had seemed to take a liking to him and kept near him. And Sun didn't mind it at all. He was tall, powerful, and very helpful in getting used to the place. Sun would say he's becoming a friend. Though, in such a big flight, dragons either had their own groups they hung out with, or you got lost in the crowd. He didn't know if it liked such a huge flight. He'll prefer a much smaller flight where he could meet everyone in a day.

~~~~~~~~~

Moon and the rest of the flight landed near the old dragon training camp that humans use to do whatever it was that they wanted. Sun's scent came from within. He took a deep breath in of the scent before looking towards the others. Solar came over to sniff the ground as well to see Sun's scent that was lingering. Humans bustled around on the other side the trees, yelling and shouting at each other, loading and unloading the trucks around them. Freddy growled deeply at them, though it was softer so the flight wouldn't get caught.

"Get those dragons loaded up, we need to move!" 

"Leave the dead ones!"

"No! Big in the back with hatchlings on top."

"Load up the supplies! Hurry!"

One of the men stepped up to the truck, he wasn't doing anything. "If you didn't lose the most valuable asset we had, we wouldn't be leaving."

"Sorry sir."

Ellen came out of the truck. "I delivered what I was told to. Where's my cut?"

The leader seemed to regard her like a pest. "The money should be wired into your account by morning. Then you can pay that stupid medical debt you wanted to."

"My mother's cancer treatment." 

"Whatever." the Leader starts walking away, "I heard you lost all your dragons."

Ellen grimaced. "Unfortunately."

"Then you are of no use to me anymore." In one quick motion, he brought out his gun, shot her, and turned back to his men. "Feed what you can to the dragons."

The men only glanced at each other once before quickly doing what was asked of them...so they didn't end up like Ellen.

Moon scoffed at the humans. All humans regarded life as less than what it is. Life should only be taken for nutrients. Not just because of hatred or because you could. Yes, in nature, life is taken other than just for food. Males will kill the offspring of another if they win over the flight and useless stuff like that. But humans? They were different. No one ate the other for food. No one took the family as theirs's when they win a fight or anything. Just because of hatred.... Humans were creepy creatures that was for sure.

Lunar rumbled, point off into the trees away from the compound. Sun's scent went that way. Silently, the flight walked through the woods without getting the human's attention. Thankfully. Sun's scent wasn't as strong, but it was there, leading them off towards where Sun was. The humans must have moved Sun already. Moon took lead as they all followed him through the trees and bush towards wherever Sun was going to be in the end. Solar and Jack were behind him. Monty, Earth, and Lunar were following and the rest made up the end. They were all quick and silent. 

Before long, they ended up at a small cave filled with Sun's scent and four hatchlings' scent. Freddy and Roxy cooed to each other as they put down their charge on the stone floor. It was getting late in the day. So, they rested there. Filled with their flightmate's scent. Moon took it all in. Breathing deeply with his nostrils before exhaling the stagnant scent that was Sun, Moon settled at the entrance to look up at the dusking sky. Solar and Jack settled next to him as did Lunar and Earth. Freddy, Roxy, Monty, and Chica along with Cassie were curled up a little aways. They traveled so long already and have gotten nowhere. How come did it feel like they were nowhere close to Sun and his position? Was he safe wherever he was? Did he make it out alive? 

Was Sun doing okay without him?

The morning brought new dangers. Humans were combing through the woods with their guns held high. They were safe in the cave it seemed, but they had to wait forever for them to leave. The dragons were getting hungry too. They needed food and water before setting off on their journey again. Once the humans clearly left, and by their scent, they were going the same way Sun went and the same way they were going. Moon growled. Just what were they up to?

Moon followed the others, begrudgingly, to the river nearby for all their needs. He took a grateful gulp of the cooling liquid, letting the extra fall off his snout and back into the water. His head looked around the area to see where they were going. Looks more like mountains and forest rather than the plains and woods that Moon used to live in before he was caught by humans. After a while of drinking, Moon decided food would help him find Sun faster. So while the others struggled to catch the fish swimming in the water, Moon effortlessly bit one and breached the surface. He ate slowly...with a lot of begging eyes watching him eat. 

The Moon dragon sighs before tossing the remains back into the water before diving back in himself. He swam around until he found the target, eyes locked onto the darting form, his snout snapped around its body, then he breached the surface. With a final chomp, he killed the fish and tossed it to the shore. Cassie got to eat first while the others waited. He repeated the chore a few more times before Jack had caught one that he happily ate then dove back in to try and get one for Solar. Solar whine his appreciation at his son's attempts. Moon had been surprised when he was told the story. Solar had found the small Moon hybrid all alone after he had escaped from the humans. After a while of staying together, Solar just sort of adopted him.

Finishing up fishing, Moon shook off the water on his back and let himself air dry while he waited for the others to eat their catches. He was anxious to get back to hunting down Sun and his small flight of hatchlings. Solar and Jack argued over what to do with the fish bones while Freddy helped Roxy clean up after her and Cassie. It was a dream scene if you asked him. Family, love, partners, dinnertime. It was something Moon had only had before being captured by humans. And something he had wished to one day experience with Sun in the future when they got free. He was saddened when he realized the first time wasn't with Sun at all, the domestic fluff he wanted so bad. 

Sun, Moon was coming for you, don't worry.

Chapter Text

Moon and his flight continued to follow Sun's trail. Towards the end of the trail, where Sun's scent mixed with more dragons. He roared, unhappily, into the air as he flew in place. The others circled him, begging him to make a move to try anything. But that roar got the attention of the flight leader. That dragon shoots out from the thick trees to spread his wings wide in a display of dominance and aggression. He flew to a stop in front of the small flight and rumbled deeply. The leader flicked his ears around, flapping his wings cautiously, then let his tail straighten all. All movements were a clear sign of friendship...which was odd for a leader of a different flight to do to another dragon not in their flight.

Moon's nose twitched as he smelled the faint smell of what is he knows is SUN! 

He chirps and rumbles. Trying to get where he can find Sun from the strange dragon. The leader cocked his head at the lunar dragon, trying to get a sense of what was being asked of him. But once he really got a look at the group of dragons, he realized what was Moon wanted. He chirped out a short friendly rumble to follow him and dove towards the treetops as he burst through to land on the ground. Moon quickly followed, leading the way for the rest of them. Moon looked up as everyone else landed near him. Freddy looked at the other dragon, noting similarities. They had to be similar dragon types.

The leader took them up near a mountain with hot springs heating up the area. When the small, in comparison, flight poked their heads out of the trees, they all stared in shock. So many different dragons and hybrid dragons ran about with each other. One solar dragon hybrid roared as three small hatchlings rumbled following him. One blue dragon drooled over a white dragon. Two white fox like dragons playfully chased each other. One light blue dragon with longer ears, which is nicknamed as a Bunny dragon for it, perked up at their presence, chirping to his leader. The leader shakes the tension off, wings spread a big. Every dragon stops what they are doing and looks at the small flight standing at the edge of the trees.

Suddenly, a small hatchling attacks Freddy. He nuzzles and rumbles and chirps at him. It was Gregory!! Every dragon in the small flight chirped at him, even Moon who would later deny he did. Cassie and Gregory tugged at each other's ears in happiness from seeing each other after so long. Roxy rumbles in greeting to Gregory who nuzzled her just a bit before realizing that he was missing someone, chirping off to the side where Frankie stood waiting. Freddy and Roxy glanced at each other then at Frankie who was still standing a little away from the flight. Monty rumbled a warning but remained quiet after Freddy shot him a look. 

Moon looked around, if Gregory was here, didn't that mean that Sun was around here as well? He rumbled deeply into the air to see if he could get a response from his partner in crime. There was no response. He tried again. Still nothing. Did something happen to him while Moon was away, unable to defend the weaker dragon against dangers? Did the humans get to him? Why wasn't he responding to his call? Where was Sun?! Moon roared even louder this time.

~~~~

Sun and Molten had taken to a hike through the woods early that morning. As they made their way through the large flight, he nearly gasped. It was MOON! He raced through the other dragons snorting and hissing at each other. His wings flapped happily, hitting other dragons in the process. He pounced on top of his Moon, nuzzling and vibrating in his skin. Moon found him. He knew Moon would find him. Moon was the smart one after all. Sun rumbled happily as he rubbed himself on the...unfamiliar scent? He looked up at the lunar dragon. He looked like Moon. His markings and scale placement were the same. His build was the same. He looked exactly like his Moon, but he didn't smell like his Moon. Not to mention, he was looking at Sun with unease. 

Molten snorted.

Sun quickly went to Molten's side to get a full look at the lunar dragon standing in front of him. God, he looked identical to Moon. The strange dragon offered a kind display of his wings. They flapped and folded back up calmly, clearly showing that he was friendly and liked meeting new people. His tail swished behind him. Molten silently sat back to let this happen. The lunar dragon seemed kind enough to be friends with, maybe even more. Sun hesitantly displayed his wings to allow the friendly lunar dragon to know he was sorry and happy to meet him. All dragon communications involved rumbles and body language that mostly showed their wings.

Molten and Sun asked the new dragon, named Nexus, to come with them on their long trek around the forest floor. Something that Molten and Nexus found odd since most dragons could fly. Yet, the new found land journey was clearly something new to them. They liked seeing the world in a new way. It gave Molten something to look forward to, something to relate to. It was as if they were given a precious metal or something of the sorts that they now could look at in a new way. For Molten, it was a gift that no one had ever given him. His DNA filled with so much other dragons that even he didn't know what he was, yet having this made it more bearable. It was just what the two of them needed. A friend and a brother and a new way to see life.

Molten perked up when they were about a klick from the flight territory. He shakes his head then turns towards Sun and Nexus. They were very far from the hot springs, too far to care about whatever was going on there unless it was an emergency. Molten leads them further into the forest, further away from the flight. They were on a journey to find themselves. Sun did feel bad that he had yet to figure out if he should go find Moon but he...was uncertain of where to go. Which way was the reserve? How would he get to Moon anyways? He was no fighter and barely wanted to fight either.

Nexus nuzzled against Sun as they walked. He liked him. He liked Molten. He liked being here.

~~~~~

Moon flopped down where he was. If Sun wasn't here, then where was he? He looked at where everyone had dispersed to after he realized that Sun would never answer. Freddy and the leader were off talking to each other, seemingly fond of each other. Roxy and the kids were off playing with the other children, the ones who had been following the Sun hybrid dragon and the ones Sun saved. Chica had found a new friend in some white foxlike dragon. Monty didn't stray too far from staring at Moon's sister, Earth. He would drool over her...a lot. Moon both found it endearing and annoying. That was his sister, even if he didn't know her very well.

Solar, Lunar, Jack, Earth, (and Monty) stayed near Moon, waiting for him to decide on what to do now that Sun wasn't here. Why did he miss Sun so much?! He was the smart one. He shouldn't be all moody just because one dragon was gone from his little flight. Solar rumbled at him. He was right, this was no time to be depressed. Sun couldn't fly, and since the hatchlings were here, then he must have not gone too far from here. With their wings, they can make it faster to him. 

Moon chirped at his flight. The ones next to him prepared to leave but the others looked exhausted at him. Chica and Roxy both snorted. Freddy rumbled. Greogry and Cassie hid themselves between the elder's legs. Moon sighs in the way that only dragons do as he looked down at the ground. Maybe he should go alone. If the others were tired, then so was his family. He wouldn't ask them to continue, couldn't ask them to. He needed to find Sun too.

He looked at his family in the eyes....then was tackled to the ground by a yellow blur. It rubbed at him, nuzzled against him, chirped, hissed, and anything just to be near him. Moon growled at the attacker until he recognized who it was. Sun! The two started nuzzling each other, licking across each other's scales. Whines and chirps. The other dragons rumbled in happiness too, even the ones who didn't really know the two of them. It was always a good moment for every dragon when soulmates returned together. One of the dragons growled deeply, though. Sun had an idea of who it was and the Solar Dragon who had the kids following him.

Sun licked across Moon's head, grooming near his horns.

Moon purred. Then he remembered his family. They were waiting patiently for the two to be done before coming over to nuzzle one another in a big pile. Jack had been first. He had bounced on top of Sun, little claws digging into his skin, but it wasn't unpleasant. Next was Lunar. He cautiously nuzzled against Sun's snout, having to stand on his hind legs just to reach high enough, and Sun had to bend a little to help him. Next was Earth. She developed him into a bone crushing hug, arms wrapping around him as well as her wings. Sun purred nervously to thank her. Finaly, it was Solar's turn. He rumbled then sat down. That was it.

Then Sun bounced off towards where two dragons were watching the scene unfold. One was a dragon that looked very wrong. His body looked like he was skin and bones. Though, as odd as that dragon was, it was the one next to him that scared everyone there. He looked identical to Moon! Moon didn't know if he should growl or see if it would mirror his movements. He stood over Sun to protect him from whatever trick this was. Sun pushed him off of himself, going to stand in front of the two odd dragons. Moon whines at Sun. He didn't understand what is going on.

Sun rubs his body between the two dragons before wrapping his wings over their taller backs as if he were holding them to his side. He showed his dragon teeth in a resemblance of a draconic smile. Moon realized what Sun was asking of him. Sun wanted to bring the two into their flight, adding to the already growing family. He looked towards his family behind him then to the dragons surrounding them, including his old flight. Moon realized that his old flight was not going to leave this hot spring. Freddy, Roxy, and Chica were all in a new group of dragons. Only Monty seemed to be with him.

So, what's adding in two other dragons?

Moon sighed, nodding his head. Sun returned the affirmation with a lick on his snout, nuzzling his head against Moon's. The other dragons all came to investigate the two new ones now that their unspoken leader agreed to let them in. Nexus and Solar seemed to get along well too. They rumbled and chirped in conversation for hours it seemed. Moon, not that he would say, felt a tinge of jealousy at that. Everyone was getting along with Nexus it seemed. Lunar, Earth, even Jack. Only Monty didn't seem too keen on the new Moon. Nexus was not Moon, but he looked like him and had similarities to him.

And Sun seemed to like him more than Moon, which made Moon mad.

Chapter Text

Moon begged Sun to leave the hot springs. He didn't need such a big flight to feel safe. He had his family and his flight. They could finally leave together and create a new home wherever they wanted. His wings beat the air around Sun as he lazed in a hot spring with Molten on his side and Solar sinking in on the other. Moon shot Solar a glare of annoyance as he ignored the protests of his older brother. He huffed, sitting down in front of the pool, grumbling to himself. He looked around the area some more just to distract himself while Sun and the rest do whatever they want. He didn't understand why Sun didn't want to leave.

Sitting a few yards away, watching them with a tilted head, was that solar lookalike dragon that the children followed. The coloring was switched though, not that he was observing him himself. Moon showed his teeth and flapped his wings a bit to tell that dragon that he meant business. That dragon only grinned in that dragon like way at him. Moon shakes his head before looking back down at Sun who only had his head out of the hot springs, resting it on the edge with his eyes closed. He looked...peaceful. Moon laid down to put his head near Sun just to tell him that he still loved him.

Sun let out a puff of smoke from his nostrils, leaning his head against Moon's. 

Moon let his eyes wander a little away where Monty was showing off how long and thin his wings were to Earth. They flapped and wiggled, moved and pumped the air. He snickered at the thought of Monty courting the younger female dragon, his sister. Though, he hoped they make each other happy if his sister did accept his courting display. And from the sight of it, Earth's eyes never left Monty's bulky form. Moon paused as he thought about himself. It was tradition that the males courted the females with a display of horns and wings. But he never courted Sun, he just told him that they were together. Did Sun want him to court him like he was a female? Did that insult his pride as a male? Would any of it matter since both were males?

The moon dragon stood up when he heard the coming heavy footsteps of another dragon. When he turned to see who it was, the Copy Cat Dragon, as Moon started calling him, had been coming over to them. His tail slowly dragged behind him, creating a small crease in the dirt as he came to them. He chirped softly at Sun who responded by chirping himself which pissed off Moon. He didn't like that this Copy Cat Dragon was interfering with his flight, making a move on his Sun. HIS! In irritation and anger, he snapped his teeth at Nexus, a few inches from his shoulder. Sun immediately growled at Moon for being rude and stood from the hot spring. Instead of comforting Moon, like a mated pair should, he went to Nexus and checked on him.

This stupidly huge flight has ruined his Sun.

Then it hurt more when Sun went off with Nexus. Moon stood there with a hurt look in his eyes, drooped ears, and a very still limp tail. Even his wings were sagging to the dirt rather than pulled to his side like they should have been. He watched them leave together for longer than they stayed in view. His heart sunk deep into his chest. A single thought filled his mind. What if Nexus wasn't a good guy? Would this Copy Cat Dragon try to hurt his family? He finally had his family back. His brothers and sister. He sat down right there, defeated. Solar rumbled as he got out of the hot spring himself to settle himself near Moon. He glanced at Moon. Moon glanced at him.

Solar shakes his head, getting up to find his son. Leaving Moon alone with Molten. Another problem he had to deal with as it seemed Sun liked to take in strays, mutts in need of homes. Molten only remained where he was until Moon finally left himself. Moon didn't understand why Sun needed to be here. He thought Sun would be happy they came to find him...and he was. He was happy, but then it seemed like he had another thought cross his small brain that stopped him from reaching out to Moon again. And Moon believed that thought was Nexus. He had to be the reason they were so...what were they?

Moon had thought he and Sun were partners. Sun calmed him down in ways no one else could, kept his thoughts at bay. They completed each other! But now? He wasn't so sure. Moon never courted Sun. Moon barely caught dinner or the two of them to share. He still sought Sun out when they were in need or depressed or something like that. Comforted his wounds. Soothed the missing scales. Did that really make them mated? Or just regular flight mates? In a world that seemed so crushing, it felt more like love. Now, what did Moon feel about Sun? God, what was he thinking?! He loves Sun. He loved...

That solar look alike stepped in front of his path, claws digging a bit into the dirt under them. He growled deeply at Moon. Yet, Moon could tell there was no real threat there. He was simply a guarded dragon with lifetime of wounds that blocked his heart from new members. Moon only felt pity for him. Just when Moon was going to respond, a couple of regular dragon hatchlings popped up and started attacking the dragon's legs. He barked at them harshly, nipping roughly before leaving Moon to get away from the sharp hatchling teeth with a huff. He was a strange fellow.

Sun, on the other hand, curled up on a warm rock closer to the top of the mountain the flight rests near. Nexus had wanted to show him a good resting spot. He felt bad that Nexus was being tried as an enemy by Moon. Sun really liked the strangely similar dragon. He wasn't as...harsh as Moon is. Not that Moon was bad. He just was often by himself, or nagging someone else. Not really present unless something bad happened. Or that he caught Sun picking at his scales.

Originally, Sun had been on board on leaving the area as soon as possible. The flight was too big for his liking anyways. Then Moon protested against bringing Nexus and Molten. It was like Sun was seeing a different dragon. This Moon was more calm, less anxious, less irritated. This Moon was distant and often kept his head on a swivel as he laid near Sun. The old Moon, yeah, he had a problem with being romantic and loving but it didn't matter because they were together. It just seemed like they were only together because, at the time, there was no getting out. No one else to fill the void he had in his heart. 

Moon had lost his family, or so he thought, and went downhill after that. Attacking others and being aggressive. He calmed down when he met Sun, but was that even the right move? Did being together seem like a chore? Was it still something Moon wanted? He didn't sit as close to him as before. Only touched him when he wanted Sun to feel loved still or to try to get back on his good side. It didn't feel like the same Moon as before. This moon was different. Sun loves the Moon who held him through the nightmares and caught him a fish to eat when he was down. He didn't care that Moon wasn't a great partner because he had been when he was really needed. Even when he looked down on him for being weaker. Sun was not weak.

The problem was Nexus.

Nexus had been exactly what a partner was supposed to be like. He was kind, caring and loving. He helped hatchlings who got stuck climbing trees. He took Sun to different stops to relax and just be...Sun. There wasn't a pressure to perform as there was with Moon. Nexus even had gone out to catch him lunch today which made Moon more mad at the dragon. The thing was that Nexus caught everyone fish including Moon. The two just seemed to butt heads. Despite everything Nexus was still trying to get on Moon's good side. He really didn't care about how similar they were. 

Speaking of Nexus, the moon dragon huffed at him in question. He displayed his wings a bit before letting them spread out on either side of him and Sun got the hint. He copied Nexus to a 'T' and let his broken wings spread out. And when the sun hit the leathery material, Sun sunk into the rock below him. It was perfect. Nexus huffed out a laugh, closing his eyes. Sun slowly followed suit as they drifted into a peaceful nap whose soundtrack was the birds singing overhead and the gentle flowing water a little bit away. Together the two dozed the afternoon away until the sun started sinking in the sky. 

Together, Sun and Nexus headed back to the flight grounds. They steps syncing up as they chided to each other about their pasts. Sun found out that Nexus was also from a dragon training area where a bunch of others like him were. Molten had been one, too, in a different part. Then Golden Freddy came to free them all and here they were. Nexus said that when he first got here, Eclipse, the solar look alike, had nearly killed him for looking like a moon dragon. Eclipse had been severely mistreated by the humans so much that he now had a bad habit of just going mental on newcomers. Thankfully, the hatchlings who had no parents of their own took him as their adopted dad...which was admittedly pretty cute.

Nexus stretched his wings out, showcasing the light rips and tears at the end to Sun. Sun sat calmly as he just took it all in. Nexus flapped them a few times to prove they were still good before lowering his head to show his horns. There had been a scar from when he got hurt and the humans treated him. There were so many different...issues they had from humans but now they were free and living with the protection of the world's largest flight. And Freddy and Golden Freddy, two brothers ruled the flight with kindness and compassion. There was no fighting, no aggression unless provoked. Freddy took to managing the flight while Golden was the one who patrolled the lands in search of dangers hidden to the eye.

Unbeknownst to Sun or Nexus, Moon had come to talk to Sun when he saw them. He saw Nexus display his wings, puff out his chest, even offer a closer look at his horns. Nexus was courting Sun...and deep down, Moon didn't care. He didn't feel jealousy or possessiveness. He didn't feel the need to go stake his claim on Sun right then and there, as he should have done so many years ago. In his mind, he just hoped that Nexus liked Sun more than Moon did. Yet, Moon didn't know how to process those feelings. He had always been helped by Sun, grooming sessions, lunch time, late night rubbing that ended when Moon didn't miss his family as much. So much that he felt bad that he didn't feel anything when he saw them together. 

Or maybe, it was because Sun was staring so intently at the courting display that he couldn't feel bad. Anyone would make a better partner than Moon did. So, instead of going towards them, Moon left to find his flight.

Chapter Text

Sun was up early the next day. He decided that Moon was right, they were ready to leave, but he still wanted Nexus and Molten to come with them. He would beg if he needed to allow them to come. He searched the hot springs area first. It was normally where Solar stayed since he was enjoying the steam and water a lot and Earth did as well. Monty followed Earth anywhere, so they were all going to be together. Jack probably was off on his own with some of the other kids hanging around. Solar could round him up when it was time though, so Sun wasn't that worried about it.

His claws dug into the dirt was he looked around. No one save for members of the flight. Sun turned around to search elsewhere...they could be at the river getting breakfast or still sleeping on the outskirts of the flight's territory. He yawned, moving towards the river to get himself breakfast as well. The sun dragon shook his head free of the anxiety as he quickly made his way towards the outskirts just in case they were sleeping in a big pile without him for some reason. He ran into Molten and Nexus as they were talking together not far from the edge of the territory. They followed behind him as it appeared he was in a hurry. He chirped out what he was doing so they weren't too worried about him. 

Sun skid to a stop at the edge. Their smell was faint and still fading, but the physical bodies of the dragons in question. He sniffed around the area to see which way they went...only they went up. A place he will never get to follow. He looked up at the sky. Where was Moon and the rest of the flight? Where did they go without him? Molten and Nexus chirped behind him, nosing his sides to get his attention and check up on him. Sun turned to look at them before chirping worriedly that he can't find Moon or the others. The two side glanced each other. He could see it; the two of them were confused on his worries.

Sun rumbled, deep in his chest as he started picking at his scales.

Nexus tried to pry him away from the action, claws gently pulling him apart. Then he licked the wound for Sun. Molten also came over to nuzzle his head together with Sun's in a comforting gesture. Sun hung his head. He wanted to cry, to lash out, to do anything but stay where he was. So, he did. He slowly stood up, tail and ears limp, as he trudged away from Molten and Nexus. Away from the largest flight he had ever gotten to see. Away from a place he didn't know he hated as much until he was here. Alone, abandoned, lonely.

His claws crunched over leaves and fallen branches. His wings felt heavy as he just let them droop against his sides to drag on the ground. It snagged and ripped at the sensitive leathery material, but he didn't care about the twinges of pain. Not like he would ever get to fly anyway. He was the only Sun Dragon not to be able to fly towards the sun like he should be able to. Not by his own neglect but by man's greed. All his problems were from humans. His loneliness. His treatment. His anxiety. Everything little thing.

"Please! Stop! I was only walking through!" A human's scared, frightened, voice screamed from somewhere in front of him. 

Sun looked back at the way he had come from then at the direction of the voice. It was still screaming so he went to investigate what was going on and why it was loud. After a minute, he came to see humans he knew all too well. Daniel and Mark were cowering against a tree. Daniel had placed himself in front of the younger human as if he was protecting him from the attacker. And the attacker was a full grown, older, full-blooded Sun Dragon. His teeth sharp and long bared at the humans. His claws so long that they bent even as they dug slightly into the dirt from his weight. Beautiful, widespread wings at full display in anger as he appeared bigger than he was...and he was already really huge. A full crown of horns adorned his head, looking more like a crown than Sun's ray like one. Yet, none of that was what caught his attention. 

He looked somewhat like Sun... but a lot like Moon. 

This Sun Dragon swiped a furious claw at the humans who cowered against each other. "Please!"

Sun's body moved on his own. His legs skidded to a stop in front of the humans, protecting them with his bulk, teeth bared as well. His wings pumped the air a little in warning, ears perked up and tail thrashing. His claws dug into the dirt as he grumbled loudly at the other dragon. At the sight of Sun, the Sun Dragon paused. He snorted, backing up a little, rumbling deep in his chest with confusion. Puffs of smoke filtered out of his nostrils before he shook his head. Sun responded with a determined claw stamp. The Sun Dragon's wings pump then folded to his side before he finally looked deep into Sun's blue eyes. He was a good head taller than Sun.

"Sun?" Daniel cautiously asked, peeking out from his side.

Sun looked back, nodded once then kept his eyes on the enemy. 

The Sun Dragon wasted no time in flying away with a few heavy beats of his large wings leaving Sun with his two humans. Once he was certain that the dragon wasn't coming back, he turned to face the humans. They had stopped cowering together and moved to start inspecting Sun's condition. They each had a huge toothy grin spread across their flat faces. Daniel whistled lowly as he took the sight of Sun in and Mark clapped his hands. The two humans came to a stop in front of Sun, looking up at him unlike they had ever done before.

Daniel cleared his throat. "I'm so glad you are alive. We raided the place the traders took you, but you were gone."

"Yeah! We thought the worst. Then we caught broken whispers of dragons hanging around here...but no such luck." Mark continued.

"Not completely true, that Sun dragon swooped down out of nowhere and attacked us. Then you appeared." 

Sun had no clue what humans squeaked about in their high voices, but he assumed they were just happy to see him. He could pick out a few words that was repeated often, but nothing concrete. He blinked down at them as they continued to speak about whatever they wanted to now that they were safe and sound with their dragon friend.

Daniel adjusted his green vest, "Now, we are Dragon Researchers! People that strictly observe but not interfere. We lost our other jobs, but the government thought we were useful still so....here we are!"

"And I love this so much more. Dragons in their natural habitat." Mark grinned up at Sun.

"Well, guess we talked your ears off enough. Thank you for saving us Sun and take care out there." Daniel waved bye, dragging mark by his jacket away and out of the small clearing.

Sun snorted. Humans were weird creatures. Vile, crude, mean, but weirdly nice in some ways too. 

No sooner than the sight of the humans disappeared into the thicket did the Sun Dragon land back down again. He bowed his head down, tail slowly wagging. He displayed his wings in a pacifying gesture. Sun lets out a puff of his smoke from his nose. The Sun Dragon's nose twitched once...twice...thrice...then he shot up excitedly. His wings flapping happily, rumbling loudly, tail thrashing. He nearly leaped around in his spot. Sun tilted his head at the odd dragon. The Sun Dragon stopped moving to see what Sun was doing which was nothing. He rumbled at Sun to get his attention.

Sun had never been with any other Sun Dragons to know if this was an odd behavior or just a Sun Dragon thing. Should he have done the same thing and prance around as if he was excited to see the older dragon? Or should he try to escape now before the fighting happened? He knew Sun Dragons liked to use their horns as a fighting method. When it seemed that Sun was taking too long to answer him back the older dragon used a claw to point to his nose. So, Sun, guessing that meant he should sniff, did a test sniff. Something like burning fire and ozone. Then a flood of familiar scents hit him.

This was...his father!

The brighter yellow, younger Sun Dragon's claws tippy tapped on the ground before the two crashed together in a dragon hug. They rubbed and scented each other. Sun Dragon lightly clanked their horns together in a mock, playful attempt before wrapping his tail around Sun's leg. The two cuddled up together like they had never left and never will again. Sun chirped happily like a hatchling again. He didn't even know he had parents! He assumed the humans grew him in a lab. Sun's tail thumped against the ground, jiggling some leaves and dirt piles as he did so.

After a while, the older dragon pulled away and spread out his wings, indicating to fly. He took off before Sun could tell him that he couldn't fly. Sun could only watch as the dragon circles above him for a couple of minutes, roaring to get him going, before coming down to land in front of him again. Sun expanded his wings to show them to his...father! He liked knowing that. At the sight of his wings, there was a dark grumble from him. Sort of like he expected it but still felt anger build up inside him again. Red fire shot up and out of his mouth as he roared into the sky above. He snorted, coughed, then shook his head. His head coming to rest against Sun in a tender way.

Sun allowed the older dragon to wrap a wing and his tail around his body, pulling him into a dragon hug. It was a more tender one that the two of them both really needed. There was a hole in his heart that was slowly being filled up. Something that he forgot was there, didn't know it was there. A pain long forgotten that was now being brought to the light. A cup that was previously bone dry. He softly chirped to the older dragon. Sven. His name was Sven. A name he never got to know. A love he never got to experience. And now both their heart filled words came pouring out of them.

Sven apologized, over and over again. Telling Sun about how he spent years looking for him, his lost egg. Telling Sun how he had a family though they were also captured some time ago, lost to more humans. Told Sun just how much of a failure as the Leader of the flight he was. He couldn't protect his tiny yellow egg from poachers, couldn't protect his Lunar Mate from her untimely death...couldn't protect his three other hatchlings from being taken by the greedy humans. How he never stopped looking for any of his lost flightmates, lost family. It both made his heart hurt and feel hallow. He had three other siblings that he never met and never will. While they all grew up in the wilds of the trees, he was being trained to perform for humans. They will all know each other upon sight...and he will only walk right by them as if they were just another dragon.

Just what had he lost due to humans? He should have let Sven kill the humans, but he knew, deep down, that he could never allow that to happen.