Reject of the outcast, A New World to behold, by GoldenDiva

*In a world embroiled in bloodshed and lamentation, mixed with the vicious laughter of predators, one voice screamed out in sorrow. This voice came from the last source one'd expect. It was a succubus, who joined her lamentation with a mortal knight, a supposed worst enemy. Joined in marriage, they lashed out against the creator's cruel device ,to entertain herself with, monsters and humans killing each other forever, in a demented cycle.
*Not quite killing her, they managed to cripple the Chief God and consign her to her throne. Then, the two returned to earth, mixing the two primal powers, Spirit and Demonic energy to blanket the world in a purple haze, that would shatter away at the darkest frame of monsters.
*This is where this story begins.

~...~

*A damp forest, usually brimming in silence of the night, was broken by the panting sound of a lone man running through vines. What was he running from exactly? Well, this world is quite different from the one any would expect.
*This place was filled with dangerous creatures. Dragons, dogs, sea monsters, really anything that could easily kill a human. The worst part was the fact that they loved doing so. Eating their crunchy and chewy sinew was the best treat to them. This running man was trying to avoid such a fate, for behind him was a large black hellhound with flames spouting our of it's eyes, a giant ogre with a large bloodied horn and a splintered wood club. And the worst one...
*A dragon flying over all of them. Though this one was merely flying. It seems the dragon was toying with it's food. Of course, the man knew the dragon was not far, always watching, but he had no time to look up, lest he'd trip, as an ogre and a fiery hound ran after him, drooling and making disgusting noises.
*Alas, at one point, in the deepest woods, he did end up tripping in a vine, rolling a bit, only to end up backed on a tree, offering him the unwanted sight of his predators licking their jaws for the impending feast about to happen. The hound and ogre were this close, slowly walking to savor the fearing man. Yet, he had more of a hating look in his eyes. Perhaps this had to do with what he did before running here. Regardless, before they could look confused at each other, the dragon spewed fire on both of them, burning them both. Seems it wanted the human for itself.
*Landing over the two carcasses, the dragon walked over to the man, breathing flames from it's hulking nose. Taking a praying stance, the man gave away a prayer, sensing the end was nigh. Stepping back,the dragon was about to lunge at him to eat him, but then...a far beam of purple color flashed through the lands.
*This caught the dragon's attention as a haze of purple clouds were spreading throughout the skies. Panicked, it took to the sky, to try and get away. But, it was far too late! The haze focused on the dragon, a semblance of sentience, and threw it ground like an anchor attached to it's tail.
*Writhing in agony, the dragon let out a screech that prompted the man to cover his ears as the haze was swirling faster around it. And then, it flashed in a white/purple light as the dragon's enormous mass disappeared...
Instead, there was something else in the crater...
*It was much more human, so much that he looked at his own fingers, questioning if this was real. But, she still had scally wings, hands and feet. Her body was covered in scales. He looked at her, but a sense of dread filled his heart, for he knew it was till the same dragon who tried to eat him a while ago.
*Waking up in her crater, the dragon jumped up only to land on a tree, destroying it. She was filled with panic
"What is this? Why am I in the form of a frail mortal?" Then her gaze turned to the man she tried to kill before, as he hid behind the vines of the forest. Pointing her finger at him, she questioned him "Human, what have you done to me?" Of course, he didn't answer, his stare of hate lingering on her. "Human!!" she spat "I demand you answer me!"
*Clearly, he didn't feel like answering as he ran away, prompting her rage. "I'll kill you for this, foul mortal!" She began chasing him yet again, breaking through the trees and vines, getting ever closer to her prey. As he ran, the man whispered a few prayers in the palm of his hand, while the sky was collecting clouds, undetected by her, too focused on him.
*Catching up to him, the dragon slapped his feet with one of her wings, causing him to tumble toward another tree. He held his head in pain, still facing her with a gaze full of hatred. It seems that annoyed her, for she returned the same stare. Why would a mere man's stare annoy such a creature anyway?
*But, before she could do anything at all than returning spiteful looks, the sky bellowed lightning on the forest, which snapped her out of the stare. "What is this? Is that weird haze back?" she asked herself. It was not, for the lightning seemed directed at her, and unlike the haze, this was addressed to kill.
*She had to dance magnificently in her new body to avoid the strikes of lightning, just as her "prey" slowly stood up, his eyes beginning to crackle with grey lightning. While dancing, she noticed and saw he was the cause of the sudden thunder strikes "How dare you attack me in such a manner, human! First, you change me into one of your disgusting form, and now you have the guts to assault me?"
*He didn't answer as a very  large thunder bolt landed upon him, with a sun ray of grey light, lifting him up, while he stared at the skies themselves, the tears amidst the clouds. She stared in awe "What are you, human? How can you even do this?"
He didn't answer as armor began to mold around him. It was the armor of a war priest.
*Though this one was garbed in grey instead of the usual pure white. The dragon had seen warpriests before, but they usually wore white armor. Not this one. Of course the moment he landed from his sudden magic regain, she assaulted him "You will pay for turning me, human!" He didn't move, rather staring right at her, the same spiteful look that made her uneasy for some reason.
*But, the moment she could touch him, a warhammer fell out of the sky, knocking her back with a thunder clap. It was filled with mighty lightning, prompting him to pick it up. And he did, fully returning his strength before the chase. The dragon quickly got up from the blast, branding her claws before him and the two clashed...
*The fight lasted the whole day, but the priest felt like something was quite off. Many of the dragon's attacks that were supposed to be deadly, felt like they lost much of their muster. "A way to toy with me.." he presumed as he slowly but surely began taking advantage of that and finally defeated her at the end of the day.
*Standing near her broken body with his war hammer, the priest stared at her, with the same hateful stare, triggering her even as she couldn't move much "Why are you staring at me like this? Stop it, I will not be stared down by a mere human!" he didn't say anything and began walking away. But, he was stopped by the same voice "Wait, you're not leaving me like this, are you?" Usually, he would walk away, had it not been a change in her voice with those pleads. It was as if she wondered why he had attacked her so viciously. Alas, his good nature prompted him to walk back to her battered self. First joyous, the dragon immediately returns to her prideful self "So, you came back..."
*He used his blessed magic to cast a recovery spell upon her before he walked away. This time, he did not turn back. A shame, for he would be greeted by a peculiar spectacle: the dragon, making a face of sorrow, underneath that pride of her. At least, she could feel herself recover.
*The priest, with his armor repaired by magic, rested in a cave, staring at the fire, thinking about tomorrow. Now that he had a chance, perhaps...
His train of thought was disturbed by something landing before the entrance of the cave. It was her again. Before he could summon lightning at his hands, she swayed her hands "Wait, human. I didn't come here to fight."
*Of course, he didn't believe her and gathered lightning, much to her dismay "I told you I'm not here to attack you!" she said again. This time, for a reason yet to be seen, he didn't retaliate with a strike, though he summoned his war hammer at his side.
*She sat down at the opposite side of him, since he was not about to let her seat near him. Breathing heavily, she gathered her thoughts before declaring "I just wanted to thank you for healing me, human. But, don't think you'll get anything out of me."
As usual, he didn't answer, nor even acknowledged her words. She got furious "Stop ignoring me!" Those words got him to look at her and do a "You're welcome" gesture with his hand, still with a hostile stare. This prompted her to fly away with a "ugh" coming out of her mouth.
*He continued staring at the fire, waiting for tomorrow. The next day, with the first rays of light piercing the sky, the priest walked out of his cave, greeted by the same un-welcomed sight. The same dragon. Looks like she waited all night for him to wake up "You humans sure like being lazy it seems, what with the lateness of the day." She said that despite the fact that day was barely awakening. Regardless, he ignored her and walked off, much to her annoyance "Damn it, stop ignoring me. I'm following you from now on, so you better start showing some gratitude."
*The dragon wondered why was he ignoring her. She was somewhat insulted, for her new form had turned more than a dozen heads in their travels. Other explorers, warriors and even knights were breathless by her beauty and had a undeniable desire to take her as their own. Yet, not only did he feel nothing like that, but he also still stared at her with the same hate as the time before.
*This lack of desire from him and the hate seeping from his eyes really crippled her pride, often resulting in her spitting cutting words at him. Of course, he ignored them as well. But, despite this, he always treated her to worthy food for a dragon, even if he never ate besides her.
*At last, it seems the priest had arrived in destination. It was a city. Nothing spectacular at first, but it held something in the priest as he kneeled down to pray, only to be greeted by monsters. "No, my city is besieged by monsters!" He held a glow in his hand, lightning, and prepared to hurl it at the first monster he saw, thinking they were trying to kill the people here. This is when a good friend of his, seeing him about to hurl a bolt, ran in and waved "Jano, stop! This is not what you think." "So his name is Jona.." muttered the dragon as Jona looked at his friend. He stopped.
*But immediately picked it up once more when he saw a cow-like monster running behind him "Behind you!" he screamed while the holstaur stopped in fear at the man wielding lightning. By then, the dragon jumped in and redirected his shot elsewhere at the last second by pushing his arm "The hell is wrong with you? She doesn't look like a fighter in the least."
*His stare turned deadly as lightning struck him, forcing her back. "Jona, please. Let me explain" his friend pleaded, causing Jona to be somewhat calmer, although still charged with lightning.
*Escorted to his home, his friend spoke "Jona, you came back a bit later than usual. Did something happen?"
"Nothing serious, I just had a run-in with the dragon you see outside. But, do tell me, what happened here? Why are monsters here?"
"Well, Jona, a few hours after that purple haze, most of them became...different. Of course, as usual, our guards barricaded the entrance. But then, they did something none of us ever thought any of them would ever do."
"What was that certain thing?" Asked Jona, confused but stern at the same time. "Well, those who did come here asked to have a meeting with our city leader. While fearing, one of them threw a high rank sword over to our side while the one that looked like their leader jumped through. We panicked as our guards were getting ready to fight, but, to all our surprise, she lifted her hands in a surrender position."
"What!?" Stood up Jona, shocked at this, prompting his friend's wife to hide behind him. "Yea, not only did she surrender, but she said the following while picking up her sword:
"I come in the name of my kin, we want co-existance. I know all of the old wars and our demonic nature will prompt you to reject and try to kill us, but we regret every action ever commited to your kind. I know this will not suffice to earn your forgiveness, so in the name of my kin and all monsters around, as one of the primal leaders of our old world, I offer my life to take with no retributions."
"Really?" Asked Jona, doubting "Jona, you know I've never lied about things like those. I was there when it happened. She even gave the sword she used to kill so many of us in the old wars and lowered her head before our city leader, who trembled at the prospect of finally ending a nemesis. But, as I am sure, he was thinking about this situation, thinking this is something they would never do in eons. When our leader rose her sword in the air for the impending decapitation, he could hear her sniff a little. Most of us couldn't hear it, but he said she was lamenting about those futile years spent killing and blood-soaking this land. Of course, as you can imagine, the leader of our city ended up hitting the ground besides her, telling her that there was no way he could end the life of someone who felt the guilt of the very earth within her soul and that this world had changed anew. He then dissipated those who protested by summoning them to do take her live, see if they really thought about it. Of course,they didn't. Seeing this, this leader of theirs, up in tears of joy and regret, embraced our boss, asking to repent throughout her life at his side. And things happened and now, we are welcoming new citizens everyday, humans and monsters, since they help us expand this land."
"Does that mean you will live with them from now on?" Wondered Jona "Yes, my old friend and guard, seeing as most if not all of them turned their back on warmongering, I doubt we will need you to repel those monsters anymore." Confirmed the farmer, as Jona got up, a mixed feeling of relief and uncertitude.
Walking back to the exit door, Jona sheathed his warhammer, opening said door, only for his friend to put a hand on his shoulder "Jona, I know that look you're having, but believe me, they changed. I see you have it for the dragon lady, but let it go, she's changed as well. Jona didn't answer and continued walking away, much to the dismay of the old friend and his wife, shaking his head. "He's going to take a long to let us in, isn't he?" She asked him while leaning on his shoulder. "I think he might never see your kind in a different light" he replied.
As Jona walked away, so did the dragon followed, questioning him about his talks "So, Jona it is? What term did you discuss with the mother human?" Jona continued walking on, ignoring her question, which yet again prompted her to barrage him with insults and belittle -ling.
As they travelled, the dragon would go around while Jona didn't notice simply to ask those who know him about who he is and what he did. She found out that the reason he was garbed in grey armor and priest cloth was that he was an outcast priest, one who deserted the order after finding out that even back then, they made massive use of the folk as fodder to the old monsters. Apparently, he destroyed an entire base full of knights and soldiers that was about to march in an unclaimed town of humans for their resources
She also found that the reason he was so well known at the last town they visited is that he frequently went there time after time to defend them from order soldiers, the corrupt ones and the old monsters.
*The Dragon began feeling sympathy for the one she traveled with, however unable to get through his coarse exterior. But, now she knew where he was ultimately going. Far to the north, in a cold environment, there was a monastery, for war priests like him. However, inside this one in particular, there were many other priests that had contested the ruthless treatment of those in need. They were executed and now, Jona sought to destroy that rotted monastery and everything inside.
*Seeing as this incredibly dangerous journey was hidden to her by him, she entered a raged state for reasons she could not justify. Regardless, she did " Why did you not tell me of this, human? You know what would have happened had I left you after resting in that cave? Are you stupid, suicidal?" As usual, he did not answer.
This time, she got angrier that he ignored her so much and grabbed him by the collar to stare him deep in the eyes "Why are you not answering me, human? And why are you looking at me with this much hatred? What did I ever do to you? WHAT?"
Seeing the stare he looked at her with, a single tear begin falling from her cheek. "Why won't you talk to me?" She dropped her grasp on him and looked down as his look softened a bit before he resumed his pace to the ice monastery. With a bit of regret, she continued to follow while keeping a quiet demeanour.
Every night, the two would find a cave to rest, with Jona giving some of his food to the dragon lady. With a prideful attitude, she accepted every single one of them, having her trying to get close to this outcast priest. Every tine, he would move out, her pride hurt by this singular man's reject for reasons she never knew. And yet, she could never ask, for what use would it give? He never answered her in anyway, stuck in his mutism.
Soon making their way to the icy monastery, Jona found out that it was empty.  Deserted as it was, signs of broken weapons all around let him to figure out that others, possibly humans have thought of the same thing. However, the dragon, not knowing of what transpired here, asked "What happened here?" "People got tired of them" Jona replied. "Wait, you humans fought each other as well? Just like us?" "Yes, it was complicated, just like your kind".
"What now?" Jona walked inside, and searched every corner inside to see if anyone was still caught inside and found no one. Relieved, he walked out under the stare of a confused dragon and turned to face the shadow of the monastery. Taking a hand in the air, he screamed a thunderous voice, summoning his warhammer. Then, taking a throwing stance, he hurled it at the doors of the entrance, causing a cataclysmic ray of thunder to fall down upon the monastery, breaking it piece by piece until the whole place got rended down.
The dragon lady watched in awe at the amount the destruction a mere man could employ. That awe turned to question when Jona walked around the rubbles to find a graveyard. She followed him "What is this?"
Then, suddenly, he stopped before four tomb with stones on them. He kneeled down to pray for those four. The dragon kneeled down next to him "They were close people to you?" He looked at her, this time with a slightly sorrowful expression "They were my fellow uncorrupted priests that went out of their way to help the needy".
"How did they die then?" She asked bluntly. Lowering his head, he pointed at their tombstone. Squinting her eyes to read better, where it said "Men of virtue, they never slept or rested, knowing that someone in their city or vicinity would ever be in distraught. They died in the evacuation of the surrounding villages, cities and countries, fending off a dragon..."
Her eyes widened in utter shock as she read the last sentence over and over again 'died in the evacuation of surrounding villages, cities and countries, fending off a dragon'
'...fending off a dragon'
She turned to him, seeing Jona quietly weeping despite his stern expression. "I am so sorry." She expressed, wanting to offer him to weep in her arms. Of course, he didn't think she was sincere, but rather than staring angrily at her, Jona got up and walked away, much to her dismay as she wanted to get him to open up, with no way of knowing how.
They walked away from the ruins of this once gigantic monastery.  Ever since that impact, the dragon lady tried all sorts of things to make up for her kin's apparent murder of Jona's mentors and friends. Be it by offering food, acting as a scout to spot and wrench out immoral acts and often trying to offer her shoulder for him to lean upon. None of this worked as it seems like he's never let any of them in despite his intervention in many would-be co-existing villages.
One night, after taking another stare of distrust mixed with the desire to get on Jona's desire let to the point of a break out, something that happened countless times with the monsters ever since they gained their new forms, mostly due to remnants of the distrust around them. Seeing him come back from a good gathering in the middle of the night, she walked to him, her wings lowered while holding his warhammer. Before he could get hostile from this, she put it in his hands before kneeling down before him, causing his eyes to widen in surprised. "What are you doing? Get up, dragon!"
This time, she ignored him by shaking her head, her expression of pride withered away by constant distrust from the one before her "I wish to earn forgiveness from you, especially since I've realized that my kin had murdered those you cared for. I now realize that nothing I say will ever change your perception of dragons, and by that extend, me..." She began crying while grabbing on the hammer side of Jona's weapon putting it over her head. "If for you to change your perception on us monsters require you to have revenge against a reptile kind, then please....
Take my head..."
Jona looked down at her, his hammer over her forehead. He rose it, ready to strike, his long accumulated fury about to make itself blatant.
But, as he readied himself, his hands began shaking. It was no doubt his inner dilemma warring about striking her down for vengeance and sparring her because he had never struck down a defenceless one. Despite his attempt at remaining stoic, the inner conflict was brought outside as his expression turned into a split at one about to murder a defenceless creature against wreaking vengeance. Tears poured down his cheeks, not knowing what to do, if she really thought what she said...
Then, in the midst of this, the dragon lady spoke "It's funny that you are to end me like that...just like when I was about to do before. " Her face lifted to meet his, both with watery streams, hers of regret and apology, his of vengeance and imminent injustice "Back then, when you were cornered with me about to chomp you, I never really wanted to do so, even before I changed into this. I didn't understand at first, was it pity?"
Lightning crackled from the tip of the hammer as he lowered it,about to strike her, but not before she could utter these last words
"Then, I realized it was nothing about pity, nor toying..."
The hammer struck with a loud thunder resonance as a grey flash seeped from the cave they rested. The hammer, bludgeoned into something now hollow by the impact. The smoldering crater under the hammer, the body beside it, near the point zero of the strike, yet unharmed, save for a few small burns. She waited and waited, until she realized that the hammer was besides her and not moving from that spot. Looking up with her face still in tears, she could see the war priest, weeping on the hammer's handle, his face hidden by the smoke, his armor all collapsed around him
"I can't do this...I just can't." He lamented, now collapsing into a kneeling state. "What kind of vengeance would this be, killing an unharmed creature who offered her life to me. I would merely be staining their names..." Despite the smoke, the two could see eachother. She felt him looking back at her "You've earned your second chance, go now."
But she didn't move. He said it again "Didn't you hear me? I said go! Before I change my mind..."
This time, she shook her head in disagreement. "Priest, this is not what meant when I claimed I wanted a changed perspective from you."
"Perspective? I said that you won, that I won't hold any resentment against you or your kind anymore!"
"But...but...you'll be..." Jona saw a light rushing right at him, a mix of yellow and blue. Before he could react, he felt two scale hands embracing him firmly against a soft body despite the scales. "You'll be alone! Didn't you notice? The reason I've always been following you, trying so hard to change how you looked at us, hell any of that and more is because I wanted to claim you for myself!"
"I want to live with you at my side and be at yours. I see how much you hold within yourself. Please, I want to be the shoulder on which you can open yourself. Even if you are one of the first men I've seen ever since my change, I see what you go through all the time. I can't bear to see you go through all of it on your own. I just can't. I won't." She clutched him more against her, hoping her feelings would get to this man. It did...
For while always thought she accompagnied him out of obligation, this moment was way to obvious for him to deny any longer. At that moment, Jona failed to realize that those monsters,whatever the were may have never wanted to be the enemies of man  or any other creature. Whatever they used to be  was no  ore. And such, he clutched her back, enjoying the full scale of the hug, even though he felt the true pressure of her arms around him.
This time, she could no longer hold her crying and bawled on his shoulder, happy at last, that all of her insurmentable efforts to get a hold of the one she desperately sought as a worthy mate finally paid off. After said hug, they faced each other while Jona wiped a tear or two off her face while she did the same. Then the dragon lady yawned. Being who he is, he proposed her to go to sleep. "Good idea..." She said while leaning on his chest...only to sleep off.
"Hey! This is not what I meant by sleeping!" he complained, his face going as red as a tomato due to the fact that she rested her chest over his, their faces close to one another. Of course, being a new mamono, she didn't budge.
Sighing, Jona layed his back on the ground of the cave, with his soon-to-be bride gently sleeping on him as a much more sought source of heat, which was the warmth of her mate. As he began to be feel tired, he closed his eyes, he could see her being as red as a tomato, with no effort to hide it under the prideful expression, rather being a resting maiden. His resting maiden...