(Hello! I am back, and I'm trying a multichapter story, that I planned to have an ending! xD

I love the idea of an old story of dragon who kidnapped a princess, so I'm trying it, and guess, I really enjoy writing it! Yes! I'm all fired up!

Here is the prologue.) – Original note.

Now I am around chapter 24 and I am shocked with the amount of positive feedback and faves. This story evolved from something very simple into a cycle that will continue for a long while.

Therefore, with much more experience at writing, I will correct some typos and refresh the chapters to make TDP even more enjoyable.

It was winter. The white snow was eerily illuminated by the moonlight, the trees bare and leaving long shadows that looked like creepy monsters. The snow was thick and untouched by any animal or human alike – this place was empty. Nothing came here, nothing lived here.

And yet, she was there. A small girl barely the age of six was trekking through the white desert, her hair once a raven black, now changing color by the roots into cornflower blue. Her huge, brown eyes were scared and sad as she stubbornly walked forward, trying to find some source of warmth or food, even though she was already, just like every other human being that stepped here in winter, losing hope.

Her name was Levy. She was sick, but it wasn't because she was wearing rags and was cold; it wasn't a cold. It was a disease spreading through the whole city that made people's hair go white and then die. They chased her out of the capital, throwing stones at her so she won't get close. They treated her like a monster and told her to die.

It was many days ago. Now her hair was completely blue ad she was going to die.

But she didn't want to. She really didn't.

Few minutes later Levy noticed a faint movement before her, and heard light crumbling of snow so she focused on her road.

She saw something.

A black creature in a great distance that stared at her with shining red eyes. It looked at her, and then shot out of its hiding and lunged forward to escape.

Levy stood in the snow for few seconds, shocked by the sudden encounter. And then she did the first thing that came to her mind – she ran after it. She ran quickly, exhausting her small body to the limit but not stopping, her mind screaming 'SURVIVE!', because it was the only living thing other than her over here. She chased it's footsteps that were nothing like what she had ever seen before, and gave it her all, sometimes slipping and falling on her face, but continuing.

One of those times something happened. When she fell on her face into the snow there was a horrible screech and sound of a great mass falling, and when she brushed the cold dust out of her eyes, she saw two pitfalls with spikes at the bottom and dry bones underneath them on each side of her.

Her heart tightened in fear, and she let out something between a terrorized scream and agonizing wail, before she covered her face from the horrifying view and gripped the thin space between the two holes with her small arms and legs, signed with pawprints.

Something growled lightly before her and she lifted her eyes to see the weird animal before her. It was black, and it's eyes were gleaming like two garnets, but otherwise she didn't know much about animals – she wasn't taught about anything because her family was poor, and she lived in a city.

It was huge, scaly, had four legs with long silver claws, and two things attached to its back resembling hands - but the long fingers were connected with dark, brown skin, like those of a toad, and had long silver nails. It had a long tail with a huge metal gem at the end, long neck with something like a mane made from longer, sharp scales, and two bent, silver horns on its head, that covered it's ears.

It's head had also two lines of small horns on each side, two on its long snout and three above each garnet eye…

The creature was looking purely terrifying, but she wasn't scared. Actually, when her small body caught up to the amount of energy she just wasted, she stopped feeling anything. Her breath came out in small puffy pants and her cheeks flushed, strong shivers shaking her body one by one.

Was she going to die right now? She managed one more time to make the pitiful sound. The creature started to move, inching a little closer. Wasn't it running away just a while ago?

Levy opened her mouth and whispered weakly:

"I'm going to die."

And she did. At least she thought she did.

The creature, unknown to her, was a dragon. And even if she was being taught about animals she surely wouldn't know about dragons, because they were known to be rare, commonly extinct, even. (Their population was actually rather high.) They were living in such lifeless places wanting only not to be disturbed or robbed, collecting treasures and training to be powerful.

This dragon was named Gajeel.

And it was surprised. Shocked, even.

And intrigued.

He stared at the fainted child for few seconds and then rested lightly one clawed hand on her shoulder. Cold. The beast heard a faint heartbeat though, and decided that he could still take a little time wandering what to do.

It wasn't every day that he met a human child, and especially that it didn't run off screaming. He really had fun with running around and even showed her the way between his deadly traps, hoping to be chased further, but the little girl was overcome by fear, and now…

Only when he came closer he realized his mistake. Her shallow breathing, the sick blush on her cheeks, the hair color… And that confession right now… he felt guilty. His teenage pride took a deep blow, he decided, and growled lowly. He was having fun at the cost of a small dying child, for fuck's sake!

However, the dragon knew that his pride will be back if he'll help the kid… She was a little kid, so he thought of shrimps, small and pink-orange, and moving around. She wasn't pink, but gray, and she was laying down and shaking, but he decided that warmth may do something about that one.

The dragon caught the rag she was wearing with two of his claws, careful not to tear it. Turning around on his back, he lay her down on its belly covered with brown scales, before enveloping her in a dragon hug. He took a deep breath and let out a tiny stream of blue, magical fire that lit up the snow around them, keeping back the sharp metal shards that threatened to accompany it.

(In your face, Salamander…)

And then, he just lay there, listening to her heartbeat.

After two hours she was better. Her cheeks were still a deep shade of red, but her skin turned a light pink and her breathing was less frantic. He watched her as she twitched and opened one eye to stare at him.

Then she smiled a little and managed a faint "Hello.".

Gajeel, shell shocked, suddenly felt weird. Nobody had ever talked to him so casually, not once in his entire life. People that talked to him were praising him and speaking a bunch of other crap in fear of their lives, and his father Metalicana… Was… Talking to him like dragon father to a dragon son, obviously. He was still too young to drop the biggest honorifics to him, too, but he was too big to be happily singing them all to him, and every older dragon, that is why his speech was already sharpening when he was alone…

It was weird, because it was natural. Dropping curses and honorifics at the same time. Gajeel wanted to elaborate on the topic, but the Shrimp patted his nose and he realized he'd been zoning out.

Gajeel shook his head to focus, staring at the little girl, who pouted at being ignored.

"I said hello." She mumbled, sulking. The dragon stared for a second, before getting the hint he should answer.

"Hi."

"You helped me?" She asked, pointing to his scaly arms wrapped around her. Gajeel nodded, a bit eagerly even for himself, and winced, praying he did not look like a complete moron.

He should eat her.

Damn, he couldn't.

He was suddenly caught off guard when the girl placed both her small hands on his snout. He panicked a bit, not knowing how to react, and wondered again if eating her could really be a good idea to solve the problem, but in the end, he let her do it. Curiously, he wondered what she had on her mind, and was greatly surprised when she suddenly hugged his muzzle as strongly as she could, closing her eyes just as tightly.

Something happened right then, he could tell later.

Something weird.

In that small embrace, he felt… he felt nice.

Happy, even.

He decided he liked this little girl, he knew it, because she was different than all others. He even felt protective over her. He saved her life, and he felt responsible.

This is why he was shocked when she finally let him go and apologized, because she was going to die anyway. Not on the outside, no, he still looked the same, but on inside, he felt a cold sense of pain squeezing his heart.

This day didn't seem like his best one. First he's going out because he have enough of his father ordering him around, he almost kills a girl and loses his pride, becomes responsible of her, and now she says she's going to die anyway?

Damn it!

This was almost like some cheesy romance story! What was completely fucking wrong, because she was like, five, and he was 179 years old and a giant scaly beast!

"Why are you going to die?" He asked, trying to sound normal and not rather devastated.

The girl blinked, and grabbed a handful of her hair before tugging them forward.

"It's going to turn white." She explained. "And I will die. Every one of my friends did after it turned white."

Gajeel found out he didn't want her to die. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to get some information:

"Is there some way to stop it?"

And got a very unfortunate answer.

"A shooting star!" The girl raised her hands in the air, cheeks puffing out few seconds later as she pouted. "The doctor said it had to be a shooting star! I waited every night to see one and make a wish to be okay, but there was none…"

A miracle, huh. She needs a miracle.

Gajeel stared at her for some time, at her blue hair and brown eyes as she was curiously looking back. He wondered if he could help her, if it was possible. There was one possibility…

The little girl smiled in confusion, tilting her head to the side. She once again put her hands on his snout and caressed it softly. The dragon stiffened, and gave a light shudder at the pleasant feeling.

He will do it. He knew a way.

It concerned one of the dragons most important possessions – aside from pride, power, and knowledge. It was perhaps the most important one of them all, because it was…

The Dragon Pearl.

Dragon Pearl was a solidified gem made from dragon blood, resting inside a male dragons chest. Because it was made of blood, it gave the person it was given to: health, and a bit of protection - a tiny dose of magical power. It could be given to a person by the dragon really easily, but there were more problems with getting it back, what could mean the death of said person…

Pressing further into the possible danger, he started having second thoughts. Unfortunately though, or maybe fortunately? -The girl helped him to choose, because after he, once more, started debating with himself, she laid her blue head comfortably on the warm scales, and admitted:

"You know what? I think nobody would believe me that I met something as big… and warm… and nice as you, but I'll never, never forget this, not until I'll die."

Snapping out of his trance, Gajeel took a whole five seconds to understand that she was going to tell every living person that she'll meet, about him. Eyes widening, he rolled onto his side and let the Shrimp go swiftly, leaving her to roll in the snow while yelping, crouching before her when she stopped, cutting away the moonlight to make him a giant shadow looming over her threateningly. Levy wasn't impressed by the show, only bothered by the fact her bottom was now soaking with melting snow. Again.

"NO!" Gajeel shouted nervously "You can't talk to anyone about me!"

"But why?" Levy whined back, uncomprehending.

Because he was a big, evil, ruthless monster killing people?

"You just can't!"

"But why?"

"N-None of your business…" The dragon stuttered, irate and embarrassed seconds later, before taking a deep breath and admitting: "If… If you won't tell anyone, I may help you with your sickness."

Levy gasped, and her eyes started sparkling with love and affection.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"H-how?"

At that, Gajeel chuckled and focused the magical power in his chest, showing her exactly how. Something opened inside, and when he threw his head back and released a jet of dancing, sapphire flames, within them floated a huge, red-black shining pearl of a gem.

Growling lightly, the dragon commanded it to shrink until the previously massive and heavy object was the size of its sea counterpart. Levy outstretched a hand curiously as it started to slowly float down, and the pearl landed softly between her tiny fingers, gleaming at the contact.

Gajeel brought his head close to hers, and they stared together for a moment at the crimson gem.

Finally, he broke the silence, murmuring quietly.

"Swallow it." He instructed the child gently.

Levy turned her head at to look at him, surprised.

"What?"

"Swallow." Gajeel repeated.

"That… That's a bit disgusting." She answered, sounding uncertain.

"Just swallow."

"I-I don't know…"

"Swallow it, goddamn it! Otherwise, you won't get better at all, shrimp! Then you die, remember?"

That was it. He didn't like stubborn shrimps testing his patience. Glaring at her, he was surprised to see her glaring right back, one small foot up in the air before stomping the snow with frustration.

"Don't call me a Shrimp!" She shrieked.

That was her problem?

Fuming, he suddenly realized they were quickly rushing into an argument, and it snapped his jaws shut. He wasn't going to argue with a five year old.

Levy continued stomping the ground, but the movements slowly stopped when she met his indifferent expression. Few more seconds passed before the child hung her head. "I'm… I'm sorry."

He grunted and she again looked at the contents of her small, fisted hand. He watched from the corner of his eye as she brought it to her mouth, stopped with second thoughts, and then quickly stuffed it into her previously sealed lips, almost comically swallowing.

Turning his attention back to her, he saw her look down on herself, searching for any immediate result. She looked at her tiny feet, hands and palms closely, before tugging at few strands of her hair to her eyes and inspecting any color change… Before the little girl went still, her body bristled from her toes to the tip of her head, and she wobbled, soon collapsing straight into his scaly arms.

There, all over.

Gathering her up more comfortably, Gajeel outstretched his huge wings, the skin rippling as the appendages readied themselves for flight. Those were the mysterious 'hands' Levy saw on his back. Black on top, black and brown at the bottom. Perfect.

Getting up on his hind legs, he started with a mighty jump and waved once, with all his strength, capturing the wind and sailing swiftly on a comfortable height. The blue fire extinguished under the force of his wings as it took him further and further away.

During the flight, he was silent. Sometimes his eyes ventured down to the small human curled up between his joined hands - the sick blush on her cheeks was vanishing, but he guessed that her hair would always be blue.

It was… a pretty color.

Hours passed as he made his way above the dead landscape, the sun rising and reflecting on his black scales with an array of warm oranges and pinks.

Finally, just as Levy started tossing and turning with a small grimace, he spotted the village he was looking for. It was a rather big village, slowly changing into a town, and it went by the name of Magnolia.

Gajeel landed just before the gates and guard posts, and after a moment his body started to change, shortening and shrinking. He muttered: "Re-quip", and around his - now almost entirely human - body settled fine, warm clothes.

The dragon readjusted the small girl in his arms, and passed by the posts and walls of the city, slipping in though the slightly open door. Few drunks peeked at him in curiosity, stunned by his long hair, piercings on his face and the small girl in his arms, but he ignored them and kept moving.

The boy of seventeen years stopped before the mayor's house. He stared at the lights in the windows, still lit up at the break of dawn, and heard faint laughter. Smirking and chuckling, he made his way to the doorstep, crouched, and placed the Shrimp down, gently moving hair out of her face. She looked rather cute, sleeping like that. It seemed that her nightmare have passed.

Gajeel straightened and took a deep breath, before roughly knocking, turning around and… and basically running for his life. Changing back just as he exited Magnolia and soaring in the air above the empty posts, with mad laughter at the scheme, he aimed for the lone mountain in the distance where he lived with his father - too content with the current situation to care about the 'you stupid son' kind of talk awaiting him once he got back late.

If only he knew that the unnamed girl he saved will be the main source of his problems only few years in the future…

(Sorry if it's OC, but it's just the beginning. Next chapter have a huge Timeskip. Beware!

Tell me what you think about it! :D

Also, I appreciate ideas.

Review!

HeartGold12, over.

P.S. You guys can write me some requests for OSBRaO. If I'll have time, I'll consider writing what you guys would like.) – Original Note

P.P.S. I still accept requests. Actually, I haven't received even one. Ummmm… Huh.