Disclaimer: This story was written by a fan only for the enjoyment of other fans, without any monetary compensation. Gundam Wing and its characters are registered trademarks of Bandai Entertainment Inc.™ and Sotsu Agency. All rights reserved.

A big Thank You to KT who is taking time out of her busy schedule to help me proofread this story.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Prosperous Year of the Dragon!

恭喜發財

The Dragon King

Book 1- Of New Kings and New Friends

Chapter 1

"You are late, what took you so long?" The tall, tawny-haired man sitting by the fire, looked up as a second man, slightly younger looking and clad in the gray and blue garb of Galados' royal guard, stepped into the clearing.

"Your Highness, I really wish you would stop doing this," the newcomer complained as he dropped the saddle he was carrying onto the soft forest floor.

Treize raised one eyebrow while he held his hands up to the flickering flames. "Do what?" he asked in the most innocent voice he could muster.

The other man, tall slender and with long silvery tresses, stopped by the fire. His handsome face a mask of perfect calm, he replied: "Running off like this and leaving your escort behind; playing hide and seek with me in the forest… How am I supposed to protect you if you don't let me do my job?"

"If I don't get a chance to ride Epyon like that, every once in a while, both of us will become rusty," the king replied. "Besides, my dear Milliardo, we are in the heart of Galados, not to mention less than a few miles from the Dragon Shrine. I very much doubt that any enemy would be so bold as to try to attack me here."

The younger man's fists clenched for a brief moment. "And I wish you would stop calling me that, Your Highness. I left that name and everything connected to it behind when I joined your forces."

"I apologize," Treize respectfully inclined his head. "Old habits die slow I suppose. Now about playing 'hide and seek' with you as you put it… I knew that if anyone could keep up with me it would be you. After all, you are known as the fastest rider in the kingdom; that's one of the reasons why I appointed you my personal guard. You see, I have great confidence in your abilities. But I do wish you would feel the same about me. I was not born the day before I was crowned, you know. I went through the ranks and served in the royal guard just as you did, Zechs. And I still know how to use my sword to protect myself if need be."

Zechs' expression never changed even as he dropped his gaze. "I stand corrected, Your Highness."

"Zechs!" The tawny-haired man sighed. "I wasn't reprimanding you. Now sit down by the fire. And stop being so damn formal when we are alone." As much as he hated it he knew it was necessary to keep a certain degree of formality and propriety in public. But he wished that Zechs would try to relax a little as long as they were in private. I need you as my friend as much as I need you as my bodyguard.

Without another word Zechs settled down across the fire, and the king reclined in the grass. Propped onto his elbows he raised his head, looking up into the slowly darkening pre-dusk sky. Little white clouds drifted past lazily and the first streaks of crimson signaled the approaching sunset. "This brings back memories." Treize sighed again, but never clarified what kind of memories he was referring to as he watched the clouds.

"We should probably leave soon," his bodyguard suggested after a long moment of silence.

"Why? This is a perfect place to spend the night. We have a fire and water is nearby." Sitting back up he pointed toward a small clear lake just at the edge of the clearing.

"You are not suggesting that you want to spend the night out here, are you? The shrine is within walking distance, we can get there in no time."

"They don't expect us to arrive before tomorrow. It would be rude to show up early and without any warning."

"But…"

"No buts!" the king declared firmly. "The escort should catch up with us some time around mid-day tomorrow. We will join them then and head to the shrine together."

"What about supper? Neither you nor I have brought any food along." Zechs pointed out.

"Speak for yourself." Treize gestured at a dark bundle beneath the trees near his own saddle and gear. "Roasted venison sounds like a decent enough meal to me. And since I am already providing the meat and the fire," he added, his voice laced with humor. "I think it's only fair enough for you to prepare it."

The blonde almost snorted. He pushed himself up, rose to his feet and closed the distance to the slain deer in a few long strides. I don't believe it. I could barely catch up with him and he still found the time to go hunting? he mused in a mixture of amusement and annoyance, as he raised the animal's head by its antlers.

"It's not the most impressive one I have ever shot," Treize admitted with a shrug. "But I couldn't deny Epyon his share. Of course, he picked the larger one."

"It will do." Zechs replied as he dropped the deer and pulled off his riding gloves before reaching for his dagger. "If I didn't know any better I'd think you don't know how to skin a deer."

But of course, he DID know better. After all, it had been Treize, a young and dashing Dragon squire back then, who had taken him on his first hunt. He still remembered that day. After what seemed like an eternity of tracking, they had spotted a large stag grazing at the edge of a grain field. His hands were shaking so badly when he pulled his bow that his arrow missed its target, wounding the animal gravely but not killing it. The bleeding stag cried out and took a few leaps before Treize's own arrow finally found it and mercifully put it out of its misery. When Treize later showed him how to skin and cut up their kill, the smell of blood had nearly made him sick.

Things sure have changed since then, he thought with a tinge of bitterness. Now my hands are stained with more than just deer blood.

"What's wrong?" The sudden change in his bodyguard's expression didn't escape Treize.

"Nothing, I was just..." Shaking his head Zechs swallowed the rest of the sentence as he made a long but shallow cut down the deer's belly. "It's nothing."

The king watched wordlessly as the younger man prepared the meat and finally hung it over the crackling fire before settling down across it.

"Tomorrow, before we move on to the shrine. I want to head up to Mount Haku." Briefly Treize gazed at the mountain range in the distance. Its highest peak, Mount Haku, was tall enough to breach the clouds. He then turned his head and looked at his personal body guard. "You still owe us a rematch. The last time we battled you knocked me out of the saddle. Now you'll have to prove that it was more than just a fluke. But I warn you…" A tiny smirk crossed the king's lips. "Both Epyon and I are sore losers; we won't make it easy for you."

"Your Highness?"

###

In the forest the night ends early. Zechs was woken by the cheerful tweeting of the first songbirds when the sun was only beginning to rise. The sky was still grey but a wash of golden light was slowly spreading from the east, bathing the snow-covered peak of Mount Haku in a brilliant light.

The young man pushed away his blanket, shivering as the cool morning air hit him. Beside him Treize gave a grumbling sound and pulled his own covers over his head.

The fire was still smoldering and easily relit. Once it was burning Zechs fastened his sword belt and made his way down to the lake for a drink of water. Across the lake a small family of deer was grazing at the soft growth by the water's edge. One of the animals, a large buck of impressive statue and with an even more impressive set up antlers, looked up, eying him cautiously for a moment. Then, deciding that the young man presented no danger to him and his females, he went back to his meal.

Zechs went down on his knees. He cupped his hands into the crisp clear water, quenching his thirst before splashing some of it into his face. The chill drove the last traces of sleepiness from his bones, and the young man stretched leisurely as he rose to his feet. Looking up into the sky he decided to take a walk around the lake. Knowing Treize, he wasn't going to rise anytime soon.

And sure enough, by the time he returned, the king was only just starting to stir.

"Is there food to be had?" he asked with a yawn as he finally pushed away his heavy blanket and pulled his cloak tight around his shoulders.

"We have meat leftover from last night," Zechs told him. "And I found this."

"Thanks," Treize nodded thankfully as he accepted a handful of aromatic greens. Back at the palace he would use an infusion of various herbs to freshen his breath, but here in the woods wild mint would just have to do. "How did you sleep?"

"Quite well." The blonde threw a few more dry branches into the fire. In spite of his fussing about the dangers of spending the night in the woods he had actually felt rather relaxed. Perhaps it was the close proximity to the Dragon Shrine; he remembered being always very much at ease during the years he had spent there.

#####

From the window in his small room on the top floor of the dormitory Wufei watched the hustle and bustle below. For days now the Dragon Shrine resembled a giant anthill. The pupils, the instructors and even the headmistress herself; everybody was busy preparing for the king's visit. Everybody but Wufei that was… No matter where the boy went or what he did, he always seemed to be in someone's way. In fact, he could not even count how many times he had been told to go and play somewhere else in these past few days. I might as well not be here at all.

Sitting on the windowsill, with one knee pulled up against his chest and the other leg dangling, Wufei watched for a little longer before slipping off the ledge and settling down again at the small desk beneath the window. His room was really no more than a small chamber located directly under the roof and barely large enough to hold more than a bed, a nightstand, his writing desk and two chests for his clothes and personal belongings. But the boy wasn't complaining.

For almost two years now this place had been his home. He would be lying if he said that he didn't still miss his village and his family every now and then, but living here wasn't really that bad. Wufei was the youngest pupil at the Shrine; all the other trainees were in their mid to late teens, while he wasn't even going to turn nine until later in the summer. Even though, or maybe because of it, he often got away with things the older pupils didn't. He was well aware that a few of them resented him because of the 'special treatment' he received, but all in all, most of the people here liked him…and vice versa.

Wufei picked up his pen and dipped it into the little inkwell to his right. Strictly speaking the boy was still too young to officially be a trainee at the shrine. So while the older pupils were trained in horsemanship, swordplay and military tactics his own studies consisted mostly of writing, reading and arithmetic. Every other day though he received special lessons in swordsmanship from one of the instructors who believed that it was never too early to learn defending oneself. Wufei's favorite subjects were those involving stories and myths, like today's lesson. Headmistress Une was making him copy a scroll about the five ancient main gods. He could not think of anything with more stories and legends to tell about than the gods.

Checking his paper to see where he had left off, the boy continued his writing slowly and carefully. According to the scroll, at the beginning of time the five gods had created this world... from what exactly, Wufei wasn't sure. In return the people built shrines and temples for them, where they could pray and make offerings. It was also said that in the past the gods would occasionally come down from their palaces high above the sky to mingle with their mortal 'children'. It must have been a very long time ago, because Wufei hadn't met anyone who claimed to have run into a god.

The people also dedicated seasons and holidays to their favorite gods. Spring, the season of re-birth and growth, for example was the season of Elitha, the ancient bringer of new life. Wufei still remembered how his parents would dress in their best garments on the day of the blossom festival and take him to Elitha's shrine, where they would meet other farmers seeking blessings for their crops and asking for fertile livestock. Often you could also find young couples at the shrine praying for a child. What he remembered most though, were the festivities following the prayers, music and dancing and food until late into the night.

During summer the people would pray to the hot-tempered god Hesos who rules over the sky and is as unpredictable as the weather he controls. Known as the bringer of light his symbol, the golden sun, could be found adoring his temple walls. The village where Wufei used to live was often hit by heavy thunderstorms during the heat of summer. When flashes of lightning crisscrossed the sky and thunder rumbled through the nearby mountains like a furious roar, his mother would light a candle and mumble something about Hesos having been angered.

The boy put down his pen to shake his aching hand, and as his gaze fell upon the inkwell he realized it was almost empty. I'll have to get more, he thought with a sigh. But not now. Lady Une wasn't expecting him to turn in his assignment until after the king's visit, which gave him almost three whole days to finish it.

Closing the inkwell carefully Wufei tried to decide what he should do next. Finally he slipped from his chair and headed for a small wooden chest in the corner

Kneeling down in front of the chest he flipped the heavy top open and started to rummage through it until he found what he was looking for; a book, but not just any book. It was the legend of the first dragon knight, his favorite story. He had read it so many times that he knew it almost by heart. Wufei closed the chest, left his room and climbed down the long winding staircase. As usual the dormitory lay empty at this time of the morning. He then crossed the yard and the training grounds where several of the oldest pupils were sparring.

"Wufei?"

"Instructor Noin?" the boy turned and greeted the young woman with a respectful bow.

Noin was the youngest instructor at the shrine and one of only three female staff members. Wufei had heard that she had come to Galados as a refugee, from a kingdom named Sanq which had been destroyed in a war.

"Where are you going?"

"Just taking a walk," he told her.

"Alright." She smiled as she reached out to ruffle his hair. "But try not to get into any trouble, or Lady Une is going to scold you again."

"I won't." Wufei promised. Of course her idea of 'getting into trouble' and his might have differed a bit.

The Dragon Shrine, which originally had been built as a place to worship the dragon god Shenlong, was surrounded by tall walls. The only gate was always closed and guarded. Trainees were not allowed to leave the shrine without permission, but Wufei had learned long ago that there was more than one way to catch a dragonfly.

In the far southern corner of the grounds, behind the stables, the walls were covered with green ivy and other climbing plants. For someone small and lithe as him those vines were just as useful as a ladder. His book tucked securely into the waistband of his pants, Wufei climbed over the wall with the experience of someone who had done it many times before.

It was a long way through the woods to Blue Fir Lake, but Wufei didn't mind the walk, because it was his favorite place. Its peaceful tranquility reminded him somehow of home. He could sit there for hours and read or watch the birds. Sometimes, when he got lucky, he could even see a deer or two come down to drink or bathe in the lake's clear water.

####

Treize threw more dirt onto the already dying fire to bury the last embers, as he waited for Zechs' return. The young man had left shortly after their breakfast. He had insisted on first flying to Mount Haku on his own and making sure it was safe for the king to follow.

With a somewhat amused huff the tawny-haired man rose to his feet. Sometimes he acts more like an overprotective mother hen than a bodyguard. But he is still young. He will learn and start to relax…eventually. Huh?

Treize frowned as he noticed something…no someone by the lake. A boy, probably no more than eight or nine years of age, was sitting in the shade of a large tree near the water's edge. A child, out here? As far as he knew the nearest village was more than a day's ride away.

Approaching slowly so as not to startle the boy, Treize wondered how he could have got here.

"Hey, kid," he called out as he was close enough for a conversation. "What are you doing here, all by yourself?"

The boy, who had been reading from an old well-worn book, looked up at him somewhat startled. He seemed surprised to see the stranger. "Who are you?"

Treize smiled softly as he crouched down. "I believe I asked a question first. Do you have a name?"

Wufei closed his book as he studied the man. He was wearing white riding pants and knee-high leather boots, an elegant blue tunic over his white shirt, knee and forearm armor and a bluish grey cloak that was held together by a golden pin. The cloak pin was decorated with sparkling blue gems that matched the color of his eyes. His outfit and the sword he was carrying indicated that he was not a commoner. "I'm Wufei. Chang Wufei," he finally answered. "And you?"

"I'm pleased to meet you, Chang Wufei." The man inclined his head in a polite greeting. "You can call me Treize."

Wufei bowed respectfully and seriously. "Thank you."

He seems bright and very well-mannered for someone his age, Treize thought. "Now tell me, Wufei. What are you doing here? Are you lost?"

"No, why? I have been here many times before," the boy answered. "And I came from the Dragon Shrine."

"The Dragon Shrine?" Treize raised one eyebrow in surprise as he looked Wufei up and down. The boy was wearing an outfit similar to the uniforms worn at the shrine; a pair of black silk pants and a robe over a white shirt. However, his robe was black instead of the purple or red usually worn by the pupils and instructors. Furthermore, he had never heard of anyone being admitted to the school at such a young age. "You are one of the trainees there?"

"No, not exactly." Wufei shook his head. "I just live there."

"Oh, I see." Assuming that he was the son of one of the instructors, the king nodded. "But do your parents know where you are?"

The boy dropped his gaze. His jaws tightened for a brief moment and Treize instantly knew he had asked a question he should not have asked.

"My parents are dead," Wufei pressed through his teeth. "That's why I am living at the shrine."

"I…I'm sorry…"

"But no, I didn't tell anyone where I was going. Everybody is busy preparing for the king's visit. They are so excided I doubt they'll even notice that I'm gone."

"Is that so? What about you; are you excited too? …to see the king, I mean."

The boy's brows furrowed as he looked up again. "Excited?" he asked. "Why would I be? I don't even like the king."

Treize blinked. "And why is that?"

"Because."

"Because?" The king tilted his head slightly as he looked at the boy. "That's not really an answer, now is it?"

Before Wufei could make any reply, a noise from above drew their attention. He gazed up into the sky and his jaw almost dropped when he saw a large dragon approach the clearing. As the creature circled a couple of times above their heads he noticed a rider, a slender young man with long silver hear, dressed in a gray and blue uniform that looked similar to the outfit the man named Treize was wearing. The dragon touched down only a few feet away, and the boy had to brace himself against the strong wind created by its powerful wings.

The longhaired dragon rider slipped out of the saddle and landed gracefully next to the animal. He reached up to pat the dragon's muscular neck with his gloved hand then turned toward Treize and the boy. "Your H…"

Treize raised his hand interrupting him almost instantly. "Zechs, please come here, I'd like you to meet someone." He waited for the younger man to come closer before he continued. "Zechs, this is Wufei. Wufei, meet Zechs Merquise, my personal guard."

Wufei's eyes were still glued to the dragon that was resting now with its wings tucked tightly against its earth-colored body. "You are Dragon Knights?"

"Yes, in a way." Treize nodded.

The boy finally ripped his eyes away from the dragon and looked up at Zechs. "May I pet him?"

"Only if you don't mind loosing a finger or two," the fair-haired man replied nonchalantly.

Wufei's brows furrowed. I don't like him.

"Now, now Zechs." Treize intervened with a smile. "There are nicer ways to say that, you know."

"It's the truth," Zechs insisted. "And sugarcoating it won't change anything."

The king sighed as he once again crouched down in front of Wufei. "You will have to forgive him. He might come across as cold and unfriendly, but his bark is much worse than his bite." He reached out and laid his hand onto the boy's shoulder. "He is right though, dragons are very loyal and protective creatures. Once they have bonded with their master they won't obey another person ever, and they don't like to be touched by just anyone."

Wufei nodded understandingly. I know, Nataku is the same. "Do you have a dragon, too?"

"In fact I do," Treize confirmed as he rose. He extended his right hand and closed his eyes. His lips moved silently as he performed the summoning spell. A strong wind picked up then the ground started to vibrate and glow as the circular portal began to form.

Wufei raised his arm to protect his face from the dust and the wind. Surrounded by a cloud of white haze, the form of a dragon rose from the portal. When the haze finally lifted the wind died down as suddenly as it had started. The large dragon roared and flapped its wings a couple of times as though it was testing them.

"Wufei," Treize announced, "please meet Epyon." He raised his hand and gestured for the dragon to come closer. "Epyon," he spoke softly. "This is Wufei. He is a friend; be nice to him."

Epyon took a few cautious steps. Large golden eyes studied the young boy thoroughly; then the dragon dipped his head. His nostrils, almost as large as the boy's head, flared as he sniffed his face.

Wufei swallowed. He had to force himself not to recoil when the dragon's nose touched his face.

"You can touch him if you want."

"But…you said…"

"It's alright," Treize assured him. "A dragon that complete trusts his master will obey any command given."

Wufei reached out slowly. Epyon was huge, about the same size as the other dragon. His skin was lighter, almost cinnamon colored, except for the scales along his spine which were deep brown and shiny. His horns were long and pointy like sharp daggers, and the top of his head and neck was covered in long dark hair, almost like a horse's mane. His long powerful tail ended in a tassel of the same color, and the thin beard hanging from his chin reminded Wufei for some reason of an old man's goatee.

The boy let his fingers run through the silky hair. "He is beautiful."

"Isn't he?" the king agreed with a proud smile.

In the background Zechs cleared his throat. "If we still want to head up to Mount Haku we will have to leave soon, y…"

"You are absolutely right." Treize once again interrupted him before he could finish his sentence. Then the tawny-haired man looked down at Wufei. "Would you like to join us?"

"Mount Haku? You are going to battle?"

"Indeed." The king nodded. "If you want you can watch us. We will drop you off at the shrine on our way back."

"Truly?" The boy's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Truly!"

Zechs opened his mouth to object, but the king silenced him by raising his hand.

"Can I bring Nataku along?"

Nataku? Treize frowned slightly. "Who is Nataku; a friend?"

"My dragon," Wufei explained. And without even waiting for an answer he closed his eyes and put his hands together.

Treize and Zechs exchanged a long look and watched in silent amazement as the boy summoned a dragon as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Although it was still a juvenile, barely a head or so taller than its master when it was sitting next to him, it was still absolutely amazing. It was unheard of that a child this young was able to successfully perform a summoning.

The king blinked then cleared his throat. "So, this is Nataku?"

Wufei nodded while Nataku eyed the two men and their fully grown dragons curiously. She made a quiet chirping sound, looked up at her master and then rubbed her head against his shoulder as though she was begging to be petted.

Treize couldn't help but smile. "Wufei, if you don't mind me asking; how old are you?"

"Almost nine summers."

"And how and when did you and Nataku…meet?"

"Umm… I found her in the woods, two summers ago, shortly after…" Wufei shook his head. "…shortly before the soldiers found me and took me to the dragon shrine."

Treize was almost certain that the boy originally had meant to say something else, but he didn't push the issue. "I see. Well, she looks still a little too small to carry you, so why don't you ride with me," he suggested.

Wufei nodded. "She really is small, isn't she?" He sighed. "And she hasn't grown at all since I met her."

"It just seems that way to you." Zechs remarked.

"Huh?" The boy looked at him puzzled.

"Since you are still growing yourself you might not have noticed her getting bigger," the fair-haired man explained. "You see, dragons live a very long time and they grow very slowly. It takes about fifty years before they are fully matured."

"Truly?"

"Yes. Nataku has probably still another few decades to go before she is fully grown, but I guess you should be able to start riding her in another seven to eight years."

"You mean she will be as big as your dragon some day?"

"Most likely she will grow even larger than Leo. Adult females are known to be bigger than male dragons."

"Wow, you know a lot about dragons." Wufei was impressed.

The young man just shrugged the compliment off. "A dragon knight needs to know everything there is about his partner."

"Alright," Treize had retrieved his saddle from their campsite and stepped toward Epyon. "Shall we leave?"

T.B.C.

Author's Note: This is a re-post of Dragon King with newly added details to the plot. I am currently going over the already written chapters, changing and adding things that I feel I left out in the first version.