#i didn't get to the anthropomorphic dragon skellies

[imtrashraccoon]

Okay, The Dark Fortress Au concept: The boys let a sorcerer in and they curse the boys and transform for them into monstrous skeletal dragons and like they're able to shift down into anthropomorphic dragons at best and the curse is permanent after three years and the MC comes in after the curses due date and unintentionally woos the boys and I'm a sucker for angst and dragons so.

Oh my goodness! Dark Fortress my beloved! I keep meaning to write something more for this but I haven't had the motivation. I think you're referencing Beauty & The Beast? The parallels kinda match up so I'm rolling with it. I may have decided to try writing a little drabble cause this idea is very interesting to me...

Future Tumble Edit: Part Two is here! And the prequel is here!

The Dragons of The Dark Fortress

You didn't have many happy memories. In fact, your childhood had been ripped away when your country was conquered by a mysterious dark warlord. You had been lucky enough to escape but you didn't escape unscathed. Your mind was forever marked by the horrors you'd witnessed and tragically, you lost nearly everyone you'd ever known.

You swore to avenge what had been stolen from you. For years, you trained, honing both your mind and your body. You taught yourself how to wield a sword and how to fight.

Then, you set off for the Dark Fortress. You only brought your weapons, armour, and what supplies you would need for the journey. You weren't planning to return even if you did slay the dark warlord. There just didn't seem to be anything worth living for anymore.

The fortress itself was a lot larger than you remembered, being more akin to a mountain than a castle. Still, you were undeterred and continued onwards until you found yourself at the main gates. It took some time to scale the wall and you had to take a moment to catch your breath, but you were so close now.

A few minutes passed while you rested and mentally prepared yourself for the fight at hand. If you were lucky, you'd be able to locate him before he even realized you were here. It could take a while to navigate the passageways though, especially if you were being sneaky.

Just as you were rehearsing exactly how you would run the warlord through with your sword, an ear-splitting roar rang out. You turned just in time to spot a large blur whoosh past before it began to circle above you. You felt your stomach drop at the sight of the large beast that could only be one thing - a dragon.

It didn't give you time to come up with a plan before diving back down again.

You dodge rolled to the side, just barely avoiding his snapping teeth.

Unfortunately, you weren't fast enough to avoid it's wings or claws and you were dragged from the wall as the beast tumbled down into the courtyard. The impact knocked the wind from your lungs and it took a moment to orientate yourself.

You were pinned beneath one of the dragon's feet and it's claws felt like they were nearly digging into your flesh. It hurt to breathe and you could barely inhale without those razors pressing in further.

The dragon seemed at least partially skeletal, most noticeably in the head, but it's eye sockets were completely empty. A black substance was also perpetually leaking from it's sockets and dripping to the ground.

The beast leered closer until it's snout was nearly pressed against your face. You swear it seemed to grin at how terrified you were, as if it was enjoying tormenting you like this.

There wasn't anything you could do. You'd lost your sword in the fall and this beast was about to tear you limb from limb. You closed your eyes, resigning yourself to your fate.

"Stand down, Dirk."

The pressure on your body suddenly shifted and you risked looking around to see who the voice belonged to.

The dragon that had previously been pinning you to the rough stone was crouching not far away. It still had that unbearable grin plastered across it's skull but at least it didn't seem interested in mauling you anymore.

There was a large shadow cast from behind and when you turned to look, realized it came from another dragon. This one was larger and it's scales seemed to be covered in a tar-like substance. It only had one visible eye, with the other being engulfed in the tar, and it's cyan eyelight seemed to bore through you. With the way it's wings were folded over it's body and the way it held itself, you had a feeling this one was the leader or at least the stronger of the two.

Catching movement up above, you spotted two more dragons perching on the ramparts that were similar in appearance to the first one, although they had different coloured eyelights and one was missing a horn. All eyes seemed to be on you and the air felt charged with tension.

You turned your eyes back to the black dragon and slowly stood up.

It stared at you before leaning down and inhaling your scent. "What brings you here, mortal?" it rumbled.

Somehow, you managed to steel your nerves and keep from stuttering. "I came to avenge my country."

It tilted it's head and studied you for a moment. "All by yourself?"

You felt a wave of anger bubble up in your chest at it's taunting tone of voice. However, before you could retort, the black dragon chuckled.

"I admire your courage, however foolish it may be. Do you truly think you can slay me?" It stood up to it's full height and slowly spread it's pock marked wings in an intimidating display.

You shuddered and took a step back, only to bump into the dragon still behind you.

The black dragon stalked closer. "I thought not," it growled. "However, I can sense a darkness in your soul..."

You felt like you couldn't move, much less speak, or it would eat you alive.

"Pledge yourself to me and I will give you a new purpose..."

What else could you do but agree?