Aden's Quest Prologue

A/N- wow, this feels weird, not having a disclaimer. Well, anyway, this is the first original work I've posted, so please don't be too hard. And I'm just warning you, the title may very well change. I just needed something to use so that I could post it.

I know the summary I gave wasn't very good, so I'll give you a better one here. I figure this to be a kind of backward Shrek like story. It's about a Dragon Guardian named Aden. When his charge is kidnapped by someone other than her true love, he must go in search of her and bring her back to her castle to await the arrival of her destined husband. Along the way, things happen that neither Aden, nor the kidnapper's suspect. I know it sounds really corny and wishy-washy, but I promise it's going to be funny.

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Prologue

Stopping at the entrance to the cave, Aden glanced up at the words engraved above the doorway. He was at the right place. Taking a deep breath, he strode purposefully forward. Truth be told, he was a little nervous walking in; it had been a few years since he'd had a job interview.

Not really knowing what he was doing, Aden walked right up to the stone desk opposite the entrance and stated his business to the lady seated there before she even looked up. "I am here for an interview. My last guardee died recently and I am in need of work. A friend of mine told me to come here," he growled hurriedly in his own tongue.

The lady twitched her tail, annoyed. "Are you a guild member?" she asked. Aden reached behind hid head and fumbled with the clasp of a necklace. When he had it loose, he handed her his hexagonal shaped Guild pendant. She examined it closely, determining if it was genuine. She gave it back when she was certain.

"What's your name?" she asked quickly, grabbing a sheet of parchment and a charcoal stick.

"Aden," he replied.

"Desired position?" she took down his name quickly as she asked her question.

"Dragon Guardian, preferably at a castle."

"Okay. Last three positions?"

"Most recently I guarded an older would-be heiress, till she died. Before that, I was the "watchdog" for a baron. And before that, I served an eccentric old magician, and was a challenge for inquiries at his halls," he answered promptly. The lady finished taking down her notes and put down her charcoal stick.

"Thank you," she said. "Please find a seat. One of our interviewers will see you shortly."

Wow, he thought, that was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Aden took a swat against the wall and arranged himself as comfortably as was possible on the hard stone seats. He pulled his tail up onto his lap leaned against to wall to wait.

Nearly an hour later a dragon popped his deep green head out of the doorway and motioned for Aden. Aden stood up quickly and had to force himself not to rush over and shake the interviewers hand enthusiastically. He wanted to maintain a sense of professionalism. Aden followed him into the adjoining chamber and sat down in the proffered chair; this one was quite a bit more comfortable than the stone benches had been, this one was cushioned.

"Hard candy?" the interviewer asked, holding out a small bowl.

Aden shook his head. "No thank you, sir."

The dark green dragon shrugged. "So, I see by your résumé that your last post was for the late Miss Windsor?" Aden jumped, surprised.

"Yes, sir. How did you know that?"

"She is the only would-be heiress to have just passed on," he said coolly. "And may I ask how long were you in the service of this eccentric magician?"

"About two years," Aden replied after a moments consideration. "I was originally from his neck of the woods, and he was in need of a few last minute challenges. I ended up staying for about two years."

His interviewer nodded, then consulted Aden's résumé. He frowned. "Is there any specific reason you asked for a castle position?" the interviewer asked, looking expectant.

Aden didn't even hesitate or think about what he wanted to say. From the second he had said "preferably at a castle" he'd expected this question.

"Well," he began. "As you can see, I've only done smaller scale jobs, and I'd like to try something new. And while serving for the occasional Baroness, or being the watchdog for a mansion is all fine and well, those posts don't generally last long. I would like to have a position that I know will last longer than a few years. I hate job searching and I would like to have something stable.

The interviewer had been listening to his little speech and was now smiling slightly. He made to say something, when the receptionist hurried in with a sheet of parchment in her claws. She gave him the parchment and bent over to whisper something in his ear. The green dragon's eyes widened and the receptionist returned to her post. He turned back to Aden, a shocked expression on his face, and hastily straightened his desk.

"Well," he said slowly, obviously trying to get a grasp of the situation. "This is an interesting new development. I think we have just found the perfect post for you." he trailed off for a moment. "How well do you get on with kids?"

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"Kids?" Aden spluttered. Of all the things that could have possibly come out of his mouth, asking if he was good with kids was the last thing he expected.

The interviewer nodded. "Yes, specifically little girls."

Aden shrugged. "I guess, if that's all you have. I don't get on horribly with them. Who is she?"

"Princess Quintessa," the interviewer said, looking at the sheet the receptionist dragon had given him. "She's seven, and the bastard daughter of Queen Salvia of Lineis. The Queen had her sent here, to have her own castle and dragon when her husband, the king, threatened the child's life, and hers. The Princess' last guardian was Hyden."

Aden just sat there, thunderstruck. He had never heard of Queen Salvia or of Princess Quintessa, but he had certainly heard of Lineis. Lineis was the largest kingdom east of the Schwarz See. (A/N- for any who are confused on that, it's pronounced Schvartz say, it means "Black Sea" in German) Then another thought struck him.

"Wait! What happened to Hyden? He's never given up a post! He's almost a legend," Aden squawked. If Hyden had given up this post, maybe he didn't want it after all.
But the interviewer just shook his head. "Hyden was old," he began. "he passed on a few days ago. That was part of the report I just received. It seems he had been planning on retiring anyway, and no, not because of his charge, if that's what you were thinking. The message only said he just went to sleep and never woke up. The report says that it was the delivery dragon who found him, instead of the princess, thanks be."

Aden blanched at the thought of a seven year old finding the corpse of her friend and guardian. "That's horrible! Hyden's gone." the ramifications of that didn't quite sink in. "Who's staying with the princess? She can't stay by herself."
The green dragon consulted his sheet again. "Apparently the delivery dragon took it upon himself to stay with her," he said. Then he looked up. "So will you take the position?"

Aden thought about saying no. Granted, this was the type of post he wanted, but he had little real experience with kids, and this post was entirely about raising children. But the pleading look in the dragon's eyes convinced him. A kid couldn't stay a kid forever; eventually she had to grow up. At least he didn't have to deal with the diaper stage. At seven she should be far past the diaper stage, he would hope.

"I'll take it," Aden said, before he could change his mind. "When do I start?"

"Oh, thank you," he said, relieved. "You start tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow?!" Aden exclaimed.

"Yes, tomorrow. Her castle is pretty far out there in Bufoo, so it will take you two days or so to travel out to her."

Aden sighed. "Well, sir," he began. "Thank you very much for your time, and for the job. This is the most productive and quickest interview I've ever been to. But, if I'm to leave tomorrow, I had better put my few affairs in order. Thank you again, and have a very nice afternoon."

The green dragon stood up and offered Aden his claws. "No, thank you. And you have a nice after noon as well," he replied, smiling warmly. Aden took his hand and shook it, then turned and walked out through the doorway. On his way out of the unemployment cave he murmured a polite goodbye to the receptionist. He left thinking about his new charge. How well was he going to get along with a seven year old princess?

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A/N- Well, there is the prologue to my sort of backward Shrek. I just want to say thank you to all who made it this far, and didn't leave halfway through. And please tell me what you think! Thanks!!!