Dragon Queen - Alternate Ending (Patreon)

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Gina lay on her side in the top-floor palace room. She had a perfect view of the sunrise through her large window. Every morning she lay there, for hours, just watching the sun inch higher into the sky. It took her a while before she heaved herself up to a seated position. She grunted as her belly quivered, and she wrapped her arms around what she could of it. At hearing her, several servants entered the room. One was prompt to place a tray of tea on her nightstand.

Gina hadn’t been queen for too long a time, but she supposed she was getting the hang of it. She rubbed her hands up and down over her massive belly. Her navel was the size of a tangerine, and presently throbbing. Her belly was wider than she was, and overfilled her lap when her legs were curled beneath it. She could tell that this child wanted to come out, but she wouldn’t let it. Her widened hips cradled the large mass. Her aching nipples seeped in anticipation. Gina didn’t know how much longer she could contain that dragon egg. She grimaced in appreciation as a servant poured and handed her a glass of tea. Bringing it to her lips, Gina took a long sip, then breathed a sigh of relief.

Her flowing nightgown was getting tight on her again. The servants had to periodically upgrade it as the weeks passed. The egg grew progressively, unendingly. It scared her a little. Sometimes the tension left her flushed, tight, and breathless. It really did want to be freed. But Gina continued to drink the special tea that kept the egg inside of her. Gina didn’t labor, and the egg didn’t descend. Instead it was locked within the confines of her womb.

It was for the best. If she allowed this egg to be born, she would just go on to birth hundreds more. It was better if Gina limited the number of dragons she bore. Too many would be too hard to control, to keep track of. The new eggs would also be prone to theft. Four dragons was sufficient for the time being. And because all four of her children were male, Gina didn’t have to worry about her role as queen becoming superfluous. For the time being, Benosha would be dependent on Gina for the dragon species’ continued survival.

Gina slid her hand down her belly as the tea took effect and the tension within her subsided. She knew that this one would be female, and it scared her a little. Gina could tell by the waves of burning power that sometimes left her benumbed. Female dragons were said to have magic that the males could never hope to foster. The power was especially potent when the sun hit its peak.

“You can go,” Gina murmured as she continued to stroke her girth.

The servants all froze in their spots picking out clothes and tidying the room. Altogether, they carefully lowered their things and filed out, leaving Gina to her solitude.

With a sigh, Gina eased herself back down to her pillow.

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“The forest people are blocking our expansion into the Southern territory,” Advisor Rossum was saying. “And the Kingdom does not have the man power to fend them off.”

“Then I vote that we retire our efforts for the season. All in favor, say—”

“Why can’t we?” said Gina, from her spot at the head of the meeting table. The surrounding politicians froze. No one had expected her to speak. “We certainly have men. And better yet, we have power.”

Rossum cleared his throat. “My queen, we are a peaceful kingdom.”

“Then maybe this will inspire us to be a little more aggressive,” Gina said, absently cupping her heated mound where it rested in her lap. “We don’t have to be bottom feeders anymore. We have dragons now. And we have me.” She raised the palm of her hand, within which a flame appeared from nothing, and rapidly grew to the size of a grapefruit. Gina closed her hand, and the flame disappeared. “The more this egg grows, the more I can feel its power seeping into my blood. I’m near invincible by now. We should use that to our advantage.”

There were gasps of astonishment.

“But queen,” stammered an advisor. “Surely you’re not suggesting—”

But Gina waved him off. “I will not be sidelined. Not again. Prepare the troops, and…ohhhhh…” Gina groaned, reddening as her belly tightened and heaved. She took a deep breath, ignoring the stares that the whole room was sending her. “Prepare me some custom armor. We attack in the morning.” Gripping the table hard, Gina managed to stand. Holding the underside of her belly, she made her way out of the meeting room, trying to look as composed as she could until the door closed behind her.

Gina then leaned back, heavily, on the wall. She clutched her trembling mound, red, and panting. “Ngghhhhhhh…” The egg was trying harder every day. It wanted its freedom. A servant hurried over with a cup of tea in hand. Gina took it and quickly gulped it down.

She passed the cup back to the servant and waited for the tremors to subside. When they did, she caught her breath, and took to staring at her heaving mass. As always, it seemed just a bit larger than before. She wearily rubbed it.

This egg was not going anywhere.