Musing an AU where Word post banishment from the priesthood, ends up in the clutches of the prophets. Deets and ideas under the cut.
I’ve always liked to think that Word’s expulsion moment is his most vulnerable, post years of priesthood indoctrination (treating them as a cult, by and large). I also enjoy entertaining the headcanon that the priests do deal with their problems. Word being a possible problem? Yeah, they expelled him with the intention of him not surviving the wastelands.
Through a stroke of luck, he does manage to find Dragon City, meeting Zulay, whose influence finally cements his desires to conquer Dragon City for himself. But here... that influence is instead a variant of the priesthood’s teachings. Word’s anger and opinions validated by none other than Propheci, whom decides this human is useful. He doesn’t need to use much of the Orange mind gear to create a staunchly loyal follower of his cause.
In the prophets temple, Word’s gear knowledge is invaluable, improving both quality of life for the prophets in addition to arming them much more swiftly for an attack on Dragon City. Conversely, because Word did not reach Dragon City and start his gear empire with Zulay, Dragon City Security, one of the major customers of Paynn Inc, are severely underequipped to handle powerful orange dragons. Much less the average dragon racer or civilian.
It’s possible there’s some sort of clash with Zulay eventually, and a mutual respect. Not sure how the romance would go, but in every universe Zulay is always the one human that intrigues and somehow connects with Word. Further into the future, people like Reepyr and those who follow him would be in opposition to Propheci, Word and any other dragons that follow him.
This AU also poses interesting questions since Beau would not exist. Connor, not knowing Word still lives, doesn’t feel too anxious to breed the dragon of legend. Lol anyway, Word changing really influences the plot and even existence of some characters lmao. I’ve not thought that far, I just think it’d be fun for Word to be subservient to Orange dragons. I adore this fucked up in the head/socially ex cult member 😂😂
