by Katie Cherry
“Dragongirl… where have you been to not know what has been happening? The Dragon Hunters are killing us by the hundreds. Gale still believes you can help us,” he snorts. “The foolish old dragon.”
“He’s still alive?” I gasp happily. “Oh, Vincent, this is wonderful!!”
“Nothing is wonderful anymore, Dragongirl. There are some among us who believe that if you were here… that perhaps we might have been delivered from such destruction.” He shakes his head sadly. “However, now that I see what pitiful state you are in- no Gifts, no dragon part- that their hopes were very clearly in vain.” He turns to go.
“No! Vincent, wait!” He stops and swings his head around to peer at me. His eyes no longer shine like they used to and I feel an immense sadness weigh on my heart. How could the Dragon Hunters do this to such beautiful, wonderful creatures? “Vincent, I need you to take my friend and I with you to see Gale.”
“Why?” he asks. “There’s nothing you can do to help.” A tear slips out of my eye as I drop my head from shame. He’s right. How am I supposed to help these mighty creatures when I can’t even help myself? “That’s what I thought,” he continues, turning to face the way he came once more.
I suddenly freeze as a thought enters my mind. “Wait!”
“What is it?” He growls impatiently.
“…I might be able to help you.”
“How?”
“If you take me to Gale, I can consult with him. Maybe he can figure out how to get my dragon part back. He said himself that no one can take it away from me- maybe he knows a way for me to reaccess it… he might even have an idea for what to do about my Gifts as well!” Vincent pauses, probably debating if this is too much of a stretch. “Please, Vincent!” I beg. “This is probably my last and only chance to get my Gifts and dragon part back! I really want to help you and the rest of the dragons! It is not my wish to see you be driven to extinction! Please, let me try this! Don’t give up on me yet.”
Chet glances from me to the dragon and back to me. I wonder what he’s thinking. He probably has no idea what’s passing between Vincent and I. I’ll have to explain it to him later. Vincent still seems to be undecided. Then he turns back around and bows his head to me. “Very well, Dragongirl. Just as we are your last hope, you are ours. It just may be worth it to investigate and see if the old dragon knows anything. Climb aboard.”
I’m elated. I quickly clamber onto his back, waving Chet up as well before Vincent can change his mind. He scrambles up behind me, bringing my backpack, which I forgot about. As Vincent crouches to take off, Chet wraps his arms around my waist from behind. I can feel his muscles tense as we take to the air. Within a few of Vincent’s strong wingbeats, I can tell he’s not about to relax. I lay a comforting hand on his and turn my head a bit so he can hear me. “It’s alright. Vincent won’t let us fall.”
He nods and releases his tight hold on me a bit. “Sorry,” he says. “I’ve just… never seen a dragon up close like this before… let alone flown on one.”
“It’s alright, I understand,” I assure him, unable to keep from grinning. “After all, not many people have.”
Whereas Chet is uncomfortable on the dragon’s back, I am completely at ease. I’m a little surprised how much I missed watching the clouds fly by beneath me and everything else zooming by in a blur. I take a deep, cleansing breath of the cold air rushing past and can’t help but laugh out loud at the feeling of freedom that comes from flying. Chet relaxes further the longer we fly.
I’m actually a little disappointed when we arrive at our destination- a ways past Dragon Mountain.
“Isn’t Gale in Dragon Mountain?” I ask Vincent.
He laughs. “No. That’s just where we meet for meetings so the Dragon Hunters won’t find us. Gale lives here.”
‘Here’ is a mountain almost as large as the volcano they call Dragon Mountain. I slide down Vincent’s side and land softly on the ground beside him, Chet landing easily beside me. I take a step towards the mountain.
“Wait,” Vincent warns. “…You don’t need to go inside. I’ll just go and get Gale and he’ll come out here to meet you.”
“…Okay,” I say, a little confused, watching as he walks into the cave entrance.
“I wonder why he doesn’t want us to go in there?” I wonder out loud.
Chet shrugs. “Maybe that’s where he’s hoarding meat or gold or something.”
I glance at him, surprised. That sounded like something a Dragon Hunter would say… well, he was one for a while, and I surmise that this must be the cause. Chet isn’t a person who doesn’t care about others. I know that much after the time that I’ve known him. I suddenly think of Nathan with a pang. I suddenly miss him so much I catch my breath in surprise. How could I have hardly thought of him since I got here? What’s wrong with me? I shouldn’t be here with Chet, I should be here with Nathan!
Chet glances at me, a worried look on his face. Before he can say anything, though, the colossal mass of golden dragon walks out of the cave. Chet’s eyes widen and his mouth falls open. Fear is evident in his eyes. I feel a flash of protectiveness. I reach forward and take his hand, showing him that I’m still here. He just stares at Gale as he walks closer. He looks like a deer in the headlights, and I can tell he’s about to bolt.
“Chet… Chet, it’s fine. Gale’s nice. Super nice. He’s very wise and kind and he’s going to help us. He’s not going to hurt you…” It takes some effort, but Chet forces himself to relax some, although from the tightness of his grip on my hand, I can tell he’s still anxious.
“Dragongirl!” Gale’s surprised voice sounds in my head. I’ve missed that voice. “Crystal Dragon… oh, how much you have missed over the past few months.”
“Fill me in,” I ask. “I want to help you.”
He lowers his head nearly to the ground so he could look me in the eye. Chet releases my hand and scrambles backward several feet. “Crystal Dragon, it seems that you need me more than we need you at the moment.”
“Yes, but after you help me I can better help you! …I found a drawing of the designs for the Dragon Slayer machines! I can figure out its weakness, and once I have my Gifts back, I may be able to take them down from the inside.”
“Hmm,” he says, raising his head a bit. “Interesting. Well whether you could help my people or not, Dragongirl, I would help you. We are basically kin, and we help our kin, even if the humans do not. Dragons will remain honorable, even to the bitter end.”
“Thank you, Gale,” I say, a tear falling from my eye. Could this be it? Could I finally be getting my Gifts and Dragon part back?
He nods, a twinkle in his eye. “Come with me. Let us sit and debate about how to proceed.”
“Wait… what about Chet?”
Gale doesn’t turn around. “He can wait out here. This is between you and me.”
I start to follow Gale. Chet runs up and grabs my hand, a pleading look on his face. “Don’t leave me,” he begs.
“I’ll be back soon,” I assure him. “I need to talk to him to see if I can get my Gifts and dragon powers back. I have to go, Chet. You’ll be okay out here, I promise,” I say before pulling my hand away.
He nods bravely, then whispers, “Please hurry, though.” I smile and nod before racing after Gale.
He crouches and lets me climb up onto his back before he soars up to the top of the mountain, reaching it in just a few mighty wingbeats. He then lands and I slide off. He lies down with a weary sigh before turning his head to face me once more. “So, child. You lost your Gifts, and you believe that you lost your dragon part as well, is that it?”
“Yes,” I reply, confused. He already knew that. Why was he asking me again?
“Well, I’m fairly certain you haven’t lost either part.”
“…What?” I am so confused now. Of course I lost my Gifts! They had been torn right out of me!
“No one can take away something that is a part of you. Your Gifts are who you are. Should the
y take away something that makes you you, you would cease to exist. Even if this wouldn’t happen with your Gifts, it certainly would with your dragon half. Between that and your Gifts, you would truly cease to exist if they could actually take that away from you. You are who you are, and no one and nothing can ever take that away from you. No one can change you unless you let them.”
“But, Gale,” I protest, “they DID take my Gifts away! And they may not have taken away my dragon part, but they repressed it so I can no longer become a dragon. …Tell me how to fix it! Please!”
He sighs, and a warm gust of air washes over me. “Crystal Dragon, that is something only you can do. It is a part of you- I can’t find that for you. You have to find yourself.” I’m nearly in tears now. This isn’t helping me at all. “…However, I believe I’ve thought of something that might help you to find yourself.”
“What?” I ask, desperate to know. “I’ll do anything!!”
“The Mermaid King might be able to do something for you, if he had his Trident.”
I frown. “…I’m not actually sure what happened to the Trident. The last I saw it… I gave it to Vlad. The person who was pretending to be Vlad, that is… oh no! Does Patrick have it??”
“I do not know,” Gale says sadly. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to find out. Your other option could be to see the Sohos to help you recover your dragon part. They know more about dragons than any other human.”
I nod. It sounds reasonable, and it’s a much better lead than I had before. Now I at least have something to aim for, rather than just sitting back and doing nothing while all of Zilferia falls apart. Which reminds me… “Gale?”
“Yes, child?”
“I didn’t just come for me. Patrick is waging war on Zilferia- which you already know, of course- but he’s focusing on one group at a time. He is dividing and conquering. I need to get everyone on Zilferia on one side or another. It will give us hope and strength through the bonds of friendship and a united purpose- to save all that we love and hold dear. Our friends, our family, our homes… everything will be obliterated if we allow Patrick to continue. You are the first group that I’ve visited thus far, but I am planning on traveling to the Sohos and the Mermaids as well as those in the Village to band together. …Will you join us?”
Gale looks at me gravely with those huge golden eyes of his. “Yes. It is for the best… although the clan of black dragons may be difficult to convince. They are still prideful and would rather be destroyed than accept the help of humans. What remains of the other clans though… well, from what I’ve seen, they will be willing to accept help no matter the source. I will gather as many dragons as I can. Whenever you need us, call my name with your mind and your voice as you did before, and we will come to you. I may call on you in the same way if we need aid as well.”
I feel like crying I’m so elated. “Thank you, Gale.”
He shakes his head, his entire body rumbling with laughter. “Oh, Dragongirl. I should be the one thanking you. You came back to Zilferia for the sole purpose of helping us and everyone else residing on Zilferia, despite the risk to yourself. It is the least I can do to accept your plan to proceed in this desperate war.” He bows his head to me. “So thank you, Crystal Dragon.”
“…You’re welcome.”
<<
Hunter paces, one hand on his sword and the other hand running through his hair. Gosh darn it! What is taking that girl so long? Eventually one of these dragons is going to see who I really am and alert all the rest of them! He thinks worriedly, eyeing the mouth of the cave as yet another dragon wanders out of it. How many dragons are in there, anyway? Is that where they’re keeping their injured dragons?
He’s just about ready to go charging up the mountain when he spots the huge golden beast gliding towards him. Finally. Now we can get out of here… He’s surprised to see how happy Crystal is when she comes racing towards him after sliding off of Gale’s back. What did the dragon tell her? Obviously there’s no way for her to get her Gifts back, nor her special little ‘dragon powers,’ so why would she be so happy?
“Chet! I got the dragons to agree to fight with the Sohos, the mermaids, and the Villagers! Isn’t this wonderful?”
“Oh, yes, magnificent! I knew you could do it!” he cheers. Hmm. She’s hiding something from me… that isn’t the only reason she’s so happy. There’s something else…
“Vincent will take you two home,” Gale says, his eyes piercing Hunter’s. Oh crap! He thinks, filled with horror. I forgot to avoid his eyes! He can see exactly who I am!! “…Hunter Dragon. Now, why are you walking around pretending to be someone you’re not?”
“It’s none of your business,” Hunter replies tartly.
“Hmm…”
“…You aren’t going to kill me, are you?”
“…No,” He says after a moment of hesitation. “Not just yet. However, if I ever see you around here again…”
“I won’t come back here,” Hunter promises, actually meaning it for once. There’s no way he could stand up to this ancient dragon- or the rest of the dragons packed into that cave.
Gale nods. “Then be on your way.”
“…You’re not going to tell Crystal about me?” He asks, confused.
“No. And before you ask why, I have my reasons- which I will not share with you at this time. Perhaps at a later point, when we can meet at a much happier occasion.”
Hunter stares at the dragon, more confused than he had ever been in his life before. Crystal turns to him. “You coming, Chet?”
“Uh, yes, of course,” he stammers before clambering up to sit behind her once more.
“Goodbye, Gale!” she calls, waving to the golden dragon as they fly away.
Hunter sure had quite a bit to ponder from the developments of the day.
<<
“So. What next?” Chet asks as we watch Vincent fly away once more.
“Next we go to the Sohos.”
“Are we going to stop by the Village first?”
“No,” I reply. “We can’t go back just yet… someone is guaranteed to stop me there… I don’t have time to stop. I need to get over to the Soho’s as fast as I can, then head back to the Village.”
“Okay,” he says, shouldering the backpack. “Lead the way.”
“…You really don’t have to come with me, you know,” I say. It’s not that I don’t want him to come with me… some things are just easier done alone. Especially since I have this nagging feeling that I shouldn’t tell him about my new chance to get back my Gifts and dragon powers. I don’t know why I have this feeling, but I’ve been in Zilferia long enough now to know not to just brush such feelings aside.
“I know. I want to come with you.”
I think fast. Something tells me he just really shouldn’t go with me. “Okay, but I need to get word to my parents that I’m okay, though. They’re all probably freaking out… last time I disappeared…” I swallow the guilt down. I don’t have time to feel bad about my decision- it’s necessary to save all of Zilferia!
Chet’s face softens in understanding. He hands me the backpack. “Alright. Tell me how to find you, and I’ll come find you as quickly as I can after telling everyone that you’re okay.” I tell him the way to the spot that the Soho’s dragon dropped me off the last time I saw them- excluding that detail, of course. It would take too long to explain everything. “I’ll be back before you know it,” he says, winking at me before speeding away. I blink. He has the Gift of speed? Since when? I shrug and turn towards the Sohos. I’ll think about it later. Right now, I have a job to do.
******
When I arrive at the spot, I find that Zeke and Kate are already standing there waiting for me. Kate rushes forward to hug me tight when she sees me. “I’m so relieved you’re okay!” she says.
“Same here,” I say. “It seems the Dragon Hunters have been stirring up quite a bit of trouble while I’ve been away.”
“I’m af
raid that’s an understatement,” Zeke says grimly. “Come. We have lots to talk about.”
I nod and follow him into the clearing, where the huge dragon awaits me. I climb on and hold tightly onto one of the spikes on its neck. It pushes off powerfully from the ground and rises quickly. I then feel a sudden change in the air, as if we are in a different place… yet it still feels like Zilferia. …Did we just pass through a magical barrier, like the ones around Patrick’s castle? This solution seems to make the most sense to me, so I decide to go with it.
Realizing I’ve never reached out to this silver dragon before, I make an attempt to speak with him. “Hello!” I begin.
I’m met with a slow, grudging response. “Greetings, Dragongirl.”
“What’s your name?”
“I much prefer to spend my time in silence, if it’s all the same to you,” he sighs, the huge gust of air released rushing back to my face, warming it against the cold wind. “I am old, and tired of everything. I stay with the Sohos because it does not require me to do much. They all leave me well enough alone most of the time.”
“Ah… I see. Sorry.”
When we land at the Sohos’ village, I’m shocked to see that there are not many people there. “Where is everyone?” I ask.
Kate looks at me sadly. “This is just our medical center now, for those who get injured because of Patrick’s Dragon Hunters. Everyone else is in an army base a ways away from here.”
“…Oh,” I say.
Zeke turns to me, intensity in his eyes. “Crystal… I think it’s safe to say we both need to get the other up to speed with what has been happening, don’t you agree?”
So I tell them all that happened since I last saw them. It all seems so long ago. The last time I saw the Sohos, I was still in the Games! As I talk, we walk up to Zeke’s house high in the trees and sit on his balcony. I start summarizing more as I see the sun slipping down from its apex in the sky. I’m running out of time…
Kate’s eyes are filled with tears by the time I finish my tale with me traveling here, hoping to get the Sohos to unite with the Dragons, Mermaids, and Villagers. “Oh my goodness! One so young… having to go through so much…”