Tales from the Tavern...

She turned the car off, but didn’t get out. She searched everywhere around the car as panic slowly too hold of her. He was gone.

            At first she questioned her own sanity, thinking that just maybe Crystal was right and she imagined the whole thing. Just the thought of it dashed her hopes and made her sick. She finally got out of the car and searched around, which made her even more confused. She could plainly see the huge hole in the lake, but the spot where they were dropped was undisturbed, and the crust on the snow wasn’t broken.

            There were no footprints, no blood, not any trace to say he was there, except for the broken ice. She stood confused and shocked as a car pulled up behind her and the engine shut off.

            “Rosette, come home. We can talk.” Crystal said. She reached out the window and took her shaking hand, “He’s not here.”

            “He was! I swear he was!” she cried, “He almost fell through the ice! Look!” She gestured towards the lake where the huge hole could plainly be seen. The two sisters glanced at each other uncertainly.

            “Were you on the ice?” Crystal asked.

            “Yes, but only because I saw him out there!”

            “Did you fall through the ice, Rosette?” She asked.

            “Well, yea. I kind of went in with him.” She said.

            “Then maybe he wasn’t here at all and it could be the pneumonia talking.” She said.

            “HE WAS HERE!” she screamed, “We both fell through the ice, and then that huge black dragon pulled us out and dropped us right there!” she pointed a shaking finger at the spot on the shore where she left the sleeping dragon to go get food.

            “What did you say?” Crystal asked. Her jaw dropped.

            “I said he was right there in that spot when I left him!” she said, tears running down her face, “Why won’t you believe me?”

            “D-Did you say it was a black dragon?” Crystal asked. Rosette was too upset to notice that her words had struck a nerve and the sisters seemed a bit panicked.

            “Yes, it was.” She said.

            “Now was it black or grey?” Crystal asked, pulling on her hand.

            “I think it was black.” She said, “I only saw it for a second. Why? What’s wrong?”

            “We need to talk. Let’s go inside.”

            The kettle screamed as they sat around the table. Sparcy finally took it off the stove and filled their mugs after snapping out of her thoughts.

            “So what’s got you so concerned about this new dragon?” Rosette asked.

            “You’re sure it was black, right?” Sparcy asked.

            “Yes, pretty sure. Why?”

            “Because a grey dragon has the powers of death.” Crystal said, “They often made whole plantations die in the past, making the farmers go hungry. Forests would wither and die for no reason as well.”

            “What else can they do?” Rosette asked, taking a sip of tea.

            “Grey dragons were often considered death itself. Death even came to other dragons that had touched it, so they would live solitary lives, and become depressed because of it.”

            “But this one was black, not grey.” Rosette said, “What about black dragons?”

            “Not as bad, but in this situation, they can be devastating.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “Black dragons are masters of illusion and mind tricks.” She said, “They can make people do or believe anything. They are like the jokers of the dragons. They live to mess with other people’s minds.”

            “You mean…” Rosette gasped.

            “Yes. This whole incident here could have been that dragon’s nasty trick. That may not have been him.”

            “But it was so real!” she said.

            “It always does.” Crystal said, “Let me ask you. Did Ryu speak when you found him? Did he say anything?”

            “No he was asleep.” Rosette said, “I got him to wake up at the last minute, then her was too busy trying to get out of the water.”

            “One of the black dragon’s weaknesses in their tricks are people’s voices. They can’t duplicate them.”

            “But I’m sure it was him!” she cried.

            “How are you so sure?” Crystal asked, raising an eyebrow. Rosette blushed.

            “I told him something to wake him up.” She said, “But he woke up right away just like I knew he would.” Crystal and Sparcy just glanced at each other, still unable to even smile.

            “You might not be able to admit it now, but in time you will learn the truth.” Crystal said, “If that dragon ever comes back, don’t believe everything you see. In the meantime, let’s go home.” Crystal and Sparcy both got up to leave, pulling on their jackets, but Rosette remained seated.

            “Do you two mind if I stay here tonight?” she asked.

            “We don’t mind.” Crystal said, “If that’s what you want. Take your time.”

            “Thank you.”

            The fire made shadows dance around the inside of the cottage as Rosette sat in front of it cuddled in a thick blanket. It wasn’t that cold either, but the warmth of the blanket felt comfortable to her because she felt too alone without it. She felt as if someone was holding her, trying to make her feel better, even though it wasn’t true.

            She had no idea why she chose to stay here. Even if it were true that what had happened before was a lie, there was a newfound hope inside her heart, and she knew that he was alive. But right now, she was afraid to fall asleep. Afraid that she would dream of him, and afraid she would believe he was here like before. Mourning a lost loved one was one thing, but being teased like this to the aspect of him being alive was torture to her as well. She began to doze off when ripples appeared in the glass of water at her feet. She didn’t noticed it at first, being so late in the night. She was too tired to concentrate much on anything. But when the plates in the cupboard began to rattle, she lifted her tear stained face to the window.

            Outside was pitch black. The moon was even obscured by the clouds in the sky and she felt as if she was looking into despair itself. That was before she caught a glimpse of a flash of light near the shore, and whatever was making it was getting closer. She could now feel the ground shake slightly as it neared, and the flashes became brighter. She rushed outside to get a better look, taking the blanket with her, and stopped next to the cabin to try and see what it actually was. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard a snarl, and an echoed growl she recognized. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she finally realized what she was looking at.

            Approaching from the shore, a huge animal was lumbering towards her as if injured, but was trying to hurry. When she heard the roar behind her, she knew why. She spun around on the spot to see a bear standing on its hind legs and roaring at her with saliva dripping from its fangs. She screamed and ran, but she wasn’t fast enough and the bear’s huge paw swung down towards her head. She shut her eyes and waited for the pain to come, but instead there was a deafening roar. Hugging her knees on the ground she opened her eyes to see the beast from the shore standing between her and the bear, and the bear wasn’t backing down. The moon finally came out from behind a cloud just in time to reflect off of its claws when it swiped, knocking he bear backwards. Rosette gasped when she saw what had come to rescue her. In the moonlight, standing before her, was a red dragon.

            The bear again charged at him and landed a swipe to the dragons face, sending a spray of blood on the melting snow. The dragon let out a roar and sent a spray of fire in the bear’s direction. This time the bear got the message and ran, leaving its prey behind. The dragon sneezed, and shot fire out of its nose, and melting the snow in front of it. It then turned to stare at the shaking girl cowering on the ground behind it. She pushed herself into a sitting position and stared up into its glowing eyes while tears ran down her face.

            “Ryu! It is you!” she cried. The dragon didn’t say anything. Instead he inched closer and lowered his head, so that he was staring directly into her eyes.

            “You had me so worried!” Rosette sniffed, “Why won’t you come home? Why won’t you say anything?” Still the dragon didn’t move, or make a sound. Then to her surprise, it suddenly turned to leave.

            “You’re leaving? After all that?” she cried, “You know how much I was hurting because you were gone?!” With her words, the dragon stopped and looked back at her. She sat with her hands folded in her lap, not caring that her tears were soaking her shirt.

            “If there’s something wrong Ryu, you can tell me!” she said, “I’m your friend!” He seemed to stare at her for the longest time, as if he was trying to recall a name to the face, and she realized that he didn’t recognize her.

            “It’s me Ryu! It’s Rosette!” she said, standing up, “Don’t you remember me?” His head drew back as if he was shocked at her words, and then turned away once more deep in thought. She gave him a few minutes until he finally turned his nose to the sky and stared at the full moon overhead. Rosette then jumped when he released a monstrous sneeze setting the grass in front of him on fire.

            The fire made the shadows on the side of the cottage dance as she sat next to the gentle giant beside her. She had found a rather large tarpaulin under the cottage and had it tied to the trees around, making a shelter to cover her dragon friend. He tried to sleep beside her, but she could tell that he couldn’t and she wanted to keep him company.

            “Ryu, what happened?” she asked. Her question was met with silence, “Why won’t you say anything? Are you hurt or something?” Ryu lifted his head to her and the light from the fire washed over the other side of his face, where three deep gashes from the bear swipe still dripped blood on the ground. Rosette rushed inside to grab whatever she could to treat his wounds. As she dressed his cheek, she finally realized what the problem could be.

            “Ryu, is why your not saying anything be because you can’t talk anymore?”  His eyes softened and he stared at the ground, “I-I’m right. Aren’t I?”

“Yes, you are.”

            Rosette jumped when she heard the voice and Ryu’s head shot in the air. A rather large object appeared in front of their makeshift tent, and then suddenly shrank, when a tall woman stepped out of the darkness. Ryu lowered his head once more as if recognizing the woman, and Rosette became confused. The woman seemed pretty normal, with long black hair, and bracelets on both wrists. But the way she stood made Rosette fell wary about her, with her hands on her hips and a smile on her face.

            “Who are you?” Rosette asked.

            “Call me Jessy.” She said, “How’s he doing?”

            “You know him?” she asked, Jessy took a seat on a stump.

            “I guess I should explain a few things.” She said, “You look as confused as you did when I pulled you two out of the water yesterday.”

            “Y-Yesterday?” she stammered, “That black dragon was you?!”

            “Yes.” She said.

            “But I thought that black dragons were troublemakers who use illusions to mess with people’s minds!”

            “And who told you that?” she asked, looking rather insulted.

            “A friend.” She said, “So yesterday was real?”

            “Yes. I wouldn’t fool around in a situation like that!” she said, “I may be capable of doing things like that, but I’ve learned that there’s a time and a place for everything.”

            “Well, what’s wrong with him?” she asked, returning her attention back to him.

            “I don’t know what he did to deserve this, but from what I can tell, he’s been stripped of almost all of his magic.”

            “W-What?” Rosette gasped, “But I saw him breathing fire a moment ago!”

            “That’s not magic.” She said, “That’s just a biological function all fire dragons have. They just use their magic to amplify it.”

            “Is that why he can’t talk?” she asked. Jessy nodded.

            “We use magic to take human form and talk as well.” She said, “We may know and understand the language, but in order for our throats to make the right sounds, we need magic.”

            “So he lost all of it?”

            “Not all. But most of it.” She said, “He’s basically gone back to the most primitive versions of a dragon there is. I’m surprised he can lie there next to you without eating you and burning down this cottage.”

            “Ryu, what have you done?” she muttered.

            “Do you know what happened to him to be like this?” Jessy asked. Rosette nodded.

            “He gave it up to save my mother.” She said, “I thought he died!”

            “Rising from the ashes, eh?” Jessy muttered, “I know the feeling.”

            “W-what?”

            “I went through something like this not too long ago.” She said, “Every dragon does it from time to time. It’s part of the blending in process.”

            “What do you mean?” Rosette asked.

            “What would happen to me if I stayed in one place, had a life, and lived it looking exactly as I do now for a hundred years?”

            “People would get suspicious, I guess.” She said.

            “Right. This is a problem for dragons, so most fake their deaths and start over, using a new name and a new identity.”

            “I see.” She muttered, “So who were you before you did this?”

            “Is that important?” Jessy asked, “The reason I faked my death was to start over, with no strings attached from my previous life.”

            “Just curious.” She said.

            “Well, if you must know, I was a pilot.” She said, “I supposedly died in that plane accident a while ago when the plane crashed on takeoff and went into a ravine.” Rosette’s eyes went wide.

            “Y-You couldn’t be…….Jessica Porter?! Could you?” she stammered.

            “How do you know my name?” she asked. Rosette became angry and tears fell again from her eyes.

            “BECAUSE YOU LEFT YOUR DAUGHTER BEHIND!!!!!” She yelled.

            “My what???!!!” she gasped, “M-my daughter?”

            “Yes. Flora. Or did you forget all about her?” she said. Rosette tried to stop her hands from shaking.

            “Flora! She’s still alive?! You’ve found her?!” she cried, taking Rosette’s hand, “Where is she?”

            “She’s probably with his sisters back home.” She said, “What’s going on?”

            “After the plane accident I had meant to go pick her up, but the police found her first and child services took her in to find her a new mother, thinking I was dead.” She said, “I lost track of her after that. I’ve even tried applying to become her new mother under a new name, but they said I wasn’t qualified.”

            “But you were her real mother!” Rosette exclaimed, “You are the only one qualified!”

            “They only care what’s in their computers.” She said, “To them, her real mother is already dead! I kept trying, but after a while she said she was already adopted and wouldn’t tell me who she went to. I thought I had lost her forever!”

            “Well, if you want, you can come home with me. I’m sure she’s there.” Rosette said.

            “T-thank you!” she stammered, “I don’t even know your name, and you are so kind to me!”

            “It’s Rosette Pegasus.” She said. “You’re welcome.” She sat holding this crying mother in her arms, and Ryu released another sneeze, making the fire climb into the sky.

            “So what are we going to do about him?” Jessy asked.

            “We can’t just leave him here.” Rosette said.

            “I mean in the long term.” She said, “He needs to recover his magic, or he won’t last long in this new world. He will eventually be found and captured. He needs to be able to take human form to blend in.”

            “But how will he recover that much?” Rosette sighed.

            “He could get it from his element.” She said, “But that would mean him taking a swim in a volcano or something.”

            “What?!”

            “Too bad he wasn’t a green dragon like Flora. He could recover right here in the forest.” She said.

            “But this is Canada!” Rosette said, “There’s no volcanoes in Canada!”

            “I know that, Rosette. I was kidding.” She said, “He just needs to absorb a lot of heat.”

            “So you mean it could be the middle of summer before he can come back to the city?”

            “Possibly. It doesn’t take much magic to take human form, but it takes practice and skill, because it comes from mental concentration.”