"And this section is where we teach new lovie dovies how to fly."
The area Scarlet presented was much wider and open than what Lovey had seen so far. Indeed, the massive walls were usually kept tight and close to the areas they protected, so not much room was available, at least for the huge dragons. The flight training center was the complete opposite. Three dragons the size of Zunzoo could lie down across with their feet on each others' heads and still not reach the walls. The landscape was decorated with variously elevated mounds of baked clay or chiseled stone. There were even rings growing out of tall pillars of plants that spiraled upwards and was held by the strength of the stems and the interlocking leaves. Said leaves could interlock and fold thanks to them having four large 'arms' aiming upwards. The arms were made evident by large, empty spaces between them that reached to the core vein of the whole body. Further back was yet another maze, this time in the air, with a variety of tricks, traps, obstacles, and moving walls.
Several dragonesses, most of them being Lovey's age, were learning with a variety of teachers meant to train each of the new members at specific levels of their capabilities. Some of the platforms had large amounts of cotton at and around their bases. Something incredibly useful considering every dragon attempting to fly would fail.
"So I'm going to learn how to fly? Like, right now?" Lovey asked.
Scarlet pretended to hum in thought. "Maybe you should learn how to walk first. Maybe then we can ask the Pueric Mother, provided you behave yourself." She looked at the dragoness and placed her back on the ground. "Save that you can't even move your tail, let alone your wings."
Lovey looked to her tail and saw that it was limp and dragging along the ground. "So how do I move it? Can't I just cut it?"
"What? Are you crazy?!" Scarlet shouted. "First, that's a horrible thought. That's your limb. Second, it helps you keep balance both on the ground and the sky. Speaking of, it could actually be why you can't walk properly." She smacked her forehead. "Why didn't I see it earlier?"
"I never needed one before," Lovey said aggressively.
"Well it's a good thing this i the 'after', isn't it?" The giant put her hands on her hips while she thought of a solution, then one came to mind. "I know someone here who could help you with your new limbs."
Lovey wobbled and grunted in annoyance. "I'm willing to do this if I can just walk again. I'm tired of this high heel crap. So indecent," she whimpered.
"Yes yes. Girly girl thingy whatever. I don't care."
Lovey was about to say something, but dropped her hands and just exhaled. She was actually getting tired of all of this, both physically and mentally. Complaining more would be unseemly and excessively tiresome.
"So, are you willing to go there or continue with your temper tantrums?"
"Ugh. I'm not going to get into this fight again." Lovely rolled her head then dropped it. "We've been doing this for hours. Just take me to the way to help me, please."
The red giant made a single, nasal laugh. "Since you asked so politely, I'd be happy to take you there. Just be aware it's a very tiny section of the gardens and you're likely to get smacked in the face by several thorny vines."
The tiny dragon stood firm and looked straight past Scarlet. "Bring it on."
Just as Scarlet had said, the two suffered the flurry of vines and whips as they traveled through the brush to reach their destination. By the time they exited, they were covered in cuts and wounds.
"Vicious plants," Lovey coughed.
The garden section in question was just barely bigger than a medium rotunda, and the walls were covered with white and pink flowers f a species unknown to Lovely. Sitting in the middle of this place was a white dragon just barely bigger than Lovey Dovey. Her back was turned to the two newcomers, and she wasn't making a sound.
"Is she...is she dead?" Lovey asked.
"No."
Scarlet rolled her eyes and put the tiny dragoness on the ground. She approached the silent dragons and shook her gently.
"Hey. Sconce. Wake up." There was no response. "SCONCE!"
"WHAT?!" the dragoness answered loudly.
"You have a guest."
The dragoness looked at her red visitor then turned to look at the pink one with prying eyes. She looked estrange, at best, but he expression was a bizarre, indiscernible one. Her left eye was making and she had three, long teeth protruding from the right side of her upper jaw. She had no horns, instead having green, algae-like growths extending from her head as stiff growths. In fact, once she made sense of her surroundings again, a long line on her back changed color from solid white to a risen stream of the algae growths acting like spines. She looked at Scarlet again before talking. Her fingers were also long and needle-like, as evidence by her sharp, shiny claws, and she hunched over slightly.
"Did you go through the bushes?"
"Yes."
"Why? There's an entrance right there." She showed its location with an open hand whilst staring at the red giant.
Scarlet looked at it then nervously looked around and tapped her claws together with the same energy.
"THERE WAS AN OPEN SPOT RIGHT THERE AND YOU WENT THROUGH THE BRUSH LIKE A SOLDIER IN VIETNAM?!" Lovey bellowed.
"Well...it was the quickest way..." Scarlet's voice volume started dropping off.
Lovey tensed her fingers, giving the impression that she either wanted to or was simulating strangling Scarlet Fever.
"So what are you doing here? I was...meditating."
"Well, Dalai Lama," Lovey started. "Scarlet told me you'd help me to walk."
"Why? You've been paralyzed for a long time? Why didn't I hear of this?"
"No, Sconce. She can't move her tail and wings," Scarlet explained. "I figured I'd bring her to you early seeing as you're supposed to help new members get used to extra appendages."
The white dragon scratched her shoulder and moved towards Lovey to get a better look. She poked at Lovey who angrily protested being touched, but with just a bit more strength, she toppled over onto the ground.
"Pffff. She can't even stand straight when just a modicum of force is applied." Sconce cracked her knuckles. "I'll get her straight, but something like this is going to take several days, weeks even, for a case like this." She looked back at the dragoness spewing heart-shaped smoke from her mouth in anger. Sconce widened her eyes. "Huh. Not only do you have an adorable appearance, but you even have an overactive fire gland with bizarre properties to the fire."
"I'M NOT ADORABLE!" Lovey shouted.
Sconce backed away with her hands up. "Ooo. Easily angered, this one."
"Yeah. That's why I figured you could help teach her to walk before I even get her to do anything else," Scarlet sighed.
"Well...I do like new things," Sconce shrugged. "I'll teach her to use her tail. Meanwhile, you can do...whatever it is you do." She shooed Scarlet away with a few waves of her hand. "Go on now. Get out of here."
"I'm hoping to see at least a wee bit of progress by the end of the day. It would be a shame if she could never walk properly."
"I just TOLD you that it would take AT LEAST several days."
"That's a NON-SPECIFIC numbering system!" Scarlet argued.
"I don't specify numerical values!" Sconce shied away. "Numbers scare me."
Lovey burst out in laughter at the preposterous statement.