There I stood face to face with the legend. I said a human name, the name of Russell I don’t know what it fully meant. When I said the name though the dragon's eyes turned from pure hatred and hunger. From a decent creature I look deep into those eyes I wish I could fully tell you what I saw.
I saw a creature, a good creature deep in all those scales. The poor thing I am sure had been through so much. I wish I could. No, I know I couldn’t have helped her. I know full well the community above wouldn’t even welcome her. It took a few pregnant moments of us just staring at one another.
“How did you know that name zebra? There is no one alive now who would know that name.”
I quickly did my best to answer.
“A cloaked mare who told me if I wish to learn why this community above is named Dragon’s Rest told me it. She said if I wish to learn and understand, I have a feeling she meant I would have to talk to you one as old as you. Oh, Majestic dragon.”
The dragoness snorted laughing.
“Now don’t pull that Lord of the Rings crap on me. I may be a dragon but I am not a fool like Smaug was.”
I was confused about Lord of the Rings. This dragon knows many things. I sit down staring up at the dragon. I watch her grab some of the fish to eat.
“Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude. Just can you please tell me about yourself?”
The dragon stares at me for a few moments.
“Fine. I am known as Malla or the name you did say, Russell. I was human once I woke up one day like this. Let's just say it didn’t go well for me at the start of my journey like this. Now before I fully go on. You’re from the community above correct? The community who turned me into some legendary monster right?”
I nod
“I don’t know why they turned you into a legend. I am sure it has something to do with all of our old history being missing and old burnt ruins not far from here.”
Malla stares at me. I could tell something hit her hard. A few tears fell from her eyes. She caught herself before she fully fell into despair. She righted herself up and wished to look strong. When she lifted her head the grass released spores which floated above a small breeze leading up to the land above.
“That is a painful story to tell. It would mean telling you everything from the start. This could be the last chance I have to explain my story and the only time to do so is now.”
I didn’t know what she meant by this.
“What do you mean your last chance?”
Malla smiles weakly. The kind gentle soul behind those eyes of a dragon just stared at me with complete sadness.
“My time is slowly coming to an end.”
It hit me hard that she is dying. How can a dragon die though then I noticed something. Something is growing out of her side. She pulls it out and screams in pain roaring loud enough to shake the cave. I now know where those roaring sounds are coming from. She tosses the root down beside me. I will take a close look at it. It’s a tree root. Why is a tree root growing out of her?
“My fate and my punishment for how I handled myself in the past. Are you willing to learn and to write everything I tell you? Are you willing to prove those above wrong and fight for what you believe in and what is right for you? If you aren’t then get out of my sight and never return.”
I just stare at this dragon. She is telling me I need to fight for what I believe in. I need to tell the others about this story. I took a deep breath and all I could think of was saying yes. But I had to know more.
“Before I do this though I need you to ask me a few questions. Are you willing to miss Malla?”
Malla laughs.
“Just Malla please.”
I nod
“Alright, Malla. My first question is ``why didn’t you come up to tell the others who you are?”
A frown form on Malla's face looks away a moment and sighs.
“Tell me something, what is your name, zebra?”
Oh, my manners I cough a moment.
“I am sorry Glyph.”
Malla chuckles
“Okay Glyph tell me how would you act if a large black dragoness comes out of a cave to try to speak to you and then everyone around you turns into a crazy run away from the monster grabbing your pitchforks and other weapons to kill the beast.”
I wish she wasn’t correct but she is. I look at the root and how it withers and dies without it being inside her. I am now worried for this poor creature. What will happen to her if she allows these roots to fully take hold?
“So tell me how did you end up here?”
Malla chuckles.
“I can show you rather than tell you. Follow me, please.”
I follow Malla. She leads me back to the cavern that holds all those books and that strange toy. I think it was a toy. She reaches into the spell from one of the journals and offers me an old journal. She sets it down and I open it with a hoof. I read the title ‘A dragon’s trek to Michigan.’
“Huh, that is an odd name.”
Malla laughs.
“Eh, my old idea for the name of the journal was. The dragon trek with the most annoying mare in the world. It wouldn’t have been fair or right to do that to her.”
Her?
“Who is this mare you’re talking about?”
Malla frowns
“I explained a lot about her in what I wrote. When you’re done, come and find me.”
I watch Malla leave to get back to her hoard. I look back down at the journal. I read the first line to myself at least at the time I felt it was to myself.
May 23rd
May 22, 2015. Time: 7 p.m. Location: Buffalo, Wyoming.
I was laying in bed, feeling pretty sick with the flu. For a person like me, it was pretty normal to get the flu this time of the year. I had been a stroke survivor, but I had a bad heart thanks to my earlier life, and I would get badly sick.
I read on to learn about the creature I just saw and who this mare was she spoke of.
To Be Continued.