Esmeralda of Dracosia: Chapters 17 & 18
By Christina Relich
Creative Writer
Author’s Note:
Greetings! It’s been a regrettably long time since I’ve posted two chapters, but now that the climax is drawing closer, I hope to have the story come along faster. The beginning of this story was rather long ago, too, so in case you have trouble following, here is a summary for the New Year’s iGlobe!
(To find the previous chapters of the story, go to this link: http://www.icademyglobe.org/search.php?s=Christina%20Relich&s_by=author
For more recent chapters, check out the current archive.)
Esmeralda has lived in solitude all her life. She grew up on a small island, the large mountain and surrounding forest her only companions. She has an easy, simple life; one where all her worries are centered around herself. Nothing goes wrong, she knows where she is headed, and she has all the time in the world. What better could a dragon ask for?
But all that is to change.
Suddenly, Esmeralda finds herself linked to an impossible prophesy: she is to lead the land of Dracosia in a battle that no one has any knowledge about, including herself. Thrown into a world of other dragons, some like her, others strikingly different, Esmeralda must learn how to fit in while finding the path of her future; of who she is meant to be. Friends and allies work their way into Esmeralda’s heart as she learns about a power that all dragons hold to a certain extent: magic.
But despite these newfound strengths, a dark evil is rising in the Black Mountains at Dracosia’s boarder. A vengeance as old as nightmares themselves draws nearer with each passing day. If Esmeralda wishes to keep her new friends safe, then she must find the leadership within her and face her destiny…
…before the world goes black.
* * *
Chapter 17
“Sleep well,” nodded Sarafina.
Esmeralda began to walk away, but then turned back to the Queen. “Do you think Orion will be awake tomorrow?” she asked hopefully.
“The faster you get to sleep, the faster you’ll know,” Sarafina said in a motherly tone. Esmeralda couldn’t help but have a twinge of longing for her own mother Stelleona, but Sarafina continued to smile knowingly. “Goodnight, Magic Wielder.”
* * *
Esmeralda opened her eyes to darkness. At first she just thought that it was the cover of night, but as time went on her eyes did not adjust. Her pupils dilated so wide it hurt. Determined to find an explanation, the emerald dragon stood. As soon as she did so, however, a wave of dizziness rolled over her like the crashing tide. Esmeralda’s other senses were no better; the air had no scent, her body felt suspended in air, and no sound met her ears other than the tha-thump of her own heart. She tried to tell herself it was a dream; a vision, of sorts, but to no avail. The coolness around her just felt so….real.
“Hello?” called Esmeralda, her voice reverberating in the thick atmosphere around her. “Please, anyone? Hello?” Her echo was the only sound to greet her.
Snorting in frustration, Esmeralda stopped trying to converse with the shadows. She had to find a way out, that she was certain of. Think, Esmeralda, think, she told herself. There must be a way, if only I could see…Of course. How could she have been so ignorant? She was a dragon, and that meant…
Fire.
Taking a deep breath, Esmeralda unleashed her flames into the darkness, hoping for something to catch. Big mistake. As soon as the fire flew out of her maw, the thick clouds of black erupted in a blast of light. The brightness stung Esmeralda’s eyes so hard that she gasped, but that wasn’t the worst part by far. The flames licking at her scales burnt. Dragons could not be severely hurt by fire, especially by their own. However, the inferno seemed to have other plans, and proceeded to chard Esmeralda’s hide. “AAAHHHH!” she roared in pain and confusion.
Suddenly, Esmeralda could hear noises; broken, rattling hissing that sounded eerily like laughter. It gradually grew in numbers, until the hissing was the only thing that Esmeralda could hear. Her heart rate quickened. She wanted so bad to open her eyes and face the source of the laughter, but a memory of advice came to Esmeralda’s mind. Just before they parted, the Lindworm King Scalder had mentioned why he was blind in one eye: “Never keep yer eyes open in a dragon’s cross-fire. Our scales may be fire proof, but our eyes certainly aren’t!”
So much for fire-proof scales. But with the heat and pain increasing, Esmeralda decided that she dare not open her eyes until the flames died. If these flames ever die, that is, thought Esmeralda grimly. She dug her claws tighter in the ground as her thoughts grew hazier with pain.
A deep, all-consuming laugh echoed around the blackness, drowning out the chorus of hisses. It grew louder and louder still, until Esmeralda was sure she would get a pair of deaf ears to go with her burning scales.
“My,” the voice echoed. It was definitely male, as deep as the vastness of space. All directions projected it, and even more confusing was its duality. Part of the voice sounded almost normal, if only very low, but the other sounded gruff and insanely deep, like thunder or an avalanche. “My, my. How interesting. A burning dragon; not something one witnesses every day.”
Esmeralda tried to act brave, but the heat was so intense that her voice betrayed her. The emerald dragon cried out in pain.
“Oh, if only your scales could hold out longer to your own flame in this bit of irony. Hmm. Pity, I find you amusing,” hummed the voice thoughtfully. “Give me a reason why I shouldn’t just kill you now.”
Though the fire raged around her, Esmeralda’s mind grasped for a reply. She had to think of something to get these flames to stop. It would also help to find a way to not die. “If—gah—if you think I’m so amusing,” Esmeralda struggled to say, “Then it would be wise...to…not kill me now. AH!” Her claws scratched the ground harder. “Everyone needs a plaything, correct?”
There was a pause of silence, then…
The flames disappeared.
Esmeralda collapsed on the ground, out of breath and feeling miserable. Through her ragged breaths and blurred vision, she could make out spots of blue, wispy fire burning softly beside her. The only light other than the patches of blue was a soft, red glow from somewhere above Esmeralda. Despite the heat that had just met her scales, the atmosphere still remained deathly cold.
“Perhaps I will keep you alive,” the voice spoke again. “You may provide a formidable foe, even though it won’t take much magic to make you fall.”
Esmeralda propped herself up on one of her wings. “I’m stronger than you think,” she muttered, coughing.
“In your mind, yes. But many a dragon look at themselves as greater than reality; they place themselves in the light, whether it is theirs to take or not.” The voice growled bitterly. “You have become better shaped and stronger, yes, but still you are new at all of this. You think yourself a hero, Esmeralda of Green Scales? What proof of that do you have?”
Suddenly, images flashed around her:
Her initial ignorance of the outside world.
False moves at battle practice.
Plummeting towards the stormy ocean, which she had done more than once.
The months and months of magic training, all of it filled with no control, nor mastery.
Struggling to live by herself as a small chick.
Fears.
Harsh words.
Uncertainties.
The death of her mother.
“You are imperfect; flawed, as all are. But perhaps even more so. The death of the White Scaled One pains you most of all. You could have stood up to face my Shade Stingers, or died along with her; but you listened to her petty words of caution and fled, tail between your legs. Bravo, magic wielder. Is this how you will lead your dragons into battle? When you face me, will you run?”
The voice began to laugh with dreaded coldness, chilling Esmeralda further. “You are nothing to me other than entertainment. My rise will be made interesting by Dracosia’s stand, but it will hardly be deterred. What are you other than sand in the way of a tidal wave?”
Esmeralda tried desperately to get to her feet. “You….you have to be stopped. We have no other choice……if your brother could defeat you, than so can we, Nymaul.”
Silence.
“Your words are valiant. But alas, they have no meaning to me. You can stir an army with words, but it is the action and ability of the individual that defines them. You say you can make a difference in the outcome of the inevitable, but all you are doing is quickening your destruction.
“My brother, if I dare even call him that, was faced with a much weaker version of myself. My powers have grown and strengthened over countless years. What you plan on defeating is something ten times as powerful. The look in your eyes says I am bragging, but this is false. I speak only reason, young one. You are barely a hatchling compared to the eons I have spent in the shadows.”
Suddenly, the shadows seethed with movement. Hundreds of yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness, and glinting fangs shown in the red light of Nymaul’s eyes. Thousands of voices hissed and laughed,
“Kill her now, Master!
Kill her now, Master!
Let all her hopes bring naught but disaster!”
“HUSH!” Nymaul boomed. The shadows fell silent. “I will let the dragon live, but only out of interest in where she will take her hopeless fool’s errand. I want to be the one to swat her out of the sky once she has delivered me the fun and amusement I desire. For now, though, I want her out of this place. Show her the way, my servants.”
The shadows grew thicker as the Shade Stingers closed in. Closer and closer their malevolent eyes grew, shrouding Esmeralda in the glinting gazes of hungry creatures.
“Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, farewell.
The end draws near and time will tell
If you can face the shadows that dwell
Inside your heart with just a mere spell.
Beware, beware, take heed, take heed,
All can change with a single deed.
Though you cling to those you need,
It just takes one to plant a seed,
The shadows will engulf with lightning speed.
Beware, farewell, take heed!
* * *
“ESMERADA!!!”
“RRRRAAAAAHHHHHGGGG!” roared the emerald dragon, rearing from her nest and spewing fire blindly as her wings beat into a frenzy.
“LOOK OUT!”
“WOAH!”
Esmeralda hurt all over, and her vision was still a bit blurred, but the voices next to her were familiar……soothing, even though they were shouts. A large figure came in front of her.
“E-Esmeralda?” he said gently.
Slowly, Esmeralda’s eyes grew more focused as the slits of her pupils widened back to normal. Her breath still came heavy, but gradually it, too, slowed down and became normal. “Orion?” she asked breathlessly.
“Esmeralda, what happened?” asked the Leader with concern. “You slept late, so we came to check on you and found you tossing about in your nest and shouting like you were hurt. Now, I’m sure at some point in my life I deserved a proper scare, and blasting us with fire sure did the trick, but….” He trailed off.
“Esmeralda?” asked Nightingale, standing beside her brother.
The green dragon sat down slowly, feeling defeated and worn. “I can’t do it,” she whispered numbly.
Nightingale’s eyes grew full of confusion. “Esmeralda, what are you taking about?”
Esmeralda didn’t answer.
Orion came closer to her, smoothing his wing down her green-scaled back. “What did you see?” he whispered to her.
“Nymaul.”
The three were silent for a long while.
“And you believe his words?”
Esmeralda looked up to see Aurora in the entranceway. “Teacher…”
The old Wyvern entered the room with a nod. “No doubt he has struck you down. He has made you anxious and dubious of your own abilities. He told you that you are nothing, and that the hope of Dracosia lies only in words.”
“H-how did you-“
“Has anyone ever told you that it is possible to read emotions like a book? My dear Esmeralda, there is one thing that Nymaul is correct about. We can’t lift ourselves higher than our rightful place, nor will words help us do this. But he himself has twisted his reasons, and all he seeks is to settle the greed in his black heart.”
“But how are we supposed to stop him?” said Esmeralda, shaking her head and staring at the ground.
“No one can become all-powerful overnight,” said Aurora, “for two reasons. First of all is that no one can become all-powerful, because that role is already taken by a greater being above us. The other reason: if one wants something, they must work for it—hard. True heroes find the place they are most needed in, and follow the path. They may go blind at times, but their faith, courage, and friends give them light. Esmeralda, in you I see all these things, and more. But to believe in something you have to believe in yourself. Nymaul knows this and tries to throw you away from your aim, and right now he appears to have succeeded somewhat. Do. Not. Let. Him. Win.”
“You’re not alone in this, Esmeralda,” Nightingale smiled. “We are in this together until the very end, and there’s nowhere we’d rather be.”
“You’ve brought something to us that I can’t even explain,” continued Orion. “You are so remarkably different than anyone else I’ve met, and whatever Nymaul says about you or the fate of Dracosia are lies. We care for you, Esmeralda. I……”
Esmeralda turned to face him. “You what?”
Orion swallowed, looking down.
“Orion, you’d best answer me, you are not leaving me in suspense to this again!” protested Esmeralda, the beginnings of amusement glittering in her eyes.
“They’re watching…” muttered Orion.
“Oh, out with it, Lad!” said Aurora.
Orion straitened, looking Esmeralda right in the eye. “I…..I love you, Esmeralda, and I will be with you, no matter what this battle brings.”
Esmeralda’s eyes widened. “You mean that?” she whispered.
Orion nodded. “With my life.”
Esmeralda took a deep breath as her heart fluttered like a bird. “Thank you. All of you. We’ve got to muddle through this, and there’s no other group of dragon’s I’d rather do it with.”
“We’ll make it,” smiled Nightingale.
“Great Dragon be with us,” nodded Aurora.
Chapter 18
The meeting of leaders and elders did not start as well as Esmeralda had hopped, and that was putting in nicely.
“We have to go now!” shouted the Lindworm Scalder, whipping his dark purple tail on the ground.
Glorkin, the earth-brown scroll keeper of the Wyverns, snorted in frustration. “No, it’s too soon. They’ll be expecting attack!”
“They’ve been expectin’ attack for the past millennia!” shouted Burn, siding with his king.
“We must discuss this more. Do you expect us to organize a battle in a day?”
“Oh, for the ever lovin’—”
“Scalder!” interjected Aurora. “My fellow Wyvern has a point; we cannot rush this launch, for the consequences are great!
“I say…we freeze ‘em cold!”
“That’s your answer to everything, Frystor,” complained Zhishi, rolling his sea-colored eyes at the alpha of the Frost Dragons.
“It is not!” the white dragon bit back coldly. Quietly, he muttered, “I still say we freeze ‘em.”
“Well, whatevah we do, my warriors are ready for them ‘orrible shadows!” piped a small but firm voice from a branch above. Florafie, the matriarch of the owl-sized Grottoskims, flapped her feathery, lime-colored wings at the dragons below her perch.
“Ooh, terrifying indeed!” exclaimed a red and gold Lung beside Zhishi. “All shall tremble at the overwhelming cuteness of the fun-sized dragons!”
“OI!” shouted the little Wyvern-like dragon. She flapped forcefully downward, straight in front of the Lung’s face. “’Ere’s your ‘fun-sized’ dragon, mate!” Florafie turned quickly, her feathery tail lashing the other dragon’s nose. “’Ow d’ya like that, Meijia?”
“Why you infernal little—”
“ENOUGH!” roared Orion, silencing the room instantly. “We are here to discuss the battle with Nymaul, not the battle amongst ourselves! All of Dracosia is in danger, therefore any dragon, large or small, is required to lend their aid. I know that it’s hard for all of you to agree on anything, but once, just this once, for the sake of all our sanity, KNOCK. IT. OFF!” Orion took a breath. “Am I clear?”
“Yes, Leader,” all the dragons mumbled.
“That’s my boy,” Sarafina whispered to Esmeralda, who was sitting behind Orion. Nightingale had gone off to find Geal, leaving Esmeralda to help Orion and Sarafina with the meeting. Truth be told, however, Esmeralda was slightly glad for the commotion of the room. It helped her focus on the actual task at hand, and not on the giddiness that Orion’s confession had left in her. But, perhaps it wasn’t the worst thing in the world… NO. No, quit it, Esmeralda, she told herself. Nymaul is rising in a day. The world could end. Everything depends on your actions, not your daydreams.
But they’re rather good dreams, another part of her argued back.
Yes, but-
And he’s a rather good dragon.
GAH! Stop it! Focus, focus…
“—expert on creatures, Meijia. What do you have to report?” Orion asked as Esmeralda forced down her thoughts.
The red and gold Lung, Meijia, stepped up. “Indeed, Orion, I have seen many a strange creature in my time, but these Shade Stingers are new to me. Until recently, I did not think such a monster could exist. Yet, here they are. Many of the dragons around my home say they see the shadows moving in strange ways, and they are frightened.”
“With good reason,” murmured Glorkin.
Meijia nodded. “From what I’ve seen of your prisoner, I can derive a few things. The creatures appear to give off an aura of doubt and fear, weakening their opponent. They have sharp eyes, and extra sensors just above those for night vision. Their tails are agile, and can lash forwards to slash with their stingers. Their back legs are good for jumping and climbing, while their forelegs can grab.”
“So, not lookin’ good for us?” said Burn, flicking his tail.
“It may seem so, but they do have some weaknesses,” Meijia explained. “They cannot slash behind them, only smack. If a dragon came from behind and stopped the tail, then the rest of the creature could be dealt with. Also, they cannot fly, which gives us an aerial advantage.”
“Speak for yourself,” muttered Scalder.
“Lindworms are the fastest climbers and diggers,” Orion informed him. “You’ll be more than capable of fighting.
“That’s all good an’ well, but what of Nymaul?” demanded Frystor. “How do you expect us to stop him?”
Orion sighed. “We know not the full power of Nymaul, but we do have hope, and we do have a challenger. Aurora and I have talked for a good while, and we have found that the only dragon skilled enough in magic to go up against Nymaul……is Esmeralda.”
Esmeralda knew this was coming, and yet, she was still startled. Unfortunately, so was nearly every other dragon in the room.
“’Er?” exclaimed Florafie. “What’s so special about ‘er?”
“’Er—gah, I mean she is perfectly capable of stoppin’ Nymaul! Aren’t ya, Lass?” argued Burn.
Scalder flicked his tail to silence the other Lindworm. “I agree that she is skilled, Burn, but does she have enough strength to stop the King o’ Nightmares himself? As I remember, she only got here a few months ago. Will that be enough trainin’?”
Aurora stepped up then, her multi-colored wings radiating old magic. “I have taught Esmeralda a great deal of my experiences, and with the short amount of time we now have, we do not have another choice. I myself will aid her as much as possible, but in the end, it is up to her.”
All eyes turned to Esmeralda.
“Well, what do you plan to do, magic wielder?” Zhishi asked, his spectacles glinting in the light of the sun.
Orion watched her with hope as well, silently urging her to speak. But what could she say? Esmeralda knew better that anyone the extent of Nymaul’s power, and if the coming battle was anything like her dream…
No. Esmeralda pushed the thought away as she looked around at the dragons before her. How many, she wondered, had children at home? As her memories of Stelleona resurfaced, Esmeralda knew that she couldn’t let those chicks lose their parents just because she’d backed out. She wouldn’t do that to them; not now, not ever.
“What will we do?” Zhishi repeated, a small smile forming on his muzzle as Esmeralda stood.
The emerald dragon lifted her head, trying to act more confident than she really felt. “Well, Zhishi,” she said, “we do whatever we can.”
Suddenly, Geal and Nightingale burst into the meeting chamber, both of them panting.
“Orion!” Nightingale exclaimed.
Geal’s eyes locked with the Leader’s. “The prisoner’s escaped.”
* * *
“Let’s MOVE!” shouted Orion, soaring in the air above the Tree. Hundreds of dragons stood below him, all clad in armor that reflected the cloudy sky. The Shade Stinger was nowhere to be found, but it was clear that time was running out. Troops of dragons, all sizes and kinds, unfurled their wings and took to the air with previously pent up energy. Older officers shouted commands over the thick incoming wind. The land-bound Lindworms did the same, taking off up the cliff and through the forest.
Esmeralda took a deep breath as another gust of wind buffeted the tree, rattling the dark green leaves and threatening to dislodge them. The scent of rain hung in the air as the animals below Esmeralda scurried off to find shelter.
“The calm before the storm,” mused Aurora quietly, coming up to sit beside Esmeralda. The elder dragon’s bronze armor nearly blended into the color of her scales.
“How is this calm?” Esmeralda wondered aloud. “The warriors have started off, we’ve got barely a day and a night to reach the Black Mountains, and this wind is whistling so hard I think it’s going to blow my armor off.” It wasn’t a bitter remark, just…tired. Unsure.
Aurora nodded understandingly. “I wish I could tell you differently, my dear, but this is calm compared to what awaits us at the Black Mountains. Remember, though, you are not alone in this. Sometimes, we can call upon the most unexpected people. And other times…..those who we think we can rely on the most aren’t there.”
Esmeralda grew fearful at her teacher’s faraway gaze. “What do you mean, Aurora? Is someone going to betray me?”
The elder shook her head. “No. Just….after a time, there will be a point in which only you can proceed. You must be able to make your own decisions.”
“Aurora—”
“Hush. Do not worry yourself now.” Aurora turned her gaze towards the skyline, where the dragons were now bird-sized. “It is time.”
Aurora hefted herself into the air after the other dragons, leaving Esmeralda to gaze after her with concern. Her silver armor suddenly felt very heavy. “The first large flight before the end of the world,” sighed the green dragon quietly. “Best get on with it then.”
Esmeralda spread her wings, flying towards the dark horizon.