The Unfortunate Tale of Crackle the Dragon

The Unfortunate Tale of Crackle the Dragon. Part Five: Arrangements

The sun was already up by the time I awoke. Though by looking around, I saw that I was actually one of the early risers. I meandered to the main crater, taking in my surroundings- or lack thereof. Most of the wing was perched on a massive dormant volcano surrounded by a series of bare mountains and of course, the forest on one side. I looked towards the place where I recall the nest being, and kept track of it so I could point them in the correct direction later. After circling the rim for a while, I settled down on a flat place overlooking the crater, and contemplated the night ahead.
I thought of every possible event and change of plans. Nothing could go wrong. I would chase them down myself if I had to. There may have been three of them, but I was confident I could easily take them. Although I was a bit misshapen, I had a jaw that could snap logs and a neck quick as a snake. Not the first option, but I would snap each and one of their necks if it came down to it. But there were certainly enough of my pits. I had dug out exactly nine, all surrounding the nest, equidistant from each other. And each one was guaranteed death. I had certainly sharpened them enough. Using fire to temper the tip helped too.

Around noon Garble and hisfriends came over the opposite ridge and into the crater. He was accompanied by some others around his age, and a small one I didn’t recognize. Hopefully they wouldn’t be invited. But no, he wouldn’t. He would want the eggs all to himself and his security. They began to play competitive games, some of which I recognized but had never actually participated in. It felt strange, watching them. I knew they were dragons, like me. They were typical teenage dragons. But somehow, they weren’t like me. Rather, I wasn’t like them. Not anymore. I had a mind set on vengeance of the lethal kind. You can’t relate to your own kind at that point. Not anymore. And especially not after you’ve seen the things that I’ve seen.

But then again, there was Fizzle. There was always Fizzle, who I related to better than anyone. These past few days I had done my best not to think about him, knowing that soon he’ll be without me, without his play mate, his cousin, his friend. What I dreaded most, though, was that I knew I would have to, at some point, say goodbye. I wished so badly that I could stay. But there was no way, after doing what I was about to do, that I could stay with them. It wouldn’t be the same. Not after that. They would move on without me, I knew.
They then played a multitude of other petty games and started a sort of party near one of the gem piles. What they were celebrating I would never know. It sickened me, how they laughed and ate and danced. As if what happened not seven days didn’t matter. How could those lives, even pony lives, not matter to them? They saw the wickedness that could be inflicted upon others, the same as I. And yet there they were. And there was I.
I began my walk down the crater, making towards Garble. He was sitting on a rock chewing on a ruby, alone. Perfect.
“Garble!” I said, as cheerful as I could act.

He looked over and, when seeing it was me, seemed very surprised.

“Hey! Crackle. What’re you doing here?” he seemed concerned, as if I were going to threaten of harm him. Well I suppose that was true, but not then.

“Just walking around.” I said. It seemed like the appropriate thing to say. “Hey uh, you do phoenix eggs, right?” Maybe I was too forward, but by the looks of his stomach he had eaten enough to have somewhat impaired judgment.

“Um yeah, you know, when I can.” He looked around nervously. Smashing phoenix eggs was generally frowned upon, so he had to make sure for himself there weren’t any older dragons around.

“Well,” I proposed, sounding like a bad salesman “I was flying around and I saw a nest in the forest, just on the other side of that ridge.”

“Oh yeah? With eggs and everything?”

“Yep. Just over the ridge and follow the path into the forest. It’s in there a few fields.”

“Oh cool, thanks” he said meekly. Obviously this was very suspicious, very strange, but he either didn’t or couldn’t care at that point.

“Remember though, go at night. They’re weaker then.” This was true, and generally well known.

“Right, thanks.” I nodded and went back up the mountain. The conversation was incredibly awkward, but I doubt he noticed any deception. I looked back once, and he was passed out on the ground. Looks like I was just on time. Now there was only one thing left to do before I left for the forest.

Fizzle was playing with his leaves again. My father must have packed them for him. They were a bit crumpled and withered, but of course he enjoyed them anyways. He looked up at me and squealed with joy, scampering over, dragging his body behind him. He nuzzled at my legs, humming softly. My eyes were getting watery. I knew I had to make this quick, but I couldn’t bring myself to find the right words. I kept remembering all the times we’ve had together. Despite the constant moving and solitude and tough times, we were always together. Images of his smile, his walking, his failed attempts at flying, everything flashed before me whenever I tried to think of saying goodbye. I remembered thinking of how I thought I had lost him in the forest when he was little, that terrible deep cold sinking feeling. But this was different. Losing him from my own doing was so much worse. My parents, my sister, I would miss them, sure. But Fizzle was the closest dragon I’ve ever been with.

“Fizzle” I choked out. I could barely speak. Tears were starting to roll from my eyes. “You know I love you but-“ He was rubbing himself up against me more, trying to make me feel better. He was always the one to make me feel better. Whenever I was scared, without hope, there he was. But this couldn’t be helped. “But I have to leave. And I won’t be back. Not for a-“ No, I had to tell it to him straight. “I’m not coming back. I’ve done something very bad, and I have to make it right. I’m sorry.” I was bawling now. Tears were streaming onto the ground quickly, one after another. Looking back, I still don’t see how I managed to finish that goodbye. “You have to stay here. Mom and dad and Bluster’ll take real good care of you, okay? I promise.” Thankfully of that I could be confident.
Fizzle looked up at me, confused. He may not have completely understood, but he knew something bad was going on. I stepped back, but he followed me. The sky was a bright orange, the sun nearly beyond the horizon now. I knew I had to go. I took another step back. But he crawled after me.

“Fizzle, please” I started, but he continued to nuzzle me. “Fizzle. I have to go.” I said, raising my voice almost. I then turned, and started to walk away. It hurt to move. My head was throbbing from the crying. I heard him yelp after me, in distress. I didn’t want to turn back, I shouldn’t have, but I did. I saw him with his nose to the ground, pushing one of his leaves at me. I walked towards him and looked at the leaf. It was purple, and fresh as the day it was picked. He nudged it at me again. I took it up and slid it underneath one of my scales. I licked his head gently and managed a smile. And with that, I walked down the mountain as night set in, never once looking back.