Dragon's Rest

by Megaskullmon

Rating: teen
Tags: Minotaur, Lyra, Diamond Dogs, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Mystery, Tragedy, Griffons, Slice of Life, Zebra
Length: 54027

It's been a month since, my Journey came to an end. I'm still here with Lyra but...are we truly alone? Or are we waiting for the next shoe to drop?

{A recording on a tape recorder plays.}

May 23rd, 2015. The world changed, I want to be able to explain but I can't. Greetings to any other souls out there. I'm known as Russell, but a friend I have gained through my journey named me Malla. I have been with her ever since The Event happened, traveling from Wyoming to Michigan. You ask yourself, are you really alone in this new world? What happen to this world? All I know is that most of the world vanished in one night.

I for one sadly don't know but there is hope. I am held up in a old Meijers, near the Kellogg airport. Don't worry to those that recently returned back from wherever. I'm willing to take you in and bring you up to speed and help you in this new world until you're back on your hooves, claws or whatever else you have now.

The world did end on that fateful day. I wish I could be the bearer of better news. But we humans well creatures changed from humans to whatever now. We have to stick together it’s all we have left is each other. If we allowed this even to make us lose sight of our hearts we will fall. So please come and be welcomed.  

Welcome to Dragon’s Rest.

{Recording ends}

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Take's place in Ponies after people universe created by Starscribe.

Published 2018-10-20 04:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2021-10-04 14:27:52 UTC

Intro: Welcome to Dragon's Rest

life always gives you a second chance. It's called tomorrow.
For a community. Needs to rebuild. To find and become Founders of new earth.

"Greetings I am Malla. I used to be human like you. I went on a journey from Buffalo, Wyoming to Battle Creek, Michigan. I wasn't alone though. I had a pony from another universe on the trip with me. I met another human known as Chris, a baby known as Starla and another known as Colgate. I welcome you here to Dragon's Rest."

At the moment Lyra is checking around the Battle Creek area. I gave her a map so she could try to find someone to become a leader. But it's getting harder for her to do so since we haven't been able to find anyone since we got here. It's starting to really bother her. She took her bags with her and said she would be fine.

I clicked the recording button again, having it playback to me. A sigh escaped my lips. I was sitting in the middle of the parking lot working this, I had found a lifetime supply of Dog food for Toby. Since he was around marking every thing that he has been for the past month. So i felt like doing the recording again.

" Greetings, I am Malla. I used to be human just like you, but I too have since lost my human body. Back during may 23rd something happen to us. I wish I could understand it myself. But I can't. But I have been trying to make due. Before i go, let me leave you with a few words of wisdom. I may no longer be human, but i have yet to stop being Human." I hit the replay to listen to my own words. I started to wonder when did I become such a poetic person? Is it having this happen to me or… My thoughts were cut off by a sound.

Behind me, i hear the crunching of leaves, the blair of an emergency siren, and the roar of a vehicle’s engine. Turning around quickly, I saw a large Ambulance coming right for me. I looked around the world felt like it was slowing down. Maybe it was my new dragon senses. I was hoping to find a way to stop them. All I could think of at the time, I was standing in of the emergency vehicle with the intent on being like Superman, or the Hulk.

I have a big feeling this is going to hurt. It crashed right into me causing me to slide along with it slowly. Then I realized I couldn't do this. But I did slow them down some. ‘Maybe they will find a way to stop,’ I thought as I jumped out of the way. I did slow it down some thanks to my large body mass...oww. I will feel that later. At least it had finally stopped.

I ran to the doors opening them up. I saw a strange dog like creature and a pony with wings. They couldn't walk so well when they got out. I leaned down to get to the height of the poor creature.

" Miss?" The mare opened her large eyes staring at me screaming.

Another voice spoke out, sounding more deeper, more male, from the cabin.

" Wanda? Are you okay?!" The dog creature walked, or at least tried to, over before he stopped. Then he just stood there, staring at me.

" Don't worry, it's alright.." I said. " I used to be human like you. Until I took an arrow to the Knee! I'm Malla now but I was known as Russell former male turned female dragon. Don't wish to go into it."

The mare chuckled before she spoke up in a soft gentle voice. "Ah, so a Mighty Dragon has been brought down by the lands of Skyrim? What has the world come to? Alas, without Alduin, i fear thy Thu’um no more! I'm Wanda...that's George. Wh...what day is it? I remember it was May 23rd 2:00 at night."

I sighed, I tried to keep up the humor, but it’s hard with those who recently have returned.

" It's now August 1st, 2015." The two looked at me with very scared eyes.

" My kids! My husband!!" Wanda yelled, trying to get to her hooves.

" I am sure they are not back either. Did you have anyone else with you?" I asked. George thought a moment before nodding.

" We did, a drug overdose. She was close to death. We had to strap her down, but she is an Iraq war vet."

I blinked they tried to save someone who had a drug overdose? George was kind of enough to unlock the back for me. I opened the doors, seeing in the back a zebra mare strapped to a stretcher. My eyes focused on the beauty of the creature. I don’t know why, but had a feeling I wanted to get close to her. Then she opened her mouth.

" Let me go now and I promise I won't kill you..." I sighed. ‘This is going to be a long day.’ Slowly, I went inside.

" Don't worry I am not going to hurt you. I am Malla." The zebra just stared at me. She had an angry sneer.

" I don't care who you are. Explain what happen now....I was human close to death and now I am healthy and ten times younger than I was." I sighed looking to the other two who are trying to walk then back to the beautiful mare. Now that I knew what she was like. I would have to be careful.

" I will tell you what i know. On May 23rd, the known world ended. But not by fire, radiation, or Natural disaster. But with the entire world population vanishing. I was turned into this. I met a pony from another universe, but she didn't tell me much. However, she did help me get here. But then I also met another like me named Chris who was turned into a mare. A baby foal that used to be human. Then another named Colgate."

" What's the date now?" The Zebra asked.

" August 1st."

The Zebra didn't cry or get upset. " Hmm...that means no one is alive to know the sin's I caused. What i did in the war, I'm Savannah. Let me go and I will be at your debt miss Malla."

I undone the bonds that kept her down. Of course I wasn’t expecting what she did next. She sat up quickly and with her hard hooves. Smacked my nose and both cheeks on my face. Then using the hooves to grab my face and toss me out on my back. Even though she had trouble walking she got out and smirked

" You're too slow... I shall teach you to defend yourself." She said with a smirk.I sighed rubbing my sore nose and my face after she used those hooves on me. I was going to think to myself I am either in love or scared to death.

" Well I will show you around. But let me teach you how to walk."

Now, like with me, it took them awhile. George got the hang of it pretty quick. Being this dog-like creature. Savannah got the hang of it as well. Wanda took her longer but she was able to do it.

" Now from my guess, you're a Pegasus Wanda. I have no idea what you are George. Also I know you are a Zebra Savannah. Anyway welcome to Dragon's Rest." The three looked at the large store and Savannah chuckled.

" I take it you must need to get power going again?" Looking to Savannah, I nodded. " That should be very simple." Savannah just simply walked into the store but before she did she leaned down to pet Toby, smiling at him. Then she just simply went inside. After a few moments, i looked back at the others. I just raised an eyebrow, wondering if they had any similar surprises.

" Well George and I are paramedics. That's all we would be good for now if we head back to the hospital. Now before George became a paramedic, he used to be a Drug tester and worked at Pharmacia & Upjohn. He has forgotten more about medicine then you and I could ever learn. So he could take my blood, your’s and Savannah's to see how medicines affect our new cells " George nodded.

" But to do that, we need to collect medical equipment from the hospital" He looked at the Ambulance, "Well Wanda ready to ride off again?" Wanda looked to her friend. A smile formed on her face and nodded. She looked back to me, waving her hoof and getting back into the very vehicle they arrived here in. Looking back at the recorder that somehow survived the entire thing, I picked it up and began to record.

" This is Malla, I'm here with three other former humans. Please know that you aren't alone. Come see us at the Meijer's and bring your skills." I looked at the other tape recorders i had nearby, I knew had more to record and it would take time. But for the moment? Things are looking up.

Listening to the recording again getting a bit of a sigh. This is getting tiring. I will try one more time on the first. " This is Malla, I have made a hub for survivors of the end. May 23rd the world ended not with fire or a bomb. But just simply lives vanishing. Some woke up on that day some seem to have lost many months. Us Michiganders have to stick together. Come and be welcomed at Dragon's rest or what is known as the Meijer’s located near the Kelloggs airfield.”

Listening to it back, I nodded, happy with how it turned out. Then redoing the same message again on another recording sighing this was going to get on my nerves but it needed to be done. One more move to finally being ready.

Chapter one: Savannah's Story

It all started like most thing's would. I was a young 15-year-old girl on that day. The world changed for me. September eleventh, 2001. It was a normal day in the park near the twin towers. A normal day the sun in the sky the birds singing. Then in instant chaos. A jetliner flew overhead crashing into the tower. I didn't remember what tower either. I just stared with my family. The smoke the bodies falling. Then another plane a second plane crashed into the other tower. We ran watching both towers fall to the ground. Then learning something hit the pentagon. Then another crashed in a field. I didn't remember much.

We went back home after it all. We had to rent a car since.. being able to fly back wouldn't work. So on the way back, there was no talking. Just listening to the news. All those lives lost learning along the way that it was an attack from outside forces. Using planes as missiles to take on the towers. The horror-filled my family’s minds. For me, I was still a bit young to understand most of it. But I knew death well. You live in Michigan awhile you do see a few things. But it was rare. The idea of how some folks could do this. It boggled my mind. I had much to think about because I wanted to somehow protect my country.

When we got home since I was homeschooled. I had no friends. But I had a choice to make. I went to the local recruitment office. Since I looked like 20 years old being a bit taller than normal for someone my age. But I went in, signing up to join the Marines. I had to go through a lot of testing. My eyes were pretty impressive but they did find some issues with them but still passed. Most of the testing was pretty simple at least to me. I was to be sent to boot camp in a week.

When I got home I got into an argument with my family.

"No, I won't allow you to become a murder!!" My mother said.

" Mom I am doing what I wish for my country to protect it from another attack."

I countered. Of course, my siblings avoided me. With how we were raised the army is murdering the innocent. It's the climate you live in. But. My father was able to convince my mother.

" Hon. Maybe this is best for her. She will learn many skills. Also, she might stay out of combat." My mother sighed she hated the army for what happened to her father in the past. But they let me go. I got ready packing mostly toothbrushes and some books. It would be a week before I get there.

Boot camp how do I talk about this. Well, Boot camp was pretty harsh. I went through all the training and even forced myself through it. I learned many skills on how to bring power back to places that have lost it. Now it's not easy to bring the power back but you do what you have to. My other skills were to bring medical help the best way you can. Now I wasn't a medic but I did what I could.

Again I went through many months of training. They had broken me and turned into what they wished of me. When I got home I was different I had that buzz cut but I still was my mom's, kind young woman. But she was right to be worried if I was sent into battle.

I stayed out of Afghanistan so again I was Lucky. But in 2003 I was seventeen years old. It was time for Iraq. Bush wanted us to go in cleanly and take care of the issue there. But of course, war is never going to be easy. The first few times I was lucky got into a few scrapes. A few fights I even saw many around me die to protect me. The war changed me changed my heart. It made me cold and a deep thinker.

What happened in Iraq was hard to explain to many people. The fact of what we saw hurt me the most. I was just 18 when it happens. Like we were told we were there to find weapons of Mass destruction. But what we found was mostly a people starving dying and dead. It wasn't going to be an easy path for us. My first job was to bring power back to one of the little villages.

That wasn't pleasant in itself. Because the people were hungry they were very desperate it was so easy to tell. I also helped work on bringing in water. Now that is even harder trying to find the right type of water. Some water there had to much salt in it from my understanding. But later we had found a way to clean up the water. it wasn't as easy. But I heard stories of many on the front lines.

The front lines of many deaths. I spent most of my life in Iraq. I spent five to almost ten years there. I wasn't allowed to come home until the job was done. But the reason I went in for became less the reason I went in. I wanted to save my country. But when I got back the political idea has changed.

I was treated like a criminal a murder when I got home. My family didn't even come to greet me. When I went home the same home I grew up in as a child. My family saw me when I opened the door and just looked at me Like I was a threat to them. My father had passed away and my mother remarried a man that I didn't care for. He hated me for what I did.

MY mother did love me still she gave me a large amount of money. Telling me to go find my own life.

" I'm sorry Savannah but I can't allow someone like you into my house. Please take this and go find a home for yourself."

I had taken the hint. With it being 2013 I had felt maybe I was unsure what to think. But For the first two years, I didn't know how to get back into normal life. Again I tried to find a job. But most didn't trust folks like me. I was a threat to their little world's. I grew more and more depressed the PTSD didn't help either. Most of the time I had bought of seeing the past.

Finally, I fell for so many years. I tried very hard to get back to my life back. I fell into a stupor of so much foolishness like ones like me would. I lived on the streets most of 2014. My life was finally coming back around early 2015. I felt that my life would. Then as all ones like me a relapse I fell back into the pain and overdosed. I just wanted to let it all go. But fate… fate on that night a simple fate saved me. The world ending saved my life.

A flash happens I swear it happens. Opening my eye's I felt new strange. Feeling a giant bump when the driver's upfront lost control. I heard chatting outside and then the door opened up. I saw a dragon...a female dragon staring at me. Being who I am I said my peace.

" Let me go now...and I promise I won't kill you."

" Don't worry I’m not going to hurt you. I'm Malla." The dragon said with a kind gentle tone. Of course, my tone in my voice wasn't as kind.

"I don't care who you are. Explain what happen. I was close to death and now I am healthy and ten time's younger then I was." I could tell the dragon knew. It was hard for her to speak of I could tell.

" I will tell you the 23rd the world ended. But not with fire or anything. But with the entire world vanishing. I was turned into this. I met a pony from another universe she didn't tell me much. But she did help me get here. But then I also met another like me named Chris who was turned into a mare. A baby foal that used to be human. Then another named Colgate." The dragon said.

"What's the date now?" I simply asked.

" August 1st." The dragon said. It's been that many months? Hmm, whatever happen changed the time. I didn't get angry or upset but I did say a few words that would make anyone's skin crawl. The dragon didn't seem bothered though.

" Hmm, that means no one is alive to know the sin's I caused. What I did in the war, I'm Savannah. Let me go and I will be at your debt miss Malla."

With the dragon undid my bonds. But to repay them I sat up and used my new found limps to smack them around a bit. Then with enough might of my hooves tossed her out on her ass. Smirking to myself but I could tell the dragon was slow and didn't use to be someone that fought for a living.

" You're to slow. I shall teach you to defend yourself." I said with a smirk slowly getting on my hooves and well falling on my face. But the dragon did help me get out and set me near the other two. They must have been the one's to pick me up. One looked to be a mare like me. A Pegasus the other looked like a dog being.

" Well, I will show you around. But let’s help you learn to walk." Malla said.

It took us a bit of an hour with the help of the dragon. But I got to know my two new friends. George the strange dog used to work at Pharmacia Upjohn. As a former drug tester. Then became a paramedic after he retired so he was the oldest out of all of us. Wanda a simple wife that had an interesting life. Malla a former male turned female? Huh, interesting.

But I got the hang of it. It took Wanda a bit because she is lighter than the rest of us. George had it easy since he was like a human anyway. Malla of course opened her gentle mouth. I was oddly starting to like her. But her gentleness did upset me a bit. I would have to get used to it.

" Now from my guess, you're a Pegasus Wanda. I have no idea what you are George. Also, I know you are a Zebra Savannah. Anyway, welcome to Dragon's rest." Malla said the three of us looked at the Meijer’s and I smirked interesting she took it over and made it a simple hub. Maybe later down the line, it will be a town again. But it would take bringing power back to the entire of Battlecreek. As well as Springfield. But first things first.

" I take it you just need to get power going again?" I look up to Malla. She just gives a nod. " That should be very simple."

Slowly on my new hooves, I walked to the store looking down at the Dog. Seeing a collar on him. Leaning down to read the name Toby if found. Buffalo Wyoming. Whoa, she came from there? Looking at the Ford car I saw how bashed up it was. She drove that as well. Leaning down to pet him. I went inside.

Now getting the power back would take time. First I need to see how much fuel we have. I need to see if we can break into the fuel chamber of some gas stations. Then hook up a bunch of generators. Now again this will take time but It might be very simple. Meijer’s was known for using its greenhouse during the winter. But it was rare that they used it all year round so we needed that powered. But again it was time to get to work.

That is my story. I don’t get why she wishes us to do this but thank you. One of the founders of Dragons Rest out. The Recording ends with a click.

Chapter Two: The story of a man named George.

My story you ask? Why would you ask the story of a simple old man? Well not so simple anymore. Anyway, my life started pretty normal. I was born in 1959, I grew up in a pretty heavy conservative family you could say. But I wanted to be a drug tester. Of course to become one I had to do good in school. I didn't have many friends. I focused only on school. Being born in Kalamazoo you would think it would be harder to get a good job there. Well around when I grew up it was. But first I focused on my schooling. But even so, schooling never came easy. We would ignore first grade to second grade and so on. But the best grade's for me were close to 6th

But I made sure I got what I could. During my schooling, I ignored the world around me. I didn't learn about music or even cared about it. I wished to be a drug tester. I wanted to help make the medicines that would save the sick. Of course, I had to go through medical school. But first I needed to learn the skills through normal schools. Of course, when I got into 6th grade I started feeling that I didn't need to work hard enough to become what I wished. In the other grade's I was a model student. I got amazing grades Close to almost all A's in math and the others. But what I struggled with was history.

But of course, I felt I didn't need it. Of course, this being the 60's I didn't sign up for the army. I didn't wish to be part of that. With me, I wanted to protect life not end it. But of course, most of my friends didn't get very lucky. But thanks to one issue I had. I had very awful mental attacks. The attacks happen from stress but I was able to control it after some work. But it still became harder for me.

But using this health issue made me want to help make the world of Medicine a better place. But of course, I didn't understand at the time there is a lot to this. I was young and didn't know how some of the politics and money went into making things like this. It was a dream of mine to become someone that could help everyone. Then nam happen the movement of make love not war happens. I fell into it.

I made friends and started doing things I never would have when I first started. Of course, this was the 60's. Around this time people only wished to party and do drugs. So I had become a hippie wishing to just party, do drugs, and well destroy my life. I went to Woodstock so we could be cool man. But instead, I destroyed my life. I did all the drugs I could make my issue worse.

I even did most stupid Donkey doo to yell make love, not war. So I did that I made love with many women. I'm sure I have some children out there from this moment in my life. So I was very stupid in this matter. It got to the point. That I had to go through a lot of fixing in my life. It's not going to be pleasant for me to say the least. But I do hope that someday I will be able to fix my life as I said to myself.

So I tried my best to clean my life but of course, I was Just forced back in by my friends. Love and peace dude was the way. I was like this for a few months. I got very sick the last few time's from all the drugs. I was even kicked out of school because of what happened. Of course, I didn't tell my parents I always sneaked out trying to make it look like I was at school.

Then when my grades started coming in it was all D's and F's. Then it said that in a note I was removed from school for using drugs. So My family of course looked down on me when I came home and they saw how my grades fell and my mother being the nice woman that she is.

" George D Morgan you have almost failed in everything. Do you wish to amount to anything?!" She screamed like a mad woman. Of course, being the smooth man I was I had a retort.

" But dude I'm amounting to so much. I'm going against the man mom. To bring back the army from the war." Of course, my mother didn't take kindly to how I worded it so she slapped me across the face hard that I fell to the floor. I just lay there for a few hours thinking of my life. Stroking my face.

She was right I wasn't amounting to anything I failed in my task. So I broke it off with my friends. They said I sold out. But I said I need to get on with my life. So what I did I cleaned myself up gave myself a haircut and cut my beard. I removed all the piercings I got. I tried to get back into school but the issue was I had to do 6th grade all over again.

So I buckled down again while the world around me fell apart. So I had to wait a year before I could start again. So when I got there the love craze was still going. But I had to move on I had to become better become smarter. But not worker harder work smarter. A year went by after I worked in the 6th grade. I passed it all but history with A's.

But I still had effects of my time with drugs. I couldn't do much because of that. It affected my ability to breathe correctly. It would take time but I got over it. With again a little help. I finally made it to 7th grade. I got to the point I made no friends at all. People just ignored me. They felt I wasn't worth being around. I had to get into college sooner or later. So I sighed up for Michigan medical college. A college that was located in the area that would be my first job.

Who knows really if it was fate. But where I ended up when I got out of school was the Upjohn's medical school that was also a pharmacy. Now only the best of the best get to stay here. So again. I had to work hard to get through here. I made no friends. Well, I did meet my wife of course. We did marry had a few children but I don't talk about that time of my life. So I ignore it.

My wife being the ahem children might be listening to this recording. Female dog. That she was refused to wait for me till I got through medical school. So she took the kids and found some idiot with so much money and well I had no idea what happened to her after that. This happen in the middle of the 80s. I finally got out of school around 1987.

When I did though I was given a job in Upjohn as my dream job a drug tester. Of course, I had to test on rats first. To see how the drugs affected them. Now I didn't care for this part of the job but it was needed. I even worked on dogs. But what got me upset is that each time we had to cut them open. It got hard to do so. We had to do that to see how it affected them.

So it was one way we had to work and harder to understand it. But I had my dream job. I even would have it when Upjohn merged with Pharmica Upjohn. I was a model worker who came to work and worked hard. Yes, my life sounds like a boar. A model worker a model student.

But I was a crappy husband. Work went great. I got to test in many different creatures even horses on how some drugs affected them. Then Pfizer bought them out. They didn't need me anymore. I worked there from 1987 to 2002. It was an experience but after that, it was hard to find a job.

So I did the next best thing. I went to the hospital they just gave me the job of being a driver for the ambulance. My partner was a sweet young mother named Wanda. We became close fast friends. I was there for all the time she had to break down and all the time she was hurting. I loved her family. Her husband Tony a great man. He treated her like a jewel.

But he did warn me about her family. Her family was what you call out there. They didn't like the fact that she married him. So they try every time to break her. But her mother loved Tony it was her father and brothers. We were in the ambulance one day she was sobbing a bit.

" Wanda....You have to stop allowing them to get to you. I know they don't like the fact you had a child out of wedlock but things happen. You can't always control it. Sex is a normal thing in life." I parked in front of Walmart in Lansing. Making sure the radio was on. So we could be told about something.

"Now are they going to come into your house again and try to kill Tony again?" But before she could answer there was a call.

" We have a man down in the street near the Walmart in Lansing please come in." Wanda took the radio.

" We are coming. Do you know what it was?"

" Yes many stab wounds."

We head down the street and we see something that Wanda feared. I got out quickly with her in a pool of his blood was her husband Tony. Handcuffed was her father and bother's. Wanda ran to him sobbing her eye's out. he was alive for the moment but he was slowly passing away.

I could keep myself from losing it any longer. I went to Wanda's father the cops didn't stop me at the moment.

" All this because she had a child out of wedlock? You went this far to kill him because he got her pregnant before they got married? Are you three that stupid?!"

Of course, her father tried to talk back to me. " In the name of the lord." Oh great, I thought he was a bible thumper using the lord god to prove his point so I did the next best thing. I balled my fist and punched him right in the fact. Of course, again the cops didn't stop me.

" Oh the Lord told me to do that..." I spat out at him. "Good luck with ever talking to your daughter again." Slowly going to Wanda who tried everything to keep her husband alive. I slowly put my hands on her shoulder. Pulling her away looking to some firefighters.

" Might be best to another group of paramedics. I don't think she may be able to handle this." The Firefighter's just nodded. I calmly took Wanda to the Coffee shop not far from us. We were well known there so the tender being a nice in her middle 40's Mexican women and her Italton husband saw it all.

She rushed up to Hug Wanda pulling her to the back other's knew her too. This town is where she grew up and found love.

" Mario!!" The women called out. " Give George and Wanda some of the best!!"

" Of course my love!!" he shouted back and started yelling the kitchen at his workers " She just lost her husband today boys make it the best she ever had."

I sat while Grettie held the crying Wanda. I just sat on the other side of the booth. It broke her. We spent a lot of time in that coffee shop because every time we came down here it broke her.

But she had enough she moved into Battle creek like I did this was 2015 April 1st. it went well she did remarry before April 1st. But she never saw her brothers or father again. They were tried for murder and put in prison for life. On the early morning around midnight of May 23rd, we were called to a drug overdose of a woman. It was a simple routine for us. Just pick them up and go.

We were just passing the Meijer’s with her when the world changed in a flash. I was a dog creature looking beside me Wanda was a light blue mare. We saw a lizard trying to stop us.

After we got introduced to her and what happened to us and the one in the back. I and Wanda got back in the ambulance and drove to the hospital

" Huh.." I said while I was driving it was pretty easy still for me. " I may get used to this body. I no longer feel the remnants of my sickness or the after-effects of the drugs I took in the 60's"

Wanda was silent but she did look over to me and smiled. Well, it was our time to do what we needed so we drove to the Hospital.

I wish I could go into more of what happened. But Malla only wishes the stories of how we met. One of the Founders of Dragons rests over and out….”Beam me up, Scotty.” I yelled. The recording ends with a click.

Chapter three: Wanda.

I'm known as Wanda Lewis Omally. I was born in Lansing Michigan It's a lovely state of course. But I was born in 1980. Now I was young I didn't know better most of the time. It's how most kids are. But I wished to be a doctor. But Of course, being a doctor would be a lot of hard work. But it's not going to be easy for me nothing ever is. To learn to be a doctor is hard work and worth it.

Of course, I had to go through the schools first before I could become one. But that would mean growing up. Now I grew up in a heavy Christian home. So yes it was something I wasn't very happy of either. My father and my brothers got very protective of me. My mother was the most laid back out of all of us.

They didn't allow me to do public schools so I had to go to well do many things. So I had to go to a private school and try to learn what I needed. But again I wasn't even allowed to have friends. My father and brothers didn't allow it. It made me very sad of course. But it's normal when your family is like this.

So I had to go to a Christian private school in Grand Rapids. It wasn't my idea of fun. But I did learn what I wished to learn in away. But still, It was hard to learn in a school such as this. Some things went on how God is the best form of healing to most folks. But I can't buy that. I may have gone to church and such as it is. But I can't just buy that.

It's very hard for me to understand that but. I had to learn how to become that in the form of what is to come. It's harder for me but we shall see. But I went through each grade but each grade was hard. In the first grade I had to learn math and math and I didn't get along. It was hard for me to get along with math also my family didn't help me at all. It's what made me feel very awful.

First grade went like this. Teachers gave me work told me that I needed to get my parents to help. But My father told me real Omallies don't ask for help. So I had to secretly get help from my mother. it made it harder for me. My brothers on my father’s side. So they tried everything to make me fail. But I made it through the first grade with the skin of my teeth. Now, what is normal.

My family did this to me. They forced my brothers into my classes so my brothers could keep an eye on me. So they would make sure I would fail since. My father wanted me to take up his business of working at a shop for vases and such. I didn't wish that so. I had to work around the clock even with them trying to sabotage me. It was harder to become what I wished. But what they did. They paid off the teachers to give me the hardest work.

Now I was able to beat second grade. My father was pissed off and tried everything to get me out of the school. Since he wanted me to learn what he wished me to learn. To be just like him, I told him I can't do this.

" But daddy I can't do that like you."

" Oh you will and you can. No daughter of mine will fall into that Pegan stuff. Its why I didn't allow you to get your shots. For no one is better than the lord."

I sighed and went to third grade. But this time the teachers became wise to my father and they gave me private schooling in the school. So its how that the way it's time to go. I didn't wish to be that way either but they needed to teach me what they did. So I was taught the higher stuff and I took to it right away. Because I was challenged.

But again the issue is my father tried everything to ruin things for me. My mother was a nice woman. She just let him do whatever he wanted. So I didn't have a choice in alot of the matter so during the summer I was forced to work at his store. I didn't want to at all. Now I kept trying hard when I got to 4thg grade I had to call my grandparents to get him to lay off.

They got him to lay off for a time of course. But he said when they’re good and dead. I will be under his thumb again. When I got to 4th-grade things started to calm down alot. It got peaceful for me and I started to feel that I can work hard on my schooling. So I started to learn more about how it works. But what came down to it. I didn't have the mind for being a doctor but I didn't want to give up.

I even went to my local church to learn the basics so I could be ahead with the others. But I never understood why in the long run. I enjoyed my schooling But it got to to the point. I would never know what would happen. School got harder for me. when I got to 5th grade. I told them I wanted to be a doctor. So they gave me the hardest work. So I had to ignore friends.

It's just what I didn't want to do but you didn't make very good friends in a private school. It's the sad truth. The truth that no one really will be there for you. Even if you asked for help from them. But that's how it was sad. I got to be there for most but that’s what not what I wanted.

So again I ignored friends and went my way in the matter. So most of the schooling was a blur to me till I got to 8th grade and that’s when I had to work hard. That time my grandparents passed and I was too far in for my father and my brothers to do anything. Around this time I met Tony. A wonderful man that helped me with so much. I was close to 15 and it was 1995 So yes It was impressive how I was in love with someone my age.

We worked together because we both wanted to be doctor's It's was fate. Now my father and brothers didn't like him. But we were in love. At the age of 20, we did something that would have been very bad that ruined my chances to get into the school I wanted.

He got me pregnant and I didn't know how to tell him. But I did.

" Tony....I'm expecting..." Tony again had no words.

Tony balked at those words. It made him feel that he ruined my life. But I assured him that we get married and move on. So I told my mother who wasn't upset at me at all but when My father learned who he was pissed off. But at the time he and my brothers didn't do a thing.

Now thanks to this. Tony had to become a stay at home father and we had Twins. Two nice little boys that I loved. But I lost my dream. Since Tony wished to become a house father. I looked for a job. During the signing up for a Job, I ran into a very old man. Well, old to me named George we both seemed to be signing up for the same thing. We got to know each other.

" I worked for Upjohn till Pfizer took over and fired me. So now a drug tester is going to be forced to become a well Ambulance driver. So now I am stuck here working like this." I liked George for an old man he was very kind to me. He told me a lot about his life. " Well, I even went to Woodstock and lost my way."

I laughed at that. " So a man I am speaking to is a former hippie?" George sighed and gave a nod. " That's so funny really. But I shouldn't talk. I had a child out of wedlock and my brother's and father hate him. They wanted me to marry someone of their choice."

But after a while, we became fast friends. I asked if we both got the job that we worked together. Well, it took us both a while but we both got the job in the early 2000s. It wasn't as easy as most would think. Not as gloriest as some would say either. But we did make friends with a group that owned a coffee shop in Lansing. it was beautiful I may haven't gotten my dream. But one night I was home.

Tony got a very threatening call from my brother's and father. He hanged up the phone looking at me. " They threatened to kill me if they ever see me again. They say I ruined the family’s reputation." He had fear in his eyes'. I knew my brothers and father wouldn't be that silly. But I did try to comfort him.

" They don't understand Tony. I love you with all my heart." A knock came to the door and George walked in.

" HELLO." He called out and the twin's always loved George he always was so kind to them. The twins of course were at school at the moment. But he was here to speak to Tony.

" Ah, there you are Tony. Wait you look upset you two."

Tony sighed. " Yeah hello, George just Wanda's family sent me a death threat. Her mother loves me of course. But her father and brothers. It seems I ruined their reputation for giving Wanda twins out of wedlock."

George chuckled. " I am sure I have many children of my own when I was who I was during the '60s to early ’70s. But of course, back then it was the silly years of America. But of course, I may have gotten my dream to be a drug tester and maker. But that ended after Pfizer. Anyway, Mario and Grettie want the three of us at their coffee shop."

" Hmm well, we do have a baby sister set for the twins to come when they get home from school. So let's go." Tony nodded as well.

The three of us went to the Coffee shop it was wonderful. I loved it all but a month later it all ended for me the peace and love. I found out that my father and brother's wanted to kill my husband badly. It seems that they couldn't be allowed in some church thing because of me. So they took it out on Tony.

The story from a witness I was told. That Tony was getting groceries and thank heaven's my sons weren’t with him. But they confronted Tony and started to punch him and beat him up. People even tried to help Tony since he was a loved member of Lansing. But they were too late. When they got there it was too late.

They stabbed him to the point he was dying they wished to run. But many of the people stopped them by grabbing gun's from a nearby gun shop. The shop owner even gave them the gun's to take care of this. He was there himself aiming a shotgun at them I was told. They wanted to just shoot them and save the judge the time.

Of course, they waited for the cops and that's when George and I showed up. My world died that day seeing my husband laying in his blood. I held him tear are streaming down my face. But he said something to me in a whisper.

" I will always love you, Wanda...You will always be the woman I met at school that always blushed like a schoolgirl when...I gave my charming smile." He did the smile weakly and coughed. It was all I could do not to break down. That is when I heard something hard hit my father’s face.

"I punched you oh because the Lord asked me to." He spat out. Then he helped me up For the rest of the night. We went to the Coffee shop. But after two years I remarried I didn't like this man as much as I loved Tony. But he did know about my father and brothers. He oddly was there at the courthouse when they were tried for murder. They went to prison for life and my life may have been peaceful. What they did took its toll on me.

But the biggest change of my life is when I moved to Battle Creek to be closer to George. On the morning of May 23rd of 2015 midnight. I got a call from George that we were needed. So I didn't wake up with my children or my new husband. But while taking the former marine to the hospital we turned to go past Meijer’s and then everything changed.

I was in the passenger's seat of our Ambulance changed into a mare. I could tell I was a mare because I had a horse snout? But I didn't get a chance to do anything when we crashed into a large lizard-like creature. I didn't see what it was. But George finally was able to stop.

Now, this was interesting to me. The dragon told us that a strange thing happens. She taught us how to walk again and we got to know each other. The four of us seemed to become fast friends. But we had to head back to the hospital and get testing supplies for the drugs. Maybe we will find one of the doctors.

But we stopped there finally and got out. It was still hard to walk but I managed.

" You know..I could get used to this." George said. " I no longer have any of the mental issues I had." I looked to my sides seeing the wings. But I would have to learn how to fly and use them.

" I think for now George it's best to find this testing supplies then come back later to search for any nurses or doctors."

Geroge gave me a nod. " I agree but if we find any Doctor's we could use them. But the thing is everyone knows to go to that place called Dragon's rest. It seems Malla was trying to found a place. But I doubt she would have been able to alone."

I agreed to that but we had a task to do.

I wish I could go into more of what we go through. The trials every problem we can. But all Malla wished is that we record our early lives before the change. Thank you. The recording ends with a click.

Chapter four: Building Hope.

It's the middle of the same day. I spent most of it going around the town placing the recordings. But on my way back It was very calm and unknowing. The two that went off came back soon after. They stopped beside me. Wanda leaned her head out of the window.

" Well, we didn't find anyone else. But we did get everything. How is Savannah doing with the power." I shrugged.

" I don't know when will be done. It's going to be hard to know." I said sighing. The two nodded and they drove off back to the store ahead. me. I just walked around looking at the banks as well as some of the stores here. I had a feeling of trying to break into them. Then I looked at the Big boys. I haven't seen that in years. Maybe we could make all these places Dragon's rest. But for a time it will be where we are now.

Walking calmly along the road. Of course, it started to rain and made me feel upset at the fact. I could feel it cleaning my blood again fulfilling me. I just stood there closing my eyes. But seed's looked like they got on me when I walked through that group of flowers. They started growing on my head and wings and legs. Blinking Looking at a mirror I brought out of the store when I got closer. I had long grass hair now and I oddly started to pose laughing. Saying to myself.

" Now the beauty of the dragon with the grass hair would be.." Savannah spoke.

" What are you doing?" I turned quickly face bright red.

" Oh just looking at my new hair?" Savannah smirked rolling her eyes.

" Oh geez, we got a glamor dragon. Now Malla we are going to need to find more fuel to get the power going. So I am going to need to take our new friends to go hunt for a fuel truck. Could you do me a big favor and find all the seeds? Place them in the Greenhouse?" Giving a nod my face turned back to normal slowly.

I thought while my three friends drove off to find a fuel truck. A sigh softly came from my mouth. Going back inside looking to Toby who was on the floor resting inside. I just smiled I would miss him when he passes away. But I needed to find the seeds.

" Come on Toby." He followed me while I went to the seeds. Finding all the seed lifting the basket and sighed softly. Placing them there. Heading to the greenhouse. Looking around it was pretty warm in here for it not working. But a deep sigh filled me again. I wanted to help. But I don't have the skills to help. But I do have the skills to lead. Putting all the seed's in the area and went back outside to lay in the rain.

Laying in the way I just watched the clouds go by. The rain slowly grew more grass on me along with flowers. But the feeling of the cleaning of my blood. I had no idea why it feels so wonderful. Slowly standing looking around feeling more of the grass growing on me. Pulling it out of my head. Looking close to the roots. Tilting my head at it. I didn’t see any of the blood but I found the root. It's strong and healthy.

Looking at the Mirror I brought out here and started to grab the grass to remove parts from my head. trying to see what I could do. But I gave myself a long hair look. I didn't care what to think of that. But I just removed the rest of it. I would have to get used to it. Looking at my body. Sighing I feel like I need to be mowed. it hurt a bit as well removing it all. I growled deeply smashing the mirror with my claws. Tossing it away. My anger grew. I roared loudly in anger it sounded through the town. I am sure my friends could hear it.

The roar sounded sad and angry. I miss Lyra I hope she is okay out there... I miss my family. The despair started to take over me again. But the Iron Giant toy made a sound after Toby pulled on a cord.

" What do you wish to be?" The voice said. Looking at the toy.

" Superman..." The iron giant spoke. Looking at the toy lifting it holding it close to my chest. Tear's streamed down my face. It hit me again depression filled me. The mental state I always had when I was a human hit me hard. I knew It would take a long time to remove that.

Looking at the toy I stole from that car. Sighing went inside placing it into the glass case. Inside the store next to my journal. Looking to both I sighed deeply. Did I felt alone why? Did I feel alone? Going through the isles of Mirrors. Staring at myself I felt anger filling me. Smashing them maybe I thought I was going to accept this fact easily. This happens for an hour I smashed every mirror. I felt my anger growing I am happy Toby stayed outside. Because I took out every single mirror. I lie in the glass sobbing softly.

I didn't know they came back. I heard hooves on the glass seeing Savannah look down at me. " Do you wish to talk about it?" She turned to the other two shaking her head. " Go get it set up and then we will have power. But I feel Malla needs me right now." Wanda and George left to do just what she asked.

" Come get out of the glass Malla." Giving a nod tear's streaming down my face. She sat there I put my head in her hooves she stroked along my head. As I listened to her heart. " I can understand this pain Malla. I can tell this didn't fully fix your mental problems. I'm not good at this but It seems you need someone to talk to."

A deep sigh came from me. " I grew up as always in pain. Knowing the pain kept me alive. But now I am fully healed. I don't know how to act. I don't..." Blinking feeling my eyes look into hers. " But not in my brain. I still feel the depression."

" Do you need a friend that will help you through this? I may be new to this new life but you seem to need someone. To just listen to you when you need it." Giving a nod. " Come then we will go farther in the back while our two friends get the fuel ready for me."

Nodded I followed my new Zebra friend to the very back of the store. Into the stock room that normally has trucks come in. " Now you sit here and we will talk."

Nodding calmly sitting down lifting my long neck to look at her. " Now explain to me everything."

A deep sigh came from my mouth. "I wasn't born a healthy person. I had an accident when I was very young... I had bad depression and I was always alone. I was kind of a lone wolf. This change affected me more then I thought. I thought with the Help of Lyra a pony from another world apparently. Who helped me to get here. Was my only friend."

Savannah leaned in me. " Just I thought I could handle it more. But it seems I can't I want to..but my brain chemistry is not helping." Blinking a moment feeling the mare lean in me. Why is she so close to me? " Uh, Savannah?"

She looked up to me and chuckled. " I take it not used to friend's being close to you either?" I shook my head.

" I may have had a girlfriend in the past that...wanted pleasure in bed a lot. But other than that never had a friend be close. Lyra did the same. Never understood why." Savannah chuckled and nuzzled my side.

" You need a friend Malla. Someone to confide to. I am willing to do that for you. I will do the same as well for you. But our secret's stay with each other understand?" Nodding with a smile. But then one of the issues was the smell that came from me again.

Savannah sniffed the air looking towards me and blinks. " Oh...dear." She said laughing softly " Talking about that girlfriend of yours seems to have triggered something has this been a long thing for you?" My face turned bright red nodding. Savannah chuckled again.

" I can understand that feeling Malla. But you need to learn to fight it." Giving a nod my face still bright red. " Now I will explain a bit about myself. I'm a former Marine like I said. But I fought in the Iraq war." She sighed looking away from me. I could tell she had problems of her own. Placing my claws on her back.

" It's alright I will listen to everything." Savannah smiled softly

" Well, I was 15 years old 2001 9/11. I was in new york at the park near the towers. " Blinking my eyes went wide. Looking down at her. "It was early morning and I was with my family playing in the park. We heard something coming for the tower and boom...That happens." Staying silent. I remember that day. Gently I stroked my claw along her back to let her know it's alright to go on.

"I wanted to fight for my country. So when we got home after renting a car. I went to the local recruitment office and lied about my age. I doubt they cared who was who. They knew so many people would be ready to fight for the country."

She sighed deeply. "It’s okay go on," I said softly.

" Well I went to training and I got lucky. I never got to go to the first little war. But then Iraq happen. I was shipped there and I went there close to five to ten years. I saw so much...that sometime's...I remember it. I kept waking up in cold flashes crying at what I saw. I couldn't handle it down the line. So I overdosed that’s why you met me in the back of the Ambulance.”

Nods. I could tell she skipped most of her life. But I'm not going to push it. " I'm here for you Savannah. Maybe it might be wise if we sleep in the same area. I plan on having homes made for us here. Till everything is ready." Savannah gave a nod to me with a smirk.

"Just remember if you keep having that issue. You need to find a cold cold river and jump in." I sighed softly.

" Yes, I will do that. Just Lyra always teased me about it. She had it on the mind. She told me that it's oddly normal to overly well teased in her world." Slowly I stood up but Savannah pushed me back down smiling at me.

" Just remember all this is between us. If you even tell a secret of mine. Then I will beat you within the inch of your life." She chuckled leaning into what I think was my ear. " Trust me Id rather not do that to you Malla." She pulled away and then we both stood up.

"let’s go check on the other two. I need to make sure they set it up correctly so I can fill the generator's."

We went outside to check if they got the fuel and getting it ready. The tube normally is used to fill the gas tanks in gas stations. It was being used to fill up large generators. " Now this Meijer’s has its own heating. They learned from their mistakes with the other stores. So during the winter, it will be very helpful. But I advise to not put the cold air on and keep the door's open. Maybe even keep one generator in the Subway to make bread." Savannah was laying the law witch impressed.

" Now" She went on. " This will be until we find another way to bring power here. But till then we need to conserve our fuel. But we shall see. Now I put all the generators here and connected them out here. Later we will build on it. Now next thing. Malla did you get the seed's like I asked?"

I gave a nod. "Yes."

" Alright, you two keep working."

" Of course." Wanda stayed silent and Savannah calmly walked over to her whispering in her ear. I didn't know what she said. But she whispered back. Wanda seems happy now nodding. She hugged Savannah. She walks over to George and they start talking.

We walk inside looking down at Savannah. " What did you say to her?"

" I told her that we are all here for her. So if she needs someone to speak to...Then we can." She said smiling up at me. Giving a nod.

In the greenhouse, Savannah looked at the soil and then looked back to me. " Malla what kind of dragon are you?" Blinking a moment thinking a moment.

" I don't know but as you can tell..I have grass growing out of my scales. So I could be one with nature." Looking at the large boxes filled with soil. Dipping the claw in the soil then taste it coughing. " Oh...that's soil is toxic..." Coughing more " Freshwater please rain water...Get the rainwater!!"

Savannah quickly ran outside a few minutes later she came back. With a bucket full of rainwater. I lifted it up and drank it down. Allowing the pure water to clean me out coughing a bit. " Remove that soil... in that one." Coughing more. Savannah stroked my back with her hoof.

" Will you be okay?" Nodding setting the bucket down.

" That... Soil is toxic. Remove it toss it somewhere. We need to find better soil." Savannah nodded she had a list with her. I went to the other plant box taking a taste groaning a bit. " This one is not much better. How about we stop this.Before I get sick just replace them all with new soil."

Taking the bucket drinking more of the freshwater.

" Alright, I will send George with a shovel. Maybe he could find us some great soil." Nodding coughing a bit more. " Malla?" Turning to her blinking.

" Yes?"

" What was it like showing up the day it happens?" My crest drooped looking down.

" I felt alone...I didn't know how to act. It got to the point all I had was a mare. That tried her best to help me. But I treated her so badly. But she stayed with me asked me to be gentle and kind to all those around me. But I don't know if I can." I felt a hoof on my left-wing looking down to Savannah again.

" I can help you Malla.. I may have been a marine. But even so. I am willing to train you to fight also to teach you to stay gentle." A smile forms on my face. I have never had such a friend willing to care about me as she did.

" Excuse me." The two of us turned seeing Wanda. "I had a very nice garden at my home. I could do all the planting for you." Savannah nodded.

" Will you go with George then and help him? We need to be ready just in case. Also if you could try to find a good place to put cows. I think it's wise for Malla to stay here and not do anything. I think her mental state is not good at the moment. I will be working. She will be following me like she is on a leash."

Blinking my eyes went wide trying to hide my blushing face by placing my head in the dirt. I heard laughing from the two.

" Oops, I think I went too far there," Savannah said laughing. I could still hear them. Why could I still hear them?

" Heh take care of her.. Can't allow our leader to stay so red in the face." Wanda laughed leaving. Blinking pulling my head out of the dirt.

" Hey, I never....said.I was..." Savannah stared at me.

" Malla you have been here longer. You know what is going on. So yes you're the leader. Deal with it." She said with a smirk. "A weak and easy to make blush leader of course." She said with a wing. This time I covered my face with my wings whining.

" darn it..not you too." Savannah laughed loudly.

" Malla relax. I like you,. I feel it will put up your spirits." She said with a smile.

I sighed nodding.

After that most embarrassing conversation, Savannah demanded that I follow her outside while she took care of the generators. The rain was getting all over her. But I lifted a wing to cover her. It just absorbed into my wing. I felt the rain clean my blood. But what made me happy is she turned to smile at me. But after a while, she filled all of them. Some are giant some are small ones. We had no idea what to do with the smaller ones. But we wanted to use them later.

But right now it's best to wait till later to start using them. She didn't want to turn them on yet. Till we got everything set up. So we could do this correctly. Savannah turned to me with a smirk.

" Well now thank you for being a life savior. Now I am oddly going to try grazing since. Well, I am a Zebra now. I'm sure it's not bad." I followed Savannah over to the grass it looked crisp and green. She slowly started to graze while I watched the area around us.

" This city is normally one of the busiest next to Kalamazoo it's strange." I calmly said. Savannah lifted her head and smiled up at me.

" I think you're over-worried Malla. You need to just relax and let the rest of us take care of all this for you."

Turning my eyes to look at Savannah's. I felt safe around her. That I could be myself. But for the moment I still felt empty and closed. I miss Lyra she did so much for me. She went back down to eat. I didn't know where the other two were at the moment. But I found it odd that I haven't seen many wild dogs lately.

Michigan really did some odd things to bring nature near the stores. In fact half of the airport not far from us. It has pure grass itself. So If needed we could go there to get some. Savannah lifted her head again. She looked into my eyes. She could tell I had so much on my mind.

" Malla.." Looking down at her. " Lower."

I lowered my head to her. She wrapped it in her hooves staring into my eyes. " Again relax Malla. I see that you need to get inside. I have a fear you will lose it again."

Blinking sighing. She could read me easily. I was about to lose it again. My brain chemistry was in depression mode.

" Alright, Later Savannah."

00000000000

I went inside feeling an odd sensation of needing to hoard. Taking everything I brought from the trip here. Not the car of course. Everything I took I dumped all the jewels on the floor. The clothing my dad’s. Even the empty gas cans. Placing the Iron giant not far from me. Grabbing all kinds of more jewels and the money from the registers and the safe's.

Placing the coins all over. Then I lay on it purring softly I started to feel more at home. I don't know why but I felt like I need more. This was the stock area I am sure there is so much more here. I started to pry open some of the boxes finding some nice clothing placing it in the pile along with more DVDs after an hour. I had a large pile of goodies. Of course, I made sure I took all the stuff that we wouldn't be using.

Savannah and the other two came back her blinking. I was purring staring at them with soft gentle eyes.

" Hmm hello there," I said with a smile.

" Huh... she's hoarding," George said. Wanda laughed.

" No Duh George."

Savannah smirked.

" Go get the dirt in. I need to talk to her to see if I can see any difference."

" George do you have a feeling that these two might kiss someday?" She said with a tease.

George laughed.

" Oh, I have seen stranger things. Look at me for example." The two laughed loudly walking off.

When I heard that I got out of my stooper. " Wh What..we barely know each other!!"

Savannah smirked laying beside me. " Do you feel better Malla?"

Giving a nod. " Yes, I do. But I would like to help."

Savannah smiled. " Alright I will agree to it but if you start feeling odd You come back here got it?" Nodding. I slowly stood up spreading my wings yawning a bit.

" Hmm much better." I followed Savannah to the greenhouse.

0000000

When we got to the Greenhouse. Wanda and George have brought in the soil they found. " We had to go to the park. So we got the best we could find. Knowing how they take care of the park. Now we just need to make sure the water still works in here. But first."

Wanda had emptied all the bad soil. Lifting my claw in the new soil. I took a taste. " Hmm in Between. I doubt we would find rich soil. Unless we find some cows. But I think we got enough water for a while. Since I noticed all the buckets full of rainwater."

Savannah nodded. " Well for now till we get the power going. But I don't see the point of doing that till the time is right. "

I gave a nod while Wanda took the seeds of various veggies. Like Corn so on planting them all in various places. She lifted the bucket in her mouth gently spreading the water around. George did the same.

I stayed back and just watched as Savannah asked me to. " Now we might need to power up the freezer. So George and I can have some fresh meat. Because I plan on finding a farm and get some."

Savannah turned to me. "There is enough MRE's around this town Malla. We can use those until we are ready. That will be my call here you all understand that?" George and Wanda nodded. She looked up at me with the eyes of a leader.

" Do you agree with that Malla?" Giving a nod. Savannah smirked " Good Dragon."

The sun finally went down it was taking a while to get things up and running. But of course, that happens when you only start working the first day. Walking out of the Greenhouse. I noticed Savannah with a list. Listing things off with George.

"Let’s see. We have enough water for the moment. We can even drink noncold water. Soda as well we have enough MRE's." George kept listing off.

" I would say we should hunt for batteries and more fuel. You do know this would be easy with a Kindle. I could go take a few." Savannah thought a moment.

" I agree, Come on let’s go switch the list to those. We could use the battery charger that Malla brought with her. Since it has outlets in it." I heard a voice sound that sounded like Lyra. Of course, she sounded a bit worried.

"Malla?" She called out. Another voice sounded out.

" Oh hello miss," George said.

"Ahhh a Diamond Dog."

"Huh?" I sighed walking to the entrance seeing Lyra in fear. Hiding beside Wanda.

"She seems to be scared of you George." George laughed and Lyra ran to me hiding behind me.

"Malla who are these ponies creatures."

"Lyra these are survivors. After you left to look for a leader. These two showed up." Lyra blinks looking up to me.

"You mean survivor's like you?" Then of course Savannah pulled Lyra away from me and they stared at each other.

"Now tell me who you are before I break your leg's." The Zebra said with a harsh look in her eyes. Lyra looked like she wasn't sure what to say.

"Um. I am Lyra..."

"Oh, the one that helped Malla get here? Good, I didn't want to have to kill you. Come on George I need your hands." She turned to me. "You stay here Malla no need for you to break down again and smash more stuff."

Lyra groaned. " Really? You said you were out of it..."

" I thought I was as well Lyra. But this is Wanda."

Lyra turned to Wanda smiling. "I'm Lyra Heartstrings nice to meet you, Wanda."

Wanda smiled she looked a bit sad as well. "Forgive me if I'm not happy to meet you miss Lyra. Just to this is still new to me. The fact I lost so much time..and my family." Lyra blinks looking over to me I gave a nod. The unicorn mare calmly nuzzled Wanda.

"I can understand. Maybe I could play some music for you hmm? It is my talent after all." Wanda looks back at me. I simply nodded

" I will go back to my hoard since.."

"Hey, Malla get y our butt over here." I Blinked looking over to Savannah who stood there. Wanda Whispered in Lyra's ear. Lyra blinked giggling. I walked over to the Zebra standing over her tilting my head.

" Yes?"

She spoke in a soft gentle voice. "Do you wish to help me Malla? A little weak thing like me?" She said with a soft smirk. George’s face pawed.

"I..." Blinking not sure what to think at all. Finally, I was able to say the words. "What do you need?"

"I need a strong Dragon to help George and I get some of the stuff off the shelves so we can take them apart and the makeshift home's in here...Can you do this for me?" She said smiling. I felt like I was getting an ego from how kind she was, being to me. I don't know why my crest popped out like I was expecting something for this.

I could hear Lyra speak. "Heh, she tamed her as I did.."

Wanda giggles.

"Then come with me Malla," Savannah said smirking. Why did I feel like this what is with them playing with my dragon side like this? Why does it affect me so?

0000

August 10th

A few days had passed we have been working hard on many things. It's been a weird couple of days. Savannah is still working on getting our power ready. We have planted seeds Lyra has been extremely helpful she has kept Wanda from sobbing and crying. Something is worrying me though when will Lyra tell us what is going on? Anyway, there haven’t been any new souls yet.

I have set up a radio to broadcast but the issue is I have no idea how to do that. I have asked George to do it and while listening to him is odd. He played some weird music. I had another radio on while he did this. Now thanks to Savannah this won't take up to much power. She gave the radio its own generator.

"That was the Who's Now to all you young ones out there if there are any. I'm sorry for sounding so boring. Now enough with the music. To all survivors or ones that are hiding from the various new threats of our world. I want you to know that we are out there waiting for you. You aren’t alone my friends. I have changed as well an old man that should have died years ago during the time of drugs and happiness."

He chuckled I didn't know why he went into that. But I am starting to wonder about myself. It's been a trial for all of us. Wanda wants her family. George is doing all he can to help her. As for me, I don't know what is wrong I have a feeling of fear in my heart. Are there souls out there so alone? Are there children dying? I don't know the fear of all this is worrying.

We have talkies now and we keep in touch the best way we can. Savannah stays around to try to find a way to get the entire store to light up. She said this will take longer then she thought. She said that we will be fine during the winter unless something bad happens.

We have been using our ahem droppings for growing. Now the crops have slowly been coming. We went to a few of the farms not far from here Made a pen for the cows we even got some goats. I grew up on goats milk we even have chickens. I can't be to take care of it. With how I look I would scare everything. So I have to stay out of the way of the creatures.

I looked up the journal a moment everything looked so calm. It was raining outside I was sitting under the gas station just hearing the rain come down. Lyra has been very helpful with all the beast. We used the freezer to keep it all good Savannah kind of found a way to power it without powering the entire building. She feels it's not time to do that yet.

Lucky for us we have a lot of fuel but I am not sure what to do. I don't eat like they do something I fear is coming. We haven't heard from anyone else. But we might Savannah is going to go to a radio station with George and grab a few towers if we can get them. But we do know that some stations have extra. It's an issue I have been on my hoard a lot lately.

"Thinking?" I closed my journal looking over to Lyra with a soft smile forming on my face.

"Yes Lyra, to think of it I would have been very lost without you, my friend."

Lyra smiled wide it's rare that I even thank her or be this kind to her. "You're going soft Malla ever since that zebra showed up."

I rolled my eyes. "Me soft?! Nooo, perish the thought Lyra." The rain came down harder I watched as our rain barrels filled up with water. We have found a few cars to use even a large trailer just in case we need to go somewhere in Michigan. Savannah has been doing a lot.

Lyra sat beside me holding her Lyre playing the music. I haven't slept in days I have been working so hard. I have been.. I felt the music slowly making me tired.

"No Lyra not again please..."

Lyra stared at me while she played music. "Malla you haven't slept at all from what I have been told. You need to rest."

I felt dizzy the music George was playing added to the music of Lyra's. I couldn't fight it. No Lyra please I begged with my eyes not to do this to me again. The music kept playing I felt myself slowly starting to pass out I reached for Lyra I had tears falling from eyes.

"No, please... Lyra...n...n...o.." My vision went dark falling asleep.

Chapter Five: I Dreamed a Dream

I opened my eyes finding myself standing over a bridge looking down at the empty city of Detroit below. Lyra is with me since she asked me to take her through most of Michigan to find her leader. She stood beside me after she searched most of the buildings below.

"Find anything?" I didn't even look at her when I asked. I was getting tired of this but I promised I would do this for her.

"Are you always this rude to her?" I blinked the voice was different. At first, I didn't turn to look.

"Lyra what happens to your voice are you drunk again?" Whatever it was stood beside me I took a deep breath turning my neck to look at who spoke to me. What stood before me was a mare with a horn and wings. Glittering and she looked like the night herself. The mare stared at me herself at first I didn't wish to be rude to this mare. But my snarky self wanted to say something.

"Why Lyra you grew you turned to look like a sl." I was about to say the insult when suddenly a metal shoe or hoof smacked me in the face making me realize I am not dealing with Lyra anymore. I shook my head and finally look right into the eyes of the mare that look very unhappy with me.

"I see why Lyra warned me about you being insulting and very none female-like. Now you listen to me dragon I will not be insulted by you. In fact, I have come to help you at the request of Lyra. She cares so deeply about you I don't see why. You treated her so awful. I even begged her to return but she was convinced by Minuet to stay with you. You don't deserve that but I shall help you."

I took a deep breath this mare was reminding me of how harsh and unkind I was to Lyra. Now I am being unkind to her I closed my eyes and smiled weakly.

"I'm sorry but I have never met you before."

"That is because you're dreaming dragon."

I blinked I am dreaming why would I be dreaming. I remembered Lyra used her spell on me again to get me to sleep. I sighed she promised me she would never do that to me again. I didn't like the fact she lied to me but I wasn't going to upset this mare again.

"So Lyra did her spell again to force me to sleep." Closing my eyes tightly wanting to wake myself up I had a feeling though it might be wise to talk to this mare while I had the chance to. "How does Lyra wish you to help me?"

"Now before I help you. I'm Princess Luna the Princess of the night and it's my duty to come into your dreams miss Malla."

Luna? I remember Lyra telling me about her but I never thought I would grace her. I almost insulted a princess. The horror of that fact filled me with anger that I would be that stupid. But after a while, the anger left me. I felt maybe it was time to move on from anger.

"Maybe you could tell me what caused all this."

Luna rolled her eyes. "No, I am sorry you will have to learn that yourself someday miss Malla. I am only here to help you with things that you need help with."

I blew smoke out of my nose I thought it would be worth a shot to ask that question so I could finally understand what in the world happen.

"So how do you wish to help me then?"

Luna smirked. "First she wants me to train you into being a leader. Then she wants me to teach you how to fly. So I'm sure you're going to be asleep for a while. So you're all mine for the time being. Now first I shall teach you the best way to be a leader."

I nodded stood fully up on my back legs looking down at the mare. "I am willing to learn to miss Luna. Just I don't feel I am the right creature for leadership." I didn't feel I had the right to be one. I may lead a group in games called The Cognatus but how does that get you ready to lead a full community? It kind of makes no sense to me really. Maybe I will learn maybe I won't.

"Well, the first thing Malla. Listen to all those around you. There may be things you can't help them with. There are things you could try to help them with. I feel the best way to do it is lets say there is a murder. Now that doesn’t happen much in my world. Now I would say make sure you get all the info of the murder. Go through the best way you can. Then allow it to be easy for you. Now it's not easy to find or accuse some pony."

I nodded.

"Now you listen to all the questions you make sure they're all happy. Now you can't make everypony happy. You can only do what you. Can being a leader is not easy Malla. Teaching you is not going to be easy you will have to learn yourself. But all I can give is advice. I think its best for you to just sit listen and allow your heart and your mind to work as one. Love those that need it. Give kindness and happiness to those that really need it. If one is broken you hold them till they see you for who you are. That's all the advice I can give you."

I closed my eyes sighing nodding.

"I didn't expect leadership to be that easy to miss Luna. I'm happy you're willing to teach me and give me advice. I know that well I didn't treat Lyra that well." Looking away from Luna. "I didn't deserve her friendship the friendship she gave me feels empty for how I treated her. I look back on everything I said to her almost starving her."

Luna just sat there listening to me. I didn't know she would be that interested in hearing me out.

"We all have issues that we never wish to talk about miss Malla. I have some things myself. I had to get over Id rather not get into it but I learned that if I just stayed and listen to my sister what happen wouldn't have happened."

"Look Luna I will do my best to be a leader. But why is she searching for one? When she can just help someone become one?"

Luna chuckled. "That is why she was sent off course she was way of course and never meant to meet up with you. Lyra might have told you that she is well not that good at magic or other things? She never was treated well during the training and they never wanted to send her. But she convinced the others that she could."

I blinked she never was meant to meet up with me? She was meant to be somewhere else. Looking away I knew that I was surprised that wet met. The fact I took her bag."

"Luna, did she tell you how I treated her?"

Luna gave a nod. "Yes she told me many things but she never went deep into it. I thought maybe you would tell me why she cried so many times hmm?"

I took a deep breath looking back down to the city.

"I thought she was a tool. Just something to help me get to Michigan. I treat here so awful to the point I didn't let her eat anything or drink that much. I was too bent on getting there that I didn't think of her feelings. It was later after meeting Minuet and another she met that they showed me how stupid I was."

Luna tilted her head. "Well, I'm sure you're upset with yourself for how you treated her. But if you could go back and redo it would you do it again?"

I shrugged. "How would you act if you ask what in the world happen to the world and all she does is act like a dense pony thinking that she didn't need to tell me anything."

Luna laughed softly. "Hmm, I can understand your anger with her there. It's not wise to fully explain till you feel the mind you're telling all this is ready to understand what is going on. I can't tell you because what would that teach you miss Malla?"

I chuckled.

"It would teach me that asking questions I could learn myself, later on, would be a bad thing right?" She nodded.

"That's how some things work it's not always wise for me a princess to tell those how to think or what they can learn through just learning. Now flying on the other hoof is harder I'm willing to teach you that if you wish. Now I can't teach you how to breathe fire or how to use your dragon magic."

I nodded.

"I have learned I am not a normal dragon when I am near nature like hot areas I breathe fire. I noticed when I am in a nice wooded forest-like area. I feel more one with nature. When it rains it feels like it cleans out my system. It hurts as well if I am in a city like this for long."

The dark mare smiled. I could tell she was thinking in her head.

"Well, we don't know much about dragons in our world miss Malla. I doubt I could you one but I feel you should try to represent them show ponies that have recently turned from what they used to be into what you are now. Show them what it is like to be a creature that could maybe live forever. I understand that won't be easy for you are you willing to work with that?"

Looking away so that's what is going to happen to me? I'm going to see most of who I meet love and so on die. I maybe will see my family again. Looking back down the bridge to look down at Detroit. I don't remember Detroit having a bridge like this. Closing my eyes tightly thinking maybe I need to learn and then move along with being a help to those that change around Michigan.

"I'm willing to do just that miss Luna."

Luna had a small smile form on her face.

"I do warn you though it's not going to be easy my friend. I do hope you're ready for Lyra to leave."

I blinked I heard that right leave? My heart slowly broke why did she have to leave why?! I took a deep breath she is the only one that understands me. She is has been there for me. I have hurt her I have treated her like trash. I am sure Luna could see how I acted in my head with how angry I was I grabbed the metal growing angry.

"Malla!" She said in a very demanding princess voice. I felt the anger subside for a moment. I turned my eyes full of pain to look right at her. "I understand you're upset that she has to go. I know you don't wish her to but she needs to come home. There is only so much time we can be over on your side my friend. Besides your mind is open to me to allow me to talk with you. I can't tell you if there is more out there or not. I can only tell you how to do one thing."

I looked to Luna she is wise I wish I could learn more about her. It's rare though that I sleep at all. If I do my body has to be very tired before I can sleep.

"I don't sleep much at all when I do I sleep long. It's rare though Lyra normally forces me asleep with her strange spells. I don't fully understand why she uses that spell to get me to sleep."

Luna had a gentle motherly smile along her face.

"You did all you could to help Lyra find a leader. She found one in my eyes, my dear Malla. You need to see that yourself though. What she did to get you to sleep shows she cares for you Malla. Maybe you overwork yourself maybe you want everything to be a little to perfect. Now I am going to teach you to fly you will have to learn the rest on your own."

I nodded watching Luna while she jumped off the edge of the bridge flapping her wings.

"I don't think I could do that.." I tilted my head watching her how she flapped the wings. I got on the edge getting ready to jump off. I was like a parrot clinging to the railing of the bridge. I spread my wings it was hard to do since I had to get used to it.

"That's it now keep them out like that don't be scared and jump."

I closed my eyes jumping off the side feeling the wind under my wings.

"Now flap."

I tried flapping my wings it was very how to say bad I was able to keep myself from crashing to the road below. I felt muscles in my body being used that I have never used before. Of course with this being a dream I never thought it would hurt so much. Soon after though I seized up falling to the ground. Spreading my wings out again allowing the air to let me float down. I landed on the road panting deeply closing my eyes.

I heard hooves land beside I opened my eyes looking at Luna with a weak smile.

"Not bad miss Malla."

"Malla!!" I heard a voice screaming for me.

"It seems you are waking up. Remember don't stop flying don't stop listening to the souls and please give Lyra all the friendship. Because..."

The dream vanished before Luna could finish what she was about to say.

0000

I opened my eyes looking to Savannah who was trying to wake me up. I slowly stood up yawning looking to her seeing George and Wanda.

"Malla you have been asleep for almost a week. That friend of yours told us she put a spell on you to get you to sleep. I have her locked up in the break room."

I blinked staring at Savannah.

"Why would you do that to Lyra?"

"Hard to trust a creature that could do stuff like that Malla." George pointed out. Wanda nodded.

"I agree."

I was about to get angry but I thought to take Luna's words to heart. Be kind listen and allow them to tell you their reasons.

"I understand but she was with me through the entire trip. So can you please free her?"

The three of them just stared at me. They were used to my temper and me cussing every word. It will take a while to stop that of course and not be so angry and have a temper.

Savannah looked into my eyes blinking.

"Who are you and what have you done with that dragon that would get angry at the drop of a hat?"

I took a deep breath smiling. "Look I am sorry for how I acted and how I treated you three. I know I haven't been easy to deal with. I'm surprised you haven't just left and told me to deal with all this on my own."

George rolled his eyes. "Malla I dealt with worse people during Woodstock and all those times. Wanda here had to deal with her own family."

Wanda nodded. "Yes, sadly my family wasn't that respectful at all."

Savannah "With me it's normal to remember I am a marine. Now Malla we haven't found any other souls out there. We got some cows along with chickens and placed them in an area were the chickens. But we need to build a place for them. Are you willing to get your friend and help us with that?"

"Yes, I will talk to her. But did she understand why you wanted to put her in some cell?"

Savannah looked at the others they shook her head. "No she just started sobbing and we gave her Toby to silence her. Since we have no idea how to deal with a creature like her."

I wanted to lose my temper now. Just right now is not the time. I put my claw on Savannah's back smiling.

"Look I am sorry to you three again for how I acted. I will be out to help even if I have an episode alright?" Savannah nodded while I walked inside.

I heard Wanda say.

"Did someone brainwash her? Because she is suddenly kind to us."

I rolled my eyes going inside our new home hearing soft sobs in the locked break room. There was no ceiling over it so I could check on her. I saw her holding toby sobbing softly.

"Lyra." I softly spoke.

She looked up to me She was crying for a while it broke my heart. She just stared at me with a weak smile.

"Malla will you let me out please?"

I gave a nod unlocking the door with my claw letting her out she rushed out hugging me tightly.

"I met your night princess. You sure didn't sugar coat how I treated you. Also, she slapped me when I was about to insult her."

Lyra's ears pin to the back of her head. I could tell she was about to yell at me herself. So to not allow her to I wrapped my arms around her pulling her close along with my wings into a hug.

"Malla you're being too kind kinder then you're normally."

I looked away a moment closing my eyes sighing.

"She told me you will be leaving soon Lyra. I want you to remember me as someone that treated you with respect and not how I treated you."

Lyra smiled she placed her hoof on my face making me look into her eyes.

"Malla you will be a wonderful leader. I feel I did my job to help you. I will help you and celebrate everything with you till I have to go, my friend."

"Can you head outside they wish you to help with building a place for the cows as well as Chickens." Lyra nodded she trotted off. I watched her go off. I closed my eyes feeling empty again. I looked back at what Luna told me. I will be alright I need to not let things get to me or bother me. I looked down at Toby stroking him gently. I allowed him to do his own thing since I will not see him again in a few years.

"Malla we need your help please..." Savannah went silent as she saw the look of grief on my face. "Put her head down to my level Malla." I nodded doing that she stood on the back of her hooves holding my head in her forelegs. "Malla I understand that you have so much grief in that mind of yours. But we need you all of us need you to have a level head. I know it's hard for now we need you. We need your strong soul your strong mind and just need you."

"Alright, Savannah I try."

Since there was a park not far from us with a clean source of water. We took our cows out there thankfully for the moment we didn't need to make a barn or a place to hold them in of course we needed a place to also milk them but we could still do that. Then in the greenhouse area, we placed a fence with a coop for the chickens. After all that we took a break and George went to check if anything showed up on the Radio. He had a satellite phone with him since we were able to charge it.

"Malla!! " He yelled I quickly stood up rushing up the stairs to get to the radio area. He played a message for me on his phone.

"Hello, I'm Jenny Strong. I need your help I'm stuck in WRKR station since I heard your recording about what happened. Well, I have locked myself in this building. It's surrounded by wild dogs and most of them are in the building. So I could use your help. I have been here for almost three days. I would have contacted you sooner but I had to get the backup generator working before I could hear you. Now pl.." There are the sounds of dogs smashing into the door. "Please hurry!"

"Alright, George I am going to go with Savannah and Lyra. Stay in touch with us through the talkies."

I grabbed the talkie that I had strapped to a belt on my side turning it on. "Savannah Lyra meet me at the truck we are going on a rescue. I hope we get there in time."

I looked down at the satellite phone I had with me. I sighed at the fact I never used one before We found enough for the others. Just how are we going to find others?

Chapter Six: Raido station rescue

Lyra sat in the passenger seat in the front. Savannah sat behind her

"Alright, Lyra program the GPS for WRKR station." Lyra nodded lifted the GPS with her magic placing in the name. It came up Lyra blinked looking at me with a chuckle.

"It's in Kalamazoo do we have enough gas to get there?" I turned the truck on seeing that we had enough gas.

"We have enough. You got all my tools Lyra?" Lyra looked in the back then nodding.

"Check. Now all you need to do is insult me."

I blinked looking at her from the corner of my eyes. "No, I am not going to do any longer Lyra."

Savannah laughed loudly. "You two act like a married couple."

Lyra blushed a deep red. "I am already married to a wonderful mare back home."

I laughed. "Eh, some would think any way we better get going. I don't know how long she will last." We drove off going through the very city of Battle Creek to get to Kalamazoo I never thought I would be on the road again to find another soul that needs to be rescued.

"Now I got my phone with me so I can keep in touch with George. In fact" I called him and the phone went right to it.

"Hello this is Geroge's Pizza can I take your order please?"

I rolled my eyes sighing. "Great your just my father. Anyway, George have you heard from her again?"

"Ah yes I have she is still locked in the room. The dogs thankfully can't get into her room. I told her to have some friends on their way to help her."

"Alright please don't tell her what is coming."

George laughed. "I told her two mares are coming along with another. She asked what is this other. I told her if she heard what I had to say she would think I am crazy. Then she added I have bat wings I can see in the darkness better then I used to. I have sharp teeth and I hunger for fruit. I look like a bat pony do you think the fact that I'm this that I would be scared? So I told her a dragon is coming. Then she laughed and I told I am not lying."

I gave a weak laugh. "Yeah, I wouldn't buy it either that I am a dragon unless I am stuck in this body. So yes I understand how she feels."

"Oh, and Wanda went to go chase after your dog. I need to go make sure he doesn’t get lost. So I will take my phone with me." He hanged up and I sighed great Toby getting lost.

"Heh, at least I am not taking care of that Mutt again." Lyra bluntly blurted out. "After that last time, I never want to take care of him again. Even though he is a sweet little boy when you feel awful and are sobbing and crying."

"So miss Lyra why do you refuse to tell us what happened?" I sighed I knew Savannah would ask these questions.

"I can't because I am trying to protect you. I can't tell you anything you will learn yourself later on."

Savannah rolled her eyes. "Lyra I was a marine I don't buy that bull. I understand that you have your secrets and that you have a home to get back to. I will allow this just this once Lyra. But I have a deep deep respect for the dragon you sit by. If you hurt her I will end your life."

Lyra turned to look at Savannah Lyra had horror in her eyes from the zebra’s words.

"She is kidding Lyra she is a marine that's her way of saying that she likes you." I looked at the rearview mirror and Savannah stared back at me with a very unhappy look in her eyes. She mouthed 'Wait till I get you alone we are going to have a long long talk.' I just winked at her she got even more anger in her eyes. I don't think she cared for that. I shook my head. I knew this wasn't going to be easy for me.

"It will take us about thirty minutes to get there. Lyra please tell me why did you tell Luna everything?"

Lyra smiled weakly. "Well, she is the one that oversees what we do here. She wanted to know why I was crying the last few times I talked with her. I told her the blunt truth, She was about to tell me to leave you alone and just come home. But I felt that you needed me. I know sadly I do have to return to my home sooner or later. I know you aren't ready for that but you have her and the others."

I sighed closing my eyes following the highway to get to Kalamazoo. Opening feeling the dread of the fact that she is going to be gone soon. It's not something I wanted I tried to ignore how I felt. I stopped we were a few miles away from Kalamazoo I turned off the car getting outputting my head on the wall that was used to block the sound of the highway from the people living behind it.

"Malla?" Lyra spoke looking up to me. I had tears in my eyes I was breaking down again. Well, I felt like I was. I felt the endless pain the fact I feel alone. I sniffed looking away.

"You would think it would be easy for me for you to go. I know you have to and I should follow the words that Luna said. I don't see it as being easy. You did so much for me and I haven't done a thing for you Lyra." I felt Lyra's hoof on my side I looked down at her with a weak sad smile.

"You have done more than you think Malla. You have helped me regain my ability to feel good about myself." Savannah got out of her seat I turned my neck to look at her. The anger I saw in her eyes vanished I smiled weakly to her.

"Maybe I need to learn to not be so angry myself Malla. You look at Lyra and what she said you did for her. You have done so much even for me. I know I won't say what you have done for me. You have shown how willing you're to risk your life to protect all of us. Your stories about your parents to George about them working at the same place he used to. Then how you are so kind as to Wanda when she broke down and held her close. You're that leader Lyra was looking for you just need to allow it to place it in your mind."

I nodded with a weak smile. " I think we better go get this gal before she loses it."

0000
Kalamazoo Radio station.

We parked as close as we could to the door. I looked at all the cars that are still here I looked to Lyra. She looked to the other cars rolling her eyes sighing.

"I thought we were here to save somepony not steal Malla."

I smirked. "Oh come on I am sure I could find something."

Savannah laughed. "So this is how she was the entire trip?"

Lyra looked behind to Savannah nodding. "Yes, she got even worse."

I shut the car off getting out looking around seeing all the dog packs wandering around the streets. When I got out the dogs stayed far away from us. I looked over to Lyra nodding to her.

"I want you to come in here playing your Lyre." Lyra smiled opening her bags that she brought with her Savannah stared at the bags she tried to look what's in them but she saw nothing. She pulled out a framed photo first showing off her wife.

"This is Bon Bon, my wife." She put it back inside the bag and then brought out her Lyre.

"Okay...." Savannah looked to me then to Lyra. "I didn't see anything in that."

Lyra blinked looking at the bag. Then back to me, she didn't seem to get it at first. Then I taped her horn with my claw and it finally hit her. Her cheeks turned red remembering Savannah never traveled with us as she and I did.

"It's a spell to keep others from thinking there is something to steal in my bags." I nodded looking towards the station the doors look like they were left unlocked. Lyra started to play the music-making the dogs stay even far away from us. I grabbed my cell phone calling George again.

"Hello, there is Georges booty call how may we help you?"

I sighed shaking my head. "George let her know we are here. We will try to find her but we don't know how much danger will be in here. Also, she should be fine if she starts hearing the music from Lyra."

"Alright, I will let her know. Anyway we got a hold of Toby now Wanda is feeding the chickens. Also I hope whoever you meet in there won't be scared of you."

I laughed. "Why would she be scared of me I am a sweet dragon."

Lyra laughed.

"Yes sweet till you tell her you can't take from a car or she can't flirt with the zebra here." I blinked turning to look at Lyra. Why would I flirt with Savannah did I flirt with her the last few times and I had no idea? Maybe my brain of feeling lonely is going to happen for a long time.

Savannah smirked she pulled Lyra aside as they whispered. I had no idea what is going on we are here to save someone and these too are flirting like its school. I remember the words from Lyra I have been tamed? How have I been tamed I don't get it. I'm starting to wonder if I am blunt of a joke but I highly doubt it maybe they wish to play jokes on me I am not sure at all.

"I will call you back but she is holding up in her office. She said's she is the DJ for that station. So It will be good to have a DJ with better taste in music than me."

I laughed.

"OH come on George we all know you're an old fool." George chuckled on the other side of the phone. Then he hanged up.

"Come on you two let’s get inside and find this gal." Savannah looked back from Lyra and then they started whispering again.

"We are coming I am just telling Savannah the best way to keep you in line when you get upset." I blinked sighing am I really that easy to read.

I went inside the station looking around it stank awfully since the trash hasn't been changed in a long time. Worms and maggots along with flies were all over the place. I wish I had a gas mask with me. When Savannah and Lyra came in behind me they both gagged.

"Oh, that's just as bad as smelling you on a warm day Malla." I turned my head staring at Lyra. " I'm on thin ice right now ain't I?"

I smirked. "No, I just know you're trying to make me happy since I know you will be leaving and I will need to get the last laugh sometime.."

Lyra laughed Savannah stayed beside the two of us as we looked through each of the doors odd that non of them are locked though.

"This is strange why are none of these doors locked?" Savannah asked.

"Maybe this gal has the keys with her and tried to get out but the dogs did show much or there could be others out there that don't wish to be known as of yet," Lyra added

I looked at the map that was on the wall tilting my head. "You two stay down here I will go find her."

The two mares looked at each other. "What do you wish us to do?"

I turned to them smiling. "Look for supplies batteries anything."

Lyra nodded looking over to Savannah who looked at Lyra. I could tell they didn't want to leave me alone. But I had to think. I stood in the hall looking at the stairs that will lead me to the new soul that recently returned. I closed my eyes not sure what to think.

"Malla..." Lyra said. I could tell she was worried the same with Savannah.

"Please do what I ask Lyra..." I turned to look at her emotions cold and closed. I even gave the same look to Savannah. Savannah gave me a slow nod.

"Come on Lyra lets allow Malla to have some time to think." I am happy Savannah understood while they both started to look in the rooms for supplies. Looking at the Map again she didn't know what room she was in but she said top floor. Up in there top floor is the DJ room.

I went upstairs I started to smell. something went I got to the second floor there I saw a body of a pony. Slowly I went to the pony feeling its pulse even though I did and he or she was pretty ripped up they gasped deeply opening their eyes weakly.

"H...H..help me..." He reached with his hoof from what I saw he lost so much blood. Before I could move I finally saw why a large group of Pumas lay not far from him. They acted like he was already did it made nose sense to me at all why would they even try to come here? It's a bit strange to me they would even try.

I learned what this was it was a trap set by them. I didn't know how to act looking down at the pony. I needed to save him but I needed to save myself. We couldn't help him. But we needed to do something I needed to. They were getting closer to me I got on my back legs and roared in anger it echoed through the area down the stairs. I heard hooves coming up the stairs.

" Malla...." Savannah stopped at the top seeing the pumas There had to be more three or four of them.

"Lyra take him..." I pointed to the stallion. "get him back to the others Savannah go with her. I will take care of this." They were about to argue with another large creature jumped down from above to try to get to them and landed right behind me. It was younger puma maybe a teen. I grabbed the pony in my arms leaning down to him. "I am sorry for this."

I tossed the bleeding pony to Lyra and Savannah quickly pouncing on the puma that tried to attack them. Lyra caught him in her magic but sadly it didn't slow his decent Savannah did what she could to make him land on her. She groaned and they quickly head downstairs to get away to safety. I tossed the one I was on down the stairs it hit the metal railing I heard a nasty crack in its leg and it lay there in pain whining and crying. I turned to the others standing on the back of my clawed feet again. I roared deeply showing my might and power to them.

The pumas all female from what I saw slowly backed up. I sighed picking up my phone calling George.

"Hey, Malla I had a feeling you would call. I got another voice message from her. She said she heard some dark evil roar. I said that is you. I said that you might have found whatever was after her."

" Yes I did find something look Savannah and Lyra are coming back without me. They have a wounded dying pony coming with them."

"Oh my Wanda get ready our skills are going to be needed." He hangs up and I sighed I knew we were going to need to find a doctor but I doubt that would happen anytime soon. I found another set of stairs leading me up I saw more blood looking away when I got upstairs to a scene of dogs I didn't want to see again. These dogs never stood a chance to whatever is in here.

I heard my phone ring and the phone was on speaker.

A soft female British voice spoke

"OI you git are you coming? I can't stay here forever thinking we will have some chips. Get your large lizard butt up here you American fool."

"Oh joy a female brit. I used to date always went you don't argue with them."

"Good girl you know never to argue with the better sex. Now get up here and save me but I don't need your pity. I have been in this state for almost three years and you Americans only care about how their butts and bust look." I sighed shaking my head.

"Are you done?"

"Did I say I was done?!"

"Look the world ended I am a dragon you're a pony. if we can move on we can try to change the issues of the past are you willing to do that or are you just going to keep insulting me?" She went silent for a moment.

"What do you mean the world ended?"

I sighed.

"The entire world ended from what I have learned the entire world vanished in one night and some started showing up on that day like me. I am sure there might be more out there. But I can't know for sure."

She sighed. "Okay, I am sorry I do this when I get upset. I came here as an exchange from London to learn American music. So I am told you need a DJ I will gather all my music in my bag here then wait for you to get here." I sighed nodding turning off my phone placing the phone in the pouch

I took a deep sniff looking at the meat. I couldn't stop myself I feel bad as I write this I could have been to her. But I was busy eating what was left of the dogs. An hour later while I was in the middle of a pile of bones burping. I just remembered I needed to save someone.

I slowly got up heading up the stairs I am sure there is something else in here that is causing more issues. But I had a feeling since all the humans are gone there is nothing to stop creatures from breaking into places like this or those timers and without power maybe some of the locks that are used with power and such would be hard.

I finally made it up to the stop floor sniffing around for her. I smelled that she has gone to the bathroom and well other things. Slowly followed the smell knocking on the door.

"Who is out there?!"

"The dragon you insulted. I am here to get you out of here." The mare opened the door she was a brown bat pony? She had yellow spots on very long ears yellow eyes and yellow mane.

"Took you long enough. Now let’s get going I'm tired of being here."

I nodded. "We can come here later looking for supplies."

I headed back down stairs I looked back to her she had no issues walking like the others did at first. I had no idea what to think of this gal. She didn't speak like I thought she would but I could tell she wasn't happy that I took so long.

"Stay close to me there are some nasty creatures in here. You're lucky we found you with the other pony."

She snorted. "That other pony is one of those rich nuts that tried to buy out this place. I may not like him but I do hope he heals up and then you can toss him out."

I heard my phone ring lifting up

"Savannah and Lyra are returning to you they brought the other pony to us. He's not doing to good if we don't find what we could use on us or a doctor he won't last long. But we can try to keep him alive for now."

"Alright good we will wait outside of.." I heard growls and roars of the pumas showing up. "Go now I will be behind you got to go George!!" I put my phone away turning to the creatures. The mare did what I told her to. She ran down the stairs these creatures didn't seem to get the message they wanted to mess with me again. I know who they were going after. I got on my back legs making myself look bigger.

I roared deeply and in anger my crest expanding to show I am bigger and stronger than them. Fluid dripping from my mouth causing the carpet to singe and burn a bit. We needed to come back to look for supplies so I had enough of this. I noticed only a few of the pumas remained I wonder if a few left after what I did to a young one. Only two charged me I grabbed one of them tossing them into a window that broke causing them to fall to the ground bellow.

The other got a good bite on my neck. Thankfully the scales were thick but it hurt still I coughed feeling air being taken from me. it was able to choke the air out of me. The other did the same I coughed I couldn't even move. As if it was so suddenly the three mares came back up the bat pony had a large shovel in her mouth smacking the puma in the face. Savannah had a chair piece she stabbed into the puma’s neck. Lyra used a trash can to smack the puma that the bat pony hit with the shovel.

The puma that had the chair stabbed into it died right away while the other backed up as I took deep breaths. Lyra had hate for the puma in her eyes. Her horn glowed brightly forcing the magic on the other puma’s neck to choke it out. But she did something I never thought she would do she did one quick move off her magic the bones int he pumas neck cracked as she broke the neck of the puma.

I stood up Lyra stood there at the body looking at me she was shaking.

"I....I took......took a life." Lyra worried shaking. I looked at the other two

"Go look for supplies it should be clear now. Check upstairs first." Savannah nodded she pulled Jenny Strong with her.

"Please come along miss strong, Malla needs to talk to her. I will explain who she is." The bat mare nodded. The two ran upstairs I looked at Lyra she started sobbing so hard. She had never taken a life before from how she acted. A mare not even from this world. She never took a life. I didn't know how to help her. So the only way I could was to hold her.

I held her close I let her cry while the others searched I stroked along her slowly. I wonder if she is the first from her world to kill? She is taking it so hard it makes me feel bad for her. Looking down at Lyra she looked away sobbing.

"I killed I killed.."

"Lyra relax you will be fine. You did it to save me. Come let’s find some supplies." Lyra sighed I knew she wouldn't be able to handle the fact she killed. But maybe Savannah can help her. The two of us went through the rest of the building. After an hour or so we found some canned foods that would have still been good. Some medicines that George will need to test to see if it can work with us. But we might need a doctor still. We got back to the car and drove off leaving the station behind. We rescued a new soul and now its time to go home.

Chapter Seven: The screeching DJ

Do you wish to learn about me? Hmm, Malla did ask me to write in this journal. Well, what can I say I am just a simple Brit from the UK. I was born in 1980 I learned that I am older then Malla. Now I was going to school but I dropped out to become a DJ of radios and so on. I was a lover of the Beetles. I enjoyed every moment of their music and the fact that they did so much for my country. But how to say it.

I was born in early June my family was what you call very very poor. We didn't have anything so growing up being the only child. My family did what they allowed me to do. They didn't care for American music but they allowed me to listen. When I was able to go to school I got into many fights. Yeah, normal thing but as a proud woman, I felt it was justified. I am a Brit woman we demand respect. Well, enough about that now I got into many fights during this time I didn't do very well with others and other ladies. I wasn't very ladylike I was more into music.

So what I did with the alright of my parents I went to the local radio station they made me an intern. So during that entire time, I didn't get paid but they helped me learn how to be a DJ. But it wasn't always easy some folks didn't like my taste in music. I cared more for American music then UK music. Of course, that's because I grew up with many guys and gals from the US. They were so kind and respectful to me. The sad thing is though to some of my family Americans aren't trustworthy but I didn't understand why.

Anyway, during the early ’90s, I was given my first gig. I was meant to be a DJ at a party but I did some stupid things. I got into smoking and drinking. At this party, It didn't do good for me because well I'm just a simple person that is known for temptation. It's normal for the DJs to have sexual relations as well. I would be more open about it but Malla wished me to make my speech more rated for all. She said that younger ears might be listening out there.

I'm normally not that kid-friendly but with how the world has ended I feel it might be best to now it's been many years since they found me. I can't go into what has happened it would be a bad thing. But we have grown to love our new home. But first I must tell everyone.

Now I was young and I got myself pregnant. I was what you call 16 at the time when this happens. This time I allowed my child to be born and then I gave them up for adoption. I may not have been happy with myself. But I didn't wish to lose my ability to get my gig. I had no real friends My family was kind of stupid. My parents disliked me. So I had to learn to live through each gig.

Every gig I did I got more and more money but I didn't have any happiness but I was hired by a company that was linked to one in America this was in 2000 now I know my story is not as much as the others. But you need to understand something. I'm not one to go into my life. My life is mostly just I lived and now I am here. But anyway back in 2010 I was asked to go to America and go to Michigan to be part of an exchanged program. I finally got there and I started to love it. But something was going on. I learned something interesting Michigan parts of it were under the control of some really rich people.

They had been trying for years to buy the station I work at but what is odd that what went on. This man came in a night in 2015 before the 3rd. He came with a group of mercs I was told and he tried to take over through force. Then suddenly the change happen. Everything as unlocked because of him. Now he returned along with me I learned who he was and I learned what I could do. I grabbed a chair in my mouth and tried to end his life. But they found him wounded too bad the Pumas did not kill him.

They should have listened to me in the past and let him die. But Malla is to kind for her good. I liked her more in the past. But of course, I can understand why she thinks like this. This pony that she let go caused something that you will be well known for. I have been told our radio waves make it to another group. But I am sure we will learn more about each other. I do warn you my friends I'm a founder of Dragons Rest I welcome you here. But if you cause the issues the rich have to us. I will find you in this city I will find you myself and with the help of Savannah's army I will make sure you fall

0000

It was odd watching a dragon Drive. She wasn't very kind to the one named Lyra. She insulted her sometimes and Lyra just took it. She even gave it back in kind. I was told that Lyra is not part of this world. But she refuses to speak about it. I learned that Malla and she came to Michigan from Wyoming after the event happen. They plan on taking me to Battle Creek I do hope that I meet some nice folks there. But I am more worried about the pony they found. I am sure it's the same one. if it's not then well I just almost ended the life of someone I could have made friends with.

We finally made it back to their home and two others were waiting.

"Good to see you back. You had this old man worried." The strange dog smiled at us and stared at me. "Oh my, a bat pony creature. I'm George. From what Lyra told me I am a Diamond dog."

I blinked. "So you're named after a David Bowie song?"

He laughed. "I said that too."

Wanda laughed. "Greetings I am Wanda. I see you met Savannah and Malla."

I gave a nod I didn't care for Malla right now but the fact I couldn't argue with her without getting my head chewed off would have been a good thing.

"Now I heard you the entire time. You suck as a DJ George no offense to you."

George laughed. "Oh don't worry. I was told you have tons of music with you."

"Yes yes I do and I brought my headset. So lead me there and I will help by trying to find more souls for this. What do you call it?"

"Dragons Rest." I looked over to Malla I felt a smile form on my face.

"Dragons Rest hmm sounds like something a Brit would come up with."

Malla nodded. "I used to date one when I was still a human male."

I stopped in my tracks turning to Malla.

"Wait you used to be a male?"

Mallas’s cheeks turned bright red.

"Yes, I woke up as a female dragon. It seems from what I learned that it affects how you come back. But I don't know much about it maybe you will learn something from others."

I nodded. "Now I am going to give this city and other music. If we can we can be heard in many places. I can also give them hope."

George gave a nod he grabbed all my music. I took all the music I could from the station Malla said we could go back later for it. When I got there it was so badly set up.

"Sorry for the mess." I looked to George I respected him a lot but he ruined my job for the moment.

"Allow me to take care of this big guy. When you hear me speak then I will be done." George nodded. He quickly left after it took me a few hours but I finally got it set up how I wanted. I put the headset on and started to speak.

"Welcome Ladies and Gentleman or these days welcome Mares and Stallions or whatever you are out there. This is your DJ Nightingale. A change happens to us. I am sure many of you are scared and unsure of what to do. But I am part of a new group of folks. I have nowhere else to go or I would have done this myself. But I have no leadership skills."

I sighed closing my eyes.

"If any of you need just a voice to listen I will be here as long as I can. If you have phones that work I will give my email so I can get a request. But I feel for what is going on with us today. I feel we need something that would help us all. If you need a place just to rest your head come to Dragons Rest it won't be hard to see. We will have power soon and we will be ready for you all."

I closed my eyes picking the music placing it in. The music started to play.

I started to wonder what would be the future. I allowed the music to play I could hear it below and I heard the others laughing it seemed the music I picked made them happy. My new job is to keep the moral going of this little place. Maybe someday I will be working for an entire city but one can hope.

Chapter Nine: Michgian roads

After searches of a few other schools around Battle Creek, I returned a day or so later with what I got. What I got mostly were tools some heaters I found. It wasn't all that easy either. I ran into some nasty creatures that held up in one of the schools since they kept open the back door. A group of wild dogs and some other creatures. I do feel though I didn't have many scars on me. I did have a claw mark on one of my wings. I gasped in pain feeling Lyra placing cloth with alcohol cleaning the wounds on my wings.

"At least you got what you needed to get Malla. Did you find anything else that would be worth it?"

I sighed groaning.

"I found a few small generators but I doubt they would power this place. if they could we could just use the small ones to power smaller parts of the store or our private homes."

Savannah came back in from checking my hall.

"Alright, Malla why are you stealing random jewels and dresses?"

My face turns bright red, unsure of why I am stealing these things.

"I um... saw it and thought I could have it?" I tried to make my stealing of random things right in my mind for well my instincts.

"It's her dragon instincts. Dragons in my world steal but it's not to be mean well for some yes. But for some, it's something they can't fight that well. Of course, she is still thinking like a human. So I think her instincts are trying to tell her that it's alright to steal all this." I looked at Lyra, smiling that she is willing to defend me. It made me happy that she would do what she could for me.

"I see I may not be fond of the fact that she is doing this. But at least we won't go cold this winter. I do have a task for you Malla. On the way gather as much fuel as you can. That means every car you see along the way please clean them out. Remove the seats and see what you can find. Money so on just in case."

I was confused at why wanting money? I thought to myself. Why would the money still be useful around this time? It's a bit strange to me to think that American money will still be used. Maybe it won't it will just be for collections and such. I sighed not sure what to think looking at Savannah with a smirk.

"May I ask why you want me to find all this fuel and money and so on?"

Savannah smirked.

"Hmm, how to explain. Ah, I wish we could find more cars. We will need them. So we will have to learn how to drive like this. But the thing is we will need them just in case. Now I am not saying we will do it now. But we might need large trucks to find other souls. Now the reason I ask you to get fuel is mostly that we might need it. Now if you find a fuel truck on the way. Maybe you could tag it for us and we will come and get it. Now I don't wish to break into the gas station here yet. Oh and the money just in case we can use it or just to have it.”

I nodded.

"I understand you want to save that fuel just in case right?"

Savannah nodded.

"We will need it for the Winter. That's why we are saving the fuel now I don't wish to overuse any and why I am asking you to gather more. The issue is though we need to make sure we use it. Now hopefully the winter would be as bad. But I don't feel we are ready yet to just use fuel. We may have smaller generators using the new freezer and fridge. But that's all we can use it for at the moment. We may fill the other ones and I got them connected but we need to use them when the time is right Malla."

I sighed nodding. I knew she was right. If we tried using them now and tried being stupid to use them too early. We might run out faster or we might not be able to do much.

"Maybe we should have at least one spot for someone that needs to be heated just in case we find them locked in the cold. I have a fear that the winter is going to be bad here." I had fear in my voice. I could tell this wasn't going to be easy for me to see if anyone close to me falls.

"Malla we will be fine. Lyra said she would help us get everything ready before she leaves. We need to be a community before we can become more. We need to be a beacon and we need all this to become that. I know It won't be easy but we will find a way to do this even if we can't use our power. I know I said I would make us ready. But I feel we need to live forever without power."

"Excuse me.."

The three of us looked up to George.

"Well, I couldn't bother by hearing from you. I agree with you Savannah. It would be best but I think we need to make sure we have everything ready before we do this you know. Like you come with me and we gather what we can. We haven't even looked through the entire city."

I had so much on my mind. Then I heard an angry brit upstairs. The bat mare came down the stairs cursing up a storm.

"YOU DOG!!" George turned his head blinking. "You used the radio before me I need your help with something upstairs." George nodded and followed her back upstairs. looking back at me with a shrug I had no idea what was going on. I went over to listen. I could hear them upstairs talking.

"So you wish to try to expand farther out of Michigan to see if others could hear us? I don't know what makes you think anyone else out there is listening but who knows they might be."

The bat brit snorted.

"Oh come on you American dog or whatever you call yourself. I'm sure there are more souls out there. We showed back up maybe there could be more out there. Maybe we could learn what happened to us and why this happened to us. Of course, I am getting used to being able to hear more with these lovely ears. Also, these wings are wonderful." She laughed.

George laughed. "Yeah, I am sure I don't know why I came back as a dog. It's kind of strange."

"Maybe it is fate. At least you're not like Malla, she was male after all I guess. I.. wait." I heard hoof steps coming towards the steps and an angry bat mare stared at me. "Malla I know you care what goes on here. But this is a private conversation." She had a gentle smile on her face now. I knew she didn't want to get angry at me. Because she had been told my sense of judgment is not good right now.

"I'm sorry of course but you don't have to be so kind to me. I know I'm not fully in my mind upstairs. It will take me a long time to get used to being a female and a dragon. Placing my wings of mine around my body not sure what to think.

"Malla" I turned to look at Lyra who had a worried look in her eyes. "Go to your hoard, relax we will take care of everything and get you ready to go back out."

Go to my hoard and relax. Maybe that's a good idea. It might help me. Walking down the isles I found a mirror that I didn't break. I looked inside it. Seeing my reflection looking back at me. I noticed I had grass coming out of parts of me. But I ignored that just staring at my face, my eyes, my claws. I had thoughts going through my very head.

'Monster...evil monster...threat to your friends..scared monster.' These words went through my head so many times. I roared in anger at the mirror and I started yelling at it.

"I'm not a monster!! I'm... trying my best here.." Tears fell from my eyes.

Then I could swear my reflection was talking back to me.

'Oh, are you? look at you right now you're a wreck. You worry about your new friends. Savannah is trying so hard to do everything for you and the others. But all you do is act like a child Russell. Yes, I am talking to you Russell you said you have moved on but. You haven't.'

I growled grabbing the mirror in anger.

"I have moved on. I have accepted I am no longer human!!"

The reflection just laughed in my voice. It was getting to me why this was affecting me so badly?

'You may have accepted but your heart hasn't. You need to look for someone to blame for what happened to you Russell. You said you had a wonderful life before this happened to you. But no you didn't you allowed yourself to be pushed around too much you treated yourself like a punching bag. You allowed your friends to be there for you but they never could help you get what you wanted. You felt lost, you felt empty but you're stronger than you think, Russel you moved on you found yourself. Why can't you do that with this?"

Why couldn't I move on, why couldn't I just move on and accept that this happened to me. I'm a dragon now I could live forever and maybe see those around me die but I could remember them in spirit. I could be there for them, I could hold them close to me. I could meet...others that return like my friend Rachel if I ever found her. Maybe, my other friends would find a way to me. Maybe I could meet someone from that life that would remember me. My family...

'Look Russell I don't have all the answers for you. But how would it make your friends feel if they saw you talking to yourself like this?’

"They would feel very worried." I blinked, turning to look, seeing Lyra the others weren't with her. But I could tell she had tears in her eyes.

I sighed putting the mirror down looking back at the Mirror. "How much did you see?"

"I saw it all Malla.." Tears just fell from her face and she is crying again. I couldn't understand why she was so worried about me. But then I remember she went along with me through so many states just to make me happy. I just kept staring at the mirror looking away from it to look back at her.

"Lyra I...don't know how to handle all this. I fear that I am not going to be able to handle it. I want to handle it."

Lyra walked up to me nuzzled into me. I sighed looking away. I felt angry I didn't know what to do anymore. But while she nuzzled me I felt so happy at her touch holding her close to me.

"Malla gets close to Savannah she wants to know you more she wants to be there for you when I won't be able to. I won't be able to help you and you have to leave, you need to trust someone else with your feelings Malla."

Do I need to trust someone else with my feelings? Lyra and I are so close but she is right I am going to need to say goodbye to her soon. I don't wish to but I know I am going to have to. It's something I worry so much about. I gave a weak nod knowing that soon I will have to trust someone else. Slowly I walked into the back looking at my hoard. I found many things to make me happy at least in my mind.

"Leave me for a while Lyra. I need to think. Maybe the only way I can think is allowing my head to rest here." Lyra nodded. I lay myself down into the hoard. I sang into the middle of it laying my head down on one of the pillows I found in the store. I started to feel better being near what I felt was mine. Finally, my mind relaxed. I heard soft hoof steps coming up beside me. I didn't know who it was but I could feel how gentle it was.

"Malla."

It was that mare Wanda. She has been very kind to me as well. I know she is not as used to this new life as I am. I feel like I am. I lifted my head to look at her with a smile forming on my dragon-like face. I did say a word but she looked so dirty from working in the garden.

"From the look of you. You have been working hard, do you need me for something?"

She nodded with a slight blush forming on her face.

"I need you to test the soil." I stood up on my large feet slowly walking off my hoard. "Yo...u don't need to." I could tell she was scared of me still I had to do my best to make sure she didn't fear me. So I lowered my head down grabbing a Chewbacca doll.

"Chewy, this mare wants me to help her, what do you say?" I started speaking like Chewy and doing the laugh since it was pretty easy now since I was able to growl like him and laughed. "Oh. do you wish me to hug her first to show I am not something you should fear?" Then chewy nodded. I set the toy down, lifting the mare hugging her tightly. "Look I understand you fear me. But there is no need. I may have a temper and my mind is not the best right now. understand that you have fear right now. I promise you I will do what I can."

I set her down and she looked up to me with a smile. "You Wanda never have to fear me. You haven't done anything that would make me upset with you. Now I do know this journey ahead of us won't be easy. There will be many things that make us fall on our butts and then have to get us back up again. It's not going to be easy so we need to be ready for whatever is coming. So do you think you and George will be ready for whatever is ahead? Again nothing is set in stone."

Wanda nodded with a weak smile. She led the way I watched George Lyra and Savannah carrying chickens to a coop to an area I am not sure of. But I noticed we seem to be building a farm somewhere I am not sure but why chickens and how did they find them? I wasn't going to ask but that's how we get our eggs I guess. Not sure what to think at all at the moment. I'm not being kept up to date since the chickens might be scared of me since I am larger than them.

Finally, we made it back to the greenhouse. I noticed that the roof was opened to let in the rain. Bees and many other bugs came flying in. But when I finally came in I could hear something about the nature around me I felt more at home. I noticed the cloud above us and it slowly started to rain when it hit me. I felt my anger and my unsureness being removed. I just had a wonderful smile filling me. The water slowly went through every part of me cleaning me out. The impure feeling grew into the grass on my head.

I felt my anger, my instincts fully taking over the mind that has been telling me carefully now telling me to move on allow your hope to become what you need to be doing. Opening my eyes I find this strange why did so much change just because of the rain? Maybe it's more because my body is getting used to the fact that I am in a nonnature area. Maybe I am going to need to build a place of my own that will be fully natural. But that is not something I should be doing right now. I got a job to do here.

"Now let’s see you wanted me to check the soil." I looked closely at the soil, tasting all of them. "Hmm it's not the best but it will grow slowly. For now, it won't be enough for what we need. Unless we can find a magic way to grow it. I don't wish to keep doing my blood. Because it might do something awful to the plants. Now you have the green hoof, what do you think of it, Wanda?" I turned to look at her and she laughed when I turned.

"What?" I asked.

"You have grass growing out of your head." I sighed looking at the mirror she had in here and I felt maybe I could make something of it. I grabbed a rake removing the handle and started to comb my head and make the grass like my hair and then gave myself a ponytail and pigtails.

"You wouldn't make fun of a lady and her hair would you?" I posed and she clapped her hooves on the floor laughing. Then I pulled the grass oddly. It's funny I could do this and made it into a bee bonnet. "BART!!"

Wanda rolled her eyes

"Alright, Malla do you think everything is fine with what I did?" I nodded looking up to see that they didn't rip anything they just moved the top a bit. I didn't know what to think really. I didn't know much about Greenhouses. I do know during the winter it's going to be hard for us to get food. But that will be what we need to work on.

"I think it's alright now I.." But before I could finish I heard my talkie.

"Malla, he is ready for you to come and get him. Do you wish any of us to go with you?" It was Savannah's voice.

I picked up the talkie that was wrapped around my back left leg speaking into it.

"Do you think you could get away here? Savannah and you could come with me?" I heard laughter on the other side. I had no idea what was going on but it sounded like Lyra. I heard Savannah trying to shush her.

"Yes, I can come we got everything with the chickens ready just need to make sure they will be able to lay. It's going to take a while to get everything going. Even though I am a marine it's not always easy. Even with these hooves, everything is a little harder than it looks."

"Alright, I will get us some soda for the trip." I connected the talkie back to my leg sighing a bit.

"You do know you could tell her how you feel Malla." I blinked, turning to look at Wanda.

" What do you mean Wanda?"

Wanda blinked her cheeks turned bright red looking away a moment.

"Well you act so alone maybe for the time being you could ask Savannah to be that one that you connect with?" I just stared at her, my face burning. I finally got what she meant by that. I sighed softly, that's not what I need. I need someone willing to listen to me as Lyra did and... It finally hit me Savannah would just sit there and listen to me. I have a feeling this is not about love it's about a need for someone to express how you feel.

"Thank you, Wanda. Also please keep that green hoof working. I don't know how we will do this winter. So we need to be ready. Also....please don't tell anyone how I feel about Savannah. I do like her as a friend right now. I don't want to rush into anything that makes her having her around awkward. It's already awkward enough with the jokes she makes and how it seems Lyra thinks she is taming me."

Wanda smiled "Malla no one thinks this not even Lyra I had a good long talk with her and Savannah. Lyra told us what happened to you when you were human. Savannah thinks she needs to help her mind fix what happens to her. I wish to try to but I don't wish to get close to you as she does. I'm still waiting for my husband to return."

I sighed.

"And if he doesn't?"

Wanda blinks thinking to tap her chin with her hoof.

"Then I will make a new family with a stallion. That I fall in love with." She said with a sweet smile. I liked having Wanda around. She was so happy even if she turned into a winged mare. I could hear Savannah and Lyra talking.

"In my world Earth ponies do gardening and Pegasus control the weather. Unicorns are normally the leadership sometimes." I blinked. This is interesting in learning more new things every day. I turned to them Savannah nodded but when she saw me she looked a bit tired.

"Hmm well looks like you can rest. Since we will be stopping a lot along the way to find cars and going through houses right?" Savannah nodded.

"Yes to see if we can find anymore the car is full the trailer has been cleared and Jenny is taking care of Toby while you are gone. She finds it interesting that he is not scared of you."

I laughed softly.

"I am not sure why he is not scared of me. It surprises me a lot as well. Now Savannah I need to talk to you." Savannah just looked up at me with a sweet smile. I blinked my heart beat hard. Why was I feeling like this? Finally, though my body calmed down. I don't get it my dragon body seems to have a mind of its own. "We can talk in the car." I looked at Lyra.

"I have a feeling you want to speak to me before you leave?" I nodded to Lyra and we both went into the break room and I sighed deeply. "Malla what's wrong?"

"I have a feeling you told Savannah everything about me."

Lyra smirked and nodded. "Well, they all asked so I told them and then I said you feel lonely. Savannah wishes to get close to you since I will be gone Malla and I won't be here to help you through everything. Besides I will be leaving so who will take care of you while I am gone?"

I felt my heart sink. She did this all over me because she didn't want me to feel alone? With how I treated her along the journey almost starving her. Upsetting her friend and Chris I bet that wasn't going to be good. She stayed for as long as she could. I doubt I would ever see her again. But at least she will be around for Christmas then has to leave. I'm sad to see her go but I am sadder that she is working on getting Savannah to warm up to me. I'm starting to understand why this BonBon fell in love with her. She is so kind and willing to work to get things done. Even though from what she said many don't like her.

I just turned away looking down. My body behavior makes Lyra cry a bit. I could hear her having gentle sobs. I turned my head to look at her seeing her cry. I wanted to hold my friend and hug her. But I had to realize we only have a few months till she has to leave. I need to do what I can to be there for her before she goes.

"Lyra don't cry, please. I will find a way that you can remember me and what you did for me. I will be back with the new soul later. Help the others get this place ready." I walked off heading to the car.

00000

Savannah was already in the car. She brought the siphon a crowbar to pry open cars for gas and locked homes. Looking inside the car to see a cooler full of meat and veggie MRE's then I looked at the gas cans feeling ready for this. I looked at my talkie and then my phone and everything was ready and done. Getting into the driver's seat looking at Savannah we stared at each other for a while. I wanted to talk to her but I didn't know what to say. I grabbed the wheel turning the key and we slowly started to drive off. We had to head to Grand Rapids. It was strange that I haven't been in this state for years.

"We will check all the houses here later along with the cars while we wait for Ted. Malla are you listening?" I blinked turning to look at her since It was pretty easy to watch the road since I wasn't going too fast.

"I'm sorry Savannah I don't mean to be rude just finding it hard not to ask you a very personal question."

"Personal question Malla. I came with you so we could talk personally."

I sighed looking back to the road then I had to ask.

"How close do you want to get to me Savannah?"

Savanna chuckles. "That personal huh? Well, Malla I want to get to know you and maybe we will see what happens. But I want to be the friend you come to when you have issues. Like your mental problems, your anger, and maybe one you express your feelings to."

"Lyra said you're trying to tame me."

Savannah smirks. "Of course we don't need a dragon to bite anyone’s head off. It keeps them from being bad."

My cheeks turned bright red. The fact she even said that made me smile a bit.

"Got any music?" She asked.

I nodded picking up a cd and placing it in. A song started to play.

I blinked at the song and I felt my face getting even redder coughing. "Sorry I have no idea what is going on with this thing."

Savannah smirked, "I don't care I find it cute your face is very red I wish I could take a photo of it and show the others." She snickered.

This is stupid I know I feel alone but why am I wanting to be like this with her. I don't get it. It's starting to confuse me. I focused on the road while the song played. I looked over to Savannah who watched the city go by as we slowly leave Battle Creek to get to the meeting spot in Grand rapids.

"Savannah, what makes you care so much about me? I'm just a failure in my heart..."

"Stop the car Malla." I blinked, stopping the car with the breaks. "Look at me."

I looked at her turning the car off I didn't know what to think but when I turned she wrapped her hooves around my head pulling me down to her eyes.

"Now you're not a failure. You're not a problem or a monster. I have heard you while you sleep I don't sleep well when things are happening so I go check on the others. I saw you asleep and hearing from you in the night. Now you're a kind gentle giant that wishes to not be alone. I will make sure as long as I live that you will never be alone."

I just stared at her, feeling tears fall from my eyes. She held me close to her chest stroking my neck with her hoof. It felt strange that it wasn't a hand. But It feels the same. All I needed to know is that her heart gently beat, it sounded very healthy and I enjoyed being close to her. She let me go nuzzling my neck a bit.

"Thank you, Savannah sorry about being a problem right now. It's just harder than I thought it would be to control my instincts."

Savannah chuckles. "Mine is telling me to have grass and well anything else other than soda. But right now I need some soda. Just I have no idea how I am. Oh, I got it. could you open it for me?" I nodded opening a can of coke for her. She uses both hooves to drink it down quickly laughing.

"Heh, Lyra had too much while driving and smashed into a deer. Now let's get going he might beat us there." I turned the key to turn the car back on and the music started playing again. But this time it wasn't romantic music. I felt the weight on my heart slowly leave. Since Savannah will be the one to help me. I wish to help her as well. "How do I help you?'

Savannah blinked, smirking. "Blushing all the time would help me greatly."

I blinked turning to look at her as I drove off. "Why don't I think blushing would help anyone."

She laughed. I had no idea what she was getting at but I felt that she was trying to tell me something. "It shows me that you're not a heartless creature Malla and that you do have a heart of love and kindness in you.”

I blinked and those words became odd to me. Because of course, I have heat in me I have fire in me after all. It’s kind of odd that she would say that.

"What does having a fire in my body means I have heat in me? I don’t get it.”

Savannah stared at me with a laugh shaking her head. "Heh, Malla I am being like I see you have the will to be close to someone. I want to pursue something with you not because of being alone. Also because I have seen your heart through your tears. I have seen your soul, I have even seen how you treat Lyra. Granted you haven’t always treated her with respect. But if anyone can treat someone like her with such kindness. Then they have won me.”

She smiled sweetly at me. My cheeks turned fiery red just from the smile. The fact I impressed her that much. I am happy I did it makes me feel happier than I did. I do hope someday I will learn more about her and we get closer. But I don’t know what she meant about I won her. Maybe I will learn that later. All I could think about was getting to Grand Rapids and meeting this guy.

0000

Journal entry: August 24th

We made it to Grand Rapids. I left Savannah at the zoo to wait for Ted but something is very wrong. A lot of the poor creatures died only a small amount is alive. I doubt they would be alive any longer. So what I did was so no creatures around the area get sick. I burned the bodies and while I did this Savannah checked the cars left behind in the park. She asked me to leave for a while so I could look through stores and cars. I got enough gas to last for a while and well I filled up the car with cans of food that have been lasting forever. I made sure to get some. I found some car batteries and mostly dead bodies of pets. I didn't want to deal with seeing that. The fact that it took me a day to check everything. It seems Ted was going got be longer than I thought. Savannah didn't call me to come back so I broke into more homes finding more cans but I feel it was strange and then I head back to the zoo.

Of course, it took me a while to lay in the grass watching the sun. I felt maybe I should be returning even though it was so peaceful around the zoo even with the smell of the dead. It didn’t bother me so much as it would others.

0000
August 25th

"I am back!!" Savannah chuckled. She sat at a table with the Minotaur.

"Oh my you're right miss Savannah she is huge. Greetings I'm Dr."

"I know I know you ready to go?"

He shook his head.

"You see my friend, my family is normally from Africa and I have learned how to brew potions anyway I made sure to get everything from them including old cures that would be good for creatures like us. Are you willing to allow me to do such a thing? I'm told you're the leader of this group."

I didn't know what to think but he would do this for us? if one of us grew sick and needed to find a way to understand it.

"I agree but how will you check what we are sick with?"

"I would have to learn more about you and the others. It would mean heavy physicals and blood testing. Now I got everything from the office I was in. So I can do that, I just need power."

I sighed

"Then let's go.." He went into his car and I went into mine with Savannah. I didn't know what to think but I put a new Cd in and It played another song.

I groaned blushing deeply but again Savannah just laughed and we headed off allowing the song to play. I looked over at my friend. I felt happy I felt extremely happy it made me feel that I'm not alone anymore. She looked at me for a moment and I could tell she was thinking to herself.

"Maybe.... we could take a walk around town and we could talk..." I said weakly.

"Sounds good to me besides If I am going to be helping you through all this then I need to understand you."

I nodded and we drove off back to Dragon's rest with our new friend behind us.

Chapter Ten: The story of a doctor

The sound of a recorder moving and it first causing static then a voice comes through. "I have been asked to explain myself. It's been a long time since we founded this wonderful Dragons rest but Malla wishes us just in case those that come next don't understand what we came together for. But how to do this she wants me to explain my entire life. I don't know how easy that would be for me though."

It all started when I was born in Africa in just a normal tribe it was the 70's and I was like ten years old. My father believes it or not was the tribe's doctor. Now during this time, we had Americans coming to help us with our issues. Even though they did help us they also brought problems. Most of them came to hunt for the game or to steal from us. The good thing though they never killed any of us. No that was for our people but Id rather not go into that since it's going to be hard to do so.

Now I never was given a name I was just called the doctor's son. He gave me so many pointers on how to work with the land itself. Now one faithful day, of course, we had to deal with a group of our people coming to kill us. Wars happen my father hid me inside his pot of brews told me not to move at all. I stayed in there for a while till the Americans there were doing the same movie they said found me. A wonderful woman who controlled the sound took me in. She cleaned me up and then over the years adopted me. She gave me my name Ted Flake.

I was lucky that I was taken in by a family that would take care of me. It was hard for me to learn English then I had to become a citizen of the states. At first, I didn't want to betray my family. I knew down the line I would honor them for Malla and the others. But in the 80's when I got a bit older. I started going to school and wanted to learn to be a doctor like my father. I never left my roots I made sure to keep to it. But I did know being a doctor in a modern world wouldn't allow me to make brews. I know I am not going deep into my life. But what is to tell really? I'm just a person that got lucky and found a new home in America after everything that has happened.

But I can explain to what I was doing before the event happen. I was what you call helping bring little ones into the world. I do hope that the little ones are okay. Because it's going to be awful if folks vanished along with the little ones. I have never thought of this till now. It makes me wonder I do wonder. As I do this recording we haven't seen many young ones return. If any at all but there have been many issues down the line. So many zoos around us have had dead creatures from the fact that no one is there to feed them. So Malla has been doing all she can to burn the creatures so no one gets sick. I would be very worried if that happens. But anyway I helped a young lady give birth to her first child. But during this, I gave her the child and the world vanished.

I woke up in the same room as I am now. Now I didn't know the date or anything. I had to go through the Hospital to find a battery-powered radio. I was lucky to hear music. It was the beetles and I heard a voice over it.

"That was the Beetles now as your DJ here in Dragons rest I got another thing to say from our dragon leader. To those that are out there you aren't alone my friends we are all here for you. Just if you wish to get a hold of us you're going to need a satellite phone. The old phones don't work anymore. We may have to find ways to fix that but for now, there is no way we can. at this moment Now some more music for you folks. Hmm, I am thinking of Megadeth."

I kept the radio on to listen to it. Now I just needed to find my cell phone. I did but it was dead and there was now power. I had to go find a survival store to see if I can find a phone. When I left the hospital it was like death came to town. Michigan was so empty. But the smell of fresh air without cars running endlessly.

After the music was over I heard another female.

"Greetings I am Malla the leader of Dragons rest. I am a dragon I know with whoever is out there I know it's hard. This happened back on May 23rd. I want you to know you're not alone at all. I met others along my journey to Michigan from Wyoming. A mare named Lyra who helped me along with it. Then three others in Wyoming a mare who used to be a guy named Chris another unicorn mare named Colgate and a baby named Starla a newborn that came back and was lucky to find Chris. It's not going to be easy but for me, I used to be a guy as well. I don't know if fate wanted to play a joke on me or what. But I am getting used to being a large creature with wings and having the feelings of a female. Now I will give this back to our Dj please call."

The Dj came back afterward.

"That is our leader a wonderful nice gal that takes a brits anger with a grain of salt and talks back to them."

I finally found a phone and some jerky it was still good thankfully. I didn't want to use it till I got back to the Hospital. While I was walking back to the Hospital I finally saw some animals wandering around it was harder then I expected for them without food from their masters but I had some the creatures eyeing it didn't make me feel good about that either.

Finally, I made it back and turned the phone on and called the number she gave.

It rang a bit then I heard a voice.

"Hello?"

"Yes, I am one that has been listening."

"OH! excuse me let me put you on the air."

"Greetings I am Dr. Ted Flake. I well nice to hear other voices Do you know the date?"

"It's August 16th close to the 20th I just recently showed back up myself. They had all they needed set up since one of them tried to be the DJ But he played pointless old Woodstock songs."

In the background, I heard an angry HEY!!!

"Oh shut up you do you know you're old. Anyway, our leader wants you to meet her at Grand rapids are you willing to make that trip?"

"Yes thank you."

After I asked for some music and hang up. I had a few days to get ready. So I went home and got everything even since I am sure we are creatures now that couldn't even have human meds. I made sure to grab the book my father had to learn his brews and I didn't know if I had enough gas so I did what any sane human would do take a hose and suck it out of other cars. Oh, that is the stupidest idea I have ever had but I did what I could.

It took a few days but I finally made it to grand rapids and I met a Zebra mare at the zoo. She seemed to be a kind creature but she asked me questions that seemed very weird.

"Are you scared of anything large and if you see Malla will you run?"

"Um no, why?"

"I'm just wondering our leader is a bit worried that many would be scared of her."

I was about to ask why when I saw the large black scaled dragon coming towards us. I stared at her like I saw a dream I grew up loving dragons. But I kept my love of dragons to myself.

I explained to her about what I could do for them and she nodded I got into my car and followed them back to Battle creek. But something bothered me so much. While I was listening to the new song that the DJ placed on.

I didn't know what to think but I had to do something. Finally, though we made it Dragons rest it was inside a store. When I got out I saw another one of the souls that I would get to know. He was a dog.

"Greetings I am George." I shook his hand. "Would you like our help and we will be giving you the Pharmacy as your office and home is that okay with you?"

I gave a nod and watched Savannah and Malla leave the car and that's when I saw another mare Wanda was Kind but I met the creature from the other world Lyra. I didn't know what to think of her but I was given my home and power well the home took a while. But I made a makeshift fire pit so I wouldn't cause a fire. I needed to find a way to make brews so I took the herbs I found along the way and whatever else and started to brew whatever. I needed to also get ready to do a test on my new friends.

But that is the end of my story. I wish to thank you for allowing me to do this. The recorded ended with a click.

Chapter Eleven: Springfield

August 27th recording

At the request of Savannah I went from Journals to recordings now she said it's only temporary and told me to write in the journal when we get back.

It's been a slow time getting everything up and running. Mostly I allowed the others to do what they wanted. Lyra helped our new friend with brews she showed him what she learned back in her world. I have been wanting to get out and we have found a couple of cows that we placed in a pen. Wanda and George took it upon themselves to milk them but it was a slow-moving time. I wasn't sure what to think really I had kept to myself most of these days writing in my journal and watching Toby enjoy the new folks.

Our other friend slowly started to make a recovery. He refused to give his name though our resident bat mare doesn't trust him. I don't blame her but right now this is all we can do. I know it's not easy to trust someone you don't really know but that's how this is going to work for a while. Any way to make it easier for me Savannah wanted to talk to me. So I felt since we haven't searched the small town of Springfield smack dabbed in the middle of Battle Creek I thought maybe we should.

We walked to the town on foot hoof or whatever. Since we didn't wish to use more gas and Savannah felt it was a good time to now talk. I haven't talked to her privately for a while since she has been very busy and I know if I tried she would have told me now is not a good time. The roads where very silent I never knew how odd it was not to smell gas or the fumes or smell the cooking of food.

We saw some animals but they stayed very clear of us. I am sure I was pretty scary looking at them and I am sure they didn't wish to deal with me at this very moment. On the way to the town, the first place Savannah wanted to check is a brewery

"So what makes you think anyone would be at this brewery?" Of course, Savannah laughed I didn't understand why she was laughing maybe I said something funny of course she and I have been getting closer nothing really crazy of course just the two of us becoming closer friends. I have been helping her through some of her issues with sleeping and the fact every time she closes her eyes she sees everything she did in Iraq. After what she went through there I don't blame her for having issues.

"Malla think about it hon. If I knew the world had ended my first thing would have been to go to the brewery and get drunk. It's how some would cope and how I would have coped if I haven't met you guys. I would have drunk myself to the end of nothing." I nodded. The last time I have been in this town was before I moved to the east coast. It's been years since I have been here and I don't remember a lot of this small town. But so much changed over the years. I saw a sign for the Kellogg community credit union. I had forgotten they had a union here. Maybe I could convince her to check that place out next.

"Hey, Savannah if we don't find anything at the Brewery could we." I was cut off by the talkie

"Hey are you two okay there is a nasty storm brewing that Jenny has been keeping an eye on. She said it looks like Tornado weather you two better be careful."

I sighed lifting up the talkie making static noise.

" I am sorry..." Static "George but.." Static. "You're breaking up." George sighed.

"Savannah can you please stay safe?"

Savannah lifted up her hoof to a headset she had found and somehow made with her mouth. "Yes, we will stay safe. Make sure that the store is sealed and that the cows won't get spooked if they get spooked they won't produce the best milk. We will stay here in Springfield for awhile. So please stay safe."

Tornadoes the worst thing about being part of this state. The fact that Michigan is part of Tornado ally. Oh, I feel so bad about the ones that returned in those areas. I bet the storms have been very bad around those areas. It's something I felt maybe that it will help some get-together and well become one.

"We are almost there Malla now I can tell you never drank in your life. Maybe I can teach you." I looked down at the Zebra who just looked up to me as we walked. I had no idea or why she wanted me to drink.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?"

Savannah chuckled. "Hmm if I wanted to do that I would have done it already Malla and then you would have woke up feeling wonderful she winked at me with a bat of her eyes. I groaned covering my red-scaled cheeks with my wings. I can't believe she just did that. I am getting so tired of all these teasing mares trying to get me to do something I would hate.

"You're joking right?"

Savannah smirked. "Maybe maybe not Malla. I have a lot of ideas in my head. Heh heh." I just stared down at her like she was insane. Of course, we finally made it into the town. I found it odd how different this little town was. When I lived here this town was the place I was brought to when I went to church and since every time I went to church I went through this town and it was an amazing little town and how the town just was its own little thing. I do wish to understand the idea of it.

"Alright since we are almost there Savannah we need to check the rest of the town. See if any showed back up." Savannah stopped a moment turning to look at the sky. It wasn't good the wind slowly started to pick up. I looked back at myself and saw what it was. A cloud that looked very creepy I felt for the moment it might be wise to ignore it. Savannah and I picking up the pace to get into the brewery.

"Savannah I remember the bank has an old Tornado bunker in it. we should try to at least get there before the storm gets too bad." Savannah looked up to me I could tell that she had a great deal of fear in her eyes. It's something I never thought of myself the fact that we are in a town after an event. Now alerts no ability to see if the storm is going to get worse. So many times we took all this for granted. For now, I think it's wise for the two of us to get inside as quickly as we can.

The door was unlocked since it had power locks that would only work if the power was on. I tried to pry the door open it was hard but I finally was able to do it and my zebra friend walked inside it was hard but I was able to close the doors back up opening the door up on the inside and walking in. I could smell everything I doubt the drinks here would have lasted without them being cold. I lost track of Savannah and I looked around.

"Savannah?!" I looked around yelling her name I was worried that she got hurt in here then when i turned a corner I saw her. She had found a way to open a bottle of whatever this beer was and drank it down. I sighed I didn't bring her here so she could just drink and drink. " Savannah we came here to search not to get drunk."

She didn't listen to me she opened another drinking it. I walked to her but she didn't even look at me. I could tell she didn't want me to see her like this. She has been so strong but I am seeing someone I haven't seen yet. She just drank I wanted to grab it but I was worried it would cause more of an issue.

"Malla..." She was speaking in a very mournful voice. "I don't wish you to see me like this. I act strong I act like I know the best thing. But...I have been looking so forward to this. To just lose it drink and become nothing of the world again. I look back what I did I killed I hurt I even did things so awful I can't tell you or I could now. Since there is no longer a world for us to go back to. The world is now dead and all we are is these creatures. All I am is just a murder a creature that should have never returned. I don't deserve a second chance."

I sighed I knew it she was in a depression and it was all because of the war. I don't know how to help but I know drinking wasn't the best thing to do. I grabbed the beer from her pulled her away from it looking into her eyes and smiled. She looked into mine. I could see the sadness deep in them. I wanted to tell her it was alright but how can I do that when I had a knot lodged in my throat. She is so beautiful I just wanted to lower myself and kiss her. I gulped feeling that knot leave me for a time.

"Savannah you don't need to drink to feel better talk to me, my friend. I am sure I can help you feel better myself." She just stared at me. I looked at her She reached up grabbing my face with her hoof pulling me down to her level. Our faces got closer and closer. I was going to kiss her I could feel that rush of red filling my face. Then a large bolt of lighting sounded outside and woke us up before we kissed.

"Quick let’s get to the bank Malla. I don't remember there being anything here to protect us from storms. I gave a nod and we headed over outside.

0000
Into the storm

We made it outside of the brewery the storm was getting worse the wind blowing hard causing trees to fly around us and to show that we made it out just in time. I could see the Tornado not far from us. It made the wind blow hard and it was coming towards this way fast. Savannah was having trouble running and not being blown down. So I lifted her up and carried her to the bank it was a few walks down the road.

I looked back seeing that the tornado left our home alone and the rest of the area. It landed farther away and was still coming fast. I heard something come towards me I quickly turned seeing a car being thrown my way. It landed right beside me I hold Savannah tightly I don't know at this moment if I would make it. Would this be the end of me opening my eyes I finally saw myself in front of the door to the bank? I set Savannah down and looking for a way to open the door. These doors down have powered locks. All I could think of was breaking in. I lifted Savannah again and using my wings as shields I rushed into the door breaking and shattering it through feeling glass imbed in my wings. I didn't care as blood slowly drained from the wounds. I had to find the storm bunker that was in here. Of course, Savannah knew where it was I set her down.

"This way Malla it is going to be a tight squeeze for you." We found the way in and after we did the building started to shake and we could hear metal ripping above it was so dark. But it was all I could do to not be scared. I used to be scared of things like this. But after the event, I can't.

"Malla where are you?" I looked for Savannah and I found a flashlight that looked to still be working I turned it on and she was fine. "Come here Malla." I nodded and when I did she put her hoof on my face. "We got distracted I wanted to do something." I felt again our faces getting closer ignoring the sounds outside and our lips connected I felt my face getting so red. I had no idea what to think.

Some would think more then a kiss happen between us but we didn’t want to rush and who would want to do something like that when a building is about to cave in around us. Talk about an insane mood killer.

0000
Basement a day later the 28th

I woke up my body felt heavy for some reason. I had my body above Savannah I don't remember much of what happened I do know something happened between us that night. It made me feel wonderful but why was my body so heavy? Slowly lifted up my head and I finally noticed why. A shelf was on me and I slowly removed it from my body. Looking in a bag I had strapped to one of my legs opening it up and bringing out the satellite phone and called the others.

"Oh, excuse me we seem to have someone calling us. This is the DJ of Dragon's Rest how can we help you?"

"Hello... Savannah and I are trapped under the bank in Springfield so if anyone can come and get us it would be great."

"OH! Lyra and George are already out looking for you. I will let them know where you are." I nodded

"Thank you." I hang up the phone putting it back into the bag. Grabbing the flashlight I was able to save turning it on to check for wounds on Savannah. I found nothing on her and maybe I felt getting over her in the night was the only way to protect her. I could smell something that really got to me though. Looking over to see the sewers backed. I looked around more and noticed many things.

Inside the safe, I could see that someone tried to rob it. Looking down to the ground I saw some dried blood looking to a gun on the floor. I am wondering if there were an officer and a thief that got into a shoot out and then the event happen. Looking outside I saw there were like three cop cars I didn't even care to notice them before. I sighed looking into the bank vault again. Feeling the instincts taking over and I started to go on a stealing spree. I opened up the little boxes that held the money in it.

"Malla what are you doing?" I turned seeing Savannah and I had a lot of money stuffed in the bag strapped to my leg. I didn't know what to say but I didn't wish to lie to her. I had to just say what is going on I can't lie to the one I just ahem got within away.

I sighed "My instincts are telling me to hoard as much as I can. I am trying to control it but I can't stop it." Savannah sighed shaking her head. I could tell she wasn't happy with me but she gave me a soft smile.

"Come over here Malla." I nodded sitting down in front of her feeling her hoof on my cheek and she pulled me into another kiss. Our kiss in my mind lasted longer then It was then I didn't even notice the other two coming and they finally saw us.

George whistled and Lyra giggled. "It's about time you two."

I broke the kiss and my face turned bright red, "Um no I am just....giving her CPR."

"Right... Malla right. " George laughed. "But it's good to..." He sniffs the air heading to the basement. Then came out a few seconds later whispering in Lyra's ear. Lyra's cheeks turned bright red and laughed.

"Soo Malla what did you two do?" Lyra smirked.

Savannah chuckled. " All we did was kiss and we talked about going further but that is way down the line. It’s not wise to rush things and during a storm like that. Yeah no, thank you.

"So George likes the smell of sewers eh?" I smirked

"Wait that is what I am smelling huh. It doesn't smell like that at all. But anyway how did the kiss go hmm?"

"Not telling you old man. It was just a kiss now let’s get going and get things ready for winter if we can. I am a bit worried about the cows.” The other two left and it was just Lyra and I. Oh wonderful

I sighed looking to Lyra who had a smirk on her face. "What?"

"Oh, nothing my dear dragon friend finally is happy is that bad?" She smiled at me. I sighed softly shaking my head. I wasn't sure what to think but I felt maybe we should keep searching the rest of the town before we fully head back. Lyra could see that look in my eyes she sighed shaking her head. "Russell Russell you finally find someone to make you happy. But all I see is you have plans to ransack this entire small town. We haven't even searched all of Battle Creek yet."

"Is the car here?" Lyra nodded. "Do you have the checklist still?" Lyra brought it out of her magic bag nodding. "Alright come on." We went to the car. I wanted to make sure everything was here. "Alright, Lyra get ready. Ten gas cans that can be used to fill up the siphon with it"

"Check all here even that." She checked it off.

"A cooler for all the can food and MRE's we find here"

"Check."

"We don't need to worry about Dog food right now. Let’s see there should be can openers back home. Now, what else do you feel would be useful?"

I looked back to Lyra she was thinking and I know that she wasn't going to be thinking long but we needed to find heaters that didn't need to run on power I am sure some of this house we will go into might have a good heater. I have a feeling that we have enough heaters but it might be best since it's not far to winter and winter hits hard here and it's not always pleasant

"Oh Malla I had Wanda talk to Luna she is helping her fly since you need good weather and she can control the weather. That is the type of magic they have. It can help her grow the food and before you ask how she talked to her. She was asleep she is going to be doing it a few times to help her."

"Get in the car we can talk about it while we ransack some homes."

We drove off and we mostly went to houses we could find we would leave the bases around here for later since there are many bases since Battle Creek had many of them. I felt it wouldn't be wise just to waltz in there it would be hard to make sure we don't find anything that wouldn't be good. Every home we went to we got gas from the cars and looked through the food there was a farmers market. Knowing that though it wouldn't have been much food there but each place we stopped we saw many dead pets. It wasn't a pleasant sight.

We stayed silent the rest of the way just getting gas canned food and whatever else we could. The back was full of canned goods and MRE's when we finally started to head back. We had found some music for our DJ bat to use and I am sure she would love what we found. Lyra pushed the breaks down with her magic. Kept it down I knew it she wanted to talk.

"What is up Lyra I know when you do this you have something on your mind." I didn't even look at her I knew whatever she wanted to talk about it wasn't going to be something I wanted to hear. She had the knack for pissing me off and I knew that every time she did she was right. I didn't want her to be right have some pride after all. To keep myself calm I found jewels and took a claw full eating them.

"You know full well what is on my mind Malla. Luna told you I am going to have to leave soon. You barley have talked to me you haven't even looked at me. The only time I am able to talk to you is when you want something done. Then when you take a chance to leave you to take it. Now tell me why won't you talk to me why won't you give me the time of day?"

I stayed calm taking a deep breath. I didn't even answer back I didn't want to answer back she knew full well that If I did I would insult her. I care so much about her she is like a sister to me now but she has a family and friends in that world she is from. She even has a wife.

"Malla why won't you talk to me?!" She used her magic to grab my face and force me to look in her eyes. She was hurting I could tell she was in pain for the fact I didn't even take the time to talk to her and just avoided her. I wanted to be truthful to her I wanted to tell her the truth but again my pride got to me I said nothing.

She pulled away starting to cry and sob. She just stayed by herself all we been through together. Me starving her almost causing her to die because of that. I have been treating her so badly and then not realizing that she was in it for the long hall. I really care about her. I grabbed her and pulled her close to me stroking her mane letting her cry in my scales.

"Lyra I'm so sorry."I had tears forming my eyes. I didn't want to lose my only friend that helped me along this journey. That kept me in line that kept me from losing my mind. The one I did so much harm to but she stayed by my side even though I could have hurt her.

"No, you aren't sorry... It's your stupid... dragon pride." She sobbed hard it started to make me cry and I just held her close I couldn’t any longer keep myself from crying. I needed to talk to her I needed to break this sound of silence. I needed to be there for her and she needed to leave.

"Yes, I am..." I softly shook my head the tears still fell sniffing. Lyra looked up at me with her bloodshot eyes. This wasn't the first time she cried. I just looked down at her the mare that didn't put up with my crap gave it back to me in kind. She did so much to even tell me off she cussed me out when I did something she felt was wrong. I had to break this ice.

"Look Lyra I haven't been myself as of late. My mind is falling apart and I am trying to be a leader of this community. I am sure I won't be the best leader. Lord knows at how many times I have failed at that. You look at me like a friend Lyra not like someone that treated you so badly. I know I am going to fail I know I am going.." Before I could go on she took her hoof and slapped me hard enough that is made my face turn and hit the door. I looked back as I rubbed my cheek. She was seething and angry.

"Stop putting yourself down!!" She was upset I have never seen her so upset before. "You will not fail you will not fall apart you have those like Savannah that care about you. You will only fail if you keep telling yourself that you will fail. You can't allow yourself to listen to those words in your mind you will fail. So now you will be a great leader you just need to allow your mind to heal."

I sighed nodding closing my eyes. We needed to return but I had those thoughts in my head and I knew these thoughts would be what it would take me to know.

"I promise you Lyra I will do what I can."

"Well let’s return." I nodded and she took her magic off the peddle and way went on our way to the rest of the world around us is very unknown but we don't know the fact is coming along the way.

Chapter Twelve: September never ends

September 11th recording

Another month has passed what happened the days I never talked about? Well, Savannah and I talked about the connection we had back during that storm. We agreed to court each other we kiss. But we don’t allow it to get in the way and fully go into it till everything is ready and set up for Dragon’s rest.

Well it was oddly peaceful we start to search the bases for food and we found more MRE's and then we collected more rainwater. Our extra pony that I have learned was one of the rich ponies that did do what our bat friend said and we sent him on his way. He wasn't upset about it but he did say these words to us.

"When I find more of the rich of this town we will come back and force you to give it to us." That time I didn't know how he would do it later it wasn't a pleasant time for us. I feel that I should have stopped him as my bat friend told me to do. But I have no violent bone in my body and she was pretty angry at me for the last few days. There is more to this it is September 11th and this might be the only time I can do this.

I went on my own to the air force base and to the other bases days after we cleaned them out. I had flowers and knew that this day would still be in the hearts and minds of many. Even though some of the world is missing and some of the world that returns will remember this but the future will not. It's not a good thing that most won't remember but if we can stop the hate that rose so long ago maybe it would be a good thing.

All I did I didn't even speak and with music that our Dj was doing it made me feel I had to. She played a good song. A song that I loved. It sadly fits what happens to us and what happens on this day. Because all things are gone and we worked for all our lives. Nothing is left but if we remember what we brought for us then we need to remember what happens and this is away.

I had no right to salute but Savannah who was a former stood by me I wasn't alone she and I just came the others stayed behind. Because we wanted to get ready for winter. But the two of us I felt I needed to get this off my mind and keep myself from the fact I know that when the future does come we will never remember if we remember it will be an entirely new land. A new world has opened up but do we forget the old world and forget the pain that happens?

if we forget what happened in the past we know that the future will start becoming we dislike and the idea of disliking the future is never going to be easy for all of us. if we allowed ourselves to become human again in the words of humans we allow ourselves to have revenge. The reason I did this is that we allowed that pony to leave. To those that see the future recordings, you will understand why and it's why I did this part. I at first didn't want to because I felt it would be a bad idea. Because those who listen might not even be in this state. Those who understand might not even be here. How can we let them know what happen here? But I am getting ahead of myself.

I lowered a set of flowers I wish I could have done more. The fact that this was a day of the hardship of pain of even those that died. That we had another time like this. But instead of dying the world just vanished it is hard to argue with the fact that many that still live that have returned that would care about this. We have so much we have to do that it's hard to look back on the past. It's been 14 years since the day it happens.

"Malla I know you feel strongly about this but are you sure anyone is going to be around to care?" Savannah looked at me and I looked down at the flowers and I gave a weak smile. I know I am going to outlive her I am sure I know I am going to outlive anyone I see. Anyone I love I know deep in my heart deep in my soul that I will watch the world change and I will allow it to change without me when the time comes. I will do what a dragon does and get more and more of my hoard and allow the world to change.

"Well think of it this way Savannah most of us that have returned know what happen that day. In fact, you were even there. Do you think it's wise not to try to honor those that lost their lives that day granted it’s not many months after an event that made the entire world vanish."

Savannah didn't even argue with me she just had a gentle smile on her face. "All this from the dragon that seemed so angry so hateful of the world around her. I see more of you every day Malla and I am starting to understand more what Lyra sees in you. I do understand what you're saying. Maybe you're right even though we changed we are still human in our hearts and minds. if the future is going to be a good one we have to try to remember."

I gave a nod and we left no more words I took one back and then all I saw was if the future that is born would care. Maybe they will maybe they won't. Maybe this will be used to show how evil it was or maybe no one will even remember. Maybe it is a good thing maybe it is not. How am I to judge really? We shall move along with the world as the world is moving on without the human race.

Granted there is some returning already but is it enough to change the course of history? I can't be the one to tell you but we all know deep down I wish I could. I am sure many have this idea in their heart that can change the world one soul at a time.

Life is not going to be easy in the next few months. Winter is coming soon and things are bound to happen. Well eh, it’s how life is things happen things go crazy and then we all danced and sing about it like crazy people with beer.

Recording ends.

Chapter Thirteen: Sadness of truth

September 28th

Things have gone pretty smoothly in the last few weeks. We got the power going of course we kept it off because to save on fuel. Till we find more we will keep it on but for now, it’s not wise to have it on. Savannah has been taking charge and trying her best to keep the others working. George and Wanda have been going around Battle Creek and to Kalamazoo too. Ted did what he could to make mixings and potions or what he called them.

It hasn’t been easy for us at all. There have been many things that fall apart at the seams. Many of us feel we are the only ones left alive out there or that have returned. I do wonder how the returning works. If it’s something to do with the body or the mind or the soul. I doubt I will ever know. Lyra has been silent on this even though she has been asked many times. Savannah has been trying her best to trust the mare from the outside.

At this very moment of course I was being lazy. Well, I am a dragon now I guess it’s normal to be very lazy. I lay in my horde and not allowing anything to ruin this wonderful day. It stayed that way till I heard our bat DJ call me.

“Malla come quick we have made contact with others.”

Others? Others are out there? I quickly got up from my bed most started to call it and waddled down the store to get to our bat DJ. But all I could think of while doing this is anyone was watching me. I felt like a fish out of water waddling through the store. Finally after a moment of being a duck dragon. I finally made it to the stairs panting softly groaning.

“I am sorry it took so long to get our leader here. She is on our way up the stairs.” I finally make it to the DJs booth.

“Sorry Jenny..” I smiled weakly and the bat just rolled her eyes offering the headphones to me and I placed them on my head.

“Hello, this is Dragons rest.”

It was silent for a moment I didn’t hear anything for a few seconds then another voice finally came over.

“Hello Dragons Rest Id rather not tell you who we are but. This is something you need to know.” An hour or so later I told the others what I was told and I didn’t believe it. It sounded way too farfetched to me. We all laughed and when Lyra finally came up to see us all.

“What’s going on?”

I shifted on my claws a bit looking at Lyra. “We got a call from another group. They told us a farfetched story of what happened to us.” I explained what had been told to us by this other group. All the color in Lyras fur vanished she looks down no longer staring at me in the eyes.

“Um… Malla it’s true.” The others stare at Lyra. I feel anger rising in my core. I took a deep breath and smoke came out with the exhale. I pull Lyra pointing downstairs to her and I turn back to the others. Wanda is not taking well. She is holding onto George and sobbing. The others are handling it better than her. It’s a shock that this happened. But now we know the truth.

Heading downstairs and Lyra tried to hide from me and all I did was stare at her. I took a deep breath again and sat in front of her and smiled.

“Lyra why didn’t you tell us the truth?”

“I..” She shook a bit in fear. I have a feeling that she is scared. Thinking that I would harm her for this. I place my claw on her shoulder. I stay fully relaxed even though I do want to lose my temper.

“I didn’t say anything to protect you. I felt if I did tell you. That you would hate me for keeping the truth from you.”

I would have done this before I met the others though. I no longer feel alone and lost. I feel I can go on and be strong with them. I shift on my claws again feeling the guilt fill my heart after how I treated her on the way here. Wrapping my claws tightly around Lyra hugging her tightly.

“My little friend I know you won’t be able to stay with us much longer. I am happy that you were here. If you weren’t here we would have gone on believing that those others that told us this would be crazy. So even though we may never hear from them again. If we do it will be an amazing feat. But for now, it’s best to rebuild what we can here.”

“I wanted to tell you back then.” She shifted on her hooves. “But your temper always made me feel that you wanted to harm me.”

That hit me hard she is right. I had a poor temper on the way here. I still have that poor temper. Looking at the scars of the healed claw marks I placed in Lyra. I knew that would make me remember how I treated her.

“I understand I deserve that Lyra. I wasn’t very kind to you I didn’t treat you that well at all. So yes I do deserve the fact that. I did hurt you and yes I didn’t yell at you and my temper wasn’t very well controlled. But now I understand this fact. I wish I could go back and tell you that you’re a good friend.”

Looking away I didn’t wish her to go but she has to get back home. I am thinking maybe soon we will have an early Christmas.

“I will make sure your last few days here Lyra are happy ones. So you can remember me.”

Lyra softly laughs.

“It will be hard to forget. Very hard to forget you.”

I had a lot to think about. I needed to relax my head and think about what we learned. I gave Lyra a nod and walked back to my hoard. I wanted to accuse someone of causing this problem. But I can’t use that excuse of going after someone the one that caused all this and caused us to change like this.

But I can’t do that I need to fully accept this. I don’t know why I can’t have an issue accepting things such as this. It could be because I am a dragon and they have harder times accepting things maybe?

“Malla?”

I turned to look towards Wanda her eyes pure red from crying. She took it much harder than I did. My anger melted away seeing the mare needing someone to talk to and I guess George is not around at this moment.

“Wanda is everything alright?”

She shook her head and she pushed her head in my chest and I heard deep sobs as I stroked the back of the pegasus. I felt bad for her I have never been a parent. I doubt I will ever be one now. Maybe someday but I am now understanding.

“Let it all out, Wanda.”

I lay down holding Wanda beside me as I let her blubber and cry. I knew that someone would take this hard. I thought it would be me. But the fact that Wanda is the one of us that did have a family.

“I wish I could tell you things will be alright Wanda. I do wish I could tell you that you may see them again. But they might return when the world is finally back to normal. Well as normal as it can be. “

“Do you mean we got lucky?”

I stare at Wanda after that question.

“Lucky? The fact that this happened at all I wouldn’t call it luck. Our lives got messed up because the universe or God had a bad sense of humor and wanted us to learn a lesson. I remember a line from an old show I watched. Babylon five” I think awhile on what the saying was. I remember the saying now.

“You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe."

Wanda just shook her head at my words. Things are never going to be normal for us again. It’s like I said the universe wanting to teach us a lesson. Maybe we deserve to be treated this way maybe not. But I have a bad feeling about the time ahead. I can no longer focus on the past. I got a community to lead even if I don’t feel like I have a right to lead.

“Listen, Wanda. Go work with the others to keep your mind off all this. Besides we need to find as much fuel as we can for the winter. All I can think of doing is nothing right now.” I walk back to my hoard feeling what we have been told rattle in my brain. All this happen because of either fate or no I can’t focus on it.

Laying on my hoard I closed my eyes to rest allowing this day to pass me by.

Chapter Fourteen: Time for Goodbye

November 25th

We have done everything we can to gather what we can. Fuel for the heaters we have gotten chickens and cows. Maybe how our bodies work now we could drink the milk. Mostly what I have been doing is breaking into most homes and stores that are in Battle Creek I am not even done yet. Before I could do anything more I was called back to Dragon’s rest.

I get out of the car heading inside looking around. I didn’t see anyone the lights are on and when I get deeper into the store I see them all looking back at me. Lyra just stares at me sadness in her eyes.

“Malla I told the others. But I don’t have much longer I need to go back. So the others are wishing to do something called a Christmas party for me?”

The words hit me pretty hard. I took a deep breath trying to keep my anger and sorrow deep down in my core. A weak smile forms across my scaled face. I didn’t know what to say at first looking at the others.

“I do have an idea then Wanda, George, could you take a car and try to find Christmas lights and everything? There might be some in the area in the back of the store. Just I would have to look through all these boxes.”

Wanda nods.

“Of course come on George.”

I watch while the two leave smiling loving how close the two are even after the change. I look to Savannah.

“Thankfully we haven’t had any snow yet. Do you think you found enough fuel for the generators to run the heaters?”

Savannah shifts on her hooves.

“I doubt we do. If Ted is up for it. I would like a large pair of hands to help find as much as we can.”

Ted nods.

“I am sure with not being able to use those hooves as hands yeah I would be happy to help. Stay safe Malla and others. If it starts getting to go cold. I made a soup that can keep you a little warm. If I had more time I could do better. But I don’t have the time.”

I watched as the others left. It was just me and Lyra since our bat already left before we even spoke. Since she mostly talks in her music and wishes to stay away from the others till she feels comfortable with the rest of them.

“I know you’re upset Malla. I know you have been upset since I told you I had to leave.”

She is correct I have been upset. I didn’t want to make her feel unwelcomed for having to leave. She has to hopefully I will get to meet her again someday. I doubt that is in the cards I am sure. I wish I could have done more with her. She came with me on this journey from Wyoming to Michigan and I haven’t always treated her with the respect and kindness she deserved.

“I have been upset you’re correct Lyra. But I am happy you have been with me on this journey. Without you, I would have been lost and maybe succumbed to my dragon side before I even made it here. You kept me in line and now it’s time for the others to do the same. I am so sorry for how I treated you these past months. You meant well. And thank you.”

Lyra and I give each other a tight hug.

“Come let’s go find Christmas lights.”

The two of us went around the store to see if we can find any lights. We fully to the back of the store to see that there are many boxes. I doubt with it being may that there wouldn’t be any lights. Of course, I am sure there might be stuff back here.

“Malla what are we exactly looking for?”

This I had no idea about myself. You would think that everything with lights and Christmas would be placed in here. I heard my name over the walkie-talkie. I take it from my belt on my leg putting it up to my ear or whatever I had for an ear.

“Yes?”

On the other side was well our radio host.

“Yo boss lady. I heard you’re wishing to give your friend from the other world a Christmas party. My question to you. Do you wish me to play any Christmas music or do you want it to be the same music?”

Christmas music? I took a deep breath I didn’t want Lyra’s first Christmas party to be ruined by the endless music.

“Please no..we want her to leave with a happy smile not hearing the endless Christmas music.”

The bat laughs.

“Ah, so I am not the only one that has an issue with that music. Is there any way I can help you though?”

I didn’t know how she could help me. I don’t know if there is anyone else around in this town but us.

“Well, all you can help with. Is to make sure if anyone new returns that you tell me. I need to make sure we get to them before the weather gets worse.”

The bat Dj turns of her talkie.

“Hey, Malla I found something called.. Ch...Ch..chritmas decorations and tree?”

I look to the box and finally I open up and it takes a while to set everything up. I set it up only in the back because it wouldn’t be easy to set it up in the entire store alone. I look back at everything I did with Lyra. When we first met. When we first drove together and met with Chris and Starla as well as that other pony.

I close my eyes tears falling from them. I just remember all the peace and rage I had for her. I love her as my sister. I wish she was able to stay longer. I feel I might be lost without her. I rub the tears out of my eyes.

“Malla?”

I took a deep breath. Exhaling soon after.

“Could you do me a favor Lyra?”

I turn my head to look at her.

“I would like you to find some food that ain’t too decayed or gross and bring it to me. I am going to make a feast for you and the others.”

It took me most of the day to get everything ready. It was the 26th of November before I got everything ready. It took time for the others to return. Lyra found me a lot of food that didn’t get decayed. Now many of us can’t eat meat so we used fruit and other types of food we found.

I keep looking back on everything I did with Lyra. The tears the pain and looking back to the Iron Giant toy. That will make sure I remember everything with her. I am sure sooner or later with how long dragons live that I might start losing some things that I even know.

Everything was set up and everyone came back and all we did was talk laugh and drink and eat. We cheered with danced. It is all we could do Lyra had the best time of her life. At least the best of her life when she came here.

I stood alone though the others cheered. I just couldn’t face the truth I would be losing my friend and I would be alone again. I felt that way till Savannah taps her hoof on my side. I turn to look at her with a weak smile.

“This was your idea Malla. You should be coming over to say goodbye to your friend.”

I took a deep breath again.

“I can’t…”

Savannah just stares at me tilting her head.

“Are you too angry at how you treated her during your journey here Malla? If that is the case then you need to make up for it. You need to go to her and tell her that you’re sorry for everything. Then give her a gift.”

A gift? I quickly ran or waddled to the camera aisle. I found one that had a timer and that would be the best and the photo would at least last. I walk back to them and set the camera right beside Lyra.

“Lyra I want you to take a photo. Of all of us as your gift as your goodbye.”

Lyra looks at the camera as the rest of us come into view. It would have been best if it was just me. But she is the one that brought us together. At least that is how I see it. George and Wanda stood by each other. Jenny stood by Savannah as I just stood in the back. She takes the photo.

It was many hours after everyone else went to sleep and Lyra and I spoke before she left. She wanted to leave before the next day.

“This was...an amazing journey Lyra. I wish I could have known you longer. Take care, my friend”

Lyra lifts her bags she didn’t want to take anything else but the photo.

“I wish I could have stayed longer to Malla. Just it’s time for me to get home. I feel I found my leader for this community at least. Thank you for everything Malla”

I lean down and hug her. Then head back inside hearing the magic building up and then a flash with her finally vanishing. She took two photos I look at the wall of the photo is on. In my head, I think of what she called it.

The founders of Dragon’s Rest. I head up to the radio station Jenny still awake she looks up to me.

“How can I help you, boss lady?”

I look to the radio.

“Can I please use this? I would like you to record what I am about to say are you willing to do so?”

She nods setting everything up for me. Turning it on and with a wing allows me to pick up the mic.

“Greetings those that have returned. I know things are strange to you. You’re not alone I wish to express my hope for you. There are others in this new world. I wish I could help you more with more info on what happened. You would have to learn that yourself. If you wish for help or at least shelter Dragon’s Rest is finally ready for you all. I am one of the founders and you’re welcomed. Come and enjoy the rest of a dragon. For we are all the same flesh and blood no matter the changes that happen to us.”

I took a deep breath wondering the last thing to say.

“I figure it might be best to explain what happened to me to help others on their path. It was May 23rd”

Chapter Fifteen: A griffin and the dragon

December 15th

It’s been close to a month since Lyra left. I am happy that she helped me with what she could. Of course, I have stayed mostly to myself to keep myself from losing my cool with my friends. I lay in my hoard and It’s been growing since I have been breaking into other stores and taking random things.

I open my eyes hearing hooves clicking on the hard floor. I didn’t even speak because I know from the weight and from the way she held herself on her hooves. She was a strong mare and I am sure even before the change she was stronger still.

“Malla Jenny is calling for you.”

I lift my head turning to look at Savannah and put my claws under me standing full up. I stretch grunting and stretching my wings feeling every muscle pull. Folding my wings to my side again. Walking beside Savannah. She places a hoof on my side I turn my neck a bit to look at her.

“You can’t be this way forever Malla you need to open up to at least one of us and talk to us.”

A weak smile forms along my scaled face. She is correct I do need to let go of these feelings. I stand there a moment having many thoughts going through my dragon mind. The feelings of being human but as well as being a dragon fight each other. My rage can be just as bad as my human anger. I took a deep breath and exhaling blowing out steam from the mouth and nose.

“I understand Savannah I am sorry just it’s hitting me harder than I thought it would. Now maybe talking to Jenny will help me get over this.”

I walk down the big store looking at the full isles since we fill them up with snacks just in case we need to do so and since the lights and power are now going we can at least use the freezers. To keep some of the food good. The milk is the only issue and well the fact that some of the food will get worse as well.

I feel the problem is even if I hunt down the warehouse most of this food comes from sooner or later there will be no saving it. We will have to find a way to use the freezers to keep other things cold.

I see George, Wanda, and Ted. Ted has been asking George and Wanda to allow him to take draw their blood and using the machines I never learned the names of them to see if he can find anything to help us with sickness if it ever came.

The three turn to look at me waving at me. All I could do was give them a weak smile. We have become family and sooner or later I will have to do what a dragon does. Watch them die I will in many years watch them die as I grow older. Watching this new world slowly age with me and I watch new lives being born while I keep watching the world slowly die.

“Hey, boss woman.”

Jenny broke me out of my stupor. I turn to her she normally never leaves the upper part that we made for her so she could see everything if she wanted to. It took a while to move everything and she even lives up there.

“Enjoying your new home Jenny?”

She shrugs her shoulders.

“I need you to come up here and listen to this.”

I follow her up to her new home and I look around seeing many old posters I am sure she stole from many homes. I stare at the Nsync one and I just chuckle to myself turning to look at her radio set up. Wow, I thought George was messy but she has so much tech here that I am amazed if she is not the one using up most of it.

“Okay big gal listen to this.”

She uses her bat wings to lift the headphones to me and I put them to my ears and listen close.

“This is officer Randell D Monker. I...I have no idea where I am...all I know is that I am in Michigan. I am I...I don’t know what I am. I am. I don’t know what I am. Please…. I..”

The poor creature starts sobbing.

“Please it’s very cold… here. I see. I see a road sign… Detroit…”

I lower the headphone from my head looking down at Jenny feeling very bad for this creature. A weak smile fills my face. I know full well if we even try to do this that it would take days maybe even longer to find this creature in that city.

“I have no idea how we would find him. But I will ask the others to come with me and I will have Savannah come with me.”

Jenny smirks.

“So you two could have that heart-to-heart talk about that kiss of yours?”

I quickly went silent how did she know that Savannah and I kissed?
“I...Um..”

Jenny laughs

“Oh my god, you two did kiss I knew it!!”

I snorted and sigh looking back at Jenny since she is connected to the PA system.

“Call the others to tell them to meet me at the parking lot.”

I went down the stairs and a voice plays over the PA to tell the others to meet me at the parking lot. I took a deep breath this poor creature is going to be hungry and scared. He is also a police officer he will be focusing on his instincts as one.

When I get to the parking lot I notice that Savannah has a rifle strapped around her shoulder and a lot of ammo. I have a feeling she has learned to load and shoot the gun. I look at what she did with the gun and made it so she could either use her mouth or her hoof. I look over to Geroge I see he has a pistol.

“I am unsure it’s wise to have weapons.”

Ted snorts at my words.

“Malla I may not agree with them either but we have no idea how bad Detroit is. It could be overrun by animals if we aren’t careful. I got a brew just in case he has infections or anything could be broken. We will be going in the ambulance and please. Malla please don’t allow your rage and stress to get to you.”

I look over to Ted. I give him a reassuring smile. Ted snorts he knows me well from the time I have been here. I don’t take new things well and when I fail I take it hard. I open the door looking back at the grave we had to make for Toby. He died not only from old age but from the fact his heart just stopped.

Everyone I knew and came here with is gone. I am now with a new family. I get into the expedition that I came here with Lyra. Savannah gets into the seat beside me as the others go on ahead.

I lift the satellite phone.

“Everyone able to hear me?”

Savannah didn’t waste to connect the phones to our radios.

“Yes we can hear you and Jenny hasn’t had any updates but she is hoping that he finds a way to get power to something so he can hear her. But we will be looking for a needle in a large city Malla. He could be dead before we find him.”

I nodded sighing turning everything off and starting the car. I hated that I had to go with Savannah she and I haven’t spoken much since that time at the bank. I drive trying to remember how to get there of course. I had to follow the signs and when we get on the highway it was silent. At least for an hour.

“Malla.”

I took a deep breath knowing that Savannah is going to want to talk since we are alone. Since there won’t much be many other cars I can drive very well without watching the road. I took a deep breath again blowing more steam out after I exhale.

“Malla we haven’t talked since that kiss and you seem to refuse to even talk to me after it. Please Malla I need to know what is wrong please.”

I didn’t know what to say to her. But this is a good time as any to talk to her about this. It would take us a few hours to get to Detroit and the others could be there already since I allowed my dragon hoarding to get the best of me again.

“I am just scared if I get close to you Savannah that I will have to watch you die from old age while I never age Savannah. How do you think I will feel I know dragons don’t age like others. I am going to watch you die..”

Savannah smiles stroking my side with her hoof.

“Don’t worry about the future Malla worry about the now. Be happy now and be sad and then remember the memories of what we have together now.”

I turn my head back to the road to make sure I am not going off the road. She is correct I should worry about the now. I need to make memories with those I make friends with now. I look over to nature and how it’s thrived.

“I will try my best to focus on the now Savannah. I will try my best to be one who can give your feelings to as much as you need me to. Just I need time Savannah give me the time and then I will give you my all.”

Savannah nods and a call comes over the satellite phone. I turn the radio on as I wait to see what is going on.

“Jenny hasn’t heard anything new but she is hoping that we could find a bunch of battery-powered radios and play them loud enough that he would hear us. So we stopped at a few stores so if you get there before we do Malla. You and Savannah try to find anything battery-powered turn them on and see if that will help us find him.”

I had an idea looking over to Savannah.

“Know a good place for Megaphones?”

Savannah quickly thinks nodding.

“Yes, Walmart would have a lot of them.”

Yes, Walmart would have them I lift the phone to my mouth.

“Savannah and I are going to head to any store we can find to find what we can. But we will also look for Megaphones.”

I heard someone grab the phone.

“Malla this is Ted. We don’t know how long he has been back. He could be scared and remember he is an officer he could have a gun. He could also be very cold and unsure of what is going around him the changes could cause many problems for him. Please don’t do anything stupid just seeing you could scare him badly.”

He is correct how I look would scare him.

“Then I would say Savannah should be the one to talk to him. I will stay behind and listen if he does try to shoot her I will see if these scales can handle a bullet.”

Ted and the others went silent a moment. I have a feeling they don’t want me to even try.

“Malla we can’t have you getting hurt either. I have no idea what your body is like. I still need to study you like I have been studying the others. I know you wish to be our leader but we can’t have our leader get shot.”

I sigh softly nodding I knew he was right. Savannah strokes my side with her hoof to relax me. I didn’t say a word and Savannah knew what I was going to say.

“I will make sure doesn’t do anything stupid. I will do my best to make sure she stays and just watches. We all need to be there to help him. Maybe even Jenny can speak to him when we get there.”

Two hours later Savanah and I drive into Dearborn and even though we brought enough fuel with us. I ransack many cars for fuel and Savannah goes into the Walmart and thanks to those hooves of hers I am sure she is going to be able to break in.

After six hours of doing all this, I filled like five cans of fuel after I broke into the gas station gathering a bunch of snacks and drinks even if they aren’t cold. Savannah came back like an hour later with a cart full of Megaphones and some battery-powered radios.

“Malla… what did you do?”

Savannah looks around after she got back many car doors are ripped off and the gas station broke into. I just look back at her after I got everything into the car and all the snacks and drinks looking at her.

“I um...would you believe that I got us snacks and drinks?”

Savannah looks through everything I took and she pulls out a bra with her mouth and stares at it as she places it on the ground and she looks through more seeing that I even took the cash register and then the gas station owner’s shotgun.

“Malla...This is going to need to stop I know you can’t help yourself but happens if some of these folks return and they need something like food and something to protect them.”

I didn’t think about that and absentmindedly eating jewelry like it didn’t even exist and she just stares at me. I quickly get everything into the car along with everything she got even the batteries. Savannah just shakes her head and gets into the car I get in as well turning it back on.

“I am sorry Savannah I just when it comes to stuff like this I lose control and feel that I need to take and take it’s like this hoarding thing is going to be a big issue.”

Savannah sighs shaking her head. I finally go silent again and then grab the phone.

“We are heading out of dearborn how about you three.”

It took a second for them to answer but it was Ted that answered.

“Wanda and George just got back they got all they could and they got some gas. I spent my time seeing if I could find anything that would keep him warm just in case he is that cold or some meds that would work fine for him.”

I took a deep breath this is not going to be easy. He is a doctor and he is doing all he can for us. But what is going to happen if one of us gets badly sick? How will we handle it with all the issues going on? I think I will worry too much and maybe someday find a place for me to hide when things get too much.

“Now I warn you all before I left Wyoming we Lyra I ran into many creatures that got brave to come down from the mountains and I got attacked by even dogs. So it’s best to be armed no matter what if they try to harm you take them down and make sure we find this creature. I am worried it might start snowing. Strangely, it’s December and we haven’t got any snowstorms from Canada.”

After that, we went silent and when we all finally got to Detroit it was midnight so now it was December 16th and it was very dark. I remember about the Detroit tiger stadium I would go there if I was lost.

“Savannah if you could find a generator could you bring power back to the Detroit stadium?”

Savannah shook her head.

“That wouldn’t be easy to do so but if we find him we could meet there if that works?”

I nod and I knew it was wise for me to look alone. I was tired but I couldn’t fall asleep I was worried and I watched while the sun slowly came up a few hours later and Savannah and the others went into a group. It was Wanda and Ted and Savannah and Geroge. The only idea I had for searching for him was the place I was born. Bronson hospital is not far from here I would think after meeting Starla that it would be wise to check there.

I would wait for maybe a few more hours though. I paced by myself around the cars trying to ignore my hoarding instinct and all I can think of is babies like Starla I feel anger filling my heart again. I want to rage at the ones that caused all this but I can’t. I want to just be angry at something but I know that won’t get anywhere.

I finally had enough and I followed the road to Bronson hospital it took me an hour and I had my phone with me. I noticed the doors are unlocked and well it is a 24-hour hospital and It’s pretty normal for it to not be locked. When I got inside It looked very normal but when I got in there I found some strange feathers in one of the chairs.

I looked at the sign for the ward for children to stay in after they are born. Now I just got to get up the stairs. When I walk up the stairs I took a deep breath and trying very hard to relax. I didn’t want to run into any children here and watch them.

I stood by the window and I didn’t see any babies thankfully and I didn’t know it then I would have a run-in with someone I never thought I would.

“My son would be laying in here.”
I froze turning my head to see the other creature sitting in a chair. He didn’t look so good. He turned his head to me weakly seeing me. I didn’t see horror or sadness in his eyes.

“My son….wh...my wife.. everyone...Is gone..”

He is looking down at his gun and he even had a bottle with him a bottle of booze from what I see. I have a feeling that he doesn’t even think I am here but is too drunk to even know any better but he didn’t look that good. I didn’t know what to do but talk with him to fill his drunken state.

“Your son? I take it you have been on your way to see him?”

The griffin laughs he takes a long swig from the bottle and sets it down since it’s now empty. He grabs another from a bag he had with him and opens it with his beak. I have a feeling there is no way I am going to tell him I am real at least not yet.

“Yes...I was on patrol and I got a call. That my wife was in labor. So I drove as quick as I can and..then a flash and I am still driving. I have these claws and this beak. I looked around for everyone I knew and tried to see if any other living soul was here. But nothing.”

I just stood there listening I didn’t know what to think. I felt just as bad as he did when I showed back up and now I have to help another in return. Oh, Lyra I have so much to thank you for I thought to myself.

“I know times are tough for you. But you should at least be strong for all those that are missing and you could be strong for them.”

The griffin laughs and aims his gun at the window and fires and I jump and he laughs loudly. He sobs loudly I look over to the window that broke from the bullet and I look back at him while he is sobbing and drinking from the booze.

“You must be one of the angels of God to come and stop me from doing something that will send me down to the pits of fire. You’re just a figment trying to tell me to not do what I must. It’s the only way I can see them again.”

I took a deep breath and I do my best to be like an angel even though there is no way I should be allowed to do so. But if it’s the only way to keep him from hurting himself or even me. I took a deep breath and look towards the window.

“I may or not be an angel but I am here to help you. I know you have no reason to believe me and your anger and you’re not healthy for you to have been on your own in the cold for a long time. The fact you got here at all is amazing. Just please tell me what would you have named your son?”

I am hoping that takes the griffins mind off of hurting himself. He sobs harder coughing a bit. I go to look for more blankets for him and I come back to cover him and I try to take the gun but he quickly pulls it away. I don’t think he is fully there to know I tried to take it.

“What would I have called my son? I. I ain’t sure about that..”

The satellite phone rings and I quickly answer it looking over to the griffin.

“It seems God wants me to speak to him may I take this while you relax?”

I put it to my ear after he nods and quietly asks.

“Hello?”

“We have had no luck finding him Malla. This city is big it would take too long to find him and he could be dead by then.”

I stay silent for a second looking back at the griffin who takes another long swig from the drink. I took a deep breath and exhaling releasing a lot of smoke and steam from my nose and mouth after I do so.

“I am going to say this once. I want you all to come to Bronson hospital. I need you to hurry. I don’t know how long he has left till his body goes into shock and he is drinking a lot of booze. Now please hurry.”

I turn to look at the griffin.

“Hey what did God say?’

I smirk and chuckle hanging up.

“Oh, he saids that he is hoping that you will have a peaceful life as long as you can.”

The griffin laughs and tosses an empty bottle at the wall and lets the contents spill all over as the glass flies all over. I don’t think he buys it that I am an angel I need to find a way to get through to him. So many ways to do this are going around in my head.

“Now tell me what were you going to name your son?”

The griffin sighs looking at the booze and then up to me and smiles.

“You know I promised her I would stop and not become like my father. You see my father was a mean drunk he would hurt my mother and me. I promised her I would never drink again or hurt the baby. Look at me. Now”

He sobs loudly holding his claws to his eyes sobbing very hard.

“I am a failure like my father. If she saw me now. She would leave me and take my son away with her. I failed twice already and she told me if I falter again I would lose her and my son.”

He looks at the gun and puts it to his head quickly my eyes go wide as he lowers it and laughs waving it around like a nut.

“You know that’s how my father went. He went into full despair mode and just.”

He lifts the gun and fires right beside me and a lamp gets destroyed as the glass and parts fly all over hitting the floor with a thunk. I need to get that way from him somehow. I quickly try to think of something that would work.

“Listen I know you’re in a lot of pain right now. I know you’re upset and you’re not fully yourself. You have been on your own for I don’t know how long. It could have been days for all I know. Just please put the gun down and don’t do anything more drastic. I will explain everything that has been going on.”

I could tell the griffins drunken mind was working through everything. I didn’t know how to help I wish I did. I wish Ted was with me he could help more. He quickly with his drunken mind grabs the gun tightly again.

“Please let me have the gun..”

I gently go for it and slowly. I try to grab what I can. I pull gently but he still had a tight grip on it. I think he finally understands I am real. I pull the gun out of his hand and pull the ammo out of it looking that he had two shots left. He must have let loose with some and I quickly lay them down.

“You’re here aren’t you and you’re a dragon?”

I nod and I sit down infront of him and explain everything that has happened I leave nothing out and everything from what I have learned and what I went through and who I met. I told him about my journey and I even told him about Lyra. I told him why it all happened and that the world ended and some return when it’s a time to.

“I found it hard to believe myself. I woke up like this and found my way here. Listen I am not alone. Others are coming.”

The griffin sobs hard crying so hard that everything finally hits me and all I could do was get into the chair with him and put the small creature on my lap or whatever made a lap for me. I held him tightly and just let him all go.

Thirty minutes later they found me with him and he had passed out. I didn’t know what to do but Ted helped me lay him down and Ted did his best to check him out.

“From what I see here he was lucky. He could have had it worse if you didn’t show up here Malla. I feel though we should go on ahead.”

George and Ted take the poor Griffin with them and Wanda smiles at me.

“For a dragon Malla, a creature is normally shown to be evil. You sure have a big heart. I will meet you two back at home.”

I sigh looking down at the gun and back at the window looking in seeing all the cribs that the newborn babies would be in.

“Malla you did amazing there. Just what’s wrong?”

I didn’t tell her and the others at least I didn’t think I told them about Starla.

“When I was going on my journey I noticed a lot of baby food was taken and so forth. Remember I told you I ran into another soul called Chris? Well, he had a newborn baby with him. Came from a hospital like this.”

Savannah finally got what I meant and she looks into the window.

“I doubt we could do anything how would we know they’re even here Malla. Maybe we could come over here now and again. But I doubt we would have enough fuel to always come down here.”

I growl deeply knowing this and it upsets me to no end.

“I know this Savannah. Just I wish it would be easier for us to do so.. Come let’s get back home.”

I look back at the booze and the gun and the bag he held it in. I left with Savannah and when we got back to the car the others have just left. I must have lost track of the day because it was already getting close to getting very dark and I am sure it’s almost midnight.

I get into the car and stay silent.

“Just I have never met anyone so down on their luck or life Savannah it broke my heart. I wish I could have done more for him but all I did was lie to him to save him. I told him I was talking to God. That I am an angel.”

Savannah went silent for a moment.

“Malla you saved him don’t be too hard on yourself.”

I felt the dragon’s rage going through me again. I wanted to break something I wanted to just rage. I quickly shift in my seat and turning on the car. I went very silent on the way back home. I feel I could have done better and I feel to be the better one I need to be strong. I can’t always rely on this instinct if I want to be a leader. I need to do it.

I look back at the Bronson hospital as Savannah and I leave Detroit and I look back to the road and wonder. What is to come and to hope life becomes a sense of normal again. I look over to Savannah and think of the others. If they keep me on the right path. I think I could be the best leader that they need. It's all I can do for them and then when the time is right I will not be too upset when I watch them grow old and then die right in front of me because dragons still age differently.

"Savannah I want to pursue my feelings for you.. It's more my sanity."

"Malla stop the car."

I quickly stop the car and turn to her. She puts a hoof on my cheek and pulls me into a deep gentle kiss and that's all I remember this night. If the world was to end again I would never complain about this is a moment I am finally fully at peace and it's a peace I love.

Chapter Sixteen: A griffins life story

Hello there from what I have been told. I will be recording my life story. So those that ever come to this place will learn about us. I am Randell D Monker. I work as security in this lovely place called Dragon’s Rest. With the help of Malla and the others, it’s not as hard as many think it would be.

It keeps my mind off what I have lost. So I have been told by Ted this will help me get over more of my problems. My problems are normal for most people that have returned wherever we all went. I will never understand it either.

How to start all this hmm. Oh I know I was born in 1969 Life as you could say was pretty insane. I had to deal with a father that got drunk so many times and would harm my mother. I even had to deal with him going after me.

Then my life started to get better when I got older. Mother divorced him and we left our home in Florida and lived in Detroit. I was pretty young. I remember what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be a police officer. Say what you will about them even though some do go too far out there. Some do better than most. I even told my mother this.

“An officer Randell? I may not be fond of the police myself. Even though I will argue with you and tell you I want you to live the life I want you to live. All I want to do is raise you right and see you grow up happy.”

She was an amazing mother but I did see her point of view.

“Granted mother, I am just 10 years old right now. I am sure maybe when I get older I will change my mind. I feel I could help children that went through what I did with dad. Maybe I could help them through the pain.”

I was hopeful. As some would say I was too unsure of how real life was. I didn’t watch the news. Mother didn’t enjoy it when I tried to watch the news. She just told me little bits of what went on. She wanted her son to not fear what was happening in the world around this time.

I grew up hearing about the world in schools. I had no fear about it because my mother told me. That life will always find a way to move on. Things may get bad but life always moves on. I fell in love with my future wife. Of course, at this time I didn’t know that yet. I was in the lunchroom with my friends and they were talking about the world.

“The cold war is worse than it could ever be.”

Most of my friends could talk about the cold war. It was mostly all that folks talked about a lot because many of them fear what could happen. I tried to chime in of course.

“Life will find a way to get better for them and us. We can’t just allow fear to control how we live. That would be an awful way of living. We could just let our lives move on as normal. I know things could break down at any moment. It’s best to just move on.”

I got the attacks everyone got back in the day that acted like this.

“You want the Soviets to win. You have no idea how the real world works!!”

My friend screams at me and this is the middle of the lunchroom at school. Thankfully the teachers did their best to make sure I wouldn’t get lynched this way back during the day. If you dare even talk about peace or Russia in a good light. You would get hated or considered the enemy to some minds.

I was sent home at school and told not to return for the next few days. My mom had to work so hard to get me through school and I made this mistake. It was the first downfall of my life. I felt that I failed her. I even told her this.

“No, you’re not a failure for looking at the world in a peaceful mind and heart. The world will never agree with you. They will expect you to be in their mindset. They will expect you to follow their ways. Even some will force it on you. Because they feel they’re better than you. You will meet so many people like this throughout your life. Sadly, many are like this. That is normal in life. Not everyone will agree you will find those that will attack you for that.”

I didn’t know what she meant by this.

“So some people will use what they consider in their thoughts. As the world should be even though the world doesn’t see it that way?”

She gave a quick nod.

“I learned this the hard way during my young age. Some have this mentality to think what they think is the only way. If you think any way differently then you’re a threat or a problem. You must be dealt with by making up stories. But sometimes they will even try to stalk you in your life to destroy you. Just because you don’t follow their set of what life is.”

I tried to live like this most of my life. My wife-to-be wasn’t allowed to even talk to me anymore. Her family hated me because I dared to keep my life stress-free and peaceful. Even though I tried living like my mother wanted me to.

When I got older I got into drinking like my father. I got so bad that this time of my life I don’t fully remember it. But I cleaned myself up a few years later. I went to approach the father of the girl I was in love with.

This was like the early 80s when everything was nuts. He didn’t like that I was there. He even tried smashing the door in my face. His daughter being smarter than most wouldn’t even allow it or take it. I was close to 20 years old. She was as well and she told her father off.

“You have no right to treat him like this. So what if he looks at the world in a peaceful mindset. If you can’t handle that and want to insult every Russian you see even ones who ran away from that country. Then you’re not the problem, not him.”

She left and quickly closed the door. That was a mistake that she would regret. He wanted to disown her after that. But even her mother wouldn’t allow that. She even had to tell him to grow up and stop with the hateful ideas.

I again don’t remember much because I was dating her. I also learned my father killed himself. I fell into drinking again like my father. I almost lost her a few times from being so drunk I almost hurt her. Then I fully cleaned myself up and told her I would marry her after I become an officer.

It took a while and she waited for me. It was around 2014 when I finally became an officer it wasn’t easy and again I have trouble remembering most of my life. It doesn’t help that I have been hit in the head a lot too. Many things have happened to us over these past years and I have been hurt the most out of all our friends in Rest. So forgive me. We got married and I was out on patrol

The date 2015 22end. It was close to midnight and I was getting ready to head back to the station to go home and get some rest. Then I got a call from my partner.

“Randell, your wife has gone into labor. Your partner Brenda went to take her to the hospital. You don’t need to come back to the station. I will clock you out, go ahead and head to the hospital. It's at Bronson hospital.”

I take my mic from the radio.

“Alright, I will let you know what sex and weight are when she finally gives birth.”

When the time hit midnight. All I remember all around me turning white. When I return I am still holding onto the steering wheel and I have no idea why I feel so strange. I looked at my claws and I tried to hit the break. But I hit another car that has been parked there for a long time. I grab the mic.

“Anyone come in?”

I hear nothing. I have no idea what is going on. I went to go search for others and I have no idea how long it was. But I started getting depressed and panicking. I look to my side at the pistol. I grab the gun after so long I have no idea. I feel cold and I feel like I am getting sick. I put the gun to my head. Then I remember my little one, my son. I remember my wife giving birth to my son. I put the gun away. But I was so cold and unsure what to do. I glance at a liquor store and break into it. I needed a drink.

I found a battery-powered radio behind the counter as well turning it on hearing a voice.

“Greetings those that have returned. I know things are strange to you. You’re not alone I wish to express my hope for you. There are others in this new world. I wish I could help you more with more info on what happened. You would have to learn that yourself. If you wish for help or at least shelter, Dragon's Rest is finally ready for you all. I am one of the founders and you’re welcomed. Come and enjoy the rest of the dragon. For we are all the same flesh and blood no matter the changes that happen to us.”

It took a second for the same voice to come up again.

“I figure it might be best to explain what happened to me to help others on their path. It was May 23rd”

The voice explains everything that happens. She even brings up that she came back as a dragon. Others came back as zebra ponies and so on. But she brings up that you’re not alone. I don’t know how to contact them. Then another voice comes up.

“That was our big boss lady. Greetings everyone I am your DJ of Dragon rest. Our lines are open and charged. Thankfully we still have satellites. Now please call if you have returned. Please tell us where you are.”

I was getting depressed again to the point I forgot where I was. When I get like this the world around me just vanishes. This means my wife and son would never see this world. I would never see them. I took many long swings from the bottle I opened up. I got through but it was a recording of something about her being away.

“This is officer Randell D Monker. I...I have no idea where I am...all I know is that I am in Michigan. I am I...I don’t know what I am. I am. I don’t know what I am. Please…. I..”

I start sobbing. I felt my world ending because of everything. I wanted to just end it right there. But I had to be strong. I had to find my son.

“Please, it's very cold… here. I see. I see a road sign… Detroit…”

I hung up and dropped the phone heading to Bronson hospital. I didn’t know the time at all. It was getting colder and colder. When I got inside I could tell no one had been in here for a long time. The power wasn’t even on. I could smell many creatures though like they broke through the doors. Since I found shattered glass on the floor I also noticed I could see in the dark better than I used to.

I went to the counter and looked through the list of those that signed in. I found my wife and the number of the room. It was on the 5th floor yeesh that would be a long walk. I took a long swig from the bottle.

I head upstairs going through the halls seeing how empty everything is. So many things are left behind and I go to the room. I see the stain of sweat and other things on the bed. So she wasn’t far into the labor.

All I could think of doing was going into the room that had all the babies. I was worried I would find little ones without anyone to watch them. When I got there I thankfully didn’t find any. I just stared at the name of my son. Fred, she already told them the name she would give him.

I put my claw on the window sobbing. I sat in the chair having no idea how long it’s been. It felt like an hour or so passed by. I took another drink after a while. I felt that I was finally losing it. I saw a large black creature.

“My son would have been laying here.”

I blurted out and the creature just froze. It was either fate or dumb luck that she found me. Found me with life in my body at all. I haven’t even been myself for a while. I was amazed I was still fully there myself.

“My son….wh...my wife.. everyone...Is gone..”

It hit me hard but I noticed in my drunken stupor she focused a lot on the gun. I think back then If I was fully drunk I would have shot her. I drink the entire bottle, setting it down, opening the bag, and bringing another out to drink it. I use my beak to open it. Say a lot about this body, this beak is very useful. I took a long drink from it.

“Your son? I take it you have been on your way to see him?”

The creature did what she could to try to help me. I didn’t even think she was real. Malla has done a lot for me over the years. I feel so bad for her that she is going to watch the rest of us grow old. I gave a drunken laugh. I am sure I was scaring her as well.

“Yes...I was on patrol and I got a call. That my wife was in labor. So I drove as quick as I could and..then a flash and I am still driving. I have these claws and this beak. I looked around for everyone I knew and tried to see if any other living soul was here. But nothing.”

The black creature just stood there. Like she was listening I was too drunk to even understand why she was helping. I could hear the gears in her head working in overdrive trying so hard to get me not to do anything rash.

“I know times are tough for you. But you should at least be strong for all those that are missing and you could be strong for them.”

I could be strong for them?! What kind of words are that. At the time It was smart to say but not for someone like me who had a gun. I just laughed and aimed the gun at the glass window and fired. The poor creature jumped stunned as the glass flew everywhere. I sobbed hard while drinking from the bottle.

“You must be one of the angels of God to come and stop me from doing something that will send me down to the pits of fire. You’re just a figment trying to tell me to not do what I must. It’s the only way I can see them again.”

Oh only if I knew any better then. Maybe she was an angel and she saved my life. But I could have had a better mindset than what I had right there.

“I may or may not be an angel but I am here to help you. I know you have no reason to believe me and your anger and you’re not healthy for you to have been on your own in the cold for a long time. The fact you got here at all is amazing. Just please tell me what you would have named your son?”

I was sobbing hard at the question. It was not a dumb question. The dragon found many more blankets for me and covered me with them. She even tried to go for the gun. I stupidly pulled it away. I had to have something to make me feel strong. A gun no it doesn’t make you feel strong neither does the beer or booze.

“What would I have called my son? I. I ain’t sure about that..”

I lied about that for sure. I told her this later. I was getting worse I shivered so hard. I felt my body trying to stay warm and I heard a phone. I had no idea that she had others helping her. She looks at the phone strapped to her front leg.

“It seems God wants me to speak to him. May I take this while you relax?”

Oh if I was in that right mind during that time I would have scolded her for something awful. Of course, it was too funny that I look back that she tried so hard to save face and try to keep me from going nuts. I could make out some of the conversation she was having.

“Hello?”

Then she said this last thing before she hung up. I caught it and it didn't hit me. But she wanted the others to get here fast.

“I am going to say this once. I want you all to come to Bronson hospital. I need you to hurry. I don’t know how long he has left till his body goes into shock and he is drinking a lot of booze. Now please hurry.”

I had to be dumb when it came to what I said next to her.

“Hey, what did God say?’

All she did was laugh and hang up.

“Oh, he saids that he is hoping that you will have a peaceful life as long as you can.”

I was getting upset around this time. So I laughed and I tossed the bottle at the wall. I watched while the glass flew everywhere and what was left of the booze-soaked into the carpet. The look on her face. She knew the jig was up. I wasn’t buying anything she was saying.

“Now tell me what were you going to name your son?”

All I did was look at the booze and the bottle shards. I couldn’t believe what I was falling back into. But when you’re depressed and you wish to drink and drink. You tend to forget the promises you had for others.

“You know I promised her I would stop and not become like my father. You see, my father was a mean drunk and he would hurt my mother and me. I promised her I would never drink again or hurt the baby. Look at me. Now”

I sobbed so hard putting my claws to my eyes. The tears soaking my face. I am so upset now. That I felt there was only one way to go. I put the gun to my head and the dragon’s eyes went wide like she was going to stop me. But all I could do was put it back down and wave it like a madman.

“You know that’s how my father went. He went into full despair mode and just.”

I fire the gun at the lamp beside her. I watched while the lamp just shattered and I could tell that she wasn’t joking around anymore. The look on her face, a gentle heart coming to the surface. I wish I could thank her for everything. But she refuses to accept thanks at all. She just will tell you she feels she did the right thing.

“Listen, I know you’re in a lot of pain right now. I know you’re upset and you’re not fully yourself. You have been on your own for I don’t know how long. It could have been days for all I know. Just please put the gun down and don’t do anything more drastic. I will explain everything that has been going on.”

It would be the second time I heard it. My mind was trying to work through the drunken stupor she eyed the gun again. She wanted to take it from me. So I held it tightly like it was my toy. It was dumb of me.

“Please let me have the gun..”

She reaches for the gun and grabs it. I felt her pull hard. I finally saw that she was real. She wasn’t fake like my mind saw her. I let her take the gun and she took out the ammo and sat there to watch me closely.

“You’re here aren’t you and you’re a dragon?”

She nods and sits down and she starts to explain everything that she has been through. Who she met on the way. The pony Chris Starla Lyra everyone else she met. I started to understand fully now. What I heard wasn’t some dream, it was all real. I wanted to scream to God for how dare he allow this but all I could do was cry.

“I found it hard to believe in myself. I woke up like this and found my way here. Listen, I am not alone. Others are coming.”

She got into the chair with me and held me. All I remember is passing out and I don’t remember much after. I remember waking up many hours later on a stretcher in a heated room and I saw a Minotaur standing over me. He had an iv in my arm and from what I could tell it was working.

“You gave us a scare. I was able to give you at least a little something to numb your pain and bring you back. Don’t move too much and you will be out of here soon. I am Ted. Nice to meet you. You will meet the others soon.”

It took me a few days to finally fully get better. I met the others and. I went silent for a moment when I heard something speaking. I speak in the recording again.

“Listen, I can no longer tell you the rest. Malla needs to speak to all of us. It's something urgent. To those that ever hear this. If you find a baby or a mother let them know I am alive.”

I turn off the recording and quickly go see what Malla wants to talk to us about. Savannah told the rest of us it was urgent and when Malla is upset something is wrong.

Chapter 17: The founding of Dragon's Rest

January 20h, 2016

It’s been a tasking time a year has gone by. But a year hasn’t gone by for us who have changed. No more, for now, have shown back up. I thank heaven for that so many times. I just have no idea what to think. I asked the others to come with me outside even if it was snowing. We just stood right by the door of the store.

“I think it’s time to open our doors to others. Do you all think we are ready to welcome whoever comes and say Dragon’s rest is founded?”

Savannah shifts in the gathering snow. She looks up to the sky.

“I think we are ready for more souls. I doubt thought we will be able to handle too many. Winter is not going to be easy for us. We are lucky we got food at least. Just listen to me and listen to me closely Malla. If I say we don’t have enough for a big group then we need to try harder to make sure.”

George quickly nods.

“This old dog agrees. If we can’t handle too many souls then we need to do what we can for them. Then send them on their way. But we can’t just allow them to die in the cold. We need to try.”

Wanda sighs shifting on her hooves.

“I have been learning to fly myself. I am hoping that what I have learned is true. I can control the weather. So maybe I can make winter less harsh. I was able to mess with a low cloud and made a small storm rain on Malla.”

I turn my head staring at Wanda.

“So that was you?”

Wanda laughs.

“Sorry, Malla I didn’t mean to just I had to test it. I feel it might be easier though if I could learn to fly.”

I quickly nod. I look back into the store seeing Ted and our new griffin friend talking to each other. It took them a while for them to come outside. Ted stood beside me looking up at me. All I could think of was to ask him.

“Before you ask Malla. I still haven’t found how certain human meds affect us. Randell has offered himself as a tester.”

I glance at our new friend Randell.

“You do realize Randell that this could end badly for you. You also know that testing you might make whatever he makes affect each of us differently. So he might have to test us all.”

Randell snickers.

“It’s better than me worrying too much about my family. Just I also feel that opening the doors of Dragon’s rest is a wise idea. You will find many more like me who have nothing to live for.”

Ted sighs.

“He is correct Malla. We will meet those that have nothing to live for. They will try so hard to not listen and maybe spend the entire time crying or ending up in areas that might end their lives. So again it’s not going to be easy for either of us. Not all of us are mentally there ourselves.”

I sigh deeply he is correct. I am sadly one of those. I am not mentally there. The fact my body and mind are still getting used to being female. As well as being a dragon from a male human to a female dragon. Mental integrity of it never is going to be easy for me. I am sure sooner or later I will get there just it will be hard.

“I am one of those sadly. I am sure it will take a long time to get used to being a female and a dragon. Rage is the mental ability to always fly off the handle. I always feel angry ready to just suddenly burn anything.”

Savannah looks towards the heavy snow-covered road.

“I think it’s time to do a recording of all of us telling all those out there. You’re not alone and then tell them we are open. Just we will have to work harder to get our food grown and make sure that we do a better job at it. So I feel the best way to do that is to find some Hydro-gardens. I know home depot and Ace harder ware sells them.”

I know where to find one there is one in this town.

“I feel first we need to do the recording. Then we go do what we can to gather more ways to grow food. Hydroponics gardens would work great.”

All of us went in. The only one that didn’t want to come out was Jenny all of us went up and she stares at us.

“What do you all want? Are you here to force me to go outside?!”

I laugh.

“No no Jenny we want to fully open Dragon’s rest so we would like to do a recording.”

Jenny relaxed and she allowed us to use the mic to record. We spent maybe the better an hour for all of us to say what we wanted to say. Ted, Wanda, and George went off to find some pharmacies to bring back whatever they could find for testing and then to make brews. Randell went with Savannah and me to look for some gardens.

I turned on the radio and the recording we did comes up after the first voice is Jenney.

“Greetings to the lost souls out there. Who returns from the event? I am Jenny Strong I am known as DJ Nightingale and I am the radio voice of Dragon’s rest. I want to welcome you to our home. To those that are lost and need a home. We are opening our doors for all hopefully someday we can work together.”

Next to come up as I drive. I look in the rearview mirror I swear we are being followed by a strange car. I look back quickly to see nothing but what I saw was a pure black car with black-coated windows. I remember George telling me stories of him and Wanda being followed by something like this.

“Greetings I am Wanda and this is George.”

“Hello there.”

“We are both lost souls like yourselves former paramedics that worked for Battlecreek. We wish to welcome you to Dragon’s rest we will do all we can for you. I can’t promise much, but we wish to be your beacon in the dark.”

“I just wish we can work together Wanda and I are willing to help anyone who needs it.”

I focus on the road seeing this car now and again. It’s making my nerves a bit tense since I don’t know who or what is following us. I just have never seen such a car before. It’s like no human is even driving it.

“Some is bothering you Malla.”

I glance at Savaannh and when I looked away from the rearview mirror again the car vanished. I am worried but I won’t say anything yet.

“It’s nothing just I am not used to driving in this weather.”

Ted was next to talk.

“Hello, there I am doctor Ted. I ain’t good at this really but welcome. I am just a simple man. I don’t need to express much about myself. So I will only say these words. If you’re sick I will do my best to help you.”

I laugh weakly. I knew Ted wouldn’t say much and there will be Savannah then meet. Since Randell felt he didn’t have a right yet to say anything.

“Well, I am Savannah I am the hard-headed soldier of the group. I do things by the book. I even keep our beloved leader in line. To make sure she doesn’t do anything too stupid and dumb. I make sure everyone gets their fair share. So when you come to expect a hard strict mare to tell you what is what.”

I glance at Savannah and the final words are mine.

“Hello, I am Malla. I know full well what it’s like to be lost. I wish I could help you more. It’s not going to be easy the first few days back. But you will be as strong as you need to be. I wish I could tell you what I went through. But I doubt Jenny wants to allow me to do so. There is always a tomorrow just remember don’t allow your dread and fear to win. Dragon’s rest is open to all and we will always welcome everyone with open hooves, claws, and so on. So please welcome to Dragon’s rest and we are here to be your friend.”

I sigh and park at Home Depot Savannah and Randell go in without me. I lean back in the chair to rest my eyes. I wonder what things will be like in later years. I will never know I am just a simple dragon after all. I am not wise I doubt I ever will be wise. Closing my eyes all I can think of is the sleep I will get as I drift hoping for a better future.

Chapter Eight: University search

It's now August 26th

Standing on top of the roof of one of the schools. Just watching the world go by hearing no cars no planes overhead. All I could see is nature. I don’t know why it felt so much better to me than hearing all kinds of sounds. Looking over the side see if the truck was still there. I had no idea why I was searching if it was still there. But I wasn’t the only one away from our home.

George took a new large truck we found and he will be going around some businesses and stores. I am tasked to go to the schools and find what we can. Lyra and Savannah are searching the airport.

We have talkies so we could keep in touch. I looked down at the car below I didn't find much yet I just went right to the roof. I heard the voices on the talkies. They wanted us to call in every 30 mins. It was my turn.

"Malla?" I heard on the talkie.

I lifted it speaking into it.

"I am here on top of western Michigan university college. I haven't searched for anything yet. Have any of you found anything?"

"George and Wanda found batteries. Lyra and I found uniforms we could use for later. But we are mostly looking for first-aid canned food that would last forever. I don't wish to use anything we have now. But I feel that you need to look through these schools Malla. I know it's hard for you I know you feel you might be alone."

"I am fine Savannah. I have been listening to Jenny she is telling those on the outside that we are searching for them. I feel it's a lost cause Savannah if we can't find a way to get the power back on. We will never find any new souls unless. Savannah. Send a message to Jenny to tell her this. Tell anyone who is listening to go to Woodland park nature preserve."

"Alright, Malla I will tell her."

I turned the battery-powered radio I had with me to listen to Jenny. I closed my eyes a bit as the music she had on ended. Her voice came over the radio.

"I have been given new instructions from our dragon leader. To those who are listening go to Woodland park nature preserve. They will be setting up a few tents there and one of us will be there now and then. So if you wish to be found go there. I am very sorry my friends I wish I could be of more help. But I sadly can't be with how this new world is. Now for more music for those that wish to be happy."

She started to play more Beatles music. I didn't know what to think but I did know I needed to look through the school. I looked down at the streets below. I had to do this I had to fly. I stood over the edge closing my eyes tightly for a moment and taking a deep breath. I lifted my talkie to my mouth holding the radio with my tail.

"I am going to try flying. If I don't answer back It means I crashed and I need you to come and get me."

"What?!" George yelled out. "Malla don't you could get badly hurt!!"

"I need to feel good about myself George I need to prove to everyone around me I am not a joke. I need to show that I can be strong for you guys I need to be strong. I can't just keep sitting in the background sobbing and crying. I need to be the leader you need me to be."

"Malla we don't laugh at you Lyra stop her." Yelled Savannah.

"Go ahead, Russell." I blinked hearing Lyra say my name again. "Russell the sweet kind dragon I met with such a soft heart. Please do what you feel you must. We can't stop you from proving yourself proving your worth my friend. Prove yourself and fly."

"Why didn't you stop her Lyra?!" Wanda sounded pretty upset in the talkie.

"We can't" Savannah interrupted Lyra before she could speak. "Lyra is right Malla needs this. She needs this more than she needs us right now. Malla is a creature that has instincts that are harder for us to understand than most. She wants to prove herself she wants to be there and strong for all of us. I don't feel bad for her for wanting that. But if she does get hurt it's her fault. We will be there to pick her up."

I stood over the edge hearing Luna's words in my mind again. 'Spread your wings take a deep breath and then when you jump you flap slowly. Make sure those muscles work. You won't fly easily at first. It takes time my friend. Now jump!"

I jumped off the edge opening my eyes and spreading my wings out further the wind helped me glide a bit I flapped my wings I could feel myself flying. Well falling with style most would say. I slowly made my way to the ground and well I crashed with a thump but I didn't get hurt nor did the talkie my phone and the radio. Of course, I got to say it did hurt my pride but did fly well fell with style. But it still felt like I flew.

"Well, I didn't fly that well," I said in the talkie. "I dropped to the ground with style."

Lyra laughed. "At least you didn't get hurt. Now do what you asked us to do and do your job Malla. We already found so much stuff. We found some heaters that will be useful for your private homes that will be built in the store."

I sighed. "Alright, I will see what I can find here. I do hope I can find something. Because it's a school what would be in a school?"

"Drugs?" Savannah pointed out. "Eh, how my school was."

I didn't wish to answer that but It would be my second time here. I had to get find a way to get on the roof somehow. I had a feeling maybe it's best to check every room to find things for a young one that would but that would mean going to a school for younger children. Still, maybe I would find something that would be worth it. Going back inside I was in the hall of the school. I could see nothing but lockers and many classes. It was a big place I have a feeling I would be here awhile.

The first class I found was art I spoke in the talkie. "Should we worry about looking for crafts and such for young little ones that come back?"

"I don't know really. I do feel if little ones do come back we have enough toys and such for them in the store. But if you want to then we should have you go from all the schools Malla even have you go to Delton and go to the school there." I blinked I heard the name Delton Kelloggs schools I closed my eyes and laughed softly in the talkie

"What's so funny?" George asked.

"I went to that school Savannah just said. It was an alright school I do hope I could find anything there. For now, though I think mostly what I will find in this school is memories of..." I went silent as I went into one of the classrooms I saw sleeping bags and blankets. Looking at it school sleepover for history class.

"Malla?" Lyra softly asked. "Everything okay?"

"These kids...when they return they will have no parents. No parents are to come and pick them up. How is this fair... to them? How is it." I took deep breaths trying to ignore the pain I felt in my brain. I couldn't control the feelings of depression and despair added to the dragon's anger. It made it harder for me to feel that I could do anything. I wanted to scream I wanted to roar in anger. Before any of that could happen I heard Lyra's Lyre playing softly on the talkie. I felt myself relaxing.

"Thank you, Lyra. Malla do you need us to come?" Wanda asked worriedly.

"No, I am fine. I am going to leave this room with a note for all the kids that come back." Noticing the chalkboard closing my eyes and sighing. I erased what was on there. Lifting the chalk and starting to wonder what I say to a bunch of kids. Slowly started to write on the chalkboard. 'You may have noticed that you changed into something that is not human. Don't worry you aren't alone. I used to be human as well but now I am a dragon. I know it's hard to swallow very hard to swallow. Whoever returns are ready for hardships but if you go to Woodland park nature preserve. You will find what you need there.'

I put the chalk back down looking at the class. So many missing children. I thought of Starla and it made me feel even worse. A young one so young changed. I do hope she and Chris are doing alright. I felt better after that. I didn't think there would be anything in this class that I would need. Maybe get to the metal shop to grab all the tools we might need.

"There ain't many things in a school that we could use. No heaters we could take but I am sure Of course this is a school for older children."

"I am sure you could find something Malla. Maybe go to the metal shop and see if you could find something there. Along with if they would have any canned food we could use." Savannah added.

I finally found my way to the metal shop. They sure had a lot of tools here that we could use. I found a large giant toolbox opening it up and checked what could be used. I didn't understand what a lot of these would be for. Lifting the box over my back using my wings to hold it. Of course, it was pretty heavy.

"Okay I got all the tools I will take them to the car and then go check the Cafeteria."

"Is it wise to have more tools?" Lyra asked.

"Oddly yes it is Lyra it's pretty easy to ruin tools trying to do what we need to do. Did you count the nails in that tool chest Malla?" Wanda asked.

"No I didn't but I am sure there is enough to build our little homes. I will head to the other schools after and will try to find what I can find with food. But then I will return to the." I finally get outside to the car placing the tool chest in the trailer. I looked at the other things I have gotten most of it is tools and canned food. This is not the first place I have been to I broke into an auto part shop and found most other things I feel we needed. It was Savannah that asked me to go into the schools next. So I felt maybe finding other places to go to. Maybe I should check the airport I doubt it would be wise to be together just in case.

"No one has found any issues they need a large dragon to help take care of?"

"Well, George and I are just looking through the doctor’s offices and hospitals for other doctors or meds and such. I doubt it would be wise if we could use your Malla. Since well if we find anyone they would be pretty scared of you. No offense to you of course."

I sighed nodding. I knew I would feel bad again. I am a large fire-breathing lizard known to eat and kidnap maidens to destroy knights in shining armor. Just the thought of it started to affect my mind again. They want to understand the want to be something else. Why did fate have to be so cruel to me? Why me why this why that? Anger started to fill me I didn't want to be around anyone right now. All I could think of was to close it and lose my mind. I couldn't think of it anymore. I had to yell I had to roar I had to release the anger.

I was in the halls close to the cafeteria I stood on my back feet in anger about to roar in anger. I had to fight it I felt my mind fighting my anger and my instincts. Instead of roaring I rushed to the lockers and started smashing myself into them crushing most of them with my large body. My talkie was still on and they heard me.

"M..." I couldn't hear them from the anger I felt after a while I broke the line of one set of lockers feeling my anger subside. Why did I get so angry? I moved away from the lockers looking away my eyes had tears streaming down it dropping to the floor. I didn't want to make a scene but I just did. With all the smashing I did I felt that I wouldn't be able to be looked at the same way again. The idea of it is all I can think of but that's the issue in the long run.

"Malla are you okay?" I heard Wanda's voice she sounded very worried. I groaned a bit My mind finally regained itself I looked at what I did. The lockers were destroyed and all the stuff that was in them was smashed. Why would some of this stuff even be in here?

"I am fine sorry about that the instincts of being female from Male are odd. I have these wants and needs that I haven't been able to fulfill and the idea of being a dragon's instincts hit me even more. I wish I could counter this but it's harder the most think it is."

Savannah chuckled.

"I see so you're in heat then?"

I sighed blushing deep red.

"Yes, I am that's why I wished to go alone so you didn't have to smell me. Lyra had to smell me on our trip. I am hoping that sooner or later I will beat it. I wish I could find a male dragon to enjoy my time with I doubt that would be wise to do. I could get eggs and I doubt we are ready for younglings."

"I think it's a bit too soon for younglings Malla we aren't even ready to take most of us. That's why I am asking us all to do these hunts in the city. Then we will be going to the other cities. I want to make sure to clean up what we can. Because if we don't we could lose our chance to find something that would be worth it." Savannah tried to say but all I could hear was my instincts screaming.

"Sorry, what did you say Savannah? My instincts are screaming at me to ease my burden but I will be fine. I will find a good pond and take a bath in it. I have no idea what I will do if there is no male around. I am sure I will find way's to fight this heat and then move on to being your leader and making you my founders of Dragons rest. But I doubt it's fully ready."

"Well I will have to leave myself so I won't be one of the founders, my dear friend. I will leave a recording behind so the ponies or folks you meet along the way will know who I am and why you stayed calm and I was able to make you happy long enough not to lose it, my dear friend."

"You two sounded like you had. relations." George blurted out.

"I AM MARRIED!!" Lyra yelled. "I am married to a wonderful mare that puts up with me. I mean I was there for her as a friend and a sister. I didn't do any of that with her how dare you think that I am not a floozy."

I laughed loudly.

"Be happy you're not near her George or she would give you what for. She did the same to me when I called her some pretty nasty things when we met. So be careful when you get back she is extremely loyal to this Bon Bon and it's amazing and cute that she is in love with her it makes me smile. I wish I could have that at the moment."

The others laugh so did George.

"Well, you can't blame me for thinking that can you? You two act like you have been together in that way many times."

I chuckled.

"Well before the end we did start sleeping in the same beds so I could keep her warm since I felt safer near her. I was getting more and more unsure about this change and losing more and more about myself. It started making me wonder if I would be able to handle being like this and I know I can't but I am trying."

Savannah sighed in the talkie.

"You have done better than most would my dear friend. You would have been able to help the rest of us get used to the fact that most of us would be lost without you. I would still be wondering if folks remember what I did during the wars George and Wanda would have crashed if you weren't there to stop us from crashing."

"Well, you did crash into me after all." I laughed. "It's amazing didn't feel anything but of course someday I might I doubt my scaled body could protect me from everything,"

"Wait Malla Jenny is talking to someone on the radio."

I blinked turning on my radio.

"Go ahead and speak sir."

The voice sighed. "I'm Dr. Ted Flake. I'm here alone."

"Do you remember what part of the state you're in?"

"I'm in Muskegon Hospital I was here late helping a lady give birth. Then a flash happens I ended up looking like a Minotaur. I.. the hospital is empty I wanted to try to leave myself. I can't find my keys I could try to find another one of the cars take my cell phone and meet any of you along the way. Thankfully I already had a Satellite phone and battery-powered radio here so I could learn."

I picked up my phone and called Jenny.

"I'm sorry to butt in Jenny tell him to go to Grand Rapids and tell him to meet me at John Ball zoo." I hang up the phone.

"Well, we can help you. If you could gather what you can from that hospital."

"I recommend that non of or even me used human medicine anymore. I will bring what I can in the food I could go stop at my place and get whatever else. If needed canned food."

"Of course now I warn you the one coming to see you is not a pony. She is a dragon."

Ted went silent for a moment.

"I should accept the fact of what we are. I won't be leaving the town for a while though. So tell your friend to come and get me. It might be a day or two before I call you back."

"Of course thank you for calling. I know it's going to be hard for you we are all here. If you need to keep in contact I will allow you to pick the music that we play."

Ted chuckled. "Do you have any Megadeth on you?"

"Oh, a man after my own heart."

"Thank you. Now I am going to listen while I do some searching."

"Take care to those who might be out there we know we are looking. A founding is about to start. It hasn't started yet it might not for a time. But we are all waiting. We will build that camp when we can. Now for our music. It will all Megadeth today."

The song started playing I sighed closing my eyes it's been so long since I heard this music. I could hear Lyra on the other side of the Talkie.

"This music sounds like it's so full of hate for the world." I never could get Lyra into the classics it kind of made me chuckle at how she acts like a mother from the 80s and 90s.

"I am on my last search then heading back home." I softly said in the talkie while I listened to music. I didn't know how to feel or what to think at the moment. The music just numbed my brain. It felt wonderful to me. I am very thankful I had a bag with me. I found a bunch of canned food I didn't wish to look at the names since well it's Cafeteria food and these canned foods could last forever. Now it's time to head home.

I walked out of the University placing the bag in the car. I sat there awhile closing my eyes turning off the music leaning back and thinking back on everything. I turned off the talkie and kept my Satellite phone on. So if they needed me they could get ahold of me. I remember that room of those poor kids that will wake up knowing they don't have any parents anymore at the moment.

I didn't need to lose my temper right now I am extremely relaxed. I didn't know how to feel though. Maybe someday I will learn again why this happens. It's getting silly that every time I think of why this happens, I will get even angrier when I learn the full truth. I hope Lyra is gone when we do learn. I don't want her to get hurt.

I felt sleep wanting to take me again for some reason. I slowly closed my eyes feeling sleep take me.