Dragon's sorrow: Tales of Dragon's rest

by Megaskullmon

Rating: teen
Tags: Violence, Zebra, Death, Sad, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Adventure, Griffons, Tragedy, Dragons, Profanity
Length: 19552

I am one of the zebras of this land called Dragon's Rest. There are old stories and legends that tell us to leave food and various other objects at the mouth of a cave then depart. I must enter the cave to learn why.

Dragon's Rest is a quiet place. However, there is a legend that states one must leave gifts at the mouth of a particular cave. If one does not, the ancient creature inside will get angry. It's time for me to determine for myself if the legend is true.
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This is in the same universe as the Last pony on earth. I want to thank Starscribe for the amazing world he has created and for allowing folks like me to write in such a universe.

Published 2022-11-10 06:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2022-11-10 06:10:01 UTC

Introduction: The tree and history

I stood at a podium, an old wooden podium created many years ago by one of the founders of Dragons rest so long ago. I stand there on my four hooves looking over the crowd of ponies and zebras and other creatures. It’s been so long since we have opened ourselves up again. I look behind me to see the large tree.

“Welcome everyone to the 50th anniversary of our great tree and the anniversary of Dragon’s Rest. Even though most of our history has been lost for so long we still don’t know the year of this great community.”

Many young eyes don’t know the power of this tree or why this tree is even here. It wasn’t here so long ago. A hoof is raised and I look at the young orange mare.

“Can you please explain why our history is so sparse and other communities outside Dragon’s rest have all their history intact?”

I sigh deeply. It's not easy to explain this at all. I try to answer so many words dancing in my head. I can’t even think about it. Just have to wing it.

“Long ago there was a sickness. I don’t know much about it. But one of the founders took it upon herself and burned the entire area down and chased off everyone else. It’s what caused most of our history to vanish.”

There are whispers and worried words of this creature still around.

“Excuse me, elder.”

I look around at the voice leaning over the podium to see a very young filly. She looks so young just her giant eyes make a smile form over my face.

“Yes, little one?”

It took a while for the filly to speak. A mare who I am sure is her mother nods to her to speak to me. I just keep a calm gentle smile on my face. I don’t want to scare this poor little creature. She is so beautiful. I am happy to see little ones so cute.

“Why do we have this anniversary for this tree? I have been told by others older than you. That the tree showed up out of the blue one day and some random cloaked pony got you to be our next elder.”

I had a feeling this question was coming. I look at the tree. It's been so long that I wonder if the one I spoke to would be upset about me bringing them up. I look back to the many eyes waiting for me to answer.

“I made a promise years ago I would only speak of this if the souls of this community are ready. Are you sure you’re all ready to learn the truth about this tree?”

The young souls and old souls just stare at me like they’re willing to listen. I promised though, of course, I remember the cloaked pony telling me someday I will have to tell the truth about the name Dragon’s rest and the tree.

“Allow me then. What if I told you this tree is an old friend and one of the founders of this community?”

Ponies and others look at each other whispering.

“Would you be surprised if I told you it’s true?”

I put my hoof on the tree, closing my eyes and sighing ‘Please help me, my friend.’ I say to myself looking back at the crowd.

“Years ago many of you know I wasn’t an elder back then. But most of you don’t know that I wasn’t even welcomed in this community. I was a rebel and I wanted to learn things that were forbidden. Because the old elders had a strange amount of rules that kept us from learning.”

The others look at each other.

"May I ask then what changed?"

I turned my head looking at the stallion who asked the very question. I don't fully remember what changed, maybe it's just me wanting to become older. maybe it was the uprising that caused the change? I don't fully remember and most don't even know about the uprising.

"Let's get the book I wrote all this down so I can remember."

I click my hooves together with a large bat mare in heavy armor land beside me with a loud thud.

"You called Milady?"

A weak smile forms on my face glancing at the mare.

"Could you please go to my home Peach and get that large book you have seen me write in please?"

The mare stares at me for a second. She lifts her helm to stare into my eyes for a moment.

"Milady, I told you before to call me if your life is in danger I am not going to go find a book for you and then come back because you asked."

I chuckle, leaning to whisper into the ear of the mare.

"How about I treat you to a feast of fruit during your vacation? Would that work?"

The mare snorts.

"Offering fruit will get you everywhere. I will be back."

I watch while the guard flies off. Turning back to the crowd I lean on the podium.

"Are there any other questions while we wait for her to get back?"

A zebra comes out from the crowd sitting down in front of the others.

"Is it true this world used to belong to a race known as humans? I have been told this by other communities outside of ours."

I nod.

"Indeed, many of them who changed into creatures like us are still around but most of us who are born this way could be the dominant now. As for me, I ain't too sure because I don't leave this community I am not allowed to leave Dragons rest as most of you do."

The zebra lifts his hoof again and I nod to him to ask his next question.

"How do you tell? How do you tell if the ponies or whatever used to be human? Is there any way to tell at all?"

It takes me again a while to answer that question. while I am thinking about how to answer it Peach returns with the large put placing it on the old podium.

"I don't fully know sorry. Now let me tell you a story about a legend and a dragon."

I go to the book, opening it to the first words I ever wrote in it.

"I was asleep not paying much mind to what the elders were teaching me. To me, it wasn't important to learn history that we know nothing about since the history of the past has been burnt to nothing."

To be continued.

Chapter One: Elders and cloaked mare

Fifty years ago to this day. I was more of a rebellious mare. I was pretty young by the standards of a zebra. I was born in this community like most even though I was born here. Most treated me like a problem since I didn’t buy everything the elders said. There are old legends of a thriving community that lived here but all of the histories vanished overnight.

Then I met her. I am getting ahead of myself though it all started with an elder teaching us. It never stood right with me why elders only could teach us and could tell us the best way to live. I wasn’t a well-liked mare. I had some friends but many hated me. I was too rebellious in the eyes of the others.

“Now class please open your books to page sixty-three. Today we will learn about the founding of Dragon’s Rest. Now from history we still have Dragon’s Rest which was formed on the body of a dead dragon. The dragon used everyone as slaves. The ponies rose and helped all the other races become strong to kill the beast.”

I roll my eyes

“How do we know this is true?”

I get many of the stallions and mares looking at me. Like I said I wasn’t a very welcomed mare. Even other zebras disliked me more so than you would think. I always questioned everything the elders spoke of. Before I could do anything a stallion smacked me across the face. I shake my head staring at the stallion.

“Now Glyph's question is solid and correct. Now the fact she is questioning an elder shows she has too much of a lingering mind. So please don’t attack her you may do that if you wish at the end of class.”

I snort hating how they tell the others to just outright attack me because I don’t blindly follow the words of these elders. An hour later the class was over and all we talked about was the dragon and why Dragon’s rest was formed and how monsters, evil monsters, and death.

I walk out of the class trying to keep to myself to get out of the wooden makeshift school. I trot as quickly as I can to get out of the building. I am stopped by a large group of ponies and surrounded by them.

“Look, I don't want any trouble. Let me be on my way.”

I try to pass them and a stallion quickly raises his back hoof into my face. The hit from the hoof makes me fall to the ground. I groan I have now been surrounded by their hooves smashing into me. I scream in pain. Granted I did deserve this. I have been a jerk but it didn’t have to hurt so much.

“ENOUGH!!”

A powerful magic shield protects me while the ponies and zebras turn to look at the cloaked pony. The mare wears strange boots and does as much as it can to hide its features. Of course, it was easy to tell the figure is female from the build of their body.

“This is not your problem stranger.”

The stallion who hit me stood up to the cloaked figure.

“Dragon’s Rest is founded on the principles of accepting all those who are lost and outcasts from the normal world. We aren’t normal, are we? Now enough of your measuring of whose ego is bigger and leave the poor mare alone.”

The stallion stood by his friends looking at them and the cloaked mare doesn't do anything but come up to me in the shield looking at the stallion,

“Are you done hurting this mare or have you got anything better to do?”

The stallion snorts getting ready to attack the cloaked mare. The mare I am sure is looking at him like really?

“Are that dumb to attack someone who could be very powerful and turn you inside out?”

A mare pats the stallion's shoulder.

“Come on, let's go, she is not worth it.”

The stallion snorts leaving with his gang.

“Just as well we got to gather our tributes for the creature of the cave.”

The mare lifts her spell, helping me up by using magic to form a cloth. Using other spells to clean up my body and bleeding cuts. She puts the cloth on my nose.

“Blow.”

I blow in the cloth blowing out some fresh blood coughing.

“Now, what did you learn?”

I stare at the cloaked mare unsure what she wants me to say. I shrug my shoulders.

“All I wish to know is the truth. The truth about why this place is called Dragon’s Rest and why all our history is missing and why the elders are so openly brainwashing everyone.”

The mare laughs.

“Ah, so you question everything, am I correct?”

I don’t answer for a few pregnant seconds shifting on my hooves. I am unsure what this mare will do even if I answer the question.

“Look, I know my way of thinking doesn’t work here. I just do what everyone does to learn or try to. Gather gold and food whatever else and leave it at the cave to please whatever fake monster is down in that cave not far from here.”

The mare stares at me. I can just make out her eyes. She looks over to the trees not far from the village seeing a cave mouth leading down. I see that she frowns and her eyes turn sad. I swear I could hear her say something. I ignore it for now.

“You’re a mare that wishes to know everything? Have you ever thought of going down into those caves to learn if this legend is true?”

I stare at the mare again. Is she crazy? It’s forbidden to go into the cave.

“It’s forbidden to go into the cave. There are stories of ponies or other creatures going down in there and vanishing.”

The mare turns around to walk away from me. Stop turning her head to look at me over her shoulder.

“Then you’re not the one to prove otherwise. You’re too brainwashed into thinking something new is something to be scared of. I will be at the inn if you change your mind. If you don’t come then I will have to search for another to bring change to this community.”

The mare leaves heading to the inn. I just watch her leave feeling unsure if I should follow. I head home walking past a good friend of mine, a pink mare I grew up with.

“Hey, Glyph, I heard what you did. You’re the talk of the town again for being you.”

I stop looking at the mare, a weak smile forming on my face.

“Yes, that’s me the rebel.”

The smile goes back to a frown my pink mare friend. Who calls herself Cotton her real name is Berry of course. But I think she changed it to sound funnier. I am unsure she was drunk at the time.

She walks with me back to my home. I tell her everything that happened and about the pony, I met. The offer she wanted to do as well.

“So some random pony who many have seen showing up here over the years asked you if you would like to learn the truth? My question is what kind of truth is there? I may not believe in the creature of the cave but I still do what I am told, but whatever food I have at the time there or gold.”

I snorted, shaking my head.

“I don’t want to risk my life to find this truth this mare is talking about.”

Cotton gets in front of me to stop me. I stare at her tilting my head at the reason why she stopped me.

“Glyph, you're always telling me you’re upset about how the elders run this community. Why don’t you finally get off your butt and do something for once instead of pissing them off? Now go to the inn and talk to this mare and tell her you’re in. I will gather whatever you have in your home and then you go.”

I take a deep breath sighing. She is correct. I always talk about how I hate the elders who have so much power. I turned around letting Cotton do what she was going to do. I head to the inn. It’s a pretty calm night. I head inside going into the bar I go to the tender. The large Diamond dog female stares at me.

“What’s your poison tonight Glyph?”

I sigh.

“Nothing tonight Tina have you seen a pony in here?”

Tina stares at me.

“Oh look there is a pony over there.”

She gasps.

“Oh look at another pony over there!! Are you dumb or something Glyph?!”

I snorted just what I needed, a smart ass.

“I mean have you seen a pony in a cloak?’

Tina nods pointing to the table. There are two full glasses of a type of drink there. I smile nodding to Tina heading to the table and sitting down on the chair looking at the mare. She lifts her glass drinking from it.

“I figured you would be here so I put in an order for you. Now, are you sure you wish to do this? You can back out if you want.”

I shift uncomfortably on the chair. I feel if I say no to this mare she will leave me to the wolves. I lean in to get a drink from the glass.

“I will not back out now. Just what do I need to do?”

The mare smirks

_________

That night

If you would ask me to be bait for some evil creature in a cave I would have told you to bug off. If I was asked to do this by a strange mare in a cloak? I guess I would be all for it. Since the adventure would be even better.

I walk with the mare to the cave mouth and all the offerings have been placed. There is a large basket for me to get into. I look at the basket and then at the cavern of the mouth. I have been here before but never went inside.

“What should I expect?”

The mare chuckles.

“If I told you what to expect it wouldn’t be a good mystery what is down there.”

I stare at the mare from the corner of my eye.

“You act like you already know what is down there.”

The mare goes silent.

“Let me just say this. Say this name out loud.”

She leans in to whisper a name to me. A human name I have heard of human names before but it’s been a while since I have heard anyone use one.

“Now what?”

The mare opens the basket full of fish.

“If you go.”

I stare at the dead fish then at the mare a looked at her with a look of disgust the smell was awful.

“You’re kidding.”

The mare smirks, I just don’t argue. I get into the fish groaning, coughing at the smell. After this, I hear a bell ringing. Then a few pregnant moments I hear and feel loud stomping. I feel the force of being moved and after a while, I am thumped onto the ground. The stomping goes away and I hear chewing.

I get out of the basket groaning. I don’t see whatever grabbed me. I quickly go into another part of the cave and when I get in there I see many cases. Inside them are old books that are well kept. I put my hoof on the case and a spell throbs a moment and vanishes.

I look at three books called journals in one of the cases and then I get the last case. A strange thing that looks like a toy. A large metal creature with bright white eyes. I look at the paper in front of it. ‘Who do you want to be? Superman.’ I stare at the toy again. It's pretty old and one of the legs is missing. It’s kept standing with a piece of metal.

I hear stomping coming closer since I know I smell like fish and I turn to see a large claw and I hide seeing the large creature oh gods it’s a dragon.

“si shilta keefum wux”

I didn’t understand what the creature was saying. I try to sneak away to get out as quickly as I can.

“wux shilta ti itrewic mojka de ve moxt ir.”

I keep running trying to head back out of the cavern. Before I could do that through a large rock blocking my path I turned to see the creature staring right at me. Smoke coming out of the mouth of the angry beast.

“vi z'ar meal”

I didn’t know what to do. All I could think of was using the human name I was told. I had to act quickly before I was made into a meal.

“Russell!!”

The dragon stops staring down at me. I finally get a good look at the dragon. The eyes of the creature stare right at me. Gentle old blue eyes. They look like they have seen much and felt much. I just stare into the eyes of the creature. I don't know what I saw in the eyes of this creature at the time but I know full well I was in for a world of either death or pain. I have no idea.

To be continued

Chapter Two: Malla the Dragon

There I stood face to face with the legend. I said a human name, the name of Russell I don’t know what it fully meant. When I said the name though the dragon's eyes turned from pure hatred and hunger. From a decent creature I look deep into those eyes I wish I could fully tell you what I saw.

I saw a creature, a good creature deep in all those scales. The poor thing I am sure had been through so much. I wish I could. No, I know I couldn’t have helped her. I know full well the community above wouldn’t even welcome her. It took a few pregnant moments of us just staring at one another.

“How did you know that name zebra? There is no one alive now who would know that name.”

I quickly did my best to answer.

“A cloaked mare who told me if I wish to learn why this community above is named Dragon’s Rest told me it. She said if I wish to learn and understand, I have a feeling she meant I would have to talk to you one as old as you. Oh, Majestic dragon.”

The dragoness snorted laughing.

“Now don’t pull that Lord of the Rings crap on me. I may be a dragon but I am not a fool like Smaug was.”

I was confused about Lord of the Rings. This dragon knows many things. I sit down staring up at the dragon. I watch her grab some of the fish to eat.

“Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude. Just can you please tell me about yourself?”

The dragon stares at me for a few moments.

“Fine. I am known as Malla or the name you did say, Russell. I was human once I woke up one day like this. Let's just say it didn’t go well for me at the start of my journey like this. Now before I fully go on. You’re from the community above correct? The community who turned me into some legendary monster right?”

I nod

“I don’t know why they turned you into a legend. I am sure it has something to do with all of our old history being missing and old burnt ruins not far from here.”

Malla stares at me. I could tell something hit her hard. A few tears fell from her eyes. She caught herself before she fully fell into despair. She righted herself up and wished to look strong. When she lifted her head the grass released spores which floated above a small breeze leading up to the land above.

“That is a painful story to tell. It would mean telling you everything from the start. This could be the last chance I have to explain my story and the only time to do so is now.”

I didn’t know what she meant by this.

“What do you mean your last chance?”

Malla smiles weakly. The kind gentle soul behind those eyes of a dragon just stared at me with complete sadness.

“My time is slowly coming to an end.”

It hit me hard that she is dying. How can a dragon die though then I noticed something. Something is growing out of her side. She pulls it out and screams in pain roaring loud enough to shake the cave. I now know where those roaring sounds are coming from. She tosses the root down beside me. I will take a close look at it. It’s a tree root. Why is a tree root growing out of her?

“My fate and my punishment for how I handled myself in the past. Are you willing to learn and to write everything I tell you? Are you willing to prove those above wrong and fight for what you believe in and what is right for you? If you aren’t then get out of my sight and never return.”

I just stare at this dragon. She is telling me I need to fight for what I believe in. I need to tell the others about this story. I took a deep breath and all I could think of was saying yes. But I had to know more.

“Before I do this though I need you to ask me a few questions. Are you willing to miss Malla?”

Malla laughs.

“Just Malla please.”

I nod

“Alright, Malla. My first question is ``why didn’t you come up to tell the others who you are?”

A frown form on Malla's face looks away a moment and sighs.

“Tell me something, what is your name, zebra?”

Oh, my manners I cough a moment.

“I am sorry Glyph.”

Malla chuckles

“Okay Glyph tell me how would you act if a large black dragoness comes out of a cave to try to speak to you and then everyone around you turns into a crazy run away from the monster grabbing your pitchforks and other weapons to kill the beast.”

I wish she wasn’t correct but she is. I look at the root and how it withers and dies without it being inside her. I am now worried for this poor creature. What will happen to her if she allows these roots to fully take hold?

“So tell me how did you end up here?”

Malla chuckles.

“I can show you rather than tell you. Follow me, please.”

I follow Malla. She leads me back to the cavern that holds all those books and that strange toy. I think it was a toy. She reaches into the spell from one of the journals and offers me an old journal. She sets it down and I open it with a hoof. I read the title ‘A dragon’s trek to Michigan.’

“Huh, that is an odd name.”

Malla laughs.

“Eh, my old idea for the name of the journal was. The dragon trek with the most annoying mare in the world. It wouldn’t have been fair or right to do that to her.”

Her?

“Who is this mare you’re talking about?”

Malla frowns

“I explained a lot about her in what I wrote. When you’re done, come and find me.”

I watch Malla leave to get back to her hoard. I look back down at the journal. I read the first line to myself at least at the time I felt it was to myself.

May 23rd

May 22, 2015. Time: 7 p.m. Location: Buffalo, Wyoming.

I was laying in bed, feeling pretty sick with the flu. For a person like me, it was pretty normal to get the flu this time of the year. I had been a stroke survivor, but I had a bad heart thanks to my earlier life, and I would get badly sick.

I read on to learn about the creature I just saw and who this mare was she spoke of.

To Be Continued.

Author's Note

If you don't know what she is reading it's the first story before this one.

Chapter: Three: Questions and the dragon's story

“Excuse me, Elder.”

I look up from the book at the young mare—a mare who just became old enough to have foals of her own. Of course, we don’t force this anymore as we used to when we needed to get our numbers up.

“Yes?’

The mare gulps while a zebra mare pats her back to help her speak up. I chuckle, smiling sweetly at the mare.

“Don’t worry I won’t bite your head off. I am not like the other elders. I am calmer and willing to listen to questions no matter how odd they can be.”

The mare smiles.

“From what you read a little bit of that book is there any place we can find it? So we can read the entire thing?”

I sigh profoundly, shaking my head.

“I wish I could tell you after the dragon passed the books vanished and I have no idea why. All I remember are her words before she died. She has been watched by an old friend for many years and she knows full well those books would go to a place they’re needed.”

The mare smiles a very weak smile.

“Then it must be hard to remember all this.”

I chuckle nodding.

“Yes, it is but being near my old friend I remember what I can do. She helped me through so much before she told me the story. As I said I wasn’t very popular in this community and I always got attacked. It took a cloaked mare. I have no idea who she was or her name to help me get off my flank and do what I felt was right.”

I look back to the tree leaning into the tree softly and whispering to the tree.

“I need more help, my friend. I need your wisdom again.”

I close my eyes like I am hearing the dragon speaking in my mind. I know it’s not her speaking in my mind but my mind reusing what she said to me. I go back to the book and look at where I left off.

“I got to the end of the story of Dragon’s Trek to Michigan.”

__________________

The past

I lower the book, noticing Malla is gone and she is in another room screaming at something.

“No. I had to do it…No…I had to”

I notice she is talking to herself in a mirror.

“I had to do it. I couldn’t allow her to suffer..”

I put my hoof on Mallas's leg and she growled, turning to look down at me. She calms her eyes, turning gentle again. I take a deep breath seeing the rage in her eyes. I feel dread just from staring at her broken eyes.

“Malla, have you been by yourself for too long you have no idea how to handle someone showing up?”

She stares at me laughing.

“What gave you that idea..No I wasn’t talking to myself? No…I..fine I have been on my own for so long that my mind kind of lost it. I even have hatchlings and I don’t even know if they’re still alive after all these years.”

Malla sighs frown forms across my face.

“Please Malla, I grew up being told never to lie to the elders you’re more elderly than any pony in Dragon’s Rest you’re the founder of Dragon’s Rest I can’t hold this question back are you all there?”

Malla weakly smiles

“To be honest Glyph I haven’t been fully there for a long time and when you understand what happened you would understand. So much happened and when you live as long as I have you start to wonder if it was even worth it.”

The old black dragoness has seen so much and she remembers almost everything. I look over to the other books she wrote. She wrote in so many is this the only way she can remember? She has been on her own for too long. Does she need to write on these pages to even remember?

“Malla you told me you would let me ask you questions after reading Dragon’s Trek tell me…if you did your journey again would you have treated Lyra better and the one named Chris?”

Malla stares down at me and a weak smile forms on her face.

“Oh Glyph If I could I would go back and try everything to fix how I treated Lyra. She never deserved my treatment of her. As for Chris, same with her, well him ugh this event got weird. So if I could I would do it all again correctly. I wish I could see Chris again and the little one named Starla. I am sure they’re both dead again..”

The old dragon looks towards the incline leading back out of the cave.

“I do feel at times though I am watched by someone like they’re a guardian angel. So many wanted to come down here to kill me over the years. But some pony is keeping the story of an evil creature down here needing objects and food for a very long time.”

A weak smile forms on my face. I shift on my hooves. I don't feel it’s my place to ask this question but It’s all I can do. I take a deep breath blowing the hot air out of my mouth and nose. I glance at the glyph on my rump. I am well known for not following others and questioning everything. Maybe it’s time to put that skill of mine to the test.

“Forgive me Malla but I feel you’re being far too hard on yourself. From what I have seen you shouldn’t be fully to blame for the bad luck of Dragon’s Rest unless there is more you haven’t told me yet.”

Malla looks back down at me, her gentle old eyes filling with tears.

“Oh, there is much more. But first, you need to read the founding of Dragon’s Rest. My friends and I.. even though a lot of them stopped trusting me over the years when I became harder and colder they did everything they could to keep the place going while I allowed my dragon heart to be cold.”

Malla went to the next journal and took a deep breath sighing. She opens the book and there are old faded photos. I have seen some of these photos and it’s rare to find them without them being very faded. These have at least been taken care of. I can at least see her friends in this old photo. I can see them well, including a zebra like me.

“Even with a spell, there is no way to keep old photos from becoming worthless. These are the founders of Dragon’s Rest. We found it as a way to come together as outcasts and lost. We were all lost at the time. I am sure there were more communities out there, even unwilling ones to see the world at large. I could tell you this myself. I didn't wish to spread ourselves too thin.”

Malla set the journal down in front of me she sighs heading back to her hoard to lie on it. I watch her and I just stare at her for a few moments. While I do I see the roots coming out of her body again. Oh, this poor creature is going to either die from these roots or she is going to die of old age whatever comes first.

“Malla, if I can promise I will keep the old values of Dragon’s Rest alive and try to bring it back to normal before whatever you did went down will you show yourself to the ones up above and tell them your story at least what you can?”

Malla smiles nodding.

“I doubt I could but when the time comes... I will have the urge to go up there and go into the middle of the area where the old place stood and where my friends and I first came together to survive.”

Malla lays her head down to rest. I opened the next book to read it. I read the first few lines that hit me harder than I expected.

"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."

" Greetings, I am Malla. I used to be human just like you, but I have lost my human body too. Back on May 23rd, something happened 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."

As I read on, I look up at Malla again after reading all this feeling even worse for her.

Chapter Four: Questions and Dragon's Rest

I lower the journal after I finish the final page. I am confused why it cut out right there. Is there something I am missing? I stand on my hooves heading over to the room where she has all the other books. I see many books she wrote. I looked back to the sleeping dragon and before I could do anything my stomach growled loudly.

Mallas's eyes open up, staring at me.

“Finished the other story?”

A blush forms under my fur. I shifted a bit Malla smirks, noticing from my body language I was going to read her other books without her knowing. Malla stood up grabbing a piece of paper from an old faded book. Place a claw in an inkwell. I notice she has all these inkwells. She is a typical dragon stealing and hoarding anything she finds.

“Are you a veggie eater, don't worry this is not the first time I did this.”

Am I a veggie eater? Of course, I am. That is a pretty silly question. I wonder if she has run into zebras who eat meat or other creatures who eat meat. I have never heard of this myself. I am a bit worried about what she thinks of me after trying to sneak into reading the rest of her history.

“I am a veggie eater and I don’t care what they bring. Anything would be wonderful, thank you.”

Malla nods while writing on the paper. Putting into the basket I came in on heading back up to the mouth of the cave coming back down after leaving the baskets up there and she sighed looking down at me.

“You were going to read the rest of the books without me knowing? I am impressed that you thought you could get away with it. You have gutted many don’t at least in my honest opinion.”

A smile forms across her scaled face.

“Well, Malla, I did because your journal just ends with you falling asleep. You felt like you were being followed. Is there something you left out?”

Malla sighs looking down at the journal and lifts it into the claw nodding.

“There are many reasons I left out many things. I wrote them in the books in the case there. But I can tell you most of what I remember. Then you would have to read what I wrote down. Just please when I tell you what I remember, do what you can to help others understand. I wasn’t evil, my friends looked at me with hate for my choices.”

My ears pin to the back of my head. Her choices: how bad did her choices get? The choices must have been very bad for her to be so worried about what I would think of her. A weak smile forms across my stripped face.

“I won’t judge you for things you did in the past. I may be unsure about what you did. But there are times when you have to do awful things to make things better for others.”

Malla smirks, then it hits me hard. I remember hearing stories and seeing others being sent down here because they were criminals or they did something that upset the elders. My stomach turns a bit and if Malla ate them I can’t fault her for it. This is the first time in many years she spoke to anyone.

“Um, Malla questions the others who were sent down here with the offerings over the years, did you eat them?”

Malla stares at me, her eyes open wide.

“Well, I was given letters for reasons for some of them why they were down there. Then the ones who were outcasts for not following everything the old elders wanted I let them leave during the night. The only ones I ate, of course, were the hardened criminals.”

I gulp, chuckling weakly.

“Now I'm..moving on. What can you tell me about all those you worked with over the years?”

Malla stares at me and then looks at the old photos no matter what she can still make out who’s in them. Her eyes swell with tears. I don't know what to think after seeing her cry again. Her heart must be broken. She cared so much for those souls she saw. I am sure there are more she saw and those she loved.

“It’s hard, Glyph. I watched them fall in love. I watched them have children and then I watched most of them die. Some died because of my stupidity. My stupidity did so much in the past it’s what caused some of the issues for a while later in the history of Dragon’s Rest.”

I am confused about what she means by this. I look towards the books again. I see one called the battle for Battle Creek. I know Battle Creek is a place Battle Creek is located and what we think about is a place a heavy battle took place in. There might be more to it and a lot of old human stuff is still left at least sometimes if we are allowed to see it. None of the technology they had is long gone.

“The book I see there says the Battle for Battle Creek must be a harsh battle and why Battle Creek is named after a wonderful glorious battle.”

Malla frowns

“In the old days of the human world, there was a battle between two white men and what are called Indians. I wish I could go into more but it didn’t end well and it was named after that. A battle between four didn’t end well and then a battle I caused because I let a rich idiot who returned from the event go and they demanded we give them everything. Because the rich forget money is not worth it but they don't care.”

Malla sighs, stroking her face. We hear a bell and Malla is confused.

“Huh, that was fast.”

Malla heads up and brings down the baskets. The baskets don’t only hold fruit and veggies, but even some meat. She is confused why they came down here so fast unless the note she left makes the ones up above scared.

“It seems they still fear me and when I leave notes they will go quickly.”

I stare at the baskets. I notice a note on one of the baskets and I take it in my mouth to read it.

‘Oh, the great monster of Dragon’s Rest please don’t eat us or punish us. We will do whatever you want so please don’t punish us.’

I set the note down in front of Malla and she stares at the note smirking and laughing loudly at the stupidity of what is written on it.

“I got an idea when the time comes. I will make sure you’re treated with the respect you deserve. Now let me explain something to you before I go too deep into what happened to me after I fell asleep while the others shopped. I am going to explain to you each of those who founded Dragon’s Rest.”

Malla reaches into the veggie and fruit basket setting various foods in front of me. I take the cabbage I don’t need much thankfully but it’s nice to have something and something to eat while she tells me what is up.

“The first three to show up were Wanda, George, and Savannah. You read about them but I left out how they looked at me over the years.”

She sighs deeply

“Wanda didn’t take becoming a mare very well. When she learned to fly she did all she could to become very helpful to the community. She was never happy even when she fell in love with a stallion. George was the only one around to keep her happy. When he died she fell into a great depression. Even her children watched her fall deeper and deeper.”

She sighs looking at the books.

“I feel the easier way to tell you is by letting you read these. When you’re done I will do what I can to clean up what I left out.”

She grabs the first book, the ‘First years of Dragon’s Rest.’ She sets it down and lays it on her hoard. I look back at Malla and then at the book I close my eyes sighing unsure what to think.

I open the book to see what is to come and I worry about what I am about to read. The first words I read are these.

“To those who read what I wrote here. Don’t hate me or the others for what we did. We did the best we could for what we had. We aren’t the most amazing of friends, we barely could stand each other in the early years. I worry about those who will judge us for our deeds and misdeeds and what I did to turn most of them away from me.”

I look up to Malla frowning reading to see what is to come.

“Malla you don’t go into much about Dragon’s Rest yourself you just say look in these books. Are you worried again about what I will think of you from what you wrote here?”

Malla opens her eyes and smiles.

“I know what is to come when I die, Glyph, my judgment will be harsh. I can tell you this much. Please though no more questions read and when you’re done we will talk.”

Chapter Six: The other Elders

“Excuse me, Elder, it's starting to get late if we cut this short and send the little ones to bed?”

I look up from the book closing it.

“We will gather again tomorrow at the same time. Now children, please tell me what you have learned?”

It took a while for a lot of the young ones to speak. A zebra filly lifts her hoof.

“Yes, little one?”

The zebra filly giggles

“I learned you should always be open about how you feel and not treat others around you like they’re a threat because they’re open-minded. Before we leave, will we learn why your friend did what she did?”

I turn to the tree, sighing and nodding. Peach flies down from the tree taking the book back to my home. I put my hoof on the tree again looking back at the crowd and smiling weakly showing what I learned did hit me.

“You will learn yes and when you do please don’t hate what you learn about her. She did what she felt was right. She did what she could and what the world would let her do. I will say this to us zebras: yes she did fulfill her spiritual gift to the world.”

The crowd leaves and I sigh standing there at the tree hearing hooves behind feeling a large furred body holding me and large hooves holding me to the body.

“Are you finally able to tell the community about the one who told you to seek me in marriage?”

I chuckle looking at the large zebra stallion behind me.

“Yes and…I hope someday the one who told me to go down there returns someday. I haven’t seen her since that day. I want to tell her to thank you for helping me get over myself and heading down to speak to Malla.”

The stallion laughs.

“I am sure she knows I am sure all those who came before we know and will watch us as the spirits do. These trees grew because of your friend. I have a feeling it’s protecting us with magic at least in my opinion.”

I chuckle

“Come on big guy let's get home and I will make you something to eat.”

He chuckles

“Na the other Elders want to speak to you. I will make dinner for you at home.”

I turn to the stallion, kiss him and smile.

“Thank you Star Watcher. “

I stood back on my hooves heading to the elder's house and when I went inside the other elders looked at me. The oldest stallion motioned me over with his hoof and I sat down with the others.

“Elder Glyph, I would like you to keep talking about the truth. I would have said otherwise but things are starting to make sense now. At least in this area, you have done so much for us and the others respect you. Since you proved yourself and like you said you would tell us fifty years later after the dragon did what she did.”

I sigh deeply.

“There is a but in this ain’t there?’

The elders look at each other and the older elder is taken aback by my words.

“No there is no but just it’s hard to accept most of what you’re saying. But like the elders of old, you didn’t care half of what the others said and allowed others to beat on others for their ways of thinking. We would like you to go deeper into it. Go as far as this Battle Creek war and I am sure there are stories of each of the founders other than just Malla.”

I gulp deeply.

“Sir, what happened in the Battle Creek war wasn’t pleasant and the little ones might not enjoy what they hear.”

A female griffin elder sits beside me patting my shoulder with her claw.

“Why not lead them into it? I know it won’t be as simple as you think. Maybe tell them how it leads into the story and then ask the parents if they wish their children to learn about the battle to come.”

I think for a second smirking

“I could make it into arcs the next story I tell them I could tell them it’s a lead up to the Battle Creek war even so from what I remember Malla telling me it took place like year five in the life of Dragon’s Rest.”

The others look at each other.

“Does that book have every year of Dragon’s Rest?”

I shake my head.

“No, I sadly couldn’t remember everything I read. I couldn’t read everything and when she passed someone took all her books including her journals and I don’t know why they took them. I am guessing it was the one who sent me down there in the first place.”

The others look at each other and the older elder nods.

“Do what you can even if you can’t explain everything, do what you feel you can. Maybe someday more of these books will be found so we can learn more about the history of Dragon’s Rest. Now go home to your family. I hope someday we won’t need these trees and your friend to protect us from the outside world.”

I sigh I wish I could understand why we are given such protection. Maybe something happened to our area, maybe Malla did everything or maybe it’s just fate. Fate wishes to be kind to us. I doubt it’s just all Malla’s. If it is, I am happy for her.

I stood up looking at the other elders.

“Anything else?”

The other elders shake their heads and I head outside of the elder's hut looking up to the sky. I do see some of the stars but again the very trees are doing all they can to block us from seeing the sky fully.

When I got home Star Watcher set the table and he was there waiting for me as I sat at the table to eat and it was a silent dinner. Our children are older now and most of them have left to live in other areas of the world.

“I am going to go to bed, my love. When I tell the young about the stories to come, I got much to think about.”

Star Watcher smiles.

“Of course I got a few more stars to watch.”

I stood up from the table kissed Star Watcher and headed to our bed and lay into the bed laying there sighing. Oh, Malla, if only I could make your life and the life of your friends more peaceful. I can't lie to the little ones or the families who wish to know. I will do what I can in your memory my friend.

I close my eyes, falling asleep to let the rest of this night pass me by.

Chapter Seven: Gift from an old friend.

I open my eyes hearing a knock on my front door. I look over at my husband who is fast asleep. How can he sleep? I groan getting off the bed and heading downstairs to the front door. I open it and the griffin elder comes in.

“Blossom, what in the world are you doing here? It's not even morning yet.”

Blossom sighs

“Glyph, I need you to come with me. We learned that someone is down in the dragon's old cave. One of the mothers couldn’t find their children. I am guessing after your story they went down to the cave.”

A deep sigh came out of my mouth so they went down to Malla’s old cave. It’s been fifty years. I doubt most of what Malla left behind is still down there. I trot off with Blossom right beside me. We get to the old cave.

“I haven’t been down here for so long, Blossom. I remember the old dragon being so kind to me even if I tried to pry into her life.”

Blossom chuckles

“Glyph none of us have been in this cave, only you have. The other elders refuse to walk inside; they feel it has evil inside. Me I just don[‘t care enough about the past of this community to go down there.”

I chuckle

“Typical Griffin.”

Blossom smirks

“No need to be racist, even if it’s true.”

I laugh and shake my head Blossom and I head down into the cave. The cave has seen better days and when we get down there many of the items that Malla stole over the years are still in her pile or what she called a hoard.

“Huh. What a lovely place to live for so long on your own. Well, now I just made myself sad.”

Blossom snickers. A frown forms across my face. I stare at the place my old friend used to lie when she slept when I read her books. I can’t believe I am back down here. All I can do is remember her crying and trying to tell me she is not a monster.

“Glyph?”

I come out of my stupor turning my head to stare at Blossom.

“Yes?”

Blossom sighs, shaking her head.

“We need to find them.”

I nod and we follow the path to the back. I stare at a stand I have never seen before and sitting there in front of it are the missing children. They’re here with sleeping bags? Why would they want to stay down here? Something else confuses me. I see an old frame on the stand where that old toy used to sit.

“Kids, this place is not safe here.. Glyph?”

I walk over to the stand looking at the old frame with a photo of Malla and all her friends. It’s a photo that has not faded.

“Kids, was this here when you got here?”

A little filly zebra shakes her head.

“No, when we came down here a cloaked mare was down here and she just left it and then soon after vanished in a puff of magic.”

A cloaked mare? I stare at the old photo. It's cleaned up magically and kept this way from a spell. I look at the back of the frame and see a note written on a piece of paper. I take it off the frame to read it.

‘Hello Glyph I wish I could have seen you again but I had to do something and I am sorry for everything. I am happy about what you did with my friend. I wish I could tell you more or see you again. When the time comes you will see me again but only when the time comes goodbye, my friend.’

I shake my head looking at the photo again.

“Come on kids this place is not safe we have no idea what the dragon would have brought down here. Follow Blossom and please never come down here again.”

The kids groan and they follow Blossom I follow behind holding the photo in my hoof staring at it. Malla and her friends look so happy. I wish I could have seen them back then. How she spoke of them this type of happiness never showed up again in their lives at least from how Malla put it. From what I read they were always happy as they could be.

When we get out of the cave I look back at it and now I am starting to wonder if we should close it up or let the others see what it’s like down there. I will talk to the other elders about it. I help Blossom get the children back to their parents.

“I am going to go back to sleep Blossom. I hope you have a wonderful night.”

I turn away to head home.

“Glyph, wait.”

I turn around looking at Blossom.

“From the looks of how you see that Photo are they what you think they would be?”

I stare at the photo of Malla and her friends.

“From how Malla spoke they never were happy. They always got on each other's nerves and they always got on her case. I wonder if she remembers most of it wrong or maybe they were happy with each other then later it all fell apart for them.”

Blossom shrugs her shoulders.

“Maybe she wasn’t an honest storyteller, it could be for reasons she didn’t want to go into or maybe again things change those around you will change, and even from the sounds of it she changed and hid in that cave.”

Blossom is correct Malla went into hiding for odd reasons and when I get to why many are going to be confused. I wave my hoof to Blossom heading back home when I get into the house Star Watcher smirks.

“So got called to find little ones? Come back to bed and have a good night's sleep.”

I follow my husband up to our bedroom and I place the photo on an old stand I found ages ago, leaving the photo there and looking back at it before I go back to sleep. I lay on the bed cuddling with my husband and falling asleep.

Chapter Eight: Tales of Dragon's Rest: Lifes greatest Mystery: Arc one

It was morning and it was time for me to get the children and families together early to tell them the next part of the story. I look at the photo on the counter near my bed. I don’t want to tell them the truth. Star Watcher leans on me kissing my cheek.

“What’s wrong?”

I let out an exasperated sigh. I point my hoof to the photo he looks at it. He sighs, nodding and looking down at me again.

“You don’t want to show them the truth right? You want to keep them in bliss Glyph you and I know full well what happened since you told me everything after we got married. Just you can’t keep them in the dark. It may help the little ones learn lessons of how not to treat those around you.”

How to treat those around you? I could teach it easily by telling them how bad the elders were back in the past. But I can’t force everything from the past on the children. We may need to learn from the past but we also need to learn in the future.

“Alright, I am going to make something to eat and then head down to the tree and see who is there.”

Slipping out of bed heading into the shower letting the water soak me. I head downstairs to finally get something to eat and an hour later head down to the tree. Everyone I saw last night is now here including the other elders. This time I brought the book with me and I set it on the stand opening it back up

“Alright before I go on I am going to put the story in arcs since how I feel it would fit. There is going to be an arc called the Battle Creek war. Malla and the other founders lost themselves during this war. We have been at peace for so long and the outside world has gone silent then we know peace for once.”

The same zebra filly lifts her hoof.

“Go ahead and speak sweetie.”

The little zebra filly stands up.

“War from what my mommy told me is normal in the world. We can’t hide or forget what happened before and after. We need to let the world be the world and we just live in it. If we have the power to change the world then we should change it. But we can’t force change on the world, we need to let it go smoothly.”

My mouth hangs open and I laugh softly.

“Well put not everyone will agree with you little one. It’s not as easy as you think some want to change the world by force and it’s not going to be easy for everyone to stop it. It’s the way that we will need to follow. Now on with the story after Malla and her friends met the humans in the bunker he was kind enough to help them with things.”

_______________

February 1st

It took a while to get our new home set up. We got food growing now we need other things. We need meat and eggs. So I decided we need to find a farm and gather cows and maybe a bull or two. Ted and Wanda went to find chicken farms. Now it has been a while a lot of the chicken farms might be dead. Unless they found a way to get out and get food.

Savannah and I went alone into the country to find the cows and the bulls. We had to talk about how close we wanted to get to each other. Sooner or later Savannah will fall in love with another and we will need to expand our bloodlines. I will have to do the same if… I ever find a male dragon just thinking of doing that concerns me.

“I don’t mind taking this further, Malla. Even when we find males of our species. It’s kind of strange that those we are with are what your friend Lyra said is a Diamond Dog, a Griffin, and a Minotaur.”

I chuckle.

“Yes..just I see why you wanted to go alone. I still see the drone Joe is leading us with. I think he found a farm. I don’t understand why he is willing to help us and why he is offering to use his trucks to help us. I wonder if those leaders they have in the bunker feel we need to help each other.”

Savannah shrugs her shoulders.

“It could be that I used to be part of the US army, who knows? We never know what the leadership of our government wants. Unless they have been stuck down there for so long they can no longer say no to help.”

I shrug my shoulders as well. It's been ages since I have been in the countryside of Michigan. We are heading down deeper into the Battle Creek area and heading towards a bunch of farms. I am worried about what we will find on these farms.

I turn the car following the drone as it turns into a driveway. I turn the car off and look at all the other cars around there. There are many around here and I am sure I could get a lot of gas from this area. I chuckle weakly looking at all the cars feeling my dragon side fully taking over.

“Malla focus you can go on a robbing spree after we find the cows and bulls. Now I want you to talk to Joe and ask him why he is offering us help. This is the US Government. They normally never help their citizens, they normally expect something from them.”

A deep sigh releases from my mouth along with smoke and steam. I watch Savannah walk away from the car heading into the field to find the Cows and bulls. I stand by the car looking around. It's a calm country day.

“Joe?”

I turn to look at the drone which is just floating there. I sighed, shaking my head. I can just hear President Eden playing American music like from Fallout three. I can just hear him go oh the enclave will wise and all this bull.

“Sorry, Malla, we are busy here trying to get in contact with other humans still around in the country. No luck for us since the system from the Battle Creek airport never got upgraded like they were going to. But of course, Kellogs stole all the money from the Airport like normal. Is there something you want?”

Other humans are there more who know about this and it’s just the government? I groan softly, great, wonderful. It makes me happy to know I live in this country where the government refuses to tell me what is going on in the everyday community. Of course, knowing some people they would never listen anyway. Like how would you tell the world oh we are going to be vanishing for a bit and then show up back up as crazy insane-looking creatures?

“What do you want from us, Joe?”

Joe goes silent for a moment.

“What do we want from you? I feel the best thing for us all is to work together. If we don’t we might not get this new world in a good direction or at least this area of the world. I doubt we could do every area in peace. I am sure it will fall apart sooner or later anyway. Not everyone is going to accept this chance, not even every human.”

I nodded.

“Yes, I can tell you that very easily. I barely trusted the change myself. I would have lost myself if it wasn’t for Lyra. I would have never gone on my journey or survived it and found Chris and Starla..”

I go silent...

“Joe.. are you worried about the newborn babies which will come back without anyone there to take care of them?”

Joe goes silent again.

“Yes I couldn’t tell my wife what was going on and she went into labor before the event happened while she was in the ambulance heading to the hospital and now I have no idea when she will show back up and if she ever will. I can’t help those families broken and lost.”

A frown forms across my dragon face looking towards Savannah who returns and she chuckles.

“Well thankfully the cows are still alive, just the poor girls haven’t been milked for a long time. The bulls I don’t know if we can trust them in the same area as the cows. I will call ahead and ask the others to start building what they can to keep the cows and bulls in.”

I nod watching Savannah leave.

“You love her don’t you?”

I turn my eyes toward the floating drone.

“Yes, I do. I wish I could do more for her but I can’t. With how this world is we will need to expand our lives and those after us to keep the world going. We can’t just wait for whatever this pony world is wanting to do what they did. I don’t care what their princess of the Night says. We can’t depend on them. We are on our own now and it’s time to accept it.”

Joe chuckles softly

“I am reminded of the greatest net series ever.. Red Vs Blue.”

I laugh weakly.

“You ever wonder why we're here?”

Joe chuckles

“It's one of life's great mysteries, isn't it? Why are we here? I mean, are we the product of some cosmic coincidence, or is there a God watching everything?”

I laugh softly

“I am going to do what a dragon does and steal everything. Please go help Savannah. I will also look around to see if anyone else has returned. If they haven’t I will leave what I can for them to get everything set up.”

I wave at them heading to the truck to get two jerry cans and a hose. I go on a stealing spree of fuel to fill the cans up. Amazingly, I am doing this all over again. I look up at the old house. It’s such a lovely white house. I fill up the cans and break into the garage after I am done looking around and seeing so many tools.

I look over to the side, seeing many suitcases and bags I can use. I open them up by putting the tools and other objects into the suitcases. I put the suitcases down only able to take a few things and as I go through the garage I see this person used to be a coal worker. I lift an old mining pick looking at it and it could be used for something.

I set it with the other stuff and then head into the house. I break the lock and when I open the door a nasty smell hits my nose. I cough and head inside and look around seeing a dead one. It's been here for a while. I cough loudly looking around for a blanket before this gets worse. I find a large blanket in the room and I wrap the dog in the blanket carrying it outside and getting further out and burning it.

I groan, shaking my head.

“Soo the dragon finally found something that beat her hmm?”

I turn seeing Savannah blushing gently

“Um yeah did you talk to the others and Joe?”

Savannah nods.

“Yes, now big girl you may go back in and take whatever you feel will work for us. Don’t and I mean don’t just suddenly steal dresses and worthless items find stuff that will help us. I will be looking through everything you take got it?”

I nod and a few hours later I found a few things guns and ammo we can use just in case nature gets crazy or we need it to help find others who return they end up in an area full of nasty animals and I take a deep breath sighing and put all the stuff in and I look back at the home. The sun is going down and it will be a long drive back home.

“I got everything I could.”

Savannah looks it all over and she notices the jewelry I have I smirk

“Well, I had to get something for you.”

Savannah rolls her eyes.

“Malla I love you and you don’t need to prove it by giving me gifts. I am not a gal who likes gifts. I just want you to be yourself which means be dumb and silly. Now Joe the cows all set?”

The drone hovers beside us silent for a moment. Looking towards the way to the cows then back to the two of us.

“Yes everything is ready and there should be enough room for them in your pens to make sure Malla doesn't spook any of them. I doubt they will handle a dragon very well.”

I snort.

“I will make sure she is my girlfriend after all I will make sure she never does anything out of line.”

My cheeks burn brightly at those words and we get everything into the car while the drone joe controls heads back home. I look to Savannah.

“Did you mean the word, Love and Girlfriend?”

Savannah smirks.

“Big girl you need to learn something about me I don’t sugarcoat how I feel you need to relax and let things go smoothly even if we find another of the other sex you will still be mine and that will never change. But we need to make sure we can live through this new life.”

I get into the driver's side and Savannah gets into the other side. I look back at the house as we drive off. I look back at what I found. The one living in that house is a former coal farmer and one who has been through so many medals for things he has done. When he returns he will see what life is like now and be able to live.

I left him a note telling him more are around if he returns and that I am sorry for his dog. I hope I can move on and when I get out of the driveway all I can do is drive home and think of the world and how it is now.

Are you in the right for wanting to make this world a better place? I remember asking this question to Lyra once: are we in the right for wanting to make this world better? I don’t know myself. I look over to Savannah.

“Savannah, I got a question for you.”

She turns her head to look at me.

“Do you feel we are in the right to make this world a better place after what happened here?”

Savannah shrugs her shoulders.

“I don’t know I don’t question things like this. I am just a former ground pounder just leading me to a battle and if the battle is there I will fight. I don’t look at the world as it was, I look at it as it is now. We do what we can even if blood must spill.”

I sighed, shaking my head. I figured she would bring the ground pounder up. But she is correct. We must think of the now and hope we can make this world more peaceful than it was. That is all we can do to make the world better for those who will return and those who will be born in this new age.

Chapter Nine: Tales of Dragon's Rest: Wanda's mental soul.:Arc one

I look up from the book after reading that part of the story. I could see some little ones were sad for the dog I chuckled weakly.

“I told you before I started reading these little ones there are many things in here that will make you all sad.”

I come out from behind the stand smirking.

“This is again how life was ages ago after humans vanished and some returned. Now I don’t know how many humans are around. I do know there are rumors that some came back. Who knows? I only focus on this area of our lives.”

A weak smile forms on my face

“We are just a simple out-of-the-way area. An area made by a dragon and many others who wished to just make a community. We should be happy we have what we have and we can at least remember some of our histories. Most of the history of this community is lost or burned.”

The little ones go back to not being sad, at least it’s easy to tell them it’s not going to be too bad. But we have just started. The early days are peaceful days for all communities. There are some bad things out there and when it comes down to it. The bad doesn't always destroy the good but it will at times.

“Just remember my friends I have told your parents and the elders things get darker in this story. I am going to keep it as tame as I can. Malla is a bit of a potty mouth and it’s words humans used to use. I am sure some of us use these words. I used to in the past but can’t anymore because I grew up well.”

Blossom laughs.

“Now what I am going to be talking about is one of the founders, Wanda. She is a former mother missing her family and it’s been hard for her as many know to find the will to move on. There will be a lot of topics in this part of the story that may concern many others. It’s also written by her. I want everyone to understand whatever happens in this part of the story. It happened and she is okay but if you start feeling worried and have questions your parents are beside you ask them.”

I get back to the book looking at the audience. I have a weak smile forming on my face. I feel bad I am about to explain the private life of one of our founders. Maybe Malla wasn’t the smartest lady but she did what she could for others and those she cared for.

“Before you read on I got a request for you, Glyph.”

I look up from the book looking at the lead elder.

“When you’re finished telling Wanda’s story to the kids I want you to come to us and tell us what you leave out alright?”

A weak smile creeps across my face. It’s all I can do for them and the others. I take a deep breath, blow the hot air out, head back to the podium, put a marker on the part of the story I am at, and head to a part of the book where I wrote about each founder. I will only be telling them about little bits of the first few months of Wanda, not everything.

“It’s been at least a few months since the change and I still haven’t seen my family.”

_______________

January 20th Home Depot

George and I follow Savanah into the store. Looking back at the big truck, I see Malla alone and worry when she is alone. She always gets into trouble. I am stopped by George. He looks down at me putting his claws on my shoulders.

“Mind staying out here and standing guard?’

I stare at my friend and I am concerned about why he is asking me to do this.

“George? What would come and attack us?”

We hear dogs barking and fighting.

“Well you can fly and you might be able to scare the dogs off with a cloud. Also, I want you to keep an eye on Malla if you can. Savannah and I will do what we can to get what she wants from this store.”

I shake my head.

“I thought we were here for Generators or Hydro gardens.”

George smirks

“Ah yes, that is why we are here. I haven’t been listening to loving this new body and love. I can walk around without the pain in my legs.”

I chuckle

“I am not the one that told you to do those drugs during the crazy years.”

Geroge laughs.

“Hey, at least I had fun.”

I snicker loudly.

“Hey, George, I need you.”

George turns his head to the zebra.

“Oh?’

Savannah sighs.

“George, I need your claws and strong arms. I could have brought Malla in but she would have complained about working too much and then I would want to talk about our relationship and she wouldn’t listen to me.”

George sighs.

“You two need to be truthful to each other.”

George walks off and I hear the two talking about relationships and my ears pin to the back of my head. My children, my husband why oh why did he have to remind me? I groan pacing around. I don't keep my eyes on what I should and I care too much about my pain.

Then I realized Mario's restaurant is close to here. I need to see if he or his wife has returned. I look back at the car seeing Malla still inside asleep. Oh she will be fine I quickly fly into the air or the best I can and fly through the air looking around and I see the small little mom-and-pop food place.

I fly over quickly and land near the old place and when I do I hear screaming and a flash of seeing my husband being killed. No, please don’t remind me of this. I quickly trot to the spot I held my husband while he slowly passed.

To be honest I could have handled myself better but this change and my mental mind weren’t all there and to be fully honest the last time I had a good mental mind was during my life with him. I never recovered even after I got remarried. My new husband knew I was always upset about my first and he did everything to help me through it.

I head to the doors of the old food joint looking inside. Nothing, no one has broken inside and it hasn’t been picked clean. I see the dust and it looks like a mess inside. Like no one has been here to clean it. I head to the door taking my hoof to break the lock to get inside.

When I break inside there are no awful smells and I cough and sneeze at how dusty it is. I don't know why I do it but I take the chemicals in the back and do my best to ensure I don’t ingest any of the stuff and clean the tables and the floor.

It’s only this that keeps me sane.

“Oh come on Wanda you don’t need to clean my little ole store. I can take care of it.”

I smile and remember a day when everything was still normal and I laugh waving at Mario.

“Oh come on Mario you and your wife have done so much for this community and you do so much for us you deserve everything.”

Mario chuckles.

“Oh, Wanda, thank you. But I think you should get back to standing watch.”

I am confused why did he just tell me to get back to standing to stand watch? This is not real, this is me remembering the past and waiting. I need to keep an eye on things. After George told Malla about the two of us being followed by something. I get myself out of the stupor and I quickly get out of the restaurant flying back to the store. I hear wheels screeching and watch a large truck driving off and two other black cars spreading out like they’re searching for something.

I quickly fly back to the parking lot. I look around and notice Malla is gone. I see an area on the parking lot where the tarmac has not only melted a bit, the ice is gone as well and I see a syringe on the ground seeing a strange fluid inside it. The needle is a bit bent. I am worried about whoever shot these at Malla.

I quickly trot around the store and I finally find George and Savannah. They have two carts full of gardens and when Savannah sees me her ears droop.

“What did she do?!”

I suddenly stop setting the syringe down.

“I am sorry I didn’t stand watch as I should and when I got back I saw this and then saw two black cars and a large truck leaving.”

George picks up the syringe sniffing it.

“Knock out the juice, it's military grade.”

Savannah and Geroge take what we got and I follow close behind feeling I am not welcomed after what happened when they load the car up and there is enough room for the three of us and George gets in the driver's seat.

“Wanda..”

I gulp hearing Savannah's voice from behind me. I turn around staring at the zebra mare. I feel dread deep in my core. I know she might scream at me for losing Malla, the one who kind of brought us together and from what I learned cares about us but doesn't know how to show it.

“You were asked to stand watch. What did you do?”

I try to stay calm.

“I wanted to see if Mario and his wife returned so I went to their restaurant and cleaned the floor and tables and I had a memory of doing it before and well I thought I was back being human again seeing my children.”

George sighs. Savannah’s eyes open wide, staring at me the anger in her eyes is very apparent and I back up when George reaches to stop Savannah from getting too angry at me. He shakes his head.

“Savannah please I know..I..”

I sniff loudly tears falling from my eyes.

“I know I did wrong but what do you expect me to do? I am a mother and I am so worried about my children. I already lost a husband years ago because of my brothers and father. What do you expect me to do? I can't handle this change as you and Malla can. George has taken it to it like nothing and we have moved on from our human lives.”

Savannah just stands there as I break down.

“I can’t handle this body. I can’t handle these wings. I have learned how to fly.”

Savannah sighs pulling me into a hug and all I do is sob loudly. I don’t know how long it is but I just sob and I finally relax after at least thirty minutes of a cry and when I get out of it I finally fully relax.

“Wanda I want you to understand my life was already destroyed during my human life. I am now able to change it for the better. Malla I am going, to be honest with you I am in love with her.”

I stare at George and I laugh.

“Savannah I know I think we all know. But we need to find her I am worried about her she could be somewhere hurt.”

George turns on the car and the radio comes on.

“Hello everyone I am sorry for cutting the music but I just got a call from an interesting one. Now please say hello.”

After a while, another voice comes on the radio.

“Hi I am Joe, part of the human community in the bunker under Battle Creek Airport and I wanted to call and let you know we um kind of kidnapped your boss lady. Don’t worry she is fine and we can’t get near her or we humans would melt and die from whatever changed you.”

I am confused if there are some humans still around.

“So like you told me the government knew something was going to happen and you can’t tell us because you’re scared enough has been said and you feel there might be a riot from whoever is listening?”

Joe laughs

“Simple yes but Malla is leaving and you will find her coming out of the warehouse.”

We get to where we are told to and when we do we find Malla. I watch the zebra and the dragon get closer and I wish I could learn what it will be like for me when the time comes I look over to George. Maybe he will help me through whatever comes next.

The end of Wanda’s story for now.

Chapter Ten: Tales of Dragon's Rest: Savannah in honor of the founders. :Arc one

I look up from the book after reading a little about Wanda to the others. I look at the children, a gentle smile forming on my face.

“What to learn from what happened with Wandna there is something we all suffer from. But she suffered worse because she lost her family. When I read this I had to ask Malla how bad it got and she told me. I will be going back to Malla soon in the story. But before I fully started reading again I asked Malla questions about Joe.”

I look at the many young eyes looking at me.

“There are many rumors in our world. But none of us left this area to see if they were true. Only traders know and they don’t always tell the truth. We don’t have a right to leave our community till we fully honor those who came before us.”

I glance at the tree.

“Not many of us are zebras and many elders are zebras and other races. We need to remove our faults and issues before we head back into the world. Like Wanda, we need to move on and let our hearts accept. But with Wanda, it was harder for those who came back. It was much harder.”

A deep sigh releases from my mouth. I don’t want to go into what is next but I have to. I feel the best way to move on with the story is to talk about Malla again.

“I am going, to be honest with you, all the early days of Dragon’s Rest were peaceful. I am not going to skip the bad issues. That is not a good idea so you can understand how good it was and then how bad it got. We need to focus on the good and then allow ourselves to get to the bad to learn.”

I go back to the book.

“This time we will be learning about Savannah. She has much so do the others but she has more than they do. It wasn’t because of the love the two had, it was because Savannah was the one keeping them from falling apart.”

The zebra filly lifts her hoof.

“Yes, sweetie?”

The little one giggles standing up again.

“You’re not just saying this because you think zebras are better than every other race?”

Well, that hit me harder than I thought and everyone laughed.

“Well not the reason Savannah was the glue she used to be in the military of the humans and you learn heavy leadership and if you see things out of whack you do what you can. Most of the guards you see around us have been trained by her decedents and I am sure she has some more decedents around us.”

They look around.

“What about George or the others would they have descendants here?”

I chuckle.

“Yes.. but I can’t tell you who they are because I promised Malla I would never tell others who are related to the founders. I wish some of Malla’s little ones were here but I will be honest Malla was never much of a parent. The elders know but we all agree it will be safer for them if no one knows.”

I turn the page to Savannah’s part.

“Now here we go. I have gotten used to this new body, it's something I never thought I would say.”

_______________

August 25th 2015

It hasn’t been that long since I returned. But we are doing everything to find others. Lyra Malla’s friend and I went to the airport to see if we could find anything. Malla was on her own and I was unsure about the dragon.

“So Lyra tell me what is Malla like?”

Lyra looks at me confused.

“Why do you ask?”

It was strange to me that she was able to drive a car pretty easily. I watched her use the magic in her horn to drive and turn.

“Well, I will be honest with you. She seems to need someone and I want to be that someone.”

Lyra smirks

“So you want to be her Somepony?”

I laugh at the words Somepony.

“Well, I am attracted to very strong women. I know she wasn’t a female till she changed to one.”

Lyra laughs

“I find it strange we are having this conversation when the conversations Malla and I had were her telling me how useless I am and me having to sneak into the truck. She almost left me behind, she stole my harp from me and she did so much to upset me and I just took it. It hurt me sometimes but most of the time I took it.”

I nod

“I think the issue is that she wasn’t able to handle it. Change for some people or creatures is not easy for them to handle. I am just worried about how she will act when she finds out we won’t be able to save or help everyone.”

Lyra’s ears droop.

“Yes, thankfully we only met Chris on the way. We never saw any lost children or went into hospitals. I did everything I could to make sure she kept on her journey. Even though half the time we stopped somewhere she stole things.”

I chuckle when we finally stop at the airport and it’s been years since I have been here. I remember coming here during the time of hot air balloons. Lyra gets out of the car and opens the locked fence and we drive onto the airport heading to the old warehouse near an old bomber museum.

“Malla told me she used to come here with her family and watch hot air Balloons I am amazed at how close we are to your new home. But why did we have to drive so far to get into this airport as you call it?”

The walkie-talkie comes on since it’s time for the others to speak. Thankfully as we drove we listened to Jenny speak and it kept us from losing it.

“Hello, George and Wanda here. I think it’s time for you to contact Malla. But we found batteries and sadly that is all we found and I think we found enough to last us awhile.”

I nod, lifting the talkie to my mouth.

“I will but we will look through this area first. There is a warehouse and a few cars here. We might find some interesting things.”

I lower the talkie by my side. Lyra uses her magic to break the locks on the warehouse and when we go inside we keep old photos on the wall of all the balloon festivals that happened over the years. Including the fact many objects are here and we both notice a door and it’s a bunker door. I head to the door and knock on it and it’s a world war two bunker door. I doubt it’s ever been used and we leave looking around more finding uniforms piled neatly in plastic.

“Ooo let's take these I could make these into something impressive.”

Lyra laughs and while we carry the uniforms into the car I turn quickly I swear I am being watched. Looking around quickly I notice a camera that's turned off but I swear I just saw it moving. I shrug my shoulders and head back to the car.

“Alright, maybe I should contact Malla.”

I lift the walkie-talkie and speak into it.

"Malla?"

A few seconds later.

"I am here on top of western Michigan university college. I haven't searched for anything yet. Have any of you found anything?"

Whoa, she is pretty far right now. I am amazed she is at the university.

"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."

A few seconds later.

"I am fine Savannah. I have been listening to Jenny and 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."

A deep sigh comes out of my mouth and Lyra hovers the satellite phone to me and I smirk at her and she dials the number for me.

“This is the British bat. I am alone right now to deal with the bollocks and bugger all. How may I help you?”

I laugh

“Jenny, it’s Savannah Malla, would you like to send others that call you to Woodland Park Nature preserve any bites so far?”

Jenny goes silent for a moment turning down the music.

“No, but I will do so. Is this all you need or anything else?’

I think for a second, shaking my head.

“No”

Jenny moves a bit to the microphone and I hear her.

"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."

I chuckle

“Thank you, Jenny.”

Jenny hangs up and goes back to doing what she does best-playing music.

“Alright thank you, Lyra you’re a bigger help than Malla gives you credit for.”

A gentle blush forms on Lyra’s face and chuckles.

“Thank you.”

She puts the phone back into the car and turns it off.

"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."

I let out a sudden gasp hearing this and Lyra stares at me. Why would Malla risk her life to fly?

"What?!"

I hear George yell out

"Malla, don't you might get badly hurt.”

A second after

"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."

Her words hit me hard. I glance over to Lyra who laughed at her. Why would anyone laugh at Malla? She doesn’t deserve to be treated that way. She has mental issues, and many have mental issues who told her all this that she was a joke and such?

"Malla we don't laugh at you Lyra stop her."

Lyra takes the walkie-talkie into her magic>

"Go ahead, Russell."

My mouth hangs open a gap she just said to Malla to do it. She also used Malla’s human name.

"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."

Lyra lowers the walkie-talkie and looks at me. I felt a rage coming over me. I could hear the others upset.

"Why didn't you stop her, Lyra?!"

Wanda was losing it. I was too. I was about to say something but Lyra winked at me. Then she uses her mouth with no words to say. Since she knows I can read lips. ‘Malla needs to know we love her and respect her. She needs to do these things or she will always be the dragon who randomly destroys things and could hurt someone.’

It hits me that she is correct and I cut her off before Lyra could say anything to Malla.

"We can't"

I blurt out into the talkie

"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 hold my breath after my words and I pace Lyra just sits there watching me. I think she knows I am very worried about Malla.

“Don’t worry Savannah dragons in my world are very strong. I doubt crashing will hurt her. She could learn from this and learn even though hurting herself will help her get stronger and able to fly more.”

I stare at the unicorn she is correct I don’t know everything

"Well, I didn't fly that well,"

I heard her words on the talkie

“I dropped to the ground with style.”

I laugh

__________

The future Glyph

I move from the book standing in front of the young ones.

“I would keep reading on from there but the rest is pretty private between friends and It talks about adult subjects. I don't want any young ones getting ideas. Now it’s time to get some lunch and go with your parents and after we will come back for more.”

I look up hearing a storm and I make sure to move the book a bit so it won’t get wet.

“We will make sure to set up tents so no one gets wet while we listen to enjoy your lunch.”

Everyone leaves to go eat and Blossom stays behind standing beside me looking into the book.

“Ah, I see why you stopped talking about Malla’s heat, joking, and drugs. Huh, these humans are strange creatures. Now you are coming with us to eat lunch, Glyph.”

I shook my head

“No, I am going to help some of the other elders to finally seal the cave. We can’t have anyone going down there and we need to keep it sealed just in case we ever get attacked; that is the only place to hide. But I mostly requested it to honor Malla.”

Blossom smiles and flies off. I trot over to the cave and the others have started Crystal the female diamond dog elder hammers away at the wood to seal the cavern she looks at me smiling and I join in by helping lift the boards and using my hoof to hammer it in.

When we get done Black Rose a unicorn mare elder takes paint and on the board writes these words. ‘In the name of the founders of Dragon’s rest. Malla, Savannah, George, Wanda, Ted, Randell, Jenny, and Lyra. We seal this cave to honor their memories and their conviction for Dragon’s rest.’

A smile forms across my face as the others leave and I watch the paint dry. I turn away to head to lunch. I feel this is the best way to honor our founders and adding Lyra was the icing on the cake.

I look back seeing some young ones look at the words and they play pretending to be the founders. Oh if they only knew maybe when the time is right it will be opened again and we all can learn more about the founders of Dragon’s Rest

{More to come}

Chapter: Five: Tales of Dragon's Rest: Malla and the bunker

When you let a lie control half the community you create, you lose yourself. I have told this to my friend Malla for years. I watched her fall apart and defend many ideas that no one should. I am one of the founders, one of those she lost on her side. I loved her once I respected her and my family profoundly respects her. I do as well in a way still just. I don’t like what she has become.

Written years ago by Savannah.

I look up from the book reading that I frown looking over to Malla her eyes are closed and this dragon has angered many in the past. I don’t understand why she has angered so many—looking back at the book's first page. I take a deep breath. Am I about to see this dragon in a light others saw her in?

I close my eyes and deeply in my head I speak to myself oh that is a wonderful idea talk to your brain what will they say? I am sure they will say something like, " Oh yes, I agree with you that we should judge a dragon.

‘The only thing I could say to myself right now is to relax and allow yourself to just read this book.’

A deep sigh releases from my mouth turning the page.

___________________

January 20h, 2016

I drove the others to Home Depot and I was tired while the others went shopping. I layed back in the chair to rest and relax. I opened my eyes an hour later and I knew my friends would be there longer since it won’t be easy to get everything you wanted without help. I look around hearing something odd outside of the car.

I open the door, close it and look around. The sounds are getting louder and I have no idea what I am hearing. It sounds like a car. I am worried someone else has returned and they’re driving. I head to the road to see what is up and I don’t see anything.

Strange lights turn on in the darkness of an ally. I stare at the lights like I am a deer stuck in the headlights. I slowly back away hearing something come up behind me and I look at the windows of the cars they’re pure black and I can’t see inside them. The crest on the back of my head expands, a deep hiss comes from my mouth while drool comes out of my mouth and when it hits the icy ground it sizzles melting the ice.

Think fire, Malla thinks fire. I feel the fire building in my throat and I shoot fire out of my mouth. The car I am aiming for backs up and the other behind me fires something in the back of my throat. I groan, grabbing whatever it is. It’s a vial and a needle. I have seen enough movies to know what this is. I toss the needle away and try to run thanks to the ice. I fall on my face groaning.

I feel another needle breaking into my scales. I thought my scales would be strong enough to handle these needles unless they knew how to break through them. Maybe the cold weekends my scales. I feel the fluid going through my system. I still don’t feel dizzy but I am starting to feel weak. I try to get back up trying to roar and a strange metal rope wraps around my maw.

I try to struggle but all I can do is shimmy my backside like I am dancing. I feel more ropes wrap around my body. A large strange truck drives towards me and it stops with a pop. I stare at the truck and I notice finally no one seems to be driving these things. My vision gets hazy as I feel myself being lifted. I am deep in a dark closed environment and before I pass out I hear machines and feel a few scales being taken off of me.

I fully pass out after the fluid or knock-out juice finally gets fully into my system.

_____________

Unknown location day and date unknown

I open my eyes. I am in the middle of a hard metal floor. I look around seeing I am locked in a heavy metal room. A deep groan of pain leaves my mouth while I notice I have many scales removed from my body including many marks of blood that got taken from me. I felt my senses coming back and I felt the walls closing in on me.

I take a few deep breaths to try to relax. I hear a pa system come on.

“kwi, jennu draushum yth re bivai for levnimir wux. yth confn persvek adun kagh yth filki huven ekess ukris.”

I am surprised by the words I hear. For some reason, I can understand it. What in the world I can understand the fake language from a Dungeons and Dragons book? But I have no idea how to speak it.

“Um…we are the borg?”

I try to be funny and the voice goes silent for a moment.

“Sorry, you must be the one named Malla from the radio. We are very sorry for what we did to you. You got to understand we can’t speak to each other face to face. If we tried, we humans would melt because of the magic inside you.”

Wait what humans?! How when and why am I just hearing this now?!

“What do you mean humans? Are you telling me some humans didn’t vanish and come back as these creatures?”

The human goes silent for a moment and I hear a few chairs moving and another sitting in a chair.

“Forgive them I am the commander of this bunker. I am former Thunderbirds Pilot commander Joe. Yes, just call me Joe Cool it’s easier this way. Now I want you to understand you’re not a prisoner here.”

I sigh stroking my head with my claws grunting from the pain.

“For someone not keeping me prisoner here you sure did everything you could to get me in here. You could have just used those cars to talk to me. You didn’t have to capture me and then take my scales and blood.”

Joe sighs.

“We knew this was going to happen and we had to protect the government and now we have to protect more and try to take back our home but to be honest I doubt there will be any way we can take it back.”

Take back our world? The government knew. A smirk comes across my face. Oh, the others are going to have an amazing time with this.

“I am not upset.”

Joe goes silent for a moment. I am sure my words surprised him.

“Wait you’re not?”

I chuckle

“No, It just proves what I thought for years the US Government is full of stupid people that have no idea or care about this country. Thank you for proving that to me now can I go or are you going to keep me prisoner?”

There were many whispers and the door opened up before I could get an answer. I see arrows turning on pointing me out of the bunker.

“This area was made for ones like you Malla. We will let you look through the Bunker and you will see most of it is full of robotics that work on their own. The people are deeper inside just in case one like you gets too close to us.”

Looking at the door down the bright hall seeing no windows or anything. I take a deep breath sighing.

“How about we help each other? We try to get you some supplies of food if we can and fresh anything. The thing you need to do for us though is to be as truthful as you can. On why and how you knew about all this.”

Joe sighs

“I can’t tell you anything unless my leaders who are down here allow me to. The offer for supplies and food is the best you can do for us. There is going to be a meeting soon on if we should let you stay here. I am going, to be honest with the others here. We have no right to take our home back because of our stupidity.”

He is not wrong, the human race had no right to even come back like I told Lyra. It’s going to be our second chance and I am sure I will live long enough to either see it fail or hide somewhere and never see it happen again.

“We also contacted your DJ and told her that we captured you. It sounds like your friends have been doing everything to search for you. They care for you Malla. I want you to promise me something.”

I look up the PA system.

“I want you to never forsake those friends of yours. They will be the only ones you have including the others who return. This world is in the hands of you and the others who returned who have communities in this world. There are many more communities popping up, you're just one of many.”

I shrug my shoulders.

“It’s open. I am not a leader. I will do what I can to help others live through this first to second year of pain. But they will have to do what they can for themselves. I will not do it. I am sure there are better ones out there with more heart and willingness to do what they think is right. I am just one who came from Wyoming to look for my family. I found my friends, for now, they're family till I feel it’s my time to vanish.”

I head out of the bunker following the arrows and I am led out I find myself in the old Battle Creek airport where there used to be hot air balloon festivals. I went out to the runway and look beside me to see the old snow angels and thunderbirds.

These planes will not last long when the time comes for them to fall apart. I hear a car getting closer. I close the door to the bunker and when the car parks. Savannah comes out of the car with George and Wanda. Savannah trots to me in a quick gallop. I caught the zebra before she could run into me, giving her a tight hug.

“Don’t worry I am fine. I need to get back and rest a bit. I have a lot to tell you, and it will not make either of you happy. There are still humans around and…some knew what was going to happen.”

Savannah sighs.

“We know someone called Joe is talking to Jenny and he is asking if he can request some music.”

I get into the driver's seat of the car turning up the radio.

“Yes, explaining how we knew and everything is going to take a while to explain. It’s not my right to do so now but many here love your music. Could you play something for us all down here?”

After a second Jenny talks on the radio.

“Well I am not part of your country so I don’t hold any ill will towards you. I am sure my own country would bugger all when it comes down to it. What would you like to listen to?”

There are whispers on the other side.

“We would like to listen to any Elvis or Beatles music you have.”

Jenny laughs.

“Everyone listening there will be a marathon of Elvis and Beatles.”

I sigh deeply, turning off the radio before the music comes on. I look in the back of the car and they took what they could and I have a feeling they will go back for more. I get out of the driver's seat and head into the back with Wanda and Geroge and they let me have two chairs of my own. I lay on the two chairs and slowly fell asleep. I wonder what I will dream about. Maybe I will dream of a peaceful world or a world that will fall apart.

_______________

The future

I look up from the chapter I just read about humans and the bunker. I stare at the sleeping dragon. I go to her to get a closer look at the body and I see some of the place's scales have been removed it looks like they came back but in her old age, they started to fall off because of the roots.

I wonder if these humans do something to her to have these roots come out? Is it something she is doing to herself as a punishment or is there something else that might happen in this story of her life?

I get near her to lean on her to let her know someone is here to help her through this and I lean back to think what will I be like in the future? I don’t know, I wonder if I close my eyes to rest and to think of that future.