The Dragon Warrior

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Instead, I would hear different faded sounds of roars every night. I'd imagine dragons were communicating with one another in the Valley. I couldn't help myself to shake the ominous feeling running through my stomach. There were nights I dreamt about the Valley being destroyed. It was a beautiful place where I was born, grew up, and loved so much that I could call it home.

For the last few nights, I would recently pray to the Elder Gods, The Lord from Heaven, and even my Grandmother Valentina to protect the Valley. I freed a big sigh while including my fingers caressing the pearl necklace that my parents gave me by Grandma Valentina for my seventeenth birthday present. Before my Grandmother passed away, she requested to be cremated. So I never had the chance to meet my Grandmother Valentina when I was born. However, Grandma was thrilled to have a grandchild when Mother was pregnant with me. She wanted to help Mother to raise me, but Mother refused. Regardless, Grandma cared about everyone and was active in helping others. Sadly, she was ill from Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimers. The whole Valley was devastated. I was told I look like my Grandmother and have her artistic talent. I dabble. Yet, parts of her ashes are arranged in a white pearl jewelry box in my Mother's room set on her dresser, and the other half is in my necklace.

"Grandmother Valentina will always protect you, Charlotte. She loved you very much and was proud to be your Grandmother," Mother said, attaching the clips of the necklace around my neck.

Nonetheless, Mother would tell me stories about my Grandmother's interests, especially sketching and painting dragons. She kept the illustrations showing me Grandma Valentina's talent. I was fascinated. Mother explained the story to me when Grandma was 14; she woke up and ran outside the house during nightfall, witnessing a dragon's silhouette flying above her. It landed on the other side of the Valley when she decided to ride one of her grandfather's horses to locate it.

Once Valentina arrived on the other side of town. She saw this beautiful, scale Emerald male dragon drinking peacefully from a lake surrounded by the misty fog. The endpoints of the horns were sharp like blades. A fan line of spikes connects his head top-down the tail. His legs were massive, firm, and robust, ending with pointy, black claws. The dragon stretched out his wings wide that she glimpsed the glowing prism of the emerald. It shined like a bar of gold reflecting from the moonlight, designed hard like diamonds. Then, abruptly, a soft roar occurred from a distance across the lake as the Emerald Dragon listened. The vociferation compelled him to react louder, ringing Valentina's body to feel the high vibration from his roar. This creature was tremendous, fearless, imitated, and influential. So without hesitation, he flew at full speed, high in the sky, and disappeared into the clouds. She named him The Emerald King.

Today, the weather was lovely and warm with a cool breeze. Birds were chirping, flying across the baby blue sky, and the sun was shining. I held the bowstring to the drawback, maintaining my finger tab aligning the sharp arrow aiming at the black dot center of the target board. I locked my eyes and kept focus while I retained my hand steady. Slowly, I inhaled and exhaled a deep breath as I released the bowstring. I watched the arrow race a straight, clean full acceleration right through the center of the target board.

"Yes," I said with a smile and felt satisfied.

I was about to draw an arrow from my quiver until my head started hurting. I dropped my equipment on the green grass while the pain was overwhelming. I held onto my forehead, whereas I collapsed.

"Charlotte, what's wrong?" Mother asked concerningly. She sat next to me on the ground with the basket of apples placed in front of her. She held her hand onto my forehead. The pain evaporated.

"I'll be alright," I replied, pushing myself using my leg strength to help me stand back up with my Mother's support.

My legs felt weak and shaky. First, I lost balance until Mother caught me with her arms. Then, I set my hand on my head, squeezing my eyelids together.

"You don't seem alright, dear. I noticed you have not been resting well and have been acting strangely for the last couple of days. Something is troubling you," Mother responded with suspicion, "Come on, dear, let me take a look at you."

Mother had on palms held against my cheeks and then took her right hand, resting my warm forehead.

"Hmm, alright, stay still; this won't hurt a bit," Mother advised.

Slowly, I opened my eyes when I saw a white, blue tint aura rising. Immediately, I avoid the bright light closing my eyes not to hurt my head even more. The pain felt as tight as the muscles were pulling apart. But, at the same time, the feeling of the warm glow light was healing the pain of losing it lighter.

"Better?" Mother asked with a smile.

I looked up at her, smiling, "Yes, thank you," I replied gratefully.

Mother looked worried, "Charlotte, are you sure you're not bothered by any other trouble?"

Unexpectedly, an enormous roar arose where Mother and I saw an army of dragons flying above us. Then, fireballs started shooting and attacking everyone's homes. Quickly, we got up on our feet and began to run to hide somewhere safe. Everything was burning, and ashes were spreading everywhere like dust.

A Red Dragon landed aggressively on someone's home; his claws shattered the roof. He blows fire from his mouth, burning all the food markets as people try to avoid the flames. While we were running, I held Mother's hand tightly, keeping the same pace. Two male dragons chased us; my heart rate was racing, and I controlled my breathing. I followed Mother to a brown barn until I tripped over a rock and collapsed onto the ground.

"Charlotte! Get up!" Mother demanded, retaking my hand.

Until a Blue Dragon drove toward my Mother and snatched her claws on my Mother's arm, flying away.

"Mother!" I yelled; my heart shattered into a million pieces. I sat on the ground and watched her flying away from a distance.

I was alone, skimming around my surroundings. People were attacking the dragons with axes and guns to protect themselves and their families—casualties left behind. This cannot be real! When I felt a substantial vibrating pound coming from the ground. I saw the color emerald with black claws having my eyes scanning the scale body with posture standing tall and a face with his brows arched with angry yellow eyes. Was it him? The Emerald King. He was looking down at me. I sat on the ground, frozen. At the same time, I glanced over a bow and metal, sharp arrow. Suddenly, my necklace beamed a bright, white pearl glow.

Then, a roar occurred high above me from the gloomy, dusk sky. The beautiful White Queen dropped down in front of me, facing the Emerald King. Both dragons stood their ground, shrieking at one another while taking small side steps. The Emerald King took the first move, positioning his full and hard head to charge at the White Queen. She twirled her body to dodge his attack adding a swing from her tail and striking his back. The Emerald King crumples onto the ground. I got up out of the way to hide behind a huge boulder.

Then, he quickly got back up and flew high in the air, preparing to discharge flames. He started to blow fire at The White Queen while she transformed invisibly like the wind. Fast momentum, she sidesteps the fire, spinning like a tornado to hit the fire back at him. Immediately, The Emerald King dodges it and races towards The White Queen to charge at her again. He strikes his head against her right side as she tumbles. She couldn't get up! I grew angry when heated electricity rang through my hands. Instantly, I grabbed the bow having the arrow pulled back on the bowstring, aiming at the Emerald King. I started to develop power for the indicator and released it. The arrow drove through him, where the electricity shocked The Emerald King everywhere, and gradually, he fell to the ground.

After a long battle, I was going to check on The White Queen when The Emerald King rose from the ground. He emerged aggressive when, suddenly, The White Queen grew her strength. She charged at him, and she swung her body around as her huge tail hit him on the side of his head and drove her sharp white pearl entail through his heart and pulled it out of his chest. Finally, The Emerald King sank to the ground, dead.

The White Queen glanced over in my direction. Then, she slowly approached my way and kneeled her head down to me. My necklace started to glow as I could feel something coming through my head until I heard a voice.

"Charlotte, it is I, your Grandmother Valentina. I know you have unanswered questions, but there is no time for now. Yet, your Mother and your Valley need your help to save them. So don't move, child."

Suddenly, I observed magical preparation transforming into titanium body armor. The White Queen braided my brown hair in a low ponytail, and my upper body was clothed with chainmail having a pauldron making my shoulders look broader and a breastplate wrapped over my core.

My elbows are covered in elbow cups and gauntlets that I could punch something hard to do some severe damage. Around my waist are protected by faulds, and my legs, knees, shins, and feet are shielded.

A bow floating in mid-air was one last item lowered onto my hands. It wasn't any bow; the recurve was sharp like swords. I could throw it like a boomerang or split the bow as a two-hand sword. Ultimately, I was equipped with a quiver of arrows secured around my waist.

"Now, you are ready," The White Queen said.