Gadzooks visits Alan and discovers that Alan may be a dragon-boy. Alan agrees to transform in front of Gadzooks to show that he has dragon-like powers. Daisy has been secretly listening from Gadzooks' hole and witnesses Alan beginning his transformation. She is deeply shocked by this revelation.

1. © 2013 Matthew Albren

2. MaFhew#Albren
Part#twelve
The#Truth#about#Alan#Revealed
# Gadzooks#had#gone#to#the#castle#to#see#Daisy.#His#hope#was#that#she#would#admit#to#not#having#
space#for#him#anymore,#or#something#patheIc#like#that.#Unfortunately,#Gadzooks’s#visit#only#made#
things#harder#for#himself.
# Gadzooks#arrived#at#Daisy’s#room#and#knocked#on#the#door.#Daisy#elegantly#slid#it#open.#She#
welcomed#Gadzooks#in.#“So,#are#you#going#to#move#in?”#Daisy#asked#immediately.#Gadzooks#was#hoping#
she#may#have#forgoFen.#“I#don’t#know#yet.”#He#mumbled.#“Take#all#the#Ime#you#need.”#Daisy#told#him.#
The#dragons#talked#and#talked#with#one#another.#Then#Lord#MaF#came#in.#His#back#was#straight#ad#
poised.#Obviously#being#in#his#castle,#he#had#to#act#serious.#“Gadzooks,#I#would#like#to#present#something#
to#you.”#Lord#MaF#said#in#his#deep#voice.#Daisy#squeaked#with#delight.#Gadzooks#stood#up,#and#was#
uFerly#shocked#by#what#he#was#brought#to#see.
# The#three#dragons#walked#to#a#spacious#room#with#a#plaque#on#the#door#that#read:#“Gadzooks@
Warrior#Class”.#Gadzooks#forced#a#smile.#The#room#was#absolutely#breathtaking.#There#were#pictures#all#
over#the#walls#of#Gadzooks#himself.#The#green#walls#really#made#for#a#beauIful#backdrop.#There#was#a#
giant#bed#sicng#in#the#far#right#corner#of#the#room.#Gadzooks#stared#at#it.#There#were#two#dressers#in#
the#room#as#well.#“I#do#hope#you#love#it.”#Lord#MaF#exclaimed.#Daisy#tugged#Gadzooks’s#arm.#“Now#
what#do#you#say?”#She#gushed.#Gadzooks#looked#away.
# “I#can’t#answer#yet...#sIll.”#Gadzooks#spuFered.#He#shoved#through#Lord#MaF#and#raced#away,#
leaving#Daisy#in#shock.#She#ran#aZer#him.#“Zookie!#Wait!”#She#bellowed.#Gadzooks#stopped#himself.#He#
turned#around#to#face#Daisy.#“Why#are#you#so#reluctant#to#except?”#Daisy#asked.#“What’s#the#problem?”#
Gadzooks#remembered#Alan#and#his#awful#dream.#And,#he#knew#if#he#didn’t#tell#her#now,#he#would#have#
to#do#it#later.#“Alright,#here#is#the#truth.”#Gadzooks#began.
# “I#would#just#love#to#move#into#the#castle,#I#truthfully#would.#But#my#friend...#If#I#move,#I#have#to#
leave#him#behind.”#Gadzooks#told#her.#Daisy#nodded.#“Who’s#your#friend,#Zookie?”#Gadzooks’s#stomach#
became#cold.#“It’s#a#boy.#His#name#is#Alan.#And#he#is#human.”#Daisy#stared#at#him#with#an#odd#look#in#her#
eye.#“I#am#not#asking#you#to#give#up#your#old#home.”#Daisy#said#suddenly.#Gadzooks#looked#up.#“You#
aren’t?”#“Of#course#not!”#Daisy#chuckled.#Then,#she#became#quiet.#“I#have#to#go.”#She#mumbled.#Then#
she#turned#to#walk#away,#but#then#turned#back.#She#walked#up#to#Gadzooks,#kissed#him#on#the#lips,#and#
then#she#turned#around#and#walked#away.#Gadzooks#was#leZ#speechless...#yet#again.#And#more#confused#
than#ever#before.
# When#Gadzooks#got#back#to#his#hole,#he#had#to#think#hard#and#than#harder.#And#that#was#when#
Alan’s#shadow#showed#itself#above#Gadzooks’s#hole.#The#boy#reached#down#and#pulled#Gadzooks#out.#
He#smiled.#Gadzooks#smiled#back.#“I#am#sorry.#I#should#not#have#leZ#when#you#needed#me#to#help#you.”#
Alan#told#Gadzooks.#Alan#hugged#the#liFle#dragon.#“Alan,#I#want#you#to#know#that#I#am#going#to#move.#I#
am#moving#to#a#place#filled#with#my#own#kind.#But,#it#is#not#permanent,#I#will#come#and#visit#you#all#the#
Ime.#And,#don’t#forget,#this#will#always#be#my#home.”#Alan’s#smile#shot#across#his#face#like#a#rocket.#
Gadzooks#had#pleased#both#his#friends#now.#He#escaped#Alan’s#grasp#and#went#to#pack#some#of#his#
things.#He#would#soon#be#a#resident#of#The#Castle#of#the#Lord,#but#never#not#a#resident#of#Alan’s#
backyard.
# As#Gadzooks#packed#his#things,#he#hummed#a#liFle#tune.#His#happiness#was#obvious#and#
blooming#like#new#Spring#flowers.#He#grabbed#his#blade.#He#picked#up#a#giant#stack#of#papers.#Gadzooks#
did#in#fact,#love#to#jot#down#what#was#on#his#brain.#He#went#over#to#a#corner#of#the#hole,#and#gathered#
© 2013 Matthew Albren

3. up#a#mini#backpack#that#he#shoved#all#his#things#into.#He#also#grabbed#a#special#candle,#that#he#planned#
to#do#something#special#with.
# As#Gadzooks#was#just#about#ready#to#get#going,#he#heard#Alan’s#voice.#But#he#heard#another#
voice#too.#It#was#female,#and#it#wasn’t#Alan’s#mother.#The#voice#was#loud#and#almost#old#at#the#same#
Ime.#Strange.#Gadzooks#fluFered#his#wings#and#poked#his#liFle#head#out#of#the#hole.#Alan#was#with#an#
old#woman.#Her#hair#was#mostly#grey,#with#a#hint#of#brown.#The#woman#had#many#wrinkles#engulfing#her#
face.#Her#dress#was#long#and#black.#She#had#a#golden#necklace#laced#around#her#neck.#She#was#fairly#
large,#as#well.#Gadzooks#smiled#at#the#two,#who#were#obviously#enjoying#their#Ime#together.#Then,#a#
lightbulb#went#off#in#the#dragon’s#head.
# Gadzooks#had#to#meet#this#woman,#so#he#dropped#his#things#and#flew#towards#them,#without#
thinking#twice#about#a#human#seeing#him.
# Right#aZer#Gadzooks#had#leZ,#Daisy#had#landed#in#his#hole.#“Zookie!”#She#yelled#out.#Nothing#
answered#her.#She#strolled#around,#and#then#noIced#the#backpack#that#was#overflowing.#She#stared#at#
it.#Then#she#heard#Gadzooks’s#voice.#She#raced#into#a#deep#corner#of#the#hole#and#listened#to#him#and#
the#other#voices#with#suspicion.
# Alan#saw#Gadzooks#before#he#got#there.#“Zookie!”#Alan#cried.#The#old#woman#turned#her#head#to#
face#Gadzooks.#She#smiled#an#elderly#smile.#Gadzooks#smiled#back.#Then#he#gasped.#He#should#not#have#
shown#a#human#his#true#form.#He#quickly#flashed#his#eyes#to#green#and#dropped#from#the#sky#nervously.#
Alan#ran#over.#He#picked#Gadzooks#up#and#shook#the#poor#dragon.#Gadzooks#gave#in#and#flashed#back#to#
violet.#The#old#woman#stared#at#him.#She#was#certainly#not#as#surprised#as#she#should’ve#been.#Gadzooks#
wondered#why.
# Daisy#clasped#both#her#hands#Ightly#around#her#mouth.#She#looked#up#and#out#of#the#hole.#She#
knew#now#that#she#had#done#something#wrong.#She#had#been#eavesdropping.#She#had#to#get#out#before#
Gadzooks#noIced#her.
# “Hi.”#Gadzooks#murmured.#The#old#woman#only#smiled.#Alan#proudly#put#Gadzooks#up#on#his#
shoulder,#where#Gadzooks#could#get#a#clear#view.#The#old#woman#was#ugly#from#this#point#of#view.#Her#
nose#was#bubbling#with#warts#and#pimples.#Her#dark#eye#shadow#gave#off#too#much.#Her#eyes#looked#
devastaIngly#dark...#almost#dangerous.#The#woman#pursed#her#lips#and#a#repulsive#collecIon#of#saliva#
slipped#to#the#ground.#Gadzooks#swallowed#the#disgust#in#his#mouth.
# Alan#smiled#a#bright#smile,#as#usual.#He#exclaimed,#“This#is#my#grandma!”#Gadzooks#looked#at#
the#boy’s#happy#expression.#Then#he#looked#at#the#grandma,#who,#oddly,#seemed#to#(other#than#her#
wrinkles#and#and#facial#features)#resemble#Alan#and#the#other#way#around.#Gadzooks#looked#at#them#
both#for#a#moment,#then#the#quesIon#swam#through#his#head.#He#had#to#ask#if#Alan#was#a#dragon@boy.#
But#also,#now#he#had#to#ask#if#this#lady’s#name#was,#by#any#chance,#Lindina.#He#gulped#and#opened#his#
mouth#to#speak.
# Daisy#had#waited#and#waited,#but#sIll#heard#the#voices.#She#wondered#who#the#other#voices#
belonged#to.#She#thought#that#Gadzooks#was#probably#bragging#to#some#dragon#friends#about#his#new#
home.#She#giggled.#But#she#stopped#instantly#when#she#heard#Gadzooks#ask#a#quesIon.#And#the#answer#
shocked#her#more.
# “Alan.”#Gadzooks#began,#“I#have#to#know.#Please#don’t#lie#to#me.#Is#your#true#name#Alan?#Are#
you#a#real#boy?#Or#are#you#a#legendary#dragon@boy?”#Alan#stared#with#suspicion#at#Gadzooks.#The#
grandma#figure#heard#herself#gasp#and#looked#away,#obviously#in#shock.#Alan#had#gone#quiet.#The#green#
light#went#off#so#brightly#in#his#head,#Gadzooks#almost#felt#himself#squint#a#liFle.#“So#it’s#true!”#Gadzooks#
exclaimed.#Alan#sIll#stayed#quiet.#“You#are#a#dragon@boy.”#Gadzooks#insisted.#Alan#finally#answered#the#
quesIon.#“Grandma,#may#I?”#He#asked.#The#old#woman#looked#away#and#didn’t#answer.#Alan#took#his#
own#decision#into#opIon,#and#told#the#truth.#“I#guess...#it’s#possible.”#Alan#admiFed.#“I#might#be#a#
dragon#creature.”#Gadzooks#beamed.#The#old#woman#scoffed.#Her#anger#was#not#hard#to#noIce.#
Gadzooks#smiled#excitedly#at#his#friend.#“Show#me.”#Gadzooks#whispered.
© 2013 Matthew Albren

4. MaFhew#Albren
Part#thirteen
The#Shocking#Power#of#Words
# Alan#was#reluctant#at#first.#He#was#in#a#shocked#state.#But#he#did#agree.#The#boy#revealed#a#
shiny,#blue,#clay#dragon#from#his#pocket.#The#dragon#had#green#eyes.#Alan#stared#at#the#figure.#Gadzooks#
felt#excitement#flow#throughout#himself.#Alan#set#Gadzooks#to#the#ground#and#began#his#transformaIon.
# Daisy#felt#faint.#She#steadied#herself#up#against#a#wall.#Was#Gadzooks#trying#to#find#out#if#the#
dragon@boy#was#a#dragon.#She#gulped.#Gadzooks#was#risking#old#dragon#legends#escaping#to#the#world.#
She#had#to#put#a#stop#to#this#at#once.#She#gently#flapped#her#wings#and#her#head#appeared#from#
Gadzooks’s#hole.#She#almost#puked#from#shock.#Gadzooks#was#there.#Next#to#him#was#an#elderly#woman#
who#was#facing#away.#And#then,#she#saw#it#all#happen.#A#boy#had#truthfully,#before#her#eyes,#merged#
with#the#body#of#the#blue#dragon.
# Gadzooks#stared.#Alan#was#no#longer#human.#He#had#become#the#blue#dragon,#or#perhaps,#
merged#with#it.#“This#is#my#secret.”#Alan#mumbled.#The#navy#blue#scales#on##the#dragon#were#much#more#
clear#now.#And#the#eyes#on#the#dragon#had#become#violet.#Alan#smiled#slightly.#“I#don’t#understand#
though,#I#thought#you#were#a#dragon.”#Gadzooks#told#Alan.#“No#no!#I#can’t#become#a#dragon.#I#can#just#
merge#with#this#one,#special#dragon#body.”#The#old#woman#was#sIll#facing#away.#“Do#you#know#the#
whole#story?”#Alan#asked.
# Gadzooks#nodded.#“I#do.”#He#muFered.#Alan#looked#away.#“Well#then#please#keep#calling#me#
Alan,#not#Shalan.”#The#dragon@boy#uFered.#Gadzooks#again#nodded.#Then#Gadzooks#stared#up#at#the#old#
woman.#Her#features#were#all#squished#up.#She#didn’t#want#Alan’s#secret#out.#“I#am#sorry,#ma’am.”#
Gadzooks#yelled#politely,#but#so#the#woman#could#hear#him.#The#old#woman#turned#around,#eyeing#
Gadzooks#with#a#glint#in#her#eye.#Alan#quickly#re@formed#into#a#boy#now#and#stuck#the#blue#dragon#body#
into#his#pocket.#Alan#liZed#Gadzooks#from#the#ground.#“Like#I#said,#my#grandma.”#Alan#stated.#“Her#name#
is...”#He#cut#himself#off.#He#stared#down#as#the#old#woman#eyed#him#angrily.#“Lindina.”#A#voice#said#
triumphantly.#The#three,#the#dragon,#woman,#and#dragon@boy#all#turned#their#heads.#It#was#Daisy,#of#all#
dragons.#Gadzooks#gasped.#“You#are#Lindina,#aren’t#you?”#Daisy#pressed.
# The#old#woman#was#stunned#by#the#assumpIon.#Her#face#was#bright#red.#She#stared#down#at#
Daisy.#“Who#are#you,#to#be#asking#such#rude#quesIons?”#The#lady#yelled,#her#actude#had#drasIcally#
changed.#Daisy#stood#her#ground#with#triumph.#“I#know#that#the#story#is#no#myth.”#Daisy#countered,#“I#
know#that#if#this#kid#is#the#dragon@boy,#you#must#in#someway#know#about#his#secret.”#The#old#lady#
blushed#once#again.#She#looked#away.#Daisy#stared#the#woman#down.#Finally,#the#lady#admiFed,#kind#of.#
“Call#me#what#you#want,#pests.”#The#lady#muFered.#Then#she#strode#silently#back#into#Alan’s#house.
# Daisy#whipped#around#to#face#Gadzooks.#Gadzooks#prepared#to#get#scolded,#screamed#at,#kicked#
out#of#the#castle,#and#possibly#banished.#But#none#of#that#happened.#“So,#are#you#going#to#move#in?”#
Daisy#asked#sweetly.#Gadzooks#nodded#his#head#slightly.#“Oh,#so#YOU#offered#Zookie#a#house.”#Alan#
inquired.#Daisy#looked#up#at#the#boy.#“That#would#be#me.”#She#answered.#Alan#smiled,#waved#goodbye#
to#Gadzooks,#and#ran#into#his#house.
# “I#don’t#get#it#at#all!”#Gadzooks#cried,#“I#am#friends#with#a#human,#you#should#hate#me!”#Daisy#
looked#at#him#a#glint#of#excitement#in#her#eye.#“But#he#isn’t#human,#he#is#only#half#human.”#Daisy#
explained.#Gadzooks#stepped#back.#He#hadn’t#realized#that.#“Plus,#I#wouldn’t#have#cared#anyway.#No#one#
should#be#judged#for#their#friends.”#Daisy#chirped.#Her#face#was#telling#Gadzooks#in#no#way#that#she#
cared#at#all.#He#knew,#because#of#that,#she#was#truly#a#great#friend.#Gadzooks#flew#into#his#hole,#picked#
up#his#backpack,#re@filled#it#with#the#over#flowing#objects,#and#slipped#it#onto#his#back.#Daisy#stood#up.#
“Come#on.”#Gadzooks#announced,#“Let’s#get#moving.”#Daisy#smiled#at#his#comment.#She#flew#out#of#the#
© 2013 Matthew Albren

5. hole#and#soared#into#the#clouds.#Gadzooks#followed#with#same#type#of#excitement#welling#up#inside#him.#
Soon,#a#new#journey#started#for#him.#Not#in#nature#or#outside.#The#journey#would#happen#inside#him,#
where#he#would#test#new#things#and#new#heights.
# When#they#arrived,#Gadzooks#noIced#how#in#his#room,#the#walls#had#mountains#on#them#now.#
Daisy#smiled#at#him#and#said#that#they#were#in#his#honor.#Gadzooks#was#pleased.#He#threw#his#backpack#
on#the#bed#and#sat#down#on#the#floor.#Daisy#smiled.#“If#you#ever#need#anything,#just#say#it.#We#have#
butlers#who#would#be#happy#to#do#anything#for#you.”#She#cooed.#Gadzooks#nodded.#Then,#Lord#MaF#
came#in.#He#was#pleased#to#see#Gadzooks#had#in#fact#moved#in.#Then#the#lord#revealed#a#small#piece#of#
paper#from#behind#his#back.#“It#looks#like#you#already#have#mail.”#Lord#MaF#muFered.#Daisy#and#
Gadzooks#looked#at#the#note.#There#was#no#trace#of#a#return#address.#Gadzooks#took#the#small#paper#
and#unfolded#it.#His#eyebrows#rose#up.#His#eyes#wandered#along#the#page,#then#he#stopped#at#the#last#
sentence.#Daisy#stood#behind#him#and#read#the#note#herself.#She#gasped#and#stepped#backwards.#
Gadzooks#dropped#the#note#and#stared#forward#in#uFer#shock...
© 2013 Matthew Albren

6. MaFhew#Albren
Part#fourteen
An#UlImate#Day#of#Choices#and#Fates
# Gadzooks#stared#into#space#in#shock.#“What#did#it#say?”#Lord#MaF#asked#Daisy.#Daisy#felt#just#
like#Gadzooks.#Lord#MaF#bent#down#himself#and#grabbed#the#leFer,#which#he#read.#He#read#through#the#
enIre#thing.#Gadzooks#was#sIll#astonished;#He#was#not#expecIng#anything#like#this.#Or#was#he?#Daisy#
then#wondered#to#herself,#what)would)Zookie)do)about)this?#Lord#MaF#froze#when#he#finished#reading.#
“Oh#dear.”#The#lord#muFered.
# Daisy#insisted#that#Gadzooks#needed#to#breath#and#she#dragged#him#outside.#Gadzooks#stared#
into#the#endless#sky#and#let#a#long#gasp#escape#from#his#throat.#Daisy#laid#her#hand#on#Gadzooks’s#
shoulder#and#sighed.#“Why#don’t#we#go#to#the#mountains?#Crazy#things#always#happen#there.”#Daisy#
suggested.#Gadzooks#nodded#and#agreed.#The#dragons#both#flew#off#towards#the#mountains,#where#
more#than#expected#was#about#to#happen.# # # # #
# Back#at#the#castle,#Lord#MaF#was#making#preparaIons#for#Daisy’s#birthday#party,#which#was#in#
seven#days.#The#lord#had#in#fact,#wriFen#the#horrible#leFer#that#explained#Gadzooks#was#to#be#banished#
in#seven#days#forever.#It#did#not#state#how#or#why.#But#the#lord#needed#a#distracIon.#And#the#Iming#
couldn’t#be#beFer.#Daisy#would#be#all#upset#on#her#birthday#party#day,#and#then#would#get#hit#with#a#
huge#surprise.#And#he#of#course#had#no#intenIon#of#lecng#Gadzooks#get#banished.
# The#lord#bustled#about#all#around#the#castle#yelling#orders#and#trying#to#keep#the#guard#dragon#
watching#for#Daisy.##As#all#the#dragons#in#the#castle#bustled#about#yelling,#screaming,#chanIng,#Lord#MaF#
had#prepared#a#giganIc#cake.#He#smiled#at#the#marvelous#creaIon#when#it#was#done.#He#stuck#it#in#the#
fridge#and#went#on#his#way.#The#castle#hadn’t#ever#been#so#noisy#in#years.#There#was#so#much#ruckus,#
that#a#liFle#creature#with#wings#and#amazing#baby#blue#scales#could#hear#it#using#its#keen#sense#of#
hearing,#which#it#used#to#track#the#locaIon#of#it#all,#even#from#its#perch#on#a#large#building’s#roof.#It#
tracked#the#noise#back#to#the#castle,#and#stared#at#the#castle#with#its#eyes#open#wide,#the#sight#was#
magnificent#to#such#a#lonely#creature,#and#of#all,#it#was#a#dragon.## #
# Gadzooks#didn’t#know#how#to#answer#the#quesIon.#Daisy#had#asked#what#he#thought#about#the#
leFer,#which#both#dragons#obviously#believed.#Daisy#listened#carefully#to#Gadzooks#breath.#He#was#
thinking.#Finally#though,#he#spoke.#“I#just.....#I#didn’t#expect#this.”#He#muFered.#“Why#are#you#being#
banished?”#Daisy#mumbled.#Gadzooks#looked#into#the#sky#again,#ignoring#the#quesIon.#Daisy#reassured#
him#with#a#hug#and#a#promise#to#make#this#right.#“I’m#going#to#go#get#this#resolved,#you#haven’t#done#
anything#wrong,#right?”#Daisy#asked,#standing#up.#Gadzooks#kept#staring.#He#couldn’t#bring#himself#to#
answer#the#quesIon.
# Daisy#kept#standing.#She#gulped.#“You#haven’t#done#anything#wrong,#RIGHT?”#She#repeated.#
Gadzooks#sIll#didn’t#answer.#Lord#MaF#obviously#picked#the#wrong#dragon#to#prank.#Gadzooks#felt#
queasy#and#sad.#Daisy#couldn’t#stand#just#being#there.#Gadzooks#had#done#amazing#things#for#her#in#the#
past.#She#felt#like#it#was#Ime#to#return#the#favor.#“You#are#not#banished.”#She#concluded.#“What?”#
Gadzooks#groaned.#“I#simply#won’t#allow#it!”#Daisy#bellowed.#“How#are#you#going#to#stop#it?”#Gadzooks#
sadly#asked.#Daisy#thought#for#a#moment.#“They#can’t#banish#you,#if#someone#royal#like#me#is#your#great#
friend!”#She#exclaimed.#“How#will#you#present#that?”#Gadzooks#mumbled.#Daisy#didn’t#have#anyIme#to#
answer,#because#a#giant#creature#rose#up#behind#them.#Daisy#gulped#and#urged#Gadzooks#towards#her#
so#they#could#fly#away.#Gadzooks#was#unaware#of#the#threat#and#refused#to#move.#“WE#HAVE#TO#FLY!##
IT’S#NOT#DEAD!#AND#THAT#CONKLE#WANTS#YOU!”#Daisy#bellowed.
© 2013 Matthew Albren

7. # The#conkle#hissed#hungrily.#Gadzooks#fell#forward#and#hurt#his#snout.#Quickly#though,#he#raised#
himself#back#to#his#feet.#The#conkle,#as#shocking#as#it#was,#was#alive!#The#large#mark#from#Lord#MaF’s#
sword#had#leZ#a#nasty#scar#running#through#the#creature’s#neck.#It#eyed#them#with#daggers.#Its#intent#
was#certainly#not#friendly.
# Lord#MaF#kept#racing#around,#checking#every#room#to#see#how#preparaIons#were#coming#along.#
The#liFle,#blue#creature#(which#had#landed#just#inches#from#the#castle#door)#outside#was#sIll#staring.#
Then,#the#stupid#guard#dragon#who#should’ve#been#watching#for#Daisy,#awakened#from#his#nap.#The#fool#
looked#out#the#window.#He#flopped#from#his#chair#and#exclaimed#through#the#intercom,#“She’s#back!”#
Everyone#shoved#their#supplies#into#Lord#MaF’s#dining#room.#The#stupid#guard#must#have#mistaken#the#
creature#for#Daisy.#Lord#MaF#rushed#out#to#stall#her#while#everything#was#put#away.#He#charged#outside,#
and#came#snout@to@snout#with#the#blue#creature,#who#was#quite#strange.#He#stared#into#Lord#MaF’s#eyes#
with#his#big#violet#eyes.#Lord#MaF#backed#away.#“I’m#deeply#sorry,#I#mistook#you#for#my#daughter.”#Lord#
MaF#babbled.#The#blue#dragon#didn’t#seem#to#care.#He#held#out#his#leZ#hand.#“Hi!”#He#exclaimed,#“My#
name#is#Duke!”
# Gadzooks#stared#into#the#conkle’s#menacing#eyes.#Daisy#flapped#her#wings#and#took#off.#
“HURRY!”#She#yelled#down#to#Gadzooks.#Gadzooks#had#never#felt#such#fear.#He#knew#he#had#before#
baFled#the#conkle#and#its#allies,#but#now#he#couldn’t#find#the#strength.#He#shivered#in#fright.#Daisy#flew#
back#to#Gadzooks.#“Stop!”#Gadzooks#yelled#to#her.#“I#have#no#need#to#live#any#longer.#I#will#be#banished.#
Just#go#Daisy!#Whatever#my#fate#is,#I#must#face#it,#so#please#go!”#Daisy#almost#passed#out.#“Zookie.”#She#
whispered.#The#conkle#swiped#at#Gadzooks,#sending#the#dragon#to#the#ground.#The#conkle#showed#no#
mercy#and#aFacked.#It#bit#and#swiped#and#drooled#all#over#Gadzooks.#Daisy#screamed.#If#she#didn’t#act#
fast,#Gadzooks#would#be#killed.
# Duke#sIll#held#out#his#hand.#Lord#MaF#grabbed#onto#it,#but#immediately#let#go.#“Ughhhhh....#It’s#
all#sIcky!”#The#lord#exclaimed.#Duke#licked#his#hand.#“It’s#honey.”#Duke#said.#Lord#MaF#was#disgusted.#
He#ulImately#turned#around#and#shut#the#door#in#Duke’s#face.#Duke#looked#excited#for#a#moment.#But,#
sadly,#the#poor,#liFle#dragon#was#crushed.#He#quietly#cried#as#he#walked#away,#feeling#yet#again#
abandoned.#The#dragon#had#more#of#a#past#than#he#had#made#clear.#And#perhaps#if#he#had#spoken#of#his#
past,#Lord#MaF#would’ve#allowed#him#entry#into#the#castle.#Lord#MaF#stared#out#the#window#at#Duke#
though.#Something#odd#bubbled#up#inside#him,#as#if#he#had#known#the#dragon#before.#But#he#let#his#
thoughts#run#away.#He#knew#for#sure,#that#the#dragon#would#be#back.
# Gadzooks#and#the#conkle#were#shielded#by#dust.#Daisy#couldn’t#make#out#anything#that#was#
happening.#She#cried,#thinking#of#ways#to#save#him.#Then,#the#conkle#tumbled#out#of#the#dust#cloud,#and#
rolled#over#the#mountains’s#edge.#Daisy#couldn’t#tell#where#or#if#it#had#landed.#Then,#she#saw#Gadzooks.#
The#green#dragon#was#reduced#to#almost#nothing.#Daisy#driZed#down#to#him.#His#enIre#body#was#
stained#with#blood#and#he#was#almost#not#breathing.#Daisy#cried#loudly#and#begged#him#to#hang#on.#
Gadzooks#took#her#hand#weakly.#“Thank#you#for#everything.”#He#uFered.#Then#he#laid#his#head#back#as#
his#eyes#turned#an#ominous#shade#of#green...
© 2013 Matthew Albren