1. © 2013 Matthew Albren

2. raced.#Who#would#want#him?#And#for#what#reasons?#The#thoughts#all#raced#through#his#head,#unIl#they#
led#up#to#one#final#conclusion,#this#was#more#than#Gadzooks#had#bargained#for...
© 2013 Matthew Albren

3. MaFhew#Albren
Part#nine
A#Decision@Making#Time#for#Gadzooks
# “WHAT!”#Gadzooks#exclaimed.#He#was#angered#by#this.#“I#agreed#to#help#save#Lord#MaF,#which#I#
did,#I#did#not#agree#to#be#the#target#of#some#loony#dragon#and#his#silly#“pet”#conkle!”#Gadzooks#let#loose#
with#everything#he#had.#Lord#MaF#grimaced.#Daisy#looked#down.#She#felt#terrible#about#pucng#a#
random#dragon’s#life#in#jeopardy.#“I#am#sorry,#Zookie.”#Daisy#mumbled.#Gadzooks#knew#his#yelling#was#
not#worth#it,#and#he#calmed#himself#down.#“Daisy,#we#must#go#fight#and#try#to#protect#dragon#kind.”#
Lord#MaF#ordered.#Daisy#sighed,#and#then#they#both#flew#off,#leaving#Gadzooks#all#alone#once#more.
# Gadzooks#breathed#deeply.#He#was#surprised#at#what#he#had#goFen#himself#into.#His#life#might#
end#soon,#due#to#his#silly#lack#of#judgement.#His#face#was#red#hot,#like#a#cooked#tomato.#But#his#heart#
was#ice#blue#with#fear.#His#violet#eyes#felt#heavy,#but#he#did#not#want#to#sleep.#Gadzooks#knew#he#had#to#
do#the#right#thing,#but#first#he#had#business#to#take#care#of.
# Gadzooks#flapped#his#wings#soZly#and#approached#Alan’s#bedroom#window.#The#young#boy#was#
running#around#in#the#room#with#a#plasIc#sword#in#one#hand,#and#a#cape#fluFered#from#his#back.#
Gadzooks#could#tell#it#was#a#bunch#of#Issues#taped#together.#Gadzooks#landed#on#the#windowsill#and#
tapped#on#the#glass.#Alan#did#not#hear#him,#so#he#gave#the#glass#a#good#head#buF.#Alan#whipped#around#
and#his#eyes#flashed#with#excitement.#He#threw#the#window#open#yelling,#“Zookie!”#at#the#same#Ime.##
Gadzooks#smiled#up#at#his#human#friend.#The#quesIon#ran#through#his#mind#like#a#runaway#train,#but#the#
train#couldn’t#break#through#his#sealed#lips.
# “How#have#you#been?#What#have#you#been#doing?#I#haven’t#seen#you#for#so#long!”##Alan#
exclaimed.#Gadzooks#kept#smiling.#He#couldn’t#bring#himself#to#ask#the#quesIon.#Alan#kept#talking.#Then#
Gadzooks#finally#decided#to#say#it,#the#second#he#opened#his#mouth#to#speak,#Alan’s#mouth#shut#Ight.#
“Alan,#I#heard#something#while#I#was#away,#and#I#have#to#ask#you,#are#you#a@”#Gadzooks#began,#but#could#
not#finish,#Alan’s#fat#mother#had#slammed#the#door#open.#“Alan,#let’s#go,#you#will#be#late#for#school!”#
Alan#nodded.#“We’ll#talk#later.”#Alan#said#to#Gadzooks.#He#winked#and#then#was#gone.
# Gadzooks#sighed,#he#didn’t#get#an#answer.#Alan#was#off#to#school#for#most#of#the#day#so#
Gadzooks#decided#to#fly#on#back#home.#He#driZed#off#the#sill,#then#looked#out#in#the#distance.#He#saw#
long,#lush,#green#mountain#ranges.#They#were#a#beauIful#sight#with#the#sun’s#light#as#a#backdrop.#Then#
he#thought#about#Daisy.#She#was#out#there#now,#in#a#fierce#fight,#where#she#might#die.#Gadzooks#tried#to#
swallow#the#thought.#He#closed#his#eyes,#but#saw#far#more#than#just#blackness.#He#saw#figures...#
creatures.#Among#the#creatures#was#Daisy.#She#had#scars#across#her#fragile#face#and#her#tail#was#
bleeding.#Then#a#giant#paw#swiped#at#her.#It#belonged#to#the#conkle.#Daisy#ducked#and#avoided#what#
would#have#been#a#fatal#blow.#Gadzooks#opened#his#eyes#suddenly#and#looked#around.#Had#he#just#seen#
the#future?#Gadzooks#wasn’t#sure,#but#he#closed#his#eyes#and#let#the#vision#conInue.#A#black#hand#
locked#onto#Daisy’s#arm.#The#arm#belonged#to#a#recognizable#dragon.#He#had#dark,#violet#eyes.#His#black#
scales#were#dirty#and#anything#but#beauIful.#Then#Gadzooks#remembered#him.#It#was#the#dragon#that#
had#kidnapped#Gadzooks#and#Daisy#earlier#in#their#journey.#He#had#that#weird#accent#which#may#have#
been#fake.#Gadzooks’s#neck#burned#with#anger.#That#black#dragon#had#never#been#destroyed.#Gadzooks#
looked#towards#the#fight,#begging#for#how#it#would#end.#The#conkle’s#dangerous#claws#threw#themselves#
at#poor,#helpless#dragons,#who#would#die#for#no#reason#whatsoever.#Gadzooks#wanted#to#scream.#He#
wanted#to#let#fire#shoot#out#of#him#at#top#speed.#His#eyes#lit#themselves#on#fire,#and#before#he#knew#it,#
he#had#begun#to#flap#his#wings#long#and#hard,#as#he#flew#towards#the#mountains,#where#the#baFle#was#
taking#place...
© 2013 Matthew Albren

4. MaFhew#Albren
Part#ten
A#BaFle,#Not#a#War
# Daisy’s#back#ached.#Her#tail#was#in#deep#pain.#The#secret#weapon#was#not#aiding#her#well#baFle.#
It#was#too#small.#Sweat#ran#down#her#face#in#waterfalls.#The#roaring#conkle#aFacked#mercilessly.#Daisy#
watched#in#horror#as#male#dragons,#female#dragons,#and#even#baby#dragons#were#brought#to#their#
doom.#Lord#MaF#was#there#too.#He#was#fighIng#for#his#kind.#He#took#being#lord#very#seriously,#and#did#
not#stop#even#once.#Daisy#looked#up#into#the#clouds.#Then#the#conkle’s#paw#thrust#her#into#the#open#
baFlefield#once#more.
# Lord#MaF’s#sword#moved#in#rapid#moIon,#the#lord#had#been#trained#to#fight#well.#His#blows#
were#strong#against#the#conkle.#The#black#dragon#which#had#tamed#the#beast#was#also#fighIng.#His#
daggers#were#sharp#and#he#baFled#with#true#cunning.#But#his#heart#was#not#in#it#for#the#good#side#of#the#
fight,#but#only#in#it#for#the#bad#side#of#the#fight.
# Daisy’s#sword#arm#was#throbbing.#Her#hand#was#cramped#and#she#couldn’t#go#on#for#much#
longer.#Her#wounds#were#deep#and#painful.#Her#mouth#was#dry#like#the#desert#and#her#sore#legs#were#
like#jelly.#She#dropped#to#her#knees.#The#black#dragon#looked#over#to#her#and#snickered.#He#strolled#over#
and#planted#himself#above#Daisy’s#head.#“Hey#thar#sweets!”#He#exclaimed.#“Yar#lookin’#mighty#rusty!”#
His#breath#wrapped#Daisy#up.#Daisy#sighed#nervously.#The#black#dragon#twitched#his#nose.#He#grabbed#
Daisy’s#shoulder.#He#held#on#with#an#iron#grip.#Then#he#pulled#out#one#of#his#mighty#daggers.#“I’m#gonna#
cause#ya#tha#payn!#Tha#payn#that#ya#caused#me!”#The#black#dragon#yelled#dangerously.#Daisy#did#not#
aFempt#to#defend#herself.#If#this#was#how#she#died,#than#so#be#it.#The#black#dragon#stabbed#Daisy’s#neck.#
“DAISY!”#Lord#MaF#bellowed.#Daisy#began#to#feel#lightheaded.#She#could#feel#the#blood#begin#to#rush#
out#of#her#body.#Lord#MaF#charged#towards#the#black#dragon,#but#the#conkle#slapped#him#with#its#tail,#
sending#him#to#the#ground.#The#black#dragon#pulled#out#his#second#dagger.#But#before#he#could#strike#
Daisy#again,#a#strong#hand#clasped#itself#around#the#black#dragon’s.#The#black#dragon#whipped#around#to#
come#snout@to@snout#with#a#green#dragon.
# Lord#MaF#looked#up.#His#watery#eyes#blurred#his#image,#and#he#could#not#make#out#the#green#
dragon.#The#black#dragon#stood#up.#“Yar#here#to#fight,#aren’t#ya?”#“I#am#here#to#fight.#But#really,#I’m#here#
to#win.”#The#green#dragon#answered#back.#The#black#dragon#pulled#his#dagger#from#Daisy’s#neck#(which#
was#covered#in#blood)#and#prepared#for#baFle.#The#green#dragon#revealed#a#keen,#violet#blade#from#his#
scabbard.#The#conkle#prowled#towards#the#green#dragon,#but#the#black#dragon#held#out#his#hand.#“Nah,#
this#is#ma#fight!”
# The#one@on@one#baFle#broke#out.#The#green#dragon’s#skill#was#incredible.#He#fought#with#honor#
and#for#jusIce,#surprising#the#black#dragon,#who#found#himself#having#trouble#keeping#up#with#the#green#
dragon’s#skills;#his#devoIon#to#defeaIng#him#was#incredible.#His#blade#only#defended,#never#aFacked.#
The#black#dragon#could#not#land#a#blow#on#the#green#dragon.#The#green#dragon’s#expression#never#
changed,#unIl#a#smile#crossed#his#face#when#the#black#dragon#dropped#to#the#ground#in#defeat.
# The#black#dragon#coughed#lightly.#He#was#on#his#knees,#desperately#trying#to#catch#his#breath.#
The#green#dragon#watched,#prepared#to#strike#at#any#moment.#But,#the#black#dragon#could#not#go#on.#He#
coughed#loudly,#and#then#wheezed,#before#tumbling#over#onto#his#back#as#his#eyes’#violet#hue#slowly#
drained...#replaced#with#an#everlasIng#green.
# #The#conkle#snarled#angrily.#His#master#had#been#killed,#so#it#would#avenge#him.#The#creature#ran#
at#the#green#dragon.#The#green#dragon#stood#moIonless#as#the#creature#charged#towards#him.#Daisy#
opened#her#eyes,#and#saw#the#conkle#charging.#“Look#out....#Gadzooks!”#she#yelled,#while#clutching#her#
neck.#Then,#seconds#before#the#strike,#a#giant,#golden#sword#with#a#big#“M”#encrusted#on#it#jabbed#into#
the#conkle’s#neck...#it’s#only#weak#spot.#The#neck#was#soZ,#making#it#vulnerable#to#aFacks#as#such.#It#
© 2013 Matthew Albren

5. wheezed#loudly,#then#dropped#to#the#ground#as#blood#spilled#from#its#neck.#Lord#MaF#released#his#
sword#from#the#conkle’s#repulsive#body.#AZer#a#few#minutes#of#silence,#happy#cheers#filled#the#air.#
Dragons#had#won#the#fight.#Dragon@kind#would#live#on.#Gadzooks#smiled.#He#had#saved#the#land#of#
dragons.#Lord#MaF#walked#over#to#the#Gadzooks,#while#limping.#“Thank#you,#Gadzooks.”#He#began,#“I#
hereby,#dub#the,#Green)Warrior)of)the)Mountains#for#your#incredible#(and#not#to#menIon#successful)#
efforts.”#Daisy#liZed#Gadzooks’s#free#hand#into#the#air.#Every#dragon#cheered#for#the#new#warrior.#
Gadzooks#was#official.#His#name#would#go#down#in#dragon#history.#He#smiled#now,#but#his#journey#was#
not#over.#Alan#was#waiIng,#and#Gadzooks#had#won#today,#but#tomorrow#would#bring#new#challenges.
© 2013 Matthew Albren

6. PART 2
© 2013 Matthew Albren

7. MaFhew#Albren
Part#eleven
Truths,#RealiIes,#and#Tall#Tales
# The#next#morning,#Gadzooks#was#sore#and#did#not#feel#half#as#courageous#as#he#had#yesterday.#
His#back#wanted#to#spiral#right#off#of#him,#he#could#tell.#Gadzooks’s#mind#was#numb.#He#didn’t#want#to#
wake#up,#he#didn’t#want#to#think#about#a#thing.#He#just#wanted#some#peace.#But#then#he#remembered#
what#he#had#been#thinking#about:#Alan.#That#got#Gadzooks’s#aFenIon.#He#tumbled#out#of#bed#and#
headed#towards#Alan’s#window.#The#boy#was#in#bed#sIll,#but#his#eyes#were#wide#open.#Gadzooks#had#to#
ask#Alan#about#the#dragon@boy#thing,#and#he#also#had#some#news#to#break#to#the#young#boy.
# Alan’s#eyes#were#glued#to#the#window,#waiIng#for#Gadzooks.#He#galloped#to#the#window,#the#
second#Gadzooks#landed.#Alan’s#smile#lit#up#when#he#slid#the#window#open.#“Hi,#Zookie!”#The#young#
boy’s#face#was#like#the#sun,#always#bright.#Gadzooks#waved#a#hand.#Alan#put#a#finger#to#his#lips,#signaling#
Gadzooks#to#stay#quiet.#Obviously#as#not#to#awaken#Alan’s#mom.
# “Alan,#I#have#to#ask#you#and#tell#you#something.”Gadzooks#uFered.#Alan#stared#at#him.#“Well,#fill#
me#in.”#He#whispered.#Then#Gadzooks#flashed#back#to#late#last#night....
) “Thanks)Zookie!)You)saved)my)life,)and)my)father’s.”)Daisy)gushed.)Gadzooks)smiled)at)her.)
Daisy)stood)up)and)paced)around.)The)two)dragons)were)alone)at)the)very)summit)of)a)mountain.)The)
conversaGon)flipped)and)flopped.)QuesGons)and)answers)flew)back)and)forth.)UnGl)Daisy)finally)asked)
the)quesGon)on)her)mind.)“You,)Zookie,)are)truly)a)great)dragon.)I)am)alive)today)because)of)you.)You)
also)have)a)true)Gtle.)Zookie,)you)are)royalty.)And)my)father)and)I)were)talking,)and)we)have)agreed.)We)
think)you)should...)if)you)want)to...)move)into)The)Castle)of)the)Lord)with)us.”)Daisy)sat)there)and)
awaited)an)answer.)Gadzooks)was)caught)off)guard)by)this.)His)thoughts)swam)and)bubbled.)He)did)not)
know)what)to)say.
# Gadzooks#came#back#to#reality.#“So,#let’s#here#the#news.”#Alan#pressed.#Gadzooks#looked#behind#
himself.#“How#would#you#feel#if#I#told#you...#I#might#not#be#living#in#your#backyard#anymore?”#Gadzooks#
blurted#out.#Alan#stared#at#him.#“Well,#you#said#might,#right?#So,#is#this#just#hypotheIcal.”#Gadzooks#
looked#behind#himself#again,#trying#to#avoid#eye#contact#with#Alan.#“It’s#not#hypotheIcal.#I#think#I#am#
moving#out#for#a#while.”#Gadzooks#told#him.#Alan’s#big#eyes#began#to#flood#themselves.#Obviously,#the#
boy#loved#having#Gadzooks#in#the#backyard.#Alan#slammed#the#window#shut#and#ran#out#of#his#room.#
Gadzooks#yelled#for#him#to#wait,#but#Alan#did#not#return.#And#once#again,#he#did#not#get#to#ask#if#he#was#
a#dragon@boy.
# Gadzooks#driZed#back#to#his#hole.#This#complicated#things.#He#didn’t#know#what#was#the#right#
choice#and#what#was#the#wrong#choice.#Gadzooks#stroked#his#chin.#He#had#to#give#Daisy#an#answer#soon.#
What#to#do?
# Gadzooks#had#driZed#off#to#sleep,#even#though#it#was#the#middle#of#the#day#now.#He#had#an#
awful#dream.#It#hit#him#like#a#fist.#He#couldn’t#shake#the#thought.#In#the#dream,#Daisy#had#decided#he#was#
a#traitor#and#had#banished#him#from#this#land,#due#to#his#not#excepIng#to#move#into#the#castle#because#
of#a#human’s#influence.#Gadzooks#was#chased#off#with#spears#and#knives#at#his#tail.#Gadzooks#hated#a#
kind#of#dream#like#this.#He#awoke#with#a#start.#What#to#do?
# Gadzooks#couldn’t#make#up#his#mind.#But,#because#of#his#dream,#he#felt#that#either#way,#he#
would#end#up#hurIng#someone.#Now#he#had#to#ask#himself,#as#it#boiled#down#to#this#final#quesIon:#who#
would#he#prefer#to#stay#friends#with#@#Daisy#(one#of#his#own#kind#who#he#had#shared#an#incredible#
adventure#with)#or#Alan#(a#young#human#who#had#been#his#friend#for#years)?
© 2013 Matthew Albren