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The crowd I heard before cheered and booed at the same time upon my arrival. The gate rolled down to shut behind me with a loud crash. I didn't take my eyes off of Dart, who looked a little brave, but I can tell by the look in his eyes that he was scared. Probably frightened of the prospect of fighting me, a dragon. He most likely hasn't fought one before. Perfectly understandable. I shot my eyes around the area, my tail thrashing behind me. On these high walls around me, lots of dragons were in their seats ready to watch this scene unfold. It disgusts me that dragonkind pretty much resorted to this barbaric nonsense. I looked up at another part of the stand. I saw this certain dragon with one eye staring down at me from above with a very devious smirk. I figured that was Queen Messina, thanks to the little one Ly describing her to me. Her overly excited look on her face, other than her one eye, also told me all that it was her. I locked eyes with Dart, who is still frozen with his sword in his hand. I can't fight him...This isn't right. I was supposed to be fighting another dragon...Not him. "Ahhhh." Messina spoke to the crowd as they grew quiet, only I think she was merely speaking directly to me than to them, "This one does look dignified. But she won't much longer! All rebellious dragons with that much dignity never last that long in my domain! I'm the only DIGNIFIED one here!" I growled at her as the crowd cheered again. I so wanted to spit fire at her right now...But with so many dragons nearby, I'll be slaughtered rather quickly for trying to asassinate her. The one eyed queen plainly spoke to me now, "So nice to finally meet you! But this may be our first and only conversation we have. Who knows if you'll live the fight against a mere human? It's possible he may win. Humans have been known to win a battle against a dragon." Then she shouted at the crowd once more, "Guess we'll find out, right, everyone!" They responded with cheers. Then she began to lay out the rules, "I think you may know how this sort of thing works, but I'll explain in case you don't have it in your heads. Whoever slays first gets to walk away to live another day. SIMPLE, right? You may not get freedom, but...It's much better than dying, wouldn't you agree?" Another growl welled in my throat. Sure it is...But I prefer to be free, thank you. Then again, I didn't really trust her at all. Why would she want me to live if she thinks I'm traitorous anyway? Then she announced, standing on all her fours with wings flared, "Alright, let's begin. Swords up! Claws ready! FIGHT!" The roaring booming voices of every dragon in the stands around us erupted in excitement once more. My ears can pick up what some were saying: "Get em! Get em!" "Tear his leg off!" "Stab her in the eye!" "Rip them in half!" "Blood! I want blood!" "Squish him and squash him!" "Chop off the tail!" "BURN HIM!!!" "Somebody kill somebody already!" Dart and I were slowly circling around the circular area, our eyes not leaving each other. I think he was thinking about who's going to make the first move. Me, or him. I seriously don't want to fight him. I never wanted to anyhow. I was supposed to be protecting him. I have no reason to kill him. If there was, I would do it, but there's seriously no need to now. I won't do it... Messina roared, "What are you waiting for?! This is getting BORING! FIGHT ALREADY!!!" The dragons on the walls were all chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight-" The cheer had stopped, gasped in utter shock and surprise...When I flopped to my stomach to the ground, curling my tail next to my big frame. I was laying there, in a relaxed state, staring intently at Dart. The young human was flabbergasted too it looked like. He couldn't believe his eyes at my display. Messina yelled in anger, "What do you think you're doing?! It's not time for rest! Get up and fight!" I didn't respond. I didn't bother looking at her. I did not care what would happen to me if I denied her of this fight. I wasn't killing Dart, and that's that. I only looked at that human, blinking, not showing him any threat, never intending on threatening him. Messina tried commanding me again, "Fight, you bitch! FIGHT!" I ignored her. The crowd was mumbling and muttering among themselves in confusion. She growled, "Very well then..." Then that vile dragoness yelled at Dart, "HUMAN! KILL HER! You want to live another day? Give everybody what they want! DO IT, NOW!" Dart glanced at her for a second then threw his attention back to me. I only blinked. He looked at his sword, like he was contemplating his decision. What is he going to do? Is he actually going to kill me, just so he could live? Well, if he is...I won't mind it. I ain't gonna kill him anyway. At least I'll get to meet this star that's always watching me at night. I closed my eyes, only for a second, momentarily thinking back to this one angel. Been waiting for that for a long time... But...I heard a clang, like something metal landed the stone ground. I opened them back up, and saw that Dart still didn't move from where he was. I think his face had formed a defiant expression. And then saw that he had dropped his sword. I blinked in surprise, staring at the weapon lying on the ground. Wow. "WHAAAAAAT?!" That got Messina infuriated. I rolled my eyes up to her, my tail tapping on the floor. I was internally smiling at her reaction. Oh, that face. Best thing I saw since I came here. The queen then roared at Dart, "You FOOL! You have any idea what you're doing?! You're ruining my main event!" Dart twisted his body to stare at her. Messina cried, "I want a battle! I want one now! PICK IT UP!" Dart didn't move a muscle. "YOU SERIOUSLY WANT TO DIE?! FIGHT!" "...." "FIGHT, DAMN YOU! FIGHT!" "...." "FIGHT!!!!!!" Messina let out a roar of infernal rage. Then she shouted at the top of her lungs when Dart still didn't do what she told him to do, "GUARDS!!! TAKE THEM AWAY!" Shortly after that, one guard swooped in and grabbed ahold of Dart and took off to the skies with him. Then, as the gate I came from slowly rose off the floor again, two more came over to me, with one of them holding a muzzle for my snout. Well...Back to the old muzzle again. Wonder what happens next? ***** I was in my dungeon, sitting alone with the shackle around my ankle. I didn't have my dragon cellmates with me. By the time I got back in here, Ly and Celine were nowhere to be seen. It was so quiet in here, except the popping flickers of the torches and the distant voices of other prisoners from down the corridor. It was good enough for me though, that way I can just concentrate on coming up with a plan to escape some more without any dragon cellmates bugging me. I frowned to myself in thought. I don't know about Ly, but Celine probably should've been back at the cell by now after the arena. She still isn't. Something's going on here...I can feel it. I took a deep breath and let it out, putting in some more thought. While my head still tried to make up an escape plan, it was also still thinking back to everything earlier. I couldn't believe what had happened. I just don't believe it. I thought I wouldn't get any lucky today, but somehow I did. At first I thought I wouldn't, but somehow luck was on my side. At least, I bought myself some more time. My parents would be surprised about it. Dad would be for sure. I was still surprised about what happened in the arena. More specifically at the end, towards Celine...And myself. Mostly myself. When Celine, a dragon, and also my so called 'cellmate', was the one I was supposed to fight in the arena just so I get to live, I thought for sure it would be the end of me right then and there. When she got taken away from this cell earlier today, I never thought she'd be there. Maybe I should've known. At first glance upon recognizing her, something in my head told me that this was the plan all along. The plan that Messina probably instructed to her subjects. To bring me to the arena, when I cause more trouble, just so Celine herself would have the pleasure of killing me. I had betted that Celine volunteered to do it. I had betted Messina herself rehearsed all the things she mentioned about Celine to herself before she showed up. She probably wasn't a traitor to her and her army of dragons at all. I also betted that if these sort of 'main events' have happened before, then maybe these sort of fights would usually be between two humans and not one of them against a dragon. That doesn't seem fair if you ask me. I knew I couldn't trust Celine before, nor any dragon, and I was proven right about it. But then to my surprise, she laid on her stomach in front of me, showing me mercy, or making it look like it'll be easier for me to beat her in a fight, or something. She didn't try to pick a fight with me at all. Come to think of it, she hadn't spoken a word to me either. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, it was probably still an act on her part, trying to show she wouldn't hurt me, trick me, catch me off guard, and then probably slaughter me in one bite. Or light me on fire...Whichever came first. But that never happened. Obviously. I remember being tempted to charge at her afterward to plunge that sword right into her heart and kill her. That would've been my first time killing a dragon, and it was better than nothing, and it would've gotten me out of the arena alive. But then...I didn't do it. I just dropped the sword, acting like her and showing her mercy. I totally defied my captors again. And I ENJOYED it. Some people would say that was a huge mistake. That I should've took my chance and killed her at that moment. They would've warned me that I'd be executed on the spot if I didn't do what Messina told me. But I didn't care. I think I wanted to just follow suit on what I told Stoney at the pit, not be told what to do anymore. And I have found it amusing pissing off Messina so much just for the heck of it. Her reaction to everything was PRICELESS to me. Showed her I wouldn't be controlled...Even if that whole thing was an act to fool me. I guess at the moment, act or not...I didn't care. Was it a smart thing to do? Probably not. Was it a crazy decision? Yeah. But was it worth it at the end? I think so. I can almost hear my fellow human prisoners all cheering me on for what I did. And I can almost picture them thinking me as their ringleader. Never thought of that before. I doubt anybody around here ever pulled something like that off. Too scared to do the most crazy crap. Now the only thing I'm wondering is...What's going to happen to me now? I totally shot Messina down with her demands. She looked pretty irate, even if she was acting. I kinda have a bad feeling that something retaliatory would come to me. Part of me thinks that it's over and I shouldn't worry about it, but I couldn't let my guard down. It must have been over an hour, I guess, since I left the arena and been taken all the way back here, but anything could happen with dragons. Perhaps some little part at the arena was all an act, where Celine would trick me into thinking I would kill her so easily but then she'd kill me herself. Maybe me not doing anything at all and dropping the sword had messed up that plan...Even though she could've killed me anyway. Maybe the reason why Celine isn't here right now is because she and Messina must be trying to come up with a new plan for me. To screw me around, and then possibly try to kill me again. This was getting risky. I have to keep thinking up a plan and get the hell out of here, before something else happens. I groaned, pounding the side of my head. Think, Dart, think! Then after a short moment, I gasped. I've got it! My eyes snapped towards the remains of the hunk of meat on the floor near me. Someone had decided to leave the bones behind after eating up all the meat. Kinda gross for not cleaning up their mess. When I got back here and noticed all the bones, it really made me wonder if what Ly said about not knowing how to breathe fire was just a big fat lie, and it was something just to irritate me so I wouldn't eat a darn thing, and she can breathe fire after all. I imagined her burning that hunk of meat after I was taken away to the pit so she can go ahead and eat it. Well, either that, or someone else ate it. Maybe it was that Garo guy. Stoney did say that dragon was picking her up from this cell...And taking her somewhere. Which makes me wonder where exactly. Probably somewhere where they were having a good laugh about me suffering from all that humiliation in the dungeon. Maybe Ly didn't think Garo was a meanie all along and they get along fine. Typical. But those bones they left behind...Gave me an idea. I grabbed one rib, examining it. That bone looks pointy enough. I eyed at the shackle once more. If I could just pick the lock on the darn shackle, and then the lock on the gate...I could get out of this cell. I gave it a smiled nod. That seems like a good plan. Then my happy expression melted off my face. But that just leaves escaping the fortress. Ly's definitely not lying about one thing, this place is surrounded by lava and cliff. I can't just waltz out of this place like it was just a normal household. I formed a determined look. I'll just have to think of something. I'm getting out of here right now. I started picking the lock on the shackle, stabbing the pointy end of the rib at the keyhole. Come on, come on! With all the less audible noise in the dungeon, I can hear talons clicking on the stone floor outside. I sucked in a breath. Crap! Someone's probably coming! I shot off the floor, and hid the rib in my pants. Not losing this thing. My eyes focused at the gate, just when two dragons stood outside and opened it. Its hinges screeched loudly as they entered. I knew one of them was Stoney again, which that figures. And the other was just a green scaled dragon. I pressed them, sighing with a shrug, "What do you guys want now?" Stoney stood in front of me, saying while his friend removed the shackle from my ankle, "Private audience for the queen." I wrinkled my brow. I inquired, "Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing?" "One more stupid question or word out of your mouth, and there's going to be an unfortunate accident." I did shut my trap, but I also rolled my eyes. You wish. Guess he's salty I didn't die today. Screw him. Stoney whirled around, his tail almost took my head off so I ducked. He instructed, growling deeply, "Follow me....And don't daddle." I followed in between the two dragons. They led me out of the cell and out into the hallway. Along the way through the hall of dungeons, I caught a glimpse of that beautiful silver haired woman again in her cell, still trapped in it with all her cellmates behind her, looking through the bars and watching us stroll on by, just doing the same thing as before. Wonder what her name is. Wish I could be back to mingling with my kind and not hang around with dragons so much. It's getting awfully lonely without one human with me. Stoney and his dragon pal guided me throughout the rest of the stone fortress. I was certain they were taking me to the throne room, where I first met their queen, where I first pulled off my first escape plan. I wasn't certain what was going to happen to me, and I was afraid what would. A private audience with the queen could possibly mean anything. A pit formed in my stomach. Is she going to execute me with her own claws? For not doing anything in the arena? I tried my best to keep calm, not show anyone any fear of the unknown. I didn't wanna show anybody that I was frightened. I wasn't giving them the satisfaction. I did remember having that lone rib bone tucked away in my pants. That's basically the only thing I can possibly defend myself with, even though it's a very small weapon. Not like it was a sword. I'd probably have to stab someone in the eye to make it effective. If I had to stab Messina in her only working eye, then I will. I ain't dying because of her. If I did that, then what would happen? I can escape her grasp while she's crying in pain, and slip by her guards while they're distracted, but then how would I get out of this place? Finally when we rounded the corner, into that ole familiar tunnel leading down the throne room, I peeked around the large frame of Stoney's, and saw a few more dragons in the same tunnel, waiting around. One of them in the middle was Celine, wearing that muzzle on her snout along with those metal clamps on her wings. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. There she is. What are they doing? Stoney said to them, "Well, sorry to keep all of you waiting." Then he uttered a growl towards Celine specifically, "Especially YOU." Celine only blinked her angry eyes, her tail barely flicked. Then he began leading the way, "Alright, let's go. The queen's waiting." As you can tell, all of us walked on the same path, with me and my dragons and Celine and her dragons strolling side by side. Me and Celine were still in the middle, and I couldn't keep my eyes off her. Shortly after we got together, I demanded to my sky blue 'cellmate' without a pause, "There you are. Mind telling me where you've been?" Celine just held a serious face and never changed it. She didn't even look at me. I think she was a bit annoyed that she can't speak to me because of that muzzle. But Stoney sure did. He barked an order at me, "Shut up! I told you to be quiet." I basically didn't say another word after that. I kept silent till we ended up standing in the middle of the throne room with all those large pillars surrounding the circular room. The dragons in front of me and Celine scooted aside to make clear of our view. Messina was laying at her chair, her long tail over the side. She didn't look angry like earlier, but rather she was having that twisted grin of hers on her lips as she soon laid eyes on us. I don't know which was worse. Her being angry, or looking so devious. Personally, I did not like either. The one eyed female slithered off her throne and padded all the way over to greet us. The queen said, slowly pacing back and forth in front of me and Celine, "Well, well, well...I've been expecting you two. You have no clue how much trouble you caused. Specifically to me. I made a big announcement for that show to be as BLOODY as possible, and I was so looking forward to it, and now..." She grumbled out her last words in a measly growl, "It's ALL ruined." Both me and Celine didn't react one bit. "I do expect full apologies for embarrassing me today...Before I decide what to do with both of you." She stopped and eyed at Celine mostly, "I suppose I'll start with you, dear, new dragoness." She flicked a claw at her snout and commanded a guard, "Take the muzzle off her." Then she crooned with a reformed grin, "I wanna hear her BEGGING for forgiveness for disobeying me." The dragon did what she told. He took the muzzle off Celine's face. The blue scaled dragon didn't say anything at first. Then Messina pressed, "Well? Anything you like to say?" "Yes..." Celine finally spoke after forming a smile, "Get mounted." My eyes went wide. Whoa...That sounded like it'd make anybody angry. Messina chuckled deeply, shaking her head, making Celine wipe off that smirk off her face. She asked, "Do you not know who you're talking to?" She replied heatedly, "Like I care." The queen pointed out, "Like to act rebellious towards other dragons I see. I haven't met any rebellious dragons in a while, but you're probably the most rebellious I ever met in recent memory. I hear you like giving my guards a whole heap of trouble. Such classy female you turn out to be." Celine responded to that, "I'm not the one for company. I basically don't like being told what to do. Besides, giving you guys trouble gives me something to do here." "I see." Messina shot up her head, "Well, I don't like being told what to do either, but I do LIKE making trouble. Surprising that we both think alike." Celine growled, "I'm nothing like you." I quietly scoffed. I think so. "Well that's too bad. But hey, we are all free to think freely and make our own choices in life." Celine pointed out, "You say we do, but it's not like I have any choice in anything. Your guards said so." I just narrowed my eyes at the queen. Yeah...Neither do I. The one eyed dragon put her paw to her chest, "Does that make me sound like a hypocrite? Perhaps. But it's not like I give a crap what someone like you says anyways. I'm just doing what I want. You're the one that wanted to go against my kindgom after all, so why bother having to give you choices?" Celine said like she was stating a fact, "I don't know nothing about you and your crappy kindgom." I frowned. God, she really is pulling out all her acting chops. If I said that to a queen, I'd be dead straight up. "Seriously?" She pretened to be offended with a fake gasp, "I'm quite shocked. No wonder you continue to disrespect me. How have you not heard of ME, the GREAT Messina? I thought I was doing a good job getting the word out." The blue female dragon remarked, "Believe me, word of you has gotten to me ever since I got here...And it has already gotten on my nerves." "That's true. Word about me is always around here. And I thought for sure everyone outside here would've heard it by now. Certainly would make introductions much more quicker. Surely it wouldn't be so hard." Messina gazed upon me now, "Then again, I guess it hasn't gotten ALL OVER the lands. Bound to be some slip ups now and then." I glared at her. You're right...I never heard of you. I don't need to anyway. Messina then returned her attention on the blue female, "You sure you haven't heard of me before you met my dragons and started a fight with them? And what's your reason for it anyhow? Were you being territorial or what?" Celine basically repeated what she already said, "Like I said, like I care who you are. Get over yourself. It's none of your business why I did it." Celine shot a momentary glance at me. It made me wrinkle my brow. Why did she look at me like that? "Oh, whatever, it doesn't matter." Messina dismissed my cellmate's words with a forepaw and added, "Whether you heard of my reign or not, you still started a fight with my dragons, YOUR fellow dragons, that were doing their dirty work for me, and therefore, causing me some trouble...When I'm trying to make a good cause." "Good cause?" Celine demanded, "What sort of cause are you making? I don't see any sort of good with all this. It's all just kidnapping everything against their own will." I shot my head to my right. Heh...For once I actually agree with her. "True, but it's all for a good cause nevertheless." Messina said, "Me and my army of dragons are only trying to make one certain species pay dearly for all their hatred towards our kind that's been going on for generations...By paying me with all the jewerly that is buried beneath the earth...And paying me with their blood in their HARROWING but TRAGIC battles inside the arena, whenever one would defy me. You saw all the humans I have in the dungeons? Quite SAD and ENTERTAINING I must say. Not all are here at the moment, mind you, but they're all just a front of my movement." I shook my head at that. That's disgusting. The blue scaled dragon spouted, "So you hate all humans...And you're making them suffer under your iron rule, just to teach humanity a lesson for hating us." Messina giggled deviously, her wings fluttered, "That's about as spot on as you've gotten. But you've forgotten that it's also for my entertainment. Not like I have so many things to do in this place. And what's wrong with being GLAMOROUS thanks to the slavery?" She showed off her sapphire colored necklace that was around her neck, "They do what I say, and they make me look absolutely BEAUTIFUL!" I was frowning at her in disgust. Beautiful...Yeah right! Then the queen went on, "Well, when they're not dying that is. I hate when one just kills over from mere exhaustion and can't work anymore. What wimps." I called her out on it, "Who says I'm a wimp? I just don't like digging till my arms fall off." Stoney just shut me up with his fierce paw on my shoulder. Messina just ignored me and continued her conversation with Celine, "And frankly, I expect every dragon to join my cause. EVERY dragon. After all, it is for the benefit of our kind. But unforturnately, there are some that would rather not care or rather not listen to what I'm trying to do and go against me. I don't deal with them a lot, not like it happens daily, but it does happen at times. And when any dragon does try to oppose me, they get taught a lesson just like all the little ones I have. You're just the worst one." Celine asked, "If I am much worse than all your other rebellious dragons you picked on with your overzealous reign, why not just kill me and get it over with?" "Believe me, young dragoness, I SO want to RIGHT NOW." Messina stated, "For what you pulled off today, that's a first. No prisoner ever managed to do what you've done." She shot her eye at me for a second, "Especially TWO of them. That isn't what I wanted, nor planned. You may have embarrassed me and ruined everything today, but...You still could be useful to me. Not to work in my army, gods no, that wouldn't work out. I think I much prefer you to provide as much entertainment to me as you possibly can, as part for the cause of what I work for. Not a lot of dragon prisoners to go by, as you already know, so you oughta be surprised that you're the first one in a while." Celine asked with a quirked brow, "Wouldn't that hatchling you have sitting in my cell, Ly, count as arena entertainment?" The dragon overlord dismissed her with a wave, "Ah, no need to bring hatchlings in on the action. Too scary for them." I glared when something like that came up in my mind. Sure, but have HUMAN hatchlings be in on whatever, like make them do slavery, right? That is bullshit. Unbeknowst to her, Messina went on, "Besides, I think she already told you why that is." That statement got her scoffing, "Brat can't keep her trap shut for the life of her." I shrugged sorta in agreement. You're telling me. Then she continued, "Anyways, I also partly still think that killing you is better. I may not be that little one that can see visions, but I can most certainly see you laying down on the ground in the arena for a human to kill you again and not ever fight back like a worthless dragon. But I gotta provide for all my subjects you know. They want to be entertained too. But first things first...Am I correct on my assumption? Which do you choose, new dragoness? My cause, or your own stubborness?" Celine blinked, swishing her tail, gaping back with a blank face. Messina pressed, bringing her snout close to Celine's, "Well? What do you say? But let me warn you before you say the word...If you decline...I will have you suffer SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. Believe me...I know how to make somebody suffer. Even the strongest can break. Am I clear on it? Now, what's your decision?" Finally, after a long pause, the grumpy girl dragon herself started, "Your MAJESTY...I may not like humanity as much as anybody...I mostly stay away from it...But it's not enough for me to join your cause. That isn't who I am. I don't kill things for sport. Nor for malice. Nor for anyone's entertainment. I will not be yours. I will not be part of your cause against humanity, and I will not be your sick, twisted entertainment. I will do what I want...And I demand to be set free." I can tell there was a flash of anger inside that one eye of hers. Messina sighed, shaking her head slowly, "How disappointing. But you know something? Your spunkiness is starting to bore me." Then she told her guards, "Guards, take this bitch back to her dungeon...And make sure she doesn't get her meals for the next three days." Celine suddenly cried as a guard was ready to take her away, "Oh? What else are you going to do to me? What if I feel like singing my heart out to all the prisoners in this god forsaken place?! I SURE feel like it!" Then the dragon began to sing in her off key voice, "Oh, how the strong have fallen! They always fall hard!" Messina snarled, "Shut up!" "They're trapped in a place, where no one knows their sorrow!" "SILENCE!" "They live in the dark, lost in despair! But it's not the end, it's only the beginning!" I moaned, plugging my ears with my hands, "Gaaaak." I don't like her singing at all. It was just BAD. I didn't expect dragons to sing, never even dreamed of it. But now that I did...I hope I don't hear someone do that ever again. But despite my best efforts, and despite Messina's protests, I can still hear Celine singing til her heart's content, "They rise like the sun! They fly like the wind! They roll like the clouds and rain the fiery reign awaaaaay! Oh, how the- Oof!" Finally Celine got tackled by two dragons. Apparently they had enough of her singing as well. She tried struggling underneath their weight but it did no good. Before she could scream at them, they managed to get her muzzle back around her snout. Very quickly as soon as they got off her Celine was back on her feet. She was only glaring at the queen now, while she was smiling gladly. Messina commented, "Much better." She ordered her guards one more time, "Well, get her outta here will ya! I'm tired of seeing her face!" Then she growled at the sky blue dragon again, "I'll see what do to with her later." A darker blue dragon said while the other guard bowed, "Yes, ma'am." Then Messina added another order, "And if she continues her INFERNAL singing when you take her muzzle off in the dungeon...CHAIN HER SNOUT SHUT!" "Understood." The same dark blue guard ordered Celine around, "Alright come on, this way." Celine reluctantly did not move at first, but did so after some nudging by wing tips. Celine kept an eye on me for a moment before she got dragged away. I followed her movements, watching her and two dragons leave for the tunnel. I was frowning during all that. That was weird, how the conversation unfolded and everything. I still have my total distrust towards dragons and I still didn't trust Celine completely, but how her conversation with Messina went, not to mention all the words Messina said too...It partly made me wonder if everything was indeed all an act. It all seemed a little TOO GOOD to be fake. It looked like Celine was deliberately pissing the queen off. It looked like she was totally against her, and totally looking like she was a prisoner too like me. I kinda couldn't tell what was fake anymore. It's making my head spin a little bit. "Well..." I turned back to Messina, grinning at me now. She continued, "Now that I'm done with her...It's your turn, human." I narrowed my eyes at her. I said with resentment in my voice, "I'm not apologizing for anything. I know what you're thinking and it ain't gonna work. You won't sway me with your severe consequences. I'm not scared of you." She reared back her head like she was shocked at my stance. She let out a small cry, "Sheesh! Already off to a bad start, and I hardly said a word to you!" I commented, "I'm not starting our conversation slow. I think we already were off to a bad start, lady." "TRULY!" She exclaimed, "You're as bad as her. I'm not sure who is worse. Not that I'm worried, I never do. But still, for a little guy, I'm shocked that you're this capable of displaying that much resistance more than once. Even with the reality that you're my prisoner...And with the possibility of death standing in front of you. I can't figure you. Oh sure, humans have defied me in the past, and I have heard some have fought against my dragons, that's not surprising knowing how stubborn some people can be...But you seem different than the rest." I started replying to that, imagining my daring escape from this horrid fortress, and my father coming here and killing her, "I think you'd be surprised what I'm capable of. I am myself a few times, I admit. You have no idea what you're dealing with. You think I'm just gonna give in eventually to your stupid cause like everyone else? I already showed you I wouldn't a few times." Messina said, her daggered eye not leaving me, "If you had any idea what me and my kind had went through for years, you would never think it's stupid. Maybe you would understand and just give in just to make up for your kind's mistakes. But that looks far fetched...So far." I said, "Well you're right, I really don't give a flying crap what you went through with your life. Also I do take offense to you calling me and my kind wimps. Not to mention you guys killing them, destroying their homes, kidnapping ones that survived and treating them too harshly as slaves...Which that has their own myriad of problems. Get why I don't feel sorry for your kind?" "Oh please." She remarked dismissively, "I heard it all before. No need to hear it again from another COMPLAINER." She swung her head back and forth in a left and right motion as she brought up some examples, "'My home's destroyed.' 'I want my family.' 'I wanna take a bath.' 'I can't breathe well in this damn air.' 'I need more food.' 'My clothes are torn and ruined.' 'I'm tired of digging.' 'I broke a nail.'" She moaned tiredlessly, "All you people do is just whine about everything ALL THE TIME. Gets VERY tiring listening when I hear all that. You should try listening to everything they say at once and see how long you'd put up with it." I suggested, "Then maybe you ought to let us all go and save yourself the headache." Then Messina showed me a grin, "But then who would dig up some more fancy stuff off the ground for me?" "I don't know...You can?" I eyed at Stoney, "After all, it shouldn't be too hard for you guys to do. Should be as easy as walking and eating. Y'all are not brain damaged, right?" Stoney hissed, "Bah! Don't use my words against us, you little shit." I shrugged unshamefully, "Why not? It's the truth, isn't it? I got you guys freakin pegged. Can't be lazy anymore, might as well get yourselves busy and earn your keep...While I stand guard and whip you guys to death like the LAZY WIMPS you are." Heh heh...Dad would totally laugh at this. "You dare mock us, tough guy!?" He turned his body fully to me, smoke emitting from his snout as fury was evident in his eyes, "I'm gonna-" I gasped, backing up a few steps. Uh oh. Messina was holding out her paw to calm him, "Now, now, Stoney, don't kill him." Stoney begrudgingly accepted, his nose letting out a snort. My chest immediately felt relief. Oh thank god. I thought I was dead for sure. Then the one eyed queen looked at me while she said to the other dragons in the room, "Least not yet. I have something else in mind for him." My eyes widened up at her words. What's that supposed to mean? Then she told the sand colored dragon and his comrade, "You guys are dismissed. I'll be taking this from here." Stoney asked cautiously with a swish of his tail, "Are you sure? He may cause you trouble." "Nonsense. I'm positive." She assured, "I can handle him on my own. You guys go off and do whatever you want. And, uh...Do not disturb me while I'm at it, unless it's very important. Got it, you two?" Stoney and his pal both said, bowing their heads in acknowledgement, "Yes, ma'am." With that, they whirled around. Stoney gave me one last glare before hurrying off with the other dragon. Messina padded up to stand beside me. I eyed her curiously. She looked down to her side and said, "Well, it's just you and me now. Come along, human, let's go chat more privately. And do me a favor and try not to run away again." I remarked, with a narrow of my eyes, "No guarantees." She began heading for the tunnel, with me reluctantly in tow shortly after. I watched her tail swing behind her in front of me while her tucked in wings on her back made a flutter. I was frowning with suspicion a bit before we entered that tunnel. What would she want to discuss with me? Why privately? She planning to interrogate me? Well, I wouldn't know anything. Or is it something else? I don't like this... I REALLY do not trust being alone with her. A little while after we strolled through that tunnel that led to the throne room, Messina led me through more of the fortress. This place definitely was huge. I still remember how huge it was from up above. It did sorta feel like it was ages walking through these pathways for the first time with Stoney before we ended up on the roof. I wondered if I had gotten lucky last night when I found the entrance of this place while trying to escape. If I tried to wander around here normally, I wonder if I would have gotten lost. I probably would. This was probably the worst place to get lost. I'd imagine how somebody like me would feel if they tried to escape this place. Upon taking a stairway after having me follow her through dark corridor after dark corridor, we were up a level and she continued taking me someplace. I wondered for a long time if we were ever going to be getting there, but eventually, a few corners later, she ducked through a large opening to my left. I followed suit after her tail was the last to enter. My eyes wandered around this big room I'm in as I wandered deeper. A huge bed big enough for a dragon to lay on was filled with so many blankets and pillows that only a royal person would certainly have. A very tall, rectangular mirror propped at a wall. I imagine Messina gazing and admiring herself for hours staring at the glass. A couple purple curtains were hanged at a large round opening, showing me the dark, smokey outside world. And, to my shock, ANOTHER mound of multi-colored jewels were at a corner nearby. I walked closer to the hill of treasure, gazing upon it. Huh...This must be her room. I'm in the queen's room. Why am I in here? This feels like a trap. "So..." I turned to Messina, who had already turned around nearby to face me. She smiled when she asked, her wing motioning around the area, "Like the place? These are my quarters." I mocked, "I had a gut feeling you'd have a room that has a ego as big as yours." I spread out my hands to show her what I mean, "It's brimming with your personality." "HA HA HA HA HA!" She said after tossing her head back to laugh, "I think I agree with you, for once." Her wings gestured around the area, "It does have my MAGNIFICENCE. Now that I think about it, maybe I oughta give my room a name. Perhaps...The pleasure room. Sounds dirty, but I think it's FITTING for my taste." Then when one wing folded on her back, the other pointed at her treasure hoard, "Like my collection? It's always nice to display my tribute. It's sad that's just one part of it. I can't bring all of it here or there wouldn't be enough room. But when I wallow around in my collection...It feels so INTOXICATING." God, give me a break. I demanded impatiently, "So why did you bring me here? Going to torture me and beat any answer you want out of me?" I crossed my arms stubbornly, "Well you can forget it. I don't know anything. You might as well just take me back to the dungeon right now." Messina smiled as she reassured, "Relax. I'm not planning on threatening to bury you deep in all my treasure that you can't breathe, or rip your leg off...Literally. That last thing I said would make a HUGE MESS on my floor...And my bed. How would I clean that up? Why do you think I didn't decide to kill you yet? I just wanna talk." "Talk?" I demanded, "What about?" "Well, for starters..." She started this off with this question, "What is your name?" I wrinkled my brow, wondering if I had heard that right, "Excuse me?" Messina mildly confirmed, "You heard me." I inquired, "Why should I tell you my name? I don't think you deserve the right to know." "Come on." She urged, "Don't be like that. I just wanna know your name. There's no reason behind it. C'mon...Tell me." "...Fine." Shortly, I gave in, sighing, "It's Dart." The female dragon alone with me shot up her head in surprise. She commented, "Dart? That's an odd name for a human." Then she smirked, "But I guess it is unique enough to warrant a name for someone like you. You did try to DART out of here before, eh? Heh heh." I sarcastically rolled up my eyes. Ha ha ha. Then she asked me another question, "So...How have you been feeling?" "Are you serious?" Geez, she's worse than Ly! I answered saracastically, "Oh I'm not doing too bad. Caught myself a nice nap on my dungeon floor on my first night, and the shackle around my leg was a great piece of jewerly you guys gave me. And I had a fine day today, got nice room service with a slab of RAW meat, digging around in that DARN pit and getting to know my new pals, your guards, and had FUN playing battle to the death with a dragon in an arena for everyone's amusement. Too bad I didn't get a chance to ask for more." Messina said with a proud nod, "Good. Maybe I oughta add more accommodations for your little self. Make your stay as COMFORTABLE as possible." I was stating factly, "You're an absolute psycho. I see what you're doing now. You're trying to butter me up like we're friends now. Turning all this around so quickly after all I pulled lately don't you think? Thought you'd be mad enough not to like me so much." She remarked, "I wouldn't kid yourself with that, we're not friends...Unless you WANT to be my friend. In that case you should've thought of that before going out of your way to defy me." I said to her defiantly, "I never planned on getting on your good side. Not even if my life depend on it." She merely stated, "Acting like your bitchy blue friend still when I was starting to get to know you a little bit." "Feels like an interrogation if you ask me." Then I went on, spite growing in my tone, "And that dragon is not my friend. I don't consider neither of you as my friend. All of you are just a bunch of monsters in my eyes." Messina curled her neck in a shape of an s, grinning. She spoke, "Really? I find that statement strange considering you didn't kill that blue female in the arena when she was WAITING for you to do it. Why did you not? Too scared to do it? Come to think of it, you did look a bit frozen in fear before she had entered the arena. Or...Did you two actually bonded a bit during your time in the dungeons together? Who'd ever thought a little alone time with a dragon would have a DRAMATIC effect on you!" I retorted, "I wasn't scared. And we didn't bond. For the record, I refused to kill her just to make you mad. I didn't want to play your stupid games. I practically enjoyed it." "I guess I can imagine. To anyone that hates me my reaction can be humorous." Messina argued, "But you claim you don't like her, yet you agree with her stance on not being a part of my entertainment. Still a little contradictory there, human." I countered, "Just because I agree with her doesn't mean we're best friends." She teased with a roll of her one eye, "Obviously." I swiftly waved my hand, "Enough of this! I mean what I said! What do you want from me, you wanna know the reason why I didn't kill her? Well there's your answer. Is that all you wanted? Is that why I'm in here? You probably should've figured it out by now instead of talking to me." She giggled, seemingly in amusement, "Maybe I was a WEE bit curious, but not so much." Then she started slithering her way slowly to where I stood like a snake, "But I admit, I still cannot understand you, denying to kill someone even when I swear to give you a second chance at life." The ruby scaled female dragon stopped a couple feet in front of me to finish, "You truly are a special case of a human being." I groaned, "Whatever. Take me back to my dungeon already! I have nothing else to say to you. If you seriously want to accommodate me, then at least don't put me back in that arena again." Messina warned, "Oh, I can't accommodate that...If you aren't willing to cooperate." I requested, "Look, if I did go back to dig tomorrow, would you promise to give every human staying here three meals a day? And me too, but make sure they're all WELL DONE. I can't eat raw, I think you know that. Also, when everyone is out digging, give them some freakin shovels. And treat everyone here a bit better and fix anything they complain about, will ya?" The evil queen said when she shot up her head, "That's a lot to ask for in a favor, but you know I cannot provide such things." She delcared, flaring out her wings in a huge display with her head held high, "I want SHEER humiliation on your species. Out of the question!" I scoffed, turning my gaze away from her. Figures. "...But." Messina started, "I do have a proposal of my own to give you...If you'd be interested." I looked to her, wrinkling my brow, "Proposal? What proposal?" "Figured that got your attention." Messina said, "Why do you REALLY think that I haven't killed you yet? There actually is a reason behind this meeting. If you want to hear what I say, you can. If not...Well, we'll be done, and I think you know what happens next. So...Interested?" I wasn't sure what that last part meant. That she'll take me back to my cell, or just flat out kill me. Heck, I wasn't even sure if she'll kill me whether I say no, or if I'll say no after she makes her proposal, whatever that is. Oh heck, whatever proposal she's about to make won't be any good. I can't trust her with anything. Not even with my life. I'm probably not going to say yes either way. After a bit of deliberation, I finally decided to go ahead with this with a nod, "Fine. Go ahead, and then take me back to the dungeon." "All right." Messina asked, "But let me ask you this first...Have you ever wished in your life that you could have ANYTHING you ever wanted? Live freely without consequence? Have no one put you down and let them walk all over you?" Her paw motioned at her treasure hoard again behind me, "Maybe even have a lavish lifestyle, and roll among the riches like me?" I said, confusion and curiousity pounding at my skull, "What are you getting at?" She said, "What I'm getting at, Dart, is...I want you to come work for me." I tilted my head to the side, "Aren't I already working for you? Have you gone senile?" Messina giggled deeply, "That'd be a laugh. Then everything would fall apart. You'd certainly laugh at that, wouldn't you?" She shook her head, "No, I'm not merely talking about digging at the treasure pit persay...I'm merely talking about something else." Huh? Now what's she talking about? I impatiently demanded, "Well spit it out." "Oh, don't worry...It's quite simple really." Messina finally relayed, "I want you to go out, my dear minion...To find another village...Or two...Or three...Or how many that are still standing that my dragons haven't burned to the ground...And gain the human's trust...And then, as soon as you feel settled....You tell me where you are exactly, and then we'll take care of the rest." My face went wide at all her words. I screamed in shock, "What?! You- You want me to be your spy?!!" That's insane! Messina shot up her head in pride, trilling, "Yes! My SPY! My ACE IN THE HOLE. My MOLE. Call it whatever you please." She lowered her head down to my level, her devious grin still haven't left her lips, "And in return, you get to have everything you wanted. You get to have your own village, maybe have your own castle, with LOTS of riches that you can ever hope for, for such a commoner like yourself. You will never go hungry, never be treated harshly ever again, and will never be harmed by outside forces. You will be under my total protection. And since you're a male...You can have ALL the women you want. That sound like a great deal? That must be better than the dungeon. Right?" "WHAT?! No!" I immediately argued, "That's worse than doing slavery! You're asking me to take part in your domination against my species! This is far less than I expected! Why would you suddenly ask me this?" The red dragon explained, "Because of the kind of courage you have. You're not like most humans. When I saw how stubborn you are, heard how stubborn you have been, I thought, maybe I could let you live a bit longer. I think that's why you didn't dig a lot, and kill that dragon in the arena, is that right? You want something MORE. You're TOO good to dig. You're TOO good to be in the arena...Like me." I glared furiously, "You really are psycho." Messina went on further, "So I thought I'd make it up to you, by making this sweet deal with you. I figured you'd be perfect for the job. But with your attitude against my kind, this may be a long shot...But I thought I'd give this idea a chance. You accept my proposal, you get to have everything you want. I think it is a great idea, for YOUR SAKE. Don't you agree?" I asked, "What about the other prisoners? Including the ones that came from the same place as me? What would happen to them?" I saw her shoulders shrug like she didn't show no interest in them, "Nothing much changes with them. Except...Maybe I WILL consider giving them more meals than they oughta have, especially with how busy they're supposed to be. But I will consider it...If you accept it. Now...What do you say to my proposal, my little spy?" I answered quickly, "NO." "Ah ah ah." Messina warned, "Wrong answer. You better think carefully some more. I do kinda like having you around. Please do not be a disappointment like your cellmate." I shot her down again, "I already did. NO DEAL." I pointed right at her face, "I don't trust you. You and dragons like you have to be stopped! And I will not let this happen! I'll never turn against my people! NEVER!" I lowered my limb, staring hard at her eye, waiting to see what her reaction would be. I knew what she would do was probably not going to be good, but I guess I didn't care if I died or not, even though I do. I wasn't going to work for a dragon and help them take over my kind. I wasn't going to be a part of that. Messina shook her head, a pitied sigh escaping her snout, "I expected that. I always did expect humans like you to never understand what my kind has went through. And I guess I should've expected that you'd never accept my deal. You didn't accept everything else that was thrown at you. You really are one of a kind." She formed a glare, "But it's too bad that you, a one of a kind person...May soon be WIPED off the face of the world." I heatedly said, "I don't care what you do to me. Do everything yourself, you lazy, selfish bitch. I ain't working for you....And never will." "You're very persistent." Her head moved toward me, having me back up in to the mound of jewels as I can see fire shone in her only eye, "Since you really do HATE my kind so much...Maybe I'll just go ahead and take out all MY hatred on you. I haven't killed one in a long time. I don't mind getting my claws dirty." Despite trying not to show her my fear, I was quivering a bit. Oh crap...Here it comes. I knew this was gonna happen! She called me out on that with a small smirk, "Starting to get a little scared? Good. You should be..." Her snout was even more closer than it should be to my chest. She said, "I like when I inspire TERROR in my slaves. Makes me feel powerful in a way." But then, suddenly, her eye went wide. Her nose sniffed something in the air for a short second. She continued to do so, but that time she was burying her nose into my chest, into my clothes. She was taking whiffs of me much more furiously. My eyes were wide in surprise at this act. What's got into her? It's like she's....Smelling something that's interesting her. But what? I probably smell like smoke and dirt by now. Then, when she was finally done, her eye flashed more anger. The queen quickly pulled away, raising her head up high and backing up a bit away from me. She hissed, "Who are you?" I answered, pushing myself off the treasure mound since I wasn't too cornered, "I already told you who I am. My name is Dart." "No. Not THAT." Messina clarified, "I mean, WHO ARE YOU EXACTLY? Because I can smell this familiar scent off you...Something my nose hasn't caught in a long time. It's a bit faint, but it's still around. It's another human to be precise." I just stood there, confusion washed over my face. What is going on with her? I'm sure I was around other people that day before I tried to run away from home. I didn't change them on the night when I attempted to leave. But what's got her so interested? "You don't have a clue, do you? Well...I'll go ahead and demand an answer from you." She plainly asked, "You wouldn't happen to know a human by the name...Squall, would you?" I didn't show it, but I was caught off guard by the question. What? Th-That's...That's my father's name! How does she know his name?!!