FSE

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Nightfall has come to the dragon city and the black scaled male dragon was flying back to the city. He glided to the top of the wall that surrounds the city and he landed his hind feet first and then his front. He walked a bit on the wall after he landed and looked at the skyline of the city.

He heard a voice nearby, "What took you so long?"

The black dragon's face went wide and he whirled around. He saw the old red dragon coming toward him. He had a serious look on his face.

The black dragon sat down on his haunches and said, "Sorry that it took me so long. I've been watching them for hours. Since yesterday actually."

The old drake sat down on his haunches, and with a stern look, he asked, "Did you follow the blue dragoness and her human friend to the human's home? Did you kill them?"

The black dragon shook his head, "No. Besides that they weren't alone. There were other dragons with them and that other human as well. The human female named Amanda, I think."

The old dragon narrowed his eyes at him, "You sure they didn't just leave them? That they didn't just fly off somewhere?"

The black dragon shrugged, "They did leave, but I didn't know where the blue dragoness and the human male went off. I was taking a nap. I came back here because I knew they would come back to the city tomorrow."

The old one hissed at him, "Are you kidding me? You didn't stay awake long enough to see where they were going?"

The black dragon glared at him, "I have been watching since yesterday and all day today. The blue dragoness and the human male have been hanging with the other dragons who went with them. They were chatting together. Swimming together and having a good time. I need some rest of my own, boss."

The red dragon was pretty much angry now. He said, "You WILL not rest until you kill them, do you understand me? You and your stupid blue friend are suppose to kill the human male and that blue dragoness bitch so I can wage war against the fucking humans. Do you get me?"

The black dragon said, "There's something I need to tell you as well."

The old red boss rolled his eyes and sighed, "What is it?"

The black dragon said, "The human female and the red dragon that the humans named Neal. I saw them...Being intimate with each other. I was in the woods and I saw them kissing each other."

The old red one growled, "What?! A human female and the male dragon were doing that?! That's...Disgusting! We are not supposed to be doing that to humans. They don't have feelings! That's another reason they all must die! They think they can play our feelings and get away with it, no! They won't!"

The black dragon put a claw to his snout and said, "Shhh, boss. Don't yell. Everyone in the city is asleep."

The angry dragon growled again and asked, "You're sure they did that?"

The black dragon nodded, "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."

The red dragon still had an angry look before he closed his eyes. He sighed, "Well their time will come as well. We should forget this Neal. He's already brainwashed by the human female. He won't fight with us on our cause and neither will the small green dragon and the owner of the Braveheart. They're all worthless."

The black dragon nodded, "I agree. I would have ended their lives tonight, but it was only me alone that would do it. All of them against me, I wouldn't win. But we'll get them, one day."

The boss looked out over the land that's beyond the city and smiled, "One day I will have the support to wage a war against the humans and they will all perish by our flame. The blue dragoness Sierra, the red dragon Neal, the short green runt, that bitch of an owner of the Braveheart, the two meddling humans who came here, all of them WILL die by our claws."

The black dragon cocked his head, "Ok we know how to get rid of the human male and the blue dragoness. But how do we get rid of the human female and the others dragons?"

The old red dragon said, "Patience is a virtue, my comrade. I'll think of a plan for them later." He waved his paw toward the land, "When the time comes...Our land will be ours once more and no one will stop us." Then he started giggling evilly.

*****

Me and Sierra came back to the area where the others are this morning, walking in the woods back to them.

We didn't come back to them last night. After what happened last night, after we flew to where Eric had used to live before he died, me and her decided to sleep under that big tree that Eric is buried under. We needed it.

Now it's morning time and we flew back to the spot where Amanda and the others would be at.

While we were walking I gripped the crystal pendant that's around my neck. I'm glad that Sierra's alright now, that she knows that she's not a monster. I never considered her to be one at all. She has feelings. I will always be with her. I smiled to myself. I'm also glad that she didn't keep all that stuff bottled up inside her. She needed to let it all out. And I'm sure that helped her a lot. I hope the others weren't worried about us.

Me and Sierra strolled until we could see the others in the distance. They were all having something to eat this morning. Me and Sierra walked up to them and they all smiled when they saw us show up.

Neal, while Amanda is laying her back against his chest, said, "Hey you two. We were wondering when you were going to show up."

Cody cocked his head, "Yeah, where have you guys been? You haven't came back here since last night. We were getting kinda worried about you."

Joanna cocked her head as well, "What happened?"

I held up my hands and said, "Alright, guys, it's alright. Me and Sierra are fine. No need to have heart attacks."

Joanna laughed and put a paw to her chest, "Me have a heart attack? I'm already old and I might have one!"

I shrugged and pointed at Sierra, "Well Sierra's old too, so she might have one too." Then suddenly I felt a smack against my butt. I yelped in surprise and put both hands on it. I shot a glare accusingly at Sierra and said, "Sierra."

Sierra pretended that she didn't do anything and muttered, "What?" Then she giggled deeply.

I crossed my arms and said, "You know what you did. You smacked my ass again."

Sierra waved me off with her paw, "Still don't know what you're talking about."

Despite glaring at her, I giggled, "Yes you did. I know you did it. It's not the first time you did that, old lady."

Sierra shot a glare at me, "And it's not the first time YOU have called me old lady. And I'm not old."

I laughed and patted her on her chest, "Could've fooled me...Old lady."

Sierra groaned and rolled her eyes, "You know I swear to the ancestors I'm going to throw you in the trees one of these days."

Cody giggled, "You look old to me."

Sierra shot a glare at him, "If I were you I keep my trap shut, young dragon."

Cody shot up his head and smiled, "Always happy to be young!"

I laughed but Sierra just hissed at me and him. Soon Joanna, Amanda, and Neal started to laugh along as well. Then I sat down on the ground, crossing my legs. Sierra got closer to me and laid down on her stomach.

Neal cocked his head and asked, "So where did you guys go? You haven't been here all morning."

Sierra said, "It's a long story."

Amanda frowned at us, "What happened?"

I looked up at Sierra for a moment and then I looked back at Amanda. I smiled, "Lets just say me and Sierra had a long discussion and she's alright now. She...Really needed to talk about several things."

Neal asked, "What things?"

Sierra shook her head, "It doesn't matter now." Then she smiled at him, "I haven't told Wayne several things for a long time and now that I did, I realize that what happened to me years ago, it's all in the past now. That for all the mistakes that I've made, I've learned from them." She nodded slowly, looking sure of herself, "It's...It's over now."

Neal smiled at her, "Well I don't know what you're talking about really, but I'm glad you're fine now. You're stronger than you believe."

Sierra nodded, "Believe me, I knew how strong I really was." Then she lowered her head to my level and she looked at me, "I know it now, because of him." She nuzzled my face and I petted under her chin.

Cody cocked his head, "So you really aren't going to tell us?"

Sierra giggled and raised her head away from me and said to Cody, "It would have been too much for you, young dragon. But I'm fine now."

Cody just stared at her and he shrugged, "Well alright, if you say so."

Joanna smiled at us, "Well I'm glad whatever it was that happened to you, sweetheart, that you're finally over it now. There's no need to dwell on the past."

Sierra shook her head, "No...No there's no need."

I looked at Neal and Amanda, they were both smiling at each other. I frowned at them. There's something different about them now. Something...Different. I wonder what gives? I said to them, "You guys look chummy together."

Amanda giggled and rubbed her hand under Neal's chin, "You have no idea. Neal really is the sweetest guy I've known."

Neal giggled and lowered his head to her level, "You damn right I'm sweet." Then she playfully swatted him on the nose. Not hard though.

Sierra cocked her head at them, "Alright, what's going on? Something that we missed?"

Cody started giggling and he put a paw to his snout, trying to stifle his giggles. I frowned at him, "Something funny?"

Cody said, "Oh believe me you have no idea. You really missed a lot last night."

Now it was Sierra's turn to frown at him, "What are you talking about, you little green runt?"

Cody shot a glare at her, "Ok first of all, I'm not a green runt! Second..." Then he softened his gaze and said, "I interrupted something last night and I never should have done it."

I shrugged, "Well what is it already? Don't keep us in suspense."

Amanda laughed and said, "Well...Lets just say me and Neal are....Together."

Sierra asked, "What do you mean, together?"

Cody said, "Well last night Neal and Amanda were gone for a long time. So I went to look for them. Then when I found them, I saw them kissing each other."

Neal shot a glare at him and said, "Yes we were, and you interrupted the moment we had together."

Cody put a paw to his chest and said, "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was an accident."

Amanda rolled her eyes at him, "Yeah right. You were just watching the show."

Neal laughed, "Yep you were and now apparently you're just a little green scaly pervert!" Then he and Amanda laughed.

Cody's face went wide with embarrassment and he coiled his tail around him. He whined, "Guys. Not funny!"

Amanda stopped laughing and said, "Well you should have left us alone. You're too young for this stuff."

Cody glared at her, "I'm NOT TOO YOUNG for this stuff. I'm old enough to know those things!"

Then I finally interrupted by waving my hand at them, "Whoah hold on! Wait...Amanda? You and Neal are...?"

Amanda smiled at me and nodded, "Yep Wayne, we are. Me and Neal are together."

Sierra beamed at them, "Well Neal, I see that you have built the guts to tell her. I'm so proud of you!"

Neal bowed his head, "Why thank you! It shows that I have balls after all."

I looked up at Sierra and stared at her, "You knew about it?"

Sierra looked down at me and said, "Well Neal told me he liked her that way, and I encouraged him to go for it. He needed it."

Amanda smiled at Sierra, "Well in honesty, I'm glad you did. I didn't know what I've wanted, until last night at least. Neal really is sweet." Neal nuzzled her. She kissed him on the cheek.

I smiled at them. That really is cute. Somehow in a way...I knew they would be together that way. Just like me and Sierra.

The reason why is...The way they looked at each other lately. Of course I saw the way Neal looked at her. But Amanda...It was a little different, but I could still tell that she liked him as well.

Another reason why is that they have been so close. They have been hanging out together lately. A lot more than me and Sierra. A lot more than hanging with Cody actually. Even though they bicker, but they seem to have a lot of things in common.

They both have bigger personalities.

Sierra said, "Well still, I'm glad you guys are together."

Amanda smiled at her, "Thank you...Mom." Sierra smiled when she heard that.

Neal nuzzled Amanda again while she was still looking at Sierra. Amanda giggled and she pulled him in for a kiss.

My eyes kinda went wide when I saw them kiss. Well they didn't have to do that in front of us! Get a room, guys!

Sierra lowered her head to my level and saw my look, "What's wrong, handsome?"

I shook my head and looked at her. I smiled, "Nothing, big girl. Nothing at all." Then I gave her a kiss on the lips. Hell if they want to do that in front of all us, then I'll do that to Sierra in front of them.

Amanda pulled her head away from Neal and gave me and Sierra a dirty look, "Seriously, guys? Get a room!"

Me and Sierra laughed and I shot back at Amanda, "You get a room!"

Joanna sighed happily and said, "Ah...The love that everyone has these days. It's really cute."

I laughed and said to Joanna, "Yes it is!"

Cody groaned, "Ah...When will I get a female?"

Then all of us laughed.

*****

About an hour later all of us flew back to the dragon city. The sun shined brightly over the mountains.

The world shifted and we saw the city appear in front of us. All of us glided down to the wall that surrounds the city. While I was riding on Sierra, I wrapped my arms around her neck tightly and she landed on the wall with her feet.

As soon as that was over, she lowered her body to the ground and I slid off of her. I landed to the ground and dusted myself. I sighed.

Sierra looked down at me and said, "What's up?"

I shook my head, "Nothing really accept that it was kinda dusty today. My pants were all dirty!"

Sierra grinned at me, "I don't mind the dust. Except when it gets in my eyes."

I poked her body with my finger and said, "Well you could blow the dust away because you have wings!"

Sierra showed off her wings by stretching them out, "You better be amazed by them."

I laughed and she lowered her head to my level and I kissed her nose.

Neal, Cody, Amanda, and Joanna all came to us. Neal grinned at us, "Hey guys, if you're planning to mate, at least go back to the forest." He giggled and whispered, "No one will find you in there."

I blushed at the statement and Sierra laughed, "Oh really, Neal? Look whose talking. You were kissing Amanda in front of us. Better take your own advice!"

Amanda playfully swatted Sierra's nose, but not hard, and said, "Mother! Not cool!"

Then Sierra playfully glared at Neal, "And you better play nice with my adoptive daughter. She won't take any rough stuff."

Amanda's face turned red and she exclaimed, "Sierra!"

Neal however shot up his head proudly and said, "Sure no problem. I always play nice."

Amanda glared at him, "You're not helping!" Then me and Sierra laughed.

Cody said to Neal, "Hey Neal, when you're done with Amanda, can I borrow her? I never had a girlfriend."

Amanda glared at Cody and said, "Don't you even think about it, you little green bastard!"

Cody held out his paw and shook his head, "It's not like that!"

Amanda giggled, "Sure it is."

Joanna laughed and said, "Well I'm going to work now. So Wayne, Neal, and Cody, remember to be at the Braveheart tomorrow night for you to sing. I can't wait to see how it goes."

I smiled at Joanna and said, "Alright. We'll be there."

Joanna nodded, and she said, "Thank you all very much for the trip. It was really fun. Take care!" Then she flew off the wall to go to the Braveheart.

Cody asked Neal, "So I can't borrow Amanda then?"

Both Neal and Amanda said to Cody at the same time, "No!" Then they both had shocked faces and they glanced at each other. They both started to giggle.

I sighed and giggled, "Ahhh Cody, you never learn."

Sierra muttered, "He's young, give him time." Then both of us giggled.

*****

After several hours we came back to the city, me and Wayne went back to our motel room after our long trip back to the city.

He actually wanted to read a human book to me and I let him. One of these days I'm going to have to teach him how to read my kind's language. I remember I taught Eric a few things about that. But he wasn't very good at it.

When Wayne was done reading, me and him slept closely together. Just enjoying each others warmth.

Then about an hour later I think, I decided that I couldn't sleep anymore and so removed myself from Wayne and left him sleeping alone.

Now here I am sitting on my haunches on top of the motel, just staring out at the streets, feeling so happy in my heart.

I could never understand Wayne's optimism, but he sure has a lot of it! He always never gave up on me. Even when I told him that I was a monster, he never gave up on me. When I'm in the darkest of times, he always made me happy. That's one of the things I like about him. I really am glad that I've met him.

Wayne...

You make me feel so happy, I can't even describe it now. You always did everything to make me feel better.

I will never let the past get to me anymore. I won't let my fear of me killing you stop me from being with you. I would never harm you.

My thoughts went to the other me in my dreams. You don't control me. I CONTROL YOU. You will never win.

I know that Eric still cares about me, even when he's dead. I should've realized it a long time ago. He would always love me.

I'll never be a monster. I was once, but I'll never be one ever again. Only you are. I have feelings and you don't. I'll make sure Wayne won't die. I will protect him.

No matter what.

It's like my mother said to me before she died. Love shows us how special we are. Love knows no boundaries.

Love conquers all.

And it conquered you, you bitch.

I'll never give in to you. I control YOU.

I giggled to myself. What's more interesting is that Neal and Amanda, who's practically my daughter now, are together. I'm so happy for them. Honestly, judging by how close they were, I figured they would be together. It was the same closeness as me and Wayne have. Just another human and a dragon in a relationship.

I sighed and looked up at the sky. The sun's already setting. My eyes went wide. I guess we have been staying in this motel all day today. We didn't do much ever since we came home.

I sighed once more. My thoughts on the only family I have left here.

My uncle.

I had a guilty look on my face. I remember years ago, before I ran away from the city, I was treating him badly. Even when he was trying to help me. After Eric died, I kept snapping at him. I wanted to be alone.

And it cost me my uncle. It cost me everything here, because I thought that I was a monster.

But now I know I'm not anymore.

Ever since I came back here, I never told him the truth. I never apologized to him for leaving him without saying goodbye.

We had talked a few times, but not a lot. I did introduce him to Wayne and he was happy to meet him. Even before me and Wayne became friends, he tried to convince me he was not all bad.

That he convinced me that I was treating him badly, treated him like he was my minion.

And if it wasn't for my uncle, I wouldn't know what to think about Wayne.

But now I think Wayne is the kindest, sweetest human I know and it was all thanks to my uncle.

I sighed again. I don't know if I can tell him that I became a monster years ago. I don't want him to think that I was.

I heard footsteps behind me and I looked over my shoulder and saw Wayne coming toward me.

I smiled down at him, "Wayne, how long have you been up?"

Wayne rubbed his eyes and said to me when he stood beside me, "Not long. I saw that you left and I went up here first. And I found you." Then he frowned, "I could ask you the same thing, how long have you been up?"

I shook my head, "I don't know. I didn't pay attention."

He asked, "Can I stand up here with you? Or do you want to be alone?"

I nodded, "No you can stay with me. I won't mind it." Wayne sat down on the edge of the rooftop, his back to the edge. After a moment of silence he giggled. I cocked my head at him, "What's so funny? Do I have something on my face and you didn't tell me?"

He laughed and he waved me off, "No, no. I was just thinking about something."

I asked, "What?"

Wayne pondered in his thoughts, "Well for the past few days and just now before I woke up, I was having this dream."

I lowered my head to his level and asked, "Was it about me?"

Wayne looked at me and smiled, "Something like that."

I gave him a devious grin, "Was it a dirty dream, that you were mating me?"

He laughed hard, "Sierra!"

I shrugged, "What? It's ok to have a dirty dream about me. We're mates anyway."

Wayne said, "Well technically we're not mates. We didn't do anything sexual to each other...Not yet. Except kissing."

I giggled at him, "Well I think that makes us mates!"

Wayne just giggled away, "Ok, whatever you say."

I raised my head away from him and asked, "So what was it you were dreaming about?"

Wayne smiled when he remembered the dream, "I was dreaming that I was a dragon. Just like you. And we were flying together. I curled my wing around you when we were laying together under the stars. My mom and dad were there and they didn't mind that I became a dragon. They always viewed me as their son."

I smiled at him, "What did you look like? What color were you?"

He said, "Red. For some reason I'm always red."

I nodded, "Guess you took that inspiration from Neal. He always looked handsome in red."

He giggled, "Yeah, I guess you're right." Then Wayne looked at me, "You know something? I wish I could fly just like you. You know, have wings of my own. At least fly wherever I want to go. That would be awesome." Then he reached out to touch my leg, "You're very lucky you have wings. It would never get old for me."

I moved my leg to touch him, my paw stroking his arm. I said, "If you believe in yourself...Maybe you will."

He had a big smile on his face and said, "Yeah." He looked down for a second and then he looked at me and asked, "Hey Sierra? Back then when you were trying to use your wings for flight, was it hard at first?"

I shook my head and pulled my leg off of him, "No, well come to think of it, when I was a hatchling, I couldn't even fly at all. I had to have my mom carry me around all the time. You have to reach at a certain age for your wings to fully develop. To move your wing muscles, to flap them up and down. I just had to have some practice first." I sighed happily and said, "Wings always make us dragons so special. They show us the mark of a dragon. To show us how mighty we are."

Wayne smiled at me, "But do you...Ever sometimes...Dream that you're a human, just like me?"

I thought about it and I nodded, "I had before, when I was with Eric. And when I'm with you."

He giggled and asked, "What did you look like? As a human? Do you remember?"

"I was beautiful. I had long brown hair. Beautiful human curves, enough to attract a human male. Big human female breasts."

Wayne giggled once more, "Wow, you sound hot."

I playfully glared down at him, "Well am I hot as a dragon too, more beautiful as a dragon?" Then I lowered my head to his level.

He put his hands to both sides of my face and gazed into my eyes, "Yeah, you're even more beautiful as a dragon." Then he kissed me on the lips. He pulled his head away and I licked his nose in return. Wayne giggled. He let both of his hands fall to his sides and I raised my head away from him. We both just sat there in silence. I sighed.

Wayne looked at me and asked, "What?"

I shook my head, "Nothing."

Wayne gave me a concerned look, "Are you sure? I hope you're not still sad from last night. You know that you're not a monster and you never will be."

I nodded, "Well I was once, but now I know I won't be ever again. And you know, it doesn't bother me anymore. I feel more happy than before. Like I...I-"

Wayne knew what I was going to say and he said, "Like you finally let go of your past?"

I nodded, "Yeah...Something like that."

Wayne asked, "So you are fine now? Not worried about hurting me?"

I shook my head, "I wouldn't worry about it from now on."

Then he frowned, "Then what is it? Why did you sigh?"

I looked up at the sky and said, "You really want to know? I was thinking about my uncle."

He titled his head, "Your uncle?"

I nodded, "Yes. I was....Thinking about telling him everything. About why I left the city for years without saying goodbye. Why I snapped at him for him trying to help me. All that stuff."

Wayne asked, "Do you want to?"

I looked down at my paws and shrugged, "I don't know really. I want to, but I just don't know." I sighed and I looked at him, "I mean, I don't want him to think that I became a monster years ago. I don't want him to think differently about me."

Wayne shrugged, "Well...It might be hard to know what he's thinking. I'm not him. I wouldn't know. But..."

I asked, "But what?"

Wayne got up from the edge of the rooftop and he looked at me, "Look Sierra...I can't make the decisions for you. Only you can decide to tell him. I mean, he's the only family you have left, right?"

I nodded and he went on, "Well honestly, I know that he cares for you. But I still think you should just tell him. I think he deserves an explanation why you left the city without saying goodbye. He loves you. He's your uncle. He deserves to know the truth. You don't have to tell anyone else, only him."

I cocked my head at him, "So you think I should just tell him?"

Wayne nodded, "Yes I do. He was probably wondering what happened to you for years. I think it's by time you tell him everything. And if you do, I don't think he would hate you."

I let out a nervous sigh, "I wish it wasn't so hard to do it."

Wayne got close to my body and said, "It wasn't supposed to be easy. But not telling him, it'll be harder." He looked up at me and said, "Look at least try. Give him closure. Give him all that. Give him the reason why his only niece left him for years. Tell him all that. At least...For him." Then he gave me a comforting smile.

I only stared down at him and thought about it.

He's right. My uncle does deserve the truth. I haven't told him everything off my chest.

But I will. I can't keep the truth from him anymore.

I nodded and smiled, "Ok."

Wayne nodded and gave me a rub on my belly, "I know you can do it. You just have to believe in yourself." Then he walked away from me, back to the doorway to the big hallway of the motel. I was now alone on the roof. I looked up at the beautiful sunset sky.

Mom, dad, Eric...Give me strength.

Give me the strength for me to tell my uncle everything.

*****

Night finally came about an hour later after the sunset. I was walking on the steps of the temple, ready to see my uncle.

To tell him about everything that I've been through. I sighed when I took another step. He's your uncle, Sierra. Don't think he won't love you still after you tell him everything. He will always love you. He'll understand why you left.

That brought a comforting vibe and I kept walking until I was inside the temple. I knew he would still be here, he won't sleep until after a few hours after sunset. That's his routine anyway.

I walked deeper in the temple searching for my uncle. And no surprise, I see him staring at the depictions on the wall. Probably worshipping our god right now.

I walked up behind him and sat down on my haunches. I said, "Hello."

My uncle jumped a bit and he whirled around. He had a smile on his face when he saw me, "Niece. I heard you came back from your trip today. But I haven't had a chance to talk to you yet."

I gave him a smile of my own, "Well here I am now."

He came to me and nuzzled me. I nuzzled back. He pulled away and said, "Well you look well and you know that it's night now. Shouldn't you be with your mate?"

I shook my head, "Wayne's fine. He's just sleeping at the motel right now."

My uncle cocked his head, "So what are you doing here? Something wrong?"

I looked down at his feet, "Sort of. I really need to talk to you."

My uncle sat down on his haunches, with a concerned look on his face, "Are you and Wayne having problems? Are you having second thoughts about being with a human that way?"

I reared back my head and shook my head, "What? No, no, it's not like that. It's something else."

He asked, "What?"

I took a deep breath and I let it out, "Look, uncle...There are a lot of things I didn't tell you before. Something I should've told you a long time ago. Ever since I came back to you after all these years."

He frowned, "I don't understand."

I sighed and raised a paw to scratch my neck, "I don't know how to tell you this. I don't know if you'll be afraid of me afterwards...Or if you'll just despise me."

My uncle said, "Listen, you're my niece, and you're the only family I have left. At least tell me what's bothering you."

I stared at him and then I just said it, for starters, "I was a monster years ago. That's why I left you without saying goodbye. That's why I never came back here."

My uncle cocked his head, "Wait? What? I thought it was because you couldn't let go of Eric's death."

I nodded, "That too." I sighed again, "Look I needed to tell you all this, you deserve to know the truth. Because you're my uncle."

My uncle nodded, "Alright, you said that you became a monster years ago. What did you mean by that?"

I told my tale as best as I could, "After Eric died, I found out who it was that killed him."

My uncle's eyes went wide and he had a sad and pity look for me, "Someone killed him?"

I nodded, "When I came back to the city after Eric died, I only told you that he died in a fire. But to answer your question that someone killed him...Yes. It turned out it was the king who Eric used to work for. The king killed Eric because he betrayed him. I found the shield outside Eric's house and that's when I knew who it was. I...I flew out to find the king and I killed him and his knights."

My uncle just stared at me and he asked, "You did?"

I told my tale some more, "But it wasn't me who killed them. After Eric died, something else emerged from deep within my soul. Yes it was me, but I didn't feel like myself. I felt something that I wanted more than anything else. I wanted vengeance. I wanted...Their blood."

My uncle had a pity look and I went on, "I killed them all, especially the king. The king was begging me for mercy and I killed him anyway. Because I was so filled with hatred, nothing would have stopped me. The king did so many bad things and he said he was trying to rectify his actions. That's what he told me. After I did that and I after I left the castle, I felt like myself again and I realized what I've done. That was when I realized...I became a monster."

My uncle muttered sadly, "Niece."

I shut my eyes tight and went on, "After I killed them all, I came back to the city and told everyone, including you, what happened. About Eric's death only. I didn't tell you what I've done after I found Eric dead. I just kept it all inside me. I was so guilty about everything including Eric's death. But the realization of me being a monster only made the guilt feel worse. After killing the king without giving him mercy, I was wondering if I did the right thing."

My uncle muttered again, "Niece..."

I opened my eyes and I had a sad look on my face, "I'm sorry, uncle. I never should have left you without saying goodbye, but I was afraid I would hurt you somehow. I...Still didn't feel like I was myself. I left all of you not only because of Eric's death, but also because of what I've done. I killed all those humans and I wasn't myself when I did it. I was a...Monster."

I sighed and said, "I lived in a cave for years, after I flew far away from the dragon city. I wanted to be alone. A part of me didn't want to be alone and I tried to befriend one human who came near the woods that are now mine. But he rejected my kindness and he ran away from me. And that's when I began to realize that there would be no other humans like Eric."

I went on, "Soon after that, I became a bully to the humans who came near my forest. I began to despise the humans for treating my kind with disrespect and hatred. I thought all of them were filled with hatred. I thought they were all liars and killers. That was one reason why. The other reason, was because I still felt like I was a monster. They viewed me as a monster and they got one."

I sighed, "I didn't kill any humans. But I still became a bully to them. Scaring them away, frightening them. A few of them tried to attack me, but I still scared them away. For years uncle, I have lived in that cave for over a thousand years. And I'm still alive. And I've lived with the guilt for not saving Eric and for killing the king and his knights."

His eyes went wide, "A thousand years?! I thought we would live to a few hundred years old."

I explained, "Wayne thinks it's the magic of the invisibility cloak that surrounds the city, that makes me age slower. We have lived in it for years and the magic is still affecting me. That's why you're still alive as well. Because you age slower than normal. That's why all of us are still alive. It's already been a thousand years that has passed."

My uncle just stared at me, registering all the things I've told him, "Ancestors...I don't know what to say."

I said, "Wayne is the only thing that brought me back here and I'm glad that he did. I'm glad that he was the reason I came back here. I didn't trust him at first, but in the end I do now. I almost killed him and I'm glad I didn't. Because it made me realize that not all humans are bad. That made me into a better dragon than I was before. But lately I still felt like I was a monster. That the monster inside me didn't go away. But thanks to Wayne, it's gone now."

My uncle looked away from me and I said, "I'm sorry for leaving you without saying goodbye and I know what I've done is wrong. But please say something."

My uncle looked at me and I said, "I don't blame you for leaving. I know what that feels like."

My eyes went wide and I cocked my head, "What are you talking about?"

My uncle said, "Because I did the same thing you did, when you were a hatchling."

I stared at him, "What?"

My uncle told his tale, "Remember that your parents died? By humans? By dragon slayers? You see...I went after them after your mother came back to this city under a dying breath...After you had a tearful goodbye with her. A few dragons from the city started searching around the area outside the city where your father died. One dragon did find out where the humans were actually. He...He told me where to find them."

I asked, "Did you...Kill them?"

My uncle closed his eyes and sighed, "That night, I found their camp. Soon after I found them, I started lighting their tents on fire...Hearing their screams of agony. I couldn't forget them. I wanted to kill them all for murdering your parents. I wanted to avenge them. But when I did that...I realized I was making a mistake."

"Why?"

"Because I saw some humans who were running away from me. Ones who were not fighting. Then...I could hear something else." He took a deep breath and finally said it, "I heard human babies crying. I even...Saw a human female, who's probably a mother carrying her hatchling in her arms. Running away from me. And I began to realize there was something more to it than killing your parents. That's when I realized they weren't dragon slayers after all."

He opened his eyes and sighed again, "They thought they were trying to protect their families from your parents. They thought your parents were the monsters. But they didn't know that and they killed them because they thought they were doing the right thing."

I asked, "So...You're saying that the humans who killed my parents...Thought they were protecting their families from them?"

My uncle nodded, "Look, I wasn't there when your parents were attacked. I don't know what really made the humans attack them. I'm sure it was because the humans thought of your parents as monsters. But the thing is...I became a monster that night. I killed a lot of human males...Who had families." He shut his eyes tight again, "I regret what I've done. And I could still hear their screams, in the night. When I'm dreaming. When I'm sleeping I could see the flames."

I had a pity look on my face. Ancestors...I didn't know about any of this. My uncle killed the humans who killed my parents. And they...Thought they were just protecting their families. But they didn't know my parents and they just killed them.

My uncle killed them and they had families. And now he thought he was a monster.

He knows what I went though than I thought. Poor uncle.

I could see a few tears have fallen down his face and he said, "I was a monster, but you want to know how I never let my guilt overcome me?"

I asked, "What's that?"

He looked at me and said, "Because I learned from my mistakes and I learned to never do that again. That's why I never left the city much, not even up to this day. But even I still feel like I am a monster still. But I still took care of you, because you are...Like a daughter to me. You are my sister's daughter. And I had to do that for her."

I stared at him and I shook my head, "You're not a monster."

My uncle cocked his head and I said, "The fact that you've learned your mistakes and the fact that you regret the things you done, that means you have feelings. I know that for a fact now, because of Wayne. I love Wayne a human, and that means I'm not a monster at all. I really do have feelings."

I got off my haunches and took a step toward him, "You have cared for me like I was your daughter, and that means you have feelings too. You still regret doing all those things, but you've learned from them. You're not a monster...You're my family."

I got closer to him, "And years ago when you helped me overcome my conflictions toward Eric, when you convinced me to tell him my feelings toward Eric, I never even had a chance to thank you for that."

My uncle smiled at me, "You didn't have to thank me. And I'm still proud of you for doing that. To confess your feelings toward Eric. And I'm also proud that you've confessed your feelings toward Wayne. You have found someone to love and be with. Your mother would be very proud of you, and so would your father."

I smiled at him, "I'm sorry you went through all that. But it's all in the past now. And all of us have to look into the future. A world that is different than the one we lived in years ago."

I put a paw to my chest, "I have learned from my mistakes and I don't think it's my fault anymore. I think now I did the right thing for killing the king. And...I thought that Eric wouldn't love me for not saving him and for what I become, but I know that he would always love me. No matter what happened." Then I put my paw to the ground.

My uncle stared at me for another moment, more tears falling down his face. Then he wrapped his paws and wings around me for a tight hug. While he was hugging me he said, "I love you, niece."

I started to cry as well into his neck and in his embrace I said, "I love you too, uncle."

Uncle...You were just like me. Both of us have learned from our mistakes.

Both of us have to let go of the past.

And I think we have now. We both have let go of our pasts.

Mom, dad, Eric....If you're watching me, you don't have to worry anymore.

I will be happy from now on. For all of you.