The one eyed dragon pressed, "Well?"

I stood still in front of her, still not saying a word, with only my mind running with questions. How could she have known his name? How does she know him? Looking right at her scarred eye was then I kinda quickly figured it out. She and my dad must've fought each other before in a battle years back, and he was the one that gave her that scar. Perhaps he didn't have a chance to finish her off, and she escaped from him, barely. Guess maybe that explains it.

But...How does she know his name? Like, outright know it? How?

Messina hummed in thought as she eyed me for a long time, a demanding expression still on her face as she awaited my answer. I continued to not respond, as I'm now really realizing the situation I am in now. She's been alive all these years. She's escaped from him, but she also probably looks back on that fateful battle and hates him for it...Especially for taking out her eye.

And the son of the man that did that to her is standing right in front of her.

My blood was turning cold at the mere thought. Oh...Shit...

I tried to calm my nerves and not show anything on my face. Maybe she hasn't figured out that I'm related to him, she just found his scent on me thanks to her apparent strong sense of smell. But what would Messina do if I tell her I do know him? Will she kill me out of spite? My eyes rolled around slowly looking for an escape route. She's right in front of me, could I actually escape from this room before she gets me?

I don't think I can...

Finally Messina said after a few moments had passed between us, "Hmmm...Not exactly responding...I'll take your silence means that you DO know him." Her face softened up as she said in a calm voice, "Quite a surprise. I haven't heard a word of him in ages. I thought he was dead for a long time."

I blinked a few times. Wait...She thought he was dead this whole time? So, what...She DIDN'T fly away from her battle with my father for her own life like a coward and tried to finish him off in retaliation?

What happened in that battle?

"So..." Messina asked, chuckling, "How is that man doing? How did he survive years ago?"

I mumbled, "Uhhhh...."

Then she confessed, tilting her head in curiosity, "Now that I think about it...You do look AWFULLY familiar. You appear to have the same face and eyes as Squall's."

My chest was pounding furiously away in nervousness. Oh my god...She can tell we're related. She sees we look alike!

She continued, "I thought I saw that sort of face looking back at me when you first arrived here, but I didn't think too much of it. But now I'm getting a feeling on why you look familiar, and I've got a feeling that I know where you get that sort of hatred and courage from." She lowered her head back down to me, and stretched out her neck to bring her face close to me, "He's your father, isn't he?"

What do I say? Deny it? Will she believe a word I say?

In impatience, the red scaled dragon narrowed up her eye, "Well? I'm waiting. You haven't said a word ever since I asked you about Squall. Have you gone deaf? Say something will ya."

I was still silent, trying so hard not to have my bones shake.

Then Messina raged, sending me jumping back into the colored jewels, "JUST TELL ME IF HE'S RELATED TO YOU OR NOT!"

One word finally escaped off my chest, "YES!" Then I quickly added, "Er, um, I mean...I think so..."

Messina raised her snout above, gazing down at me with no emotion shone.

My lips were sealed tight after the slip up, sweat threatening to form on my head as anxiety crawled up my spine. Oh no...I said the worst possible thing...

Now what's going to happen to me? Is she going to kill me now? Then I remembered the rib bone tucked inside my pants. Should I prepare to defend myself with that? I can't just lie on the ground like Celine and die. An idea popped up in my head. If she can bring her face back down and bring it super close again...Maybe I can stab her eye and then run out of here. She'll be in so much pain and totally blind that she can't possibly chase me through the halls. By the time her guards come, I'd get away.

But darn it, I won't be able to run out of the fortress on foot! I have to find another way off this rock!

Messina started giggling, swishing her tail, "Oh, how wonderful! That man has a family of his own! How CUTE! Apparently it's been years since he started it. My, look how you've grown! And a son that looks like his HANDSOME, BADASS father to boot!" She growled in excitement, "I think I really hit the JACKPOT." Then she cleared her throat and asked a rather curious question, "Tell me, Dart, since I am rather curious...Did your father tell you much about me? Anything at all? Hmmm?"

I pushed away all that fear and put on a brave face. I responded, "I suppose you're wondering if my dad ever mentioned how magnificent you looked and how brilliantly dangerous you are? No, as a matter of fact, he did not mention you. He never mentioned any one eyed dragons in my life. Why should he, and why would he care? He's killed plenty of dragons like you. I'm sure you're just another monster like any other to him."

For that reason, the evil queen looked disappointed. She replied, "That's what I thought."

I stated, "Yeah, and now since you know who I am, I think you better stop all this madness right now and let everybody go."

"Oh?" Messina dared to ask, "And why should I?"

"What do you think why?" I told her, in a hopeful tone, "You know who my father is, and since you can see the resemblance with personalities, then you oughta know what he's capable of too. I'm his son, and he cares about me a lot. You know you destroyed my village, which is also his, and he darn well knows that I was taken away by dragons. He would do anything to get me back. You're not getting away with this. If I were you, I'd think about letting me and everyone here go. My father will find you, and he'll put an end to this travesty!"

Messina suddenly was snickering at first, then began tossing her head back and laughing.

I angrily pressed, "What are you laughing at?"

Messina breathed out after that bout of laughter, "Oh, look at you, talking so big, thinking everything I planned for years is going to fall apart thanks to one, MEASLY dragonslayer. Believing that somebody is going to come rescue you and stop everything I've worked for up to this point." She formed another glare, "But I got news for you. He won't be coming here. If I am right to think that your village is destroyed, and I haven't seen him since all you guys were brought here...Then I can assure you that your dad is good as dead."

I cried angrily, "NO! You're wrong! My father is not dead!"

"You're just fooling yourself!" She went on, "And even if he, the great dragonslayer himself, was alive, he wouldn't know where to start looking. And IF he does know where to find you, how do you think he'd manage to rescue all of you, in a fortress surrounded by lava and cliff, against an army of dragons? Stop living in your own fantasy world. Your father is not an all powerful warrior that can take down a dragon with one swing of his mighty sword. He's a human, a WEAKLING, just like all of you!"

I growled through my teeth, "How dare you mock my family name?! You're not getting away with that either!"

Messina giggled, "But I already have. Face the facts, your dear daddy wouldn't be able to save you all by himself. And even if he had help, he still wouldn't succeed. He, along with anyone, would perish. Your father is not special. You aren't either. NO ONE is coming to save you. Might as well give up the thought and just accept things the way they are. You are my slave, and I can either keep you, or toss you. So...You better be on my good side now, start off by praising how BEAUTIFULLY HOT I look...And maybe I'll give you a break for all your disobedience."

That's when I screamed at her, "Like hell I'm gonna treat you well! You don't treat any human with any decency, you treat them all nothing but disrespect! And you think you're beautiful, you're just an UGLY TOAD!"

Messina reared back her head, fury shone in her eye, "What did you say?!"

I went further with the rant, "You think you're a better fighter than my father was, but you're just hiding out here like a coward! Why didn't you come with your guys and come kill him yourself, huh? Sending in all your dragons to do the dirty work for you, because you're AFRAID of him, is that right? He's got your eye and you didn't want to lose another! That has haunted you for years. And I know my father won't give up! He NEVER gives up, not even if he was close to death! And when he finds you, he's gonna run that sword through your OTHER eye...Right into your fucking brain!"

Messina snarled, stomping her paw to the ground that quickly gave the floor a shake, "How dare you speak to me this way! YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!!!"

I figured this was gonna be the end of me. I have to do something and fast. I had a gut feeling that maybe she'd just burn me alive with her fire breath instead of lowering her head down to my level so I could stab her in the eye with my hidden rib bone, and I also feared that I won't be quick enough to stab her if she did lower it, so I quickly came up with another idea that'll help me escape. I decided to pick up a jewel and throw it. It sailed and struck the dragon right in the forehead, and she gave out a sharp animalistic cry. While she was off guard, focusing on rubbing the pain off her face with a paw, I made a run for the exit.

I did reach the entrance of her room and was about to run out of there when another dragon had shown up around the corner. I gasped, skidded a bit to a stop as they stood at the opening. Shit! Now I'm definitely trapped.

That dragon had scales that were as black as the darkest night. Surprisingly, he appeared to be much bigger than all the other dragons I met already. Bigger than Messina, Stoney, and Celine. Their eyes stared down when their chest faced me, their tail flicking behind them. Their wings fluttered when they spoke, in a deep, rumbling sort of voice, "What's going on in here?"

That voice...Where have I-

Then I sucked in a quiet breath, eyes widened up with paralyzing fear, as I was turning so pale as a ghost. By the gods! I KNOW this dragon!

It...It can't be!

I did recognize him...Other than the meer size, his voice was a good reminder of who he was.

It was THAT dragon...

The one of several dragons that destroyed my first village, Sapwood. The one huge dragon that I met up close that was close to killing me when I was a little boy. The one I kept seeing in my nightmares for years.

He's back...He came back into my life.

The black dragon padded his way into the room. I was backing away from him, not taking my eyes off of him. Does he recognize me? Does he know who I am? Does he recognize that I was that six year old boy he tried to burn alive? I couldn't tell if he did yet. That was years ago, so it's hard to know if he did or not. I wouldn't be surprised if he managed.

The dragon asked Messina in that deep, gruff voice, "What's this human doing here? Is he giving you trouble?"

Messina nearby cleared her throat, and changed her tone to a calm one now when she reported, "Nothing I can't handle, Garo." I heard claws clicking on stone, sounding like Messina making way to where we are. I quickly remembered Stoney earlier today telling Ly that a dragon named Garo was picking her up from the cell. Earlier I wondered how Garo stacked up against all the other dragons I met so far...I guess I didn't have to wonder anymore. Messina stood beside me and then introduced me to him, "This is Dart. He's just a guest in my quarters. He's also the troublemaker that tried to escape the fortress last night."

The dragon named Garo rolled down his eyes, giving me this death glare, "Is that so?" I gulped. Ah crap...

"Yes...And I was handing him a offer he couldn't refuse...But he did." Then when Messina looked at me with a grin, despite I threw a gem that hit her in the face, she gestured her paw to Garo, "ANYWAYS. Dart, this is Garo, my most favorite consort. You can say he's not the most brightest types. More BRAWN as they'd say." Garo snorted in reply. I blinked in fright. I can definitely see that. Messina turned her gaze back to Garo and asked, "So where's the little hatchling?"

Garo answered, "I brought her back to her dungeon. No such progress...AGAIN."

Messina sighed disapprovingly, "Well, that's expected. We'll try again tomorrow." I frowned. What sort of progress are they talking about? Then she waved toward me, "I'm done with this little one too. Could you be a dear and take him back to his dungeon for me? I think I'm gonna take a nap, felt like I had a long day. I think you know which one."

Garo nodded, "Of course." He gazed directly at me, and ordered, "YOU. COME. NOW."

Oh, you don't have to tell me twice, big guy. After he spun around, almost whacking me in the head with his black scaled tail and heading out the way he came, I immediately obeyed without acting defiant. I don't think I wanted to piss off the nightmarish dragon from my dreams. Heck, he looks about as angry as years before.

After I stepped through the opening out in the hallway, Messina called, "Oh, Dart." I stopped and looked at her from afar. She growled with a devious smile and a swish of her tail, "We'll finish our conversation later." She raised a paw, giving her claws a small wave, "Ta-ta for now."

I didn't like how that sounded at all. I knew it meant we would be ending our conversation in a rather unpleasant way. I hurried and caught up with my giant escort, as Garo led me through the same corridors I took, back down the same stairwell, then back to more halls. On the way back for the dungeons, I kept an eye on the dragon in front of me, still trying to process everything.

No way...No freakin way this is happening.

That dragon that I had met years ago, and Messina...Are together.

They're actually working together! I can't believe this! I never thought I would meet this dragon again...I never thought I would see him again, ALIVE AND WELL.

I'm definitely wrong there. And I'm pretty sure my days here are definitely numbered now.

Or maybe I oughta say...My HOURS are definitely numbered.

Messina and Garo are both gonna get me killed sooner rather than later. I can feel it within my gut.

If Messina will not kill me first, then it'll be Garo if he finds out from her that I'm related to a dragonslayer. I can see her telling him about it very soon when she's done napping, or perhaps done whining about the possibly still lingering pain on her forehead instead of taking a actual nap, and I can most certainly see Garo not hesitating one bit when she does.

I need to get out of here...And soon. Tonight maybe. Or else I will be dead.

After wandering between the cells, Garo finally took me back to the one I was staying at. He opened the gate, and commanded me in a disgruntled tone, "Get in."

I walked straight in the cell without hesitating, finding Celine and Ly both waiting for me. Celine's wings were free of these metal clamps but she was back to being chained to a wall, while Ly as usual didn't have any restraints on her. I also did notice on the floor that all the bones from that meat earlier were gone too. Someone must've finally got rid of them. I'm pretty glad I got ahold of that rib bone while I had the chance.

The yellow scaled whelp rushed over and greeted me with a huge smile, "There you are, Dart! Me and Celine were wondering where you've been!"

Celine shrugged her shoulders while she laid on her stomach, "Yeah, mind telling me what kept you?"

I had a feeling she was just mimicking what I asked her earlier before she was taken away from me, but I didn't pay mind to it. Cause Garo showed up behind me and growled at Ly, "Step aside, Ly. I'm not in the mood for any more of your stupidity." Ly flinched, scurrying back to a corner in a submissive way. I was led to my shackle lying on the floor. I spied on Ly as she was watching Garo putting the shackle around my ankle. Huh...They don't seem to be on friendly terms with each other. Ly mostly doesn't appear to be a big fan of him.

Maybe her feelings about him before were genuine. Maybe he was a big meanie to her. Maybe she doesn't like him after all.

Oh heck, I don't like him either, and I don't blame her.

How can anyone fake that?

Garo was done and backed away from all three of us. At first he looked down at me, but then I caught him gazing directly at Celine, a very blank expression on his face. Celine stared right back, narrowing up her eyes in defiance. I shot glances back and forth between the two big dragons as they didn't break contact. When Garo didn't take his eyes off her for a long time, Celine warily said, "What are you looking at, big guy?"

Ly repeated the question nearby, "Yeah, why are you staring at her like that? Does she have something on her scales?"

Garo didn't reply to the hatchling's question, but merely spoken to Celine, "Nothing that would concern you, MEDDLING DRAGONESS." Then he said to all of us, "Don't do anything funny, all of you." He looked down toward me threateningly, "Especially YOU."

I actually got brave for the first time since seeing him and glared right back at him.

Garo's voice rumbled, "Don't look at me like that...Or I'll kill you myself." Right then my brave face went away. My eyes only showed fear now, with my heart pounding heavily in my chest. He nodded in contempt, "That's better. Like stepping on every dragon you see...Acting like the biggest human than you really are. Well, it's over. Next time you try that again with me...And you'll understand how it feels when someone BIGGER steps on YOU." I can see the tiny corners of his mouth making a devious smile, "I've killed lots of creatures that look like you...Believe me...I know how weak a human is beneath my feet." Then he finished that off with a deep, threatening growl, "BEHAVE YOURSELF."

Then with that, he turned and padded to the gate without another word, and I didn't take my eyes off him, the fear still evident in my eyes. He closed it behind him and locked it. Soon after, he disappeared from our view.

Celine muttered, "Ancestors...Sent shivers down my scales." I took a deep breath and let it out, trying to calm my nerves. I couldn't tell if she meant it or not, but I know what she means. At that moment a second ago, I wanted to confront my trauma, for once in my life. I wanted to show him that I wasn't afraid of him, like I was showing his queen and all the other dragons I met so far. He was just a dragon too like them, and I thought I wasn't going to let my nightmare dragon talk me down and bully me around like all the rest.

But I guess it was a feeble attempt. I don't think I've accomplished anything. I'm still afraid of him. When he threatened me in that short speech...I was feeling six years old again.

Well...Can't say I never tried.

"I see you met Garo." I jumped in surprise, turning to see Ly had already snuck up to stand beside me. She was holding this beaming face when she stated, "He a big meanie or what? I told you he was."

I nodded halfheartedy as my plan to escape this place came rushing to me, "You weren't kidding around. Excuse me- Oh!" Forelimbs and wings were wrapped around me as she wrapped me in a tight hug. My eyes were bugged out of my skull.

Ly cried happily in my neck, "Oh, I'm so glad you came back, Dart! I was afraid Messina did something bad to you!"

I told her, putting on an annoyed face and trying to push her off, "Get off me, please."

"Oh!" She backed away, curling her wings against her back, having an apologetic expression. She said, "Sorry. I forgot you didn't like to be hugged. I'm not gonna eat you. I swear."

I shrugged it off, sounding disinterested, "Yeah, whatever."

She said, "I couldn't help it. It's like I said, I was afraid you wouldn't come back. I found Celine was here alone when Garo brought me back here, and she told me she was with you, well, after she asked me if I had seen you anywhere."

Celine snorted, "Don't get the wrong idea...I was just curious if you had been executed because of your actions or not."

I shot her a glare, "Yeah, well, I wasn't. I'm fine, thank you for asking."

Ly said, "Before you got back, I tried foreseeing if you would ever come back here. You know, not dead. It's just I heard that whenever a human sees the queen, it's usually means something bad happens to them. But all I got was you flying on Celine's back. Which that looks fun. I didn't know a human can do that to a dragon." My eyes went wide. Me? Flying on a dragon like a horse, not being carried in their paws? Yeah right.

The older female rolled her eyes, "I thought that was ridiculous. No way I'd thought of that."

After she twisted her neck to look at the bigger dragon, Ly tried to argue, "But my vision about having cellmates came true. So that's gotta mean you had the idea later down the road."

Celine stated skeptically, "How can I give Dart a ride when we're chained and trapped behind bars?"

I remarked in disbelief, "Yeah, that sounds stupid."

"Still, it's something." Ly told me, "But other than seeing that, I didn't see anything helpful, so I was getting worried."

Celine reported, "It was honestly getting annoying. She wouldn't stop babbling to herself, yelling at herself to see anything else about you. I'm glad you came back sooner rather than later."

"I am too!" The hatchling squealed, beaming, "EEEEE! And all of us are together again! That means we can spend another night together! Isn't that cool?" I sighed, turning and wandering a bit away from the two chattering dragons. I figured this was the best time as any to try picking the lock on my shackle. I didn't care if they saw what I was doing. They know I was trying to escape last night, so it wouldn't be anything new.

And besides, if any of them try ratting me out to any guards outside, who knows if they will or not, I'll shove this bone right into their throat and watch them bleed to death. I'm kinda certain the rib was pointy enough to puncture somebody's throat.

I crouched low, digging through my pants for the rib bone I had hidden earlier. I heard Celine speak irritantly, "Ugh, is it gonna be another night with you babbling to no end while I can't get any sleep? Cause if it is, then the only best idea I can come up with to fix that is by knocking myself out with my tail. Glad this thing's not chained to a wall too, or against my leg." I thought as I yanked the little pointy thing out of my pants. Then why not whack her yourself, or burn her alive if you can't stand her? Just because you're chained to a wall doesn't mean you lost the ability to breathe fire!

Come on, is she as stupid as Ly? I can't stand her babbling either!

Ly said as I focused trying to shove the pointy end of the bone into the keyhole and began working the lock, "Aw, come on, Celine. Look on the bright side! At least this is fun."

Celine moaned, "The only fun I crave is looking at the sky at night...And also being alone. I'd rather do that than being locked up in a dungeon with no way to see outside, and with two annoying flies that constantly buzz around."

A fly? First I get called a wimp by the dragon queen and now I get to be called a fly by another dragon. I take offense to that too. Ly giggled in mocked offense, "Did you call us flies? I'm not a fly! They have wings too but I don't look THAT puny! And Dart doesn't look like a fly either. He can't sprout wings! Well...I think so." I grunted, still poking the bone around inside the shackle lock. Heh...She's not wrong.

"You're right, you're not a fly." Celine said, "I usually singe one to smithereens if it were buzzing around near my ear. Not close enough."

The little dragon gushed, "Awww...You don't think I'm annoying!"

Celine retorted, "Don't push it, little one. I'm still waiting to see how long you'll yap before you turn in to bed. I hope you won't do it forever."

Ly asked, "Well how would we know if it is time to go to bed? We can't see outside, remember? I can't figure it out. A couple times I was stuck in here without ever being let out, I went to sleep cause I was bored."

The bigger dragon sighed, "Course you did. I'd do the same if I was bored to DEATH. Don't look like you will be anytime soon." Ly giggled in response. Then she suggested, "Look...Imagine my eyes like they were the sun. When they start to droop, then it means it's time to go to bed. They haven't yet so you must got some time left. Can you keep that in mind tonight and go to sleep when they closed?"

"Sure, ok! I never thought of that. I'll try to remember." Then a second later while I was still picking the lock, the hatchling started to me now, "Hey Dart, we're thinking Celine's the sun. We now know how much time passes in here now! Isn't that a goo-" She cut herself off then immediately sounded quizzical, "What are you doing?"

Celine noticed it too and questioned, "Yes, Dart, what ARE you doing?" I looked at both of them, Ly closer to me than Celine. The little dragon stuck her nose out in curiosity. Celine pointed out, "You've been crouching right there for a long time. Feeling sick?"

I replied, getting back to work, "No. Nothing that concerns you."

The blue sky dragon pressed again, "What are you doing, human?"

Ly moved around my form. Then she asked, "Hey...Is that a bone? What are you doing with that bone?"

I answered flat out without denying, "I'm picking the lock on the shackle."

"Oh." Celine remarked, "That figures. Can you do me a favor and get mine off after you're done? It's making my neck itch."

I just ignored her, feeling perspriation building up on my forehead as I continued to concentrate on the lock. Ly asked again, since she didn't seem to get at first what I was doing, "Are you trying to get that off your leg, is that what you're doing?" She planted her haunches on the floor, stating concernedly, "Well, I understand trying to feel comfortable, it does look a little tight on you. I tried telling Garo about that today, but he wouldn't listen to a word about it. All he did was grumble. I know you got in trouble before, but I don't understand why you need some more...'Security', is that what it's called? Especially since it's tightened around your leg. I think that's a bit extreme. It's like getting grounded for eating something that did not belong to you, only it's also like having your head stuck in something. By the way, have you ever got your head stuck before?" She giggled, "I did, that one time. It was thanks to a-"

I groaned in frustration, and finally snapped in a whisper, "Will you be quiet already?! I'm trying to get out of here!"

Ly cocked her head, "Wait, you're trying to escape again?"

"Shhh! Keep your voice down!" I confirmed with a nod, "Yes, I am! I'm getting out of here. Right now."

Celine said as I went back to work on the shackle again, "You don't give up do you? Even when the odds are stacked against you?"

I said, "Not when so many lives are at stake."

Ly warned with a worried face, "But Dart, you already got in big trouble with Messina. If you try escaping again, you'll be in MUCH MORE BIGGER trouble."

I replied hastily, "Yeah, well, don't care."

"But you'll make the queen angry! She won't like it when she finds out. She'll kill you."

I looked to her with seriousness on my face. I asked, "Is pleasing the queen really that important to you? I thought you said you didn't like her so much."

Ly replied shyly, curling her tail around her form, "Well...Yeah. I told you she isn't pleasant to be around."

Celine commented, "You got that right, Ly. She definitely isn't a dragon to get along."

I pressed Ly, "Then if you were me, would you rather not spend another minute in this dark place and just leave and not ever see that creepy dragon ever again?"

The hatchling replied surely, "Sure I do. I want to get out of here too. I've been here for who knows how long, and I hate breathing in all this air. I sometimes wonder if I'll ever breathe well again. I do miss seeing the sun, I can't ever tell whether it is day or night around here. Not to mention I miss home. I wanna go back to my mommy and daddy. I haven't seen them since I got taken away from home. I miss them terribly!"

Am I actually wrong about her parents being here? Are they actually someplace else? Do they not work for Messina?

Is she really a prisoner too...Kidnapped like me?

I shoved that thought aside. No, don't trust her! You know she's trying to trick you!

When I went back to work on the lock some more, Ly tried to deter me again, "But Dart, I still don't wanna take finding out that the queen will be angry at me. She can be irritated with me at times, everyone gets irritated by me, but who knows what she'll do to me if she finds out I tried to escape. I can't go, and neither should you!"

I fought back with words, "Then leave me alone. You can't stop me."

She tried to remind me, "You know you can't escape out of this place on your own. I told you, you can't walk away from here on foot. This place is surrounded by cliff and lava! The only way out of here is to fly but you can't, Dart. If you try to get out through either horribly bad thing, you'll die! You can't swim through lava, far as I know cause it's supposed to be SUPER HOT. Hot enough to burn off your wings and tail and ALL your scales and then turn into bones, as Garo put it one time, which is yikes, and I don't wanna know how high the cliff is. You'll never make it! You'll be trapped, and the guards will get you!"

I argued, "I'll take my chances, I'll think of something."

Ly suggested, "Wait...What if I try seeing a vision? Maybe that can help you out." She was shutting her eyes tightly, trying to concentrate through her thoughts, her forepaws on her forehead, "I forsee...Um...."

Celine rolled hers when she mumbled, "Oh ancestors."

"Mmmmmm...." Then she popped her eyes open after another second, and said disappointingly, her wings drooping, "Oof...I got nothing." I scoffed. If you had any at all. I was back to working, grunting with the bone in the keyhole, sweat dripping down my face. Then Ly added, "But I do see if you did everything that Messina says then you'll be ok. I know it."

I said, "Look, thanks for trying to show the foreshadowing, but I don't need anyone's help. I can take care of myself. Your words of warning are duly noted, but that's a risk I'm still willing to take."

Ly warned, a sad tone evident in her voice, "But Messina will kill you."

I replied stubbornly, "Trust me, if I stay here any longer trying to follow the rules instead of breaking them, I'll be dead for sure. It's too dangerous for me to stay."

Ly tilted her head to the side, "I don't get it. How come?"

I think it was better I didn't tell both Ly and Celine that my father's a dragonslayer and that was why. If they knew what a dragonslayer is, or least heard of one, I'm afraid what their reaction will be if they knew I was the son of one. I decided to only tell Ly the half truth, "It's because I already pissed off Messina so much as it is that she doesn't wanna risk me disrupting her games and operations ever again. She's probably planning something with Garo on trying to kill me later. Who knows, it may happen tomorrow."

Ly's eyes went wide, "Yike. Are they really going to?"

I told her, "That's something that I do not wish to find out."

Celine mentioned, "Well, I know that bitch is planning on making me pay for my CRIMES against her. I'm sure that's gonna happen."

Ly dipped her snout in sadness, "I just got new friends..."

Then finally, the shackle snapped. I gasped much to my glee. Yes! That does it! I took the shackle off my ankle and tossed it aside with a clang. I let out a breath of relief. I muttered, the tool that helped me break from the shackle still within my hand as I looked down at it, "Good." I wiped my brow with my forearm and then jogged past Ly, who had just jumped to her feet to continue to watch me, over to the gate, peeking through the bars for any guards that are walking by. I didn't see any other dragon except the ones with me. I noticed that I couldn't pick the gate from the inside, so I had to pick it from the outside. I reached through the bars with the bone in my hand, and tried sticking it in the keyhole in the gate. I groaned while I missed the hole a couple times already, "If...I can just...Get...It...In there..."

Celine called, standing on her feet, her wings flared, "Dart, wait a second."

I shot back over my shoulder, "I don't have time to wait, I'm getting the heck out of here. Whether anyone in here likes it or not."

The big dragon warned, "You won't make it out of here. Not alive maybe."

I fought, "I said I'll think of something. Get off my back."

Ly tried to say, "Dart-"

Celine said, "Don't be an idiot. Think about what Ly is saying."

I spun around, facing both dragons, mostly Celine. I accused her the most, "I suppose you know something that I don't? Like do you know there are guards waiting for me to do my thing? Ringing any bells?"

Celine just glared at me for a long moment. Then she said, "Dart, listen...I know you don't trust dragons. You made that clear. I can understand that. I don't trust anybody either. But this is WAY over your head. If Ly is right about everything then this is beyond your capabilities."

I asked, "So what do you suggest? Just do what everyone says and hope I not die?"

Celine shortly suggested, "Not exactly. I do want to get out of here just as badly as you do. I hate this place possibly more than anybody in this room. I think we should work together. You-"

I cried in a whisper, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What?"

Ly mumbled away nervously on her end, "Oh gosh, this is getting worse."

I refusingly stated, "What's with the WE crap? Who says I wanna work with YOU? I never said we should. You're a damn dragon." No way my dad would AGREE to this idea! No freakin way!

Celine huffed with a roll of her eyes, "Right and you're a damn human. Which is WHY we have to help each other."

I fired back, "This is insane, I can't believe you're suggesting such a thing." I motioned at her with my hand, "You're a dragon, like I said, if you want to ESCAPE then why don't you melt your chains off with your fire breath, and then ram your butt through the bars? How hard can that be?"

The blue dragon replied, "I tried melting the chains before, but to tell you the truth...It won't work. Every time I try, nothing comes out of my mouth." She pointed at the shackle around her neck when she explained, "I don't know how, but for some reason, this shackle must be...Enchanted with magic, or something."

"Magic?" I scoffed as she lowered her paw back to the ground, "Come on. Magic is nothing but a myth!"

"I thought so too. I thought that only existed in stories." Then Celine said, a curious look in her eyes, "But somehow I think it's real as you and us dragons. The dragons that put me here say that it was my shackle that was behind it. What I don't get is how they got hold of something like that."

I called her out on her crap, "I think you're faking with this hocus pocus stuff. Magic isn't real. Look, you can't breathe fire like Ly, right, just admit it. You don't know how to breathe fire like she does, right? Or are you just faking it?"

"Huh?" Celine looked geuninely surprised at first. Then she frowned, tilting her head confusingly at Ly, "Is he serious about what he said?"

Ly acted like she was embarrassed. She confessed, "It's true..."

"How can that be?" The older dragon said, sounding perplexed by the revelation, "I know your neck isn't shackled, so that can't be it. I thought hatchlings at your age know how to breathe fire by now. What gives?"

Before Ly could reply, I moaned in annoyance, "Can we get back to the topic at hand please. Alright, if you want to play dumb and say you can't breathe fire, fine, then try pulling your chain off the wall. You don't look weak either you know. You must be strong enough to do it."

Celine narrowed her eyes at the statement, "First off, I'm not playing dumb. I'm serious, I can't breathe fire at the moment. Second, tried the other option, didn't work either. And no, I'm not weak. I know I can do it, it's just I literally can't. I think the chain is part of the enchantment too. You'll have to set me free. That bone you have might do the trick."

I refused, "Screw that. I never planned on any of this."

She shrugged her shoulders, her tail wagging behind her, "Well, plans do change..."

I was shaking my head defiantly and waving her off, "Not this one, no way!" I turned away and crossed my arms across my chest in a huff.

Ly said worriedly, "I'm kinda with Dart, Celine. I don't want BOTH of you to go. This is sounding like a very dangerous idea that can very easily backfire. I can't lose you both now...I just met you."

Celine argued, "I get it, Ly. You like having us both around and you enjoy our company, even though you don't know us. But I can't take staying here any more. If we're making an escape, then it's better we do it tonight. For Dart especially...This may be his big, slim chance."

I gazed to her once more with distrustful eyes. I said in that tone, "Yeah, but this chance could become fatal. I can't trust you, I don't even know you."

Celine spoke, "I don't know you that well either, but I'm still willing to get you out of here. Regardless of my solitude attitude."

I let out some more accusatory words, "And how do I know you won't betray me when we're far enough away from the dungeons? How do I know this ain't a trap you cooked up along with your so called buddies?"

Ly said a bit, trying to diffuse this I think, "Dart..."

Celine told me, "If you think I've been working alongside Messina this whole time, let me promise you...I hate taking orders. I am my own dragon, nothing more. And besides, since you witnessed my conversation with that queen earlier, did it look like we're working together? Think about it. Do I look like I consider her my BFF?"

I lowered my gaze to the ground. Honestly, looking at things again from my point of view, that conversation really did feel a little too real. Like there really was some true animosity between those two female dragons. Not to mention Ly acting like Ly, like another child being taken away from her home.

But it's hard to believe it...What if I'm wrong?

Dad...What would you do in this situation?

The blue scaled dragon said without taking her serious eyes off me, "Dart...I know you went through a lot and it's hard to believe my words. I totally understand how you feel. And I'll totally understand if you won't put your trust in me. But, if you are close to being dead, then you don't have much of a choice. Just...Let's put our differences aside for a while and work on getting out of here. Just this once. You do that, I can guarantee your safety, and your flight to freedom. I can assure you that I will get you out of here alive. I will get us all out of here alive."

Ly turned to her to ask, her face filled with surprise, "What? You mean-?"

Celine swore, "Of course, Ly. I'm not leaving you here. You're coming too."

The yellow hatchling tried to protest in a stuttered voice, "B-But...I can't go, I-"

But Celine interjected by reassuring her, "I'll keep you safe until then, I promise." Then she focused back on me, "But you have to release me from this shackle. If you don't, then we'll never get out of here. I can't do it by myself. I need your help, Dart. Please."

I stared at her, then at the floor, then Ly back and forth several times for a long time, with careful consideration. I know Ly's right that I cannot get out of this place alone, and that I do need somebody with wings to fly me out of here. On one hand, I was afraid of being betrayed by the two dragons at the end. But on the other, I was looking back at everything I saw about them, and I partly started to believe them, even against my own judgement.

I guess...There's only one thing to do.

I'll only HALF trust them. And then after we escape, IF we escape, IF I escape, then I'll cut ties with them and we'll go our separate ways. Then that way I won't have to take chances with them anymore. Maybe my dad would think this is a good idea.

I guess...

Celine is right...I don't have much of a choice. I have to trust her...A little bit. I looked at Ly, who appeared more nervous than before despite Celine's reassurance. And maybe it'll not make me feel any guilty than when I leave her scaly butt behind here. I suppose I can trust her too a little bit.

They're both acting like prisoners...I suppose I can do it...For them.

And if they do betray me...I'll still do something about it, and try to do things my way without any help from them.

I just hope I'm making the right decision.

I took a deep breath and let it out. I looked directly at Celine with a serious expression. I nodded a bit, "Alright...I'll do it." I pointed a finger at the bigger dragon, "But, I will only do this till we're far away from here. Then after that, we're done."

Celine shrugged when she said, "That's fine. I want to go my own way alone when we're out of here anyway."

The rib bone gripped tightly in my hand, I strolled across the cell to where Celine as she slid to her stomach again. As her neck was reachable for my hand, I found the keyhole on her shackle a moment later. I raised the bone up to the metal object. I was about to insert the pointed end in the keyhole when I froze in midair, having some second thoughts. I looked her directly in the eye and demanded, "If I set you free...You promise you won't rat me out in the end?"

Celine assured, "I don't wanna stay here longer than I cannot bear. I'm done with this place. I'm ready to leave as badly as you are. Besides...I do want to eat my meals whenever I want."

I looked at her for a long time, then gave her a quick nod, and started picking the lock in the shackle.