Dystopia

Chapter 17: Dratch

Wren ran as fast as she could until she got to Marchu's resting place.

"Marchu! I got Cassia and Zaatar..." Wren said while panting.

"Perfect." Marchu yawned and spread her wings. "Jump on." Wren was startled.

"You want me to do what?"

"Jump on!" Said Marchu, getting annoyed.

"All right..." Wren jumped on and held onto two green spikes sticking out of Marchu's head. She felt the rush of the wind, it felt great to be flying. She looked back and saw Cassia and Zaatar flapping their gracious wings. Marchu soared over the aquamarine sea, the sun glistening on the water, making white highlights appear in the sea. Wren couldn't help but feel the green scaly skin, as it calmed her nerves. She knew she shouldn't get too comfy, because she would need to figure out a plan.

"Okay, let's go down to Uruk, I'll go with Zaatar to the village and defeat any Troblins we find." The wind whipped past her, as they were increasing speed. Wren had to squint her eyes.

"I can't hear anything you're saying." Marchu said in an unbothered and tired tone. "I really wanna sleep right now though."

"Oh no!" Wren thought. If Marchu fell asleep, they would immediately fall down into the sea. As she saw the creature's emerald eyes start to slowly close, and she pulled upwards on the green spikes sticking out of her head, forcing Marchu to yank upward.

"Ow! Why would you do that?" Marchu sounded angry. Wren gulped.

"Sorry, I just didn't want you to fall asleep." The dragon grumbled and kept flying forward.

"Once we reach Uruk, I'm going back. This wasn't as fun as I thought." Wren could sense the disappointment and annoyance in Marchu's voice. The words stung worse than she expected. The sea disappeared and a town was seen.

"Hey, Wren, isn't that Dratch?"

"Ummm, yeah." Dratch was the town she grew up in, before Wren moved to the capital of Uruk, Wentali, to become a knight's apprentice. It was also where Xavier, her best friend lived. Suddenly, she remembered Xavier. How it hurt to know he might have been dead. She really hoped the Troblins didn't get him. It looked just as she remembered it. A quaint, little town trying to live its normal life in the middle of a dystopian world. There were only 5 kingdoms in Dystopia, Uruk, the main human kingdom, Tarsi, a small human kingdom in the North which no one ever bothered, Dfilli, the moon elf empire in west, Resha, the sun empire in the east, and Gurr, the Troblin empire. Deep inside the heart of Gurr lied a purple crystal, the shard of the sacred stone of the Jule. Getting involved in human affairs wasn't a very dragon thing to do, but when something so important as the purple crystal was threatened, well, even Ajowan would take action. But nobody knew of the Troblin's secret weapon. Marchu, Cassia, and Zaatar landed on the outskirts of the town, preventing people from seeing them. Zaatar transformed into a young man and Wren handed him an extra sword.

"See you later." Marchu took off with a yawn. Cassia stayed put, deciding to keep a watch. Zaatar and Wren headed off into the town square.

"So....the only thing we're here for is to, number 1, take down the Troblins, and number 2, see if my family is okay." Wren said.

"It'll be nice to see Anna again." Zaatar said. Wren had something else on her mind.

"You know......we might not see her." She sighed and an image of Troblins killing her mother appeared in her mind. Zaatar patted her shoulder.

"It's okay, Wren. I'm sorry, I'm truly am." It felt like Zaatar understood her. They reached the town square. It didn't look like anything had come through here.

"Maybe the Troblins have yet to destroy Dratch." Wren supposed.

"Maybe. But if you're right, we have to warn everyone and meet your mother before it's too late." They set off towards Wren's old home. The two were greeted by a wooden door with a bronze doorknob. Wren knocked on the door.

"Yes, yes, I'm coming!" They heard a woman's voice approach the door. The door opened. Wren gasped. Anna was nothing like she'd remembered. Now she was old and frail, with wrinkles and white hair. Even Zaatar looked surprised. Anna looked like she had seen a ghost.

"Wren? Is that you?" She said with a trembly voice. "I've heard that you're the Queen now, it's crazy! What are you in Dratch for? You should be in Wentali, defending your kingdom! And who is this young man?" Anna raised an eyebrow.

"Mom, no, it's not what it seems. This is Zaatar."

"Zaatar? But-how could you- you know everything-what?"

"It's a long story. The Troblins have yet to attack Dratch and we're here to prevent that from happening. I-is Xavier alive?" Wren said the words with a melancholy tone, almost expecting a no for an answer.
"Xavier! There's someone at the door for you." Anna yelled.
"I'm coming, Mrs. Harmet." Xavier's soothing voice was heard and it brought a tear to Wren's eyes. Xavier looked out the door and tears started pouring down his face as well as Wrens.
"I thought you were gone!"
"Me too!" They hugged each other tightly, and Wren was just glad that Xavier was alive.
"How did you survive? I thought you both were staying in Wentali." Wren asked.
"We immediately left after Xavier told me the news of the war. Sadly, we heard Xavier's parents traveled to Farla, the village that is so close to Wentali and they.....passed."
"Xavier....I'm so sorry." Wren didn't know what to say.
"It's okay. I'm thankful to be alive and that Mrs. Harmet is kind enough to take care of me."
"Well, you've always said you wanted to be a knight, maybe you can help us defend Dratch from the Troblins."
"Of course, anything for my Queen." Xavier bowed.
"Xavier, don't bow. You've been my best friend for forever. I'm not going to treat you differently because I'm Queen."
"All right. I have my sword on the ready." And with that, they left. Xavier held Wren's hand as they walked to the center of the town.

"Attention, citizens! This is your Queen speaking! All of you must be prepared to fight, and if you're not, stay inside your homes. The Troblins will be here any minute now!" Commotion and clamor was heard as soon as the words were uttered from Wren's mouth. People appeared outside of their homes with swords and spears, looking scared but prepared for what was to come. And Wren had yet to get used to calling herself the "Queen". The words felt weird to utter out of her mouth. Every time she did, she remembered Adelphia, and the whole incident. It didn't feel right to rule when it was obvious she was a way better ruler. But.....she was gone now. And although it hurt, it also drove a feeling in her gut, "To get revenge. To restore peace to the kingdom." Wren thought. She squeezed Xavier's hand, hoping for the best. When she first heard of Troblins, Wren had imagined to find a way for them to coexist. But the Troblins had proved to her shortly after that they didn't think it was possible, nor did they want to. Peace didn't seem like an option. As a single salty teardrop went down Wren's cheek, she saw a swarm of the creatures stomping and kicking up the red dust in the land, about to kill the rest of the things she knew and loved.

But this time, she wasn't going to let them. She had the power to fight back, along with the help of the citizens of Dratch.