𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 ☁️

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆

Atlas walked into his cavern, shocked at the surprising events before. He flopped hopelessly on his bed and stared at the open sky through the square shaped window. He clenched his snout, desperate to get out, desperate to do something. But there was nothing he could do.

He instantly jolted up, he could hear yelling in the room beside. He couldn't be still so he crept outside and stopped at Sunset's and Cosmo's room. He wasn't usually an eavesdropper, but he didn't feel like he had a choice this time.

"Why can't Atlas come? I don't get it?" A voice asked, which Atlas guessed was Sunset.

"You heard the prophecy!" Cosmo's outraged voice yelled. "One shall be abandoned by a friend, I couldn't handle it if it was Atlas." Cosmo said the last line affectionately, Atlas couldn't help but smile.

"Cosmo, I know, but I'm sure he wouldn't just drop out again, I've talked to him, he was pretty sincere." Sunset replied. Atlas mentally sighed.

Of course they're arguing about me... Just my luck to be eavesdropping now...

"Yeah, but what if he does?" Cosmo protested.

"He won't"

"He might!!"

"I've talked to him..."

"That's not enough!"

"It has to be!" Sunset was yelling now. Atlas felt slightly ashamed that they both were getting worked up over him...

"He's not going!!" Cosmo yelled, answered by a small 'shh' from Sunset. "You know I can't lose him again..." Cosmo was crying now. Atlas stepped away from the door, wincing.

Why? Atlas asked himself. Why me? Atlas felt a voice quiver in his brain, startling him out of his scales.

Who needs them? It said in a raspy voice.

Me... Atlas answered in a tiny voice. The voice sounded evil, but Atlas had no-one else to talk to, everyone shied away when he walked past, ignoring him.

Go find your own answers! The voice continued as if Atlas hadn't said a word, I can give you your own prophecy if you want?

'The worthless child has to learn

to find his own answers

And forget his friends

Forget...'

'How did that sound?' The voice asked, a hint of a chuckle in his voice. Well, Atlas guessed it was a he, the voice was deep and forceful, as if he was trying to push something with his words.

Uhm... Atlas replied. He didn't know what to say, either this was some sort of hallucination in his mind? Or an actual powerful dragon was somehow talking to him, and if Atlas insulted him, he would blast Atlas to shreds.

It didn't really give me an answer... Atlas finally replied after building up most of his courage, or most of his stupidness.

Look, I wasn't supposed to do this, but I'll give you a vision, just this once...

Atlas paused. He was always terrified of visions. They creeped him out. It was like, doo-dee-doo-dee-doo, oh i'm having a vision! Catch me! Bla bla bla bla, which was probably dramatic, but pretty close. But, how could he have a vision? How powerful was this mystical dragon?

Maybe this is the dragon you've been waiting for. Maybe this is the dragon you can trust... A side of his brain whispered, trying to persuade him. Atlas didn't think so... But maybe his brain had a point. His friends were technically abandoning him to go fulfil his dreams without him, and he would be stuck here alone, talking to an invisible dragon in his mind.