Hatch: A Dragon Story

Chapter IX: Shock and Transformation

"Finally..." he said. clasping the stones in his claw. "I have done what I have always dreamed of doing. The Deplorable stones are now MINE!"

He cackled as thunder split the sky, and then he rose up and lifted the stones into the air.

"I want more than just victory," he said. "I want a kingdom! I want servants! I want to become the most powerful dragon in the world!"

Suddenly, from out of the stones came an explosion of light and magic. Bolts of lightning connected with the stones and a massive tornado formed around him. The wind howled along with the triumphant cry of Smaug the Magnificent. Yes. That name sounded perfect.

Smaug's skinny and peevish body grew wide and massive. His jaws became like a mountainous cave. and his scales grew brown and thick. On his head, there rose giant spikes and his claws transformed into butcher knife-like talons.

His roar was one which you could hear for miles. It wasn't a sharp, horse roar. It was deep, loud, slow and clear.
And his eyes... those pale, yellow eyes made you want to run and scream.

Suddenly millions of dark dragons formed in the sky and flew downwards towards their master and waited for instruction. Meanwhile, a dark mouth formed in the mountain which stretched high and wide.

"YES!" bellowed Smaug."I Have Done IT! I HAVE DONE IT! NOW, I SHALL BE THE RULER OF THE WORLD!!!"

~~

"Let me go, you foul beast!" screamed Olivias, trying her best to bite Marman's claws.

"Quit fiddling, you rotten human," spat Marman, unaffected by her tantrum.

"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!" cried Olivias. "Please, let me go. LET ME GO OR I'LL SHREAD OFF YOUR HEAD WITH MY BARE HANDS."

She's a feisty little one, thought Marman. Feisty but completely useless. As soon as I take her back to the Dragon City, everyone will thank me once and for all and probably treat me like a hero.

"Listen, dragon," pleaded Olivias. "I, like most people, am afraid of heights. Please can you drop me for just a minute so I can just collect myself and then you can carry me again?"

"We will continue flying," said Marman. "We won't stop until we have reached a good landing point with a cave and water."

Marman heard Olivias squeal with fright as they zoomed over high mountains.

After twenty minutes of flying, Marman heard Olivias snoring.  He sighed. He understood how frightened this human was, but they had murdered his mother! Revenge was the only thing he had sought, and he'd found it.

After three hours of flying, Marman landed on a stone cliff next to a waterful and also with a cave. He dropped Olivas uncaringly on the hard stone surface and she immediately awoke, looking around her at the lush scenery.

"Father?" she asked looking around. "Did you take me here? Where am I? Oh, father, you won't believe the dream I had..."

She suddenly saw Marman tossing a fish down in front of her, which he had just snatched out of the waterfall.

"What's this?" she asked miserably.

"Lunch," he said without turning to her.

He didn't want to bother with Olivias's lunch,  but Marman thought he might as well fatten the little goblin up before he hands her over to the Tester in the Dragon City.

"I can't eat raw fish!" she cried, staring aghast at the open-eyed cod.

"And why not?"

"Well... because it just is isn't what humans are meant to eat."

"Listen hear you spoiled little orc," said Marman, towering over Olivias, "You eat what I give you. I will not take nonsense from a little human girl. If you do not eat this fish in less than five minutes, I will eat the fish and have you for dessert. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," Olivias frantically nodded her head and said no more as she chewed disgustingly on the fish's meaty skin. Once or twice she choked on the rotting taste and Marman gave her a hard stare.

Eventually, the sky began to grow dark and the wind blew hard.

Olivas chattered uncontrollably as she hovered over the roaring fire.

"Can't I sleep in the cave with you?" she questioned Marman. "It's awfully cold out here."

"No," Marman replied from inside the wide cave. "This is a lesson for you and all humans."

Olivias had once tried to escape, but when she tried getting up to leave, Marman would roar from inside the cave, "Try escape, little orc and you'll regret it. You'll die alone in the freezing forest without my fire."

Olivias knew he was right and seated herself back down next to the flames clutching her sides as the wind howled.

Marman looked out through the cave at the little girl, her teeth chattering and hair blowing wildly in the wind, and he felt a tiny bit of empathy for her. After all, had she done anything at all to cause his mother's death? Sure, humans had, but had she specifically?
Marman slumped out of the cave and lay next to the fire with Olivias.

"The cave's all your's," he said. "But don't try anything stupid."

Olivas nodded gratefully and ran into the cave as fast as she could.

Marman didn't mind the cold. Instead, he embraced it as he stretched out on the stony cliff. Then he fell into a long and restful sleep.

When Marman awoke, he slumped towards the cave entrance and called out through the blackness, "Rise and shine human female! We have a long journey to make if we want to get to the Dragon City!"

Marman heard no reply, so he lumbered into the cave until he saw something that froze his very insides. It was a dragon. A purple one curled up and fast asleep. 

"NO!" cried Marman. "This can't happen! Another dragon had entered the cave and has eaten the very key to my success!"

The purple dragon opened one eye and yawned.

"When did this happen?" she said groggily. "Where am I?"

"Why, you thieving..." Marman let out a groan of frustration. "What have you done with the human female? Please don't tell me you ate her!"

"I ate no one," said the dragon.

"Then where is she and what did you do with her!?"

The dragon looked puzzled and replied, "I am her."

End of Part 1