Ice Dragon

A Goal for the Best

"You want to what?" Maximus looks at me as I look back with a serious face. I really wanted this, I needed this, and would do everything for me. I'm tired of being told what to do for myself, it was time I do something I wanted. Be myself without clipping my wings, learn to be a dragon, my way. Be wild and proud for once, login in the human world was nothing but a solid cage. Though living in New York did let me embrace my human side with some pride with the many experiences with other humans, good or bad. I know nothing about being a dragon beside the small basics or less. I mean something and the only way to learn that is by being a dragon the dragon way.

I show Maximus the message again, "I want to leave, I need to be alone for a while. It's time I became what I needed to be." Maximus sighs, he sits in the chair. He scratches his head and puts the note aside.

"Look we just got here, we risked everything just to keep you safe and hidden from this world. And suddenly you're trying to go out alone into the world?" I nod no and sit beside him writing. "That's not it, I'll be somewhere where no one can find me. For years I had my dragon side locked away to never experience my own world. Not that my form is all that different but I am older, this is what I need. I need to be what I am, a dragon." Maximus huffs, he pats my head which was awkward so he stopped. We decided to talk more about it later, I would be able to most likely leave after we all got settled here. I was nervous to tell Yoshiro, he'd probably take it to heart.

"Hey guys, can I get you anything?" I look up seeing Rita. But what caught my attention was the look on Maximus face. Now if I were a regular person who doesn't really know Maximus that well, then I would see a normal face. But since I know him, the look in his eyes were feeling with stars and hearts. I tap him making him blink a few times to look at me. "We'll just have some smoked salmon, I want potatoes with mine." Rita nods and walks off. I look at Maximus.

"What?" I made kissy faces at him, only to get my arm pinched. I smile at him though my arm throbbed in pain, then made a heart with my hands. Maximus tries not to show he's flustered and grabs at my cheeks, "I don't like her, and butt out my life." He's crushing on her alright, usually he'd get into science about a woman's compatibility with a brick wall and how it's a waste of time. No, Rita was different, she's under Mari's wing so she learned proper talk so that meant no more slang. She's pretty smart, and fit from what I can tell. He thinks she's pretty, he wants to hug her, and wants to love her. He wants to date her, and give her flowers. Alright I'm getting off track.

I ate my smoked salmon noticing Maximus staring at Rita every once in a while, I got distracted eating to notice the things he mumbled. When he got a doggy bag I watched Maximus talk to Rita, saying only kind complimenting words to her. Alright back to the song, he thinks she's pretty....

Afterwards we went home where Yoshiro was bringing in firewood he brought. "Hey guys." I hold up a doggie bag of the salmon Maximus ordered. "You know, maybe ordering something besides fish would be nice." I roll my eyes, such a sarcastic remark. This its true, ever since we got home, fish has become the main part of their diet. I personally found it better then their usual diet back at home, pizza, pretzels, and other junk. While Yoshiro eats I watch staring, leading him to only take his plate and eat in his room. Oh well I'll try to get some next time.

So later, while Maximus reads up on myths on dragon type creatures, Yoshiro and I took a fly. He's actually getting the hang of it, finding where to hold on, what not to do. I remember he used to grip at my scale, now he has so e rope of hold onto. He even learned to jump off my back and doing trust falls with me. It was a great experience, I have grown a custom to letting him lead. Sort of steering me getting me to do tricks, though at first I practically threw him off my back and into the water. He enjoys the thrill and we often like enemies for practice. Of course it ends when he cheats then things get serious, and I use fire then ice, we get in trouble, etc.

"I can't leave you guys for five whole minutes without this happening. Next time wash up in the water outside!" Maximus sighs and walks inside.

Soon the next day had came, usually I would go out fishing in the water during the morning but I decided to talk to Yoshiro about my plans. He wasn't too pleased either but acknowledged my personal struggles. "I was thinking of doing some training myself, being a knight isn't all about honor and sword fighting. I was thinking of looking at my roots." This wasn't a complete shock to me, I knew being a knight was important to him, I never thought to talk to him about leaving his family. We have so much to learn from each other, so much to grasp that's right in front of us. Maximus wakes up joining us at the table after making a cup of coffee. I never really liked coffee at first, but that's because there was no sugar or cream, so I had a bad first impression of it. But Maximus practically made me promise not to drink any, something about not needing it and how he works ten times more than me.

"So your both thinking of leaving, where would you guys even go. How will you live?" Yoshiro plans to go back to New York, he wouldn't tell us what he's planning to do about his father and crazy sister. But Yoshiro is pretty confident. I plan to live in the coldest places in the world traveling at night and never to change in my human form unless necessary. I also didn't give any specific details on my plans, in case they followed me.

So the plans were made, Maximus was ticked for hours about it but he agreed to help us. I told Yoshiro about Rita and he laughed so hard he fell off the couch. Maximus would deny it completely, at least he'd have us out his hair for a while. Let him continue his research or whatever he likes.

I decided to see Mari and talk to her about everything. She agreed that I should spread my wings and fly but to come home one day when I'm ready to settle things. "What about your relationship with Yoshiro?" I tilt my head, what about him? Me and Yoshiro have become close during our escape, I still wonder why he did. Ever since I said his name back in New York, I became careful around him. I only spoke one word in the past, Grandpa, now it's Yoshiro too. Maximus and I are still unable to see why. I had tried to repeat words for days with no luck. "Yoshiro seems to be special to you, people like them have to stay close to you or you lose them. Though you two are different, your both needed and I can see your relationship will be the best I have seen in my years." I nod.

She let be go to the back where I got myself a nice trout to eat, nice and fresh from the sea. Before I left I heard Mari and Yoshiro speaking. Suddenly I felt very interested and spied from behind the door. "What brings you here Yoshiro?"

"I came to talk about Angel. Something I'd like to know." Why didn't he just ask me? He's always holding something from me, making me frustrated.

"What is it that you want to know? Though I probably won't be much help." Mari is so sweet and honest. "Tell me how Angel got to be with her Grandfather."

"That's is a long story, but I'm willing to tell you if you answer a simple question for me."

"Seems fair. I am asking a lot." Yeah you're asking a lot, that's my personal past. I don't even know why your a knight or why your dad lost his screws in his head! I wanted to bust through the door but I wanted to know what Mari wanted to know and why. Mari isn't usually the kind to ask about others or themselves.

"Tell me why you are beside my dear Angel? She is nice indeed but you must have a motive." I was a bit shocked and curious myself. The words that rolled off her tongue sounded like snakes, as if she was intimidating. She has definitely changed a lot, or I was too young to even notice these things. But a pressed my ear to the door to listen closely to the answer.....

After three months of preparations, we were on the move. Maximus gave us both two gifts before we left. I left first turning into my dragon form before flying off before dawn could come. Our goodbyes were sour, we said we'd come back in a year, but then we thought for maybe longer. But in the end we let fate decide, which made us sad but happy for our journey. Yoshiro would be on a ship back home, sailing through the sea. I hoped he would find the answers he was looking for.

I wouldn't worry, I would return to everyone and I'll tell Yoshiro about hearing him talking to Mari.

A knight is to protect, and I promised myself I would help Angel because I am her knight. That was his answer, and his answer alone.