Forgotten Heroes

19-Another chapter you'll HATE me for....

SHADE'S POV... 1 year LATER.
I'm looking around, to see if anyone is around.
No one.
I think back to my brother, how we lost him to a confused gaurd.
I let a tear fall, but dry it before my target sees it.

They won't take me seriously if I cry, they'll think I'm weak.

I see a breath-taking girl sitting in the garden, holding a guitar.
Her brown hair draped over her shoulder.

Aha! Mi'lady awaits!

I sneek forward, hidding behind shrubs and pots.

I don't let my feet make a sound, and slow my breathing.

I finger the box as I get ready to scare her.

I see her shift around, waiting for something.

My golden tail sways against the cobbles as I remeber the day we fell hopelessly.

Ah. I just wish this happened at a better time.

It's been a year  since my brother was assumed dead.

Today, and a year ago today, the dragons have disappeared. We assume to mourn, but they seemed excited. Even the meanest and the angriest smiled like hatchlings.

I try not to think about the memorial later today, but instead on my mission.
I can't believe Ario put me up to this.
Ario is my Fire dragon, and she decided to give me this box to amush the girl with.

I see her stand up, and call, "Shade! Come out."

Darn it.

I stand up to my full height, and she hugs me.
I hug her back.
We share a quick kiss, then she asks a question.

She asks, "Were you trying to scare me, Shade Farthing?"
I nod, fakig being ashamed of my actions.

She laughs, and notices I have one hand behind my back.

She freezes, afraid of what I have back there.

I smile, and lower myself to one knee.

I draw out the box.

A metallic dragon scale lay inside the box.
It's encased in glass.

She bursts out crying, and hugs me .

I sway, then stand up.
She screams, her voice like tiny bells, "YES!"

My heart stops racing, and flies out of my mouth in silence.
My eyes go wide, and I hug her back.

You see, today I found one of Pandoras' scales on my bed and a note from my late brother with the seal of the Dragon kingdom and yesterdays' time stamp.

It said I was welcome to marry Libbia, oddly enough.

Somehow, he knew before he died that I would want his beloved Libby. And he gave me permission in the traditional matter. A scale from his dragon and a note.

The highest honour, I'm telling you.

So here we are.
A year since I got free. A year since I lost my brother. 360 days since I found my true love.
A minute after we decided to wed.

I only wish he was here to see us. He'd probably tell me that scarring her was a dumb plan.
Or he'd told me how.
Ario appears, and hugs us in a bone crushing hug.

The principal rushes out, screaming.
Students follow.

Then, an amazing thing happens.

A paper, floating by itself woth no aura drifts towards me.

It lands in my hands.
I read it, and realize it's an invite to a coronation of a dragon king.

I hand it to Libby, stunned.

She turns red.

She then frowns, angry.

She snaps, "This is an old one, Shade. Do not entertain pointless ideas in your head. A man can only cheat deatg a few times before it bites back. Apollo got bit, and his life ran out. You saw him disappear. You saw him bleeding out."

I step back, suprised by her.
You think she'd enjoy the idea of him being alive.

I declare, "I will be here."

She stares at me with a disturbed expression.

She demands, "What was that for, Shade?"

I reply, "If you studied hard in school, you would know. I just wish that I caused no extra grief on anyone."

She sighs, and walks away with the teachers and students.

I look up, knowing he location of my home kingdom.

I hear Ario going to take off for the kingdom.

I call, "WAIT!"

I call towards the kingdom, "I'm taking Ario up! Never mind the carriage!"

Ario nods in agreement, and I vault on after running beside Airo.

The paper begins to glow as we get closer.

A dark cloud dangles over the kingdom, indicating the king is depressed or upset.

I brace myself for what could be the worst visit home I've ever had.

Ario reminds me, "It may also be the best one you've ever had."

J sigh, and remember what my feoncè said.

Do not entertain pointless ideas. You saw him disappear. You saw him bleed out a golden blood.