Fireball

Prince Alexander & Amos

"Ashneel, my friend. It has been a long time. Who is your little friend? He looks like a Melanesian Fire Dragon. Smaller usually means deadlier. Extremely rare. What is your name?"

Ashneel shook the prince's hand and grabbed his arm firmly. Fireball just looked on a little confused. How could he understand this wizard but Ashneel needed a spell for them to understand each other.

"Fireball!" he blurted out. "And yes, I am a Melanesian Fire Dragon. I can fly fast, but I'm not deadly. My dad was a little bigger and far more dangerous."

"Well, Fireball," the prince began. "I think you may be far more powerful than you know. I'll bet you fly faster than your father and I'll bet no dragon can match your flame. Oh, and to answer your other question, I speak dragon all the time, so I don't like to waste time casting a spell. I've developed a more permanent solution."

Ashneel looked at Fireball. "That is exactly why we are here. Prince Alexander Simian is the most powerful wizard, certainly, that I have ever met. He has travelled the world, taught at the best wizarding schools and chaired the World Wizarding Council for many years."

The prince patted Ashneel on the shoulder. He was sure his old friend did not make this trek just to boast his accolades to a dragon, so he smiled and asked how he could help. Ashneel explained how a wizard and his followers were kidnapping dragons, testing spells and potions on them and eventually killing them.

Prince Simian looked disgusted and called back into the castle. He twirled his wand and several chairs spun up out of nowhere. Ashneel and the prince sat down. Cautiously Fireball just hovered above one of the chairs. Another wizard appeared at the arch of the front door. Fireball noticed he was much younger and taller than the other wizards. He had a long beard that was dark in colour. Fireball guessed the wizard was close to 7 feet tall.

Alexander spoke. "I'm afraid I can guess who the wizard is performing these tests and torturing the dragons. He is a wizard who will stop at nothing to become more powerful. Oh." The prince interrupted himself. "I'd like you to meet one of my most gifted students. His name is Amos and actually he is six feet, eight inches tall, Fireball." The old wizard smiled at the little dragon.

How did he do that, wondered Fireball? How did this wizard keep answering what he was thinking?

"Hello Fireball, Ashneel." Amos said. "Actually, I think I'm six feet seven and a half inches, but you were close. What brings you to Eldridge Castle today?"

As Ashneel explained, Amos stroked his long, dark beard and nodded his head slowly. "I would suggest we enjoy the evening tonight at the castle and tomorrow we can head back to Finstock island tomorrow. We want to first confirm our suspicions as to the wizard carrying out these heinous crimes, before we act. If it is Marcello, we will be in for a battle."

Ashneel did not look comfortable, but Fireball warmed quickly to Amos. He was very friendly. Maybe, thought Fireball, his mom was right. Maybe all wizards weren't evil.