Michlee's Dragon

"Michlee, for the last time, you don't need a dragon!"the woman told the nine year old girl standing before her."I'm tired of all the nonsense you've been chewing on. It's been two years since that meddlesome mage told you those silly stories. If you utter one more word to me about dragons, I will tan your hide every day for a week. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Gran," Michlee replied, her eyes on her feet.

"Now get out of here. I have baking to do, and I don't need you under my feet,"Gran ordered.

Bottom lip jutting out rebelliously, Michlee went outside as instructed.

"I do too need a dragon, a good one," the little girl muttered, making sure Gran couldn't hear her.

She pulled herself up to her full height of four feet and stalked across the small yard, disappearing into the forest. She found her usual spot, a large smooth rock, and sat down. A butterfly came by and rested on one of her dirty knees.

"Sandel wasn't a metalsom mage like she said either," she told the pretty insect."He told me some great stories."

The butterfly merely opened and closed its colorful wings slowly. Then, it flew away. Feeling restless, Michlee got up and started walking.

"He told me about some great big dragons with sharp teeth and huge wings. He said they come in all kinds of colors,"she said to noone in particular.

"Sounds like a great story," a voice said from amongst the trees to Michlee's left.

This was followed by a yawn. Michlee frowned.

"Who's talking to me?"she demanded, hands on her tiny hips."You come out here right this instant!"

The bushes parted, and the most beautiful creature Michlee had ever seen stepped out.

It had a striking diamond shaped head, small ears on each side, and its eyes were an enchanting purple color. It smiled and showed pointed teeth. Its pink tongue had a round end which intrigued Michlee. Its snout was blunted and smooth skinned even though it definitely was covered in scales. Its hide kept changing colors in the light as it moved. It had four feet, two small slender forefeet which looked more like hands when it sat up, which it did now, and two thicker, more powerful hind legs. It used its tail, a long affair that was thick at the base and tapered to a slim end, for balance. It also boasted a pair of wings which sat flush to its body. Sitting down, it came to Michlee's belly.

Michlee, surprised and entranced, slowly walked around the thing to inspect it.

"You look like a dragon from one of Sandel's stories, but you can't be because you're just too small,"she decided as she faced it again.

The creature nodded.

"No, I am not a real dragon," it agreed in a silky voice."They're my cousins. I'm a pseudodragon."

"Sudo dragon?"Michlee repeated. She pondered for a moment and then shrugged."If you say so. My name is Michlee. What's yours?"

"My name is Wiljoe,"the pseudodragon replied, and he offered her a clawed forefoot to shake."Nice to meet you."

Michlee solemnly shook Wiljoe's "hand".

"Want to hear one of the stories Sandel told me about real dragons?"she asked.

Wiljoe nodded, his eyes gleaming.

"Very much,"he said.

Michlee settled on a patch of grass, and Wiljoe, still upright, moved to where he could see her face while she talked.

The little girl then launched into a fantastic tale about how a giant black dragon had fought with a smaller white dragon. It was, in the end, defeated by a powerful sorceress with silver hair who was friends with the white dragon.

"And when he fell out of the sky, he crashed into the castle where he died,"Michlee ended with a flourish, acting out the death dive with her hands.

Wiljoe clapped his paws and beamed at her.

"That was a great story!" he exclaimed.

Michlee suddenly noticed the lengthening shadows on the ground and got to her feet.

"It's time for me to go home now,"she announced and looked around in puzzlement."Where do you live Wiljoe?"

"I live in the forest. I used to live with a man named William, but he died so, I left,"he told her.

"Why don't you come home with me then? Gran won't mind,"the little girl offered.

Wiljoe beamed at her again.

"Really?"he asked.

"Uh huh. I may never find a good dragon that's real, but a sudo dragon will work too,"she told him.

"Why do you want a real dragon who's good? There aren't that many left anymore, you know,"Wiljoe informed her as he watched his new friend dust the leaves off her skirt.

"Cause I'm a maiden, and bad dragons like to eat us maidens,"Michlee told him."I know I may never find one, but I'd like to have a good dragon to keep the bad ones from eating me."

Wiljoe's wings half lifted and rattled before settling again.

"I may be small,"he declared stalwartly"but I can keep you from being eaten by a bad dragon just like a good dragon can. Even better than that, I can play games with you and tell you lots of stories."

Michlee was surprised and pleased.

"Really? You promise?" she exclaimed.

Wiljoe nodded gravely.

"I promise," he said.

Michlee gave him a big hug.

"You're even better than having a real dragon,"she declared happily"Let's go home."

They started off down the path together, Wiljoe easily keeping up on his hind legs.

"What kind of stories can you tell me?" Michlee asked as they walked.

"I can tell you about how you're going to grow up beautiful, wise and very, very lucky,"Wiljoe answered.

The End

Michlee's Dragon

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