The Trial of the First Dragon

Joey couldn't feel his legs anymore.

He could hear Cassandra saying his name.

He could feel her arms around him.

He could hear Behemoth speaking somewhere nearby.

But everything sounded distant.

The blue-white light from the ancient magic circle filled his vision.

Then everything went black.

---

Joey opened his eyes.

He was standing.

That was the first thing he noticed.

The second was that he wasn't in the Dragon's Graveyard anymore.

He stood on a vast black plain beneath a sky filled with stars.

There was no moon.

No wind.

No sound.

Joey looked down at himself.

His clothes were gone, replaced by what he had been wearing when he first entered the Graveyard.

He turned in a slow circle.

“Cassandra?”

Nothing.

“Behemoth?”

Silence.

Joey took a step.

“Anybody?”

A voice answered.

“You came.”

Joey froze.

The voice wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be.

It seemed to come from everywhere at once.

Joey turned.

A shape appeared in the darkness.

At first it looked like a mountain.

Then it moved.

Four enormous legs stepped forward.

A head the size of a building emerged from the darkness.

Two ancient eyes opened.

Joey stared.

The creature was beyond enormous.

Its scales were the color of ancient stone, but faint blue light moved beneath them like veins of lightning.

Its horns curved backward from its skull.

Its wings disappeared into the darkness behind it.

Joey's mouth went dry.

“You're the first dragon.”

The ancient creature lowered its head.

“I am one of the first.”

Joey swallowed.

“I came to ask for your power.”

“I know.”

Joey took another step.

“I need it.”

“You need many things.”

Joey nodded.

“My friends are in danger.”

“The world is in danger.”

“Yes.”

“And you believe my power will save them.”

“I believe it gives us a chance.”

The dragon studied him.

“You speak as though you understand what you ask.”

“I don't.”

The dragon's eyes narrowed.

Joey continued.

“But I'm asking anyway.”

“Why?”

Joey thought about it.

“Because Leviathan won't stop.”

The dragon said nothing.

“He has an army,” Joey continued. “He's killed people. He's destroying clans. He wants Taylor because he thinks he can use her to make himself immortal.”

Joey clenched his fists.

“And if nobody stops him, he'll keep going.”

“You are not the strongest creature in this conflict.”

“I know.”

“You are not the most experienced.”

“I know.”

“You are not the most powerful.”

“I definitely know that.”

For the first time, the dragon's expression seemed almost amused.

“You admit your weakness freely.”

“I'd be an idiot not to.”

The dragon lowered its head.

“Then tell me why I should give you power.”

Joey looked directly into its eyes.

“Because I won't quit.”

The dragon stared at him.

Joey continued.

“I don't know if I'm strong enough. I don't know if I'm good enough. I don't know if I'll survive.”

He took another step.

“But I'm going to keep trying until I can't.”

The dragon's eyes brightened.

“Words are easy.”

Joey nodded.

“I figured you'd say that.”

“Then prove them.”

The ground disappeared.

---

Joey hit stone.

Hard.

Pain exploded through his body.

He rolled onto his back and gasped.

Before he could move, something struck him across the ribs.

He flew several feet.

He landed hard.

He tried to stand.

Something hit him again.

Then again.

Then again.

There was no warning.

No explanation.

No chance to prepare.

Joey tried to defend himself.

He failed.

Something struck his stomach.

He doubled over.

A blow caught the side of his head.

He fell.

The pain was overwhelming.

He tried to crawl away.

A foot came down on his back.

The ground cracked beneath him.

“Get up.”

Joey pushed himself upright.

Another blow.

He hit the ground.

“Get up.”

He tried again.

Another blow.

“Get up.”

Joey screamed.

“I'M TRYING!”

The attack continued.

Hours passed.

Or days.

Joey couldn't tell.

Every time he fell, the voice ordered him to stand.

Every time he stood, something knocked him down.

His ribs felt broken.

His arms barely worked.

His legs shook uncontrollably.

He crawled forward.

“Get up.”

Joey pushed himself upright.

He was barely standing.

Another blow sent him crashing down.

He lay there.

He couldn't move.

The voice spoke again.

“Get up.”

Joey laughed weakly.

“You've got to be kidding me.”

Nothing answered.

Joey pushed himself up.

His hands shook.

He stood.

Then another blow came.

---

The physical pain eventually changed.

The world changed with it.

Joey found himself standing in the manor.

Everything looked normal.

Too normal.

Harold's voice came through the house.

“Joey, Cassandra has requested your presence.”

Joey smiled.

“Harold?”

No answer.

He walked down the hallway.

He heard laughter.

Crystal.

He entered the room.

Crystal stood there.

She smiled at him.

Then something grabbed her from behind.

Joey froze.

A blade passed across her throat.

Crystal collapsed.

“No!”

Joey ran toward her.

The room disappeared.

He was somewhere else.

Taylor stood in front of him.

Her crimson wings were spread.

Joey smiled.

“Taylor.”

She looked frightened.

“Joey, help me.”

A massive hand closed around her.

Leviathan appeared behind her.

Joey charged.

He couldn't move.

His feet were stuck.

Leviathan tore one of Taylor's wings.

Joey screamed.

“No!”

Taylor looked directly at him.

“Why didn't you save me?”

The scene vanished.

---

Joey stood in the supernatural shop.

Greta was behind the counter.

Crystal was beside her.

Elias was examining some strange magical device.

Valerie leaned against the wall.

Everything seemed normal.

Greta smiled.

“Joey.”

He relaxed.

Then Elias suddenly stabbed Crystal.

Joey lunged.

Valerie attacked him.

Greta watched.

Joey stared at her.

“Greta?”

She looked at him coldly.

“You were never worth protecting.”

The room vanished.

---

Joey was back in the manor.

Malcolm stood in the center of the room.

He was covered in blood.

Joey ran toward him.

“Malcolm!”

Malcolm looked at him.

“You left me.”

“No.”

“You left us.”

“No!”

Malcolm raised a massive hand.

The room exploded into darkness.

---

Joey found himself standing beside Cassandra.

She was smiling.

For a moment, everything was peaceful.

Joey reached for her.

She stepped backward.

“You failed.”

“What?”

“You weren't strong enough.”

“No.”

“You couldn't protect me.”

“Cassandra—”

She disappeared.

Joey stood alone.

Then he heard her scream.

He ran toward the sound.

He found her chained to a wall.

Leviathan stood beside her.

Joey attacked him.

Leviathan grabbed Joey by the throat.

Cassandra screamed.

Joey couldn't breathe.

Leviathan smiled.

“You chose her.”

Joey struggled.

“And this is what your choice accomplished.”

The scene disappeared.

---

Joey fell to his knees.

“Stop.”

The dragon's voice answered.

“Why?”

“Because I understand.”

“No.”

Joey looked up.

The dragon stood before him again.

“You understand nothing.”

“I know what you're doing.”

“You think this is about pain.”

Joey looked at his broken hands.

“It isn't?”

“No.”

The dragon stepped closer.

“This is about choice.”

Joey stared at it.

“You have been beaten.”

“Yes.”

“You have been frightened.”

“Yes.”

“You have watched those you love die.”

Joey's eyes filled with tears.

“Yes.”

“You have been betrayed.”

“Yes.”

“You have been shown every reason to abandon your purpose.”

Joey looked down.

“I know.”

“And yet you continue.”

Joey wiped his eyes.

“I don't want to.”

The dragon waited.

Joey looked up.

“I'm tired.”

The dragon said nothing.

“I'm scared.”

Nothing.

“I don't know how much more I can take.”

The dragon's eyes remained fixed on him.

Joey's voice cracked.

“But I can't quit.”

“Why?”

Joey thought about Cassandra.

Taylor.

Crystal.

Greta.

Malcolm.

Elias.

Valerie.

Behemoth.

Even Harold.

Everyone who had become part of his strange new life.

“Because they're counting on me.”

The dragon shook the world with its voice.

“And if they were dead?”

Joey closed his eyes.

“I'd still keep going.”

“Why?”

Joey opened his eyes.

“Because somebody has to.”

The dragon stared at him.

Then the world disappeared.

---

Joey was alone.

There was no Cassandra.

No Taylor.

No Crystal.

No friends.

No enemies.

No voices.

Nothing.

Just darkness.

He stood there for what felt like years.

He screamed.

Nobody answered.

He cried.

Nobody came.

He begged.

Nothing changed.

Eventually Joey stopped screaming.

He sat down.

His head dropped between his knees.

“I can't do this anymore.”

The words echoed.

“I can't.”

Silence.

Joey stared into the darkness.

“I'm sorry.”

A voice answered.

“Are you?”

Joey looked up.

The dragon stood before him.

“You wanted to quit.”

“Yes.”

“You thought about surrender.”

“Yes.”

“You thought about dying.”

Joey nodded.

“Yes.”

“Yet you did not.”

Joey shook his head.

“I almost did.”

“Almost is not the same.”

The dragon lowered its head.

“You have learned something.”

Joey looked at it.

“What?”

“That strength is not the absence of breaking.”

The dragon's eyes burned brighter.

“It is choosing what to do after you break.”

Joey slowly stood.

The dragon looked at him for a long moment.

“You have been tested.”

Joey swallowed.

“Am I done?”

“No.”

Joey sighed.

“Of course not.”

The dragon almost seemed amused.

“This is the final test.”

Joey braced himself.

“What?”

The dragon disappeared.

The darkness vanished.

Joey stood before Cassandra.

She looked exactly as she had the day they met.

She smiled.

“I love you.”

Joey's eyes filled with tears.

“I love you too.”

“You can stay.”

Joey frowned.

“What?”

“You don't have to fight anymore.”

She reached for his hand.

“No more Leviathan.”

Joey stared at her.

“No more hunters.”

She smiled.

“No more monsters.”

Joey looked at her hand.

“No more fear.”

He wanted to believe it.

More than anything.

Cassandra stepped closer.

“You can stay with me.”

Joey closed his eyes.

For a moment, he almost reached for her.

Then he shook his head.

“No.”

The illusion disappeared.

Joey stood alone again.

The first dragon appeared.

“You chose suffering.”

Joey looked at it.

“I chose them.”

The dragon nodded.

“Now you are ready.”

Joey frowned.

“Ready for what?”

The dragon opened its enormous mouth.

Ancient light poured out.

“To carry what you sought.”

---

Pain came instantly.

Joey screamed.

The ancient energy slammed into him.

It didn't feel like electricity.

It felt like being torn apart from the inside.

Every nerve in his body ignited.

His bones felt as though they were breaking.

His muscles seized.

His heart hammered violently.

He collapsed.

The dragon's power poured into him.

Joey screamed again.

He could see everything.

Every dragon.

Every battle.

Every death.

Every fragment of ancient memory contained within the power.

The knowledge was too much.

His mind began to fracture beneath it.

He saw Cassandra.

Taylor.

Crystal.

Greta.

Malcolm.

Elias.

Valerie.

Harold.

Behemoth.

Everyone.

All of them at once.

He felt their fear.

Their pain.

Their love.

Their trust.

And beneath all of it was the ancient power of the first dragons.

Joey's body convulsed.

“I can't!”

The dragon's voice thundered through his mind.

“Yes, you can.”

Joey screamed.

“MAKE IT STOP!”

“No.”

The power intensified.

Joey felt his identity slipping.

He couldn't remember where he was.

He couldn't remember his own name.

He couldn't remember why he had come.

Then he heard Cassandra.

Not through the magic.

Not through his ears.

Through the bond.

Joey.

He grabbed onto the sound.

Taylor's voice followed.

Don't give up.

Crystal.

Come on, idiot.

Greta.

Get your ass back here.

Malcolm.

Stand.

Elias.

You are absolutely not allowed to die before I finish explaining this.

Valerie.

You'd better come back.

Harold.

Your presence is required.

Joey laughed through the pain.

Then he heard Behemoth.

Choose.

Joey opened his eyes.

“I choose.”

The ancient power exploded through him.

The dragon roared.

Joey screamed one final time.

Then the world went white.

---

Joey opened his eyes.

He was lying on the stone beside the ancient magic circle.

Cassandra was holding him.

“Joey?”

He tried to speak.

Nothing came out.

Cassandra's face was covered in tears.

“You're back.”

Joey blinked.

Behemoth stood nearby.

His golden eyes were wide.

“What happened?” Cassandra asked.

Joey swallowed.

“The dragon.”

Behemoth stepped closer.

“What did it say?”

Joey looked toward the ancient circle.

Then he looked at his hands.

Faint golden-blue light moved beneath his skin.

“It said I was ready.”

Behemoth stared.

The ancient energy surrounding the circle had changed.

It was no longer merely radiating outward.

It was connected to Joey.

Cassandra touched his face.

“Are you hurt?”

Joey gave her a weak smile.

“Yeah.”

“How badly?”

Joey looked at her.

“I don't know.”

He tried to sit up.

Cassandra stopped him.

“Don't.”

Joey relaxed back against her.

For the first time since entering the Graveyard, he felt something other than pain.

He felt power.

Not the cold, overwhelming power of something foreign.

Something deeper.

Something ancient.

Something that had chosen him.

Joey closed his eyes.

And somewhere deep inside his mind, the first dragon spoke one final time.

Now prove that you were worthy of it.