I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | XIII | XIV | XV

The sky grew dark as we both stood facing each other like we had the other day. Stars shone brightly down on us, watching what was about to unfold. I could feel the warmth move through me, just beneath the surface. It waited to be released, it waited to join with the Dragon before me. 

No one watched from the bleachers, no teachers or students to interrupt if something went wrong. I shook my head and clenched my fists. Nothing is going to go wrong, I know what I have to do now.

I took a deep breath and calmed my racing heart as the wind blew my hair in front of my eyes. Ethan stood like a statue opposite me, his arms were limp at his sides, and his eyes were focused on me. I wanted to fidget under his piercing gaze, but I fought the urge back. Confidence, I needed to project confidence. Or that beast within him would eat me for lunch.

Taking one more deep breath, I nodded at him. “Alright, when I was in the library, I may have taken a small nap. During which I dreamt of fire, I dreamt of you, and I realized whatever I needed to connect with your Dragon had been sleeping within me, and I only needed to pull it out. Accept it as apart of me, if you may.”

Ethan only nodded, crossing his arms across his chest as he did so. “So then, what now?”

I shrugged, “now, I need to do what I did before. This time, however, I need to summon that flame from within me and somehow use it to fight back your Dragon. I think I have to show that I’m unafraid or something.”

“Makes sense, I suppose.” His eyes were worried even as his voice was firm. He was thinking about our first attempts. I knew that I couldn’t let that happen this time, or we were done before we got started. 

With that determination, I crouched down and dug my foot into the dirt. My body was coiled and ready to accept any punishment that strong-headed animal was going throw my way. 

My eyes narrowed, and this time, I gave him no warning. “Now!” I grunted as my mind pushed all outside influences away, and I flew at his essence. The arena fell away, and a vast expanse of space surrounded me instantly. I could see him floating before me as I pierced through veil after veil surrounding his mind. 

This was different than before, I had been timid and cautious. This time, I was giving that Dragon no chance to mount a defense. I would break through, I had to. 

Almost there and I began to pull the fire up from within. Right as I was about to touch Ethan, I heard a fearsome roar, and the Dragon’s head appeared right before me. 

“Shit.” I flew backward from the force of the attack and was pushed back out of the mindscape. I was not going to accept this, not this time. A growl tore its way from my throat, and I flipped midair, landing on my feet. 

“Ellie, maybe-”

I shot towards Ethan without warning, my face a determined mask. His eyes widened as I slammed into his chest and pushed my essence towards his once more. Space immediately overtook the real world as I soared towards him again. I could feel the Dragon this time, I could feel it’s own determination. It was old, unaccustomed to being forced into submission by a Rider. If we didn’t bond, though, that would be it. It needed to accept me, and I wasn’t going to take no for an answer this time.

A colossal form appeared to my side, and I whipped my head towards it just in time to see the Dragon flying next to me, its eyes taking me in. It looked a bit different this time, almost curious. Was I getting through? Piquing its interest? I couldn’t take the time to question it.

I shoved my form backward and called up the fire once more. It landed and roared before me, his chest breathing in, smoke billowing from its nostrils.

“Not this time, big guy!” I took my stance and felt the fire within me rise, my hands growing warm and glowing. In seconds, the Dragon took aim and let loose, flames racing towards me. Last time I almost died.

I roared right back and threw my hands in the air, flames of my own erupting from the space before me, forming a shield to block the oncoming attack. Ethan’s Dragon looked surprised, but I didn’t wait for it to regroup. The second the flames were doused, I flew forward. So fast, everything was a blur to me except the massive creature that stood before me.

As I had done to the man outside, I slammed into the Dragon’s chest and planted my hands on him, pushing my fire deep within. This was what I needed to do, I could feel it. I had to combine my light with his. 

It was the Bond.

The Dragon above me growled deep, and I saw his claws from both sides come to rip me off. No, I couldn’t let him, I might not get another chance. I ripped my hands from it, gripped his scales, and pulled myself upwards as I launched towards his head. Coming to a stop just above him, I fell back downward, landing on the Dragon’s spine and immediately planted my hands again. 

He was thrashing this time, doing everything in his power to throw me off. I dug my feet into one of his scales and pushed harder. My flames shot inside him as I steered them towards his inner fire. The roars and thrashing became fiercer as I got closer, but I ignored it.

“I see it…I SEE IT!” One last push and my fire sparked brightly, fusing with the Dragon’s own. I watched as it molded to it, joining together and becoming one complete essence. At the same time, the Dragon I rode on stilled and calmed. He slowly laid down as I jumped off his back and came around to the head.

Its eyes followed me, no trace of anger or resentment. I saw only acceptance and understanding now. The Dragon knew me now, it knew who I was and what I was. I had earned a place beside him.

A deep voice sounded within my mind. “Child, we have waited for you for so long. I am glad you had to courage to try again.” A small claw came towards me and ran down my cheek gently like a caress. “Go now to my Human form, he is quite anxious.”

As the mindscape around me began to fade, the voice sounded one last time as an echo. 

We are Bonded now for eternity…

I floated for a moment in silence. Eternity, now that’s a long time.