The Dragonstones Trilogy
Chapter 32

Finding an incredibly large tree covered in zebra fur should not have been a hard thing to do, especially for the two people that the tree wanted to be seen by. Yet, somehow it was. The pulling feeling from two days ago still hadn’t returned, and James’s magic didn’t even work anymore.

Sara and James decided it would be faster if they flew in the direction that they thought to be the right way. After several miles had gone by, and there was still no sign of the tree, Sara said, Maybe we should talk to the dragons. See if they can help us.

“We can try!” James shouted over the wind, though he had more than a few doubts as to whether the dragons could really help them or not. The dragons had already said more than a few times that they had told them all they knew.

Without warning, Sara shifted back into a human, leaving him in midair and falling rapidly toward the ground. Just as they were about to hit the trees, Sara managed to touch a Dragon Stone and transported them both to the Dragon Cave.

The dragons seemed to know that they were coming, because James appeared in the middle of a large cluster of dragons. James had begun to suspect that the dragons knew of his phobia, because they went out of their way to talk to him and invade his personal bubble, inside of which no dragons had been invited.

As Sara presented their problem to the dragons, the crowd around James moved even closer to him. A small-in comparison to the others-red dragon who James remembered to be named Smolder said, Soon, you and Sara will replace the Stone. Do not worry. The dragon paused, looking closely at James. You look different, and Sara too. Did something happen? The dragon looked at him expectantly.

The entire Dragon Cave went silent, and James could feel his face growing hot. Sara and Flame turned to look at him as well. What’s this? Flame asked.

Both Sara and James seem different. I want to know if everything is going as planned.

Sara looked at Smolder sharply. What do you mean “as planned?” She asked. Even as a dragon, she seemed a little nervous.

You know exactly what I mean.

Faster than James would have thought possible, Sara shifted into a dragon and looked down at her nonexistent watch. “Oh, look at the time! We have to go,” she said quickly. James noted that her face was also on the pinker side. As Sara touched a Dragon Stone, James could have sworn that he heard the dragons laughing. Dragon laughter was an eerie thing. On the outside, it seemed like a series of pants and strange growls, but inside, it sounded almost exactly like human laughter.

As soon as they were outside the Dragon Cave, James asked, “How did the dragons know about, you know...?” he was scared to say the word out loud. He still could not believe what he had done, but was also happy he had done it.

Sara frowned. “I don’t know. Smolder can see the near future, and he sounded like he was planning on us doing it.”

James shrugged. “Maybe.” He looked at her. “Did the dragons tell you anything useful?” he asked.

Sara made a face. “They told me that the Stone would lead us to it when it was ready. It could be hours, days, maybe even months.”

James shook his head. “No, not months. It’s all going to end fairly soon. Smolder told me that we’re going to replace the Stone soon.”

“Do you know what ‘soon’ means to a dragon?”

James said, “No.”

Sara sighed. “Neither do I. Let’s hope it means the same thing to Smolder as it does to us.”

That night, after several failed attempts at using magic, James heard a voice. Become the other. James looked around, but he didn’t see anyone. The voice came again. Become the other. This time, a picture came with the voice, and a plan started to form in James’s mind. “I have an idea,” he told Sara. “I realized that lately, every time I’ve used magic was when you did it too, those weird times that we somehow become the same person. If we both were to think of the other person at the same time, we might be able to do that at will. You up for it?”

Sara nodded. “It seems like it should work.” She didn’t act like she had heard the voice.

“Let’s hope that it does. Okay. On three, think of me as much as you can, try to be me in your mind.”

James closed his eyes and got ready. “One.” He thought of Sara, of her laugh, her smile, how she changed into a dragon whenever she wanted to. James even thought of her that night that he had kissed her, and how she had kissed him back.

“Two.” He didn’t know how, but somehow James knew that Sara was thinking of him in a similar way. He could feel himself turning into Sara, and her into him.

“Three.” The orange aura appeared around both him and Sara as they sang the song that would lead them to the tree. James could see through Sara’s eyes, and through his own as well. As they sang, they once again felt the pull toward the tree.

As one, they walked in the direction of the pull. The song suddenly changed, not a conscious choice of either magician. Responding to the different song, James’s magic sent them shooting forward, through trees, over rocks. It was as if they had become ghosts, without substance. James and Sara shivered at the analogy.

They stopped suddenly, hitting the ground hard. James and Sara stopped singing, and immediately James could feel that they were no longer connected. He heard only his thoughts, and one or two of Sara’s. He only felt what he felt, barely anything from Sara.

James looked up at the sky. It was dusk now, and barely any light was let through the trees. He was about to suggest that they keep going and try to get a little more distance behind them when Sara said, “Could we try using your magic to set up some tents?”

“Why? Tired of your bushes?” James joked.

“No. I just want to sleep in a bed.”

“A bed in a tent?” James asked.

“The bed can’t just be under the stars,” Sara said.

James smiled, even though he was still a little confused at why the bed needed to be in a tent. He shrugged. “Okay,” he said.

For the second time that day, James used magic with Sara’s help. Creating that feeling of oneness with the other was not the hard part. It was using the magic. Before they decided on a song, James and Sara needed to agree on what the tents would look like. It was difficult because every time James had an idea, one of Sara’s would pop into his mind.

Sara wanted to use the magic to create what James could describe as nothing less than a canvas palace. She pictured a large, downy bed next to a showering area. On the other side was a chair and table, each overflowing with books. There was a television, refrigerator and freezer, and computer as well. The list went on and on, as did the tent.

James had a much simpler plan in mind. He pictured a smaller tent, with nothing in it other than a sleeping bag, pillow, and bag that would provide clothes for the next day.

When Sara saw the bag that provided magic clothes, she added it to her tent.

You don’t need that much stuff for one night. Yes I do. James heard what sounded like a mix of both Sara’s and his voices. Their thoughts were crammed right next to each other, so James ended up thinking both his and Sara’s thoughts.

After a large amount of mental arguing, James gave in. He knew it would only be for a few more nights, at the most. James and Sara sang a camping song, mixed with a television show theme song, an ode to food, and songs for whatever else Sara had envisioned for her tent.

Slowly, as they sang, they could feel the energy leaving them. Just as slowly, two tents appeared, seemingly from nowhere. Starting out transparent, the tents solidified as the song progressed. Even from the outside, James could tell that the tents were full of things no one should ever replace in the middle of the woods.

The song ended, and the tents were fully there, complete with all their magical electronic devices as well. Sara smiled and nodded approvingly. “They look great,” she told James.

“You haven’t even been inside yet,” James said.

“That’s true, but I know exactly how it’s going to be on the inside. Goodnight, James.” Sara approached the tent on the left with an air of dreamy contentment. James watched her go, and couldn’t help but remember their kiss two nights ago. As if someone had told him what to do, James knew. He knew that he wanted to be with Sara for the rest of his life. James hoped fervently that they would make it through the final confrontation with Aevill, so that he could set his plan into action, if it could be called a plan.

James smiled to himself, and walked toward his own tent. James opened the tent flap, and jumped. Mr. Day was right in front of him, and he did not look happy.

In fact, he looked angry. No, not angry. The ghost equivalent of a raging volcano came closer to describing what James saw. “Turn on the water, James. I don’t want my daughter to be worried.” He said it in a deceptively quiet voice.

James went over to the shower, and turned on the water, worried about what a ghost could do to him. He remembered with a start that Mr. Day could turn into a blue dragon. That did not help his fear go away. In fact, it did quite the opposite.

James turned back to face the volcanic ghost. Mr. Day pointed to the chair near the bed. “Sit.”

James sat, and waited. He thought of all those horror movies about ghosts he had watched, and wondered if they had any fact in them.

After what seemed like an eternity, the ghost spoke. “I thought I could trust you.”

“And you can,” James argued.

“Oh? And what about a few nights ago?”

James felt his face go hot at the memory.

Mr. Day began to pace, going through several objects while he did so. “Exactly. I waited this long to talk to you about it because it was all I could do not to rip out your organs.”

“You can do that?” James asked, shocked and unconsciously backing away.

“Would you like to replace out?”

“No,” James answered quickly.

“I thought not.” The ghost stopped pacing and looked at him, his eyes still angry, but this time, there was something else in them. There was fear, worry, and other related emotions. “James, I need you to listen to me. Soon, it’s all going to be over, one way or another. I wouldn’t be surprised if you and Sara confronted Aevill before the end of the week.”

“That soon?” James asked.

“Yes, and I need you to promise me something. Keep her away from most of the fighting. All of it if you can.”

“I’ll keep her safe,” James promised.

The ghost snorted. “Keep her safe!” He looked at James, his eyes staring as if he could see into James’s soul. “You can’t even keep her safe from yourself.” The ghost turned to leave, or vanish. “Remember the dream, if you can. It should help you when you try to protect my daughter.” Without another word, the ghost disappeared, leaving no trace that he had ever been there.

James turned back to the shower and turned off the water. What Mr. Day had said had really bothered him. James promised himself that he would do anything he could to keep Sara out of harm’s way. With that final thought in mind, James got into his bed. It was a little too soft for him, but he could manage.

As if something was helping him, James drifted off to sleep quickly, almost instantly. As he had so many other nights, James had the dream.

He went through it all once again. He and Sara were fighting Aevill’s minions, and Aevill himself. Unlike all those other dreams, however, James recognized where they were. It wasn’t because he had been there, but because he had seen this place in another vision. They were fighting at the base of the giant tree, the one where the Stone would be found at. Preoccupied with Cole, Sara failed to see the tendrils of dark magic Aevill sent flying toward her, as she did in every dream. James started singing his fastest travel song, but this time had a thought. What if my magic doesn’t work?

He didn’t have much time to think about it, though. He had to get there. He had to help Sara. She was the one who was supposed to kill Aevill, even if she didn’t want to admit it. James had to get there in time.

The dream abruptly ended, just as it had all those other times. Unlike all those other times, however, this time the voice said, You can’t protect her. It paused, as if gathering its thoughts. You may try, but you will never save her. Leave, while you still can. Take her with you. You can both live long lives before Aevill tries to kill you. Do not put her or yourself in danger by fighting Aevill. If you do, you will lose, and she will die. Listen to my words, James Robinson, before it’s too late.

James woke up, panting and covered in sweat. He got out of bed and turned on the air conditioning machine, one of Sara’s requirements for the tents to have. James was grateful that Sara had thought of it. James took a deep breath, and thought about his dream. It had seemed like someone was trying to talk to him, trying to get him to walk away before it was too late.

James couldn’t deny, the idea was tempting. He and Sara could walk away, and neither of them would get hurt. Neither of them would die. James shook himself. Of course they would get hurt, maybe even die. Aevill had tried to kill Sara, and even James several times now. If they were to walk away now, it would be too late.

No, James decided. They couldn’t leave now. They were so close, and they were going to finish what they had started long ago. James took a deep breath. And if one or both of them were to die, it would be a small price to pay for killing Aevill, and stopping him for good.

“Well I’m glad that’s over with.” James whirled around, instinctively reaching for his magic, until he realized it wasn’t there. Mr. Day, however, was standing right in front of him. “What do you mean?” James asked, a little annoyed at the ghost’s sudden appearance.

“You made the right choice. I was glad that I didn’t have to interfere. Granted, you took a little longer than I would have expected of you, but at least it all meant the same thing in the end. You didn’t give him what he wants.”

“Him?” James asked. He looked out one of his tent’s windows, which Sara had also insisted on. It was still pitch black outside, and the late hour was catching up to him, slowing down his brain more than a little bit.

“Aevill. Who else did you think sent you those dreams?” The ghost moved closer to James, which made him nervous. James still remembered the threat from earlier that day. He wanted to keep his organs inside of him, if he could.

“But why would Aevill send me the dreams if he’s so confident he’s going to beat me and Sara?” James asked.

The ghost smiled, the pale glow around him making his teeth look whiter than any dental commercial James had ever seen. “He’s not.” Mr. Day paused long enough for the words to sink in before continuing, “Long ago, a dragon, the last one alive after Aevill killed all the others, told him that he would one day die at the hands of a dragon. That dragon could see the future. He saw Sara, and what she would do to Aevill. Aevill is more afraid of her than any other person, or creature.

“Aevill knows you’re getting close to the Stone, though he doesn’t know exactly where it is. As a last, desperate move, he tried to get you and Sara to leave, by targeting you through your dreams. That first dream, you saw in the cave, but all the others came from Aevill. He seemed to think that, if he went after the weak person, or you, Sara would follow.”

“I’m the weak one?” James asked incredulously.

“Someone has to be, and to Aevill, one young music magician having magic problems compared to the person destined to destroy him would most certainly be the weak one.” The ghost looked at James. “I’m not sure if I agree or not.”

“Thanks,” James said dryly.

Mr. Day turned to go. “You’d better get some rest. Sara and you are going to have a busy day tomorrow.” He smiled. “You wouldn’t want to be the weak one just because you’re exhausted.” The ghost left, taking his glow with him.

James did as he was told and got into bed. He didn’t even have time to wonder how the ghost’s mood had changed so quickly from raging volcano to his usual self, a little happy even. As soon as James was under the covers, he was out.

The following morning, they saw the tree in the distance. Even from how far away they were, James could tell how amazingly large the tree was.

“Is that what I think it is?” he heard Sara ask.

“What else could it be?” James smiled. “We’re almost there.”

Sara nodded. “We’re almost there,” she repeated.