1 Forged in Phoenix Flame

"You must Live, you have to…"

I feel the millions of flame arrows piercing my soul, like it will melt all of me, inside out, "Mmmm," I flinch, as just a slight movement caused the stream of flame flowing inside me to erupt like volcano, raging to engulf the whole of me. Just before I pass out, I hear it again "You must Live, you have to…."

…

I slowly open my eyes, blinded by the light, I shut them close again.

I can feel burning fire flowing through my veins, but when my fingers brush each other, it's the familiar sensation of ice cold. Instinctively, I embrace myself for the volcano eruption… Nothing… It seems the flames have somewhat normalized or my body has adapted itself to the fire. Suddenly, I hear sounds of rushing footsteps getting closer and closer like soldiers marching to invade enemy…

Wait… What if I am that Enemy... I force myself to open my eyes… Where am I… What is this place… I look around and see the fiery glow from the ground and the walls; even the ceiling emits fire… Firestone Cave?... Could this be the Fire Phoenix Temple… How is it possible that I am here of all the places… But I don't have time, what do I do, they are getting closer. I look around, desperate to escape or at least hide somewhere. Then I notice a human girl on the floor just a few feet away from me. I get close to her… Fire… Fire in me is from her… Did she save me… As I peer into her exhausted face, sword suddenly swings at me but the fire aura shrouds around me and the girl like a shield deflecting the sword back to the attacker.

"Stay away from her! You monster," before I can react there is a sudden blasts of fire balls.

"Nooooooo brother, don't!" The girl, now awake, suddenly charged at the man, but other men had already filed in. The girl stood in front of me like my shield, and that man signaled all his men to stop. She lifted her right hand and shot fire beam to wall behind us, instantly making a hole. "Go… You must Live," before I could say anything, she turned into Phoenix and flapped her wings, sending me flying out of the hole she made. The sudden blow made the fire flowing inside me rage violently, such overwhelming pain…

…

"Hey, pretty lady, are you awake?"

I slowly open my eyes. I see a human kid looking at me with his eyes shining, "Pretty? Me? Aren't you scared of me?"

But the kid just chuckled, "I'm super strong and you're too weak, why would I be scared of you." I can feel the soft fabric under me, the brick walls, wooden ceiling, and sun shining through the window… He reached out his little hands to hold my arm and help me sit up straight. Puzzled, I look at him… Why isn't he scared of me… Flashes of disgusted and scared expressions of humans cross my mind… Then I notice my arm… I have human arms, human legs, human body… Suddenly, my head feels heavy like everything is spinning… What happened to my dragon scales… Flashes of the battle rush to me, my heart aches so much, much more painful than the raging flames…

"Grandpaaaaaa, she is crying, she must be in pain," the sudden sound snaps me back in reality.

I huff, Phoenix… Did she save me… But why… Wasn't it all started by Phoenix at the first place… Why… Why did she save me…

"Here drink this," oddly this taste is so familiar… Ladon! I quickly jump to bear hug him! May be I am already dead, that phoenix didn't save me probably…

From the sudden movement or from my excitement to find Ladon is still alive sends the flame inside me berserk.

"Easy now my child, you have to train your emotions to be neutral in order to stabilize the phoenix flame flowing inside you." I see a human figure of an old man in front of me but there's no mistake, it is him! "Where did you disappear after … I missed you soooo very much!" I can feel myself whimpering, not sure from pain or from my emotions, but I still hold on to him, hugging tightly, afraid he will fade away if I let go.

"Grandpa, will you love her more than me now that we found her…" I look at the teary-eyed kid and can't help but chuckle at his cute jealous face. I reach out to hold his hand, "How can Ladon pick me over super strong kid like you!"

"Of course! And I'm not a kid, I'm Draco" he said beaming. Draco…. I sneak a peek over at Ladon then quickly turn back to Draco.

"Go prepare the medicine for your little sister." I watch as Draco happily trot out of room with a nod. It's baffling to be addressed as little sister of a human kid.

"I know you may have felt uncomfortable just now, but you are a little sister of Draco, favorite one of all." I reach out to hold Ladon's hand, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see his happy eyes.. He always used to be so sad whenever anyone mentioned Draco, it was heartbreaking to see him like that. Feels like old times seeing him happy before my whole world fell apart…

"Lie down little sis, this ointment will help you to balance your fire and ice aura and keep them at same rhythm instead of reacting with each other and causing havoc." I look up at Ladon, even though we are in human form now, this kid seems to know we are dragons. As if he could read my mind, "I wish I had the power of dragon then I will never let you get hurt like this."

"You… You don't hate dragons?" I feel the chill recalling the humans I had encountered in the past…

"I love grandpa and my lil girl."

"Hey! Who is your lil girl!"

"Be good baby now. I will be very gentle so you don't feel as much pain." I do call him kid so I guess we are even. I feel much comfortable around him now, he really does feel like Draco.

"Aaaaaahhhh" such excruciating pain, I bite my lips not to scream again.

"Hush now, wipe your tears,

all your pains are mine,

and my smile is yours.

Don't you fear, I'm always here,

By your side, as your light."

Tears roll down my face and I hold him close. "It's really you, Poco!" I wish time would just stop now, if it's just a dream, please don't wake me up.

"Come on now pumpkin, you must rest. Trust me, I, we, will have you as good as before in no time."

I hug him tightly, crying, "Please don't ever leave me again…."

"Promise," he kissed me on my forehead and stroking my hair softly he sang to me again.

Holding on to his arm and listening to his voice, I forget all my pain and slowly drift away in sleep.