“They were quick,” Rock says.

“Umm …. What?” I stammer.

“Elisa left the dragon world. That requires them to erase her from the record. So that erases her record of marriage.”

“How will that work since the land they are on is tied to her?” I ask.

“Nothing really. Elisa would never kick them out. So they continue as always. She is just not allowed in dragon business,” Drake returns.

“I will never understand dragon laws,” I say.

“Don't try,” Drake says, “Even ancient humans had trouble following it.”

“You mean the reason you are so large is to keep all that stuff in memory?” I taunt.

Drake gives me an evil look then laughs. He then looks up, “Butler is here,” he says.

“Did he get a speed boost again?” I ask.

“No he was waiting just outside the pool.”

“There they go again knowing but not telling.” I say.

“Get used to it. They do it all the time,” Drake says. He moves his hands in strange motions and we are all at the entrance.”

“Okay teleportation is possible,” I blurt.

Drake looks at me strangely, “Yes, why do you say that?”

“Because everyone told me it wasn't possible.”

“Why would they say that?”

“Because for everyone else it is true,” Sesney says. “I think the curse is still working.”

“No,” Star says, walking toward us. “The curse is stalled, but a lot of the old knowledge is lost,” she says. She stops in front of Drake. “It would be a privilege to go on a date with you Drako,” she says.

Drake bows, “The pleasure is all mine.”

I see a huge smile on Rocks face and we head to the helicopter. As we approach the helicopter Drake looks confused at it, “You have a lot to teach me your liege,” he says.

“I am just Elisa, Drako Just an ancient dragon,” she says as we all pile in the helicopter.

“You are a liege in more ways than just by birth,” he says and we take off.

“You tease me Drako,” she returns.

“Never my liege,” he counters.

“Butler I just got to thinking. You said that watchers are not affected by the curse right?” I ask.

“Correct,” it answers.

“Then where did all the watchers go in the city?” I ask.

“They returned to our home dimension.”

“So the curse won't destroy you, but it will or would prevent you from coming here?” I ask.

“The curse does not affect us at all.”

“Then why did the watchers return home?”

“Because they were not needed.”

“Oh duh,” I say. After a few seconds I jump and ask, “Why did the one in the castle part of the city not leave then? No one was there.”

“There were no sentient beings in the castle. There are still other life forms in it.”

“But what about the other quarters?”

“That was the main watchers choice to not clean them. That's why only two watchers needed to remain,” Butler returns.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“Gotcha.”

The ride was fairly uneventful. Drake asked questions about the internet. Rock looked very content and happy to be able to help his father learn.

At one point they got into a conversation about Rocks training. Drake got really pissed at the fact that Rock was not trained in more magic. Drake said even back when fighting was unnecessary the guard was trained to use magic in conjunction with battle attacks.

Star sat back in silence and watched. I could see a permanent smile on her face. I shift closer to Star and whisper, “Did you know Balthazar showed Drake the city?”

“No, I only found out he was alive when I went to see him. Balthazar never mentioned anything about Drako. Like Drako I thought Balthazar hated dragons,” she says.

“That's one thing I can't understand. Everyone says that Balthazar disliked dragons and my couple of episodes proved he did have a problem with them. But when I look at you or Drako I feel pride and compassion.

Even when I see Rock there is very strong pride. Even after I blew up when I heard of what Rock did, I still had a nagging feeling it was all right. How can a man who gave the impression he hated dragons have so much pride in them?”

“Because he hated no one,” Butler interjects.

“Then why did he portray the idea to others he hated them?” I ask.

“It was not dislike, it was disappointed anger. He expected more from dragons. He expected stupidity and ignorance from most humans so he had no need to be disappointed in them,” it says.

“Well that was rude. He expected more from another race then his own,” I say in disgust.

“Because he knew the dragons could transcend it easier. His anger was at the dragons letting the humans influence them so much.

I see their influence to this day in their actions. Dragons, Balthazar used to say, are the most compassionate and forgiving of all the races. He would cry himself to sleep many nights because of what he saw.

The watcher at the time begged him to show his pain, but Balthazar refused. On Balthazar's death bed he told the watchers to forgive him for what he had to do.”

“What did he need forgiveness for?” I ask.

“We do not know. The man held the burden of every race on his shoulders. We could never feel he needs forgiveness. Even if he had to bar us from this world and humans we know it was for the greater good.”

“He could have banned your race from this world?” I ask and notice everyone is intent on our conversation.

“Yes and much more. We only learned of his power after we linked. His knowledge and power surpassed even the highest of my kind. Balthazar could freeze time with a wave of his hand. Even watchers do not have that power.”

“But he never showed it, why?” Drake asks.

“We cannot say, Balthazar was a very unique man. We sensed it when he summoned the first of our kind. But he never revealed everything even to us.”

“I thought I had known him,” Star says.

“No one really knows him,” Butler says, “No ordinary life form could know what he knew,” it replies.

“That's why he had to die,” I say.

“What are you saying?” Star asks in tears.

“Balthazar chose to die. He did not have to, but he did. He had to because he could not be the one necessary to save others. He had done all he could without being the god the one council member wanted to be.

To know is a very hard burden to bear. To know the pain you cause and unable to prevent it. To cause one to hate another for the greater good must have been tearing him apart.”

“What do you mean?” Rock asks.

“I'm not sure how I know, but I feel it. I look at Drake and feel pain. I look at Star and feel sorrow. I look at Rock and feel pride. I look at Oaky and feel... I'm not sure what I feel but it is deep.

He knew you Oaky. I don't know how or why I know that, but he knows you. He feels kindred to you. That's what I feel kindred. You are one of him. And all I want to do is say sorry over and over again to Butler.”

“But I'm not human,” Oaky chokes.

“He never really saw race. He saw the mind and spirit. If that makes sense. Oaky your soul is like his. Dragon souls he saw what can be. That is what pained him. He knew you were much more than what you allowed yourselves. He saw you as guardians, but you acted more like what's the word... interpreters, no, jealous children,” I say.

I see pain in Drake's eyes and he turns his head. Star bows her head as she cries. Rock says, “But I am a child and the only jealousy I feel is of male tree spirits.” His eyes grow wide as he looks at Oaky.

Oaky smiles softly and places her finger on his lips. “There is nothing to be jealous of,” she says and kisses him. I can almost watch him melt in front of my eyes.

Star looks up at them and smiles. Drake looks at them with concern, “You mean I will not have grandchildren?”

Oaky pulls away from Rock and he collapses in his chair. “Not for a while, but yes you will,” she says and Drake smiles.

“Perhaps Balthazar perhaps,” Butler says.

“You know a lot more about Balthazar and what he had planned, yet you still doubt him?” I ask Butler.

“Yes Jode I do. His vision is even broader than we can comprehend. Some of this is still a mystery to even my kind,” Butler says.

Drake goes back to the net. Oaky and Rock just sit in a chair together and cuddle. I really wonder if Balthazar had an ultimate plan or not. Could he have just done all this to wake everyone up? I am to the point I just want to get rid of the curse to see what will happen in the human world.

How would or could humans handle being able to use magic with ease? How could science explain objects moving by thought, or people porting all over the globe. I laugh. What would happen to the net if you could just pop over to a friend’s with ease. Then I think, nothing, kids would go into withdrawal if they couldn't text each other in class.

I see the city loom in the distance. Could this be the beginning of the end of the whole mess? Could we now be on our last trip for the answers that keep eluding us? Somehow I doubt it. Something tells me we haven't even really begun. I don't know why, but that thought scares me.