The Dragon and the Unicorn

Mr. Pankoro's stable seemed like the last peaceful place in the whole city. Eri had always loved that place. Dad liked horses, Jumper, Canvas, and Moonlight were there. It was where she could always find Koro to go out and play, or take classes, although Mrs. Mera had flown away and hadn't returned yet... she was already missing her a lot. Even though she always scolded her.

Eri didn't want to go back to the castle yet.

Koro was busy with his dad, it happened sometimes. Eri was alone in the stable, actually no one knew she was there, sitting next to her foal. She hadn't named him yet, there were many to choose from. Eri thought horses were lucky, their names were simple, they evoked nice or delicious things, like Cinnamon and Little Cloud, the horses that pulled the supply cart. She could give her friend the most beautiful name in the world if she wanted to, but she still had to think, and days like that, it was very difficult.

Mom and Dad had argued the night before, they had done it almost every night since that horrible day Mrs. Mera left. They called each other rude names and ended up crying. It broke her heart to hear them. She also knew that when she came back they were going to scold her very badly, disappearing without warning always ended up like that. What was she going to do? Her white foal snuggled up against her, rubbing affectionately.

Eri could see the horn on her foal's forehead. She had told Mom, Dad, Mr. Pankoro, not even Koro believed her. Well, at least he had stroked the little animal's forehead, his hands passing through without touching the horn. But it was there, she wasn't imagining it, she could even touch it but only when they were alone. It was like that day in the valley...

"There you are, girl." Of all people, why him? "Your parents are going crazy looking for you, stop causing trouble and come." That... no, Bestenar was peeking through the stable door, he was too delicate to enter if Dad didn't force him to, he should get used to it by now. Eri didn't move.

"Don't tell them you found me." Eri really didn't want to leave yet. "Please..."

"I can't," he said with sincere contrition. "I told them I was coming here, if someone else finds you they'll know I lied. Come on, it's almost dinner time. Your dad is very worried."

Had it been that long already? Koro and his father hadn't returned all day, if so maybe they had left the city...

In the end, she left her little friend next to Moonlight so they could be together for a while and she went to do the same. Bestenar led her by the hand, she still didn't like him one bit, as if liking each other was something beyond the reach of either of them, but she didn't get angry just because he was close, and she had to admit that he had been very brave and had helped her even though he was a whiny weakling; even though he called her dwarf, monster, or dumb girl... Eri decided not to think about him anymore or she would get angry again.

They had been walking towards the castle for a while when Eri had to ask.

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"Why did you help me? You don't like me, you're always mean to me."

"Am I being mean to you right now?"

"Yes, you pull me all the time because I can't walk as fast as you."

"Ha! Well, excuse me, I thought the perfect dragon girl could do everything better than me."

"You're big, your skinny legs are very long, you leave me behind on purpose."

"Be thankful I have skinny legs or I wouldn't have been able to get you away from the dragons."

Eri was silent for a moment, but stopped walking, she was much stronger than him. But her weight was that of a normal girl so the pull dragged her, He finally let go of her.

"Look," Bestenar said, finally turning to look at her. "I helped you because I didn't want anything to happen to you, okay? Six years ago I wasn't there for my sister, and well..."

"Just say it, silly boy! You still think I ate her! That's why you treat me badly and steal my daddy." Eri thought he was going to slap her, the words had come out like when she breathed fire. Instead, he crouched down to her level.

"Listen, brat, I don't know why but the fact is that you are exactly like her, in every way, damn it, she also made fun of me, called me skinny and even got angry the few times our father paid attention to me. She was spoiled, and yet everything turned out well for her. But, I could never hate her. I don't know if you ate her in pieces, absorbed her like that fire you devour, or if the Goddess decided to revive her as a dragon. But you're the closest thing I have to her. And even though I do hate you, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I don't care if you understand me. I know it doesn't make sense. Now walk, they're waiting for us and we'll get in trouble if we're late."

Eri couldn't answer anymore, that old feeling from that day when she heard him call her a monster in the throne room of Meyrin came back to crush her heart again.

She walked behind him as fast as she could, he didn't stop to wait for her, the rude boy. When they reached the castle, he didn't head for the rooms or the dining room, but... Eri ran, opened the door to the office that served as their classroom.

"Good afternoon, Miss," Mrs. Mera greeted her with her usual serious face. She was wearing a new dress, blue as she liked them, with longer sleeves, but Eri noticed, she was covered in wounds and scars. "You are just in time for your lessons, I hope you have not neglected your homework in my absence."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Mrs. Mera, I missed you so much!" She ran to hug her, deliberately ignoring how much she insisted that she didn't like hugs. She rubbed her face against the dress until she was satisfied, this time, she didn't push her away.

They had a lesson that day as if nothing had happened. Bestenar learned some complicated things that Eri never understood, and she was finally able to learn to write all the names of her family members correctly. She had even written that one's name, but with ugly handwriting.

When it was time to finish the lesson, Bestenar went straight to the dining room.

"Miss," said the teacher, "can you please give me a few minutes?"

"Yes, ma'am, what did I do this time?"

"Oh no, it's not about your lessons, just..." She crouched down to speak to her eyes, lately everyone was doing that. "Well, I'm glad I was able to be of service to you and I want to apologize for running away, I couldn't let other humans see me... and well, when I reached the mountains, my oath forced me to return to this body, I was lost for several days, I assure you I never wanted it to be like this..."

"I love you too, Mrs. Mera, thank you for coming back." She hugged her once more, while giving her a new spark of her fire in the form of a kiss on the cheek. She felt the warmth of her power reignite as the wounds closed.

"Miss, I don't deserve your affection," she said, stroking her head. "We were lucky, the white prince didn't know you have invulnerable skin, otherwise my terrible mistake would have cost you your life. I swear it will never happen again. But today, come on, your parents are waiting for us at the table."

Now they were really going to scold her.