Chapter 4: The Mission
Eustace looked at Aslan and bowed.
"Rise, Son of Adam," Aslan said.
Jill looked at Eustace. "Who is this, Eustace?"
Eustace smiled. "This is Aslan, the great lion. He is the protector of Narnia."
Aslan looked at Eustace. "Are you enjoying the gift I gave you, Eustace?"
"Yes, very much."
"You know that the dragon is your true form. That is why I let you keep it."
Eustace nodded.
"Excuse me Aslan, but what are we doing here?" Jill asked.
"I was just about to ask the same thing," Eustace said.
Aslan walked up to him. "I have called you here because Narnia needs your help."
Eustace frowned. "What kind of help?"
"Far from here in the land of Narnia there lives an aged king who is sad because he has no prince of his blood to be king after him. He has no heir because his only son was stolen from him many years ago, and no one in Narnia knows where that prince went or whether he is still alive. But he is. I lay on you this command, that you seek this lost prince until either you have found him and brought him to his father's house, or else died in the attempt, or else gone back into your own world."
"How will we find him?" Jill asked.
"These are the signs by which I will guide you in your quest. First; as soon as you set foot in Narnia, Eustace will meet an old and dear friend. He must greet him at once; if he does, you will both have good help. Second; you must journey out of Narnia to the north till you come to the ruined city of the ancient giants. Third; you shall find a writing on a stone in that ruined city, and you must do what the writing tells you. Fourth; you will know the lost prince by this, that he will be the first person you have met in your travels who will ask you to do something in my name, in the name of Aslan."
Eustace nodded.
"How will we get to Narnia, Aslan?" Jill asked.
Aslan looked at Eustace. "He will fly you there. Now, I challenge you to remember the signs. Say them to yourself when you go to sleep and when you wake up every day, is that clear?"
Jill nodded. She was about to say something else when the lion turned his back and walked away into the forest.
Eustace cleared his throat. "Well, we better get going."
"So, Aslan wants me to fly you to Narnia. What's it going to be? Ride on my back, or hold you in my paw?"
"I guess I'll ride on your back."
Eustace nodded. "Alright. Hold on; it takes me a few minutes to transform."
He closed his eyes and started to transform. His eyes turned crimson. Gold scales covered his body as his chest deepened as scutes covered it. His legs and arms thickened with muscle, the arm and knee joints reversed themselves, forcing him to fall on four legs. Hands and feet became paws and his feet merged together, becoming four toes, fingers becoming three. His fingernails and toenails lengthened into sharp, thick black claws. Wings sprouted from his back. His neck elongated and his face pushed out into a muzzle, mouth becoming great, gaping powerful jaws as teeth lengthened, sharpening into fangs. Horns pushed out of each side of his skull as spikes ran down the length of his back. He grew in length and height, so large that he reached the top of the trees. His eyes moved slightly to the sides, narrowing into cat-like slits, ears became three spine fans. With that, the transformation stopped.
Jill looked at Eustace in awe.
So, what do you think? Eustace asked.
Jill's eyes widened. "Did you just...speak in my head?"
Yes; dragons can speak telepathically with each other and humans. Now come on, let's go.
He grabbed her and lifted her up so that she could climb on his back. When she was sitting, he walked to the edge of the cliff.
Ready? he said.
Jill nodded. Eustace let out a loud roar as he spread out his wings and flew into the air.