Chapter 14: The Dragon and the Serpent

Everyone looked on in horror at the serpent that the Lady had transformed into. Rilian was shaking, not in fear, but in anger. Eustace noticed this and glanced at him.

"What's wrong, Rilian?"

"That...that's the snake that killed my mother! I never though that I would become a slave to the very same creature."

The serpent bared its fangs and hissed. All of a sudden, it struck. They all dodged it in time but not before it crashed through the wall, heading outside. The room crumbled and Eustace, Jill, Puddleglum and Rilian ran after it.

"Where's it going?" Jill asked Rilian.

"It's trying to escape! We must not let it."

Eustace breathed heavily and concentrated. Instantly, he started to transform into a dragon. A long tail burst from his spine. His hands began to change as the two inner fingers fused together making three, becoming paws. Sharp, black claws burst from his fingertips and toenails as his feet changed too, except that he had four toes instead of three. The legs and arms thickened with muscle, bones cracking and reshaping as they reversed, forcing him onto all fours. Gold scales began to cover Eustace's body, causing his chest to deepen when scutes covered it. Long, sharp spikes shot out from his skin, running down his back and ending at the tip of his tail.

Two long curved horns grew out of his skull. His neck stretched, growing longer and wider, allowing bones in his face to crack, fusing his mouth and nose together to become a muzzle. The teeth in his mouth sharpened, lengthening into long fangs. He felt his tongue change, twisting and breaking apart, forking into two at the end like a snake's. Next, his ears stretched out, becoming three spine fans. Two long bat-like wings erupted out of his shoulder blades. Eustace closed his eyes tightly as he felt his eyes sting, becoming slits and moving slightly to the sides of his head. When he opened them, he could see farther away, both in ultraviolet and infrared light. His senses increased as his hearing, smell and taste heightened greatly. Puddleglum, Jill and Rilian all moved out of the way as he started to increase in size. His body lengthened as he grew, reaching 384 feet in height and 400 feet in length. When the transformation ended, a gigantic golden dragon stood in the room.

Rilian's jaw dropped in shock and astonishment when he saw the dragon. It was a magnificent, amazing creature, so full of power and might. He looked at it, admiring the muscles and scales that made it so strong. He put his hand on the scales, feeling the rough texture that made them as hard as armor.

"Amazing; simply amazing," he said, looking at the dragon. "How long have you had this ability?"

I gained the ability to transform into a dragon at will when I first came to Narnia, Eustace told him. He grabbed Rilian, Jill and Puddleglum in his paw and placed them on his back. Hold on tight; we're going to go after that serpent.

He flexed his wings and launched himself into the air, following the serpent's trail. A few minutes later, Jill saw it.

"There it is!" she yelled, pointing.

Rilian and Puddleglum looked down and saw the serpent slithering on the ground.

"It's heading towards the docks!" Rilian exclaimed. "Soon it will go in the water!"

Eustace started to descend, trying to catch up with the serpent. He almost caught it in his talons when it jumped in the water, diving into the depths. Eustace circled the lake and saw the water moving where the serpent was. He landed on the docks.

Get off, he told Rilian and the others. I will fight this monster alone.

They nodded and slid off the dragon's back, jumping down onto the dock. Eustace leapt in the air and roared loudly, issuing a challenge to the serpent. He scanned the water for movement and saw it ripple. Seconds later the serpent shot out of the water, eager to fight. Eustace flapped his wings and followed its movement. The serpent was about to strike when Eustace blew fire at it, causing it to hiss and shriek in pain. It tried to grab the dragon with its teeth but Eustace dug his claws into its face, sending blood flying from the wound.

The serpent shook its body violently, sending Eustace flying backward. Eustace flipped around and flew towards the serpent again but this time the serpent caught him in its jaws by his neck and splashed down into the water. Seconds later, the serpent splashed out of the water, sending a huge wave crashing towards the dock. It threw the gold dragon on a hard rock.

Jill gasped when she saw Eustace catch his breath and close his eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his eyes open. The dragon raised his head and shot out a huge jet of fire, which made contact with the serpent. The serpent hissed and shrieked as the fire burned its face and body. Rilian saw his chance and fired an arrow. The arrow whizzed through the air and launched itself into the serpent's head, which let out another shriek of pain. Green mist surrounded the serpent as it fell into the water with a splash, falling to the depths as it vanished.

The Lady of the Green Kirtle had finally been defeated.