Chapter 11: If They Aren't Grumpy, They're Creepy

Komodo is a dragon. And I don't mean like in the way I'm a dragon. The whole dramatic "I am the Dragon, it's time to burn." Schtick I used to justify mass murder slash torture (what can I say, I was fucked up… and twelve). I mean a legitimate dragon. Or at least something resembling a humanoid dragon. One with a creepily large smile. Which shouldn't be physically possible, and yet...

Not to mention that the whole situation is made worse when it welcomes you to its playground. A playground filled with the dead villagers of one of your best friends. Azure rule one, don't go (or stay) in a place a crazy person calls their playground.

Sorry, did talking in third person throw off the first person narrative structure of my story? Allow Azure (I mean me) to apologize. I thought it would be funny. And if you didn't, well that's your loss and my gain.

Oh, and one last thing. Shooting it didn't seem to hurt it. Which means I have about, oh I dunno, zero ways of killing it. And I don't like not being able to kill things. I like being able TO kill things. It comforts me. My inability to kill it leaves me with one weapon. My words. Time to mind fuck it.

Yeah I worded that correctly.

"Your playground uh? It could do with some work." I tell it, backing away slowly. Trying to put distance between me and the evil dragon of craziness.

"Now now young one, fret not, you'll get to play too!"

Shouting and crying from somewhere else in the city reaches my ears, pulling my attention. "No…"

"Yes!" It giggles, pulling my focus back. It claps clawed hands. "I actually have a little game I want tested! You will help me yes?"

"Oh, I dunno, a test sounds hard."

It wags a finger. "Don't be like that, help your new friend!"

I gulp, shooting a quick look over my shoulder, trying to spot the others. But wherever they are, I can't see them. There's a blur of movement and the shadow in right there, practically on top of me. There's no heat from it, only cold. Even it's wretched breath is cold. "It'll be fuu-uuun!"

"I dunno, I think my friend just found out his parents are dead so-"

"Oh yes." The shadowy dragon says, suddenly solemn. "Truly tragic, the pain of war." There's a pregnant pause where a bead of sweat travels the length if neck. It's broken by it clapping happily. "Do you want to see?"

I blink, it's letting me go? "Yes!" I shout desperately.

"Wonderful! I'll take the boy with us!"

My stomach drops. "What?"

Komodo snaps its fingers and Percy, it, and I are floating over the village. But it isn't destroyed yet. Not entirely at least. There's screaming and fire everywhere. It mid battle.

Percy grabs me, tears in his eyes. "What's happening Azure!"

I shudder slightly and look wordlessly to Komodo, who's humming happily watching the destruction. "Close your eyes Percy, don't watch."

Below us a man runs by dragging a little girl, and Percy jerks wildly. "That's my family! I have to warn them!" He screams. Trying his hardest to get away.

I grab at him and spin him around. "We aren't really here! We can't do anything!"

Underneath us the man screams when an arrow tears through his shoulder. He falls and yells at the girl to run. She tries but is overtaken by a large man with a glaive. Fire burns towards them as Percy screams and cries, trying to get to them.

I pull him back, trying to hide his face. "This is long over Percy, we can't stop it." My voice is hoarse and weak. Komodo is just giggling there watching people get murdered.

"Hehehe that's enough of that!" Another snap and I'm on my knees in front of it. I hear a loud wailing from somewhere else.

"Why?" My words coming out thickly.

Komodo shrugs. "Thought it would be fun! And it was. Now about my game!"

"Go to hell!" I gasp out. Komodo wiggles in close to me, his scaly skin, sliding across mine.

"I made hell, don't cha know?" He licks his lips and stands straight. "It'll be a fun game, sadly your girlfriend isn't here, maybe next time yes?"

He just threatened the wrong fucking person. I growl getting to my feet. Komodo laughs and waves his hand. Everything goes fuzzy, but I can still make him out. I take aim and fire, the bullet travels right through him as he turns to smoke. That bastard!

I stand there, mind fuzzy. I need to do something but what. I can feel my spinal brace pulsing weirdly. What did I need to do? It was something to do with Percy. Percy?

A soft female voice calls out, one I recognize from somewhere. It's calling my name. I turn, the village slowly being replaced by a white landscape. The girl becomes solid, the only solid thing.

"Hello Azure." Its Zelena… and she's naked. "What the fuck

Wait, what? "OI!" I shut covering my eyes. "Put on some clothes!"

"Azure I'm dead, stop judging me. But fine, there." I peak out and she's in a long white robe.

I take a moment, looking around. It looks vaguely like Noir's old base. "Please tell me the afterlife isn't Noir's old base."

Zelena walks towards me, looking around. "Everyone sees something different Azure." I look down at her and smile, but it's instantly replaced by regret.

"I'm so sorry." I mutter. Zelena rubs my arm.

"Don't be, it's okay."

Then something occurs to me, something I'm not a fan of. "Am I dead?"

Zelena shakes her head. "Komodo is separating you soul from your body."

"Oh goody." I mutter sarcastically. I'm literally like Sam Winchester in season six now. "Let me guess, mind control, killing my friends?"

Zelena blinks in surprise. "How'd you guess?"

"I'm a smart cookie." I mumble. If I focus I can break out, I know it. Closing my eyes I pull all my focus on breaking out, of fighting Komodo. Of killing him.

"You're doing it wrong."

I open my eyes and frown. "What?"

Zelena smiles. "You're thinking of fighting him, of killing him, but you must focus on the good. He's a dark being. A god older than anything we know. One of chaos, who does whatever suits him. Thriving off pain and chaos. He sowed the seeds of this war, pushed the humans into fighting themselves, just because he wanted a laugh. The only way to beat him is to focus on your love."

"That's not my strong suit." I mutter.

Zelena smiles softly. "Think of Silvia and your friends."

I grimace but nod, closing my eyes again. I let memories of my friends flow through my mind. The four of us sitting in the courtyard making fun of teachers, Percy writing a dumb song about waffles, Matt and training, and Silvia. I think of her the most. About the kiss.

There's a crack, and everything hurts. I open my eyes and I have Arthur pinned, Viridian is standing bo staff ready (otherwise he seems unaffected), and Matt's helping Percy stand. He's got one axe at the ready, the other is logged into a wall. I quickly scramble off Arthur, holding up my hands. My sword falls to the ground. "Sorry."

"Sorry?" Matt growls. "You attacked us!"

"It wasn't him, I tried to tell you." Percy says, pushing off Matt so he can stand alone.

Arthur stands up, brushing off his clothes. "I highly doubt he wasn't in control."

"Oh shut up." We all say in unison. Matt takes a step closer. Looking at me hard. "Did you really not have any control?"

I return his gaze, just as hard. "No, I really didn't."

There's a pause and Matt nods. "He's good."

Arthur blanches. "Excuse me, I was two seconds away from dying and that's all it takes?"

"Yes." Matt says simply. I look past him to Percy, who's staring at several bodies. I make my way over and grip his shoulder. He looks up, tears in his eyes. He wraps his arms around me and cries. Matt comes over, and lays a hand on his back. Percy shudders and cries.

"Let it out man, it's okay."

"T-they're gone! And I couldn't do a-anything." He says thickly.

"I know." I mutter, pulling him close. "I really do."

Several minutes pass and Percy finally takes a shuddering breath, stepping away. He rubs his red face and he looks around. "What now?"

"We go back." Viridian says stepping forward. I can tell he wants to get out of here. It's the weirdest thing, he seems completely untouched, physically and emotionally.

Percy nods and he and Matt start heading back to the ship. I hang back though, making sure Viridian and I are the last two.

Viridian looks over at me when I start walking next to him. "What's got you down dearie? Is it the boy?"

I look over to Percy and nod sadly. "Mostly."

"Oh? Mostly is it? What did I do now?"

"Guilty conscience?"

Viridian holds in a laugh. "No, you're dramatic, so I know you're here to confront me about something."

I growl slightly. "Fine, it's simple really. How are you still so… so calm and collected. Everything went to shit."

Viridian shrugs lightly, fiddling with a playing card he pulled from somewhere. His ass probably. "Rule one, everything always goes to shite."

"Oh come on, that's not true."

"Really dearie?" Viridian asks in mock shock (ha that rhymes). "You've had a plan where it doesn't fall to pieces?"

I open my mouth, but close it quickly. He's right… AGAIN. Why is he always right? Not only that he never really answers the questions I want to be answered. He just sort of steers the conversation to some place he wants it to be. The rat bastard.

But before I can further my line of questioning to get answers I actually want, we're back at the ship. Matt and Percy are already buckled in and ready to go, while Arthur is stowing the sword he'd borrowed in a compartment. Sighing I pull Viridian short of the ship. So we're out of ear shot.

"Wait, I… I have more questions for you-"

"Shocker."

"Shut up." I growl. "I need to tell you something about Komodo."

Viridian stills for a moment, focusing with true interest. "Ah yes, you have my attention now."

"He said he was using me for testing-"

"And that means he plans on controlling many more people." Viridian finishes. There's a moment before he shakes his head. "I'll have to think about what this could mean. For now dearie, can we just go home?"

I grimace but nod. "Fine."

We board the ship and buckle in, the ship taking off with a wave from Viridian. Yet again no one speaks. But the ride over is far from silent. Percy keeps sniffing and rubbing his eyes. Matt seems to be whispering to him, but he might just be rubbing his back.

As for me? Well I'm stuck. Percy is mourning, but I made it worse. The attack in the group, I don't have to remember it know that it damaged him worse. Percy is different now, I don't know in what way, but I've destroyed the innocent boy that used to sit next to me in class. My chest tightens as I watch him shudder violently.

The ship dips and I look up, we're starting our descent. Wow impressive, I managed to spend the entire flight over in self loathing. A truly incredible feat if I do say so myself (not really I'm always in a state of self loathing).

After landing everyone gets off, except me. I stay sitting in my seat, still trying to except my most recent failure. The sound of steps approach me and I look up, greeted by Aaron.

"I heard what happened."

"Oh goody! So you heard how I screwed up!"

Aaron gives me a look and pulls me to my feet. "That's not what I heard."

"Uh what?" Because that's definitely what happened.

"You underestimate Percy. He isn't broken, and you didn't break him."

"How could you say that? He lost his family!" I shout. "I know first hand what that does to someone!"

Aaron shakes his head slowly. "You know what it did to you, when you were right and alone. Not what it'll do for him. Because he isn't alone is he?"

I open my mouth, but for the second time today, am unable to find the words. Percy isn't me, he's stronger. He has friends.

"Do you see Azure? You see the world as dark, and he sees the light. You should focus there as well."

"I… thank you Aaron." I whisper.

"Now, get to bed, you have to go back to school tomorrow." He tells me and walks off.

Fuck school I want to sleep. But there's one silver lining. I'll get to see Silvia again.

Authors Note: I know another chapter! Already! A shocker it's true. And I know I can't keep this pace up, but while I can, I will!