Burdened Hope

Disclaimer: I don't own anything although a dragon would be nice...

Author's Note: This was made very early in the morning, 3 a.m. to be exact. I was trying to help an online friend with short articles/stories to put in a Dragon Newspaper she was making. The newspaper was never made and so I'm left with this. I know it's bad but it's sentimental value stays my destructive hand, it's my first fanfic. Review if you wish and I accept flames, although constructive criticism is preferred. I apologize for the grouped paragraphs, I attempted to seperate them somehow but I was unable to find a way that worked.

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I may not be a spinner or weaver of stories but yet I still have an ancient tale that must be told. Please listen and take the message to heart otherwise life may loose something vital, something it didn't even realize was there. Dragons were the lords and rulers of the days old. But yet their numbers diminished, faced with an enemy even their insurmountable power couldn't beat. This enemy didn't consist of a blade of metal or even the lies and deceit of men, but the simple lack of belief.

Once there was a dragon, one of the remaining few, and he decided to bestow this information to a young human, an innocent child. The child was sitting on the top of a high hill, gazing at the full moon and wondering what was happening to the world. She could sense and feel a great loss, like the very core of life itself was slowly draining away, although she didn't know what was the cause. The dragon sensed her, and her faith, so he left his deep cave in the cold, ice-covered mountains to speak with her. The little girl looked up as a great shadow fell upon her and felt no fear. She bowed her head in deep respect as the dragon landed before asking, "Great dragon. You of all creatures should know of this loss. May you be able to tell me what is causing this abyss and how it may be stopped?" The kind, gentle eyes of the dragon brimmed with sadness because, though he had found a human that still believed, it was too late for he was the only one left. He laid down his massive head and curled his long tail around her to explain about how dragons may be powerful but their existence relies on the belief of others. Over the years this belief dimmed until it reached near non- existence and although some thought they existed, they didn't grasp the true meaning and nature of dragons. The dragon sighed and heavily rested his head on the ground for he grew weary of struggling against the swift tide of death.

The girl realized that he was dying and wept because she believed it was her fault, that since her belief wasn't enough, the dragons were dying. Her hot, angry tears landed on the dying dragon's face and he realized that this young child knew the true meaning. Many thought dragons were beasts that were to be feared and avoided instead of the protectors of mankind. They didn't blame others, even if it was their mistake, but instead shouldered the burden so the other creatures could continue with their lives peacefully. Dragons were blamed for plagues, sickness, death, fog, darkness, and anything that went wrong and couldn't be explained. All of their lives they were burdened with these accusations although now, here, was a human who did the same. She blamed the dragon's passing on herself instead of the rest of her race and the near-death dragon smiled. It may be too late for him but her faith would give birth to new dragons and possibly the belief would spread and flourish until once again they thrived.