Chapter 4: Focus

"So were you just automatically chosen as being the American Dragon?" Jake asked his mother.

Wishing it was that easy, but of course it never was. "No…the Dragon Council gave me a chance. But I had to prove myself good enough for the job. The toughest thing for me, besides my sight, was flying…"

Paula and her grandfather were now on the roof. In the middle, there were two giant loops planted next to each other, and a square target.

"Alright Paula, I need you to dragon up." Jake ordered his grand-daughter, but it was important for him to not rush her. She was still young and not fully developed with all her powers.

"I'll try, Dragon up!!" She circled her arms to her chest. Then a gold tornado surrounded her. Paula felt with her tail around her whole body, making sure she was fully dressed.

Jake walked over closer to Paula. "Good. We will start with some fire training-"

"Good, I've been practicing!" She jumped up and down.

Paula set her hands to the side, and concentrated all her focus forward. "Okay, there's a target in front of you…I want you to try and hit it."

"Gotcha!" Paula opened her mouth wide, and let out a giant fireball. The heat was intense, but sadly she didn't aim it toward the target. It went right for the ring next to it. The ring was pushed to the side, and was set on fire. "How did I do?" She smiled.

"Uhh…" Jake looked at the flaming ring. Unlike his Dragon Master, he didn't want to discourage Paula. She alright had that by being blind and having only two months to prepare for the American Dragon slot. Despite her aiming, she was able to let out fire, which was progress. "You did…great. Let's move on."

Jake dragoned up, and moved the ring set on a stand forward, in the place where the old on was in. "Paula, I put a giant ring right in front of you. I want you to fly right into it."

"But Grandpa-"

"Just try…"

Paula's heart raced, how was she suppose to go through something she couldn't see!? "Okay…?" She rose up her giant wings up and down, eventually they started to flap. She was in mid air, not to far from the ground. She leaned forward, and prepared to take flight. Just fly forward…she repeated to herself.

Nervous himself, Jake wasn't sure if Paula could really do it. "That's it, just go straight forward." Suddenly, Paula got the strength; she zoomed forward as fast as she could. "Remember…when you get into the ring, you have move in your-" Suddenly, Paula jerked herself. She wings were spread out as far as they could go, which they couldn't fit through the ring. The force of her wings being forced into the ring pushed Paula backwards. She fell, landing right on her back. "Wings…" Jake sighed.

This was the last straw. Paula stood up, and crossed her arms. She stomped around in a circle, angry. "That's it, I quit!" She yelled.

Jake set his arms on Paula's shoulder, "Paula, you can't quit…you just have to work-"

"But grandpa!" She yelled, pushing him off. "How am I supposed to do anything? I can't see!!? This is just hopeless!!!"

With a smile on his face, the old man couldn't help but smile. He would have thought Paula would at least try harder. He went over, and grabbed a hold of both her shoulders, staring right at her. "Paula, listen. You have so much more than any other dragon I've seen." Paula crossed her arms, thinking that that was just a load of crap. "You know what echolocation is?" She remembered that word being mentioned before…but the definition of it she did not know. "It means you can sense things around without seeing them! The Dragon Council can tell you have that ability, you just have to try har-"

Paula shook off his grandfather's arms, and walked two steps back. "Gramps, believe me, I'm trying. I don't think I have this…echolocation thing…I might as well just give up now…"

With his arm to his face, Gramps was thinking of something that could help Paula out. Just to get her out of this, quitting mood. Suddenly, the idea popped up. "Here, follow me." He grabbed Paula's arms, and entered into the skies.

Still denying herself, Paula held onto his hand, and flew upwards. "Grandpa, where are we going…?"

"You'll see."

A short distance away, Jake and Paula were flying in the middle of a business street. Letting go of her hand, the two floated freely in the air. "Okay, where are we?" Jake asked her.

Thinking this was a waste, Paula moved her hands to her hips. "How am I supposed to know where we are at!? If you don't remember, I can't see!!?"

"Just listen, concentrate. You've been here before…"

Another grew big sigh was let out by Paula. But this time, she wasn't going to fight it; she pressed hard on her eye-lids, trying to concentrate. "Listen, to the sounds." Paula tried to focus on her senses, to figure out where they were out. She heard a bunch of cars, and people talking and yelling. Just then, a strong scent came to the left of her. She could smell the smell of cheese pizza being baked. Just then, a vibe came to her, telling her exactly where she was at.

"Oh my god! We're above Festevedro's Pizza!" She screamed, excited that she could figure it out. She paced back and forth, trying to figure out more. She ears shifted back and forth, and she heard someone yelling out '50 percent off!' "And there's that guy, who hands out the fliers to the restaurant!" She pointed forward. Her senses were going crazy. "And I can smell that oak tree that me and Tasha touched last Wednesday! And over there I tell the pet store is opened up again…" The list continued.

Before, Paula would only follow and go to these desired places to know where she was at. But now, she knew exactly where they were above. "See, all you have to do is concentrate, and it'll just as good as sight…"

The two of them returned back on top of the roof of the shop. Jake stood behind her, as Paula landed. "Okay Paula, I want you to do the same thing you did out there. And fly right through the ring."

She nodded her head. This time, Paula remained on the ground. She set her arms in front of her, in fist form. She focused in front of her, just as she did earlier. Suddenly, it was all clear to her! She could sense the ring right in front of her, hearing the mild wind go through the middle of the ring. She could picture the whole interior of the roof, as if she was looking at a photo. When she felt it was right, she did a summersault in the air, and flew forward. Her speed increased as she went forward. She imagined the middle point of the ring, and aimed accordingly. And just as she entered into the ring, and bent back her wings in order to fit.

Pulling back on her wings, Paula tried to stop herself in the air. Finally, she pulled long enough, to stop put in her currently location floating above the floor. "Did I do it?" Her direction shifted to the place her grandfather was standing.

A smile appeared on his face, "Yes, you did." He spoke out. "Well done."

"I did it!! Really!!?" She was shocked, she actually did it!! "Awesome!" She started to dance. But suddenly, her wings were disappearing; she reverted back into human form and fell to the floor.

Jake walked over to her, and laughed. "I think that's enough dragon training for today." He grabbed Paula's arm, helping her up. "We'll try something more difficult tomorrow."

Paula dragoned down, "Okay. And grandpa," Jake turned around, and looked at her face. "Thanks."

Seems Paula is getting more into her senses...which will be major help for her job as an American Dragon. Let's hope it's clear sailing, from here...