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Chapter 3
Horatio abruptly came into consciousness as he felt something crawl across his legs. He peered up over the blanket and watched a leathery green baby Dragon meet his eyes with golden eyes.
"Libby!" Horatio yelled and jumped away from the creature. The dragon chirped and loped out of the room awkwardly on its stumpy legs. Libby was down in the kitchen and glanced up as he dragon spiraled through the air on thin wings and landed in the living room.
"Sorry Horatio that's our dragon, Yoshi," Libby called up to him. Horatio walked onto the balcony and then walked down the stairs. Yoshi looked at him from a perch in the branches of the tree. "He's harmless I assure you. He's just a baby; I'm sorry I didn't tell you about him last night. Nikolai takes him to work with him; and Nik is my partner." Libby explained.
"Where does Nikolai work?" Horatio asked.
"He trains dragons." Libby said.
"Wow," Horatio said and watched pans automatically stir themselves and cook their food.
"You hungry?" Libby asked.
"A little bit," Horatio admitted.
"Nik should be up in a minute or I'll wake him up," Libby chuckled. "Yoshi go wake daddy," she told the dragon and he soared upstairs into the master bedroom. A minute later they heard a man yelp and Yoshi flew back to the tree.
"Good morning sweetheart," Libby called and Nikolai trotted down the stairs. He was a tall muscular man in his twenties. He had long blonde hair and startling green eyes.
"Yes thank you for the wakeup call," Nik said sarcastically with a smile.
"Nik this is Horatio, Horatio meet Nik," Libby said and the two men shook hands.
"Nice to meet you Horatio. I hope Libby hasn't terrorized you too much," Nik chuckled.
"What will terrorize him is that tarantula the size of a Corgi down the street. It was running around this morning," Libby said and began dishing out plates for them.
"They need to keep that thing chained up, someone's going to get bit," Nik snorted.
"Tarantula?" Horatio asked and they sat down at a table.
"They are more dangerous than dragons. They have gotten no smarter over a course however many million years," Libby said.
"We need to get you a gun," Nik said. "Never know when you'll need one."
"What are guns like now?" Horatio asked.
"A hundred times as powerful as the ones you are used to. Guns use lasers instead of bullets; and they are smaller and easier to conceal," Libby said.
"Are they hard to shoot?"
"Not at all. There's no kickback," Nik said. Horatio nodded while Libby took their plates to the kitchen.
"We are going to Pluto today, Darius called me last night," Libby told him. "I have to pick up my new shuttle before we go though."
******
In an hour Libby flew out of Saturn's atmosphere in her new shuttle with Horatio onto a super highway.
"Darius will probably ask you if you want to bring anybody else with you to this time," Libby told him.
"I can do that?" Horatio asked.
"Yes. Usually with people from the past he allows them to bring three or four others. I'm just saying you should think about it," Libby said.
"Do you know if my son dies in 2012?"
"No he is in Afghanistan when that happens. Your sister in law survives since she lives in Brazil. I'm glad I'm up to date on my history," Libby chuckled.
"Exactly what happens to Miami?"
"Volcano stuff, earthquakes, kind of like the way they say the city of Atlantis sunk," Libby said. "People still live there though, it's called New Miami; it's an underwater network of homes."
"Can I see it sometime?"
"Whenever you want," Libby said. The rest of the ride was mostly in silence. Horatio watched out the windows of the craft at the passing planets, stars, and other shuttles. It was all too much like a Sci-fi movie to be true.
"Here we are," Libby said as the small bluish planet came into view.
"Looks like the Death Star from Star wars," Horatio commented.
"That old movie series?" Libby chuckled.
"It was a big hit in my time." Horatio said. Libby breached the atmosphere of Pluto and soared straight to a huge house the size of three mansions. She went into a garage and through a few tunnels and finally parked with a few other shuttles.
"Let's go," Libby said and they made their way through the building. People working there waved to her and looked at Horatio with curiosity. Horatio noticed how perfect all of them were and figured they had all gone through the same type of operation he had. The pair went through several large rooms then found one that was guarded by two dragons. They were as big as draft horses and were charcoal black. Horatio swallowed and stepped behind Libby at their golden gazes. "How am I going to save you?" she teased.
"You know how to handle those things." Horatio said and watched the dragon on the left stretch out his sharp nose to her.
"So will you. Nik will teach you to handle and ride them," Libby said.
"What?"
"And I will teach you to ride flying horses," Libby said and watched his expression. She said a few words in a different language to the two guards and led Horatio between them and through the large metal door.
The two walked up to a tall red haired man sitting at a large desk. He looked very much like Horatio and was lined with muscle. His eyes were an ice blue, almost white.
"Libby," he spoke with a deep rich voice and smiled a bright smile. Darius stood up and walked with a balanced gait to their side of the desk.
"Good afternoon Darius. This is Horatio," Libby said and the two men shook hands.
"It's great to meet one of my grandfathers," Darius said.
"I know what you mean sir, this is a wonderful time," Horatio said.
"Thank you. I can see Dr. Weiss has gotten a hold of you already," Darius chuckled.
"Yes and I am very happy with my new look," Horatio said.
"I'm glad. I trust Libby had told you about bringing any friends here," Darius said.
"Yes sir," Horatio said.
"You don't have to now, you can have time to think about it. Before they hit 2012 of course," Darius said. Horatio nodded in understanding. "I know some people come here and leave loved ones behind. I know I would miss my partner," Darius said.
"I have a few close friends I can think of," Horatio smiled, thinking of Calliegh, Eric and Ryan.
"Good; you are welcome to speak with me at anytime Horatio. Libby and a few others will teach you the rules of this time, how to ride and take care of different creatures and drive the hover cars. I will also work on getting you a home of your own anywhere you like." Darius explained.
"Thank you sir," Horatio said.
"You're welcome Horatio." Darius said and saw the two back out.
********
Horatio walked around the city a little with Nik the rest of the day. He had Yoshi at the end of a strange looking leash. It was comprised of small glowing balls and seemed to be held together magnetically. Horatio saw many other people out with dragons, dogs, snakes, even tarantulas that were the size of small dogs. Nik didn't seem to like the spiders one bit and made Yoshi fly above them when they would pass one.
The city was very beautiful and organized with hundreds of stores along the streets. Most were diners or people selling some very weird fruits and pets. Nik took him into one large store and they found a new wardrobe for Horatio. By dusk the trio was back home and Libby had dinner ready for them.
*********
Over the next week Horatio learned how to drive the hover car. It wasn't too difficult, it mostly did everything itself.
Libby introduced him to flying horses as well. They were like normal horses, but most of them were multicolored in shades of blues, greens, purples, and other colors. They also either had feathered wings or dragon wings. She put him on a big metallic blue horse with a white mane and tail with white feathered wings.
"Libby I am not sure about this," Horatio said worriedly. He sat in a saddle that was fitted specially to the horse's wings and back.
"This is Cyan Horatio; he's the best horse we got. I teach seven year olds on this big guy," Libby said. She patted his blue flank and mounted another orange tinted horse with a bright red mane and red dragon wings. "Here we go," Libby said and began to trot. Cyan followed the orange horse.
"Libby?" Horatio called.
"You'll be fine," Libby called back and they picked up the pace over a huge field. In a few seconds the horses began to beat their wings and lifted off the ground. Horatio held onto the handles on the saddle as they gained altitude. Libby glanced back at Horatio and waited until he relaxed some to start turning. The horses tipped their wings and the couple soared over the city. Horatio enjoyed himself once he got over the height.
After about an hour they landed back in the field. Horatio was slightly sore and his legs were a little weak.
"You'll get used to it," Libby told him and took the horses back to the stable. "Have you thought about your friends?"
"Yes I have." Horatio said.
"Did you have a partner?" Libby asked.
"No, not when I left," Horatio said.
"You had a thing for somebody."
"How do you know that?" H asked.
"You marry Calliegh Duquesne about six months before Miami ends." Libby said.
"I can't believe you know more about me than I do," Horatio said.
"It's not too late you know," Libby said.
"What's not too late?"
"To be with Calliegh. She is a beautiful woman," Libby said.
"She's going to be pissed if I just come back from the beyond," Horatio chuckled.
"It will smooth over, I'm sure of that. You two are very compatible."
There will be Calliegh in the next chapter ^^