Finally the next chapter! Now it's my turn to dodge pitchforks and eat tomatoes. The only excuse I had, is I was in a play. It doesn't get any further than that, unless being lazy is an excuse. I just took a small break, but now I'm back with the next chapter! Please don't throw pitchforks at me! The tomatoes are fine though, throw away!

I could NOT die like this!

I flapped frantically, desperately trying to escape from the dragon's grip. I squirmed and jostled and struggled, but it was no use; this thing wouldn't let go. I even tried to use my powers, but this stupid swan body wouldn't let me. I was stuck. What made me even angrier, is that the dragon just sat there and laughed.

"I haven't had as raw of meat here in a while," it said, still chuckling, "well, that won't be a problem for long."

As he said that; his mouth opened wide, and I discovered what he was about to do. I thrashed more, this swan was not becoming barbecue! The dragon didn't even flinch, his maw opened wider to reveal a ball of flame forming in the back of its throat. The flames grew, and almost immediately escaped their prison. The orange tongues of flame soon engulfed my form, and I braced for the worst. I swore I was going to become fried chicken right at that moment, but nothing happened. The flames just danced around me in a spectacular light-show that made my beak gape open in wonder. I was REALLY glad I was still flame-resistant.

When the flames finally stopped coming, the dragon smiled in imagined triumph, and opened his eyes. His face was more priceless than any human face could ever be when he saw me untouched by his flames. I smirked (as much as a swan can) at his reaction, and held back the urge to laugh. The dragon growled at his failure, and opened his maw to release another jet of flame. Once again, it passed harmlessly around me. It tried about three more times, until it seemed to be out of breath. At every failed attempt the dragon's sense of confusion, and wonder, seemed to grow. After the last blast of flame, the dragon's eyes grew wide, and he started to set me down. I almost shouted out in triumph, but the dragon didn't put me on the floor, he put me on his tail, and lifted me so I was level with his face.

"Fireborn… why are you a duck?" the dragon questioned.

"Fireborn?" I replied, admittedly COMPLETELY CONFUSED.

The dragon's eyes flashed and he seemed to bring me closer to his face. "Ah, I see; you're new. Well, I'll miss Syndica very much." it said, confusing me even more.

"New? Syndica? What the heck are you taking about?" I asked, more confused than afraid of the dragon now.

The dragon just shook his head slowly. "You'll find out soon enough." he sighed, and seemed distant, as if remembering something.

'I'll miss Syndica very much.' The sentence ran through my head repeatedly.

"Who's Syndica?" I asked, "You'll miss her?... Is Sydica dead?" I continued; putting the puzzle together.

"So you're smarter than I thought." the dragon replied, leaving me a little offended, "Yes." he finally said after a long period of silence.

"Why did you think I was her, or 'Fireborn' as you said it?" I asked, "Did she have fire powers too?"

The dragon nodded. "The Fireborn is a being of pure flames, that is 'born' when the original Fireborn has died." it said, "There are four 'born' elements: the Iceborn, the Waterborn, the Windborn, and the Fireborn; which is you." it said calmly, as if it was a teacher giving a history lesson.

"Like Winter, Calder, Chet and I!" I realized.

The dragon's eyes grew wide. "Do you know the other element borns?" he asked.

"Well, yeah," I replied, "One of them is my sister."

The dragon shook his head slowly again. "All of them in the same group? This can't be good." he muttered.

I couldn't really understand him, so I just asked the main thing that was on my mind. "Hey, if I didn't even know about this stuff, how do you know? And how do you know that I'm really the Fireborn, and not just some freak of nature?"

The dragon sighed. "Each element born has the creature that guides all of the 'rebirths' for lack of better words. The Fireborn's creature is the dragon, Ice- the unicorn, Water- the great sea-serpent, Wind- the air-niad."

"But, I can create a phoenix, not a dragon. And Winter can create a Pegasus, not a unicorn. What's with that?" I asked.

"Hmmm," the dragon pondered, "a phoenix you say? Well that's a first… Well, that is your soul spirit guide; that only you have. Just as the Iceborn has her Pegasus."

"Wow." was all I could say from the large intake of information.

The dragon just…smiled? I didn't know dragons could do that, but this one did. Its lip tilted up slightly as he looked at me, as if remembering a good friend. "Ah, you're so young. It's good you learn this now so it can affect your future." he sighed.

I just looked up at him.

"Well, you should be on your way; your friends might wonder where you are." he said after a silent pause.

"Oh!" I said, remembering why I was here, "I can't, not yet. You see… I'm not supposed to be a bird." I flapped wildly for evidence.

"Ah, I expected much so…"

"Yeah, so… I actually came here for a reason. Um, a mermaid cursed me, and I need some gold from a dragon's den to turn back to normal." I stuttered, realizing how stupid sounded as I went on.

"That's it?"

"Well, no, but my friends are looking for the other stuff," I sighed, "I hope they're alright."

The dragon chuckled, still didn't know dragons could do that either but, "They're probably fine." he said, "Now, how much gold do you need?"

Soon, I had a bag full of gold, and I was ready to go. I waved goodbye to my new friend the dragon, and jumped in the air. I immediately fell, due to the increased weight of the gold, but the wind swept me up like it had before; containing lost remains of Chet's whispers. Hearing his voice made me feel calm, and, though I didn't notice, I was smiling the whole flight home. That is, until I suddenly stopped, and I crashed into the water, a few feet away from the shore. Chet was there, sitting with his head resting on a rock. He must've not seen me.

"Chet!" I called out and waved in the air.

He didn't respond.

"Chet!" I called as I ran across the shore to him.

No response.

"Chet?" I asked as I walked right in front of him. "Hello?" I asked, waving a hand in front of his face.

I started to get worried, and my mind conjured up some of the worst scenarios possible.

"Chet!" I cried out, and lowered myself to shake him.

I was about to shake him, to try to wake him up, but his head turned towards where I had come from, and he sighed. "Aednat," he said, "I hope you're okay." he sighed.

"What!? Chet! I'm right here! Don't you see me!? Don't you hear me!?" I cried out, tears starting to from in my eyes.

I looked to the sea, and on the horizon I saw no sun, only stars, and a moon starting to glow in the sky. I suddenly realized, that this was how the mermaid had cursed me. This is what she meant. I didn't like it. Though I spent most of my life alone, I hated being alone, and having people around you, not seeing you, was even worse.

I sat on the ground, tears staring to form in my eyes, sparks erupted from my palms, but I desperately tried to hold my fire in. I was confused and frightened.

And I was alone.

review responses!

Guest: Please don't curse, but you're reading it because you can't stop! ;) it's just too fabulous.

Fangirl012: yeah, but we were going through a short chapter phase. :/

hjy: Awww thanks!

humanrobot: Lolz, true.

Stay fabulous, my friends! ;)