Chapter 39: The Mystery of the Fire Dragon:
Reggie's POV:
There I was with Cheryl. We drove up to the cliff.
"The night sure is beautiful," says Cheryl.
"That's not the only thing that's beautiful," I said.
But as we leaned closer, a dragon showed up. That's right! A dragon! It then breathed fire at us.
Nancy's POV:
My crew and I were at Pop's, but then Reggie and Cheryl showed up and they both look like they've been in a volcano. "What happened to you guys," I asked.
"You better fix this," says Reggie, "there's a dragon in Riverdale!"
"UUUUUUUUUhhhhhhhhh... sorry," I said, "but I'm a detective, not a knight of the round table."
"Well, someone has to do something," says Cheryl.
"Okay... okay... okay... I'll see what I can do," I said.
. . .
I then took a look around the cliff. I guess in a town that has had ghosts, alien leprechauns, and witches, a dragon would be possible. I then looked down and I think I saw something's under the water. I should stay away from that.
Bess' POV:
Odette took control of George.
"I ahm bahred! Do you realize how lahng eet hahs been seence I hahd a bahdy?"
"A body you're trying to steal from George," says Shaun.
"Look, you can't go out there on your own," says Ned, "you kind of have a reputation."
"Fine. you shahll supervise me!" She then dragged me away.
Nancy's POV:
I was still looking around, but then I found something. It looked like a piece of... diamond? Then the dragon was peaking up and I had to run, or I'll be barbecued!
. . .
I took the stone to Dilton. "It looks like a diamond alright," says Dilton, "strange. There might have been some hidden at that cliff."
"So, do you think that dragon might be guarding it," I asked.
"I don't really believe in dragons," says Dilton, "but I guess anything is possible."
I looked at the stone.
Bess' POV:
Odette and I were going around the town. We were listening to music, going on rides at the carnival, I showed Odette the mall. We were having fun and as we looked in each other's eyes... I know they're George's eyes... and I have no interest in her... but there was something...
Nancy's POV:
I returned to the cliff to see if I can find more, but then I saw the Lodges' butler. He ran. What was that about?
. . .
I was on my way back to Pop's when I walked past Veronica and then I realized she was wearing the exact same kind of diamonds. The Lodges' butler probably found it there. Could the Lodges have been behind the dragon?
. . .
I decided to check out Lodge Manor. I was spying on them, but someone was missing.
"Can I help you," asks Veronica.
. . .
I then explained my reason. "Daddy did have a... criminal past, but trust me, he could not be behind the dragon thing. He just sent Smithers to find the old mine."
"The what," I asked.
"There's an old diamond mine buried around there," says Veronica, "that's where my favorite jewelry store gets these and... Daddy got into an argument with the owner... so he tried to have Smithers look for the mine."
"Great," I said.
. . .
I returned to the cliff. Maybe if I find this mine, I can find some clues. I then climbed down the cliff. That dragon has to be animatronic. Why else would it come up just to breathe fire? It's like an amusement park ride. I then found something. It was a cave. I then swung in.
. . .
I still needed to find the diamonds.
"You know, you could have just looked for the secret trap door like I did," says Gomber. Gomber was here.
"Wait, if you're here, then that means..."
"There's more to the dragon," says Gomber. The dragon's eyes were then behind him. That's right. I forgot that Gomber released all the spirits that have ever haunted this town! I had to run.
. . .
I then found a secret door. I opened it and I found the mine.
"Woah," I said.
"Really? It was that easy," says Gomber, "I'm disappointed."
"Is this about the diamonds," I asked.
"You're a detective," says Gomber, "why don't you figure it out?"
Then something knocked me out from behind.
. . .
I woke up and saw I was faced with the dragon. I screamed.
"Awe, now you hurt his feelings," says Gomber, "now, if you excuse me, I have some diamonds to collect. Eat her."
Gomber then walks away. The dragon was looking at me. Luckily, Veronica lended me her nail file... because she felt I really needed it, and as hurtful as that is, it's gonna come in handy. I used it to uncuff myself, but the dragon then charged at me. It almost ate me, but I was hanging onto its nose. I then saw something strange about the nostrils. I then climbed in and they were metal. I was right! It was animatronic. I then snuck through.
. . .
I'm now in the dragon's brain, but no one's driving it. "Hello," I said.
Then something formed in front of me. It was the ghost of a minor. "Well, look what we have he-yah!"
So, it's a robotic dragon controlled by a ghost. "Who are you," I asked.
"Jefferson Westfall at your service!"
"What is all this," I asked.
"When the mine was discovered, aah wanted to take those diamonds, so aah made this dragon 'n used it to scare people away so aah can have the diamonds all to myself. Simple."
"But the fire's real," I said.
"Life's just full of real faar, isn't it?"
"Wait, who discovered this mine," I asked, "because whoever did would be the rightful owner!"
"Aah don't know. Aah never got their name 'n aah never cared. It's mine now!"
"You can't do this," I said.
"Look, Gomber promise meh the diamonds if aah git rid of ya 'n that's exactly what aah'm gonna do!"
He then disappeared. Everything was going crazy. Lucky for me, Sabrina gave me her Tome of Doom. All I have to do is open it and aim it at the ghost... wherever he is. I then heard his annoying hillbilly chuckling and I found him. I opened the book, and it started absorbing him.
"But that's not fair!" He's gone.
. . .
I then used the dragon to get back to the cliff.
"Not bad," says Gomber.
"I beat your ghost," I said.
"Oh, Nancy, there are plenty more," says Gomber, "and honestly, I was never going to share my diamonds with him."
"What," I asked.
"Oh, I guess the teen detective didn't figure it out," says Gomber, "it was my ancestor who discovered this mine! See ya." He then walks away. I was about to go after him, but then a ghost came and took him away. This wasn't over.
. . .
I was talking to Bess about what I went through.
"... and as long as Gomber has those ghosts, he might be untouchable!"
"I have a problem of my own," says Bess, "I think I'm falling in love with the ghost that's possessed George!"
I looked at her. "Yeah, that is way to awkward to be a good thing."
In the next chapter, a ghost curses a candle.