Happy New Year, everybody! 2024 is officially finito! And what better way to start 2025 than with a new dragon story? And this time, the scenario selected was chosen not by one, but TWO voters! Thank you so much to those two people. You're the reason I still do this ;)
So, to those of you who read the poll, the vote this time around had options that were based on episodes of the perennial children's classic, "Dragon Tales." Hey, I said it was one of my inspirations, so it was only a matter of time before I rewrote some of the episodes. More specifically, the ones starring Zak and Wheezie, the two-headed dragon (and my favorite characters). The winner, and the only one that received any votes, was "Separate," which of course, is referencing the episode "Not Separated at Birth." And since Devon and Cornwall's only song in the movie is about the pair wishing to be apart from each other, it was a match made in heaven.
To be honest, though, this chapter actually doesn't have much to do with the "Dragon Tales" episode. It has a few lines that come from the episode, yes, but other than that, the only thing it has in common is the plot of a two-headed dragon wanting to split up. Truthfully, I didn't really need to consult with the episode to write this, unlike the other two "Dragon Tales" chapters I've written (yes, they are finished, so make sure to vote which one you want to see next!), because I actually came up with my own story for this one.
For the five people who have seen "Quest for Camelot," you'll know that in the end, (spoilers) Devon and Cornwall were separated briefly because of Excalibur's magic, but ultimately ended up staying together. And as heartwarming as that moment was, I wondered what would have happened if they actually took advantage of this separation, even if just for a little while. That's where my story comes in.
Of course, since the two have already learned to fly and all that, I knew they needed another reason to want to be their own dragon. And that reason is Madeline. As we've learned these past 12 chapters, she's mostly a girly-girl, what with her love of unicorns and all things pink, something which Devon can appreciate. But she has a bit of a tomboy streak too, which appeals more to Cornwall. Because of this, Madeline often wants to do a variety of activities that one dragon enjoys but the other doesn't (and vice-versa). Hence why the duo feel it would be better to split up, not only to get out of doing the other's favorite activities, but to spend more one-on-one time with Madeline. I also feel this story does a good job conveying why Devon and Cornwall are better off sticking together, mainly that separating means they only get half the time they normally get with Madeline.
And...yes, let's address the elephant in the room. This chapter is a metaphor for divorce. Keen readers have noticed that not once do I refer to Devon and Cornwall as "brothers." That's because I don't believe they are. To me, they don't really bicker like siblings; they bicker like an old married couple. This is supported by Cornwall's line in the song: "If you got me a good lawyer, I woulda split 400 years ago." So yeah, divorce is the main theme here and I'm not exactly trying to hide it either. I literally have CJ compare the story's situation to his own parents' divorce. And before any of you say I'm not qualified to tackle this kind of subject matter, just know that I myself went through a divorce. My parents have been separated since before I was even in preschool. I've dealt with the issue basically my whole life, so if anyone knows what it's like, it's me.
But enough backstory. Let's get into the meat of this thing.
Chapter 13
The Split
Madeline paced back and forth in her backyard. She was growing more and more impatient by the minute.
"Arf! Arf!" her dog Cookie barked as he followed her around in circles.
"Sorry, Cookie. I'm just so excited that I can't stand still." she told the pup. "With Mom busy working and Marcus at basketball practice, today's the perfect day for a dragon playdate!"
Cookie sat down and tilted his head curiously.
"Arf?"
"Devon and Cornwall will be here soon and they promised me an entire afternoon of the funnest activities they can think of! It's gonna be the best day ever!"
At that moment, the wind began to pick up, signaling to Madeline that her dragon friends were getting closer.
"Feel that, Cookie? The wind gets stronger when Devon and Cornwall flap their wings. They're almost here!"
Sure enough, less than a minute later, the double-headed lizard arrived in the backyard.
"Dev! Corny!" Madeline cried, rushing up to hug the pair.
"There's my girl!" Cornwall squeezed her tightly.
"Madeline! Delightful to see you!" Devon added.
"Ready for our playdate?" Madeline asked with anticipation.
"We were hatched ready, princess." Cornwall joked.
"Yes, we just hope you're prepared for an entire afternoon of nonstop, exhilarating merrymaking!" Devon exclaimed. "And with the activities Corny and I have planned for us to do, we can guarantee it will be truly gratifying!"
"You betcha!" Cornwall agreed.
"I can't wait!" Madeline cheered. "So, what are we gonna do first?"
"Well," Devon started. "I was thinking, since I know how much you enjoy this kind of thing, not to mention the weather is more than permitting for it, what better way to start our dragon-human playtime than with…a tea party?"
"Oh boy!" Madeline clapped her hands. "That sounds great!"
"I knew you'd think so."
Cornwall, on the other hand, wasn't as pleased.
"A tea party? No way! This playdate is supposed to be fun! I say we start this thing off right with some good old-fashioned mud sliding!"
"Ooh, I'd love that!" Madeline agreed.
"Nonsense!" Devon argued. "It's far too messy. And you can't possibly show up to a tea party coated in wet dirt."
"And you can't mud slide after goin' to a tea party 'cause you'll be asleep from boredom! Besides, we already agreed to do my thing first."
"We did not! I certainly didn't agree to that!"
"No, but we put it to a vote, remember? It was two against one?"
"But there are only two of us! How does that even work?"
"Easy. My vote counts as two since I'm bigger."
"Oh please. As if that's something to brag about. Anyway, I'm sure Madeline would much prefer to do my activity. Wouldn't you, Madeline?"
"Nuh-uh! She wants to do mine! Right, Maddie?"
Madeline was torn. She looked back and forth between the two heads.
"Oh, gee. They both sound like fun. I don't think I can decide."
Devon and Cornwall groaned in frustration.
"…Hey! I know!" Madeline suggested. "Whenever Marcus and I fight over something, Mom flips a coin to decide who goes first."
She retrieved a coin from her skirt pocket.
"Okay, Corny. Heads or tails?"
"Sorry honey. I only got one tail. But you can have this extra head." Cornwall gestured to Devon.
"Well!" Devon glared.
Madeline giggled. "No, you silly dragon! When you flip a coin, you're supposed to call 'heads' or 'tails.' Those are the two sides of the coin, see? Then, whichever side the coin lands on is the winner. Get it? Now, do you want heads or tails?"
"I guess I'll go with tails. I don't need any more heads talkin' right into my ear."
"So rude!" Devon noted.
"Okay, here we go." Madeline flipped the coin in the air and caught it on her hand. "It's…heads!"
Cornwall frowned. "Wait…but that means…"
"Yep! We're starting this playdate off with a tea party!"
"Hooray!" Devon cried out. "I'll get the crumpets!"
"Oh great…" Cornwall grumbled, clearly not happy with this outcome.
Soon, the friends had set up a table with chairs in the backyard. On the table, they placed several plates and cups, along with a big teapot in the center. In addition to that, the three of them dressed up in fancy clothes, much to Cornwall's annoyance.
"I say, Madame Rainbowtrotter," Devon said to one of Madeline's unicorn plushes. "That hat definitely suits you. It really brings out the shine in your horn. Don't you agree, Mistress Madeline?"
"Indeed, Sir Devon." Madeline replied in a sophisticated voice. "It's very, how you say, captivating. Would anyone like more chamomile?"
Devon held out his cup. "Yes, please. And I'm sure Lady Cornwall would too. Isn't that right?"
Cornwall scowled. "Oh yes. If there's one thing I absolutely love more than anything, it's plastic pastries and cups full of nonexistent liquid. Delightful."
Madeline poured some imaginary tea into Cornwall's cup. He sipped it for her sake, even though he definitely was not enjoying himself in the slightest.
Luckily for the unruly lizard, when the tea party was done, it was his turn to choose an activity and naturally, he wanted it to involve being as dirty and unfancy-like as possible.
"Okay, now that we got that namby-pamby junk out of the way, it's time for some real fun! Mud sliding!"
Using a garden hose, Cornwall created a huge mud puddle perfect for rolling around in.
"Yippee!" Madeline jumped for joy. "I love getting messy!"
"That's why I picked this for ya, sweetheart. Go on now. I ain't yer mom. Ya don't need my permission."
"Wheeee!" Madeline slid into the mud puddle, getting her clothes drenched in the stuff. "Hee, hee! Awesome!"
Devon cringed. "Oh dear…Madeline, do be careful! You're going to stain your skirt!"
"C'mon in, you two! The mud is fine!"
"Oh no, no, no, no!" Devon refused. "Absolutely not! I just had my claws manicured."
"Aw, quit bein' a wet blanket." Cornwall lectured. "Make some room, Maddie! Here we come!"
"No! Wait! Gah!"
Devon was then powerless to do anything as Cornwall forced the two of them onto their belly and slid them straight into the mud, creating an enormous splash. Madeline laughed, along with Cornwall, while Devon just sputtered.
"Heavens, I think some got in my snout!"
"And you're about to get a whole lot more…" Cornwall threatened mischievously. "MUD FIGHT!"
Madeline giggled and ducked as Cornwall threw a whole clump of mud at her. She scooped up some mud of her own and hurled it back at Cornwall, but it ended up hitting Devon instead.
"Ha! Nice shot!" Cornwall complimented.
Devon only groaned as the sticky muck dripped down his face.
Later on, Madeline's mother informed her she would be working later than she thought, which meant she wouldn't notice Madeline and the dragon flying down to the cave on the beach to continue their playdate. For the rest of the day, the three of them continued to flip-flop between activities Devon enjoyed (such as ballet, playing with dolls, and improv theater) and activities Cornwall enjoyed (like digging for worms, racing snails, and spitting contests). For every thing they did, Madeline had the time of her life and so did Devon, but only when they did one of his activities. It was a similar deal with Cornwall when they did his activities. But when one of the heads was forced to do something the other liked, he stopped having fun immediately. Cornwall couldn't help but find Devon's games boring and Devon couldn't help but find Cornwall's games boring and disgusting. In fact, the only reason they participated in the activities at all was because they were attached to each other and didn't have much of a choice.
By the time they had gotten to the makeovers portion of the playdate, however, Cornwall was fed up.
"That's it!" he blurted out. "I can't take this anymore!"
Madeline set down the lipstick container she was about to apply to Cornwall.
"What's wrong, Corny?"
"What's wrong is I'm sick of doin' everything he wants!" Cornwall pointed at Devon.
Devon looked offended. "And what, may I ask, is the problem with that?"
"'Cause you always pick the dullest, lamest stuff for us to do!"
"How dare you! My activities are not 'lame'! Anyway, they're miles better than whatever your idea of fun is. I'm still getting mud out of my ears!"
"Oh yeah? Ya don't hear Madeline complainin'! She likes the games I choose. Don't ya, pumpkin?"
Madeline nodded. "Yeah. I like all the games we play."
"Uh-huh. But ya like mine better, right?"
"Um…"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Devon interrupted. "She likes mine better! I know she does! Go ahead, Madeline. Tell him!"
"Gee, you guys…I don't think I can decide whose games are better. As long as I'm playing them with the both of you, that's all that's important."
"Well, that's fine, dear." Devon dismissed her statement. "But there are some activities where I'd prefer not to participate. Especially if they involve any part of the ground!"
Cornwall scoffed. "Well, I'd rather not be forced into all that hoity-toity junk, but I gotta! 'Cause I'm stuck with you for the rest of my life!"
"Oh! And I suppose you think I want to be physically attached to you forever? I'd give anything to have my own body if it meant I wouldn't have to spend every second of my existence listening to your constant griping!"
"That goes double for me! In fact, if I didn't have you, I think it's safe to say I'd be much happier!"
Cornwall: I'd be rockin' with the dinos
Swingin' with the rhinos
I'd be-dragonize this cave in a minute
Cornwall lifted Madeline onto his head, much to her amusement.
Cornwall: "Cornwall!", they would sing
'Cause I would be the dragon king
I would love this world without you in it
If I didn't have you
"If you didn't have me?" Devon repeated.
Cornwall: If I didn't have you
Devon pressed his nose against Cornwall's, causing Madeline to fall off his head.
"Well, how about if I didn't have you, huh?"
Devon & Cornwall: Oh, what I could be
If there was only me
Oh, what I'd do if I didn't have you!
"C'mon guys, stop bickering and get your act together." Madeline insisted.
"'Act'?" Devon chuckled. "Oh my dear, you know me too well."
Devon: If only I had separate parts
My career would be the arts
He painted a star on Madeline's face and she giggled.
Devon: I'd be the star of Camelot
You'd be the half that Madeline forgot
If I didn't have you
"I should be so lucky." Cornwall grumped, wiping the artwork off Madeline's cheek.
Devon: If I didn't have you!
"Oh wait! You'd be dead!"
Devon & Cornwall: Oh, what I could be
If there was only me
Oh, what I'd do if I didn't have you
Oh, what I'd do if I didn't have you!
"Trapped!" Devon whined. "Trapped!"
"Stuck here with you for 500 years!" Cornwall moped.
"Oh dear, it's learned to count." Devon whispered to Madeline.
"If you got me a good lawyer, I woulda split 400 years ago!"
"Now listen here, pal! I didn't come here to be insulted!"
"Oh? Well, where do ya usually go?"
Devon: I'd be Madeline's favorite creature
Cornwall: I'd be her personal fun teacher
Devon: You'd be nothing without me
You'd be extinct; you'd cease to be!
Cornwall: I'm so tired of your nagging!
Devon: And I'm so tired of your bragging!
Cornwall: Heh, heh! Without me, you'd have no brain
Devon & Cornwall: With which to think!
Madeline smiled. "Silly dragons."
Cornwall: I'd be rockin' with the dinos
Devon: If only I had separate parts
Cornwall: Swingin' with the rhinos
Devon: My career would be the arts
Cornwall: I'd be-dragonize this cave in a minute
"Cornwall!", they would sing
'Cause I would be the dragon king
Devon: I'd be the star of Camelot
Devon & Cornwall: I would love this world without you in it
If I didn't have you (If I didn't have you)
If I didn't have you (If I didn't have you)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Devon scooped Madeline up. "We don't need him, right Madeline?"
"Well…"
Cornwall snatched her away. "Don't listen to him, Maddie. He don't deserve you."
Devon & Cornwall: Life would be just fine
If Madeline was all mine
What I'd do if I didn't have you
"But I love you both!" Madeline argued, but was ignored.
Devon & Cornwall: Oh, what I'd do if I didn't have yooooooouuuu!
Suddenly, a puff of smoke filled the room and when Madeline opened her eyes, she was surprised and confused to see Devon and Cornwall in a cheesy Elvis costume.
Devon & Cornwall: Weeeellllllll
If I didn't
If I didn't
Have yoooooouuuuuuu!
The two took bows.
"Thank you very much!"
"Devon has left the building."
"You've never sung before have ya?" Cornwall asked, earning a punch in the face from Devon.
There was a pause as Madeline processed the issue.
"So…you guys really, really, really don't want to be together anymore?"
"Yep!" Cornwall replied with his head turned away from Devon.
Devon nodded. "It would be a dream come true. A pity it has to stay a dream, however."
Madeline thought for a moment. "Hm…maybe not."
The next thing Devon and Cornwall knew, they were at King Arthur's castle in Camelot. Madeline had asked to see Merlin, Arthur's wizard friend, and she explained the entire situation to him.
"I see…" he said once Madeline finished. "So, the two of you wish to be separated, do you?"
"Absolutely!" Devon confirmed.
"Without a doubt!" Cornwall concurred.
"Can you do it, Merlin?" Madeline requested.
Merlin scratched his chin. "Hm…yes, yes. I think we can arrange that. Come with me."
The cloaked man led the little girl and dragon to his private quarters. Once there, he retrieved a book of spells from the top of his bookshelf and flipped to a page.
"Here it is." he noted. "'The Division Charm. A powerful magic formula with the ability to split anything into two distinct parts."
"Sounds like what we're lookin' for all right." Cornwall claimed.
"Indeed it does." Devon worried. "But…it won't hurt, will it?"
"That I cannot say." Merlin answered. "This will be the first time I've performed the spell on a living being, after all. With that being said, I suggest you remain completely still so as not to disrupt the process. Now, are you both ready?"
"Wait." Madeline interrupted, hugging Devon and Cornwall's chest. "I still don't know if this is a good idea. Are you guys sure this is what you really want?"
"Is this what we really want?" Devon chuckled. "Madeline, I can assure you it's not only what we want, but what we need."
"Yeah, honey." Cornwall patted her head. "Don't worry about it. This'll make things better for all of us. You'll see."
"You may want to stand back." Merlin suggested to Madeline. "The spell affects everything within proximity of the target. I believe it's safe to assume you don't wish to be split in half also."
Madeline nodded and stood behind Merlin.
"Okay, we're ready!" Devon spoke up.
"Give it to us, Merl!" Cornwall demanded.
Merlin reread the spell one more time in his head and then prepared his staff. Suddenly, the tip of the staff began to glow a bright blue color, along with Merlin's eyes.
"To make this dragon tear asunder, I summon the power of wind and thunder. Heed my words so loud and true. What once was one will now be TWO!"
Devon and Cornwall gasped as a blue laser shot out of Merlin's staff and zapped them. Madeline covered her eyes, afraid of what she would see if she watched the process. She soon wished she had covered her ears instead, however, as the spell concluded with a rather ear-piercing explosion that filled the whole room with a cloud of smoke.
When the smoke cleared, Madeline looked over in the direction where her two-headed friends once stood. For now, instead of one dragon with two heads, there were two dragons with one head each.
"Guys? Are you okay?"
"Okay? Okay?!" Cornwall whooped. "Sweetie, we're better than okay!"
"Yes! Just look at us!" Devon stared in awe at his new appendages. "Two arms…two legs…too good to be true!"
Merlin grinned. "Ah. Yes. It seems the spell was a great success. You both each have your own body now. Your wish has been granted."
"I'll say." Madeline turned to the dragons. "Did it hurt?"
"No, dear." Devon replied. "It actually felt rather…invigorating!"
Cornwall moved his new arm. "Check it out! I've always wanted to try my hand at bein' right-handed!"
Devon tried walking by himself.
"My word, this is fantastic!" Devon commented. "I'm in complete control of both my feet! I don't have to wait for one half to catch up with the other half anymore!"
"Wait, wait! Let me try something!" Cornwall flapped his wings and lifted himself off the ground. "Hey, hey! Look at that! Finally, I can fly without havin' to worry about whether someone agrees with me!"
Devon also tried flying. "Me too! It's as if a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders!"
"Yeah, literally." Cornwall remarked. "Hey! Whaddya say we take these new bodies out for a test flight?"
"Oh, absolutely! Last one outside is a rotten dragon egg!"
Madeline giggled as the now-separated reptiles flew out of the castle.
"Gee. They sure seem really happy about this."
Merlin nodded. "Yes. They do. For now, anyway."
"Well, thanks a lot, Merlin. I'll see you later."
"You're right, Madeline. I will see you later. And I imagine it will be sooner than you think."
Madeline raised an eyebrow in confusion. Merlin always had a habit of speaking in premonitions, probably because his magical powers permitted him to see into the near future. Madeline didn't know what he was talking about, but she figured he was right, as she probably would see him again soon. Thus, she decided not to give it another thought and instead, went outside to join Devon and Cornwall, both of whom were flying around in circles above the castle.
"Woohoo! Aw yeah! I love it!"
"Ha, ha! Wonderful! Splendid! Magnificent!"
The two landed next to Madeline.
"Wow," she said. "You guys really like your new bodies, huh?"
"Are you kiddin'? They're the greatest!" Cornwall exclaimed.
"Yes, it's nice to finally get a chance to be my own person instead of just a part of one for a change." Devon stated. "And the best part is, I never have to worry about getting my scales muddy ever again!"
"And I can be as messy as I want without you naggin' me for it." Cornwall added. "Yep, it's official. This is the best day of my entire life!"
Madeline laughed. "Well, it'll take some getting used to, but if this makes you two happy, then I'm happy."
"Oh, it does, sweetheart." Cornwall promised. "It really does."
"Yes, now let's get you home before your mother notices you're gone." Devon suggested, offering Madeline his back. "Go ahead, hop on."
"Hold up!" Cornwall butted in. "Why should she get to ride on you? I can take her back way faster than you can!"
"Perhaps, but speed and safety rarely go hand-and-hand. She should ride on me so there's less chance of her getting hurt."
"Are you sayin' I can't be careful? That I'm an accident waitin' to happen?"
"Well, if the horn fits."
"Listen here, buster! Madeline only has room for one dragon best friend! She doesn't need you as long as I'm around!"
"Nonsense! We both know I'm the one she likes best! She'd pick you over me any day!"
"She would not!"
"Would too."
"Would not!"
"Would TOO!"
"STOP!" Madeline ordered. "C'mon guys, I thought the idea of you being separated was to keep you from fighting?"
The dragons looked down in shame.
"Sorry, Maddie."
"Apologies, love."
Madeline sighed before continuing. "Look, obviously this is a big change for all of us. So, the way I see it, if we want to keep being friends, we have to come up with a system. How about this? Every day, when you two come over, we'll do a coin flip to decide who gets to play with me first. Then, I'll spend exactly one hour with the dragon who wins. And when the hour is up, I'll switch to playing with the other dragon and he'll get an hour, too. And that's how it'll work every day from now on. That way, you both will get to spend time with me without having to see each other. Sound fair?"
Cornwall shrugged.
"Works for me."
"Me too. But Madeline, you still haven't decided who's going to take you home today." Devon pointed out.
"Oh. Well, I didn't bring a coin with me, so to keep the peace, why don't I just walk home? At least then nobody's feelings will be hurt."
"Hm…all right then." Devon held out one of his hands. "But at least hold my hand while you're walking."
"No way!" Cornwall argued. "She should hold my hand!"
"Guys, I have two hands, you know." Madeline reminded them, getting in between them and offering a hand each.
"Oh…right…" Devon admitted sheepishly. He then took Madeline's right hand so he could practice using his new left hand and Cornwall used his new right hand to take Madeline's left. Then, the three of them began their journey back to Madeline's house.
"I say, it's rather refreshing to be on this side for once." Devon observed.
"Yeah, it's like a new perspective." Cornwall noted. "We never coulda done this when we were together."
The next day, Mrs. Porter had to work again, so Devon and Cornwall arrived separately to Madeline's backyard for another playdate with her.
"Okay, we're doing this again." Madeline said, getting out a coin. "Let's see how it goes this time. Devon? Heads or tails?"
Devon scratched his chin. "Well, since it worked well for me yesterday, I'll go with heads again. Even though I prefer having just one."
"Oh brother." Cornwall rolled his eyes.
Madeline flipped the coin and caught it on her hand. "It's tails."
"Yes!" Cornwall fist pumped and pointed a claw at Devon. "In your detached face! C'mon Mads, let's split! Oh, wait. I already did that. Ha, ha!"
Madeline climbed onto Cornwall's back, leaving Devon distraught.
"Wait! What am I supposed to do then?"
"Whatever ya feel like, I guess." Cornwall retorted as he began to take off. "It don't matter to me, 'cause I don't have to do it with ya! Ha! Later, loner boy!"
Devon watched as his former other half flew away with Madeline in tow, feeling somewhat bitter about being by himself.
As soon as Cornwall and Madeline arrived in Dragon Country, they wasted no time playing all of the games the both of them loved. Except this time, Devon wasn't around to tell them not to get too dirty or messy. They could roll around in the mud as much as they wanted and nobody would scold them for it.
"Wow, Cornwall!" Madeline said after fifty minutes had passed. "This has been so much fun!"
"And we're only just gettin' started, princess." Cornwall claimed. "So, what do you wanna do next?"
"Hm…I know! How about we see who's the fastest by racing to the acid river on the other side of Dragon Country?"
"Great idea! Without Devon holdin' me back, I might just beat you for a change. But I'll still give ya a head start, just so there's no unfair advantage."
"Okay!" Madeline bent down into a starting position. "Get ready…get set…go!"
The girl began to sprint toward the acid river as fast as her small legs could carry her. Cornwall, meanwhile, stood back for a few extra seconds until he felt she was far enough ahead of him. Once she was, he darted after her.
"On yer right, Maddie!" he called. "No, wait. Make that yer left!"
"Huh?" Madeline turned her head, but before she could respond to the stubby dragon, he came out of nowhere and knocked her down. "Ow!"
Upon hearing her cry out in pain, Cornwall screeched to a halt and rushed to her side.
"Mads! You okay?"
"No…" she whimpered. "I scraped my knee…"
Cornwall lifted her leg and saw that there was indeed a scratch.
"Oh no…how'd that happen?"
"You bumped into me and I fell down! Didn't you see me?"
"Oh…I guess I didn't…sorry, sweetie. I'm not used to payin' attention to my surroundings. Devon usually warns me when we're about to hit something."
Madeline winced and held her knee. "Ow…it hurts…"
"Hang on, I might have somethin' for that." Cornwall dug through his belly pouch. "No…nope…not that either…shoot. Maybe…or maybe not…ooh! Wait a minute! How about this?"
He retrieved a scarf and attempted to tie it around Madeline's scrape…but it easily fell off.
"It still hurts…" Madeline whined.
"Aw man…Devon would've known how to fix it. He's better at this first aid stuff than me."
As if on cue, Devon flew into view and landed beside them.
"All right, it's been exactly sixty minutes, which means it's my tur-" he paused as he noticed Madeline's injury. "Oh my! Madeline, love, you've been hurt! You poor thing! What has that barbarian put you through?"
"Who you callin' a barbarian, ya stuck-up snob?" Cornwall demanded.
"I'm okay." Madeline informed Devon as he picked her up. "It was just a little accident."
"A little accident? My dear, you're covered head to toe in dirt! This is not an appropriate look for a proper young lady."
"She ain't a 'proper young lady,' she's a kid!" Cornwall insisted. "She should be allowed to get dirty once in a while."
Devon scoffed. "Well, I think she's had enough roughhousing for one day. Come along, Madeline. Let's get you home so we can clean you up. A nice, quiet tea party will help you recover from your trauma."
"Oh please! A scratch on the knee is hardly trauma!" Cornwall called as Devon carried Madeline away. "At least not compared to the snoozefest you're plannin' for her! Oh, and by the way! The ten minutes it takes to get her home counts as part of your hour, bucko! So don't whine if I get her back early!"
Devon ignored him and left with Madeline still in his arms. Once they arrived back at Madeline's house, Devon immediately patched up her knee and cleaned the mud off of her clothes as best as he could.
"There we go. Good as new!"
Madeline stood up. "Thanks Devon. It still hurts a little, but it shouldn't bother me too much now."
"Well, don't worry. I guarantee you won't get any more nasty bruises while you're under my watch. After all, nobody ever got a scraped knee at a tea party." he gestured to a table in the middle of the backyard where Madeline's plushies were already seated. "Look here, I've already got everything set up. All that's missing is the guest of honor! Shall we?"
Madeline smiled and took Devon's arm. "Well, I do love tea parties. And it would be nice to relax after running around so much. Okay."
"Splendid!" Devon pulled out a chair for her and she sat down. "And perhaps now that a certain ill-mannered slob isn't here, we won't experience any interruptions."
Sure enough, Devon was right. For except one time when Mrs. Porter came to check on Madeline and Devon had to hide from her, there weren't any interruptions. The tea party went off without a hitch with Madeline and Devon sipping air from their cups, indulging in fake tea cakes, and engaging in what they considered to be "grown-up conversation." They enjoyed themselves so much, in fact, they didn't realize how much time had gone by when they were finished.
"Well, Sir Devon, I must say I had a truly splendiferous time at your party." Madeline confessed.
"As did I, Mistress Madeline." Devon bowed. "And how much more wonderful it was that there wasn't a single complaint! Well, except from Lady Sparklehorn, but she had a point about the oolong being too hot."
"Well, I guess we'd better clear this table off." Madeline set her favorite unicorn, Sir Sprinklehooves on the table and picked up some plates. "Think you can carry the teapot?"
"Most certainly!" Devon reached out to grab the container, when suddenly, he tripped and knocked the table over. "Oops!"
When the table fell, it launched Sir Sprinklehooves into the air and onto the roof of Madeline's house. Once there, he ended up falling into the rain gutter.
"Oh no!" Madeline worried. "Sir Sprinklehooves! He's stuck!"
"Calm down, dear. I'll get him down." Devon promised.
He flew up to the roof to retrieve the toy. But that's when he realized just how much dirty rain water had accumulated in the gutters and Sir Sprinklehooves was drenched in it.
"Ew…" Devon cringed.
"What's taking so long?" Madeline asked.
"Oh…apologies, Madeline." Devon shuddered. "It's just that…well…your unicorn friend is rather…how do I put this? Filthy."
"Okay…and?"
"And I usually let Cornwall handle the filthy things, you see. So my naturally pristine claws can stay that way. I can't stand the thought of touching something so…unclean…"
Madeline groaned. "Okay, fine. Then lift me up to the gutters and I'll get him myself."
"But…then your hands will get all grimy. And what if you touch me with your grimy hands and get my new-and-improved body coated with muck and germs? No, no, no! I can't stand even thinking about it! Oh, if only Cornwall were here. We know he has no qualms when it comes to defiling himself."
"You rang?"
Madeline noticed Cornwall flying into the yard.
"Corny!"
"Hi, pumpkin." he pet her head before looking up at Devon. "Okay, time's up, buddy boy! You didn't give me any extra seconds, so I'm not givin' you any either! Now let's…wait, what are ya doin'?"
"Er…Sir Sprinklehooves decided to go on a little trip, let's say." Devon explained nervously. A trip that involves disgusting week-old rainwater, actually. I'm trying to deduce how to bring him down without having to subject myself to his, quite frankly, unsanitary state."
"Oh for cryin' out loud…"
Cornwall flew up to the roof and snatched Sir Sprinklehooves out of the gutter. He then returned the stuffy to Madeline.
"Here ya go, sweetie."
"Thanks…" Madeline acknowledged while attempting to dry her favorite toy off.
"Can't even grab a simple toy without freakin' out…" Cornwall grumbled. "What a wuss…"
Devon landed beside him. "I heard that!"
"Good! I'm glad! And I'm glad I got here when I did too, 'cause from the looks of it, Madeline was about to collapse from all this blandness." Cornwall gestured to the tea party table.
"She was not!" Devon glared. "Madeline loves playing with me! Much more than she does with you, anyway!"
"Yeah, right! Look at her! She's practically bored to tears! I bet she hasn't laughed once since she got here! Wanna know how many times she laughed when I was playin' with her? Twelve!"
"Hmph! Well, at least when I'm around, she doesn't get scraped knees!"
"C'mon! That was one time!"
"Well, it was one time too many! Which is exactly why I believe it's best if I become Madeline's full-time playmate!"
"Oh, you can't be serious!"
"I am serious! She needs a good role model. Someone she can look up to as she grows older. Someone who can teach her how to be a respectable citizen in her community."
"What are ya even talkin' about? Do you even know what a 'playmate' is? It's someone who knows how to cut loose and have fun! Course, I don't expect you to understand that since you clearly don't want Madeline to have any fun!"
"Of course I want Madeline to have fun. But she needs to have the right kind of fun. The one that doesn't open her up to serious injury like yours does!"
"She got a scraped knee! There ain't nothin' serious about that! You want a serious injury, I'll give ya one myself!"
"Guys!" Madeline interrupted. "Please stop arguing! Isn't that the reason you separated in the first place?"
The two dragons looked at her blankly.
"…You're half right, Madeline." Devon nodded. "That certainly was one of the reasons we decided to split up."
"But it ain't the biggest reason." Cornwall finished. "We mainly did it so we could have one-on-one time with you. But since neither of us can do it without the other one buttin' in, it's not gonna work!"
"I agree." Devon confessed. "It seems that there just isn't enough room in Madeline's life for two dragons. So obviously, the only solution is for one of us to go away forever."
Madeline's eyes widened in alarm. "What?!"
"Fine by me." Cornwall shrugged. "So, what are ya waitin' for? Get lost!"
"I'm not leaving!" Devon refused. "If anyone should leave, it's you! Madeline deserves to be happy and it's clear she's happiest with me."
"Oh, she is, is she? That's rich! Nuh-uh, if ya ask me, she's better off without ya! She needs someone who won't keep her down all the time!"
"Well, that's certainly not you, considering she was down on the ground when I came to pick her up! Face it: you're not fit to be her friend! Not even a little bit!"
"Ha! I'm twice the friend you are! You wish Madeline loved you as much as she loves me!"
"Hogwash!"
Madeline couldn't take any more arguing and finally stepped in.
"Both of you stop! I don't want you fighting over me! This isn't the right way to go about this!"
The two dragons became silent for a moment as they stared at the child.
"Goodness, you're right, Madeline." Devon eventually said. "How insensitive of us."
Madeline smiled, believing she had gotten through to them. But then Devon kept going.
"Since you're the one we're fighting over, it's only fair that we let you decide which one of us you want to be friends with."
"What?!"
"Good idea." Cornwall claimed. "Go ahead, Maddie. Who do ya choose?"
"I…I…" Madeline stammered.
"Yes, dear. Please tell us so we can settle this once and for all."
Madeline was growing agitated. "But…but I can't do that! I don't want to choose!"
"Hey, it's okay, sweetheart." Cornwall assured her. "I promise neither of us will be upset by your decision…too much…"
Madeline started to cry. "No…no, I can't! I won't! It's not fair! I want both of you to be my friends! Why is this happening? Why do I have to pick between you?"
Devon and Cornwall were sympathetic for the poor girl, but they remained adamant.
"Well, because that's the way things have to be, love."
"Exactly. Nothin' stays the same way forever, honey. But don't worry; sooner or later, you'll get used to it."
"No, I won't!" Madeline yelled. "You promised me everything would be better when the two of you split up, but it's not! I just want everything to go back to how it used to be!"
With that, Madeline ran into her house with tears streaming down her face.
"Madeline, wait!"
"C'mon, princess! Don't go!"
But Madeline wouldn't listen. The situation was too overwhelming for her and she just wanted to get away from it all. Once she was inside, she slammed the door shut, closed the curtains, and slumped against the wall with her face buried in her knees. The bandage Devon had wrapped around her scrape soon became wet from her tears. It felt like everything in her world was falling apart. She thought the dragons' separation would mean double the fun for her, but from the looks of it, it only meant double the trouble. And the idea of having to pick one dragon and never seeing the other again only made it worse. Madeline found it tragically ironic that Devon and Cornwall believed being stuck together made them miserable and yet, as soon as they got their own bodies, they became even more miserable. And with how Madeline was feeling at the moment, they weren't the only ones.
The next day was Saturday, which meant Madeline's mom didn't have to work. Since the sun was out and the sky was clear, Mrs. Porter thought it was the perfect opportunity for a beach day. Marcus had to attend basketball practice again that day, so to make sure Madeline wouldn't be lonely, she invited CJ to come with them. Once they got there, Madeline wasted no time filling her friend in on everything that had happened.
"Wow," CJ said as he followed Madeline into Devon and Cornwall's cave. "So…they really split up? They're not stuck together anymore?"
"Yup." Madeline confirmed.
"Huh. That's kinda cool. Now you get twice the playtime you had before. Plus, we can each fly on a separate dragon instead of having to cram onto the same one."
"I guess." Madeline shrugged. "But it really hasn't been as fun as you think it is. I feel like things have only gotten worse since Merlin broke those two apart."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, for starters, they seem to be fighting over me more than they used to. Was this how it was like for you when your parents separated?"
"It was at first." CJ explained. "For a while, I didn't think I would ever get used to it. But over time, it got easier. I'm sure it will for you too."
"How do you know?"
"Because my parents promised whether they were together or not, they'd never stop loving me and that they'd always make time for me."
"Well, that's not how Devon and Cornwall feel. They both want me all the time and refuse to share. And worst of all, they're making me choose which one will be my permanent playmate. Did your parents ever make you choose between them?"
"Uh…no…"
Madeline sighed. "That's what I thought. I wish those two would just realize what a big mistake this whole thing has been and fuse back together."
"I know how you feel. Sometimes I wish my parents would do the same. But I also know that some people are much happier apart."
"They're not happier, though. And not just because they have to share me. I think deep down they really miss each other."
Before CJ could reply, the conversation was interrupted by two loud voices at the end of the cave.
"I told you to stay on your side!"
"What does it look like I'm doin'?"
"Your toe is clearly crossing the line!"
"It's just a nail! Get over it! Furthermore, your head is in my air space! Move back!"
"I will not! You don't own the air!"
Madeline and CJ came upon Devon and Cornwall, the pair of them on opposite sides of the cave. Between them was a line drawn in the sand.
"Um…hi guys." Madeline greeted.
The dragons turned their heads.
"Oh, Madeline! You're here!" Devon cried.
"How's my little angel?" Cornwall asked.
"What are you doing?" CJ questioned.
"Oh, this?" Devon referred to the line. "It's just a divider to ensure someone respects my boundaries and personal space."
"Hmph!" Cornwall snarled.
"But I thought you lived in separate caves now?" Madeline clarified.
"In Dragon Country, yes. But until you decide which one of us to play with full-time, we unfortunately have to share this, quite frankly, confined chamber."
"Well, at least that's one thing they're willing to share." Madeline muttered to CJ.
"Speaking of which, have you decided who you want as your playmate, dear?" Devon continued.
"Oh. Right…Yeah, about that…I-"
"Of course she's decided!" Cornwall interrupted. "It wasn't like it was a tough choice! You can hit the road now!"
"Excuse me, but she hasn't said anything yet!" Devon glared. "You can't just assume she picked you right away."
"Like you weren't thinkin' the same thing!"
"Actually," Madeline spoke up. "I haven't made a decision yet. I think I need a few more playdates before I can choose. If that's okay with you guys…"
"Of course it is, love." Devon promised. "We understand it takes time to get adjusted to this sort of thing. You take as long as you need. In the meantime, I assume you've come to play with me, is that right?"
"Wrong!" Cornwall sneered. "She's come to play with me!"
"Guys, it's okay." Madeline objected. "CJ's here this time, so that way you'll both have someone to play with."
CJ only waved.
"Oh. I see." Devon cleared his throat. "Well, all right then. CJ, you stay here. Come along, Madeline."
"Hey! No fair!" Cornwall demanded. "Why do you get to call the shots? I should get 'er!"
"Too bad. She's coming with me. You'll just have to play with CJ."
"No way José! Madeline's mine! You can have CJ!"
"No, you!"
"No, YOU!"
"Gee…" CJ stated sarcastically. "I've never felt so wanted…"
"Guys, we have to take turns, remember?" Madeline reminded the reptiles while taking out a coin. "I've got the coin right here. You know the drill. If it's heads, Devon gets me first. And if it's tails, Cornwall does. And whoever I don't go with can play with CJ instead, okay?"
CJ raised an eyebrow at her.
"Uh, not that that's a punishment or anything. All right, here we go."
She flipped the coin and caught it on her hand once more.
"It's heads. Looks like I'm playing with Devon first this time."
"Huzzah!" Devon cheered.
"CJ, you go with Cornwall." Madeline instructed. "I'll see you in an hour and then we can switch."
"Sounds good to me." CJ agreed.
And with that, the two parties crawled through the tunnel to get to the realm of dragons and once there, they went their separate ways. Devon and Madeline opted to play in the Forbidden Forest while CJ and Cornwall stayed in Dragon Country. As the latter pair watched the former leave, CJ could tell Cornwall was upset about not getting Madeline to himself.
"Hey, don't worry about it." CJ offered. "We'll still have a good time."
"Eh, sure we will." Cornwall waved him off, slumping against his cave wall.
"How about a mud sliding contest? That might cheer you up."
"No thanks…I uh…don't really feel like gettin' dirty right now…"
CJ was surprised. "Oh. Well, what do you wanna do then?"
"Actually…I was thinkin' maybe we could do somethin' different…" Cornwall paused. "Somethin' like…I dunno…a tea party?"
Now CJ was very surprised. "Huh? Really? I thought tea parties were more Devon's thing? Wait a sec…do you miss Devon?"
"What? No!" Cornwall denied. "What gave ya that crazy idea? Maybe I just wanna mix things up a bit! Ya ever consider that?"
"Well…"
"Trust me. I'm better off without that wise guy! I don't need him and I definitely don't miss him! So get that nutty thought outta yer head, okay?"
CJ nodded as Cornwall stormed ahead. But despite what the boy was told, he could tell the shorter dragon was hiding his true feelings. He knew he would have to figure out a way to get him to open up about them, but how he would do it was another story.
Meanwhile, Madeline and Devon had arrived in the Forbidden Forest.
"So, what should we do first?" Madeline inquired, trying to make the most of the day. "Princess dress-up? Improv theater? Ooh! How about a private fashion show? We can use a log for the runway!"
As she said this, a nearby log got up and ran for it. She laughed. "Well, maybe 'run-away' is a more appropriate name. So, what do you think, Dev?"
Devon didn't respond.
"Dev?"
"Hm? Oh. Sorry, Madeline. I think those all sound like good ideas, but…wouldn't you rather do something more exciting like…play in the mud?"
Madeline was shocked at this suggestion.
"You wanna play in mud? But you hate getting messy!"
"Er, 'hate' is a rather strong word, dear. And anyway, you can't stay clean all the time. Dirt is a part of life, after all…"
"Huh? That sounds like something Cornwall would say…"
"Does it?" Devon sighed solemnly, sitting on a tree stump. "Well, perhaps the big oaf is right about some things…"
Madeline sat beside him. "Um…are you okay, Devon?"
"Well…if I'm being honest, no. Lately, I've been a bit…lonely…"
"Lonely? But you're not alone. I'm right here."
Devon patted her head. "Yes, yes, I know. And you are great company, absolutely. But…I just keep getting this feeling that something is missing…but I just can't put my claw on it…"
Madeline grinned. "Oh, really? I think I know what it is."
"You do?"
"I've known the whole time. Do you wanna go get him?"
"No, no." Devon insisted. "I'm sure he's getting along fine without us. Anyway, I don't want him here that badly."
Madeline stroked his arm. "Hey, it's okay. I understand. Like you said, it takes time to get adjusted to this sort of thing. And for the record, I miss him a lot, too. I miss how we would all play and laugh and have fun together. Those were really special moments we shared. It's a shame we can't have them anymore…even though we probably still could if we tried. Oh well."
Devon took a moment to process the eight-year-old's words, realizing that she was right. He then said:
"Hm…well, I suppose it would be nice to have all of us here again. Why not? It'll be just like old times."
"Really? Yay!" Madeline jumped for joy. "Let's go!"
The young girl ran ahead, eager to get to Cornwall and tell him the good news. However, she was so excited, that she failed to notice she was running straight into trouble. For while she had her eyes closed, she unknowingly stepped right onto the tongue of a rather large, carnivorous plant growing in the Forbidden Forest.
"Madeline, no! Stop!" Devon warned.
But it was too late. By the time Madeline had opened her eyes, the plant's mouth had closed over her, leaving her trapped.
"Help! Help!" she cried from the inside. "Devon, get me outta here!"
Devon rushed over. "Don't worry, dear! I'll save you!"
Using both his hands, Devon attempted to force open the plant's mouth. But even using all of his strength, it wouldn't budge.
"Oh my heavens! It's just too strong! Is there any way you can force it open from the inside?"
"No! I can't move!" Madeline called from the plant's mouth. "What do we do?"
"Uh…just remain calm! I'll be right back!"
"Wait! Where are you going? Devon?"
But Devon had already run off, not even bothering to explain what he had in mind. He didn't even tell her that he was heading for Dragon Country where Cornwall and CJ still were.
"C'mon," CJ encouraged Cornwall. "Surely you have to miss Devon just a little bit. He was practically your first friend, remember? You have known him since you hatched from your egg, right?"
Cornwall shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure."
"All I'm saying is, if I spent most of my life attached to somebody else, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss them even a small amount. No matter how much they drove me crazy. And hey, there must be some things about Devon that you like. Didn't he always listen whenever you needed to vent about something? And wasn't he always there to give you advice? And didn't he always know how to steer the both of you out of trouble?"
Cornwall sighed. "Okay, okay. I get the picture. Maybe I do miss him. A little. Somewhat. But I bet ya he doesn't feel the same way about me. I bet ya he doesn't want anything to do with me anymore. After all, what use could I have for him?"
"Cornwall!" a voice cried out, making the boy and dragon jump. Looking up, they saw another dragon running toward them.
"Devon?" Cornwall went.
"What's going on?" CJ asked in a curious and worried tone.
"Come quick! It's dreadful! Horrible! Awful!"
"What? What is it?"
"Just thinking about it is enough to send me into a tizzy! I can't stand it!"
"Can't stand what?"
"I feel faint…is that normal? Now it feels like I can't breathe! Oh dear, what if I collapse before I get a chance to inform you of this terrible tragedy?"
Cornwall grabbed Devon by the neck and slapped him across the face.
"Pull it together already and tell us what's wrong!"
"It's…it's Madeline!" Devon finally answered. "She's in trouble!"
"Oh no!" CJ panicked.
"Say no more!" Cornwall grabbed Devon by the hand and dragged him away. "Let's move!"
"Wait for me!" CJ called, chasing after the duo.
As quick as they could, the three of them sprinted into the Forbidden Forest with Devon leading the way. By the time they reached the carnivorous plant, it was nearly ready to swallow Madeline whole.
"Help! Help!" she screamed.
"Hang on, princess! Corny's comin'!"
Cornwall gripped his claws into the plant and began to slowly pry it open. His eyes lit up upon seeing the end of Madeline's shoe.
"Mads!"
"Cornwall!" Madeline cheered.
"Oh, I knew you'd be strong enough to get her out of there, Corny!" Devon encouraged. "Keep going!"
All of a sudden, Cornwall started to sweat and his grip loosened on the plant. He appeared to be struggling.
"I can't…move it…any…more…it's…too…strong!"
"Oh no! What do we do now?" CJ feared.
"Well, we certainly aren't going to give up!" Devon stated. "Move over, Corny! I'll help you!"
Cornwall nodded and moved aside so Devon could assist as well. It took quite a bit of strain from the both of them, but thanks to their combined strength and willingness to save their favorite girl, the dragons eventually managed to open the plant's mouth wide enough for Madeline to make her escape. With its lunch gone, the plant could do nothing except sink its head into the ground.
"You guys!" Madeline hugged Devon and Cornwall's bellies. "You saved me! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Oh, it was mostly Cornwall, actually." Devon chuckled modestly. "He has the greater arm strength, after all."
"Well, it wasn't great enough to do it alone." Cornwall confessed. "Let's face it; if it weren't for Devon, I'd never have gotten you outta there, sweetheart."
"I say, it seems it took both of us working together to save the day." Devon noted. "Perhaps there's a reason we've been joined at the hip since day one, don't you think?"
Cornwall turned red and smiled. "Well…I will admit…as much as I think you can be a real pest sometimes…at the end of the day, we make a great team."
"Oh, I absolutely agree! When we put our differences aside, we're unstoppable! How could we have been so foolish? It's clear now that Madeline really does need both of us in her life."
"That's what I've been saying this whole time!" Madeline lectured.
Cornwall ruffled her hair. "And you were 100% right as usual, sweetheart."
"Yes." Devon concurred. "Please accept our humblest apologies, love. We never should have forced you to choose between the two of us. It wasn't fair to put all of that pressure onto you."
"It's okay. I understand why you'd fight over me. I am pretty lovable." Madeline joked, hugging the two again. "And whether you're together or not, I'll always love and make time for both of you. We'll just have to keep doing what we're doing now and take turns."
Devon and Cornwall exchanged knowing glances.
"Actually dear, I think I have a much better idea." Devon claimed.
The next thing Madeline and CJ knew, they were in Camelot, waiting outside King Arthur's castle. Devon and Cornwall hadn't told Madeline why they had come there, only that they had a surprise for her. As soon as they arrived, the two dragons left the children outside and instructed them to wait until they returned.
Madeline was beginning to pace in circles while CJ just sat down on a rock with his hands in his lap.
"Gee, I wonder what's taking so long." he said.
"I'm not sure." Madeline replied. "They have been gone a while. But I'm more curious about what this 'big surprise' is going to be. And why we had to come here for it."
"Maybe it's a surprise party?"
"Why? It's not my birthday. It won't be for months."
"I dunno. Whenever I hear the word 'surprise,' I always associate it with a party."
Before Madeline could say another word, she heard Devon and Cornwall calling out to her.
"Madeline, dear! We're ready!"
"And we hope you are, too!"
The drawbridge of the castle lowered and standing on the other side was Merlin. And standing beside him was, to Madeline's astonishment, a single dragon with two heads instead of two dragons with one head each.
"Devon? Cornwall? You're…you're stuck together again!" she ran up to the conjoined pair and squeezed their belly. "Wow, it may not be my birthday, but this is the best present I could ever get!"
Merlin chuckled. "Yes, they told me they wanted to be reattached. Exactly as I predicted."
"Whoa…cool!" CJ was in awe. "Did you see what was gonna happen with your psychic powers?"
"Actually, no. I just had a hunch that the separation would lead to disaster and those two would eventually come back to reverse the spell. You don't always need to see into the future to be able to know what's coming next, my boy."
Madeline continued to hug Devon and Cornwall.
"Thanks for doing this, guys! I've never been happier!" she paused. "Wait a sec…you didn't fuse back together just for me, did you? I remember how annoyed you both were from being stuck with each other all the time. I don't want you to suffer just for my sake."
Devon laughed. "Well, of course we did this to make you happy, Madeline. But…truth be told, Cornwall and I actually did it more for ourselves. You see, we've spent so much of our 500-year existence bickering and complaining that we never stopped to think about just how much we do for each other. For instance, until now, I hadn't realized just how much Cornwall's muscle really comes in handy."
"And I never knew Devon was so good at maneuverin' around danger." Cornwall added. "He's got a keen eye for that kind of thing."
"But more importantly, we found that when it comes to taking care of you, we work best when we cooperate." Devon finished.
"Yep, it's true." Cornwall nodded. "But ya wanna know the best part of bein' attached again, sweetie? We don't have to fight over spendin' time with you anymore, 'cause we both get to play with you at the same time."
"Really?" Madeline was skeptical. "But that means you'll be forced into the other's favorite activities again. Devon will have to get dirty and Cornwall will have to wear a fancy hat."
Devon patted her head. "Well dear, if there's one thing this experience has taught me, it's that you can't stay clean all the time."
"Yeah." Cornwall agreed. "And sometimes it's nice to relax and have a cup of imaginary tea at the end of the day. I guess you could say we balance each other out."
"Quite right. Will we have disagreements sometimes? Of course we will. But we know now that we can solve those disputes without having to go as far as splitting up completely. No matter what the situation is, we'll work it out."
"You said it!"
Madeline stared at the ground. "Gee…are you sure this is really what you want?"
"It's not only what we want, but what we need." Devon assured her.
"And it'll make things better for all of us." Cornwall mentioned. "You'll see."
Madeline smiled. "Well, maybe you're right. And you know, there's one other good thing about you two reuniting."
"What's that, love?" Devon asked.
Madeline climbed between their heads.
"Now I can ride both of my favorite dragons without having to choose between them."
"Oh, Madeline…" Devon was touched.
"Ain't that precious?" Cornwall cooed.
"So, what do you say, guys? Wanna fly me back home?"
"You betcha, Maddie!"
"It would be our pleasure."
The two-headed dragon flapped their wings and lifted Madeline into the sky.
"Hey, wait!" CJ scolded. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Devon and Cornwall quickly landed so CJ could climb aboard.
"Oops!"
"Sorry about that, CJ."
CJ scooted next to Madeline. "Sheesh, am I invisible or something?"
"Well, if you are, at least no one can fight over you." Madeline pointed out as they took off once more.
Devon and Cornwall became offended. "Hey!"
"I'm just teasing, you silly dragons. Or I guess I should say, 'silly dragon.' Since there's only one of you. Hee, hee!" Madeline giggled.
The others laughed as well.
"Good one!"
"Very clever, dear."
"That's our girl."
I told you I'd include the song eventually. You just need to have patience is all.
Also, to those who are worried about this chapter's messaging, just know I'm not saying divorced parents should get back together for their children's sake. Because that's not what happened here at all. Yes, the dragons got back together to make Madeline happy, but they also did it to make themselves happy. And also because they realized the issues they were having were minor and weren't worth separating over. Let me be clear: if you are only staying with your partner because you want your child to be happy and for no other reason, that is a terrible idea and is only going to escalate the problem. Yes, living away from one parent a majority of the time will make a child unhappy. But living with parents who argue constantly will make them more unhappy and chances are, you'll be unhappy too. Divorce is hard on everyone, but sometimes it is the best, or even only, solution to a family's issues. I'm not saying it should be avoided entirely. But I am saying that it shouldn't be the solution every time there's a small disagreement between partners.
Anyway, I should be back to updating "The Ghostly Trio and Molly McGee" soon. I haven't started the next chapter yet because I've had trouble with casting, but I think that issue is resolved now so hopefully I'll have something ready by next week. But if I don't, I can always upload another chapter for this, since I still have plenty written up. I'll post a poll in a few days, so keep an eye out for it. Bye!