Over Cookies...

As Dree and Drat's return to the Baron's Mansion, the Dowager Griselda noticed a change in the Moon-Wish Dragon as he entered the room.  "He is maturing," she told herself not wanting for this special Dragon to have to grow  up so fast just yet.  Soon everyone was gathered in the tea room.  

​Fiddlefaddle and Sneefle were busy serving everyone tea and treats when Griselda managed to get an unnoticed minute alone with Dree.  "I see that you have decided on something haven't you?" she asked.

Startled, Dree slightly blushed before looking directly into her eyes.  "Yes, I think I know what to do.  But am I ready for possibly the costs?" the Moon-Wish Dragon answered.  His reply caused the Dowager some surprise!  "What costs could he mean," she pondered as she watched Dree walk away to get his tea and a sweet.

If the Dowager thought her conversation went unnoticed, she must have forgotten that Drat was in the room.  Little escaped the Troll King minion's notice and his large ears made it much easier for him to hear conversations that others missed.  Quietly he slipped up to the Dowager and whispered, "He has a hard decision to make, so give him a little time here."  

​Nodding her head, she silently agreed with Drat as they parted and each went to their chairs.

Just like at every event and gathering, there is a moment when everything goes quiet or everyone is watching for someone else to re-start the conversation.  It is at that moment the room takes control and almost always it either turns into someone saying, "Oh, it's later than I thought" or "It must be time to be leaving."  It could even be "What did you think of that storm last night?"  This is a natural law no matter where one lives.  But this was not one one of those moment as something else happened.  Dree stood up from his chair (and his favorite pillow), sat down his drink and unfinished cookie on the nearby table and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.  Not that he needed to make much of sound for anyone in a room with a growing Dragon in it usually has their eyes on the Dragon anyhow.  

With one more clearing of his throat (or growl depending on who was listening), Dree began.  "I would like to let everyone know what I have decided concerning my kin, the Dragons, who are returning.  I know that so far we have only seen Siate' and have spoken to the Dragon Herald, Aralt, but I feel that the others dragons are nearby."  

"I have been to the Wishing Well and have retrieved the Nyte Shade's Heart and have heard the Wishing Well's tale of how the Nyte Shade Heart came to be in the Well.  I have also learned how the returning Dragons' magic has been tainted by their long departure from this realm.  This is what creates the mis-enchantments when a Wish Dragon grants a wish," Dree giving a nod to Allspice and Nutmegg, the SPICE agents.  Before continuing, Dree looked also at the others in the room and realized that he had their full attention.  They were waiting for him to continue.  Looking at King Dulbbe with Drat sitting next to him, then glancing over to Queen Ffion and Arnie, Dree continued.  "The Dragons need to stay in this realm if they are to heal the taint of their magic.  This can only be done through the exposure to the Nyte Shade's Heart.  This is the only way to cure the problem.  Either that or the Heart has to leave the Realm to be wherever the Dragons live.  It is my wish that if the Dragons stay, we must find a way for all to live together peacefully.  Though it has become apparent to me that peacefulness is not what Siate' and Aralt are looking for.  They are more interested in dominance." ​

Dree paused to see what reaction his speech was having over the others.  He noticed that everyone was either nodding in agreement to his observations or were waiting for him to finish.  Even Snoop, the Baron, and the Dowager were waiting for him to say his piece.  Taking in a long breath and slowly letting it out, Dree realized that these were his friends, they had become his family, and were with him.  "Hopefully they will still wish to be my family after they hear my plan," the Moon-Wish Dragon mumbled to himself. 

"This is what I propose we do..." started Dree.  When the Moon Dragon's plan was presented to the others, Dree stopped talking to see their reaction.  It was Drat who broke the silence first.  It took Dree a minute to realize that his friend was laughing hard and was trying to keep it bottled up inside.  It didn't work.  Soon more of the group were laughing and Dree started to get a little uncomfortable.  Before Dree could ask what was wrong, Drat spoke.  "I am just picturing the look on Siate and Aralt's faces if your plan works.  I love it!"

As Dree looked at each of the others, he again realized, "These people are my FAMILY".  Quickly everyone started talking and writing down all the ways to help make Dree's plan work knowing that they would need to start soon before Siate' did.  ​