The Torch passes...

With those words Dree asked, "Monacle, would I be able to take your place?" "Dree!  What are you doing?" Arnie cried.  Dree did not turn to look at his friend.  His eyes stayed locked on the Monacle.  A long silence continued as they stared at each other before finally the older Dragon answered. 

​"It is not what I had wanted when I first started watching over you, but yes, you would be able to take my place," and after answering, the Monacle could no longer look into Dree's eyes and lowered his head.

Again Arnie tried to jump into the conversation but before she could, Meerher took the Finder by the hand and whispered into her ear.  "Arnie, I know you are trying to help Dree, but this is something he must decide for himself.  All of the Realms depend upon his choice for he is the only one we have found who can save the magic of the Tree."  As Arnie pulled her hand away from the Moonie House Mother, she looked again towards Dree and saw that she was too late.  He had made up his mind already.

"Arnie, you need to go back home now and tell the others I will not be coming back for possibly a long time," Dree told her as he then held out something to the Finder.  "Tell them what I am doing and that I will return if I can."  It was then that Arnie noticed something was happening to the Monacle.  At first it was just a vague feeling, but soon it became more evident... The Monacle was starting to fade away!

Arnie - The Finder

"Dree," said the Monacle, "I have not much time left here, but I will be with you in your journey.  Come to me and place your forehead to mine."  As Dree approached and their heads touched, he could feel a flow of magic unlike anything he had ever experienced before.  Within seconds it was complete but in those seconds, Dree saw everything that the old Dragon had experienced in it's time.  He watched the first meeting the Dragon had with the Tree, the decision, the making of the Oracle, and even this moment of the transfer from another perspective.  The old Dragon had given his knowledge to Dree!  It would be much later before he would learn that more than knowledge was given that day when Dree asked himself a hypothetical question and another familiar voice answered it...

When the transfer was complete, Dree found that the old Monacle was gone.  As everyone looked at the spot where the old Dragon had been, it was Ellie who first noticed the change in the Tree!  "Look" she shouted to the others as she pointed to the Tree. 

​"The branches are leafing again!"  It was true, the places that the branches had looked bare were starting to grow leaves and the rest of the Tree was started to glow a pale green.  The Tree was stronger!  Dree had become the new Monacle of the Tree.

It may have been a trick of the light coming from the renewed Tree, but as Arnie looked again at Dree, it appeared that he also had grown.  His face had changed from being a youthful Dragon to one that looked like it had seen more events than its young years.  Sadly, Arnie thought that this was the last time she would see her friend.  Dree had noticed Arnie's expression but already had decided on a plan that this would not happen.  He was not ready to give up on his friends nor forget them. ​

Calling the two Moonies to his side, Dree took command.  "Ladies.  As the new Monacle of the Tree, I make you my personal emissaries.  House Mother Meerher, I would like you to stay and discuss with me some of the duties of the Monacle and how the Moonies and I will continue to defend the magic and keep the balance.  E'luminosity, you will guide my friend back to the Realm of Wymsy and show her how to return to here when she needs to.  Your duties will now include being my personal messenger so return when you have completed this task."  Dree then looked directly at his friend, Arnie the Finder.

"Arnie, I need you to do something for me if you will.  We have unfinished business with the Troll King and I made a promise to help him.  Will you complete this task for me?"  Arnie had forgotten all about the visit to the Troll King and their promise to help him find his greatest desire.  Keeping the tears out of her eyes, Arnie promised that she would.  "You won't have to do this alone.  Let Drat know of my request and also you will meet another who will aid you.  I am giving you this to help in the quest," Dree told her as he passed her the Oracle.  "Oracle, you are to help Arnie and her friends until such time as you return to me.  Is that understood?"

"Master?  Are we to be separated again?" asked the Oracle so that only Dree heard the question.  The new Monacle smiled.  "No, you will be able to talk to me no matter where you are located this time so that you can tell me what is happening in your adventures."  With that answer, the Oracle again felt something it could not define but liked how it felt.  "We will be together again," it told itself.

As Dree gave Arnie the Oracle, he also gave the Finder the wooden spoon that had been a gift from the Bag of Possibilities.  "As the spoon was given to me, I am now giving it to you.  This spoon originally came from the Tree.  With it you will be able to communicate to me in the presence of any of the great trees in all of the Realms.  Simply touch the spoon to a tree and I will be able to hear and speak with you.  The spoon has other magical properties, but you will learn of those when the need arises."

Soon it was time for Arnie to return to the Realm and tell the others what Dree had done, but before leaving, she gave the new Monacle and her friend a long hug with a promise to return every time that she could.  As she was leaving, Dree started to laugh.  "Wait Arnie.  Before you go, I just heard a new joke that I want you to tell Drat when you see him..."