Reversing Quest
On returning to this tale, I begin by telling the story of a young man. This young man was an artist, but as a side job he worked as an architect. He was an adventurer for he looked for discoveries. Well he brought up the news of a stone that was odly shaped and very colorful. He went out to find this stone. He knew this stone was known as the death stone for when someone found it they disappeared. Well he went on this adventure alone because he wanted the stone for himself. He went to Europe for a lot of disappearances were happening there. He was searching the ground when he noticed an intriguing tree it had grown around something, but when he searched it nothing was found. He looked inside and found a stone the size of his fist, and it was glowing. He picked it up and felt a weird sensation. When he looked at his hand he had noticed he was looking at a claw. Then he looked at himself in a puddle of water and noticed he had a long snout and wings. He tried to scream, but only smoke came out of is mouth because he was a dragon. Now that we come to the end of his life as a man we come to a beginning of a dragon that goes on an adventure to reverse the curse. This is where we tie together two stories. One man who is lost to the dragon kind and a woman who was banished and cursed by her people to become a wolf. Once getting up he stared around for he was with his very eyes that dragons were coming out of their hiding places. He tried to speak, but nothing came out. He heard many voices in his head, but he couldn't answer them. Then one of them held one claw to his lips and then pointed to his head then spoke clearly to the newly made dragon and said, "My name is Tom we speak through thoughts and what is your name." The newly made dragon spoke to Tom and said, "My name is John." Tom said, "Isn't it nice being a dragon." John said, "No it's freakishly weird." Tom said, "You'll get used to it." John said, "How am I going to get used to being a dragon. I'm freakishly huge for one thing, second I can't speak, and third I have a craving for food, but I can't go into town and buy and now how do you suppose I get used to this." Tom laughed and said, "Ha you can't go into town everyone would run screaming; you have to catch fresh meat." John said, "Yea and not cook it." Tom said, "Precisely my boy you catch and eat what you want." John asked, "How long have you been a dragon?" Tom said, "Oh about fifty years, I was turned when I was fifty so I guess I'm around a hundred years by now." John gasped and asked, "How is this possible?" Tom said, “It’s the scale of Emite, it turns every human that touches it into a dragon and gives them a prolong on death. John said, “Well I’m not staying long in this form I’m going to find the reverse on this thing.” Tom said, “Well then go get yourself some dinner because I’m guessing you’re quite hungry, it always is when you first turn.” John said, “Fine, but I’m not used to this yet, and it’s going to take me a while to um how do you say find, kill, and eat my food.” Tom said, “Well why didn’t you say so we have fresh kills for all new comers.” John said, “Well all right then, so where is the food.” Tom said, “Follow me; It’s not a pretty sight once you first see it, but you’ll get used to it.” John said, “That’s what I keeping hearing.” So John followed Tom to the kills and found that he couldn't hold his stomach together. He puked up stomach acid because he had not eaten that day or the day before. He looked at the carnage of animals, and back at Tom. Tom had grabbed a leg of a rabbit and held it out to John. John was so disgusted that he almost puked again, but instead his instincts told him to grab the leg and eat, and that's what he did. He didn't understand what he was doing, but grabbed another leg and ate it too. Tom stopped him when he was eating the breast of the rabbit. Tom took the heart out of it and said, "This will fill you up better not eaten with anything else." John took the heart and bit into it. Blood gush from it into his mouth, and he swallowed it. He wasn't hungry anymore. Tom said, "Now that you've tasted it, you will know how to catch it yourself." John said, "Fine, but I will rest here for a few days and then I'm leaving is that okay." Tom said, "It's fine with me, but I haven't heard of a new comer living too long without the knowlege." John said, "I'll be fine, trust me I can figure it out on my own. Tom said, "Whatever, but if you die no one will know." John said, "That is fine with me because I have no one to care about me." So John lumbered off into the woods and fell asleep beside a log. When he awoke the log had become him for some reason. He noticed that his scales blended in with the scenery. Then he realized that was why he couldn't see the dragons when he was in human form. They had hidden themselves with their scales. He got up and stretched. He looked around and spotted Tom sleeping nearby a pong. John walked over and slipped into the pond and cleaned himself, and then he drank till he quenched his thirst. He gout and walked around and scoped out the best hunting spots. John laid down in a bush and waited. A sly fox caught his attention. He snuck up behind it and grabbed it by its tail. The fox snapped at him, but he silenced it with one swipe at its neck with his claws. He skinned it and ate the organs first. Then he peeled the meat off of it and ate it up. Tom came over and said, "How did you like your first kill." John said, "It was perfect." Tom said, "That's great news." Then Tom walked off and found some food for himself. John laid back down in the reeds and took a nap. He awoke to find he was hungry again. He sat down and waited. a wolf came by. He caught the wolf, and was amazed that it didn't fight, but looked at him in a curious fashion. Tom raced over and said, "Put her down she is not food." John questioned Tom about his sanity. Tom said, "She is the one who helped us find food." John said, "So you're sure that this wolf ins't another plain wolf." Tom said, "I'm pretty sure because usually a plain wolf would howl and yip and fight you." John said, "I thought there was something about this one that was different."Tom said, "Put her down." Lee did so and asked, "So what's up with this wolf." Tom said, "That isn't just a wolf, she's a girl, well probably a woman by now, but you get it." John said, "Well no I don't, how is that wolf different from every other wolf I catch." Tom said, "She has a story and she'll talk to you, when she thinks you're ready." John said, "Well does she do this to everyone." Tom said, "No, she only picks a few of us; so far it has only been two of us so far." John said, "And who's that." Tom said, "Me and you." John said, "Why us." Tom said, "Because I think she trusts us not to tell anyone else." John said, "So you kept her secret for fifty years." Tom said, "yea I did and now I can talk to someone abou it." John said, "Great!" John walked away and over his shoulder said, "I need to think about this." Lee scanned the woods and found a spot that was perfect and laid down beside it. He thought about that wolf or girl or whatever it was for a long time. He couldn't get it out of his mind the way it just stared at him with those all knowing eyes. He woke up to seeing a golden eyed fuzzy faced animal staring him in the face. He shook himself because he thought he was dreaming, but the animal kept staring at him. He stood up and realized that the animal was the wolf. The wolf looked him up and down and touched John with its paw. John backed away and tried to figure out this thing. The wolf came up to him and touched his claw. He didn't move this time. The wolf started speaking to him, but he didn't believe it. The wolf spoke it said, "Don't move I can only communicate if I'm touching you." John heard a calm woman speaking to him, but all he could see was a wild wolf that could kill a man with one bite to his neck. The wolf said, "My name is Ixel, don't be alarmed." John said, I'm speechless I don't know what to say." Ixel said, "I know what to say, you want to know how I'm a wolf, but at the same time a woman. Ixel said, "You have to listen to my story, but it is long and we don't have time so I will make it short." John asked, "Why don't we have time?" Ixel said, "Because my time as a wolf is ending tonight and you will see me for who I really am." John said, "Well then make it fast." Ixel gave him a sarcastic look, and said, "Don't you think I'm trying too, but you're making it hard." John said, "Then go on tell me the story." Ixel said, "Okay here it goes." Ixel began her story. We all know her story so I will bring us to the end of her story where she found these woods and lived until she saw a miraculous thing happen to a man. She watched him change and leaned his name as Thomas, but he goes as Tom now. This is where she ended and looked at John with big round golden eyes. John said, "Wow so you were an outcast." Ixel said, "Yes in so many ways." John said, "Don't worry you're not an outcast with me." Ixel looked at him with longing eyes that said thank you. Ixel said, "I must go or you will see the change, the first time I changed in front of someone they grew scared of me." John said, "You can stay, I will not think of you in any other way then who you are." Ixel looked at him in a confused sort of way. Ixel said, "You're not scared of me." John said, "No, I think you are beautiful." Ixel said, "But as an animal you think I'm beautiful, you will think of me different when I'm human again." John said, "No, but if you want privacy I will not stop you." Ixel asked, "What is privacy?" John said, "Privacy is like alone." Ixel said, "I do not want to be alone tonight."John said, "Then I will stay beside you until you do." Ixel said, "You would do that for me." John said, "Yes, that is what I can do for you since you shared a story with me." Ixel said, "Fine, but at any time you feel to uncomfortable you can leave. Ixel curled up into John. John curled around Ixel so he didn't squish her, but also so she couldn't be seen. His wings folded over her. When John awoke he found that Ixel had gone. John sat up trying to figure out what went wrong, when Ixel stepped out of the woods with ragged looking clothes on. Ixel said, "Don't worry, I felt uncomfortable with you waking up to me without any clothing." John said, "It's alright, wait a minute you don't have to touch me to speak to me." Ixel said, "No, Not in this form, I speak through my mouth." John said, "That's why it's different because yesterday, it was loud in my head, now your voice seems lighter." Ixel said, "You will get used to it." John grumbled, "Whatever." Ixel said, "John, Tom told me that you're leaving to find a reverse for the Dragon Curse." John said, "Oh, I Had forgotten about that, yes I was and I still am." Ixel said, "Well you'll need the knowledge and I can provide it." John said, "Alright." Ixel said, "There is such a fountain North West of here, it's called the purification fountain. It is known by that because I've seen it change cursed people into healthy rich people." John said, "Then why didn't you try the fountain." Ixel said, "Because I find that I'm supposed to stay here, and help the others that come along." John looking glum said, "Oh." Ixel said, "Don't worry you'll see me again." John using a harsh tone said, "What else do I need to know." Ixel said, "Calm down, I have to check your body's physical condition before you go off somewhere." Ixel said, "Spread your wings." John spread his wings under her touch and began to relax for the first time in his life. He had never felt this way before. Every where Ixel touched he felt different like a warm fuzzy feeling. She went around to his face. She touched his chin and turned his head from side to side never looking him straight in the face. Then she took his jaws and pulled them apart and looked at his teeth. Then she stuck her hand in his mouth and touched his teeth one by one. He shivered when her heand brushed his tongue. Then she took her hand out to quickly and brushed it against his teeth. She winced as the teeth bit into her hand. She slowly pulled her hand out of his mouth. He licked her hand gently until it stopped bleeding and healed. Ixel said, "You're an extraordinary type of dragon." John asked, "Why?" Ixel said, "Because other dragon's saliva usually burn or eath through skin, but yours heals." John said, "Well maybe the stone knew I was different and gave me different powers." Ixel asked, "I wonder what your scales do?" John said, "We could find out." Ixel said, "Okay, but if it causes harm we'll never do this again." John said, "Okay." Ixel grabbed a scale from John's leg and stroked it as it changed colors. Ixel said, "I've never seen a scale like this, it's like the Gilze Brother's scales." John said, "What." Ixel said, "Never mind it's a whole totally different story, that will take to long, but that scale you found is one of the scales. John said, "Okay so that one changes people." Ixel said, "Yes, and the other two helped the earth." John said, "Oh okay so my scale is like their twin." Ixel said, "No, I think this scale is the twin of Emite's, but I think this scale has a different properties." John asked, "Like what?" Ixel said, "Well I don't know we haven't tried it yet. John said, "Well lets get on it." Ixel licked the stone and dripped some blood on it. She placed it on the ground an dnothing happened. Then she picked it up and put it in water, but nothing happened. John asked, "What would happen if we placed it next to the other scale?" Ixel said, "Either mass chaos or nothing, but we could try." John said, "We have nothing to lose." Ixel took the stone and followed John to the tree where he was once a man. John looked inside and found the scale. He took the scale from Ixel and touched the other scale with it. His scale started to burn his paw, but he didn't let go. He closed his eyes in pain. Ixel said, "Emite's scale is melting." John said, "I can't hold on much longer the pain is killing me." Ixel said, "Just a few more minutes and Emites scale will be gone." John started to tear up as the heat got tenser. John said, "I can't do it anymore." Ixel said, "Just wait please hold on its all most gone." John said, "I can't!" Ixel said, "It's gone take the scale to the lake." John raced to the lake and dropped the scale in. He licked his paw, but nothing happened. He stuck his paw in the water it cooled his paw. Ixel walked over and took the scale from the water and placed it to John's paw. John asked, "What are you doing?" Ixel said, "It might cool, and heal your paw." John said, "Are you crazy it just burned me back there." Ixel said, "Yes it burned you when it was near evil, but if it's not it might heal you." John said, "Whatever, but if that thing burns me again we're keeping it in water." Ixel said, "Fine!" Ixel placed it against his paw and saw with relief that it healed his paw. John said, "Fine you win, but if it causes harm again we're leaving it at the bottom of the lake. Ixel said, "I don't think it was causing harm, I think it was protecting you and others." John said, "So Instead of causing harm like Emite's it prevents harm." Ixel said, "Yes, but I wonder what it does to other dragons." John said, "We could get the newest one that was made." Ixel said, "Perfect we'll get Tom to find us the newest one." Ixel called Tom's name and Tom came with ease through the air. Ixel said to Tom, "We need you to find us the newest recruit to our family here." Tom found Katy. Tom said, "She is about two days old so she is the newest." John said, "So how's it going." Katy said, "It sucks, but I'm getting the hang of things around here." Ixel with annoyance in her tone said, "We are going to see what this cale does to you, but I'll tell you nothing harmful will happen." Katy said, "Go ahead I've been bored, so do it." Ixel held out the scale to Katy's arm and they all saw Katy's arm change slightly. John said, "Put it against her arm." Ixel held it to her arm and backed away as the scale changed her arm and moved along to change the rest of her into her human form. Then the scale dropped to the ground as the transformation was complete. Katy about fainted because she thought she would never see her regular self again. John said, "What the is my scale supposed to do that?" Ixel said, "yes." Tom said, "Oh my, I think we can change everyone back even me." John said, "Yes, but we don't know if the scale might change you back even with your life on the line since your um old." Tom said, "Yes, that is true, but I ant to die." John said, "Well my scale might change you guy, but me I'm stuck like this."Tom said, "That is a choice you have to make for our lives." John said, "Fine, but I'm still going to the foutain of purification." Ixel gave a sullen smile and said, "Yes, I will guide you there. Though first I want a few of your scales to remind me of you." John said, "Take as many as you want." Ixel took six scales. One from his tail, another from his forehead, and one for every leg. So in all she had six scales from him. Ixel said, "Let's go help everyone out." John followed behind Ixel. John said, "Ixel you don't have to guide me to the fountain of purification." Ixel said, "You'll get lost if I don't go." John said, "Yea thats so the reason I might get lost, are you sure you want to go." Ixel said, "Yes, I'm sure I haven't been more sure then this since when I decided to leave my village." John said, "Oh, okay I won't bring it up again." Ixel said, "Good because I'm not changin my mind." Then Tom bellowed so loud that John had to cover his ears. Tom yelled, "Dragon meeting" He blew fire straight into the air. That must have been the signal because every dragon came out of no where. Tom said, "Now you all listen up these two have a cure for what happened to us and please except it because I am and when I change you won't here from me again." Then from out in the crowd someone said, "What about the new comers that find the scale and change." Ixel said, "The scale is gone." They all gasped in surprise. Then that same dragon said, "How did you get rid of it without burning yourself." John looked down at the mention of burning. Ixel didn't look at him and held up the scale. Ixel said, "With this." Katy stepped out and waved. The dragons gasped once more. They said, "She was a newly how did she change back." Ixel held up the scale again and said, "With this." The dragons said, "I have to think about this." Tom said, "What is there to think about, we can be human again, and we finally can die as a human." The other dragons said, "That is true and Tom is older than all of us, he does make a point." They all decided to become human again. Ixel said, "And if some of you live and try to tell people of the dragons there will be none." They all agreed and said, “We’ll do it, but how do you change us.” Ixel said, “Watch, come here Tom.” Ixel put the scale on Tom and watched at Tom changed from dragon to human in a matter of minutes. The dragon party stared in wonder. Tom said, “How do you do, I’m sorry I can’t stay I can feel my body dying.” Tom then turned into dust and flowed away. Ixel said, “See you can be like him and happy.” One by one they were turned into human and then dust. The ones that were young went back to their homes. Ixel said, “So we finally did it.” John asked, “What did we do?” Ixel said, “Your destiny, we finished your destiny and mine.” John said, “What?” Ixel said, “That is why Emite’s scale led you to me and changed you into the one thing that would destroy it.” John said, “I’m still going to the fountain of purification.” Ixel said, “Oh, well I thought after we changed everyone we could stay together.” John said, “We can stay together after I’m human.” Ixel said, “Will you think as me as different when your human.” John said, "No, no, no I will not please trust me, I will not think of you as anything else except you."Ixel said, "Fine I believe you, but I will not go with you. John said, "I do not care, but I do care if you get hurt." Ixel said, "I've been there a million time I won't get hurt, but I will take a little longer than usual since I'm human now." John said, "I can carry you on my back since I can fly." Ixel said, "Then it won't take too long it might take us about two days if we're flying. John said, "As long as the fountain works." Ixel said, "Um, John I've got something to tell you." John said, "One thing before you tell me why have you been there a million times?" Ixel said, "This is why, I've gone to the fountain to try to get rid of the curse before about every month I go, but it doesn't work and I think I know why." John asked, "Why?" Ixel said, "Because the fountain turns you into a human, but only for nine month out of the year." John said, "What about the three months that are left?" Ixel said, "Well you know how I change into a wolf." John said, "Yea." Ixel said, "Well I live as the wolf during those three months." John said, "Oh so what ever you were cursed as before you are cursed for three months out of the year." Ixel said, "Yes." John said, "I get it now the fountain turns those cursed people into healthy rich people for that long, and then in those three months they go back to being cursed so it doesn't look like something wacky with them." Ixel said, "Yes, I guess you can say that." John said, "Oh so you're afraid of me running away because the fountain doesn't work." Ixel said, "Yes." John said, "I don't care I'll stick by your side even during those three months where one of us is a wolf and the other a dragon." Ixel said, "Your not going to throw me to the side like my ruined one did." John said, "No." Ixel said, "Are you sure you want to do this." John said, "Yes, I don't want to be a dragon forever." Ixel said, "Fine, but I'll have to make some clothes for you." John said, "Wait where are the clothes that I had on before I turned into this." Ixel said, "I have them, but up there its cold and I'll just make your clothes out of animal skin." John said, "Fine, but what about you." Ixel said, "I have already made mine." John said, "You do that while I go eat I haven't eaten since yesterday." Ixel said, "You haven't eaten since then, wow most dragons can't do that, they go on a rampage for blood lust." John went on his food hunt and came back with two rabbits and a deer. John said, "I thought you would be hungry." He laid down the rabbits in front of Ixel. Ixel said, "Thank you, but you didn't have to." John said, "Hey your leading me to the fountain, its the least I could do for you." Ixel said, "Thank you." Ixel dug into the rabbits and prepared them with ease." John ate the heart of the deer frist and then fell asleep. Ixel took the skins of the rabbits and used them for shoes. When John awoke Ixel was dressed in furs and she was carring his furs. Ixel said, "Are you ready." John said, "Yea lets go." Ixel said, "Can you give me a push up so I can sit on your back." John kneeled and let her step on his paw, onto his shoulder to his back. John asked, "Are you ready?" Ixel said, "All ready to go." John and Ixel flew for a day and rested on another. Then flew for another day and landed on top of a mountain. Ixel wasn't breathing well in the air pressure so John flew down to the ground. John asked, "Are you alright?" Ixel said, "Yea, I'm fine." John said, "Do you want to stay down here." Ixel said, "Are you kidding, I want to be there when you change." Lee said, "Are you sure." Ixel said, "Yes, now go." John flew back up to the top of the mountain. He walked through the meadow and to the fountain. Ixel slipped off his back and to the ground and found a rock to sit on. John looked at her and said, "Are you sure you're going to be fine." Ixel said, "I'm fine now go drink from the fountain." John said, "Okay." John walked over to the fountain and drank deeply until his thirst was quenched. He walked into the fountain and spread his wings. Steam started to rise and it surrounded him. John yelled out to Ixel, "What is happening? I can't see a thing." Ixel said, "This is what happens just stay in the fountain until the mist clears. John whispered, "Okay." As the mist cleared you could see more of John, but not the dragon, the man. When the mist was gone John stepped out of the fountain and wept because he couls see his skin he was human again. Ixel laughed and said, "Take these." Ixel handed him the furs. John put them on. John said, "So I guess we head back now." Ixel said, "It will take longer since your not a dragon. John said, "It doesn't matter, we can get to know each other in our journey." John and Ixel traveled back to where they belonged and stuck together. They lived forever as woman and man, wolf and dragon.
THE END OF THE CURSED TRILOGY
Of the stories that begin sad, but end happy.
