The End of the World

I stepped back again. The heat of the fire glands shook with each beat of my heart. It was a war drum. The river’s pace had slowly increased through the year. Now, it crossed in an hour what would once have taken it weeks. The little streams and tributaries at the edges crackled, spurting up in geysers. The roof moaned, drooping downward slightly. The walls near the edges trembled. As I stepped back, they matched my pace, marching toward me.

Lady Hen stood just behind me, Falcon in her arms. We’d agreed on that. It was the last day, and if I was burned terribly, they could maybe still escape. If they suffered too bad of burns, they could yet die. Madame Piff stood beside them, trying to prevent them from being splashed from the side. I looked around the town, trying to see anyone falling back beside us. I only spotted one.

Mr. Sky ran to our side as soon as he saw us. His right side was lashed with corroded scars. The welts in the skin ran centimeters deep, and a black rot had taken around them. He smelled like old meat. He sputtered for breath as he neared us, “Princess! Give the order! I’ll go free, now.”

Bubbles responded, “It’s not time, yet. Besides, the choice has already been made.”

Mr. Sky trembled toward Madame Piff. He put his arm on her shoulder, “Ya ain’t choosing this bat, Princess.”

Madame Piff tried to push him away, but he pressed more firmly against her shoulder. The river crept forward as they tussled. It was like it saw them there. “You leave here, sir!” Piff threw him back with what she could muster. His foot was caught in the acid and he screamed. As Madame Piff tried to step away, he narrowly reached her.

She tried to wrest herself from him, but the weight of the river pulling Mr. Sky back took them both. As I reached for Madame Piff, she shook her head, “Go, now, Child. You will see me again, soon.” The river rippled and bubbled as she disappeared.

Lady Hen squeaked as she retreated further. In another minute, our backs were pressed to the wall completely. The humidity became arid heat with the pressure of the fire gland straight to our backs. The river swelled. We had two meters of space and with a creak, the wall behind us nudged forward. Each millimeter that disappeared was more evident than the last.

“There’s no more time!” Lady Hen yelled, “Bubbles!”

“Oh… You’re right,” Bubbles mumbled, “I’m sorry, I… I almost forgot, somehow. Fawn, it’s your choice, do you want them to go?”

The breath caught in my throat. The wall licked my back. My eardrums were thumping in the rising heat. I felt tears well in my eyes, “H-Hen… I need you more than ever. I need you. Stay and watch the end of the world with me!”

She frowned, “Fawn, you…”

“I know I promised you!” I yelled, “Hen! Lady Hen, I’m scared. I’m scared, I’m scared.” I whimpered.

“I am too,” Lady Hen knelt beside me, “Your Majesty…”

I pressed my lips shut and looked down. I slowly took the tiara from my head, and I placed it on Lady Hen’s. It was too small for her, but it stayed on. The sharp eyes of the porcelain dragon stalked me now. In one arm, she held Falcon. I pressed my scepter into her other hand. “Bubbles, now. Let them go…” I sighed.

“Goodbye, Fawn,” Lady Hen smiled, “and thank you.”

Bubbles mumbled, “Okay… Okay, Fawn…” The fire glands emptied quickly as she expelled all the flames from her body. Cast into darkness, the river splashed forward. Just before it could catch us, Hen disappeared. Falcon was with her. In the darkness, I didn’t know how. As the fire glands warmed back up, I looked into the river, worrying that they’d fallen in. There were no ripples or foam there.

“Thank you…” I muttered, “Thank you, Bubbles.”

“You gave away your scepter,” Bubbles whispered, “I gave that to you.”

“I’ll have no need of it,” the acid rose up slightly higher. I looked around and all of Dragontown was gone. The buildings had all sunk. They would never be seen again. Madame Piff and Mr. Sky outlasted everything we’d built. I choked on my breath. There was only a slim edge around everything. I winced as a splash caught my side. There was nothing to back away from any longer, so I crossed my legs and sat calmly on the ground.

Bubbles whispered, “Are you still there?” She asked again every minute or so. Her voice became less sure each time. She didn’t want to ask.

I muttered back a quiet, “yes” three or four times. By then, it was upon me. The wall behind me pushed slightly forward again. I had started to fear the end of the world would be loud and miserable. I thought all of Dragontown would be here, huddled around me. I thought they’d be as afraid as I was, and that I could comfort them in the last notes of their songs. This was worse. I didn’t scream. I always wondered if I might. Instead, I watched the end of the world in silence. And, I watched until I could no more.

When at last I could not answer Bubbles, she spoke softly, “Farewell, Princess.” Her wings thundered as she flew through the sky.