Warning: Broken Toys

The violet glow of the orb at the tip of the cane flickered, then it went out. A slitted eye peered through the crystal in search of cracks, “You’re lucky. I throw away broken toys.” The cane slid back into his belt. He remained airborne, then returned his focus to the events around the refinery. A small peering glass aided his efforts.

The ocean reached stasis, no longer flowing onto land but not yet flowing back. Zenobia emerged from the erratic tide of whirlpools.

The mop slapped out of the water. A claw clutched the handle. Zenobia halted her swing even though the grasp was too weak to hinder her. She looked back at Darius. His jaw hung open. Scales were ripped off his muzzle. His mane was bloodied and full of debris. Eyes darted back and forth as he trembled with heavy breaths. She felt his hear racing.

The glow of her eye faded. Her form lost its defined edges. She pushed Darius off. His body became encased in a protective bubble. The mop batted it high into the city. He would be fine. Hopefully someone would discover him in time.

Now they were finally alone.

Lilly hovered above, “I’m afraid, that we can’t be allowed to exist in this world.”

Zenobia nodded, “I’m so tired.”

Lilly approached. Arms extended for an embrace.

Zenobia backed away. Mop raised, “I don’t want to die. I never got to do any of the things I dreamed of.”

“We’ll figure it out together. Maybe we won’t die. But we need time. We need to rest. We need to learn how to compose ourselves.”

Another step back, “No!” rushing blades of water came from the left but Lilly shifted to the right. They came from below, but Lilly floated upward. A nail of water dropped from above, but Lilly curled forward. A punch came for her nose, but Lilly arched away from it. A counter punch landed hard in the center of Zenobia’s congealing waist. The force of the blow curled her body and sent her rocketing straight upwards.

The sun rose over the horizon. Zenobia watched it as her flight upwards slowed to a halt. Gravity pulled her back to earth. She couldn’t disperse her form any more. It felt like gelatin. A slow hand pushed toward the ocean bed as the water flowed back on its return from the land.

She heard car alarms. Voices called for help. Fire flickered over the waves. She’d done all of it. These dragons were so helpless and human. She hated it. Dragons weren’t supposed to be like this. How was she supposed to keep slaying them? How could she ever go home? But that wasn’t right. She thought she could handle power. That wasn’t true, she couldn’t handle it all. She didn’t even want it anymore. She felt, surprisingly sleepy.

“Lilly,” she called as her fall accelerated, “Do you have the answer? Do you know how we can-”

“No.”

A knee struck Zenobia’s stomach. Water splashed from gelatin forming her face, hands, and feet. The form bounced sideways until it smashed into metal pipe. That attack, that knee, it felt like getting slammed by landslide. Zenobia found herself interwoven with torn metal and acrid gasses. The handle of the mop corroded slightly. Another frond fell. It floated down from the brightening sky as a feather.

Zenobia darted from the vantage point and flew at Lilly. Her fists struck thin air as Lilly dodged every attack. Then suddenly her attacks were landing. That felt worse, her hands corroded into jagged gelatin stumps.

“You sold me to Grabby. You betrayed me because you were jealous. And now you’re going to kill us? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Arms reached out gently, “Is that what you told yourself? Is that what he told you?”

“You’ve always been jealous of me.”

“That’s true. But I’ve always admired you, I’ve always liked you, I’ve always loved you. I’m sorry, you were simply too awesome a person. How could anyone not be jealous?”

They embraced.

“Can we survive this?”

“I don’t know what happens next.”

“Tell me you’re sorry again!” Zenobia cried out.

Lilly smiled, “I’m sorry for being jealous. I’m sorry for giving you the wrong impression. I’m sorry for not speaking out for you when I had the chance.”

“I’m sorry too,” Zenobia cried, “I misunderstood. I messed up everything. I was happy with you living in my shadow. I was afraid what could happen if we became equals. Then we came here and I blamed you for it. I committed crimes I can’t take back. I ruined everything we had left.”

Lilly rubbed her hand through Zenobia’s gently flowing hair, “It’s okay. There’s nothing we can do about it now. Just be still. Let’s enjoy the sunrise together.”

“You’re all I have left. How much longer do you think we have?”

“Just long enough to never let go. I missed you so much.”

“Me too.”

The mop’s handle cracked from the base to the top. Fronds came loose and floated about the water. Fingers left tears over Lilly’s cheek. The ocean slunk back into place, full with debris. Wood corroded, then splintered, fronds fell over wet cement. Some scattered in the morning breeze.

“Lilly?” Zen whispered.

“I’m here. I’m listening.”

“I’m sorry. I still don’t want to die,” she cried, “I want to go on an adventure. I want to make-”

Nothing remained of gelled form but a gentle mist. The handle of the mop crumbled into wet splinters as all the remaining fronds came loose. Lilly cradled the pieces.

“Let’s have an adventure soon. Just the two of us, okay?”

Then Lilly’s form vanished.

Light stretched over sparkling red dust. The wire frame that once firmed a leather cover, a few broken pieces of red crystal, and the wand fell next to the shattered remains of a broken mop. The debris sunk together into a small blob of gelatinous casing.