Pretend that you're the protagonist of your story and you have to help your writer through writer's block. 

I paced around the Pine for the umpteenth time; the grass flattened into a ring beneath me. "Where is she. Why is she so late?"

"If we're lucky, she won't arrive at all." The posh accent of my dragon reverberated through the air.

"If I don't place in the top three on the Flight Exam, I won't be allowed in Avalon's Aviation class. And that's the whole reason we came to this school." I flipped my hair at him.

"Yes, and to think your Father believed you when you said wanted to study medicine. I wonder what he'll say when he finds out that his oh, so loyal and honest daughter lied him. Nay, the entire household!" He said in a false cheery attitude.

I glared at the Emerald dragon as he focused on the poetry scroll in his hand, scrolls being easier for dragons to hold than books.

"We could be in the Empress's court right now, or better yet, her library! We'd talk about the great authors and watch plays on Shakespeare. Far superior then dawdling around these children." He said looking around the school's property with narrowed eyes.

I looked up toward the bright blue sky at the sound of chanting. A Dragon Rider class was in session, flying in a straight V-shape over the campus, a common sight after lunch. A whoosh of wind had me look over at the Pegesis that had landed on the road, trotting the janitor's cart along as the man sat atop the winged-horse surveying his domain with a critical gaze. Students milled about campus talking aloud which had created a buzz the seemed to cover the chirping of the birds.

"Why are you so eager to talk with the Scribe anyway," Puff asked through slitted eyes. "You've become so secretive ever since we've arrived here. I believe these hooligans have tainted you."

"I need to win this exam and I you won't help me!" I snapped. "This entire time you've been reading prose and making comments on going home. I need a dragon I know will help me win. I need a dragon I can trust."

Puff wrinkled his nose with distaste. "You used to trust me." He grumbled, taking a long talon and drawing lines in the dirt.

"Yeah, when I was a kid."

"You were such a sweet and loyal child," Puff said quietly with a warmth to his voice. He continued with an irritated snort. "Make an appointment with Avalon. Thank him for saving the lives of you and your father, tell him you're forever in his debt. He didn't save your life only for you to squander it by becoming a Ranger." The Emerald dragon shifted away and refocused on his scroll.

"I need to be his apprentice so I can train for the Elite Rangers," I growled stomping over to him, tripping over a branch in the process. My attention was brought down to the drawing in the dirt that looked like a dragon holding a baby swaddled in cloths in its arms. An odd feeling of guilt and nostalgia settled in my heart.

"Hey!" I was startled out of my thoughts and turned over towards the new voice. A young woman walked on the grass toward me with dark circles under her eyes and a tired look on her face.

"Finally!" Puff exclaimed.

Scribe gave me an apologetic look. "Sorry, it's taken me so long. I took a break, then there was this writing conference, and I met this writer who was writing about dragons-"

"Of course," I interjected. "I was hoping we could discuss flying partners."

"Puff? What about him?"

"Yes, what about me." He sniffed putting his scroll down.

"Puff is well educated in society and court, but he doesn't have the knowledge or skill set necessary to keep up with the Ranger courses."

"You could leave me with the Empress," Puff added with a light in his eye.

"And could we change his name?"

"Now there we agree. Puff isn't a suitable dragon name, especially for such a scholar."

"As I've explained in the past, 'Puff' is a place-holder until I find the right name."

"Shakespeare!" Puff exclaimed with excitement. "Galileo, Michelangelo, Sherlock-"

"Not, names of famous dead people. You need a memorable, epic name that will cause dragon envy. Trust me on this."

"You make sense, being the misunderstood protagonist--"

"You're the funny sidekick, Cleo is the protagonist."

Smoke plumed from Puff's nostrils, as he sat stiffly beside me. "Sidekick?"

Scribe took a breath before continuing. "I think we are in need of a story overhaul."

"Oh?" I asked Puff and I exchanged curious glances.

"I thought up some great ideas for plot and I want you guys to hear me out." Scribe said, pulling out a notebook.

I shifted on my spot uncomfortably. "What would that include?"

"You'll have a Ruby Red named Sphinx"

"Brilliant! Thank you, I know it's going to make all the difference."

"A Ruby Red?" Puff tsked.

"You'll have raised her from an egg, and as you both grow older, you'll train for battles and fight with the military."

"Wait, no. My story has always been my calling to be a Ranger. You know that."

"Yes but with your family backstory-"

"My dad would never let me raise a Ruby Red, or go into the military. We're pacifists. That's how I inherited an Emerald instead of a Ruby, in the first place."

"Nor would he prefer his only daughter to be a Ranger." Puff shot back.

"Perhaps not, but Rangers work more counterintelligence, search an rescue, and protection. Not killing. My dad will come to accept me as a Ranger whereas I couldn't, in good conscience, accept myself as a soldier."

"Okay well..." Scribe thought for a moment. "We'll kill the dad off then."

I gaped at her. "W-what?! You can't just murder my dad!"

"Tragic backstories in strong female characters are trending." Scribe tapped her chin. "It'll give you more of a reason to become a Dragon Ranger since you'll want to avenge your father."

"She doesn't need any more reasons to be here," Puff growled. "We should be in the Empress's court, with people more in our sphere." He added, glancing at a passing female with a small Diamond dragon on her shoulder, who screeched as they went by.

"Puff's right, I already have my motive."

"Yes, but the whole 'owing your life to the person that saved you' is cliche and out of style." Scribe groaned.

"I'll bring it back in style!" I retorted, crossing my arms. "Besides, I don't believe in revenge."

"Avalon does. Which leads into one of the bigger changes." She looked down at her notebook. "I was thinking there needed to be more romance, so you'll have a love interest. Avalon."

"He's fifty!"

"Ooh! Have it take place in the Empress's mansion! It could be like 'Pride and Prejudice'." Puff encouraged, giving me a bemused look. "With Cleo as the proud Mr. Darcy."

"We can make him younger too." Scribe agreed.

 "But the school!"

"I don't want to do a school, it's so overdone. There's Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon, it's just not an original idea." Scribe said rubbing her temples in concentration. "I kind of like this mansion setting."

I looked between her and Puff. Were they working together? How had this gone so wrong? Puff looked down on me with a smile. I clasped my hands and was surprised by how cold they felt. I looked around and jumped a little. I wasn't at school anymore.