Chapter 7: The party on the coral reef and the flying whales

 “Mommy, it hurts!” the little girl cried as her body had survived another one painful surgery.

“Just a little more, sweetie and then it will be over.” her mother spoke softly and strocked her daughters brown curls, seeing her sad blue eyes.

“Mom…” Roxanne mubled and tears fell from her eyes.

Roxanne tried to move; her eyes were hurting and her head was spinning.

I fainted…I fell…wait WHERE did I fell?

She quickly opened her eyes and tried to get up; she looked around her and she almost screamed from surprise. She was lying inside the dragon’s claw, on his soft palm and his body was curled around her.

“Roxanne! Roxanne!” Max shouted from happiness and rushed in her arms.

She hugged the small Shadow puppy with relief and looked at the dragon; he was asleep and his breathing could be heard like the gust of the winds. His white pearl-like scales were glimmering and she couldn’t stop looking at them, amazed from their beauty.

Suddenly she felt the pace on the breathing changing and his eyes opened; the deep green eyes were locked on her blue, looking at her. She looked back at him; no voice, only their breaths could be heard.

“Are all right now?” he begun and Roxanne looked at him confused.

“You can speak! I didn’t imagine that back then!”

“I presume that every intelligent being has the capability of talking.” And he moved his head closer to her, observing her better.

“Thank you, I am feeling much better now.” she lowered her head, feeling shy from his intense stare.

“I must thank you, although I must admit that you were really challenging back then.”

She smiled and tried to move. Her steps were unstable and she fell again on his claw, like a baby which was trying to make its first steps.

“I wouldn’t be moving, if I were you.” the dragon advised her and with the tip of his muzzle he brushed her back, helping her stand up.

“I must find a way to contact the others.”

“They are all right, don’t worry. Besides…” and he slowly got up “we are in a friendly ground now.”

Roxanne hadn’t realized that his wings were covering both of them. When he uncurled them, she looked around her quite surprised; they were standing on a big, red sea-sponge, covered inside a huge bubble, which was providing them with air. They were lying on the bottom of the sea and the girl could the rays of the sun far away from them behind the sea’s surface.

Max jumped from joy and curiosity, seeing the sea for the first time, running all around the sponge. The dragon kneeled on his long feet, sitting on the sponge and gathered his wings, curling them behind his back.

“Amazed?”

“Very…We are under the sea!” and she looked around her smiling wide.

Roxanne walked all aroud the sponge looking at the outside of their bubble; few tropical fish passed near them and the girl squealed amazed with their shining colors. The dragon continued loking at her silent.

She turned at the dragon’s side and crossed her arms on her chest.

“You were the one who sent me those dreams, right?”

The dragon’s upper lip was drawn back, showing his teeth, as if he was smiling.

“Yes.”

“And also you were the one who gave me the directions to the Caste?”

“That’s right.” he replied and lowered his head.

She took a long breath and exhaled. Her right arm moved and she raised her thump finger on the dragon, moving it left and right. The dragon looked at her confused and she grinned.

“Everyone here call you the “Guardian”. What is your real name?”

The dragon smirked with her words looking at her puzzled.

“There was never a need to have one. I exist solemnly only to protect the worlds nothing more, nothing less. Why are you making such strange questions?”

Roxanne came closer to the dragon, still observing him.

“Hmm, that is a problem. It looks like you don’t have an existence.”

“Partially that’s true.” The dragon admitted.

“Then it’s decided; your name will be Sapphire.” Roxanne decided and headed to Max’s side calling him.

“Why did you choose that name?” the dragon asked her astonished with her decision.

“Your eyes…they have the same color like the precious stone. It fits you.” She admitted and smiled.

Such a strange creature; humans never cease to amaze me. Sapphire thought and looked across the bubble.

He saw movement and got up, walking close to the bubble, waiting for them to appear. Roxanne also noticed the upcoming figures. The sea was dark blue and they couldn’t be easily seen. But when they started to move closer and closer Roxanne realized that they were moving really gracefully and made a sound of excitement.

The four mermen were swimming in the form of a square, armored on their upper half human body. Their tails were in a brownish color and with helmets on their heads. Behind them a taller merman and a smaller in size mermaid were following. The four mermen reached the bubble and made way for their King to stand.

King Triton looked at the dragon and bowed to him holding his golden trident on his right hand. The red haired mermaid with the green fin moved a little far from her father, looking at Roxanne with curiosity.

“I am glad Guardian. You managed to escape from the Lord of the Shadows but I never expected you to reach my kingdom.” Triton said with deep praise.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Roxanne.” And with his head he showed the girl.

Triton’s face smirked when he saw her; Roxanne understood his reason and bowed at him with respect.

“Thank you for saving us King Triton. There are no words to express my gratitude.”

Triton’s expression relaxed after her words and looked at the mermaid.

“Ariel, don’t be rude at our guests. It’s annoying staring at them!”

“But Father, they are so interesting!” Ariel answered and moved her long red hair back on her back.

“You are beautiful Ariel.” Roxanne said amazed and looked at her smiling, holding Max on her arms.

Sapphire and King Triton continued talking about the latest reactions on the surface but Ariel was moving around the bubble, trying to observe Roxanne’s body. Roxanne understood that and she walked around the bubble following Ariel, who was swimming from the outside of the bubble.

She looked at Sapphire; she wanted to make sure if it was all right to do what she had thought. The rose on her necklace shined and Sapphire stopped talking and looked at the girl, puzzled with her thoughts.

“Can I try something Sapphire?”

“That’s what I am curious to know too. What do you have in your mind?”

“King Triton” and Roxanne turned to him, “will you please help us reach the land? I am sure that the others are waiting for us.”

The King looked at Ariel and she nodded; he then turned to his guards and ordered them to inform Mickey for their movements.

“There is a coral reef on the west, that’s a good spot for us and we can swim until there. Bring my chariot!” Triton ordered and his guards disappeared into the deep waters.

Roxanne turned towards Sapphire and asked him if he could move.

“I am feeling much better now, although I would prefer to be outside the water.”

“Don’t worry Guardian, we will make sure to return you to the land soon.”

Triton moved his trident and the bubble moved from the sponge and started to float into the sea.

“You can use it as long as we swim.”

“Thank you.” Sapphire said and turned to Roxanne.

Astonished he realized that she had covered her body with the blue light of her necklace. She jumped from the inside of the bubble to the outside, into the water, without breaking the bubble’s fragile surface.

When she felt the water touching her skin, the light around her became brighter; she curled her body and she united her feet. The light made her toes and legs disappear and in the place of her feet now was a shining turquoise fin. Her long brown, curly tufts were swinging gracefully into the water, decorated with pearls. Her upper half body was naked, except from her chest which was covered with two golden starfishes. The necklace was shining on her neck and Ariel shouted from excitement with her transformation.

Max followed her with the form of a black dolphin with red eyes and now he was swimming around her, flapping his tail.

“That’s amazing!” Ariel said and took her hands as they both were swimming into the sea.

“I must admit Guardian; that human’s powers are truly astonishing.”

“She sure is strong; that’s why I chose her.” Sapphire commented amazed, looking at her.

Roxanne swam to their direction and looked the dragon from the outside of the bubble.

“Are you sure you can move?” she asked him again worried.

Sapphire flapped his wings and the bubble started to move following his command. He was flying into the sea and Roxanne realized that he was bigger than she had thought.

“Shall we begin now?” Triton commented when he saw that everyone was ready and the others nodded.

The sea waves became wilder as King Triton, Ariel, Roxanne together with Sapphire and Max started to swim. The deep blue of the sea was making Roxanne even more curious and she quickly used her tail to swim all around, followed by Ariel and Max. She had never swam in her whole life and this was a wholly new experience for her.

Her tail was moving faster and faster and she moved her hands close on her waist to make herself even faster. As they were heading closer and closer to the surface, Sapphire moved closer to the girl and he smiled at her with tease.

“I wonder who can go faster.” he wondered with tease and the girl grinned.

“Let’s find out!”

They both jettisoned out of the sea with amazing power with Sapphire spreading his wings to the morning sky and Roxanne making a loop in the air. They were both refreshed, they felt anew and they looked at each other, with the same feeling of satisfaction.

Roxanne dove again and Sapphire started to fly close to the surface, following Triton who, on his chariot, which was made of a big shell and pulled by dolphins, had already risen on the surface, followed by Ariel and Max.

They headed to the coral reef, a part on the Lost Star, which was hidden from the other parts of the land, covered with tropical trees, and rocks where many colorful, shiny corals were decorating them. The sand was golden and the sea breeze was making the atmosphere really cool, despite the burning sun.

When Sapphire reached the beach, a gunshot was heard; that made the incoming group feel really surprised but they realized that it was Jack who was firing. Everyone else was waving at them with joy welcoming them back.

Roxanne jumped out of the water once more and she landed on the swallow sea waters, transforming back on her human form, dressed with a casual lilac, short sleeved dress. She was barefoot but she didn’t care. Never in her life had she felt so alive just like now.

Triton and Ariel sat on one of the rocks, looking and greeting the others, while Sapphire had already landed and was sitting on the soft sand. It was an amazing scene; everyone were hugging, welcoming each other, laughing together as if there was no Dragen, no danger, not even Roxanne’s illness.

A large round table had been set on the soft sand and many dishes had already been made by Genie, who was making them unstoppable. The Lost boys, all together now, were giving a hard time on Hook, who on a strange way, was trying to impress Malicifent. The princesses were cheerfully singing together and the centaurs were the only ones who were patrolling the perimeter around the beach.

“Look who came! The guest of honor!” and Jack lifted Roxanne on his arms, swinging her around.

“Put me down! Put me down Jack!” Roxanne was shouting, laughing at the same time.

Beast moved his hand and raised both the pirate and the girl in the air. He parted them away and gently he put Roxanne down and dropped Jack on the sand. Roxanne smiled at Belle who was laughing loudly and turned to Mickey; he was sitting on the table eating and speaking joyfully with Donald and Goofy. She took the seat near them.

“Thank you for everything.” She said and the three of them looked at her.

“We must thank you.” Mickey answered, patting her head.

The music filled the air and everyone gathered together, starting to dance. They mformed a circle and hopped on the sand, squealing and jumping cheerfully. Slowly the music changed and the pairs were formed. The princesses moved with grace and Roxanne couldn't be more excited.

"Why aren't you dancing?" Sapphire's voice was heard above her.

The dragon had sat behind her, with his wings curled behind him and Roxanne lened her head back to the base of his neck.

"I am not so good atdancing. I've never danced." she admitted embarassed and felt that the dragon was tring to hide a laugh.

“But for now why don't you draw?!” Donald commented and gave her a sketch book.

“Draw?”

“You always draw! Why don’t you make a portrait of me?” Donald said with pride and took a pose.

Goofy on the other hand laughed and shouted to everyone that Roxanne was making portraits. They all rushed on her asking for at least one drawing. Jack was the most demanding customer but a punch from Aladdin was enough to make him calm down and accept his portrait.

Roxanne made countless of portraits; their smiling faces, imprinted on paper, her hand moving fast as she drew the lines, the afternoon breeze rushing on her face, everything were new feelings for her. She enjoyed painting them; it was feeling like if she would turn into a new page, everything would be deleted and she would wake up from this dream.

She painted until the sun fell but she was so focused that she hadn't noticed the silence around her.

“A penny for your thoughts?” a soft voice said behind her and Roxanne jumped from surprise.

“Sapphire! Don’t startle me like that!” and she moved the sketch book on another angle, finishing the drawing of the beach.

“It looks like as if it is real!” he commented amazed.

“Thank you.” And she closed her sketch book.

She looked around her; most of the heroes had already retired back to the Camp and only the table was left. The sea waves were slowly touching the bank and the sky was already dark.

“I got way too carried away.” Roxanne admitted embarrassed.

“No, not at all. It was amazing how you made the picture look so alive. Are you using magic?”

“No, not magic, just my hand, my eyes and my imagination.” Roxanne said quite flattered and looked at the dragon.

His pearl-like scales were glimmering under the dark sky and his green eyes were two shining stones. Roxanne smiled and got up from her chair. She walked until the seaside and stepped into the sea, cooling her feet.

She tunred at him and grinned with the thought that passed from her mind

“What’s so funny?” the dragon asked her with question

“It’s strange; I thought that when I would free you from Dragen, you would transform into a dazzling person…or something like that.”

The dragon looked at her quite surprised and leaned his head close to her giggling.

“Disappointed?”

For a moment Roxanne thought that she would stop breathing, looking at him like that. She stretched her hand and touched his muzzle; the dragon breathed heavily but didn’t move an inch. His scales were hard under her skin but she wouldn’t mind.

“A little.” She admitted and took her hand off him, heading quickly back to table grabbing her sketch book.

“Let me draw you!” she said immediately changing the subject.

“Draw me?”

“Yes!”

“Where should I stand?” and moved his long tail, closer to his body.

“You can sit there, near the sea. The sky looks amazing behind you.”

Sapphire did as he was instructed and Roxanne opened on a new page; she left her hand move and she started to draw. The lines, the shades, everything were coming to her so natural, as if she was drawing herself.

Her eyes were moving quickly as she was looking once at Sapphire and back on her drawing. The dragon was looking at her with obvious interest, eager to see what she would draw. The night had already started to falland it was really quiet as the last colors of the sunset were disappearing.

She took a deep breath and looked at Sapphire with teasing eyes.

“It’s done!” she proclaimed proud and got up.

“Let me see!” Sapphire moved his head and looked with impatience at her drawing.

What he saw left him speechless; instead of a dragon’s portrait, in the position Sapphire was sitting, was the image of a young man with shiny blond hair and eyes green like emeralds. He was standing straight with his on hand placed on his waist looking straight. The sky behind him had many stars and his hair was messy, as if the wind was blowing them. His eyes darkened when he saw the drawing and stepped back.

“What made you draw me like this?” he asked Roxanne.

“I don’t know…it came to me; I felt that I had to draw you like this.” Roxanne answered and looked at him.

His eyes were sad and his head was looking far at the horizon.

“I am sorry Sapphire. I will make another one.”

“NO!”

His loud groan made the girl fall to the ground; she got up again and dared to look at him; he looked at her too, regretting that he shouted at her.

“I am sorry Roxanne.”

She touched the base of his wings and moved her hands on his neck.

“I got it; there is prehistory in here.” She admitted and tried to smile.

His confused expression gave her courage.

“I will let you go this time; when you are ready you can tell me.”

He moved his head closer to her and licked her on the cheek. She shouted from surprise and the dragon laughed.

The sudden deep and loud voices echoed above them and they stopped moving. Roxanne looked at the sky; from the few clouds she saw creatures moving all together. But then, she looked better; they were whales, whales which all together were flying into the night sky.

“No way…” Roxanne said looking at them amazed.

“Come on Roxanne, let’s follow them!” Sapphire said with excitement and leaned forward.

She didn’t think about it twice. Roxanne jumped on his back and with a glorious movement Sapphire flapped his wings, taking off. They flew higher and higher, away from the Lost Star, wandering into the clouds. They were moving fast as Sapphire’s wings were flapping quickly, until they reached the pack.

The whales moved slowly right and left, making room for them to join the pack. Roxanne shouted happily at them and her necklace shined brightly. Then the sky was lightened as the Aurora Borealis, with all the different colors painted the sky.

The pack moved higher and higher as they passed from the clouds, upper to the sky, jumping and twisting, like dancing. Sapphire mimicked them and made a loop as Roxanne screamed from her surprise. The whales singed for them as they flew far from the aurora, until they disappeared from their sight.

Sapphire slowly, flew lower until his feet reached the soft clouds, stepping on them. He looked at Roxanne; her eyes, blue like the Rose, were sparkling from bliss. She was indeed overjoyed, for she had seen the most amazing of all miracles. Roxanne slipped from his back and placed her feet on the cloud. She moved hastily, at first, and then she started to walk on the clouds, hopping on the soft surface.

Roxanne turned to Sapphire; he was sitting on the cloud, with his white wings on his back, looking at her. She smiled and fell on the cloud, lying on her back. She looked at the sky, feeling happy for the first time in her life.

“You know Sapphire…”

“Yes?”

“I always looked at the sky; when I was in the hospital or back home, every night I was looking at the sky. I was afraid that I would never wake up the next day.”

“Why would you think that? You are strong.”

Roxanne got up and turned to the dragon’s direction; she gathered her feet close to her body and leaning on her elbows she looked at him.

“Back on Earth I am really sick. I don’t know if I will survive the surgery. But who would have thought that Jack and Peter would steal a whole ship, with me on it?” and she laughed with the memory.

But Sapphire’s expression was horrified; he never expected the Blue Rose to choose a person like her. He never expected that she would still laugh even when her life was hanging from a single thread.

“Why do you look so sinister Sapphire?”

“I…didn’t know Roxanne…what have I done to you.”

Roxanne got up and touched his muzzle.

“You gave me the most amazing adventure, new friends and the will to live.”

“Will to live?”

“That’s right; I know now what I want to become when I grow up; I will be a painter and I will draw the beauties of the worlds.”

He couldn’t speak; her words had left him speechless. He could only look at her, smiling full of energy, while the necklace was shining on her neck, resonating with her feelings.

“I must thank you Sapphire, for everything.” And she kissed him above his node, between his eyes.

The dragon moved his head up, surprised with her action and he stepped back, taking his gaze away from her. Roxanne laughed and with the power of the Rose, she flew above him, asking to return back to the Camp.

“Then let’s see who will fly faster!” Sapphire said and spread his wings.

“Are you challenging me Sapphire?” and together they flew back on the Camp, laughing at each other.

 --------------------

Dragen tried to stand up; his wounds were still hurting but he moved. His anger, fury and malice were indescribable; he had lost to a human and a girl above all! If it wasn’t the Firebird to shield him, he would have disappeared.

He stepped out from his room and headed to the outer barracks. He looked around him; most of the Castle had been destroyed but the main branch was still functioning. Dragen moved his black hair back and looked at the sky with his hazel, now, eyes. The aurora borealis could be clearly seen gracefully spreading its colors across the horizon. He hated those lights; there were a bad omen for him.

“My Lord?” Servus’s voice was heard from behind.

“Servus, what’s the meaning of this?”

“It seems that the girl’s powers have started to reach their climax.”

“Then we must hurry; if she gains more power, then the Guardian will be fully restored.”

“Yes, my Lord!”

“Tell them to get ready the Cannon.”

“The Cannon? But…”

“Servus! I will not repeat my words second time!”

“As you wish.” Servus said bowing his head and disappeared back into the Castle.

Dragen looked once more in the sky and smiled with sadistic pleasure.

“You shouldn’t have trusted the Guardian human. Soon you will meet your end from him. But I wonder who will win? You, or the Rose?”