The Dragon’s Request

Zearon stretched, looking down at his tiny blue paws. “Back to being fluffy, huh? Great. Just great.” He flicked his glowing tail in annoyance. “As if looking like a plush toy wasn’t bad enough, now I’m hungry too!”

His stomach growled, loud enough to echo through the cave. “Okay, Ari, I’m dying here. Where’s a cheeseburger when you need one?”

Ari’s calm voice chimed in, “Cheeseburgers are unavailable. However, I recommend searching for edible resources nearby.”

“Edible resources?” Zearon scoffed. “You mean food, Ari. Just say food.”

As he trudged forward, the cave’s eerie silence made him uneasy. But then, something magical happened. A scent hit his nose—warm, smoky, and mouthwateringly delicious.

“Wait a minute…” Zearon sniffed the air. “Is that… meat? Like actual, roasted meat?” His tail wagged furiously.

Without thinking, he followed the smell, darting through the cavern like a kid chasing an ice cream truck.

After twisting through dark tunnels, he skidded to a stop. His glowing blue eyes widened.

Before him was a massive feast—a mountain of roasted meat stacked high on a stone slab. Each piece sizzled lightly, releasing tantalizing aromas into the air.

“This is paradise,” Zearon whispered, practically drooling. His stomach growled again, louder this time. “Okay, no time to think. Let’s eat!”

He pounced on the pile, grabbing a chunk of meat and shoving it into his mouth. The flavor exploded like fireworks. “Oh, this is so good!” he said, spraying crumbs everywhere. “Best day ever!”

But just as he was about to reach for another bite, the ground trembled.

A deep, guttural growl echoed through the cavern. Zearon froze mid-chew. “Uh… that doesn’t sound like indigestion.”

The shadows shifted as something massive moved in the darkness. Two glowing red eyes locked onto him.

“Who dares touch my food?” a voice boomed.

Zearon slowly turned around, still clutching a piece of meat. A colossal dragon stepped into the light, its black scales shimmering like polished obsidian. Its wings stretched wide, nearly filling the entire cavern.

“Oh no…” Zearon whispered. “Uh, nice dragon! I didn’t know this was your food!”

The dragon snarled, smoke curling from its nostrils. “You dare steal my meal, and now you seek my heart?”

“Your what?!” Zearon yelped, dropping the meat. “Why would I want your heart? I’m not a weirdo!”

The dragon narrowed its eyes. “You… aren’t here to kill me?”

“No!” Zearon said quickly, waving his tiny paws. “I was just hungry! I didn’t even know you were here!”

The dragon tilted its massive head, studying him. “Hmph. A Lumikit with manners? How peculiar.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say I have manners exactly,” Zearon muttered. “But I’m definitely not trying to kill you!”

The dragon’s growl softened into a deep chuckle. “Then perhaps I misjudged you, little one.”

Zearon sighed in relief. “Phew. For a second there, I thought I was toast—literally.”

The dragon lay down, its massive body curling around the cavern like a living fortress. “Tell me, Lumikit, what brings you to my domain?”

Zearon scratched his head. “Uh, I fell through a hole in the ground, and now I’m stuck in this cave. That’s pretty much it.”

The dragon nodded thoughtfully. “A victim of fate, perhaps. Much like myself.”

“What do you mean?” Zearon asked.

The dragon’s eyes dimmed slightly, a hint of sadness in its voice. “Many centuries ago, I was a great and feared dragon. But the ancient gods, jealous of my power, sealed me in this wretched cave. I have been trapped here ever since.”

“That sucks,” Zearon said, genuinely sympathetic. “But, uh… if you’ve been stuck here all this time, who’s been delivering all this food?”

The dragon sighed. “I conjure it with the last of my magic. But my supplies are not infinite, as you so rudely discovered.”

Zearon rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. “Yeah… sorry about that.”

“Apology accepted,” the dragon said. “However, I have a request.”

“Uh-oh,” Zearon muttered. “What kind of request?”

The dragon leaned in, its red eyes glowing intensely. “There is an item of great power—an artifact known as the Epilim. It is surrounded by the energy of the True Blue Flames and is said to be the most powerful relic in the multiverse.”

Zearon blinked. “That’s… a lot of words. Can you dumb it down a little?”

The dragon sighed. “It’s a super-powerful item that can break my seal and restore me to my former glory.”

“Ohhh,” Zearon said, nodding. “Got it. So, uh… why are you telling me this?”

“Because you will retrieve it for me,” the dragon said.

“Me?!” Zearon squeaked, pointing to himself. “I’m like, two feet tall! You’ve got the wrong guy!”

The dragon chuckled. “Do not underestimate yourself, little one. You have great potential. And besides…” It smirked. “You owe me for eating my food.”

Zearon groaned. “I knew that was going to come back to bite me.”

“Do this for me, and I will help you escape this cave,” the dragon said.

Zearon hesitated. “Fine. But where do I even start?”

The dragon’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “One step at a time, Lumikit. First, you will replenish my supplies.”

Zearon’s jaw dropped. “You want me to get you more food?!”

“Correct,” the dragon said with a toothy grin.

Zearon threw his paws in the air. “Unbelievable. I’m supposed to be on some epic journey, not running errands for a dragon!”

“Consider it preparation,” the dragon said. “You will need strength for the challenges ahead.”

Zearon sighed. “Fine, fine. I’ll find you more food. But after that, we’re even!”

The dragon chuckled. “Very well. I look forward to our partnership.”

As Zearon left the cavern, grumbling to himself, Ari’s voice chimed in. “You handled that well.”

“Handled it?!” Zearon snapped. “I just got roped into a dragon’s treasure hunt and became his personal delivery boy! How is that handling it?”

“It could have been worse,” Ari said.

Zearon rolled his eyes. “Sure. I could’ve been eaten.”

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