"Well," said the old shopkeeper, almost back to his normal self, "I will expect some when we get back to the shop."
"And I'll make sure you get them."
Wrapping one of his giant wings around Tank as they both chuckled, the moment was over before it started, with the master mantra maker turning a touch more serious.
"Did we win?"
Tank nodded.
"Thanks to you, by all accounts."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, as you should be well aware. And I'm not going to forget about the marshmallows."
Any worries Tank had about Gee Tee's recovery had completely disappeared. From the look of things, the old shopkeeper was well and truly back to his antagonistic and stubborn self.
In about thirty seconds flat, Richie had bought Flash up to speed on events, despite the fact that the group of local dragons were getting impatient. She thought it important to include the ex-Crimson Guard, because of his experience in unusual matters. He was one of her main assets and she'd already decided in what role he'd be deployed. She only hoped he'd agree when the time came.
Much to the delight of the humans, the old shopkeeper had, one by one, embraced them all, praising their courage, telling them all that he'd been honoured to fight alongside them, even though he'd spent most of the time lying face down. The nervousness on their faces evaporated and they, Tank and the healer joined him as he walked back towards Richie, the group of local dragons and the ever present statue-like Casey.
Stepping forward, Richie enveloped the master mantra maker. In turn, he wrapped his wings around the talented lacrosse star, all the time giving her his best smile.
"I hear we did alright?"
"Slightly better than alright I think."
"Thanks to you," chipped in the old shopkeeper.
"Thanks to us all," ventured Richie.
Gee Tee nodded his agreement.
"So what happens now, little one?"
Swallowing involuntarily, Richie wondered how Tank and the old shopkeeper would react when they found out that she'd been put in charge.
'Still... no time to lose,' she thought, and added out loud,
"Those here have chosen me to lead them, for the time being at least."
Tank was staggered. All he could think was that she wasn't qualified and wasn't really even a dragon at the moment. How on earth had they come to that conclusion? Gee Tee on the other hand, poked his glasses as far up his nose as they would go and pondered what he'd been told. Dragons and humans alike waited for his response. A ringing endorsement arrived.
"Do you think it was just chance that we bumped into each other, little one? I assure you it wasn't. I spent a long time searching for the right dragon, when all the time you were right under my nose, well... above my head. And once it dawned on me, there was never any doubt. I'd gladly put my life in your hands, time and time again. But more importantly, I trusted you with the life of my most valued FRIEND," at which point he motioned towards Tank with his wings. "I think that says it all. You have everything a great leader needs. Just look at what you've achieved here today already. A group of humans, here in the dragon domain... UNHEARD OF! Not only that, but a group of humans coming into the dragon domain to rescue DRAGONS! I truly believe you're the only individual on the planet who could, and would, have orchestrated that. So believe, little one. Use that much maligned confidence that you possess and follow your instincts. If you do both of these things, I truly believe we have a chance to overturn whatever evil is being perpetrated throughout our kingdom right at this very moment."
A few seconds of silence followed the old dragon's pronouncement. In that short time, everything hung in the balance. That is until the master mantra maker did something extraordinary and completely unheard of, something laced with more cunning and guile than one of Baldrick's plans. Very slowly he dropped down to one knee, not something easily achieved by a dragon of his age, but there he stayed, head bowed.
Tank was convinced he was dreaming. There wasn't a reality in existence in which Gee Tee bowed to anyone, even the dragon king, let alone someone stuck in human form.
Flash was slightly more pragmatic and could see things for what they really were, and had nothing but admiration.
'You crafty old bugger,' he thought, watching a master at work. And not just a master mantra maker. 'By doing that, you give everyone here little choice but to follow. And with that, you give her little choice but to accept the task permanently, and to believe.' As he too dropped to one knee, he couldn't help thinking what a true stroke of genius he'd just witnessed.
As one, the group of local dragons followed suit. They'd been pretty sure she was the right choice before, and Gee Tee's words had only confirmed it.
Janice's head spun from the events of the last few hours. Here she was surrounded by 'real' dragons. Not only that, but she'd fought against 'real' dragons and emerged on the winning side. And now this. She couldn't imagine a day could get any crazier than this. But it had been her choice to follow Richie, who she now knew to be a dragon. In the end, the decision was straight forward. Janice still considered Richie her friend, and realised that she'd follow her again in an instant.
'At least I'm not going to be bored anytime soon,' she thought, dropping down to one knee.
Immediately the other humans followed suit, all in awe of the lacrosse playing dragon in front of them. Hook smiled as he hit the floor, wondering how on earth he was going to stand back up again with the incredibly heavy backpack still strapped firmly to his rear.
Aside from Casey and of course Richie, the only one left standing was Tank. Over a sea of dragon and human heads, the two friends gazed across at each other.
'How did it come to this?' he thought. 'She's my friend and has already been through so much, stripped of her necessary dragon DNA and then hung out to dry by the dragon council in the way that she was, just when she needed them the most. And now she's being asked to lead some sort of force to... to what? To fight? To die? To retake the dragon domain? She's too young. She should be getting on with her life, doing what she does best... playing lacrosse. Not carrying the burden of the entire planet on her shoulders.'
All this flashed through his mind as he locked eyes with his friend. But here, at this very moment... there was something else. Her delicate pale features were the same, stunning and yet innocent at the same time. All except her eyes. Her eyes were... cold, dark, chilling, dangerous. They had the look of... someone who'd do anything to get the job done. It was then that it hit him.
'They're right. She is the perfect one to lead us.' Dropping reluctantly to one knee, all he could think of was the toll this might take on his friend.
So here it was, confirmed by everyone, even Tank. Looking at them all, dragons and humans alike, heads all bowed, was a turning point for her. She hadn't asked for this. It had been unfairly thrust upon her. Maybe this was how it was meant to be. She had doubts of course, but not as many as most would have had. It occurred to her that this must be how the king felt, day in, day out. If it was, she decided there and then that she felt really sorry for him. But now was not the time to feel sorry. Now was the time to take decisive action. And the plan in her was a good one. At least, that's what she thought given all that she knew. That, however, was the problem. All that she knew. She needed every last scrap of information that she could get. And turning her head to look at the monument-like, frozen Casey, an idea formed as to exactly how she could get it.
"All of you stand," she commanded. They did as they were directed. "What we do next probably dictates the course of what we can achieve. It's important to get it right. However, as it stands, we don't know enough about exactly what's going on. I propose to change that," she said ominously, looking at the frozen bully off to her side. "This... thing, has information that we desperately need. He'll never give it up voluntarily, so we need to take it from him."