When Two Fates Meet..

Mira frowned. She didn't expect the poem to be exactly the same. That was one of the reasons she liked the book so much. There was no rhyme or reason to it. She flipped through the pages until she found another poem.

She lifted her gaze to the sky

To the stars that shine so bright

And wondered how far I'd traveled

From the life I used to lead

***

"Huh," muttered Mira. She started flipping through the book, looking for more poems. When she finally found one, she read it aloud.

"What is it?" asked Jorgen.

"Just a poem," said Mira. "I read it in the book."

"Well, what does it mean?"

"I don't know," said Mira. "Maybe there are some deeper meanings hidden in it somewhere."

She sat down on her bed and folded her legs under her.

"It's just weird though," she continued. "These poems keep repeating themselves. They're not like the rest of the books I read. Most of them make sense. And even if they don't, I usually figure out the point eventually."

"I can see why you like the book then."

Mira nodded her head. "That's actually part of the problem. There's no real story. No plot. Just a bunch of random things happening to a girl who never seems to learn her lesson."

"You think?"

"Yeah," said Mira. "There's no real ending. How do you end a book without an ending?"

She stared at the book for a minute, trying to find the answer. It didn't take her long to realize there was none.

"I guess we'll have to wait for someone else to write it," she said.

"Is that good or bad?"

"Good," said Mira. "I mean, we could just continue living our lives. I'm sure we won't die anytime soon. Or maybe, just maybe, the author is coming back to finish the book."

"Who knows," said Jorgen. "Either way, you're right. We shouldn't worry about it too much. Let's just enjoy being alive for a while."

"Yeah," agreed Mira. "Let's do that."

She closed the book and slid it into her satchel. Then, she stood up and walked over to Jorgen's bed. He was lying down with his eyes closed. Mira leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

He opened his eyes and smiled. "Better than ever before."

"Good," said Mira. "Are you hungry?"

Jorgen shook his head. "Not really. I've eaten enough to feed a small army today."

"Me too," admitted Mira. "But I'm not going to let that stop me from eating more."

She pulled out the food she had bought earlier, and set it on the table.

"Come on," she said. "I'll help you eat some of this."

"Sounds good," agreed Jorgen. "What should I start with?"

"Why don't you try the fruit first? It's delicious."

Mira's stomach growled when she said that. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until just then. She picked up a piece of fruit and bit into it. Her mouth filled with juice, and she chewed it slowly. After a few minutes, she swallowed it.

"Wow," she said. "This is amazing."

She reached over to the bowl next to her and grabbed another piece of fruit. This time, she didn't hesitate. She ate it quickly and waited for the juices to fill her mouth again. When they did, she repeated the process.

"I wish I could buy these all the time," she said, finishing the last bite.

"They don't sell this kind at the markets," said Jorgen.

"Really?"

"No," he replied. "It's imported from another country. I think it cost quite a lot too."

"Why would anyone pay that much for something that tastes so good?"

"Because they want to taste it too," answered Jorgen. "That's what makes the world go round."

"I suppose you're right. But, I bet the owner of this farm wouldn't mind selling us a few pieces."

"I doubt it," said Jorgen. "From what I hear, he has plenty of customers who buy it every day."

"Then we'll have to break in," she said.

"Break in?"

"Yep," said Mira. "We can sneak in when no one is around. Then, we'll steal all the fruit we want. That way, we'll be able to make ourselves sick of it."

"I'm not sure if that's such a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Well, you know," said Jorgen. "If we get caught, it will ruin everything."

"Forget about getting caught," said Mira. "We already have. Now, it's time to put an end to it."

She stood up, walked over to the door and opened it. Jorgen followed her.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"To the farm," she replied.

"Why are we going there?"

"Because it's the only place where we might be able to find some of this fruit," she explained.

"But, I thought we were going to keep a low profile."

"Not anymore," said Mira. "Now, we just need to do whatever it takes to solve this mystery."

Jorgen sighed. "If you say so."

Mira led him back through the field, past the barn and onto the road. They walked along it for a short distance until they came upon a small river. The water ran fast and clear. It was full of fish that swam over their heads as they passed under the bridge.

"A river!" said Jorgen. "I haven't seen one in years. I wonder if we can catch some of those fish."

"We won't," said Mira. "The ones here are too big."

"Still, I'd like to see them."

"I'll take you to a smaller river later," promised Mira. "One with lots of little fish."

"Oh yeah," said Jorgen. "I forgot. We're supposed to be looking for a dragon."

"You mean the one we saw on our way to the city?" asked Mira. "I guess it's possible that it lives somewhere nearby."

"Do you think it's a real dragon?" asked Jorgen. "Or, is it just another illusion?"

Mira hesitated. She didn't know the answer to that question. All she knew was that it wasn't a dream. And yet, she doubted that it could be real too.

"I don't know," she replied. "Let's find out."

She headed down the road toward the farm, while Jorgen looked away, pretending to be interested in the fish swimming upstream. Mira made it to the gate before she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and spotted a man approaching. He wore a brown tunic and pants, and carried a sword across his back.

"Hello," said Mira. "Is your name Nils?"

Nils stopped and stared at her. His eyes narrowed.

"How did you know my name?" he asked suspiciously.

"It doesn't matter," snapped Mira. "My friend and I are trying to find a dragon. Do you think that you could help us? Maybe you've seen it before."

"Yes," said Nils. "I have. I saw it flying above the forest a couple of days ago."

"Can you tell us exactly where?" asked Mira.

"What?"

"Could you take us to it?"

"Why should I?" he asked. "It's dangerous to go into the woods. There are many monsters and wild animals there."

"But, you said you saw it," replied Mira. "Isn't that enough proof that it exists?"

Nils smiled. "That's true," he agreed. "I'm sure it must exist. However, it's probably best not to try to find it."

"Why is that?" asked Mira.

"The beast is dangerous," said Nils. "And, if anyone gets close to it, it will kill them. No one has ever returned alive from the forest. In fact, everyone who goes in never comes back. If you care about your life, you shouldn't even bother asking me for directions."

"Wait," said Mira. "You're telling us that everyone who goes into the forest dies?"

"That's right," replied Nils. "It's been that way since I was a child. Everyone knows about it. Even my father warned me about it. So, I wouldn't suggest going in there. You'll die, if you do."

Mira shook her head. "I hope you're lying. That would be terrible."

"No," said Nils. "I'm not lying. If you want to go into the forest, then I suggest you do it soon. Otherwise, you may not have much longer."

He walked away, leaving Mira and Jorgen alone.

"Well," said Jorgen. "Looks like we're on our own again."

"Don't worry," replied Mira. "I know what to do."

Mira went through the gate and up to the house. She knocked on the door, but no one answered. She tried the handle, but it was locked. She stepped back and took a deep breath. Then, she lifted her hand and pointed her finger. A ball of fire appeared between her fingers. She held it in the air, letting it glow bright red. Then, she threw it at the front door.

The flames exploded against the wood, burning it instantly. Mira laughed, pleased by the result. She turned to Jorgen.

"Are you ready?" she asked. "Because now we'll burn this house to the ground, just like the last one."

"What?!" exclaimed Jorgen. "Didn't you promise me that you were going to stop destroying things?"

"I lied," admitted Mira. "But, I need to find the dragon."

Jorgen sighed. "Maybe you're right," he said. "But, what's wrong with that? Dragons are evil creatures. They deserve to be burned to death."

"I agree," said Mira. "But, I can't believe that we don't know how to find it! It seems pretty obvious to me."

"I suppose," said Jorgen. "If only there was some kind of map or guidebook. Or, maybe someone who knew the place well."

"There is!" declared Mira.

"What?" asked Jorgen.

"A farmer!" she explained. "We'll ask him where the dragon lives. Then, we'll follow his directions to reach it."

"That sounds great," said Jorgen.

Mira ran to the end of the street and headed over to the next farm. She knocked on the door and waited. After a few moments, she heard footsteps. The person opened the door and stood there staring at her.

"Yes?" asked the man.

"We're looking for a dragon," said Mira.

"A dragon? Why do you want to see a dragon?"

"Because it's dangerous. And, I want to destroy it."

The farmer frowned. "That's silly," he said. "Do you really think that it's still alive?"

"Of course it's alive," said Mira. "I saw it fly past here two days ago."

"Really?" asked the man. "That's strange. But, it does sound like a monster. Can't you find another way to deal with it? You don't want to go into the forest, do you?"

"No," replied Mira. "I've seen what happens to people who go into the forest. I'm not going to let it happen to me."

"Well, I won't tell you anything," said the farmer. "I don't know where the dragon is. I certainly don't know how to get there."

Mira stared hard at the man. "Please," she begged. "I can't go into the forest. I need to find it as quickly as possible. Please, help me. If you don't tell me where it is, someone else will die. Maybe even you. Tell me where it lives, or give me directions, so I can find it myself."

After a moment, the farmer seemed to remember himself. He looked back at Mira and nodded. "All right," he said. "I'll tell you. But, if you make me angry enough, I might be tempted to hurt you."

Mira smiled and nodded. "Thank you," she said. "That's all I wanted to hear."

She thanked the farmer and ran to the next farm. She knocked on the door and waited. Again, a few moments later, the person opened the door and stood there staring at her. This time, he seemed less surprised.

"You again," he said. "Why do you keep coming here?"

"To find the dragon," explained Mira. "Will you please help me?"

"No," replied the man. "I'm not telling you anything."

"Oh, come on," said Mira. "Can't you just tell me its name? That would be a start."

"Sorry," said the man. "But, I don't know any names. I just work here. I have nothing to do with dragons."

Mira clenched her fists and shook them at the man. "Fine," she said. "Then, I guess I'll just come back tomorrow."

"You'll never come back," said the man. "This is my house. And, I won't let anyone ruin it. Not even you."

He slammed the door shut.

Mira sighed and ran to the third farm. She knocked loudly on the door and waited. A moment later, the person opened the door.

*****

****

"You again?" asked the woman.

"Yes," said Mira. "We're looking for a dragon. Will you please help us?"

The woman frowned. "Well, I suppose," she said. "Where do you live?"

"In the forest," explained Mira. "Near the lake."

"How do you know about this?" asked the woman. "And, how did you even find your way here?"

"I came in from the other side of the forest," said Mira. "It was easy to follow the path."

The woman frowned. "Are you sure?" she asked. "That doesn't sound likely. I mean, who would want to walk through the woods? There are too many scary things out there."

"Don't worry," said Mira. "I'm not afraid. It's just that I'm looking for a dragon."

"A dragon?" asked the woman. "You must be joking. Dragons aren't real. They're only stories to scare children."

Mira glared at the woman. "Please," she begged. "Just tell me the name of the dragon. I'm sure it's close by."

"No," replied the woman. "I'm sorry. I haven't seen or heard about a dragon. You should leave now. Whatever you're doing, it's not worth getting killed over. Go home before it's too late."

Mira ran to the fourth farm. She knocked on the door and waited. After a few moments, the person opened the door.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"I need to ask you something," replied Mira. "Will you please talk to me?"

"No," said the girl. "I don't want to. Just go away."

Mira frowned and took a step forward. "Please," she said. "I need your help. A dragon is causing all kinds of trouble. We need to stop it."

"There's no such thing as a dragon," said the girl. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more important things to do than waste my time talking to some silly little boy."

She closed the door in Mira's face.

Mira sighed and ran to the fifth farm. She knocked on the door and waited. A moment later, the door opened and a young man stared at her.

"Aren't you supposed to be out collecting herbs?" he asked.

"No," answered Mira. "I'm not a boy. And, I'm not collecting herbs either. Are you going to help me or not?"

"No," said the man. "I'm not helping you."

"But, I need your help!" insisted Mira. "My friends are in trouble. The dragon is attacking them. If we don't get rid of it soon, everyone will be in danger."

The man shook his head. "I don't believe you," he said. "You're probably lying. Anyway, I have better things to do than listen to fairy tales. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to be on my way."

He slammed the door in Mira's face.

Mira bit her lip. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. Why did people always think she was a liar?

She ran to the sixth farm. She knocked on the door and waited. When no one answered, she tried knocking again. Finally, someone opened the door.

"Hello?" asked the man.

"I need to talk to you," said Mira. "I really am a wizard."

"Oh, right," replied the man. "You look like a wizard. But, I still don't believe you. I can't see how you could possibly be anything but a liar. So, I won't help you."

He slammed the door shut.

Mira sat down on the ground and put her head in her hands. How could she ever find a dragon if no one would help her? She looked around and spotted the seventh farm. She walked to the front gate and knocked.

"Who is it?" asked the guard.

"It's me," answered Mira. "Can I speak with the owner?"

"Why would you want to talk to him?" asked the guard. "He's not very nice."

"I don't care," said Mira. "I need to talk to him."

"All right," said the guard. "But, you're not going to like what he has to say."

The guard led Mira into the house. She followed him through an open doorway.

Inside, she saw a tall man sitting behind a large desk. He had thick gray hair and a long white beard. His wrinkled cheeks were red and puffy as if he hadn't slept in days.

"This is the last place I expected to see you," he said. "Didn't you learn your lesson yesterday? I told you to stay away from my daughter. Well, guess what? I've changed my mind. I want you to leave here now. Go back where you came from. This is your final warning. Get out of my sight."

Mira took a deep breath. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst. She wanted to run away, but she knew she couldn't.

"I'm sorry," she said. "But, I really need your help. My friends are being attacked by a dragon. They need your help. Please!"

The old man sneered. "Don't listen to her," he growled. "She's just trying to trick you. There isn't a dragon. It's all a lie."

He slammed the door in Mira's face.

Mira fell to her knees and cried.

***

After Mira ran through the seventh farm, she kept running until she reached the eighth one. She knocked on the door and waited. No one answered.

"Is anyone home?" she called. "Someone please answer me. I need your help!"

She knocked several times. The house was silent.

Mira stood up and wiped her tears. She had to keep going. She had to find a way to save her friends.

She knocked on the ninth farm.

"Come in," called a voice from inside. "We can help you. We know how to kill dragons. Come in and tell us everything that happened."

Mira walked up to the door and opened it. Inside, she saw two girls playing checkers. They were both pretty. One of the girls was short and round, wearing a pink dress. She had curly brown hair and bright blue eyes. The other girl was tall and thin. Her black hair hung down over her shoulders, reaching almost to her waist. She wore a green shirt and pants.

"Hi," said the girl in the green shirt. "What's wrong?"

"I need your help," answered Mira. "There's a dragon attacking my friends. Can you please help me get rid of it?"

The girls stared at each other with wide eyes. Then they jumped up and ran outside.

"Wait!" called Mira. "Please help me! You don't understand how bad this situation is. My friends are in terrible danger."

The girls stopped.

"Are you sure?" asked the blonde one. "You have to be careful with stories like that. People will think you're crazy. And, then they'll hurt you."

"They aren't lies," insisted Mira. "My friends really need your help. If we don't stop the dragon, it's going to kill them."

The girls stared at each other for a moment.

"Okay," said the tall one. "Let's go talk to the old man. Maybe he knows something about dragons. We'll take you there."

Mira nodded. She felt relieved. At least she'd found a way to help her friends.

The girls walked toward the old man's house. As they passed by, he glared at Mira. She tried to ignore his angry expression.

Once they got to the farmhouse, the girls went inside. Mira followed them.

When she entered the house, she saw a man sitting at a table drinking tea. He was old, with a bald head and a long white beard. He wore glasses and a gray suit.

"I'm glad you decided to come back," he said. "It seems like you finally learned your lesson. Now, I hope you also learned your lesson when I told you to leave my daughter alone. But, judging by the look on your face, I doubt it. Are you ready to listen to reason now? Or do you still insist that dragons exist?"

"Yes," said Mira. "I heard you the first time. I'm listening."

"Then let me tell you this story," he said. "A few years ago, a young woman named Emily lived here. She was beautiful and kind. Everyone loved her. She was like our savior, because she saved the lives of many people. Even though she was only twenty-one years old, everyone looked up to her as a hero. She did everything she could to protect others.

One day, a monster attacked this town. It was a huge giant that ate people. Before we knew it, the beast had killed half of our population. Many of the children died. Some of the men and women were wounded. Those who survived hid in the mountains, hoping it would leave our land.

"Emily didn't want to live in fear anymore. She gathered the remaining villagers and helped them build a fortress. Together, they made a wall around the village. They built towers and sentries. Finally, they created a safe place where no one could ever hurt them again. That's what heroes do. They protect those who can't defend themselves."

The old man paused for a moment. Then he continued.

"Unfortunately, the monster wasn't the only thing that wanted to harm Emily. A dragon came and destroyed their fortress. During the battle, Emily was injured. She was so brave that she even fought the dragon. Her wounds became infected, and she died. Everyone blamed the dragon for killing her. They thought it was a terrible act. So, they started a war against all of the magical creatures.

"Many innocent people died during the fighting. And, soon the dragon was extinct. The soldiers continued to fight, thinking that the dragon must have escaped into another country or something. But they never found it. The dragon has been gone for years now."

The old man smiled and took a sip of his tea.

"But, what if I told you that the dragon is still alive?" asked Mira. "That it's actually still here?"

The old man stared at Mira. His eyes widened.

"No," he said. "You're lying. There's no such thing as dragons."

"Yeah, well, what if I told you that I've seen it with my own eyes?" asked Mira. "I think you should believe me."

The old man shook his head.

"Do you know what happens to people who make up stories like these?" he asked. "People will laugh at them. Then they'll try to hurt you. It's not worth the risk. Let me tell you another story. Once there was a young boy. One night, he heard a strange noise. He went outside to investigate. When he looked into the sky, he saw an enormous creature flying above him. It looked like a giant bat.

"He was terrified. Then he noticed that the creature was staring right at him. It opened its huge mouth and screeched loudly. The boy ran home in fear. He didn't sleep for days. He kept hearing the horrible sound the creature made. It drove him crazy. He eventually couldn't take it anymore. So, he decided to confront his fears and go look at the creature.

"He waited until midnight. Then he stood up from the bushes and called out to the bat. 'Hey! What are you doing? Why are you making that noise?'

"The creature turned around and stared at the boy. It opened its wings and flew higher into the air. The boy was shocked. He realized he had known the bat all along. It was the moon. It always looks like a big bat because it's so far away, but you can never see it. He had never seen the moon before, because he was too scared to look at it. Maybe that's why he felt more afraid than usual that night. But he was able to overcome his fear and see it for what it really is. The moon is just a small star. It's nothing to be afraid of.

"So, you see? Sometimes we create monsters to scare ourselves. We don't want to face the things that haunt us inside our minds. So, we create monsters to protect us. Monsters are imaginary. They're not real. Don't get involved with them. Just look at the moon instead."

Mira had listened carefully to every word the man said. In fact, she'd almost believed him when he spoke about the dragon. Now, however, she knew the truth. She looked at the old man and frowned.

"I'm sorry," said Mira. "You're right. I shouldn't have doubted you. But…but…"

She sighed.

"I need your help," she said. "It's very important that I find the dragon."

***

Nara looked at the map. She could hear the ocean. It was closer than it had been in the last map. However, the island that was supposed to be next to the water was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is it?" she asked.

"I don't know," replied the old man. "Maybe you should ask someone else."

"Everyone I ask says they don't know either!" shouted Nara. "And what was that story about the moon? It doesn't matter if it's in this world or another. I need it for my research. If I don't find it soon, then I might never be able to use it. You promised to help me, and now you won't even answer any questions. That's not fair!"

The old man sighed. He stared at the map.

"If you really need to find the island, I can give you some clues," he said. "There's a place where the sea meets the land. Go there and turn left. It's on the other side of the mountain range. It's hidden by the fog. You can see it from far away, but you won't be able to reach it unless you know exactly where to go. It's surrounded by mist."

"Thank you," said Nara. "I promise I'll do everything I can to find it."

"Good luck," said the old man. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Wait!" yelled Nara. "Can you come with me? I don't want to be alone."

"Oh, sure," replied the old man. "I'd love to see the dragon myself. I've never seen one before."

"Great!" cried Nara. "Then let's go!"

They walked through the forest. Before long, they came to a large gate. They passed through it and found themselves in a beautiful garden. There were colorful flowers everywhere. They smelled amazing. A stream ran beside the path they followed through the garden. Birds fluttered around them.

"This is magnificent," said the old man. "What kind of place is this?"

"This is the garden of the dragon," replied Nara. "We can't leave without going through the gate."

"How do you know that?" asked the old man.

"Because I'll be very angry if we don't," explained Nara.

They approached the gate. The old man stopped right before it.

"I better not see anyone here," he warned.

"Don't worry," replied Nara. "I told the guards we would be coming. They're standing outside, waiting for us."

They entered the garden. After walking for a while, they reached an enormous building covered in vines and moss. There were no windows anywhere. It was dark inside except for a few candles burning near the door.

"That's strange," said the old man. "No one's home."

"Shut up!" screamed a voice.

They turned around to see a young woman sitting behind a table. She wore a white dress. Her hair was black. She glared at them.

"Why did you interrupt me?" she demanded. "I was trying to concentrate on my spell. What were you thinking?"

"Sorry," said Nara. "There was a problem with the gate. We had to come through the garden instead."

"Well, that's all right," said the young woman. "But next time, please knock first.