The dragon and Mulan

It was beautiful and scary.

Around it a darkness that seemed almost infinite and in the middle of that pitch a golden path. His eyes hurt so blindingly that the light was. In her mind she wondered if that was the afterlife she had heard so much about. However, that place was nothing like the legends and tales she had heard.

Something about that luminous river attracted her, so that step by step she approached and she could see strange little beings with strange shapes and that seemed to be calling to her.

-If I were you would not go there- A voice hummed in her ear, taking her from the hypnosis that seemed to have entered.

-Ahhhhh - she screamed scared taking a few steps back and falling on what was supposed to be the floor.

-How loud! -She complained the stranger looked like a snake, but he had paws and cleaned what appeared to be her ears with them.

-A snake? - She questioned uncertainly - A talking snake!

The thing looked at her in disbelief and then looked at itself thinking that maybe that girl was too stupid.

-Excuse me! - Exclaimed indignantly - Where do I look like a snake? I don't give the tongue!

Showing the forked tongue the thing continued to protest indignantly at being called a snake.

-What are you? - She asked after calming down a little - And where are we? I'm dead?

Too many questions at once, the thing stopped and stared at the human, making sure she was an idiot. After all, only an idiot would ask that kind of question after almost entering the river of spirits.

-I'm a dragon. Did you hear well? A dragon - The dragon said showing the tail - And no, you're not dead at least yet.

-How so yet ?! - The girl screamed disturbing the dragon.

-You can stop screaming! - This time it was the animal who shouted, making the girl shut up for good - You are not dead yet, but I don't mind throwing you in the river and sending you over!

-River? - Confused the girl turned her attention to the golden light.

-Don't look directly unless you want to arrive in time for dinner at the palace of the god of death - The dragon spoke looking at the nails. The human was so startled that she quickly diverted her attention from the river.

-How did I get here? -She questioned the little being that now seemed to be the only source of answer to her doubts.

-Let's go by parts - The dragon spoke - First the presentations; pleasure my name is Hong Long. I will be your guardian spirit and best friend who will guide you on your journey. No, you are not dead and we are at the passage of the spiritual river. A kind of limbo.

Lots of information and little time to be absorbed. Journey? Guardian? Limbo?

What the hell! Should these things mean anything to her?

Seeing the human girl in front of her getting more confused and agitated the dragon sighed in his heart. It was always like that.

-Your request - He spoke seeing the girl calm down and start paying attention to his words - Your new year request.

As if struck by lightning she finally remembered.

"It was a new year and as an orphan she didn't have a family to return to on holiday and she also didn't have enough close friends to keep her company or even a boyfriend. In short, she was alone.

While she observed the red-painted city to celebrate another New Year's Eve, alone at home she ate a bowl of instant noodles. When it was midnight she just had a wish;

"If I can save the world, don't let her spend another New Year alone"

After that she went to sleep. "

-Wait! - She told the dragon - I just asked not to spend the next New Year alone! How did this become a journey on which I need a dragon to guide me?

-You said it clearly - Hong cleared his throat to continue - "If I (in this case you) manage to save the world, don't let me (in your case) let me spend the New Year alone". Her request was granted! - The dragon spoke with animation floating in front of the girl - You save the world and you don't need to spend the new year alone ever again. Look how wonderful!

Her head started to spin, but what the hell was that! If she knew she would be attended to she should have asked for a boyfriend.

-I didn't mean to save the world literally - She spoke through her teeth.

-I know - Hong spoke lightly - With your boneless body you NEVER could save the world. You just need to help some guys.

-I want to go back home! She shouted again.

-Outside the question - Hong replied making an "x" with his claws - An granted request cannot be undone. It's like a contract. Either you did it or you die, if you choose the second option, just enter the golden river.

-But what stupid rule is that? She-she Questioned taking the dragon by the scruff of the neck - It doesn't make any sense!

- It doesn't have to make sense! -She returned the dragon trying to get free -That's how things are. And look I don't

I recommend staying here for a long time. Limbo is a hot spot, if you stay here any longer you will be affected by the river. None of the best cases will be just certain death, at worst you will be wandering through infinite darkness.

The girl frowned at Hong with disbelief in the story. This was too absurd, although the situation was absurd. It looked like she was dreaming ...

That's it she was dreaming! Just no.

-This is not a sweetie dream - said the dragon still trapped by the nape of the neck, reading the girl's silly hope expression.

She didn't care. She released the dragon anyway and closed her eyes, begging to wake up. Seeing that it didn't work, she started to slap and pinch. After about five minutes of doing this she let out a resigned sigh, sat down on the floor and started to cry like a lost child from her parents.

-Hey! -She called the little creature watching the girl sobbing-It is not necessary all this drama. What about this? You get up, we both leave here and on the way I explain everything to you.

Still sobbing and not seeing many options, the girl just nodded in resignation.

-How do we get out of here? She-she asked she wiping like tears with her sleeve.

-Follow the flow of the river - The dragon pointed in the direction that the golden river flowed - Aproposito, what is your name sweet coconut?

-Mulan - The girl replied still fleeing and going in the direction that was pointed, with the small creature astride her shoulder.

-Well Mulan, it's going to be a long journey-she spoke with a kind of smile-Let's get along.

A pair followed the flow of the river as the dragon endlessly paroled over rules, missions, orders and contracts.

Somewhere along the way, everything went dark again and then bright.

Mulan lost consciousness.