“Don't be nervous,” the Lady Oceina said. “You are being honored for your bravery. Without you, the world would have been lost.”
Ichi beamed with pride at his wife, happy she was finally getting the recognition she deserved. Every time he tried to talk about it with her, to tell her how thankful he was, she pushed him aside. He understood, but he also owed her so much. There was no way she could run away from a room full of people.
A small blush spread over Mikko's cheeks and she shook her head. “It wasn't my doing, but God's. We should be giving Him the honor for this great accomplishment toward peace.”
“Amen,” he whispered.
The Lady Oceina stepped up to a podium and quieted the crowd with a small wave of her hands. “Today we are here to give thanks to God for sending us the Great Dragon, defeater of all evils, and to restore honor to a family line. While I know my granddaughter does not care for the spotlight, at least let me declare this before all. It is with great pleasure that I present the Great Lord of the Aero.”
Applause started again as a middle-aged man stepped up to the podium. “Thank you, Lady Oceina, for your warm introduction. Today I am here to celebrate the courage of one of my own kin. Ichitaca, my cousin, son of Etzli, who was the Touched last son of the Great Lord Patli, is hereby welcomed back into the family and shall be recognized as the royalty he truly is.”
Ichi's jaw dropped. “What?”
Mikko rubbed his arm, a wide grin on her face. “You're no longer an outcast.”
“Neither of us is,” he said and leaned in to kiss her lips.
The celebration lasted for three days with lots of food, dancing, and praising God. A God Ichi believed in once more. Not because of any miracles he'd witnessed, but because of the unconditional love of one woman — his wife, the greatest gift he'd been given.
Epilogue
True to the prophecies, there was peace on the Earth for as long as Mikko and Ichi lived. They bought farmland on the border between the nations of Oceina and Aero. And they lived, making each day count in the one-hundred dragon years they shared together. While they never had children of their own, they took in orphaned dragons from all over the world. Some stayed until they entered adulthood, others found new families to love and cherish them, but all were loved as though they were Ichi and Mikko's own.
Hand in hand, the two watched their final sunset and later passed on while holding one another in their sleep. The day the Great Dragon died, the world was born again.
About the Author
J.F. Jenkins lives in Minneapolis Minnesota with her husband, son, and two cats. She graduated from Bethel University in 2006 with a degree in Media Communication with minors in both writing and film. When she is not busy writing, she spends her free time playing games, reading, and spending time with her family.
Also by J.F. Jenkins
Prologue
Alan stood straight like an arrow. Sir Oriol walked down the line of Junior officers and stopped directly in front of him.
“You've been chosen for this mission because someone thinks you are the best,” the man said, eyes locking on Alan as if trying to make him falter. Instead he stood straighter, and Sir Oriol continued down the line. “As you know, we are here to stop the war on Altura from spreading to this planet. The people here are much like us. They call their home Earth.
“The inhabitants of this planet do not need to suffer from our war. We are to move in, eliminate the threat, and move out before the Earth people realize the truth. They are not as educated in the universe as we are. They do not know there is other life beyond their own. We do not want to start a widespread panic.
“All of you have been chosen to take on a team of these Earth humans. You are to train them and use their knowledge to help us stop the Gelandrosimbol and Basatlavan from winning this battlefield. Each of you have been given the coordinates of your team. Our forces will be focusing in on an area referred to as the Midwestern United States of America. Do all of you understand your mission?”
“Yes, Sir Orioltogorthan,” all of the Juniors said in unison.
“Best of luck to you all then,” Sir Oriol said, saluted, and then left the launching bay. But not before giving Alan one last dark look. He leaned in and whispered, “And you can be sure your father will know about everything that happens.”
Alan shook it off. Whether Sir Oriol believed in him or not would not stop him from going on this mission. There was personal business for him to attend to on Earth. The woman Alan was betrothed to was on the planet somewhere. Ultimately, his mission was to find her and bring her back to their home world again. She'd gone missing, and his gut told him she was involved in the war. It was the reason he'd joined the military to begin with.
One step at a time of course. First he would find his chosen charges on Earth. Then he would find the woman he loved more than anything. No one knew for certain if she was on Earth. Having charges would give him an excuse to explore the planet in search of her. His assigned coordinates programmed into his travel guide, he checked to make sure his atmospheric shield was fully charged. These devices would make sure he got to his destination, and that he did so safely.
Stepping towards the launch director, he took in one last deep breath to calm any final nerves.
“Sir Alanmendiquixanimackle, are you ready?” the director asked.
He nodded. “Send me to Earth.”
Chapter One
Gym class, the bane of Orlando's existence. Not to say he wasn't an athletic kid. Despite his dark, Gothic style, he did work out and stayed in good shape. He simply liked to do it on his own terms, and away from the rest of his classmates. He loathed every second of socializing.
“All right class, let's clean up and get changed.” Coach Wilson said, and it was practically music to Orlando's ears.
He eagerly put the basketball away and hightailed it to the boys’ locker room to hopefully get a head start on changing. The less time he had to interact with anyone else the better. He'd just finished pulling on his baggy black jeans and was in the process of buttoning his matching shirt when the jocks walked in.
“Good game, Holmes,” the leader of the pack said. Orlando knew better than to take it as a compliment though. “Make sure you try out for the girls’ team this year. I think you have a real shot for starting forward.”
He rolled his eyes. “I'd hate to steal the spotlight from you, Jesse.”
“That's right. Your family is more into the red-light. How could I forget?” Jesse said as he began to change.
Orlando clasped on his black wristband, chained his wallet back to his pants, and tightened his belt. Ignore the idiots.
“What happened to you, Holmes? You used to be cool.” Jesse wouldn't let himself be ignored, apparently.
“I grew a brain. Need me back on the football team? I thought you were having a great season, or is that the same line you feed all your female fans? A new pick-up line might be a good idea,” he said, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.
Jesse's right-hand man, Ryan, chimed in. “I don't know why you bother, Jess. He's converted to the freak side and not turning back.”
Freak side. How original. With another eye roll, Orlando made his way for the door, but Jesse blocked him. “Yes?”
“Don't think I'm finished with you.” He gave Orlando a shove. “School doesn't get out for another three minutes.”
“I didn't realize you missed me so much. I hate to break it to you, Jess, but my boat doesn't float that way.” He made a move to push his way past Jesse, but was shoved again and much harder than before, falling backwards onto a locker.
Jesse laughed, and all of his groupies followed along. “Cute, Holmes. I'll be sure to share that one with your sister when I see her on the corner of Lake and Hennepin next. After I show her a great time because she's so easy. Don't worry, I'll give her a great tip.”
Orlando's hands balled into fists. “She's not like that.”
“You're right, she
's hard until you give her the green, since everyone knows that's how your family gets all of its money. Did you guys know his parents are never around? Probably because they're finding new kids to sell their illegal drugs. When do you plan on joining in on the fun, Holmes? I'm sure a guy like you could—”
Jesse didn't get to finish because Orlando's fist made contact with his jaw. His eyes wide and surprised, the seventeen-year-old boy stumbled back, then charged forward, swinging his fists. Orlando dodged the counterattack and rammed into him, shoulder first, and knocked him out of the locker room and into the hallway.
A few girls nearby squealed and scattered as they watched Jesse throw another punch in retaliation. It hit Orlando's chest, and now Ryan was throwing himself into the mix as well by trying to trip him at the knees. He caught this just in time and body-slammed Ryan into the drinking fountain. The boy hit it hard with his upper back and head.
“Boys! What's going on here?” Coach Wilson grabbed Orlando just as he broke Jesse's nose.
He willingly stepped away, pleased and satisfied with his work. “Fighting, Coach.”
There was no point in denying it. Jesse had it coming. His whole crew did. It was only a matter of time before someone taught them a lesson. While he much preferred to keep to himself and lay low, Orlando didn't mind stepping up and taking on the role of the teacher in this scenario.
“I see that,” Coach Wilson said. He went to Ryan and Jesse to make sure they were both okay. Orlando felt the firm hand of another teacher on his arm and saw Mr. Daniels the music teacher.
“To the office, right?” Orlando said with a glance up at the man. Mr. Daniels nodded and released him as the teen pulled his arm away to head towards the Dean of Students’ office.
“You're going to regret this, freak.” Jesse hollered after him.
Orlando snorted. “Doubt it.”
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Legend of the Great Dragon Page 17
