Chapter Ten: Journey’s End

Lyra woke up pretty early. I offered her the potato i grew with my strange nature magic. Now I'm not amazing with it. She tasted it and she had a face of gross.

" Malla. I don't know how to put this, but it doesn't taste right." She stated.

" I think it's because I'm not fully sure what my powers of nature to. Even if I have them at all. But let's get going." Getting into the car Lyra getting into the driver's seat. I set down dog food for Toby along with water. So he could relax. We got back on the Highway heading towards Kalamazoo. The last path to the end of my journey. Along the way we saw a lot of deer and stray wild dogs. Even some cats. A lot of them stayed out of the way since Lyra was honking the horn of the car. So they wouldn't get in the way. Along the way on Highway 94 we drove past the Town of Paw Paw. It's been years since I have seen it and at the moment it's very silent.

I looked around the lovely state I grew up in. It felt so empty to the point I felt like I would cry. I tried to block the feeling of sadness that I was feeling. But I had to block it. So i don't break down again. Lyra asked me if we could stop in areas to look around. She wanted to see all the places I grew up and all the memories I had. We past the Kalamazoo County College and then we made it into the town itself.

"Welcome to my former home." Lyra smiled while she drove. I lead her around the town showing her the crossroad mall The old mall still has seen better days. I noticed it no one has broken into the mall. I feel the problem that breaking into the mall would be a bad idea. So we moved on. I showed her how to get to my old home on Romance Road. A wonderful house that I grew up in. A big backyard with a golf course not far behind it. The number to open the garage was the same on the opener. I clicked into the code the door went up. In the garage were two cars and many tools. There was a nasty smell of oil and fuel. Like someone was working in here. Lyra had her nose covered with her hoof. Even though she did get used to it during the trip.

The door leading inside the house is locked. It was hard to break this door open. I let Lyra use the magic on the tumblers inside the lock. After a few minutes, she unlocked and opened the door. As soon as it opened wide enough, a slew of cats stormed out. I swear I could count twenty of them, all charging out. Just the same though, we went inside. It stank of cat shit and pee but of course that was bound to happen with them all being stuck in here and no one to care for them.

I still took Lyra through the house. Showed her my old room, where I had my first kiss, where I spent most of my time walking in the back. I looked at the old woods behind the house I could tell from the house the woods looked old and very sick. I turned to Lyra sighing softly smiling weakly to her.

“Go back to the car and wait for me Lyra. I got something that needs to be done.” Lyra looked up to me with a weak smile nodding.I walked through the field I usd to play baseball on getting to the woods with the golf course behind it. I touched the trees when I got close to them. The bark peeled off seeing a beetle causing this sickness. From my touch on the tree. I could feel the sickness it made me myself sick from touching it. I felt this was my job or something my family should have done years ago. Closing my eyes, I thought of the inferno that i held within me. I could feel the heat from around my stomach rise and with it, came the feeling of fire. The fire that had slowly built in my stomach rose up steadily, reaching my throat. This time however, there was not much a burning feeling. It feel warm on the skin of the back of throat. I released a torrent of fire and the dry woods caught fire quickly. Nothing lived in here anymore. No creatures ran out of the forest, no birds flew away, no signs ever came, weather they be sight or sound, of anything living in this once great forest. I turned away from it heading back to the car.

Heading back inside one more time before going into the car. I had to make sure I saw everything in the house. With my claw I asked Lyra come with me. She followed me because she looked pretty worried. As we passed the fridge, i noticed something hanging on the door. A note, from what i think is the previous resident of the house. A bit curious, i began to read it.

A note was on the fridge. 'I will be heading on a business trip to Grand Rapids I will be back 2:00 am on the 23rd of May.' Another missing, but I didn't let it affect me. Lyra and I went back into the house I didn’t know what to think being back in my old home. I showed Lyra my old bathroom very clean. My parents old room is a giant mess cloths all over the floor. The bed broken at the seams. The smell of cat crap all over the room oh how lovely it was.

We went out on the deck and I sighed closing my eyes not sure what to think. Opening again looking back at the burning trees of the forest spreading around. Since those trees were bound to die anyway without someone to clean it up

" I grew up in this house Lyra. So much happen to me here. That forest I burnt, the apartments, they tried to tell that private property belonged to them. It was in the hands of my family. Look at what we left behind. We gave it to an old family. It’s easy to tell they didn’t take care of it at all." I took a deep breath, not sure what to think anymore. I felt tears forming in my eyes. A gentle hoof was gently placed on my shoulder.

“Will you be alright Malla?” I turned my head to Lyra, giving her a nod after a moment’s hesitation. We went back into the house I turned to look at the burning forest. I looked down to Lyra.

“I feel it’s time for this journey to end.”

We got back into the car and left all the doors open to make sure if any dogs or other cats inside could get out. We went back down Romance Road to go to the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum. We parked the car in front of it. Heavy glass doors protected the way in. Looking back to Lyra, I smirked. We got out of the car and Lyra used the spell to fiddle with the tumblers in the lock. After a few minutes, hey opened allowing us to go inside.

When we got inside, i saw Lyra eyes open wide. She got to see the old airplanes and jets. In fact one of them was special to me. A thunderbird. A old jet that used to do tricks at a airshow I used to see. Going deeper in we saw some of the old planes including a stealth bomber. But also one of the snowbirds. One of the planes I showed her the famous tank killers, the A-10’s.

" A lot of these planes and jets were used in wars Lyra. In fact one of the war's we had to get into. Because they bombed us and we allowed it. Well we didn't really allowed it, they surprised us. But that's not all. Some of these planes were used purely to entertain humans. I will show you one of the places that they used to do it. But we need to get to where i was born. "

Leaving the the museum I found a Gift shop going in. I found a model Thunderbird, A spitfire, and a A-ten. Taking all three I placed them inside the car. We headed back to the road heading towards Battle Creek. I stayed silent because I have seen this road all my life. But the fact we are even back here again played with my mind. It was one of the back roads.

We stopped right when we got to an airport. Looking at the Airport.

" This is Kellogg Airport Lyra. My childhood is here as well. Every summer we would come here to see the Hot Air Balloons. Some were many shapes and sizes. One was a corn cob. Another was a giant castle. Another mickey mouse. Donald duck. But look at it now so empty." I could see some of the Thunderbird's. But it was done. We went along the road and found the place.. I am going to take up. The Meijers near the airport. It has oddly enough a greenhouse built into it. Looked like they added that back in 2009.

But we would worry about that later. On the way we found something interesting the old Kellogg bird Sanctuary. I wouldn't be to worried about them. Since most of them could fly. But we did stop there a moment.

" There is a Red wood tree in there. It’s the only Red wood tree even in that bird Sanctuary. I think I should come back here later and check on the birds." Sighing heading up the road. Looking another old thing. The old car Museum but i wasn't about to stop at another place. It was time to get there. But so many deer all over the place. Looking back to the road heading to Hickey corners. I felt an urge in my stomach. Closing my eyes tightly Lyra didn't even start driving till she wanted my okay.

We went down a very old road to a town called Hickory Corners. Another small run down town of Michigan. Looking at it with a weak smile, I started remembering everything about it. I didn’t wish to stay or stop the car. I wanted to just keep going on my journey. Lyra wanted to be done with this journey as well. So we moved along. But along the way we saw my old church and then the pumpkin patch that we used to get our pumpkins at. We past fine lake heading up to Jone's road looking at the road that brought back so many memories. Turning in on a old brick driveway.

Looking back at my Journey. I started in Buffalo, Wyoming. We both met with two souls that would help us. But then I left without her or so I thought. I went to Sheridan. Then Gillette.

We met Chris, Starla, and Colgate and spent two weeks there waiting to see if they will come. Then left to head to South Dakota. To go to Wall Drug. I didn't teach Lyra much of it. Just that it's a pharmacy turned into a large tourist trap. Then we went to Mount Rushmore. Heading to Rapid city. This journey is over, but my life is just starting. But I had to check. Getting out of the car. I had something I needed to do.

I went to the old garage door using my dragon might to lift it open. He forgot to lock the door again. I saw all my grandfather's tools. Every single tool. I went to the trailer put some things from the trailer into the car to get more room. Thankfully though Toby was a small dog he didn’t need much room. So he would sit up front with me and Lyra. I grabbed all his old tools. A few of his drills a large tool box. I wanted to make sure I got everything I could I was going to need all this.

I looked up to the house. . I doubt it was wise to go in there. The door was very small I wouldn't be able to get in to see if I could find them. Looking towards the apartment the glass sliding door.

"Lyra I lived here...most of my life. I see it now. I wish I didn't... I need to leave this life behind. Maybe I will come back here for the other cars one day. But we need to get back to the place I'm going to stay at.”

I tied down the tarp again to make sure nothing flies around. I opened the door and got back into the car, putting Toby upfront with us. He would be able to sit in my chair with me since I gave him enough room. I could tell he still missed Luna.

But we backed out heading back to Battle creek. It was a long drive back through the way we came.

" Malla why does half these places say.. Kellogg's?" Giving a chuckle.

" Kellogg's is a cereal maker that owned a lot here in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. They kind of controlled what people did in those two towns. Well, not fully in Kalamazoo but very much so in Battle Creek."

0000

We stopped at my last part of my journey again the Meijer's. I turned my head looking at Lyra who got out of the door going up to the large store unlocking it for me with her magic. We went inside to check around. The smell of the rotting fruit and other foods had to be very strong at this time. So we needed to clean out the store. But for me and Lyra. It was time to rest for me and my friend.

"Are you ready to help me make this into a home?" She gave me a sad look I think she missed the journey. She looks back to the

" Yes" I looked down to her looking back on the journey. I treated her so poorly so awful. We had arguments we had fights. She had the look of a strong mare in her eyes. I could tell she changed on this journey. Come to think of it so did I She still had the bandages on her side, even the one on her leg. I hurt her and I still feel so bad about it. Taking a deep breath, I could smell pure air. Of course that was normal around here.

Before Lyra could do anything I scooped her up into a hug. A tight hug. Looking back again on our journey...i remembered all the conversations, all the laughs. The only friend I had at the start. The only friend that I had at all on this journey. I feel that maybe this is fate to me. A dragon, a creature that will live forever. She may not be dying. But I would see Lyra grow old and maybe see her again. Then I would never see her again. The pain of that loss will fill me.

"Now I am going to go do some searching for a leader." She lifted her bags from the car looking back to me with a smile. "I will be back in a few days. I hope you find more here. I will be back."

It may have taken me a few hours. But I went around placing some signs down where i hoped people could see them. ‘ Any Survivor able to see this, head to the Meijer's down by the Battle Creek Airport. You will find safety there. There is hope. You are not alone.’

After that, I started unloading everything I placed in front of the car so I could get to it easy. I placed them in grass parts of the drive ways into the store lot. Making sure to cover them up just in case it rains. I also made sure they could still be easy to read

After all that I would have to wait. Not sure how long I would wait. I saw some glass cases that were unlocked. I opened them looking inside seeing how well kept they are. So I placed my two Journals in there. Along with the other junk I picked up.

My journey has come to an end. And it is now time for the future. I don't know what to look for. But maybe someday I will know and then I will sing to the sky. But I heard Lyra's lyre playing through the town. I could tell she was using it to keep creatures at bay. But it made me feel calm and happy. I needed that since I felt so alone.

I finally had everything set up well at least for now Going back outside to the car I felt there is no one else around. So I could play some music loud enough for all to hear. No one to tell me no or call the cops on me to stop it. Opening the car I grabbed a CD turning on the car and let it play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3e-cbGEAhg

“Sunny days and starry nights and lazy afternoons”

I looked up into the sky seeing the shining I didn’t know how to feel or what to think but my journey started to play my mind. The day it happen. I went to bed a human, I woke up as this.

“You're counting castles in the clouds and humming little tunes.”

I felt guilt though I look back at my journey. I see all the homes I broke into, the cars. Maybe the fact these instincts took me over. But I needed to live but what about others that would have returned? Did I screw them over too? Would they have the help that I had?

“But somehow right before your eyes the sun fades away,”

The idea of fading away makes this new world funny to me. The entire human race faded away in one night. I still don’t know why at all. Even though Lyra has left for a time to go find a leader. Maybe when she returns she will tell me. I closed my eyes taking a deep breath trying to remove the guilt from my heart.

I felt heat on my back, and as I looked up, I saw the clouds parting and the sun shining down upon me. At that moment i thought of all the history of the human race. Have we ever sat down and just admired the Sun and stars?

At that moment i came to a decision. While i may not look human anymore, it doesn’t mean i lost my humanity. It has merely adapted to my new form. And I will always stay true to who i am. I am Malla. The human Dragon of Dragon’s Rest. And while humans as a race might have disappeared, i will teach all who come to me what it means, To Be Human.

Author's Notes:

I would like to thank my editor Draonoidsix for helping me through the entire thing. We also argued on how the ending should be for hours. So I let him do his idea and we both came up with this. I hope you all enjoyed it thank you.