It was a late hour. An hour in which most of the town was asleep, save the occasional drunks partying or those who work third shift in the few places open overnight. The moon was high in the sky now, a faint crescent suspended in the sky as it waned away. Late nights were normally the best time for me to write. Something about the hours when most of the world was asleep stirred the fountain of ideas milling around in my brain. But on this night everything, including my words, were traitorously silent.

I glared at my blank word document as if were to blame for the lack of inspiration. Of course it wasn’t but it was nice to have something to scrutinize for my absent words. A frown quirked across my mouth as I flicked my eyes shut, thinking hard for an idea that I could write about. But nothing was coming to mind. I groaned aloud and threw my pillow at the wall in a childish fit. My small black cat fixed her perturbed golden gaze upon me, confused as to what had me acting so strangely.

“Don’t you look at me in that tone of voice.” I told her with a playful grin.

She flicked an ear, twitched her tail and then curled back up to go to sleep. I flopped back onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling, delving deep into my mind in search for the words that I needed. Yet nothing greeted me. I cursed profusely, running a hand through my shoulder length hair. I hate writers block! It is the worst thing placed upon this earth. That and ants. I really don’t like ants.

Lifting my arms into the air, I clutched at the air, wishing that Writers block was something physical so I could smash it to pieces with my fists. Or a baseball bat. I think the latter would be more satisfying. And then my ever growing quest for inspiration and ideas could continue after my foe had been defeated. Gears in my head turning, the world around me seemed to fall away as I wistfully wished I could pummel the fiend known as Writers Block.

Great spires of skyscrapers erupted upwards until I was cradled in the arms of a mysterious city. I was crouched on a building rooftop, a katana mounted on my back. An impossibly long scarf, the most vivid red you had ever laid eyes on, was about my neck, billowing in the wind behind me. Great strings of lanterns stretched between each building an on the horizon the flaming sun was slowly sinking down, setting everything into a blazing mirage of colors.

When at last the sun sank below the horizon, I could see a distant glow of blue, almost a pin p***k in the distance. That was my destination. The wind kicked up again and the lanterns bobbed and swayed along with its dance, sending lights flickering in the growing night. With a mighty push from my legs, I leapt from the building, falling through the air, my red scarf trailing behind me. I landed smoothly, cat like upon the asphalt, crouched low to the ground to absorb the shock of the landing. I used that momentum to sprint forward, my green eyes locked upon the glimmer in the distance.

I was halfway down the street when suddenly fifty yards ahead of me the asphalt erupted upwards in an explosion. Smoke and debris clouded the air and I was forced to stop, shielding my face and eyes with my arms. A mighty scream tore through the air and when the smoke cleared, I was standing in front of a massive beast. It stood on two legs and was covered in swampy green fur, large black spines erupting from its flesh. The creature gave a rumbling growl and swiveled its poisonous yellow eyes towards me.

Noxious gas streamed from its mouth when it caught sight of me and I could see a madness creep over its eyes. The great beast screeched so shrilly, I winced in pain. Then it swung forth a massive arm, ready to smack me into a nearby building. I moved then with a great swiftness and dodged its barreling attack. More asphalt exploded upwards, forcing me into elaborate aerials to avoid them. Now that the battle has begun, I draw my katana from its sheath, holding the blade firmly. When I land on my feet, I propel myself forward, taking a powerful slash at the creature’s forearm.

The blow landed, forcing the monster back with a pain-filled screech. Putting on an extra burst of speed, I race towards a nearby alley, leaping up and off of each close wall face until at last I was at the top, my scarf a red whirl behind me. The lanterns still glimmered brightly in the night, casting shadows across my opponent. Before it could catch sight of me, I darted over to another rooftop and leapt onto the creature’s shoulder. I took a swipe at its head but the wound was shallow as it had chosen to shake me off.

Now tumbling through the air, I reach out a hand and grab onto a passing wire keeping several lanterns suspended, the lights bobbing with the movement.
Gas, acid green, began to pour from the beasts mouth and based on the uneasy rumbling growing from its throat, I knew it was about to send some sort of nasty attack at me. Using my legs, I swung myself and towards the side where the nearby buildings were. I was just out of the way when this monster spat out a foul smelling glob of green. The gluey fluid burned clean through the wires and landed on the ground with a sickening splat. I could hear it hissing, the acidic juices breaking down the asphalt.
I could not get hit by that or it would be curtains for me.

I look back to my opponent and it seems to be recovering itself. This was my chance. I dart forward, lanterns still falling from the air from their wires being eaten through and I began leaping from ledge to building to reach the rooftops. There’s no way that I could take this creature down from ground level. Getting a running start, I jumped from the roofs, descending down upon the beast’s face. I gathered every drop of strength I had, electric blue energy crackling around my blade and I sliced through flesh and bone.

With a mighty scream, my enemy crumpled to the ground, my fist clutched tightly around the monsters fur until at last it came to a stop. I could still hear the thunder echoing off into the distance from the sheer weight that had crashed to the ground. But I did not have time to linger. I tore off down the street, my eyes set on the horizon.

Running along, I began to notice the scenery change. The buildings of the city twisted away into gnarled trees and even that became more and more scarce as I pushed on. The solid ground beneath my feet began to soften until it blended into loose sand. Overhead the sun pounded down upon me and I turned back only to find that the city was gone and I was surrounded by miles and miles of desert.

“Well, no turning back now…” I mutter.

I turn back to face the horizon where my shining gold was gleaming in the distance, still far off but closer than what it had been in the city. I wandered for hours, days even, feeling the blazing sun drain away every drop of strength I had. Hot, exhausted and nearly dying of thirst, I collapse to my knees, looking longingly in the distance. Does this desert even end? A dry, hot wind ruffles my hair and dances across my heated skin before I heard a strange cackle.

“Is she lost, sweet thing?”

In shock, I look up to see a strange man, no shirt to be seen to protect him from the brutal heat but his skin was not light like mine. No. It was dark, just a few shades lighter than obsidian. His eyes, however, are bright, a cruel icy blue, like the cloudless sky above that holds no promise of rain. There seems to be a certain insanity to his gaze that that makes me very wary.
Shakily, I rise to my feet.

“Who are you?” I demand

“I am a person.” He laughs, “or perhaps I’m not! I could be just a mirage, a fleeting image of your water deprived mind.”

A scowl mars my features, “You must be real. I have not wandered her for THAT long.”

“Oh is that what you think? There is no time in the dust bowl. Only sun and heat and sand.”

He cackles again.

“You are mad!” I exclaim.

“A matter of perception!” he tsks at me, “I believe I’m quite sane! Perhaps it is you who are mad!”

I open my mouth to say something but a wave of exhaustion hit me and I stagger, barely able to stay on my feet. I recover my balance fairly quickly and I sigh in frustration, looking at the strange desert traveler who seems determined to annoy me.

“Never mind. How do I get out of here?”

A smirk crawls across his face, “This way? That way? Who knows? I do!
But I won’t tell!”

I flush red in indignation and try to swing a punch at him. His image flickers away and suddenly I stumble, his person no longer standing there. With a laugh, he appears a foot away from me. How did he do that? When I recover and stand upright again, he cackles once more.

“You’ll have to catch me!”

I chase him, attempting to hit him all the while but never once did my fist make contact. I seemed to pursue him for hours until at last I throw a hard punch that he once again dodges and I completely lose my balance and fall forward. Hot sand did not await me. I disappear with a splash and I am embraced by a refreshing coolness. I emerge sputtering and coughing until I notice, I am standing in a pool of cool, clear water up to my neck. All around there are lush trees and vegetation. He led me to an oasis!

“Thank-!”

I trail off when I realize that he was gone. Was he real? Or did I imagine him the entire time? But how could I have led myself to an oasis? I shake my head, sopping locks flinging water droplets with the motion. I don’t have time to waste. After drinking my fill and cooling off, I climb from the pool and begin my trek once more.

The journey did not take so long even though the glimmer was still far off in the distance because I made it out of the desert in no time. The scenery changed drastically and now I was walking along the path to a large castle in the distance. At the very top of the tallest tower, I could see my destination glowing like a beacon. In elation I find myself dashing down the path, my long red scarf trailing after me. I was nearly to the castle when suddenly a large head rose from behind the walls. But it wasn’t human.

Glimmering black scales with flecks of red, bright golden eyes, horns spiraling out of its skull to pierce the sky and smoke curling from its large nostrils. A dragon. A large, scaly and clearly fire breathing dragon. What were the odds?

“Oh come on! You have got to be kidding me! REALLY?!” I screech.

That caught the overgrown lizard’s attention for it snaps its head over and locks its eyes upon me. I see its slitted pupils dilate and hear the rolling intake of air. It was going to breathe fire at me! Adrenaline now pumping through my veins, I dive out of the way behind massive boulder. There was a rush as the fire rushed out and collided with my shelter. Flames lick around the sides and the heat was unbearable! Behind me the boulder was growing hotter and hotter, scorching my skin through the back of my shirt.

Then the inferno stops.

I take that opportunity to dash out and make a break for the castle gates.
The dragon was ready and began to breathe more hot flames at me, following close behind until I burst through the massive wooden doors. I was expecting the castle to be empty and in a sense it was. But not in the way I was anticipating. All around were the charred bodies of soldiers, some untouched by flames and merely slashed open or crushed.

The brutality was nauseating.

But I did not have time to linger. The beast was more gargantuan than it appeared. Its neck alone is the size of a tremendous skyscraper, reaching high into the air. The head is as large as an eighteen wheeler. And its feet could crush buildings with one step. A rumble echoes in its throat and I know it’s going to go for another round to try and roast me. I tear off towards the first tower I see, escaping into the shelter of stone. The flames hiss against the tower and I use this opportunity to start climbing, racing up and up to the top. I could hear the beast roaring and climbing up on the outside.

When I at last emerge outside, thunder is cracking through the sky. But my goal is there, glowing brightly. It’s a small golden orb, maybe the size of a soccer ball. But a beautiful blue light was engulfing it, shimmering brightly.
A growl rumbles behind me and I whirl around to see the dragons head looming there, teeth revealed in a razor snarl. There was not a place for me to hide. Desperately I look up at the sky and I am suddenly struck with the knowledge of what to do next.

I draw my katana and lift it upwards, pointing towards the heavens. I call out for the lightning and it answers, striking down and then crackling brightly around my blade. Then I lash out, the yellow electricity shooting forward in a deadly arc until it collides with the beast’s face. A roar of pain rips from its mouth and I expect the creature to go reeling back until it topples to the ground.

Blood is pouring from its face when I hear a distorted laugh escape from its throat. I blink in shock, wondering why the dragon suddenly is beginning to sound like a human. Its form begins to twist and shrink until there is a young man standing before me, a bleeding gash on his face. He is tall, pale but his hair is dark as night and his eyes are still the same striking gold of the dragons.

“Very good…” he chuckles with a delighted clap, “It has been a long time since someone could stand against me.”

I shuffle nervously, “Look, I just want the orb.”

His eyes darken and he turns violent then, “You’ll not leave this castle with it alive!”

“We’ll see about that.” I shoot back with a hard glint in my emerald eyes.

He laughs then, the sky quaking at such an action. Nervously, I look up as if to check that it won’t all fall on top of me. When I look back the man who is the dragon is closer to me than I am comfortable with. Less than an arm’s
length away.

“But if you stay, you can have it…”

With the purr he spoke in, many would construe his intentions to be of a more…sexual nature. But I am certain that if I were to stay, he would fill his days chasing me in his dragon form with the intention of killing me. He looks like he wants that kind of challenge. I give him my answer by slashing my katana at his throat. He blocks with his bare hand, my blade not even slicing his flesh. When I look at him with wide eyes, he smirks.

“Pity.” He purrs.

And then pain explodes across my face and I’m rolling across the tower. I stumble to my feet as he advances dangerously towards me. I slash at him again but it merely bounces harmlessly off his skin. He punches me again in the stomach and I hear a crack from my ribs breaking. I scream in pain and crumple to the ground, clutching my arms over my middle.

“Now that’s no fun at all. Don’t you have more to offer me?”

I snarl in response and stagger to my feet again, pushing forward even though it hurts to breathe. I call to the lightning again and this time I see his eyes widen as it crackles dangerously around my katana. But I am determined, feeling the rush of energy ruffle my flaming red hair. I send my electric attack arcing towards him. But it was not fast enough for the dragon moved and my lighting went soaring back into the sky.

A brutal kick to the chest sends me skidding across the tower until I came to stop just inches from the side where I would plummet to my death. My katana was just a foot away from me and I crawl towards it, reaching out desperately. But by now my opponent was standing over me and kicks my precious weapon off of the tower.

“No!” I shout, trying to save it but it was long gone.

“Now you are powerless. Nothing but an ordinary woman.”

I glare up at him and kick his feet out from under him. He falls and I take that opportunity to scamper away. I grab the only thing left that I could possibly use. The golden orb. Its energy spreads over me and then it shoots forward, colliding squarely in the chest of the dragon, sending him flying off the tower, screaming until it twists a roar and a loud thud. I rush over to the side to see the black dragon spasming and seizing until at last he morphed back into his broken human body, dead at the bottom of the tower.

Relief coursing through me, I look down at my new prize. The blue glow crawls up my arms, encompasses my chest, soothing my throbbing ribs, and blows my hair back as it covers me completely. It is warm, enlightening and when I open my eyes, I am no longer on the tower. The ceiling of my room stares back down at me and I blink for a moment. Then I sit up with an eager grin, setting my fingers upon my keyboard.

“I could write a story about that.”