The world was caught at a crossroads in the never-ending sea of time.

The day was dying as the Sun felt that its duty was fulfilled, leaving the Moon in its wake to pick up the mantle this side of the celestial sphere that was Earth.

However, despite the star's counterpart resuming its eternal purpose, the planet here still felt the aftereffects of the ever-lasting day, leaving this microscopic portion of upper earthen crust in a perpetual state of limbo, but not for long.

Here, the sky was just a darkened blue, the Moon just barely beyond the horizon while the Sun escaped opposite to it.

Like limbo, it was a place between universes, somewhere, and yet nowhere. Some may fear it, returning to their shelters to weather the up and coming night, but others see it as a balanced transition into the next.

The Great Beyond.

The Forever.

However, the crickets and peepers that plagued those not shielded by soundproof walls were disturbed by but a singular, self-contained sound within a world of its own.

One's own slice of life.

A door.

It opened into an expansive mudroom, coat hangers in a horizontal fashion nailed to the wall left of it, although relatively unused besides one hook, as the rest of the darkened metal protrusions held situational clothes that were currently not needed.

The door, whitened except for the large glass design of intertwining curves and angles in a work of everyday art, made quite the creak as the round silver knob pushed itself inside, being pulled back from just hitting the navy-blue painted wall.

Thankfully, it was just thick enough as to not break with even a decently strong thrust with the roundish piece of the mechanism that was the entranceway.

But, pulled back by what you may ask?

A hand.

A hand belonging to a human in fact.

The one who owned this place.

Shelby Grant.

A sigh sounded out as she came into her humble abode, the woman making a clop or two with her work shoes upon making her way inside.

The switch on the wall to the left of the doorway was flipped, revealing a space to remove unneeded clothes, as heat or coolness desired inside was in effect.

She mindlessly closed the door behind without a second though as it shut by itself. She instead decided to occupy her time taking off her white leather jacket, which concealed her work clothes, and place it on the hook. She started by holding the metal loop that was the zipper with her index finger and thumb of her right hand and pulling it downwards towards the source of gravity, creating that sound characteristic of the human invention. Upon finishing the first task, she then held the edge of the right sleeve with her left hand before slipping her arm out like a snake in a log and repeated the other side, albeit with much easier precision.

Upon its removal, she bent the crease and turned it around, letting it go to sit and be strung up by the hook coming off the plaque.

This ultimately revealed a plain grew shirt of nothing to not about it as it was worn in conjunction with a set of deep cerulean jeans that could have blended in with the night if it wanted to.

Alright, next was the work shoes.

They were rather plain, just woody brown that held the faint smell of her being occupying them within their soles, as she wore these so much to the point of shaping them to be her go-to pair to travel outside with when on business in terms of her job.

She scrapped them on the black door mat that was a little dirtied up over the years, but wasn't that the point of it? Thankfully, the bottoms resembled sneakers as opposed to flat ones, so the grip they held was unmistakable.

First, it was the right foot, dragging it with force about three times before the left one repeated the pattern. Then she inevitably had to remove them, so she bent down, her hair of dirty blond color falling with Earth's gravitational pull as she slipped her fingers in between the double knot of the loops that was the tie.

It was the right one first, her fingertips slipping underneath the fabric shoestrings rolled into a plastic cylinder on the end, all darker than the shoe itself, into two loose ropes that loosened the vise on her ankle considerably, before aiming to do the same process to allow her left foot to escape as well.

After all was said and done, she simply lifted her left foot off the ground over a dark shoe mat with other coverings and simply let the planet do its job, the light clip being sounded out as the shoe fell to the floor. However, of course, it had to be done with the left one, which was promptly delt with, the same results occurring as the now complete pair of work shoes stood to the far right of other similar articles, things such as boots neglected as the season didn't ask for them.

The switch was flicked off with a motion she knew like the back of her hand upon her pointer finger gently pushing it down into its “off" state, the light turning off.

Phew.

Now she was open to do whatever for the rest of the night.

Now, despite the possibility of free time, there was shockingly little to do here, as her usual hobbies required more precious hours to enact.

Afterall, she did come home after she ended her shift a bit later than usual, hence, the darkening night.

Hmmmmm…

Now, what could she do?

Well, let's see here.

She could take a late, or, er, early shower the night before another bout of sleeping and getting up to go to work the next day in order to have some more minutes in the morning.

Although, it goes without saying that with some possible sweating in bed, a bit nice deodorant could go a long way. She just hoped to God to remember to apply it before going off to her occupation at the crack of dawn.

That is, if she went that route, since, well, she could just take it in the morning.

Baths were also out of the question. They just simply used a bunch of water, more so than being pelted by streams, and only made sense to use when very sick with some lavender, but that rarely happened.

Don't want to raise the water bill, do we?

And then there was late night television, although to be blunt, it was really the only activity that made sense after such a late return like this, but what could she possibly watch?

History? Documentaries?

No. Not only would they put her to sleep as if she was under anesthesia, but it was sort of redundant since, well, y'know, dragons.

Such a momentous era of the world had just begun four years ago. Ramblings about the past had to fade away, especially for the new dragon citizens making a home in society. Such information was a novelty, but had little use to even a hatchling. It was simply the truth.

What about a game show?

Naw, that was scrapping the bottom of the barrel in terms of actual entertainment. Who the hell greenlit these in exchange for one's hard-earned time? Ridiculous! Even the thought of dragons getting involved didn't pique an interest at all! Although, it must've been quite humorous to see dragons being confuzzled as to the purpose of these.

Welcome to the club. At least they're not alone in that department.

And no, don't even get her started on cartoons. Other than nostalgic joyrides on Boomerang like Scooby-doo and Tom and Jerry, everybody knows that is old compared to today's programs. Besides, they didn't appeal to her in this phase of her life as of now.

Okay, what of the News?

Hmmmmm…

No. No thanks.

It was pretty much the instant noodles of television. It was safe and was a clear way to spend a late night to discover recent events either local or around the world.

But…

Ugh…

It was something almost everybody watched, especially in the morning, including herself. People were just glued to their screens to see humans and dragons interacting in such unique ways, while also being informed of the current state of the area, both close and abroad.

That, and once in a blue moon, you'll even see a dragon correspondent! How crazy was that?

It was just so fascinating that a thought that was once myth was now becoming a reality! It was mind blowing!

But…

Again, it was something all people watched everyday, and like consistently consuming sweets, it got old over time. Yes, it was cool, but only in certain doses.

That and, well, it was actually kind of scary. Not all of these interactions were necessarily positive, and it became rather uncomfortable to watch as, well, humans were what caused such escalations.

Sometimes, it was outright depressing that they caused some of this.

Even the sports conversations didn't help, even with this new Talon Ball game that recently started, involving dragons and dragons only.

The idea was intriguing, but, like learning science, there was no point in getting involved unless it was truly a hobby, as it was a time investment.

And time, she did not have.

She wasn't even interested in football, the so-called 'America's sport'.

However, when all was said and done, she didn't want to watch the news since, well, dragons.

It wasn't that she disliked seeing them, but they…distracted her and, well, reminded her.

Reminded her of him.

Sybus…

The ghost dragon…drake…who came to visit her.

It was about a month since she saw him, and to be rather honest, she was trying her best to convince herself that he actually came.

Came to steal her store-bought chicken, only to have him become mortified of her. Then, she gave him solace, a refuge, however long those few hours were, before he left her behind, before she asked him if he would really return.

That has not occurred yet.

The sight of dragons on television constantly told her that.

Told her that it was all very much possible that it was all fake, that it was all a dream in her mind.

Something her complex tissue of high intelligence conjured up in a response to nothing more than sleep deprivation.

But the question existed, persisting like none other.

Did Sybus, the ghost dragon, actually exist?

Now, from an outsider's perspective, if they knew, yes, if they knew, the first thing they'll say is that she's lost her marbles.

Ah…yes…

She imagined all the guffaws accusing her of being a lunatic.

'A ghost dragon? Ha! Next thing you'll say is that there are dragons that can travel through time!'

'Surely she's gone crazy! Perhaps she's a woman who needs a man in her life! Hahaha!'

'A dragon who's a ghost? You sure it isn't your grandpa? Or are you wanting to be one of those dragon fuckers? Hehehehe!"

'Young woman, are just… stressed out…?'

Stressed out?

Was she…stressed out?

No, she never got stressed out, never.

It's just…

What…

W-What was it?

What was the reason why it always came back to him?

Did she…

Did she actually ask him if he was coming back?

No, surely…

Wait.

Why was she asking herself this?

Sybus was probably a figment of her imagination.

A false specter.

A dead apparition.

Nothing more than a ghost in the hall.

But…

Was it?

Was…did…

Did…a part of her…

No, Shelby, you're ridiculous! You couldn't possibly want…

Want…

Want…

Yes, she could just turn her brain off and watch some dumb sitcom to fall asleep to, the screen nothing more than something above staticky electrons, but…

No, there it was again!

She kept on thinking about the impossibility that was the white dragon with icy blue eyes that pierced right into her consciousness.

He just…

Wait…

Waaaaaaaait…waitwaitwait…

Did…

D-Did…

Oh…oh God…

Did…

D-Did she…actually want it to be true?

And not only that, but also want him to come back?

Shelby, this is utter madness! How can you keep imagining that a lost dragon race came to your front door and that you want him to stay? What is the matter with you? You act like the world revolves around you! He has his own life! You can't be selfish and take that from him!

What are you, lonely? Ha! Maybe get some friends and their numbers! Get in a club! Do that for yourself at least!

And a dragon? Pffft…

There's something seriously wrong with you…

Nobody would want to stay with you! Especially a man! Why would a drake be any different? Who would want to come back to you?

Nobody! That's who!

Nobody!

Nobody!

Nobody.

Nobody.

N-Nobody.

N-No…body…

N-N-No…b-b…

…

…

…

No, stop it Shelby.

It was all just a story made up in your head, something to keep your thoughts occupied, something for your dreams to munch on.

Sybus didn't exist.

Well…

Sybus may or may not exist.

However, that doesn't change the fact that it was just a once in a lifetime event, a fluke. Life will just keep on going, with or without the thought or idea of that drake.

Logically it didn't make any sense. Why would the strings of fate pull together to have you meet him? Why? It simply shouldn't have happened.

You saw someone in trouble, and you wanted to help, then you went your separate ways, nothing more, nothing less.

So…just shut up and grab some snacks to waste the last hours away, and start your daily routine again.

Bills can't pay for themselves y'know!

Yes, right, right…

Sure, her mind did want him to come back, and perhaps she was just alone most of her adult life, or, well, had someone like a coworker stab her in the back.

It was a moment, and it was over, even if all she wanted was perhaps a friend.

…Or something to quell her fascinations…

Like, how could he go through walls? Make himself transparent?

M-Make things float in the air?

It was like he was a purple psychic drake, hehe…

She…

Well, now that she thought about it…

Who was he?

Why did he act…sheepish, like he was always under threat?

He was a dragon! How could one of the dragon race be so…so…

Soft-spoken?

Scared?

Starving?

He was…

H-He was a puzzle that'll take forever to solve.

Ugh…

No, put these thoughts away. Distract yourself with them at work, not in your little free time.

And so, that is just what she did.

With her coat gone and her socks stuck to her ankles, she padded through from the entrance door to…

The kitchen.

She had just the idea to seal away these endless trains of thought.

Her palm felt along the right wall, and, like the back of her hand, she found the angled protrusions downwards, her kitchen lights, and, with her index and middle finger, she flipped them up, allowing in gracious light into her retinas.

She padded away into those all-too familiar tiles, the ceramic squares glued together by cement glue and polished to a shine that almost gave the illusion of plastic.

Her direction was clear.

The refrigerator.

Hmmmm…

Yeah, she should take a shower tomorrow instead of tonight. Some much needed quiet or lullaby-like white noise to soothe her nerves.

The woman walked carefully as to not slip.

We all know that happened to us once in our lives, right?

Upon reaching her destination, she turned right as nothing more than silver, the double-doored container of frost-crusted goods to consume was all she needed.

The loops that were the handles stood idle, beckoning her to return to reality that we all try to escape from. However, they did not stand untouched for long.

Shelby took her left hand, and wrapped it around the bent cylinder, the metal chilling her to the core with how uncomfortably cold it was.

But, like any cool material, it was sure to warm up upon great exposure.

This was no different.

But it wasn't some leftovers or materials to make a home-cooked meal, no, no it wasn't.

Instead, it was something else.

What exactly?

She sought to open not the fridge, but the freezer.

She pulled, detaching the weak magnet from the shiny container of well-kept goods, like a lid to Antarctica.

It gave off the never-ending sound of coolant working and working to keep her consumables alive and well, nurturing them in an environment not meant to suit them. 

Shelby, like a pully attached to a rope, retrieved her arm with a bend and removed the freezer door on the refrigerator's left hinge.

Then out came the frost-burned chill of the magic of human ingenuity, white mist buffeting out to greet her, like a temptation to indulge herself in its contents.

Such a thing was only possible with the might of human curiosity to solve problems everywhere. How else do we improve life as we know it? Sure, we've had our mistakes, hell, we still get caught up in wars for Christ's sake, but that doesn't mean we don't try to learn and do better.

Such is the nature of the indomitable human spirit.

Brrrrr…

It was uncomfortable, but it will go away, like yesterday…

Shelby squinted upon the snow flaked air blowing in her face before dissipating into nothing, and saw her grand prize.

It was a gallon-sized tub, closed with an ice-sealed lid.

Ice cream. A confectionary of the ages.

Truly an amazing human creation. Who knew that something so freezing and yet so grand be so delicious?

She had no doubt the dragons felt the same way.

Now with her objective in sight, she slipped her hand into the cold Arctic of an environment and bent her elbow, aiming to steal her nightly snack from the mouth of the icebox. She raked it towards herself, gently lifting the back of it with her right fingers before removing it from its presence on the grate. Like an invaluable memory, she pulled it towards herself akin to a hug.

Her cargo was now safe and secure.

With that, she closed the left door, it's insides no longer needed right now.

But what she did need now however…

Her gaze went to the right and a bit lower.

A wooden drawer of a light trunk, an equally created knob meant to slide back like a toy train.

The woman switched arms holding the tub, her left hands feeling the frost-bitten holder of her escapism for the night. She then twisted her right arm until her palm was underhanded, and she gripped the sandy lined holder of her next component to the jigsaw.

Like yanking a tablecloth from under kitchenware on a table, she displaced the drawer from its usual hiding place.

And what was inside, was silverware.

Tools to consume food without getting one's hands dirty and greasy, even if watery sinks alleviated that issue.

Afterall, they weren't animals. Even the least dignified person would want to eat with these.

Forks, butterknives, sharpened ones for cutting meat, peeling ones…

And then…

Spoons.

From cereal to soup, these were the gold standard for placing foodstuffs within the mouth of humans, and, well, perhaps some more…caring psychic or earth dragons.

Shelby mindlessly untangled a spoon from its brethren and, with nothing left to take, took the wrist bone of her hand, and forced the drawer back into its place.

Okay, now to set up her method of eating this delectable ice cream, vanilla from the paper wording on the holder of sweet goodness.

The human turned to the right and began walking on the tiles. Like a track, she twirled to the side to the edge of the island around the rounded angle of the corner and did the same with the other edge of the uneven rectangle of raised granite.

And there on the long end of the island were several raised chairs, just sitting there and collecting dust.

Perhaps she was lonely, without anybody in her late twenties to settle down, have a few kids with. Maybe it was better that way, as there was always a possibility that God has already decided her soulmate, but wanted her to meet them later in life.

Or perhaps she has already met him in her long-winding road, but just never realized what he was meant to be to her, at least not yet.

But who would ever want her? She had nobody, and she thought that it might be for the best.

Take it slow Shelby. You lost your innocence already. Don't foul up your life for some dumb, puppy love.

In the middle of the last two chairs on the end, she squeezed by the darkened oak platforms and dragged her left arm that's secured the ice cream onto the smooth and glossy stone, letting go of it with the unbending of her elbow. She then promptly raised her right hand and gently lied the spoon next to it.

Now, she was almost set up.

While one could definitely wolf it down straight out of the plastic, especially since, well, she was the only one licking on the spoon to begin with, it was more…sanitary to get a ceramic bowl to scoop it into for consumption's sake.

Afterall, nobody would ever drink soup right out of the can, right?

Alright then.

She had her second task, now all she needed to do was turn and get a…

A…

A…

A…A…A…

Her eyes went from a coat button to a little needle thread as she so much as drifted her side to the left in the turn before aiming to return to the inner kitchen.

She saw…

S-She saw…

S-Saw…

There was not an empty space in front of her…

No, no, there wasn't.

What was there was a figure.

It was unmistakable.

It was…a…a…

A dragon.

The color, or lack thereof, was as clear as crystal, as they were of white scales and had their front, including the chest plates, all obscured by deep brown.

And yet, there was one detail that stood out amongst it all.

The eyes of an icy-blue sky, frost-laden.

Why were they hidden?

Because they held something in their jaws that covered the sight of them.

And it was a creature, and animal.

A deer.

It hung from the dragon's jaws, the creature limp as they grasped onto it by its neck.

Dead.

Its eyes were glassy as it endlessly faced off to Shelby's right, legs straight like a board, outward like a once-living table. The deceased creature was evidently a male as it had the makings of antlers that grew on its head, but too short to cause any discomfort from raising it up from the planet's core. Its lifeless hooves of the rear legs just barely sat on the once perfectly clean kitchen floor, and yet despite the dragon being firm on its jugular, no blood came out. They likely killed it quite a bit ago, as the blood would've clotted up by now if they didn't kill it any other way.

As it dangled from the snowy dragon's cage of knives, the mouth was oddly in the shape of a…

A…

A-A…s-smile…?

“Hi Shehey!"

It…

I-It…

I-It…it…

I-It was…

H…H-Hi…m

H-Him…

Sybus.

The drake was on his rump, tail on the cookery's floor, forelegs straight down, and the rear ones bent and lying on the tiles.

He greeted her with a happy voice, but the woman was anything but.

In fact, she wasn't welcoming, but was something else entirely.

Terrified.

“G-GAH, HAAAAH!!!", she recoiled in surprise, shock, confusion, and complete and utter bafflement.

W-What…

W-W-What…

W-What!?!?

Oh…oh God!

T-There was a deer! A dead one!

In her fucking kitchen!

A decaying animal was in her damn house!

A-And…

S-Sybus?

Sybus!?

And he…

He…

H-He was…real?

B-But why did he bring in a whitetail into her…

Wait…

H-How the hell did he get it in here at all!?

And how did he get in here with…that, and not get noticed by her?

It was as if he popped out of thin air!

What…what…

W-What in God's name was happening!?

Lord have mercy on her! She was too young to have a heart attack now!

But…but…

S-Sybus?

The drake saw her reaction.

It was…drastic to say the least.

She backed off with an uncoordinated step or two and let out a sound that was as if an animal was squealing to live another day upon getting cornered, hands out as if it was some mock defense against nothing.

...

And to say that Sybus felt bad from it would be an understatement.

Bahamut…

What…

W-What was the matter with you!

Bahamut damn you!

She gave you food to survive and you thought that she would want you to come back!?

Well? Did you!?

W-Well…

Excuses, excuses! How dare you scare the one who helped you with your presence? You should know that humans hate dragons!

B-But…

But…

But…

D-Didn't…

D-Didn't she say that he could come back?

Why, yes, she did! Yes…yes, she…

S-She did…

It was why he was here.

It's been many Moons, but he always felt indebted to her. How couldn't he be? She saved him for Bahamut's sake, and not blow him to bits with a boomstick!

He had a growing pit in his heart. It didn't matter if she was a good Samaritan, he had to give something back. This guilt of taking a chicken in her possession that had long been processed from his body was forever over his head.

No, it wasn't right to just leave this closed for eternity.

She deserved his eternal gratitude after all this time.

You couldn't leave her like this? What are you, some ungrateful wretch? Bahamut gave you as second lease on life, and you would just…selfishly take it and flee?

No, he had to wait! H-He had to…

He needed someplace safe, yes, someplace safe! A place to sleep away from possible executioners!

And with that already done and over with, all that was left was find her a gift, b-but…

B-But what could a human possibly want!?

A-A shiny stone?

No, it'll take forever to find that! H-He wasn't an earth drake after all.

W-What about flowers?

No, that wouldn't work either. Which ones would she like? Or…or was she like a fire dragoness and not get into them to begin with?

No, no! Again, no answers!

But…

But what about…a kill?

Hmmm…

Y-Yes!

Of course! It was a perfect gift!

It would not only show his skill as a hunter, but also his dedication to making it up to her in the form of delicious food!

He knew humans ate meat too, so what would be the harm?

Well…

The issue here was that it came up that his appearance startled her.

Oh…

O-Oh Bahamut…

Now that he thought about it, the inkling of an idea began to spread in his canvas of a mind.

S-Shelby was fine with him before given the circumstances, but now?

Now, there was no reason to house him in this cave of hers.

He wasn't welcome.

He shouldn't be here.

The grin on his maw as he was chomped down on the dried vital blood vessels of the game animal morphed into a frown, his eyes giving off the look like he offended someone and just realized it.

He felt terrible, Bahamut, he felt terrible.

He was awful, abhorrent, underserving…

As such, there was only one route to go.

He should've known it, known that his presence was reviled and unwanted. Their little contact was coming to a close.

And yet, he wanted to hold onto that hope, however far off and distance it was.

No, he needed to take his leave and remove his body from here.

Suddenly, the offering of the deer slowly lost its meaning to him.

How could such a gift save this moment?

Nothing.

Still, before he fled forever into shadows unknown, he needed to rectify his mistake, his horrible, horrible mistake.

A ghost dragon should never plague humans with their presence.

He sought to apologize.

The drake bent his head down towards the flooring, the deer hooves making a clop or two as its stiffened limbs pointed forwards to the human. He then released his jaws on its ruined throat and retracted his mouth as he began to lift his head to its usual position.

“O-Oh, I-I'm sorry, I-I…"

Sorry?

You think a sorry can save you?

He began to have the sense of being downtrodden.

Horrible. He was horrible.

...

What?

What…

He said…

…Sorry?

Shelby began to get her bearings as she returned to a more…shaken, but more relaxed position as her eyes widened.

His frown and bent scaly brows meant that he was not only a bit…regretful, but also…ashamed?

Ashamed of what?

His…

Oh God…

His…look? His appearance?

What…

W-Why would she feel this way?

She's been around dragons since 2000 for Christ's sake!

There was no problem with how the dragons appeared, but…

D-Did Sybus think that she thought that he was…?

Well, it could also be the fact that he brought dead game into her house.

No, there was nothing wrong with him, but…

Wait…

Wait…waitwaitwait…

W-Why did the drake kill and bring a deer to her feet?

Was it…

Oh.

Oh God.

He…

H-He…

H-He was…giving it to her as a present?

F-For giving him a rotisserie just about month ago?

Sure, it was a primal way of showing thanks, one of the only ones that Sybus knew because of his lack of contact with humans, but she couldn't help but be…touched?

Well, it didn't change the fact that Sybus reeled in a slain beast and lowered its wasting carcass on her clean and well-kept floor, but it was a gift nevertheless.

Still, she saw the offering and got its meaning, but that didn't change Sybus's thoughts on it.

He probably felt so bad inside, oh, she now felt a little horrible too.

Her thoughts were broken as she returned her hands to her side and straightened her posture.

Why?

The drake resumed his apology, even if the woman felt that he didn't need to say sorry for anything.

He began to turn to the left, aiming to leave this place behind, like a memory one wished to forget.

And his eyes…

Oh…

Oh…his eyes…

They looked…sad…

Like he felt like he didn't belong.

Like he never did.

After the ghost drake made a clack or two with his claws on the floor, Shelby made an effort to make him feel better, because this wasn't his fault.

It was just that she was a human, and that they all feared things that didn't make sense.

But how else were they to advance into this new era? It wasn't like there was another way to go forward.

No, they needed to work together, work together with Dragonkind for the new age.

“N-No, i-it's fine, you don't have to say sorry, i-it's just…"

She held firm. She needed to pick her next words carefully.

She had so, so many questions…

...

Sybus perked up and stopped.

W-Wait…

S-She said it was…fine?

No, Bahamut, it wasn't! H-How was this…h-how was he fine?

H-He shouldn't be here. W-What…

Unless…

Unless…she was okay.

B-But it seemed impossible! How could a human be perfectly fine around a dragon?

But then, he let it stew a bit in his brain.

Maybe…

M-Maybe it was beyond just a generous donation last time they met, and maybe it was true, true kindness, warm and pure.

B-But why would any creature treat the ghost dragon as anything other than a cancer?

There was only one explanation, however unlikely it was.

He began to relax and soften, but still was turned to the woman.

...

Shelby felt a little nervous.

How could she not?

Who would ever bring an intact whitetail deer into her abode?

It seemed crazy.

Well, maybe you were crazy Shelby.

God, what were the odds that this all happened?

“J-Just…w-why did you bring in a deer?", she shakily asked, using the fingers of her left hand to pull back some hanging hair the side of her face to behind her neck in nervousness.

Bahamut, what?

Sybus gained a bit of a surprised look before transitioning back into his contemplative and sheepish look on his scaled face and muzzle.

There were two possibilities.

The first was that Shelby didn't want the symbol of gratitude and felt repulsed by it, as if she wanted a better tribute worth his life.

If that was true, then Sybus would not only feel like a fool, but also like a disgrace given that he was a failure in this respect.

How could he have known that he found the wrong piece to provide her?

Yes…awful indeed.

The second was that, well, she didn't know why he brought this spoils of the hunt.

It didn't look like she was clueless, but felt like…

...

No…

B-Bahamut…

Did…

D-Did she…not…want anything?

No, she has to want something!

…R-Right?

No, no! He has to give her something to give his great thanks!

I-It was the only right thing to do…

B-But…

I-If she didn't want anything in return…

T-Then…

Oh.

O-Oh Bahamut…

T-Then…

T-Then that would make her truly selfless…caring…generous…respectful…kind…

L-Like his mother before the ghost dragons…b-before they…

R-Right…

S-She asked him a question.

Regardless, his words came out in a jumble and on shaky foundation, like he was afraid of retribution despite the idea that she helped him out of the bottom of her heart.

“I-I thought that y-you wanted…s-something, I-I…", he stammered, looking down in embarrassment.

What?

H-He thought that she…s-she wanted something?

L-Like a deer?

B-But…

What…w-why…?

“I-I didn't know what else to get, t-to get for you f-for saving…"

He trailed off after contacting her orbs once, as if his eye contact was something to be disgusted by, his sight veering off to the left.

Bahamut, he was a mess of scales, wasn't he?

Oh…

So he did feel like he was indentured to willingly gift her with something that dragons valued, but…

God, this was all bucket of cold water, wasn't it?

Sybus wanted to give her something for feeding him in a time of need as a heartfelt thanks, as he felt indebted to her, so he killed a deer, likely by snapping its neck or puncturing its vital artery in its throat, and dragged it all into her kitchen without explanation of how he got here without her recognizing it.

Like a ghost…

Oh Lord Above…

And the thing was, she understood it, but it was wrong, so, so wrong.

Dragging a poor critter into a clean household?

Well, as much as she got what the drake was going for, it wasn't right.

Still, a gift was a gift, and as such, she didn't know what to feel about it, although she was leaning on the side of keeping it for his sake, but, well, not here.

Confusion, confusion…

She sighed.

This was a mess, that neither knew how to deal with, but something was for certain.

A dead deer had no place in the house.

“N-No, i-it's fine, just…"

She stumbled a bit with her throat. She didn't want to give off the idea that she didn't accept this tribute, after all, her father took her hunting when she was a young girl, but it was better to deal with this someplace else.

She knew where it was, but she didn't know if Sybus did or not.

“A-Are you able to put it in the garage? T-The big square room just outside?"

She tried to simplify the description as much as possible for a dragon whose experience with the human world and its intricacies was next to nothing much like a preschooler, but hey, we were all that person at one point weren't we?

...

W-What?

His eyes brightened up a bit, but with a bit of befuddlement.

Wait.

S-She…

S-She's…accepting it?

On one paw, he should be relieved and perhaps happy that she was taking this gracious gift of his.

But on the other…

G-Garage?

W-What was that?

And she wanted it…somewhere else?

W-What…

W-Why?

D-Did she secretly not want it?

No, no, he didn't feel and thoughts of disgust or repulsion from him or the food, but felt some sort of…disturbance.

Wait.

W-Was it…

W-Was it…the place?

The location?

Hmmmm…

The more he let it fester in his mind, it began to make sense.

Just…j-just look at the place!

A cave could be filled to the brim with trinkets and curiosities of things Dragonkind didn't understand, but this? This shelter was…oh, Bahamut, what was the word for it?

Clean?

St-St-Ster…illlllllll…

W-What…

W-What was the word some drakes used to describe one who was infertile?

Hmmmm…

W-Well, it was that.

It was very well kept up and glossy, polished like a brand new set of scales, with nothing around to cover or dirty it up.

Ah…

Yes…

It all suddenly made sense now.

Shelby was like one of those dragonesses.

The ones that had every one of their possessions and kills all organized nicely, and despised having it switched around.

Y-Yes…

Yes! He got it now!

It wasn't that she didn't want the beast, but instead wished to have it somewhere else!

And, well, it was kind of late to do much with it. He doubted that she wanted a bloodied mess here anyways…

He made clicks on the stony ground with his claws and turned around from his retreating stance.

But…

J-Just…

W-What was a gar…

Gar…gar…gar…age…?

Wait…

W-Was it the grey cube-like structure with plenty of space besides the metal and shiny cage inside with all the colors on it? With the flat, round and metallic objects stuck to it?

Hmmm…

Even he had trouble describing it, and he's been in there!

Although, the cold temperature in there was very, very nice…

And, well, there was a droning noise from a white box out there. What could that be?

No, it had to be what she was talking about.

And so, his plan was set.

His face was once towards the synthesized floor with maw a bit open in clear thoughts tangling and tumbling like a forest before returning his visage to the bark brown of her pupils.

“O-Oh! Uh…right."

Shelby saw that he pieced together why this didn't belong here.

After all, she did have experience cutting up venison by her father, but, well, she hasn't done that in forever.

And it was late, too late to do anything without dying of exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

Who the hell is playing with a deer corpse at night?

However, what happened next shocked her down to the very core, like a mighty earthquake caused by an angry earth dragon of the green scales.

The deer…

T-The…d-deer…

It was…magic…

The beast slowly vanished, like how a sponge cleans grime away from a used plate, the body appearing like it was being yanked away by a rope or a cane.

R-Right in the direction of her garage.

W-Wha…

Whaaaaaaat, whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhat…

What…

God have mercy on her.

Her eyes expanded like a camera and threatened to burst out of her skull.

W-What…

God.

Speechless, that was what she was.

Speechless.

Impossible.

Inconceivable.

Ridiculously improbable.

H-How…

…

…

…

Maybe she has lost her marbles after all…

She had to restrain a gasp to avoid giving the person across from her the impression that she was scared, because, well, she wasn't, just caught off guard.

As Sybus made the catch translucent and intangible, he whisked it away to where he thought Shelby wanted it, facing it as he did, he then returned his glance back to the human's.

Even though she didn't say it, he could feel that she was…shocked to say the least.

And yet, she kept to herself, her heartrate going through the roof and her pupils ending up like coins.

Large and round.

Was she…astonished by him?

Hmmmmm…

Sybus didn't know what to think.

And yet, he looked to the ground and gained a face denoting apology.

He felt that his pride was dwindling.

He first scared her with the mere idea of the animal being dropped onto her cold floor, and now she wanted to deal with it later somewhere else.

All in all, he felt like his attempt at goodwill from rescuing him from starvation was a bit of a failure.

He was a mess.

Bahamut, why did you choose this to happen to me? For me to be a mess of a dragon?

He didn't get it.

He didn't even understand himself all that well.

“I-I'm sorry Shelby, I-I…"

“No, no. You don't have to be sorry for anything. It's okay. Really, it is."

He perked up.

She was…fine…with all of this?

With him? Him and his fruitless attempts to repay her?

He returned his posture of gazing at her at his full height while on his rump, gaining a bit of…relief of sorts.

...

Poor Sybus…

He probably felt all nasty inside from all of this.

God.

Not even a man was like this to her.

This just went and showed that Sybus truly cared, concerned over every little mistake that could possibly offend her.

But she was humble and understanding, open-minded.

Yes, she didn't know what to feel about the dragons inserting themselves in human society, but she still viewed them as people, always striving to do better, make a living, laugh and cry, start up a family, leave a legacy behind.

Despite the fact that Sybus appeared to have nothing to his name, he had the utmost kindness, becoming a better person than even some humans she knew, and this was all despite the two meeting only once before!

Truly amazing that this happened in this time and space.

However, then there was a bit of silence roaming about the room.

Nobody knew what to say, and for good reason.

Sybus was too much of a nervous wreck to do anything, and Shelby just simply didn't know what to do.

Lord.

Now what?

What could…

Wait.

Her eyes moved over to her left…

The tub of…

Wait, wait, wait…

She had her brain lay an egg and hatch an idea.

Could…

C-Could she…?

Yes! Of course!

It was a win-win situation!

An exchange, a trade…

Her curiosities sated, and Sybus will have his courage back, making him feel comfortable!

Perfect!

Her eyes resumed their contact into his of the brightest of blue, even though he was looking way like a school child that was rather meek around others.

However, her vocal cords got him to dive into those hazel eyes of hers again.

“How about this…"

She started.

“How about you show me all that you can do, and I'll let you have some ice cream with me.", she finished, placing her left palm on her chest over her breasts.

Sybus's eyes widened.

W-What?

S-She…

S-She wanted to know more…about him? More about what he could do?

W-Was it…

W-Was it because she was…fascinated by him?

Hmmmm…

It only made sense. Afterall, no ghost dragon in memory has ever reached out to humans before since, well, you know…

And, in a way, she was right.

Sure, this whole situation was kind of a fumble on his part, but with this, he could finally give back to his savior all those Moons ago, and…

I-I…?

I…I…I…sc…sc…

W-What…?

“I-I…scream?", he questioned.

W-What…

W-What was she talking about?

He gained an inquisitive, if somewhat lost look.

“W-What…is that?"

W-What?

What would this…I scream…do?

D-Did it make you yell?

Bahamut, just…what was this?

He was more confused than newborn hatchling who just woke up in the world of the living.

...

W-What?

Sybus didn't even…?

No, he has to be joking right?

Everybody and their mother has heard of ice cream!

B-But…

No, it had some sense to it. He never had contact outside of the dragon except for, well, her.

Of course he wouldn't know.

And yet, she couldn't help herself.

Help herself talking about this amazing invention by Mankind.

“W-What? You don't know what ice cream is?", she said with a slight smile, as if believing that the drake was pulling a gag on her.

Sybus just arched his right brow.

He was still out of the loop.

And yet, he still listened to the human's standing morphing into a bit of a spinning jig, her hands going to her chest as she faced the ceiling.

Was she…playing?

“Oh. It's only best, sweetest, most scrumptious treat Humanity has ever created!"

W-What?

A…treat?

Like…Like…

L-Like…berries?

Such a thing was hard to come by, especially when adding competition into the equation.

But…was this…sweeter?

No, it was impossible!

…R-Right?

Okay, now Shelby got his interest. His eyes widened a bit, but with a bit of skepticism.

However, the offer stood, the woman returning her usual position standing straight with a bit of a grin after wiping her dirty blonde hair a bit from a twist on the tiles.

“A…t-treat?"

He asked, curious like a toddler with a new plaything.

However, there was the inescapable fact that she was once again giving him something. Yes, it was for something else in return, and his dignity would be returned, but it didn't change the idea of removing something from her possession once again.

Oh Bahamut. What fate you have thrusted upon me…

He gained an…apprehensive look upon himself again as he turned away in regret that he was in this position once again.

“N-No, I couldn't…I…"

“No, it's okay."

He returned drowning the chocolate of her eyes…

“I…"

Shelby stopped.

Was…

W-Was she really about to ask him to do this?

It probably seemed like insanity at first, but…

She couldn't put her finger on it, but she felt…

Interested? In him?

As a species? As a person?

Hmmm…

Maybe it was both.

Afterall, she wanted something different from her mundane life in which nothing was worse than death and taxes…

No, the truth was the truth, and she couldn't deny it.

She couldn't help feeling…like a child again, or, well, the curiosity part anyways…

“I-I want to know more about you Sybus."

Even saying it made the thought feel…alien.

She was a grown woman, stuck in reality where she gets up, goes to work, comes home, goes to sleep, and do the same thing again.

Such feelings of inquisitiveness felt a bit out of place for a person like her.

But…

Perhaps the Lord Above was tugging a thread of fate to make her feel like a girl again, question everything simply because she could, and develop herself as a person.

Maybe that was why she said that. She wanted an escape from the coldness of the world to just be in the presence of not an object of fascination, but another fellow person who may want the same thing.

Like an old childhood friend.

...

What?

S-Shelby…

S-She…

S-She wanted to know more…about him?

…

…

…

…Why?

Why feign interest in a ghost dragon?

Why wasn't she like the rest?

It was why they were all terrified of contact, because of…

B-Because…

No, Sybus, return to the present.

This was Shelby they were talking about.

An enigma that defied the seemingly standardized rules of the world, and…

And…

There…

T-There was a part of him that wanted this too.

It only made sense.

He would reveal what he could do to this human, and not only earn back his courage, but also maybe, just maybe, get a potential friend.

Friend?

Was that what Shelby was becoming?

A…friend?

Bahamut.

Perhaps so.

Such paths in the tapestry of life would've been impossible otherwise.

It was the only thing that held any validity to it.

Shelby saved him, and even though the thought of an insatiable debt was looming over his head, he couldn't help but want it.

Want someone to just…talk with.

And talk, they shall.

“Uh…"

Really?

That was how you started the conversation?

Bahamut…

“O-Okay…"

Alright, he agreed!

Phew…

Yes…

This was destiny, them meeting again.

But why?

Hmmmm…

That was something to ponder another time, because now, Shelby was going to get a showcase of a lost dragon species.

Truly a magical moment in time…

Sybus looked around for…well, something.

He needed something to demonstrate his powers, darting his eyes around for something, anything.

An object that was small, unassuming, and perfect for showcasing the might of Bahamut's grace.

In a time his head went to the left, he saw it.

It was a small and thick cylinder, open at the top with a loop attached to its side.

What…

W-What was that?

No matter, it appeared like the only thing to use.

He felt it to be relatively light, it was small, and had nothing inside of it, although he felt some residue of a fluid inside.

No, it was perfect.

The ghost drake, locking eyes with the piece of the environment, made a clack or two of his claws on the square ceramics of the floor in a few steps before returning to his seated position.

What?

Sybus was…

Oh…

Of course.

Her cup.

It must've been left out, completely slipping her mind in terms of putting it away into her dishwasher.

Yes…

This was all meant to be…

She stepped closer, eyes full of a sense of wonder, like finding butterflies for the first time.

A gift of nature…

Letting the human stand close to him, in between the spread chairs, he could place his forepaws and legs, along with his head if he wanted to, on the impossibly glossy and shaped stone that had various speckles of mineral in it.

But now, it was time to let Bahamut work his beauty with his paint, for Sybus was nothing more than a humble servant, a brush.

His orbs, like a magnifying glass, pinpointed onto the center of the cup, and, with his lifted paws as if he was performing a trick, clamped around the burned and manufactured vessel for liquids, removing it from the counter's surface.

He then spoke.

“R-Right. Ghost dragons…well, we can do a lot of things."

Shelby paid attention like she was in school again.

“One of things we can do is, well, float ourselves and things around. Like this."

Once he stated this, released the mug, but instead of it falling and likely crashing into several pieces and dust, it didn't.

Instead, it levitated, like a string was taped to it and was lifted into hidden rafters.

It was pure magic.

While Shelby had seen it before, it still didn't cease to amaze her.

Even when he floated it above his head, paw in the air as he stared at it, it was still a feat of nature.

She gazed on at the gravity-defying power Sybus had.

“I-It's not as good as a psychic dragon, b-but we can still do it.", he stated.

Oh?

Hmmmm…

It made sense. The purple dragons could move matter with their minds, but they didn't specialize in certain types of elements like others did, and they had an astonishingly difficult time moving fluids.

The cup was then guided to his paw facing the ceiling, the cold and smooth surface being felt by the soft pads of the foot.

Sybus then sought to manipulate this object with his paw in a different fashion. With his bright sapphire spheres, he rolled the joint of his paw in order to hook two clawed toes into the loop of the drinking container and gripped on the best he could without thumbs.

“Another thing we can do…"

He began, but didn't finish as he started using another one of his Bahamut-given gifts to demonstrate for the woman.

However, Shelby once again witnessed an additional strength of the drake's species.

The cup, once an obvious and clearly visible egg white, had something happen to it.

It was once an item of matter, visible to all eyes.

But now…

Now…

It wasn't.

Like a towel cleaning grime on the countertop, it slowly but surely vanished. It faded into nothingness, as if there was nothing there.

“…is turn and make things we touch become invisible, l-like this."

Oh…

Oh my Lord…

He…

H-He…

H-He can make things invisible but just…touching it!

I-It was all it took!

Astonishment was the only description.

Astonished at how such a miracle could happen and forever be obscured by the dragon race!

Sure, a psychic dragon could fool people into not recognizing their presence, but it took a great deal of effort to do so, and for the bright yellow light dragons, they could reflect light to give the illusion of transparency, but with a bunch of lights on them, and with a very keen eye, their façade could easily be distinguished from the environment, as it simply looked like they had a coat of gloss that looked exactly like what was behind them based on perspective.

But…this?

This was true invisibility, one that could fool even the greatest of physicists.

Such a seemingly impossible and crazy thing a person could do…

The best Shelby could do was hold her left hand over her mouth before sliding it down, eyes as huge as a kickball.

Again, it was like a magician was putting up an act, but this wasn't a falsehood, this was reality.

The ghost drake then slowly made it reappear, like water was pouring over it, as it eventually became visible as an object in time and space once more.

The bone-white dragon grasped onto it tightly, as he needed to hold it in a specific way given his lack of thumbs and prevent it from falling.

“A third thing that we can do…"

Sybus started treading, but not going at full speed, not yet.

He inverted his paw so that it was facing downwards with the cup clinging onto the soft flesh of the underfoot.

Then, another insane accomplishment meant to only be doable by immortals occurred.

Once again, it was as if a screen was being painted on the looped pottery, but it didn't poof itself out of existence, but instead became slightly translucent, the colors of it still able to be made out, but it had a spirited hue about it, the sights behind it visible.

It even extended to his paw and a little up his foreleg.

“…is make ourselves and anything we touch to go through…things."

The dragon then lowered it, and…

And…

A-And…

Oh…

O-Oh…

O-Oh…G-God…

S-Sybus, t-the dragon…h-he…

T-The…

T-The cup and his lower leg…

T-They…

T-They…went through her countertop.

No sound came out as the cup and his paw came out through to the underside of the speckled granite. It was as if a portal had been made that caused them to pop out to the other side.

What, whatwhatwhat…

He…

H-He then…retrieved them!

He retracted his leg, and then…

H-He slowly…h-he went right through it again!

It was like he was a boy dipping a cookie into some milk, but nervous as to not do it fast as to spill it around or break the cookie itself too quickly.

Shelby…

S-She…

S-She was…

Flabbergasted.

Shocked.

Lost for words.

How…

H-How was this possible?

No dragon could ever do that!

Even shadow dragons had limits as to where they could shadow walk! They needed darkness everywhere!

But ghost dragons?

No, no, no…

They seemed like masters of the hidden, able to phase through the solid world like thin air!

And floating?

The sky was the limit! And they could move things with their powers!

It was like…

I-It was like…

A ghost.

But not just any ghost.

One that was…shrunken down into himself, afraid of the world.

God, poor Sybus.

They would be embraced in the world!

But…

But…

Her train of a thought bubble screeched to a halt as Sybus flipped his paw towards the attic of her house and the ceramic made itself a part of the present again, regaining its solid appearance and likely returning to the realm of the living.

Wait.

Wait, waitwaitwait…

Sybus could move himself and objects touched through concrete matter, that was very much, but…

What if…

W-What if…

Hmmmm…

A curiosity was what she had, and she doubted it would be satiated until she asked him about.

And, well, she did.

“W-Wait."

Sybus, almost lost in the manipulation of the world around him, returned facing his snout at the human, eyes piercing behind her eye sockets like lasers, his face perked up.

W-Wait?

She was…about to ask something?

“W-What if…you make yourself solid when you're already in something?"

What?

What…

Oh.

Oh...

Oh Bahamut.

Right.

That.

He unhooked his claws from the cup carefully as to not scratch it, Bahamut knows it's bad to ruin the belongings of the one who gave him hospitality, and calmly turned his paw around its joint and released it on its side on the stone, it rolling a bit to find some semblance of balance.

He spoke.

“Oh, that? Well…" Sybus started, gazing off into space to the right as he lifted his right paw and slid it along his neck scales the shade of a sheet in trying to come up with an explanation.

Ah, yes…that.

It was something that all dragons, including himself, are told about at a very young age.

In fact, it was one of the most important things they were taught, even taking precedence over mating, a subject all drakes and dragonesses were lectured about at old adolescence.

After a slide of his paw towards the back of his throat, he returned it to the tiles below, his maw slightly down at an angle to the left.

“I-It's something all hatchlings have to be taught at a young age and must be perfected. That's because if we become physical in something…we get…stuck."

Hmmmm…

Yes, it made sense.

If a shadow dragon melted into a shade or shadows of a structure or person, those less experienced would get partially trapped into the floor until either they or another got them out. It would not only be embarrassing, but also…uncomfortable, having a part of your body inside the ground.

Rough…

But then came another question.

Shadow dragons could shadow walk with their own being, that was very much certain.

However, another thing to note was that they could not only submerge themselves in darkness, but also anyone else they held.

Shelby couldn't even imagine letting somebody go inside of the earth, concrete, metal, or whatever, whether on purpose or by accident, but they could do it.

Could…

Could ghost dragons…?

She sought to know the truth.

“U-Um…Sybus?"

She asked his name.

As a response, he curled his eyeballs in their sockets to face her, those icy bolts of pupils drawing a connection with her hazel ones.

“C-Can you…h-have you ever tried having…a-a person go through something?"

His eyes widened.

W-What?

A…

A-A…

A-A…living person!?

While Sybus was about to shut down the idea, he then began to contemplate its significance within the realm of possibility.

Hmmmm…

Surely it couldn't be done...right?

No, no, no, think about it.

That was the very way he dragged a deer in this cave of Shelby's. Sure, it was dead, but, well, this was something he never considered before.

He could make himself intangible, and he could do it to objects held, so…

S-So why not a person?

Hmmmmm…

There wasn't anything against the idea, i-it was just…

…

…

…

Oh.

Oh.

Oh Bahamut.

He let the flame burn more and more on the oil that was his thoughts.

No.

No, nonononono.

He…

H-He…

No, he couldn't.

He couldn't do that on another being.

W-What…

No! He couldn't imagine messing that up and possibly leaving them uncomfortable going through matter that was once solid.

He surmised it would've felt so, so alien, so wrong.

He couldn't and wouldn't dare do that on a living dragon in his life! He just kept up drawing doubts and fears, of what they would think.

T-They would be terrified of him!

T-They would kill him! H-He…

He…

He…

No, stop it.

You can't be curious about this!

Well…

…

…

…

No, Sybus couldn't stop thinking about it.

He's already mastered his abilities before, so…

Why hasn't he come up with this yet?

How has no other discovered this prospect?

Well…

I-It didn't help that…

T-That…

No, stop thinking about it Sybus, Bahamut knows it wasn't your fault.

B-But still, this was like his parents teaching him something new about himself, about his gifts.

It…intrigued him.

And yet, it left him scribbling up nothing in terms of an actual answer.

His scaled and pointed fact darted to the left before going back to that awkward angle again.

“Oh! Uh, well, I-I…I-I don't know, I mean…"

Shelby saw him stutter.

She noticed his change in posture right away.

When he went on to give her a lesson about himself, she didn't have a direct definition of it, but he had a sense of…confidence.

He spoke like he was in an aura he became so comfortable with despite the situation, giving her seedlings of what could be a brave and courageous drake, but stuck underneath a skin of fear of not knowing what could happen next.

W-Why was he this way?

And now, with such point being brought forth to his face, he was that stumbling drake again, as if afraid that he would…

…Disappoint her?

God knows he's done more than enough to do the exact opposite and impress her, even if he didn't owe her anything, b-but…

Hmmmm…

Sybus…was…interesting.

That was something she struggled to call anyone in her life, minus her parents.

The ghost drake was a puzzle box, difficult to break open into the outward prize of satisfaction.

And yet, he was a good puzzle box, not like all the people that were simple to figure out.

However, the great and quite confusing idea flashed like a burning lightbulb in her mind.

W-What if…

W-What…

No, no, that's ridiculous Shelby! He wouldn't do…that!

…W-Would he?

No, this was selfish! Y-You couldn't…

W-Was…

W-Was he…fascinated by this as well?

No, this was an assumption at best!

But…

I-If he was…

...

No, Sybus, you couldn't possibly be considering this!

Think about it! You've never done this, or, well, even conceived of knowing this before!

Just because it applied to everyday items, that didn't mean you could turn yourself and another actual being into this phase!

…Right?

R-Right!?

…

…

…

He didn't know.

Perhaps that was his fear.

The fear of not knowing.

All creatures felt this way.

You didn't go into a dark cave blind and expect not to trip on a stray stone or get mauled by a bear!

But then…

Then, there was curiosity.

Curiosity, not of what wasn't, but what it could be.

Hmmmmm…

Think about it.

If this worked, you could share your powers another, your mate!

Sure, it could be a ghost dragoness, but it could also be of another dragon race!

Yes!

No, Sybus, you need courage. Bahamut is giving you an opportunity.

An opportunity to learn, not from a sage, but from yourself.

Do it for your own sake and in Bahamut's name.

With Him by your side, anything is possible.

Shelby, however, beat him to it.

How? Why?

Well, it all started with a question.

“C-Can you try it…"

T-Try it?

“…w-with me?"

What?

Try it?

What?

What.

What…

What.

What?

What!?

What!?

What!?!?

Bahamut, she…

S-She…

She…

…

…

…

…

…

She…wanted him…to try it…on…

No, no! Bahamut no!

You couldn't do that!

Not on her!

But…

B-But…

There was a small part of him.

One very tiny, seemingly insignificant part of him that thought…

I…might want to do this.

It was blasphemous.

Everything could get ruined.

What if he messed up?

What if he proved that he truly was an excuse for a dragon?

No, Sybus! Damn you! How could you even consider doing this to Shelby!?

B-But…

She asked to try this herself!

What…

What was going on!?

…

…

…

No words, no questions.

Just…acceptance.

This was meant to be.

Perhaps it was a test by Bahamut.

To expand his powers, possibly beyond his draconic brothers and sisters.

Maybe…

Maybe it was a blessing.

As such, there was only one way to go.

“R-Really? I-I don't know, I…"

Whelp.

Way to foul that up with your own self-deprecation.

...

Shelby saw this in his eyes darting around, as if some spirit had forcibly removed his courage from him.

It wasn't that he isn't willing, it was that…

He was fearful.

Fearful…of harming…

…Her?

Or, well, take a blow towards his race.

No, he couldn't be like this.

She needed to give him strength, a reassurance.

She wanted this, and was willing to take the brunt of any issues that followed.

And yet, even a slither of her mind was uneasy, her heart beating…faster, like a life-altering decision was about to be made.

Well, she also didn't want her arm to end up stuck in concrete.

Actually, now that she thought about it, this kind of sounded funny if it didn't work.

What are you worrying about? It's just your damn kitchen counter.

But then there was Sybus.

He was like the drake he was before, always on glass to not slip up and make a mistake.

No, she needed to do this.

For him.

“N-No. I…"

A pause.

But not for long.

“I-I want to try it."

Sybus's lenses expanded, arches blowing up as a result.

S-She…

…

…

…

It was settled.

It was a test, or…

O-Or was it for something else?

No, he now realized.

He needed to do this for Shelby.

For Bahamut.

For himself.

He let out a sigh. It had the aura of nervousness and belief that he had to accept all repercussions from it.

“O-Okay…", he said softly, slowly shaking his head with a bit of worriedness about him as he twisted his body and rump in the flooring to the left once again, facing the shining rock of human manufacture.

Okay, well…

Shelby took a couple steps closer, going in front of his left wing and…

And…

By his side.

This was the closest they've ever been, and yet…

They were like children, fixated on a butterfly, or a lightning bug outside.

They didn't care, even if Sybus gave off a bit of coolness emanating from his frozen pale leather plates.

The drake curled his neck around to her.

He saw those eyes of the sweetest of chocolates, even if he never knew what it was yet in this life, and yet…

Yes…

He wanted this.

And Shelby…

She was afraid, but didn't care.

She was special.

Sybus was special.

It was…

…

…

…

Connection?

Hmmmm…

Perhaps…

“Give me your hand."

Her eyes fell from his and whisked themselves to his left paw, hanging in the air above the granite to hold the overhand belonging to her.

She silently gulped.

She was glued to her right hand as she straightly maneuvered it over his much bigger three-toed paw.

It was just under it.

She lifted it, and…

…

…

…

Contact.

She felt the softness and coziness of those worn pads of flesh on the underside of the paw.

She…

She…

She…

S-She didn't know, she…

What…

She felt his toes keep the claws out of the way as he gripped them the best he could around it.

Then came his gift.

The ethereal hue engulfed his paw and lower leg, and…

It was a flood.

It washed over his leg and…

I-It began spreading to her hand, and…

And…

She…

She had to suppress a wince.

What she was instead was shocked.

She felt her hand and upper arm gain the ghostly aura as it became semi-clear with Sybus, but it became cold, quite cold in fact, like he was dipping into a freezing pond.

Then…

They took the plunge.

The drake guided their extensions, angling them straight down into the island.

They held their breath.

T-They were about to…

T-To…

Then…

God.

Bahamut.

It happened.

It…

They…

The hand and paw…

It…

It…

I-It…

I-It…fell through!

Shelby gasped.

Her hand and arm…

I-It…

I-It went through the granite!

Solid matter!

Rock!

G-God!

She felt the counter itself, but it was like she was feeding her limb into a hole, but…b-but the hole wasn't there!

God, it was a miracle.

Sybus was slightly agape.

He…

He…

H-He…

H-He did it…

He did it.

H-He did it!

Bahamut, he did it!

They both gained a bit of a shared smile.

T-They couldn't believe it!

It worked!

Sybus lifted both his left paw and Shelby's right hand out.

The feeling of physical matter disappeared again.

Then he lowered both into the piece of the kitchen again.

It…

I-It worked! Again!

They…

They were kids again.

Shelby let out a little giggle.

She…she couldn't believe it!

Shelby was probably the first human to phase through something with a ghost dragon!

Sybus was probably the first ghost dragon to bring a living person into intangibility!

They were just lazily lowing and raising themselves over and under the countertop, unmistakable grins on their faces.

Truly, this was a special moment in history.

Yes…it was…

How long did this happen?

Five, ten minutes?

Who cared, this was a monumental discovery!

And the elation!

Oh, it was contagious!

And yet, the time came when it was enough. Shelby's arm felt very numb, and Sybus was tired of lifting his leg up for an extended amount of time.

A laugh was let out of Shelby as she returned her hand to her side when the drake let it go, and Sybus did the same, except he placed the paw on the bottom of the kitchen instead.

Now this…

This was magic, pure, pure magic.

Amazing.

Exhilarating!

Both parties enjoyed it a great deal.

How could they not?

Shelby gained the privilege of being under a lost dragon race's power, and Sybus finally learned something new about himself.

And do you want to know the real kicker?

It couldn't have happened with anyone else.

Nobody was as brave, understanding, generous, or as open as Shelby.

Nobody was as willing, wanting, or wishing to do it for all like Sybus.

Special.

Special, they were.

After the whole ordeal, a pregnant silence permeated throughout the house, both still with goofy grins, like they finally discovered an early Christmas present.

However, the quietness was broken by Shelby.

“So, uh, can you do anything else?", she asked, using her right hand to brush some stray bits of hair out of her view.

When she stared as Sybus, he did the same with his draconic eyes.

However, he processed the question.

“Oh! Uh, right.", he spoke, looking away to the left while he took his right paw and swept it over his scales over his windpipe.

Then, when he returned it back to its place with his left one, he resumed the conversation and eye contact with the woman.

“We can…uh…read minds and sense emotions, but not nearly as good as a psychic dragon would."

Right.

They can…

Wait.

W-Wait…wait…

Uh…

What…?

Before she could respond, Sybus went on, like he was rambling, facing forwards as if he was in a motion.

“W-We can also…how you say…possess things."

Uh…

What…what….

“I-It lets us hide in anything, although it is only for just that. Can't even imagine doing it on somebody."

He shook his head at that last part.

And that wasn't even mentioning the fact that a ghost dragon who was most untrained would surely be stuck in an object for a long time unless the object itself was destroyed or if they had help from another one of the dragon species with ghostly white scales.

“We can also do a mixture of this type of stuff, and…"

He returned his gaze to the human, aiming to meet those eyes that he had slowly but surely became comfortable with, and…

And…

He frowned somewhat and became kind of concerned.

Why?

Shelby.

Her eyes were as wide as the planet as she was deathly silent, body frozen like a statue.

R-Read…m-minds?

Okay, that wasn't new, but a dragon who could do all these things…and that?

And…

P…P-P…

P-Possess?

L-Like…a poltergeist?

No, Shelby, slow your heart rate down.

A-And…

T-This was too much!

Or, well, it wasn't too much, but it was, uh, a lot.

No. Enough. Stop it.

This was Sybus they were talking about. Remember when he was nothing but a straining skeleton the last time you saw him, nearly starving to death?

He needed all the tools he could to survive! It only made sense.

But…

So, so many possibilities that could be opened with this type of stuff!

Her mind simply could name them all at the top of her head.

And, well, her attention was somewhere else entirely.

She became neutral once again.

She saw those orbs of his.

They were full of…

Uneasiness.

She understood.

He likely felt that he was overwhelming her with these new revelations.

“U-Uh, s-sorry, I…I probably went on a little too much, hehe…", he admitted, letting out a nervous laugh at the end of his sentence, once again swiping his right paw over his side before placing it back on the floor.

Shelby was still a little lost, but she commended Sybus for the apology.

Hell, she commended the drake for coming back at all, bringing her a deer, and demonstrating the secrets of Ghost Dragonkind.

He…

There was something…about him that…

That…

Well, apparently the idea got lost in the scuffle, as she focused on what to do next.

Right, what would they do…

What…

Oh!

Oh.

That's right.

“R-Right. T-Thanks…uh…Sybus."

W-What?

A-A thank you?

The drake was…flattered.

Most don't ever give him gratitude, especially since…

S-Since…

His mind drifted off to her, how she praised him for giving her this knowledge and helping him see a bit more into himself.

And…

There was something else…

There was…

There was just…

It was…

Neither really noticed, but…

There was but the faintest of pink on both of their cheeks, somehow not even being all that visible on Sybus's scales on the sides above his maw.

W-Wha…

W-Was there…

Uh…

…

…

…

Something…?

“Uh, right.", Shelby interrupted the moment, faces resuming their normal shade.

Sybus faced her once again.

“Uh, here, the ice cream."

Well, she was going to get a bowl, but that went up in flames.

Whatever. There wasn't anything wrong with this anyhow if Sybus was going to be the one eating some anyways.

The colorless drake was removed from all except Shelby as she walked over to her lifted rock and brought out her hands to hold and cling onto an odd…bowl. It wasn't shaped right, or, well, was shaped so well that he couldn't resemble it to anything at all.

It also appeared to have a…latch? Cover? What was the word for it?

And…why did he sense a chill from it?

Sybus liked the cold. It was the ghost dragon way.

So…why did she have something freezing out of the cold box he opened last time he was around?

And…

Wait…

She's…

He saw her as she took her dexterous thumbs from under the lid on the upper side, and, with a sound akin to a suction, began to break off this covering of…well, whatever this was.

Interest was what the drake had.

Yes…

He was interested…

And those hands…

Bahamut.

He sometimes wished he had those.

But…well, perhaps it was a way to make him value what he had more.

Then, like box of tricks awaiting a reveal, she peeled the top of the container with a pop, releasing a coated air out that eventually whisked into nothing.

Even the drake could feel the lower temperature already emanating from it.

And inside?

What appeared to be a solid white mass that looked more like snow than anything.

However, the ghost dragon was supremely confused, cocking his head slightly to the left and raising a skeptical ridge above his eye.

W-What…

W-What…was this?

It was cold, but…

But…what was cold exactly?

“W-What is it?", Sybus questioned Shelby, adventurous as to what his mysterious…uh…thing was.

The woman in the same room still faced the same way and shifted her hand to the right to the silver spoon on the counter, feeling the uncomfortably cold utensil as she tangled her fingers around it.

“This…this is ice cream.", she told the dragon, twirling the metal in her joints to hold it properly.

She then began to lower it into the batter to demonstrate what this elusive object was, but Sybus was still, well, he was still out of the loop to say the least.

“W-What? H-How…", mumbled out in confusion, interrupting the young woman.

If he was one thing, he was scratching his brain as to how this, or, well, any of this worked.

Shelby looked over her shoulder to see Sybus slightly shaking his head, unable to grasp just how this was special in any way.

However, she then proceeded to continue while also turning a bit on her heels to reveal to the blue eyes of the other how this all played out.

“I-It's easy. You take this…"

She had her spoon primed and ready, lifting it upwards to outer space to gesture it to him.

“And then…"

She then rolled her wrist to then have it plunge downwards, and…

And…

It touched the substance.

However, instead of something solid like a block of ice, it instead…

T-The shiny object…dove into it.

It was like shoveling sand on the beach, but was…

More…solid.

His eyes widened even larger than before with mouth a bit agape as she plowed some of the ice cream a bit forwards, creating a wave in a tiny sea of dessert.

Then, she lifted it up, a pile of the sweet cargo occupying the spoon.

“And that's it.", she concluded.

She then drew the sugary spoon and guided it to her mouth, opening and releasing it, but not licking it as, well, she was about to pass this on to the drake in her presence.

As always, she sensed the tastebuds on her tongue screaming in delicious pleasure. She got used to the taste, even if vanilla was, well, a bit plain, but it didn't change the fact that it was still delightful.

So many nights of just laying back on her couch, emptying a tub while watching T.V., or just needed something to destress her blood vessels, body, and mind and relax for a change…

Ice cream was always a surefire way to relieve her bones of any weight and just lie on fluff for a little while, even if it was just a temporary fantasy.

Sybus was…intrigued…

He saw her as she transferred the semi-solid coolness into her opening and let it go on her tongue before smoothing the tool away, leaving a whitish streak on the bowl-like crevice in it.

Then, she swallowed.

Sybus was now…well, wondering.

Wondering what this truly was to her, what it would be to him.

But he had to remain neutral. Afterall, just because it tasted sweet to a human, that didn't mean it was certain to feel the same to a dragon.

At the end of the day, it could be bitter on his tongue instead of anything resembling the idea of being good.

However, the ghost dragon was shaken out of his thoughts when Shelby brought the silverware forward, as if giving him a trinket some other dragons held in their caves.

“H-Here. You try it."

She said it with a bit of the cream on her lips, which she subconsciously licked into her entranceway.

W-What?

Uh…

Sybus! Quit being a coward and do it!

Who knows? Maybe it would be as great as Shelby is making it out to be?

Besides, this was something she was offering you. You can't squander this opportunity!

Yes. Right.

It was the best thing to do.

Sybus gulped.

He then gained a nervous look from his brows and face.

It was if he was walking into a black room and couldn't see.

Well, here, he was about to eat something that may be quite bad for dragons.

But he couldn't deny that he was fascinated by this, both the treat and Shelby herself.

The woman released the spoon and slowly returned her right hand to her side upon relaying the stained utensil into Sybus's mental grasp. It floated as the drake lowered it like a pully to capture the force of gravity.

He felt the shiver-inducing freezing material that was as soft as a pillow nevertheless.

Then…

Oh.

The backside contacted it, not the top.

Bah…Sybus, get in control of yourself for Bahamut's sake…

He rectified the mistake as he pushed it over like a turtle would their shell, and…

Oh.

Oh.

This…sensation…

He drove it into the ice cream and repeated Shelby's actions, lifting it up, albeit with a bit of effort. Apparently, either it was so thick, or it was shockingly heavy.

Still, he managed.

He calmly made the tide like the human did, and pulled it up with his invisible force, feeling the mass inside it.

It…looked like white mush.

Was…

W-Was this…really going to be good?

No, remain strong. You could do this.

Sybus then guided it into his jaws, lifting it open like a trap to capture a beast.

Shelby saw the knife-like protrusions that made up his teeth and…well, didn't know how to feel about it.

It was ominous seeing those so close to her, and yet, she could help but feel like she…admired them.

Well, definitely better than the excuses for incisors humans had…

However, as the drake whisked it into his opening, his maw…quivered.

I-It was right over his tongue.

T-This was…

T-This was it.

If this was poisonous to dragons, i-it might have been too late.

W-Was this…?

G-Good? B-Bad…?

The fear of not knowing gripped his heart.

N-No! Not now!

I-I…

Then, he acted on an impulse.

His mouth…shut.

The spoon handle went out the right side of his mouth.

H-He didn't know why he did it but…

But…

B-But…

…

…

…

…

…

He held still.

…

…

…

Then…

…

…

…

His eyelids went straight up.

His pupils became tiny pins, and…

…

…

…

It…

I-It…was…

…

…

…

His mind…exploded.

“Mmmmmmhmmmm…~."

He let out the groan of euphoria as he let this…this…magic grace his tongue, eyes quickly becoming half-lidded.

He felt the ice cream on his taste buds, and…and…

It…

I-It was…the sweetest thing he's ever tasted.

Sweeter than all the wild berries combined.

The texture, oh Bahamut the texture!

It was so…soft and quickly became moist and fluid-like in his draconic maw.

It was so weightless that he felt that there was little reason to put it in between his teeth.

And the temperature!

It was…p-perfect…

Ghost dragons were always attuned to the cold, always keeping to themselves in their caves when the burning Sun came around, and relieving their tenseness in the comforting frost of winter.

And so, to have such a food that complemented their body's values was but a gift from Bahamut.

Oh…

H-How had he not known about this before?

T-This was simply beautiful!

And the taste, oh Bahamut the glorious taste!

He's never had it before, but the sugary goodness overwhelmed his senses and began to enlarge his lenses.

S-So…

S-So…

“S-So…good…", Sybus let out in a whine, sad that he's never had such a miracle before, the white mush slowly melting on his tongue.

Such a thing he's denied himself.

All ghost dragons ought to know about this!

This…

It was…

Bahamut, even now it was difficult to describe.

Maybe because no words could truly give this little piece of heaven justice.

Shelby was…proud.

Proud that Sybus liked this new delicacy of the human, and, well, dragon world.

It was nice to see such a commonplace item being enjoyed for the first time by a person whose never has knowledge of such a thing.

And yet, she was also happy that he loved it, likely more than she will ever. She's had too much of it over the years that its hypnotizing effects had long but diminished, but Sybus? She had no doubt that he cherished both his and the memory of having tried it for the first time.

Beautiful.

But then, she witnessed something she would never imagine in the many years she was alive.

She saw him quickly get…

Addicted.

Sybus immediately took the spoon out of his cave of icicles with his ghostly grasp and began diving right back in, now with more strength and conviction than ever.

He wanted more, so much more…

He had to hold on to this feeling. His brain wanted to delight itself on the never-ending anomaly that was this delicious ice cream.

His mind simply neglected to care, care about anything around him, even Shelby.

He scooped up some more in a flash and brought it back up to his long and textile appendage, letting the cream fall upon his strong muscle forever stuck in his throat.

He wished he could just…let loose his tongue to eat it all in one fell swoop.

The drake felt the cool treat grace his neurons once again, filling his head with chemicals of pleasure once more.

Then he stuck the spoon again into the vat.

Threw it in his mouth.

Then back to the tub.

Then to his mouth.

It went on the on, his senses shutting down to just focus on the experience of Bahamut's paradise, as if this was created just for him, wanting to never let this go.

It even came to the point that Sybus stained his draconic lips with the substance, coating it with melty streams of white, like milk on a man's mustache.

And yet, he could care less.

Shelby didn't expect him to engorge himself on her container of the lovely vanilla confection so fast. She just didn't believe that a dragon could turn to this dessert like a drug this quickly.

However, she didn't pay attention to the rapidly diminishing amount of sweet ice cream in her tub as Sybus shoveled it into his maw like a snowplow, nor the continuing covering of his mouth with the stickiness that blended in with his scales, greedily consuming more and more of it.

No, it was the rate at which he did, and the amount…

...

She's…

S-She's never seen a dragon have this much in one sitting!

T-This…

No, this…this might…

Wait…no!

T-This might be too much!

S-She didn't want him to get sick!

And…

Oh God…

No, no! Not that!

“S-Sybus, wait! Y-You have to stop!", she pleaded with him, nearly placing her hand on his shoulder joint of his left foreleg.

Surprisingly, he responded, even with a mouthful of man-made magic.

“Hmmm? Why?"

He asked it like a boy would when full of curiosity, his words in between another catapulting of the freezing cream into his waiting jaws.

Why did Shelby want him to stop?

This was so, soooooooo good. Why end it here?

Bahamut, why didn't she join in with him?

And…why was this…overly cold feeling tickling his brain?

Hmmm…

Maybe it was a transfer of icy temperature from his tongue to his head.

Regardless, he just went in for another.

...

W-Why?

Why!?

Sybus!

Y-You couldn't!

H-He…

H-He…

“N-No! Y-You can't have too much! Y-You'll get bra-"

However, it was already too late.

Sybus stiffened like a board and his eye covers were peeled off as his orbs changed.

They went from a planet to thinned, diamond slits.

He let out an acute yelp and released some growls.

The spoon dropped, emptied, but still buried underneath all the liquid-like mess, bouncing with a clang on the counter as he suddenly gave up noticing the world around him.

Why?

Because he felt like his brain was engulfed in a frigid blizzard.

It was like a pounding in his head, but instead of heat, it was cold, just cold.

Even as a ghost dragon, a dragon race who indulges in the frost-laden temperature, internally, it became too much.

He angled his head down at an awkward angle to the right as he shut his eyes. He lifted his right paw from the kitchen ceramic and smacked his head with it, like he was trying to pat out some parasite within the fluid of his skull.

It was insufferable.

B-Bahamut…

W-Wha…

W-What…

W-What…was this?

W-Why…was this happening…to me?

No explanations, and only extreme discomfort within the confines of his head. He felt like he wanted to remove it and empty it of all the sharp pain and screw it back on after it subsided.

This was nightmarish.

N-Not even a psychic dragon would know to do this if they were angry.

How?

How could something so delicious, so good…do this to him?

Bahamut…why?

Shelby disregarded the spoon splashing a bit of ice cream on her granite.

“…B-Brain…freeze…"

Sybus was in serious pain.

She doubted that he heard her at all.

She tried to warn him, but he couldn't help it. It was like it suddenly became his lifeline to consume the lake of solidified milk, only for it to bite him in the rear.

Brain freeze, an acute feeling of uncomfortable cold in the head, the exact opposite of fever.

And of course, it was most well known to happen to those craving ice cream.

Sybus, a person who'd never had such a thing before was more susceptible than most, so it only made sense that he got subjected to this.

It was all a part of experience.

Still, she didn't want the drake to suffer from this.

She saw a bit of help in the mug, lying on its side slightly to the right of the drake.

Sure, water wasn't the best help, but it was enough to wash down the dessert and get it away from his brain.

She tip-toed in front of the white dragon and slid her right hand across the island, her hand a claw. Once she found her possession, she drooped and clung onto her cup and brought it to herself, resuming her position to Sybus's left.

She didn't even recognize that she was quite close to him as she got it…

Then she stretched her body over the edge, knowing the sink was on the other side.

She grabbed the neck of the faucet and turned it to the left where it was closest to her and lowered the manufactured container of water to be filled up once again under the spicket. With her left hand, felt for the handle to the cold water, and, upon her nerves giving her a frigid response, she turned it.

The fluid splashed into the vessel for a few seconds, and, upon gazing at its nearly full status, reversed the direction of the sink's activation mechanism, only drips leaking out.

Trying her best not to spill anything, she brought the cup to herself and the dragon, her right fingers in the loop as intended and the water bobbing and weaving around.

“H-Here!", she told Sybus, waving the drink in front of his face, a concerned look within her chocolate pupils.

The drake momentarily stopped his assault on himself as he opened his eyes.

He saw the cylinder with some clear stuff inside.

He didn't care. Anything to relive himself of this misery.

Sybus ripped it out of Shelby's grasp with his powers and before latching his paws and claws on it and bringing it to his frosty mouth.

He downed the water, taking big gulps instead of sips as he angled his muzzle upwards with the cup in the talons of his feet.

The icy bomb in his cranium slowly went away, but still persisted. Regardless, the liquid quenched what ice cream was left over after stuffing his maw with the stuff, it melting away as it went down his throat, a clear contrast to the soft lumps of sweetness that melted shockingly slowly in his cage.

He took in every last drop of what felt like sacred wine before suddenly diving his snout downwards to its previous spot while floating the cup to his left on an invisible string.

The ghost dragon was breathing heavily, slowly placing Shelby's property onto the countertop while his high and downfall subsided.

He felt his own draconic teeth coated in some remnants, his path of travels into his gullet giving a breath of snowflakes and sugar.

It was as if he was breathing out gusts of winter when it simply didn't exist.

It was about a couple minutes in which they both stood still while Sybus got his bearings, the brain freeze melting away into just a buzzing sensation, his pupils fattening from the thin slits to rounded ones upon a few good blinks.

B-Bahamut…

W-What…

W-What was…that?

What kind of horror did he unleash?

W-What?

Brain freeze?

Was…

W-Was that a thing?

D-Did Shelby…experience this too?

Was that what this was?

Ugh…

He let out a long exhale with a deep breath after a while, mind no longer in a frozen lake but now in a lukewarm pond. Who knew that too much cold could be so terrible?

Well, it wouldn't change the fact that it would be a comfort of the ghost dragons, but…he'll think about overtaking a tub of this stuff next time.

W-Wha…

Wait.

What…

Oh.

Oh. Oh no!

Bahamut no!

H-He…

H-He wolfed down her treat!

He took a tiny glace for a millisecond.

There was almost nothing!

H-How could he overindulge on such a present!?

Sybus, you monster! How…

Ugh…

His head felt like it was full of rocks, clicking and clacking against each other on a slope.

Terrible.

And, well, in a way, he was terrible too.

He let out an exhale of disappointment and tiredness, drained from the ordeal and ashamed of himself for letting his mind wonder as he devoured Shelby's ice cream.

He had to apologize. He shouldn't have let himself loose, but his mind just couldn't deny that it tasted good, like, really, really good.

Too good for him, in fact.

“I-I'm sorry Shelby. I-I must've liked it a bit too much, hehe."

The laugh was clearly fake as he resumed his nervous and sheepish self.

Shelby…

Well, she didn't know what to think.

Her ice cream was gone for one, but a one-time experience with Sybus was worth it in her book. But on the other hand, she somehow disliked Sybus's excessive feasting on her dessert and the breakdown afterwards form the brain freeze.

She…hated seeing him like that.

And yet, it was quite humorous as well.

A dragon, trying ice cream for the first time before having his first brain freeze?

Now that was kind of funny if one were to really think about it.

But, well, she was happy to see that he was in one piece.

But another sorry?

Poor Sybus.

He probably felt bad again for emptying out the tub of the store-bought confection meant for after dinner.

No, he shouldn't feel this way.

Not again.

“I-It's alright…", she said, albeit quietly, not shaken up, but on the fence as to how to feel about it all, but it was true.

She thought it was fine, at least for one time, even if her comfort food would be lost tonight.

Sybus then turned his head to fall into her hazel and woody eyes, brows in a ridge as he felt…lost.

A…lot has happened.

And yet, she had…kindness, generosity, compassion…for him, all in those eyes.

How could she?

He was a dragon, and yet, she did so anyways.

Yes…

Shelby was something different entirely.

But what exactly?

Hmmmmm…

Sybus didn't know.

But what he did know was that it was getting late.

Bahamut.

He must've spent quite a lot of Shelby's time in addition to her foodstuff.

Shelby also bored into the other's orbs that shot a piercing laser into her consciousness.

They were full of…gratitude, gentleness, and…heart…

Why?

Why did he feel this way?

…

…

…

…

…

She couldn't say.

However, her thoughts were torn down by the drake vibrating his vocal cords into audible English.

"T-Thank you...Shelby.", he said, while regaining his nervousness once again, eternally grateful for this delightful feeling once on his tongue.

Oh...

Oh Sybus...

He didn't have to say thanks...

However, the nice gratitude was then replaced with the drake beginning to...

“Uh…I-It's getting late. I-I should go."

He said it as he backed up from the flattened stone slab on the island and turned to his left, wings, tail, and all twisting with some clicks of his claws on the hardened floor, head twirled to still stay in contact with the woman.

“O-Oh! Uh…"

Shelby began awkwardly.

W-What…

W-Why did she stutter?

“R-Right."

Sybus simply nodded in response a couple of times in quick succession.

Tonight was a rough ride, but it was a fascinating one.

Shelby was fascinating, that was without a doubt.

But by now they were both tired and needed to recharge.

And so, Sybus was the one to initiate the goodbye, the farewell.

“G-Goodnight Shelby.", he said, a slight smile on his maw despite his insecurities.

And as such, Shelby could do nothing else, but say the same.

“G-Goodnight Sybus."

And, with that, Sybus bowed his head one last time before turning around, facing the wall as his body became ethereal, becoming semi-translucent as he began to phase into the structure as if it was the sky's air.

The two went their separate ways once again, and yet, they would never forget this experience.

It became a core memory for them, as it almost felt like it was the start of something new.

Sure, it may have been quite early to call the other a friend, but they felt…

Oh…

They couldn't describe it.

Why did the draw, the interest, the fascination, appear amongst the two?

Was it Sybus's unsocial, but well-meaning and caring personality?

Was it Shelby's universal kindness and willingness to make everyone happy, even at the cost of her time?

Or was it just merely curiosity?

Curiosity towards the other.

Why of course one would have the idea of interacting with a apparition, but Sybus was no ghost, he was a living and breathing dragon.

And yet, Shelby still didn't have the answers.

Why was Sybus the way he was?

Hmmmmm…

Either way, this night was unforgettable. For the two of them.

They both felt…happy, like dancing children as the Sun went away.

But why was it this way?

Was…there a reason?

But the two didn't have to wait long to find out.

They hoped that maybe, just maybe…this wouldn't be the last time they would meet.

And to be honest, they wanted to.

Why?

Well, why would one enjoy the presence of another?

And besides, tonight was quite funny.

And it was all over a tub of ice cream, even if it left a brain freeze and a bit of a mess...