The Dragon Ranch Chapter 4: Luck has its ways

The Dragon Ranch

Chapter 4: Luck has its ways

Day 3 out of 7 until Jonathans parents arrive.

Jonathan POV

I groggily wake up, but decide I want and need more sleep, at least that was my plan until I remembered the events from yesterday. 'Dion!' Now I was fast awake with a burning sensation of guilt in my chest.

'It was my fault he was caught and put away into custody'.

I try to push away these thoughts and it works, because I tell myself that only I can fix it now. Probably Dion's only friend.

'How should I go about freeing him, I need a plan'.

I thought about some plans but none of them, felt right. Until I remembered the fact that I left this house almost completely unexplored. 'Maybe I find a blueprint or something about that giant concrete building somewhere in the house.'

I search the house. First I look into the living room which is the first room you see when you enter the house through the front door, nothing. Then the dining room with the long table, in which I was interrogated about the "incident" with Dion, also nothing. Then the kitchen with the many cupboards and with a gas powered stove, nothing useful in here too. Next is the last room on the bottom floor: The little one square meter big storage room, just some dusty old plates and an almost completely moth eaten dragon saddle, I examine the saddle, it belongs to Ivy... 'Interesting'.

But other than that, nothing. Now the rooms upstairs, first my room with the slight possibility that I maybe have missed something. I look in all the picture frames, behind the cupboards and knock on the walls in search for something behind them. Nothing, just an ordinary guest room. Now the bathroom, I come up blank. Now my sneakiness is needed, as I make my way to all the private room on this floor.

To save some time and because it is the most probable place to find something useful, although I wanted to evade this room at all costs. I decide to first look into the office of the dragon ranchers. I come up to the door and listen for any sounds, just the water flowing behind the wall. I place my hand on the door handle and gently press it down, a satisfying click is heard. The door opens; I step in and slowly and carefully close the door again.

Now it is searching time, first I look into the drawers, "just" some files about the dragons that are held captive here. I move on to the desk. Right on the top, open for the world to see lies the so sought after blueprint, I almost scream out of joy as I quickly pick it up and study it. I silently proclaim: "this helps me a LOT’. What I saw on there was almost perfect for my plan, the ventilation shafts go to every cell and are big enough to let me crawl through them, I guess dragons need a lot of fresh air, which is understandable given their size.

Right beside were the blueprint was situated sits a key on an open letter, I take the key with me and read the letter: "Dear dragon ranch, here are the keys you requested for the steel chains you ordered last month." Just as I was about to think that my luck has turned for the better, because these keys are to be for the chain Dion is kept in place with, the door behind me makes an loud sound and I quickly dive behind the desk.

It is ivy who made me hide. If she would find out I am combing through their stuff, all hell would break lose. She loudly asks herself: "Where are those damn keys?! “ I knew which keys she meant, the keys I took from the desk. Again she asks out loud "maybe they fell behind the desk". I quietly curse, it looked so good for me and now I’m trapped between the wall and the incarnation of doom.

A loud car sound is heard and a dragon rancher screams for ivy to come. "Forget it" ivy loudly declares and quickly leaves the room. After some more time hiding to clear up the storm. I run as fast as I can down the hallways, passing by a window which sight made me quickly stop. A limousine is parking outside. I tear, my eyes from the sight: 'I need to rescue Dion, now!!’

I run outside through the back door, trying not to raise too much attention, passing by some not carrying dragons and the little girl from 2 days ago, riding on a terrified little dragon. 'So she was here to ride dragons after all. (Duh)' I remark this obvious fact as I run past her and the little dragon, possibly a baby. No dragon ranchers are watching after her, which is irresponsible. 'This newly arrived person must be very important'.

I finally come up to the vent, quickly yank off the metallic protection filter and crawl inside. The earthy smell of dragons unmistakably present in this shaft. This reminded me of the days before, when I planned my burglary.

---8 days prior of Jonathan arriving at the Dragon Ranch---

Jonathan POV

'I’m going to do it; I’m really going to do it'. Those were my thoughts as I searched the house for more utensils that could help me in my intent. The first place I looked was obviously the tool shed of my dad. I didn't find anything that could really help me, just some tools that he always uses to put his inventions together. Drill, hammer... After that disappointment, I looked into the storage room, just some old socks that I could maybe use as a disguise? I sniffed one of them and quickly threw it away; it was one of the worst things I smelled so far.

Moving away from that room, I searched every other room that had even the slightest possibility of having something that could help me. With no luck, I just found more socks and an old soccer ball. Just when I was about to give up I got a brilliant idea. When I finally got to the place which was part of my idea, it was the yard behind the jewelry store, I pretended to play soccer.

Until I "accidentally" hit a window and the alarm went off. A panicked salesman rushed to the broken window, and saw me crying. I fake cry, sobbed: "It was an accident". The salesmen instantly calmed down and tried to do the same to me. I pretended that it worked and soon after left the yard to go back home. "This is a brilliant plan".

---The present---

3rd person POV

The instant the long limousine finally is in a good spot to park; two bodyguards come out of one of the many doors and open another door. Out of which comes a skinny guy, with almost no muscles, short brown hair, and an average height. The eyes of Ivy are instantly glued to him. The brown haired guy introduces himself with the following: "I am Brandon, one of the richest people alive. Where are the dangerous Dragons? “

Everybody is stumped by his bold proclaim, until finally one of the Dragon ranch guys pulls himself together and asks Brandon to follow him. They walk to the big concrete building in which Jonathan crawls like an ant through his nest, trying to find Dion.

Jonathan POV

"That's not him either...“ "Sigh" Jonathan said this to himself when he found another dragon which definitely wasn't Dion. "I don't know how much time I have? Time for what? Before something happens? I should hurry" I tried to keep my ramblings quit as I continued on, but I just couldn't get my mouth shut...

Why even are there so many dragons in custody? After I've checked three more cells, from which two were empty and one was filled with a dragon that tried to break out of his chains as soon as he smelled me, I heard some voices which came from one of the smaller vents leading to one of the hallways. "Where is a dragon that is viscous but still follows my orders?” I heard someone new say, but it could also have been of the Dragon Ranchers that wasn't at my condemnation.

Soon after the reply from Ivy: "Most of these dragons are only here because they didn't follow orders, so I could not recommend them to you. But there are two which just yesterday fought; the first one is right around this corner and the next one on the other side of the confinement. Mr. Brandon."  Aha, a clue. The only dragons I know of that fought yesterday were Dion and that rogue dragon, dragon 37.

I already saw that rogue dragon, he is nearby, and so Dion must be the dragon that is held captive on the other side of the building. I quickly crawl to the place where I presume Dion is held captive as it is the only place I didn't yet check. As I pass by, I hear the ranchers again and this so called Brandon. He seems to be really important because it seems to me like their all clinging to him as if he is a gold maker machine. I saw the clinging through the small vent earlier. I stop and listen to them, seeing that rogue dragon through the vent, he really is going crazy at the moment and I don't know if it is because of me or if it is because of them.

I snap myself out of my trance and crawl fast than ever. To, I presume, Dion’s cell. When I finally get there my wishes are fulfilled, it really is his cell. The moment he scents me he snaps out of his pose and bends his long neck in the direction of the vent, it looks like he is smiling. But before I could yank open my colossal vent, the door opens and in comes this Brandon together with the others.

Brandon immediately proclaims: "This one looks like an nice specimen, I think this will be my final choice", Ivy follows up with: "Excellent choice my nobleness, he just yesterday attacked one of our guests together with the last dragon, then they got into a fight and this one won." Her pronunciation sounded more like it could come from medieval times; I have never heard her speak like that before. Brandon then says something I can't really believe: "Set him free! “ The luck again is on our side.

Dion POV

I am happy but also shocked. Who is this guy? Why does he do that for me? What is going on?! So many question buzzing in my brain, it’s nauseating. I try to ignore the question for now and listen to this guy speaking. "I haven't got all day, quick hurry.", then a rancher objects’ sounding the same way Ivy did. "But Mr. Brandon, he is captured for a rea...son" I presume a guard of Brandon now holding him by the throat: "Do not object me, or do you want to have an active lawsuit against this farm. They were all quit now and Ivy tried to open the looks, but then looked like she forgot something and asks one of her fellow ranchers to lend her the keys, they give them to her and she begins opening the chains holding me down. While Ivy is occupied with that another rancher asks Brandon if the door should be opened, he answers with a solid "Yes" and the door begins to open.

I am stunned by this development, never ever would I have thought they would let me leave after just one day without me or Jonathan using force. "Listen to me Drago..." Brandon is interrupted by a rancher "Sir. Dragons don't understand human language" Brandon then screams "DON'T INTERUPT ME!" Right into the ranchers face. I felt, for the first time ever, sorry for the rancher and ask myself how a random guy can have so much power over all the ranchers. I wonder myself, because I don't think he is the one who owns this place. Back to the point: "Listen to me dragon, obey me and if you don't then I make sure that you won't be alive until tomorrow morning." I swallow and hastily nod.

The dragon rancher nearby now looking at me in shock but quickly dismisses it by telling himself that it was just his imagination. Brandon doesn't seem to be shocked at all. The last of the chains falls of my back, and I experience an ever relieving lightness, even though some of them held me up, they still bore quit a lot of pressure onto my back. "Sit!" I hear Brandon say. I hastily sit down, as to not anger him.

The other ranchers now looking at him with awe. "How did you do that?" One of them asks. Brandon answers simply with: "Authority". I would rather describe it as pressure... Then the next command rolls over Brandon’s lips. "Down", I lay down. "Stand up", I rise quickly from my position to my normal height. "Go over there", he point to a spot of grass outside and I walk over there with a normally for me paced tempo.

I hastily glance over to the vent which Jonathan is hiding behind. When I get to the place Brandon commanded me to go to. The next command comes my way. "Stay", I do not move anymore. "Roll over", I do a full 360 degree roll. "Impressive" Brandon proclaims. He follows up with "When did you teach those tricks to him? “ A confused rancher stares at me and says: "We never taught him any tricks. “

Every rancher all of a sudden looks at me and Ivy asks Brandon what he wants to do with me now, he simply answers like it was nothing: „Buy him of course." Every ranchers shocked look is instantly replaced with one of greed. But Jonathan and I are both stunned. What should we do?

Now Brandon is going near me, really close to me and commands all of a sudden: "Sit down and let me ride you" I follow his order slowly and as best as I am allowed in my dumbfounded state. The moment he finds a good place to sit down on me, He commands me around; I follow every order as if I am a slave, not complaining a single bit. In reality I want to get out of this situation as fast as I can, but I do not have a single idea that could prove helpful.

Brandon finds my walking to slow and forcefully stabs me with his spiky shoes while he yells: "Faster Dragon, Faster!! “ Jonathan who has by now come out of his hiding place and is now hiding in a bush averts his eyes. I run faster, really fast so fast that Brandon tells me to stop and goes off my back with a winning smile planted on his face. Meanwhile I am left heavily panting beside him.

"I take this one and I want it to be ready for transfer by tomorrow midday." Brandon and the other ranchers leave Jonathan and me alone. I can finally go around freely again, but that doesn't help me if I am leaving with a person who doesn't have a pleasant demeanor, which is a bold understatement. Jonathan and I go back to my stable while we progressively panic and panic, more and more.

We shortly after get to my stable while we both feel miserably. I am on the verge of tears, Jonathan is depressed and we lay side by side for a while, driving ourselves nuts about how bad this situation is. Eventually Jonathan breaks the silence with the emotionless words: "Maybe it isn't going to be that bad". He knows full and well that that isn't the only problem, I finally have a friend and he has one too.

And day after day they try to forcefully tear us apart and separate us. The moment I think about that, happy Ivy notices us lying beside each other, her mood instantly changes and she storms our way. "JOANATHAN!! WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT BEING NEAR DRAGONS!?!" I had enough of it; I step up and curl protectively and possessively around Jonathan, a slight growl escaping my muzzle.

Ivy aims her dart gun lightning fast at me and is about to shoot, until she hears an loud muffled "NO!" , from under my right wing, I open it and Jonathan steps out, carefully walking over the many coils of my tail until he finally comes face to face up to Ivy and quietly but with force presses out: "Watch!". After that confrontation he walks over to me and ask me nicely to let him ride me, I happily nod, I, somehow, always wanted Jonathan to ride me, but I didn't want to force him.

Shortly after he steps onto my back and sits down while I stand up, carrying him with me without the need for commands. "Have you trained him those tricks? Yes you must be the one who did it!" Ivy now, I don't believe it, for the first time ever smiling at Jonathan, no, for the first time at anyone. Not just a fake smile, but a real genuine one. Jonathan answerers: "But Dion is intelligent, I didn't do anything", "No, you didn't, you little dragon tamer." Clearly not believing a single word.

I don't believe it?!? Ivy sounding nice? Must be fake. A little snort laugh can be heard coming from me. Soon after she leaves us alone, but still, we have no idea what to do... Jonathan tries to lighten the quickly darker getting mood by suggesting some ideas which are all impossible. I don't know why but this all makes me angry. Oh, I do know why. It is just all the hopelessness that we feel right now. A super rich, powerful brown haired guy wants to buy me, we only have each other regarding to friends, I am still somewhat wounded because some of my wounds I got from the rogue dragon infected themselves, and now I am almost crying.

I'm really getting angry now, a hot feeling in my chest getting overly present and I get the need to release my breath. I quickly realize what is going on and turn my head out of the open door in the last second before I release my flaming inferno. An enormous flame erupting from my mouth, encasing all the grass and leaving it scorched.

I am surprised... So I am a fire dragon, this new realization not lightening the mood, but distracting ourselves from the problems at hand. As my head is outside I look over to the big ranch building and get an idea. I turn my head inside again to see an unmoving, stunned Jonathan, looking at the burnt grass turf, and then at me. I grin a little and begin writing out my idea. 'In house, computer, internet, info, Brandon'. He looks at my text and quickly approves of it, still somewhat stiff.

Jonathan POV

Dion had a really good idea, but I can't get over the fact he can spew fire and if I should be happy about it or fear it.
At the moment he is sprinting towards the house, with me on his back. We don't see any dragon ranchers; maybe they have a meeting with this Brandon? It would be fortunate for us as they would not get in our way, but our luck has been pretty picky lately.

After 1 minute we arrive at the house, I hop of off Dion's back and quickly run into the house. Inside I see that they are all meeting at the dining table, I sneakily run past them and rush up the stairs. 'The only Pc I know of is in the office, my parents sadly took my handy away after my burglary. I sure hope none of the ranchers find out about my act...'

During this train of thought I checked if anyone was in the office and after confirming my suspicion that it was empty. I hurriedly turn on the Pc and see that it needs a password 'I've only got a few tries'. I try to think of one after I searched the desk for any clue. Password? Nope. Password123? Neither... Dragon Ranch? It worked... Best, password ever...

I comb through the files first to search for some sort of policy that can make the ranch keep Dion. Back at home I was almost the whole day on the Pc, so I've really got some experience. After getting nothing good out of my first strategy I open, safari (they still use safari ugh...) and google "Brandon millionaire" the results I get bewilder me: "animal cruelty", "drug abuse"... The list goes on and on. This guy wasn't a nice guy, he was almost a criminal.

I searched through his Wikipedia entry and saw that he was orphaned at five years of age. That he was mistreated at every orphanage he went to, that he even was kidnapped once. This guy sure had a hard childhood. I search some more through his record, it only goes gets more miserable and after fourteen years of age he is the one treating others miserable... This sure helps out a lot, but I wonder what Dion was doing the whole time.

Dion POV starting from the moment Jonathan went in.

As I watch him going in, I silently hope that he wouldn't be caught. After I hear his footsteps disappearing I concentrate on something other, on a conversation which is going on between the ranchers and... Brandon? So that’s were he’s been the whole time. I eavesdrop on the conversation a bit and catch up some interesting fragments after I heard Brandon leaving the room for a short while: "You like him? Don't ya Ivy?", "no I don't!!" Ivy quickly replies, a little too hastily for my liking.  

Now another female voice tunes in:  "you’re flushing red, you really like him." Some quit snickering can be heard and soon after I hear a stool being scraped over the wooden flooring. Soon after Ivy exits the house, she really was blushing red in her face. I swiftly pull my head back behind the house just as she was about to look in my direction. I hear her walking closer and then she sees me. "What are you doing here Dragon 7?"

She seems more relaxed and happy than ever, she really is in love with that Brandon or maybe she is just really drunk. She comes up to me and lays a hand on my snout, I wait for a punch and close my eyes, but the pain does not come. Instead she... PETTED ME?!? What is going on, I thought she was the meanest dragon rancher, but now...what… I… don't...know???

SHE is the first dragon rancher to ever pet me? Is she taking drugs or something? Is this a dream? I back off. Ivy looks confused. Then she looks like she is going to cry... "NO ONE LIKES ME!!" She starts to break out in tears and I am confused... I don't believe that I am going to do that. I... try to... comfort her... There, I said it, you're happy now?

I lay my tail on her shoulder and make a low happily grumble sound. She looks me in the eyes and then we both hear someone approaching. She quickly wipes away the tears and firmly plants her feet on the ground, now walking back inside. The moment I lose sight of her, I feel a poke on my tail, it is Jonathan. I let him climb on and I sprint back to my stable. I hope he has gotten as useful information as I did.