Tiny Tinder (Short Story)

Tiny Tinder

There was once a little dragon. He was smaller than the rest. Everywhere he went, the other dragons would jest. They could soar high above, in the deep blue sky. He could barely get off the ground except to float with butterflies. His name was Tinder, but all called him Tiny T. A smaller dragon than this, you`d probably never see. The dragons in his neighborhood laughed at him each day, they would say to Tiny T “Can`t you see, you’re just too small to play”! Tiny T never know what to do, he couldn`t argue; so usually he`d just fly away.

In this magically world there were contests, and the King was the judge dragons needed to impress. The king of dragons, which all dragons knew, went by the name of: Drake-ko; and to the winner the king would bestow, one of his many rings which glimmered aglow. Drake-ko sat in his kingly spot watching to see, which dragon was the strongest of the lot.

The competitors who arrived each year, were the best of the best. Black, brown, yellow, red, and gray; with large-in-charge chests. Flying high, diving low, putting on quite the show, roaring aloud with a cry, and streams of fire would blow; as they traveled to and fro. Tiny T tried each year, and all the crowd would jeer; every time his tiny frame, dared to appear at each dragon game. “Go away Tiny, can`t you see! A large dragon, you`ll never be”, this is what they would say. Just like Rudolph, poor Tiny T was never allowed to play.

Tinder continued to try, hoping his massive heart the others would see. He would sigh and think “O, how I wish, someone would appreciate me”. The years flew by, and nothing changed, except Tinder`s point of view. “Why even try?” he asked himself, feeling estranged - so down and blue. He tried to push through (though the hurt would accrue). Time flew, and Tinder withdrew, finding the feeling of being outcast had only grew.

The tournament was close, and Tinder sat at home morose. He didn`t want to hear the others moan, so he thought it best to remain alone. While Tinder was feeling sad, evil was brewing up something bad.

Somewhere far away a magician, named Merlis, began to hatch a plot. In his heart was only hate, for the dragon lot. “If only this land were free, of all this mythical dragon nonsense; then the only magic anyone would see, would be what came from me. In a sense, fantasy would be my reality!” Merlis said.

Merlis had an evil plan, to enslave those of the dragon clan: He`d capture Drake-ko and after he caught the best; he`d use his magic on all the rest. A hypnotizing spell he combined, into a beautiful magic ring. He`d to offer it the dragon king to execute - this terrible thing.

Merlis arrived at the tournament, with a sister grin. The dragons were about to eat him, even though for a meal he was quite slim. Every dragon halted, lusting the gold scent (for everyone knows that on gold, dragon’s hearts are bent). “Great king Drake-ko, I present to thee, a gift I offer completely freely. I hope you will accept this ring, a present - O king, a present to you from me.” Merlis said, the smile still above his chin. The king looked at the wizard with mistrust, and then looked at the ring captivated by lust. Off the ring, the king could not look; and so the ring he greedily took.

In a blink Drake-ko became, a giant stone frame. It was too late, for Drake-ko, and the others could not negate the wizards show. The wizard threw his magic net, and captured the dragons without regret. The dragons fought to break free, but not one was an escapee. The dragon`s hearts raced, as they hung there disgraced. They could not remember the event, or what they just underwent; the rings` magical scent, caused their memory to be erased.

A butterfly brought the news to Tiny-T, about what had taken place. Despite Tinys` despair and fear, he flew into the skies, his purpose was clear: to stop the dragons’ demise. Tinder arrived at the event space, and he saw that the dragons were without hope, caught within the magical rope. Below his friend’s predicament, tinder noticed, Merlis was in his tent.

“Set us free! Please tiny! For making fun of you, we`re sorry!” they said quietly and whiny. Tiny attempted all he could, to release the net; but every attempt was no good, and Tiny filled up with regret. “This fate which you now incur, tell me something: how did this occur?” Tiny asked the lot. The dragons conferred with each other, and then all concurred; that all of them had forgot.

Tiny was frustrated and looked around, from high in the sky to the ground. Soon, he saw Drake-ko`s ring, and he was fascinated by the thing; but because he was so small, under the ring` spell, he didn`t fall. Tiny-T flew over to the petrified king, and began wondering, what would happen if he removed the ring. So with great force he made the finger and ring part, and then something brought cheer to his heart.

The king was freed from the evil spell, and with a blast of fire freed the other dragons as well. Merlis came running out of his tent, and began to lament: that the dragons escaped, in fear the magician was draped. Then angry dragons chased the magician away, and he`s never been heard from - to this very day.

Meanwhile, Drake-ko made a dragon decree: that a massive statue be made to Tiny-T; and Tiny-T spent forever, known by all Dragons as: The bravest and most clever dragon ever!

Composed By: Andrew Drucker