So first off... This part is of course not the story, it's just a side note... there was a special thing on my website stating if I got 10 followers I'd post a bonus chapter (already happened) and... if I hit 100... which just happened... SO TAKE THE CHAPTER YA THIEVES! (Seriously... thank you for the support... This was just a fun side project for myself... now I feel like I have so much more drive to write this for the people who enjoy it... Also... there's 2 more markers I had on my site, 1k followers would sport a 2 chapter bonus... and if god forbid 10k... I would promise at least 2 chapters a week on my main site... which I don't know is actually possible for me but I will try!)

And here ends the ramblings of a Meandering Otaku...

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While I was asleep, I had a dream about the past. Once upon a time, I was married to this amazing woman. Maybe it was just my own interruption, but I thought she was the greatest wife any man could wish for. The time I dreamed about, was the time we had taken a road trip. We were young newlyweds and took a week off work to see sights along the coast.

We didn't have much for money at the time, since we married shortly after High School even then, we were happy. During the course of our trip I was mainly driving, until about halfway through the trip. She wanted to take over and do the driving.

I haven’t been more afraid for my life before that, after that I never let her drive again... For obvious reasons. The walls on the freeway were so close I could touch them… I could even see the whites of the other driver's eyes. There's still that vivid memory of her running over the divider and driving on it.

That almost rhythmic shaking...? It almost feels… Real?

I slowly open my eyes and it feels like driving on a worn out road. After I sleepily open my eyes I can see bars in front of me... am I in prison or something? I had the weirdest dream... No, it wasn't a dream.

Before I could finish deluding myself that I being a dragon was a dream, I see a man with a sword attached to his belt and a kite shield next to him. He wasn't heavily armored; most of it looked like some kind of animal hide with metal covering his chest and right shoulder. I finally grasp the situation I’m in…

I was captured… In my sleep… Again… Can I just never go to sleep… Ever?

(Man A) "Hey! I think it woke up."

I'm guessing he's talking to someone else here... unless he's crazy and is trying to talk to me.

(Man B) "Just leave it, even if it tries to rampage that cage and shackles will hold. And if it does get out, we can take care of some whelp."

Well he seems confident in this cage... Should I try it? I would like to get back before Roy and Lena find out I'm missing... But where am I? Better yet... How long have I been out for, and how do I get back?

(Man A) "But... can we really beat it... It looks strong."

The other man moves into my vision and hits the first man.

(Man B) "Don't let it think it can win and we'll be fine! They can smell fear, so stop being such a wimp. It'll probably go back to sleep soon enough like the last few days."

The other man looked like he was in his 30's and wore a full breast plate, not as impressive as Harvey but he looked well defended. What he just said really bugs me... I've been asleep for a few days? And I’m pretty sure fear doesn’t have a scent...

(Wagon Driver) "Keep it quiet back there, if that thing breaks my wagon. You two are paying me for the repairs!"

Great... I'm in a cage with 2 armed guards and I can't see what the wagon driver looks like AND I've been out for a few days. Gah! I have no idea how to get back. Hell, which direction is back anyways!? This is just wonderful… Wonderful, what else can go wrong!

Another week passes in the wagon and I’m starting to think I should have just gone for it before! So what if I was a few days away? Now I’m a week and a half away! At least they feed me some of the meat they have. Not a lot, but enough that I’m not going hungry. Both men seem to be very careful when dealing with me, to the point they push my food into the cage with a stick!

It’s kind of funny watching a grown man squirm about trying to feed a caged dragon. These shackles that tie me down honestly don’t feel too heavy and I can move around perfectly fine with them. At this point I really have no choice but to go along for the ride… I would like to return to Lena and Roy but there’s too many things that can go wrong right now.

I’ve even considered changing to a human while they sleep and claiming that the dragon cast a spell on me. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if such magic is possible for one, and the next issue is the fact that it’s a known fact that Dragons can shapeshift into a the form of a human… I’m rather sure it would cause more trouble for me if I fail, and honestly I’m not sure how good my chances are.

After a couple more days the wagon stops for a while and my cage is carried off into a large room full of variety of things. From what I could see there were large mirrors, some weapons, statues and other expensive looking objects on display. They wouldn't... no they would... human's greed knows no bounds.

Once the men carried me farther in they put a sheet over my cage obscuring my view. From the looks of things, I'm going to be sold off... for what reason I have no idea. Why would you even want a live dragon for seriously? After a while I can feel my cage being lifted again and carried off. Eventually the swaying stopped and it felt like the cage was lowered.

(Woman's Voice) "And for our next item we have a Dragon's Whelp! It's still young and is extremely intelligent and would make an excellent companion or guard if trained! Let the bidding start at one hundred Cura!"

Right after the announcement I see the cloth fly off my cage and see an auditorium of at least...three hundred people? Well… at least that many. Every one of them looking like they belong in a Victorian movie set. The price for my purchase kept on rising to the point I wasn't even sure how much I was bought for since I stopped listening after a while.

What? It’s boring listening to people yell numbers, I think I stopped listening at a thousand? The sad thing is I have no idea how the currency in this world works other than the fact that it's called Cura, but it's value is uncertain. I can only guess that I sold for a lot.

(Auctioneer) "Sold to number 120! Please come down and settle the transaction!"

Well, who ever purchased me I'm sorry but as soon as I can break free I'm getting back home... Once I figure where home is that is.

(Lady) "Milady! Please stop what if it attacks!"

Huh? I suddenly hear a crash and then some rattling noise in front of me. Looking up I can see a little girl I'd say 8 or 9 with long blond hair and a frilly pink dress hanging on my cage.

(Little Girl) "You're coming home with us! I promise I'll take care of you and you'll love it with us!"

Does this girl have no sense of danger? She is almost immediately picked up and dragged away by what looks like a young maid? She honestly doesn’t look that much older probably around 14 her brown hair was braided on both sides.

(Little Girl) "My name’s Lila! And your name will be.... I know! BLACKIE!"

... Really... Do children in this world have no creativity? Not once... but twice I'm named "Blackie" can't they think of something better than basing my name off the color of my scales! After the little girl was pried from my cage, a cloth was once again placed over my cage and I was carried off. I can hear the auctioneer continue her work as I slowly am carried off to who knows where.

I’ve been in this cage for a few days now and they barely feed me, not even well at that! All I get is a small piece of meat and some water… are they trying to starve me here! I say a few days but I’m not quite sure since I can’t see much with this cloth covering my cage. I’m eventually moved again and placed in what I assume is a cart again and dragged off to I’m guessing my new home.

I wonder why they cover the cage… Are they afraid I’ll come back for them if I know where they’re at? Maybe… since it doesn’t seem like dragons are underestimated here at all, yet somehow house pet material. After my almost nausea inducing ride I can feel that I’m once again carried off and placed down.

The next thing I see is a cloth suddenly being removed and I get a face full of some kind of powder. I then awaken in what looks like a large courtyard with shackles on my feet and neck and this uncomfortable feeling around my neck.