Nebula

You know what they say, Curiosity killed the dragon. In this case however Curiosity made the dragon disappear.

Nebula loved his new home and the dragons who had welcomed him into their lair but something felt off. It was like something was missing but he couldn’t figure out what.

When he heard the stories of the librarians and the mysterious library that most dragons refused to go near he knew he just had to see it for himself. His curiosity was not satisfied with merely seeing the tiny bit of library that was above ground though, he entered.

The librarians would scoop him up and drop him at the stairs telling him to leave everytime they caught him within their walls. He would leave, for a time. His overwhelming curiosity always got the better of him though and time and time again he would find himself standing in front of the entrance.

Determined to remain this time he entered squaring his small shoulders and hardening his resolve. Nebula made it the farthest he ever had before when he stumbled upon a deep blue dragon with what looked to be glowing mushrooms growing from its back. The dragon looked at him curiously and without a sound turned away, walking deeper into the darkness beyond.

Nebula didn’t hesitate to follow this dragon. Something scratched at his brain about him. He knew this dragon, not by sight but from a story. He couldn’t remember the story no matter how hard he tried though.

The blue dragon stopped before a red one. It took a moment to recognize the red dragon as Archive, the head librarian. He nodded to the blue one who disappeared into the shadows quickly in spite of the faintly glowing mushrooms.


After what felt like forever Archive turned back to his pile of books. As I turned to leave he spoke, “Don’t wander these halls alone. Gloom won’t always be there to guide you back. Stay or go the choice is yours.”

The librarians stopped kicking me out after that. Archive was right about Gloom not always being there to help me when I got lost. Sometimes days passed before I found myself somewhere I recognized.

Dragons forgotten and turned into tales to be told to hatchlings resided within the confines of the library. They remained far within its depths, rarely venturing to the floor that held the exit.

It was within these walls that the thing I had felt was missing clicked into place. I knew I belonged in this dark place full of knowledge.

Perhaps someday I would leave the library again but not now and certainly not anytime soon.