Clockwork Dragon

There weren't always dragons in the Valley.

It was the strangest utterance Velika ever heard from her grandfather. Considering dragons were things of myths and in moving pictures.

“What was that grandpa?” She looked over to the older man, who was settled at his work table in the cottage the two lived in. The elderly man was hunched over, wearing a pair of spectacles over his eyes that had varying magnification lenses for the different tasks he worked on. Her grandfather was a toy maker, and repaired just about anything that had gears inside them.

He had started teaching Velika a few years ago when he had an accident delivering a clock to one of the town’s most revered members of society. And found that his nine year old granddaughter was gifted.

Now at thirteen, she had her own work area, her own tools and kits and she helped where her elder needed it.

“Yes yes, there weren’t always dragons in the valley my dear girl.” He repeated with a smile, lifting his head to glance her way, his eyes rather large due to the lenses. Which caused the girl to giggle.

“We have been to the valley many times and I haven’t seen a single dragon.” She scoffed at him, shaking her head as she glanced back to the mechanical toy horse she was making.

“My girl, we live in a wondrous time, we have airships, and cars that move on steam and gears. The people of our country have turned their backs on the valley that lent to such creations.”

Velika paused as she slipped a gear into place, watching as the rotations started working and the horse pawing the ground made a faint neighing sound. She grinned as she wiggled a bit in her seat and she looked back to her grandfather.

“It is a new age but I’ve not heard of real fire breathing dragons. Don’t say such nonsense Grandpa.”

The older man sighed as he shook his head. "I will take you to the valley tomorrow and you will see. They are beautiful to behold. They are as small as your horse there and as large as the Queen's palace!"

"Grandpa! Now I know you are teasing me! There would be news of such a monster"

She gave a shake of him, but there was a spark in her eyes that was a sign she was at least curious about the valley. Her grandfather knew that look and a smile formed over his thin lips. As long as he had her thinking about them, it wouldn’t be long before she was starting with her questions.

“I think this is enough for today my darling” he said as he removed the viewer from his head and rose up stiffly from his work bench. Velika came to her feet, hurrying over to him to help him stand.

“Let me help you to bed” she smiled softly as she walked with him to the backrooms of the cottage. His bedroom walls were covered with family pictures and awards he had earned through his long life. He was still asked for by the elite in the city.

His granddaughter was proud of him, in how he never allowed fame to change him and he donated the majority of his earnings to those who struggled in the village. He was everyone’s beloved grandpa.

Velika’s eyes lingered on the photo of her parents and she felt a tinge of longing. Her mother didn’t want a child but her father had insisted, wanting to be complete in a sweet loving family.

It didn’t work out that way though. Her mother wasn’t loving with her and often lost her temper over the smallest of things with her. Her father tried to give her everything and her mother became jealous of the love shared.

She threatened to leave him if they didn’t leave the girl with his father. So Velika was dropped off with her elderly grandfather and hadn’t seen her parents since. Her grandfather had been furious with his son and daughter in law but seeing he was needed by the sweet girl, he vowed she would never be without anything.

The pair were close and Velika was kind and loving as her elder and as she looked at the pictures, she gave a smile, knowing deep inside, she had everything she could ever need and want right here.

She helped her grandfather into bed, covering him with his quilted blankets. “Goodnight grandpa, sweet dreams” she said softly and he smiled.

“You are a wonderful granddaughter and I would not trade anything in the world for you. I am proud of the young woman you have become.” He murmured, patting her hand before his eyes closed, drifting to sleep soon after.

Velika left him quietly, closing his bedroom door and she returned to her work station. She set the toy horse into a small box for delivery tomorrow and gave a look towards her grandfather’s table. He had a few things laid about, aside from the clock he was repairing.

Wandering over, she saw that he had the makings for an air bike’s engine started,, she was sure the body was outside under the awning where they kept the bigger projects. She settled down and got to work on the engine to help him along. She had noticed that his fingers were getting too stiff as the evenings grew colder.

Looking over the engine, it seemed that the starter coil was needing to be replaced and so she went over to their storage room, which was a large walk-in pantry and she riffled through several boxes before finding the coil she needed.

Leaving the pantry, she settled down and got to work replacing the coil, humming softly to herself as she did.

Time was slipping away and before she knew it, it was nearly dawn! She had completed the engine and the other works her grandfather had to complete.

She rubbed at her eyes, yawning as she pulled herself away towards her room, collapsing onto her bed, asleep before her head even landed on the pillow.

Dreams came to her, of her running through the lush grass of the valley, laughing as she was playing tag with someone. Though as she looked to either side of her, what she saw left her speechless. Small dragons flitted about her ranging from all colors of the rainbow!

She searched for her grandfather, finding him seated on a boulder, sipping from a cup containing his favored tea. Wrapped around him was a large blue dragon, the two seemed very much like old friends.

As she made eye contact with the dragon, she woke with a start, sitting bolt upright, looking around her room. She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath before she left her bed and her room.

“Grandpa?” She called, peeking to the room beside her, finding the bed neatly made. “Hm” she said to herself as she came out to the main room of the cottage. There was a note waiting for her on the table where they shared their meals.

“Velika,

I have gone into the village with our deliveries, I should be home in a few hours. Why don’t you see to putting the completed engine into the aircraft around back? We can give it a test run when I return. There is also breakfast warming for you on the stove.

Love Grandpa”

She was sure he didn’t try to wake her and she was touched he left her to sleep.

She would eat her breakfast, clean the dishes and go to shower before dressing in fresh clothing. She felt re-energized and would take the engine and her tools, heading outside. A deep breath taken of the crips early afternoon air She looked up into the sky, seeing clouds forming, it looked like a storm may hit them in an hour or two. Hopefully her grandpa was home by then.

She gave a shrug of her shoulders and headed around to the right side of the cottage where the awning had been constructed to shelter their larger builds.

There was the makings for a one man submarine in the form of a fish that her grandfather had been building for the last few months, she wasn’t too sure if it was ever going to be completed though. The customer wanting it hadn’t replied to the last update letter.

Moving further inside, past a Strider that was missing one of its legs and head, she glanced at it a moment before shaking her head. She would ask her grandpa about that one. She didn’t remember anyone requesting the robotic horse.

“Aha, there you are!” she said with triumph as she came to spy the two seater aircraft. In coming closer, she noticed the strange front end that had been made for it. The section where the engine was to sit in, was long like a neck and at the end, it was a dragon head. She gave a shake of her head a moment as she set to work, pulling away the siding in the neck and got the engine to sit in the mount. She connected the wiring, double checked her work once she was finished and stood. She walked over to the controls and settled into the first seat. She pressed in the command sequence and pulled the small lever on the dash. The lights on the dash panel lit up, the fuel gauge moved to show there was more than a half tank, plenty to get them back to the owner of the flier.

She kept the power going and she would see the wings unfurl to either side of her, a wood frame with canvas for the wings, she inspected them, making sure there were no tears in them. The engine sputtered and a puff of black smoke came from the rear and she frowned and glared at the flier to not die.

To her delight, it continued to run, working through the warm up and with herself being pleased, she turned the flier off, watching the wings fold back against the sides and she pulled down the side to cover the engine.

"Grandpa will be so happy" She said aloud, spinning around on her heel to walk back inside.

"VELIKA!"

A voice shouted out from the walk up and it was a voice of one of her friends. "Hello Thomas" She called back, lifting a hand in greeting once she saw him come into view.

Thomas was her age, tall with sandy black hair and striking green eyes. He was the son of the baker and his form was showing in the work he did for the shop, lifting the heavy sacks of flour and the like.

The look on his face though as he looked at her, caused her to pale.

"You have to come. Now. There's been an accident."

"What? What happened?" She squeaked out as her hand was grabbed up and she was pulled towards the main road.

"Your grandfather was hurt in the bakery. He's at the clinic now" He was holding back tears as he pulled her with him.

"Wait" She was in shock, but looked over her shoulder, pulling back and taking Thomas to the flier. "This will be faster" She told him as she settled in the first seat, pulling Thomas into the second seat. "Buckle up" she told him.

Velika breathed deep to focus before she turned the craft on, the wings unfurling and she pressed on one of the peddles, lifting them up a foot or two into the air.

She guided the flier from the storage area, turning them to the right and out into the air. Her friend gasped, holding onto the sides of the cockpit they were in.

"Have you ever flown before?!"

"Yes, plenty of times." She said to him as they gained altitude and angled them towards the village and giving a little bit of power, the wings flapped twice before they straightened and they were speeding through the air.

Thomas squeezed his eyes closed for several minutes, or it felt like it was minutes. He didn't even know they had touched down in the square in front of the clinic until Velika nudged him.

"I don't want to do that again" He whispered to her, his eyes wide as they arrived in one piece.

"It wasn't that bad Thomas." she rolled her eyes as she started for the small building, where there were a few gathered outside. When they saw Velika, the looks of sympathy wasn't held back. For the looks, she felt tears welling in her eyes before she was moving to the door, everyone moved aside for her.

She hurried into the small two story building, the scent of herbs, ammonia and camphor. There was a small desk at the left of the entry way that had a ledger open with a few names scribbled in, along with the reasons for coming to the infirmary. No one was seated there in the current moment, Mrs. Lanster would be in the back with her husband when patients were brought in. She made her way towards the curtained portion and took in a deep breath before clearing her throat and stepping through.

She didn't know what to expect, her mind had been running wild with the sort of injuries her grandfather could have suffered.

Sitting up in the bed, her grandfather was nursing his arm in a sling and a bandage around his head. Velika sighed in relief as she came closer.

"Grandpa, are you alright? Thomas came running to say you were in an accident" She sat down on the edge of the bed and her elder smiled tenderly.

"Right as rain my darling. Though Bruce said I had to take a holiday. Can you imagine? I've never had to take one before. There's too much work to be done."

"No Jacob." Came a voice from a side room. A middle aged man came forward, dressed in a faded blue button up sleeved shirt, dark trousers and expensive looking shoes. Doctor Bruce Lanster had come to them from the city where he had been the personal doctor to a rich family. Though when his wife had suffered an illness, the countryside was the best course of medicine for her.

That was five years ago and he was one of the most beloved people in the village. As was his wife.

"You need to rest, you aren't young anymore. Velika can take care of work for you I am sure." He said kindly to her, smiling.

"Yes, exactly. I've been telling him the same. His fingers had been getting stiff for some time." She voiced, looking back to her grandfather.

"Oh the betrayal!" The old man gasped at the two of them, trying to be as dramatic as possible before there was a light grin playing at the corners of his mouth.

The pair chuckled at him and the doctor offered a vial to Velika. "This is medicine for any pain. He took a nasty hit to his temple, though it hasn't interfered with his reasoning. His shoulder was also dislocated and the wrist is fractured. The sling will help ease the pain for him until I see him next week."

The young woman nodded as she listened to the doctor, taking the medicine. "Thank you Doctor Lanster. We really appreciate everything you do for us."

"I am happy to be of help" He smiled to the pair before leaving them.

Velika helped her grandfather from the bed and walked with him outside, where everyone was still waiting to hear of his injuries. The old man was deeply touched with how kind everyone was, letting them know he was going to be just fine.

As he saw the flier, his eyes lit up. "You flew her here? Oh my dear girl I knew you could!" He was going to give her a full hug, but moving his shoulder caused a hiss of pain to come from him. Instead, he settled with a one armed hug.

"I did! She was a breeze, though Thomas had his eyes closed the whole time" She whispered to him.

The man smiled fondly. "I am sure he won't forget this experience." he said softly to her. "Shall we go home?" He asked, making his way to the two seater flier.

Velika came along, settling in the first seat at the controls, helping her grandfather with the seatbelt. She turned the flier on, the wings opening up and as before, two flaps and they were in the air. This time around, she took her time returning home, so her grandfather could enjoy himself.

"I was thinking, we can pack up a lunch and go to the valley." She said, turning her head to the side, so that her grandfather could hear her over the wind.

"I would love that my dear" He reached out to pat her shoulder with his good hand. "I have wanted to take you there for so long now. It will be wonderful."

Velika smiled as she heard his reply. She still felt as though none of it was real, the stories her grandfather used to tell her when she was little were filled with such wonder and she felt the dragons in the valley were just another tall tale.

As they came upon their cottage on the outskirts of town, she brought them to the front yard, powering down the flier, Velika brushed her fingers over the control panel.

"I am glad that you enjoy your present" Her grandfather said as he got himself from the seat to his feet. "You are not easy to surprise anymore." he chuckled softly.

"What, really? This is for me?!" Her eyes lit up with joy as he said this and she gave him a tight embrace before pulling back when her elder hissed. "Sorry, sorry! I..got carried away." She quickly apologized.

"It's alright" he said softly, kissing her forehead. He walked to the door, smiling as he opened the door up.

He sat at his work station, looking over his tools and he was lost in thought as his granddaughter prepared a small basket of sandwiches for them, along with tea in a thermos and a few cookies for a dessert.

He glances over towards Velika as she was still busy packing their meal and he would pack up his work bag with his tools and spare parts. This trip, he was filled with different intensions and he was hoping Velika would support him.

"Alright Grandpa, I am ready" She turned to him with the basket held in both hands.

"Good good, let us go" He smiled to her as they walked out of the cottage, which he locked up before climbing into the flier, setting his bag at his feet and holding the basket in his lap, since Velika was needing the room.

As they took off from the cottage, the old man was lost in thought, most the memories were filled with joy in raising his granddaughter and he wanted her to have an even better life. He wasn't going to be around forever after all and wanted her taken care of.

Velika was saying something that brought him from his thoughts and he looked to where she was pointing.

Ahead of them were gathering storm clouds, streaks of lightning could be see.

"We should turn back, the storm will hit the valley soon and it won't do to have lunch ruined" Velika said over the wind that was growing in strength.

"No, keep going! We will be fine, I promise" He said to her, his hand reaching out to pat her shoulder. She hesitated a moment before nodding to him.

Traveling by flier was much faster then she thought it would be. Just as the rain started pouring from the heavens, they came to the valley.

The tress soared high on either side of them before breaking open to the river that wound through the basin. She moved them lower to follow over the river and she was looking for a place to land when she spied something ahead of her.

Ahead of them was a bend of the trees, the river here emptied into a large lake. There was shelter in the way of a boat house that some of the villagers used on nicer days for fishing if they wanted.

She brought them down at the dock, powering down the flier and hopping out. She helped her grandpa out and leaving the tool bag and basket with the flier, she brought her elder to the boat house. There were benches on both sides of the landing dock under the roof and she helped him sit down.

"Stay here and I will get the basket and your bag" She smiled to him and hurried away. Coming from the flier, she reached in for the basket and bag and from the corner of her eye, she saw something large dart past her.

She frowned, straightening slowly, she looked to her right, then left but didn't see anything. She doubted anyone else would be here given the weather and she didn't see any cars or fliers near.

A shake of her head as she walked back into the shelter and she heard her grandfather talking to someone.

"No no, it will be alright my friend, I brought her here to meet you all." He was hunched over and speaking to his hand.

"Grandpa?" She called to him. "Who are you talking to?"

The old man looked over to her quickly, as if she caught him with his hand in the cookie jar and she saw now, there was a small metal dragon in his palm.

"W..what is that?" She stammered as she stared at the dragon that gave a tinny roar at her. It was almost as though it was trying to frighten her.

"Ah, my dear, this is one I have meant for you to meet today." Her grandfather stood, walking towards her carefully, so not to slip on the narrow landing.

Velika couldn't take her eyes from the small dragon. It was the size of a small kitten, the metal of its body was a mix of bronze and copper, its eyes were small glass with a glowing red light inside. It had twin horns that jutted forward like a rhino horn. The wings flared out, and were made of canvas, at the apex of the wings, there were claws. The long tail curled around her grandfather's wrist and the way it watched her, it gave her the feeling it wasn't a toy.

"This is Komi. I had made him months ago, here at the lake." Her grandfather told her, brimming with pride.

"But..what we make, they're not alive! They move by steam and gears." She couldn't believe what she was seeing and she reached out to touch the metal creation. As she did, Komi gave her a soft screech.

"Yes, true, though he is special, this entire valley is." The awe wasn't lost on Velika as she looked at her grandfather.

"What do you mean, the entire valley is special?" She asked softly.

He chuckled as he nods out to the water and as she turned, she let out a small yelp at what she was seeing.

With the rain coming down, the storm raging harder, Velika's eyes landed on the large dragon from her dream. The creature didn't seem bothered by the rain as it stood at the mouth of their shelter.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Velika, granddaughter of Jacob Blackthorn" The voice was deep, rich and masculine with a tone that one could trust.

Velika was awestruck as it spoke and she slowly moved towards the creature. The dragon lowered his head towards her, letting her reach out to lay her hand on the scaled flesh.

"Oh my..This is..otherworldly!" She exclaimed, feeling her eyes prickle as she smiled.

The dragon snorted a laugh at her words, easing back from her. "She is indeed your blood." He said to Jacob.

The dragon and her grandfather seemed to share a look but she didn't see it, she was wrapped in with the myth that was truth before her very eyes.

"How is it that you came to be here?" She asked. "Grandpa only recently mentioned dragons in the valley. How many of you are there?"

The dragon tilts his head to the side before he could reply, there came a roar that echoed in the valley. The dragon turned around quickly, a snarl coming from him as he moved away from the shelter. It was now Velika saw a sail of spikes running down the length of his neck and over his back and they stood on end, like a porcupine that was confronted by a predator.

"Velika, we need to go." Her grandfather came up to her. "It's not safe." He whispered and he guided her out of the shelter. "Run for the trees, not the flier and stay hidden."

Velika frowned, and pulled on his hand. "I'm not leaving you behind." She told him.

"I will be fine, I have Komi" he told her and she looked confused.

She watched as her grandfather tossed Komi into the air and before her eyes, watched as the small dragon grew to the size of a two story building, the details of his makings were showing he wasn't normally size but what she was seeing was his true form.

"How?" she whispered.

She didn't have time for anymore questions. Breaking from the thick gray clouds overhead came a large black dragon, the wing span alone had to be forty feet. It had razor sharp talons, jagged teeth and eyes that burned infernal flames.

She shook herself of the fear and ran for the forest.

The dragon saw her movement and came diving towards her. A booming roar came from the beast, the echo slammed into her, causing her to fall to the ground. She scrambled to her feet, pushing herself onward as wing beats sounded behind her.

Before her came a shimmering distortion and before she could stop herself, she was pulled right through.

"GRANDPA!!" She screamed.

Blazing light blinded her as she tumbled through what felt like a tunnel before she landed heavily onto the ground.

The wind had been knocked from her and she dared to stay where she was for a minute or two. When her vison cleared, she lifted her head and saw she was in a clearing.

"What..in the world.." She whispered.

To the right of her, she heard movement and she quickly got to her feet and she flinched as she saw another dragon, this one was more of earth tones, hornless, smaller then the blue and black dragons.

"Hm...there weren't always humans in the valley." The female voice came to her. "What a delight!"

.