Lotus and Leather

Guest story by Elliot!

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A long time ago, in a land far away, the city of Asparagus lay wreathed in the early morning mist. Lotus woke up. Today was her big day! The day she would be fed to the dragon. She was so excited.

She dressed quickly in her nicest clothes and set off for the dragon's lair. She stood at the entrance of the dark, dark cave. "Hello? Mr. Dragon? It's me! I'm your sacrifice this month! Won't you come and eat me?"

The dragon lumbered out of the cave. "Why would I eat you?" the dragon asked. "You don't have that which I want most. You are an orphan! Your parents are dead and you hold no love for your grandmother. You love no one and are unloved. Why would I eat you?"

Lotus stood stock still. "Eat me!" she cried. "You are right! I'm so worthless, I can't even make Maggi Mee."

"Nah," said the dragon, "I can't eat too much junk food. Mother says I'm getting fat." It went back into the cave.
"What!?" Lotus yelled. "Oh! Oh! Fine! Bee that way! I'll just sit here until you do!"
"No I won't!"

Lotus sat down and began to weep. She would never meet her parents at this rate. If only grandmother cared about her.

"Lotus? Is that you?"

She whirled around. "Leather? On thank God you're here, that stupid dragon's been taunting me all day."

"Dragon, oh, yes." Lotus noticed his unusually ashen face. "Um, I'll go take care of it."

Leather inched his shaking knees into the cave. Lotus watch him with disdain. She snuck up behind him.

"Boo!"

He jumped a foot in the air and swung his sword around wildly. Lotus laughed. "You're not a very good knight, are you?"

"Not yet," he said, "but I will be, after I slay this dragon! They're always laughing at me, the other knights. Singing songs. 'Leather, Leather like a feather.' " he shuddered.

"Well, you can't kill the dragon until he eats me, okay?"
"Eats you!?" Leather said. "I can't let that happen to you!"
"But I have no reason to live!"
"But I love you!"
"Ah, true love, albeit one-sided." said the dragon.

The two humans screamed. Leather swung his sword. "Ow, my grey matter!" said the dragon as he died.

"Did you really mean it?" asked Lotus. "When you said you loved me?"
"Yes, Lotus."
"Awwwww."

They held hands.