I awoke slowly, painlessly, and comfortably. All was dark and warm around me. I thought of the dreams I just had. Superpowers. Dragon power. Demons. A rich, eccentric man leading me. A beautiful girl by my side. An ancient and powerful dragon ready to move aside for me to take my proper place. Friends and foes with abilities that were magical. Such dreams I always had, albeit not as vivid. Grandpa always told me to carefully consider my dreams, and write them down as well. I would need them one day.
That pen and paper grandpa bought for me from town should be here, near my bedding on the floor. I had much to write at that moment. Feeling around, searching for my pen and paper, all I felt was cold hard rock.
Cold rock? I must have been half asleep still. Everything was so dark. I knew, perhaps grandpa and I were camping on the rock cliffs above the village; something we were prone to do. Yes, of course. Where did I put that pack? Why couldn't I see anything?
It was cold. I was shivering. The rock was wet and damp. A cave! We must have camped in a cave due to the rain. Yes, I thought, that was it!
"Where do you think you are right now?" a voice rang out. A dark, sinister voice.
"We're in a cave, we can't see, and Druk is scrambling about confused! If you wish to kill us, then do it! If you want a fight, then make some light so we can see you! I grow tired of this charade!" a girl's voice exclaimed.
I knew that voice. It was Bada. Gosh, I liked her. Too bad it was all in a dream. This dream. Because I must still be dreaming. How could a kid from a small village in Bhutan end up on a crashing airplane from London to Minsk with such a pretty and dynamic girl? Impossible!
I just wish Liba would appear to me now. As she has in so many other dreams. Another gorgeous woman! My dreams are getting grand indeed!
Indeed. That's Nidar's expression.
"Why do think I have not destroyed you both? Why do you sit in this pitch-black cave listening to my voice? Why did your plane crash into the mountainside after I pulled you and this boy out? What do you think my meaning is, and who do you think I am?" the voice asked.
"You certainly like to ask questions. Okay, I'll play along. You are human. With powers. Possibly some kind of transformation ability. You must be against Nidar, and his collection of heroes. You wish to continue on your way to some manner of a dark conceived plot to hurt humanity and you want us out of your way. Instead of just killing us when you had the chance, you instead decided to try to turn us to your dark side, to help you in your corruption while trying to be the most powerful of all supervillains. You know as well as I do how this will play out though. We will refuse. You will attack. We will be victorious and then grow stronger. That is the way of things for heroes and villains, is it not? Am I close, Bird-Boy?" Bada replied with her sarcastic edge. Her explanation sounded reasonable. Isn't that the way of superhero stories after all?
'Perhaps I should just remain here on the ground', I thought to myself, 'Bada seems to have no fear, and I'm wary. I just want to watch this dream and not take part. Just see what will happen. Like a spectator. No need to get involved. Grandpa will wake me soon, once he has breakfast ready; the buckwheat pancakes I love so much! I miss those! This dream has taken too long.'
"Why do you call me Bird-Boy? And why do think this is some kind of trick by a generic villain from a comic book? How do think I knew you were coming here? Where do I believe you would be of use? How could I have destroyed that airplane, killing the pilots? Will you answer me?" he replied to Bada while torches lit up all around us.
There he was, kind of like a bird, but more of a Pteranodon; sitting on a stone in the back of the cave that allowed for his giant frame to sit. By looking at him, I certainly didn't think he seemed evil. He was more curious. And old. He gave me the impression of being quite aged.
Bada had swirling currents of powerful water cascading around her hands at this time saying,
"One blast from his and your head will be pushed back into the rock wall with such force, even if you live, you will be knocked absolutely senseless! My turn to ask questions! Who are you, and more importantly, what do you want?"
Ignoring Bada's demands, he shifted his large, blue eyes that sagged with time towards me and asked,
"And what about you, young man? How do you feel about this situation?"
I didn't respond right away. I still felt like I didn't want any part of this. I just wanted to wake up. Maybe, I thought, asking this big prehistoric talking bird to end this dream would help. Bada remained quiet, waiting for me to answer, keeping her wet aim at the creature. Eventually, I said,
"Mr. Dinosaur, or whatever you are. With all due respect, I'm extremely tired. I need to sleep, just once, without dreaming like this. Will you wake me up? I can then ask my grandpa to fix some of his famous herbal tea to relax me, and I can take a long morning nap in the early sunshine. That should rejuvenate me!"
"What are you talking about?" Bada asked me.
"Who is asking questions now, young lady?" the creature asked back.
"Funny, yea, real funny!" Bada replied while putting her hands down and relaxing. She came to my side, half-embracing me, and looking into my eyes. "Are you okay, Druk?"
Suddenly, with an explosion of light, the great Pteranodon vanished, and an old man appeared instead, with the same large, blue eyes; smiling from ear to ear saying,
"I see Nidar has chosen wisely. Bada, you are courageous, but not fearless. Do not let your angst control your actions. Calm yourself. Take things in stride. And strike when you absolutely need to!" the man said, then turned to me, "And you, Druk, you seem a bit out of this world, eh? I will take Nidar's word for it concerning you, and not worry. But tell me. Are you truly all, right?"
"Yes, of course. I just know that you aren't real. Neither is Bada. All in my dreams! You actually remind me of my grandpa, who I must be getting back to. Now please, wake me, so I can continue my rightful life!" I replied excitedly.
Whomp!
A kick!
A taekwondo kick!
Right across my chops!
At least it wasn't sent hard enough to injure me. Did it take me by surprise? Oh yes! Did I wake up? Again, yes, I did. I finally escaped my slumber! Sitting up, holding my left cheek, and clearing my watering eyes, I was ready to tell grandpa all about this wild and imaginative story I had been on!
"Grandpa!" I said. "You won't believe the wild visions I've had!"
"Sonny, I may old enough to be your grandpa, or perhaps your great-grandpa, however, there is no relation between us. Open your eyes. Look clearly. And see reality!"
"My vision cleared. I was in a small room, with a fluorescent light. Fairly plain was the room. At least there was a window. Across from me was Bada, standing with her arms crossed, looking at me with concern. In a chair near her, was an old man. The same old man that morphed from that prehistoric bird.
"Ah! So, you recognize us! Hello there! I'm Idhar. The director of Englandville, the small English language school where you two will be working. As a cover that is. Although I will need you to teach some lessons occasionally. For appearances. You are in Minsk now, and this small place will be your humble abode." Idhar said.
"Wait, I know I'm not dreaming. Did you really kick me, Bada? Were you really some kind of flying dinosaur, Idhar?" I asked. I was confused. And my face and head were sore.
"Why would I kick you? We nearly crashed. You were out of it! Remember when I motioned for you to put on your mask, in the plane?" she replied.
"Yea, I recall."
"Well, you did, then passed out again. Not until you opened the window and saw Idhar here, in his powered form, helping us land."
"Helping? He didn't kidnap us?"
"No, not at all. The piolets were drugged. Someone wanted us dead. They passed out, and the place started spinning out of control. Idhar here saved us! He brought us down near the airport in an abandoned field, so no one would see him of course. You've been out for nearly 48 hours! How much sleep do you normally get?" she asked.
"Normally? Full nights and afternoon naps. Since I came to Europe, about one or two hours a night."
"Well then, I hope you are feeling better," Idhar said.
"Yes, I do actually. All of that was a dream? In the cave, that is?"
"I believe so. After I landed the plane, Bada used the communication devices in the cockpit to contact the airport. We were picked up to be brought to the hospital. You were out. I convinced them you needed no medical help, and we were instead taken here. Good thing I have a bit of political pull here, eh?"
"So Bada, you never kicked me in the face?"
"Kicked you? No! If I had kicked you then you would be in a hospital or worse, believe me! Our landing was a bit rough. The overhead popped open and some luggage hit you. You never woke up. I checked to see if you were unconscious, but judging by your snore, nope! You were with us, so to speak, still slumbering!"
"Well, all this adventure! Please, rest, both of you. We have much work to begin tomorrow. And not at the school. We'll be closed another couple of weeks there. I need you for a mission, the reason Nidhar sent you both to me. Rest up now. There is food in the cupboards and refrigerator. I will come to get you at dawn." He rose to leave, but stopped, listened to something, then yelled, "Get down!"
We all did, to the floor with our heads covered! The window burst open with shards of glass flying inside. The light was also broken apart, as darkness took hold. Yet, I could see with the moon shining from outside, it was full and illuminated the night sky with glamour!
Buzzing all around us, like a swarm of hornets or bees, was some manner of small beings, or life. They didn't touch us, yet, and were outlining each of our bodies with clusters.
I stood.
Bada stood.
Ihar was still laying on the floor.
My eyes began to shine in the emerald hue.
My skin began to scale up in its colorful glory.
Another challenge was here, and this time, I was fully awake!