(Sapphire POV)

AH!

...

Where am I? I observed the room around me. It was blindingly white and the floors were sparkly clean, allowing me to see my own reflection.

I was laying in a bed, one of those medical ones you would find in a hospital, or a...

Infirmary? Is this where I am? Why?

Ah.

I see now.

I lost to him. To the human. Jackson Walker.

...

I underestimated him.

...

The door opened, as Madam Webb walked into the room, sitting down on a chair besides me.

"How are you feeling?" She asked me.

"I'm F-fine Headmaster..." I replied.

"You know you can call me Madam Webb when we're alone." She reminded me.

I don't feel like I deserve to, but every time you insist.

"Alright, Madam Webb." I sighed.

"Better. Why did you challenge Jackson to a match?" She wondered.

"You know why..." I muttered, my fists tightening in anger.

No, don't think about it...

You'll only get angry...

"All humans aren't terrible, you know." Madam Webb replied.

"They were. Every single one I met." I growled.

"Not Jackson." Madam Webb responded.

"And how would you know?!" I roared at her.

Ah...I shouldn't have lashed out at her...

"Because my own daughter fancies him." Madam Webb replied calmly, as if she was unaffected by my yelling.

"You mean...?" I asked.

"Yes, Anna is in love with him." Madam Webb stated. "And I trust her judgement. I've talked to him myself. He's a good kid."

Anna. She's a good girl from what I've heard, but I've never talked to her myself.

"..." I looked away from Madam Webb, staring at the bed sheets under me.

"You should give him a chance. I promise he isn't like the others, the ones from back then." Madam Webb promised. "Make some more friends. You only have Krystal."

I kept my head down. "I'm sorry..." I muttered. For lashing out...though I couldn't get myself to say those words.

"It's fine." Madam Webb smiled.

"...Do you have a recording of the fight?" I asked.

"I do. Would you like to see it?" She asked.

"Yes, please." I politely responded.

All I remember was the human suddenly appearing in front of me, punching me across the face. And then everything went dark.

If he knocked me out...at the height we were at...

I would have been more injured than this. I recover from injuries quickly, but I wouldn't be this healed. I only have a few scratches, and there's no pain.

Madam Webb pulled out a phone, showing a video of the fight. I watched it all the way through to the point where I shook him off by flying into the air.

While falling, he pulled out a bow, and using it he shot the flaming chain into my wing.

Ah. That's what that sudden pain was. Clever.

The video continued on, showing him using the flapping of my wing and retracting his chain to be flung towards my face.

He then knocked me out.

Then how?

We both fell, me reverting back into my human form. It's the one I use the most, so it had become my default.

He pulled me closer to him, holding me tight.

What's he doing?

We were about to hit the ground when suddenly a purple portal appeared, whisking us away. A couple seconds later another portal appeared, dropping the human back into the arena, carrying an unconscious me bridal style.

"What..?" I asked, confused.

"He saved the two of you." Madam Webb stated.

"Why? I tried to kill him..." I muttered.

"You'll have to ask him that yourself." Madam Webb replied.

She stood up. "Oh, and you'll have some visitors later." She informed me, walking to the door.

She then left the room, leaving me alone.

All alone...

Just like back then...

The ones from back then...

It was a cold December night, the day which everything changed.

It was me and my Mother, all alone in our home; the cave at the top of a mountain. At home, my mother preferred to be in her Original Form. I hadn't yet learned how to change into Human Form, only being nine, so I was still in my Original as well.

My Mother was a large dragon with three heads. Her size was at least twice as large as my Original Form.

She was curled around me, keeping me warm. I was really small at this time, about the size of a dog. As of today, my Original Form is about the size of a bus.

It was a peaceful day.

Was.

My Mother suddenly picked up something, her ears straining to listen. She stood up, walking to the edge of the cave. She looked outside for a moment, before hurrying back to me.

"Sapphire, you need to go now!" She worriedly yelled.

"What's wrong Momma?" I had asked, confused.

"You need to leave! Run!" She screamed.

"What about you Momma?" I asked, now worried.

"I'll be there in a moment. Now go!" She ordered.

I didn't know why she wanted me to leave, until the sounds of footsteps reached my ears. Emerging at the entrance of the cave was a large amount of humans, brandishing weapons from magical staffs to shining swords.

My eyes widened. I may had been young, but I realized what this meant.

"Go!" Mother roared.

"B-but-" I tried to argue.

"Go! Now!" She once more ordered, finalizing the discussion.

I hated it, but I flew away. I flew into the cave, where we had a secret exit. I never knew what it was for until this day.

Sneaking a peek back, I saw as the humans surrounded my Mother, attacking her with swords, spears, and magic.

I continued to fly, tears leaking from my eyes. I was hoping that my Mother would be okay.

I flew out of the cave, flying towards a nearby forest. I landed in the middle of it, speedily gazing to the mountain.

"Come on, you got this Momma! Beat them up!" Was what I told myself.

I waited for minutes, for my Mother to fly away from the cave and pick me up.

But then the loudest scream I had ever heard reached my ears. The sound of my Mother screeching in pain, before everything went silent.

I never heard, or saw, my Mother again.

I had cried myself to sleep that night, hoping that it was all a dream. But when I woke up, I was still in the forest.

And my Mother wasn't here.

I laid in the middle of that forest for days, broken. I was hungry, I'm but I couldn't find the motivation to move, and most food was a while away.

It was then a human had wandered across me in the forest. I watched him approach me, causing me to back up, scared.

"It's okay. It's okay. I won't hurt you." He said in a soothing voice.

He looked genuine. He looked kind.

But it was only looks.

I didn't notice the greedy glint in his eyes.

I followed him, as he promised he would help me get some food and shelter. I fell right into his trap.

When we arrived, his friends ambushed me, trapping me inside of a cage, made out of some sort of metal I couldn't melt. He tricked me.

And I still remember the words I heard the "kind" man say.

"She'll fetch us a hefty price. After all, she's a Dragon! And with three heads!" He cheered.

He betrayed me.

I trusted the human, and he betrayed me.

Humans. Rotten animals. Greedy sacks of flesh which only want one thing; more.

I hate them. I hate them all.

This was how my mindset twisted while stuck in that cage as they traveled through the forest, taking me to be sold.

I was lucky though. Eventually, someone had come to save me. They killed the traffickers, and saved me from their clutches.

And that was Madam Webb. My savior.

She then took me in, and ever since I have been becoming stronger, so one day I can protect her. She even taught me how to tell if someone was lying, so I could never be tricked again.

I heard a knock on the door. It was probably Krystal, my only friend here. Having friends wasn't my priority. Getting stronger was. Krystal wouldn't take no for an answer, and wouldn't leave me alone though...

"Come in." I said, allowing the visitor entry.

The visitor entered, but it wasn't Krystal.

What? The human? Jackson Walker? What is he doing here?!

He walked over, sitting onto the chair next to my bed.

"Hey, are you alright?" He asked.

"What?" I blurted out. I didn't expect him to ask that of all things...

"Are you alright?" He repeated.

"...Yeah, I am." I replied.

"That's good." He smiled. "I was a little worried since I pierced a hole in your wing and all..."

"Why?" I asked.

"Huh? Why what?" He responded, confused.

"Why are you worrying over me? I tried to kill you. You should hate me." I stated.

"Well, I just...I don't know, I just don't really hate you..." He replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Looking into his eyes, I could see he was telling the truth. How did he not hate me?

"But I tried to kill you." I restated.

"I don't hate you." He confirmed.

"Why?! You should hate me!" I yelled.

He shrugged once more. "Well, there was no harm done..."

I sweatdropped. Are you serious?

"I don't really get it myself..." he commented, as if he could see my disbelief. Actually, he probably could.

And he wasn't lying. Not a single word was a lie.

Madam Webb's words echoed in my ears; "You should give him a chance. I promise he isn't like the others, the ones from back then. Make some more friends."

"Hey...can I...be your friend?" I asked.

I'm so stupid. He wouldn't want to, not after-

"Sure!" He replied, smiling happily.

Why are you so happy?

I really don't understand you...

...

But maybe, just maybe, there are some good humans...

But I'll be watching you to make sure. I won't get tricked again.

"Hey, do you know what type of Dragon you are?" He suddenly asked, breaking an out of my thoughts.

Wait, do I? I've never really thought about it...

"I don't..." I confirmed, a little embarrassed.

He pulled out a book, turning to a page and giving it to me. "Here. You might want to read this."

He then stood up, walking to the exit. "I'll see you later!" He said, exiting the infirmary.

As to his suggestion, I decided to read the book page in front of me. It was about Hydra Dragons. I've never heard of them.

As I finished reading, I felt tears roll down my face, dripping onto the page.

So that's why...

That's why all those bad things happened...

Thank you, Jackson. Thank you...