Amy stared in shock as Mandy, her nemesis from school, entered the barn flanked by two of her friends.
"Well, well, what have we here? I knew a dork like you would flee home," said Mandy with sneer. "It was either here or the library. And I don't think you would dare try your little trick there. They might kick you out, and not let you come back. That would probably kill a nerd like you. To be barred from the library."
Mandy friends quickly ran up to Amy and grabbed her hands. John looked back and forth, confused about what to do. He didn't know which of the girls was his friend, and which was his enemy. The leash hung limply from his neck. Amy struggled to reach it. It was almost within her grasp. But Mandy's friends held her arms tightly. Mandy followed her eyes to the leash.
"What? Does this control your little puppet? Are you going to use it try to scare us? I must admit it does look pretty realistic. It must be really expensive. How did a poor shit like you ever afford it? " asked Mandy. She reached up and grabbed the dangling leash. The leash shocked Mandy, and she pulled her hand back and rubbed it.
John felt the tingling in his neck shoot up to his brain. He suddenly felt a buzzing in his brain, and got a little dizzy. He closed his eyes and ducked his head. Neither of them noticed as the leash slowly faded away until it completely disappeared.
"Oww! If that burned me, I will sue you! My family will own your pathetic little ranch, " said Mandy.
"No! It was supposed to be me! It was going to be my pet!" moaned Amy, as she dropped to her knees and cried.
Mandy stared at her strangely. "What's the big deal? It's just some stupid puppet. I am not going to steal it from you or anything. Why would I want a stupid thing like this?"
"No, it's real! Dragons are real! Just like I always told you, " said Amy angrily. "I was the only one who believed, and this is my reward."
Mandy refused to be taken in by the lie. She just couldn't admit she was wrong. "It's just a stupid puppet. Some kind of weird animatronic. See, " said Mandy, as she ran her hand along its chest.
The skin was tough, but also strangely warm. She could feel John's chest rise and fall as he breathed. She put her head against his chest and heard his large heart beating loudly. John opened his eyes and lowered his head, glaring at the small girl. He decided he didn't like her. He snorted, blowing warm air in Mandy's face, lifting the bangs of her short black hair. Mandy backed away in shock.
"She's right. It's real, " said Mandy, as she backed away from the monster.
The other girls looked scared, and began to back out of the barn.
Mandy backed away nervously. "Listen. If you touch me, my Dad will sue. He is a very powerful lawyer. So just get away. Go sit in the corner or something."
John got a strange look on his face. He suddenly felt compelled to go sit in the corner of the barn. He tried to resist, but he couldn't help but walk over the far corner of the barn and sit down.
Mandy was shocked. The beast had done what she told it. She looked at Amy, and saw a frightened look. Amy didn't seem scared of the dragon, but rather scared of her. She looked at her tingling hand and remembered the leash. Could it be true?
"Stop, " said Mandy to her friends, just before they left. "I want to try something."
The two girls were scared, but they knew better than to disobey Mandy. They hovered by the barn door, ready to flee at a moment's notice.
"Dragon, lift you rear leg," said Mandy.
John complied.
Mandy smiled evilly. "Dragon, come here. Come to me."
John complied. He walked up to her and stood before Mandy. He looked even bigger and more fearsome up close, but Mandy was no longer scared. "Lower your head."
John ducked his lonng neck down, and Mandy climbed over his face and onto the back of his neck. Mandy had ridden horses before, but this seemed better. She could feel the unbridled power of the monster beneath her legs. Her beast. Her pet.
"Yes, this will do nicely, " said Mandy as she stroked the scales of John's neck. "You will be a fine pet. A pet fit for a Queen. I have many things in mind for you, my little pet. You will help all MY dreams come true."
Amy began to sob softly on the floor of the barn.