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Ananas Dragon Cookie had sworn to never become attached to cookies.
Yes, they would protect the cookies that lived on their island. That was a consequence of protecting said island. But the cookies themselves? They only received their protection because they held a degree of respect. They were the first to live there, and in their mind it was first come first served.
So, every time a new Cookie was baked, they would be called upon to bless the newborn. New cookies were rare afterall. It was mere tradition. Belief in their stories was waning, but the Mango Tribe always paid their respects. Ananas gave the new Cookie with magenta eyes their silent blessings, and intended to leave it at that. That cookie, if all went well for him, would never cross their path. He would be born here, perhaps do some travel, and die either far away from home or as an old cookie in his homeland.
It was a few more years until he caught their attention.
The island's elders told stories to the young cookies. Stories of dragons that granted wishes and set the land ablaze. Stories of dragons who slept for melania and were loved by all. Stories of a dragon who churned the oceans and land to their whim.
He had them all memorised soon enough. What caught the dragon's attention was the fervent study. He would tell the tales of them and their siblings to anyone who would listen, and even those wouldn't. They admired the accuracy, achieved by the cookies study of the legends.
Watching cookies grow up was run of the mill, but this was untold passion..
Still, Ananas insisted this was just curiosity. Plenty of Cookies had captured their attention. This Child was no different from the rest of that group.
Until the day he welcomed two cookies on the island.
These cookies, likely older than this Child, were foolish to not listen to his warnings. He was brought as collateral, but still managed to be the only one to bow and treat them with respect from the moment of his arrival.
But the most shocking part? This cookie didn't even think twice about giving up his life for their pet…
When all was said and done, the cookie ran to his family and friends at the village.
"I met the Golden Dragon!" He exclaimed. "They are just as regal and amazing in person! My stories can't even do them justice- I actually met them!"
The day after, the village elder came to him.
"Ananas Dragon wishes to see you." She said gravely.
They had never summoned a cookie for a good reason. Cookies never came back from them the same..
He bowed when he came in. No prompting or anything. Only when told too did he rise.
"Your stories," They said, "are fascinating. I have lived for centuries, child. I have many tales to my name. And somehow you can recite each one."
"Did.. I get them wrong?"
"Details, child. Only details. Which is why I demand you recite them."
Being hundreds of years old meant reading facial expressions was as easy as reading books. Despite the attempt to remain stoic, and the fear that was clearly evident, it was impossible to miss the light shining in his eyes as the order was given.
"So- chronological or by length or just random?"
"Chronological. Sit, if your reputation precedes you we may be here a while."
It was just to fact check. They refused to let their stories and legends become inaccurate. Might as well cement the truth.
The first few times the Child made a mistake, they frantically scrambled to repair it and fix any plotholes the mistake caused. It started as extreme apologies, taking a few minutes to get back on track. But soon, he got with the program. He shifted to quickly remedying the problem and continuing.
After a few hours of this back and forth, Ananas stopped him.
"That will be all. You were foolish as to not bring any food up here. You need to eat something. "
"Ah.." It seemed he only just noticed the fact that he hadn't eaten for hours. "I'm sorry I didn't even get halfway I-"
"Child I am aware of the order my stories are in. I'll summon you again soon enough."
It would have been cruel to force a hungry cookie to hike all the way down the mountains. It may have been a waste of their precious time, but they got the young Cookie to the ground safely.
Weeks passed, and he was summoned again. The conversation was looser. Less tense. The same degree of respect was always there, but the fear dissolved on his second visit. He brought drinks that time and insisted that he had filled up on jellies on the way up.
On the third visit, he brought a basket of the finest fruits for them.
"It's from the villagers, they wanted you to receive offerings in person!"
They insisted on sharing despite his protests that they were offerings, not intended for a cookie to eat.
"Are you about to disobey the orders of a Dragon?"
The session continued without much more argument on the matter.
Time passed. The fourth, fifth and sixth session came and went. When another legend was so much as mentioned, the documentation of Ananas Dragons life story was put on hold. That story would become the focal point. It was nice to steer the subject away from their siblings. The light in his eyes never faded. In fact, it grew brighter with every meeting.
By the seventh meeting, Ananas began to tell stories in return.
His eyes shone even brighter as they regaled the tale of the island's creation and his ancient ancestors, created from the first oven itself.
By the eight, they commanded that the child wasn't to bow upon entry and exit anymore. Their respect and devotion was proven. It very well may have been cast out of an impossible alloy of diamond and iron.
Ananas noticed that they were creeping towards the end of their life story on the ninth visit. They knew the final tale of their return, and of the white, courageous defender and green, reckless dragon enthusiast. The one this Child got to live through.
Against their better judgement, Ananas cut the meeting short.
That wasn't going to be their last.
They were not attached to this Child. It was a matter of preserving the stories. Protecting their legacy from becoming tarnished.
That's all.
When not attending to their duties, they quietly observed the Child going about his day as a tour guide. It was filled with renewed vigour. Passion beyond what existed before. When the oceans caused inconvenience to his job, they were subtly altered. Those who disrespected him had water inexplicably tossed in their direction, or a sudden pebble tripping them to the ground.
No, they were not attached.
Seeing him succeed flooded them with pride. Pride that wasn't just for themself. That was foreign…
They began to dread their final meeting, where the last story would be told. The last facts would be checked and there would no longer be any reason for their meetings to go on.
That was beyond foreign. That was impossible.
They. We're. Not. Attached. To. This. Child.
He told the final story with a smile that went unseen before. Nothing needed to be corrected, not one thing was inaccurate. Expected from someone who was there. The smile was bright, with a twinge of pride.
And then it was over.
There were no more stories to tell. The Child had finally run out.
"No one has listened to every story I had to tell." He said, giving a small bow. "Thank you for giving me this chance, and letting me learn more about your history."
They stayed silent, looking towards their pet, curled onto their lap.
"This does not mean you will no longer be summoned. Let that be clear." They grinned. "Though, I expect you to send letters. I expect you to go, learn more, get more experience and knowledge and stories to your name. Make your own legend, learn the stories of others. Of legends and witches and wizards and warriors. I expect that from you."
He nodded excitedly, renewed passion and vigour in the movement.
When the Child was left at the bottom of the mountain and they returned to the chambers, they repeated the mantra again. Aloud, this time.
"I am not attached to this Child.."
Through living for centuries, melania even, they learned to spot a lie.
They were lying through their teeth.
Ananas knew that the Logan Dragon would return someday. But so soon? Time really did pass quickly for their kind. They didn't really think they would care. The age of dragons would return someday, why shouldn't it be started now? Cookies were meaningless..
Centuries of offerings, of Cookies caring for the Islands, of the endless stories told by village elders and guides and bards. They all flashed through their minds eye.
The Child begged, insisting that the islands would suffer without cookies. That it may very well be wiped away and all life would shrivel and die. He had never looked so desperate. His fear was always accented by another emotion, be it excitement or admiration. But now it was pure. Pure, infinite fear.
So they agreed.
Agreed to fight by the side of Lotus and Pitaya once again.
Agreed to save a race that they had forever looked down upon.
And they agreed with the truth that forever lay in the back of their mind. The truth that sat there since the day their pet was rescued from an earthquake.
They were attached to Mango Cookie.
They wouldn't let him be wiped away with the rest of the world.