The Christmas and New Year season was very enjoyable and peaceful, what with the dragon having flown away.  Still, the promise that the dragon made to me upon leaving haunted my dreams.

"I vow to return someday.  When I do, I expect that you will have mastered some new strategy.  For if not, you will surely lose!  Train well, until we meet again."

Sure enough the oracle foresaw his return about two weeks ago.  I did not know what to expect when I saw him.  Maybe stronger, maybe new power...I had to wait and see.  On the day foretold by the oracle I went with the oracle to the place which he led me.  Then...it happened.

The horizon turned dark, and then black.  My first sense was the feeling of a very strong presence.  Shortly after, I heard the flapping of wings at a distance.  Rising from the black horizon into the gray sky was the shadow of a draconian figure.  But something was different.  The flight of the figure was not graceful in the least.  Indeed, as the figure drew nearer and grew larger, I could tell that this was not the dragon who flew away not two months ago.  This dragon was merely a child!  Still, the look on the oracle's face was as serious and somber as before.  I knew there was something I was missing.

The young dragon approached me and landed.  He snorted smoke from his nostrils and spoke:

"I was prepared to ransack the village to find you.  You've made it easy for me!  You...are the one who killed my father."

It was then that I understood what the dragon meant.  His offspring would return for me.  I weakened the father too much for him to survive.  After all, he did have virtually no power remaining when he left the battlefield.

His offspring...although this new dragon was small, he was far from weak looking, though not as strong as his father.  Worse, the strong evil presence surrounding his father surrounds him as well...maybe the presence is even stronger than that of his father.  I knew that my quest completed two months ago would be in jeopardy with this new beast.  The oracle then spoke:

"You must weaken this dragon as you weakened the other.  Do not be deceived at his size: he will quickly grow if left unchecked.  Once you weaken this dragon, you must kill him once and for all in front of the people of the village.  Only then will we be safe and your quest be complete."

I looked at the new beast and knew that I must do the job quickly to prevent his growth as the oracle warned.  I looked back at the oracle, but he was gone!  It was me and the beast.

I guess I'd better get started.