Sophia is my OC and was taking a bit from Hermione from Harry Potter in her chattiness!

Chapter Five: Sophia

(Felicia)

It was heaven pure and simple. I barely knew where I was and what I was doing. Never before had I experienced a "dead" sleep before, having always woken up at some point in the middle of the night, and struggling to find a comfortable position. I groaned as I felt the sun on my snout and turned over.

"Go away, I am sleeping and not ready to get up. Try again in the year 3045!" I heard some giggling and I shot bolt upright. Cynder was leaning against the door frame, looking extremely amused. "I am not that sure anyone would be alive. We live forever but not that long."

Instantly I looked sheepish as if getting caught reaching into the cookie jar. "Sorry, I was dreaming and thought it was the sun." Cynder waved a paw dismissively through the air. "I know some things about the world or at least this situation. Even if you were rude and spat fireballs, I probably would react the same. Today you and I are stalking the town. The boys won't know what hit them when we get back."

A devilish and evil expression appeared on her face, "We will stop the heart and cause accidents when I am through with you. I know a place that is ridiculously cheap in food and cost, but for some reason dragons keep showing up. Only one waitress is rumored to be there but is beyond productive. I will take you shopping and end the day there."

I gulped, and Cynder feigned deafness and grabbed my paw. I was confused and not wanting to slow everything down, I hurried to catch up to her. After a while I was awake enough to function normally and moved on my own.

"We will have so much fun Felicia, you will find that freedom is different than the lifestyle you are used to." She ran out of the cave and I blinked in the glare of the sun. Dragons were out and walking to various destinations. I couldn't see Flame anywhere and my heart sunk but then I noticed Cynder greeting various dragons by name and having not noticed my slight depression, I cheered up slightly. I hoped that she wouldn't notice.

We arrived deep in the city and an involuntary escaped my mouth and I heard Cynder snicker slightly but she didn't say anything. She did slow down and look in various windows at various merchandise and I allowed myself to sight see. We passed a toy shop where two young dragons were browsing and had their snouts pressed up against the glass and I noticed that Cynder was looking at a window. It couldn't hurt to see what the fuss was about, could it?

When I appeared and looked, the oldest of the youngsters started staring with his mouth open in my direction. Dragons sure were doing that a lot lately. Did I have a speck of dirt in my scales? No hurtful comments made themselves known so I allowed it. Still it was odd. I made a mental note to ask Cynder if I had any mess that allowed potential embarrassment.

A conversation began between the dragons and I allowed myself to listen in. The toys were things I never saw before.

"Dude, you should totally ask her what with the way you are staring"

"No, people like that don't associate with people like us."

"Your staring is probably freaking her out."

"I will make you shut up if you continue down that road."

"She sure is pretty and hot as hell! She probably has someone in her life."

"You won't know unless you ask."

When did you began to sprout wisdom?"

"Since you began openly drooling in her direction."

"That makes no sense."

"You make no sense!"

"Still, why in hell would someone that hot, associate with us? We are downright nerdy and unpopular."

"That is what you get for having me by your side."

"If you don't ask, she will walk away and this moment will be wasted."

"I can't, I will probably screw everything up by stammering and she will be confused."

"She has to have someone in her life though, someone like that has to be…"

"Hey watch your language!"

"It is true, all day!"

"It is rude and therefore I sentence you to the time out spot so you can think about your mistake."

"You sound like my mother!"

While this very amusing conversation took place, I wondered who they were fighting about. I wondered if they would ever get the courage to ask out whoever they were fighting about. They started fighting and I made my escape wishing them luck with whoever.

They never noticed I was gone, so occupied in their fight they were. I stopped dead when I nearly ran into Cynder. She had a twinkle in her eye and turned around. "What?" She shook her head and refused to answer. The glint still in her eye. "Do I have any dirt in my scales?"

"No, you are good."

"Well that's a relief. They were staring and I was worried about having a mess. Talk about embarrassing."

She shook her head, the glint disappearing, instead a sad look appearing in her eye. I already asked annoying questions so I let it be. I heard her muttering then and I strained to hear.

"You poor dear, I will fix that!"

Probably something to do with Spyro or something. For the next several hours, we browsed and the apparent amusement in my companion's eye vanished and she kept staring at me in sadness. I thought nothing of it.

At five, according to a street clock, we arrived at a restaurant. Cynder cheering up ran ahead and I ran trying to keep up. Inside was fancy despite it's plain appearance from the outside. Booths lined the aisles and a pretty dragoness was eyeing with rapt attention a sheet of paper. "I will be with you two, just reading a note."

"Take your time." Cynder was grinning and at the sound of her voice the older shot bolt upright. "Holy hell, Cynder is that you? Why didn't you say it was you. I will neglect this boring piece of paper from my boyfriend, who was only just suggesting that I pick up some milk from the store. How the hell are you?"

I felt slightly left out but allowed the apparent friends to catch up. "I am so rude, who is you lovely friend?"

Cynder exchanged a glance with the chatty female, "She is my friend Felicia, I am taking her out on a date."

"Oh wonderful, young love and friendship. Oh I would give my soul to be able to be young again. I am fully aware you aren't dating, no need for that look Cynder. I meant friendship. Paul is always working with that dragon construction group and barely has enough time for me. But I digress, follow me and I will lead you to heaven in a box."

She took off taking menus from the pile and we followed. "I am Sophia and dinner is on us, we were ridiculously busy today and I made a s*** load of cash. Would you believe that I got a lot of tips just to bring a silent meal? I do parties too! Those are extremely popular and everyone loves when I show up."

I leaned close to Cynder who was amused with this conversation and whispered, "Is she always this chatty?" "Yeah she is, we are old friends and she relaxes around me. She does make a lot of money despite the cheap atmosphere of the restaurant. She is quite popular and believe it or not she does everything. Best kept secret around with only her friends knowing the secret. I help bring cliental and in return she makes everything for me for free."

I nodded and continued to stare around the place. Despite the claim of free food for us, there were some dragons eating and as we passed by, they greeted Sophia and continued to eat.

Such a place is a dream come true and I couldn't believe that I was welcome here. I felt dirty simply by association and felt tainted. A quiet booth awaited us and Sophia gushed some more and walked away. Cynder took one look at her menu without opening it and announced, "I know what I am having!"

I stared at her like she had lost her mind, "You barely looked at the choices." Winking, she looked at me with a grin, "I have been here since it opened and always get the same thing. What did you eat?" She was referring to my parents.

"I despise meat of any kind, knowing that something once existed is dead to feed me. I am fully and completely aware that everything is balanced and it is the circle of life and that s***, but I can't stand it. They made me anyway so I just got used to it." I shrugged, "It doesn't matter I am used to it." Cynder nodded once, as if expecting that response.

"Right, well there are those options here. Believe it or not, some dragons adopt to that lifestyle and all that. Granted and true, there is not a lot of those that partake in the diet, but enough so that some restaurants have options."

Shrugging I accepted it. Surely it was a lie to make me feel better and nothing more than that. I realized that nature called and I had to take the call. Cynder waved dismissively but in a way that did not seem cold. Was my life really destined to get better? I was so used to being told what to do that I didn't question it. Cynder and Sophia from the little I know of her, were so kind that it just had to get better.

I found signs pointing me to a wash pit where one could do the business nature requires of each and every one of us. It was nice and the dragoness room smelt faintly of lavender and calmed me down. A beautiful and stunning dragoness was using the sinks where I was now standing. She ignored me and just stood there.

We were silent as we waited for our turn. Unfortunately every space was occupied. I hated waiting and noticed that my companion was dancing like I was doing. Boy, she must have the same problem I had. Finally a space cleared and I bolted, with her right behind me. I reached it first and shut the curtain so I wouldn't be guilt ridden by the dragoness's look of disapproval over my childish behavior.

I came back out and noticed that the dragoness had found a space to go after all and looked relieved like I was. To my chagrin, I noticed Cynder looking at me like I was crazy. There were two Cynders and my twin as well.

"I was worried when you didn't know that those boys were fighting over you and whether to ask you out. I wrote it off as confusion. Then I noticed the looks others gave you and you were still clueless." She waved a hand and the Cynders mirrored it. "You really have no idea what a mirror is don't you?"

My mouth fell open as I stared at the dragoness in the mirror. We stared at each other. "Felicia, you are beautiful and stunning." Tears slid down my face as I glimpsed my "reflection" and I stared at my colors. "Is that….is that really me?" I was stunning to no end. The way I looked like a rainbow nothing was plain about my features.

Cynder nodded, tears slid down her own face. "I had no idea." Cynder nodded. For the next few minutes I stood there quiet and feeling lighter and free of some oppressive weight. The rest of the day passed and I laughed glad for once with nothing to worry about. Sophia exchanged a wink with Cynder as I chatted openly and was glad for the first time in my life.

I feel like I rushed this a bit. I felt it was about time to have Felicia awaken to her true beauty. The next chapter will be up very soon.