At the Sky Level

Chapter 2.

"Everyone is born to be happy, but not everyone knows what it means."

A desert lizard

"Why are you doing this?"

A huge snow-white cotton-like cloud in the sky asked a bigger and darker cloud. They both had strange round grumpy faces with small eyes and potato-like funny noses. Their huge mouths were rather hospitable to swallow several planes if they suddenly happened to fly near.

"Why not just give happiness to the world?"the smaller white cloud insisted. "The Superior Mind would be extremely satisfied to see only beauty and harmony..."

It was a nice sunny early morning in Alberta, Western Canada, and there was no one here to enjoy this breathtaking scenery of the untouched wild nature. And this was the reason to find this place for a private talk.

A fast-flowing endless river crashed its way in a froth of white water through the valley, its roar echoed for miles around. The river banks were surrounded on either side by towering fragrant green pines and colossal cliffs. This land of bottomless lakes was situated in one of the vast undeveloped unpolluted areas in the world where people's curious eyes haven't reached yet.

"If we just give people happiness, they will not value it," answered the bigger cloud. — That's why the road to happiness goes through suffering, hard work, sleepless nights, a lot of thinking, painful life experience and deep feelings. Then people will know the price of a calm family evening, stars and roast meat on the burning fire... This is the true taste of life..."

" It's cruel," said the white cloud.

" It's wise," replied the dark cloud. "Let's check it on a golden dragon, Sky Thunder from the parallel world..." He has his own special situation with the second part of his nature, human... Ascalante by name..."

"And where is his True Half, you, cunning fox?" asked the white cloud.

"I let her gain life experience, dear, a lot of experience... You will see... Take a seat in the first row and enjoy the play.."

"Wil you make her suffer, Darkie"

"I have no choice, Whitie, or else, she will not be tired from everyday routine, rat races for survival and loneliness... She will not value real love... Her man's hugs will be a secure harbor for her after trials and tribulations. She will be able to value his love and care then..."

"And what's the situation with Ascalante, Darkie?"

"You're so curious, Whitie... Well... I will tell you in strict confidence, of course... His dragon part could conquer the power over the man's part and now Ascalante is imprisoned inside his dragon's mind... But the dragon needs his True Half, and it's Ascalante's chance to take over the dragon's nature..."

"So, the Earth is full of pain, diseases, wars just as a part of a big plan, as I understood, Darkie?" -Whitie tried to understand his interlocutor.

"People will understand who they are, what they want and build a better world for themselves... no other option to understand what happiness is, Whitie. Lying on the sofa, scrolling videos, eating pizza and planning holidays at the seaside is not everything... It's much deeper...dear. I have to go but look after Ascalante and his True Half".

"How will I find them?" asked Whitie, looking at the disappearing Darkie.

"Ask the Universe" was the answer. "Protect them, direct them, correct them!" And Darkie disappeared.

"The issue of paramount importance is to find Ascalante," thought Whitie. He leaned over a sharp mountain peak and closed his eyes to listen to the Universe. It was silent at first, but gradually more and more sounds appeared - birds' chirping, leaves rustling, crashing waves, whales' songs... The Earth was breathing through wet morning soil, scattered drops of sparkling dew and fresh mist. A gorgeous and mysterious sunrise colored the sky with a palette of tender painting of an unknown artist.

"Yes, that's it!"whispered Whitie at last. "It's a parallel world, I just need to walk through this mountain and find that hole..."

He slithered through the steep stony surface of the mountain and appeared in a tunnel, at the end of which the bright Sun was scorching mercilessly.

Whitie looked down and saw him. Maybe someone considers dragons gruesome, but this one was just awesome. Golden skin on his back, thick neck, strong legs and head with sharp ears gradually changed to snow-white scales on his belly and chest, turning him into a festively dressed god. Golden eyes were filled with wisdom, power and courage. This creature had two hypostases — a human one and a draconic. Sky Thunder was very proud of himself that he could control his human form and not let him out. But now... yes, he needed Ascalante's help in finding his True Half or else... who would admire his handsome powerful muscles, witty mind and clever jokes?

"Ascalante," called Sky Thunder. "Can you hear me, dear? We need to talk," he said to his man form kindly.

"You have never talked to me like that," answered Ascalante. "What do you want?"

"I will give you freedom if you help us find our True Half," said the dragon and added: "But you need to guess the riddle, you know the rules."

"I know your riddles, they are stupid, as usual," answered Ascalante.

"They are witty, dear, just try, I invented a new one. Our True Half would value it."

"Well, let's see how far your witness has gone..." sarcastically muttered the man.

"Well... One eye, one horn, but not a unicorn," the happy and amused dragon said.

"Oh, Goddes, you will always terrify me with your craziness," cried Ascalante.

"It's a cow looking from behind the corner," whispered Whitie, hiding behind the mountain.

"A cow...hiding from behind the mountain?" the man suspiciously repeated. " How to call the mind inventing such riddles? Ill? Crazy?"

"Super inventive, creative and just fabulous," said Sky Thunder and added: "You won, Ascalante! You are free!"

A sudden tornado whirled the dragon and then a strong and handsome man with blond hair and golden eyes appeared on his place.

"How long had I been waiting for this," cried the man, and stretched out his hands to the sky.