1. © 2013 Matthew Albren

2. Inspiration by:
Chris D’lacey’s
Last Dragon Chronicles Series
Dedicated to:
Mrs. Estella
Mrs. Foster
Ms. Stewart
&
Dr. Rains
For giving me
the skills I need
to be the best I can be!
© 2013 Matthew Albren

3. Chapters
1. Dragons: The Way of the Clay
2. Moving on Forward
3. Up and Over Down Under
4. Meeting Others: Friend or Foe?
5. Captured
6. Roaring Levels of Maximum Rage
7. Lindina and Shalan: Dragons with a Human Shape
8. Tumbling in Thought
9. A Decision-Making Time for Gadzooks
10. A Battle, Not a War
Part 2
11. Truths, Realities, and Tall Tales
12.The Truth about Alan Revealed
13. The Shocking Power of Words
14. An Ultimate Day of Choices and Fates
15. History on Paper
16. Gadzooks vs. The Conkle: The Outcome to be Decided
17. The Darkness and Revenge
18. The Anything that can be a Star
19. Hope and Dread
20. Picnic with a Pendishiner
© 2013 Matthew Albren

4. Prologue((Intro)
It#was#breezy#a#day.#Gadzooks#looked#into#the#sky.#It#was#evening#and#the#sun#was#
lowering#itself#under#the#mountains.#Gadzooks#was#a#mini,#green,#clay#figure,#about#two#and#a#
half#inches#tall.#A#dragon#to#be#exact.#He#is#a#living#and#non@living#creature.#His#eyes#play#a#large#
part#in#his#life.#When#his#eyes#turn#bright#green,#that#stops#Gadzooks’s#(or#any#dragons)#
heartbeat#and#he#becomes#uFerly#and#completely#just#a#boring#piece#of#clay.#But,#when#his#eyes#
turn#the#color#violet,#it#means#he#is#a#living,#breathing#creature.#Gadzooks#sat#on#his#bed,#which#
was#in#a#deep#hole#he#called#home.#He#spread#his#wings#wide,#breathed#in,#and#then#out#and#sat#
up#to#a#glistening#moon#just#entering#the#night#sky.##
Gadzooks#was#in#a#happy#mood,#so#he#stood#up#to#take#a#walk#outside.#But#then#a#
rumble#came#from#above.#Gadzooks#looked#up#into#the#violet#eyes#of#one#of#his#best#friends,#a#
young#boy#named#Alan.#Alan#was#a#preFy#crazy#kid#with#a#wild#imaginaIon.#He#had#short#blond#
hair,#and#he#lived#in#the#house#that#Gadzooks’s#hole#was#behind.#Alan#picked#Gadzooks#up#off#
the#ground.#Most#of#the#Ime,#Gadzooks#would#make#his#eyes#green#if#a#human#tried#to#make#
contact#with#him,#but#some#humans#were#okay.#Well,#just#Alan.##
© 2013 Matthew Albren

5. MaFhew#Albren# # # ######A#story#inspired#by
The#Last#Dragons#Chronicles#series
#The(World(of(Gadzooks
Part#one
Dragons:#The#Way#of#the#Clay
################################################The#Story:#####################################################################
Gadzooks#had#studied#Alan’s#species#before@humans!#Gadzooks#was#most#of#the#Ime#
confused#with#this#odd#brand#of#nature.#Most#dragons#only#know#dragons.#Humans#could#be#a#
threat#if#they#knew#about#dragon#existence,#and#that#is#why#it#is#a#secret#to#most.#Alan#began#to#
run#around.#He#went#to#sit#on#the#swings#for#a#moment#when#he#grew#Ired.#Then#both#heard#a#
loud#yell#from#Alan’s#back#door.#“ALAN!#GET#ON#INSIDE,#IT’S#LATE!!!!”#Alan#stood#up#and#began#
running#forward#towards#Gadzooks’s#hole.#Then#suddenly,#Gadzooks#dropped#from#his#grip#and#
hit#the#ground#with#a#thump.#Gadzooks#rubbed#his#slightly#bruised#snout.#“Ughhhhh.”#He#
groaned.#He#waited#for#a#few#seconds,#but#Alan#never#picked#him#up#again.##AZer#a#while,#he#
heard#Alan’s#mother#call#again,#“COME#IN#ALAN,#I’M#DONE#WITH#THIS#GAME!”#Then#aZer#a#a#
longer#wait,#Gadzooks#stood#up#himself.#He#spread#his#wings#joyfully.#A#smile#crossed#his#clay#
face.#Then,#Gadzooks#heard#a#grumpy#humph,#and#turned#around#to#look#up#into#the#dark,#scary#
eyes#of#Alan’s#mom.
# Alan’s#mom#reached#down#to#grab#Gadzooks,#but#then,#“Mom,#that’s#my#dragon!”#Alan#yelled.#
Gadzooks’s#eyes#went#green#as#this#happened.#“Blahhhhh!”##Alan’s#Mom#murmured,#then#she#wobbled#
away.#Alan#then#picked#the#dragon#up.#“Sorry#buddy.”#He#said.#“I#was#chasing#a#chipmunk,#but#I#slipped#
in#some#mud#and#that’s#how#I#dropped#you.”#Gadzooks#wanted#to#grunt#so#loudly.#But#then#again,#
Gadzooks#felt#like#he#owed#Alan#for#saving#him#from#that#vicious#creature#Alan#calls#mom.#Alan#put#
Gadzooks#back#in#his#hole#and#then#raced#into#his#house.#And#that#was#when#a#liFle#creature#driZed#into#
his#hole.# # # #
# “Daisy.”#Gadzooks#breathed.#Daisy#is#the#most#beauIful#dragon#in#the#world.#She#is#pink#all#over#
with#soZ,#delicate#scales.#She#is#the#daughter#of#Lord#MaF.#She#is#kind#at#heart#and#loves#all#dragons.#
Gadzooks#had#always#been#in#the#lower#class#of#dragons#though,#so#he#had#never#had#much#interacIon#
with#her.#Daisy#landed.#“Sorry#for#the#unexpected#visit!”#She#spuFered.#“That’s#quite#alright.”#Gadzooks#
said#to#her,#while#bowing#his#head.#Daisy’s#forehead#was#very#sweaty#and#her#ears#were#perked#up,#as#if#
she#felt#like#she#was#in#danger.#Her#heart#was#beaIng#so#loudly,#Gadzooks#could#hear#it.#“Daisy,#why#do#
you#seem#so#worried?”#He#asked#her#with#an#odd#look#on#his#face.#“Because,”#She#bellowed,#“I#am!#I#just#
saw#the#conkle!”#“The#conkle?”#Gadzooks#murmured.#“Yes!”#Daisy#screamed,#“And#it#took#Lord#
MaF!”# #
# Gadzooks#was#speechless.#Lord#MaF#was#the#lord#of#all#dragons.#“How?”#He#spuFered.#
“Uggghhhh!#It#was#terrible.#We#were#out#in#the#sky#and#the#next#thing#you#know#the#conkle#grabbed#
him,#but#I#was#able#to#escape.#You#were#the#closest#at#the#Ime,#or#so#your#hole#was.#So#I#just#swooped#in#
to#hide!”#Daisy#rambled.#“Well,#that’s#quite#terraf@#whoa!”#Gadzooks#tried#to#say.#Something#big#rocked#
the#ground#on#which#it#stood#on.#RRRRRRRRRRR!!!#“What’s#that?”#Daisy#asked#nervously.#“I#don’t#
know!”#Gadzooks#yelled,#“The#world#seems#to#be#rumbling#in#terror.”#Daisy#cowered#in#a#corner,#with#
both#hands#covering#her#ears.#The#pink#dragon#wailed.#This#had#never#happened#before,#Gadzooks#
thought.#What#could#it#be?# # # #
# They#both#looked#up#to#see#a#brown#figure#standing#in#the#moonlight.#Its#shiny#coat#fought#the#
moon#to#show#itself.#It’s#eyes#blazed#like#fire.#“It#can’t#be!”#Gadzooks#yelped.#In#between#its#teeth,#the#
creature#held#a#red#dragon.#The#dragon#looked#weak#and#Ired.#His#cape#was#flowing#in#the#night#wind.#
His#sword#hooked#to#his#waist#belt#was#stained#with#blood.#But#he#had#no#energy.#The#poor#dragon#
© 2013 Matthew Albren

6. looked#almost#unconscious.#But#Daisy#looked#ready#to#faint#when#she#saw#the#dragon.#“FATHER!”#She#
screamed.#Which#could#only#mean#one#thing.#This#creature#had#to#be#the#conkle!
# The#conkle#bared#its#teeth.#Both#dragons#flew#out#of#the#hole#and#did#not#get#caught#by#the#
conkle,#which#was#hissing#wildly.#Then#Gadzooks#heard#Alan#from#his#window#yell#something,#something#
strange.#“Mom#look,#a#beaver!”#“Beaver.”#Gadzooks#repeated#the#word#in#his#head#a#number#of#Imes.#
“Come#with#me.”#Yelled#Daisy#as#she#flew#off#into#the#sky.#Gadzooks#looked#back#at#Alan,#then#soared#
away.# #
# Gadzooks#and#Daisy#flew#silently,#then#arrived#at#Daisy’s#home:#The#Castle#of#the#Lord.#Gadzooks#
smiled#realizing#he#had#become#closer#to#a#special#dragon#than#he#had#ever#hoped#to.#Daisy#gestured#
him#to#follow#her#lead.#They#both#walked#quietly#into#the#large#building.#Daisy#crossed#her#arms#and#
looked#very#sophisIcated.#Meanwhile,#Gadzooks#just#strolled#on#behind#her.#She#finally#pointed#to#their#
desInaIon.
# They#entered#a#large#room.#Many#weapons#were#hung#on#display.#Some#were#stained#with#dry#
blood.#Gadzooks#stared#around.#His#eyes#wandered#all#over.#“This#is#the#weapons@finder#room.”#Daisy#
told#Gadzooks.#She#pointed#at#many#objects#and#told#Gadzooks#about#them.#Then#she#grew#serious.#
“Here’s#the#thing:#I#have#no#way#to#save#my#father.”#she#said#loudly,#but#sadly.#“So#I#was#thinking,#I#can’t#
do#it#alone,#but#I#could#do#it#with#some#help...#perhaps,#from#you.”
# Gadzooks#looked#stunned.#“ME!?”#He#asked.#Daisy#giggled.#I#did#in#fact,#read#your#profile#
recently,#explaining#that#you#do#love#adventures.”#Gadzooks#told#her#it#was#true.#Then#he#pondered#the#
idea#for#a#moment.#He#quickly#had#a#mental#war#with#himself#before#deciding#to#help#the#young#dragon.#
“I#would#be#most#honored.”#Gadzooks#said#triumphantly.#Daisy#smiled.#“Then#you’ll#need#a#weapon.”#
She#reached#into#a#very#secret#compartment#in#the#wall.#She#pulled#out#a#beauIful#golden#box.#She#
pulled#the#top#off#to#reveal#a#shiny,#keen,#violet#blade.#It#had#a#golden#hilt#with#red#accents.#It#was#too#
big#to#be#a#dagger,#and#too#small#to#be#a#sword.#“What#kind#of#weapon#is#it?”#Gadzooks#asked.#“It’s#just...#
a#blade#with#a#hilt.”#Daisy#told#him.#He#gave#her#a#quizzical#look.#She#handed#it#to#him.#Then#she#read#him#
the#descripIon#card.(“This(violet;colored(blade(is(for(the(one(who(decides(to(serve.(The(one(who(helps(
one(in(need.(And(the(one(who(has(never(fought(a(baBle(before.”(Daisy#held#up#the#liFle#card.#Gadzooks#
was#ready#to#begin.
# Daisy#told#him#that#they#would#face#dangerous#enemies.#They#would#even#have#to#face#the#
conkle,#eventually.#Gadzooks#agreed#to#do#whatever#it#took.#He#was#willing#to#help#anyone#in#need,#
especially#Daisy.#She#gave#him#a#smile.#“Oh,#and#one#more#thing,”#Gadzooks#told#her,#“Call#me#Zookie.”
© 2013 Matthew Albren

7. MaFhew#Albren# # #
#Part#two
Moving#on#Forward
# Before#they#walked#out#of#the#castle,#Daisy#brought#Gadzooks#into#her#room.#It#was#huge,#the#
walls#were#the#same#color#as#Daisy’s#beauIful#scales.#“I#just#have#to#read#something.”#Daisy#told#
Gadzooks.#She#reached#into#a#compartment#on#her#bedside#table.#She#pulled#out#a#a#dusty#piece#of#old#
paper.#“What#is#that?”#Gadzooks#asked.#“My#father#gave#it#to#me,#he#said#that#it#holds#the#name#of#the#
one#who#can#solve#any#dragon#problem.”#Daisy#answered.#“I#just#figured,#if#we#can’t#find#my#father,#
whoever#this#is#will#be#our#last#resort.”#She#unfolded#it#and#stared#at#the#ancient#words.#Gadzooks#
leaned#over#her#shoulder#to#try#and#get#a#good#look#for#himself.#Daisy#whipped#around,#slapping#
Gadzooks#in#the#ribs#with#her#tail.#Gadzooks#bent#over.#Daisy#didn’t#seem#very#worried#and#pulled#him#
back#on#his#feet.#“What#does#that#thing#say?”#Gadzooks#asked#her.#Daisy#stared#down,#obviously#not#
willing#to#share#the#informaIon.
# Gadzooks#kept#pressing#her#to#fill#him#in.#AZer#many#begs,#Daisy#gave#in.#“It#says#we#have#to#find#
a#human#named#Lindina.”#Daisy#admiFed.#Gadzooks#figured#that#she#didn’t#want#to#scare#him#since#most#
dragons#hate#humans.#But#the#truth#was,#it#didn’t#bother#Gadzooks#at#all.#Then#something#horrifying#
happened.#A#loud#crunch#echoed#throughout#the#castle.#Every#dragon#inside#looked#at#one#another.#
Then#a#giant#claw#ripped#through#the#side#of#the#castle.
# Gadzooks#gasped.#He#took#the#blade#Daisy#had#given#him#and#held#it#to#the#sun’s#menacing#light#
and#it#shimmered.#It#was#morning#now.#Daisy#picked#up#what#she#had#described#as#a#secret#weapon.#It#
was#a#golden#color.#Gadzooks#had#never#seen#anything#like#it#before.#Both#dragons#prepared#for#baFle.##
# “Quick!#Call#in#a#guard!”#Daisy#yelled.#“We#will#need#some#help.”#Gadzooks#didn’t#even#have#to#
though,#because#three#came#running#in#and#stood#in#front#Daisy#like#a#barrier.#“What#should#we#do?”#
Asked#Daisy.#“We#must#fight#the#beast!”#One#of#the#guards#yelled.#Gadzooks#knew#it#was#the#conkle.#It#
stood#there#menacingly.#It#was#ready#to#make#a#kill.#
# One#of#the#guards#charged#at#it.#He#pulled#out#a#bow#and#an#arrow.#With#amazing#speed,#the#
guard#fired#the#arrow.#It#jabbed#the#conkle.#The#conkle#hissed#angrily.#It#swiped#at#every#dragon#in#sight.#
Daisy#screamed.#Gadzooks#grabbed#her#open#hand,#and#began#to#fly#away.#Daisy#looked#down#in#horror#
as#her#home#and#friends#were#destroyed.#One#dragon#fell#aZer#another.#The#conkle#made#an#awful#
noise.#It#then#spun#around#to#reveal#a#big,#flat,#black#tail.#It#swung#it#high,#then#its#tail#dropped,#crushing#
every#dragon#that#was#leZ.#Daisy#held#in#the#tears.
# #Gadzooks#brought#Daisy#to#a#high#mountain@top#cliff.#He#set#her#down#gently.#Daisy#began#to#
ball#her#eyes#out.#“My#father#has#been#kidnapped#by#that#stupid#conkle#and#it#just#killed#every#dragon#
I’ve#ever#known.”#She#sobbed.#Gadzooks#reached#out#a#clay#hand.#“It’s#all#going#to#be#okay.#I#promise.”#
He#told#her#in#a#soothing#voice.#“This#will#just#make#our#journey#to#save#your#father#more#important.”#
Daisy#stopped#crying.#Then#she#stared#into#the#sky.#“Come#on#Zookie,#we#must#start#now!#That#conkle#is#
dangerous#and#we#must#make#sure#it#does#not#harm#my#father#enough#to...”#She#stopped#suddenly,#not#
willing#to#finish#the#sentence.#“Then#get#your#wings#ready,#because#we#have#lots#of#flying#to#do.”#
Gadzooks#said,#in#an#aFempt#to#make#Daisy#laugh.#So#both#dragons#Spread#their#wings,#and#then#flew#off#
to#start#a#journey,#neither#one#would#ever#forget.
# Daisy#told#Gadzooks#that#to#find#the#conkle,#they#had#to#find#a#map#that#would#be#buried#deep#in#
a#cave.#She#had#read#about#this#map#before,#it#was#called#“The#Responding#Map”#because#it#would#show#
you#wherever#you#wanted#to#go.#According#to#her#calculaIons,#the#cave#was#exactly#eleven#miles#away#
from#their#exact#locaIon.#Both#dragons#flew#quickly#and#they#arrived#at#the#cave’s#entrance.#It#was#in#
there#that#a#map#lay,#that#could#show#them#how#to#get#anywhere#they#wanted#to#go.#The#map#that#
would#bring#them#right#to#the#conkle’s#home.
# Daisy#went#in#first.#Gadzooks#followed#close#behind.#It#was#darker#than#a#midnight#sky.#Gadzooks#
kept#moving#forward.#Then#he#tripped.#He#fell#flat#on#his#snout.#“Daisy,#where’d#you#go?”#Gadzooks
© 2013 Matthew Albren

8. asked#raising#himself#back#to#his#feet.#“Daisy?”#He#yelled.#There#was#no#response.#He#looked#into#the#
darkness#nervously.#He#was#alone.
# Gadzooks#didn’t#even#know#which#way#to#go,#so#he#began#traveling#on#insInct.#Daisy#did#not#
appear.#Light#was#not#seen#once#by#the#scared#dragon.#Cobwebs#were#everywhere.#Gadzooks#couldn’t#
stand#it#in#here#anymore.#He#screamed#and#began#to#run#like#a#maniac.#His#mouth#was#dry#with#fear.#And#
when#things#seemed#like#they#couldn’t#get#any#scarier,#something#moist,#cold,#and#scaly#grabbed#
Gadzooks’s#shoulder.
# MorIfied,#Gadzooks#screamed#louder#than#he#ever#had#before.#He#swiped#at#the#creature#and#
than#backed#into#a#wall.#He#reached#for#his#blade#and#held#it#in#front#of#him.#Then,#whatever#the#
creature#was,#charged#into#him.#They#both#tumbled#through#the#wall.#Gadzooks#prepared#to#land#hard,#
but#instead,#he#kept#falling...#falling...#falling.
# The#other#creature#was#sIll#not#visible.#Gadzooks#expected#to#get#pummeled#any#second#by#the#
beast.#Then#he#crashed#into#the#ground.#He#had#landed#at#the#pit#of#the#mountain.#There#was#light.#He#
looked#up#to#see#a#giant,#orange,#glowing,#cylindrical#shape#on#the#ground.#Then#the#light#died.#Gadzooks#
looked#around.#And#then,#the#place#become#completely#bright#again.#Something#scaly#tapped#his#
shoulder.#Gadzooks#dropped#to#the#floor.#“Got#it.”#Daisy#said.#She#was#standing#there,#holding#a#piece#of#
paper.#Gadzooks#was#stunned.
# Daisy#was#uFerly#shocked#herself#to#hear#how#Gadzooks#fell#through#the#wall.#She#thought#he#
had#been#behind#her#the#whole#Ime.#Gadzooks#had#the#sneaking#suspicion#someone#was#watching#
them,#and#didn’t#want#them#to#find#the#lord#and#save#him,#but#who?
# The#dragons#exited#the#cave.#Both#turned#away#from#the#rays#of#the#bright#sun.#Gadzooks#
tapped#Daisy’s#shoulder,#“What#now?”#Daisy#looked#away#for#a#moment.#She#twitched#her#nose.#Then#
she#held#up#the#map.#They#slowly#looked#it#over#together.#Daisy#thought#to#herself,#how)do)we)find)the)
conkle?#The#map#was#moIonless#for#a#moment.#Then#it#shined#with#a#brilliant#light.#When#the#light#was#
gone,#the#map#showed#the#way#to#the#conkle’s#layer.#Daisy#suggested#they#find#somewhere#to#stay#for#
the#night,#for#they#would#venture#to#the#conkle’s#home#at#sunrise.
# They#found#a#shady#area#on#a#buFe#far#out#in#the#distance.#Gadzooks#made#a#warm#fire#and#sat#
on#the#ground.#Daisy#had#found#a#lot#of#moss,#from#which#she#had#created#a#warm#blanket#for#herself.#
Gadzooks#was#used#to#the#cold,#so#he#needed#no#blanket.#Slowly,#the#dragons#driZed#off.#At#about#
midnight,#both#dragons#were#deep#asleep.#And#they#were#unaware#of#a#pair#of#wandering#eyes#following#
them...#watching#them.
© 2013 Matthew Albren