The invisible dragon flew onward to new adventures, but he was pre-occupied. The little turtle, whose name was Rose, had left a mark on his soul. Her words, and her dreamy presence had touched his heart.
The same questions circled in his mind. Did she have to remain so trapped by her life in the mud of the river Nile? She had such an enlightened soul, such a precious way of sharing her light through words. Could he find a way to free her?
After several days of these circling questions, he made up his mind. His father was a very powerful magician. To change a turtle to a human being was a simple spell. Frogs get turned into princes, why not turtles into human beings? What's the difference? Surely his father would help...
The dragon craned his neck down and nuzzled his father with his enormous invisible head, as he had done since he was a small child. "Many adventures, good father. One in particular…"
They spoke of his journeys since they had last met. All around the world, far and wide. And at the end of the telling, the story of Rose the turtle. How her tiny body housed an enormous, enlightened soul, yearning for a greater purpose.
The magician sensed how deeply moved his son had become by her plight. He also realized that the telling of this story, and the return visit home, had a purpose. "What is it you want to ask me, good son?"
The dragon spoke with a heart filled with hope. "You are such a powerful magician. Would it not be such a wonderful spell, to grant her wish? To transform her life from that of a turtle, to a person, a human being?"
His father smiled a caring smile. "You have a loving soul, my boy. This pleases me. But under no circumstances will I interfere with the life path of this tiny creature."
His son could not understand. He retorted. "Interfere? No, you wouldn't be interfering, you would be… enabling! She has so many wonderful words to share, but who will listen to her when she is a turtle? Make her human, and all the world can enjoy her light, the love within her! Please, father."
It was rare that the dragon challenged the magician, so the father patiently explained the situation to his son. "You said it yourself, my boy. This tiny turtle already lives in a magical world in her imagination. She is evolving according to her own path, her own light. If I remove all obstacles with a wave of my hand, against what force will she evolve? She chose to be a turtle. When the time comes she will chose to end her time in this form…"
The invisible dragon was crestfallen. "And die, in the mud of the Nile? Is this her destiny?"
The magician smiled, and tried to lighten the moment with humour. "Not necessarily. She may become the world's first self-transmogrifying turtle…"
His son did not appreciate this response. He swooped up with his heart enraged, then down again and breathed words at his father. "Did you listen? Did you understand, before you made up your mind? Why do you have such great magic power, and so little time and understanding for a tiny soul brimming with light?"
The magician sensed real dragon fire rising in his son's belly. He had never felt his son's anger directed at him in this way. "Dragon, I am your father... Respect me first, then challenge me."
The stand-off lingered, with the enormous invisible dragon hovering threateningly over his aging father. For many moments, the magician resisted the urge to spark back in anger. His patience was as strong as his wisdom, and he slowly felt the fire in his son subside.
The dragon knew challenges and anger led to nothing. He spread his enormous wings, preparing to leave. "Please, father, give this turtle greater thought. Do it for me."
His father said nothing. With a beat of his wings the invisible dragon exited.
I just love it, the dragon is so thoughtful to think of the turtle...
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