Rory's Bed Was Blue

Rory’s bed was blue.

His face was blue.

His entire house, the dirt, his toes, they were all blue.

Everything was blue.

Rory thought about this as he sat on the edge of the creek. He stared at his reflection, a pale blue figure stared right back. Rory waved at the pale blue figure. The figure waved back.

“What’s on your mind, William?”

Rory narrowed his dark blue eyes. William? Seriously? Why did his reflection insist on calling him by his actual birth name, he did not know.

William?

Rory shuddered.

“Well? Spit it out then!” said Rory’s reflection, Ref, as Rory liked to call him.

Rory ignored Ref, and closed his eyes. It was very strange, the colors under his eyelids. They were not blue. Not in the slightest. It was a color very much darker than blue, specked with little circles that were not blue either. They were much lighter than pale blue...

“William? Don’t tell me your thinking of your eyelids again, are you?” said Ref’s annoyingly worried voice.

Rory snapped back into reality.

“Of course I’m thinking about my eyelids, Ref-,” Ref grimaced at his name, “-because there’s nothing to think about,” continued Rory exasperatedly.

“Well, stop it then, the dragons are still asleep, and your father wouldn’t approve if I told him you were off lollygagging.”

Rory smiled at that. “You tell him that, Ref,” another grimace from Ref, “Cause then I’ll tell dad you were sneaking off with Nanny again, doing Blue knows what with her,” he said.

Ref paled and shook his head violently.

“You wouldn’t!”

Rory fiddled with a crisp bright blue leaf, then looked at Ref in the eyes. “You bet I would,” he said triumphantly.

Ref sniffed at this, then said, “Fine, I will not tell. Just-just stop thinking about your eyelids, William, it’s odd.”

Rory raised an eyebrow, “Sure thing, Ref, tell Nanny I said hi, you know, when you guys aren’t-“

“Shut up! Shut up! Goodness, William, just shut up,” hissed Ref, blushing an intense blue, and drifting away deep within the river.

Rory got up slowly and made his way towards the dragon stables, his thoughts still revolving around the strange colors under his eyelids.

Rory glanced at the slumbering dragons and stroked the nearest one fondly. After several minutes of dragon-silence bliss, he sadly fished out a small instrument out of his pocket, looked at it with resentment, and blew.

The effect was instantaneous.

The dragons shot up, and began flapping their rather large and leathery wings to the max, then, they began roaring with all their might, as if this was their very last day to live.

Rory sighed heavily and whistled. The dragons, bless their souls, did not pay him the slightest attention.

There was nothing for him to do except wait for the winged creatures to calm down. The dragons, ranging from silvery blue to the brightest navy went on with their wild act, content with the hustle and bustle that seemed to be emanating from them.

Rory sat on the midnight blue grass and waited for them to finish. After about- lets just say- fifteen minutes, the dragons finally calmed down, and then looked expectedly at Rory, as if saying “Food time. Now. Or we’ll bite your face off.”

Rory heaved up the bucket of pomegranate onto the large, wooden, clear blue table with the strength of a thousand noodles. He cursed himself for refusing his father’s proposal of weight lifting with him. Oh well.  

The dragons gathered round the table and gazed at their fruit filled bowls. Rory blew the miniscule instrument once more, and the dragons tucked in.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me then, I’ll be heading out,” said Rory, grasping the door’s knob, “If you guys need anything then just- just don’t need anything,” he continued, looking at the mischievous large winged demons.

The lot grunted in response and went back to stuffing their scaly faces.

Rory shook his head and trudged down the blue gravel path. He spotted the creek, home of Ref, his annoying reflection, and steered right away from the spot. Enormous, sinister looking mountains were nestled opposite the creek, giving out an unwanted and cold aura.

Rory lived in Jon Dura, a city farthest away from The Government. Even though it was miles away from The Government, the city was just as strict about everything. 

Rory’s father, Augustus, told him about the poisonous gas that surrounded their planet, Pluto, and how The Government’s very own elder built a blue barrier to protect citizens of Pluto. The barrier eventually crumbled with age, but the poisonous gas disappeared with it as well.

He kept walking, ignoring the sweet smell of fresh azure bread wafting from a nearby bakery. Rory reached the gates that lead to an unruly forest. He unbolted the gates lazily and strolled onto the exhilarating promise land ahead of him.

The forest was Rory’s favorite place to be, except the dragon stables, of course. He would always be seen there, gazing at the ferocious looking mountains with a great sense of dislike. He did not know why he disliked the mountains, but hey, he was a free spirit.

The tree branches were climbed with dexterity and Rory found himself on top within mere seconds. He swayed gently with the wind like he did everyday and let his mind wander care freely..

Rory was back to thinking of being aware that he was one of the only people who weren’t content with the blueness of Pluto.. and that perhaps he’d someday find out why everything was just so blue..

“William Hunt, I forbid you to speak of this nonsense your mouth is sprouting,” his mother, Jolene, had said one evening. Rory’s eyebrows shot up. “But mom! I’m just saying that I think there are other colors that aren’t so blue!” he retorted, feeling quite annoyed. His mother clucked her tongue and fixed her stern gaze at him. “The Government forbids it! Blue is the symbol of Pluto! You should be proud of your heritage! How dare you insult our beloved planet by suggesting that there are other colors?” she had shrieked.

Rory looked at her, furious. “I am not insulting my heritage, mom, but I just think that there are other.. things out there! I have a feeling our so called Government are keeping certain subjects out of our grasp, and-“

His mother had looked appalled and suddenly very nervous. “SHUSH, Rory! We shall not speak of the Government with such disrespect! They have saved us from the poison that has almost sabotaged our planet!” Rory opened his mouth but was harshly silenced by his open-minded mother. “Not another word!” she said rather menacingly. Rory stormed out of their garden and dashed to his room, loudly closing the door. 

Why was everything so blue? Just-just why can’t there be anything else? Why not-

“Hullo Rory Hunt!” said a seemingly distant voice, pulling him back to reality.

Rory glanced down and smiled despite of himself.

Dotty.

“Hey Dora, looking for dragon eggs, I assume?”

Dorothy Dot was a very.. unstable thing, that Dorothy. Her pale blue hair was almost the exact same shade of her very pale blue face. Her eyes, though, were the brightest sapphires Rory had ever seen.

“Yeah, actually, I am,” she said thoughtfully. “Have you seen my basket, Rory Hunt?” she asked looking at him with her rather large eyes.  Rory shook his head and smiled even more. “Who have you been collecting dragon eggs with, then?”

Dotty tilted her head and thought for about a minute. She looked at him very seriously all of a sudden and said, “I haven’t the slightest idea!”

She rapidly began to climb off the tree and began shouting hysterically.

“BASKET? BASKET WHERE ARE YOU? MY DARLING BASKET, WHO HAS TAKEN YOU? BASKET!”

Dorothy ran wildly around Rory’s occupied tree, screaming.  Rory tried to stifle his bemused chuckling as he watched Dotty Dorothy run around everywhere at once.

He made sure Dotty was well away from him before saying, “Bravo, Dot, bravo!”

A shifty looking teenage boy with a head of curly midnight blue hair appeared out of no where, roaring with laughter.

“Typical Dora!” he said, grinning widely.

“Connor, why torture her? Why not try collecting junk with her?” said Rory, smiling slightly.

Connor Dot was Dorothy’s twin. He looked, and acted, absolutely nothing like her, and Rory guessed 

Connor was relieved about that. Though Dorothy was the elder of the two, by fifty seven seconds, mind you, Connor looked older, and more mature.

Don’t be fooled though, looks can be so very deceiving.

Connor nimbly climbed the tree beside Rory and sighed heavily. “Now I’m bored,” he said sourly, winking at Rory.

Rory nodded at Connor and looked back at the scene before him, and thought about the ever so popular color blue.

“Hey William, I reckon your thinking about something!” said Connor, gasping in surprise.

Rory paid him no attention and kept gazing at the mountains, thinking about the color blue.

“I didn’t know you had a brain in your possession!” continued Connor, smirking at Rory.

Rory ignored him.

“Can I see it, Willy? It might be real big, like, I dunno, walnut sized?”

Rory sighed, and ripped his gaze away from the scenery. “You now have my full attention, bud. What do you want? Dragon droppings? My mother’s horseradish? A thousand crickets?”

Connor looked like he was considering the choices. “A thousand crickets... Not a bad idea, mate, but no.”

Rory sighed dramatically. “Then what is it?”

“I want to go dragon riding,” Connor answered, looking at the now midnight blue sky.

Rory frowned. “You want to go dragon riding?”

Connor nodded, his large sapphire eyes, which eerily matched Dotty’s, expectantly looking at him. Rory decided that now would be a good time to get back home. He quickly climbed down and stuffed his hands inside his pockets, ignoring the instrument that could summon all the dragons in the barn in ten seconds flat.

Connor climbed off quickly as well and fell into step with Rory. “Climbing off a tree is not an answer, Willy,” he said, tutting. Rory stopped walking and looked at Connor.

“It’s against the law, man.”

Connor shrugged nonchalantly. “Nobody’s going to see me, Rory.”

Rory looked at him sideways. “Have you ever ridden a dragon, mate? It’s no walk in the park,” he said, looking anxious. When Connor wanted to do something so out of this world, he’d do absolutely anything to get it, and for some odd reason, Rory was almost always part of whatever Connor wanted to do. They weren’t exactly best friends, but he and Connor always seemed to find themselves with each other’s company.

“Well... I might have climbed one once-“

“You climbed one of my dragons? You complete idiot.”

“-and I might have sprained my ankle-“

“So that’s why you came to school with the cast. You said you tripped down the stairs!”

“-but it was nothing serious-“

“You kept the cast on for five months, since you’ve broken about every blue bone on your entire right leg.”

Connor smiled at that memory, and linked arms with Rory, who shook him off. He put both his hands on Connor’s shoulders.

“Connor, no. You will not. You will not, nor ever ride one of my dad’s dragons; it’s a train crash waiting to happen, man. You shouldn’t. Do you hear me?” said Rory slowly; making sure Connor was looking at him. Connor, still smiling, apparently did not notice Rory’s cautions and hummed. Rory pushed Connor away and shook his head. They reached the gate and Rory expertly bolted the gates.

I’m worse than Ref, thought Rory miserably.

“Shouldn’t you go see if Dot-“ Rory corrected himself, “-Dora’s returned to sanity?” Connor tilted his head and thought. “Nah! I think she’s back home, already,” he said breezily. Rory stopped walking, and looked at Connor worriedly. “But the forest can get a bit rough, if you know what I mean,” he said. “Don’t be such a stick in the mud, Rory, I’m sure she knows the way back, I mean, it’s not like she comes here everyday-“

A high-pitched scream suddenly sounded from the middle of the forest. Connor looked at Rory with alarm. “What the hell was that?” said Rory, already trying to run from the opposite direction of the scream. Connor grabbed Rory’s arm with surprising strength. “No,” he said with such force. Rory began to tremble as the next scream emanated from within the forest.

“Come on, Rory!” he hissed, dragging him to the gates. “Open it!” Connor commanded. Rory shook his head. Connor looked outraged. “Fine! Fine!” said Rory, fumbling with the locks. After a few minutes with the locks stubbornly not unlocking, and Connor’s constant cursing, Rory finally managed to open the steely blue wrought iron gates. Connor sprinted towards the middle of the forest. Rory preferred to stay put incase anyone else came so he can WACHAW their butts. Connor turned around and motioned him to come with him. Rory sighed and meekly ran after Connor, dreading the moment when the street lamp’s dull blue glow vanishes.

The scream sounded a third time, and Rory was turning hysterical.

“Connor? Connor? I can’t see you! Where are you? Connor!” called Rory, scared out of his wits. 

Something grabbed his back and Rory himself gave a rather loud and shrilly scream.

“It’s me, you idiot!” muttered Connor, taking out a torch out of his pocket. Rory gaped at the thing with wonder, then annoyance. “You had the stupid thing the entire time!” he quietly yelled. Connor turned the torch on with a CLICK! and chuckled. “Laughing now, are you? Is my yelling amusing you? ‘Cause this isn’t funny!” said Rory, out of breath from all the running. Connor laughed out loud and said, “For extra effects, man, I figured a wuss like you needs a bit of adrenalin running through his veins,” said Connor cheerfully.

“I’m no wuss! We’re not even supposed to be in the forest,” mumbled Rory angrily, shoving Connor. Connor just laughed and ran ahead.

After about five more minutes of running, or in Rory’s case, shuffling, they found the source of the screams.

He almost attacked her.

“DOTTY! WHAT THE HELL! WHY WERE YOU SCREAMING? I THOUGHT YOU LEFT! YOU SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME-“

Dorothy was standing in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by brittle and faded blue leaves, and a basket by her feet, looking well and unharmed.

Connor looked at his sister, dumb founded for a second, and then erupted into laughter. He looked at Rory, who shook in fury, and hooted. Rory looked at the twins, and he finally understood.

He glared at Connor. “You.”

Connor nodded, wiping tears out of his eyes. “Me!” he sang.

Dotty looked at Rory, confused. “What?” she asked.

Rory growled. “You. You were screaming like some maniac, and it’s almost eight o’clock, and your brother made me run-“

Dotty looked at her brother and he looked right back. It looked like they were having some sort of telepathic conversation going on, but Dotty shook her head, looking very lost. “What?” she asked again.

“Why-were-you-screaming?” asked Rory, teeth clenched.

Dotty looked at the ground, shuffling uncomfortably. “Because I thought I saw a hermit crab,” she said inaudibly.  Rory’s eyebrows shot forwards; he had to make sure he was hearing her correctly. “You thought you saw what?” he asked very quietly. Dotty still looked at the ground, her face bright blue. Connor’s lips, on the other hand, tried not to force themselves open. “I thought I saw a hermit crab, so I screamed,” she said a little louder, refusing to meet Rory’s eyes. Rory nodded, still quiet. “And- and did such a hermit crab exist? In the middle of the forest?” he added quite ominously. Connor made no sound, but shook so hard he looked like he was having a seizure. “You! Stop laughing!” bellowed Rory, jabbing his finger at Connor’s chest.

Dotty finally looked at Rory, her face composed once more. “Well, no, but I thought I saw one, I really did! I’m deathly allergic of hermit crabs, you see, one touch and I could blow up like a tether balloon!” she replied very seriously.

Rory looked like he was about to slap her. More importantly, he was going to slap Connor.

Stupid, stupid Connor.

But no, he will not sink so low.

Rory looked at Connor, his eyes slits. “No dragons.”

Connor’s eyes widened. “The horror!” he said, slapping his cheeks. “Asshole,” grumbled Rory, ignoring the faint smile forming on his lips. He turned around, and headed out of the forest.

Connor and Dotty raced after him, mumbling endless streams of apologies.

“Go away,” he said, trying not to laugh.

“Come on Rory! Don’t be such a blue baby! Lighten up, it was just a joke!” called Connor.

“I didn’t even know it was a joke, Rory Hunt! Please forgive my allergies! I was at a bad place!”

“Come on, Rory!”

“Rory Hunt! Forgive us!”

Rory laughed at that.

He did not turn around. 

- left-foot-fowl