# The Dragon's Treasure

Author: Ahmar_Wolf
Tags: Dragon, Human

A man seeks riches but discovers that dragons can be the best thing that ever happens to them


Let me take you back to a time before
China itself was an empire to workshop behind a little pottery shop,
in a nameless village. This is where items for the store are made,
the work is shared between Fong and Po. But when Po's mind wanders
which usually means he is created a statue of a woman in a a lovely
dress out of clay that meant for the everyday objects they make. This
when it's Fong's job to get the attention of Wu, (He owns the shop)
who eventually says, "Po why out of the all craftsmen we have
creating our wares why do I always seem to talk to you". Po
replies, "Just lucky I guess". But the stern look on Wu's
face told him he did not appreciate his little joke, "Okay I
know I should be doing what I should be doing but I can't help it...I
am in love", Po said. "Po you have the potential to be a
great artist. For no one I know can bring what is essentially a
lifeless mass and give it a soul. Look before you met her, you were
beginning to make a name for yourself. But look at you now, instead
of creating works of great art for the kings and members of the royal
court, you create wares for everyone. All because of a woman, A
handmaiden for the Princess Yasmine, no less. Whom say your in love
with, face the fact Po she can never be yours. All that potential
wasted and your back right were you started long ago", Wu said.
"But Master Wu, I know Lotus Flower loves me", Po insisted.
"It was just a chance meeting, when the king and his family
toured our village, and they just happened to drop by my humble shop.
If I recall right you 2 never spoke, only exchanging glaces when the
king asked who makes your wares". "But I know she loves
me", Po insists again. "Po, she is not in her class, for
she is far above you or anyone you know. Lotus Flower is destined to
marry, a member of the royal court", Wu said. "Have you
heard anything?", Po wonders. As Wu pats Po in his back,"Po,
why don't you settle on a girl from the village, I know more than
one lovely young woman asked me about you".

The only thing Po does is sigh, and go
back to work.

Wu really cared about Po, he was like
the son he never had. They went from an employee/employer
relationship to one where they really care for one another, he even
got Po to start creating little figurines, for he knew Po had the
talent. But he also knew Po often let his emotions get the better of
him for he feared if Lotus Flower did marry, poor Po might do
something quite foolish.


But as Po worked as started to think,
he figured he the only chance of marrying Lotus Flower if he became
rich and famous, for if he was he would be in the same social class
as any royal and therefore free to marry Lotus Flower. That was when
he decided to quit his job, despite Wu's advised him against it, that
is what he did.

Po did everything to earn money
everything from digging ditches, planting, he even built walls. In
fact he in fact did everything that was asked of him. But even
after just a week where everyone knew his name...but sadly that was
just about it. In fact he had earned less money that if he stayed
working for Wu.

Until this one day when he got the
strangest job offer he ever had in his entire life, and that from a
weasel of a man, "My name is Shang and I heard you seek riches
to marry a fair maiden who is far
above you in the station of life".
"Yeah, so what". "I want you to work for me, you see I
run the
wrestling matches here in town that
everyone is crazy about. I put big guys like you against one
another. You must have seen the
matches...everyone has...even the King is a HUGE fan". That got
Po's attention, "The King you
say?!!". "He even invites the Grand Champion of all the
matches to his palace. He often welcomes them to his family if you
get my meaning". "But I don't know". "In case you
forgot, it's just skill vs. skill nothing brutal. I don't allow
punching, kicking or biting, it seems all you had to do knock his
opponent off of their feet and pin there shoulder to the ground. The
winner would then receive a prize, once make a name for yourself you
get a percentage of the money wagered on the match".


To Po it sounded like easy money, and a
quick way to gain fame. So he told Shang, "I'll do it".

Expect when he stood there in the
middle of that crowd wearing nothing but a lion cloth, he quickly
discovered the real trick to this wrestling. How do you get someone
off of their feet who did not want that to happen.


His first match ever where he faced
another big guy like himself, but one with more experience than him,
and as it turns out it wasn't quick, nor was it easy, but his
experience in wrestling his co worker for fun really helped...he won
anyway to his own surprise. He just loved the roar of the crowd, and
in that one match he made more than he ever made from Wu in an entire
month.


After a few months...

Then came that fateful day, Shang
called it 'The Regional Championship'. Which meant other wrestlers
from outside the village would battle
until there was only 1 winner, and that one would be welcomes in the
palace of the King. Po had visions of him and Lotus Flower walking
down the aisle. But that match

did not take place there in town but
down in a nearly valley.

Po's mind was on other things like what
kind of outfit he wear for the wedding. Instead of listening
to what another wrestler was now
telling him, "Look Po your a really nice guy, but you got to get
any idea of wedding, and that girl out
of your head. I been to these regional's before, and there are
some real brutes there, miners mainly,
but I swear some dig at the rocks with their bare hands. Look Po
they are HUGE, one had me in a hold I
had to quit wrestling for 2 years before my back healed. Po
won't you listen to me...PO!!!"
But Po wouldn't listen he was just daydreaming of his life with Lotus
Flower.

Then the first day of the Regional's
came, the crowd who gathered there nearly filled the entire valley,
Po was to be in the very 1st match. As even Shang tired to warn him,
"This usually means you go against last years champion, Po you
really got to watch yourself out there". But Po still won't
listen, "I'll beat him like every other man I faced".
Unlike Po, Shang knew who Po would be facing and even he was scared
for Po.

His name was Muu, and he had this rep
for breaking anyone who made fun of his name. He was huge to say the
least, 6 '8 320 lbs and all muscle. He towered over 5' 7 Po and
barely 220. But all poor Po had was Lotus Flower on his mind when he
came face to face with this beast of a man.


Who as the match started had Po at his
mercy. Muu treated him like a rag doll to do with as he pleased.
There was nothing Po could do to stop him. After Muu slammed him to
the ground for the 3rd time. Po lost conscientious. But thankfully
the referees stopped the match.


Later at the other matches continued Po
was back in his street clothes sitting alone battered and bruised
from head to toe...crying he had lost everything including all the
money he earned when he bet on himself to win.

But as Po wondered if life was worth
living without love of Lotus Flower. Another man came looking for
him, looking more like another wrestler himself, Po shouted "I
given up on wrestling!!! Go AWAY!!!".


But the man stood his ground, as Po
shouted again, "Didn't you hear me go away!!" But as the
man continued to approached him, "That is a funny thing to say,
when you seek fame and fortune". "Fame and fortune,
bleck!!! I tried it, I failed. Didn't you hear I lost the match and
all my money. I am flat broke and without a job". As Po began to
sulk, the man said, "What if I told you all isn't lost, that I
could say you gain back way more than you ever lost and much, much
more". "How much?!" "How about richer than
any king, free to marry anyone you want". "Sounds like your
promising a lot". As he reached out with his hand, "The
name is Zewell I am looking for a partner and I think your the right
man. I seen you in the matches you have great moves". Po was a
bit confused, "I don't quite get what you mean". "Let
me explain, I am an explorer and I made the biggest discovery of a
lifetime months ago...I found the Dragon's Treasure".

Po was skeptical to say the least,
"Isn't that suppose to be a myth". "But I found it!",
Zewell insisted. "But I can't get it myself it a 2 man
operation. Why even getting to the peak where it can be found is
risky enough, but the reward is...". "What?!!" "Why
anything you can think of, you know the old legends. The ones that
said back long ago, that told of a dragon who lusted for riches,
stealing only the biggest and the best. The largest nugget of gold,
the biggest and brightest gems. Then after gathering all that it
could it hid away in the mountains so no one could ever steal from
it". "But isn't that just a tale mother's tell there kids,
mine told me that same story back when I was just a kid!!", Po
exclaimed. "Look if I didn't see it for myself I would not of
believe it. Huge caves filled from floor to ceiling with gems. I
nearly died when I saw an emerald as big as your head fall in to a
bottomless cassavas". "Cassavas?!!" "That's why I
need help, and especially with someone so skillful as you. Don't deny
it, I know the story of how you save that blind kid when he climbed
up high on that temple in town. One false move she could of fell to
her death. But there you climbed up there like it was nothing and
saved that child. I need that skill". Po was hesitant, until
Zewell adds, "Even if you only bring back what you could carry,
I am sure Lotus Flower would be yours forever".

Even though Po knew he was grasping at
straws he accepted, Zewell lead him to some equipment that they
needed, mainly ropes, supplies for their meals. Once they loaded up
they were off.
The journey was a long and difficult
one, taking a couple of weeks. Traveling beyond the valley, Po knew
all so well, to the foothills of gigantic peaks he up to now only saw
in the distance. It was the biggest of these where they were headed.


But the journey wasn't easy, especially
all the ropes he needed to carry and quickly saw why. A series of
sheer drops, any one of them could killed either one of them. But
thankfully ropes were already in place, presumably placed there by
Zewell.

Which eventually lead to a very high
peak. Which slowly they climbed until they finally reached an
opening. This is where they both rested until the next day when Po
asked, "Don't we have to light a torch to see inside this cave".
"Just step inside and see for yourself". Once they got past
any sunlight. The cave lit up on it's own like it was mid day. Po was
amazed, but as Zewell reminded him, "You really got to watch
your step, there are lots of sheer drops ahead".


One of which Po almost stepped in to if
it wasn't for Zewell. Once they got past that one there was 11 more
ahead of them. Po knew that because he counted every single one of
them. Nothing that difficult in fact save for the very last one. As
Po looked as what lies ahead, "Oh yes, I see what you mean it
does look like piles of gems". "Now how do we make it
across", Zewell wonders. Po simply looked at everything, "Now
if you could get a hunk of that rope around that stalagmite over to
your left". "That one?!", "No, the one right next
to that one". "Oh that should be easy", "Now for
the tricky part once you do I have to make my way across, and from
there I take another rope over to that big one right in front of that
cave". "You know I would of never thought about that"
That is why you have me", Po proudly boasts.


It wasn't that easy Zewell missed that
stalagmite a few times before getting it, and finding something to
wrap the other end around of the rope...just in case. Also wasn't
that easy. But Po did it, and so it seemed Zewell.

Until Po entered the cave and saw that
the gems really weren't gems but was the skin of a....DRAGON!!!

When he tried to run he found that the
rope was completely gone and he was stuck.


Po simply assessed his situation, he
calmly sat down on the cave floor and tightly closed his eyes. Hoping
it wasn't going to hurt when the dragon ate him...gulp!!!

But what he heard next, frankly
surprised him when the voice presumably of the dragon says, "It
has to be the great artist Po". Hesitantly opening one eye Po
says, "You heard of me?". "Up until you disappeared
off the face of the Earth. Po great artists are rare and few, the
world doesn't need another wrestler". Po was sure of this, "I
know this is some sort of trick, you simply want to prolong my
torment". "I could do nothing more than what your doing to
yourself right now". "Huh?!" "Po everyone knows
your work even though your only just started, my guess it wouldn't
have been that much longer before you received a royal commission".
"They do those things?!!". This cause the dragon to shake
his head in disbelief, "I have come across...but this is a
first. Yes, of course they do. I even heard that your local royal
wanted sculptures of not only himself, but of his entire family"

"OH GREAT?!!! I have to be the
dumbest man on this entire world". Then Po looks up at this 30
foot tall dragon, "You might as well eat me". This time the
dragon said a single word, "Why?". Having nothing he felt
he could loose Po told the dragon everything, especially of Lotus
Flower. "There she was a woman I only knodded to, whom I was
totally in love with. She is all I can think of lately. No matter
what I do, it always turns in to her". "Then why not create
a sculpture of her". "Are you crazy, no way Wu could ever
sell a statue of a mear woman who is just a handmaiden, everyone
wants soldiers of members of the royal court". "Then why
not create something for yourself", "Frankly I guess in all
the rush to become rich and famous...". Then it hit him, "Zewell
works for you". "That is the first smart thing you said.
Yes Zewell works for me, it's pretty obvious I can't go looking
around the countryside looking for people to help. They will think I
want to eat them". "Well why not". The dragon then
looks straight at Po, "I am a vegetarian", and for the
first time in a very long time, Po began to laugh, "A
Vegetarian?!!! Oh Boy!!!". The dragon frankly enjoyed the sound
of Po's laughter and later explained. "What Zewell told you was
more or less true, he heard the ancient legend and was looking for
treasure one he found me of course his plans changed...after he wet
his pants of course". This naturally cause Po to snicker. "After
I agreed not to eat him, he told me of his sad tale. In short he was
looking for a purpose to his life and I gave him one. He looks for
those who needs my unique kind of help. But right now you could use a
good meal, some rest before completing your greatest work to date".
Po just looked at the dragon as if he was crazy, "I have all the
clay you could ever need, tools
and a great artist...that's you. I want
you to make a statue of Lotus Flower for me". "Why?"
"For the simple reason you won't be able to create anything else
until your able to complete what burns with in you. Speaking of which
we don't need a kiln we have me". The look on Po's face told the
dragon the truth, "I know it's a bit corny, lets just say I want
to see the object of your desires". The Po had a question, "How
big do I need to make it?" "I leave that up to you"

The workshop the dragon finally brought
Po to was even finer than the one at Wu's store. The clay was the
perfect for any size he saw fit. Taking a deep breath Po started his
work.
Then 3 weeks later..."It's
finished". Po made it life size, "All you need to do is make
sure it doesn't crack as it drys out, then fire it".

The dragon to say the least was greatly
impressed, "She is simply the most lovely woman I ever seen, Po
no wonder your in love with her".

"Yes, but I doubt she would ever
be mine"

"Po your tired, in fact your very
sleepy". "Yawn, this has to be some dragon trick" Po
said as he yawned, it was all he could do was stay awake, "Po
just lay down and sleep, by the time you awake your problems will be
over".

Po then laid down upon the ground and
fell fast asleep.

But then Po awoke, in fact he sat up,
"Like I said...". But then he looked around Po could not
believe it he was less than a days journey from his village. With
little more than he had when it started. Po then made a couple of
hard decisions, the first was going back to see Wu and try and get
his job back. Maybe the dragon was right, after he created the statue
of his lady love Po almost felt he could create anything. He almost
did not want to go, for he felt as if after all of this, he could be
the laughing stock of the entire village. But as his experiences
taught him, you should not let your fears hold you back from trying
something new.

But when his village came in to sight
Po could not believe his eyes, there was Lotus Flower and she was
running towards him. Forgetting his troubles he ran full speed
towards her, when they met they kissed. Lotus Flower then insisting,
"Po I can't live without you, lets get married right now".
"What?!!! Yes of course but what happened?!!" Lotus Flower
replied with one word, "The statue, after my Lord heard about
the statue and it's message he released me from my bonds, making me
free to marry the only man I will ever love". "What
message". "You better see it for yourself my love".

Now surround by nearly the entire
village Po was now standing in from of the very statue he created for
the dragon. Except it seems the dragon added his own message.

Let it be know by all a man called Po
faced not only his fears, but a furious fire breathing dragon. Not
for riches, nor fame but for the love of a woman.


But as he tried to explain the dragon
couldn't be any nicer Lotus Flower was kissing him again, and that
really didn't seem important.

But that wasn't all, when a messenger
from the King worked his way through the crowd with a message for the
pair. As soon as he asked, "I assume your Po". "Yes
Sir". the messenger pulled out a scroll and said the following,
"Let it be known by all Po now has a Royal Commission to create
works of art for not only those at the Royal Palace but to create in
what any media he chooses representations of members of the royal
court. For this he will be paid handsomely, I assume enough for a
fine house, a wedding, and in time support his family".

Po had tears of joy running down his
cheeks.

But that wasn't all Wu had something to
say as well. "Po, my old friend or should I say partner. My shop
is now just as much as yours as it is mine. I also would deem it a
great honor to display whatever future works of art you create"
everyone cheered

As Po would say later, "I did
discover the Dragon's Treasure, it may not of been riches. But that
treasure by a crafty old dragon brought me more happiness than I
could ever imagine".

Source: https://sofurry.com/view/583520