Blue Dragon

looked the Dragon right in the eye. The Dragon went completely still. Then he smiled, bowed slightly, and changed into True Form of about five metres long. His Dragon form was glittering turquoise and silver with scales that rattled with a metallic sound as he moved. He thrashed his tail with its enormous silver fin and wiggled his head from side to side.
    ‘Close enough,’ John said.
    ‘Come and watch, Michael,’ I said. ‘This requires a lot of concentration.’
    ‘You know what you have to do?’ John said.
    ‘Yeah,’ Michael said. ‘It sounds hard.’
    ‘If the energy gets away from you, be sure to drop it,’ John said. He gestured for the Dragon to position himself underneath me.
    I readied myself and studied the wall appraisingly. ‘Ready, Dragon?’
    ‘My Lady,’ the Dragon said.
    I ran to the wall, took three strides up it, and lifted myself from the inside using the energy centres. I had it. I ran all the way to the top of the wall, about ten metres. I grabbed the top and jumped to stand on it. It was difficult to balance; the wall was a thin layer of what appeared to be fibreglass over a metal frame, only about a centimetre thick. I turned and looked down.
    Try something, John said into my ear. Jump off. Use the centres again, this time in the opposite direction, to slow your fall.
    ‘What if I lose it?’ I shouted down.
    Call, John said. The Dragon will catch you.
    ‘If I come down too fast, catch me,’ I called to the Dragon.
    My Lady, the Dragon said, his voice hissing in my ear.
    I hesitated. This would be even more difficult; I would have to be very careful. It was much easier to move the centres when I was already going in the same direction.
    I concentrated. I wanted to let myself simply fall off the wall, but it was at a slight angle and I might hit it on the way down. I had to leap clear of it.
    I jumped. I tried to ignore the sensation of falling, and instead concentrated on the energy centres. Allthree, moving in the opposite direction, smoothly. Smoothly, upwards.
    I slowed my descent, but not enough to avoid injury when I hit. The ground came rushing up to meet me.
    ‘Catch me!’ I yelled into the air and spun onto my back. I dropped the energy and sped up. I hit the Dragon’s forearms with a jerk that jarred through my body.
    ‘Thank you,’ I said.
    ‘You are most welcome,’ the Dragon said. ‘Was that really the first time you have attempted that?’
    ‘Yes,’ I said. He tipped me out of his arms onto the ground and I turned to study the wall again. ‘Slowing my descent is much harder.’
    ‘Have another try,’ John said, ‘and then we’ll let Michael attempt it. Don’t tire yourself too much; you need to try horizontal holding as well.’
    ‘How long have you been training this one, Ah Wu?’ the Dragon said.
    ‘I think about a year and a half,’ John said. ‘Emma?’
    ‘That’s about right.’
    ‘Let me know if you tire of her, Ah Wu,’ the Dragon said. ‘Despite her plain appearance, she would make a worthy addition to any household, untouched or not.’
    I faced the Dragon. John did the same thing.
    ‘You will need to line up,’ I said softly. ‘The White Tiger and the King of the Demons have both attempted to win me away from Xuan Wu already. But you are all completely wasting your time. I’m a lot like him, and his number is one. For me, there will never be any other.’
    The Dragon’s expression was unreadable. He gazed at me with his enormous shining turquoise eyes. Then he spoke. ‘You are quite correct, my Lady, and I most sincerely apologise.’ He lowered his massive silver-fanged head over his front legs. ‘Please believe me, Imeant no offence. Permit me to present you with a gold coin later.’
    I turned back to the wall. ‘Let me have another try.’
    You’ll have two coins when you get back , John said into my ear.
    I didn’t reply. I ran to the wall, hurled myself up it, and made it to the top without difficulty. The skill was easier each time I did it.
    I turned at the top and concentrated. I gathered my energy and jumped away. I ignored the fact that I was falling and concentrated on moving the energy. I gently moved the centres upwards, then with more force. I slowed myself; I had it. I floated down. At about five metres up I put my arms out and rotated so that I was feet first, balancing for a soft landing. I studied the ground, readying for the impact.
    I completely lost it. I fell straight into the ground and hit it