Prince Pancho and Other Things that Shouldn't Be

I am not good at writing in third person.

Here’s the continuation of “UFOs and Other Things that Shouldn’t Exist”. It’s actually just filler since I couldn’t think of anything too significant to put in and the real action will be in “Fighting Dragicorns and Other Things that Shouldn’t Happen”. But without this part, the conclusion wouldn’t really make sense, so enjoy.

Wait. One more thing. I was lazy in writing this installment, being a late-night writer, so there are no less than two missing scenes I need to add in and fix. Instead of waiting two more months or so to post, you can see that I did it. The story is still fine as it is, and I might not get another chance to update soon. Curse you, school!

If you spot any typos, please comment below.

#

“We’re going to do what?"

Pancho had been having a perfectly nice dream.

No, scratch that. Seeing a freaky stranger—more sickly white than himself—in some Alice in Wonderland dress and Miguel in bunny ears was not a perfectly nice dream. Pancho hoped, pleaded, and begged to god that he wasn’t secretly into that kind of thing. Miguel would surely keep his distance if he learned of that little fantasy.

“You know, Hyme,” Nico replied. “Mouth-to-mouth?”

Maybe Pancho was still dreaming. Hyme was straight, right? If it turned out he wasn’t, then Pancho was happy for them and all, but did they have to do it while he was sleeping? He already had a raging headache to deal with, a body that wouldn’t move, and two stubborn eyelids that refused to open. He didn’t want to add "being forced to listen to something ‘hot and heavy’ happening between his friends."

“You start,” said Hyme.

“I’ll go after you.”

“Like I trust you.”

“I will not be the one to kiss Pancho first.”

It’s a dream, definitely a dream. Go back to sleep, Pancho. This is not happening. This is not happeni—

“Where did you even get this idea?” Hyme exclaimed.

“Well,” Nico hesitated, “you know what happens when a person is unconscious in the movies?”

A telling silence passed. “You are so stupid. You are so incredibly stupid.” Pancho had to agree on that one.

“Sorry for trying! I don’t see you coming up with anything better.”

Pancho heard a shuffle of movement. Someone’s hands were gingerly touching his face. Miguel appeared in his mind’s eye. Too close.

“It’s worth a shot,” someone definitely-not-Miguel said.

It took a second or two for Pancho to realize what Nico was about to do next (which was, in his opinion, not fast enough). With a sudden and surprising amount of strength left, he snapped open his eyes and shoved Nico away. “I’m fine!” Pancho blurted out. “I am fine. Really, really fine.”

“That is the last time I’m helping you,” Nico muttered, rubbing the spot where he pushed him.

“My first kiss didn’t happen yet.”

“Mouth-to-mouth technically isn't a kiss,” Hyme pointed out.

Pancho looked around, desperately searching for something that could change the topic. “Where’s Migs?”

Another telling silence. Was this going to become a trend?

“You don’t remember?” Nico said at last. “You must have really hit yourself on the head.”

“Why? What happened?”

“A Dragicorn kidnapped Migs.”

# 

“What should I do, oh wise woman?” said Pancho, clutching the thick table cloth that was draped on top of the desk.

After he promptly fainted for a last time, his whole life revolved around rescuing Miguel. He learned all he can about Dragicorns (“product of hallucinations” was the answer he got), different dimensions (only fantasy novels came up in the search engine), and traveling the worlds themselves (what made him the laughing stock of the sci-fi forums). Still, Pancho never gave up.

His quest eventually led him to the end of the hall on the third floor, in the last classroom on the right side of the fire exit. There, a girl dressed in a dark and finely woven cloak waited for him. Her fingers delicately held up a clear glass orb, as if it held the secrets of the universe. “O brave warrior,” the woman started. “You must…” She trailed off, giggles escaping from her lips. With one swift motion, she ripped off the cloak and said, “I-I can’t do this.”

“Take this seriously, Cheska!” Pancho frowned. “Migs’s life is in the balance!”

“S-sorry.” She looked into the glass orb. “Uh, Sabrina’s dragon just came back from Japan. You can ask her for a ride to the other dimension.”

“Sabrina?”

“No, the dragon.”

 #

“… and that is why I need you to take me to your home,” Pancho finished.

Sabrina looked at him, then to the open space of Riverside's parking lot. She nodded once and grabbed his hand, placing it gently on where the dragon should have been. Although the dragon was still invisible, he felt the smooth scales of its body and the heat clinging to its skin.

“I thought your dragon lived in the other dimension."

“Sometimes she visits ours,” Sabrina said, stepping back. “Don’t let go of the rope and don't be afraid if she goes toward the sunset. The portal is supposed to be in that direction.”

Pancho climbed aboard the dragon, with Nico and Hyme in tow. He slipped off a few times but managed. It didn’t help that the dragon kept shaking in anticipation.

“Off we go!” Pancho yelled.

At that, the dragon took off. She galloped across the field with a speed that almost made the trio lose their grip. When she sprung into the air, Pancho heard her wings stretching out and battling against the wind. [insert more descriptive stuff and inner thoughts I don’t want to write]

“I am,” Pancho raised his fist to the sky, “Prince Pancho!”