1. Inside the Dragon's Egg by offworlder [Reviews - 8] (13314 words)

2. Ancient Thoughts by offworlder [Reviews - 2] (17861 words)

Stories tend to take their own initiative and sometimes become something totally different than what they were intended to be. Inside the Dragon's Egg did just that...it not only changed its direction and focus but even named itself. It was, up until the end, a fun story, a bit of light reading with a hint of potential trouble that would let us see a more or less happy ending for our heroes, and then Ally said, "Yes, Sir" one too many times and smiled, and the beautiful, innocent little girl I'd envisioned suddenly took on a life and a danger all her own. I wasn't at all pleased, instead of an ending it became a beginning; instead of happy at least for the time being it became tense and broody and here we go againish.

If I'd had time, I might have put my foot down and had it out with her right there. Instead, I let things stand to meet the contest's deadline and found that if I ever wanted to have a moment's peace again I would have to gaze into the murkiness once more. Unfortunately, innocence once lost is hard to regain, and this piece falls far short of bringing things back where I meant them to be. It isn't an ending, or truly even a furthering of the original story...it is instead an in-depth study of the character who got away; a look at what was behind that innocence who began as a plot device but became something more. For those seeking action and adventure, this isn't what you are looking for. It is a mind piece without answers, without conclusions, and, in addition, it is a rehash of 'Inside the Dragon's Egg' from another viewpoint. It may be of no interest to anyone beside myself, but...here it is anyway, because it insisted it had to be written.

3. States of Readiness by offworlder [Reviews - 2] (14240 words)
When I started this I did not realize it would be the never-ending story. I should have known that once you gaze into a dragon's egg the possibilities you glimpse are endless and never completely safe. What I saw in the murkiness of this chapter was something I would much rather not have seen. But, unfortunately, by then it was too late. I was forced to begin a fourth chapter before this one had even completely unfolded in a desperate attempt at damage control. I highly recommend only beginning this chapter if you have time to go onto the next....it's just that sort of a story.

4. Peering Through a Glass Darkly or Her Mother's Daughter by offworlder [Reviews - 2] (9799 words)
As I've stated before, this wasn't supposed to be this kind of a story...I'm willing to concede there will be no happy ever after here, but I'm not about to let this story end with 'States of Readiness'. This is once again my attempt at damage control...

5. Two Roads by offworlder [Reviews - 1] (14329 words)

6. One Day by offworlder [Reviews - 1] (11427 words)

7. Epilogue by offworlder [Reviews - 6] (2823 words)

Occasionally a story draws to a close with just a few bits and pieces leftover. Sometimes they don't amount too much and it's easy enough to dump them. But, every once in a while, the picture they evoke in my mind is too vivid for me to let go. Or they tie up a point that for one reason or another didn't get covered in the story and things just feel a bit undone without them.

Though I include them here as a sort of epilogue, they are really just the leftovers. You can decide if they are worth saving or not.