"ASH!" Lily yelled, half-laughing, half-screaming. "YOU'RE CHEATING!"

Ash roared playfully, wings slicing through the air as it dove once more.

Bruce laughed softly, holding Lily firmly in place. "Hold tight."

The wind roared past them, the ground rushing closer before pulling away again. Each rise and fall sent Lily's heart racing, her voice echoing with excitement as Ash finally slowed and leveled out.

Ash stopped midair, hovering steadily.

Lily panted, gripping Bruce's shirt, cheeks flushed.

"…Ash," she said between breaths. "Why did you stop?"

She pouted dramatically. "You're not my friend anymore."

Ash turned its head slightly and growled softly, almost offended.

Then...

It dove again.

"Aaaah! You're my friend! You're my friend!" Lily shouted immediately, laughter bursting from her as Ash repeated the playful arc once more.

Bruce watched the two of them, a quiet smile resting on his face.

Like that, with laughter carried on the wind and the city slowly drawing closer beneath them, Ash carried them home, one playful dive at a time.

After a while, Ash leveled out again, wings beating in a steady rhythm as the air calmed. The chaos of the dive faded into a smooth glide, the horizon stretching wide and peaceful before them.

Lily let out a long, happy sigh and leaned back slightly against Bruce's chest.

"Big brother," she said softly, eyes still glued to the view below, "when I grow up… can I fly like this too?"

Bruce rested his chin lightly on her head. "If you want to, you can."

"Really?" She turned to look at him, eyes wide. "Even if I'm scared sometimes?"

"Especially then," Bruce replied without hesitation. "Being brave doesn't mean you're not scared. It means you don't let fear stop you."

Lily nodded seriously, taking his words to heart.

Then she looked forward again and pointed. "Ash! Look! That river looks like a shiny snake!"

Ash let out a low rumbling sound, almost like laughter.

"He agrees," Bruce said.

"Hmph." Lily crossed her arms dramatically. "You always agree with big brother. You're biased."

Ash flicked its tail.

"Hey!" Lily protested. "Did you just tease me?"

Another soft growl followed.

"You did!" Lily laughed. "Ash is naughty, big brother!"

Bruce chuckled. "I warned you. He's smarter than he looks."

Lily leaned forward and patted Ash's neck again. "You can't trick me forever, okay? I'll get stronger and smarter too!"

Ash responded by flapping its wings just a bit harder, lifting them slightly higher.

"Whoa!" Lily squeaked, then laughed. "Ash! Don't show off now!"

This continued for a while...

The closer they drew to their house, the more Ash slowed, its wide wings easing into a gentle glide.

The playful dives faded away as it began to descend from its earlier height, circling lower and lower with deliberate care, until the rooftops beneath them grew clear and familiar.

The city beneath them slowly gave way to quieter streets, then familiar paths. The buildings thinned, replaced by trees and calm roads Lily recognized instantly.

"Big brother," she said excitedly, pointing ahead, "that's our street!"

Bruce nodded. "Yeah. We're almost home."

Ash began its descent, wings angling carefully as it slowed, circling once above the neighborhood. Curtains shifted. A few neighbors peeked out, startled but quickly reassured by the controlled, gentle landing, they were smart to recognise that whatever beast it was that loomed above then wasn't hostile, if not it would've attacked a long time ago...

Ash descended slowly, gracefully, until its massive claws touched the ground right in front of their house gate. The wind from its wings settled, dust drifting back to the earth as the dragon lowered its head slightly.

Lily stared at their house, then at Ash, then at Bruce.

"…That was the best ride ever," she declared proudly.

Bruce smiled.

They were home.

Ash lowered itself further, shrinking back down smoothly until it returned to its small, adorable cub form. It fluttered once, then hopped off Bruce's shoulder and padded along beside them as they approached the gate.

The door opened before they even knocked. Lucy must've heard Lily's loud voice...

Lucy stood, apron still on, eyes lighting up the moment she saw them.

"Welcome home…"

"Mom!" Lily rushed forward immediately.

Lucy barely had time to bend down before Lily threw herself into her arms, hugging her tightly. Ash trotted in right after, tail swishing as if it owned the place.

Lucy laughed softly, hugging Lily back. "Easy, easy. You're full of energy today."

"You won't believe what happened!" Lily pulled back instantly, eyes sparkling. "So today we were in class, right, and we were sparring like normal, and then suddenly the instructor shouted that we had to go underground because beasts were coming!"

Lucy's smile stiffened slightly as she listened.

"And then," Lily continued quickly, words tumbling over each other, "some stubborn seniors didn't listen! They said they were strong and went outside anyway!"

Bruce closed the door behind them and leaned casually against the wall, listening.

"They came back later and said they saw a HUGE dragon," Lily spread her arms wide, "like really huge, it covered the sun! The whole sky was dark!"

Lucy's eyes widened.

"And then," Lily lowered her voice dramatically, "I peeked through a small hole, just a little one, and I saw it."

She leaned closer to Lucy, whispering loudly. "I saw big brother's face… right in back of the dragon."

Lucy froze.

"Then the instructor came back and said everything was safe," Lily continued, nodding rapidly. "They said all the bad beasts were gone! And everyone was talking about how the dragon helped kill lots and lots of monsters!"

She puffed her chest proudly. "They said it saved everyone."

Lucy slowly turned her gaze toward Bruce.

Bruce remained calm, hands in his pockets.

"And then big brother came!" Lily grinned. "And he told me a—"

She stopped abruptly.

Her mouth hung open mid-sentence as realization hit her.

Slowly, Lily turned her head to look up at Bruce, eyes wide and questioning.

Bruce met her gaze.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he nodded.

"Yes," he said simply. "You can tell her."

Lily's eyes gleamed.

She spun back toward Lucy, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Big brother told me a secret!" she said loudly. "You won't believe it!"

Lucy swallowed. "What secret…?"

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