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For the past few nights in the Gemberry woods, Simon hadn’t been sleeping well.
He’d been tossing and turning in his satin sheets, trying in vain to fall asleep, and had only wound up staring at the ceiling, his eyes wide open and his head buzzing, getting hardly any sleep at all.
And all because a certain sunny canine had somehow made his way into the dragon’s heart and mind, and refused to leave.
He had the most beautiful orange fur, the most sparkling onyx eyes, and his smile was even brighter than the sun itself.
And when you think about a certain someone, thoughts of you and that certain someone together are sure to follow.
Thoughts about starlit nights together, thoughts of hillside picnics, thoughts of eating cotton candy together at the local fair, thoughts of two straws for one drink, even thoughts of long, romantic walks upon the beach.
Of course, Simon knew acting on these thoughts would be uncouth, because he knew the dog was happily married… and probably had been long before the nightmare critters had moved into the Gemberry woods.
And as much as Simon loves to be a royal pain, he wouldn’t go so far as to steal someone else’s partner… at least not intentionally.
Some girls and guys were just attracted to him naturally, like pesky flies surrounding an empty plate that was left unattended.
But usually not the flies he wanted to come…
“Curse my life’s cruel fate!”
He yells at the ceiling.
“Why couldn’t I have met him before that cat?!”
He tears up a bit.
“It’s not fair…”
He continued tossing and turning in the sheets, a thousand thoughts tumbling through his mind.
But out of all the thoughts that avalanched through his head like a rock tumbler, one brewed above the rest… a dark, sinister thought,
If he couldn’t have Dogday… he’d have to DEFEAT him.
“Yes…”
He says to himself.
“If I can’t rid him from my mind… I'll have to rid him from my life instead…”
He tumbles out of bed, and goes to his writing desk to start making preparations.
~The next day~
Dogday was hanging out with Crafty and Kickin in stardew park, minding his own business, when he heard the fluttering of wings nearby.
He looked up to see their red dragon “Aquaintance” in Simon’s words, had landed near them, with a stern expression on his face.
“Oh, hi Simon!”
He says, smiling and waving. “What’s up?”
Simon clears his throat.
“Dogday!”
He says, loudly. “I have an important message for you!”
Dogday tilts his head. “What is it?”
He asks, curious.
Simon growls a bit.
“I challenge you to a formal duel!”
He says. “To the end!”
Dogday’s eyes widened. “Wha-”
Before he could speak, Simon handed him a rolled up piece of old-looking paper, tied together with a red ribbon.
“We shall duel at the battle grounds at 8:00 pm and not a minute later!”
Simon says. “Don’t be late!”
He then quickly flies off, leaving Dogday confused and a little scared.
“What was THAT about…?”
Crafty asks.
Dogday shrugs, undoing the ribbon and unrolling the paper, reading it.
“My dearest Dogday.
Unfortunately, I need to get rid of you, because your very existence has plagued my mind for far too long.
Meet me at the battle grounds at 8:00 sharp, I’ll have the battle gear and weapons ready.
Best of luck, even though I’ll win.
Yours truly, Simon Smokes.”
Dogday whimpers.
“What’d I ever do to him…?”
Crafty looks worried. “I don’t know…”
She says.
Kickin snickers. “Aww don’t worry, Dd.” He says. “You’re gonna kick his scaly behind.”
Dogday gulps. “I hope so…”
~Magically, it’s 8:00 pm sharp~
Dogday was nervous, walking to the battle grounds, which were located in a clearing in gemberry woods.
He was still wondering what he could have done to make Simon angry…
Sure they’d had a couple of minor squabbles, but overall they got along pretty well…
‘So why does he want to duel me…?’
He thinks.
When he arrives at the battle grounds, he spots Simon, already decked out in golden shoulderpads, knee pads, ankle and wrist guards, helmet and neck protection.
“There you are.”
He says with a toothy grin. “I’m impressed you actually showed up, mutt.”
Dogday nods.
“Well yeah, why wouldn’t I?”
He says, going to get his ‘Battle gear’ on.
Simon snickers.
“It’s good to know you aren’t a wimp.”
He says as Dogday puts his own helmet and joint protection on.
Dogday nods as he tightens his neck brace.
“Simon, before we start, I just wanna ask one question.”
He asks.
Simon nods. “And that is…?”
Dogday frowns.
“What did I do to make you upset?”
He asks. “I’d rather figure that out than duel you…”
Simon gets a bit flustered, shaking his head.
“The reason isn’t important!” He says. “What’s important is me defeating you!”
Dogday huffs. “Well if it isn’t important, why are we even dueling!?”
Simon growls, charging forward.
“ENOUGH TALK! OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!”
He swings his sword at Dogday, aiming for the neck.
Dogday blocks the attack with his own sword.
“Ha!” he says. “You wish.”
He maneuvers his sword in a circle motion, nearly stabbing Simon in the leg before he dodges it.
“Impressive.”
Simon says. “You might be a worthy opponent.”
Dogday smiles. “Thanks.” He says, “I’m trying my best.”
Simon attempts to go for the straight stab, Dogday jump-dodging.
“So how many others have you, uh, ‘dueled?’”
He asks, swinging his sword, it clanking against Simons.
Simon scoffs.
“Dozens, hundreds, thousands!”
He says, arrogantly. “And I’ve ALWAYS won.”
Dogday rolls his eyes.
“Suuure.”
He says, not believing him.
Simon snickers.
“Don’t believe me, do you?” he says. “Maybe you’ll believe THIS!”
He maneuvers his own sword in a circular motion, just barely grazing Dogday’s cheek.
“Pathetic.”
Simon says, grinning deviously. “Ready to give up yet?”
“HA!”
Dogday says, wiping the blood droplets from his face.
“I’m just getting started.”
~insert swordfighting montage here~
The battle was long and grueling, each one refusing to back down.
When it was nearing the end, they were both covered in minor cuts and scratches, but kept going.
“Give up?”
Simon says, raising an eyebrow.
Dogday shakes his head.
“Not yet!” He says.
“I got one more thing to say to you, Smokes…”
Simon raises an eyebrow.
“What could you possibly have to say?”
Dogday growls a bit, before yelling,
“Don’t mess with the SUNSHINE!”
Jump-slashing, he gives one final strike, slicing Simon clean across the chest, the cut not deep enough to be fatal but still bleeding quite a bit.
Simon was in shock, grabbing his chest.
Dogday goes cold.
“O-oh no, I’m sorry!” He says. “I didn’t mean to hit you that hard!”
As Simon held his chest, he fell to his knees.
Dogday slowly walks forward.
“Simon…?”
Simon shakily sighs.
“I…I surrender…”
He says.
Dogday’s eyes widened.
“W-what…?”
Simon sniffles, his eyes tearing up.
“You won,” he says. “You defeated me fair and square…”
He looks down.
“You can cut off my head now.”
Dogday gasps.
“What the heck, NO!”
He says. “I’m not gonna KILL you, idiot!”
Simon looks up at him.
“Why?” He says. “That’s the whole point of duels, isn’t it…?”
Dogday shakes his head, then goes to help Simon up.
“Why’d you even want to duel me?”
He says, walking him over to the med station.
“You STILL haven’t told me what I did to make you so angry besides existing…”
Simon looks away as Dogday sits him down.
“I-it’s nothing…” He says as the canine gently cleans and bandages his wound.
“I was just being a childish fool, coveting something I could never have…”
Dogday sat next to him once he was patched up.
“What do you mean…?”
Simon looks away.
“Dogday… please don’t hate me for this, but…”
He looks back to him.
“I… I’m… terribly smitten with you.”
Dogday’s eyes go wide, blushing a bit.
“W-what?!”
Simon sighs, looking away.
“I know, I know… why would I fall for a married man? I hear you ask.”
He stares at his hands.
“Honestly, I’ve asked myself that since the day I met you.”
He says. “I’ve been haunted by visions of your soft fur… your beautiful smile, your sparkling eyes… just… everything about you conveys that feeling of cheerfulness, and, well, sunshine.”
He says with a bit of a giggle.
Dogday just kept listening, letting him vent.
Simon sighs.
“But, of course, you’re married, and so obviously, I cannot have you like your husband does.”
He says.
“Every time I see you two together… holding hands, hugging, kissing, doing what you do… all I can think is… why can’t it be me…?”
He tears up again.
“But then again, it can’t have been me, won’t be me, and probably never could have been me, since you two have been married for… probably forever.”
He says. “Way longer than I've known you at least…”
He looks at Dogday.
“So I thought that… maybe if I fought you, I’d be able to get rid of my pointless pining for you… but alas…”
He scoots a bit closer.
“All I've done is lock myself deeper into this dark prison of passion, with no escape…”
Dogday was absolutely speechless.
Simon sighs, getting up.
“Whatever… I know you’re probably not gonna want to associate with me after this…”
He says sadly. “And… I accept that.”
He turns away.
“So, again, congratulations on your victory, and again… I'm sorry…”
He said the last part quietly.
But when he started to walk away…
“Simon, wait!”
Dogday says, before gently hugging the Dragon from behind.
Simon was stunned, silent for a moment.
“W-what are you doing…?”
He says quietly, putting his hands over Dogday’s gently.
Dogday whines a bit.
“Simon… I'm so sorry!”
He says. “You should have told me you were feeling this way…”
Simon sighs.
“What’s the point…?” He says. “You’re married…”
Dogday hugs him a bit tighter.
“Simon…”
He says gently.
“Even though Naps and I are married, we’re both open to other opportunities.”
He says with a small smile.
Simon feels like his mind is shattering.
“Wait, wait… what…?”
He says, shifting to turn around to face Dogday, still in his warm arms.
Dogday giggles.
“Yeah, I could ask him if I could put you on my free pass list…”
He says. “It might take some convincing, but I could do it…”
Simon still looked shellshocked.
“Uh… Si?”
Dogday says, tilting his head. “You okay?”
Suddenly, Simon tackle-kisses him passionately, wrapping both his arms and wings tightly around the dog.
Dogday was shocked at first, but slowly melts into it, wrapping his arms around the dragon’s waist .
The moment was, as expected, pretty hot.
When Simon eventually pulls back, he buries his face in Dogday’s shoulder, sniffling.
“Solar flare…”
He says. “You’re an angel…”
Tears ran down his face, sizzling into steam.
“I… I thought I'd never… t-that we’d never…”
Dogday hugs him tighter.
“Shhh… I know…” He says. “It's okay…”
Simon cries in Dogday’s arms for a while, the dog comforting him as best he could.
When Simon eventually dries his tears, he pulls back, looking at his feet.
“Look at me… getting all emotional over nothing…”
He whispers, smiling a bit.
Dogday giggles, gently kissing his forehead.
“It’s not nothing, Si…”
He gently takes Simon’s arm, wrapping it around his shoulder as he gently puts an arm around Simon’s waist.
“C’mon Smokey, let’s go get some rest.”
He says as he starts to lead Simon home. “I can tell dueling really wore you out.”
Simon nods, nuzzling him.
“Okay… whatever you say, bright sun.”
He says.
Dogday smiles, leading him down the path to the brick red castle.
“I will say though…”
He says, quietly. “Even though Catnap’s okay with me dating other people, he’ll probably take a while to get used to YOU.”
He giggles. “So maybe be prepared for a few ‘accidental’ claw scratches.”
Simon smirks.
“I think I can handle it.” he says.
“It’ll be worth it to be with you, my sunlight.”
He adds, kissing him softly on the head.
Dogday giggles and blushes. “Aww.”
As the two headed home, the budding romance between the two of them was warmer than fire, almost as hot as the sun itself.