Gate of Memoirs/Dragon's Fire

Never wake a sleeping dragon without gifts. Making yourself a gift is also ill-advised.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Ghost" 	Music: "Ghost"
 	
*Maeri: Hmm...I think that's all from this alcove...
*Maeri: There sure is a ton of stuff here!
 	
*Maeri squints into the gloom. There's no way they could get through this prodigious hoard in a day...
 	
*Maeri: !
 	
*Maeri: Oh! Look, Mister Glaes!
*Maeri: That pedestal! Up there...
 	
*Glaes: Stay. I'll take a look.
 	
*Glaes cautiously approaches the strange stone receptacle ensconced in the wall.
*A small, vividly green pendant lays humming in its velvet cushion.
 	
*Glaes: There's a small object here. A necklace, of a sort.
 	
*Maeri: Maybe this is it?
*Maeri: Let me just...
 	
*With a little nudge from Glaes, Maeri manages to grab hold of the edge and swing herself up.
*As soon as her fingers contact the pendant—
*A bright burst of energy ripples through the caves.
*The surrounding ambience suddenly ceases, fragile silence crumbling away like brittle ice.
 	
*Maeri: ...?
*Maeri: Oh, it stopped humming...
 	
*Maeri looks down at her closed fist, where the pendant is glowing warmly.
 	
*Maeri: Hey, this one is warm!
*Maeri: And it's in a "cradle of stone", too.
 	
*Maeri: Could it be...the Heart of Spring?!
 	
*?: I doubt it had such an odd name before it came into my possession.
Music: "Overcome" 	Music: "Overcome"
 	
*A tall woman shuffles into the dim light, eyes narrowed in annoyance.
*A broad pair of wings slowly unfurl and stretch behind her.
 	
*Maeri: ...?!
*Maeri: W-Who are...
 	
*Dragon Lady: You burst into my home, rifle through my hoard without permission...
*Dragon Lady: ...And you dare ask ME who I am?
 	
*Dragon Lady: The NERVE!
 	
*Maeri: Waaaiit!
*Maeri: We're-We’re just here f-for the Heart of Spring!
*Maeri: There's a blizzard outside! And um...!
*Maeri: Wait, where's the dragon...?
Music: "Dragon's Roar"	Music: "Dragon's Roar"
 	
*In the nick of time, Glaes manages to snatch Maeri's scruff from the cruel path of wicked claws.
*With a careful toss of his head, Maeri is whisked onto his back.
 	
*Glaes: This isn't the time for words, child!
 	
*Dragon Lady: Oh, good. Another meddling thief.
*Dragon Lady: I'm *really* hungry, you know.
*Dragon Lady: How nice of dinner to just WALK into my den!
 	
*Maeri: I-I don't think it's supposed to go this way! The dragon is a...a lady?!
*Maeri grabs the haphazardly-stuffed pages out of her pocket.
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*Narrator: "The intrepid duo, faced with the full wrath of the den's owner, could only gape in horror at the size of the beast."
*Narrator: "The great creature let out a horrifying roar and charged forward..."
*Narrator: "With the dragon deaf to reason, the girl and the Stag had no choice but to run, lest they end up in the belly of the beast."
 	
*Maeri: ...Huh?
*Maeri whips around in time to see the woman's figure erupt into a burst of flame,
 	
*and the massive snout of an irate red dragon, with rows of razor sharp teeth, snapping after them.
*Dragon: ROOAARR!!
 	
*Maeri: AAAHHHH!!!
 	
*Glaes: Great Spirit preserve us...!