Samantha and Ben, along with everyone else in Fate Valley, gathered for the hearing of Walter P. Hart at the Fate Valley Courthouse. The man had six lawyers crowded around the defendant’s table.

“All rise,” the bailiff said. “The Fate Valley Court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Bear is now presiding. Please be seated.”

Everyone sat down. Samantha watched the back of Walter P. Hart’s head curiously as the hearing began. The district attorney stood to make his opening statement.

“Your Honor, the defendant was charged with stealing the statue of the founder, Ambrose Morgan, while in dragon form. Eye witness accounts put him at the scene of the crime and escaping the warehouse where the statue was stored. Talon marks have been found on the statue. Evidence will prove the defendant guilty as charged.”

“Your Honor,” the lead lawyer for Walter said. “My client is innocent until proven guilty. The evidence presented is purely circumstantial. Walter P. Hart is not guilty.”

“I’d like to call my first witness to the stand,” the district attorney said. “The People call Walter P. Hart.”

Walter stood and smoothed down his expensive suit. His lawyers shook their heads vigorously at him, but he smiled and looked away. Samantha wondered what that was all about.

“Please stand and raise your right hand,” the clerk said to Walter. Walter was sworn in and took a seat.

“Eyewitnesses place a dragon at the scene of the crime. Do you deny being a dragon?”

“I do not,” Walter said.

“I object, your Honor,” his lawyer shouted.

“On what grounds?”

“Leading the witness.”

“I’ll allow it.”

“Are you a dragon shifter?” the DA asked.

“I am,” Walter said.

The crowd gasped, and flashes popped all around. Someone groaned and fainted.

“Now that we have established that you are a dragon shifter, I’d like to ask you if you are aware that most humans and shifters alike did not know until this very moment that dragons exist?”

“I am aware of that.”

“Is this a photograph of you?” the DA asked, showing Walter a picture of him at the Midwest Mayhem camp.

“Yes.”

“Is this also you?” he said, showing Walter a picture of the dragon.

He didn’t answer.

“Half a dozen police officers witnessed a dragon with that same description at the Big River Falls wolfpack compound. Was that dragon you?”

“Yes,” Walter finally said.

“Why were you there?”

“I’d like a word with my client,” Walter’s lawyer said.

“No, Charles. This ends now,” Walter said. His lawyer sat down.

“Please answer the question,” the DA said.

“I was at the wolfpack compound because we worked together to steal the statue.”

“So you admit you took it?”

“Yes.”

“But why?” asked Judge Bear.

Walter let out a long sigh.

“I came to Fate Valley because it is a town full of shifters. Not being out in the open like the rest of the shifter community has weighed heavily on my mind for many years. We dragons took an oath hundreds of years ago to remain hidden, even from other shifters. When the other shifters came out of hiding fifty years ago, dragons did not join them. It has been a very lonely life for us. And now that I have been caught, it is a relief.”

“But why did you take the statue?” Judge Bear asked.

“I teamed up with Midwest Mayhem and the Big River Falls wolfpack because I wanted to drive business away from the town square. I wanted to own all your businesses so that I could be the dominant shifter in this town. It was a way to sooth my loneliness. I admit, I was jealous of your community togetherness. I had the money, so why not? But now I see the error of my ways. Perhaps I let myself get caught because I was tired of being alone.”

“I see,” Judge Bear said, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. “I’m ready to make a judgement on this case. If you promise to never steal again and stop harassing the business owners in Fate Valley, I’ll let you off with a fine.”

“I promise,” Walter said. “What I really want is to belong to the community like the rest of the shifters in town.”

“Very well. Your fine is fifty thousand dollars. And you must join the Fate Valley Shifters Community Association.”

“I would be honored,” Walter P. Hart said. “It's what I've always wanted.”

“This case is now closed.” Judge Bear stood and left the courtroom.

Flashes popped all around, people gasped, and loud talking ensued. Walter handed the court clerk a check before gathering with his lawyers, who all seemed disappointed.

“I'm happy, it's done,” Walter said to his lawyers. “I'm tired of hiding. Dragons exist in the world. And I am the first one brave enough to admit it.”

On the way out of the courthouse, Samantha looked at Ben with wide-eyed surprise.

“I wasn't expecting that,” Ben said.

“Neither was I.”

“Can you imagine having a dragon in the Fate Valley Shifters Community Association?” Samantha said.

She herself was about to be inducted at the next meeting. Maybe Walter would be too.

“It certainly is an interesting turn of events. Now that the Midwest Mayhem group has moved on, and the statue’s returned to the town square, business is returning to normal,” Ben said.

“I imagine there will be even more people coming to town, now that we have a dragon living here,” Samantha said.

“Anything can happen in a town that is guided by the hand of fate,” Ben said. “I, for one, am glad that I live here.”