1. © 2013 Matthew Albren

2. # Then#the#voice#made#its#final#call.#“In#Ime#conkle,#you#will#learn#to#truly#be#a#threat.#You#will#get#
new#fur,#new#teeth,#new#tail,#new#claws.#New#everything.#But#when#you#are#revived,#you#will#have#a#
deep#hunger#for#dragon#blood.#And#then#nothing#will#stop#you#conkle.#NOTHING!”
# Gadzooks#felt#deep#agony.#He#had#almost#befriended#his#biggest#fear.#And#then,#it#was#taken#
away.#Gadzooks#knew#though#that#he#had#a#new#enemy,#a#dragon#enemy.#But#he#also#knew#that#he#
would#one#day#in#the#future,#meet#the#conkle#again.#He#would#baFle#it#again.#He#would#aFack#it#again.#
He#would#hate#it#again.#But#he#knew,#he#would#talk#to#it#again.#He#would#also#convince#it#again,#that#it#
was#not#bad,#the#darkness#enslaved#inside#it#was.#Gadzooks#had#to#report#everything#back#to#the#castle.#
He#could#see#Lord#MaF#beaming#with#his#incredible#adventure.#His#name#in#books#and#in#magazines.#And#
then#it#all#boiled#down#to#fear.#One#thought#crossed#his#mind.#How#it#would#react#to#his#crazy#acIon,#he#
did#not#know.#But#he#knew#that#she#would#be#nothing#short#of#angry.#There#was#one#thing#he#might#lose#
through#this.#She#didn’t#want#him#gecng#hurt.#“Oh#man.”#Gadzooks#gasped,#“What#is#Daisy#going#to#
say?”
© 2013 Matthew Albren

3. MaFhew#Albren
Part#eighteen
The#Anything#That#Can#Be#a#Star
# Gadzooks#returned#to#the#castle.#He#walked#quietly#into#the#building.#He#asked#around#for#Lord#
MaF.#Gadzooks#found#the#lord#in#the#dining#hall.#Gadzooks#explained#the#enIre#story.#About#the#conkle,#
and#his#almost#becoming#friends#with#it,#and#the#darkness.#Lord#MaF#choked#on#his#coffee.#“That#just#
happened#now?”#He#asked,#more#shocked#than#ever.#Gadzooks#nodded.#The#lord#jumped#up.#“We#have#
to#tell#everyone!”#The#lord#exclaimed.#Gadzooks#smiled.#He#felt#famous#already.
# Gadzooks#strolled#to#his#room.#But#he#ended#up#colliding#with#Daisy.#“Hi.”#Gadzooks#muFered.#
Daisy#smiled.#“Where#have#you#been?”#She#asked,#hugging#Gadzooks.#Gadzooks#told#her#the#whole#
story,#making#it#seem#as#safe#as#he#could.#Daisy#was#more#than#shocked.#She#held#onto#Gadzooks’s#arm.#
“Why#would#you#return#to#the#conkle?”#She#asked.#Gadzooks#shrugged.#His#knack#for#a#true#adventure#
had#goFen#through#to#him.#Daisy#felt#thrilled#to#have#Gadzooks#back.#“Were#you#looking#for#me?”#
Gadzooks#asked.#Daisy#smiled.#“How’d#you#know?”#She#replied.#Gadzooks#smiled#at#her.#His#mind#raced#
in#thought.#He#felt#like#the#Ime#had#come.#He#was#finally#worth#something.
# Gadzooks#had#decided#to#go#see#Alan.#The#boy#was#out#on#the#swings#when#Gadzooks#arrived.#
Alan#jumped#up#excitedly.#“Zookie!#What’s#new?”#The#boy#wondered.#Gadzooks#shrugged.#“Not#
anymore#than#I#need#to#say.”#He#answered.#He#had#no#intenIon#of#sharing#his#story#with#another#being.#
Alan#cupped#his#hands#and#liZed#Gadzooks#from#the#ground.#The#two#went#running#through#the#yard.#
Alan#laughed#so#much,#that#Gadzooks#laughed#along#too.#Then#Alan#stopped.#Gadzooks#took#a#breath#to#
calm#himself.
# Alan#sat#down#on#the#warm#grass.#“How’s#your#new#home?”#Gadzooks#thought#for#a#minute.#
“It’s#preFy#big.”#Gadzooks#answered.#Alan#nodded.#“My#grandmother#says#that#your#kind#is#not#one#to#
spend#most#of#my#Ime#with.”#Alan#muFered.#Gadzooks#looked#forward#with#a#blank#expression#coaIng#
his#face.#“I#didn’t#realize#she#disliked#my#kind,#considering#she#was#one#of...”#Gadzooks#stopped#short.#
The#last#word#seemed#like#too#much#was#being#told.#Alan#stared#at#him.#“She#was#one#of#what?”#Alan#
asked.#Gadzooks#gulped.#He#had#now#taken#it#too#far.#“I’ll#be#back#real#soon,#I#may#need#your#help#at#
some#point,#so#stay#close.”#Gadzooks#advised.#Then#he#began#to#fly#away.#Alan#shouted#aZer#him,#“My#
grandma#is#one#of#what?”#Gadzooks#yelled#back,#“Us!”#Then#he#disappeared#into#the#fluffy,#white#clouds.
# Gadzooks#returned#to#the#castle.#Lord#MaF#stumbled#up#to#him.#“Before.”#The#lord#began.#“Did#
you#say#the#conkle#is#not#evil?”#Gadzooks#looked#the#lord#in#the#eye.#“I#did#say#that,#yes.”#Gadzooks#
answered.#Lord#MaF’s#crown#shimmered.#“Then#why#has#it#aFempted#to#destroy#us?”#Lord#MaF#
implied.#Gadzooks#took#the#note.#The#lord#didn’t#believe#him.
# “It#was#possessed.”#Gadzooks#yelled,#feeling#confident.#“And....#by#what#or#whom?”#Lord#MaF#
pressed.#Gadzooks#was#ready#to#scream.#How#rude!#How#awful!#How#mean!#But#instead#he#answered#
politely.#“It#was#possessed#by#the#darkness,#remember?#The#very#conkle#was#being#told#what#to#do.”#
Lord#MaF#was#most#interested.#“What#is#the#darkness?”#Lord#MaF#asked.#Gadzooks#looked#away#for#a#
short#moment.#His#nose#twitched#and#he#twiddled#his#foot.#“The#darkness,#for#I#am#certain,#is#a#human.”#
Gadzooks#mumbled.#Then#he#raced#away.
# Lord#MaF#was#leZ#staring#into#blank#space.#Then#he#turned#around#and#whispered#to#a#yellow#
scaled#dragon.#“He#is#for#sure.....#not#a#lier.”#The#yellow#dragon#nodded,#taking#out#a#notepad#a#scribbling#
words#and#equaIons#all#over#it.#He#finally#finished#and#assured#the#lord,#“He#can#be#trusted.”
# Lord#MaF#brought#it#upon#himself#to#realize#he#had#been#a#fool.#Gadzooks#seemed#to#be#a#good#
dragon,#no#doubt.#Lord#MaF#fumbled#with#his#cape.#The#lord#walked#outside.#He#looked#into#the#clouds.#
The#beauIful#blue#sky#was#very#cloudy#today.#Then#Lord#MaF#saw#him.#That#same#dragon.#It#was......#
© 2013 Matthew Albren

4. what#had#he#said..........#it#was#Duke!#Lord#MaF#gasped.#For#some#reason#he#felt#the#urge#to#follow#the#
liFle#dragon.#The#lord#flew#up,#a#fair#distance#behind#the#dragon#though.#Curiosity#had#goFen#the#best#of#
the#lord......#this#Ime.
# Gadzooks#found#Daisy#dusIng#a#lamp#in#her#room.#She#admiFed#that#she#was#bored.#Gadzooks#
laughed.#“I#can#see#why.”#He#guffawed.#“Considering#you#spend#most#of#your#Ime#fighIng#beasts#and#
saving#lives.”#Daisy#smiled,#but#did#not#see#the#funny#side#of#things.#Gadzooks#calmed#down#and#sat#on#
Daisy’s#bed.#“What#are#you#up#to#tomorrow?”#Gadzooks#asked.#Daisy#stroked#her#chin.#“I#guess#for#now,#
nothing.#Just#going#to#hang#out#here.”#She#muFered#sadly.#Gadzooks#finally#asked#himself#and#convinced#
himself#to#ask.#“You#remember?”#He#began.#“A#few#days#ago.”#Daisy#nodded#suspiciously.#“Well,#so#
much#happened,#and#the#moving#with#it#all.”#Gadzooks#spuFered.#Then#he#blasted#it#out#like#a#rocket,#
“What#did#you#mean#to#imply#when#you.........#when#you#kissed#me?”#Daisy#in#no#way#seemed#surprised.#
“I#guess#it#just#seemed#like#the#right#Ime.”#She#uFered.#Gadzooks#stared#blankly#ahead.#Daisy#looked#to#
her#leZ.#Both#were#in#a#weird#state.
# Gadzooks#knew#that#Daisy#was#not#going#to#be#the#first#to#talk.#He#ran#the#thought#through#his#
head.#But#then#he#decided#not#now.#Instead#he#would#start#slow.#“Daisy,#would#you#care#to#do#
something#tomorrow#aZernoon?”#He#blurted#out.#Daisy#stared#back#at#him,#her#cheeks#flushed.#“We’ll#
see.”#She#mumbled#soZly.#Then#she#gestured#Gadzooks#to#leave#the#room.#He#did.#But,#Gadzooks#
stopped#outside#the#door.#Daisy#had#muFered#from#behind#the#closed#door,#“Picnic?”#Gadzooks#nodded.#
“Sure.”
# Lord#MaF#had#arrived#on#a#mountain#summit.#There#he#watched#the#liFle,#blue#dragon#sit.#
Duke’s#sad#expression#was#contagious.#Lord#MaF#felt#ready#to#cry,#but#held#himself#together.#Duke#
looked#into#the#sky,#and#waved#his#hands#up#oddly.#Lord#MaF#stared#with#suspicion.#Right#aZer#Duke’s#
arms#fell,#a#giant#star,#from#the#night#sky,#crashed#beside#him.#Lord#MaF#shielded#his#eyes#from#the#
devastaIng#light.#But#Duke#kept#watching#the#star.#The#light#did#not#seem#to#effect#him.#Lord#MaF#was#
uFerly#intrigued.
© 2013 Matthew Albren

5. MaFhew#Albren
Part#nineteen
Hope#and#Dread
# Lord#MaF#opened#his#mouth#to#speak#to#Duke.#But#the#liFle#dragon#had#sensed#him#already.#“I#
see#you#watched#an#incredible#occurrence.”#Duke#stated.#Lord#MaF#decided#not#to#speak.#Duke#was#
staring#at#the#light#of#the#star.#“This#is#a#star.”#Duke#began,#“It#will#not#effect#you,#so#why#are#you#
staying?”#Lord#MaF’s#feelings#pierced#his#heart.#“I#am#not#one#to#answer#a#quesIon,#but#ask#it.”#Lord#
MaF#mumbled.#The#conversaIon#was#quite#sophisIcated.#“I#understand#that#you#are#a#royal#subject.”#
Duke#noted.#Lord#MaF#coughed#a#fake#cough#to#draw#aFenIon#away#from#that.#“Who#are#you?”#Lord#
MaF#asked,#“I#seem#to#feel#an#odd#connecIon#with#you#young#dragon.”#Duke#didn’t#speak#for#a#
moment.#“I#have#no#way#to#relate#with#you,#I#am#but#all#on#my#own.”#Duke#told#the#lord.#Lord#MaF#
looked#away,#back#at#the#castle.#Duke#stared#at#the#star#longer.#Then#Lord#MaF#whipped#back#around.#
“How#did#you#make#a#star#fall#from#the#sky?”#Lord#MaF#quesIoned.#Duke#waved#his#arms.#“I#have#
powers.”#The#liFle#dragon#uFered,#then,#along#with#the#star,#Duke#disappeared,#leaving#Lord#MaF#as#
shocked#as#he#had#ever#been.#
# Gadzooks#went#to#his#room#and#lay#on#the#bed.#His#excitement#was#very#true.#He##was#most#
interested#to#go#with#Daisy#tomorrow#to#the#picnic.#He#felt#as#though#calling#it#a#date#was#maybe#more#
than#he#needed.#But#the#expression#on#Daisy’s#face#had#said#much#more#than#her#words.#Gadzooks#
blushed.#He#waltzed#around#the#room.#He#gathered#many#liFle#things#that#he#might#need.#He#smiled.#
Then#he#decided#that#he#needed#sleep.#It#was#late,#and#he#didn’t#want#to#be#Ired#tomorrow.#Gadzooks#
dropped#everything#and#slipped#into#the#bed.#His#mind#raced.#Tomorrow#would#go#great....#he#
hoped.## # # # #
# Lord#MaF#returned#to#the#castle,#dazed.#What#he#had#witnessed#was#amazing.#It#was#
astonishing.#But#it#was#mostly#unreal.#Lord#MaF#stumbled#into#his#daughter,#who#was#on#her#way#to#the#
dining#hall.#“Sweetheart!”#Lord#MaF#exclaimed,#pulling#her#into#a#corner.#“I#just#witnessed#a#dragon#
make#a@”#Daisy#cut#him#off.#“Not#now#father,#I#am#going#to#get#food.”#Lord#MaF’s#expression#drasIcally#
changed.#“At#this#hour?”#He#exclaimed.#Daisy#nodded#slowly.#“What#could#you#possibly#need#any#food#
for?#It’s#almost#midnight!”#Lord#MaF#gasped.#Daisy#groaned.#“It’s#for#tomorrow.”#She#whispered.#Lord#
MaF#placed#his#hands#on#his#hips.#“What#for?”#He#asked#suspiciously.#Daisy#gulped#and#looked#down.#
“It’s#not#your#business.”#Daisy#muFered,#as#she#flashed#back#to#Gadzooks#agreeing#to#go#on#a#picnic#with#
her#the#next#day.#Lord#MaF#stroked#his#chin.#“Daisy.#I#am#your#father,#your#blood.#I#know#when#you#are#
hiding#something#from#me.”#He#yelled.#Daisy#clenched#her#jaw.#“Alright.”#Daisy#uFered.#“I’m#just#going#
on#a#picnic.#Nothing#more.”#Lord#MaF#sIll#did#not#believe#she#was#telling#the#whole#truth.#“With#whom,#
dare#I#ask?”#Lord#MaF#mumbled.#Daisy#paused#for#a#moment.#Then#she#blurted#it#out#like#a#bullet#train.#
“Gadzooks.”#Then#she#walked#away.
# Lord#MaF#was#not#too#happy#about#his#daughter#spending#so#much#Ime#with#Gadzooks.#As#
much#as#the#lord#liked#the#green#dragon,#he#did#not#want#Daisy#to#make#a#big#mistake.#He#went#into#the#
library,#where#he#pulled#out#a#Iny#booklet.#The#cover#was#much#too#dusty#for#any#eyes#to#read#it.#Lord#
MaF#flipped#to#the#fiZh#page.#He#stared#at#the#words.#He#gasped#loudly.#The#words#struck#fear#in#his#
heart.
# Gadzooks#slept#and#slept.#The#night#rushed#forward.#His#dreaming#head#was#making#crazy#
images#appear.#Gadzooks#smiled#at#some.#Then#he#frowned#at#others.#Then,#came#along#a#blurry#picture#
of#Daisy.#He#beamed.#But#then,#a#cloud#began#to#cover#her.#It#enveloped#her.#Gadzooks#tried#to#save#her,#
but#failed#ulImately.#Gadzooks#awakened#from#his#dream.#“It#was#all#a#dream.”#He#soothed.#The#image#
© 2013 Matthew Albren

6. reminded#him#of#the#darkness,#and#how#it#had#taken#away#the#conkle.#Changes#were#going#to#come.#He#
could#feel,#in#the#near#future,#Daisy#would#be#put#in#harm’s#way.#But#for#the#Ime#being,#Gadzooks#
decided#to#breath.#Morning#had#come.#He#would#protect#Daisy#when#the,#and#if,#the#right#Ime#came.#He#
hoped#it#wouldn’t#though.#But#want#does#not#always#mean#get.#And#Gadzooks#was#very#aware#of#this.
© 2013 Matthew Albren

7. MaFhew#Albren
Part#twenty
Picnic#With#a#Pendishiner
# Gadzooks#only#thought#happily.#The#day#ahead#was#when#he#would#go#on#a#picnic#with#Daisy.#It#
had#all#been#very#sudden.#But#Gadzooks#was#looking#forward#to#it.#Ever#since#they#had#met,#Gadzooks#
had#always#thought#Daisy#was#beauIful.#He#didn’t#know#if#he#wanted#to#call#her#his#date,#but#he#sure#
enjoyed#spending#Ime#with#her.#They#had#become#such#good#friends.# #
# Daisy#was#in#her#room.#She#smiled#into#her#mirror,#as#she#also#knew#what#she#would#be#doing#in#
a#couple#hours.#Daisy#went#to#her#bed#and#sat#down#trying#to#imagine#the#perfect#place#for#a#picnic#with#
Gadzooks.#“It#has#to#be#special.”#Daisy#said#to#herself.#Then#it#hit#her.#There#was#one#place#where#Daisy#
and#Gadzooks#always#had#an#“interesIng”#Ime.#And#that#place#was#the#
mountains.# # #
# Gadzooks#walked#out#his#door.#Then#he#stopped.#The#green#dragon#realized#he#needed#to#get#
Daisy#something.#Just#something#to#break#the#silence.#He#rushed#back#to#his#room.#He#rustled#through#
his#bag.#There,#he#found#the#candle#he#had#brought#with#him#to#the#castle.#Its#scent#was#“Daisy#Rush”.
# Daisy#waltzed#out#of#her#room#merrily.#Her#mood#couldn’t#change.#She#was#thinking#about#going#
to#see#Gadzooks#and#have#them#leave#a#liFle#bit#sooner.#On#her#way#to#Gadzooks’s#room,#Lord#MaF#ran#
into#her.#Daisy#fell#to#the#ground.#She#chipped#a#nail,#cracked#a#scale,#and#her#nail#polish#was#scraped#off.#
“DADDY!”#She#shouted#angrily.#Lord#MaF#helped#his#daughter#stand#up.#“My#deepest#apologies#dear.”#
Lord#MaF#told#her.#Daisy#frowned.#“Are#you#sIll#going#on#a#picnic#with...#him?”#Lord#MaF#asked.#Daisy#
exploded#at#him.#“How#dare#you#say#such#rude#things!”#She#exclaimed.#“It’s#just#us#having#fun#together#
dad,#why#don’t#you#understand#that?”#Lord#MaF#gulped.#“Last#night,#I#did#a#liFle#research.”#Lord#MaF#
began.#Daisy#held#up#a#finger.#“I#don’t#care#right#now.”#She#muFered.#“I#have#to#go#polish#up....again!”#
She#hissed.#Lord#MaF#grabbed#her#arm.#“You#must#hear#this#before....#before#you#make#any#hasty#
decisions.”#Lord#MaF#whispered#calmly.#Seeing#that#her#father#was#being#quite#serious,#Daisy#allowed#
him#three#minutes#of#her#day,#and#that#was#all.
# Lord#MaF#told#Daisy,#“#Please#dear,#take#it#slow.#You#remember#the#last#guy#you#had#feelings#
for.”#Daisy#blushed.#“I#don’t#think#I#have#any#feelings#for#Zookie.”#She#muFered.#“But#hear#me#out.”#Lord#
MaF#began,#“#Gadzooks#isn’t#what#he#seems,#Daisy.”#“What#are#you#going#to#try#to#use#to#convince#me#
to#not#go#this#Ime?”#Daisy#asked#sarcasIcally.#“Daisy.”#Lord#MaF#uFered,#“He#is#a#special#dragon.#He#is#a#
pendishiner.”
# #Daisy#frowned#again.#“A#what#shiner?”#She#asked.#Lord#MaF#huffed.#“Not#shiner.#Pendi@shiner.”#
He#corrected.#“A#pendishiner#dragon#can#feel#when#something#is#wrong,#or#when#the#earth’s#balance#of#
life#isn’t#doing#so#well.”#Daisy#took#it#all#in.#She#tried#to#keep#her#levels#of#shock#to#a#minimum.#“But,#
father,#aren’t#there#only#two#more#pendishiners#leZ#on#Earth?”#Daisy#asked.#Lord#MaF#nodded.#“I’ll#let#
you#go#now.”#Lord#MaF#mumbled,#but#before#leaving,#he#told#Daisy#one#last#thing.#“Don’t#alert#
Gadzooks,#because#as#of#now,#he#does#not#know.”#
# Daisy#rushed#back#to#her#room.#She#pulled#out#a#giant#drawer.#She#grabbed#a#Iny#boFle#filled#
with#a#pink#liquid.#She#applied#it#in#record#Ime#to#her#fingernails.#She#nodded.#Then#she#slipped#behind#a#
giant#curtain.#In#less#than#twenty#minutes,#she#was#ready#to#go.
# Daisy#rushed#from#her#room.#The#picnic#was#in#ten#minutes#exactly.#Instantly,#Daisy#collided#with#
Gadzooks.#They#both#rubbed#their#heads.#Daisy#laughed.#Gadzooks#smiled,#helping#Daisy#stand#back#up.#
Gadzooks#caught#a#glimpse#of#Daisy#seconds#before#crashing#into#her.#Her#nails#were#an#elegant#pink#
color.#Her#scales#were#polished,#and#her#usual#pink#body,#had#become#a#delicate#shade#of#purple.#
Gadzooks#was#stunned.
© 2013 Matthew Albren

8. # Gadzooks#reached#into#his#picnic#basket#and#revealed#the#candle#to#Daisy.#“I#thought#it#might#
break#the#silence.”#Gadzooks#told#her.#Daisy#blushed,#taking#the#candle#from#his#hands#and#placing#it#in#
her#doorway.#Gadzooks#held#out#his#free#hand.#Daisy#grasped#it.#“Where#are#we#headed?”#Gadzooks#
asked#in#a#deep#voice.#Daisy#giggled.#“Off#to#the#mountains.”#She#giggled.#Gadzooks#nodded.#Both#
dragons#ran#out#the#castle#door,#leaping#into#the#air.#It#was#a#thrilling#moment#for#both#of#them.#Lord#
MaF#watched#them#go#out#the#side#window.#He#sighed#bravely.
# In#their#flight,#the#dragons#began#to#talk.#“Gadzooks,#you#are#courageous#and#so#fun#to#be#with!”#
Daisy#said,#while#blushing.#Gadzooks#smiled#and#blushed#as#well.#“I#think#you#are#very#sweet.”#Gadzooks#
said.#Daisy#looked#down#and#began#to#glide.#“We#should#just#stop#here.”#Daisy#urged.#Gadzooks#looked#
down#and#saw#a#huge#grassy#field.#It#was#all#grass,#no#forms#of#life#anywhere.#The#two#dragons#could#stay#
for#hours#or#longer#and#just#have#fun#and#enjoy#gecng#to#be#together#with#no#distracIon#of#the#conkle#
of#Lord#MaF#or#anything#patheIc.#Gadzooks#smiled#brightly.#“Let’s.”#He#murmured.#
!e End
© 2013 Matthew Albren

9. A World of Adventure
Do you like adventure? Do you like a serious thrill? Do you like the unexpected? Well, if
you do, then I suggest you come to the world of Gadzooks. Gadzooks is an
adventurous dragon. He is a clay creature, who can control when he is and is not a
living creature. Gadzooks lives in a deep hole in an unlikely friend’s backyard. But, just
from the stroke of luck of where his home is, the green dragon finds himself embarking
on a dangerous journey. The lord of dragons, Lord Matt has been kidnapped by the
most evil creature known to dragon kind, the conkle. When Lord Matt’s daughter, Daisy,
comes looking for help, Gadzooks is up for the challenge. But saving the lord is not their
only objective. The two dragons, team or not, must destroy the conkle for good, before it
destroys dragon kind altogether. And what secrets are behind Lord Matt, the conkle’s
evil ways, and creatures that are half human and half dragon? Join Daisy, Lord Matt, the
conkle, Alan, and Gadzooks, along with many other characters in the amazing world of
Gadzooks.
Note from author:
! This book is a very fantasy genre book. But some may also call it adventure,
mystery, or even a hint of romance. If you are up for the adventure of a life time, you will
thoroughly love this book. Enjoy readers, and enter The World of Gadzooks.
© 2013 Matthew Albren