The votes are in! The readers have spoken! Today, we get to see who will take home the 2025 Most Magnificent Dragon Award! So without further ado, let the ceremony begin!
The dying sun set the sky and lake on fire. Perfect for a ceremony honoring dragons. And not just any dragon but the most magnificent of their kind. The mountainous location is impressive with its massive peaks and steep cliffs plunging to unknown depths. Dragons across worlds and times have convened upon this special night to see who will take home this Silmaril Award.
Smaug reclines upon a throne of gold, specially designed for this year’s tenth anniversary. His polished red scales gleam in the setting sun as he peers down his snout at the converging dragons. No doubt judging those in attendance.
The Silmaril award’s red jewel glitters from its golden perch next to Smaug, who keep eyeing the beautiful award.
I double check my pocket for the sealed envelope, give my notes one last glance, and stride out to face the most intimidating scene one could face. Dragons of all sizes stare at me as Smaug breathes down my neck. I can’t help the trembling, even if the organizers of the these awards had promised no harm would come to me.
“G-good evening, great dragons, and welcome to the tenth Silmaril Awards Ceremony.” I begin, but my brain goes blank and I scramble for my notes.
A trail of smoke curls upward from Smaug’s snout. A few more dragons join him, and soon there is a golden haze surrounding the ceremony.
I straighten and try to make a joke. “Who needs fog machines when you can have real smoke?”
Naturally, it falls flat, and I clear my throat.
“This year 27 dragons were nominated for The Most Magnificent Dragon Award. The top five moved on to the final round, and tonight, we shall see which dragon will be deemed the Most Magnificent Dragon. At this time, we ask that the finalist join us.”
A splay of sparks erupt to my right as a great beast with scales of gold and a crown of sapphire horns.
“Shardas, hoarder of stained glass windows. A kind—”
“You again.” Smaug snorts.
“As I was saying, a kind and noble dragon of heroic feats.”
Smaug grumbles under his breath, and I quickly move on as another dragon enters.
“Volly, a lonely dragon who pillages and captures humans for entertainment until she grows bored with them and then eats them.”
Smaug lifts his head and eyes the approaching dragon. “A respectable repeat, I should say. Not like—YOU again!”
The third finalist strolls out on the stone stage, a human, waving to the crowd. “Yes, it is I! Julio Rafael Lorenzo Velazquez Narvaez Sandoval Castillo Aquino. And this time, I shall take home the Silmaril!” The human sprang into the air. A whirlwind of flames whips around him as he morphs into a green dragon. He lands, his wings outstretch, looking expectantly to the audience. But they seem more bored than impressed.
Smaug bears his teeth. “Such a long name for such a tiny dragon.”
“I see Julio needs no introduction,” I say, hoping to keep the ceremony on track.
“Always a nominee, never a winner.” Smaug blows a cloud of smoke over Julio.
“And our next finalist,” I say, and another human walks out. “Once chosen to be the dragon queen, Hartanna lives–“
“No.” Smaug grumbles. “Shifters are one thing, but if you willingly forsake your dragon heritage to be human, you should not qualify for such a prestigious dragon award.”
“Once a dragon, always a dragon, no?” Julio says and transforms into a human to shake Hartanna’s hand and welcome her
“And our final finalist—er contestant is Gymn. A remarkable healing dragon.”
The tiniest dragon I ever saw flutters over the other dragons. I raise my hand as an emerald green-scaled dragon settles into my palm. He trembles, peering at the massive red dragon behind me.
Smaug roars, but he is laughing. He coughs and a blast of flames shoot out. “This…this is a dragon? He’s smaller than Nobert-Norberta whoever that blasted baby dragon was who won last year.”
“Be that as it may, he was still nominated and earned the right to be among the top of five.”
Gymn lifts into the air again and settles on Julio’s shoulder. The sun now spent, and the glow from a hundred flames lit the stage.
“Now for the reveal,” I quickly say before Smaug can say or do anything else.
I reach for the envelope and break the seal. “In fifth place, we have Vollys.”
“Fifth?” Smaug raises his snout. “The one dragon more qualified to win this award, and she gets fifth!”
“In fourth place, we have Shardas.”
Smaug remains silent but shakes his head.
“In third place, we have Julio.”
Julio’s face falls. “Third place? How is this possible? I had second place last year. This should have been my year!” He glances at Hartanna and Gymn, who now perches on Hartanna’s shoulder.
“In second place, we have Hartanna.”
Hartanna nods. “What an honor, thank you.”
“And the winner of the 2025 Silmaril Award for the Most Magnificent Dragon goes to Gymn.”
Hartanna gently scoops the emerald green dragon from her shoulder and lifts it for all the dragons to see. But they probably can’t because Gymn is so small.
“WHAT?” Smaug rages, spewing a billowing tunnel of flames into the evening sky, and I dive behind the other dragons.
“This is what you people call the Most Magnificent Dragon?” Smaug continues. “He trembles before me! Me the great and terrible most magnificent dragon of them all.”
A woman steps from the shadows, wearing a gorgeous, shimmering cloak. The dragons whisper amongst themselves.
Smaug sniffs at her and narrows his eyes.
“Magnificent isn’t always great and terrible. Sometimes it is in the quiet faithfulness and fearful courage, bringing hope to a dark world. No matter how small, we each have a part to play. And it’s how we play that part that determines how magnificent we can be.”
“Rubbish.” Smaug snorted but withdrew.
The little green dragon springs upward, does a few somersaults as the audience roars their approval.
“Does he speak?” I ask the woman, sensing she knows Gymn.
Gymn perches on her shoulder as she smiles. “Gymn says, thank you.”
Smaug picks up the award and strokes the jewel, mumbling under his breath. For a moment, I fear I might have to intervene. But Smaug does his duty and presents the award to Gymn.
He roars one last time and flies off into the night, ending the tenth Silmaril awards ceremony for the Most Magnificent Dragon.
Thank you so much for participating in this year’s awards! Don’t forget to check out the other ceremonies! Click here to find a list of all the ceremonies.
This category is always so much fun. Glad there were no mishaps!
Thank you for stopping by! I had a few ideas for a few mishaps, but when it came to writing it, they didn’t appear. I guess they’re getting a little used to the routine. Ha!