Just to let you know, the setting of this story is far into the future. Most of the animals have died out, leaving scientists at special corporations to engineer their own creatures. One corp. in particular makes special Jellybean Dragons, a species that went extinct three hundred years before.
______________________________________________________
The sea lapped at the sand. A tranquility hushed the beach, and the only sound was that of the reeds rustling in the gentle breeze. One single sailboat drifted through the water, breaking the calm waves with its hull. The sailboat, silhouetted against the sky, contained one passenger.
The red creature that lay in the boat rocked side to side. His fluffy tail dangled over into the water, caressing the sea. His slow breathing was a signal to his sleep. His eyes flashed open as a gull flew over the sails.
"Where am I?" He sat up, looking around at the calm scene. His eyes rested upon the blue, pink, and yellow sunset. "Amazing," his voice echoed to the sea. "But what is it?" He had no memories. Nothing of his origin, nothing of his location, nothing of his identity.
The boat lurched as it ran into the sand. The red-coated dragon gave his legs a test, leaping onto the beach. He stumbled upon the landing, and found his muzzle in the white sand. Plucking himself up, he thought, "What is this place? It's so strange..." The scene felt almost synthetic. Accordingly, it was. The reeds flickered, merely a trick of the light.
"What's going on?" the creature pondered as the ocean vanished behind him. The sunset, such a beautiful thing, was now a white wall.
"Don't worry." A large figure loomed over him. "We've got everything under control, his heart rate's back up." The shape was not speaking to him, but to others behind it. Many white coats were wrapped around large, bipedal animals. A cold metal replaced the sand underneath the dragon's feet.
"Simulation complete!" Another of the creatures walked up to the dragon. "Hey there," it said, bending down to look at him. "Congratulations!" it cried suddenly. "You're healthy, and you will survive."
"Survive? Healthy?" The dragon looked around. "Where am I?"
"You are at your birthplace, dear. You are at the testing facility of The Devene Corporation." The creature, "Human." he realized, was lifting him from the cold metal surface. "So, now we will bestow you with a name. Would that bring you joy?"
"Yes," He found his voice to be much more electronic, and sharper, than the human's.
The white-coated human ran her fingers over his back, her soft skin warming the steel bits on his back and tail. "Meta!" she declared.
"Meta?" he repeated. "I enjoy that."
"It is indeed pleasurable." The human set Meta into a large glass box. "Meta the Jellybean Dragon. Your new master shall be thankful."
"Master?" Meta tilted his head. "Am I just to be a possession?"
"No, dear. You are to be a companion. A companion for a human."
"Is that why I am here?" He had not meant to voice the question, hoping to leave his curiosity towards the meaning of his life silent.
"It is such."
Meta knodded. "I shall fulfill this purpose set before me."
"You shall, and you shall do so with zeal." Another human approached, his deep voice startling Meta. He picked the glass container up, Meta with it, and began to carry it towards a set of steel doors.
"Where are you taking me?" Meta asked quietly.
The gentle female was gone. "You are going to meet your master." the man replied. Meta's heart beat with excitement.
The doors slowly slid open, sunlight pouring in. The fresh air that burst forth brought with it a sense of freedom.