Chapter 7

"Forest I see you still have not changed in all these years," a voice said. Crystal looked around and saw a horse-like creature walking towards them. She had a horn and two magnificent wings all snow white.

Crystal realized she was an Alicorn. They were a rare group of creatures and only a few have ever been seen. "Mira, good to see you as well," Forest answered.

"Mira this is Crystal and her dragon Nylla; if you are here I take it the mythical council has decided to get involved as well," Forest asked.

"Yes, the situation is getting worse and we fear your time with Crystal is limited, so we chose a second partner for Crystal one that is considered wise and strong."

"It's rare for the council to make such decisions," Forest said. "Yes well, the coming war will be the worst we have seen since the start of history," Mira said.

"the worst, I didn't think they were that strong already," Forest said. "Strong yes, but not everyone on our side agrees with how the situation is being handled," Mira said.

"Meaning?" Forest asked. "Meaning some thinks a bigger effort should be made to figure out why the dark dragons want to destroy everything and also how come the wizard Eione can control the dragons. Recent evidence has the council convinced one of the treasures from the lost kingdom is responsible, in the wrong hands they can control every dragon on this planet."

Crystal who was listening to the conversation asked, "if they can control dragons, how can we free them?" Mira looked around and indicated the group to follow. There was an old oak tree with a lake close by, where Mira drank some water before answering.

"Crystal long time ago there was a war between the kingdom of Golsend and the kingdom of Borus. In the last fight, the palace and its royals were completely destroyed in a big fire. Your grandmother was one of the kingdom's last princess and when she got word that she is the new dragon queen Avalons royal family wasn't happy with the news," Mira said.

"They could help but unfortunately, Avalon isn't one of Golsend's neighbours and couldn't get to the kingdom of Golsend in time to help, but when they arrived all of the treasures were gone including the stone called the red beryls. It not only gives someone control over a dragon," Mira said.

"It is said that it also brings out their darkest side of a dragon. The only thing that can free a dragon from the stone's control, is a stone called the green beryl. The green beryl has many powers but one of them can free a dragon from the red beryls control. The stones are guarded in the elf kingdom and only those that can prove them selfs worthy can have a stone." Mira said

. "The red beryl are you sure it's been found and who has it," Forest asked "yes Forest it's been spotted by a messenger travelling between kingdoms, and we're positive it's been found. As for who has the stone, well it's the wizard, Eione, and its believed were looking at the start of bigger things." Mira said.

"So Eione is behind everything," Forest said. "Yes and we believe he stole a lot more than the red beryl from the kingdom that is why the mystical council has made a decision not only to join the war but also to assist Crystal with another bonded creature in case Eoine ever controls Nylla."

"Who is Eoine, Forest?" Crystal asked. "Eoine is a wizard that used to work for the royal family of Golsend but one day the king discovered that Eoine had plans to take the kingdom for himself.

Eoine fled the kingdom to the neighbouring kingdom of Borus. The war that destroyed the kingdom of Golsend started within days after Eoine arrived at the kingdom of Borus's capital.

The message we dragons got was that the war started as soon as Eoine had a meeting with the king and its queen. What they discussed in that room is still a mystery but they have taken responsibility for the kingdom of Golsends destruction."

Forest said "Crystal you need to go to you father once there, you need to learn, form him how to become a rider of both dragons and alicorns once you are strong enough to fight, travel to the kingdom of Avigalla with your father and seek the mystical council, once you arrive we will give you your next task, " Mira said.

"You mean my second riding animal is an alicorn like you?" Crystal asked. "Yes, usually we have riders bonding at a young age with our kind but since your dragon is still growing and the war could get worse at any moment we decided to pick three of our strongest alicorn warriors and one will decide to join you right now, if your father cant train you, he or she will step in and train you, Forest will be with you, and the two will work together to train you."

"I can't wait to meet my second friend, how does it work? and when do I meet him or her?" Mira looked up and said, "Right now, but unlike how you bonded with Nylla there will be three Alicorns, they will approach and look at you if they deem you worthy of their power they will lower their head to your hand, and once you touch them the bond will form." Mira said.

Three Alicorns came forward, there was two stallion alicorn's that came towards Crystal, one was grey and the other black but neither approved of Crystal as there rider and left, but the third Alicorn was a mare named Starmist, you could see that she was different with a tricolour horn made from gold, silver, and bronze.

Crystal thought she looked like a draft horse only with a big horn and big wings. Her body was grey almost white and her wings were snow white with small diamonds on the tips of her wings.

She came up to Crystal looked at Nylla and said, "I deem you worthy to be my rider." Crystal smiled and touched the Alicorn's head and said, "welcome to the family?"

Crystals rider symbol changed from a single dragon to that of both a dragon and an alicorn rider symbol. "Wow, " Crystal said. As she felt the power of both bonds. "The mystical council has gifted these items to you as well Crystal, one being a rider bracelet and the other a storage bracelet.

The rider bracelet is like a home for us mystical creatures. It gives us the ability to be with you at all times and in dangerous situations well be with you in seconds but also a place for us to sleep where others cant find us and the bonus is we can still talk even if you don't see us.

The Storage bracelet lets you keep food clothes our riding equipment as well as other items that could be useful such as weapons and information. They are from the vault from the kingdom of Avigalla and we believe your father will teach you how to use them.

The king of Avigalla your grandfather has also sent a letter with them for your father, please see to it that he gets the letter it's really important, now be save Crystal until we meet again." Crystal watched as Mira left.

She took the bracelets, the letter, and placed them in a safe place. "Forest, Nylla, Starmist shall we go to my father even though he might not be excited to see me?" Crystal asked. "Don't worry Crystal everything will work out you'll see," Starmist said.

Crystal looked at Forest and said, "I guess we need to go and find my dad then," Forest looked at Crystal and said, "that would be a good idea."

"Crystal ride with me," Starmist said. Crystal was surprised to see a saddle attached to Starmist back. "How do I get on?" Crystal asked. Starmist came towards Crystal and said, "I'll tell you," but another rider approached and said, "I'll just show you instead,"

The rider came towards Starmist and grabbed the reins with his left hand and faced her back next to her shoulder. Crystal could tell Starmist was angry and wasn't too pleased with the rider's interruption of her lesson.

The rider took his right foot and placed it on the stirrup grabbed the pommel of the saddle and mounted Starmist successfully. "There that's how it's done," he said.

He got right of and went towards his dragon and mounted the dragon. "Let's go we have wasted enough time already." the man shouted. "Calm yourself, Hendry, rushing things isn't going to help anyone," another man said.

Crystal looked at Starmist and said, "are you ready, I haven't ridden before so help me if I do it wrong okay." Starmist looked at Crystal and said, " no problem just do it as best you can like the man showed you," Crystal had trouble getting into the saddle. Forest and Nylla took off into the sky and Starmist followed.