Chapter 9

Crystal and Starmist were busy training when Forest called them back to the camp. "Forest is calling," Starmist said. "Let's go back," Crystal said.

Starmist flew as fast as she could back to the place where Forest was waiting on them. Starmist was landing when they noticed a group of dragon riders talking to Forest. "Who are they?" Crystal asked.

"Don't know, but be on guard Crystal" Crystal got down from Starmist and looked at the riders carefully. "Can we help you?" Crystal asked. "Yes, we need to know where are you heading," Crystal thought for a while.

"We are going to my father, the council has sent him a message." Crystal said. "May I ask who your father is?" the man asked. Crystal looked at the group of riders and noticed that their uniform looked formal and wondered if this group was riders form the capital of Borus.

"Yes well, we were heading in the right direction until our map was stolen along with our money. Right now we're looking for a village where we can get a job to buy a new map.

I am not from this area and got separated from the party I was travelling with." Crystal replied. "That's not good news, so your all travelling together then." Crystal looked at everyone and said, "Yes, the dragon elder promised my mother he would look out for me since it's my first trip without her away from home." Crystal answered.

"I take it the baby dragon is your dragon?" Crystal took a deep breath and said, "Yes we bonded a few days ago, Starmist is also bonded to me I am a dual rider." Crystal replied.

The dragon riders looked at one another and asked, "the council you spoke of is the mystical council of Avigalla." Crystal got really worried and asked. "Is that going to be a problem?"

The dragon riders looked at one another and said, "your heading to the resistance then," Crystal decided to tell the truth and replied, "Yes, look I am only going because the council send me there if I have my way well I would be finding myself an island and hide from you all." Crystal said.

"Sorry if we insulted you, we just don't get that many young riders out there alone that's all" Crystal smiled and said, "the group I was travelling with left me behind, I am still learning to ride and they don't have the patience for a learner so yes I was left behind and no real idea where to start looking though."

The riders looked at one another and said, "if that's the case you'll have to come with us to the capital. There will be people that can help you, we don't know where the resistance camp is but we do a lot of business for them.

The leader does come to the capital now and then if you wait long enough I am sure you'll find your father. Crystal looked at Forest and Starmist and said, "I guess well come with you," Crystal asked and mounted Starmist.

They followed the two riders to the capital where the group caused a lot of commotion as she followed the riders to the palace. Forest, who was clearly an elder who was not seen for years was welcomed by another dragon elder named Rose.

She was a golden dragon and was happy to see Crystal. "Crystal I see we meet at last." Crystal who knew how to treat the elders showed the Rose a lot of respect and replied, "Its an honour to meet you, elder, we got a bit lost after a few dragon riders got tired of having me for company. I only recently started learning to ride and well they were not that patient. I do hope it's not going to cause to much trouble with having us here?" Crystal said.

"Your mother has taught you well, its no problem having you here." Crystal followed the elder dragon into the dragon stables. Starmist was happy with having the saddle off and Forest was happy to get some rest.

Nylla was so exhausted that she fell asleep as soon as she landed on the hay. Crystal looked around the stable and found a bed made for her already. She remembered the last time she was in a place very similar to these dragon stables and after cleaning herself up she went to bed.

The next morning she found herself waking up to a strange bel. Crystal got up and asked, "Forest what's making that noise so early in the morning?" Forest looked at Crystal and replied, "I am not sure?" Crystal found herself looking at Nylla who seemed to have grown to the size of a horse.

"How long until you think I can start riding Nylla, Forest?" Forest looked at Nylla and said, "you should be able to start riding within the next two months."

Crystal looked at Forest and said, "Well until then we still need to eat and live." Crystal got up and went looking for Starmist who she found was outside grazing among the castle horses.

"Starmist, good morning," Crystal said. "Good morning Crystal, we start training after breakfast," Starmist replied. Crystal went to see if she could find something to eat.

A palace maid came to bring Crystal her breakfast and Crystal soon sat down at a table in the dragon stables to have her breakfast. Crystal saddled up Starmist after breakfast and asked her, "What are we doing today?"

Starmist took Crystal to an area where there was a lot of obstacles and said, "no matter how fast I fly learn to stay on." Starmist said. Crystal found herself almost falling of Starmist that morning but by morning's end, she had learned how to keep her balance while riding Starmist.

That afternoon Starmist started to teach Crystal how to use her powers. Alicorns are known to he kind, they had the power to heal but also to change things. Crystal also learned that all Alicorns has a destructive power but they only use this power as a last resort.

The next few days went by really fast it wasn't' long before Crystal found herself living at the palace for a whole month. It took Crystal got used to the way the palace did things and soon learned to use her gear such as the rider bracelet and the storage bracelet she also found a job where she was able to buy things she needed.

Crystal found it hard to adjust to life in the palace. She had joined a school where they taught her how to ride Starmist and use her powers but also how to ride Nylla and the correct way to use dragon power which included dragon vision and abilities such as invisibility.

Then one day Crystal found a job as a worker at a local inn and all the money she earned she saved up until she could buy what she needed at the market. Proper dragon rider gear and alicorn rider gear, she also bought some riding gear for herself and weapons that included a sword, bow and arrow.

Crystal had almost everything for her trip to the resistance when a palace guard came and told Crystal the king wants her gone from the palace. She had to leave the palace.

Crystal didn't complain and packed up her things saddled Starmist and used her storage bracelet to put everything ells away. Nylla was also waiting outside the stables but Crystal noticed Forest wasn't in his stable.

"Isn't' Forest coming?" Crystal asked. "The king told me to tell you that Forest has left you here and said he has no business in keeping you save any longer you are only a nuisance to him, now leave," the guard said.

"Crystal paid the guard for her stay and said in a heavy heart, "Please thank the king for letting me stay here I know it wasn't easy but thank you." Crystal let Nylla go into the rider bracelet and mounted Starmist who took of into the night sky.

Starmist didn't say anything at first but as soon as she landed close to a lake Crystal got down and sat down at a tree. "How could he just leave us like that? Isn't the whole idea of him staying with me to prepare me for the coming war?" Crystal asked.

"I don't know Crystal, the royal family of the Borus kingdom is a strange group. Some say they are the reason the war broke out in the first place but others defend them so I don't know myself.

Crystal made a campfire and let Nylla out of the rider bracelet. Crystal was fast asleep when Forest landed at the campsite followed by Rose. "Forest you came," Starmist said.

"Yes but I am afraid things has taken a turn for the worst," Forest said. "what do you mean Forest?" Starmist said. "They want to execute Crystal, they blame this war on her."

Starmist looked at Crystal and asked Forest, "What about her father?" Forest took a deep breath and said, "the king of Borus has convinced him to kill her but I cant know for sure if he knows she's his daughter for they refused to let me talk to him so yes we need to go to the kingdom of Golsend right away.

Once all the elder dragons have gathered there we will take the kingdoms by storm one at a time." Forest said. "Forest there has to be another way?" Starmist said. "If there is another way, now one sees it right now Starmist, we can only hope Crystal is strong enough to handle it to the best of her abilities."