Chapter 16

The next morning Simon showed Crystal a hunting ground that the dragons use and even Starmist was happy with the grass she was free to graze on. "Now about her saddle, and then well see how much you need to buy another saddle for her."

Crystal thanked Simon and went whit him to the local market and found it easy to sell her dragon saddle and some other things that she doesn't use anymore.

Crystal was surprised to find a selection for dragon saddles available at the market as well as Alicorn riding saddles and briddles. She decided to sell Starmists saddle as well and used the money to buy a better riding saddle for Starmist including a brittle, some riding boots, blankets and a brush set that included shampoo.

She also found a saddle for Nylla she chose to buy the biggest saddle she could find for she knew Nylla was still growing and for some reason, she was also able to find more dragon-riding gear for Nylla then before.

The last thing on the list for herself was a new riding outfit and the money that she had left was enough to buy what she needed including a few extra things.

That afternoon she checked if Starmist's new gear fitted her. Crystal was happy with how everything fitted Starmist and she was happy to have a saddle that fitted right again.

Crystal also checked if Nylla's gear fitted her with Simon's help who showed her how to saddle Nylla better and once Nylla was all set both Simon and Crystal took Nylla and Duke out flying.

Nylla was doing a little better since she didn't have to eat fish anymore and Crystal was doing better since she didn't have to use her power as much but as they landed Crystal noticed an elder dragon waiting for her.

"Not this again?" Crystal asked. "What do you mean?" Simon asked. "Elder dragons," Crystal said. Simon looked towards the elder dragon waiting for them.

Simon was puzzled his father didn't tell him that the Volcano the dragon elder was looking for him. Crystal could feel Nylla was angry as she prepared for a landing and touched her partner side.

"Easy Nylla lets see what he wants first maybe the dragon elders here are different." Crystal said but she wasn't sure who she was trying to convince herself or Nylla.

Once on the ground, Simon asked, "Did something happened between you and the dragon elders?" Crystal took a deep breath and said, "I don't know if I should say it but I am from the kingdom of Avalon, Barus Avigalla and I guess you could say Golsend."

Simon looked at Crystal puzzled and asked, "Why so many kingdoms?" Crystal took a deep breath unsure if she should tell him the truth but decided to tell him anyway.

"That's because I have no real home right now, I was born in the Evergreen forest on the border between Avalon, Avigalla and Barus.

Ten years after my birth my mother disappeared and with her disappearance Forest, the Evergreen dragon elder also disappeared. The guards working on the border found me but instead of killing me, they left me at a border village where I was locked up for ten years before I was freed.

My life since then isn't what you would call normal for it includes bonding to Nylla, bonding to Starmist and learning that I am the next dragon queen that is supposed to rule the Golsend kingdom but running into problems like having people trying to kill me.

Then you have to take into account I think that war is based on rumours and my dad doesn't recognise me as his daughter but the short story of everything is. We are here to learn and decide on our own what to do because I have questions no one wants to answer." Crystal said.

"Wait so you are that Crystal?" Simon asked. "Yes, and don't tell people I am here, to tell you the truth I don't want the crown," Crystal said.

Simon looked at Crystal shocked and asked, "Why not, isn't it an honour to be the dragon queen?" Crystal looked at Simon and said, " No it's not when everyone is trying to get rid of you." Crystal answered.

"Did you see Forest the evergreen elder again?" Simon asked. "Yes, I also met several other elders but something happened and I got separated from Forest.

He was like the father I never had and with him gone I am not sure what to do," Crystal said.

Simon walked towards Volcano and said, " greetings Volcano father didn't mention I was going to run into you today."

Volcano looked towards Crystal and said, "she doesn't belong here," Simon looked at him and said, "Leave her be, Volcano, she needs to make up her own mind. Golsend future is in her hands but before that, she needs to find her own way. Father always says war is no place for a teenager and look at her do you see an adult besides Starmist?" Simon asked.

Volcano chose to ignore Simon and asked Crystal, "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be running away from your problems?" Volcano said.

"Look here, I don't know who you are but I am sick and tired of you elders controlling my life. If it's not you, it's the kings and queens that think they control everything? What did you think was going to happen when I meet my father? He doesn't recognise me as his daughter? You're asking me to win a war with the dark dragons alone, no help at all and you know what I don't even know what I am supposed to do?" Crystal said.

"You are supposed to go to your father and let him train you?" Volcano said.

"I don't believe you, my dad doesn't want to train me. He doesn't believe I am his daughter to him I am no one" Crystal said.

"You need to go back?" Volcano said.

"Going back to what? My mother that disappeared, Forest who is missing the Golsend kingdom or winning this war alone don't you get it I don't have anything to go home to?" Crystal said.

Volcano breathed fire at Crystal almost burning her and said, "You will stay away from your mother, Forest and the Golsend kingdom. Go to your father and no one else you hear me?" Volcano said.

Nylla has had enough of Volcano and said, "Did you not listen to what she was saying? Her father refuses to train her. He doesn't want to see her?" Nylla said.

"He does not have a choice he is Crystal's father and he will train Crystal to be the next dragon queen," Volcano said.

Nylla had it with Volcano who was an elder who didn't listen and when he breathed fire at Crystal again a fight broke out. Crystal look as the two dragons fought, "I need to calm them down if we don't stop them this whole forest will burn down."

Simon looked at the dragons fighting and said, "Duke you better call for help?"

Crystal didn't want to wait for help to arrive and touched the ground focusing all her power towards the surrounding trees calling onto them for help.

She knew both dragons will need to be bound and she managed to bind both dragons to the ground. Starmist was next to Crystal and said, "Crystal you shouldn't have had to use that power, the mystical council told you, that you will have to learn to use the power."

Crystal looked at Starmist and said, "I won't let a forest be burned down for no reason" Crystal said.

As she tried to hold onto Starmist but in the end collapsed onto the ground. Simon caught Crystal and asked Starmist, "Just what was that power?"

Starmist looked towards the dragons and said, " the dragon elders do not know about his but Crysta is half elve and she never learned how to use her powers correctly."

Simon looked at the Crystal sleeping form and asked, "How is that possible? If she overused where do we get help for her?" Simon asked.

Starmist looked at Simon and said, "Only the elves can help her now but you see why she ran away from the war? There is too much that she doesn't know and there's no one to teach her?" Starmist said.

Simon herd Duke returning just as Volcano broke free and was just about to fight Nylla again when help arrived and forced Volcano to back off."

Nylla saw her rider in Simons's arms and rushed over. "I am so sorry Crystal, I only tried to protect you," she said.

A man came over to Simon and asked, "What happened here?"

Simon took a deep breath and said, "send a message to the elves ask them to send a healer to the palace and tell them the dragon queen of Golsend is a half-elf." Simon said and got ready to put Crystal on his dragon.

"The dragon elders don't know. If they ask what happed tell them Volcano and her dragon fought she tried to calm them down and used to much power. She not trained to use her power. She came to our kingdoms to learn and grow in the hope that she will know how to deal with the problem someday and tell the elves to hurry." Simon said.

He picked Crystal up and placed her on his dragon Duke and yelled at Nylla and Starmiste. "You two follow me to the palace well get help there for your rider." Nylla didn't have to be told she was already waiting for Duke in the sky. Starmist followed closely behind and both could only hope that Crystal would be okay.