"Silence!" Queen Aqua demanded. At once everyone was silent. Everyone but Embershard.

"Mother," She whispered into Azure's ear. "Why is everyone so scared of her? She's just a SeaWing. Like any other SeaWing in the tribe."

Starslasher, who was sitting right next to her gave her a nudge. He gave Embershard a look. She just rolled her eyes and yawned. She hadn't understood yet why dragons were afraid of Queen Aqua, and perhaps she'll never will. Queen Aqua was powerful she knew that. But she didn't know why every dragon was scared of a normal dragon like her. Embershard could've fought Queen Aqua herself. It would be easy based on what Embershard knew about her.

"Now, we are here today to discuss what to do with Azure's dragonets." The queen started. "What were their names again?"

Azure looked irritated. "Embershard and Starslasher."

"Yes, very well." Queen Aqua seemed to be paying not much attention on the discussion, as she seemed to be looking at her claws.

"Queen, I insist you let my dragonets stay here." Azure said. "I promise they would be a great help."

"It depends," The queen said. "The NightWings might come here and raid our tribe! They would kill the SeaWings!"

"The NightWings don't even know about the dragonets," Azure replied calmly.

Queen Aqua looked thoughtful. "I will let them stay here. But on one condition: They have to attend Jade Mountain Academy."

"Queen, I'm sure there is another way to-"

"Silence! All SeaWings should respect their queen's decision." Queen Aqua yelled. "They will come back when I think they're ready."

Embershard had no words. Jade Mountain Academy, she'd heard it was a wonderful place. Filled with dragons of all tribes. MudWings, RainWings, SandWings. But that's the problem. She couldn't be in a place with dragons who she's never met before. They'll think she's a freak!

"Fine," Azure agreed, "They will go."

"Delightful!" The queen shouted in delight. The next time she spoke her voice was more stern. "They shall go tomorrow. Now LEAVE. I don't want these... pests in my palace."

"We're not pests!" Embershard blurted. "I'll prove you!"

"Oh, how cute. The mighty hybrid speaks again. It's either now or never."

Embershard paced back and forth in the cave. Jade Mountain Academy? With all those other dragons? She'll never fit in. Not at all.

"Embershard," Starslasher said, breaking the silence.

"What?" She replied coldly.

"You don't have to be so upset. I promise they won't judge you. Not on my watch."

Embershard smiled. Starslasher had always been very protective of her. Like when the one of the SeaWings called Embershard "irregular" and "disorderly", Starslasher ran into the SeaWing knocking him into the ocean. The SeaWing had reported this to the queen, and like always, another meeting.

"Embershard, Starslasher, come here." Azure ordered. And as always the two dragons followed.

"This is your big day." Azure said, as she stood up and stretched.

"Yeah," Embershard mumbled. "Our big day..."

"Embershard don't talk like that! You might make new friends." Azure's eyes looked hopeful

"Starslasher could make new friends but me? Never." The hope in Azure's eyes faded.

"Azure," called a deep voice from outside the cave, "We're here to escort the dragonets into the academy."

Azure sighed. "This is for the best. Embershard, Starslasher, I'll miss you both." Azure nuzzled the dragonet's necks. "And I wish you luck."

"Thank you, mother." Those were the last words Embershard said before she turned around and left. The last words she said before everything would change.

"Hello!" a NightWing greeted. "I'm Destinysplitter, and I help newcomers! What's your name?"

"Embershard," Embershard said shyly.

"Embershard? That's a wonderful name!" Destinygranter's happy face turned more and more confused. "Exactly what tribe are you from?" She asked.

Embershard froze. "That's no importance right now," Starslasher explained. "We just need to know our information."

Destinygranter looked suspicious. But then the hostility on her face faded. "Okay!" Destinygranter examined her scroll. "Embershard! There! And what's your name young sir?" She pointed to Starslasher.

"Starslasher, it's Starslasher." He replied.

"I should have known! Queen Aqua sent you here, right?"

"Yep. That's us." Embershard tried to sound happier than she felt.

"Great! Let me check... Oh! Here! Embershard you're in the Sapphire Winglet and Starslasher you're in the Emerald Winglet."

Embershard widened her eyes in terror. In a cave? With dragons from all sorts of tribes? Oh, how she wished she could change her scale color just like RainWings could. That would make her look more like a SeaWing. She wished she were a RainWing herself, or any dragon in general. Any dragon but a stupid hybrid.

"You look frightened dear," Destinygranter observed. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. Really." Embershard stammered.

"Really?" Destinygranter questioned one more time, just to make sure.

"Yes, really."

"Okay, well then, I need to tell you where your caves are! Here,"-She handed each dragon a map-"Take this. It'll help you find your way."

"Thank you," Starslasher said gratefully. He stared into Destinygranter's eyes. There was a glimmer in his eyes, something Embershard hadn't seen before, after all the time she's spent with him. There was something special about the glimmer in his eyes, though. Something Embershard couldn't make out.

"Oh-um, well, I guess you gotta go." Destinygranter replied rather awkwardly.

"I guess so," Starslasher said.

"Starslasher!" Embershard growled. "We're supposed to go now."

"Oh! Sorry. I'll see you later."

Embershard pulled his arm and partly dragged him inside the academy. "What was that all about?" Embershard asked eagerly. "I saw the look in your eyes. What was going on?" Before Starslasher could even reply, the thought struck Embershard. He's in love, She thought. With a NightWing.

"Starslasher!" Embershard said. "You're..."

"I know," Starslasher replied calmly. "I am."

"But I don't want you to end up like mother and father did! You can't be with a NightWing."

"Embershard, I really do love her. Please understand." He looked at Embershard with longing in his eyes.

"Fine," Embershard muttered. "But don't tell me I didn't warn you when you're dragonets go through as much trouble as we did."