Carole stared at the gem in her hand. The center glowed a pale blue color, pulsating in time with her heart. Around her, people whispered back and forth, still in awe over the appearance of the Great Dragon. Most people around her sounded excited, even happy. Others hissed out their words.
"The Dragon is back! He'll help Magix!"
"Why'd he come back now? What about when the Ancestresses froze our planet!"
"All will be better now."
"Where was he when our oceans were polluted? Or when those witches brought forth the Army of Decay?"
Those events sounded familiar to Carole, they were things she had learned about in history classes. She was pretty sure the relative of Domino's new king had saved Magix from those evils.
A hand clapped down on her shoulder, tearing her from her reverie. She closed her hand over the gem and turned slowly. Her father towered over her, face red and eyes bright. Carole noticed a vein popping out above his collar. "Let's go, Carole. It's time for us to go home." His narrow eyes went to her closed fist, "And get rid of that… thing."
"But Father, it's mine. The Dragon gave it to me. I need to talk to the others; I need to find out what's happening."
"What's happening is that we are leaving! The Dragon abandoned us long ago. He died, he does not exist anymore," Cy snapped.
"Father-"
"Go, Carole." He took the gem from her hand and tossed it over his shoulder.
Carole watched it disappear between feet and underneath skirts as she fought back a growing need to cry. She sighed, "Yes, Father." She bowed her head and followed him out of the crowd.
When they approached their table, her mother caught her hand and squeezed it as they exited the ballroom. She kept a slight grip on it as they all quietly walked the halls, Carole's sisters and father ahead of them.
As they neared their rooms, Crystal slowed her steps until she was beside Carole. She moved closer until their dresses hid their hands. She touched her hand to Carole's, pushing a small object into her palm.

Firla blinked, unsure of what just happened. She took a breath and looked up at her parents on the risen platform nearby, situated so that they could see everything in the ballroom.
Her mom met her eyes and smiled before nodding towards Firla's great-aunt, Queen Bloom of Eraklyon, at the other end of the table near Firla's grandmother's empty seat.
Firla looked over, noticing the proud look on the older woman's face. She smiled a bit and looked back down at the faintly pulsating gem in her palm. Its glow was lighter now, much less noticeable than it had been when the Dragon was there. She closed her fingers over it and turned towards her family's table.
Her older brother met her as she moved through the crowd, dodging fine dresses and shocked guests as they went. "What was that? Are you okay?"
"I'm not sure what that was, of course, since I'm as shocked as anyone. And I am fine, Jarrod." She bit her lip, "Well, I think I am."
"So, you were chosen by the Great Dragon for some reason or another. That was real." He looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "Right?"
"Yes, I was chosen. Not that I know what that means, or why anyone would choose me for anything."
Jarrod frowned and put his arm around his little sister's shoulders, "He chose you because you're awesome. Be confident, Firla." He ruffled her loose curls and grinned. He had so much faith in what his younger sister could do.
Firla smoothed her hair down, afraid of that complete faith. She hated letting people down, and if she didn't know what everything meant she would fail him and everyone else. She put on a smile and stepped onto the platform. She dropped into a curtsy, pooling her dress around her.
"Oh, dear! This is just wonderful." Her mother clasped her hands together in front of her before standing up to hug her daughter.
"Did you know this was going to happen?" Firla asked as they separated. "Do you know anything about what just happened, Mom? Dad?"
"No, of course we didn't and don't. It's just an absolutely great thing for you!" Her mother brushed her fingertips along Firla's cheek and smiled.
"It's been a myth within the family that we had a gift from the Dragon," her father spoke up, putting an arm around his wife's waist.
"It is not a myth; this gift spoken of has saved the Magix Dimension on many occasions."
Firla turned toward the new, confident voice to see Bloom standing, hands clasped behind her.
"I was the last Keeper of the Dragon's Flame. Because of that power I destroyed the Army of Decay and Valtor, the dark spark of the Dragon's Flame borne by the Ancestresses." She smiled at Firla, "And now that power is yours. Use it well."
Firla nodded, "Oh I will, but do you understand why he chose to give the gift to me? Why not give it to one of your children?"
Bloom shook her head, "The ways of the Dragon are not for anyone to understand. He has only ever come to me in dreams. And he never did say much when he did," She chuckled once before continuing. "His purpose will be known to you soon."
Firla was quiet for a moment, collecting her uncertain thoughts. "But… what if I fail? What if I am a disappointment to the Great Dragon?"
Dafne approached the group, moving onto the platform, a proud smile lighting up her face. "My dear, you cannot disappoint anyone. The Dragon sees the intelligence and determination within you. Just try your best at whatever you do and you will never, ever fail." She hugged her granddaughter close, kissing her forehead. "I told you, you were meant for greatness."

Starlit cupped her hands, staring at the gem nestled in the center of her hands. The Dragon's words ran through her head over and over again. She had not a single clue what any of it meant, or if she wanted to know. She tried to think back through all the history books she had read, digging up any knowledge of the Great Dragon she might have picked up.
"Your family is approaching," her dance partner murmured to her. She tried- and failed, with everything else going through her mind- to remember his name as he disappeared into the mass of people surrounding Starlit.
She shook her head, trying to organize her thoughts so that she could focus on her family nearing her. She blinked several times before looking back at the gem. The weak pulsing, much less than when she stood with the other two girls, calmed her.
"Star, are you okay?" Cassiopeia touched her shoulder, her eyes filled with concern.
"Did you know sharks have hundreds of teeth? It helps them quickly devour prey." Maybe it didn't calm her enough.
Cassiopeia nodded, putting an arm around her. She let Star lean on her.
"Now Starlit, this is not the time for talk of sea creatures," Andromeda stated.
Her mother caught her in a tight embrace. "It'll be okay, dear," She smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "It's just a little gem. Nothing more."
Starlit's father's deep voice surrounded her, "Nothing will happen. And if something does, you will have the strength to overcome it. You'll have Blaise's girl with you; she's pretty loyal, I hear. You can lead her and that other girl. Front of the group."
"I'm not a leader, Dad. I'm not good enough for that, nor am I calm enough. I don't even know what being given this means," Starlit's voice shook, barely going above a whisper.
"It means power, my love. It means honor and greatness in the eyes of magic's creator."