Firla stepped through the wing-shaped gates of Alfea. She adjusted the strap of her duffel bag and moved towards the dorms. She waved to people she knew and called to friends. Her brilliant gem rested against the base of her throat, dangling from a white ribbon tied neatly around her neck. It felt warm against her skin, pulsating faintly in time with her heartbeat.

She paused for a moment to watch the other students reunite with friends after a long break being home with family. She touched the gem with her fingertips as her eyes scanned the crowds and her eyes met those of a white-blonde. Firla was pretty sure that she was one of the girls at the ball- one of the girls who had been given a gem like hers.

Firla took a breath and moved toward the girl, aiming to introduce herself. She watched as the girl looked down at her hands and then up at Firla before turning her back.

"Oh," Firla murmured. She felt a little hurt, even though she didn't even know anything about the girl but that she had been named a Keeper. She blew her bangs out of her eyes and turned towards the dorms. She'd just go unpack then.

In her dorm room, Anila nudged her bag under her bed and reveled in the peaceful quiet of her single-person room after the chaos of the courtyard. She put the book she had finished over break on her shelf and opened the window above it a crack, letting in a soft breeze. As she looked out the window, she thought about her grandmother and the night before.

When she had woken up that morning, she had been sure the night before was a dream. The Great Dragon hadn't been heard from in decades- everyone believed he had died, that he had given up on those that he had supposedly cared so much about.

Her grandmother hadn't said anything all morning about what had happened so Anila had simply dismissed it. She had more important things to worry about. Like if her grandmother would be okay without her, or if the barriers around their home would stand any attacks that might happen while Anila was at school. She wouldn't be going back until spring and wanted her grandmother to be safe.

She glanced at the clock next to her bed, positioned next to a picture of her parents grinning proudly as they held a young Anila. She grabbed a book off her bed and situated herself on her bed. She had an hour before she was to meet Vidanna.

Starlit pushed her pile of novels off her bed, letting them fall to the floor in a series of thuds and rustling papers. Her bag sat in the middle of the bed, spilling over with the last of her clothes all over.

Her roommate glanced up over her handheld video game. She frowned for a second before looking back down, unresponsive. Little bleeps and dings came from her side of the room as she continued to play. Her eyebrows furrowed together.

Starlit shook her head and flapped onto the bed, digging in the bag until she found a small velvet box she had been looking for. It sat comfortably in her palm and Starlit gently opened the lid, revealing her brilliant red gem settled in a band of gold. The golden center of the gem sparkled in the light though the balcony doors. The gem pulsed in time with her heartbeat.

Starlit gently touched the gem with the pads of her fingers. She didn't take it from its spot nestled in cotton; she was terrified she'd lose or break the gem somehow. She wanted to take care of it, especially since it was given to her by the Dragon.

"Were you one of those girls named 'Keepers' at Domino's celebration ball?" Her roommate, Violetta, asked. She sat up straight, dropping her momentarily forgotten game into her lap. It played a

"Yeah, Keeper of the Dragon's Light," Starlit sighed as she thought back to what her father had said, "Front of the group…lead them…" Starlit really didn't feel like much of a leader; she didn't even really know the other girls.

"That's cool… but what's it mean?"

Starlit shrugged as she closed the box's lid with a snap. "I don't really know. Apparently no one does."

"Isn't the Dragon gone? He hasn't been seen or heard from in years. He just left us all to deal with any problems ourselves." Violetta frowned, "Which is just mean since he's the one that gave us the abilities that cause so many problems."

Starlit thought for a moment before responding, "Well, he was there at the ball. I felt him there. When he talked it sounded like he was in my head." She looked down at the box in her hand, "Maybe he was just unsure of the anger people have towards him now. He knows his people are hurt."

"All I saw was a shadow, but if you say it was him…" Violetta sat up, moving to the edge of her bed. "Have you done any reading on it?"

Starlit bit back a snappy response pointing out that it had just happened that previous night. Truth was, she had looked through Blue Star's vast library upon arriving home to officially say goodbye before returning to school. She pulled two books out of her bag and held them up, each bound in thick dark leather, before dropping them back onto the bed. "I plan on starting some reading tonight. I should find something."

Violetta nodded, "Well, let me know if you need an extra reader. I'd love to help." She resumed her position amidst her pillows and picked up her game.

"Thanks, I'll be sure to let you know," Starlit shifted the books to her bureau and dumped the contents of her bag onto the bed. She tucked the box back into her duffel bag and moved the bag to under the bed, pushed against the wall. The ring would be safe there.

Carole listened to her friends chat amongst themselves, her eyes cast down towards her hands. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the princess of Domino hesitate in her approach and then walk away.

Carole felt awful about not saying hello- they were connected by this "gift" from the Dragon- but she had to obey her father. Even if she didn't agree with him and it hurt herself.

She thought back to that morning, how her father had been "too busy" to say good bye and how her sisters and her had made time to have breakfast together before they all departed for school. Carole had decided to stay later into the day, to see how the day would go.

Clara had talked about the guys she had danced with and flirted with. She admired the outfits of some guests and criticized the outfits of others. She debated with herself on the quality of the music that was performed.

All the while, Crystal had tried to change the subject, muttering and shaking her head as Clara talked over her. She would open her mouth to speak as her sister would take a bite or pick up her cup to drink from it only to have her quickly interrupt her. Carole had been able to tell Crystal did not want to be caught discussing the ball if her parents had come in while they were eating.

Finally Clara had stopped her ongoing ramble about the ball, instead talking about Beta Academy's formal dance a few weeks later. All Clara wanted was to be the star of the night, as always. Carole eventually tuned her out, deciding that getting a word in about anything would simply not happen. Instead, she focused on returning to her own school.

After the three had finished eating Crystal and Carole had tired of Clara's ongoing fashion talk, deciding to instead quietly excuse themselves. Carole told Clara that she would say goodbye pre-departure and Crystal reminded her that they were leaving at noon-hour.

Carole had left the small dining hall they commonly ate in before Crystal, quietly heading in the direction of their wing. She had not thought her older sister would want to walk with her, but right after she heard the large oak doors to the dining hall close she heard Crystal call her name in slightly hushed tones.

Carole slowed to a stop, looking over her shoulder in confusion. "Yes, sister?" All she wanted to do was get to her private dance room and practice one last time in her own dance area until the next break.

"I need to talk to you. It's about last night." Crystal touched Carole's hand.

Carole shook her head, biting her lip. "I… I don't know, Crystal. Father was very upset about it last night. Perhaps we shouldn't talk about it."

Crystal smiled a little bit, glancing towards the dining hall and then into the other direction. "I just thought you should have this. I know Father told you to get rid of it, but… It was given to you by the Dragon and I think that must mean something." Crystal took Carole's hand, closing it around something. "Just keep it out of Father's line of sight."

Carole had watched her hurry down the hallway, her eyes wide in shock. When she opened her hand she saw her bright red gem shining up at her with its radiant blue center, pulsing in time with her heart.

"Carole? Earth to Carole."

Carole blinked, pulled from her thoughts. "What?" She murmured.

In front of her, Sophia waved a hand. Her bright amber eyes peered into Carole's and she grinned. "Are you back on Earth?"

Carole nodded and smiled a tad, "Sorry." She looked back down at her hands as Sophia and the others resumed their conversation. She spun her silver ring band around, admiring the way her now teardrop-shaped gem reflected the bright sunlight

.Zanna sat on her bed, finally back in her Alfea dorm. She stared down at an old picture of her mother, half hidden by tall rose bushes. Peering out from between the blossoms and leaves was little Zanna, grinning mischievously.

Zanna hummed to herself, the soft tune a lullaby her mother used to sing to her every night before she went off to her dreams. It was a lullaby Zanna had sung to Zhia on a nightly basis when she was home.

She thought about her mother and what her papa had told her that morning- things about her mother that she had never known.

She looked at the bracelet on her wrist. The antiquated metal band wrapped around her wrist like ivy, the gem given to her set in the center with etched leaves curled around it. It was like the one her mother wore when she was young, one that her father had always known her to wear. Until Zanna was born, her mother had never taken it off.

When her papa had taken the bracelet out, the gem he remembered vividly was no longer there. He had looked at it quizzically, touching the smooth spot where the gem was. As soon as Zanna had touched the bracelet, there was a burst of light and her own gem was settled into the crevice where her mother's gem once was.

Zanna had slipped the bracelet onto her wrist and felt the surge of power mingling with her own power. She felt stronger, like there was a presence surrounding her. She knew her mother, or perhaps the Great Dragon himself, was with her.

"Zanna, my child, your mother had a duty and fulfilled it. She helped many people when it was needed most," Her papa put his hand over his eldest daughter's before continuing. "The Dragon came to her when she was your age and there was peril in our lands, and he came to you now. No matter what others may tell you, the Dragon lives."