Chapter Two: What's this about Dragons?

I awoke to bright sun. Which isn't right… Shouldn't my handmaids have woken?

I remembered the events of the previous night. I couldn't help but to smile. I was gone from Cerceia, but i was in a room that looked near exact to mine.

"Where am I?"

'Diadem Gardens,' a voice responded in my head.

The dragon from my dreams appeared in front of me. What was her name? Thalia.

"Next question," I looked her in the eyes, "why does this room look like my own?"

'The Chase family roots begin here. Diadem Gardens. I'll tell you more lately. Can you get up?'

I nodded. I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I stood slowly. Thalia walked over to me. I reached out and laid my arm over her neck for support. My legs felt weak and wobbly. Thalia and I walked out of the room. We started down the stairs. I got the feeling back into my legs as i kept walking down the stairs. We burst into the courtyard. My first thought was 'This is definitely not Cerceia.'

The trees looked like they were made of crystal. The green leaves made prisms of light appear on the ground, and the trunk looked like to was made out of red crystal. The mountains surrounding were red, streaked with yellow. Clear crystals grew out everywhere on the mountainside. The palace looked as if it was crafted out of the crystal on the mountains.

"Beautiful. It's beautiful."

'Yes. My home,' Thalia said gently.

"You live here?" I exclaimed in complete shock.

'So did your family. Many years ago."

I looked around, "Why would we have ever moved?"

'Your Great, Great, Great, Grandmother Clarissa decided that the Mythics were not safe to be around. So she packed up the family and moved away to an abandoned palace. She renamed the family Chase because she always thought that her past would chase the family."

"What was our first name?"

'Lightchild. If nothing had changed, you would have trained with me since birth.'

"And my name would be Rayna Esmeralda Lightchild. That's a terrible name," I cast my mind to something she just mentioned, "Wait, trained?"

'Ah, yes. That is the real reason i brought you here. So you can learn about dragons.'

"Okay. Let's start."

'All right. I am a Storm-Chaser dragon, or the Filia Tempestatem. My breed is called a legend because we come around every other generation in the Chase line.'

"So i was borne in the right time to receive a dragon."

'Yes.'

"Alright. So why have i never met you before, or have even seen a dragon?"

'You have met a dragon before. Your Grandmother, Esmeralda, had a different Storm-Chaser. My mother.'

"What was her name?"

She seemed to smile, 'Rayna.'

"So my grandmother wanted me to be named after her dragon. Why?"

'Her dragon had died. She also sensed the magic in you. It was a clue to me about who would be my companion.'

"I see. So what's this about dragons that i need to know?"

'Let's begin your lessons.'

I smirked. Now this would be fun!

Thalia pushed a bucket forward. It was filled to the brim with water.

'Dragons breathe fire by a gas produced in their throats.'

She opened her mouth and breathed in. She exhaled and a small column of fire came out.

'Now throw the water in my mouth.'

"Sorry, do what now?"

Thalia rolled her eyes, 'Throw the water into my mouth."

I lifted the bucket. She opened her mouth and began to breathe in, but i threw the water inside. She exhaled and a black, foul-smelling gas came out. It smelt like that spray stuff that goes in my hair. It keeps it in place. What's it called? Hair spray.

"Gah, what is this stuff?"

'Dragonium.'

"Drag-Oni-Um, dragonium, DRAGONIUM!" I played the word in my mouth. I loved the way it sounded, all mysterious and cool.

'Yes, yes, its called dragonium. It's how dragons breathe fire,' Thalia said very annoyed.

"Got that much. What's next?"

'Want your first flying lesson?'

"OF COURSE!" I shouted.

Thalia turned and started walking toward a large building on the other end of the courtyard. She got there and nudges the door with her nose. Inside was a row of stalls.

"A stable," I breathed.

She kept walking down the isle between the stalls. I followed.

There was a trunk at the end of the isle.

'Touch the crystal lock. Since your are of royal blood, it should open.'

I knelt to examine the crystal lock. It was in pattern with my family crest. A butterfly was in the center, and a diamond shape was behind it. A pattern of storm clouds and lightning made the background. My hand went to my amulet.

'Open the trunk.'

I touched the lock. I heard a click, and the lid popped up. Inside was a saddle. I lifted it out. It was bigger than the average horse saddle, and cut strangely, as if to allow wings. Thalia turned and dropped her wings down. I placed it on her back. I reached back into the trunk and found a collar. It greatly resembled a yoke that you put on the oxen. I set it over her neck. I saw a buckle and attached it to the saddle. I grabbed three strips of leather. One of them was very long. I fastened that at the buckle towards the base of the saddle. I ran it under Thalia's front legs and fastened it on the other side. The last two strips attached to the collar and to the girth. They had strings on it, as to attach bags.

I swung my leg over the saddle. It was more comfortable than riding bareback. The saddle seemed to be fitted to my seat. Thalia moved forwards out two doors. I gripped the collar as she took off running. This time, take off was twice as graceful. We glided in the air as lovely as a bird. Every move, every adjustment was in perfect sync. She pulled her wings up and into a dive. I leaned into the wind as we flew back do to earth. Thalia landed without a bump.

I dismounted. I turned to my dragon and raised my hand. She fitted her head into it. I felt electricity spark underneath my fingers.

"Come on! Let's go exploring!" I told Thalia.

I didn't wait for a response. I took off running towards the stables. I slowed as i reached the back doors. I looked at the detailed design of flying horses. I saw a large tower by the stables. I walked over and laid my palm across the lock. It popped open. Inside was a riding equipment room. Beautiful saddle blankets adorned the walls. Dragon saddles, normal horse saddles and weird horse saddles decorated the floor. I ran my hand over the weird looking horse saddles. I realized that they were cut for wings. I glanced over the room again.

In the back of the room, there was a beautifully cut fabric. The details made it look like wings. As I got closer, I noticed it looked like a cavalry hood. There was a chest sitting underneath it. I laid my palm across the lock and the chest popped open. I lifted out the light cavalry armor. The top was a sheet of scaly armor stuck between two pieces of black cloth. The pants were made similarly, except padded around the thighs and calves. A shoulder pad set could clip onto the shirt. I fitted myself with it all. I picked up the battle cloak. I put it on and looked into the mirror. I looked like a great black dragon with brilliant purple wings. I saw one more thing in the trunk. A cavalry sword, tucked into a sheath. I pulled it out and admired the hilt. It was set with a large amethyst stone. I fitted the belt around my waist. I drew the sword.

Its blade was made of iron. Carved into it was the word Fulmina. I knew what that word meant. It was Latin for lightning. I noticed then how the hilt was decorated with small lightning bolts, resonating from the amethyst.

I sheathed the sword and walked outside. I looked at Thalia.

'You look like Esmeralda.'

"Really?"

'Yes'

I yawned. I could see the sun setting in the distance. Thalia and i headed back inside the quiet palace. I collapsed in my bed with a sigh of relief.