The Dragon Queen

by Stacia Deutsch

  “Aaah! Aaah! Aaaaaahhh!” Aira screamed as they got higher and higher. “Where are we gooooooing?!”

  “We have to stop for the night,” Emily told the others. It was dark on the mountain and they were moving slowly.

  The fire dragon’s injury seemed to be getting worse. “I think her wing is broken,” Azari said. “She’s not complaining, but I think she’s in a lot of pain.”

  “And the fire baby is taking shallow breaths,” Emily added.

  Naida took the book and skimmed through its pages. “We’re going in the right direction. But it looks like we’re still a bit of a distance away.”

  “Okay, then. Let’s camp for the night,” Farran said. “I promise I won’t snore!”

  “Oh, don’t promise,” Azari said. “We’ve all camped near you before!”

  He laughed. “You’ll be happy when I scare the mountain monsters away!”

  “There are no mountain monsters,” Azari said, shivering. “We’re too high up, and it’s too cold. Who would want to live here?”

  “Exactly.” Farran smiled. “You can thank me later.” He pointed out a nearby cave. “That looks comfy!”

  They set up camp. Emily cooed quietly over the baby dragons, swinging her medallion. Naida sat with the book, scanning the pages, searching for any information they might need. After a while, she shut the cover. “If Aira was here, I’m sure she’d be reading this instead of me.” She sighed. “Where, um … where do you think she is right now?”

  Azari’s eyes flashed. She stood up and paced the cave. “She’s GONE! That’s where she is.” She stared hard at the large fire dragon. “It’s your fault!”

  The fire dragon wiggled back into the shadows and melted into the darkness.

  Emily got up and went to Azari. “Hey!” she said. “The dragon was under a spell and didn’t know what she was doing!”

  Azari countered, “Spell, shmell! She’s as evil as the witch.”

  “Whoa.” Naida jumped between Emily and Azari. “Have you both lost your minds? How can you fight when …” Naida stomped her foot. “Actually, go ahead and fight. At least you don’t keep wanting to turn back, like Farran.”

  Farran leapt up. “So what if I like my home? What’s wrong with that?” He gave them each a hard look. “What is even going on right now?!”

  Naida rolled her eyes and spun around on her heel, then stopped. “Do you guys hear that?” She tipped her head. “It’s water.”

  “Water? I don’t hear any—” Emily started.

  Azari interrupted. “Of course you don’t! You have such little ears!”

  “My ears are—” Emily started shouting back when Farran pushed past them, knocking into Naida. He walked out of the cave and down a rough, overgrown path.

  “Let’s follow,” Emily told the others.

  “Why?” Azari asked, hands on hips. “If he wants to get lost in the dark, let him.”

  A nagging feeling in Emily told her this was all wrong. These were her friends, and they were in the middle of an important mission. Why were they fighting? Her chest felt tight with anger and confusion.

  “Stay here if you want,” she told Azari. “I’m going after him.”

  They all ended up following him, except for the fire dragon, who was still sulking in the corner. They walked in a prickly silence.

  They found Farran at the end of a short path, standing near a small fountain. The water trickled over smooth rocks into a natural pond.

  “Told you there was water,” Naida muttered.

  Azari let out a big sigh.

  Emily had a bad feeling about the fountain. She tried to figure out why as Naida and Azari started arguing again.

  But Farran wasn’t just looking at the fountain anymore. He was moving toward it with glassy eyes, as if it was controlling him. He scooped up some water in his hands and raised it to his mouth …

  “No!” Emily dove between Azari and Naida, tackling Farran to the ground and knocking his hands away. “Farran, no!”

  “You can’t stop me …” he said, reaching for the water again. The fountain sprayed a gush of dark, murky water at Emily, pushing her back.

  “Whoa! It’s alive!” Emily cried.

  Naida’s eyes flickered, then cleared. “That is not natural! And I can’t stop it with my water magic!” She got the book out, and flipped through. “Look!” She handed the book to Emily.

  Emily read, “Water can be beautiful, but sometimes it’s for show. Remember your surroundings and the presence of your foe.” It was a warning. Emily felt her alarm grow as she realized how much evil magic they were near.

  “We have to get away from here!” Emily grabbed Farran around the waist and pulled him backward, and Naida tugged on Azari’s arm. But Azari and Farran had started bickering again, and were each trying to get to the enchanted fountain.

  Emily and Naida also felt the pull—the fountain’s water looked clear and enticing. “The fountain might be too strong for us!” Naida said.

  Just then, the fire dragon appeared. She wrapped her tail around Emily and the elves, gently pulling them away from the fountain before it sprayed green water after them.

  As soon as they were a good distance away, their minds all felt clearer.

  “That has to be the Shadow Fountain that turned the elf witch evil!” Naida said.

  “It sure has some strong magic,” Azari said. “I’m sorry I was so angry before—though I think the fountain had something to do with it.” She stroked the fire dragon’s arm in apology.

  “I’m sorry, too,” Farran told them. “No wonder the elf witch is so evil! Can you imagine what would have happened if Azari drank the water?” He smiled. “Good thing I was there to stop her!”

  Emily and Naida looked at each other and laughed.

  “Yeah,” Emily said, rolling her eyes. “Good thing.”

  It was still dark, but they all agreed they needed to get far away from the fountain as soon as possible. So they kept moving until they found a clearing to camp in. Azari built a new fire and they all gathered around.

  “Come here.” Azari beckoned to the fire dragon, trying to mind-link. “I know what happened at the bridge wasn’t your fault. And you saved us all at the fountain.” She leaned against the dragon’s tail and said softly, “Thank you.” A moment later, Azari had fully mind-linked with the fire dragon. “Her name is Zonya!” she called happily.

  Emily smiled, then sighed. It had been a hard, long day—one of the most difficult she had ever faced. She thought back to the Secret Marketplace … So much had happened since then. Emily yawned. They had to take a break or they’d start bickering again, even without the fountain’s evil magic.

  With another yawn, Emily cuddled between the two baby dragons. “I’m sure we’ll make better time in the morning. Let’s get some sleep.”

  Emily and the elves were standing outside the castle. They’d made it. Now, only a narrow bridge over a wide moat stood in the way of the imposing front doors. The moat glowed an eerie, magical neon green.

  “I don’t think we should cross,” Emily said, leaning toward the swirling mist. “I’ve had enough of bridges … Plus, are we just going to ring the doorbell when we get there?”

  “Let’s try to find another way in,” Azari agreed, shivering. “That’s the most evil-looking water I have ever seen.”

  “Worse than the Shadow Fountain?!” Naida asked. She raised her hands toward the water and a magical glow surrounded her. Then she said, “I have good news.”

  “Go on—we could use some good news,” Farran said.

  “The moat’s dry! The mist is just a magical illusion.” Naida tossed a pebble down, and they heard it click against the bottom. It was a long drop from where they stood. “I am sensing a small trickling stream underneath the castle,” Naida said.

  “I bet it’s an old mine. Water is an important part of mining, and these castles used to be built over some really big treasures!” Azari told them. “We can sneak in through the tun
nels. But … how will we get down there?”

  “Aira could have built us something.” Emily sighed. They felt Aira’s absence with every step along their journey. Emily hoped they’d see her again soon.

  “I can handle this,” Farran said, pulling vines from the nearby forest and using his magic to twist them together into a swinging ladder. He dropped it over the side of the moat. “I made the ladder, so I’ll go first,” he said, stepping down onto it.

  “We’ll be right behind you!” Naida assured him. They watched as Farran disappeared into the mist.

  Azari was about to follow when she saw the look the fire dragon was giving her. “Zonya can’t come—she’s too big to fit where we’re going.” She blew the dragon a fiery kiss. “See you later!” The fire dragon raised her head, spread her wings, and flew away.

  When they all reached the bottom of the moat, Emily and the elves found the mine entrance and dashed inside, following the shallow stream Naida had heard. It was dark in the tunnels, but the walls glittered with precious stones, almost like stars. Emily thought it was beautiful. She told the others, “It’s almost like the view from the inn!”

  “Too bad it’s under an evil castle run by an evil elf,” Azari said.

  “Yeah, too bad,” Emily agreed with a chuckle.

  They came to a fork in the tunnel, and everyone stopped, uncertain. “Let me see the book,” Emily said. She quickly found the information they needed. “Through crystal lights, a track runs fast,” she read. “Its cart will reach the castle at last …”

  “I see carts over there!” Farran pointed the way.

  Suddenly, they all heard a crack. The third egg was hatching!

  “Look at that!” Farran said, watching the baby emerge in the basket. “A baby earth dragon!” It looked sad, and wiggled around. Farran immediately gestured to Emily. “You have the magic touch,” he said. Emily grinned and approached the baby. He saw Emily’s glowing medallion and settled down.

  “I hope we’re getting closer to the dragon queen!” Naida said.

  Emily agreed. Moving quickly with the baby dragons and the ever-trickling hourglass wasn’t easy. She was sure they were all glad for a ride now. The old mining carts were on a rusted track leading deeper into the tunnels. They jumped in and were off …

  “It’s like a roller coaster!” Emily exclaimed as they went up and down steep hills, zooming around corners so fast they were all crushed to the cart’s side.

  “A what?” Naida asked.

  “I’ll explain later!” Emily shrieked as the cart flew around the final curve, coming to a stop in front of a mysterious door.

  “Woo! That was wild!” Azari said. “Let’s do it again!”

  “No thanks.” Farran’s face was as green as his clothes.

  They all piled out of the cart, and it zipped back up the tracks on its own.

  “Aira would love those carts,” Farran said in a soft voice. “She’d want to know exactly how they worked.”

  “Hopefully we tell her all about it soon,” Emily said.

  She stepped up to the door, feeling nervous as she reached out for the knob. “Ready?”

  She opened the door.

  The room they entered was so beautiful, Emily wondered if maybe they’d gone through a portal! It was dim, but she could see glinting silver, gold, and sparkling green crystals. It was like walking into a treasure chest.

  A small stream flowed in through the room. The trickling sound was soothing, yet Emily knew how much evil lurked there. Just like at the Shadow Fountain, looks could be deceiving.

  She heard the rattle of chains. “The dragon queen must be nearby!”

  “Here we go …” Azari pressed up against the wall. They needed to stay hidden as long as possible.

  “Shhh …” Naida warned as they tiptoed toward the dragon’s cries.

  SQUEAK!

  “Oops! Sorry!” Farran looked to see what he’d stepped on. It was a cat toy. “Weird,” he said. “Hopefully the witch didn’t—”

  Suddenly, a giant chandelier lit up, revealing a throne beneath it … and the elf witch.

  Emily caught her breath. Farran jumped as a black cat brushed past his legs, snatching the toy and running over to the witch.

  “Welcome to my humble abode. I’ve been expecting you!” the witch said. She held up a turquoise dragon egg covered in silver glitter. “Aw, how sweet! You’ve brought me dragon babies to add to my collection. They’re not doing so well, are they?”

  It was the truth. The hourglass was nearly empty, and the dragon babies were weak and whining. “They need to be with their mother!” Emily demanded.

  “Well, why didn’t you say so?” The elf witch cackled. “I can arrange that!”

  She raised her arms, and sparks flashed across the room. The baby dragons were ripped out of the girls’ arms and floated high up into the air.

  “Nooooo!” Emily screamed, leaping upward. But she couldn’t reach them.

  The elf witch waved her hands, and the dragon queen appeared behind her, roaring in fear and anger, chained up inside a magic force field cage. The dragon pulled and thrashed, but the magic bonds held.

  “Tsk, tsk, such a moody mommy,” the witch said, grinning. She created another glowing force field cage, and she forced the dragon babies into it with a roll of her hands. The dragon queen could see her children, but could not reach them.

  Emily had never heard a sound as terrible as the one the dragon queen was making. It was pure despair. Emily’s own heart felt like it might shatter.

  In a blink, the witch appeared in front of Emily, studying her. “You’re no elf,” she said.

  “Free the queen,” Emily demanded, glaring at the witch. “She doesn’t belong to you!” Instinctively, Emily raised her medallion. It seemed to help the dragon queen as much as it had her babies—she calmed down noticeably. Emily also noticed that the dragon queen was wearing a necklace as well. How strange!

  “It’s so cute that you think you have a chance against my powers,” the witch told Emily. “By the way, you might want to cover up those ears. I mean, ew.”

  Emily rolled her eyes and Azari said, “We like her ears just the way they are.”

  The witch snorted and then disappeared in a puff of green smoke.

  “Where’d she go?” Farran said, looking around.

  Suddenly, the elf witch reappeared at the back of the room. She was holding the turquoise egg.

  “I’ll just put this on the roof to keep it away from you,” the witch called. “Go back to the forest, elfies, and play with your plants. Dragons are a witch’s game!”

  “We’re not going anywhere till you release the dragon queen!” Azari said threateningly, but the witch was gone again.

  “Where are the stairs?” Naida asked. But before they found a way to the roof, the witch reappeared in the room beside them. She looked amused. “Silly elves.” She looked at each of them in turn. Everyone glared back.

  “Wait … I feel like I’m missing something,” the witch muttered. “Where’s the last egg?!”

  Emily and the elves exchanged glances, making a silent vow not to tell about the egg still with Aira.

  The witch raised her hands once more. The room fell into shadow, followed by a bright flash of light that threw Emily and the elves backward across the room. They tumbled into one another, skidding into the farthest wall.

  “Ouch!” Farran exclaimed. His head had banged hard against the wall. Azari helped him up.

  “Where is the egg?” the elf witch screamed, aiming another blast at them. “Give me the last egg, or I’ll imprison you all!”

  This time, the elves were ready to use their magic. Farran swept vines off the wall, swirling them toward the witch to entrap her.

  But the witch dodged away.

  Naida took water from the mine stream and hurled a swirling orb of water across the room.

  The cat and the witch both managed to dive under it.

  Taking fire from a wall torch, Azari
pitched a flaming ball at the elf witch. “Take that!”

  She missed.

  Emily saw how things were going, and said, “Everyone has to work together! Unite the magic!”

  They quickly moved into a row, pooling their elemental energy as best they could, but it still wasn’t enough. The elf witch closed in on the group, pressing another green force field toward them. The elves were unable to move.

  Farran moaned. “Aira … We need Aira.”

  Emily felt her heart sink.

  Suddenly, a huge gust of wind blasted open a castle window.

  Aira soared in on the back of the wind dragon!

  “AIRA!” they cheered. Emily was so relieved. She’d hoped beyond hope that Aira was okay, but it was wonderful to see her in person!

  Even more good news followed—right behind Aira were the Sky Captain on the earth dragon, and the Dragon Trainer on the water dragon!

  Finally, with a blast of fiery steam, the fire dragon also landed in the center of the room. Her wing had already started to heal.

  “Wow!” Emily exclaimed. There was so much joy in the room … but no time to rejoice.

  The elf witch was so startled that she lost some of her control, and the elves could move again.

  Aira leapt off the wind dragon and ran to hug her friends. “Gust is the best wind dragon!” she told them.

  The Dragon Trainer and Sky Captain faced the witch. “Not so brave now, are we?” the Sky Captain said, laughing.

  “Let’s free those dragons!” Emily yelled.

  “It’s really good to be back,” Aira said, leaping into battle action.

  Everyone circled the witch, and the dragons swooped overhead.

  “Get away from me!” the witch shouted. She sounded scared, but Emily noticed a hint of a smile.

  “Something’s wrong …” She shivered.

  “What do you mean?” Azari looked over at her.

  “I don’t know … but it feels like it might be a trap!” She looked up and saw they were directly under the sparkling chandelier, which was starting to emit a green light. “Stay back! Go back!” Emily warned her friends, but it was too late. They were all trapped together in a force field, which pushed them to the other end of the room.