The Secret Hunter
ONCE THERE LIVED A girl called Crystal.
Crystal lived in a kingdom, and was a princess, but Crystal wanted to be normal. She also wanted to be a dragon rider or hunter. Dragons and giant mythical creatures always fascinated her.
So one day, Crystal was standing in the rose garden. Suddenly, her dark hair flew out behind her, glowing. Her gown turned into silver armour, and a glowing silver sword fell below her. She picked it up, and ran through the castle gates. But, suddenly, she found herself in an open field, with thunder glowering above her. She ran through the field and into a cave. Suddenly, a dragon appeared! Its glittering red and black scales shone, and its wings flapped. She climbed on it, and then held on to the dragon’s neck. As it flew, she talked to it.
“Hmm…..What should I call you? Oh, I know! Emerald!”
Emerald hooted in response, then they landed on a stranded island.
“Emerald!” Crystal whined.
Emerald looked away, actually smiling!
Suddenly, 3 more girls came with dragons. One girl had blond hair, and beautiful olive skin, and a necklace with a jewel on it.
“Hi, I’m Coral,” She said. “And these are my friends, Pearl and Diamond.”
Crystal petted her dragon shyly. “So, you all have dragons too?” She murmured quietly. “Yes,” Said Coral. “Mine is called Jasper, Pearl’s is Oyster, and Diamond’s- Ruby.”
Crystal grinned. “I’m so glad I’m not the only one! Wait, maybe I am. Are you guys princesses too?” She rushed.
“Ooh, TOO?! Are you a princess?” Gushed Coral.
“Answer the question, Coral!” Muttered Diamond.
“Yes, we are!” Piped up Pearl. “We come from different kingdoms. I come from the kingdom of Dragons, but Oyster here is actually from Diamond’s kingdom, IceFall. Me and Diamond are best friends!”
“Yeah, duh.” Coral looked hurt for a second, but quickly recovered as Crystal squeezed her hand.
“C’mon, let’s go ride our dragons, guys!” She squealed.
They rode, but, once, they had to take a break. They wandered around the grassland, when Coral saw something.
“GUYS!” She squealed. “Look! I see a giant…..school! And dragons. Maybe it’s…..”
“A DRAGON ACADEMY!” They yelled in unison.
They flew on their dragons till there, and saw a gate with a thick gold board and a poem on it. It read:
Once you get a dragon,
It hoots and howls for food.
Now tell exactly,
How do you manage a dragon’s mood?
“Ooh! It’s a riddle! Hmm…..How to manage a dragon’s mood?…..” Said Crystal.
“Fire,” Said Coral.
“Well, there’s your expert!” Laughed Pearl.
“Fire…..Oh yeah! You need to let a dragon release its feelings by producing fire!” Said Crystal.
“Fire…..” Said Diamond. She nodded, then said-“By letting it produce fire to release its feelings.”
The board disappeared, and the gates opened to a bunch of children with dragons.
They went in the big castle building, with the hallways entwined with vines and flowers and stone. They scurried off, found the stable, and, oddly, found their dragons names. Did people know they would come here?
They got their boarding rooms, and in the hallway, saw a girl looking at them. She had short black and pink hair, and scowled at them as they accidentally bumped into her.
“Get a grip, Miss Snarly!” Shot Coral.
She growled, and walked away.
Crystal couldn’t sleep. She had a dozen calls and messages from her parents, but she ignored them. She wanted to be a dragon rider.
The next day, their Dragon Riding teacher, Mr. Draco, announced that today they would ride their dragons. Crystal, Coral, Pearl and Diamond all grabbed their dragons, and laughed as they rode high in the air. The mean girl, Jessica, couldn’t control her dragon. She snarled, and stormed off angrily, smacking her dragon with her belt.
In the night, though, Crystal woke up, and saw Jessica sneaking out. She followed her through the hall, and saw sneak out into the stables. Crystal followed her, and saw her produce a sword. She opened her best friend, Garnet’s, dragon stable. She pierced the blade through the dragon, blood came out, and it was dead.
Gone.
Crystal was heartbroken. Fresh tears sprang to her eyes, and she ran back to the dorm room. She pulled the covers to her eyes and was furious. Jessica was a student here! This was an academy to care for dragons! Why was Jessica KILLING them?
The next day, she went to class. Mr. Draco talked about dragon hunters and their snarly traits. Coral smirked at Jessica, who scowled. But Crystal knew this wasn’t a joke.
It was REAL. Jessica was actually a dragon hunter.
Coral caught up with her in the hall.
“Hey, what’s up? You seem upset. You kind of looked a little madder and sadder at Jessy-Pout today than usual. You good?”
“No! I saw Jessy-Pout-Sorry,- Jessica, sneaking out yesterday night, and-and,” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “She killed Garnet’s dragon. She IS a dragon hunter!”
“OMG!” Said Coral. She called Diamond and Pearl, and told them everything.
They rushed over, and saw Jessica and Garnet talking.
“Someone killed my dragon!”
“OMG, Garnet! I wonder who?…..”
Crystal and Coral ignored her and went down the hall.
They formed a plan. They’d follow her AGAIN, and then take.her.down.
They followed her in the night. Jessica went to the stables, then took a dragon of one of Crystal’s classmate, Aura. She was about to kill it, but then Crystal stepped up.
“Killing dragons now, I see? Another side hustle after being mean, and SUPER mean?”
Coral drew her sword. You’ll never get away with this!”
“Really?” Snickered Jessica. “Watch me!”
She expertly dodged every strike, and laughed maniacally.
“Wait!” Yelled Crystal. “Watch ME!”
She pinned Jessica to a wall, and put her sword near Jessica’s chest.
“P-Please!” Stammered Jessica. “I’m sorry!”
“Should’ve thought about that earlier, Jessica!” Said Coral and Crystal together.
That’s when Diamond and Pearl hurried out with….. the principal.
“Stop!” Said the principal, Miss Fire.
“But miss–“ Started Coral.
“NO! STOP!” Yelled Mrs. Fire. “Jessica, Crystal, my office. NOW.”
Crystal and Jessica stormed to the office.
“Crystal, you can’t point your sword in someone’s CHEST!”
“And Crystal, you must’ve had a reason. I know you well.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Blurted out Crystal. She rehashed everything that had happened.
“I see.” Miss Fire said. She pushed her glasses up.
“Crystal, you would’ve been expelled, but at least you had a reason. A sensible, good one. So instead, a week of detentions. After lunch. Room 302 for the entire week. OK?”
“Yes, Miss!” Detentions were better than expulsion, at least.
“But as of you, Jessica…..” She said.
“I’m sorry. This is a school to care for dragons, not kill them. Since you’ve killed one, or maybe more, who knows…..Anyway, I’m sorry, but you will be expelled immediately. Your dad is on the way.”
“NO!” Tears spilled down Jessica’s face. Her dad came and took her away.
The next day, Crystal felt so bad. She almost KILLED Jessica! At lunch, she just picked at the sizzling bacon.
“Oh, Crystal, don’t worry about her! The year is almost over.” Then, she stood up, and raised a toast.
“To the bravest girl- Crystal Shine! And to YEAR TWO!”
“TO YEAR TWO!” Chorused everyone, including Pearl, Diamond, Coral, and Crystal, who laughed.
Because if a dragon falls down-
It always gets back up.
By Amyra Akhtar
Continue reading the sequel Dragon Academy – Book 2