Julie
Julie woke up right before early dawn when the sky was starting to turn blue. She couldn't believe her eyes when she realized that she was flying through the sky. Julie had transformed into a beautiful large green and gold dragon overnight. She felt free and exhilarated as she flew alone toward the Santaquin mountains to hunt. She was aware that no one would believe in the existence of dragons and that anyone who saw her would think they were hallucinating. However, she wasn't bothered about it as she enjoyed the freedom of her maiden flight.
Julie couldn't help but imagine her family's reaction if they discovered her darkest secret. The thought made her laugh inside, picturing their shocked faces when they saw her in her dragon form. Her parents would probably faint and question their sanity, just like she had done many times over the past two years. She had been having strange and wonderful dreams of her newfound freedom as a dragon. Looking through her large eyes, smelling the air with her long snout, and feeling the sharp teeth in her mouth, she knew it was not just a figment of her imagination.
She often wondered how this transformation was possible but could not ask anyone. She searched for books on dragons, but most of them were old legends from fairytales and children's stories. A senior librarian even laughed at her when she asked for such books.
One day, while chasing a deer, she noticed a large purple dragon among the herd. Together with her helpmate, a large blue dragon, and some smaller ones, they herded the deer into a cluster of pins. Julie initially felt angry because they had stolen her prized deer, but then she realized they could help her find the answers she had sought for years. However, she wasn't sure if she was ready for the answers.
Julie was facing a minor problem - she didn't know how to transform into a dragon. It was surprising to her that she managed to transform into a dragon at all. Despite this, she tried not to worry too much about it and remembered the saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff." Another said that came to mind was, "There is always room for one more," but she wondered if these mottos also applied to dragons. She chuckled as she thought about her family and how it had grown over the last year. When her new brother EJ moved in with his brother Danny, he brought along her new grandmother and her two sons, Richard, and Steve. She also gained four new aunts, Mary, Lizzy, Loraine, and her favorite, Aunty M.
Although her family had grown significantly over the summer, Julie wouldn't trade any of them for the world. She loved each and every one of them, and they were her pride and joy. To her, the most important thing about family was the love they shared, regardless of whether they were blood-related. Julie believed there was always room for one more in a family filled with love, and her very large dragon heart proved this motto true, even when it came to being a dragon.
As she watched the other dragons below, it became even clearer to her that being related by blood meant nothing. It is what's in one's heart that truly matters. Her father had taught her that it is the deeds one does and what's in one's heart that counts, regardless of one's clothing or skin. Seeing the other dragons and how they interacted with each other reinforced this motto for her. She thought of her closest friends, the Whitmore's, Doctor Hatfield, Granny, and Ned, and the whole town of New Downing, not far from her family farm. Julie loved every person in the town, no matter how strange they may seem to others, for each person was unique in their own special way.
Julie found it easier to decide by thinking about it. She swooped down, circled around the other dragons, and chose a spot to land without causing any harm. However, she had only recently become a dragon and did not know how she had initially transformed. Although she had tried several times to transform on her own, she was unsuccessful in turning into a human or a dragon. She was still unsure how to do it.
Julie had searched for books on the topic but could not find any. She had been laughed at for thinking that there might be records in old libraries that held the answers to her questions. She realized she might have been looking in the wrong place and asking the wrong people. However, finding other dragons like herself nearby did not help her situation.
Julie was wondering how she could communicate with another dragon once she landed, deciding to take one small or in her case very large step at a time. She searched for a soft spot to land, feeling that she was in serious trouble. Despite the possibility of being laughed at during her first attempt while awake, Julie decided to land. She was unsure if any of it was real or just a dream; anything could be possible at this point. Giving a heavy sigh, Julie cautiously approached the ground before landing. The other dragons watched as she landed hard, tripping over her large feet, enormous tail, and wings. She tumbled in as she rolled and came to a very hard stop, hitting a tree that happened to stop her just in time before it fell with a loud, resounding crack. Her landing was definitely not very ladylike, and it was not a pretty picture watching the tree fall to the ground.
As the woman fell, nobody found it amusing. They all rushed to her side, sounding like a herd of large elephants as they ran over. They wanted to ensure that she was not hurt, and upon inspection, it seemed that she only had a few extra bruises in addition to her pride. The only casualty was the tree that she had crashed into. She knew that her sister Anna would have found the situation hilarious, and even her brothers would not have missed the chance to tease her. She realized there were better ways to introduce herself to the other dragons, such as watching them transform into human forms.
However, at that moment, nobody was laughing. They were all concerned about her wellbeing and asked if she was alright. She nodded in response. She could understand them perfectly but noticed a slight accent of a far-off land from a different country. She didn't know how far it was, but it wasn't the right time to ask. She realized that they held the answers she was seeking. Julie wondered if they would just give them to her and what cost. After all, there was another saying. 'Nothing in this life is for free.' That included the knowledge she needed regarding her new dragon form. Again she gave a heavy sigh and waited for them to make the first attempt.
It was the purple dragon that had transformed first into a young man with a circlet made of silver that hung around on the brow of his head like a crown. He put his hand out, resting it on her long green snout. "My name is Sly. We have all been waiting for you, my dear young one." His language sounded strange but she understood him, yet his lips never even moved she heard him in her head.
He motioned to his mate as she transformed from a large purple and yellow dragon to a young woman wearing a long, beautiful white dress with silver butterflies at the bottom of her dress; she, too, was wearing a circle made of silver around her head. Indicating they were either some sort of King or Queen from distant lands of old. She said, placing her hand on her snout and speaking like her mate did. "My name is Lorna. Be welcome, my younger sister. We are all friends here."
One at a time, they each transform from a dragon into a human form, just like hers. Each individual introduced themselves one at a time with the same greeting, placing their hand on her snout and in her mind. There were twelve of them as a family or a hidden tribe of dragons. Telling her that they had all been waiting for her. She was once a simple girl from the small town of Santaquin, Utah, no bigger than a pea. It's so small you would blink and miss it as you pass by it.
Once Julie had been introduced to the small group of dragons that had seemed be living in her backyard in the mountains near her home, she was overwhelmed by the experience. She sees log and stone-type homes hidden in the nearby woods and realizes that the dragons have been waiting for her to come to them.
She wonders why they had been waiting for her and hadn't made themselves known until now. Julie knows that people in her world would panic if they knew that dragons still existed. Her family would likely not understand what is happening, except for her two brothers, Robert and Will, who have their own unique gifts of "Sight," and possibly her sister, Anna. However, her parents would most likely faint away or think she was insane.
Julie considers confiding in her Aunt Margaret, who might be more open-minded. However, Julie knows that she must learn to transform back into a human before she can do that. She fears that her family might not accept her if she cannot.
Julie was about to ask her new dragon friends how she could regain her human form. She worries they might laugh at her for not knowing how to do something so simple. She forms the question in her mind, not knowing if they would understand her as she does them, but she has nothing to lose at this point.
Sly and Lorna, the dragon leaders, silence her and ask for a private moment with her. They said they would prepare for their meeting and leave Julie with Lorna. Lady Lorna gently touches Julie's leg and signals her to follow in the opposite direction.
Julie realizes it is early morning and panics because she should have returned to bed before her family discovered she was missing. However, she doesn't know how to return to her human form, and she must fly home in her dragon form first, which makes her even more anxious. She feels powerless and at the mercy of her circumstances.
Lady Lorna senses Julie's concern and reassures her. She tells her that she has sent word to her family that she will be delayed due to her problems. Lady Lorna explained that "Time" itself is flexible and depends on where they are. She points to a gateway and gestures with her staff, adorned with white crystals that glow when she touches them. Julie watches as the gateway forms in front of them, enlarging enough for them to walk through it.
It was soon after they had arrived at their apparent destination, watching the gateway close them off from her home world and realized she was no longer in familiar territory. She saw a large city of stone walls with a high castle built upon the mountains. There was a lake below it with three waterfalls, and Julie noticed fishing boats catching larger-than-life salmon. She looked up and saw two moons in the sky, indicating it was past noon. Her watch had disappeared along with her human form, and she had no idea where she was or what time it was. All she did know was she wasn't even in her own realm or solar system. Yet that was the least of her problems.
Julie was feeling trapped and helpless. She knew she would be in big trouble with a Capital T without her guide, Lady Lorna, and without any magic she was aware of. Considering she had been sneaking out at night to hunt and explore in her dragon form while everyone was asleep, she was now paying the price for it. Lady Lorna, who was supposed to help her, seemed unconcerned about her problems. At least she hadn't indicated it to the moment.
Julie had been definitely delayed on her little trip, but Lady Lorna had informed her family about it. However, Julie needed clarification about how Lady Lorna had communicated with her family, as there were no phone lines or payphones in the nearby mountains. Additionally, Julie had been keeping a secret from her family for almost two years and was apprehensive about their reaction if they found out. Even though Julie was nineteen, she would soon be considered an adult, unlike her friends who had already joined college after high school. Julie had been planning to leave her parents' home soon, but not so soon. She now regretted her decision to stay with them after experiencing true freedom.
Julie was scared of the consequences once her parents discovered she had been sneaking out at night and hiding her identity as a dragon. Her situation could have been better, particularly now since she and her guide Lady Lorna had traveled outside the solar system, perhaps to a different realm and "Time" altogether, more so when Julie looked up and saw the strange sky with two moons above her and a large city in front of her. Julie knew she was in trouble with a Capital T.
Plus not knowing where she was or how she would be able to explain this to her family was also another problem she would have to deal with, but for right now all she could do was take deep breaths and try to calm herself hoping everything would work out in the end. How that was going to happen she had no idea. She just had to have a little faith that Lady Lorna would provide those answers she was in need of, and ones she could live with. It was either that or live with the fact that she was never going to go home and would remain in this dragon form forever.
Will
Will had been struggling with his unique ability known as the "Sight." Unlike his sister Julie, he had the power to communicate with beings from other realms. He often wished he had his brother Robert's gift of seeing the future, but he had only encountered a few off-world beings like fairies and woodland elves who lived in the woods of his family's orchards. Will's family was unaware of his recent progress and discoveries with the woodland elves, who taught him how to travel through different realms using the fairy rings. Today, Will had journeyed to Elventa, roughly two or three leagues away from a lost kingdom called Galena, once ruled by old kings and wizards but now lost to time.
Will gazes at the old, crumbling city of Galena. He has been told that the leader of an ancient people once lived there. His guide and teacher, Loriel, and an elderly tree-elven wizard stood nearby. The wizard holds a large wooden staff that looks like a gnarled tree branch twisted into dark swirls of white and gold. At the top of the staff is a light green crystal. He wore a long green tunic made from leaves and numerous flowers which he had never seen before only adding to the oddities of his clothing, On his feet wore sandals made from tree roots. He had a long white beard seeing the tip nearly touching the ground. His greenish-blue eyes showed centuries of knowledge.
Today, Loriel taught him how to travel from one realm to another using words from an ancient book. Although he had not yet been able to read the book himself, Loriel had given him his own personal book to transcribe what he had learned. This knowledge allowed him to perform tasks that required him to travel from one place to another using simple words and hand gestures in an old language. This time Will had learned a powerful spell that could undo time, but only if he used the right words and gestures. He had spent several weeks studying it and had finally grasped the knowledge.
To cast the spell, he needed to stand in the center of a fairy ring and say "ean-nary-solble-castern." He also needed to draw a leaf pattern of points of origin using three fingers, but he had to do it correctly or risk ending up in the wrong place. This was his fifth attempt to access the old city of Galena, and he felt proud of himself for finally getting it right. Loriel, who had been watching him, nodded in approval, greatly improving from his previous disapproval.
Loriel did not have a lot of patience for things when things went wrong which was often, but Will liked that about his teacher because it made him want to study harder. Will had set goals in the past but seldom reached them. Yet today once Will had made it to his destination, he felt all warm and tingly inside seeing the approval of his teacher and guide.
He had come to Galena to learn battle magic from a new instructor, according to Loriel. He aimed to prepare for the upcoming events expected to unfold in the coming months and years. Once he had mastered the basics, he would embark on a journey to collect various objects that would aid him in his quest to prevent Morgan and his Master Hess from obtaining items that could disrupt the fabric of time. With the help of others, Wills's task would enable the White Solon to move freely in the realms, as the Oracles' prophecy had been hidden, to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
However, neither Loriel nor his instructor knew who the White Solon was. They only had speculation, and no concrete evidence suggests that knowledge like the Five Keys Of Destiny is a trusted secret that only the Master of the Light and a select few of its members of the Brotherhood of the High Elders know.
All they knew and were willing to share with him was that the White Solon would become a great warrior and wizard, a king among men, a ruler of many, and a noble knight in the Truth and Light. He would wear the Armor of the Light, the Shield of Truth, and the Sword of Power on his waist, giving him the strength of kings and the very Gods.
Around his neck and above his heart, he would wear the heart that contains the life and blood of the very stars, known as the Mother's Tears. He would carry in his hand the Staff of the Golden Sun. Forged in fire and cooled in the sacred springs, rivers, and lakes of Jaramana, the righteous and beloved king and ruler of the sands of Time and beyond would hold the knowledge and the power of the very stars and the planets themselves and their creation.
He would be born, and his body would be reforged and fortified in the wisdom and knowledge of kings and wizards, and in his blood would contain and hold power. His eyes would be formed and reforged by the heavenly stars of Coranera, and his heart and lungs would breathe life from the winds of Dertna. At the same time, his skin and bones would be made from the very earth soil of many of the hardened elements of Harden Dale and the stone mountains of Gerlanda.
He would be from each ruler, far and wide, and kings of many nations throughout time. This prophecy was written and forged upon the altar of Truth and the Light. He would judge and be bound by the Light and the power of truth in all things, great and small. He would be the judge and king who would set things right and give freedom to all who live in the Light. Meanwhile, the Shadow would only destroy and take away mankind's freedom, ruling with injustices and an iron fist of cruelty, seeking power overall.
Will had a daunting task at hand. He had to transcribe everything he learned in his book and protect it with a sacred spell to keep it from getting into the wrong hands. The amount of information Will needed to learn seemed overwhelming for a boy of just fourteen, but he knew how important it was. If he didn't do it, it could spell trouble for all mankind. With a heavy sigh, Will nodded to his teacher and guide, showing he was willing to learn the ways of the Light. He knew it was crucial despite its danger, even if it meant risking his life.
Will spoke the words. "Nora-vesta-gorna-levensten," and with a three-finger gesture, a silver pointed leaf appeared upside down in the air before him. Will stepped out of the fairy ring and began his journey, watching as a large man transformed into a bear named Gramwal and bowed slightly to Loriel, his teacher. Loriel then walked into the Light of the fairy ring and disappeared along with the ring, promising to return once Will had passed his series of tests, provided he was still alive.
Robert
Robert to comforted in the small things usually, as he calmly sat looking over the Town of New Downing from the top of the family barn where it had a small overhang. He likes coming up here when he needs so much-needed peace and quiet from his everyday life. It was the only place he had found he could meditate without being disturbed.
Today Robert received a strange letter from his sister Julie from a very strange source. Which was in the shape of a bird all in white starlight. That was the best way he could describe it considering that once the letter was delivered it had vanished just as quickly as it arrived not far from where he sitting now.
He had known his sister had been sneaking out at night, but he hadn't known that she had been keeping a dark secret from not only his Ma and Pa, but apparently from everyone else. Even Will had been keeping secrets from him, he had thought being as they were close nit family that he would share the knowledge regarding his darkest secret. After all, he could hold a secret just as well as they could. Yet once again they left him in the dark.
He gave a heavy sigh. Pa and his Ma knew his guarded secret in regards to his gift of " Sight." They were neither frightened of the fact he could see future events that were soon going to take place. In fact, his Ma has been of great help when it came to his gift. Teaching him how to meditate so he better understand what he was seeing. Robert could feel the heavy weight of the secret that his sister Julie and his brother Will were carrying.
Robert only hoped his sister Anna would come to him and share her dark secret with him. He knew by glimpsing into the future that these secrets would only make their family stronger, and by doing so they could help each other bear the burden of them.
He also understood how unique each of the recently discovered gifts was. Like his own gift, it would no doubt cause a panic if people here in this world. That others from different realms were visiting them. For people would think they were either insane or on drugs if some kind. Of course, if they thought fairytales coming to life or old legions or myths were real. They would flee as fast as they could.
Yet in truth, it was the very people that were going to save them from extinction. Instead, they should embrace the unknown, instead of hiding it. Then again if people here found out that his sister Julie was a dragon or dragon blood that would allow her to transform into a dragon. Plus the fact that Will and Julie were being taught by these fair folk. They would all be locked up and throw away the key. That included his knowing the things that were going to happen in the not-so-distant future.
No, the problem Robert was facing now was how he was going to explain this letter about Julie and his recent disappearance, and his brother Will were both learning from unworldly creatures unseen by most of the population here in this realm. More importantly, how was he going to explain any of this to his Ma and Pa. Maybe Aunty M would have a solution, after all, she too had been having strange things happening to her ever since her husband Mike died and had discovered that even he was keeping a dark secret.
Yet Robert had a small glimpse regarding a dark secret that is about to come into the light In the very near future. It had to do something about the Lady of Light. He chuckled thinking about it seeing her hanging the wash outside hoping to use whatever heat remained from the autumn sun these days. However, he could not discuss or disclose his recent visions regarding her dark secret that is about to come to pass. Not even the ones he knew about his brother EJ. Yes, he can and must keep those secrets coming into light for now least. He gave one more heavy sigh and made his way down to Aunt Margret with the letter in hand. It was time to unburden the weight he was carrying.
Anna
Anna often visited the old pond near the tree house where her brothers had saved her little brother EJ from drowning. She used this place to reflect on her life. One day, while Anna was there, a dragon wing descended upon her, dropping a letter regarding her sister Julie's sudden disappearance. Anna knew that her sister had been sneaking out at night, and she had followed her a few times before. She was curious to discover why, thinking it was a boy all this time. However, she was terrified when she saw Julie transform into a big green and golden dragon from her hiding spot in the barn.
Anna often visited the old pond near the tree house where her brothers had saved her little brother EJ from drowning. She used this place to reflect on her life. One day, while Anna was there, a dragon wing descended upon her, dropping a letter regarding her sister Julie's sudden disappearance. Anna knew that her sister had been sneaking out at night, and she had followed her a few times before. She was curious to discover why, thinking it was a boy all this time. However, she was terrified when she saw Julie transform into a big green and golden dragon from her hiding spot in the barn.
Anna had her own secrets, including her unique abilities to communicate with animals and her exceptional skills with plants. She could plant a seed and witness it grow in just a few minutes or a tree blooming with large apples in less than a day. She even discovered a vast colony of sprites in her Pa's greenhouse, of which even her family was unaware. Anna's family had many intriguing secrets, and she enjoyed observing them and keeping them hidden.
It was nearly noon as Anna walked along the pond's shores near the family farm when her summons, or her invitation, had descended upon her. Anna watched a brilliant white dove of starlight approach her with a scroll within its beak. Watching it land right in front of her, she dropped the scroll that was addressed only to her, then returned to the sky and burst into starlight and was gone. Curious about what that scroll had inside it, Anna bent down, picked it up, and turned it over and over before breaking the red and gold seal made of some wax. Inside the wax was the emblem of a tree. She carefully opened it, breaking the seal. Anna's eyes quickly read the contents, it said.
Dear Anna,
You have been selected to embark on a quest, which you may choose to accept. Your journey will take you to a mysterious land where you will find the answers you seek. To enter this land, you must say the words "Nardon-verden-granted- narden" and step through the gate that opens before you.
Be prepared for the wonders you will witness, for your eyes will soon be opened to your true destiny. Remember to keep this quest a secret and trust everything will be well. May you always walk in the Light.
Sincerely,
Julie
Anna stopped for a moment and read the peculiar letter again. Then, she turned toward her family's farm and took a deep breath. She recited the words from the letter, "Nardon, verden, gredaned, narden," and watched as a gate opened before her. She looked back at her old life one last time before stepping through the gate, leaving everything she knew behind.
The only thing about secrets is that they eventually come to light, regardless of their nature or intent. The inevitable truth about secrets is that they will ultimately be exposed, whether hidden in the shadows or should never have been kept hidden in the first place.