It all started when I was walking around here. I was excited - looking for adventure. I wished for a companion to be my friend. I leap around the stones of the valley, and out to a further place. I finally reached a very different area - it was called Keltic Isle. I remember it like it was yesterday. Aurorastorm Valsharess (the keeper of the Dragons there) told me that a new clutch of dragons were coming. Time passed, and finally I recieved a message from Keltic Isle. Two dragons, named Raiden and Allummina, had had a clutch. I raced back to Keltic Isle. I held my breath - would I be given a Dragon egg? Was I kind enough, caring enough - to raise a dragon? A few days passed. I waited nervously. For a while, I thought my efforts had been in vain. Then, a message from Keltic Isle... I had been approved. Aurorastorm handed me the grand egg. I held it close, and took it back to the Crystal Valley.

I waited for days - it felt like weeks. I tended to the egg every moment of each day. I didn't leave it alone for a moment. The Chesmu Egg that I had adopted (a friend and protector for the Glenn Dragons) sat next to Akari's own egg. I cared for it too, hoping I was doing everything right. It felt like forever, and finally one day, the egg hatched. I had been gathering herbs at the edge of the forest in the valley. I figured they might help the dragon and chemsu grow stronger when they hatched. They would also make very good cushions for inside the nest. I carried the herbs back, and was a few moments away, when Vertiamon flew to me, her silvery wings beating, and her wolf face shining. "They're hatching..." I ran as fast as I could back, dropping the herbs right where I had stood seconds before. Vertiamon flew beside me until I reached the nest. She landed behind me, and I watched as the eggs moved, cracked, and the shells began to fall away. I bent down to help the eggs, to free them easier. Vertiamon stopped me. "They have to do it themselves, or they might not make it." I stood back, watching every moment. Finally, I saw Akari's head pop out from the shell. She looked up at me, and what I could tell as a faint smile appeared. Overjoyed, I picked her up, and looked at her. "You're so beautiful... a beautiful Light Blue..."

Akari Becomes a Dragonet

Akari had just become a Dragonet. She ran around the field energetically. I had never seen anything with that much energy.
I sat on a grassy hill, trying to keep the knowledge that trespassers were coming closer to the valley away from my thoughts. I watched her like a mother watches her child - I enjoyed every bit of playtime she had. She was becoming the best friend I had ever had. I watched her bend down to sniff a flower. She inhaled a bit too deeply, because she reared back and sneased, rattling the birds from a nearby tree. I fell over laughing, and saw Akari's embarrassed face.
She walked up to me. She tilted her head. "I made you laugh?" she said simply, her face breaking out into a wide smile. The smile probably could have been enough to make unknowning creatures run away in fright, because her teeth flashed in a somewhat dangerous-looking manner. Of course, I knew better.
"Yeah." I said, and I took a hand out and patted her on her head. Her scales were as smooth as pearls. "You're the funniest dragon in the whole Realm."
She grinned again, and sat down next to me. "I'm glad you think so... but I don't want to be the funniest." she said. It was hard to take her too seriously - her voice was still that of a youngling's.
"Why not?" I asked, turning around to look at her.
"Because I want to be the greatest dragon. I want to be one that is held in high...um..."
"Esteem?" I offered.
"Yeah..." she said. "I want to be revered." she said. "I want to be..." she seemed to be deep in thought for a moment. "The most powerful dragon, the most mysterious dragon."
I smiled. "Why?" I asked.
She looked at me, and the voices of the trespassers carried down to the bottom of the valley.
"I don't want anyone to hurt anything I love." she said.

Akari Grows

I watched happily as Akari's wings unfolded. She had finally become an Adolescent. I saw Akari's nostrils enlarge as she took her first great breath of air as a full Adolescent.
She stretched her growing wings. She looked around, and then up at the sky, her smile widening. I smiled too. I knew exactly what she had become - an Air type.
Akari looked down at me. "Do you want to fly?" she asked me. "It's my first time. I want you to come with me."
I nodded, my smile widening. She lowered herself so I could ride her. I climbed onto her back gently, and sat there. I held tight as her wings began to slide up and down lightly.
Suddenly, I realized the ground was falling away before us. I could see Akari's eyes. They were glowing brighter than the sun. This type was perfect for her.
After we rose a few minutes, I realized how very high we were. I didn't care. This was paradise! Then Akari turned her head downward. Her wings folded to her side, and we shot down through the air. The ground came up faster and faster!
I swore we were going to fly out of control. The ground seemed to come up to meet us. Then, Akari unfolded her wings a foot away from the ground. The fall broke, and we rose up again in the sky.
Akari laughed. "I scared you!"
I tried to quit shaking. "No you didn't... I'm fine."
"That's not what your grip is saying!" she laughed again.
It was then I realized how hard I was holding onto her scales. My knuckles were white, and I immediately released my grip.
Akari landed on the grass. "That was amazing!" she said. She folded her wings again. "I loved that!"
"I did too! Just... not when I thought we were going to crash."
Akari smiled.

Akari's Final Wings

Akari had finally grown. She was beautiful, and wise for her age. She was a young Dragon, but she still had a heart of gold.
Akari loves to fly and to play. She loves to eat the fruits and nuts growing in the woods, but wouldn't say no to meat.
She is a caring soul, and is a wonderful protector.

Akari, you are my friend.

Akari's Journey

(Written by Akari)

I knew that it was hard for Lacey not to cry. She just stood there, looking out into the sky, not saying a word. I walked up to her, silent although I weighed quite a bit. I stood behind her and watched her even more intently. She looked so lost...
"What is wrong?" I asked her.
"You're... you're leaving..." she said, choking back tears.
"But only for a little while!" I said, trying to comfort her. "I know what I must do, and you as my Bondmate, will have to understand..."
"I know..." she said, sniffing. "But why couldn't you have stayed a hatchling forever?"
"Things change... Time always goes on. It's unstoppable, no matter how many beings want it to stop." I was worried. I had never seen her so sad.
"I have to find AshniRose. She's the only one who can help me become a full Glenn Dragon." I continued. "I must learn my Breathweapon. I must learn my Class, my Alignment... You have to understand that. Every dragon knows he or she must -"
"But why do you have to go alone?" she said.
I looked at her. She nodded. "But I'll miss you." she said.
So, I unfolded my wings, and took in a deep breath. I didn't know how long I'd be gone. I didn't know what AshniRose would be like, or how my training would be. But I had to have faith everything would turn out all right.

For Lacey's sake.