Unicorn Ryan enters Gemstone Glade, the desire for magic melting his heart, and the wish to once again connect with the mysterious tablet gifted to him in this Christmas story, followed by this Christmas story, and further pursued here: Griffin Gala | Gemstone Glade and here: Phoenix Prayer | Gemstone Glade

Ryan neighs softly in happy anticipation of adventure. Today, he nudges the magic tablet with excitement, then softly brushes his unicorn horn over the word Dragon.  The tablet turns red.

With a loud crackle, a giant ring of fire appears. Ryan jumps through, a magic mission thundering through his veins, flames in his eyes.

He is in a mountainous terrain with smoke simmering on the horizon. Purple mist kisses his ankles. A green sun scorches the sky. Tall trees surround him, like signposts leading the way to the edge of a stone mountain. His horn grows hot.

The air is full of the pungent taste of sweet smoke. Ryan breathes it in happily. Perhaps it is a healing smoke.

From the rocky slope of the mountain, a huge dragon surveys him. She is atop a nest of orange eggs. Her eyes are red, her body orange and her wings are scarlet. She is surely a dragon queen, her still stare speaking of power but also dignity.

“Who comes here?” she accosts him.

Ryan neighs in friendship, and circles his horn, offering a unicorn blessing.

“I am Ryan, and I am exploring different worlds which I access through a magic tablet. I am here to learn, to experience, to share unicorn wisdom … above all, to help in any way I can.”

“I am Briona, Queen of the Red Ray. I have a mission for you, if you choose to accept.”

Ryan sits down in deference, lowering his horn.

“I am so pleased to meet you. There is an ancient prophecy about a unicorn. But there is also a very real special dragon here, in our world. Her name is Lilac, and she is the first known dragon born with a horn resembling a unicorn’s. She is secretive and lives alone, seeing no one. I would like you to find her. Perhaps together you can find a joint cause. I believe she is within the caves of Moonstone Mountain.”

Ryan can feel his horn burning.

“Your horn is glowing red. Do you feel her presence? Can you reach out to Lilac?”

Ryan closes his eyes. He can see a crystalline cave in his mind. That is where he must go.

“I accept the mission,” he states simply.

Ryan travels through the strange world for a day and a night, passing beneath towering rocky mountains, walking through stony valleys with strange shrubs. Then he is there, before a shining mountain with caves at its foot. “Moonstone Mountain,” he murmurs.

His horn is hot again, and it guides him to the correct cave entrance.

“Lilac,” he softly intones. And then she is there, standing timidly at the cave door. A silver dragon with lilac wings and deep purple eyes.

“I have dreamt of you. And now you are here. A unicorn cousin.”

Her small unicorn horn is lepidolite crystal, glimmering in the light of a purple moon above.

“Come.” Lilac welcomes Ryan to her cave, and its nest of multi-coloured eggs – pink, blue, orange, green, and rainbow striped.

“These eggs are the dragon children of the future. They will be born to create destiny. I will bring them each up to befriend a child – a special child – on Planet Earth below. They will guide the children of destiny, the seed of a new world. They will be protector dragons, and will be magical beyond belief.”

Ryan neighs softly, realising that he in the presence of greatness.

“And you  … will you help? When the babies are old enough to leave the nest? Will you return and help me find their new homes? To fulfil their destinies?”

“Of course … but how will I know it is time?”

“When you dream of Moonstone Mountain beneath a full purple moon, then it is time. Return then.”

Ryan steps out of the cave, and looks up at the moon. In its soft light, all dreams seem possible. A mission lights in his heart like a purple flower. Magic runs in his veins, and his heart beats with unicorn blessings. The divine will dance with dragons. And miracles will follow, like sun after the rain. The moon looks down, lilac fire in its still heart. Ryan neighs, and moonlight sparkles in his horn. The night simmers with the promise of a better tomorrow.