The sun cradled Gemstone Glade in its radiant hands. Under an ancient tree, the secret stone tablet shone with inner light. Words waltzed with the promise of a new adventure:

Pink Paradise
Fluorite Farm
Turquoise Town
Fairytale Forest

Rainbow coloured unicorn Raya watched silently as unicorn Ryan touched his shining horn to the letters “Turquoise Town.”

A circle of glowing turquoise light appeared before them.

“Wait for me!” sung a soft voice. It was Turquoise Tanya, one of the many Gemstone Glade crystalline fairies. “You can’t enter a turquoise portal without me!”

Ryan neighed his consent. In happy unison, the two unicorns and crystalline fairy entered the pool of magic light.

Mountains stunned their eyes with silent grandeur. An air of mystery played with their minds. A pool of turquoise lava glimmered under a bright sun.

Giant turquoise beetles emerged from caves at the foot of the mountains, carrying turquoise crystals in their mouths. “They are miners,” breathed Ryan telepathically. “This is a turquoise crystal mill.”

Smoke climbed high from the top of the mountains. Then a roar caused the ground beneath them to shake.

A magnificent dragon crawled from the top of the nearest mountain, scales golden under the sun, green smoke fleeing its mouth like an army of mighty mist, fierce eyes regarding them from beneath a turquoise crown.

Then the dragon flapped its green and gold wings and sped towards them. Fear fingered Ryan’s heart, as Raya shivered beside him.

“Greetings, beasts from a foreign land. I am Taqueena, Queen of the Treasure Dragons. We guard valuable artefacts and ancient secrets. We also protect this planet’s bees, who make liquid turquoise honey. Welcome to Turquoise Tower Mountains, live volcanos containing turquoise crystal and mined here for the whole universe. We are a place of healing and protection. Our crystals bring luck and safety to all who wear them. But who are you? I can tell from your eyes that many stories have stirred your souls.”

Ryan bowed his agreement, and relayed his tantalizing tales, adventure like a sweet pill in his eyes, enigmas waiting to be explored. Read all Ryan’s adventures here

“Come with me in to the Turquoise Tower Mountains,” offered Taqueena, the promise of magic in her molten eyes. “I have something special to show you.”

The three adventurers followed the mighty beast down a large tunnel into the heart of the mountain. A beat danced in their ears, delightful drum music like a distant memory in sound. “It is the murmur of the mountain’s heart,” explained Taqueena. “This is a living mountain. Sometimes its spirit leaves in the night and dances on the seashore. But most of the time she lives here, invisible behind the turquoise walls.”

Then they arrived in a vast cave, turquoise crystal climbing its walls like magic ivy. In the centre of the space, a nest of eggs glowed with inner light. Ryan neighed softly, awe in his eyes. Meanwhile, Turquoise Tanya flew over the nest, waving her wand around ecstatically.

A crack split the silence in two. One of the eggs was hatching …

A tiny dragon slowly emerged, blinking in the dim light. Green scales mixed with golden stars on his small body. Taqueena gaspsed. “He is one of them. The ancient mystery dragons, unknown here for centuries. He has access to the magic of the stars. And you three … he has come for you. He has chosen you.”

Taqueena tenderly picked up the young dragon with her paw, and offered him to Ryan. The dragon rode inside his folded wing as the mismatched group exited the mountain. The sun was high in the sky outside. Tanya flew around Ryan with glee in her grin. This was fun.

“When he is old enough, I will find you again,” declared Taqueena.

“Gemstone Glade is the place,” advised Raya. “A portal will open for you I am sure.”

Above, clouds slid across the sky like sailing boats. Two covered the sun as they shapeshifted in to a vision of a dragon and unicorn.

The group gasped. Raindrops fell, hissing in the turquoise lava below. The baby dragon emitted a muted mini-roar, happiness erupting in his heart like a volcano.

One huge raindrop turned to gold as it hit Ryan’s horn. It fell to his feet.

“Why, it has turned in to a golden egg!” breathed Raya.

“A golden egg!” sighed Taqueena. “Let me take it, and keep it safe. If this births a golden dragon, blessed indeed are we. Pure golden dragons have not lived here in aeons. When they return … everything will change.”

The portal of turquoise light suddenly reappeared. “I guess it is time for us to leave,” said Ryan sadly as Taqueena retrieved the baby dragon.

“Don’t forget, when this dragon is old enough, I will find you,” promised Taqueena. “Before you go … one question. What is his name?”

Ryan closed his eyes in deep thought, then he uttered: “Miracle.”

And so the three returned to Gemstone Glade, mystery misting their eyes, their hearts aching for the day they would see Miracle again. Above, the sun still shone, a silent witness to all below. The Gemstone Glade fountain hummed its quiet song, as crystalline fairies flew around them, eager to hear their story.

Ryan walked towards the secret tablet, and perused its words. The next adventure beckoned …