Chapter 4 Trails & Tribulations

Nova stood before the Dragon looking in at wonderment but she was now shocked to such a creature before he eyes.

"Welcome home Nova." said Dragon.

"I don t understand." she said looking up at the Dragon.

"I ll show you." he said, with a wave of his wing.

The smooth cave walls became clear and its was if they where in space, as the stars filled the space around them.

"Many a year ago, I was discovered by a child, a child who had a connection to nature and was called to me." he said.

As he spoke the starts faded away and Nova was able to see the story unfold as she saw the young girl wonder though the woods and discover the Dragon.

"She befriend me, but due to her title she was not able to stay." continued the Dragon.

Nova followed the moving image on the cave, in awe.

"After she took the throne as Queen, I thanked her for her kindness and would help her when she needed it most." he continued "After the king perished I gifted her a child to sit the throne and I allowed each generation a child to take the throne and waited for a second child to be born to take in the place of the one I have gifted the queen." he swung his wing again and it was all gone.

"So what am I."

"You are my child, your mother carried you and did all she had to in order to have you." he said "Only after did she conceive another child was it done and that the child was to be mine."

"What dose that make me she asked."

"You are a Dragon-born, a dragon human hybrid which is far greater then even I can could ever imagine." he said as he stood up to spread his wings.

"That means the story grandma told me was true."

"Yes the fable has truth to is nature, but now it is time for you to train you body and mind to use your powers."

"What if I refuse."

"Then you will never discover how to control your gifts and they will be squandered."

Nova was unsure of his offer.

"Dear child, you powers can not be turned off, only hindered to stop them from becoming dangerous, as even now you are using them." he said.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"As a Dragon I can live for centuries and so can see the world as it is, or see it as one I ve lived in or even one it will become."

"And I ve…"

"Been living in a world that has yet to exist, you see the world as it will become and not what it is, your eyes have yet to see the beauty this world truly has to offer."

"How do I control my powers then?" she asked stepping forward.

The Dragon looked up and began to blow a small breath of fire then as he swung it around and brought his head down and Nova put up her hands up in fear of the fire, but as it passed her she had discovered her body had changed. Her skin had become scales a tall had grown from her back horns had grown from her hair and wings sprouted from her body. Her mouth and nose extend out in front until they looked more Dragon shaped and the rest of her body shifted and the clothes faded away.

"What s this?" Nova asked as she looked at her new form.

Her body had the pale of white of her father standing before her.

"This is your human dragon form, this will only be visible to other dragons and magic users.

"Why have you given it me?"

"This will allow you to soon undergo the full metamorphosis and take on a form like mine, but when you do, you will create your own unique scale pattern and form."

Nova looked over her new scaly body "When we can start."

"We will start tomorrow, it take a lot of energy when your first try."as finished he flapped his wings and nova was back at the cave mouth looking out.

As she looked out to see the enacted forest as she got closer the light grew brighter until all she was able to see was a blinding light, she brought up a hand to shield her eyes, she she stepped out her form changed. A light came over her as she stepped out for the cave and the transition changed her back to her human form in her school attire. She looked back to see the word as she had only known for years, she looked back to see the tunnel only wishing to see how it looked to everyone else. As she started to leave there came something knew.

"Nova, can you here me." came the dragons voice.

Looking around she could not see him, but felt as if he was there.

"Don t speak, but think." he said.

"What is this." she thought still looking for hum.

"Dragons of the same blood can have a bound that is telepathic, we share this power." he explained "You can contact me though it and I you."

"Can anyone else use it."

"No one else here are bound, it is bound between us."

Nova smiled and carried on back home.

At the house the mother was bent over unable to stand still, she was holding her head as she struggled. Tom was coming in and raced to help her holding her up and trying to seem what ale s her.

"Are you okay." he asked caring for his wife.

"Yeah, I just had a massive migraine." he strained as the pain died.

"I was coming to say we ve got a call from Nova s teacher."

"I ll take it." she said staggering her way to the phone.

At the school the teacher was standing in the class room wile the students where having brake, she peeked out side waiting for response.

"Hello Mrs Valentine, it s Miss Rachel, Nova s teacher." she started

"Yes I know who you are." she straining juts to speak.

"I was wondering if we can talk about your daughter Nova."

"What about her."

"Her strange behaviour has always been a given, but earlier she skipped school and I found some drawings of hers to be a bit concerning."

"What do you mean?" she asked sounding confused.

"She drew a man all in white, almost dragon like."

"What you do suppose we do."

"We need to sit her down and talk about this and her, well other strange habits."

"Why don t you come over and we can talk to Nova when she comes home." she suggested.

"Very good." said Miss Rachel and she hung up.

At the house in coat filled hall way with a small table under the coats with a phone sitting on a small chair beside it legs spread out was Nova s mother, holding the phone she was thinking about what Mrs Rachel had said, and things came to mind like the rose and other times Nova was a strange child.

Nova was walking the streets back home it was much quite and little to no one was around, Nova noticed the silence here unlike the other days of her life. She had walked this world for so long but how much was really here, she only wished to see the full beauty of the unspoiled land. As she walked along something caught her eye, it was laying on the side of the road, bending over she picked it up. Clear in colour it looked like crystal or glass but was foggy, the top was smooth and curved like a dome with the bottom flat and smoother still. She held it up to her to see though as she closed one and peered though it she saw the world, it was green and lush spinning around she saw rolling hills and rocky mountains she had discovered a way to see though to the other world. As she spun around to see the vast land scape she took misstep and feel over the stone fell from her hand and fell to the ground, she fell forward putting out her arms to protect her self. As she looked up she saw the world was still the same sunburn nightmare she had know, reaching out she picked up the stone and had so many questions.

"Are you there?" she asked looking up

"Yes dear child" he replied.

"I found stone, that let me see clearly."

"That is an eye stone, a stone infused with magic, it allows people to see in to other worlds."

"Wow." she gasped looking at the wondrous stone.

"But if you gathered enough I would be able to forge you a pair of glasses to let you see the world as it truly is."

"Really." she beamed standing up.

"Yes, but I also need some metal to hold them in place."

"I ll get right on it."

All though the Dragon could not see her he felt her happiness as she raced home to start her quest for clarity.

The house was far more clear in the day light but the colour was far from eye catching Nova was walking up to it the flat grass out side was only a small garden to match the small house, Nova was counting the small collection of stones she had gathered already. As she ran her hand over them she noticed the house was different , it had a car parked out front of a always clear street pocketing the stones she went to the door and opened it. Stepping in to the hall way where she had left it was little different but as she walked in to the main room she noticed that there where thee people on the sofa and arm chair waiting for her. Tom her mother and teacher where all gathered around, Nova chose to sit opposite her mother and teacher and sat on the floor looking towards where her grandmothers chair ounce sat.

"Nova Miss Rachel is here because your behaviour at school." said her Mother.

Nova looked around wile her mother seemed to be keeping anger and fury back, her teacher was trying to keep cool with out letting her panic and worry slip as for her father secluded on the arm chair seemed worried over her and was showing it his concerned look and uneasy posture.

"You left these behind." said Miss Rachle trying to remain calm as she brought up her coat and bag.

"Do you mind explaining to me why you left school early." asked her mother leaning in with a aggressive tone hidden behind her cool and clam exterior.

"No." refused Nova, not wanting to explain herself.

"Nova where all worried about you." added Tom as he moved forward putting his hand together.

She saw how it was harming him the most as nova began to struggle with it everything they started to come at her, her mother was screaming and making allegations, Miss Rahcel was trying to pry in to her privet life and Tom was just trying to help asked her to tell them. Nova felt as if they where all smothering her she began to curl up as fear and read began to over take her seances. In a fit of rage, panic and fear she burst out of her ball and stood up screaming balling up fists and spreading out her arms. But the screams soon turned to fire which engulfed the room.

As the flames died down nova was stood atop the steps before the thrones, her mother was in a white gown her father in red robes and her teacher in simple and humble dress. Nova was in her dragon form but to the eyes of her on lookers was human as the rest of them. The castle was much the same the large grey think stone brick walls hung with decoration, but now with a new ambience and Nova climbed down and pulled her arms in.

"Nova." said her father as he stepped forward one arm in reach the other top stop another from trying an approach. "We only want to help, and I if that means letting you go then I can live with that."

Nova watched as he edged closer, she knew he had the best intentions but what came next she did not see and nether did anyone else. Her mother moved in to grab the sword from Tom s scabbard on his belt, he turned to see her run at her own daughter with the sword ready to snuff her out. Tom reached out to stop her but it was to late, as she was brining the sword down Nova just ran. As the Queen brought the blade down it just missed as Nova began to run out of the room, the queen pulled the blade from the stone spun showing of her anger and disdain as Nova burst though the throne room doors.

Nova stumbled out of the house doorway turn and fled looking for her safe place to keep her away from her mother.

Inside her mother was still fuming wile Tom was in anguish.

"Why did you do that.," argued Tom "She s are daughter."

"No, she s mine and the Dragon s. I guess that stupid story my mother told me was all to true."

"She is still my daughter, I raised her."

"And this is my house and, I have full power over you. If you get in my way I will size your power as home owner." she scolded, her furry seeping though.

He saw how this was making her worse and backed down as she left with the sword on the hunt.

Far away Nova was inside hollowed out section in a local play area the hedge and tress covered her on all sides in the small area, but she was safe as she heard everyone around her move and in the search of her but unknown to where she was. She sat down and looked for the area s which she had stashed food for the last time she had been here, she found it had gone off and tossed it away but as she looked in the bushes and shrubs making sure not to be to noisy she discovered some more eye stones stashed away. As she picked them up and looked though them the world changed she was in fact in side the castle walls in secret room with small holes that had stashes of riches hidden away, she pulled them down and moved to the part of the wall that gave way. She peeked though the cracks and saw the hall ahead was empty and decided to leave pushing the wall piece away she crept out and put it back so no one would now.

In the enchanted forest Nova had passed over the river and was about to enter the cave she stopped and looked back before she went inside.

The dragon was proud to see her "Why have you back so soon?" he asked a grin on his face.

"I managed to find enough stones and some scarp metal." she said smiling, as she dove in to her pockets and held them in her hand the stones filled her palms and a few nails and bits of old iron where mixed in.

"Let me see." he said putting out an hand.

Nova let them drop from her hand to his, he puled them up and lowered his head to see even picking one up to examine more closely.

"Good this should be plenty." he said as he took out the metal parts and kept them in his other hand.

Nova watched as he crushed the rocks in to his palm and made a small hole to breath in blowing his head and breathing in flames came out of the gaps between his talons and gaps in his palm. Ounce he stopped blowing and the flames where gone he opened his hand to revel two round lenses, then then put them down in his other palm and moved the metal around to form a basic rim then breathed down on them moving the metal to make the rim and sides. Ounce he stopped the red hot metal was fierce and harsh.

"Do not apply them yet they are still hot, but when you do they will let you see the world as it truly is." He hand handed them to Nova who placed them in her pocket.

Nova was excited of the prospect of seining the world in it s truest form.

"What ever you due never allow your glasses become coloured red or blue." he warned.

"Why not?" Nova asked fearing the worst.

"Eye stones which are coloured can be dangerous, red and blue allow you to see the future, red sees danger and blue fortune."

"What about the other colours."

"Less is know of the other colours, but never let them become dyed, young Nova." he warned.

"I promise I will keep them from becoming dyed."

The Dragon smiled.

"How do I, don t do that?" Nova asked awkwardly.

"They must gain contact with the dye itself."

"Okay." smiled Nova.

"Before you go, keep safe as by next light will your training begin."

Nova nodded in understanding and left the cave wishing to apply her glasses, but they where still to hot, her pocket was already quite warm.

Nova was returning home, but as she did she found the streets much more busier then ever before. As she carried on she was able to reach the house because as she was coming up on the street where two police officers, to avoid detection to dove behind a tree. As they where walking past she peeked out from behind the tree and saw them leave, she would need to know what the real world looked like to insure that she could see the everything clearly.

As she pondered on the idea it came to her. "The glasses." she thought. Pulling them out the heat had now warn off.

She put them on and she looked though to see the world she had grew up in was so much greater then she had thought. The streets became castle walls with large windows and more rooms petering off and the view was greater then she first thought, but with a greater view of the castle made it easier to navigate.

Peeking though the glass lens she raised up her hand to see white scales and out in front of her face was her dragon snout. A she looked out the corner of her eye past the lens she saw the the world of the future made of roads and streets. Looking back though the lens she carried on though the castle trying to compare to two worlds to find her way.

Her scaly form looked out of place in glasses but as she raced though the hall, she had to remove them at times to insure she was going the right way. As she came up towards her destination she peeked round a corner to see it was occupied, the fear swelled up but as she looked back around she knew her hide out was not safe. The guards where on duty with others breaking down more of the wall. One turned to face her direction and she flung her self back up against the wall, she was able to hear them speak but had to keep an eye on the other hallways as well in case she was spotted as she listened in. As she listened to their conversation she found out some interesting information.

"How many of these places have the queen found?" asked one guard.

"I think twenty maybe more." replied the second.

"I heard that the old king built them to stash magic loot, from invaders."

"Well know the queen is going around trying to destroy them but nothing sees to be working."

"Why do you think she s doing this."

"I heard Princess Nova is a Dragon."

"I guess the Queens pet peeve is getting the best of her."

Nova looked back to see someone was coming and was forced to flee down yet another hall. She stopped and lowered her head as she called on the Dragon for help and guidance.

"Help me." she pleaded.

"What is it you need." he asked.

"My home is no longer safe, I need somewhere to stay."

"There is a place due west of the castle far beyond the forest, it is a safe haven" he said "There you will find the Necromancer of the Tomb, when you find him you must claim asylum"

"I understand." said Nova.

She stood up and looked both ways to see if the hall was clear then raced back for the exit removing her her glasses, allowing her to see the world she had know more clearly. As the glasses where removed her body ounce again human.

Far beyond the the land of the castle high west a top a large rolling grassy mountain top sat a large oval shaped stone, it sat alone in the silent winds that blew around. The sun was going down and the Nova was walking towards the darkening sky the sun was lowing behind her and the bright gleam shone upon her. As she climbed she grew closer as she was about to reach the stone a cloaked figure rose from the ground.

"Who approaches?" asked the clocked figure.

"I seek the Necromancer of the tomb." called Nova.

"I am he." Replied the figure.

"I need help."

"What can I other you, is someone in need of aid."

"No, I need you to take me in." she said.

"YOU DARE DEMAND SOMETHING OF ME!" he bellowed.

Nova backed up but become brave "I claim asylum." she demanded.

"Who are you to claim that." cam a voice.

Nova spun around to see a man and women coming up the man was dossed in rope on pure black that flowed to the ground and held a staff forged of pure bone, the top was a skull with talons holding it in place to the handle. The women was dressed in clothes clean but made for a serving girl.

"Who are you?" asked Nova.

"I am the Necromancer of the Tomb." he said.

"And I claim asylum." she said back.