Story By 

                                       Zeynep AKÇAY

                                     Illustrations By 

                                 Findara McAvinchey

                                         John Park

                                     Giorgio Grecu

                                          Pius Bak

                                    Noah Bradley

                                            Ma-ko

                               10th Grade, Theme 6

In a land so, so far away, humans lived in harmony with the dragons and spirits. While spirits would guide humans with their wisdom, dragons offered their magic to them, humans protected their nests from the mischievous fae when they were away. The humans who protected dragon eggs are called "Wardens." Momo was one of the humans that protected the dragon nests. He was protecting Blue Dragon Azure’s nest while she was away aiding the lands. Momo was so proud that Azure choose him to protect her new offspring because she was one of the Great Dragons.

It was a sunny, ordinary day when Momo suddenly heard a giggle. Alarmed, he started to look around. When he thought he saw someone, he suddenly feel pain back of his head and everything went black. He woke up to someone calling his name. 

“Momo? Momo?! Wake up, for the sake of the great ones!” “Huh?” He needed to blink multiple times to fix his blurred vision, then recognized his friends. “Huh. Hello, Kote, Jumi. What brings you guys to the Azure’s nest?” Kote frowned, his face getting paler and paler. “Are you out of your mind?! We heard a rumor that some fae is running around with the Azure’s egg so we came to check— to find you passed out and the egg is gone!” “The egg— what?!” Momo quickly got up and ran to the nest. When he saw it was empty, he stumbled back, feeling nauseous. "I'm so doomed." "Calm down, everyone. Kote, Momo was clearly attacked, there's no need to blame him." "But I wasn't-" "Momo, come, sit." Jumi sent Kote a warning look while she made Momo sit on a rock right next to the nest. She opened her bag and took out a cake wrapped in a tissue. "Here, this is a special recipe I learned from my Master. It should help your headache." 

Until Jumi pointed it out, Kote didn't notice that he had a headache. He thanked his friend with a weak voice, and quietly ate the cake. "You all right there?" Kote asked. "Yeah, I'm fine now, thank you." Momo sighed and put his head between his hands. "Guys, what am I going to do?" Jumi looked at him like it was obvious. "The fae probably wants to take the egg to their realm. The reason why probably they're running around so much is that there's so much time until the train to their realm come, and no one trusts a Fae with a dragon egg to stay in their inn or shop. We should be able to catch them easily. Come on, Momo, don't be such a baby." "Yeah. You're Azure's Warden, get yourself together," said Kote with a challenging smile. By annoying but loyal friend with his side, Momo felt his confidence and courage coming back to him. He stood up. "We should go see Tituba Yeg, the All Seeing Gorilla. She would know where's that thief." "Great. I'll open us a portal." Jumi frowned when the boys made sounds of protest.   

"Oh, I'm sorry? Would you like to climb down one of the greatest mountains in the lands when there's a fae on loose?" "I'll try," Kote grunted. "I can't take two portals in a day. Juju, please." "Oh, don't "Juju" at me. You'll live." Before the boys tried to resist more, she pulled them inside of a portal. Traveling with a portal was fast, yeah, but unpleasant. It was something between diving in a pool full of ice and a giant shaking you until your stomach and brain switch places. Not pleasant at all. "How are you managing this?" Kote whimpered, he was on his knees and trying not to puke. Momo was no different. Jumi was looming over them, unimpressed, and judgemental "I'm the Warden of the Onyx Dragon, remember? The one who created the Abyss Magic? The magic you learn for opening portals?" "Jumi, I know you're great of all, but help?" Momo asked. Jumi gave the boys more of her healing cakes and they entered the Tituba Yeg's forest. Every spirit's forest was different. 

 Tituba Yag's forest was formed by trees that are so big and narrow that you couldn't see the sky after you entered it. "She must be around the Argent Lake," Kote said. "I feel her presence." Momo nodded. "Show us the way."  "Momo. Have you thought about what to do to the Fae when we caught them? You know the law, punishment for stealing a Great Dragon's egg is..." "I know," Momo said. "As the Warden of the offspring, I'll be the one to judge when the time comes." Jumi sighed. "Very well. Kote and I trust and support you whatever you decide."  Momo smiled. There she is." Kote said, breathlessly. Momo gasped in awe. They saw Tituba Yeg before, of course. She always would come in the spring festivals, to grant every living thing her blessing. Yet, everyone always would look at her with amazement, like it was their first time. She was a little bit bigger than an oak tree. Her white fur glowed like the moon in a cloudless sky. Her amber eyes glowed with wisdom, her motherly white face serene. On her forehead and under her eyes, there were runes made with blue paint. 

When she looked at them, three Wardens trembled with respect and kneel before her. "I'm Tituba Yeg, The All Seeing spirit." She spoke in their minds. "I was expecting you. Come closer, my brave children, and speak, tell it out loud what you seek."  "I'm Momo, the Warden of the Azure Dragon. These are Kote, the Warden of the Sage Dragon, and Jumi, the Warden of the Onyx Dragon. Tituba Yeg, who sees it all, I have failed my task. I couldn't protect Azure Dragon's offspring, a fae stole it. I beg you to tell me what I ought to do and where's the fae so that I can take the egg back to its home. I'm willing to do whatever it takes." The spirit looked at him with gentle eyes. "You have an honest heart, child. Be not afraid that you have failed your task. Azure will understand, and so the infant. The Fae is hiding in the Golden Valley. He won't give up without a fight. Keep your mind sharp and magic on your fingertips. And when the time of judgment comes, you should remember a Warden's greatest gift is mercy. Now, go my children, Great One's blessing is with you."

Motivated by their mission, they bowed to the spirit one last time and quietly get out of the forest. Jumi handed them her last healing cakes before opening a portal. "Ready?"  "For a portal? Never." Kote said, but he was the one who step into it first. 

The Happy Valley was a beautiful place full of golden flowers. While the giant lake in the middle of the Valley was the work of the Azure Dragon's ancestor, these flowers are one of the gifts humans give to dragons when they first started their alliance.

Between the shining blooms, there was a fae. "There he is!" Momo yelled. The fae only looked at them for a minute, he clung to the egg and started to run. "Come on boys!" "Don't you dare to cast Abyss Magic on the egg!" Kote yelled as he started to run after the Fae. Being aggressive toward the fae was not an option; there was a high chance that they damage the egg.