The Golden Dragon Rider

The Festival

"I'm so excited!!" I said, "I have honestly never been this excited in my life, this is the most amazing day. Do I look OK?"

"Yes you look fine Chloe, you've asked me like 20 time this morning," my best friend Eve said laughing. It was easy for her her to laugh,  she already did the ceremony and has been through this, but it was finally my turn and I was ready. Adjusting my dress I looked in the mirror one last time and said,"OK , I think I'm ready,"

"Thank god! Now let's go before you decide you need to change the shoes."

"Oh God what's wrong with the shoes?"

"Nothing, let's go. Don't want to be late, it's your big day and all." Eve says grabbing me by the arm and dragging me to the door. Suddenly the door was opened by my mother who bustled into the room, "Where is my little girl? Come here you." She said hugging me, "I'm honestly so excited, this is amazing. Your first pet."

"I don't think that they should be considered pets mother, more like spirit animals." I say pulling away from her.

"Sure, if everybody had the same spirit animal, now you two go down. The ceremony starts in 12 minutes!"

"Oh no." I said, "Come Eve, we have to make it." I run into the hallway and practically leap down the stairs. I hear Eve behind me as I throw open the front door and sprint down the narrow street. Turning right I run all the way to Central Square where the festival is in full swing. Turning around I see Eve bending over breathing heavily.

"I am not. In good. Shape." She wheezes. I laugh and grab her hand, pulling through the crowd to where all the 13 year olds are lining up. I go and stand by them. Eve grins at me and gives me a hug whispering good luck into my ear. I whisper a thank you and look at the stage in the centre of the court, there is currently a band playing. I hum along to the song. Soon the song finishes and a tall, oldish looking man comes up to the stage. He clears his throat.

"Hello everyone, it's so great to see you all on this very fine day. As you can see the weather is cooperating and it is a fantastic day for our young adolescence who will be receiving their first dragon eggs!"

Everyone cheered and applauded, me included. I was really excited to receive my dragon egg. It has been a day that I have been dreaming of for years. And finally I will be getting my dragon!

"So if I could just ask everyone who is currently 13 years old to accompany me to the church, the ceremony will begin shortly."

He exited the stage and we all followed him. The ceremony was a religious event and would therefore take place in the church. I never really knew what happened once you went in but today I would. My older sister who received her egg a few years ago told me it called to you or whatever.

We soon arrived at the church and went inside. I have been here multiple times before but today was even more special. Walking down the isle with 15 or so other people I saw a large table with dragon eggs on it. We stood in a semicircle around it with the priest standing in front of the table.

"Welcome my young ones," He said, "Today is the day you have been preparing for your whole lives. It is a joyous occasion during which you will get your first dragon egg, and hatch your dragon. This is a great privilege for everyone here, for you will be bestowed with a responsibility humans can only dream about. On this table we have 16 dragon eggs. In a few short moments I will let you pick your egg. But you must bear in mind, you dragon calls to you and you only. You mush choose the egg of your dragon, if you do not feel a connection then it is not your egg. You may begin." After his little speech he stepped aside and we all approached the table. Spreading out everyone surrounded the table looking at the eggs.

OK so I had to listen to my future dragon or whatever, I didn't really know what that meant but I was confident that my dragon would find me. I started inspecting the eggs, looking and listening to each one carefully. After 5 minutes everyone had their chosen eggs, except me. There was one egg on the table, a black and grey one. I though that this must be my egg, but I didn't feel any connection.

"Alright now that everyone is ready I shall begin the ceremonies, I will call you one by one into the blessing chamber and you shall be blessed along with your future dragon." The priest said. I began to panic, I didn't have an egg, well there was another one but I didn't think that it was mine. Should I just take it? I should probably take it. But then there was the problem that the egg would never hatch as eggs only hatch with its rightful riders.

"Excuse me." I said turning to the priest, every head in the hall turned to look at me. I felt my face going red but I blocked everyone else out, "I don't think this is my egg." I said looking at the one on the table. He frowned and came up to me.

"Your egg has to call to you and you specifically, are you sure this is not your egg?" He asked me. I nodded, feeling tears in my eyes. I have been waiting for this day for 13 long years and when the day finally came I couldn't get a dragon. It felt like my entire life has just shattered in front of my eyes.

"Well this very rare but I suppose it has to happen," He said quietly.

"What is happening?" I asked, "Do I not have a dragon?"

"I'm afraid not dear. At times there does come a person who does not possess the blood of a dragon. I'm afraid you're just another human."