The Purple Stone Of Truth

chapter 5

Esme woke up the next morning in a bed she didn't recognize. She looked around and saw a luxurious room. It was mostly purple with some streaks of white in the mix. The dresser was pure white. The room was bigger than her Living room back at the orphanage. She was dressed in a fine purple night gown that felt like silk. "Where am I?" Esme thought. She got out of bed and looked for some clothes. She found a dress hanging by a closet. She looked at it and saw it was purple. She saw her stone wasn't glowing anymore. "Hu?" She thought confused. She put on the dress since she couldn't find anything else to wear. When she was done, she stepped into the Hall. It was just as beautiful as the room she woke up in.  She could tell she was somewhere huge. She just didn't know where she was. A griffen came up to her. It was Noah. "glad to see you are awake princess." Noah said. "Where's Starblaze?" Esme asked concerned. "he's being treated. The healer said he should make a full recovery. But he needs rest" Noah said. "I see. How long until we can finish out journey?" Esme asked. "No need. You are home" Athena said coming around a corner. "Athena" Esme said. "your parents are waiting for you in the throne room. Come" Athena said. Esme got nervous. She was about to meet her parents for the first time. She remembered the note and grabbed it.

The throne room was even bigger than the room she woke up in. But it was covered in gold. The thrones themselves looked different. "I thought my parents are here?" Esme said seeing the thrones empty. "We are" a female voice said. A griffen that looked far more beautiful than any Esme had seen so far came from the ceiling along with a very handsome male griffen. They sat on there thrones. Esme now knew who she really was. The female had tears in her eyes. "Athena, Noah, you are both dismissed" the male said in a big booming voice. Athena and Noah bowed and left. "go on Arora, we haven't seen her in 8 long years" the male said. The female stood and ran to Esme. She went into human form and gave Esme a huge huge. She looked like an older version of Esme. "My beautiful daughter. Oh I've missed you" Arora said. The male turned to his human form and came up to them. "Esme, my daughter and heir to the throne. Welcome home" he said hugging her. He had brown hair and eyes too. But it looked like Esme only inherited his nose and hair texture. "Your my parents?" Esme asked. "yes. I'm Gabriel, your father. You can call me dad." Gabriel said with a wink. Esme felt happy. "We didn't think you would come for another year. But this works" Arora said.

Gabriel laughed. "We are glad you came early though. Either way you would have come home." Gabriel said. "We must celebrate. The other Griffens would be glad to see you" Arora said. Esme nodded. Gabriel let out a call. It wasn't a distress call, but it sounded like he was calling for someone specific. A male Griffen came and landed in front of Gabriel and turned to his human form. He had blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He looked maybe a year or two older than Esme. "You called your majesty?" The Griffen said. "Yes Simon, I want you to invite the entire kingdom to a ball for tomorrow night. My daughter has returned and the kingdom needs to meet her" Gabriel said. Simon looked at Esme and bowed. "Welcome home princess. I will let the kingdom know." Simon said. "Thank you Simon. You just completed your transformation and you fly the fastest so we thought you were the best for the job" Arora said. "I will be done as soon as possible." Simon said bowing. He turned back to his Griffen form and flew off. "So Griffens undergo a transformation?" Esme asked. "yes. It technically already started for you but it takes a while. The first step is seeing things humans can't see, for example the purple Stone" Gabriel said. Esme pulled it out. "This stone? My adoptive mother was able to see it" Esme said. Gabriel and Arora looked at her. "You were adopted?" Arora asked. "Yes, by the orphanage director" Esme said. "The note said not to have you adopted." Gabriel said. Esme pulled out the note. "Oh, I see, it must have ripped in the rain" Arora said. "Yes, that's what Maria thought." Esme said.

"No matter. She let you come home so that's all that matters." Gabriel said. "We should thank her for taking care of you" Arora said. Gabriel nodded. "in the meantime, we need to get to know each other. We haven't seen each other in 8 years" Gabriel said. "I couldn't agree more" Esme Said. The family went to a dining room and sat down. "So Esme, how was human school?" Arora asked. "good. I was the smartest. Im already starting 10th grade in the human world." Esme said. "Not surprising.  Griffens not only learn fast but tend to be smarter." Gabriel said. "We figured you would probably be in 11th or 12 when we would be reunited. So it was close" Arora said. Esme smiled. "I'm guessing all Griffens are very smart" Esme said. "we have to be. Especially for hunting"  Gabriel said. "What do we hunt?" Esme asked. "vampires, deer, moose, and sometimes bear." Arora said. Esme knew they didn't hunt humans, but she still breathed a sigh of relief. "We hunt those strong creatures to build our strength. And our powers help with that too" Gabriel said. "what powers do we have?" Esme asked. "It all depends on the griffen. Some are able to breathe fire like a dragon, some have ice powers. We all have super hearing and eye sight. Some Griffen's are even able to control water. But there is a prophecy of a royal Griffen who will be able to control fire, water, and ice. No Griffen had never been able to control all three. Most only control one." Arora said. Esme thought that was cool. "Does the prophecy say anything more?" Esme asked. "yes. That royal Griffen is supposed to lead a final war against the dragons. The dragons have been ruthless over the last few years. It is said that the griffen will ride a dragon on our side since they won't be fully complete with there own transportation. The dragon it speaks of betrayed its own kind to protect human. We think it's Starblaze" Arora said. Esme gasped. "But he can't fly" Esme said. "That's another ability of the legondary Griffen. They are able to use all three powers to heal. We think that Griffen will either be you, or one of your children" Gabriel said. "I see. Speaking of Starblaze, can I go see him?" Esme asked. "yes. Come sweetie." Arora said. She turned to her Griffen form and Esme got on her back. Arora flew to the healing Chambers where elves were. "Since we don't have the healing Griffen yet, elves help with that" Arora said. Esme nodded. They landed and Starblaze still looked very weak. Esme got off her mother's back and went up to him. He weakly opened his eyes. "Esme, your.. safe" he said weakly. "I'm fine Starblaze. How to you feel?" Esme asked. "Very sore still. Now I'll never fly" Starblaze said. Esme felt bad for him. She touched his paw. "My dear friend. I know you will fly again." Esme said. She cried on his paw. A tear landed just right and entered his body. His burns instantly healed. The big cuts on his wings closed. He stood up stronger than ever. Esme was shocked. Starblaze looked at his wings. "Do you think I can fly again?" He asked. "only one way to find out" Esme said. Starblaze let Esme on his back. "Hold on tight." He said. Esme held onto him with most of her strength. "Ready?" Starblaze asked. "yes. Let's go!" Esme said. They jumped out the window without breaking the glass and Starblaze flew for the first time in years. He was happy. His wings took him higher and higher. It didn't bother Esme since she was a griffen. He would spin in circles in the air. Luckily Esme had a great hold on Starblaze. Finally, he landed at the palace gates. "princess Esme, you are the legendary griffen. Only they can heal me like you did." Starblaze said excitedly. Esme smiled. "I guess I am. Are you sure you can fight your own kind?" Esme asked. "Yes. My father is still after me. It's time I kill him like he killed my mother. He took the one dragon who taught me love." Starblaze said. "I was told many women don't have rights as dragons, would they fight along side us?" Esme asked. "I don't know. Until my father is gone, they can't say anything. I will be the next king weather he likes it or not since I was his only child thanks to him killing my mother. Dragons can only have one mate in their lives. My mother never laid another egg.  Not even the king can get a new mate" Starblaze said. Esme nodded. "we must fight, to save both kingdoms. But, I must visit my adoptive parents. I promised I would" Esme said. Starblaze nodded and let Esme tell her real parents where she was going. Now that Starblaze could fly, they could get to Bridgedell in a matter of hours.

Esme knew she couldn't tell them she was a griffen. But she could say her real parents are ready to have her come back. Esme made a quick trip to see Maria and her husband. They were glad to see her. Esme told them most of her adventure, minis the mythical creatures. They had to remain a secret. Maria was glad Esme found her real family. When Esme returned to her real family, they said they didn't know when the war would start. But they knew how it would start. They didn't tell her though. They just hoped Esme would be the leader she was meant to be.