The rest of you step outside.

"Okay, Ava.  Whose dragon do you want to share a ride on?"  Lloyd asks.

Ava glares at him.  "Don't be inappropriate.  I am parental control, and I will decapitate you if you continue speaking about this."

Lloyd's eyes widen in terror.  "That's not what I-!"

She smirks.  "I know what you meant, I just like to occasionally terrify people.  In response to your question, my own, obviously."

"Your own..?"

"It's bold of you to assume that I don't have one, simply because I was trapped in another Realm."  She closes her eyes and begins gliding across the ground, a shadowy blackness trailing after her and settling in place wherever she steps.  Then she very deliberately maintains eye contact with Lloyd as she suddenly snaps her fingers, and the inky trail immediately solidifies into a large dragon.  "Satisfied?"

Lloyd nods meekly.  "What's its name?"

"Her name is Nyx, and she's weirdly friendly for some odd reason.  I don't understand it."

Rhea yells from the other side of the wall.  "That's because you're actually a total softie deep, deep down, and are always babying that thing!!!"

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!"  Ava hollers over furiously, looking mortified.

"NO!!!  HEEHEE!!!"

"You were the one who said that I probably shouldn't call her Ripper or anything violent like that, you impish teenager!!!"

"It would've scared Emily!"

Emily snorts derisively from inside the courtyard.

Ava grins.  "Yeah, like Em said, you're the one who was scared by it, not her."

"TRAITOR!!!  Just for that, you're not getting any of this random candy that I found in someone's room!!!"

All eyes turn to Lloyd, and an expectant hush fills the air.  "WHAAAAAT?!!"

"Uh..  Nothing!"  Rhea answers hurriedly.  She pauses, then continues.  "..By the way, does all of your stuff have to be green?  It looks like a leprechauns' lair in there!"

"So you were in my room!!!"

"YOU CAN'T PROVE IT!!!"

While Rhea and Lloyd bicker, Nyx sidles up beside you and nudges your hand.

"She, um..  Wants a chin scratch, I suppose."  Ava mutters, looking distinctly embarrassed.

"Okay!"  You gently run your nails underneath the dragon's throat, and she emits a pleased, earth-shaking rumble, closing her eyes blissfully.  "She's really sweet."  You comment.  Nyx opens one large, blue, intelligent eye and blinks knowingly at Ava.

"Don't look at me like that!!!  You're supposed to be a vicious attack dragon!!!"

Nyx daintily nibbles on a buttercup and snorts.

Ava throws her hands up into the air.  "I GIVE UP!!!  Fine, you win!"

Nyx triumphantly lumbers over to her and licks her cheek, while Ava makes an unamused face.  "Okay, I admit it!!!  I love animals, they're so cute and friendly, and I just want to cuddle them all!!!  And I absolutely adore my Elemental Dragon, so there!!!"  She hugs her dragon lovingly, seeming to be momentarily overcome with emotion.

"NYX FINALLY BROKE AVA!!!"  Rhea crows.

"GO GUARD ACRONIX, OR ELSE YOU'LL BE SEEING BLACK FOR A SOLID WEEK, I SWEAR!!!"

"I'm going..!"

"Can we leave now?"  Ava's voice sounds strained.

"LET THERE BE DRAGONS!!!"  You rapidly spin your arms around you in a complex pattern, and immediately leap onto your dragon as it bursts forth and spirals up underneath you.

You look down and spot Rhea and Acronix staring up at you, slack-jawed, while Emily gasps with delight and waves up at you.  You grin and wave back as the others take flight behind you.

Morro pulls up next to you, his dragon happily cooing out a greeting to yours.

"It looks like Zephyr's as pleased to see Genesis as I always am to see you."  He comments, giving you a sly sideways look.

You blush and giggle slightly.  "Honestly, you're such a flirt, Morro!"

He looks taken aback.  "Yes, but only with you!!!"

You pout at him playfully.  "I should hope so!"

After about an hour of flight, Cole points a finger at a location ahead and underneath him.  "Down there!"

Lloyd glances over and nods briefly, then directs his dragon after him.

You pat Genesis' neck, then snap the reins.  "Let's go, girl!"

She trumpets once and immediately begins her descent through the hazy mists that surround the Island, leaving you wondering for the first time if this is really the best idea.

672 words.