Dragon Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page A

excited, he’s practically jumping up and down.
    “Yay—you did it, Emma! You figured it out,” exclaims Rapunzel.
    At the inn, Justin talks to the stablemaster and borrows one of their largest dragons—one that makes Druscilla look dainty by comparison. He climbs into the saddle. Rapunzel, Alex, and Moriah get up, with some help. (Rapunzel plans to shut her eyes.) And I can’t believe it—Justin is going to let
me
fly Druscilla.

    “Ready?” Justin asks.
    I nod. I’m excited but a little nervous.
    “Don’t worry. Druscilla will follow this dragon,” he says. “Here we go.”
    His dragon soars up over the hills, higher and higher. Then it swoops down over the lake. I pull on the reins the way Justinshowed me, and Druscilla follows. The wind whooshes in our ears, and sun sparks off the glittery stone snow. It’s the best roller coaster ride ever.
    “WHEEE eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
    It’s over way too soon! Lady Mary is so relieved to see us that she alternates between smiling and scolding. Then I explain my theory about the dragons and Justin’s part in our adventure, and everyone oohs and ahhs over Rapunzel’s long, sparkly pink hair. The gnomes nod and pat Justin on the back, and Lady Mary thanks him.
    Then the gnomes shake my hand.
    “Gnomes and dragons actually need each other, just like princesses and dogs!” I announce. Everyone laughs.
    Behind me, I hear a voice that sounds familiar. It’s the reporter Esther Rubinoff.
    It turns out she is visiting the caverns so she can talk to the gnomes. Once she hears what happened, she asks if she can take our picture and use it in her report.Rapunzel, Alex, Moriah, Justin, and I pose next to Druscilla.

    When it’s time to say good-bye, everyone walks out to the carriages together, and this time the gnomes look a lot happier than when they greeted us. Justin waves as we ride off.
    Later that evening, my father and I take Lola and Harold for a walk before bed.
    After a few minutes, he says, “I was wrong about the dragon problem being too hard for you, Emma. I’m very proud of you.”
    I feel warm inside, but in a good way.
    This is the perfect moment I’ve been waiting for.
    “With my birthday coming up in a few days… well, I’ve been wanting to ask ifyou and Mother might be okay with another pet.”
    “Emma, how many dogs does one princess need?” my father says, laughing.
    “Well, it’s not exactly a dog I had in mind…”
    He hasn’t said no so far. Cross your fingers for me!

Chapter 14
Birthday Surprises
    When I get to the Academy on my birthday, I don’t see any of my classmates in the courtyard, even though I’m not late today. Where are they all? I run up the stairs, and this time I don’t pause to look out the tower windows. I open the door and hurry into the classroom.
    “Surprise!” everyone yells.
    Wow! Am I ever surprised!
    “The class wanted to do something special for your birthday, Princess Emma,” says Lady Mary.
    Rapunzel, Alex,
and
Moriah step forward carrying a dragon cake!
    Moriah grins. “I don’t think a dragon pet is for me, but now I understand why you want one.”

    I smile back.
    “And there are some special guests here today,” Lady Mary says.
    That’s when I notice Justin standingnext to a distinguished-looking gnome at the front of the room. It turns out that the older gnome is the headmaster of Gnome Prep. They’ve come to say thank you and also to talk with the headmistress of the Academy about setting up an exchange program between our two schools.
    So I may actually get to see what it’slike to go to Gnome Prep. And—best of all—Justin has promised me more rides on Druscilla!

    “There are some other guests here I think you’ll be happy to see, Emma,” says Lady Mary.

    My royal father and mother give me a hug.
    “Our birthday present to you is in the courtyard,” my father says.
    I run to the window. There, sparkling in the sun, is the perfect dragon for me! My friends all crowd over to the