A gust of wind swept through the dragoness's finely brushed fur and kissed her face. Ki's leaves rustled in the brief breeze, and she smiled at the stunted tree. "I can't believe it either," she whispered to her friend. "This country has grown beyond my wildest dreams. It's thriving, and I am as well." She looked out to the vast expanse of ocean lit with the orange glow of the mesmerizing predawn light.

Waves crashed again the cliff face beneath them, but she did not fear the waves consuming her friend. Mages had reinforced the cliffs all around the city with their magic when the castle had been added to it. Though the magic would have to renew it at one point, plenty of mages lived in the city and would aid her when the time came.

The sudden ring of a bronze bell turned her attention to the harbor far below her to the right. A new boat had come in overnight and nestled itself among the docks, safe from the harsh tide thanks to a circle of tall rocks that broke the waves. Strangely, instead of the typical wooden color, this new ship was a bright white.

"The wind must have rung the bell," she mused as her brain tried to remember why the ship seemed so familiar. "I doubt those sailors would be awake this early in the morning." She hoped it meant they had news of other dragons that roamed the ocean, but her doubts pushed them aside.

Horizon inhaled the salty breeze as she watched the colors of the sky fade from the nightly blue and into the purples, reds, and oranges of dawn. A smile spread across her face, even if the breeze did not carry hints of the one thing that would complete her: a mate. I suspect, eventually, I shall give up on finding a mate of a similar species. I want my children to enjoy the peaceful future I have secured for everyone.

She paused and calmly rested her head against Ki's sturdy trunk. "Perhaps I will have to consider a winged dragon as possible suitors. I fear I am the last of my kind." She tried to conceal the wavering of her voice.

As the tree's leaves rustled gently, the regal dragoness sensed someone emerge from the castle behind her. "Your majesty," A calm voice spoke in a gentle voice.

"Yes, Glimmer?" Horizon looked towards the speaker, a scarred unicorn with a pale pink mane, "Is it time already? The sun has not appeared yet."

"Your attendants insisted they adorn you with jewels before we start the celebration when dawn arrives." The unicorn glanced at a clipboard held within a magic aura that originated from her horn. "Also, a new boat has arrived, the Paragon. It wishes to establish trade agreements with you."

The serpentine dragoness briefly paused. Paragon is here? Many years have passed since the last time she visited. I was still trapped in the ruins when we last spoke. Perhaps she finally has someone to be her captain, but she could just be donating the treasure she's found in the open ocean again.

After she finished her thoughts, the dragoness rose to her feet. "I can discuss that with them after the opening ceremony. Tell Paragon we can discuss trading matters at a quarter till midday. That will give me plenty of time to enjoy the celebrations, then be at my meeting with Tarnish at half morning."

Glimmer nodded and tucked the clipboard into one of the bags on her back with a small movement of her head. "I shall immediately send a messenger to the vessel with your agreement to meet them and the time." She bowed her head, then turned back to the door from which she had entered the small secluded ledge.

The unicorn scribe calmly trotted through the doors on the cliff face as the queenly dragoness rose to her feet. "Enjoy the sunrise," she told the tree, then followed the unicorn into the castle. The doors silently closed in her wake. She didn't care if some people thought of her as partially crazy for speaking to a tree. Perhaps she was somewhat crazed, but hundreds of years of solitude could do that to anyone. What no one argued on, however, was her ability to rule fairly and the security her country offered.

While the unicorn traveled down a different passageway, the dragoness calmly climbed to the aboveground portion of her castle. Though only modestly sized if viewed from above ground, her castle reached from the top of the cliff and the bottom of the cliff. The dungeon sat so deep underground it was below the ocean at low tide.

She calmly walked through the corridors large enough for a dragon many times her size to traverse. Soon, she entered through the ornate blue doors of her royal chambers, where two elves and a canary-jaguar griffin waited for her.

"Royal dragoness, we hope you approve of our choices for the ceremony today." One of the elves, a golden-haired female named Hiana, lifted a circulate towards the queen for approval. The gold-set deep blue sapphires and bright lapis lazuli glimmered in the unwavering magical light cast down from spheres hung on the ceiling.

"You three have never failed me," the dragoness calmly laid on the soft carpeted ground and bowed her head so her attendants could reach. "But you did not have to go through such trouble when I gave you the day off to enjoy the festivities."

"And see our queen without any jewels on the day she is being honored? I cannot bear the thought." Chee the griffin began to brush the queen's plume of fur on her tail. "We would never allow it."

The female elf placed the circlet aside and picked up a brush. She began to gently groom the dragoness's mane of fur that ran down her spine. "We wish to make you look as beautiful as possible for today."

The third elf, a white-haired mute male named Merc, nodded as he began to gently check the claws each of her feet and clean the dirt from her paws.

"You spoil me." The dragoness did not stop a purr from escaping her throat. I am thankful for these three, and the rest of my kingdom. She was halfway in a trance as her attendants continued to groom her. For a brief moment, she thought she felt one of the elves gently scratch underneath her chin, but she didn't mind. The now-voiced dragon loved being pampered.

However, the three soon finished and stepped away and the dragoness snapped out of her partial trance. "Our queen, we have finished." Hiana bowed slightly as Merc summoned a large mirror-like surface of magic.

Horizon gazed at her slender figure in the reflection. "You have done it again," she praised as the sapphires and gold glimmered. She did not wear much, as was her preference, but still marveled at the wonderful jewelry they had picked and arranged for her far better than her mighty claws could have done.

The circlet that laid on her head like a crown, and a beautiful matching necklace hung around her neck. A star sapphire pendant flanked by opals stood in the center of the simple golden chain. On her tail, a golden band with a shimmering opal accented where her fur burst into a plume.

"Thank you," she purred to her subjects, "now, please go enjoy the festivities, you have more than earned the day off." They smiled at her as the royal rose to her feet.

"Yes, ma'am," Hiana bowed, then left the room with the other attendants. They only paused to hold the doors open for the queen, then headed down the hall toward one of the lesser entrances to slip out into the outside world.

The queen of the realm chuckled slightly as she traveled through the hallways and stairwells, then stopped in front of the main aboveground entrance.

Once she was announced, servants opened the door for her and the beloved queen emerged into the town.

Cheers from beings of all kinds met her ears upon her arrival. Dragons, unicorns, griffins, humans, elves, and other species all stood in the garden in front of the castle.

From the steps, she could see her beautiful stone city with its large buildings and wide streets, all decorated with flowers and magical paper lanterns. This is my kingdom. A haven for all, magical or not. My dream of a thousand years, achieved.