Hey everyone. So, this is the rewrite I promised to do. It's definitely going to be better than the original. Hope you guys like it.

The only disclaimer for this story: I do not own the Iron Fey Series, Julie Kagawa does. I do own Ira.


-The Iron Sister-


Flashback

I watched as she looked lovingly over my three, erect-standing brothers. Then her gaze drifted past them, and her cold, fathomless black eyes latched onto my slouching figure. Her eyes immediately turned from adoration and pride, to a mixture of disgust and hate. I averted my own gaze, so I would not have to look at hers. Finally, when I could not take the glowering that was burning a hole in my head anymore, I strode over to a different area in the room.

Glancing around, I looked for a distraction, knowing all too well that I would not find a suitable one. The members of the Unseelie Court were noisily pouring into the throne room while Queen Mab sat elegantly on her ice-capped throne. Her black nails tapped her armrest impatiently, a dangerous sign. My brothers Sage, Rowan, and Ash, had removed themselves from their position of in front of Mab, to the wall opposite of me.

Sage was sitting on the ground, deep in thought while absentmindedly petting his calm wolf pup. Rowan was sneering at me and mouthing rude comments that are also aimed toward me, both of which I ignored. Ash was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.

They all had midnight-black hair like Queen Mab. And like me. They all had different colored eyes. Sage had calculating, light green eyes. Rowan had cruel, pale blue eyes. Ash had steely, gray eyes. I had the most different, yet the dullest eyes. One regular, dark green eye and one dull, dark blue eye.

Why am I comparing myself to the perfect princes of the Unseelie Court? Why do I dare to even think of them? Well, I am the princess, half-sister of Sage, Rowan, and Ash, and most importantly, the daughter of Queen Mab, the ruler of the Unseelie Court. Why does the Queen hate me and watch me in disgust? Why does Rowan sneer at me even though I am his half-blood sibling? Why am I not with my half-brothers currently?

They are all pure fey. I am half-fey. And half-human.

A dangerous mix.

When all the fey had finished gathering in the throne room, Mab's nails had finally ceased their rhythmic tapping. The whole room was silent with respect, and everyone had their eyes glued to Queen Mab. My brothers had all stood up straight, like earlier, and were also intently focused on her. I was the only one in the room that was not completely absorbed by her presence.

Mab stood up in one smooth motion, her black floor-length dress flowing around her. She smiled in a way I thought was obviously fake since it didn't reach her eyes. She reserved those smiles for her sons.

"Tomorrow is the day of the Exchange," she announced, her voice echoing around the large room. "It will be the day, once again, when Winter will receive the Scepter from Summer." Her smile turned into a smug grin.

She closed her eyes, dramatically lifted her arms to the ceiling and exclaimed, "So tonight, we shall feast!"

Upon her last word, servants began to march into the room carrying tables laden with fairy food that would be very dangerous to me if I ate carelessly. Mab put down her arms, opened her eyes, and glided towards her sons, most likely to discuss tomorrow's events. I took that chance to try and head for the exit.

I shuffled through the crowd, ignoring all the dirty looks I was receiving. I was bumped into several times, most of them on purpose, and it took me quite a while to get to the doorway. Nice to know that they do not think I am too disgusting to bump into.

I was nearing the exit, and there were not any fey around. I quickened my strides, eager to get to the safe haven also known as my room. Before I was able to reach the doorway, I was stopped in my tracks by the Queen of the Unseelie Court's voice. Also know as my mother's voice.

"And where do you think you are going?" she asked, her cold voice just loud enough for me to hear.

"To my room," I answered quietly while staring at my shifting feet which were covered in brown, braided sandals.

"Why is that? The celebration is here," she gestured to the gathered fey. "Are you not happy about the Exchange to come?" Her eyes narrowed at me with challenge.

My jaw tensed. She is trying to corner me. "I am happy though not many here would wish to celebrate with me around. I would like to leave them to enjoy the occasion," I answered carefully.

Her lips twitched into a smug smile. "Your words are true," I flinched, "but what of your brothers? Do you think even they would not want to be with you to enjoy this event?"

I scoffed mentally. I hate my brothers, and I am most certain that they feel the same way. They practically fall to Mab's feet whenever she asks something of them or shred each other to pieces to gain her favor.

"We don't have much in common, so we do not converse much."

"I guess that is also true. No body wishes to be in your company, now do they?" she purred sickly, trying to pull off a concerned voice, but all she did was rub it in further.

I bowed my head, tears pricking at my eyes. "It appears to be that way," I replied in a soft voice.

Practically hearing her grin, I felt no need to look up to see it. Once I heard her whisk away, I glanced up to see her dress float gracefully around her before she was swallowed up in the crowd.

I also turned around and dragged my feet down the hallway with stiff limbs, absolutely graceless compared to her. My cheeks were burning furiously and my nose was reddening. Tears were threatening to fall.

I hate this.

She always does this. She takes every single chance she can get to ruin my life, tearing me down. I go to my room every night, close to breaking down into hysteric tears. Why does she do this? Because she likes the emotions I give off from my human blood?

I was at my limit, and I made a drastic decision. I cannot deal with any more hatred by judgmental fey whom I have never had a real conversation with. I cannot take any more hurt from my own family. I was going to run away.

It is not like I have anything to lose. I do not have any friends since neither Unseelie nor Seelie members wanted to be associated with a disgrace like me. And it is not like I have a caring family to keep me rooted here either. I can learn to depend on myself. I will not need anybody, but myself.

At least I will not be at a complete disadvantage. Mab had my brothers and I slightly trained in combat. Though, they had quickly learned the ways of the sword, while I struggled on just the proper way of how to hold one. Maybe it was my human blood that caused my clumsiness or maybe it was Mab watching our practices, fawning over my brothers while glaring at me, causing myself to stumble. I still have learned enough to survive.

Sage is 14, Rowan is 13, Ash is 12, and I was the youngest at 11 years old, but I was going to show them that I am not as weak as they think. When I leave here, I was going to go to the Wyldwood. It was called the Wyldwood for a reason, but I just cannot take all this hatred anymore. Anything was better. Even monsters that will most likely try to take a chomp out of me when I am sleeping. I'm willing to take that chance.

I walked into my room. It was about the same size as a servant's room, but I do not care. I do not need a big, fancy room like my brothers since I did not have many belongings, nor do I want many. My room contained only my bed, a drawer, and a small bathroom. I packed some clothes, and some other things I thought I would need to survive, into a black, leather bag. I hoisted it onto my shoulder and was about to leave my room when I thought about my eyes.

I was known for my two different colored eyes throughout the courts, and I would be recognized as soon as someone saw them, so I slipped into my bathroom and got the dagger that I always carried around with me, dropping the sack onto the floor.

While pushing my hair above my blue eye, I readied the dagger in my hand. Once it was positioned, I smoothly sliced it, so I would have bangs that ended just beneath my eye, hiding it from view. I gave a sharp nod to the mirror in satisfaction for my new look. The cut was not even since I am not a hair stylist in the least, but it will serve its purpose.

Putting my put my bag back onto my shoulder, I quickly walked out of the room. Remembering that I needed more supplies than just clothes, I headed to the armory.

The corridors were deserted which helped me be undiscovered. Everyone was at the celebration in the throne room. Though, I was still cautious as I tip-toed into the room.

My mouth went slack in shock as I viewed the endless rows of weapons and armor among other things. I snapped my jaw closed and determinedly sped to the nearest shelf and took things that would not be missed, like regular faery steel knives and about 20 packs of matches.

I roamed around for anything else I might need and was about to leave when I spotted them. The most elegant, yet powerful looking objects in the whole armory, and one of them looked as if it was made for me. It was a silver armband, most likely made of faery steel. It had a dozen, ancient language letters on it, and its ends did not meet, but twined together. Somehow, I knew the armband could turn into multiple objects including the sword next to it. I also knew that it would fit my left bicep perfectly. The weapons beside the band were just as elegant and more lethal-looking, but I knew its innocent design was just a front.

I stepped hesitantly towards them. Any of these would surely be missed. Once I got closer, my resolve steeled, and I grabbed the band, half expecting a horde of guards to appear and take me away. I froze for a moment, and when I decided that nothing was going to happen, I rushed out of the room, quickly slipping the band onto my arm, only momentarily appreciating the pleasantly cool object.

I approached the doors of the Court, about to open the sad-faced one when my mother's voice stopped me for the second time this night, and hopefully the last time ever.

"Where are you going?" she asked with narrowed eyes. Her hands were placed on her hips patronizingly.

I looked up at her defiantly with only my green eye showing because of my new haircut. "Leaving," I stated firmly.

"Why ever would you do that? And what happened to your hair?" she asked sarcastically, reading out with one hand.

I flinched and then cursed myself mentally for showing weakness. Standing my ground and putting my shoulders back, I responded, "It's the statement of my new life."

"What are you talking about?" she smirked and continued, "What makes you want to leave all of a sudden? Do you not have a privileged life here? And such a loving family? You're willing to leave all of that?"

"What privileged life?" I hissed, eyes blazing in fury. I hated her. I hated my mother. I hated her for always making me feel like I'm completely inferior. I'm sick of her taunts, her games, everything. "I do not have a privileged life. I do not have a loving family. I am willing to leave it all for anything!" I practically roared. My chest was heaving with my angry pants.

Her eyes flashed dangerously. Word of advice: Do NOT yell at a queen, especially the Unseelie Queen. It will probably end up with your head on the end of an ice pike.

"What makes you say that?" she asked in a deadly cold voice.

I scoffed, not being able to stop my angry rant. "You should know," I spat. "You're the one causing the most misery for me, and you take enjoyment in it. I've made my decision. I'm leaving the Court. And I'm not coming back." Whipping around, I put my hand on the door, once more.

"You're not going to make it," she snarled at my back. "Have fun slowly starving to death." I looked over my shoulder to see her start to walk away, but before she turned, I saw a glimmer of an emotion I've never seen on her face. Regret? I mentally snorted at that thought. The only regret she must have in her existence, was having me.

Before I left out of the sad-faced door, and before Mab had reached the hallway leading back to the throne room, she stopped in her tracks when I called out her name. "Oh, and Mab?" She slowly spun on her heel to face me.

Her eyes were narrowed to little slits, but I could see they were slightly glimmering. Was she crying? Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness does NOT cry. Even though I felt some guilt, my heart hardened when I thought about all the things she had done to me.

"My name isn't Maple," I finally stated with a small smirk. Her glittering eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"My name is Ira, named after iron. After all, iron is strong, and so am I." With that said, I turned my torso back around, pushed the large door open, and strode outside. I heard the door slam behind me with a bit more force than usual, but I didn't care. With my silver armband and my bag of items on my shoulder, I was ready to take on the world.

Standing outside of the palace, I let the snow swirl around my body. I closed my eyes and breathed in the pleasantly cool air. Since the cold didn't affect me, I will survive well during the winters, and the heat would merely irritate me during the Summers. I smiled slightly in anticipation.

I opened my eyes and started to walk. Then I started to run. Then I started to skip. I was laughing and jumping and spinning, being genuinely happy for the first time without any regrets floating through my mind. The snow twirled around with me as if wanting in on the fun.

I strolled to a walk as something went through my mind.

I was no longer Maple of the Unseelie Court. I was Ira of the free.


Not very different from the first written one, but less spelling mistakes and a bit more detail.

Emo Anna: Yeah. I really have alot to add. Feel free to tell me what else I need because I most definitely cannot know everything to put in. :)

AllaceRose: Goooood. Go update. Like, every five hours JKJKJK XD

Queen of Air and Darkness: Aww. Thanks. I love death threats where my imagination will be forced to make a gruesome one up for me xD It will DEFINITELY be better. ;D as for the challenge, I mght just give the winner a oneshot of some sort. All contestants must have some idea for a oneshot before they enter tho... Thanks for reading~

LianaDare: I'm doing a rewrite because instead of doing a sequel and confuse myself even more, I'm going to make sure to put everything into the rewrite. I'm going to change A LOT of things. Thanks for following!

Twinni: -eye twitch- great ending? Twinni... You are too nice. You must help me on the rewrite (especially for what the plot should be xD) The tattoos were made up. The soulmate thing I got from L. J. Smith's Night World be looking for them too o3o I thought they were so cute, so I just added them. Wait... Your going to leave me to think of a death threat? That's not good... I have a wild imagination T.T Puck is delicious :)

doodle queen: Awwwww. You're too sweet. One of the best? I wish xD But I really never had a clear idea for a plot and I was just writing some random stuff. I'll have to come up with an idea and then I'll make sure it's BEAST. You get all excited? Yay ^^ That makes me feel good lol

The contest is still on. The prize will be a oneshot written by mwah about whatever you like. (Btw, I really suggest that you have an idea for a oneshot before you submit your entry. I'm not good at thinking up oneshot ideas :P) Post the entry in the Iron Fey category and put in the summary that it's in response to my challenge~ Good Luck :D


Truth