Hi guyz, I know my last story sucked, but you gotta read this one. All of th characters belong to Tamora Pierce. Oh well Read and Review!!!

Chapter One: The Shang Dragon

"Father why can't I become a Shang?" Asked a four-year old girl with piercingly purple eyes and flaming copper hair to her father who was sitting at his desk starring at an ancient artifact.

"Because you are a true noble girl." At this the child scowled, even at such a young age the girl wished she had been the boy out of her brother and her. She loved fighting, it was fun. She wanted to be either a Shang or a Lady Knight.

"Please, I'm only four, the Shang Leopard says its ok

"Fine, if it gets you off my back, ok, tell your brother and Maude." At this the girl ran away happily, to see her twin brother and the person who had taught her a lot to know in her life.

16 years later (A/N: I don't know how long they train)

"Did you know Jon, the Shang Dragon is coming."

"The Shang Dragon... he must be amazing."

"Of course, he's the Shang Dragon, a Dragon is the most amazing mythical beast." Prince Jonathon and his two most trusted friends, Sir Raoul of Goldenlake, and Sir Gareth of Naxen the Younger, were in the royal library, talking about the arrival of the brand new Shang Dragon.

"He must be around forty." Jon stated clad in a silk white shirt and navy blue breeches with his black hair trimmed perfectly right below his ears and his sapphire eyes shining, he couldn't wait to see the famed Shang Dragon!

At that moment, one of Jon's other friends Thom of Trebond ran into the room.

"Jon, Raoul, Gary, The Shang Dragon might be coming today." He said as he sat down in a chair out of breath. His copper hair was mussed and his purple eyes were shining.

People on the street whispered about the stranger riding on the street in front of them.

"Could it be the Shang Dragon?" The person wore a plain pair of white breeches, and white top. Their hair was cut short to the earlobes, so only a little of their red hair was showing, but their violet eyes took in everything around them.

"I can't believe it. Today? Really, are you sure Thom." Gary said in amazement, they had just gotten the news today.

"As sure as ever." Thom replied.

"I can't believe, today of all days. I don't know what to do. But he will probably be tired so I don't have to take him around the palace today." Jon said. He would have to take the Shang Dragon around the palace, if not because he was a Shang but out of respect.

"Now, you of all people, Prince Jonathon, should know not to assume things like if a person is going to be tired and if they are male or female, considering you have lived in court for your whole entire life." Said a female voice from the shadows.

"What?" Jon asked the person.

At this a person walked out of the shadows. She had violet breeches on with a violet shirt, with a pair of diamond earbobs on.

"Alanna?" Thom said questionably.

"Who else would it be, a long lost cousin?" Alanna of Trebond said sarcastically.

"And what would you know about the Shang Dragon, sister dear?"

"A lot, thank you very much."

"Like?" Jon and Gary said impatiently.

"Thom, do you remember where I've been for the past sixteen years?"

"You are not the Shang Dragon, Lady Alanna." Jon stated. Alanna's eyes turned crystal (A/N: Remember this from someone), she was getting mad.

"And why not?" She asked.

"Becuase your a girl, and you've only been training for sixteen years."

DING, DNG, DING. That was the Bell, the ball was in one hour.

"We'll see if you are truly the Dragon at the ball tonight, Alanna of Trebond." Jon said as he left the room to go get ready.

Read and Review. Gimme ten reviews and I'll put up the next two chapters. K? Cya ,

Lady Arianna