Ah...a new story. It should be a relatively long one. It's a rather common idea, the EmelanxTortall crossover, but I've noticed that no one ever seems to finish them (or at least update it regularly). So I decided to write one.

Before we begin...Disclaimer: I don't own anything you might recognize.

Enjoy.

Duke Vedris of Emelan stared out the window lost in thought, a look of wonder on his face

Duke Vedris of Emelan stared out the window lost in thought, a look of wonder on his face. Down at the distant port, a small fleet of five ships could be seen, the people working on them looking like ants at the distance. At the moment, however, it was not the ships that held his interest, but rather the message they had delivered to him.

Three months ago, the Duke had sent a group of scouts and explorers across the Endless Ocean – an annual event – to search and report the new discoveries on the strange islands most were calling the 'Savage Lands'. In the past, all they had found were islands. But on this last trip, they had finally found more. A mainland, to be precise. And with it: civilized society.

Vedris looked down at the full report in his hands. It had been very detailed – the Duke reminded himself to thank the captain of the mission for that – giving full observations of everything from the kinds of people that inhabited the lands to the crops they grew. The captain had even included maps, though where the man came by them, the Duke had yet to ask.

The minute Duke Vedris had read of the civilizations, he had come to the snap decision that a delegation would need to be sent. Some of his own people would go, of course, but he knew that this new discovery would affect the world. Nodding to himself, he sat down at his desk, picked up his pen, and began to write out two letters. When he finished his task, he would send for a scribe to make two complete copies of the report.

Lightsbridge and Winding Circle would have to be notified of this new course of events.

Dedicate Superior Moonstream settled into the chair behind her desk and rubbed her eyes in exhaustion. The council she had summoned had just let out and now she wanted to rest.

They had come to no decision, really, except perhaps that they would send people for the delegation. That was a given. Who would go was another matter.

Moonstream sighed, knowing that the thought wasn't really true. Dedicates Lark, Rosethorn, and Frostpine had been chosen almost immediately following the completion of the report – the three were well liked, and everyone knew that they would not shirk in what was needed to be done. Frostpine had declined almost just as fast, declaring that his old bones couldn't handle another trip around the world.

Lark and Rosethorn hadn't gotten off quite so easily.

Rosethorn glowered at the council members around her as Lark sighed tiredly. Frostpine gave them a sympathetic look from where he sat. So far, all of their protests had failed.

"Who will take care of Discipline?" The question was washed in the kind of discontent that most would claim as rude if it hadn't been Rosethorn who had voiced it. Lark nodded quietly beside her; Discipline was probably the only thing that could get them out of the trip at that point.

Skyfire spoke up, eyes sparkling mischievously, but his voice reasonable. "It can be arranged so all of the wayward children who usually end up at Discipline will have teachers found immediately. Disciplining their minds will fall on the teacher's shoulders instead of your own."

"Yes, because you and Lark are not the only ambient mages able to handle children in an undisciplined state, Rosethorn." Crane's remark was biting, as was usual when the man was talking to Rosethorn; and if it happened to be more so today, then everyone knew that the man was jealous – though he'd never admit it and would probably give you the verbal lashing of the century if you brought it up – that his rival (another thing he would not admit to) would get to go to the new lands, while he, as First Dedicate of the Air Temple, would not be able to. If asked, he would probably reply that he was simply too important to be spared.

Lark placed a soothing hand on Rosethorn's shoulder, pausing the woman as she was about to make a sharp retort of her own.

In the end, the two Dedicates had not been able to convince the others that they were unsuitable. They were going and that was final.

Moonstream settled herself in for a night of going over the candidates the rest of the council had agreed upon. They had come up with over twenty, and it had fallen upon her shoulders to wheedle the number down to a more suitable level.

She hoped the new lands were worth the trouble.

I hate this prologue. It irks me greatly.

I need a beta. Preferably one who's listened to the Melting Stones audio.

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