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Chapter-3

Zephera woke in a stone chamber, her arms where chained to the wall, and the only light came from a small barred window.

"wh-where am i...Taron?"She mumbled.Her vision was blurred and her head was pounding.She noticed she was no longer in her armor,she tried to move,but was prevented by the chains and a sharp pain in her back.

She heared the sound of the door creaking open, but she was to tired to lift her head to see who had come.

"Hello young prisoner."Came a voice.

Zephera found energy to lift her head, she saw a boy in red clothing and with blonde hair.

"whats wrong? dont talk much?"he asked. "Im Ed, ive come to get you out of here"

Zephera's eyes narrowed to a glare that said 'leave me alone before i kill you'.

"Whats with the look?"he asked.

"I stoped trusting anyone but my dragon along time ago."she said.

"well, your going to have to start trusting me.My brother and i where passing by, and saw them bringing you here.I convinced them to sell you."Said Ed."Im going to set you free as soon as you help me find something."

Ed unlocked the chains and Zephera dropped to the floor.

"whats wrong?"He asked. Then he noticed the bruses and scars."They had to fight you didnt they? I swear, the empire is getting more and more pathetic...haveing to fight girls with an entire army."

"...i dont know what happened to Taron...or Eragon...or Saphira..."She mumbled."And as for that last comment...i would kill you...but im to tired..."

"Can you stand?"

Zephera shook her head.

"Im gonna need Al's help then."He said standing up again.And walking to the door."Hey Al! I need your help over here!"

Zephera watched as a suit of armor at least six or seven feet tall steped into the cell.

"what is it brother?"He asked.
"She cant stand yet.They had to take her down hard."

"I guess...im not the only one...im heavy armor..."Said Zephera as Al picked her up.

Eragon looked down at the path from the sky.He had been hoping to catch the army on the way, but no such luck.Taron's wings had healed, and he had been in a terrible mood sence the battle.Taron flew alongside Eragon and Saphira, searching for any sign of the army that kidnapped Zephera.

Saphira could hear a faint clanking sound from below.

Taron, do you hear that?she asked.

Yes

Then Eragon could hear it too.

Saphira, do you hear that metalic sound?"

Yes, so does Taron.

Then a suit of armor and a boy came into veiw, along with a glare from blue grey armor.

They have Zephera!Exclaimed Taron.

Taron, dont go diving after her. we should follow them and see what they are up to.Suggested Saphira.

are you sure about that Saphira?asked Eragon.

yes

That night when Ed and Al stopped to rest,Ed lied on his back and stared up at the branches of the numourous trees.

He found him slef thinking back to eairlier in the day.

(&&&&& Flash Back &&&&&)

Ed and Al came up to the gates of a huge city.

"Brother, do you think we can find any rumors of riders here?"Asked Al.

"I dont know, but its worth a try."

They walked through the crowded streets as what seemed to be a big event was going on.As they crossed the streets, the crowd parted and an army walking in a complex pattern made their way through the streets.

"what do you think is going on?"Asked Ed as they watched them go by.

"Brother, look."Said Al, pointing into the mass of soilders.A girl was being carried with them, a prisoner of war, as it seemed.

Ed didnt seem interested untill a flash of silver caught his eye.The silver flash came from her plam.

"Al, its a rider."He said stareing at the symbol on her hand.

Ed could feel something in the back of his mind trying to push through, soon it did.It was a voice, only one word.help was all it said.

"Al did you hear that?"He asked.

"Something in my mind, asking for help?"

"Yeah, thats it."

The army Entered a prison, and came out about ten minutes later, without the girl in hand.

"Brother, we should go get her."Said Al.

"I dont think so."Answered Ed."Shes in terrible condition, we dont have time for her to recover."

"But brother, we have to help her."Said Al grabbing his brother's arm.

Ed and Al entered the building the soilders had brought the girl to, and talked to the guards.

"We are here for the state to pick up the girl."Said Ed. He would have been more convincing if it hadnt been for his height. Just for cover, Ed showed the guards the pocket silver pocket watch.

"Your awful short for a state alchemist."Said one of the guards.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PINT SIZED GRIMLEN!"shouted Ed.

"No one said that! Just do your job!"Shouted the other guard.

They where led to her cell and given the key.

(&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&)

Ed shook him self out of his thoughts and looked over at Zephera.This was just great, they finnaly had a dragon rider, and she was half dead.

Zehpera seemed different, almost as though she wasnt human.It seemed like she had been through more in her fifteen or so years of life than he had in his sixteen, and most people did in thier eighty.

"Al, do you feel something strange again? Just like when we heard that voice in oue heads, but different."Asked Ed.

"No, Brother, are you feeling ok?"

Ed felt as though something was pushing against his mind,trying to get into it.He tryed to resist, but this force was strong, then it stopped suddenly.He shook his head trying to rid it of a strange voilated feeling.

Did you find anything out Eragon?Asked Saphira.

not much, only that they need to find a stoneReplyed Eragon.

Thats it!retorted Taron.if thats it then we should just go and get Zephera, they dont need her.

Maybe your right...Said Eragon.

finesaid Taron excitedlywe attack at dawn

Eragon rolled his eyes. Dragons.

The next morning Ed woke Al early and they left soon after ward.Zephera seemed to sleep alot, but she was awake most of the time, she just couldnt move.Ed would hear her mumble something about a Taron,or Eragon, or Saphira, once in a while, but that was it.

This morning, Ed and Al felt uneasy for some reason, like they where being hunted.

Around late afternoon, two large shadows crossed over the path before them.

"Al...somthing is coming after us."said Ed wearily "Get the girl to the side."

As he said this, two dragons landed heavily before them.

"what do you want with us?We dont have anything of value so if you plan on robbing us your out of luck." said Ed.

"We have nothing to do with you"said Eragon from Saphira's back."all we want is the girl."

"You cant have her!"shouted Al."How do we know you dont mean any harm?"

"We need her."Said Ed. "so we cant let you take her."

Eragon jumped off of Saphira's back and drew Zar'roc.

"So its a fight you want?" Ed retorted. "Fine, but i dont expect it to last long"

Ed removed his gloves reveling one arm which was made of metal, then he clapped his hands together and the arm seemed to melt into the form of a blade.

Eragon lunged forward, but missed by a long shot.

Eragon, dont be so careless.said Saphira.

Ed swept to the side and swiped at Eragon, but he only left a scratch on his shoulder.

Taron joined the battle and swept Ed's feet from under him with his tail.

"Thats not fair"Shouted Al Grabbing hold of Taron's tail.

Taron tried to shake Al off, but he couldnt lift his tail.

Saphira blew flames at Al, but he bolted at the last minute and Saphira ended up burning Taron's tail instead.

ouch! Careful! said Taron

sorry

Eragon sped forward again, but missed.

Taron snapped up the back of Ed's coat lifting him up in the air,before his coat ripped and he dropped to the ground.

"I've had enough of that stupid dragon getting in the way!"Shouted Ed.

Ed lunged toward Taron.Taron recoiled when he saw Ed comeing, not expecting this.

Then a voice rang through the air.

"Taron!" Shouted the voice. Then out of nowhere the Helgrind came spinning through the air and clanked against Ed's arm sending him flying off course and to the ground.

"Brother!"shouted Al running to help him up.

Ed looked in the direction that the sword came from.The girl was standing proped up by a tree, and staggering toward the dragon that Ed had just tryed the kill.

"Taron..."She said.

"Zephera, your awake. where did they take you?"Asked Eragon.

Ed stood up and looked from Eragon to Saphira, to Taron, and to Zephera."Thats Taron?And thats Eragon... so this must be Saphira.. This is who you where mumbling about all that time?"Asked Ed.

"Eragon, this is Edward and Alphonse Elrick"Said Zephera. "They saved me from what ever they where planning for me."

Zephera fell backwards between Tarons claws and Taron nuzzed her.

You ok?asked Taron.

"So this is your dragon?"Asked Al stareing up at the gigantic reptile.

"Yeah, this is Taron, as you already know."

Taron sniffed Ed, he smelt like metal.

Eragon stared back and forth between Ed and Al."Wait, it still dont under stand this, these guys arnt working for the empire?"

"No, but i work for the state."Said Ed Showing Eragon the silver pocket watch.

Zephera stared at the strange symbol on the watch."What does this symbol mean? is it anything like the gedway ignasia?"

Ed stared at her in confusion "the what?"

"This" answered Zephera showing Ed her palm. "It means shineing palm."

"Well, this symbol is called a transmutaion circle."

"Huh?"

Ed explained to Zephera about alcemy and the things it can do.

"Can it really do that much?"Asked Zephera."Amazing, its just like magic."

"No, big difference."Said Al"First of all, alcemy is science. And magic isnt real."

"Of course it is!"Said Eragon. "watch"

Eragon went back to one of the most basic things he knew. He picked up a pebble, concentraited, and the pebble lifted off his palm and threw it self at Ed's head.

"Ouch! What was that for?"Ed rubbed his head.

"Well, i guess you where in the way."Answered Eragon.

"Eragon! Dont."Zephera scolded.

does he always act like this?Zephera asked Saphira.

not really

"Watch what alcemy can do."Said Ed. He grabed the pebble Eragon threw at him and drew a transmutation circle.A bright flash lit the the camp and when it disparced, instead of a pebble there was a pendant of a transmutation circle on a fine chain.

"Magic cant do that can it?"Ed said picking up the pendant and handing it to zephera.

"Excuse my brother, he can be a bit of a show off."Said Al.

Eragon examined the pendant. "Not bad, but i still thing magic gets things done."

"This is amazing."Said Zephera as she put the fine chain around her neck. "Eragon, i really dont think magic and alcemy are the same,after all, if you or i tryed this with magic, it would probably kill us"

"I told you."Said Al "My brother is the youngest state alcemist ever "

"im not kidding, magic uses enegry, and using to much will kill you."said Zephera.

Eragon walked back to Saphira and sat down.

something wrong?Asked Saphira.

no

that alcemy magic is simply amazing.

shut up.

i knew somthing was wrong. Your jelouse of the virticaly challenged alcemist.

no im not, im just mad because of...of the fact that we where up all night looking for Zephera and she was traveling with a chunk of metal and a dwarf. Eragon said quickly She didnt seem too worried when we found her either.

Your blowing this out of preportion.Im sure she was terriflyed at the fact that she was traveling with strangers while she couldnt move

what ever

Eragon watched Zephera talking to Ed about the differences between magic and alcemy.

Eragon leaned back ward against Saphira and fell asleep.Hopefully he would wake up and everything would be back to normal...what ever that was.

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Yay! A chapter! I love chapters! wow...im loopy today...must be friday...looks at calendar HEY I IS FRIDAY!YAY!

(two days later) Hiss! leave me alone!...its fricken sunday...i hate sundays...so depressing...

oops...i think i spelled alot wrong...sorry ppl!