Welcome to A Strange and Different Land

This story is a Heroes of Olympians and Inheritance Cycle crossover. For any new readers, I would like to personally thank you for choosing my story and hope you will enjoy it. Below I will place the complete summary of this story just so you all can get an idea of what you will be reading.

I hope you enjoy and let's get right into this!


Amira Moraow was living her life as a Dragon Rider. The war had just ended and everyone was celebrating. One day she noticed her dragon was missing but while searching, she gets dragged to a strange and different land. In order to return, she must help the Heroes of Olympus defeat an enemy but they soon realize that they may have finally met their match. Amira has to face challenge after challenge and after a decision that ruins everything, she wonders if she'll ever get home.


A couple of notes before:

I'm not sure what age girl/boys are officially considered 'women' or 'men' so I'm just gonna say 16

The world of Inheritance Cycle wasn't mentioned (to my remembrance) and so I will just call it Alagaesia.


The day started as usual for Amira Moraow, if there was such a thing as "normal."

Amira was woken by the sound of someone calling her name and she started upright. Almost immediately after waking, a sensation began to grow in her chest: it was an anxious feeling of wary suspense.

She thought for a moment, trying to decipher the reason for its appearance before she shook her head and shrugged it off. It was probably just the war's after-effects. Having been two days since Eragon and Murtagh defeated Galbatorix, Alagaesia was celebrating and had been almost non-stop.

Amira was brought from her thoughts by her name being called again so she reluctantly crawled out from her place beneath the wing of her dragon, shivering when the cool air nipped at her warm skin, and moved over to the edge of the ledge that jutted out of the large cave on the cliffside.

On the ground far below with his arms crossed and a small frown on his face, Eragon stood looking up at her cave-home. She waved to him to catch his attention and show that she was now awake. He caught sight of her and smiled, waving her down. She nodded then pointed behind her and he nodded to show he understood before walking away.

Amira stood and stretched her arms as she walked back into her cave-home to see that Balenda was now awake as well.

'Could he have screeched any louder?' She complained as she opened her massive jaws in a yawn. She stood from her position on the hard ground of their cave, shaking the rest of the sleep from her body. 'I was having a pleasant rest when he woke me.'

Amira smiled and shook her head as she heard her dragon's whining.

Balenda was Amira's dragon, young but already large: her scales were dark purple in color. Her wide obsidian eyes rested deeply in her horned head and her wide neck connected her head to a body with a twin row of curved spikes running from her neck and back down to her tail. Her body was strong and aerodynamic, built for graceful flying. Four fiercely-muscled legs held her upright and four razor-sharp claws protruded from each leg, each one sharp enough to cut rock. The dragon's large, bat-type wings were currently folded at her sides as they would be too big to spread in their cave.

Balenda was large but was smaller than Saphira or the red and green dragons as she was significantly younger.

"He was not screeching but if that is what you choose to think. Let us hurry: Eragon wishes to speak with us." Amira told her. She started to mount the dragon then paused when Belinda spoke.

'Don't you think that you should properly clothe yourself before leaving?' The dragon teased. Amira looked down and blushed; she was still wearing her nightclothes.

She turned and rushed into the room that had been formed into the side of the large cave, magic torches placed along the walls as a means of lighting. She hurried to her bedchambers and opened her chest, quickly slipping on an outfit.

Her clothes consisted of a long-sleeved shirt made of a soft breathable cloth and atop that was a bustiers-style cover that laced closed in the front, made of firm leather that could double as leather-armor if needed. The pants were made of the same dark material as her shirt and were plain in looks with a high waist that she tucked her shirt into. Both the top and pants were tight enough to fit her body comfortably but loose enough to move freely.

She then slipped on a pair of knee-length riding boots and lastly, buckled her sword around her waist and slung her cloak over her shoulders before turning to the piece of glass she had changed into a mirror.

Amira Moraow was, to be put simply, gracefully gorgeous. Her height was currently a little taller then five-and-a-half feet and she weighed about a-hundred-and-twenty pounds. She was gracefully slim but her slender arms and legs were well-muscled from her training with Eragon (to who she was currently apprenticed to). Her voice was light and melodic but the power behind it told people that she had plenty of strength. Her skin was seemingly perfectly tanned from the time she spent outside and her cheeks were naturally pinkened. Luxurious red lips were framed by high cheekbones and a narrow jawline and chin sat perfectly on her slim, diamond-shaped face. Her ears were slightly pointed, normal for an Alagaesian Rider, and her perfectly arched brows were placed perfectly on her forehead. On either side of a duchess-style nose, upturned almond eyes were framed by long dark lashes.

There were two things about Amira that stood out different: her hair and her eyes. Amira's hip-length hair was the color of purple amethyst stones, which also happened to be the same color as Balenda's scales, and was straight with a slight body wave. Her hair was parted to the side with no bangs so it could flow gracefully behind her.

Much like her hair, Amira's eyes were purple in color though the color was lighter and less intense, more violet in color. Her eyes sparkled with humor but looking close, one could easily see her strength and confidence.

Amira turned and walked out of her room to see Balenda watching her with an odd emotion flowing through their mental connection.

"What is it? Is there something on my skin?" The Rider asked as she reached to her face to brush off any dirt that may have been there. She heard Belinda laugh from their mental connection

'No, Amira. I was simply thinking of how in less than four days you shall be a woman.' She reminded.

The young Rider was turning sixteen in three days. It was not a common thing because once chosen, a Rider would grow physically and mentally but would no longer age. Amira smiled in response.

"I may be. But despite my age, you will continue to call me Young One, will you not?" Her response was more of a statement than a question and she felt her dragon laugh once more as she crouched to allow her Rider onto her back.

'Of course I will. Now let's not keep Eragon waiting any longer.'

Balenda moved to the entrance to their cave-home and spread her wings wide before launching herself from the ground into the sky.

Amira laughed as the thrill of flying rushed into her. She had been flying since Balenda was large enough to ride, almost nine months, but no matter how many times they flew she always got the same rush of excitement whenever leaving the ground.

'You should be more careful while flying, young one. Anything could happen in the air.' Belinda scolded through their mental connection. Her Rider frowned.

'Alright, you have had your games. Please take us to where Eragon awaits us? He has waited long enough as it is.' She reminded.

Belinda nodded once through their connection before slowing to stop mid-air. Then, almost giving Amira whiplash, she dropped down into another steep dive. Amira's knuckles turned white from her grip as her dragon continued her dive, aiming directly towards the tent Eragon had pointed to earlier. Amira's purple eyes widened as they neared the ground.

"Balenda! It is too early for games! Slow yourself, please!" She shouted over the wind with both her voice and mind.

Just before the two of them would have become a purple splatter on the ground, Balenda threw her wings out and landed with a large 'boom' that shook the ground.

Adrenaline pulsing quickly through her veins, Amira shakily slid to the ground to stand on wobbly legs. Her purple hair was wild from the wind and her breathing and heart rate beat at a considerably faster speed than normal. Her head was spinning so she took several deep breaths to try to calm herself but the action did little. She turned to Belinda, who was watching her in amusement.

"Do no- do not ever do that again," Amira gasped, her voice shaking as much as her legs. "You ne- nearly stopped my heart!"

'That is for teasing me yesterday.' Balenda scolded with a proud tone, laughter hidden in her mental voice.

Amira rolled her eyes at the reminder of the conversation they had the day before. She turned and tried to walk towards the tent but her legs were weak so she wobbled with each step. The purple-eyed girl put her arms out for balance and Belinda chuckled again. Amira glared.

She managed to continue without falling and started into the tent where Eragon waited. She was still slightly unbalanced as she stepped but managed to make her way to Eragon and Arya, where they stood talking with someone who made her press her lips together in anger.

"Why is he here?" She demanded, pointing rudely to her cause of annoyance. The Red Rider rolled his eyes in response to the gesture.

"Seeing how we are all the Dragon Riders of Alagaesia, I believe you can answer that question yourself. Or at least I assume you can, though I have my doubts." Murtagh answered sarcastically, equally annoyed by her presence.

Eragon frowned at his brother's response but then he noticed the way Amira was walking and rushed over, grabbing her arm before she could stumble.

"Amira, what happened? Are you alright?" He worried. Amira's heart was still racing but she nodded, less dizzy than before, and brushed her purple hair from her face.

"I am alright, though I must admit that I am quite shaken." She answered honestly.

"What's wrong?" Arya asked with a concerned look in her eyes.

"Balenda decided to exact revenge on me for yesterday by nearly crashing the two of us into the ground." Eragon nodded in understanding but Amira waved the topic away. "It is okay, I am fine now. Why did you call me?"

"It may be nothing but there is a strange feeling in the air," Eragon announced, clearing his throat.

"I sense it too. It's as though I feel an anxious warning of a future event." Amira agreed.

"I do not know what will happen but being right after the war makes me uneasy. The future is unclear as of now and none know what may happen." Arya added.

Murtagh nodded in agreement but said nothing, standing with his arms crossed, purposely ignoring looking in Amira's direction. Eragon pressed his lips together.

"We must be careful. We do not know if this means a new enemy is approaching or just the war's tension. Either way, keep an eye open for anything that causes suspicion." He cautioned.

Amira nodded and took that as a cue to leave. She stood from her seat, glad vertigo had passed. Still Eragon insisted to follow behind her when leaving just in case she tripped or fell, always worrying over his apprentice. But when Amira got outside, she saw Balenda was not in her previous place in the field. She looked around but could not see her dragon.

'Balenda?' She mentally called. She received no answer. 'Balenda? Balenda, where have you gone?'

"Amira, what's wrong?" Eragon asked after noticing that the young Rider's face was confused.

"Balenda is not here and she will not answer me." His apprentice answered. He frowned.

"That does not sound like her. Where would she have gone?"

"I do not know. Perhaps she is hunting? Even if that were so, she still would have answered me or told me before." Amira felt worried but told herself to remain calm.

'Balenda this is lacking all humor! Where are you?!' She called out with her mind. She turned back to her teacher. "Do you think she could have been taken?"

"I am not sure. It is hard to capture a dragon so there are doubts but I don't think she would just leave," Eragon admitted. Amira's breathing and heart-rate began to speed up despite her efforts otherwise.

"I hope that she is-"

Amira was cut off when a sudden blast of wind hit them. She staggered back, thrown off balance by its sudden appearance and immense strength. She stumbled and was caught by Eragon's strong arms.

"What is happening?!" She had to shout to be heard over the wind but Eragon just shook his head.

"I don't know! But we must find cover, fast!" He responded, also having to yell. Their hands flew to their eyes to try to block the sand from obscuring their vision. "I'm going to get Saphira! Stay here!"

Amira nodded and Eragon ran off. Then another blast of wind blew, throwing Amira to the ground.

"Balenda! Where are you?! BALENDA!" Amira shouted with her voice and mind as she lay on the ground.

She still got no answer. Balenda had never blocked Amira from her before. She was close to crying; did this mean that her dragon was gone? That her partner of soul and mind was missing? The only thing that would make sense was the theory that she had been taken and that close to destroyed the young Rider.

Tears were beginning to fall from her eyes when Arya ran out of the tent. She looked around and saw Amira, rushing over to her. She helped her stand by grabbing her arms and tried to bring her back inside but Amira only shook her head.

"Balenda is gone! You must help me find her!" She cried. Arya frowned.

"Where was she last?" She asked, her voice raised over the storm.

"She was right here! I went inside and now she-"

Amira was cut off once more as the two girls choked on the dirt and dust that was flying everywhere. Arya helped the younger girl inside the tent and once in, the two girls coughed up the dirt they had breathed in. Amira fell to her knees and Arya moved beside her. The younger Rider buried her face in her hands. Her dragon… was she gone...?

No. Amira wiped her eyes furiously. No, she would find Balenda.

Arya watched the younger girl's actions carefully.

"Amira, are you alright?" She asked tenderly. Amira nodded then reached her mind out to Eragon.

'Eragon? Can you hear me?'

'Yes. Have you found Belinda?' He replied swiftly.

'I have not. Are you and Saphira nearing?'

'We are getting close.'

'How long can Saphira carry two?'

'As you are smaller, a while. But why?' Amira pressed her lips together.

'I am going to find my dragon.'


And that concludes the first chapter of A Strange and Different Land!

Thank you all for reading and I hope you chose to continue the story. Please feel free to leave a review. Criticism, advice, or compliments are welcome to be said.

Have a good one and I'll see you later!