WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE FINAL CHAPTER OF A STRANGE AND DIFFERENT LAND!
Before this last chapter begins, I want to thank all you guys for sticking by me. Thanks for keeping with me, for sharing your thoughts, for keeping me in place, and for sharing in our adventure. I honestly and truly mean it when I say that you guys made this whole thing better and I'm honestly sad to see this end and see you guys go (for now hopefully).
But like every adventure, our story eventually has to have an end. I'm honestly really happy about the way this ends but am sad that it does. It's okay though. Maybe sometime we'll see our story continue in another time.
I hope you all enjoy the end of our adventure and let's get right into this!
When Nico arrived back at Camp Half-Blood with Amira and Murtagh, the three found their friends relaxing on the dock at the lake.
"Hey, guys!" Frank greeted as he played with Hazel's curly hair. "We were just talking about you."
"I hope nothing bad?" Amira smiled as the three sat beside them.
"Nah. Just how relieved we are that everything's back to normal and how happy we are that you're back." Jason's words brought a smile to the purple-eyed teen.
She dangled her legs off the dock and swung them slightly, the toes of her shoes sending small splashes on the surface of the water. She realized she was still wearing her jeans, sing-sleeve purple top, black zip-up hoodie, and lace-up boots, though her clothes were now stained with the blood from her death.
"I am glad as well, though 'back to normal' could be argued." She replied with a small chuckle.
"So true." Piper agreed, her head resting in Jason's lap. "I mean, we met two awesome, magic-using, half-elf Dragon Riders from an entirely different world! Kinda hard to just go back to normal after something like this."
Amira laughed and Murtagh too cracked a smile. She then sighed sadly. "I will miss you all so very dearly."
"Same." Hazel agreed. She pursed her lips in thought then grabbed a slip of paper from her jacket pocket.
"That is the paper I wrote the prophecy on." Amira recognized. Her friend nodded and handed her the paper.
"What's it say?" Percy wondered, not having heard their prophecy. He was making small shapes in the air with the water.
"A Rider trapped from another land, Brought here by another's hand. Seven half-bloods shall aid her in quest, And help her complete impossible tests. She must search the darkest place, To find the Evil's hidden base. A test of strength she must complete, Unexpected friends again shall meet. Forced to choose her life or friends, She shall save the worlds or bring the end." Amira read. Percy nodded slowly.
"Oof. I'm not sure on the details of your guys' adventure but it sounds intense." He commented. He received several nods.
"The first two lines are obvious." Annabeth deciphered. "The third one is too but the fourth is kinda confusing."
"Yeah, what were your impossible tests?" Leo wondered, moving to sit beside Amira. He swung his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. The former Rider thought for a moment.
"My decisions." She realized. She got confused looks and explained. "More than once, Tartarus summoned me in my dreams. He told me that, in return for what he took from me, I must betray you all and pledge my services. The decisions were the tests; choosing between my friends and what he promised me was so hard I nearly could not decide. It felt impossible."
"I'm sorry you had to." Hazel apologized. Amira smiled and brushed it away, saying it was in the past.
"'Search the darkest place to find Evil's hidden base.' I'm guessing that meant when you went to the Underworld?" Nico assumed. He then seemed to think of something. "I almost forgot but dad wanted me to say thanks for getting him back the Underworld and stopping Tartarus from destroying everything."
"Hades said that?" Frank asked, surprised. Nico smirked.
"I may have exaggerated."
"Her unexpected friend refers to you, Mr. Grumpy." Piper grinned as she poked Murtagh's leg. The Red Rider allowed a small smile but still rolled his eyes.
"My test of strength was when I chose to end my life and stop Tartarus," Amira added. She got a few sad looks and smiled reassuringly. "I am back. That is what matters."
"That's true but just the thought that you had to do it is sad," Jason told her.
"The last two lines kinda explain themselves. So it looks like our prophecy is complete. We won!" Annabeth announced. Cheering erupted from the dock as the friends celebrated.
"Annabeth's right and we really are glad you're back." Piper agreed with a smile when the cheers died down.
"We all are. No kidding though, I was like, for real surprised when I came back and heard what happened. But to be honest, I was kinda upset too." Percy admitted, lying with his head on Annabeth's lap and a leg dangling off the dock.
"Why so? Did you miss me so much?" Amira teased, poking his forehead.
"Nah. In fact, I barely thought of you while I was away." Percy made sure his voice dripped with very obvious sarcasm as Amira still seemed to be relatively new to the concept. "But no joke, I was annoyed as hell. I didn't think I'd be able to keep my promise."
"What promise?" Amira wondered, head tilted in curiosity. He gave her a grin that made her wary of his answer.
"The promise I made to Eragon," Percy answered.
Not a second later, the Alagaesian was grabbing the front of his shirt and had him pressed against the wood.
"What promise?! What did he tell you did he give you something how strong was your promise why did he not wait to tell me himself what did he say?!" She demanded, her questions mixing together in rapid-fire as she practically shook the answer out of him.
Percy's sea-green eyes widened and his hands shot into the air in surrender.
"WHOA! Calm down! He said you'd wanna know but geez, just gimme a sec!" He laughed, grabbing her wrists.
The purple-haired teen was literally shaking with anticipation but she forced herself to calm down. She reluctantly let go and the half-blood stood, reaching over to grab a leather satchel that had been placed on the dock beside him. Amira was surprised as she now recognized it as Eragon's.
"I've kept this with me since Eragon gave it to me. It was actually just a few minutes before I got back. I didn't want to tell anyone about it just yet and I promised to give it to you since he's in a different world and we weren't sure if you'd get back home or not."
As he spoke, Percy knelt in front of Amira. He held the bag in both hands as a mother would a child, clearly showing its importance, and opened the top. He gestured for her to reach in and she did, despite still being confused.
Her fingers hit something hard and, frowning, she placed her hands on it. Her purple eyes widened when she realized what the item was and she gasped.
"He- he would not..." The former Rider rejected the truth as she slowly wrapped her hands around the object.
The weight familiar, she gently lifted it from the bag and gasps were heard from all (besides Percy) as Eragon's package was lifted into sight. No bigger than a football, silver swirled around the smooth surface like paint in water.
Amira couldn't help as a tear slid down her cheek when she felt the unborn dragon moving inside the egg.
"Impossible… I- is that a…?" Murtagh trailed off, not able to finish. Percy nodded.
"Yep. This, my friends, is an Alagaesian dragon egg! Eragon had a feeling that something bad had happened, Amira, so he gave me this to give to you." The demigod's sea-green eyes were locked on Amira, carefully watching her reaction.
Someone said something in response but Amira wasn't listening. Her purple eyes were locked on the egg in her hands, holding back from crying as the unborn dragon shifted inside its egg.
Then suddenly, there was a loud cracking sound. Nine pairs of eyes snapped to the egg in Amira's hands to see that a large crack had split across its length. They all watched in shock as more cracks appeared, spreading across the surface like a spider web. Then without warning, the egg shattered.
Everyone stared with slack jaws at the small dragon that squirmed to life.
Slightly bigger than both hands, silver hard armor-like scales covered the baby dragon's entire body. Its four legs were thick and powerful despite the tiny size, talon-like claws protruding from each one as it stood. Surprisingly large, the dragon's wings were membranous but looked strong enough to easily carry itself in the air. Twin rows of small spikes trailed from its neck down its back to the end of its barbed, serpentine tail and two straight horns on either side of its head gave the dragon a look that seemed majestic and powerfully strong. The eyes though… gods, the dragon's eyes were beautiful: slanted with deep canthi, they were dark grey and so penetrating that it caused a shiver to crawl along all of their spines.
Amira guessed the newborn dragon was a male and something in her head told her she was right.
Amira's purple eyes teared as it gave a small noise which she figured was supposed to be a roar. Then a sense of déjà vu came over her as her hand began to reach out. The small dragon looked at her and tilted it's head curiously. A feeling of silent suspense was present as the two slowly moved closer until they touched. A flash of light filled the air. Immediately Amira felt her mind and soul link to the dragon's. A familiar pain came to her hand and a new Gedwëy Insignia burned a familiar burn before the light began to fade.
Vision cleared, a laugh-like sob escaped Amira's lips when she felt herself becoming complete once more. The dragon instinctively crawled up her arm in response to the sound before perching protectively on her shoulder. Nine pairs of eyes stared in stunned awe at the newborn dragon.
"But- b-but how?" Murtagh finally broke the silence, flabbergasted. "A Rider is almost never chosen by another dragon after being bonded to their first."
"I am confused as well, though I am not complaining." Amira gave another sob-laugh as the baby dragon crawled around on her shoulder, the claws surprisingly not as painful as she would have thought.
"What'll you name her?" Percy asked her, a large smile on his lips.
"Him." The Alagaesian Rider corrected. Her voice shook from the effort of holding back her tears, stroking her dragon's scales.
"How do you know it's a guy?" The Greek wondered. Amira shrugged, careful not to jostle the newly-born creature that was now crawling down to her lap as it explored its new surroundings.
"It feels… right." She stroked the dragon's head. It growled softly in almost a purr. "I just know that I will never let him go."
"Imma be honest, I never thought I'd see a real-life dragon that isn't made of metal," Leo confessed.
"He's so beautiful!" Hazel gushed, reaching her hand out. The small dragon turned to her and she froze. After a moment he gave another small roar in what seemed like approval and she continued until her hand was placed on his small head. "Wow! He's so… I can't even find the words!"
"I understand completely." Amira agreed, scratching the chin of her new soul-partner. He roared happily again.
She then raised the dragon to her mouth and whispered something. He growled slightly and she whispered something else, again getting the same reaction. She thought for a moment before smiling and whispering once more. The dragon roared in agreement that time and climbed to her shoulder.
"I guess now I can admit that the doubts I had about dragons being real are put down," Annabeth admitted with a small chuckle, earning several agreements.
The dragon looked up for a second, crouching before jumping off the dock and splashing into the water
"Wait! Visarus!" Amira exclaimed, rushing to the edge of the wooden dock.
"Who?" Frank frowned.
"My dragon." She clarified as though it were obvious.
"Ohhh. That's what you were whispering?"
"Visarus!" She called again.
A moment later the small dragon jumped out from the water and onto his Rider's head with a large splash and Amira gasped when her purple hair and clothes got soaked. He had a large fish in his mouth, which he quickly ate, and she laughed before taking her dragon off her head, stroking his scales expertly despite the water that now covered her.
"At least you found a name he liked," Percy noted with a grin.
"Yes. My joy is beyond words."
"We're all so glad to hear that, Amira." Piper smiled, giving her friend a one-armed hug, trying to avoid the water covering her.
"We all are," Jason added.
Murtagh cleared his throat, getting the demigods' attention.
"I apologize for ruining the happy moment but the time for me and Amira to return home is nearing." He announced. Amira's smile faded as she turned to see the setting sun's glow.
"The gods said we will be returned by dusk." She agreed sadly.
Immediately, the two Riders were awarded several arguments of denial.
"Guys, they're right. The sun's going down." Annabeth interrupted, voice sad. The eight went silent.
"But… you'll come back to visit, right?" Hazel's sweet voice made Amira want to beg the gods to let her stay.
"I am so very sorry but I… I do not think we will." She hated seeing the crushed looks of her friends. "I swear if I could, I would return whenever possible but when Hades brought me back I asked your gods if I could return and they answered with no.
"It's okay, we get it. " Nico told her with a small smile, talking for the first time in a while.
"Well… We should probably head up then." Jason sighed.
Dejectedly, the half-bloods slowly left the dock until only Amira, Leo, and Murtagh remained.
Looking at the two beside her, Amira sighed. She was stuck between two men who loved her, about to leave the one she returned feelings for. Visarus roared and jumped off her shoulder into the air when she turned to face Leo but before she could say anything, he grabbed her waist and pulled her close, pressing his lips to hers. Amira returned his kiss but heartache filled her chest as realization sunk in that she'd be leaving him in just several minutes.
Then she remembered Murtagh, the Rider who loved her and currently stood several feet away and saw her kissing someone else. Feeling as guilty as possible, Amira broke the kiss. Leo sighed as their eyes met.
"I love you, Amira. I wish you didn't have to go." He told her sadly.
"I do as well but we both know that I do not belong here. This is not my world." Was her reply, speaking softly.
"But how'll you live without the Super McShizzle around?" The fire-user joked. Amira smiled.
"I think I will survive. But if you could…" She gestured with her eyes to Murtagh and Leo got the hint.
"Ah. Gotcha." He gave her another quick kiss then left to join his friends.
"So. You and Leo?" Murtagh said coolly once the Latino disappeared from earshot, his arms crossed. Visarus reappeared and flew down to casually land himself on the Red Rider's shoulder.
"Do not start, Murtagh." Amira warned, turning to him. "I know how you feel for me and I know how Leo feels. I cannot stop either of you."
"You didn't seem like you were trying too hard to stop him just now." Murtagh's voice was cold but not aggressive, not meeting her gaze. His hand unconsciously moved to stroke the small dragon on his shoulder. Amira sighed and moved to stand in front of the older Alagaesian.
"I am aware of how you feel, Murtagh. I will not pretend that I am not. But being jealous of someone I will not ever see again is pointless because of the fact that I will never see him again." She told him softly. She held out her arm and Visarus jumped down from Murtagh's shoulder to perch on her arm.
"I understand that." The older Rider sighed. "I know that you want me to be honest with you, Amira, and I will be. I'm not jealous of someone else loving you, many people will in your life; you're beautiful, strong, smart..." The coldness in his eyes lessened but still remained, still not meeting her gaze. Amira let Visarus climb to her shoulder then she placed a hand on his arm, blushing as a natural reaction to the compliments. Murtagh continued with a heavy sigh. "I am jealous because you seem to feel the same for him and just the thought alone of you loving anyone else…"
He didn't need to continue. Amira got what he meant and mentally slapped herself. Of course he was going to be hurt by seeing her kiss someone else not ten feet away! They knew each other's minds and had felt everything the other had.
"I am sorry. I should not have allowed that to happen." She apologized. She placed her hand on his cheek and gently turned his gaze to her. "But please try to last just a few more minutes? Then we will be back home and this all will become a memory."
She took her hand from his and walked back to where her friends stood, Visarus taking flight beside her and leaving Murtagh on the dock.
== Ω Ω Ω ==
"So I guess this is goodbye? Again."
The Seven, Nico, and Chiron stood facing Amira and Murtagh. Most of Camp Half-Blood had either already said their goodbyes or respectfully stood behind the nine to silently witness the farewell of the two Alagaesians.
Murtagh nodded in response to Piper's comment.
"Yes. I'm sorry but it's time for us to leave Earth and return to our own world." His words told that he was holding back emotions but his face and eyes gave nothing away.
"There's no need for apologies," Chiron corrected gently. "Everyone here and at Camp Jupiter was more than glad to have you. I wish you both happy lives and the best of luck."
"Thank you, Chiron. Your words mean much." Amira smiled at the centaur and bowed her head. He returned the gesture. Amira was very aware that her clothes were still stained with blood from her death and she was nervous about how Eragon would react.
"I don't want you to go, Amira. I'm going to miss you so much!" Hazel sniffed, tears in her golden eyes as she hugged her friends. She stroked the silver dragon's scales. "He's beautiful."
"We're all going to miss you." Percy told the two. "I didn't get to know you guys as well as I would've liked but the time that I did spend with you was awesome. You're both pretty dam cool."
Amira smiled at the compliment.
"Thank you, as are you. And I thank you for helping my world while I was not there." Percy waved her thanks away.
"Nah, it was my pleasure." He grinned. "Literally. It was so cool to be flying on actual dragons and fighting with elves and dwarves and-"
"Anyway," Annabeth cut off her boyfriend, who didn't seem embarrassed by his rant. "It's our turn to thank you for saving our world."
"I hope someday we'll get a chance to see each other again." Jason told his purple-haired friend with a hug.
"I hope someday we'll get a chance to see each other again." Jason told his purple-haired friend with a hug.
"Don't forget to, you know… think about us a lot." Piper reminded as she held back emotions. She poked Murtagh's side. "You too, you grump."
"Might as well. It would be hard not to as you lot make a pretty strong impression." He admitted as he and Percy did that bro-hug-thing, allowing a small smile to come to his lips.
"If anything else, you could try an Iris Message and see if the gods are being nice?" Suggested Frank.
"I will try." Amira agreed. Annabeth had earlier suggested the same thing and had given her several drachmas just in case.
Amira held back tears as her friends all said their goodbyes. She didn't want to leave but she had to admit that she missed her home too much to stay. She felt Visarus nudge her cheek and she smiled. The two Alagaesians Riders turned and took each other's hands, the small dragon moving atop them.
"Goodbye everyone!" They bid their farewell in unison before a large flash of light surrounded the three.
A moment later the light disappeared and Murtagh Morzansson, Amira Moraow, and the dragon Visarus were once more gone from Earth.
Amira winced and blinked her purple eyes as the light began to fade and saw Murtagh trying to adjust his own eyes well. There was a sound behind the two and Visarus turned before roaring and launching himself into the air.
"AMIRA!"
Amira turned toward the voice and not even a second later was almost knocked to the ground by a familiar pair of arms.
"ERAGON! I thought I would never see you again!" Amira sobbed in relieved joy as she returned her friend and mentor's hug, tears already falling from her purple eyes.
"Don't be crazy Amira, of course you would have." Eragon held his apprentice tightly in his arms, kissing the top of her head. He smiled as he pulled back from the hug and wiped a tear from her cheek. "I've missed you so much Amira, I was so worried about you."
Then he noticed the large bloodstain on her clothes.
"OH MY GOD! WHAT HAPPENED?!" He demanded with wide eyes, freaking out as his hands frantically searched for the stain's cause.
"Eragon! Eragon stop!" She exclaimed in an attempt to assure him, trying to stop his frantic searching by grabbing his wrists. "I am alright! I am not hurt anymore, I swear!"
Not totally convinced, she allowed Eragon to make sure that she was indeed alright. There was a large and rather ugly scar on her upper abdomen and he threw a fit over it but she told him that she would explain its appearance later.
"I told you I am alright. If I were to get hurt then you would know. After all," Amira smirked. "There is no one in any world that is as high-strung and worrisome as you when it comes to my well-being."
"I missed you." Eragon chuckled, sounding as though a large weight was finally lifted from his shoulders. He then greeted his brother, giving him a one-armed hug.
"I am glad you are back, Amira." Arya told the younger girl as she pulled her into a hug. "I was quite lonely without you."
"Surely the boys could not have been that bad?" Amira teased but Arya just raised an eyebrow in a silent argument, causing her friend to laugh.
There was a loud *thud* as Thorn landed a bit away, roaring happily at the sight of his Rider and Murtagh smiled and ran to his dragon. Annoyed with that lack of attention he was getting, Visarus gave his own small roar as he returned to his position on Amira's shoulder, causing Arya and Eragon to notice the silver dragon.
"It looks as though Percy kept his promise," Eragon noted, moving to one knee and holding his hand up to Visarus. The small dragon looked at him for a second before moving onto his hand. Eragon let him stand on his arm as he expertly stroked his scales in a way that caused the young dragon to roar in pleasure. "He's magnificent."
"Has he a name?" Arya asked as Visarus again took flight.
"Visarus," Amira answered, smiling as she watched her new partner-of-soul fly.
"Visarus will no doubt become a great dragon in time but… Amira, what happened to Balenda?" Eragon wondered worriedly.
Amira's face and eyes dropped and she said nothing. Her heart ached terribly at the thought of her former beloved dragon. Murtagh noticed and walked back over, placing one hand on her shoulder.
"You do not have to answer." He told her softly. Amira unconsciously leaned her head against his arm and muttered something that only he heard and the Red Rider nodded in response.
Eragon took a step back and shared a look of puzzlement with Arya. Didn't those two totally hate each other?
"I- I will tell you both the story of my time on Earth… eventually." Amira finally said in a quiet voice. Eragon nodded slowly, still looking skeptically at his apprentice and brother.
'Something definitely happened between those two. I wonder what?' He confided to Saphira, who rested by Firnen not far away.
'Perhaps they finally set aside their differences?' Saphira suggested. Eragon mentally snorted.
'How I wish. But those two have made it very clear that they hate each other to no end.'
'Maybe they did but people change when given time... even Riders.'
He thought over what Saphira said and, glancing at the people of thought, he decided his soul partner could be right.
"I'm sorry, Amira, I didn't mean to make you upset." He apologized as Murtagh stepped back from the younger girl. Amira gave her mentor a small smile.
"It is alright. Given time I will explain all that happened but not now. Now… all is well." She assured. Eragon again wrapped his arms around Amira.
"That's good. But setting that aside, I do believe that we have friends and family that would like to know that you two are back." He reminded. Murtagh nodded and Amira gave a bright smile, a genuine smile.
"Then why are we still here talking? Let's go!"
And with that, the three Riders and their dragons left to tell Alagaesia that after so long away…
They were finally home.
THE END!
That concludes the final end of our story!
Thank you all for sharing in our adventure. We loved every moment and hope you did as well!
I hope you have a good one and we'll see you later!
