I cried, the tears uncontrollably running down my face and dripping on Luna's cold scales. They came out of nowhere, I walked into my room and saw Luna and collapsed into her and then everything hit me all once. This couldn't get any worse! Why is this happening!? I can't stand this! WHY?!

"Perhaps, you could explain to me what exactly happened...," Luna suggested quietly. I told her everything, from the moment we left to the minute I walked in the room. She listened, occasionally asking clarifying questions, and once I finished she contemplated everything. "What upsets you most about it all?"

"The fact that we wont go home now...," I answered sheepishly. I quickly added," Don't get me wrong, I hate that Ariana got hurt and that I even once listened to Collin, but... I don't belong here!"

I felt Luna's confusion build in the back of my mind. "You do belong her, Alyson. This is a place for Riders."

"Luna, we aren't this kind of Rider, are we? Are we fighters? Do we want to die for a planet that isn't even ours!? Do we follow this Queen's rules? Do we care about it here? I don't; I care about home!"

"I must remind you that this is my home."

"No, the woods are home, Luna. Earth is home."

"It is where I was born yes, but this land has my heritage, my species, my future."

I looked at hurt and felt a jab in my chest," You want to stay here..."

Luna explained herself," Earth hold memories, Acorn; it has no dragons, no information, no way for me to live, besides hidden in the woods. Here I can fly without fear, I can learn from elders and maybe even find a mate for life... It is selfish I know, but-..."

"No! No, Luna! It's not selfish," I interjected. "You deserve all of that! You need it... I'm the selfish one, wanting to take you away from the future you deserve here. I'm sorry, Luna."

"No, you need not apologize because I see your perspective and you see mine. You have a past, a family, and possibly a better existence through the portal; everything here is an unknown. I chose to see the brighter side, perhaps my perspective has more positive attributes than yours does."

"I guess, I haven't really tried to see the good here. I've been really focused on home." I looked to Luna," Should I give this place a chance?"

"It might make your stay more enjoyable."

"I can't stay here forever though..."

"I know."

I walked silently over to the desk and picked up my phone, I have to call my mom. I called like 6 days ago? or was it 7? That's like a day or what on earth?

Luna hear my rambling thought and offered her expertise," 6 days in Alagaesia is a 24 hour cycle on Earth."

I dialed her number and held my breath as the call connected. Will I even get reception here?

"Alyson!?," my mom's happy and panicked voice came through the speaker. Hearing her voice tore at my heart, I missed her; I wanted to cry again and tell her everything. I wanted her advice, I needed her help. What was I supposed to do? How was I going to come home? Why did I ever leave?

"Alyson?!," my mom repeated, more concern in her voice.

"H-hey mom," I bite my tongue from spilling the secret of my life.

"Oh, we've been waiting for you to call! Your dad told me to wait, I wanted to call you as soon as I woke up, but I know there is a time zone difference and you're a few hours behind us. Anyways, we want to hear all about the school? Do they have the courses you want? Do you miss home?"

I smiled because nothing had changed. My mom was still the same possessive, overprotective mother I had always loved. "It's really great actually. My roommate is so sweet, her name is...er, Serena! Yeah, and she is an... Animal Biology major." Luna turned to me and did her snort, she was laughing at my failed attempts to lie. "She is great and the orientation is so great! The college is breath taking."

"So is it somewhere you see yourself going to school? It's okay if it's not for you; there are plenty of other colleges, some much closer to home. I know they accepted you and you said yes, but there is no shame in backing out, especially if you don't think it's for you," my mom said, the opposite of subtle.

"I don't know yet. I really like it so far," I tried to stay vague. How am I going to keep up with all these lies?

"Oh, okay, well here is your father..."

"Hey there, Alyson! How's it hanging?"

I almost had so slap my head, my dad always tries so hard to sound young, but it never really works out. "Hanging, dad?"

"What? I've heard Ajax say it!"

"You want to sound like Ajax?"

"...Good point. anyway how is it going?"

I talked to my dad and kept to the same lie as before, hoping to minimize all I need to remember. My dad was actually excited to hear about the school, he sounded like he was actually proud of me, like when Arien got his full ride to that private college in Colorado. I wanted to talk to the boys but apparently they were all so busy, figures, they all have lives opposed to me. I talked to my parents a while longer until they said they were heading to bed.

Hanging up, I felt alone all over again; Luna was asleep and I was just in the massive room with no one to talk to. I went to the shower, it felt amazing to wash off the last weeks' worth of dirt off me. The shower made me sleepy, so I feel onto the bed and was asleep instantly.

I woke up to the light streaming into the room, I rubbed my eyes and sat up.

"Morning Luna," I said heading straight for my closet. I was still not desperate enough to wear a tunic so I put on shorts and a cute tank top. "What do you think," I spun but the room was empty. Luna wasn't here... Where is she? I thought about asking her through the link, but decided against it. she is probably at some dragon training.

My stomach growled and I opened the door to go to the dining hall, but was stopped by two large guards. The emerged from either side of the door and I had to hold make a small squeal from their sudden appearance. The blocked my exit, but didn't say anything. "Uhmm.. Excuse me?"

"You are to stay contained in your room until notified otherwise. Queen's orders," one of them said, like he was reading from a script.

"Do I get to eat? or is that a part of the punishment?"

"We will notify the kitchen from a tray."

"Oh... okay. Thanks," I stepped back into my room and closed the door.

Now it's official, I'm a prisoner.

That was my existence for the two days. I stayed in my room, got food delivered to me, talked to Erta when she came to clean the room, and waited for Luna to come at night to tell me about her training. I messed around online the first day, until my battery died. I really need to find out how they have electricity!

On the third day, I got a knock on the door and I thought it was Erta, so I opened the door by saying hello, to come face to face with the Queen. My brain froze, do I bow?

"May I come in?"

"Oh- Of course! Yes, ma'am, I mean your highness," I said while trying to bow as she stepped through the threshold.

She silently crossed the room, looking at the walls and furniture before asking," How do you like your accommodations?"

"Oh, the room?," I restated dumbly. "It's great. I love it, thank you so much."

The Queen sat on the couch against the wall," I assume that your dragon, Luna, has found it comfortable as well?," she said while glancing to the floor at the large claw marks etched into the stone.

"Oh... yes, ma'am."

"Now, Rider Alyson, I am thrilled to have you join our company here in Alagaesia. I am sorry that we have not had a informal greeting, it has been a busy time for me."

"Oh, it's no problem."

"Now, unfortunately this s not a casual encounter. I am here to talk with you about how the council has decided to act upon the "retaliation" against Rider Ariana." I swallowed the lump in my throat, this does not sound good. "The council has decided to be very lenient, with approval of Rider Ariana, that being said, you have no punishment."

I blinked, What? No punishment? "Are you serious?"

"Yes. You have been here merely a week, a harsh punishment would not beneficial to either the council or to yourself."

"So... I'm not in trouble?"

"You will not be reprimanded for your actions, though they are deeply frowned upon. If you ever attack another Rider again, you will face dire consequences," the Queen stated darkly.

"Okay... What do I do know?"

She looked at me and I got lost in how stunning she always was; her skin was so smooth and her eyes were so piercing and fierce. "Now, Alagaesia needs to find the Dragon Master. There is a chance that it is you, since you are free of punishment, I request that you go to the egg."

"What? Go to that egg?!"

"Yes. It is confirmed as the egg on Tarathi's map, and therefor the egg casted upon. We have soldiers out finding the other eggs."

"You're not going to send us again?"

"Considering the events of the last quest, I think it would be a poor decision to send you again." Her voice was sharp, she was not one to do small talk. She wanted the talk about what was important and go.

"Shouldn't we wait until we have-..."

"You should not concern yourself with those matters. You need to stay focused on what you are informed; I have informed you to see the egg. Perhaps it will hatch for you and you will be the last Rider of Earth and the First Dragon Master," a small smiled formed on her lips, brightening her whole face.

"Has anyone else gone to see the egg?," I asked timidly.

"Upon request, I have allowed one of the other riders near the egg; it did not hatch."

"Why didn't it hatch when we dug it up? What if it never hatches? How will we know?"

The Queen sighed, I didn't know if she was annoyed or just sharing my concerns. " An egg can take up to a week, or in extreme cases longer, to hatch for a Rider. And in this case, it may not hatch at all. It is a unknown."

"A week? That's so long!"

"It took several days for Saphira to hatch for Eragon, only time will tell how this egg will react."

"Do you want to hatch for one of us?," I stepped closer to the Queen. She glanced up at me, her eyes were shocked that I asked. I stepped back on instinct, Fuck, that was a mistake. "I-I-I mean that from what I hear it can be dangerous and if the dragons all hatched for other Riders there would be no Dragon Master, j-just a bunch of single Riders. I didn't mean to impose on you or anything... ma'am."

"Do not apologize, Rider. There are benefits to a Dragon Master and some downfalls. The council has decided to test for a Dragon Master, whether it is a wise choice or not, it will be done. If the egg hatches, we have a Dragon Master and if it does not, it does not," the Queen stood up, her signal for the conversation being over. She walked to where I stood by the door," Now , the previous Rider gets a week for the egg to hatch, then you will be summoned. I wish you luck, Rider Alyson." She began to pass through the doorway when I asked another question.

"Has the council discussed me leaving... to go home, I mean."

"The council is undecided," she said without turning to me.

"I-I-I only ask because Serena told me you let her l-..."

"Serena? You have spoken to Rider Serena?," The Queen whipped her head around and stepped closer to me.

"Uhmm... well, yeah when I got here. She said you let her go home for Holidays and stuff."

"You have not seen her recently?"

"No, ma'am. Not since before we left..."

The queen stepped back again,"The council is still discussing your request." The Queen turned down the hall, the two guards stationed outside me door, trailed after her, finally leaving me alone.

"Wait," I called after her. She turned slowly to face me again, she was clearly no pleased but all my interruption of her day. "Uhmm.. what do I do here? Am I allowed to leave? I mean, like, leave my room and the castle?"

" You are free of your confinement; I suggest you begin with training at Thrífa Du Kenna. It would be wise to get started," she turned, but not before giving me one last look over; most likely signaling to let her leave.

I stood in my door, what do I do now?