A/N: Okay, I know I posted this a long time ago, but now I'm going back and fixing everything in all my stories before any of them get too long.
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Disclaimer: Don't own the original characters or the Jewel Rider concept, but I own everything else.
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"Come on, you guys! We can't be late!" yelled Gwen as she tore down the lane to the pavilion. Lush gardens flanked both side of the dirt path, which was a well-used road in the city.
"Wait up! Slow down, Gwen!" Fallon laughed as she desperately tried to catch up to her friend. Behind her, Tamara was struggling to keep up, and Drake stayed behind to help the pretty girl.
"I can't!" Gwen responded over her shoulder. "I'll meet you there!" With that she turned and set off even faster. Fallon threw up her hands in defeat and let out a loud sigh. She slowed and let the others catch up. Once they did, the three friends tore towards the pavilion.
Far ahead of her friends, Gwen reached the gathering area and stopped to catch her breath. She leaned her thin frame against a rose-covered trellis, her fair skin looking very pale in comparison to the vibrant reds of the flowers. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders and all the way down her back, falling in soft curls that reflected every ray of light into a myriad of golden hues. Her blue eyes were cheery, with a kind of laughter in them that infected all those that looked into them. She had a kind, outgoing personality, and was immediately liked by all who meet her, which was no surprise, given that she was the Imperial Princess.
Looking up, she saw her friends round the corner and run towards her. The princess motioned for them to quicken their pace, but it still seemed like an eternity before the three of them reached her. "Come on you guys!" she hissed. "If my mother finds out that we're late, she'll demote us for sure!"
"Oh, lighten up, Gwen," Drake panted. "You know she wouldn't do that. Besides, you're her only child. You can get away with anything, and so can we as long as we're with you."
The golden haired girl shot him a cold look. "How dare you tell me what I can and can't get away with," she said icily. "You think that just because I'm the princess that I can get away with anything I want?"
The boy gave her an odd look. "Well, yeah. I mean, you are the Imperial Princess and the leader of the Jewel Riders. You don't have to get so worked up."
"Worked up!" Gwen nearly shrieked. "What exactly are you getting at, Drake?"
He was about to respond when Fallon intercepted. "Gwen, don't you think that maybe you're getting a little excited over nothing? I mean, he was just saying..."
"Saying what, that I'm a spoiled little princess brat? I thought you were on my side, Fallon." The princess accused.
"Stop it!" Everyone's gaze immediately shifted to Tamara. Usually extremely quiet, outbursts like that were uncommon, but not without reason. When Tamara had something to say, people listened. "You two need to stop arguing! Now is hardly the time to be bickering. We need to get to the pavilion as quickly as possible, or we will be in trouble, whether Gwen is the princess or not."
"You're right, Tamara," Drake hurried over to her side and embraced her. After a little too much time, their hug broke, but their gaze didn't.
As Gwen watched them, a twinge of jealousy pained her heart. 'Why is he hugging her in front of me?' she thought to herself. 'After all, it is I who is to be his bride, not her. What does he see in her anyway? I mean, she's not that pretty.'
But the truth was, Tamara was an extremely beautiful girl. Adopted daughter of a poor merchant, she was always somewhat of a dreamer about her past. The merchant found her at his doorstep one stormy evening, and took her in out of the storm. The man had never been married, and never found out where the child came from. It was obvious that she was from The Imperial City, though, with her fair skin and light, crystal eyes.
Normally, adopted children are regarded as outcasts among their fellow children, but this was not the case with Tamara. Even at a very early age, the boys were visibly attracted to her; harmless flirting soon became her favorite pastime. Due to this, most of the girls passed her off as a
slut-in-the-making. When she heard, Tamara took the active stance and made a point to befriend them all. And it worked. In little more then week, the girl with no past seemed to have the brightest future of them all, friends with just about every child in the academy.
The one person who she never really won over was Gwen. The Imperial Princess was regarded as the second-most beautiful girl in the City, after Tamara, and this bothered her. She was the successor to the Imperial Throne; everyone should be flocking to her. Because of this, things were always a little tense between the two. When Tamara was chosen to be a Jewel Rider, Gwen had to learn to like her, since they were expected to work and live together to protect the city. After living with her for several months, things improved between them, but all was still not right.
Gwen shook herself out of her thoughts. "Come on," she said pointedly. "If you two don't separate soon, you can explain why we're late to my mother. Let's go." With that, she turned and marched into the reserved area of the pavilion, where they had been told to meet. Exchanging a look of confusion, Drake and Tamara followed her, hands entwined. Finally, behind them all, Fallon, the Last Hope, followed.
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Yep, so there it is. Again. If you haven't yet reviewed, then do it now!!!