A/N: Here it is. Thanks Black-as-Knight14 and Rod G. for reviewing once again.
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Disclaimer: See Chapter 3
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"And now for the induction of the 2nd Command Officer." Queen Alayna went on. She turned to the Cadets, who were huddled together as Alexa told them about her experience. "Tristan, please come forward."
The children, shaken back into reality, assembled themselves back into a line, and the one called Tristan broke away from them. She was tall and thin, with powder-blue hair that fell just below her shoulders, and large, clear eyes the color of lapis luzili. She walked with an air of confidence and assurance that Alexa didn't have, but she was still visibly nervous. She quavered a little when bowing to the Queen, but calmed herself as she waited by Her Majesty's side.
"Fallon, please come forward," Queen Alayna's voice rang out through the pavilion. A look of shock crossed the Cadet's face, but it was quickly replaced with one of disdain. The Jewel Riders saw, and shifted uneasily. "I thought we were over that," Gwen muttered to herself.
Some people, in order to hold the grudge forever, pass their hate along to their children, Sunstar commented to her Companion.
Gwen heard, and glanced over to Tamara and Drake. They both had looks of confusement and uncertainty on their faces. The boy tilted his head towards Fallon, and Tamara nodded her agreement.
The Princess understood, and touched the girl lightly on her shoulder, stopping her before she could go any further. Shocked purple eyes turned to meet hers. "Don't feel pressured," Gwen told Fallon. "You can always refuse to promote her if she won't respect you. You are one of us; everyone needs to understand that."
Fallon nodded, turned, and made her way toward the Queen and Tristan. The sun glinted off of her dark hair, black with innumerable thin strands of purple. Her dark purple eyes were determined behind her mask, looking straight ahead. In the few areas not covered by armor, her medium-brown skin showed through, much to the dislike of many of The Imperial City's residents.
With her dark skin and complexion, it is obvious that Fallon is not a resident of The Imperial City, where virtually everyone has extremely fair skin, light- and jewel-colored hair, and clear, crystal-like eyes. She was discovered in the Unicorn Pasture one night when she was hardly a year old. She was taken to the Imperial Oracle for her fate to be determined. The result was believed to have been determined by the Imperial Officials, and preparations had been made to expel her from the City the next day. But the Oracle had another future in mind for Fallon; it announced her as a future Jewel Rider, much to everyone's surprise and dismay. But as much as no one liked it, the Oracle is the final word on all matters, and Fallon stayed.
But just because she was a future Jewel Rider didn't mean that she was liked among the citizens of the city. The people argued that the Crystal Walls were supposed to keep Outsiders like her out, that letting her stay went against everything that The Imperial City stood for. Even the Imperial Royal Family wanted her gone up until a year prior to this date, right after Gwen, Fallon, Tamara, and Drake had been Jewel Riders for a year. The Princess, Drake, and Tamara had been captured by raiders in the forest surrounding the city, and were being held ransom. Fallon and Moondance, her Companion, had ridden many days to find their captured comrades, and had single-handedly defeated their captors. Needless to say, after that, the Royal Family and all other Imperial Officials were completely won over, and treated Fallon like she a true Imperial. Because the Royal Family liked her, many of the citizens of the city began liking her as well, but there were still a few that just couldn't be convinced that an Outsider belonged as a Jewel Rider.
Fallon reached the Queen, bowed, and turned to Tristan. The young girl, nearly as tall as the Jewel Rider herself, glared at her, not afraid to hide her displeasure at being sworn in by an Outsider. Don't let her intimidate you, Moondance soothed. Remember, you can always say no. Just be civil.
Keeping her Companion's advice in mind, Fallon raised her hand and addressed the girl. "Raise your right hand and repeat after me." Tristan rolled her eyes slightly, but did as she was told. The Jewel Rider took a deep breath and began to recite the Cadet Oath, with the girl repeating every line.
Finally, they were finished, and it was Fallon's time to decide whether or not to promote the girl. The pavilion held its breath, unsure of what the decision will be. The Jewel Rider shifted uneasily beneath her armor, debating on what to say. Do what feels right to you. Moondance's voice rang out in her mind. Remember, she will be the future of The Imperial City. Is this what you want the future to be?
Fallon shook her head, having made up her mind. This girl deserved a chance to change her ways, and what better way to change than through the Jewel Riders? She turned toward the crowd and announced, "People of The Imperial City! I Fallon, hereby declare Tristan as the 2nd Command Officer of the Cadet Jewel Riders!"
There was silence for a moment after she finished, as the people took in her decision. But they soon erupted into the same loud roar that they had given Alexa. Tristan looked oddly at Fallon, like she didn't quite believe what she had heard. She turned to bow to Queen Alayna, and then bowed stiffly to the Jewel Rider. She rose and looked upward for a sign of the 2nd Command Officer's approval, but realized after a moment that none would come. Tristan turned on her heel and headed back to where her fellow Cadets were standing.
Fallon stayed where she was, watching Tristan depart with a cold stare. She hadn't wanted to promote the blue-haired girl, but something about her had given the Jewel Rider a strange feeling inside, a feeling that she would play an extremely important role in the future. Finally, Fallon turned and made her way back to the other Jewel Riders.
When she took her place by her Companion, Fallon felt seven pairs of eyes turn to her. Behind her mask, she glanced quickly downward, and then fixed her gaze straight ahead. The unspoken question lingered between them all, none daring to ask the purple-haired girl why she had promoted Tristan. Fallon knew that they deserved some explanation, but didn't feel like offering one at that moment.
The ceremony proceeded, with Tamara inducting Miriah, a short, slender girl with long white hair and pure blue eyes. After that, Drake did the same for Andruw, a tall, stocky boy with spiked orange hair and deep orange eyes. Finally, the ceremony ended with the Jewel Riders leading the Royal Procession out of the pavilion. The new Cadets met their instructor, Captain Malydi, and gathered their personal belongings, for from now on they were living the the Cadet Quarters, away from their parents.
Once outside, the Queen and King thanked the Jewel Riders, who bowed in return. Then, their duty over, the four friends and their Companions turned toward the Imperial Stables and set off into the setting sun.
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Okay, I lied. One more chapter of background information, and then the story will start. Chapter 6 will be important to the story, but its main use is foreshadowing. Please continue to read and review, and I'll continue to write! Thanks!