A/N: Hey everyone. Sorry I've been gone so long; my life has suddenly gone into hyper-drive with my cello. Don't you just hate it when you love something so much and yet loathe it with every fiber of your being? Sorry, I'm going through this depressed stage right now....
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Disclaimer: See Chapter 4
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The sun rose bright and clear, announcing the return of the world to all that lived there. Golden sunlight flooded through the windows of the Jewel Riders's dormitory, illuminating the three empty bunks, as well as the one still occupied. But the light would not go unseen, and the groggy teen soon rolled out, slipped into her pair of slippers, and entered the lounge area of their living space.
"Good morning, Fallon," Drake greeted the girl from across the room. The others smiled and waved to their newly-woken comrade. The dark-haired girl grunted her hello, and flopped down into the nearest plush armchair.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Gwen finally spoke up. "Fallon, about last night..."
"What we mean to say is..." Tamara put in.
"Why did you do it?" the boy finished. Gwen and Tamara looked gratefully at him, clearly glad that it was he who had addressed the point, and not them.
"What, you mean Tristan?" Fallon's question was met with silence. "Okay, look you guys. Everyone deserves a chance to change, and what better way to change than being a Jewel Rider? I really think that she has potential, and I really think she can change." She didn't mention anything about the feeling of importance that the blue-haired girl had given her.
"But Fallon," Gwen pleaded. "You saw how blatantly she showed her disrespect to you; she didn't even have to courtesy to hide her feelings! Do you really think that someone like that deserves to hold the title of Jewel Rider?"
"Why are you arguing over this?" the dark-haired girl asked. "It was my decision, and I made it according to what I thought was right. You had no say in it! As to her outright show of disrespect, I'm used to it. It doesn't hurt anymore."
Her friends were about to continue the dispute when there was a knock at the door of the dormitory. Wondering who would be calling on them this early in the morning, Drake rose from the chair and entered the small foyer area. The others looked on as he opened the thick wooden door. When they saw who it was, they too rose and approached the door.
"Good morning, Jewel Riders. I trust you slept well?" Airyn inquired of the teens. The tall, slender woman was the coach of the teens and their Companions, the one who taught them once they were initiated as full-fledged Jewel Riders.
"Very well, thank you," Gwen answered, a little annoyed that their discussion had been interrupted. "What is it that brought you here?"
This earned a slight grin from the woman; she was all too aware of Gwen's sometimes-sour moods. "Something that probably won't make you all too happy, I'm sorry to report. We have decided to start the training sessions early this year."
A grumble rose from the teens. "Why?" Tamara inquired. "We train hard enough as it is."
Airyn looked a little uneasy. "This is the part that you won't like. The sessions start today, and the Cadets will be attending them as observers. This will be a prequel to their training, which will begin on the normal date. We are hoping that they will watch what you four do and take it with them to their training."
A look of shock emerged on all four faces. They were to be used as a training tool for the new Cadets? The four friends looked at each other in disbelief, unwilling to comprehend what they had just heard. It was well-known that the Cadets were trained very differently than the real Jewel Riders; their lessons consisted mainly of learning how to work with Companions, and how to harness and control the powers that their stones would give them. The Jewel Riders' training was more focused toward using their powers and fighting their enemies.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Tamara spoke up once more. "What about, you know, The One? Didn't she illegally see a Jewel Rider training session when she was a Cadet? Isn't that why she..."
"Yes, Tamara," Airyn cut her off. "But these will be supervised sessions. The Cadets will be watched closely, and so will you."
"What?" Fallon asked. "Why will we be watched?"
"To ensure that you do not use any of your stronger powers in front of the Cadets. Trust me, these will only be simple lessons, involving teamwork with your Companions and using some simple powers. The lessons that they see will be nothing like those that The One saw." the trainer said assuredly.
Though still skeptical, none of the teens voiced any further objections. Happy with this reaction, Airyn turned to leave. Before she exited, she turned and said, "The first session will begin in twenty minutes. You are expected to be in your training uniforms and mounted in the Upper Meadow at that time." Four astonished stares saw her out.
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Ten minutes later, the Jewel Riders, dressed in their training gear, entered the Imperial Stables to inform their Companions of the change in the schedule. As they walked down aisle after aisle, farther and farther into the huge barn, their conversation and complaining grew less and less. By the time that they reached the farthest hall of the barn, none of the teens spoke a word, for when approaching an Imperial Animal, especially one bonded to someone as important as the Jewel Riders, one must be silent, always letting the creature speak first.
After a few silent moments in the brightly lit corridor, a crystal voice rang out in the Jewel Riders' heads. Good morning, Jewel Riders! Sunstar, leader of the Jewel Rider Companions, exclaimed. Do not worry, for we have been informed of the change in procedure, and are ready to go to the Upper Meadow.
A smile broke over Gwen's face. She was always happy to see her Companion, and loved her more than she loved her parents, the Imperial King and Queen. The golden-haired girl ran over to the first stall, eager to greet her mare.
Fallon, just as eager to see Moondance, made her way to the stall next to Sunstar's. As she reached the door, the great unicorn swung his head out over the door, nearly bumping into the girl. Grinning, the dark-haired girl opened the door and let herself in.
After greeting her Companion, she stopped and gazed at him. He was the strongest and most powerful unicorn that the Imperial Herd had ever seen. Incredibly tall, Moondance towered over every other creature in the city. His body was a smoky grey that shone like silver, and his long mane and tail consisted of the same combination of black and purple hairs as Fallon's. He and Fallon were bonded with the Moonstone, an impossibly clear, purple gem. The magnificent stallion's hooves were the same purple as the stone, and his horn consisted of the same purple crystal.
Meanwhile, Tamara was headed across the aisle from Sunstar to Pearl's stall. She was small and slim, with long pink hair that fell down her back. Her bright green eyes were kind and thoughtful, and she always seemed to be thinking of something else in addition to the matter at hand. Her skin was pale and her complexion perfect, making her the most beautiful girl in The Imperial City.
Tamara reached her Companion's stall and let herself in. Pearl was in reality a small mare, but she carried herself with an air that made her seem bigger than she really was. Her coat was a pearly white that shone with an iridescence under any light. Her long, sweeping mane and tail were the same light pink as Tamara's hair, with strands of sparkly white hair distributed throughout. Like her Jewel Rider Companion, Pearl was the most beautiful of her kind in the city. They were bonded by the Heartstone.
After escorting Tamara to Pearl's stall, Drake went down one more across from Moondance's to his Companion's. Thunderbolt, a gigantic grey wolf, was waiting for him. He was the Prince of the Imperial Pack, and the first of the Pack to accept Companionship.
After all the Jewel Rider pairs were reunited once more, the teens mounted up and, using the back door, set out into the Upper Meadow.
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When the Jewel Riders reached the Upper Meadow, Airyn, Captain Malaydi, and the four Cadets were already there. Wanting to get this over with, Gwen led the others over to where the six of them were standing.
"Good morning, Jewel Riders!" Airyn greeted them with a smile. The four teens bowed their heads in return.
"Good morning, Airyn," Gwen answered for all of them. She turned to the Cadet Captain. "Good morning, Captain." She turned to four Cadets, and nodded to each one of them. When she got to Alexa, the younger girl couldn't help but smile.
The formalities over, Airyn quickly took charge. "All right Cadets, what you see before you is the Upper Meadow, where the Jewel Riders train. For the next few weeks, you shall meet here every day to observe the Jewel Riders in action. Then your training will start."
She continued talking to the Cadets, but the Jewel Riders had stopped listening.
Every day for the next few weeks?! Fallon thought to Moondance. That's crazy! We can't do that!
I agree, the unicorn replied. But we don't have the right to complain. Only Gwen can appeal to her mother if she feels that it is necessary.
But how can they do this? Fallon continued. Don't they remember what happened with The One? This is exactly how she started on the wrong path: watching Jewel Rider training sessions. Does the Imperial Family want it to happen again?
Moondance sighed. The One was extremely powerful, but she had great potential. If only she hadn't...
But their conversation was cut off by Airyn. "Okay, Jewel Riders! Let's show the Cadets your ceremonial formations!"
Each of the eight sighed inwardly, but put on a pleasant face and turned toward the open field to carry out Airyn's order. As Fallon turned to follow the others, she caught a glimpse of Tristan. The younger girl was standing next to Alexa, arms crossed. The Jewel Rider was a bit taken aback by the intense look of hatred that Tristan wore.
Fallon quickly turned Moondance and trotted to catch up. As she reached the others, one thought flashed through her mind: What have I done?
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Okay, I'm sorry that this one was kinda sloppy and vague. I just wanted to post something on this story so bad! In case you're wondering, I am spending more time on my other story right now, but I will still update this one, don't worry! Btw, my other story is The Test of Time in the Unicorns of Balinor section. Please go read it!