Hello! Thank you soo much for all the people who reviewed! You really knocked me out of my writer's block and gave me a lot of inspiration to continue my story! All those reviews made me so happy XD I love you all, and thanks again!

So sorry for not updating for a while, I had so much homework. Well, anyways this chapter is just introducing some things that are vital for the story formation, so please bear with me, it'll be like that for a while, but I PROMISE it will go down the path I intended ( war, battle, all that good stuff ;p ). I don't consider myself to be good at dialogue, so sorry if it seems kind of iffy, I kinda think I wrote too much dialogue…. Oh well. :)

P.S. Forgive me if there are any unrealistic things, I really did not have the time to research any of the subjects on this chapter, so if anything isn't logically true, sorry about that.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Jane and the Dragon, it belongs to Martin Baynton.

O0oo0O

Red Snow

Chapter 2: Sunlight and Shadow

The luminous daylight dazzlingly streaked within the window of a tower in Kippernium castle. A figure hastily rolled over the bed it rested on and sharply tugged the warm blanket over its sanguine head to shield her from the sun's bright glare.

"Wake-y, wake-y, Coppertop!" boomed an ecstatic tone.

"Leave me alone, Dragon," Jane tiredly groaned.

Dragon's massive jade head thrust into Jane's windowpane and partially obscured the sunshine in Jane's untidy room.

"Oh, c'mon Jane!" whined Dragon, "It is about time you got up."

He then added matter-of-factly, "And furthermore, if you keep this up you are going to be late for your knighting ceremony. And you do not want that, now do you, Jane?"

"What?" Jane exclaimed as her eyes bulged out as she quickly tumbled out of her bed.

"I said," repeated Dragon calmly, "If you keep this up-"

"That is not what I meant," Jane snapped impatiently.

"Is the ceremony starting," she gasped.

"Yes," Dragon replied with a nod, "you can even check for yourself."

Jane promptly ran towards the window, Dragon removed his head from her path as Jane nervously peered out.

Sure enough, it was starting; flags and banners of flamboyant hues that floated in the autumn breeze were being ushered by soldiers in their military apparel into the Throne Room. Shortly trailed by the King and his Royal Family clad in their beautiful elegant embroidered garb escorted and guarded by gleaming armored knights of the Kippernium realm. Sir Theodore and Sir Ivon were equipped in their ceremonial armor and raiment. Not surprisingly, Jane surmised, her rival Gunther was present, smug as usual.

"Maggots!" cursed Jane.

She whirled around swiftly looking around for the ceremonial armor her mother left for her to wear to the ritual.

"Why did you not wake me up?" Jane scolded exasperatedly.

"I did," answered Dragon, "See, you are awake right now."

Jane paused, turned around and gave Dragon a smoldering stare.

"What?" Dragon asked innocently.

Jane imparted with an exhausted sigh, knowing perfectly well that it was her own fault for not stirring up in time.

"Never mind, green lips," Jane somberly responded as she continued to search for her garments.

"Hey," protested Dragon, "Is that any way to treat a friend?"

Jane softly chuckled, "I was just teasing Dragon, you are such a child."

Jane paused to glimpse at Dragon; his enormous head was peeking through the window, his emerald gem scales twinkling in the brilliant morning sunlight like the stars in the eternal sapphire sky. Dragon's fiery red eyes were beaming with pride towards his trusted companion; he looked ethereal as his vibrant head cast a dark engulfing shadow over Jane's diminutive form. It was six years since Jane met Dragon and started her knight's apprenticeship. If not for Dragon, thought Jane, she would not be where she was now: she would have never accomplished her dream of becoming a knight.

"Thank you, Dragon," Jane said earnestly, blinking away the warm tears that formed in her eyes.

"For what?" asked a surprised Dragon.

"For everything," Jane replied with a charming grin.

"O…k…." Dragon replied puzzled. "Well," he added, "if you do not hurry up, you will miss the accolade you worked so hard for."

Dragon paused to unfold his vast leathery green wings.

"I will wait for you at the Throne Room."

And with that, he flew off effortlessly into the waking sky.

Jane found the armored garb and quickly dressed into the formal attire, lastly enveloping herself with an emblazoned surcoat which bore the Kippernium coat of arms over her shining armor. Jane then walked over to the basin and rapidly splashed water on her face, the cool liquid immediately alerted and refreshed her, when she was done drying herself off, she grasped her dragonblade. Jane gripped the hilt tightly as she focused on the sword; the entire weapon was adorned with dragon runes and beige in color. Forged from the fiery breath of a Dragon, the dragonblade was the only element known to pierce Dragon's impenetrable hide, and Dragon's gift to Jane.

Jane then slipped the blade to its scabbard and securely attached it to her baldric on her back. Then without a moment to lose, Jane took off sprinting armed and armored through the door.

O0oo0O

Thank you for reading! The next chapter will be quite short, a lot shorter than any of the ones I am going to write, but it is very important, well to me that is! :p

I have to get started on another essay (T.T) and study for my math final T.T

Have a good day, and don't forget to review! XD