Chapter 2

My dragon was sitting before me, her red scales glinting in the sunlight. We were in a meadow, I wanted to move toward her but somehow I couldn't draw the willpower to move.

"You're tired, but you must come here, Eona."

My eyes widened at the voice, the voice was from one I knew I've never heard before but somehow it was familiar and soothing. I made a move toward her but failed, and I fell.

"Why are you doing this? Can't you help me?" My voice was weak, and I was practically begging for her help.

"I can help, but first," she walked towards me and settled so she was right in front of me. "You have to listen. You have been unconscious for three days."

"Three days?" Then I paused, "Like the first time I saw you."

She nodded, "I can give you energy but you have to accept it, you have to be strong. You can't beg, not me, not anyone. I don't care about the circumstances. I don't care how you feel, don't beg."

I blinked confused, "Why? I mean, I know I need to be strong-"

"Have to be strong." She interrupted.

"But why would I beg? I don't understand."

She looked at me thoughtfully, "You'll soon understand, in time. But for now you must wake up... Wake up..." As she spoke she slowly faded away and right before the last of her disappeared she whispered,

"Show them what you're made of."

"Eona? Eona! Ryko, she is waking up!" I knew that I knew that voice, it was Lady Dela. Her voice was now soft and sweet like when I met her. Not, the gruff, hard voice she used when we were in the midst of all of Sethon's men. Shortly after her calling of Ryko, I heard heavy footsteps. Then I heard Ryko's unsure voice,

"Are you sure, she still looks unconscious."

I groaned, deciding that I should get up. I would have to sooner or later. "I'm up."

"See? She's up!" Lady Dela said triumphantly.

"She could be talking in her sleep." He said in a as-a-matter-of-fact tone.

I sat up and stretched, and hit Ryko with the pillow I was just laying on, "I am up! What is it going to take for you to believe that?"

Ryko and Lady Dela gave each other a look. Then it dawned on me, they must have been trying to get me up for hours.

I yawned and asked, "How long have I been asleep?" Even though I already knew the answer.

"Three days, exactly." Lady Dela sighed, "Is this going to happen every time you use your dragon's powers?"

I thought for a minute, "I don't think so, I just have to get stronger. When I was fighting Ido I wasn't strong at all."

"Okay that makes sense, and speaking of strong time to eat!" Lady Dela then walked out of the tent. Leaving me and Ryko alone.

I gave him a sideways glance, I wasn't sure if he was still furious with me. He seemed to avoid looking at me, so either he still is mad at me, or he's just uncomfortable. With which it might be a little of both. When Lady Dela cam back with a bowl of food, I was relieved. Not that I was hungry, I just couldn't take the awkward silence much longer. As I ate my porridge Lady Dela filled me in on everything that happened while I was sleeping. I didn't talk much, I just nodded my head and ate. Partially because Lady Dela talked a lot, and partially because she wouldn't let me talk because I had to eat. Once I finished she looked at me expecting an answer, I couldn't remember what she asked.

"Sorry, what did you say?" You cold hear the guilt in my voice. I felt so bad that I missed her question. I didn't want her to think that I wasn't listening the whole time!

Lady Dela just smiled, "I asked if you wanted to see the Emperor first, or if you wanted your dress first."

"My dress?" I asked, I had a dress?

"Yes, your dress. Lady Jasmine made one for you while you were asleep."

I looked down at what I was wearing, the same thing I was wear three days ago. I was still wearing the silky undergarments that I wore under my story robe. I sighed,

"I guess I want the dress.

She got up immediately and then helped me up, once I was up on my feet. She let go of my hand and started to walk. I went to follow after her and low and behold I fell. Ryko gave me a sidewyas glance, so I couldn't see his expression and Lady Dela was trying not to laugh.

"What happened?" Lady Dela asked as she helped me up once again, a smile in her voice.

"Well, I guess that's what happens when you sleep for three days."I said looking at Lady Dela, then narrowing my eyes at my feet.

"Come on then," She giggled, "lets try again."

This time I held onto Lady Dela arm and successfully walked without falling. As we made our way through camp I tried to ignore all the watching eyes we passed. I badly wanted to hide behind Lady Dela like a little kid and hide from those eyes but I held my head high and acted as if I didn't care that I was only wearing very thin undergarments. Did I mention they were also white? Lady Dela brought me to a dark green tent, which had a bunch of young girls hovering around it.

"Stay here." Lady Dela instructed, and then walked into the green tent. I stood there awkwardly waiting for her to return, then I realized that Ryko wasn't with me. I looked around for him but didn't see him.

"Don't worry I'm here." I hear Ryko say, and I spun around. Was he there the whole time? I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Ryko just smiled amusingly, I'm glad he thinks my almost heart attack is amusing. Then Lady Dela popped her head out of the tent,

"Eona, you can come here now."

Once she said that, I immediately wished she hadn't.

All the girls' heads around the tent snapped up at hearing my name. Then they all came rushing toward me, a stampede of girls. I went to move towards the tent but they were already around me, hovering and telling me how pretty I was, they made comments about my skin, they talked about a variety of things but I missed most them of them because my head was spinning.

"Girls." A commanding but gentle voice called, "Leave her alone she's here for her dress."

All the girls backed away mumbling and looking at me excitedly, then went back to what they were doing before they realized I was even here. Lady Jasmine beckoned toward me to come into the tent. I walked toward her, and as I did she disappeared back into the tent. Once I was in, Ryko stood at the tent door. I gratefully plopped down onto a small pillow on the floor. After sleeping for three days, walking sure made me tired. I never realized how exhausting walking was! Lady Jasmine looked at me thoughtfully, and I looked around for Lady Dela. She was sitting right beside me, on a pillow almost exactly like mine.

"I hope you don't mind, but" She said looking at Lady Dela, "I took your measurements while you were asleep."

I looked at Lady Dela for encouragement to speak, "No, that's fine."

She smiled gratefully, why would I have had a problem with that? Then she walked over and pulled a dark red dress with gold embroidery, out of a chest. My eyes widened it was beautiful.,

"Do you like it?" She asked, looking doubtful but hopeful.

"I love it." I said quietly but I was sure she heard it.

She smiled, her eyes portraying amusement," I'm glad you like it." Then she looked the tent opening, and called for someone named Kyra. A girl with fire red hair came in and Lady Jasmine whispered something to her then beckoned towards me. The girl who I assumed was Kyra nodded and respectfully told me to follow her. I hesitantly got up, Lady Dela had to almost push me out of the tent. She brought me past a few more tents then we finally stopped at another dark green tent. Although this one was a bit bigger than the one Lady Jasmine was in.

"This is where you'll take your bath. The water isn't that warm, it might actually be quite cold but we figured you would want to clean yourself up."

I nodded, "Yes, thank you."

She nodded then left me to bath myself. It was a small tub but it would do perfectly. I slipped out of my undergarments and put my foot in the water. It was cold but nothing I couldn't handle. I slipped my whole body in slowly, so I would get used to the temperature. Once I was all the way in I found the soap and scrubbed the grime and sweat off my skin. It took me a little but I managed to get myself clean. When I was ready to get out I realized I didn't wash my hair. So I quickly dunked my head under the water, and scrubbed my scalp clean. Once I was done I stepped out onto the towel that was on the ground, that I didn't notice before. I grabbed the towel near the tub and dried myself with it. As soon as I was done and wrapped in the towel, Lady Dela called from the tent opening.

"Are you ready to put on your dress?"

"Yes." I called back to her.

Lady Dela then came in bearing the dress. She gave me a slip for under the dress and I quickly slipped that on. Then she helped me get the dress on, and after it was on she helped me tie all the different laces on the back of the dress. Then once that was done She gave me an underskirt that I put on, this was just precautionary; it was so no one could see up my dress. Once I had it on Lady Dela stood back and smiled,

"You look beautiful, a true lady."

I blushed slightly, "Thank you Lady Dela. Lets hope everyone else thinks so."

She laughed, "They will."

Then she went over to the small table on the right side of the tent and grabbed a brush. She started to comb my wet hair. Then she braided it so it was half up and half down. Shortly after she gave me the slippers that went with the dress. The slippers were comfortable but they had a hard sole, so they didn't wear out as fast as normal slippers would. Then she led me out of the tent, that's when I started feeling self conscious. I haven't worn a dress in years, and this one hugged all the places I've been trying to conceal those past years. We went back to Lady Jasmine's tent, and she smiled,

"You look lovely, Eona."

"Thank you."I said once again blushing slightly. I wasn't used to all the compliments.

"Thank you once again Lady Jasmine," Lady Dela said. "But I have to bring her to speak with the Emperor."

Lady Jasmine nodded understanding, "Goodbye for now then."

"Goodbye." Me and Lady Dela said in unison.

Then we both walked out of the tent. Ryko was waiting there for us, and he was holding something shiny. Then as we walked closer I realized he was holding my swords!

"My swords!" I exclaimed.

"I figured you would want them." Ryko said handing them to me.

"Thank you," I said gratefully looking him in the eyes.

He looked slightly uncomfortable as he answered but he still answered, "Your welcome."

Lady Dela once again helped me get the belt on, then I slipped the swords into the belt. I felt better now that I had my sword with me. Then Lady Dela handed me the red portfolio, I smiled gratefully and then wrapped it around my arm, concealing it in my dress.

"Are we ready to see the Emperor?" She asked.

I sighed and looked at both of them, "As ready as I'll ever be."

She smiled in amusement then paused, "What do you mean by that?"

"We almost killed each other the last time I saw him..." I mumbled, hoping she wouldn't hear what I said.

"What?" She exclaimed.

"You heard her." Ryko said not sounding surprised.

"You don't sound surprised at all!" Lady Dela said to Ryko,

"I'm not, I wanted to strangle her the last time I saw her. So, I don't find it surprising that the Emperor almost killed her."

I gave Ryko a sideways look, and he laughed.

"Don't worry," he said, "I'm fine now, I got over it."

I sighed, "I don't blame you, I think everyone wanted to strangle me when they last saw me."

As we approached a tent, that from the size of it, you could tell it was the Emperor's. Plus the guards outside of it kind of gave it away too. When we reached the guards, Lady Dela told them why we were here. They said that The Pearl Emperor has been gone all day, that they didn't know where he went. When Lady Dela asked why they didn't go to find him they said that he instructed them to stay in camp.

Lady Dela sighed as we walked away,

"I guess it'll have to wait."

"Well, since he's not here, could I go for a walk?"

Lady Dela looked at me surprised, "You can do whatever you want. Just be back by sundown."

Then she and Ryko walked away and I headed towards the woods. I knew she thought that I meant a walk around camp, I meant a walk in the woods. Well, whatever she doesn't know won't hurt her. I quickly made my way to the trail in the woods and once I was well into the woods I slowed my pace and walked relaxingly. I closed my eyes and listened to the chirp of the birds, and the rustling of the wind. It was all very calming. When I finally opened my eyes I saw that either the trail had ended or I veered off the path. I didn't want to find my way back to camp just yet so I kept walking. As I walked the trees and bushes were fewer and a lake came into view. The sun was setting and it reflected off the water beautifully. It was the perfect view. I leaned against the tree I was near, one of the few ones that were there, and watched the sunset. Then I heard rustling in the bushes behind me, I quickly spun around and drew out my sword.

Then low and behold the Pearl Emperor came stumbling out of the brush.

I tried to hide my smile as he caught his balance. Then once he did he looked up, saw me, and went to draw his sword. Once his sword was out I put mine away. He looked confused for a moment and then put his sword away too. He stared at me, clearly not recognizing me.

So I spoke, "Hi Kygo." I didn't bother calling him Your Highness, or Your Greatness; or any variation of that. We weren't in a palace. Then recognition spread all over his features.

"Eon?" He looked at me doubtful, I smiled and waved.

"Eona actually." I corrected, "but you already knew that."

"Yes, I did." He nodded, "What are you doing out here?"

"I wanted to go for a walk, and get away from camp." I looked back toward the lake.

"Does Lady Dela know your in the woods by yourself?" His tone made it sound like I was a three year old who ran off without her mother.

"No, I'm sure she thought I meant to walk around camp." Then I mumbled,"I'm no baby, I can walk in the woods by myself."

"Mhm, I see." His voice had amusement in it. I turned around and realized he was laughing at me. I just ignored him and stared on at the lake.

"Lady Dela said you wanted to talk to me?"

He cleared his throat, "Yes, I wanted to talk to you."

I stared at him, he avoided looking at me. "Well?" I prompted.

"Lets head back to camp first, it's getting late. Lady Dela is probably worried about you."

I sighed at the thought of going back to camp, Kygo looked at me and smiled,

"What too many men there for you to handle?"

I gave him a pointed look, "It's not that." My tone must have sparked some curiosity in him because he sat down against the tree I was leaning against. Then he patted the ground next to him. I sat down and said,

"I'm pretty sure you're the last person I should confide in."

"You're probably right," He smiled to himself and then turned his attention towards me. "What's bothering you?"

I just looked at him, "What do you think?"

"I don't know, that's why I'm asking." He said clearly determined to get me to spill my guts.

"Everything." I told him.

"Clarify."

I turned away from him and acted as if I was talking to Lady Dela. "I'm a girl."

He chuckled, "Well obviously."

"Go ahead laugh, you have no reason to. It wasn't that obvious before I told you I was, now was it?" I knew I shouldn't bring that fight up but he truly had no reason to laugh. He stopped laughing and looked at me,

"Sorry," I said, "I guess I'm just a little frustrated."

"I see that." He said, not trying to hide his curiosity. "So you're a girl, do you have a new found liking for other girls now?..."

My mouth dropped open, "I cannot believe you just suggested that."

"So it's not that I gather?"

"No, it's defiantly not that!" I just glared at him but he looked as if he thought that was the reason. I was determined to get him to believe me,

"I'm a girl. I won't get respect. I'll never get respect. Even when I was a "boy" I was crippled so I was treated like a girl. Then figuring out that, that aspect could have been avoided because I wasn't born like that. Brannon made me crippled on purpose so I would get privacy, so no one would find out about my secret. I won't get authority even though I'm a Dragoneye. Even now you're giving me hardly any respect, and acting as if I couldn't kill you with one blow. Ryko is still mad at me, I think... For lying but it's not as if I don't feel guilty for not telling them. I mean, they are my friends.

"It's not as if I don't feel guilty about the whole masquerade, but everyone seems to think that I don't feel that way. Everyone seems to think I'm an evil girl who wanted to get into the palace and take over. Which isn't true! I probably won't get trust from anyone. Then to top it off, Ido killed my mentor, the person I looked up to for answers, he killed all the other Dragoneyes, and by now Dillon is probably dead too. I don't have anyone to ask to help me figure anything out! Even my dragon is keeping secrets, it's like everything she does has a lesson to it and until I figure it out she won't help me! I don't understand how to use my dragon's powers but somehow always end up using them, but then I always end up passing out after! I can't do that every time I use her powers! And I have the plus of trying to figure out why after my ancestor Kira was the Mirror Dragoneye, that there was no apprentice to take over after she died. It doesn't make sense, and according to Ido I'm the key to the pearls! But none of this makes sense!"

When I was finally done talking I realized that by Kygo saying the wrong reason and a ridiculous one at that, that in an effort to prove him wrong I in fact did spill my guts. I kept looking at the lake, by this time the moon was out, and I was afraid to look at him. I never planned on telling him this much, but after years of bottling it up, it just came out and I couldn't stop it. Kygo wasn't saying anything to my outburst so I looked at him. He was looking at me with understanding in his eyes. Although I don't know how, I mean, he was the prince. He was never ridiculed by anyone, at least not to his face. As I thought about what I said tears started welling up in my eyes. I took a deep shaky breath, in an effort to not cry. But somehow a tear escaped, and I felt a soft hand on my cheek. Wiping away the tear.

"Why are you being so nice to me? I lied, and tricked everyone I cared about. Why didn't you kill me after you recovered when you had the chance?"

Kygo just shook his head, "I didn't because I wanted to hear you out. Obviously you took a risk in telling me, and obviously you trusted me enough to tell me. By a request from my Mother I got to know you, or tried. You did the same with me, she wanted you to become my friend. But instead we became allies. Eona, why did you say an alliance was stronger than friendship? You're friends even though, they know you lied to them, are still helping you. They're still loyal to you, as you are to them. To me that's a strong bond, so why alliance over friendship?"

I looked at him and blinked away tears, "Because I grew up on a salt farm. I grew up in the worst place you would ever see, the whip master loved hurting us. You could see it in his eyes. It scared us but we kept going. When I was there, there was a girl, named Dolana older than me. She had trouble keeping up. She would fall out of exhaustion, and so to keep the whip master from beating her I took her load and carried it. We helped each other, even though we never actually knew each other. W e hardly talked, we just helped each other when it was needed. It wasn't a friendship, it was an alliance. That was what I was thinking of when you asked me what was more important. So I picked alliance, she died at that salt farm. I didn't, I took my chances and masqueraded as a boy. Wouldn't you do anything to get out of that kind of atmosphere?"

Kygo just stared at me, clearly at a loss for words. So I finally said,

"You didn't expect me to spill my guts that much did you?"

He shook his head, "Honestly no. I thought you would give me one word answers. Not complete stories. Why did you tell me?"

"Why are you asking, I mean you're the one who wanted to know." Kygo just gave me a look and I sighed,

"I told you—well I'm not actually sure. Maybe I actually trust you enough to tell you all this, maybe because I want you to understand my motives, and maybe it's because I have no one else to talk to. I've never had anyone to talk to."

"You had Lord Brannon." Kygo pointed out.

I shook my head, "Not really. He sort of distanced himself away from me. Like he was afraid to let me into his thoughts. God only knows why."

Kygo nodded his head understanding, "I see. Well, we'd better get you back to camp. Lady Dela is probably worried sick about you." He stood up and held out his hand to help me up, I ignored it and stood up myself. He smirked and grabbed my arm lightly,

"Come on, I know the way back."

Okay so I hope I made up for the shortness of the first chapter in the second chapter? Sorry if you think it's too long, I guess I have to adjust and make each chapter not to short, but not too long. Again constructive critism is very much wanted! Review and send me a message if you have any ideas or questions! (:

Please and Thank you.