Hey guys! Thank you all SO much for reading my fanfiction! I've had a friend trying to convince me to post things on this website for a few years, but I was always too scared. I had this idea in my head for years before I just posted it as a 'hey, this is pretty cool, right?' thing on Tumblr. People loved the idea, so I expanded the summary as a short what if, which became the first chapter. Even though I made it up on the spot, I received a lot of encouragement and eventually posted it on here. It was one of the most nerve wracking things I have ever done in my life. I paced back and forth in my living room for nearly an hour, (driving my mom crazy) until I forced myself to push the button. I am beyond happy I did.

You all have given me the courage and encouragement to sprint after my dream of becoming a writer and an illustrator and I can never thank you all enough! Someday, when I finally finish the (so far) 1 1/2 year book series project, I'll make sure to announce it on here first! I hope my story helps you all to gain the courage to follow your dreams!

Also, if you guys ever want to talk to me, or just estalk me (XD) I am on tumblr as MiraculousKeeperoftheWorld. I also run the Fitz Vacker rp blog WonderboytheCognate. If i'm not out hunting Pokemon or writing, you can find me here!

.

Last part, IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE READ THIS (I'm putting this in caps because I know this note is long) I planned a Keeper event with two of my fellow roleplayers, BianatheKeeper and Keefe-plus-keefe-equals-awesome.

August 6th is the I Can't Believe That Person Betrayed Us Day! Join us to celebrate and mourn the loss of Keefe, and help bring him back, by drawing a Black Swan on your hand and showing it off to the world! Post a picture on tumblr with the hashtag #Black Swan and #I Can't Believe He Betrayed Us! so we can see all the swans take over tumblr! (Or at least form a small army! :P)

I hope to see some of you there! Thanks so much guys! 3

.

.

.

The last thing her exhausted brain clearly remembered was leaving Maria. She had run across the main street and turned a corner. Just then, cloaked in darkness of the desolate alleyways, she saw them. Five hooded figures, sprinting along the main road, all running towards Maria. They were taller, broader, more imposing than the ones she had faced before. They screamed to each other, sharp, biting commands that her brain just couldn't seem to catch. She froze to the brick wall, pressing herself against the cool, rough stone like a barrier or a lucky charm, hoping to god that no one would find her.

Within seconds giant ice spikes rose above the buildings, father back in the alleyway than where she had come from; a few screams echoing off the buildings. Her heart urged her forward, tried to force her feet in front of her to save her best friend, but her brain refused to move. All she could hear was Maria telling her to run, to never look back, and then one last phrase repeated over and over.

Run, if they catch you, they'll kill you.

She stayed frozen to the shadows, watching, squinting through the darkness for any signs Maria had made it out. When all fell silent however, she was left with no other choice than to turn her back and run, but she couldn't do that. Not yet. Had she really made the right choice? No, but it was what Maria wanted.

But was that really enough for her? Could that stop to guilt that was beginning to eat at her heart? She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to force her brain to think rationally. It took all of her willpower to keep her feet rooted, to stop herself from running to Maria in hopes she could do something to help.

Instead, she quietly stalked past two buildings, parallel to the main street. Hiding in the shadows she peered out. All she wanted was a sign, some knowledge Maria was safe. As she reached the third building, she sadly looked back at the rapidly vanishing ice spikes, still visible over the rooftops. She would have to trust in Maria, just like she always did. Suppressing a sigh and trying to remind herself it was for the best, that she would die any other way, she finally turned her back, casting a tiny shadow onto the pathway that lead towards Maria, towards her aunt, and towards the only home, the only life, she had ever known.

The first step, as symbolic and heart wrenching as it was, took no more effort than any other step. It felt wrong. Shouldn't she have to use all of her willpower, or stare at her foot for an elongated time, straining to produce some effort like in the movies? She had expected her bones to turn into lead, begging her not to go, but instead she only found feathers.

She began to sigh, exhaustion filling her body as the severity of the night began to settle within her, but as a voice sounded not even a fifty feet away, it turned into a sharp gasp. She ducked behind a nearby building, pressing her back to the wall and pulling her hood up, hoping either she was a natural OO7, or they were just really stupid.

"I told you she was no good, didn't I?" A male voice sounded.

Another voice, deeper, sighed. "No, you said she was a natural. Kind of a big difference."

"Shame she was a Froster. She could have amounted to so much more!" The first voice, oddly excited, spoke.

The second man grunted in agreement. "You would have thought, with her genes..."

"Guess once a traitor always a traitor, no matter the side. She'd be lucky to go to Exile like her father."

"Are you kidding? I've been there." The deeper voice audibly shuttered. "She's lucky to find death, once they catch her."

As the metallic taste of blood hit her tongue, she realized she had been biting her lip too hard. The tasted turned her stomach at the last sentence while her brain screamed angry thoughts at them. She wasn't sure what it all meant, but they still had no right to talk about her best friend that way! The situation was so complicated though, she wasn't even sure if she had the right to think that anymore. Then, as their hooded heads appeared from behind the corner, shadows moving quietly among the darkness, the anger quickly transformed into fear. She slammed her eyes shut, holding her breath, wishing there was a way she could become one with the wall. That sounded like a pretty good life with the way things were turning out...

Her heart beat loudly in her head, and every breath they took, every footstep that echoed across the stone, reverberated in her mind. She didn't hear what they said, only heard the changes of octaves, the sound of their voices, and only when they had passed a foot or so in front of her did she realize she needed air, badly.

She opened her eyes and quickly took a gasp of air, but it wasn't quiet enough. The shorter one turned, his sky blue eyes and shaggy brown hair showing from under his cloak.

"Hurry up," The deep voice sounded from the other, taller figure. "I will leave you behind, first mission or not."

"Hang on, I heard something."

Izzy tried to calm her breathing, tried to control it, but her heart had jumped into her throat, beating so loudly they had to hear it. How could they not?

His eyes peered into the darkness, staring right at her for what felt like a life time.

"There's nothing there. Now come on, we need to continue our patrol." The tall silhouette grabbed the shorter one's head, turning it slightly before he let go and began to double back, walking towards the way they came. When the shorter one joined him, he gave him a hard pat on the back, sending him flying a step or two. "You're just over excited for your first mission. Don't rush it. You don't want to be the one to find her, because then-"

They were passing right by Izzy. The sentence seemed to slow to a stop as everything moved in slow motion. She saw the younger one throw a small glance at her before continuing on. She suppressed a sigh of relief, until he took another look and froze, shock spreading across his eyes.

He stared right at her shoulder where a giant white eye sat, staring out. She had forgotten its existence. Then, she followed his gaze, right into her eyes. He yelled the word brown to his companion like it was a slur, a word so horrible it could only be used for the right situations. She took off running, frantic sounds and yelling behind her as footsteps followed.