Cyclonia was very different then my Terra. While my home Terra was flat dry with many canyons, Cyclonia looked like what Hell should look and as for the palace I wouldn't be surprised if the Devil himself lived there.

But the devil didn't, but his daughter currently did. My first encounter with Master Cyclonis was terrifying not because of her reputation but because everything about her screamed "Disobey and you will pay!" What was scarier is that she's only 14, a year younger than me.

As the Dark Ace said when I woke up, we were in Cyclonia and about to land. When we landed he removed the cuffs from my wrists. He led me to a large dark room and we entered.

"Master Cyclonis," the Dark Ace said bowing slightly, his fist on his chest, to the clocked figure, which had her back to us.

"Ah Dark Ace," Master Cyclonis said, her voice sent shivers down my spine. She turned away from a huge machine; her eyes lingered on me for a moment before turning to her most loyal servant. "I trust your journey went well."

"Wonderfully well," he said, glancing sideways at me.

Master Cyclonis looked back at me. "Yes, you must be Skylar. The Dark Ace told me that I would want to meet you." She turned her back to us again, but continued speaking. "I know you've heard all sorts of unpleasant things about me and my Talons, but do understand that all that I and my Talons do is to reach our goal."

"Really," I said calmly, "do enlighten me on what this goal is that justifies the acts you've done."

She turned slightly to look sideways at me. She studied me for a moment then suddenly laughed sending chills ran up my entire body. "I now see why the Dark Ace brought you. Unlike most, your intelligence is closer to mine."

I blinked, "how can you possibly tell my intelligence from a single sentence?"

She turned back to her machine and started working it. Mechanical arms started moving, picking up crystals and putting them somewhere. After a few moments she spoke again. "The Dark Ace tells me that you invented an alternate means of transportation and that you have a sketch book filled with plans for other inventions or machines. Is that right?"

"Yes."

She turned around, holding an armlet in one hand. "I think that you and I will get along very well, Skylar."

"Forgive me for being blunt, but I highly doubt that."

She chuckled softly and started towards the Dark Ace and myself. "Hold out your left arm, Skylar."

I moved my arms behind my back. "Why?"

She smiled and glanced at the Dark Ace to my left.

I glanced at him as well, quickly. "Damn," I whispered.

The Dark Ace seized my left forearm and pulled me to him. My back was against his chest, he held me to him with his right arm and forced my left out in front of me. My wrist exposed to Master Cyclonis. I pulled and struggled against his iron grip but to no avail.

Master Cyclonis slid the armlet over my wrist and it shrank till it was snug around it. She smiled and nodded at the Dark Ace, who released me.

I tried to push it off but it wouldn't budge. Scowling I studied the armlet. The band was made out of polished metal, steel if I was to guess, and in the center facing me was a medium sized light purple crystal. I gritted my teeth and looked up at Master Cyclonis. "What, may I ask, is this for," I said curtly.

"Oh, nothing really," she said turning back to her machine, "Just a way to keep track of where you are."

"What do you mean," I said eyeing the metal band warily.

"The crystal is known as a Locating Crystal," she turned around again holding a deep purple crystal with a pointed end. "This is a Tracking Crystal, the sister crystal of the Locating Crystal. It will find anyone that has its Locating Crystal counterpart." She held the crystal in the flat of her hand and the small crystal rose up, spun around and pointed directly at me. "No matter where you go in Atmos we can find you so long as you are wearing the band."

"So," I said quietly, "I'm a prisoner, am I?" I didn't look at the Dark Ace, but simply kept my eyes on Master Cyclonis.

"Prisoner is such a nasty word, particularly for what you are. Reluctant guest would be a better word, I suppose. But let's be honest with each other, Skylar. You want to be here. You want to be among people that understand and encourage your abilities. True?"

I didn't answer, I didn't need to. As much as I hated to say it, she was right. I mean about wanting to be around people that truly understood me, Vic, Saar and their parents always wanted me to do what came natural but they never understood why I did it, why I made things, how I saw things. Master Cyclonis was probably the closest one to understand my thought process.

"I thought so." She put the crystal away in her robes. "Now I'm sure you would like to eat and relax. So the Dark Ace will show you to your room."

The Dark Ace turned and beckoned for me to follow him. I walked behind him, even though I was pissed off at him and didn't want to.

"Oh and Skylar."

I stopped and looked over at her.

She was smiling at me. "I do hope that you will come to think of this place as your home."

"We will see," I said calmly and walked out of the room.

The Dark Ace led the way and so began my time on Cyclonia. I was sure that I was going to hate it here. Boy was I in for a surprise.