Welcome to A Strange and Different Land

This story is a Heroes of Olympians and Inheritance Cycle crossover. For any new readers, I would like to personally thank you for choosing my story and hope you will enjoy. Below I will place the complete summary of this story just so you all can get an idea of what you will be reading.

I hope you enjoy, and let's get right into this!

Amira Moraow was living her life as a Dragon Rider. The war had just ended and everyone was celebrating. One day she noticed her dragon was missing but while searching, she gets dragged to a strange and different land. In order to return, she must help the Heroes of Olympus try to defeat an enemy but they soon realize that they may have finally met their match. Amira has to face challenge after challenge and after a decision that ruins everything, she wonders if she'll ever get home.

A couple of notes before:

I'm not sure what age girl/boys are officially considered 'women' or 'men' so I'm just gonna say 16

The world of Inheritance Cycle wasn't mentioned (to my remembrance) and so I will just call it Alagaesia.

The day started as usual for Amira Moraow. Then again, there isn't such thing as "normal".

She woke from her sleep to the sound of Eragon calling for her. Immediately after waking, she felt a weird sensation in her chest. it was like an anxious feeling of suspense. She thought for a moment before she shook her head and shrugged it off, telling herself that it was probably going to be nothing.

Having been two days since Eragon and Murtagh defeated Galbatorix, Alagaesia was celebrating and had been almost non-stop. Amira chuckled at the thought before hearing Eragon call her name again. She reluctantly crawled out from her favorite place under the left-wing of her dragon, shivering when she felt the cold air chill her warm skin. She moved over to the edge of the ledge that jutted out of the large cave on the side of the cliff and looked down.

Amira saw Eragon standing on the ground below with his arms crossed and a small frown on his face, looking up at her cave-home. Catching his attention, she waved to him to show she was now awake. He caught sight of her and smiled. He waved her down and pointed to a tent behind him. She nodded in understanding then pointed behind her as well. He nodded to show he understood then walked away.

Amira stood up and stretched her arms as she walked back into her cave-home. Looking up she saw that her dragon, Balenda, was waking as well.

'Could he have yelled any louder?' The dragon complained as she opened her massive jaws in a yawn, causing Amira to yawn as well. Balenda stood from her position lying down on the hard ground of their cave, shaking the rest of the sleep from her body. 'I was having a pleasant dream when he woke me with his screeching.'

Amira smiled and shook her head as she heard her whining. Balenda was her dragon. Her scales were dark purple that looked close to black when in darkness. The dragon's large wings were currently folded at her sides now as they would be too big to spread in their cave. Balenda was large yet she was still slightly smaller than Saphira or the red and green dragons as she was significantly younger.

"If that is what you choose to think. Let us hurry. Eragon wishes to speak with us." Amira mentally told her dragon. She walked towards her then paused when Belinda spoke.

'Don't you think that you should properly clothe yourself before leaving?' She reminded.

Amira looked down and blushed. She was still wearing her nightclothes. She quickly turned and ran into the room she had formed into the side of their cave. She opened her chest where she kept her clothes and quickly slipped on an outfit consisting of a tunic, pants, riding boots, and her ever-present arm cuffs. Lastly, she clipped her sword to her waist. She then turned to look at the piece of glass she had changed into a mirror.

Amira Moraow was slim but had quite a bit of muscle from her training with Eragon, who she was currently apprenticed to, and occasionally training with Arya with magic as well. Her skin was perfectly tanned from the time she spent outside and her cheeks were lightly sprinkled with several freckles. Different then practically everyone else in the world, though, Amira's hip-length hair was dark purple in color which also happened to be the same color as Balenda's scales. Her voice was melodic but retained a strong tone and her ears were slightly pointed, normal for a Rider. Her eyes sparkled with humor but in the back held strength and confidence.

Much like her hair, Amira's eyes were purple in color though the color was lighter and less intense. People say that she had her eyes, hair, and beauty because of her rider status but she didn't get that; she was a beautiful girl with natural beauty. She walked out of her room and saw Balenda watching her.

"What is it? Is there something on my skin?" She asked as she reached up to her face to brush off any dirt that may have been there. She heard Belinda laugh from their mental connection

'No, Amira. I am simply thinking of how in less than four days you shall be a woman.' She reminded. Amira smiled at her dragon.

The young Rider was turning sixteen in three days. It was not a common thing for Riders to be chosen so young because once chosen, the said Rider no longer ages.

"Maybe I will be. But despite my age, you will continue to call me Young One, will you not?" Amira's mental response was more of a statement than a question. Amira felt as her dragon smiled once more as she crouched to allow her Rider onto her back.

'Of course, I will. Now let's not keep Eragon waiting any longer.' Balenda moved to the entrance to their cave-home and spread her wings wide before launching herself from the ground and shooting into the sky.

Amira gave a short laugh as the thrill of flying rushed into her. She had been flying since Balenda was grown enough to ride, almost nine months but no matter how many times they flew she always got the same rush of excitement whenever leaving the ground.

Balenda shot into the air, climbing higher and higher, before suddenly jerking into a steep dive. Amira yelped and quickly grabbed her saddle to avoid falling off. She could feel her dragon's chuckle through their connection.

'You should be more careful while flying, young one. Anything could happen while in the air.' Belinda scolded. Her Rider rolled her purple eyes.

'Alright, you have had your games. Please take us to where Eragon awaits us? He has waited long enough as it is.' She reminded.

Belinda nodded once through their connection before slowing to stop mid-air. Then, almost giving Amira whiplash, she dropped down into yet another steep dive. Amira's knuckles turned white from her grip as her dragon continued her dive, aiming directly towards the tent Eragon had pointed to earlier. Amira's eyes widened even as they neared the ground.

"Balenda slow down!" Amira shouted over the wind with both her voice and mind. Just before the two of them would have become a purple splatter on the ground, Balenda threw her wings out and landed with a large 'boom'.

Adrenaline pulsing quickly through her veins, Amira shakily slid to the ground to stand on wobbly legs. Her purple hair was wild from the wind and her breathing and heart rate moved at a considerably faster speed than normal. Her head was spinning and it made her dizzy. She took several deep breaths to try to calm herself but it didn't work very well. She turned Belinda who was watching her in amusement.

"Do no- do not ever do that again," Amira scolded, her voice shaking crazily. "You ne- nearly stopped my heart!"

'That is your punishment for teasing me yesterday.' Balenda scolded with a proud tone hidden in her mental voice. Amira rolled her eyes at the reminder of the conversation they had the day before. She turned and tried to walk towards the tent but her legs were weak so she wobbled with each step. The purple-eyed girl put her arms out for balance and Belinda chuckled again. Amira glared at her.

"This is not funny Balenda. That was quite terrifying!"

She managed to continue without falling and entered the tent where Eragon waited. She was still slightly unbalanced as she stepped but she managed to walk to where Eragon and Arya stood to talk with someone who made her press her lips together in anger.

"Why is he here?" She demanded, pointing rudely. The Red Rider rolled his eyes.

"Well seeing how we all are the Dragon Riders I believe you can answer that question yourself. Or at least I assume you can, though I have my doubts." Murtagh told her sarcastically. Eragon frowned at his brother's response but then noticed the way Amira was walking and rushed over, grabbing her arm before she could fall.

"Amira, what happened? Are you alright?" He asked with a frown. Amira's heart was still racing but she nodded, brushing her purple hair from her face.

"Yes, I am alright, though I must admit that I am quite shaken." She answered.

"What's wrong?" Arya wondered

"Balenda decided to exact revenge on me for yesterday by nearly crashing the two of us into the ground." Eragon nodded in understanding but Amira waved the topic away. "It is okay, I am fine now. Why did you call me?"

"It may be nothing but there is a strange feeling in the air," Eragon announced.

"I sense it too. It's as though I feel an anxious warning of a future event." Arya added as well. "I do not know what will happen but I cannot shake it away. And it being right after the war is finished makes me even more uneasy."

Murtagh nodded in agreement but said nothing, standing with his arms crossed, purposely ignoring looking in Amira's direction. Eragon pressed his lips together.

"We must be careful. We do not know if this means a new enemy is approaching or just the tension. Either way, make sure to watch out." He cautioned.

Amira nodded and took that as a cue to leave. She stood from her position sitting and was glad vertigo had passed. Eragon still followed behind her when leaving in case she did happen to trip or fall, always worried about his apprentice. When Amira got outside, she saw Balenda was not in her previous position. She looked around but still could not see her dragon.

'Balenda?' She mentally called. She received no answer. 'Balenda? Balenda, where have you gone?'

"Amira what's wrong?" Eragon asked after noticing that Amira's face was one of worry and confusion.

"Balenda is not here and she will not answer me." His apprentice answered. He frowned.

"That does not sound like her. Where would she have gone?"

"I do not know. Perhaps she is hunting? Even if that were so, she still would have answered me or told me before." She felt worried but told herself to remain calm.

'Balenda this is lacking any and all humor! Where are you?!'

"Do you think she could have been taken?"

"I am not sure. It is hard to capture a dragon, however, so there are doubts."

"True, but I don't think she would just leave," Eragon admitted. Amira's breathing and heart-rate began to speed up despite her efforts otherwise.

"I am just hoping that she is-"

Amira was cut off by a sudden blast of wind that hit them. She staggered back, thrown off balance by its strength. She stumbled and was caught by Eragon's strong arms.

"What is happening?!" She had to yell to be heard over the wind. Eragon shook his head.

"I don't know! But we must find cover fast!" He responded, also having to yell. Amira's hand flew to her purple eyes, trying to block the sand from getting into them. "I'm going to get Saphira! Stay here!"

Amira nodded and Eragon ran off. Another blast of wind blew, knocking Amira to the ground.

"Balenda? Where are you?! BALENDA!" Amira shouted with her mouth and mind. She still got no answer.

Balenda had never blocked Amira from her. She was close to crying. Did this mean that her dragon was gone? That her partner of soul and mind was missing? The only thing that made sense was Eragon's theory that she had been taken and that destroyed the young Rider.

Tears were beginning to fall from her eyes when Arya ran out of the tent. She looked around and saw Amira, running over to her. She helped her up by grabbing her arms and tried to bring her back inside but Amira only shook her head.

"Balenda is gone! You must help me find her!" She cried. Arya then nodded.

"Where was she last?" She asked voice raised over the storm.

"She was right out here! I went inside and now she-"

Amira was cut off once more as she and Arya choked on the dirt and dust that was flying everywhere. Arya helped Amira helped her inside and once in, the two girls started coughing up the dirt they had breathed in. Amira fell to her knees and Arya kneeled next to the now crying girl. The younger Rider buried her face in her hands. Her dragon… was she gone...?

No! Amira wiped her eyes furiously and stood. No, she will find Balenda. Arya watched her carefully.

"Amira, are you alright?" She asked tenderly. Amira nodded. Then she reached her mind out to Eragon.

'Eragon? Can you hear me?'

'Yes. Have you found Belinda?' He replied swiftly.

'No. Where are you and Saphira?'

'We are nearing you. Why?'

'How long can Saphira carry two?'

'As you are smaller, a while… but again, why?' Amira pressed her lips together.

'I am going to find my dragon.'

And that concludes the first chapter of A Strange and Different Land!

Thank you all for reading and I hope you chose to continue the story. Please feel free to leave a review. Criticism, advice, or compliments are welcome to be said.

Have a good one and I'll see you later!