If she were child, she would have believed it to be a shooting star; the brightness of the light stood out against the black sky, brilliant and eye-catching. If she were child, she would have made a wish that her father, her family, and her people would be safe from the Dark Ones forever. If she were a child, she would have closed her eyes and smiled, grateful that she had been blessed with the chance to witness a small miracle of the universe.

But she was not a child. And that was no shooting star.

As she watched the light stream across the darkness above her, the young woman trembled, and a deep-seated fear crept out from the recesses of her mind. Had they been found? Or was this a coincidence? Either way, it did not matter. She knew that, with this arrival, things would change; the life she'd known was over. Her people would have to be careful: hide in the shadows, no doubt. Maybe even leave.

She hoped it wouldn't come to that. She loved this place: the life it grew, the air it breathed. It was her home. However, it was not her decision to make.

There was no time to waste. Jumping up from her grassy seat, the young woman broke into a run, dashing down the side of the hill she'd been stargazing upon. Even in the dark night where it was impossible to see, she had no trouble jumping over raised tree roots, and ducking under branches without injury; she knew this path like the back of her hand. Heart pumping, she raced over the open grassland, passing under the blue bioluminescence of the surrounding flora and fauna, her silver hair glinting in the light.

Who were they? What did they want?

Her mind reeled as she dashed forward, hastening her pace as she neared the cliff.

Were they enemies? Or were they potential allies?

As her toes reached the edge, she launched herself into the air, her wings capturing the updraft of the small breeze. Faltering, the young woman strained and forced her wings to cooperate, hurtling herself downward into the depths. The sounds of crashing waves grew louder, and she pulled herself up at the last second, hovering just above the water. Taking a deep breath, she shot forward, continuing her flight, using the moonlight to guide her.

If they were allies, could they be trusted? Would it matter? Knowing her father, he wouldn't care. His first priority — rightly so — was ascertaining the protection of his people.

Biting her lip, she careened around a rock formation, into a hidden lagoon. The wind howled in her ears and she grimaced, feeling the air thin and the breeze give way. Her muscles cramped, spasming in protest, and she dropped into the water. Sputtering, the young woman flailed, struggling to keep herself afloat. The water was not deep though, and she began treading water as she collected her bearings. Blinking, she swam forward to the far shore, her strokes rushed and choppy. Emerging from the water, she coughed up all that she'd inhaled in her fall. She knew that her wings weren't strong enough for such a flight, but flying was the fastest mode of transportation to the city. And her father needed to know immediately.

Giving herself a brief shake — water flying every which way — she ran through the tunnel exiting the lagoon. Ten minutes later, she stood in the throne room under harsh white lights, cheeks flushed, dripping puddles over the granite floor. A wave of embarrassment passed over her; she knew she looked like a mess. Never in her right mind would she present herself this way before the King and Queen. But this moment was no ordinary circumstance. It was anything but ordinary.

Pushing away her chagrin, the young woman straightened her shoulders and gazed upon the dais. Her father sat upon the throne, his queen, her step-mother, sat at his side. An eerie silence coated the atmosphere as they both looked down upon her, waiting for her to speak.

"Father, did you see?" The young woman asked, desperate to keep the tremble from her voice.

The man's steel eyes scrutinized her. There was no disapproval at her appearance, no curiosity at where she had just come from, no disappointment at her disregard for the rules — all these would have been normal, typical, expected reactions — instead, there was nothing. He was completely blank.

"Yes, my child."

"What's going to happen?"

He did not immediately respond and turned his eyes away from hers to rest on his queen's. The young woman held her breath and her heart hammered as the monarchs held a silent conversation. Did he already know who they were? Were they going to war? Or would they hide?

Finally, he brought his eyes back to hers, and answered.

"I don't know."

A shiver ran down her spine and she clasped her hands. Her breath hitched in her throat. The young woman now recognized the look in his eyes, an emotion she had not seen in decades.

It was fear.

A/N: Short and sweet. Expect this to be a long story since it's a crossover. I've been thinking about this one for a while now, so I'm looking forward to writing and sharing it with everyone :)