To anyone who's only reading this because my author's note in my other fanfic said so: YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW GLAD I AM THAT YOU'RE READING THIS. XD To all other people: This is my very FIRST DQ fanfic. I'll try to follow the story as closely as possible, but that might become a small issue since I let my friend borrow my copies of the first three and my others are quite a motley assortment. Also: to anyone who wants some JxL mixed in, I'm afraid that I absolutely can't stand romance. If you're looking for that kind of stuff, go ahead and check out the other Deltora fanfictions.

Abigail was trying to get through the crowd with her brother, Jacob, in tow. It wasn't easy, since the crowd was dense and full of people trying to push through. "Why'd you want me to come here anyway?" she hissed to her brother. "The same reason everyone else is here for," Jacob snapped. "It's just an art show," Abigail retorted, still slightly revolted that her brother would want to come to something like this - although she couldn't really blame him. Jacob had been drawing before he could walk, as his mother always said. To her though, it didn't really matter.

And that, later on, Abigail would later discover mattered above most everything.

She crowded into an alley, a pretty clean one for once, which made Abigail wonder why for a moment, then shook it away. "We can stay away from the crowd here for a while at least. What were you thinking, dragging me through the center of the people?" Jacob asked. "Just trying to follow your orders!" Abigail replied, looking out. "Aw, crud, there's more people coming. Squeeze in there, Jacob," she reported, backing up. Jacob obeyed, then his eyes widened for a short moment before he cried out in surprise and alarm.

Abigail heard her brother and felt him topple backwards. A flash of light and the face of a startled stranger were the last things she saw, and she said two more words before sinking into darkness.

Abigail came to her senses very slowly. She blinked, wondering why she'd been asleep. She lay there for a moment, grasping her memories, which were like wisps of smoke in the wind. Then she remembered, and sat straight up.

She realized that she was sitting on a bed, and not the hard, cement floor of the alley. That's weird, she thought, glancing around. And she was in a room, too. A simple one, not like her own at home.

Home. She felt a jolt of panic at the memory.

Where am I?!

As if in answer to her silent, alarmed question, the door opened. Not quite knowing why, she quickly lay back down and watched it open through her eyelashes.

A woman, who looked eerily like her mother, walked through the door, looking directly at the beds. She walked over to Abigail, who couldn't resist opening her eyes for a better look. "So, you have awakened," the woman murmured, sitting down. "Where am I? And who are you?" Abigail asked, feeling slightly afraid. "My name is Aeranna. And you are in Del," she replied. After a pause, Aeranna blinked. "How is it that you do not know?"

"I - I guess I blacked out," Abigail replied weakly. Aeranna sighed. "Was it the Grey Guards again?" she asked, a little sharply. "The what?" Abigail asked, staring. Aeranna stared back, then asked, "Are you from across the seas?" Abigail continued to stare and gape. "Uh . . ." Aeranna shook her head. "Apparently so, if you do not know who Grey Guards are." Abigail sat up and swallowed. "Could you tell me more about - about this Del place?" she asked. Aeranna smiled. "I can, but there will be things you must find out when the time comes." She glanced out the window, as if soaking in the sight, then continued.

"Del is the capitol city of Deltora, the country you are in now - if you do not already know. It is the southernmost city and the main trading dock for ships across seas. Lately, however, trade has decreased significantly." Aeranna's face darkened. "Why?" Abigail asked, although in her mind she was teeming with unsaid questions. Where's Deltora? I've never heard of it, and I don't think it's a country in my world . . . and just how did I get here? Aeranna sighed. "Our enemy across the Border Mountains has seized Deltora yet again. We call him the Shadow Lord. He has been here a very, very long time. But only sixteen years ago he chose to destroy our only protection, the Belt of Deltora," she replied. "The Belt?" Abigail repeated. "Yes. A fine chain of metal, joining seven gems set into medallions together by links fine as silk. It has been a long time since it had been last worn, however. My father believes that the Shadow Lord had slowly been separating the Belt and the royal line," Aeranna said.

"So - so you're saying that Deltora is . . . well, enslaved?" Almost reluctantly, Aeranna nodded. "Yes. There is a group, however - the Resistance - who attempt to avert the Shadow Lord's grip over Deltora. They have hope, at least. And I envy them for that," she sighed, suddenly looking much older than she first was. Aeranna glanced at Abigail, then continued.

"The Belt was made of seven gems with powers of their own, but united they protected Deltora. Now they are lost, in places that I know not of. The king is rumored to be dead, but I am not sure what to believe these days. There is a small ray of hope, however - the queen was with child when the Shadow Lord attacked, and her child is also the heir. Just to think about it . . . all of our hopes rest on a child that we are not sure even exists!" Aeranna sighed again. She turned to Abigail, whose face was mesmerized by what the Deltoran had said. "That is enough about my home. What about yours?"

Abigail gave a start, realizing that she couldn't say very much. "Well, it's definitely different from here. It's a large country, divided into fifty parts," she said carefully. "We don't run government by kings, though. We believe in equal power." Aeranna nodded. "It sounds logical. Please continue."

"I don't think we've ever heard of Deltora though. We trade with different countries, as far as I'm aware of. I don't know how I got here, either. I just remember falling, and a lot of light, and someone's face staring at me. Then I woke - here." Aeranna smiled thinly.

"My husband and I found you and your brother on the streets, completely unconscious. We thought that perhaps you had done something, and that Grey Guards - servants of the Shadow Lord - had decided to throw you there for sport." Her lip curled at the thought. "So we took you inside, and did what we could. I am glad that you have come around." Abigail had started to notice the sounds of the streets now - which wasn't like anything she was used to, in the streets of a more battered part of Los Angeles. It was almost dead silent, except for a slight buzzing, ringing noise and the occasional cries of merchants. And if she listened closely, she heard footsteps, both heavy and light. "Aeranna, have you ever heard of a place called Earth?" Abigail asked suddenly.

To her dismay, Aeranna shook her head. "No, I have not. It is quite a name though, naming themselves after the soil of the ground." She stood up to look at Jacob. "Your brother is awakening. I will leave you for now. Do not fear, I will be back." Aeranna walked out of the room, shutting the door quietly.

"Jacob!" Abigail whispered. "Whaa . . . ?" he asked, looking around. Then he sat up like lightning, exactly as Abigail had done. "Where are we?!" he cried. "Ssh! Be quiet! Jacob, I don't think we're in our own world anymore," Abigail whispered.

"What? What's that supposed to mean?" Jacob asked. "Look, we're in a place called Del, which is a city in a place called Deltora, if that woman Aeranna can be trusted. It's a country, according to her, and she hasn't heard of Earth at all!" Jacob looked startled at this. "Will we ever get back home?" he asked quietly, sounding Abigail's thoughts exactly. "I don't know," Abigail admitted. "Aeranna says that this place is under someone else's control - some guy across these mountains that she talked about who calls himself the Shadow Lord." Jacob snorted. "Catchy name, but what's that mean? It's not like he's a sorcerer or something," he replied.

"Jacob, that's exactly what I think he is." Abigail watched as her brother stared at her. Normally logical, practical Abigail, believing in magic? thought Jacob, No way. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked. Abigail glared at him before replying, "Duh."

Aeranna opened the door and walked in again, this time carrying some food, which wasn't much. "I see your brother has awakened, as well." Abigail nodded quickly while Jacob made no movement. "I will leave you in peace, if that is what you wish." Abigail nodded again and added, "Thanks, Aeranna. Really." The woman smiled and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her again.

"Did you see that?" Jacob whispered, glaring at the door. "See what? I think she's really nice," Abigail replied. "She was carrying a dagger or something! You didn't see it?!" Abigail stared at her brother. "We don't know this country, and they're like, old fashioned, if you know what I mean. It's crazy, but they even talk differently. Maybe we're just in a different time period, around the medieval times or something, when they still had swords and the like." Jacob sighed and leaned back. "I wish we knew how we got here," he said, staring out the window. "Believe me, so do I. This place is like an alien planet to me."

Abigail could see a hulking city, dark and almost smoky. A fire burned somewhere, but she couldn't see just exactly the location. The castle looked abandoned and that it had seen far better days, when the city of Del was bustling, full, and free. Now it was almost empty, except for the troops of Grey Guards and some people rushing about, and the occasional dot that marked a person on the street. The homes were battered, as if some kind of wind had torn through the city and took bits of wood and material away from the houses. Many of them were collapsing and dark.

Suddenly Abigail wished for the casualties of home, even if it was loud and dirty - but it was still her home. There, at least the city hadn't sunk into another person's control. There, at least she knew some people. There, her parents and family were waiting.

And in her pining she didn't notice the streak of a running boy and a troop of Grey Guards following close behind.

So yeah . . . that's the first chapter for you. As I said in my summary, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! I need criticism so I can improve since I've got a feeling that this is missing a huge thing, but I can't figure out what it is! And I'm open to suggestions or ideas for this, anything except something having to do with romance - I'm really sorry about that.

Well what are ya still reading this for?! Go to that nice little box down there and TYPE! Anyone who reviews is awesome! XD