Later I was taught in etiquette on how to be a Nobel woman. I was the most ahead in my class.

Ms.Blossem", said my teacher. "You are very ahead of the other students. You're very elegant. May I talk to you outside", she said. "Yes, Ms. Antonia", I said as we walked into the garden. "If you don't mind, I was asking if you would be the honored guest at the pearl ball", she said. "I would love to go, Ms. Antoinia, but may I ask what is the reason?" I replied. "Oh excuse me for not telling you earlier. You have graduated this class with flying colors. You are one of the best I have seen at this academy," as she said those words we walked out of the courtyard. It must have been midnight by the time we finished talking. I walked to my room as my tired legs wobbled about. I knew that I had to hurry or I would pass out on the floor. I started sweating real hard and my eyes started to get blurry. I was short of breath too. By the time I unlocked the door I was near faint. I walked a few more steps and fell onto my bed. With the rest of my energy I managed to get fully on it. I then passed out.

I woke up the next morning exactly where I landed last night. "I must have passed out again," I said to myself. The only thing different that I noticed about the room was that there was a big box lying by the couch. It was labeled to Marie Antoinette. No doubt that it was for me. I had made an agreement that at the party I would be called Marie Antoinette after the French queen. It was the best name that she could give me. Cheery Blossem wasn't a name I would take at that party. I read the note lying next to the box. Much earlier I had learned that the ball was more of a play. It was not based on the actress herself but the character. It took place on Marie Antoinette's birthday and it was all about her. I would portray her at the ball. No doubt I looked like her. Many People said that I did. I opened up the box. Man was I surprised. It was a beautiful ball gown. It looked exactly like Marie's! I was so happy.

I must write very little today. Many of the ladies say that this spring whether is a bad sign. I think not. I believe that this is all nonsense. The girls were probably reading too much scary stories. I also have many things to do before the ball and so little time to do them. There's the carriage, I must go.

Today is the day of the ball. I have gotten so many presents this week. One of the girls here, Lizzie has kept me company through all this excitement. Lizzie says that I mustn't rush myself or something could happen. Lizzie is always worried about my health and never about her own. She says that I should take a break from all this preparation. She does not want me to go to the hospital again. I think that it is silly to think such a thing. But I will take her advice and rest for a moment. Suddenly Lizzie came bolting in crying. "It can't be. It can't be. This can not happen. They are lying they must be.", she screamed. I stood up in confusion. "What is wrong, Lizzie?" I questioned. Her teary eyes rose and she said "The pirates! They are coming! They are pure evil. They are going to get us. They are, Cheery. They are! We are not safe!" "Lizzie calm down. Please do. Nothing will happen Lizzie, trust me. There will still be a ball and everything will be all right. They won't take over. They would have called off the party if they did," said I. "You don't understand, Cheery. They will come, I saw them. They are after someone, Cheery. I heard them. They will attack the party", she cried. "Don't be foolish my friend. It must be a dream. Have no fear," I said. She left before I could finish.

For the next couple hours I began to think about what Lizzie had said. Maybe she was right. Maybe they were coming. Maybe they are here now just waiting till all the party gets to the ballroom. I looked out the window to see if anyone could be out there. I saw a shadow of a ship coming into port by the water. I looked harder to get a closer look. A light flashed right before me. I turned my head to protect my eyes. "What was that?" I said to myself. There was a knock on the door. I opened it but all I fond was a letter. It read "Dear Miss. Blossem, this is very scary news. Some form of pirates are going to attack this place. They are looking for someone and are not to be trusted. By the time you get this letter it might have already happened. If you see a bright light then you don't have much time. Please come to the ballroom this instant for your own sake. Signed Mrs. Antoinia". "So it was true", I said to myself. That meant that I had to leave now.

By the time I got down there I felt uneasy and weak. "Oh no, please not now," I said to myself worried if I would get sick again. I opened the door expecting to see my teacher. Instead I saw the band of pirates. They were the most horrid looking things I had ever seen. What I remember from then on was hearing them speak in a different language, then suddenly falling to the ground.

I woke up. "Where am I?" I asked myself. The ground was very unsteady. I fell. "What is that sound? Why is the floor rocking?" I said. "We need more ammo. Get me more ammo. We won't win this battle without it", said a distant voice. "BOOM", went a cannon. I fell to the floor again. "Captain, I think she woke. Did she hear the conversation?" said the voice. "No, she is French, remember? She can't understand a single word we were saying", said the captain. They were right. I was clueless to the conversation. Suddenly I knew what happened, I was kidnapped. Now I must be on their pirate ship. I then banged my body against the door that locked me in this room. I shouted loudly, the whole crew must have heard me. Everything I ever learned in the academy was no use now. My powdered wig I wore fell off my head, revealing long curly blonde hair. I had not seen my real hair in years. I kept banging on the door. My strength did not hold out long. I soon realized that I was crying, along with my injured body. I finally stopped trying to escape and cried myself to sleep.

Wake up girl!" said an unkind voice. "It's bad enough that we have to feed you but now you stay up all night banging on the door. We can't sleep, and now you're injured," said the pirate stepping into the light. I stood up, out of the corner of my eye I saw that the pirate was not blocking the door. I held my breath and raced out of the door. Confused on where to go I ran up a staircase to an upper level. Then a light as bright as the heavens blinded me. The power so intense that I could feel the cold touch of almost certain death on my shoulder.

Drink, miss," said an almost ghostly voice. I opened my eyes but saw only a blur of a scullery maid. I was not on a ship for the rocking had stopped and I could not smell the revolting stench of pirates. I calmly sipped from the bowl of soup given to me. Yes, I was finally safe for once. My vision cleared. I was right though, she was a scullery maid, how could I not have noticed that. "Umm" I started. "Shh, miss. Don't speak. You are too weak. You suffered a pretty nasty blow to the head if I might add. You are safe now, we saved you" she answered felt the top of my head, yes she was right, I have a bandage. But the question was, how did this happen? I must have blanked out through the night. Why was I on land? How did I get here? These thoughts ran through my head as I studied my surroundings. An old house it was at the least. A tavern perhaps? Or maybe a hospital. The furniture was not the best I had seen looks old as well. The maid left the room. A doctor walked in, an old lenny with a white beard. I could see in the other room the maid was talking to him, pointing at me a few times and then the doctor would scratch his heard. Like he was thinking. How bad was my injury and what happened to me to cause it? Why would the call a doctor to see me, their were plenty of other patients he could see. I could tell that there must have been some kind of violent fight that accord for there were broken ships and gunpowder on the shore. I never did like doctors before. I had seen them to many times. Why should he be any better then the last, a doctor was a doctor.

A few hours later the doctor was about to leave, he started to pack up all his equipment. Humming some type of hymn. Jotting some notes on a notebook and handing it to the scullery maid. Confused I tried to speak, but no words came out. Giving up I laid my head down, listening to their conversation. "She is not healthy. I have not seen anything like it, nothing at all. It is not because of the head wound. Something far worse, I have seen nothing like it in all of my years. There is nothing about it in my medical books, or any medical books for that matter," the doctor tore off a sheet of paper from his notebook. "Here, give this to the commodore, tell him that box C-5 on the 'Tricorn' will arrive at noon tomorrow. Tell him that it is for an emergency," he said with a from on his face. He looked at me and sighed. "A dire emergency," he frowned and walked out the door. The scullery maid took one look at it and look at the floor.

Dinner will be ready soon, miss. I suggest that you get yourself ready. The commodore is coming and we want him impressed," she said a little more joyfully, pulling out gowns from the closet. She pulled out a pale blue gown with a red sash. "Aye, that's it. I knew it was here somewhere. You'd look rather charming in this gown, miss. Let me help you tighten your corset," she said again. She took my hand and helped me out of bed. Taking the strings and pulling them as tight as she could. I felt strange; my corset did not feel as tight as it was when I was at the academy. I finally had enough strength to speak.

Tighter," I said. "It needs to be tighter". She tightened the strings giving me an odd look. She picked up the pale blue dress and slipped it on me, adding the sash soon after. I looked at the dress in the mirror. It was rather plain. I took another look at it, another disappointment. I finally made out my complaint" It is rather plain. Do you have anything else?

Well, no, miss. The commodore wouldn't expect anything too nice from us. But he has to meet you first. Then we will settle all this out," she said, in a happy tone.

Why does the commodore want to meet me? I thought that he was just going to give us medicine," I accidentally said. It was very rude of me to speak in such a manor. I had met many commodores in my life, none of which I was upset about meeting.

The commodore WILL give us medicine, in due time. I don't think you remember miss but the commodore saved your life. He requested a more formal meeting with you. It is rather good luck to be in favor of the commodore. Now hurry up and get to the diner table before the commodore arrives

The commodore had arrived, as he entered through the hall I took a quick glance at him. He was a rather young for a pet of his position. He was holding a large lavender box. He looked p at me with a very cold look in his eye.

I should think that the young miss takes fancy in this box. I thought you would. What lady would not want to know what was inside?" he grinned as he put his hand on the top of the box and began to lift the top. "Diamonds, miss. Stolen right from the palace. A fortune to be sure of," he cackled.

As a child I had been taught to respect neopians of authority, but now as was far away from my home. Manners did not count at this place, this island. These diamonds seemed familiar, like they were from my academy. Or were they, I vaguely remember my life before the academy. Were they my mother's? Or were they mine? How could I ever have seen a diamond before the academy, I lived on the countryside. I remember diamonds in the academy though. They were not as extravagant as these were. Yet I remember them in a dark room. Yes, in the tower of the academy, far above a student's rightful place. I remember grabbing out to it, and a delicate paw quickly grabbing my arm. Who could this lady be? Her hand was too young to be my teacher's. Yet the voice was too old to be a student's. I remember now, the voice calling out something. "Child, there is so much you don't know," is what a hardly remember. I was so scared as a child back then, I thought the lady was a ghost. No, I did not think it, I knew it.

S-stolen? Those are not to be taken," I stuttered deciding I should end the conversation before I made a fool of myself. "I.... I.... I…. Don't feel well," I lied. "I...need.... to retire to my chamber. Good day!" I quickly said as I ran to my room. Quickly passing by the chambermaid and her stunned face. I hastily locked the door to my room, keeping the entire world out. The room was not as I had left it, or was it? The mirror that was on the dresser had been so severely cracked that a sunken ship could not surpass it. The bed was tattered and my plain blue dress was just ship's canvas. The dresser itself was tree bark and the gowns inside were nothing more then ripped paper. The window was missing as well. I quickly looked for my nightgown that I had worn before changing into this garb. My injury must have been so severe that I must have dreamed this room was grand. Though my nightgown lay rested on windowpane, its appearance was somewhat normal. I quickly changed into the gown. Deciding that these people were not to be trusted, I climbed through the -blocked- Quickly dashing out of the house and onto the shore. It was there that I found a young girl in the sand. Grasping the shore as if it was some kind of blanket.

You," she cried. "You are the reason why this happened. You are the reason why they all are gone," the young girl muttered under her breath. I could tell that she was in some kind of pain. To be continued.