Normally, on earth, heroes are honoured and praised for their courageous deeds but on Zeig, things aren't the same.

***

Ivory's stomach was shaking as she fought a gale of giggles. My laugh erupted through my ears as I pushed the thoughts of the Maya girls aside.

"Time for us to get ready!" Ivory whispered. I followed her gaze, landing on bunnies with three eyes. I took a seat on the velvet seat of the dressing table as the aliens gathered around us and each took up a job on our face.

"You're not going to be able to make me look pretty," I announced to the one that was about to do my makeup.

"Darling, you've got noticeable features. Just gotta' make them striking."

I opened my eyes and stared at my reflection. My eyes were a brown before, but a deep earthy brown- the eyeliner made them piercing. My curly messy bun framed my face, making my features larger. I wouldn't say that I was pretty but the alien was right. My face was striking.

I couldn't recognise the Burn Archer that stared back at me with the perfect bronze face and glossy lips.

After ten minutes, we reached the Grand Hall. As we walked into the crystal ballroom, I realised that I was the only one that had shoes that completely touched the floor. I wore black converse because I refused to wear any shoe with a heel more one centimetre.

After my family came across a great loss, I had hated dressing up and going to social events. It made me sick to the stomach, thinking about the all the dancing they did there... because she loved to dance.

The stairs ahead were twisted in a perfect spiral. I placed my weight on the each step, leaving invisible shoes prints as I made my way to the bottom. Silence lashed out into the hall as every face in the crowd turned our way.

There were three chairs standing on the stage so I took placed my bottom thoughtlessly on the left one.

"That chair is reserved for the host of the party," Ivory whispered. "Your chair's the one on the right."

I instantly kicked myself off the seat to sit on another one. After I took my seat, I watched everything. Ivory hugged an old man who was the host. He was clearly a Maya.

"It's incredible to see you after so long, Dashwood. I missed you so much," Ivory said with smile.

His deep laughed warmed me up like my grandfather's did. "Welcome back princess."

The atmosphere was eccentric as people giggled and made conversation, but settled down when Dashwood began addressing the meeting.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to this ball which is also in a form of a meeting. You all look beautiful and I'm absolutely honoured to be hosting this," he announced as he raised his face a little higher.

"I am proud to announce that our princess has returned." He turned to face Ivory and said, "Welcome back!"

A cheer broke out from within the crowd. While he was announcing how glad he was to have her back and everything, I zoned out, scanning the audience. There were all sorts of creatures - tall and short, fat and thin, and ugly and not so bad looking.

My eyes explored the room. Every creature in it was staring at the Dashwood as he lectured... except one.

He had the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks. I guess he must get used to that, the sudden pause in a person's natural expression, followed by a weak smile. His hair, dark and lustrous, fair skin and...golden eyes like volcanic ashes framed with thick lashes... caught my attention. Not because they were golden, but because those golden eyes were glaring at me.

His eyes flinched when I had caught him but he didn't stop staring. Suddenly I felt a nudge, so I turned my head and Ivory was indicating for me to get up on the podium and talk.

Confusion lashed out on my face.

"You weren't paying attention, were you? Fine I'll cover for you," she whispered.

I made no response. The crowd gazed between Ivory and me, wondering why I hadn't gone. I felt a tiny pinch of guilt.

"She's really tired today so please excuse her for that, and I'll be talking for her," she said with a long pause.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this human girl is from Planet Earth. Her name is Burn Archer and she is the most amazing person I have met in the universe. Somehow, all alone, she ended up in the Oagles' prison. Over there we became friends and she helped me escape by stealing one of their ships!" Excitement burnt in her eyes.

A wave of gasp and whisper swept through the crowd. All of a sudden a hand in the crowd shoots up.

"Can I please say something?"

"Of course you can!" Ivory replied to the voice. I raised my head to see who it was. It was the same boy... the boy with the golden eyes.

I watched him as he, almost gracefully, walked on to the stage, got a folded paper out of his pocket, and began reciting it.

"Have any of you ever tried eating paper and syrup together? Or fallen off a cliff while singing a Christmas song? You know what you'll love talking to your boss about when you next see them? Onions! That's what!"

No words made an effort to leave my dry mouth. In that instant my skin became greyed, my mouth hung with lips slightly parted and my eyes were as wide as they could stretch.

Those were the same words I'd said at my execution but how the hell did he know about it?