Chapter 1

The waltz was one of the most in sync and beautiful thing he had ever seen in his entire life, especially the part he was staring at, his love, Mariah. The music slowly ended and he and the other half of his soul split apart, but not before he stole a long beautiful kiss.

The party was huge, there were so many beautiful women but he only saw her.

"Dear." She said quietly as they pulled apart. "What was that for?"

"To get you ready for this." He said as he leaned in again and kissed her even more deeply. He slowly pulled apart. "I'll return in a moment my love." He said as he quickly disappeared into the crowd.

At that moment the light music that was playing in the background stopped, and all the lights dimmed. A single light focused on the stage where the band was playing. Standing on the stage was him.

"Mariah, my love, if this entire world of I could have the world in my hand or you in my arms I choose you any day. Mariah my love, will you marry me." He asked, barely holding back a tear.

The light fell onto her. "I… yes!" She yelled. This was greeted by huge applause and cheers. At this news he jumped off of the stage and ran towards her wrapping her in a warm embrace.

Again they kissed. The only reason that they pulled apart was because that almost everyone in the room had come over to congratulate them, and not just friends, but strangers who simply felt enthralled in the moment.

"Franz!" A voice called out from another part of the room. The man gave his bride to be a kiss and ran off to greet the voice. As he was running he was caught in a powerful hug that knocked the wind out of him. He was being squeezed by one of the biggest men in the word, Gregoravitch Hallow, his best friend.

Gregoravitch was about seven and a half feet tall and weighed at least three hundred pounds. He was clean shaven and wore a small pare of glasses that seemed comical on his face. His long scruffy black hair was tied in a long pony tail that draped down his back. His face seemed old but he carried himself as a young man would, with pride. Where he had found the suit he was wearing would always be a mystery, but he did look quite dashing in it.

"So Franz," he said as he lowered Franz to the ground. "Didn't even seem to tell you're your old friend about this?" Greg said with a laugh

Franz leaned back and straightened his spine, god that still hurt. "Knowing you'd ruin it before we arrived." He said with a chuckle of his own.

Greg's smile did however fade. He gently lowered a hand onto Franz's shoulder. "My friend, is this honestly a smart time to be considering marriage?" He asked in all seriousness.

"Franz brushed his hand aside, and looked him in the eye (It hurt his neck to have to crane so much) as he said, "I'm not considering it, I'm doing it, and yes, this is a perfect time for marriage. As he finished he stalked away.

His friend had however brought up a good point. Times were bad; this glorious party could not delude him of that fact. Although he rarely wanted to admit it the war had gotten bad. The kingdom of Haltet had stayed out of it so far, but now… Now anything could happen.

After that he simply shook his head to expel the thought as he ran back to Mariah. He found her in the same place, speaking to the hostess of the party, the queen of Haltet, Glenda Haltet.

As Franz approached the pair he dipped into a low bow to honor he highness. "Milady, I am honored." He said as he rose.

"Charmed to meet such a young romantic like yourself." She said in a long dolling voice. "My husband has told me much about you; he brags that you are one of the most promising men he has ever met."

Franz's cheeks turned a light shade of red, the king had spoken of him that way? "I appreciate his thoughts, but I would not go as far as to say that."

"Nonsense, he says that no other captain has as much skill in the air as you. But, if you will excuse me," The queen said, taking step into the crowd and disappearing from sight.

"So, the best pilot in the country? My fiancé the great." Mariah said with a wide smile.

"She did not say that." Franz said indignantly.

"She might as well have. The way the king speaks of you. Do you think he appoint you head of the air patrol?" Mariah asked hopefully.

"I hope not." Franz said taking a step back. "I have a fiancé now, I will not throw my life away in a war I don't believe in." Franz said somewhat upset.

Mariah leapt to cover his mouth. "Dear, you shouldn't say such things in public, let alone in the royal palace." She uncovered his mouth.

"I think it is quite fine to say.' A voice sounded from beside the couple. They turned to see none other than the king himself, Sylvester Haltet

"Your majesty…" Franz began.

"No need to hide your opinion, if that's the way you feel then speak your mind. And yes, I did plan on asking to head up the air patrol." The king said with a very straight face. "But I do understand if you decline."

"Milord…" Franz began to say.

"No need to decide now, mull it over.' He moved to walk away but Franz put a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't need to think about it, I decline. You understand don't you?" Franz said very nervously.

The king frowned. "Is that your choice then? DO you really decline me?"

"Sir, you heard what I said, I have a wedding to plan, and I don't want to die for something I don't believe in. I am sorry." Franz said earnestly, with no fear.

"Yes I heard what you said but I did not think you would actually reject me. You are actually rejecting my offer." He paused and rubbed a hand through his thinning hair. "You are expelled from the royal army." The king said at last.

"W… what?" Franz stuttered.

"You heard me, you are expelled."

"But sir I don't want to be out of the army, I will fight the small fights I just don't want to lead to air patrol." Franz, he was beginning to worry.

"Franz, if you refuse to do this how can I be sure you will fight at all? I am sorry you had much potential. But wait, maybe there is a way to reinstate you."

"What is it, please?" Franz begged.

"Rethink my offer and lead the air patrol." Sylvester said sinisterly.

Franz looked to Mariah for support, who, in return nodded. Franz took a deep breath. "Sir, I would be honored to lead the…"

Franz was drastically cut short by a huge explosion that rocked the foundation of the entire building. Part of the wall where the band was standing had been completely destroyed exposing the deep ocean that lay a hundred feet below. Somehow the explosion had completely blown away an entire half of the building. Franz, Mariah, and Sylvester were blown to their feet.

The King's voice ran out "Stay calm! We are under attack! Evacuate immediately!" He said as he leapt to his feet.

At closer inspection Franz realized that this was not over. As he looked out at the sea he could see that far above enemy ships were everywhere. Bombs were being dropped on the nearby port city, and it was on intense fire.

Then, suddenly, in through the window leapt dozens of armed solders from the enemy land of Kino.

The supposed leader of the group stepped forward. He wore a long yellow army coat and a black and yellow striped helmet that made him resemble a giant bee. "Citizens of Haltet, I am commander Juan of Kino, and I hereby order you to give up king Sylvester or every single one of you will die." He said very quickly and very sinisterly. He drew a long hocked blade from a scabbard at his hip and pointed it toward the surviving guests. "Don't play coy, your highness, come out now or watch your guests die!" Juan yelled as he began to lose his temper. In the blink of an eye he jumped forward and grabbed the nearest guest, an elderly woman dressed in a very fine gown and wore gigantic jewels around her fingers. "I will start with her, come out!"

Franz's eyes shifted to where he knew the king was standing, right behind him, trying to make his way to the door. Then, as several men tried to slip out of the door two other solders wearing yellow coats dashed to the only exit and drew their blades, there would be no escape.

Franz tilted his head back. "What are you doing? They'll kill us all." He hissed at the king.

Sylvester gulped and took a step forward. "Commander Juan, I surrender." Sylvester said as loudly as he could without saying it with attitude.

Juan smiled and threw the woman back to the crowd. "Come up here your highness." He said in mock kindness.

The king slowly made his way through the crowd, which seemed to split apart as he walked through it. He then appeared right in front of Juan who was easily six five, towering over the five foot five king. He pointed his sword at the throat of the king. "You really are an idiot." Juan spat this as he spat in the kings face.

Sylvester seemed to tense, he seemed to move but not much. Juan threw his sword to one of his men and instantly shot out a fist caching the king square in the nose. "You come out into public so soon after entering the war, you're a fool." He punched again, this time in the stomach. He threw the king to his men who grabbed and restrained him. Juan turned back to the crowd. "I apologize for interrupting this little party but you are all now under arrest in the name of Kino, surrender or die!" Juan's voice rang out like a piecing screech.

Is this what would happen? Had we lost the war already? Franz thought, this couldn't happen. He wouldn't give up without a fight. He looked to Mariah, who in return nodded; she knew what he must do. He quickly stole a kiss and slipped off into the crowd, unnoticed by the solders.

Guards began to walk through the crowd snapping hand cuffs over all of the guests. Franz's first stop was Gregoravitch. Franz snuck up behind him and gave him a quick jab in the back. Greg understood, he nodded. The guards approached him with a disturbed look on their faces.

'Don't worry," Greg said to the two guards before him. "You won't be arresting me!" he roared as he grabbed the two men and hurled them across the room. His voice then boomed out. "If you want to defend your country, now's the time!" Greg then rushed towards Juan, who merely smiled. He stopped right in front of Juan, no man moved against him.

Juan smiled. "Gregoravitch Hallow, charmed." Juan bowed mockingly. "DO expect to fight all the guard and myself all by your lonesome? Good luck." He said with a laugh.

"Nope," Greg said smugly. "I'm not alone."

Juan tilted his head. "What?"

At that Franz leapt off of Greg's back, where he had been clutching onto his suit. Franz leapt over Greg's head in a spectacular jump; he landed right on top of Juan and smashed him in the face. At this the crowd reacted, they bashed into the guards that were arresting and rushed the ones behind Juan, the ones that held the king.

Juan reached for his blade, but he remembered throwing it aside when he punched the king. His solders rushed to protect him but Greg blocked their way and even managed to throw several of them out into the deep sea below.

Franz ripped the helmet off of Juan's head and began smashing it into his face. Blood was covering both of them, but all of it was Juan's.

Then he saw it, for a split second Franz looked up from the beaten general just in time to see about ten Kino solders leaping all over Greg, shoving him in to the sea, along with several of their own. Franz let out out a scream of fear and loss.

One of the guards took this opportunity to shove Franz off of their leader. The guard pulled the now unconscious Juan off to the side then mad a straight dash to Franz, his blade outright. Franz however was always ready; he pulled his hidden sword out of a concealed pocket in his pants. His blade was thin and short but it would get the job done. He easily sidestepped the clumsy solder and dove his own sword between the man's shoulder blades. He pulled out his bloody sword and returned to the battle; Greg's death will not be in vane.

The guard's numbers now dwindled to a little over a dozen. Although several guests had unfortunately died, this battle was won, but it was no victory. The king had been retrieved and had been pulled off to the side where he was being guarded. The guests surrounded the surviving guards who were now trying to revive Juan. Eventually Juan's eyes opened and go to his feet.

He then began to applaud. "Well done, Haltet you have won here but this war has just begun, do not think this over. He threw his hands up into the air and in an instant he and his men were gone. They had won but there was no cheering, the war was in full force, there would be no turning back.

Franz replaced his blade to its sheath and ran to find Mariah. As he was looking he was topped by the king himself. 'Franz… I…I don't know how to thank you, you saved my life."

"You can help me by moving, I need to find my love." He said brushing the king off and running away.

He was topped again by an old friend of his, Jack Olden. "Franz, stop." he said gently.

"What do you mean I must find Mariah." Franz said trying to brush him off but Jack clung on.

"Franz, listen, Franz, I'm sorry… Mariah was killed." He said somberly.

Franz felt that he had been smashed in the stomach with a hammer. It couldn't be true, she couldn't be gone. "Jack," Franz trailed off. 'Where…where is she?" He asked chocking back tears.

Jack silently led his friend over to a group of bodies, they were neatly lying side by side, there was about twenty of them. Mariah was directly in the middle. She was covered in blood and had a large gash in her throat. AT this sight he fell to the floor in a gush of tears. "MARIAH!" Franz bellowed at the heavens. This couldn't be true, first his best friend, now his love, this couldn't be true.