"MAAAXXXX!" Nudge screeched in my ear. Yes, screeched. Ugh. I may be a princess with special storm-and-element-controlling abilities and wings but do I act like it? Nope. (You can imagine me confidently popping the "p" on that nope too if you wish.)

"What, Nudge?" I asked, controlling my anger. I swear if she screeched in my ear at 8:15 in the morning again she was going to get soaked. All it took was a flick of my wrist….Hasn't she learned from her mistakes? Poor, poor girl….

She smiled. "Today's the day of the games silly! And Prince Nicholas is gonna be there and so Queen Valencia has instructed me to make you look your very best! Oh, and she said to tell you that if you didn't comply and be perfectly nice to him today and let me do my job then she'll make you go on a date with him like his mother's been trying to reason will be 'good for your relationship'" she finished giggling. I glared at her.

I sighed, giving in. I knew my mother was totally serious. My mother, the Queen, Valencia Ride, was not a person who had a high tolerance level (or a tolerance level at all) for me not being the princess I am in public. But otherwise, she was a great Queen and mother. She understood me like no one else did except for Iggy and Angel and possibly Nudge (whenever she's not babbling of course).

I let her do my hair and make-up and put me in my ceremonial games gown. It was ice blue and stunning silver and was made of silk fabric. Though I would never admit it, I loved this gown. It had slits for my wings and the gown flowed to the ground, falling into what sometimes looked like an endless stream that fell behind me. It was gorgeous.

I wore my power-enhancing anklet and bracelet and Nudge studded Diamonds on my wings and in a flowy, vine-looking pattern on the corner of my left eye. My sapphire earrings were studs, thank God, and my necklace was the simple amulet of the princess that was passed down between the princesses of Bacheloria.

I looked in my body-length mirror and gasped. I was gorgeous. I very rarely ever let Nudge dress me up, but there was no. freaking. Way. That I was going to go on a date with that jerk, Prince Nicholas, or as he liked to be called, Fang. I couldn't believe I was being forced to marry the jerk. He was awful. But that was the price of being a princess, even though I didn't wish to be one in the first place.

"You look great, Max. I'm so happy I didn't get soaked this time! Last time you charmed a storm into following me the entire way home." She glared daggers at me and I smirked. "Well, anyways-" Nudge started, but my mother beat her to it.

"Maximum Rayne Ride," she started lecturing me as she quickly walked into the room immersed in thought, and expecting to have to force me to perform correctly. She looked shocked when she realized I was ready and being a good little princess. Then that shocked look relaxed into a relieved smile and she praised me.

"Max, sweetheart, you look amazing. I know you don't like it, but you truly look like the beautiful young woman and princess that you truly are meant to be." She said proudly. I nodded in defeat as she started shouting orders.

"Iggy, I trust you to get Max to the limo safely, Nudge, you can come with us to the games as Max's friend along with Iggy ." She turned to Iggy again. "Also, Iggy, you will be the knight assigned to protecting my daughter tonight. I trust she will be safe with you?" she said, even though she already knew I would with or without Iggy's help.

With that she walked out of the room and Iggy protectively flanked me closely behind on my left with Nudge who had already dressed on my right. We stopped by Angel's room, my 7-year-old little sister who was also a princess, and I held her hand as we walked toward the limo downstairs. Knights bowed respectfully to us and I nodded in reply and smiled warmly.

Together, the four of us, entered mine and Angel's limo and we were on our way to the Games…..Where my soon-to-be husband and bane of my existence, Prince Nicholas "Fang" Collins, of Calia, was waiting. For me. God kill me now.

~~imma line! Hear me ROAR!~~

When the limo's bullet-proof windows finally started to show the greenery of the Games' main playing field, I sighed and leaned back in my seat. Nudge and Angel were asleep, Nudge leaning back in her seat and Angel with her head in my lap.

When we finally pulled into the red-carpeted special walkway for my sister , my friends and I to walk on, mostly me since I, unfortunately, am the future Queen and also the one that was mutated as a child, most call me "gifted" (umm…im definitely not gifted, more like mutated or cursed.), Angel had stirred and was not wide awake with anticipation for the Games. She loved them.

They were kind of cool, though. I mean, come on, 2 kingdoms, mine being the largest (haha), all competing in the weirdest things. They would swim, play hundreds of sports, just mostly….well, compete. They did some things that were really cool and I loved the games too, though I would never admit it. I didn't admit a lot of things about myself, though, so it's nothing new.

The one thing I was nervous about though was the end. The finale. Me. I was supposed to be showcasing my newest, most powerful elemental techniques. I was supposed to create a 30-foot-tall circle of fire around me, then fly up to the top and create a lightning storm and a twister. I would throw lighting wherever I pleased, as long as I didn't hit people, and then I would make the twister bring the golden trophy up to me in the sky and I would shock it with lightning.

Then I was supposed to say, "This cup has now been shocked by the princess of Bacheloria, Maximum Rayne Ride, and I present this cup of honorary championship, to….blah blah blah (aka whoever wins.)"

It sounded kind of stupid if you asked me, but was I going to change it and have to go on a date with Fang? No. Freaking. Way. No matter how much I wanted to, I wouldn't but myself through that kind of pain. I'm going to get enough of that jerk when we get married and have to produce heirs (um, excuse me while I go throw up my ENTIRE FREAKING LUNCH!) ….ew. ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew!

But, anyways, back to the present here…

I got out of the limo with a dazzling smile on my face, Angel was holding my hand tightly and was shining the almost identical smile as me towards the fans who were bowing respectfully. I nodded at them in return and they relaxed. That's when I noticed something was wrong. Crap. Not again..I whined in my head. I sighed and quickly went into fighting stance.

"Iggy! 42-20! 42-20!" I yelled the alarm code that meant "damn assassins after me again, get Angel out of the way",and he grabbed Angel and hurled her back into the limo and drew his sword. I raised my hand and closed my eyes as I commanded vines to swirl around my arms, then shooting out towards my attacker. One grabbed his gun, while another grabbed his neck and picked him up off the ground. I brought the vines slowly back to me trying to prolong this man's torture.

I slowly released the vines by snapping my fingers and he dropped to the ground, face contorted in pain. "You dare bring a gun in my presence? You dare try and kill me?" I asked, seething with rage. Didn't people get it? I wasn't going to get killed. I could handle myself. They couldn't kill me. And yet, even after hundreds of failures, they still try.

I was slowly circling him while Iggy stood tense behind me, and the other knights were all in defensive positions behind Iggy.

I was slowly contemplating what to do with him when I decided. "Iggy, will you please fetch Angel for me?" I asked sweetly. He nodded and quickly went to the limo and picked up Angel whose face was contorted much like the assassin's but in terror for me, not pain. He sat her down beside me and she put on a brave face and looked at the man. The fans were now watching in silence.

"Princess Angel, this is the man who just tried to kill me." I said calmly. She looked at him, emotional pain evident in her eyes as she squatted down to where the man was cowering on the ground.

"Why would you even dare trying to kill Princess Maximum? She's my sister. She's my best friend." She said the last two sentences quietly, while the first was loud and practically screamed "authority".

Angel has this uncanny ability to see the best in people and she somehow knows a person's life story just by touching them. She was mutated also but only to a small extent so thank god people don't really pay that much attention to her. Only for the fact that she's a princess, not a "gifted" mutant.

She slowly reached down and touched the man's cheek and closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them again she said quietly, "I understand why, but that is no reason to try and kill Max. That wasn't her fault. Your daughter leaving you wasn't her doing. I'm sorry, mister, but my sister would never do such a thing. Your daughter left you because you were an alcoholic that needed but refused help. She was tired of you lying around wasted. She was tired of taking care of you. This is your fault." Angel said. Her voice had a great amount of sympathy but the same of confusion and hate.

"Max, may I sentence this one? I know the best thing for him. He needs help, Max," she asked me with pleading eyes. I nodded, proud of her for taking on this responsibility. She was so good with the people of our kingdom. Helping them in any way she could.

"I, Princess Angelina Marie Ride of Bacheloria, herby sentence this citizen, Joseph Carter, for two years in a dungeon, with proper accommodations but no liquor of any kind. He may have only water for beverage. He is sentenced for the crime of attempted murder of a royal. Knights, take him." She said, her voice quiet from sadness. She knew this man was good, he had just made mistakes and had to be punished.

Once he was gone, the ceremonies continued and I walked up the stairwell to my suite at the top of the stadium on the far left side, where my parents would be waiting. We walked in and Angel quickly ran over to Mom, eyes brimming with tears. Today was a big day. She had sentenced her first criminal, and it was killing her inside because of what she knew about the man's past. That was going to make things a lot more difficult for her than me in situations like that.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Mom and Dad asked in unison. Worry outlining their sharp features.

Angel's blonde hair that came from my father shone brightly in the lights. She was still sitting in my mother's lap, trying hard not to cry, and barely succeeding.

"Mom, Dad, I was attacked, again. Once I had the man under control, Angel came out and gave him advice on how to get on with his life and then sentenced him to the dungeon." I said quickly. Dad nodded approvingly towards me then said to Angel sweetly, "Great job, sweetheart. I'm very proud of you."

Mom nodded and brushed the single stray tear off Angel's face with her thumb, smiling warmly at her. "That's part of being a beautiful, powerful, smart, young princess, Sweetheart. But from what Max has told me, you did a wonderful job."

Angel looked at me and I nodded and smiled at her. She was only 7 and she was already having to worry about ruling a country and sentencing people and, well, just generally trying to avoid getting killed. She was so strong. She's learning quick, I inwardly noted, looks like I'm doing a good job.

The suite from where we would observe the Games was spacious and luxurious. It had a large crystal chandelier and had 8 thrones all different sizes all sitting in a horseshoe shape so we could all see each other, right behind the glass window where we would sit to watch. There were four red black and red thrones on the left and four silver and blue ones on the right. The order went: Angel, with a small throne that fit her small physique perfectly, and to her left was me, in my large, but not as large as my father's, silver throne. Next to me was my mother's throne, large and extravagant, and next to her was my father's throne. His the same size and even more extravagant. Next to him were the currently unoccupied Calia thrones. They were all of the same description, just different colors because the Calians had children that were mine and Angel's age.

I sat in my throne next to my family and Iggy and Nudge were standing behind me, flanking me on my right and left. I stared straight ahead dreading the moment the Calians would walk through that door. Due to the recent alliance, and my (mother's) promise for my hand in marriage to the cocky, snarky, arrogant, sarcastic Prince Fang, our families were relieved of all fighting and our two countries lived in peace. Our mothers had said that (in their words) "wouldn't it just be spectacular if we watched the games together?" Great. Just Great, Mom.

I was shaken out of my thoughts by the Calians pouring in and Fang snarkily saying, "Hi, Princess Maximum." He knew I hated it when people used my first name when they didn't have to, much less using my title as well.

I nodded in reply, still staring straight ahead, "Prince Nicholas." I said, smirking. He hated that almost as much as I did. He gave me his best death glare which I gladly returned, turning in his direction. He finally gave up and sat down with his parents and his 7 year old little brother, Andrew Zephyr, also called Gazzy for obvious reasons.

The rest of the Games went without incident, and soon it was the end. A Calian man who's name was Henry Markham, in honor of his king, Fang's father, no less, ended up winning after much debate between the two families and it ended up coming down to me. Everyone else had already voted and I chose Henry because he showed the three qualities I respected most: strong-will, wit, and heart.

It was now time for the closing ceremonies, which , unfortunately, I was to lead. Iggy escorted me down the long steps as thousands of people from both kingdoms watched me in silence. They all knew how powerful I was, but they had no idea what I was about to do. I rarely projected my power like this and very few people had ever seen me use them. Now I was about to show the whole kingdom just how powerful I really was, considering this would be on live TV.

Once we got to the bottom, we made our way to the middle of the field. The remaining contestants were bowing and I nodded at them with a warm smile as they rose up to face me. There were five left, two Calians and three Bachelorians, and they were all projecting anxiety from their worried features. I could tell.

I spoke into the small, barely noticeable headset that Iggy had given me before we walked down. "You all have come far, and you have brought honor to your countries. You will each leave today with a medal of honor for you to take back home to your families, and one of you will leave with the Trophy of the Champions." I said, watching their freaked expressions with amusement that I was sure to not let show on my face.

With that I shook out my wings. People gasped in awe as my wings reached their full length of 14 ft. They were pretty cool if I do say so myself. They were pure white until they reached the tips where my feathers were randomly speckled with brown spots. I then flew up until I was about 20 feet above them. I did a graceful spin in the air with my hands raised horizontally as my sides. I concentrated intently on the flames as I continued spinning until I was just a blur and flames were in a huge circle that reached my height. I stopped spinning once there was a huge wall of fire between the contestants and the spectators. Only the royals could see inside the circle since I had a camera in a jewel that was on my dress. The royals were most likely watching the feed from that camera along with Nudge and Iggy as I spoke.

The contestants were gazing up at me with envious looks that changed to pure amazement along with the rest of the crowd as I raised my hands above my head and brought dark, gray clouds that spiraled above us in an unnatural fashion, and a Bachelorian knight walked through a temporary break that I had created in the flames, holding the trophy.

He placed the trophy in the middle of the field and the contestants made a large circle around it. I then, with much effort, created a funnel cloud and commanded a twister that flawlessly spun downwards until it swallowed up the trophy, much to the player's despair. I slowly brought the trophy up towards me as I lowered the flames to an extent so that the spectators could see over the wall and could observe the important ceremony that was about to take place.

The twister dissolved and the trophy came to my hand and I raised it towards the sky. I gracefully threw it away from me and called down a lightning bolt that stuck the trophy as it was falling to the ground. It had stopped mid-fall and now had a silver glow around it. It now floated in the air and I swooped down until I was right next to the thing.

I picked it up and held it towards the contestants. They had this crazy look of fear mixed with anxiety and amazement on their faces as they looked up at me. "This trophy has now been struck by the lightning of Princess Maximum Rayne Ride of Bacheloria. I now present this trophy to….." I let my voice trail off as I paused smiling warmly at the crowd to build suspense, "HENRY MARKHAM!" I boomed. Thunder crackled and lightning struck as I said his name. I pushed the clouds away with my mind and soon the arena was overcome with brilliant sunlight.

The crowd was roaring wildly and Henry looked like he was about to faint as a huge smile lit up his face when I swooped down to him. I folded my wings against my back as I handed him the trophy. He stared at it in amazement as I smiled and clapped with the rest of the crowd. The rest of the royals soon joined me, clapping along with me and then everyone, even the spectators, bowed at the sight of both royal families. The kings nodded and waved and clapped with the rest of us and the queens held the kings hands as they walked to meet me.

Fang had this amazed look on his face that was quickly covered with his impassive mask that I hated so much. I smirked at him as Angel ran up to me and jumped into my arms. I turned to my father and he gave me an approving nod and a warm smile as he held out his arms for me to hug him. I then hugged my mother, Iggy, and Nudge, and shook Henry's hand and said congratulations.

I was totally whooped. All that power had caused me a massive headache but I didn't show it because if I wasn't the invincible Maximum Ride, then who was I? I thought as I walked up the stairs with Iggy, Angel, and Fang. But, unfortunately, I fainted as soon as we walked in the door to the suite. Oh crap….

Fang POV.

HOLY SHIT. I was 16 and I had never seen anything like it. It was…..amazing. She made graceful swoops and spins, created fire out of nothing, then called down one of the largest, most powerful storms I've ever seen…she's amazing. And what's even better is that she would soon be mine.

We finally made it back up to the suite Max was straggling looking like she was going to pass out. "Max, are you OK?" Iggy asked worriedly. Iggy was a good guy, and I could tell he loved Max like a sister.

Max acted as if she didn't even hear him, which might've been true, because right after he said that she collapsed and Iggy caught her, looping his arm around her waist and gently moving her arm across his soldiers to support her. She was out cold and Iggy was having a hard time picking her up so I went over and picked her up bridal-style.

Iggy looked at me with wide eyes full of shock. "You do realize that if she finds out that you carried her when she wakes up she's going to fully unleash her wrath on you, right?" Iggy said. He shuddered as if that would be the most unpleasant thing in the world, which it quite possibly could be.

I nodded and rolled my eyes. She wouldn't hurt me…I hope. Besides, I was her future husband, doesn't that count for something? The thought made me giddy. But Fangs do not get giddy. So I never showed it. The one thing that Max didn't already know about me (she had Angel shake my hand and tell her everything about me) was that I was already in love with her. I didn't care about the arranged marriage. I would want to be with her anyways. The arrangement just made everything easier for me.

I know it's sort of crazy, the way I show it, but I couldn't ever let her know that I love her until she feels the same way about me. I think she hates my guts right now and I can't really blame her. Before I knew her I was a player and just went out of my way to make her miserable when I saw her. I was the bane of her existence, even though someday I hope to be the reason for it….

I sat her down on the plush couch gently and looked at Iggy. "What happened to her?" I asked, worry stemming up from somewhere deep inside me.

Iggy looked indecisive, probably trying to figure out whether or not I should know or not, but finally he said, "I think she overdid herself. That was probably the most power I've ever seen her exhibit. I didn't even know that she had that much power. She even takes me to her practices with her but I'd never seen her do her full routine before today. I had no idea she'd planned to do the whole thing at the same time." He said, so much worry filling his voice it sort of made me nervous. At that time though, mine and her parents decided to make their entrance with a screaming Angel and a worried looking Gazzy by their sides.

"MMAAAXXXX!" Angel screeched. She sprinted over to her sister in her dress that looked like a miniature version of Max's. She had golden blonde hair that framed her face and deep sea-blue eyes. She was tall for her age, about the same height as Gazzy and she had Max's super-model cheekbones. I had figured a year ago, when our parents had created the alliance and had betrothed Max and I, that sooner or later, Gazzy and Angel would do the same. I hope Angel turned out to be as gorgeous as Max. That way Gaz could be as happy as I hoped I would be with Max.

Max has dirty-blonde, long, wavy hair that framed her face exactly like Angel's. She had her mom's eyes, chocolate brown that had little gold flecks in them and were so deep you could easily get lost in them. She had an hourglass figure and had, as I said before, supermodel cheekbones. She was so gorgeous and had a personality that was equally as beautiful. She was as some people called, (including me before I met her) "the full package."

Queen Valencia quickly went over to Max along with my own mother and they set to work on her, not even pausing. Angel's eyes were full of as much worry as Iggy's. Then the worry was lessened, but not gone, and she had a look of amusement in her eyes. She whispered something to Iggy and he chuckled lightly and then took a deep breath. "I'm gonna get killed for this, Angel." He said as he bowed to the queens as they moved out of the way and he crouched down beside her ear.

"What's he gonna do, Angel?" I asked curiously.

She smirked and said, "He's gonna scream the code that means 'Angel's in danger' in her ear. Watch this, she cares too much about me for her own good." She said smiling.

"MAX! 42-19 42-19!" he shouted in her ear.

She immediately sprung up out of unconsciousness and screamed, "ANGEL!" I just stood there in shock. Wow, she loved her sister. How'd she even hear him if she was unconscious? Iggy stood cowering in a corner while Angel ran over to Max who looked like she was trying to decide which of us to glare daggers at. Iggy or me. She chose Iggy, since he was the one that screamed a false alarm code in her ear.

"Max! I'm so glad you're ok! I'm sorry we did that, but you were unconscious and we gotta go soon and we figured you wouldn't want Prince Fang carrying you again." She said lightly with a huge smile in her voice. Both Kings and both Queens were cracking up at Max.

"Again?" she asked, practically seething. I just smirked at her, even though I was terrified on the inside. She was the most powerful person in the world. She was a genetically enhanced princess for god's sake. She was radiating power, even if she didn't want it.

"Um, yeah, I-Iggy couldn't carry you so F-Fang did." She said stuttering.

She looked at Iggy, "Iggy you need to start working out more," she said laughing. God she had a beautiful laugh.

She just looked at me indecisively, I assume trying to figure out what witty remark to make to me. "Even though you're a cocky, pig-headed, jerk…..thanks." she said. Somehow finding a way to thank me and insult me at the same time. I nodded, not being able to think of a good come-back. With that she looked at me eye-brows raised as she grabbed Angel's hand and began to walk out of the room, but of course, not before she yelled one last thing over her shoulder.

"No, witty come-back, Fangles? I think you're slipping." She yelled, smiling, and with that ladies and gentlemen, the great Maximum Ride had left the building.

Max POV

Maybe he's not all bad. He didn't just let me drop to the floor and get a concussion, he didn't leave right after he dropped me on the couch, he'd stayed for some unknown reason. We were in our limo, heading back toward the castle.

"Y'know, Princess, I think the Prince might actually have a heart. For you." Iggy said quietly. I blushed madly. But quickly I swallowed any emotions I had at this comment and snidely retorted, "And what makes you think that?" I asked, feigning disinterest in the topic while playing with my enhancer bracelet. I was actually really interested in where that little comment had come from.

He smirked at me, knowing I was faking, but smartly decided to ignore it. "Well, Number one, he carried you to the couch after the Games when I couldn't, when he really could've just left. Secondly, the fact that he was there in the first place. He insisted to escort you back to the suite, Princess, in case you've forgotten. Thirdly, the way he was really worried when you fell. He had no idea what was going on and he actually looked worried. I've never actually seen him show any real emotions. Fourthly,-"

I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

Iggy nodded, satisfied. "Anyway, I think that you should give him a chance. You only have 2 more years of freedom, even though I know you don't like him now, maybe if you sat down with him and got to know him, maybe you could be happy, Max. We all want you to be happy. I can tell he's ecstatic about marrying you, though he'd never tell you. It's a guy thing. But, seriously, Princess, you should really give him a chance." Iggy said seriously.

I groaned, throwing my head backwards. "Are you suggesting that I go on a date with that bastard?" I asked. He nodded vigorously. Angel giggled and nodded with Iggy. "He's right, Max. I could see it in his eyes. He just doesn't want to admit it until he knows you feel the same." Angel stated. Geez, that girl had a way with people. Man what I would do to get people like she does. (A/N: And no children, not like that. Get your minds out of the gutter.)

I sighed that rare defeated sigh that was not so rare today. "Ugh. Fine. I may talk to mom later. She's been bugging me about it anyways." I said, before leaning against the door and drifting off into a quiet, dreamless sleep.