It was a clear day when the world went to heel. Or at least as clear as the day got over the Imperial city. The capital was a maze, with streets of pure white stone in the richer areas, to the smog filled air above the wharfs by the sea of Menes the first. To the west of the city lay fertile land where farms grew, almost up to the Smaragd forest, and the mountains beyond. However no farmer was willing to risk his crop by claiming the land by the forest. It was said that strange things happened there, strange things out of fairy-tales. It was a fact that everyone knew someone who had wandered into the forest, never to be seen again. It was the place accused witches fled, strange cattle eating beast reared their head, and small children were turned into cabbages. But most importantly to the people of the Saphir city, it was the bane of King Belwshmit.

"I made myself clear, did I not General?"

The king addressed the trembling man front of him. The ruler of the greatest empire sat in his throne room. It wall a high ceilinged hall, with large gothic stained windows, situated in the center of the great palace that rose out of the middle of the city. He was an imposing man, tall with ice blue eyes and braids in his hair. He wore a large fur robe and sat upon a high stone chair on a platform several steps up from the floor where the other man cowered.

"Y-you did overlord." The man said with a slight quiver of voice. The king raised an eye.

"The why are my orders not being carried out, General?"

"T-the-"

"Do. Not. Stutter."

"The forest sire, the men refuse to enter it…"

"They did not seem to have trouble chasing the enemy thus far. Even so, you should be able to navigate by airship, should you not?"

Several weeks before, there had been a raid in one the military base, not ten miles from the great city. It had failed and most had seen it as nothing more than a minor in convince, as 'these thing happened sometimes'. The king however saw it as a challenge. He had chased the attacker across the county, until they made it to the forest.

"Sire, it's no ordinary forest…"

"And it has been no ordinary forest for that last five years. I am getting tired of moving battle plans, trade routes, and prisoners around it. NOW-"

It was just as the man began to raise his voice that the smaller brown haired man spoke up from beside him. He had laugh lines peppered around his face, and a dreamy smile on his face.

"Now, Gerhart stop, this is a joyous day! Two baby girls! Twins at that! Perfect for your boys! Do not spoil it!"

The white haired child spoke up from behind him, only to smacked by his brother.

"Ja Vati, I vant to see the babies! They are going to be awesome! Do you think they'll be cu-omf"

His brother was the picture of his father. His back was ramrod straight, his eyes bright and was already strong. He had sandy blonde hair, neatly combed back, and bright blue eyes and looked to be no more than seven. His brother who had spoken could not have been more different. He had a shock of white hair and bright red eyes. He was eight and his whole appearance was disheveled, from his bedhead, to his rumpled tunic. He was bent over at the knees. His brother was surprisingly strong. Gerhart, king and overlord simply sighed at his children's antics.

"Very well Romulus. Until tomorrow General. I expect some better news by then."

Meanwhile deep in the forest, the sound of wailing punctuated the tense but excited air of a clearing. It was a beautiful place, with trees as tall as mountains, as thick around as a horse, often times bigger. But the most remarkable thing about the clearing was the building. They seemed to grow right out of the trees, staircases spiraling gracefully up tree trunks, platforms wrapped sticking out. Buildings seemingly floating anywhere from thirty to a hundred feet above the green spongy earth, and hundreds of fairy lights decorating branches.

Here in the forest, two children were born. It had been a trying birth of twins, the first born as well. To add to the pressure, it was the leader's wife, Alice, who was giving birth. But with the first wails came a sigh that resounded throughout the forest. After hours of labor, one baby boy, who's head was bald and eyes were blue, and one baby girl with violet eyes and a tiny wisp of golden hair. As the two first time parents held their children close, and walked out to show them to their people, the forest sang. And those who listened very closely could hear a tiny sound, almost sounding like, Lionheart…