Uh, let's see…thanks to Me (I know plenty of people who've been on Neopets longer…what's your username?) and SOPROL for reviewing and SOPROL, glPiItTtAer (does happy dance, hope I got the name right), cricketchick1990, ktzaSW, lioness31, and shadowgryffyn, for putting me on their alerts (I was soooo psyched!) And SOPROL and glPiItTtAer for putting me on their faves! Phew. You people have made my day. And totally made up for the lack of response on this other story I've got.
Jonathan stared at her for a few more seconds. He finally decided she wasn't an illusion, then threw his arms out to her and held her close. "Where have you been these last few years?" he whispered fiercely.
They stood there in each other's arms for an increasingly long amount of time until Raoul said, "Hey, don't hog the princess, we missed her too, you know!"
Jazlyn laughed and stepped out of Jonathan's embrace, for which Alanna was beginning to feel slightly annoyed, and went over to Raoul, and Alex, and Gary in turn. She then faced Alanna and cocked an eyebrow that she didn't like.
"Can somebody please tell me what's going on?" Alanna almost yelled. It was as if she weren't there.
Gary turned to her. "Oh, sorry, Jazlyn. This is our new addition to the group, Alan." Alanna seethed. She couldn't believe that after all these years, she was still considered the 'new addition.' And that she was being introduced to her.
Jazlyn saw the look on her face. "Don't worry, Gary's only joking." She gave Gary a look. "He should be. I'm Jonathan's sister," she added in explanation.
"Sister?" Alanna sputtered. She should have guessed as much but to hear it coming out of the mouth of the girl, herself, that was something. "Jonathan?"
"Later," he mouthed, turning back to Jazlyn, leaving Alanna shut out from the world again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Alanna narrowed her eyes. "So you had a sister, a twin sister, and you never told me about it?"
Jonathan sighed. He looked around his room, the memories flooding back. All he needed to do was to see her again for the damn to break down. "It was years ago. I barely even remember it!"
Alanna folded her arms. "You forgot your own sister," she said flatly.
Jonathan threw up his arms in exasperation. "You don't understand! She was…kicked out over five years ago."
Alanna's eyes grew wide. Curiosity battled against her annoyance. Then she plopped down on Jonathan's bed and looked up at him expectantly. "Okay, I'm listening. Tell me everything."
Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "She was like you," he said finally. "And had to suffer the consequences." He started to leave, not wanting to talk about it, but Alanna stopped him.
"Is that it?" she exclaimed. "You can't say something like that and not elaborate! What do you mean, 'consequences'?" She looked him fully in the eye. He couldn't lie.
"She wanted to be a knight, and got kicked out! People are very rigid about these things, surely you've realized."
"Then what is she doing back?" Alanna asked, bewildered.
Jonathan threw his arms up in the air. "I don't know! I don't know what she was doing these last few years, I don't know any of her plans with our father, I didn't even know her name until Raoul told me!" he burst out. "So stop asking me all these questions. I don't know the answers. I'm not worthy enough to know. Just go ask the others, they'll tell you!"
All the blood drained out of Alanna's face. "Fine," she said quietly, averting her eyes away from him. "I'll leave you to your not knowing, then and see if anything comes back to you." She immediately stalked out of the room regally, reminding Jonathan of Jazlyn, with Faithful trailing behind her, shooting him a look as if to say, Now you've done it.
"No!" Jonathan called. "Come back!" He sank back into his bed, exhausted. Jazlyn sure knew how to cause a riot, he thought traitorously.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"So," Gary said lightly. "What were you up to since the disappearance?"
Jazlyn rolled her eyes. They were lounging around with Raoul, catching up on the times. "Nothing much. I found a couple more Shang warriors who took me in from time to time, learned about city life, which was a big change, and just recently became acquainted to a George Cooper." She glanced up at them shrewdly.
"Is that what made you come back?" Gary asked. "George told you about us?"
Jazlyn nodded. "He also talked to me about Alan," she said carefully. "How is he fitting in?"
"He's okay," Raoul replied. "But there's no way he's been replacing you or anything, if that's what you're thinking. Sure, he's got a temper and he's pretty strong for his size-"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jazlyn demanded, pretending to be mad.
Raoul waved it off. "The point is…uh…the point is…"
"Yeah, Raoul," Gary grinned. "What was the point again?"
"You and Alan are kind of similar?" Raoul ventured.
Jazlyn chuckled. "More than you know," she muttered. She sighed as she glanced towards her father's chambers. There really was no point in putting it off.
Gary followed her gaze. "Why don't you forget about King Roald for a while? You might as well have some fun before you die," he reasoned.
Jazlyn smiled wryly. "You think he's just going to kill me? Oh no, he'll come up with something much worse." She shook her head, remembering that ill-fated night she had left. Or was it the morning? She wasn't sure.
"What can be worse than death?" Gary asked absently.
"A lot of things," Jazlyn said quietly.
"Like what?" Raoul pressed, edging closer, hoping to hear heroic tales of adventures.
"Being forgotten," she answered, her voice barely more than a whisper.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Alex?" Alanna called as she spotted her friend.
Alex turned and waited for her to catch up to him. "What is it, Alan?"
"Well," Alanna hesitated. Could she trust him not to blab to Jonathan? She decided to risk it. "I kind of got into a fight with Jonathan about his sister."
"Oh," Alex said indifferently. He sat down in he grass. "Why are you talking to me about it? Shouldn't you be talking to Jonathan?"
"Shouldn't you be helping me?" Alanna countered, sitting down next to him.
Alex blinked. "I don't know. Help you with what?"
Alanna sighed heavily. "He seems to be mad about Jazlyn. He said something about not being worthy."
"Worthy to do what?" Alex asked, slightly puzzled.
Alanna shrugged. "I don't know," she replied with a little laugh. "Can you tell me a little bit about her?"
Alex leaned back, and stretched out on the field. "She was a bit…like you," Alex said finally.
Alanna raised an eyebrow. "Like me? In what way?"
Alex smiled as the memories returned. "Well she knows exactly how to hold a grudge and it always seemed like there was something more to her than she was letting on. She also had a sharp tongue. Did Jonathan tell you what happened?"
Alanna nodded. "Tell me more."
"She was oblivious in some ways too. Gary-" He paused, looking a little uncomfortable. Then, he smoothly changed he subject. "Listen, Jonathan is probably angry at himself for forgetting so much about her. He'll get over it."
Alanna managed a small smile. "Hey, how do you know that?" she asked suddenly.
Alex looked at her with an abashed grin. "I've been, uh, taking eavesdropping lessons from Gary?" Alanna punched him in the arm playfully. "Hey!" Alex held up both hands to defend himself. "Look, he'll come around. And in the time being, I don't see why you have to take it out on me."
Alanna glared at him. "Whatever."