Chapter 2-

Sorry for the long wait. I just hope you guys enjoy the next chapter, and don't forget I do enjoy reviews.

After the ceremony of the presentation of the next heirs to the kingdom Hope decides to grab a glass of her lands sweet wine and takes upon herself the chance to stand by a semi dark corner and observe her surroundings as she thinks of what has become of her life. Just as she settles in her spot a loud laughter grabs her attention and looking up she sees who has grabbed her attention so easily.

And right across the room she sees him with his head thrown back, a big smile on those lips she still thinks of, and the twinkle in the eyes she has missed the most. Caleb has become a constant thought in her mind since the day she followed Julian's persuasion and left the love of her life behind three months ago. Her face becomes a scowl as she sees that evil man, Julian, talking to her heart's desire and the woman that desire has brought as his date.

"How you doing," Kay asks the princess as the group of the former Guardians of Lilick assemble around her. "You know she means nothing to him?"

The others nod in agreement but Hope shakes her head from side to side as she focuses her eyes on her friends and the two infant heirs.

"Come on girls," she says with a quiet contempt in her voice. "You guys should know better than that by now. Besides I know her. We, the three of us, grew up together in Meridian. She is a great woman, and I can see why…"

"Hope," Ice stops her sister-in-law by placing a hand in her arm. "Believe me if we would have known he would bring her, or any other girl, as a date we wouldn't have asked him to be one of the presenters with you."

"Yeah," Mapple says. "We were hoping that this ceremony would probably make you guys get together like Ice and Edwin's wedding did."

Lexxi nudges her friend's side a little too hard for letting their plan be known.

"I appreciate what you guys have been trying to do," Hope says as her twin brother joins their corner of the room. "But there is nothing to be done. I abandoned him not the other way around. So this is my entire fault."

Hope then excuses herself and decides to walk around to think some more without the pitying and concern looks her friends and family seem to always give her since the day she left her other half and returned home to cry her eyes for two straight weeks.

"Your parents are worried so much for her," Ice says turning to her husband. "I am not sure why, but they make it almost sound like it's a matter of life and death."

The young king just gives his beautiful wife a small, sad smile before turning his attentions to his two young children.

….

As Hope grabs one of the fancy plates that are being use for the dinner when she feels someone bump into her from her behind. Turning around, she sees the tall, beautiful woman that has once been her good friend so many years ago.

"Myra," Hope says as friendly as she can muster considering the circumstances of this meeting. "It has been way to long," the young princess finishes with a fake, happy smile.

"Oh, Hope," the blond says in mild surprise. "I am sorry, your highness," Myra momentarily bows at her utter word of respect, "I didn't see you there for a second."

"Don't worry about it," Hope says looking more closely at her rival in love as she waves her hand around in a dismissive way.

It was in those few excruciating seconds that Hope saw the woman in front of her more clearly. She can tell why Caleb had started dating her; their old friend had grown to be a beauty. Myra was a tall, curvaceous blond, the total opposite of the princess looks, with a tan skin tone that made Hope look even paler than normally. Just looking up into her old friend's sky, blue eyes made Hope feel ugly and inadequate.

She never had a chance. If she remembers anything of her friend is that she was very smart.

'Great,' Hope thinks, 'I now feel ugly and stupid.'

"I hope this isn't so awkward for you," the blond starts to say. "You know, me dating your ex and all, and I know how important your peoples idea of love is."

"It's not that…"

"Myra, what is taking you so long," a masculine voice interrupts.

Looking over at the person that was interrupting their conversation, Hope sees the arm of the man wrap securely around the other woman's waist. She then looks to the man's face only to be lately notice that it was Caleb who had interrupted their conversation. It was also Caleb's arm that was securely and possessively wrap around the blonds waist.

Hope can't help but give a weak smile to the couple in front of her. An awkward silence surrounds the three as people begin to move around them.

Hope begins to bite her lower lip in an embarrass way.

Caleb eyes are captivated by the princess movements as his mind and heart remind him of how much he has missed her and how beautiful she has become.

Myra looks between the two ex-lovers wondering if she ever would truly have a chance to be the one in the young man's heart.

"Hey you two love birds," another male voice interrupts them. "What is taking you guys…? OH."

"Hello Julian," Hope says a with a plaster smile. "I hope you been alright."

"Princess," the older man says with his own fake smile. "It's been a long time since we have last cross paths."

"Not long enough," Hope mumbles under her breath. "Yes it has…" she stops talking as a strange feeling overcomes her body.

"Hope…" Caleb says sensing something strange is about to happen as well. When she turns to look at him he knows something is about to happen. "Dad," he says turning to the older man. "I think you need to take Myra out here and back to Meridian, like now."

"What, why…"

"Please, just go. I'll explain everything once I return home," he then sees Hope running towards her family with a frighten look on her pale, beautiful features. He turns to his date and quickly explains a quick lie before giving her a kiss on the top of her head and running after the love of his life.

"Let's go," Julian says grabbing the tall woman's arm and dragging her out of the throne room.

…..

"Mom, dad, Edwin we have some problems," Hope says in a hush tone as she reaches her family.

"What is going on," Edwin says as he sees both Caleb and Ice power walking their way.

"We need to get the kids and guest out of here," Ice says as a strange look is in her face.

"I don't think there is time," Caleb says as dark figures begin to block the doorways.

"Guardians," Hope says going into take charge mode as the Mapple, Kay, and Lexxi joins them. "I want weapons out and town portals ready. Girls try to take as many innocent as possible at a time. Ice, take Edwin, mom, dad, and the babies first and if you like stay there with them. Try not to use your powers to much until all the guest are out."

"I am not leaving," the king says defiantly.

Ice gives her husband a cold glare at his defiance.

"Someone needs to make sure your parents and the babies are alright," she says with a voice showing that there is no use arguing.

"But…"

"But nothing, just go," says Hope turning away from her family and looking around the crowd. "Power up," she says as she hears the portal being use and then notices the guardians from earth doing the same. "Caleb," she says sensing him right next to her as she finishes transforming. "Be safe," she says before running of into battle.

…

'Damn,' Hope thinks half an hour later as she looks around the still going battle. She feels exhaustion begin to seep through her body but the fact that there is still a lot of guest in the throne room makes her continue to fight. She then feels her guardian powers flicker before disappearing back into the hearth. 'Great.'

She then places her hands over her heart and lets out a short hum. It was at that moment that Caleb turns her way and finds the princess in beautiful, butterfly style wings. He is mesmerized by her beauty for just a second before he hears the voice of someone he thought has already left. Turning to his right he sees his girlfriend and father trying to fight off some of the monsters who seem to be attacking some young children. Just then, he sees his father go down and his girlfriend about to be strike down so he runs to their side and begin to fight on their behalf.

Hope sees that movement and her heart begins to rip in pieces once more. Ignoring the pain in her heart and soul, she turns to the fight once more but she can't seem to concentrate. She feels like something is wrong and looking around the spacious room she tries to pinpoint the area where she might be needed at. Then as she turns to her ex-lover she notices what is going on, and before she can blink she has somehow transported herself from one side of the room to the other exactly right in front of Caleb and the blow that would have more likely killed him.

"Aw," Hope says loudly in anticipation of the blow that she saw coming her way but it never connects to her body. "What the…" she begins as she opens her eyes to see what had delayed the pain only to see some kind of force field surrounding them.

"Watch out," Caleb screams out as another disfigure being comes from their side and this time connects to Hope's side. "No."

At Caleb's outburst, a light surrounds him and starts to throw deadly energy to its opponents. Everybody near them forgets about the daze princess on the floor as they stare at the adrenaline driven young man as he runs out into battle ready to stop and destroy anyone on his way.

Myra is the first to notice Hope starting to move and decides to help her up.

"Thanks," the princess says in a grateful voice to her old friend. "Stay low," she commands before running back into the thick of things.

"We can't continue this way," Ice says as the five guardians stand back to back.

"Yeah," Kay says as the other nods in agreement. "Your guardian powers are down Hope and we can feel ours begin to flicker as well."

"You want us to retreat," the princess asks in disbelief.

"No," Ice says calmly yet slightly out of breath. "But we might want to consider that option if we want to survive to fight another day."

"Okay," Hope says taking charge of the situation once more. "Concentrate in getting the guest out as fast as possible the rest will try to hold them off…"

"No," the five hear from right behind them.

"Caleb," Hope says before disappearing from her friends' side to reappear right in front of the man she loves more than life itself. "That is enough!"

Just as she says that a light comes out of her body as a dome begins to materialize from her and expand throughout the castle. Caleb begins to stand up from the floor as screams begins to fill the room, looking around he notices that their opponents were begin dematerialize but the guest were left unscratched.

Just as he turns back to Hope he sees the energy leave her body and catches her before she hits the hard, cool floor. Tire, cool eyes then look up at him.

"Is everyone alright," the princess asks slightly breathless and in a hush voice.

"Yeah, sweetie, you got them all," he says caressing her face lightly.

"Good," she says before passing out in his arms.

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