"Shes the girl from my visions!" Lapis' eyes widened.
"What?!" Lapis looked amazed and shocked, "How do you know its her?!" Sapphire blushed, "I can just tell…. Her eyes are the warmest of brown…." She clutched her skirt and smiled staring at the wall next to Lapis, "I could see her hands, they looked so hard and strong… but also soft and warm…. The way she talked…." Sapphire bit her lip. "Thinking about whats under that robe eh?" Sapphire blushed harder as ice flakes poofed from her skirt. Lapis just giggled and looped her arm with Sapphire's. "Come on Sapph lets get you out to the garden to…. Cool down…." Sapphire gave a small chuckle at her sister's playful words. "that's bad Lapis, very bad." Her face turning a slight darker shade of light blue. The two made their way through the halls and out two giant light blue colored glass doors which lead to stone stairs to the back of the castle, where an elaborately beautiful garden which led into a labyrinth of large hedges where blue flowers grew from. A small stream even ran through it. Producing little fish and frogs that lived there.
Sapphire breathed in deep as both her and Lapis made their way down the steps and onto grass and stone step pathway. Sapphire released her breath as they reached the last step. The dark haired princess released the silver haired princess and spun around with her arms up in the air. "Oooohhh I love this garden!" She spread her water wings and began to spin into the air. Knocking a few leaves from their branches. Sapphire giggled and began to float up to a tree branch and was shortly joined by a very dizzy Lapis whom was still giggling. "Sapphire! Can you believe it?!" Lapis grabbed onto the branch as she sat and folded her wings so they wouldn't get in the way. "One of your guards! What are the chances!" "I know! I can hardly believe it myself…. Yet there she is…." Sapphire's heart was beating fast as she thoughts of the guard popped into her mind. "I still cant believe its her…." Sapphire gave a happy sigh. Lapis was about to respond when a ramble of noises from the other side of a few hedges. They sounded rowdy. The two looked towards the noise, then to each other. "Whats going on over there?" She thumbed towards the noise. Sapphire only shrugged and floated down. "Perhaps we should investigate?"
Lapis nodded, "Ill take the sky, you take the road?" Sapphire gave an affirmative nod and with out another word took off through the twisted labyrinth. Lapis rolled her eyes and took off over the labyrinth. As Sapphire neared the noise she could hear the voices clearer, and they sounded familiar. "You pathetic little shits! How fucking dare you embarrass me like that!" "We-we're sorry!" "Yeah, we didn't mean too!" The sound of a whip could be heard. Sapphire gasped and ran faster. Another whip sound. "Just for this none of you eat tonight! Its straight to work for all of you!" Sapphire finally could hear the voices from the other side of the long wall of hedge. "Please! Forgive me! Its all my fault!" Sapphire's eyes widened. "that's Ruby!" She was sure of it. "YOU! ESPESHALLY!" Sapphire gasped in terror and full speed ran around the hedge only to see Marty bring the whip down on Ruby's head. Blood poured from a split on her head as she winced and backed away. Tears brimmed on the rims of Sapphires eyes. "STOP THIS!" Ice shards flew in all directions. Not hitting anyone but destroying the hedge walls and flowers around them. Marty let out a yelp and turned to look at who had attacked, only to fall flat on his back and groan. The guards looked at Sapphire in shock. Each of them had scars and welts on them but none as bad as Ruby's. "Ah!" Ruby quickly stood at attention. "Your highness!" She quickly bowed followed quickly by her sisters who copied her actions quickly.
Sapphire was shaking as she quickly made her way to Ruby and gently lifted her head to inspect her wound. "Sapphire!" Lapis shouted as she landed. She looked around a bit confused by the scene. The sisters were on the ground bowing while Marty just layed on his back hissing in pain. Then the scene of Sapphire holding Ruby's head. Lapis placed a hand on her hip and scratched her head. "uhm…. What did I miss?" Sapphire whipped her head towards her sister. "This one needs some bandages and disinfectant. Shes bleeding pretty badly." She then turned back and removed her white glove from her right hand and balled it up only to place it on Ruby's head. Ruby looked modified. "No-n-no no no your hightness! I cannot! Please! Its fine! Its only a scratch!" She put her hands up in protest. This caught Lapis's attention, while Sapphire was ignoring Ruby's displeasures in being taken care of Lapis noticed Ruby's left hand…. 'That birthmark….' She knew ever magic had a birthmark on their body to indicate them having powers….. 'Sapphire has one on her right hand….' She stood there deep in thought…. "LAPIS!" Sapphire shouted annoyed. "AH! YEAH?! What?!" She snapped back to reality. "Please! Go get medicine and bandages." "Ah! Right! Ill be back!" Without another thought on the situation Lapis spread her wings and took off towards the castle.
Sapphire only shook her head then turned her attention back to Ruby, ignoring Marty who was still on the ground groaning. "tell me, are you dizzy at all? Do you feel lightheaded." She nervously grabbed one of Ruby's hands. Ruby's face became a dark red. "a-ah- hah of co-course Im alright your highness, I feel perfect actually!" She was shaking. Sapphire could not tell if it was from her injury or from her being nervous in the face of royalty. "Please, do not be afraid." She smiled sweetly to Ruby, then turned to the other two, "Please! Stand! You will all be my guards and I hope my close companions along the way." The two girls stood quickly heads still to the ground. "Please, relax." She smiled at them. Both looked up towards her and then at each other, in slight disbelief. They have never heard of a higher up, especially a royal, being so sweet or nice to those under them. "I know what you're thinking, why is she being nice to us?" The two looked shocked but nodded. Sapphire giggled, her grip on Ruby's hand never loosening, this making Ruby blush hard. "Because we are going to all be together day and night so we might as well get to know each other and be friends. After all you are all my personal guard." She gave a small chuckle as they nodded again and smiled. A loud groan was heard from Marty as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. "HAH!" He gave another painful yelp as he pulled himself up into standing position. "your highness they will not be ready until their training is complete. They must at least train under me for another year!" He slowly began to bend down for his whip. Sapphire, still not letting go of Ruby turned to him, eyes full of rage. "YOU! HOW DARE YOU! I should say you shouldn't be training them at all! You don't train an army by beating them to death!" Ice grew around Sapphire quickly. Marty backed up a bit, forgetting about the whip. "With due respect your highness, they were out of line in your court." "Out of line!" Ruby gripped Sapphires hand slightly. This, for whatever reason, calmed Sapphire down a bit. "They…. Were fine….. honestly, they were better than you…." She suddenly became colder. "your highness," Ruby spoke up timidly, "We are used to these punishments. Please don't blame him, we tend to mess up a lot." Sapphire swiveled her hand around quick enough to make Ruby think of a thing she saw in the forest once, an owl, the surrounding village called it. "It still doesn't make it right!" Ruby scratched her cheek, "but I was being stupid…." Sapphire grabbed her hands in hers and put them to her chest, "I don't think your stupid!" Ruby just stood in shock for a moment before realizing where her hands had been placed. She fainted.
Two months had passed by since that day. The Red guards had begun their training on the other side of the garden which consisted of large trees that stretched on for a few miles, until meeting a brick wall that was almost as tall as the castle itself. Ruby and the guards spent every waking day training and waiting on hand and knee for Sapphire, who honestly would have them sit and have lunch or just talk with her about their day or her day. She saw no use for them to help her with such simple tasks. She would, however, let Ruby brush her hair or help her in putting on her shoes. Anything to have the guard near her. Some days Sapphire would even sneak out to go and spend time with Ruby. The first night Sapphire had snuck out was after Ruby had fainted and Lapis had come back only to fly Ruby to the castle to be checked on by a healer. She was fine aside from her head and a few cuts and bruises. The other two were also treated for their injuries as well. Sapphire had worried herself into a panic if she did not check on Ruby, in her mind she saw three paths in her mind. All lead to Ruby being in pain and not sleeping well, so without another thought Sapphire took off once she knew that her mother had retired for the night and her sister had fallen asleep. Quickly she dawned a blue cloak and ran down through the garden and through the maze, to a small run down shack two miles into the trees. She quietly snuck around the shack peaking through a small window to see if anyone was awake or there. She could see Maroon and Magenta, but no Ruby. She looked through another little window to see Marty bundled up and asleep, a small bottle in his hand. Sapphire made a disgusted face and backed away from the window. She looked around, maybe Ruby had gone for a walk? She began to wonder around the area, listening intently to the noise around her. When she heard it, a small splash. There was a small river that was close to the wall and even ran under it. Ruby must be there. Without another thought, Sapphire quickly made her way to the river.
Sapphire made her way through the trees and shrubbery, finally seeing the clearing of the river, she slowed down and looked around. No one was there…. But there were Ruby's cloths on a nearby boulder…. A sudden disturbance in the water caught Sapphires attention. Ruby had been under water and finally shot up from underneath completely naked. Ruby was bathing! Sapphire quickly dodged behind a tree, her face scarlet red. She had seen the back side of Ruby's muscular back…. Well at least by moonlight. She had burned that image in her mind. "Whos there?!" Ruby called out. Sapphire put her hand over her mouth, trying to stay silent. "I know someones there! You might as well come out!" Noises of Ruby getting out of the water could be heard, yet Sapphire stayed silent. Foot steps soon were coming closer to where Sapphire stood. Frozen to the spot…literally! A rough and strong hand reached around and grabbed Sapphires dainty wrist. She gave out a yelp as she was tugged from her spot. When face to face Ruby quickly released Sapphire, whose mouth was agape at the sight before her. The muscles… the tauntness… the beautiful even breasts! The… wait…. What was that between her… Ruby blushed furiously and quickly covered up her private section and ran into the thicket of trees. "Ruby wait!" Sapphire called out, running quickly after her. Ruby was going top speed, until she realized she forgot her cloths! "AH! CRYSTALS BE DAMMED!" Quickly she turned around and ran back, thinking Sapphire might have run away, but only to run into the said princess. The two smacked into one another. One landing backwards and the other flat on their face right next to them. Ruby spat out the leaves she collected in her mouth and sat up rubbing her chin, her attention quickly turning to Sapphire who was out in a daze. "Oh… uhmm… aaahhh….." Ruby became extremely nervous and quickly but gently hoisted up Sapphire into her arms and jogged back to the lake.
Carefully she sat down the princess on a small patch of soft grass, and got herself dressed quickly. Sapphire began to moan as she woke. Ruby quickly pulled up her trousers and ran over to the princess' side. "Princess?" She whispered quietly. "You're highness are you alright?" Sapphire's eyes fluttered open to see Ruby over her. She quickly turned and blushed, sitting up as she did so. "Forgive me, I did not mean to see you in such a way…." Ruby looked to the side and rubbed her neck, "Its alright, it was an accident, I know ya didn't mean to." Sapphire turned to look at Ruby, before taking her hand in hers. "Ruby, I… am curious…. Uhmm well…." She looked down at Rubies crotch. "About your…." Ruby held up her hand, "Its alright, you know most higher ups who are female tend to have well…." She pointed down to her crotch. Sapphire nodded. "Well my sisters and I happen to have it…. We can mate with others and produce offspring…." Ruby coughed a bit and straightened up. "However, in this land we would have to breed with lower level women…." Ruby looked…. Was it… disappointed? Sapphire ran her thumb back and forth over Ruby's knuckles. "Nonsense, as my guard, I will find you a perfect mate… for when the time comes…." Sapphire almost felt the need to kick herself for saying that. She screamed out in her mind, 'by that I mean me!'
"uhm, Sapphire?" Sapphire snapped out of her thoughts, before smiling at Ruby, "Yes Ruby?" Ruby looked down, then up again at Sapphire, "Why are you out here so late at night?" Sapphire leaned back onto the soft grass and pulled Ruby to lay next to her, Ruby did not protest and layed next to Sapphire, both still holding the others hand. "I wanted to come out and see if you wanted to watch the star lit sky with me…. I enjoy my time with you Ruby." She turned her head to Ruby and smiled again. Ruby smiled back then looked back up to the stars. "Its beautiful honestly… all those stars up there…. It reminds me of home almost." Sapphire listened, with a dreamy look on her face. "Where my sisters and I lived we could sit in an old tree in our field and stare up at the large expansion of stars." Ruby gave a small giggle, "Sometimes I miss home, but then I begin to think about you and how happy I am to spend my time with you and becoming your friend…You're different from the other higher ups… you're so kind and sweet to everyone. Even me." Sapphire gave Ruby's hand a small squeeze. "I know. Im happy that you have come into my life Ruby, its made my days so much more happier and light… having you close by me has been everything to me." Ruby squeezed her hand back. "I hope that I can do everything in my power to make you happy forever Sapphire." Ruby gave Sapphire's hand a small squeeze and then a yawn. Soon, silence followed and Sapphire turned her head to the sky both content in the sounds of the little bugs and night critters who were doing their nightly routines. Ruby gave a giant yawn and soon began to slowly fall asleep, noticing this Sapphire carefully curled into the side of Ruby and rested her head on Ruby's shoulder. Without another thought Ruby wrapped her arms around Sapphire and held her close, the two slowly falling to sleep in each others arms.