First things first. In my English class we have portfolio of our best work to be submitted at the end of the year. He accepted my plan to submit this as the main body, a short story, though a fanfiction. He may actually even read your reviews! So any sort of comment, good or bad, is happily welcome.

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"What the hell is that?!"

I opened my eyes to the sound of explosions. Loud, ear shattering explosions. I gathered my things and went outside. A sight of sheer disbelief greeted me as I entered onto the deck.

"What...?"

After rubbing my eyes, I saw a huge fireball explode onto the port town of Konoko, the main entrance into the great sea. I looked towards the town, and saw hundreds of buildings burning into ashes. Despite our distance from the town, I could already feel and hear the terrified screams of the townsfolk, as they try to flee the murderous forces of the bloodthirsty Kileski. The Kileski that desired nothing more than the annihilation of everyone in the kingdom. And with that... I knew why they ahd come to the town. They must have known about me, and tried to destroy the town before I left, or when I arrived. But.... how did they get so deep within the kingdom territory? The Capital lies directly in its path, along with more than a hundred thousand troops! Could it be.....? Those bastards!

Well.... it was now or never. I never thought they'd attack here, but I do have my responsibilities. I could actually have the ship go directly north into the land where the Relic is. But that would mean I'd leave these people to fend for themselves. I can't... I won't. I'm the princess! I can't leave them here! I can't be selfish now, or ever again. I've been to much of that, and it's cost the lives of people.... people dear to me. I.... I can't let the life of one prevent me from helping these people. I have to help them, even for just a moment. Even if I may get hurt again. Even if.... it means that "he" would have to wait a little longer.

I looked into my bag and took out... a hat. Rue's hat. Klause didn't know, but I snatched it away before I left. It's my only reminder of him now, beside my memories.

I put it on, and it completely covered my orange hair. Despite the size, hy head felt remarkably light. I somehow felt him.... felt him with me. He cherished that hat, never letting it off of his head unless he needed to. I knew then that I had a part of him with me. A part if him with me as I face the challenges ahead. A reminder of the memories of the past.

"Captain... We need to hurry! Now!"


"Yes Ma'am!"

And with that, the emergency engine of the Himlaya kicked up. The ship went on a fast cruise towards the town, leaving massive waives behind it. In a few minutes, the ship had arrived at the waters edge. I jumped down onto the dingy beside the ship, and paddled my way into the town. It would then greet me with a sight. A sight I've never expected to even see in my lifetime.

Blood.... it was everywhere. On the walls of the buildings. Corpses on the ground. On steel swords and other weapons that now lay ownerless among the bloody carnage that has engulfed the town. Bloody hell has just made its home in this place. I fought my way through the sea of death that lay ever larger on my path. I reached the church, slightly cut and bruised, and looked out from the bell tower. Few Kileski soldiers were even about, both living and dead. Despite their minimal number, they were able to completely annihilate the town. It was impossible. Yes, impossible they could have even done this alone.

"He" had to be here.

I looked down into the town square, and there he was, looking into my eyes. He stood among a pile of blood-soaked bodies. Women, children, the elderly all in a massive heap of innocence lost. I wanted myself to believe it wasn't him, that it was someone else, but even upon seeing him I couldn't deny the truth of what he has become.

I looked into his eyes one more time. It looked very much more different than before. It looked darker, sadder. I saw that more hate had taken hold of his once gentle heart. More evil enveloped his soul. I couldn't do anything now, as I we stared at each other that night. I had to do what I set out for. Fast, so that he'll never do what he has done.

He raised up his hand, said nothing, and simply disappeared. Seconds later, I looked up. In cruel mere seconds that seemed to slow into minutes, a large ball of fire, probably as big as the town itself, came down to bring hell's judgement upon who remained alive to see it, including me. I jumped down the tower, raced down the infernal ladder that seemed like an eternity, into the basement, hoping it would give me what little shelter it could afford. Still, after just barely opening the door, I was thrown inside, and the dark basement glowed into a dazzling white...

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*pitter**patter*

I got up to the sound of falling rain. Rain. Water. The dropping sound of nature's divine blessing always comforted me when I was away from the castle. The gift life it brings always refreshed an always wearied world. A world tired from continuous fighting and indifference. And now, as the softness of rain dropped on my bruised cheeks, it would give life to me once again.

My left shoulder hurt. A lot. I looked at it and saw a piece of iron, rusty iron, sticking out of it just below the joint. Having no choice, I pulled it out, ever so slowly. I screamed somewhat from the pain, as my blood streamed down my arm. If I pulled out to fast, I might've pulled out some skin and flesh. Besides that, the pain never really bothered me anyway. I was used to it, all my life. Considering what my heart feels now, such pain was of no significance.

Total wreckage was everywhere. Not a single building stood as proud as it once was. There was nothing left but burned hulks of homes, businesses, churches and markets. The lives that once lived in clear tranquility was extinguished in a single night. A damned night for all. The people here must have been attacked in their sleep. Sigh. They never knew what was coming for them. Most probably woke from the sounds, and upon peering out, were cut down where they stood. As for the others who were still asleep, they never awoke from it. They continued to sleep, and now still asleep, into the eternal.

Under the falling rain I trudged my body into the town square. Behind me I could see a trail of blood, my blood, leading from where I awoke. That wasn't an unusual site where I was, however. In front of me, just before the square, lay a massive sea of red. Blood flowed freely like wine. The blood of the innocent, the blood of the guilty gathered there, as it was the lowest place in the town. To think that blood, the giver of human life, and water, the giver of Earth's life, mixed together only to form more sadness and desolation for humanity and mother earth. Irony. Hehe....he.... bitter irony.

The statue that once stood mighty and proud in the center fountain was now a mere shell of its former self. No, not a shell. More like.... something else. Before this all happened, there stood a a statue of a proud warrior, wearing armor and a wielding a long sword, smiling onto the horizon. But now, the smile was gone. The heat warped the metal to resemble a smirk. An evil looking one at that. The armor and sword seemed red, blood red. From my guess, it seems that the intense heat dried the blood that had splattered on the statute, fusing the color with the metal. As for facing the horizon, well.... now it faced complete nothingness. The rain gave a dark shroud that covered the area. So now, all that remains is a blood red warrior, hungry for blood, looking on to the endless darkness, like a plague that would take the life of all it came upon.

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"Hey! Hey! Is anyone here? Answer! For the love of God, answer!!"

A voice echoed not far from me. Must be a traveller, or a soldier. They must have been horrified at the what has become of this place.

"H-here! Come here!"

I shouted towards whomever was there, but I suddenly knelt down. My shoulder started to ache again. The blood from my arm began to flow again. I didn't want to admit it, but I needed medical help. Again. As he appraoched I could think what he was seeing. A poor girl, he must think. " Cloaked in drag robes and bleeding from the arm. She must be in shock. She may be scarred for life."

Boy, he didn't even know half of it.

"P-princess Mint? We've been looking everywhere for you! After hearing of the attack, Princess Maya sent some of us to look for you! What happened?"

"It's... It's a long story. Agh."

I looked at my arm. It was getting somewhat blue. I needed a doctor. Fast.

"D-don't worry your highness! I'll get you to the field hospital as fast as I am able!"

He carried me on his back, and onto his horse. Without a word being said, the horse galloped into the darkness. But.... wait... field hospital?

"Field Hospital? But.... what are the troops doing here?"

The soldier sighed. I knew it wasn't good. But I had expected it. If Konoko was attacked, it only means that...

"The Capital fell to the Kileski just hours after you left. It was an onslaught. The Princess and some of the royal cabinet were able to escape, although some were said to have been captured..."

He talked aliitle bit more, but I was tired. More fighting, more violence, more violated lives. I couldn't take it anymore. I didn't understand back then what it felt like to be in the middle of a war, but that night in the town, gave me a larger, more realistic perspective. I used to think fighting was the fastest way out of things, but seeing what I saw, change my views.

At last we arrived on the field camp. Hundreds of soldiers, tired, beaten and hungry, lay in misery and defeat around the encampment. On one side however, was another bunch. Their faces looked so serene, so peaceful, so.... so pale. Because.... they were dead. I saw a dead body get picked up, and dumped in a heap of bodies that were burning.

It was all so much. So much death. So much suffering. So much sadness. I couldn't take it anymore! I just wished that... that it was all a dream. A false reality of sorts. To escape into one's own dream world was a fantasy of all. Everyone wishes for it, how far-fetched it may be. But.... this is reality. We cannot escape it. It is here to stay until we change it. So now.... we must face it.

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I managed to squeeze this one in as it would be a project of mine, despite the fact that exams are gonna be here in a few weeks. Oh well. Hope you enjoy! R&R! ^_^