"I'm doing this for the best, Paelen. You have to understand that I just don't want to be around her for a little while. It's so strange how she looks different now and I need some time to get used to it."

Emily startled awake when she heard murmurs outside her door. She strained to listen and discovered that the person who had just spoken was none other than Joel.

"I think you have had enough time to get used to it. Two months is quite a lot to be avoiding Emily for. She is getting very upset about it. Please just talk to her. She is the same person as before."

Emily couldn't believe her ears. She had been right all along about Joel not pleasuring her new complexion.

"Sorry Paelen, but not today," Joel said. He turned around and started walking away from Emily's closed bedroom entrance.

Emily heard all this and couldn't take it anymore. She kicked her blanket off and dashed to her entryway, slamming the door open so swiftly and brutally that Joel jumped and Paelen -who had been standing outside the door- fell backward to the floor.

Emily crossed her arms and glared at both of them.

Joel had a very panic-stricken look on his face as he said, "Oh hey Emily, so you're up?"

He sounded so sincere that for a second she contemplated whether she had misheard everything he and Paelen had conversed about.

"Drop the act," Emily replied coldly. "I heard everything."

Beads of sweat rolled down Joel's forehead as he gave an uncomfortable laugh. "Oh...umm...it's not what you think."

"Oh really, then please kindly inform of what all that really WAS about?" Emily said, her rage swelling more by the second.

Paelen got up off the ground and said, "There's no point in hiding it, Joel," as he dusted himself off.

Joel sighed and gave in. "Fine...I'm sorry Emily...but...I'm just not used to you looking so much like...Diana...It's not that that's bad or anything but...I don't know, it's weird."

Emily rolled her eyes and felt herself practically shouting, "How many stupid times do I have to tell you that I'm STILL THE SAME PERSON?! When will you get it through your head that it's only my appearance that has changed?! I can't take this anymore! I'M STILL EMILY JACOBS! THE GIRL THAT WENT THROUGH SO MUCH WITH YOU! AND HOW YOU'RE ACTING RIGHT NOW MAKES ME KINDA WISH THE XAN KILLED ME INSTEAD!"

She sensed a strange tingling in her chest, and suddenly there were flames shooting out of her hands. Joel and Paelen recoiled in shock.

Emily felt tears in her eyes as she ran past them and through the corridors of the palace. When she reached the door that lead outside, she sprinted out.

She couldn't believe what had just happened. Joel had told her to her face that he didn't like how she looked. He had the nerve to call her WEIRD. Teardrops streaked down her cheeks and fell to the smooth ground below. If only someone could understand the deep sorrow she was experiencing. Well...at least she knew she still had her powers. Her strong emotions must have been what called forth the flames inside her. But still, she wanted things to be the way they used to.

It felt like the whole world was against her, and ever since the Xan removed most of her powers, she didn't feel wanted anymore. She hated herself for having abused her powers and used them to kill. Perhaps if she had not made that mistake, she could still have a lot of power. Even if she hadn't misused her powers, though, she still would've ended up in the new body anyway, since Riza needed to be removed from inside of her.

Emily felt completely and utterly alone. She went into the cool shade of a tree with multicolored, soft, velvety roses.

Pegasus flew over to her from where he had been sleeping underneath a tree not too far off. Without another word, Emily climbed onto his back and he took off into the sky.

The cool air felt nice on her cheeks and a light breeze lifted her hair off her face and gently blew it back. Emily breathed in and felt herself relax.

Pegasus soared high over Olympus and Emily felt her worries drift away. She loved flying on Pegasus and seeing everything from so far up.

Emily giggled and threw out her hand to graze some clouds, which dissipated in her fingers. The sun shone bright as ever and the light seemed to chase all the darkness away from her thoughts.

Some colorful birds passed by, singing beautiful songs. There were mountains below, their peaks reaching high into the clouds. They also passed the occasional stream or river, which sparkled in the daylight.

"Pegs," she whispered. "Wanna know something?"

Pegasus let out a nicker and nodded his beautiful white head, his mane flowing in the wind.

Emily hugged his neck and said, "I love these moments most. The ones with just you and me, flying over Olympus."

She didn't know what Pegasus said when he whinnied in reply, but he must've been happy because he flew them in loops and circles in the air.

Emily laughed and smiled. She didn't know what she would do without Pegasus.

After a few minutes, Pegasus landed on the soft green grass below and she noticed they were in a peaceful area.

"Thanks Pegs, this is just what I needed," Emily said as she plopped down in the grass and sighed in relief.

Pegasus sat right next to her and she leaned against him. They sat like that for quite a long time as Emily told him all about how Joel had been avoiding her.

It felt nice talking to Pegasus like this. He always seemed to understand perfectly and he never blamed her for anything. She patted his soft fur and knew that as long as she had Pegasus, she was not alone in her struggles.

Emily stopped when she heard the crack of a branch behind her and turned to investigate the sound.

Hiding behind a tree, there was a figure that had been watching her. She realized that she had been sitting right in front of a forest.

When the presence saw that they had been caught, he/she whirled away from the tree and started sprinting deep into the forest.

"Hey!" Emily shouted as she shot to her feet and started running into the trees to follow.

Pegasus whinnied, probably to stop her, or get her to sit on his back, but there was no time to lose.

She ran as fast as she could and looked up ahead at the figure. Emily discerned that the person was wearing a black hood.

It could be an enemy. Or a spy. It could be a wanted criminal for all she knew. Who could tell? Emily needed to see the face underneath that hood.

Trees blurred past and twigs snapped under her feet as she ran as fast as her legs could go, which was surprisingly agile. Having an Olympian body sure could come in handy.

All Emily saw was the green of leaves as she turned this way and that to dodge low branches and avoid falling over roots.

She was gaining on the hooded figure, who was not too far now. A stream came up ahead, but the figure simply leaped over it.

"Stop!" Emily yelled. But if the person had heard, they did not listen. "I demand you to stop or I'm going to use my powers. Believe me, you don't want that!"

Suddenly the figure tripped over a thick branch and crashed to the ground. The hood let out a groan.

Emily caught up to the figure and stopped to catch her breath.

"It's over," she breathed as she stepped closer cautiously, fearful that the figure might jump up and attack.

She looked back and saw Pegasus standing right behind her. He must've pursued her, but she hadn't noticed.

The hood breathed heavily and was silent as Emily seized them by the back of their cloak and pinned them against the tree. She peeled the hood back slowly.

Emily gasped when she saw who it was.