Yep. I updated again. Uhhhhhh...I think this was the version Scissors betaed. If it wasn't I'm sending it all back to her to edit again.

Rikiya followed Peach through the winding streets of Ebilon's town. He found that, to his satisfaction, they were much dirtier and worse than Klastiam's streets. Some people lay in the street, dying from sickness. Rikiya tried to memorize every feature of the place so if he ever led an army here he would know exactly where to strike.

The young eighteen-year-old stopped in front of a giant castle surrounded by walls. He hadn't noticed how easily they had gotten to the royal castle. Peach gave him a sweet smile.

"Paul, wait here while I get Winter," she ordered. Paul nodded and silently stood next to Rikiya. Rikiya looked through his memory and his research about Ebilon's royal family.

The old king who had died had been named Spring Hinata, his living wife the queen was Fall Hinata, along with two children, princess Summer and prince Winter. He had heard many rumors about Winter not being the most princely of princes. Being the youngest prince of his own kingdom, he felt a sort of pride well up in his chest as he prepared himself to see his rival in the other kingdom.

When Peach ran out of the castle leading a young, fourteen-year-old scrawny boy with a far-off look, Rikiya had to try his hardest not to laugh. Had the Ebilonians not even trained their royalty in the art of fighting?

"Is this him, Peach?" the young prince asked, his eyes looking up and down Rikiya. Peach nodded excitedly.

"Yep. He came from the fissure." Peach smiled. Rikiya opened his mouth to lie and tell her he didn't. He didn't want anyone to think he was from Klastiam, but these people were surprisingly not suspicious.

"WOW! Cool!" The prince beamed, his eyes shining. "Did you live there your whole life?" Rikiya shook his head and decided it was time to correct the boy.

"I'm a traveler, and just traveled through your fissure to get to this kingdom," Rikiya lied. Winter's eyes shone again.

"You mean, you… climbed it and reached the bottom?" he asked, stunned. Rikiya nodded. Winter took out a notepad and a quill pen. "Tell me everything!" he begged. Rikiya chuckled nervously, thinking that there wasn't much to tell; especially the parts where he had been scared out of his mind.

"There isn't much to tell," he answered. Winter looked disappointed.

"Want to live in the castle?" he asked, extremely friendly. Rikiya's eyes widened. He didn't expect to get into the castle so quickly. "I mean…If you're there with me I can research you!"Winter smiled. "And ask you questions! And play with your cute cat! That cat could be an alien after all." Rikiya gave him a strange look from his ramblings. Peach seemed to be absorbed in his words.

"Yeah, and since I found him, we could research him together!" Peach suggested.

"That would be really fun, wouldn't it be, Nishizawa-san?" he asked her politely. She nodded and glared at Rikiya almost as if she was threatening him to say yes.

"Um… Well, actually I came to this kingdom as a traveling archer…. I was wondering if I could become a knight in your princess's guards?" he asked.

"Sure! As long as Nishizawa-san and I can ask you questions," Winter agreed. Rikiya nodded slowly, wondering why everything was so easy. The blue-haired boy beamed and grabbed one of Rikiya's arms. Peach grabbed the other, and the two (mostly Peach due to her strength) dragged Rikiya into the castle throne-room.

A pink haired girl in pigtails seemed to be arguing with a black-haired knight dressed in green and a red-haired boy dressed in dark blue.

"Stupid knight! I told you to find someone interesting for me to fight, not your squire!" the girl yelled. The person she was addressing froze.

"I'm sure I'll find someone worthy who wants to fight you," the 'stupid knight' answered. The girl raised her fist as if she was going to punch him in the face.

"Hey sis, we brought someone who we let join your royal guards without your permission!" Winter yelled. The girl turned towards them instead of punching her victim. Rikiya inhaled a breath, entranced by her beauty. She was literally the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, and her hot-headed spirit was amazing.

"This is the last one that you let join without my permission, Winter," the girl growled. She turned to Rikiya."You may join. But only if you fight me, right now," she agreed. Rikiya smiled. He barely ever lost a fight and he was rather excited to fight this beautiful princess.

"Agreed." He gave her a toothy grin, showing off his pointed teeth. He got his bow ready, knowing that he might in fact kill her during this battle and nobody could even blame him. She smiled back at him, and took out a leek from a pocket.

"Where's your weapon?" Rikiya asked gruffly.

"I only need this to beat you," she replied. Rikiya smiled, ready to knock her confidence down a peg. He began barraging her in arrows, each with different intensity and deadliness.

She dodged every single one. As she rushed closer he took the dagger out of his shoe to protect himself and to stab it into her chest. She smiled, pulled her hand into a fist, and punched him in the face.

He fell to the ground.

She's amazing…. What a warrior woman… he thought to himself, looking up at the princess who had beaten him. Princess Summer is indeed a worthy foe…. In fact, I think I'm in love… he realized, looking up at her with misty eyes.

"You were a fun battle. You pass," she smiled warmly. She reached down to help him up. He blushed and got up himself, knowing that he must not show weakness to his enemy. "What is your name?" Summer asked, realizing she had never gotten it. Rikiya looked down, his confidence and gentleman-like state faltering for a moment due to his feelings for the princess.

"Rein…" he answered, trying not to appear shy. She smiled.

"Kneel down, Rein," she ordered. He did so, feeling oddly happy to follow his enemy's orders. Princess Summer took her leek and put it on his shoulder. "Rein, do you promise to serve Ebilon for all of your life?" Rikiya bit his lip.

"Yes," he answered, lying for the best.

"Do you promise to serve the royal family for eternity?" Summer asked again.

"Yes," he answered, lying again.

"Do you promise to do what your princess orders?" Summer asked.

"Yes." He tried to lie for that one.

"Do you promise to protect the princess with your life?" Summer asked. Rikiya was silent for a moment.

"Yes…" he answered, realizing that this one was not a lie. Summer smiled.

"Do you promise to give me your heart and soul?" Her final question. He looked up with a smile and gave her an answer with no hesitation and his most honest feelings.

"I already have, my princess."

Summer smiled.

"You are now a knight in my royal court then, Rein," she told him. Rein smiled and kissed her hand gently as the ritual was complete. He felt a jolt of pleasure go up his spine at the touch of his lips with her soft skin.

He truthfully did love her.

"Stupid knight!" Summer called. "Would you show him to his room?" The black haired knight grinned.

"Sure, Princess Summer! (Anything to be away from you.)" He muttered the last part under his breath. Summer glared at him and he motioned for Rikiya to follow him.

Rikiya reluctantly did so even though he wanted to continue basking in the presence of his most beloved. He decided to look at her and walk towards Karl, which meant a lot of tripping in his love-struck state. Karl tried not to laugh as he dragged Rikiya away. When they were out of ear shot, Karl let out his laughter.

"So… Rein, was it?" he asked. "The guy who climbed through the fissure?" Rikiya nodded.

"My name is Karl Green. Head knight," he introduced. "I've never seen someone fall so hard for the princess because of her violence. That was simply amazing!" he laughed. Rikiya blushed.

"I'm not, as you say, in love with the princess!" he denied. He didn't want anyone else to know about his failure.

"Sure you're not. It's pretty dang obvious!" Karl laughed. Rikiya blushed even harder. Karl pat him on the back.

"It's all right. I have actually taken a small liking to you, especially since you love princess Summer because of her violence, the reason why everyone else fell out of love with her," Karl began to explain. "I'm actually rooting for the best for you. I mean, if you get together with her then it will mean the world is a bit safer for everyone else," he smiled. Rikiya continued blushing.

"And if she's distracted by a suitor then she will not be getting as mad at me as she normally is," he said. "So anything out of knightly duties that you want me to help with, just ask."

"Thank you…" Rikiya told him gratefully, after finding his words. He had been taught to be polite and well-mannered to superiors after all. And right now he was only a knight and this was the head of the knights, meaning he had to be polite, even though he really wanted to deny that he needed help and that he wanted help, and loved the princess.

"This is your room." Karl opened a door to a small, dusty wooden room. Rikiya nodded, entered it, thanked Karl, and closed the door.

He needed time to reflect on his horrible situation.

Now the Gironatsu starts