Another chapter! This one's ok I guess. I like the next one ten times more. The Valley of Corrupted Gravity was fun to mess with. But until then, enjoy this!

After heading up the ascending stairway they were greeted by quite a beautiful sight. Although Dart wouldn't have guessed that the castle would be just as dark as outside, bright glowing lights set on upper levels and the next set of stairs the only source of light.

It gave the room a cozy feeling nonetheless and allowed Dart to see the patterns on the long stretching blue rug as they followed its path. He could even sense the difference in texture of the tiny stars and later on the image of a sun as they passed over it.

At the top of the stairs the blue rug continued, Fester however diverted from the path and led them up one of two short stairways that split in opposite directions.

It was no surprise to see a guard, much smaller than the first, standing firmly in from of a door and side path at the top. But it didn't matter because Fester turned in a complete different direction. And once more Dart felt the texture of their footing change from the marble stone to a very resistant red rug splayed with golden colored images of the sun and stars.

This appeared to be the top floor and so Dart followed with more confidence up close to Fester. And the red rug proved to be perfect proof of his hunch as it flowed on through the next gaping doorway and covered almost every inch of the flooring.

Fester hurried to kneel before the king as the got up a foot within the set of stairs leading up to the throne. "I am here, Your Majesty." He said with revere.

Dart and the others mimicked his actions, but Dart's eyes were on other things. He noted how there were two guards on either side of the stairs, each eyeing his with extreme intensity and mistrust. And he noticed how there were three chairs for thrones. This most the most perplexing detail.

"Oh, Fester!" His old yet far reaching voice cried as he stood. "Please take care of my dear Princess Lisa for today." He smiled warmly and lifted his hands in the arm.

"Of course, Your Majesty." Fester nodded.

King Zior's lips fell down into a frown then and beady eyes squinted as he tried to understand something. "By the way," he mumbled, scratching the side of his black haired head that showed out from under his pink tinted hat. "I think I have some problem with my eyes. I see many Festers!"

Fester laughed heartily and stood up. "King Zior…" he shook his head. "There is only one of me. These people are my friends, Your Majesty." He nodded back at them so that the king would understand without question.

"Oh, indeed!" He laughed back. "There is only one Fester! And, what is their request?"

Only Albert and Dart rose to their feet, Albert being the one to step forward for once. "We are here to request permission to enter the Valley of Corrupted Gravity." He said firmly, backing it up with a nod of equal resolve.

King Zior started, his extremely dark skin blanching a bit. "Hmm…Fester." He muttered with uncertainty, eyes shifting nervously. "I think I heard the 'Valley of Corrupted Gravity'. Was it my imagination?" He held his breath for it to be so.

Fester rolled his eyes. "King Zior, your ears are fine too." He looked back at Dart, motioning toward them. "These people need to talk to the Gehrich Gang. So they would like to go to the Valley of Corrupted Gravity." It was as simple as that, even if a little crazy.

King Zior held his head as he tried to reason out the sudden spike of interest in the gang. "Oh, you too!?" He shook his head in disbelief, a faint smile of pity forming.

The whole group cocked their heads as they silently wondered what he meant by that.

The king answered the question he knew rested on their lips without a second thought. "Well, the other day a young man named Lynn came to me for the same reason." He sighed heavily as an image of Lynn flashed before his eyes. "It seems being a daredevil is trendy nowadays."

Dart shook his head fervently, a fire dancing in his eyes. "We are not going there for a picnic!" He assured him, fist clenched before him. "It's very important."

The faint amusement lingering in King Zior's eyes faded into oblivion, sternness instead spreading in them as a firm flat line took its place on his lips. "You understand all the risks, then?"

They all nodded. They weren't stupid, if that's what he thought.

King Zior hesitated but a moment so as to survey them all and make sure they really meant what they said. "Fine." He shrugged. "Servant!" He called out. "Bring the pass for them!"

A man that had been hidden from sight flew into the room, promptly jerking his hand up in front of Dart to reveal the pass to him.

Dart took with pass and offered the man a faint smile of appreciation before the servant had zoomed back out of sight again.

"Be careful." King Zior said as his final warning. "That place is not for the weak either physically or mentally. You'll need both to successfully pass through."

Dart bowed his head as the words passed his lips, "I appreciate this Your Majesty."

As Dart turned to leave, a thought struck the king. "Wait a moment." He reached a hand out toward him despite the fact it would not reach him.

Dart perked, looking back over his shoulder. "Yes Your Majesty?"

King Zior couldn't help but chuckle at his formality. "It is already late. Why don't you relax in the castle?" He stared at Dart with high hopes.

Dart hesitated, exchanging glances with everyone else before he made a decision. "Of course Your Majesty. We appreciate your kindness."

"Just go on out." He waved them on. "You can stay in the room on the right side of the castle."

They all knelt for a fraction of a second to show the proper respect and then swiftly turned on their heels to leave for the room the king had so graciously given them.

Only Dart paused in the process to exchange parting words with Fester. "Fester, thank you so much." He smiled brightly and tilted his head unintentionally. "You don't know how much this means to me, to all of us."

Fester smiled back. "It was nothing." He chuckled. "I was just doing a favor for someone who deserved it."

"Well maybe we'll see each other again sometime." Dart hoped, but he seriously doubted it too. After tonight he planned to not come back to Fletz again without really good reason.

"Perhaps." He nodded. "Either way, I am going back to work. Princess Lisa's studies are going very well." He waved faintly, deeming the conversation over.

Dart waved back as he ran to catch up with the others who were already talking to the guard in front of the room. And as Dart slowed he wondered why a guard would watch over something as insignificant as a bedroom. He also wondered what was on the other side.

"Excuse me! Your Majesty Albert!" A voice yelled after them, a woman in a beautiful blue dress appearing shortly after. "I am Libria, the Lady's maid for Princess Lisa." She bowed her head and clasped her hands at her waist to further her subdued look.

They all, especially Albert, started. How did she know that he was a king? He had told no one around here about this fact and he was pretty sure this person had not been around when he was young and had visited. "No need to bow." Her doing so made him flustered.

Libria popped up instantly, offering a gracious smile. "Princess Lisa had me call you and your company." This was the most important part of her speech.

Albert blinked twice and cocked his head to the side. "What?" He breathed. "Princess Lisa knew of our visit?"

Libria's head popped like a spring when she nodded. "Yes! She speaks with the stars and knows the future." A sigh of awe escaped her. "Astrology shows her the way."

Albert's eyes lit up like never before. "Speaks with the stars?" His heart even sped up. "How interesting."

Liberia laughed lightly. "This way please." She motioned them toward her, heading back the way they had come into the throne room.

Dart stared blankly after her, looking to Albert for clarification. "What's going on? Can a person really know such things from the stars?"

Albert registered his voice enough to give him a response. "We'll find out when we meet Princess Lisa." He then wandered zombie like after Libria, ignorant of whether the others were following or not.

She led them dutifully through the throne room and to a side door leading to a balcony hanging over both the city and the ocean.

"This really is the city of stars." Haschel belly laughed.

"And you know…!" Meru chirped, bouncing over to Haschel as she saw him as the most likely to talk with her. "I've never even been to Fletz in my life!"

Haschel didn't think twice about being a willing participant in this conversation. He honestly liked Meru's free spirit. "Really?" He chuckled. "You should get out more often." She kind of reminded him of a younger version of himself.

"Out there." Libria nodded toward the opening. "Princess Lisa is waiting."

They shuffled out, eyes falling on a petite girl standing with her back to them on the beautiful white balcony.

Lisa was staring intently out at the stars, her yellow dress and blonde hair fluttering gently in the wind. But despite her focus on all her troubles, she instantly heard their approach by the clicking of their shoes on the floor. "Welcome, Albert, the King of Serdio."

They all filed out in a semicircle around Lisa, waiting for her to make her next move.

Lisa slowly turned around, a pained smile on her face and a deep rooted sadness in her emerald eyes. "I am Lisa, the younger sister of Emille." She forced a more sincere smile on her lips as she curtsied.

Each bowed their head to show at least equal respect.

Lisa giggled faintly at their instinctive response. They must have been influenced by Albert. "I have invited you here because I have a favor to ask of you."

Something in Meru's mind snapped then, her eyes widening to the size of bowling balls. "Hey!" She zoomed forward and spun around so all her friend's eyes were on her. "Hey wait a minute!" She waved her hands crazily in front of her, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "How does she know he's a king!?"

Dart chuckled, the edges of his mouth twitching upward some despite himself. "Libria was talking about it a before. Don't you remember?"

Albert couldn't help but be slightly amused either. "Princess Lisa found out about it through astrology."

Meru blushed deeply at her blunder, but she didn't move from her spot. She was like a deer caught in the headlights.

She was saved the entire weight of humiliation as Haschel sprang forward to stand beside her. "Hold on there!" He put a palm out like a stop sign. "What the heck is astrology!?"

Shana felt like the smartest person ever as she promptly handed him the answer. "It is the telling of a person's fortune from the location of the stars."

Dart looked down at her warmly, his smile widening in an instant. "You're pretty smart, aren't you?" He teased, nudging her gently.

Shana beamed, eyes shining like the very stars at his praise.

Lisa laughed out loud, covering her mouth with a hand to try and muffle the sound. "You have such amusing friends." She appeared truly happy in this moment.

Meru and Haschel rubbed their heads and smiled sheepishly back at their friends and Lisa. They then made haste in escaping from the limelight by backing up into the circle.

"Please continue." Dart waved his hand at her to prompt her.

The life in Lisa's eyes died instantly, a soft sigh slipping past her lips. "It is about my sister Emille." She hung her head, hands clasped low.

Albert's brow furrowed and a wave of worry swept over him. "What has happened to the princess?" A flash of the first time they'd seen Emille came to him. "I cannot believe that's her normal self…" he shook his head in dismay.

Lisa lifted her head up to see if he was truly as plagued by her sister as she was. "Well, it started a half year ago." She recalled it as if it were yesterday, images of them on horseback filling her mind. "Back then, my sister Emille was very kind, and my…well, everyone in the country admired her."

Albert thought back to when he was a child, remembering bits and pieces of a girl who must've been Emille that he played with constantly. She hadn't been the woman she was now, but she had most definitely been kind then. And no person could change so much.

Lisa's hands clenched tighter around themselves as she forced herself to tell them. "It all started when the two of us went horseback riding." She breathed out heavily. "And suddenly my sister Emille's horse bucked and ran away to the forest." She still saw the horse Emille had ridden on perfectly as she lost control of it."

Shana sucked in a sharp breath, a hand flying to her mouth. "What about Princess Emille?"

Dart unknowingly tensed, the story making him think all too much fear he felt when he learned Shana had been taken to Hellena.

Lisa turned away from them and walked solemnly over to the railing of the balcony to gaze at the waves of the ocean in the distance. "It seemed that my sister lost consciousness and couldn't control the horse, so I chased her with my vassals." She grimaced at the mere thought. "And when we found her, my sister was on the ground in the forest."

Rose was the least interested of the bunch, staring blankly off into space for the most part. Only as she sensed a twist in the tale did she even glance Lisa's direction.

"Fortunately, she didn't have any injuries." A flicker of a smile passed her lips as she faced them again. "And everyone felt profound relief." The pause she took then unintentionally added a dramatic effect. "However, when my sister Emille came to, she was completely different."

Rose raised a brow. Was it really possible to change to the extent the princess was making it sound like? It was fishy.

"Everyone says it is because she hit herself on the head, but…" Lisa shook her head. "…something more than her language and attitude was wrong. It was as if she was a different person."

Albert was stricken by such an idea. Could it be? "Does anybody doubt the change?" He eagerly watched her, fists clenched before him. "How about King Zior?"

Lisa sullenly disagreed. "No, instead he was happy to see my sister Emille become so active." She held her head in the web of her fingers.

"This must be hard for you." Albert tried to sympathize. "I'm sorry."

Lisa smiled faintly, a little pleased that an almost complete stranger would care. "It's ok." She assured. "But, I did hear that you are heading to the Valley of Corrupted Gravity." She gazed deeply into Albert's eyes as if he were the decider. "And I have a favor to ask."

Dart opened his mouth to agree to hear her out, but before the words made it out Albert was speaking. "Ask away."

Lisa's smile widened a smidgen, a laugh lingering on the edges as she watched Dart deflate. "I would like you to find out about the relationship between my sister Emille and the Gehrich Gang."

"The relationship between Princess Emille and the Gehrich?" Dart repeated, tilting his head slightly.

Lisa nodded. "Tiberoa appears to be peaceful; however, we are having a serious problem." Her eyes flickered over the balcony down at the peaceful town of Fletz. "It is infested with bandits."

"I know!" Meru groaned in her best attempt at empathy. "Donau is totally awful now!"

Lisa sighed heavily. "I know." A pause. "However, it used to be different." Lisa saw the words forming in all their mouths and quickly answered. "Yes," she nodded. "until a half year ago."

Haschel's eyes widened considerably. "It was the same time Princess Emille began acting strange!" He exclaimed, getting into this story to a Meru extent.

Lisa frowned deeply, facing away from them once more to move to the railing and lay her hands on it. "Astrology also says there is some kind of relationship between my sister and the Gehrichs."

Albert was not brought up having the same faith in the stars as the people in Fletz, but he still believed heavily in the stars when it came to people experienced in reading them. "So it is probably true."

Lisa's hands clenched around the railing. "Yes." She growled tersely "And one more thing…" she spun slowly around. "The stars told me 'never hand over the Moon.' Her words came slowly, making her tone ring with even more ominousness as her eyes held a similar gleam of warning, portraying her immense belief in her craft.

"That doesn't sound good." Shana worried out loud, biting at her nails nervously.

Lisa wholeheartedly agreed, explaining exactly what the message meant to her. "See, my sister will celebrate her twentieth birthday soon. At the ceremony the Tiberoan national treasure, the Moon Dagger, will be passed down to her." Her eyes became narrower as she spoke, fear flashing in them for a spit second. "I assume the 'Moon' refers to that."

Dart and Albert head's instantly jerked toward one another, fear sparking in their expressions. "The second divine moon object." They said in unison.

Rose pushed off from her spot leaning on one of the beams. "It is linked with Lloyd." She growled matter of factly as an image of Lavitz popped in her head.

Meru leaned over to Haschel as she whispered, "Lloyd?"

"He's the one we're really after. He stole the Moon Gem from Albert." Haschel whispered back.

Lisa's gaze intensified. "I have to find out the truth before the ceremony." She nodded firmly to assert her position. "About the relationship between my sister Emille and the Gehrich Gang."

Albert felt the turmoil vibrating off of her and fully wanted her to get her wish. Although he had to admit his desire was slightly self-centered. He needed to see Princess Emille, the real Princess Emille.

Lisa's eyes softened and she brought her clasped hands up to her chest. "So, would you please look into this for me?" She was practically begging them.

Even if Dart hadn't wanted to accept, and Rose's glares were kind of bugging him, he couldn't deny Albert. His eyes begged him to say yes almost as badly as Lisa's did. "We will." Dart nodded. "We have no reason not to since our original intention was to pursue the Gehrich Gang anyway."

Lisa used her whole body to bow in appreciation. "Thank you." She breathed shakily; faint traces of tears glimmering in her eyes as she rose back up to face them. "I appreciate it. You don't know how much I do." Her smile could not have been brighter.

"Your Highness!" The familiar voice of Libria called to her. "The dinner will be ready soon Your Highness."

A wave of surprise washed over Lisa, shifting the expression on her face like the sand. "Oh!" She chirped. "Is it already that late?" Another more intense wave swept over her. "Oh!" Her hand flew to her mouth. "I forgot about Fester! I left him in my room!" And in the blink of an eye she was out of sight.

Libria laughed lightly at the princess before looking to Dart and the others. "King Zior also said to invite everyone. So please come with me and I'll take you to the dining room."

The instant Libria had wandered out of sight to wait for them, Meru exploded with joy and excitement. "Yes!" She cheered, throwing an arm into the air. "I was totally right about coming with you Dart!" She spun around to face him with wide eyes. "I was expecting these things to happen!"

Although Dart wasn't half as excited as Meru, Haschel was and jumped right into her spazzing. "You are completely right Meru!" He chuckled. "I am looking forward to it too!"

Meru's eyes gleamed with a lustful excitement over the food. "I'm totally pigging out!"

Haschel's head bobbed up and down in a nod brimming with life. "I wonder what I can feast on there." He stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Meru felt her mouth watering just thinking about the possibilities. "Why wonder!? Let's go!" She waved them all on, mostly intending it to be Haschel's cue.

"Yeah buddy!" He cried, sprinting away from the balcony without a thought as to where he was going.

"Hey!" Meru snapped playfully. "You're not going to beat me!" She shot into a run after him, just as clueless as to where they were racing to.

Dart rubbed his head and laughed faintly as he watched them disappear from his sights. "They're a sight." He chuckled to no one in particular.

Shana nodded, flashing him a broad grin. "Kindred spirits."

"Well those kindred spirits are about to get themselves lost." Rose frowned, moving over to stand even with Dart.

"So we should probably go after them." Albert chuckled, offering a half smile to Rose.

Rose contemplated the notion for a whole half a second before she plainly crushed the idea. "Nope. I say we let them run around like idiots. Maybe if we're lucky they'll never find us again."

"Rose." Albert and Dart snapped in unison.

Rose shrugged. "Or at the very least they could tire themselves out."

The other three didn't really have anything to say against this idea. Meru being calm was a rarity after all. So heck, why not? "Maybe…" Dart muttered.

"Sadly, I'm sure they'll smell the food." Rose sighed heavily.

The three snickered at her annoyance over a hundred percent true fact. "I guess we'll see." Dart shrugged, nodding back toward the entrance.

Shana moved closer to Dart, intertwining her fingers with his. He was as warm as ever.

Dart glanced over at Rose who patiently stood at his side. And after catching her eye he lamely offered her his other hand without thinking.

Rose instantly made a face, hissing in a hushed tone. "I don't think so. I'm no Shana." She thrust her head into the air and tromped ahead of them over to Libria.

Dart sighed heavily, shaking his head at how she reacted to things even as small as this. She was a card, that went without saying. Yet her extreme resistance only made her more irresistible. But…at the same time he wondered if his efforts would get him anywhere. Or, perhaps Shana would be better.

Shana's eyes narrowed instantly as she noticed Dart try to go after Rose while he was holding onto her. It made her blood boil and for a split second she actually believed she hated Rose. Naturally she felt immediate guilt, but still hints of her irritation lingered. It was almost scary for her. Did she love Dart that much? Enough to hate a friend?

Albert too saw Dart's move and felt a bit annoyed by the way he made himself come off as a player. It wasn't that he was jealous of either girl. He simply didn't find it fair to them. If Dart wanted one, then he could go after one. But only one. And he needed to choose now.

"Come now." Liberia murmured with traces of impatience.

Dart nodded, feeling the heat of all three of their gazes as he promptly followed. Yes, he needed to pick one. Lavitz would have agreed. But it wasn't as easy as it seemed. No one truly understood until they were in his place, stuck in the middle.

...

No more than five minutes later they were all sitting around a large table with piles of food before them. The king was at the head of the table, followed by Albert across from Emille, Shana across from Lisa, Dart from Fester, Rose from Meru, and Haschel by Meru.

"Please make yourself at home!" King Zior's voice boomed as he raised his arms high above his head.

The prevalent sound was the scrapping of metal on metal as Princess Emille wasted not a moment in digging into the food. It mattered not that there were guests either. Her eyes opened only for the food before her and awaiting her back in the kitchen.

While everyone else frowned upon her unladylike manners, King Zior welcomed it with open arms accompanied by a hearty laugh. "Isn't she a great eater!?" He cried. "It seems when girls become twenty years old they develop quite an appetite!"

"You don't say." Haschel mumbled under his breath.

Meru giggled a little louder than intended, clamping her hands over her mouth quickly to try and hide her misstep.

Haschel couldn't help but laugh back at her. He, however, made no move to quell his laughter.

Rose rolled her eyes at the both of them. "Children." She sighed, resting her head sideways in her hand as she picked at her food. She just wasn't feeling it today.

The lack of conversation was getting to King Zior as the seconds ticked away, so he created one of his own. "Oh, Fester?" He chimed. "Would you introduce our guests to Emille?"

Fester nodded energetically. "Yes, Your Majesty."

The scrapping of utensils paused momentarily as Emille looked up in slight surprise. "Oh, I didn't know you were here Fester." She chortled in mocking amusement. "Are you still wasting time on useless things? Those things with moons or stars?" When she didn't get an immediate response she dove right back into her food.

Fester chuckled nervously. "L-Let me introduce my friends, Your Highness!" He managed to choke out. "This-" He motioned to Dart.

Emille waved her fork at Dart and then Albert. "You and you!" She barked. "What's your names?"

Dart smiled lopsided. "I'm Dart."

Albert couldn't even muster a smile. "I am Albert. It is a pleasure to meet you." He nodded in insincere graciousness.

"Hm, you are cute guys." Emille muttered, stuffing her mouth full of more food as she decided, "I like you!"

Fester nodded appreciatively. "I am glad to hear that." He motioned to the next person down. "And these-"

Emille's head snapped up, eyes narrowing into slits. "I didn't ask you about the others!" She waved away both his words and the others very existence in her mind with her hand.

King Zior chuckled, too fond of a parent to see the truth. Instead he made excuses. "Oh, please don't be insulted. Emille is a bit shy."

Emille shot him a deadly glare. "I'm not shy!" She snapped back. "I don't like them. That's all!" She twisted her body around then to yell, "Hey! Bring me more food will ya!?"

Lisa sighed heavily. "Please enjoy your meal." She forced a small smile. "I assume you are leaving early tomorrow morning?"

Dart nodded, opening his mouth to say yes when Emille's sharp voice cut him off.

"Where are you going?" She was genuinely interested. Most people were cowards these days and didn't dare take a step out of their homes.

King Zior gladly answered. "Well, they are saying that they want to go to the Valley of Corrupted Gravity." He paused to offer them all a warm smile. "They understand the risk, so I have granted them permission."

Emille's body instantly went stiff and her eyes and mouth shot open. She even lost her grip on her utensils, a clank sounding as they hit the floor. "Humph!" She snorted, bending over to pick up her dropped tools. "Stupid guys!"

The man with the food entered then, bowing as he handed her another plate.

"It took you long enough!" She snapped viciously, shooting daggers into them.

The man cowered pitifully, still bent over as he backed away. Only when he was halfway through the door to the kitchen did he kick it into high gear and fly back to his position.

"Stupid cooks." She grumbled in between mouthfuls. "They can't do anything right."

Dart shook his head enough not to be seen by Emille but noticeably enough for Rose or Shana to see.

Rose picked up on it the fastest. "She is quite the royal brat isn't she?" Her voice floated only to those on her side, the three being Dart Meru and Haschel. "Even worse than Meru."

"Hey!" Meru cried sharply, drawing all the attention on her. "Hehe…hi." She waved halfheartedly, a blush creeping up on her cheeks.

Haschel chuckled softly, nearing the end of the food on his plate. It made him wonder if he was allowed to ask for seconds like the princess.

"It's not funny." Meru hissed, kicking him under the table.

Shana leaned over towards Dart so that she was a hundred percent sure no one else would hear. "She is kind of odd." That was to say the least.

Emille's eyes caught Shana's movement and she instantly jumped on them. "Hey! You two!" She pointed an accusing knife at them. "What're you talking about!? Spill it!"

Shana swiftly drew back, sitting erect with her hands planted firmly in her lap and eyes staring straight ahead. She wasn't about to answer either.

Dart smiled nervously. "We were just…" He was so bad at making things up on the spot! Oh, crap.

"They were wondering if they could have more food." Rose said smoothly, her eyes not giving away her lie as her mannerisms remained as cool and collective as ever.

"Why but of course." King Zior laughed. "You're welcome to as much as you wish!" His grin stretched the length of his face.

Meru and Haschel's faces lit up at this. They had been conversing quietly over the matter as they played footsy. They'd even thought Princess Emille had called them out at first. "Oh!" They cried in unison. "Seconds for me then!"

Dart laughed lightly at their childish behavior. He'd never seen Haschel so loose. Maybe it was good they brought Meru along. She seemed to be doing him tons of good.

Two men brought the four of them a plate and quickly scurried back into the kitchen just like the first. They weren't about to chance getting yelled at by Princess Emille.

"Hey! What about me!?" Princess Emille growled, head turned around to glare at the doorway where she knew one of them would appear.

Just as they vanished, one was peeking his head around the corner again. "Yes, Your Highness." He mumbled, disappearing, reappearing, and disappearing again in the blink of an eye.

King Zior laughed out loud once more, so pleased with his daughter's new habits that it wasn't funny. "Enjoy yourself!"

They all fidgeted a bit in their place as he said this. The mood for enjoying themselves had been killed near instantly by Princess Emille. They saw no way to do this but keep on eating.

Meru and Haschel barely heard the king as they stuffed their faces, way ahead of him in enjoying their time here. Food was all it took. "It's so good!" Meru chirped to Haschel, smile full of food.

Haschel nodded firmly. "Uh-huh."

Dart noticed Rose had barely touched her food. "You not going to eat then?" He whispered gently, not wanting her to think he was judging her or something.

Rose looked boredly up into his crystal blue eyes. "Don't worry about me." She shot him down in an instant. "I will be fine."

Dart grimaced. She was too smart for her own good. "I was just wondering because I…I was still hungry." He smiled unconvincingly.

Rose gave him a look that screamed 'are you kidding me?' "I'm not stupid." She ate a tiny bite. "Besides, there's plenty more that isn't on my plate."

Shana yawned softly, leaning her head against Dart's shoulder. "I'm stuffed."

Dart hesitated a moment, Albert's look from earlier burning before his eyes. You need to choose. He knew this. Still, he couldn't help but tenderly wrap an arm around Shana's shoulder. It wasn't that bad if he pretended she was still his baby sister. Right?

Rose might have smiled then for Shana, but she couldn't get her lips to turn upward. They only fell further down. She felt like the worst person then too. How could she hate Shana when she was obviously as happy as she'd ever been? Was this what it meant to love a person as you watched them slowly slip through your fingers? Especially when it was all your fault.

...

An hour later and they were all relaxing in the room they'd been given. It was stretched long, ten beds set up across the length, but it was also very small up and down. There was barely enough room to walk past the first bed.

Albert had been pensive for the longest time as they sat and stood, whichever was preferred, in the room. Only now did he choose to speak his thoughts aloud. "Can people change that much from only the shock of falling off a horse?" He was extremely perturbed by the notion, the brows furrowed far down on his head making this fact perfectly clear.

They all took on their thinking poses, trying to come up with a plausible situation. Haschel was the quickest to try his hand at it. "I can produce the same impact with my fist!" He insisted, punching his fist through the air to demonstrate.

Shana made a face at the idea. "It won't work!" She shook her head fervently, bouncing her feet gingerly at the side of the bed.

Meru snickered at Haschel's failed attempt. "Then with my hammer!" Her eyes gleamed with intensity and mouth screamed of her immense eagerness to be right.

Dart shot her thought down just as quickly. "It won't work either."

Meru deflated at the same speed as Haschel, taking to running her foot on floor to distract herself from her failure.

Shana sighed loudly, stretching her arms out high above her head. She was aggravated by this situation more than she'd been almost anything in her life. So she changed it. "You don't like such a formal feast, do you Dart?" She giggled.

Dart shrugged. "I'd rather practice with my sword." He shamelessly admitted.

Shana stifled a yawn. "Aren't you tired?" She knew she was.

Dart shrugged his hands this time. "I suppose." He glanced to Rose. "I just have a lot on my mind."

Meru bounced back to her usual self at the start of the new topic. "Humph!" She snorted, crossing her arms firmly over her chest as she put on a pouty face. "I didn't have enough to eat! Princess Emille stole my portion!"

Haschel frowned deeply, his whole face growing sterner. "Me neither." He sighed. "And I was looking forward to it…"

Albert hadn't really been listening and didn't exactly go with the flow of the new conversation. He said what was on his mind. "I understand Princess Lisa's hardship." He sighed, picturing how the real Princess Emille would act. "But, Princess Emille might lead us to Lloyd."

Rose nodded faintly. "The Moon Dagger is our guide."

Dart's fist clenched at his side and he brought it up before him. "Everything leads to the Gehrich."

Shana rubbed at her eyes, another soft yawn escaping her. "It all started with the Dragoon Spirit." She murmured, gazing sadly up at Dart.

A grimace slapped itself onto his face. "We have to get it back quick." He growled through clenched teeth. "Otherwise it'll be too risky."

Rose snorted loudly, turning her coal eyes on him. "You shouldn't have let it be taken to start with, then." She scolded without remorse.

Dart's grimace slipped into a sad frown as he hung his head in shame. He thought they were over this. He supposed he was wrong.

Everyone flinched as they felt the sting of her words as they whipped Dart's skin. Not to mention it wasn't even necessary to point his mistake out.

Haschel gave her a stern look, arms crossed over his chest. "You are harsh as always." He shook his head in disbelief. "There are some other ways to say that you know."

Rose didn't respond, she simply shifted her gaze to him and stared blankly.

Haschel sighed heavily, rolling his eyes. "Why don't you show a little smile at least?" He suggested, flashing her a smile as an example.

Rose was given a smack of her own as his proposal reached her ears. She started, unable to control the flash of surprised fear on her face. "I…don't remember…how to smile." She murmured in strained bitterness.

Everyone's brows furrowed and they couldn't help but stare blankly at her. Even Dart was unable to spare her in this moment.

Rose regained her cold expression, turning away from them so she could at least pretend they weren't staring her down. "Good night." She breathed curtly before she hurried to the furthermost corner in the room to sleep, or at least lay down.

Shana licked her lips, saying softly, "I'm getting sleepy too." Since Rose had gone off to bed first, it was ok that she did too. So she rolled down the blankets and burrowed underneath like a mole.

Albert sighed heavily, looking back at Rose in worry. "I'll get some sleep too." He wandered over in Rose's direction. He wasn't going to bother her tonight though, but he did want to be nearby if she happened to want to talk to him. It was either him or Dart.

Dart smiled at Shana, her eyes drifting shut near instantly. "Good night, Shana." He ran his fingers over her hair, liking the smooth feeling it possessed.

"Dart…" Shana murmured, already half in dreams.

Meru shifted her position as the number of people around changed. She wandered back to the wall between two of the beds and leaned back, her arms set behind her head to prop it up.

Haschel sighed in content, gaze drifting up to the ceiling. "Being with you young people reminds me of my daughter Claire." He was talking aloud more than he was talking directly to the other two.

Meru perked, zoning in on Haschel and the potential this subject had. "What's she like?"

Haschel smiled warmly. "She had a strong will." An image of her and her smiling face framed by ebony locks flashed before his eyes. "She suffered by herself, decided things by herself."

Meru bounced up off the wall, eyes alight. "Same here!" Meru tossed an arm in the air enthusiastically.

Haschel chuckled, for once not at Meru. "Call me a fond parent, but she looked like her beautiful mother." A certain pain filled his eyes then despite how warm the thought of his daughter made him feel inside. "She was a strong fighter," His mouth matched his eyes as it fell into a grimace. "but her heart was too sweet."

Dart's eyes wandered to Shana. She was kind of like that –strong when she wanted to be, but all together too sweet and weak hearted to really hurt others.

Haschel snapped out of his revere, thoughts jumping to Meru. "It's the complete opposite of Meru."

Meru immediately took offense, mouth falling agape. "I'm a strong fighter too!" She whined loudly, her lip puffed out.

Dart rolled his eyes as a soft chuckle rolled off his tongue. "That's not what he meant."

A faint smile of bitter longing formed on Haschel's lips. "I only taught her how to use her fists, but I wish I could see her in a wedding dress."

Meru grinned from ear to ear, eyes filling with unbound life as an idea struck her. "Don't worry!" She giggled. "You can see me in a wedding dress!" She spun around in a full circle to show how she would do in her dress. "I'll be totally beautiful in that! Don't you think?"

Dart nodded. "Yeah, I think so."

As impossible as it sounds, Meru's face grew brighter still. "Right!?" She laughed loudly from utter joy. And just as quickly, she was ready for bed. "Happy sleeping time!" She chirped, bouncing over onto the bed of her choice. She didn't even use the covers; she just sprawled out over it.

Haschel chortled at her amazing ability to shift gears so quick and easily. "I'll get some sleep too." He shrugged, heading back to the bed opposite Meru.

"We all should." Dart breathed to himself, moving to the bed beside Shana. He propped himself up on one elbow as he lay with the covers pulled halfway up. He couldn't get over how peaceful Shana looked in her sleep. And he wondered why he'd never seen it before. It wasn't like it was hidden. Maybe he was just as blind as Lavitz had said.

And before any of them knew it they had fallen into deep sleep and were headed for the best night of rest they'd had in a while. Not even Rose tossed and turned in fear of nightmares new and old. All was well for a moment in time.

How was it? I can't really judge it until I go back and read it myself (which may never happen x.x). So please review!