Before This Chapter Starts I would like to say a few words. MORE THAB 200 VIEWS! Thank you sooooooooo much guys! This has been my favorite project for the past few months and thank you for everything! The next chapter will be posted right after this one! Have a great day my Lovely Aphmau Fans! 3

The sun was rising just beyond the hill that lead to her kingdom, if she wasn't in her western wing by dawn her father would surely have her head. Her Golden wings sparked in the sunlight sending waves of colour as she saw Elk run past. When she was younger Laurence and her would try to find the Golden Elk, the sacred animal of Elm. To bad he wasn't there when she found it though, for now her maidens at hand would help her protect it in its sacred woods. They were the first all female guard council of Elm, so they had a reputation to uphold. She still wouldn't trade him for the world though, and seeing him this night had made her realize how much she longed for him to return. "Two Days…." She quietly whispered as she recalled the brunette haired boy with the heat-sensing glasses. She couldn't wait that long, although she had watched him grow for the last year (15 years actually) she still couldn't count the times she wished to bid him well. But she couldn't dwell on this thought as she approached the back gates of her castle, they were the closest to her Wing after all. She used her powers to surround herself in a tornado of water and light, as she then changed into her normal clothes for training. They were a light stormy blue with details of gold etched into it. It was also quite similar to the Jury of Nine but they felt more welcoming and helpful than powerful and high ranking. Her schedule was hanging on the side of her stain glass door.

7:30 – 9:00 Training

9:05 – 11:00 Royal Studying

11:30 – 12:30 Royal Supper and Council Meeting

12:45 – 3:30 Spare Time

4:30 – 6:30 Royal Summoning

7:00 – 8:30 Royal Supper

It was nearly 6:45 am so her maids would probably be rushing in to serve her food, but it did get annoying at times. Her days were planned out that way her father knew where she was, what she was doing and knowing she was safe at all times. Which is why during her spare time or during the few small periods she had between scheduled planning she would sneak off to hunt with her Elemental Maidens or go to try and find Laurence. Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. She stood up straight and smiled brightly, for if she seemed worried she would never hear the end of it. "Come in!" She said in a melodic tone as her maids Mary, Griselda and Lucy came in. They all looked the same except that their hair was all different. Mary had straight black hair, Griselda had a blonde wavy short bob and Lucy had long red hair with a frizz. They all walked towards her and sat her down near her vanity as they worked on her own hair. It was long and soft with a soft smell of Honey (usually it only came when she was out in the woods but after spending so long in there is kinda stuck to her) It took mere minutes and as they did she nibbled on a wonderful breakfast and packed the rest in a small pouch which she would take to training. "Aren't you excited your Grace? After all, Zane R'omeave is a wonderful man! And very handsome…" Stated Mary as she brushed Athena's hair out of her face. "Yes…he is. Let's just leave it at that." She quietly responded wanting to drop the subject as quickly as possible. "But he is so nice! He has given you thousands of gifts and is watching over you!" Said Lucy as she giggled. Athena was starting to get annoyed but rule 234 in her 'Royal Guide to Ruling' stated that you should never let pity arguments get in the way of your ruling. "Yes but there are many other ways to show gratitude, after all freedom is a treasured gift and here I am living like a caged bird. I also don't need half the gifts he has given me, why not the people of Elm?" Athena stated her mind telling her that it would be over soon. Griselda stared at her. "Your Grace is that a hint of anger I sense in your voice? You should know that any Royal should be honoured if they got a chance to-" "JUST LEAVE HER ALONE ALREADY! SHE ALREADY SAID TO LEAVE IT AT THAT YET YOU JUST DISOBEY HER WORD AND CONTINUED! WHAT KIND OF SUBJECTS ARE THOSE!" Screamed a Brunette haired girl with amber highlights standing at the door. Her eyes danced like flames and she wore the same outfit as Athena just a sunset red instead. On her back was a sword of pure gold with her hair tied back in a ribbon. Griselda looked down in shame and mumbled a quiet apology to Athena as she and the other maids rushed out the door. Athena felt sorry for them but looked still at the girl with a hint of gratitude in her smile. "You come here to save me, or to just take your best Archer for Training Brooke?" Athena teased as she stood up and summoned her golden bow and silver arrows. Brooke rolled her eyes. "Please, I would of left you but seeing as how you only have 2 weeks until your-" "Brooke, can we talk about that later? Right now I just want to enjoy the time I have and go out and see everyone…" Athena interrupted as she pushed past her and walked to the rest of her Elemental Maidens. Outside were 5 other girls. One wore a dark brown outfit with twin goblets on her hands. She had her hair down to her waist and a small braid in the front of her hair line as it trailed down. Her eyes were the colour of rich soil and her smile as bright as a Daisy. Two others stood to her right and were laughing playfully. One wore a Emerald green outfit with twin swords knotted on her belt. Her black hair was tied back in a long braid down to her shoulder as a wisp of it twirled around and ended at her ear. Her eyes were brown with hints of green in it and she was laughing so hard that one of her swords fell on the ground. The other one laughed even harder as it happened. Her dark gray outfit matched her spear perfectly as it laid on her back. She had tanned skin with dark brown hair as it laid on her shoulders. Her eyes were a colourful light Amber brown. The other two almost looked like twins. With dark black hair and dark eyes, except one had a dark purple outfit and the other a dark blue. One had a dark purple whip strapped to her belt while the other had no weapon, but laying in her neck was a dark blue crystal pendant that radiated magical energy. They all had a streak of their unique colour in their hair and they all smiled as Athena and Brooke joined them. "Ready to go? The new guards aren't going to train themselves!" Playful spoke the one with twin swords as she patted Athena on the back. "Yea Sylvana I'm ready. What do you think, a little race there wouldn't be so bad?" Athena smiled competitively as she stood in a running position. Her wings didn't sprout on her back though, for if she won she was going to win fair. "I am soooooooo winning this one." Smiled the goblet weapon maiden as she herself stood at the starting pillar. "My Irene Jennifer, why don't you just face the facts and realize that I, Kayla, am gonna kick your butt." Teasingly said Kayla (The one with the spear) as she stretched. "Come on Jhayden lets do this." Said the one with no weapon as she started to glow a deep blue. All of a sudden she changed into a white wolf the pendant still hung from her neck and her eyes the same blue. "You know the rules Jasmine, no shape shifting" Ordered Jhayden, the one with the whip, as she crouched. Jasmine then shaped shift back as all the girls were on the starting line, them breathing in unison as the sun finally passed the awakening point. "Ready…..set…..GO!" Screamed Brooke as all 7 Maidens ran down the hill, they split up as they ran each trying to find the fastest route there. As they disappeared into the woods a dark face stared at Athena, her face smiling and full of light. "Don't worry my dear, Laurence will be here soon enough….and my plan will work perfectly." Smiled Zane as he strolled away back into his room, resuming his Royal work.

Her hair flowed behind her, just like her spirit. She had always felt more at home with nature, or maybe it was just the fact that she was a Elemental. She heard everything there, the trees rustling their leaves, bees bustling to their hives as the chatted in their strange language. And the howl of a grey wolf as it perched itself on a large Boulder. She smiled as she softly sang to herself a old folks tale. 'Out In The Meadow, lays a place for you to save you from the dark. A place where you could go in your darkest times. The only way there for you is to be who you are. No matter day, nor dark or light, Out In The Meadow. Is where you belong…'. That's not me though she thought to herself everyone knows me as a perfect person that is selfless, but I couldn't even stay away from Laurence…much less have to- her thoughts were stopped by the sounds of shifting leaves. But they weren't from the trees, for they were right behind her. She quietly summoned her Light bow and water arrows and drew one onto the string. She could shot from hundreds of miles away, let alone a few feet. The rustling came closer as the leaves grew louder. Sweat trickled down her face not just from the anxiety but from also running for miles, she wasn't at her full energetic offensive state, but she could still defend herself even without her bow. Bushes rustled to the Left of her, she turned and aimed it right at the bush as the figure drew out of it. First it's front legs, body and back legs. But this was no person but the very Elk she had met years ago. The golden Elk, the sacred animal of Elm, so named for it's White fur and Golden antlers and hooves. It was said that long ago when this land was just a wasteland the Golden Elk lead the first King to that land and he established the city they had today. She hadn't seen it for 11 years. (26 years if you count the jump in time, more on that later) It was many years ago, when Laurence was still in Elm…

"Over Here Athena! I think I saw a flash of gold!" Playful exclaimed 7 year old Laurence as he ran through the forest, his training sword in his hand. He looked carefree and overjoyed as he swerved in and out of the trees. He had his left front tooth missing, wearing almost the exact same outfit he had when he changed his form back in Phoenix Drop. Behind him, smiling just as joyful, stood Athena. She had her brunette hair (Not yet with Amber highlights) braided down her back. She wore almost the same outfit as Laurence, just with a few extra details, after all, best friends have to have matching clothes right? She ran with him just as she had for years and years. They did everything together really, training, playing, adventuring. Yet this was going to be the greatest of any of their adventures. The Golden Elk. If they brought that back they would be remembered for eternity and as heroes! They quietly stopped behind a large tree, peering over their shoulders as they looked at the magnificent creature. Athena nodded towards Laurence making a few motions with her hands, only Laurence understood them though. 'Lead it towards me and we'll capture it, don't harm it though.' He nodded back and jumped from behind the tree, chasing it toward Athena, who had a net in her hand as it ran towards her. She was determined, she looked straight into the creatures eyes….and stopped. Time slowed down, literally! Laurence froze in his moments of happiness, birds stopped in mid air and leaves seemed to hang in the sky as they stopped their descent to the ground. She looked again at the Elk that was staring at her; its body lying on a large mossy ground. It's gestured her to sit beside it, nudging its head toward the empty spot. She quietly moved towards it carefully. Taking 2 steps every 5 seconds, she slowly but surely put down the net and sat beside the Elk, her head resting up against its soft white fur. It's eyes peered into her soul, going into her darkest fears and hopes, yet also seeing her most found memories and secrets. It's head nodded towards Laurence, him jumping into mid-air as his mouth hung open wide and his eyes playful. "I-I know what I did was wrong, but I had to…a-and I know he may never forgive me but-" the Elk shook it's head and touched its antlers softly on her head as a message was sent to her telepathically. 'Not that young Princess, he is your true friend. Just like Light and Dark you complete each other. Take good care of each other and remember…as long as you have harmony you can do anything, if you ever need to remember that or show it, I will be there.'. It slowly removed it's antlers from her forehead and stood. It nodded towards Athena and galloped away, as it got farther everything seemed to sped up and before she knew it Laurence was charging towards her with a wild look in his eyes. He jumped on her instead and she had no choice but to douse him with water, sending him on his knees on the ground. "Hey! What the Heck was that for! I almo-….where's the deer?" Questioned Laurence as he looked around the clearing, staring at Athena for an explanation. "I-it um…It teleported out! Yes that's it! It…blinded you and…swapped places with me while making a run for it!" Athena lied, she shaking from her head down to her tiny toes. "Huh…it's fine I guess, after all there is always next time!" Encouraged Laurence, he practically jumping off the ground as he ran back towards Elm. Athena ran after him, she now not only holding one secret, but two from her closest friend.

"W-why are you back?" Athena stuttered, her Golden bow and Water arrows disappearing in a sparkle of blue and gold. The Elk just peered back at her as it perched itself on a rock. They stood there for a few seconds, both just staring at the other as their souls linked and intertwined, creating a bond older than time. The Elk trotted away and Athena heard the clanging of metal upon metal. The training had just begun.