Max was taken into the memory, only this time it was not from Liz's point of view. The last thing Max saw of the present was the group arriving into the chamber. Just before everything faded away he caught the look on Tess's face as she saw him holding Liz. The look was one of pure shock…


He was dancing with some random woman. It seemed she knew exactly who he was for she would not shut up about the wonders of the king…It was frustrating him. He missed the mystery girl. She was beautiful, and she did not care about his crown. The love that he truly felt for her was pure, and true. He wondered to himself why she ran out the way she did. Did he offend her with his kiss? Did she not return the love that he felt running threw his entire body? Was she feeling the sense of longing that he felt in her absence?

"So what do you think?" The purple haired girl had stopped dancing. He had become lost in his thoughts and had actually completely shut out the world for the briefest moments.

"Uh…" He stuttered. She was looking up at him, batting her grey eyes. He had to admit, she was striking. But her beauty was not only lost by her pathetic obsession with him, but also because of who he just saw walk into the room. He let go of his partner, as his eyes graced her smile. For a moment he thought something didn't look right. Something in the way she was walking. He quickly dismissed that thought, for it had only been moments before his heart, and other things, begin to rise. He felt is passion turn into an obsession. He had to marry this girl, before she slipped through his fingers yet again. He ran up to the silent muse, hoping that this time she would grant him a word. He took her had and gently kissed the warm flesh.

"My lady." he whispered into her ear when he reached back up to her. Ava, in the guise of her sister, had not known if the two of them actually spoke to each other, so she just smiled. She began to lead him to the dance floor. He was entrance by her, yet again. She had his heart, this angle sent by the Granolith. "Please tell me your name, mistress. For with out it I will not know who has stolen my heart." With that statement Ava's heart leaped for joy. This meant that Aryana had not spoken to Zan. For with out all of her powers, there was just no way that Ava could sound just as her sister did.

"My lord, how could I revile myself to one that still hides behind a mask?" She asked, Ava knew how to play this game. She knew better than her shy sister.

Caught up in the moment of hearing her speak, he ripped off his mask. This went against all rules of the ball, however he was King, and tonight he was going to have his Queen.

Knowing her duty, as did all else in the room, she bowed low. Only to keep her sultry eyes fluttering ever so gracefully, keeping her focus on him. She meant to raise his desire for her. She knew she must time this just right for her plan to work. She must also keep him from kissing her. Which would indeed prove to be very difficult. For her own desire for him began to awaken.

"My temptress," he said, "I am the King, but from this moment you are to call me Zan" He held out his hand and grasped hers. He helped her rise up to him, his face inches away from her own. This moment was one that Ava was raised for. And yet she knew that all passion she felt must remain locked tight until the wedding that she knew she would have. If, in any moment of weakness, he would discover who she was he would have her killed. And her family would be disgraced.

She allowed him to reach behind her, to the string that attached her mask. She looked out to the crowd and saw how all in the room were envious of her. She smiled greatly. Knowing that this was the moment she would not only get all that she wanted, but also change the great kingdom. She caught sight of her brother, who was looking at her strangely, no doubt he thought she was Aryana. He would soon see, like all others, that it was Ava.

The mask slipped from her face in what seemed like low motion. He was finally going to see his love. The mask fell to the floor. And she was beautiful. But something was not right, or was it. The mixture of emotions was overwhelming. There was a part in him telling him that this was not right, that this was not the woman he was with earlier. There was also a part that told him that was impossible. He was the King, and no one could fool him. This was his love, and he intended on breaking all the rules to be with her.

"My beautiful butterfly, may I now know your name?" his voice was slightly shaky. Almost as though it was unsure of what was to come. But the thoughts of having this woman as his wife was playing in his mind. And should he do the unthinkable and marry her tonight, he would also find the delights of her in his bed.

"Zan," she purred, "I stand here before you, a woman in love. I would gladly be called whatever name pleases you, but I was born into this world Ava Gemini. And my heart that was once alone, has now found its home."

He took her hand once again, and being the arrogant king that he was, turned to the crowd and announced, "This is Ava Gemini. My love. And your future Queen." A slight moment of hesitation, as the guest processed the information. They had no choice but to cheer. She could see her brother smile. He now knew what she had done.

It was said that the king is spontaneous, and careless of tradition. He was, however, for the most part, a wonderful king. He treated all his subjects better than they ever had. The fact remained that this was the first year that the ball was ever opened to ALL eligible women in the five worlds no matter their station in the world in which they were born. For the most part, nothing but royalty had joined. But there were a few, the ones that their families gave up their lively hoods to allow their daughters the chance at the king. And most unknowingly to the king, this exception to the rule this year had allowed him to meet the woman her loved. Even if that woman was sleeping, in a room far from him, at the moment that he prepared to marry her sister.


When the gang arrived in the Granolith chamber, they had no idea what to expect. And what they saw surprised everyone, even Tess. The blue light that enveloped the two lovers was pulsating in the same rhythm as the pictures on the wall opposite of them were. Maria was the first to inspect the pictures on the wall. She recognized the four aliens, but upon looking closer she saw her best friends face on the wall. Sure there were some differences, but it was Liz. She knew it. "Michael, look at this." she said in wonder. She traced along her friends face, only to have another picture appear beside Rath's picture. This picture almost made her faint.


Authors Note: What do you think Maria would see that would make her almost faint?