… too busy crying to write, so please enjoy

Darien could see another kiss was coming, but was surprised that it had no effect on him like all the others. The others gave him a drowsy and heavy feeling. Now, he felt nothing of the sort. The green light in his eyes began to fade, and his eyes nearly grew when she opened her mouth. Instead of the enchanting sound he had sworn he heard before, instead it was a harsh sound between a growl and an anguished roar. With a blink of an eye, the green haze in Darien's eyes vanished and he could feel that strong impulse in his heart taking over. Something was definitely wrong.

Suddenly, three horses charged their way through he main doors, and a stable hand ran in, frantic. One look at Serena and he turned white.

"The horses! They came back on their own!" Darien instantly recognized Luna and then looked at Serena. Then he looked at the stable hand as the stable hand shouted,

"The Captain of the Guards left about an hour ago, but before they left…Her Ladyship!" The entire room looked at the stable hand and then at Serena in shock and confusion. Darien looked at Serena and saw her bangs covering her eyes in a shadowing manner.

"Who are you?" He shouted, outraged that someone would try to delude him in such a manner. Suddenly, before he knew what had happened, her nails had come at him making a few gashes across his face and Darien stumbled back in shock. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Michelle throw a bundle of fruit at Serena's head and it knocked her back a few steps. She glared at him angrily before raising her arms and a whirlwind of black smoke engulfed her. The music stopped and everyone took cover to avoid the danger. Darien watched as the smoke broke through a glass window and traveled to the Enchanted Forest. Shouting for Andrew and Michelle to take over, Darien ran to the stable and got Artemis out, mounting him without a saddle in his haste. He rode past everyone, and thought he heard Mina shout to him,

"Bring her back, Your Majesty."

Beryl snarled as landed on the ground, shaking her head turning it from sun-gold to blood-red. She looked around and huffed un-ladylike at the amount of blood splattered on the ground. She thought she had raised an army, but apparently not. She tuned to see both Amara and Trista lying unconscious on the ground and kicked Amara aside to look at the panther. She shook her head and waved her hand at it, before walking past it, ignoring the panther's body disappearing in smoke. She traveled a little way into the forest and finally came upon what she hoped to find. She chuckled menacingly to herself.

"Let me assure you, I was very close to having the forest to myself. The king was probably going to propose to me, or I should say you, within the next hour. It still amazes me how simple it was to entrance him with that lovely voice of yours. But now that you are dead, you have taken your voice to the grave as well. It is a shame you could not have waited a few more minutes to see, I would have hooked him pretty quickly. I am sure you do not remember but, when we had first made the deal you would die if your king chose another to love. However, your early death means nothing to me now, soon the king will arrive and I will deal with him myself. In the mean time, I have not had dinner…" Beryl was about to transform when an arrow cut her across the forearm. She turned to see Darien holding Trista's bow ready and aimed. He had seen both Trista and Amara, setting them aside for safety before following the trail of blood Serena had left behind. The image before him frightened him to no end but until he was sure, he would not believe what exactly he was seeing.

"Step aside!" He shouted, aiming another arrow at her. Beryl looked unfazed.

"There is nothing you can do, Your Majesty. She is gone. It was a shame you were too busy partying to come and save her." The feelings that had arisen from him earlier that day came again, but this time he used his new found energy, no matter if it was anger, to better use.

"Step away from her!" Darien released the arrow and it cut Beryl's knee. She screamed in agony as she stumbled away from Serena. She sent Darien a vicious snarl.

"If you want her, come and get her." Suddenly, Beryl leaped at him, but he watched in shock as her body changed to that of the panther he remembered. He stumbled out of its way, but was not quick enough to avoid its next attack. Leaping at him again, the panther knocked the sword from his hands and pinned him t the ground. The only thing that kept it from biting his head off was Darien's tight hold on its clamping jaws. Darien could have sworn to hear its menacing voice, mocking him.

"You are weak! Weak! You are not worthy of being king! You can do nothing for your kingdom! Your people! Yourself! You might as well let your negativity kill you now." Darien remembered how he felt earlier that morning at his mother's ceremony. Darien had to admit he could feel his self pity eat at him, but he remembered how the panther's hate had driven it mad and blind. He could not succumb into that helpless state. He did feel weak and he did feel unworthy to rule a vast kingdom. Although, he could feel his strength being renewed, knowing that he could admit to himself he is not the most idealistic person and that he can and will make mistakes. The most important thing of all was to learn from them and to never give up. That's what he had learned being with her. Because she was there with him, she was there to comfort him and he knew he would not be judged for feeling vulnerable. She had stopped him from doing something he would have regretted earlier and even though she had been afraid of him twice, once after his forward kiss that he did not regret and second being a merciless killer by nearly ending the panther's life before, she still chose to see him as a good person. He had to believe that even though there was a part of him that wasn't prefect, she would still want to be with him.

Using his legs to kick the panther off, he sent it flying a few yards away and made a grab for his sword. Turning around, Darien saw the panther take a final strike at him but he moved to quickly. With one swift move, he positioned the sword between him and the panther, falling backwards in the impact. Darien groaned as he lifted his body up and realized the panther wasn't moving. He crawled out from underneath its heavy body and threw the sword aside. It was over.

He then turned his attention to a cloud of green and black mist. When it cleared, on the ground was a small little bird and its eyes were closed as if in a peaceful sleep. Darien couldn't believe his eyes. It was the nightingale. He came over to it and picked it up in his hand. It looked so fragile and frail. He couldn't help but hold it gently as his finger tips brushed against its feather. He sighed in grief and began to stroke it lovingly.

"I should have known. Even if you were different…you were still the same. I cannot believe I did not realize it before. I am so sorry, my dear, sweet friend. I am so sorry." He could feel tears forming at his eyes and could do nothing as they landed on the bird. Hoping the magic inside the forest could spare some for him, he wished desperately that his tears would bring the bird back to life, but he had learned the hard way. The dead could not be brought back no matter how much it was wished.

Hearing a rustling behind him, Darien fear it was the panther, but when he turned around he gaped in awe. Before him stood the most enchanting figure ever, it was a beautiful lady dressed in pure white and her hair shown silver in the moonlight. Tied in the front of her dress was a bow with a symbol of the sun in its center. Behind her waist was another bow that held two trains of white material that followed her like two flowing rivers. In her hand was a long metallic rod that had a head shaped in a heart and in its center was a red orb. Around her was a halo of light that shown bright enough to make the night into day, but she looked at him with a face that said she understood his pain. She looked around the forest and whispered in a voice that was as soft as the wind.

"Innocent blood was spilt here today. My forest is tainted." Darien stared at her and then at the field. She was right, it was horrible. He held his head low in shame, but she continued,

"But my forest is strong and it will grow back. Life must go on, just as it should. You too will continue to live, Your Majesty."

"But I will live alone." The lady looked upon Darien and smiled.

"You are not alone. You have your loyal subjects and they will follow you."

"But I have neglected my obligations to the forest. Just as my subject are part of my kingdom, it is as well, but I chose to foolishly ignore its distress." She shook her head at him, her smile still in place.

"No. You have learned and you will grow. You must have faith in yourself, just as she did." Darien looked at the nightingale in his hands and couldn't bring himself to feel satisfied with himself.

"I should have been here, to protect her."

"You could not have known of what she was to do. She risked her life for my forest. She saved man from my animal's hatred and wrath. She did it for you."

"She should have thought more about herself. She deserved to live a happy life."

"And she did." Darien shook his head because it was not the same to him. He felt she should not have had to carry such a heavy burden, and she carried it until her last breath. The lady's face turned unemotional and she asked curiously,

"What if she could?" Darien looked at her in disbelief.

"Excuse me?"

"What if she could live the life she wished to? What would you give for such a miraculous gift?" Darien shook his head because he couldn't answer while his mind was reeling.

"Would you be willing to offer the ultimate price?" Darien thought of what it could be, but could think of nothing, nothing except the idea of having the nightingale back into the world. However, he slowly nodded his head. The lady nodded and accepted his offer and pounded the staff on the ground three times. The ground shook and the grass that was soaked in blood turned a misty blue, the blood turning into fresh water. The grass drank the water and began to grow as the grass around the panther's body grew upon it so that the body vanished and in its place was a small lump of black flowers. The king looked in his hands to see the nightingale glow and could not believe his eyes as he watched it grow in his arms into the beautiful girl that had won his heart. As the glow illuminated from her body, it engulfed his as well until they were both giving off a heavenly glow.

Serena opened her eyes to find herself wrapped in a warm embrace. She looked around and was surprised to see the king lying beside her. She blinked once, and then twice. Was she dreaming? How could she be seeing him again? She looked around her and noticed they were right where she had remembered herself to be, resting against the queen's tombstone. The sun was rising above the tree tops and the forest was enshrouded in a morning mist. She shook the king's shoulder and he slowly began to wake up. He looked up at her in confusion as she smiled down at him. She was so happy, she could not say how happy. It was then that Serena thought of Beryl and grasped her throat in anxiousness. Was she still cursed?

"Excuse me." Serena turned to the king as he rose to sit up. Her eyes were wide as the most bewildered look was on his face.

"I do not intend to be rude, but…who are you?" At first, Serena thought she had heard wrong or he was playing a trick. But the sincere face told her, he really did not know who she was. But despite how saddening it was Serena could not help but smile. She was happy to see him, and that was the important thing. She did however cry a tear or two, feeling her heart ache with the want of having his friendship and possibly even more. She then realized he was waiting for her to answer. Not thinking about the 'what ifs' or the 'maybes' she answered in a soft, melodic voice,

"Serena. My name is Serena, Your Majesty." Her voice seemed to carry throughout the wind and the soft breeze tickled Darien's nerves. Something about this girl seemed so familiar but he couldn't think of what it could be. Being the gentlemen he was raised to be, Darien stood up and offered his hand.

"Well, allow me to escort you back to your home. Lady Serena." Serena shook her head, but took his hand.

"I am already there." Darien didn't understand but when he directed her to the entry gate, Serena stopped and picked up something on the forest floor. It was a star-shaped locket. Darien stiffened. How was he to explain that such an item belonged to him? Although she seemed to be familiar with it and crossed the surface with her fingers and handed it to him. When he took it though, she kept her hand under his and opened the top, allowing the music box within to start playing. Serena didn't know what was to be gained from this, but she felt as if she had to try. Serena opened her mouth and sang the song to him as she had done many times before. Darien stared at her wide eyed, how could she know the song? Was she a villager who had heard the history of the town? Or was she one of the noble women who lived in the palace and had overheard it when he had revealed it? No. Deep down, Darien knew her not a common girl and he thought her to be a kind, sincere, gentle, and caring person, all this from one look. When she finished, the wind around them seem to pick up and Darien blinked, while closing his hand around hers. His eyes were wide with excitement.

"…Serena? Is it really you? You are…my nightingale?" At first she was frightened with what he must think of her, but then his next words made her heart race.

"Serena? Are you still the same nightingale that befriended me not so long ago. Are you still the same wonderful person who accepted me, despite my faults, through every wrong I have done? Are you still the same beautiful woman that had taught me how to be a better man? If you are all things things, and I am sure more, make me the happiest man in the world...marry me?

Serena's face flooded with tears as joy overwhelmed her. Her king remembered and he loved her as much as she loved him. Without thinking, she flung herself into his arms and was caught with as much enthusiasm. Darien held her close just as he had wanted to the day he kissed her and whispered his thanks to having her with him. The two backed up a step so that Darien could wipe her tears away with his finger. Serena brought his hand closer to her lips and kissed it lovingly. The emotions that flew through Darien were too much for him to handle, so he acted upon them. He leaned forward and instead of catching her by surprise Serena met him half way to kiss him fully on the lips. The two were so caught up in their own little world that they did not see a slender figure looking at them from the center of the lake.

The lady smiled and watched the two in pure bliss. Then, a creature came towards her and bowed in respect.

"My Queen, why did you choose to help them? They are not like us?'

"But they are. They have a heart, just as we do. That makes us all the same."

"But My Queen-"

"Helios…do you believe in true love?" The creature straightened and ruffled its mane.

"I do not understand."

"It is a powerful thing. It needs two pairs of hands to nurture it, but even so it can blossom with only one heart. That one heart can strengthen others just by simply being pure." The creature looked from its queen and then to the two people as they made their way to the entry gate.

"Do not loose hope, Helios. You will find your one true love and then your curse shall be broken too." The lady smiled as the sun's rays reflected on her shining silver hair, and then the circle of light around her brightened until she was gone from sight. The creature looked upon the spot of which the queen stood few seconds ago, before taking flight into the sky. As the sun rose high, symbolizing a new day.

I hope you all enjoyed this story. I just wanted to say thank-you so very much to those who have been following along with my story and I promise to start on the sequel very soon. I bet most of you can guess who the lady was and the creature. Their names sort of give it away, but I won't say anymore. It's for the next story.