Woohoo! I present Chapter 11, and I can't believe I finished it so quickly. I know everyone loves fast updates. I'll apologize in advance for the massive amounts of conversation in this chapter, but it's necessary to the plot! I hope everyone's enjoying the story so far! Review and let me know! It makes me happy! Next chapter will have a nice Lisbon and Jane scene, and I can't wait to write it!

Chapter 11

Elina was whirling around her room throwing clothes and other necessities into a backpack as her best friend Lyra tried to convince her to stay. She sighed. Lyra had always been the good one, the one to follow all the rules. She wouldn't understand why Elina needed to leave. Without a glance to her friend, Elina walked out the door and stalked down the hall. She was surprised to find the four humans waiting for her at the edge of the castle grounds.

"Do I know you?" she asked the silver haired man bluntly.

"Nope," Jack responded with a crooked smile as Sam rolled her eyes.

"Well okay, then," the princess replied as she brushed past them.

"You're going the wrong way," Jane spoke up. The princess turned around with a glare and put her hands on her hips.

"No I'm not," she huffed as she analyzed the four strangers. The silver haired man appeared to be in charge. The blond woman was dressed similarly to him. They must be some sort of a team, Elina thought. The brunette woman also had an air of authority about her, but honestly it was the blond man that intrigued her. He seemed different from the rest.

"Sure you are. Look princess, you could travel with us. We'd like to get back home, and we're determined to help find your father before we go." Jane started to lead the group in a different direction. Elina stood there for a second before sprinting after them.

"I'm Jane. That's Lisbon, Jack, and Sam," he stated pointing to each of them in turn as they headed down a narrow path. The princess remained silent, but continued to follow them. Out of nowhere, a cry echoed through the woods. Seconds later, a large beast came crashing down the path.

It was a lenic, and oh how Elina hated them. They were disgusting and usually dwelled in the desert, but somehow they had come to live in the forests on the edge of the Dreamer kingdom. They stood about twelve feet tall and had huge black eyes. Their mouths were always open revealing sharp, jagged fangs. They were great jumpers and were extremely fast making it difficult to escape.

"This is bad," Elina stated before taking off. The others stood dazed as they watched the huge creature head for them.

"I'd follow her," Jane said as he grabbed Lisbon's hand and sprinted after the princess. Separated, Jane and Lisbon ran blindly through the forest. They could hear the creature behind them. Apparently, it had decided they were the weakest prey. A large crack rang out and Lisbon whirled around to see a young man lash a whip at the creature. The creature looked around as Jack and Sam appeared with swords, courtesy of the castle security, drawn. Not liking his odds, the creature growled before withdrawing.

"What is it with you and near death experiences?" Lisbon muttered as she tried to catch her breath. She frowned when she noticed Jane's intense stare. Had she missed something?

"You're bleeding," Jane said with a worried look. Lisbon glanced down as her shirt began to fill with blood. Raising it, she found a nice two inch gash in her side.

"I don't remember that happening," she said calmly. Jane rummaged through his bag before grabbing an extra shirt and applying it to her wound. She hissed at the pressure, but was quickly distracted When he began to caress her hand softly.

"Let me help," Elina said as she stepped into the clearing. In her hand she held a small brown moss like plant. Gesturing for Lisbon to sit, she cleaned the wound with water from her canteen and packed the plant around it. Lisbon watched her curiously, and was surprised to see the blood stop as the princess wrapped strips of cloth around her middle.

"What are you doing here, Alec?" Elina asked while Jane helped Lisbon stand slowly.

"I've been following you, Elina. I do have a confession to make. My name's not Alec Tanis, I'm Alan Talisa."

"Uh huh. So you're a fraud," Jane spoke up as Lisbon elbowed him in the side.

"That's the story," the young man admitted under Jack's unwavering gaze. There was something off about this boy.

"Hmm, I see. Bye then," Elina said as she started to walk off again.

"Elina, please let me explain. I had to use a fake name, or I wouldn't have been allowed to attend the school."

"And why is that?"

"I'm not allowed to say."

"You don't seem that dangerous," Elina said thoughtfully as she stared at the man in front of her. He seemed trustworthy and he had been her friend at school.

"They never do," Jack said wryly as Alan glared at him.

"Well, I'm going with Alan," Elina said defiantly. "You're all welcome to come."

"You don't know him," Sam said as she studied the group. She had a bad feeling about this.

"I don't know you," Elina replied.

"Good point," Jane said pleasantly.

"Are we done here?" Jack asked impatiently. They were going to be stuck here in the dark if this chit chat continued. He was ready to get home. He really wasn't fond of the responsibility of two civilians tagging along on an unorthodox mission. Something was bound to go wrong. His eyes flickered over to Carter who was watching Agent Lisbon closely. She was a little pale and unsteady on her feet. Behind her back, Jane locked eyes with Carter as he supported the brunette's weight.

"I don't feel so good," Lisbon stated before promptly passing out.

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"Where did you last see him?"

"He was leaving for Heaven's Castle, Your Lordship," one of the guards stuttered.

"And why didn't he inform me?" the man shouted at the cowering guard.

"Maybe he wished to bring the queen back to you?" a second guard said boldly.

"Don't be a fool! Kalina would never come willingly. Besides, we didn't need her to. She came on her own, with that idiot man Sephiroth. When he is conscious, bring him to me!" The guards nodded.

"Your Lordship! Your son is approaching the gate with five visitors. One of the women appears to be injured."

"Send the woman to the infirmary and the others to the Throne Room when they arrive," he ordered as he walked out of the room.

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"Well this looks promising," Jack said cheerfully as they entered the darkened room. They had been escorted by several guards which immediately put Jack on edge. Agent Lisbon had been taken to the infirmary upon arrival while Jane refused to release her limp form. Secretly, he was glad the man was with her.

"This place gives me the willies," he whispered into his second's ear. Samantha Carter turned to her CO with an exasperated look. Before she could speak, a voice rang out through the darkness.

"Hello, Alan."

"Why are you sitting in the darkness, dad?" the young man asked. Sam's expression changed and Jack noted the worry.

"Are you from Heaven's Castle?" the voice asked.

"I'm a healer from the castle," Elina spoke. "The others are visitors to our realm."

The room magically lit up casting a shadow upon the man sitting in the throne. A guard stood on either side of him. The man looked nothing like Alan with his short red hair and fiery red eyes that seemed to glow. His skin was a pale white and a scar ran down the left side of his face.

"Allow me to introduce myself," the man began with a look of contempt directed at his son. "I am Jupiter Talisa."