AND: Hiya everyone. I've got three days off from classes and work! You know what that means? More updates! If I get reviews that is. This chapter title is a Chinese proverb that I thought fit. See explanation at bottom.

Have a Mouth as Sharp as a Dagger but a Heart as Soft as Tofu

Spring blinked and stared at Lista. Lista stood silently in the doorway, getting drenched by the falling rain. Spring gave Lista a once over and closed the door. Lista stood at the door heartbroken. This was her only hope.

Tears began to fall as the Elon princess collapsed on the ground.

"Your highness! Get down here now! It's an emergency!" Spring called out. To see the Elon princess begging for asylum had knocked her for a loop.

"Spring, what's wrong?" Eva asked from the top of the stairs.

"The Elon princess is here, seeking asylum," Spring said. All those within hearing distance stared.

Eva went back into her room, grabbed her cloak and cuspis, and headed down the stairs to the door. She opened it and stared at the Elon princess, sobbing in the mud. Acting quickly, Eva grabbed her arm and pulled the young princess inside. Lista was shocked.

"Get her some towels and fresh clothing. She's freezing," Eva told her people. Quickly, they moved about like ants, getting what their queen had ordered.

"You're helping me?" Lista whispered.

Eva smiled sadly under her cloak. "You asked for asylum. I can only assume that means you found out what your mother has planned for you. The fact that you ran from them tells me more than anything else."

"And that is why you make a good queen," Solaris said from nearby. The two Elysian royals exchanged smiles and slight nods.

"What are you going to do with me?" Lista asked quietly. She was being very demure for herself. It was unnerving some of the soldiers who had met her before.

"You'll be granted asylum provided you can give us some information we are sorely lacking about your people's battle plans and tactics," Eva said.

Lista got a scowl on her face. Everyone thought she would refuse. "They are not my people. They are traitors to our ancestors and to themselves for thinking of releasing that abomination upon the universe once more." Her voice was filled with venom and sharp as a sword.

"Then we have a deal?" Spring said for Eva. Lista nodded and began to talk.

The sun was bright overhead for the next set of races. Today was the day Aikka would be racing against the champion of Galigur. Eva was watching from the stands and was nervous. She had not heard much about the people of Galigur before.

"Calm down," Lista said from her side. She was dressed in a black cloak, to hide her face. She did not want to give up her freedom and Elysian didn't have enough guards to constantly watch her.

"I'm just worried about him," Eva whispered.

"He'll do fine. Galigur may be known for it's flyers, but your prince has Oban under his belt. The Galigur champion, Osdilie, doesn't have that much race experience," Lista said in hopes to pacify Eva. Lista, Eva had discovered, was pretty balanced for an Elon. Lista blaimed that on her father's Enthorian blood. She also wanted to stay in Eva's favor. Lose that and she lost her asylum.

"Just believe in him," Spring whispered from Eva's other side.

Aikka and G'dar took to flight. The Galigur ship, short and stubby with multiple gun turrets, took off soon after. Aikka had the advantage of speed. Galigur had the advantage of superior firepower.

The two pilots shot through the course, huge trees and large tropical shrubs jutted up all along the racetrack. Aikka flew under an overhanging branch and readied an arrow. Turning in his seat, he aimed at the Galigur ship and fired. It was dodged.

The Galigur pilot smirked. He thought he had the race in the bag. Th elittle Naurasian pilot couldn't hit him. He would be the victor, in his mind at least. He had made one very crucial mistake. He had underestimated Aikka's abilities. After all, Aikka had been one of the finalists in Oban.

The Galigur pilot pushed ahead of Aikka, all the while firing at him. Aikka nimbly dodged and readied another arrow. This time he did not miss. The Galigur ship was hit in a critical area. Aikka flew past him and crossed the finish line. Aikka had won.

"See, we told you. He has more experience," Lista said. Eva just nodded. Spring looked over at the Elon princess in disguise and gave her a slight, very slight, smile.

It was a good start.

AND: ok. To explain the chapter title, it is best to know what the proverb means. It means someone who is sharp tongued but soft hearted. That's how I think of Lista, so I thought it would fit. For another note, the Elysian do not trust Lista. They keep her under guard. Eva doesn't trust her fully, yet. But she is beginning to trust her as a friend, a distant one, but still a friend. Hope you guys liked.