As Shirayuki returned to the village she was surprised to find Izana waiting for her "everyone has been wondering where you have been...you have been crying?" he rushed forward to look closer and Shirayuki lowered her head a little to hide her face "It's nothing" Izana grinned and shook his head "you don't need to lie to me Shirayuki, I understand you don't want to worry everyone but there is no ignoring the hardships you are enduring right now. I know it may not mean too much coming from me but you can talk to me you know?" Shirayuki smiled cheerfully at him "Thank you Izana...it means more than you know. I...I saw Zen" his face expressed deep concern "what happened? Are you ok?" She held her hands up and hurriedly explained the situation "it is ok he was himself! He believes that when Lythias falls asleep his own conscious can take over, he came out here to check that we were all ok!" Izana checked around him to see that they were alone and pulled Shirayuki towards his room "we can talk freely in here" Shirayuki sat awkwardly on Izana's bed. She fondly remembered the times she shared with Izana as a child. Before she had become friends with Zen she had always admired Izana- he was so calm and collected, not to mention he was always so kind to her. Shirayuki chuckled to herself as it dawned on her that she had a childhood crush on him. Izana shut the door and sat next to her on the bed "I am sorry to be secretive like this but I have to be sure of the facts. If others overheard they might jump to conclusions. Please tell me what happened tonight and why you were gone for so long" Shirayuki looked at her fingers as she fidgeted with them in guilt "I am sorry I didn't mean to take so long. I needed some time alone to think. The stress of all of this, I think it may have gotten to me for a moment. It has been confusing suddenly getting my memories back and trying to reconnect with my past. I headed back to the forest where I was living with Elliana and the sight of it dead and desolate just caused my emotions to burst out. Zen had found his way there too and had seen me crying. As I mentioned he said that he thinks that one Lythias is asleep he can take control again" Izana frowned and shook his head "I don't understand though, Lythias also used me as a host yet I never regained consciousness once although I was aware of what was happening; it was like having a dream. Why would it not be the same for Zen? My fear is that Lythias is doing it intentionally; knowing that Zen would rush to us all and then he could spy on us. I could be wrong Shirayuki, however to be safe should you see Zen again I would be cautious. Don't say anything unnecessary because if he discovers our plan he can prepare for it" Shirayuki nodded "I guess I should warn you then. He wants me to meet him again tomorrow night, if it is Lythias' plan to let him have control we don't know what he's planning and I guess it could be dangerous for me to meet Zen" Izana grinned slightly and sighed "your still going to go though aren't you?" she stood up and faced him smiling kindly "of course, even if its risky I need to see him...its what is keeping me going right now!" Izana stood and opened the door for her with a straight face "I can't stop you from going tomorrow but I can warn you to be careful. Good night Shirayuki"
Shirayuki left Izana's room to find her mother stood there with her arms crossed she's mad at me! Shirayuki walked past her in silence "well?" her mother followed her in tow as she walked back to her room "well what mother?" she pulled on Shirayuki's arm to stop her walking away "I asked you not to wander too far, you have been gone a long time everyone was worried!" Shirayuki didn't know why she was suddenly feeling resentment towards her mother but something was irritating her "I didn't go too far, I needed some time alone! Please don't start ordering me around, I was 16 the last time you saw me I am an adult now" her mother released her grip on Shirayuki and spoke silently "do…do you blame me?" Shirayuki shook her head "of course I don't blame you, I just meant that it has been a few years since you saw me and I don't want you to treat me like a child because that's what I was the last time you saw me. I have lived my life freely despite being refined to the forest. I do not desire to be restricted by your stupid rules now- it's suffocating!" Her mother lowered her head "You haven't changed, you know we only enforced rules on you to keep you safe!" despite her best efforts Shirayuki scoffed "what good did your rules do in the end? Take a look around mother! Did sending me to bed early every night keep me safe? Did stopping me having friends, roaming around the gardens or even beyond the castle, keep me safe? No. We have been driven from our home and you and dad were nearly killed…so was Zura! You have no idea. Before I got my memories back I had been a prisoner to the forest. I was not allowed to leave 'to keep me safe' now I got my memories back I find that I was also bound by silly rules before too so that I 'would be safe' and now I am free of the forest and I am fighting to win my freedom because no matter where you hide me I was never safe! I have no desire to win my freedom simply to be bound by your stupid rules!" Shirayuki began crying once again. Her mother wrapped her arms around her so that she could console her "I am sorry, I know I was an overprotective mother and I know you are no longer a child! I also know that you have suffered so much but I only try my best to do what is right for you! But surely you must know Shirayuki, that there is no such thing as true freedom. We are all bound by something we all have rules we need to follow whether we want to or not" Shirayuki looked up angrily "how can you say that! Those very rules prevented you from marrying the person you loved! Yes mother, there are rules we must abide…ethical rules and nature's rules for example. But rules that say I must dress a certain way, act a certain way or even who I must marry- just because I am a princess, is idiotic! Zen knew this too! What would happen if you had promised me to another and denied me to be with Zen. Would you consider my feelings? Would you inflict that pain onto me knowing how it feels?!" Her mother stood there with her mouth open wide in shock "I do not have the answer to that Shirayuki because Zen is the one I chose for you" Shirayuki shook her head "no mother. You may have arranged our marriage and may approve of him, but I chose Zen for myself! The fact that I fell in love with him all over again when my memories were erased proves this! If I didn't love Zen and you had arranged our marriage I would refuse! Never again mother will I be bound by anything! I will serve my Kingdom as their princess and one day as their Queen, but I do not need fancy clothes and stupid rules to do this!" Shirayuki's eyes widened as she looked up and saw her father standing nearby with a wide grin on his face "Well said my dear! It gives me much joy to see how you have grown into such a fiery and strong spirited young woman! You will make a fine Queen! She is right, it doesn't matter what she wears or who she marries- that does not make her a good Queen. What makes a good Queen is her actions and her fearlessness to do what must be done! But Shirayuki, your mother is also right. It is foolish to think that any of us are truly free, as Queen you would be expected to follow certain rules because that is how a society functions we all must follow the Laws that our Kingdom is built on" Shirayuki and her mother both looked down in silence before both laughing and hugging each other "I guess we had our first mother and daughter fight" Shirayuki giggled. Her mother smirked "I enjoyed that, I always knew you resented castle life and yet you would always stay quiet and do what was asked of you. It was refreshing to see you stand up for what you truly desire. I am also blessed to see you as such a fine woman. Come on. Lets go to bed now…its past your bedtime!" She chuckled and Shirayuki stuck her tongue out playfully. She was right though they had a long day ahead of them because they needed to master their respective spells in order for their plan to work!