The rippling, crystal blue waters flow into the fountain; I pulled back my left hand and watched the ripples grow.

"It's so satisfying to watch," I thought to myself, "I feel so-"

"Hey, Hannah."

I abruptly turn my head, "Oh crap. What the heck are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to see how my girl was doing."

I stood up, "Get lost, Nicky," I began to walk towards the castle. I stop and narrow my eyes towards Nicky, "Wouldn't you want to be with your beautiful girlfriend instead of a runt like me?"

Nicky face palmed, "Natalia's not my girlfriend, you kn-"

"Then how do you explain that kiss then, hm?" I pressed my index finger to his chest.

Nicky frowned, "I didn't kiss her willingly, Hannah. She, herself, pulled me into a kiss."

I shook my head a bit, "Wow. You-"

"Do you forgive me?" Nicky interrupted looking pleased.

"You sure do love making up all sorts of excuses, don't you?"

"Excuse me?" Nicky looked surprised, "I'm telling you the whole truth, Hannah."

"Seriously, Nicky. How dense do you think I am?" I replied rolling my eyes.

He stood there with sweat dripping down his face.

Nicky scratched the back of his head, "I-well-um.."

I raised my eyebrows waiting for a response. I motioned for him to continue.

"I am not a complete idiot. I'm sorry Hannah, but you need to understand MY side of the story before you go jumping to conclusions," Nicky presumed.

I threw my arm back, "How can you explain turning your head to the right and then moments later, smile and disappear?" I questioned again.

"You we're just seeing things," Nicky tried to wrap his arms around me.

I pulled away and shook my head, "Pyra was right."

Nicky looked puzzled.

"You really are a fuqboi."

Nicky fumed with rage, "You b*tch," he angrily clenches his fists as I triumphantly crossed my left arm over my cast.

"We're done," I declared abruptly.

Nicky stood there stunned.

"Babe, you're being ridiculous," Nicky tried to hug me once more, but I smacked his hands.

"I'm not having it, Nicky. I'm sick and tired of this," I explained walking away from.

Nicky suddenly gripped onto my right elbow.

"Nicky? What are you doing?" I asked struggling to free myself, "Let me go!" I grimaced as he pinched harder.

"Did you have a nice tumble, sweet cheeks?" Nicky grabbed my collar and pulled me in.

"W-what?"

I'm shocked..how the heck did Nicky know I was in the forest?

"Nicky, what are you talking about?"

He smiled menacingly as he gripped tighter than ever, "They were right. This will be a piece of cake."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Who was right? What are you planning to do with me?" is what I meant to say, instead what came out was a whimper, "W-who-w-what-ugh.."

With his remaining hand, Nicky moved my head, so we could lock eyes, "Aw, sweetie, what's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" he snickered.

Without thinking, I kicked him right in the groin.

Nicky threw me on the ground, "Piss off, b*tch!" he yelped as I scrambled to pick myself up.

Before I could run inside, all of a sudden, I can feel what feels like a heavy hand knock me to my feet.

"Where do you think you're going?" Nicky sneered, "I'm not letting you get away that easily," he proceeds to beat me to a pulp.

I was used to this: Nicky was physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive. I tucked in my head trying to keep my head from being blown off.

"You're wanting to play this little game again, Hannah?" I'll gladly continue.." Nicky sneered.

I shut my eyes tight, too startled to defend myself. I lay there motionless as tears began to stream down my cheeks.

"What's going on here?"

"Stop this at once, Nicky!"

A pair of hands gently grabs my shoulders. I open my eyes and blink a couple times. I let out a small whimper as I am pulled into a hug.

"What the hell, Nicky?" I hear Bloom's boyfriend scold as he pins Nicky to the ground.

Their voices are muffled as Bloom helps me back up; I wipe my tears and smile weakly.

"Let's bring you inside, hm?" Bloom tilted her head.

Being shocked and frightened, I abruptly turn and dart inside as my sister follows, yelling after me.

"Hannah? Bloom? What's wrong?" Mom asks worriedly.

Tears are flooding my eyes and my lip is quivering when I bury my face into Mom's chest.

"Bloom," Dad began to stroke my hair, "What happened out in the courtyard?"

"Sky and I were walking back from the field when we saw Nicky beating Hannah," Bloom explained.

Dad dropped his hand and glanced over to Mom and back to Bloom, "Nicky is here?" Bloom nodded, "How could this be? I banished him from stepping inside the castle grounds.."

I look over at Dad, still clinging onto Mom, "I guess I should of mentioned that Nicky never really listened to any introduction," I mentioned, "I don't know what I saw in that boy.."

The fierce, determined look on Dad's face is one I would never forget.

"Let's go confront, Nicky," Dad said in a stern voice, "Is Nicky still out there?"

Bloom shrugged, "He should be. Sky wouldn't let him leave the premises before chewing out Nicky first."

As we walk out into the courtyard, we are greeted with Nicky's girly man screams.

"GET OFF ME!" Nicky yelped.

"IN YOUR DREAMS!" Pyra shouted pinning him to the ground, "YOU BROKE MY BEST FRIEND'S HEART AND BEAT HER TO A PULP!"

Nicky growled, "Sky, can you please tell this insane, little girl to leave me be?"

My eyes widen, "Oh no.." I thought, "Pyra doesn't like to be called insane nor little.."

Pyra pulled Nicky's ear, "WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!"

"Urk! Uhm..nothing!" Nicky flinched, "Nothing at all!"

"You lying son of a-" Pyra shrieked as Sky hoisted her off Nicky.

Nicky brushed off his shoulders and locked eyes with me to Dad, then to Mom and back to me.

"Uhh...your majesties.." Nicky bowed as Pyra is struggling to free herself from Sky's grasp, "Uhm..How do you do?"

Dad glares at Nicky, "Do you care to explain what you did to my daughter?"

"I-I did nothing, King Oritel!" Nicky stuttered.

"He's a lying son of a- mhmhmhm!" Pyra shrieked as Sky struggles to keep Pyra from going super saiyan.

Nicky glanced worriedly at each of us, "In my defense," he put up his hands as if holding a shield, "It was my instinct to defend myself after Hannah drew the first punch."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold the phone!" I shook my head, "For the record, Nickolas, you know for a fact that I-"

"YAAAHHH!!"

Nicky turned his head, "Ack!" and collapsed.

"Why don't you shove those lies right up your ass!" Pyra angrily tackles Nicky.

Nicky groaned, "Not again.."

"Welp..that got him to shut up," I commented as I turn to Pyra, "Thank you for that."

Pyra winked and threw up a peace sign hand gesture, "My pleasure!"

I walked over to Nicky and bent down. I begin to help Nicky back up.

"Hannah, what are you doing? Bloom questioned, "Leave him be on the ground!"

"How do I know if he's telling the truth if I can't see his eyes?" I turned to Bloom.

"If Nickolas here tries anything stupid or violent, I'll be right here to take care of him!" Pyra glares at Nicky as she clenched her fist towards him.

Dad nodded to Pyra and then turned to me, "What were you saying, Hannah?"

"Well..I was sitting right here on the edge of the fountain when Nicky approached from behind.." I explained to Mom and Dad everything that had happened.

"I knew Nicky was on to something ever since the party," Pyra chimed in.

"You do realize that I'm standing right here, right?" Nicky rudely asked.

Pyra gave her usual sinister smile to Nicky, "Yep! And I don't care one bit!"

Nicky ignored Pyra's remark and slowly turned to my parents, "King Oritel, Queen Marion, it isn't what it sounds like!" Pyra scowled, "Why would I hurt my girlfriend?"

"Will you just give it a break, Nickolas?"

"Excuse me?" Nicky raised his eyebrow.

"You left me that night!" I furrowed my brows as tears are streaming down my face.

Nicky scratched his head, "Please allow for me to explain."

I look to Mom, Dad, Bloom, and Pyra. Pyra glares and growls towards Nicky. I see Pyra giving him the finger. Mom and Dad glance to one another for a moment and then turn back to me. They give me a nod of approval to allow Nicky to explain.

I cross my arms and turn towards him, "What do you have to say for yourself, Nickolas?"

"Didn't I tell you already, Hannah?" Nicky rudely asked.

Pyra steps forward, "Okay, I've about-" Pyra is interrupted with a "ehem" and abruptly turns around.

"Pyra, what did Mom literally just say?"

Pyra face palms, "Oh my gosh, Pyro..can't you see I'm in the middle of something here?"

"You know very well that Mom put me in charge to make sure you don't get yourself into anymore trouble," Pyro reminded his sister, "I suspected you'd be here with Hannah, so I came here to bring you back home."

"Okay, fine," Pyra replied in an irritated tone, "But let me do something first."

"What are you going to do?" Pyro asked confused.

Without saying a word, she begins to walk towards Nicky.

"What are you doing?" Nicky asked in a clueless and rude tone.

She snickers, "Has anyone ever told you you're annoying as f*k?"

Nicky widens his eyes, "What?"

"Ice Beam."

"ACK!"

From Nicky's toes to his collarbone begin to freeze up.

"There! You look much better now!" Pyra claps her hands.

"What did you do to me??" Nicky yelped wide-eyed.

"Oh! I forgot one more thing!" she proceeds to freeze his mouth and smirks, "Much better! Much less annoying than ever!"

"Mmhmhmhm!" Nicky squirmed in his frozen state.

"My classic younger sister," Pyro slightly smiles and crosses his arms, "Are you done now?"

"Yep!" Pyra looks over at frozen Nicky, "An ice sculpture like you deserves a place in my room! Let'sss go!" she places one hand on the ice and disappears.

"She sure is a handful," Pyro begins, "I can now see why Mom always has an eye on her."

Pyro smiles to me and then teleports back to Glaiza.

"Well..that was.." I began.

"Entertaining?" Dad chimed in.

"Interesting to say the least."

Mom, Dad, Bloom, Sky, and I all burst out into laughter.

I stop laughing and began to look up towards the sky. I softly whine and shed a tear.

"Is something the matter, Hannah?" Mom asked placing a hand on my shoulder.

I look up to Mom and slightly smile, "Do you think he's going to be okay on Glaiza with Pyra?"

"I'm sure he will be, sweetheart," Mom replied gently touching my face.

"And I don't think Pyra's mother will allow Pyra to keep a human being frozen," Dad chimed in.

I wiped away a tear and nodded, "You're right, Mom and Dad," I smiled, "Thank you."

I giggled and wrapped my arms around Mom and Dad.

"We'll always be stronger together, love," Mom and Dad softly spoke to us.

"Forever and always?" I look up to them.

"Forever and always, darling," Mom gently strokes my hair.

I smiled up at Mom and Dad like since I was a little infant.

"We love you to the moon and back and twice around," Mom and Dad smiled to Bloom and I.

"We love you more," Bloom and I replied together.

"We love you most," they responded back kissing our foreheads.

Bloom and I both look to one another and giggled.