Hey guys! Deeply apologize for the horrendously long awaited update. Here's an extra-long chapter! Also for those who read chapter 21, when I mentioned about Yugi having to expel all of her magic at once, I meant all that she can spare without killing herself in the process. You'll understand when you read this chapter; I made sure to put the explanation in there for both Jono and Yugi's magic.

~Back with King Enlil before he showed up at the Elven castle~

Sitting in a carriage with both his brother Zopyros and his personal mage Clive, King Enlil speaks out. "I understand you don't approve of my decision in this dear brother."

"I don't disapprove of your decision in regards to innocent children, I'm not a monster." His striking green eyes not even looking at his brother as he spoke. "What I disapprove is how you blatantly accused me of lying about how Katsuya disappeared in front of the entire kingdom." His anger seeping through in his words. His anger was genuine, but of course he's lying about his feelings of the innocent children rather than the accusation.

Enlil shook his head, "I never accused you of that. There wasn't any proof that King Lycus took my daughter. I just stated that fact to the people. No one would blame you for this war, it was my doing entirely. As a king, honesty is just as important as protecting your people." He frowned at his younger brother. It upset him that Zopyros would assume he had done wrong by him, but he did understand how it appeared when he gave his announcement. Enlil truly believed that his people would never go against either of them. It was an excruciatingly painful moment when he lost his daughter. His wife died within a few weeks after Katsuya disappeared due to an incurable natural illness, so losing his one and only child and then losing his beloved wife sent him into a desperate rage. After months of no sign of his daughter, his will began to crumble, but his brother stood by him through it all. He trusted his brother above all others.

Zopyros scoffed, rolling his eyes, "Whatever, your majesty. If you need me, I'll be up with the coachman." He then proceed to the back of the carriage and went through the small door hatch and closing it harder than necessary. King Enlil sighed, closing his eyes and bring his right hand to his face to slightly pinch the bridge of his nose.

After a few silent moments, Clive tentatively whispered, "My good king, I believe you meant no harm in what you said. I have lived a very long life, have no fear for your future with Lord Zopyros, he is upset, but I assure you it will be temporary." He smiled and nodded reassuringly. Living a long life meant that he's had lots of practice at pretending to seem genuine in his actions and words. "I've watched you two grow up to be the fine young men you are today, and I've watched you two fight on worse things than this and you both made it through."

Enlil raised his head at that and smiled a little at the old mage. "I appreciate your words Mr. Clive. I'm sure he'll come around, he's stubborn, but I know his love for me will eventually win over his anger." The brothers were 5 years apart in age. Enlil became king at 20 years old as per tradition and his brother studied hard to become his advisor. Enlil was so proud of Zopyros for his dedication and comfort that he brought when his daughter was kidnapped. After a long pause he continued, "I'm very happy he decided to come with me on this journey. The Dawn Forest is not an easy terrain to cross. Just under 1500 miles between both kingdoms, if the perpetrator who took my daughter brought her into this forest, then it's no wonder we couldn't find her. Given so many differing paths and branches of those paths leading further away from the kingdom, the people who live there have never once seen the kingdom and would not have noticed anything before it was too late." He took a shaky breath, "I just hope that she's alive and well. Even if I never see her again, I can be at peace if I believe that she's doing well." On the inside he had an internal battle. His heart hoped Katsuya was alive, but his head truly believed that she had been killed. Such a powerful driving force to hope for one thing, but think another. As he felt the tears start to well up he thought, 'Over 40 years old and I'm still weeping like a child.' He tried to stifle the onslaught.

As if reading his mind Clive spoke up. "Grief never truly goes away, as we age, the initial pain dissipates and we become more adept at handling it. But that doesn't mean grief no longer has the ability to take control. The best way I've heard it explained to me was my late mother before she died. 'Imagine a box, now inside that box is a ball and a tiny switch. Some days the ball inside is so small that when the box is being tousled around, it never hits the switch. Other days, the ball is huge and is holding that switch down.'" He folded his wrinkled hands over Enlil's. "You must let that grief flow your majesty. No matter when or where, you must let it go. If you hold it in, you'll drive yourself mad, and then you won't be able to be a king to your people."

Enlil started to laugh, "You remind me of my father Mr. Clive. That must be one of the reasons Zopyros likes to keep you around. As I'm sure you're aware, our father died when he was only 16 years old. He probably thinks the same thing." He smiled at the mage with a glistening tears just starting to flow.

Clive retrieves his hands and lays them in his lap, "Take your time my good king, we have quite a ways to go before we reach the Elven Kingdom. Plenty of time to gather yourself for your meeting with King Lycus." The old mage nodded his head. "If you don't mind your highness, I'm going to take a rest now. I'm not as young as I used to be, I need more rest than before." He smiled sheepishly. He pulled the foot rest lever and reclined back a bit to get more comfortable before falling asleep.

"Sounds like a wise idea Mr. Clive. I think I'll also sleep for now. Hopefully tomorrow brings my brother in a better mood." He pulls the sliding curtains on each side to a close in the middle. He lays the elongated seat down to make himself a bed. Grabs the pillow and blanket from the small hidden cupboard. He sleeps dreaming of his daughter, except, instead of her being an infant, she's now a full grown adult. Looking like the spitting image of his wife in beauty, but having his eyes. He cried softly in his sleep, but with a smile on his face.

~Back at the Elven Castle 6 weeks after the poison hit the land~

With more plants that have been produced, the poison has taken less and less children each day, but both Yugi and Jono have both hit their magic limits. They can no longer help mass produce anymore plants. Yugi's gorgeous wings have lost their vibrant violet color, displaying light gray with a glint of purple in direct light. Jono's eyes no longer honey brown in color, but a dusty rustic auburn. Both have extremely pale skin, making them look sickly and frail. Even though Jono's inner magic replenishes naturally, she never let it fully regenerate before using it until she was forced to wait for it to build back up again. It took a tremendous toll on Jono's body and now it's taking 10 times longer to regenerate back to full force. Jono being out of commission for a while meant that Yugi didn't have Jono to help replenish her magic either. No longer able to help by using their magic, they still help by gathering ingredients and mixing them per Yami's instruction to amplify the plants with potions. Poor Yugi has to take more breaks than usual since her magic derives from the magic in the surrounding area. Given that they are in the Elven Kingdom, surrounding magic in the air is extremely thin, so it's taking much longer for her magic to be fully replenished. Jono, on the other hand, her magic replenishes naturally over time because her body creates it within but due to the serious strain she put her magic through, it's taking much longer to recover. For nature creatures like Jono and Yugi, magic is a life-source, should they deplete it completely, and then they die. Whereas with elves and mages, their magic flows through dimensional portals when they cast spells or from the ingredients in their potions. Even if they deplete the magic within that space, they just have to move to a different area and open a different portal.

Yugi was on another break, but this time, she was by herself. Usually she would rest in one of the corners within the experiment room, in case they needed help, but both Yami and Jono both insisted that she needs to go outside and regain some sun energy. So, here she was loafing in a lounge chair outside in direct sunlight. 'They might have been right about me needing some sunlight, I've been out here for 5 minutes and I already feel a bit better.' She thought awkwardly. Yugi had debated with both of them, trying to insist on staying inside in case they might need help, now here she was, basking in the rays. 'I'll apologize to them when I get back inside.'

"Got kicked out?" said a voice coming from behind. Their shadow blocking some of the light from hitting Yugi's face.

Yugi looked up to see a tall elven man leaning over her lounge chair. She smiled at him, "Good afternoon, Prince Seto!" She paused for a moment, "Yeah, I got kicked out by Yami and Jono. Said I need some sunlight."

He chuckled, "I can't imagine you just accepting it, I'm sure you tried to insist on staying, but one of them actually brought you out here."

She scratched her head and smiled sheepishly. "Yep, you're as perceptive as ever Prince Seto." She noticed how keen his situational awareness was after a couple of days of her arriving with Yami. She assumed it was ingrained in him from his training to become the next king. "So, what brought you out here?" she asked tilting her head.

He shrugged his broad shoulders. "More or less the same reason. I've been cooped up in the study for the last couple of weeks, so both my mom and brother said I needed to get some fresh air. Main difference being I'm not exhausted like you." His crystal blue eyes conveying his concern for the fairy.

She waved her hand back and forth. "No need to fret over me, I'm going to be just fine. It's just a matter of giving myself enough time to rest and recoup." She looked back at the young prince as he rolled his eyes at her. She laughed as a result. 'He may be a prince, but he's got his childish ways about him still.' Seto had brought a chair with him and proceeded to sit down next to her. Once he fully sat down, "What's got you cooped up in the study?" she asked curiously.

His piercing blue eyes widened at her question, and he even looked away in embarrassment. "I was reading on nature magic beings…" he replied softly.

Yugi was surprised by his answer. But only a little, she gave a knowing smile. "Any particular reason for your interest?" Raising her eyebrows in a questioning manner. She saw him tense up, she laughed. "No need to be so tense, your highness!"

He jokingly scoffed at her question. "Fairies are known for their observational skills, both in the intentional and unintentional actions of others around them. Due to the fact that they monitor the plant life around them, fairies typically treat plant life no different than other living beings." He looked at her incredulously. "Given that description, do you actually need me to answer your question?"

She turned to face the sky, allowing the sun to grace her delicate features. Violet eyes close as she takes a deep breath before she speaks. "What I think doesn't really matter. Actions hold more meaning than words, but admitting something out loud is one of the most powerful actions a person can take." She looks at him. Most importantly, she looks directly in his deep blue eyes and continues. "Are you ready to take that powerful step?"

He took in a deep breath and sighed. "I really…like…Jono…" Saying her name just barely above a whisper. He wasn't ashamed of liking Jono, it was more of the fact that he held so much prejudice against nature beings despite knowing virtually nothing about them. He had mistreated her so badly even though she had done nothing to deserve his spite. She saved his brother, brought him home safe and sound, and even almost DIED saving his father. Now, she was working herself tirelessly to help save the kingdom. Guilt washed over him. "Which is why I'm trying to dedicate as much time as I can to learn and understand nature beings."

Sensing dark emotions emanating from him, she frowned. "You make it sound as if liking my sister is such a horrible thing."

He whipped to face her and his blue eyes pierced her violet ones with such ferocity, she jumped a little. "I would never suggest that." He claimed. Eye's conveying his honesty.

She gave him a concerned look. "Then why do I sense guilt and shame coming from you dear prince?"

He sighed heavily once more, "I'm ashamed of myself." He looked down at his hands. His hands for which almost killed Jono when they met. He distinctly remembers how his left hand held her wrists to immobilize her and his right holding his sword to her neck. If he hadn't hesitated, she would have died, without question, and he didn't want to think about what would have happened if he hadn't hesitated. Laying his head in his hands. More shame exuded from him.

Yugi had heard from Mokuba about what happened before she and her husband came along and while it made her angry at first, she ultimately understood why. "Do you get upset at people when they genuinely don't know something?" Not wanting to persuade him through general comforting words, she decided to use a more logical approach. When he gave her a questioning look she continued. "Say, for instance, you told someone to do a task, but you learn they've never done it before, would you get upset at them for not knowing how to do the task?"

"No, it doesn't make sense to get upset at someone for not knowing how to accomplish a task, no matter the task." His raised eyebrows conveying his confusion on the subject. He didn't understand why she brought up the subject.

"You didn't know." She placed her hand on his left shoulder. "How could you have known any better? You grew up in a war against the Nymph Kingdom. And with a distance of almost 1500 miles between the kingdoms, there was a very little chance of ever truly interacting with anyone who had nature magic. So now I ask you," she paused for a moment. "…why would have dedicated your time in learning about us nature beings if you truly believed that there wouldn't be a time when you would meet one?" A soft smile of hope adorned her face.

He went to speak, but nothing came out. He thought for a moment. "We elves derive our knowledge through books and repetition. My father thought it unnecessary to learn about nymphs and other nature beings due to the war. He said the only thing I'd need to know about nature beings is how to take their life should it ever come down to a life or death situation." He scoffed at his next comment. "Apparently I learned it very well…" He looks away in shame. "I nearly killed Jono, but more importantly, I didn't even stop to ask why she was there, I just…attacked her… I held her down, put my sword at her neck. I remember thinking how easy it would be to slice and end her life." He spoke those words with such malice for his own actions.

Despite the negative atmosphere around them, in a sing-song voice Yugi replied, "Buuuuut you didn't!" She waited for Seto to look back at her again before she continued. "No one can change the past Prince Seto. The most we can do is learn from it. You didn't kill her, that's all that really matters in the end."

"Yeah, I didn't kill her, but I treated her GREAT afterwards." He commented sarcastically, rolling his eyes for emphasis, crossing his arms.

She giggled at him. "You didn't continue treating her badly, and to be fair, I don't think Jono holds it against you." She shrugged her shoulders.

Seto puts his hands on the side of his head and rubs feverishly. "SHE DOESN'T! I can't fathom how she can just be OKAY with everything I've done when we first met." He exclaimed. It baffled him to no end, any other person would've tried to get payback, or treat the other person with scorn, but Jono just treats him like a long lost friend. After some frustrated grunting, he turned to look at Yugi for answers.

"I guess you could say that's part of her charm." Yugi paused for a moment and a small smirk appeared giving her face an accent of playfulness. "You could go ask her about it. I'm sure that will clear things up for you."

"I was hoping you'd be able to shed some light on it." Now, that he was outside and alone with Yugi, he felt more comfortable being able to talk about Jono. No eavesdropping ears to listen in and most likely badger him on it. 'My family, especially my brother, would never let me leave their sight without ALL of their questions to be answered.'

"Well, I can say that a decent part of who she is due to our parents' upbringing." She smiled at the thought of her parents who decided to take in a new born nymph to raise as their own. "Mom never made it seem like we were anything but sisters. Dad never showed favoritism for me being his biological child as most had assumed was happening." Yugi saw how intense Seto's eyes were, she could tell they were completely focused on her. 'He really does care for my sister.' She took a breath and continued. "Our parents were very kind people, they dedicated their lives to helping those with less fortune. Jono and I would meet lots of people, all types of beings, throughout our stay in our parents' home, some of which were even elves." His cerulean blue eyes widened, but he made no indication to speak, so she continued. "That's actually how I met my husband." She smiled lovingly and then her smile turned to a deep frown. "He showed up to our door, only 14 years old, wearing tattered clothes and no shoes. He had bruises and cuts everywhere. He looked like he hadn't eaten for a days." She stifled the tears that were starting to well up.

Not really knowing what to do at the moment, he shakily raised his left hand to pat her back in hopes of soothing the poor fairy. '14 years old…Mokuba is almost 14 himself, I can't imagine how I'd feel if I saw my brother in that state.' He thought apprehensively.

"I'm sorry, it's just such a vivid memory for me, I can't help but cry a little." Yugi apologized quickly.

The prince shook his head, his chocolate brown hair swaying a little from the motion. "No, I'm sorry for making you relive that memory." He bowed his head.

"It's important to remember the bad times, so we can truly enjoy the good times. You didn't do anything wrong your highness." She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "Despite being in that state, he showed courage, his maroon eyes conveying pure determination." She paused a moment. "It turned out that his mother was sick, and his father had been coming home drunk and beating him every day, food was becoming scarce due to his father hardly ever bringing some home." She took another breath. "Yami was working with a farmer nearby to earn some food and medicine for his mother. One day, his father came home early, before Yami got back from the farm and proceeded to beat his sick wife in the other room instead."

Seto was shocked to hear this about the mage. He had grown a bit of a brotherly attachment over the last month to him, Yami was both serious and caring, and he showed great dedication to creating the plants that were saving children's lives within his kingdom. To hear about how he had a horrifying childhood enraged him. He wanted nothing more than to go find his wretched father and end his life. Sensing his anger, Yugi decided to do something a bit playful. She reached up and pinched his nose. Taken aback by her action, he bolted away from her. "What the…!

She laughed at his reaction. "I wasn't finished, your highness!" She lightly punched his arm. "You can't get mad yet when you don't know the full story. Those are the rules!"

He sighed and chuckled at her a bit. "Alright, I'm sorry, please continue." He waved his hand at her.

"As I was saying…Yami came home and saw what his father was doing to his mother. And with a strength unbeknownst to him he took the small sack potatoes in his right hand and wailed on his father." Seeing the small smirk of satisfaction on Seto's face she continued. "He beat him with this sack of potatoes until they were mush on the inside. His father laid there, on the ground barely breathing, Yami then pressed the sack to his face and suffocated him." Still a horrifying thing to end your own parent's life, but Seto couldn't help but be satisfied by the turn of events. I didn't even learn about what happened until about two years later. I just knew that he asked my parents for help saying 'I don't care what happens to me, but please help my Mom, she's sick, she didn't do anything wrong.' Afterwards, my parents went over to his home and immediately took action to help his dying mother. Later on, when Yami was being tried for killing his own father, my parents stood up for him claiming that he was a child protecting his sickly mother and confessed to witness the horrible state he was in when he came to their door. In the end, it was determined to be out of self-defense for his mother who couldn't protect herself. So, he wasn't charged with anything." She smiled at the memory of the judge who presided over Yami's case; who was outraged at the audacity for the law enforcers to waste his time when it was clearly evident that Yami was being seriously mistreated by his father. "And that's the end of that part, but Yami wanted to do everything in his power to help repay our family back for helping him. No matter what the task was, he was up for it, I grew to enjoy his company over the span of 3 years. And then I developed feelings for him." She blushed at the memory. "Jono noticed I had feelings for him and jokingly said to Yami, 'If you really want to pay back our family, why don't you just join our family and give Yugi a lifetime supply of happiness?'" She expressed her best Jono voice, which wasn't half bad.

Seto lost it. "WHAT?!" He laughed so hard, it was getting hard for him to breathe. When he called down a bit he asked, "Did she really say that?!" Yugi nodded, smiling at the Prince's boisterous laughter. "Oh my maker, what did he say to that?"

Unbeknownst to both of them, said Mage was making his way out to find his wife and happened to overhear Yugi mention how Jono had blatantly told him to marry Yugi, right in front of her. Also overhearing Prince Seto's question, he decided to interject. "I screamed at her for it." Two pairs of eyes shot up to look at him in shock at his presence. "I came to look for Yugi, since it'd been quite a while since Jono kicked her out here earlier." He raised his eyebrow at them. "I see I interrupted a conversation about the past." He chuckled.

"Oh Yami, I hope you don't mind. He was curious about our family dynamic, so I felt it okay to share a bit." Hoping she didn't anger him with oversharing.

"Love, I have no qualms with you sharing about our lives, especially if it's for a certain reason." He winked at the elven prince.

'Does EVERYONE know I like Jono?' he thought nervously. He didn't think he was that easy to read.

Yami smiled at him knowingly, "Fear not young prince, I won't share, and before you start fretting over the issue. Remember, I fell in love with Yugi. I remember the look I made when I thought of her. You make a very similar look when you gaze at Jono when you think no one is looking." Having caught some sideways glances from the corner of his maroon eyes. He couldn't help but smile at Seto for his developing feelings for his sister-in-law.

Yugi nodded in agreeance. Blue eyes shot to her fast as lightning and he groaned in embarrassment. "Maker, why?" He rolled his eyes to the back of his head.