Author's Note: Hey everybody! Did you all miss me?! Probably not, but oh well..... Anyways, it took me prreetty long to keep on going on with writing this chapter and all. Hey wait..... Its not so long, only about 24 days!!! (......?!) He, heh, sorry!! That's pretty long!! Anyways, I really hope you like this chapter!! Now on with the play!!(....?!) Hey wait a moment..... did I just type in play? Oops.... He, Heh... Sorry about that. I meant, "Now on with the story!!!"



~ Chapter 4 ~ The Angel Flower Potion

Sir. Edward felt the cool breeze of wind pass by him as he rode gentle, but fast on his faith ful horse, River, a beautiful silver-gray mare with sliver eyes. He rode with care, being careful not to drop Star as she layed there, limp and seemily lifeless in his arms, his gloved hands placed on River's reins, guiding River. He glanced down at Star, worried. Altough he and Star never got along, Sir. Edward still worried about the girl. He wondered brieftly as he looked at Star, how she had gotten the shallow gash on her right shoulder. It looked alot like a sword gash, but not severe engouh to put Star's life at risk. Sir. Edward felt a pain of sadness as he glanced at Star's limp body. Star was always so bright, filled with energy and spirit, never afriad of anything. Sir. Edward had admired her for that. But now Star just laid there in his arms, just limp and unmoving. Sir. Edward's jaw tightened. (I pray, Atomos, if not by my hand, then by someone else just as noble, will punish the person who did this to Star Flower. The person shall be punished rightly somehow,) Sir. Edward prayed silently, but angrilly to the god of war and justice. Sir. Edward shrugged off the touch of sadness he felt in him, and glanced to the left of him at the others.

Princess Charity, Storm, and Lotus rode next to him, along with the three men who had come with him. They were all riding fast, but yet at the same time, riding gently. Charity and Storm seemed to be alright to Sir. Edward; a little anxious, but overall, fine. Lotus on the other hand was another matter. Her head drooped, her eyes casted with weariness and worry. She also was very anxious, and she kept on glancing toward Sir. Edward, at Star in his arms. Lotus eyes meet Sir. Edward eyes as he stared at her, Lotus eyes pulled away. Sir. Edward glanced away, feeling sorry for Lotus for he knew just how she felt.

Sir. Edward glanced back at the Etheran Forest, wondering brieftly if his men were doing fine without him. He began to pray silently again, (Atomos, please guide my men and watch over them. Protect them. In the good name of Etheria, let it be done.) Sir. Edward looked ahead, and spurred his horse on gently, toward the South Etheran Gate.

~Meanwhile~ Back at the Etheran Forest, Techri was talking to the men as he rode alongside some of them. The red-haired, and bronze-eyed young knight grinned at his comrades as he urged his horse, Flame, a brown mare with fierce red eyes and a reddish mane and tail, on, forward. "Come on men!! Let's hurry up and bring these Dracon traitors to the prison. Pick up the pace! Don't turn your backs on those tratiors back there men!" The lieutant grinned, and spurred Flame on forward.

A red haired man with brushy eyebrows and dark brown eyes at the back of the band muttered to the dark-haired, bronze-eyed soldier next to him, as they rode on their horses. "The plan failed! What should we do now?!," asked Odi, the red-haired man. The dark-haired man, Stan responded back, "We should leave now, and inform the others what has happened. Let's try to free some of the others, and if we can, lets free the mages that are in the carriage. Come on, lets inform the others on our plan," Stan spurred his horse on forward, Odi following suit. They paused to stop to talk to five other men, all bulkly and tall. The five men nodded as Stan and Odi whispered fiercly to them, and began to follow the two men, heading toward the carriage......

Techri's eye caught on something, as he glanced back at the men. "Whoa!," Techri cried out as he pulled back on Flame's reins, and halted. He watched as two men, followed by five others, broke their ranks, and headed toward the carriage. He recongized the red-haired man as Odi, and the dark-haired man as Stan, both men he did not like. Techri did not regonize the other five men. His eyes narrowed. Something was wrong with this situation. He spurred Flame toward them, while saying in a commanding voice, "Odi, Stan, and you five over there, get back in formation!!" He pulled Flame to a halt, just a few inches away from the seven men. Stan looked at Techri, and grinned evily at him. "I don't think so," he snarled at Techri, as he quickly drew his sword and took a swing at Techri's head. Techri doged the swing just in time, the sword blade just grazing his hair. Techri was both astonished, and angry at the same time. Odi and the other five men pulled out their own swords and bagan attacking the men near them, who were unaware. "Traitors!! Traitors in the group!!," Techri cried out a late warning to his men as he drew out his own sword, and raised it up to deflect Stan's swing as Stan swung once more.

Andres and Gregory felt the carriage stop moving, and heard the yell through the carriage window. Andres and the three soldier in there glanced at each other. "Give me one of your weapons," said Andres to the soldiers. One of the soldiers looked at him, drew out his sword and handed it over to Andres. "You go ahead and fight outside, I'll guard the mages, and your son," the soldier replied, and then added, "It's nice to see you again, Andres, old buddy." Andres, startled, took the sword and squinted at the soldier. "Gregory? Gregory Ires, of Wrein? I thought I would never see you again!! I named my son after you, you know?!" The soldier just smiled, "Just go already!" Andres nodded, and opened the carriage door, and said, "Gregory, you just stay there, okay son!!" Andres leaped out of the carriage, the other two soldiers following. Gregory Loyal just sat there, bewilderd, as the carriage door closed, as he stared at the soldier next to him, also called Gregory.

Stan's sword swung, its steel locking against Techri's own sword, as Techri blocked it just in time. The two men had locked swords with each other, a perilous fight beginning on horseback. Stan grunted and kicked his foot out at Techri. Techri, taken by suprise, took the kick in the side, and fell off Flame, his sword flying down into the dirt, nearily slicing him as it flew pass him. As he fell, his foot caught in the foot strap of the saddle. Flame, also suprised by the fall, began running fast, dragging Techri along as he struggled to keep away from her hoofs as she ran. "Whoa girl, stop!!," Techri cried out in angony, and pain as he was dragged onward. Flame stopped at the sound of her master's voice. Techri managed to struggle free of the foot strap, and collasped into the dirt, pain shooting throughout his body as he felt the impact. Flame nuzzeled him, worried. He groaned, and glanced up. Men were fighting all around him. About 1/3 of the Dracon force had been freeded, but about half of those freeded were already dead, as the Etheran force fought back. Techri saw that some of his own men, about 10 laid dead already on the forest road.

Techri struggled to try and get up when he saw that Stan had gotten off his horse, and was heading toward Techri, a murderous glint in his eyes, his sword blade gleaming in the light. Techri looked around anxiously, and spotted his own sword lying only a few paces away. He scrambled towar it, reaching out to get it. His fingers grasped the hilt, and Techri swung up with his sword blade, meeting Stan's sword blow. Techri fumbled, but sprang up quickly. Stan swung again at Techri, barely missing him as Techri leaped backwards. Techri wnt into attack stance, his sword and body positioned to attack. Techri swung his sword as he rushed toward Stan, his eyes filled with fire toward Stan. Stan swung up to meet his blow head on. The two men clashed, sword clanging upon sword. They both quickly broke free from each other and cirlced each other, each eye waried of each other's next move. Stan swung, and Techri blocked, the two men kept on blocking and attacking each other, fluid in moition, blow after blow, steel upon steel. Finally, Stan, not seeing the next move swung high at Techri , who in turn meet Stan in the stomach, his sword blade slicing through. Stan's eyes went white as he gasped for one last breath of air, and fell dead to the ground with a slump his sword slicing into the road as it fell.

Techri panting for air, after the tough fight, looked around him. Most of the Dracon force were dead, Techri's own men, about 15 of them also laid dead. Others were still fighting. Techri spotted Odi, who was now fighting the farmer, Andres who seemed to be protecting the carriage. Techri raised his eyebrows. Andres fought pretty good for a farmer. Techri's eye caught on to a figure near the two men that were fighting. It was one of the five men he had seen eariler, and he held a bow, and was stringing it, and aiming striaght for Andres unprotected back. Techri's eyes widened.

Techri began running toward the man, his sword raised. The man spotted him coming, and turned the bow on Techri, and let go of the string. Techri grunted with pain as the arrow dug deep into his upper chest, but he kept on charging, slaying the man. As the man fell to the ground, Techri felt the pain grow, and he groaned out in pain, and collasped in the road. Andres hearing the noise behind him, knocked the sword out from Odi, and turned from fighting Odi to see what had happened. Odi took his chance, and ran for the trees. The last two freed Dracon soldiers that were still alive, moved to follow, but fell as Techri's own men shot them. Andres ran toward the young knight who had fallen. Andres kneeled down to look at the young knight face. Techri's face was in horrible pain. The men gathered around their lieutantent. "Sir. !! Are you alright?!!," once of the men asked Techri worriely. Techri just glared at the man as he thought, (What a idoit!! Do I look all right??) Techri groaned, "Get me to the palace healer..." Techri rolled back his head and fainted. The men huried to get Techri into the carriage, pausing for a moment to also pick up the dead bodies of their fallen comrades, and put them on some of the horses that made it out of the fight alive, one of them Flame. The band began moving again, tis time faster as they left the dead bodies of the Dracon soldiers to lie there in the dust......

Sir. Edward rode with his three men and the others, unware of what was taking place. Sir. Edward spotted the Southern Etheran gate just ahead. He said quickly to Princess Charity, "Look your highness!! It's the South Etheran Gate!!" Sky cried out, "Finally!," as she urged her horse to a fast gallop. Princess Charity said quickly to Sir. Edward, "We must hurry!! Star's life slips away every moment!!" Charity urged her horse on forward, as did Lotus, and the other men. Sir. Edward nodded and did the same.The group halted at the gate, clouds of dust flying up, as two guards blocking the way, covered their eyes as the dust cloud spreaded. Sir. Edward snapped sharply at them, "Open the gate!! Princess Charity needs to get to the palace right away!! Star Flower's life is in danger!!" The two bewildered guards opened their arms wide and saw Princess Charity and her heir symbol. They obeyed the order quickly, and motioned toward the men in the guard towers on the great wall to open the enormus gate. Sir. Edward and the others watched intently as the gate opened.

"Follow my lead," Sir. Edward said to his men, who had fanned out in front of Princess Charity and the others behind him. He spurred River on to a fast gallop, the others following. The city was very crowded, the bewilderd citizens scrambling out of the way, shaking their fists at the riders as they passed. Sir. Edward and his men began shouting, "Get out of the way!! Get out of the way! The Princess is making way!!" The bewildered crowd scattered to both sides, some people in the crowd kneeled as the group galloped pass. The group raced through the streets of Ethera toward the Etheria Palace.

Four bulky men watched intently as the group approached the palace gates. "Halt!," one of the guard moved toward the group, who halted their horses. "Open the gate!," said Sir. Edward fiercely. "Show us your pass," said the royal guard of Ethera severely. Princess Charity spoke up, "It's right here," she pointed to the heir crystal on her forehead. "Now do as I command!! I am Princess Charity of Etheria, open this gate at once!" The guards kneeled when they saw the sign of the heir diamond. "Yes, your Highness!!" they all said in unison. The four guard guickly got up and lift the heavy iron bar up from the gate, the other side also being unlocked, as the guards on the other side unlocked the bolt on the other side also.

~Meanwhile~ Inside the palace, Queen Tanyia was waiting along with her royal advisors, and the teacher, Sire. Alan in the royal throneroom, a magnificent room with a red carpet leading up to the throne, and the magnificent crystal chandiers that were lit. Portriats of the royal line of the Flower family, hung from the marble walls, the rays of light from the crystal windows in the ceiling shining brightly into the room. The room smelled sweet and extioc with the beautiful and rare flowers of the planet, filled up the room, preserved for centuries with magic. The queen herself was a beautiful sight, Her long brown hair and beautiful brown eyes, made her look like a gentle, yet commanding queen; the royal tiara resting on her head, and she sighed heavily, and worriely. Queen Tanyia spoke gently, "Sire. Allan," the teacher came forward and kneeled, "Yes your Majesty?" "Are you positive that you do not know where my two daugters are?," the Queen asked with a hint of worry in her voice.

"No your Majesty," replied the teacher, "They were just praticing with their staffs, and they just vanished into thin air, just like that." Sire. Allan snapped his fingers. The Queen sighe, "Where could they have gone?" Suddenly, a page ran into the throne room. The page knelt before the queen as he said hurriely, "Your Majesty!! Princess Charity Flower, and your three daugthers are outside in the courtyard. Star Flower of Ethera seems to be hurt!!" The queen stood up quickly as she said hurriely, "Lead me to them, and quick!" The page nodded and hurried out of the throneroom, Queen Taynia along with Sire Allan, the royal advisors left behind, bewildered looks on their faces.

Princess Charity got off of her horse gently and gracefully. "We must get Star to the healer quickly!! Sir. Edward nodded, and handed Star to one of his men, and got off River. The man handed Star back to Sir. Edward again. Suddenly the Queen bursted out of the front crytalized doors of the palace. "Charity!!," The queen gasped when she glimsped Star in Sir. Edward's arms. Queen Tanyia ran to Sir. Edward and reached out to touch Star. The queen looked at Star, then whirled around to face her other daughters as she asked, bewildered, "What happened?!" "There's no time to explain Mother," said Charity, "We must get her to a healer, but what she needs most is one of the Angel Flowers."

Queen Tanyia immeditately took command of the situation, "Sir. Edward! Take Star to the infirmany. SIre Alan!!" Sire. Allan came forward, "Yes, your Majesty?" "Go get one of the Angel Flowers. Get the one in the roual garden! Here is the magical command for releasing the locks on the one in the royal garden," the Queen whispered into Sire. Allan's ear. Sire Allan nodded and ran off quickly.

Queen Tanyia watched as he left, then turned to face her daughters, and said to them, "Now lets us follow Sir. Edward my daughters. You have much to explain to me." The princesses nodded, and followed the queen to the palace's infirmary.

A young boy with deep brown eyes and short back hair was sitting on one of the many benches in the royal garden. He sat there breathing in the smells, and sights of the beautiful garden. The boy wathced as a tall man with blond hair and brown eyes entered the garden, and walked toward the center. The boy watched as the man leaned over to grab a beautiful, pure white flower that was by the spring in the center, and was the only one in the garden. The boy leaped up, and cried out, "Hey!!," the boy yelled at the man, "You're not supposed to do that! That is the rarest, and most beautiful flower in the land. Stop it at once!" The man, suprised, turned around and saw the boy. The man muttered angrilly to the boy, "I am Sire. Allan of Royalin. You have no right to speak to me that way! I am the Queen's knight of the realm, and the knight master and teacher of the Guardians!" The young boy astonished stepped back, and said, "Sorry, good knight. My name is Linh Noble, prince of the Eastern Islands. NO matter who you are, you are not allowed to take the Angel Flower out of this garden!" Sire. Allan glared at Linh, and noticed the royal clothes he was wearing, and spoke, "The queen herself asked me to get this flower!! It is for Star Flower; her life is in great danger!! She needs the Angel Flower now!! Now out of my way." Sire Allan leaned to pick up the flower, and muttered a few words that Linh did not hear. Linh, shocked, and bewildered thought rapidly, (Sar Flower? She is in danger? I just talked to her a day ago.? Linh remembered the spirited, and warrior, Star Flower of Ethera very well.

As Sire Allan got up to leave, Linh spoke gently, "I'll come with you to make sure that you are telling the truth." Sire allan gave out a sign of annoyance, and sid, "Fine then!!" The knight master ran out of the garden quickly, Linh following closely behind.

~ Meanwhile ~ in the infirmary, the Queen, the healer, and Sir. Edward listened intently to Charity, Song, and Sky's story. When the princesses had finished, the queen spoke angrilly, "I cannot believe that the Dracon country would dare do a thing like this!! This makes the our war with them more fiercer!!! They dare to violant the Knight's code of chivarly?? Using posionus magic on their weapons!! We now must keep a look out for that from now on." The queen got up. "Storm, may I see the weapon used against Star?" Sky handed her mother the dark wagpon. The queen examined it gently, careful not to touch the blade, and said gently, "This sword reeks soley of evil." The Queen motioned for the page that was int the corner of the infirmary to come forward. The page came forward, and kneeled, and asked nervously, "Yes, your Majesty?" The queen said, "Take this to the hish mages in the palace towers young one. Be very careful not to touch this blade or death shall be upon you, understood?" the queen asked. The page turned pale, and nodded furiously. "Good boy," said the Queen, "Tell the high mages the same thing, and that it has some kind of poisonous magic on it." The page nodded, and gently took the sword, and ran out of the room, passing Sire. Allan who entered the room, along with Linh. "What took you so long," asked the queen. "I apolozie your Majesty," Sire. Allan kneeled, Linh following in suit.

Linh looked up and saw Star lying on the bed. He was shocked at how the once spirited girl he had knew looked so lifeless, and dead.... Sire. Allan stood up and handed the Angel Flower to the Queen, who then got up and handed the Angel Flower to the Queen, who then passed it to the healer. The healer, a pretty young woman, named Clara with red hair,and blue eyes took the flower and gently plucked off one of the Angel Flower's beautiful petals. She then handed the flower to the queen who took it, and passed back to Sire. Allan. Clara spoke, "I don't know how Star managed to survive for so long under this deadly poison, even though your magic is helping her your Highness. Star is very strong to have made it this far. I don't know if the Angel Flower is still good, after all it has been kept alive for centuries long with magic. It is very old." Song, tranfixed on the petal asked, "Why do you only take a petal from the flower?" Clara smiled and replied, "I don't even need a whole petal, I can use only half if I really wanted to. Watch." Clara got up and went to a table in the infirmary. She pulled out a grinding stone and bowl out of a drawer and set it on the table. She dropped the single petal into the bowl and began grinding the petal. Soft liquid seemed to seep out of the single petal. Clara stopped grinding the petal, and took a pitcher of water, and poured some water into the bowl, filling it to the rim. The liquid dissolved instantly in the water, and the water turned crystal clear, with beautiful tiny sparkles within it. Clara smiled and said, "Isn't it beautiful?" She took a small round spoon and dipped it into thte water, getting some of the Angel flower potion onto it. She carefully walked to where Star laid, and parted her mouth, and poured the liquid in. "Now we shalt wait," said Clara.

Star opened her eyes. THe light had dissappeared again, and Star felt the darkness and loneiness sweeping over her once again. Star thought for a moment as she looked around her at the darkness, that eyes were staring at her. No... there was eyes staring at her!! Star took a startled step backwards. She felt something brush against her. Star gasped and whirled around, her eyes searching through the darkness. She could now see dimly for some reason, even though there was only pure darkness surrounding her. Dark hands with claws reached out to grab her from all directions. Star cried out and punched and kicked out at the hands. It was a useless battle. Star felt the hands grab her, and darkness seeping up onto her skin. Star gave out a silence scream as the hands tightened around her throat, and covered her mouth. Suddenly the reasurring light appeared at a distance before her, a figure flying out of it towards her, and Star glimped for a brief moment, a beautiful woman wih feather wings, in a pure white robe, and beautiful angel flowers in her trailing blond hair. The dark hands dissappeared as did the blinking eyes, as the angel grew near. The angel halted in front of Star, and looked at her with kind, deep pure- like sliver eyes, which reminded her of Charity's, and offered a reasurring hand toward Star. Star grasped it, and felt herself being pulled forward toward the light. Star closed her eyes again as she felt peace and happiness flood over her once again....

Star weakly opened her eyes, ans saw her mother's kind face, and brown eyes. Star whispered hoarsly and unbeliving, "Mother.... Is it... Is it realy you??" Star felt a wave of weakness and weariness come over her, and she closed her eyes, and promptly fell alsleep. Queen Tanyia smiled happily, "She's all right!! All she needs is a little rest.." Song said wearily, "Thank the Goddess!!," and collasped on the bed she was sitting on, and fell fast asleep, free of worries. Charity glanced at Song, and said, "She's all right, she just tired from using her healing magic. I know I am." The healer walked back toward the table. "I better keep this potion for emergencies," Clara said as she took a bottle out of a cupboard, and carefull poured the Angel Flower potion into it. After she was finished, Clara popped the cork back into the flask tight, and said some magical words. The healer then walked out of the infirmary, curstied to the queen and princess as she left.

Charity suddenly noticed Linh's presence. "Prince Linh, what are you doing her!," exclaimed Charity. Linh answered, "I was making sure that Sire Allan wasn't stealing the Angel Flower, and I was worried about Star, so I came." Sire Allan glared at Linh. Linh added, "I'm here with my cousin from Viene. We will study here to become knight also, but I will be studying next year. My cousin is studying this year." "Well...," Charity looked at Linh, "It's nice to see you here. Will Hope be joining you also?" Linh shook his head yes in reply, "Yes! She was also picked!! I'm so happy about that. She will also be studying with me next year." Charity face lifted, then fell, "Oh.... I'm afriad I won't be seeing her much for a long time... I have to continue with my training. It is too bad... We'll see each other at the parties though.... but I'm am glad you two are coming."

Queen Tanyia interrupted the small conversation. "Sire. Allan, Sir. Edward, I belive you have bussniess to attend to. Sir. Edward startled, replied, "Yes, your Majesty!!," bowed, and walked out of the room. The queen turned to Sire Allan. "Take this back to the royal garden, and continue on with your work," Queen Tanyia said as she handed the Angel Flower to Sire Allan. "Yes, Your Majesty." Sire Allan bowed, and walked out of the room also. Queen Tanyia turned to her other daughter, Sky, and said gently, "Continue on with your training with Sire Allan darling. I'm afriad Lotus won't be able to join you for a while. I have to speak to Charity." Sky nodded, and walked out of the room. Linh spoke up, "I should go now, a pleasure to have met you, Your Majesty, and it is nice to see you again, Princess Charity," Linh bowed and walked quickly out of the room. Queen Tanyia turned to Charity and smiled at her, and said gently, "You have a big year this year, my angel. It is good to see your face again my child. Come, follow me." The Queen walked gracefully out of the room, her eldest daughter following her.



Author's Note: Well that's about it This chapter is not so exciting I think. It took me forever to put it up.... I'm sorry if you are dissapointed. I'm very sad cause only a few people reviewed; Thank you to those who had reviewed. You other people who do read this story, and do not review, what's the matter with you!! Please review!! I won't put up another chapter untill I get at one or more reviews. ~I'm that desperate~ So review for goodness sake! If you want to be informed when my next chapter is up, just send me your email with your review, or I can go to your fanfiction and give you a review informing you that new chapters are up, plus I'll also review your story. So review!!! Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty, ~whew! ran out of breath~ Please!!! ~faints~

From xStArLiGhTDrEaMs who cannot sign this note right now. (She's took quite a fall, remarks her friend Lena)

Email: xStArLiGhTDrEaMs@yahoo.com