SD3 and its characters do not belong to me; except for the things I made up for the story.

Thanks to all who reviewed I appreciate it! There's no Hawkeye and Riesz happening yet though, just wait and let the story unfold, but then, no one would read my story. ;_;

This is a long chapter; I can't believe I wrote so much. Please read and review!



Artonia



All was silent except for the horses' (A/N: Did they have horses?) hooves meeting the ground with a pattern.

Hawkeye yawned as he rested his head on Jessica's shoulder, who was sitting in front of him watching the road up ahead for any signs of the kingdom they were headed for.

Everyone was headed towards the kingdom Artonia. Carlie told everyone there was a carnival being held there, so they thought, why not go there?

Holding Jessica tightly against himself he sniffed in the flower-like scent of her hair and loved it, which made Jessica giggle softly. Whispering words and comments to the princess of Navarre he couldn't help but notice Riesz secretive glance at them, but when he turn his head to look at her she would always turn and look ahead with a hint of a shade of red on her face.

Thinking over his situation here, he had decided that at the Carnival, he would tell everyone about his and Jessica's surprise to the group.

Jessica sighed a she leaned back and rested her head against her beloved's shoulder, looking up into the clear-blue sky, watching the clouds sail across the sky like ships on a calm sea.

She knew Riesz were looking at them and inwardly smirked.

'Eat your heart out Riesz!' She thought and smiled, squeezing Hawk's hand, which was intertwined with hers'.

She couldn't wait to see Riesz's reaction to their surprise.

The two girls could have been friends, but Jessica's mind would always think that Riesz wanted Hawkeye, and sort of grown a bit of a hatred towards her so-called rival in love.

Letting out a sigh the violet-haired, former thief felt a bit guilty, though he loved Jessica ever since childhood, he felt something for the young amazoness. Maybe he felt something brotherly, because he always watches over her and tries to cheer her up when she's in a foul mood. That might be the feeling he had tickling in his stomach whenever he was near her.

His thoughts were cut off by a horse's neigh then a thud on the ground followed by a groan. Duran was on the ground rubbing his back in pain as he stood up.

Elliot, holding the reins to the horse smiled brightly, "I can ride a horse too! Just like Duran!" The blonde-haired prince said as he kicked the horses' behind with his leg, with a cry from the horse it went galloping off.

"Elliot!" Both Riesz and Duran yelled out after the young prince as Riesz followed him on her horse, waking up a sleeping Carlie from her slumber that was on the horse with worried Amazon princess.

"What's wrong?" She asked as she bounced on the horse that was galloping after the mare that Elliot was on. "Oh Goddess, please let Elliot be okay." Riesz mumbled under her breath as she came nearer to the run away horse with a laughing Rolante prince on it.

Coming towards a large lake the steed halted to a stop, sending a surprised young prince hurling towards the vast body of water.

"Elliot!" Riesz's piercing scream could be heard throughout the entire forest. Watching from her horse, her brother about to fall into the cold water.

Elliot couldn't swim.

She jumped off the horse knocking a bewildered Carlie on the ground and was about to jump into the water without hesitation when a pure white falcon came flying out of nowhere and seized hold of Elliot's shirt and with a flap of it's wings, it flew off carrying the confused prince.

The others arrived only to see Elliot carried off by a bird probably thinking of its next meal.

Hawkeye jumped off his horse and ran towards Riesz who only stared at the direction Elliot disappeared a bit stunned.

"Are you okay Riesz?" He asked softly putting his hand on her shoulder.

She moved away from him and ran at the direction where her brother was abducted, calling out Elliot's name. Duran and Angela got off the horse they were on and ran after the concerned princess in hopes of finding Elliot before he got hurt.

Hawkeye was about to follow them when Jessica called out his name; he turned to see her on the ground with her foot twisted from getting off the horse by herself.

"Jessica!" Hawkeye said, he ran towards her, "Are you hurt?" He asked as he saw the tears well up in her eyes. She sobbed as she held her twisted ankle, "Go after her Hawkeye." She said hoarsely. Hawkeye was speechless for a moment then gathered his girlfriend in his arms. "Jessica."

"Carlie can heal Jessica!" Carlie said as she walked up to Jessica and a grateful Hawkeye.

Carlie was such a remarkable girl, although she looked like a ten year old, her age and heart has matured past that and Hawkeye was pretty sure she kind of grown feelings for Kevin, but like all girls like her, she would never admit it.

Kevin came with bandages that he got form one of their bags, and gently wrapped the long piece of cloth around Jessica's ankle then tied it into a tight knot.

After that, Hawkeye looked around to see three horses standing around since Riesz and the others had ran after Elliot and the falcon that kidnapped him.

"Me think we have to wait for them." Kevin said sitting down against a tree trunk, since it was no use running after them because they had no clue where the three were right now.

"I'm sorry Jessica." Hawkeye said as she rested her head on his chest.

"For what?" She asked, as she looked across the lake, and before that, a dirt pathway probably leading to Artonia.

"For dragging you into this, you could of just stayed back at Navarre." Hawkeye said as he stroke Jessica's waterfall like hair.

Jessica let out a short but soft laugh, "I rather be with you than be stuck in the castle without you." She said holding him tightly never wanting another woman to take him away from her; he was the only thing that reminded her of her childhood.

~*~

Riesz ran as fast as she could, jumping over long dead fallen trees and other obstacles that were in the way which were slowing her down much to her dismay.

"If I had my spear with me I would of have that falcon down already." Riesz muttered under her breath.

Unnoticed to her were the piles of rocks lying on the ground in her path. Riesz, too busy looking up into the sky tripped over the pile and fell down, giving out a short cry and closing her eyes to wait for the impact of the ground, but instead only found her being brought up by a trap net.

"What the heck?" She said as she found herself trying to sit up properly.

"Riesz!" Angela and Duran said in unison as they spotted the amazoness up in the net, "We'll get you down from there!" The knight of gold said as he looked for a way to get her down.

Riesz had a bad feeling and told the two to back off but then when they stepped closer to her, iron bars suddenly rose from the ground and cleverly trapped the duo.

"Damn it! What the heck is going on?" Duran said as he shook the bars, then kicked them in frustration.

~*~

Hawkeye and Kevin noticed a farmer with his cart of hay coming towards them, deciding to ask for directions, Kevin walked up to the elderly man, "Do you know where Artonia is?" Kevin asked as the farmer came to a halt in front of the young beastman.

"Sure, I'm going there myself, it's about a few minutes down this path by horse. I can take you there if you want." The old farmer said kindly.

Hawkeye shook his head. "No thanks, we're waiting for our friends. Do you know if that direction leads to Artonia somehow?" He asked pointing to the direction where Riesz and the others disappeared.

The farmer went wide-eyed, and then narrowed his eyes as his kind face turned into a frown.

"You don't want to go there. Young lads, the direction you point to leads to the fortress of the Artonian warriors. It is forbidden for anyone to go near without a Artonia warrior with them, or else they would be clarified as intruders and killed immediately with all the rumored traps in the forest."

Hawkeye and the others gasped in shock.

"We have to save them!" Carlie said as she started to run towards the forest but Hawkeye stopped her by grabbing her shoulder.

"Carlie we will, just hold on." He said, trying to calm the little mage down.

Hawkeye didn't want anyone to get hurt trying to go after their three friends, but the others are in danger, he breathed in and made his decision.

"Sir, can you please escort my friends to Artonia? Please let them stay with you for now until I return for them, I promise I will pay you." Hawkeye said quickly and ran towards the direction of the Artonian warrior's fortress.

"Hawkeye!" Jessica yelled after him, Hawkeye faltered upon hearing Jessica's voice calling for him but then continued running into the forest with his twin daggers.

"Don't leave me again." She said softly as tears fell from her eyes, Carlie hugged the blue-haired princess, whimpering and praying that their friends will be safe.

~*~

"Well, well, well. Who do we have here?" A voice said from underneath Riesz's net. She glanced down to see a bunch of men surrounding the three of them. "Invading on our property are we? That's not good."

"What do you mean? Let us out! We're just trying to find a little boy!" Angela shouted at one of the mysterious men. "You haven't by any chance seen one have you?"

One of them advanced towards her and took her by the chin, "You're lucky you didn't die yet." He said through his mask, but Angela could see his soul through his ruby eyes and see years of blood and slaughter, mixed with sorrow in them and he was still so young.

"Let go of her!" Duran said as gripped onto the young man's hand tightly until he let go of Angela's chin.

"If you hurt any one of these women here, I swear, I will kill you."

He said standing protectively in front of the surprised Angela.

The young man closed his eyes and let out a short laugh, "I have no interests in this women anyway." He said but then he opened his eyes and traveled up to Riesz.

He smiled underneath his veil,

"That girl up there is more my type." He said while brushing his crimson hair back with his hands.

Riesz blushed a bit then frowned down at the loud-mouthed young man.

"What are you talking about? She is more beautiful than me." Riesz said trying to get the tension off her. Since that young man said that he was 'interested' in her, the whole group of mysterious men stared up at her with puzzled looks.

"True, she is more beautiful than you." He said in a rather, 'I can care less' tone.

Riesz was ready to tackle him to the ground and beat the living daylights out of him, but the net was so hard to move around in, and she just found a spot she was comfortable in.

Note to all men; never tell a girl another girl is more beautiful than her even if she says so, don't ever admit it.

"But back to matters, what are you doing here in our territory? Don't you know it's off boundaries?" His smooth voice asked her, ignoring Angela and Duran for the moment.

"No, I was just looking for my brother taken away from a falcon." Riesz stated her story in one short sentence.

The young man put his index and thumb underneath his veil. A loud whistle was heard as a falcon came fluttering down and perching on the arm of the red haired stranger.

"This falcon?" He asked.

Riesz nodded recognizing the snow-white bird.

"What have you done with my little brother?" She asked sternly, glaring at the red head.

"He's fine, but just asleep."

"If you do anything to him I will-"

"What? Kill me? Funny how people say that when I do the exact opposite to the person who threatened me." The ruby-eyed young man said staring up at the shocked Riesz who had her mouth open from her unfinished sentence.

In a split second there was a flash of light coming from above Riesz followed by a sound or the rope getting cut. Riesz fell expecting the to hit the ground, but when she opened her eyes she found them gazing into golden ones.

"H-Hawkeye." Riesz said feeling blood rush up her neck, the way Hawkeye held her so close made her feel so safe. She envied Jessica, to be held like this all the time by Hawkeye.

She found her way back to reality and slapped him while her let her down on her feet.

"If that's what I get for rescuing you, then I won't do that again." He said playfully pouting while rubbing his cheek.

"Ahem, you guys, this would be a good time to ESCAPE!" Angela yelled at the two while gripping tightly to the bars that imprisoned her.

"Not without you guys." Hawkeye said walking towards the cage that held Duran and Angela, but was stopped by the weapons that surrounded him.

"This is like déja vu." Hawkeye said as he looked around to find him and Riesz completely surrounded, he scowled remembering a memory, which scarred his life from that day to now and forever.

"What a pity, I would of let you escaped." The scarlet-eyed young man said crossing his arms as his falcon gave out a fierce cry out to the two.

"Who are you?" Hawkeye asked in an irritated tone.

"The name's Lance, prince of Artonia."

With that, the duo felt a pain in the back of their head and was knocked out with the impact, and fell unconscious on the forest floor.

"What did you do that for?" Lance asked the warrior that just knocked them out hard with rocks.

"Um, wasn't that your cue to knock them unconscious? That's what you usually ordered us to do to the other people." The confused warrior said.

"I work with idiots." Lance said as he rolled his eyes and turned towards the angry Angela and Duran.

"You bastard, why are you doing this?" Duran said infuriated, "Don't you know that we ar-" Angela clasped her hand over Duran's.

"Be quiet, if they know who we are, they will take advantage of that." She whispered quietly into his ear as Duran nodded.

Lance smirked and found this group a bit amusing, especially the blond girl.

"What should we do with them your highness?" A man asked.

"Don't kill them, they should be punished for entering these sacred grounds but I guess they didn't know since they were chasing the little boy my pet rescued." Lance said as he glanced over at the golden haired beauty, it wouldn't hurt to let them go, and get on the blond girl's good side.

"Take them to spare rooms in the castle, my apologies for the misunderstanding." Lance said as he bowed and took Angela's hand and kissed the front of it. Angela smiled but Duran just turned his head and snorted.

They were set free and escorted to the Artonia castle.

"Take the blond goddess to my chambers." Hawkeye said while smirking.

"She has a name you know." Duran said.

Hawkeye moaned as he heard Lance say that and opened his eyes and it took a moment for it to register it in his mind, getting free from the person who had him flung over his shoulder her glared at Lance.

"Don't you dare touch a single finger on her! Or you will see hell sooner than you think." He warned the Artonian prince.

"Funny, does Lance kind of, you know, just a bit, remind you of someone?" Angela asked Duran, who only smirked.

"It's not like you two are together." Lance pointed out.

Hawkeye glared at the crimson-haired young man, "You don't know that."

"Hawkeye!" A familiar voice called out, he turned to see Jessica, in a glamorous new outfit run up to him.

"J-Jessica?" Hawkeye stared at the blue-haired young woman before her in a stunning dress.

Carlie and Kevin ran up to Angela and Duran in new outfits as well.

"Old man is King." Kevin said as Hawkeye's eyes went wide.

What luck.

Riesz moaned as she opened her eyes while murmuring Hawkeye's name. When her vision was clear she stared at the man holding her.

"You're not Hawkeye."

"No I'm not."

Riesz quickly got off him and stared around and saw Jessica giving her one of her glares.

"Where's Elliot?" Riesz asked looking around the huge place to avoid the subject that was going to pop up. She scurries away into a direction calling for Elliot but really was trying to avoid Jessica.

Carlie tugged on Angela's hand, as the purple-haired woman looked down at the fifteen year old girl. "What is it Carlie dear?" Angela asked.

"Tonight is the flower festival on the streets of Artonia, want to go?" Carlie asked sweetly. Angela looked back at Duran and smiled, "Only if Duran comes too." She said, winking at the knight of Forcena. Duran blushed and turned his head avoiding Angela's angelic face.

"Well than, why not all of us go? It'll be fun, and I'll get a bit closer to the golden haired goddess." Lance said while grinning.

"Over my dead body." Hawkeye muttered.

"What was that?" Jessica asked.

"Nothing."

~*~

Riesz found her way out onto the balcony where it overlooked a beautiful garden. Sighing as the soft wind whipped her sun kissed hair. Thinking things over in her head she finally set it on one thing that can change her forever.

A heavy weight fell upon her heart, as she knew he could not return her feelings because he had loved another for so long. Will she let him know how she feels? If he rejects her, her heart may break, but she was used to taking risks now.

But this time, it was the first time she took risks with her emotions.

"I'm in love with Hawkeye."

She said finally and smiled when she finally let it out, it was hidden deep within her for so long, but now, she's not afraid to tell him.

Angela grinned when Riesz finally confessed to the air that she loved Hawkeye, but was glad she was here to hear Riesz admit it.

Carlie bounced up and down and walked up to Riesz on the balcony.

"We're going to the flower festival tonight. Want to come?" Carlie asked. Riesz smiled and nodded.

'Tonight I will tell him.'

~*~



Still here? Great, please review! This was probably actually two chapters in one.

Yes I do have a plot to this story and I also know the characters might be a bit OOC, don't kill me. I added Lance to the story to make it a bit more interesting.