Meliara forcefully strode her way into the throne room of Seriyu's floating castle. Broadway looked up at her as she came to stand in front of him, her hands on her hips.

"What the heck is going on here, Broadway?" she demanded to know. "You were supposed to capture the king and queen, but you let them get away!" Broadway looked calmly as his angry sister.

"Don't worry about a thing, Meliara." He said. "I have everything under control. I know what I'm doing."

"Then you mind filling me in?" she asked. "I know you saw them escaping with that sphinx and you could have captured them but instead all you decided to do was kidnap a few cloudrunners! Then you killed the rest!"

"Patience dear sister." Broadway said. "The king and queen are no longer our target." Meliara looked at him in surprise.

"What? But without the king and queen we have no way of making the rest do as we say."

"Plans have changed. I was informed that the princess went and asked the Ronins's for help." Broadway said.

"The Ronins are here!" she exclaimed. Broadway nodded.

"Yes. And that changes everything." Meliara crossed her arms with a snarl.

"That stupid princess. We should have gotten rid of her when we had the chance."

"No, I like it better this way." Broadway said with a smirk. "Trust me. Things are going to work out perfectly." The two were silent for a moment when Broadway changed the subject.

"How are our little servants doing?" he asked in reference to the captured cloudrunners.

"They are doing fine. The crystal has made them completely loyal to you." Meliara said. Broadway smiled as he took out the red jewel and fingered it.

"So is that what it does?" Meliara asked curiously walking forward so she could look at it. "Take control of their minds?"

"No, it does more than that. They feel no pain and know only what I tell them. But that isn't the half of what this little gem can do."

"What else does it do?" Meliara asked curiously. Broadway's evil smile deepened.

"You shall see. And I know the perfect person to test it out on."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ryo and Sakura woke up the next morning and walked over to their friend's room across the hall. Once everyone was ready they made their way to the room that the counsel had had their trial the day before. They opened the large doors to reveal the king and Alecie, the counsel, and their friends, Dais, Kento, Cale, and Sekhmet. Who also now had wings and had arrived earlier that morning.

"Hey guys." Ryo said. "How was the flight up here?"

"You should have seen it. Kento was a mess." Dais said with a laugh. Kento turned red with embarrassment.

"Yeah, well it's not as easy as it looks you know." He said in defense. Sakura looked at their wings. Dais and Cale had wings like Anubis, large and bat like. Sekhmet and Kento, on the other hand had big burly looking wings that were a tawny sort of color.

"What kind of wings does Kento have?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Kento and Sekhmet have the wings of a stormrider. They are the strongest flyers and can stand up to the stronger winds than many of us can." Kento got a smug look on his face.

"I hope I don't blow you guys away." He said as everyone rolled their eyes.

"Now that everyone is here. We can begin the meeting." King Tallas said. Everyone sat down and gave their attention to the king.

"So far, what has happened is that Broadway attacked Star Keeper City and Skybax City. He had taken many of our people as hostages and killed many others. I do not yet know what he plans to do with the hostages but so far we have not gotten any communications of a ransom."

"I really don't think that Broadway is after money your highness." Anubis broke in. "He really has no need for it. What he wants is to rule the world."

"Then what do you think he wants from the cloudrunners?" Sage asked. "I mean what does he have to gain from attacking the cloudrunners and kidnapping some of them?"

"Maybe he was after the king and queen but they obviously got away." A general spoke up.

"Maybe. But why take hostages if it was the king and queen he was after?" Ryo asked.

"Maybe he plans to try to trade the hostages for the king." Rowen suggested.

"That's possible. But if that happens, what next? I mean what is his ultimate goal?" Sakura asked. The room was quiet as everyone thought. No one could really think of a reason for him to want the king and queen. Just then the door swung open as Joren and a man walked in the. The man greatly resembled the king and it became clear why when Alecie gave a squeal.

"Marcus!" she yelled as she ran to hug her older brother. Marcus gave her a squeeze.

"Hey Lecie. Heard you went to recruit earthwalkers." He said with a smile. Alecie blushed.

"yeah." She admitted. Marcus gave her a wink.

"Good job. Just wish I had thought of it myself." He said. King Tallas gave a frown.

"Don't encourage her." He said with a small smile.  Marcus rolled his eyes then got serious.

"Father, me and Joren just heard that Broadway is on his way to Misty City and he is planning to attack." King Tallas stood up.

"How soon will he be there?" He asked.

"At the earliest by sunset." King Tallas frowned

"That doesn't give us much time."  He muttered.

"There is something else." Marcus said. "His army…his army consists of the captured cloudrunners." He said sadly. The room looked at him in shock.

"You mean, the cloudrunners that he captured are fighting for him?" Alecie said. "All of them?" Marcus nodded gravely. King Tallas clenched his fists.

"I want every available warrior to head for Misty City, now. We will fight to defend our city." He ordered.

"But Sire, what about the cloudrunners?" a general asked hesitantly. King Tallas' eyes saddened as slowly walked to the door. "They have obviously betrayed their race, so they will die like traitors." He said sadly as he walked out the room.