Chapter One: Wefb
"It's been over a year Chase. Since he was defeated…" Musing to herself, Princess Arianna rubbed her eyes sleepily, slowly getting out of bed. Walking to the window and glancing outside told her that it was at least past ten, but she felt that she should allow herself at least that luxury. Every now and then she should be allowed to over sleep, right? Especially after those dreams from last night…
Shuddering, Ari hugged herself. "A year. And yet we still haven't found my parents. We haven't even found the Forgotten Fields. Why Chase? Why haven't we?" There was no response to her question. Not like she had expected one. True, the Sunchaser was bonded with her, and true he could hear her thoughts, but two days ago he had left with Finn on a scouting mission up near Sixton. Activity had been reported from the Valley of Fear, and both of them wanted to confirm and end the reports.
"Which leaves me alone. I should have gone with you. But I'm the Princess now, and I have to think of myself, don't I? I have to think of myself… but I have to think of others. Oh Chase, I don't get it! I'm so confused! Why isn't anything going the way it's supposed to?"
"Maybe because the Princess has gone crazy and is talking to a window?"
Startled, Ari turned around. Lori Carmichael was standing there, a small smile on her face.
Out of all of them, Lori was the one who had changed the most. For the most part, Ari still looked the same: Flowing bronze hair that now fell past her waist and deep bronze eyes, matching her perfectly with Chase. She hadn't grown much and felt that she was destined to remain her petite height of 5 feet 4 inches for the rest of her life. To make up for that, though, her mouth and jaw were stubborn, giving the impression that no one would be able to scare her or talk her out of anything.
Lori, on the other hand, would be unrecognizable for any who knew her prior to Balinor. She had shot up, coming close to but not quite passing Finn's height of 5 feet 8 inches. Her hair was still cut short, but this time in a boy's cut, bangs spiky and forward while the back grew out to her chin, and her eyes had lightened to a pale, almost icy blue. A smile was almost always on her face and nothing ever seemed to get her down.
Even now, though she was separated from her Finn, her boyfriend, she was still happy and smiling. Something that Ari, though she would never admit, deeply envied her for. "Really Princess, are we going to need to find a Balinorian mental institution for you soon?" the other girl teased. Ari couldn't help but scowl.
"Lori, I have enough problems to deal with. I don't need you mocking me," she snapped, glaring at Lori. Used to this, the blond only shrugged.
"Well, suit yourself Highness. But, if you ever feel like pulling yourself out of your little depressive shell, Linc found something that he wants to show you. I think you should see it too – it looks like a clue to where your parents and brothers are. But-" Lori never had a chance to finish the sentence.
"What? Where?! Is it really a clue? Oh Lori, if you're making this up just to be mean I'll… I'll put you in the dungeon!" Grabbing the taller girl's shoulders, Ari shook her, eyes wide. "What is it? Where is it? Take me there!"
Gently prying Ari's hands off of her, Lori shook her head. "First things first Princess. You need to change into something a little more… modest than what you're wearing." Blushing, Ari nodded. She was still in her bedclothes – not something she would want to be seen running around the castle in. "Second, Linc has it. We'll be down by the stables, near Whisper's stall. That was where he found it. Ari, you've got to calm down. This could just be nothing. Don't get yourself too excited."
She nodded like she was listening. Truth be told, Ari really didn't care what Lori had to say. She had found a clue to her parents. She just knew that it would lead her to her parents. Lori could say all she wanted about how it may not be true, but Lori was wrong. This was what she was waiting for. This was just what she needed to start looking!
Motioning for the other girl to leave, Ari stripped off the thin gown and threw it haphazardly onto the floor. Grabbing a green cotton dress from her wardrobe, she pulled it on, following it by a dark blue cloak and dark brown boots. Turning to leave, she stopped when she caught sight of the small scabbard that held her father's knife.
I'm not going to need it. I'm just going down to the stable. Even so, she couldn't help but grab it, tying it securely to her waist.
"You're not going to just leave me here, are you?"
"Oh, for the love of - Yes, I am scepter. I don't need you constantly talking all the time. And I don't always need your help!" Before the small wand could respond, Ari left the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
~(~*~)~
Everything's gone so wrong Chase. I don't get it. I thought you loved me. Why did you abandon me here?
Ge says that you had to. That there was an obligation you had to fulfill, but I thought she was to take your place. She said that she was, but Atalanta and Numinor are ignoring them. So we're stuck here.
But I don't get it Chase. I thought you loved me. Why haven't you come to look for me? It's been so long, waiting here… And I'm getting scared. Or, at least I was. I think I'm used to it by now.
You don't know what they've done to me. I don't think you'd recognize me. But Ge says that you will. But Ge also says that you have another girl now. So maybe you'll ignore me, even if you do recognize yourself.
I think I know how to solve this, though. Atalanta and Numinor are the ones getting in the way. If we get rid of them, then Fy and Iy can take over. And then you can come back to me, and this girl, whoever she is, she can have Ge for the time. Ge agreed to that.
Don't worry Chase. I'll get you back. Then we'll be together forever.
Won't we Chase?
~(~*~)~
"All right, so where is this clue?" Smoothing out the skirt of the dress, Ari walked up to the two, her face set into a stern expression. "I swear, if this was some sort of sick joke-"
"Relax M'lady," Linc interrupted, his normally joyful eyes now sad. "This isn't a joke…" He sighed. "You've changed so much since then. Sometimes I wish the Shifter was still around, just so we could have the old Arianna back."
She opened her mouth to snap a response at her when she realized, with a shock, that her dog was right. She had changed, and most likely not for the better. But, still… she was the Princess now. She really was. She had all the responsibilities to take care of, while they had none. Except… except, that wasn't true. They were both in charge of something, she had just never bothered to find out what.
Why had she changed?
"… where is this clue?"
"It's this." Lori held something out to her. Gingerly, Ari took it from her.
It looked like a small green gemstone, an emerald perhaps. A chain that appeared to be made of some sort of silver was attached to it and, holding it up, Ari realized that it could be a necklace. It looked familiar, somehow…
"It kinda looks like the ruby necklace that had held Chase's jewel, doesn't it?" Nodding slowly, she realized Linc was right. That was why it looked so familiar.
"But how is this a clue to where my parents are?"
"Touch the emerald."
Confused, Arianna complied with their strange wishes. And gasped, dropping the necklace onto the ground.
A smoky image rose from it, pale and translucent. After a few moments it seemed to solidify, showing the image of a man and a woman standing next to each other. The man was taller, taller than the woman, though from the image it was impossible to guess a height, and his hair was a bright, vivid blond, cut short. The woman seemed almost frail with light brown hair, cut at her shoulders.
Arianna gasped again. Her parents!
"Puff pwuh umugopwakt." It was only then that she noticed a girl standing behind them. Squinting, Ari tried to make out the details on her, but she was standing too far in the background for her to be able to.
The man, her father, spoke. "Arianna, honey… If you hear this then it means that you've defeated the Shifter. Which is wonderful sweetie. I only wish I had been there for you. I… I wasn't though. Shifter has taken me away. And I know you won't be able to find me." Here he falter and her mother took over.
"You see, Atalanta and Numinor forgot something. They forgot their promise. And as soon as they fulfill that promise we'll come back. Everything won't be… won't be the way it used to be, but that's not our fault. Really honey, it's theirs. This wouldn't be happening if they hadn't forgotten."
"Puff wug ileup Sunchaser."
Both man and woman grimaced. It was her father who continued this time. "You see… Chase, he-"
"Tell Atalanta and Numinor to go through with their promise, their obligation. Then you'll see us again, us and Tace and Bren. Please honey." Her mother interrupted before her father could finish.
"What about Chase?" Arianna whispered. The gem held no more answers for her, though. The image faded, leaving nothing more than a slight trace in the air of where her parents had stood.
"… tell Atalanta and Numinor… Lori, Linc, up for another adventure?"
