Disclaimer – Unfortunately, I don't own anything! Please read and review
but most importantly – ENJOY!
Ventrec was a beautiful island, with many of it's plants and animals were only native to Ventrec and couldn't survive any where else.
When the four were getting horses, Max hung back to avoid any eye contact with anyone. They all knew that most of Ventrec would recognize the prince of Nadarn up close, but not from long distances. Luckily the owner of the stables they'd chosen didn't ask why the four needed four fast, long distance traveling horses or how they were able to pay in cash. The elderly gentlemen seemed far to pleased with the money to bother asking them. And, as Michael discovered, he had a speed boat capable of carrying a maximum of ten people. So they spent the rest o their money on renting that. The elderly man was now ecstatic and thanked each of them before closing his stable shop and running of down the street.
"Where to now?" Michael asked as he mounted his horse.
"The castle is to the north, half a day's ride from here." Max replied as he stroked his horse. Each of them had brown horses, Michael's the darkest and Alex's the lightest.
"Then we better get going, it'll be almost dark by the time we get there."
"But that'll be better, you can blend into shadows and sneak around less noticeably at night."
"Done this before?" Alex asked as Kyle grinned and Michael tried, but failed, to look innocent.
"Let's go." Max ordered as he mounted his horse and all four began a gentle canter towards the royal palace of Ventrec. An hour after dark the four arrived at a small hill that gave them a view of the magnificent palace. They all agreed to stop, rest and plan their next move.
"Well we can't just walk up to the front door and demand a tour of the castle." Alex pointed out.
"We could."
"What?" Both Alex and Kyle stared at Michael.
"Or rather Max could." Now the two turned to the prince.
"I can turn myself invisible for periods of time." He explained then grinned at his friends' astonished looks.
"So you really do plan to walk up to the palace and take a tour?" Kyle asked to clarify and Max nodded.
"I'll check out the palace then come back here to report so we can move on it tomorrow night."
"Plus, you have the advantage of having been there before." Michael added. The other two nodded, agreeing with him, then minutes later watched as Max disappeared into thin air.
Max made his way down the hill and towards the grand gates. He was just wondering how to get in without causing any alarm when a carriage drew up and the gates opened. Max thanked the heavens and jogged quickly behind the carriage, careful not to get caught as the gates closed. He slowed to a walk then started jogging again when he realized that the palace doors would be opened for these people. Staying with them would get him inside the palace. As he caught up with the carriage the front doors were just opening and Max slipped inside as soon as he got the chance.
The entrance hall was exactly how he remembered it and so was the aura that washed over him. But there was something new in it, almost a new flavour that felt very familiar. The prince turned in several different directions until he felt the new flavour a little stronger than started in that direction. He did this whenever he got to a hallway junction in the palace hall, always careful to remember which way he went. As he went higher the flavour grew stronger and soon Max could tell it apart from the castle's aura.
Then he came to a doorway that he remembered all to well. As he reached for the doorknob a shiver ran through him and memories of his childhood visit flashed through him. Faces loomed in front of him, arms raised above him then coming down, pain all over his body. Max shook his head, successfully ridding his eyesight of the past events. Taking a deep breath he opened the door and stepped inside. He was met with the startled gaze of two guards. Thinking quickly the young prince created a slight breeze in the room, hoping to make the guards think the wind made the door open. One of the guards shook his head and Max dodged to the side as he stepped forward to close the door. Now he had two options, the stairs or the elevator. He decided to stay safe and take the stairs.
A while later, and some heavy breathing, the young prince finally came to a landing with a pair of oak doors. No more guards and no one else around Max swept his hand across the lock and the door opened. He slipped inside and was met with an empty room. But there was something wrong, this room was familiar to him yet he'd never been here before. Then one of the doors leading of the circular room opened and in she stepped. Max's heart stopped as the girl from his dreams walked towards him. How could this be? This was his dream, wasn't it? The brunette stopped walking and was about to sit down. Max strided forward and made himself visible. The girl looked up and their eyes met. The faint feelings he felt in the dream now washed over him like a tidal wave. Slowly, he lifted his hand and traced the edge of her cheek, just like in his dream.
"Who are you?" He breathed as she opened her mouth to talk. Suddenly, from behind them, a ding sounded and the girl gasped.
"Someone's coming in the elevator!" Max shot a look at the light that indicated the in-coming person then back at the beauty standing in front of him, trying to take in everything about her in that one split second.
"I'll be back." Max started to turn towards the door but then turned back to the girl, pulled her forward and kissed her. He didn't know what had compelled him to do it but he certainly wasn't regretting it. And the girl didn't seem to mind by the way she responded. Suddenly a buzz of energy went through him and images flashed through his mind. A six year old boy holding a ball. Men grabbing a young girl. A picture of a royal wedding. Three other little girls, all blonde. The long elevator ride up the tower. Then his own face and an echo of the feeling he'd felt in the dream, when he'd seen her. Other feelings and emotions almost overwhelmed him. He saw her version of the dream, the connection between him and one of her friends. It was as if Max was seeing into her soul.
Another ding from behind them made Max break away and turn himself invisible again. He didn't look back because he knew he wouldn't leave without touching her again. The oak doors opened and in walked two men escorting two blonde girls. The prince seized this opportunity to get out but stopped when he heard the two men leaving as well.
"Any day now my friend, any day."
"I know, it's just so frustrating. I want Ava to be mine!"
"And she will be, we just have to wait for Coran's word."
"How is our future ruler? Are the wedding plans ready?"
"He's fine and the plans are almost finished, looking forward to our triumph?"
"Yeah. I can't wait to see the look on their mama's and papa's faces when they come to the weddings and the brides turn out to be their daughters!"
"I know, why do you think Coran's having the ceremony recorded?"
"And especially when we get them to tell their parents that they ran away!"
"The four of us get beautiful brides then their beautiful kingdoms and we owe it all to Coran, it was his idea after all."
"What's slowing down the planning any way?"
"Coran's worried about the prince of Nadarn. There's a prophecy written about him conquering some evil and reuniting old friends. Coran's checking whether it's us the prophecy talks about and if it is, the King and Queen of Nadarn will be losing their son and daughter. Coran will love that."
"Come; let us go see our friend and future ruler." Max was very tempted to follow them into the elevator but he couldn't risk getting caught. By the sound of it him, Michael, Alex and Kyle didn't have much time to get their princesses and get out.
It took him half the time he had taken to get in to get out. Once out of the front door he ran back to the gate then used a combination of his powers and a near by tree to get over the wall. A few minutes later and he was at the place where he had left the other three. But he was greeted by about forty men standing with his friends. Max put his most authoritative voice on.
"What's going on here?" Michael span round to his directionand let loose a blast of energy. Max would have been fried if it weren't for his shield.
"What was that for Michael?"
"Max?" His best friend questioned.
"Who else?"
"Max, you're still invisible." The young prince looked round to see the astonished faces among the men in the crowd, excluding Alex and Kyle who looked like they were about to burst out laughing.
"Sorry." He muttered as he turned visible again. There were quite a few gasps from the crowd but Max ignored them as he strided over to Michael. "Who are all these people?"
"Helpers. They want Coran gone from their lands."
"Their lands?" Michael nodded then pointed to Alex.
"The island of Ventrec originally belonged to the Ventreans. They never got involved in the problems on the main land so only certain people knew that they existed at all. It was the perfect retreat island, and full of people who think everybody is nice. No wonder Coran never reported any life on this island. Once freed from Calkenna Coran and buddies came here, took over by force and the Ventreans have had to put up with it. They've agreed to help us if we help them."
"We thought it was a good deal." Kyle added and Max nodded.
"I agree, do they know who we are, why we're here?" He sat down next to Michael and let the warmth of the small fire wash over his body. There were several more gasps and people dropped to their knees.
"Your highness." One of the men nearest Max stated and the rest of the men dropped to their knees at hearing this.
"Please get up, there's no need, really." Max followed his words by pulling several men up, the rest following after a few minutes.
"Well they didn't know but I guess they do now." Kyle pointed out as the men started to bow to Max, who now looked slightly annoyed.
"There's no need, really." He kept repeating but gave up when Kyle and Alex started bowing to him, which seemed to encourage the natives even more.
"So, where were we?" He sighed as he sat down.
"Careful, they might take that as a sign to start kissing your feet." Michael warned as he grinned. Max glared at Alex and Kyle as they approached him. Both put up their hands in as innocent way before joining the pair from Nadarn.
"Let's get back to the situation at hand shall we?"
"Oh yeah, the rescue mission. So report?" Max gave Alex a look before sighing. Alex and Kyle glanced at each other, perhaps it wasn't the best idea to order about a member of the royal family of Nadarn especially when he was already annoyed.
"Listen carefully, we don't have much time." The next few minutes were spent in silence, everyone listening to the information Max had learnt in his short visit to the palace. He kept the prophecy to himself, he didn't know what the native might do if they found out he was destined to stop some evil. Plans were made on how and when to attack the next night. By the time everything had been sorted out the sun had almost completely risen.
"You will need to rest in preparation for tonight." The deep voice of Rignial, the rightful sovereign of Ventrec, called out. "Come with me to my house and rest." Alex and Kyle agreed immediately but Max and Michael were more hesitant. Although both were sure they could trust the elderly native and were sure that he wouldn't betray them, the same thing couldn't be said about some of his men.
"If you are worried about my men then you are wasting you energies. Some of my people may not like you but they all want our land back and none of them will jeopardize any mission we all undertake because of bad feeling or judgment." Max and Michael shared a look before nodding and following the leader to his home.
The former leader of Ventrec led them to a small, white cottage. The four friends looked at the amount of people they were with and the tiny cottage they were all staying in. With a smile Rignial led them in then opened a secret door in the wall which led to some stairs. The stairs led to a large underground room with many doors leading of off it. Each of the four were given their own rooms with directions of how to get around and what times meals would be served. Saying good night this early in the morning felt strange but since more than half of the natives were doing the same the four just shrugged it off.
But once inside his room Max regretted leaving the others behind. They had served as a distraction so his mind couldn't wonder off into the memories and feelings of a certain brunette. He didn't understand what had happened; he knew that he had started a connection with her but how? He didn't even know her name! As he sat down on the bed Max let his mind sink into the images he'd received from the connection. The flash of pictures and emotions told him things about this girl, about who she was and why such memories were important to her.
"Hey." Max jumped at Michael's voice and promptly fell off the bed. Michael offered his hand but Max refused it and pushed himself up to sit on the bed again. "Are you okay?"
"Fine, why?"
"You looked like you were in a trance or something." At his words Max began to slip back into the connection but was shaken out of it by Michael.
"Man, what's eating you?"
"I...promise you won't laugh." Michael nodded, taking note of Max's serious face. "I...I think I'm in love." Before Michael could respond the door burst open and two figures fell into the room. Max sprang to his feet and was about to blast them with energy when he recognized the pair on the floor.
"Alex! Kyle! What are you doing?"
"Eavesdropping." Kyle replied as he brushed himself off. Alex closed the door then both of them joined Michael on the bed while Max remained standing.
"So, who's the lucky girl?"
"You heard?"
"Yep and we're not leaving until we've found out who has stolen our prince's heart." Kyle and Alex laughed but the sound quickly faded away at the look on Max's face. Michael, Alex and Kyle shared a look as Max's gaze unfocused again.
"Max!" Michael called out and the Prince jumped.
"Sorry, I just...there's something I didn't tell you about my visit to the palace."
"What happened?" Max shook his head.
"Nothing bad, I think. I found the doorway which I was caught at when I was younger and I went in.It was a tower, and guess who lives at the top of the tower?"
"Isabel!"
"Maria!"
"Liz!" Max nodded then continued.
"I found one of the Princesses and I..." Suddenly his voice trialed off.
"What?" All three stared as the Prince blushed.
"I started a connection with her and-"
"Wait!" Michael ordered. "How did you start a connection with her?" The red on Max's cheeks got redder.
"I...kissed her." He mumbled. Michael stared at him with shock while Alex and Kyle roared with laughter.
"I don't know what you're laughing at Kyle, she's your future wife."
"What?" Alex and Kyle stopped laughing and stared at Max.
"Liz? You kissed Liz?"
"When I connected with her I got this rush of images. You were there, when you were younger holding a ball. And there was an image of a picture of the royal wedding that happened in Kalette between the King and Queen."
"But still...you kissed Liz?" Kyle spluttered.
"I haven't been entirely truthful with you. Lately I've been having these dreams... about...Liz. I keep seeing the same thing over and over. When I got to the palace, and when I was in the tower, it actually happened. My dream became real. I didn't want to just leave so..." Max looked up to see all three of his companions staring at him.
"What made you kiss her?"
"I don't know. I was just drawn to her , it was as if my life depended on it. I can't really describe it."
"Did you kiss her in the dream?" Max shook his head.
"Talking about dreams." Alex took a deep breath. "Mine have been pretty weird lately."
"What do you mean?"
"I've been dreaming about a girl as well. I don't know how. I've never seen her before but I keep seeing the same thing over and over, I think it's her wedding or something. She's tall, blonde with brown eyes."
"Tall and blonde? With brown eyes?" Michael asked as he looked at Max. Alex nodded.
"You just described my sister, or what she should look like."
"Oh." Max turned to Michael and Kyle and pointed at them.
"Have either if you had dreams about any girls?" Michael shook his head but Kyle hesitated.
"I sometimes see this blonde girl but I usually wake up as she steps into the light. I can't reall tell you much about what she looks like."
"So let me get this straight. You three have been dreaming about girl's you've never met and aren't betrothed to." Max. Alex and Kyle all nodded at Michael's question. Alex turned to Max.
"Wait, who are you betrothed to?"
"The Princess of Brivio, her name is Tess."
"Tess." Kyle repeated. "That sounds familiar to me, maybe I've heard of her before of maybe I've even met her."
"She was the fourth Princess to be kidnapped."
"Right." Silence settled over the four friends. Max finally at down as Michael stood up. The other three watched as he began to paced.
"We should get some rest." Michael finally announced after minutes of pacing. "I have a feeling tomorrow will be conclusive in more ways than one."
Ventrec was a beautiful island, with many of it's plants and animals were only native to Ventrec and couldn't survive any where else.
When the four were getting horses, Max hung back to avoid any eye contact with anyone. They all knew that most of Ventrec would recognize the prince of Nadarn up close, but not from long distances. Luckily the owner of the stables they'd chosen didn't ask why the four needed four fast, long distance traveling horses or how they were able to pay in cash. The elderly gentlemen seemed far to pleased with the money to bother asking them. And, as Michael discovered, he had a speed boat capable of carrying a maximum of ten people. So they spent the rest o their money on renting that. The elderly man was now ecstatic and thanked each of them before closing his stable shop and running of down the street.
"Where to now?" Michael asked as he mounted his horse.
"The castle is to the north, half a day's ride from here." Max replied as he stroked his horse. Each of them had brown horses, Michael's the darkest and Alex's the lightest.
"Then we better get going, it'll be almost dark by the time we get there."
"But that'll be better, you can blend into shadows and sneak around less noticeably at night."
"Done this before?" Alex asked as Kyle grinned and Michael tried, but failed, to look innocent.
"Let's go." Max ordered as he mounted his horse and all four began a gentle canter towards the royal palace of Ventrec. An hour after dark the four arrived at a small hill that gave them a view of the magnificent palace. They all agreed to stop, rest and plan their next move.
"Well we can't just walk up to the front door and demand a tour of the castle." Alex pointed out.
"We could."
"What?" Both Alex and Kyle stared at Michael.
"Or rather Max could." Now the two turned to the prince.
"I can turn myself invisible for periods of time." He explained then grinned at his friends' astonished looks.
"So you really do plan to walk up to the palace and take a tour?" Kyle asked to clarify and Max nodded.
"I'll check out the palace then come back here to report so we can move on it tomorrow night."
"Plus, you have the advantage of having been there before." Michael added. The other two nodded, agreeing with him, then minutes later watched as Max disappeared into thin air.
Max made his way down the hill and towards the grand gates. He was just wondering how to get in without causing any alarm when a carriage drew up and the gates opened. Max thanked the heavens and jogged quickly behind the carriage, careful not to get caught as the gates closed. He slowed to a walk then started jogging again when he realized that the palace doors would be opened for these people. Staying with them would get him inside the palace. As he caught up with the carriage the front doors were just opening and Max slipped inside as soon as he got the chance.
The entrance hall was exactly how he remembered it and so was the aura that washed over him. But there was something new in it, almost a new flavour that felt very familiar. The prince turned in several different directions until he felt the new flavour a little stronger than started in that direction. He did this whenever he got to a hallway junction in the palace hall, always careful to remember which way he went. As he went higher the flavour grew stronger and soon Max could tell it apart from the castle's aura.
Then he came to a doorway that he remembered all to well. As he reached for the doorknob a shiver ran through him and memories of his childhood visit flashed through him. Faces loomed in front of him, arms raised above him then coming down, pain all over his body. Max shook his head, successfully ridding his eyesight of the past events. Taking a deep breath he opened the door and stepped inside. He was met with the startled gaze of two guards. Thinking quickly the young prince created a slight breeze in the room, hoping to make the guards think the wind made the door open. One of the guards shook his head and Max dodged to the side as he stepped forward to close the door. Now he had two options, the stairs or the elevator. He decided to stay safe and take the stairs.
A while later, and some heavy breathing, the young prince finally came to a landing with a pair of oak doors. No more guards and no one else around Max swept his hand across the lock and the door opened. He slipped inside and was met with an empty room. But there was something wrong, this room was familiar to him yet he'd never been here before. Then one of the doors leading of the circular room opened and in she stepped. Max's heart stopped as the girl from his dreams walked towards him. How could this be? This was his dream, wasn't it? The brunette stopped walking and was about to sit down. Max strided forward and made himself visible. The girl looked up and their eyes met. The faint feelings he felt in the dream now washed over him like a tidal wave. Slowly, he lifted his hand and traced the edge of her cheek, just like in his dream.
"Who are you?" He breathed as she opened her mouth to talk. Suddenly, from behind them, a ding sounded and the girl gasped.
"Someone's coming in the elevator!" Max shot a look at the light that indicated the in-coming person then back at the beauty standing in front of him, trying to take in everything about her in that one split second.
"I'll be back." Max started to turn towards the door but then turned back to the girl, pulled her forward and kissed her. He didn't know what had compelled him to do it but he certainly wasn't regretting it. And the girl didn't seem to mind by the way she responded. Suddenly a buzz of energy went through him and images flashed through his mind. A six year old boy holding a ball. Men grabbing a young girl. A picture of a royal wedding. Three other little girls, all blonde. The long elevator ride up the tower. Then his own face and an echo of the feeling he'd felt in the dream, when he'd seen her. Other feelings and emotions almost overwhelmed him. He saw her version of the dream, the connection between him and one of her friends. It was as if Max was seeing into her soul.
Another ding from behind them made Max break away and turn himself invisible again. He didn't look back because he knew he wouldn't leave without touching her again. The oak doors opened and in walked two men escorting two blonde girls. The prince seized this opportunity to get out but stopped when he heard the two men leaving as well.
"Any day now my friend, any day."
"I know, it's just so frustrating. I want Ava to be mine!"
"And she will be, we just have to wait for Coran's word."
"How is our future ruler? Are the wedding plans ready?"
"He's fine and the plans are almost finished, looking forward to our triumph?"
"Yeah. I can't wait to see the look on their mama's and papa's faces when they come to the weddings and the brides turn out to be their daughters!"
"I know, why do you think Coran's having the ceremony recorded?"
"And especially when we get them to tell their parents that they ran away!"
"The four of us get beautiful brides then their beautiful kingdoms and we owe it all to Coran, it was his idea after all."
"What's slowing down the planning any way?"
"Coran's worried about the prince of Nadarn. There's a prophecy written about him conquering some evil and reuniting old friends. Coran's checking whether it's us the prophecy talks about and if it is, the King and Queen of Nadarn will be losing their son and daughter. Coran will love that."
"Come; let us go see our friend and future ruler." Max was very tempted to follow them into the elevator but he couldn't risk getting caught. By the sound of it him, Michael, Alex and Kyle didn't have much time to get their princesses and get out.
It took him half the time he had taken to get in to get out. Once out of the front door he ran back to the gate then used a combination of his powers and a near by tree to get over the wall. A few minutes later and he was at the place where he had left the other three. But he was greeted by about forty men standing with his friends. Max put his most authoritative voice on.
"What's going on here?" Michael span round to his directionand let loose a blast of energy. Max would have been fried if it weren't for his shield.
"What was that for Michael?"
"Max?" His best friend questioned.
"Who else?"
"Max, you're still invisible." The young prince looked round to see the astonished faces among the men in the crowd, excluding Alex and Kyle who looked like they were about to burst out laughing.
"Sorry." He muttered as he turned visible again. There were quite a few gasps from the crowd but Max ignored them as he strided over to Michael. "Who are all these people?"
"Helpers. They want Coran gone from their lands."
"Their lands?" Michael nodded then pointed to Alex.
"The island of Ventrec originally belonged to the Ventreans. They never got involved in the problems on the main land so only certain people knew that they existed at all. It was the perfect retreat island, and full of people who think everybody is nice. No wonder Coran never reported any life on this island. Once freed from Calkenna Coran and buddies came here, took over by force and the Ventreans have had to put up with it. They've agreed to help us if we help them."
"We thought it was a good deal." Kyle added and Max nodded.
"I agree, do they know who we are, why we're here?" He sat down next to Michael and let the warmth of the small fire wash over his body. There were several more gasps and people dropped to their knees.
"Your highness." One of the men nearest Max stated and the rest of the men dropped to their knees at hearing this.
"Please get up, there's no need, really." Max followed his words by pulling several men up, the rest following after a few minutes.
"Well they didn't know but I guess they do now." Kyle pointed out as the men started to bow to Max, who now looked slightly annoyed.
"There's no need, really." He kept repeating but gave up when Kyle and Alex started bowing to him, which seemed to encourage the natives even more.
"So, where were we?" He sighed as he sat down.
"Careful, they might take that as a sign to start kissing your feet." Michael warned as he grinned. Max glared at Alex and Kyle as they approached him. Both put up their hands in as innocent way before joining the pair from Nadarn.
"Let's get back to the situation at hand shall we?"
"Oh yeah, the rescue mission. So report?" Max gave Alex a look before sighing. Alex and Kyle glanced at each other, perhaps it wasn't the best idea to order about a member of the royal family of Nadarn especially when he was already annoyed.
"Listen carefully, we don't have much time." The next few minutes were spent in silence, everyone listening to the information Max had learnt in his short visit to the palace. He kept the prophecy to himself, he didn't know what the native might do if they found out he was destined to stop some evil. Plans were made on how and when to attack the next night. By the time everything had been sorted out the sun had almost completely risen.
"You will need to rest in preparation for tonight." The deep voice of Rignial, the rightful sovereign of Ventrec, called out. "Come with me to my house and rest." Alex and Kyle agreed immediately but Max and Michael were more hesitant. Although both were sure they could trust the elderly native and were sure that he wouldn't betray them, the same thing couldn't be said about some of his men.
"If you are worried about my men then you are wasting you energies. Some of my people may not like you but they all want our land back and none of them will jeopardize any mission we all undertake because of bad feeling or judgment." Max and Michael shared a look before nodding and following the leader to his home.
The former leader of Ventrec led them to a small, white cottage. The four friends looked at the amount of people they were with and the tiny cottage they were all staying in. With a smile Rignial led them in then opened a secret door in the wall which led to some stairs. The stairs led to a large underground room with many doors leading of off it. Each of the four were given their own rooms with directions of how to get around and what times meals would be served. Saying good night this early in the morning felt strange but since more than half of the natives were doing the same the four just shrugged it off.
But once inside his room Max regretted leaving the others behind. They had served as a distraction so his mind couldn't wonder off into the memories and feelings of a certain brunette. He didn't understand what had happened; he knew that he had started a connection with her but how? He didn't even know her name! As he sat down on the bed Max let his mind sink into the images he'd received from the connection. The flash of pictures and emotions told him things about this girl, about who she was and why such memories were important to her.
"Hey." Max jumped at Michael's voice and promptly fell off the bed. Michael offered his hand but Max refused it and pushed himself up to sit on the bed again. "Are you okay?"
"Fine, why?"
"You looked like you were in a trance or something." At his words Max began to slip back into the connection but was shaken out of it by Michael.
"Man, what's eating you?"
"I...promise you won't laugh." Michael nodded, taking note of Max's serious face. "I...I think I'm in love." Before Michael could respond the door burst open and two figures fell into the room. Max sprang to his feet and was about to blast them with energy when he recognized the pair on the floor.
"Alex! Kyle! What are you doing?"
"Eavesdropping." Kyle replied as he brushed himself off. Alex closed the door then both of them joined Michael on the bed while Max remained standing.
"So, who's the lucky girl?"
"You heard?"
"Yep and we're not leaving until we've found out who has stolen our prince's heart." Kyle and Alex laughed but the sound quickly faded away at the look on Max's face. Michael, Alex and Kyle shared a look as Max's gaze unfocused again.
"Max!" Michael called out and the Prince jumped.
"Sorry, I just...there's something I didn't tell you about my visit to the palace."
"What happened?" Max shook his head.
"Nothing bad, I think. I found the doorway which I was caught at when I was younger and I went in.It was a tower, and guess who lives at the top of the tower?"
"Isabel!"
"Maria!"
"Liz!" Max nodded then continued.
"I found one of the Princesses and I..." Suddenly his voice trialed off.
"What?" All three stared as the Prince blushed.
"I started a connection with her and-"
"Wait!" Michael ordered. "How did you start a connection with her?" The red on Max's cheeks got redder.
"I...kissed her." He mumbled. Michael stared at him with shock while Alex and Kyle roared with laughter.
"I don't know what you're laughing at Kyle, she's your future wife."
"What?" Alex and Kyle stopped laughing and stared at Max.
"Liz? You kissed Liz?"
"When I connected with her I got this rush of images. You were there, when you were younger holding a ball. And there was an image of a picture of the royal wedding that happened in Kalette between the King and Queen."
"But still...you kissed Liz?" Kyle spluttered.
"I haven't been entirely truthful with you. Lately I've been having these dreams... about...Liz. I keep seeing the same thing over and over. When I got to the palace, and when I was in the tower, it actually happened. My dream became real. I didn't want to just leave so..." Max looked up to see all three of his companions staring at him.
"What made you kiss her?"
"I don't know. I was just drawn to her , it was as if my life depended on it. I can't really describe it."
"Did you kiss her in the dream?" Max shook his head.
"Talking about dreams." Alex took a deep breath. "Mine have been pretty weird lately."
"What do you mean?"
"I've been dreaming about a girl as well. I don't know how. I've never seen her before but I keep seeing the same thing over and over, I think it's her wedding or something. She's tall, blonde with brown eyes."
"Tall and blonde? With brown eyes?" Michael asked as he looked at Max. Alex nodded.
"You just described my sister, or what she should look like."
"Oh." Max turned to Michael and Kyle and pointed at them.
"Have either if you had dreams about any girls?" Michael shook his head but Kyle hesitated.
"I sometimes see this blonde girl but I usually wake up as she steps into the light. I can't reall tell you much about what she looks like."
"So let me get this straight. You three have been dreaming about girl's you've never met and aren't betrothed to." Max. Alex and Kyle all nodded at Michael's question. Alex turned to Max.
"Wait, who are you betrothed to?"
"The Princess of Brivio, her name is Tess."
"Tess." Kyle repeated. "That sounds familiar to me, maybe I've heard of her before of maybe I've even met her."
"She was the fourth Princess to be kidnapped."
"Right." Silence settled over the four friends. Max finally at down as Michael stood up. The other three watched as he began to paced.
"We should get some rest." Michael finally announced after minutes of pacing. "I have a feeling tomorrow will be conclusive in more ways than one."