A loud bang erupted from outside, causing Amber to jump, her eyes fluttering open to the hazey light of sunrise that peered into the room. She smiled to herself, rolled over and snuggled into her pillow...her un-usually soft pillow ... her warm and cuddly pillow ... her ... human pillow! Amber's face burned with embarresment as she sat up quickly, realizing she'd fallen asleep on Ray.

When Amber had enough courage to look up, she met a smiling pair of golden eyes. Ray had used a thick wooden plank as his rest-against pole all night, never thinking once that he would actually fall asleep. Which was kinda wierd, but not really.

" Slept well?" Ray questioned, stiffling a yawn as he streghed in his seated position.

" I- I- I uhh, I ..." Amber couldn't manage to utter a proper word that didn't begin in 'I' so she simply nodded, beet red.

Ray glanced at her, but couldn't see her face because A) Her blond hair was rippling down in front of it and B) Because she had her head lowered, nearly curled into a ball. A feeling of guilt ripped through Ray's stomach and lurched it painfully.

" Amber..." He questioned, reaching for hopefully her chin and pulling her face upwards. " Your not still cry- ..." Ray lost his sentence when he saw that Amber's face wasn't it's nartural color.

Ray leaned forward to observe it, which made Amber tense into board-mode. He leaned his head to the side, making it look as if he was concerned, but truly he knew she was blushing from embarresment. Placing the back of his hand on her forhead, he waited a few seconds, took it off and smiled at her.

" Well your not sick, that's a good thing!"

Amber gave him a smile and giggled. " Ok, Doc!" She rose to her feet, trynig to act as normal as possible.

As Amber smoothed down her clothes, Ray rose to his feet and stared down at Amber, who was still refusing direct eye contact.

' Alright, that's the last time I fall victim to this!' Amber's mind scowled her.

.:VWV:.

Alex slept barely a wink all night. She kept her glare firm and straight forward, her lips were aching from the resistance to shout. Reason being: Throughout the middle of the night, Tala just so happened to wrap his arm around her waist. At first Alex didn't mind thinking, ' Hey, he'll roll over sometime soon and bugger off', but of course, she was wrong. He stayed in that position the whole night and wouldn't let go, even when Alex herself squrimed.

Alex was getting really impaitent and rather uncomfortable. Her whole body was tense, any sudden movement would have caused her to snap. She let out a sigh as she watched the sunrise through the open window. She smirked to herself. If she was late, then at least she had an excuse.

Tala groaned and snuggled into her back, which of course was gonig too far with Alex. Her eye started twitching dramtically.

" Tala ... wake up!" She growled in her normal tone of voice.

Tala shock his head at these words and Alex could practically feel his smirk burning into the back of her head. This just got Alex's temper to go up another notch. " Tala, let go, now!"

" No way!" He protested throughout a yawn and then settled back in his position.

Alex squrimed, but Tala's grip held. " Your trying to drive me insane, aren't you?"

" Whatever tips your boat." Tala mumbled, chuckling when Alex growled again.

" Your such a pest! Come on! Let go or were both going to be in trouble."

" Why?"

" Because we'll be late! I don't know if you get a punishment or not, but I don't feel like getting yelled at or beaten!"

Tala smirked and whispered into her ear. " We won't get in trouble, it's easy. I'll just tell Kai we were bonding."

Alex shivered and she tried to pull away again, scowling deeply. " Your making me sick."

" Good, at least I know I'm getting to you then." Tala nuzzled the back of her neck with his nose before sitting up, rubbing his face with his hands.

Alex let out the biggest inner sigh she'd ever done. Ahh, yes, the joyous feeling of being comfortable again.

" Oh, your getting to me alright..." Alex mumbled, not noticing the smirk that suddenly tugged at Tala's lips.

" Can you stand?" Tala questioned, pulling his shirt back on.

Alex sent him a glare, but that faultered when she saw that Tala wasn't mocking her. " Yeah, yeah, yeah." She spoke as she came to her feet.

Surprising herself as much as Tala, she made it in that position without so much as trembling. She smirked triumphantly at herself as she took a few steps towards the window, every stride as full of strengh as the next. She spun aroudn to test her balance and didn't collapse. Spinning until she faced Tala, she smirked at his scowling expression.

" See? Back to normal, now I can go ahead and live my day like everythnig is normal." Alex sneered at him and quickly walked out of the door.

Tala just stood there, shaking his head while laughing. As his eyes scanned the room, two icey orbs fell apon a slip of paper and quill.

.:VWV:.

Johnny let out a deep sigh as his eyes fell off a paper before him. This wasn't possible. Max wasn't ... that age yet ... was he? Johnny refused to think of it.

" Your Highness?" A young messanger peered into the King's eyes. " Your responce?"

Johnny let out a growl of fustration. Even as King you coudl never get people to quit nagging you!

" When does this responce have to be delivered?"

" My Lord would like it if he got the responce in two days time. Takes a day to return to the camp, so-"

" By tonight?"

The messanger bowed. " That is my Lord's wish."

Johnny let out another sigh. " Then you will have your responce by sunset. Leave."

The messanger bowed, leaving without another sound. Violet eyes scanned the paper, re-reading it over and over again. He knew this day would have come soon ... but why did it have to come now!

" Guess there really isn't anyway around this ..." Johnny mumbled. " KANE!" He shouted.

Kane open the door and poped his head inside. " Yes, your Majesty!"

" Send for Lord Tala, Lord Kai and Lord Bryan immediatly." Johnny spoke, rubbing his temples.

Kane nodded. " Of course, your Highness."

.:VWV:.

A knock on the guards hall door was answered by Alex, who had a broom in hand at the time.

" Can I help you!" She questioned.

A servant she'd never seen before nodded. " King Johnny sends for Lord Tala, Kai and Bryan. Immeditaly."

Alex blinked, nodded and slammed the door in the boy's face. Walking calmly over to the table, she smacked Tala over the head with the broom, earning stares from Kai and Bryan.

Tala glared at her, but said nothing. When Alex had everybody's attention, she spoke. " The Almighty Lord and Master wants you three."

" The King?" Bryan questioned, guessing with ease who Alex was blabbering about.

" What does he want now?" Tala rolled his eyes.

Alex shrugged. " I don't know! I just took the message and delivered it!"

Kai nodded. " Alright, let's go men."

Alex opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off. " He didn't ask for you, so just shut up and do your work here." Tala spoke as he left the room, without even looking at her.

Alex leaned against the broom and scowled at his retreating figure. How'd he know she was going to ask that?

.:VWV:.

" I'm sure your all wondering why I called you here." Johnny spoke as calmly as possible.

' Ever more because I'm really starting to hate this room!" Tala's mind spoke what his lips didn't dare.

The three nodded, all standing in front of the desk in a straight line. Johnny let out a sigh, ran his hand through his hair then got to his feet.

" I got a letter today gentilmen." He stated bluntly. When nobody gave a reaction, he continued. " The letter wasn't something I had expected to get for a few years now, but I've been requested to send Prince Max off."

" To where?" Kai questioned, making sure that the King was finished first.

" To a speacial camp." Johnny replied, with more hatred then anything. " Unlike the camp you are all familier with, this camp does not train one to become a knight or guard; much like yourselves. This camp has to be the most agrevating camp you could ever attend."

' If you could be anymore like an old goat, just give us a ring.' Tala's mind spoke with so much sarcasm, it even made him wince.

Johnny nodded, thinking Tala's flinch for a reaction to the description. " Very true, Lord Tala. It's a very disturbing place. The whoel ponit of the damn camp is to prepare Max and other fellow prince's for King Hood. It basically teaches them everything they need to know about raising a family of their own, challenges their ability to lead and this is also the place where you'd find your future beloved."

" Sounds over dramatised." Tala spoke out loud, then smacked himself on the forhead when he got stares. That was never meant to come out.

" It is. Completly pointless!" Johnny shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. " I once had to attend this camp, believe me, you don't learn a single thnig there that you don't learn growing up with basic manners. It's horrible! I just can't belive that Max has to be sent there so soon..." His voice trailed off.

" What can we do to be of your service, your Majesty?" Bryan questioned.

Johnny snapped out of his thought and nodded. " Mmm, right. The reason I called you all here. I need seperate jobs from all of you. Lord Bryan I would like you to round up a few guards, of your selection to accompany Max on his trip to the camp. Don't want anythnig bad to happen to this kingdom's only hier." No matter how desprite a situation, Johnny never said 'my only offspring' or anything along that line.

Bryan nodded and bowed. " Of course, your Highness."

" Immediatly if you would." Johnny waves a hand as Bryan bowed again and left.

Johnny turned to the remaining guards. " First of all, I want to thank you Kai for your excellent job as this kingdom's Head Guard and you will be remembered deeply for your actions."

Kai was confused, but he took in the compliment non-the-less. Bowing, he spoke lightly. " Thank you, your Highness."

Johnny turned to Tala, who was looking out the window, avoiding any eyes contact with anybody. Johnny fumbled through some papers, retreaved one and pulled it out of the pile. Wavving it in front of Tala's face, he still never got a reaction from the red-head.

" I found this on my desk this morning, Tala." Johnny gave him a reasurring smile. " By the look on your face, your not too happy to have brought this in."

" I still don't want this." Tala mumbled, turnnig completly away from the King, staring at the wall from behind closed eye lids.

" Trust us on this, Tala." Johnny's voice sounded kind of taunting. " It's for the better. You'll see in your future that we were right all along."

That's when it finally clicked into Kai's clattered thoughts. " You signed it." He spoek with a light smile.

Tala's brow sulked down deeply, scowling at the shadows that danced around his eyeballs. " Yeah, I signed the damn thing. Not that I wanted to-"

" I think Alex made him." Johnny interupted, speaking to Kai obviously.

Kai smirked and nodded. " I wouldn't be surprised if Alex had to pin him down."

The two laughed, but Tala stayed silent. ' More like I signed it for Alex.'

.:VWV:.

Author's Note: I HAD to post this chapter! ONE OF MY FRIEND'S WAS DRIVING ME CRAZY! But I don't think you guys mind ... right! Probably not, I bet some of you are thinking " It's better then having to wait over a month for an update!"

Well your right! It is better! Anyways, this camp sounds really retarded, doesn't it! If I had to go here, I'd probably just go to kill the person in charge! Haha, yeah well stay tunes to find out Max' reaction ... among other stuff! 'big chessy smile' If I get at least three reviews, then MAYBE I'll throw in a little more romance! Between say .. oh I don't know ... maybe Tala and Alex .. or maybe with Amber... I mean, it's kinda cute who she's aiming for! ... or who's aiming for her...

Right anyways, IMPORTANT NOTE .. not really but anyways, I'd just like to say that from now on, I'm going to leave the Author's note, till the END of each chapter, no sence on having two of them, right!

Thanx for reading, now go ahead and review and I'll give you all some cookies!