On the Notepad:

Okeedokee, it's official! The votes are in and the winner is…..I can't decide! I guess it's whatever way the wind takes me. However, I think I will try my hardest to have a love triangle and several interests. I will sincerely try my hardest to not be OOC. Reminder: Kei's looks are from the manga.

Thanks to all my reviewers! Everyone is sooo nice!

To Clarify: The time thingy. 60 years passing would make Himeno roughly about 76 when she died. For simplicity's sake I am keeping the year 2005. Like I said, the Knights age slowly, and I mean VERY SLOWLY! Everyone has aged about 3 years, the older Knights look about the same. Mannen is about 16, Hajime is about 13, and Shin is about 8. Hopefully, this has been clarified. If not just let me know.

Chapter Three

The Knights had stared at Alyssa awkwardly, but after she composed herself, practice continued. Slowly, the new Pretear got used to Sasame's voice in her head, helping her. She practiced basic attacks, but she still couldn't fly very high.

Finally, Sasame declared them finished.

After they were on the ground, Alyssa realized that she had no idea how to get out of the prêt.

"Sasame?" she asked.

Yes?

"Um…how do we get out of the prêt?"

As I said before, we must both disengage it at the same time. Now, on the count of three, you must want the prêt to end. Ready?

She took a breath. "Okay."

One…Two…Three.

Alyssa wished very hard to become herself, and not the Pretear of Sound. She felt a slight draining, like energy flowing away, then opened her eyes.

She stood in her normal clothing, and Sasame was next to her. He gave her a reassuring smile, as Mannen, Hajime, and Shin crowded around her.

"You were awesome!" the Leafe Knight of Water exclaimed.

"Yeah, good job for your first time," said Mannen, smiling.

The Pretear felt a thrill of pride, even though it was for something she had not believed in 45 minutes ago. She smiled and looked up at Sasame.

"Very good," he commented. "Once you have more practice, you'll gain more control of your powers, but for a first time you did exceptionally well."

Alyssa grinned and glanced around the circle at the other Knights. Goh was smiling and nodding.

"You're going to be fine," he said happily. Alyssa was about to speak, when suddenly, she felt tired and weak. Her arms trembled, like she had just finished a cross-country race, or had an extremely tough swim practice. She blinked quickly to rid herself of a sudden onset of dizziness, and ran a hand over her face. She wobbled, and struggled to stay upright.

"Are you all right?" She heard a voice ask. Vaguely, she realized a Knight was standing over her. She hadn't been aware that she had fallen to the ground until now. He had blonde hair and eyes that seemed golden. His outfit varied in shades of yellow. She struggled to recall his name.

He hadn't spoken much, Alyssa thought. Then it came to her. Kei, his name was Kei, the Leafe Knight of Light. He offered her a hand and she took it, managing to stand though her legs were shaking, and with the younger Knights crowding around her.

"Back off guys, give her room to breathe," said Goh, dragging the younger Knights away.

"Are you ill?" Sasame looked worried, and even Hayate had drawn closer to her, unconsciously perhaps, but he was still there. "You seemed fine during the prêt," Sasame continued.

Kei cut him off. "Her energy is weak. I think it may have been too much for her at once."

Alyssa still used him for support. "What?" she asked, confused.

Kei turned to her. "Until you build up your strength, preting may have a weakening effect on you. It takes a lot of Leafe in a person in order for them to manipulate it."

Alyssa was feeling very overwhelmed. Her grip on Kei's arm slipped and she fell to her knees, unable to support her weakened body.

Immediately, Mannen rushed to her side. Goh still held the younger Knights back, but they all drew closer. Tears of frustration at being helpless came to Alyssa's eyes.

"Hey, it's okay," Mannen soothed quietly. Turning to the others he spoke, "Guys, we should take her home. I think Alyssa's had enough for one day."

Gently, the Knight of Ice picked the girl up, supporting her under her head and knees.

"Don't cry," he said. "C'mon, I'll take you home." Mannen lept into the air.

"I can't help it! I can do this myself, Mannen! Put me down!"

Mannen was stunned by the girl's sudden wish to do things herself. Gently he set her down, at the same time giving her a little Leafe to help. She wobbled for a minute and then took off.

"Yeesh, slow down will ya?" he cried. He flew quickly about a block to where Alyssa was panting against a tree. He let her catch her breathe and was about to say something when she shook her head.

Alyssa turned to him. "I'm sorry Mannen. So sorry for getting mad at you. It's not your fault, I just I-I….." The Pretear lacked the words to continue and her voice trailed off.

"Nevermind." She stopped, shook her head wearily and walked towards her house.

"Wait!" Mannen ran up beside her. "I've got an idea. What if the Knights and I watch over you and give you some Leafe occasionally? That way you can grow stronger, and build up your Leafe at the same time. How 'bout it, huh?"

"Mannen," the girl continued to walk and didn't look at him. "I appreciated the help, but I just don't believe in this! I can't have just done what I did, I was hallucinating, or dreaming, or-or something, but things like this don't just happen! Not to me and not to anyone else! I don't want this Leafe or Pretear job, or even to prêt! Not now, and not ever again!" With those final words the girl ran for home.

Mannen stopped and stared after her. How can you not believe in something that's right in front of your eyes! He wondered.

Confused, the Knight of Ice shook his head and returned to the others. Immediately, Goh pounced on the younger Knight.

"How is she!"

"You guys I think she's really scared," the Knight of Ice worried. "Sasame I don't know what happened back there, but she's totally frightened out of her wits! She said she didn't want to prêt, ever again, that she didn't even want to be the Pretear!"

"Ha! I knew it!" Hayate smirked.

"Shut up!" All the other Knights yelled at him. The Knight of Wind gave them a smoldering glare and then disappeared.

"Well that's just great," Goh remarked sarcastically.

"Enough," Kei said. "We'll watch over her and I think that a boost of Leafe once in a while might help her too. We'll wait until she's ready for preting, and just work on gaining her trust and controlling her fears for now. We wouldn't want to end up with another Princess of Disaster."

"Kei's right," Sasame agreed. "I'll start the watch tonight, as I'm not working, and who's ever available after that can take a shift. I'll work on calming her down too."

"The rest of us will try to get some sleep as well," Kei said. He looked to the younger Knights. "You all still have your lessons tomorrow."

"Aww, man," groaned Hajime.

"C'mon Mannen," Shin said as the Knights began to return to Leafiania.

The Knight of Ice looked back towards Alyssa's house before reluctantly vanishing.

P.S.

Sorry for the shortness. Finals ya know? Once summer's here there will be a lot more posting. But hey, I'm not a loser, I FINALLY POSTED! Also, DO NOT mistake this for a Mannen x OC fic, I have no idea who I'm gonna pair, so it's whichever way the wind blows, which may be a lot of ways. And sorry about the spelling for Leafiania(sp?) If anyone can help with that I would be grateful.

I'll be posting soon!

The Emerald Princess