alright... umm.. yeah the next chapter or whatever...

She opened her eyes. Looking, instantly into the eyes of someone, who she had never before seen, but whom her mind instantly told her was her lover. Those eyes that she was looking into, dark brown and framed with long, thick, black lashes. The rest of the body was equally beautiful; Full breasts, luscious lips, long, brown hair which cascaded past the hips. She could never remember seeing this woman before, but, she felt a rush of adrenaline as that woman's lips brushed gently against her own.

"My dear, you awake!" The rich voice said, "I thought you would never do so, you have concussion, a blow to the head has erased your memories, my love, but with my help you shall remember…." Once again she felt those lips, this time on her neck. "You shall remember, only us and our love, and our plans which will soon come to light, we will rise above the clouds, into the sunlight, and take the land above as our own… casting the Silvite Emperor into darkness…."

"My… name…. what is my name?" She heard her own voice say, weakly.

"My dear, your name is the key to my heart; Atai. You and I have been together for years… here, on the Black Continent, you and I will soon rule the world above." The other replied, running her long, spider-like fingers through the thick, red hair of the woman whom she lay above. "You and I, my dear, you and I will rise, and we shall take all that Ramirez holds dear to him. I have already succeeded in taking the one thing which he prized above all others…"

"And what is that thing?" Atai asked her lover.

The other woman replied by kissing her deeply.

'That thing,' The woman thought in victory, 'is you, young Empress, the one he thinks is dead.'

Roughly 2 years later

Vyse sat on the dark blue, lush carpet, of his father's and late mother's room. He absently passed a wet stone, again and again over the edge of the keen blade, sharpening it to perfection. His back leaned against the side of one of the luxurious sofa's which adorned the elegant room.

He had heard what had happened, what his father had had to do to his mother's body. At first he resented the idea, insisting that perhaps if he had not butchered her body, then perhaps there would have been some way of reviving her. When he had expressed this, his father had become furious, and stated that he would have done anything to save her had it been possible, but it was not, he only did what he could to save Fina. Vyse had of course, realised the truth, his father, despite his pride, and coldness, had found heaven itself in Aika, and would never have let her die if he could have prevented it.

Ramirez had immediately had a tomb built for her, refusing to have her wonderful, beautiful body burned. It was erected on the balcony on which she had so often stood in the mornings, made from gorgeous pale blue marble, shot through with streaks of indigo. Vyse stared at it now, the light shafting off its frictionless surface, causing it to glow a radiant orange, so alike to her hair…

He was now 12, and it was approaching Fina's second birthday. His little sister had become exceedingly close to Vyse, but…. The one she enjoyed spending time with the most, was her father, the one who had aided her deliverance into the world. Often, when he sat in his throne, addressing his troops, she would be placed in a smaller throne by his side, Vyse on his other side, but Fina, by the end of Ramirez's talk would almost always have found her way onto either Vyse's lap, or more likely the Emperor's.

Ramirez never paid her any heed, never bothering to remove her from him, he merely ignored her as he spoke, only occasionally moving his hand to ensure that she did not loose her balance and fall to the floor. The news of the Empress' death, had come as a shock and a blow to the people of Soltis. When Belle learned of the death of Vigoro, she did not grieve, she was glad he had come to an end, the man had put her through so much pain, and to have killed Aika…… it finally felt like she was free.

It was plain to see that Fina was going to grow to be not just beautiful, but awesomely stunning. Her hair, at a glance could be mistaken as a slightly darker blonde than her father's, but, when it caught the light, it flashed fiery reds, bronze and gold. Her eyes were a paler lavender than Aika's had been, and spots of emerald were splattered throughout her irises. Her skin was pale, like Ramirez's and she had much of her mother's personality in her, her happy smile was almost always on her face.

Over Vyse's time here, in the vast, white tower, many changes had been gradually happening. At the base of Soltis, the vast expanse which formed the foundation of the huge, strange palace, many villages had been erected. These were mainly inhabited by the freed slaves who wished to remain in service, but there were a few soldiers who also preferred to live here, with the families that they had begun. A dock had also been built, and Soltis was now Arcadia's busiest port, a regular stream of immigrants came in, looking for work in Soltis.

Vyse sighed, his father was in some kind of meeting with Marco, and his Generals, apparently there was something important happening…. He had no idea what.

"Hey, Vyse!"

The boy looked up, Galcian stood in the door way to the room. Belle had been made a Duchess, Ramirez did this merely as a tribute to Aika, by increasing the respect her friend had, and consequently, Galcian was made a Lord. Usually the boy was garbed in finery, but today he was merely wearing a white shirt and leather breeches, the shirt was stitched with his mother's crest. She had modified it from Vigoro's own design, changing it slightly, and Galcian wore it proudly.

"Hey," Vyse said smiling, sheathing his sword at his side…. The same blade which had taken the life of his friends own father… "What's up? Do you know what my dad is meeting about?"

"No clue, but, my mother is looking after Fina…… There's a market in the port today, let go!" The boy said.

"We're not allowed out of the palace without a guard." Vyse said, smiling in anticipation all the same.

"So what? You're the Prince, you can do what you like!" Galcian said.

Vyse shrugged, he was dressed in an Imperial Uniform, many people would merely assume he was the son of a General, it didn't cross his mind that he also bore his father's crest.

"Alright, but not for too long, I want to get back and find out what's been happening."

It was quite easy for the two children to leave without being noticed by many, no one questioned the young Prince and the Lord. It didn't take them long to reach the docks, they merely followed their ears. The sound of the hustle and bustle was deafening. Merchants were shouting out bargains, mother's scolding wayward children, pickpockets were everywhere, and many languages were being spoken.

"I've never seen the docks this busy!" Galcian said, staring at the strange items on the stalls in wonder. The two boys had only visited the docks once or twice before, once during its construction, and also at its opening, both times had been in the company of armoured men, men who would die to protect them.

The two boys were now alone, with no means of defence, other than Vyse's sword, and this feeling gave them a strange adrenaline rush. The two wandered around for a long time, they kept their heads low, looking at the things on sale, until, they discovered the weaponry merchant's stall.

"Look at all this stuff." Murmured Galcian.

Vyse didn't reply, his eye had been drawn to a pair of cutlasses that lay on wooden stands, their perfect edges glinting dangerously. Automatically he reached out and picked one of them up. The blade was quite heavy, but perfectly balanced, this one had a double edge, but its twin had only a single.

"I've never seen weapons like these…" Vyse murmured.

"Hey, you thieving little brat, put that down!" The merchant shouted, his accent clearly labelling him as one from the Nasr continent.

Vyse decided to ignore him, and picked up the other, giving them and experimental swing.

"Didn't you hear me kid! I said put them down!" The merchant instantly came around the stall and snatched the weapons from Vyse.

The little boy had not been spoken to in such a way for almost three years, and a scowl automatically formed upon his face.

"Get down on your knees when you address the Prince of Soltis!" Galcian said, quipping in.

"Hah," Sneered the merchant, "You think a couple of street rats in fancy clothes can fool me?!"

By now a small patrol of guards had come over to investigate the source of the disturbance. These were of the lowest rank, clearly new cadets, who had never even stepped inside the Tower Of Soltis which rose above them.

"Now then you two." One said with authority, which he did not have, "Your going to have to come along with me." He reached out and grabbed Vyse's shoulder.

The Prince snarled and pulled away, turning and facing him.

"Don't touch me, how dare you talk to me like this!" He said, so unused to this treatment.

"Who are you kid?" One of the more intelligent guards asked, knowing these boys must have some sort of noble blood, from their clothes.

"I am the only son of Emperor Ramirez, Vyse, Prince, and heir to Soltis!" He said, loudly. The people around them seemed to go suddenly quiet, looking at the blonde haired boy. "And this is Lord Galcian, son of the late admiral Vigoro."

The guard who was obviously in charge looked at them for a few moments, before bowing his head and falling to one knee. Instantly his men followed suit.

"I live to serve, your Highness." The each said.

That was far more like it. Vyse smiled, his mood lightening. He turned and took the cutlasses back from the stunned merchant.

"I'll be taking these, a very generous gift to your Prince." He quipped.

Galcian grinned. Who knew going to the docks could be such fun?

"Take cover!" A voice screamed, as if from far away.

Vyse looked around. Take cover from what?

He looked up, his eyes wide, hundreds of black ships were rising from Deep Sky, the cannons were huge, and every single barrel was aimed at Soltis. He heard a distant boom, and saw, as if in slow motion, a vast cannon ball thrumming towards the docks.

That moment seemed to hang in time for eternity, his eyes following the black ball until it made its deafening contact with one of the buildings.

Screams exploded around him, and the small patrol of guards surrounded him and the young Lord, protecting them from the falling debris from the building which was now being eaten away at hungrily by the flames.

People were shouting, in hysteria, children, crying for parents, everyone was running for cover. The onslaught seemed like it would never end.

"We have to get back to the Tower!" Yelled Vyse over the maelstrom of noise and fear. Who were these attackers? Who would dare to stand against the Emperor?

Under the cover of the guards, the two boys shoved their way through the crowds of terrified people, heading towards Soltis.

Suddenly, there was a noise like thunder and a vast tremor vibrated powerfully over the Island, almost knocking them off balance. Vyse looked up towards the tower as he heard further cracking noises. His mouth fell open. The very top of the vast column of marble was crumbling, vast glaciers of pure white rock fell away, falling silently downwards. He wasn't even aware the Tower had been hit! When the first, vast slice of the pinnacle of marble hit the base, yet another shockwave trembled powerfully.

A stony silence descended, other than the reverberations of total and complete power, as Zelos rose, enlarged beyond imagination, out of the destroyed top half of the building. This was clearly under the Emperor's command, and Vyse realised that this must also mean that his father must realise that he was missing.

"Lets go." He muttered, not anticipating his next training session with Ramirez.

The Emperor snarled, he had instantly retrieved his daughter from Belle, knowing that she was safest in his company, if the worst came to the worst, he had been in the middle of a meeting with his highest ranking officers, when a lieutenant had run in, gabbling about a surprise attack.

He sat in his throne, the gaping hole above him which had been made by Zelos opened into the naked skies above him, the vast Gigas attacking the ships with immense bolts of energy. He could sense his victory over these mysterious attackers, he knew that with every incredible, forceful blow that his Gigas delivered, one, or more of the ships would be destroyed.

Fina sat on his lap, bouncing happily, sucking her hand, not understanding what was going on, content merely to be with her father.

The Emperor growled in frustration, it was clear that Vyse had left he boundaries of the palace, he had sent at least ten patrols out to look for him, but a distinct sense of worry filled him all the same.

Something about this… and about the meeting he had just come from, concerning the disappearance of troops and the rumours of a force which was soon to rise against the Empire…. Something about the whole situation made his heart beat faster in dread all the same…. He felt deep within him that this would not be the last time he would have to deal with attacks on his lands, he also felt that there would be something more… something more personal. But what, he did not know.

Wild-Roze: yeah...