Disclimer: Neopets and all characters (except Crystal) are copyright Viacom, Inc.

"Where HAVE you been?" Danner fumed. Crystal could almost see the smoke billowing out of his ears. "I let you wander around the castle for just a few hours, and you-"

"Dan! I'm fine, I swear. Gosh, remember that I'm fifteen now..."

"It doesn't matter! There's a war going on, and you just roam wherever you please. I know this is the castle and everything, but I can't just let you go wandering around like this." Seeing the look of dismay on his sister's face, he lowered his voice and added, "Chris, I'm sorry. It's just that... well, ever since Mom and Dad died, I promised I would..." His sister was on the verge on tears. He attempted to smile, but it twisted into a look of displeasure. "Come here." He embraced the now tear stained face. "I... I just don't want to lose you..." Tears were now falling down his face, splattering onto the stone floor.

Chris broke away from him, and looked up into his hazel eyes. "Danner, you're the best." He broke into a grin that looked oddly proportioned with his eyes, who were still flowing.

"Come on. Let's go home."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"But... but... why?"

It was only a few hours later. The sweet reunion seemed so distant. Chris was sitting on Danner's bed as her brother was pacing on the other side of the room.

"It's not so bad... I am a knight after all..."

"But how long will you be gone?"

Danner stopped pacing, and turned towards his sister with a solemn face. "I don't know. This is war. Kass's heir-" He stopped suddenly, muttering. "Hiasurn. He has returned to take over Darigan's kingdom and avenge his father."

"What kind of name is Hiasurn?" She mumbled indistinctly, so that no one but herself heard. "Okay, two things... One, Kass wasn't married... well, wait... er, never mind." Danner was almost laughing, she could see it in the expression on his face. Ignoring him, she turned her head. "Darigan didn't kill Kass. Those Faerie creeps did."

"But he doesn't know that. He still wants the Citadel, and he'll stop at nothing to get it." He paused, then continued slowly, "You know... we saw him in the forest... luckily he didn't think you were of much importance... The village has been under attack. Not the full out, airborne army attacks, but single murders. Hiasurn... I mean, He has been getting his loyal companions to do his dirty work for him."

Chris grinned. "He?"

"Yes, him."

"You mean, the HE?"

"YES, HIM."

Chris feigned a gasp. "OHMYGOD! Lord Voldemort has invaded Meridell! What shall we ever do?"

"Chris, this is SERIOUS!" Danner chided, though laughing to himself.

"Oh, so it's Sirius Black who's invading-"

"CHRIS!" Danner was actually laughing out loud. "Okay, okay, we've had our fun. But honestly, I want you to be careful. Stay in the castle. Don't leave until it's over. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

Danner left the room. Chris frowned. What about my dream? It was so clear, that one of the greatest, if not the greatest, knights would be killed in battle by Hiasurn himself. And only I know. But I could never tell anyone, they wouldn't believe me and they would think that I'm only doing it for attention. She paused. What if I am doing this for attention? Is this just getting out of control, my longing for him to love me back? She threw a pillow at the ground. No, stupid, he would never like you, for a few reasons. One, you're just a stupid teenager, as he's probably in his late twenties, early thirties. Two, he hardly knows you. Sure, he saved your ass, and you bumped into him in the corridor, but you're not exactly friends are you? Three, he has other things to worry about than his love life. He's the highest ranking officer in Skarl's army. Four, look at yourself. You're a fifteen year old Wocky, pathetic enough to beg at Skarl's feet for a job, which by the way, you haven't got. (She kicked the wall, remembering the note she got this morning, being denied a job as an alchemist because she was underage.) He's the greatest knight in the world.

Chris sighed miserably, fingering the locket that hung losely on her neck. Opening it, she saw the familiar picture of her Mom, Dad, brother and herself. Her dad, a Brown Wocky, had her arms around her mom, the color white. Danner and her were standing in front of their parents. Chris was in Danner's arms. She slipped it back inside her shirt, sighing. Danner had been her only friend, besides Potatoes (of whom was still missing in action). She couldn't betray her brother. Jeran was his friend, and she knew he would go to great extents just to save them.

She rose to her feet, and leaned over to get her pillow. It was smudged with dirt on the side that had been laying on the floor. Cleanliness wasn't an apparent factor of Danner's room. He was leaving tonight, too soon for her. What if she never saw him again?

A vivid image flashed through her mind. Danner... Hiasurn... A flash of a sword... Blood...

She clenched her fists.

She knew what she had to do.