Sorry it took so long to continue, but I don't have internet anymore. Hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 5

Miranda walked quietly around the newly rebuilt Crystal Palace. It took about five years to rebuild it, but the new castle was actually better built than the old castle, she thought. Everything was stronger, made of a slightly different crystal than the first one. It was even her idea to use a crystal that wouldn't break if the Divine Dragon ever happened to come to life. So, why was she not happy now? Even as Miranda took her daily walk, she could tell that her spirits weren't as high as they normally were. She felt like something was missing, like something wasn't quite right. She had felt a bit nervous, and had even started sleepwalking. Whenever she started doing that, she knew something was wrong. She hadn't sleepwalked since she had been a young girl, just a few days after her mother left.

She was so confused. Why was she so nervous lately? She had no idea. She thought back to her past to see if maybe she could figure out the reason. As she did that she came into one of the palaces many garden mazes. She saw Settie and Martha (I mean Settie as the 2nd and Martha as the 4th sacred sister, sorry if I have the wrong names. Please tell me if I do.) ...as she stepped into the center of the garden. She said hello to the two sisters.

"Is something wrong sister Miranda?" Settie asked. "You presence seems saddened."

"No, nothing I can't handle," She replied.

"Is it your friends?" Martha asked. "You haven't seen them in a long time, seven years I believe." Miranda shook her head.

"It's only been four years."

"You miss them, don't you?" Miranda looked down as she thought of her friends. She remembered Meru's strange laugh. She remembered Darts forward attitude. She remembered the look of helplessness that Shanna had when she told her to take care of Dart and his friends. She did miss them, all of her friends. And there were some of them she HADN'T seen for seven years, Dart, Meru, and Shana. She missed all of them a lot. "Miranda, you in there?" Martha asked. Miranda returned to her proper place, shaking her head.

"Sorry. You're right; I do miss them, a lot."

"Then go see them," Settie said.

"I can't, I don't know where any of them are at. The last I saw Haschel, Kongol, and Albert was at Albert's wedding, and the last I saw Meru, Dart, and Shana was when we split and I started the Palace project. I have no idea where any of them are anymore. It'd be impossible to find most of them and the only one that I'd be able to find is Albert because I've recently talked to his son." She shook her head. "I'll see you later." Miranda walked away.

Once again, the shadow has made it to the next area. It was obvious to it now what it should do. Now it could plan the get together, Miranda would be able to find her friends, and the shadow would be the one to bring them to her, or her to them.

Please R&R