Genji stared across the sea; mourning with disbelief. He had seen the faint outline of her ship against the horizon; swallowed and engulfed by the waves, never to surface. The royal family; gone within less than a week. Her ship had been brought down near the shore of one of the many islands that dotted the sea near JinOKai. This left him, if the brothers refused, to be the emperor of the Earthen Empire; the "Grand Sultan". The Earth Empire was divided into three sections; and those divided into two provinces. In the provinces; prosperous cities scattered about. An emperor or empress ruled one of the three sections, a duke or a duchess governed one of the six provinces; and a King or Queen to a city. Then the Sultan was to sovereign over all. Each of the royal siblings had varying attributes. Her eldest brother; charming, handsome, and vigorous Nellonfiro, was the emperor of Ghraidan, a flourishing section. Second was cunning, attractive, and playfully mischievous Ahmad, the Duke of Rei Jin Xang, a fine province. Next came the now deceased Soraya; humorous, adventurous, and loyal, yet with rare beauty and coloration just like her siblings. Finally came the good-natured, gorgeous, and daring Falconcinoh; the youngest of them and the prince of the grandest city of the Earthen Empire, (after its capital) Igiris. He was the beloved and irresistible youngest sibling whom everyone adored for his friendly personality. Word of their deaths had been sent to them all; aunts, uncles, grandparents. They all came in their carriages; each ornamented with the emblem of the Earth Kingdom then the crest of the city they came from.
"We have a search party ready." A beatific voice declared. Genji turned around slowly.
"Falco!" Genji shook hands with his old comrade.
Falconcinoh laughed heartily and clasped his arms around Genji's back; his olive eyes with evergreen outline luminous with joy. After the salutation, Genjineh's smile quickly faded back to the grimace he wore earlier. Falco turned his gaze to the sea and sighed.
"At least sister is alive…" Falco murmured.
Genji widened his eyes and firmly inhaled. Falco knew of the shipwreck did he not? "I know it's hard to accep-"
"You don't understand" Falco sternly interrupted. "She could easily survive a shipwreck; she's used to swimming in the sea, since she was little. We would all go sailing with Father upon one of his grand vessels when we were younger, out to all sorts of seas: tropical, artic, any kind..."
(Flashback) Equipped with wooden swords and towels buttoned to their shoulders, the young royalty were pretending to resemble heroes from fables they were told at their bedside. They all wore black pants and musketeer-like shirts shirts. Nello wore a black and white shirt, Ahmad had a cream shirt, Soraya dressed in jade, and Falco with the white and gold. Nellonfiro and Ahmad were matched against Soraya and Falconcinoh. The four sprang from stair to stair, parrying and feigning until they reached the tall Lookout's Mast, where the final duel began, and everyone was for themselves. Soraya glanced at the deep, dark, water below, shrieked and turned and ran down the stairs; not wanting to fall overboard. Nello held his wooden sword steady and smiled evilly, his boots placed in the proper fencing stance he was taught. His bemused lime eyes with a golden ring encircling the pupil gleamed with mischief in the bright sunshine, and his short, well-groomed black tresses were spiked back in an elegant fashion.
A sharp cry pierced the air:
"Touché!"
Then, it began! Nello leapt up in the air, powerfully slicing it. He and Ahmad swung their swords and fought. Ahmad moved swiftly and had fast reflexes. He nimbly ducked and dodged his brother's strikes, his brooding dark eyes sparkling and matching his light skin and dark hair. He weaved between Nello's mighty attacks. Suddenly Nello halted, glanced up and gasped. Ahmad tilted his head up and shaded his eyes from the sun. Squinting, he searched for what could have been so amazing. There was noth— Nello ran into him; shoving him off Lookout's Mast. Ahmad spiraled down to the cold water; his sword falling with him. Falco and Nello scurried to the edge of the deck. Grasping the railing with iron grips, they peered down and held their breaths. Ahmad broke the surface and partly laughed and partly whined.
"Crud! That wasn't fair Nello!" he shouted up to a chuckling Nello.
Falco turned his gaze back to Nello and widened his eyes. Nello charged.
"HYAH!" Falco ran behind the several poles that held the Earth Kingdom flags, trying his best to evade his brother's sharp blows.
Ahmad, climbing the side of the deck, cheered and applauded for Falco, Soraya shouting her encouragement. Overwhelmed by Nello, Falco too, soon fell of the Lookout's Mast with a yelp, replied by his brother's mocking laughter.
"Now, it's your turn sister!" Nello shouted off the edge of the Mast, smirking down at Soraya with a roguish sneer.
"Run Soraya!" Ahmad shouted while helping Falco climb the side of the ship.
Soraya turned and raced away swerving around soldiers and guards with Nello, holding his sword over his head, at her heels. Soraya ran to the stairwell and shut the door. Her brother started pounding with his fists. Wanting to be the best in everything, he began to wail.
"THAT'S NOT FAIR! YOU CAN'T CHEAT! THAT'S MY STRATEGY!" Nello hollered. She jumped to the side and flung the door open. Nello fell in with a 'THUD' and Soraya leapt over him and locked the door.
"GET THE PILLOWS!" She hollered to her brothers.
"LET ME OUT!" howled Nello. "OUT!" He banged the door with his fists and wailed. "OUT!"
Soraya waited a few minutes before smiling and agreeing.
"Gladly, brother dear."
Nello stormed out and turned to face her then gasped. Ahmad and Falco began pounding him with pillows. Exhausted and weary, they all fell over, rolling on the floor laughing. (End Flashback.)