a/n: Yay! Finally finished is chapter two of my first sequel! I think we should have a party. Nah, anyway, for those of you interested in this, feel free to read and enjoy. Oh yeah, don't forget to review.

Nicole and Katlin paced back and fourth around the small office that they had crowded themselves into. Brenna, Jenny, Amanda and Tasuki had just finished retelling the story of what happened to them. Amy and Libby were each holding a glass of ice water that Katlin had sent the servants to get, in order to keep them from fainting, although both Tortallan officials wanted to do the very same right there. It's not everyday that the people who you thought were dead for eight years suddenly resurrect themselves. In fact, it just didn't happen. This wasn't a good thing.

It wasn't that they weren't overjoyed to have their friends back, but how could they explain this? So the men and maybe the kids would understand, but how on earth could this situation be explained to Tortall. Nicole sighed and fell into a chair; Katlin continued her rounds.

"Kat, you're making me dizzy." Brenna stated, very relaxed about the whole thing. Katlin glared at her.

"And you're making my head hurt." She retorted. "I'm not just Katlin anymore. I'm the queen of an entire nation, which has been slowly regaining function after the war eight years ago, and I have to some how figure out how to reintroduce four long dead heroes of that war, back into society. So don't complain about being dizzy."

"Is she always like this?" Amanda whispered to Nicole, who nodded.

"Eight years? But… but, It's only been eight months."

"In earth time Jenny. Tangora's stupidity seems to have messed up how time passes. Heck, you all have been here for twenty minutes, and for all we know, twenty years could have passed on earth," Nicole told her. Katlin nodded, finally sitting down at her desk.

"Nicole?"

"Hmmm?"

"I need you to take a look at these land forms. Bring them to Duke Wellum and get them certified. Then get them back to me so I can run them by Liam, alright."

Nicole nodded, and stood up, bowing. "Of course, your magesty." The other's looked at her as if she were crazy. She met their eyes. "Things have changed you guys. We're adults now, it's not all fun and games."

"I wish it was." Katlin muttered as Nicole left the office.

"What were those forms that you sent her off?" Brenna asked Katlin.

"Land contracts and adoption forms."

"What?" Amanda asked, confused.

"The adoption form is for Brenna and Tasuki. They need to adopt Enya, and then she can turn the rights of Amber Hill over to them."

"Adopt Enya?" Tasuki stated, dumbstruck. "But she's our daughter."

"Sir Tasuki. Might I remind you, that you're dead. You can remain as Tasuki if you wish, but Brenna you will not reassume the name Brya. If you do, people will get suspicious. The same goes for Jenny and Amanda. Keep your earth names." Katlin sighed. "The land contracts are for a small farm area near the city of the gods for Amanda. It's got a small fief which she will become the lady of. I'm sure Liam will grant the title. And then a small inn in Chorus under Amy and Libby's names. I want them as close to our survilance as possible since they've never been here before. All in all, I think you've been gone long enough that your appearances won't bother people."

"What about me, Kat?" Jenny asked her. Katlin looked at her and smiled.

"Any time you want to remarry Damien, the chapel will be open for your use. In the mean time, I will introduce you as a cousin and you'll stay in rooms at the palace." Katlin told her, as Nicole reentered the office.

"All the paper work's been signed by the magistrate, My queen. All that's left is for my signature and his majesties. If you wish, I'll sign now?"

"Of course." Katlin responded as Nicole took a seat at her side and began to sign the papers. "Now, do we reintroduce you to your families, or have you get changed first?"

"I think they should at least be in Tortallan fashion first," Nicole looked up from the papers. "It'll make the shock a little less." Katlin nodded. By now, Amy and Libby were absolutely confused.

"Inn?" Ami asked.

"As in hotel?" Libby asked, her eyes going wide.

"Your Majesty, if I may say, perhaps giving them property is a bad idea." Nicole asked. Brenna, Jenny, and Amanda nodded in agreement. Katlin smiled and shook her head. She had faith in Amy and Libby. And if all else failed, it'd be fun to watch.

"Nonsense. Come on. Lets go get you all some clothes."

"But I like this shirt. It's Austins's." Ami complained.

"Do you want to stand out?" Brenna whispered to her. "They hang people here." She told her, purposely leaving out the fact that you actually had to commit a crime. Ami yelped and shook her head.

"On second thought, new clothes are fine." She said, following the others out of the office and down the hall to the Nicole's private chambers while Katlin went to get the maids and seamstresses.

Amy shook gently in Trowa's arms. He made her feel calmer. How could she have done that? How could she have tried to harm her own mother? Libby was calm. Libby was cool and collected about it. Why couldn't she be? She could faintly hear Trowa's voice over her, telling her it was alright, that she was just angry.

On the other side of the room, Libby sat intently talking to Chichiri. Suddenly she looked up and turned to her sister. "Amy?" She mumbled. Amy sat up and turned in her betrothed's arms. She leaned back against him and whipped the tears away from her eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Do you hate mama?" Libby ask, innocently. Libby and Amy hadn't called their mother mama since before their mother died. They had been forced to grow up so fast. Amy didn't blame her sister from wanting to relax a bit and act childish now that their mother had returned, but that didn't mean that she would have to as well. She shook her head slightly.

"I don't hate her. I'm just mad."

"That she died without saying goodbye?" Libby asked, almost reading her twins mind. Amy had never really told her why she was angry. The blonde girl nodded. Trowa gripped her tighter and she looked up at him.

"It's alright to be angry, love. You can be angry. But you should talk to her, not try to blow her up. I mean, you wouldn't want her to die again?" He kissed the top of her head.

"I guess not." She laughed. A giggle drew her attention to the otherside of the room. She looked up at Libby who was deep in a kiss with Chichiri. "Chichiri!" She called. This was the mage she had grown up with? He was certainly not going to fondle her older sister when she was around. The blue haired mage sprung apart from his love. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Uh-uh-uh…" Chichiri stammered. He was in trouble, and he knew it. Amy glared at him with mock anger. Libby snickered. It was always fun to watch a mage duel, if that was what this was going to lead to. Amy suddenly threw her arms up and a tiny ball of bright red magic flew at the young man. A silvery purple barrier popped up in front of him, and he sent a power ball back at her. It hit her shoulder, and angered, she sent back two, hitting him on both shoulders and knocking him backwards slightly. "Amy, watch it. That one actually hurt." Her friend complained, rubbing his shoulders. The nineteen year old mage pouted, making him look like the seven year old child she had met when she first went to the city of the gods. Amy laughed.

"Chichi, you're so cute." She told him. "Go. Take your prize, but have fun in PRIVATE! I don't to watch you fondling my sister. It gives me nightmares." She laughed. Chichiri saluted as Libby gave a barely audible "hey", then he grabbed her arm, and dragged off off towards the chambers he had at the palace.

"We're alone." Trowa told Amy. "What are you rules about me fondling you?" Amy blushed and kissed him.

"In my chambers. Now that my mother's back, I have a feeling that we shouldn't be so open in public." The young mage told her twenty year old knight in shining armor. He grinned down at her, and before she could even register what was going on, he swooped down and lifted her off her feet, and then retreated down the hall toward the mage's private rooms. Luckily, Amy had sound proofed them.

"Are you two absolutely positive that you want to do this, like this?" Nicole asked Brenna and Tasuki. They were sitting inside the sitting room of her and Duo's chambers at the palace. Katlin had taken Jenny with her to explain to Liam and get him to sign all the paperwork. Amanda had decided to roam and find her two oldest daughters, dragging their earth clones behind her. Which left Nicole to deal with the hardest situation of her life. Reintroducing her niece to Brenna and Tasuki. She shook her head, it wasn't going to be easy.

"The sooner we tell her the better." Brenna told her.

"But today, of all days. Bren, do you realize today is the anniversary of you death? She already didn't want to come."

"What?" Tasuki exclaimed.

"Exactly. You don't know much about her anymore. She's a grown up girl. She's Sir Everic's squire. And she hates surprises." Nicole told her. Brenna opened her mouth to talk when the main door opened. Usually everyone knocked, and Nicole was certain that Kaida and Enya were busy out practicing with Dara or something.

"Nira could you please- oh I'm sorry I didn't know we had company." Duo said, as he came in and shut the door behind him. "Hello, I'm Sir Duo of Max- Holy Mithros." He breathed as Tasuki turned around and met his eyes. "Nira, angel, with you I'm used to weird things happened, but why are there dead people in our sitting room?" Duo asked, completely taken back at staring into his former brother-in-laws eyes. He shifted his attention to Brenna.

"Duo, they're not dead."

"What?" Duo said, making the two girls laugh. He and Tasuki thought alike.

"Tangora sent everyone who had died back to my old world. It's only been eight months in their time. And well, we're still not completely sure how they got here."

"So, you're telling me they're alive?"

"Yes darling."

"Really?" Duo asked, poking Tasuki in the head to make sure he was solid.

"Maxwell, don't be stupid!" Tasuki growled, punching Duo in the shoulder.

"Hey, get off my uncle!" A determined voice rang from the doorway. Two teenage girls stood, glaring ice at Tasuki. The smaller of the two had Duo's piercing eyes and Nicole's hair color. Her straight hair was cropped at her earlobes. The second of the two had light brown eyes and brilliant red curls, pulled back into a horse tail. Left loose they would reach her shoulders. She was the one who had called out and she wouldn't remove her glare. Tasuki's arm fell limp at his side. As soon as he lowered it, Kaida ran to her dad's side, protectively, glaring at the two intruders. Enya stepped in front of her younger cousin. "Who are you?" she questioned, fiercely. Tasuki was too stunned to talk. Nicole and Duo couldn't believe what was happening, and Brenna looked as if she was going to faint. Tasuki slowly dropped to his knees in front of the squire. He raised his hand and gently ran it along her cheek. Enya blinked, taken back by the strange gentleman's even stranger behavior. A tear fell from Tasuki's eye and he suddenly pulled her against him in a tight embrace. The fourteen year old struggled at first, but something about the embrace calmed her. She stopped fighting it, and let the man cry on her shoulder. He started to relax and she pushed him away from her slightly so she could see his face. Carefully, she traced his features with her finger, at last, letting it linger beneath his eyes. She whipped a tear off his cheek. "P-papa?" It was all she could muster. But he nodded and Enya's eyes grew wide, tears forming. She launched herself at him and refused to let go. "I know I should be asking how, but I don't care. You came back to me. You came back."

"Enya, sweety, I know you missed him. But your father can't breathe." Nicole told her niece, placing her hand gently on Enya's shoulder. Kaida looked on, confused, in Duo's grip. She may have been a teenager, but that didn't mean she had to accept dead relatives coming back to life. Enya looked up and smiled a bit. "And besides, there's someone else who wants to see you." The red head looked confused until her eyes settled on the other stranger in the room. She blinked, as if not believe what her own eyes were telling her. She had the same eye shape and the same unruly curls as the woman in front of her. Enya stared, and Brenna stared back at her.

"Hi baby," Brenna finally managed. The teen stepped away from her father, closer to her mother, but her eyes revealed no emotion. The silence in the room grew heavier. Brenna looked hurt for a moment and then looked away. Was it possible her own daughter didn't know her. Suddenly a massive weight hit her waist and she stepped back as Enya catapulted into her, sobbing for all she was worth. Brenna grabbed her and refused to let go, crying at the same time she did. Tasuki went over and drew his arms around both of the women he loved.

"Do you want to tell them about her suitors, or should I?" Duo whispered in Nicole. She elbowed him in the ribs lighly.

"Do I have to where this?" Amy pouted, following behind Amanda and Libby. She was wearing a long dress and riding boots, and wasn't happy about it. Libby didn't seem to mind. She was fascinated by the fact that when ever she twirled, the dress she wore flowed out around her. Amy watched her in disgust.

"Well, you were given the choice of a dress or hose and you choose the dress." Amanda pointed out. She wore what she'd always worn. In fact, it was from her old trunk. A dark blue silk shirt, black hose, and her black mage's robe over it. She had her mage staff in her hands. Amanda had been a little more than surprised to find that Katlin and Nicole had kept all their belongings. She sighed.

"That's cause I didn't know what Katlin was talking about. They could have been a bit more specific, don't you think?"

"Oh, stop complaining and go with Ames. We're in a new world. We can be whoever we want here." Libby told her, still following Amanda. Amy glared at her, but fell silent. "Where are we going?" Libby finally asked their leader.

"I have two other children I need to see."

"What?" Amy asked. Libby snickered.

"She reproduced like a rabbit." Libby said, with a laugh.

"Shut it. They should be about eleven years old, now. A few months older than Jenny's daughter." She continued walking and exited the palace onto the grounds. "And knowing them, they'd be out here somewhere."

"Trinity! Get your little butt back here!" A sharp voice rang from their left. Amanda looked up at the young adult. She was waving a dress up and down and calling after a girl who was about seven years younger than her. Libby watched the girl who was running about after a young boy, wearing nothing but a white shift. Libby felt a smile creep onto her face. Amy just stared. The young woman was only a few years younger than she was and they were practically identical. She sighed and wondered if they shared more than appearance. Well, obviously they did, judging from the younger woman's taste in men.

"What's wrong Amy?" Amanda asked the Tortallan Mage. Her daughter looked at her and her two companions.

"Libby was going to take Trey and Trinity to see you if I got them dressed. But all they want to do is play." Amy sighed.

"You made a deal with your sister?"

"I'm not ready to spend time with you, mom." The word sounded foreign to her tongue. Her blue eyes pierced the woman who wasn't much older than she was anymore. Amanda nodded.

"Amy!" Both blondes looked up and Libby doubled over laughing, before she regained enough composure to whisper to her friend that it was probably the younger girl.

"This is going to get redundant." Amy pointed out. "From now on, while we're here, I'm only answering to Ami." She said, folding her arms over her chest and pouting. Libby nodded accent. She looked up to see Amanda's oldest daughter, her own clone, rebuking the younger Amy.

"I know you're mad. But quit holding a grudge. It's over and done with." Libby said and both she and Amanda looked down at their feet. "Mages!" Libby said, exasperated. She threw her arms up to Mithros. "Mithros save me!"

"That won't help." Both Amanda and Amy said at the same time, and surprisingly they turned and looked at each other and smiled.

"Um… we're gonna go and wander around." Libby told Amanda.

"No, um… wait. Please. Let us at least get you a guide," the young knight told her. Ami shook her head.

"No, that's ok. We like to wander aimlessly." Ami responded. Amy laughed and nodded understanding.

"Alright, but tell the other's I'll meet up with them for dinner. I still remember my way around here." Amanda told them, and they nodded before disappearing around the corner. It wasn't until then that Amanda figured it was a bad idea to let them go off alone, but she shrugged it off.

"Amy? Come play with us!" A young boy's voice caused Amanda to turn around and stare at her only son. His twin sister appeared at his side a moment later. "Oh, hi!" Trey said, smiling pleasantly. Trinity elbowed him in the stomach and leaned over and whispered to him a little too loudly.

"Stupid, that's not just any woman, that's Mama." Trinity told him as if it were nothing, just a normal occurance. Trey frowned and looked at her. "You'll have to forgive my brother. He's been with the Shang, and he's kinda stupid." Trinity said. Amanda couldn't help but laugh.

"And you're not surprised to see me?" Amanda asked. Trinity shrugged and shook her head.

"Trey and I knew you went to keep Triveni company, and that Mithros would bring you back if he was sure that Triveni didn't need you anymore. We weren't jealous cause we had Amy and Libby taking care of us. Oh, and Papa too." Trey just nodded accent to his sister's speech. Amanda was stunned.

"Who told you that?" Libby asked her. She knew she never told them that story. And their father was rarely around.

"Amy did." Trey told them. Amanda looked at her, but the blonde had turned away, blushing. Amanda just smiled and took her children into her arms, giving them each a hug. So maybe Amy didn't hate her as much as she thought.

"So, Enya seemed pleased to see you." Nicole told Brenna as they walked in the courtyard. The sun was slowly declining, and most of the people in the palace were inside, showering and getting ready for their respective dinners. But being a knight and a former knight, they were finished early and thus had time just to enjoy themselves. "As am I."

"I missed you also." Brenna said, not really paying attention.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, just really trying to get used to you and Katlin being older than me. It's weird, with a capital W. I mean, sure more time has past here, and yeah the age gap isn't a big deal cause we're still all the same people, but it's the idea that well, you guys are without a doubt adults, and we're…"

"Just reaching complete maturity."

"Shut it."

"Make me!" Nicole responded, smiling at her.

"Grr… Nymph." Brenna said, laughing.

"What? I can still act like a kid if I want. It's just, with raising four children, it's not easy to find time to be care free."

"Four? Kaida, Enya…"

"I have a six year old son named Devlin and a four year old daughter named Sera. They're a the Maxwell fief. You'll meet them soon. Oh, and Katlin has a four year old son, Jasson, and another set of twins, Cassara and Damita. Damy's a mute though." Nicole explained. Brenna nodded understanding.

"Are we doomed to have a world of little Katlins?" Brenna joked.

"Katlin's actually gotten pretty responsible. We both had to grow up, a lot, when you well, you know…"

"Died?" Brenna said, as if merely stating the weather. Nicole swallowed and nodded.

"I know now that you continued to live, but… but… then it was like being run over by a train sever times, and then having to stand up again and carry on like everything was going to be ok." She said, tears in her eyes. "We made a major sacrifice, staying here. It would have been so much easier to go back to earth, but we had no idea you'd be there. Either way, we figured we would be facing a life without our friends."

"But you gave up earth. You gave up your life. You didn't have to grow up. You could have come back."

"Brenna, if it had been that easy, don't you think that's what we would have done. But I couldn't turn my back on the children. Brenna, Jenny died in my arms. I watched her draw her last breath. How could I leave her son and daughter after she died saving Damien and Tolin." Brenna was silent. Jenny had never told them how she died. "And, Katlin was with Enya when she found out. Brenna, she tried to wake you up. We couldn't leave." Brenna still couldn't say anything. Nicole and Katlin were definitely different than she remembered. Older, more mature. She was proud of them, and yet at the same time it hurt. More than anything, because she hadn't been there to go through it also. Instead she had been on earth, having a great time for eight months.

"I- I'm sorry. I wish we could undo what happened."

"Sometimes I wish the same thing." Nicole told her.

WELL, MAYBE THAT CAN BE ARRANGE Brenna's heart stopped for a moment as hatred raced through her. The voice was so calm. And yet she hated it so much.

"YOU!" She screamed, glaring icicles at the apparating god. She looked around with something to rip his heart out with.

"Here," Nicole said, taking a weapon from her belt and tossing it at her. For a moment, she feared she would drop it, but she caught it as smoothly as if she had never been out of practice, and glided straight into a defensive stance, Nicole just a second a head of her with her sword. Brenna took a second to let her mind glide over the familiarity of having her precious axe back in her procession. So not only had Amanda's mage abilities returned, but this meant she and Tasuki were back up to their usually abilities. "What the hell do you want?" Nicole yelled at him.

WELL, I ASSUME YOU LIKE YOUR PRESENT, He replied, nodding toward Brenna.

"What are you talking about?" Brenna hissed at the idiotic god. She would never ever forgive him.

YOU DON'T THINK THAT YOUR EARTH FRIENDS COULD GET HERE ON THEIR OWN, DID YOU? THAT WAS MY DOING. NOW I JUST WANT A LITTLE HELP ON YOUR PART
"Tangora, we already told your god damned cousin that we want nothing to do with your feud. You're on your own." Nicole spat. Tangora raised an eyebrow.

I COULD TAKE AWAY YOUR FRIENDS. He smirked when their faces faultered.

"You bastard. It'd take more than your god damned magic to send me anywhere," Brenna hissed at him. Suddenly, she dodged forward, slamming her axe down towards his shoulder. Gold like rose up around him, protecting the god from her weapon, but her will forced her to continue. Moment's later, blood dripped from an open wound on the God's arm, mixing with the soil. He stared at her, clearly unnerved that she could beat him.

FINE! He glared and disappeared.

"I- I haven't seen him since he gave Katlin and I a choice of what to do." Nicole told her friend, walking over to the blood. She stooped down and touched it.

"Well, maybe we won't hear from him, or his cousin again."

"Fat chance. Come, it's dinner time." Nicole responded, leading Brenna back towards the palace. "Feels good to be using that again, doesn't it?" She nodded towards the axe.

"How'd you know?"

"Technically, we're half sister's here. Dead or not, I guess we retained the bond. Oh, and I know you." She said with a laugh. "Now come on, little sister, I'm hungry."

"Alright, alri- Hey! Wait a minute! Technically I'm still older than you. Get your punny Nymph ass back here!" Brenna called after her, glaring as Nicole began to sprint to the palace. "Damn her!" She took off after her "sister".

Jenny leaned against the stone wall of the corridor. Katlin had promised to take her straight to Damien, Dara, and Aurora, but she just had to stop by and make Liam sign the papers first. She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment listening to the conversation inside the office.

"Kyli, darling. I can't sign those papers."

"Why not?" Katlin responded to her husband. Jenny remembered her brother-in-law's voice well. She wanted to laugh.

"Because the people you're talking about are dead. How can I give Ariana land? She's been deceased for eight years."

"In TORTALL!" Katlin was protesting. "She's alive Liam. And so is Jolin, and Brya, and Tasuki. And they've come back."

"I'll believe it when I see it," was Liam's retort. Katlin grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him out of the office, making him stop directly in front of the small woman outside the door. He just stared blankly.

"Hello, your highness." Jenny said, a small grin on her face. Liam just nodded and swallowed, unable to find his voice.

"Believe me now?" Katlin asked, an air of superiority in her voice.

Liam just nodded. He looked at his wife and then back at his sister in law again. "I-I don't believe it… does Damien know?" Jenny shook her head.

"Do I know what?" A familiar voice came from behind him. Katlin and Liam turned around; both were in front of Jenny, blocking her from view. Damien stood behind them, carrying a book and some paper work. "Hello, your Majesty. I was just on my way to visit Liam." He said, clapping his best friend on the shoulder. "So what don't I know?" He asked again. Jenny slowly stepped out from behind Liam, her head pointed towards the floor, hiding her face. Only the top of her head was visible. That and the forest green gown she wore.

"About me." She whispered, almost inaudible. Damien frowned for a moment, studying the woman.

"Do I know you?"

Jenny nodded and looked up, tears in her eyes. Damien instantly dropped everything he was holding and pulled Jenny toward him, tears in his own eyes. "I- I don't believe it. It doesn't seem possible, but you're here and I'm not going to let anyone take you from me again." He told her, hugging her close. He placed her head between his hands and tilted it upward, kissing every inch of her face. Jenny was laughing and crying at the same time. Finally they allowed their lips to meet, and refused to let go.

"PAPA!" a small child's voice rang out through the foyer. Liam and Katlin had already departed, leaving the lovers alone to reunite, so no one had been around to warn them of the arrival of two young children. The teenage boy stepped up to the little girl and placed his hands over her eyes. He glared icicles at his father who had released Jenny.

"Don't look Aura." He told her, using his personal nickname for his sister. He turned to Jenny and Damien. "You should be ashamed of yourself," he spat at them. "Making out in a public area. And you! You're nothing but a sluty wench, seducing a married man!" Dara told the woman he had yet to recognize as his mother.

"DARA! Watch your language." Damien commanded his son. "And release your sister. I believe I should introduce you, if you are having such horrid thoughts."

"Married?" Jenny squeaked, fear in her eyes.

"To no one but you, my love." He responded. Dara chocked.

"You married her! Mithros Dad! Don't you have any respect for Mama anymore," the young squire spat, finally releasing Aurora who was shaking at the argument. She hated fighting of any kind.

"Dara! This woman IS your mother." Damien told him. Dara froze, and blinked several times.

"My mother?" He whispered, asking the woman more than his father.

"I'd better be. You put me through 18 hours of painful labor," she retorted, smiling.

Dara remembered her smile. He smiled back and ran to her, throwing his arms around her. "Ok, so oversharing, but…. I can't believe you're back." He let a single tear fall. He couldn't cry. He was a squire now, and he had a job to do. Aura had never met their mother. He let go of his mother, whom he was several inches taller than, and wipped his eyes on his sleeve. "Aura, come meet Mama. She's come back to be with you." He told his sister, who approached him, and gripped his tunic. The eleven year old looked at her mother, who stooped down to be on the small child's eye level. Aurora gazed into her mother's eyes, and used a finger to trace them. The eyes were identical to her own.

"Mama?" she mouthed. Jenny nodded and opened her arms wide enough so that both of her children could fit in and she could finally embrace them both. Damien watched silently.

"Ring damn it!" Ami yelled at her cell phone which rested on her lap. She held it between her hands as she sat on the wall overlooking the palace riding fields. The sun had begun to set and there were only a few people out. Ami sighed. This was getting incredibly difficult to bear. Austin should have called by then. Silence filled her area.

"Please ring." She begged. Silence still. "Come on. This is so not cool!" She pouted as the cell phone defiantly disobeyed her request as if it were made to piss her off. "Damn it! Just ring!" She yelled at it, standing up and shaking the cell phone. More than anything she wanted to hear from her fiancé. Silence again filled the air around her. Suddenly a tinkle of a bell sounded in her ears.

"Hello!" She pushed the answer button on her phone, and placed it to her ear, exuberantly. She was grinning from ear to ear. Silence filled the other line. Not even the sound of breathing, or a dial tone. "Hello!" She said again, trying to make contact and getting worried. Did he need her? She looked at the phone and the screen was blank.

"Ami?" Brenna asked, as she and Nicole walked up to her. Brenna was once again wearing her usual knight outfit. A pair of crimson hose, a pale red shirt, and a gold tunic. Nicole was dressed identical, same colors and all. As were Liam, Duo, Tasuki, Damien, Trowa, Libby, Everic, Rika, Dara, Kaida, Enya, and Bryce. As knights, squires, and pages in service to the crown, Katlin had asked that they were the royal uniform for the banquet they were having that night. "What are you doing?" Ami looked up and saw wind chime blowing in the wind. She sighed.

"Waiting for Austin to call." Brenna just stared at and Nicole doubled over laughing. "What?"

"Ami, sweetie, cell phones don't work here." Brenna told her, glaring at her 'sister' who couldn't stop laughing. "Nicole, will you stop that." Nicole nodded, but kept laughing. Ami was whimpering. Brenna hugged her. "No Austin?"

"No sweetie. No Austin."

"This sucks."

"Ami, I promise you'll see him again. In a few days we'll see about sending you home if you want?" Nicole told her. "Afterall, now that Amanda's here, she and her daughter can combine their powers. They're the two most powerful mage's in Tortall. Ok?" Amy nodded, but continued pouting. "Come, dinner's gonna start soon." Brenna agreed and followed her up to the palace.

"This still sucks."

Dinner had gone over fairly well. There were many more reunions, including one between Sir Everic and the former Lady Brya that almost got messy. Actually, it had been quite entertaining for the younger children to watch. Enya had particularly enjoyed watching her new knight master getting a nice tongue lashing from his former master, and her mother. Currently she sat with her two best friends in a small, rarely used ball room. She, Kaida, and Dara had wanted to get away from all the commotion. Instead of returning home as originally planned, Lady Nira had sent for Sera and Devlin who were now occupied in the nursery with the young prince and princesses. The rest of the young ones, Trey, Trinity, Bryce, Sadie, and Aurora, were off getting into trouble, no doubt.

Kaida leaned back against the ledge that Enya was perched on, her feet on the floor, and her knees hugging her chest. Dara stood beside them, his elbow resting on the ledge. Kaida sighed and closed her eyes.

"What's wrong, Kai?" Dara asked, the youngest of their little group. She may have just been thirteen, but there was no doubt, that if she wanted to, she could beat him in a duel.

"Dunno. I guess, well, I just think things will be different. Very different now that your mom's are back. I mean, Enya is gonna be moving out." Kaida told them. Enya laughed.

"I was moving out anyway, Kai. Sir Everic and I leave in a week. Dara's rarely around anyway, he's always with Sir Trowa. And next year you'll be a squire." Enya told her.

"But right now, you're the little page baby." Dara told her with a laugh. She kicked his shin. "Oww… hey, that hurt."

"I know." Kaida remarked, standing up. Dara yawned. It was getting late.

"Kai, nothing's gonna be that different. If anything, we'll all be around more." Dara told her. Enya nodded agreement, tossing her red curls around. Kaida smiled. "Well, ladies. I'm tired, and I'm off to go make sure Mum knows how to put Aura to bed. Come to think of it, I'd better make sure Aura is getting ready for bed. Later." He told them, walking out of the ball room as they waved goodbye to him.

"So, are you looking forward to moving to Amber Hill?" Kaida asked her older cousin. She nodded.

"Yeah. Hey, I want you, Aunt Nira, and Uncle Duo to come with us tomorrow." Enya told her. Kaida frowned. "I want to show off my skills for Mom and Dad. And I want to show off you too."

"Why?"

"Cause I taught you everything you know."

"Well, maybe not everything. I can whip you in archery." Kaida told her. "And I'm better with a sword."

"Yes, but I've got you beat in tilting and you can barely lift Mom's axe."

"Ladies, ladies. Flowers like you shouldn't be talking about weaponry." A young man's voice sounded. Two boys walked in. One looked to be about 16 and his companion about 14. The older boy had bright green eyes and brown hair, while his compaion's hair was a deep brown, and his eyes a vivid grey.

"Yeah, don't you realize that you're both too pretty to be out getting scars. You'll ruin your beautiful complexions." Kaida and Enya both rolled their eyes. They knew exactly who these two boys were. They were part of the delegation that had come with the Prince of Tyra, Favian, who was to wed Princess Sadie when they both reached sixteen. Thus, most of the Prince's court had accompanied him to Tortall for his six month visit which included Ryold of Weltmon and his younger cousin Thioden of Briget. The two had immediately taken a liking to Enya and Kaida, and for the past three months had been chasing them. Every ball, or party that they attended as 'relatives' of the royal family, they were asked to dance, and honor bond to accept, to keep friendly relations between the Tortallan royalty, and that of Tyra. They were quite handsome, but were also full of themselves. And in Tyra, women were never permitted to by knights, thus they made every mention that they could that Enya and Kaida shouldn't be training. No matter how hard they wished to slap the Tyranians, both girls kept control.

"Good evening, Ryold, Thioden." Enya stated, Kaida nodded.

"Evening. What keeps you too out so late?" Thioden asked, placing his hand on Kaida's shoulder. She wanted to get him off. "Are you lonely?" He smirked at the youger girl.

"They must be. There are no men around to help keep their beds warm." Ryold added leaning closer to Enya, and tickling the back of her neck. She grimaced.

"Ahem…" A clear cut voice rang from the doorway, making both boys look up. "Are you boys suggesting that these ladies have no honor?" Sir Trowa asked from the doorway, Amy behind him.

"Because if you are, then, as their friends, we would be honor bound to stop you." Master Clearwater stood beside him, his hand firmly gripped on his mage's staff, his own lover with him, her sword drawn.

"No masters. We're very sorry, and we were just leaving." Ryold said. Thioden nodded and they both fled, as the company in the door spread apart to let them through.

"You two ok?" Libby asked them. Both girls nodded.

"Thanks. Had you not come along, I think I would have used my gift to contact mom and tell her to get dad down here." Kaida told them. "Uh-oh," she added, her face sinking.

"What?" Enya asked.

"Well, not only do we now have dad and uncle Tasuki to protect us from the suitors we don't like…"

"But we have them both around to drive off the ones we do like… damn." Enya finished, realization dawning. Trowa and Chichiri laughed.

"Don't forget us and Dara." Trowa told them. The two young girls grimaced.

"Don't worry. You've got us as back up." Amy told them, smiling.

"Thanks." They both replied. "But I think were in trouble." Enya finished, her cousin nodding as they all left the room. Boy was it going to be fun having everyone around.

a/n: Sorry about abundant grammar and spelling mistakes. I was too tired to spell check. Maybe if I revise this. Chapter 3 coming soon!