DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NEOPETS!

Chapter 3

New Challenges

"This early in the morning?" Hiro asked.

"Yes, the earlier you train the more you'll be thankful it's lunch time." Taelia made a little joke about it, she really just wanted Rei to train hard so she'll know how it is when you fight.

"Yeah, speaking of that I'm a little hungry, so let's do this quick." Rei said. There were three levels of obstacles, Rei being trained hard went straight to level 2.

"First you need to show me your elementist skills so I can see what we need to work on." Taelia said.

They first had to go outside because they would have all the necessary environments to control the elements. Rei first decided to move a few large rocks into a circle. She walked inside and made a 6 ft. tree grow. She created a steel sword and cut the branches off then made a fire from her hands. And put it out afterwards as well with air.

"And I can make this too." Rei said as she made a little toy shoyru again to show Taelia just what she can do.

"Wow, you've made a camp site out of the deserted lot I made for this occasion Rei, good job. Now Hiro , you can go and work on that gift you were working on in the workshop now, me and Rei are going to practice our skills together and learn a thing or two about each other." Taelia said.

"Sure, I'll see you later Rei." Hiro said as he waved goodbye on his way to the workshop.

"Okay! So what are we going to do? Work on fire first?" Rei asked with excitement.

"How about we work on making your fire stronger but still having it tamed. Now let me take off this coat." Taelia said. (F.Y.I. her coat is her trademark look but under it she has a beautiful dragon scale woven dress like Rei's only it's a dress.)

"Okay now hold open your hands palms up and make your spark of fire, a little one first." Taelia said. Rei did what she was told and made a little spark. Taelia then told her to make it the biggest flame that she could.

"Are you sure that's okay? I mean if I make it super large then what do I do?" Rei asked.

"Don't worry if you do then I'll be here to put it out." Taelia assured. Rei tried as hard as she could she made the flame large too a few seconds into it and she had it as big a well grown Shoyru. She put all she had into this last try, she managed to make it way bigger. This time is was even bigger than the neolodge.

"Okay stop now." Taelia yelled.

"I did it, it was so large and…" Rei said as she fainted.

"Rei, you were great that must have been the first time you made it that big, don't worry, you can rest for now." Taelia said as she carried Rei over to Hiro's room. Rei woke up during that time and said that she could take care of herself for the time being.

"I'm going to go find Hiro now, I bet he would be wondering what the big flame was." Rei laughed.

"Okay come back anytime for another lesson in controlling your powers." Taelia said as Rei disappeared around the corner. She was walking so quietly to the workshop to not disturb Hiro.

"Hey Hiro, guess what I made, that humongous flame outside!" Rei said.

"Really, that's pretty cool. Oh and I have something for you, something that I was working on all this time." Hiro said making Rei anxious to know what it is.

"Tah-dah!" Hiro said while holding up a small box.

"Oh a box… how… nice." Rei said picking it up.

"You're supposed to open it Rei." Hiro said laughing.

"Okay, let me open it then!" Rei said. She grabbed the box , opened it and gasped.

"Oh my gosh, it's so beautiful Hiro, thank you so much!" Rei said as she hugged Hiro so much that he couldn't breathe. In the box was an ice crystal locket with a gold chain. Inside the locket was a picture of Hiro and on the other side these words were carved into it, 'Rei, with all my heart I hope you find what you are looking for, Love Hiro.' It was already dinner by the time Rei had stopped hugging Hiro. Rei wasn't really so hungry so she went into Hiro's room and saw a letter on the bed waiting for her.

"Hmm, I wonder what this is." Rei said as she opened the letter to read that it was an exclusive invitation to Maraquan ball. Also inside the letter were two pairs of underwater necklaces for breathing.

You are happily invited to the 1st annual Maraquan ball. We advise you to use the breathing necklaces that we have given you. The time you must be here is 8:00 sharp. You may bring one companion with you, no one else. May we remind you that this is invitation only. No invitation, no entrance.

Thank you

Sincerely,

King Kelpbeard

Wow, I think I'll ask Hiro to come, he might like it. And I have the perfect dress to go along with it." Rei said as she hurried over to her dress cabinet and pulled out Queen Fyora's gift to her, a beautiful silver and gold dress made by the greatest dress makers in Faerieland. "Perfect." Rei simply said. She ran to find Hiro, he was in Taelia's library lying down on the furniture reading a book.

"Hey Hiro, sorry to disturb you but I have something I want to ask you." Rei said as she sat down next to Hiro.

"Yeah? Okay shoot." Hiro said as he marked his book and set it down on the table in front of them.

"You see there's a Maraquan ball coming up and it says I can bring someone with me, I was wondering if you would like to come with me?" Rei asked.

"Really, that's cool, but I can't breathe underwater."

"Yeah that's why they sent us some underwater necklaces." Rei said while holding them up.

"Okay I'll go, I'll ask the tailors to make me a tux so it's tonight right?" Hiro asked getting up.

"Yes 8:00, I'll see you in an hour cause it's already 6:30, bye." Rei said waving goodbye and going to Hiro's room to change. An hour later Hiro came through his bedroom door and was in a black tux with a tie.

"You look good in a tux Hiro, you look so much like a gentleman in that." Rei said as she came out from the bathroom to reveal her beautiful dress.

Like before Hiro couldn't stop staring. The dress was strapless and the bottom of the dress was lace woven. The dress came up to her knees and it sort of puffed outwards about 5 inches from her legs. The whole dress was lined with gold thread and she wore arm gloves with only a thumb-hole for style. Those were also lined with gold. And she wore the necklace that Hiro had given her earlier and the breathing necklace.

"So what do you think?" Rei asked as she spun around.

"It looks great on you, Queen Fyora really knows how to spoil her relatives. Anyway, I bought this for you." Hiro said as he held up a beautiful bouquet of white and blue carnations. "I figured your favorite color is blue so I got some and the white was Taelia's idea." He said while giving them to Rei.

"Oh they're beautiful Hiro, thank you. I'll put them in water once we get back. Here, your tux would be nothing without it." Rei said as she took one flower and put it in the upper pocket of Hiro's tuxedo. "And a corsage for me."

"You look very stunning I'm glad to be your partner." Hiro said as he held out his hand.

"……Me too."

She took his hand and he spun her and she ended up in his arms while they were taken to just above Maraqua where they saw a peophin strode carriage and a Maraquan Draik inviting them in it with a bow. They went inside and were surprised that it didn't leak

underwater. The carriage was specially made for outside travelers. When they stepped out, Rei's hair was flowing as if she was swimming, along with Hiro's hair but it was short so it didn't really flow as much as Rei's. Once they got down to the Castle, King Kelp Beard came up to Rei and gave her a huge hug.

"I'm glad you and Hiro could make it my dear Rei." King Kelpbeard humbly said.

"Thank you sir, it's an honor to be here." Hiro said with a bow and Rei did a curtsy.

"Yes, it's a great honor to see Maraqua better than ever." Rei said, they walked to the ball room and Rei spotted a familiar face on the sides.

"Isca!" Rei shouted. For those who do not know, Isca is the aisha that saved Maraqua with her future telling dreams. Being a neopet, she hadn't looked any old from when she saved Maraqua.

"Rei! I can't believe it, I dreamt you were alive but I thought Jhudora had killed you. I guess I wasn't just dreaming. Oh It's good to see you." Isca said as she swam over to Rei. Hiro let Rei talk as he went over to get something to eat. Being a boy he loves food.

"Yes, Hiro saved me from the tower. Though he could've made it earlier. Still I need to get Fyora out of Jhudora clutches. And I need to make sure Jhudora is no longer allowed to roam these parts only her cloud as her inhabitants for now and forever." Rei said boldly. Isca on the other hand was very surprised, all this time she had thought that Queen Fyora was killed, she had no idea that she was still alive.

"She's still alive! I thought she was dead, well it's wonderful to hear that she is alive but still you need to save her. But you need something else, come let me show you something." Isca said as she lead Rei to her room. Now being that it's underwater she would have to swim but the necklaces given to her and Hiro are special. They can actually let the body rip through the water like air so Rei just had the trouble with catching up with Isca.

"See this? It's a Maraquan shield made out of the strongest and finest Maractite is neopia. This will help you greatly." Isca said as she gave it to Rei. Rei had a hard time getting used to it so she knew that to bear this she would have to train hours on end until she thought it weighed as much as a feather.

"Thanks, you're right this will help. Isca I've noticed something different about you, you seem more calm then you last were." Rei said as she placed the shield on the floor and made a stone seat to sit on. It dropped with a clunk as she set it down.

"You've improved you skills haven't you Rei? Well anyway, I feel more calm. Garin is still a pirate. News about him is that he's been great at repairing and now he's close to being the greatest pirate in neopia if he keeps this up. I invited him tonight but I have yet to see him." Isca said as she swam her way over next to Rei.

"Hmm, well before me and Hiro got here, I sensed and aura happiness and hope all in one direction. The direction Garin is coming in. Trust me, he'll be here." Rei said comforting Isca.

"I guess, we have not yet to see each other in over a month. Sailing takes a long time I suppose. Oh how I've missed you Garin." Isca Hadn't realized she had said the last sentence aloud and now Rei was sure that Isca was more calm because she has a boyfriend, and that's Garin. Well, at least she knew she liked him.

"Oh I get it, you miss him because he's your love. And you are his. Isca, if this is true then my senses are telling me that Garin has just arrived." Rei said as she hurried over to the entrance, she was right there standing in the doorway was Garin. He was talking to King kelp beard but she could tell that he was anticipating to see Isca. "Isca, see I told you your boyfriend was here."

"He's not my boyfriend Rei, merely a close friend." Isca said while blushing.

"Right, listen I'll see if that's true by doing something secret to most people and a simple task for Elementists like myself." Rei said as she ran over to Garin. Hiro came over to Rei as soon as she got to Garin. He looked very satisfied with the food they had but not blown up like a balloon.

"Hey Garin!" Rei shouted as Garin whizzed around to see Rei and Hiro ready to greet him.

"Oh hey Rei, glad to see you're alive news hasn't traveled too far out on sea. And Hiro,

dude you look like you're about to get married." Garin laughed.

"Well it is a ball and tuxedos are a bit more appropriate. Though I really wish it wasn't a

formal ball otherwise I would have worn my regular clothes." Hiro said.

"Wow your hair really is long ain't it Rei? Well it looks better that way, keep it that way." Garin said with a smirk on his face.

"Oh thank you Garin, though flirting with me isn't going to get you anything at all. But shouldn't you be talking to your true love, Isca?" Rei said as she pushed him over towards Isca landing him straight in front of her.

"We're not in love!" both of them said in sync.

"Ah, but that is why I am giving you the Great Rei's Love test. First things first." Rei said as she made a big air bubble around them attracting others to watch but slowly they minded their own business. Isca could breath out of water also so it wasn't a problem. Rei made a silver flame appear in both of her palms.

"Put both of your hands on my hands."

"Are you nuts Rei! We'll burn our hands!" Garin yelled.

"Just shut your trap and trust me, I wouldn't do this if it were going to hurt you two." She said as she made the blue flames a little bigger.

"Okay." they both said as both Isca and Garin put both of their hands on both of Rei's hands. The colors started to change colors from red to orange and ever color in the rainbow. They both flinched but got used to it after it changed a few times. Finally after a few minutes of changing the flame disappeared.

"Well there is no doubt about it. That love test says it all, you guys are in love and you can't deny it." Rei said as she made the air bubble disappear.

"You are meant for each other, if you truly suppose you don't want to be together, that is fine. But deep in your hearts you know you care deeply about one another." She said as she walked over to them and linked Garin's hand to Isca's.

"Just call me the Elemental Matchmaker!" Rei said with a smile. Hiro came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Trust me, she knows what she's talking about." Hiro smiled. All Garin and Isca were doing were staring at each other, endlessly blushing.

"You know, Rei's powers are rare and a way to find out true love of one another must be very truthful. I guess I do like you Garin, but let's not rush into things, we are deeply great friends and always will be no matter what." Isca said as she hugged Garin. Like Hiro, he

blushed a lot after.

"Yeah, let's not." Garin said as he took her out to the dance floor and danced with Isca.

"Oh how sweet, I knew they were meant for each other. Come on let's dance!" Rei said as Hiro took her out to the dance floor and danced the night with her in his arms.

They arrived back at the castle around 2:00 am. Both were exhausted so Void, Hiro's Shoyru, teleported them to Hiro's room. Being as tired as they were they didn't notice that they were sleeping on the same bed until that morning.

"Huh? EEEK!" Rei screamed as she was staring at Hiro right next to her in the bed. She was so surprised that she made a poisonous snake appear.

"KALEB WAKE UP!" Rei yelled. Startled, Hiro woke up to see Rei cornered with the snake just in front of her. Hiro took his sword and sliced the monster in half, it dissolved into vivid green dust.

"Thanks, oh gees my head. What time did we get home last night?" Rei said while rubbing her arms. Suddenly she realized something, she hadn't set off any monsters at the ball with Hiro, she was so puzzled but shrugged it off.

"Hey wait, now I remember, we got home around 2:00 in the morning or something. I remember seeing a clock that said 2:00 when we left or somewhere around that time, I know I remembered seeing the 2 I know that." Rei said getting up.

"Yeah I remember that too, hey wait we haven't changed out of our clothes yet. Oh whatever, hey come on we've got training to do don't we?" Hiro said going into his closet.

"Yes we do, oh and I need my clothes, I put them in your closet so things weren't a mess." Rei said going towards the closet then her clothes came flying out making Rei try to catch them.

"You know you could have given them to me Hiro. Throwing some things at me will surely make a monster appear." Rei thought about her powers and thought maybe she could think something bad but not too bad. But just enough to make a monster, so she tried it out.

She didn't make anything. Anything at all she was just standing there and Hiro came out and saw her just standing there.

"Uh Rei? Anything the matter you're just standing there." Hiro said while waving a hand in her face.

"Hiro, I can't make a monster, I'm trying to feel bad and I do with this thought but there is no monster appearing." Rei said looking up at Hiro.

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oooooo. No monster appearing? hmm, i wonder what that means?