Comments(Please Read): -Strikes a pose- Miss me? You all know you did…-coughs- I'll resign myself to the fact you missed the story more then you missed me. Yes, the author who abandoned this story for months is finally back. How long has it been? I've truly lost count of the months let alone the days. It's about midnight right now, the time I'm writing this, which is probably what inspired me to actually write this chapter. It was pretty much inspired by midnight so if it's all wicked confusing then it's supposed to be that. That's not a lie. No way…okay maybe a little. If it's like totally confusing and you don't know what's going on then it wasn't meant to be that confusing. But if it's only a little confusing and you understand some of it then good for you because that's what I was going for.

I'll stop rambling and give you this long awaited chapter…enjoy and review. By the way, part of the reason this is confusing is because I'm not telling you the POV's but it does change and you will be warned by (--) when it does change. Its all a part of this interlude…Yes interlude, now don't complain.


Chapter Seven-Interlude

The ages of days and lies of past times will ultimately destroy the world,
None shall be able to stop this tide of danger that will spread the lands
And unless thy worldly beings band together and become whole
The world will die as will the beings living upon the land and in the sea.
Darkness will reign and none shall be safe from impending servitude.

"I'm not quite sure I like that prophecy," someone muttered quietly.

The only male in the group spoke up, "Well, do we know who these worldly beings are supposed to be? No offense to whoever prophesized this, but it's like something I would make up."

"We know," the female with glasses spoke finally.

"Why are there always these strange prophecies?" said the female with reddish-brown hair. "And why are we the ones who always have to make sure the prophecies come to pass?"

"It is our duty just like it was our forefathers duty," the male muttered, "I remember my father telling me that whenever I tried to get out of my studies."

The was laughter from everyone, "I think all of us, but Naoko, have shirked our studies at least once," I heard myself say.

"That's true."

"So when are our King and Queen going to arrive?"

"Not until tomorrow morning if they ride hard," Naoko replied quietly and smiled, "Rika, did you make the oden?"

"Of course I did."

--

"Will you stop touching me?" the woman sitting next to me hissed, "I'm not some common escort."

I smiled dazzling, "And here I was thinking you were," that earned me a heel jamming itself into my left foot. "Ow," I hissed quietly.

"You deserved itYour Highness," she mocked in return and then straightened the shawl that had fallen down to her elbows. "Dammit, the magic here is suffocating me," I looked at her in slightly shock, "It's everywhere and when you have the element I have you tend to notice it far more."

"I never realized what it was like for the people of your kingdom whenever they came to mine or to any of the other kingdoms. There is much more magic here then there is in yours."

"Feh, why do you think I get headaches a lot?"

I tried not to laugh and instead looked towards where the princess was running around the garden, her hands filled with white roses and plum blossoms. On the ground nearby lay the prince, his arms curled under his head as he observed her through half closed eyes. It was very obvious that he was in love with her and that he admired it. You would have to be a fool to not see it. She shifted beside me and I looked over at her with a questioning gaze but she only shook her head and I wrote it off as her 'headache'. Instead I looked back at the princess and the prince and frowned. She was in love with him too, her actions made it obvious. They were both as bad about this as I was with her. Another quick glance to the woman beside me who definitely knew I was watching her.

"I'm going to go find the healers, maybe they can give me something for this headache," She said in exasperation.

I moved to stand, "I'll go with you."

"No thanks, I've had enough of testosterone filled males. Stay here and mope."

"What do I have to mope about?" I asked as she started to walk off.

All she did was wave her hand towards the princess and prince and I got her meaning. She was right, I was moping. I looked back at them as he joined in and started to chase after her. When I looked back at her she was long gone and I frowned, she was too tricky for her own good. I shrugged and then leaned back against the wall behind me. Maybe I could convince her she didn't love him…no that would be cruel. A wicked thought crossed my mind but that was gone just as quickly, my crush would kill me for that one. Ugh, I was acting like a little child. A child who had just realized they loved someone who couldn't possibly love them back. Yes, I was most definitely turning into my sister and the prince. Yes indeed. Maybe Eriol would be kind enough to spar with me.

"Going somewhere?" A sweet voice asked and I looked over at our hostess.

"Your majesty," I said with a deep bow.

She groaned quietly, but loud enough for me to hear, "Come now Cousin, cut the Your majesty part and I won't be forced to dress you up," I choked and took a step back, "I was joking," she said with a simple laugh.

"How is the plans for war going?" I asked as she settled down onto the bench where I had been sitting previously.

"The troops are on their way here as we speak," she told me. "We should be ready to leave in a few days."

"We?" I questioned. "I'm sorry but there is no way I or your husband are going to let you come with us."

She smiled fierily, "You have no choice, I am going Cousin," there was a slight venom in her words. "You will need me there, I have foreseen it."

"I have forgotten that little skill of yours."

"As have many people," she reminded me, "but you will do well to remember it now."

I nodded, "I shall."

"Good Cousin, now there is something else we must speak of."

I groaned, "What now?"

"The council wishes to throw a ball in honor of their joining," she motioned towards my sister and the prince.

"What makes them think they are joining?" I hissed sternly.

"Now, now cousin, you can not control her suitors forever. This is one man who will get it his way, you just need to allow yourself to give her up. Plus don't you have someone you need to court?"

"Don't remind me, it's going to be hell on earth," I said with a moan.

She laughed, "Just give her what she needs and she'll fall into your arms and give you her heart without a thought. The seed has been planted you just need to water it and nurture it."

"I'll heed your words," I told her with a slight smile, "though it shall be hard to give her what she needs and wants."

"Not as hard as you think," she cautioned me, "She needs someone to love her, someone who won't cast her away with barely a thought, it has happened before when she was younger."

"Umm."

"Now, your sister and the prince…"

It was going to be a long day. A long day indeed.

--

"We are almost home."

"Just tonight and we are there."

There was a sigh, "I feel as if something bad is going to happen. It is as if there is a rift in the flame, a rift that can not be healed. Someone bad is going to happen, but to whom?"

"Don't worry about it koi," the male said with a tremor of love in his deep voice, "Right now we have to worry about getting home and helping our order make sure the prophecy is protected and that it is allowed to unravel."

"But what if this prophecy is not complete? What if there is a part missing? My family could be destroyed and I would have only you and yours."

"And what is so bad about that?" The arrogant cockiness was back with a vengeance.

I slapped him over the head, "Well genius, you think that maybe I would miss my family, but no, you think I live only for you."

"You don't?"

Another slap to the head, "Keep this up," I hissed dangerously, "and you'll be sleeping on the couch for a year. That's a promise."

He smiled sheepishly, "Look if anything were to happen, don't you think I would also feel it?"

"I know you would, but what if-"

He cut me off with a kiss, "Look Koi, we are doing everything in our power to make sure this prophecy goes about the way it must. If it doesn't we are all dead anyway."

"And if they can't stop the evil from spreading? Already it has reached people that it should never have reached in the first place," I had to take a deep breath before I continued, "What if it reaches Mother Nature and our elements are out of whack, you know it could kill us."

"Koi, this evil is just that, evil. It's not in a shape or a form. It's hidden in someone's heart and comes about when there is tragedy, duels. Mother Nature should be safe."

"And if she's not?"

"Then we are truly going to die."

I groaned and curled up against him, "I hope you are right and that it never comes to that. The Sun kingdom is going to destroy us."

"They will not, Prince Li and the others will persevere and the evil will be destroyed."

"But their will still be evil in the world."

He sighed unhappily, "Will happiness and joy there must come evil and madness. If it wasn't this way the world wouldn't be equal."

"But that is why the world is corrupt."

"I know, but they will do everything in their power to stop the balance from being disrupted. You know they will and with our help they will achieve what they must."

I looked at my gloved hands, "When shall they be set free?"

"You know it must be done on the Full Moon."

"When everyone's powers are at their fullest?"

He nodded, "Yes. It is the only way it will work. They haven't been released in hundreds of years and the magic in the air will help rejuvenate them."

"I wish we could just get this over with."

"It will all be over soon. If we are lucky it'll be over within a month."

"Even the fighting?"

"Even the fighting."

"I hope you are right, I don't think I would be to handle it if you were wrong."

There was a chuckle from him, "And when have I ever been wrong about something koi? I can't seem to remember any of those times. Is there something you're not telling me? Did I do something I should regret when I was drunk once?"

"When have you ever been drunk?"


Okay so it was shorter then it should have been, but believe me interludes are supposed to be shorter then real chapters, that's why it's called an interlude. Anyway, just be glad there actually was a chapter, it was getting a little bit strange to write near the end and I don't think it's confusing at all. But then again I am the writer and I do know what's going on, so maybe, hopefully you won't all be confused.

Don't forget to review and I will be seriously sad if I have lost some reviewers, but I wouldn't blame them. I have been seriously neglecting this story. Oh and there is a little note in my profile that you should all read, even it doesn't seriously impact this story.

-Wolf Jade (Amber)