Hope you guys enjoy Chapter Seven...

Chapter Seven: Of Dreams And Promises

"Unfortunately, yes. Boris and Voltaire wouldn't stop going on about it, gloating all the time. But what could we do about it? We were their prisoners, and it's not like we could have overthrown them, they're Avarians aswell, remember?"

All mouths were wide open in shock thinking the same thing ...Uh Oh... Emily slumped down and frowned.

"But it took a lot to defeat them at the tournament," she paused as the realisation hit her. "I feel sorry for the Avarians."

Tyson piped up confidently. "Well what are we waiting for. We beat them once didn't we? Let's go do it again!"

"Yeah!" Max piped in, jumping up. A hand placed on Max's shoulder pushed him back down.

"No." He looked up to Tala.

"Why not?"

"Several reasons. You're ill equipped; you have no idea of anything that goes on in that world like proper conduct, trade and other such stuff. You have no idea what to take and you won't have access to the stuff anyway. And... None of you would be able to handle it, let alone defeat Boris and Voltaire."

Rei looked to Tala. "Actually I'd be able to get a hold of most of the things we'd need. Us Neko-jins do guard the portal remember. We have another village on the other side…" Rei trailed off as another thought came to him. He looked to Tala then to Kai as he spoke. "You said that Voltaire is an avarian."

Tala gave him a simple nod as Rei continued, "But that's impossible. That would mean Kai would be an avarian, and he can't be because he has red eyes and…"

"And what?" Tala crossed his arms and leant against the wall. "Did the thought ever occur to you that he may have been adopted? Think about it. If Voltaire had a human heir then he'd have someone to take over his role as 'supreme ruler' while he stayed in the New World. Thus his intentions of taking over the world during the tournament."

"Awww…I didn't know you were adopted Kai." Kai resisted the urge of flattening Tyson for his remark.

Rei sat back as he thought on the answer that Tala had given him. To him, it seemed to be the truth but there was something bugging him. Something was missing…or being hidden. If Tala had to make that vow to protect the Prince then why is the Prince in the other World and not here?

His thoughts were cut off as Tyson remembered their former conversation. "Soooo…when are we leaving?"

Tala looked to him and scowled. "You can't come."

Tyson just scowled back and poked out his tongue. "It's not up to you." He looked to Rei and pouted. "Reeiiiii…can we go? Please…?"

Rei laughed and looked to the rest of the group who were eagerly awaiting an answer. "I guess so…if you all want to. I will have to ask my dad first but I guess it should be okay."

"Alright!" Tyson punched the air then poked his tongue out at Tala again. "When are we leaving?"

Not long later Rei had the permission that they had needed from his father and the group had set off on a trek through the surrounding woods with Rei's dad accompanying them. A while after they had set out the group came to a cave.

"It's in the cave, isn't it?"

Kevin looked to Ian and raised an eyebrow. "How'd you know?"

"So predictable. The lair is always in the cave."

Rei chuckled and shaking his head he walked in, leading the rest. His dad had stayed behind as everyone else entered the cave. Walking through the cave it had soon become a lot darker than they had thought possible. Suddenly the cave started lighting up and everyone was soon shielding their eyes at the sudden transfer from dark cave to bright sunlight.

Gasps were heard as those who had never been through the portal looked at the grasslands they had come out to. They looked around in awe and Max laughed as he pointed to something in the distance. "Is that the other Neko-jin village? I think I can see it."

Tyson looked to Max and they both laughed. "This place is awesome."

Tala looked to Brian and smirked in a silent 'I told you we'd find a way'.

Rei started walking towards the village. Looking behind him, he called to everyone over his shoulder. "Come on guys. Let's go."

Tyson and Max started running to catch up to Rei. Tyson turned around and yelled to everyone else. "Last one there's a rotten egg!" At the challenge everyone…make that almost everyone…started running. Three young teens were left to watch the backs of the groups slowly disappear. Kai sighed and shook his head.

"I can't believe they're still immature enough to do that 'last one there' thing. You think they would have grown up. And look." Kai motioned for the end of the group where Robert and Enrique stood, "Looks like they couldn't quite keep up."

Kai, Brian and Tala chuckled to themselves in amusement as the two Faeries transformed into their Faerie clothing with butterfly type wings to follow. Lifting up in the air they flew off landing right in front of the group, before everyone.

"Cheats." Brian glared at their far away backs and smirked, "If we go now, you know, we could still beat them. How about it?"

Tala rolled his eyes and took a side-ward glance at Kai, "You know that would mean leaving him here." He motioned for Kai with his head and continued walking. "We'll get there when we get there, okay?"

It wasn't long till everyone had made it to the Neko-jin village. They were all inside a tavern cooling down with drinks of water when Rei came back in with a smile. "Well, I've organised everything and we're good to go but..."

"There's always a but. What is it?"

Rei only glanced at Ian as he continued talking. "It's not that bad, just that some people are suggesting we leave tomorrow because there's a storm on the way. They say that it'll be gone by tomorrow morning."

Eddie went to the door and opened it slightly, glancing outside, then closed it and walked back over. "I didn't see any clouds before. How'd they manage to creep up like that?"

Tala smirked and leant on the door. "Didn't you know? Here in this world they have a big shiny red button that when pushed it changes the weather."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. No need to be sarcastic."

Rei just laughed softly then glanced at the stairs. "I've already organised rooms for us all. Five rooms, one team in each room." Looking around he clapped his hands together. "Well, I guess we should all have something to eat and then head to bed."

Feeling a hand around his mouth, the five-year old woke to see two black figures standing above him. Feeling the danger, the young avarian jumped out of bed and ran to the corner of his room away from any danger.

"What are you doing in my room? Who are you?"

Two evil sniggers were heard as the men moved in around him. As the child took a deep breath he looked around the room in fear. A loud scream was heard from a room close by, a scream, which told the youngling instantly that his mother needed help. Thinking of nothing but his mother in danger he took the chance to run away. Bolting to the door he flung it open and ran towards his parent's room. Reaching for the handle he opened their door and stopped where he was, in utter terror. There before him stood his own adviser, Boris, and his parents adviser, Voltaire. Between the two sat his family, being held at the point of a sword. His mother cried out in desperation as she saw her son standing at the door.

"Run, my son! Get out, you musn't let them catch you!"

Voltaire turned and looked to him; his evil face showing no compassion.

"Be a good boy and come with us. You wouldn't want your parents hurt now, would you?" Boris slid over next to Voltaire and pulled a dagger from up his sleeve. Handing it to Voltaire he smiled a smile which dripped with venom. Voltaire looked to the youngling and put his arms out in gesture of peace. "We don't want to hurt you, my young avarian, but if you don't do what we say, well..." Voltaire slid the knife till it stood an inch above his fathers neck. "Do as we say, and your parents will live."

The avarian wiped away a small tear before it made its destination down his face. Looking into his parent's eye's he saw the strength of hundreds of people. The will to live was there, but there was a hint of sadness. They wanted him to live, and they would risk their lives just for his. Could he do it for them? Should he?

Looking behind him, he saw the men, from his room, enter at the door. Before they could get him, he sprinted to the other corner of the room. Stepping forward he motioned for Voltaire's knife, "I want you to promise. Promise you won't hurt them. And promise me with a blood oath. I'll go with you if you keep them alive."

Boris scowled and moved towards Voltaire. They knew full well that they would never be able to get past the city gates with a screaming five-year-old avarian, but promising that they would keep their prisoners alive meant that there would still be a chance for them to reclaim what was theirs. The throne. Voltaire turned towards the royal family tied at his feet.

"Alright." Pulling the knife towards his hand he slid it across. The blood oath had been made. Avarians hated to lie, but the thing that they hated the most was not keeping a promise. A blood oath was a matter of life or death to keep that promise alive. "I promise that they will remain unharmed and alive. Now take him away."

One of the men at the door stalked over to the young Prince and hurled him over his shoulder. From behind the door, another young avarian appeared. The sound of the King and Queens sobbing had brought help.

"Let them go, and put him down, before I get the royal guards."

Boris came up behind the young boy, and slid a brown sack over his head. "Now, my young Brian, I don't think that that would help the situation." He heard a muffled scream as the bag tightened.

"Should we get rid of him or bring him along?"

Voltaire raised an eyebrow and opened the door. "Do you really want more of these brats around? I would rather think that thieves were better equipped for what we have planned."

Pulling the curtains aside, he revealed the nine year old thief standing their in utter shock. The Prince raised his head and yelled, "Run, Tala. Don't worry about me, just help Brian and get away."

Tala debated as to whom to help. He was sworn to protect the Prince, but he also swore to obey him. Making his choice clear, he ran towards Boris and bit him hard on the arm. With a loud scream, Boris let go of the bag and Brian tumbled out.

"Now help me get the Prince!"

Together, both ran at the man. One squeezed his legs together while the other knocked him off balance. Watching in amusement, Voltaire stalked over to the boys and pulled out a cloth from his pocket. Before Brian could hit out at him, Voltaire had placed the cloth over his face and Brian fell. Tala swerved around and came to a halt. There in front of him stood Boris, his arm dripping with a thin line of blood.

"You will pay for what you did, you little brat." He spat it with such venom, that Tala almost shook. But before he was able to do anything, a hand was placed around his mouth. His nose was suddenly filled with a sweet kind of smell and he felt his body grow tired, weak. And then it all went black.

The Prince looked around at all the chaos in the room. He was left on his own, his parent's were asleep with the knockout stuff, and his friends were aswell. He was the only one awake, and he couldn't do anything because he promised he would come with them. Watching, silently from the man's back, he looked to his sleeping family. He silently whispered his goodbyes.

"I'll come back for you one day. You'll still be alive, I know that. Bye bye."

And with that, all four men left, with three young children asleep in their arms. Keeping all three asleep meant that they would never find where the portal was – they would stay in the other world. They were going to be brought up by the very men who kidnapped them. Voltaire looked down in his arms, to the sleeping Prince. Smiling evilly he stepped through the portal.

"It's time for your new life, my Prince. And you are going to make the perfect grandson... Kai… Hiwatari…"

Waking with a jolt, Kai looked around the room. His team were still asleep on their beds and the sky was a light pink haze. Morning had come. Wiping the sweat from his forehead Kai stood and walked out of the room for some fresh air. He hated stormy nights; they always gave him that same dream. He remembered the night like it was yesterday because it was the day before his sixth birthday; a year since he had first met Tala. This dream gave him the memories to keep on holding on. But it also gave him something else.

Hope.

He knew that his parent's were still alive, no matter what Boris and Voltaire told the people, and he was going to be the one to save them. All he needed was an army to command and the determination to follow. He was going to win back the throne for his family, and for his people.

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