Ghost and the lords stood left of the throne while Brea and her sisters were at the right. They watched as the Vapran subjects gave all of their tithings to the All Maudra. Each one had some nice tithing presented. Some even couldn't help but stare in amazement at the white Gelfling that stood before them. Ghost could even hear a few whispers that were directed at her. Then, Ghost noticed an elderly couple hiding their faces in their hoods. Before she could do anything, she heard a few gasps when a farmer couple, who were a little younger than Ordon, presented two crops that were purple. Even from here she could smell the stench of rot.

"Your tithing is unwanted." The All Maudra said.

The husband bowed humbly. "Forgive us All Maudra. We've been suffering a blight in our fields. Nothing grows."

"Really?" SkekOk asked. He paused for a moment. "Wonderful!"

Ghost nearly back-peadaled in shock. Why would he say that! He never acted this way before. For some odd reason, it started to scare her. She swallowed hard and her mind began to race. Are these part of the visions she had before? Does SkekOk have something to do with a dark future?

SkekOk looked down at the Farmer's wife. He eyed her necklace. "What a lovely necklace."

"Thank you, my lord," the wife said. "It belonged to my mother. Her memories are within this necklace."

"Perhaps...That could be a replacement tithing."

Ghost gasped. Her world began to spin. Why do that? It was a necklace that belonged to someone that poor woman lost. It was a connection, not a mere object that can be replaced. She wasn't much into dresses, gold and jewels, but she cherished them because they were gifts from the people she cared about. Even the lone dagger in her satchel was given to her by SkekVar when she turned sixteen. This just wasn't fair.

Then, SkekOk pretended to be hurt by the refusal. "Were the lords not generous to you all?" Crowds began to boo at the couple.

Ghost couldn't stand it anymore. No one should be punished for keeping a personal treasure of a loved one. "Wait!" She faced the All Maudra. She could feel the eyes on her, but she didn't care right now. "All Maudra. As the Servants of the Lords, I would like to take the rotting plants as a tithing for further study. I can talk to the Scientist and see if it can help these farmers." She turned to face SkekOk. "That will be a very worthy tithing would it not?"

SkekOk looked at her in surprise. She never gets this rebellious unless it was with SkekSil. "Why would you say that? The farmer's necklace is a mere small trinket that shows the help of the crystal's power."

"Maybe so, but this is no mere necklace that she holds on." Ghost ignored the gasps as she continued. "It's a piece of a memory. A memory that she can't dreamfast with but it gives her a reminder of the things she shared with her mother. The things in the past, present and what might have been. Gelflings can't replicate memories through our abilities but there will always be fragments of the path that will lead to a better future. Though selfish as it may seem, there is no crime in finding a connection to someone you truly care. I'm sure the crystal would understand if it was given these fruits. It is part of Thra and we all know that what goes on in Thra is seen by the crystal. Am not correct, Scrollkeeper?"

SkekOk stared in silence for a moment. He looked at SkekLach who stood there stunned. He wanted nothing more than to punish her for this little stunt, but he had to remain calm at this point. I'm a fool! I had completely forgotten that she had been reviewing the rules of the tithings non stop. "You...are correct. The crystal is the most powerful thing in Thra. It would indeed understand why it was giving these...things…" He turned to the Farmer's wife. His eyes had an indignant gleam in his eyes. "You may keep your necklace. We shall accept your original tithings." He flinched when everyone gasped in pure shock.

"Amazing…" One Vapran said.

"I can't believe that she's a servant to the Lords. She almost looks like a lady," Another whispered.

The All Maudra cleared her throat. "Let us continue with the rest of the tithings."

-(Sometime later)-

As the ceremony was wrapping up, SkekOk decided to let Ghost explore Ha'rar while he was talking to SkekLach. He just wasn't in the mood to talk to her after that stunt. In that moment, Ghost felt like that as well. As she walked in the hallway that led out of the castle, she was intercepted by Brea and her sisters.

"That was amazing!" Brea said. Her eyes sparkled with pure excitement. "You managed to use the tithing laws against them! Without creating a scene!"

Ghost blushed hard. "I-I just didn't want that poor woman to lose the only thing she has left of her mother." She looked down at the floor. "Believe me, I know how that feels."

"Sounds pretty foolish," Seladon said. Her voice bitter and cold as she said it. "You shouldn't let your emotions get in the way of the ceremonies. You're just lucky that you serve the lords that well." Her eyes narrowed as she closed the distance between herself and Ghost. "Be careful not to let that slip. You miserable little-"

"Perhaps…" Tavra interrupted. She stepped in between the two before anyone said something they would regret. "We should take a break. Brea, why don't you show Ghost around? I'm sure she's got some time before she has to leave."

"Ok." Brea led the way with Ghost following behind her. She kept walking until they were far away from the castle. "I'm so sorry about Seladon. It's one thing if she gives me a hard time, but she shouldn't be so cruel with you." She gazed at Ghost. Brea took notice that Ghost was shaking. Eyes filled with fear and it looked like she would cry any moment. "Ghost, are you ok?"

Ghost looked up at her. "I'm ok. Just a little startled with Scrollkeeper's behavior. I rarely visit the library and only when he leaves a few books out when he forgets at times. Normally, he loves to read with me until he falls asleep, but after today. It felt as though he was someone else entirely. I don't understand."

"I don't understand it either." Brea was silent for a moment. Then, she smiled. "Come on. I've got a lot of places to show you." The two walked for quite a long time. Looking at buildings and shops. Merchants would become surprised at the sight of Ghost. Each one saying they heard rumors of a child being given away by some farmers given away as a tithing but didn't give the names or location.

Ghost watched in awe. The buildings were just cozy on the inside as well as the outside. The people were...Ok. They didn't enjoy the idea that she was part Grotten so she didn't make a mention of it. When they reached the library, Ghost nearly had a heart attack. There were a lot of books stacked on each other. Some that practically formed a tunnel. "Dear Thra!" She said "Do you read all of these books!?"

Brea laughed. "When I have the time." She handed Ghost a book. "How about we read some for a while." She grabbed the nearest book and sat down. Ghost joined her and they went for a few books until Ghost put down her book.

"Thank you, Princess Brea. I had a nice time, but I better try to find my grandparents before SkekOk and SkekLach hunt for me." She walked out of the library and bowed to the librarian. The first sun was beginning to set. She knew she had to find them. Then, she saw the two cloaked figures heading down a road that led a little far outside Ha'rar. Silently, she followed them until they reached a small house that bordered between Ha'rar and the forest. The windows were well hidden by curtains. Her eyes grew big at the sight of them. Her heart skipped a beat as she neared the door.

"I wonder…" She lifted a shaky hand to the door and knocked. She held a breath. Then, the door shifted. A small crack of the door frame revealed an eye. "May I help you?" A voice spoke. It was old and raspy. The skin around the eye wrinkled. Male.

"I...I'm sorry to bother you." Ghost swallowed hard. "I'm a servant of the Lords and I was wondering if you know a couple who gave birth to a hybrid Gelfling or my grandparents?"

The eye narrowed. "The Lords aren't disclaiming you are they?"

"No." Ghost said firmly.

"Then go away."

Ghost grabbed the door firmly before it could close. "I just want a moment of your time and then I'll leave. I saw you wearing hoods and I thought you might know something about me." She pushed it hard to reveal a couple staring at her in shock. "You seem to recognize me somewhere. Did you know my mother?"

"Yes." The elder female said. She held something in her hand but there wasn't a whole lot of light to see it. "She was a fool to be with a lowly Grotten. She died when she should've gotten rid of you. You're nothing but an ugly abomination. A thing that shouldn't exist. Yet here you are. That just so happened to take control of the Lords. Nobody wants you here and certainly not ever!" Without warning, she swung a pot right into Ghost's face. The porcelain shattered upon impact.

Ghost cried out. Her hands clutched to her face. The feeling of blood on her hand. She felt a hard shove that caused her to land on her back. "Why did you do that!?"

"You've been nothing but a disgrace to this family! You're lucky that the lords wanted you!" The elderly woman hissed. "Don't ever come near us again!" She slammed the door shut. The loud slam exploding into the air. A heavy sense of foreboding and hatred hung there.

Ghost slowly got up. She blinked to make sure it didn't get her eyes. Her vision was a bit blinded by the blood dripping down but nothing severe. Then, she walked away. "What was that all about? They knew my mother, but why did they say all of that hatred to my face?" She leaned against the tree when she heard a thunk. A box with a broken lock settled on the ground. Ghost approached it and picked it up. She moved the lid with ease and nestled inside was a book. She pulled the book out and flipped through the first couple of pages. She gasped at what she saw. A sketch of the house that looked just like the one she had just stood next to. One line read: My family's house. Then another of a handsome Grotten. Ghost began to shake as she read it. It soon began to dawn on her who those two are.

Tears in her eyes, she began to run. The book still in her hand. She just couldn't believe it. Those two...are my...Grandparents! She kept running. Her footsteps echoed the whole way until she slipped on a patch of snow. The world began to darken as the second sun had begun to set. Her face began to ache from the wounds on her face. "Why Thra? Why? Why did it have to be them?" She cried. Her eyes burned from her salty tears and the cool mountain air. It felt like forever until she got up again. "I can't believe it. After all this time…" Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps in her direction. She turned to the noise.

A wild landstrider was heading in her direction. It bellowed loudly. It bucked and kicked. What was most concerning was the wild look in its eyes. A bright purple gaze staring right at her. Immense and maddening. It reared once more and charged.

Ghost found her body unable to move. Her thoughts frozen. She tried to scream for help, but it was caught in her throat. Her eyes focused on the mighty beast. The world around her began to slow. It wasn't until the landstrider got closer that she was able to let out a scream. Suddenly, a shadow appeared out of nowhere and hit the creature square in the center. She watched at it fight the landstrider until the long-legged creature was dead. Ghost soon found herself face to face with a Skeksis.

He wasn't like the other lords of the crystal. He wore a skull as a helmet and several pieces of bone hung from his belt. A black pelt hanging from his back. His clothing looked as though he belonged in the Crystal Desert. He smelled of blood and sweat. His green eyes focused on her. They were filled with recognition. "It's been trines since I've seen you, Ghost."

So, there will be some blood in this story but I'll make sure it stays rated T. Also, I thought it was time to bring back our ship ladies and gentleman. In case if any of you are asking, yes. Ghost's grandparents will be seen again.