Hey guys! I know I suck at updating frequently or keeping to my word on an update a month. Life has been hectic lately, and idk how to get from point a to point b lol. So I'm gosh to make the chapters a bit shorter so they can be more manageable for me to update more often. Thanks for your patience and support! It's greatly appreciated!

I wish you guys all a Merry Christmas! Hope you're having a great day!

Clay paced along the floor of his room. An uneasiness stirred in his stomach. Merlok was gone. The only man who could help Clay or give him answers was gone. If he wanted him back , Clay would have to find his mother first.

He stared down at his glowing arm. He still knew next to nothing about how to use or control his magic. Merlok has told him that magic was connected to a wizard's emotions, but if what Ruina had said had been true, about the Gray Knight being a part of him, it could be very dangerous. Clay sighed.

For the first time in his life, he felt unprepared. And there was no amount of training that could help him.

He heard a knock on his bedroom door, causing him to look up. "Come in," he called.

Macy stepped inside. "Hey. Are you okay?" she asked.

Clay sat down on his bed, face downcast. "No, I'm not," he said honestly.

Macy smiled warmly at him and took a seat next to him. "Don't worry, we'll find Merlok."

"I'm worried about Merlok, but also something else," he said, folding his hands.

Macy raised an eyebrow. Clay looked up at her. "Ruina told me something that I don't want to believe, but I feel like it's true," he said.

Macy bit her lip, "I'm sorry, I don't follow."

He sighed. He didn't expect her to understand anyways. They had grown up completely different. He, a poor orphan, left on the streets and bullied by a few of the guards, and she, a princess with everything handed to her whether she liked it or not.

She put a hand on her shoulder. As if reading his mind, she said, "Hey, I may not understand everything you're going through, but I am here for you. Anything you need, and I'll provide. You may feel alone, but we're all in this together," she said, a warm smile on her face.

He smiled back. "Thanks Macy."

"Hey, what are friends for?" she said.

Friends. For some reason that word made Clay feel weird.

...

Aaron burst into the tv room of the fortrex. "Guys! Guys! Guys! Guess what!" A grin was spread across his face. Macy and Clay walked into the room to join the others.

"Someone's happy, considering we just lost a team member," Lance remarked, raising an eyebrow at his best friend.

"Sorry, I just got some great news!" Aaron was bouncing on his heals. "You know how Jestro is having a trial later this week?" he said.

Everyone nodded.

"Guess who's his lawyer?" he said, biting his lip to keep from squealing.

"You? Then Jestro's chances are slim," Macy said, crossing her arms.

Aaron shook his head and held up his hands. "No, no, no, not me. Come on, I'll show you." He waved for them to follow him to the garage.

Once there, he lowered the draw bridge, revealing a girl standing outside. She had braided, orange hair and freckles dotting her face. She was dressed in a green flannel and black shirt, accompanied with a pair of blue jeans.

"Meet my older sister," Aaron said, gesturing to the girl. She gave a short wave. "Jacqueline Fox!" He ran up to her and gave her a hug.

"Long time no see, Aaron," she said. She smirked and ruffled his hair. He shoved her towards his fellow knights to introduce them.

"Jackie, this is Clay, Axl, Lance, and princess Macy. Guys, this is my sister," he said.

They all greeted her.

Lance leaned over to Aaron. "I thought your sister was an animator?" he whispered.

Aaron shook his head. "That's my other sister."

Axl joined in their conversation. "Wait, how many sisters do you have?"

"Six. And seven brothers," Aaron said.

Lance and Axl exchanged a look while Aaron rejoined his sister's side. "I told Jackie she could stay in the guest room until the trial."

"Hope you guys don't mind," she said. "It'll be like I'm not even here. Aaron says it's pretty laid back here anyways," she said. She pulled a suitcase behind her and walked into the main part of the fortrex, the Knights following behind.

They all looked at Aaron.

"Pretty laid back?"

"Hey, everyone is entitled to their opinion."

"But YOU ARE A KNIGHT! How is it laid back!"

...

The keyboard clicked as Ava speedily went to work on the Fortrex. Robin walked in the room, letting out a yawn. He moved to stand behind her. "So, what are you up to?" he asked.

Ava kept her eyes locked on the screen. "I'm trying to find any clues as to how Monstrox got rid of Merlok. Or how Monstrox is even back!" she said.

Robin watched over her shoulder. "I hope we get him back soon. Moral has not been too high lately," he said with an awkward laugh. Ava ignored him and kept working. He breathed on her neck, making her feel uncomfortable.

"It's hard for me to work with you looking over my shoulder. Don't you have anything else to do?" There was obvious annoyance in her voice, but Robin didn't pick up on it.

"Nope, nothing I can think of!" he said.

Ava just rolled her eyes and went on through the files. She decided to check the security footage. "Maybe this will tell us something," she said.

Pressing play, the video began to roll. The image held Ruina, digging through the books on the shelf. Robin and Ava gasped, but it wasn't over yet.

They also saw Robin, sleepwalking. Ruina seemed surprised by him, but shooed him off to bed. After he walked off, Ruina found a book and searched through it. But ultimately she decided to take the entire book with her. She left the fortrex, sneaking off into the night.

The video ended, leaving Ava and Robin in surprise.

"I- I could've stopped her," Robin said, breaking the silence.

Ava raised an eyebrow. "How? You were sleep walking."

He shook his head. "I was there. I could've done something, but I was sleeping."

"Yeah, because you stayed up for so long trying to save the kingdom!" Ava threw her hands up.

"Ava, the knights code says to always stay alert. And I didn't do that. I let Ruina get away with the spell book. I'm not fit to be a knight." Robin sighed, letting his arms sag.

Ava put a hand on his shoulder. "Robin, you've done for this kingdom than most people our age have. Don't be so hard on yourself," she said, giving an awkward smile. She wasn't used to smiling.

"Thanks Ava, but..." He stared at the ground. "I don't know, maybe I could've done something." He walked off to his room, and Ava stared after him. She frowned.

...

Later, Axl was in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Chef Eclair had the day off, so it was just him. Axl still felt a bit weird around food, after being eaten by the colossus and everything. He shuddered at the memory.

He stared down at his dish. Now it just had to be put in the oven. He loved making chicken cordon bleu (a/n idk how to spell it).

The sound of the hover doors opening made him look up. Jackie walked into the room.

"What's going on in here?" she asked, striding over to the counter.

"Just making dinner. I was just about to make some cookies. Want to help?"

She smiled. "Sure! Though I'm not that great at baking," she chuckled. He set up all the supplies on the counter. "So, what do I do first?"

"Well, we make the dough by mixing these things together, and then we roll it into balls and bake it," he said.

She took the big bowl and tried to pour a cup of flour in, but he bangs fell over her face. She blew them back, but they just fell back.

"Here, let me help you," Axl said, standing behind her. He held back her strands of hair and she poured the flour.

"Thanks," she said, her cheeks rosy.

Axl scanned over the supplies on the counter. "I need a second bowl to separate the wets and dries. Can you get me one?"

Nodding, Jackie searched the room for one. She spotted one on the top shelf and pulled up a stool. Actually, it was a swivel chair, but to the Fox family, and swivel chair and a stole were basically the same thing.

She stood on top of it, reaching for the bowl. The chair rolled out from underneath her, and she yelped. Before she hit the ground, Axl caught her.

Her breathing sped up. "Oh my gosh! I almost died!"

"Well, I don't think you would've died, but you would've been hurt," Axl said, holding her wedding style.

"Thank you!" She hugged him around the neck, catching him off guard. He set her down and grabbed the bowl himself.

Aaron stepped into the room. "How's my favorite older sister?" he smiled, walking over to them.

"Aaron, I'm your only older sister, you nerd." She gave him a noogie, and they laughed.

"We were just making cookies," Axl said, getting back to it.

"And then he saved my life right before I fell to my death!" Jackie said, throwing her hands up.

"Neato!" Aaron said.

Hope you guys liked this chapter. Thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites! 3