I had done a lot of training and Kiki was sure that I was ready. "What would you have me do next?" My eyes had an evil glint in them.

"The final test. I want you to return to your world and kill your family. Do not leave one breathing!" Kiki's voice was sinister and she smirked maliciously.

"I will not fail." I pulled out my sword and prepared myself.

"Good. Now go!" Kiki held her hand out to the mirror and a portal appeared.

I charge through the portal and returned to the castle that I had once known to be my home.

I saw Desti looking everywhere for me. He is my first target. But then I saw Prince Zen looking over the balcony. Zen will be a more formidable opponent, so I should start with him. It was time to put all my training to good use.

Miko created the portal and they all found themselves in the library of the ruins in Wistal. They fanned out in search for answers. Miko stood up and she relaxed a moment, before she tensed again.

"What is it, Princess?" Deston asked in concern.

"I feel great. Normal even." Miko hesitated, before she met Kat's gaze.

"She returned to my world!" Kat shot up from her position.

"That can only mean one thing… Queen Kiki plans to kill the royal family in your world. She is using Miko to do it." This burden was evident in Miko's expression.

"But magic doesn't exist there!" Kat objected.

"She probably doesn't need it. Time is short. We need answers! Hurry!" Miko urged the others.

"Miko?! Stop this now! What has come over you?!" Zen held his sheathed sword protectively in front of himself.

Shirayuki came running out of her room with Amari in her arms. "What is going on?!"

"Stay back, Shirayuki!" Zen could see the evil glint in my eyes and knew something was really wrong.

I lunged at him once again. His sword skills were still too advanced for mine. But I was using his surprise and confusion to blindsight him.

"Please stop this, Miko!" Shirayuki cried. And then Amari started to cry profusely.

Kiki came running towards Zen. She took his side and gave Miko a wink.

As the fight continued, Kiki took the element of surprise and suddenly knocked Zen over from the side and his sword slid over the balcony. "Now is your chance!"

I swung my sword towards his chest as I watched the man I called 'my Father' cower under my descending blade. The fear in his eyes was thrilling to witness.

"NO!" Shirayuki screamed. "ZEN!"

A sword suddenly intercepted mine and I looked to see who it was. I may as well have been looking in a mirror, because I was looking at myself, with extremely short hair.

She was ready to defend them no matter what.

"A slight change of plans." My lips curved into a malicious smirk.

"You stay away from them!" Miko was well poised in confidence, I'll give her that.

Zen stood up and took a step back. He felt like he must have hit his head. "Two Miko's?"

Shirayuki cried and ran towards Zen and pulled him in close. "What is happening?"

"I don't know…" Zen answered as he watched the two of us engage in a fight to the death.

Kiki stepped forward. "You can stand against her, but can you fight both of us?" Kiki joined in the fight, but then so did Kat.

"You will not hurt her! I won't allow it!" Kat deflected Kiki's blade, forcing her to engage in a one on one with Kat.

Mitsuhide came running towards the commotion in haste. "Zen!"

Zen turned to face Mitsuhide, not sure if he was friend or foe anymore. He would defend Shirayuki, no matter what.

Mitsuhide froze when he saw what had transpired. " What's going on here?!"

Zen relaxed a little. "I don't know." He wanted to do something, but he had no idea what the right action would be.

Kiki's eyes met Mitsuhide's and they went wide. "It's you…" Tears gathered in her eyes. For a moment her expression softened.

Zen studied Kiki and Mitsuhide. "This is just…"

"Miko! That's enough! You have failed! Return!" Kiki roared in anguish.

I grunted in anger. I. Do. Not. Fail. I stood down and then darted for the portal.

Desti tried to stop me, but wasn't able to.

"Miko! No!" Kat shrieked as Kiki followed close behind me.

Zen approached Kat and Miko. "Will someone tell me what is going on?!"

"It is a bit hard to explain." Kat answered.

"I can see that." Zen stood in front of Miko. "How is there two of you? Why was Miko attacking us? Explain!"

Miko just stared at them with awe. "It's really you. You are real." She covered her mouth to catch her breath, seemingly. "You're here." She felt the tears fill her eyes. This was something she would never imagine could happen in her lifetime.

"Who are you?" Shirayuki came closer to her.

Kat noticed that Miko wasn't really able to say anything. "This isn't your daughter. Not technically. The Miko that attacked you earlier, is."

Zen's expression became pained and disheartened. "Tell us everything."

Miko collected herself. "They can't believe in a world where it doesn't exist." She gestured for Kat to stop.

"Then why don't you show them?" Kat insisted.

Kiki stood next to Mitsuhide in shock.

"Kiki?!" Miko pulled out her sword.

Kat placed a gentle hand on it and caused Miko to lower it to her side.

"This is our Kiki. She isn't a threat." Kat reassured her.

"There is no time to explain. With Miko returned, my strength will be drained. I can't keep the portal open for much longer." Miko explained her desperation.

"Take us with you. We need to help Miko." Kat insisted.

"I can't take all of you."

"I don't know where it is that you are going, but if Miko is there, you will not leave me behind." Zen locked eyes with Miko.

"I'm going to." Desti stood behind her.

"I can't allow it. Where I come from, there is already a Deston." Miko updated.

Kiki and Mitsuhide took Zen's side. "We will go to." Mitsuhide handed Zen his sword back.

"Mitsuhide? Bad idea. You're the reason we are in this mess. Not that I am blaming you, but if you love Kiki, you will stay here. Kiki is welcome to join us. We could use her help." I turned towards the portal. "There is no time. Come or don't!" I darted towards the portal and the others that were coming, followed behind. My eyes met the portal and watched it shrink. "Hurry!"

Zen and Kiki's eyes widened at the sight of the portal.

Kat, Zen, Kiki and Miko were the only ones to make it through before it disappeared.

Through another portal, they appeared at the camp and Miko nearly fell over.

Apollo ran to help Miko, but Zen was ready to kill him at first sight.

"I know what you're thinking, but like it or not, this is a very different Apollo." Kat stopped Zen.

"I thought Desti had killed him." Zen expressed disappointment and didn't really allow his anger to dissipate.

Obi rushed towards Miko and then froze. "M-Master…?" He turned to Miko. "Are you insane?! You brought them here?!"

"They have a right to say what happens to their princess too." Miko tried to steady herself.

"Obi?" Zen and Kiki stared at him in shock.

"I get you have daddy issues, but why her?!" Obi glared at Kiki.

Then suddenly everyone around them noticed her presence and drew their weapons. "It's the Evil Queen!"

"Stop!" Miko stood in front of the men. "This is NOT the Evil Queen! She might just be the answer."

The men stood down, but they didn't seem to trust the new arrivals.

"What is going on?" Zen turned to Miko and Kat.

Miko stared at him for a moment. "It's easier if I just show you." She held up her hand and caused another portal to appear.

They hesitated for a moment but then they entered through it.

Miko followed them in and they were now standing in the Wistal Castle ruins.

"Wait… This place… it's…" Zen felt his heart in his throat.

"Yes." Miko stated simply.

"What happened here?" Zen's expression turned serious.

There was no way to avoid it. "The Evil Queen. She destroyed this castle." I stepped forward to avoid their eyes.

"Queen Kiki." Kat stated while making eye contact with Kiki herself.

"I didn't do this." Kiki folded her arms.

"How is Kiki queen?" Zen asked in disbelief.

"I suppose you want to know the whole story?" Miko asked accepting the inevitable.

"I would."

"It all started with Mitsuhide."

"You said that earlier. What does this have to do with him?" Kiki urged.

"Not much is known about him. In fact, even my own parents are nothing but legend. I don't know if what Obi told me was even true. But I have no reason to doubt him, so here we are." Miko let out a deep breath. "Obi was there. He protected me from the Evil Queen. Before this all happened, this land was known as Clarines. It was a thriving kingdom and so were the surrounding lands. You could search the whole world and never find more peace than you would find here, or so the legend says. Prince Zen was the first prince to marry for love. In fact, love was just a myth. His attendants stood by him, but legend states that Mitsuhide had to sacrifice his own life to save Prince Zen, after he ignored his attendants' council. Kiki blamed the prince for Mitsuhide's death. No one knew at the time, but it seemed that Kiki was in love, herself."

Kiki blushed a little.

"She then manipulated an arrangement so that the future king, Prince Izana, would have to marry her. He then mysteriously died. Then she attacked Wistal Castle. The prince and princess didn't survive."

"Prince Zen wouldn't have gone down that easily." Kat rejected.

"Thank you, Kat." Zen sighed.

"So what happens now?" Kiki asked. "You said there is something that I can do."

"It seems that in your world, love does exist. Product of true love, no matter where they originate, are blessed with untold powers. I am the only one to be born in this world that I know of. But with the Miko from your world here, I am forced to share my life force and my powers with her. She has been getting stronger and harnessing our powers for herself. I believe that was the Evil Queen's intentions all along."

"So what you're asking is, does that include me?" Kiki perceived.

"Exactly."

"My mother died when I was young and my Father doesn't speak of her. I couldn't tell you." Kiki grimaced.

"Then it is a chance that I am willing to take."

"How does it work?" Kiki asked.

"You will have to discover that on your own. They tried to teach me something they did not understand and I had to figure it out." Miko held out her hands to face the ground and the flowers sprung out of the earthbed. The plants rose so high that she could shelter herself from attacks, if she wanted. She reached her hand to the sky and then the clouds disappeared. She then turned to Kiki and held out her palm. A beautiful dress appeared, dressing Kiki's body.

A scowl appeared on Kiki's face to match.

Miko whipped her hands in an unusual way and everything she had sprung forth, vanished into thin air. "Why don't you give it a try? Start with something simple, like moving an object." Miko held her palm towards Zen's sword and then it came out of its sheath and flew right into Miko's hand.

Zen just flustered at his weapon being removed from his side. He gathered himself. "Alright, you had your fun. Now return me my sword."

Miko struck the sword into the earth. "Don't move, Prince Zen." Miko warned.

His eyes widened. "What are you going to do?"

Miko used her magic with her hands coordinating the movements. The sword lifted into the air by itself and swung around in a circle, then struck down hard back into Zen's sheath.

"Please don't do that again."

"I didn't scare you, did I?" Miko asked in genuine concern.

"Not really. It was impressive to say the least."

Miko flashed Zen a warm smile. She then recovered and her attention turned back to Kiki. "Now you try."

Zen held his hands out in front of himself, protectively. "No way. She is not trying that."

"What's the matter, Zen. You don't think I can handle it?" Kiki mused.

"I don't want to take any chances." Zen held his sword's handle firmly.

"For Zen's piece of mind, I think we should try something else."

Zen released his breath at Kiki's comment.

"How about this." I picked up an old training sword. "I want you to have a sword fight with me, only using magic."

Kiki held out her hand and tried to do something, anything.

"Focus your energy into your palm." Miko instructed.

Kiki closed her eyes and tried to do what was asked of her.

"Look out!" Miko tossed the sword to Kiki, but Kiki didn't react fast enough and took the hit to the chest. "Again!" Miko used her magic to retrieve the sword and then she threw it at Kiki again.

Kiki tried. But each time failed. "I'm sorry, but your faith has been misplaced. It doesn't appear that I possess such an ability."

Miko turned her attention to Prince Zen.

"I don't know about my parents either. Don't look at me."

Miko locked eyes with Kat.

"Guess it's my turn. Step aside, Prince Zen." Kat came close, fully expecting to learn a new ability.

Miko used her powers to begin the sword fight, but try as Kat might, the sword didn't move, let alone block. The practice swords struck her, one after the other.

"This is a waste of time. I suppose true love is a rarity in your world too." Miko sighed.

"That can't be…" Kat was sure that her parents were in love.

"It is getting late. We should return at once." Miko sprung up another portal. For the first time Kat had noticed that she had to use both her hands. "Go."

They stepped through the portal and were back at her camp.

Apollo came out front in a panic.

"What happened?!" Miko recognized the urgency.

"The whole town in Difila was destroyed. We barely got out with a few children!"

"Difila? The queen is getting too close for comfort. If she has made it this far-"

"I'm sorry but the Evil Queen isn't the one who attacked us!" Apollo panted, trying to regain his breath. "It was their Miko!" He pointed in distaste at Zen.

Zen glared at him. "She is not a bad person. She wouldn't be doing this if she had a choice."

"Everyone has a choice!" Apollo challenged, standing toe to toe with Zen.

Zen placed his hands on the hilt of his sword.

Miko broke in. "That is enough! Both of you!... Unfortunately…" Miko met Zen's glare. "Apollo is right. This was something she chose. However, I doubt that she made that choice without being manipulated into it. If you want to help us save her, then you both have to play nice and work together. Deal?"

Apollo stood down. "Miko, anything for you, my beloved." Making a point to show off his relation status and standing with Miko. "But this is asking a lot."

Zen was shocked in a bad way. "Beloved?!"

"Prince Zen, will you agree to work with Apollo?" Miko could tell that something was off. " Whatever your relations with the Apollo in your world were, please refrain from exerting your judgement on ours."

"If Apollo is different than ours, I will restrain myself. However, if he gives me any reason to believe otherwise, I will not hesitate to cut his hands off and serve them to the dogs." Zen gave a death glare to Apollo.

"You can have the hands, I'll take the family jewels." Kat gave Apollo the same glare.

For the first time, Zen showed no reaction to Kat's comment.

"Is that really the best you can do? There has to be trust among us or we have already lost to the Evil Queen. We can't have strife in this camp." Miko glared back at Zen.

"You'd feel the same way we do, if you were face to face with our Apollo. He tried to force himself on you!"

"Apollo is a good friend of mine. I have known him since I was a child. I will not allow you to undermine his character or authority. Do I make myself clear?!" Miko glared at Kat.

Apollo puffed up, making his head appear to be a head taller than Zen's.

"Crystal…" Kat grumbled.

Zen tensed up. "Fine. If you trust him, then I will leave my personal grievances behind..." Zen muttered to himself, "... for now…"

"Good, because I would like you to accompany him to the field." Miko smirked.

Horror painted over Zen's features. "What?!"

"If you are going to assist us in any way, you are going to need to know who we are dealing with." Miko reasoned.

"You've got to be kidding..." Zen grunted in frustration.

"Looks like you will be following my orders." Apollo revelled in his authority, walking past Zen towards his horse.

"Apollo take it easy on them. They aren't familiar with the way things run around here." Miko clarified. She then turned to her men. "Get them some horses, will you! They are important guests."

Kat just smirked back at Apollo. "Did you hear that? She said 'important'!"

The smirk slid from Apollo's face. "Yeah, well I'm still in charge."

"Apollo! Bring them back alive!" Miko stressed. Miko turned to Zen. "Don't worry, he is a bit to take in at first, but you will learn to like him."

"I doubt that…" Zen grumbled to himself.

Miko stood back and held out her hand and a portal appeared in front of the riders. "Be careful! The queen is meticulous and cunning."

The riders rode through the portal, before it disappeared.

They saw that there was some riders heading towards a town. "Let's move! That will be her." Apollo ordered and his horse took off like a bolt.

Zen and the others followed suit.

Kiki stopped her horse, due to a weird sensation that she had never experienced before. She looked up and her eyes met a distant figure. It was... HER! Then she must be the queen. "Stop!"

Zen and the other's stopped, while Apollo had ignore her and the rest of his men.

"What's wrong?!" Zen called out.

"It's a trap!" Kiki yelled out.

Zen's eyes grew wide as he turned back to face the town.

The town turned into a thick black substance. The riders that had gotten closer to the town had been thrown from their horses, because their horses' legs got stuck in the black goop.

Kiki looked back to the person she believed to be the queen and saw that her hand was extended to the town. The Evil Queen then clenched her fist and the town instantly combusted.

Zen's expression turned to fear. "We have to save them!"

"I think it's already too late." Kat stared absentmindedly at the flames.

Kiki suddenly saw the queen meet her gaze and then a malicious smirk showed up on her face. She then turned her horse around and left.

"NO!" Miko rode out of a portal that had come out of nowhere. She raised her hand towards the fires. She clenched her fist and the fires died out in an instant. She then rode in frantically on her black mare. "APOLLO!" She then found him lodged in a well.

"I was lucky this was here. It came out of nowhere." Apollo explained.

Miko cried and then threw her arms around him quite dramatically. "I was so worried that I wouldn't make it in time." She pulled away and wiped her tears. Miko's expression turned darker when she saw the burned corpses all around them. "They were so peaceful… why do this?"

Zen and the others approached. "This is her power?" He asked in disbelief.

Miko turned in remorse. "This is only a taste of it. Until now, I wouldn't be hiding in the shadows. I would be out here confronting her. My powers have grown too weak. A couple spells and I feel drained." To confirm that her legs started to give out on her, not her best timing.

Apollo caught her and carried her bridal style. Miko wrapped her arms around him and took comfort with her head resting against his chest.

"Just rest. I've got you." Apollo assured her.

Zen was surprised by Apollo's sincerity.

The portal disappeared. Miko glanced back at it. "Sorry…" She held out her hand to open another one.

"Don't. We will stay here for the night." Zen told her.

"We can't. The queen will pick us off for sure." Apollo roared.

Kiki just gave him a blank stare. "Then why did she leave after seeing us here?"

Miko's eyes grew wide. "She must be…"

"Stop." Apollo placed her on Zen's horse. "You will need to recover your strength."

"It is always something new with her… We can't afford to sit here and wait." Miko became restless.

"Whatever it is, we will figure it out when we return." Zen turned his horse. "Which way is camp?"

"There is no way to get there, except through my portals." Miko answered.

"If the queen let you go, then we can't risk exposing your portal gates. Zen is right for once." Apollo growled in defeat.

Zen gave a deep scowl to Apollo for that comment.

"We should stay away from camp. I know this area. There is a cave nearby. It should allow us to keep a low profile." Apollo led them towards a deep cavern. They tied the horses up inside the entrance and ventured in.

After making a small fire, Zen lay Miko down next to it.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Miko smiled to reassure everyone. Miko eventually fell asleep.

Zen locked eyes with Apollo. "Do you love her?" He asked the question in a very low tone. "I want the truth."

"Like a sister." Apollo turned to him. "Not like it is any of your business. It isn't like you are her father."

"But you are betrothed?" Kat glared at him.

"Our parents arranged it. But they aren't here anymore. They can't tell us how to live our lives." Apollo glared at Zen. "You can't either. I won't allow her to be alone. I will honor our parents' wishes."

Zen relaxed. "It's strange, how you can be so decent."

Apollo locked eyes with Zen. "As far as I'm concerned, the people in this world are completely different from the people from yours. Myself included. You aren't an exception."

"You may be right. Doesn't mean I am going to trust you though. You seem to care about Miko. I can trust that action." Zen explained.

"I'm still keeping an eye on you." Kat glared at Apollo.

"Oh yeah? I'm spoken for. You should find someone else." Apollo lay his head down.

"Smart ass!" Kat blurted.

Miko's lips curved into a smile.