Yes, I am updating this rather quickly compared to most people, even myself, but I am really into this story. And I must write so I don't go crazy. On with the chapter!

And it Begins...

There was little more than enough time to have a lite breakfast when a flood of reports came to the palace. Crazed creatures ran rampant in the streets, and from the description, it was again Sand Monsters. "Will fate not leave me with peace?" The Prince, muttering to himself, sighed as the people who had escaped transformation took shelter in the palace walls. Should he inform the two children that were infected? Whether he wanted to or not, they would want to know once the people stared to flood into the dining hall where he had told them to remain. He was about to stand and tell them when they ran into the room.

"Tell everyone to get out of the throne room." Manar yelled as they sped in. The Prince cocked an eyebrow and was about to question, when he continued, "Just do it!"

The Prince continued to have a single eyebrow raise, but turned to everyone there to report the happenings outside. "Everyone, take refuge in other parts of the palace, quickly now." As the civilians swarmed out, he approached the twins. "Now explain."

"S-Sand Monsters," Halice panted. "O-outside, coming to the p-palace." she studdered, then stood straight, jabbing the handle of the Dagger at him. "You know how to use this better than I do." The Prince gripped the handle and the girl let go. Almost on cue, the doors to the throne room burst open. Sand creatures swarmed into the large room. Their stampeding caused the ground to shake, and the people behind the doors that led deeper into the palace barred the doors.

That left three people, their king and two teenage children, to fight against the swarm of monsters that wanted to kill them. The Prince ran for his fathers sword, which sat behind the throne. "How did you know they were coming?" he inquired as Halice and Manar ran behind the throne for protection.

"I looked out a window and saw them." her voice sharp, Halice stabbed a finger in the direction of the Sand Monsters. "Better question, how are we getting out of here? They're coming from the only exit. And we have no weapons." Before she could receive an answer, a Sand Monster came around one side of the royal chair, chasing the twins out. The Prince chopped the creature down, taking it's Sands, before following.

The fight was not going their way. The Prince, Manar and Halice had been pushed to the centre of the sea of Sand Monsters. If that wasn't enough, the floor was beginning to crack under the pressures of having at least a hundred Sand creatures, a full grown man and two eighteen year olds. This failing battle was fought for a short while longer before... Crack. The ground beneath the three began to give way. While they all began to fall at the same time, Halice was the first to pass out from the rapid change in height. Grabbing Manar, the Prince stabbed the Dagger of time into the wall. While their fall slowed, he hoped to catch Halice.

He could not, and the unconscious girl fell past them. He cringed and looked away, before a golden flash caught his attention. While he could not see Halice, small bits of smoke and sand floated up before disappearing. And then, the sound of something hard against stone, louder than the Daggers slowing drawl. It stopped suddenly, and the royal could faintly make out a 'Dammit'. His and Manar's decent stopped a little above a ledge. "I think I can handle the ledge." Manar said, and braced himslef as he felt his legs impact the ledge as the Prince let him down.

Fear of falling to your death does wonders for one's balance, as Manar found as he pressed his body against the wall. The Prince soon dropped down to the ledge as well, and the two started downward. When they reached the bottom, they found Halice, scowling at sharp pains in her legs. The darkened skin on her arm was larger, though not noticeably, and the golden patterns extended to that end. "Halice!" Manar yelled down happily, dropping from the last ledge with a thud. "We thought you were--"

"Dead? Yeah, I thought I was gong to be too when I passed out." Halice interrupted. She rubbed her legs. "But apparently, I've only ended up with a bad pain in my shins." The Prince dropped from the ledge.

I fear that is not a good thing. He had recognized that smoke.. It concerned him, but for now, it was a small problem. They were in the sewers, like he had ended up in when Kaileena died, and he had a uneasy feeling that where they were was not the only similarity to be drawn by the end. Not because Halice had survived the fall, as he had, but because after he defeated the Vizer, he had cast the Daggertail into the sewers. "We should find a way out."

"My, aren't we pushy?"