This is actually the first chapter of the of the story the other two were parts of the prologue. Just if you're confused. This set after Deltora Quest 1 just to clear things up and sorry for not telling you that in the beginning chapter.

Sorry about not giving line breaks in the last chapters. In this chapter I'll be introducing two of the main characters (you'll know who once you read it). I'm still confused about if I'm supposed to show the disclaimer every chapter so I'll show the diclaimer from now on.

Filli:Fi Fi! (Theworldiskool58 does not own Deltora Quest)

Kree:Caw! Caw! (Deltora Quest belongs to Emily Rodda

Thank You Filli and Kree! :)

Chapter 1-Thoughts and Memories

King Lief looked over the city of Del from the main balcony of the palace. It was hard to believe now that the Shadow Lord had ruled Deltora for almost 17 years. In those times, where once was peace and prosperity were long gone, for it seemed like a distant memory to many peoples' eyes.

This reminded Lief about how it all started, when his father, Endon, disguised as Jarred, gave him the Belt of Deltora, and that was when the quest of the seven gems began. Lief then thought about the new friends and allies he met, between Manus and Nanion to Fardeep and Zeean, the one he remembered most was when he met Jasmine.

Lief smiled as he remembered how Jasmine was prepared to leave them to be eaten by the Wennbar and before how she jumped from the tree and took his cloak. He then remember how everyone, including himself, was shocked to find that his father was actually King Endon, which meant he was the heir to the throne. It was funny though that the heir to throne was actually closer than they thought, it was him! Lief got lost in his memories and didn't notice Jasmine calling up to him.

Jasmine stamped her foot on the ground impatiently and grumbled to herself about Lief. She did her hand gestures again and called his name again. Seeing it didn't work, Jasmine climbed up the tree closest to the main balcony and shouted out his name.

Lief jumped, surprised at both how loud Jasmine had called his name and how she was already standing next to him. He said and awkward hello and fumbled at how to greet her. Jasmine giggled at Lief's reaction.

'Don't be so surprised Lief, it's only me,' she teased him.

'Jasmine, do not shock me like that. I get that more than enough times from others in the palace,' the young king replied.

Lief then turned to go inside and headed towards the library. Jasmine wondered of who 'others' Lief was referring to. She followed him in and grabbed his arm to take him in the other direction. Lief sighed, for Jasmine was always so stubborn, probably the most stubborn individual in the palace. He let her drag him along, knowing all to well that it was better to go with her stubbornness than against it.

The scenery changed, and Lief had noticed that Jasmine had taken him to the palace gardens, where there were many trees she could climb on. Jasmine led him to the tallest tree in the garden and climbed up. She urged him to follow. Lief climbed up slowly for that was the only thing he could do, if he was ever going to catch up with her.

Jasmine helped Lief up on to the branch. She teased him about not being able to climb a tree properly. Lief smiled and teased her about her wild ways. Jasmine laughed and climbed up to the next branch, but stopped when she looked at Lief, he was staring out at the view.

'Jasmine, do you still remember our quest?' asked Lief.

Jasmine nodded.

'And do you remember how we first started out?' He continued.

'Of course I do Lief! You and Barda were foolish enough to take the Wenn-Del path so I had to save both of you from be eaten by the Wennbar,' Jasmine snapped. She was starting to get irritated by his questions.

Lief sighed, remembering it well. But not to be outdone he added, 'But before you were prepared to leave us and you also took my cloak.'

Jasmine scowled at Lief, but had a small smile on her face as she sat next to him. She placed her hand on top of his and looked out at the view with him. Both Lief and Jasmine smiled. They stayed in the tree until the sun began to set.

When back at the forge, Lief kept reviewing the quest over and over in his mind as he lied in bed. He went through every triumph and downfall to every encounter with allies and enemies. He remembered where they received each gem and how with every gem they would have to defeat the guardian of that gem. He knew that he would have never completed the quest without his friends especially Barda and Jasmine (and Filli and Kree of course). He also knew that the quest would not have of been possible without the belt. In fact that was the whole point of the quest, to get the seven gems back on the belt of Deltora.

Lief fell asleep after awhile. He slept still thinking about the quest. As he slept he didn't seem to realise that a mysterious figure had been watching him. Listening to every sound and move he made and was waiting for the right moment to strike. The mysterious figure edged towards Lief making sure he did not rouse him awake. The figure placed his hands on Lief's waist and carefully slipped off the belt. The figure placed the belt in a small leather bag and made it disappear into thin air. The figure stepped back the shadows and disappeared itself.

Saw that one coming? If not, you probably figured out that the belt was going to be stolen anyway. If you want to know if the figure was a guy or girl you'll find out in the next chapter.

Author note:

PLEASE REVIEW because if you review I'll write more chapters, if not I might as well discontinue it and you'll never find out what happens in the end...so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review! I really want to know if I'm good or bad at writing fanfiction. Sorry for being harsh but I will discontinue this if I don't get any reviews, just to tell you.

Thanks for reading and PLEASE R&R