Zoey walked through the halls of the palace and was dazzled by the artwork within. The stunning crystal pieces, which allowed the rays of the sun to shine through lighting the entire hall. She marvelled at the tapestries that hung on the walls, with their intricate patterns and meticulous design. "Wow, such beautiful patterns…" "Yes, I am proud to say that our people still up hold some of our nobility." Zoey turned to the woman who had spoken, Dren's mother.
"Hello, ma'am…" "You're still here are you?" "His lordship has invited me to remain here, until after the festival." "I see, well I do hope that you'll enjoy yourself." Zoey smiled "Thank you ma'am." "Now…about that name of yours," "Hm?" "Zana? Really? I am not blind, nor have I forgotten the main object of my son's affections, Zoey." Zoey sighed "I apologise for making it seem like I was hiding anything, I'm really not. See, I just didn't want my boss to track me all the way out here." "Your boss?" "He's completely against your people, but I'm not. I think you're all amazing and extremely talented." "Hm, well thank you…but sadly we were not the ones to create these works of art." "Oh?" "These are the exquisite works of art belonging to only one person, Layna." "Layna, as in Layna Hizashi?" "Yes, you knew her I take it?" Zoey nodded "Of course, she was my aunt." There was a sudden silence.
"Layna Hizashi…was your aunt?" Zoey nodded "Mhm, my mother is her younger sister…" "Sakura? You're Sakura's child?" "Yes…" "Oh, now that is completely ridiculous!" "I beg pardon ma'am?" "Sakura Hizashi was deemed infertile at the age of 14, after a tragic fire." "…but, I…" "You must be mistaken about who is really your aunt." "No, no. I have a photo of her right here." Zoey pulled a picture of a lovely young lady with ruby red hair and sweetheart hazel eyes. In the picture she wore a simple red dress, with a white shawl, as if she was heading to a party. "Where did you get this?" "My mother gave it to me, when I was 8." "I see…well that certainly is Layna… so lovely and sweet…" "Yes, my aunt was very beautiful." "Everyone on this planet loved her, and many humans did too, unfortunately one loved her a bit too much and in the end it cost her, her very life." Zoey knew who the human was and sighed "Alan Grant's son…Elliot, he's my boss." "…Hm, yes he would have a grudge against us, thanks to Indigo's destruction of his family." Zoey nodded and looked at a painting "She was very talented…" "Yes she was…she was my best friend."
Zoey looked at the woman sympathetically and took her leave of the woman, who just nodded. Zoey headed down to the parlour, where she heard Dren's voice, but his was not the only one he heard.
"Why have you been avoiding me Dren?" "I haven't been avoiding you Kylania! I've been very busy getting things ready for the festival!" "Don't shout at me Mr! I came by last night, and was told you were busy, doing what at that hour?" "I am the emperor you know! I can't just forego my responsibilities just to talk to someone!" "I am not just someone Dren, I am your fiancée, and I demand that you stop treating me like I'm just some commoner!" "YOU ARE NOT MY FIANCEE! The only reason why we have to get married is because of my mother's arranging it! If not for that I wouldn't have even bothered with you! Got that!" "What's wrong with you? You're not the same since Zoey disappeared!"
Zoey heard her name, but thought to herself, that it couldn't possibly be her they were talking about, she continued listening.
"Enough Kylania! I want you to leave!" "Dren…" "Get out I said! Now! As far as you're concerned, I will only do what I have to. Not because I want to, but because I am being forced to! Got it! Now LEAVE!"
The door flew open and a young woman with long, light blue hair emerged, angry as hell. "Of all the nerve…hm? EEKK! A human!" Zoey quickly backed up as the woman went to attack her. "Dren!" Zoey screamed, and within moments Dren was by her side, and between the charging alien. "Stop Kylania!" "Why are you protecting a human?" "This human is far more special to me then you are, now go!" "…you…you still prefer humans over your own people! How could you have been made emperor?" "Thanks to this human here, we will never have to worry about being controlled by Deep Blue again; also it is this human that gave us the Mew Aqua, which has restored our planet and people to their former greatness! Be grateful to this woman! Be grateful…to Zoey."
The woman looked at Zoey then at Dren "Zoey…no…no there is no possible way that Zoey could have come back!" "Why?" "Hm?" Zoey was interested "Why would this girl you speak of not be able to come back here?" "I…" "You wouldn't know that, unless you knew where she was and why she was taken and by whom." Dren's eyes began to glow, but Zoey; knowing these tell-tale signs that he was pissed the fuck off, touched his arm lightly "It's alright, but I think that this girl should be put through a test or trial." Dren calmed down and nodded "She sure as hell will be." Dren glared as several soldiers appeared. Zoey quickly hid in the room.
"Your majesty..." "Remove Kylania from my sight! She'll await her trial date in the dungeon!" "Dren! Please! I had nothing to do with Zoey's disappearance! Please, I swear to..." "Oh, and Kylania, the engagement is completely cancelled! Take her!" "Yes Sire." Zoey watched from the doorway of the room as the men dragged the kicking and pleading woman from the hall. She kind of felt bad for the girl, but knew that even if one is jealous of another, that did not give them the right to ruin another person's happiness. She watched as Dren paced back and forth, then headed outside. Zoey quickly hurried after him.
"Damnit! Why could I not have seen through that obvious jealousy!" "Maybe, because you've felt that jealousy yourself before," Dren turned to Zoey and sighed "Yeah...was I that bad though?" "You did try to kill Mark, not to mention helped to bring forth...ah, never mind, we'll leave that one out." "Hm...You don't have to...I know all too well that it was my fault..." "Dren..." "If I hadn't pushed him, Deep Blue may not have come forward...not that soon anyway." Zoey shook her head "No, he was already there, within Mark's body, a part of him, watching what we all did. He would've come one eventually, so it's no one's fault, alright?" "...Ha...fine...how'd you catch on so fast?" "Well, when she mentioned that this 'Zoey' knew, couldn't possibly have returned. I started thinking and that's when I asked the question." "Huh...you're pretty smart..." Dren stated as he sat on the bench in the garden "Not to mention just plain pretty," Zoey smiled and sat beside him "Dren...can you show me around the palace more? Like places that my aunt went and liked spending her time?" "Sure, I guess there's nothing wrong with that. Let's go." Dren stood and was slightly surprised when Zoey took his hand "Lead the way my friend."