Okay, time for a change of scene. Enjoy the ride, and make sure you pack plenty of sunblock!

Thanks to: Meg (yes, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch IS a real place!), Spongey (hope your wrist is behaving itself now) and Gabby (enough MORAs for ya?)

Random Quote: Suis-je bovvered? Regardez mon visage - est-ce qu-il est bovvered? Est-ce que vous disrespectez ma famille? Est-ce que vous appelez ma mere un pikey? (Lauren, from The Catherine Tate Show)

Charlotte gazed excitedly out of the ship's cockpit as Nahri loomed large in front of them. Of course, she loved being at Alfea and visiting many new places, but coming home was always special, especially now that she was accompanied by her darling Riven. And yet despite this sweet anticipation, a nagging doubt was fixed into the back of her mind - what was so urgent that they would be called out to her homeworld like this? What could possibly be so wrong? Everything certainly seemed normal enough as the speeder effortlessly entered the planet's atmosphere - the parched, hard-baked sandy-yellow ground dotted with large green patches here and there, the immense craggy mountains and rock formations that added a bit of interest to the landscape, all under an almost unnaturally pale yellow-blue sky that was cloudless the whole world over.

She gave a little start as a hand was gently placed on her shoulder, but was soon content when she recognised that warm touch.

"Come on babe, better get yourself strapped in - we'll be landing soon." Riven whispered in her ear. Charlotte grinned as she did as she was told, completely unable to hold her enthusiasm.

"Oh Riven, this is gonna be so great! There are so many things I want to show you!"

"Don't forget, we're on a mission here - maybe we'll get to do some sightseeing later, after we're finished."

The ship continued on its course, skimming over endless miles of featureless desert and occasionally flying over the odd small settlement until finally they approached the capital city of Nahri where they were joined by a small ship belonging to the royal guard, escorting them to a landing strip near a large building in the centre of the city. One textbook landing later, Prince Sky prepared to meet their escorts but as he opened the ship's door, he was sent reeling by the intense heat that hit him like some invisible wall.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed in surprise as he regained his composure and started down the gangway.

"Hmmmm." Charlotte said, rubbing her arms as she went. "Feels a bit chilly today."

Sky could hardly believe his ears. "Chilly? Yes of course, chilly! Erm... you ARE joking, aren't you?!"

She shook her head.

"But it must be touching forty degrees celsius out here!"

"42·7 degrees, to be exact" said Timmy, checking his wrist-computer.

"Like I said, chilly... but then again, it IS the middle of winter."

"WINTER?!" The boys said almost in perfect harmony, looking at the fire fairy as though she had completely lost the plot.

"Uh-huh," she replied in a matter-of-fact way. "Didn't you notice the way the planet was lying as we approached it? This world orbits twin suns in a figure-of-eight pattern. I don't quite know how it managed to get like that - I don't think anyone does, but anyway that's not for here. At the moment, the planet and the suns are in total alignment with Nahri on the outside, meaning we're only receiving heat from one of them, and therefore the days and nights are more or less of equal length. But when Nahri is in between the two suns..." she said, stretching her arms up into the sky and sighing happily. "We get no nights at all - just beautiful, glorious, hot summer sunshine, 67 hours a day!"

"Phew!" said Riven, pulling at the collar of his uniform. "So if this is winter, how hot does it get during the summer?"

"Sometimes hot enough to boil water."

"Yowch!"

"Oh, it's not that bad," she said as she plucked a small Nahri chilli off a nearby wild bush and munched it happily. "We're used to it here. We don't even get sunburnt! Nahri chilli?"

"Erm, no thanks." Riven replied, politely declining her offer with a chuckle - he still remembered Tegryn's face when he made the mistake of trying one... and he didn't really fancy having his face turn the same colour as his hair. (1)

"Aww, go on. Just a little?" said pleaded, trying to force it into his mouth.

Charlotte's attempt to introduce her sweetheart to the local cuisine was quickly cut short by Brandon. "Hey guys, heads up - playtime's over." he said, motioning towards two guards walking towards them, wearing thick cream coloured tunics bearing the royal symbol - an orange square with two quarter-circles in opposite corners with large rays shooting out from each, clearly representing the two suns.

The first guard said gruffly. "The King wishes to speak with you. You will come with us immediately."

Sky leant over and spoke quietly to Brandon. "These guys seem a little hot under the collar."

"He's not the only one." Brandon replied, pulling at his clothes to try and get some ventilation going around his armpit region. "When we get back to Red Fountain, I'm gonna have to have a serious word with someone about these uniforms. I'm baking here. Charlotte, how do you guys survive in this place?"

"Oh, it's no big deal. We've acclimatised so well, we hardly even sweat!"

As they were quietly led to the palace, the party admired the city's unique architecture. All the buildings were constructed from the same stone which seemed to make up the entire planet's surface, and were built in such a seamless and natural looking way - it almost seemed as though they been sculpted straight out of the ground. And beautiful sculptures they were too, with crisp lines and undulating curves flowing almost fluid-like, framing their spaces in a uniquely enthralling fashion. It was obvious that, seemingly in defiance of their harsh surroundings, the residents of Nahri had a keen eye for art and architecture, for it wasn't only the buildings that caught the eye, but also the many works of art that were dotted around the city - it was as if the local museum had decided their vaults were simply too full and so just dumped a myriad of sculptures and statues on the streets, just for the hell of it. Whatever the reason, they added an awe-inspiring ambience to the place.

Charlotte giggled and skipped over to one such piece, an abstract sculpture of what appeared to be three rectangular strips, each a varying pale shade of terracotta in colour, wound around each other to form a series of tight rounded curves. "Hey Riven, what do you think of that one?"

Riven looked at it thoughtfully for a second. "Ummm, I dunno. I've never really been into art. It's always been more Helia's thing."

"Yes, but do you like it?"

"I guess so. I mean, the shapes that those twirly things make are... interesting."

"It certainly is interesting." said Helia. "The deliberate joining of the three strips at various points around the centre seems to suggest some sort of connection or bond, perhaps between three people."

"That's right, yes!" Charlotte said happily. "It's me and my two big sisters Chantelle and Cherise."

Riven looked astonished when he heard this, and also a little sheepish. "You? Do you mean you made this?"

"Uh-huh!" she nodded. "I did it a couple of years ago in high school. It's supposed to represent a sisterly togetherness thing - no matter where we are, no matter how far apart we may be, we'll always be together."

"Wow! You're certainly talented!" said Sky.

"Thanks, although my sisters have always been more arty than me, and I've always been better at magic - that's why I went to Alfea instead of art college. Hey Riven, maybe when we get back to Majix I can do a little sculpture of you!"

"Well... okay, but only if you do my good side!"

Brandon burst out laughing when he heard this. "What? You have a GOOD side?!"

The gang's raucous laughter was cut short by the gruff guard. "I'm glad you find our city so appealing, but we really don't have any time to waste."

Silently, and suitably chastised, they followed the guards into the palace. Like the rest of the city, it was constructed from the same stone and, although it was a good deal larger (as you'd expect from a royal palace), it more-or-less shared the same styling with its surroundings. It was grand without being pompous, wondrous without being overwhelming, rich without being excessive. Large banners hung from its high walls, all bearing the same twin-sun mark as the guards' tunics. Guards stood at their posts at regular intervals, and staff and servants busied themselves doing whatever duties they were doing.

Eventually, after what seemed like ages, they arrived at a large set of double doors at the end of a long, wide, brightly-lit corridor.

"This must be the Throne Room." said Sky. "Right, let's follow royal protocol to the letter. You know the drill guys."

The doors opened and the group walked in. At the end of the room, a large imposing man was sat on a throne which had been set on a small step, his short red beard adding an almost intimidating touch to his features. Next to him sat his wife, smaller in stature to her husband but equally as majestic.

The party slowly approached the King and stopped.

"Your majesty," Prince Sky said, bowing courteously. "We are the party from Majix. I am Prince Sky or Eraklion, this is Brandon, Timmy, Helia, Jason, Riven and this is Charlotte - she's a resident of Nahri."

Charlotte curtsied politely as she was introduced. The King nodded.

"I am King Armand, ruler of Nahri, and this is my wife Queen Yvette. I am happy you've arrived so promptly. Our planet is facing a crisis like none we've ever faced before."

"So what exactly is happening?" Sky asked.

"Our water supplies are inexplicably running out."

"Water supplies? Pardon my asking Your Majesty, but how could such a hot planet have water supplies?"

"We have vast reservoirs, many miles underground. Normally these are maintained at a healthy level safe from the heat of the suns, but recently they have dropped alarmingly."

"Have any investigations been conducted?"

"Yes. We have sent teams of engineers and scientists to investigate."

"So? What did they find?"

The King shook his head sadly.

"We don't know. Out of the thirty or so people that went down, only one has returned and he has been quite unable to tell us anything. He has been driven mad with fright. He claims that there is some sort of monster down there, but we've made repeated sweeps with our underground scanners and they've all failed to pick anything up."

"So you want us to go down and investigate?"

"Yes. Your team's reputation for bravery and skill in battle is well-known, young prince - that is why I specifically requested your services."

Sky bowed once again. "I am honoured, Your Majesty. We shall go to your reservoirs immediately. You can count on us."

1. To see just what the deal is with Nahri Chillies, see chapter four of my fourth fanfic The Big Question (www . fanfiction . net / s / 3108242 / 4 / )