Chapter Twenty-Four

(Brief lyrics in this chapter are from the song "Secret" by The Pierces.)

"Aralyne, you're eating dinner with us, tonight," said Queen Morgaine surprising me. I would have refused, but it sounded like an order. Who was I to deny my hostess, no matter how much of a bitch she might be? I followed her and her family into the dining room, and upon sitting at the table, I was suddenly surrounded by all of the Princes, except for Hans, who was pushed aside.

"So, Aralyne, why didn't you tell us who you really are?" said Eugene from my left.

"What are you talking about?" I inquired.

"Don't play coy with us," said Henry from my right.

"We know you're Incantationen's savior," Vincent said getting straight to the point.

"What?" I said my heart now hammering, "Who told you that?"

"I have my sources," replied Alcott.

Thomas jumped in and said, "Why don't you ditch my baby brother and spend some time with a real man?"

"Excuse me," I scoffed at him.

"Aralyne, we're going to get straight to the point," said Morgaine, "You're going to marry one of my sons, now which one will it be?"

"What?!" I screeched gaping at her. She couldn't be serious! All of the princes looked at me expectantly, except Hans who seemed ashamed. I suddenly remembered Hans asking me to marry him. And the pieces started fitting together. They didn't want to have anything to do with me until they found out I was the savior. There was also the title of being Queen of Incantationen that went along with it. "This was a set up!" I shouted getting to my feet and glaring at Hans.

"N-No!" he stammered, his green eyes wide, "I had nothing to do with this! I swear!"

"Oh, shut up, Hans, yes you did," Morgaine sniffed, "Now, Aralyne, who do you choose?"

"No one!" I snapped, my face flaming, "I trusted you, Hans! Guess I was wrong!" Lifting up my skirt, I took off running out of the dining room.

"Aralyne, wait!" Hans called out after me, but I ignored him. He was just as bad, if not worse, than everyone in Nesidy! As I was leaving the castle, I ran past the guards and could still hear Hans right behind me. "Stop her!" The sound of a multitude of footsteps told me they were following his orders.

I didn't get very far when I was suddenly caught about the waist and pulled into the shadows of some dense bushes. A hand was placed over my mouth, while the other held me down.

"Aralyne, it's me, Catherine!" a voice hissed in my ear as I struggled to be set free.

I stopped moving and the hand over my mouth was removed. "Catherine?" I said turning to look at her. Alyss was there as well. "What are you two doing here?" I whispered.

"Shh," said Alyss motioning for me to be quiet. The guards and Hans ran right on by, not noticing us in the least.

After waiting a few minutes in silence, and making sure the guards and Hans weren't coming back I said to the sisters, "Thanks. How did you know I needed you again?"

"Woman's intuition," said Catherine with a wink, "and I'm guessing Hans is now Prince Not-So-Charming?"

"No," I muttered angrily, "turns out the princes wanted to marry me because they found out I'm Incantationen's savior."

"Ouch," said Catherine, "Those bastards."

"Sounds like you need to get out of the Southern Isles," said Alyss.

"No kidding, but where am I to go, now?" I said, "Everywhere I go, people are either always lying to me, or I get attacked by villains. Not to mention, I keep losing my sword." I reached out to touch Excalibur's hilt to make sure it hadn't fallen off my back. Yup, still there.

"Look, you probably don't want to, but you need to talk to Flynn," Alyss said and I scowled, "Other than us, he's the only friend you've got and he can help you."

As much as I hated to admit it, she was right. "Fine," I huffed.

"To the beach!" Catherine declared out loud.

"Did you hear that?" a voice shouted out, "This way!"

"Oops!" said Catherine sheepishly.

The three of us shot to our feet and ran towards the beach, Hans and his guards right behind us. When we got there, there was a boat waiting just out of reach of the tide.

"We borrowed it," Alyss quickly explained as we jumped into the boat. She and I each grabbed an oar as Catherine pushed the boat far into the water. After she climbed in, Alyss and I rowed out towards the ship. Once we got there, a rope was already dangling over the side and I latched onto it, hauling myself up. Right as I cross the rail, I tripped and landed in a pair of strong arms before I could hit the ground. I looked up, my gaze locking with a pair of piercing blue eyes.

"Aralyne," said Tulio.

I blushed and pulled away from him right as the sisters finally climbed on board.

"Damn," said Flynn, and we all turned to see he was looking back over the boat. We followed his gaze to see Hans and his guards had somehow managed to accquire a boat and were already half way to us.

Leaning over the rail I shouted out to the prince, "Leave me alone, Hans!"

"Aralyne, just listen to me!" he shouted back.

"Why should I?!" I snapped, "For all I know you just want to marry me so you can be king of Incantationen!"

"He what?!" Tulio demanded, but I ignored him.

"Believe me when I say I had absolutely nothing to do with that! It's my mother's plot!" Hans replied.

They reached the ship, and climbed up the rope before we could pull it up. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Right as they reached the deck, Tulio pulled me away from the rail while Flynn, Alyss, and Catherine stood before me as a shield.

"If you want her, you'll have to go through us," said Catherine with arms crossed over her chest.

"I just want to talk to her," said Hans in irritation.

Tulio suddenly grabbed Excalibur from my back and pointed it at the prince. "Get off my ship," he said in a cold tone.

"What are you doing?!" I demanded of Tulio fearful he might hurt Hans.

He ignored me and asked Hans, "What exactly do you want with her?"

"That's none of your concern, Tulio," Hans growled out.

"It is my concern when she's involved," Tulio snapped, "I love her!"

I flushed at his exclamation. I really wish he would drop this subject! "Stop it, Tulio!" I shouted, "I'm not your true love, and I don't love you! Will you give it a rest, already?!"

Hans smirked and said, "You see that? Another one that prefers me..."

Tulio seemed to have stiffened and he lowered the sword a bit. I glanced up at him to see his eyes had glazed over a bit, a hurt look etched upon his face.

"Tulio, are you going to let this smug bastard take someone else you love from you?!" Flynn shouted moving to stand between him and Hans, "If you truly love her, fight for her!"

Still in his odd state, Tulio quietly said, "She wanted Hans... They've all wanted Hans and the others..."

"She could have chosen any man in this world, but she chose you! Don't let him win! If you let him take Aralyne, who knows what else he'll take! Aralyne is the one thing that is yours! Don't let him win and take her away, too! You're a good man, Tulio! That's why she loves you, even if she can't remember!"

"I don't remember because it never happened!" I yelled at Flynn, "How many times do I have to say it?! I don't love Tulio! I'm not in love with Tulio! He's not my true love! And Hans, this does not mean I'm choosing you!"

"Aralyne, think about it," said Alyss, "Your memories were erased, so of course you wouldn't remember. Perhaps Flynn and Tulio are telling the truth."

"I'm sorry, but I can't love someone if I have no memory of who they are," I said shaking my head.

Tulio muttered out loud, "I lost everything... They took everything..."

With everyone distracted by what was going on, Hans suddenly rushed forward and pulled me out of Tulio's grasp, holding me in his arms.

"Hey!" I shouted out, trying to pull free, but he held on tight.

"Then don't let him take this!" Flynn continued, "Do you want this smug bastard to win?! Do you want to go back to being a nothing?! You're a good man, Tulio! You were meant to be with her! Be the hero for her! You were the one who woke her up when she ate the apple! You were the one she needed to keep Siren at bay! It was you! All you! You fought for her so many times before! Fight again!"

A fire suddenly erupted within his piercing blue eyes. He punched Hans in the face, who released me. Tulio grabbed me and pulled me into his arms. "Stay away from Aralyne!" he growled.

Catherine cheered but it was cut short when Hans grabbed her and held a dagger to her throat.

"Hans, no! Please, don't hurt her!" I cried out in fear. Everyone on the ship was now tense.

"Yeah!" Catherine agreed then choked as he brought the knife closer to her skin and drew blood.

"Please, Hans, if you truly care about me, you'll let her go!" I begged.

Hans now had a deranged look. "You're supposed to be mine! Not his!" he roared nodding at Tulio, "You're what I always wanted!"

"I've had enough!" groaned Catherine before striking Hans in the four most sensitive areas of the body: solar plexus, instep, nose, and groin. She then kicked him overboard. Wiping at the blood with the sleeve of her dress, she said, "Man, that was getting annoying!"

We all leaned over the rail to look at Hans who floated in the ocean looking beaten both literally and emotionally.

"Tulio, please let me go," I said keeping my eyes on the prince.

"What? Why?" he demanded, his hold on me tightening.

"I need to talk to Hans," I replied.

"No! I'm not letting you near him, again!" Tulio declared.

"I'm not asking for your permission," I snapped, "Now, let me go!"

Tulio hesitated and I could see the internal struggle before he released me. I leaned over the rail and spoke to the prince. "Listen, Hans. You were a great friend, but I can no longer trust you because of your family and their plot."

His face suddenly became vacant of all expression and he said, "I understand, Aralyne. Just know that I will always love you." Looking up at the boat, he ordered his guards to leave the ship and they did. I gave him a sad, yet grateful smile. Turning away from me, he swam off towards shore.

When he had gone, I looked back at my companions on the ship. They were all staring at me, Tulio's jaw twitching. For a moment, the Prince's words echoed through my mind, Tulio is an enemy to the kingdom. An enemy to the kingdom of the Southern Isles? But why? What could he have possibly done to make the entire kingdom hate him so much? I shook my head to rid myself of this thought.

It was then that we heard a child's voice on the wind calling out my name.

"Aralyne! Aralyne!"

We looked around but didn't see anyone until Alyss pointed up at the sky.

"That girl is flying!"

We all followed her gaze to see Dani Phantom heading straight for us. The child quickly landed on the ship and fell to her knees, exhausted.

"Aralyne, I'm so glad I found you," she panted looking as if she were ready to pass out right then and there.

"Dani, what are you doing here?" I asked kneeling beside her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"It's Danny," she replied right away, "He told me to get you! You have to come back to Nesidy!"

"Look, Dan, I'm not very happy with your -"

"Please!" she begged tears now filling up her glowing green eyes, "He's dying, Aralyne!"

"Dying?" I repeated quietly, feeling my blood run cold. I had to get to him! Looking down at my magic ring, I latched onto Tulio's and Flynn's shirts. "Dani, Catherine, Alyss, grab onto me." They did so, the child wrapping her arms around my waist, and the sisters taking the crook of my elbow. I focused on the magic, thinking of Nesidy, and in the blink of an eye, we arrived in the town.

"Whoa!"

"How did that happen?"

"Where are we?"

Releasing the men, and shaking off the sisters, I said, "Tell Amelia, I'll replace her ship. Dani, take me to him!" With the ghost girl still wrapped around my waist, she lifted us up into the air and flew to a two-story house with some sort of large machine on the roof sporting the name Fenton on it. We became intangible and flew right into Danny's room where the child released me.

"You're back," Sam said in surprise sitting on the edge of Danny's bed. Ignoring her, I ran straight to his side.

He was muttering under his breath.

"Got a secret

Can you keep it?

Swear this one you'll save"

"Danny?" I said taking his hand. His blue eyes were glazed over, his skin was a sickly grayish colour, and he was pouring sweat.

"Better lock it in your pocket

Taking this one to the grave"

"Danny, it's Aralyne."

He stopped muttered and his eyes suddenly focused on me. "Aralyne," he said weakly. I suddenly began crying and I smiled at him.

"Yes, Danny, it's me."

"I'm sorry. I should have told you from the start, but Grandpa made me swear to never tell."

"No, I'm sorry," I replied shaking my head, "You're my best friend and I shouldn't have been mad at you this long!"

His eyes glazed over once more and he went back to muttering.

"If I show you then I know you won't tell what I said

'Cause two can keep a secret if one of them is dead"

"Please, Danny, get better," I begged brushing his hair back out of his face, "I can't bear to lose you."

"Yes, two can keep a secret if one of them is dead

Yes, two can keep a secret if one of us is..."

He suddenly stopped muttering and his eyes were completely lifeless.

"Danny?" Sam said but he didn't respond.

"D-Danny?" I stammered shifting my fingers so they fell over his wrist. I didn't feel a pulse. The whole room began to tilt and I felt like my world was falling apart. "Danny! Danny, no!" My legs shook and I collapsed onto the floor. My tears were blurring my vision as I wailed. Danny Fenton was dead.