As both the dawn and morning came to pass, Elena laid in the nest of her Jaquin family, leaning over the edge as she gazed out the entrance which overlooked all of Vallestrella. From outside, she could see many of the other Jaquins were flying about the kingdom. She sighed, laying her head over top her crossed arms. All the while she pondered over the drastic change her father had made to her life. Her two brothers were now being sent away for guardian training at Mooncliff with Chief Zephyr, something which had never happened before.

She, Skler and Nico were always together when they were younger, she couldn't recall a single day where they were apart. They played together in the very nest where she laid, often she taught them games which she played long ago when she lived with her true father in the human realm. Even to this day they still played and laugh like they did so long ago. Though as of now, those times of laughter and fun would become noting more but a distant memory. For now she would not see her brothers for so long, for they would instead spend their time guarding the lands of the outside world. They would rarely have anytime to see one another with the responsibilities they would be given and whenever they would be given the chance could not be determined.

It might as well be that they were going to kept apart forever.

As Elena continued to fret over this soon to pass occurrence, there came a sudden flash of light from behind the princess and suddenly there came a voice to follow soon after.

"Hey Elena!"

Elena rose up and looked back, where she saw her spirit animal Zuzo was floating along on his back.

"Phew we!" He said, before he looped around in a straight body formation.

"You would not believe the potential crisis I managed to help someone avoid today."

Elena sighed as she sat back against the nest, curling her legs up to her chest as she glanced away.

"That's great, Zuzo." she responded with little enthusiasm.

"Hey, why the long face?" Zuzo asked, leaning in.

The jaquin princess sighed as she gazed up at him.

"Papa is sending Nico and Skyler away to Mooncliff for Guardian training." Elena said, turning back to Zozu.

"Really?" Zuzo said, curiously.

"And why is that?"

"Well, he kind have caught us sneaking out to see the Night Fury." Elena explained.

"Now he thinks they're a bad influence on me and my status as future queen."

"Well you three have been breaking the rules a lot" The spirit animal pointed out.

"I did warn you a bunch of times it was a bad idea to go outside to the human realm."

Elena glanced away once more, having little desire to be lectured about the rules anymore then she had already. It was a sight which Zuzo had picked up right upon seeing it.

"Come on, cheer up, princess." He insisted upon the matter.

"After all, King Verago did hand pick you to be the queen of Vellestella. Those are very big paw prints your going to have to fill."

"I know it is." Elena insisted, getting up and walking passed Zuzo.

"But that shouldn't mean I should be kept away Skyler and Niko."

"I must admit that is a quite drastic decision." Zuzo agreed, knowing it to be too much in regards to punishment.

Elena walked to the middle of the nest before stopping and crossing her arms.

"I wish I could show Papa that I can be the responsible ruler he wants me to be." She proclaimed.

"So he doesn't have to send Sklyer and Neko away."

Zuzo flew passed the young jaquin princess and came faced with her.

"Hmm, I think I may have a suggestion for ya," He said, raising his right index finger.

Elena gazed up, curiously to her spirit animal.

"If you wanna prove to your papa that you can be responsible, I suggest that you tell him that you want to join the Guardians at the Mooncliff. Then all you got to do is do what your told and then you can set a good example fro your brothers"

"Join the Guardians?" Elena said to herself.

Elena lowered he gaze as she thought for a moment over Zuzo's suggestion. Within a mere instant she was stricken with realization of the possibilities this could bring. Not only would she be able to stay with her brothers, but she would also have a chance to prove herself to her father that she could be a noble queen, even with her brothers influence around her.

"Thats... that's a great idea!" She gasped, looking back to Zuzo.

"Me, Skyler and Neko don't have to be separated from each other and I can show Papa that I can be responsible. Zuzo, your a genius!"

"Glad I could help." Zuzo said, just before vanishing into thin air.

It was just after the moment when Zuzo had departed, that it was then that she heard the sound of flapping wings coming from behind. She turned back to the entrance where she saw her jaquin mother fly in and land in the nest with her.

"Elena." she said, as she approached her adopted daughter.

"Mama." Elena said, greeting her in return.

"I was just coming to see how you were doing." Mariana said.

"You father took your brothers to the gate, he's already sent word out to Chief Zephyr. I just thought you would want to say goodbye to them before they go."

"About that, mama." Elena said.

"I need to talk to papa."

"About what?" Mariana asked, curiously.

"I want to go too."

Upon hearing her adopted daughter, Mariana looked curiously to her.

"What?" she asked.

"I want to join the Chief Zephyr's Guardians with Skyler and Nico." Elena explained.

Her mother came to sigh and bow her head, trying to contemplate what Elena had said to her.

"Elena..." She said.

"Please mama." Elena pleaded to her Jaquin mother.

"You heard what Papa said this morning, he doesn't think I'm responsible enough to be queen. This could be my shot to prove to him that I can be what he wants me to be."

Mariana smiled and walked up before her daughter, admiring her daughters admiration and determination. However there was much more then what Elena thought.

"Elena, you have nothing to prove to your father." She said, coming up and nuzzled her side.

"He may be hard on you sometimes, but it's only because he wants what is best for you and your brothers."

"I know but..."

"But what?" Mariana asked again.

Elena had first let out a brief sigh before she spoke up to her mother.

"I want for Skyler and Nico to be there, when I'm crowned queen." Elena said.

"I don't want for papa to separated us."

When her daughter brought up her mate's intention with their family, Mariana frowned and bowed her head. Much like her daughter, she had little regards or any such form of agreement with her mates course of action. She had a great deal of respect and loyalty to Verago, but she couldn't find it in her heart to separate her three cubs. The times when they were young, when Skyler and Nico were just cubs, she loved watching the three play inside the nest where they stood inside. She had cherished them and would remember to the very day she would draw her final breath. And even so that Elena, Skyler and Nico were reckless with their choices, to just send her sons away to Moon cliff while Elena is kept here in Vallestrella, it seemed unfair to her litter.

Though in terms of Elena proving herself to be the queen who Verago wishes for her to be, her daughter had little to prove to her. She knew Elena would be the queen she would be expected to be, one with leadership and pride, but would also have a playful spirit toward all her subjects. Mariana believed that to be so. Yet even still Verago remained with little in his daughter. Perhaps joining her brother at the Mooncliff would be the oppertunity she need to convince the Jaquin king that his heir was indeed who he wanted her to be.

Convinced by her adopted daughter, she gazed up at Elena.

"Come." She said.

Elena gazed up to her mother, who turned around and positioned herself before her. She looked back and gestured her head for her to climb onto her back. The sight of which caused Elena to smile gleefully before she came up and climb onto Mariana's back.

"Hold on." Mariana advised before she spread her wings and flew outside the nest.

Skyler and Nico along with Migs and Luna stood behind their father, who was standing before the gateway of Vallestrella. The Jaquin King approached the stone where the paw print of a Jaquin was embedded upon it's surface, before he turned back to his two sons.

"When you reach the other side, one of Chief Zephyrs will be waiting for you." He explained to them.

"He or she will be you Navagerra, they will teach you all you need to know to be a Guardian. I expect for you to follow their directions and for you to do what is expected of you."

"We got it, dad." Skyler insisted.

Verago nodded his head rightful before he turned back to the portal.

"Wait." Nico called out.

"What about Elena, we should at least say goodbye to her first."

"Your Navagerra will already be waiting for you." Verago insisted.

"I'm sorry, but you shouldn't keep them waiting."

Nico frowned and bowed his head in disappointment. Knowing this was to be the last time in a long while that they would ever see them, he would miss his older sister very much. Skyler came up and put his wing over him, to which his young brother looked up to him.

"Don't worry, Mico," He said.

"We'll come back and visit."

It was then that Verago turned back to the Portal and placed his paw upon the paw print embedded in the stone, causing it to glow a bright orange. The gateway then lit up into a swirling vortex, opening a way to the world which lied beyond theirs. Verago turned back to his two sons.

"Skyler, Nico," He said.

"It's time."

"Good luck, guys." Luna said.

"You'll need it." Migs insisted.

Skyler nodded to the two before her turned and approached the portal alongside Meeko. Yet upon the moment of their departure.

"Wait!" A familiar voice called from above.

The two brothers stopped and looked back along with Migs, Luna and Verogo, gazing up too the sky they saw their mother flying in with Elena.

"Elena!" Nico called.

Mariana came down and landed behind her two sons, to which Elena got off her back and came up to them.

"I knew you'd make it."

"Of course I would, Meeko." She said, kneeling down to her younger brother.

"Skyler, Nico." Verogo said.

Elena turned and looked to her Jaquin father.

"Papa, wait!" she said as she stood up and came before him.

"I going too."

"I though I made it clear to you, Elena." Verogo said, feeling that his daughter did not heed his words.

"You are not to leave Vallestrella again."

"I know, papa." Elena insisted to her father.

"You said that I need to take the rules seriously like you and Mama. Which is why I think I think I should go with Skyler and Meeko to the Mooncliff."

Verogo raised an eye brow at his daughter, curious to what she meant.

"And just how will going to the moon cliff help you take the rules seriously, especially with your brothers?"

"You said it yourself, I can't be responsible around them." Elena explained to her father.

"Well this could my chance to prove to myself."

"Absolutely not." Verago stated bluntly.

"I made it clear to you that I you are not to leave Vallestella again."

"But you also made it clear to me that as queen, I never should allow myself to be misguided by those around me." Elena stated.

"Yes, and you've been lead misguided by your brothers time and time again." Verago insisted.

"Then let me try and do better." Elena queried with her father.

"I can do better, if you let me."

Verogo still was not phased by his daughter's words, for false promises had been made before. He had seen it much time with Skyler and Meeko, she herself had times when she didn't follow through with the promises she had made. This one she had made at this very time, it had the same chance as the others and would cost her even more of his trust. Something which he had little intent to happen again. With the care he had for his heir and the future of Vallestrella, he couldn't afford for another mistake to be made.

Yet at the moment he was to make the very obstinate verdict, it was then that he saw his beloved mate step up to their daughter's side.

"Verago, please." She said to her mate.

"If Elena is to be queen, she should learn not to lets her brothers deter her. And besides, I think that some time with Chief Zephyr will be good for all of them. Elena could learn much from him."

Upon hearing his mate's suggestion, Verago took a moment to consider what possibilities this had presented. Chief Zephyr was a just and noble leader much like himself and had been leading the guardians much longer then he head been ruling. With such wisdom and experience, perhaps his adopted daughter may yet benefit from learning from a true leader.

He then turned to Elena, who stared pleadingly to her father in hopes he would grant her wish. It was then that he grinned to his daughter, coming to accept her daughters request.

"Very well." He then said.

"I will allow to you go with your brothers to the Mooncliff."

Elena gasped and smiled, along with both Skyler and Nico, who jumped and flipped in the air.

"Alright!" Skyler called out in glee.

"All of you shall," Verago then said, turning back to his Niece and Migs.

Both Jaquins gazed surprisingly to the king upon his decree.

"Us?" Luna asked.

"I want for both of you to ensure that my sons do not lead their sister astray." He said glancing down at Skyler and Nico who yielded upon his glance.

"Papa, please," Elena insisted.

"I can do this."

"I have allowed you the chance to prove yourself, Elena." Verago proclaimed who looked back to his daughter.

"But I know too well you are likely to not stay true to your word, which is why I will be sending Migs and Luna with you. If it turns out that you are unable to comply with your promise, you are to return to Vallestrella."

It was a moment of thought which Elena took before answering, having some feelings of gripe with her father's decision. She was perturbed that he didn't trust her, that he didn't believe she could do this without having him having others be sure she could keep her word. Why couldn't he just trust her the same way as her mother did?"

Although it seemed like if she was going to prove herself to him, she had to go the way her father wanted for her. She sighed before she bowed her head to her Jaquin father.

"Yes, Papa." She said.

Upon settling the matter. Verago stood before the five friends as almighty as his father before him.

"Elena, Skyler, Nico, Migs, Luna," He said with such authority

"You may cross over the other realm."

Mariana walked up beside Elena, who turned and kneeled down to her Jaquin mother.

"Thanks, mommy." Elena said, placing her hands upon the sides of her mothers face.

Mariana closed the gape between them and they each placed their foreheads upon one another.

"I promise I'll make you and Papa proud." Elena said before they departed from each other.

"I know you will." Mariana whispered to her.

"I know all of you will. And the time comes, I will see be the true leader you were always meant to be."

She then leaned in and gave her daughter a nuzzle, who wrapped her arms around her neck and hugged Mariana back. After departing for what would be the final time, Elena turned and climbed up onto Skylers back.

"Ready big sis?" Skyler said, glancing up to his human sister.

"Ready, little bro." Elena said back.

Skyler then looked to the others.

"Wings up, amigos." He said before he sprouted his wings.

Nico, Migs and Luna each did the same and the flew up to thr protal, crossing over to the world on the other side.

(I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, please comment and review!)