Elaina sat uncomfortably in her seat across the carriage from her twin Ezra and sighed.

“What.” Ezra said, his kind, childlike eyes flicking up from the book he was reading to her face.

“Nothing.” Elaina replied back.

Ezra shut his book with a thump. “No, it's something come on, out with it.”

“I just... I just wish my first meeting with him could be back home. Where it's safe.”

“Sis, they're at war, and both Prince Vincent and his brother Alex are integral to the defense of their country. They can't afford to be so far from their kingdom during wartime.”

“I know. Daddy told me when we got engaged. But he can teleport! All the courtier's say Prince Vincent is one of the greatest savants of space magic of this generation!”

Prince Ezra placed his book, yet another book on enchantments she noted, down by his side.

“You know it wouldn't be that easy 'Laina. Even the most powerful mages can only teleport a handful of times a day before they are expended. And he needs every one of those teleportations to move the units of their kingdom's armed forces to where they are needed.”

Elaina knew she was being unreasonable, but she still wanted to say it out loud. It was a habit the two of them had gotten into, voicing their inner monologue to each other, no matter how it sounded in their heads.

“He could always just use potions to recharge, we could even pay for them! It's not like we're hurting for money. Daddy set up this engagement because he and Queen Lillian are 'special friends' and she needs help, not because WE needed the engagement for trade routes or military reinforcements or anything.”

“'Laina you know those potions play hell with a persons body. Remember when I slammed five of them in a day to win that enchanting competition? I was bedridden for a week.”

'Laina turned her gaze outwards to the window and rested her chin in her hand. “Of course I remember. I remember Daddy invited Queen Lillian over to use her healing magic on you when the doctors said you wouldn't get better on your own. It's just...”

She sighed, closing here eyes. “I wish I could have talked to him more before we met. More than just the letters, and the few glimpses I've...” Elaina caught herself before she continued.

Ezra narrowed his eyes at her. “Have you been spying on your fiance 'Laina?”

“No...” 'Laina replied unconvcingly, drawing the word out as Ezra's stare burrowed into her.

“Yeah...” She finally admitted.

“You know that's a complete breach of his privacy right? What if you accidentally scryed on him in the bath or...” Seeing her reddening face he paused.

“You didn't” Ezra said disbelievingly.

“I didn't mean to!” Elaina tried to defend herself, unsuccessfully. “All the area's he is normally in are warded! The only times I could catch him was when he was toweling off going back to his room!.”

“'Laina, how would you feel if he did that to you?” Ezra tried, unsuccessfully, to make her feel guilty.

“After what I saw I wouldn't mind at all. Might even 'accidentally' drop the towel.”

Ezra stared at her sternly, holding her gaze, before he gave up and deflated, his petite form leaning back in his seat. “So how was he?” He asked, his curiosity finally overpowering his sense of propriety.

“Well he looks like he is in amazing shape overall.” Elaina started.

“Unsurprising, most of her children inherited the queen's propensity for healing magic, he can probably sculpt his body however he wants.”

“Maybe, but that doesn't mean it's still not great to look at. Abs for days and nice broad shoulders. Honestly maybe a little too broad, looks like he works on them a lot, whether with magic or training.”

Ezra nodded. “From what I've heard Prince Vincent is a master archer, so that is probably the fruits of training. Or, you know, battle...” Prince Ezra's voice trailed off. They had both been avoiding thinking about it, but no matter how well defended the palace was, they were still heading into a warzone.

Both twins were silent for a while.

“So... did you bring your ball?” Ezra asked after a few minutes.

Elaina gave him a sly look. “Maaaaybe. Why, could it be YOU want a look at your future brother in law, after all that talk of invading his privacy.”

“Well I mean you've already seen him naked once, damage is already done right?”

“As a woman I feel I should be more perturbed by that assertation, but as someone who's been stuck in this carriage for four hours with nothing to do I'm all for it.” Elaina grinned as she pulled a small hand sized crystal ball out of her purse.

Ezra leaned in towards the crystal ball as she held it out in her hands, both of their eyes focused intently on it.

Elaina let her mind calm, envisioning an ocean in her mind, turbulent, that slowly calmed until it was still. In her mind's eye she reached out to the surface of the water.

The ripples in the ocean of her mind cascaded across the surface of the crystal ball in her hand, rippling in her two handed grip(she had learned that lesson as a girl, never try to use scrying magic on a crystal ball in one hand. The look on her father's face when she had to ask him for her 11th one was etched into her meories). Slowly the image in the ball took on the image of her fiance. Of above average height, with sandy red hair and a pale complexion, he currently had a look of discomfort on his face as servants swarmed around him, attaching and pinning pieces of fabric in place around him.

“What are they doing? We're due to be there in a few hours, they can't possibly be trying to make a new suit for him to wear now.”Ezra asked. “Can you get sound?” He looked up questioningly at his sisters face.

“Maybe. I am having to fight the castle's wards. I think I slipped in under them but I can feel them looking for me.” In her minds ocean, more ripples started spreading out in the far distance, their waves meeting hers and turning an angry red. More ripples began nearer to her, each one reducing the distance between her and them. She didn't have long.

She focused harder, her ripples becoming waves in her mind, and a voice began to emerge from the crystal ball.

“...don't see why I need a brand new suit, the old one is just fine!” Prince Vincent grumbled from within the crystal ball. A new figure entered view, his dress identifying him as the head butler. He was holding holding in his hands a suit, the back facing the prince and the two voyeurs currently watching. “This suit sir?” The suit he was holding up looked somewhat worn but otherwise looked fine. A conservative and traditional cut. Elaina wouldn't have let her brother go to a party or ball in it, but she also understood that the kingdom of Ustral was in the middle of a war, so they obviously couldn't afford a new outfit for every event, even one as important as meeting your wife-to be.

“Yes, what's wrong with OUCH!” The prince exclaimed as one of the maids accidentally stuck him with a pin, she muttered something about not being a baby and continued her work as the prince refocused back on the butler. “What's wrong with that one?”.

“If his highness will recall, this is the suit he wore to his final exam. His final. Alchemy. Exam.” The butler merely smirked and turned it around to show him the back. The rear was charred black, with holes in various places where the fabric had burned through.

“Oh... right... I don't remember much of that night. Did they ever rebuild the lab?” Prince Victor asked. “Did they ever rebuild the lab after...” The prince was interrupted by a loud noise from outside, A maid jumped closer to the prince as he turned to look out the window, and all the others in the room immediately dropped to the ground covering their heads. Elaina was surprised by the sound as well, and began to lose her focus. In her mind the red pinpricks and their ripples were multiplying rapidly, surrounding her. She tried to hold on but they eventually overwhelmed her, and both her mind's eye and the crystal ball flashed a bright red. A loud crack was heard, and the crystal ball fragmented into two halves.

Elaina quickly dropped them to keep from cutting herself. “Darn it!”

Ezra sighed “You really do need to be more careful.”

“But it was worth it right?” Elaina grinned at her brother.

“Okay yeah, that was pretty fun. I don't think you should let your fiance play around with potions.” “Yeah neither do I.” They bantered back and forth.

“So... You can make me a new crystal ball right?” Elaina said, putting on her best smile for her brother. “That's the third one this year 'Laina, I know you don't want to ask dad for another one but you can't just keep asking me to churn them out for you! Enchanting is exhausting.”

“Buuuut your so good at it! And I help!” Elaina pouted, giving him her best puppy dog eyes. “You know that worked a lot better when you weren't more than a foot taller than me.” Ezra said offhandedly, looking anywhere but her gaze.

That made her take stock of herself. She had really matured these last few years, gaining 'all the right curves' as her head maid had put it, 'an hourglass figure'. Her brother, despite technically being older than her(by five minutes, she always replied), had not kept up with her, remaining petite and adorable, which all the women of the castle adored, but which Ezra hated being reminded of.

Elaina flickered her blonde hair out of her eyes and leaned forward, trying to force her way into Ezra's vision. “Please Ezra! Daddy will be mad at me for weeks if I ask him. Pretty Pleeeeeeease.” Elaina elongated her please as long as her lungs would allow, then inhaled again to assault his ears once more as she finally caught his gaze.

“PLEEE...” Ezra interrupted her. “Fine! Fine! Okay I'll do it when I get the chance. But this time YOU are going to be there the entire time, instead of just coming in at the end to imbue it with divination magic.” Elaina smiled and gave her brother a hug, while he judiciously looked away from her and pouted over having lost this argument with her yet again.

Elaina leaned back in her seat, satisfied and smiling, when she heard the driver call out and the horses rear, making her slam the back of her head into the front wall of the carriage. She rubbed the back of her head while Ezra stuck his head out the window, and asked the driver what was going on.

Elaina couldn't make out what they were saying, so she looked out the other window, only to see a squad of heavily armored cavalry bearing down on them.

Elaina gasped, reaching over for Ezra. “Ezra, I think we're under attack!” She tugged at the back of his coat. He looked back in at her and patted her arm. “I don't think so, they're wearing Ustral colors, and I've heard about this unit I think. They wear special armor that is only made in ustral, heavily enchanted, and when I Look at them they practically glow. They're the personal knights of...”

He was caught off guard by the sound of a half dozen horses rearing to a stop. The carriage driver called a hail to the leader of the knights, and a feminine voice responded.

“Princess Muira, Commander of the Crystal Knights and heir apparent of the kingdom of Ustral. We are here to escort my future brother and sister in law the rest of the way.” The voice rang out in a clear feminine tenor. Curious and a little confused Elaina shared a glance with Ezra, then opened the door to her carriage and stepped out., Ezra following her.

A horse trotted towards them, ridden by a figure covered in shaped crystal plates, the upper body covering her fully, with a bulge at the chest, presumably in deference to the wearer's breasts which, which, Elaina noted, were likely smaller than hers. The full plate outfit continued down until it spread at her waist, forming a kind of armored skirt, over similarly armored legs. The helmet was artfully designed, with the crystals curving over the wearer's head, leaving just a visor to see out of.

The rider, presumably Muira, pulled her feet out of the stirrups and dropped to the ground, pulling off her helmet as she went. Long flowing amber-red hair rumbled down around her shoulders, framing her purple eyes above a wide smile. She spread her arms wide as she walked toward the twins.

“It is so good to see you!” Muira exclaimed, embracing them both. Ezra and Elaina shared a look behind her back, as the both of them were crushed in her embrace.

'What is going on?' Ezra mouthed to Elaina. 'I have no idea.' Elaina mouthed back, as they were released. “Oh my you two have grown so much since the last time I saw you!” Muira said, smiling at them both.

The twins shared another glance between themselves. “Oh, I guess you were probably too young to remember... or maybe I've changed too much for you to recognize me.” Muira then gathered her hair up behind her head, simulating a short hairstyle. “Does this look more familiar?” She asked, waiting and watching the two of them.

Elaina looked at her face from a few different angles, she could feel the stirrings of a memory, but couldn't quite grasp it. Ezra sucked in a breathe at her side. “Auntie Mu-mu?” And with that name memories started coming back to her. She remembered her father and a woman meeting up often at their castle, and every time they did 'Auntie Mu-mu' would be there to watch them. The last time they had met had been when she and her brother were 6.

“I suppose it would have been too much to ask that you could remember me without remembering that nickname. Alex didn't let me hear the end of it for years after he found out about it.”

Elaina was flabbergasted by this information. “I didn't know you were Queen Lillian's daughter, I always thought you were a maid that father fired! We got so mad at him when you stopped coming over, I remember now.” Ezra nodded along. They both remembered asking their father when she could come over again, until he had finally snapped at them, the first time he ever had in point of fact. They never asked again after that.

Princess Muira's face turned sad. “Yeah there was... That was a bad time for mother...” her gaze turned sad. She soon shook herself out of her reverie however.

“Anyways, my brother needed some more time to get ready to meet you, something about his suit not being 'good enough.' I know better than to ask when Henry, oh that's the head butler of the palace, anyway I know better than to get in his was when he says something isn't proper. So instead of your fiance coming to meet you you got... me. I hope that's not too much of a disapointment.”

“Not at all.” Ezra said, recovering from the surprise much faster than his sister. Seeing Princess Muira moving to get back up on her horse, Elaina called out. “Would you like to ride in the carriage with us? We could catch up on lost time!” Elaina motioned for her to join them in the carriage.

Muira looked at her horse, then back to the carriage, then over at the knights that had accompanied them, all wearing similar armor, if less ornate.

“You know what, sure. That will give us time to catch up, and also time for me to tell you about my little brother.” Muira grinned at the twins. “You two are going to make such a cute couple!”

Muira and the twins made their way back into the carriage, chatting as they went…