"Where are we going?" Adrian asked.

Zhovian had stopped. They stood at the edge of the forest, the land spread out before them, the fertile plateau of Eschelon. He recognised it. He had been here before. As Yuxia. He knew the answer even before the reply.

"The Summer Palace. But first we rest the horses."

The sun cast long shadows from the forest behind them. They dismounted, Joel almost falling to the ground.

Zhovian frowned. "Your former enemy is not a great horseman." He smiled, it seemed to himself.

They sat beneath a large tree on the edge of the forest and watched the horses graze.

"Why do you need me?" Adrian asked.

"Are you not the greatest warrior in the land. You defeated your enemy," he nodded towards Joel, and made him your ally."

"Yes, but what am I supposed to do at the Summer Palace?"

"Questions, questions." Zhovian lay back on the ground. "All you need know is the Princess has summoned you. She will explain all."

It was evening when they reached the road that circled up to the Summer Palace. Both boys were tired from riding all day. Not only tired, but Adrian felt every muscle in his body ached and his arse was sore. Joel faired no better. Sitting on a horse all day takes it's toll.

They passed through the city gates and into the inner courtyard. There, stewards rushed to meet them and take the horses. Adrian dismounted with great relief, and also with a little difficulty. Joel fell off, like before, but maintained his footing and stood there rubbing his backside.

"I know how you feel," Adrian smiled.

"I don't think I ever want to ride again."

"Yeah, it's not like in the game when you fly across the screen."

"No, man. This is real."

An elegantly dressed gentleman, in a flamboyant red robe, edged with gold braid along the entire length, and wearing a head covering to match, addressed them.

"Follow me good sirs," he said, and turned back towards a large entrance up a short flight of stone steps.

They were led into a huge room and sat at a magnificent oak table. Servants ushered in a rather splendid buffet of meat and fruit. These servants, although wearing simpler garb, were equally elegant in their red and white attire.

"What's gonna happen?" Joel asked.

Adrian watched Zhovian eating, and drinking from a pitcher. He seemed not to be paying them any attention, his focus was on the food.

"I've got no idea, but it seems likely this Princess wants something from us. Maybe she can help us get back."

Joel did not appear convinced, but there was little else to do for now but follow the action.

The flamboyant and elegant gentleman returned, coming to stand next to Adrian. "Sir Yuxia, the Princess will see you now."

He was ushered along corridors and up a curving flight of stone stairs. He noticed how well worn those steps were, hollowed out towards the centre by years of passage. Two guards with long spears stood baring an ornately carved wooden door. This was indeed a royal palace. They stood aside and the doors were flung open.

"The Princess awaits you," the gentleman indicated a door at the far side of the spacious entrance hall.

Adrian crossed the large room and knocked before reaching for the handle. As he entered the next room he was immediately aware that this was a bedroom. A figure about his own size and swathed in a similarly elegant red robe stood with her back to him. This must be the Princess, Adrian assumed. He closed the door, advanced a few paces and stood waiting.

"I need to leave this realm," she said, still with her back to him, but in a rather deep voice. "We have a twin destiny, but I do not know if a warrior such as yourself will ordain what I am about to ask of you."

He knew the format. How many hours had he spent playing this game. Everything revolved around two premises. The first was mortal combat, the second was love. This princess was either about to request he must fight or else... Adrian had to admit the second option was more appealing.

"I know how you arrived here and I know the power of the amulet."

The amulet? What was she talking about, he wondered.

"That Dragon holds the key to the gateway."

"I suppose," was all Adrian could say.

"I need you to take me there. Together we can retrieve the amulet and then I will have a chance to save my sister."

"Your sister?"

She turned around and looked at him for the first time. Her eyes were sky blue, her face, porcelain white, pale lips and he thought, light, perhaps blond or even white hair. He could not be sure, she wore a large hood, her robe was like a thick cape.

"We were born together. Sister and brother. Twins. My uncle holds my sister because he would rule the kingdom, but he is mistaken."

"Your uncle has your sister prisoner?"

"He believes he has me."

Adrian was nothing but confused and his lack of understanding must have shown.

"My sister and I swapped places. My uncle believes he holds the Prince of the realm and so the key to ruling the kingdom."

"If your uncle... I mean, if you swapped... you must be..."

The Princess smiled and opened her robe, beneath it she was naked. Quite obviously the figure standing before him was a boy like himself. Adrian gulped. He understood.

"But how are we to get back through the gateway?"

"I have a potion. It was given me by one of the greatest and most knowledgeable mages in the land."

They were lying together on the bed, having both drunk from the two viles provided by the greatest mage in the land. Adrian smiled to himself, staring up at the ornate ceiling, which he glimpsed through the red and gold drapes of the four poster super prince size bed.

"Did I create this?" Adrian asked.

The Prince turned his head and looked at Adrian. "You created Yuxia. You created the warrior you are. And you can defend us."

Adrian was not at all sure about that last part. Now it was too late. The room was enveloped in a cloud that hung in the air unmoving, covering everything, but touching nothing. When he moved his arm upwards, he watched himself as if in slow motion.

He watched himself. There. He was lying on the bed.

"I can't..."

"Believe it," the Prince finished his words.

Running through his head was a double meaning. Believe it. I can't believe it. And if he needed the medallion, the amulet, it had exploded. It was destroyed.

He woke up to the familiar sounds of city life, traffic noise, someone shouting. It took a moment to realise he was in bed. His bed. Alone!

What about the Prince? It was all a dream, a nightmare.

"Adrian, you better get down here. Your uncle called."

The voice was his mother's.

"You can't spend all day playing games," she shouted at him using that high pitched tone, which meant he had better get downstairs.

"I'm coming," he shouted back and paused the game.

Something clicked in his head. Like déjà vu, this had happened before. He turned back to look at the screen. Yuxia was standing on the edge of the forest, surveying the lands that stretched out ahead of them. Them. Next to him were two other warriors. He had defeated Bo Sim and crossed the River of Perpetual Darkness with the aid of the old boat man.

"Adrian!" She was at the bottom of the stairs.

He hit save and switched off the console. "I'm going," he told her as he ran down the stairs.

She blocked his path, forcing him to stop dead in his tracks. "You know your uncle always needs your help. Why do you waste all you time playing those silly games in your bedroom?"

She brushed a hand through his jet black hair. "Be nice to you uncle and the customers."

"What customers?"

She frowned.

"He never has any customers."

"Yes, yes, of course he does. That's why he needs your help."