Àskériàn examined the Star crystal. It was now encased in a clear glass box that Ace had received from Chancellor Varier, a member of the research department that he had yet to meet, apparently the Chancellor was that, the Chancellor of the Ardent knights.

The glass case was held together at the ends by thin golden rods which held each pane in place. According to Ace, it was designed to keep him from being absorbed into the stone again.

Curiosity had begun to rise in him as he retraced his experience with the queen's memories. Then a thought hit him, the birb would need to know that the queen didn't remember how they had met.

He found Rain in the courtyard, examining the water fountain. As Àskériàn stepped closer, he spotted what held her attention.

Coi fish swam through the bottom of the fountain. Gold, black and white colorful fish, danced beneath the water's surface. Well that was new, but when did that happen?

She looked up at his approach. "Uh hello, Àskériàn." She said in greeting. "What can I do for you?"

He gave her a solemn look and inhaled a deep breath to prepare himself for what he had to say. "There's something I need to show you." He said as he placed a hand to back of his neck. "It's kind of private." He explained.

"I see." Rain said. "Follow me then, there is a place I need to visit anyway, you can come with me. It's rather isolated." She explained.

She stepped to the edge of the courtyard where the staircase led down to the plaza below. Her small frame shimmered in starlight as she shifted into her phoenix form and beckoned him to climb into the golden saddle that she now magicked into existence whenever she was transporting others.

He held up his hands. "No thank you. I'll just follow." He summoned his reptilian wings behind him.

Rain led him into the void and they circled the palace, then headed into the opposite direction of the islands that held the city and the castle.

Further and further away they flew until all they could see was the back end of the castle, with it's the windows that displayed the throne.

"Where exactly are we going?" He asked the birb.

You will see. Rain answered through her telepathy.

Another island came into view. Just like the island Ardentia sat on, this one was held up by a cluster of puffy irridescant clouds. The island was covered with trees. A floating forest.

Rain landed swiftly, shifting back to her elven form. Àskériàn followed as he folded his wings into his back.

"Welcome to my forest." She said to him. "I have some things I need to do here, it's mostly isolated. What was it you wanted to tell me?" She asked, peering at him over her shoulder through her blue eyes.

He reached into his black leather overcoat and pulled out a glass box. Inside the box was a crystal that glowed as brightly as the stars in the void. "This."

He explained that the memory of how she had met the queen was inside the crystal and that it was an attempt to keep their queen from remembering things so she didn't try and leave the realm.

"I see." Rain replied as they walked. "It may not be a bad thing, however, I doubt that she will ever forget. No matter how many memories they seal away. She will always be Ardent."

"I've been placed in charge of watching for changes in her behavior. I'd like your help on that. It's only logical since you are someone who knows the queen." Rain's head bobbed up and down as she nodded in understanding.

They carried on with their conversation as they walked through the trees. Trees that fed from starlight and the Celestial sun. They were massive trees that towered over them, reaching ten stories high. Some were smaller, still saplings..

The sound of water caught his attention and he followed the sound with his eyes until he spotted a stream. It flowed gently over small hills, creating small waterfalls and it trailed through the tall trees in the direction they were headed. The same coi fish that were in the fountain, swam down the river and into a large pond.

The pond lay in the field against a huge boulder. Fluorescent lilly pads floated peacefully atop the water, their pale blue glow highlighting the clear water below and the fish continued with their waltz beneath them as they swam.

White lillies stood guard atop the lilly pads, fighting against the ripples from the incoming stream. Fireflies sauntered through the air around cat tails that held the same glow as the lilly pads.

The sound of a wood pecker hunting for food drew his attention to a smaller tree on the other side of the pond. Blue feathers stood out against the ancient wood.

The rustle of grass announced the arrival of a white squirrel as it darted to the water's edge, followed by a tawny pelted fawn who bent it's head to drink..

Àskériàn caught the glow of eyes beyond the trees. He got the sense of curiosity where one would usually find hunger and danger.

"What is this place?" He asked as he soaked in the enchanting atmosphere of the island.

"Lady Ardent found this place and gave it to me." She explained. "I came here today to look for any new familiars. I'm sure you have noticed by now, some of the people in our Kingdom are familiars. These citizens didn't come from Gaia. They came from this forest."

He turned to her then, she was at the edge of the water, watching the animals across the pond. They seemed unbothered by their presence. Then he realized that these trees were the same ones from the rainforest inside Ardent's memories.

"Tell me something," he began, "you seem to know a lot about this realm and the people, I would like to know more…I saw your story inside the stone." He finished as curiosity got the better of him.

Rain shook her head, her blue eyes still focused on the fawn and squirrel. "You only know a portion of my story, but I can tell you the rest. Back when Gaia was still known as Earth," Rain began her tale. "There was a place called Arcadia. It was home to those of my kin. The elves." Rain's mind drifted back to her birthplace as she told her story.

Deep in the Arcadian Rainforest, stood a tall cliff, whose edge was dressed in a brilliant waterfall. The water cascaded downward into crystal clear water, where fluorescent lilly pads awaited, their white lillies standing firm in their battle against the ripples from the falling water at the basin of the falls.

Just beyond the water, blended a crystal blue structure which merged with the earth behind the falls. Two blue Agate columns parted the water, revealing a small flight of steps with disappeared into the basin’s water.

"Your majesty." Rain's voice echoed throughout a very large room. Tall cathedral, light blue walls extended upward which made her soft voice seemed like it belonged to someone else. Delicate carvings of familiars in their animal forms guarding the Arcadian Rainforest, dotted the walls, inlaid with gold. Ornate sconces of the Rainbirb accompanied the artwork, casting soft shadows and giving the sculpted scenes more depth.

Her brother, King Weslo, was sitting on the elven throne, built of the same crystal that signified the royal grace that he and his sister held, only it was a darker tone than the rest of the elven palace, Acaden.

Welso was tall and slender, but he held an air of authority. “How many times must I tell you not to use formalities with me?” He asked with a stern look, his head rested against his fisted hand. One blind eyebrow twitched, showing his irritation.

Rain straightened, “You are the king of Arcadia, brother.” She said mischievously.

Welso grunted, “And you would have been the queen had you not been born a few years after me.”

“Yes well,” She waved her hand nonchalantly, “Just think of it as practice, for you know, uh formal gatherings and such.”

“That’s exactly why you are here.” He spoke, waiting for her reaction.

Her brows creased, “What do you mean?”

"Rain, the dragon Etah, has attacked the village of Alexand. We suspect the beast is on it's way here. You must evacuate the kingdom." He began.

"But my king!" Rain protested.

"Please, I'm your brother, stop being so formal with me." Weslo scolded his younger sister again.

She gave him a frown. "Formalities are nice." She retorted through narrowed eyes. "I don't want to leave, brother, what about you and the people?"

"Those of us who are strong enough will stay here to defend the forest. However those who are week will be evacuated.”

“I’m not weak!” She protested.

“True, but you also possess something no one else does, or do I need to remind you that you are essential to the future of this kingdom?”

"I won't go!" Rain traightened her back in an attempt to show her defiance.

"Colorful." Weslo ordered, never removing his gaze from Rain.

Weslo's familiar, a white tiger, whose stripes were the same pale blue of the crystal that adorned the palace and the elven king, stepped around the crystal throne.

Rain shifted her gaze from her brother to her friend as he approached her. "Colorful." She greeted warily.

Colorful slowly weaved around her tiny frame and then grabbed ahold of Rain's cape. Before she could react, she was being hauled out of the massive throne room.

"What?! No fair!" Rain cried as Colorful pulled her away. She struggled to get away, digging in her black booted heels. His grip, however was strong.

"Colorful! Stop! I can't leave him behind!" She continued her cries as Weslo watched them disappear through the white marble doors. His demeanor never changing from his calm, collected state.

Don't worry. He sent me with you to keep you safe and as long as he is alive, I will know. Colorful mumbled into her mind, still dragging her by the hood of her robe that matched his fur.

He managed to get Rain to the escort group in the courtyard. They waited just outside the atrium, Rain's favorite place, as it was the only place within the palace that you could catch a glimpse of the outside world. Tree roots from the forest above wove together, creating a natural mesh of netting, allowing birds to come and go as they pleased.

The courtyard was full of familiars and elves, and even a few most trusted soldiers accompanied the large group of evacuees, including Amaterasu.

A strange calmness washed over her as she surveyed all the people around her and it was then that she understood her brother’s reason for sending her off, it would he her job to protect them and she would. She glanced at her companion who had finally let go of her. "Alright Colorful, lets go."

"It's going to be ok Rain." The group lead reassured her as she met with them.

"Oh Solar." She cried giving him a hug. Solar, stood tall, dressed in fine white linen, lined with the fur of a white lion. His cuffs were clasped with gold encrusted emblems that held the white tiger symbol of their home. More golden finishings and linings danced elegantly throughout his ensemble. A small light blue crystal dangled from one pointed ear.

His pale skin and short white-blond hair glinted off the sun, bringing out the golden inlays of his uniform. A set of pale blue eyes offered warmth and reassurance.

Christopher wrapped a thick royal blue blanket around her shoulders. "You look like you are freezing Rain." He said as he offered her one of his knowing smiles.

The tall, dark haired man held the regal presence of his familiar animal, a black panther. His muscular build towered over Rain, then again she was one of the shorter elves and often cursed herself for it. An elf's height was something to be proud of.

His dark hair, black uniform and blue-grey eyes were a contrast to Solar and the light blue gem that clasped his black overcoat at his chest.

They offered soo much comfort from them, yet her heart was still breaking.

"It will take a couple days to reach Alexhand. Once we pass through the Rainforest of Arcadia, the trip will be smoother." Christopher explained.

“Alexhand? Why are we going there? Didn’t Etah already attack that village?” She asked.

“Yes, but he won’t be looking to attack a kingdom twice if he thinks its been decimated. We will go there and help them rebuild as per our alliance, and when Etah passes over Arcadia we will return.”

Rain nodded in understanding. So that’s how it is. Two days, she would leave her brother behind, along with the rest of her people, and she prayed that when she returned, it wouldn’t be too late.