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Prologue: The Beginning

A bitter wind blew, and the cold air showed signs of winter's coming, though the moon was large and bright. A woman crossed the floor of the Insert Name Here castle, shrouded by darkness. She was beautiful, long dark hair rippling down her back, bright blue eyes, and small, rosebud lips. Her figure was delicate, though she had the stretched look of someone who had just given birth. However, she was not weary in the least, in fact, quite the contrary. She was alert and agile, her eyes searching, her gaze piercing. Her pace quickened as she looked at the hourglass on the table in the corner of the room, and she shot a worried glance across the room.

There stood a cradle, where a newborn baby slept. A loud crash sounded somewhere in the castle, followed by screaming and the sound of running feet, though the woman paid no notice. She continued to stare at the cradle, where a baby girl shifted. A single tear fell down the woman's cheek, and with a gentle, shaking hand, the woman wiped it away, then gazed out the window. She quickly grew increasingly restless. The screams throughout the castle were beginning to die down.

A single white feather suddenly fell onto the balcony, and the woman quickly put on a golden dressing gown and picked the baby up out of the cradle and hugged it. She wrapped a golden blanket around the baby and touched the baby's white cheek. The girl suddenly opened her eyes, revealing two mysterious blue violet eyes. The woman lifted the pendent around the girl's neck, depicting a sun and moon. Suddenly a shadow covered them from the moonlight and touched the woman's shoulder.

"Arianna, it is time, we must go, we will soon be found," a man said. He gently lifted the baby out of the woman's hands. She reached out her hand and touched the baby's tiny fingers, saying, "I will never forget you, my dear Reina. You are special, and I will always love you." The man placed Reina into a sling around him and desended down a ladder on the balcony, the way he had come. Tears now streamed the woman's cheeks as she fled from the room, leaving her daughter behind, not knowing when or if, she would see her again.

Chapter One: Who am I?

The crystal night was calm and clear, not a wind stirred the October world. Two mysterious figures dashed across the grounds outside a tall, looming castle. They led a tall black mare, and upon reaching the edge of the grounds, at the brink of Insert Name of Forest Here, they stopped, and one figure removed their hood. The figure was a slim woman, dressed in a maid's clothing, with a gentle face and long black hair that came down onto her back like a waterfall. She mounted the horse, which neighed, and the figure accompanying her patted the mane.

"Celena, you must be swift," the figure remarked, looking up at the woman on the horse. It was a man's voice, deep and mysterious. His face was covered by his hood, shielding him from all eyes. There was an air of mystery looming around him, causing one to shiver if he ever looked their way. He was usually calm and playful, but at this hour, he seemed worried and tense. "They may have already heard," he continued, "and I am sure they do not want her to survive. They know of her coming and what she will do. They may already be hunting her as we speak."

"But Ryu, what do I tell her when she asks me about herself? I know nothing about you and your kind. Can't you keep her for at least a little while?"Celena asked, looking at the man worriedly.

"Ah, my dear Celena, do not fear; for her mother and I have already written a letter, which will explain nothing more and nothing less than what Reina needs to know." At this Celena looked slightly crestfallen, causing Ryu to smile. His face became serious again, and he continued. "And you are not to tell her anything more, do you hear me? You cannot explain everything she needs to know, and she could be put in even more danger if you tell her anything."

"Like I can tell her anything anyhow," Celena muttered, checking the bags attached to the saddle of the horse.

"Ah, Celena, you really will be missed." Ryu laughed. He picked up a small bundle out of the basket by his feet. Carefully, Ryu wrapped the bundle tightly in a long piece of cloth, and tied the loose ends together tightly, forming a sling. He reached up and slung it around Insert Name Here's neck. After checking to make sure it was secure, he backed away, satisfied.

The horse neighed again, and he continued, "There is money in this bag," he said, motioning to a deep velvety blue bag attached to the saddle, "and if you ever need more, write a letter to me. You are to go and live with Reina, raising her as your own daughter. I am sure you remember the cottage Arianna used to visit when she wanted to get away from everything. It's in Insert Name Of Forest Here, deep down, near the valley. The cottage is small, but no one will think to look for her there. I am sure you will find everything you need there, but if there is anything, anything at all that you want, tell me!"

A chilling, frightful wind suddenly coursed through the night, capturing Ryu and Celena's breath in their chests. Everything became suddenly dark, the cloudless sky now covered in dark, swirling clouds. "Go! Ride hard Celena! They know we are here!" Ryu gasped. "Hurry!"

Celena sped off, a deep violet cloak billowing behind her in the black night. She pressed on, fearing something she knew nothing of. Insert Name Here urged the horse to go faster, her face set in firm concentration, streaked with horror of all that seemed to surround her. Not once did she dare to look back into the blackness that was the night, or stop in fear of whatever engulfed the night. For five hours she pressed on in search of the cottage deep in -Insert Name of Forest here- forest.

Once there however, it seemed she had plunged into a warm bath after standing out in the snow on a winter day. All the fear she had had floated away, and the stars shone brightly over head. Inside the small cottage, Celena lit a fire and placed the bundle in a small wooden cradle by it, making herself some tea. A piece of fabric fell off the bundle, as a small hand reached up, grabbing the edge. In the cradle, a small girl with a little tuft of a copper curl on top of her head slept unknowing of the horror around her. As Celena bent over the cradle, sipping some tea, the hand released the blanket and instead closed around a pendant of a golden sun and a silver moon.

According to my foster mother Celena, that is what happened sixteen years ago, when she became my mother. She always tends to exaggerate things like that, making my life some fantastical fairytale. I was probably taken from some poor beggar woman who was blind, and she just doesn't want me to know. I tried to get her to tell me what really happened, but I eventually gave up. It seems to please her, I think that now she actually thinks I believe her. I did believe it when I was a child, believing I was some sort of princess that was hunted by the evil dragon so my prince would come, or some evil witch put a curse on me, and I had to flee, like the story Celena told me of Sleeping Beauty.

But now, on my sixteenth birthday, I know better. Instead, I help out with the chores, and offer to go down to the nearby village for whatever Celena needs to see if there are any "princes" among the farmers down there. So far, all of them are too old or too obnoxious, but I will never give up hope. Today, however, Celena wouldn't let me go, and instead she went, leaving me to pick raspberries in the woods.

I continued walking along, thinking about this and smiling to myself, and sat down next to the stream by our cottage. I set my basket of raspberries down next to me I looked down at my reflection and smiled. My hair was copper, cascading down my head in loose curls. My skin was fair, and dimples appeared at my cheeks whenever I smiled. The one feature of mine that was unusual were my eyes. They were both violet and very mysterious.

I began to spin my finger in the water lazily, humming a song Celena had just taught me. Everything went suddenly quiet, and then the forest began to sing. Not the wind blowing, or the birds chirping, but a beautiful song. The same I had been humming just seconds before, like a chior of angels, high and beautiful. The music sent a ripple up my spine, an involuntary shudder.

Quickly, I removed my hand from the water and jumped back. The music stopped almost as abruptly as it had started. I heard someone run through the door of the cottage behind me, coming towards me.

"It has happened! Oh dear me, it has happed! Get inside, quick!" Celena cried, her basket still swinging on her arm from the market. She grabbed my arm and nearly dragged me inside, shoving me onto a feeble wooden chair in the kitchen.

"Celena, what happened?! What are you talking about?" Inquired frantically, beginning to rise from the chair. Insert Name Here just shoved me back down, not saying a word. She dashed through the house, covering all the windows and locking the doors. Thoughts raced through my head. Was I going mad? No, because Celena had heard it. Was I cursed? What could it be? Soon Insert Name Here came back, sitting down in the chair across from me, a piece of paper clutched in her hand. I bombarded her with questions again, but she silenced me with her hand.

"Here, my dear. Read this letter. It will explain everything. Well, at least I hope it does, because I do not know anything about this," she explained handing me the paper in her hand. I unfolded it, and began to read the flowing, beautiful writing:

My dearest Reina,

If dear Celena listened to what I told her, it is your sixteenth birthday as you are reading this. Happy birthday my dear child! As you may have guessed, I am your mother. I have much explaining to do. I know you must have so many questions, but I cannot answer them all, there are some things that cannot be explained in writing. But, I promise to the best I can. Let me begin.

My dear Reina, you are very special. You are one of Chosen, and many misunderstand you. This is because, my child, you have extraordinary powers. You see, the Chosen have special powers. Just touch something, and depending on the color, or sometimes the shape of the object, you will turn it into something beautiful.

Now the pendant around your neck is one of the three signs that shows you are one of the Chosen. More specifcally, it shows that you are a member of the Solluna. It is a golden sun and a silver moon, and shows that you are one of the most powerful and highest rank of the Chosen. The pendant must never come off of you, for the cause of that is very horrible.

But I shall not go into that now, not on your birthday. Today is a happy time, and I will not burden you with worry.

You also have the mystical purple eyes of the Chosen. That is the second sign of the Chosen. The last sign, I do not have the heart to tell you. For it is just too horrible, and will pain me. I daresay you will find out eventually, for I am sure you take after me and my curiosity.

My child, you are destined to be great and powerful. Do not fear your powers, and used them to do good. I know you must be wondering why I send you way with Insert Name Here. Reina, there will always be those who fear, hunt and hate you. I had to keep you away from all that. But follow your heart, and you will find those who will follow, protect and love you. That is what is important. I had to send you away, for I knew what could have happened if I had kept you. I couldn't have risked that.

Now, if Celena has told about the man named Ryu and the shadows, that is the truth of how she became your mother. Ryu is one of the Chosen, and I have known him all of my life. I am sure that you will meet him soon. Celena knows nothing more than this however, not even what is enclosed in this letter, so pressing her for more about the Chosen would be useless.

My child, my dearest Reina, I hope that you can forgive me. If only I could tell you everything! We shall meet though, and then I can tell you everything. Please do not look for me, not until you have learned more about the Chosen and understand everything you need to. You are special, my child, and I need you to focus on your powers, for you are greatly powerful. Do not focus on a common maiden like me. Be kind to Insert Name Here, and be very, very careful!

Love forever and always,

Your Mother

I just stared at the paper once I had finished, tears streaming down my cheeks. Questions raced through my head, questions that couldn't be answered. Suddenly I was jerked out of my stupor by a hand gently touching my shoulder.

"My dear, are you alright? I'm really very sorry that I never told you, just I--" she started, but I cut her off.

"How could you?! I cannot believe you kept this from me!" I cried. "How could she?!" I exclained, brandishing the letter. "How was she so calm?! She left me, she abandoned me! I was her child! Sid she really think I would forgive her? Well I won't! She only abandoned me because I'm different! I hate you! I hate her!"

I grabbed my cloak, the letter still clutched in my hand, and ran. I just ran. I don't know where, or how long, but I just kept running on and on, deep into the forest. Finally I collapsed onto the ground outside the valley.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, my chest heaving. I ripped at the pendant, but it wouldn't come off. I tried everything, but there was nothing for it. It just wouldn't come off. I gave up, sobbing hysterically. I don't know how long I sat there crying, but when I over came my hysterics, I reread the letter. I just couldn't believe what she had done, and I wondered who I was, and what I was supposed to do. Finally it was just too much for me to handle. I cried, "Will I ever really know who I am?"

A tall figure suddenly appeared, taking my hand, bearing the same sun and moon as I around his neck. Surprised by his sudden appearance, I took his hand, and he helped me up. "Come with me, and maybe we can find out."

Chapter Two: Questions Answered, Secrets Kept

Too astonished to think, I accepted the boy's hand and rose. He steered me off into the forest. Off the regular path, but I made no remark. I was completely dumbfounded. Questions swam through my head. "Who is he? How did he know where I was? Where is he taking me? What does he know about me?"

My eyes were still blurred by my tears, and I silently brushed them away from my face. I did not recognize the path he was taking me, and I was sure I knew the forest from front to back, having lived here my entire life. There were no signs of the usual deer and rabbits, and the trees seemed somewhat taller and more condensed than before.

I did nothing to resist, however. The life he was taking me from, the life with Insert Name Here was not mine. Too long had she lied to me and hid from me. This boy, whoever he was, seemed to know something about me, something I didn't know, and I was determined to find out what it was. Maybe he could tell me why a mother would leave her daughter. Maybe he could tell me why I bore the strange sun and moon pendant around my neck. Maybe he could give me answers.

I stumbled along with him, over roots and stones, though I never looked at him. I looked down at the ground, deep in trhought. I thought about everything that had happened to day. I thought about my mother, her letter, and what she had done. A tree branch caught my hair and broke off, but I didn't remove it. I kept stumbling along, not watching where I was going as the boy head my hand, pulling me forward.

As I was thinking about the letter still clutched in my hand, my thoughts changed. Did I really want to know who I was? My mother, whoever that cursed woman was, sent me away telling me that there were people who fear me and hunt me. I had been happy with Insert Name Here! I was happy living a normal life! Why would I want to learn about the part of me that drove my own mother, the woman who had given birth to me, to give me up?

It was final. I was going to go back home. I froze and looked up from the ground, yanking my hand out of the boy's grip. I turned to tell him to take me back home, back to where I had been before he had found me. Instead, I froze. Before me was the most beautiful place I had never seen. I had to be dreaming. I turned to the boy, but he did not look at me. He looked over this paradise, and said, "Welcome home, Reina of the Chosen."

My mouth was set in a small 'o' as I stared. The ground was not of the hard dirt and leaves of the forest, but a soft blanket of green grass. It fell down a gentle slope starting right in front of us, forming a circular valley. In the center of the valley stood a beautiful pond, fed by two small rivers, glistening in the sun. The rivers appeared from small water falls to my left and right. Dotted along the grass were flowers of every color in the rainbow, especially toses, which formed paths around the pond and around the edge of the valley.

The trees were not those of the forest I knew either. Instead of the rough oaks, pins and evergreens; willows, dogwoods, and cherry blossoms were scattered about the valley and the slopes surrounding it. The willows reached down over the pond, their long branches rippling the surface as a gentle wind blew. Dogwoods and cherry blossoms stood in small clumps around elegant etched stone benches.

The most amazing part of the valley, however, was that nothing ever seemed to die. As I went towards the waterfalls, I found that they appeared out of no where, not a stream feeding them. As the wind blew and the petals of the flowers danced in the wind, new ones appeared, giving everything a never-ending blossom. Everything around was peaceful and calm, the sun warm and soothing, the wind soft.

I turned back to the boy, not a single thought of leaving this place in my mind. He smiled, and took my hand again. "Do not fear. I know it must be hard, but I promise you, I will help you to find the answers you seek. Just trust me. This is your home now, it's where you belong. Come Reina, and embrace your new life." At this, he led me down to one of the clusters of cherry blossom trees.

As I sat down on the soft earth, the grass tickling my legs, he turned to me and said, "Well, this isn't actually your home yet. It's further on.This is the beginning of Insert Name of Kingdom Here, the kingdom of the Chosen. This is actually the Valley of Peace, well, that's what most people call it. You wouldn't be able to pronounce what we call it."

I just stared at him, my mouth hanging open. It was all true, all of this; whatever it was. They boy sat, slightly turned away from me, twirling a red rose in his fingers. I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. A grin broke across his face.

I closed my eyes and opened them, just to make sure everything was still there, my heart pounding. When I was absolutely positive that everything around me was real, I broke out of my trance and bombarded him with questions.

"Don't worry Reina," he laughed, holding up his hand. "I will explain everything! But, is there anything you know about the Solluna already? I don't want to bore you by telling you things you already know."

When he turned to me, it was the first time I really had a good look at him. He had a smooth, caring complexion that seemed to never stop smiling. His eyes were full of wonder, both a light purple gray, much lighter than my own deep purple. His hair was a light chestnut brown that fell in a small wave just to the top of his brow. I instantly trusted him, and explained how there was nothing I knew that I fully understood.

"So I get to go on and on about the Chosen?" He laughed. As he opened his mouth to begin, however, I cut him off. "Wait! You know who I am, but I don't know who you are!"

"That's right! I never introduced myself! I am Michael of the Solluna, a Chudrun. In training," he added as an afterthought. Seeing my inquisitive look as I opened my mouth to ask what on earth that was, he silenced me, placing a long, gentle finger to my lips. "You are a curious one, now aren't you?" he laughed, as he removed his finger, leaving my lips tingling. "Well, I promise to answer as many questions as I can, when I finish telling you everything else that I'm supposed to. Deal?" I nodded. "Good! Now, where to start? Well, the beginning's always a good place, isn't it?" He laughed again and took a breath as if he was worried he might forget something he was supposed to tell me.

"The Chosen are a special race of humans with special powers. Back when our race was formed many years ago, normal humans feared us. They hunted us; tracking our every move. Many were slain in the fighting, so some of the higher Chosen met together and discussed protection." He paused for a breath and then started up again.

"Eventually, we fled deep into the forest of Insert Forest Name Here. The first few Chosen used their powers to create a safe kingdom away from the other humans and protected it with secret enchantments that none now know, for it was a sacred power, long forgotten. Still today, the kings of Insert Castle Name Here hunt us, and we shall forever hide from them. There are some people; however, who do not fear us, and visiting them or tracking other members born outside the borders are the only reasons we ever leave the safety of Insert Kingdom Name Here."

"Here we formed our own surviving civilization that still continues today. We are divided into three groups. The Solluna,, who are the most powerful and most feared, the Protiff, and the Graega. Your group is decided by your powers." He paused again, smiling as he looked at my pendant as if he were noticing it for the first time.

"Each of the Chosen has the power to manipulate something of one color into the different characteristic, action or thought of life associated with it. That's where the Chudrun come in. We study these colors very deeply, along with it's meaning to life. When one of the Chosen turns sixteen, they begin their training. Soon they will appear before a group of the Chudrun and given their position in society." I continued to stare at him; hardly able to believe any of this was true. He laughed at the look on my face and continued on.

"So, the colors then. Let's see, red is the color of strength, and of beauty. Only members of the Solluna can produce something from it. Whatever is produced is extremely powerful and can have characteristics of all the other colors. Orange is the color of harvest, like fruit and vegetables. Yellow is the color of light and peace, and green is the color of heath, like herbs or the skills to heal. Blue is the color of entertainment and happiness, and purple is the color of love, and of protection," As Insert Name Here said these, he counted them on his fingers. I sat still, listening in adept attention, nothing else reaching my ears save the words leaving his mouth about my new home. After he finished, he looked up at me, as if he was making sure I was still paying attention. I blinked and closed my gaping mouth, urging him to go on.

"For once I've found someone who will listen to me! Okay, okay, I'll continue!" he said as I glared at his procrastination.

"So to the different groups. The Solluna, like I said, are the most powerful of the groups. They can manipulate four, five, or all of the colors, and perform at least two of them very strongly. My strong points are orange, yellow, and green; harvest, light, and health. But I'll show you that later, back to the Solluna for now! Their symbol is the sun and moon. Depending on the strenght of their production and the color combination they produce shows their job. Actually, that applies to all the groups."

"Wait," I interrupted. "Sorry, but, um, what jobs are there in the Solluna? I want to know what I might be."

"Okay, I guess I should tell you those then. So, the Solluna contains the Queen or King and sometimes other royalty like a prince or a princess, the Chudrun, which as I told you are the ones who choose where you go; the Archemeador, which is our High Army, the powerful healers, and the teachers. I'm pretty sure that's all of them, but the Chudrun are always making up new jobs as they think we need them, so I can't tell you exactly what your possiblities are. Can I continue now?" he asked. I smiled and nodded.

"Good. Well then, the next group is the Protiff, who are mostly the protectors of life, as we call them. They're usually regular healers, the Meador, which is our regular army, the food makers and distributors, the Caradrun, which are the caregivers, and well, just other people who help protect life. They produce two to three of the different colors, but never read, and they bear the symbol of a star."

"The last group is the Graega. They can produce only one of the colors, but again, never red. I have to say though; they usually are extremely powerful in whatever they do. Their color directly says what they are. Someone who can produce something from blue would be some form of entertainer. Green is usually an herb grower to help make medicines, or some kind of nurse. Orange are food producers, yellow are people who calm others, and purple can do most or all of the jobs we have available."

Michael scratched his head. "Hmm, I think that's everything that I was supposed to tell you about the Chosen. Now why I'm here! The Caradrun, the caregivers, always know when one of the Chosen is born. Unless they're born in Insert Kingdom Name Here, they usually don't know who the child is born to, but they can find out where the child is. They wait for sixteen years, when the person can begin their training before searching for them. They have records for everyone, along with what job they had, and sometimes why they weren't in Insert Kingdom Name Here at the time. Sometimes I wonder though, I mean. It's really creepy how much they know about you and your history. Anyway," he laughed, seeing my slightly annoyed face, "let me continue with why I'm here!" He paused, smiling and giving me the impression that he was enjoying himself.

"Well, you happened to be right here in Insert Forest Name Here, so they sent me to find you. I'm sixteen also, and part of my training to be a Chudrun is to help someone else train. And now here I am, coming to help you! The Valley of Peace is where everyone is taught how to use their powers. So, I think that's all! Any questions?" I shook my head thoughtfully, and wondered what kind of powers I had. He said seeing my eyes glowing with wonder, "Let's get going then, shall we?"

I looked at him worriedly, and asked, "What do I do?"

Michael smiled and said, "Touch something, like a flower, grass, or anything really that happens to have color, and if it does anything, we'll know what to start with."

"Like a rose?" I asked, picking a red one out and fingering it.

"Now," Michael, as if enjoying his chance at being the teacher, "think of something beautiful, something useful." I thought of a wonderful gown, fit for a queen. Much better than the one Insert Name Here had made me last year. It was torn, and had stains on it. I closed my eyes and thought about it for a second, before Insert Name Here gave an exclaimation that made me open my eyes. I looked at the flower I had been holding, and to my surprise, it was no longer a flower! It was the most beautiful gown I had ever seen.

Insert Name Here looked astonished. "I have never seen that happen before," he admitted, still looking awkwardly from me to the dress, as if I had done something astounding.

"Is that okay?" I asked, looking from his face to the dress.

He looked me in the eyes. "Is that okay? That's more than okay!" He exclaimed. "I've never seen anything like it!" he claimed, taking the dress out of my hands. He studied the dress closely and then he smiled at me. "I wonder what you would look like in it?" He gestured to a large tree behidn which I could easily change without being seen. He handed me the dress with a mischievious grin that told me he was enjoying himself. I went where he gestured, took my worn dress off, and put the new dress on. It was so comfortable, I could have slept in it. I walked out from behind the tree, not knowing how I looked. Insert Name Here looked as if he was in a daze. I smiled, juding by the look on his face, he was impressed.

"So what do I do now what I know what I can do?" I asked lightly.

Insert Name Here seemed to come back to earth and said, "Oh, we've got to see how you do with the other colors, like blue, yelow, and purple... But..." Suddenly he looked to the sky.

By then, night had fallen, and Michael made his way to one of the yellow rose bushes. He bent down over one, his back to me, blocking whatever he was doing from my view. As he stood up, hundreds of tiny, fluttering lights flew off towards the trees. I gasped as one landed on my finger. When I looked closer, I saw they were tiny, fluttering golden fairies. The one on my finger laughed before fluttering away to join the others in the trees. They didn't quite light the valley, but they did cast a warm, soft glow.

While I was distracted, Insert Name Here must have done something else, for he appeared back in the clump of trees with blankets and pillows. He handed me some, and I laid them down, still in shock and awe of where they came from, making myself a soft bed on the ground. Almost instantly, when I laid down on the soft bed, I fell into a deep, beautiful sleep under the starry sky of my new home.

I awoke late in the morning to find that Insert Name Here was already awake, and had been watching me for quite some time with his light purplish eyes. He smiled when I shifted slightly, trying to avoid his gaze. "Are you hungry?" he asked, handing me a bowl of fresh strawberries and apples.

"How did you--where did you- where's this from?" I gasped, looking around. There was not one vine of strawberries, nor any apple trees.

"It's not much," he said, taking a bite out of one of his apples, "I'm not fully trained, but I'm sure it will satisfy you."

"You- You made this? How?" I asked, as I took a bite out of one of the strawberries. They were the juiciest, most delicious strawberries I'd ever tasted in my life! As I quickly ate them, Insert Name Here laughed, "I'm glad you like them! I will show you how, though not today, I want to see what you can do with these." He held out a bright blue flower such as I had never seen before, and a beautiful yellow rose. I took the rose and fingered it, thinking about what I wanted it to become. I cupped my hands over it and opened them. There was a single pixie sitting happily in my hands, glowing brightly even in the light of day.

Michael looked surprised. "That sure wasn't expected. So far, it seems your strong points are both light and beauty! I have never met anyone with such abilities..." He grinned shyly.

The pixie suddenly flew up into the tree. Michael smiled again, and said, "Let's see what you can do with happiness and entertainment, Reina," he handed me the blue flower. I stood there for a second, wondering what I should do and caught myself . I thought of the song Insert Name Here had taught me a few days ago, and the next thing I knew, a beautiful voice rang out, signing that very song. I looked at the hand that I had been holding the flower in, and it was gone. The entire valley was singing!

When it stopped, it had to be late in the afternoon, and Insert Name Here was sitting down on a stump in front of me.

"Wait!" I said, as Michael began to rise. He turned to look at me, questioningly and sat back down. I looked at him. "I know that there are three traits of the Chosen; their eyes and their pendants are two of them, but I don't know the third. My mother didn't explain it. What is it?"

Michael bit his lip, looking quite uncomfortable. He shifted uneasily as he sat before me, and turned away, not meeting my eyes. "I-I would tell you," he muttered, "but, well you see, I-I've been ordered not to by the leaders. I don't know why, but they just told me I couldn't answer you if you asked me that question. I'm really sorry, Reina."

"Oh well, as long as you pormise to tell me what it is as soon as you're able to!" I tried to laugh. Insert Name Here looked relived, but I put on a fake, carefree smile. I was hurt, and I wanted to know now, more than ever now, why no one would tell me. Why couldn't I know?

"Are you sure you're alright Reina?" Michael asked, looking worried. I nodded and stood up, looking away from his face.

I asked suddenly, not really understanding my question, "What makes it so horrid, that I can't know what it is? And why don't they want me to know what it is?"

"I don't know why they don't want you to know what the third sign is. But it has to be important. The thing that bothers me most is how your mother came to know about us, and what our trairs are without being one of the Chosen herself, or having some friend or otherwise who was one of the Chosen fill her in on our doings and such, which is against our laws."

I suddenly wondered aloud, "Suppose my mother didn't write the letter, or that she had help..." Michael gave me an awkward glance.

"If someone did write the letter for her, they would have been disclosing infomation, which is against our laws as well..."

I glared at him, and had to wipe an offending tear from my cheek. "So saving lives is against your laws? I thought the Chosen were supposed to be helpful."

Michael looked apologetic. "I didn't mean--what I meant to say was..." I interrupted his apology.

"What you were meaning to say was that you think either my mother broke your laws, giving me up, or that a friend helped her, and broke your laws."

Michael frowned and looked away from me. "That's not what I meant, and you know it." he muttered.

"Sure sounded like itt," I replied in the same tone.

He turned to me, and put his hands on my shoulders. He looked into my eyes, and said, "I didn't mean it, Reina. Forgive me, I was foolish to say such things." I froze, he wasn't looking away from me, and I could see in his eyes that he meant exactly what he was saying now.

Now I realized that he had merely been suggesting that my mother was one of the Chosen and had broken laws by sending me to live with someone who wasn't. Or that she had had contacts that were Chosen, and that they had broken laws saving my life, not that he regretted it. I looked up at the sky. It was becoming dark and cloudly, as if it was about to rain. "We had better get under those trees over there," said Insert Name Here, who was beginning to grin. "It looks like it's about to rain, and when it rains here, it pours."

Chapter Three: In the Kingdom of Insert Kingdom Name Here

Indeed, it started raining immediately after we got into the safety of the trees. I grinned at Michael, and thanked him. I would have hated to have gotten a cold on my first real adventure.

"I don't like rain very much," he muttered softly into my ear. "Makes everything beautiful seem so gloomy."

I grinned and said, "But after it rains, the sun comes out and everything shines with dewdrops and makes it look like they're made of diamonds." That made Michael laugh.

"My mother used to say something similar," he said. "But it's getting late. Tomorrow we go further into Insert Kingdom Name Here." He smiled, twirling a flower in his fingers. "I have your bed set out for you," he said grinning mysteriously, as if he had done this while I had been watching the rain. He probably had, come to think of it. He gestured with his head towards a clearing in the trees where it was protected from the rain. I got up from my spot next to him, and went to the bed he had made out for and lay down. Almost as quickly as I had found myself falling asleep the night before, I was in a dream.

As dawn came, bright and glorious, I awoke from my deep, peaceful slumber. I could see a pale pink sunrise peeking over the tops of the trees, shedding a pale light over the valley. I yawned, but lay back down. Why did you have to wake me up so early, Celena? I was having such a wonderful dream... I thought to myself, squeezing my eyes closed, trying to shut out the rest of the world. Magical powers and fantastical places. I just want to go back them. And why was she waking me up so early?

As I sat up to ask Insert Name Here why on earth she was waking me up so early the day after my birthday, I stopped, halfway risen. Next to me was a clay pot lying there, an apple coor and the stems of grapes within it. "Not...a dream? It wasn't a dream?" I cried aloud.

"No, it wasn't. Apple?" came a muffled voice from behind me.

I whipped around, and standing there behind me was the boy from my dream--wait no, he was real. He stood there holding an apple out to me with one hand and eating one with his other. I couldn't help dashing over to embrace him, shouting, "You're real!"

Taken by surprise, he nearly fell over. I let go, laughing, and danced around the beautiful valley. The wind danced after me, playing into my long hair. My silky read dress flowed at my freet, and I felt as if I stood on a cloud. Michael smiled and laughed behind me, and I turned and made my way back to him.

"Well at least you're happy to be here!" he laughed, sitting down along the bank of the pond. "But, we have to get going. My older sister Michelle sent a messege that you are to appear before the Chudren sometime tonight. She's going to meet up with us later today."

The smile disappeared from my face as I dropped down into the ground next to him. "To-tonight?! But I have so much to learn, and practice so I don't make a fool of myself, and--will you stop looking at me like I'm crazy?!" I cried.

For as I'm sitting there, worried sick about this test, he's just sitting there with his eyebrows raised and a small smirk on his face. The smirk disappeared and he nodded. "I'm sorry, really sorry, but you're going to be fine! I didn't mean to be unsympathetic, but I guess I've taken living in Insert Kingdom Name Here all my life for granted. But trust me, most people don't even have this much talent before they are to appear before the Chudrun."

I must not have looked convinced, because he added with a reassuring smile, "Look, they don't expect anyone to do their top. You can either do the changes or you can't. There really doesn't have to be any training, but it eases things a bit if you feel more prepared. So don't worry! The majority of your training comes after they decide what you are! So, are you ready?"

I smiled. "Sure. So what do we do first?" Insert name here shrugged.

"We already know you'll do fine with beauty, strength, light, peace, and entertainment. So we need to see what you can do with harvest, protection, and health." He smiled, "I think we should try this first," he held out a violet. I took the small purple flower and wondered how I could use it, once I had thought of the perfect thing I opened my eyes. Nothing happened! "Nothing happened!" I cried, looking upset.

Michael looked unconcerned, "So protection isn't one of your strengths, that's not uncommon," he paused and I gave a false smile. "Let's see what you can do with harvest. And then we can wait for my sister, she said she might have something you can practice your health skills with." He paused and looked at me, suddenly worried. "Are you okay? You're awfully pale." I nodded and gave a shy smile. I was always pale when worried about something.

"So is there something I could try harvest on?" I looked around, and didn't see any orange flowers in the valley. Would we have to leave it to find one? He laughed and put a hand behind his back, bringing out a small fire rose, twirling it in his fingers.

He handed it to me and said, "I thought you would be needing this..." I took it and closed my eyes. I thought hard about what I wanted it to become, I had failed at protection, and that made me want to do well with harvest. When I opened them, a small pile of apples sat in front of me.

Michael laughed, "You always seem to outdo me, Reina," he said, but it was more of a compliment than a complaint. I smiled, tossed him some fruit to put in his bag, and took an apple for myself.

"So when are we going to meet up with your sister?" I asked after finishing my lunch.

He laughed and said, "First you're worried that you'll make a fool out of yourself, and now you're eager to get going? I thought you wanted more time to train," he was teasing me, I could tell.

"Well, I'm as ready as I'll ever be... Or you'll ever be... you are one of the Chudrun, are you not?"

"Chudrun in training..." he corrected softly, as if he didn't really mind my mistake.

I smiled and said, "Chudrun in training, then... But you are one of the group who chooses what I am meant to do, correct?"

"And what you are destined to be..." he said, looking directly into my eyes. His light purple gray eyes were sincere. "And so far I have my mind set on you as one of royalty." He smiled and went on to explain, "you have almost all of the colors down, maybe even more so than the Chudrun. You have more talents than I have ever seen anyone with at any given time, and I'm sure my sister will agree."

"When are we going to meet up with your sister?" I repeated, pretending to be annoyed. He'd made me quite flustered, and it was all I could do to keep from blushing. Insert Name Here was watching the trees. He smiled and looked into my eyes.

"I think she's going to meet up with us, instead of vice versa." Then I saw movement in the shade of the trees nearby.

Suddenly a young woman with long strawberry blonde hair and dark purple eyes, scarcely older than Insert Name Here and myself appeared, carrying an injured robin. She walked over to Insert Name Here and embraced him with one arm, the other cradling the injured robin. She gave little notice to me until Insert Name Here introduced her. "Reina, this is Insert Name Here, my older sister, and fellow member of the Chudrun. Insert Name Here, this is Reina, who will be going before the Chudrun later tonight."

She smiled, "So you're the one who's going to help this poor robin. It broke its wing somehow..." She turned to her brother, "Has she attempted health before?"

"Not after I met up with her," said Insert Name Here, shaking his head. "Have you, Reina?" When I shook my head, Insert Name Here smiled and handed me the robin. I tilted my head to the side, not knowing what to do, and Insert Name Here catching my look, said, "It's the same as with the other colors, Reina, just that you're working with something living this time. Picture the color in your mind, it doesn't need to be present." I sighed, and looked at the little bird, its wing appeared to be broken pretty badly, and I wanted to help him. I closed my eyes and pictured the robin perched on my finger, his wing healed.

A gasp from Michelle was my cue to open my eyes. The robin was flying! He circled around me a few times, making Michael grin. "I think he's taken a liking to you, Reina."

His sister nodded. "He seemed pretty tame when I found him, see if he'll come to you." I held out my hand, palm facing the sky, and watched the robin return to my hand and look at my trustingly.

Michelle looked at her brother in wonder. "You never said she could charm animals," she said accusingly. Michael shrugged and smiled,"I didn't know she could, myself."

I shrugged, looking from Michael to his sister. "When am I to go before the Chudrun?" I asked.

Michael grinned, the robin had set itself on my shoulder, and chirped, looking straight at him. Michael nodded at the bird, somehow he seemed to understand him. Seeing my blank look, he translated, "He wants us to follow him. That's really all he says." Michael didn't seem so trusting.

"Do you think we should? We don't know much about this creature, he could be a spy."

Michael shook his head, "I don't think so, but even if he is a spy, he's rather insistant."

Michelle sighed and said, "Oh alright, we'll follow him. If he leads us astray, we abandon him and go on from there." I nodded, though I was certain the robin was a friend. I didn't know how I knew, I just did. As if on cue, the robin took flight, not going far, only to the nearest tree branch. He continued in this fashion for what seemed to be miles, always waiting for us to catch up. When we did, of course, we were out of breath, and seemingly, the robin understood, for he allowed us a breather.

Minutes later, he took off again, going only slightly further than the nearest tree and landed, showing no intentions of going any farther. "But no one's here!" Insert Name Here exclaimed. His sister, however, touched his arm and pointed to the South. "Anyone there?" Insert Name Here asked suspiciously, eyeing the now shaking bushes.

Michael paused and went closer. "Anyone there?" He repeated; and suddenly a dark figure, hooded and cloaked in black appeared. We couldn't see his face, but I fancy rather that there was a glint of mischeif in his eyes as Michael backed away hastily.

"So this is the one who is rumored to have the power to bring us out of exile," he said, putting back his hood and flashing me a smile. "I am Ryu of the Solluna." I stared for a long while, silent in thought. Ryu had jet-black hair, narrow features, and violent purple eyes that had a playful glint to them. Words failed me, and it was all I could do to tear my eyes away from him.

When I finally regained the ability to speak, I bombarded him with questions. He laughed and shook his head. "You knew my mother!" I cried, incredulously. Maybe he could tell me more about her, maybe he could tell me why she had given me up.

"Indeed. I did, still do in fact," Ryu said with a grin. "So Celena told you about me?" he asked, suddenly sounding stern. It was if he had expected Celena to reveal all of his secrets. I shook my head, and a look of relief crossed his face.

"The only thing she ever told me about were the shadows," I said, putting slight emphasis on the word 'ever'. Ryu's eyes darkened; clearly that memory was still fresh in his mind. "Ah... and you recieved the letter?" I nodded, frowning. I had wanted to forget all about that letter.

"Everyone in Insert Kingdom Name Here is talking. They say you will form an alliance between Insert Kingdom Name Here and the outside world. Think you can do that, Reina?" He smiled, but I must have not looked confident, for Michael took my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.