Sparing Against Queen Valeria

"Thank you for such high praise your highness," Diana thanked her with for her praise.

"Not at all," Queen Valeria said smiling as she thrust the sword at Diana and she quickly defended against the blade and Queen Valeria quickly thrust the other sword at Diana causing her to quickly defended.

"Wow their amazing!"

"Yeah,"

"I can't even keep up with them,"

"I've never seen anyone able to fight the queen for this long,"

"I don't even think their fighting at their best,"

"I can't even see their blades!"

"I've never seen anything like this,"

"What do you think they'd be like if they were fighting for real?"

"I don't know but it would be terrifying I've already got goose bumps."

They hear murmurs and whispers from the gathered on lookers as they watch Queen Valeria and Diana sparing match, however Diana doesn't let it draw her attention away from the battle at hand.

"It looks like we attracted quite a crowd," Queen Valeria said with a smile inclining her head slightly towards the onlookers before continuing her assault on Diana.

The queen quickly jumped backwards before attacking Diana again, quicker than the eye can see and caused Diana to quickly defended from the queens attack using the momentum of the blow to push herself backwards. Diana pushed herself of the tree behind her lunging her left sword at the queen before throwing it in the air instead. Using her left hand to land on the floor before swiftly kicking her feet out from under the queen and jumping up grabbing her sword as it falls and positioning them in an x over Queen Valeria's neck.

The queen smiled at this "Congratulations you beat me,"

"Well neither of us were fighting at our best," Diana replied sheathing her swords and offering Queen Valeria a hand up which she happily excepted sheathing her swords afterwards.

"We should spar again some time," she said smiling as everyone else gaped at them.

"I'd like that your highness," Diana said smiling faintly but making sure to show no emotion after all emotions are deadly.

Everyone suddenly came back to reality commenting in utter addmeration.

"Wow!"

"She beat the queen even if they weren't fighting at their bests that's still an amazing feet,"

"I'd never be able to beat her highness!"

"They were incredible,"

"I'm glad their on our side,"

"I never want to cross swords with them,"

"Yeah me neither,"

Diana also heard a few whispers of fear at their exemplary skills in combat even if they weren't fighting at their full strength. If thet did fight at their full strength this spar would have turned even more furocious and dangerous.

"That was great!" Maddy exclaimed as she and the other four joined them.

"Your were both impeccable," Crystal said enthusiastically as she beamed happily.

'"I could barely keep up with your movements," Kylo commented in utmost awe.

"It was amazing I can't believe you weren't fighting at your full strength," Hunter commented.

"Your were both incredible," Alex agreed smiling at them.

"Oh stop complimenting us that was merely a warm up," Queen Valeria waved of their compliments smiling "wouldn't you agree?" she asked looking at Diana.

"Why of cource,"

This earnt them around of gasps and murmurs from the gathered croud as they looked at them in pure astonishment and admiration.

"Well we should all go and freshen up the suns beggining to set after all and while Alex and Diana might love to spend countless hours training I think we all need some rest," she said smiling.

"I agree," Crystal said happy with Queen Valeria's suggestion.

"Oh before I forget, do all of you want to come over for dinner tonight?" Maddy asked happily.

"Sure," Crystal was the first to answer.

"Why not?" Hunter agreed.

"Sounds like fun," Kylo added.

"Sure," Alex agreed.

"Diana?" Maddy asked with a smile on her face and everyone in the group looked expectantly.

"Sorry I have some work and errands to attend to," Diana politely declined her offer. After all, she can't get to attached her family will hurt them to get to her. They'll hurt anyone Dians cares for, she learnt her lesson and she won't let the same thing happen again.

"Ok," Maddy said her smile dimming slightly "if you can your welcome to come over later," she said still not withdrawing her invatation.

"If I have time I'll come," Dians said it seems for some reason she's grown to care for their feelings.

'Why?' Diana thought to herself 'Why have I come to care?'

"Great," Maddy exclaimed pulling Diana from her thoughts as Maddy's smile brightened with Diana's answer and it seemed that it actually cracked at the thick stone layers of wall built around Diana's heart.

The onlookers have dwindled away and now they're the only ones standing around now.

"We best be going in and getting cleaned up," Queen Valeria said with a smile and everyone followed after her while Diana just stayed where she is.

"Aren't you coming?" Alex asked when he noticed that she wasn't following them and his question gained everyone's attention as they turned around to look at the two, stopping in their tracks.

"I think I'll stay here for awhile," Diana replied.

"Sure just don't over exert yourself," he agreed with her.

"Don't worry it will take more than just a bit of training to exhaust me," Dians said nonchalantly reassuring him.

With a few goodbyes they left her be to continue training.

'I have to improve.' Diana thought determinedly. 'Ihave to become the best. I can't let my emotions rule me. I have to be strong. I can't loose to my parents. I have to be ten steps ahead. I can never afford to fail.'

These thoughts and more linger in Dianas head as she practices and continue practicing even after the skys ruby red has faded into black darkness. With only the stars and moon to light the area she's in as she practices never stopping.

'They can never know who I am,' Diana thought to herself as she continues to practice 'they would never trust me again, who could blame them? I'll fight and I'll save them. I'll win this war and I'll learn why it started. I'll learn what my family's hiding.'

Unknown to Diana, Alex was standing on a near by balcony watching as she trains.

"You fight and protect us and yet it seems to me your the one who needs protecting. You've been hurt so badly and left alone so long youve forgotten how to trust anyone but yourself." Alex said to himself sighing "I know when your ready you'll open up and one day you'll tell us who you really are."

With those last words Alex headed off inside to grab two crimson apples. An unknown storm brewing inside him. One that's yet to be known.