Chapter 10

"Bring the boy in." The Governess ordered.

The dark mages brought a limp body that had a bag covering its face.

"Take the bag off."

The dark mage to the left took the bag off revealing Prince Aspen's face.

"Where am I?" The young prince asked.

"Welcome Aspen." The Governess said.

Aspen's face went pale, "What do you want?"

"I think your friend here can answer." The Governess laughed.

A door opened revealing someone who Aspen considered a friend, but after seeing this, he couldn't believe his eyes. "Mantis?"

"Hello Aspen." Mantis said.

Aspen struggled to free himself from the dark mages.

"Listen Aspen, calm down and it'll all be over." Mantis said.

"But why, what happened to you and Breeze?"

Mantis sighed. Breeze had been gone for so long. He didn't know if she was alive or not, but if he didn't follow the Governess orders, his family would be killed. "I'm sorry Aspen, but this is where our friendship ends.���

Aspen saw as his friend left the room.

"Take him to his cell with all the other heirs and rulers." The Governess instructed.

The dark mages pushed him through a wooden door and locked him in it.

To his surprise, all the other rulers and heirs were in the room. Chancellor Blaze sat in the room with his daughter Burn and Wife Lava, King Weed (Aspen's father) were talking with Queen Diamond, King Boulder and their son Emerald, Empress Tsunami and her daughter Shark were sleeping on a small bench.

"Aspen?" Emerald gasped.

Everyone looked at him with disappointment.

"What's wrong?" Aspen asked as he brushed off the dust on his shoulders.

"You're the last royal, now they can take our realms with ease." King Boulder said.

Aspen remembered why he got caught. "I'm actually here to help you." Aspen said. He took a small disk and threw it onto the floor. A projection appeared of a young girl.

"This is Crystal, she's part of a small team who are traveling here to stop the Governess." Aspen explained.

"Hello royals, my name is Crystal, daughter of Topaz and Whirlpool, I've sent Aspen to tell all of you that a bunch of citizens of the your realms are coming, once we save you, the Magic mages and the remaining mages of your realms will attack, just try to stay alive for us please."

The projection faded and Aspen picked up the disk.

"You expect us to actually think that a young mage is going to save us, that's absurd." King Weed laughed.

"She fought in the ring and obliterated the other teams." Aspen said.

The royals weren't impressed.

"Oh come on, give her a chance." Aspen said.

"Fine." They all said in usion.

"Thank you, she won't let you down." Aspen said happily. Aspen sighed with relief. Unbeknownst to the royals and Crystal, Aspen had developed feelings for her. Crystal began to hate him but Aspen was still glad that she trusted him enough. He vowed to be a nicer person and to save Crystal if anything went wrong.

"Son, is something on your mind?" King Weed asked. "When I was your age, I only did that to impress your mother."

Aspen knew that his father knew what was going on. "There's a girl…"

"Is it that Crystal?" King Weed asked which caught Aspen off guard.

"No, it's some girl at school, her name is Frog or something." Aspen said quickly making up a random name.

"Really?" King Weed laughed.

Aspen couldn't keep the truth from his father, "Fine, it is Crystal."

King Weed smiled, "Son listen, when you become of marrying age, you should settle down with a nature mage, not some earth mage who just looks pretty, they're nasty."

Aspen sighed. "Dad-"

King Weed winced, "Please refer to me as father.

Aspen rolled his eyes, "Fine, father she's the one, I can feel it."

King Weed raised his hand, "I understand, but one day you will regret doing so."

Aspen looked towards Shark who lay asleep on her mother's side. Aspen had attended the baby shower a year before at the Queen's beach house on the surface. Aspen was the one who gave the young princess the name shark because she bit him when he tried to carry her. The memory made Aspen smile. "Old days, I miss them."

It was so much easier then. He could tell his mother everything, no secrets were kept between the two of them, they were practically inseparable. If only she was still alive, he could tell her how he felt.

Crystal would never like him, the way he treated everyone, Aspen knew that he was considered a spoiled brat.

A dark mage walked into the room, "Alright everyone, execution time."

"Hurry Crystal." Aspen said under his breath.