Chapter 15

Crystal awoke with a start. "Where am I?"

Breeze, Ash and Bliss all stared at her with amazement.

"How are you alive?" Breeze asked.

Crystal looked around. "What happened?"

"We lost, our troops retreated." Ash said.

"But, why?" Crystal asked.

"Well, we had no choice." Bliss said. "Everyone was tired and we were being pushed back."

"We lost a lot of good soldiers back there." Ash said.

"Where's River?" Crystal demanded.

Breeze pointed to a small tent.

Crystal stood up and ran for the tent.

"Crystal wait!" Ash called.

Crystal turned around. "What?"

"That tent, it's where the dead bodies are." Ash explained.

Crystal's eyes filled with tears. "She's dead?"

Ash nodded slowly. "I'm so sorry."

Crystal fell onto the floor. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

They had been through so much together. Now it was all gone, no more failed swimming lessons, cooking lessons, no more anything.

"Crystal, before you go see her, there's something you might want to know." Ash said.

"How can it get any worse?" Crystal cried.

"Well, your father is also in there." Ash said.

Crystal stopped crying. "He is?" Tears rolled down her cheeks faster and faster. "I need to see them!" She ran into the tent and saw bodies laying on stretchers.

"Wait, Crystal!" Ash called.

Crystal saw River with bloodshot eyes.

She had a burn on her arm and a stab wound on her chest.

"River, no!" Crystal cried.

Ash ran into the tent. "Wait, don't look to your left!"

Crystal turned, but what she saw was what she was dreading.

Ripple lying motionless on their stretchers.

Crystal couldn't believe it, she had brought her friends on this and now two of them were dead.

"This wasn't what anyone wanted." Ash said.

"I know how hard this is for you Ash, you and Ripple were pretty close." Ash looked to the ground and kicked the dirt. "Your dad said that we reminded him of my parents."

Crystal let out a quiet sniffle.

"We need to get moving," Crystal said clenching her fist. "Let's go kill the Governess."

Ash tensed up, "we can't."

"What do you mean, we can't?" Crystal asked.

"The council will not allow it." Ash said.

Crystal sat down next to River.

Breeze and Bliss both opened the tent flaps.

"Someone is here to see you." Bliss said.

Amber walked in with tears dribbling down her face. "I can't believe he's gone."

Crystal couldn't imagine what Amber was going through. It was heartbreaking that Amber had lost two of her loved ones.

Ash patted Amber on the back.

Crystal felt the hate building inside of her. Rage filled her eyes as she thought about different ways she could've saved River.

Breeze and Bliss both dragged Crystal out.

"Come on Crystal, you're making a scene." Breeze said.

Bliss nodded in agreement.

Crystal tried to break free but she felt so weak from her battle with the Governess forces.

They dropped Crystal next to Commander Sky who looked at them. " I hope you realize I'm not a babysitter."

"We're aware, we just need you to watch her and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid." Bliss said.

"So you're asking me to babysit her?" Sky asked.

"No, we're asking you to-" Breeze was cut off by somebody tapping her on the shoulder.

'Babysit Breeze, the word is babysit." Ash said.

Breeze shook her head, "No that's not what I meant at all."

"Don't deny it Breeze." Bliss nudged her.

Sky looked between the four of them. "Ok, I'll watch her, you know what, I'll ask some air mages to keep an eye on her."

"Great." Breeze said.

Crystal saw an opportunity to escape. She got up and tried to make a run for it.

"Crystal!" She heard Breeze call.

Crystal kept running, she didn't want to look back.

Breeze flew past Crystal and landed in front of her. " Where do you think you're going?"

Crystal raised her wand, "Stay back Breeze!"

An air mage flew over them and saluted Breeze.

"What was that all about?" Crystal asked.

Two earth mages both bowed and kept walking. "Your majesty."

Crystal was confused, why was Breeze being called your majesty?

"Wait, who told you!!" Breeze screamed.

"The Prince of the nature realm, said you were the new ruler." A water mage explained.

"Damn it Aspen." Breeze said under her breath.

"Ruler?" Crystal asked. "You're a royal?"

"Yes, I am."

"When did you plan to tell me?" Crystal asked.

Breeze looked ashamed, "never."

"Never, your kidding." Crystal scoffed.

"No, nobody knew except for the royals and Mantis." Breeze sighed.

"But I met your parents, they lived in a small cloud."

"They were just servants." Breeze said.

"You've got to be kidding me." Crystal groaned.

Breeze shook her head.

Ash and Bliss were both running as fast as their legs could carry them.

"How did you sneak away from us?" Bliss asked.

Ash passed out onto the ground.

"Is he ok?" Breeze asked.

"Oh, yeah he's just really tired." Bliss shrugged.

Crystal thought of sneaking away but Breeze gave her a look that said don't do it.

Breeze kept a close eye on Crystal as they carried Ash back to camp.

"No funny business." Breeze said when they got to camp.

Crystal raised her hands defensively, but dropped Ash in the process.

"Just don't go anywhere."