Chapter 20: The Mission

The ball really tired me out. Koa helped me to my room. "Ok Raven I'll be going now. Oh wait I have something I need to tell you. I'm going on my first mission tomorrow. Its an easy one for starters since I am just going back on missions. I am going to guard someone. They are going to explain the details tomorrow when we meet up." "Oh that's good. Just be careful ok?" "Yeah I will be you know that." "Yeah I do." "Night Koa." "Night Raven sweet dreams."

The next morning, I woke up and got ready for training. Rayden came and got me and we trained. After training I told him about my mission. "Ok Raven I'm sure Koa told you to be careful out there. Don't over due it ok?" "Yeah I will be fine don't worry." I went to my room to rest.

After resting I went into the Blue Phoenix house so we can talk about he mission.

"Hey Raven I heard your coming on the mission with us." "Oh so they have you as the mission leader Nani? That's cool." "Yeah they do. We are going to be guarding a prince and princess back to their homeland safely." "Hold it. Are you sure kids will be ok guarding someone so important? No offense kids." "Hehe. Yeah they will be fine. They have guarded a lot of people in the past. This will be there first test of guarding someone important." "Alright then. How far do we have to go?" "well for sure it will be at least 2 or 3 days that's to assume no one tried to attack them." "OK well I have to let Rayden know." "Oh he already knows. I told him. He said to control yourself out there." "Oh good ok then when do we meet them?" "Oh yeah I forgot to tell you, you should already know them Raven." "Huh?" "Turn around." My eyes were shocked. I did know them. Aerith! Xavier! Its good to see you again! Its been so long." "Yeah like 2 years right?" Said Xavier. "Good to see you well." Said Aerith. "So your going to guard us as well?" Said Xavier. "Yeah that is the plan." "OK then shall we go everyone?" So we headed out to take them home.

We followed close behind them to make sure they don't get hurt. We would be walking until nightfall with rest in between.

We had been walking for hours and it was finally time to rest. I went over to make sure they didn't need anything. "Hey do you guys need anything?" "No we are fine. Thank you Raven." Said Aerith. "OK then if you need anything please let us know." I sat next to them an visited awhile until it was time to go again.

We walked on again. This time we wouldn't stop until nighttime. Hours went by and finally it was nighttime.

"Ok your highnesses. Hope you have good dreams goodnight." So they went to sleep and I told the others I would take first watch. Once the kids were asleep, Nani came by to sit next to me. "You really think we will get there ok Nani? Without any trouble?" "I certainly hope so. If something does happen, we will be here to help them. Hopefully without a scratch." "Yeah me too."

We heard a rustling in the bushes. "Nani! Wake the kids." Nani ran to the kids to wake them up. I also woke the prince andf princess. "Sorry your highnesses we have got trouble." I stood in front of them looking around. I saw an arrow and caught it. Then more arrows came by and I took out my sword and dodged them. "Nani! Get the prince and princess to a safe place." Nani did as she was told and I kept dodging the arrows. "Show yourselves cowards!" They all jumped out and were shocked to see me. "So I see your back Raven." Said one of the men. "Stop this now! Why are you after the prince and Princess! Is it because they know me?!" "Haha you think its for that reason? You must be crazy. No we want to hold them for ransom." "What do you want? Money?" "No no actually we were going to make a trade. It looks like you showed up after all. We were going to trade you for the prince and princess but it looks like you saved us the trouble." "I'm sorry but I can't do anything right now. I have to get them home safely." "I'm sorry but we cannot wait." Then they started fighting me.

Nani noticed Raven was having trouble. "Kids stay here and protect them. I need to help Raven she looks like she can use it." "Be careful out there." Said one of the kids. "I will." She left the kids to help Raven.

"Raven you ok?" "Yeah I'm fine. They are actually after me. They were going to make a trade. Me for them." "I see don't worry I will help you. The kids are fine. They're protecting the prince and princess." "They better be ok after this is over." "Dammit! I guess I have no choice. Nani stand a good distance away I'm going to use my powers. It may have been only 2 days but I hope this works." Nani listened and got a safe distance away I turned dragon and blew my ice powers. It seemed to stall them. I told the kids to Run with the prince and princess for Nani to go with them. "Lets go kids hurry." So we all ran far enough away they couldn't catch up.

"Ok we should be safe here. All of you try to get some sleep ok? I will be a look out again." "No Raven. You rest with the kids I will be the lookout. You need it more than I do." "I guess so. No argument there. I will just close my eyes and rest a bit." I leaned against a tree and closed my eyes.

The night went on without any trouble and it was finally morning. "Hmm." I got up and stretched. I saw everyone but me was ready to go. "Sorry guys I'm ready now. Lets go." So we walked on.

2 days later we finally made it close to the castle when knights decided to meet us half way. "So you 5 are here to guard the prince and princess the king and queen would like to see you." "Yes sir." I said. He looked at me an knew who I was and I knew him. "Follow us please." We followed the nights to the castle and waited in the parlor for the king and queen.

Finally the king and queen showed up. "Hello everyone." Said the king. We all stood up and bowed. "Rise all of you. We want to thank you for bringing our kids safe and sound back home. Its good to finally see you again Raven. Why don't all of you stay the night and rest you can leave tomorrow." "Thank you. Your highness we will take you up on that." Said Nani. The queen spoke to me. "Raven how are your parents doing?" "Oh they are doing fine. I was surprised it was your kids I was escorting." "Yeah well they had business over there with the king and queen." " I saw a few of the nights I knew. Mind if I go bug them or are they busy." "Oh they should be fine to visit for a bit." "Ok thanks I will go to the knights room and say hi." So I walked over there.

I finally got to the Knights room and walked in. "Hey boys." I said. "Raven its good to see you again." Said a few of the guys. "I thought I'd stop by and say hi while I could. I was surprised it was the prince and princess here I escorted." "Yeah we were surprised to see you as one of them escorting them." "Well I got on the mission at the last minute." "Hahah that is so like you Raven." "Ok well I better go good to see you all again." "Yeah you too Raven." So I walked to my room and laid down on my bed.

"I haven't been here in what seems like ages. Its good to be here again." Raven finally fell asleep in no time.

Nani came by Ravens door to see how she was doing. (Knock Knock) Raven woke up and went to her door. "Who is it?" She said tiredly. "Its Nani." She opened the door and Nani saw Raven's condition. "Haha. You better fix that hair and tidy up. Its dinner time right now." "OK I will be right down. You guys go ahead." "Ok then see you there." I tidied myself up and headed down. We all sat at the table and started eating. We visited for awhile then it was bedtime.

As I was heading to my room, one of the kids stopped me. "Raven?" I turned around and looked at the girl. "Yes what is it?" "Can I talk to you in your room for a minute?" "Yeah sure." So we got to my room and sat on the couch. "What is it? Is everything ok?" "Yes everything is fine. I just want to see how you are after the fighting you and Nani did." "Oh I'm fine. I may have some minor scratches but I will be fine. How was it protecting the prince and princess?" "It was ok we didn't have to do any fighting thanks to you and Nani. The prince and princess helped the other kids calm down." "Well that was nice of them. How is Nani doing?" "Oh Nani is fine. She has a few scratches as well." "Oh well that's good. You know if you ever want to talk about anything else you are welcome to come to me. I am a good listener." "Thanks Raven I will remember that." "Ok well you better get to bed before Nani worries." "Thank you Raven." "Sure." Then I went to my bed and crashed.

The next morning it was time to get ready to go. I got up did my hair got all my stuff together and met them at the gate. Then I finally saw them head over. "OK let's head back." Said Nani. So we all headed out.