I wish I could say this morning was like every other morning, but it isn't. I had spent the night in the seismology lab monitoring the earth's tectonic plates. Their activity was more unusual as of the last 36 hours. 9 am Tokyo time and I clutch the graphical evidence I found a few hours before. I watch as the president of the University of Tokyo, the President of the Seismological Society of Japan addresses the nation about the unusual activity that has been found. The tectonic plates have begun to shift out of control that caused a few earthquakes and tsunamis to the north of the country early this morning. We have shared our findings with the western half of the world. Their machines graphed the same data. As we discussed past events of earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanos, etc the current findings were much worse than the activity of those in the past. We all believed it would get worse before it got better. After hours of deliberation, we concluded the world was at the beginning of the end. Alerting the governor of Tokyo who in turn would alert the President of Japan, We pushed them to make a statement about what the coming days were going to be like. The top aide for the governor was dismissive about it, saying that we were exaggerating the data. He didn't want to believe the world was ending from seeing a few more earthquakes hit the world. He didn't relay the severity of it to the governor, who in turn didn't relay it to the people for comfort. Standing on the sidelines next to my colleagues I had to step in and say something. I raced up the podium pushed the governor out of the way and stated for everyone to prepare for the worst. The world was going to continue to break and flood and to seek safety, by then the security came and escorted me off the stage and to the back. The governor continued to address the people calmly and assure them all was well. His aide started to chastise me for my abrupt statement. I retaliated by saying that the governor needs to tell the truth, this will get worse before it gets better. During the middle of our argument, another earthquake hit. This time the building shook, lights flickered stress cracks appeared all in the walls. Skaffolding started to fall on the press in the audience, the security detail rushed the governor out of harms way of anything. One trailing the group got crushed by a falling light fixture. As i struggled to keep my footing i felt the governors aide grab my arms to hold me up. “We have to get out of here.” He said to me. We turned around and worked our way through the small crowd. I needed to get to my equipment to see the severity of this current event. He yelled to me as i made my way down the hallway to my lab. “Where are you going? We have to evacuate.” “I need to see the severity of this. Theres no point in evacuating if this gets worse and we will be hit with something worse and the earth swallows us up.” We stood in front of my computer and i punched in some data reading the plates are shifting and we just experienced a 6.5 magnitude quake. A tremor shook the building again, the lights and computers flickered. “We have to get out of here.” “Oh so you believe me now.” I replied. “Yes you dont need to rub it in, i believe you. Now lets go.” “You dont have to stay here with me, go run away and try and find a safe place out there in the kaos.” “Are you always this bossy and direct?” “Pretty much… now if i predict this right another quake will hit any minute now and following it minutes later will be a tsunami. We are better here then out on the streets.” I said. “That i wont take you at your word.” He said back. The ground shook again, the computer parts on the tables vibrated all over. Things fell off the desks. We looked at one another, he reached for my hand. The floor split in two under my feet and the world went black.

“You train here?” “Yes, Master Jin lets me practice with what ever i want. My father pays him well for my training, so i am able to fight if i ever went to war.” I admired the weapons on the stand, running my hands along my favorite sword i smirked. “It is a strange request to have a woman train with such dangerous weapons. Are you the only child from your father?” As he stood next to me i could feel him looming over me. I didnt look up to see if he was admiring me or the weapons. “I have an older brother whom i adore. Though i know im adopted.” My gaze was lost in the thought of when i was young. I snapped myself out if it and turned to him changing the subject. “Do you know how to use a sword? I couldnt imagine you needing it much where you are from.” “I have dabbled with one or two in my days.” He chuckled. “Im not sure my skills are quite to your level my lady. Never needed such things on the farm other then our normal tools.” “Well we could spar with them if you are up for it?” I twirled the sword around to my side and handed him one. His eyes widened at my gesture. “I dont want to hurt you in any way.” “Oh trust me, you wont hurt me.” I smirked walking to the center of the practice mat. I turned to him taking my stance. He stood there studying me for a minute then joined me. I took a couple swipes at him and he parried as designed. He did a couple of undiciplined swings at me. I dodged and parried them with a triwling fashion. He laughed at me, “What was that?” “Have you never seen anyone parry an attack before?” I responded with a devilish grin. “Not with such sass and grace. I would almost guess you are toying with me.” “Then lets kick it up a notch.” I teased with a wink lunging at him my sword pointed straight ahead. He dodged it just as i had done with a twirl, only he added a tap of his sword on my ass. I gasped and turn to face him, “How dare you!” I exclaimed holding onto my backside. He laughed louder, “Well beauitful lady what are you going to do about it?” He stood still as his laugh turned to a chuckle. I took that lowered defense as my opportunity to attack. I darted from side to side as i raced to him this time taking to a forward roll swiping downward with my blade. Staggering back he met my blade with his in a loud metal clank. We traded more blows, more loud metal clanks errupted. Every now and again sparks were born out of the metal clashing. “I say Elijah you have more skill then you let on. Quite impressive for a farm boy.” I managed to say trying to steady my breath from our fun little battle. “My true skill is in hand to hand combat. The sword might be a close second. Id show you but with my strength and skill i know i would surely hurt you.” He said putting the sword back onto the weapons shelf. “You want to bet on that?” I asked. “My lady are you serious?” “I am willing to bet on my skills. Are you? Or are you afraid to be bested by a woman?” “I am, but not on you.” He replied looking very hesitant. “I will make it worth your while, i promise.” I winked again at him and didnt give him a chance to react. Throwing a couple punches at him i nearly got his jaw. He had dodged them once again, he didnt try to strike me back. He only parried my moves. Once i had made him annoyed enough he finally did start to throw in a lazy punch, which he knew id grab and twist it around so he ended up on his knees from the compromised direction i twisted his arm in. He stared me in my eyes with this look of admiration i had never seen from anyone. “My lady i would let you best me in any thing in this world, so long as i can look upon your beautiful face for the rest of my days.” I couldnt help but smile.

Storyline 12 The guards holding myself and Liam were too busy with the massive lightning, wind, and smoke to notice we broke free of our bonds. Smashing their faces in I tried to run to Elena's side but the cyclone of wind was too much. Giant crackles of lightning danced across the throne room floor from its center. One final one thundered out narrowly missing Anton as he stood in front of the King's throne cracking the padded stone in two. The cyclone had stopped and the smoke cascaded around everyone. I searched for her but the smoke was too thick. Her companion had emerged healed and in a new form. I couldn't believe my eyes, she was dead a minute ago. “Elena!” I called to her as the smoke around her still body cleared. : Theo, get Elena into the waters, they will heal her.: called her companion to my mind. : How are you speaking to me?: : You and Elena are bonded and now so are we. Same with your companion and Elena. We can discuss it later. Get her to the pool.: I nodded and ran to Elena’s side. My mind raced at the thought of them coming back to life. Though with the way our companions can control the elements, revival could be possible. It was possible given seeing her companion alive and in a different form. I checked Elena’s chest, It didn't feel like she was breathing. Liam helped me pick her up and walk her to the water pool a few feet away. As I held her lifeless body in the small pool in the throne room I prayed her companion was correct in that the waters would revive her. She used all her strength and energy to revive her companion after she was attacked by king Anton’s creature. That massive energy drain left her lifeless. Her anemia usually left her weak if she exerted herself too much but this was much worse. The seconds that passed felt like hours, i watched her face but nothing came back. I leaned in to whisper to her to come back to me, that i loved her and didnt want to live with out her. The water began to glow around us, some vines from below rose and took a hold of her from my arms pulling her under. Seconds passed again as i searched for her under the waters surface. The glow was too bright to see down. More seconds passed then she emerged from the water gasping for air. I caught her and held her close as she regained herself. Her eyes met mine and she smiled, then they darted around the room, “Where’s my companion?” “Shes more then fine Elena, look over there.” I said moving her to the edge of the pool. Liam helped her out as i got up and out of the pool. She stared at her conpanions new form flying in the air and fighting Anton’s creature in the throne room. :Feeling better?: asked her pet. :Im fine. Are you ok?: :More then ok. Now get up here and help me defeat this thing! We are stronger together!: I could hear their thoughts to one another clear as day. So could my companion. With the other guards help he was out of the cage and ready to fight.

As I watched the guards drag him from the dungeons out to the main square of the castle, I clutched the railing of the balcony holding back the nausea I felt at that moment. He was on his way to be executed and I debated on interfering in stopping it. After my coronation, Elijah came to my room and we talked for hours about me being the princess, he wasn't as upset as I thought he'd be. as well as embraced each other for more hours after that. Towards the morning Kaos and his guards came crashing in to drag Elijah from my bed. I had demanded to know what was going on, Kaos replied that there were spies in the kingdom for a couple of weeks now, plotting to have him killed or removed from the throne. Leading the charge was Master Jin and the man she was in bed with. Not a simple merchant farmer but really the prince of Aru. After we dressed Kaos proceeded to drag him from my room to the dungeon. On the one hand he matched me in every way, he was kind and strong. Saving me from a beating by a soldier in the market when we first met. The afternoon we talked for hours, not revealing each others secrets to the other. The sparring match in Master Jin’s training center that lead to intimacy. On the other hand he lied to me about who he was. Granted i lied about who i was to him as well. He was Prince Elijah of Aru, and I Princess Trea of Jenoa. Kaos adopted me during the last war with Aru, my claim to the throne isnt as strong as my brother, who is the rightful next in line for the crown, but Kaos has plans for me. As Master Jin was brought out secondly along with other men i did not recognize. Now my decision weighed heavy, do i disobey Kaos and save those men. Or do i let them hang for treason? Master Jin was more like a father to me then Kaos. Teaching me to fight and how to interact with other people. Kaos is a monster and i want him dead more then anyone, was the way to do it a coup? To build an army against him with his own people and others from other kingdoms? The ache in my stomach grew the more i thought about it. Looking down at Elijah as he plead his case to Kaos made me want to cry. His glances up to me made it worse. I had felt something for him since the moment i met him, i know he felt it too. I had to do something to stop this. Despite the lies i loved him, and i cant let him die. I ran down to the courtyard my sword in hand to save him from being beheaded. Kaos loved to do the executions himself, made him feel like a God to take a life that way. I saw Kaos standing in front of him, sword drawn out to his side. The guard pushed Elijah sideways so the blow was clean. Finally reaching them i kicked the guard in the back of his leg, buckling him i jabbed his face with the hilt of my sword. I swung it round and met Kaos’s blade with my own before it could strike Elijah. “Stop father, you cant kill him.” I stared my adoptive father in his eyes with intent. Intent to kill hin if he didnt back down. “Get out of the way you stupud girl or ill gut you too.” He replied with a fire in his eyes i had never seen before. “No father. You cant just kill him with out a trial and negitiations with his kingdom.” “That cant be the only reason why you have stopped me. Ive killed people with out reason before and you have never said anything. Is it because you bedded him like a whore?” He retorted. “I love him father.” “You know nothing girl. Now stand aside so i can kill him.” “No, ill fight you if i have to Kaos.” “Fine, as you wish.” He swung his sword at me i ducked under and returned the attack. Thus began the fight for my life.

I never thought studying wormholes as a living would lead me to another planet. Accidently discovering one in the vegetable isle at the grocery store was never on a list of possible places for one to open up at. My first few visits to the strange land only lasted mere hours. Intrigued by the locals and the scenery i kept coming back. Mapping the stars in the sky to figure out where i ended up. With out my equipment i had to find out the old school way. Each time i came out i was met by a local, she called herself Kamina. From the language barrier i wasnt able to figure out much else. She kept me safe from a hunting party, warded off the local wild animals that wouldve had me for breakfast, and started to teach me the good and bad things in her world. She was aa curious about me as i was of her and her world. Perhaps thats why she kept me safe. To learn about me as i have about her. Once she deemed me a safe she brought me to her village, immediately my personal space was invaded again by her kin, touching me, smelling me, pulling on my clothes. Some felt i was too skinny so they tried fo feed me food they had prepared. The meat in it wasnt like anything i have seen before, didnt taste like chicken, but i ate it anyway. At night they all circled around a fire dancing and cooing with one another. She attempted to get me to dance, it all was too archaic for me. So she instead sat next to me telling me in her language members of the tribe. I began to understand some words like eat, chief, sleep, etc. She began to teach me her words to other things, trees, the rocks, the animals they lived along side of. When i calculated the worm hole to be active i went back to my time and brought over some of my things to teach them. The nights i spent along side them were cold but were bearable because they all liked to huddle together. I felt Kamina cuddle up to me, i felt myself enjoying it more as the days went on. The days were spent hunting or gathering various meats and fruits. I proved to be terrible at the hunting with a spear. But excelled at picking out the best fruits that had fallen from the trees. Like Kamina i was a better explorer. We would lay together side by side looking at the stars. Id tell her what the constalations were in my language, she she would say in hers. Explaining the history of each constalation we both began to fall in love with each others worlds. After i had made another trip home and back again, the energy in their tribe changed. As an outsider i experienced my first death in the tribe. Scouts on patrol ran into others from another tribe farther away. A tribe that was more intense by nature. In the dispute they killed one of the scouts and severely injuring the other, he was Kaminas cousin. She was very distraught over his death she helped raise him and guide him after his parents died. The elders argued with the chief on whether to attack them back in retailliation. Kamina was against the fighting, she didnt want to have anyone else in her tribe get hurt like her cousin did. Despite her passive nature and wishes, Kamina and her tribe were in for a big war. That same tribe that attacked their scouts was marching their way to descimate them. Take their lands, women and all they built. Kill anyone who didnt join them. And by my calculations the worm hole wasnt going to be open for another few days. Which means i had no way to help them with things from my world. I was stuck in their world with their technology and barely any training to defend myself. I may share the same fate as the tribe…

The only feelings from a man id had ever know were the love and pride my father had for me, and what ever you called the feelings Chastin had for me. Which i thought were love or at least his form of it. Now knowing real love, i see i was being controlled. Chastin’s way of loving me was holding my parent’s careers hostage, and threatening me that if i didnt do what he asked that we all would be ruined. Thrown in jail or worse put to death for crimes he said he would frame us on. When he was drunk on either power or alcohol then he was attentive and actually loving. Until we moved to Japan after i graduated i had never felt so welcome by a team before. Not many women went into working on the mechas that keep the federation safe. They take the jobs of bureaucrats or socialites. Marry rich or take bribes was the way to get ahead in life as a woman. I didnt think so. The work on the mechas always fascinated me since i was young. My father brought my brother and i up into it young. I carried on the vision he wanted after my brother died in a factory accident working on a mecha. At first for myself it wasnt instant, but for Niko his love for me grew so fast from our first encounter in the under ground fights held near the factory. He always looked at me with that stare, like he was amazed at everything i did. I didnt think my skills were all that impressive but he always said other wise. His praise would give my stomach butterflies, his worrying would make me angry. He knew i could take care of myself but i was still vulnerable. After one night Chastin had slapped me across the face for lying to him i snapped inside my own mind. Niko came to my rescue when i didnt need it, which increased my rage. I went berzerk in my fight the next night. I took on two men at once and almost beat them to death. I opened up to Niko why things were the way they were. His hand touching mine to comfort me felt like Heaven. I wanted so badly to know what he felt like in my arms, my lips on his, his hands on me. I had to restrain my self, for my parents and my reputation. He was my team leader. In the heat of the moment after the bar fight he tried to kiss me. I wanted it so badly but i had to tun away from him. He chased me down as i ran to the cockpit of the mecha we are in charge of. The look in his eyes as he stared at me shook me to my core. He was right in front of me, begging me to do what i wanted in that moment. As i searched his face for any chivalry to stop me i begged myself to lean forward to do it. To kiss him as if the heavens depended on it. I looked down to my fidgeting hands in my lap and then felt his grasp mine as in another silent signal to do what we both know we wanted to do. All my courage surged up at that moment and i threw my lips on to his. My arms around his neck i pulled him close. Feeling the passion and the need behind my kiss he pulled me closer with his arms and met my passion with his. I didnt think the most wonderful words to be uttered would be i love you. But that feeling from another person when they actually mean it, is almost indescribable. Its even better when they are repeated back to you.

All who do the ritual before you say you wont be the same when you come back. They say it changes you far more then any number of lifetimes you could live. In our recorded history no one has ever seen the same thing another. Once you reach your 16th birthday you must visit The Spelunca Errorum. Face whatever challenge it presents to you. If you come back the tribe holds a celebration. If you dont… the only one that will miss you would be your mother. You are given a torch at the mouth of the cave and nothing else. Your only weapon is your mind. The beginning of the cave depicts the history of our tribe. The further you venture the darker it got, the less on the walls you could see. Some tried to depictate what they experienced, but failed to provide the clarity in their drawings. One foot in front of another, down the labyrinth you venture. To the unknown… your unknown… to the thing you fear most. Above all else this you must over come… here. Call it magic or misunderstood science or whatever else makes you feel better about it. But know that it will confuse you. It will consume you. It will hurt you. Further and further around the twists and turns of the maze. No longer are the pictures on the walls, but now blood stains and hand prints. Your torch getting dimmer, your clarity becoming hazy. The realization that you have no idea how much longer this goes on. Minutes… hours… time has no place here in the darkness. What seems like the end after all of the mental and physical torture to get to that point. Your torch glows the faintest of blue… your ears reach for any sort of sound. Your eyes adjust to the walled room around you, a podium dead center. Stepping toward it the dim blue flame snuffs out, you reach and grasp the podium as if somehow it will keep you safe. You stand in the darkness listening to the endless silence. This seemed so easy, you think to yourself. So much for seeing my greastest fear. You chuckle. You stand there a moment longer, nothing happening but your labored breathing. Turning around you search for the tunnel entrance you came in from. Now you cannot find it. Scouring the walls your hands touch only stone. No empty spaces… no void. Nothing but cold hard stone. You search for the podium. Reaching your hands out again you feel nothing. Now you start to panic. Your previous chuckle now a curse you wish you hadnt brought upon yourself. Was that my greatest fear… fear of being wrong about anything i feel confident in? My pride holding me back from completing this ritual? It couldnt be… could it? I thought more to myself in that moment then ever before. This couldnt be how i die. I have too much i want to show everyone that i can do. Too much to prove. Sure im self centered but i am essential to the tribe. And they will know it! I focus my minds eye on my surroundings. Searching for my way out. Come on! Where is that damn doorway?! Then a voice called to me. “She wont make it.” It snorted at the thought of her downfall. “Good riddence if she dies. Shes nothing but trouble.” Said another. How could they say that about me? I do so much for the tribe. Her mothers voice became clear, “You let us down. How can we face the tribe now?” She asked me. Tears rolled down my cheeks at my mothers words… Im not a failure mother. Surely you know that. My thoughts had me trembling. Does my tribe truely want me gone? My own mother? Their murmuring voices became so distant now. My cheeks were stiff from the dried salt water that was my tears. I sat still on the stone floor willing to give up. I never liked being alone. And here i will die alone. Wait… thats it. My fear of being alone is keeping me here. I thought about my little sister. I cant leave her alone. She needs me. I stood up and searched again for my doorway out of here. Where she called to me, “You cant do it!”

The soldiers were all around us. Some of them dead. Some of the attackers were dead as well. Protecting the Princess and her lady was becoming more taxing by the minute. It also didnt help the fact that the two of them were fighting along with myself, my brother and the remaining soldiers in our company. Facing a barrage of slashes from the massive man faced before me, i keep my eye on the Princess. Who is now flat on her back, with an angry man hovering over her, a knife pressed to her throat. I screamed out but felt my voice couldnt reach her. Parrying another slash of the mans blade, my own struck home in his belly. I turned to run and aide her, only to find a large white animal lunge out of the woods, tackle the man off from on top of the Princess. Though the fight was not over, seeing her safe in that moment was like a boulder being lifted off of my chest. She slowly stood as i reached her. “Are you ok?” I asked as one if the final men came rushing at us. I swung my blade to meet his, he blocked and twirled past me only to be met with her blade lodged in his back. “Ill be fine.” She replied back unsheathing her small dagger from the man. His body thudding to the ground in a pile. Seeing her standing before me, her lady walking over to her, my brother following behind. Only two of our men remained. We all fought for our lives that day.

“Come on mother its time for bed.” Said Eliza lifting up on her mother’s arm to help her out if her chair. “Please dont make me.” She pleaded resisting her daughters grasp. “Mother you need your sleep.” She said firmly. “But i dont want to go to bed, the man with no eyes is waiting in the closet for me.” Her mother’s eyes were wide and her voice pitch changed from calm to frightened. “Mother we have talked about this. I know Your medication makes you see things, but trust me when i say they arent there.” Eliza tried to sound reasuring but it has become more difficult to convince her mother her haliucinations are really there. “Please… no! He will take my eyes. Don’t make me go in there!” She started to panic as Eliza lead her through her bedroom doorway. “It’s alright mother. See, see there’s no man here in your closet.” She exclaimed as she opened the door revealing her mother’s clothes. Her eyes moved from her daughter to the open closet. She stepped forward and felt her clothes with her hands. Moving them aside to check for the man with no eyes. Finding nothing but the white wall behind the clothes. “You see mom, there’s no man in here. Come now, lets get you into bed.” She held her mother by the shoulders and guided her to her bed. Laying her down she covered her up with the blankets, to which her mom grasped and pulled to ger chin. “Goodnight mother.” Eliza said softly and she kissed her mothers forehead. She turned at the doorway and looked again at her mother. Still slightly afraid and looking at her open closet door. Eliza turned off the light and closed the bedroom door. For a moment it was quiet enough that her mother settled down. Another moment passed and no man came from her closet. She relaxed her grip on the covers and repositioned herself on her side and tried to go to sleep. Closing her eyes she snuggled her pillow, then came the sound of snagging thread of her sheets. She opened her eyes to find the man with no eyes lunge at her mouth and sharp teeth gaping. Her scream was then muffled by darkness.