No,she can't be.Dead?But she was undefeatable, stronger than anyone I've seen. She was kind, loving, basically everything I wanted to be. She was my mom. Now, I'm alone, cold, running for my life. It's only been 5 minutes and I keep feeling more hollow. My eyes are still swollen and red, from crying on the way here. My whole kingdom is under Serion's rule now, and I'm not there to help. I feel so selfish. I left them to rot. What kind of a princess am I?

  I'm just 16.

  Then it struck me. They took it - The crystal. I only have 9 months to live now, but I already feel frail, weak, powerless - I hate feeling like this. I can't heal myself anymore, I can't even defend. But, the eclipse - it will make them even more powerful, with the crystal in their presence, how could I let this happen? "Guards don't stop searching, she's our biggest threat now." Guards. Serion guards. I began to run, pushing a little to a sprint. They can't find me. They'll kill me. Biggest threat? If that was true they wouldn't be here. I'm just a girl with a hint of magic, not even enough to heal a flower.

 The crystal also gave me the energy I needed, so food was just relief for me when I wanted it. I haven't tasted food in 1 month! Without the crystal, all the remaining energy is gone! I felt faint, my eyelids became heavy as my weight shifted to the right. Then, all I could see was black. I couldn't even feel.

  "Hello Remi."

  Who was that? It sounded so much like me. I forced my eyes open, but all I saw was darkness. I scanned the area and saw her - myself. Something was different about her, she seemed colder, yet at ease, but something was just different. I saw it next - her eyes. They were a very dark shade of purple, a sign of evilness in Xo'cia, how is she me?

  "Who are you?" I asked.

   "I am you." 

  "No you're not." I said. She burst out laughing.

  "I'm just the you YOU don't want to be, I'm not evil, I am controlled, I am you. I am more powerful than anyone."

  "But the crystal."

  "We don't need the crystal to have powers, we were born with those, we only need it for the energy."

  I can't believe it. Why should I believe her?

  "How can I believe you?"

  "Why do doubt yourself so much, Remi?"

  Thats what my mother used to always say.

  My eyelids fluttered open, I was greeted with the strong scent of beef and the soft, white wool of the tent. I sat up and immediately regretted it - the pain was excruciating! Next to me, there was a middle aged man, his hair was unkempt and frazzled, he was wearing dirty rags and he was barefoot. For some reason, he looked extremely familiar but I shrugged it off - everyone looks about the same around these parts. 

  "Um... excuse me, where am I?" I asked politely.

  "You're in Ya'gia." The man replied. Yagia? Xo'cia's sister kingdom. I had to go to the palace. I had to find it first though. I needed to warn them. The man stood up and exited the tent to talk to another man, whose clothes didn't really differ from his. I rushed out of the tent as quietly as I could and went to the nearest pathway. I could see a mix of lives in that one pathway. There were the rich - clean, elegant, pampered. And the poor - like the man I saw just now. I tried blend in with the crowd, making myself as unnoticeable  as possible. 

  "Remi?" A voice from behind called out.

  I took in a deep breath and turned around. I know him - Arden. My childhood friend.  It was too public to talk. 

  "No,no. My name is Zoey," I stepped closer to him and whispered," We cannot talk here." He nodded. He grabbed my hand and led me somewhere. I followed, not resisting. He turned at the corner and walked into the trees, he made sure no one saw - there was a cave back there.

  We entered the cave and there was a little boy sitting down, cross - legged. He had a little brother? Then again, I haven't seen him in over 4 years, I hardly recognised him when I saw him just now - he's grown so much. I looked at the little boy, I could see the resemblance - brown eyes, platinum hair, tanned skin. Platinum hair - their family identity, they had to keep that secret, even though it holds great power.

  "Remi, what are you doing here?"

  I need to admit defeat.

  "I need your help."