"I don't get it," Iris let out a strangled yelp of frustration.

"You have to reach for it," Jade was saying with an annoying air of calmness.

"Reach for what, the ground?" Iris snapped, ready to pull out the roots of the grass beneath her. They both sat cross-legged in the garden, situated behind the mansion. Iris had skipped both breakfast and lunch for two reasons: one being, that she wasn't used to eating at set times – she just ate whenever she could, what little she had. And secondly, the idea of food coming up her throat and seeing the chunks and swirls of colours in the basin last night was still vividly pulsing in her memory. So in that time, she spend what she imagined was a good hour or so, exploring the mansion's fascinating garden. Its trimmed, lusciously green hedges, shaped like monkeys, cats, and other animals she couldn't quite categorise. The flowerbeds were far and varied, each categorised in order of colour from pinks, to purples, to blues, to greens, and so on. Then there were the plants – some normal-looking leaves that sprouted from particular rocks, and other not-so-normal-looking plants that seemed to move and follow Iris as she quickly wandered past that uncanny flora.

The garden was set up like a Mazikeen, and as she zig-zagged towards the end, before the metal fence that encircled the mansion, she happened upon a bunch of different herbs growing – rosemary, mint, oregano... Iris didn't even get time to glance at all the different vegetables that were growing in the veggie patch as she hurried back to the start of the garden that connected with the back entrance of the mansion, worried she would be late and Jade would change her mind.

They had been sitting in the backyard for half and hour, and in that time, Jade had created a circle of flowers around her, while Iris had... nothing.

"You have to really feel the earth," Jade explained, a hint of impatience in her voice.

Iris pressed her palms firmly into the grass, touching the dirt beneath it. "I feel it, I'm freaking feeling it."

"No," Jade shook her head and tapped her chest. "In here. It's got to come from within you. And you also have to use this as well," she raised a finger to her temple. "Envision it in your mind. Use your head."

Iris scowled. In a second, she'd be using her own head to smash through the stupid ground. How hard was it to grow a bloody flower?

"Try again," she coaxed in a surprisingly gentle tone, and Iris let out a small huff.

"It seriously doesn't work."

"It comes from within..."

"I got that," Iris cut her off abruptly, glaring down at her palms. She could start earthquakes and not grow one, single flower?

"You've had a taste of your powers already," Jade said, eyeing her carefully. "Whatever you felt then... feel it now."

"I was panicking."

"But think about the build-up before the eruption," Jade insisted. "How did it feel? What did you feel?"

Iris thought back to the electrical shock between her and Mazikeen, when that buzz within her at been mostg prominent. She didn't know how that had happened. She had just felt something inside her stirring with both power and longing as if two pieces of a large, unsolved puzzle had finally joined together. It was slightly different to the other times she panicked. When she let out those tremors, she barely registered that she had actually done that.

Iris frowned, remembering the earthquake in Los Angeles. The random earthquake. That happened right after Amira's death.

That last thought sent a frigid shiver running up and down her spine, and her vision glazed over, goose bumps breaking out on her forearms. It was the day Amira had died and all this rage and grief had come crashing down on her like a wave, suffocating her, drowning her beneath leagues and leagues of sorrowful water. And then the earthquake happened.

The tingling started in the tips of her fingers, and Iris replayed the entire scene in her mind – the men holding them to gunpoint, the one who punched Amira and then forced Iris's head against the wall repeatedly, both men vivid figures in her mind – the emotions swirling and rising like a rollercoaster before its tipping point.

That rising, anxious feeling in her body that had become all too familiar since that event. She had felt a similar sensation around Jasper, and was beginning to feel it earlier today. That was what she was searching for. That bubbling, that nervous elevation within, that apprehension...

"You did it," Jade smiled.

Iris opened her eyes, saw each flower, each petal, each thorn on every rose that popped up, growing and blooming one by one around her, thicker and thicker like a well-woven wreath.

The apprehension kept rising, Amira's body flashed in her mind. A pool of blood. A deadly gunshot.

"Iris."

The ground shook. The two men ran. Iri's head spun. Mason arrived. Mason left.

"Iris!"

The tiniest crack began to form beneath Iris. She barely paid mind to it.

Mason left. He saw her. The ground shook. And he ran. He ran away.

"Iris!"

Iris breathed in suddenly, snapping back to her reality. This reality. Her new reality. She cut the elevation in her chest midway, and it was like turning off the motor of a car.

Iris exhaled, "He left me."

Everything was still. Too still. The denial washing away, and the realisation finally dawning. Mason hadn't even tried to save her. He saw Amira. Saw Iris reaching towards him, her mouth open in an attempt to cry for help, and he turned the other way.

Jade didn't ask what she meant by that statement. Either she didn't care, or she didn't want to pry, but she let Iris have a moment to herself as she stared into nothingness, mouth slightly agape, eyes pricked with tears. She sucked in a deep breath, looking at the collection of flowers surrounding her.

"I did it."

Jade nodded, a small smile on her face, trying to hide that peculiar glimmer of concern or curiosity in her green eyes. "You did. And you controlled yourself. You're a quick learner, I'll give you that much, Royal. How'd you do it? You didn't even have to calm your breathing this time."

Iris swallowed, picturing Mason turning and fleeing. She forced a smile onto her face. "I just realised that some things – some people – just aren't worth panicking for."

Jade's only response was an arched eyebrow.

"So, what else can I do?" Iris questioned.

Jade shrugged. "Anything to do with the earth, you can control. More so you than any other Terran, because of your royal blood. So, really, imagination is your only limit. And lack of practice."

Iris nodded. "Thank you for giving me your time."

Jade almost looked taken aback by the comment. "Sure. I mean, you pretty much figured it out all on your own. I don't know what else to guide you on."

Iris offered a friendly smile. "Seriously. The most important thing you can give a person is time. So you've given me plenty. More than most people in the past have offered. You'd be surprised how unwilling some people are to give a helping hand – especially when you aren't deemed 'important'."

A question was forming on Jade's lips, but she was cut off by the sound of the iron gates opening, two increasingly loud voices bickering.

"What do you mean she's been found?" a familiar, deep voice barked.

Iris and Jade exchanged a silent, understanding glance before the two stood up, creeping around the mansion and edging towards the front of it, backs close to the wall as they watched the two officials in green attire making their way up the driveway towards the mansion.

Iris instantly recognised the individual who had spoken. Jasper adorned the same outfit he had worn to dinner yesternight, his many gold and silver and bronze badges glinting in the artificial light that Iris had noted, was installed, high, high above the city, on the ceiling of this ant-farm-like district these Terrans called home.

"What I said, sir," the man beside Jasper was considerably shorter with a nasal voice and large ears that were tinged pink as if flustered. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, and his blonde hair was mostly covered by a green cap Iris supposed was a part of their army uniform.

Jasper came to an abrupt stop, and Iris could clearly see the worried, concentrated look plastered on the Commanding Officer's face. "And the rest of the BP?"

"Border Patrol is awaiting further instruction. They've been ordered not to engage until otherwise notified."

"Good," Jasper said, nodding once. "Have a few extra BP brought up tonight. We don't want any surprises if they find out we have her in our grasp."

Iris's heart beat faster, and she stole a glance at Jade, who grimaced.

"What do you think he means?" Iris whispered as the man saluted Jasper. She noted he had a tag that read 'First Rank Border Patrol' on his left breast.

"I don't know," Jade said with a stiff shrug. "Nothing good if it means sending up more BPs. They're on high alert."

Jasper began making his way back up the driveway towards the entrance, and Jade cursed under her breath.

"I need to get back to work. I still have more windows to clean and some bookshelves to dust." She glanced briefly at Iris. "We can take the back entrance, come on."

"Actually," Iris said slowly. "I might stay out here a little longer and practice."

Jade shrugged and turned to make her way around the back of the house. "Alright, Royal. So long as you control those tremors." She waved without bothering to face Iris.

It wasn't until Jade disappeared from sight did Iris dare to risk a glance at that First Rank official, who was only now stepping onto the bustling streets beyond, the iron gate slowly closing behind him. Then she waited ten seconds before hurrying down the driveway to follow him.

***

The guards hadn't questioned her when she requested to leave the mansion. And why should they? It wasn't as if she was restrained to the comforts of Jasper's home. Trevet had even said she was free to roam the streets as she saw fit, as long as she didn't attract too much attention to herself. The people of the Terra District might not recognise her as the long-lost princess of the Terrans, but Iris was well-aware that a newcomer still might catch the eye of several too-nosy gossipers.

Luckily, the First Rank had taken a back route away from the city centre and away from the throng of people. A small, cobblestone path cut through an old shed, and she watched the First Rank open the door to the lonesome, rickety shack before closing it behind him. She waited a full minute before peering inside, cautiously and slowly opening the wooden door to keep it from creaking.

The room was pitch black inside and Iris didn't allow time for second-guessing before she stepped into the darkness. She kept her arms outstretched and as she took tentative steps forward, wondering, for the briefest moment, if this was how blind people felt regularly.

She listened out for his footsteps, a rustle, anything. The room grew still and silent, and Iris didn't realise she was holding her breath until her foot tripped over something solid, and she let out a small yelp. She quickly bit her lip, her stubbed toe throbbing. She knelt to the ground, feeling the rough wood with her hand, gliding over it until... her fingers curled around the iron handle, and she gave it a small tug. The wood beneath groaned in protest but gave way slightly.

Making sure her feet weren't on that rough patch of wood, she used both hands to grip the handle, pulling the trap door open. Using a little more force than necessary, she stumbled backwards and let go, the trap door making a dull thump as it swung back and hit the floor of the shed. She winced, hoping that the First Rank was far enough away that he hadn't heard the noise. She wasn't sure where the urge came to follow him. If it was just plain curiosity, suspicion, or something deeper... instinct. It seemed heightened ever since she arrived on this planet. Certain tugs and sensations she felt that overtook her thoughts oftentimes. They were strong but oddly spontaneous, and she see second-guessed herself for a moment as Iris peered inside, spotting a dim light, way, way beneath. Iris looked back towards the shed door and then down again.

She noticed a long, wooden ladder attached to the dirt wall beneath her, leading far below the trap door – so far, that she couldn't see the bottom, only a faint, yellowish light. She took a big breath and slowly exhaled before stepping onto the first step. The ladder looked old and weary, but it didn't bend under her weight. She took another step down, then another, one foot after the other, until the trap door above was also shrouded in complete darkness. The only source of light now came from below, and as she drew nearer, her pace quickened, worried that she might lose her footing, or it might break, and she would be able to do nothing but scream as she tumbled through the darkness – not unlike her dream.

She didn't fall, however, and when her feet finally made contact with the solid ground beneath, she let out a small sigh of relief. The clearing she was in wasn't very wide, appearing to fit no more than four people in it. She located the lightbulb and its faint glow, attached to the wall opposite the ladder. To her left was nothing but a closed-off dirt wall but to the right...

Iris admired the tiny lights that dotted the small, corridor, somewhat resembling fairy-lights or little fireflies that dimly illuminated the dark passageway beyond. She made her way through, grateful she wasn't claustrophobic nor nyctophobic, for this place was both constricting and shrouded in shadows, the tiny lights – while pretty – not doing much to cast light on whatever lay more than a few metres ahead.

Every now and again she stopped momentarily to listen for the First Rank's voice or his footsteps, but the corridor only echoed back silence, and if he was still ahead of her, then his footsteps were too quiet or nimble to hear. She wasn't sure when the revelation hit her, but she became faintly aware at some point during her walk that the corridor must run beneath the district. It was entirely flat, no rises or falls, and the pathway had no cobwebs or anything else that might signal that the passageway was seldom used. Which meant that the Border Patrol must have passageways set up like this at several places throughout the district. Though to what end?

Iris didn't immediately notice the pathway slowly inclining. But when she did, she had the dreaded feeling that this road could lead nowhere else but... up. To the land above.

But where exactly up was, Iris wasn't sure. Would she find herself near the almost-dried river she had awoken to the first day? Or would she be in a completely different part of the woods? Would it be day or night? Suddenly, stalking this first rank official didn't seem like such a good idea. She stared into darkness behind her. Although... she had come this far. And perhaps he wasn't going up. Maybe this path just led elsewhere. midway up, or something. To another military base.

Iris kept walking, listening out for any signs of footsteps, a breath, something to signify that the guy had actually passed through here, and that she hadn't hallucinated the whole walk down this dank pathway. Each minute that passed seemed to drag on, her only console her thoughts and questions that buzzed like a swarm of bees in her skull. How could someone be so petrified and curious about a place all at the same time? It was strangely invigorating.

She had lost track of time a while ago, but if she was to give a rough guess, she estimated it had been at least an hour of walking, and by the way the ground beneath was slowly rising with each step forward, she was almost certain that wherever she was now, she was no longer in the Terra District, but making her way up above. Apprehension nipped at her heels and tugged at her heartstrings. The idea of meeting a potential enemy above was terrifying. Yet something in her gut urged her to follow, to listen to her curiosity, to see what was up there. Or who.

Iris had to blink twice when a clearing finally came into view. It was identical to the one she had first arrived in, and if she hadn't glanced up and noticed that the ladder was considerably shorter, she would have thought she had just gone around in one big circle. Unlike before, she could see a warmer, purer light where the ladder stopped maybe ten metres above. She began her climb, testing each step warily before putting her entire weight on it. She wasn't about to fall now after walking all this way.

With each step up, Iris began to recognise something familiar about the light above her. It looked natural. Not artificial like the ones she was growing accustomed to both in the passageway and in the Terra District. This was real light. Which meant she had finally made it. This ladder led up and out.

When she finally reached the top, Iris hauled herself up but remained crouching. She appeared to be in a small, cavernous area, almost as if she were inside a hole created by some animal. A burrow. She crawled on all fours towards the blinding light, blinking several times as she finally exited whatever hole she had – quite literally – crawled out of, and stood up, dusting off bits of dirt and dried leaves from her knees and dress. Shielding her eyes from the warmth and familiarity of the sun, she glanced back at the burrow from which she had emerged, strangely familiar in an uncanny sense, yet Iris was certain she'd never come across it before. Iris marvelled at the simplicity of it – a passageway in plain sight, concealed to look like a forest animal might be living inside. She wondered if it had been Jasper's idea, or someone before him.

She glanced around her as a sudden, forebodingly cold wind whipped past her, and a shiver ran down her spine. This part of the forest seemed different. They certainly weren't the same trees she had seen when walking with Trevet, and the forest seemed to loom with shadows and the unknown. Iris brushed off another dried leaf that she found stuck to her elbow, dusting off her hands while turning in a full circle on the spot. The trees were tall and slender, and any hope she had of having a bird's eye view of her surroundings was wiped from her mind. There were no foot-holes or grooves in the trees she could use, and as she looked around for signs of life or any signs of a clearing, her throat bobbed in apprehension, half-expecting an enemy soldier to shoot her down on the spot.

Still, it felt great to be out in the open again after a day below ground, and she couldn't imagine how all those citizens below could stand to not see the sun and feel fresh air for months or even years on end. No wonder some grew to resent that underground district when all this beauty was offered out here. But Iris also couldn't ignore the feeling that something dark lurked in this forest, and although the trees seemed to be alive with faint, indistinct noises, not a single animal was in sight.

Iris calmly reminded herself that she was no huntress, and for all she knew, this place could be teeming with animals who were hidden, waiting, watching her. This only scared Iris more, and she began to walk quickly through the forest, glancing back one last time to make sure she didn't forget how the burrow looked like, where it was situated, in case she needed to make a run for it.

She couldn't wander too far in fear that she would lose her way back, but there was no harm in exploring the nearby area. She could always come back when she worked up more courage, now that she knew where the shed's passage led to.

Unfortunately, in the few minutes Iris explored, it was becoming clear to her that she was too deep in the forest, not located anywhere near the outskirts of it, and the place was full of trees and bushes and thorns and dried-up leaves that all looked the same after a while. There was no way of mapping out the geography of this strange planet. It seemed it didn't even play by the rules of time.

She glanced back at the burrow, now a speck in the distance, and, not wanting to wander any further away from it, she began to make her way back. She was just wondering if Trevet had even taken the same passageway when something gripped her wrist.

She let out a shriek, which resulted in a hand being clamped over her mouth. Iris instinctively kneed her captor, who let out a groan as her kneecap connected with something. Her captor let her go and she winced as she noted who it was, but more importantly, where her knee had hit.

The First Rank official gritted his teeth and straightened, taking a step towards her. Anger flashed across his face but disappeared just as quickly as he took in her features.

"You're the princess the C.O was talking about, aren't you?"

She blinked up at him, still recovering from her initial shock. "How do you know that?"

The tall, older man looked suddenly shy as he sheepishly stepped towards her. As her heartbeat slowed, Iris noted a faint buzzing in the air. No... she wasn't hearing it, she could feel it. It was a noise so light, so incomprehensible, that she almost didn't believe it until she had a sudden urge to reach out, touching the man's arm lightly. The buzzing increased slightly, still incredibly faint, but certainly, unobjectively there.

"Do you feel that?" she breathed, gazing up into his hazel eyes, so similar to hers.

He nodded, pulling back his arm as if embarrassed. "Didn't you know?"

"Know what?"

The First Rank looked genuinely confused as if he couldn't possibly fathom the idea that she couldn't know what he was talking about. "They say that the princess of Terra is so powerful, she is connected to each Terran through her magic. Our magic. That's what you're feeling."

Iris raised her eyebrows incredulously. "And... and all the princesses feel this?" She thought back to Mazikeen, and although her dream was an obvious indication that while Mazikeen might also be her sister, she was just as much a Princess too, and she wondered if that electrical zap between them had exposed their connection to each other, as siblings.

He shrugged uncomfortably. "I suppose. But we try not to get involved in the business of... the others," he said the last two words so vehemently, Iris almost stepped backwards. "You shouldn't be here, your highness," he said with sudden concern as if only now realising the danger of her being there.

"What are you doing out here?" Iris questioned.

He went to reply when a crackling noise sounded, making Iris jump. The First Rank frowned and detached his walkie-talkie from his belt.

"Al," a crackly voice rang out through the walkie-talkie, a mixture of fear and excitement and disbelief. "Al, do you read?"

"We're not supposed to use real names out here, remember, BP27?" Al's eyes flitted to Iris's in clear annoyance.

"Sorry," the man who apparently went by BP27, answered. "I just... Al, I'm looking at her."

Al's face whitened slightly. "What are you talking about?"

"Her. They just left her, Al!"

"You went in there alone? Dammit, Evan," Al swore under his breath. "You need to get out of there!"

"It's not an ambush," Evan replied briskly. "It's not. I checked the entire perimeter and all the rooms are empty. But they just left her lying here!"

"Those were not your orders," Al hissed into the walkie-talkie, then continued speaking before Evan had a chance to respond. "No one else has arrived yet?"

"BP28 and 17 are on their way," Evan responded. "I'm the only one here right now."

Evan's mouth twisted into a scowl. "Same location you first gave me?"

"Yes, the waterfall. If you've taken The Burrow as I suggested, then you're only two kilometres away."

"On my way - and Evan?" there was a brief crackle as Al paused. "Stay there. Do you think you can follow that simple instruction?"

"Over and out."

Al let out a long sigh before putting away the walkie-talkie. Then, as if remembering who he was standing next to, he inclined his head towards Iris. "I'm so sorry, your highness, my brother, he..."

"That was your brother?"

Al cleared his throat and straightened. "I'll escort you back as soon as possible. If you could just wait in The Burrow..."

Iris shook her head vigorously. "No way. I did not travel this far to just wait in that animal hole. I'm coming with you."

Al furrowed his eyebrows, his eyes locking with hers. "I strongly suggest against it."

Iris was about to cry that it wasn't fair, when she remembered who she was – or at least, who he thought she was – and stood tall, crossing her arms. "Do you forget who you're talking to? I'm Princess..." she paused. Crap. What was her other name again? "I'm the Princess of Terra," she said instead. "And I demand that you take me with you or..."

At that moment, the ground below them chose to quake, and Al looked at her. But she was just as surprised as he was, and she held out her arms to keep from falling. A cold wind suddenly whipped her face, and the sky above grew suddenly darker, the sun below looking farther away, dimmer, faded.

Al grimaced. "Caedus has shifted again."

The cold nipped at Iris's arms, and she rubbed them, marvelling at how rapidly the temperature had changed. "What do you mean, shifted?"

"Magic has unbalanced the entire planet. The wars have taken a toll on Mother Nature, on our environment."

"Oh, gotcha, like global warming?" Iris remarked.

Al gave her a bemused look. "I don't know what that is. But our recklessness has caused many consequences for Caedus and all that is living in it."

"Oh, yeah," Iris nodded. "So, I guess kind of similar to humans and pollution and all that."

Al only looked more confused and shook his head. "You need to stay safe, your highness. I won't be too long, I hope." He began to walk in the opposite direction of The Burrow, and Iris looked once between her safe haven and the First Rank officer before walking after him. He raised his eyebrows at her but thought better than to say anything. His eyes were on the clouds that were slowly rolling in, his lips a thin line.

"You can still turn back," he said to her after a while.

"Who's the girl?" Iris prodded, and a funny look she couldn't quite place crossed Al's face. "What is it? Do I know her? Oh no," Iris could feel the blood drain from her face. "It's not... it's not Mazikeen, is it?"

Al barked out a laugh, startling her. "Heavens above! Mazikeen? Lords, no! Can you imagine finding her lying on the ground? That would be a merciful miracle, that would. But no," his laughter faded, and his face contorted into that serious expression once more.

"So...?"

He stopped in his tracks, and Iris came to a halt beside him. "Are you sure you don't want to turn back, your highness?"

She crossed her arms and he sighed, continuing through the mass of trees and shrubbery. "Alright, as you wish. But then be prepared."

"For what?" she bounded after him, matching his brisk pace.

"To meet your other sister," he said, and Iris almost tripped over herself. "Princess Anahita Caedusis, heir to Lympha."