Ari's POV-

The queen can't be dead! I look over at Ember to see her wrapped in Rafi's arms, him shielding her from the sight. Aria is laying on her bed, looking like she was just asleep. Since everyone is just standing around, I take charge. "We need to start getting ready," I say and everyone looks up at me.

"Can't we mourn for Aria?" Scarlet asks unkindly.

"We can," I say, "when its time. This country needs a leader and that leader is rightfully Jade's. She needs to be crowned tonight."

"You're right," Nailea says, wiping her tears away. "Jade, come with me. I know what to do since I was almost crowned all those years ago."

They leave together, Shun following. Ember follows him with her eyes and then looks at me. I motion that I'll tell her later and she nods. "Damien and Annie, can you go find some royal advisors? Scarlet, go with them so they don't get lost."

Scarlet nods, taking a deep breath, and left with Annie and Damien. "Light, watch Aralynn in our old rooms. Make sure she doesn't do anything to harm anyone."

"Yes ma'am," Lightning says, taking her sisters hand and pulling her away. Before Aralynn left, she gives me a dirty look.

"Rafi, comfort Ember," I say and he nods. "Go to the throne room and stay there."

"Come on Ember," Rafi says, taking her hand. She looks back at her moms body, breaking down into more tears as Rafi pulls her away.

"What are we going to do?" Aaron asks, coming up to me. His blue eyes look distraught.

"We'll stay here to watch over Aria's body," I say, looking at the beautiful queens dead face.

I wipe my eyes and stand at the foot of her bed. Aaron stands next to me, bowing his head. 

"Are you okay?" I ask him. 

"No," he says in a choked voice. "She was my queen, but she was more important than that. She was like a mother to all of her Elite Warriors." He takes a deep breath. "We all either have no family or we left them behind when we joined."

"What's your story?" I ask him. 

"I have no family." He looks at Aria with a painful smile. "She took me in younger than most. I was running around my home town and she was visiting. I was a thief and she was the queen, so major jackpot there. I tried to steal from her but she caught me. I explained why was stealing and she took me in, bringing me back here. I was seven at the time that happened and now I'm seventeen." 

I wrap an arm around his shoulders and pull him closer. "I had the same thing happen to me. My family is gone too. We were driving. I have no idea where to but I know that we were driving. Dad was behind the wheel, with Mom in the passenger seat. Me and my little sister, Rosa was in the back, playing with each other. She laughs at a joke I said as Dad gasps and Mom screams. I didn't have time to look up to see what was happening because the car jerks to the side, and then flips multiple times. I somehow survived but my family didn't."

"My family was killed by a plague," Aaron says. "I was the only who didn't get it. I don't know how, but they all died. I watched as all my brothers and sisters died one by one and then my parents. I didn't know what was happening until one day my neighbors told me. That was the day I realized I was alone. Alone and young and scared. Really scared."

"Gosh, we have some sad stories, huh?" I say and Aaron laughs slightly. 

"I guess we do," he answers. "But that makes us special."

"Special how?" I ask, pulling away from his arms. 

"We know how to survive on our own."

"Actually, I was sent to an orphanage after that. No one wanted me, so I stayed there. I went to school, meeting Shun, Ember, Annie, and Light, and they were with me. One day, I had a visitor and it was Olliar, Annie's father. He told me that I was special and had powers. I think that's how we all became friends; because we were pulled to each other."

He nods. "But these experiences have made us stronger," he finally says. "Emotionally."

"It did," I say. "Even if I've never felt alone."

"-here is the room," I hear Scarlet say to advisers. The advisers, Annie, and Damien enter. 

"Where's Scarlet?" Aaron asks. 

"Out in the hall. She can't see Aria like this," Damien says sadly. 

"Okay," I say. "Should we leave?"

"That would be best," one adviser says and we all leave. 

"Where are we gonna go?" Damien asks.

"Let's go get Em and Rafi," I say. "Then we can go to our room with Aralynn and Light. We need to talk."
(:)(:)(:)
I sit down on the bed, next to Aaron. The rest of them sat on the floor of the bedroom, staring up at us. "I'm guessing you guys are wondering why Shun is back," I start off. 

"Uh, yeah," Ember says, leaning against Rafi. 

"Well, you're sister brought him back," Aaron says, getting straight to the point. 

"She's a necromancer?" Annie asks, looking shocked. 

"Yeah." They all look at me. "She brought him back because she missed him and she knew her mother was going to die. She didn't want to be alone."

"She would have had me and Dad," Ember says. 

"I know, and she probably knew that but for most of the time growing up, it was her and Aria. Then Shun came and they hit it off, and became best friends," Aaron explains. 

"Probably more than that," I comment. Ember doesn't look happy about that. 

"Wait, if your bring someone back, isn't it bad for them?" Damien asks. 

"I'm not sure," I say truthfully. "When he first came back, he wasn't doing well but then he was okay. I think Jade's power is really strong so he hopefully will be okay." 

"What should we do about him?" Light speaks up. 

"She was stubborn, saying he has to stay," Aaron says. "He didn't object. I think he missed living." 

"So we do nothing with him?" Aralynn asks. 

"Nope." 

"When did it happen?" Rafi asks. 

"About the time you got back," I reply. "Anyway, what happened during you're . . . trips?"

"Nothing much," Ember says. "We went to Scarlet's old castle, found Olliar there."

"Is he okay?" Annie asks hopefully. 

"I'm sorry Annie," Ember says. "He was dead when we got there."

"Oh my gosh," she whispers. 

"Anyway," Rafi says uncomfortably, "we went to Jivin and then got kidnapped."

"By me, if anyone didn't know," Aralynn says, grinning while raising her hand. "Did she tell you guys what she and Rafi were doing before I took them?"

"What?" I ask. 

"They were kissing!" Aralynn says laughing. "It was gross," she says with a straight face. 

"It was sweet!" Light says. "Ember finally opened up and let Rafi in." 

"Okay, stop talking about us," Ember says, red in the face. "Annie, you say what happened to you and Damien."

"Okay," Annie says, smiling. "We went to the mortal world but I fainted and I woke up in Damien's bed. We talked to Jas-"

"Don't even say it," Damien says even though he is grinning. 

"-Mr. Miles and then we had a fight," Annie says. "Then we went to the library. Mom was there and we talked. After that, Damien and I made up and went to your house, Em. We also got kidnapped in a way by Michael and was taken to his house."

"What?" Light says. 

"Yeah," Damien says. "But Jessica--Annie's mom--rescued us. She hit him over the head with a frying pan."

"It was awesome," Annie says. "By the way, Aralynn and Light, she loves you both. Aralynn, she wanted me to tell you that she loves you and is sorry for leaving you."

Aralynn rolls her eyes. "Then we found Nailea and my step-siblings, who aren't really my siblings," Annie says, frowning. "Before I left them, they were still human but Michael experimented on them, making them . . . not human. After that, I practiced my telekinesis and Nailea gave Damien a Gorg. And then we came back here." 

"Wait, where is Leroy?" Damien asks. 

We hear a noise and see furry thing looking up at us from underneath the bed. "Is this Leroy?" I ask. "Because he is so cute!"

"And what is a Gorg?" Ember asks. 

"A lion with gills, webbed feet, and wings," Damien explains. 

"Isn't there only two left in the world?" Aaron asks and Rafi nods. 

"Yeah," Damien responds. 

"Maybe we should get ready for the coronation," I say. 

"Good idea," Aaron says. 

"Let's go to the room Shun and I stayed at," Damien says. "There are clothes in there."

The boys leave, leaving us girls. "Do I have to go?" Aralynn asks. 

"Of course," Light says. 

Aralynn grumbles something that I can't understand. We pick out what we're going to wear and get dressed. I picked a dull pink dress that is really flowy. Ember chooses a dark blue dress with a bejeweled bodice. Annie was in a stunning orange-pink dress that has one strap. Light is in a dark green dress and Aralynn was in a black to white dress. 

"We look good," I say making everyone giggle except for Aralynn. We open the door to find the boys waiting outside. They are in regular suits. Rafi's eyes immediately traveled to Em.  Damien's did the same to Annie. 

"Woah," Rafi says. 

"Right?" Damien says making their girls blush. I notice Aaron staring at me. 

"If you want an autograph, just ask," I say grinning. He smiles his beautiful smile. 

"Well, shall we head to the Throne Room?" Rafi asks, taking Ember's hand. 

"We shall."
(:)(:)(:)
"We are gathered here today to crown Princess Jade," an old man says. "Princess Jade, you may come out." 

From where we are standing, I can see Jade perfectly. She has a cream dress on, with lace and detail work all over. She looks stunning. She walks to the old man and he says to her, "Princess Jade, will you put Didian and Cordania before you?"

"I do."

"Will you rule over this land with peace?"

"I will."

"And finally, will you protect everyone from any kind of harm?"

"I will."

"Princess Jade is not a princess anymore," he says, placing the golden crown on her head. "Bow down to Queen Jade!" 

We all bend to our knees and bow for her. After a minute, we stand up and Ember walks over to her sister. She hugs her as we all leave. 
(:)(:)(:)
"Queen Aria was an amazing queen," Beck says. "She was way different from her father, King Fabian. She took care of our people. I'm so grateful to have known this wonderful woman." He takes a deep breath and continues. "Now, her sister, the lost princess, Nailea will talk."

Nailea walks up. "Thanks Beck," she says, patting his arm. "Hello everyone. I wish today wouldn't happen, but it is. My sister was kind, courageous. She was everything a queen should have been. But her time was cut short. Aria loved everyone for who they are. She was amazing." Her voice cracks slightly. "I'm sorry. I was banished from this country and was sent to a different realm. I didn't get to see her grow up to be that beautiful woman she was. I didn't get to see my youngest sister Scarlet grow up to be a woman. And I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry Aria. I wish I was there for you. I missed you so much and when I come back, you were dying. I just needed to see your smile one more time. But I couldn't. You were gone." 

She breaks down, crying and Scarlet walks over. She hugs her older sister and they walk off the stage together. Jade steps up next. She clears her throat before saying something. "My mom was the strongest woman I ever met. When Dad took Ember to the mortal world, Mom stayed strong for me. Most nights I just cried in bed with Mom consoling me," she says. "She was my rock. She was a magnificent mom and an even better queen. I just hope to live up to her expectations." Jade nodded. "Thank you all for coming today. I know this is a sad time, but I will try my hardest to bring us out of this grief. You all may pay your respects."

We all walk up to the casket, putting roses on the lid. Ember starts to cry so Rafi holds her. All of our group heads to a side where there aren't much people. "Ember, its going to be okay," Rafi says. "I'm right here for you." 

"We all are," Annie says, wiping an eye. 

"And we will never leave," Damien finishes. 

I smile around at my friends. I wrap an arm around Aaron and my other one around Annie. The rest of them get in the hug and I say, "I love you guys."

"Love you too." 

I look at each of my friends faces and I know I'll never be alone. We are never going to stop being friends. We are the Saving Six and we can do anything. As long as we are together.