LUHAN

"Aaagh!!" I winced while hanging on this loose branch. Tch, shouldn't have chosen this, I could fall in any second. I couldn't even levitate myself now, so I'm pretty unlucky. My breaths were ragged, I could even feel my sweat dripping down.

Just who the hell was that?! How dare she take Yoona?!

"Oh Sh*t!" I suddenly exclaimed, when the branch started to break. I accidentally looked down, nervousness rising up because of the wild waves of the river below. How come I didn't know there was a cliff here anyway?!?!

"Hyung!!" I looked up when I heard someone call me. "Luhan hyung!! Where are you?!?!"

"Shawn!! Here!! Hurry!!" I immediately called out, grateful someone decided to pass by. I then saw Shawn looking down to where I was and obviously, he was surprised. He knelt down right away.

"Hyung?! How on SMTown did you got there?!"

"Shawn!! Help me out— Aaaagh!!" I didn't get to finish my sentence when the branch actually broke, making me hang on to this small space of rock. Aah! I'm slipping! This is too much for crying out loud!!

"Ah, Got that hyung!" Shawn said as he just realized my state. Great, I could see him shaking nervously when he stretched his hand out for me to grab him. I quickly grabbed it with one hand and was about to use my other hand when that small space of rock fell, making me swing to the other side due to the impact.

"Aah Hyung!! Hold on!" Shawn groaned and panicked. He used two hands in pulling me up, so did I in holding him. I did that right after that rock fell. Shawn grunted as he did his best in pulling me. I also tried to step on those little rock spaces so I could help myself climb.

As soon as I met up with the flat solid ground, I laid down directly. That made me exhausted!! Shawn was bending, his hands on his knees as he tries to catch his breath. Looks like he got tired too.

"Was I that heavy?" I joked to at least lift the mood. He chuckled.

"No hyung, its just the gravity pulling you down." He then straightened his back and lend me a hand, which I took it with gratitude and he helped me stand up.

"Thanks for what you did." I told him.

"No problem, anything for my hyung." And he showed one of those childish smiles. We then walked towards the garden, where he said we have to meet-up.

I might have been saved from almost-falling-to-my-death experience, Yoona was still captured.

And I didn't save her from that, tch.

~~~~~

"WHAT?!?! JUST LIKE THAT?!?!" Taeyeon angrily blurted out, right after I told them what happened. Were they unaware awhile ago? How come?

I could still hear the girls crying after I mentioned about Kai's disappearance. I just looked down in shame, disappointed of myself.

"K-Kai's already d-dead then??" Hyoyeon asked me, crying while hugging to Yuri. I nod at her without saying a word. We were then surprised when she abruptly stood up, since she was seating on the garden benches, and left us.

"H-Hyo, wait!!" Yuri called out then ran to catch up with her sister. Our attention was then at Taeyeon when she walked towards me, her eyes tearing up. The rest were then surprised when she suddenly kept on hitting and bumping my chest.

"How dare you let this happen?!?!?!? BECAUSE OF YOU, YOONA'S GONE, SO DID LUHAN!!!!!! WHY WEREN'T YOU ABLE TO SAVE THEM?!?!? WHY DIDN'T YOU?!?!?! I THOUGHT YOU LOVED THEM LIKE A FAMILY?!?!?! WHY DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN TO THEM?!?!?!? WHY LUHAN?????? WHY?!?!?!?!" I was then thrown backwards, realizing she just flew me apart her. Xiumin quickly aided me, so did Tao since he's near to where I just landed. I then noticed Baekhyun stopping Taeyeon from throwing one of her powers at me.

"Taeyeon, stop it!!" Baekhyun told her. Taeyeon didn't listen though and was about to throw me a spell of hers when Baekhyun grabbed both of her hands. "I said stop!! This won't help solve anything!!"

"But he carelessly just let Yoona away, and he didn't even save Kai from dying!!"Taeyeon blurted out and tried to resist Baekhyun's hold on her but Baekhyun didn't let her.

"He didn't save Kai because Kai effin' protected them from getting hit!!!" Baekhyun shouted at her, which surprised not only Taeyeon but all of us. Its not normal to see Baekhyun getting angry and if he is, he shows a very different side of him. And its not a pleasant one. Taeyeon, tears already escaped from her eyes, then retorted.

"But Baekhyun!! He must've find a way how to save him, to save them!!!"

"Come on Taeyeon! How could he find a way, when they only had little time?!?!" Taeyeon just cried as Baekhyun kept on shouting, anger obvious on his eyes. "Please Taeyeon, everything happened so fast! So damn fast we didn't even notice it in the first place!! Kai sacrificed, just to save them both!! And Yoona?! She was taken by force!! Luhan's energy was drained!! Like, didn't we just tried to save SMTown a few moments ago from emitting darkness!?!? Taeyeon, you can't just blame Luhan!! Everyone here's f*cking tired from everything, we didn't even get to sleep yet!!"

Taeyeon looked down but we could her muffled cries. The other girls also cried, even Jessica has tears in her eyes. The other members were looking away, tried to stop themselves from crying. A lot has happened in just one night, not one person could just absorb everything and accept it.

"You can't blame me for blaming too Baek," Taeyeon suddenly spoke. "I just lost a dongsaeng of mine." She then walked away from him and went towards Jessica's side, hugging her while crying on her shoulder. Jessica hugged her in return, still trying not to make noise from crying.

The whole garden was silent, you could just hear the cries of the girl. Our attention was then moved to Shawn who suddenly spoke.

"To think its already midnight, already December 31. Yoona's 18th birthday." All of us gasped, and now the girls cried harder. I gaped, not expecting this. I'm already seated on a chair by the way, Xiumin on my side.

How come we didn't know about this? Its too far from how she reacted these past few weeks. She's always on a bad mood and kept complaining about the cold weather. Sir Sam then suddenly walked in the garden, making all of us look at him.

"Why the crying faces, your majesties? Something wrong?" He asked us casually. I could tell all of us are now afraid in telling him what just happened. Looks like he still didn't know yet. I heard Shawn sigh since we're just a person apart, Tao is between us. Shawn took a step forward while his head was ducked down.

"Yoona was caught by that witch, Tito Sam. Luhan was with her but he failed to get her from that b*tch." Shawn told him. Looks like the maknae couldn't take it anymore and said a bad word huh. We were then surprised when Sir Sam hit him with a stick he picked up from the side. "Ow." Shawn exclaimed. Sir Sam then pointed him using the stick.

"Where are your manners young man?! Don't say a bad word to my face!" Shawn unbelievably looked at him, his hand on his head where Sir Sam hit him. Sir Sam then threw the stick away, accidentally hitting it to Suho's nose. Kris, who was beside him, tried not to laugh. I also tried not to break a smile, the atmosphere's serious.

Sir Sam crossed his arms and his forehead made lines when he furrowed his eyebrows. "So Yoona got caught huh. As expected she would be." All of us turned our heads to him, shock to what he just said. He's taking this fact casually?!

"Sir Sam with all due respect, that witch just stole Yoona away from us. Why you're taking this casually??" Taeyeon blurted out. Sir Sam just looked at her and replied to her.

"I'll reply to your 'the witch just stole Yoona' part. Well, if that witch stole her, why bother standing here and get her back? People always chase robbers when their beloved stuff were stolen, even asking the police to help her find that robber." We all became silent to what he just said.

"But how could we do that if we don't even know where she is?" Kris asked him. My eyes are probably bigger than Kyungsoo's when I saw Sir Sam roll his eyes. Seriously, he's acting like this?!

"I just said that people ask help from police too right? Well, consider me as your police." He then suddenly threw something below him on strong force. Something then starts to form in yellow mists, creating a small sphere. "Yoona was taken away, and there's only one place I'm sure of where she would possibly be." The sphere then starts to appear different colors after Sir Sam said his words.

Blue went first, then green or brown came next. Wait, is this what I think it is?

"Earth?" I mumbled. He just nodded to what I said.

"Yes, earth. Particularly on this place called South Korea." The small sphere then turned around, stopping when he pointed on a small island which was next to a big one. That's South Korea?

"Why on SMTown would she be on Earth?" Jessica asked, looking at the said island. Again, Sir Sam shrugged.

"I dunno, maybe because of its culture and such?" He replied.

"Uhm, why are you telling us this again, Sir?" Seohyun asked, which turned Sir Sam in serious mode again.

"Because I want some of you to go to this said place, and search for her there." All of us looked at him with unexplained expressions. The small sphere suddenly disappeared as Sir Sam took a step forward.

"I know a lot has happened tonight and obviously, all of you are stressed. I too, am stressed. Stressed watching fate testing all of you, and all of you looking dumb and either passing fate's challenges or failing. Stressed from watching everything from the start, knowing what would happen in the future, knowing I can't do anything to change it. Kids, I've expected this to happen since before.

And I'm expecting you all to successfully do this mission I'm giving you. The mission of getting Yoona back because if you won't, the future I see might change." All of us went silent, intently listening to him talking.

"I guess some of you know already about Yoona's true identity." He spoke. "And I'm guessing its your majesties Prince Lay, Kris, Princess Taeyeon and probably, also you Kyungsoo." The people he called straightened their backs and looked at him. Wait, what do they mean Yoona's true identity? Looks like Shawn who's Yoona's most closest friend, didn't even know about this. His eyebrows are furrowed together.

"Tito Sam," Kyungsoo spoke to him. Sir Sam just greeted him a smile and bowed a bit to him, making all of us get confuse. Even Taeyeon, Kris, and Lay were oblivious to why Kyungsoo knew. He's the last person one would think who knows about this secret they're talking about.

"Sir Kyungsoo, looks like you're silent treatment did work on them. They don't really know a thing about yourself." Sir Sam said, which made Kyungsoo blankly look at him. Again, all of us are confused. Sir Kyungsoo?

Kyungsoo suddenly sighed as he faced all of us. "I'm not just a Cooking and Baking Instructor in this academy. I'm more than that but I chose this path anyway." He heaved a deep sigh before he continued. "I'm the son of the duke of Carnation Kingdom."

He's the son of the what?!

~~~~~

THIRD PERSON POV

All of them surprisingly look at Kyungsoo, the revelation they hardly can believe.

"Carnation Kingdom? Seriously?!"

"Didn't that Kingdom disappear 18 years ago?"

"How did that happen?!"

Kyungsoo sighed helplessly while looking at Sam, who just gave him a smile.

"You knew their reactions would be like this, didn't you?" Sam just shrug at his question. Kyungsoo kept on the blank face as he grabbed something from his pocket inside his jeans. He then got that thing out and raised it up high, making everyone see it.

"That's the Carnation Kingdom's Crest." Lay silently mumbled to himself, making Seohyun look at him since she heard it.

"This necklace with the Kingdom's Crest belongs to my father, Duke Krysler of Carnation Kingdom, who's also a dear friend to the royal family. I was still a baby when that tragedy happened, but I could still remember how my father told me about it.

It was probably around the White Season, when bombs and unknown things were being thrown towards the kingdom. Everyone was terrified, cries all over the place. My father said that he was the one, along with the late king, who helped Queen Cassandra and her baby escape. I forgot which place it was but I'm certain it was a kingdom on Fushigi Planet. After that, the late king, though he was old, faced the witch who started that war. I'm pretty sure that witch's name was Jezzy."

"Jezzy?!" Luhan and Shawn surprisingly exclaimed, making the other royalties look at them.

"Why, what's wrong?" Sam asked them. Luhan replied right after.

"That's the witch who took Yoona away." The rest gasped upon the revelation. They then panicked on what possibility that witch might do to Yoona.

"Or at least that's what Kai called her." Shawn said, but that didn't calm down the rest. Kyungsoo then gulped, realizing everything and looking at Sam. It was as if he just solved a puzzle and right after solving it, he went aghast by the result. One abstract puzzle.

"Tito Sam, did you really.....?" Sam, hearing Kyungsoo, looked at him and gave him a smile, a sad one this time. Kyungsoo was about to ask him when Sunny interrupted.

"What happened to their face-off then?" Kyungsoo looked at her and closed his eyes, trying to remember what happened.

"My father left the scene because that's what the late King instructed him to do. But he said that the late King was able to win that face-off since that witch's minions disappeared all of a sudden, and that witch left the kingdom, mad and completely ruin. Suddenly, a huge barrier was going to cover the whole kingdom. We all looked at the Late King who was on his veranda, his hands spread wide open and white magic coming out from it. He then noticed that the people were slowly walking towards their homes, the once broken roads and houses were slowly forming back to their original forms. He also noticed the soldiers who were fighting with them walk slowly towards the castle. Until he realized he was the only one left outside.

The barrier that time was still on the process of covering the whole kingdom when the late King flew down towards him and told him that he's giving him a mission. To watch over his granddaughter, which is the princess of Carnation Kingdom. He then just found himself outside the Kingdom's premises, together with his family. Which explains why I'm here right now."

"I just don't get it." Kris stated. "If the late King of Carnation Kingdom—which is obviously the grandfather of the princess—told your father to watch over the princess, who's this princess we're talking about?" Kyungsoo went silent before answering him.

"Yoona. Yoona is the long-lost princess of Carnation Kingdom. She knows it herself, but doesn't want to believe it so she just thought that her name and the princess' name were just a coincidence. But she's actually the princess." All went quiet, especially Luhan.

'Yoona's the princess of Carnation Kingdom?!' Luhan thought in his mind while touching a picture inside his pocket. 'No.......... She's Yoona? All this time? The girl I've been looking for, was just in front of me?'

"How did you know it was Yoona who's this long-lost princess?! I met her first before you did hyung!" Shawn exclaimed, shock written on his face. He can't just believe that Yoona's this long-lost princess. Its too surreal.

"I sensed magic in her, the magic of Carnation Kingdom. And besides, Tito Sam told me the first time we met." All of them looked at Sam, who just replied them with one of his smiles. Shawn couldn't believe it and wanted to speak more but chose not to, he might make some commotion.

"And because of that said, it adds the reason on why we need to get her back." Kyungsoo added, serious this time. "She's the only key to get Carnation Kingdom back."

~~~~~

LUHAN

"Luhan..." I opened my eyes, and I saw myself floating in darkness but I still could see myself. I looked around, searching for the source of that voice.

"Luhan, I'm right over here." I jerked my head to face what's in front of me, and what I saw was just a portal towards a garden. I walked in it and found myself on new environment. An open field, grass everywhere, trees standing tall, and flowers blooming. This place is familiar.

Isn't this the open field just south of Moon Kingdom?

"Hehehehe." I looked behind me and saw her, in a peach dress. Seeing her all of a sudden made me surprise, jumping a bit backward and thus, landing on the solid ground. And take note, its solid!! I let out a short shout when I noticed that I'm in a hazel brown suit. What the—?!

What's going on?!

"Luhan, I'm glad you came." She said while looking down at me, smiling. I quickly stood up and patted my clothes to get rid of the dirt, if there is dirt. I coughed a bit before looking at her. She still has that smile on her face, which honestly creeps me out. She's not the type to be always on a happy mode, not that I'm bothered or anything.

That smile just makes me blush cause, man! She's cute. Ugh, this is so gay.

"Yah, why the silent treatment?" I stepped backward a bit, when she suddenly pouted. M-Man, was she always this cute? "Ugh, forget it." I blinked my eyes when she suddenly went poker face. Now, this is the face I always see. I sighed.

"Yoona,—" I was about to talk to her when she showed me her index finger, making me stop.

"No, don't speak." She then squinted her eyes on me. "If you're thinking this is a dream then no, it isn't. I still have some of my powers left even though that witch just casted a spell on me. Though I might just be using this once so let's make the most of it." She then grabbed my hand and pulled me to I don't know where.

But her words got stuck in my head. The witch casted as spell on her? How dare she?! What spell is she talking about?! And what does she mean by using her powers this once? She'll not use them anymore?

"We're here!!!" I was taken back to reality when Yoona suddenly shouted. I looked at our surroundings and noticed a picnic blanket below this slated grassland. One could just roll going down. But why did we stop here?

"Are we supposed to go—Ah!! Yoona!!" I didn't get to finish my sentence when I saw Yoona letting herself roll down this slated grassland. I panicked a bit at the scene but she looks like she's enjoying it. Just what is going on with her?!

"Weeeeee~~~~!!!" I heard her shout while rolling down. I sighed and quickly ran towards her. Is she seriously enjoying this?? Before she could start rolling again I caught her with both of my arms and decided to carry her while walking down.

"Yaaah! Why'd you stop?!" She complained but I pretend not to hear. "Heeeey!! Put me down!! You don't have to carry me like this!!" Then again, I ignored her pleas. I'm carrying her bridal style by the way. What's wrong with carrying her like this ? Its not like this is the first time.

"So you won't listen to me huh?" I just showed her a smile but my eyes still ignored her. Clueless on what she meant, she suddenly jumped away from me, pulling me towards the ground. Everything happened too fast, I found myself rolling down with Yoona.

"Aaaaaaahh!!!" I exclaimed panickly.

"Yeeaaaahhh!!!" She exclaimed otherwise.

Until we landed on the flat ground, Yoona on top of me. I gulped, noticing our positions. But she doesn't seem to worry about it. Her head's on my chest while laughing like a child who just had fun running around. Well, rolling around is the right term if ever there's a child like her.

I fought the urge to hug her since my hands were holding her arms. I was afraid I'd suddenly separate from her. I don't roll, that's childish. But the heck, why am I smiling like an idiot?

She then stood up, patted her dress to get rid of some grasses and lended me a hand. She showed me a smile which I rarely see. I smiled back and accepted her hand. We walked together towards the picnic blanket, while holding hands.

Man, this is happiness.

~~~~~

The both of us stayed silent, after she told me what happened to her when she was captured by that witch. I hardened my fists, just the thought of that lady, casting a spell on her. Yoona said she doesn't know what spell this was, but she knew it could affect her life. I can't believe she was still able to call me through this vision. But the time is limited. And that's what hurts, tch.

"Hey, don't be too frustrated. That can't help." Yoona said, placing her hand on one of my fists. I look at it, and noticed how pale her hand is. Is this wearing her out? She must've suffered. I ducked my head down in guilt.

"If only I was able to save you from that hell-of-a-witch, this won't happen to you, to us, to everyone." I told her. I can't believe I went weak back there and became a coward. That's probably one of the things I'd regret in my entire life.

I then felt her hand on my shoulder, which made me look at her. How come she's still smiling at me? Is she trying to comfort me? Those brown eyes of hers, gently looking at me with care. Do I deserve such feeling?

"Ya, don't blame yourself. You know you didn't want this. Besides, this was meant to happen."

"That's the thing! Why does this has to happen?!"

"I dunno. Ask the author not me."

"Huh?"

"Nothing." She then sighed right after. "Luhan, I know everything happened too fast. Too fast I know you can't accept it right away but please, for my sake, accept it. Besides, Uncle Sam did gave you a mission right?" She asked me. I told her about it awhile ago by the way. I stayed silent. I felt my hair rise up then went I felt both of her hands on both sides of my face and let me face at her completely. She's serious right now.

"Remember this, Prince Luhan. Everything happened for a purpose. Take this as a challege of life He gave you. I want you to overcome this, along with Shawn and everyone else. And don't worry about me! I'll be fine! And about the spell that witch casted on me, don't mind it.

This spell  may work on me, but won't change who I am. Just trust me on this, as long as I could trust you too."

After she said those words, she closed her eyes and slowly, her head's going towards me. My eyes widen upon realizing what she did.

Our lips touched. She just kissed me.

I closed my eyes and placed both my hands on her waist, pulling her closer. Our lips didn't move, but I could feel her feelings. When we broke our kiss, the surroundings started to crack and crash. I quickly hugged Yoona to keep her safe. The ground started to shake, which made me embrace her more.

"What's happening?!" I exclaimed.

"We don't have much time." I looked at Yoona when she said that. She showed me a sad smile. "The spell's slowly working on my head. So I must make this quick."

The sky turned dark, and all of the trees and flowers disappeared. The ground continued to shake but my hold on Yoona was still there. I just kept on looking into her eyes when she broke an eyesmile.

"I'm giving my trust to you Luhan. I hope you won't fail me."

The ground then broke open, making the both of us fall. I hugged Yoona even more, but I felt her slowly drifying away.

"Yoona!! Don't leave me!!" I cried her, but she just gave me a smile. Before she could disappeared, she whispered her final words to me.

"I'll be expecting you soon okay? 'Till we meet again.

I love you."

~~~~~

"YOONA!!" I shouted and stood up from my bed. But what I just saw was my cabinet and Xiumin sleeping on the other bed. I placed my hands on my head, crumpling my hair out of frustration.

Was that a dream?

But one thing's for sure, Yoona just gave her trust to me. I must not fail her. I quickly grabbed my phone and contacted Sir Sam.

"H-Hello?" Sir Sam said, obviously woken up because of his phone. Though its dawn, I have to tell him. I heaved a deep breath before opening my mouth.

"Sir Sam, its Luhan. Include me in the mission. I'll help find Yoona."

Yoona, I'll fulfill your expectations. Just wait for me.

END OF BOOK ONE

A/N

Don't remove this in your library yet! A teaser will still follow!

Author-nim's message will be on the next chapter too!

Read it alright? Thanks!

•EDITED•