Hi everyone, SK here.

So I'm 101% sure you all hate me and honestly that's pretty understandable, I swear you guys are going to murder me by the time this book finishes.

Anyway, let's get on with the chapter... I hope you enjoy.

Valerie

I clasp my hands together.  "So you're sure I'm ready?"  Excitement begins to course through my veins, along with nervousness.  "I'm able to take the test tomorrow?"

Alara nods, radiating her usual warmth as she does.  "Valerie, you've more than met my expectations.  You are ready to accept the position of Queen."

Star comes up beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder.  "We'll miss you," she says, an unusual sense of solemnness in her tone that I've never noticed before.  Heart breaking, I realize.  When I assume my position, just like Alara will have to pass away (which I have not accepted yet at all), her Spirit Soldiers will have to perish also.

She must see my expression shift, because she's quick to reassure me.  "When you've lived for as long as us, you'll welcome death with open arms.  You'll see it yourself one day, Valerie.  But for now, your path to earning the Sapphire Staff is just beginning, so focus on that- and the fact that you're going to somehow spawn nine humans in this castle tomorrow to be your Spirit Soldiers."

"Star, lay off her, I told you I'd take care of it," Alara scolds.  She smiles at me.  "Valerie, you're free to go home.  I'm going to put my Elements in the tower for you to claim."

"But won't that mean you'll be powerless?" I protest.  This doesn't seem like a good idea.  "You won't be able to perform any of the Queen spells, and you won't be able to have access to your power-"

The Queen holds up a hand to stop my rambling, and swiftly points the Sapphire Staff toward me.  "This Staff serves as the Queen's Necklace, remember?  I can still perform magic, although limited, with it.  So do not worry yourself."

I slowly nod in response.  "You're sure you shouldn't wait?" I press, but she nods.  I've known Alara long enough to know that she trusts every decision she makes wholly and completely.  She's seen the future, I remind myself.  Even if something bad is going to happen, it will surely lead to a better future.

But at the same time...

Ah, nevermind.

"I can walk you home," Calem tells me as the Queen descends the stairs to the first test's starting location.  I pause, but nod.  We can just make a portal back to the Colony- we can make portals from the castle, but not to the castle- but he wants to talk to me and I need to talk to him.

I still cannot believe that he's Alara's Soldier of Time.

Waving a goodbye to the other Spirit Soldiers the two of us leave the hallway and enter the main room.  I'm about to leave through the entrance doors but Calem stops me.  "Wait," he says, pointing at the torches.  I'm slightly confused until I see the Elemental flames, one by one, flicker and die out.  The corresponding lights on the torches also go dark.

"Sorry," he apologizes, though his voice sounds absent.  "I just wanted to see it."

"It's alright," I tell him, and the two of us push through the doors and enter the fairies' forest.

It's much earlier than when I usually leave after training- it's probably around noon if I were to guess, judging by the sun's position in the sky.  Wait- it's noon...

Oh no.

It's happened.

Serena's dead.

My hands start to tremble as I realized what has happened.  I killed her.  Indirectly, I killed her.  I killed the Leader of the Light fairies.  I stop in place, my actions weighing on me.  First the Venom of the Fae and now this.  

I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Calem staring at me calmly.  

"It'll be okay," he says plainly.

I turn away.  "Not now it won't be."

Calem shrugs.  "I didn't say now, did I?" he gives me a slight sly look.  "Both of us can see into the future, although you can do it a lot more than I can.  We both know that Serena dying will make things okay.  You can see it- you can see that things will be okay."

"I-I know."  How could I have forgotten?  All this morning, I was cheerful.  I joked around with Alara and the rest of them.  Everything was okay.  How could I forget?  How could I forget that I killed Serena?  I guaranteed that she would not have made it out of that situation alive.  

I hadn't realized that I'd fallen on my knees but here I am, fallen on my knees with tears pouring out of my eyes.

How am I going to tell August that I killed his own mother.

How am I going to face Verity?

My parents?

Any of them?

I become aware of a warm feeling around me, and I realize that it's Calem who's crouched down and hugging me.  I relish the contact, something that should feel expected, familiar, now feels completely different.  

After a few minutes we let go and I stand up again after brushing the dirt off of my dress.  Calem suggests we get a move on so we do, because it's not like I can avoid going back to the Colony ever again.  Not with what I see in the future, that is.

The two of us walk in silence for a bit, I don't know how long, but by now the tears are gone and I'm trying to figure out how to act innocent.  Act shocked, that's the first big thing obviously.  Second, I've got to console August and Verity, they must be devastated...

I turn to Calem.  This is first.  "Calem, how long have we known each other?"

"A while."  That response is so Calem, the mysterious quiet boy.  However, I know by now that if I want specifics, I need to demand them.

Crossing my arms, I follow up.  "How long is a while?"

"It was my mission, ever since a year after you were born," he admits to me.  "The Ministers begged me to look after you on the sidelines in every life you had until you died, for good if you know what I mean.  I accepted- things had gotten boring so I wanted a change.  But yes, because I know you are going to ask, I know what each of your past lives were."

"Can you tell me?"

Unfortunately for me, he promptly shakes his head.  "I think you know by now that there's a specific order to things.  You're not supposed to know about it now- that's for you to discover later."

I'm about to speak, but Calem speaks first.  "You know that there is a chance that you won't be taking that test tomorrow, right?"

Shocked, I glance at him.  "What?"

He scoffs at me.  "Don't tell me you didn't see it."

"I mean, I did..." I turn away, still walking forward.  "But I don't think the events that would lead to that will really happen..."  Still, until I earn the Queen's Element of Time in the first test, I can't unlock my full abilities regarding that Element.  If I did, I would be able to say for certain what will happen... oh well.

Calem's stare changes direction, now aimed to the blank greenery in front of us.  "Still, don't let your guard down.  Especially with Alara."

"What do you mean?"  I'm confused.

He shakes his head.  "Alara has become... let's just say she's become extremely unpredictable.  Don't always trust everything she does.  I might get in trouble for telling you this, but..." his eyes avert away from me.  "Her spirit might have become a little tainted during these past couple years.  You need to take that test and get her off that throne, especially with a war coming up."

"A war?"  I don't know why I'm asking that.  I know what the fairies will want after Serena's death, and what I just asked is the answer.  "Is Alara really that bad?" I question instead.

"I don't think so, but still, be cautious, and do everything you can to take that test as quick as possible."

I smile at him, despite everything.  "I'll do what I can."

Another pause, but after a few minutes Calem brings up a much-more welcomed subject.  "So, I heard that you saw Leaf and Red some time ago.  How are they?"

Happily, I answer.  "Leaf and Red are doing great!  Well they were the last time I saw them.  As for the others..."  

Just like the old times, I think, something I yearn for and will continue to for all eternity.

~~~~~~~~~~

I said goodbye to Calem some time ago.  The structures of the Colony rise up in front of me, and I take a deep breath.  I take another.  I take another.  Then I stop because I don't want to hyperventilate.

You can do this.  You've been trained.

With a final deep breath because I can't help myself, I take my first step in the Colony.  As I expected all the fairies are in a state of distress, but I just continue to feign confusion about what's going on.

I walk up to the Light Advisor, touching his shoulder.  "Hey Clemont, what's going on?" I ask him curiously, even though I know exactly what's happened here.

"Serena, she..." his voice breaks off and he covers his mouth with his hand.  His glasses are stained with what I can only assume to be tears.  "I can't even bring myself to say it... excuse me."  He runs off, and I can only sympathize with him.  He just lost a good friend today.

Got to find August and Verity.  I begin to travel closer to the centre of the Colony, hoping to see either one of the twins or even Ash at this point.  I can't even imagine how he is feeling right now.  

Approaching the centre plaza, the first thing I spot is a rich blue suit-coat and a silver cravat which can only belong to Heliux.  However, I don't see August or Verity anywhere.  

I run up to him.  "Heliux," I breathe out, daring to look at him.  He dons the same stone-faced expression, but under that, I see it.  Guilt.  Despair.  Grief.   All of these emotions that I caused him, my own father, to feel.  Not my dad, not yet.  My father.

The Light Minister turns to me.  "Valerie," he breathes out.  Lowering his voice to a whisper, he continues.  "What's done is done."

I'll admit that I'm a little bit shocked at his words.  "Y-Yes," I whisper back, then return my voice to a normal volume.  "Are you okay?"

"This happens almost every day for me," Heliux answers, waving me off.  "Or, at least that's what it feels like."  He lets out a dry laugh that only makes me pity him.  His expression returning to normal, he adds, "if you're looking for August and Verity, they're holed up in their rooms.  Layra is with Ash at the moment."

You mean they're all alone?  It's time to fix that, starting with August.  "Thanks," I tell him kindly.  Heliux must need help himself, but even though he lost a friend today he didn't lose his own mother.  I start turning to head toward the Leaders' building, but before I do I realize I have one more thing to tell this man.  "Thank you again," I say to him.  "Thank you for trusting me and-"

"You're going to become the Queen soon-"

"Tomorrow exact."  I don't know why I feel the need to specify for him but I do.

His lips turn upward in the slightest of amounts.  "Well, even sooner then.  As I was saying, you are essentially the Queen.  You are to be treated as such.  Now, if you excuse me..." he turns away and disappears among the crowds of fairies gathering around crying and sharing their condolences.  

As I begin to head toward the Leaders' building, I realize that August is now the Leader.  That changes a lot of things.

First off is our relationship, I think.  Second is the incoming imbalance.  Third is the upcoming war, and the transition of power from Alara to me.

The first thing shouldn't be too much of a problem.  Yes, August is a Leader now so he can't be in a relationship, but compared to the other two events I don't think anyone will be focused on that.  

I continue to think as I climb the stairs to get to August's room.  There is going to be an imbalance- no, there is an imbalance.  There's two Dark Leaders and one Light Leader.  The two Dark Leaders are both fully initiated.  This imbalance is going to spread quickly, I think but sigh right after.  From what I've observed in the Colony so far, everyone's too focused on the upcoming war instead of fixing this crisis.  To make it worse, Alara can't even fix it because-

I stop.

Alara can't fix the imbalance for them.

She put her Elements, her Queen's magic, in the Tower for me to claim tomorrow.

My breath hitches and I start walking again.  All the more important that I gain my Queen's powers tomorrow.  I can't lose August and Verity to a Balance Ritual, I just can't.  Maybe that's what Calem meant, Alara planned for this to happen so the fairies could perform a Balance Ritual... but I don't understand why.  

However... even if this imbalance gets fixed by me with my Queen powers in the limited way I can do that, it will just start again immediately after.  Which means...

... either Ash or Verity's got to go.

I knock on August's door, but as expected, there's no response.  "August, it's me," I say through the wood, but he doesn't reply.

Then comes his hoarse voice after a moment of silence.  "The door's unlocked."

Softly, I turn the handle and push the door open.  My heart breaks when I see him sitting on the edge of his bed, head in his hands.  I go to sit next to him, and as I do I try to not let the guilt consume me.  Wrapping my arms around him I spot his Necklace sticking out from underneath his scarf, its colours changed from pinks, blues, and violets to a range of paler blues and brighter yellows.

"Hello," he says sounding tired.

"Hi," I return softly.

He pauses.  "You're lucky."

I don't change my position.  "How am I lucky, August?"

"You don't have to watch your parents die," he says sounding empty.  "You don't have to see your own mom bleeding out in front of you."

"August..."

"I just..." he trails away.  "I just don't understand how all of this can be real... how can Mom be..." he crumples tears begin to rain down his face.  I continue holding him close, somewhat sharing some of his grief.  Serena was one of the first people I met in the Colony, the one who made me feel oh so welcome.  It's strange to think that she's not with us anymore.  

I sense some thought waves radiating from him, memories that are too strong for me to ignore.  My eyes start to burn slightly as I hear the dialogue that took place between him and his mother.

"Mom, how could you just-"

"Ssh, August, ssh.  My time is over, and it's now time to inaugurate you as the newest Light Leader."

"But-"

I can see some faint visuals now.  I can see a dead mother smile gently at her son.

"That fight we had, I was wrong.  So very wrong.  If only your father and I had prepared you more, you would be ready to accept this position."

"Mom, nothing could have prepared me for this.  Please come back.  You did it befo-"

"That is a chance granted once, and August, I don't want to come back.  This is your time.  I love you and I'll always be with you, but you are the Leader now, not me."

A third fairy spirit comes up to the two, her ghostly expression looking wise and sympathetic.  "Welcome, August, to the Realm of Lightness.  We ordain you to be the newest Leader of the Light fairies."

"Lita..." the memory trails away and I start seeing the real world again.  Gardenia, I think, swearing by the first Queen's name, I can't believe he had to go through that.  Say goodbye to her just to say goodbye to her a second time.

Suddenly, August begins to push away from me much to my shock.  "I love you Valerie, but I think I need some alone time."  His eyes avert away from mine.

Oh hell no.  "August, you can't be alone during a time like this-" he stops me.

"I said, I need some alone time," he repeats more firmly, his shoulders shaking.

Once again I shake my head.  "I'm not leaving you alone," I say just as firm.

"Just go!" he shouts, getting more angry.  I love August and I know what he's going through, but that doesn't mean he needs to shout at me to leave!  I'm going to be there for him!

"No!" I shout back.  "I'm not leaving you alone!"

"LEAVE!"

Verity

Oh what a day this has been.

My mom is dead.  Shot point-blank right before my eyes.  We said our goodbyes.  She gave up her position to my brother.

Who would've thought that August would have gotten promoted first out of the two of us?

I flop back on my bed.

I'm thinking about a lot of things.

My entire life has changed.

Am I sad because of Mom's death?  Understandably yes.

Am I worried because since there is an imbalance, Dad or I need to die?  No, because I do not intend on dying.  I am not dying.  That's simply out of the question!

Am I mad at Valerie or either of the Ministers for not preventing Mom's death?  Surprisingly, no.

I know that she could have done something, her Element is Time for Zagan's sake.  She saw the future and let her die.  She let her die!  Die!

Valerie did what she had to do, just like I'm going to.

I sit up.  I can't let this grief get to me.  What grief?  It was only a transition of power after all.  Mom was going to die eventually.  Everyone is going to die eventually.  The planet is always spinning, time goes on.  I loved Mom, I love her, but she's gone and dead.  My brother is Leader now, and I need to be joining him as his equal.  Sadness does not exist for me.  It can't, it cannot, so I smile.  I smile!  I have so many THINGS to be doing!  I have much to prepare!  First, a trip to the library is in order.  I need to do some research.  Next-

"HER DEATH WAS YOUR FAULT, VALERIE!"

I glance toward the door.  That was August down the hall.  

It seems that there's something else I need to do first.

Yes this was a pretty short chapter (well at least compared to the other ones in this book hehe) but as you can tell the tension is going up, not down.  August and Valerie aren't doing too well, and as for Verity... anyway.  I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Also I know this chapter wasn't Valentine's-y in the slightest (hehe, probably the opposite actually) but if you want to see a REAL Valentine's special, check out the latest part in my Randomness book for an extra-special Soulspace Valentine's Day.  I'll link it in the comments -->

Catch you all next week! :)