Nyxon felt his heart drop. He didn't think his brother would show up at a time like this. Luna already seemed annoyed just by being near Brinks. Luna shouted, "I need to talk to you! The way you treat Nyxon as an older brother is disgusting!"

"Do you live with Nyxon?" asked Brinks

Luna was confused, "What? No-"

"Then you have no right to tell me how I should and shouldn't treat my..." Brinks clears his throat. The word "Brother" nearly made him vomit. "Nyxon is always causing trouble... he leaves the castle without saying anything. He's always snooping around where he doesn't need to be."

"Who cares? Nyxon is an adult now. He should be allowed to do whatever he wants!" snapped Luna.

Brinks was annoyed. He huffed and puffed as Nyxon watched Brinks stand in front of Luna. He could feel his legs getting weak. "Nyxon makes things harder than it needs to be. They tell me to watch Nyxon, and you know what happens when he goes missing? I GET IN TROUBLE!" shouted Brinks.

Nyxon moved without thinking. He was trying to move Luna, pushing her away from the situation, "Look! I get it. I'm sorry that happened-"

"Nyxon, do you know what a responsibility is?" snapped Brinks.

Nyxon was even more confused as he tried to distract Luna from the conversation. "Yes? Look, we can talk later– OW!" shouted Nyxon. Brinks started pulling at his hair, dragging him closer to his face as Luna helplessly watched. Nyxon was getting angry again. His scar began to burn as he tried to squirm from Brink's grip. "You're the reason he's like this, to begin with-"

"Leave her out of this!" Nyxon snapped. His mind was starting to go blank, he couldn't think of anything but himself being angry. Nyxon growled and pushed Brinks, making him glide across the ground. "You wanna know why I do this? I do it because I'm bored! That's why!" Brinks dusted himself off. Luna looked terrified. Seeing Nyxon angry was very rare. Nyxon started to bring his hand into a fist, "People keep telling me everything! "Nyxon, don't do this– no, you can't do that– no, Nyxon, you're not ready to be told that– Well, I'm sick of it! I'm sick of secrets being kept from me!"

"You're not ready to be told yet-"

"TOLD WHAT? WHAT'S THIS BIG SECRET PEOPLE KEEP HIDING FROM ME?" snapped Nyxon. Brinks saw something in Nyxon's eyes. It terrified him. Luna couldn't keep her eyes off the two brothers. Nyxon shouted, "All my life I spent trapped in a castle. I was being told I wasn't ready for one thing, and if I wanted to step outside, I had to be supervised! I never even had friends my age– my brother didn't like me– and I don't even know why!"

Luna stared at Nyxon in shock. No other feeling could be seen. Nyxon's throat started to hurt as he finished yelling. He couldn't take talking to Brinks anymore. Brinks just stood there. He just stood there listening; not a care in the world was in his eyes. At the perfect time, someone was finally intervening– it was Manda. She looked furious. Nyxon and Luna quickly explained everything to Manda. She looked like she were about to explode with anger.

Manda urged Nyxon and the Princess to go inside the dining hall. The party was already prepared for Nyxon. The duo walked into the tunnel that led back into the main castle. Luna was worried about Nyxon. Nyxon's mind was trapped. He couldn't stop being angry at Brinks, which hurt his head. Being angry felt like a sickness he needed to cure. He looked over to Luna. It only made him feel worse, "Are you ok-"

"I think I should be asking you that," replied Luna, "Nyxon... I've never seen you angry before." Nyxon was quiet, he wanted to respond, but his mouth wouldn't let him. "Nyxon, I'm worried about you– I wanna help, but I don't know how." Luna cried.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what's wrong with me. I feel like something is wrong with me– something's missing. I don't know what it is, but-" said Nyxon as he turned the door to the dining hall.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" the crowd shouted. They had interrupted Nyxon and Luna's conversation with their loud speeches to Nyxon. Nyxon tried to smile, but he was quickly pulled in by the crowd into a dance circle. Luna waved. It's all she could do here.

For the hour they were given, Luna and Nyxon spent that time dancing away their worries with the day they were given. They didn't see Brinks after what happened in the stadium. Nyxon couldn't get what had happened earlier off of his mind. He was furious with Brinks. He didn't even want to see him. He didn't need to anyways. It was his birthday today.

Luna was over by the drinks, pouring herself juice as she watched Nyxon in the crowd. He looked worried, but seeing Luna made him happy. Manda tapped Luna on the shoulder; it surprised her. "Hey, sorry about Brinks. He's not the best when it comes to Nyxon."

"You think?" Luna snapped, "I don't think there's enough being said here."

Manda sighed, "I know, and I know he deserves to know too-"

"Nyxon?" asked Luna.

"Yes. Even Nyxon."

"I like you, Manda, but– I feel like there's something that's blocking us. And that thing is Nyxon-"

Manda gasped. It was a gasp of Joy, "AND YOU'RE RIGHT-" shouted Manda. She realized how loud she was before quieting down again. "I know you're right, but some things that happen here– I can't tell you about."

"What's so important you can't tell me?" asked Luna.

Manda looked around herself, making sure she wasn't being watched. She looked terrified, "The d-door– open the door," Manda whispered. Luna's eyes widened. She knew it– she knew the door was tied into all of this. Manda caught sight of Brinks. She excused herself and wished Luna Farwell to talk to Brinks. Luna could barely drink from her cup. She was nervous– terrified. She wanted to tell Nyxon, but he seemed to be having too much fun. All eyes were on Nyxon, and they didn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Luna put down her drink to dance with Nyxon. She fixed her hair as she joined in as the crowd started cheering for the duo.

Manda was focused on other things. She managed to locate Brinks, who was watching above the stairway. She was annoyed that he even showed his face. Her heart felt it could drop at any moment if she saw him again. She made her way upstairs and tapped his shoulder, "I'm really disappointed in you,"

Brinks rolled his eyes, "I should be saying that to you instead." scoffed Brinks. Manda was getting angry with him.

"Do you have any idea what you've done? To Nyxon? On his birthday?"

"I gave him a lesson on responsibility– what else would I have done?"

"You scolding Nyxon isn't reasonable– and in front of his wife?"

"His wife?" snapped Brinks.

"YES! His wife! You are such a child! You're two times Nyxon's age now, and you still act like a child." shouted Manda. Her blood was boiling with anger.

Brinks puffed his chest angrily, making Manda back up against the railing. "You have some nerve. Treating him like he's your real brother-"

"And so what?" snapped Manda. She stomped her feet near Brinks. "Nyxon has been a better brother than you in the past eighteen years than you have in the last fourteen!"

"Treating Nyxon like a brother? Please-" scoffed Brinks, "You know what he is and-"

"Is that why you don't like him? Because he's– different?"

"That's exactly why!" shouted Brinks.

Manda gasped. She wasn't even shocked– she couldn't even find the word to describe it. Tears started flowing from her eyes because she was annoyed, but she cared for it. Mada was on the verge of screaming, "N-Nyxon... is the sweetest boy I have ever seen step foot in this castle. I wish he were my brother– I wish! I wish he could just be a kid. I wish you could just move on-"

"Eighteen years ago the-,"

"EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO IS NOT THE SAME AS RIGHT NOW!" cried Manda. Manda started to really cry. She was upset.

Brinks stared at her. He didn't move at all. He watched as Manda tried to wipe her eyes from the tears. Manda gave up. She ran to Nyxon's room and slammed the door. This was the first time he's ever seen Manda cry.

The party was cut short. King Magnus had cut the party in half due to Nyxon's late arrival. They hated how time was cut short, but it was nice to see Nyxon. They all left quickly except for a surprising trio of three. Cormac adjusted his eye patch, "Nyxon! Happy birthday!"

Nyxon rubbed his head, "Cormac, that's the– seventeenth? Eighteenth time now?" added Nyxon.

"Yeah, Cormac! C'mon! We need to leave so we can get a spot later."

"For later?" chimed Lev.

"Yes! We need to watch Nyxon's fight!"

"Oh yeah!" Cormac shouted. Lev and Neve made a sour face at the response.

Neve and Lev pulled Cormac away as he cried, trying to tell Nyxon happy birthday again. It was funny. Luna and Nyxon laughed as they watched them leave. Nyxon started to run his fingers through his hair. It was tangled from the dancing he was doing. He yelled as he got stuck in a knot. Luna asked, "Is your hair bothering you?"

"My hair got into a mess while dancing, I guess."

"We could go brush it if you want?"

"Y-Yeah! My brush is in my room. I'll go and get it and-"

"Can I come with you, though? I can do it on the bed!"

Nyxon covered his face in embarrassment.

Luna smiled as she finally got to go upstairs. Nyxon scooped her into his arms as Luna broke out into a burst of laughter. She smiled at Nyxon with her deep blue eyes. Staring at them reminded

Nyxon of the blue seas. It made him happy to be with her. Nyxon started climbing the stairs when a question opened in his mind, "Hey, do you have a dress picked out for the wedding?" asked Nyxon.

Luna's face reddened, "Uh- I can't tell you that! It's supposed to be a surprise!"

The lights started to flicker. It confused Nyxon and Luna. But it went back to normal. Nyxon laughed with Luna. Nyxon finally climbed the last stair as Luna moved from his arms– he faced the door again that he was so afraid of. Luna was already halfway to his room when she noticed Nyxon wasn't behind her. Nyxon's scar started to hurt, and his head began to burn. "What's wrong? Is it your scar again?"

"Y-Yes. It's like– every time I come near this door– or even when I think about it. My head starts to hurt."

"Why don't you just look and see what's inside? No one's here." Luna added on.

"I'm just scared, I-"

"It's fine. I'm with you." Luna reassured.

She was right. That's what Nyxon had thought. He nodded. He was ready. Nyxon and Luna looked at the towering red door in front of them. Nyxon could feel his heat about to set on fire; he was that scared. Nyxon put his hand on the doorknob. His hand felt like it could fall off if he pulled or breathed incorrectly. Luna placed her hands over Nyxon's. It made Nyxon feel better. They tugged– but the door was rugged. Nyxon pulled again with all his strength. This time– the door opened! Nyxon looked at the space that filled the room. It was dark, and it smelled foul. It made Nyxon and Luna gag– but then something walked out– no, someone. It was Donnel. Donnel let out a heavy but soothing sigh. "Thank's a lot, you two–" said Donnel. He patted down on his pants, which were covered in what looked like fire burns. "If you didn't open this any sooner– I would have been toast." Nyxon's sense of smell was very strong. He could tell what he meant by "toast."

Nyxon shook his head in confusion. His heart and head still ached. It felt like it could jump out of his body at any moment. He asked. "So... what was back there? In the room?"

"The room?" replied Donnel, "It's just a bunch of machines and gears. I'm not much of an engineer– so I'm not the best with this."

That's it?

Nyxon felt his heart drop. Luna was in shock. It's all she could handle. "Wait! Then why was Nyxon never allowed in there?"

"Because Nyxon is clumsy. If Nyxon made even just the wrong step– he could cut off power to not only the castle– but the whole kingdom as well."

Nyxon stomped, "So if that's what it was the entire time– why didn't people just tell me?" shouted Nyxon.

Donnel shrugged. He just stood there and shrugged.

Nyxon walked to his room. Luna tagged along gracefully. There was a figure on his bed– it was Manda. She was flipping around a book that looked to be what Nyxon kept his photos in from where he was growing up.

Manda caught sight of Nyxon and Luna; she quickly announced herself. "O-Oh, Nyxy! Hi!" shouted Manda. Manda waved happily at the duo.

Luna looked disturbed. Nyxon was just happy to see his sister again. Manda quickly patted the bed she was sitting on; she wanted Nyxon to sit next to her. Luna was confused, but she promptly sat behind Nyxon as she went to start brushing his hair. Manda kept showing other photos from when he was younger. She pointed to one where she was reading, "Look," said Manda. "This was me reading to you when you were six– you loved when I read to you during dinner time," said Manda.

Nyxon smiled, "Yeah, but Manda– why are you in my room?" asked Nyxon.

Manda sighed as she put the book down. Luna looked worried. "I came to give you answers– about something."

"What is it?" asked Nyxon. Manda looked over to Luna, who was brushing Nyxon's hair.

"It's about the door–"

"Oh, Donnel told me already," said Nyxon, cutting Manda off.

Manda was shocked, "H-He did?"

"Yeah, he told me it was just machines and gears. Nothing special."

"And you believed him?"

"Of course not," replied Nyxon. Luna struggled to keep her brush steady. She was nervous. "What is everyone hiding from me? What's so important?" asked Nyxon.

"It's the door, Nyxon– the door is the secret," whispered Manda. "I already told Luna she knows the door is also the secret." Nyxon looked at the mirror in front of him. Luna shrugged at her reflection.

Manda quickly grabbed Nyxon for a hug. Nyxon's heart nearly skipped a beat from how fast it had happened. Luna was soon pulled in as well. They all hugged in silence. Manda told Nyxon not to say a word– to wait until the fight was over today with him and Donnel.

Nyxon listened. Nyxon had a new goal in mind now.