The Heirs

Ethan: New Lives

Chapter 20:

- 1 year later -

(Damira POV)

I rode on the back of Celeste, my Flying Horse as I made my way to the kingdom of Freezenburg. I had to finish this story and I had a deadline that I had to meet. About 8 months ago the Amulet of Avalor allowed me to enter the Secret Library and I started being the Storykeeper and 6 months ago I officially became the Protector of the Everrealm. For right now I am able to balance them both but, Queen Sofia made sure to warn me about how consuming it could become and to try to keep my head above water. This was one of those times. I had to do my job. I had to finish this story. I also had to be there. Ethan needed me to be there. I arrived at the kingdom of Freezenburg and went straight to a small village that was where the story started and that was usually where they would end.

(Ethan POV) -Corinthia-

I warmed up and kept looking up at the sky. It wasn't her fault. I knew that. She had a job to do, but I really hoped she would make it on time. Everyone cleared the ice and the first contestants went out. I was assigned the last position as the reigning World Champion but, I had to prove that I was worth getting it a second time. I kept looking up at the sky and I felt someone come up behind me. I turned and saw Andrew, "E, she will make it. She always does." I nodded my head but still I just wanted to see her there. More and more of the contestants went up and then I was on deck. I was next and Mira was still nowhere to be found.

I made my way to the center of the ice and began my routine. I focused on the routine of making every move count. Rising and falling with the music and everything being connected. I looked along the side of the ice and I saw the familiar smile watching me. I gave her a smile and finished up the routine forcing out an extra flip before I landed. I bowed and skated along to where she was waiting. I wrapped my arms around her and she laughed before giving me a kiss, "Hey you were late." She looked down at me, "Well, I always show up in the end though." I nodded my head, "True, but you cut this one a little close." She rolled her eyes, "Yeah well. You better head back out there so they can name you World Champion again." I laughed and she kissed me one last time before I placed her back down in the snow and skating back into the center of the rink.

I stood in the center of the rink along the other competitors. I waited for them to announce second and then third until they announced my name as the two year consecutive World Champion. All I wanted to do was skate over to Mira and celebrate. I went off the ice and found Mira waiting with my family. "Congratulations Duke Ethan Asher Albridge the First," Mira whispered in my ear as she wrapped my arms around me. I held onto her but quickly put her down as my family came closer. "Congratulations, Ethan" Mom and Dad said. Mira hung onto my shoulder as Alden, Emma and Mia came closer and wrapped me in a hug.

(Damira POV)

I backed away for a moment and let Ethan take in this moment with his family. Over the past year I grew closer with Ethan's family. It was strange watching this scene. Even after a year just seeing this happy family felt strange and it was even stranger to think that I was a part of it. I saw Ethan's cousins approaching and went over to talk with them. With all the travel I had to do I got to know all of them when Ethan wasn't around. I went over to them and saw Andrew standing on the opposite side of the group from Amara. "Mira, why aren't you with Ethan?" Aidan asked. I looked over at Ethan and them and then back over at them, "Family moment." He nodded his head and I went toward Della and Amara, "How have things been?" Amara shot a look over at Andrew before looking back at me, "Fine. Everything is great." Andrew then snapped, "Freaking fantastic." They both looked at each other before walking away. I looked back at Della and quirked my eyebrow, "I don't know where to start and today is about Ethan." I nodded my head and let out a breath.

We walked over to them and Ethan saw me, "I thought you ran off again." I shook my head, "No I was just rounding up the cavalry." He nodded his head and looked over everyone. "Where are Andrew and Amara?" I just started shaking my head and he nodded, "I will catch up with them later. Now lets go home. I'm starving." He laughed and we all went back.

After a while everyone left and Ethan walked me back to my cottage before leaving for the night. We stopped at my door and I held onto his hand in mine, "So what is next? Are you going to go for a third claim to the title?" He shook his head, "I don't know, I think that it might be time for me to leave it to the next generation." I nodded my head, "Plus, I want to spend more time with you and with my training and your role we haven't had much time together." "So what are you going to do?" He smiled down at me, "I don't know, but we'll figure it out." I nodded my head, "Well you know I could always use some help with the stories or Protector's missions, know anyone who would be interested?" "Are you sure?" He asked. I shrugged, "For now, but I reserve the right to change my mind later." "Of course you do." I then quirked my brow, "Well what do you say?" He nodded his head, "Yeah, it sounds like a good next step." I leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, "Goodnight" I went into a bow, "Your Grace." He rolled his eyes, "When are you going to stop?" I thought about it for a moment, "Probably never." He sighed, "That's what I thought. See you in the morning." That was something I loved more than anything. He never would say Goodbye or Goodnight it was always that I would see him later and I always would.

(Andrew POV)

I knew that this was supposed to be a happy weekend for Ethan and I knew that as his best friend I needed to be there for him but, I couldn't. I was going to ruin it. I knew that I would. I went out into their training grounds and just began going into my Knight Training trying to have something occupy my mind. I picked up a sword and began swinging harder and harder on until it felt like my arms might fall off. I heard a shuffle behind me and turned and saw Ethan and Damira looking over at me. Ethan turned to Damira who just nodded her head and walked away as he came over. "Alright, so what is going on? Last time we talked you and Amara were doing great and now you destroyed three training dummies and number four isn't looking so hot." I would have laughed had I been in a better mood. "Seriously what is going on?" I let out a short breath, "Amara and I were done. For good." "What happened?" He asked sitting down on the bench. I sat beside him, "It started about three months ago..."

Author's Note:

So Ethan and Damira will still be used throughout the story however, they will no longer be the main focus. We are no shifting over to Andrew (James and Clio's son) and Amara (Zandar and Hildegard's daughter). What happened to them? Will they find there way back to each other? What do their parents have to say about all of this? All will be discovered in the next segment of The Heirs.