The Queens Lost Crown (Book 1)

Chapter Five

Gloss was woken up by the sound of a growl. She looked around, but all she saw was darkness. Touching her wings they gave off this slight glow. Gloss sighed and walking into the forest. Taking her sword out, her steps were more cautious than the last. 

Just then, the forest was no longer a forest. The area was a dark cave. Feeling confused, Gloss ventured into the dark. The shadows seemed to move, it was so eerie. Just then, the growling became louder. Goosebumps crawled over Gloss' arms, but she continued to walk. This shine came from the back of the cave, and as soon as she took another step, these flames engulfed her.

She screamed and shouted as they burned through her skin and melted her weapons. What horrified Gloss the most was the fact that she saw her feathers burn into ash and dust. She watched helplessly as she turned into nothing.

"Gloss!" she was taken back to reality. She was being shaken awake by Link. She was panting short breaths, and her face was beaded with sweat. "It was just a nightmare," Link said trying to calm his panicked friend.

"Oh thank the Ether," she said running her hands through her messy hair. "That was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen in my life."

"What happened?" Kenya asked. Gloss told them what she had seen. From the growling, the forest turning into the cave, and the flames within the caves. She even told them about the odd shine. "Heavens..."

"It's just a dream," Ash said. "It's not like it means something."

"Ashtrin!" Zelda warned. "Say one more bad thing about dreams, and I'll make sure to be your worst nightmare."

"My nightmare began a few minutes after I was born," she added flicking her head towards Gloss. "That 'angel' has been just.... the worst thing of my life." Gloss just gave her a glare. Within her eyes, though, was a flicker of hurt.

"Why in the world do you hate me so much?!" Gloss yelled getting up. "What have I done, specifically, that makes me the most horrid thing in your life? Is it the fact that I look the most different? It is the lie that I was suppose to be a normal, more formal woman than I am?  Is it because after I was born, our mother died?!" At that, Ash's eyes widened.

The girls were taken in by the queen of Themos. There, she trained them to be warriors and fighters. She had also found out that Gloss was half immortal, so she couldn't fall ill. One day when they were about to leave for Arendelle, the queen told them about their real mother. Kenya and Gloss understood why she took them in, but Ashtrin must have blamed Gloss for their mom's death. After all, she was the youngest.

"Answer me," Gloss said. But her sister stayed silent. "I SAID ANSWER ME!"

"Gloss!" Kenya stopped her. The angel looked to her older sibling as she put her thumb to her forehead. "I am so sorry," she breathed before the young one fainted to the ground. Ash looked at Kenya like she was some sort of monster.

"What did you do?" she asked.

"Remember those tactics and studies I've been doing on the human brain?" Ken answered. "I've noticed certain pressure points are present on the body. If you press it for long enough, the person can faint for, at maximum as I've seen, two hours."

"Are you gonna do that for all of our prisoners?" Link teased.

"If they remain unarmed and still, then yes. However, if they aren't keeping a bit still, then it can hurt to even talk."

"When did you focus on these studies?" Zelda asked.

"Remember when Gloss couldn't come to your study lectures? She was helping me." 

"I see. Well, how are we gonna get her around? I'm pretty sure that Link wouldn't want to carry her such a long distance." They all thought until Ash stood up and said this chant. She whispered the words, and they came out as if a ghost were saying them. When she was done, she blew this white powder over Gloss. She began to shrink smaller and smaller until she was was as tall as the grass.

"Where is she?" Link said. "I don't see her."

"See that glow?" Ash replied pointing to the golden light hiding in the blades of grass. "That's her."

"How small is she?" he wondered picking her up and holding her in his hand. "She's like the size of a butterfly."

"She certainly does look like one now that she is that size," Kenya said.

"It's something I learned to do long ago," Ashtrin replied. "Now c'mon. We need to get moving."

Although the group still chatted through the walk, it still seemed quiet. Zelda decided to put Gloss in a bubble that would follow her everywhere she went. Link kept on talking about the riches that could be in the dragon's cave, and Ash was getting annoyed by it. She knew that Link was just joking around, but something about him talking of treasures just irritated her.

The sounds of crickets and birds chirping while playing around became the filler of the silence. The four just let it flow into the conversations for them. Just then, there were a few other sounds aside from the environment. Kenya stopped the group and listen more carefully.

"What do you hear, Ken?" Ashtrin asked.

"Music," she answered opening her eyes. "We must be near Corinth."

"Already?" Zelda stammered. "But.... it seems so far from Arendelle."

"We've walked a long ways," Link intervened. "Walked for hours on end. I wouldn't be shocked if this was Loyla!"

"Loyla's in the south, Link," She corrected.

"Ah, well, you get my point! Let's just get some rooms for the night. I'm sure we should be fine for tomorrow. How's Gloss, by the way?" Zelda looked to their unconscious friend. She was curled into a ball and looked like she was sleeping on a cloud. Her wings raised and lowered with each small breath she took. 

"She doesn't seem to be awake yet," she finally answered. "I'm guessing that Ken's trick works on her for a longer amount of time." As soon as Linked stretched his arms in weariness, everyone began to yawn. 

"Oh my," Kenya said. "I guess we have been out a bit too much. I think Link is right. Besides, Corinth is a part of our alliance anyways. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if we stayed one night." The group nodded and walked to the town. 

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A/N: Oh God the yawns! They be real! Can't.... resist... yawning! *Yawns* Dang it! Oh well. At least this was a good chapter to write. I hope you guys are liking this book. If you like it enough then I might bring out the 2nd book to this series. That's gonna take a while to edit down. Anyways Cheers~ *Yawns again* Stupid yawing in this chapter!