this chapter is for my devoted readers who have the patience to wait for my next chapters. I am so sorry for being so slow and hope you guys will not be disappointed in this. i worked really hard to type it and post it ASAP. enjoy

Darien instantly guarded Serena by putting himself forward as Andrew led his soldiers to stand front and center. Peruru watched in dismay as his three brothers appeared and called out to him,

"Leave the rest to us, little brother!" Rini turned to Peruru who looked speechless, but became defensive when Pupulan snapped his fingers and the animals charged at the small band of soldiers. Darien knew his soldiers were strong, but doubted they could take on a whole army of deranged animals. Who knew what Queen Nehelenia had done to them? Suddenly, stags leapt out of the forest, as well as the giant eagles (remember from the first story?) and attacked the opposing side with as much force. Riding out of the thickets on her stallion, Lady Michelle rode up to the King and Queen.

"Your Majesties get out of here," she shouted, firmly and held the reigns so Darien could lift Serena on first.

"Rini!" she cried out and Darien turned to see Peruru with a sword and defending Rini.

"Rini, go to your family!" Peruru ordered, making the way clear for her.

"What was he talking about, Peruru?" Rini asked, ignoring his wishes. Peruru wasn't even sure if he understood his brother's comment himself, until his own mother appeared before them smirking.

"Nicely done, Peruru, your plan worked perfectly."

"Plan? What plan?" Rini asked, clutching to Peruru's arm out of fear as Queen Nehelenia looked at her with some sort of hunger in her eyes.

"The plan of invasion, little princess, now come to me," Queen Nehelenia laughed wickedly as she stretched out to take hold of Rini. Peruru however blocked her way and shouting,

"Do not touch her." The queen blinked and hissed,

"Why Peruru, you are not going to strike your own mother, are you?" As she spoke, Rini could feel Peruru's body relax. Some kind of emotion was filling Peruru's eyes and it hurt Rini to see him so vulnerable. Queen Nehelenia tried once again and Rini became frozen with horror as Peruru did nothing to stop her. Then a strong light sent Queen Nehelenia soaring backwards and Rini turned to see the Pegasus flying overhead, its golden horn glowing brightly. She watched as the deranged animals stopped in their attack and the warm glow engulfed them, healing their bodies. Soon they were back to their original forms, shaking off some sort of black dust that covered them.

"Mother, we must retreat," Bananu's voice shouted across the clearing.

"I will not leave empty handed!" Queen Nehelenia screamed. Suddenly, Rini could feel two hands grab at her arms and she screeched. By the time, Peruru snapped out of his daze, Wise Man had pulled Rini halfway into the ground.

"PERURU!"

"RINI!" Peruru tried reaching out to her before her head and arm disappeared beneath him. A blur came before him and Peruru could not dodge the hard blow to the stomach by his own brother, Oranja.

"That'll teach you to betray us!" Peruru watched as Rini's eyes sank into the earth, before everything blacked out around him.

"Let me go!" Rini called out, banging her fists against the glass box that held her imprisoned. She wasn't sure how long she had been captured but she refused to give in.

"I said release me you horrible-" A hard slap across her cheek stopped her mid sentence and she looked to see Queen Nehelenia looking down at her with disgust.

"You will be silent or I will cut off your lips and feed them to my pets." Rini would not let herself be intimidated.

"You will not get away with this, my father-"

"Your father will have to follow my instructions if he wishes to see you alive and in one piece." Rini's eyes widened, as she watched Queen Nehelenia leave through the glass with a confident smirk on her purple face. She could not let this woman use her as bait, she had to escape quickly. But how?

Lady Michelle watched as the young prince awoke, groaning in pain and hoisting his head. Suddenly he snapped his eyes up and shot from his seat. Unfortunately, the iron clasps around his wrists brought him back down with a loud thud.

"RINI! I have get back to our palace. I have to-"

"You will stay where you can no longer cause the royal family grief," Lady Michelle commanded, her arms crossed and gave the prince her worst glare.

"You do not understand! I can-"

"What? Save her? If it was not for you, she would not need saving! You are the source to all this and for that we cannot allow you to go free. You should be ashamed of yourself, lying to the King and Queen about your intentions!"

"I was not lying!"

"No, then how do you explain that ambush? I cannot bear to look at you one more minute and listen to your deceptions." Lady Michelle huffed and left the dungeon. Peruru slumped back to the ground and thought all hope was lost, not noticing a pair of watchful eyes staring at him.

By now, the palace tent was silent and Rini wondered if everyone was asleep. She continued to bang against the glass, but to no prevail. She slid to the bottom and could feel her eye lids becoming heavy until her lashes touched her cheek. Suddenly, she opened her eyes to a misty forest and in the distance Rini could see the faint shadow of her own castle.

"Home!" Rini cried out, running to the palace, but as she ran the castle seemed to always out of her reach. Soon Rini discovered that as she ran she was not advancing at all and staying in the exact same place as before. Her mind was puzzled until a warm glow enveloped her. She turned around to see the Pegasus walking to her.

"Small Lady," it greeted the Pegasus' voice calm and soothing. Rini stared at awe, was she dreaming? The Pegasus came over and nuzzled her cheek, making Rini smile.

"How do you know me?"

"I have been watching over you for a long time, now. Ever since you stepped into the forest, I recognized you immediately. You have an aura that is as strong as the forest's." Rini wondered if the power the Pegasus mentioned had anything to do with her mother's connection to the forest.

"What is this place," Rini asked, looking around the field they stood in.

"This is my dream world, the world in which I reside in." Rini stared in awe and asked,

"You live in this-"

"Fog? Smog? Murkiness." The tone of its voice told Rini the Pegasus did not favor this world and she soothed its distaste by patting its head.

"I am to live in this world, alone and secluded from everything else."

"Then why am I able to be you?"

"Your light leads me to you, as if a gateway had opened to allow me into your world." Rini pressed her cheek to it and whispered,

"I am very glad I have met you, Pegasus."

"Helios." Rini blinked.

"My name…is Helios."

Peruru sighed as he was left to rot in the rustic dungeon. How could be so stupid as to not suspect. He knew of his brothers' jealousy, but never considered them to be potential threats. What of his mother? That hit Peruru the hardest. His own mother had used her magic to manipulate him and what had become of it? Now Rini was in danger of who knows what at that freak show. It was then, Peruru decided to do whatever it took to save her, but first he'd need to get out of this cell.

A soft jingle caught his attention. He looked up, shock overwhelming his face to see the Queen and a knight coming over to his door. The Queen looked upon him with eyes filled with such intensity, Peruru looked down in shame.

"Look at Her Majesty when spoken to, traitor," commanded the knight. Peruru looked up and watched as the knight opened his door. The Queen entered and bent down to kneel in front of Peruru.

"My daughter?" she asked, her voice overflowing with warmth. Peruru looked down, but the Queen pressed her palm beneath his chin. Peruru could feel his heart swell as he looked upon the face of a worried mother, a mother whose world was being torn apart with the anxiety of not knowing the well-being of her only child.

"Please do not be afraid, I must know if I can believe there is hope left. Are you in love with my Rini?" Peruru allowed a soft smile to grace his lips as he listened to her beautiful name. He nodded, and could feel the tears welling in his eyes. He didn't know how things would end, but he'd die if he were to live in a world where his love could not be returned. He had faced that with his mother and learned to protect his heart. Now, he allowed this one girl, this special girl, to knock down his defenses and he could not look forward to living that way again with a wall blocking his sight. Never being able to see the sun that Rini had brought into his life, he might as well throw himself into the darkness that surrounded his family's heart.

Smiling, the Queen stood and walked to the knight.

"Sir Andrew, if you could escort me to His Majesty that would be most appreciated." The knight looked uncertain, but nodded. Peruru didn't move until the two of them were out of out of sight, and ever then he needed time to get his bearings.

"Are you sure this was wise, Your Majesty?" Serena looked at her good friend and asked,

"What do you think, Andrew? Why did you allow me to do so, when Lady Michelle gave you strict orders to keep him imprisoned?" Sir Andrew looked down to avoid looking at the Queen's sincere eyes. He felt sort of bad for the young Prince. No once, not even the King himself could resist her questions. Lying was definitely out of the question, as well.

"I…want to believe in your choice, Your Majesty. I just fear, you are risking too much." Serena shook her head and looked ahead. Trying to push back the outrage of her husband once he discovers what she had done.

"You should never fear the effect of taking risks, Andrew, but keep in mind how much courage one must have to take those risks."