The noble guests all gathered in groups of people chatting amongst themselves. One particular royalty, however, was alone in the crowd. She glided across the room elegantly causing several eyes to follow her. She looked stunningly beautiful wearing her dark green ball gown. Her long red hair was tied in a loose braid clasped at the end with a diamond clasp. She smiles sweetly at several male nobles all the while kindly turning them down. For some reason, her smile seems a bit forced but that may just be our imagination.

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A hand is waving around catching our attention. "Hey there! Four years later Princess Rheanne is still working on her plan to escape her 'prison' into the outside world. Where she had been jeered and looked on with disgust before, now she is the object of many male nobles' desires and the cause of the female nobles’ jealousy. Learning from her past experience, she hides her true feelings behind a snotty or cheerful mask. After many years of plotting, she is finally ready to begin her plans." Derek smiles mischievously. "Now on with the show!"

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A seventeen years old Rheanne smiles falsely at yet another 'handsome' prince. Walking out of the sight of prying eyes, she slouches walking very unladylike towards her bedroom. If her mother had seen her now, she would have had a heart attack. Grumbling she opened the door to her chamber. Usually there would be a whole line of servants waiting outside her door but today it was a very important ball so they were all serving the guests. Slamming her door shut, she leaned back against it sighing. "Those hypocritical jerks. It's always 'Princess Rheanne you are so beautiful' or 'Princess Rheanne I love your dress.' Do they even care for who I am?" She growled noisily as her face scrunched up in anger. Then her anger dispersed abruptly. Smiling Rheanne thought about what was going to happen tonight. "Finally, after all these years I will be able to have freedom! I won't ever have to pretend to like all those nobles in the palace anymore. I wonder how the outside world is like."

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Towards midnight, a figure stealthily walked down the hallway of the grand palace. A ray of moonlight lands on the figure's face. Rheanne adjusted the sack she carried as she walked out of the palace. There was always the danger of being caught but that all but added to the excitement of escaping finally. She held her breath as she saw a shadow. She quickly hid behind a large white pillar waiting until the soldier walked around the corner to resume her escape. Fanning herself with her right hand she sighed in relief. "That was a close one." Looking back and forth she silently raced for the gate. A few minutes later Rheanne smiled victoriously to herself as she got further and further away from her home.

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The wind blows violently as Rheanne trudges through the thick forest. She shivered slightly as she picked up the pace. She flipped back her long scarlet hair and continued to search for shelter. Using the broadsword she had taken from the palace she weaved through the bushes by cutting the branches that was in her way. Rheanne threw up her hands in frustration. "Why in the world can't I find somewhere to stay?!" Out of anger she swiped at a nearby tree with her sword. The once healthy tree crashed to the ground violently. Rheanne stared blankly before her. The wind had suddenly halted into a slight breeze. With the tree gone, she could clearly see a paradise before her. There was a huge cave before her surrounded by many fruit trees. Out farther she could clearly see a huge waterfall and lake with sparkling water. Fishes swam blissfully in the water. Occasionally one or two fishes would jump out of the water and then back. Rheanne was dumbstruck. One word escaped her mouth. "Wow."

After setting down her sack, Rheanne decided to take a dip in the lake. Stripping naked she left her clothes on the boulder beside the water. She took off the ribbon on her long braid and dropped it on top of her light green clothes. Dipping her foot into the water she shivered. "The water is sure cold." She murmured to herself. "Here goes nothing!" Without further ado she dived into the water.

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A teenage boy whistled a tuneless melody as he strolled down the narrow path. Slung over his broad shoulders was a dead rabbit obviously killed by the arrow that pierced its heart. In his hand he carried a large red bow as his arrows were in an animal skin container strapped to his body. The boy was wearing a dark blue hunter's shirt and white kung fu pants. He walked lightly without making a noise, an obvious sign of a seasoned fighter. He stopped whistling abruptly as he sensed someone nearby. He walked carefully to the clearing in front of him. "Someone is here in my campsite. The question is, who?" Cautiously striding into his campsite he dropped his food silently. Holding his bow tightly, the blond boy narrowed his eyes. His purple eyes darting back and forth his gaze stopped at the waterfall. "There you are." Smirking he walked as stealthily as a ninja to the waterfall. His mind so concentrated on the water, he missed the neatly laid clothes on the large boulder to his right.

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Clapping is heard as someone once again interrupts the story. Derek stares innocently at his wizard's coat. Inspecting the long sleeve, he whistled a little ditty. Looking up he asked, "What? I'm just clapping at an obviously funny scene. Missing those clothes was just plain asking for trouble. Rheanne is going to...Nevermind, you'll see." Smirking once more he vanishes.

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Rheanne was having a wonderful time exploring the bottom of the lake. It was a whole new world underwater. Different kinds of beautiful stones littered the floor, shining brightly. There were numerous kinds of colorful fishes and other marine animals in the water. She waved one last time at a bright yellow fish and swam towards the surface. Surfacing, Rheanne gasped for air. As if on instinct she turned towards her left... and screamed. "Aahhhhh!!!" The blond boy flushed red and frantically turned around babbling incoherent words. Glaring holes into the boy's back Rheanne quickly ran up to the boulder where her clothes were and put it on. If looks could kill then the boy would have been dead several times over. Rheanne darkly stomped up to the taller boy. His short hair damp from his sweat, the boy meekly asked if she was decent which Rheanne in turn barked out a yes. Turning him to face her Rheanne tiptoed so that they could meet eye to eye. "What are you doing here?!"

Getting defensive, the boy stood straighter staring defiantly at her. "That is my question! This is my campsite and I was here first. It wasn't my fault that you just happened to be bathing in the lake!" He crossed his arms daring the pretty girl to go against him.

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Derek taps his feet thinking. "That boy is an idiot. If he thinks that this frail girl is going to be intimidated by him then he is going to be in for a rude surprise." Looking at us he yells frustrated. "All right, all right. I'll leave!" He disappeared mad but not before he added, "Jeez, I'm just trying to do the best I can to make them understand what the hell's going on. Ungrateful.."

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Rheanne stared at the boy in shock. Her expression, however, slowly turned to anger. A few memories flash back at her. They were memories of her lonely childhood and memories that belonged to a stranger. Looking closely at the stranger's memories she saw something that made her feel proud. A young lady with long dark blue hair stood glaring at several huge men. She is about a feet and a half shorter than they are yet she is not a bit intimidated. The men laugh at her when she says that she can take all of them at once and leave unharmed. Smirking the lady dashes forward and attack them all at once. The leader is staring in shock as one by one his men fall to the floor beaten up badly. When the last one fell the strong lady stands there dusting off her clothes. Seeing that the leader is frozen out of fear she just gives him one hard punch in the stomach and leaves smiling cheerfully. Rheanne stood frowning at the boy for several moments while whispering softly. "Why do I feel like those memories are mine?" Shaking out of her daze she smirks hauntingly at the boy before her. "You asked for it common boy." Before he knew it, he was knocked unconscious.

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Rheanne watched smirking to herself as the boy slowly regained consciousness. Groaning in pain the boy sat up. When the boy saw Rheanne he glared daggers at her. Rheanne just smiled sweetly. "So sleeping beauty finally awakes." The boy growled angrily at her. Seeing his expression her smile widened. "What? I am only stating the truth. Since common boy here has finally regained consciousness I shall leave. Besides, you were here first so I don't see any reason to stay any longer." She stood up swiftly and grabbed her sack from the ground. Turning her back on the boy she walked away. Before long she was gone.

Naka stared in the direction the girl went. "That is one unusual girl. Hmmm..." He thought about forgetting the whole incident but decided not to. He smirked evilly. "Besides, I have to pay her back for that punch she gave me."

End Chapter One.