Chapter Two Author's Note: Both counterparts of the characters will be shown in this chapter. To keep things straight, the ones originally from Rystona will be called by their titles (Princess Robyn, Lord Sage, Lord Cye, etc). The one's we all know from their own world will be referred to by just their names (Rowen, Ryo, Kayura, etc). Hopefully that will keep you readers from getting too confused.

Chapter Two: Rystona

Princess Robyn paced around the room. The evil that was upon Rystona was coming. All she could think about was her kingdom and the people from another world who were brought to take their place. There was some girl out there pretending to be her while they were all stuck in some strange limbo. Helpless to do nothing for their kingdom but merely watch.
"What if they can't handle it? Why did they have to be in our places? They know nothing. It's supposed to be our fight." Her voice almost cracked.
"We couldn't stop this. This was fate's doing, your Majesty." Lord Cale said.
"Fate? Fate?! You call this fate? This was one of Her spells. Is that fate?" Princess Mia said. "She wants Rystona to fall, so she sent us here and those people took our places. Those people who don't even know a thing about Rystona! Or magic!"
"Sister, calm yourself," Princess Kayura now spoke. "This is what the gods wanted from Her. The Mistress has been Rystona's guide for a long time. Do not stop trusting her. Especially now."
"Well we'll just have to keep watching." Lord Rowen said, looking at the small pool where a scene was developing. Everyone was silent.
******

"WE'RE SISTERS?!!!!" Kayura, Mia and Robyn cried all at once.
"Hahahahaahahhhahahha!" Kento laughed out loud. "You..*snort*..are...haha...si.ha.. SISTERS!! Hahahhahahaahha! A..an..and ...Robyn hhaha....*snort*...a..a..a....pri..princess ...hahahahaha!"
"Very funny Kento!" Robyn said agitated. "Shut Up!"
As Kento wiped a tear from his eye, a knock on the door came.
"Your majesties? Is Princess Robyn all right? Can we come in?" It was the old man. "I do hope I didn't say anything wrong."
"You can come in Lord Pars," Areiya said. "You did nothing wrong. The Princess was just over tired is all."
The old man came in with the others from the Council Room.
"Lady Areiya! What are you doing here?" He sounded shocked. "Should we prepare a room for you? Will you stay long? Is there anyone else with you?"
"Lord Pars calm down. I'm here because my Mistress sent me here," Areiya explained."I will only be staying as long as it is necessary. Lady Ryuujin will join me here in a few hours and will also need a room."
"Has the Mistress said anything about the new enemy?" Lord Pars asked.
"We will discuss that later. Now Princess Robyn needs her rest."
The others quickly left the room, but Lord Pars stayed. "Lady Areiya, this new enemy is evil. Can you feel it?"
"Yes."
And then Lord Pars left the room.
******

"My lord, when can we attack? This waiting is so dreadfully boring," a voice said.
"Patience, Selerina. We must have patience," another voice answered. "Rystona is already aware of us. The Mistress will also have known by now. Word has it she has sent a certain someone to the center palace."
"That brat!" Selerina shrieked. "The Mistress sent that brat? Ha! Areiya is no threat to us my lord. Her powers are weak!"
"You forget, she was prophesied to save Rystona. And you haven't seen her for years. How can you possibly know?"
"That damn prophecy is nothing but a joke! Besides, she will need the powers not of this world. That enough is already impossible."
******

"Rei and Ry will handle everything." Lord Sage announced. "Remember it's part of the prophecy."
"Yes. Of course, the prophecy!" Princess Kayura exclaimed. "That's the answer. They have to find out about the prophecy. Areiya and Ryuujin will surely tell them about it."
"I'm still worried about them," Princess Robyn said. "I hope it wasn't my fault."
"What do you mean your fault?" Lord Cye asked.
"Well, maybe if I had said yes to Kiore this wouldn't have happened," she wrung her hands in worry. "He seemed very angry. He's going to declare war, I just know it."
"Marrying to him would have been the biggest mistake of your life," Lord Sage said angrily. "He would have Rystona in no time. And we already knew he was going to war with us."
"Don't fret yourself sister," Princess Kayura said gently. "Nothing is your fault. I have faith in the other Ronins."
*******
"How did that old guy know you Areiya?" Rowen asked. "It seems to me that he knows you pretty well."
"I grew up in the palace. I'm related to you," she said, pointing to Robyn, Mia and Kayura. "My mother was your father's first cousin."
"What about this Ryuujin person? Who's she?" Robyn asked.
"She's our cousin too. She's trying to be an ambassador of magic."
"What's that? How come we don't study magic?" again from Robyn.
"Well, magic is mostly from Rystona here on this world. An ambassador of magic is someone who goes around and tries to teach other countries about magic, even if they can't do magic themselves. And you don't study magic like me because your magic is Rystona. You see, it's you that holds up Rystona's power. Kind of like a pillar that holds up a bridge."
"But that old man said there's a danger. How come we can't just protect it with our powers?" Mia asked.
"Good question. But this isn't just your normal type of enemy. This one has a very powerful ally on its side."
"Then why do we have to be here instead of our real counterparts?" Sage snapped. "I don't see where we come in anywhere."
"It's prophecyed that powers not of this world will save Rystona from great evil. I guess that time is now."
"Is there anything else we need to know about our roles?" Sekhmet spoke up.
"Once Ryuujin comes, we'll teach you all about yourselves. But first you need to know a few big things. Every day a suitor comes for any of you princesses. If you like any of them you have to say no."
"Why? Do we have love connections?" Robyn joked.
"Precisely."
Robyn was taken aback. "Serious?" she said with wide eyes.
"What?! Tell us who it is," Cye said out of the blue.
"Well, Princess Mia has been doting upon a prince from Tarla. The Warlord have lots of harems. Though the main love affairs is Princess Kayura's and Princess Robyn's suitors. I know this might come as a shock, but," Areiya suddenly lowered her voiced and muttered the rest. "Princess Kayura and Lord Rowen are a couple."
"What?! No way!" Rowen and Kayura protested at the same time.
"Eeewww! Blue Boy? He can't even defend himself against a girl," Kayura mocked Rowen.
"Huh! I don't like to hurt girls. Even if they are EVIL!" Rowen spat the last word.
"Okay, enough!" Areiya yelled. "May I continue?"
Everyone was quiet again.
"Now Princess Robyn's suitor is also one of the Ronins."
The Ronins looked at one another. Robyn looked green again. She dreaded what Areiya was going to say next.
"I don't know who it is though," Areiya said glumly. "Nobody, but Princess Robyn and which ever that Ronin is are the only ones that know."
Robyn swallowed the lump in her throat and breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't know either. And deep down, she wasn't sure she wanted to know.