Moon Raiders.

The prophecy.

"No. We are the guests, so I guess they came to say hi..."

"Here, use this to protect yourself Aurelia. They are about to attack." Paisley said seeing the Jaguars start turning round them only to realize that Aurelia was already climbing a tree and their mouths dropped.

"Aurelia?" Audrey called unbelievably.

"Jaguars are excellent climbers. So that is really not a good idea."

"As long as I'm away from the ground, it's enough."

Immediately one of the Jaguars dived on Audrey and she bent down using her sword to slice it's stomach as it crossed over her. making it grow weak. Attacking them again, they used their swords to protect themselves while one of the Jaguars started trying to climb the tree making Aurelia freeze with fear.

"Um... Audrey, a little help please. I don't plan on being a meat to some animal in the jungle." Aurelia said using the fruits on the tree to throw on the Jaguar.

"You just have to save yourself Aurelia, we are quite busy here." Aurelia felt her heart clench looking around to find anything to save herself only for her hand to touch an object in her robe and she paused remembering she had stolen a red hand held flare from the palace to be safe.

She immediately brought it out and opened it making it release a red light like fire. That alone, got the Jaguar retrieve from climbing the tree.

"Paisley! Use this! " Aurelia exclaimed throwing it to her seeing that they were now trapped and in no time they chased the remaining Jaguars away.

Aurelia took a deep breath after they were gone coming down from the tree.

"At least I learnt how to climb a tree. That is enough bravery." Aurelia muttered.

"You call running away like a scared cat bravery? You should know better than that Aurelia." Paisley said picking up their instruments and they continued their journey.

They found a safe place to rest and they continued their journey the next morning. Passing through a lot of obstructions, they had to get through every one of them with Aurelia always being a set back to them.

Spending the night in a cave, they continued again the next morning until they came to an abrupt end.

Aurelia couldn't help but complain already getting tired.

"Really... When will this end? I'm never coming here again."

"We're finally here already Aurelia."

Aurelia looked around but didn't find any tower.

"Where is the tower?"

"Just at the top, after climbing this wall." Audrey replied.

"We'll climb the wall?" She questioned staring up at the high standing wall that was rough with rocks which made it easier to climb

"That's right... If you really want all this to end, you just have to get past this wall." Paisley added and Aurelia immediately started climbing the wall while Audrey and Paisley followed.

Audrey and Paisley were now ahead while Aurelia still climbed slowly so she wouldn't fall. Already use to it, Audrey and Paisley soon got to the top leaving Aurelia who was now tired. Her hands were becoming sore as she began to lose strength. Her arms were shaking and she tried with great difficulty not to look down because she knew she will puke. She began to wonder why her father forced her on this journey when he knew the outcome.

Suddenly, the rock she held to climb on broke and she screamed falling.

"Aurelia!!" They exclaimed and she caught hold of another rock and they took a deep breath in relief.

She felt her heart clench realizing she was never going to survive if she falls from such height.

"I... I don't think I can climb any further."

"What?! Do you know what you are saying?" Audrey exclaimed.

"We can't go back the palace without you Aurelia."

"But I can't climb any further. It's fine you know, it's not like I'm much of a good Princess, so it wouldn't matter."

"You are that perfect Princess to us. No matter what, we're not leaving you behind Aurelia."

Aurelia took a deep breath climbing on while Paisley and Audrey looked around for a rope but didn't find any.

The only thing that kept Aurelia at that moment, was the picture of Mason that appeared in her mind. She always admired his achievements and characteristics as the best warrior in Anastasia.

In no time, she got to the top with her arms shaking terribly and they helped her up.

"Are you okay?"

"Don't worry, I'm not going to die so easily." Aurelia said letting out a sly smile and they rolled their eyes.

"We're here. Welcome to the Socerer's tower." Paisley said and Aurelia stared at the tower that stood some distance away from them. Her eyes widened unbelievably at the fact that she had made it to the most sacred place in Anastasia.

"C'mon.Let's go."

Getting to the tower, they pushed the door and it creaked open revealing a passage that was only lightened up by the candles. The candles stood on stands on both side of the passageway revealing an eery atmosphere. Aurelia kept on looking around having a weird feeling about the place until they entered a room.

Lots of beads and traditional ornaments were hung around the room. Already use to the environment, Paisley and Audrey pulled their shoes at the entrance of the room before walking in while Aurelia followed.

A man sat backing them. He had a very long dread hair with cowry beads all over it. He also had rings on four of his fingers, with his robe looking shabby. Aurelia's eyebrows creased seeing this.

"Is this the Soccerer?"

"Ssshh..." Audrey and Paisley immediately shut her up. The Soccerer turned to them making Aurelia gulp in fear. Paisley and Audrey immediately knelt down.

"Greetings to the Soccerer of Anastasia." They both greeted only to realize Aurelia was still standing and they dragged her down to her knees.

"We are here to know the fate of Anastasia in this coming decade." Audrey spoke.

"Fate you say, so many things are held up in the future."

"We want to know them all Soccerer."

"Not all things are to be said. You just have to wait until it happens. All I can say is that, there is a bright light. It will bring everything to a standstill and all the kingdoms will be affected by it. It will bring pain as well as victory."

"But we don't want to know the fate of all the kingdoms but of Anastasia." Audrey spoke.

"The future connects with all the kingdoms and not only Anastasia. That bright light is near and it will bring safety and protection." He answered and they bowed.

"Your message will be delivered to the people of Anastasia. Hail Soccerer of Anastasia." They said and stood up. The Soccerer immediately created a short passageway on the air that will lead them back to the city gate. Wearing their shoes, both Audrey and Paisley entered in but as Aurelia was about to follow, the Soccerer spoke.

"Aurelia..." She froze turning to him, wondering how he knew her name.

The Soccerer walked around her while she froze up like a statue.

"That bright light hovers around you. The Messengers of Anastasia also had it but yours is very enchanting. It aches to be used. It wants to gain freedom but is suppressed inside till the right time."

"What bright light?" She managed to ask but he didn't answer her question, he only kept talking.

"That bright light will be a curse as well as a blessing. It saves and destroys a lot, and when it reveals itself, everyone will chase after it. There will be no other goal but that bright light." He said and immediately backed her.

"Make sure you always remember this." He added and she bowed rushing into the short passageway so she wouldn't be called back and it disappeared.

***

It was night,

Audrey, Paisley and Aurelia were already back from their journey. The people of Anastasia were now gathered to hear the fate of Anastasia together with all the princesses and Prince Raymond.

There was a celebration for the success of their return especially as the Princess had gone with them this time and to celebrate the night to another decade.

After a lot of drumming and dancing, they welcomed King Almanta as he made his way to address the people.

"Greetings to the people of Anastasia!" King Almanta began. "Behold... the Messengers of Anastasia brings in the good fortune from the Soccerer! This decade there will bring victory, safety and protection for the people of Anastasia!" He announced and everybody jubilated.

Meanwhile, Aurelia turned to Audrey and Paisley who stood beside her.

"Why did you tell a half truth?" Aurelia asked

"We didn't, we just told the King what he wanted to hear." Paisley answered.

"But there is more to that."

"We all know we didn't understand the words of the Soccerer, he speaks in riddles and it's left for us to translate it so everyone will understand." Audrey added and Aurelia shrugged and turned to hear the rest of the announcement.

"Now, let's welcome the Messengers of Anastasia to display their swordsmanship!" King Almanta said and they clapped. Aurelia turned to Audrey and Paisley, then she smiled. Walking out, Aurelia watched them perform their skills when she felt a tap. Turning back, she saw Mason.

"Mason? I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Come with me." He replied leading her out until they were totally out of the celebration ground.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"You'll see for yourself." He said and smiled.

"I knew you would do great out there Aurelia." He added.

"I wasn't that brave, at least not without Audrey and Paisley's help." She replied and he opened a door with his keys and they both entered inside.

"What are we doing in the study room?" She asked but received no response. He only walked to a set of the books on the shelf. He bent one of the books and the wall immediately slid open revealing another room.

"Whoa, this is actually in the palace and I don't know?"

"There are a lot of things in the palace you don't know Princess. That's why your father wishes better from you." Mason said.

"Then I would love you to teach me all I need to know, if it isn't much of a burden." She replied.

"It will be my pleasure..."

He said revealing a charming smile and they walked into the room. Taking a sword, Mason gave it to her and took his.

"I would love to see how much you've improved Princess." He stated and they started fighting. Their swords let out a clinking sound as Aurelia began defending herself but soon took the lead to attack until she pushed his sword away from his hand and placed hers on his neck.

"How do you think you can defeat someone who learnt how to climb a tree." She said and he chuckled.

"Indeed...you've improved greatly." He said and she dropped her sword grinning.

Noticing another room, she walked inside looking at the drawings on the wall. Seeing this, Mason followed her.

"These are the dark Knights generally called the Moon Raiders and the great lights. They are two contraverse worlds. The Dark Knight wanted to make the world theirs and get rid of all the great lights."

"Why did the dark knights want to get rid of the great lights?"

"There are ten kingdoms, Albedean kingdom has the world power and it rules over the rest of the nine kingdoms but the great light ruled over all ten kingdoms with their light that always shone. They came as humans and protected the kingdoms against the dark knights who only feed on the souls of humans with their darkness. It was told that the great lights disappeared after a while. No one knew were they were but their light still shone in all ten kingdoms till today." He explained.

"It is also believed that every full moon night, the Dark Knight appears and takes a soul. When they take the soul of a human, their body disappears and only their clothes are left behind soaked with blood." He added.

"Tonight... It is a full moon night." She said and he chuckled.

"It's just a mere believe, it really doesn't happen." He responded and she smiled forcefully.

Suddenly, she paused and her expression changed as she started hearing footsteps echo in her ears.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone is coming." She said and he creased his eyebrows going after her as she rushed out to see who it is, only to see a guard who immediately bowed.

"Apologies Princess Aurelia, I thought someone had broke into the study room."

"That's fine, you may leave now."

"Prince Raymond asks to go on a horse race with you to celebrate old times Princess Aurelia. What response shall I give him?"

"I'll be right there." She said and he bowed leaving.

"Strange... how did you know someone was coming cause I didn't notice anything."

"His footsteps. It was so loud, didn't you hear it?" She asked and he shook his head staring at her strangely.

Raymond and Aurelia rode slowly on their horse around the village as the watched the people celebrate the coming of a new decade. So many drums were played, some displayed soccery, some danced while the little children were seen running around and committing mischief.

"This decade is very special to everyone."

"Why? " Aurelia asked.

"Because they have you, their Princess. Nothing is more special than that. You don't realize how much the whole village loves you." He said and she grinned.

"C'mon, let's ride to the bush path." Aurelia said and they both raced down the free path.

Suddenly, Aurelia's horse neighed loudly coming to a stop and a force immediately pushed her down from her horse. She rolled down into the cliff and fell into the water.

"Aurelia!" Raymond exclaimed stopping his horse and he rushed to the cliff diving into the water. Swimming through, he couldn't find her and he swam out only to see her cloth floating out of the water soaked with blood and his eyebrows creased.

"The moon raiders?" He muttered.