The market place in Ren was open all night. Mainly because there were always travelers passing through and the queen decided it was a good idea. She wanted to turn Ren in to a trading country. The rescorces in Ren were being wasted on useless things. Things that her mother would have wanted.

Angela frowned as she thought of her mother. No one knew what happened to Queen Aly and no one really seemed to care. Her two brothers traveled other roads. Kaori was her brith name but she hardly went by it. She had been known as Angela for so long that she never thought twice when someone called her by her true name.

She sighed as she looked at the various weapons and armor. She had heard of Diablo's actions against her country yet really wasn't sure what to do. Her advisors wanted her to join with the demon. The queen refused. She couldn't and wouldn't betray her only ally. Thomas (Alphonse) staied there to protect the prince. "Soon to be Emperor." She said absently to herself. "He will be a good one from what I hear but what to do? I am lost. No advisors now...no they are all dead." She smiled wickedly at that thought. She had killed them with her bare hands. She was a deadly queen and one no one wanted to cross.

Her guardian follwed not far behind watching the queen and listening to her comments. Xekira smiled at the thoughts of the past. How Angela rose to the throne with the help of the Empress of Rome. Without Rome's help, Ren would have fallen long ago. Becoming a nameless country once more.

Angela sighed again. She missed Drake. Her crush on him faded long ago but she still thought of him as a friend. She hadn't found anyone to like her for who she is. "No...they only see me as the queen nothing else. And many can't get past my blood lust." She sighed shaking her head. Angela and Xekira continued down the main road in silence.

Ian slowly walked down the street.A white cloak was over him,hiding his face.He sat down next to a stack of boxes and pulled out a pipe,playing a soft tune.The tune echoed through the streets,sounding a soft,miserable tune.

Angela's ears perked when she heard the sound of the pipes. She followed it carefuly back to the one making the music. Xekira followed curious as well. Both stopped listening to the music but not seeing the person that was playing.

Ian glanced around as he played.He could feel someone was looking for him.

Angela absently hummed along with the song entranced by it. "That music is beautiful." She said softly as she sighed. "I wonder who is playing it."

"I am not sure, Queen Angela." Xekira said shaking her head.

Ian finished the song and leaned back,playing a lullabye.the song was as soft and gentle.

Xekira was lulled by the song while Angela was entranced by it. Music was able to control the young queen. "Such a nice sound." She said standing there.

Ian stood and walked down the street,playing.The tune slowly turned into a soft,gentle tune,to a feirce,calm one.

Xekira and Angela followed the music (like the pied piper?) and Ian. Neither spoke as they listened to the songs played.

((just for random fun ^__^))


Ian continued to walk,only to get knocked upside the head with the hilt of a sword.
Matt Stood next to him,annoyed.
"You are so dead!"He growled.
Ian sat up,picking up his pipe.
"Then kill me."He said,standing.

((LOL))

Angela and Xekira were broke from their trance when the song stopped. "I really got to do somethign about that...." Angela said sighing. "Oh...hello." She said to Ian and Matt.

Matt looked at Angela and sighed.
"Hi....Ian you idiot!"He growled,hitting Ian upside the head again.
"You need to stop doing that!"Ian sighed,walking off.
He started to play the tune again.Matt shook his head slightly and put up his sword.
"Sorry about Ian.He likes to mess with peoples minds alot."He appologized.

Xekira grabbed Angela's shoulder shaking her so the song wouldn't take her. "She's easily manipulated by music...a really bad thing." Xekira sighed.

Angela pouted. "Music just seems to over power me." She said crossing her arms.

"What brings you here, Matt?" Xekira asked with a slight chuckle.

"That gambling idiot.How about you two?"Matt asked.
"I'm not an idiot,youre just mad becouse you lost the biggest bet of your life."Ian yelled.
He stopped and walked over to them,putting up the flute.

"Angela is queen now and has been checking up on the shops." Xekira said smiling.

"What kind of bet?" Angela asked curious. "And were the wages?" She smiled at the two. "Oh..I'm Angela and this is Xekira." She said introdusing herself to Ian.

"I'm Ian and Mattey-boy here bet over a thousand golden coins that one of his friends wouldnt fall in love.I bet that I would stop gambling and my flute that he would.Now I'm a rich man!"Ian grinned.
"For now."Matt growled,"That demon child wouldnt fall in love with anyone!"

Angela and Xekira looked at them. "Who was it?" Angela asked with a chuckle.

"Drake."The two said in unison.
"I found a journal under his bed and it said he liked someone.Wouldnt give a name though."Ian smiled.
"Yeah.Lost all my money."Matt sighed.

"I wonder who it is." Angela said with a chuckle. "I'm glad he found someone though. How has he been?" She asked. Xekira was a little surprised at Angela's reaction to the news. She thought the queen would be jelouse but no she was happy.

"He has changed.He seems happier now and less like a little demonic bastard."Matt said.
"I think it was becouse of that koori chick.She brought his father back and everything changed."Ian said.

"I haven't seen Koori for quite some time." Angela said thoughtfuly. "She's been studying last I heard."

"I havnt met her,only heard about her from Matt."Ian said.
Matt blushed slightly.
"I havnt seen her either.What is she studying for?"He asked.

Angela shook her head. "I'm not certian." She said. "I think she mentioned something about myths or history."

"Oh?Sounds like fun."Ian said,looking around.
"If you see her anytime,please tell her I said hello."Matt smiled.

"I will. I know when I talk to her, she asks if I've seen you, Matt. I think she misses you." Angela said honestly.

"I'm going back to the castle. Try not to hunt." Xekira chuckled as she left for the castle.

Angela watched as Xekira left. "Last I heard, Koori was hiding out in one of the underground libaries here." She said looking at Matt. "She may still be here."

"Do you know where they are located at?"Matt asked.
"I think he missed her too."Ian chuckled,"I'm gonna go gamble again,cya."
He headed toward a small stand and placed down some gold coins.

Angela chuckled as Ian left. "The main library has a set of stairs going down stairs. There is a secret passage in there. You should be able to find it. I don't think she closed it."

"Ok,do you mind showing me where it is?"Matt asked.


"Alright,I gotta visit a friend,bye."Ian said,taking the money and walking off.

"no problem." Angela said turning down a side street. She walked along the booths looking every now and then. "Here we are." She said stopping before a large building that was hidden out of view. "We don't want the books harmed so this was the only safe place to make the library." She explained as she pushed the door open.

"Alright."Matt smiled,following her.

Angela was greeted by some of the workers as she lead Matt to the basement. "I hope she is still here." Angela said as she started down the stairs.

Candles were lit all around the room. There were some maps and some books laying on one of the tabels. The light made a shadow by one of the cases as a soft singing could be heard. The words were hard to make out but the sound was soothing. Angela giggled as she pointed over to the shadow as she looked at Matt indicating that Koori was over there. She placed a finger on her lips as she left the basement.

"Thank you."Matt whispered,walking over to where Koori was.
He snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

Koori dropped the book she had been looking through frozen in place. She turned her head quickly to look over her shoulder ready to yell at the one that had scared the daylights out of her. "MATT!" She cried out in surprise. A large smile spread across her lips. "How did you find me?" She asked.

"A friend of mine told me.What,were you hiding from me?I can go if you want."Matt smiled.

"No but no one's been able to find me for quite sometime." Koori said leaning back against Matt. "How have you been?" She asked shy all of a sudden.

"Fine.Been kinda boring since I havnt heard from the organization.How about you?"Matt asked.

"I've been ok. Nothing much going on that I'm needed for so I've been here finding information on my pendant." She said softly.

"Ok,want some help?"Matt asked.

"I can always use it." Koori said with a laugh. "But I've seem to have become distracted and have been reading about wars from over 2000 years ago that took place here in Ren."

"Alright.So what kind of wars happened?Any Cold Wars?"Matt asked,letting her go.