A dark corridor lit by hundreds of candles that all were floated in mid air. Six pillars were set up on either side of the long haunting corridor. The roof was made completely of glass; the only way to tell it was even there was the fact all of the candles had stopped just before the roof started. The black sky was lit with stars and the waxing moon. At the end of the room, a grand set of stairs led to a high throne that shone a dim sliver light. The walls were all well made of a powerful stone. The floors were the same well-made stone with only one difference, there was jade mixed into the stone. At the bottom of the throne, long roots just barley brushed the end steps.

The stairs were draped in the finest of silks, pure, and a deep forest green. The roots stretched from the very large weeping willow behind the throne. The willow almost seemed to sway to a breeze that could not have been there.

On the throne sat a of the most beautiful ever. Her hair was straight down to her feet, jet black with only a few streaks of gray that showed her true age. She looked to be in her early 30's. She was turning 600 her next birthday.

She wore a tiara upon her head, a grand one that was easily worth half her Kingdome. It was glowing a bright white light, making it seem as if she wore a halo. Her body was long and shapely with little to no flaws. Her grand light white gown stretched out for many feet in front of her, in a perfect fan shape that was proper for a Queen.

At the moment, her face held a worried look. "Lady what should I do?" she asked the white tiger with long ink black eagle wings (made to lift such a great tiger) that sat next to her in a soft voice.
"Of all the people in the palace you could pick your pet, which needs to be fed soon by the way."
"Well I trust your judgment Lady, even if you are hungry." she replied with humor.
"Majesty, I think we both know what should have been done so very long ago."
The woman looked away from the tiger with a sigh.
"Majesty, it has been 20 years our world will get no better if we just sit here and do nothing for it. You and I know both know this and yet you still have done nothing. The time has to be now if our people are to ever see peace again."
"Lady once again you are right.I should have done some thing so many years back." The woman smiled and looked to her right to see her staff next to her, standing strait up, not daring to move. "Listen to me; go find Mickey. Tell her the queen has a task for her - top secret and I need to see her very soon."
The staff rose into the air four feet and turned itself into a massive anaconda, dropped back down and slithered out to do as it had been told.

8*************************************************8

Mickey jumped over the long wooden staff that had been meant to knock her off her had some how gotten into another fight. One day she would learn to rule over her temper instead of the other way around. This was no way for someone of her importance to be going around. Being the queen's highest ranked Knight-mage; she did have a reputation to keep. The rebel she had been fighting had knocked her off her on her ass. with a quick sweep of his staff. Her temper kicked in, it's barbecue time little boy she thought. Her body, almost on its own accord burst into dark and bright blue light. (the color of her magic)
She put her hands up to her chest and with her pointer and thumbs she made a triangle. A small fireball appeared in the middle before quickly growing into one that fit the whole of the triangle. She gave her attacker a big grin and put her hands at her sides on the ground. The fireball was glowing the same color as her as it shot forward and hit the boy dead in the chest.
The rebel screamed out in pain as the fire slammed into him. Burning his entire fire had spread very quickly. Mickey got up and backed away. The flame would only last a short time.

Lost in thought she didn't see the other rebel walking up behind her. He stepped on a small twig she heard it and whipped around. She was just in time to see a massive anaconda wrap it self mercilessly around the was over in seconds.
"Wow," said Mickey. "Where were you when my ex and me broke up?"
She let her guard down and stood to face the Queens staff, anything less then the proper respect and her death would be a very swift thing. The staff was not so amused.
"Mickey, the queen wishes to see you", said the staff "Top must be very soon, so hurry." And with a burst of great white light it turned into a massive white raven and flew away. It was not by far the strangest conversation she had ever had...but an unusual one nonetheless. Mickey walked out of the dark ally they had her cornered in. It was a cool clear mid-winter morning in a town a days walk from the queen's palace. She quickly ducked to avoid another attack from behind...she sighed...and started to fight again...would it never stop? The dark war that had been going on for the last 30 years. It had kept her in the saddle and all over the realm for endless amounts of time. She would be happy when the war would stop and she could go home, and maybe start a family. She laughed out loud at her own folly, making the rebel stare at her long enough for her to kill him.

*;)*;) The next day *;)*;)

It had been a long day of walking and keeping her self in check but she had reached the palace. It had been years since she had last seen the queen. What ever could she want with 's been so long? Well let's find out. Mickey walked up to the front gates instead of going through a checkpoint she was led strait in.
The queen waited for Mickey, her nerves had gotten the best of her and she was thinking of backing out.
"Majesty don't we have the fate of the world in our hands? Don't back out now," spoke Lady.

Mickey walked down the hall that led to the great willow. It was the throne room. Why were her palms sweaty? She stopped at the great doors that led into the hall.

She went over a mental check of her body. She was ok ...she could do this. Mickey stood strait up in front of the great double doors. "Mickey!" she spoke clearly into the doors that towered over her. The doors opened in Mickey went.

*****In a far away place still in the same land******

A dark mage sat in a high chair looking quite pleased with him self. He sat at his worktable looking into his fireplace. So far he had nearly taken over a New the highest in power and the queen in her old age could do very little about it. In addition the only ones who could stop him were in another world all together. And they had no clue of this world or the queen or any of their life was sweet. Nothing could ruin his day now nothing.

"Master!" a young red head came running in looking panicked.

"What is it it better be good.." At his last words the child went pale.

"Master two of the spies sent to watch Lady Mickey, the queens Knight mage have turned up word is she's going to see the queen about some thing most important." The poor child stammered. The dark mage in the chair looked out raged. Just what did the queen want with that old bat any way? Then it came to not Lady Mickey have the keys to the other world and could get to it freely. But why would she need it .why... why... no!

It hit him. she could be trying to return the princess back to this world and defeat him! That was never to happen, never ever. "Boy, see to it that I know what's going on in the palaces at all times while Lady Mickey is go!" The red head gave a nod and was off.
"Well if they are planning some thing I will find out and settle an old score with Lady Mickey."

*****Back at the palace*****

Mickey walked down the long hall until she reached the throne stairs. At that point she knelt down in front of the queen who sat with out speaking.

"Queen Serenity you asked to see me for a task." Mickey asked.

"This I did.I must ask something of you that is very important and dangerous but know I would not ask if I did not think you were up to it, you are my top Knight- Mage." This really got Mickey's nerves going. "Do you remember the time before the dark war started?"

"Yes" Mickey answered.

"As you may know I was blessed with many with magic but not always the same father." She gave a slight chuckle. Mickey's nerves had dropped some.

"But as you also know the dark war forced me to have them all reincarnated in to the other world."

"Mickey I only wish to save my world.I need my sons for that. And they need to be in this world for me to do that. So Lady you go retrieve my sons and save my world?"

Mickey was shell-shocked. What was she going to say to an offer like she really mean THE princess? But oh no, not just was she going to the other world she was going there to get, and most likely train the queen's sons. Oh goddess no, it had been too long since she had last been in the other world. Curses filled her minds ears. I'm too old for this, wait she wants me to say something.

"My lady, I would be more then happy to retrieve your sons and train them. I wish only to make my queen happy...
But Malady how am I to find all of your sons? I'm sure the task will be a great one to get done in full."

Queen Serenity nodded. "For the time being there are many spies that would love to find the whereabouts of all of my sons." The queen waved her hand to a body that was a good ways next to her throne. "A spy that was caught; for this reason only, I can not tell you were all of my sons are. You must come back after you have found each one and a new one is to be found at that point and time."

The Knight-mage nodded and smiled.

"Mickey you have made an old woman very happy." The queen said.

"Majesty, how will I find your first born son?" Something that won't leave scares, please, Micky's mind begged.

Her majesty smiled and clapped twice. A small tiara appeared on her head; it was made of jade willow leaves.

"You will use that, it is older then me and has many different uses, you must find out how to use it to find my son, I'm sorry, but I can't change that. I know this is a little soon but I ask that you leave at the next full moon," said the Queen.
thought the next full moon is tomorrow night. , this was bound to leave a mark later on.

********$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$#$**********

"Master! Master!" The red head came running into his master's chambers. again. The dark mage turned around from his work. A glass bowl and 4 vials of poison had stopped floating in mid-air before him landing lightly on the desk. "You have good news let's hope."

"Well...um not really master you, you see the rumors are true sir. Lady Mickey is planning to go to the other world to try and save the princess. Word is by the next full is to leave and save and train the new princess."

"Indeed...well then, I shall have to ensure that this...'Lady Mickey' does not complete her mission."

"But master how."

"Don't worry boy.I have discovered a route that will grant me access to the queen's palace. I will make sure she will not get the chance to leave this plane of existence."

***** Back at the palace the next night *****

Mickey stood at the edge of the high cliff overlooking the churning waves of a wide ocean, The Sea of Emeralds, as well as the jagged rocks of the natural harbor. She backed up about fifty feet and took off running. As she approached the edge, she braced herself and jumped over the ledge, towards the crashing surf below. She closed her eyes and focused all of her power onto opening the portal to the other world, trying not to think about the mile drop. Knowing that only she could do this and it any one else even tried...well lets just hope no one else will try.

Wait some thing was wrong... she could not find an opening at the other side. If she opened one side but could not find an opening on the other side, she could be lost in between the worlds! Un-know to Micky her tiara shown a bright sliver light that her Majesty would have been proud of. Wait ! Mickey relaxed her body, as she fell not into to a cold- water grave, but into a huge whirlpool lined with fire. At its center was a portal large enough for her fall through. Her mind spun with feelings un- surpassed as she felt her body and soul slip from one plain of existence to another. The magic that had always seemed to fill the air was abolished. Only cold darkness and space were left. Her mind picked out a pinpoint location on the earth at which to open the other end of the portal. It was a house deep in a off a cost of some kind. She had a friend that stayed here, an elf. He had kept the house safe for her, plus made sure it had the things that she needed inside it when she did come to stay. She never had to tell him when she as that thought was. She opened the portal over top of the master bedroom and closed her eyes.

*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)*;)

Mickey opened her eyes slowly. She looked around her she was in a bed. Mickey knew where she was. She thanked any god that would hear her. It was not the fact that she was in a bed it was getting into the bed...that was the hard part. She winced as she remembered one time when she landed splat in the middle of a human parkway. Cursing as she wondered again why something called a parkway had so many large moving objects. Mickey got up, this would most likely take some time, and so she might as well get started now. Before he got here, anyway. It had been so long since the last time she had seen him, a half of a century or so...

Well first things first, a bath and some clothes that wouldn't draw stares. She looked down at her breeches and tunic. She loved them...better then the dresses she had seen some of the lady's at the queen's Grand balls and parties wear. "Whores." she muttered to herself.

She tied back her midnight black hair that neatly fell to her hips. Her bangs were platinum blond and down to her chin. Mickey tossed the horsetail over her shoulder, glaring at the few blood red streaks in her dark mane that gave her the nick name-along with her power-Lady Hellfire. She smiled lightly and ran a finger lightly over the tiara. Her 5'5 well built frame stalked to the bathroom in a huff. This was really going to be a long day.

**;)***;)***;)***;)***;)***;)***;)***;)***;)***;)***;)***;)

"Master, Master" the boy cried out as he came running into his master's room. The little boy was really having a rough day.

"Boy, what do you want?" asked the mage very annoyed.

"Well sir Lady Mickey is gone...it is said she had traveled to the other world and is there as we speak!"

"What! Impossible! She will not win; I won't allow it!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The evil Mage walked up to the palace's rear and smiled holding his pitch-black staff that came up just under his shoulder. And the mage being 6'4 it was quite a feat. All that could be seen by anyone was a long dark cloak that had been tossed over his head and shoulders. The queen was going to die by his hand tonight. He had found a way into the palace. He took 50 men with him and slipped in a door that could not be seen at all from the inside. Of course the minute he and his men walked in an alarm had gone off. Every torch that lit the walls burned an eeriely bright unblinking blood-red. "Damn ancestral magic" the mage muttered.

Looking for the willow room had proven most difficult; especially when doors closed themselves up to dead ends and floors would open up and suck men down, then close up just as tightly. Guards came from almost every room in the palace, ready to fight for and protect the queen.

After half an hour of harsh, bloody battle, the evil Mage and his remaining troops retreated, un-knowly, towards the willow room. They ran down stairwells and across a small courtyard and around a bend, nearly running into an enormous locked door. It was far taller then even he. It towered over the mage and was made of the finest willow wood he had ever come across in his life. As he got closer to take a look, he could see a small willows craved in to in surface. As lovely a sight as it was, he took his eyes away from the battle for far too long. He turned to see her majesties guards trying to get to him with frenzy. The evil mage telekinetically pried the door open, and rushed in. He was slightly dizzy with the power it took to open the doors up. The doors slammed shut behind him and would stay that way.

The queen stood, staff in hand, Lady at her side, teeth bared, and wings flat at her side.

The first thing he tried was to telekinetically take her staff. His powers failed him. Damn ancestral *tree* magic. I'll be doing this the hard way.

"Hello Majesty" he said, only before pointing his staff at her, it shot out a large, dark red fireball, racing for the queen.

The queen put up her staff.

The fireball stopped in mid-air, glowing a faint sliver around the edges, right before it turned around and shot back at its sender, faster then before. The queen walked length of her dress shrunk to the size of a small ball gown and split up the sides of her legs.

The mage ducked down as it hit the closed doors behind him. When Lady saw the mages eyes leave her and her Mistress for the briefest of time, she charged for him.

The man felt the tiger coming. He waved his hand and two dark shapes appeared from seemly thin air. The queen was shocked. They had the look of bats, but were too big to be normal, with razor sharp wings that were coved in sickly yellow goop. Lady saw they were speeding towards the queen. She spread her long dark wings open and took flight. The things began to circle around Lady as she tried fiercely to fight...to fight... these things.

The queen, who was stuck between helping lady and stopping the enemy, was slightly panicked. Lady can defend herself...I know, she thought.

She looked around; she could almost feel the guards fighting. This was getting to be a little much.

The queen put up a wall of overly bright Silver light with a flick of her wrist. The bats were almost crazy with trying to get the light out of their eyes, letting out screams that no bat had ever made.

Lady, seeing this, summoned half of the candles that were floating around to charge flame first at the animals. The light in their eyes from the wall made it impossible to see the candles coming. Until it was too late and the candles had set fire to both bats and was eating them whole. They dropped like flies.

The queen stopped and turned around facing the Great willow. She spoke a word that made the air around her scream.

The willow branches started to sway rapidly until they started to rise and shoot for the walls.

Once a branch had hit a wall it went through it as easily as if the wall was made of air.

The men that the dark mage had brought with him were still fighting back guards that tried to get into the willow room to get to the queen. The mages men were strong and inhumanly fast and never seemed to notice a wound or a blow.

When all of a sudden, willow branches shot out of the very walls that they were fighting in. Wrapping themselves around enemy's necks, holding weapons down and impaling themselves into armor. Any attack on the branches was useless; nothing could break or even mar the branches. The queen's guards quickly gained the upper hand. They rushed to get to the willow room from where they were. The dead troops of the mage crossed their hands over their chest and turned into piles of smoking sand.

The dark mage smiled evilly. He pointed his staff at the queen's wall. The silver wall flared, but still held up under the power he forced on it. Well! She has gotten stronger after all, he thought. "You may kill me, but rest assured I will kill you!

The queen was starting to pull back the branches that the willow had shot out. They came back looking as new as they ever had, showing no sign that they had just fought in huge battle moments ago.

If she kept it up too long she would begin to tire.

Not good at a time like it had been years since she had last gave the willow such a strong command on short notice. The old willow was strong but even it had its limits.

The dark mage still had a few tricks up his sleeve. He balled up his fist up and put it up high over his was shining a sickly green.

He slammed it down into the ground. It cracked the hard stone and jade that lined the floor, breaking out chips the size of windows.

Something shot at the queen under the ground; it barreled through the stone and jade like a mole, but this mole, or what ever it was looked to be the size of a small bolder. Not good. Really, *really* not good, the queen thought.

Lady flew down to perch in between the thing and the Queen. With one long swipe of her tail, she had wrapped it around the queen and flew up just as the thing flatted where the queen once had been. It spun around and came back. It raced for the silver wall, just as it would have hit; it swooped down and tunneled down under it.

The roots of the willow tree slowly sunk them self's into the jade mixed stone as if it was water. Not long after that, un-humanly blood- curling screeches could be heard. There would be no more tunneling for the . "Do you give up yet?" the queen shouted. Lady had put her back down and ran to fight. The mage just flicked his wrist out. Dagger stars flew out to fast for lady to duck. The mage just glared held up his staff pointing it at the sliver wall, the mage started to speak and it filled the huge hall with surprisingly loud sound. "You think you've won, do you really? You have not won, nor will you ever!" And with that a blast filled the air; the mage was at the center of the huge blast.

Air shot out from him at the queen blowing her hair back behind her as the winds reached high speeds. There was another great blast and something shot out at the sliver wall. It hit with a huge boom. Queen Serenity took her eyes off the mage for a moment's time to see a large black dent in the sliver. She turned back around to see Lady on the ground bleeding and the mage nowhere in sight.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Micky sank into a deep tub and sighed lightly. She sat and relaxed closing her eyes hoping to return some of her power to herself after such a long trip. The woman lifted a hand out of the water to push back a strand of pint back hair that was tucked neatly into her tiara. She let her guard down and her mind wander a bit. She sighed again. Creek. At first she just thought it was nothing, she ignored it, closing her eyes scowling and lowering herself deeper into the water. Creek. There it was again. This time she had no choice but to open her eyes and see what was making the noise. She stood up and slowly stepped out of her bath. The woman held her hand up and formed a small fireball. One: what ever was out there had better run. and run quickly. Two: she had to get up out of a bath she was dearly enjoying. Micky walked out into her room too angry to bother with clothing at the moment, to see a figure standing out in the middle of her master bedroom.

With low growl and a flick of her wrist she shot the fireball out at the stranger, just as the figure turned around to reveal Seth, her friend. Damn him. Seth had a slight grin on his face. He caught the fireball out of the air and lightly tossed it back. "Nice to see you as well lovely." He turned with his back facing her. "I'd like you more dressed." Micky glared at his as she caught the fireball and grabbed a towel. She balled it up around the fireball throwing it at the back of his head. He meeped and tried to put out the fire on the back of his cloak.

The Knight-mage walked back into the bathroom, the bird flying high and proud over her shoulder. She wrapped a towel around herself and slammed the door shut behind her. Seth chuckled to himself after he had gotten all the fire out, which was very reluctant to go out. Micky walked out smiling and ran over to him, giving him a huge hug. He smiled and tried to inquire about her tiara. "What's that you've got there?" Micky just rolled her eyes. "It's from the queen, but I think it's just too much, a big clunky tracker would have been better if you ask me."

He chuckled "Then it's a good thing it's not up to you...I think you look pretty in it."

*************^_^************* More to come stay tuned!