The four siblings emerged from their room a few mornings later to a surprise. Ashton yelped and stumbled back as he almost ran into the purple haired woman standing right in front of their door.
“Ahh good. You four are awake.” Briar smiled, staring at each of her children in turn. Her unusually flaming red eyes made all four children shudder in fear.
“What do you want?” Georgia huffed as she crossed her arms in front of her chest, her puffy green hair bobbing as she did so.
“Nothing much. Just wanted to let you know that you're late” Briar responded as she lifted her gloved hands to adjust the large crown sitting upon her purple hair.
“Late for what?” Nellie asked, confusion evident in her features.
“Oh did I not tell you? You have battle training starting today.” Briar chuckled, coldness edging her voice.
“Battle training? Why?” Ashton scratched his head, while his siblings groaned and Briar stared at him. “What? What did I say?”
“How are you this stupid?” Briar rubbed her forehead, her voice laced with disdain.
“Huh?” Ashton blinked and looked around, hoping for someone to explain.
“Mom wants to battle Exotia.” Lance explained, “Therefore, she needs soldiers. Our army is not that big at the moment. So mom wants us to be part of the army. Why us, we have no clue.”
“I want you four to practice battle training because the idea that royal children are getting ready to fight because no one else will, might encourage people to join the army.” Briar sighed as she turned around. “Now, you know where the practice room is. Go find General Mason and start practicing.”
Briar turned and left, her dark blue dress trailing silently behind her, and her hair draped down her back.
“Welp. I suppose we have to go find General Mason then.” Nellie grunted as she glared after her mother.
“Will she actually do anything if we don't though?” Georgia sighed as she turned to face her siblings.
“Who knows? If she's gone so crazy that she wants us to help fight Exotia, there's no telling what she might do.” Lance shrugged.
“Well then let's get going.” Ashton clapped his hands and ran off, leaving his siblings behind.
“Ashton!” Georgia hollered, amusement and slight anger filled her voice as she raced after him.
A few days later, all four teenagers were in the training room in Cloud Arena. Oddly, they were alone in the room which was unusual. Lance shifted so he was laying down on one of the soft, white couches. He sighed as he put his hand over his face.
“This whole business of trying to fight Exotia is stupid. Mom must be crazy” Lance declared.
“Well, it may not be mom.” Nellie piped up from where she leaned against the wall in the corner of the room.
Her siblings turned to look at her in confusion as she pushed herself off the light blue walls and walked toward her siblings.
“Think about it. Mom didn't always think like this, and was actually satisfied with the fact that Candia is pretty small now. And sure, people change, but not that much without any actual reason. Plus, have you even noticed her eyes are flaming red? Not metaphorically but actually flaming red? Her eyes used to be lollipop green! People's eye colors don't change like that unless,” Nellie took a breath before continuing, “they are possessed by someone or something.”
“Are you saying you think mom is possessed?” Ashton asked incredulously as he raked his hand through his green cloud of hair.
“No, I don't think so.. I know so.” Nellie placed her hands on the table with a loud thud.
“Wait what?!” Came a peep from the shadowy corner of the room, followed by muffled sounds and then silence.
“Who's there?” Georgia called as she pulled out her weapons, the Heaven Blasters.
She crept forward, her blasters out in front of her. Her siblings followed, and a small cat leaped in front of Nellie as she disappeared into nothing. Lance hurriedly leaped off the couch and followed behind everyone else after quickly pulling out his large sword from his inventory. Ashton shook his hair and pulled out two small daggers, his expression becoming serious.
Frantic shuffling came from the corner, and a head peaked out before disappearing again.
“Come out now! We know you're in there!” Georgia called aiming her blaster.
“Ok! Sorry! Just please don't shoot us!” Came a squeak as two heads followed quickly by their respective bodies appeared.
“No promises. Who are you and how much did you hear?” Lance lifted his sword so he was ready to attack.
Indistinct murmuring came from the two children in front of them. The girl turned back quickly and cheerfully. The boy turned back reluctantly with a troubled expression.
“Our names are Margaret and Jackson. We are from Caran.” The girl with long pink hair chirped.
“Hey! I could've introduced myself!” The boy, Jackson, protested. His large mass of blue hair bobbed as he turned his head to look at his sister.
“Too bad! I did it for you. But if you want, I guess you can answer their next question.” The girl, Margaret, replied as she placed her hands on her hips.
“Fine.” Jackson huffed before turning his head back towards the siblings, hazing at them expectantly.
“Uhhhh…OH.” Lance stared ahead before snapping back to attention, “Who are your parents?”
“King Cor is our dad.” Jackson grumbled, suddenly less excited.
“And…your mom?” Georgia asked gently, “is she…?”
“She died three years ago.” Margaret murmured as she looked at her feet.
“I'm sorry about that.” Nellie appeared from thin air beside Ashton who yelped and stumbled backwards, nearly cutting himself with his daggers.
“Why were you hiding just now?” Georgia asked as Lance turned to laugh at Ashton who scowled in return.
“You looked so serious, and honestly, you look scary too, so we were afraid to talk to you.” Jackson answered.
“Ahh. What did you want to talk to us about?” Nellie asked with a smile.
Margaret took a deep breath before asking, “Can we join your team?”