(Go see EyesOfAmethyst for her side of the story!)

"Aira Heart, what did you do too Lael?" Elias asked plainly. Lael was currently on the ground rubbing his head. "What do you mean? I didn't do anything!" I exclaim. "Then what happened?" "Lael made a wild jump off the stairs and tried to hug me but I moved away and he slammed into the wall." I say crossing my arms. "Hm. A believable story. Lael Beck, get up." He ordered. Lael immediately sprang up. "Yes sir?" He said giddy as ever. "I have decided to train Aria Heart with weapons today. Go get her armor." Lael's carefree smile faltered. "But. . . Sir the only girl armor we have is. . ." "Get it. That's an order." Lael lowered his head. "Yes sir." He ran upstairs and then came back down after a few minutes clutching an armor chest plate.

"Yow!" I yelp as Elias gave a tight pull on the straps of the armor chest plate. "Elias that hurts!" I complain. "Apologies Aira Heart, but your chest size is different from the previous owner so I must make sure it fits." He said unsympathetically and pulled the straps even tighter. I grind my teeth and wait until he's done with the torture. Finally he finished and then stepped in front of me. "I have seen you make a considerable improvement in your fighting skills since you first came. So I have decided that it is time to teach you how to use weapons. After studying you, it seems as if you would rather fight your opponent head on then at a distance. So first I shall teach you how to use these," He turned to the chest that held the minor weapons and took out twin daggers.

He held them out to me. I hesitate. I've never handled blades before. "Take them." Elias commanded. I take the daggers, one in each hand. The blades were shining steel and the hilts wrapped in black leather. I felt a bit safer with the daggers in my hands. "Aira Heart." I look up when Elias said my name and see a sword blade coming down on me. I scream and jump out of the way, the sword slashing air. "What are you doing?!" I cry and spring away as Elias struck where I was previously standing. "Fight me." He said turning his sword to me. "Are you crazy?!?" "Fight Aira Heart." His sword comes down on me, but I hold up the daggers and they catch the blade. Pushing him away, I leap forward slashing at his chest plate. Thankfully the armor protected him because I didn't actually want to hurt him. Elias didn't even blink and kicked me back. We clashed against each other for who knows how long until the guard station door opened.

Clay stood motionless in the door way, staring at me with slight shock. Then, he suddenly rushed forward and grabbed the the chest plate that was fastened to my body. With a few strong (and painful) yanks, the bindings came loose and he ripped it off, expression wild and furious. I unconsciously take a step back, away from him. I felt someone place their hands on my shoulders and looked over to see that it was Elias. Elias was looking at Clay impassively, as if this sort of thing happened every day. My attention was brought back to Clay when he angrily thrust the armor in front of my face.

"THIS IS NOT YOURS!!" He bellowed. He took a step back and panted angrily, chest plate still in his grip. Then setting his face in a grim expression he turned and stomped out without a word. It was awhile until Elias spoke again. "I think that is enough training for one day, Aira Heart." He took his hands off my shoulders and walked over to the sword stand. "You may keep the daggers. Continue training with them. Now go." Too stunned to argue with him, I left and went to the bakery.

"Aria, are you sure the directions are right?" Amethyst asked for the eighth time. "I told you Am, Dixie drew the map! I don't know if it's right or not. I hope it is." It was a few hours later, about midday. After looking after the bakery (and talking to Cross), I asked Dixie for directions to the hot spring and she drew us a map. Well, she tried to draw a map. In all honesty, it wasn't that good. Now Amethyst and I were wandering around the woods, trying to find a mysterious hot spring. Amethyst was carrying a large sack and steadily getting more and more agitated at not finding it.

Finally I grunted and collapsed onto a tree stump. "Ok, we are officially lost." I mumble, kicking some rocks on the ground. Amethyst groaned and face palmed.

"Ari!" She whined.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know finding it would be this hard."

"Ugh."

"Sorry." I shrugged helplessly. At that precise moment there was the sound of a twig breaking somewhere nearby. I sprung to my feet immediately, hand going to one of the daggers on my waist. Amethyst's eyes widened and she ran over to me, looking in the direction of the noise. Shoving her behind me, I glare out into the woods. "Who's there?!" Nobody answered. "I said, who's there?!?" I yell a bit louder. This time a voice answers: "What are two girls doing out here all alone? Are you lost?"

Amethyst grabbed my arm fearfully and I pushed her further behind my back. "Who's that?! Come out!" For a bit there was silence and then footsteps approached. Gripping the hilt of the dagger, I stare at where the footsteps were coming from, fully prepared to attack whoever it was. To my surprise and relief, Avery emerged from the trees and bushes. She looked slightly confused at seeing us. Relaxing, I let go of the dagger. Amethyst cautiously peered out from around me and let out a huge sigh of relief. "Oh thank god. I thought you were a bandit or something." She said stepping forward to my side, clutching the sack to her chest. "Well I'm not. What are you doing out here?" Avery asked, putting a hand on her hip, looking at us expectingly.

"We got lost looking for the hot spring." I confess. Avery cracked a smile. "Oh is that all? I was heading there myself actually. Tell you what, you guys follow me and I'll take you there ok?" "Really? That'd be great!" Amethyst exclaimed happily. So we agreed and followed Avery. After seven minutes of walking, we finally came across the hot spring. It actually looked a lot like the hot springs from animes. I admit, I did get a bit giddy when I saw it. I was SO ready for soak in hot water.

"Hey!" A familiar voice called. I turn and see Lobelia, Mira, and Kate walking towards us. "You guys! What are you doing here?" Amethyst asked. Kate ran forward leapt up, and tackled me in a hug. I stumbled back, trying not to fall. Giving a squeeze, Kate released me and gave Amethyst a hug. "Hey Kate." She greeted, hugging her back. When Kate was done she went over to the hot spring edge, took off her shoes and socks, sat down, and began splashing her feet in the water. "We came here to take a soak." Mira answered. "Being a witch is tiring work. I'm assuming you guys are here for the same?"

Amethyst and I nodded. "You too Avery?" Lobelia asked. "Me?" She snorted. "Nah. I was just headed here to hunt. I set a couple of snares around here and wanted to check them. Aria and Amethyst happened to be lost, so I brought them over. But now that they're here, I'm gonna leave. See ya guys. Have a good bath." She gave a dismissive flick of her and and disappeared back into the forest.

We all regarded each other for a while before shrugging and headed in different directions to change. Amethyst and I went a way away when we found a huge boulder. Going on opposite sides, (and peering into the trees to make sure no one was there) we began to change. Well, I changed and assumed Amethyst was doing the same. Amethyst threw over a towel after I stripped and I quickly wrapped it around me. Amethyst did the same and we went back too the hot spring.

Lobelia, Kate, and Mira were already there in towels, hanging out in the water. I took off my shoes and went into the water. It went up to my shoulders. It felt a little weird being in water since I was wearing a towel but the water soothed my sore muscles. Hearing a squeal I turned and saw Amethyst struggling with her hair. Since it was so long, when it got wet it almost weighted as much as her. Stifling a laugh, I went over and helped her, putting it into a braid and then slinging it over her shoulder.

"Ugh thanks." She said and rubbed her neck. She then went over to the edge of the spring and began going through her back. I nod but frown, feeling eyes on us. I turn and see the others staring at us intently. "What?" I say, confused. "Nothing." They all said and went back to doing their own thing which was Kate splashing water at Mira and Lobelia sitting calmly. Not satisfied with the answer, I opened my mouth to ask again, but stopped when I felt someone rubbing something against my cheek.

"Hey!" I cry and push Amethyst's hand away. "What are you doing?!" I wipe my cheek and smelt cherry blossoms. "What is this!?" "Nothing Ari, it's just some skin cream Meli gave me." She said innocently.

"Oh come on Am!"

"What?"

"You know I don't wear that stuff."

"Aria, it's cream to make you prettier."

"Prettier?!"

"Come on Aira, it's not gonna hurt you!" She explained and tried to apply more to my skin. I squirmed away but that didn't stop her from trying. Eventually Amethyst decided that she needed help and called Lobelia and Mira over. I excepted them not to do it but, smiling amused, they did and restrained me. Despite my loud protests, Amethyst applied the cream on my face.

"Aria, stop moping!" Ignoring Amethyst, I keep picking at the grass near the spring edge, upset. I was forced to stop moping however when Amethyst splashed me directly in the face. Letting out a surprised yelp I spin around and splash her back. This stared a huge water fight. At the end, it was a pretty good hot spring experience. I had fun. Now I was dressed and heading back to Dixie's. Amethyst went ahead because she needed to talk to Meli.

As I walked, I heard a noise. Halting, I look around. More whispering. It was high pitched, probably a girl. I spin around in a circle trying to locate the noise. Suddenly the voice got louder. "What are you saying?!" The voice cried. What the heck? I follow the voice until I see a small clearing. In the clearing I saw two people. One was a girl my age with light green hair in two long pigtails and blue eyes with freckled skin. The other was. . . Oh god. Now it makes sense. Clay.

Letting out a huff, I turn sharply away to leave. I didn't want to see anything he and this girl were going to do.

"I thought you loved me!!"

Oh snap. Startled, I look back around. "I never told you that." He said calmly, with his arms crossed.

"You knew what you were getting into when you wanted me to go out with you."

"B-but-!"

"We're done Crystal. It's over."

"But Clay! Please!" She wailed.

"Stop with the whining. I can't stand it. If you want, I'll still show you a good time once in awhile, but for now we're through." He said and then promptly turned away and stalked off, not looking back. The girl slowly sank too the ground and broke down in sobs. I felt anger flair up inside of me. CLAY!! Ugh, what kinda cliché anime crap, was he?!? Uuughh!!! That's it!

I quickly leave the clearing and follow him, making sure I could see him but he couldn't see me. He didn't seem too notice me following him and kept walking. As he walked further and further into the forest, I kept getting more curious. Where was he going?