Flameheart stood nervously outside Room 196, Regulus Hall. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to knock, or if Reddust wanted her to walk straight in. Flameheart raised her hand to knock, but it sank straight into the magic wall/door. She shrugged. I guess this means I walk straight in. She thought.

She did the same glowing hand ritual that she did for her room, and walked in. Six pairs of eyes immediately snapped in her direction.

"Oh, hi Flameheart! Sorry, the boys and I were just hanging out." Reddust greeted her.

Flameheart relaxed a tiny bit. "No problem"

Reddust introduced his friends. "Boys, this is Flameheart. She's a new Guarder here and is rather powerful so I'm training her. Sparky, this is Dustleaf, Stormpool, Fleetwind, Sungaze, and I think you already know Snowrush."

They all waved, except for Snowrush. What is his problem? Flameheart thought.

The Air Apprentice, Fleetwind, leaned forwards. "Why did Red call you Sparky?"

Flameheart rolled her eyes. "It's the nickname Kennaspark dubbed me with. Apparently it's because of what happened when those Riders attacked."

Sungaze, the other Fire Apprentice, sniggered. "It suits you."

"Thanks?" Flameheart said, but it came out more like a question.

"So did you come here for a reason, or did you just want to say hi?" Snowrush said rudely.

Flameheart glared at him. "Actually, Reddust asked me to come here because we need to talk about training."

Snowrush snorted. "What, are you already failing?"

Reddust threw him a sharp glance. "That's enough Snowrush. Flameheart is actually one of the few people who can challenge me in swordfighting. What happened this morning is none of your concern."

Snowrush just turned his head away angrily. His friends were all staring at him, puzzled.

"I'm sorry about Snowrush, he's not normally like this." Reddust apologised.

Flameheart waved it off, but inside, she was feeling a bit sick. She remembered how Snowrush had glared at her when she first saw him, after the fight on her first day at Camp. She had gotten the sense that the Water Apprentice didn't like her.

"So, um, should I come back later? I mean, I can see that you're a bit preoccupied at the moment..." Flameheart said awkwardly and began to walk backwards to the exit.

"Oh, no it's fine. The boys were about to leave anyway." Reddust said hastily.

"Nice meeting you Flameheart!" Dustleaf said chirply.

"You too." Flameheart replied, as the other boys filed out of the room. Snowrush was last and as he passed her, he gave her an indimidating glare. Flameheart glared straight back at him, refusing to break eye contact.

When the room was empty save for Flameheart and Reddust, neither of them spoke for a while.

"I don't think Snowrush likes me that much." Flameheart remarked.

"Yeah, I'm not sure why. It might be because of Oceanfrost. They're not just siblings, they're actually twins, and Snowrush can get, um, rather overprotective of her. He might consider you as a danger to her." Reddust said thoughtfully.

"Oh, well, I wouldn't put any of the girls in danger." Flameheart stated.

"I'm sure you wouldn't." Reddust replied.

"So, about earlier.... why'd you do it?" Flameheart asked, changing the subject.

Reddust glanced down at his hands. "I don't really know. I mean, you slipped, and I ,um, I don't know what I was thinking, it just felt like I should do it. I know I shouldn't have without your permission and you probably hate me right now and-" his face turned red as he rambled on, running a hand nervously through his hair.

Flameheart put a finger on his lips. "Hey, if I hated you, would I be here right now? No, I wouldn't. I already told you, it's fine. A shock, definitely, but I don't hate you, if anything I thought you didn't like it"

Reddust looked up surprised "That's good. I mean, that you don't hate me, and uh, I did like it"

"I did to, if I'm going to be absolutely honest." Flameheart admitted shyly.

"Right, well, how 'bout you tell me a bit more about yourself? I don't know any thing about you. Like what was your life was like as a mortal and stuff." Reddust suggested.

"My mortal life wasn't very pleasant. I only had one friend, and her name was Cayley. We did everything together." Flameheart continued to explain to Reddust about how she had been found on the beach, an orphan, and how the Pattersons adopted her.

She told him about Courtney, school, how she always believed that the Element Guarders were real. Then when she ran away, and Flame found her and took her here. She described how she met Kennaspark and then the Rider attack.

"And so Lightningstar said that I needed to control my powers so here I am with you." Flameheart concluded.

"Wow. You've had a rocky life haven't you?" Reddust grinned.

"Yup. Now, what about you? I don't know anything about you really except that you're a good fighter, you're powerful, and you're quite cute."

Flameheart shut up abruptly when she realised what she had just said, her face turning a bright red.

"You think I'm quite cute, do you?" Reddust raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe." Flameheart mumbled. "But go on - how did you become a Guarder?" Reddust smirked and Flameheart could tell that he wasn't going to let the statement drop.

"I was born into the Guarder world. Not all of us are Chosen as mortals, you know. Guarders that are born here are normally Chosen around 15 - but we still do light training until then. Ashtail, my Unicorn Companion, Chose me when I was 14, but it was a day before my birthday so technically I was 15. I always knew I wouuld be powerful - I discovered my first Talent at the age of 10. That was the Speed Talent. Even thought I don't have the Battle Talent, which you have, I was still able to best graduated Guarders at a swordfight a year before I was Chosen. I'm nearly 16 now - Guarder Apprentices train for about 3 years before they Graduate." Reddust paused.

"How do Guarders graduate?" Flamheart wondered.

"It's something to do with the Spiritstone - it activates your pendant. Every Guarder has a pendant, which they can store their power in and channel from it, but Apprentices can't use them. Like yours - the fire in it doesn't move, but when it's activated, the pendant will be actual fire." Reddust answered.

Flameheart nodded, and filed the information away.

"So anyway, my life before I was Chosen went downhill when I turned 11. My parents were out on a scouting mission around the perimiter of our borders, and the were ambushed by a Night Rider patrol. They were both killed.

"One of the senior Fire Guarders took me in, and started teaching me. He was so proud when I was Chosen, but he died two months later. Ever since then, I have trained and trained, because then I would be able to save the people I love, instead of them dying around me. Now, I train you in swordfighting and sometimes magic in the morning, and in the afternoon when you're at Riding Class with your friends, I'm being trained in my powers."

After Reddust completed his story, the two Fire Apprentices sat in silence. Flameheart was staring at her hands, mulling over everything that Reddust has told her.

There was a rustle, and she glanced up to see that Reddust had moved over and his face was about 3 centimetres from hers. He leaned in and Flameheart thought he might kiss her again, but he stopped a thoughtful look passed over his face.

"Um, this is kind of awkward, but after this morning I thought it might be better to ask... but can I kiss you? I really like you Flameheart."

Flameheart couldn't speak, she just nodded her head. A smile flickered on Reddust's face before he continued and their lips met.

This kiss wasn't like the other one - this one was slower, more passionate. Reddust and Flameheart continued to kiss for several minutes until - "Ahh! Stars I do not need to see this! Do you really have to be doing that when other people are here?!?" Someone shrieked.

The two Apprentices broke away, blushing furiously. Standing at the door were two of Reddust's friends, Fleetwind and Snowrush. Snowrush's blue eyes were wide as he stood frozen on the spot, Fleetwind shook his head, his hands covering his eyes and muttered something unintelligible.

"Guys! What are you doing here?!?" Reddust exclaimed in annoyance, wiping his mouth.

"Well Snowrush here forgot his throwing knife, and he dragged me back with him to get it!" Fleetwind exclaimed glaring at Snowrush. "Seriously guys we did not need to see that"

"Well so-rry! It's not like there was anyone else in here before!" Reddust shot back.

"I'm getting out of here. Snowrush, grab your stars forsaken knife and let's go." Fleetwind turned on his heel and stalked out. Snowrush darted over to the small circular table on the other side of the room, picked up the small throwing knife that was on it, and hurried out after Fleetwind.

Flameheart and Reddust exchanged glances "That was awkward, but funny at the same time." Reddust muttered.

"Agreed." Flameheart said. "What are we now? Teacher and pupil? Friends? Lovebonded?"

"If you want, will you be my lovemate?" Reddust rushed out.

"That's like a boyfriend, right?" Flamheart checked.

Reddust laughed. "Yes, yes it is."

"Then, YES!"

Reddust stared grinning, but then checked the sundial beside the bed.

"Oh, stars, you've got to go. It's the eleventh hour at night, and I'm drilling you hard tomorrow.You're gonna be up bright and early!"

Flameheart groaned. "I hate getting up early. See you then!"

She literally skipped out of Reddust room and down the hall to her own. Flameheart found a note on her bed.

Flameheart,

Me and the girls will be in your room at 9 tomorrow. You better tell us what happened tonight at Reddust's.

Kennaspark

Flameheart rolled her eyes. Of course, Kennaspark would act like a teenage mortal when it came to her and Reddust.

Already tired from the day's adventure, Flameheart didn't even bother changing into her night clothes. She just stripped off her boots, blouse and jhodpurs, and collapsed into bed.

Hi guys! Bit of a short chapter, but you got some fluffy stuff! i am totally crap at writing those kind of things, so i know it's bad, but anywho! Hey, do any of my readers live in New Zealand, Auckland, and live on the Hibiscus Coast? Cos yoou know how I'm representing NZ in sailing? Well, the Hibiscus Matters newspaper did an article on it, so I'm in the paper! It's actually really weird - I keep getting creepy stares from people on my bus. Anyways, moving on! I stayed up all night (I wanna stay up all night and jump around until I see the sun) writing this chapter. It is 4 in the morning here and i'm going to sleep and probably dream of Reddust and Flameheart. Is it weird that I dream about the characters of my book? Oh well, Tess is out!