(Y/N)'s POV
"This is so exciting!" Ivor says. "Adventure! Haha!"

"Did we have to bring him with us?" Aiden asks me about Ivor, clearly annoyed.

"Well, he's the one who knows about this Eversource stuff," I say. "Plus, he's pretty adorable." Ivor dances happily and excitedly in front of us. Again, not as adorable as Aiden, but, you know.

Aiden's POV {For the first time in forever (cue Frozen).}
"Yeah, I guess." I mean, he's not as adorable as (Y/N), but being cuter than her is impossible.

"These trees are enormous!" Ivor exclaims. "I love it so much!"

"He can be pretty annoying, though," I say.

"And you can't?" She grins at me.

"You're the one to talk," I say, messing up her hair. She sticks out her tongue and laughs.

"Remarkable! Look at this architecture—so old! So exquisite!" Ivor continues fanboying as we approach the temple. "It's just like I dreamed it to be! Except less cake. My dreams usually involve cake." {Me too, Ivor, me too. (Currently listening to Me Too by Meghan Trainor xD)}

"It's nice to see you smiling," (Y/N) says.

"I'm not smiling," he says quickly. She rolls her eyes and we walk inside. It looks so different during the day.

"Be careful what you touch," Ivor says. "There could be traps everywhere. Lukas! Aiden! Other two girls! Are you four as excited as I am!" {Yep, Faith, you and Jesse are the new "Blond Guy" xD}

"I'm not sure that's possible," I say.

"What?" Ivor asks.

"He means that you just seem super excited, Ivor," Lukas says.

(Y/N) starts examining the temple for any signs of the Eversource and I join her. She's so cute when she's super focused. I notice a hole in the ceiling and point it out to her.

"I don't remember that being there last night . . . ," she says. She looks at it for a few seconds and starts climbing the vines up to the hole.

"Do you think the Eversource will be up here?" I ask, following her up.

"Not sure . . . ," she says. She climbs onto the roof. The others realize what we're doing and join us, Faith carrying Fish. On the roof is another room-area. The walls are partially torn. On the back wall is an area of chiseled stone and quartz encased in gold. (Y/N) runs her fingers along the golden frame and I barely catch myself staring at how beautiful she looks when she's mystified.

In the midst of my ogling, I stumble onto a wooden pressure plate. The gold frame and the blocks inside pop out of the wall, startling (Y/N) and making her jump backwards into me.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," I apologize.

"No, it's okay," she says. "It was more productive than what I was doing."

The chiseled stone in the middle of the structure pushes back, leaving a two-by-three space, almost like a doorway, or an entrance to a portal.

"What do you see?" Ivor asks excitedly, running up to us.

"Is it some kind of portal?" Jesse asks.

"It's just like I imagined!" Ivor says.

"Where does it go?" Faith asks.

"I don't know," Ivor admits. What does this guy know? "This portal isn't like anything I've ever seen."

(Y/N) pulls out the cyan flint and steel, evilly smiling at it. I stifle a laugh at how dang adorable she is. She lights the portal and it sends all of us flying backwards. The flint and steel skitters across the floor and is grabbed by someone who isn't in our group—Olivia. {WHYYYYYY THIS IS TORTURE.}

"Huh, looks like someone doesn't want this anymore," she says, being joined by Axel. Fish hisses at them.

"Why are you being like this?" (Y/N) asks as we get up off the ground.

"Oh, you know perfectly well why we're being like this," Olivia snaps. "And, by the way, we're going through that portal—not you."

"Not happening," I growl.

"Come on, Olivia, snap out of it," Jesse says, slightly hurt by the sudden change in her friends.

"If you won't get out of the way," Olivia says, "then it looks like we'll get you out of the way."

She and Axel draw their swords, followed by us drawing ours. Olivia gangs up on (Y/N) first. Axel sneaks up behind her and, as I try to warn her, hits her from behind.

"No! (Y/N)!" I cry, running over to help her up.

"See you later, losers!" Olivia taunts before she and Axel jump into the portal.

"Ugh!" (Y/N) groans, standing up shakily.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"I'm perfectly fine," she says. "It's them two I'm worried about."

"We have to go in after them, (Y/N)!" Ivor says.

"But what about Maya and Gill?" she asks.

"Leave them! We can't let Olivia and Axel get the Eversource before us!" Ivor says.

"I can't just leave them behind; they're my friends!" she counters.

"The Eversource is more important!" Ivor says. "Now, let's go!" He pushes her in before she can protest anymore. And I, without thinking of the consequences, instantaneously go in after her.

I don't know what peril's waiting in there for me, but I have a feeling it's nothing good. And I'm not letting it get to (Y/N).

*~*~*~*

As I appear who-knows-where, I hear a scream. Before I know what's happening, someone grabs onto me—(Y/N).

"(Y/N)? What's wrong?" I ask, our other friends appearing beside us.

"Where . . . are . . . we?" she asks between shaky breaths.

"I don't . . . oh." We're on a very small island—but not in the water. In the sky. That explains why (Y/N)'s so scared.

"Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh," she mumbles, cowering into me. "I don't like it here."

"Hey, uh, you may want to come take a look at this," Faith says, peering over the edge.

"What is it? Some kind of city?" Lukas asks.

I leave (Y/N)—who has settled on the ground with Fish in her arms and her head in her knees—for a second to look at what they're talking about. It does, in fact, look like a city. It's on an island in the sky like we are, but it's a lot bigger.

"That's it! That's where it must be!" Ivor dances anxiously. "The Eversource. . . ."

"A city in the clouds. . . . That almost sounds impossible," Jesse says.

"It sounds absolutely terrifying," (Y/N) adds, her head still buried in her knees, Fish now circling around her. I go back over to her to comfort her.

"How are we going to reach it?" Lukas asks.

"Maybe we could build something?" Faith suggests. "What did you all bring with you?"

"That's my private business!" Ivor says.

"I really didn't bring very much," Jesse says.

"We could build some sort of bridge, but I don't think we have enough materials," I say.

"Wait," Jesse says, examining the island. "We can do it."

"How can we if we don't have the blocks to do it?" Lukas asks.

"Elementary, my dear Lukas," she says. {Not sure why I love that line so much, but I do.} "The underside of this island is much, much bigger than it appears."

"Jesse's right," Ivor says. "If we strip this island down to nothing, we should have enough blocks to build a bridge."

And so we do. Once we finish, we land on a one-block-tall platform of dirt, just barely big enough to hold the six of us. I wrap my arms protectively around (Y/N) as she starts to whimper in fear. This is not the best day for her.

We get to work building. Our island isn't too far away from the city and we reach it in no time. The moment I step foot on the purple-carpeted iron, I turn to face our bridge—which, curtesy of Ivor, has a skull built off of it with lava pouring out of its eyes.

"Really, Ivor?" I say.

"Heh, sorry, can't help myself," Ivor says.

(Y/N) cracks a small smile, which is nice to see, considering she's been pretty terrified this whole time.

"You're building . . . ," a voice from behind us says. We turn around to find a townsperson, cowering away from us.

"Is there something wrong with building?" I ask.

"I, uh. . . . You don't know?" he asks. "Y-you were building. Unauthorized building is against the law!"

"Wait, what? Building is illegal?" (Y/N) asks.

"Yes! It's forbidden!" the man says.

"But why?" she asks.

"Oh, this is making me terribly nervous," he says. "First those other outsiders, now you. . . ."

"'Other outsiders'? Where are they?" Lukas asks.

"They went to the inn," the man says. "I'm sorry, but that's all I know." He runs off.

"Wait, wait, come back!" (Y/N) calls after him.

"I'm just super busy, sorry!" he says.

"And he's gone," I say.

"I wonder if everyone here is like that," Ivor says as we walk further into the city. ". . . Nervous."

I stare up at the amazing architecture. Everything is so . . . bold. Cobblestone, iron, gold, glowstone, stone, wool. . . . Wow.

I glance over at (Y/N). Even surrounded by all these beautiful buildings, she's still the most pulchritudinous {heheheh I know big words} thing I've ever seen.

"Wow . . . ," she whispers.

"Clearly the Eversource is capable of miraculous things," Ivor says. "It can finally be mine!"

"We do have to find it first, you know," I say.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I'm just getting excited!" he says.

"If Olivia and Axel get ahold of that thing . . . ," Jesse says, "who knows what would happen, considering their recent behavior?"

"Maybe we should try to find the inn that man mentioned," (Y/N) says.

"Agreed," Ivor says.

I stick by (Y/N) as we look around for any signs of the inn. {Okay but who is this random townsperson that keeps running away from me? I'm so confused.} In an alleyway is a literal sign that reads "Milo's Inn". We approach a man outside the inn, presumed to be Milo. Either him or the man he's talking to. By the time "Milo" realizes we're there, he shoos the other man away.

"Why, hello there," he says. "What can I do for you?"

"Are you Milo?" (Y/N) asks.

"Yes, yes, that's me," he says. "A pleasure to meet you. Don't see many new arrivals here in Sky City. Now, what can I do for you, friends?"

"You talked to the Untamed Wolves earlier? What did they say?" I ask.

"Hm . . . 'Untamed Wolves'? Hm . . . ," he says. "I . . . I don't know any Untamed Wolves. You must be mistaken. I'm sorry, but it's like I told those other outsiders, I can't help you. Now, please—"

"Is this our guy?" Faith asks.

"He tell you where to find the Untamed Wolves?" Ivor asks.

"How many of you are there!" Milo asks, suspiciously angrily. "I told you. I don't know anything."

"I know you're lying. You know more than you're letting on," (Y/N) says. I love it when she goes all detective.

"Fine! If it will make you leave me alone, that 'Olivia' person did come talk to me," he confesses. "Her and another fellow, Axel. Wanted to know where the Eversource was. I told them what everyone else already knows—the Eversource is in the palace with the Founder. That's all that happened, I swear."

"Oh, Olivia, what happened to you?" Jesse mutters.

"Yes, I wasn't very fond of them," he says.

"So where are they now?" (Y/N) asks.

"The two left for the palace and I haven't seen them since," he says.

"Attention! Attention, everyone!" someone calls out. "Just a moment of your time, please! Emergency meeting! Attendance mandatory!"

"Oh, slime blocks," Milo mumbles.

"Curious. I wonder what that's all about," Ivor says.

We join the crowd, gathered around what must be the palace.

"Oh! It's the Founder!" someone exclaims. A woman—presumed to be the Founder—walks up to the edge of the top step.

"Oh, no," (Y/N) says quietly.

"What's—? Oh," I say. The Founder has been joined by Olivia and Axel {just going to refer to them as that as much as I can because the "Untamed Wolves" is just so lame xD}.

"People of Sky City!" the Founder starts. "I'm sorry to pull you from your duties, but something urgent has come to my attention. A crime has been committed." Oh no. Gasps arise from the crowd. "Please, please remain calm," she continues. "Earlier today, outsiders built a bridge into our fair city from a distant island!" A gate opens to reveal our makeshift dirt bridge. More gasps. "Now, whether these outsiders know it or not, this is a violation of Sky City's most sacred law—no unauthorized building."

"Wait, was that you?" Milo asks us. "Are you the bridge builders?"

"I didn't know, I swear!" (Y/N) says, a look of utter terror plastered on her face.

Olivia whispers something into the Founder's ear.

"(Y/N), wherever you are, step forward now," Founder says. "I have already been informed of your identity. I appreciate that you may be ignorant of our laws, but I will warn you—Sky City is small and I promise that if you try to hide, I will find you."

(Y/N) looks close to crying, she's so scared—and this time, I don't think it's because we're so up high.

"We need to get to that Eversource at whatever cost!" Ivor hisses. "This is clearly our fastest way into the castle!"

"By getting arrested!" (Y/N) questions harshly, yet still terrified.

"Wait! Don't be fooled by the Founder's lies," Milo says. "I can help you come up with a plan to get into the palace."

"Here I am!" Ivor shouts. "I built the bridge!"

"No, Ivor, no, no, no, no, no!" (Y/N) cries.

Guards come and grab hold of Ivor. Lukas and Jesse step back to Milo. Fish cowers behind them.

(Y/N)'s so scared; I have to do something. "Wait! It was my fault!" The guards grab onto me, too.

"No! It's my fault!" (Y/N) says. I give her a look to say, 'What the heck are you doing?'

"No, it's my fault," Faith says, adding onto the Spartacus act.

"Bring them forward!" Founder demands. The guards grab the four of us and drag us up to her.

"We'll find a way to help you!" Lukas says. "I promise!"

"Why did you do that?" I whisper to (Y/N) behind the guards' backs.

"I couldn't let you take the fall," she whispers, her horrified look worsening with every step.

"Here they are," one of the guards says, the others shoving us forwards. {Okay, I'm sorry, but the only thing wrong with Aiden is that he's just too impossibly cute for this world.}

"Which one of you is (Y/N)?" Founder asks.

"I-I am," (Y/N) nervously says.

"We meet at least," Founder says, smiling a fake smile. "Hm. I admire your honesty in stepping forward. This should be . . . interesting." She walks back into the building, followed by Olivia and Axel.

{Y'all, new headcanon—Aiden was never actually jealous of Jesse and the new Order. He was jealous of Lukas, who found someone to love—Jesse, who he was secretly dating (we all saw it coming like Petra being a fangirl). Therefore, all Aiden ever wanted was someone to love. And, hello? *violently gestures to self* RIGHT HERE.}

The guard gestures for us to follow them and we unwillingly do. Maybe, just maybe, if I had said something, we wouldn't be in this situation. Maybe if I didn't let (Y/N) speak up. Maybe if we just followed Milo. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Maybes are just as helpful as what-ifs—and that is, not at all.

At this point . . . (Y/N) isn't the only one who's scared.

❤️A/N❤️

So, I, uh, guess I owe you all an explanation for the giant time gap, huh? Heheh. . . .
Like I already told you, I was at camp last week. Saturday . . . I slept until three in the afternoon and had to do a bunch of stuff like chores and whatever. Sunday, we were cleaning my room. . . . Yesterday, we were cleaning my room. . . . And, let me just say, this chapter took a LOT longer than I thought it would. I tried to write as much as I could, but a lot of the time, my mom wouldn't let me use the computer and/or was using the computer. And my biggest excuse? . . . procrastination.
Anyways, in short . . . I'm super sorry. I have barely even been able to go on Instagram, which doesn't even take much time at all.
To make it up to you, I'll try to write another chapter and get it out really quickly.
But, hey, at least most of this chapter is in Aiden's point of view. And it's pretty sweet, right?
Right?
Well, I tried.

Word count: 2,838