---Aphmau's POV---

We've been in Phoenix Drop for exactly one month now. And I managed to take position as lord of Phoenix Drop. Just yesterday too. But I've never lead a village before. I don't know what to do. I now lived in that house on the hill. It was pretty small but comfy. Laurence is now in guard training to become a guard. I like my new life. Nothing chaotic. Peaceful. Perfect.

Whoosh!

The door flew open. It was Dante. He was breathing heavy. I quickly ran over to the door.
"Dante? Is everything alright?" I asked.

"Aphmau.... He... Your brother....Garroth.... He... Showed up.... At the gates..... And.... H-he looks... hurt." He said.

"W-What!? Wait, let's take him to the guest room. We can help him there." I said.

Garroth was put on the bed in the guest room. But he was fainted. He had cuts and bruises everywhere! How did he find me? What happened to him!?

"W-Will he be okay?" I asked.

"I think he'll be fine. But he's very injured. It may take a while for him to heal." Said a girl with glasses and blonde hair. I think her name was Emmalyn. Then I remembered how I healed Laurence! Maybe I can heal Garroth the same way!

"W-Wait... I have healing magicks! I think.... But maybe I can help him!" I said. I placed a hand on Gartoth's chest. I hoped that he would heal. But nothing happened. I tried over and over but he didn't change.

"No! Why isn't it working!? It should work!" I said.

"Are you sure you have healing powers? Maybe—" started Emmalyn.

"Yes! I'm sure. Sorry.... It's just... What if he's dead!?" I asked. The room grew silent. Laurence walked up to me.

"Aphmau I don't think he's d—" started Laurence.

"BUT WHAT IF HE IS!? MY STUPID POWERS WONT WORK! UGH! I CANT LOSE GARROTH LIKE I LOST MY PARENTS!" I said

"Aphmau... Please calm—" he started.

"NO! Please... I can't." I ran out of my house in tears. Then out of Phoenix Drop. And into the forest. I stopped at a pond to cry into. But something unexpected happened.

---Laurence's POV---

I hate to see Aphmau like this. I understand how she may feel. But still... Garroth shouldn't be dead. Why would he be left at the gates if he was dead? Aphmau ran out of the house crying. I began to run after her but Emmalyn caught my arm.

"Let her be." She said calmly. I understood. I watched her run into the forest in tears. I hope she'll be okay. I knew how much she cared for Garroth.

---Aphmau's POV---

I am such a crybaby. But maybe it's good that i'm crying. Garroth is very injured.  But what if he's--
I can't think like that. I just continue to cry by the pond. But suddenly there was a  tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw a man. He had blue eyes and black hair. Then he raised his fist and knocked me out!

I woke up in a dark place

It was in a cell. And I was in a bed. I slowly sat up and tried to remember what had just happened. Ouch... My head hurt bad. I touched it lightly.

"OW!" I cried. I looked at my hand. It was covered in dry blood. I guess I was bleeding. Then the cellar door opened. I turned to face it.

"Ah, so you're finally awake!" Said a girl with white hair and amethyst eyes.

"W-Who are you? Where am I?" I asked her.

"My name is Sasha, and you are in the Nether. Gene brought your here." She said.

"W-Why am I in the Nether!? I need to get home!" I said.

"I'm afraid we can't do that. In a half hour we're going to perform the ceremony to turn you into a Shadow Knight!" She said.

"A-A Shadow Knight!? No! Please no, I can't. I don't want to!" I complained.

"Mm, sorry sweetheart. But it has to happen. You'll live in the Nether as a Shadow Knight for as long as you live." She said.

"WHAT!? THATS HORRIBLE! Please let me go!" I demanded.

"I'm sorry dear, but it's the Shadow Lord's orders." She walked out of the room.

No... I can't do this! I don't want to be a shadow knight!

I don't want to spend my life in the Nether! I want to go home and spend my life with.... Laurence. Wait... Laurence! He's a Shadow Knight! Maybe he can help me! But... How will he get here?

---Laurence's POV---

I began to freak out. Where was Aphmau!? She's been gone for an hour! I'm really worried. What if something happened!? I quickly ran out of the house. I opened the gates for myself and ran into the forest. I tried to find where Aphmau could have been. But then I stopped in my tracks. I noticed a blue scarf on the ground! I saw Aphmau wearing it this morning! Maybe she dropped it. I picked up the scarf and ran deeper into the forest. As I ran I noticed a small trail of blood. Was it Aphmau's? No....

"APHMAU! APHMAU!" I called. She didn't answer. The smaller tree branches whipped across my face leaving scratches. That didn't stop me. But in a part of the forest, I found a Nether portal. And it was activated! Aphmau must be in there... I hesitated. But then I walked through. My parents always warned me to never enter the Nether. But I had to save Aphmau! The Nether was very humid. I felt strange standing there. I kept quiet so any Shadow Knights couldn't hear me. I soon approached the Nether fortress. But there were no guards guarding it? Oh no... It must be time for a 'Shadow Knight Transformation Ceremony'. I hid in front of the fortress and peeked inside. They were performing the ceremony.
(A/N- I'm imagining the ceremony to be very painful and quick. XD Because no one knows what actually happens)

But who was the victim?

Aphmau...

No.... WHY!? WHY APHMAU!? WHEN DID THEY GET HER!? I'm so stupid for not checking on her! She had chains around her arms, they were tied behind her back. She was looking up at the Shadow Lord.

I have to do something...

Aphmau was crying. "Please no... Don't turn me into a Shadow Knight! I... I'll do anything I swear!" She begged.

"We never let anyone go... Anyone that we capture, becomes a Shadow Knight." Said the Shadow Lord.

So they started the ceremony. I growled.

Aphmau is in pain and I'm not doing anything!

They were almost done. I had to do it... I had to turn to save Aphmau! I yelled on the top of my lungs and turned full Shadow Knight! I ran into the fortress. Everyone turned to look at me. They all stopped in their tracks.

"LET APHMAU GO! DO IT NOW OR I'LL—" I began in a demonic voice. Shadow Knight guards charged at me but I took them out. I'm pretty sure I earned a few scars but I continued to fight. Once they were all dead, I paused again. I felt strange and different. I felt stronger... I felt evil... I lost control.

(In episode 23 when Laurence's eyes turn red and he almost kills Aphmau, yeah... That's what is happening to him right now)

I looked down at Aphmau. She looked up at me with Innocent eyes.

This is a good feeling.

I raised my sword.

Yes... Kill her!

I was about to strike. But then she turned full Shadow Knight and defended. I fell back from the knock-back. She broke free from the chains.

I snapped out of it. I was still Shadow Knight but... I had control! Aphmau approached me with her sword. She looked mad. I quickly got up. She swung her sword at me. I defended and our swords clanged together.

"A-Aphmau! What are you doing!?" I asked.

The Shadow Lord just watches as if this is a movie.

"YoU TraItOr! YoU TrIed To kIlL mE JuSt nOw! NoW I mUsT KiLl YoU!" She said in a corrupted voice.

"Aphmau... W-Why!? You're never like this!" I said.

"I Don'T cAre! ThIs Is tHe nEw mE, LauRenCe! I'm aLreaDy FoRgeTtiNg My oLd SeLf!" She said.

"Please stop! Aphmau... What happened to you!? Where is that sweet and kind Aphmau who's my best friend!?" I asked.

"HmM... I tHinK ShE'S iN tHe pAsT nOw!" She said. Then tears began to roll down my face. I yelled on the top of my lungs,

"WELL WHERE IS THAT APHMAU WHO SAVED ME YEARS AGO!? HUH?! WHERE IS THAT APHMAU WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR ME!? WHERE IS THE APHMAU THAT I LOVE!!" I quickly wrapped my arms around her and kissed her.

---Aphmau's POV---

LAURENCE IS A TRAITOR! A STUPID TRAITOR! I tried to kill him. We argued. But something that he said changed me..

"WELL WHERE IS THAT APHMAU WHO SAVED ME YEARS AGO!? HUH!? WHERE IS THAT APHMAU WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR ME!? WHERE IS THE APHMAU THAT I LOVE!!" He wrapped his arms around me tight and kissed me. My eyes shot open. And I blushed mad. But then I changed back to normal, wrapped my arms around him, and kissed back. 

We broke away from the kiss. I was shocked.

He loved me back!?

We turned back to our normal selves.

"W-What the!? Guards! Why are you just standing there!? Kill the boy!" Yelled the Shadow Lord.

Me and Laurence ran away. We jumped threw the portal and we were back in the forest. It was night. But we ran deeper into the forest to make sure the guards wouldn't find us.

We came to a stopping point. Me and Laurence looked at each other. I blushed. But then I began to cry.

"Laurence I... I'm so sorry!" I apologized. I hugged him tight.

"A-Aphmau it's alright. Shadow Knights lose control all the time. Please... Don't be sorry... I should be sorry." He said.

"For almost killing me?" I asked.

"No... For... Yeah." He blushed and so did I.

"N-No! There's nothing for you to be sorry for. I-I never knew that you loved me back." I said. I stared at the ground.

"Aphmau... I do. I've always loved you ever sense I met you." I looked up at him. "With all my heart... I love you very much." He said.

"I feel the exact same... I-I'm sorry for not telling you..." I said. He grabbed my hand.

"Aphmau.... D-Do you really love me!?" He asked. I blushed and smiled.

"Yes Laurence... I do." Then I kissed him.

~~~
Where are all dem tissues at!? Oh the feels have got me! Someone help! Kawaii desu! *Ahem* So... For you that are wondering, this book is NOT ending any time soon. I will continue it until... Well I don't know. Anyways, hope you enjoyed!

#BestChapter
#FirstKiss

~Kitty
~~~