177 Volume 9 Prologue

There was bad news and then there was {bad} news.

And right now, Colin Rivers wasn't sure which was worse.

It was very neatly divisible in two, to him. There he stood at Lynn Airport with several Knights keeping a wary eye on him as he faced both sources of bad news at exactly the same time.

There on the left was a girl with her hair in pigtails and a big smirk on her face at seeing him. Colin would have liked to say he was happy to see his younger sister, but it was difficult saying that about an annoying, tattletale brat attempting to match make him with the girl who for years had been one of his greatest tormentors.

And there on the right was that other bad news, a screen displaying a newscast report. On it was a debate between two men about whether certain kinds of sales to certain kinds of people was ethical.

"I'm not saying that the markets are out of control. But what I am saying is that ultimately the choice of whether or not to sell is up to the investors." Some business expert was saying. "And usually, those investors want profit. Most of them are entirely willing to sell if they're offered the right price."

"And over the past few nights, there's been someone buying at very good prices." The newsman mentioned.

"That about sums it up, yes." The business expert said.

"So there you have it folks." The newsman cleared his throat. "And with that, as of 3 a.m. this morning, Imperial Hiranor Time, the majority share of the Dreams4Kids company came into the ownership of the New Order of Gaia.

"Nakama World has been bought over by the Gaians."

***

Colin's younger sister was named Gracie. She was about three feet tall, nine years old, and had very fair skin which she took care of with lotion and body scrubs that lasted hours at a time. Why she troubled herself, he had no idea; with shiny braces, squinty eyes, a horse-like bray for a laugh and endless giggling over the weirdest things, she was far from popular.

[Give her seven years.] Alicia advised. [Then you'll have to ward off her admirers with a Torrent Cannon.]

[No thanks, I have enough 'admirers' of my own.] Colin made a subtle glance toward the handful of Knights watching him.

They weren't admirers, exactly. Well, most of them, at least.

There was Satrox, of course, keeping an eye on the guy who made the most changes to the world map that he'd ever known.

There was Henry, tagging along with his brother, who seemed to want something from Colin, but Colin wasn't sure what.

There was Rita, very miffed at being ignored in the light of recent events and who seemed to want to make some sort of deal.

Then there were two Knights who just happened to be at the airport whom Rita commandeered to watch over the Destroyer of Lamico while he was around, as if they could stop him if they tried.

Alicia was a Knight too, Colin supposed. But she wasn't there with them. She was there with him. It was kinda hard to get rid of someone who respawned with you every time either of you died.

"Can I have that as my First Comrade?!" Gracie pointed at Kirin, who had flown Colin and Alicia from the Heart of the Forest of Legends to the airport.

"You have to start small. Mice, rabbits, squirrels... that sort of thing." Colin told her. "And you have to start at the Comrade Home. But I thought you were just here to call me away."

"Too late!" Gracie smirked. "Mom waited and waited until she had to go and then she gave me your birthday present to pass to you."

"Oh." Colin's face fell. Truth be told, it was his own fault. He'd been so busy trying to be a hero that he'd missed his own birthday party. "Sorry."

"So!" Gracie proclaimed. "As punishment for making us wait, you'll have to bring me around Nakama World! Or else I'm not giving you your present!"

"What?!" Colin gaped. "You can't do that! It's mine!"

"You weren't even at your birthday party!" Gracie pointed out.

Alicia nudged him. "Why, Colin, you're not seriously upset about bringing your dear little sister around your favorite Dreamworld, are you?"

Colin gritted his teeth. It hadn't been too long ago that Alicia had pointed out the flaws of the relationship between him and his sister. {It figures she'd want this. She just loves to see me squirm.} "Fine!"

"Thank you!" Gracie threw her arms around Alicia (Alicia, not Colin!) and laughed. "It's so nice my brother has a girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Colin growled and stomped off.

"What about showing me around?!" Gracie darted after him.

"I'll let Alicia do that!" Colin retorted.

"Why can't you do it?" Gracie demanded.

Colin almost heard his teeth grind. {Take it easy. Remember, she has your birthday present. Mom said you'd love it...} "I have... {things} to do."

"Like?!" Gracie pouted.

"We have business with the Forest Prince." Rita said them, stepping in at {exactly} the wrong time.

"Forest... Prince?!" Gracie stared. "Colin is a prince?!"

"Yes." Rita said. "So you see why it's..."

"Then I'm a princess!!" Gracie exclaimed. "If my brother's the Forest Prince, then I must be the Forest Princess!!"

Colin groaned. "Lynn's the Forest Princess. You see this airport? It's Lynn Airport. It's named after {her}."

"No way!" Gracie shouted. "My brother's the prince! I must be the princess! This airport should be Gracie Airport!"

Colin had to restrain himself from throwing a shoe at her. "It's not like that! Lynn was the princess before I ever came here!"

"And then you {married} her?!" Gracie stared, eyes wide. "That's why you're a prince?!"

"No, it's not!" Colin blared. "People have to {earn} the power they get here! Dozens of guys fight for the title at a huge Tournament!"

"You {fought} for the title? So it's a championship title then?" Gracie poked.

"Not exactly..." Colin groaned. "Not even close."

"So you {didn't} fight for the title?"

"No."

"Then how come you're the prince?!" Gracie flounced.

"Lynn must have done it herself." Colin said. That was the only explanation he could think of. "It's her right to choose the next Prince."

"Then you should choose {me}!" Gracie shrieked. "I'm your sister! Kick Lynn out! I should be the Forest Princess!"

Colin turned cold. {Kick Lynn out?! That idiot has absolutely no idea what she's talking about!} "You will never be the Forest Princess!"

There was a jerk in the wind, and a sudden halt to the land as if Nakama World itself made a sharp gasp. Gracie's eyes widened, and something in the air made it feel like it turned into stone for a moment.

"What... what just...?!" Gracie stared.

Alicia was staring at Colin too. "Oh no. Colin... what have you done?! You've explicitly destroyed any chance of Gracie {ever} earning that title, no matter how hard she works..."

Colin felt it too, like a cold hand gripping his heart. But something else burned clear and bright in his mind. "Nobody who tries to order me to kick Lynn out has any right to the power of the Forest. Ever."

"She had no idea what she was talking about!" Alicia protested. "She's just a little girl!"

"All the more reason to learn her lesson and learn it well." Colin growled. It was regrettable to him, but he felt it was very important that she did.

"You IDIOT!" Gracie screamed. "I'm never going to give you your present! Mom gave you a license pass to Adventura Dreamworld! But I'm never going to give it to you! You'll never get there now! Not ever!"

And with that Gracie turned and ran into the airport terminal.