1 The Gem

One beautiful morning, there lived a family of four. The father, mother, and the two sisters. They were living a great life as royalties of the Water kingdom, but that is until someone came and ruined it. The blue gem that has been kept for hundreds of thousands of years has been finally found.

"Tell me where the blue gem is!" a man shouted as he looked at the filthy woman kneeling in front of him.

"I really don't know! You have to believe me!" the princess responded.

"Do you really think that I would fall for your lies? Give me the gem now or I'll behead them!" the man brought out a sword.

"Eleanor, don't worry about us. You can't give him the blue gem because once he gets it, he'll be able to control everything, and that can't happen," a woman interrupted.

"Shut up and give it to me now! All I need now is the blue gem!" the man shouted once again.

"Dad. Mom. No matter what happens, remember that everything will be okay. I will fix this. Thank you for everything you've done for me this past 20 years. I'll never forget our memories together." Eleanor smiled.

"Eleanor wait! What are you doing?! Eleanor!" the king shouted.

The man yelled, "What are you doing? You are ruining my—"

Before the voice could even continue, Eleanor got the blue gem from her pocket, grabbed a dagger, thrusted it into her heart, and forced the blue gem into her bleeding heart.

The man warned, "Stop! How dare you! Do you think that by just sacrificing yourself you'll be able to save everyone? Someday I'll have someone kill you! I might be dying right now, but remember that there are still many people after you! You won't be able to get away with this!"

Eleanor couldn't see nor hear anything. Her whole body was in pain. She felt like there were a million knives being stabbed into her and tears started falling from her eyes. She wanted to live, spend more time with her family, finish school and she wanted to love.

Her father and mother's life were at risk and there wasn't any other option. The masked man who wanted the blue gem killed most of the royal guards with them. She couldn't understand why all this needed to happen. They were just taking a vacation, but that was until someone ruined it.

"I guess it's my time now... I love you Dad. I love you mom. Thanks for everything," Eleanor mumbled.

8 months later...

(At the village of Koral)

"Your highness! Can you hear me?" a woman spoke.

Eleanor slowly opened her eyes, oblivious of the situation. She asked, "Where am I?" Who are you? Where's my parents? Aren't I suppose to be dead?"

The woman responded, "It's me, Olivia. You're in the village of Koral. It's a village somewhere in the south. As for your parents, they are gone. The power of the gem was too strong that it destroyed everything surrounding you and you're alive because I saved you. When I arrived at the cave, I just saw ashes and found you bleeding. That's why I immediately brought you here because the head of this village, Joseph, is a friend of mine."

As soon as she recognized the woman sitting on the wooden stool her heart felt at ease. Olivia, her most trusted servant, never fails to impress her. She was the one who always comforted her and the only person that actually had time for her.

"Dead? How? I used the gem to save them! This can't happen. Why would the blue gem kill them if they are from the water kingdom?" Eleanor asked.

"I guess it's because you weren't able to control the gem, but now that the blue gem is in your heart, you are the only one who can control it which means you can hurt anyone that is from the fire, earth or wind kingdom."

Eleanor then asked if there was a way to get them back, but Olivia wouldn't tell her because it was too risky.

"There is one way, but it's too risky, your highness."

"I order you to tell me now! You are my maid. Do not disobey me!"

"Your highness, the only way to get your parents back is to get the red gem from the Fire kingdom."

"What in the world is the fire kingdom? Isn't there only one kingdom which is the Water kingdom?"

Before Olivia could even say a word, an old man walked in the room and told them that it's a kingdom in the northern area. All they need to do is get the red gem and they will be able to revive Eleanor's parents once they combine both of the gems."

Eleanor looked at the old man and wondered who he was, but as he started taking a few steps closer, she felt like she knew him. She knew that she had met him somewhere, but she couldn't remember it.

The old man smiled. "My name Is Joseph and I'm the head of this village. As for the knowledge, let's just say that I used to have a friend from the fire kingdom who betrayed me because of the woman he loved that is from water kingdom. He stole money, tortured me and worst of all, he killed my brother just for that woman. That woman wanted him to destroy our village so she could have the land all to herself. So I had no choice but to kill them both. With him following her orders all the time, the Koral village will just be in great danger."

Eleanor said, "May I know who that woman is that your friend loved? I might know her. What they did was despicable. They deserve to be punished."

Joseph answered, "Her name is Aira. She is your mother's half sister. She wanted the crown, so she tried to seduce your dad a week before he got married to your mother, but it wasn't successful because the king was heavily guarded by the royal soldiers. Aira not only wanted the throne. She also wanted to kill your mother and father so that she could have everything to herself. That's how selfish and conceited she is."

"I've heard of my mother's half sister a few years back. Every time I would ask my mother about her, my mother would just say that she has been long gone and it is better not to mention her."

Olivia then asked Joseph how to get the red gem, but he told them that the red gem is in the Fire kingdom. Once the king figures out that they are from the Water kingdom, he'll kill them without hesitation.

Eleanor begged, "Please tell us! I really need the red gem to get my parents back. I've killed them... I'll do anything!"

Joseph handed her a bell. "I'll tell you, your highness, but you must promise me that whatever happens, you will be cautious. I'll be giving you this magical bell. Remember to use this wisely because you can only ring the bell once. You only ring it when you are in great danger and I will send someone to help you. I don't need anything in exchange since your the princess of the water kingdom. As for where the gem is, it's hidden in the king's sword."

Eleanor said, "How do we get to the fire kingdom?"

Olivia answered, "I know the way, but it will take us four days to get there. You better prepare some snacks and sleeping bags. We're gonna have a long trip. Also, don't forget to wear something casual because we're gonna apply as maids."

Joseph added, "Remember to always be alert. The people in the fire kingdom are quite deceitful and apathetic. You guys better sleep early. You have a long way to go tomorrow."