1 Chapter One

A nine year old Vanessa smirked down at her shorter counterpart, pushing her hair out of her face. "Ya know, you sure are short for being the older twin, Aiden. You're so cute and tiny."

Aiden scowled up at his only slightly younger sister, annoyed. "I'm definitely gonna be taller than you one day, Nessie! And when I am, I'M gonna be laughing at YOU for being the shortie! Hah!"

Vanessa just laughed at him, the same way she always did. Or well, the same way she always used to...

Aiden shook his head, forcing the memory out of his mind. Now was no time to be distracted thinking of someone who wasn't even alive anymore, he had to be focused and ready. This was the biggest day of his life, after all. The day he would finally become a Ranger, and be everything his sister had always wanted to be. Since her death, 12 days after their 16th birthday, he was determined to fulfill his little sister's dream and do what she never got the chance to do. He was going to be a Ranger, for her. And now, three years later, it was finally about to happen.

Well... it was about to begin happening, he thought to himself. Today was the day he begun training at the Ranger academy.

Aiden had begun training about at week after his sister's death, to distract himself from his grief. When he turned 17 he left his home for another town and unofficially joined the small group of Rangers stationed there. He had worked hard to surpass every other trainee, and earned a recommendation that would help him join the official Rangers, and become a scout. And now he was standing in front of the academy he'd been working toward for the past four years.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by a shout. "Aiden, you slug! What are you doing just standing there?! Come on, come on!"

Aiden's best friend came rushing towards him, a huge grin on her face as she grabbed his arm. "Oh my gods, Aiden! I can't believe it's finally happen," she squealed, sounding breathless from her excitement. "Today's our first day of official Ranger training!"

Aiden smiled down at the small, dark haired girl. He had met her a year ago, when he was 18 and had first gotten to Ellesmere. She had been the only one to notice him when he was lost and confused, and not only helped him find him his way around but also found him a place to live.

"Yea, I know," he said with a laugh. "God, Artemis, don't you think I've been preparing for this almost as long as you have?"

Artemis shrugged, then begun dragging Aiden towards the academy building. "Hah! You know you're wrong, love. I've been preparing for this since I could hardly walk! Oh gods, this is amazing, I can't believe it's finally happening!"

The pair reached the entrance where Artemis abandoned her friend to go grab the passes that would allow them into the building. Aiden stood where she had left him and waited, watching her energetically gesturing and bouncing as she spoke to an amused looking old man. He was quickly lost in his thoughts again.

Artemis was really quite beautiful, but she reminded him so much of his sister. They had the same laugh, the same boundless energy. It was sometimes painful to be around, but Artemis could almost fill the hole his twin's death had left in his heart.

He was brought back from his thoughts by a sudden change in the crowd. People scrabbled apart from each other, making a path through for a tall blond man. The crowd seemed to quiet for a moment, in awe of him.

Then Aiden heard a surge of whispers from the amassment of people, catching a few words from them here and there.

"... Prince Hale!"

"Will... doing Ranger training?"

"... His father would never..."

"... So handsome!"

Aiden's eyes widen slightly, and he watched the man with more respect. He was in the presence of royalty, not that the prince himself seemed to care much about his status. He walked with two other young men, laughing with them and looking unconcerned with the crowd of people who had split for him to have an easy way through.

"Prince Hale," a sharp voice said, cutting through the crowd and drawing Aiden's attention. The voice had come from a very stern woman. He watched as the prince sighed, nodding a farewell to his friends and make his way over to her.

"Yes, Elise?" His voice was strong, and quieted as he got closer to the woman. "I'm rather busy at the moment. I'm about to begin my official training with the Rangers!" A hint of excitement crossed his voice as he spoke of the training.

Aiden watched the woman, Elise, scowl. "Lady Elise, your highness. Not just Elise. And I am here on your father's behalf. He demands that you cancel all scheduled plans today and go to see him immediately. It is an urgent matter."

Prince Hale started. "But Elise! It's the first day! I am the crown prince of Ellesmere, I can't very well miss it! What kind of example would I be setting for my subjects then? Besides, what could be so important that I miss something I've been training for for years?"

Elise's scowl deepened as she glanced around, giving dirty looks to some of the people still watching her and the prince. Aiden reddened as her glare passed over him.

"Highness, forgive my insolence, but do you truly think the king would inform me of the urgent business between he and his children? All I was I told was that I must find you and your siblings, and bring you all to him at once. I am not sure what is going on, but your father seemed to be rather distraught," she said.

Prince Hale let out a grunt of annoyance. "Fine. I assume father is at the castle? Have you found Esmerelda and Byrne yet?"

"I have, your highness. They were in their chambers, and are now awaiting you with his majesty," Elise said. "Now, quickly, let us head there. We shouldn't keep your father waiting much longer."

Aiden watched Hale nod, and the two quickly walked off. He caught a glimpse of Artemis walking towards him, now that the commotion was over, and turned to face her. She tilted her hair towards the retreating pair and nodded Aiden his identification tag.

"I wonder what that was about," she said, frowning in their direction. "I didn't think Hale would miss even a second of training for the world."

Aiden snorted, clipping his tag on his shirt. "You say that like you know the guy, Mis. Although- I wouldn't be surprised if you really do know him! He seems friendly enough, and it's not like you've ever met a stranger."

He broke into laugher at the indignant look on his friend's face. "Am I wrong? You're the friendliest person I've ever met."

Artemis huffed. "Yea, hmph, I do know Hale... But I've met plenty of strangers, just so you know! And I'm not friendly with everyone, just the nice people!" She craned her neck to glare up at her laughing friend.

"Hah! Of course you know him, and on a first name basis too." Aiden shook his head, a smile on his face, and begun walking towards the academy doors. "Well, even if his royal highness Prince Hale we be excused for being late, we probably won't be. So c'mon, I don't wanna get in trouble on the first day!"

Just like that, Artemis was back to being the ball of sunshine she always was, a huge grin pasted on her face. "Oh yes! Of course, we can't be late Aidri! Let's go, let's go," she cheered, grabbing her friend's arm and dragging him along into the building.

Aiden smiled, letting Artemis tug him around like an excited child. He had settled into Ellesmere just fine, he thought. He had even made a friend, one that his sister would have loved. He was going to become a Ranger, and make Vanessa's dreams come true. Finally, everything was coming together for him.

This was going to be great.