"I still can't believe you guys did that to me!" Kyle groused, trying to both hide her face and glare at her companions as they walked along the paths of Darnassus.

Matt nodded along with whatever Kyle was saying. She had been complaining for the past fifteen minutes. While it was starting to wear a bit on him, Serenity was still snickering every once and a while at Kyle's complaints. Neither one had apologized for their part in last night's fiasco, but Matt dearly wished he'd been able to snag Kyle's cell phone and record to the whole thing. It would've been great blackmail material for years.

Kyle, for her part, had had a fairly horrible morning. Waking up with a pounding headache, she'd quickly discovered that Jae's body was apparently one of those that experienced the hangovers most people only pretended to have. Back when she had been a he, and human, the worst he'd ever suffered was a dry mouth and some h. This, though...

"And Serenity, your snickering is like driving an ice-pick through my brain... these ears are sensitive!"

Serenity tried to keep a straight face, she really did. But the memory of Kyle singing drunkenly to a crowded tavern simply brought her too much joy to contain. It was quite possibly the most fun she'd had in centuries, and she really couldn't help the occasional fit of laughter that seeped through her regal facade.

"Alas, it appears I cannot quite contain myself." Serenity did not sound apologetic in the least.

With an overly-dramatic sigh, Kyle threw her hands up. "Forget it, you guys are... ugh. I hate you!" Despite her words, she continued to travel with them towards the odd gazebo that lead to the docks.

"Remind me, friend, where we're headed?" Serenity asked, once she'd gotten her laughter under control, and felt Kyle'd had enough time to cool off.

With a weary sigh, Kyle explained. "Up ahead is a portal... thing, that leads down to the docks of Teldrasil. From there, we're going to take the ferry to Auberdine, which is where the main boat to Stormwind departs. Hopefully, we'll be able to catch that boat, and from there, we'll mosey on over to the boat to Northrend."

"Don't forget to grab the flight path." At Serenity's curious gaze, Matt winced. "Or will we need it? Are we coming back? I just remember needing to talk to those griffon guys if we ever wanted to ride anywhere." He did not add how much he really, really wanted to try riding a griffon. Despite Tannim's memories of riding such beasts, Matt wanted the first-hand experience. It seemed very, very fun.

"Not to burst your bubble, kid, but we're probably never coming back this way again," Kyle thoughtfully added, and secretly enjoying the look of crestfallen dismay on the Human-turned-High-Elf's face.

"And... what is this Auberdine place?" Serenity asked, a moment later.

Kyle paused, forcing the others to stop behind her or risk running into her, before turning around. "Auberdine is a night elf city on the northwestern coast of Kalimdor, one of Azeroth's two major continents. Stormwind, where we're headed, is in the Eastern Kingdoms, where Ironforge and Dun Morogh are. That's the other continent."

Serenity nodded in understanding.

Matt reached deep in the recesses of his mind to try and recall just where the ships in Auberdine went. He gave up and searched Tannim's memories. "Hey, when did they put in a ship to go to Stormwind? I remember it going to somewhere else." Of course, that had been several years and two expansions ago. "And they've got a ship going to Exodar, too?"

As they approached the low gazebo glowing with an unnatural pinkish light, Kyle shrugged, before turning to walk backwards. "Auberdine did have a boat going to Menethil Harbor, as well as a boat to-" With a flash, Kyle disappeared as she entered the pinkish light, her explanation being cut off mid-sentence.

Matt bowed and motioned towards Serenity. "Ladies first." She smiled at this bit of chivalry and without hesitation stepped into the pink light. He soon followed, and enjoyed the brief tingling sensation that spread throughout his body from that particular form of transport. It was like being caressed with a hundred feathers all at once, both inside and out.

"-The Exodar," Kyle finished, somewhat dismayed that Serenity seemed utterly unimpressed with the magic that had teleported them from the city in the trees down to sea level.

Leading them down the hill they'd appeared on, and towards a dock that jutted out into a gray, foreboding sea, Kyle continued his explanation. "When Wrath of the Lich King came out, the boat from Auberdine to Menethil instead went to Stormwind, and the dock in Menethil was instead used to give players a path to Northrend; one of two. With the Horde, they have Zeppelins; we in the Alliance have boats."

"Sounds... interesting," Serenity said, thinking the explanation over. "Do you think the boats will run as they did in the game?"

Kyle snorted. "I doubt it. Maintaining a fleet of ships to constantly travel back and forth with or without passengers seems not only excessive, but wasteful. And Jae agrees... we're going to have to hire a ship."

"From here?" Serenity asked, with a note of disdain in her voice. The dock ahead had a few boats tethered to it, but none looked capable of sailing across an ocean.

"No, from here, we'll just find someone to ferry us across to Auberdine... you can just make it out through the mist," he said, pointing across the water, towards a cloud of mist, and the mountains peeking up further behind it. "And it looks like Blaine's still here," Kyle said, grinning.

"Blaine?" Serenity asked softly.

"Blaine!" Kyle called in Darnassian, before freezing.

"... Can I help you?" The male night elf asked curiously as he looked over the night elf, human, and... high elf? approaching his fishing boat. He may be old, but he didn't recognize any of them, despite the apparent familiarity the night elf seemed to have with him.

"Sorry, I'd just... heard so much about you, it's like I already knew you," Kyle said, wincing internally. Jae's memories were damnably complete, but sometimes, the lack of her actual existence could be problematic.

"That's alright, friend. You're not the first to address me with such familiarity. I assume, then, you seek passage to Auberdine?" The fisher asked.

Kyle nodded. "Yes, please. My friends and I are on our way to Stormwind." Despite having no trouble talking in a language utterly unfamiliar to Kyle a few days earlier, this body had no trouble with it, and managed to switch to English without pause when speaking the name of the human city.

"We're willing to pay, if it'll help," Serenity offered, in Darnassian as well.

Both Kyle and Blaine stared at Serenity in surprise, and even Matt couldn't help but ask: "When'd you learn that?"

"Learn what?" Serenity asked, sounding confused.

"Darnassian... and English, now that I think about it," Kyle asked.

"Oh! Languages? I'd be a pretty lousy leader of a Solar System if I couldn't understand different languages, wouldn't you think? The Serenity line has always had an innate ability to understand and speak any language observed," the Queen explained, as if discussing the weather.

"Goddess, I wish I had that ability," Kyle said, earning a nod from Matt and Blaine as well.

"Anata wa wakarimasu desu ka?" Matt asked in one part of his admittedly small Japanese vocabulary.

"Yes, I understand. Why do you ask?"

Matt switched to Thalassian, language of the high elves. "Doral ana'diel?"

"Well, thank you. And you?" Serenity asked in the same.

"Ow-hey bout-ay ow-nay?" Kyle shot.

"Ine-fay. is-thay one-ay," she paused, looking down with a frown for a second, "is-thay one is un-fay?" She shrugged. "I can't actually fully grasp it. What's the purpose of a language modifier like that?"

Kyle shrugged. "Pig Latin. Call it a roughly humorous bastardization of English to be... err... latin-ified." With a grin, she pointed at a wandering night elf Sentinel. "Bogey on your six, please eyeball to de-louse."

Serenity blinked, before turning around and looking at the night elf indicated. "Bogey verified. It's a Chick." Again she paused, before frowning. "That one was confusing... And vaguely militant. I can see the Martian Legions falling in love with it."

"Huh. I honestly didn't think Brevity Code would count, since it's just a bunch of... code," Kyle admitted.

"Um... excuse me," Blaine said, wondering what had just happened.

"Oh, Blaine! Sorry!" Kyle said, before holding out her hand, "I'm... err... Jaessica, and my friends are Serenity and... Tannim?" Smiling away, as best she could the confusion in her voice, she waited as he greeted each in turn.

"One's as good as the other," Matt shrugged. "It'll do. Please to meet you, good sir. Slain any undead lately?"

"I killed my share of the Scourge and Burning Legion in the Battle at Hyjal, but after that..." he trailed off, and turned to look at the misty sea. "I'm tired of the death. I do what I can for my people, Paladin. It may not be as glorious as the fight against the undead, but I like to think I've done my part... and continue to do it."

Serenity spoke up, before Matt could respond. "I, for one, appreciate your contributions. Even if the humans of this world never directly benefit from your contributions, the help of the night elves in the ongoing war is not to be dismissed or ignored."

"And an army marches on its stomach," Kyle amended with a quick grin.

"Indeed it does, friend. Indeed it does," Blaine responded, smiling in return. Strange though these three were, they at least seemed to have a bit of common sense. He hoped they'd survive long enough to get the chance to make the decision he had, even if they chose to continue the fight, in the end.

Shaking his head at the thought of all the young wanna-be adventurers that had passed though his boat on their way to adventure and untimely death, he turned to the trio. "Well, we'd best be off before the tide turns. If you don't mind me checking my traps on the way, I can get you to Auberdine free of charge. If you must get there as fast as possible, though, I'll have to ask for compensation for the lost time."

"Well..." Kyle started, frowning in thought. "I suppose that depends. When does the Ferry to Stormwind arrive?"

"Tomorrow afternoon, if the weather holds," Blaine responded amicably.

Serenity nodded. "Well then, don't let our presence keep you from your work."

"I'd even offer my assistance with it, if you'd have it," Matt offered with a tilt of his head. "It'd be more than fair for the ride."

Blaine nodded. "The help would be appreciated friend." Glancing once more at the three, he nodded. "Well then, let us be off. The tide is with us, and the wind is fair. I should have you in Auberdine before the sun sets."

Kyle blinked, and was about to point out that the other shore was visible from where the stood, but a stray memory of Jaessica's stopped her. Apparently, Blaine's traps went up the coast of Teldrasil, then down the coast of Darkshore, with a few scattered among the shallows between the two. It was an afternoon affair to check them all, and Blaine would definitely make Matt work, though his apparent chivalrous streak would let her get away with watching.

"Score!" Kyle mumbled, as she crossed the dock and jumped down into the boat. It wasn't a galleon, but at 30-some odd feet, and a pair of square sails, it was impressive that Blaine handled it by himself most of the time.

"Come, Tannim. We've got lines to cast, and traps to check." Blaine called, as he followed Kyle onto the ship.

"Aye aye, captain!" Matt said cheerfully.

A few hours later, Matt's cheer had evaporated, to be replaced with weariness and displeasure. "Surely it wouldn't hurt 'her' to help a little?" Matt asked, glancing at a smiling Kyle, who was sitting at a small table with Serenity and watching the two run around to check trap after trap.

"Of course not, Lad, but that's not the point! Women like them have their duties, and Men like us have ours."

Leaning forward, Serenity quietly asked Kyle "'Women like us?'"

Kyle held back a snort. "'Women' indeed." With a shrug, she grinned and leaned back. "Social Sexual-dimorphism. It's not quite sexist here on Azeroth, but chivalry exists... go figure."

"I see... so what is our job, exactly?" The Queen finally asked.

"As far as I can tell, avoid sweating, smile at the big strong men, and maybe work on our tans." Kyle said, before scowling at her blueish skin. "Can I tan?" Thinking about it a moment, she scowled. "Apparently, I burn. Easily."

"And you would prefer what? To turn cyan?" Serenity deadpanned.

"... I guess not." Kyle looked around then sighed. "This is somewhat boring, though."

"I'm sorry my company isn't mentally stimulating enough for you," Serenity replied. "You're not exactly girlfriend material yourself, you know."

Kyle winced, before scowling. "Why does Jae take that... oh. Huh. One sec, let me think..." Kyle was surprised to find out that, despite Jae's forays into the world, she'd made few strong friends, and they were all merely memories placed there by Elune, so for all intents and purposes, they were dead. While a bit of a tomboy, Kyle couldn't help but blanche at the more feminine memories, before wincing again upon realizing the kind of things Serenity might have wanted to talk about. "Wow... umm... tell you what. Since we're here for Blaine-knows how long, why don't you ask some questions about night elves. Who knows... I might learn something, too."

Serenity looked thoughtful for a moment, before nodding. "Alright."

And so, as Matt and Blaine whiled away the afternoon with hard labor, Serenity and Kyle talked about the inconsequential until the boat drifted to a stop at an empty dock in Auberdine that evening.

"I musta gained like two hundred points in my fishing skill," Matt muttered to himself as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Yes yes, but can you open all the clams you got while mounted?" Kyle replied, with a smirk. Serenity ignored the inane banter to observe the coastal city of Auberdine.

Matt paused to think. "We should probably can the game chatter. It wouldn't do good to spook the locals." He kept the fact that he himself had no idea what Kyle was talking about carefully hidden and as the boat neared the dock, and he leapt out to help tie it to its mooring.

Xxxxx

Meanwhile, in a cave far, far away:

"Alright, the next item on the agenda... an attack on our Ironforge outlet."

"Survivors?"

"Three. Apparently, our wizard got confused and killed our men, letting the attackers go."

"... I see... and our wizard is...?"

"Never going to make that mistake or any other again."

"Excellent. And the attackers?"

"Actually, it appears two of them have run afoul of the Priestess of Elune. They were escorted to the temple in Darnassus and have yet to emerge. The third has, apparently, been released."

"Well, keep an eye out for the other two, and the usual for the third."

"..."

"I sense you're going to argue with me on this."

"Not argue, merely... suggest. She's... unusual. Fetching. Carries herself well. There are uses for someone like that. She could prove valuable."

"I see... very well then. I trust you to see to the details. Make it so."

"Very good sir. Next, we have a surprise turnout of..."

Xxxxx

Unlike the marble structures that made up the bulk of Darnassus' buildings, Auberdine was a quainter-looking town, the buildings made of thick curved timbers supporting violet tiled roofs. Most of the buildings were open as well, where one would expect a wall with a door, there were gaping entrances that gave Kyle both a sense of nostalgia, as well as unease.

"For a race so ready to call itself 'prepared' for the second coming of the Demons, Simple concepts like 'security' and 'privacy' seem to have been totally overlooked.

Serenity blinked at that, having totally missed that aspect of the architectural philosophy. "Hmm... and how does Jae feel about it?"

Kyle smirked. "Honestly, she feels about the same way.... huh. Apparently she had a nice little house. Actually, it was like a studio apartment, with... ..." she trailed off, eyes wide.

"What? With what?" Matt asked.

"Umm..." Despite the blueish skin, Kyle managed an impressive blush. "Apparently there's a community bath."

"Oh?" Matt asked, then his eyes widened. "Oh!"

"Yeah," Kyle nodded. What wasn't mentioned were the thoughts such memories lead to, and the associated memories there. Who knew?

"In any case," Kyle said, trying to divert attention back to their surroundings, "I'm pretty sure this building here at the base of the dock is an inn, and we can get a room while we wait for the ferry to Stormwind."

"Remind me again why we couldn't just get a portal to Stormwind?" Matt asked plaintively. He'd already had a long day working on a boat, the less time spent on another, the better.

"Because there weren't any mages in Darnassus that would send us."

"This should also, I believe, allow you more time to be acclimated with your abilities and memories," Serenity pointed out. "I'd much have two capable fighters at my side than two people, and four conflicted personalities."

"The lady doth have a point," Matt pointed out.

Matt shrugged, "I guess so."

It took several seconds to register that he had been talking to himself. Matt nodded to himself. "Ah, there's the first sign of insanity. I was wondering when that'd show up. It's a little late, though, don't you think?"

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Lets... just get a room." pausing to think about that for a moment, she hastily amended. "Let's get two rooms."

Fortunately, the Inn was fairly empty, and a pair of rooms were easily gotten with some of their purloined gold, Tannim getting his own at Serenity's insistence, while the two girls shared a room with twin beds.

When they were as alone as they could be, Serenity waved Kyle over towards her bed, and whispered quietly; "I know you're really a man, but I don't think I could face Matt and ask you about this. I..." she trailed off, and looked somewhat concerned, before whispering. "I need a refresher."

"... Excuse me?" Kyle deadpanned.

"I... there's... you know. Pressure. I've been looking, but there aren't any... devices to help cope with such things around here."

"What are you used to?" Kyle asked curiously.

"Crystal Refreshers, the highest quality of personal relief," Serenity admitted. "Only the best. But here...?" She shrugged helplessly. "I don't know what to do."

Kyle's blue face twitched, the long eyebrows wiggling as she tried to comprehend this. "Wait... you... are trying to... uhh... relieve yourself?"

Serenity's innate grasp of language helped her catch what was implied, and she reared back in shock. "NO!"

Doing her best to calm herself (and wishing away the blush that burned her cheeks) Serenity pointed to her lower abdomen, just below her navel. "Here. Pressure. Relief?" She hoped the simplicity of the request would convey what her failed attempts at explanation had not.

"OH!" Kyle said, in sudden understanding. With a knowing nod, he crossed his arms and elaborated. "You need to take a leak."

Serenity's blank stare at that worried Kyle. "Err... you... have to go to the bathroom, I mean? Number one?" at her lack of a response, Kyle scooted back on her bead a little. "It's not, you know... number two, is it? Is it in the front or the back? I... why am I asking? Why are you asking?"

Serenity, who had managed to lose all her composure, stared at Kyle with the most impressive set of puppy-dog eyes (s)he could ever recall seeing. "I don't know what it means!"

"..." That wasn't expected. "You... don't... know how to go?"

The queen shook her head. "That's what a Crystal Refresher is for. Ever since I can remember, whenever I felt like this, I stepped inside, there was a flash of light, and I felt better."

"... How about that. They teleport the shit right outta ya on the moon."

Serenity, face flushing, buried her face in her hands. "I cannot believe you just said that."

"Well, seriously. This isn't something I think I've ever had to explain. Do the moon cats use these... Crystal 'freshers too?" Kyle asked, hoping to sidestep the issue.

"Of course! They're fairly ubiquitous." Serenity responded, as if it were obvious.

"Well then. This... is going to get fairly... umm... There's a word for it, but goddess only knows what it is, cuz I can't think of it," Kyle finally said, while trying to figure out how to phrase things.

Fortunately, despite the few times the new-night-elf tripped over an explanation here and there, Serenity seemed willing to listen, and finally she nodded her understanding, before heading out the door.

When she came back a good twenty minutes later, she looked a bit less sure of herself. "This... stays between us." She said, her voice allowing no argument.

Kyle just nodded, before trying to change the subject. "So... umm... yeah." After fumbling for a moment, she decided on a much better subject. "Why did Elune... do this to me? And Matt, though, more me, since this is a fairly drastic change, you know..."

Serenity smiled, sitting down on the bed she'd claimed, and looking across the room at Kyle, who was watching her intently. "Do you really wish to know?"

Kyle nodded, and Serenity sighed.

"You scare me."

Kyle blinked, unsure how to respond to that. Finally; "Elune... this world's moon goddess, turned me into a female night elf, because I scared you?"

Serenity nodded, looking out the oversized window at the dreary conifers beyond. "You're very... strong-willed. Elune explained it to me some, after you two had left, and I don't hold it against you or anything, but you're..." She paused, turning to look at Kyle, before sighing again. "You're different than most every man I've ever met."

Kyle smirked, and grabbed his breasts, ignoring how odd it felt, and replied. "Yes. I'm definitely different than most men."

Serenity rolled her eyes, before pointing at him. "You are not of the Silver Millennium. While Matt behaves similarly, you treat me with little reverence at even the most trying of times, and it's hard for me to cope. All the people I've ever met at least respected my position... you... don't seem to care."

"I care," Kyle frowned, not liking this almost-melancholy dressing-down. "I'm..." She paused, humming in thought for a moment, before continuing, "I'm not used to royalty whatsoever, and I'm pretty socially independent. So... it's just... not in my nature to act so... subservient. I tend to toss out the phrase 'respect is earned, not given,' but in truth, I tend to show little respect to anyone."

"Yes, I'd been told as much. Your stint in the military gave Elune a good-enough look at that facet of yourself." Serenity stated with a wan smile. Then the smile faded. "But that's not what you asked. You wanted to know why you are like you are?"

Kyle nodded, and she continued. "I'm not used to strong-willed men, but women? I've quite a few of them around me at almost all times."

"Ahh... the senshi."

"Yes. My friends, my protectors, the guardians of the Silver Millennium. They themselves are not as free-spirited as you at your most rebellious times, but you behave far more like one of them than any of my male guards."

"So... it's to make you comfortable? At the expense of my comfort?" Kyle asked, her displeasure creeping into her voice.

"No, it's... something Elune refused to say. But from what I can guess, I'm to come to trust you as I do any of my senshi... to what end, I don't know, but in this way, I can begin to get over the part of you that frightens me the most." Serenity replied cryptically.

"Well, that's..." Kyle started, before pausing. "What frightens you the most? The fact that I'm a guy?"

"Have you ever wondered why no men are senshi, despite an even split in the sexes, both on earth and in the Silver Millennium?" Serenity asked, changing tactics.

"You mean, aside from the fact that it was a story written by a girl, for girls, and a bunch of guys acting like girls would be fairly underselling?" Kyle deadpanned.

"... That's... not quite the response I expected." She shook her head, before pointing at Kyle, "there's a common theme in many of the cultures I've observed; 'women create, and men destroy.' It's certainly untrue, as both have the capacity for both creation and destruction, but-"

"Every myth has some basis in truth," Kyle said, cutting her off.

Serenity smirked. "Indeed. A nice way to put it. So, when the idea of the Senshi was first proposed, we decided that, in a female-ruled society, a set of female guardians would reinforce the theme we'd established: forging an empire of peace and prosperity."

"So... men kinda got shafted." Kyle said.

"Of course not. They're not second-class citizens, and they certainly have every opportunity to advance as women, but certain positions are held only by women, and over time, that's filtered down so that our society as a whole tends to have a matriarchal bent to it... something I've been told is pretty much the opposite where you come from."

Kyle nodded. "Okay... and... what's this got to do with me?"

Serenity sighed, "I'm just establishing the past so you understand where I'm coming from. Your role in things is... unknown to me. But Elune has stated that there's... a need for you. You and Matt. And I get the feeling that need goes beyond Azeroth."

"You mean... what? You're not going to send us home from here?" Kyle asked, frowning.

"If that is what you wish, than I'll use everything in my power to return you to your homes..." she paused, looking somewhat unsure whether or not to continue, before nodding softly to herself and straightening up. Turning to gaze at Kyle with all her regal bearing, she elaborated. "My Kingdom is in danger. I knew this before you came, and have done all I can to see it through these troubled times. Yet you imply that there's more to come, up to and including the collapse of everything we've ever built."

"We never said that!" Kyle protested, though even to her, it sounded hollow.

Serenity pierced her with a glare. "I can read between the lines, you know. Your implications and insinuations were enough to fill me in on the most likely outcome. And even if you two had never arrived, what you've hinted at is similar to what my court scribes have predicted in their worst-case scenarios."

"I see... and you think Matt and I can change this?"

Serenity shook her head. "I don't know what to think. Elune, however... she feels it is destiny. And I fear she's correct. There's something about you two that implies change, unpredictability... chaos. If I can harness that for the good of my kingdom, my people, what kind of ruler would I be to pass up the opportunity to save everything I built? Everything that I love?"

Kyle sighed. "People are dying?"

"Few at first, but recently, it's been hard to face the coming day, knowing that a steadily growing list of casualties is waiting for me each morning." Serenity explained, factually.

"And you think I can somehow change this?" Kyle asked quietly, eyes closed.

"I don't know. Can you?" Serenity asked, just as quietly.

Kyle thought on this. Without asking, Serenity had requested his aid. Aid in a fight he knew was destined to fail. And yet, was it? He knew the source, knew the enemies plans, and even had a rough idea as to when the decapitating blow was to be delivered. Could he change history so drastically? Should he?

Opening his glowing eyes to look down at his- no, her obviously female chest, an attempt by Elune to help him gain Serenity's trust faster, Kyle couldn't help but sigh in resignation. There was really no other answer to give.

"I can't do it alone."

"Whatever help you need, you'll have it," the Queen replied instantly.

"This will not be quick, and it will be violent and unpopular with your more peace-loving citizens."

"Do what you can to keep it clandestine, and I will work whatever magic it takes to cover it up."

"And the violence? casualties? Collateral damage and innocent bystanders whose luck runs out at the most inopportune of moments?" Kyle asked, eyes narrowed.

Serenity closed her eyes, looking pained. "Death is never acceptable, but sometimes, it is also unavoidable. You will do everything in your power to minimize innocent casualties, and I will simply have to learn to accept that which I cannot change."

Kyle nodded. "I can do that. Will you offer Matt the same choice?"

Serenity nodded. "I shall, though his nature is less inclined to dip towards the more visceral responses as you. Do you think he'd accept?"

Kyle grinned. "You're very good at telling me I'm violent-prone without insulting me."

"I'm a queen. We have to have some tact to get through the day." She said, rolling her eyes and smiling. "Do you?"

"You are a queen... And by accepting, I suppose that would make you my queen, as well. So, your highness, I feel I should say, with all due respect, that you're being an idiot for even considering the possibility that he'd turn you down."

"... Really?" She asked, looking somewhat surprised.

"Definitely."

"Well then, I shall ask him tomorrow. And as for you..." She put her finger to her chin in thought. "The Silver Millennium doesn't currently have knights, but I think you'd best fit that role... I'll see to it that you're given the proper recognition upon our return, and for now... For now, I only ask that you continue with the task I've already asked of you."

"Yes yes, your precious space-rock." Kyle said, rolling over in bed so her back was to the queen.

"Space rock!?" Serenity squawked, shocked at the way one of her guardians referred to the Silver Crystal. Before Kyle could say anything, she hurled one of her pillows at the night elf's back, earning a grunt of surprise.

"Oh, I see how it is," Kyle answered, before the room was full of flying pillows and bubbly laughter.

Xxxxx

Matt glared at the ceiling. He didn't know why, but he had the sudden sensation that he was missing out on one spectacular girl-on-girl pillow fight, and every bit of him that was Tannim was screaming at him to go outside and look for it.

Rather than give into the urge, he curled up on his side and placed his own pillow over his head. Someone down the hall from him was making an awful racket, and it was getting hard to sleep.

It was then that it occurred to him just who was sleeping down there; namely, Kyle and Serenity.

Matt spent the rest of his evening trying to block out the mental image of the two bouncing up and down on their beds, tossing pillows at one another.

Author's Note: Whoops. Totally forgot to post this here. Sorry everyone.