We walked into Training Room One ready to begin-- as ready as we'd ever be anyways.

'Where to start...' The thought picked at my brain. 'Maybe he could start where I did?'

I couldn't understand why he wanted me to go first instead of Dusk or Zolona. They probably knew what they were doing more than I did, and I was no teacher. Although, it was suspicious, considering the way Dusk told me to go first, rather than starting later after having time to think. Was it planned? I doubted that.

I sighed and closed my eyes.

"What is it?" Echo asked.

I moaned. "I didn't get time to prepare."

"It's fine. I just wanted to talk some until we came up with something," Echo said.

"Talk about what?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Well..."

"Come on, jerk. Say it..."

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Why are you asking?"

"It's something friends do. We could talk about your memories, things to do, things you like to do, what happened..."

I interrupted his train of thought. "I thought we cleared up your feelings on Ember."

"It's going to take some time for me to actually forgive what happened, but I was actually wanted to know if you were okay," Echo said.

"Heck! I wasn't attached to Ember like you."

"Your best friend was the person who killed her."

"Oh," I paused, "Right."

"Are you okay with all of that, or are you having trouble..."

I interrupted. "I wasn't expecting it, but I should have. I was as shocked as you were, but we weren't really that close. We weren't exactly best friends. Only allies."

Echo hugged me. "I'm sorry..."

I shoved him off me. "No, I'm the one who's sorry. I told him one of the twins saw my memories."

"His crime isn't your fault."

"I might've been a stone cold, brick wall before, but now, I'm glad that you're my friend," I said.

"You weren't a brick wall," Echo joked.

"Yes I was."

"You were more like a barking dog than a brick wall."

I lightly pushed him. "Prove it!"

"Brick walls don't complain at people," Echo said.

"True, but..."

"And dogs are better friends than walls."

"I'm not a dog!"

"It's better than calling yourself a wall, right?"

"Aren't they both not as good as calling myself a person?"

"You're learning!"

"You're the one that's supposed to learn stuff, butthole."

"You need to see you're talented, smart, caring, beautiful..." Echo said.

I chuckled. "Okay! Maybe I'm not a brick wall, but I was still trained to not show positive emotions."

"You're showing emotion now, aren't you?"

"I guess I am..."

We laughed.

Cora came into the room with purple fabric, ecstatic. "I've finished!"

"That's great, Cora!" Echo said.

"Finished what?" I asked.

"Your dress?" Echo asked.

"Oh, yes. I forgot about that. I'll try it on during my break," I said.

"Then I won't get to see it."

"Guys aren't into clothes!"

"He picked out the design," Cora said.

"You did?" I asked.

Echo nodded. "I did."

"Now, I'm kind of scared to see it," I said.

"You shouldn't be. At least Jordan didn't sew it together!" Cora said.

"How about this: You help us come up with a way to train, and I'll try on the dress when we all get a break," I said.

"What kind of training?" Cora asked.

"Fighting," I said.

"Sugarcakes and candy! Fighting? Well.... I have some experience, but it's not as good as Dusk's," Cora suggested.

I sighed. "He wanted us to do something while he thinks. We just don't know what to do."

"Boys... when will they learn ladies don't just come up with things on a whim?" Cora asked.

"Of course we could talk more..." Echo said.

"Could I talk to Raven for a minute?" Cora awkwardly smiled.

Echo nodded. "Of course."

"Thanks. You can look to see if there's anything wrong with the dress while I do." Cora handed it to Echo.

"I'll try my best," Echo said.

Cora grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the room. She closed the door behind her.

Dusk walked past us, carrying a backpack on his shoulder.

"Done already?" Dusk asked.

I sighed. "We haven't even started."

"I knew it. I'll take over," Dusk opened the door and entered the room.

"What's this about, Goldilocks?" I asked.

Cora rolled her eyes. "Obviously, he has something really important to tell you."

"Who? Echo?"

"Who else, Raven?"

"Why hasn't he yet?"

"He's probably afraid."

I placed my hands on my hips. "There's no reason to be afraid of me."

"What about when you were yelling at him?" Cora asked.

"I don't remember that..."

"You did it on instinct."

"What does he want to tell me?" I asked.

"There's really no telling, but it must be pretty important. If it wasn't, I doubt he'd have trouble telling you," Cora smiled.

"Crap, that makes no sense," I pinched my nose.

"It's not life or death, but he thinks it's important enough to wait until you're in a good mood. You should distance yourself."

I raised my eyebrow. "You think distancing will help?"

"It'll calm you down."

"I guess I'll do it. I don't really understand why though. I mean, seriously, I've spent plenty of time away from Echo," I confessed.

"Like when?" Cora asked.

"Well, I..." I began.

Cora peeked through the door and smiled. "Wow."

"I've been thinking about Ember's death more than anything," I lied, "Even did some investigating."

I wasn't going to tell her I was worried about my memories or Echo's safety. I wasn't going to tell her that I was worried about my new friends. Heck, that'd make me look stupid.

Cora rolled her eyes. "Now I know you're lying."

"What?" I asked.

"You've been with Echo ever since he left his room. Even when he was in there, you came back several times to see if he'd come out," Cora said.

I sighed. "Well, that's true. I've just been worried about him"

"You see, that's why I wanted to make you a dress so way you could focus on something other than your memories and prophecies," Cora admitted.

"Thanks," I smiled.

Zolona came to greet us. "You made her a dress?"

Cora nodded. "Yes."

Zolona smiled. "That's good to hear. I've decided we need something to lighten the mood around this place. I'm not wanting everyone to feel like they're in the dark forever. Besides, it should be fun."

"What did you have in mind?" I asked.

"I thought a ball would do the trick. It'd need a theme, music, games, food, and dances, but of course I'm placing Sage to oversee everything..." Zolona said.

Cora puffed her lip like a pouting child. "Sage? Why her? I'll do it."

"Cora, you really don't have to..." Zolona began.

Cora interrupted. "Nonsense. You don't want it to have a darker theme. You want fun? I'll bring the fun. I'll come up with a bunch of stuff that'll blow your mind."

"Cora..." I began.

Cora's face lit with excitement. "Sugarcakes and candy! This is so exciting! Music, games, fun, dancing... I have a lot of work to do. See you later. I'll have to ask Jordan to help write this down!"

Cora skipped down the hallway.

"I guess that's taken care of," Zolona said.

I faced Zolona, my face in a dark expression. "A ball? Zolona, few of us even know how to dance! What kind of drugs did you take to think this crap?"

"It's something to take our minds off what happened. Besides, that's why I wanted to plan other games and events with the dancing," Zolona said.

"Not like I'll have any fun. I don't even know my real name!" I argued.

Zolona sighed. "I know, but you have seemed a bit stressed lately. I think you'd want a break from the excitement."

"Won't that make me even more worried?" I asked.

Zolona laughed. "Not at all! If you find something fun to do, stress will completely slip your mind if you let it."

"I guess so..." I sighed.

"Good," Zolona said before she opened the door, "Wow. Dusk you're doing a good job!"

I looked into the door to find Echo and Dusk were fighting with dull swords-- really slowly. I'd compare it to learning how to dance. You have to know your positions before you can start doing real moves. Otherwise, you won't have good balance or technique to do them at all.

After this, Dusk began showing movements to Echo, allowing them to practice and maneuver without actual physical contact.

Dusk's shoulders were relaxed, his knees not bending far at all as he struck again and again. He didn't move his wrist, and his posture showed power and control like he could cut anything like butter, slicing through the substance quickly and clean. He moved it from one side to the other shifting weight back and forth effortlessly.

'Where the heck did he learn that?'

Echo, well... he wasn't as flawless. His movements were twisted, more like slashes and jabs than smooth movements. His elbows and wrists were tense like whacking a piñata! The weight of the weapon surely got to him because after two attempts of whacking, he plunged his hands and dull sword to the ground.

"You're not paying attention to my demonstration well enough," Dusk said.

"I'm trying, Dusk. It's just hard..." Echo said, out of breath.

"I practiced fencing once a week with my adoptive father for two years. However, that's with other weapons' training and buff muscles."

Echo raised an eyebrow. "Then that's what I need to do?"

"Your body index is way lower than mine because you're a little over five feet and I'm over a foot taller," Dusk said.

"Oh..." Echo said.

"You'll do it better if you grasp it looser. Holding it too firmly will not allow the blade to glide. You have to think of it going through something rather than cutting into it." Dusk said.

"Like this?" Echo asked, raising the weapon back up and loosening his grip.

"Yes. Now, swing it."

Echo lunged forward letting his knee go past his toes, and Dusk moaned.
"Did I do something wrong? I gripped it the way you told me too!" Echo's eyes widened.

"No... it's something else. If you lunge like that, you'll easily get attacked. It's a weak position that'll get you in death's doorway for sure," Dusk said.

"I'm not understanding. You did the same thing."

"Lunge? Yes, you idiot. Just not that far. The trick is to put more weight near the front of your foot so you can spring off it. Don't go past your toes."

"Got it. I... think anyways?" Echo wiped the sweat dripping down his forehead.

"You've got to make sure you're able to do these exercises everyday. If you don't, you'll never have the core strength to actually use anything efficiently. It isn't like knives or guns." Dusk said.

"Why couldn't my father leave one of those?" Echo plopped to the floor, the sword falling to the ground with a clank.

"Look, I'm only doing this because I don't want you to get yourself killed. If something happened to you, I'd let Ember down too..." Dusk said.

Zolona rolled her eyes. "Stop going easy on him, Dusk! Take him head on. Just make sure the attacks are faster."

"He's not ready for that..." I began.

Zolona chuckled. "Of course he is. He's Clyde's son. Clyde was a natural! Bloody hell, I was a natural!"

"If you say so," Dusk said.

"I'm not so sure, Aunt Zolona," Echo's lip quivered.

"You need to believe in your abilities more. You can do this without anyone helping you! Didn't you say before you couldn't be afraid to stand up for what's right?" I asked.

"Yeah, but what happened to 'I don't think he's ready for that'?" Echo asked.

Dusk smiled. "She might've had a change in heart."

I rolled my eyes. "Not true."

"True," Zolona nodded.

They went back to fighting-- Dusk clearly having much more stamina than Echo. Dusk maneuvered the blade to attempt to strike Echo's shoulder. Surprisingly, Echo dodged out of the way.

"Use your blade, Echo! That's a coward's move. Fight like a man!" Zolona said.

Dusk let his blade flow again through the motions.

Clank! Dusk's blade was met by Echo's.

...But it also got a taste of Echo's shoulder. Blood oozed onto his white shirt, and dripped down the back, coating it in red stripes. Echo looked lightheaded.

"Wow, good job..." Echo said weakly after looking at the cut in his arm.

He plopped to the floor.

Dusk's eyes widened. "Raven, heal him."

"That's another thing. You don't have to be as afraid of hurting anyone because I can heal them." I walked up to Echo, put my hand over his arm, and thought of when we were at the piano together. When I removed my hand, the cut was healed.

"I think you have better control over that now," Echo smiled.

Dusk clenched his teeth. "If only she would have done that when Ember needed her to."

Echo's eyes widened. "Hey, that's in the past. We have to put our best foot forward and try to prevent it from happening again, right? We can't stay depressed forever."

"Thanks. If it would've been you and not her, I don't know if we'd be like this. We might've given up any hope," Dusk sighed.

"That's why I'm trying to help. People don't deserve to live like this forever," Echo said.

Dusk smiled. "Thanks."

"I'm planning a ball next week. I'm hoping you'll attend," Zolona said.

"A party? Sounds fun," Dusk said.

"Are you sure everyone will enjoy dancing?" Echo raised an eyebrow.

Zolona chuckled. "I'll have games and food as well."

"Cora's planning it. Originally, Sage was Zolona's top choice," I said.

Echo's eyes widened. "Aunt Zolona! Sage would've only picked dancing!"

"It is her talent..." Zolona argued.

"Do you think we can play The Game again?" I asked.

"That game? I'm not sure. My mother invaded it last time..." Echo began.

I interrupted. "You were able to drive her out of your head last time."

"I don't know if that'll always work," Echo said.

Dusk chuckled. "Relax, if I do it with you, we can find some way to fight her off."

"I don't think she'll strike like that again. Not since she has to plan another attack to kill you. She knows about your powers over the dreamscape," I argued.

Zolona raised an eyebrow. "What kind of powers?"

"I have control over what I dream. I kicked her out," Echo said.

"That'll come in handy." Dusk rustled through Echo's hair.

"I'll ask Sage about The Game when I get a chance. I haven't been able to find her..." Zolona began.

"What has she been up to?" I asked.

Zolona sighed. "I'm not sure."

"She must have a reason," Echo said.

"She does, but she hasn't told it to me," Zolona said.

"Has she been okay?" I asked.

Zolona shrugged her shoulders.

"She hasn't been around Aunt Zolona. It's not your fault you don't know," Echo said.

Zolona crossed her arms. "As for you, I'm not going to go as easy on you as Dusk was."

Dusk and I left the room. I needed to ease my nerves. Maybe just a quick tour of the castle with Dusk would take my mind off stress.

"Mind if I show you around?" I asked.

"Guess I've got time to kill," Dusk said.

I nodded. I was ready to do whatever it took to appease my nerves.