The Crimson Prince： Awakening 96 Welcome Back

"Don't you think this is enough?" Will complained as he sent yet another pile of clothes into his storage crystal. "I think you might actually bankrupt Michael if you keep this up." He was only half kidding of course. For the last few months, Maya had been going on a shopping spree. Ever since she had shed the tattered black dress she wore in the service to Aremesis, her appet.i.te for new clothing and lingerie was legendary. Though Will was slightly annoyed, he did enjoy seeing her try everything on. Even more so when they were taken off.

"It's his fault for this wonderful card!" Maya held the black card up and smiled before putting it in her storage crystal. Since General Risben had so rudely interrupted their vacation in Santa Monica, Will and Maya had traveled to China to see the Great Wall, as well as the Forbidden City. They had also stood atop the appellation mountains and swam in the Atlantic. Will had shown Maya all that he had promised and more.

"I think we have enough clothing to fill up twenty walk in closets in the Kardas.h.i.+an's mansion." Will grumbled as he looked ahead. They had finally decided that they had seen enough of the world and slowly made their way back to New York. Maya didn't want to go to the Emba.s.sy until she had bought something from every store in the city. Will could only grumble as he continued his walk. Though he was slightly annoyed with the shopping, he was enjoying himself. The last few months were some that he wouldn't have imagined he could have.

As they walked through the streets, Will saw a familiar face leaning against a telephone stand. "About time." Leo grumbled as he stood straight. "Do you even know what's been going on here while you two have been on your honeymoon?" his glare shot daggers into Will.

"What's been happening?" Will's carefree att.i.tude melted away as he sensed the atmosphere.

Leo took the lead as they took off into the sky. As they flew to the Emba.s.sy, he caught Will up on everything that happened while he was gone. "So there are two Ragnos heirs now." Leo concluded as he flew towards the entrance to the courtyard. As they landed, two guards saluted with fist to heart as the three touched down.

"If he really came from the same timeline that the other Will is from, we might be in for a lot more trouble in the future."

"Actually, we put him in the detention center." Leo smiled as he opened the door and let Will and Maya through ahead of him.

"I'm not talking about Aiden." Will admitted. "If he came through a scar in the timeline, I'm sure that the other me wouldn't miss an opportunity to follow."

Leo sighed. "Then we need to increase forces to ensure we don't have a copy of you walking around New York yet."

"I should head back to Crystallia in a few days." Will suggested. "I've been away for too long already. I'm supposed to be the wandering prince in the future, yet I haven't even wandered past the border of Crystallia since I stepped foot in the world of Euph.e.l.lia."

"I'm going with too." Maya said without falter.

"Duh." Will said with an eye roll. "Way to put words to the obvious."

Maya stuck out her tongue and walked past the two. "Lets at least get something to eat before We leave."

"I'll meet you at the dining room," Will went to the stairs leading down. "I think I need to talk to our new friend in the detention center."

"Oh!" Leo tapped his head as Will turned towards him. "Welcome back!"

Will waved a hand before placing his hand on a panel which opened a hidden entryway walked down flight after flight of stairs until he reached the bottom floor. A foot away from the stairs, the corridor ended with a stone panel protruding from the wall.

Using his king's flame, Will placed his hand on the panel, turning it gold. A pa.s.sageway opened up in front of him, leading to a torch lit corridor leading even further down. He eventually stopped at a black iron cell at the end of the last corridor of the detention center. Lighting a flame within his palm, he stared into the room within.

A comfortable looking room with couches, a queen sized bed and a television mounted on the wall were visible, yet he saw that none of the amenities were being used. A boy of at least fifteen or sixteen sat on the floor in the center of the room. All couches and the bed were pushed up against the wall as he stared into Will's eyes.

"This is not the best way to show you that I'm nothing like the man you just escaped." Will said as he placed his gold flame on the panel to the door. "I will not be your captor."

Will stepped aside as the door sprang open. Slowly, the young man rose to his feet and walked to the entrance. "This does not mean I won't go against you." Aiden promised as he walked to the stairs.

"I am sure that is true, but don't you think this would warrant a discussion at least?" He followed Aiden. "I am not that monster who butchered millions. I could not and would not do that." He tried.

"For now, you are not." Aiden warned. "But you have too much power, who keeps you in check?"

"You are the second person to ask me that question." Will sighed as he walked up the stairs. "I guess the answer is you." He smiled to himself as he placed his hand on the panel to lead to the outside. "I am going back to Crystallia. I've already been gone for too long. I want you to give all others the affinity in this world."

"That's a radical change in decision." Aiden's eyes went wide. He still remembered everyone in his world that was drained of the very aura that was gifted to them.

"Don't get me wrong." Will's expression went fierce. "You had better be d.a.m.ned sure that this is what you want. And even then, you had better be able to police those with new abilities which wish to use them for other than honorable reasons."

"How exactly should I do that?" Aiden wined as he showed his true age.

"You come here preaching that I'm not fit to be making these decisions." Will accused as he turned to the younger prince. "Prove that you can do it better, and if you can't figure out how, turn to my staff." He waved a hand at the emba.s.sy. "I'm sure they can help."