It was 2:51 P.M. Jack had his hidden sword, which was attached to his arm band, cross swords with Alistair. Why is it always him? Jack wasn't particularly fond of fighting Alistair. It made him uncomfortable when he didn't know himself since he suffered from amnesia; especially when his opponent had the same face as his.

"What's wrong Jack?" Alistair smiled, "You're slowing down a bit."

Both of their swords flung away from their opponent. Jack and Alistair were facing each other, both men with the same face, yet they were considered enemies. Jack wanted to question him and wanted answers, but when he found out Alistair was siding with the enemy, he had no choice but to fight him.

"You know...you're not so bad at fighting."

Alistair lunged at Jack and tried to stab him but missed. Jack managed to jump into the air and place both hands on Alistair's extended arm and brought him down with a flying kick in the face.

"Owwwww!" Alistair stumbled back, but managed to hold himself up, "That really hurt. Did you really mean to kick me that hard?"

Alistair let out an almost seemingly humorous sad face. His hand placed onto the wounded area. I'm sure he didn't mean to do that...Alistair thought to himself, but it doesn't seem like he is remembering.

Jack was impressed with Alistair. Of all the enemies he had faced from the White Castle, Alistair seemed to always manage to get back on his feet, but it wasn't time to be impressed. He ran towards Alistair and both swords crossed.

"Whoa! I barely dodged that," Alistair put up his sword on defense to protect himself before flinging his enemy away.

Alistair smiled at his enemy and got ready to attack when a loud gong rang from the White Castle and the Red Castle. It was exactly 3:00 P.M. The Truce Bell...Alistair stopped fighting and dropped his guard instantly. He placed both hands behind his head and turned to go back to the White Castle.

"Well," he turned to Jack before leaving, "It's been fun Jack! See you tomorrow!"

Alistair waved goodbye at his enemy. This often confused and pained Jack because it felt like a part of him wanted to leave with him. I have to see him tomorrow too? He turned to look at the Red Castle, When will this battle end with the White Castle, Queen Hong? Jack started to head back and didn't notice Alistair stop to turn and look at him.

Jack met back with the soldiers of the Rose Kingdom. No one really talked to him because of his affiliation with the queen, but he didn't need to talk. One of the soldiers walked up to him, however, to discuss an important matter.

"Her Majesty is still fighting the Thorn soldiers," the soldier informed him, "She hasn't been back yet. Some of us left to return to the kingdom and everyone else is waiting for her highness to return."

"No need," Jack responded, "Return to the kingdom at once. You all need aid. I will locate Queen Hong and inform her to return."

The soldier bowed, making Jack a bit nervous, and turned away to inform the rest of the soldiers Jack's orders. Normally the soldiers would stay until the very last soldier was found, including the queen, but the Red Queen ordered her soldiers to listen to Jack if she failed to return on schedule. This was always what happened as she faced her own battles.

The Queen forbids us from interfering with the war between Thorn and Rose Kingdoms. If only she would allow some of the soldiers to fight alongside with her, she wouldn't worry them. Worry? Jack stopped as he ventured deeper into Rose Kingdom's forest. She is the best soldier anyone could have, yet she isn't a soldier. Not a soldier, but a queen. He reminded himself. Her majesty aided her father in the war between both kingdoms and he heard that the reason had to do with Queen Hong's mother. He continued walking and heard something clanging. It was the sound of swords crossing and he turned to see a pile of bodies laying in their own blood. Thorn soldiers dressed in thick armor and he felt sick. Jack had not forgotten how Queen Hong had found him chained to a tree from the Thorn soldiers who camped near the borders of the Rose Kingdom. It seemed like he was about to remember something when he heard one of the soldiers scream out.

"Die, demon!" The Thorn soldier lunged at her. He obviously wasn't fast enough because the queen slit him in the throat.

Jack watched her in awe. It looked as if her majesty was dancing against her enemies and beating them. She cut several of her enemies down at once before the last Thorn soldier was left standing. Her amazing performance against the enemy continued to stupefy Jack. The queen ran towards the last enemy soldier and jumped into the the air. It was quite high and the soldier was disoriented up until his final moments when Queen Hong slammed her sword through his head. Jack didn't like the Thorn soldiers, but he knew that everyone was fighting and hoping to gain something. A reward, he remembered, in exchange for the Queen of Roses' head, the soldier will be able to live lavishly with the Thorn King.He watched Hong slide her weapon out of the enemy's head and stepped out.

His foot crunched along the broken trees and Hong flung her weapon in front of her. She pointed the Rose at him and refused to lay down her weapon until he spoke. They returned to the Castle of Rose, which everyone called the Red Castle as it was preoccupied with residents of the Red Queen. The Castle of Rose consisted of the main castle and another castle yards away, the White Castle. Both castles belonged to the Kingdom of Roses, but an incident occurred a few years ago where both had been separated. The White and Red Castle were still under the Kingdom of Roses territory, but the factions between both white and red were being fought for.

The White Queen...Jack had never met her, but some of the soldiers and residents who knew her and believed her story of the incident, which caused her to separate from the main castle, moved in with her at the White Castle. Jack had heard bits and pieces of what had happened, but never questioned Queen Hong. Several of the soldiers who did remain in the Red Castle wanted answers. "It's a story that will make you question the identities of both queens," an old soldier reminded them.

"What is the reason for the truce bell?" Jack remembered a young soldier asking when he first arrived at the castle.

"Think about it son," the old soldier responded, "Some of the people you're fighting are related to you in some way. The truce bell allows us to confirm which soldiers are left on our side and theirs."

"Then they are not our enemies...Are they?" The young soldier questioned.

The old soldier hesitated to respond, "When you find the truth, it will all make sense. That is why I fight for Queen Hong..."

So both sides attempt to keep their soldiers alive for the sake of meeting their loved ones again...Jack understood. 

A loved one...He drifted off into a day dream when Hong tried to return the balloon to a parent and her child before she left towards the castle. He followed her trying to remember who it was that he felt that he had left behind. A loved one...who was it?

"Jack," the Red Queen snapped him back to reality, "investigate the board members and their servants..."

I have no time to think about it...One day I will find out as soon as I remember. That is why I stay with Queen Hong. Jack convinced himself as he got to work.

End of Chapter 2..........................................................................................................................