“We’re going to need further help to get Tiffany back. We’re not enough by ourselves.” Taeyeon muttered to the others.

“Who would we get help from?” Jessica asked quietly.

“Do you think we could contact her parents?” Taeyeon wondered. Onew snapped around in surprise.

“Aren’t her parents the Royal Family?”  He asked.

“Yes. So?”

“The Royal Family run like it’s the olden days. You have to wait to get an audience with them and I’ve heard it can take hours.” Onew replied.

“But it’s their daughter. Surely they’d prioritize that over anything else.” Onew thought for a while before sighing.

“Do you know where the Royal Palace is?” Taeyeon squealed in delight and kissed Onew’s cheek.

“Thank you for trusting me.” She said smiling. Onew smiled gently.

“It’s okay. Can you direct me from here?” He asked.

“Sure it’s only a couple of minutes away.” With Taeyeon’s direction they suddenly seemed to enter a different world. The place was like a peaceful quiet village and in the distance they could see a huge glistening white palace. It was like a fairy-tale palace. They parked the car and walked through the small village leaving their weapons in the trunk. There were stalls selling fresh vegetables, stalls selling silk in every colour under the sun and stalls selling little trinkets of jewellery. It was breathtaking and the village was buzzing with people and life.

“It’s amazing here,” Qian breathed “I’ve not seen the outside world in so long.” Nichkhun took her hand and squeezed it lightly before turning to the others.

“Could I show her around this place? We know Tiffany the least out of all of you, we wouldn’t be much help.” Nichkhun pleaded.  Taeyeon nodded and Nichkhun dragged Qian away to look at the stalls.

“Why did you let them go Taeyeon?” Yuri asked.

“She’s been in the Dark Forest for so long. She’s seen so much evil; more than the rest of us. It would be cruel to deny the chance to let her see light.” Taeyeon smiled gently. Onew took her hand and squeezed it.

“Come on. We have work to do.” Taeyeon nodded and together they all marched up the stairs to the Royal Palace. They were met with some guards there who eyed them suspiciously.

“State your business.” The largest ordered.

“We request an audience with the King and Queen. It is a matter of concerning the Royal Family.” The guard eyed them then gestured for them to follow him inside. He asked them to wait outside some oak doors and went inside. They heard soft mutterings and the guard came back almost immediately.

“Come inside.” He ordered. They took a deep breath and walked inside. The room was enormous; made of white marble pillars and rich jade green carvings on the pillars. There were 2 grand thrones; gold and white with jewels encrusting the dragon carvings that arched above the back of the chairs. The King and Queen sat there along with lines of courtiers, lords and leaders. They bowed awkwardly and averted their eyes to the ground.

The King spoke first; age lines set deep into his face and making him look strict.

“State your business and be quick about it. I have no patience for time wasters.” He said sternly. Taeyeon took a deep breath and said:

“Hwang Miyoung.” She