Elizabeth Jones

Personality and background:
Elizabeth can be imaginative too, but between her and Rose, Elizabeth is definitely the more practical of the two. Quieter and calmer as a general rule, she's pretty down to earth and helps to keep Rose from getting too carried away. Elizabeth is good at keeping her head in a crisis, and while she may not have the wildly original ideas Rose has, she has more than a healthy share of plain old common sense. She's very reliable and trustworthy, someone you can always count on—not just because she is true to her friends and keeps her promises, but because she also knows how to only make promises she knows she will be able to keep, and she will always finish any task she takes on.

Crystal

Personality and background:
Crystal is a bit reckless, but she's older and more mature than Rose—if only because of the age difference. She's a very enthusiastic, friendly person and makes friends easily. She understands others well, but she doesn't show favoritism and can usually retain her objectivity, making her a good leader. She's especially good in battle, both in fighting and in strategy. (When I rewrite this story, it is possible that I may replace Crystal's character with Jalinda; they're awfully similar in personality, and Jalinda is a better developed character, anyway. But we'll see. It also depends on just how much time has passed since the prequel.)

Matthew

Personality and background:
Matthew is a very quiet, subdued, unassuming young man. Most would assume that he is shy, but he can be very friendly once you start talking to him. He's reliable, a good listener, and good at giving advice without sounding condescending, so he's a great person to talk to. Despite their differences, he and Crystal seem to be forming some sort of attachment, and they obviously understand each other well because of their longstanding friendship.

Andrew

Personality and background:
This character will likely undergo some serious changes. I've had to change the name (the old one was totally unsuitable), so for now let's call him Andrew. (Andrew is one of my favorite characters, though I've never been quite certain exactly what story he belongs in. Previous Andrew sightings have been in different versions of stories like Starlight Odyssey and The Dreamworld Saga. I'm not quite certain where Andrew will end up, but for now we'll use his name for this character.) Andrew is Matthew's young cousin. A bit reckless and impetuous, Andrew has a tendency to ignore orders or his elders' advice and go haring off looking for adventure. He likes to be in the thick of things, and he's a good fighter (fortunately). He's also kind and friendly, however, and while he may not always be reliable because of his reckless nature, he never purposefully breaks a serious promise, and he never, ever knowingly lets a friend down. Andrew does, however, seem to have a personal grudge against Ravenia; apparently she had something to do with his father's death and his mother's serious injury when he was very young.

Ravenia

Personality and background:
Ravenia has been studying magic for many years now, and she has also managed to form an alliance with the hostile dwarves of the north, pulling several of their tribes under her leadership by promising them power and lands in the warmer, more fruitful south. Ravenia is trying to take the throne, by whatever means necessary. In the past she tried to take the queen's life, since it is rumored that she is the queen's closest and only living kin and would thus gain the throne—but after such an attempt years before, she escaped the city and went north to dwarven territory to avoid the law. The queen subsequently made a proclamation that prevented Ravenia from ever legally taking the throne after Irelle's death. However, such a proclamation means little if Ravenia manages to gain some power and influence in the council, and her kinship to the queen would doubtless still hold some sway. If all else fails, she is prepared to take dwarven armies south to invade Waterlight. She is truly a dangerous woman, far too fond of the unlimited power her magic gives her, and hungry for more power as well.

Queen Irelle

Personality and background:
Queen Irelle is a very dignified, kindly woman. Her one major fault might be that she is a bit too trusting, always ready to forgive and to believe the best in others. This can be a good thing, but not when you're a queen and someone is plotting to take your throne. However, these same faults make her a good ruler to her people, and she does have an excellent circle of supporters and advisers to aid her in her rule, not to mention a supportive and intelligent husband.

King Alev

Personality and background:
King Alev is called king, but as it was Irelle's father who was king previously and Alev is only king by marriage, he is not actually as high in rank as she is. If something were to happen to Irelle, Alev would succeed her on the throne, but the next ruler would have to be her closest kin, not his. King Alev seems to be a natural ruler, however, and he is not only a good husband, he is also invaluable as an adviser and administrator. He is dignified, strong-willed, pleasant and particularly inclined towards laughter, making him popular with the people of Waterlight.

Fred and Ted

Personality and background:
Fred and Ted are the sort of kids who are either going to end up as class clowns or computer geeks in high school. Probably the former. The twins are Rose's cousins, and they are usually fairly annoying tag-alongs on all her adventures back in the real world. They serve as minor annoyances in the first book, but in the second they actually follow her to Waterlight, without her knowledge or permission, of course. They're always getting into things they shouldn't and sticking their noses into other people's business. Of the two, Ted has a bit better judgment and thinks more about his actions before he carries them out, and Fred has a tendency to do whatever sounds like a good plan at the time, without really thinking things through—but both can be reckless, and often it is Ted who comes up with the truly hair-brained schemes. For those of you who have read the Harry Potter books, Fred and Ted are frighteningly like the twins Fred and George in many ways. Truly scary! (Especially considering I created these characters at least nine years ago.) But they are different; they're a bit less cocky (at least Ted is), and they aren't so much into practical jokes in particular. (And yes, I know their names are cheesy twin names, but I was eleven years old when I created the characters, so what do you expect? =P )