A/N: Everything in the story is mine. The only reason it is under the "Disney" category is because . . . well, it's a fairy tale, but not a super-duper fluffy fairy tale. And Disney was the only category I could think of. I will say this again and for one time, because rewriting it just gets really annoying, but everything in this story is mine, mine, mine.

Take this as a warning: Yes, this is a fairy tale. That means there will be magic and mythical things. If you don't like that, then you might wanna click that "back" button up there.

Chapter One: Oh My My My

The young Princess Katherine ran through the courtyards and gardens of her home (or as known to those not as fortunate as her, the castle) trying to find the visiting prince, who had run far ahead of her and also who had visited her kingdom for her seventh birthday. But Prince Nicholas could care less about that. He was from Eskermir, the Water Kingdom, and he had never been to the Earth Kingdom of Rosarin before. Nicholas had been told of the many intriguing animals that occupied Rosarin, so, being the curious nine-year-old he was, escaped the birthday dinner to find an animal.

"Nicholas!" Katherine screamed, still running through the gardens, "Nicholas, come back here! You are going to get in trouble!" As she ran on the dirt path that led into the wood, a pair of hands reached out from behind a tree. With one covering her mouth and one wrapping around her waist, Nicholas pulled Katherine behind the tree with him.

"Hush, will you? I do not want you scaring that off. And I will beat you up if you make it move," he commanded as he pointed to a griffin was drinking from a plentiful hot spring. It was quite an unusual statement for a prince, but then again he was only nine years old, so what could you do? "I have never seen anything like it."

Katherine raised an eyebrow, "You have never seen a griffin?"

Nicholas looked back at her, "No. And you have?"

She rolled her eyes, "Well, of course I have. And that one is my favorite. He is a nice one." She nodded as if to put emphasis on her statement. Nicholas had turned his head to look back at the griffin. Katherine studied him, "Would you like to meet him?"

Before she got a reply, she whistled a low, soft note that caught the griffin's attention. The griffin raised its eagle's head and focused in on the young monarchs. The animal took notice of the young girl and made its way over warily, unsure about the boy standing next to her.

Katherine put her hand up to scratch the creature's head, "He will not hurt you." She said to both the griffin and Nicholas. The griffin moved its golden eyes to the prince and looked at him expectantly.

"You are supposed to scratch his head." Katherine offered, and Nicholas did just that. The griffin leaned in towards Nicholas naturally, "He likes you." Katherine proved.

"Does he have a name?"

Katherine looked around, "Yes. But it is a secret."

Nicholas was puzzled. "Why would a name be a secret?"

"My father told me that when you name something, you get attached to it. And griffins are wild creatures, so he will not stay for long. When he matures and travels to a new forest, I will always remember him as a friend with a name and not a wild creature without a name."

"So what is his name?"

"Phillip." She stated simply.

Nicholas let out a sharp, quick laugh, "Phillip? That's a name for a person. Not a lion . . . or an eagle . . . what is he again?"

"A griffin." It was quiet for a moment.

"I don't suppose your name is any better, is it?" Nicholas asked.

Katherine shot him a look. "Well of course it is. It is Katherine."

"What's your full name?"

Katherine sucked in a big breath, "I am Princess Katherine Marie Helena Camille Angela Madeline Addela Alexandra Ava Juliet of Rosarin." Nicholas looked at her with wide eyes, "But you can call me Katie. What about your name?"

"I am not fully sure if I have one as long as yours. But I am Prince Nicholas of Eskermir. And you may refer to me as Nick."

The two had continued scratching Phillip, but the griffin was now looking to the sky and back to Katie. "Go on. You can do it."

"What is he wondering?" Nick asked her.

"I'm not sure. But I think he is asking if it is alright if he flies for a time." At this, Phillip had backed up a few steps, stretched his magnificent wings, and soared into the sky. Katie and Nick watched him for a moment when she realized something.

"I made him move." Katie averted her eyes to Nick, who did not want to stop watching the creature soaring ahead, but he looked at the girl.

"Yes . . . and?"

Katie smiled smugly, "You won't beat me up. You said you would if I made him move. I made him move and you haven't touched me."

Nick smirked, "Consider it a birthday present."

"Oh no. Birthday presents are to be asked for. I never asked to move Phillip."

"Fine. What would suit your pleases, your royal Highness?" Nick bowed deeply in a joking way.

Katie hit him to make him stand up, "A kiss."

"A kiss?" Nick questioned her.

"Yes. I want a kiss." Now, reader, you may be surprised to hear such a wish coming from a seven-year-old, but keep in mind that both children have not "matured" and have not realized the importance of a kiss.

"There is no way I will kiss you. You are seven, and I am nine. Therefore, I am older and I can do what I want."

"Yes. But Nicholas, may I remind you that you are in my kingdom now? And that matters more than age, so you have to kiss me."

Nick rolled his eyes, "Fine." He leaned in towards her, his lips puckered as far as they would go so he would not have to touch her for long. When she could feel his breath on her face, she turned heel and ran back towards the castle. Nick stumbled, but did not fall. "Hey!" He called after her, but ran as well.

The two raced back to the castle. It was a tie, but neither of them could agree on that and were found arguing when the parents of the children had decided to take an evening stroll before either retiring for the night or heading back to their original kingdom, plus Katie's father, King Joseph, wanted to show off the prized gardens of Rosarin to Nick's parents, King Gerald and Queen Lucille. That was, in fact, what Rosarin was known for: plants, animals, anything that had to do with Earth.

When the elder nobles found their children, they listened in before making fun comments and predictions:

"I won!" Nick started.

"No, you did not! I started running first, so I reached the wall first."

"But I am older, and I can run faster, so I reached it first!"

King Joseph winked at King Gerald, "Seems like they are getting along quite well."

King Gerald chuckled, "You just wait, Joseph. They will still be at it even when they are married."

The children stopped their bickering and looked at their fathers in unison, "Married?!"

"I can not marry her. She is seven!" Nick commented.

"I will be nine in two years!" Katie argued.

"Yes, but by then I will be eleven."

"Father, will I really have to marry him? I just met him!"

The two fathers continued on with their joking.

"Perhaps their marriage will bring together a whole new kingdom, a water and earth kingdom." King Joseph replied to King Gerald's comment.

Queen Lucille clicked her tongue at her husband and his companion and smiled, "Stop it, you two. They are only children. Getting married at this young an age? Oh my my my."

The elders continued their evening walk, King Joseph proudly exaggerating the number of gardens on the castle property, leaving Nicholas and Katherine alone again.

"Were they serious about us getting married?" Katie warily asked.

Nick snorted, "I sure hope not. I just met you!"

"Exactly! I would much rather have you as a friend."

"Really?" Nick asked and received the affirmative in a nod, "Then we shall be friends." He held out his hand and she shook it.

Queen Lucille called for her son. They were leaving. "I will be right there, Mother!" he called.

"Will we see each other again?"

"I am not sure. But we will keep to each other by letter." Nick said before he ran off to his mother and father waiting by the castle gates.

That was the last thing Nicholas and Katherine said to each other in person for the next nine years.

A/N: I hope you liked it, whoever read it!! This was the first thing I've written in third person, so please tell me how I did. Also, I'm only planning on writing this when I'm close to done with my Twilight fanfic and only if I feel like I have enough motivation coming from readers. I really want to continue this story. I think it is really good, but that's just me. So if you liked it, please tell me and give me motivation to continue!! Thank you! Don't forget to review!