Greta Hundertmark

April 5, 2001

Princess Glimmer paced nervously around her bedroom. Queen Angella was sitting calmly on Glimmer's bed watching her daughter.

"Sit down, Glimmer. You're giving me a headache walking back and forth like that", said Angella.

"I can't relax, Mother. Tomorrow, I am going be become the wife of one of Etheria's finest bachelors, Prince Philippe of Castle Blackmoor", said Glimmer, as she pushed her pink hair back.

Angella walked over and put her hands on Glimmer's shoulders. She smiled at her daughter and said, "I understand how you feel Glimmer. I was so nervous when the night before I married your father. Prince Philippe loves you so much, and I can tell you love him too. I know everything is going to go smoothly tomorrow".

"Oh, I hope so. I just tomorrow to be so perfect", said Glimmer.

Angella wiped away a tear that was starting to form in her eye. Glimmer noticed it and looked at her mother puzzled.

"I'll be okay, Glimmer. I can't believe my little girl is getting married tomorrow", said Angella.

"Mother, I am still your little girl. We are still going to be at Bright Moon so you are not going to lose us", said Glimmer.

Angella hugged Glimmer and said to her, "I still remember the day you were born so clearly, and now you are getting married. It won't be long until I have grandchildren".

"Grandchildren? Well, I guess eventually we can do something about that, but right now I just want to get this wedding out of the way", said Glimmer.

"Hey, your father and I were just as nervous, but we sure relaxed later that night", said Angella, as she pulled back and smiled at Glimmer.

"All right, Mother. I know you and Father love each other", said Glimmer, as she smiled back at her mother.

"Go take a walk around the castle. You need to relax a little", said Angella.

"Okay, I guess I should take a walk. I need to gather my thoughts and try to memorize my vows", said Glimmer.

Angella kissed Glimmer on the cheek and said, "Take care, Daughter. If you need to talk, please come see me".

"I will, Mother. Thanks for being there for me", said Glimmer.

"I'll always be there for you, my daughter. You make me so proud", said Angella.

Glimmer walked around the castle. The sun was just starting to set as the air was cooling off. Glimmer walked a little ways from the castle as the huge garden that surrounded it started to end. A rustle in the bushes startled Glimmer and she stood, looking around, getting ready to run if she had too.

"Who's there?" called out Glimmer.

A figure emerged from behind the bushes and Glimmer screamed as she jumped back a foot.

"Stay where you are. Don't come any closer", cried Glimmer.

"Glimmer, it's me", said a voice.

"Who?" asked Glimmer.

The figure stepped forward. The moonlight caught him as Glimmer realized it was her former lover, Romeo. She had loved him until he decided to take off and help form armies to fight against the Horde. He had been a corporal working for the Horde until he met Glimmer who had shown him the Horde's evil ways and turned his life around.

"Romeo!" cried Glimmer, as she rushed over to him and hugged him.

"Oh, Glimmer, I have missed you so much. I could not stay away", said Romeo.

Glimmer did not say a word. She just held Romeo and said, "I missed you too".

"So, what have you been up to?" asked Romeo, as he pulled back and looked at Glimmer.

"Um, I am getting married tomorrow to Prince Philippe of Castle Blackmoor. He is a wonderful man", said Glimmer, as she swallowed hard.

Romeo's face fell as he looked at Glimmer.

"Oh, Romeo. I waited for you, but you never came. I didn't want to keep waiting and then I met Philippe. He may be of royalty, but it was his gentle heart that won me over", said Glimmer.

"I understand. I guess I shouldn't have expected you'd be waiting for me after all these years. I never stopped thinking about you", said Romeo.

Glimmer looked at Romeo. He seemed to look more mature than he did when she first met him. He had been one of the youngest corporals in the Horde, but it was Glimmer that showed him how evil the Horde was and convinced him to fight for the rebellion. All those years of fighting and working for the rebellion had made his body so well defined. Glimmer couldn't help but stare at his handsome face and well built form.

"I guess I could never forget you, Romeo. You were one of my first loves", said Glimmer.

"You look more beautiful than ever, Princess. I know you'll make Prince Philippe very happy", said Romeo, as he started to walk away.

Glimmer couldn't help but feel sorry for Romeo. She was in love with Philippe, but she suddenly couldn't help but want to run over and just hold Romeo in her arms. Her feelings for him had never really gone away. She ran after him.

"Romeo! Wait!" cried Glimmer.

Romeo turned around and faced Glimmer. "What? You have a wedding to plan. You don't need me to mess things up", he said.

"Don't go yet, Romeo. I will be married tomorrow, but I have some time tonight. Please, join me for a walk", said Glimmer, as she took Romeo by the arm.

Romeo looked at Glimmer, smiled, and said, "I'd like that. Will Prince Philippe mind?"

"We are just going for a walk. You're still a very good friend. I can't just totally kick you out of my life just because I am going to married to Philippe", said Glimmer.

Glimmer and Romeo walked quite a ways from Castle Bright Moon. They raced each other for a few yards into the Whispering Woods, laughing like they were children. Romeo was a few feet in front of Glimmer as he looked ahead and saw the shoreline of a small lake. He was not paying attention to anything on the ground and tripped over a fallen branch. Glimmer could not stop in time and tripper over Romeo, landing right on top of him. She rolled off of him and lay down on the ground on her back. They both laughed.

"Are you all right?" asked Glimmer, as she sat up and looked over at Romeo who was lying on his back, looking at her.

"Oh, I am fine, but you have never looked so beautiful", said Romeo, as he smiled at Glimmer.

"I was so nervous before, but I am feeling much more relaxed. I am having fun", said Glimmer.

"Do you have fun with Philippe?" asked Romeo.

"Yes, of course I do, but sometimes, being royalty doesn't allow you to have as much free time as you'd like to have. We both lead very busy lives. He will stay in Bright Moon with me since his older brother is heir to the Blackmoor throne. I know the day will come when I rule Bright Moon", said Glimmer.

"Do you want to rule Bright Moon?" asked Romeo.

"I don't know, but I don't have a choice. It is my birthright. I am the only child of Queen Angella", said Glimmer.

"And you will be expected to produce an heir as well?" asked Romeo.

"Yes, but I love children. My mother wanted me and raised me herself. I know so many rulers that have children just because they are expected to produce heirs, but they have nannies raise them. Mother and Father would never let that happen. They made sure they made plenty of time for me", said Glimmer.

"And because of that, you are not like other royals I have met. Most are spoiled rotten because their parents never give them the time of day. I know you'll make Philippe very happy", said Romeo.

Glimmer looked at Romeo and said, "And I know you'll make some woman very happy. You're a great man, and that was why I loved you".

"There is only one woman that would make me happy. I still love you, Glimmer, and I always will", said Romeo, as he looked into Glimmer's eyes.

Glimmer could see that Romeo's eyes were tearing up. She couldn't help but feel his pain. She leaned closer to him, as if to hug him, but her lips met his, and they kissed passionately under the moonlight. She was so caught up in the moment that she seemed to forget she was about to be married to another man the next day. Romeo's fingers began to caress her purple top. He started to undress her, when Glimmer pulled back.

"Romeo! Stop! I am going to be married to Prince Philippe tomorrow. What do you think you're doing?" asked Glimmer, as she started at Romeo, with a look of shock over her face.

"I know you're going to be married, but you didn't hesitate to kiss me. I love you, and I know you have feelings for me too", said Romeo.

"Stop it, Romeo. Just get away from me!" cried Glimmer, as she pushed him back.

Romeo wrapped both of his arms around Glimmer. He leaned close to her and said, "Please, Glimmer, I leave tomorrow for Horde World. We think with the Horde weakening on this planet, we could finally free this planet if we take down their leader. This might be my last chance I ever see you again".

"Romeo, you could be killed. It is very dangerous", said Glimmer.

"I live for ridding this planet of the Horde. That is my one and only desire. There is one other desire I hope for", said Romeo.

"What is that?" asked Glimmer.

"You, Glimmer. Without you, I am nothing. If I can save this planet once and for all, then I feel my life will be completed", said Romeo.

Glimmer started to cry. She turned away from Romeo, trying to hide the tears, but Romeo saw them glistening on her cheek in the moonlight. He put a hand on her shoulder, but she turned to him, and shrugged it off.

"How could you do this to me, Romeo? You are so selfish. You know I am getting married to tomorrow, and you are doing nothing but toying with my feelings. You are making this so hard for me", sobbed Glimmer.

"It wouldn't be hard for you if you didn't still care for me", said Romeo.

Glimmer turned to Romeo and faced him. She looked at him right in the eye, tears still flooding her own eyes, and said to him, "I do still care for you, Romeo. It is not the same as it was years ago, but I still love you".

Romeo just looked at Glimmer and then closed his eyes. They locked lips and kissed passionately. This time, Glimmer did not resist and she lay down on her back and let Romeo lean over her, kissing her lips and then moving down to her neck. As she lay on the ground, staring up at the stars, she seemed to forget that was going to be a married woman the next day. She could not explain why it happened, but the rest of the night seemed to be a blur.

After an hour, Glimmer woke up with a start. She must have drifted off to sleep. She rolled over, expecting to see Romeo, but he was gone. Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at the three almost full Etherian moons.

"Damn you, Romeo. I hate you", cried Glimmer, as she sat up and buried her face in her hands.

Glimmer wiped away her tears, looked down at the ground and said to herself, "Forgive me, Philippe. I would never hurt you".

The next day, her mother, Angella, knocking on the doorframe, woke Glimmer up. Glimmer sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes. She was still wearing her purple and blue jumpsuit instead of her nightclothes.

"Glimmer, we have been waiting for you downstairs. You have getting married in a few hours", said Angella, as she walked over to her daughter's bedside.

"I am so sorry, Mother. I guess I was so stressed out last night that I couldn't sleep", said Glimmer.

"Glimmer, are you okay? You don't look so good", said Angella, as she laid a hand on Glimmer's shoulder.

"I'll be fine. I just need to get cleaned up and eat something", said Glimmer, non-enthusiastically.

Angella sat down on the bed and looked at Glimmer straight in the eye. She could sense that something was bothering her daughter. "Glimmer, yesterday you seemed so excited. I hope you not are having second thoughts about this", she said.

"No, Mother. I love Philippe, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I will never love another man the way I love Philippe", said Glimmer.

"I know, Glimmer. Now let's get ready and get you married", said Angella, as she patted Glimmer on the back and got up to leave the room.

Later that night, when Glimmer's father, King Micah, walked her down the isle, Glimmer seemed to forget about her night with Romeo when she saw her handsome groom, Prince Philippe standing at the altar. Philippe's green eyes just seemed to make Glimmer's heart melt as she looked at him and smiled.

Micah embraced Glimmer before she went over to stand beside Philippe. "You know how much it saddens me to give my little girl away", Micah said, as he looked at his daughter.

"Oh, Daddy, you are not going to lose me. I am still going to be your little girl", said Glimmer, as she smiled up at Micah.

Micah kissed Glimmer on the forehead and said, "That you will be. Go get married. I love you, Sunshine".

"I love you too, Daddy", said Glimmer, as she kissed her father on the cheek, and then turned around to walk over to Philippe.

Philippe looked at Glimmer, smiled at her, and said, "You look so beautiful tonight, Glimmer. You make me the happiest man on this planet".

Glimmer nervously smiled back and said, "And you make me the happiest woman on this planet".

Queen Angella walked over and wrapped her arm around King Micah's. She laid her head on her husband's shoulder and said, "Wow, I can't believe our daughter is getting married. It doesn't seem that long ago that was us up there".

"I know. I still remember carrying her around the castle when she was two days old, showing her off to everyone", said Micah.

"I am so proud of her. Prince Philippe is a great man, and I know they will be as happy as are", said Angella, as she smiled up at her husband.

That night, her new husband, Philippe, carried Glimmer into a large room in Castle Bright Moon. He set her down on the bed, looked into her eyes and said, "I want tonight to be very special. You know you are the only woman for me".

Glimmer was still nervous. She swallowed hard. Philippe noticed she was tense.

"Glimmer, what is wrong? You seem to be on edge tonight?" asked Philippe.

Glimmer wrapped her arms around Philippe's shoulders and pulled him closer to her. "I am fine, Philippe. It is just that this is going to be our first night together. I really want it to go perfect", she said.

Philippe kissed Glimmer lightly on the lips and said, "Of course everything will be perfect. Nothing could ever go wrong".

Glimmer smiled, ran her fingers through Philippe's light brown hair and said, "Being here with you tonight will be perfect enough".

Glimmer and Philippe leaned in and kissed passionately. That night, Glimmer focused on spending the rest of her life with Philippe. She made an effort to forget about that night with Romeo, a mistake she would hope would never come back to haunt her.