Chapter 1: Making Friends

Today was the start of the rest of my life. At first it began as any other, with my mom, dad and I working in the Mechanics Shop in the Lone Kingdom of the Babylons. We tinkered with the Extreme Gear, vehicles, and common household ware of the local Babylonians. I was always the one fixing everything-my parents just filled out order forms and bought the parts. Thing is I liked it this way, it made me feel useful.

The other girls in the city ignore me, call me a tomboy. After I had finished my last order of the day and took a lunch break, Rosie the Cardinal came up to me.

"Hey Wave! Did you hear about the King's son? He's ready to be married!"

"So?" I answered bluntly.

"So? Well I should've figured as much. Do you still think boys are gross after all these years?"

"Uh…no…but I'm just so busy I don't have time to worry about them."

"A likely story. Listen Wave, if you don't step up soon the label of Little Miss Tomboy will stay on you forever."

I hated that term so much! It was as if a girl who didn't wear a mini-skirt or makeup 24/7 was a crime against nature! But she was right. After all, my parents only have me as a daughter and I wouldn't be doing much for our future if I didn't marry. Then again I'm only 10…

"Okay Rosie I get it, but why would you tell me this if you wanted to marry him too?" I asked.

"Because it's required. All young female Babylonians have to attend this ceremony so the Prince can choose his bride."

"REQUIRED? That isn't right!"

"I know you don't like it, but this is how things are from now on. Better get ready."

She left then, while I was now a good 20 minutes late for my next order. "WAVE!"

It was my dad in another one of his bird-brained fits. I was going to get a bite out of his mind soon enough…


Later on I was outside riding my newly developed Extreme Gear, practicing all kinds of stunts that I'd seen the legendary Thunder Hawk perform on broadcast. He was amazing, that guy. Thunder could do moves only dreamt about using these huge green feathers or even just one of them. It was always my dream to meet this guy and learn his techniques, get his autograph, maybe even ride with him, but I know that's way past a long shot. I was interrupted by my mom, who had the infamous 'look' on her face.

"Wave sweetie did Rosie tell you?"

I sighed knowing what was coming. "Yes…"

"Well then it's time to bring out the old you once again! Let's try on…everything!"

I released the air from my board and caught it in my hands. As I put it away only a small frown was on my beak, because I knew what kinds of everything Mom was going to put on me. It started with a pink shirt and blue jean dress. Then there was the blouse a skort. After that we did a radical jump to the dreaded blue and white polka dot dress with spaghetti straps and the sandals…ugh! I was ready to pass out!

"Mom are we done yet!"

"No, no, no! Just one more…"

The last thing I had to put on was a glimmering lavender wedding gown with white gloves and heels. Though I had some trouble getting into the heels and even more trouble walking in them, it wasn't so bad. I actually felt…pretty.

"There now that isn't so bad is it?"

"No…" I said meekly. "Um…Mom…"

"Yes, Wave?"

"Do I look pretty?" I gulped after this.

"Of course you do. And whenever you ask this question the answer should always be the same."

This made me feel really good and soon I was more than ready to take on the challenge of being the Queen of the Babylons.


In the streets well after hours hundreds of girls all around the city gathered around the palace, waiting anxiously for the Prince to come out. I was in no hurry; I didn't even think that out of a hundred debutantes he would choose me. So my focus went in other directions, like the junkyard on the corner. Two Babylonians were making a racket and loosening my concentration even more. I wanted to go over there and give them a piece of my mind…so I did.

Entering cautiously I spotted a really big kid riding on some Extreme gear I'd never seen before. He was an albatross, a very buff but dull-looking one.

"Hey Jet check this one out!" he yelled out.

Without effort he did a melon and an Indy all in one. I could've done that…

"I could've done that…" said the other guy.

We thought the same thing! It was weird and once I got a better look at who said it I was surprised. He was a hawk who looked just like my idol Thunder! I was so excited I almost forgot about the Prince. I went up to them but once the albatross spotted me he signaled Jet and went into hiding.

"Hey there! Sorry to startle you but I just noticed your boards aren't from around here and-"

"Crap, she knows who we are! I told you to keep quiet Storm!" whispered Jet while throwing a rock at him.

"Ouch! I didn't think they'd hear us with that cer..cera…thingamajig going on!"

"Actually I don't. But you, Jet, you look like the CEO of Extreme Gear Inc."

"Well duh I do! He's my dad! Crap, you weren't supposed to know that!"

His dad? This was like the coolest thing to ever happen to me! I know Thunder Hawk's son!

"Hey you aren't gonna tell him are you? See I'm not supposed to be out here and especially not at this time of night…"

"Yeah, me neither…" added Storm.

I observed the two carefully. They were just like all the other boys in Babylon, dirty and hardcore. Except for the designs, their boards were highly overused and needed a good tune up. "That board of yours…when's the last time they've seen a shop?"

"Never. We just got 'em from my old man after the other ones got a little tester-happy. It's been this way all our lives since the mechanic skipped town. Kinda annoying if you ask me…"

"I could fix them for you." I said proudly.

The two of them though they looked cool at first got on all fours and started to laugh at me. I didn't take it too personally because of what I had on at the moment and they were just guys so I shook it off.

"You really think you can fix our boards? I'd like to see that…"

"Yeah, me too!" added Storm.

"Just who do you think runs the Mechanics Shop around here? We Swallows are natural born fixer uppers and I can prove it!"

"Hmm, okay! We'll give you our boards tonight and we want 'em in top condition tomorrow!"

"Fine, you're on! But I do have a request and a question for you guys."

"A request?" Storm asked. "Like what?"

"One, I want to meet Thunder Hawk. Two…do you guys think I'm…pretty?"

They both flushed a bright red, though I think Jet did so a bit more than Storm. I was awaiting an answer.

"Uh, well you can meet my dad and um…here are the boards! See ya!"

Before I could even stop them they had ran off, leaving a trail of dust to my taste. This is the very reason why I don't like boys! But even so I was happy that something was going my way tonight. That's all I have to write for today but tomorrow I'll talk about how it goes with the Prince!

Still…I thought Jet was kind of cute…ugh…get it together!