She didn't know exactly what she was supposed to do now. She had finally defeated the Sorceress and her family was safe. She was in over her head, she didn't know how to be a princess, heck she hadn't even known she was a princess until just a couple of days ago. Was it really only a couple of days, it seemed like so much longer. She had only known Cain, Glitch, and Raw for a week, yet it seemed she had known them her whole life. They still had a lot to do. They needed to gather the rest of the Longcoats and see if they were loyal to the Sorceress because of fear, belief that she was the rightful ruler, or if they were just following Azkadellia, Princess. She didn't want Cain, Glitch or Raw to go away but they were needed in other parts of the O.Z. It was great that she had been reunited with her real family and that Azkadellia was free from the Sorceress, but she felt useless.
"Hey Kid, what are you thinking so hard about?" Cain asked.
"I feel completely useless. After the week we've had you would think that I would appreciate some nice down time. But I don't, I feel like I'm going crazy. I need something to do. Please tell me you have something for me to do Cain."
"I figured that was how you would feel. So I talked to the Queen and Consort and got their permission to have you help me scour the O.Z. looking for either Longcoats or Resistors to tell them about the end of the Sorceress reign and the role she played in the destruction of the O.Z. and how it wasn't really Azkadellia ruling it was the Sorceress".
"Really, they actually said I could go? I would have thought that they would have wanted me to stay here".
"I convinced them that it was a good idea for the people to see that you were alive and well and the part you played in bringing down the Sorceress. It would go a long way in convincing the people that the Gales haven't given up on the O.Z., they were booted out".
"Thank you, oh thank you, Cain" DG said hugging him then bounding away in excitement.
"You're welcome, Princess" Cain replied.
"Cain are we really going to go back to the Princess thing again?" DG asked.
"Well that is what you are, isn't it?" Cain asked.
"That is my title, not who I am. I am just DG ex-waitress and mechanic. I know that is what my birthright is but I don't remember being a princess, I guess I am going to be an unconventional one and everyone had better get used to it." DG huffed.
"I have no doubt that that will be the case. Everyone in the palace loves you for all your weird ways and many of them would do anything to protect you. It won't take you long to win over the rest of the people in the land."
"Thank you, Cain. It's nice to know that someone believes in me".
"Always, DG, always. But it might take the people a little while to get used to the way you do things, wearing pants instead of dresses, hugging everyone like they are part of your family and your funny way of talking so no one can understand you."
"Hey, I wear pants because they are more comfortable than being squeezed into a corset, and because I am a princess technically everyone is part of my family and I don't talk funny, the rest of you do" DG said testily.
"I know princess, but around here it is you who act different than they do and you are the Slipper Princess, so they know that you are going to do things a little different. It will just take them a little time to adjust to you is all. And I have complete faith in you that you will do all in your power to do just that and they will be more loyal to you than they ever were to any other princess before. You have this quality about you that you expect people to be loyal to you and to do whatever is in their power to live up to your expectations".
"Cain, you are making it sound like it's a bad thing and not making me feel better at all if anything you are making it worse. Go talk to your son, I won't be needing your services anymore today" she said stomping off.
"Dad what did you say this time?" Jeb asked behind him.
"All I said was that we were going to travel the O.Z. and that she might take the people a while to decide that she is the real deal because of the way she acts" Cain responded.
"Agh Dad, women like to know that everything is perfect the way she acts not to have her weaknesses thrown back at their faces. I swear I don't understand how it is that I know more about girls than you do. After all you married Mom and you are my Dad. Isn't it the Father who is supposed to instruct the Son on how to act around girls not the other way around" Jeb responded.
"Yeah well your mother was my first love. I hadn't shown any interest in girls before she came along and she was the one who told me the way things were going to be and she is the one who kissed me first and she is the one who proposed to me" Cain responded.
"Really? She never told me that" Jeb responded.
"Really. I don't think I ever would have gotten your mother if she didn't decide that she was the one who wanted me. I would still be working up the courage to go up to her and talk" Cain said with a grin.
"Well then it's a good thing that DG was the one to come barging in your life waving a stick isn't it?" Jeb asked slyly.
"What do you mean by that?" Cain nearly exploded in shock.
"Nothing. If you having figured it out yet, I'm not going to be the one to share the news with you. This is something that you have to work out yourself. If anyone else tells you then you will never believe them and I think it would be a good idea if you concentrated on your heart while you are roaming the countryside with DG" Jeb said smugly.
Cain just glared at his son, not bothering to even answer him.
"Well I guess I'll go find DG and try to comfort her and talk about how you don't have a heart and that you will never understand and anything else she wants to talk about. I am after all closer to her age and am more willing to listen to her instead of telling her everything that is wrong" Jeb said walking off and leaving his father behind him still staring after him unable to think straight.