Disclaimer: I don't own Ella Enchanted, but I own Devyn, Arianna, Terrance, Hayden, and blah…whatever's not mentioned in the story. That makes me feel much better.

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Ayortha

Being the capital of Ayortha, Aithania was, of course, quiet. The sun was setting, painting the sky with vivid colors and sending an exquisite peace throughout the city. In the center of the city, with its prim stone roads and comfortable homes, was the Ayorthaian Castle, where the royal family dwelt. As expected, it was serenely quiet there, too, just the way King Hayden and Queen Arianna liked it.

The gardens were lush and full of blossoming flowers. Grapevines wrapped themselves around the gate, which was normally open in the day so people could admire it. Queen Arianna had a taste for flowers, and a green thumb to match. She could grow anything out of everything. Her favorite thing to do was to take a stroll in her private garden and enjoy the tranquility…and the silence. All Ayorthaian royalty loved silence…

"WHAT!"

…except one.

Princess Devyn wasn't exactly the regular Ayorthaian princess. Instead of treasuring and marveling at the serenity of the castle, and indeed, Aithania, she despised it and demolished it at every chance she got. Her country loved her dearly, especially the loud commoners, but sometimes she was just too much for the royal family (which, with the exception of Princess Devyn, consisted of King Hayden, Queen Arianna, and their youngest child Prince Terrance) to handle.

In the bedroom of the princess, located in the West Tower, were two people. One was the princess herself, and the other was her mother, the Queen. Usually sunset was Devyn's favorite – and quietest – time, but today was different. Arianna sighed and gave her daughter a disapproving glance. She, while not as talkative as Devyn, said more than the King and Prince, at least, and continued her attempts to persuade her daughter.

"Devyn, dearest, I know you don't like to do this kind of thing," she said in the exasperated tone only a mother could practice perfectly, "but the welcoming ball for the Kyrrian rulers are very important. And the heir to the Ayorthaian throne has always been the one to open it…or, in this case, heiress." While Arianna's voice sounded annoyed, her expression was one of flawless patience. Her emerald green eyes were steadily gazing on her daughter's rapidly reddening face and not a single blonde hair was out of place.

"But why would the prince even help me open it anyway?" Devyn asked, getting edgy. "I mean, the ball's for him." She thought it was a very good question, and obviously her mother did too, for she opened her mouth, shut it, opened it again, and shut it. The sixteen-year-old princess smirked in satisfaction. Besides the fact that she made her mother look like a fish (again), she had raised Queen Arianna's doubts about this…thingy. Thingy was one of the words in Princess Devyn's strange but pleasing (to her) vocabulary, and she could say it in eight different languages.

"Because," was her mother's short reply. Obviously she could not think of anything else to say. Suddenly and unexpectedly, a grin spread across her blindingly beautiful face. "Oh, sweetie, it's going to be such a success. Don't you worry, I'll make sure everything goes perfect." With a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead, she had taken her dainty self out of Devyn's room.

Devyn groaned. That hadn't sounded too promising.

Kyrria

The sound of retching could be heard from the East Tower in the castle of King Charmont and Queen Ella.

"Eww! There is absolutely NO WAY am I going to do a thing like that! Isn't attending balls enough to please you guys?" Prince Kyler demanded his parents. "Besides, I'm not going to open a ball with some girl I don't even know! I'm NOT going to Ayortha!"

Ella shared glances with her husband Char, and then they both looked at their usually quiet son. "That isn't an option," Char said quietly, his voice commanding even then. "The future rulers of Kyrria and Ayortha have to spend time in each other's courts to maintain peace. Do you want to ruin a sacred tradition that has been going on for two hundred years?"

"Besides," added Ella, "it might actually be fun."

Kyler mumbled something that was unintelligible, probably a curse. He had gone and wasted words on his parents, of all people, and they hadn't even listened to him! There went two weeks of silence. He glared at his mother with green-brown eyes so much like his father's and brushed away a raven curl that had fallen into his eyes. "Fine, I'll go," he said reluctantly. "But I can't promise I'm going to like it."

"That's the spirit, son!" Char exclaimed proudly, extremely satisfied. Ella laughed at the both of them, father and son. Kyler couldn't help but chuckle along. His mother's laugh was contagious, and though he hadn't inherited the gift, he had learned to laugh, at least. And that was enough for him.

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Devyn's POV

I bolted out of my bed, grabbing a sword that hung above my bed for protection. I had heard a scream…where could it be coming from? And just great, too…(note the sarcasm!) I had been having an extremely violent dream that had included me slaying a dragon, beating up the Kyrrian prince, running away, and living amongst vagabonds in a life of freedom, fun, and most important of all, sound. As everybody knew, I hated silence.

But all the details of my dream were swept away as the scream came again and faded to a whimper. Curiosity took the best of me and I ran out the room, still managing to keep quiet and my footsteps unheard. It's a talent. The halls would have been completely dark if it weren't for the occasional candle. I made my stealthy way toward the sound and halted in surprise as I saw the familiar door the whimpers had led me to. Terry's room!

Without thinking, I whirled open the door, threw the sword to the floor, and kneeled down on my beloved brother's bed. He was awake…and frightened…DUH! I cursed myself for my stupidity. To think that I had thought there was some sort of evil creature lurking around the castle! I could be so daft sometimes!

"Devvy? Is – is it you?" Ten-year-old Terry's voice was shaking, and his fair hair was wet with sweat. He was sitting up on the bed, his green eyes wide and bright with alarm. I pushed him gently back down and smoothed his tawny locks. My brother was the only one I managed to exercise eternal patience with, and he repaid it by loving me with all his heart. It was kind of cute.

"Terry, Mom and Dad are sleeping at the other end of the castle; of course it's me!" I murmured in his ear. "Was it another nightmare?"

Terry smiled and nodded. My presence was soothing him. Good. "It was about Tabby." Tabby was his favorite playmate, and a girl. "She was gonna be eaten by a dragon with Diana's head and…and…" He shivered as I tried to keep a straight face. Diana was our fat old great-aunt, and she liked teasing everyone, especially Terry because he was so sensitive. "I'm okay now though. Thanks for coming, Devvy…I always feel better when you're around. Mother always laughs at my dreams, but you never do." He gave me a smile, the one he always saved for me. It made me glow.

I grinned back and murmured softly, "You know I'll always be there for you, Terry. Sweet dreams." I kissed his forehead, something I hadn't ever done before. His eyes fluttered open again and he smiled again. His mouth opened as if he were about to say something, but I cut him off. "If you ever mention what I just did to anyone, I'll…erm…well, it doesn't matter. I'll think of something. Just don't say anything – I've got a reputation to live upto." My little brother nodded sleepily.

"G'night, Dev," Terry muttered as I reached the door with my sword in hand. "I love you."

I smiled. "Love you too."

When I woke up it was morning - a very silent morning. Here started another typical day in Aithania. I remembered the events of last night and grinned slightly. Terry was so adorable sometimes, as annoying as he was. Besides, it was nice to know that somebody at least cared about you. Unlike parents…they were so evil and made slaves out of you. I mean, they've known me since the day I was born; I'd MUCH rather be riding Firefoot or training with the other knights than opening a bloody ball. A ball that happened to be in a week. Dammit.

Sighing softly, I got dressed in my riding clothes: a plain white shirt and leather pants. People usually gave me strange looks when I passed by, but I wasn't stupid enough to ride in public anymore. Terry and I had kept up a tradition since he had turned eight and learned how to ride. Every morning at five, we rode to the meadow we called our own (but it was really Dad's) and spent some time making "heinous" noise before I had to get into some stuffy dress and go on with my duties as a princess. Bo-ring.

After I had brushed my hair to a gloss and tied it into a ponytail (hair was the only part of my appearance that I cared about), I literally ran out of the castle to the stables. Terry was waiting for me as usual. I never knew how he always got there before me, and I probably never would. But his bright grin was enough to make me forget I had ever thought such things.

"Hey, Devvy…Firefoot's right here," he said to me, indicating the magnificent steed next to his own white mare. Terry's horse was well-groomed and dainty, sharing her master's characteristics.

But Firefoot was different. As he reared and gave me a high-pitched, friendly greeting, I grinned. He was the most beautiful horse in the world. With his gleaming coal-black coat and beautiful silvery mirror eyes, he was perfect. But he wasn't tame, as Mom and Dad pretended he was. No, he was just as wild and loud as…well, me. His mane blew in the wind, creating an image of power and elegance. Oh, how I loved him!

Terry and I rode our horses into the meadow, which my brother had named 'the Meadow'. Not that creative, but he'd been just six then when we had walked there on foot. That had been before I had taught him to ride. It was a beautiful place despite the plain name. Waves of shimmering green whispered to us, shaking the dew off their shiny heads. In the center of the pasture was an oak tree. I've always liked oak trees for some reason. Mom's always said it's because it's strong and stubborn, like me. Dad says it's because it grows slowly and rarely changes, and I can always depend on it to stay the same. I agree with Dad.

We rode further on to the edge of the Meadow, where there was a stream for Firefoot and Snowflake to drink from. Firefoot, as always, wanted to gallop ahead, but I pulled him back. As I'd said, Terry was sensitive, and I hadn't been talking about just his feelings. My delicate brother was sensitive to hot and cold weather, thin and polluted air, etc. etc. etc. I, as his sister, was to take care of him at all times, which, of course, I didn't mind. Terry was good company, and I'd gotten used to him over the years. And you can't just be with someone for all of his or her life without liking them, even if it's just a little bit. And I'd gotten attached to him, which also meant he was the only one who could call me Devvy, Dev, or some other horrendous nickname. To everyone else I was Princess, Devyn, or Princess Devyn…not including the rare cases of Your Highness. Everyone knew I hated being called that. Well, Princess, too, but everyone called me that anyway.

"Devvy, you're scaring me," Terry said, mocking horror. "You're actually…thinking."

"Well, with brains like yours, it's a wonder to you if someone breathes," I replied dryly, which was teasing in my own special way. Terry knew it, and he laughed.

"Well, what were you thinking about, Princess?" he asked.

I stuck my tongue out at him childishly, something I'd been doing often. "How people called me Princess and I hated it," I answered truthfully.

Terry laughed again. I was very good at making him laugh, wasn't I? "No, really? I thought you were thinking about the upcoming visit from the Kyrrian prince."

That shut me up, which made him laugh…again. Unfortunately, he continued as well. "I heard his name's Prince Kyler, and he's really quiet. I guess he's not going to talk much when he's here, seeing as hardly any of us even know how to strike a conversation. But maybe he'll learn how talk after all, considering the fact that you're here."

"I wouldn't talk to him anyway," I retorted. "Except for the usual 'by your leave'. Mom and Dad will probably think it's rude, like everything I do, but that can be expected. Secretly I know they'll be happy for some peace." Terry chuckled softly. Did he laugh at everything I said?

My brother and I rode back to the stables, Firefoot and Snowflake having finished their drink. I was surprised to see that Mom and Dad were waiting for us there; they'd never done that before. They were probably here to check if Terry had mad duck disease since it was going around in Ayortha.

"Devyn, dear." I was surprised to find that, one: they were talking to me, and two: Dad was the one addressing me. "We have news." I waved impatiently for him to continue, causing him to frown slightly but also causing Terry to laugh and Mom to smile. "Your mother has talked to you about the visit from Prince Kyler, yes? Well, the visit has been rescheduled." I let out a sigh of relief. "The Kyrrian prince will arrive here by tomorrow." My happy expression turned into one of pure horror.

"WHAT? This is SO not fair! What did I do to deserve this?" I demanded the world.

Kyler's POV

"WHAT? This is SO not fair! What did I do to deserve this?" I demanded my father as he told me that I was going to leave for Ayortha today. I glared at Mother, who was trying to assure me that it was going to be fine. Stupid parents.

"Kyler, son, we just thought it would be better, since we have everything all ready for you already," my father answered calmly. "Besides, you just said yesterday that you would go."

My jaw dropped open, then clamped shut, dropped open again, then clamped shut. All in all, I looked like a gaping fish. I could see that my parents were stifling their laughs. Ha-ha. "Mother! I don't want to go! Why couldn't the ruddy princess just come here, or rather, why couldn't we just not do this at all?" For the first, last, and only time in my life, I pouted.

"Sweet, please, calm down," Mandy, my fairy godmother, said to me in that composed, reasonable voice of hers. I turned my burning eyes on her. "Lady, I think you should give the prince some time to cool down. After all, this isn't easy for him, I don't think."

Father crossed his arms across his chest defensively and stubbornly, almost making me laugh, but Mother shook her head at him. Mandy was the only person she always listened to, especially in the 'Kyler cases'. Normally I was the quietest, most perfect princely son anyone could ever have, but I had inherited stubbornness from both my parents (though Mother liked to think it all came from Father's side), and that made a mule of me. Well, I was much more handsome than a mule, but whatever.

"All right," Mother said to the two of us, elbowing Father in the ribs since he had opened his mouth to protest. "But Kyler, you must get ready, for you have a long journey ahead of you. Be at the stables by quarter to one so you can leave. Of course, some of our knights will be accompanying you, in case you run into ogres. Come, Char." With that, she led Father away to their bedroom.

As soon as she left, Mandy turned her gaze onto me. It wasn't particularly kind, but it wasn't hostile either, so I just didn't say anything. That didn't stop her from talking, though. "KJ for your thoughts, sweet?" she said. It wasn't a question; more like an order.

I rolled my eyes but replied quickly, "I don't want to go."

She snorted. "I kind of figured, since you've been saying that ever since you heard about Ayortha. Or rather, the welcoming ball. Tell me, what's wrong?"

I squirmed in my chair. Mandy was the only one that could make me do that. "I just don't want to," I sighed at last. "You know I'd rather do anything else than open a ball. Why do I have to open it anyway? I'm the one it's being held for! Besides, I'd be much more comfortable if there wasn't one at all; Mother and Father know that. Why must they make me miserable? Is their goal in life to make my life a disaster? And then there's the year of being away from home…that's going to be just horrible. I've never been away from home before, or at least, not for a year. And for all the other times I've been away Char was with me." I meant my sister Charlene, not Father. "It's not fair." There I went again, pouting.

Mandy laughed. Can you believe it? She laughed! "Don't you worry, sweet," she assured me. "It's going to be fine. I've met those Ayorthaian people and they're splendid. The King and Queen really do know how to laugh, and Queen Arielle is the kindest soul I have ever met, except for maybe your parents and the Lady Eleanor, may she rest in peace. The Princess is a bit queer, and very loud, but you'll like her enough, seeing as she's such a pretty little thing."

I stuck my tongue out at her. Childish, I know, but how could she judge me like that? The princess may be pretty, but I'd never get along with her if she was really as loud as Mandy had said.

"Oh, dearie, I'll send your sister in. Maybe she'll knock some sense into you," she said to me, her smile making her wrinkles deepen, but yet she looked younger when she smiled. Strange. She glided – yes, that's what I said – out the door to fetch my sister.

A few minutes later she came in. My sister, the Princess Charlene as everyone knows her by, is rather pretty, I suppose. She looks just like Father: the hazelnut-colored curls, the aristocratic nose, the freckles…all except the eyes. They're a bright green, exactly like Mother's. As for me, everyone says I look like mother, everything except the eyes. They come from Father. So I guess Char and I are opposites.

"Ky…Mandy says you wanted me," she murmured timidly. Another reason that explains why we're different. She's quiet because her shyness always overcomes her, and I'm quiet because I don't bother wasting words while people can interpret what I'm 'saying' by my expression. I think mine's more sensible.

I rolled my eyes again; oh, bother. Timid little Char would never understand what I was going through. After all, she would never have to do this herself, being younger than me by seven years. Besides, she simply adored balls. If any one person loved shopping, it was my sister. She marveled at the fabric of gowns, loved to try out jewelry, and all that girly stuff. That was the only time you saw her come out of her protective shell.

I explained my situation to her nevertheless and she surprised me by understanding. "You don't like the attention, do you?" Char asked me, eyes boring holes into my head. Ouch…was that my brain frying in there? "And you don't want to be given it by strangers of all people." She patted my hand sympathetically. "You'll get used to it. Unlike you, I have to go out there all the time." True…while I stayed indoors, training, she had to go greet people daily at the market while she carried out her duties.

I nodded. She surprised me again by wrapping her arms around me in a hug. "You idiot…you'll last," she said simply, tears in her eyes. She left as quick as she'd come, leaving a bewildered me to ponder my thoughts.

There was one thing for sure: my sister was very, very weird.