A/N: this story is from Dustfinger's childhood. If anyone seems OOC, that's probably 'cause they're kids. I just came up with this idea recently, and decided to try it out. Hope you guys like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own anyone in this story.

The sun shone down on the beach, and was reflected in waves of the ocean, making it look like it was made of liquid gold. A boy who looked to be about six years old sat on a log by the shoreline. He appeared to be waiting for something. He was fidgeting in his seat, and occasionally, he would get up and pace.

Where is he? The boy thought What's taking him so long?

His friend had said that he would be there when the sun was shining on top of the castle, but it was already going behind it. The castle loomed on top of a mountain. The Castle of the Night, they called it, where the Silver Prince lived. Everyone said he was evil, and the boy had seen many examples of it already.

Good thing I don't live in there! He mused. The boy had spent all of his life here, in the shadow of the Castle of the Night. He had been born in Argenta, where even the name suggested the value for silver. All of this was fine, but right now, his main cause for concern was simply the whereabouts of his friend.

As if on cue, another boy's voice broke into his thoughts.

"Dustfinger! Dustfinger!"

The boy spun around, and though he was very happy to see his friend, he crossed his arms in mock anger. "What took you so long? I've been waiting here for ages!"

Sorry, Dustfinger. But you know how my sisters are." he imitated their voices. "Silas, no, you have to stay and play princess with us!"

That brought a laugh out of Dustfinger, and he gave his friend a sympathetic glance. He was lucky that he was an only child, though he wished for a family sometimes. But the Barn Owl and all his apprentices, current and former, were family enough for anyone.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Silas asked.

"Um . . . I dunno. Why don't you think of something?"

"I know, let's say what we want to be when we grow up!" Silas said, seizing the opportunity.

Dustfinger sighed. He thought it was childish, then reminded himself that he was still a child. "Oh, okay."

"When I grow up, I want to be a prince!"

"A prince? But you don't have royal blood."

"So, I can still get there. I'll be the kindest and most noble prince there ever was, and everyone will call me . . . the Black Prince!"

"Oh, how original." Dustfinger said, sarcastically.

"What do you mean?" Silas was slightly fazed by his friend's reaction.

"I mean, up there in the castle, they call him the Silver Prince, because he has lots of silver. Then, in Lombrica, they have a Laughing Prince, because apparently he laughs a lot. And in the Castle by the Lake, they have the Prince of Salt, because he was a salt merchant."

"And what does that have to do with me?"

"Well, you're kind of . . . black, you know, so that name is just very . . . " Dustfinger searched for the right word.

"Okay, okay, I get it. But I still want to be Prince!" Silas said, climbing onto the log.

"But then . . . how will we be friends? Because I'll still be a lowly peasant." Dustfinger was simply trying to find ways to convince his friend not to become a prince, because he didn't want to lose him.

"Then we can be princes of the same kingdom together!"

"Don't be silly! You can't have two princes." he paused and muttered to himself, "Or can you? Never mind."

"Well, maybe you could be the princess. You have long enough hair, anyways!" Silas retorted, jokingly.

Dustfinger climbed onto the log and stood beside him.

"What? No!" he said, giving his friend a playful shove. "Your hair is longer than mine. And besides, I don't even want to be a prince."

"Oh really. Then let's see what Mr. High-and-Mighty wants to be."

Ignoring his friend's last comment, Dustfinger said loftily, "When I grow up, I'm gonna be the best fire-eater there ever was! I'll make all the stories and legends come true, and I'll be immortal! Everyone will call me . . . the Fire-Dancer."

Silas was put off by the fact that his friend's choice was much better than his was, so he searched for a good comeback. "Fire-Dancer? That sounds like a girl's name!"

"It does not! You're just upset that your choice wasn't so good."

"No I'm not; it does sound like a girl's name."

"Does not!"

"Does too!"

"Does not!"

"Does too!"

"BOO!" A new voice startled Dustfinger and Silas out of their argument.

So, how'd you like it? The first person to guess who the new person is will get a (reasonable) prize of their choice. The second person will get a prize of my choice. If you think you're right, just tell me what you want. Please, remember to Read and Review. It really helps!