"Long ago, in Paris. There's a tale that springs forward of four girls. Four girls from different walks of life. Corinne, a simple country girl. Aramina, a ballet dancer. Viveca, the town's fashion designer. And Renee, the musician. But, they all had one thing in common. They dreamed of becoming musketeers! As fate would have it, they all ended up maids in the castle and uncovered a plot to kill the Prince! So, under the special training of a secret somebody, the girls pressed towards their dreamed, ultimately saving the prince from death!"

"And they became the greatest musketeers ever!" A little girl with blond hair and blue eyes, jumped to her feet, interrupting the other little girl that had been telling the story.

It was a clear day in the streets of Paris. The sun was shining and the little girls thought it was the perfect time to tell stories about their favorite heroes. The female musketeers.

The blond was wearing a pink dress that was identical to Corinne's. all the way down to the where she hid her wooden sword.

"Yeah!" the one that had been telling the story, she was dark with black hair and dark brown eyes, jumped to her feet too and fumbled with the latch of her necklace. It wasn't a sling shot, but she liked to pretend.

Then two more girls jumped up. They were all wearing dresses like the musketeers'.

"On guard Philippe!" The blond yelled "You will never be king!"

The children spun around when they heard laughing.

The four real musketeers were standing behind them.

"Well, Viveca." Corinne said "I can see what you've been doing on your free time."

Viveca shrugged "When four little girls come asking me for four dresses like the ones we wear, what can I say?"

The black haired little girl ran over to Renee, her blue dress flouncing "You're my hero!"

Renee chuckled, and made the girl turn around in a circle "I must say. You make a convincing little me."

"We're looking at the female musketeers!" A little girl with brown hair, brown eyes, and dressed like Viveca exclaimed. "These are the real musketeers!"

The four older girls laughed.

"Well, duty calls." Corinne said turning towards the castle.

The other three looked in the same direction. They saw the top of a hot air balloon sticking out from over the wall.

Renee snickered, but the little her replied before she could "Don't you mean, Date with Louis, calls?"

Renee looked down at the little girl in shock "Hey, you're good."

Corinne rolled her eyes "It's not a date. We're just testing his experiment."

The little Corinne nodded "Yeah!" then she glanced up at her mentor "Although, I would like to marry a prince. He's cute!"

Corinne's mouth dropped open, then she clamped it back shut. She spun around and walked back to the castle, leaving her friends and the kids laughing behind her.

Louis was finishing getting the balloon ready for take off, when Corinne strode up.

"Good morning Your Majesty."

Louis smiled down at her from his position in the balloon's basket "Good morning, Corinne. You ready to fly?"

Corinne chuckled "It's not the flying I'm worried about. It's the landing."

Louis raised an eyebrow "You saw that?"

"Yep," she answered, climbing up the rope ladder "I may have deserted you, but I didn't leave until you rode off with my father."

She jumped into the basket, then steadied herself.

Louis released the ropes holding them down, and the balloon started rising into the air.

"Steer clear of the roof." Corinne warned "Don't forget what almost happened."

Louis didn't answer, he just steered the balloon past the castle and up into the endless blue sky.

Corinne looked down at the town. She could see her three friends still talking to the kids. Then they pointed up at the balloon.

Corinne chuckled, the continued to watch as the town became smaller and smaller, till the only thing you could see of the people, were little ants scurrying around.

"Amazing, isn't it?" She asked.

Louis looked over at her and smiled "I'd say it's beautiful."

Corinne could feel the heat creeping into her face "Louis."

"Yes?"

"May I ask you a question?"

He nodded "Of course."

"How do you see these balloon rides?"

Louis fought the cringe that wanted to come. He had a feeling that the way he liked to think of them would make her upset. So instead he said "A chance to see a new part of Paris, and test my newest invention."

Corinne nodded "I was hoping you'd say that."

Louis sighed with relief. Unfortunately, Corinne heard it.

"You didn't just lie to me, did you?" she asked.

"No!" Louis said immediately "Would I do that?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. She thought she saw something fly past, but when she turned to look, all she saw a bird.

Louis pretended to be checking their fuel level. Truth was, he used the balloon as an excuse to see her. Being a musketeer and a maid and all, she really didn't have a lot of time to just talk.

Down in town, Renee walked into her parents' music shop to get a new bow for her violin.

Seeing a figure crouched down behind the desk, she assumed it was her father.

"Hey Dad, I'm just in for a bow." Renee said.

The figure flew into an upright position so fast, he banged his head on the desk.

Renee jumped back "Who are you?"

The guy stood up and stared at her for a second "I'm Hugh. You must be Renee."

Renee nodded, taking in the sight of the man. She judged his age top be right around hers. He had dark, black hair, and nearly black eyes. He had a medium build, but was rather tall.

"Yes." she finally answered "I'm Renee."

"I just got a job here." He said smiling "Your parents have told me a lot about you."

"Ah." Renee walked over to a peg that was stuck in the wall and pulled a bow off of it "Just came to get this. I've already worn mine out."

Hugh nodded "Have a nice day, Miss Renee."

She nodded, then backed out the door.

Viveca and Aramina were waiting outside the door for her when she came out.

Aramina stared at her a second "Are you blushing?"

"No." Renee answered, turning to walk down the street.

Aramina peeked through the music store window and giggled "She was blushing."

Viveca grabbed her wrist and started pulling her after Renee "Come on!"

As they walked up the cobblestone road to their apartment, Aramina was just rambling to herself "Maybe someday I'll meet my prince charming!"

"If anyone will, you will." Renee said, rolling her eyes.

Viveca laughed "If Corinne was here, this is what she would say. Aramina, you've already met him. In your dreams."

Aramina giggled "Well, that's true. I just can never see his face."

Viveca ran over to the window "They're landing!"

The other two ran to the window and watched. the basket hit the ground, then capsized. Both passengers were thrown to the ground.

"Well," Renee said "At least they were on grass."

Aramina sighed "Someday."

Corinne dusted off her pink skirt "Good thing there aren't any grass stains. Viveca would kill me!"

Louis handed her, her hat "Well, that went wrong."

"You think?" she laughed "Maybe next time." she took a deep breath of air, then released it slowly "Although, I don't think I should go up with you too often."

Louis cocked his head "Why?"

"Well…" Corinne tried to think of the right way to put it "I don't want people to start seeing things that aren't there."

Louis nodded slowly "Okay. I think I understand… I think."

"Corinne." D'artagnon suddenly came running over to them "Can I speak with you for a second?"

Corinne nodded "Yes, Dad." then she turned back to Louis "See you later."

Louis nodded, then watched sadly as they left. "There was nothing there?"