Chapter 2
"Welcome to the Presentation of the Fall/Winter Equinox were King Evergreen will be presenting the beginning of our Equinox," exclaimed Queen Clarion. Light and Bright were letting me know who each person was on the stage. I was standing in the back of the Winter Fairy crowd in Pixie Hollow and wearing a cloak over my wings. We wanted to keep my birth a surprise and present me to all of the Fairy World at once. The crowd was cheering for Queen Clarion, whom Light said was our Mother Nature Fairy. There was also an old man who was Father Time and next to him was a young man whose name was Leaf and was Prince of Time. Also on stage were the 4 Ministers of Seasons, including Father Winter. King Evergreen and Queen Juniper were the current Equinox Fairies and standing next to them was Prince River, the Spring/Summer Equinox Fairy in line for the throne as well.
All the Fairies from the separate season lands were gathered around the Tree Of Life, were there was a hollowed out center where pixie dust waterfalled into a main well in the center. All the royalty were standing on the stage, except me.
"So, King Evergreen, would you please step forward to present us the Winter Equinox?" Queen Clarion exclaimed.
Evergreen stepped forward, but so did Father Winter. "I apologize, Queen Clarion, but I have something to present to all the Fairies first."
"Can't it wait?" Queen Clarion asked, a bit insulted by Father Winter's informal interruption.
"Actually it can't. May I have your attention Ladies and Gentlemen! In the Winter Village this morning, we were given a gift and we would like to show all of you her..."
Light and Bright took off my cloak and I flew up a bit to be a few inches higher than the crowd and the Winter Fairies separated to make a path straight up to the stage for me. Gasps from the other season fairies as well as the winter fairies came as I flew up to the stage slowly. As I ascended the stage, Father Winter announced, "I would like to present to you all, Princess Aspen White; the newborn Fall/ Winter Equinox Fairy!"
Cheers roared in the audience with whistling, shouting, and clapping. As they did, Father Time led me to the middle of the stage, above the pixiedust well and whispered, "Just as I told you, Princess."
He backed away, leaving me in the middle and I began to spin, faster and faster and then stopped quickly, cause my magic to work. Snow began to gently fall all around Pixie Hollow on all the season fairies. They oohed and aahed at the snow, and began to clap again.
"My my, how wonderful! Thank you Princess Aspen," King Evergreen exclaimed, approaching me and touching my shoulder before gesturing for me to stand with the rest of the royalty. "Now, this equinox..."
I drowned out his words as I approached the group of royalty and stood next to Prince River. "Huh, amateur..." River exclaimed under his breath as I settled next to him. "I'm River. The Spring/Summer Equinox Prince."
"I am aware," I exclaim. His voice seemed to expel arrogance and snarkiness.
"What you did... with the snow? Not that impressive. I could do something like that in my sleep. Just so you know, I have been training as an Equinox Prince for 6 months, and you just got here. You know what that means?"
I looked at him. His blonde hair was spiked up and his green eyes looked back at me with confidence. "I'm better than you are. And always be because you are just going to have to keep trying to keep up to what I already know. So good luck, well, actually, you don't need luck, because it would be pointless seeing that you won't be able to catch up..."
"Well, excuse me but-" I was cut off by that loud cheer of the crowd. King Evergreen had finished his speech and the royal court began to move.
"Wonderful chatting with you, Aspen. See you at the ball!" River exclaimed, catching up with Father Summer.
King Evergreen came to me and offered his arm for me. I linked my arm to his as we strode into the Winterland. "It is a pleasure to meet you Princess Aspen. You are a fast learner, I can tell with that trick you did."
"Thank you, King Equinox."
"Please, call me Evergreen. One day you will be the Queen and I will just be another snowflake in this world... but don't worry about that. I want you to enjoy being a child and have fun! I know they have you learn your responsibility, but don't forget to learn how to have fun."
All the royalty (except for Minister of Spring and Summer) came with us back to the castle, were the Royal Court was being housed in the Equinox Wing with me and this evening would be Winter Equinox Ball. When we came back to the Palace, Evergreen walked me to my room before continuing with Juniper to their room. I enter and find Light and Bright there, waiting for me. "Welcome back, your majesty!"
"Please, Bright. I told you two to just call me Aspen. And Hello," I exclaim approaching them as the guards closed my doors outside.
"We have a few dresses picked out for you for this evening's ball," Light exclaimed, gesturing to the dresses hanging over the dressing screen.
There was one that was white, but I didn't really want to blend into the snow. There was another pale blue, but I was already wearing a pale blue dress. The third was a rich purple and had skin hugging sleeves, a boat neckline and fell to the floor with an ombre effect to pale purple. I chose that one and went behind the dressing screen to put it on. It had on a corset, which both Bright and Light had to help me to get it on. I almost couldn't breathe and I swear I heard my back crack a few times when tightening it. My posture was improved and my back actually felt good afterwards.
"You look amazing, Princess. Prince River will love you!" Light exclaimed.
"Pssh. Like I care what River thinks! That jerk is so pompous, I'm surprised he didn't get stuck looking at himself in the mirror this morning!"
"Oh, your majesty! You shouldn't say that about your future husband!" Bright exclaimed.
I paused. What? "Future husband...?" I exclaimed, turning to look at them as they pulled away from fixing my hair up.
"Why, yes, Princess. The King and Queen of the Equinox, or in your case, the Prince and Princess are arranged to be married once they take on the Equinox responsibilities. Didn't Father Winter tell you that?"
"No... It must have slipped his mind..."
There was a knock at the door. "Come in," I exclaimed.
A guard entered and closed the door behind him. He bowed and then approached. "Your majesty. The young Prince of Time is here to escort you to the ball."
"And who are you, Sir?" I asked, standing and looking up at the tall guard.
"I am Cobalt, Princess Aspen. I am your personal guard."
"Pleasure to meet you Chief Cobalt. Thank you for the message. I will be out in a moment."
Cobalt left and Light and Bright help me get on my heels. "Have fun your majesty!" Light and Bright exclaimed.
"Please. Call me Aspen. And aren't you two coming?"
"No. Servants do not attend the balls, you- Aspen," Bright responded.
"Please come. Get on your best dresses and attend. I will tell Cobalt to let you two in if you decide to come, okay?"
They hesitate, but nod in agreement before I turned and headed out the door. Light opens one of the doors for me and I walk out to see Prince Leaf in a red and brown suit. He had brown hair tied back into a short ponytail and had hazel orangish eyes.
"Princess Aspen. You look magnificent. I would be honored if you would give me the pleasure of escorting you to this evenings ball," he exclaimed, offering his arm. I took his arm graciously and we walked down the hall and continued on to the stairs. Just at the bottom of the steps of the other stairwell was River talking to Juniper.
"Well, if it isn't the snowflake now," River exclaimed. "Leaf, you are decreasing my respect for you by hanging out with this newb?"
Leaf let go of my arm and stepped forward to River, "River, I don't care what you think of me because, frankly, I find Aspen a wonderful creature, and you are quick to judge her in your cynical way. Now, if you don't mind, we must get going," Leaf said, taking my arm again and heading out the door. He was so confident and showed River that he wasn't the center of the world.
"That was... incredible," I exclaim.
"Why, thank you Aspen. I saw him threatening you at the ceremony. He really does need to get off that high horse of his. I wish he could see that though... it never seems to get through to him."
"What do you mean?"
"Every ceremony we go to or social event we attend, I seem to have to tell him every time that he is not as powerful as he thinks. But of course, he never listens..."
We entered the great ballroom of the Winter Wing and Father Winter approached us. "Ah, there is my northern light! Prince Leaf, thank you for escorting Aspen to the ball, but may I have her come with me to the stage?"
"Of course, Sir," Leaf responded. "Pleasure walking with you Aspen. I hope to dance with you later this evening."
"You look delightful this evening, Princess Aspen," Father Winter exclaimed, taking me across the ballroom towards the stage where the orchestra was playing the music. River walked in with Evergreen and Juniper and they all walked up to the stage.
"I think everyone is here now, Father Winter," exclaimed Juniper as Father Winter laid a kiss on her hand a she came to stand on stage with us.
"Good, then we shall start," Father Winter exclaimed, motioning for the Orchestra to cut off the music. "Welcome all to our Equinox Ball! We are all looking forward to the season ahead for it will be our greatest. Now, for the first dance, and in celebration of her birth, Princess Aspen White will start our first dance with Prince River."
The crowded cheered loudly as I remained speechless. Were they serious? I could hardly speak to the boy with out wanting to punch him, and now they expected me to dance with him? River came over to me and offered his arm. "Shall we?"
I hesitated, knowing I didn't want to go with him, but I grabbed his arm anyway knowing that as royalty, I had the obligation of doing so. He walked me down to the middle of the ballroom as the orchestra started up again with a waltz. River had me spin and then pulled me in to have one of my hands cupped by his and my other hand resting on his shoulder as his hand rested at the small of my back. He led me slowly across the dancefloor and we rotated together. It all came so naturally and like he had the control of every move we made. For a moment, I almost thought he was a gentlemen, but then he spoke.
"You aren't very good at dancing are you? Are you good at anything at all?"
"Says the boy who is no good at manners. I have not seen you once show your royal charm since I've met you," I exclaim, purposely stepping on his foot.
"Ouch," he paused. He looked quickly around, realizing that everyone was staring and went back to dancing. "Why did you do that? It's not very lady like... but you aren't much of a lady are you?"
"I'm more of a lady then you will ever get."
Evergreen and Juniper now joined the floor as well as a few other royal couples. "Well, you will be my lady soon enough, so don't think that you are too good for me, because I already own you."
"No one owns me, my dear."
Just then, King Evergreen asked to cut in. "Yes, Sir, you may. I was done with her anyways," River exclaimed, leaving and going to Juniper.
"Ugh. Is River always like that?" I asked as Evergreen started to dance with me.
"Unfortunately yes. He has quite the ego for a young fairy, but I think you can tame him. It almost looked like you can punch him and I was overhearing and seemed like you can definitely match his wits in tongue."
"I hope he learns his place. Leaf was telling me how he always has to tell River where his place is but River never listens."
"Yes, Leaf has been trying to show River he is wrong, but I don't think River will ever listen to Leaf... But he may listen to you one day," evergreen exclaimed, cheerily.
"Ha! I doubt that! I feel like the only person River listens to is himself!"
"Ahh, that may be true now, but one day he will realize that being alone isn't as fun as he thinks it is and he will need a friend."
"And you're suggesting I am going to be that friend..." I asked as Evergreen twirled me.
"I know you will be. Juniper and I were the same way. We hated each other in our youth and then one day, we realized how much we actually loved each other and that day came long before our actual wedding. Her and I always laugh when we look back at how ridiculous we were to not see how much we needed each other."
"I understand Evergreen, but he's just so pompous, it's hard to see past that quality of him to see any good."
"I understand my dear," Evergreen replied as the song stopped. "Well, it's been a pleasure dancing with you Miss Aspen."
"The pleasure is all mine, Sir." I walked off the dancefloor to grab myself a drink. A few people passed by and said hello. I finished my drink and put my cup down and as I turn, I see Light and Bright wearing blue and white dresses that matched each others. "Oh, I am so glad you two decided to come!"
I hugged the two of them. "We are glad to see you two Madam Aspen," Light exclaimed.
"We were surprised to not find you dancing with Prince River," Bright said.
"He and I did dance, but I could hardly stand to dance much longer with him without wanting to strangle him, so Evergreen cut in and he and I danced until the end of the song."
"I'm sorry to interrupt," exclaimed a voice. It was Leaf who had come over to us.
"That's alright your majesty. We were just going," exclaimed Bright. "We will see later this evening Princess."
The two of them scurried away as I turned to face Leaf. "I was wondering if you would like to dance?" Leaf asked, holding out his hand
"I would love to," I responded, taking his hand as he led me to the dancefloor. He did what River did where he twirled me and brought me into dance.
"So, how was your dance with River? it looked like you stumbled while you danced with him."
"Oh, that? Stepping on his toe was on purpose. I could hardly stand dancing with him... I can see why you try to change him because he really needs an attitude adjustment."
"And you are so lucky to marry the delightful fellow," Leaf exclaimed and I chuckled.
"Well, one thing is for sure. What he lacks in charm has been made up by you. Your charm has been phenomenal and is making this evening quite pleasant."
"Well, thank you."
We continued to dance and even continued into the next song, just talking about ourselves. Leaf was just so charming and kind. He was what a true royal prince should be like...