Chapter 3: Our missing Princess

A/N: I... am... sorry. Its been WAY past the time I was hoping to update (earlier this month) but I got pretty buisy lately. But anyway, Its also been hard for me to determine if this chapter was good enoff to put up or no. With the fact the I proof read this one so many times, re-read it like crazy, and hoped it made sence. But I finally settled on this. So enoff talking, here you go.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Crystal Chronicles.

Gentley veiled music glided though the room with grace. The quciky yet light moving waltz music flowed from a solo violinist, accompanied by a piano, playing a tune that urged the sea of people to waltz in the grand ballroom. It's beautiful sound was able to be heard under the light chatter of the ball attenders and the few children playing amoungst each other with everyone in their best clothing.

The room was rather linear for a ballroom but looked like it stretched for half-a mile from the entrance doors. The walls where colored in a creamy eggshell with thick, white and gold trimming around the top of the high walls. Fine white pillars ran along the walls and also supported a second floor balcony that ran around the room with twisted and decorated white iron fencing. The floor was made of a glossy brown marble, but despite its color it was breath taking. The light source of the room was luminating high up from light candle chandeliers made of fine crafted silver.

Ball attenders laughed, chatted, and danced. Many wearing expensive fabric formal wear and other in formal but not as expensive, but ratherly more middle class folk you'd say. Clavates, Lilties, and Yukes all the same bowed lowly to their partners on the dance grounds as the light waltz music eased into a stop. Clapter filled the rooms aswell as more laughs and chatter.

As the music dimmed out, a pair of doors at the front of the ball room at the top of the balcony swung open with a light creek. All eyes casted upward in a quiet silence, not even a child spoke.

Entering from the doors was a pair of Lilties dressed better then anyone on the room. All present bowed at the waist or curtseied; even uttering the words 'your majesties' quietly, and many ball attenders with smiles. The royal Lilties bowed their head in relpy as they also parted ways from each other and a young blond haired women delicatly strolled in behind them.

Her shoulder length hair was restrained in a high bun and her bang restrained by hairpins. Her light mint green, tan, and white dress shuffled with her steps, aswell as complimented her green eyes. The dress' bottom passed her toes making her lift the front only so lightly in the front to prevent tripping, but only ever so lightly. The dress was rather frilly with multiple layers prevented her from showing off her natural Selkie thin and curvey body. Her sleaves where long but loose and her tight collar buttoned up till the midpoint of her neck.

Reaching the ivory railing, she curtseied breifly with a dainty grin on her features. Attenders stayed in a bow position longer then she, rising to her feet to and looking out to the crowds to just then only feel somthing ache in her chest when she saw that quiet a few people where standing and just... staring. Women snickering in mockery for only just a moment before hidding their faces as few men pretended to not even notice her.

Her lips fell from her formal grin. When the doors behind her closed as the waltz music picked back up, the room starting up with much talk and dancing. Zella felt a small gloved hand press on her arm snapping her eyes away from the crowds below.

"Zella...", her Lilty mother muttered, grinning sweetly and sympathetically all at once up at her. Zella weakly smiled at her mother, "Its alright, mother."

Her mother took a step back. Zella felt a grin spread on her mouth. It really didn't matter, she was use to the dislike of her citizens by now... ever since she was a little girl.

Zella breathed a heavy breath. She could feel temperature rise as her face was flushed from a warm heat as sweat lightly showed on her brow in the right lighting. She lightly tugged on her high collar she laughed lightly, "I think I'll... I'll go and mingle. I'm getting warm just standing here." Her mother smiled in approval but adding, "But be back up here in 10 minutes for your speach", as Zella steped away

She hurried toward the stairs that connected the dancing ground to the balcony, but breaking down to a hault before taking her first step down the stairs. Turning back over her shoulder to her parents she could see her mother watching her with kind and warm eyes. But her father... his eyes where averted, staring only off the balcony and down at the people dancing. He hadn't said a word to her since their argument earlier.

Zella's mouth bent into a pain-filled frown toward him and turned her back to them. "I'm sorry. But I need to do this...", she uttered from her lips before rushing down the curved stairs. Her set of cloths made her body feel heavy and body heat rise as she tried to stay light on her toes to prevent the the sandals she was wearing, hidden well under her dress' layers, from slapping against the marble floor.

When she reatched the floor, she stoped to notice people where watching her but once her eyes met their's they averted quickly and presumed to be wrapped in conversations. Zella could feel a little hurt inside as she reatched for her chest just over her heart as she stood there for a moment.

She quickly straghtened her posture and strided forth through the crowds. The crowds where more packed then she had judged from the balcony. At first, it was like she cound't even breath. When people where out dancing the others would crowds to the sides of the room to give them plenty of room so spacing was somthing valuable to find.

She could barley be seen in the large crowds, only her blond hair being a disadvantage for her to be spotted quickly. Ball attender's elbows nudged her sides and people bumped into her with little apology as she tried to gracefully sweep past them. No one seemed to notice in this crowd. The thick crowds made its feel like 100 degrees, or at least to her, as he face continued to flush a bright red and her moist brow was causing a few strands of loose hair too short to put in the bun to stick to her face uncomfortably.

She glanced back up at the balcony where her parents where watching from. Both parents eyes locked down at the dancing grounds nowhere near the side lines. She only then felt somthing tugg on her chest when she saw how they looked happy, even her father.

"10 minutes...", Zella reminded herself mentally. Her quick glinding past others and ducking under servents party platters that held many glasses that contained liquids that ranged from iced water to wine.

The thick crowd was her coverup that hide her so contently until she began reatching the back of the room. The crowds lightened and gave her more elbow room and less ducking needed. She found herself only halfway there, judging by the distance the large oak entrance doors where that she'd soon use as exit doors.

As she walked with gentle steps she tried to keep mental track of her minutes. Striding quickly and eye locked toward the door, until suddenly she stop to see a small Clavate child standing right infront of her. His big chocolate brown eyes staring up at her with no emotion to tell of. Zella grined widly at him before giving a light curtsy to him only causing his head to turn to the side in question.

Lifting his short arm to point an index fingure at her as he asked innocently, "Are you the Selkie princess?" Zella grinned, "Thats right, yes." The boy gave a toothy grin. "Hehe, Papa was way wrong, your not scary! Papa always said that your a Selkie monsterouse and that Selkies are only thieves who only take-take-take."

Zella's eyes widened a bit in suprise at the statement. But even before she could answer him a Clavate women dashed in from a smaller crowd. She grabbed the boy's arm tightly as she backed away with the boy in tow but all the way she bowed respectfully and apologized profoundly addressing her a 'princess' until she was back in a distant crowd.

Zella's lips pressed together as she stared off lost in a bit of thought of that boy's words. Selkies... If only more lived in Alfitaria.

Zella poped ouf of though when she heard a group of women, around her age, rudely giggle and snicker. She only dared herself to look but didn't need to. Under their light whispers and quick chatter she heard, 'Oh, the princess. Perhaps we should bow to the Selkie.' as well as 'Once that Selkie takes the throne she'll tax us to death!'

Zella felt a similare ache in her chest like a few minutes ago, but then to realized that she had no time for this. She pressed onward to the end of the hall avoiding any eye contact with people, trying to shake off what just happened to her.

As she reatched the back doors she noticed two Lilty knights standing post with lances at hand. They greeted her polightly with a 'Evening princess'.

"Oh... what am I going to... maybe...", Zella though as she grinned lightly at the guards. Her warm feature on her face droped to a light frown as her eyebrows knited lightly to only the best that she can act... or lie.

"Knights. T-There where... a few, Umm... young men I saw who where... begining to get drunk! I don't want them recking the ball so, could you go help them?" She asked using her more stern voice that she rarely ever found herself using. The knights glanced between each other before they bowed and did as she ordered.

As she listened to their clancky armour sound dimmed away into the crowds she could only feel herself compelled to lightly whisper an apology to the knights. Zella qickly glanced around. No attention on her. Still making sure no one was watching, she reatched behind her back for the door's shining brass handles. When she felt a tight grip around the handle she eased it open. Eyes narrowly glancing back and forth around the room.

Suddenly her heart froze and she released the door handle. A few Lilty women and Clavates passing rather closely to her, stoping for a moment and bowed directly toward her with warm smiles. She grinned and nodded her head as they continued on their way. The moment warmed her heart to see that some don't despise her.

Once out of sight again, Zella didn't hesitate as she opened the door only a crack big enoff for herself to slip out. As she slowly shut the thin space in the door, she gave one last glance up toward her parents who where just specks in the distance. "I'm sorry...", she whispers, closing the door silently.

Zella gingerly glanced around the long hallway she was in. It was dark, the only lighting was the full moon's luminating light that flowed through the long windows. Zella took a few dainty steps on her toes forward, glancing back and forth down the hall.

"Rie..." she whispered quietly.

Nothing.

"Rie..." She whipsered a little louder.

Out of the corner of her eyes she caught a cream colored fuzz ball trudging down the hall. His little body struggling to carry what was in tow behind him. A leather strap crossed over the front of his small body as he draged a brown rucksack behind him.

"Ku...po...", he muttered in a struggling voice. Zella felt a sigh of releif escape her lips. She joged silently to the moogle. As she approtched closely to him, he stoped all moving and floped onto his back in exhaustion. "That was... heavy... kupo." He mutter tiredly.

Zella dug through the rucksack, making sure all its contents where there. She nodded. Everything she needed was present.

Once that was done, she began to frantically unbutton the the buttons running down her high neck collar of her dress. Then lifting the dress from its hem up to her waist as she wiggles it up her torso. Finally getting it over her head she she sighed in relief as the dress with many layers floped onto the floor.

Under her dress, she had a set of traditional Selkie traveling clothes on that had been a gift from Fredrick for her 16 birthday and idly sitting in the back of her wardrobe for years. A white leotart showed her shoulder's and leg's bare skin. Also wearing a light blue skirt-like-sash that was pleated and tied just above left thigh. On her shoulders where white fured pads that had the same material as her sash lightly cover her arm till her elbows.

A cool breeze of air swept through a nearby open window and passed over Zella's over heated body with a shiver, as it seemed to ease her flushed face.

"It must have been really hot in all those clothes, kupo."

Zella nodded. "Yes, but we running short on time! Are the others up where I said to meet?" She spoke quietly as she took the rucksack and placed it over her shoulders. Rie flutterd up to her with his little wings until he was about shoulder length parallel with her. "Yup yup, kupo! But whys we running short on time, kupo?" he asked watching Zella untie her hair from the bun.

"We only have 5 minutes to get to the balcony." Rie's face was shocked for a moment as he seemed to stutter at a loss for words before shooting down the hallway ahead of her. "W-what are we still doin here, kupo!" She could hear him say in the distance. Zella joged down the hall to catch up with him aswell as trying to shoosh his voice.

Zella coudn't help but grin. He seemed just as excited as she was... but she wondered if he was just as scared.

In the ballroom people where laughing and dancing all the same. Not a worry in the world for anyone. Another waltzing dance ended and eveyone laughed with joy and claped as partners bowed to one another. King Ives and Queen Lillian claped happily aswell. Imedietly after the dance ended the king interupted with a loud voice that caught everyone in the rooms attention.

"Yes! Wonderful!" He called out to the people who all gave him their attention.

"A rather amazing evening, I'd say!" He joyfull spoke from the balcony. "Would you agree my wife?"

Lillian smiled widly, "Yes, and we'd like to thankyou all for attending here tonight and a more greatful thankyou to our carivaners." The crowds claped heavily enoff to echo through the entire caslte.

"And to show her appreciation, our daughter would like to speak to everyone and to our treasured carivaners." Another set of clapter filled the room.

As the clapter quieted, the queen looked down around the crowd. "Our daughter Zella... Nae," the queen said again, only unassure now. "Zella?" She said again.

The crowded guests began to look around and chatter lightly between themselves at the look of worry on the royal Lilties' faces. "Where is Zella?", the king asked getting as nervouse shake to crack in his throught, but embarassed at the same time.

"Zella? Has anyone seen her?" The queen asked one of the knights standing close by. The knights glanced between themselves with no answer but only just as confused.

"Zella?" The king asked into the crowd. "Where is she?" Lillian added nervously placing a hand on his shoulder. "G-Go and find her!" The king order to near by knights. Without hesitation, the knights jumped into action and began to run about the room with their clanking armour, talking though yells acorss the room to other knights to find her. Many of the party guests where talking amongst themselves even more about the princess' location.

The queen continued to lean over the ivory railing to see if Zella was just packed in the crowd, but Ives pulled her away from how dangerously she was pertched over the railing. A frown bent on his mouth as his wife began to go into a panic-attack. "W-Where has she gone?"

The old balcony door gave a painful creek open that made Zella wince with a mental prayer that no one heard it. She managed to squeez through the space she did open with the door and silently took steps out onto a dark -but moonlight- balcony. Catching her eyes in the dark quickly where the figures of two fluffy cream colored moogles with their bright red pom-pom's and small purple wings that should be physicaly impossible to even lift their bodies off the ground, but she didn't try question it.

Rie glided over Zella's shoulder to meet the moogles resting on the stone parapet wall that enclosed the balcony. It didn't take Zella to long to realize that one of the two moogles was a common mail moogle that she had seen in and out of the palace while the other seemed to be a local one of Alfitaria.

The moogles mutter in whisper to each other -maybe about what this is all about- while Zella didn't hesitate to make her way to the edge of the balcony where her heart beated against her ribcages heavily at the sight of the gaping space between the balcony and the ground that seemed 30 feet deep.

Not only did the scares distance give her a fright that gave her shivers, but surrounding the castle was the dreaded wall that's top was at parallel height with the balcony, aswell as the knights that marched back and forth around the insides of the wall. The wall passed her mind without a worry beacuse that was what the moogles where hear for after all, but the knights where a bit unexpected.

Zella's had to peer down to see the 3 Lilty knight that paced the inside of the castle wall. "I dont remember knights ever patrolling the wall.", she muttered quietly to herself. But they didn't seem armed, which gave her some relief.

"What now, kupo?" The other moogles seemed to be as infatuated with this whole sceme as did Rie since he wasen't even filled in on the exact details.

Zella kneed to the ground as carfully as she could, layed her rucksack on the greystone cementing floor and dug through the bag, keeping russling noises down to a very minimum till she finally pulled 3 pieces of sturdy cut rope of a long but decent length from her bag. The moogles tilted their heds in question, about to open their mouths for questioning but interupted by a whisper from Zella.

"I need to tie these around you." She said motioning to the roped with her head while her hands plucked Rie from the ground first and looped the rope around his body just behind his wings.

Zella had no emotions on her face except that her rosey lips where pressed together stiffly in consentration as she secured the roped tightly around his little body. As she looped the rope around Rie he felt her hands shake as she tried to finish it off with a neat little bow at the top but her hands fidgited to quickly and only created a tight knot instead.

"Zella, kupo... are you scared, kupo? I thought you where happy about this, kupo." Rie said quielty trading places with the mail moogle on Zella's lap.

Zella chewed on her lips lightly as she began looping the rope around the moogle. "I'am happy... thrilled in fact. But...I-I'am scared.", Zella paused while tieing the rope, then gave her head a quick shack before focusing back on the only half finished knot. "But this is s-somthing I need to do. It's important to me... and I may never have another chance to do this again." Rie didn't reply to her, not even exactly sure how to responed.

"If you say so, kupo." The mail moogle uttered quietly aswell.

Tieing the roped around the next moogle didn't seem to go without a hitch. Each moogle had a rope tied securly around their body and began to hover just above Zella's head as the ends of the rope dangled loosley around her.

"Are you suuuuuuure this is gonna work, kupo?" The local town moogle asked feeling Zella give on quick tugg on the ropes. Zella grinned up at him with a pleading smile that he will trust her. "I heard a long time ago by my school tutors that grown moogles can lift double or even triple their own body weight, but I-I'm sure just the two of you and Rie, you can lift me up easily." Zella said, grasping all 3 of the floating roped in her hands.

'I hope...', Zella added mentally as she lifted a foot onto the parapet.

It took Zella a few second to find enoff courage to lift the other foot onto the parapet as she held the ropes tightly in her deathly grasp close to her chest. As she stood on the edge of the balcony looking down at the long drop to the ground, her heart raced. A piece of her wanting to quit this all now and go back to the party while the other pushing her onward to follow through.

She swallowed hard as she stared at the wall -that was only a half the length of the drop down- away from where she stood. Finally releasing a shaky breath of nerves.

"1...", she whispered toward the moogles.

"2...", she held her breath.

"3."

She took her leap of faith and steped off the balcony as a small yelp rose in her throught but kept down by will-power alone as the floor disappeared from under her feet and the sudden feel of a drop. She clutched onto the dangling pieces of rope by her legs her with her bare knees as her eyes where tightly shut just expecting to hit the ground any moment, but instead...

she felt the wind.

A gentle breeze picked up her shoulder length blond hair in the wind and the sound of flapping wings fill her ears. One eyes opened, as the other followed. The first thing she saw was the view magnificent view of Alfitaria and the roads outsid of town in the far night distance. It haden't occured to her but after a few moment, she quickly glanced to check the moogles. They where holding up well. They seemed to be struggling but they where making it for sure.

The last thing she wanted to do was look down but felt compelled to do so. The ground was far from her feet, the specks on the ground where the knights that where on potrol, so unaware.

Exhilarating, content... freedom. That's all she felt now. The feeling of a joyest smile breaking on her lips made eveything in her body flutter faster then the moogles above her head.

As they passed onto the other side of the wall, Zella released her tight gripping knees from the rope that she held onto so tightly it left red imprints of the ropes pattern on her knees. The gray stone flooring on the outside of the wall grew closer to her feet.

Only about 5 feet until she'd land on the solid floor, but without patience she let go of the ropes and jumped to the ground. But without bent knees she tumbled onto her rear-end while the 3 moogle droped to the ground like dead flies in exhaustion. Zella's eyes widened in amazment.

"I-I'm... I'm.. I'm... out." Her jaw slack in slight shock of the moment.

As the moogles began to catch their breath and rise to their feet, they where swept up by Zella's hands, as she kissed each one on the top of the head as thankyou.

"Thankyou, Thankyou!" She excitedly whispered. "Your kindness will be rewarded greatly when I return, do you require anything? Food? A home? Money?" She asked over joyed.

"Can you untie the ropes, kupo?" One asked ehausted as he tried to wiggle his way out of the knots.

"Of course." Zella said with a peppy grin.

She untied the mail moogle and the local moogle first and then Rie who she greeted with a tights hug that she hadn't done since she was 12. Zella thanked the moogles again as Rie reminded them that they are swore into the secret of this escape.

It only took moment longer until the heart stoping sound of yells, blowing whistles, and the echoing sound of clanking armour was heard from inside of the castle wall behind Zella.

"THE PRINCESS IS MISSING! PRINCESS ZELLA NAE IS MISSING!"

Upon the sounds the two moogles frantically scattered and dashed off, running into town as quick as their feet would take them; which was quiet suprisingly fast. In a moments notice Zella snatched Rie up in her arms and she began to run as quickly as those other moogles did just a moment ago, straight into town.

Zella tried to run faster but the rucksack straped around her shoulders made this more bothersome to do so as she had ajust the straps that kept slipping fown her shoudlers.

She avoided any eyes contant with villagers who where enjoying the late cool spring night outside their houses or closing up their small buisness shops as she maneuvered her way through a few buildings rather then taking the path around Alfitaria' s crystal and straight out of town.

After maneuvering though the narrow street of town between houses and shop buildings she found a split in the street, one street, to the west and one to the east. Her eyes darted back an forth nervously as she huffed for air and unknowingly had been crushing Rie between under her arms.

"Oh...Oh gods... which way?" She breath panically.

"Right, kupo! I think the exits that way, kupo." Rie managed to weeze out from Zella's death grip.

Without a know how in the world of where to go, she listened and only prayed that he was right beacuse now she had no time to think, the knights -and even her parents- knew she was gone missing.

Thankfully from the direction of a moogle Zella saw Alfitaria's main entrance. It stood open bouldly like gates to heaven. Her mouth parted in a single laugh in amazment as she began to trip over her own toes toward the gate.

Zella flew through the gates, glancing behind her to see that the knights haven't left the castle... YET. Not one in view at the moment, but was startled to see the knight-guard at post by Alfitaria's entrance gate but was asleep on duity. But she didn't mind now, and was actually thankfull for that.

Zella ran without stop for the next few minutes following only down a straight path made of old rundown brick-stones. Rie could hear Zella breathing hard breaths, he knew she wasn't use to running so much or being is such a state of panic. Small droplets of sweat gleamed on her brow as her mouth only slightly opened to breath more air.

"Maybe you should slow down, kupo." Rie asked more questionably. Zella should her head. "I cant, not now! Father will send the knights to look for me soon...", she took a breath, "and they'll catch me if I stop."

Rie then looked out to the open road, the path looked like it could straight for miles. The path Zella had just run down had old dried and withered trees lining the sides of the road and she had finally begun to see the scenery change. It was not surounded by withered old trees but now a yellow stained green feild to her right. There where a few sloped and hills in the feild that gave creepy shadows around from the moon and dimmed certain areas but also shed light.

Zella looked out at the feild as she huffed a breath. Her eyes hastily sketched over the area, not a single place to hide. Just a big open feild with a few hills, sloped, one or two dead trees, dried grass, and a rabbit hole.

Zella's eyes widened in suprise as she forced her feet to break down to a stop.

"Z-Zella, what are you doing, kupo?" Rie asked, lightly shaken.

Zella's eyes wandered back to the 'rabbit hole' that was placed on the slop of a hill that stood out in the right lighting and postition. Her eyes narrowed in on it. "Is that a..." Zella whispered too Rie, who after eagerly looked around aswell. "That a what, kupo! I dont se-... kupo?" Rie spotted it too.

She'd only heard of these but never thought she'd ever actually see one in person. Maybe she could find refuge here for the night, without being caught by knight... or her father.

To Be Continued...

Anyone wanna gues what the 'rabbit whole' or just 'anime whole' is? But there are a few things I wannapoint out before someone else points it out. I honestly know nothing about moogles -other theny they're cute and fluffy- but they remind me of bees (the bug). I've seen bees lift some pretty big things so I always imagined moogles where that way too. But the moogle thing kinda goes against Rie when he was dragging the bag down the hall. BUT! Let remeber Rie is also a baby so I'd imagin he's like 5 pounds (not imcluding his 'over-sized pom-pom) and a grown moogle looks 15 pounds so... do the math if you want. Another thing is when Zella escapes the castle. I wrote this in like 3 other ways before settling on this one. I had her swing over, and zip-line over but they all felt... meh. Crossing over the wall via moogle-balloons was more unique anyway. In addition to the fact that is a 100 year continuation of Crystal Chronicles, I imagined that Alfitaria's town had grown a little is its a big more complcated to get out and I'm sure they had invented the piano in the 100 years.

But anyway, thanks for reading this chapter and chapter 4 will be out as soon as I finish writting it.

Dont forget to Review! Let me know if you liked this chapter or prviouse ones. Is there any improving still or is it just awsome? Let me know! So please review! Thanks! :D

~SomtinERanother