The sun had already been up for an hour, the purple hue of the sky blending in with the orange. It had nearly been a week since Mercedes has last saw the Prince and the Captain. As the days had went by and she heard no word from him she did a small victory each day figuring that he had given up and moved onto someone else's compound. However she still thought of the Captain and his ability to read minds. It was something that was so amusing to her and yet odd because she didn't have a single person to talk to about people with species abilities. She certainly couldn't search through the network without setting off a security breech to the controllers. This meant her secret stayed with him and his stayed with her.

Mercedes had been lightly snoring in bed, her eyes covered with a mask while she lay buried under a push silk comforter. A smile was visible on her face as she dreamed of the blonde alien. His hands were rough against her soft skin from all the work he had been doing on his ship. She looked at him deeply as if she was trying to study him from the inside out. Samuel's hand stroked the side of her face before bringing it closer to hers. Mercedes held her breath as she reached up to run her fingers through his long blonde hair, twirling the strands in her fingers. He placed a longing kiss on her shoulder, "Mercedes," he breathed in a deep voice, his bright green eyes meeting hers, 'Mercedes…'

"MERCEDES!" a voice shouted starling her out of her sleep. She sat up in bed in a panic look around the room with her mask on. Suddenly she felt her blankets being ripped from her body causing her to shriek and curl up, "So cold!" she whined. The same intruder snatched her sleeping mask from her face forcing Mercedes to squint her eyes to adjust to the room. There in all of her glory stood her maiden Santana with her hands on her hips. Mercedes grimaced and rolled over on her stomach grabbing her pillow and pulling it over her head, "Go away!" she told. Santana gave an evil smirk, "As you wish your majesty," she said calmly before turning around to leave the room, "But the longer you sleep the longer your new guest with a mouth as big as your mattress stays outside." The mere mentioning of someone waiting for her caused her to remove the pillow and sit up alert.

"I'm up, I'm up," she said excitedly

Santana arched an eyebrow before putting her hands on her hips, "Glad to see that I am worthy of your presence," she remarked, "Now do you mind telling me who the blonde crusader is?"

"The blonde crusader?"

"Really tall, blonde, a mouth that looks like it can eat a carton of eggs in on sitting. Wears armor and looking like he's either sexual frustrated or backed up…" she glanced at the door, "Might be both…so what did you do?"

Mercedes blushed, "He's here?"

"He needs to have a name if this conversation is going to go anywhere."

"You know you're my maid right?"

"You know that I will send you out of your room looking like you fell from a birds nest?"

Opening her mouth Mercedes huffed, "His name is Samuel…but they call him the Captain."

"The Captain, ay mios dios that sounds sexy. So do you sit in his mouth and fly to a new compound?"

"No…he's…" her voice trailed, "Oh crap!"

Without warning Mercedes jumped up from her bed and wrapped her arms around herself as she started to pace. Santana observed her behavior not sure if she should summon a doctor or a shaman. 'I can't believe this! It's really? Did the crazy Prince really send him here as my protector? Oh…he can protect me from my dirty thoughts about his…wait! He can read my mind right now can't he? Shoot! HEY YOU! Stop listening to my mind! This is a private conversation before me and my brain so hear your way out of it! Ok…ok…that's good…crap this means I have to go on the date with the giant. What am I going to do? I heard boys like sex…I'm not giving up the cookie just yet! Ew…why am I even thinking about this? I'd get split right down the middle then my poor family is going to have to stitch me back together for my funeral and everyone will be staring at me all stitched up funny. Here lies Mercedes Selenium Jones. A young carefree woman that was sold by her traitor father to an Ogre, who split her into two on their first night of intercourse. May she rest in pieces…' Santana had been watching her pace for over a minute now.

"Are you try to walk your way through the earth or should I call for a pysch?"

Mercedes snapped out of her thoughts, "No! Oh my…how long has he been here?"

Santana's eyes flickered, "Are we talking about the blonde crusader or the people inside your head?"

"The Captain," she said sternly giving her the eye.

"Well if you plan on getting your panties touched at all they we need to get you cleaned up and something."

"He's just a guard"

"Says the woman I can smell all the way from here."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly that," Santana taunted before opening the wardrobe, "God you dress so matronly it's depressing. All that money just to wear heavy ass tacky looking moo moos…I swear rich folks don't know they got it so good."

"You know I can here you right?"

"I know," she said over shoulder, "But I'm serious. This compound is the only one stuck in a medieval times theme. Stay relevant sometimes!"

Mercedes rushed over to her and grabbed her arm, "You've been outside the compound?"

Their eyes met as Santana snatched her arm away, "Yes…Sometimes I accompany the cooks when they do on produce runs to make sure they have the foods that you like."

"What's it like?"

"Outside the compound?" Santana asked, "It's…it's really hard to say. Every compound is different. They have their own laws and their own environment. But I can guarantee yours is the only one where you're dressed like a stereotypical princess who's desperate to have someone rescue her from her castle."

Mercedes look down at herself and then at Santana, "But this is how my family has been dressing for years. Do you not wear this outside the compound?"

"Hello no!" Santana sucked in her teeth, "I at least want to not get beat up and mugged in another compound. I would never wear this crap beyond the transporting gate. You couldn't even leave this compound if you tried. You've got that weird big eye thing going on like all hope for the future rest in your eyes. Also if you're going to be totting cushion lips with you then you are definitely going to stick out like a sore thumb."

Feeling insecure Mercedes started to play with her braided hair. A feeling of jealousy washed over her. How was it that her maid was allowed to leave but she wasn't? Santana's words crossed her mind about her appearance and that of other's outside of the compound. Were they really that different? Could she never fit in with other people? 'You're getting ahead of yourself,' she thought to herself but shook the thoughts. They were useless in her mind. She would never get to leave this place unless she was married…if karma wanted to be cruel it would make things working out with the Prince of failure and she would live on his compound. Santana had left Mercedes alone to her thoughts as she laid out an emerald green dress that was adorned in various jewels and silver trimming. 'A dress fit for a princess…'

An Hour Later

Mercedes sat at her vanity combing out her hair in the mirror. She hated when Santana did it because she was rough and would pull too tight on her sensitive scalp. Sometimes it felt like the girl was trying to snatch her bald in the process but that was thinking too extreme. Not wanting to waste anymore time Santana secured a small tiara on the top of Mercedes head, "There now you can shine bright," she said. Mercedes stood up sucking in her stomach for a moment as she twisted and turned in front of the mirror. It was almost sad to watch in Santana's perspective. While she often envied the princess for her lavish things, large home and the ability to dictate other's lives she also felt sorry for her. She could see in her eyes that she longed for something more and that she really wasn't princess material. Santana had even thought that if Mercedes could have her way she'd live off the land in the wild somewhere never to be heard from again or become a street walker for rebellion. The two of them made brief eye contact before Mercedes nervously walked towards her door. Pulling it open she stuck her head out looking around for Samuel. The halls were empty and the only sound made was from her very own breath. Quietly she stepped out and closed the door behind her. Unsure of which way to go she started to head for the main area of the castle.

"Good morning Princess," Samuel said in a deep voice

Mercedes turned around startled, "Oh my!" she yelped as she stepped on her dress in the process and tumbled to the floor.

Samuel rushed to catch her, "Are you alright?" he asked staring at her.

'I'm fine…why did you scare me! A simple hello at the door like a normal person would've worked just fine!' she thought

'I was scouting out the premises. It's my duty to protect you. Isn't that why I was sent here? To make sure the Prince's pet is being well guarded?'

She glared at him, 'I am no man's pet!' she snatched her arm from his and stood up, "Now my day is ruined because of you."

He stood up from his kneeling position and observed her, "Sorry to hear that," he replied dryly.

She scoffed at him as she dusted off her gown, smoothing the fabric against her legs. Mercedes took the liberty to check out Samuel's armor. His long legs shielded in a black metallic material, shaped to enhance the muscles on his body. She wondered briefly what he would look like out uniform, 'I bet he has a nice butt…Oh! That cup in the front's pretty big too. Then again he has really large hands that look like he could lay the smack down on a whole compound. So if myths are true and his huge hands are telling then his…' her thoughts were cut short when she heard him cough loudly. The realization hit her as she looked up at him immediately to be met with unenthused green eyed stare. Bringing her fist to her mouth to pretend like she herself was coughing, she stood up coolly and started to walk away from him. Samuel rolled his eyes and let out a deep frustrated sigh as she followed her, "Stay exactly five feet behind me," she ordered. He gritted his teeth knowing this job was going to be the longest most painful thing he had ever experienced in his lifetime. They girl was quickly adapting to the roll of Princess with a man servant. Samuel watched her as she walked with her head high, exactly five feet in front of him. His eyes examined the way the fabric clung to her shapely body and how the back of her dress hung off her. Without warning an unknown noise echoed in the halls causing Samuel to race towards the Princess, pining her against the wall for protection.

'What was that?' she thought looking up at him startled

His eyes scanned the room a growling sound form in his chest, 'I'm unsure.'

Mercedes was stunned by the noise that came from him. She slowly brought her hand up to his armor covered chest and started to rub the spot where she had heard the noise escaping from. Samuel's head snapped in her direction and then looked down at her soothing him. She caught a glimpse of his eyes, the black color both frightening and intriguing her at the same time. 'I think it was just a maid…calm down,' she thought continue to rub him. His eyes flicked up to hers, the darkness in them disappearing and returning to their unusual green color. When Samuel had finally calmed down he separated himself from her, straightening his posture to resume his professional stance. Mercedes looked him over and internally chuckled at how one moment he switches from being a human to being this robotic like creature. Then it had dawned onto her that he wasn't human. Even though he had said where he was from a part of her still didn't quite believe him. As sheltered as she was she was raised to know what other life existed beyond her little world. That included Nebulian people. Unless he was a genetic fluke, he wasn't really from Nebulan in her eyes.

"I'm starving and the longer we stand here, the longer I am going to starve. You will then have to carry my faint body to the dining room," she said dramatically flinging her arm against her face for emphasis.

He rolled his eyes, "Well the sooner you stop yapping at me with useless banter the sooner we can get you fed."

She pouted, "I do not yap"

"Still talking, not walking," he stated as he walked past her.

Mercedes scoffed, "HEY! Five feet BEHIND ME not IN FRONT OF ME!" she yelled swatting him with her hand.

Samuel was quick and caught her wrist. He peered down to her, "Don't ever hit me again," he said darkly staring into her eyes.

She blinked, "Sorry" before shaking her head, "You should learn to listen better."

He grunted, "And you maybe a Princess but-"

"But what?"

Samuel held his mouth open to speak but couldn't form the words, "Just be more aware," he warned letting her wrist go.

Lima Compound

Fineas had been in the garden watching the workers pick food before the crops went bad. His eyes were trained to a brunette who had been picking apples out of a nearby tree, a task for a much taller person than her stature. He watched as she would stand on the tips of her toes stretching as far as she could reach to grab apple after apple. Fineas could see the determined look on her face as she started to wobble back and forth on the step ladder. Without thinking he rushed towards her catching her before she hit the ground. The small girl squealed in response to his rescue, hitting his arm profusely.

"Put me down you giant!" she cried

Fineas blushed as he set her down, "Sorry…"

The girl dusted off her skirt, "Sorry! I don't need to-" she paused as she got a good luck at her savior, the Prince. Immediately her demeanor changed and she became much quieter, "I apologize dear Prince. I had no idea that you were so gratuitous to help a person like me in need."

He sighed at her bowing her head to him, "Stand up please. You don't need to be so formal."

Nervously she looked up but averted her eyes, "I was doing my job properly. I was assigned to pick apples and as you can tell a girl of my size…this isn't the right job for me. Not that I am being ungrateful! I am proud of my apple picking work," she rambled

He chuckled at her frazzled behavior, "Don't worry it's a secret between you and me. I won't tell the King," he winked.

She smiled, "Rachel, Rachel Berry," she exclaimed sticking her hand out.

He was surprised by her action, "If your last name is berry why aren't you picking berries?"

She let out a loud cackle, "You're so funny! I said the same thing but no I am assigned to apples."

"Sorry Rachel Apples?"

"Rachel Berry"

"Rachel Berry Apples"

"Rachel Berry"

"I like both"

"Berries or apples?"

"Both"

"Oh"

"Yeah…"

Standing there awkwardly he rubbed the back of his neck trying to figure out how to continue conversation. This girl was extremely abrasive and once he had cleared her of formalities she was very bold. He liked that she didn't keep up the overly humble façade that he was so use to people putting on display for him. She smiled brightly at him as she used the hem of her skirt to shine the apple in her hand. Shyly she held it out to him hoping he would accept her apology. Fineas smiled back as he took the apple from her hand a took a bit.

"BOY!" King Murphy called from the balcony

Fineas winced hearing the nickname he hated so much, "Shh, if we're quiet he won't know I'm here," he whispered to Rachel.

Rachel looked worried, "But you're so many feet tall. He's not going to take you for a tree."

"BOY!" he called again

Taking a bit of his apple Fineas sighed, "Well that's my cue. It was nice meeting you Ms. Berry"

"Nice to meet you too Prince Fineas"

"Call me Finn"

He turned around leaving her standing there with flushed cheeks as she watched him walk away towards the mansion. She stood there unaware that she was biting her lip and wringing her hands against her apron. Fineas glanced over his shoulder and gave her a nod thanking her for the apple again. Smiling happily to himself he met the displeased bald man dressed in purple velvet with an obnoxious bright yellow cap.

"Shouldn't you be on Compound 5 wooing the Princess? Not stuffing your face!" he shouted knocking the apple out of Fineas hand.

Fineas was quick to catch it as he took a nonchalant bite from it, "It takes times to court a young woman. I can't cast a spell on her and make her love me for no reason."

The King stroked his non-existing beard, "For a certain price I could find a hag that would be willing to conjure up a spell."

"Magic isn't real sir"

"The hell it isn't!" he sneered, "I mean…you need to be in the training room keeping your body in check. Let's not forget a certain fatty that would stumble over his shoes."

"It was baby fat"

"From eating a baby, maybe. You need to work on your mannerism because the Princess probably sees through your goofiness. Where is the Captain?"

"With her"

"And you trust him to not manhandle the Princess?"

"Why would Samuel hit a girl?"

The King bumped Fineas on the head, "Idiot, not that kind of manhandling…"

Fineas thought for a moment, "OH! Sex! Oh he's a eunuch"

"How noble and brave of him."

"It's why he's the best of the best sir."

"Go upstairs and jog around the mansion 10 times. Then after dinner 5 more times," he turned to leave, "Oh and boy?"

"Yes sir?"

"Don't let me catch you again chatting up the help. They are very disposable around here."

"If you punish everyone around here there won't be anyone left to take care of the land. The crops are already dying as is since you banished Rory from the compound."

"He was insignificant! Do not backtalk to me boy. I run this compound and soon Nexton. You will not interfere with my plans for our family."

Fineas stood there quietly finishing off the rest of his apple. His stomach had started to turn causing him to toss it in the nearby compost. He hated that he was being put up to courting a girl he had no interest in. 'She is pretty though…she's hefty in all the right places. Sturdy…could bare many children. Yes…this could work out,' he thought to himself as he sunk his hands into his pockets. He would have to do everything in his power to make sure the Princess fell for him at all cost.


I am finally back from the land of nothing. THANK YOU SO MUCH for being so patient with me and all the reviews so far for this story. At first the story update wasn't going to be thing long... I was deeply saddened by the lost of Cory and I had to rethink his portrayal in the story. I hope you stick with me the plot thickens with Finn. Sam and Princess Mercedes already getting off to a bad start with each other. As always I love reviews so review away! Thank you again and I hope you enjoyed this long awaited chapter!