Author's note: I actually don't have anything witty to say, which makes me a little sad, but anyway sorry my readers I haven't posted in a while, mainly because of my summer class.

Ashlynn: Fortunatly she gets done with it this week!

Aralyn: Yeah, thank the lord, I know I need a good education but I really don't like school. But anyway here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.

Ashlynn: She does not own anyone from the smurfs, all she owns is me and herself.

Medieval and Modern Times

(E)

Things were actually quiet this past week, just doing chores around the house, visiting the smurfs, and a few other things, but the boredom was starting to drive everyone up the wall.

Everyone was lounging downstairs in the rec room when Ashlynn came bounding down the stairs shouting, "Hey guys, guess what!"

Safe to say her sudden outburst had nearly scared all of them, even Clockwork, half to death.

"What Ash?" Aralyn asked, "What is it?"

"Take a look at this!" she demanded, holding out a colorful piece of paper.

"A fair?" Johan read off the page.

"Yeah, it's coming here this week, we could all go, it'll be fun!"

Everyone agreed, going to a fair would be fun, the rides, the games, the food, all of it.

"Great!" Ashlynn smiled, "We can go on Friday when they first open."

Aralyn watched as Ashlynn disappeared back up the stairs, "Hey Peewit!"

Peewit looked up, wondering why she had called his name, "I need to talk with you…alone." She instructed motioning for him to follow her.

Once in her room Aralyn closed the door, "Ok, this is serious and no one outside this room can know about this conversation. Got it?"

"Yes ma'am!" Peewit saluted.

"Good, but first a question. Is there anything you might want to tell me about a certain blonde royal?"

Peewit looked around the room, as if someone might be listening in, then he whispered cautiously, "If you mean Gerard, then yeah. I've noticed he was acting a bit odd lately and I asked him about it when we went camping, he didn't say anything but he got really embarrassed when we mentioned Ash."

Aralyn smirked, "Anything else?"

"Well, I also noticed that sometimes when he looks at Ash, it kinda reminds me of how Johan would look at you."

"I thought that would be the case. I've been watching them too, and I think we might be coming to the same conclusion."

"Yeah, but what can we do? It's not like we could force them together."

Aralyn didn't answer, she simply looked at the little jester, a sneaky smirk steadily growing by the second.

"You have a plan don't you?"

"Sure do Peewit, but we'll have to hurry. If we play our cards right this Friday will be a fair to remember." Aralyn pulled out the flyer, "See here, they are going to hold a karaoke contest near the end of the night."

Peewit's eyes began to light up as he quickly understood what Aralyn was planning, "And we're going to trick them into doing a duet?"

"Exactly!" Aralyn smiled, "Now I know that Ashlynn knows the lyrics to the song I have in mind but Gerard on the other hand has never heard the song. That's where you come in."

"You want me to make sure he knows the lyrics by Friday night?"

Aralyn nodded, "I'll make sure they're the last ones to perform and we'll get them up on stage. Being up in front of everyone, they wouldn't want to cause a scene so they'll sing it weather they really want to or not."

"And then they might actually get it through their heads, and they'll finally see what's right in front of them."

Aralyn handed a disk to her miniature partner in crime, "Any chance you get, make sure he practices."

"But what if he starts asking questions?"

"Simple, you lie. Tell him anything believable to get him to learn that song. We only have a few days to do this, so make them count!"

Ready to set things in motion the two conspirators shook hands and departed, their mission was now their number one, secret, priority.

(S)

"You think she might want to come along?" Gerard asked Clockwork as they made their way down the stone corridor towards Ashlynn's room.

"Squeak chree chirp!"

"I guess you're right." Gerard smiled, "It wouldn't hurt to ask."

Gently he knocked at the wooden door, but no answer came. Slowly he pushed the door open and looked around for any sign of the female entertainer.

To his surprise she was sitting on the window sill, her feet hanging over the edge, and a mandolin in her hands. Gerard almost went forward to pull her back inside but he stopped as she began to sing, not knowing that Gerard and Clockwork were right behind her,

"Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight

Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
that we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
it helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
it helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky…"

Gerard couldn't see hear face, but she sounded a bit sad and he couldn't help but wonder what was on her mind.

"Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

And even though I know how very far apart we are
it helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
it helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true…"

Ashlynn sighed as she gave one last look at the starry night sky, then she turned her-self around so she could get ready for bed.

Seeing Gerard standing there, to say the least, startled her. And as she jumped back she lost her balance on the sill, falling back first through the window. Jumping forward Gerard quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her inside and away from the sill.

Ashlynn stared with wide eyes at the window as she tried to steady her rapid breathing. Looking away she noticed how Gerard still had his arms holding her back protectively, and Gerard noticed it too. Both blushing madly they each took a quick step back.

"Uh… thank you." Ashlynn said after a quiet second, "I guess I need to be a bit more careful, huh?"

"No, it's not your fault. I was the one that startled you." Gerard quickly put in, "I should have let you know I was behind you."

Ashlynn gave a small nod as she put away her mandolin and sat down on the edge of her bed. Gerard cautiously took a seat next to her. "Feeling a little homesick?"

Ashlynn closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears that were threatening to fall back, as she nodded her head in answer.

"From your original home? Or the smurfs?"

Ashlynn took a deep breath, "Both."

With a sniff she began to explain, "Where I lived before had a lot of painful memories for me. I was twelve years old when my parents died, and then my brother died when I was sixteen."

Tears were now sliding freely down her face as she spoke, and Gerard couldn't help but gently take her shaking hand in his as she continued. "Sometimes it would hurt so bad, just living in the same house we used to be a family in, but it was home. It's where I grew up, and even if those memories hurt, I still had those other memories that made me smile.

And after I found myself lost in the forest I was so glad when the smurfs let me stay with them. They kinda became like a second family to me and I felt happier than I had in a long time." She wiped her eyes with her hand before quickly adding, "Not that I don't like it here, no, it's not that at all. In fact I love living here, but…"

"But you miss those places because when you needed it the most, they were there for you." Gerard finished for her.

Ashlynn, nodding in agreement, gave a small sigh as her wavering breath finally settled down.

"You know," Gerard said softly, "I understand a lot of what you're feeling."

Ashlynn looked up, "Y-you do?"

Gerard gave a sad smile as he began to explain, "I grew up in this castle with my mother and father, this was my home, my memories. But when I was nine both my parents succumbed to a strange illness. All the best physicians did everything they could think of, but nothing worked, and I watched as my parents were worn down, never being able to help them.

Within the year they passed away and I was left to carry on for my father. But things only got worse, my aunt, Lady Imperia, had me locked away in one of the castle towers, and lied to everyone saying that I had come down with the same deadly illness as my parents, planning on taking the crown for her-self.

She kept me there for three years, up until the night before my twelfth birthday, the day I was to be crowned king and begin my reign in my father's steps. Fortunately, by a stroke of luck, Clockwork had made it into the castle and helped me escape. He led me to the smurf's village where all the smurfs helped to care for me and to rid the kingdom of my evil aunt and return me home safely. Since then the smurfs have been my closest friends, besides Savina, Johan, Aralyn, and Peewit."

Ashlynn smiled, remembering when she had met the four humans. They all lived with Gerard's uncle, who was also a king the next kingdom over. Savina was his cousin, Johan was a squire, Aralyn was an entertainer for the court and Johan's girlfriend, and then there was the miniature sized jester named Peewit, whose singing left quite a bit to be desired. They had all come to see her a few days after her recovery, apparently after Gerard had brought her here Aralyn was the one who had treated the injury to her side. Aralyn explained that even though she came from the same time as Ashlynn, she had learned magic and some healing arts from Papa Smurf and a wizard named Homnibus.

Ashlynn felt so happy and sad at the same time. Without thinking she let go of Gerard's hand and wrapped her arms around the surprised monarch, who, after a hesitant second, returned her hug. Everyone always told her they felt sorry for her, they would wish her the best, but not one of them measured up to Gerard. He understood everything, he knew how she felt, he knew what it was like, he had gone through so much, and yet he was one of the kindest people she had ever met.

"I never would have thought you had been through so much." She mused as she gently pulled back, releasing both of them from their embrace.

Gerard smiled, "I could say the same for you as well. You always seem to carry a smile whenever I see you."

Ashlynn blushed, "When I was little my mom would always hug me when I cried, at the times when I felt my weakest. She would always tell me, 'It's not the problems we go through in life that show how strong we are. It's the times that seem to be the worst and despite the trouble we still smile, that shows real strength.'. Now every time I feel sad or troubled by life, I think about what she said, and I can't help but smile, knowing that is how she would want it."

Gerard grinned as he walked towards the door, "And I'm glad you do. A smile suits you far better than tears."

Ashlynn could literally feel her face burning by now, "Thank you Gerard…for everything."

Suddenly a sound grabbed both of their attentions, turning they saw Clockwork waving his arms wildly as he jumped up and down on Ashlynn's bed.

"Oh right," Gerard laughed at his own forgetfulness, "I nearly forgot why I was here in the first place. Ashlynn, the day after tomorrow I had planned for my last royal holiday before winter begins to set in."

"Royalty takes holidays?"

"Well, uh, sometimes, yes. But you see I had planned on going to the beach and though I would love to have Clockwork accompany me I'm afraid that the salt water might rust his gears." Gerard explained the situation, "However, if Clockwork stays here then, besides myself, there will only be a handful of guards there. So both my-self and Clockwork thought it would be a splendid idea if you would come along to keep me company."

"Really? The beach!" Ashlynn asked excitedly, "Oh that would be awesome! I'd love to come along!"

"Really?" Gerard asked, "You don't mind?"

"Not in the least. I know what you mean. Do you know how long it took me to get one of those guards to crack a smile the other day? Nearly an hour, if I don't go with you, and Clockwork can't go with you, I'm almost certain you'll die of boredom!"

"Then it's settled, make sure you're ready to leave at sunrise the day after tomorrow. We'll be leaving as soon as possible."

Ashlynn gave a thumbs up, "No problem your highness."

Gerard smiled as Clockwork joined him by the door, "Goodnight Ashlynn."

"Scree-nee." Clockwork waved back.

Ashlynn giggled at the adorable mechanical smurf, "Night boys. Sweet dreams."

As the door gave a soft click Ashlynn immediately began thinking, "This could be a whole lot of fun, but I wonder if the carpenter could make one in time for our departure? I'll make sure to ask him first thing in the morning."

Satisfied with her little plan Ashlynn snuggled down under the covers and blew out the candle sitting on her night stand before drifting off to sleep.

Aralyn: Ash what are you planning?

Gerard: Yeah, that ending gives me an uneasy feeling.

Ashlynn: You two seriously, you have been reading too much about Jo's exploits from flowerpower's story. Do you think I would actually do something like that?

Aralyn + Gerard: *looks at eachother* Yes.

Ashlynn: *crosses arms* Guess that shows just how much you two trust me.

Aralyn: What ever Ash. Anywho people please review, and before I forget the song was Somewhere out There from An American Tail. Have a smurfy week yall!