Sorry for the horrid delay. I could tell a nice long story that would involve terrorism, kidnapping, tae kwon do, and a bag of frozen peas, but I think the best (and most truthful) explanation would be: I got busy. My apologies.

Again, note the chapter title.

Disclaimer: The kid's mine. Prince and the Pauper-esque qualities? Cheers to Mark Twain.

The boy rubbed his shaggy dog absently, not caring that the twigs and brambles were scratching his hand. He was busy thinking. He didn't know where to go next. The dog licked his hand with her wet tongue.

"Ugh, Denise," he said, wiping the slime onto her matted coat. "Where do you want go?"

She looked at him, then put her head back on the ground.

"You're no help."

He sat in the alley for a few more minutes, letting his scavenged meal settle. The city streets were starting to fill again for the evening activities, now that dinner was over. He heard some street musicians, bad ones, start up their songs. Conversation passed in snippets by his narrow doorway to the busy street. He could see them, but they couldn't see him unless he moved into the waning light. He watched the people. In the darkness, they were faceless, nameless, lifeless. His mind patterned faces onto them, familiar faces – dreaded faces and painfully loved faces.

The crimson sky had darkened to a musky purple before he stood up.

"Come on, Denise. Let's go to the capital. Maybe there's something there for us."

She stood up and shook her coat, then looked up at him expectantly. He eyed her dirty fur with a wrinkled nose.

"You really need a bath. What have you been into? Never mind. I don't want to know. Come on, if we're going to get a ride, we'd better find the city gate and look pitiful."

Denise just looked at him. The boy smiled and rubbed her ear.

"Come on, girl."

"The monarchy will fall."

Nervous rustling. Someone peeked toward the door, being sure the latch was drawn. No whispers of treason rang the room.

"It will fall, and then where will the people be?"

"Where they are now."

"No!"

"Never!"

"We need a new king!"

"Are you mad? A king?"

"Who would listen to a king, now?"

"Peace, men. Peace. Keep your voices down. If we are overheard, it's death for all of us."

That brought quiet to the room.

"They will not listen to a king – not a normal king. They need a king with more power, and a king with more intelligence. They need a king who was once one of them, a king they can trust."

"And I suppose you are that king?"

"Don't sneer at him, Ganger. He has a point."

"No, not I. There is someone else I had in mind."

"Who?"

"Who else?"

"Not—"

"Naturally. He's the only one who could."

"But, the people hate him!"

"No! The people only seem to hate him."

"The people aren't allowed to love him."

"Exactly. If he emerges as the head of a Revolution, they'll follow him like sheep."

"To the slaughter."

"Ai!"

"No, listen to me. If they stand, the military will crush them."

"If they stand. They have no backbone."

"They're just scared."

"So? They still will not stand up."

"If he goes around the country, stirring up nationalism among them, getting their minds ready for a turning of the tide, then we have our chance."

"Why will they stand now, when they haven't before?"

"The king's next outlandish decree will bring them to action."

"King Damian knows the people are unhappy. He is starting to reform him ways."

Soft hissing.

"No, he's right. King Damian won't do anything to upset the balance now."

"How will the people stand, then?"

"There will be something. There always is."

"But—"

"Trust me."

"Aye, we trust you."

"Yes."

"We do."

"Long live the people."

There was a pause, then every man nodded and repeated.

"Long live the people."

EVA: Well, now it's taken me long enough to update that I deserve the scolding. --hangs head-- You're right about Rose. That's the part that hurts me the most, too. Her Mom loves her and stands up for her to her father, sometimes, but when it's just her and Rose, she wonders if Little Rosie is really worth all the pain. How much better would it be, indeed. I'll do my best with what I have, though.

FaylinnNorse: I am planning on writing that story... someday. I actually have most of the plot for it, already. But, it's waiting in storage for the time being. It is rather typical, but it explains sort of why Rose is the way she is. Ah, her mother breaks my heart. --sad sigh--

Mazkeraide: Yeah, I was hoping this explanation would show more of why she was so painfully withdrawn in Nasap. I hope your carpet has come in by now! It's taken me long enough to update, anyway.

clairetenshi: I'm glad you enjoyed it! The names are odd, but I try to mix them with normal names (like Rose and Abe) so you aren't muddling through the entire thing. Nre is probably the one you were having the most trouble with, yes? It's like Marie with an N, if that helps. I might have weird eating habits and an active imagination... --grin-- Oh, thank you! I adore grammar and spelling, as dorky as that sounds, so I like it when someone points out if I'm doing well. I'm glad I could let you just read for fun. I know what you mean about that! Oftentimes, good stories with bad spelling/punctuation/grammar turn into projects for me, and then it's not quite as fun to just read. Sorry for the long delay! I hope you keep reading!

Falchion: I know, really. He is an idiot. Well, if they find the book and give it to Gregory, he might be able to figure out what happened to Rose exactly.

Darth Chocolate: Peeps are... somewhat disgusting. I'll give you that. They haven't really thought of Lilliana yet, since she's not supposed to even have books at all. She knows what's happening, but she doesn't have any control over it. It's like she's trapped in her kid-body and is doing it all over again, but she can't change anything.

Forever Daydreaming: Probably a bit of both. I know; isn't that terrible? --sniff--

Chocolate chip scones for reviewers!