The next day was, thankfully, rather uneventful. Marianne reviewed her lessons, practiced her posture and dancing, and cleaned the blood out of her dress, with some help from Bog's magic. The rain had cleared, so the ship had smooth sailing weather. Marianne was out on the dock, leaning back in one of the resting chairs, watching the sun set over the sea. Imp sat in her lap, snoring away. Stuff and Thang were also with her, enjoying the sea breeze.

"Are you nervous, Lady Marianne?" Thang asked. "After all, tomorrow you finally meet the prince!"

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't," Marianne replied. "After all, if I mess this up, this whole trip would have been for nothing,"

"I think you'll be fine," Stuff said, "You've really gotten your lessons down and you look like a downright proper lady! That Prince what's-his-face won't know what hit him!"Marianne chuckled.

"His name is Sunny, Stuff, and I'm not trying to woo him or anything. After all, he and Dawn are engaged. I'm just hoping he sends me to meet Dawn. I really hope I am who Roland and Bog think I am,"

"Master Bog thinks very highly of you, Lady Marianne," Thang said cheerfully.

"He does, huh?"

"Between you and me, Marianne," Stuff said, her voice a whisper, "I think he's got a crush on you,"

"Oh really?"

"Yeah! I mean, look at you! You're caring, sweet, feisty, pretty, and more importantly, you've been there for him, especially when we couldn't be. How could he not fall head over heels for you!"

"I don't think we should be gossiping about Master Bog like this, Stuff," Thang warned, "He might get angry,"

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him!" Stuff replied.

"You're very sweet, Stuff. But Bog and I are just friends. I've already established this with Roland," Marianne said.

"Oh. Right. Him. The guy you're sweet on," Stuff grumbled.

"I am not!" Marianne protested, her cheeks pink.

"Oh, please, Marianne! You've been goo-goo eyed with that doofus since you met him!"

"He's not a doofus!"

"See? You're already defending him!"

"I think I've had quite enough of this conversation," Marianne stood up, causing Imp to fall off of her lap. He landed on his feet and gave a big yawn, stretching his legs.

"You might say no, but the blush on your cheeks says yes," Stuff teased, landing on Marianne's shoulder.

"Careful, Stuff, or I might tell Bog to put you back into his coat pockets,"

"You're bluffing,"

"Am I?"

"Are you?" a voice asked. Marianne looked up and saw Bog walking her way. "I was wondering where those two had went. Not causing you trouble, are they?" he asked.

"Well, Master Bog," Thang started, "Stuff here was-"

"Nothing! I didn't say nothing!" Stuff interrupted, flying over to Bog's shoulder. "Really. Honest,"

"Well, Marianne?" Bog smirked, "What's the verdict? Should she go back in the coat pocket?"

"Oh, Bog, I was just teasing her!" Marianne replied.

"Sounds like you're off the hook, Stuff," Bog said to the tiny bat. "And anyway, what are you two doing out here? I was looking all over for you,"

"Lady Marianne here offered to take us out for some fresh air," Thang explained.

"Yeah, Bog. Ever heard of it?" Stuff snorted. Bog simply rolled his eyes.

"We were just about to head back, actually," Marianne said. Imp went up to Bog and wagged his tail, waiting for pets. Bog leaned down and patted the hound's head.

"Yeah. It's almost dinner time," Bog stood back up. "So, how are you feeling?"

"Bog, I'm meeting the one person who's deciding whether or not this trip was a waste or if I actually have a chance to find my family. How do you think I feel?"

"I know, stupid question. But you'll have Roland and me right beside you the whole time. You'll do fine. And if it's any consolation, I don't think this trip was a waste,"

"No?"

"Of course not. I got to meet you," Marianne chuckled at that. She gave Bog a playful shove.

"You trying to make me blush, Bog?"

"Not intentionally. But I am really glad I met you, Marianne," Bog took her hand into his. "You've been a wonderful friend. And I have no doubt Prince Sunny will see that you are the real deal. So don't worry so much," he said, giving her a wink. "You've got this," Marianne smiled, and gestured Bog to lean down. He did, and she kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Bog,"

The next morning the ship finally docked into Autumnsun. The three got off the ship and headed into the center of the Autumnsun coast. Marianne couldn't help but notice how much warmer it was in Autumnsun compared to Winterblood. The sun was shining in the clear blue sky, the trees were decorated with fiery leaves, and everything smelt of spices. It felt…familiar. Marianne looked down at her feet as they waited for a bus. Bog took notice of this.
"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Just thinking. I had a dream that reminds me of this place. So it just feels like I've been here before,"

"Maybe you have. From what Roland's said the Edelweisses traveled a lot to visit the Feradae family,"

"Who said my name?" Roland asked.

"Oh, we were talking about the Feradae family," Marianne replied.

"Ah yes! The Feradae family. Royal family of Autumnsun. Best friends with the Edelweisses before their untimely demise. Had their youngest children engaged as a way to join the kingdoms in union. But with Winterblood now a republic, that is no longer applicable. If you ask me, it's a lucky thing Princess Dawn was adopted by Lady Plum of Summerfaire or Prince Sunny's parents might have cut the engagement,"

"Why?"

"Because then she wouldn't be a princess anymore!"

"Why would that matter? What if they genuinely love each other?"

"When it comes to the affairs of marriage in royalty, alignments and blood are more important than feelings. Royals would wed other royals to grow their families, and in turn gain something. That's simply how it works. However, I hear Lady Plum is a bit of a romantic, so it might be completely possible that the prince and princess do indeed love each other and she adopted Dawn to keep her princess status so they could marry,"

"That just seems kind of silly to me. I mean, if they were friends, why didn't the Feradae family just take Dawn in? Why try and cut off the marriage if they know Dawn and Sunny love each other?"

"I honestly don't know, Your Highness. Perhaps it will be something to ask Prince Sunny after you convince him of being a princess yourself," The bus finally arrived at the stop, and the three headed inside the vehicle.

It was a three hour ride to the kingdom of Autumnsun due to being surrounded by vast forests. The kingdom towered high above the trees, leading up to the Autumnsun Palace like a set of stairs. The polished marble of the palace glittered in the sunlight. Marianne stared out the window of the bus in awe. It was just like the fairy kingdom in the stories the madam at the orphanage used to tell.

The bus emerged through the forest path and entered into the kingdom. The kingdom was lined with sand-colored bricks, brightly colored trees, and cozy houses that doubled as shops, restaurants, and boutiques. The sense of familiarity Marianne felt before was overwhelming. She had to have been here in the past. There was no other way to explain such a strong feeling. Marianne grasped at the key around her neck.

"Please let it be true," she whispered.

The bus stopped in front of a nearby hotel, where Bog, Marianne, and Roland got off at. They headed inside, payed for a room, and headed upstairs. Their room had three single-sized beds this time, much to Roland's relief. Its walls were an eggshell white with a dark green carpet and matching curtains. Marianne sat on the middle bed, rubbing her hands together.

"Do we have to do this today?" she asked, "Can't we just go tomorrow?" Roland gave her a gentle smile.

"Marianne, it's going to be okay. I know you're nervous, but trust me when I say you're going to be fine. You'll meet the prince, he'll see you for who you really are, and we'll be off to Summerfaire before you know it! Just be confident in yourself," Marianne let out a breath and nodded. "Good. Now, get changed into something nice. We'll head out once you're done," Bog and Roland left the room, giving Marianne some privacy to change.

When Marianne came out, she was wearing the sea-green dress with the ruffled skirt. Her eyelids were lightly powdered with eyeshadow.

"Well?" she asked rather gruffly.

"You look lovely," Roland smiled. "Now, let's head off to the palace, shall we?"

When the three reached the palace gates, they were stopped by two guards.

"State your purpose," one of the guards said.

"We've come to see Prince Samuel regarding Princess Dawn's missing sister, Marianne," Roland said firmly.

"Oh, great. Not another one. You can head on in. Just go through the front doors. You'll see the line. And remember, we're keeping an eye on you," The gates opened, and the three stepped inside. They headed up the stairs that lead to the front doors and walked inside. They were met with a long line of people that led into a room at the far end of the hallway. Most were brunette women.

"What's all this about?" Marianne asked.

"No doubt here to try and convince the prince they too are Princess Marianne," Roland scoffed. "Look at these poor excuses! Why I could write off at least half the women in this line from here!"

"Roland, keep your voice down," Bog muttered, "We're getting stares,"

"So, they're all here to see the prince? Why?" Marianne asked.

"For the reward money, no doubt," Roland replied.

"Money? What money?"

"Haven't you ever seen a missing persons poster, Princess? Everyone offers money to bring back a loved one. It just happens to be a lot of money, in this case,"

"They must have expected this," Bog noted, "It's probably why Prince Sunny is so picky about the girls he sees," Marianne bit her lip, her nerves returning to her. Though it seemed obvious to her now, she didn't realize she would have this much competition. Bog leaned down, his face pressed against hers. "You'll be fine, Marianne," he said quietly in her ear. Marianne took in a deep breath and let it go in a loud huff. Bog stood straight again, patting her shoulder.

The hours ticked by as Marianne waited for her turn to see the prince. Each woman that went in to see the prince ended up leaving in tears. It did not help with Marianne's nervousness. She grasped Bog and Roland's hands the closer she got, until it was finally her turn.

"The prince will see you now," one of the guards at the door said. Marianne looked at Bog and Roland, and with a nod, the three entered the room. The door shut behind them. Marianne saw a dark skinned man sitting in a chair, elbow leaned against the table he sat beside, hand over his eyes.

"Thirty four," the man said. There was a long pause.

"I'm sorry?" Marianne asked.

"You are the thirty fourth girl I've seen today. I honestly don't know how much more I can take," He let his hand fall. "I am Prince Samuel. I would prefer if you called me Sunny. Step forward, if you will," Marianne did as she was told. Sunny looked her over. "Well, you certainly look like Marianne, but so did many others," He scratched the patch of beard on his chin. "I'm sorry to say, but you're not the princess. You are dismissed," Marianne froze, unable to move her legs. Barely a minute into meeting her and he had already made his decision. Marianne just couldn't accept that. She couldn't! Her nervousness was instantly replaced by anger.

"That's it?" Marianne fumed. "You're not even going to tell me why?"

"My reasons are my own," Sunny replied cooly. "Now if you please, I need to see the next girl,"

"NO!" Marianne yelled. Sunny raised an eyebrow. "No, I refuse to let it end here! I didn't come all the way out here to be shoved off without any explanation!"

"Marianne, that's enough," Roland cautioned, touching her arm. Marianne shoved off his hand.

"No! I demand to know what was so unsatisfactory that you could come to this decision so quickly!" Sunny was quiet for a moment.

"It's your hair," he said. Marianne looked at him with disbelief.

"My hair," she said flatly.

"Yes. It's too short," Marianne lost it. She marched straight to Sunny and jabbed a finger into his chest.

"Listen here, 'Sunny', people change all the time. Appearances change, interests change. And since no one here knows what happened to Marianne, there's a good chance she changed too! So if you're basing your decisions on such trivial things like that, then you've probably already turned the real Marianne away!" Roland ran towards Marianne, trying to pull her back.

"Marianne!" he hissed, "Your Highness, I am so sorry about this,"

"You don't think you're the real Marianne?" Sunny asked. Marianne pushed out of Roland's grip.

"Look, I don't know who I am. That's why I came out here. To find out if I have a family. If it's Dawn's family. I took a chance, and I refuse to leave on such a petty and shallow judgement!"

"Bog! Help me out here!" Roland pleaded. Bog walked over to Marianne and scooped her up.

"Let me go!" she yelled as she tried to wriggle herself free from his grip. "No, I am not letting you make me leave like this!"

"Apologies, Your Highness. We've wasted enough of your time," Roland said with a bow before gesturing Bog to carry Marianne out.

"Wait," Sunny said, holding up a hand. Bog and Roland stopped in their tracks. Marianne stopped struggling. "Your name is Marianne, correct?" Sunny asked.

"Uh…yeah?" Marianne replied.

"And your real name?"

"My name is Marianne," Marianne glowered. A wicked smile formed across Sunny's face.

"Congratulations, Marianne. You've passed the first test," he said.

"Test?" the three asked in unison.

"Yes, this was a test. The Marianne I knew argued all the time. She hated to be in the dark. So, I thought of this test. All the girls I thought looked the most like Marianne I would turn down with no explanation. Most would simply leave it at that, but not you. You wanted to know my reasons. And once I told you, you saw them as unsatisfactory, so you refused to accept them. That's exactly what Marianne would do. She was a no-nonsense kind of girl, even as a child. And I can see that in you, Marianne. I can see the firebrand that you are," Marianne motioned Bog to put her down. He did, and she straightened her skirt.

"So, I'm going to guess there's a part two?" she asked.

"Indeed. Come with me, and I'll ask you a series of questions. Oh, and could one of you gentlemen kindly tell my guards I will not be seeing anymore girls today?"

"I will," Bog offered.

"Thank you," Sunny stood up and offered a hand to Marianne. "Shall we then?"

Marianne spent the next hour answering Sunny's questions. He asked basic things like where she was born and her older siblings' names, but also threw in some personal questions, which Marianne did her best to answer honestly.

"You're doing very well, Marianne," Sunny said, sipping on his tea. He was seated beside her on a plush sofa embroidered with intricate plant patterns. "Now, this is the last question. You'll find it a little less factual, but, indulge my curiosity. How did you escape the palace during the rebellion twelve years ago?" Marianne could hear Roland hiss through his teeth. No one actually knew how the two youngest Edelweiss children escaped that day. Marianne took her necklace in her hands, rolling the key in her fingertips.

"There was a woman and a blonde girl. The woman took us down through the floor into a room filled with wine. She pushed a rack out of the way and opened a hidden door. And in the door was a tunnel," Marianne let out a laugh. "I'm sorry. That sounds like something straight out of a mystery novel. Hidden doors and what not,"

"No, not at all. You'd be surprised what secrets castles can hold," Sunny replied. He looked down and noticed the key in Marianne's hands. He inhaled sharply.

"Is something wrong?" Marianne asked.

"Nothing! I just…what a lovely necklace you have. Care to tell me where you got it?"

"What, this? I've had it for as long as I can remember,"

"May I?" Sunny asked. Marianne nodded and took the necklace off, handing it to Sunny. Sunny looked at the key, delicately cradling it in his fingers. He quickly gave it back to Marianne, who hooked it back around her neck.

"So?" Roland asked. "Is she an Edelweiss?"

"There's one more test I need her to go through," Sunny replied. "I need the three of you to come to the palace at ten in the morning. Oh, and wear something casual,"

"Care to tell us what the test is?" Bog asked. Sunny smiled.

"It's a surprise,"

Marianne flopped onto her bed back at the hotel, completely exhausted. She had done it! Well, almost. She had almost done it. She just had to pass one last test, and she would officially be a princess. She could finally meet her family. Finally meet Dawn. Marianne breathed through her lips, causing them to flap against one another. Bog sat at the end of her bed, giving her leg a pat.

"See? I told you you'd be fine," he said.

"That fellow really had me going there for a second. I mean, who does that? Making a test based on whether or not you can get a jibe out of someone! He's lucky I didn't punch him!"

"That would have definitely gotten us thrown out," Roland replied.

"Or convinced him even more so that our Marianne is the real deal," Bog said with a laugh.

"At least we got this far. We just have to get through tomorrow," Roland said.

"What do you think Sunny's got in mind?" Marianne asked.

"Not sure. He did say wear something casual, but how casual is the question,"

"If I were you, Marianne, I'd leave the new dresses here and pick out one of your older skirts," Bog suggested.

"He said casual, Bog, not frumpy," Roland replied.

"I'll see what I can dig up," Marianne said, "Let's hope this is a good surprise,"

The next morning the three headed off to the palace. Marianne was wearing a pink dress that went down to her knees, her black boots, and a belt around her waist. Bog was wearing a simple grey shirt and black slacks, and Roland was in a blue shirt with an unbuttoned green over vest and black trousers. Sunny was standing by the gates in a crisp, white shirt and, much to everyone's surprise, jeans. Sunny laughed at their expressions.

"What? A prince can't own a pair of jeans?"

"When you said 'casual', I didn't think it would be that casual," Roland admitted. Sunny laughed again.

"Well, I do want to try and blend in. The last thing I want is to be swarmed by photographers or other people trying to pass off as Princess Marianne,"

"Where exactly are we going?" Marianne asked.

"You'll see," Sunny smirked. He headed over to a large yet sleek Model T tourer and opened the door, gesturing Marianne to step in. "Ladies first," he said. Marianne stepped up into the car and scooted to the far end of the seat. Sunny followed behind, sitting next to her. Roland came in next, sitting in the seat opposite of Marianne and Sunny, followed by Bog, who had to squish his legs against his chest and keep his head down just to fit. The sight made Marianne giggle. Bog shot her a look. Sunny signaled the driver and off they went.

About half an hour later, Marianne let out a shriek of delight. There in the distance she could see the top half of a ferris wheel.

"We're going to a carnival?!" she asked Sunny excitedly.

"Actually it's an amusement park, but close enough," Sunny replied with a smile. "And yes, that is our destination," Marianne bounced in her seat, making the whole car shake. As a result, Bog kept hitting his head against the roof of the vehicle.

"Marianne!" Bog growled, clearly in pain.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I'm so excited! I've never been to a carnival or an amusement park or whatever they're called!"

"I wasn't even aware Autumnsun had an amusement park. Normally you'd see that sort of thing in Summerfaire," Roland pointed out.

"There may be more in Summerfaire, but the Autumnsun amusement park is the first of its kind," Sunny explained, "I mean, it's older than the ones in Summerfaire, but that just gives it a rustic kind of charm," A look of confusion came over Marianne.

"Why are we going to an amusement park?" she asked.

"How about this," Sunny offered, "We go to the park, have ourselves a fun time, and then I'll tell you why we went. Sound fair?"

"I'm game!" Marianne turned to Roland and Bog. "Sound good to you guys?" she asked.

"At this point I just want out of this car," Bog grumbled. Sunny laughed.

"Don't worry, my friend. We're almost there!"

Bog practically fell out of the car when the driver opened the door. He stretched his arms and legs as far as he could, clearly stiff from being so scrunched up. Roland and Sunny came out next. Sunny held his hand out for Marianne, which she took as she stepped down out of the car. The four then walked into the park.

Stalls lined the cobblestone roads of the park, either selling food or trinkets, or were offering games. Along with the ferris wheel, there were several other rides including a wooden roller coaster, a tilt-a-whirl, and even a log plume. A merry-go-round sat in the center of the park. Colorful horses moved up and down as the ride went round. Marianne was beaming ear to ear. She grabbed Sunny by the hand and headed straight for the tilt-a-whirl.

The two sat in their seat, pulling a metal bar down over their heads. It stopped and locked at their waists. Marianne waved feverishly at Bog and Roland, who were waiting outside of the ride. They waved back.

"So, what do you think the prince is up to?" Roland asked.

"What makes you think he's up to something?" Bog replied.

"Royals don't go out to amusement parks, Bog! I expected us to go horseback riding or something. Anything more elegant than this!"

"Maybe Sunny's the type of royal who likes to spend time on the 'outside', so to speak. You know how all the stories go: the royal, dismally bored with their high lifestyle, seeks adventure with us commoners,"

"That doesn't explain why he had to drag us along," Roland muttered. Bog let out a laugh.

"Not a fan of carnies, Roland?"

"Not particularly," Roland gave him a sinister smirk. "You'd fit right in, though, wouldn't you, Bog? You'd make a great act!" Bog glowered.

"Don't try and start something, Roland. We're here for Marianne, remember?"

"No, I really mean it! What, with your height, your magic, and your…unique looks. You'd be the most popular show in all of Autumnsun!"

"Do you want another punch to the face?" Bog asked, fists clenching.

"I jest! I jest! You take things far too seriously," Roland paused, "Like your 'friendship' with Marianne," he mumbled.

"What? What's that supposed to mean?" Bog asked. Roland rolled his eyes.

"Never mind. I shouldn't have said anything," Bog gave him a look. He was definitely suggesting something. Marianne and Sunny came back from the ride.

"That was so much fun!" Marianne exclaimed, her hair wilder than usual. "Do you want to hit the roller coaster next?"

"I'd thought you'd never ask!" Sunny replied, heading off towards the ride. Marianne followed him.

"Hey! I want in on that!" Bog called out as he pursued after the two. Roland let out an exasperated sigh. Bog managed to catch up to Marianne and took her hand. "We should sit together!"

"Good idea! Do you think your legs will fit, though?"

"Only one way to find out!"

The three got in line for the roller coaster, Bog and Marianne determined to get the same car. Once their turn rolled around, Bog and Marianne headed straight for the back car. Marianne stepped in first, then Bog. It was a bit of a tight fit, but not so much that he couldn't ride in. The two pulled the safety bar over their laps and waited for the ride to start. They both squealed as the cars began to move.

"You ready?" Marianne asked. Bog took her hand and squeezed it tight.

"Ready," he replied. The ride climbed up the wooden precipice, slowly creeping over its peak. The both leaned back, screams slowly increasing as the car flew down the steep hill. Their hands stayed intertwined as they bounced around in the car as the ride progressed. The hills gradually got shorter and smaller as the ride came to an end. The cars slowed to a stop, and Bog and Marianne were both giggling, their hair swept back. They exited the car, legs a little wobbly. Sunny met up with them.

"You two look like you enjoyed that!" he noted with a laugh.

"Did you see how high it went! I thought we were going to fall off the edge!" Marianne exclaimed.

"I know, Marianne, I was there!"

"Ooh! We should try out some of the games!" Marianne suggested.

"Did you have anything in mind?" Sunny asked. Marianne hummed in thought.

"Do you have one of those hammer bell things?"

"A high striker? You sure about that? That's probably more suited for Bog,"

"You clearly haven't met Marianne," Bog replied.

"That sounded like a challenge! Care to wager on our lovely lady here?" Sunny suggested.

"Sure. Ten gold says she hits the bell,"

"You're on,"

"Well then, I'd best not disappoint!" Marianne chuckled.

After catching up with Roland, who was waiting for them outside of the roller coaster, the four headed into the game section. There they found a tall high striker, and a man calling up for players.

"Step right up! Step right up! Test your strength and see who's the men amongst the boys!" The man caught glimpse of the four headed his way. "Welcome, welcome! Which one of you strapping men wish to test their strength?"

"Actually I'd like to give it a shot, if you don't mind," Sunny said. Marianne gestured him to go ahead, and Sunny picked up the mallet. He swung it high over his head and down on the platform. The metal cylinder only went about half way. "Rats," Sunny said, placing the mallet back down.

"Let me try," Bog said. Marianne gave a nod and Bog picked the mallet up. He swung it down hard, and the cylinder made its way up the tower, striking the bell. Bog, Marianne, and Sunny all cheered. Bog turned to Marianne. "Think you can beat that, Tough Girl?" he taunted. Marianne cracked her knuckles.

"Stand aside," she said, taking the mallet from Bog. She gave the mallet a few practice swings before aiming for the platform. Marianne swung the mallet down, and the metal cylinder shot up, hitting the bell hard. The three cheered again. Marianne held the mallet up victoriously.

"Looks like you owe me ten gold," Bog said to Sunny.

"That I do, that I do," Sunny replied.

Bog, Marianne, and Sunny spent the rest of the day going on rides, playing games, and sharing fried dough. Roland, who did not look happy to be there in the slightest, just watched, putting on a smile whenever Marianne looked at him. By the time began to set, Roland was exhausted.

"This has been fun, it really has," he began to say, "But don't you think it's high time we head back?"

"Roland, you haven't done anything while we were here. Are you feeling okay?" Marianne asked, putting a hand to his forehead.

"Not really. I'm ready to go back,"

"Do you think you can wait out one more ride? I really want to go on the ferris wheel one more time," Roland sighed.

"Yes, I can hold out for one more ride," he replied.

"Thank you!" Marianne said before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. She took Bog by the hand and led him to the ferris wheel. When they got in their seat, Marianne was blushing hard. "I can't believe I just did that!" she exclaimed. "Do you think that was too sudden? What if it just made him feel worse?"

"Marianne, calm down!" Bog insisted, patting her hand. "I'm sure Roland will see it as a sweet gesture," Marianne let out a breath.

"I hope so. Though I will admit it was kind of out of the blue,"

"Yeah…a little," Bog couldn't figure out what this feeling in his chest was. Seeing Marianne turn into a blushing mess after kissing Roland, it made him feel…empty? After all, she certainly didn't act this way when she kissed him. It was like a small glimmer of hope in Bog had been snuffed out, and he couldn't figure out why. But as Bog watched Marianne stare out into the sunset, it's golden rays reflecting off her hair and illuminating her skin, he felt his heart skip a beat. Oh no. He quickly turned away from her, a blush creeping up his cheeks. Marianne turned back to Bog, and cocked an eyebrow.

"Bog? You okay?" she asked. Bog rubbed the back of his neck.

"Uh, yeah. I'm fine," he replied.

"Your face is all red," She reached out and placed a hand over his cheek. She gently rubbed a thumb over his cheekbone. "You're a little warm too. Don't tell me you're not feeling well either!"

"No! No, I think it's from all the rides," Bog said, giving her a sheepish smile. "Just a little wind lash, that's all,"

"Well, okay. But if you start to not feel well, you let me know!" Bog put his hand over hers.

"I will," Marianne smiled that lovely smile of hers, and Bog's heart jumped again. Marianne took her hand from Bog's face, but still held onto his hand, and stared back out into the sky. Bog leaned back in the seat, unsure of what he was feeling right now. He liked Marianne a lot, but was there more to it? It was true he had never met anyone like her. Someone who simply accepted him for who he was. And she was so wonderful, so energetic, so beautiful. Bog silently cursed himself. No, he thought. He wasn't going to make this complicated. Marianne was his friend and he desperately wanted it to stay that way. He wasn't going to let these feelings ruin what they had together. Bog looked over at Marianne. "Thank you," Marianne looked at him.

"For what?" she asked.

"For being you," Marianne chuckled.

"You're sweet, Bog," she smiled, "Thank you for accepting me,"

"Anytime, Tough Girl,"

After they got off the ferris wheel, everyone decreed it was time to head back. As they piled into the car, Marianne finally asked Sunny what the whole amusement park trip was for.

"It was a chance to see you out of formality," Sunny explained. "I know it can be intimidating to be in the presence of royalty, so I wanted to eliminate that element. It gave me the chance to see who you really were as a person,"

"So…did I pass?" Sunny smiled.

"Marianne, you passed the moment you yelled in my face. It was right there and then I knew I was dealing with my childhood friend again. I just took this chance to get to know you better. See the person you've become. But there is no doubt in my mind, you are the missing princess," Marianne's eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth with her hands.

"I'm…Dawn's sister…I'm an Edelweiss," Marianne threw her arms around Sunny and hugged him tight. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" Sunny laughed, and hugged her back.

The car stopped in front of the hotel Bog, Marianne, and Roland were staying at.

"So! Tomorrow we head out for Summerfaire!" Sunny called out from the car. "We'll be taking the nine 'o clock train, so get some rest! See you in the morning!" They waved as the car drove off. The three looked at each other, and then burst into screams of joy.

"You did it!" Roland exclaimed, taking Marianne into his arms, "We're going to Summerfaire! We're going to meet the princess!" The moment Roland released her, Bog picked Marianne up and hugged her tightly.

"I knew you could do it! I knew it!" he said. Marianne giggled as Bog twirled her around, and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Ooh! We should go out and celebrate!" Marianne suggested.

"Absolutely not," Roland interjected, "We are not repeating the incident that happened back in the Winterblood coast. No, we are going straight to bed. We've got to get up early tomorrow," Bog and Marianne let out a disappointed groan. "I don't want to hear it! I'll be watching you both like a hawk tonight!"

"Fine," Marianne droned as Bog put her back down. "We'll celebrate another time," With that, the three headed back into the hotel and up to their room to pack their things for the trip tomorrow.