disclaimer: hm does not belong to me (but a new copy of sunshine islands shall soon be mine!) :D

The Princess and the Cowboy

~Offloading~

I'm pretty pissed. Personally I don't think it's unreasonable, although I can imagine what some people would say if they were around. In fact screw it, those people don't have to be around after all, 'cause they're commenting on how melodramatic I'm being in my head. Well gee. That doesn't make me crazy, it shows what a loveable chick I am for having my friends on my mind 24/7.

So there was me thinking I was gonna have the day with the girls, and yeah, it started off that way - coffee, cake, as normal - then they started looking shifty when I mentioned some of the stuff we could do that day.

Jules was the first to apologise.

"Chels, I'm so sorry, but I promised Elliot I'd help him out today, in exchange for last time."

"Sure, I understand. The three of us'll just have to-"

"Yeah, about that," began Nat. "See, Pierre was telling me about how he was gonna go hunting for ingredients and then he asked me if I wanted to join him…" She looked guilty.

I turned to Lanna, but by now I wasn't very hopeful. She finished off the cancellations of the day.

"You know how you're interested in how things are going between Denny and I? There's a…development, but…You know what I'm gonna say." Her round eyes were full of regret.

I sighed. "Whatever. I'll find something to do."

"We'll make it up to you!" They exclaimed in chorus, and I nodded absently.

"Just go and have fun," I'd told them, and when we'd all drank our drinks and eaten our cakes, we left, the two blondes and pinkette going in their directions, leaving me for try and come up with something. In the end, I came back to the forest, and was wandering around in my let-down mood.

I didn't mind that they were each going someplace or doing something with their respective guy, but I'd just wanted a day off from all the craziness, away from the boy thing that had been dogging me everywhere I went. I just wanted to forget it for a few hours and chat about stupid things with my friends, and giggle at lame jokes while clueless people watched, not getting it. Spending the day alone had not been expected, planned for, but that was exactly what I was doing.

I got a vague idea to go visit the Witch Princess, only to be met with a message about her niece staying over, therefore it was unwise to enter at the current moment. Trying not to get disheartened, I thought I might see if the Harvest Goddess was up for a chat, but remembered that one needed an offering to get her to come out, and I didn't know what she liked to receive, and guessing would prove stressful - for both her and me - so that was quickly rejected, and I was left to feel annoyed that even the mystical females had been unable to help me ward off loneliness. I was not going to go back to the castle, of that I was sure, so I was settling into a state of boredom.

In spite of it all, my feet carried me to the Goddess Pond to gaze into the depths. I jerked out of it when I noticed the reflection of a building in the clear pool and looked over in surprise. Had it been there when I was here before? It wasn't all that shocking if it had been; I'm almost always distracted by something or other…The fact that it was Vaughn last time doesn't really help though.

It was quite large, with a golden bell outside. The colours were pretty - white and light blue - and I could see a stained glass window near the roof. Well hell. I'd managed to miss out on seeing an entire church due to my brain being full of crap. I didn't realise the amount of stupidity I was capable of.

…I think I'm a tad more impressed than I should be.

I walked over and pushed gently against the door, which opened. Sucking in breath, I went in. It was even bigger on the inside than it appeared from the outside. Tall, with beams stretched across from wall to wall above me, that fabulous window projecting rainbow colours to anything the light touched.

Back on ground level, there were several wooden pews, all empty, and facing a lectern that was slightly off centre, and - this was most likely the reason why it was this way - an alter-type-table, on which stood a perfectly carved stone statue of the Harvest Goddess. Her eyes were open, arms spread wide, as if she was welcoming whoever came in. With her pond literally centimetres away, I could tell this was a place of great power.

"May I help you?" A sort of timid sounding voice asked, and I noticed that I wasn't alone. Emerging from a side room was a girl. She didn't look much older than me, her slender face framed by peach coloured hair curling under her chin, and dark-yet-pastel-y violet eyes, and was wearing a white and blue dress and short cape, clasped with a badge bearing a yellow-and-red symbol.

I shook my head. "I was just admiring the statue. It's beautiful."

She smiled. "It is," she agreed, taking a seat in the front row and patting the space next to her. "This must be the first time you've been here."

I took the seat, smiling back. "You're good!"

"I remember faces." She giggled softly. "My name is Alisa. I'm the nun here at the church."

"Nice to meet you Alisa. I'm Chelsea. I'm just your average girl with a knack for trouble," I said, suddenly feeling bad for lying to a religious about the 'average girl' thing and hurrying to correct it. "Uh, actually, scratch that. There's also the small matter of my dad being the king…"

Alisa gasped.

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"Of course I believe you," she replied serenely. "It would be difficult to make up such a thing on the spot. It was very sudden, that's all." She hesitated. "Forgive me, but, if you are the princess, then why are you…out here in the village…dressed as you are?"

I grinned impishly. "Told you already, I have a knack for trouble. I guess it's why I'm drawn to this place; it makes me feel better."

She nodded. "I find it to be a nice place also. I think when you're here, it's easier to put things into perspective. Praying to the Goddess takes some weight off your shoulders."

My eyes widened. "How did you know there's something playing on my mind?"

Alisa gave a tiny shrug, accompanied with that sweet smile. "It was simply a guess, although the way you were speaking and concentrating before seemed to indicate it…"

"Nice! Remind me to get you teach me to read people!"

"Sometimes it requires a lot of patience, but I'm sure that if you practise, you'll get the hang of it." The nun rose from her seat. "I should go and finish out back, but take your time. The only other people here are myself and Nathan, our priest, and you wouldn't be any bother."

"Thank you. It was lovely chatting with you."

"You too. Drop by whenever you need to," Alisa said before disappearing through that door.

I clasped my hands together when she was gone and looked at the statue. Goddess, I hope you can hear me. This doesn't have to be at the forefront of your mind, because there must be other people you need to listen to. I suppose all I wanted to say was that your church is a very comforting place…And that one day, I really would like to be here in a wedding dress! I moved my hands to my mouth to smother a laugh. In all seriousness, watch over Alisa. You've got a great person spreading your wisdom and other qualities. You're very lucky. Thanks for paying attention to that!

I stood, skipped up the aisle to the back of the church and did a short bow to the front. Oh, and just before I leave the church, Goddess, I really want to do the right thing in every situation, but if I do happen to screw something up, I would like to find the strength to put it right. Thanks again!

I did feel lighter when I stepped out - a combination of talking to Alisa and sending up that prayer…Or maybe that should be across, considering the location.

"Ah!" I stretched and closed my eyes, treading carefully as I did. "Much better. Now, what to do, what to do…"

I could make that decision just then because I was knocked to the ground. Scrambling onto my knees, I found that I was surrounded by three wild dogs. Three hyper wild dogs. When they saw that I'd recovered from their bounding on me, they barked and the one standing in front of me jumped forwards, his front paws on my thighs, sniffing at me.

"W-whoa!" I leaned back a little, automatically, shaking my head. The dogs barked for the second time, though apparently they weren't discouraged.

"Don't worry. They're friendly."

It took me longer to find my voice this time. That unhelpful side that lurks at the back of my head gave a dry comment about how I should really have expected to see him of all people - I was alone in the forest, bored with nothing to do. Duh. The signs are all there.

I nodded woodenly.

"They won't hurt anybody," he said. "I ran into this pack a while ago. They looked hungry so I fed 'em." The cowboy seemed to mull over what he was saying; I managed to join in and help him out.

"So?" I prompted, lifting a hand up to pat the one sniffing me on the head; he stopped said activity and relaxed at my touch.

"Now they count on me." He pulled a funny face, a cross between confused and…apprehensive, I suppose. "Guess they think I'm part of their pack now."

My face lit up. "Let's play with them!" I moved slowly as so the dogs wouldn't startled and stared him in the eye. "Please?"

Vaughn blinked, snapping out of his confused-apprehensive face. "Heh. Guess it wouldn't hurt nobody…"

I grinned and forced him to help me search for a stick.

The last dog wagged his tail happily and ran into the trees.

"Phew. Finally tired 'em out. It's been a while since I ran around like that."

"Mmhuh." I sank down to the floor.

The silver haired male turned to me, smirking, the usual 'pulling-hat-down-with-one-hand' gesture happening. "Feels good to exercise like that once in a while."

"Yeah…"

It was quiet until I giggled. Vaughn frowned.

"Somethin' funny?"

"Nah, not really. It's just weird how those guys don't mind you. Ha…" I trailed off. "Seems animals don't really care about whether people get on with you or not. If you show 'em the attention they need, they become faithful to you.

"But then again," I said, unsure of where this rush to speak was coming from. "That forms the basis of every relationship. If you treat somebody in a bad way, the relationship between you will fade away. If you persist, you might find something good comes out of it." I hadn't meant it, but I'd switched the conversation from animals to us.

He grunted in response.

"I didn't want to come back to this so quickly either, but if we don't even touch upon it, nothing will come from it," I mumbled, heart beating faster, and then, "I don't regret it you know."

"Chelsea-"

"One sec, okay? I have to tell you what's on my mind now that I've started." I bit my lip. "I don't know myself what's going to happen, what I want to happen…All I'm sure of is that I like being around you, without the awkwardness. So whilst I'm glad that I did what I did, I don't want it to effect us…Just tell me straight if you don't-"

"Idiot. If somethin' was bothering me you'd know already," he muttered.

My ears were bright red, I could tell. I swallowed noisily. "Th-that makes things easier…I've been pouring over things for a while," I admitted. "Well…What happens now?"

Vaughn shrugged a shoulder, hat pulled firmly down.

That somehow helped me break through the tension; I giggled once more.

"Goddess, what a pair we are…"

By the small - and quiet - chuckle that escaped his lips, I guessed that Vaughn was thinking the exact same thing.

end of chapter

on chapter: velsea reappears in all its, ahem, glory. don't be disappointed if it wasn't fluffy and lovey-dovey enough, i've got many things up my sleeves for future chapters…

On other stuff: this will sound mean, but don't expect another midweek update until the week after next, maybe. only reason you'll get two chapters this week (another at the weekend) is because i've been ill the past three days and had a lot of time on my hands…

thanks to: LatteCurlz, Hmszelda, FlamingIceWolfGirl, theatrelove123, A Random Person 3, Rosy the Spazz, XxStarZephunaSakuraxX, SunnyElla16, Cherry3456 and the anonymous reviewer with no name…ooh. mysterious. thanks guys…the story passed the 100 reviews mark! :D you all rock. a lot.

please review this chapter too ^.^ see you next time!