Crash!

A glass of wine went flying into the fireplace as Prince Damien sat down in his armchair. It had only been a month since Princess Odette had rejected him, but the very fact that he'd been rejected was more than he could bear.

"I still can't believe she rejected me!" Damien shouted, "Me! The most handsome prince in the world!"

"You mustn't let this get to you, Your Highness," a servant said as he gave the frustrated prince another glass of wine, "There are many other princesses out there."

"But I wanted Odette!" Damien exclaimed as he threw the second glass into the fireplace as well, "She was the most beautiful woman I had ever met! And believe me, I've met many beautiful women! If she really thinks I'm going to take this lightly, she's got another thing coming!"

"I understand, sir, but she's already married now," the servant reminded him, "It isn't like she's going to leave Prince Derek anytime soon."

"Prince Derek, bah!" Damien scoffed, "That numbskull doesn't even realize what he has! The first chance he lets his guard down, his princess will be mine!"

'This idiot's going to start a war,' the servant thought to himself. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"What is it?!" shouted Damien before a second servant entered the room.

"Excuse me, Your Highness," the second servant apologized, "but there's someone here to see you. He says he has a proposition for you."

Seconds later, Rothbart entered the room with a sly grin on his face, "Greetings, Prince Damien."

Damien looked at the enchanter with confusion, obviously not knowing who he was, "Do I know you?"

Meanwhile, miles away in the woods, Derek and Odette had stopped for the night in a secluded spot. According to the map Gregory had given them, they were close to reaching Swan Lake, but Derek didn't want Odette to overexert herself due to her pregnancy, and they had no idea if they were being followed or not, so he didn't want to take any chances. As the sun began to set, Derek was busy starting the campfire as Odette rested.

"There we go," Derek said as he lit the fire.

"How much further?" Odette asked.

"Well according to Captain Gregory's map," Derek said as he looked over the map, "we should be reaching Swan Lake by nightfall tomorrow."

"I hope we'll be safe there…" Odette said a little worriedly. Derek then sat down next to her and held her hand.

"We will be, Odette," he reassured her, "I promised your father I'd protect you, and I don't plan on breaking that promise."

Odette smiled, "I know don't, but I won't be the only one for you to protect for much longer."

"I know," Derek said as he put his hand on his wife's stomach and returned the smile, "I'm glad."

"Are you nervous?" Odette asked.

Derek shrugged, "Maybe a little, but I'm more excited than nervous."

"I'm excited too," agreed Odette, "but I'm also scared."

"Scared?" Derek asked, "What are you scared of?"

"Remember how you told me you didn't have a father growing up?" Odette asked, "I know a little about how that feels since I never had a mother growing up myself. My mother died when I was born."

"Oh right…" Derek responded in a bit of surprise, "I'm really sorry, Odette."

"It's fine, Derek, you didn't know," Odette reassured him, "it's just…I'm just scared that I might not know how to be a mother because of it, but…I'm more scared that the same thing might happen to me."

"What do you mean?" Derek asked in confusion.

"I want more than anything to be a part of our child's life, but…" Odette paused for a moment, this was her greatest fear, "what if I die in childbirth too?"

Derek's eyes widened in shock at his wife's words. His heart sank at the thought of having to spend the rest of his life without her so soon, but then he narrowed his eyes and took Odette in his arms and held her close. "That's not going to happen, Odette."

"But how can you be sure?" Odette asked.

"Because you're strong," Derek answered, "You're younger than your mother was when you were born, and you've proven over and over again that you're a fighter. And I know you'd do anything to make sure you're part of our child's life."

Odette smiled as she returned Derek's hug. She was still worried about what might happen, but her husband's words helped but her mind at ease. Derek had come a long way from the boy who at first wanted nothing to do with her, and now he was proving himself everyday that he loved her and was willing to do anything to show it.

"Thanks Derek," Odette said as Derek kissed her forehead. Suddenly, the wind began to pick up a bit and blew the map out of Derek's hand and into the campfire.

"Oh no, the map!" Derek exclaimed as he and Odette scrambled to try and save it. Unfortunately they weren't fast enough as it had burned up completely before they could reach it.

"Well, that's unfortunate," said an unfamiliar voice with a French accent coming from the bushes, surprising the young royals.

"Who said that?!" Derek exclaimed as he quickly moved Odette behind him and grabbed his bow and arrow.

"Ah!" the voice yelped as Derek aimed his arrow at the bushes, "Don't shoot, monsieur!"

"Show yourself!" the young prince demanded. The bushes ruffled a bit, but still no one came into view. "I said show yourself!"

"I did!" exclaimed the voice again, but still Derek didn't see anyone.

"Where?!" he shouted, his patience growing thin.

"Uh...Derek?" Odette spoke up as she tapped her husband's shoulder. She then pointed towards his feet and they looked down to see a frog sitting there.

"A frog?" Derek said in confusion, but what happened next took him completely by surprise.

"Frog?!" the frog exclaimed with the voice Derek and Odette had heard, and from the sound of things, he wasn't pleased, "I am no frog! I am a prince!"

"Give it up, Jean-Bob…" said a second voice as a turtle slowly came into view from the bushes.

"A turtle?" Odette asked in confusion.

"Name's Lorenzo Trudgealong," the turtle introduced himself, "friend call me Speed."

"I'm awake, right?" Derek asked, completely dumbfounded by this turn of events.

"I think so," Odette answered, "Here, let me check." She then reached over and pinched Derek's arm.

"Ouch!" Derek yelped.

"You're awake," Odette said with a smile.

"Alright," Derek said, but then his tone suddenly changed as he shouted, "This is crazy!"

"Excusé moi?" asked the frog, Jean-Bob.

"This can't be real!" Derek continued shouting, "Frogs don't talk! Neither do turtles!"

"Derek, calm down," Odette said, trying to calm her husband, "This might be the strangest thing that's happened to us, but it's not the worst."

"What are you talking about, Odette?!" Derek asked, still not convinced, "How do we know these…animals don't work for Rothbart?!"

"They're not spies, Derek," Odette answered.

"Jean-Bob's too dumb to be a spy," added the turtle, Speed.

"I could have you flogged for that!" Jean-Bob exclaimed in rage.

"See what I mean?" Speed commented.

"We should at least give them a chance first," Odette suggested, "if they aren't dangerous, they won't hurt us, and they might be able to help us."

Derek let out a great sigh, there was no changing his wife's mind, "Fine, we'll do it your way."

Odette nodded to him, and with a smile, she knelt to properly greet the two animals, "It's a pleasure to meet the two of you."

"The pleasure is all mine, mademoiselle," Jean-Bob said as he jumped onto Speed's back, who was rolling his eyes at the frog's antics. Jean-Bob then took a bow, which caused Odette to giggle.

"I'm Odette, Princess Odette," the young princess introduced herself, "And this is my husband, Prince Derek."

"Nice to meet you," Speed complimented.

"A princess, you say?!" Jean-Bob then asked in excitement.

"And that's her husband, Jean Bob," Speed pointed out in annoyance.

"I don't want to steal her from him!" Jean-Bob shouted, which actually made Derek feel a little better, "I just want a kiss from her so I can be a REAL prince again!"

"Here we go…" Speed said with a heavy sigh.

"Come again?" Derek asked in confusion and a bit protectively.

"I need to be kissed by a princess to become human again and return to my throne!" Jean-Bob exclaimed.

"Your throne?" asked Odette.

"Jean-Bob thinks he was a human prince who was cursed to be a frog and believes the kiss of a princess will break his spell," Speed explained, "but if you ask me, I think he was just dropped on his head when he was a tadpole."

"I see," said Odette, "Well, I think I'd be more than willing to give you a kiss."

"Yes!" Jean-Bob exclaimed in victory.

"On one condition," Odette added, this could have been hers and Derek's only chance to reach their destination, "do you know how to find Swan Lake?"

The next day, back at Uberta's castle, Bromley and Alyssa walked down the hallway after another date. They had just been at a local festival where Bromley had just won the pie eating contest, and he was still paying for it as he groaned a bit in discomfort.

"I still can't believe you did that!" Alyssa exclaimed in amazement, "Not everyone can eat a whole pie that fast!"

"Yeah," Bromley said, groaning a bit more, "I still can't believe you weren't grossed out when I threw up."

"After doing something like that, how could you not?" his girlfriend asked.

"Well don't tell Rogers," Bromley requested, "he'd never let me live it down."

Alyssa smiled, she still didn't understand why Rogers was always at odds with Bromley, but she respected his wishes, "Your secret's safe with me, Bromley," she said as she kissed his cheek, causing him to blush a little with a smile. "So how do you think Derek and Odette are doing?" she then asked.

"Not sure," Bromley shrugged, "we haven't heard anything from them since they left, but I think they'll be fine."

"I'm sure you're right," Alyssa agreed.

"By the way, Alyssa," Bromley spoke up again, "there's something I wanted to ask you."

"What's that?" Alyssa asked.

"Well, you see-" but before Bromley could continue, he was cut off as he and Alyssa heard a loud voice from one of the rooms.

"YES!"

"What was that?" Alyssa asked.

"It sounded like the queen," said Bromley as he and his girlfriend went to the door and opened it enough to see inside without being noticed.

"We really shouldn't be doing this, you know," Alyssa whispered.

"That's what makes it fun," Bromley whispered back, causing his girlfriend to sigh in defeat. Inside, they saw Queen Uberta holding what appeared to be a letter, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.

"I can't believe it! It's actually happening!" she cried out, "I'm going to be a grandmother!"

The queen's words made Alyssa and Bromley's eyes widen in surprise.

"Wait, did she just say what I think she did?!" Alyssa exclaimed in a hushed voice.

"I believe so," Bromley said with a nod as they continued to watch and listen.

"And Derek said it would be too soon! Bah!" Uberta scoffed as she stopped crying.

"I admit, it is a surprise," agreed a second voice belonging to Rogers, "but we shouldn't celebrate yet, Uberta."

"And why not?!" the queen and soon-to-be grandmother shouted, "I can't wait to start decorating the nursery!"

"Well you'll have to wait after you read the rest of the letter," Rogers explained.

"What are you talking about, Rogers?!" Uberta exclaimed.

Rogers took the letter from the queen and continued reading it, "one last thing, Mother, do not mention Odette's pregnancy to anyone other than Rogers. If word were to get out about it, we could be in even more danger. Captain Gregory told us that whatever it may be, the Great Animal is most likely under the control of a man named Rothbart."

"Rothbart?" Uberta asked, remembering the name and the man it belonged to.

"You've heard of him?" Rogers asked.

"He was an enchanter who wanted to overthrow William and take over his kingdom when Odette was born," Uberta explained, her tone growing worried, "I didn't think too much about it at the time, but…"

It's alright, dear queen," Rogers reassured her before he continued reading, "Odette and I are safe. We have taken up refuge in an abandoned castle not far from the kingdom, but while we hide there, You must begin a search for Rothbart. As long as he is still at large, Odette and I will not be safe, and neither will the baby. Your loving son, Prince Derek."

"Then what are we waiting for?!" Uberta shouted, "Get the word out immediately, Rogers!"

Rogers nodded, "Yes, Your Highness!" he said as he got up and went to open the door, only to discover that it was already open a bit, "I thought I'd closed this door."

Moments later, Alyssa burst into her bedroom and started packing a bag. Bromley then came in, breathing heavily after running through the castle.

"Alyssa…what are…you doing?" he panted.

"Go back to your room and start packing, Bromley," Alyssa instructed her boyfriend.

"Why?" asked Bromley, having finally caught his breath after a few moments.

"Because we're going to help Derek and Odette," Alyssa answered.

"Help them?!" Bromley said in surprise, "We don't even know where they are!"

"Well, they're hiding in an abandoned castle near the kingdom. How many of those can there be?" Alyssa asked

"Well, I guess," Bromley agreed before remembering something, "But what if the Great Animal shows up?"

Alyssa sighed heavily, "You're right. It's dangerous, but we don't have a choice," she began, "Derek's your best friend, and you've known him and Odette since childhood. And Odette gave me a home and helped me when no one else would. We can't just let them hide in fear forever, especially since they have a baby on the way!"

"True," Bromley said before letting out a chuckle, "I still can't believe that's already happening. I honestly didn't think Derek had it in him."

"You're such a goofball," Alyssa giggled.

"Okay, we'll go help them," Bromley said, "But about my question I was going to ask you earlier-"

Alyssa then cut him off, "Let's focus on helping our friends first."

Bromley let out a great sigh as he walked out of the room, "Okay, I'll go pack."

"Good," Alyssa said, " And we can get married when we get back."

"Right," Bromley nodded before realizing what she just said, "Wait, how did you-," but he was cut off again as Alyssa kissed his lips and closed the door. Bromley then walked away, happily babbling in gibberish.

The following evening, Derek and Odette followed Speed and Jean-Bob along a stream through the woods. They didn't know yet if the animals could be trusted, but without a map they had little choice.

"How much further?" asked Odette.

"Not much, we're almost there," Speed explained as he swam along the stream.

"Odette, can I have a word?" Derek asked his wife.

"Of course, Derek," Odette nodded, "what is it?"

"How are you sure that we can trust these two?" he asked, still worried for his wife's safety, "Talking animals aren't normal, and I have a bad feeling about this."

"I think we'd know if they were enemies," Odette said, trying to reassure her husband, "Besides, we're lost in the woods without the map. We don't have any choice but to trust them."

Derek let out a heavy sigh. After all the years he'd spent with Odette since childhood, he knew better now than to argue with her. "Alright, Odette. If you trust them, then so do I. But next time, don't pinch me so hard. I think you might've broken the skin!"

Odette giggled at her husband, "I guess you can consider that payback for all the times you pinched me when we were kids."

Derek paused for a moment and then spoke again, "…Fair enough." The young prince then looked up and saw that the sun had already set, "It's getting late, I hope we're almost there."

"Actually, we just made it," said Speed. The young royals and their two new friends passed through a few more trees before they came to a large lake. Resting on the other side of the lake was a dilapidated castle with broken windows, broken shingles, and roots and vines growing out all over it. But despite the dilapidation, the scenery was still breathtaking.

"Oh wow…" was all Derek could say.

"It's beautiful," Odette commented.

Suddenly, Jean-Bob hopped off of Speed's back and onto a large boulder. "Well, a deal's a deal, Odette," he said as he stood up straight, closed his eyes, and puckered his lips at said princess.

"Not so fast, Jean-Bob," said Odette as she put a finger to Jean-Bob's lips.

"Pardon?" Jean-Bob asked.

"Don't get me wrong, you did a great job," Odette began to explain, "but Derek doesn't fully trust you guys yet. Once the two of you prove yourselves that you aren't enemies, I'll give you your kiss."

"Fine…" groaned the little frog in defeat. The four of them then began to walk along the lake towards the castle.

"So what can you tell us about this place?" Derek asked, curious about his and his wife's new hiding place.

"Not much, really," Speed began to explain, "Jean-Bob and I spend a lot of time here, but there used to be someone living here not too long ago."

"Someone lived here?" asked Odette.

Speed nodded, "Yeah, some kind of scholar or something. We'd see him out here collecting plants sometimes, but we never really saw what he was doing inside."

Odette grew more curious about the castle's previous occupant, "Was he the only one who lived here?"

"No, he had an old peasant woman helping him," Jean-Bob added, "but they were the only humans."

"What do you mean by the only humans?" Derek asked.

"Let's just say…stay away from that moat over there," said Speed as he pointed to the moat around the dungeon tower. Derek and Odette looked over at the moat and saw two large alligators who were giving a sly grin at Jean-Bob, which caused the little frog to groan with grief.

"Friends of yours?" Derek asked.

"Not really," Jean-Bob said, "Ever since I was turned into a frog they've been trying to eat me." Speed then rolled his eyes and his friend's comment.

"I guess if we're gonna be here for a while, we might want to baby proof the moat," Odette added.

They then moved into the castle and looked around. There were many broken windows, dusty chairs and tables, and a few locked rooms.

"Looks like nobody's home," Derek said.

"What happened here?" Odette asked.

Speed shrugged, "Honestly, no idea."

Jean-Bob scoffed at the state of the castle, "This place is filthy!"

"It is," Derek agreed, "I guess we'll have to do a little cleaning up."

"It'll need more than just that," Odette commented, "I was thinking of painting the walls a more cheerful colour and fixing the windows."

"We can probably get to work on that in the morning," Derek said.

"Are you crazy?!" Jean-Bob complained, "A prince like me should not have to do...servant chores!"

"You're right. We shouldn't have to do it. Servants!" Derek shouted before clapping his hands twice, "Clean and repair this castle at once! Oh wait, that's right, there aren't any servants here."

"Derek! Don't tease Jean-Bob!" Odette said with a bit of a glare. She then sighed a bit before turning to the little frog, "But he does have a point, Jean-Bob. We don't have any servants here to clean this place up for us, and we don't know how long we'll be here for. And if the baby comes while we're here, I want it to be born in a clean environment, so it only makes sense that we do some cleaning ourselves."

"Fine…" Jean-Bob said in defeat.

"But let's get some sleep first, okay?" Derek suggested.

"Good idea," Odette said with a yawn. The two royals then began looking through the castle for a bedroom, leaving the two animals downstairs to search for their own place to sleep. Eventually, the young couple found a cozy-looking bedroom with a large bed, everything surprisingly void of dust.

"This is a nice room," Odette said with a smile.

"It certainly looks cozy enough," Derek added, "but will you be alright sleeping here?"

Odette nodded, "Yes."

"Are you sure?" He asked again, "I can go find some more blankets for you, or-"

"Derek, I'm not helpless yet," Odette protested, "We've still got nine whole months." But just as Odette said that, she then put her hand on her stomach and moaned a bit.

"Odette? Are you okay?" Derek asked with concern. But before his wife could answer him, she then ran to the window and stuck her head and began vomiting. "Odette!" Derek exclaimed as he rushed to her side, "I guess I'll take that as a no…"

After a few moments, Odette stuck her head back inside and coughed a bit.

"Maybe you should get some rest now," Derek suggested.

"I think that's probably wise…" Odette groaned in discomfort as her husband gently walked her over to the bed and helped her in.

"That sure was unexpected," Derek said.

Odette shook her head as Derek tucked her in, "Not really. I read in one of the books Claire gave us that expectant mothers sometimes get sick during pregnancy. The baby doesn't always agree with the food."

"Well tomorrow, we'll see if there's any food here that you can have," Derek suggested as he climbed into the bed wrapped his arms around her, "and I can go hunting whenever we need me to."

Odette smiled at how much her husband cared for her, "You really do know how to take care of me."

Of course I do," said Derek , "I promised your father I would, didn't I?"

As the young couple drifted off the sleep, Odette felt like the luckiest woman in the world to have such a loving husband. She was proud to spend the rest of her life with him, and she couldn't wait for their child to become a part of that life.

Me: Hey Guys! Sorry this chapter took so long, life's been going crazy for me lately. I just got my own place a few months ago and work's been really crazy. But I will try to make these chapters faster if I can, but now promises. Let me know what you think!