Kylie made her way through the woods.

After her bath, Snow White had prepared her a lunch, sewn her a dress, and even lent her some woodland cosmetics. Using the crushed ash that Snow used on her eyebrows and eyelashes, Kylie had painted her lips jet black, and the paste from inedible berries for her lipstick had been transferred to eyeshadow.

Kylie did not feel very confident in her ability to apply it, but, with some help from her princess friend, she managed to walk confidently through the forest with her head held high. The darkness no longer frightened her quite as much.

"Oh! Hello there!"

Kylie turned to see-

"Sleeping Beauty?!" Her eyes went wide. How did this happen? It was like some kind of a magic dream. The blond girl tilted her head to the side.

"I'm sorry?"

Kylie smacked her head. Stupid, her parents didn't literally name their kid sleeping beauty.

"Hi, uh, Briar Rose, right?"

Princess Aurora smiled and nodded her head, "Why yes! How do you do?" She curtsied.

"Uuuuuuh..." She tried to return the curtsy but stumbled a bit to the side. Aurora let out a little chuckle. As Kylie tried to steady herself, her new friend came over and held her hand, "Kylie."

"It's so lovely to meet you!" The beautiful young blond smiled, pulling her new friend in for a tight hug, steadying the stranger back on to solid footing.

Kylie's mind went blank. It had been so long since she had been this close to someone. Or, at least, this close to someone who wasn't trying to get something out of her. She tried to think about how Snow White would act in this situation.

"It's, uh, lovely to meet you too," Her head whipped around, "Listen, I don't suppose your aunts are around? I kind of need their help to get home."

Aurora smiled, "Well, I'm sorry to report that they're a bit busy," She winked, "planning a 'surprise' for me. But I'll gladly walk with you for a bit.

Kylie shrugged.

The incredible world she was in seemed to just... flow around her. It was odd. It did not seem to bother her that she had been dropped into a world of magic, fairies and dragons. She did worry that meeting with Aurora would disrupt the flow.

"Do you have a dream?"

Kylie snapped out of her reverie and looked back.

"I guess... to have fun?"

Aurora shook her head, "I have a dream- it's just wonderful!"

Kylie said, "I'm guessing it involves a handsome man?"

The princess blushed, "Well... yes. But I think it's important to have a dream. Any dream really."

The pair stopped and picked berries for the 'surprise' birthday cake.

"I hope my aunts have finished baking my cake! Then they can help you get home!"

Kylie nodded along, "Sleep- um, Briar Rose, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Of course, my dear, ask me anything!" She smiled.

"Do you ever... fight with your moms?"

Aurora bowed her head. It struck Kylie how much more mature the blond was then she- Aurora had a certain level-headedness that came from being a woman.

"Why, yes, fights happen, hm- almost every day!"

Kylie chewed her lip. The answer disturbed her, but something else was bothering her even more, "Doesn't it bother you? Your family fights all the time, but you don't seem very worried!"

The two finished picking berries and began to head home, "Oh no, I'm not worried at all! You see, my aunts told me to go into the woods to pick berries, so of course I obeyed!"

Kylie's heart sunk. If she did not obey her parents, she would be hurt. Bruises on her legs and back testified to that fact.

"But really, it's because I love them," Smiled Aurora. She looked back over her shoulder, "I think you look lovely, by the way."

"Oh, um," Kylie blushed. No one spoke to her like that; just- you know, give her an off-handed compliment without a follow-up request.

Aurora turned and threw her shawl over Kylie's head.

"Kylie, who has wandered ever-so-far-from her home, let me ask you; don't you wish to return to your family?"

Kylie nodded.

The princess leaned in closer, "...can you keep a secret?" They stared into each other's eyes, "As do I. I was... adopted. But I dream that someday, somehow my family and I will be reunited. I don't know where. And I don't know when. But... I have a dream it will happen, in the end."

Kylie nodded along, "I'm sorry about," Where to begin? Aurora being unable to see her family? Hiding in the forest? The countless monsters that were hunting her?

"Oh, don't be sorry," Aurora shook her head, "Only those who have done something wrong should be sorry. What have you done that was so wrong?"

Kylie shrugged, "I must have done something wrong for people to hate me so much."

Aurora paused, and thought about that for a moment, "You know... I don't think that's right. See, You have done nothing to earn my help, or my attention, or my concern, but here you are, granted with all three. Silly me. Should I have demanded some oath, or gift?" There was a pattern, like a song to her words, "How can I take your words without remand, or promise it is no grift? Silly you, don't you see? For you, young lady, love, is not something you earn, it's just something... something..." Her whole body rose, like she was about to take flight, "Looooove... is something... to beeeee...!" She threw her arms around Kylie.

"But I'm not as pure as you are. People love you because you're pretty and nice."

Aurora looked very sad for a moment, "Kylie, I feel like life has been unkind to you. You have not received enough love," Her lips pursed judgementally, "You seem to think that fighting requires actual conflict, and that love is something you earn, not something you give," Her finger shook in her young friend's face, "You are wrong on both accounts," She held up her index, "Firstly, you can be in conflict with someone else and still care for them. I obey my aunts because I love them, and they love me. Disobedience would hurt us both," her middle finger rose to the second point, "Two, that love is not conditional. My family gave me up. Did they do so because I, as a babe, could offer them nothing? Or did they do it because they loved me?"

Kylie swallowed, ashamed. A gentle hand was placed on her shoulder.

"But if you would do me one favor," Aurora pointed to a path, "Follow this path to my cottage. My aunts will look after you. And when you get there, stand outside the door, close your eyes, and make a wish!" Her bright smile was intoxicating, "My wish, for you, is that someday, someone loves you as much as you deserve to be loved. That way, this... terrible burden that has been placed upon you, the very idea that you have to act a certain way, or do things for other people to get their love, instead of the other way around, in which you act a certain way because you are loved," Aurora winked, "I truly hope you find that someone, someday." Then, the blond vanished into the forest.