Author's note: Hi everybody! It has been quite a while since I worked on fanfiction. Sorry! I'm having a hard time building a habit of writing. I was also stuck on this story, knowing where I wanted to go but missing some middle parts. My first impulse was to recap the TV episodes to give me time, but it wasn't quite right either.

Soooo… I am starting this part over. As you may have noticed, I have deleted the chapters about the tv episodes. I will try to bridge the chapter inspired by the book Jane and the magician and the rest of my story, set after the TV show, with this piece.

8

It was a hot summer's night. Unable to sleep, Jane went down to the yard. Sitting on the swing, she could hear Dragon's version of a silent fly and the echo of the Romanian's music from the abandoned field facing the castle.

Tomorrow was her first challenge as a second-year squire. Tomorrow, all those stupid boys would eat their words. Tomorrow, she would prove she deserves her place as much as they do. Even more! After all, Gunther had been slacking off a lot lately. He seems so distracted she would have been worried if he didn't seem to be in such a good mood.

The rest of the squires weren't much of a treat. Ronald might be the strongest, but he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He failed to memorize most of Sir Theodore's lessons or even followed indications. He was also ill-tempered and impulsive. Like the time he provoked Jester in a duel for his imitation of Sir Ivon. Sure, the number was a bit insulting to their mentor … but a duel, really? Hurting for honour was so outdated! Fortunately, her inventive friend had used his quick wit to turn things at his advantage in a rather epic rap battle. Jane smiled at the memory before bringing back her thoughts to her present predicament.

She always goes to sleep extra early before an important event. It was part of her routine. It helped her build up her confidence. And confident, she felt... That was not the reason why she couldn't sleep. She was aware she was the best this group had to offer, as concealed as it may sound. After all, on her first challenge ever, she ended up saving the princess instead of a dummy AND won a bet with the prince that forced him to show respect to the kitchen's staff! As Sir Theodore would put it, true lessons are never planned and one taught in the field stay with you forever.

And learning she did through this year… She always seemed to end up in out-of-control situations. Buttered poles on her damsel-in-distress challenge. Real wolves in the maze. Getting team-up with good-for-nothing useless deadweight beef brain Ronald in her survival trip! She had to do all the work alone AND endured him explaining (wrongly!) everything to her! Gunther would have complained the whole time, but at least, he was somehow competent and definitely not that lazy! And as incompetents as the others were, they would at least shut up and do the job! Jane forced herself to take a few deep breaths just like Pepper taught her. She was rating and it wasn't helping. Tomorrow's challenge would be no different. Better even.

She had cumulated an impressive amount of knowledge and skills. Some of it were very specific to her kinghood, like archery, stealth, animal tracking, or medieval battle tactics. Some could be transferred into her modern-day life, like facing one's fear, and teamwork. But the pressure of living up to her own legacy was overwhelming. It felt like a lifetime had passed by. A year ago, she had found direction. A year ago, she had found a purpose and a code of honour. A year ago her life had changed dramatically.

A year ago, she had met her best friend. She could always count on Dragon to both encourage her and be brutally honest with her. His strength and acute senses provided useful on more than one occasion. He had bonded with the group over (appropriate) game, (disputable) humour, (disgusting) food and exploration of their common home. He (almost) never burns anything anymore and he (almost) never crashed into stuff. He still complained about shorthlives being too fragile to endure the power of a dragon, of course. But he trusted her with his life and the Dragon sword. She trusts him back with her safety, in land and in air. They went on so many adventures together and there was still so much to do!

She also found a wise mentor who gives the best advice. He was always a tad overdramatic, but his enthusiastic storytelling made lessons even more captivating. He encouraged developing her abilities and compensated for her least impressive strength. He helped her learn tons about dragons (even if the reason he had access to all that knowledge was horrific). Sir Theodore gave the squires many lessons on honesty, integrity, and bravery. He gave them time to reflect on the kind of person they aspired to be. He even supported her when she disobeyed him; trusting her to have a valid reason to do so.

She had multiple occasion to work on her fiery temper; slowly learning the difference between overreacting and standing against injustice. It's not like she could move to a new kingdom every time someone makes a comment about Dragon's behaviour, one night in a cave had been enough! Loyalty was a very desirable value, but not at all costs…

One year ago, she had met Pepper. Growing up as a tomboy, she never had a female friend, despite her mother's desperate tries to connect her with frizzy dressed fancy girls. Jane had never imagined she'd enjoy talking about boys, balls, or cooking, but it came so naturally and without the drama her female schoolmates always seem to bring to the table. None of the judgment if she showed up covered in dirt or if she ate two portions of roast. Only enthusiasm and colourful pieces of advice, if not a bit of gossip. Then again, Verbana was in no way a hopeless girl, as Jester's hand could testify each time she cooks the fool's favourite pie!

And with Pepper came Rake. She witnessed the love blossomed between her two friends with great delight. They truly deserved each other in the cutest of ways. It almost made her wonder what it would be like to be in such a relationship. Almost.

On another front, Jane never thought she would learn so much about gardening, although she wished her friend would spare her the detail on dragon dung… Or that she would enjoy someone so calm and reserved.

Or someone like Smithy. Someone who let his actions speak more than words. Who enjoys building more than fighting. Who respect animals as much as humans. A strong friend ready to play tooth fairy for a dragon or search the cave with her father when she went missing as well as give her the space to make her own choices. Even bad ones.

As much as she hated to admit, even Gunther had grown on her during that year. Not in a lover's way, of course. More in a maybe-we-will -work-well-together-someday-eventually kind of way. Their relationship was still bumpy, competitive, and full of insults; but respect was slowly creeping in. Gunther was a quick learner … when he applied himself. He was competent enough to challenge her, but still had his fair share of complications and failures. Even if he was too arrogant to admit it. But then again, so was she… As much as she hated to admit it, she shared more experience with him than with any other human in the castle. They pushed each other to do better. To be better. He was making great effort to be more honest and to move away from his father's attics. He almost became friend with Dragon, bonding over stupid dung jokes. Gunther reminded her not to judge a book by its cover.

But it wasn't just him. Her father had turned out to be more than a behind-a-desk accountant. Dragon turned from her worst nightmare to her greatest ally. Her mother and Pepper both run their respective area with a calm expertise, even if no one would pay any attention to them. Lavinia, despite her young age, displays more authority than her father or older brother. The Queen has confined in Jane that beauty and success don't always come with confidence. She witnessed some of her fellow squires running away from danger despite their training, but Jester throwing himself between a wild pig and the Queen and her children's.

Jester… The first one to believe in her. The person who always cheered her up, but still doesn't hesitate to confront her when needed. The brilliant mind who demonstrated that quick wit could be as much as a weapon as muscles. The boy with magic in his shoes and a lovely voice (and annoying jokes). The young man who advised her to do whatever feels right for her. Even if others disagreed. Jester, the subject she was trying to avoid…

-Jane?

-Jester! I … thought you were with your family.

-It is getting late. Though I should call it a night. Think you should too. Tomorrow's a big day.

-Yeah… I suppose you are right. Good night, Jester.

-Good night, Jane. And… Jane?

-Yes?

- You are more than ready for anything Sir Theodore can throw at you. Don't let the worry bug bite you! Attack it your sword instead! Or maybe not a sword, I guess it would be too big… A tiny sword! Or a bug repellant?

She smiled and rolled her ears at his failed attempt to comfort her.

-Don't use my sword to fight little tiny bugs. Noted! Thanks for the advice!

-Alright… My brain is clearly already in bed, so... Sleep well, my lady!

She gestured him goodbye before he disappeared into his room. Good old sweet, brilliant, reliable Jester. Her best human friend. Or was he … only that?

The memory of his embarrassment after he said she was pretty. Like he hasn't even meant to say it in the first place… Not that she would have minded it… Not that she was fishing for a compliment, not at all! Pepper and her mother kept telling her to try to be more feminine. No, the last thing she wanted was to focus on her appearance. Or flirting. Romantic relationships were such a distraction! She didn't have time for distraction! Right? Then again, does she? Surely, he meant nothing by it, right? Right?

Jane sighted. This was going to be a long night…