Hours fly by so quickly here. One minute I'm standing on the balcony, admiring the view. The next it is night fall and I am roaming the hallways, searching for nothing. Maybe something to do though. This may sound funny, but…I sort of miss my forest home. And I've only been here with Ash for about a day! I miss my friends, the constant wind in your face, and the nature of it all! It had become part of me and now that I've had that part ripped out…I feel so empty. The question overcomes me, should I go back? And it's also strange, how nobody seems to notice me around here. They don't whisper to each other the question of who occupies the guest room upstairs. Or maybe why the Prince is so happy all of a sudden. What is causing him this hasty joy? Why is that suave smile always covering his face? Who deserves such attention from that boy? I wish I could say happily that I make him feel that way. But I feel the same way as I did about three years ago right before that ball. Planning my get-away and how to slip away easily. I come across a staircase that descends into the library. I take this route and make my way around the many shelves of books. I feel at home, but also feel like I'm intruding on someone else's property. Like some stole-away. I hear voices up head.

"You have no idea how nice it is to see you like this!" I hear Queen Delia squeal.

I look around the shelf I am behind and see Ash practically dancing with his Mother from glee. "Do I really make him so happy?" I ask myself quietly.

"Oh, Mother, it feels great to be like this! I feel wonderful. It's like all of my dreams and figments have finally come to life!" Ash throws his hands up in the air. "I feel like shouting from the tops of every mountain how my life has changed. And how she made all the difference."

"Who is the she you always talk about, sweetie? I am absolutely DYING to meet her!" Queen Delia says.

"She's the most wonderful, most beautiful, imaginative, incisive, radiant,…oh, I could go on and on! She's perfect, Mother. As perfect as perfect can be." Ash explains and my face glows. "She brings me to question, what did I ever do with my life before she came in? What made me so at ease and blissful, if she wasn't there? Her personality can not be pinpointed on a specific type like most women. Some would be cute, intelligent, savage, petite and polite—just one! But she's just…just." Ash sighs with such luxury in his voice it sounded like he was going to faint.

Queen Delia chuckles up a storm and puts a gloved hand over her mouth as always. "Really, Ash. I must meet her."

"I'm waiting for the right time, Mother. The right time." Ash replies.

"That reminds me!" Queen Delia jumps as she takes an envelop out of her small handbag. "I hope you doing mind, deary, I really hope you don't mind. But I was going to throw a ball! I invited people from six different kingdoms. Women from all over will be coming just to drool on your shoulder, Ash."

"But, Mother! What did I just get done telling you! I found my girl. I will never change my mind." Ash shouts.

"I'm not trying to change you mind, honey. I'm just giving you an opportunity!" Queen Delia says.

"Huh?"

"Exactly!" Queen Delia claps happily. "This will give you a chance to introduce your bride to the public. So everyone will know that you have finally made your decision. Finally, finally, finally!"

"Yes, Mother, I get the point." Ash detests. "And that is a good idea. I hope that she doesn't mind either. I know she doesn't really like people staring at her a whole lot." Thank goodness he's noticed that.

"Great!" Queen Delia grins and walks off and down the spiral staircase to the lower level of the library. "See you at dinner, Ash, sweetie!"

"See you Mother!"

My bosom swells as I take a deep breath. Finally, Ash and I will get our introduction as a couple and I will be able to…yes, finally! I continue to hide behind the bookshelves, daydreaming. Until I get an unexpected tap on my shoulder. I turn quickly to see Esmeralda standing there with her hands on her hips, nostrils flared. She wears a canary yellow dress with gold and scarlet trimming and a large lace trimmed bodice that was puffed out to full extent. A few wisps of her curly black hair had fallen out of her ponytail and swing by her flushed face.

"Hola." She says exasperated.

"Uh, hello." I squeak.

"Que pasa?" She asks zealously.

"Esmeralda, how are you? Um,…I was just looking for something." I say as I take a book off the shelf.

"¡Usted no sabe cómo que esto me hace me siento!" Esmeralda screams at me.

I can not stand a single word she is saying. A few words, but I'm not that literate with Spanish, same with Ash. No wonder he tries to ignore her. You can't understand even one word out of her mouth. "No comprendo." I think I said it right.

Esmeralda sighs with revulsion and aggravation. She then shudders and hides her face in her hands. She was…crying? "¡Usted no sabe cómo que esto me hace me siento!" She repeats. "¿Por qué debo sufrir yo?"

"Please, tell me what is wrong?" I put a hand on her shoulder sympathetically. Now, I hope, she can tell what I'm saying.

Esmeralda takes her hands away from her face that shines with tears. She then starts to yell at me, "He estado tratando de obtener Príncipe la atención de Ceniza por tan muchos años. ¡Tan muchos! Y cómo usted entra aquí y él venera el suelo que los pies sucios pisen. Todo quise era para él advertirme. ¡Para él a... to me ama! ¿Qué tiene usted que hago no? Soy mono, soy sexy, y intelligent. ¿Por qué puede él no dice aún hola a mí en los pasillos? Por qué... I lo ama. ¿Por qué no me ama él?"

That sounded like a bunch of gibberish to me. But still, I feel sorry for her then. "I'm sorry, Esmeralda." I reply. "I'm sorry."

"What's going on?" Came Ash's voice from behind another bookshelf. He comes out to see me practically hugging Esmeralda who is in tears. "Esmeralda? Misty?"

Esmeralda flails her arms to bat me away. She takes a big breath and makes sure she has my eyes. "Usted no ganará. Regresaré en usted y lo frecuento en sus sueños más oscuros. ¡Usted no se olvidará el nombre Esmeralda!"

Ash comes up from behind her and takes her by the arms. "Esmeralda! Calm down! Misty did nothing to you!"

"Ash, please." I try to stop him.

"Misty, just let me…" Ash nodded to me.

"No, Ash, please." I say again.

Ash starts to pull Esmeralda away from me. She kicks a little bit and finally gets out of Ash's grasp. She then points at me and shouts, "La remera." Then stomps off. Once more, I feel deeply sorry for her.

Ash turns to me. "Misty, I have some news."

Great, good conversations don't really start with those words. What follows is usually, I'm pregnant, we're moving, or something worse. Ash certainly isn't pregnant, so I'm at least a little safe. "What is it?"

"My mother will be hosting a ball tomorrow night." He takes both of my hands. I knew the rest, but I put an excited look on my face. "Of course you're invited, but you will also be introduced as my bride."

I smile big. "Oh, that is wonderful!"

He picks me up in a hug and twirls me around a little bit. "I'm so glad you're happy Misty. I am."

"I couldn't be happier, Ash. I'll finally be with you." I reply.

"It's been so long, Misty. I was afraid you wouldn't love me anymore." Said Ash.

"Oh, Ash. Don't be ridiculous. I will always love you. Time cannot ruin what we already have. Some people fall in and out of love carelessly. I hope with all my heart that we are a couple that reject that from ever happening." I say more with my eyes then with my words.

Ash smiles a huge smile and then seems to recall something. "I am sorry about Esmeralda, she…"

"Don't be sorry about Esmeralda, Ash." I shake my head. "I believe that we'll end up being good friends. But I hope that you do know that that girl cares about you. I'm not taking sides, but she spoke to me as if I were a demon who was stealing from her a brother. But her words also were filled with love, and also sadness. So, it just goes to show you. If you respect the Spanish, they'll treat you well. But if you fight with them, they'll always win."

Ash laughs a little bit. I could tell that he got the point. He leans down and we kiss. "Would you like to go for a walk or something? It's like I've ignored you since you've arrived."

"Oh, no, you haven't, Ash. A walk would be nice."

Ash and I start to stroll down the corridors since it was too dark outside to take a walk. He showed me everything there was and all the things that were available to me. I was excited about the ball, but yet, I was sort of scared. The last one I had attended still stuck in my mind. I wonder how mad Lord Altrogge is. Maybe he doesn't even care that I'm gone. I don't care about his opinion, though. I'm here to stay. I'm never going back. I'll miss you Juniper, Freesia, Pippin and Penelope. It's been so much fun. Come and visit me any time you wish. But that forest will no longer by my home. I've starved and cried too many times over the past few years. I will not return to such things. I want to smile, I want to laugh, and most importantly, I want to love. It feels so unbelievably good. I'm back where I belong. As a Princess with her Prince. It's been a while since I have been called a Princess or even respected as one. I even forgot my own royal blood. If it's really that precious, I do not know, but what the heck, right? I'm here. That night, after Ash and I went on our little walk. He brought up some food to my room for us to munch on as we talked. It felt so weird to eat. I didn't eat much, for I thought I was going to be sick. But it was real food! No more bread and cheese and ham and strong coffee. Escargot, salad, roasted beef, potatoes and beans. Everything perfect and savory. It won't be long until the mystery of my arrival will be revealed. I will not only be introduced as a person. I will be returning from the dead, sort of. If everybody thinks of me as dead, this will prove them totally wrong. And the most important of all, I will be introduced as Ash's bride and lover. I couldn't be happier. I truly, could not be happier then I am now. As Ash and I say good-night with a kiss and a smile I hear a distant voice far off in my head. She tells me that I deserve this, and I am always perfect in her eyes no matter how savage I was, will be, or have become. No matter who I choose as my Prince, she will always love me and respect my decisions. But the words she said even louder then expected where, 'You made the right choices, Misty. You made the right choice and I love you still. Remember that.'

I curl up in bed in my night gown and whisper to myself. "I love you too, Mom."





**Spanish phrases(Esmeralda)in order from first to last:

~Hello

~What's up?

~ You don't know how this makes me feel!

~ Why must I suffer?

~ I've been trying to get Prince Ash's attention for so many years. So many! And how you come in here and he worships the ground your dirty feet walk on. All I wanted was for him to notice me. For him to...to love me! What do you have that I don't? I'm cute, I'm sexy, and intelligent. Why can't he even say hello to me in the hallways? Why...I love him. Why doesn't he love me?

~ You won't win. I'll come back at you and haunt you in your darkest dreams. You will not forget the name Esmeralda!

~ Bitch