Disclaimer: No, I don't own the original T10K characters. Yes, I own Lily, Ryder, Matthew, Thomas, the Bed-N-Breakfast and anything else that I happen to toss in to this kinda crazy mix. :) I got ideas from some other people, but I can't remember which ideas, or which people, so if you did something like this, maybe it was you and I should be thanking you! Thank you! Lol. I'm a doof. Well, hopefully the ideas that I got from other people are changed enough to where it doesn't seem like I stole them or something. If it does, I promise I didn't mean to! And if you have a big complaint, tell me, and I'll see what I can do to fix it, kay?

Whew. I'm outta breath. That was a long Disclaimer! Well, with no further ado:

The Tenth Kingdom II: The Next Generation

~*~ Chapter 1 ~*~

"Mom? Are you okay?" I asked nervously as my mother sank down into her chair.

"I'll be fine, Lily. Don't worry about it."

"Can I do something for you? I could take over for a few days--you look like you could use the rest."

"Oh, Lily, that'd be great. Uh, how about you send Ryder to the palace to tell Wendell I can't make it for a few days and that you're taking over, okay? You're not actually supposed to, but I'm sure he'll understand."

"Sure, Mom," I said. Then I turned to the door of my brother's room. "Get out here, Butthead!"

"Lily," my mom warned.

"Sorry."

~*~

When my brother got back from the palace, he was fuming. He stormed in, all the while muttering under his breath.

"What's wrong, Ryder?"

"King Wendell's sick too, so Prince Matthew's running everything. When I finally got to talk to him and explained everything, he said, 'Oh, that's too bad. You have my sympathy. But the girl can't run the Bed-n-Breakfast.' like it was nothing! Then he sent me away to walk home in the pouring rain!"

By the time he was finished, my mother and I were both ready to go give that prince a piece of our minds. I talked them into letting me go. It was easier than I thought it would be, because they were both furious, too, and my mother couldn't leave feeling the way she did.

As I was walking out the door, Ryder said, "I think it's gonna storm real bad, so be careful, okay?" He quickly added, "Not that I care."

I smiled, then ran out. I made it to the palace in ten minutes. I waited just as long to see the prince. When he walked down the huge, winding staircase, he was looking as snobbish as ever.

"You requested an audience?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "You know the boy you saw earlier, Ryder?"

"Oh yes. Wanted some girl to take over the Bed-n-Breakfast."

"Some girl? Is that why you wouldn't allow it?"

"Of course that's why. Now, what did you need?"

I barely held in a growl, but just then there was a clap of thunder. Thomas, the king's manservant, rushed down the stairs. "Your highness, it has been advised that everyone take cover in the basement. Young lady, that includes you. You can't go out in this weather."

"Thank you, Thomas. We'll be right down."

Thomas bowed, then hurried off. Prince Matthew turned to me and offered his arm. I just looked at him, so he said, "You will accompany me to the basement." But he didn't try the arm thing again.

He led me all through the palace. In about an hour, he found a door leading to the basement. So we went in, preparing for hours of waiting. However, we were the only people there. Apparently, there was more than one basement. We exchanged annoyed glances, then sat down on opposite sides of the room.

I heard a wolf howl in the distance, and then realized I wasn't feeling to great either. I'd just been too busy to notice it. I groaned in anticipation. Glancing at the prince's figure, huddled in the corner, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

"Are you all right, your highness?" I asked, trying not to grimace at my own pain. Though there were no windows, I knew that there was a full moon that night.

"You may call me Matt until we are out of here if you wish. I . . . I'm fine."

"Well, Matt, you don't look or sound fine. We're gonna be in here for a while. If you wanna talk about something, go for it. I won't laugh or anything."

He sighed. After a few minutes, he said, "It's just that . . . I'm . . . fraydovewols . . ."

"You're what--agh!"

He gasped and rushed to my side. "Are you okay?"

Though I was trying to ignore the pain that usually sent me writhing on the floor in agony, I only winced and nodded. He didn't look very convinced. We were silent for a moment.

"Matt? Did you say you were afraid of something?"

"Promise you won't laugh or make fun?"

"Promise."

"Well . . . I'm afraid of wolves."

I was shocked then. He must not have known who I was. I almost told him, but then I realized I'd just scare him. Then the pain got to me and I let out a small whimper. Prince Matthew jumped. "Did you hear that?" he asked, looking around suspiciously.

"Nope, not a--" I stopped mid-sentence, because my wolf side was taking over--fast. He looked horrified, but I couldn't do anything about it. "Matt, do you--have--a rope--or--anything?"

Matt looked around and then held up a pair of handcuffs questioningly. "These work? And why?"

"That's great. I'll tell you why tomorrow, just trust me, Matt. Handcuff me." He hesitated. "Now! Before it's too late." He quickly snapped the cuffs on my wrists, still looking terrified. "Now get out! Lock the door and don't unlock it till tomorrow."

I grimaced again and he just stood there, gaping at me. So I growled. He backed up, eyes wide.

"Don't worry, your highness. I wouldn't hurt you. I definitely wouldn't eat you," I said slowly, walking toward him. He gulped and I knew I was getting to him. "You do know why, don't you, your highness?" He shook his head nervously. "Well you know wolves only have one mate. Ever. And you're it. You're my one true love. Ironic--" He backed into the wall, but I took another step anyway. "--isn't it, your highness?" I grinned at him and he just gawked at me. "Run, Matt. What are you waiting for? Get out of here!"

~*~ Chapter 2 ~*~

The next morning I woke up with no idea of where I was. I looked around. It was dark; there were no windows in the large, dusty room.

I stood up and walked to the door, but when I reached for the knob, I realized I was hand-cuffed. I then remembered the night before--up until right after Prince Matthew told me he was afraid of wolves. Everything else was a blur.

Just then, the door opened. Prince Matthew and an exhausted-looking King Wendell were standing there.

"Lily!" King Wendell exclaimed when he saw me. "You were here all night?"

"I told you! Wait. You know her?"

Before I realized what was going on, I was being hugged by King Wendell. I hugged him back as best I could, finally understanding.

"Lily, Virginia's probably worried sick about you," he said, ignoring Prince Matthew. I explained why I'd made the trip in the first place, leaving out the fact that Matt hadn't wanted to give permission because I was a girl.

"Oh, of course. Don't worry about it, Lily."

I glanced at Prince Matthew who was still somewhat in a state of shock.

"Um, Wendell? Could I speak to Matt--er, his highness--privately for a moment?"

He gave me a knowing smile, then nodded. "Lily, tell your mother I said hello, okay? Wolf, too."

"Sure. Later Wendell."

"Goodbye Lily," he said. Then he turned around and walked off, shaking his head.

I turned back to Prince Matthew.

"Listen--your highness--I . . . I can't really remember what happened last night. That's usually how it is; I go crazy, then I don't have a clue the next morning. I'm sorry. If I said or did anything, I'd really appreciate it if you'd just forget about it. I'm really sorry about all this."

"Yeah, sure. Uh, you can still call me Matt if you want. I'm sorry about yesterday, Lily. I didn't realize you were . . . you. And I guess I wanted to let everybody know who was boss, you know?"

I nodded, smiling. "Matt? Could you say that again?"

"I'm sorry."

"No, not that part. The part where you said my name."

He smiled back at me. "Lily."

"One more favor Matt? Not to take advantage of you or anything."

"Yes, sure."

"Could you get these handcuffs off me?"

~*~

That night, my dad got home. (He always left for a few days when there was a full moon.) After we ate dinner, I went outside with him.

"Dad, can I ask you for some advice?"

"Sure you can, Lily. You know you can ask your old man anything."

"Well, there's this guy--"

"Ohhh, no. Not already," he said, whimpering.

"Da-ad."

"Sorry. Go ahead, Lily."

"Well there's this guy. And he's really really sweet, and really really cute, and . . . He's just . . . perfect . . ." I sighed. "But . . . Well, like I said, he's so sweet, and nice, and gorgeous, and--"

"Lily."

"Yes?"

"Just ask."

"Well . . . He's really afraid of wolves."

"Mhm. Well, that's a definite blow to your confidence, isn't it?"

"Dad, it's not funny."

"Sorry."

"I mean, I don't know what his deal is. It would be okay except for . . . full moons. Like, when I talked to him this morning--about last night--"

"Last night? This morning? Lily, don't tell me it's Prince Matthew." I gave him a guilty look and he whimpered. "Lily, Prince Matt--Prince . . . Matt . . ."

"What? What about Matt, Dad?"

"Matt? You're on a first name basis already? Ohhh . . ."

"Da-ad!"

"Lily," he began, then sighed. "Matthew shut himself up in his room. There're rumors he's gone mad. Cripes, I think he has. I went to the palace this afternoon on my way back. He saw me, and I tried to talk to him, but he ran upstairs. That's when he locked himself in."

"Cripes. Dad, he didn't say anything? Do you know why?"

"I just know Wendy said he's been . . . uh . . . flustered since this morning."

"This morning?" I winced in realization and put my hand on my forehead. I was leaning up against a fencepost but seriously considering pulling it up out of the ground and knocking myself out with it.

"Lily?" my dad said, peering at me.

"Huff puff, Dad, I've caused him to go crazy!" I thought for a moment. "I've gotta go talk to him."

As I turned to leave, my dad put his arm out to block me. "I don't think that's such a good idea, Lily."

"I have to, Dad. I can't just sit around helpless." He sighed and scratched his head as he thought. "Don't you understand, Dad? He's afraid of us. Terrified. He'll never speak to me again if I don't make him see that he can trust me. I have to make him trust me, Dad."

After a minute, he warily nodded. I hugged him. "Wish me luck."

(To Be Continued . . .)