Chapter II

Eiko's Friend

Eiko awoke late the next day back in her room at Lindblum Castle. She climbed out of bed and got dressed in floor-length pink dress with thin straps and a black ribbon just above the waist. She then put on a pair of black elegant shoes and walked out of her room and up to the telescope on top of the castle. She peered through, towards Alexandria. Eiko sighed and lent on the stone wall.

"Oh Zidane," Eiko said, "You married her too young. I guess I just wasn't meant to interfere and you weren't meant to love me. But I can't help my feelings…" she sighed again, and then looked back through the telescope. After a while she headed back down stairs. She walked into the elevator and decided to take a walk around town. Eiko caught the trolley into the Theater Distract (which had been rebuilt in the last three years). As she was walking off the platform she collided with a boy who was carrying a large pile of paper. All the paper scattered on the ground and Eiko, being her old self said, "Hey! Watch where you are going! I'm a princess you know!"

"You should have been watching where you were going!" said the boy who was on the ground picking up the paper.

"That's no way to speak to the girl who will one day rule Lindblum!" Eiko exclaimed putting her hands on her hips.

The boy looked up, into Eiko's eyes. He had golden eyes and light brown hair. "I am very sorry Princess," he said, "I am just a little bit stressed. My father has been working me too hard."

Eiko was very taken by this boy now. She thought he was very cute, cuter then Zidane perhaps. "Let me help you." Eiko bent down and helped the boy pick up all the pieces of paper. "What are these papers?" she asked.

"They are scripts. My father is a play writer, he writes these scripts and sends them off to Alexandria, where a girl called Ruby owns a small theater there, and she pays Father for his work." The boy said.

"I know Ruby. I was in a wedding with her yesterday. She is very nice." Eiko informed the boy. She handed him her pile of paper.

"Thank you Princess Eiko." he said.

"What is your name?" asked Eiko.

"Atreyu" said the boy.

"I'm Eiko" said Eiko,

"I know Princess," said Atreyu, and he stood up and kissed Eiko's hand, "I must be off and give these to my father now. Goodbye."

"I hope to see you again!" Eiko shouted out as Atreyu climbed into the trolley.

"And so you shall Princess. Meet me here at dusk tonight!" Atreyu shouted back as the trolley door closed and set off along its tracks.

--End of Chapter II—