"What are you doing here?" hissed Nora.

"I was about to ask you the same question," said Ren.

"How did you find me?" asked Nora incredulously.

"It took a few minutes, but then I climbed onto the clock tower and spotted you in the crowd," said Ren, pointing to a massive building overlooking the street.

"You spotted me from there?" asked Nora. "How did you even know I was gone?"

"I went to check how you were feeling and you were gone. I figured you would have wanted to see the city on your birthday so I went looking for you."

Nora shook Ren's hand off her shoulder. "Well yes, I managed to escape the castle," she said sarcastically. "And as you can see, I haven't been attacked, mugged, kidnapped, or killed. In fact," she added on a happier note, waving her prize around, "I won an Ursa."

"Your Highness, you aren't hurt, but your father did not want you leaving the castle yet," Ren said in a low voice. "It is only a matter of time before he finds you are gone and as a bodyguard, it is my responsibility to bring you back. He says it's not safe."

Nora glared at Ren. "Ren, this is the first time in ten years I have left the castle. The only time I have ever seen people who do not know who I am, what I am, and are not concerned with what I will become. How more safe can I be? And how can I rule a kingdom when I have never seen it?"

Ren sighed.

"Princess, I know you are frustrated, but your father—"

"—Will have discovered I'm gone already," said Nora impatiently. "So I'm out here now, another hour will not change anything. I know you answer to my father, but can we please spend a little more time out enjoying the festival?"

Ren looked at Nora, then glanced back to the castle and back again. Nora held her breath and crossed her fingers behind her back.

"Okay, Princess," said Ren finally. "But only for one hour and you have to stay with me."

Nora jumped up and down and hugged a startled Ren.

"Thank you, Ren!" she said. Then a thought occurred to her. "So, if you are my bodyguard, you technically have to do what I say right?"

"Of course, Princess, unless your father orders otherwise."

"Good. Then you can hold this," grinned Nora, dumping the Ursa doll into his arms. "Now you hang on to Mrs. Claws and let's go!"

"Mrs. Claws, Princess?" asked Ren.

"Got to have a name Ren!" said Nora. "And call me Nora."

"I can't do that, Your Highness!"

"Well, if my identity has to be secret, you can call me Nora," Nora smiled and ran toward the nearest concession stand. "Now let me try some of that cotton candy stuff!"

Nora had never had so much fun.

So many games, food, and people in one place. Nora checked everything she could. She dragged Ren back to several shops to examine weapons and Dust-imbued capes and uniforms. She played several more games and, after some convincing, Ren joined in. They played, watched, and laughed as they explored the city. Nora noticed once Ren relaxed a bit, he was fun, smart, and caring. He smiled a lot more often and treated everyone he met courteously, rich, poor, young, old, Human or Faunus. She looked over at him, laden with prizes from all their games and smiled. Ren was fast becoming not just a bodyguard, but a friend.

"Nora," said Ren.

"Yes, Ren?" asked Nora.

"We may have a problem."

Nora frowned.

"It is getting late," she said. "I might have forced you out for more than an hour…"

"That's not it," said Ren. He jerked a shoulder. "Behind me at seven o'clock, thirty feet, Faunus, green coat."

Nora peeked over his shoulder and spotted the Faunus. He seemed very interested in a store front window.

"What's wrong with him?" asked Nora.

"He's been following us for two stores."

Nora felt a twinge of fear.

"Are you sure? Why would he be following us?"

"I'm not sure why," said Ren. "But we should get back to the castle."

Nora hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. How do we get back? We can't just walk through the front gate."

"There is a back entrance for servants," said Ren. "Let's go."

Ren lead the way through the crowd, stumbling a bit under the prizes they had won. Nora relieved him of some of the burden and together they made their way through the crowd. Glancing behind them, Nora noticed the Faunus keeping pace with them, not close enough to be noticed, but close enough to stay within sight. Nora nervously quickened her pace up to Ren and hurried along.

"Almost there Nora," said Ren, stopping next to an alley. "Cut through here, turn, and the door is right ahead of you. Knock twice and wait for the door to open. Go."

"What about you?"

"I lost sight of him," said Ren. "Want to make sure he didn't see where we went."

Nora hesitated, then ran down the alley. Just a hundred feet, she told herself. Ren's nearby, and the castle is right there. Everything is going to be fine.

Nora looked behind her. Ren was still looking down the street, trying to spot their follower.

Suddenly, Nora ran into something very solid and was knocked to the ground.

"Nora!" shouted Ren, followed by a grunt of pain.

Nora looked up just in time to see a large man blocking her way, reaching toward her. She felt something cover her nose and mouth and she slipped into unconsciousness.