Many would say Altezza has lived a charmed life, and she would agree. She was born the princess of the Jewelry Kingdom. In a kingdom where even the commoners enjoyed the seemingly inexhaustible wealth of precious metals and jewels, its princess lived a life of luxury. She wanted for nothing in terms of the material.

Now she has married Prince Auler of the Windmill Kingdom and is its future queen. While she had seen the kingdom to the south has less opulent as a child, it could not be further than the truth. What it lacked in gold and jewels, it more than made up for in pomp and pageantry.

Upon marrying Auler, she was assigned a lay-in-waiting. Among the maids of honor, she chose Danielle. The blond greater Doggle had a love of jewels and fashion to rival her own and always made sure Altezza looked her best. The two became the best of the friends and went everywhere together in both the Windmill Kingdom and during her visits to the Jewelry Kingdom.

She also attended the queen's court to sit alongside Queen Elena. She was surprised the queen had pretty much final say matters of domestic welfare such as education and health care as well as—of all things—the operation of the kingdoms many windmills that generated the winds for the Wonder Planet. The king handled matters of state like foreign affairs, defense, and trade. It was a valuable lesson for when she would be queen.

Then there was Auler himself. She could not ask for a better husband. While he was an awkward teen, he grew into a handsome man. He was also unquestionably loyal and an absolute charmer. He was just a generally good man as well. He always held the door for even a castle maid and did the little things to help others regardless of station. He was a great husband and would be a great king.

Even putting up with Sophie on a daily basis was not as annoying as it was when she was little. She understood it was all with the best intentions even if the results were less than desirable. Though, she made clear there were times when she had had enough, and Danielle and Sophie's lady-in-waiting would find a reason for them to be in separate places.

Yes, Altezza lived a charmed life. There were times in her childhood when she thought she was getting slighted. However, she appreciated everything she had.

One morning, not long after Altezza's twentieth birthday, she awoke to Auler lying beside her with that big beaming grin of his. It was contagious as she smiled as well. "Good morning, honey," she said, still getting the morning grogginess out of her. "What has you in such a good mood?"

"I was thinking of how I believe you're pregnant," Auler replied.

Pregnant? It was going to happen eventually. Altezza blushed. "Oh. What makes you say that? Do I have that glow about me?"

Auler's smile dissolved into a confused frown. "Maybe, but I was talking more about your ears."

"My ears? What are you—" Altezza stopped when she reached up to feel her ear.

The dish of cartilage was gone. It was just a hole in the side of her head. Instead, there was a short, soft flap over it covered in what felt like fine, fluffy fur.

Altezza jumped from the bed, almost faceplanting as her legs got caught in the sheets and blankets that had stilled covered her. She stumbled to her vanity and its mirror to stare into it.

Her reflection showed her, but where her ears should have been were stubby—maybe three centimeters long—flap-like ears covered in fluffy, pink fur that faded to white at the tips like Sophie's.

"What, what," Altezza struggled to get the words out, "what's HAPPENING TO ME?!"