Chapter 2:

"What—"

Before she could react, the boy pushed Fine into a snow mound. The snow caved in, and she was buried deep inside. Just when she was going to jump back out and give the boy a piece of her mind, she heard faint voices, so she settled back into the snow.

"Your Highness, Prince—" The voice of a gruff old man loomed near.

"I know, I know! I just went for a walk, nothing to fuss over," The replying voice, apparently that of the boy's, said.

For the first time since he whisked her away, Fine heard his voice. It was a nice sound, rich and melodic, depicting just a hint of dignity. But what was his name? Prince I-lied-and-actually-kidnapped-an-innocent-girl-from-Christmas-play-rehearsal? Suddenly she felt her cheeks flush and her heartbeat quicken. What was this feeling? An old memory rapped at her brain, but to no avail. She couldn't remember anything about this person, yet he seemed familiar somehow…

Fine was jarred from her emotions by the rising voice of the old man. She silently scolded herself for not paying better attention to the conversation. She'd completely missed the last portion!

The old man said, "Your Highness, please! You don't have time to go flitting around whenever you wish! There are your royal duties! Now if you'll come this way, you need to go see the queen. Then the princess has required an urgent meeting with you, and the new museum needs you for the cutting-the-ribbon ceremony…"

"Gerald!" The prince interrupted. "I understand! I don't need your reminders! I was just sidetracked, ok? I'll be to all those places later, but for now, I have some business to attend to."

"But Your Highness—"

"Goodbye, Gerald."

Fine listened nervously as the old man—Gerald—sighed and walked away. She waited and waited, but nothing else happened. The snow was squeezing her in, packed so tightly she could hardly move. She was starting to panic about not being able to breathe when she heard a crunchy sound and felt an arm supporting her waist. She was carried out of the snow mound and into the crisp, cool air.

Staring into his ice blue eyes, Fine blushed again (she seemed to be doing a lot of that recently). Embarrassed, she started flailing her arms and shouting "Let me go, let me go!"

Surprised, the boy let her go and she fell back onto the snow.

"Ow!" Fine complained. "I mean, who are you and what do you want with me? Where is this place? Who was that guy you were talking to? What's your plan How am I going to get back Ohmygosheveryone'sgonnabesoworried!"

She talked faster and faster until what she said just became a jumble of mixed-up words, the boy silently staring at her.

When at last Fine ran out of questions and was standing there panting like a dog, the boy opened his mouth and said, "Long time no see, Fine. :D"

Fine gaped at him with her mouth open.

She looked at her surroundings. The sky was a bright crystal blue with a shading of light green and turquoise all mixed together. The whole land was covered in a pure white, deep layer of snow and in the distance, Fine could see a bustling little town with houses made out of either ice blocks, crystals, snowflakes, or glass. All in all, everything was extremely glossy and shiny. The sun was overhead, and it seemed to Fine that it was beating down especially on her. The glare of everything seemed directed into her eyes.

With a thud, she fainted and fell back, causing a light sprinkle of snow as they flew up.

~Later~

She woke up in a circular bedroom made of packed-in snow powder glazed with a thin sheet of ice. Thankfully, there was no heat or glare in the room, but it shone just the same.

Fine slowly pulled back the sky blue blanket and dangled her legs off the edge of the bed. A white letter fluttered to the floor. She picked it up. On the flap it had (probably) the seal of this kingdom, wherever it was.

On the envelope it read "To: Princess Fine, Sunny Kingdom"

Fine opened the envelope and read the letter:

Dear Fine,

Please forgive me for that rough beginning. Meet us in the royal Snow-dome at 6:00 to discuss our plans.

In case you're wondering, there's no way to leave Crystal Realm except through the Star.

Akihiko

What?