I muttered horrible curses to myself as I stumbled down the wooden staircase of my house, desperately trying to slip on the black flat the belonged to my right foot and wrap the laces around my calf – meaning for them to form an acceptable looking bow – all while eating a slice of buttered toast.

I had woken up late, not completely unusual, but not all that normal either, to find that my long straight black hair contained a multitude of knots within it. After struggling for what seemed like hours, but was probably only twenty minutes at most, I finally succeeded in freeing my head of un-timely hair without using magic – which was something my mam, Charmadale, is trying to get my used to – and put the long strands up into pigtails. Afterwards, I scuffled throughout my room trying to locate my royal robes. Alice knows you cannot have an ACES meeting without royal robes. Or an ACE: and as of now I am currently pressed with that matter while I hurriedly scamper around, like a lost little mouse.

Finally, I spotted my dark blue robes, threw them over both the black meeting tunic-like-top I already had on and the dark pencil skirt that danced between green, black, and blue – courtesy of Jase; via. magic-clothing.

And just now Charmadale hollered at my through the open door-way to not leave the house without my ACES key. I swear; either Kamin or Lex, two JOKERS that are particularly close to me, was trying to vex me this morning. I was never this frazzled.

Feeling rushed, I spun around and grasp for my key from her hands. My hair whips around me as I turn yet again to sprint out the door and into our run-down looking yard.

"Do not hurl any throwing knives at Guards," she yells after me.

"He had it coming!" I almost laugh girlishly, both from my mother not just teasing me, but instructing me not to do the latter based on previous events, but also from the pleasure of planting my foot on a pile of bricks and pushing myself forward, allowing myself to hop out little rusted fence. Although I make an effort to hide it, simple things like running around with my hair whipping behind me as I fall to the ground and pause for only a brief moment before running again, are rare for me, and I enjoy them just as a starving person enjoys a feast after spending weeks on scarce rations.

For that is what I am – a starving person – starving for the simple joys like feeling the wind rush past me and others that my Kingdom forbids.

The excitement of the morning quickly wears off. The rest of the walk from my house to the palace is not only long, but also very boring, so the details can be spared. The only remotely amusing event was me trying to the cast a rock on fire for just a bit of amusement.

Go ahead; be enthralled.

I spotted the cobblestoned walk-ways of the kingdom while I toed a small pebble along the thin dirt path. Forgetting the pebble, I jogged up to the edge of the forest and paused only to place the cloaks hood over my head before stepping into the brightly lit Merchants Area.

I shuffled through the crowd, boding people a good day, pardon me, and a quick excuse me whenever I could or had to. I made my way to the Palace gate and removed my hood. Jogging up to the open entrance, a Guard spoke out to me.

"You're late. Even the ACES of Hearts are here. The King may be worrying about you."

I turned my head to the Guard and smiled. "And what of the other two ACES and KING's and QUEEN's; have they arrived yet? Their JACK's too?"

The Guard looked at me with uncertainty. "Well. . . no. But you still better hurry to the meeting room, before you get in trouble."

I kissed the Guard on his forehead quickly, when nobody was looking, and turned to leave. The poor kid blushed, wiped at his face, and flattened his hair. "H-he! I need to remain professional on the job, SPADES! Show a bit of respect to my position, alright?"

Just for that, I ruffled his hair. "Sure, kid."

"That's Guard Seven to you."

I hurried past the gate before our argument deepened any further – but not before calling back "or my little brother," to Derek. The Kingdom of Spades is the most well-defended and second richest kingdom out of the four Card Territories. The black marble step were never absent of Card Soliders, along with the occasional Card Guard. Making my way up the stairs and past the collection of silver columns, I entered through a door large enough for a jabberwocky to pass by in.

Taking an immediate left, I made sure that my strides were long, but not rushed, in order to get to the meeting room in a timely manner. A few rights and a few more lefts, and I was right in the hallway I wanted to be. Just a few paces down were the HEARTS twins. The two ACES starred out of a large paneled window, gawking at the kingdom below.

Unlike the other three Kingdoms, Hearts' always had two ACE's – twins. It had been like this since the beginning – when sacrifices were needed to create the ACES. A young girl from Hearts decided she would serve as her kingdoms sacrifice. But her twin brother refused to live without her – so he sacrificed himself as well. The Kingdoms debated over what they should do about that matter for weeks on end before deciding to let the Hearts Kingdom have two ACE's. From then on, the two went by HEARTS F and HEARTS M for female or male.

HEARTS F pressed her nose against the glass and her brother sighed before turning his head away. I coughed quietly, letting them know I was nearby.

"You better peel your face away from the glass before Guard Two has a fit. Though, he is a bit of a push-over." I gave the twins a are-you-going-to-say-something look before continuing, "we better make our way to the meeting room."

HEARTS F spoke up, "nobody is here yet. There's really no point. Go on ahead though," she waved me off and turned back to the window. "Hey, Allen," she excitedly hollered over to HEARTS M, " I remember that little market spot!"

I smirked, knowing that, even though this new ACE only remembered a few places from her previous life, she may still be like Tiana – a previous HEARTS F.