Chapter 1: In Which Babiole Spies

Queen Flore had always had a thing for trees. I imagined it was because she was like a tree herself, tall and strong and beautiful; how could someone like her not be drawn to such powerful plants? She collected them in her gardens till one could hardly call them gardens but rather orchards. It became common knowledge that when wanting to win the favor of the Queen one should bring her a tree. She hired the finest gardeners to care for them, but it was just as likely that she would be out there in her sturdiest clothes pruning them herself. I had always watched her with those trees, admiring her beauty that showed even in those relatively humble work clothes. What sort of queen would get down and dirty in the soil? A good one—Queen Flore and her kingdom were powerful, even more powerful than when her husband was alive. I hoped she would stay in power long. She was respected, slightly feared, but popular. She was a great queen in all ways, and still lovely with her golden hair that fell all the way to her feet and drew suitors who paid no mind to the fact that she sent them all away. I don't know what they would have thought to see her working among the trees, but that was how I best liked to see her.

When I was younger, I liked to pretend she planted those trees for me. Then I read somewhere that many of them simply could not grow high enough fast enough for that to be reasonable. Still, I liked climbing, Queen Flore liked trees, and everything worked out for the best. We had to be kindred spirits.

One morning in the middle of summer I was enjoying one of my favorite pastimes: climbing. The tree boughs often ran together in a perfect canopy, providing hours of privacy without ever touching the ground. And I could move fast. Over the years I had learned every tree, every branch, every inch of bark and how that bark felt beneath my hands. I knew which branches could support me when I wrapped my tail around them and which ones even someone as small as I should keep away from. I liked to pretend the trees were my own personal palace. I had imagined just what everything would look like if I had my way. It was something I would never mention to anyone, especially after all my rants against Bastien and his fiction, but kept as my own secret indulgence.

The trees had another purpose, though. Spying. Which is why I was up there that day.

Bastien was sixteen, making him about three when I was brought to the palace, but now was nothing like that toddler with whom I had played. Oh, now he was so much more interesting and fun than that. Bastien had discovered… girls. Actually, he had discovered them long ago, but only until recently had Queen Flore agreed to allow any in his presence. Knowingly. It was my personal opinion she feared him getting married and stealing the throne. Bastien had made many friends with many servant girls over the years who were only too glad to steal a few kisses from the Prince himself. Only I knew about those, as he had somehow decided I was the perfect confidant for his love life. I figured it was pretty funny when it was up to and he wasn't doing anything more than kissing girls and winking at them, so far be it from me to tell his mother what he was up to. Now she was giving in to the fact that her son was quickly becoming a young man and she couldn't keep princesses and court ladies away from him forever.

This morning's plan was a stroll around the palace grounds before a lunch—with the Queen, of course. This particular girl's name was Florine. I figured myself a passing expert on human beauty, and she certainly was. Small and dark with luminous eyes and the most annoying laugh I had ever heard. I wasn't sure if she were a princess or a some lord's daughter or niece of fifth cousin twice removed or what. I just found it really funny how she clung to Bastien's arm until he winced visibly with pain and laughed and laughed and laughed.

I followed them on my own walkway above, making sure not to make a sound or knock down a leaf or twig or anything that would give me away too early. Yes, this was a great pastime: Spying on Bastien.

I don't think he liked this Florine girl, despite how pretty she was. I could read his face, and somewhere alongside the pain was the desperation of a boy ready to run screaming for safety. But he was the Prince and the son of Queen Flore, blessed with better manners and less sense than that, and he just kept smiling and talking while she laughed. How much air did one need in one's lungs to maintain that?

They stopped at a fountain, a picturesque little circle of stones with an angel statue. Florine sat down, pulling Bastien down with her. "I'm so tired!"

I would never understand that about humans. They tired so quickly.

"The grounds are very large," Bastien replied. He was a rather astute boy. "I mean, you could get lost in them very easily."

Florine laughed. "Oh! I'd be so scared if we were lost!"

"The palace is just that way." He pointed. And not in the direction of the palace, I might add.

Florine laughed. "So we're not lost?"

"We're fine." She must have been squeezing his arm again, because the pained look had grown.

I rolled my eyes, tore a piece of bark from my current branch, and dropped it down into the fountain. Now, a piece of bark isn't exactly going to make a huge splash, but it was ripple enough.

Florine actually screamed and jumped to her feet, freeing Bastien of her grip. "What was that?"

"What was what?"

Florine must have good hearing. I had misjudged her. "Something fell, Bastien. Something fell."

He looked up. I knew he couldn't see me, but at least he made the effort. If he were indeed looking for me. "Probably a squirrel or a bird."

Her face changed and that darned scream switched back to a laugh. "What sort of birds do you keep? Any peacocks?"

Hah. Peacocks. Boisterous birds with no brains. Queen Flore would never keep them. I tore off a bigger chunk of bark, one the size of my head. Then, without a trace of guilt, dropped right in front of Florine's feet.

She screamed again.

"We don't keep any tame birds," Bastien mused as he barely glanced at the screaming girl.

"Something is up there throwing things! Or…" And this where she gave the most idiotic gasp. "Your trees are falling."

Maybe I should have aimed for head. Why could I not be mean? I had to learn how to be mean. By all accounts someone should not to be alive. Then again, educating human women was something rather new and still frowned upon in circles in favor of women pursuing other achievements and it was not my place as a monkey to judge.

"Yes," Bastien said after a pause. "Yes, Florine, the trees were falling."

I smiled. Now Bastien was an idiot, but at least he was smart enough not to give me away.

But now Florine was in mortal terror of being crushed by Queen Flore's collection of forest and what was a prince to do? He sighed, pushed a hand through his blonde hair, and called "Babiole!"

He was going to pay for that.

Florine's mood bounced right back with another inane laugh. "The monkey? Oh, you haven't shown me the monkey! Everyone says that when you come here you have to see the monkey and there are no excuses."

I hated being known as "the monkey." I had a name.

"She's up there," Bastien said, sounding annoyed. "She does this. She's young, a kid still. Babiole! Now!"

It had been too many years since I had been considered anyone's pet and therefore I did not have to obey anyone but Queen Flore and that was simply because she was the Queen. I poked my head out of the tree branches. "What?"

Florine gasped, those pretty dark eyes sparkling. "Bastien! She's enchanting!"

I was pretty enchanting, no doubt about that.

"Were you throwing stuff?" Bastien asked, grey eyes going dark.

I rolled my own eyes. Was the answer not obvious. "Yes."

"It's perfectly all right," Florine said with a giggle. "Come here, dear one! Let me see you! Such a naughty little creature."

I looked to Bastien.

He shrugged. "She would like to meet you."

Everyone liked to meet me. "Catch me, please."

He held out his arms, and I swung down from the bough. An awkward thing to do in a dress. It might be considered odd for a monkey to wear a dress, but I had never thought much about it myself. All I known is that I had always worn dresses and was morally shocked at the thought of going without one. Besides, Queen Flore had excellent taste. Fortunately, I had mastered the modesty aspect of jumping through the air and climbing trees, and I was able to make it to Bastien's arms without my decency being questioned. I rested on Bastien's shoulder and curtsied to Florine. Queen Flore had made sure I could curtsey as properly as a princess.

"I am Babiole," I said too sweetly. "It is the greatest of pleasures to make your acquaintance, Florine."

The idiot girl of course laughed. "She knows my name."

I also knew better than to be rude to guests' faces, though I couldn't help but exchange a quick grin with Bastien. All the servant girls had been much brighter than this. Why could he not just run off with one of them?

Florine was in rapture. "Bastien, make her say something!"

He frowned. Was it the first frown he had presented around this girl? "What would you like her to say?"

"A song! Have her sing a song!"

"Babiole doesn't sing."

I nodded in agreement. It was a truth I couldn't not deny: Despite all the music tutors, I had no singing voice to speak of.

Florine didn't seem to hear. "A monkey song! How cute that would be! Just some little ditty. You must have trained her to sing something!"

"Babiole isn't trained to do anything. She just is this way."

Florine's face fell. "So she doesn't sing?"

I shook my head. "Sorry. Trust me, you do not want to hear me sing."

Well, at least she managed to get herself back into some sort of little smile.

Bastien cleared his throat. There was only so much time one could spend by a charming little fountain. "I think it's nearly time for lunch. We should return."

"I could use a bite." Florine once again took his arm, the arm opposite of the shoulder on which I rode.

To my credit, I tried my best to make conversation with the girl, if all out of respect for Queen Flore. I asked her what her title was, what she liked, all the proper questions, but her only reply to them was a series of giggles and remarks about how cute I was. And there was poor Bastien between us.

"Sorry, but I don't like her," I whispered into his ear. ("Aw, she's talking to you!" from Florine.)

He shook his head.

We would have to have a better conversation later. Eventually, I ran out of comments and questions for Florine and we walked in silence until I think even she could sense the discomfort. I settled back and stared at the passing trees until the palace came into view.

Fortunately at that time, Florine insisted that she had to change into a dress more suitable for a meal as the other one was clearly meant for walking. Which she was probably right about, so I didn't argue. I don't think Bastien cared one way or the other. He escorted her as far as was proper and then called a servant to escort her to the guest chambers.

"Wow," I said as soon as she was gone. I hopped from Bastien's shoulder onto a table. "Where did your mother find her?"

Bastien squeezed his fists together and gave a mostly silent scream. "Babiole, you have no idea. Four hours walking around. Four hours! It doesn't take that long! It shouldn't take anyone that long!"

I laughed and pulled a leaf from my tail fur. "You didn't find that romantic?"

"No. She has to be the dumbest creature I've ever seen."

"But she's pretty," I pointed out.

His enraged face slowly made way to a smile and a laugh. "I'm shallow, then."

"No, you're just weird. Not shallow, thank goodness, or I'd have to bite you." I had never bitten anyone, at least not since I was four. And often then it had been Bastien. "Listen. These little times together. They're great. It's better than you in a closet with a servant girl. And some of these girls I really like. They're cute, they can carry on a conversation, they don't refer to me as "the monkey." They're excellent. Others, well, I'm afraid I just can't give as glowing a review."

He put up his hands. "I completely agree. You can screen them for me."

"That's my job. Someone has to." And it was true. Prince Bastien was popular. Besides the title, he had grown up to be rather handsome. Still a little gangly, but his face was good.

"And I appreciate. Just… don't throw stuff at them. It's juvenile." He took his thumb and stroke the fur between my eyes, which I had always hated and he knew that. I jerked away.

"I can't help it. And you did call me a kid."

He thought about it. "Yes, you are."

A servant appeared then. "Your Highness, the Queen says the luncheon is nearly served."

I looked to Bastien. "Do I have to come?"

He shrugged. "Did my mother invite you?"

"I don't know." I twitched my tail. "Did she say anything to you? She never said anything to me."

"Not a word. I take it you're not coming."

"Not unless she calls for me. And even then I'll definitely have to think about it."

He looked desperate. "Let me join you."

I laughed and scampered down the hallway.

Outdoors was much more peaceful without the chatterings of Florine. I stole a couple of early peaches and settled down by the brook that flowed past a collection of weeping willows. I had always liked willows. They just looked so depressed, it was funny. I curled up on a rock and set to eating the peaches as daintily as I could while I listened to the babbling water.

"Babiole."

I looked up.

A tiny woman, about my size was fluttering near the shore. Fluttering.

For a moment I wondered if the peaches were poisoned and I was now dead or hallucinating.

Besides her unusually small size, she looked humanoid in every other fashion. Except for the wings. Grey, fluffy wings sprouting right out of her back.

I dropped my peach into the water.

"Babiole," she repeated with a sigh and a smile. "You're beautiful."

"Thank-you." I didn't know what else to say. "Um, who are you?"

"Your fairy godmother. Fanferluche."

I pushed the other peaches into the water. "Excuse me?"

But the little winged woman who called herself Fanferluche (if I were hallucinating, where would I get that kind of name?) just smiled. "I… owe you a favor, Babiole. Anything you want."

"Anything?" I took a breath. I must be mad.

"Anything at all."

I released the breath as I made my decision. "Thank-you all the same, but… no. There's nothing I need." How did one speak to a hallucination?

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure?"

"Quite sure. I wasn't aware I had a fairy godmother and I've gone this long without one, thank-you very much."

She did not look happy, but to her credit she did nothing but sigh and shake her head. "Well, then. Keep me in mind. You only have to say my name. Fanferluche."

I had no intention of remembering it.

And then she thankfully disappeared.

Bastien was going to love hearing about this one.