Bastien's reaction was worth everything. His jaw dropped in the classic fashion, and something I was certain was akin to horror passed through his eyes. Gleefully I kept myself from laughing, though it was the one thing holding back the sheer terror that I now felt. Queen Flore clapped her hands together and gave a joyful cry.

"You truly are accepting?"

I nodded and flicked my tail, trying to seem like it was nothing, no big deal, just a minor little event on the calendar of my life. Just a wedding. No big deal.

"Can monkeys even get married?" Bastien asked in a voice that match the stunned look on his face. He sounded like he had as a child, confused and curious.

"Obviously," I snapped. I hadn't known the truth of that until hours ago when a monkey proposed to me, but if monkeys could have kingdoms they could also have other civilities such as marriage. "And I am going to marry a monkey. It's happening."

His face twisted in what seemed to be half-laugh, half-cry. "So… really, then? You're accepting this proposal?"

Queen Flore gave a thrilled sniffle and wiped her eyes. She was excited for me. Who would have thought?

I nodded again. "Did you not see what he sent? All those animals! It's completely and utterly royal." I guess it was, but I was not about to share with Bastien my ambiguity on this. It seemed only right. I was a monkey, so was this King with the horrible name of Magot, and Mirlifiche seemed charming and respectable enough, not to mention the so-far-nameless parrot. Goodness, I was going to have to learn the names of everyone at this animal court. That was, as soon as I learned to speak like an animal.

What was I doing? What was I getting myself into?

But still, I loved the expression on Bastien's face. It was priceless and perfect. My little revenge of something that probably did not require revenge, but who cared? It wasn't just to upset him, it was for me. What was the point of hanging around a human I loved?

Queen Flore finally got a hold on herself. "I… I shall inform our guests of the good news."

"Why weren't they invited to dinner?" Bastien asked in the same stunned voice.

I managed a laugh. "Because they are animals."

"Oh," he responded, oblivious to the fact one was right across the table from him.

I was really going to miss him.

But he didn't care about me, and I couldn't handle that.

Preparing to leave was not as glamorous as one might expect; of course, I was just a monkey. I had more nice things than I imagine any monkey in the world as a result of being dressed as a veritable princess all my life, but the outfits were small and, as it turned out, one of the four elephants sent by King Magot was more than capable of carrying everything I had.

Saying goodbye was the worst part. It wasn't that I did not intend to visit, for I did. But as Queen Flore hugged me I felt my heart would burst. I had no idea it was possible to miss her so much, and for the briefest moment I was struck by the idea of "mother". But that was a silly thing to think.

"You'll be a beautiful bride," she said over and over. "The most beautiful there ever was, monkey or human. If there is anyone capable of producing a portrait, you must send me one."

"Of course," I promised her.

"And…" Her eyes shone with tears. "And please remember how much I love you, Babiole. Finding you was one of the best things that ever happened to me. To us."

She was telling the truth. Of course she loved me. She had always loved me. "I love you, too."

Saying goodbye to Bastien was different. I didn't know what to say, and apparently neither did he. It had been so long since we had been close friends. Even so, I wrapped my arms around his neck. His pulse was quick.

"Take care," he finally said. "I'm sorry I teased you."

I wanted to say how much I loved him, but that would defeat the entire purpose of me leaving.

One of the elephants pulled a carriage. Nothing particularly fancy, but neat just the same. Built skimble-skamble of things that must have been pulled from the forest. Mirlifiche helped me inside, where awaited another monkey, female.

I looked one last time at my human family, blew Queen Flore a kiss, and the carriage was off.

It seemed an eternity to pass through the trees Queen Flore loved so much, and I couldn't help but imagine that I saw the face of Bastien several times as we passed.

It was the most awkward carriage I had ever been inside. I kept my paws in my lap, my tail curled demurely around me, and my eyes low. Mirlifiche and the girl monkey didn't even speak in that weird monkey chatter. I so wished the parrot had joined us.

After about an hour or so, the girl monkey looked at me and smiled shyly, and I realized she had probably been wanting to talk to me the entire time.

"Hello," I said softly.

She chattered something quick back to me.

I don't know what it was that specifically hit me about that response, but I suddenly realized I had absolutely nothing other than my body to do with monkeys. I could not even guess what she was thinking. Mirlifiche seemed perfectly content to stare out the window and pick at his fur.

What was King Magot going to be like?

I was going to marry a monkey. I didn't know a single thing about monkeys.

I took a deep breath and held it until I could feel my body cooling. It was all right. It was going to be all right. I was just going to have to learn about monkeys. I had been raised by humans, lived with humans, it was high time I learned about my own people.

Bastien crossed my mind, and I pushed him away. Being in love with a human… that was not right. It was impossible to persue. It would be better for me if I married one of my own kind. I had been a palace pet far too long.

The girl monkey gave a warmer monkey smile.

I had to try something. I would need a friend, even if we couldn't communicate. Putting my paws to my chest I said "Babiole."

A light went on in her eyes, and she put her own paws to herself and chattered something.

Well, it was a start. I smiled and nodded. Now what? A bag of some of the smaller gifts was with me, so I pulled it out. Maybe I could show her some things. Monkeys liked things, didn't they? I pulled out a couple of orange and tossed one to her. She seemed pleased, and daintily bit into it. From what I understood of monkeys was that they were messy, but this one seemed more or less civilized. Perhaps part of being in a monkey royal court?

Next I showed her some beaded necklaces and some of the more interesting rocks. She seemed happily impressed with all of them, though I also got the feeling she had seen them all before, probably had helped select them.

The last thing I pulled out was the jade box.

The girl monkey went into fits of delight at that, to the point of jumping up and down on her seat and shrieking something so loudly that Mirlifiche gave us his attention. Even he liked the look of the box, and he had presented it to me. He watched me closely as I played with the latch, trying to open it. At last he gave me a knowing look and said a rather short phrase that I supposed was the unintelligible answer to my confusion.

It was strange to feel like such an idiot in front of them. I wondered what they thought of me. Did they think I was a spoiled palace brat? I decided to do better and think highly of them. They were more than strange creatures to me, they were noble animals and I should be proud to be one of them.

Embarrassed, I set the box down.

"You must be bored," said a voice, and the same parrot who had spoken to me earlier fluttered into the carriage through the window.

"Someone who understands me," I said with a happy sigh. "I mean, I'm happy to be here and—"

"Of course," said the parrot. "You look very happy. You are among good people. You've met Mirlifiche. This is, in the human tongue, Princess Gigona. Your new stepdaughter."

Much nicer than the monkey version of her name, though I wasn't sure how I felt about having a stepdaughter. Still, she seemed nice. The daughter of my future husband. I smiled even more broadly at her, which she seemed to appreciate.

"Her mother was Queen Monette. She was the most beautiful monkey in the land, though you might take that place. She was killed several years ago. It was heartbreaking for the King and the Princess."

I nodded in sympathy. Of course.

"But Princess Gigona is thrilled to have you around."

Gigona nodded fervently.

I was welcome, apparently. I still had no idea what I was supposed to do among monkeys.

The rest of the day passed slowly. I tried to make conversation with the parrot, but to my fault I couldn't think of much to say, and Gigona seemed content watching me. She was a very pretty little monkey, I had to admit. Was I supposed to feel any affection for her?

I was barely nodding off to sleep when shouts outside jarred me. The parrot flew from the carriage, which had come to a halt, but returned shortly. He jabbered something to Mirlifiche, but then turned to me.

"We've strayed into the territory of King Achille."

The name did not ring a bell with me. I stared.

"He hates the monkey kingdom. He wants it gone."

Princess Gigona was already shoving me out the door. I resisted and demanded of the parrot "We're leaving?"

"Hiding," he replied. "You can hide outside until the parrots have met with the soldiers. We'll do our best, but for your safety and the Princess', we can't have you in the carriage. It's the first place they'll look."

That made sense.

The sun was setting. We were in a field next to a tree-lined river. The sky was ablaze, but the soldiers around looked fierce. I clutched my bag of things and followed Mirlifiche and Gigona to the river. The trees were thick there. We were safe.

At least there was no fighting, none that I could hear. Was I supposed to be comforting my stepdaughter?

I turned to her.

Everything happened slowly.

Mirlifiche stood far off, watching up the bank. But Gigona's face was right in mine. Smiling, but no longer a kind smile.

I gasped.

That was when she pushed me. Hard.

I tumbled back, unable to reach for balance. I hit the freezing water.

It moved too fast for me to swim.