The sky was dark and rumbling with thunder when Elena finally left the feast. Naomi threw an arm around her shoulder as they walked to the carriages. "Glad that's over with, right?"

Elena smiled half heartedly. "I'll be glad when these dates are over with. What was Esteban thinking?! I can't marry any of them."

Naomi elbowed Elena playfully. "Not even Gabe? I, uh, kind of overheard some of the guards talking about it. They said you'd kissed! "

Elena blushed and bit her lip. "That's the thing, Naomi. It was better than I'd imagined! Maybe I suppressed my feelings for him all this time, but it felt so... right! And natural." She looked up at the palm trees, blowing wildly as the winds picked up. "I know his feelings are hurt by all of this, but I feel stuck! Like I can't do anything, even as his friend, to make him feel better."

"Elena, he'll be ok. If he cares about you the way I think he does, this won't change the way he feels. Trust me, Gabe will still be there at the end of the day. I should get home... the storm coming in makes me uneasy. "

"Ok. Be safe, Naomi! "

/

The wind whipped and howled furiously all night and into the dawn. Lightening brought down trees with a crash and the heavy downpour of rain flooded the streets of Avalor. Elena was up all night, watching the storm and wishing she could go out to make sure her people were safe. As soon as the first haze of dawn peeked through the thinning clouds, she called an emergency council meeting.

After waiting over an hour for the guards to bring Mateo and Naomi to the castle, Esteban was ready to start without them. "Elena, please be reasonable. We cannot wait for them all day! We must at least send out scouts to see what damage the storm has done."

Francisco gently added, "Our people may need help Elena. I'm afraid Esteban is right."

Elena spotted Skylar circling her balcony and made up her mind. "Ok. Send out the guards, and alert the engineer and the physician that we may need their help today. Gabe and I will take the jacquins to see what happened to Mateo and Naomi.

Luisa frowned and said, "You are supposed to spend today with Prince Alonso. He has already asked for you three times this morning! What will we do about him? " She turned with a glare at Esteban that held the promise of future reprimand.

Elena rolled her eyes. "Well, if he wants to rule Avalor so badly, let's see how he enjoys MY way of ruling. He can come along with us on the jacquins."

Abuela laughed and said, "Oh, I wish I could be there. Be safe, dear!" She turned to Esteban. "And as for you, I heard their was a problem with the letrinas. Perhaps you can oversee the waste cleanup and repair for today."

"But Abeula!", Esteban groaned and agreed with reluctance when he met Luisa's unwavering stare.

/

Elena swung her legs onto Skylar and they coasted next to Gabe, who was mounted on Migs. Elena gave Gabe a small smile and he nodded formally in return. "Good morning, Princess."

Prince Alonso was still Earth-bound, eyeing up Luna dubiously. He called up to them, "Are you sure this is safe?"

Elena rolled her eyes impatiently. "Of course they are, they're my friends. They would never let us fall."

Luna gruffed in agreement. "Unless you keep pulling my fur that hard!"

Prince Alonso muttered, "Lo siento", and they were off.

"Skylar, let's head to Mateo's house first. The guards were supposed to grab Mateo and then head toward the docks." Elena instructed.

The jacquins shifted direction sharply and Alonso yelped from behind them. Elena looked amusedly at Gabe as he snickered at Alonso's cowardice. He fell back next to Alonso and said, "You know, you'd have a hard time keeping up with Elena on her adventures if you can't even handle a simple jacquin ride."

Prince Alonso bristled indignantly. "I am quite fine, I just need to get used to the height. I'm a fine horseman. These beasts are not as smooth or as tame as my thoroughbreds from the Royal Stables in Cordoba."

Luna huffed at the insult but said nothing. Alonso cupped his mouth and shouted to Elena, "Dear Princess Elena, you are stunning on that creature! You command him with such dignity and grace."

Skylar asked, "Command me?! This guy is a bit wacko, eh Elena?"

Elena waved off the compliment and whispered to Skylar, "You have no idea!"

/

The group descended on the de Alva residence and Mafa came outside immediately. "Princess Elena! Did something happen to Mateo?"

"Well we were going to ask you the same thing! He and Naomi never showed up to Council today. Did the guard pick him up this morning?"

"Yes, almost two hours ago. They said they were taking the higher roads to the dock, because they were worried about flooding."

"Thanks, Mafa. We'll find him. In the meantime, can you check on you neighbors and make sure everyone is ok? Guards are patrolling the city to see if anyone needs help."

"Of course, thank you Elena. I know my Mateo will be fine."

/

Once back in the air, Gabe pointed out the road that ran along the mountainside. "That must be the road they took. Let's follow it towards the dock and see if we find anything."

"Let's go!"

Prince Alonso whined, "But wait! We have not had a rest or refreshment. What is the rush!"

Elena turned Skylar around to face him. "Alonso, my friends could be in trouble! And my kingdom needs me! I will always be the type of ruler who will help my people when they need it. If this bothers you, then maybe we are not a good match after all. Perhaps we'd be better as friends? Allies with neighboring kingdoms?"

Prince Alonso bristled at the dismissal. "And perhaps we won't, on account of rude, stubborn women who have poor taste in men." he said, as he glance pointedly at Gabe. "Goodbye, Princess Elena."

Luna smirked. "Catch up with you guys later! As soon as I get this pretentious jerk off my back."

Elena smiled wryly. "He is royalty after all, please get him back to the castle safely. See ya around, Alonso."

Gabe couldn't help but rejoice internally. One down, three to go.

A/N: Sorry for the wait! Thanks for all the reviews & follows!