Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: I am still working on getting back to my rhythm; it's a lot harder than I anticipated. Thank you for being patient.

A Plan Comes Forth

Z was sitting on her bed with a book in her hand. She wasn't reading, hadn't been reading for a while. She didn't know what to do. She knew that she and Syd needed to get out of her. Spending another day alone with Sky was going to be horrible. He was quite stuck on himself. He acted like…like their savior.

Sure he had saved them from that thing, but it wasn't like they were completely helpless…although…her thoughts drifted to her sister.

Syd.

She was helpless.

Okay, she would give her some credit, Syd wasn't completely helpless, Syd just wasn't as strong in that sense as she was. But, she had very willingly helped make the meals, help out Sky with his dressing…although Sky would resist.

He was more like a baby, Z decided, when it came to cleaning his wound that is. The doctor had explained to both of them how it was to be done and he still whined and complained about it. It was ridiculous. Okay, so maybe he didn't whine exactly…he just was…very difficult about the whole thing. It hurt obviously, but they knew what they were doing.

Why was this guy so frustrating? It was times like this that she really wished that she had stayed at the castle. But that would have meant marrying Jack, which would have felt like marrying her brother, and that was just wrong. No, leaving had been the best option…the only option.

Had it meant running into Mr. Sunshine…she might have altered something in her plans. Something like…perhaps she would have gone south. But that was hard to have worked out since it was after rescuing Syd from that creep.

Once more her thoughts shifted. Juneston would most likely still be looking for them. He had all of his men on his side. What if he found her or Syd? What would he do? It didn't seem likely that he was going to kill them since he was holding her sister prisoner for a while…and yet…things just were not too safe with him. Syd had never liked him. Z, she had never paid much attention to him at all.

If Juneston were to find them…what would that do for him? They were the Princesses…a gasp escaped Z's mouth. He was going to try and marry one of them! That had to be it. There was no other explanation. He was probably going to 'rescue' Syd and then marry her and become King. He had always been greedy.

Z didn't want Syd to have to marry that guy, but what good would wanting it not to happen do? She stared off into space and decided to let her mind wander for a bit to see if anything came to her. She had to save her sister. But a life on the run.

And would the stuck up Sky even let them leave? Maybe…surely she'd be able to get Syd and take off without him realizing. It wasn't like he was going to notice much.

Setting down the book on the bed she slowly went over to the window. Looking out she saw the yard in front of the cottage clear, but then after that woods. Just woods. If only she knew where she was…and in that case an idea of where other things were so she could decide where they were going to go to. Her thoughts shifted briefly to her Father. She did feel bad that they would be leaving him…maybe it wouldn't be too long. Perhaps she would find a way to bring Syd back. That was it, she should bring Syd back. Then once Syd was safe and sound and away from Juneston's clutches Z could take off again. She found a smile on her face and knew this was a good idea.

Turning around she decided to head to the book case and find a map. Surely there had to be a map somewhere in the cottage.

She made it to the library and began scanning the shelves for a hint of a map. She ran over lots of titles, but none that would hold the map she was looking for. Obviously she had figured wrong when she thought that he would have a map in his cottage. He didn't. Well…she assumed he didn't, she would keep looking though. She turned to the back wall and began scanning the book titles on those shelves.

"What are you doing?"

Startled she found herself jumping a little before turning around, when she saw it was Sky she just shrugged, "Oh it's you," and then she turned back to her searching.

"Yeah it's me. Do you mind explaining what you're doing here?"

"Me?"

"I didn't think that you have a hard time realizing that you are the only one in here. Unless you can create duplicates of yourself."

"Right. Like I can do that."

She rolled her eyes but continued on her quest. She pulled out a book that looked promising. Before she could open it she felt his hand close over hers and grab the book away. She turned around, before she was just annoyed with him, now she was angry, "What was that?"

"I asked you a question and you will answer."

"What you think that I'm your slave? I don't have to answer anything to you."

He folded his arms, "I think you do."

"You're wrong."

"Are you really wanting this?"

"What? Are you going to say that these are your books?"

He raised his eyebrow, "And?"

"You're going to play that are you? You know how childish that is?"

"I know how ridiculous you're being."

"It's not like we haven't been borrowing the books already, remember a couple days ago?"

"Yes, but you asked. Although I suppose it is to much to ask for that."

Z felt her anger rise even more but before she could open her mouth to continue she heard her sister open the door, "Z! Sky! Guess what I found berries! I think they're fine…but I was a long way from here…" She must have spotted the two of them as her voice trailed off, "what are you two doing? Are you fighting?"

Z rolled her eyes, "It's nothing Syd, alright."

Sky glared at Z before turning to Syd, "Where were you?"

"I went out for a walk and I found those."

"You can't just disappear."

"I didn't."

"Leave her alone." Z said stepping closer to Sky, "You're not our master. We stayed here to help you out."

"Only after I rescued you."

"And who needed help with that rescue?"

"You know I may have needed a bit of help, but you both would have been dead without me."

"Alright, look, it's not a big deal. I'm a big girl. I can handle a walk in the woods by myself." Syd protested. Z watched as her younger sister rolled her eyes and walked to the kitchen. "Now if you two wouldn't mind coming and looking at these to see if either of you know whether or not they're poisonous?"

Sky glanced at Z and without another word walked over to the kitchen and looked at the berries, "They're fine. Anyone would know that."

"What is your problem?" Z exploded.

"I told you my problem. Or do you need even that explained?"

"Fine. Can I borrow one of your precious books?"

"Which one?"

"How about the one I was trying to look at?"

"What for?"

"Who needs what explained now? Do you even read?"

"Of course I do."

"Well then, that's what I'm going to do." Z grabbed the book and walked off to the stairs.

"You better—"

"Be careful, I know. I'm not an imbecile, alright?"

Z didn't hear anything and was glad that he had finally decided to let it drop. It was a book, that's all it was. Nothing more. What was he in love with his books? She really couldn't stand the guy, he really got to her like no one else had. After that marrying Jack seemed like a mercy.

Sighing Z closed the door and began skimming through the pages hoping to find a map that she needed. It didn't take long for Z to find the map she needed. It was there the map of her kingdom. A few pages over a map that had the nearest town on it. That was a start. Now she just needed to figure out where they were going, get the map on some other paper and she and Syd would be free of Sky. Smiling Z laid down on her bed grateful that something was going her way finally.