Chapter 7

Please Explain Before I Implode

"What do you mean you're the princess?" I asked in a panicked whisper.

Again Pip looked at me strangely, "How could you not know I'm the princess?"

"I'm new around here, okay." I calmed down slightly. I mean, maybe I was making a mountain out of a mole hill, but I wasn't expecting my tour guide to be royalty. Quite frankly I didn't even know this world had a system of government, much less a monarchy.

Pip appeared to wish to say more, but at that moment Mrs. Silster wobbled into our spirited debate, staggering as she was weighed down by a large red and gold dress.

"Here you go, Dear." She handed me the dress, which was a lot heavier than one might think, "The dressing room is in the back corridor."

"Thank"-wheeze-"you"-wheeze- I strained underneath the might of the dress. Hobbling down the hall I kicked open the door and struggled inside where the dress weighed me down entirely. Pitifully, I ended up sprawled on the floor with the dress crushing me. Crushed by a dress, only I would go like that I thought bitterly.

Crawling out from under the clothing I undressed and slipped on the gown. It was lighter than it had been while carrying it, and I didn't look half bad if I do say so myself.

Now, I would go out have Pip buy the dress than have her explain a little more about this country.

I entered the main room and both Pip and Mrs. Silster seemed delighted in my clothing change.

"Wow, Scarlet," Pip bounced up and down, "That dress looks very pretty on you."

"Yes, quite an improvement," Mrs. Silster agreed.

Pip walked around me with a joking look in her eyes, "It's perfect for you 'cause it's scarlet. Get it? You're name's Scarlet and that's the color of the dress to!" She burst into a series of giggles.

"Thank you, Mrs. Silster," I said steering a snickering Pip towards the exit, "You already paid, right Pip?"

She nodded and took my hand as we entered the crowded street.

"Now we go off to the Tavern where we can talk in peace," Princess Pip declared. I was about to burst with curiosity, and a million questions swarmed in my head, but somehow I was able to keep my focus… until I ran into a guy.

"Oomph," I mumbled as I crashed face-first into his chest.

"Are you alright, Little Lady?" He steadied me by putting his hands on my shoulders.

My cheeks turned a brilliant red, and I suddenly gained a lot of interest in the cobblestone street. Of course I eventually turned upward to apologize, but something stopped me.

I had crashed into Damon. "D-Damon?" I asked.

The boy studied me with a curious expression, and then his perplexity turned to shyness as he ducked out of my line of sight.

"Brother?" Pip asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Checking on you of course," the non-Damon replied.

"This is your brother?" I asked.

Pip turned to me, "Yep! This is Ethan, the White Prince."

Well that title certainly fits I thought as I studied Ethan. He was dressed in a white, flowing overcoat with two red crosses on the chest. Only now did I realize that this boy was not Damon. There was a severe lacking of a flame tattoo, but Ethan had two black upside-down triangles under each of his blue eyes. Plus, Damon would never call me 'little lady'. Damon had never even referred to me by my name!

"Uh-I'm sorry for running into you," I said awkwardly.

"That's alright I should have been looking to where I was going."

-Uncomfortable silence-

Ethan cleared his throat, "Well, we should get back to the castle, Pip."

"Aw-can't I stay with Scarlet for a little while longer?"

"Scarlet?" Ethan looked at me with wonder and somewhat fear.

I'm not THAT scary I thought. "Yes please, Prince Ethan, Princess Pip was just going to explain the ways of this world to me at the Tavern. Is that so wrong?"

Pip assented, "I know my own way back to the castle. I'll be fine. Scarlet isn't some homicidal crazy person."

"Do you even know what homicidal means, Pippin?" Ethan asked with a big-brother look in his night sky eyes.

"Not really…"

Ethan said sternly, "Than that proves you can't be out on your own. I don't want any arguments."

I've got an idea. Bending down I whispered my plan into Pip's ear. She snickered than turned to her brother, "Ethan, where do babies come from?"

This outa be good. Ethan's flushed; I swear I've never seen someone go that red that fast. Then he turned on his heels and walked away saying as he left, "Fine, stay, but you'd better be home by dinner."

Pip and I bumped fists as we watched in triumph as the Prince walked away.

"Off to the Tavern!" I said, and the two of us skipped to the log building, humming as we went.

"MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB, WHO'S FLEECE WAS WHITE AS SNOW!" Christopher bellowed throughout the forest, "Take it away Dustin!"

"And everywhere the stupid Mary went, the dumb lamb was sure to go," Dustin grumbled holding the 'special' pineapple, which had a rope attached to it to keep it from running away.

Christopher marched on like a soldier through the trees, "Don't change the lyrics Dustin, it is unbecoming of such a magnificent piece of music."

"It's a freakin' nursery rhyme! Not Bach or Beethoven!"

"Ah yes," Christopher placed his hand on his heart and replied dramatically, "Yet it speaks to my very soul! The way the lamb would follow around the little girl-oh I promised myself I wouldn't cry!" He wiped away the tears forming in his eyes.

Dustin watched in awe, "You constantly amaze me with your stupidity."

"Well, my boy, if you try hard and apply yourself one day you can be as stupid as me!"

Giving up, Dustin walked to the safe house. He froze standing and listening.

Chris stopped too, "What's wrong?"

"Hush, Problem Child." Dustin stood eerily still. Slowly his head turned up, "Do you hear that?"

Christopher listened for a few moments then shook his head, "I don't hear nothing."

"Exactly."

"Wow, see you're getting more stupid every moment. Way to go pal!"

Dustin wacked him upside the head, "No, you flibbertigibbet, I mean, don't you think Scarlet would be up by now and making noise?"

Chris thought about this for a moment, "Well, yeah, I guess so, but she really was out of it. We could have blown up the house and she wouldn't have noticed."

The two cautiously crept inside, slowly sliding the door open. "Scarlet?" Dustin called experimentally.

"Yo, Hostage, you in here?" Christopher called.

Dustin started off to the right side of the house, "Let's split up. I'll go this way and you go that way."

"Aye, aye Captain!" Christopher jogged off to the left room.

Dustin started at the same pace and then stopped, "For god's sake take your pineapple already!" After the pineapple was returned to its rightful owner, the boys proceeded in tearing the house apart.

"I can't find her anywhere." Dustin said panting.

"Me either," Christopher looked around, "Oh but I forgot to check the living room."

Dustin's eyes flared, "HOW COULD YOU NOT CHECK THE LIVING ROOM?"

"Hello, I'm the idiot, remember?"

The living room was quiet. There was a blanket draped on the couch.

"Maybe she's under there." Christopher suggested.

They both pulled off the blanket at the same time and were horrified by what they saw.

"Oh my GOD! Scarlet is a waffle!" They shrieked in unison.

Now, I know what you're thinking. How could a practical guy like Dustin actually believe that, but trust me things like that happen in this world.

Dustin paced nervously around the room, "What are we going to do? Damon's going to kill us!"

"I know," Christopher exclaimed, "We get rid of the evidence!" He was about to swallow the waffle whole.

"Don't eat her!" Dustin wacked Chris so hard he gagged and dropped the waffle. "Let's go find Jem. He'll know what to do."

The guys sprinted out of the house with the blueberry waffle.

"Here's your table," the hostess said with an obviously fake smile.

"Thanks," I mumbled as I pulled out a chair.

"Can I get you anything your highness?" she asked of Pip.

"No thank you, but I'll pay you to keep the other customers away from our table. My friend here and I would like to speak privately."

The hostess nodded, "As you wish."

I watched until she was out of earshot, "Okay, spill it your highness."

She sighed, "Well, what do you want to know?"

"Start with the layout of this world," I answered, "Where are the rest of the cities?"

"Wow, you really aren't from around here. Anyway the cities here are placed in the elemental system."

"The ele-wha?"

"The elemental system. There are four elements, correct?"

I knew that much, "Yeah, water, fire, earth, and air."

Pip nodded, "Well that's what the cities are based on. There are four provinces, one for each element. And within these provinces are cities like this one, which have to do with their elemental province."

"So…we're in the Earth Province, right? This is the City of Roses, so it's in the earth category."

"Right, anyway there are lots of cities and each has to contribute something different to help with the war against the demons."

"But you said this city was neutral all the time."

She nodded again, "That's why this city sends diplomats to help make peace. The City of Stones sends warriors who specialize in defense. The City of Flames sends the best offensive fighters. Also, the City of Tears sends nurses who care for the wounded."

"Alright I think I get that."

Just then I heard a familiar voice boom from the door of the Tavern, "We're looking for James Carman!"

"Oh god," I mumbled without turning around.

Pip peeked from behind me, "Do you know those boys?"

"No."

"Then why aren't you turning around?"

"Because I'm afraid to," I answered stiffly. I glanced over my shoulder, seeing Dustin and Christopher. Maybe they won't--too late they saw me.

They both came charging at me. Dustin huffed and puffed from running, "We thought you were a waffle!"

Some people get 'hello' or 'how have you been' as a greeting, but not me-I get accused of being a waffle.

"Does this mean I can eat it now?" Chris asked.