Here's the next chapter!

Jack

I race through the fields, distantly hearing the farmers call out a respectable "hullo, Prince!" I wave back, too lost in thought to say anything. When I reach the forest, I'm immediately bombarded by elves. They glare at me.

"Where can I find Princess Kimberly of Teril?" I call out. No answer.

"Please! I must find her!" I plead. Still silence.

"I love her with all my heart!" I cry out, desperate. I'm clinging to my last hope.

The elves move aside. In the center of their group was a carriage. A torn, battered carriage, covered in mud and dirt. But I can see Teril's insignia, the white rose surrounded by a woven laurel crown.

"T-That's Teril's insignia!" I exclaim. One of the elves rolls his eyes.

"Of course it is," the male elf responds smoothly.

Out of the carriage comes a girl. Brown hair, blue eyes, a rosy gown with bell sleeves and a loose skirt, and a facial expression that's both as warm as a fire and cold as ice. I cringe.

"Are you Prince Jackson?" she asks. Her tone is scaring me. It's threatening, but curious at the same time. I am a wimp, I think unhappily as I nod absently.

The girl walks right up to me, until she's so close I'm tempted to lean back, and says, "Well, I was right, wasn't I?" in a warm tone, and then backs off.

Internally, I sigh. That girl almost scared me to death. Alexa was right. I am a prince with no backbone, a fairy tale prince. I need to change.

And now.

Brianna

Alexa's clinging to my horse's mane, eyes shut in fear. I couldn't comfort her, as both hands had to be on the reins.

"Are you okay?" I ask, my voice as soft as a feather. Yeah, that's right, the polite, impersonal, sarcastic princess showing her soft side.

"Mmmhmm," Alexa hums. I smile. Alexa is scared of almost everything, but what makes even the bravest person tremble in fear doesn't move her.

"You see that?" I hear Lianna call. She's ahead of me, on Bella.

I gaze at the dark-green smudge. "The forest?" I ask. Lianna nods.

"We can camp at the edge today. Princess Kimberly doesn't know us... yet..." Lianna trails off, staring at a running figure.

It's a girl with honey blond hair down a bit past her shoulders, soft brown eyes, and a healthy complexion. Her purple dress is torn and muddy, and her eyes are wild with fear.

"Princess Kimberly!" Lianna calls. The girl turns around to stare wildly at us, and then continues running. With Bella, Lianna leaps ahead of her, and blocks her path.

Lianna dismounts quickly and walks over to Princess Kimberly. I can't just leap off the horse, I have to help Alexa off.

"Are you okay?" I ask, smiling. Princess Kimberly's already lost that wild look. She must have been running for less than a day or two.

"I-I'm fine," she stammers. Alexa frowns

"You don't look fine," Alexa comments. Princess Kimberly blushes.

"I look a mess, don't I?" She giggles hysterically. First she's scared, then she's hysterical. Either she's like that (but I don't think she is; my brother doesn't go for that kind of princesses) or she's gone through a lot.

I go to my horse, reach into one of the saddlebags, and pull out a set of traveling clothes. It's a forest green tunic with sleeves down to the elbow, a pair of charcoal pants, and leather boots. There's pockets attached to the sleeves and on the black belt fastened securely around the waist. We all are wearing one, and frankly, it's convenient. I don't mind dresses, but they're kind of... vulnerable. And besides, seeing Alexa in her little set of clothes was adorable. We had even splurged on a dark green Robin Hood hat for her.

"Here, put this on," I say. Princess Kimberly nods, and goes behind a bush to change.

When Princess Kimberly comes back, I go to her with a waterskin. Lianna pulls out a wash cloth, and Alexa gets Kim to sit on the grass. We plop down beside her, and carefully pull the twigs out of her hair. We wash the mud out of it, and comb it. Then we plait it, and slip a dagger in a built-in holster on her left sleeve. We put dried food in her pockets, and a waterskin of her own hangs on the belt. Since Lianna knows that Teril noblewomen learn archery, we bought a bow and a quiver of arrows for her, which we gave her. Finally, we stop.

"There," Lianna sighs.

"You look perfect," Alexa squeals.

"Exactly like us," I add. Princess Kimberly looks herself over in a nearby river while I refill the waterskin.

"I look nice. Thanks," she says.

"You're welcome, Princess Kimberly," Lianna graciously replies.

"Call me Kim," she answers immediately.

"Alright then. Kim, we're going to find your fiance. He's in the woods, I know it, looking for you. And he doesn't know that the Birari Woods is the most dangerous place in the kingdom," Alexa says seriously. I can tell Kim's having a tough time believing her, as, may I remind you, Alexa's four.

"Hey! Playing with Lianna has its benefits. It doesn't matter how old I am," Alexa defends. My eyes widen. Did she just read my mind?

"Brianna! I'm not reading your mind! You just have ventriloquism! I mean, you're definitely saying something without your mouth open," she protests grumpily.

"No, Alexa. I'm no good at ventriloquism. I think... I mean..." My eyes must be bulging, my face in complete shock, and confusion radiating from every one of my pores, and to add to the great mental image, I can't say what I'm trying to say. Instead, I think it.

"I don't think I am, Brianna. I'm definitely not telepathic," Alexa says, crossing her arms, and stamping her right foot.

We all stare.

Yay! I think I'm at least partially happy with what I got. Alexa was really the one meant with all the powers. I think Maximum Ride's going to my head. (but Angel is so cute!)

I'm going to upload the "Surprise, Surprise," Sequel tomorrow, hopefully. It's called, "The Secret." Look out for it!

Up and out!

~squirmyorchid~