“Hey! Why don’t we take Emerald and go someplace!” I say.

“Like where?” Crile gives me a bored look.

“Anywhere! She's big and fast. We can go lots of places!”

“Won't we get in trouble for that?” Starlight says carefully.

“If we will, I'll take the full blame for it. It's my idea and my cat.” A swipe of Emerald's tail hits my back.

“Sorry.” I grin at her one eye opened. “Come on! We'll be fine!” I take Star by her hands and pick her up.

“Alright. Not much use in arguing with you.” Crile stands up too.

“Great! Help me out with her saddle first though.” I say.

“Ok. Where is it?”

“At the Stables...” I mumble.

Crile sighs. “How are you planning on getting it without getting into trouble before we even go anywhere?” He crosses his arms on his chest.

“I...um...”

“Perhaps the four of us can simply go down there and take it, seeing how it is yours to use as you please, Child?” Emerald growls inside my head.

“Oh that's a good idea! We can bolt straight out of there!”

“What's a great idea?”

“I didn’t say anything, did you?”

“No.” Star shakes her head to Crile.

“Not you! Her!” I point to my Saber. “Emerald said all we need to do is go down to the Stables and get the saddle.”

“Just like that?” Crile raises an eyebrow.

“Yes! Just like that!”

“Ok. Lead the way.” He gestures.

“Come on.” I take Star by the hand, grab my bags and we start walking. As much fun as it is to have them both with me at the Palace all the time, it's still the Palace. I can’t be free here... Everyone we meet on the way from the Palace training grounds bows or curtsies at the sight of me. Hate it... We enter the Stables.

“Nobody's here. Good.”

“Okay, which one is hers?” Crile asks.

“I’m guessing that one.” Ammi points to the back.

“Yup. That's the one.” I run over, get on top of one of the barrels and take it down. Crile takes it from me.

“What else do we need?” I ask Emerald.

“That will be enough for you three, but you might want to add the reins too, just to be safe.”

“Oh. Right.” I reach for them.

“How do we put it on her?” Crile stands there turning the saddle to the sides. “Nice craftsmanship though.”

“Thanks.” I come over now too and hand the reins to Ammi to hold for me. “Ok, so, how does this work?”

“That's what I'm asking you! Ouch! What?”

“She's talking to Emerald, not you, you dummy.” Ammi hisses quietly.

“Oh. Right. Sorry.” Crile whispers now too.

“The pointy looking end should point to my tail. You then will need to strap me in by securing the belts under my belly. Make sure you fasten them or the saddle and all of you will fall off me.”

“Gotchya.” I nod. “Help me out, Crile!”

“Sure. What ya need me to do?”

“Get over on the other side and catch.” I tell him as Emerald lays down to help put the saddle on.

“Roger that!”

I throw it over and we align it with Emerald’s back.

“It fits perfectly on her!” Star says.

“Well, duh, it is her saddle.” Crile answers.

“Oh shush, you!”

“Don’t start.” I cut in. Emerald stands up. I crawl under her and lay down on my back. Crile joins me from the other side.

“Now what?”

“Now we fasten the belts. Make sure they aren’t too loose or too tight.”

“How am I supposed to know that!” He complains, inspecting the straps.

“When you'll pull too much, she'll tell you.” I answer. “How’s that?”

“Wait for the boy to finish.”

“She's waiting on you.” I grin.

“Oh, gimme a second! There. How’s that?”

“Too loose.”

“Pull more. She says.” I relay the message.

“One moment.” Crile undoes the buckle and pulls. Emerald growls. He lets go and crawls back away. I giggle.

“Too much.”

“Ya think! Sorry.” He nods to Emerald and carefully tries again.

“Good.” She tells me.

“It's ok now.”

“Ok. What's next?” Crile asks.

“These, I think?” Star hands me the reins.

“Weird looking ones.” Crile says.

“How so?” I take them from Ammi.

“They don’t have that.” He points to another pair of Celodian reins. “That stick. You put that in their mouths to steer them.” Crile hooks his cheeks with his fingers and stretches his face. “Or something like it.” He says and Emerald growls again in his face. Crile leans back and swallows hard.

“Sorry ma'am.”

“I think these go around her neck instead.”

“Correct, Child. Your father never had to tell me where to go or how to move. Not with that, anyways.” She nods to the standard reins. “These are meant for you to hold on to me.”

“I see.” I unbuckle the strap and Emerald lays down again for me, so I can reach her neck. I put it on.

“Say when.” I tell her, pulling the strap to secure it.

“That'll do.”

“Right.” I fasten the clip in. Emerald gives it all a good shake.

“Seems good.” She nods.

“What are those for?” Star asks pointing to the saddle. Emerald looks back too.

“That's where you place your bags and secure them.”

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“Oh! Great!” I walk over and fasten a bag in. “These adjustable straps are a big help! My bags are clearly smaller than the ones used here before!” I make quick work of the other one too. I carry around a change of clothes with me now in case I wanna see the city up close... Plus, I tend to rip the dresses... I have my Druid gear, but not all my clothes are Druid Shifting Resistant... I still keep confusing them...

“Ok. Looks like we're ready to go!”

“Mistress! What are you doing!”

“Uh-oh. Hop on!” I climb on.

Crile grabs Star by the hips. “Get your hands of me!” She screams.

“In a sec, Star.” He tosses her to me. I saddle her in. Crile jumps on too.

“Hang on tight!” I tell them and: “Charge!” I mush Emerald and we take off!

“Mistress! No! Stop!” She jumps over the guard with ease and runs straight for the woods.

“Sloooooow doooowwwwn!!!!” Ammi shrieks.

“Speeeeeed uuuuuuup!!!” Crile laughs. “Thiiiiiisss iiiiis grrreeaaaattt!!!” It sure is! Emerald dashes through the woods so fast and limber I almost feel like flying!

“Zaaaarriii!!!!” I feel Star tightening her hands around my waist.

“You can slow down now.” I tell Emerald and she lands softly on the ground. We go through the woods in a nice and easy throttle.

“That was AMAZING!! DO IT AGAIN!” Crile cheers.

“Stop squirming! I refuse to fall off because of your carelessness!” Ammi tells Crile off as per their usual interaction.

“Yes, ma'am.” Crile answers, giggling. I smile a little too.

“There's water nearby.”

“How do you know?”

“There's a scent in the air.”

“Ok, take us there. Please.”

Emerald makes a few big jumps and a blue shimmer comes into our view.

“Oh wow.”

“Nice...”

I jump off Emerald first and hold my hands out for Star. She jumps down, with Crile right behind her.

“Last one in is a rotten egg!” I scramble out of my gear and run into the water. Aaahh the water is sooo nice... I float on my back, staring up into the sky.

“Don’t! You go over there and stay there!” I hear the commotion.

“What! Why! I don’t wanna be a rotten egg!” Crile gets pushed toward a giant boulder by Ammi.

“You can’t see her like this!”

“Like what!” Yeah, like what? I notice my reflection. Oh. Right.

“Sorry, Crile, I won’t take long. You can go in after I get out.”

“Oh fine. Whatever!” He answers.

“Well, come in! The water is great!” I splash a little at Ammi.

“Alright, I’m coming, but I’m not undressing!”

“Why not! I’m already banned from the party!” Crile pouts from behind the rock.

“Oh be quiet!” Star answers. I giggle and turn around, readying myself for another swim.

“AH!” Star gasps. Oh no... I forgot...

“What's wrong!” Crile jumps in from over the rock, splashing all over. “Are you hurt”? He asks Star and follows her gaze. I close my eyes and freeze. The cat's out of the bag now.

“What the...” I hear the water splash.

“STAY WHERE YOU ARE!” I roar and throw a glare at both of them. The horrified reflections of their expressions make my heart tremble with fear... I... I start walking back to shore without facing them.

“Zarri what are they!!! What happened!!!” More splashing.

“I SAID DON’T!” I growl again.

“Fine. We're staying put.” Crile says. “You do realize you'll have to tell us what those are sooner or later.”

“Well then how about later and never?” I step again and the water ripples.

“How did I never see them before?” Star mumbles. Cause they are on my back. My hair hides them most of the time...

“Breeze.” He says and I sigh.

“I was struck by lightning. There. Happy.” I take another step.

“No.” Crile answers. I stare at the ripples on the surface... I don’t want to go back there... I hug myself underwater. The ripples crisscross again. I take a breath and...

“There were people who believed that I was destined to be a Celestian...” One by one memories flash inside my head like the ripples on the water...

“They thought that striking me with lightning might help draw the power out...” Each ripple shows a different image...

“They over did it and ta-daa.” I splash the water in front of me, trying to erase the sight of me in that glass chamber, getting whipped by a man-made lightning-in-a-box... Over and over, and over again... A distant buzzing... A crack of thunder... Voices...

  “Stop! You're killing her!”

  “She can take it! The Celestian Cosmic Power is strong than that!”

  “You don’t know that! Nor that she is one!”

  “SHE HAS TO BE! JUST IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE! A FIRST BORN CELESTIAN HEIR!! CRANK IT UP!” Please...stop...

  “DON’T!!!” A loud crash... I lift my eyes up... Eme...rald...

Something touches my skin, bringing me back. I shiver and Star hugs me, crying silently.

“I'll kill 'em! Every last one of them!” Crile leaves the water. “You!” He points to me. “Are gonna show me who those dimwits are as soon as we get back! I'll kill 'em all!”

“Too late. They are no longer among us.” Even the one that tried to help me... I remember the smiling face of a man, who wished me well, right before... I blink once again and pat Star on the shoulder, nodding to Emerald too. “It's ok.”

“As you wish.” She lays back down as if nothing happened.

“Well! I don’t care! I'll find someone else to kill!” Crile's riled up. I smile.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome!” He answers. “What I do?” He stops and stares at me.

“For getting angry.” I push Star away from me. “It's ok now.” I pat her. She sniffs a few times and nods. “Now if you're done scowling, I'd appreciate it if you'd turn around and let me get dressed.”

“Sure sure. Whatever.” He goes back behind the rock. Star and I step out and I get back into my gear.

“We need to do something about you two.” I tell them.

“Why?” Crile asks showing himself again.

“Cause you two dummies are soaked.” I point to them. The two of them look at each other and it finally hits them. Crile begins to giggle first, then me, then Star. I look into the bags that I have Emerald carry, on her saddle.

“Well, Star will be fine, but you are gonna have to bear with this till your pants dry out.” I hand Crile a dress too.

“Cute.” He says and rips it in half and keeps on ripping.

"What do you think you are doing!" Star glares at him.

"It's ok, Star." I tell her. She pouts and goes to change behind Emerald. After a few darns and ouches, Crile manages to fashion himself a pair of patchy and stringy looking pair of pants...ish...

“That's one way to wear a dress, I guess.” I say.

“I'd never hear the end of it if I'd come home in a dress.” He mumbles.

“You could have just gone naked you know.” Star says, sitting down next to me.

“Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?” Crile winks at her, moving his hips slowly to the sides.

“Idiot!” Star growls, making me giggle again, leaving Crile with his usual stupid grin on his face.

“We need to get back.” I tell them standing up.

“Already? It's still light out!” Crile pouts.

“I still need to get yelled at.” I answer. “No, you have nothing to worry about". I tell Star. “All aboard!” I jump on Emerald first and help Star get on too. Crile doesn’t need any help and we take off.

    “Honestly, Gazarria, I expect better from you.”

“Well maybe you shouldn't. I’m just a kid...” I mutter.

“She's not wrong...” Ira whispers in the corner. I smile for a second.

“Stay out of this!” Mom hisses at him. “Why must you be so difficult?” She looks back at me.

I shrug my shoulders. “Dunno...guess I’m just weird that way.”

“What is with that attitude?” Mom shakes her head again. “Why didn’t you tell me where you were going?” She asks again. I shrug my shoulders. Again.

“I didn’t think I needed permission, seeing how I am the Heir...” I scowl...

“It's not about that!!!” Mom yells at me, but quickly shuts up.

“Well? Aren’t you gonna yell at me too?” No answer. “Say something! Ira!”

“That's Master Ira to you.” Mom glares at me. I growl.

“Permission to participate?” Ira asks from the dark.

Mom just waves him off. He walks over to me. I look down to my feet. Ira kneels in front of me.

“Mistress.” Uh-oh. It's that tone. He's being formal now. I hate it when he does that... “Perhaps we can make a deal?” I peek up at him. Nothing. No anger, no disappointment, no bitterness. Nothing. Just warmth.

“I'm listening.” I try to play it cool.

“You may go whenever and wherever you please, but you'll have to listen to your Mother's yelling from time to time, because that is what Mothers' do. They forget to not worry sometimes, so, if you want to run off, you'll have to endure the worry that will be expressed through anger once you get back. Alright?”

I nod.

“Of course, the farther away you go, the longer you are gone, the more trouble you get yourself into, the more yelling there will be, so to lessen that, you have to promise that you'll never go anywhere without Emerald.” He says smiling at me. “How does that sound, Priestess?” He stands up again.

Mom clutches her fists again. “Treasure, you know I worry, that’s why!” She bites her lip. “Fine. Fine. Deal.” She exhales again.

“Deal.” I nod.

“If you two ladies could, please, kiss and make up now, I'd appreciate it.” Ira says and vanishes into the shadows.

“The nerve of that!” Mom sighs and sits down on the bed. She stares at me for a long minute. I steal a glance at Emerald. She has her eyes shut. Means I’m on my own. Oh boy... Mom pats a place next to her. I come over and sit down. She hugs me to her side.

“Treasure, I love you sooooo much.”

“I know. I love you too, Mom.”

“Be safe. Please.” She whispers and kisses me on the head.

“'kay.”