My first stop was at a candy shop. I stood outside of it staring at the loud and colorful exterior, then went inside. There were shelves stacked high and filled with various candies and sweets. There was a counter with a display of colorful cakes. The interior of the shop was just as colorful as the outside. There were lavender and pink tables with matching chairs.

"Hello, welcome to Bumble's Sweet Shop. How may I help you milady?" a girl about my age said as she whirled around as I walked through the door. She had cottoncandy pink hair that was tight with ringlets, and wore a puffy, short, about to the knees, light blue dress. She had sparkling blue shoes and emerald green eyes.

"How'd you know to call me milady? I've never been here." I asked.

"Oh, my father was at the feast last night. My name is Bumble. This is my sweet shop." She said pleasantly.

"I'm Arimo. Pleasure to meet you. You look a bit like the girl who is staying in my room at the castle."

"Oh, you've met my sister Astrid then. Yes, I don't see where she get's all the mischievousness from." Bumble said turning around and grabbing two gooey golden cakes and tea cups. "Have a seat. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, thank you." I said as she set down my plate with the cake and the teacup. She gently poured tea into the cup.

"D'you want sugar?" She asked.

"Two will do. Thank you." I replied. She dropped two sugar cubes into my tea and then poured a little bit of cream into the cup, and then finally sat down.

"These are my famous Nectar Sweet Cakes. Everyone loves them."

"They look delicious, I woke up really late and haven't eaten yet."

"Oh dear! That won't do!" Bumble exclaimed. She turned into a bee and buzzed off into what must have been the kitchen.

When she ran back to the main room of the shop, she was carrying a plate full of little sandwiches. She set the down on the table, straightened her dress, then sat down.

"Help yourself." She said as she took a bite of her cake.

"I see you are a skin-walker too." I said.

"Yes, except for I can only turn into animals that can eat sweets. For example, I can turn into honey bees and baby bears. There are a lot of animals that can eat sweets, but baby bears and bees are my favorite. I got the least of the powers in my family, and Astrid got the most." She said with a slight frown. "I don't mind though. I quite like having a limited number of animals to turn into. I noticed that you are exploring the town. Can I show you around?"

"Yes please, I have no idea where I'm going." I said with a smile.

"Let's go then!" Bumble said grinning.

We started our adventure around town, and managed to run into trouble.

"This is a restricted zone. If you are not a guard who is taking over my duty you are not allowed to enter." The guard said. We had come upon a fenced in area after Bumble had gotten us lost.

"Couldn't you let us in just this once? Please Ursy-kins?" Bumble said in an overly sweet voice.

"Ursy-kins?" I asked.

"Yes. Ursa is my boyfriend, but he is also a guard. Which is a pity, so I come down here sometimes and ask him if I can see what's behind the fence."

"Bumble, you know I can't let you through." Ursa said as he took off his helmet. Usra was very handsome, tall, and muscular. He had shaggy hair the color of wheat and beautiful aqua eyes.

"Would you let the Queen's daughter in?" I asked.

"Well, yes because she would ha- wait a minute." Ursa said. "You are the Princess."

"You're correct 'Ursy-kins'. I am the princess. Bumble was showing me around town." I replied with a grin.

"Bumble you brought her here on purpose. You just wanted to see what was behind the gate!"

"Yep!" Bumble said with a giggle. "Now you have to let us through."

"Fine, come with me." Ursa sighed as he opened the gate and lead us through.

Inside the gate there were what looked like giant excavation tools. Dust covered people were milling about carrying brushes and pickaxes. The ground was dry, as though it had never received rain. As well as small wooden shacks that dotted the landscape. The mines gave me an overwhelming sense of disappointment.

"Welcome to the mines. This is where criminals work until they serve their sentence. They dig up artifacts or various ores for the majority of the day." Ursa said blandly. "I stand guard at the gate, because that is the only gate, and I have to make sure no one breaks in or out."

"Oh, well, this is a big disappointment. I was hoping it was some top secret lab." Bumble said discouraged.

"Well, my shift is just about over, so you guys wanna come with me to the market? I have to pick up some stuff for dinner."

"Oh that' perfect. Arimo why don't you bring Chai then it would be like a double date?" Bumble said enthusiastically.

"He's working right now in the forge. I don't thi--"

"Go get him, Duh!"

I sighed and Bumble pushed me to get moving. I don't want to talk to him. I though.

Once I got to the castle, Bumble and Ursa ended up following me. Really it was more like Bumble following me and Ursa chasing after her.

"I've never been to the Castle before! It's really big!" Bumble exclaimed. She got so excited that she turned into an arctic fox. She quickly turned back into her normal self. "Terribly sorry. I change into animals when I get excited." she apologized.

"Let's get inside." Ursa said.

I lead them through the entrance hall and down the corridor leading to the throne room. My parents were, once again, talking to nobles. Except this time they were sitting comfortably in their thrones where they addressed the nobles standing before them.

"Sorry Gituku, Vilkas, and Robyn, but my daughter is here from her town exploration. We can talk more later." my father said as he and my mother approached me.

"Hello darling, I see you've made some new friends." my mother said as she kissed my head.

"Mom. Please don't." I whined.

"What are your names?" She asked.

"I'm Bumble Ciceroni." Bumble said with a curtsy which caused her ringlet curls to tumble over her head.

"You must be the sister of Astrid Ciceroni. You two look very much alike." my mother said kindly. "And you soldier. What is your name?"

"Ursa Thomson ma'am!" he said as he slammed a fist across his chest. It was clearly a salute.

"At ease Mr. Thomson." my father said. Ursa dropped his salute and went to rest.

"Child you need not be mechanical in our presence. My husband and I are both ex-soldiers. You can be as you were." my mother laughed.

"Sorry milady." Ursa said meekly.

"What brings you and your friends here Ari?" my father said.

"Well, Bumble, Ursa, and I were going to go to the market, and they wanted me to bring Chai." I replied.

"Oh, he's down in the castle forge you can find him down the corridor to the right. You will know you are there once you start to feel heat." Artie said popping out of no where. "Friends of my niece I'd assume. Nice to meet you both, I am Prince Artie, the younger brother of the king."

"Oh, hello uncle." I said.

"Grimm there is a problem down at the mines." Artie said out loud, then leaned over and whisper into my father's ear.

"BLOWN UP TH--" he yelled.

"Hush brother! No need to be dramatic!"

My father rushed off as Artie follow quickly behind him.

"You three should go find Chai and go to the market." my mother said quickly. "Have a nice day!" She ran off to follow my father and changed out of her dress in the process using the transformation magic. She wore a tan shirt, brown pants, and knee high brown boots. A bow as strapped to her back along with a quiver.

"Let's go get your boyfriend Arimo." Bumble said. She grabbed a shocked Ursa and told me to help her drag him to the forge. "He really cares about his job, so this news is definitely a big surprise to him."

"It's no problem. It's great that he cares." I said as I grabbed Ursa's arm.

"That's a pretty ring. Where'd you get it?" Bumble asked.

"Its my wedding ring." I replied.

"What?! You're married and you never told me. Are you married to Chai or is he just your friend?" Bumble asked.

"He is my husband. Though we are still very young we are also best friends."

"Makes me feel like I'm a little behind on the times I guess." Bumble replied.

The air was starting to get thicker, hotter and smell like metal. The extreme heat brough Ursa out of his traumatized state. We came upon a large opening in the wall and saw Chai bent over an anvil hammering away at a red hot piece of metal. Instinctively I grabbed my chest where the brand was place, and remembered that it was gone from my body, but not from my memories.

"Hello love." I said over the loud clanking of the metal.

Chai picked up his head and smiled. He was covered in sweat and had a few burns on his arms, but they were wrapped in bandages. "Hey. What is it?" he said, and then looked over at Bumble and Ursa. "Who are they?"

"These are some new friends I made while exploring the town." I replied.

"I'm Bumble Ciceroni, a skin-walker. Which means I can change into different animals." She said happily.

"My name is Ursa Thomson. I'm soldier of the Brentwood guard. PLeased to meet you Mr- what's your name?" He said plainly.

"It's Chai Albarion. Just Call me Chai, none of that Mister stuff." CHai said turning to place the hot steel into cool water. "What did you want again?"

"Oh, Bumble wanted to see if you cared to join us in going to the market to get some stuff. D'you wanna go or are you busy?" I asked.

"Not busy. Just let me clean up real quick. I can finish the sword tomorrow." He replied. Chai grabbed a shirt that was lying in the corner and a piece of cloth. "I'll be right back."

Bumble leaned over to me and whispered, "He's cute! Not only that but, he works all day. It must be hard for you. Not getting to see him for most of the day. I mean seriously."

"You have yours I have mine. Quit fantasizing." I chided.

"Sorry." Bumble frowned.

Chai stepped back into the room struggling to get his shirt on. "Arimo, could you, er help me out a bit." Chai asked.

"Take it off." I scolded. "You're so childish. I mean seriously you can't even put on a simple shirt. What would you do withou-"

Chai kissed me to shut me up. His warm hands grabbed my waist and lifted me off the ground.

"Should we um leave you two alone." Bumble coughed. "We can schedule something tomorrow."

I waved them off as Chai continued to kiss me. This was the first time we had ever kissed. It was magical. Thrilling. It was just overall wonderful. "I've been waiting for this for a long time." Chai said. He stopped only to get this single sentence out and continued to kiss me. He pulled off my shirt and hugged me. "Should we go somewhere more private?" I asked.

"My room is in the forge. C'mon." Chai replied slyly.

We ran into his room and laid on the bed. I was being intimate for the first time in my life, and I loved it.