Thoughts of Robin crowded Maria's mind, clouding her face with a melancholy look. He probably hates me, she thought. I sacrificed myself for the valley, and he simply said any old person could do it. In his eyes, I'm just a spoiled, stuck-up brat.

"What's the matter, dear?" Miss Heliotrope asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking," Maria replied. "May I go out riding today?" When Miss Heliotrope gave her consent, Maria quickly finished breakfast and went to the stables. She saw her horse Periwinkle and her uncle's horse Atlas, but to her surprise, the white unicorn was in a stall at the back of the stable. Maria decided that today she would ride the unicorn instead of Periwinkle. The unicorn didn't object when she put a saddle and bridle on it.

They rode to the edge of the forest where Maria paused a moment before urging her mount in. They rode past the tree that hid the moon princess years ago, unaware that far above them, hidden by the thick trees, sat Robin, deep in thought.

He couldn't get Maria out of his head. His thoughts were held captive by her fiery red hair and piercing gray eyes. She probably hates me, he thought. After all, I tried to kidnap her on three different occasions, and I made light of her sacrifice. She probably an arrogant, stuck-up jerk. He was unaware that, directly below him, riding a unicorn, was the very girl who was on his mind.

Robin did become aware of this when the unicorn stepped on a branch, snapping it in half with a loud crack. He was so startled that he lost his balance and fell to the ground below.

"Oh... hello, Robin," Maria said.

"Hello, I have to go. my father needs me at the castle," he said, trying not to blush. He walked silently into the forest as Maria tried to contain her laughter.

Two months had passed, and the pair hadn't talked. They bumped into each other occasionally because Maria went riding through the woods almost every day, and Robin practically lived in the woods, but they just passed by each other with only a slight nod of acknowledgement.

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Hey everyone, thanks for your votes. I can't wait to post the next chapter because it's my favorite one. Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to @diamond116 for her beautiful comment. It made me really happy and it made me want to update sooner. I was going to wait to update because I messed up my thumb during my summer volleyball practice, but her comment made me happy enough to update early. Vote and comment. Kay, sorry for my rambling, bye now.