Princesses

"Oh my gosh! - I'm so sorry!"

Mai backed up on the wide, soft-pink seat and hung her head low, worried she'd offended the younger woman with the high title.

She's not wearing any jewellery, let alone a crown or tiara or whatever... and she certainly doesn't behave like a Princess - not that I know any... How could I know...?

"No, no, please. It has been... a pleasure to talk with someone... normally..."

Mai looked up to see her looking rather depressed.

"Few do, so please... keep doing so, and keep calling me just Alice too..."

Mai got over her huge surprise, and got how she felt.

"Sure, Alice."

The other woman hopped over to the door, after regaining her smile and energy, and asked someone waiting just unseen outside.

"Please summon Zalina here."

"Right away, your Highness."

The plain Princess returned to Mai.

"Your words have given me courage... so I will seize it and do as you said immediately."

She smiled mostly confident, but still just a little nervy.

Wait! It's Zalina she wishes to see...?! I wonder why that Princess refuses this real one...?

Alice returned to the seat, closer than before, looking much happier too.

"You see Zalina is ...well was - 'entrusted' to me, after my late fiancées passing..."

She spilled to Mai, who remained stunned with overload.

Zalina is 'entrusted' too… a fiancée… so much to take in…

"And we've a few ceremonies to conduct in the future you see, so having a... colleague who won't even stand in the same room as me would be... a hassle, right?"

Mai nodded.

"And you know quite a bit about Dragon kind too, so please - be here as I attempt to reconcile, please."

She clutched Mai's hands softly.

"Yeah..."

I guess I'll see this through...

"Do please join me for some refreshments..."

The Princess offered some snacks, that now appeared neatly on the small side table, while Mai was sure she hadn't seen them arrive.

Zalina and Lygawa soon showed up, midway through their own happy conversation, but before they'd come to the other two already there, the curly dragon took one look and froze with concern.

"Uh, your Highness."

She dipped her many curl covered head down respectfully, as the other got from her seat.

"The door please."

Whoever it was outside quickly shut the doors by Alice's order, before Zalina could escape, as she had already started to back away, but turned with great unease to see the white doors close firmly.

"What art thou doing..?"

She turned back, with slight shock, as the beautifully dressed one still retreated from the two humans.

Lygawa looked back and forth between the others oddly.

"What's the problem?"

"Your Highness, I must leave!"

"No."

Alice said, firmly, but in a squeak, as she looked down.

"But I truly terrify you so..."

Zalina looked more panicked than Alice, as she pointed at her.

"See - her Majesty cannot take sight of thy self."

Alice did avert her eyes, as she flustered and blushed.

With no escape; Zalina fell to the floor in her glamorous faint-red dress and bowed low instead.

"Please I beg thee - whatever it twas, I will atone then with hast."

"I... no... please don't..."

The real Princess shied and lost what confidence she'd previously mustered.

I see what's going on though...

"Alright; both of you - come sit down."

Mai took control, getting all of their attention.

"Come on, right here."

She got up and patted the seat, till Alice sat back down.

"I couldn't...!"

Zalina looked back up, but refused.

"Now!"

The beautiful dragon-girl eventually stopped grovelling and joined the other Princess on the same pink couch.

"Alright now look at the other."

Mai commanded, since they'd averted their sights all the while, and waited for them to do so.

They eventually looked upon the other, first reluctantly, then curiously, since nether broke the lingering glance.

"Now: Zalina - Alice doesn't fear you. And Alice - Zalina obviously does not hate you."

Supervising near them with her hands on her hips, Ma stood firmly, as Lygawa stayed well clear behind her.

"Is that true…"

The two pondered her words curiously, to and about the other sitting near.

"But she is so nervous and flees when I am near?""

Zalina looked to Mai.

"So I made effort to steer clear - so I didn't frighten her more..."

"I think she is just... very sensitive with everyone."

Mai didn't want to jump to conclusions, but Alice nodded, bringing Zalina's ruby eyes her way again.

"I just don't... get on with people who... treat me... like a Princess..."

The Princess spoke softly.

"But your highness..."

"Please... I beg you... just Alice..."

The orange dragon couldn't bring herself to speak.

What we need is a little distraction... something to break the tension between them...

"Alright, Lygawa, you're up. We need to prove she's not afraid of you dragons, so how about you two do some dragon stuff - like have another challenge."

"Alright!"

Lygawa was up for the little throw down.

"Challenge?"

Alice worried, but Mai alleviated her.

"Don't worry; it's not bad at all."

Lygawa already moved to the clearer part of the room, sitting on a colourful flower rug on the floor, while Zalina hesitantly shifted near to her.

"Art thou sure we should... in front of...?"

Mai nodded as she went nearer to Alice, who watched on seriously with intrigue, while the two reptiles set up for another round, even though Zalina was still apprehensive about it.

"Alright... ready... and go."

The dragon tail tussle began on Mai's order, and as both started high, Lygawa took a strong start, but Zalina still did her best to resist.

"Cheer for her."

Mai whispered to the Princess, seeing her fixed and unbroken stare on 'her' dragon's effort to stave off a defeat.

Alice summoned her voice, which barely escaped her.

"Please Zalina - I believe in you!"

The orange tail slipped further down toward the floor, but the dragon had heard her words and rallied - fighting back with renewed effort.

But Lygawa wasn't going easy, and already near victory, she tried hard to force her opponent's tail that little bit lower, but suddenly Zalina's tail rolled under the silver one - that slipped over and suddenly became underneath the coloured of the two.

Their struggle didn't last much longer then, since Lygawa was forced to counter from the lower angle; but it proved to be too difficult, as Zalina eventually claimed the win.

"Ah-ha! We are even now - your spree tis over!"

She shot up and held her arms wide over Lygawa.

The black haired Princess gently took Zalina's nearest outstretched hand.

"I knew you would be victorious!"

She smiled softly at the triumphant dragon, as Zalina stared at her held fingers.

"Thank-you Alice... uh..."

"That's fine..."

They smiled at one another, while Mai was cheerful too, having a little success with them.

"... I lost...?"

Lygawa still sat on the floor, being the only unhappy one there now.

"What have you won?"

Alice freely asked the orange tailed one.

"Uh... bragging rights, till thee next contest..."

The ruby-eyed dragon looked to the black-eyed girl without worry now too.

"Oh."

"Yeah, disappointing right?"

Mai and Lygawa were able to track down Nullawhy, which hadn't been difficult since she'd been having a nice long chat with the equally infatuated Kline, but only after they'd pried her away could the three be escorted to the take-off ledge by the two Princesses.

"Thank-you again so much, for all your help, Mai."

Alice said happily and confidently as they walked out onto the large space.

"Think nothing of it, just happy to clear up your misunderstandings."

Mai felt the warm sunlight on her as she stepped from the building.

Lygawa went to the ledges side and fetched the smaller carry bag; that Nullawhy had thoughtfully carried with her, but had left on the landing spot once they'd arrived earlier.

"A moment please. I'm sorry to trouble you, Princess, ladies."

A more impressive looking guardsman suddenly appeared in the corridor that led them there, bringing with him a few regular men carrying spears.

"We've had a break in at the vault, earlier today, so we're checking all departures for some... rare items, before they leave."

The light-brown topped man looked about the ladies, before stopping his eyes on the carry bag in Lygawa's possession.

"May I see inside that bag? Please."

He sounded quite cold, sanding before them all, as his men waited around.

"Sure, here you go."

She put the bag down before him.

Pulling open the top's little string tie, the man took only a moment to look inside, before he reached in, and brought out a shiny gold orb - brimming with bright multicoloured gemstones.

"Huh what's that -!"

Lygawa immediately took a defensive stance the moment the surrounding six lowered their spears at Mai and her.

The Princess gasped is surprise, as Zalina stared with angered disbelief.

"These are the Kingdoms grandest treasures... I'm afraid you'll need to come with me..."