At about eight hours into the evening, I stopped riding Sandie. Poor horse must be tired. I looked through my bag- blast it, I’m out of leaves! I have enough money to buy food for the both of us, so I decided to stop by at a local shop. When I entered it, someone bumped into me. 

“S-sorry,” she muttered. Her long, blue streaked hair made me stop in my tracks. 

It was Princess Willow! 

“P-princess Willow!” I turned around and the door met my face. I rubbed my nose. She looked like she was in quite a rush, but I had to stop her! I opened the door and chased after her. Once I was close enough, I shouted her name. Willow turned around. 

“W-what? What do you want, can’t you see I’m-” she paused. “A-are you Princess Allona by any chance?” I nodded, beaming. 

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Princess Willow of the Water Kingdom.” 

“To you as well,” she said. “So, what business do you have with me? I’m a little short on time-” 

“I’d like you to work with me and Prince Fiѐre of the Fire Kingdom.” 

“Excuse me, what?” 

“I would really want us to join forces to help each other find each kingdom’s gem- this isn’t a race after all. Besides-” 

“No,” she brushed me off. Her bright blue eyes suddenly looked darker. “I-I can’t do so- I can’t afford to lose more time.” Oh gosh, what was it with these people and time! Why don’t they understand if we just work together-

“-we can do it! All of us can, if we just work together, as a team. Like I was trying to say earlier, this mission seems impossible if one person does it!” She looked at me, conflicted. “You look worried, are you-” 

“No I am not! I am not ok! This mission is a burden on my shoulders! I feel like. . .I feel like my whole kingdom will be at stake if I don’t get this gem!” 

Let me explain real quick- our gems helped keep our kingdoms in good condition and fought off disasters. Without them, each kingdom faces problems: The Kingdom of Air- uncontrollable tornadoes took place, the Fire Kingdom- fires increasing at un awfully fast pace, the Kingdom of Earth/Land- the plants were dying, and the Water Kingdom- hurricanes and floods drowned the townspeople. Lucky for us, the royal bloodline contains the magical powers of their kingdoms- making us able to stop the majority of the chaos. Unfortunately, no one knows how much longer we could keep this up- stopping the chaos takes a big toll on the royal family. 

I opened my mouth, but I was unable to think of anything to comfort her with. She looked at me in the eye. 

“S-sorry, I’ll be going then.” Princess Willow ran off. 

I ran after her once more. 

I know I had to get food for me and Sandie, I know time was at stake, I know that she still might not agree, I know. But, I still want to try. I need the satisfaction that I tried my best- otherwise guilt will haunt me. 

“Wait!” 

“Stop chasing me! You are wasting your own time! So why. . .?” 

“Why? Because, let us all face it, we are going through the same thing, but in different places. The same mission with the same time period with the same. . .situation. So, why don’t we help each other out? Please, can we just try?” 

Willow stopped in her steps and didn’t say anything. 

I went towards her. “P-princess Willow?” 

Tears streamed down her face. “D-don’t look at me!” She quickly wiped them off her silky red cloak. “I’ve decided. . .I’ll go with you and the prince after all- there’s no guarantee that I would have succeeded in this mission anyway.” Those words made my blood boil. 

“So. . .so you’re saying that you’re only joining us because you have accepted defeat?! Because you have given up?!” I went in front of Willow and stared into her sapphire eyes. “How dare you! This is only day one! Why are you losing hope already? I am trying to feed you hope! I want not just me, but all of us to succeed gosh darn it!” I took a deep breath in and out. “None of us want to fail, and we don’t have to, ok?” I yelled. She stared at me, speechless. “I would rather you not join me and Prince Fiѐre than lose hope on you and this mission. You have the potential to do this, Princess Willow.” When she still didn’t speak, panic started attacking me. 

“I,” she hesitated. “I’m not sure what to say. . .” Just spit it out! I thought. “Fine, I’ll join you two-” A chorus of cheers sang in my head. “-on one condition.” What? “If I change my mind, you two will allow me to leave the team- got it?” As much as I hated that condition, we needed her on this team. 

“Fine then, I agree,” I stuck out my hand and she shook it. I beamed and looked at my pocket watch- 8 hours and forty-six minutes, huh? Enough for me. 

“A-actually, if you don’t mind, I need to buy food for me and my horse.” 

“Alright, carry on then, be quick. You seem like the type of person who would actually have a conversation with the cashier.” 

“Is-is that a bad thing?” I asked. 

“Tch.” Tch?! I thought. W-whatever. I turned around and went inside the shop. Buying what I needed, I thanked the cashier, and headed back out. Princess Willow was standing right outside, continuously tapping her foot against the ground. 

“Could you come over here for a sec?” I asked her. She reluctantly nodded and followed me over to Sandie. I fed her the leaves, which she generously ate, and gave half of my sandwich to Princess Willow. “Here you go, thanks for joining the team.” I smiled. “That’s my horse Sandie, by the way. She’s been my friend since I was five.” 

“That’s nice,” was all Willow said. 

“Well, where’s your horse?” 

“Oh, I made him stand near the kingdom’s fountain,” then she added, “o-oh yeah, his name is Redge.” 

“That’s cool.” I took a big bite out of my sandwich. “You know, it’s nice to be outta the castle once in a while. I’m tired of all those princess rules and being polite and-”

“-talking after you finished chewing?” 

“Oh, r-right,” I said, shutting up and chewing. Willow looked up at the sky and smiled. What’s she smiling about? I asked myself. I looked up and saw the sky in different shades of blue. I didn’t see what there was to be so happy about. 

“I-I can’t believe I’m seeing this for the first time, in person,” she thought out loud. “Don’t you think how cool it is that each of us, in totally different palaces, see the same sky? Our kingdoms face different chaos everyday, yet see the same color patterns high above- it makes us realize that we’re not so different after all, right?” I didn’t know if she was talking to me or not, but I couldn’t shut up for a moment longer. 

“Wow, I had never really thought about it like that,” I said at last. She jumped as if she didn’t know I was there. That hurt me a little, but I shrugged it off. “Oh, s-sorry if I interrupted your moment.”

“No, it’s fine. Besides, it’s nice to have someone to talk to once in a while.” She smiled at me. “Mother and father are always so busy with work and I don’t have any siblings.” 

“Oh really? Lucky! Sometimes, my little brother Ailo, can get on my nerves.” Talking about him now, I realized how much I miss him, even though we’ve been apart for just one day. 

“Hey, what’s up? You look upset.” Willow’s eyes widened.

“O-oh, nothing much!” I lied, and quickly got up, glancing at my left arm. “Ah, look at the time! We should head back!” 

“You’re not wearing a watch,” Willow pointed out. 

“Y-you’re right,” I said, taking out my pocket watch. “Well, it’s still late.” Willow nodded, heading over to the fountain. I stood in silence and waited for her. I checked to see if Sandie was awake- she was, fortunately. I pat her cheek. “Thanks for everything, Sandie. You’ve been my best friend since the very beginning- thanks for being there when I need it.” She rubbed my cheek with her muzzle and I smiled. If anything were to happen to her. . .I don’t know what I’d do. She was there even before Ailo was.  

“Alright, I’ve got Redge,” Willow said. “Lead the way, Allona- er, sorry, Princess Allona.” 

“No, you can just call me Allona, Willow,” I replied. That made her cover her mouth and look the other way. “What’s up?” 

“Oh, nothing, carry on,” she managed, nonchalantly. Then it hit me- was this her first time being addressed as just Willow? She’s never had a friend before? I wondered. Well, I guess I can be her first one. 

----

I took out my pocket watch out again- it was nine hours into the night. Does this mean I have to wait an hour for Fiѐre to return? Willow and I aren’t so close. . . Maybe I should take this opportunity for us to become closer. 

“So. . .found a love interest yet?” As soon as those words escaped my mouth, instant regret broke in. Not again! 

“Um. . .well, er. . .” her voice trailed off. 

“Oh sorry about that, my curiosity got in the way, he he.”

“Actually there is one. . .” Woah, I did not see that coming. “He’s-” 

“Handsome? Mysterious? Quirky?” I guessed. 

“No, but-” 

“Ah! I got it! He’s those cool ones right?” 

“Well. . .in a way. . .” 

“So I was right? I knew-” 

“Would you let me talk for Widow’s sake!” 

“Oh sorry.” She rolled her eyes at me. 

“Honestly, Ayonans are so annoying. . .” I didn’t let that slide. 

“Just because I’m annoying doesn’t mean other Ayonans are,” I muttered. 

“Right, whatever. As I was saying, he’s one of the maids- well, he works with them. You could say he’s like a mini-butler, I guess? Anyway, he’s really nice, sweet, and patient-”

“Aw!”

“-and doesn’t interrupt me when I’m speaking.” 

“I-I can’t help it!” 

“I know.” Willow smirked. “I was just teasing you.” 

“I didn’t know you were capable of that,” I said. 

“Why you little-” 

“Ah ah ah! Language princess.” 

“You- you’re so. . .ugh!” 

“So I’m an ugh in your eyes?” 

“Oh shut it,” Willow said. I couldn’t help but laugh. 

“Sorry, you’re just fun to tease.” 

“Hmph.” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I suppose you don’t have one?” 

“Have what?” 

“A special someone. . .a love interest?” 

“Oh yeah, that.” I totally forgot what we were talking about before for a minute. “Well, I don’t know if I really do, but-” 

“Hey Allona,” Fiѐre greeted. “Oh, and greetings Princess, uh-” 

“Willow- Princess Willow of Widow, nice to meet you, prince.” She gave a slight curtsy, while Fiѐre bowed. 

“I can’t help but be a little offended,” I but in. “You guys greet each other so nicely with formality and all, and with me you’re just like- ‘I’m F-fiѐre. . .of the Fire Kingdom’ and when I said it was nice to meet you, you say, ‘to you as well?’” 

“W-well. . .” Fiѐre began, then shook his head. “Enough of that- I have bad news.” 

“Oh gosh, what is it?” Willow asked.

“Um. . .I-I couldn’t find Prince Ethan. . .” Fiѐre looked down. “Sorry.” I said it was fine, buy Willow looked like she got a heart attack. Fiѐre cringed at her reaction. “If you two are up to it, we could try again- I could use some help after all, since-” 

“-you don’t know how to socialize with people? Yeah, could tell,” I said. 

“N-no! I mean yes, but no! I-” Willow sighed. 

“Just ignore Allona- and yes, I’d like to accompany you.” 

“Why thank you, Willow,” Fiѐre said. “What about you, Allona?” 

“I’m not gonna be here all alone! I’ll go along too, we’re a team, after all.” I beamed at them. 

“Alright, let’s go,” Fiѐre said. 

“I was thinking we should ask the local townsfolk where they saw Prince Ethan the last time they saw him,” I suggested. Willow and Fiѐre nodded. When we arrived the Earth Kingdom, chaos had taken over. People were screaming. Kids were running all over the place. Babies were crying. An earthquake had taken place. I had never seen chaos plummet another kingdom before in person, so I was in quite a shock- we had to get to shelter! 

Suddenly, a jet-black haired boy came- a golden chain around his neck, indicating his wealth. 

“Stand back everyone!” his voice boomed. The boy placed his knee on the ground and 

one knee up, while a bright green aura surrounded his entire body. His hair was flying too, and his eyes were shut tightly as if in deep concentration. After five minutes, the ground stopped shaking. I still felt dizzy, and almost fell sideways- but Willow caught me just in time. “You are all safe now! I know, you can thank me later. I have a notepad, ink, and feather for autographs!” 

“Prince Ethan!” yelled a voice. So that’s who the boy is, I thought, looking up towards the voice. It was the King of the Earth Kingdom. “How many times have I told you to leave the chaos to us?!” 

“About. . .I don’t know actually.” Prince Ethan shifted his posture. “But shouldn’t you be proud that I had stopped in the first place? That’s something not everyone can do.” 

“Yes we are very proud, but don’t do it again- we don’t want you getting hurt,” said the queen. The doors of the window shut behind them and Prince Ethan sighed and shook his head. We caught his attention as he walked towards us. 

“What on Earth were you doing? You should be thankful for such a great prince like myself saved you from such a tragic earthquake!” 

Great. Just great. I’m with Princess I-have-no-patience, Prince I-get-flustered-too-easily, and now Prince my-ego-is-bigger-than-the-Earth. I forced a smile. 

“That was an incredible. . .performance,” I started. “You have such potential! Have you found your gem yet?” That question made Ethan’s wide grin shrink a bit. 

“Well, I didn’t yet, but I’m quite sure the three of you haven’t either.” He looked down on us as if we were pests. I stood up a little taller and walked closer to him. 

“Well Mr. Prince Ego,” I said, maintaining my smile. “Are you willing to join us so that we can all find our gems?” 

“Hmm, I think I’ll pass. Besides, I wouldn’t want you guys getting in my way when retrieving the-” 

“I’ve had it with you!” Willow screamed. “You know what?! You and that blasted ego of yours can stay right here. But don’t come crying to us when we find our gems and you don’t find yours. Alright, princey?” Mr. Prince Ego blinked twice and broke into another grin- but this time it was different. It was more subtle. His expression softened too. 

“Hi there, and you must be?” Oh I get it, he’s crushing on her, isn’t he? I mean come on, he even made his voice deeper too. 

“Willow- but that’s Princess Willow to you,” Willow snapped. “Now, either you ditch your ego and join the team or you and your ego can stay right here. Either decision probably wouldn’t affect the team, but since I’m nice, I’ll still give you this offer.” I internally sighed. 

“Actually, I think I’ve changed my mind- I’ll join you, princess.” He fell to one knee and was about to kiss Willow’s hand, but Willow poked him in the eyes instead. “Ow!” 

“Refrain yourself princey, we have a mission to carry forth,” Willow said. “Alright, let’s go guys.” 

“Go. . .where exactly?”  asked Fiѐre.

“Fiѐre’s got a point,” I said. “We should stay here and come up with some sort of plan.” 

“Plan? Plan! I thought you two came up with one already!” Willow cried. 

“Well since we’re a team, we should come up with a plan together, right Fiѐre?” I looked at him. He nodded. 

“Actually, I think I’ve got one.”