Hi!

Well looks like Aiden is getting shipped all over the place!

-Haiden (Hailey and Aiden)

(EDIT: To some people who are confused: No, Hailey is not Aiden's cousin. Aiden called her his cousin as a joke; they have no relation whatsoever.)

-Aidumn (Autumn and Aiden)

-Braiden (Bree and Aiden)

And I was also suggested a Chatumn (Chase and Autumn)

What do the rest of you think about that?

Thanks for your hilarious comments, you guys crack me up! And wow who would have thought you'd get so defensive of Hailey?

I absolutely love you guys<3

This chapter is dedicated to the sweet @pinkysparkle0714 :)

As a token of my undying love, here's a little chapie!

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Quick recap:

Hailey visited the training fields and the chapter ended with an argument between Bree and her.

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Chap 19

"Well, I think you did pretty well."

I turned around to see Autumn coming up to me with a small smile.

"What do you mean?"

"That was Bree. She's one of the highest ranking officers, at least as high as possible for someone about our age. It's pretty impressive actually."

"That still doesn't explain why she's like that," I replied, referring to her earlier rudeness and sudden change of mood.

"Bree's not the most fun-loving person around, I think you got that. In fact she probably takes everything a bit too seriously. But honestly, she's got a big heart, and she just wants the best for the king she pledged her allegiance to and everyone who depends on him. I guess she wanted to know that you weren't going to be a drag. To be honest, saying she smelled like a pig wasn't the best insult I've ever heard, but at least it shows you've got spirit, and you won't let people walk all over you. And she can respect that."

I nodded, that made sense, for the most part. "I get it. Although I have to admit I hadn't really realized what being a Winged princess meant before. I mean, I've barely been here two days, and it's already..." I trailed off. "What do people expect out of me?"

Autumn thought for a minute. "Right now, nothing in particular, I don't think. After all, you've just arrived. But we're on the verge of war, the king is getting old, and we know practically nothing about our enemies, so the daughter of one of the lost princesses reappearing seems like a pretty good omen."

I thought about that for a bit. I didn't really believe in omens, but I could see how my appearance could add a little hope in people's hearts.

"Can you fight?" Autumn suddenly asked.

"Me? Oh, no. I mean, I know the basis of self-defense, and I can throw a pretty mean punch, but that's basically it." I grimaced.

Autumn laughed, "Don't worry, that's already more than me. You've seen mostly warriors up to now, but actually many of us don't know how to fight either."

I smiled. "Well good to know I might actually be of some use, then."

"Don't worry, I'm sure you can do much more than you yet realize."

I only nodded, not knowing what to say to that.

"Look, how about we just drop by my house really quick, so you can get an idea of what the village's like on the way and I can check up on my brother and sister, then we can go back to the castle and try to find Chase, who should be there since it was Bree's turn on the training fields. I'm sure he can help you to 'make yourself useful' as you put it."

"Sounds like a plan," I agreed. Since she'd mentioned Chase, I almost asked her if she knew what was going on between him and Lance, but I decided against it. It wasn't really any of our business, and if I ever did get the occasion to ask, I wanted to get Chase's answer on the matter.

I followed Autumn out of the training clearing and up a beaten-earth trail that soon merged with a road of paved stone. The houses were made of stone with slate roofs. Most of them had a diversity of plants and flowers growing all around them, which filled the air with a sweet smell. The streets were rather calm, except for a few bursts of laughter or snatches of conversations here and there. We only met one person, an older woman who sent us a polite smile as she passed us in a hurry, carrying a bag that smelled of freshly baked pastries and dragging behind her a pouting child.

We reached a cottage with a sky blue door and blooms of purple flowers under the windows. Autumn, producing a key from her pocket, was quick to open the door and invite me inside her house.

The front door led straight to the living room, which was warm and homey.

I smiled, "Cute house."

"Thanks," Autumn said, before calling out, "Anna, Danny, are you there?"

There was no answer, and after listening to the silence a bit, Autumn said, "They must already have left." And after a pause, "Oh, I'm sorry, Anna and Daniel are my younger siblings. They're twins and can be a bit of a handful sometimes."

"Do you have any other brothers or sisters?"

"Yes, an older brother. It was him I saw on the training fields. Anyway, why don't I give you a quick tour of the house?"

Although she tried to play it off modestly, I was very impressed by Autumn's room. She had painted it entirely by herself. The sea rolled on her walls, and a lighthouse complete with a real light dominated the scene. Her bed and desk seemed to be made of driftwood and complemented the atmosphere well.

"Wow, your room is so awesome!"

Autumn smiled, "Thanks, it's kind of a reminder of my old home by the sea. My dad and my older brother fixed the desk and the bed to made it look like they are made of driftwood I collected."

I left Autumn to hunt for the twins to make sure they had indeed eaten lunch and gone back to school. Usually her mother was home to take care of them, but she had to go to another city for work, which made me wonder how big the Kingdom of Aeolus really was. I made my way back to the castle without difficulty, as I had assured Autumn I could. Like any Winged, I had a good sense of direction, and considering the towering castle could be seen from anywhere in the town, it wasn't such a big achievement.

I didn't see anyone I knew -not that I knew that many people- apart from some acquaintances from the banquet, all of whom I didn't bother too long as they all seemed busy. Inside the castle, I decided that instead of waiting in my room pointlessly until someone kindly showed up, I would use this time to explore the castle.

As I wandered down hallways all more alike than the others, I sometimes passed a few people, but they didn't pay me much attention except for a polite smile in acknowledgment. I was just standing in an empty hallway, reflecting that someone really needed to put up directional signs, or at least draw up a plan of the castles for newbies like me, when a young girl ran past me, came to an abrupt stop, turned around, and asked me with wide eyes,

"Princess Hailey?"

I had a feeling I would never get used to complete strangers knowing my name.

"Yes, that's me," I smiled, "but you can just call me Hailey."

The kid, who must have been about six or so, gave me a wide smile, showing off her missing front tooth.

"I'm Anna White, but you can just call me Anna," she said with an air of confidentiality mixed with wonder.

"Well, then, nice to meet you, Anna."

"Are you lost?" Anna asked without wasting time.

"Um, well, not so much lost as I don't know what there is to do."

Anna nodded wisely. "Well there's lots to do in the castle. You can play tag, hide-and-seek... As long as the grown-ups don't catch you, of course. Oh, and if you go in the kitchens and ask nicely, sometimes you can get food."

I couldn't help but grin, "Wow, that sounds fun!"

"Yeah, but since you're kind of grown up and a princess, you're probably allowed anywhere you like, like the library, and even maybe the king's quarters."

"There's a library?"

"Yeah, it's that way, then that way." Anna said, pointing down a hallway, then to her left. "It has really big doors and little kids aren't allowed there because we could break things and the king likes to go there sometimes."

"All right, thanks."

"You're welcome. Now, I have to go hide, cause Milo's probably done counting to a hundred," she said before running off without so much as a goodbye.

I shook my head with a smile. That girl was too cute for her own good.

Since it was still early, and I had a whole afternoon before me, I decided to go check out the library. After all, it might be a good way to get to know more about this place and its people.

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OK so I'll admit it's not the most exciting chapter ever, but just wait until Chapter 21;) I'm afraid this is just the calm before the storm.

Also I was wondering if any of you would be interested in doing a sort of writing game where we'd all write together one story (Not like a RPG). I think it could be fun and I'm sure there are lots of writers among you, so what do you think?

I want to know there'll be enough people before we start, and if there are I'll explain in more details what I have in mind:)