Ariadne's POV

"What am I supposed to do," I said exasperated as I yanked a needle through a thick piece of fabric.

Harriet had found the dirty nightgowns and gave us a hard lecture on not slipping out of the room past curfew. It was dangerous and we could have been hurt. We just all hoped she wouldn't tell father or restrict our privileges further.

I was sitting in my room, practicing sewing and watching Iris's chest slowly rise and fall as she slept through the day again, it had been a long night of dancing, which made Iris sleep even longer than she normally did. Then I looked over at the wooden chest that sat at the end of my bed and gasped to see a gorgeous gown.

How had I missed that earlier?

The deep midnight blue, entwined with a delicate silver thread blended so perfectly and the soft fabric glistens in the early morning light. Starting at the bodice of the gown and traveling down the skirt was an intricate flower pattern that gradually diminished until it disappeared completely just inches before the hem. It had butterfly sleeves that would vanish once the gorgeous spring-green colored cape hid them from human eyes.

I carefully lifted the fragile dress off the chest and held it against me, it looked like it fit perfectly; not that I had any doubts. I almost squealed with delight when a loud moan escaped Iris's lips, so I began to quietly spin with the dress instead. I spun around once and loved the feeling so much I started to waltz. I slowly moved my right foot back and closed my eyes; imagining a grand ball, waltzing with princes, lords, and gentlemen from many different realms. A certain gentleman popped into my head and I felt myself grinning at his rugged, and quite a handsome appearance. He extended a hand towards me, and I tried to take it when I stumbled and started falling. My fantasy faded away quicker than it had come, and this time my fall was not stopped by the strong arms of a friend. Instead, I found myself face first on the floor to my bedroom, with a pounding heart, worrying that I had awakened Iris. It turned out that she could not hear my rapid heartbeat and after it finally calmed down, I slowly stood up, wincing as my foot pressed against a loose floorboard, and I examined my gown.

I picked it up and carefully laid it back on the chest where I had found it as if doing so would erase any damage that might have come upon the beautiful masterpiece.
I looked it over and thought I must have looked over a spot. Looked it over again, and came up with the same conclusion: the dress wasn't damaged in any way, not one thread was out of place! And just to be sure, I checked it again. I stood there, marveling at the beauty that lay before me and wondered how it did not have so much as a snag in it. Maybe this dress was tougher than it looked I though with a chuckle.

I didn't want to risk damaging the dress again before the plans Harriet had for me tonight. Instead, I opened my chest and pulled out a simple gown that I could put on without the assistance of my maids- I didn't want to wake them. It was a light pink dress with small blue flowers covering every inch of the light, but durable. Perfect.

I slowly opened my door, which squeaked no matter how many times I told it not to.
Quickly glancing back at Iris's sleeping form, I reassured myself she was still asleep, then closed the door. I then did the same procedure to exit our common room, and once I was free from waking my sisters, I ran down the hallway on my toes, a trick I learned to quiet my footsteps without slowing me too much. I reached the banister, remembering the time Bell convinced me to slide down when we were only half our height now. She made it down safely, but I was not so lucky. I hadn't attempted it since and didn't feel like doing so now either. Besides, it was not something the future Queen should do.

I passed two guards that stood at the entrance, who opened the door for me. I walked out to the back courtyard where I sat down on one of the benches, with my eyes closed, and enjoyed the feel of the wind on my face, and morning dew clinging to my bare feet.

I felt completely relaxed when I heard a loud snap! My eyes flew open and I hurriedly looked around for the source of the sound. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a small movement. I turned my head in that direction and saw something quickly move from behind a bush.
I stood up and walked over to the bush as quietly as I could so I wouldn't scare whatever, or whoever was there. When I was within a foot of the rustling bush, I paused, gathered my courage and then quickly looked behind the shrubbery before I could reconsider.

A tiny grey wolf peered up at me with bright hazel eyes, but only for a second, before it jumped over the bush and started running in circles chasing its tail. I laughed as it finally caught its tail then began rolling around in the grass, making it look like a big bundle of grey, white, and black fur. Then it noticed me staring and ran towards me, wanting to play. I bent down to pet it, and it jumped up and licked me in the middle of my face. I laughed then picked up the puppy, after wiping my face off, and started walking towards the front door. When I got to the steps leading to the door, the wolf jumped out of my hands and landed on the grass. I ran to go chase the beautiful creature when it let out a howl.

Then it began changing.

A small shriek escaped my lips as I saw the young puppy lose its fur and its limbs began growing. Then the fallen hairs came together in a weird pattern I hadn't seen before. Then the movement stopped and I realized I was staring at a little girl wearing a beautiful fur dress, and the same piercing hazel eyes of the wolf now peered through her long blonde hair.

After a minute of studying each other, the young girl jumped up and hugged me.

"Hi! I'm Amity, the greatest shapeshifter in the world!"  

She spun in a circle and turned into a brilliant white horse with a spectacular horn that shone in the sun, on top of her small head. She strutted around proudly then let out a neigh and threw her front feet up but then fell on her side.

I ran over to the wheezing horse, panicked. "Are you okay?" I asked as she turned back into a giggling girl, with a stunning white dress on; the same color as her horse's coat, and I could have sworn I saw parts of her horn glittering in the dress as well.

"What kind of animal was that?" I asked, glad that she was okay.

"I call them unicorns!" She said throwing her hands up in the air. "Or was it unihorns? I can't remember."

Then we both looked at each other and giggled.

"Can you turn into anything?" I asked.

"Yes!" She said and pretended to be a frog, to which I laughed. "Even things I just make up in my head! But those ones are a lot harder."

"Did your parents teach you how to do that?"

She shrugged. "I don't remember my parents."

She didn't remember her parents? Poor girl. I decided to change the subject in case it made her upset. "Do you want to see my castle?"

She nodded quickly and I smiled as she took my hand and I led her to the castle.

"You live here!" She whispered in awe.

I smiled at her. She closed her gaping mouth and started walking slowly up the steps and into the castle.

"Yes," I answered. "Where do you live?"

"In the woods."

I stopped for a second, this lovely girl lived in the woods? Certainly not the cursed woods I always hear about? I didn't have a chance to ask her, because just then Amity bumped right into Monsieur Jacque.

"Oh! Pardon moi! Vait... And who do ve have here?"  He asked bending down and putting his hand under her chin so she would look at him.

"I'm Amity!" She said kicking her foot shyly. "A shapeshifter."

"Oh!" He looked at me and I nodded. "Zat is magnificent! It is my pleazure to make your acquaintance," he kissed her hand and I could see they would be great friends. "But may I ask ver your family is?"

She looked down. "My family is gone, I live in the woods with my friends."

"Oh, I am terribly sorry!" Monsieur Jacque said and took her hand in his.

She gave him a weak smile then sat down and began changing again, this time into a cute brown bunny, with her ears hanging limply around her small head.

"Ow about ve get you some delicious sweet rolls?" He asked picking Amity up and she nodded, looking as happy as a bunny could.

The happy moment, however, did not last long. "Ariadne! What do you think you are doing? You were not in your room, and Iris didn't know where you were either! I have been looking everywhere for you!" Harriet said grabbing my arm. "Even your guards were surprised that you were not in your chambers."

"I-" I began, but no excuses came to mind.

"It vas my fault, I apologize," Monsieur Jacque said and I looked at him gratefully.

"You should-" Harriet stopped and I noticed her eyes on the cute little ball of fur in Jacque's hands. "What is that doing in my castle?" She asked as if Amity looked dangerous or gross when she looked the complete opposite.

"It is just a bunny-" I started.

"Just a bunny! It's a filthy rodent that could get me fired!"

I laughed at that because my father had owned plenty of pets, and a bunny wouldn't even phase him; now a wolf or a unicorn on the other hand... I decided not to think about it.

"I vill take care of it immediately," Jacque assured her and I looked at him horrified and he winked, calming my nerves.

"Then what are you waiting for? Go!"  Harriet said then turned to me. "As for you, you should have been in the dressing room an hour ago!"

What do you think of our amazing shapeshifter?? 

Unicorn or unihorn??? ;)