IvoryAnna here. So I hope you enjoy the story. If you have tips for a new title it would be appritiated. I'm calling my readers Waterns. That's citizens of Waterberry. Enjoy. Saints' Speed, Waterns.  -Anna

I woke up staring at the purple velvet ceiling of my canopy bed. Someone was knocking on my door. I jumped up and slipped my feet into my purple silk slippers. I ran to the door and opened it. I instantly regretted it. My room flooded with girls in silk nightgowns and slippers.

"Mckenna, what are you doing? We have to get to breakfast," said WIllow, my 12 year old sister," and then we have to get to our tutor's apartments." "Yes, we have to go now. We don't want the Queen angry at us," answered Aqua, my 11 year old sister. "Then why are you all still in you nightgowns,"  I replied. Aqua and Willow looked at each other. Their eyes growing wide. Willow turned around and grabbed hold of our youngest sister, Saige's hand. Then she grabbed Violet's hand, my 7 year old sister. She lead them out of the room and down the hallway. I knew they were heading to the nursery. All ten of my younger sisters had to sleep in the nursery. Aqua lead the 6 year old twin, Ginger and Goldwhen, back to the nursery. That left me alone with the 10 year old twins, Primrose and Roseatta, 9 year old Evening Pinerose, and 8 year old Poppy. "Come Poppy," said Primrose," we have to get to breakfast." She turned and ran down the hallway, dragging Poppy after her. "Rosie, Eve are you going to go, so I can get ready." They turned and left. 

 I went and closed the door. Then I turned around and went into my dressing chamber. My whole closet was full of dark purple silk, satin, cotton, velvet, and any other cloth you could think of. All of my clothes were one color, dark purple. Our stepmother (aka the Queen), liking order as she does, made us all wear a color we picked. Mine was dark purple. Willow's was light green, all of her clothes were light green. Aqua's color was light blue. Primrose's color was light pink. Roseatta's color was red. Evening Pinerose's color was hot pink. Poppy's color was orage. Violet's color was violet. Ginger's color was dark blue. Goldwhen's color was dark green, and Saige's color was pink. 

I reached out and grabbed a dark purple, long sleeved, cotton dress. I slipped it on. It went clear to my ankles. It was my school uniform. I had to wear it when ever we had class in our tutor's apartments. My sisters had to wear one just like mine but in different colors. I turned around to where my tights and leggings hung. I grabbed a pair of cotton leggings and slipped them on under my dress. Then I went to find my shoes. They were black leather boots that came to my knees. Then I went out into my dressing room and put my nightgown in my wash-bin. Then I put my slippers back next to my bed. I finished with making my  bed. I might be a princess, but I am not a slob. 

I turned around and ran out of my room. I ran down the hall to where he nursery was. The door was closed. I opened it and peeked inside. It was empty. My sisters must be in the dinning hall. I closed the door and ran down the hall to the servant stairs. At the bottom of the stairs was a hallway with many doors. These doors lead into the library, Father's office, picture gallery, tapestry gallery, and the Queen's office. I walked out of the hall and into the Entrance Hall. The Grand Staircase was located directly in front of the main doorway. On both ends of the Entrance Hall were doors. The door on the left lead into the dinning hall. The door on the right lead into the ballroom. I went into the dinning hall. There were my ten sisters, in their uniforms and eating breakfast. Father and the Queen were already there, and I knew I was in trouble.

The Queen stood. "Yet again you are late for breakfast, Mckenna. Amber." Amber was the Queen's lady-in-waiting. "Yes, my queen?" "Take Mckenna to my office." "Yes, my queen. Come Crown Princess." I looked at Father and he just looked down at his breakfast. I was hoping he would step in and save me for once. But he never has and never will. There was nothing that I could do so I just followed Amber out into the Entrance Hall. She took me back into the hallway I had just come down. We stopped at the third door on the right. The door was dark oak wood, just like all of the doors in the palace. This one had a sign that read, Queen's Office. Amber opened the door and held it while I walked in. As soon as I was inside, she shut the door and locked it. I was all alone. 

The main room of the office was small and cozy with elaborately carved desk and chairs. The room's furniture conceited of a desk, two chairs that matched the desk, and a book-self. I knew it well. I went and sat down in a chair on the outside of the desk. 

The door behind me opened. I didn't turn around because I knew it was the Queen. She came up around me and sat in the chair opposite of me, the desk in between us. "Mckenna, you were late to breakfast, again this morning. How many times do you have to be punished before you get order into that thick head of yours?" She paused, seeing if I would answer. "Nothing to say?" I just shook my head. "Well, you know the punishement for being late. Hold out your hand." 

I did what she said. I knew what she was going to do even before she reached for the knife. I closed my eyes and waited for the pain in my right hand as I held it out. One quick swipe across my right palm. I opened my eyes to see the Queen staring at me. The knife she had used was lying on the desk. She reached into her other drawer and pulled out a napkin. Then she handed it to me. I took it and pressed it against my bleeding palm. "You are dismissed to your tutor's apartments," the Queen said waving me off.

I walked back down the corridor and went up the Grand Staircase to the second level. I stopped at the first door on the left. I knocked on the door until Edward, the tutor, answered. He looked down at the palm I was cradling in my other hand. He sucked in a sharp breath and looked away. "Come on. We waited for you." Edward held the door open for me. Once, I was inside he closed the door. "Kenna," called Eve, "where were you?" "Yeah, where were you," asked Poppy. "Yeah, Kenna," continued Violet. I didn't know what to say, as I was crowded on all sides by sisters asking questions. Thankfully Willow and Aqua spoke up. "She was with the Queen," said Willow. "Yeah, Mckenna was in trouble," answered Aqua. "Come on girls. You should not bother yourselves with your troublesome older sister," said Primrose. "Oh, leave them alone Prim," answered Roseatta. Primrose took a step toward Roseatta. "What did you say..." "Ladies, stop. This is a time and place of learning, not fighting. If you want to fight go to the  knights' training rooms." My sisters went back to their seats around a table. "Come on, Princess Mckenna." Edward went to his seat at the head of the table. I took my seat. It was at his left hand. Willow sat in front of me and to the right of Edward. Aqua was beside me. Beside Aqua was Roseatta or Rosie. Beside Rosie was Poppy, and beside Poppy was Ginger. At the end of the table was Saige. On the opposite side bisde Saige was Goldwhen. Beside Goldwhen was Violet. Beside Violet was Evening Pinerose or Eve, and beside Eve was Primrose or Prim.

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I walked out of Edward's apartments with my flood of sisters. We walked farther down the hall because my apartments and the nursery were on the same floor as Edward's apartments.

When I got to my apartments, I ran to the seat window and through open the curtains. Outside was a picture perfect day. At that moment all I wanted to do was go outside. I ran (I mean, I walked since I am the crown princess) to the nursery. All of my sisters were sitting on their beds, just staring at the floor. "Hello," I said, knocking on the door. All of my sisters looked at me with sad eyes. I knew what they wanted. They wanted to go outside to play, even the older girls, who were so prim. I smiled a sad smile and said, "I'll ask." Instantly I was in a sea of cheering girls.

I turned around and ran down the hallway to the main stairs. I walked down them like a crown princess, graceful and balanced. When I got to the bottom I walked down the same hallway for the third time that day. But insteadcof going to the third door on the left, I stopped at the first ddor on the right. The library. I knocked on the door and waited for an answer. "Enter," Father's voice came through the heavy door. I pushed open the door and walked in. Father was sitting on a sofa, reading a large book. He looked up when I came in. "Mckenna, what do you want?" "What makes you think I want anything, Father?" "You have determination written across your face. Might I subject you take it up with your stepmother." "But…Father…I need you on my side." Father sighed," Fine, you have my permission, just…ask your stepmother first." I smiled. "Thank you. The girls will be pleased. I swept him a cursty on my way out the door.

I ran across and down the hall to the third door on the left. My nightmare. I grimaced when I knocked ungracefully on the door. "Enter," rang the Queen's smooth voice. I couldn't help but frown when I entered. The Queen was seated at the same desk where she had cut me earlier. When she saw it was me, she frowned. "What do you want?" I stepped forward and forced a smile while I curstied. "Nothing. I just wanted to come see how you were doing." She narrowed her eyes at me, then said, "what do you really want?" "I just-" "Get to the point," cut the Queen. Only she was allowed to cut people off. If she tried she might just really cut something off. Like your head. I let go of the smile. "I want to know if my sisters and I are allowed in the gardens." The Queen looked at me then out the window beside her. "Fine, but you are only allowed out until lunch. Then you must come in." "What? That is only half an hour. That's not fai-" "Do you want to go outside or not?" I shut my mouth and just walked out of her office. I don't even think I shut the door.

I ran up the servants' staircase. Then I ran to the nursery. I through open the door and smiled when the girls closest to it (Willow, Aqua, Prim, and Rosie) nearly jump out of their skins. "Girls," I paused for dramatic effect, "put on your play clothes. We're going outside." All of the girls jumped up and started cheering. I decided not to tell them, then, that we only had half an hour to play. I didn't want to ruin their fun.

I ran to my room to change. I walked into my dressing to put on my winter outside dress. It was a dark purple cotton dress that had long sleeve and came to my ankles. I then grabbed my wool leggings to put on. After that I put back on my boots with an extra pair of socks. Then I grabbed my fur cloak and through it on.

I left my chambers and started toward the nursery. When I got there, it was empty. I ran down the hall to the Grand Staircase. At the bottom was a sea of girls ranging in age from 12 to 4, each in a different color of the rainbow. I'm serious. If you got them to stand on a line you would probably get R.O.Y. G. B.I.V. I walked gracefully down the stairs. I had to, with all of my younger sisters watching me. "Kenna! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! I have not been outside for ages," called Eve when I was down the stairs. "Oh, come on Eve. Don't you think you're over reacting," I said rolling my eyes. "Quiet down girls. If you want t go outside you have to calm down," said Mr. Ender, a guard at the palace. Mr. Ender opened the door to the gardens and released us.

Saige, Goldwhen and Ginger, Violet, Poppy, and Rosie ran immidatley outside  dissapeared into the gardns. Eve tried to run away with them, but Willow held her back. "Let me go! Let me go," yelled Eve. "No, we will not. You need to learn how to be a lady, not whatever Rosie is," Willow said. I spun around to face Willow and her gang. "Let her go, Willow. It is none of your business what she grows up to be like. It is the Queen's." Willow looked at me with blazing hazel eyes. When ever she was angry the yellow-green in her eyes shimmered. "Prim," Willow snapped, "ake care of McKenna. Oh no. When Primrose was younger, like before Father married the Queen, she used to train in the Guards' Training Rooms. "Don't touch me, and let Eve go," I said, backing away. I know it sounds sad that I am scared of a 10 year old when I am 14, but she is good. "Or what…," mocked Prim as she walked up to me. She came to my shoulder, and she had a face of an angel with her straight raven hair and yellow-green eyes. You would never know she was such a good fighter. I stood up tall and said, "you wouldn't dare…" but she never finished her sentence because Mr. Zachary Connest, the prime minister, walked up. (A/n: So I don't know why the app or my tablet decided to change Zacharcy's last name to 'connect', but I thought I should clear it up. His name is Zacharcy Connest. He's the Prime Minister of Waterberry. Saints' Speed, Waterns.  -Anna)

He was dressed in all black from head to toe. The only bit of color on him come from his ice blue eyes. Usually they looked cold and emontionalless, but when he walked up they were alive with fire. "Exactly what are you doing," he asked looking from me to Willow to Eve, who had stopped trying to get away and just staring at Prime Minister Connest. "Well," he said racing his eyebrows. I hated that about him. He thought we served him, not the other way around. He also thought he was God's gift t women, which he was defintanly not since he was almost 19 and still not bethrothed.

Aqua spoke up first. "Nothing Prime Minister. We are just playing a game, that's all." She smiled. Prime Minister Connest straightened. I hadn't noticed it before, but he was slouching. "Well, I guess if it is only a game… no, Willow you will realse Evening Pinerose." I saw Willow glance at Prim, and I knew that they were going to escape with Eve. I walked quickly up to the Prime Minister's side. "They are going to try and set Primrose on you," I whispered in his ear. I barely reached his shoulder, so he had to bend down. When he straightened back up, he looked at me, the back at Prim. "If you don't release her the McKenna and I will have to get the King and Queen, and I am sure you girls don't want to spend the next week inside." Prim, Aqua, and Willow all look at each other, then Willow let go of Eve. Eve ran to me. At 9 she barely reached my shoulder.

When I looked back up, Willow, Aqua, and Prim were gone. Prime Minister Connest was still by my side. When I looked into his eyes they were not filled with fire but with concern. I quickly looked down.

"Come on, Eve. Let's go find the other girls." "Ok," said Eve, flashing her huge grin. As we walked off, I glanced back at the Prime Minister. He was watching us. I gave him a thanking smile.

We found Rosie, Poppy, Violet, Ginger, Goldwhen, and Saige in a stand of trees. Rosie was abut 20 feet up a huge pine. When the girls saw us they all instantly crowded around Eve and me, except for Rosie. "Where have you been," asked Poppy. "Well, we had some trouble," said Eve as she glanced at me. We never told the little girls about how their older sisters treated us. Rosie snorted. She knew what we meant. "Troubles that begin with W.A.P.?" "How did you know," I teased. Rosie looked down, "a lucky guess." "Hey," I said, "why are you girls not using your talents?" They all looked up at me, their eyes glowing. All of us had something we were good at, like expert god. Saige and mine was horseback riding. Rosie was a tree climber. Eve, Ginger, and Goldwhen were dancers. Poppy was a singer, and Violet was a runner. Willow was a swimmer. Aqua was a painter, and Prim was a fighter.

I grabbed Saige's hand. Rosie was still climbing higher in her tree. Violet took off as fast as a bullet, but Eve, Ginger, Goldwhen, and Poppy just stood there. "What are you four doing?" "We can't dance out here, and Poppy can't sing out here." I sighed. Then I smiled. "I know a pasture where you can dance ad a cave where Poppy can sing." "How do we get there?" "You will have to ride horses." Eve and Ginger sighed. They hated riding horses. Poppy and Goldwhen didn't mind, but they sucked. We all waked to the stables together.

Father had gotten all of us horses before Mother died. She wanted all of us to learn her passion. But only two of us were any good. But she wouldn't know that since she never had the chance to teach Saige to ride. I had to do it.

When we got to the stables, I had to help the younger girls saddle their horses. I started with Eve's horse, Pine Tree. When people are born in the Wintertree region of Waterberry, they are given a native name. It was a tradition started long ago when the Natives became civilized. Since Mother was from Wintertree, she wanted to give us native names, too. Mine was Starlight. Willow's was Weeping Willow. Aqua's was Ocean Water. Prim's was Pink Rose. Rosie's was Compass. Poppy's was Wildf!ower. Violet's was Graceful Wind. Ginger's was Light Dance. Goldwhen's was Golden Stream. Saige's was Moonbeam.

After we were all saddled, we headed out to the pasture I had told them about. It was the last pasture on the palace grounds. Most people never went near it. I never knew why. It was perfect to dance in, though. It was past a stream and through a small grove of pine trees. The ground was completely flat and covered in a fine grass that wouldn't trip up anyone dancing on it.

When we got to the pasture, I jumped off my horse to help the girls off their's. "Where is the cave," asjed Popoy. "I will take you there after  i tie up their horses," I said while tying up Pine Tree, Light Dance, and Golden Stream. When I was done tying up the horses, I jumped bakc on Starlight. "Come on Poppy," I said, kicking my horse into a canter.

On the way out of the pasture I looked around and saw that Saige was missing. I didn't freak out. I knew she had went riding and that I would probably meet up with her in the western wood. The western wood was where Saige and I liked to ride.

When we got to the cave just outside of the western wood, I got down to help Poppy off Wildflower. "So this is the cave, right?" "Yes, Poppy. Why don't you go try it out while I tie up Wildflower." Poppy took off while I tied up Wildflower to a tree just outside off the cave. Then I swung up on Starlight and took off. I loved the feeling of riding. The wind blowing through my cascade of hair. My wild curls was like wild fire chasing me. Trees and grass blurring together until they were just a green mass.

(Author's note: So, hi! This is my first ever a/n! I just wanted to say thanks for reading so far! It sucks because it's not edited. :-(  I have a lot more to update on this story. I'm about to introduce one of my favorite characters in this story! Keep reading! :-D Enjoy  -Anna)

When I slowed down enough that I could see my surroundings, I was in the western pasture. The western pasture was right next to the western wood. A little while into the pasture something spooked Starlight. She reared up on her hind legs. I fell out of the saddle and flat on my back. All of the wind went out of me. I couldn't breath and it felt like I was dying. Tears streamed unchecked down my cheeks. I didn't know if I could move, let alone try to find Starlight. Out of the woods I saw a figure emerge. As it got closer I realized it was a man. I knew I must have looked awful, but I couldn't bring myself to move.

I don't know how long it took the man to get to me. I was just focused on trying to breath. He knealt by my side and asked, "miss? Miss, are you alright?" What breath I had gathered went out of me at the sight of him. He had a mop of messy black hair, clear blue eyes that reflected the sky, and skin darkened by days in the sun. I shook my head. "I'm going to carry you to my cabin, alright?" I nodded. He had such a strange accent. It sounded fimiliar.  He gentlie slid his hands under my back. He pulled me up into a sitting position. Then he left one arm around my back while slide the other under my knees. After that he gently lifted off the ground and into his arms.

I couldn't breath. Mostly from the pain rippd through my chest, and then also from being so close to him. I closed my eyes as his scent washed over me. He smelled like…fresh picked apples. A little bit after he picked me up, he started humming. I quickly fell asleep  while being cradled like a baby by a stranger.

When I woke up I was on a wooden cot in a wooden cabin that looked fit for a peasant. I tried to sit up but a strong hand held me down. I moaned in pain. "Oh! I'm sorry. I forgot," the man whispered next to me. I looked over and saw him sitting in a chair. I didn't know where I was and I needed to get back before te Queen found out. I tried to talk but my tongue felt like a brick, and my head was screaming in pain. It felt like a hurricane was ragging on in it.

The man got up and went to what I assume was a sink. He grabbed a wooden cup and filled it with water. Then he walked back to me. He helped me sit up. Then he gently lifted the full cup to my lips. The water felt wonderful sliding down my parched throat. My tongue melted from its brick-like state. When I was done drinking he set the cup on the floor beside the cot, then looked back up at me with sparkling eyes. He extended his hand to me and said, "I'm Steffan Wesland. You?" I looked down at his hand then back up at him. "Mckenna Waterberry." His eyes went wide, and then he quickly retracted his hand. "I didn't realize you were a…You're a princess?" That confused me. I thought I had made that clear. "Yes." Then you need to get back to the castle. Come on. I'll help you." He reached for my hands. "Wait...who are you, and why are you on the palace grounds?" Steffan laughed. "Because I'm a knight." "Oh."

At that moment the door to the cabin burst open. A figure swathed in black entered, his eyes glowing like frozen pieces of ocean. The prime minister. "Mckenna! What are you doing? You have the palace in a frenzy." Steffan was still helping me sit up. "I...I..." "She fell off her horse. She was really hurt. I didn't know she was the crown princess or I would have brought her to the palace." Prime Minister Connest just gave Steffan a death stare. "Really? How could you not know that she is the crown princess?" "I'm new to the Winterberry region." The prime minister stepped forward and helped me off of the cot. Once I was standing beside him (he was supporting most of my weight) he looked at Steffan like he was dirt and said, "What are you anyway? A stable hand?" "Actually Sir," Steffan answered. He stood up and inclined his head in our direction, "I am a knight." Connest looked taken by surprise. "Well thank you, Sir..." "Steffan Wesland." "Thank you, Sir. Wesland." Connest helped me turn around so that we were facing the door. We stepped outside.

Prime Minister Connect didn't say a word until we were on his horse and riding away from Sir. Wesland. "Mckenna, what do you think you were doing with that man?" "I fell off my horse and he helped me, Prime Minister. I do not think there is anything wrong with that. Actually, I think he should be rewarded." Rewarded? For what? For kidnapping you?" "He did not kidnap me, and I think my father and the Queen should know that," I snapped. He just sighed and stayed silent till we got to the castle.

Connest was not kidding when he said I had the palace in a frenzy. Guards were running around everywhere. The servants were acting like chickens with there heads cut off. I could only imagine what the royal family was like. When we walked into the palace, Prime Minister Connest lead me to the ballroom. All ten of my younger sisters were being herded into the ballroom like they were cattle. Which they were most definitely not. The prime minister shoved me in with them, then disappeared.