The Princess of Planet Xeronis

Hired supervisor

The sun rose to grace the walled city with yet another day. The palace was lively with a lot of guests coming and leaving on their carriages and flying vehicles.

"Come, come. Here will do," Aunt Josephine burst into a wide chamber, one of Nancy's rooms, with Nancy following behind with a team of maids fixing her dress. They came and stood at the center of this wide room and Nancy dressed as a normal princess would, a princess who would not spend her time running in the jungle like a common girl.

She wore a rose woolen gown styled in medieval fashion with trailing sleeves, an embroidered neck, and an exquisite leather belt decked with jewels. The dress closed at the back with snaps.

Aunt Josephine wore a similar but violet-colored dress.

Nancy and Aunt Josephine were supposed to look presentable because they were receiving a long distant cousin on such short notice.

"Why do they surprise us like this?" Nancy complained.

"If you knew how to be formal we wouldn't have to go to all the trouble. Thank you girls that will do," Aunt Josephine said and dismissed the maids.

A train of palace attendants came in and stood sentinel. The king then approached with a tall lady who held a fan in hand. She had long black hair which she tied in a heap and held with a pin. She wore a gown in vibrant green with draping sleeves, gold trim, and a shimmering under layer of gold brocade accent. 

She looked to be in her mid-thirties.

"Is she the one?" Nancy whispered to her aunt who only shushed her.

"Josephine," the lady said with a smile and Aunt Josephine smiled as the two hugged and she saying, "Esmeralda."

"It's been a long time Josephine," the lady said as they released each other, "what, nine years?"

"It has been dull without you," Aunt Josephine said and the king laughed delightedly.

"Well she's been on the road a full day at my request," the King said.

"It takes a request to get you to come to see us? You disappoint me, Esmeralda."

"You'll have to forgive me I'd hate to disturb you for here at the capital you're always busy."

"Oh nonsense; even Gordon needs some help."

"And help she will," the king jumped in moving to Nancy who had been silent all along, "You remember her don't you? The last you saw her she was still a toddler but now she stands a fair lady."

"Madam Esmeralda," Nancy said as she curtsied.

"Hello dear. I hear you're causing quite a stir... that you're behaving in the most un-princessly fashion. Your father sent for me to come and remedy that," Esmeralda said walking around and observing Nancy, including how she stood.

"Father...?" Nancy needed an explanation.

"Oh yes," the king hurriedly said, "My guests have been more critical than I imagined. We are holding a ball this season and I want her lessons up and running."

"Lessons...?"

"Teach her how to behave in the company of lords and nobles and importantly, how to address the council. Teach her the importance of attending ceremonies and teach her all the duties and responsibilities of a princess."

"You brought her all the way here for that?"

"We'll start with discipline. You must not question your father in public," Esmeralda said as she stopped beside the king.

"I'm not even supposed to dispute anything am I?"

"You are to respect Esmeralda as you respect a queen. She'll be in charge of you until I see some improvement. Is that clear?"

"Yes, father."

"Well, fair enough. We begin tomorrow. Right now I must rest. Josephine..." Esmeralda said with a smile and a curtsy.

"This way," then the king led her out of the room along with his retinue.

"That went well," Aunt Josephine said going to sit on the chairs.

"She's the last thing I need," Nancy complained.

"She's here to help you, you know?"

"Court manners? I need to be out there and not spend time in council chambers," Nancy opened her large closet, got in, and closed the door.

"You're a princess. You can't give that up. Would you rather you were a pauper?"

"I'd rather not be a prisoner," she cried from inside.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Whatever happened to chasing dreams?"

"Be careful what you wish for."

"I just want to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?"

"Sorry big girl. You are under the spotlight here."

"I can't believe you are taking their side."

"You for once are not being reasonable like they are. You go out there, abduct a human from my home planet, and almost get yourself killed by a wild dragon... I say taking their side is more reasonable and the wisest decision I'll ever make."

"Well, you're wrong."

"What are you doing in there?"

"Changing into comfortable clothing," then Nancy opened the closet doors and walked out. She now had a peach cotton blouse with trailing sleeves, matching pants, and gladiator sandals.

"How do I look?" she whirled around. She had also tied her hair in a ponytail.

"You dress up for him too?"

Nancy just smiled and then clapped her hands; Spot came rushing in.

"How is she?" Spot asked as Nancy took him up in her arms.

"She thinks she's going to control me."

"Boy is she up for a surprise."

"Now you are speaking my language."

"Where are you two going?" her aunt demanded.

"I need to go see Ben."

"What have you been feeding him?"

"Your worries are misplaced. Come take a look."

Aunt Josephine came with her to the windows and they both saw Wonderbee hovering in the air with a lunchbox in her hands.

"He's my responsibility," she said dragging a chair on which she stood and hoped outside onto Wonderbee's back.

"I'll see you later," then Aunt Josephine waved at her as the dragon took off. Today they were leaving the flying bike behind.

Wonderbee soared above the walls and she turned for the distant woods. After some time the mansion came into view and they had to land. Nancy placed Spot down and was surprised to find no one waiting for her outside, and it was unusually quiet.

Her eye swept around and she did not like seeing the broken windows. She looked at the floor and seeing blood upset her. She now feared for Ben.

She burst inside and was relieved to see him sitting on the foot of the stairs... then she began to move towards him. More bloodstains were on the floor and there was broken furniture from last night's struggle.

"This does not look good," Spot said.

At Ben's feet lay ten poles two meters in length and he was sharpening their ends with a small sharp knife in his hand.

"Is that blood?" Nancy asked as he looked up at her.

"Three wolves that stand like men attacked me yesterday. One, the dogs killed but the other two escaped. They can turn themselves into men as well. They said they are coming back... for me, unless I go somewhere safe," then he placed the pole down on the pile that was now potent spears.

Nancy fell silent in shock. She then looked up at him helplessly, "Ben, I don't know what to say."

"Just say you'll do it. You have the power to open the portal. Get me out of here."

"It's easier said than done," then she came to sit on the foot of the stairs with him, and she held her head in thought. "The moment I'm discovered I'll be grounded for the whole season and you won't see me for months. This time it's going to be a lot harder sneaking around for I now have a hired supervisor, and she has made it very clear that she is very strict."

Ben then looked down and sighed.

"All I'm saying is: wait now for these few days than to wait for months if we decide to gamble and lose."

"So I take it there are no lodgings elsewhere?"

"Not yet. The city is off-limits for you. Bounty hunters will smell you a mile away," she said grimly, then, "I wish there was something more I could do but you need to survive this."

Ben looked at his spears, "I'll try."

"I will talk to Matthias again. My aunt will personally kill me if anything happened to you. She was not pleased at all by what happened with the dragon."

"Well, at least someone cares for me on this planet."

"I care very much."

"Spot, what do you think?" he asked the puppy.

"She's teasing," he replied and Nancy shook her head with a smile as Ben looked at her.

"Well, I for once brought you something to replenish your strength. Wonderbee..." then Wonderbee handed Ben the lunchbox.

"Hello girl, you are awfully quiet today," Ben said opening the box and taking a spoon before starting to shove what Nancy had brought for him.

"Sorry, I was still in shock. Three wolves...?"

"See, those who really care. But you've redeemed yourself; I was starving and this is really good. Thanks."

"Don't mention it, yet."

"That dream walking innate magic you told me about is really handy. Can you tell me more about it?"

Nancy gave it a thought, "I am no expert but I could ask around. Or perhaps try to find a book for you."

"Will I be able to read Xeronis letters?"

"I will obviously have to read for you."

"I can't complain there."

Matthias and two dogs then entered the mansion.

"Look who decided to show up," Nancy said.

"We had gone to dispose of the wolf. Has he told you about the encounter?" Matthias asked.

"Yes, he did. Quite a fighter isn't he?"

"We couldn't have done it without him. But the wolves are angry. They want revenge for their dead brother and I'm afraid they will come again tonight. If you have somewhere safe to lodge him, then there is no way to stress this more – get him out of here!"

Nancy then looked at Ben with a worried eye. That is the same eye she had when she was back at the palace again in her chamber and looking out to the setting sun. She was not really paying attention to the maid who was reading her letters to her.

"And this one is from the equestrians you met last season," the maid said causing her to turn from the window to face her.

"That's enough for today Sonia."

"Something on your mind, princess?"

"I'll be alright. You may go now," then Sonia rose from the chair, curtsied, and left the chambers.

Wonderbee came to the window.

"Oh, there you are. I need you to do something for me," Nancy said.

"Anything."

"Werewolves are most active after midnight. Will you get up and go assist Ben?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

"I thought you'd never agree to it."

"With what he did for you back at the mines, I was going to go even if you hadn't asked."

"Thanks, big girl, and be careful," she stressed and Wonderbee nodded.