Not Zoe!

The castle was magnificent. All white, with four big towers. The stairs were huge and everything was so bright that Cassie thought it was a dream.

The guards were everywhere and their armors were also, white, but with gold on the chest. The family's crest was on the flags, not only on the top of those tall towers, but also, on the walls, on the armors, on the carriage - she just noticed it now - and on the big golden front gate.

Cassie started to go up the stairs, full of hope and when it ended, she only had sore legs. yes, she was used to carrying weight, to train and to work the whole day, just not wearing those terribly uncomfortable shoes. She was grateful she didn't try the one with heels. Not that she would be able to walk perfectly with them, anyway.

The gates opened and it was even more beautiful. The huge torches were setting on the ground, but went higher than her head. Much higher. The place was full of columns and the ceiling was up, up, up. Cassie smiled on how majestic that place was and, at the same time, it didn't oppress her.

The carpets where she was walking on were red and very soft. It was like she was walking on the clouds, as if she had ever had the experience.

Celestia turned to her and touched her wrist.

"I must go see the King, ok? Go to your chambers and rest. I know that journey was not easy."

"Thank you, mother." Cassie said. It was always difficult to remember to call that woman 'mother'. Not that she was rude or felt Cassie feel bad. It was just that she had never called anyone like that.

The maids led the way to her chambers. They turned right, right, left and as she got distracted by the halls and pictures hanging on it, she lost count of the turns they had until they stopped in front of her room.

Everything was into white, golden, red and very little light gray. Cassie's room was no different, and her door was al white with a golden doorknob.

"Do you mind if I stay by myself?" She asked the maids, who just bowed and left. "Hmm."

Cassie entered and closed the door behind her. The bedroom was big. The bed was big. The windows were big… Everything was… big.

She took off her veil and her shoes. After sitting on a nearby chair, she took a look at her heels, with a blister in each one. She almost cried when she saw that.

The water inside the tub was ready, having being prepared beforehand. She took off her clothes and entered the tub, letting the warm water relax her body. She smiled. That was really nice.

After she dried herself, Cassie laid on the bed and slept almost instantly, being awakened by someone breathing on her face. She groaned and opened her eyes slowly, almost falling from the bed due to the scare she got. A pair of bright blue eyes were staring so close to her face that she saw nothing else.

"The hell?" She said, covering herself and sitting on the bed. A small child, a boy with dark hair was giggling.

"I scared you now, didn't I, Zoe?"

"Ah, yeah…" She said and sniffed. The child frowned and looked at her intently. "What is it?"

"Hmmm… you look different." He said.

"D-different? How?" She didn't even know who that child was, but he seemed to know Zohreh very well. He even called her by a nickname.

"I don't know how to explain." he tilted his head to the left side, still looking at her, thoughtfully. "It is like you are someone else."

"Ah.. how silly!" She said, laughing in a weird way that even to her own ears it sounded strange.

"True. So, what did you bring me?" he asked and looked at her expectantly.

"Nothing…" She said and he laughed.

"You're so funny, Zoe! But really… where is it?"

"Owww, you're funny, too!" And cute! She wanted to say and hug the kid, but she fought the urge to do that.

"Where is my candies?" He asked.

"Where are your candies?" She corrected him, who rolled his eyes. "I have no candy."

"What?" He grasped and got out of the bed. She then noticed he was wearing shoes. And have been on her bed, that now had marks. Dark, dirty marks. She narrowed her eyes on the kid.

The door was opened and a woman put her hand on her chest, as if relieved.

"Young master! I thought I had lost you!" She said and Cassie looked at the woman and at the kid.

"Lost me? How? I just came by to take a look at my cousin!"

'Ah,' Cassie thought, 'cousin!'.

"Master Cygnus, please!" the woman pleaded. " We must return to your chambers. The Princess is very tired."

The boy looked at her with a pout.

"But she was gone for a very long time!" He insisted. "Zoe, are you sending me away?"

"Well…" She looked at the woman with black hair and brown eyes.

"Even though you forgot all about me and brought me no candies, I still think you are my favorite cousin."

"Ha… thanks!" Cassie said sarcastically and frowned. "I think he can stay here for a few more minutes."

"Yeah!" The boy jumped happily and went to the bed.

"Shoes!" Cassie said and he stopped midway, taking off his shoes and getting on the bed.

"I'll bring refreshments." The woman said.

"Thanks." Cassie walked to the bed and remembered she was not fully dressed. "Wait her, ok? I need to change clothes."

"Okay!"

She went to her closet and grabbed the first dress she saw. A simple one, thanks to the Goddess. She changed it and got back to the room, where the child was nowhere to be seen.

"Cygnus?"

When she approached the bed, something grabbed her ankles, making her yelp.

"Got you!"

When he got out from under the bed, Cassie was not laughing.

"Not funny."

"You are such a bore now! No way you're my Zoe!"