Chapter 9: Chapter 9: She said Hello
While Tiqa and Elisabeth were playing with the girls in their playroom, Cedar finished eating and headed to the Training Room for sword practice.
Once Cedar got to the room, he saw Stephen practicing sword fighting on a wooden dummy. The Training Room had brown padded floors, lights that were built into the ceiling, 4 wooden dummies for practicing on, a punching bag, a case of swords with rubber tips (for practicing with) hanging on the wall, a picture of a Cross hanging on the wall, closets that were full over protective gear (for people who were sword fighting other people), a first aid kit that hung on the wall, and an open area away from the dummies to practice sword fighting on another person. The color of the walls was light tan, and the ceiling was left white.
Cedar looked at Stephen and said, "Practicing already? Sword practice isn't for another 30 minutes." Stephen kept practicing and said, "Yeah, well, I wanted to get a head start." Cedar said, "You getting a head start on sword practice? You must not be feeling like yourself because you're always late for sword practice." Stephen said, "Yeah, well, things change." Cedar said, "What's wrong, man?" Stephen asked, "What do you mean? Why do you ask?" Cedar answered, "Uh, because you never do this unless you're angry. So man, what's wrong?" Stephen stopped practicing, looked at Cedar, and said, "Princess Tiqa." Cedar chuckled and said, "Ah. The princess you keep staring at all the time." Stephen said, "She won't even speak to me. It's like she hates me or something. Every time I get close, she runs away, and when I look at her, she either makes a comment or looks away." Cedar said, "Well, she told me to tell you hello, so I'm pretty sure she doesn't hate you." Stephen said, "She did?!" Cedar chuckled and said, "Yes, and her eyes lit up when she said it." Stephen said, "She said hello to me? Me of all people!" Cedar said, "You really like her Highness, don't you?" Stephen said, "Well, I would like to get to know her better is all. It's just nice to know she doesn't hate me." Cedar said, "I've never seen you so excited to hear hello from a princess a day in my life." Stephen smiled and said, "Well, things change." Cedar chuckled and said, "I guess things do change. Now that that's dealt with, come fight me. I want to beat you again!" Cedar grabbed a sword from out of the case on the wall, and Stephen said, "Alright, let's go."
The hours passed of Cedar and Stephen sword practicing and Tiqa, Driaka, Susan, Jenessa, and Elisabeth playing. Dinnertime rolled around, and Catherine, Cedar, Jenessa, Mark, Susan, Stephen, Driaka, and Tiqa were all sitting in the dining room eating a steak dinner that was prepared for them by Justin.
Mark said, "So how was everyone's day?" Susan said, "Princess Tiqa taught us to walk with the book on our heads without making it fall." Catherine smiled and said, "Oh, did she? Haven't you been practicing that for months?" Susan said, "Yes, a lot of months, but we got it in our first class with Princess Tiqa. She's a really good teacher." Jenessa said, "Unlike that grouchy Ms. Sky! All she does is yell at us." Susan said, "Yeah, and she gives us mean looks!" Mark said, "Ms. Sky does? Hmm, we'll have to talk to her about that, but Princess Tiqa must be quite the teacher." Tiqa said, "I just love kids." Driaka said, "No, Tiqa, you're the best teacher in the world." Tiqa smiled and said, "You guys are just really great learners. It is very easy to teach when taught right." Catherine said, "Princess Tiqa, you have a great way with kids." Catherine looked over at Stephen seeing him stare at Tiqa and said, "And Stephen, how was your day?" Without taking his eyes off of Tiqa, he said, "What a perfect princess she was." Catherine said, "STEPHEN, how was your day?" Stephen hastily looked over at Catherine and said, "Huh what?" Mark sighed and said, "Your mother was asking you how your day was." Stephen said, "Oh, um, I had a day great. I did practice fighting sword with Tiqa and practice title with princess natural Cedar." Driaka, Susan, and Jenessa giggled, and Catherine said, "Now girls settle down." The girls settled down, saying, "Sorry," and Tiqa burst out into laughter. Everyone at the table stared at her and she said while trying to fight back the laughter, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's just his Highness is so cute when he trips over his words. It's so funny." Stephen, Catherine, and Mark smiled, and the girls started to giggle. Tiqa stopped laughing and said, "Well, your Highness, I thank you for the compliment you were trying to give me. I had a great day practicing my title with you. You are quite the gentleman." Stephen's face turned red, and he said, "Uh...Um...Ah... Th...ank... Thank you, Tiqa Princess... I mean, I meant your Highness Princess Tiqa." Tiqa chuckled and said, "You're welcome, Your Highness." Catherine said, "And Cedar, how was your day?" Cedar smiled and said, "Today I had a great lunch." Driaka said, "And he played with us! Cedar was the brown horse." Cedar said, "Yes, I was the brown horse, and it was great." Catherine said, "Well, I'm glad everyone had a great day today." Tiqa said, "It sure was a really great day."
An hour passed, and dinner was over. Mark said, "Alright, Susan and Jenessa, time for bed." Tiqa said, "You too, Driaka." Susan asked, "Do we have to?" Jenessa said, "Yeah, we aren't even tired." Driaka said, "I'm so awake I could stay up all night." Catherine said, "Yes, you girls have to. You have classes tomorrow." The girls said, "Awe," and Tiqa said, "I'll tell you what, how about I tell you three a bedtime story? That is if it's alright with his and her Majesty." The girls cheered, and Jenessa and Susan said, "Oh, can she, can she?" Catherine and Mark smiled and said, "Alright." The girls cheered, Jenessa and Driaka each grabbed one of Tiqa's hands, Susan said, "Come you can tell us a story in my bedroom and we can have another sleepover.'' The girls cheered while Tiqa chuckled and said, 'Alright girls lead the way,' and they took Tiqa to Susan's room while Stephen stared at Tiqa leaving.
Cedar said, "Well, I must be going off to my room as well. Sword practice took a lot out of me. Goodnight." Mark and Catherine said, "Goodnight Cedar," and Cedar left. Catherine said, "Stephen?" Stephen said, "Yes, Mama." Catherine asked, "Shouldn't you be getting to bed as well?" Stephen said, "Hmm, I will, Mama, I promise." Stephen left the room, and Catherine said, "Our boy is in love, Mark." Mark chuckled and said, "I've noticed. He has that same look on his face that I had when I used to stare at you." Catherine chuckled and said, "Awe, yes, I remember that. It took you forever to even speak to me." Mark said, "Yes, but I'm glad I finally did."
While Catherine and Mark were talking, Tiqa was sitting in Susan's room. Susan sat on her bed and wore a set of blue and purple pj pants and a shirt. She got under her covers, and the door to her room opened. Driaka and Jenessa entered the room, closing the door behind her. Driaka wore a white and gold night gown while Jenessa wore a dark blue pj shirt and dark blue pj pants. Jenessa laid on Susan's bed while Driaka sat criss cross on her bed. Tiqa pulled up a chair next to the bed and asked, "Are you girls ready for a bedtime story?" The girls replied, "Yes, please tell us." Tiqa said, "Okay. Once, there was a lady named Mia who lived in a far-off kingdom. Both gorgeous inside and out, Mia walked humbly and had a generous heart caring for anyone and everyone she could. From animals to people, Mia would look for ways to give and spread the love God showed her to anyone she could. Even though Mia was very happy giving, she longed for one thing, someone to marry. Well, one day on her trip to the town, she would finally get what she longed for." Susan said, "Oooo, Mia is going to get married!" Jenessa said, "I hope so!" Tiqa chuckled and said, "Let's find out if she does. So one day Mia went to the town square to get some ingredients for some bread she was making. She had already bought some flour, baking soda, and yeast and was headed to buy salt next. On her way to buy salt, she was bumped into by a little girl who knocked them both over, making Mia drop all of her items to the ground, spilling them everywhere. Now, this little girl had light brown hair and hazel brown eyes. The little girl wore a silver dress and black flats. Mia got up and helped the little girl up, saying, 'Oh my, are you alright?' The little girl said, 'I'm fine, but your items.' Mia smiled and said, 'Never mind the items I can get more.' The little girl said, 'No, no, it wasn't very proper of me to be running around like this. I should've been more careful.' Mia said, 'Accidents happen. It's okay.' The little girl said, 'I'm so sorry.' Mia said, 'Honestly, it's okay, little one. My name is Mia, and what's your name?' The little girl said, 'Oh, where are my manners? My name is...' The little girl was interrupted by the voice of a man yelling, 'Princess Alana.' The little girl said, 'Princess Alana.' Mia said, 'Oh I didn't know I was talking to a princess,' and curtsied. Alana said, 'Yeah, I'm here visiting my cousin Prince Lance. I just know it's going to be BORING!' Mia chuckled and asked, 'Why do you say that?' Alana replied, 'Because he's boring. Lance used to be really fun, but now that he's about to become king, he's become boring and grouchy. My parents thought it would be a good idea to send me here for the summer because I used to love his visits but now he's all stuffy and strict and I just don't want to go.' Mia said, 'Awe, well, maybe it's because he's under a lot of stress. Being king could be very stressful for him.' Alana said, 'Hmm, I never thought of it that way.' The same man's voice yelled, 'Princess Alana,' Alana yelled, 'Alright, I'm coming," and said to Mia, 'I have to go.' Mia said, 'Goodbye your Highness.' Alana said, 'Hey, maybe you can visit me at the castle! You seem like fun.' Mia chuckled and said, 'Well, I don't know if I can.' Alana said, 'Please, Mia!' Mia said, 'Alright, I'll try to come.' Alana smiled and said, 'Alright, come tomorrow at 4 o'clock sharp.' Mia said, 'Alright your Highness.' Alana ran off while yelling, 'Goodbye Mia.' Mia yelled back, 'Goodbye Princess,' and that girls is where we end tonight's story." The girls said, "Awe," and Driaka said, "But I want to know what happens to Mia." Jenessa said, "Yeah, does she get married, and what does Princess Alana have to do with it?" Tiqa smiled and said, "You'll just have to find out the next time I tell you a story." The girls said, "Awe." Tiqa stood up, put the chair back, and left while saying, "Goodnight girls." The girls said, "Goodnight Tiqa." Tiqa closed the door behind her and saw Stephen sitting on the floor next to the door. Tiqa gasped and said, "Your Highness." Stephen stood up and said, "I uh... I was just on my way to my room when I heard your story... And I wanted to listen... You're really good at telling stories, Tiqa Princess... I mean Tiqa Princess... I mean, I meant oh no." Tiqa smiled and said, "I know what you meant, thank you, Your Highness." Stephen smiled, and she said, "Well, if you would excuse me, I must be getting off to bed." Stephen said, "Hey, um... I um... You breakfast like it you don't? I mean you breakfast like don't you... I mean..." Tiqa interrupted, saying, "Yes, I like breakfast." Stephen said, "Oh uh ah, I like breakfast too." Tiqa said, "That's good to know," and turned around to walk away, but before she could, Stephen said, "Will you eat breakfast with me tomorrow?" Tiqa turned around, smiled, and said, "Of course I will." Stephen smiled and said, "Meet me in the garden at 7 o'clock." She said, "Will do your Highness." He grabbed her hands and said, "I can't wait. I'll see you tomorrow morning." She said, "Me either." A voice of a woman said, "Ah, there you are, your Highness." Stephen let go of her hands. She turned around, and they both saw Elisabeth walking towards them. Elisabeth stood in front of them, curtsied, and said, "Prince Stephen, Princess Tiqa." Tiqa and Stephen said, "Elisabeth." Elisabeth asked, "Shall I take you to your bedroom, Princess Tiqa?" Tiqa replied, "Yes, I'll see you tomorrow, your Highness," and Elisabeth escorted Tiqa to her bedroom while Stephen walked to his bedroom.
Once Elisabeth and Tiqa got to her bedroom, Tiqa said, "Elisabeth, please make sure I'm up and ready before 7am. I'm having breakfast in the garden with Stephen, and I'm going to need your help with my wardrobe." Elisabeth smiled and said, "Oooo, I'll make sure you get up extra early." Tiqa smiled and said, "Thank you, Elisabeth." Elisabeth left the room while saying, "goodnight," and closing the door behind her. Tiqa took a shower, changed into her night clothes, said her Prayers, and went to bed excited for what was going to happen tomorrow.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone