Adventures in Azibra: Zecora's past

Zecora burst into her brother's room, arms out stretched as her mind raced - yet was she conscious - she needed to grab onto something, make herself stop running before she collapsed!.. Zecora ran and then threw herself onto her brothers bed, and immediately burst into tears...

On coming into the room, one could see that it was of considerable size. Four long, large windows lined the farthest wall, (from the view of the doorway), each about a couple feet way from each other. The windows had no curtain, yet were letting in just so much light, seeing as their were trees blocking much of the view of the outside, and natural light from getting in... In the far right corner of the room, there was set a young desert tree. The desert tree sat in a blue colored box. The box carried soil and had small shining stones lining it. Next to the tree was a soft, red, and seemingly plush couch. On the couch sat a white, black-stripped pillow, on the left, and on its right, sat an orange black-stripped pillow.

The pillow on the right matched the patterns that lined the top of all walls, all around the room, and the one to the left, the bottom part of the walls. Lining these patterns, on the walls, was a golden lining. So, looking at the couch, you were basically seeing all the colors of the room... The other items in the room included a large king-sized bed. The bed was red, with white, black-striped pillows, and had a few stairs leading to the mattress. The bed was position before the door, but on the other side of door; easily accessible to Zecora. On the floor, before the bed, lay a perfectly square carpet, one which had a large yellow sun on it, surrounded by elegant patterns. (The actual carpet color was beige) On the left wall, stood a mirror-included dresser, a red one, with a red stool seated before it. Next to it was  small brown trash can, and a little way away from that, high up on the wall, was a mirror, similar to that of the dresser's, but it was blue. and clear. To the right wall - a rectangular cut in the wall was the entrance to another, smaller room, adjacent that of the bedroom - besides it, in the left, farthest corner of the room, sat a thin book case, full of books.... And lastly, next to the door, sat Zecoy. He sat at a desk, wooden, and contained one pull out drawer. over which hung three large, green-leafed plants.

On Zecora's dramatic entry, Zecoy's head shot up... On hearing Zecora's sobs, Zecoy slowly turned. When his eyes fell on his sister, he was surprised - what was she doing in his room?... Well, crying, yeah, but... Zecoy closed the book he was reading, and pushed it to the other side of the desk. He stood, and pushing back the stool he sat on, he went around it, replaced it, and then calmly approached his sister. Zecora's shoulders trembled as she cried; she was hunched over in a small ball-like position, legs drawn up under her. Zecoy's eyelids lowered as he observed her. He couldn't help smiling, affection building up as a warm sensation in his chest. His eyes looked from her back to her covered face; he frowned.

"Princess, why are you crying?" Zecoy asked, placing a hand on Zecora's back.

Zecora jumped, and turned her teary face to her older brother. His image seemed.... different, somehow... and not just because he wasn't wearing anything other than his gold attire and bottom wear, nor was it the fact that her eyes were teary. Zecora had always seen her brother as a respected person, someone worthy of looking up to, someone who knew everything but that was only because he had only ever answered simple concerns, of hers, and because he looked the part.... he was a prince, after all.. not that Zecora had ever really taken that into consideration, though...

But just then, this thought hit her, and she sat up, onto her knees, wiping away tears. "I am sorry, Prince Zecoy." She said, softly.

Zecoy cocked an eyebrow, saying, "I didn't ask that, Princess... although that was a good guess."

"Wha - what?" Zecora said, still wiping at tears.

Zecoy brought himself onto the bed, crossing his legs. Zecora backed up a bit. "Why are you crying?" Zecoy asked, again, "You act as though someone is dying..."

Zecora just turned her head away; she felt so ashamed somehow, and really couldn't answer... It was rude of her to come and burst into her brother's room... and to see him this way... But she thought about why she had come, and couldn't stop the tears from coming. She didn't make any sounds, only let the tears stream down her face...

Zecoy, being patient with his sister, awaited her answer... when it did not come, he said, turning her head towards him, making her eyes meet his, "You still have yet to answer me. If you don't want to discuss something, if you just to go and then you are free..."

Zecora just shook her head, "No, I am sorry." She said, "It's just... earlier on... I was playing tag with.. Zehe'il..."

"And who might that be?" Zecoy asked, bringing his hands to his chin and lacing his fingers together so that it could rest upon them.

"He's my play mate." Zecora said, softly.

"Yes?" Zecoy said, "And what... it is something he said to you, that made you this sad... or was it something he did to you... and you are now this mad?"

"N-no... not really..." Zecora sniffed, "It's just.. it's what he didn't say, that bothers me..."

"And what, pray tell, could that be?" Zecoy asked, smiling affectionately at his sister. He was almost sure that what happened - whatever it was - she had probably taken from her imagination... He didn't know much about this... Zehe'il, and was almost sure that the last play mate she had, that he ever knew of, didn't have that name. He couldn't help a grin.

Zecora wiped an eye and stopped when she looked at his expression. "What's so funny?" She asked, with a hint of annoyance.

Zecoy burst out laughing. Zecora, re-positioning herself, crawled over to her brother, and clenched the sheets at his sides, as she spoke. "What - is so - FUNNY?!" Tears came again and she wiped them quickly away; trying to get a clear view of her brother. Was this really him? Was he someone of whom not to talk to? Did he really care about her? She didn't know - she had really only ever seen him - she never really spoke to him.

Zecoy stopped laughing, his expression and tone serious. "To be honest, I do not believe that anything is really wrong... perhaps it was some misunderstanding... I mean, you're not being very direct... and I am not being very demanding...." He thought a few moments, stroking his chin.

"Ah..." Zecora said, "Why do you talk like that?" That was the other thing; why did her brother always.... rhyme whenever he spoke... had he always been like that?

"Like what?" Zecoy asked.

"You.. you rhyme... your words. whenever you say something, it's just..." Zecora's voice trailed off, and she let it - she was uncertain to how her brother would react...

"Just what?" Zecoy asked.

"Just... weird..." Zecora said, quietly; more so to herself, then him.

"Come now, it is not." Zecoy said, "Of course, that is what I once thought.... For you see, I have been spending a great deal of time with my preceptor, Lord Gu'han.... It is an honorable habit of his, and I thought that if I could not acquire anything else from him, it would be this, before he perishes.. you understand, before he is gone..."

"Oh..." Zecora said, with a pause. "Who is this... Gu'han?"

"He is my teacher, my instructor." Zecoy said, "Has he not taught you? I would think that there is nothing more for him to do..." His voice trailed off as he cocked his head at her, awaiting an answer.

"Ah...no." Zecora said, "I don't even know who he is..." She looked away, feeling sheepish, even when she didn't know why.

Zecoy raised a concerned eyebrow. "Is this so? Hm... That shouldn't be. Wait... you said.. your playmate?" Zecora nodded. "But how can this be? Your playmates were dismissed a day ago - you didn't know?"

"I don't understand." Zecora said, "Who said so - why?!" So this is what Zehe'il meant! It just has to be...!

Zecoy uncrossed his legs and stood besides the bed. "Your father, the king, said so... All was and is done by royal command... It is because you need to start being more of the heir you are meant to be, when your father passes, it is you who will take the throne... not me." Zecoy's eyes seemed a bit dark and much less sparkling than before when he had seemed more happy; this concerned Zecora. When Zecoy saw her face, though; her concerned expression, her large blue eyes - he smiled again, and the spark in his eyes returned. Taking her chin in his hand, he said, "How did you not know this - this Zehe'il... did he, too, not know, as well? What is it he said to you, earlier, anyways? Your eyes seem to tell me that whatever it was, it did not upset you, so... did he or did he not know?"

"I... I don't really know..." Zecora said, with a bit of a shrug. Her brother, letting her chin go, walked away from her; he began pacing back and forth, stroking his chin. He didn't look at her. Instead, keeping his distance, he just stroked his chin, some more, and continued pacing, in thought. Zecora then took the time to open up to him about the earlier events that had occurred, the ones involving herself and Zehe'il.

"Well, my sister, I do not see", Zecoy said, "Where any of this could have offended you - so he went away; what else was he supposed to do? Stay?" Zecoy turned to his sister and folding his arms across his chest.

"I just... I just thought he... I thought he meant to call me a curse." Zecora said, quietly, bringing her legs up to her chest, and wrapping her arms around them. She turned her face away from Zecoy. She had remained seated on her brother's bed, but had let her feet dangle over the side. A tear slid down her face - for now, she was not sure what Zehe'il had meant... but he was a good boy, and a good playmate. She was sure that had he knew what the king had ordered, but was unsure of whether or not he meant to call her a curse - either way, she really didn't know. Just then, Zecora felt something touch her face. She turned to see the shining eyes of her brother. He turned her face to him and gently kissed her forehead, gently used his thumb to wipe away her tears... Zecora blushed. This wasn't the brother she remembered either... Was he really this gentle, really this kind? Really affectionate? And how so after she had just told him that someone had thought her accursed? This truly was also not the brother she remembered - in fact, she didn't even really remember him touching her. much less touching her affectionately... It seemed her whole body, before coming where she was, now, felt so cold and dark inside. But now... just when she began to speak to her brother - her brother - she began to feel very warm, comforted in a away she didn't know was possible... Absentmindedly, Zecora re-positioned herself; up, onto her knees, facing her brother. When he stopped kissing her head, she let herself lean into him, embracing him. Unlike she, he didn't seem taken aback by her actions, at all.

Zecoy just smiled, stroking her hair. "Princess... I don't know who would ever call you that... and I know not who would even think to call you such a name.. All I know is that they should and would respect you to the up-most, as a princess should be respected, no less.."  Zecoy wrapped his arm around Zecora's small body, hugging her closer. Zecora hugged her brother back, tightly.... Just then, Zecoy's room door opened.

It had already been opened, somewhat, due to Zecora's previous entrance, but now it was opened, nearly to full extent. Zecora wiped her head to look to the door, as Zecoy slowly let her go. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw a masked figure standing in the doorway. The masked figure had some kind of cover over its head, and the color, the same as the rest of garment, which was a dark plum-purple robe. The figure also wore leather boots, the same color as the robe and headdress, and mask... The mask only covered the individuals face from the nose down to the chin. The narrowed eyes of the figure sent chills through Zecora; she carefully let go of her brother, not taking her eyes of the figure.

Cheerily, Zecoy said, "Lord, Tutor, Gu'han welcome... I did not mean for you to wait for me; I was about to come..." Zecoy grasps his sisters hands in his, as he looks at the figure who has just entered. The figure's eyes move from Zecoy to Zecora... and Zecora to Zecoy.. back again... Finally, the figure, who is Lord and Tutor Gu'han speaks.

He clears his throat, "Eh'hem... Prince Zecoy..."

Zecoy smiles, and turns to Zecora. "I have to go, sister, my education calls me... If you want to talk some more - he goes and shrugs on a white, short-sleeved shirt on - I might be here, later, we'll see." As Zecoy turns to leave the room, and his tutor motioned to him, Zecora's eyes widened - she hadn't actually told him who had called her a curse - she had to know whether or not it was true, whether or not his hearing it had been an elder, or two, who had called her that, would change his opinion... he would see that.. may be it was true...

"W -wait, please!" Zecora sad, jumping off of the bed.

Both Zecoy and Gu'han turned; Gu'han narrowed his eyes, disapprovingly, as Zecoy knelt to take Zecora in his arms. "Prince -

"Don't worry, Gu'han, I will quickly hear her - what is it, sister?" Zecoy said, interrupting his tutor.

"Zecoy!" Zecora said, her voice loud, filled with anticipation, "I know you think it is wrong for me to say so, but I know! I know it is true! I am accursed! It - it must be so!" Zecoy was about to say something, but Zecora continued. "It was not I or my dear playmate who called myself accursed, but the old women! And what words are more honored than that of the elders and the priests - and most of all, the king?!"

Zecoy shook his head, grasping his sister's shoulder; "Old woman? What old women?" "Were they here - (Zecora nodded, trying, once again, to keep back tears) where did you see them, then?"

Zecora tried to think... where had she seen them? "Ah..." She said, wiping her eyes, and thinking, "I saw them... near the storage room, the one neares the throne room  yes, that's it! There were two of them, and they both... they both sorely rejected me and called me... accursed..."

Zecoy shook his head again, "No," He said, "Their words are not true... even they have wronged for what they said to you."

Zecora's eyes went wide - "What?" She choked out, "You... you dare say such a thing? Even I know to honor the words of the -

Gu'han interrupted, "Prince Zecoy! You dare let this wretch say such things to you?! How dare you -"

Just as Gu'han had interrupted her, a flick of Prince Zecoy's wrist, in his direction, silenced the tutor, interrupting him. Zecora was scared for a moment; the eyes of the tutor narrowed down at Prince Zecoy, as he now squatted in front of his sister... An aura dark aura seemed to radiate off of the man, and he seemed reluctantly silent.

"The only old women who are allowed into this palace, are the witch-doctors, refined sorceresses, very few widow-nobles and the women from the east. My father, the king was neither sick, nor ailing, today. The king was in no need of assistance in rituals or any magic practices of the kingship, either, today, and he definitely did not have any guests over, today..." Prince Zecoy stared into his sisters eyes. "Are you sure of what you saw, Princess? Were they no other - did you see them, slightly, and then make a guess?"

Somehow her brother's voice was hopeful, but his expression remained serious. She wasn't sure why he was asking her that - OF COURSE she had seen the, and they, her! It was the reason she had come to him... Zecora was sad to know that he didn't realize this, and only said, "Yes", despite her hurt and anger.

Zecoy thought a moment or so, and then embraced Zecora. "Thank you." He said, I now know what is so - come, Gu'han, we go." He rose, and he and Gu'han left. Zecora stood and looked after her brother and his tutor. She couldn't help noticing his perfect posture, firm strides, and upright manner... Thus far, she seemed to know him as... well... as a kind and affectionate brother. She knew him, also, as one who can be both serious and playful, at times, and that... more than anything... above all of that... it seemed to add up to what he was supposed to be. A prince.... And who was she to be? A princess?

Princess. A word which, recently, had only become the affectionate name given to her by her beloved brother.

Princess. a title which had only, earlier on, in her life, was a plaything, a name she'd give herself when she felt most haughty and arrogant, when she knew it would give her what she wanted... When she fooled around with those like Zehe'il...

And lastly... Princess. The "thing" she always was, yet never really acted like... Her title... her life... her status... her duty.. to be just like her brother - not Prince, though, but.. a Princess.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Zecora soon found herself back in her own bedroom. She sat, pondering the events of the day; the things that had been done, the things that had been said... After having thought on these things, she figured out what it was she wanted to be and who she wanted to be like. She wanted to be a prince. And she wanted to be like her older brother...

So first things first; (1) She could never be a prince because she could never be a boy. (2) She could not be like her brother because she was the destined heir and he was not. (3)... 3 was... 3 was that... she was just too different... And all of this Zecora knew. She got up from where she sat and went over to a mirror that sat on a shelf, which pointed back, at an angle, resting against the wall. She reached up, took it down, and reviewed her reflection... and also, her complexion. She was all...white...

Now how weird was that? After the first Zebrains rose up, on this land, within generations and generations of Zebrain passed down to now.. Had any of them been white? Whether they had been, Zecora was not convinced. Her people ranged from brown-olive, all the way the the darkest brown, (sometimes). Usually the lightest they ever were was just a light shade of brown; and there was nothing weird about that. But her - she was... white... nearly pure white, at that. Noticeable from any and every direction, under the sun! How?! Oh, how had she never noticed?!

Was it... because the noble persons who did, occasionally, visit the palace, never seem to reject her? Was it because her mother had been the same? (which she doubted) Was it... because she had spent most of her young years interested in fantasies, story books, arts and crafts and playing, fooling around? Yes. That was why. She had never seen herself as a princess, and barely realized what family she was apart of. The royal family, the family of the king - her family's heritage - fate! Regardless of the fact that anyone could call it what they wanted to - it never covered the fact of who she was. She was the highest of all Zebrain, under her brother and father, of course - purest and most perfected of Zebrain blood and yet... yet... she was like this? This is what she is. A princess is who she is. And, both together, she is just... different. Different... forever... and always.

These thoughts troubled Zecora and she replaced the mirror. She admired her brother, yet detested herself. She was white, though a Zebrain, through and through. She was what she was meant to be, a princess and did accept that fact.. Now all she had to do was act like it. It was final. Even with the fact that she was probably accursed, and her whole existence put a large damper on the pure, royal blood line of the royal family, she was was determined to uplift herself from the depths of dishonor she entered into, coming from the womb. And Zecora knew just where to start.

*  *  *  *  *  *

The Royal Library. This was the place Zecora vowed to spend most and more of her time in, the place where she would conduct her studies and educate herself. Now Zecora had been so many places; the gardens, the royals garden (the main town in Center Oasis) - she had seen a bit of it, but that was when she was much younger than now... But even those memories she couldn't muster up. The point was; she had been many places outside of the palace, but not inside. She and those like Zehe'il discovered secret passageways, but they didn't always lead were expected. They discovered ancient, other parts of the palace that had been destroyed, long ago... They found and discovered so many things... yet nothing had brought to mind Zecora's princessship.

"Nothing ever has," Zecora thought to herself, clenching her fists. "But today, all of that will change. If I can't change, than my actions WILL". Zecora headed into to the center of the library. Once there, Zecora had to stop, look up, in wonder. The place was huge! Zecora looked back into the smaller area of the library, she walked back over to the door frame that separated the smaller section of the library and that part and looked it over. There were the two small, wooden doors, swirls engraved on them, and they had bronze rings for door knobs. She looked to her left; there was a small but lengthy book shelf, lining the wall adjacent the doors - a wall was at that the end. She looked to the left of the door; it was the same over that end, except there was a large, brown vase with large leaf shoots sticking up from it, that announced the end of the small corridor.

Turning her neck to look about, she saw that was similar colors and patterns to that of her brothers room. This didn't surprise her all that much; she was sure that he was the one to oversee how his room looked, anyways. Entering back into the actual library – something other than the many shelves of books and tall pillars that lined the large room, caught her eye; she looked down. A circular rug, color of crimson, but red, more so. On the rug, was a large sun. The sun was very similar - wait! It was that sun... she had seen before... somewhere...  It was surrounded, by elegant patterns... Patterns that... seemed to have meaning, somehow; Zecora squinted at them, cocking her head. Her earrings slanted to the side, the one on her left ear, brushing her skin, some, causing her to jump.

Brushing it to the side, Zecora just let her determination rise again and began walking to the nearest shelf (to her). There we four shelves that surrounded the circular crimson rug, all perfectly made for perfect pathways into other areas of the the royal library... After looking through the shelves, she finally chose a book; The Princess Empress, it was called.

"Hm." Zecora said, "Sounds like Zecoy..." She smiled, a little, at that thought; knowing that seemed to mean she knew her brother a bit more.... or did it? Zecora had her doubts about her brother... and the reason for this was given to her, just a good few minutes earlier...

*  *  *  *  *

There was a small area on the other side of Zecora's room, where the wall had been pushed back, into a small hall-like area. Zecora had gone back there after he thought session. She was on her knees sorting through her books that sat on a small book shelf, back there... Once engaged in the activity, she saw that all of the books were either children stories, myths, legends/adventures, bed time stories, poems or arts and crafts book. Nothing about being a princess would come from these books. Zecora threw them away from her, and put them all in one pile. Why bother sorting if none of them have relevant information?

Zecora stood, and was about to go back into thought, when she heard her door open. She jumped, and then hurried to see who it was. Peeking her head around the wall, she saw a familiar masked person in the doorway. She gasped, and then appeared from her hiding place, saying, "Gu'han?!"

He seemed to have been looking about the room for something, (though he never left the door), he wiped his head in her direction, when he heard his name. "That's... Lord Gu'han, to you." He responded, stiffly. His tone was low with a bit more than a hint of annoyance.

"Oh, sorry." Zecora said. And she wasn't.... not really... although, ironically, she had already pondered how to address people of the Lords' status... But come to think of it, he hadn't necessarily addressed her properly, had he? She turned to look at him, giving him her complete attention. "Of course," she added, "I am a princess."

Lord Gu'han seemed taken aback; what had she just said to him? "What... did you just say to me?" Lord Gu'han asked, taking another step into the room.

"I said - " Zecora couldn't finish. Gu'han was on her in seconds; he grabbed her shoulders, and then, uspng his right hand, slapped her clear across the face. WHAP! .....

.....

.....

Zecora was stunned and stinging; Gu'han let her go and with a huff of a sigh, be said, more calmly, "Princess Zecora. I had my own reasons for addressing you the way I did. And weather you are the princess, or not, you must NEVER, EVER address me that way." He stood, arms crossed, looking down at the small girl.

Zecora heard him.... but her mind was busy elsewhere. Her mind swam in thoughts... but she shook her head, blinking. She felt her cheek; it burned and she flinched. Was it so? For one thing, why had he done that? She wasn't trying to be disrespectful  she just... was stating the facts, really, the one fact that she probably would ever truly accept about herself... That might have explained why she wasn't crying. (Not that she believed that was the reason)

After "coming to", she looked at the tutor, eyes somehow dry. The tutor didn't seem to be very happy; in a deep voice, he said, "If you want to be a princess, then you need proper training and teachings. You don't call yourself a princess, just because - you must be taught...." His voice trailed off, and he peered at her, waiting for a response.

Zecora knew he didn't really want to hear anything she said, and she realy believed he didn't care whether or not she was a princess - he probably didn't even want her to be a princess... He didn't seem to have much respect for her... She clenched her fists. Was this the man her seemingly loving brother wanted to follow after? It seemed impossible. Of course.. she had really only "met" him today... and... she was being naive, really...

It was now that the tears came, and a spot on her head seemed to burn; she reached up and touched it. She realized that it was the exact same spot her brother had kissed her. Tears, forever a threat, burned in her eyes, and she wiped the spot, harder and fast... And finally, her arm dropped... She couldn't really think, although she was thinking all the time... Although... Gu'han still waited for his answer... Zecora had looked away from him to do whatever it was she was meant to do, and it seemed, to him, that she had just taken too long to answer. He took his hand and touched her opposite cheek.

"Zecora." He said. She blinked, her eyes wide; she immediately placed her hand on the tutor's. She didn't like his touch. Even though would have looked as though he had touched her tenderly, to any onlooker, he had not... not to Zecora, anyways... She knew what a true touch felt like... and... her brother had been the one to give it to her. Her brother... her brother... Had he really been just that? Just for that time, may be? Zecora didn't know, and almost didn't care. Anyone who was tutored by this man would surely come out nothing better than him, match him, even. Zecora didn't want this to be her brother, and was glad she hadn't become all that attached to him, yet. Zecora grapsed the mans hand, but he did not let go. Instead, his grip tightened and she flinched.

The next thing Zecora knew - Lord Gu'han swiped her hand off of his and away from her face, bringing his hand all the way out.. and then up... and then down...  Contact. He hit her... again. WHAP! And the only difference was that Zecora actually moved, this time. She fell to the ground, but caught herself. She didn't even bother getting up... Of course... of course, it did hurt, but she was just too busy thinking to really feel it.

"You need to learn your place!' A voice bellowed in her absent-minded head. 'Youeven have the nerve to be silent with me when I speak to you? Ignore me? Well. I see I've a lot to teach you.. but I also see that I have a few other... things to attend to, as well..." Zecora didn't know it, because she wasn't looking at the tutor, but the man was now staring down at his hand. "I... will hopefully see you... tomorrow... for our second teaching session. Let this be the first, a lesson to you to know your place. Especially when I am present. I leave these things to you, Princess Zecora." The tutor left after that; turned right around and exited the room, never bothering to close the door.

Zecora had re-positioned herself and sat there, cross-legged, while. She was still stinging, but didn't bother to worry about the pain. She was not impressed by the way he had actually called her 'princess," like he meant it... She was not wise, but at the very least she knew she couldn't just sit there. After a small period of time, she rose to her feet and decided that she head over the the library; her first thought after having looked at her shelf.

"Oh, that's right..." Zecora thought, "I need to clean up before I go." And she did - and as she did, she trembled, somewhat, heart pounding. She tried to ignore it, but she had the thought that she might have been afraid of the tutor. "No!" She thought, frowning and biting her lip, as she violently shook her head, clenching a book in one hand. She was not afraid of him... but her trembling did not cease until a little while latter, and so, she was not convinced... On leaving the room, she stopped and saw something on her bed. She approached it, and realized that it was a tray of some sort. It was black and seemingly soft, on the inside, and had a wooden frame, painted to look like gold. Gold. That was what was inside of the tray - gold rings, to be exact.. and gold triangles... There were only two gold rings, and to gold triangles. Breaking the cover off, Zecora examined the golden objects, in wonder. Were these for her?

The last words of the tutor came into her mind; "I leave these things to you, Princess Zecora"

"So", she said, "These must belong to me..." But how wash she supposed to get them on? They couldn't fit over her head, no way! And they couldn't anywhere else, and they were too big to be something to wear around her wrists... Just then, the image of her smiling brother popped into her head. He had been wearing golden rings around his neck and had been wearing triangular earrings on his ears; all were gold. Zecora wasn't sure how to put them on, and she almost didn't want to... Of course, she had decided to act like a princess so at the very least she wanted to be like her brother, in that way.... She just had to figure out how to put them on...

Just then, there was a bright glow, one that grew steadily brighter... Zecora realized it was the glow was coming from the rings and.. looking over the rising glow, over to the rings of gold that were shaped as triangles she saw that they were beginning to glow, as well.. And... after some time, the glowing died down and she no longer held the rings - all of the rings of gold were gone. Looking about, frantically - Zecora could find them nowhere...! Just then, something brushed her face, and wiped around; no one was there... Just turned again, slowly, this time... something brushed her face, but very lightly... She slowly reached up and touched her ear - her earring! She had them on! She then felt her neck; the rings were there, too! Zecora rushed over to the mirror and looked at her reflection... After observing it for sometime, she realized that he rings made her stand out more, yet put no different on the fact that she looked pretty awkward....

"But that's alright." Zecora said, quietly, turning from the mirror and heading for the door, "I am princess, now, and it doesn't matter who says what or whether I am or not. For as of today, I am my own princess, and will exalt myself.... Myself, so that one day I will not only be just a princess... but something more than that."