Akagame No Shirayuki-Hime-The Next Chapter

As Shirayuki and Zen followed Obi, Zen noticed Obi seemed a bit more...relaxed...then normal. Maybe it was the way he was looking nonchalantly at the stars. Or how he had folded his hands behind his head. Either way, Zen had his suspicions about what he was thinking.

"Zen?" Shirayuki asked.

"Oh, sorry?" Zen replied, snapping himself out of his stupor.

"You're looking rather absent-minded." Shirayuki chided playfully.

"Well, just...not very often we get visitors." Zen darted back.'

"Got me there." Shirayuki replied.

"If you two lovebirds will stop chirping, you'll notice we've arrived." Obi shot, causing Zen and Shirayuki to blush.

"Sorry." Zen said. As they walked in, they saw Twilight sitting up, writing in a journal. She noticed them and smiled.

"Hey." she said simply.

"Hello." Zen said. "What exactly led to you meeting Obi?"

"Long story involving being chased by a thief all the way up to this castle. Not exactly the best of welcomes I've had in foreign places, but it'll settle." Twilight said.

"Well, frankly, I've had plenty of experiences in foreign lands too." Zen shot back. "Though...you sound well-traveled."

"True." Twilight replied. "I don't think I got your names. I'm Twilight, by the way."

"Zen."

"Shirayuki."

"Nice to meet you both." Twilight replied.

"Whe're you from?" Zen asked.

"Long story." Twilight sighed. "You probably won't believe me if I tell you."

"I've heard some unbelieveable things." Zen said. "Hit me with your best shot."

"Magic." Twilight said.

Zen flinched slightly and raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Really?" he said. "Care to show it?"

Twilight rolled her eyes and noticed the vase of flowers in the windowsill. She summoned a glass out water and poured it into the vase. As she dispelled the glass, Zen started to laugh.

"Zen?" Shirayuki said with some concern at his chortling.

"Sorry. That's probably the coolest thing I've seen in quite some time." Zen said. "So, yeah. I believe you."

"Thanks." Twilight replied. "I might also mention that where I'm from, I'm...well...important."

"How important?" Zen asked.

"Royalty-level important." Twilight replied.

"Eh, believable." Zen said.

"After the magic I just showed you?"

"Well, I'm a Prince myself, so it didn't exactly catch me off guard." Zen replied.

Twilight recoiled slightly, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

"And you're just...casually mentioning that?" Twillight replied.

"Well, I'm not one to flaunt my title or my status." Zen replied. "Takes the fun out of a lot of things."

"I hear that." Twilight replied. "Top be honest, I earned my royal status. I think you can guess how."

"Magic?" Obi said. Zen shot him a look, and Obi shrugged.

"Yeah. Very complicated magic, I should say." Twilight said.

"You'll have to explain sometime." Shirayuki said, giggling.

"I might." Twilight replied. "By the way, Shirayuki, what do you do around here?"

"I'm a Court Herbalist." Shirayuki replied. "Took me a while to earn that title."

"A friend of mine's a herbalist." Twilight said. "Funny story about how the town I live in reacted when she first came around. Practically everyone there thought she was a witch. Long and complicated series of events later, she's a well-respected member of the town. Even if she lives in one of the most dangerous areas of my homeland." Twilight replied.

"That's nice." Shirayuki replied. "I would get the part of being far from my homeland. I wasn't born in Clarines."

'"Where are you from, then?" Twilight asked.

"Tanbarun." Shirayuki replied. "Long story about how I was raised by my grandparents instead of my birth parents, and how I met Zen, but it's rather interesting."

"You'll have to tell me sometime." Twilight said.

"Not to interrupt, but it's getting late." Zen said, stretching. "Let's head to bed."

"I second that." Obi replied. As Shirayuki got up and said goodbye, Twilight stretched in sleepiness.

"Where can I get breakfast tomorrow?" she asked.

"We'll come get you." Zen said. "'Night."

"Goodnight." Twilight replied as she snuffed out the lamp. As they closed the door, Twilight fell onto the bed, and she was soon asleep.