The Keepers of the Elements

Ashlyn

"Pip, I am not wearing this." The amber eyed girl snorted. A ruby tiara slid down her light brown curls.

"Yes you are, Ash. It's mandatory." A girl who looked like her, only several years younger and with blue eyes said. She shoved the puffy pink dress at her sister.

Ash laughed and let the dress crumple to the ground. "Yeah, no. I just won't go to school."

Pippy rolled her eyes. "You have to." Then she smirked. "Or else I'll steal your diary."

"You're not supposed to take my personal things!"

Pippy raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, 'cause you didn't just steal a necklace from me."

"Because I lost mine, and mother said we had to wear them!"

"Well I couldn't wear one, because you stole mine!"

The sisters continued bickering, and eventually started smacking each other with pillows.

"Girls! What is the meaning of this?!" Queen Milster asked, walking into the room. She was followed by the king and several servants.

"She started it!" Ash and Pippy squealed at the same time.

"Ashlyn, you know better! So do you, Para!"

"Pippy..." Pippy muttered.

"You're princesses, for the king's sake! You need to act like one! Which is exactly why you'll be attending Madame L's in the first place!" The queen continued.

"Ugh." "I don't want to gooo!" Ashley whined.

The king put his hand on Ash's shoulder. "We've had this conversation before, Ashley. And you're going to the school."

Ash dramatically threw herself on her bed. "Noooo..."

The king glanced at the queen. "We should leave her be." They left the room, leaving Pippy and Ash alone.

"Nice acting, Ash."

"Nice not helping me get out of going to school, Para."

Pippy rolled her eyes and shoved her sister off the bed. "My name's Pippy, Ashlyn."

"My name's Ash, Para."

"How long are you two going to do that?" A brown-haired, green-eyed boy asked, leaning against the door-frame.

"Alex! We were just talking about you!" Pippy grinned at Ash. Ash glared at her.

Alex raised his eyebrows. "Were you now? Do I want to know?" He glanced at Ash who gave him a swift shake of her head.

"No, you really don't. Anyway, what do we owe this great honor?"

"Just checking on their royal-ness before they leave for school." Alex grinned.

Ash groaned. "Don't remind me. I wish I worked here instead of living here."

"And work?" Alex gaped at her. "No!"

"It would probably beat going to school. After all the trouble I got in last year, I wouldn't be surprised if I got myself a chaperone."

Pippy giggled. "I'm surprised you didn't get one your first year!"

"Are you excited for school, Pip?" Alex asked.

"Yes! It'll be spectacular, learning all the proper princess stuff!" Pippy squealed.

Ash rolled her eyes. "Learning how to walk isn't as fun as it sounds, Pippy."

Alex chuckled. "I guess scooping horse crap isn't as bad as that."

Ash grinned. "Exactly! See, Pippy! Alex gets it!" Then she sighed. "What I would give to not be a princess."

"Puh-lease. You have like... everything."

"Not a unicorn!" Pippy piped in.

"Or a get-out-of-school pass." Ash grumbled.

Alex punched Ash in the arm. "Chill-out, whiny."

Ash gasped. "You just... punched the royal arm!"

"Sure, Miss 'What I would give to not be a princess'." Alex smirked.

Before Ash could come up with a snappy response, a servant rushed into the room. "Your highnesses! We're under attack!"