Elizabeth in Ooo

Forever Engaged

I took extra long combing my thick, waist length dark hair and brushing my teeth. I untied my sneakers, when I usually just squeeze my feet in them, and retied them. Instead of bringing nothing, I packed a bag; three bottles of ginger fizzy, one bag of nuts, and one of Aunt Linda's flaky strawberry pastries. I even try to stall.

"Aunt Linda, I-I'm not feeling too well," I said as I walked into the kitchen where she waited.

"Two minutes ago you were fine," she frowned, pulling on her coat. It was a dark blue coat, with fabric patches and mix matched buttons. "Now, come on!" Aunt Linda smiled, opening the door.

I sighed. "Okay, fine." I shut the door behind us, and we made our way down the candy streets.

We pass gumdrop girls and boys, lollipops kissing an ice cream creature, and cookies barreling around on their tricycles. There was Starchie Jr. delivering mail and Miss Muffin, Mr. Cupcake's daughter. We waved politely, stopping to talk to Treetrunks and Madame Raincorn.

Most Ooo natives were confused why my Aunt Linda, one of Queen Bubblegum's most trusted ambassadors, lived in a crummy cupcake house with her thirteen year old niece.

My mom died when I was three: a scientific explosion took her and many others' lives. My dad had never stuck around, so I had no one to look after me. Everyone on my dad's side also didn't want to have anything to do with me, and Aunt Linda was my mom's only living relative that would take me in. At first, I didn't quite understand, but after a while, having Aunt Linda to welcome me home after a long night of waking up to run to school, going to school, and running back in a stuffy uniform, was normal. As normal as my life could get.

Aunt Linda, was made entirely of sugar and bubblegum, and so had my mom. They were twin sisters, each quite intelligent. My mom went down the science path while Aunt Linda went with politics. After my mom had me, she moved out from being my aunt's roommate, and bought a small house for the two of us in the Candy Kingdom where they had been born. However, I was not made of candy. And I was not a gifted wizard like my father. I was Elizabeth Meredith, just Elizabeth Meredith.

I was in such a daze that I slammed right into a lamp post as Aunt Linda rounded a corner. I fell back groaning, almost on my butt.

Someone caught me. By the look of them, they were bony hands of a young boy.

He propped me back onto my feet, and as I turned around, I realized I knew him. It was the same boy from the tree: light, curly hair that dipped into his lagoon blue eyes.

And for some reason, I thought he recognized me too. His eyes widened, and he sucked in a stifle breath.

"Uh, thanks," I blushed, holding out my hand, and seeing a smiling Aunt Linda in the corner of my eye.

"N-no, problem," he laughed, nervously. "Gotta run," he bolted past me, disappearing in a matter of seconds.

"Is that someone from Miss Bonnibel's school?" Aunt Linda asked, helping me pick up my bag.

I laughed. "Him? No. I don't even know him!"

We headed back down the dark alley way, lite by a pink overcast. We always took this short cut through the houses when we went to the shops. Weather it be for a dress or more milk.

"Oh, sureeeee," Aunt Linda pursed her lips just as she did when she was not convinced.

"He is!"

"Alright, fine," she paused as we entered the main street. There was Choose Goose's cart, Magic Man's stand, and the grand jewel, a towering, shimmering building known as the one and only; Engagement Princesses' Great Dress Boutique. We always shopped here for dresses, more Aunt Linda than me. "What type of dress are you going to get?"