"Princess Celine has changed her attitude. She's very respectful and obedient. No more shouting or argument with others." Eva commented.
The girls were in Dior's room as usual, discussing about random stuffs when Eva brought up the topic of Celine's attitude.
"You are right. She's also very calm, she avoids troubles these days. I thought no one noticed except me." Mira pointed out.
"How can you say that? Everyone have eyes to notice changes. So, it can't just be you." Eva said.
"But, I'm still doubting her attitude. What if she's pretending? There's nothing she can't do and what annoys me more is her perfect pretence." Mira commented.
"How can you say that? She's a princess and you mustn't speak ill of her, no matter what." Eva complained.
"I'm sorry for my words." Mira apologized.
"Who are you apologizing to? Why are you apologizing to me? Am I princess Celine? Go and apologize to her, if you truly feel sorry." Eva corrected.
"She wasn't here when I said it. So, I was just apologizing to the air. Since, only the air heard me in the first place." Mira said.
And besides, why are you tongue lashing me like that? I didn't say anything wrong." Mira pointed out.
"Why? Do you feel hurt? I never said anything wrong, it was the truth." Eva protested.
"Really? So, that was the truth. Tongue lashing me is the truth, ha. I only said she might be pretending, am I wrong about it?" Mira protested.
"So, you still said it again. Aren't you conscience of someone hearing you?" Eva queried.
"What is your problem? Why are you picking on me today? Did I offend you?" Mira inquired.
"Well, no one is here except the three of us. Let me say the truth." Mira added.
"Can you imagine? I know you don't really like her, why were you pretending about it?" Eva queried.
"Whether I like her or not is nobody's business, especially not yours." Mira commented.
"Such a rude attitude." Eva mumbled.
"I heard that. But, don't pretend to be innocent in this. You dislike her as well." Mira said.
"At least, I never made it obvious like you." Eva said.
"But, the hatred and jealousy is still there. Just admit you never liked her." Mira said.
"Whatever?" Eva murmured.
"I'm still here but, it seems you have forgotten that." Dior interrupted their argument.
"Sorry, my princess." They apologized.
"I wonder why no one liked my sister. But, thank goodness she has changed." Dior said.
"So, I will pretend I didn't hear what you have been saying. I won't take it serious on you, girls. But from now henceforth, no one must tongue lashed my sister again. I won't let it slide by." She added.
"Sorry my princess." They apologized again.
"It's okay. I just hope it doesn't repeat itself again." Dior said.
"Yes, my princess." Mira said.
"I'm very happy she changed, no more shouting. No more argument, No more fighting. everyone is now minding their business. But, I don't know why she's not talking to us. She avoids our parents and I on a daily basis. She don't talk to us anymore, she just leave the castle everytime and no one knows where she goes to." Dior lamented.
"I think she's still harbouring something in her mind." Eva suggested.
"I wonder what she's up to. But, I don't think she can be up to anything. She might be proud and annoying sometimes but, she can't hurt anyone." Dior corrected.
"How sure are you, your highness? Don't try to cover up her behaviour, it's not right. Her attitude is somehow making me suspicious." Eva complained.
"Well, her attitude is nice. And that's what matters." Dior corrected.
"But, your highness. Don't get carried away with it. She might be dangerous." Eva warned.
"You are right, who knows if she is putting on an act to plan something bigger? I honestly don't trust her recent attitude." Mira approved.
"And with her recent behaviour, no one can determine her next move. I hope it's not something dangerous." Mira added.
"My princess, I will suggest you stay away from her, you have to avoid her by all means. You never can tell what she is up to this time around. What if she hurts you?" Eva suggested. She was scared something might happen to the princess.
"The worst part of it is her innocent victim play, her new mysterious attitude and gentle smile which hides her evil self. I'm very sure she's up to something." Mira pointed out.
"She is now kind and sweet, I wonder who told her to change." Eva complained.
"It's okay girls, you should be happy she changed. At least, there's peace. Or, do you want war in this castle?" Dior inquired. She was disappointed in them.
She expected everyone to be happy and proud of her sister's new behaviour but, her friends are just doing the opposite of her expectations.
"You are so naive to see error in people. Don't get carried away by her character, else she will chew you first. I really don't trust her." Mira warned.
"Don't say that again? I trust my sister completely." Dior replied.
"Must you trust her? Just because she is pretending doesn't mean she's a saint. And, I'm sure she has something up her sleeves." Eva reprimanded.
"I totally agree with you." Mira approved.
"Come to think of it, she's no longer crazy about being beautiful. She's no longer boasting of her beauty, that's complicated." Eva commented.
"That's true, and it's very strange." Mira agreed.
"Well, it's good she changed. If not she couldn't get a mate, who would have married a girl with such characters?" Mira inquired.
Eva laughed out loudly, this irritated Dior and she was pissed off. She became angry immediately. Even if her sister is wicked, they have no right to talk about her in that manner. No creature should talk about the princess like that, it's forbidden.
"I told you to stop, why won't you listen? I will punish you dearly if it continues." Dior yelled. The girls were surprised, they quickly nod their head and adjust their behaviour. They must not offend the princess more than that.
"Do you understand?" She added.
"Sorry, my princess." They chorused and bow their heads.
"Better, I must not hear anyone say those rubbish outside, else I won't spare you." Dior warned.
"Yes, my princess." They chorused again.
Celine swim around restlessly with her head down, she was looking for something. She couldn't find the multi coloured shell again, she wondered where it was. She knew, she had saw it earlier.
"My princess, I didn't see anything." Julia said, panting heavily. She has been looking for it as well.
"Why are you panting? I can hear your breathing clearly. I told you to slow down and look for it, you didn't listen." Celine said. She looked around again before returning to Julia.
"I know it's here, I'm very sure this is where I saw it." She added.
"But, what are you going to do with it? It's just a shell." Julia commented.
"No, it's different. It seem special and unique, I know it will be useful." Celine boasted.
"Please let's go back. If anyone sees us here, they'll think we are here to steal something." Julia said with a worried look. She don't want to be caught here, especially as the king warned every creatures not to come close to this kingdom.
"Wait a little Julia, don't be scared. Once we found it, we will return to the kingdom." Celine reassured.
"We are disobeying the king's order. Please let's go back before anyone sees us. We are not suppose to be here, it's dangerous." Julia replied.
"It's okay, just put yourself together and don't cause any trouble." Celine warned.
"Oh! Goodness. I'm scared, my princess. I heard monsters live in this kingdom, what if they suddenly show up? With the way you are looking everywhere, they can easily predict your behaviour." Julia pointed out.
"Please, stop Julia. You and I know very well that you are more predictable than I. Even the look on your face can put us in trouble, just calm down." Celine corrected.
"Fine, I will keep looking for it." Julia almost yelled. Celine looked at her and sigh deeply, she felt bad stressing her maid. She had promised herself to stop causing Julia more troubles.
"It's okay, let's go. Maybe, I was just imagining that I saw something like that." Celine blurted out. Julia smiled and swim towards her.
"Are you serious about it?" Julia asked.
"Yes, I am. Let's go home." Celine hissed with a frustrated sigh.
"Thank goodness." Julia almost yelled. She was happy, though she don't know why the princess changed her mind. She was surprised as well because the princess hardly agree with other people, especially over something she wants.
"I know you are happy about it." Celine said in a sarcastic tone.
"Of course, I am. At least I won't look around like a lost fish looking for its mother." Julia said and smiled. She was happy the princess truly changed, Celine laughed at her attitude and shakes her head negatively.
"Tell me, princess. What really made you change?" Julia asked, poking her eyes out.
"Will you close those annoying eyes of yours? How many times will you ask that question?" Celine asked seriously.
"Everytime, my princess. Till you agree to answer me, I won't give up." Julia replied and pouted.
Celine got closer to her and pulled her pouted lips, she laughed as Julia wailed in pain and cover her mouth with her palms.
"My princess, that hurts." Julia almost yelled. Celine laughed more at her childish attitude.
"Really? But, I didn't pull it hard. It was just little pinch." Celine said and laughed more. Julia glared at her cynically, she was pissed off. Celine held her hand and smiled.
"It was painful, my princess." Julia commented.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to have fun but it seem, I went too far." Celine apologized. Julia laughed and blow her tongue at Celine, she swim away from her side and laughed more.
"I was having fun too, my princess. You took it too serious. I have succeeded in fooling you today." Julia said and laughed more.
"So, you fooled me." Celine shrieked, clutching her fist. Julia laughed and started swimming.
"Sorry, my princess." Julia apologized.
"I will catch you soon." Celine said in a sarcastic tone, then chased after her.
"Sorry, my princess." Julia apologized.
"Wait till I get to you." Celine yelled in frustration.
She started swimming fast towards Julia who was trying to escape from her. Suddenly, she stopped and looked down. To her utmost surprise, the shell was in between a pine. She swim down to confirm it.
"I found it, Julia." Celine yelled.
"It's here, thank goodness." She added. Julia swim towards her to have a closer look at the shell.
"Isn't it beautiful?" She asked. Julia nod her head and sigh.
"So, it was here along and we wasted our time looking for it there." Julia complained and bent down.
"It's a multi coloured shell, so beautiful." Celine compliments.
"Is it multi coloured? Let me see." Julia said, as she looked at it more intensely.
"But, my princess. What will you use it for?" She asked and turned to the princess.
"For now, nothing. It will be useful later, so I will just keep it till then." Celine replied as she tried to picked the shell. It was stuck between the pine so she tried to be more careful not to sustain injury.
"You can't take it like that, this plant is dangerous. We have to use something to get it." Julia explained. Celine sigh deeply and looked at her.
"What will I use now?" Celine inquired.
"I will get wild leaves so you can wrap your hands with it to avoid the piercing needle of the pine." Julia replied.
"You know that's difficult to find, so don't bother. I will use my power to kill the plant." Celine boasted.
"Don't do that, you know pines are dangerous. It's more powerful than you. If you start now and it detect the rise of magic, then it will surely fight back." Julia almost yelled.
"I know, that's why I want to use it." Celine said confidently.
"Please don't, you are indirectly looking for trouble." Julia said, fidgeting.
"I have to fight Julia, if not I won't get it. You know it's difficult to take something from a pine without fighting. Even if I use wild leaves, it won't work." Celine explained.
"Fine, go ahead." Julia said, as she shivers more. She was scared, she knows this won't be easy at all. Except the pine died, it won't stop fighting but the princess determination is so high that she won't listen to her.
Julia was right, Celine battled with the pine for almost three hours. Though she was tired, she refused to give up. Her determination made the pine more determined.
The shell is very powerful, it has the shape of a heart with some magical words scribbled on it. As they keep exchanging powers, the shell collected the lost energy.
Julia became frustrated about it, she was more scared than before. What if a creature saw them? What if a monster came from the kingdom and attack them? A lot of questions ran through her mind. Suddenly, she noticed the princess losing her strength.
She became worried about it. If the princess lost her strength more than that, the pine will kill her. What will she tell the king? How will she explain what happened? She sigh deeply and decided to help.
She swim towards Celine and created bubbles, a lot of them behind her. Pines don't like bubbles, it takes away their powers when it pass through them. Julia added magical crystals to the bubbles to make it easier.
"Out of the way." She yelled and pushed the bubbles forward.
Celine swirl out of the way quickly, she fell down in the process and couldn't get up due to her weak self. She has lost most of her power and strength.
The bubbles extracted the remaining magic of the pine within few minutes, the pine felt weak as it leaves fell off. Julia controlled the bubbles towards Celine. Since she created them, only she can control them.
She burst them over her head, Celine looked at her weakly. She felt grateful. Suddenly, all her lost powers and strength returned. She smiled and got up, ready for the pine.
She created magical fire and spread it over the pine, the pine couldn't fight back. It was already too weak. Once a creature lost its powers and strength, it became weak and easily to be killed. That's why every creatures try to protect their powers and strength. The pine burnt down without trace.
"Thank you very much." Celine said, sincerely.
"But, you could have done that on time. What if I died?" She asked.
"I told you not to but you didn't listen. You wanted to fight not me. So, I allowed you do it your way." Julia explained.
"Still, I almost died. You could have interfered on time, not when I'm almost dead." Celine almost yelled.
"Sorry, my princess. I won't be careless next time." Julia apologized.
"You don't have to apologize. You saved me today. So, I owe you one." Celine said and smiled. Julia blushed over her words, she wondered what she will ask the princess to do for her.
"We need to leave now." She added.
"Take your shell, let's leave. I hope no one finds out we killed this pine, we will be in trouble." Julia said in a low voice. She was still scared.
"You are scared again, better act normal when we get to the kingdom. If anyone questioned us due to your predictable face, I will leave you with them." Celine confessed.
"Yes, my princess. let's leave now." Julia said.
Celine bent down and picked the shell up, she kissed it and smiled. Then, she turned to Julia.
"Let's go now." She said. Julia smiled and looked at her.
"Finally, we are leaving." She said and swirls around smiling.
They swim away, chatting on their way happily. Playing with the dolphins was another fun entirely. Celine hides the shell between her flukes so no one can see it. She don't want questions especially from her father so she try to act more normal.