A/N: I finally did it. I FINALLY rewrote the chapters like I said I would AND have a FINISHED Chapter 4! Woohoo!

Some of you might be thinking, what? Why'd you do that? or some might be new and have no clue what I'm talking about. Well, to summarize my comment from chapter 4(which will be gone now), I went into this with an idea, and it wasn't fully developed. Thus several things didn't quite makes sense or bits I forgot. I got several comments and PMs saying this isn't an AU. And they were right. So I set out to fix it.

It's not perfect, but it's definitely better with new characters to help flesh out the story and elements that I wanted to expand on. Lots of my information is from playing the game too many times and the awesome site ChronoCompendium. It has lots of info and theories. Several of which I agree with and used to help expand parts that never got fully answered.

So hopefully you all enjoy and if not, oh well. Have a nice day or night. (^_^)

Chapter 1

New Game

Or

A New Day Begins

Leene's bell rings clearly in the new day. Announcing the early hour in which most are still asleep. Only a few woke to prepare for the upcoming event. Though most preparations had been done the day before. Some of the more important things could only be done in the early morning.

One of the many planned to wake this early hour still slept soundly. Dreaming of new beginnings and wondrous adventures.

"Your highness. It is time to wake up." A voice calls.

The young lady did her best to ignore the soft touch on her shoulder trying to wake her.

The voice continues to call her name, making a return to sleep near impossible. Still the hope of longer sleep kept her from waking. "You will be far more upset with me later if you do not get up."

Nadia groaned at the woman's persistence.

She finally got a day off from daily lessons and is still not allowed to sleep in? The princess was about to roll over in an attempt to ignore the voice when she suddenly remembered. Today was not just her day off but her tutors, most of the servants, and all in the kingdom of Guardia.

The celebration of the kingdom's 1000th anniversary with a fair in Truce village is today.

Nadia woke with new found energy. At her bedside stands her lady-in-waiting Dora, smoothing out her dress and pulling back a purple hair to look more presentable. "Well, I'm glad that we did not go through months of troubles for nothing then." She teased, her smile reaching her eyes.

Said plans they made came swiftly back. Gathering the routines of the guard watch and servants in the morning. A perfect route out of the castle unseen. Servants clothes for easier escape and clothes fit for a regular looking towns person instead of a princess.

Filled with renewed energy from her excitement, Nadia nearly leaped out of the bed. The woman barely had time to move to a safer distance to insure the princess didn't accidentally collide with her.

"Sorry Dora, where are the clothes?" The lady picked up a simple brown satchel next to an ornate dresser. From it came a green tunic, blue bandanna, and a brown belt. The princess inspected the clothes carefully. Though not new, they are clean with no tears to be seen.

"This should be enough to keep you instantly recognized." Dora informed as she tucked them back in.

"What about this bandanna?" Her first thought was to wrap it around her forehead, but after an unsure look from Dora decided against it and wrapped it around her neck. This got an approved smile.

"Alright, now lets get you dressed." Dora pulled out the servant's dress from it's hiding spot. "Now remember, you must-"

"I know. I know! I'll drop it off at the address you gave me. Now help me in!" She giggled excitedly.

Ever since the King, Nadia's father, had announced the Millennial Fair, Nadia began planning her adventure outside the castle with Dora's help.

Glancing back at the woman she couldn't help smiling softly. They had known each other since her mother's passing, and had become far closer than just anyone expected. This is more partly due to her more motherly attitude towards Nadia, probably due to their age difference. Yet they gained a bond of friendship more like sisters than anything else. She of course became Nadia's first request for her lady-in-waiting.

The king had considered dismissing her for over encouraging her more tomboyish behaviors, but the chancellor had helpfully argued that Nadia needed a friend and female support. Plus her family line had been part of Guardia's history for several centuries now, as both servant, lady-in-waiting, adviser, and even noble. Though the Isleen family continued their service to the royal family more commonly as ladies-in-waiting.

With the servant's dress laced up, Dora placed a cream cloth over the princess's hair, as none of the other servants had similar short blonde hair. "There. Now you should be able to get by without attracting any attention if you are seen." Dora looked over the princess before hurrying over to the dresser and pulling out a white outfit with pants loose pant bottoms and brown boots, placing them in the satchel with common clothes.

Nadia giggled excitedly to finally be going on her adventure out of the castle. "Thank you so much Dora! I don't know what I'd do without you!"

"Oh I'm sure you would have found a way out." Dora teased. "Now, you'd best be off before the guards switch watch." With another giggle Nadia hurried towards the door. "And stop giggling!" Though she found herself doing the same. "Or else you'll be found out simply for being too loud."

Before Nadia left, Dora softly kissed her forehead while briefly touching the heirloom resting about the princess's neck fondly. As if saying a prayer for her safety. Nadia glanced at her blue pendant as well with a smile.

Having now calmed down she hurried out.

In the hallway with the door behind her, excitement was replaced by cautious footsteps. Any sound from behind a closed door made her jump, until reaching the stairs.

Nadia took a deep breath to calm herself before heading down. The throne room at the end should be empty, she reminded herself. Even her father would sleep in on holidays. Still she entered it carefully. Seeing no one inside she made her way to the servants quarters near the kitchen.

On her way, two servant girls bid her a good morning. "Didn't she look a little like the princess?" One commented after passing by.

Nadia froze.

"No, her hair is longer now." The other replied. "Though the king still makes her wear that wig."

The other servant laughed. "I still can't believe she tried cutting it herself! Her preference for pants makes sense when she's practicing but to cut her hair?! She might as well pretend she's a boy!"

The two laughed as they turned a corner, not noticing Nadia slump in her walk.

She knew cutting her hair herself was a bad idea. But none of the servants would dare cut it above her shoulders. So of course she had to do it herself. Just like she tried learning to fight with a sword instead of the crossbow, which her father insisted is more ladylike and easier.

Nadia did not want easier!

No, she was inspired after watching the knights practice their swordplay, after running away from her incredibly boring studies. Her long hair getting into her face only made learning more difficult, so she concluded that by cutting it, it would be easier. That was not the case though. Nor was the cut straight or clean. Dora had found her too late and to fix it, her hair had to be cut far shorter than she had intended. So short that it took nearly a year before it finally reached her shoulders again.

During that time her father had demanded she wear a wig for any and all public appearances. "I will not have my daughter mistaken for some young fool!" He meant boy, but no one dared to say it aloud.

Not even the princess.

Nadia pushed the thought aside and entered the servants quarters. Only a few ladies preparing for the day remained. Nadia did her best to avoid the curious eyes in case any might recognize her. She quickly found the door leading out and hurried to the stables, where Dora had hidden her sword.

With Dora's instructions, Nadia was able to follow the servant's path to the stables, find her sword, get changed into the common clothes, make her way into Guardia forest.

There, her adventure began.

The forest path was clearly marked, from both use and centuries old stone marking it. She did not wander from it, though curiosity beckoned her to explore. Creatures that live in the forest are not too afraid of confronting humans to protect their home. So she did her best to avoid disturbing any.

That did not stop three wild mystic imps from jumping out and frightening her. Nadia had heard of these imps coming out when there was only one or two people coming by. These wild ones are far less intelligent than their ancestors or cousins in Medina village, but still smart enough to avoid greater numbers than their own.

The imps threw stones and sticks at her, which she did her best to avoid or block with her sword. Finally she had enough and hit one squarely on the head with the sword's sheath. It wobbled a bit before falling on it's back. The other two glanced at each other before facing Nadia again. She jumped forward and successfully frightened the remaining two off.

Nadia approached the imp carefully. The faint steady rise of it's chest confirmed that she had only knocked it out. Nadia sighed, relieved that she had not killed it.

The remaining trek through the forest went mostly the same. Doing her bast to keep her distance from the creatures homes or hiding places. In the end, Nadia was able to get through the forest mostly unharmed. There was an incident with a rollie that rolled between her legs in causing her to fall back on her behind. Still, leaving with only a sore bum is far better than what could have happened.

Getting to the village to Truce took longer than she remembered. Probably due to her usually riding a carriage anytime she and her father ever left the castle. After what felt like an hour, though it really was not, she reached a road filling with people all heading in the same direction. To the millennial fair.

She joined the crowd of people and did her best not to stand out. Trying not to stand out only brought the attention of a little boy nearby. "Hey!" He greeted with a wave. "You going to the fair too?"

"Y-yes." Nadia suddenly felt very nervous, as if all attention had been brought on her because of this little boy.

"Me too! Mom and I came from Dorino, how about you?"

"I'm... from here." Nadia wanted to kick herself for not thinking that through. "I mean," The boy looked at her curiously, no hint of suspicion on his features.

"Come on now Gregory. Leave the poor lady alone." A woman, probably his mother, came up and patted Gregory on the shoulder.

"But mom! I wasn't bother her!" He suddenly turned back to Nadia. "Right?"

The princess quickly shook her head, not wanting to get the boy in trouble. "No, he was just telling me you came from Dorino." Gregory nodded enthusiastically. "That is quite a walk though."

"Yes, but we are used to it." She replied with a kind smile. "We often come to Truce to visit my sister."

This polite conversation continued all the while they walked. Nadia quickly became more comfortable with herself. She noticed that barely anyone paid them any mind and all spoke excitedly among themselves. Clarice, Gregory's mother she learned, told her how the inn at Dorino her grandfather owns had been completely full for the past week. People from Porre had left early so the trip would be easier for themselves and their family. Some had even left early to stay at Truce's inns. As they neared Truce she began to see why.

A great crowd of people walked ahead of them, all going the same way. Nadia had no idea how big of an event this was going to be. No wonder her father did not want to go opening day.

'It will be too crowded and too much of a hassle for us to go." He had told her, "We shall attend for on the last day, for the moonlight parade."

Nadia thought he was simply trying to avoid showing her off in public in her wig. The princess shuddered at the thought of putting that horribly itching thing on her head once more. It was the only reason she agreed to less public appearances. Not that she really enjoyed them before, but they got her out of the castle more often.

She looked around for Clarice and Gregory but they had slipped away into the crowd at some point. Nadia suddenly felt very alone despite being surrounded by people. An unfortunately familiar feeling.

A loud boom pulled away any depressing thoughts. She looked up see a spectacular sight. Fireworks filling the sky maybe three miles away. After which Leene's bell could be heard in the distance to begin the festivities.

Looking around again she saw the road had expanded and branched off into streets, leading to markets, houses, and many other places.

Nadia quickly remembered she needed to drop off the servants clothes in her sack before heading off to the fair. Once again she mentally thanked Dora for all her help, and set off to find the house. With the clothes dropped off Nadia made her way back to the street leading to the main square.

The millennial fair had already begun without her and she was not going to miss another second of it.

- Chapter End -