It was a beautiful day in the Jewel Kingdom and it was also a day of celebration within the castle as it was the fifteenth anniversary of King Regal and Queen Jemma's union anniversary. In the immense castle dining hall there was a party in full swing going on with dancing and singing and feasting on the finest foods. Everyone in the Jewel Kingdom was there, and also the closest friends of the King and Queen from neighboring lands.

"Mother and Father have been married for fifteen years, that's a long time," said Princess Emily the Emerald Princess. "I wonder if they lived happily ever after."

"I'm sure they did," said Princess Roxanne the Ruby Princess. "After all, they had us didn't they?"

"They did always tell us we are their crowning achievement," agreed Princess Demetra the Diamond Princess.

Princess Sabrina the Sapphire Princess looked adoringly at Prince Fabian the Silver Prince who was on her arm."I can imagine the two of us living happily ever after when we marry and our kingdoms unite someday."

Princess Sabrina and Prince Fabian had met almost a year ago and had been courting since then. Sabrina's sisters were all quite happy for them, especially as they now believed more in true love which they hoped they could each find someday too.

"You two are so lucky to have each other," said Roxanne. "I'd like to meet a prince of my own someday who'd love me as I love him."

"I believe you can," said Sabrina. "After all, when I met Fabian it was unexpected. You just have to keep your eyes open and keep looking."

Roxanne smiled and then looked around. She saw hundreds of people and creatures enjoying themselves as they either talked among each other, ate pieces of the fine cakes, or danced to the waltz music that filled the room.

Then as she looked to the corner on the far left she saw a young boy of about her age standing all alone and watching the festivities in solitude. He was wearing a short silk tunic the color of light shiny golden brown and a cape which indicated he was a prince.

"Look at him over in the corner," Roxanne said as she pointed him out to her sisters. "He looks so sad and lonely."

"I wonder why," said Emily sympathetically.

"Let's go over to him and see if we can find out," suggested Sabrina.

So the five of them went up to the young prince in the corner. When he saw the them he smiled very shyly and linked his hands behind his back.

"Hello," said Roxanne warmly. "I am Princess Roxanne, the Ruby princess. These are my sisters, Sabrina the Sapphire Princess, Emily the Emerald Princess, and Demetra the Diamond Princess. We are all the daughters of King Regal and Queen Jemma."

The Prince's smile broadened slightly as he made a small bow to them and replied, "Greetings, fair princesses. I am Prince Micah of the Orichalcum Kingdom."

"I've never heard of Orichalcum," said Roxanne. "What is it?"

"It is a precious metal that is second to gold and is used to make jewelery for lesser people," replied Prince Micah.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" exclaimed Sabrina. "Let me introduce to you Prince Fabian of the Silver Kingdom." She gestured lovingly towards Fabian who still had his arm linked with hers. "He and I have been courting for almost a year now, almost ever since we first met."

"Pleased to make you acquaintance," said Micah as he and Fabian shook hands cordially.

"He is not just my prince," Sabrina went on, "he is also my knight in shining armor. He rescued me and my sisters numerous times when we went on a journey to the Land of Mahalia to get the cure for our parents after they had been poisoned by Darklings. He did once when we were about to be attacked by a giant Scorpion, and again when I almost fell off a very ticklish mountain, and again when I was captured by a lizard man called Staki, though Staki wasn't a bad guy he was just near sighted and mistook me for his long lost wife who we eventually found for him."

As Sabrina spoke she was looking at Fabian with her eyes full of love and admiration and Fabian was beaming with love and pride towards her, while Micah listened he looked at Fabian in a somewhat envious way. Roxanne was the first to notice this.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly.

Micah sighed and said, "Nothing. It's just that I know I could never do any of those things, and let alone rescue anybody."

"How do you know that?" inquired Emily.

"I know because I am too timid and weak to ever do anything brave or valiant," Micah said sadly.

"But why? How can that be?" asked Roxanne, sounding disbeliving.

"I think it's probably because my father raised me to always be cautious and to never go beyond our castle's grounds. In fact this is the very first time I've been away from it," Micah explained.

"Do you know why it's been that way?" asked Demetra.

"I remember he mentioned once that when he was very young, not much older than me, his parents went on a mission to another land and never returned for they were lost at sea, and then he was the only heir to the throne so he was forced to stay confined to the Orichalcum Kingdom except on very special occassions like this one," Micah explained.

Roxanne looked thoughtful. "I remember on the day I was to be crowned the Ruby Princess I got scared and ran away from my coronation. But then I met some new friends who would be with me in the Red Mountains I would reign over, such as the dragon Hapgood who is now my adviser, and they helped me to see I could accomplish my duties if I just believed in myself. Maybe that is all you need to do."

"Did you say a dragon?" asked Micah in surprise. "But I always heard that dragons were mean and foul-tempered monsters who like to breath fire on people."

"Which just shows how living alone in fear has affected your knowledge of the world," said Roxanne pointedly. "For most dragons are really noble, gallant, and wonderful creatures. Hapgood is only fierce towards those he doesn't like such as the Darklings."

"Then I think I'd like to meet this dragon adviser of yours," said Micah.

"Oh my, yes! You must come to visit my Red Mountains someday. You will always be welcome to come," said Roxanne eagerly.

Just then another dance got started and many of the guests began finding partners to dance with. Sabrina took Fabian's hands as he led her onto the floor while Emily and Demetra went to find partners. Roxanne looked at Micah and asked,

"Would you care to dance with me?"

"Oh, I'd love to," he said sorrowfully. "But I can't for I don't know how. You see, I never learned."

"Oh, that's okay," said Roxanne with a warm smile. "I'll teach you how to dance as we go along. It's fun and it's easy."

Then hesitantly Micah took Roxanne's hands as she led him onto the floor. "Oh dear," he said anxiously. "I'll more than likely step on your toes at some point."

Roxanne laughed. "Even if you did I wouldn't mind," she assured him.

Then they began to sway towards the music of the dance and after a while Micah was dancing seemingly effortlessly with Roxanne. They smiled as they looked at each other's faces and imagined they were the only ones in the room.