Hey guys, here's another Kickin' It story, because I'm just bored!

Kim
I wander through the palace gardens, fuming mad. Being a princess is hard. It isn't all that "happily ever after" crap you find in fairy tales. I have to be capable of running a kingdom, once I'm betrothed. Not my kingdom, the one I'm used to and love. My older brother by two minutes, John, will take care of it once my father, King Marcus, dies. He's already got a fiancee, a girl named Donna. I'm to meet her soon. Anyway, I don't even get a say in who my future husband will be! I just sit there, looking pretty, and hope my father picks my true love out of all the princes and noblemen around. My father doesn't even know me. I barely see him!

"Princess Kimberly!" A voice calls. A quiet clanking of metal, and two girls appear, dressed in leather and bits of metal armor.

"Grace, Lisette," I mutter politely.

"You have a suitor," Grace announces. I groan audibly.

"Oh, hush up, Princess," Grace snaps cheekily.

Lisette helps me out of the bench I'm sitting on, careful not to rip the green dress I was in. "Up we go now, Princess," Lisette says demurely. Despite her fiery red hair that implies that she's got a temper, Lisette is as quiet and polite as anyone, but can still gut anyone with a slice of her sword. They lead me to the castle, where they leave me to do their rounds.

"Ah ha! Princess Kimberly," my lady-in-waiting and Grace's twin sister, Kelsey, rushes over and firmly grasps my right forearm. Smooth, brown hair unlike my own, pale skin, and a good figure, Kelsey could be the princess I never was. I enjoy horseback riding, archery, and running around with my two guard friends.

She leads me up to my chamber, where my personal seamstress, Julie, is waiting with a new gown. Whoever I pass bows or curtsy until they're out of my sight, and then bustle off. My status requires it. Once again I curse being a princess. Why can't I be a poor peasant working in the fields? I at least don't have to worry about taxes and subjects and security!

"Here we are," Kelsey exclaims, opening the door for me. Two guards are posted outside my chambers and are replaced every two hours. I sometimes chat with Grace and Lisette when they stand guard at exactly 7 o'clock in the evening.

"Aah, Princess Kimberly," Julie stops her hemming and curtsies to me.

"Julie," I say in response.

"What dress do you have for me now?" I ask coldly.

"Unfortunately, your father requested..." Julie starts, but stops when I growl in irritation. My father always scares Julie into making a fancier dress than the ones I have currently. "P-Please, Princess, I had no say..." she stutters.

"Princess," Kelsey warns under her breath.

"Alright, let's see what you have," I give up. Julie straightens up, undoes a package on my four-poster bed, and pulls it out.

It's a wonderful shade of purple. (A/N: the exact shade of Kim's dress in "Ricky Weaver.") There are golden buttons down the bodice, and has a pleated skirt that flows down, ending in a trimming of ruffled silk. The sleeves stop at the elbow, where they end with a flounce of satin. "Well?" Julie asks timidly.

"I... I think it looks very nice," I manage to get out. Normally I just say, "nice," but this dress... is very beautiful. I love it more than I should.

Julie brightens. "Well, I believe you should put it on," she says cheerfully, gently pushing me behind the screen.

When I come out, Kelsey tilts her head slightly. "It looks wonderful on you, Princess Kimberly," she says finally. I sit down at my vanity, close my eyes, and let Kelsey do my makeup, still seething and angry. "She looks perfect. You may open your eyes, Princess," Kelsey finally announces. I open my eyes. My long, blond hair is pulled up into an elaborate chignon, with some strands dangling down over my ears. A simple gold tiara is settled firmly into my hair, so I can't rip it out without hurting myself. Crap. My brown eyes are searching for a flaw to my once imperfect face, but found none. My lips are shining, and every bit of me is beautified by a thousand. "So?" Kelsey asks, still looking for something to fix.

"I look fine," I mutter, getting out of my chair. Kelsey hands me a pair of purple heels, and I'm off to the royal court.

"Aah, Prince Jackson, this is my lovely daughter, Kimberly," my father booms as I walk in. "Dear, you look lovely," he says.

"Thank you, father," I utter dispassionately. I eye the prince. He's got longish brown hair and passionate brown eyes. He's got a good built, and has a fancy sword at his hip. Prince Jackson. I've heard of him. He's the exact definition of fairy tale prince. I hate him for that.

"Why don't you two explore the gardens. Kimberly, a word before you go?" King Marcus beckons me over. "Dearest, please don't rage at him. He's got more backbone and influence than the rest, so he may insult our kingdom and ruin us," he whispers in my ear.

"I promise I will not rage at him," I sigh before leading Prince Jackson to the gardens.

"Hey, don't get me lost in here, Princess," Prince Jackson laughs.

I take a deep breath, hold my head high, turn around and say, "I'm sorry, Prince Jackson. I seem to have forgotten who I was with. The gardens are rather beautiful, and I spend a lot of time alone in here." My first sentence where I didn't yell at anyone.

"Call me Jack," he replies.

"Then call me Kim," I answer.

Jack grins "So, Kim, who do you spend time with? When you're not alone in here?" he asks.

"I... spend a little time with... my lady-in-waiting," I reply cautiously. If I say Grace and Lisette, and then say they're guards, he'll think I'm bold, and father will murder me.

"Why the hesitation? Do you have other friends?" Jack prods.

"Father has warned me..." I whisper to myself, hoping he wouldn't hear.

He did. "Your father has warned you to not anger me, didn't he?" Jack frowns. Uh-oh.

Review this if you have time! I wanted to write a good fantasy story, and this is it! So expect some magic, a little romance, and a whole lot of adventure. If I don't forget this isn't drama.

EDIT: Phew! It looks slightly more readable!

~squirmyorchid~