Lloyd bunched up her petticoat with the berries rustling around in her pockets, her bare feet scrambling over to the hot air balloon. She crawled up the basket, blueberries tumbling out as she leapt over swiftly and jerked the rope confining the grand balloon to the tree. Lloyd huffed out as she leaned over the basket, the balloon swaying as it ascended sumptuously into the sky. She slumped back into the basket, her braids swaying in the breeze.
She picked herself up, almost tripping over her lace garments, and grinned mirthfully down at the possessions in the basket. Lloyd then waved a hand over the ground before her, and a fire split out, crackling serenely as it hovered above the floor.
"Let's do this!"
Waving a hand towards her knapsack, it magically flipped open and its contents rose and floated over to her. Lloyd yawned as packets of flour and milk poured themselves into a mixing bowl behind her. She glanced towards the horizon. Lloyd squinted into the distance as her pancakes gently sizzled in the background, the pan jerking upwards every few minutes to flip them over. She flipped a switch above her head, and the hot air balloon soared up into the clouds. Lloyd sighed as her atlas drifted over to her. She snatched it and began flipping through the pages sluggishly. The fire seemed to stretch up, the pancakes sliding in the pan, as a mouth appeared and yawned comically.
"Told you you should have brought cards," the fire drawled as a hand shot out from it and shifted the pan.
"Shut it," Lloyd jeered as she eyed it from her atlas. "It's not like you've ever played Go Fish before. Are the pancakes done, Marion? I'm famished."
Two fiery eyes appeared, seeming to smile up at her. "Done."
Marion stretched up, the pan flying up as the pancakes perfectly stacked up on a hovering plate. Lloyd licked her lips as she grabbed the plate and sprinkled the blueberries over it. Marion coolly watched Lloyd inhale the pancakes noisily, crumbs flying everywhere. She wiped her mouth on her embroidered sleeve and belched heartily.
"Even eating like this is so freeing, after being holed up in that pathetic castle." Lloyd commented, playing with her ebony braids. Marion crackled quietly, studying the girl.
"Don't forget you're quite lucky, young lady. I mean your parents used their magic quite sensibly and didn't curse you into something only useful to cook an escaped princess's pancakes."
Lloyd chortled as she stood up, clutching a rope in her hands.
"It was suffocating in there, though. I had my magic restricted to 'not cause trouble' and I was going to marry some old tramp from another kingdom to keep the bloodline. You were a maid, don't you even remember how awful my supposed parents were?"
Marion furrowed her eyebrows at the young princess's blatant disrespect towards the royals she had served. However, she could barely argue with her favourite master.
"Okay, Miss 'my life is so hard'. Where are we headed now?"
Lloyd rolled her eyes at the remark, but responded as she flung the rope over the balloon.
"Wherever this balloon takes us."
"Also, don't call me a young lady. You're, like, only a year older." the young royal mused as she slipped down the rope, her feet dangling in the air. Marion huffed quietly, and vanished into the air as the last few sparks drifted upwards.
Lloyd grunted as she fastened the rope to a stray tree, and sauntered through the forest with her bag swaying on her back. She picked up the occasional flower, and tucked it behind her ear as she searched for fruits and animals. Her bow and arrow was in her tight grip, she would be safe.
A rustle of plants behind her made her ears perk up. Lloyd spun around, her calculating eyes searching the flora. An animal shaped shadow slipped through the trees. The gentle winds seemed to still as Lloyd stretched her arrow back. The shadow appeared again and Lloyd's hand released the string, the sound making a crack through the forest air as the arrow shot out.
"W-what was that? Who's there? Show yourselves, thieves!" A timid male voice squeaked out, as two figures on a horse stumbled out into Lloyd's view. The horse bucked around nervously, but she could see a scrawny guard of some sort waving his sword around, with a girl glowering at him as she held onto the horse. Lloyd ran up, pulling on the horse's fine leather reigns as she steered it back, cooing at it as it calmed down and stumbled around as it regained its balance. The guard hissed at her, placing his sword underneath her chin so he could see this thief's face. Lloyd examined their faces, specifically the girl, not the useless guard. Her eyes widened as she noticed the braids adorning the girl's hair-a sign of royalty. Was she from a neighboring kingdom-or even a replacement Lloyd's parents had chosen?
"Put the sword down, Greg." The girl said smoothly. "You're scaring no one, let's see what she has to say."
The guard spluttered, but obeyed her orders, dropping the sword. He looked at Lloyd once more, gasping as he finally noticed the braids in her hair. Lloyd raised an eyebrow mockingly, smirking as she tucked her bow and arrow back into her back.
"Go."
"B-but I have to guar-" the guard stuttered.
"Go back. I shall talk with her in private."
The guard lowered his head in a defeated bow. Even though it was his job to protect her, an order was an order. He sluggishly slid off the horse and trudged back. Lloyd and the girl studied each others' faces.
"A royal, huh?" They said in unison. Lloyd chuckled slightly, liking this girl.
"Ex-princess Lloyd of the Petor dynasty. I'm a runaway, I don't care if you tell anyone." She introduced, holding out a hand.
"Ah, the current talk of the town." The royal replied, smirking as she shook Lloyd's rough hand. "New princess Akihiko Petor. Runaway in progress."
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