The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

I sigh, shifting my weight to my other foot, turning my face away from my reflection in the mirror. I'm sick of staring at it, even if this gown that they've created for the mating ceremony is incredible, all flowing blue silk embroidered with silver, flowing about ten feet behind me in an elaborate train.

"I'm sorry," Pippa murmurs, looking up at me with two pins pressed between her lips as she works steadfastly at the hem at the front of my dress, getting it to just the perfect length. She takes the pins out of her mouth hand hastily makes two more folds. "I know you've been standing there for hours, Ariel, but this really is the last bit."

I smile down at her and shake my head, because it's not her fault. "Honestly it's much harder on you, Pip,"

I say, reaching down to pat her head, which makes her laugh. "Trying to crouch down for hours while pregnant like that. Honestly, you should win a medal for balancing on the balls of your feet."

Pippa laugh a little and shakes her head. "Won't be long now anyway - Little Girl is getting uncomfortable. I'm sure she'll make her presence known soon."

"Do you have names picked out?"

"Oh, it will be Margaret, for Elias's mother," Pippa says with a bit of a sigh. "Not really any choice in that." "Really?" I ask, unable to help the bit of displeasure that comes into my voice.

Pippa tugs at the finished hem of my gown, checking its final length before looking up at me. "If a daughter comes before a son, she's always named after the paternal grandmother in Atalaxia," Pippa says, as if it's just a perfectly normal thing everyone knows. "As an apology to her for not producing a boy for her son. I'm guessing it's...not the same in Moon Valley?"

"No," I say softly, shaking my head at her. "I could name my first daughter Fizzgig Wellybottom if I wanted to."

Pippa stares at me with wide, shocked eyes for a second and then bursts into laughter when she figures out that I'm kidding. She pulls herself to her feet with a little groan and waves to me to step forward off the little tailor's step riser I had been standing on. I begin to walk back and forth so she can see how the dress moves.

"Really, Pippa," I say quietly as she curls a finger around her chin and observes me. "Do you wish the bay was a boy?"

"No," she murmurs quietly, shaking her head, her concentration on me. "Because then he'd be a prince and all wrapped up in the politics of this world. A daughter - she will be all mine, at least until she's married Elias feels the same." Pippa's eyes

flash up to me then, her hand,

anxiously to her side. "But please keep that between us. It is a Prince's consort's duty to provide baby

Princes for the court. It would be a great honor."

I nod to my friend, a bit sadly, letting her know that the secret is safe with me. But overall I understand -

honestly, it doesn't seem like a great deal to be born a boy or a girl royal in Atalaxia. The fate seems equally

dark for both.

I groan a little myself, pressing a hand to my lower back as a tell-tale cramp starts there - a monthly little

hint from the Moon Goddess that I'd better prepare myself.

"Are you okay?" Pippa asks, turning her head towards me, curious.

"Yes," I sigh, nodding to her. "Nothing

new. But..." Hook towards the bathroom. "Am I stocked in there? With...monthly products?" Somehow I know that calling them "period products" is going to make Pippa blush.

Pippa's silence makes me turn back to her, and I go still when I see that she's gaping at me, her complexion pale.

"Pippa, are you all right?" I ask, all in a rush, stepping towards her.

She shakes herself a little, coming out of her shock. "I'm fine. But you're...your bleeding has begun?" "No?" I say, turning my head to consider her, wondering at this reaction that feels bizarre to me. "But I can feel my cramps starting - it's on its way."

"Oh no," Pippa murmurs, shaking her head fervently and raising her fingers to her lips. "Oh, no no no. Oh, no, Ariel - the doctors guessed wrong - you weren't supposed to cycle until next week -"

"T-the doctors?" I stumble out with, frowning at her. "Pippa, what are you -"

But a loud knock comes at the door - the impatient pounding letting me know that it's very likely my horrible mate. I take a deep breath, preparing to shift to the other world, but Pippa gasps and puts a hand out on my arm.