It had been four days since Regina had told the story of Reine and Anrui to her children, and the trip to Kin was coming closer and closer. Ivy and Fleur got more and more excited every day. They looked forward to being alone in the castle for the first time. Of course Tsuyo would be there, but they saw her more as a friend than as a housecleaner anyway. Aline was excited about it too, because she would be fully responsible for the appearances of Regina and her daughters, which was something she thought was very important. She was nervous, but she had made up a zillion ideas of how to do the hair of the ponies, especially Twinkle Star's, as it had grown extremely long already again.

Twinkle Star, Stelline and Crystal weren't that excited to go. From what they had heard it wasn't pleasant at all in Kin, and they noticed their mother wasn't really excitedabout the trip either, but it had to be done. Regina hadn't mentioned the story anymore. The next day she had simply gone back to her position as queen and everything soon had returned to normal on the surface. But Twinkle Star couldn't help but thinking about it.

Was Reine really still the true heir to the throne? Or maybe one of her children? And even so, how was Twinkle Star ever supposed to find her? nobody knew anything of where she was. Nobody had seen her since that day. Twinkle Star sighed as she sat below the large tree in it's shadows, created by the morning sun. She liked to be here early in the day, so she could be alone for a while, and think a bit. She hadn't discussed it with anyone yet. She was planning on telling Stelline about her theory, after all she was the one who brought up that maybe she wasn't the true heir, but she wanted to be sure first.

She looked up in surprise when she saw somebody approaching the big tree from the castle. Why would anyone come here this early, she thought? Most of the ponies were still asleep at this hour. When the pony got closer, Twinkle Star noticed it was her aunt Damina. What on earth was she doing here at this hour of the day? Twinkle Star slowly got up, and was a bit annoyed that her time alone was disturbed, but she was also curious what her aunt was doing here at this time.

"Hello there Twinkle Star." Damina said when she got closer.
"Hi there." Twinkle Star answered.
"What are you doing out here this early?" Damina asked, while she sat down next to Twinkle Star. "Oh... I don't know, just some thinking."
"You do that a lot, don't you?" Damina asked her niece.
"I guess." Twinkle Sar answered. Why did her aunt care?
"You shouldn't do that so much, you know." Damina said, and Twinkle Star looked at her surprised.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Well, it's never good to think too much, and forget to have fun in your life. Don't get too stuck in the past, Twinkle Star. It was horrible, but it is over. it is no longer important. What matters is today, and what should matter to you is your future, not our past."

"But aunt Damina... don't you think the past holds clues about the future?" Twinkle Star asked, while she saw the rays of sunlight climbing over the castle walls in the distance.
"Oh, of course I do. The past made us what we are today, and that goes for anyone. If you want to get to know someone, look in his or her past. But the past is over, and it is no good to sit around all day thinking about it. Have some fun, Twinkle Star." Damina said with a sweet voice.
It was obvious to Twinkle Star her aunt was concerned about her.
"So you don't believe Reine is still alive somewhere?" Twinkle Star asked, and Damina appeared to be a little surprised at this question.
"So that is what has been bothering you?" she shook her head. "I don't know, Twinkle Star. Maybe she is, maybe she is not. No one has seen her since that day, you know. I never heard anyone talking about her. But please, Twinkle Star, it is no good worrying. Why do you care so much? If she is still alive, Reine probably has a nice new life somewhere out there. Maybe she doesn't even know of the eruption. Let it go, Twinkle Star. Worry about more important things."

Twinkle Star sighed. She didn't want to do that. he wanted to know, not let go.
"Like what?" She asked.
"Well... how about your trip to Kin? It won't be long before we leave, you know. Which also means I'll have to go back home. Have you thought of a goodbye-gift for me yet?" Damina smiled and winked at Twinkle Star.
"Yeah... I'm sorry aunt Damina. I guess I was a bit too occupied with my own thoughts the last few days. I had completely forgotten you were leaving us when we took off to Kin. Are you sure you don't want to stay any longer?" Twinkle Star asked, a litle ashamed that she had forgotten that her aunt was leaving so soon, and she was a bit dissapointed when Damina shook her head.
"I'm sorry Twinkle Star, but I have to go home. I got Testi and Vesti waiting for me, you know. And there is work to do. No matter how much I enjoy being here,I want to go back. I'll definately miss all of you, though. And I'm sure I'll be back one day, maybe with Testi and Vesti. They should meet the rest of their family, too."
"I'm sure Aline will like that." Twinkle Star said sarcastically, and Damina began to laugh.
"That bad, uh?"
"She's still complaining that her hair is stil messed up because of that chocolate. Can you imagine? It's over a month ago!"
Damina laughed again. "Well, then I guess it is time for them to make some peace, don't you think? Anyway, I'm going back to the castle. Will you promise me you won't think so much anymore?" Damina asked, serious now.
Twinkle Star softly nodded. "I promise, aunt Damina. I'm sorry I made you worry."
"Don't worry about it, Twinkle Star. That's what aunts are for, right?" Twinkle Star smiled as her aunt got up and began to walk away from her.
"I'll see you later, Twinkle Star!" She said, and Twinkle Star replied that she definately would.

As Twinkle Star saw her aunt walk away, she realised that she was quite sad to know Damina would leave so soon. She liked Damina, probably more than Regala. She didn't want her to leave, but she understood that Damina wanted to get back. Even she wanted to get back home if her home was a pretty oasis with an even prettier lake. Twinkle Star was happy her aunt had come to talk to her. She realised her aunt was right. It maybe was important she would find the heir to the throne, but she shouldn't forget to live her own life as well. And she would probably bump into the answer by accident anyway. Slowly she got up, and began to walk towards the castle. It was time that she would have some fun with Aline again, it had been way too long ago already.

"Tadaaa! Whadda ya think?" Aline sad when she came out of the little room, and Twinkle Star was surprised. When Aline asked her to come with her to the hairdresser because she wanted to dye her hair again, Twinkle Star had expected it to be yellow or something again, but this wasn't true. the first half of her hair was indeed yellow, but the second part was both pink and yellow. It was like every single hair had it's own unique color.
"Wow, Aline, it looks great!" She said excited.
"Really? it took such a long time to do, but I love it! It's great for our summer in Kin, right?"
"It really is!" Twinkle Star answered.
The hair dresser came out of the room, obviously happy with her work. She was a nice old pony, who lived on her daughter's farm. She felt too old to help her daughter and her family out with the farm work, and she didn't have to either, so she picked up her hobby as hair dresser. This family probably was one of the few families that was originally not from the old Friendship Lands, but Regina had allowed them to live in this country anyway.

"Thank you so much, miss!" Aline said excited to the old woman, who smiled.
"No problem, Aline. You know I love to work on your hair. Come back any time!"
"I will!" Aline answered, and the lady turned back into the room after Aline had paid her and they had said goodbye.
"She's such a nice lady, you know Twinkle! I come here at least once a week, even if I don't need anything for my hair. I love to help her out as well!" Aline said when they walked out of the little farm house. They smiled at the old lady's daughter who was working on some fruit trees, together with her own son. It was a cute sight; the little boy trying to help his mother, but he wasn't even big enough to reach any of the fruits.
"I know you do, Aline! You tell me about it every single time, you know?" Twinkle Star said, trying to sound a bit annoyed, but obviously failing. Aline laughed.
"I guess that's true, but it's so much fun!"
Twinkle Star laughed. Aline still was her old-excited self.
"I'm glad you came with me, you know Twinkle?" Aline said, "I mean, you seemed so distant last few days. What happened to you?"
Twinkle Star realised Aline didn't know anything of the Reine story, or of the whole heir to the trone business. But she had promised her mother not to tell anyone about the Reine story, and she didn't want to break this promise, even if it concerned her best friend.
"I know, Aline, I'm sorry. I guess... I was just beginning to feel good here, you know. It's been so long since I have been with my family like this. It's hard for me to realise I am here now, and it's not going to change."
Aline nodded, as she understood, and Twinkle Star was relieved. She didn't even have to tell a whole lie.
"I love this country, Twinkle, have I ever told you that?" Aline said, while they followed the meandering road through something that wasn't really a forest, but it wasn't a meadow either; there were quite some trees, but not close enough to call it a forest. In between the trees was just grass. it was nice and open, and still there was enough shade. Twinkle Star loved this path.

"I don't think you have, you know. I've been wondering what you thought of it for a while." Twinkle Star answered.
"Well, I love this place! all the ponies are so nice, and I was accepted in no time! I was a litle scared the royal ponies would see me as someone lower than them, but they only treat me as a friend! I am so happy I came with you, Twinkle. I do miss my parents sometimes, but, you know, maybe I can persuade them to come over here after all one day!"
Twinkle Star smiled. "I'm glad you like it so much, Aline. I like it too. Now that I've been here a little longer... It actually feels like home."
Aline nodded. "Talking about home, we should get back. Can you believe it's only six days before we leave to Kin? we should start packing!" Aline said, like this suddenly came as a shock to her. "Relax, Aline. Six days is more than enough time to pack!"
"Do you think Ivy and Fleur can take care of the castle?" Aline asked.
Twinkle Star nodded. "Of course they will. Besides, Tsuyo is there too, right? What could happen?"
 "They could was away, for one." Aline pointed at the dark clouds in front of them, which were drawing closer very fast.
Twinkle Star laughed. "I guess you're right. Those clouds don't look too friendly. Let's hurry." they began to walk a little faster, trying to get home before the rain would start to fall.

Six days... it would be six days before they would leave, and only two would remain. She knew enough. When they were gone, it would be easy to get inside the castle and get the stone for Him. She didn't like to do these things on her own, but He had told her not to tell her. She was not supposed to know. He was scared of her, and she knew it. She wasn't so sure why, though. Why would she be so different from her? Both their lives belonged to Him. As that was all that mattered, what made her so different?

She shook her head. She did not have time to think of things like this. And it was not up to her to question His decisions. She was here to get the stone and to bring it back to him as soon as she could. But she had to wait for six days. Slowly she got up and walked away from the tree she was hiding from. Six days... she sighed, and walked away to find some food. She didn't have to worry about meeting anyone; the rain would soon drive everyone inside.