Abby rushed about her bedroom trying to pack as quickly as possible. A distressed maidservant attempted to coerce her out of it as she continued to throw her garments into the small leather bag that rested on her bed.
"Please, Princess, don't do this; tomorrow will be a busy day as your first day of being an official princess," said the maid.
"I'm sorry Hanna, but that's exactly why I'm doing this," Abby replied, throwing her cloak about her shoulders. Just hours before, she had been celebrating her coronation, but now she almost resented it. The responsibilities and duties of princess loomed ahead of her, and tonight was her last night of freedom with Tasha. Abby paused in her busy preparation and faced Hanna. "I just want to make one more memory with Tasha before I lose the chance," she said solemnly.
Hanna bit her lip. She then said with a sigh, "Go. I'll deal with your mother."
Abby broke into a big smile. "Thank you so much!" she said. She grabbed her baf and rushed out of the room excitedly.
~
Abby pulled the light blue hood over her head, shielding her identity with her cloak. She carefully removed her crown from her head and put it in her knapsack. She looked behind her at the city she had just left. It looked beautiful and calm--but something in her heart told her it wouldn't stay that way for long.
She walked and walked  until the crystal light of the castle faded into the distance and various sounds of celebration quieted.
She was headed toward the forest, the only uninhabited area of their sunken city. It used to be that once you came of age, you would journey into the forest and prove yourself to the city before returning to Atlantis and serving her.
That custom had ended, however, when a prince was killed. Fisherman had told them this, and Tasha and Abby decided to take on the forest together. They did not know what they were looking for or how long they would be gone, they just knew they needed one last adventure. Especially now. The city had taken Tasha escorting Abby as her choosing to take a place in her guard.
Tasha's father was the head of Queen Miranda's guard and had given Tasha a spear of the guard he'd crafted himself. No one knew who Tasha's mother was. He'd told no one, not even her. There was no going back once the city decided Tasha was amongst the chosen now.
Abby, too was now committed to the city. This was their last change for freedom and excitement. Their last, greatest adventure.
Abby waited outside the tree line. Something separated itself from a giant oak, it moved soundlessly, a mass of flowing blackness. Abby felt fear rise in her. The figure was six feet away, Abby was about to run when the figure spoke.
"Hey, Abby."
Abby stared at the figure. She knew that voice but hadn't heard it say her name...ever.
"Tasha?" she asked, "did you just use my name?"
Tasha pulled her head down and smiled, "I figure Atlantis is behind us, we're equal here."
Abby smiled and walked into the woods hand in hand with her friend.