Danny made sure to set Jade and Brooke down on the floor of the guest wing's atrium first before he began lowering Ivy and himself down.

*You realize you just wasted over a day and a half's worth of mana regeneration, just to fly around and annoy everyone.*

Danny rolled his eyes.

The Basalts had watched everything from the window that faced the courtyard the girls had been training in. The elf they had been speaking with was gone, only to return now with the elven queen and princess in tow. The three female elves walked in right as he reached the ground, where he slowly began the process of untangling the beautiful human girl in his arms. Of course, the death grip Ivy had on him made it all the harder. Ivy unsteadily walked towards the nearest chair where she promptly sat down with her head between her legs.

Walking towards him the queen beamed, "Danny, you didn't tell us you could fly!"

Danny was a little stunned by the queen's sudden closeness, and before he could speak a blur ran past the monarch and flew into his arms. Danny barely managed to catch Princess Willow, who now occupied the space Ivy had recently left. Danny was thankful the princess had on a short sleeve blouse and long skirt that only came to her knees. A full gown, like the queen was wearing, would have made the elven girl even heavier and awkward to try and carry.

The princess looked up at Danny while bouncing in his arms, "It’s my turn, my turn! Let's fly!"

Danny looked around for assistance with what to do, only to be met by the amused looks from the adults and glares from the two girls that were not currently incapacitated.

Jade stepped forward, crossing her arms, "Princess, you do not have to be in his arms to fly. You can fly with him while standing next to him. That's how Brooke and I flew with him."

The princess looked over at the tall human girl with a sudden annoyed look in her eyes.

Snuggling further into Danny's chest, she smiled towards Jade, "No, I want to fly like this! Danny, you are so... fluffy and comfortable in this form."

Danny looked pleadingly towards the queen for assistance with her daughter, only to see the smug and calculating look she was giving him be replaced with feigned innocence.

"Danny, would you please take my daughter for a small flight around the palace? The silly child has been trying to fly ever since she started using her air affinity.*

Danny was debating how to handle the situation when he remembered Cranny's most recent words. His aspect form should disappear with just the smallest bit of usage. He could claim he had run out of mana.

*Annnnnnd I added 1,500 mana to the air aspect, so you have at least seven minutes of uninterrupted princess time. Don't worry, I already calculated her weight from you holding her. You can thank me later.*

Danny did his best to hide his sudden frustration and questions on if there was a way to recrystallize a certain someone.

"Yes, your majesty.

Princess, I only have enough mana for a few minutes so we can't stay up too long. Also, Jade is right, you can fly next to me. That way you could actually feel like you were flying."

*Spoil sport...*

The princess seemed a little reluctant at first to leave her place in his arms, only to quickly jump down and bounce excitedly as she stood next to him. Danny realized, now that she wasn't next to her giant of a father, that the princess was actually slightly taller than him. He also realized all the bouncing was very distracting.

Looking back to everyone in the room, Danny remembered protocol and bowed to the queen, "We will be back shortly, your majesty."

The queen waived demurely as they flew up and out of the window. Danny took the princess for a few turns around the palace before flying higher so they could see the whole capital.

"This is sooo awesome, Danny! Though it is really cold up here." The princess hugged herself and started to shake.

"I am glad you like it, princess. Here, let me try something I saw the sacred trees do."

A large bubble of air surrounded the two. It had two layers and kept the wind out. It should keep them insulated with their body heat raising the temperature. Danny noticed the sun still felt hot on his skin. He would have to be careful and let the hot air out soon or they might start broiling in there after too long.

"Please Danny, call me Willow. Well, at least when we are alone."

Danny looked to the elf next to him, who appeared nothing more than a young girl having the time of her life.

Danny slowed them down once they were high enough. Willow looked around, taking in everything she could. The city extended far out below them. Elves could be seen moving from building to building, like tiny ants.

"So, your mother offered me your hand in marriage as a reward if I can help your people. I didn't really have any plans to do such a thing. I was wondering what your thoughts were on the matter."

*Have you ever heard of easing into something, Danny?*

The princess stopped looking around excitedly and replied without turning back to face him, "I don't know honestly. My family expects me to marry someone for political gain. Mother has been pushing me towards you lately... I don't know."

Danny flew around so they were facing each other, "You seemed to be real cozy to me down there just now."

The princess smiled ruefully at him, "Yes, because I wanted to do this!" The princess spread her arms wide and leaned back as far as Danny's magic would allow her, before she toppled over into a flip that brought her back up where she was.

"Ah, I thought that was just something your mother made up to get us alone together."

Willow shook her head, "No, she didn't lie, but I have no doubt she did it to get us alone together. Danny, do you want to marry me?"

Danny shrugged, "I don't really know you past the beautiful elven girl who likes to fly. I mean, I don't even know how old you are."

The princess laughed, the quality of her voice seemed to change, it seemed richer more refined, "Mother was hoping I could get you to fall in love with me before you asked that question. I don't mind telling you the truth. I don't want to be stuck with someone who balks at something as silly as an age difference."

When the princess didn't continue, Danny crossed his arms and looked at her, with one eyebrow raised.

The princess looked away, "I will be fifty four in a couple of weeks."

Danny uncrossed his arms and frowned, "Hmmm that does cause a problem."

The princess looked up warily, "It does?" The princess's face hardened, "Oh, well that's a relief then, I will..."

Danny interrupted her, "That is not enough time to get you a decent gift that I know you will like. As I said before, I barely know you. I can't go offending one of the elven royalty. People have gone to war for less."

The princess looked back at suspiciously, "Wait, so you have no problem with my age? I am old enough be your mother."

"No, I don't have a problem with your age. Actually, I am pretty sure you are older than my mother."

Willow looked shocked and offended all at once, "Excuse me, little bald boy, but I don't think the best way to win a woman's heart is to mock her age!"

Danny looked around with mock confusion, "Who said I was trying win your heart?"

Willow looked agape at him, "Wha... why not! Is it the age thing again? You humans and your hang-ups on age. If we elves did that, our population would dwindle and we would quickly cease to exist."

Danny shook his head, "What about you? You really ready to latch yourself to a 'little boy'?”

*You forgot bald.*

Ignoring Cranny, Danny continued, “What I can't fathom is why you would want to marry me?"

Willow looked at Danny like he had just told her he was really from another world, "Really, Danny? You don't think I would have a reason to want to marry you?"

Danny shrugged, "Yes, your people are pressuring you to because I am an ascendant. You would become a chain that shackled me to the elves like those three girls down there will to the humans. Except, I have no interest in political marriages. Yes, my fiancées are children of council members, but they are not recognized ones. So, marrying a princess would be up there on the list of things to avoid at all costs."

The princess stared at him for a second, "What are you talking about? You are already marrying a princess..."

It was Danny's turn to look confused, "Wait, who are you talking about?"

The princess looked uncertain, "Ivy... Ivy Diadem. Third daughter to the current head of the Diadem family. Even though they claim to only head the council as equals, it is in reality more like our arrangement with the council of elders. My mother rules and they only advise. We have the decency to not lie to our subjects like that.”

Danny floated there unmoving for so long that Willow reached out and dragged herself over to him.

"Danny, are you alright in there?"

Danny's eyes finally seemed to focus and looked over into hers. He seemed to be studying her face closely as he pondered the ramifications of what he was just told. He couldn't help wondering why the girls would keep this from him. He thought they were close enough to not have secrets. Well, he also had secrets…

In a moment of irrationality he numbly told Willow, "I am actually around forty years old so your only about ten years older than me."

Willow looked really worried, "Danny, what are you talking about?"

Even though the princess kept talking, Danny tuned her out as he tried to figure out what his next move was.

*Just so you know I have been adding more mana to the aspect. This bubble is cool but is a huge mana suck. We have more time for you to freak out but we are going to have to cut it short soon.

So, what are you going to do here, Danny boy? I guess I should have seen the Ivy thing coming. Oh, and you do know you can just think about what you want to say to me and not actually verbalize it, right?*

Danny seemed shaken from his current thoughts, *Wait, really?*

Cranny laughed, *Yeah man, I'm actually surprised and kind of embarrassed you haven't tried that yet. Everyone is really starting to worry you’re going a little soft in the head.*

*And you let them keep thinking that when you could have just told me!*

*Hey, it gets boring up here. We need to add an arcade room, OR a room to practice curling! You know, that sport where they sweep the ice and bump the funky looking clothing irons together.*

*Cranny, what are we going to do about this?*

*Well, I guess we make the room big enough and figure out how to make a Zamboni. Of course neither of us has a license…*

*Not that! This princess drama, crap, we are apparently already up to our necks in. Ahhhhh*

*Danny calm down, your buddy here has it all figured out.*

*You do?*

*Yep! But you have to answer a couple of questions first.*

*I swear Cranny, if this is another set up to…*

*Just answer the damn questions!*

*…Fine!*

*How many princesses did I marry or even date in my last lifetime?*

*None...*

*How many chances did I take when the rewards were just as outrageous as the risks?*

*Not many?*

*None, Danny. The answer is, none. Do you want to stay with the girls? Can you just drop them and stay with the elves or run off to live in the wild?*

*Well, no. We have been through so much together and I… I don't want to leave them.*

*Good! Do you think it was the girls who chose to hide Ivy's identity? Do you think they are the ones pulling the strings?*

*Well, obviously no.*

*So if we marry Ivy and the girls we are going to be fighting the Diadems for control of our lives. Ivy doesn't seem to be the type to go against her family's wishes.*

*True, so what is your solution, Cranny?*

*Dueling princesses!*

*That doesn't even make sense, then we would just have twice the headache with both races trying to control us.*

*Exactly, Danny! They would both have a claim to you and have to agree on everything. This would all be through your wives, so we would have to make sure they were on our side.*

*But what if they have already thought that far ahead. Well, I wouldn't put it past the elven queen to have thought that far ahead.*

*Then ask the princess while we have her all to ourselves.*

Danny looked up to see Princess Willow was just floating there angrily staring at him.

Danny smiled, “Excuse me your highness, but can I actually marry you and the girls both? Wouldn’t that violate one of our people’s laws?”

The princess's frown didn't go away, “Oh are you talking to me again?"

When Danny just smiled and nodded she rolled her eyes, "No elf has been in a marriage with a human before, at least that I know of. There also has never been an elf marriage with more than three members. Not sure how I feel about that one. So, there is no law, human or eleven, that would prevent this type of union.”

“Then who decides what I do if I was just to marry you?”

Willow’s frown turned into confusion, “No one. Well, except in times of war. All elven citizens are 'free' to do as they wish, unless they break the law or are conscripted into the army. You would be given a high rank in our army if you were conscripted.”

Danny frowned, “So whose army would I join if I married both you and the girls.”

Willow seemed to weigh what to tell him before speaking, “If my people were in danger right now, would you help them?”

Danny didn't hesitate, “If I am able to help and I have no unresolved issues with your people, then I would help, anytime, without you even promising to marry me. Maybe even if we were on less than agreeable terms.”

The princess smile somehow managed to brighten up the cloudless noon day, “don't let my mother know that, or she won't let me marry you.”

Danny raised an eyebrow, “So you want to marry me now?”

The princess smirked while feigning indifference, “I’m leaning that way. Most of the elven nobles my mother was considering before you are all so pretentious and dull. They all think I should be lucky to have the opportunity to marry them. You on the other hand, question why I would want to marry you. I can't help but think a younger, dare I say moldable, husband who sees me as the one to lose something in a possible marriage as favorable situation.”

Danny frowned, “What about my previous question on whose army I would be expected to join?”

Willow shrugged, “My mother would not think twice about threatening the alliance’s existence over forcing you to stay with us. You saw how quickly your people sent you here, despite your great potential. They need us a lot more than we need them.”

Danny thought about what she said for a moment, “Why are you telling me this? You could help your people the most by withholding some of these things.”

The princess shrugged, “Look, if there is a chance you agree to marry me I don't want to spend the rest of our lives with you resenting me. Of course, I will refuse you if something you want is detrimental to my people or their future.”

Danny couldn't help but ask, “So, your people don't believe in divorce?”

Willow suddenly pushed herself across the space separating them with her own air magic, using Danny’s magic to stabilize herself. Grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, she dragged his face an inch away from hers, “Danny, some say an elf cannot lie, the truth is much different. An elf’s word is who they are. To go back on a promise, especially one made before all, is to admit you and everything you are is a lie. Those that go back on their word are never trusted again. You should think long and hard before you dare make me an outcast to my own people, Danny Creek!”

Danny thought that was a little extreme but he figured it could also be useful. Danny grabbed the princess’s hands and kissed each one before gently pushing her away. The princess seemed unaffected by his actions, but didn't fight him.

*Cranny, I like that she is being cooperative. Do you think we can trust her?*

*Trust her? Not yet. I still think we will be in a better place to control our own lives, if the two countries are too busy fighting over what to do with us. Hey, if you don’t like her, there's always the prince."

*....*

*Uhhhh, I was just kidding, Danny.*

“Willow, would your mother accept our betrothal if I also made her swear that your people would not seek to dictate my actions, nor that I would be bound by your rules of conscription into the army?”

The princess didn't have to consider this long, “Danny, she won't like it, but if you give back our people their near immortality, she will probably agree to anything you ask.”

Danny nodded, “Speaking of immortality, how bad is the issue really? Your mother gave me an idea but I would like to know your opinion.”

Willow frowned, “My family, is the only ones who are allowed to keep their mana reserves at full. Then there are the elders, the nobles, and last the skilled craftsmen and warriors, in that order. They all receive half of what those before them get. The elders monitor the mana of every tree and make sure everyone receives their allotted amount.

There are those on the fringe of our society that barely get any mana at all, so there is motivation to rise in status. We are a naturally long lived race and even with mana we all age to our physical peak at the same rate. The mana does slow our physical aging once we look around an age thirty human. That is until the mana can no longer sustain us, then we begin to wither and die.”

Danny nodded, “Thank you for telling me all this… Wait, what happens when I get all old and wrinkly? Are you ok being married to an old bald human?”

Willow tilted her head, “Danny, you’re an ascendant. Unless you get fatally injured, no one has ever seen one of your kind die of old age. With your potential and immortality, who else would be a better candidate for me to marry?”