"I'm really sorry Aiden, I tried freeing up time for the Gala, but with everything at my shop continuing to turn off I have to be here to keep the milk from spoiling. I hope you understand sweetheart." Milky says apologizing. It was the day of the gala and Milky couldn't make it, apparently the refrigerators of hers were malfunctioning and she couldn't leave her stock to spoil.

"Can't you ask a friend to leave it in their refrigerator or something or ask a local weather pony to give you some snow."

"I'm sorry sweetheart, I can't please don't be mad." She said in her soft tone as you sighed.

"I understand Milky, I'll talk to you later."

"Thank you for understanding. Bye Aiden."

"Bye." You say hanging up.

"Mother fucker!" You shouted in complete anger as Evie walked over to your bed burying her head in between the pillows at the head of your bed. You rarely swore but at this moment you could break your vow of staying clean, you were angry at the fact Milky couldn't accompany you. You weren't angry at her just the circumstances that you didn't have a date to the damn event.

"What kind of fucking prince would I be coming to the gala with no fucking date?!" You shout once more as Evie whined as she approached your feet plopping down right next to you as you pet her.

"Thanks for your offer but I don't think they'll allow you to enter. After all those prissy nobles might see you as mutt, but you're the best mutt." She bark and wags her tail as you sighed and laid on your bed, Evie climbed on top of your face her tummy covering your face.

"Aiden, are you there?" Dago asks as he knocks on your door.

"Yeah the dateless loser known as Aiden is in." You say in a depressed tone underneath the muffled sound of Evie tummy

Dago and Salvatore enters the room "Did you and my sister had a fight?"

"No, she can't come to Gala. She said her milk will spoil if she does." Evie happily stayed on your face panting as she licked her paws

"Oh." Taking a seat sits near the edge of the bed Dago as Salvatore lays next to Evie. "Sorry to hear that, but hey you told me your sister is coming, why don't you take her? That way she can give her ticket to Sweetie Belle and they can both come along."

"Nah, Sweetie's at a sleepover with her friends and Rarity is already getting ready. Only a few hours until the sunsets and the gala begins, I have no date and with my luck I'll end up with Evie this year, unless Salvatore takes her from then I'm going alone." You complained as Evie licked your hand.

"Sorry Salvatore" The tiger whines and looks away while Dago keep thinking until he comes up with an idea. "Hey! I know why don't you invite Sonata? You're friends right? I bet she wouldn't mind being your date."

"Yeah, but Sonata will think it's a date thing can escalate if she gets drunk and well you already know what happens when she's drunk."

"Oh yeah…" Dago chuckles at the thought. "That night I discovered she has the most adorable fish tail, a-anyway, back to you there are other options…the guard who sees you as her brother, why not her?"

"Yeah I don't think so, I'll just go alone."

"Come on Aiden don't give up what about Aria, she'd love to go." Dago informed

"Hmmm it's true I've been going to see her when I have time plus she's been asking when I'm officially going to take her out on a date. I know she's joking but sometimes I think she's serious."

"Well..."

"She's probably not into me, probably thinks me as a friend." You say shrugging

"so…? They're expecting you to have a date not show it to everyone in the floor, just go as friends and that's it."

"Hey I expected to bring a girlfriend to this gala, Milky can't go because of some damn milk and I'm without a date." You mentioned getting Evie off you as she laid her head on your lap.

"Come on Aiden please, you're going to ruin the evening just because of some milk? Do you know how sad it'll make Milky feel bad if she found out you bailed because she wasn't there?"

"She'd probably blame herself and think because of her I stayed home." You sighed and laid back on your bed as Evie went back on your face. "Okay what's up with you being on face?"

"I think she is trying to telling you something and so do I…try to had fun, not all work the way you expected, it happens, not because of that you should feel bad, your friends are coming as well"

"Fine, maybe there'll be something to actually do." Just then your phone rang with a message sound, you took off Evie and looked at the text, your eyes widen as it was a picture of Milky acting sexy. You quickly hid it from Dago locking your phone making sure it wouldn't show

"What happen?" Dago ask confused at the reaction

"N-nothing, hey don't you need to get ready! I should really get ready excuse me."

Aiden leave leaving Dago confused until he re enter and guide Dago out "Ok, Roxanne and I will meet you in the entrance" Dago say before leaving

"I really hate when she sends me things like that, and at the same time it's refreshing." You say to Evie who barks as you pat her head and begin to get ready.

Hours later...

You fixed your coat jacket as you twisted the cuff links on your cuff showing the shiny platinum that was a small button piece. Your hair was a short mess with you having what looked like bed head, though with a once over with your hand the hair on your head went back to a stylish look.

Your black suit matched everything that included the ash gray colored vest with golden incarnations on it, you sighed as the click click clicks of your black oxfords went through the marble halls until you reached the entrance there you met Dago and Roxanne, though Diamond Dogs were rather large and foreboding they did have great bodies that were slim enough to fit in a beautiful red dress that was cutoff near the legs showing just enough to entice male. Her hair was curly and seemed to flow easily through the wind.

Looking towards Dago he had a similar looking suit as you, in actuality it was the same suit as yours, just with a slightly different design on his incarnations. Looking on top of their heads they wore their crowns, both looking stylish like always.

"There you are. I was fearing you were going to ditch us."

"Nah I wouldn't ditch you, anyway I'm here now." You say twirling around your wooden crown like it was made of any old wood

"Good to know, also don't worry for Evie, Salvatore and her will had fun in the garden while we are at the gala" Dago tells him

"Right, I guess it's time we go in." You say with a sigh as you put on your crown,

"Cheer up, is not that bad." You all approach the ballroom only to see a bunch of nobles chatting all around them

"Nobles yay, this'll be fun." You say taking a glass of champagne from a waiter walking around the ballroom. "If I'm here I might as well get drunk."

You sighed as you walked away from both Roxanne and Dago, both who looked unsure as much as you wanted to blame them you really couldn't. They were happy being here with one another you on the other hand were alone and pretty much hated that the perfect couple was waving it in front your face.

"Isn't this fun Aiden?" You looked to your side to see that Rarity had arrived, you smiled and chuckled nodding a bit.

"Yeah you could say that, it certainly is something." You passingly mention as you walked with Rarity.

"This is just a tiny slice of Canterlot life I thrived to have in my life! I can't believe you of all ponies would live a life of luxury and opportunity, I surely wouldn't let this all go for any price." Rarity happily mentions with a soft giggle.

"Well I think it's mostly about perspective, I mean I've lived here for about 11 years. So I pretty much know how things operate, if you saw what I saw through these nobles you'd hate this place with a passion."

"Oh don't be so pessimistic, I'm sure you're only seeing it through a royal's view point. You know how jaded you all are." She mentions with a giggle as you rolled your eyes.

"Jaded? I've only been a royal for 4 years, I think it's you whose jaded. Of course you'd think Canterlot life is something you'd want, one of these days you'll be proven wrong my beautiful little sister." You say crossing your arms as she rolls her eyes and looks towards a group of nobles surround Prince Blueblood, Dago cousin and someone you really never interacted with. He was someone you didn't have on your radar so you steered clear of him.

"I'll see you later Aiden, it's time for me to be treated like a princess." Rarity says as she walks away.

"Adieu my dear." You say to yourself as you drank up the rest of your champagne before seeing another butler walk by with a tray full of champagne with a strawberry inside it as you took one. He walked away his snout up in the air like a dignified pony, underneath that view was a guy probably nine to five who despised everyone at this damn gala.

You walked through the ballroom side stepping away from ponies who got in way or simply looked as if they were too engaged into a conversation to even look where they were standing.

As you finally got to the food table, the many small pastries and the delicious food had only tiny portions. You chuckled as you grabbed a deviled egg popping it into your mouth you knew that Canterlot castle chefs knew their shit about food, though you probably would've settled for juicy steak if a majority of the attendees weren't ponies that was.

As you continued eating a mare approached the table, she had a glass of water in her hand and looked rather shy. She had on a pale egg shell colored sweater vest with sailor's collar around her neck, down towards her legs, she wore a light eggshell white colored skirt. On her head she wore a puffy red and blue carnation that looked cute.

As you reached for another deviled egg both hands touched one another, she gasps and backs up in fear. She looks up the hand to see you standing there, she was shorter then you about a foot shorter then you.

"I'm sorry you can have it." She says in a shy and probably frightened tone, clearly she was intimidated by your build and didn't want to start anything.

"Uh n-no you can have there's plenty more to eat around here." You say with a laugh as you reached for cocktail shrimp dipping it into sauce and biting off the shrimp and tossing the tail. She smiles as she eats the deviled egg, she had an odd look on her as she grabbed a napkin and spit out the appetizer.

"Never eaten fancy food huh?" You asked with a laugh as she shook her head.

"It's tastes so awful, how could you eat that stuff?" She asks as she takes a swig of her water and spits it out on a nearby plant, she gasps covering her mouth.

"Oh you must think I'm a country hick for spitting into a potted plant like that." She looked down in a worried panic as you let out a laugh and shook your head.

"Nah, I don't blame you. I would've done the same, that kind of food isn't for everyone but maybe you'll do better with this." You grabbed a plate of potato skins that had melted cheese and bacon on it. She took a look at the food and ate it, she seemed to cringe a bit but that was probably because of the heat as it was apparent it was made recent as steam rose from the appetizer.

"It's delicious!" She happily says smiling, it felt like it was apparent that the butlers followed you around, the same butler walked by carrying a tray of champagne almost every second. You chuckled and took the tray handing him a bundle of a bits, he looked happy as he looked at the small bag you simply smiled.

"Why don't you take that tray of potato skins miss, we could continue this conversation in the private gardens." You say with a smile. "By the way, I'm Aiden Hart, pleasure to meet you."

"Coco Pommel." The two of you took the food and drinks away from the party as you walked into the vast private gardens more like your private training grounds. You placed down the tray of drinks as Coco did the same with the food, other then potato skins, she had took a few bowls of fudge brownie ice cream and deviled eggs just as second chance of sorts.

"So what'd you do?" You asked as you handed her a glass of champagne, the two of you shared the drinks and food as Coco smiled.

"I actually just got out a fashion school, and I'm starting a mentorship under one Suri Polomare. She's the one who accepted as a apprentice and invited me to the gala. What about you what do you do?" She asks with a smile turning to you with a rather excited look.

"Well if I'm being honest, I'm actually Prince of White Leaf." She had a doubtful look on her and giggles.

"No way, you're lying." She says with a smile. "No really what do you do for a job."

"I swear I'm serious, how can I prove to you that I am indeed the Prince?" You asked giving her a devious smile, she tapped her chin.

"Well can you created a constellation out of pollen?" You laughed a little smiling you rose from the floor as you began waving your arms in an odd fashion as sudden your light blue pollen glowed throughout the air in front of Coco, she looked in awe as you created various constellations from pollen. Making sure to have flowers be stars as they created an image of Orion's Belt, to even Leo's mane. You then began creating Coco's face out of the pollen, the soft teal colored flowers were her eyes as you created a small crown of flowers and placed it on Coco's head. She looked surprised, but at the same time she couldn't believe her eyes she was being entertained by the prince of White Leaf.

"I never knew royal family members would be so nice and gentle." She says smiling as she stands up the flower crown staying on her light minty blue mane, you smiled and got closer to her.

"Come with me." She smiled as she followed you towards the gazebo, taking out your phone you turned to your music as you began playing some soft dance music. At first it was some rap songs where the two of you danced like idiots and grinded on one another. She had a rather upbeat personality once you pushed through that shy looking personality at first, though after the rap song the two of you sat down on the bench of the gazebo. You two laughed and panted tiredly, song after song of party music went on and on as you continued dancing with one another. It was probably the most fun you had at any time of the world that was, she was cute and needed no protection just a gentle push into the right direction.

Elsewhere...

While you were with Coco, Dago had split off from Roxanne to get some evening air only to see your sister, Rarity approaching Blueblood, now that Dago spotted the mare approach his cousin he decided to intervene, he couldn't let her get humiliated by him.

"Well hello!" He says with a big smile cutting her way as Blueblood goes into the garden. "I don't think we met yet, have we? Dago Duststar nice to meet you madame!" He says with a short bow and a kiss on her hand.

"Oh uh hello, it's Rarity. I'm sorry but I have somewhere else to be."

"Ah s-sure." Dago tried to stop her but she already walked away as he keeps looking with some worry before Roxanne approaches him. "That mare is heading straight into a nightmare, Roxy we need to save her before its too late!" He says in an alarmed tone.

"Why? It's just your cousin, he's nice enough then again that was when I was a pup." Roxanne says tapping her chin.

"Yeah to you, and only because you're a princess from another country, you don't know him like I do…Blue, he's a bit of a narcissist, and years of spoiling didn't help, if she goes to him she'll become just a rag for him to clean his boots." Dago informs.

"Well if we interrupt her again she'll get annoyed she'll probably get mad at us. And she looks familiar who is she by the way?" Roxanne asks never meeting Rarity only by description Aiden gave her about his sister.

"I think she is Aiden younger sister…the pony one, Rarity." Dago explains.

"Shoot, if she gets heartbroken by Blueblood you know big bro's not going to be happy. Trust me he's not going to let go someone hurting his sister like that. Imagine Milky and her broken heart if you found out something happened."

"Exactly so that is why we need to do something." He begins to think before looking at her. "We need to rescue her the moment she sees Blueblood, and I can't approach her since she just saw me, but maybe you can talk her out, as soon as she see how Blueblood really is."

"Me?! What do you expect me to do? I can't speak to a mare like that, she's way too fancy and she's Aiden's sister she's gotta have that seductive look on her!"

"Are you afraid she might want to start the harem?" Dago ask with a raise eyebrow. "You can simply say you are my marefriend and that could make her back away."

"I don't think she's gay though, look we gotta do something, oh no." Roxanne says with a sigh as Rarity begins speaking to Blueblood.

"Ah…we are too late, ok…ah new plan we follow them and try to keep blue blood away as soon as we had a chance."

"Look instead of worrying about those two let's just trail from behind and over watch them. I hate to say this but these plans makes us feel like pests."

"Yeah…you're right, lets just follow them."

The two continue follow Blueblood seeing Rarity constantly be ignored it annoyed both Dago and Roxanne, the two trailed behind trying to find a reason why Rarity was so infatuated.

"See? I told you, my cousin really needs some modesty and kindness lessons." Dago whisper

"Dago?"

He jumps when he hears a voice behind him turning he notices Sonata looking at them.

"S-Sonata? I mean hi Sonata, glad you could make it." Roxanne notices the tension and looks towards Rarity.

"I'm gonna go follow Rarity." She says to Dago as she continues following her from the shadows.

"What? Roxy wait you can't…" Dago panics, but she is already gone and he is leave alone with Sonata

"So...hello." He says smiling

"Hi, so what're you doing behind the bushes? Are you stalking that white unicorn mare?" She asks

"Ah…technically yes, but is not as creepy as you think I'm trying to save her."

"Save her from what?" She asks

"My cousin, trust me, that mare is in real danger and we need to do something."

"We? What're you?" She gasps as Dago drags her without thinking.

"Okay we're here, what did we miss?" Dago whisper

"Well if Aiden was here he'd beat the living pulp out of your cousin."

"Oh that is not good, and he is probably warming up…there was a mare we were force to pay her so she didn't demand the head of blue blood in a stick…she wrote 'die blood die' on a wall and everything…Roxy are you sure we shouldn't intervine?"

"Yeah we shouldn't, oh we passed by Aiden awhile ago and he was hanging out with the cutest little mare. They looked so happy like they were in love, you think Milky would love a harem?" Roxy asks

"A…h…harem?! I…one problem at a time, first…" Dago give Sonata a bag of bits. "Sonata go there and pay Rarity back for what she spend. Roxy, you and I will go to Blood and try to make him be more kind to that mare."

"Yes sir!" Sonata happily says as she emerges from the bushes and hands the money to Rarity as both Dago and Roxy find Blueblood

"Blueblood!" Dago yell walking toward him. "Cousin we need to have a serious talk."

"Oh Prince Dago, its such a delight to see you in this fine…"

"Blood we see each other everyday, there is no need for formalities."

"No need for formalities!? Oh perish the thought!"

"Can we just get on to it? Tell your cousin it's a bad idea to treat that mare like that." Roxanne informs

"My princess Roxanne, I didn't imagine you as the jealous type." Blueblood try to approach her, but Dago stops him. "Stop it…listen, just be nice with that mare ok? She is doing all that so she can spend time with you and you are treating like a maid, no even worse than that."

"You mean she is not a servant?" He asks

"Just be nice!" Dago yells leaving Blueblood making him sigh in exasperation. "Is so hard to love that guy sometimes."

"Well he's been spoiled just like you." Roxanne jokes

"Hey! I spoil you too." He say with a smile

"Well what'd we do now? Wanna check up on Aiden?" She asks

"Sure I'm curious about that Coco Pommel." He look at Sonata. "Should we invite her?"

"Come on invite her, we're just gonna watch Aiden."

"Thanks." Dago approach Sonata. "Hey hon...I mean Sonata, Roxy and I were about to go see how is Aiden doing and we were wondering if you would like to come with us."

"Hmm o-okay." She says smiling as she catches up with them

As they re-enter the gala and look for you until they find you dancing with Coco in the center stage. "We need to approach them quick everyone go find a dance partner."

Sonata without thinking takes Dago as Roxanne looks around and grabs a random stallion who seems happy.

"Ah I mean for each other but…ok this works too." They slowly approach the two of you so they can eavesdrop into your conversation.

"I really enjoyed our time together, for a prince you aren't really noble are you? I mean you're nice and all but you act so casual." Coco says smiling as chuckle.

"Yeah I get that a lot, my mom and aunt scold me for being so casual around others, but I want to show ponies the real me. Not some phony guy." You say smiling as you continued dancing.

"I just don't want this night to end." She says her head against your shoulder as you smiled and continued dancing. "Maybe we can take things further?" She says with a smile as the three instantly knew what that meant. Dago laugh but Sonata cover his mouth before you could hear them and without knowing they switch partners.

"Ah miss Fleur, how nice to see you again, how is your sister doing?" Dago ask her being polite

"Oh Prince Dago, it's very nice to see you again. Black Lotus is fine after being assigned as Prince Aiden's royal bodyguard she's been a lot peppy. Seems like everywhere he goes she'd follow. She has to after all."

"Yeah, originally she was going to be captain, but my mom insisted that she becomes Aiden's guard, is she on duty now? I was kind of expecting to see her chatting with Aiden, my mom knows he could used the company."

"No she's off duty though she's keeping an eye on him just as a precaution." Dago notices what she meant when they switch partners again and see Black Lotus dancing with you.

"Haha looking cute, bro!" Dago joke to you without realizing his dancing partners.

"Not as much as you honey." Dago froze when he sees Celestia holding his hand. "M…mom!?"

"You too!" You shout back as you turn back to your guard.

Celestia laugh as the music continues.

"I thought you were greeting the nobles"

"Oh I was, but there was no way I would miss my own gala, I put the guards to take my place it saves time, so you're enjoying the party?" Dago just look away and Celestia sigh.

"Honey are you still thinking about your father?" Celestia asks

"It's difficult to just decide to ignore it and forget about the subject."

"I promise I'll tell you all about him later, please enjoy the gala. Dancing with you reminds me of him." Celestia mentions with a laugh.

"Ha, some good memories before you dated?" Dago asks

"Yes actually, very amazing memories."

"Aiden told me you met at a party in the White Leaf empire, tell me…was he a ladies man like Aiden is?"

"Oh no your father was terribly shy, he was like you almost it took him time just to approach me."

"Oh that is good, Aiden was joking about me having another mommy, do you imagine? Dad having a harem?"

"That would odd, but no your father didn't have a harem. He was apprehensive about the idea." He laugh and give her a hug.

"With a mommy as lovely as you what else would any stallion would want?"

"I wouldn't know, after all I'm a catch after all."

Switching partners once again Dago ends up with Coco while Aiden gets Sonata.

"Oh hi, I think we didn't introduce myself yet, my name is Dago, nice to meet you."

"I'm Coco Pommel, P-Prince Dago." She says shyly, he laughs and shakes his head.

"Its just Dago, Coco no need to be so formal."

"I'm sorry, I'm so nervous I've was speaking to a guy and I'm still waiting for an answer. I just want to ya know date him but he's so different then me."

"Different how?" Dago asks

"I'm a commoner and he's a prince. But he's really sweet and really cute I just hope he accepts my offer in dating do you think I'm being too forward?" Coco informs

"A bit, but trust me. That's good, men love mares with some initiative and take an advice from someone that has being in your shoes, love doesn't have status, the heart wants what the hearts wants."

"Really, then I know he'll accept!" She happily says with a smile. They change dance partners and the song soon finishes. Dago reunites with Roxanne and Sonata.

"Ok I think I can accept that mare, as part of my sister's herd, she looks nice." He gives them 2 martinis and smiles as he passes the drinks to the mares. "How did it go for you?"

"Pretty good, some guys tried grabbing my butt but they never did." Roxanne mentions with a laugh.

"It was fun speaking to Aiden again, it's been a long time since I've spoken with him." She says with a smile

"Yeah he has miss you too…and you really are a heartbreaking are you Roxy?"

"Yes! A thousand times yes!" The three looked towards you who had a soft smile as they saw Coco jump up and down, she stopped once she looked around to see ponies staring at her. You smiled and chuckled.

"Then I'll pick you up later in the week, I do love a charismatic and bold girl like yourself." She seemed happy and embarrassed a huge mix of emotions you were witnessing as the mare seemed so different now. As the night began to wind down you slowed danced with Coco, her soft sweet smelling mane tickled your nose as she stayed close to you. Just as you felt the relaxing moment stay, a sudden slam of a door startled both you and Coco as a burst of animals went through.

With a swift tackle you fell to the ground as Evie on top of you as she tried hiding in your jacket. Coco gasped kneeled down beside you you were really surprised to see Evie near you, the dog was so afraid that Coco tried her best to calm her down by petting her.

"Aiden quick prepare some of your sleep pollen!" Dago tells you as he try to calm Salvatore and uses his magic on pegasus so they don't hurt one another.

Tossing a pocketful of pollen in the air the pollen began to swirl and emit a sweet almost calming smell causing some of the ponies to slowly and most of the animals to slowly go to sleep.

After everything calms down, they get into cleaning duty until everything its fine again, Dago picking the rest of the glass shoe Rarity smash.

"Poor mare." He looks back at you. "I think we have everything under control here, bro if you wish you can leave now."

"Well I rather have Coco see me when she wakes up so I'll just sit near her in the gardens." You say smiling as you carried her to the gardens and set her down. She slowly wakes up and looks around to see you looking at the moon, she gasped and blushed.

"I'm so so so sorry, I didn't mean to sleep by you and ignore you. I'm the stupidest mare to ever live to sleep on a stallion like you." She says scolding herself as she looked down, you laughed and pat her shoulder assmiling as you did.

"Don't worry Coco, you did nothing wrong trust me. I thought it was cute seeing your sleeping face, you had a soft snore wasn't loud and kinda cute." She blushes extremely hard and looks down.

"That's a stupid thing to say!" She says glaring at you, you smiled as you got off the bench and laid down on the grassy ground, Coco did the same and laid right next to you.

"Did you ever think you'd end up where you are because of odd circumstances or do you think it was fate?" You asked

"I'm not sure, I mean what do you think fate is? Somewhere along the way you were chosen to be guided there because of someone or something." She mentions, you shrugged because of Dago you were chosen to be an element. Because of Dago you had an opportunity to meet your biological mom, because of Dago you won Milky's affection. All of what happened in your life was because of Dago, your best friend.

"Why do you ask this?" Coco asks

"You know the Prince of Equestria right? Prince Dago, well when I was younger I never was a prince I was just a regular colt who was raised by two hardworking parents. We didn't have that much money like my parents do now, and now I'm prince of a huge kingdom, an element of harmony, and I have this cute girlfriend that I hopefully can have a herd with. Adding some pony like you." Coco looked so surprised when you said that, but you yourself didn't you know what you said and you didn't care.

"So Prince Dago is the reason why you're here now? Maybe it is fate, maybe everything you said is true. You never know, but as long as you hold strong I'm sure fate will be on your side." You smiled and closed your eyes as the night continued on with Coco being close by you. This mare was special someone you could definitely see something with.

Later...

The gala was done and the servants were cleaning, you finished drinking a bottle of champagne with Coco and helped her back to her hotel, her boss Suri saw you and Coco together. She was genuinely surprised to see you and Coco together, something told you she was proud but now you were back and it was rather late.

You were walking to your room, but as you continued on you heard crying. You were confused and walk towards the sound, you got closer and closer to the sound you see Luna crying into her hands. You approached her and sat next to her, she looked up and her mascara stained eyes.

She stayed silent, but slowly put her head against you shoulder. You smiled and brushed her flowy mane, you turned your head and got closer to her as she pressed her lips against yours. But as soon as she did you sighed and looked down, she seemed to understand as she sighed and left the hallway.