Hi guys, it's me again...

I decided to start this story with a different theme from my last ones since 'Ambitions of a woman' is hopefully going to finish in 3 chapters. I won't spoil the story by telling that it's SepXJen or BeetleXJen so if you are a fan of either one of them, don't make decisions by my last fanfics. No promises about the story length. Please read&review.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the Septimus Heap world, they all belong to the great author Angie Sage.

Jenna stormed in the Wizard Tower. She didn't even wait to read the welcome message on the floor and climbed up the stair. Her order to have the stair go faster caused few Wizards to drop in the floors instead of walking gracefully. She banged on the Extraordinary Wizard's door several times until Septimus opened it with a start. "Hey, Jen. What's all the ruckus?" he asked.

"This is," Jenna pushed her red Queen's book at Septimus's chest and used it to pass him and go in. She spotted Marcia arguing with her coffee pot and sat at the table with a frown on her face. "We need to talk." she waited until Septimus sat at the table.

Marcia reluctantly let go of her coffee pot and gazed at Septimus with confusion but he shrugged. "Okay, Jenna. What is it?" she asked rather calmly for her nature.

"I'm sick of being Princess, especially with these stupid, dump, exhausting..." she was loss at words to show her hatred. "Anyway, I hate the rules and the boring life they are pushing at me." she exclaimed.

Septimus raised his eyebrows at Marcia to not push the subject as he had seen some of Jenna's princess days and agreed with her on that. "So what brings you here sis?" he was surprised to see Jenna's sharp glare at him.

"Don't call me sis." she snapped unconsciously. "I want to do another job. Be something else." she tried to erase the effect of her last sentence so that it would ease the look on Septimus's face. "Look, your job is fascinating as a Wizard or look at Beetle's. He's practically behind every important thing but me..." she sighed with dismay and extended her arms on the table. "All I've ever done as a princess is talking with dignity or sitting with my back straight, which, I haven't been able to accomplish yet."

Marcia gave her a glass of water after secretly using Cheer up charm on it. "But you're job is fascinating too. You are going to be the Queen, the ruler." her attempt to make it something interesting failed by seeing the disbelief in Septimus and Jenna's eyes. "Fine, then learn magyk."

"Jen's not magykal." Septimus objected quietly and crossed his arms. His mind had drifted to the reason behind Jenna's sudden displeasure in being his sister "Try working with Beetle." he suggested with finality.

Before Jenna could respond, the purple clocked that was shaped like a clutched hat with golden stars on it, screamed to announce the time. Marcia snapped her fingers. "Oh, we have things to do." she glanced at Jenna. "Septimus has to come as well. Go and see the Chief Hermetic Scribe, he can help you. I have faith in him." she talked while wearing her purple Python-skinned boots.

Septimus nodded and leaned onto the table before leaving. "Am I your brother or not?" he asked quietly so that Marcia couldn't hear with her sharp ears.

Jenna blushed. "Sam, Edd, Erick, Simon, Jo-Jo and Nicko are but I never considered you one." she answered honestly and grabbed Septimus's green apprentice clock when she saw the hurt in his eyes. "There's no particular reason, Sep. It's just that we didn't grow up together and met as strangers so I always thought of you as a friend instead of a brother." she didn't dare to meet his eyes.

Septimus brought her chin up to have her look at him. "I too, never looked at you as my sister but called you one in case you'd get the feeling of not accepted." with that he walked out of the door, leaving Jenna to swear at herself for losing control.


Taking Marcia's suggestion to heart, Jenna walked briskly to the Manusctiptorium and was pleased to run into Beetle along the way. He stopped dead when he saw her and ran his hand through his hair. When she wanted to go to him Beetle suddenly started walking again. Jenna called him so that he would stop and ran to catch up. "Hey, Beetle." she smiled pleasantly but was surprised to see Beetle's straight face.

"Good morning, Princess." he replied with emphasis on the princess. "I was at the palace as the matter of fact."

"Why so formal?" Jenna scowled with curiosity.

Beetle waved a piece of parchment in the air. "I was ordered to not call you by name and use your title. So I am just doing my job." his tone froze Jenna.

She tried to keep her smile. "I am here for the same reason." then she explained her problem to him who listened as if she was his superior. "To sum it up, I want to work at the Manuscriptorium."

"It's not that easy Jen... Princess. You have to pass the entrance exam." he looked at her red princess gown and gold circlet. "And I don't think that others can work easily with you. Anyone who mistakes to blame you for your mistakes and we'll get criticized. Did you think of these things?" his voice was demanding.

Jenna looked at him crossly. "Don't talk to me like that. What have I done to deserve it?" she glanced at the people who passed them by. "I didn't ask you to call me a princess. As the matter of fact, I hate it. Call me Jenna because that's who I am and don't listen to Milo asking you to do otherwise."

Beetle raised an eyebrow at her mention of Milo. "How did you_" a smile painted on his lips. "Never mind, if you pass the entrance exam, I think we can manage." he rubbed his forehead. "And sorry about earlier. Just a tough day." his reason wasn't as convincing as he thought.

It relieved Jenna to see the kind Beetle back. Even if she was still curious to see the reason behind attitude change. "Just don't do it again. It makes you seem taller." she said wryly and pointed at his height. "So when can I give the exam?"

Beetle laughed. "The exam will be hard and don't judge by nice personality. I make no exceptions." he winked at her but still seemed serious though trying not to. "There's a Queste that you must go on and afterward we"ll test your knowledge." he tried to make it look harder than it was.

Jenna too laughed to not let his serious eyes affect her. "When?" she asked.

"So you are accepting the terms?" he was surprised to see her so eager.

"I'm not the one to back out." Jenna answered boldly and took a step forward and smiled. "I accept."

Tell me if you liked it and why if you didn't. Bye for now.