Chapter Sixty

A mascot from the newly opened Sims University showed up to the royal palace. Queen Catarina scratched her head and wondered why representatives from the university would show up to the palace, but the answers would reveal themselves to her soon enough.

Her young daughters had applied to attend the school, once again without her knowledge.

A part of her was disgusted that they'd once again done something she didn't know about. But a part of her was relieved that all their drama would be out of the palace, at least for awhile. Their staff, their television cameras, their whole milieu -- would all be gone.

Yet these were her daughters. She loved them, still, despite the hell they'd put her through. She'd sacrificed just to allow them to come into the world, and she'd fight like hell if anything happened to them. She put up with them because she didn't have a choice. They came out of her, so they were a part of her.

Queen Catarina watched through the front window in her study as her daughters filled out the university questionnaire and took the Sims University Aptitude Test (SUAT). She admitted to herself that her husband would be happy for them. He'd always talked about higher education for them, and now his vision was coming to pass.



Anastasia was first, filing for the university's fine arts program.



Then Alexandra applied for the university's technology program.

Both girls received scholarships, but Alexandra scored high enough in science and math to merit advanced placement and 18 credits toward her degree. Anastasia received six credits of advanced placement in fine arts.





Prince Renauld and Queen Catarina stood outside the palace gates as their daughters' moving van picked them up and took them away.



The queen couldn't help but feel a little wistful. It had seemed like just yesterday that she had birthed two little girls, and now they were headed off to college. 

Chapter Fifty-Nine

TGI Bees (Author's note: A community lot downloaded from the Exchange) was a newly-built sports bar in downtown Hidden Springs. Tourists liked to come in after or before going to the ski resorts and the winter festival. The locals also liked its quirky, relaxed atmosphere.



Alexandra, Patrick, and AJ were regulars here. They'd come in on their lunch breaks and blow off steam by shooting arcade hoops and watching sports on the big screen.



They'd even take in a few spirits every now and again, although Patrick wasn't exactly enamored of the spirits.



Alexandra decided to broach the subject of college with AJ over arcade hoops. "Sims Institute of Technology (SIT) is offering scholarships for advanced study. I'm thinking about applying."
"That's nice," replied AJ while the ball swished through the hoop.
"I think you should, too."
AJ shook his head while another ball effortlessly went through the net.
"Come on, what have you got to lose? Besides, I'm almost sure you'll get in." Alexandra stopped shooting to hand AJ a brochure from her pocket.



"At least think about it, seriously. I can't see any way you DON'T get in."
AJ managed a chuckle. "Between you and my mom, I don't know who's worse with this college stuff."

Chapter Fifty-Eight

The clouds were beginning to break and icebergs floated on Hidden Lake as a hot air balloon floated overhead.

Most of Anastasia's things had already been sent to the school in advance, all that was left in her nearly empty bedroom were a few loose suitcases.



She debated over whether she should take her porcelain dolls, custom-made in Switzerland to look like her and Alexandra, with her to college.



Prince Renauld, however, couldn't stop meddling. "Have you talked to Ana yet?" he asked.
"No, not yet."
"I could see this college thing has driven a wedge between you. You have to prove to her that she can trust you."



"Annie."
Anastasia picked at her oatmeal porridge.
"Our room is almost empty. You're halfway out the door."
"I leave next week."
"I can't believe it. Aren't you going to at least say a proper goodbye?"



"I've thought about it, Lucian, and, I'd like to say, I'm sorry." Anastasia heaved a deep sigh. "You can come with me."
"Really?" asked Lucian between bites. "What prompted this change of heart?"
Letting out another sigh, Anastasia nodded. "My dad and I had a heart-to-heart."
"He's a great guy," Lucian agreed, "even in ghost form. He must have been amazing when he was fully alive."
Anastasia agreed. "Yeah, he was."

Chapter Fifty-Seven

A second, though less powerful, snowstorm had arrived in Hidden Springs. As fluffy flakes tumbled from the sky, covering the twins' jackets, they had a discussion outside the palace gates.
"Alex, this is crazy," Anastasia shook her head. "You mean you think you can resurrect Dad? It just doesn't work like that. Once someone dies, they're dead."
"Not true --"
"Of course it is. It's happened throughout the course of history. Once someone dies the body decomposes and becomes dust. Simple."
"Not entirely true. Ana, did you forget? We DID turn plush toys into real people, didn't we?"
"Yeah, but that was different. We had the use of a special potion."
"But what if we could do it again? What if we could use the same principle on Dad's ghost?"
Anastasia shook her head. "Alex, this is crazy!"
"Yeah. Crazy enough to work."



While Anastasia went in the house, Alexandra set out to the elixir store on the other side of town.



The icy mountain air pressed against Alexandra's skin as she trudged through the snow. "This must be it?" she asked herself as she came across a small wooden building hidden in a thicket of frozen bushes. surrounded by ornate wrought-iron fencing.



Morgan Beaty was the clerk working that frosty evening. He was a new arrival in town, and as a newcomer, was fascinated with all the strange stories circulating about a fountain of youth and of mystical beings inhabiting the wooded areas. But the strangest story he was to hear so far was yet to come.




Alexandra approached his counter. "May I help you?" he asked, just as he'd asked everyone else who came into the shop.
"Yes, I understand you're an elixir shop?"
"We're an elixir shop, but we're more than that. We are practitioners of the ancient science and art of alchemy. Are you looking for elixirs, alchemy supplies, alchemy texts, just what do you have in mind?"



Alexandra took a deep breath and told her story. "So, you see, I'm looking for either an elixir or ways of looking for an elixir to turn him back into a real person."
Morgan could not believe what he'd heard. "This is one strange story. You mean to tell me that your mother, the Queen of Hidden Springs, received a call from the science lab, and she went there with your father's urn and he was partially resurrected?"
"Yes."
"And now he's a ghost walking around in the palace."
"He's essentially in an in-between state. He can do everything we can but he also floats in the air and can walk through walls."
With his mouth still ajar, he shook his head from side to side. "Uh -- uh -- uh," he managed to mutter after standing silent for five minutes, "Um, I'm not sure we have an elixir like that in this store. But I'll be sure to research it for you."



While Alexandra poked around the shop she came across a strange painting. "Who is this?" she asked Morgan.
"I'm not sure," Morgan replied, "the picture was here when I came. The shop's owners had it."
"I see."
"You know," called Morgan, interrupting Alexandra, "I think you might want to contact the science lab, as this sort of thing more belongs to that realm than this one. But I'll continue to research this."

Chapter Fifty-Six

The sounds of Madden '13 permeated the room. "So, how do you feel about a ghost in the house?" Alexandra asked Patrick.
"He's cool, I guess," replied Patrick in his laid-back manner.
"Have you talked to him yet?"
Patrick shrugged. "Not really -- ahhh! You got me, again!"
"Hah, just sacked your quarterback at the 2 yard line. You'll have to make your next throw from ten yards into the end zone."



"So, what's this about a ghost?" wondered Patrick while mashing controller buttons.
"It's my dad's ghost," replied Alexandra. "See, apparently, my mom went to the science lab with my dad's ashes, and they did some kind of thing where they resurrected him -- but only partially. So he's a living ghost. Pretty cool, huh?"
Patrick sighed. "I guess so. Still, it's a little creepy though. We already had the old butler's ghost here, and now this."
Alexandra's eyes lit up again. "Omigod, Patrick, I've got the best idea!"
"Uh oh." Looking over at her, Patrick knew she was cooking up something in her head.
"Ok, remember how I made you drink that potion that lady sent us?"
Patrick took a deep breath. "Oh great."
"What if there was something I could make Dad's ghost drink to make him alive again?"
"Are you talking about ... completing the resurrection?"
"Exactly."

Chapter Fifty-Five

"And you are..." Prince Renauld asked Lucian as Lucian approached him.
"Lucian."
"And whose are you?" laughed the Prince.
"Anastasia's boyfriend."
"I see. How long have the two of you been dating?"
Lucian took a deep breath. "Technically, Annie and I have known each other our whole lives, as I used to be her imaginary friend, but we only started dating about two simweeks ago."
"Not very long at all, in the grand scheme of things."
"I love her and I want to marry her. But, that has hit a snag recently."
"Oh?"
"Annie and I had a fight. She wants to attend architecture school in Monte Vista, but she doesn't want me to go with her."
"Hmm, I see," Prince Renauld mused. "You have to understand Ana. She likes to have her space to explore things on her own. She's very independent that way. Always has been. You know, when she was little, her mother and I found her in our bedroom watching the History Channel. We found out she'd been watching a documentary on Bridgeport's architecture. She's always been interested in that. So, Lucian, my suggestion to you is if you do care about her and love her like you say you do, don't crowd her or cramp her style, allow her to do things at her own pace."



Anastasia heard a knock on her door. "Come in!" she called.
It was her father, Prince Renauld, in ghost form. He spoke in an ethereal tone. "Darling --"
Anastasia didn't look at him, instead continuing to paint on her canvas.
"Your picture is coming out quite well. Just like all of your pictures. I always said that your paintings would end up in the Museum of Natural History one day."
"What are you doing here? Why are you back?"
"Because I'm your father, and I never left. Especially judging by that angel wing tattoo on your arm."
"How'd you know about that?"
Prince Renauld laughed. "Ana -- you forget that in this form I can see everything. I'm not limited to the natural realm."
Anastasia forced herself to look at her father. She could see that his outline was no different from when he was alive. But instead of walking, he floated above the ground, in the very pajamas he wore to enter the afterlife.
"I understand you plan on attending architecture school in Monte Vista."
"Yes," replied Anastasia, "I've already filed the paperwork."
"Have you completely thought this through, Ana?"
"Yes, completely. I plan on attending classes and doing architecture jobs around town."
"No, that's not the question I'm asking, Ana. You're going to a different country, with different customs, where you won't know anyone."
"And that suits me just fine."
"Anastasia." Prince Renauld enunciated his youngest daughter's full name. "I spoke to your boyfriend, Lucian, is it? He appears to be a fine young man who cares for you deeply. But he is hurt by the way you've treated him. You've treated everyone this way, including your mother. Tell me, Ana, darling, what has happened to the little girl who would sit on my lap and envelope me with hugs and kisses? I don't recognize you anymore. This is not you. You're not the happy, charming, smiling little girl I knew, who'd run around the house and show off her latest paintings. That little girl, she's in there somewhere. Lucian would like to meet her, and I would like to see her again."
"What are you saying, Dad?"
"I think you need to apologize to him. I told Lucian that he needs to give you your space. But you have to make some concessions, too. In any relationship the two partners have to find a way to get along with each other. Find some things the two of you like to do together. You know, Ana, when your mother and I got married, we had to figure out what we liked to do together and do those things. Once I said 'I do' my life completely changed. It became not about 'me' anymore, but about 'we.' Just think about it, dear."

Chapter Fifty-Four

Ghost Dad

"Daddy, guess what?" Alexandra gleefully announced to the specter in her parents' bedroom.



"I got my pilot's license today! I can officially fly a plane!"



"Honey, I knew you could do it! I'm so proud of you!" He reached for her and gave her, well, as comprehensive a hug as a ghost could give. "You're well on your way to becoming that astronaut you said you would become."
"I told you, Daddy, the last time you were here."
"Yes, you did tell me, you'd gone into basic training and your mother didn't know about it. I assume she knows now?"
"She does, and she doesn't approve. But I'm doing it anyway."






While Alexandra had embraced (quite literally and figuratively) the presence of a ghost in the palace, the situation had made Anastasia a bit uneasy.



This was part of the reason why Alexandra called for an emergency 'twin meeting' in their secret basement. This room had been built below the garage, ordered by Prince Renauld as a special place for his daughters. It was here where they hid their deepest, darkest secrets. Among the eclectic items hidden here were a chemistry lab, a sculptor's table, a private library, and a time machine the Prince had bought from the local consignment shop and that his daughters had used occasionally to time travel. "So, Ana, you're kind of creeped out by Dad's ghost being here?"
Anastasia admitted that she was.
"Relax, it's Dad. He's the same person he always was, he's just, you know, in a different form now."
Anastasia took a deep breath. "When he died, a part of me died with him, and I never really got a chance to say goodbye."
"You know," wondered Alexandra, "there's something Mom isn't telling us. It's bugging me."



"Yeah," agreed Anastasia, "she sure is acting strange. When we asked her the questions about what happened at the science lab she went into her Shakespearian soliloquy."
"Almost like she's avoiding the subject. Something's up. I fully intend to get to the bottom of it. What are we going to do?"
"I don't know, we have to do something."