Robbing yourself is actually quite easy

Farcadia's plan iss almost too brilliant. She may have no experience as a thief, but she has plenty of experience asking her father for things and getting them from the royal treasury. It was as easy as walking into the castle, loading all the valuables into a cart, and walking out. Then that little brat will eat his words and have to apologize for besmirching her thief daddy's name. It hasn't yet occurred to her that her thief daddy is imaginary and thus has no good name to besmirch. At this point, it's the principle of being better than the peasants that's spurring her onward.

Farcadia wades back into the river to start her return swim to the castle. Unfortunately, swimming upriver is a lot more effort than floating down it, and the beleagured princess soon finds herself fighting the downward current. Despite her outdoorsy nature, swimming against the current of her favorite river is beyond the physical exertion she's used to. And the magical healing properties of the water aren't as effective when one isn't letting the water do all the work. In fact, Farcadia could almost feel a sense of hautiness from the river, as if offended that she'd go against its wishes by swimming away from where it took her.

Eventually, after several hours of treading water, Farcadia is forced to pull her sopping, nude body out of the water on a small island in the forest. The island can't be more than a hundred feet long, and the only thing on it is a large cave leading underground. It's not the most appealing place to rest, but Farcadia doesn't have much of a choice. So she plops her bottom on the grass and lets the sun dry her off. There must be some way to get to the castle faster, she thinks. At this rate, I'll never get there and back in time. If only I had help.

"Help!"

Farcadia turned around as a loud cry echoes from inside the cave. A figure emerges from the darkness with long black hair billowing behind her, sweat and dirt caking her skin, and wearing only a few scraps of armor, one boot, and frilly lingerie. Still, as dissheveled as she was, Farcadia recognized her best friend and trusted knight anywhere. "Kara? What are you doing here?"

Kara wheezed, "Escaping from that!" She pointed back at the cavern, and Farcadia's mouth dropped when she saw what had emerged from it.