AUTHORS NEWEST NOTES: I made a slight mistake in the story. Well, it's a mild one, but still, I changed it. It should be pheonixes not dragons in the conference rm...
Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis. Neither do I own their characters. (This seems so much fun to type it out than to read… :D)
Summary: A marriage is planned between the king and queen of Erakyle and Cecelia. But the Prince and Princess aren't willing to marry someone whom they had not even met. A simple escape marriage plan had them bumped into each other in a forest. Will they fall in love? Or will they hate each other foreva? (Ryosaku and MomoAnn.)
Author notes: PLEASE READ! The characters are OOC! Out of character. Especially Ryoma, I made him to be a much warmer person than he should be. You won't believe it if I told you this chapter has been inside my computer for at least 1 year plus long. Prince and Princess surely are harder to write than normal people…
Chapter 1: The secret behind those crowns
Before I begin this very-like fairytale, let me give each and every one of you who is reading my story a brief background of the main characters.
In the Kingdom of Erakyle, where it beholds the fire power of the phoenix, lived the future leader, Prince Ryoma. His most trusted servant who awaits him for many years is named Momoshiro.
The opposite of Erakyle, the kingdom of Cecelia, guards the secrets of the water from the dragon. The only heir, Princess Sakuno had a playmate, who should coincidental to be her maid-in-waiting, Ann.
Now that we knew some background from our characters, especially that I had change Prince of Tennis to the Prince of Fire, we can continue in my little story telling.
Erakyle, Kingdom of Fire: Prince Ryoma personal living quarters
King Echizen Nanjiroh and his wife, Queen Rinko, were weary from the never-ending snatch of the right to rule over the elemental world with the water kingdom of Cecelia. Today, with the consent of equally weary pair of King and Queen, the Ryuzaki family, they had arranged a political conference over at Erakyle to discuss a policy that guarantees peace to come over the elemental world many years later.
In his own private lounge, Prince Ryoma is fiddling with the high neck collar of his midnight blue cloak. His golden eyes reflected in the full length mirror in front of him, show particular annoyance as he tried and failed to loosen the tight and suffocating jewel encrusted collar.
The dressmaker chided, "Your Highness must learn to stand still. If this goes on, you will not make it in time to the conference."
Ryoma rebutted, "If THIS goes on, I will not make it ALIVE to the conference!" He continued to pry at the collar, a futile effort to loosen it. "Is there a way to give just a little allowance of comfort?" Ryoma asked, unable to keep the plea out of his voice.
Ever since the time of the second peace conference had been confirmed, the castle had undergone enormous change. Extra cleaning had been assigned to the poor cleaning maids and the chefs in the kitchen are given a week to perfect the traditional dishes of Cecelia. Even the old dressmaker had spent almost a week living in Ryoma's quarters, trying to figure out a perfect outfit for the conference.
Ryoma doubts that the effort of increased workload on the servants had much to do with 'so that the King and Queen to feel right at home' (the excuse Queen Rinko had come up with). Plus the sudden arrangement that he should attend the second round conference confirms what he had suspected.
His parents wanted peace, that's a fact. But the peace conference hadn't stopped them determined to impress Cecelia. It seems that the visit to the Cecelia Kingdom had knocked them hard.
The peace conference is held a total of two times. One at Cecelia, the other in Erakyle. Ryoma was puzzled to why he should attend this conference when he was forbidden to accompany the King and Queen to the water Kingdom. He was fascinated by the story from the learned wizards of Erakyle about Cecelia ancient magic of breathing underwater.
A hard thud at the end of the cloak brought Ryoma back to reality. He managed to choke back a choke as the dressmaker bend over the ends of the cloak, oblivious to Ryoma's suffering. The moustache of his moved, issuing the same chiding voice, "Now, you had only to bear this from here to the conference hall. Your highness had to bear for it just another 15 minutes and you will be free from this cloak forever."
A nudge at his side sent Ryoma turning sharply to face his right hand man, Momo. The face of the elder purple eyes boy clearly represented some pity for Ryoma. However, Momo ruined it by mouthing these words: "Just bear with it." Ryoma scowled and faced back front again to see that his crown had been put on by someone just now.
His crown had changed; a blue sapphire had replaced the original ruby that was encrusted since he was a baby. His eyes narrowed at the unfamiliarity. He was just about to question Momo when the dressmaker ushered him out of his room, ignoring his protest about the suffocating collar.
A halo of people crowded about him as he tried to make his way to the conference hall. Last minute adjustments were made as Ryoma concentrate not to trip over the many legs. Finally he made it to door of the conference hall unharmed. The dressmaker turned Ryoma to faced him directly so suddenly that his crown is in danger of falling off his head. Silently, the rough hand of his brushed the Prince greenish black hair. It flopped back to its original state, a little untidy, yet suited the pointed chin of the Prince. The dressmaker was not amused. Ryoma bit back a laughed at the sight of his face. Worry was practically etched on the old face.
He silently patted the shoulder of the retiring dressmaker, trying to assure that it was all right. Another silent nod to the guards standing by the door which easily tripled the height of Ryoma's, the guards pushed the door open, announcing his arrival. As Ryoma stepped in confidently, head held high and mighty. Howver, little did he know that he was about to leave the very same room with the exact same face of his dressmaker, worry etched his handsome face.
Cecelia, Kingdom of water: Princess Sakuno personal living quarters
A girl is sitting on a stool.
Not just any stool, for this one is pretty special.
Other stools you see are all old, wooden and ugly, but certainly not this. It was draped with red velvet cloth with gold trimmings and pink lace. It was even cushioned at the top for the user to sit. You will definitely find it much more comfortable than the ones you had at home. But though the stool was pretty to look at, the girl sitting on it is way better looking.
She was looking at the mirror is front of her, so that her chocolate brown eyes stared back. The reflection of hers shows her pink lips slightly curved upwards as she chatted with the girl who is brushing her long brown hair. That girl is called Ann.
Ann is the head servant to Princess Sakuno (who should happen to be the Princess only and best friend). They had been together since they were as young as eight years old. Since Sakuno is a princess, she's forbidden to play as normal kids do. So, she only had Ann to spent time with where Ann taught her games which she played back in her home village.
She used to spend hours in her room with Ann and played trinkets that Ann managed to sneak into the palace. And when they got caught, she was punished to copy dusty ancient scrolls of magic. Well, at least it was better than to clean the wet and smelly dungeons that Ann was punished to. "Princesses should not mingle with normal kids and play like them, so un-royally!" the voice of her nanny ringed back in Sakuno's ears.
Finished brushing, Ann carefully combed the princess hair and pulled it all to one side, all the while chatting with Princess Sakuno. "I overheard in the kitchen from the squire of your Master Inui. He said that he had been experimenting with those potions again!"
"But father had warned him not to! Especially the incident where Master Inui mistaken his potion for the wine and started breathing fire on the dining table!" Sakuno said, as Ann's experienced fingers twist Sakuno's hair to an elegant French twist.
Choosing a silver butterfly ornament, Ann carefully tucked it inside the twist, easily securing it in place with the magic of the ornament. Continuing the piece of gossip she just shared, "Oh yeah! I remembered that he roasted the already roasted turkey to ash. Your Majesty was extremely furious that his favorite dish was destroyed and that was when he punished Master Inui NEVER to tamper with the potions again!"
Sakuno gave a chuckled when she recalled the look on her father when the turkey was burn on his sight. She stood up, her silk night gown making no noise as it flowed about easily when she turned. "Then what is Master Inui up to?" she asked as she walked behind the changing screens printed with spring Sakura flowers. Two servants followed her with Ann carefully carrying in a pink gown tagging behind the pair. With the help of the trio, Sakuno slipped out of her nightgown and into the pretty but simple pink gown. "I hope that he's not going to ask for help in the next lesson," Sakuno continued as the final pink silk layer slipped over her head.
"Oh he would," Ann said confidently, as she picked out matching accessories. "After all, he'll need someone to back him up if your majesty found out!" Ann explained as she gently clasps a pair of turtle doves' earrings onto Sakuno pinkish earlobes.
After another 5 minutes of bustling activity, Princess Sakuno is finally dressed properly. She now sat back to the original stool facing the mirror again while Ann lifted the silver tiara off its magic infused case and set it really carefully on Princess Sakuno's head. It's a beautiful silver tiara branded with a big ruby in the middle of it. Sakuno stared at her tiara in wonder, whatever had happened to the blue sapphire that contains the ancient secrets of Cecelia power?
The ruby lightly glowed a moment as an image swim in Sakuno's mind, an image of a certain young man with greenish black hair. Judging by the sword he held, Sakuno presumed that he must be a knight. The unknown man seems to be lost in some kind of forest. Before Sakuno could see clearer, the image was gone in a flash. She blinked in confusion and shook her head to clear her thoughts, responding to Ann's concerned question, "I'm all right." Giving little thoughts to the sudden image she just saw, she swept her gown and exited her quarters.
But she hadn't noticed, neither did all the servants that had just been about her, the ruby had lost its momentary glow of power. Princess Sakuno didn't know that she just had a premonition, for she had decided that it had all been her imagination.
Erakyle, Kingdom of Fire: Conference hall
King Nanjiroh couldn't help but swell with pride when his heir, Prince Ryoma enters, head held high displaying an instant royalty aura. Nevertheless, there is a little part of him nudged with worry on how would his son respond to their recent agreement of the peace policy. After all, it concerns the rest of the half of Ryoma's life.
Ryoma took a quick glance about the conference hall; it had changed much since he last stepped in. The servants did work hard, scrubbing those dusty statues of history figures till they shine, polishing the marble floor so smooth that he could easily slipped. Ryoma swear that even the ceiling sparkle, but with close inspection, it wasn't really the ceilings that sparkle.
Fluttering about, are miniature phoenixes, the proud invention of Wizard Fuji. With a little magic, they fly about, a beautiful magic decoration to parties and events held in Erakyle. Each phoenix wasn't any bigger than a fruit fly, yet they do spit small jet of fire when they are under attack. With the window clean so that light could shine in freely, the red crystal on the phoenixes reflects tiny red balls of light about the conference so that it seems like a disco dance party. But the elegance of the room made it looks only even more breathtaking than hippy.
Prince Ryoma stopped smiling at the nearest phoenix which was dancing in mid air, and turned to greet his parents and the pair of royal guests.
Cecelia, Kingdom of Water: In the Royal back garden
Sakuno is now in the garden, playing hide and seek with Ann; her pink gown flowing gracefully about the palace well-kept grass as she called out her best friend name. Ann had refused to let her hide for it might dirty the gown, so Sakuno had always been it, never having the chance to hide since young. Especially since the incident when she hid so well that none of the servants could find her and chaos began in the palace saying that she got kidnapped.
When she finally found Ann, another of the servant girl which wait on her every evening came running, "Princess Sakuno!" Remembering the palace strict rules, the maid servant walked quickly up towards the Princess and bowed gracefully, trying hard not to pant from the effort of running about looking for the Princess. "Princess Sakuno, the King has sent for you. They are waiting in the Queen's inner chamber."
Curious, she and Ann proceeded, where the King and Queen await her.
Cecelia, Kingdom of Water: Princess Sakuno personal living quarters
Tears. Princess Sakuno is crying.
Ann was sitting beside her, on the huge bed, patting comfortably on Sakuno's back.
"How can they do this? How can they arrange a marriage to a guy I didn't even meet? I am their daughter! Not a tool to gain peace in the world!" sobbed Sakuno as she hugged Ann tight, her eyes flowing with unstoppable tears. The tiara that had been sitting on her head for years is now unceremoniously thrown on the ground at their feet.
After half an hour of crying and plenty of heart talks with Ann, Sakuno wiped her tears dry and picked up the tiara that she had always been proud to wear. She stared at the ruby that symbolizes the bond between the two most powerful magical kingdoms, and threw it furiously to her mirror which it shatters upon impact. The ruby glowed red with fire power and the mirror resealed itself once more.
Erakyle, Kingdom of Fire: Prince Ryoma personal living quarters
He was sitting there in shock. Not crying like his future wife, not moving, just in deep thought. Momo watched on fearfully wondering if he should called the healers and check if the Prince is all right for he hadn't moved for the past 5 hours, just staring at the sapphire on his crown which he held in his hand.
His fists tightened with anger as he recalled the morning conversation and announcement that hit him numbed with shock. And his parents expected him to smile and thank the King and Queen of Cecelia of their daughter, Princess Sakuno. Who the hell is she?
Many meetings, balls and small parties and confirmed his fear that Princesses are nothing but stuck-ups who care nothing than themselves and their beauty. He saw and encounters many eyelashes blinking at him, fluttering of eyelids, body movements to lure him, fake laughter and sweet talks. But fell for none of it. All they ever wanted is the power and riches of the Eraklyon kingdom and nothing more.
His crude replies and straightforward answers did nothing more than to hear them giggle and leaned even closer to him, hoping that he will whisk them away to his chamber. But whenever they did that, Ryoma will excuse himself to the restroom for the strong intense and overly did perfume always manage to disgust him, making him want to puke, looking for fresh air.
This is the start of a horrible nightmare, and Ryoma is determined to escape from it. Be it or not, he's a Prince, not an entertainer for a selfish princess, and certainly not to be her husband.
Cecelia, Kingdom of water: On the way to the library
Princess Sakuno marveled her way through the dark corridors. It's already almost midnight and no one was about, taking a night stroll among the corridors of the palace. With only a dimly lighted everlasting candle within the lantern, Princess Sakuno stepped quickly, but silently towards the library.
After a good cry in the afternoon, Princess Sakuno boldly thought of escaping. It frightened the Princess of having to leave the sheltered life, and yet, she was determined to try. In order not to have anyone to sense something was amiss, she passed the rest of the day as per normal.
Today, the maidservant had announced that dinner was held in the Queen's inner chamber. It was a rare occasion to sit with her parents only than to be with the entire royal court together in the throne room. Sakuno used to sit just beside her mother, jabbering about her day's events. However, today, the dinner was held in a thick fog of awkward air. Princess Sakuno understands that her parents are trying hard to repair the lost trust between them but she found it hard to accept or appreciate her parent's efforts. Who would if someone told you that you are about to be married off to a guy you haven't met?
The dinner took a surprisingly shorter time than usual when it felt like eternity to Princess Sakuno. She had fought hard to maintain the mask of politeness to her parents instead of falling tears of a child. She had left without the usual hug and whispered words of "Goodnight my dear princess," from her father.
The same maidservant and Ann had helped her undress into her night gown. Unlike the morning, everyone had been quiet. No one was talking, not even Ann who merely gave an extra hug to Sakuno hoping that it would comfort her.
Princess Sakuno eyes watered as she received the last hug from Ann. 'Sorry Ann,' Sakuno thought as she watched her friend left her chamber for the last time. If she was to escape, not even her closest friend would to know, or she would never be able to leave.
Princess Sakuno was alone for now as she waited for the clock tower to strike eleven.
It was an agonizing wait. The past few hours felt like a year to Princess Sakuno, and now minutes seems to trickle by instead of seconds. The princess's heart hammered against her chest as she took another step closer to her goal.
The night gown rustled softly as its ends flow smoothly against the thick luxurious carpet. On her back was her pack, Princess Sakuno had pack a traveling cloak, an extra set of the simplest gown she could find in her wardrobe, the biggest quilt blanket she could find, some cupcakes she took from the royal kitchen just now, a filled water bag, and her most important magic tools.
She now headed to the library, intending to get a spell book before escaping into the wild forest. And then… Well, she had only planned that far.
Setting the lantern a nearby study table, Princess Sakuno chose carefully and gently removed a thick dusty volume and had this title: "A volume of common spells". Adding the book into the already quite heavy pack, she continued her silent journey out to the royal garden.
It was certain relief for Sakuno to breathe in some fresh air from the garden. The cruising about undetected within the palace had certainly drained Sakuno both physically and mentally. But it hadn't addled her brains to act carelessly. Shivering slightly as the cold wind blows by; she lifts the lantern near and blew out the flame. Then she set down her pack and retrieves the traveling cloak and wrapped it securely about her and put the hood over her auburn head. With a pang, she remembered that she left her tiara on purpose back in her room. She wondered if she would ever be proud to put it back on.
Before picking up her pack and the lantern, Princess Sakuno muttered some spell words to make it lighter. Glad that she had paid attention in Master Tezuka's class, she then crossed the dark garden with the help of the light from the crescent moon.
The light was worse than what the everlasting candle could provide, and Sakuno mainly felt her way around than to see. She squeezed through another pair of blocking bushes which scratched her travelling cloak and she finally found what she had discovered three years ago.
Remembered the incident where she hid so well that no one could find her? She hid here, by a broken hole of the high palace walls that circled about the main palace. Now, plants and weeds had grown over the hole, but with a magic dagger within her many magic tools, Princess Sakuno managed to re-create the hole and squeezed past it.
She was out! Princess Sakuno let her eyes adjusted to the even darker surroundings. She was not about to light up her lantern yet, until she make sure she had put at least 500 feet away from the palace. But after a while of standing there, Princess Sakuno realized that she was in the forest that separates the Cecelia from Erakyle. Assured that the trees could protect cover from the light of her lantern as much as it blocks out the moonlight, she lighted the everlasting candle once more.
The view came into her eye was as bad as Princess Sakuno had imagined. The blackness of the forest seems to drag on forever. She took in a deep breath, ignoring the fact that she was about to be swallowed into the darkness, Princess Sakuno ventured on.
In the forest between Cecelia and Erakyle, named Forest of Greens, near the Erakyle, Kingdom of Fire
Many miles away from the Princess, Prince Ryoma had managed to escape from his kingdom too. With a humorless chuckle, Ryoma reminded himself that it would no longer be his kingdom. With his favorite stead, a white horse named Starlight, he too made his way through the forest of Greens, hoping that he would be able to escape from Erakyle.
Knowing full well that in the opposite direction laid Cecelia, Prince Ryoma nudged the sides of Starlight with his knees and it galloped towards the borders of Cecelia.
As much as the royal army is powerful, Erakyle soldiers and knights would not be able to march pass the border that separates the two powerful kingdoms. Prince Ryoma thought for sure that he would be safe there. And only until now, he wondered if he should get into the palace of Cecelia and cancel the engagement.
Dressed in his earlier clothes he did in the morning peace conference, except the outer suffocating cloak, he had nothing else with him other than his trusty sword. He hadn't planned his escape and only act on a rush of impulsiveness, and so he didn't prepared the necessities to survive the night in the forest. But with his horse, Prince Ryoma would be able to reach the other side, Cecelia, in only a matter of few hours.
Somewhere in the Elemental World
The image of Princess Sakuno venturing on and Prince Ryoma riding in the Forest of Greens is watched over by an unknown sorcerer. A crystal ball reflects the image of Starlight's blue eyes gleaming as it galloped on at full speed. With a sweep of the cloak sleeve from the sorcerer, the image disappears and the crystal ball now reflected nothing but its normal white glow in the moonlight.
The sorcerer reached for the case that contains just a single magic scroll beside the crystal ball. It had been dusty lying on the book shelf for the many years waiting for it's time to come and be opened. The sorcerer had taken it out just mere hours ago and cleaned it, so the jewels encrusted on the transparent case sparkle in the moonlight. At the top of the case there are two big holes which seemed to hold some missing jewel some time ago.
The case is sealed with magic many years ago. And the key to unlock it lies in the hands of the destined young couple. And now, the sorcerer confirmed, that time is ripe for the magical case to be unlocked and the magic scroll to be put to good used.
Author last few notes:
I believe that there must be plenty of questions in everyone's mind. Well, I did have plenty of questions even as I typed. But it is unfair that I am the author, so I know the answers to the questions.
This story had undergone a LOT of changes, but the main focus is still there. I hope that you readers enjoyed reading it and liked it as much as I do. I hope to get tons of reviews, whether it is good or bad.
I hoped that I could update soon, but seeing that the first chapter took so much time to complete, I wondered seriously when I would be able to get out the second chapter. And plus I got another story to complete… and exams coming up.
Readers, thank you for your time for reading this, and for the reviewers, I thank you beforehand. Critics are welcome. I hoped that you get to read the second chapter sooner than I hoped it'll be. :D
*For those who read my other story: Journey to the Past. You might like to visit my blog: .com/
To get a look on how Kana looks like… ^^
And those you hadn't read it; never mind. I hope you too would visit my profile (which is my blog)
.com/ too!