The Raven's Harlot

Chap 1~Aftermath

Author: Hello people of PT world! I'm back and now I have new inspiration for my sequel to ROTR. If you haven't read it then you will be kind of confused of the characters and the plot bunnies that are going to be jumping around.

Drosselmeyer: Ah, it is good to see the light of day after that last fiasco! My apprentice, do you think you will add any new characters in this one?

Author: Sensei, you know better than to ask that because I don't know. Anyway, back to my audience. Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews and I hope you enjoy this fic.

Disclaimer: I do not own any Princess Tutu items or the copyright; if I did, Dante would be real and he would be my play toy….Oh wait, he already is!

It has been two years since the discovery of the Ravenous princesses and the people are relieved for the occupation of the throne. Since their coronation, the royal ladies have held delegations and council meetings to discuss the contingency of their kingdom. As of now, the kingdom is split into 4 factions controlled by the powerful duo countries: Ignitia and Laqual.

Ignitia is a warrior-like society that is abundant in gold, silver, and iron and skillful in metallurgy. Their people are skilled in the arts and architecture; especially in hip building. They invaded Raveen 2 years after the princesses kidnapping and the death of the king. The Ignitians control the western and southern part of Raveen and have built a wall to keep out the Laqualians from invading.

Laqual do not use force as their counterparts do, rather they cleverly scheme their way into the vulnerable kingdom by promising protection from the invaders. The Laqualians are philosophical people that believe intelligence used wisely is the greatest weapon in war. They used this philosophy to expand their territory into Raveen and gently subjugated the people in the northern and eastern parts. They have an enormous navy and secure their borders along the river of Eileena that separates them from the capital city.

They have kept the kingdom apart for the last 16 years and although the people under the Laqualians are not suffering, they long to be released and under their own monarchy, the Ravenous. The people under the Ignitia have grown hard and war-like under the ways of the Ignitians. They are eager for war and do not wish to be under the rule of 'little girls' that know nothing of their own heritage or teachings of the land.

These are the reports the princesses continued to read long after the meetings were done. In their shared chambers, they lamented at the time lost in Drosselmeyer's fantasy world for their own home was on the brink of civil war because of these two countries.

Aalina tiredly rubbed her eyes as she went over the list of complaints, crimes, and conspiracies occurring within the kingdom. 'By the Goddess, I'm wondering if it was such a good idea to take these documents away from the council? They must be good for something other than running through the royal treasury and giving boring parties!'

Knock, knock! Aalina turned her head to see her sister, Tutu, walk in with a tray of two mugs with steam coming from the top. Haphazardly, she waved the documents from her bed onto the floor and despairingly welcomed her sister's caffeinated tribute.

"Here, I have a feeling we'll need this," said Tutu while handing the hot mug to her sister and taking her own from the tray. She joined Aalina on the large bed and they simultaneously fell back on the soft cushions of the large king-size mattress.

"By the Goddess, Tutu! Our country is in a state of hell and we have yet to even get through to the marriage contracts mailed by our allies!" Aalina dejectedly exclaimed while waving more papers in the air.

Tutu , laying on her back still, watched the stray marriage proposals fall from her sibling's grasp. One signed by the Duke of Munchhousen of the city-state Lorek; another signed by the Prince of Marchen asking for an alliance in trade and military strength; and the last fallen paper on the floor had the beautiful cursive of one of the Princes of Laqual.

"Sigh, it seems as though we are left with no choice but to strengthen our ties through these unions. We've been gone for 15 years, sister, and our people need protection and securance of the future."

"So you going to marry one of these 'royals'?"

"….I'm not sure, for we need the council's decision in order to accept these proposals."

Aalina blew aa strand of her red hair away from her face and rolled toward her sister. "I do not want to marry them!"

Tutu turned her head to respond, "It is our duty as Princesses of Raveen. We can not do this alone."

"We don't need them! We have our own power to stop these threats!"

"For how long? I can't even summon that same force as before and our people need to have proof that the future will not be the same as before. They've already suffered through the lost years of no leadership or governance."

Aalina fell silent by her sister's conclusion and rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. The sisters continued their intense thinking until their eyes felt heavy and soon were lulled to sleep with a sea of parchment askew on the floor.

Author: Yep, I know I should have written more and I will! Right now, I'm going to let this sink in with everyone and tell me what you think?

Drosselmeyer: Sigh, when will I make my debut! I grow tired in that old hag's dungeon!

Author: Patience, Sensei. Your turn will come. Please review!

Lady_BlkDia07