Title: Patience
Author: kawaiichiisaikitsune (pirate-kiari)
Rating: K+
Pairings: LuffyxNami, NojikoxOC (may be more later on)
Summary: 'Balls weren't really what everyone said them to be. At least, to this young girl it weren't.' A story about a royal family, a farmer boy, a series of balls/dances, and everything between. AU, LuNa
Kiari-san knows that this may be a little cliche, but she is trying to make it very original. This is Kiari-san's first One Piece fanfiction and first fanfiction on this site. So she asked for you to be gentle. Flames are ignored, constructive criticism is highly appreciated, and praise is great for Kiari-san's ego.
Disclaimer- Kiari-san is sad. She doesn't own One Piece. -mopes-
Extra- Revised Version!
Patience
-Prologue-
Balls weren't really what everyone said them to be. At least, to this young girl they weren't. She hated them with every bone in her body. Yet, she was forced to attend them anyhow. Who was this girl? Why, she was the princess of course!
With a grumble, the princess flopped down onto her royal throne. Oh, how she wished she could leave. However, if she did manage to sneak away, the "royal snob," also known as her younger step-nephew, would tattle to the king. That would result in some painfully long lecture and a castle arrest. And she was too tired to want to worry about guards following her every move.
The young princess fidgeted in her chair. "This dress is so uncomfortable," she grunted, trying to straighten it out so that she could sit back comfortably. She hadn't wanted to wear the dress, but the maids had forced it upon her. It was lucky that the girl didn't die from the over puffy sleeves, two-layers of frilled skirt bottom, high neck collar, and baby blue color. However, she had jumped out of her room window and ran as far as she could until the guards had caught her.
A sigh escaped the princess's mouth as she lazily rested her arm over the armrest of the chair. She was completely and utterly bored at this point. Hell! She didn't know a single soul, beside her family and servants, which crowded the elegant ballroom. There were many fine dressed gentlemen and beautifully dressed women loitering about the dance floor with their partners, eating delicately at the table of food and drinks, or talking amongst others. None of the guests looked alike and all was royalty, ruling at least one village around the world.
The princess took another survey about the room, hoping to find something interesting to occupy herself. Nothing caught her eye, though she did rather adore some of the dresses the women wore. As she absently ogled at the wealthy dresses, someone had snuck behind her chair without her knowledge. With the grace of a tiger attacking prey, said person leapt out in front of the girl, giving a vicious growl. This startled her greatly as she jumped at least a foot in the air.
"I scared you! I scared you!" sang the laughing prince.
"Why you little-" she growled, preparing to pounce. However, she was stopped by a fair hand that placed itself on her shoulder. The angered princess whipped around to face her blue-haired sister; "Nojiko!"
Said woman smiled and patted her younger sister's shoulder before settling herself in her own royal throne. Nojiko patted at her lap and watched as the small prince scampered his way over and onto her lap, snuggling close to his adoptive mother. The queen stroked her six-year-old son's pale green hair as she stared out at the dance floor. Soft, melodic music drifting from the left side of the room, where a band was playing on a makeshift stage, kept everything relatively peaceful.
"Where's Niwa?" the princess asked, stiffly sitting herself back in her throne.
"Mingling among the guests," Nojiko petted her child gently, lolling him to sleep.
The princess crossed her arms in a huffed pout as she glared out in the king's direction. "What was he thinking? Throwing a ball every other day of the week? He must be crazy! I don't see how you are so attached to him."
The queen gently giggled in amusement at her younger sister. "He's just happy," she reasoned, brushing back a short orange strand of hair that had fallen in her sister's flawless face. Easily she passed the slumbering prince into her arms and stood up. "Please take him to bed for me. I need to get back to Niwa." Nojiko started back towards the ballroom, but stopped and turned to look over her shoulder with a sneer. "And get yourself a new dress while you're at it." Then she was off, back at her husband's side, talking friendly with the empire of Fishlin and his two wives.
Seething at her older sister's back, the princess rose to her feet, cradling the small prince in her arms. She then started out of the ballroom and down a variety of halls. It didn't take long to reach her sister's adoptive son's room and settle him in his full sized bed. Pulling the thick blue comforter up to his chin, she placed a ghost of a kiss on his forehead and wished him peaceful dreams. Then she was out of the dark room and following down the hall until she reached her own. Once inside her large two-room spread, she stripped herself of the horribly gaudy excuse of a dress and slipped into something more exquisite and mature.
When she returned to the nearly full ballroom, all attention was focused on her. All the males, excluding Niwa, ogled at her deliciously ripe form and unblemished pale skin. Her orange hair had been pulled back in an elaborate diamond clip and her dark brown eyes twinkled with delight. She did love getting attention. Thrusting the end of her thick white boa over her shoulder and around her neck, the princess carried on with her shocking entrance with a proud air. Black heels clicking against the marble floors, she made her way over to her throne and sat down.
The ballroom began moving again as female dates and wives got restless with their gaping dates or husbands. There were only a slight handful of single princes and princesses left in the country. It was because most were married off so that their royalty could be passed down from generation to generation. This way it'd be without worry of having to hand over to another, larger family. Almost everyone feared having their thrones taken over by someone not of their own royal bloodline. Why? Well, because people were just horribly stubborn and protective of their stuff in that way.
The princess became vaguely irritated as flock after flock of males swarmed at her feet, all asking for at least one dance with the lovely young maiden. Hence, a reason she hated attending balls; too much of the sickly attention. Of course, she enjoyed it at first, as most woman did. But after a while, however, it simply becomes a bother. Was it her fault she was really quite so attractive though? Not in the least. It was definitely not her fault if she was naturally beautiful. Besides, she did like to take advantage of her looks. It helped her to get anything she wanted from just about any male out there in the world. It was a good thing; a very good thing indeed.
There were also other reasons which made her hate such royal outings. It was all the money spent. It was such a waste of such lovely green paper, gold and silver coins, and other forms of it. The princess was some what of a money hoarder. She enjoyed saving as much as humanly possible and spending all only on herself; not on some useless social event. It was not her call, though. It was the king's and queen's and if they wanted a ball, they got a ball. But a ball every other day was ridiculous! That was just way too much money being spent!
Suddenly, the mob of males split in half so that someone may approach the startling beauty. That someone was the king himself. Once he reached the princess he held out his hand as an offer to dance in which she accepted, placing her slender hand in his. Niwa led her out onto the dance floor where he tangled his hand in hers and wrapped his other around her waist, keeping a couple safe inches between them. He wasn't one for being physical with anyone but his wife and children, but Nojiko had suggested he dance with her. He also heard from her that the princess was curious as to why he was throwing the multitude of balls just because he was "happy."
"You sure freshen up quick, Nami," he started with a smirk as they waltzed gracefully around the room.
"Why thank-you dear brother-in-law," the princess answered.
"Nojiko says you're curious as to what is with all the dances we'll be holding these two weeks," he continued.
"You're damn right I'm curious. You're wasting all my precious savings!"
"I'm cheerful," he chuckled.
"Yes, Nojiko said the same thing. But no one just throws an event just for the pure joy of it. There must be a reason behind it. What are you hiding from me? Have your parents finally died off? Have you made peace with the enemy nations? Tell me now, King Niwa!"
The King sighed dejectedly, "No, no, it isn't anything near those goals, but I assure you it is something pleasing."
"And what exactly could that be?" she slightly raised a delicate brow.
"Nami, Nami, Nami," he 'tsk'ed with an amused smirk, "Have you really forgotten your own sister's anniversary?"
"Of course not!" the princess spat.
"No need getting so upset about it. That isn't the only reason, mind you, for we're expecting another heir to the family. We're prepared to share the excitement with the rest of the world in the next week." Niwa was obviously excited. His little smirk had grown into a full blown grin and he had been taking loving looks back at his wife every now and again. Nami on the other hand was so shocked she had ceased all movement and broke away from her brother-in-law.
-TBC-
Kiari-san hopes that you liked this and that you'll review and make her day even better. Once again, flames are ignored, constuctive criticism is highly appreciated, and praise is great for Kiari-san's ego.