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Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is copyright (c) 1992 Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation. English Language Adaptation copyright (c) 1995 DiC Entertainment.
Once a Princess: Prologue
Charlyne
charlyne_o@hotmail.com
Chapter Rating: G
Alric rubbed his eyes and yawned. He had been riding hard all day and was looking forward to getting some rest. He had just dismounted from his horse in front of the Royal Rose, a small inn located in the village of Wildwood. He strode toward the inn and smiled at the plump woman behind the counter.
"A room for the night, good woman," Alric said, giving the woman his most charming smile.
"Of course. On your way to Terra?" the woman responded. Her voice held the rough cadence of a peasant upbringing.
"Aye, a summons from King Endymion."
The woman led him up a flight of rickety steps and down a narrow hallway. She pushed open a wooden door and ushered him in.
"Supper's at sundown, if you're hungry," she told him.
Alric nodded and set down his saddlebags. With a weary sigh, he let himself fall backwards onto the mattress. His whole body felt sore from the weeks of fighting up in the north. He'd been looking forward to seeing his beautiful wife and three children when he'd received his summons. He had a feeling that he was to be commended for his bravery but would much rather be home than at the Golden Palace in Terra.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and brought the picture of his wife into his mind's eye. Her long brown hair, her sparkling green eyes, and his three cherubic children crowded close to her, all grinning.
He had just drifted off to sleep when a loud wail caught his attention. It was soon followed by another and another until Alric had the distinct feeling that the sound--which he assumed came from a baby--would not stop. Apparently the parents were not bothered by it.
Scowling, Alric stood and stomped out into the corridor. He banged on the door at the end of the hall, where the noise was coming from, but the only answer was more wailing. With a forceful shove, he opened the door but came to a quick halt when he saw the room was empty save for a bundle of rags on the bed.
Approaching warily, he pulled open the rags and was greeted by the startled eyes of a baby. Bright silver-blue eyes that regarded him seriously and held more wisdom than was possible for one so young. Alric again looked around the room but found no sleeping or drunk parent.
"What are you doing here all alone, little one?" he asked softly, picking up the child. He was immediately assaulted by the baby's rank smell, and wrinkled his nose. Not deterred, for he had dealt with his own three children, he quickly stripped the child, noticing that it was a she, and changed her diaper. The baby gurgled happily at him, her white-silver hair sticking up around her face.
"What a beautiful little girl you are," he whispered, grinning at the baby. "In the morning, we shall have to find your mother and father."
Alric carried the baby back to his room and created a makeshift bed for her. He hoped that she had not been left alone long, for he had no food to give her. She have to wait until the morrow if she was hungry.
The next morning, Alric carried the little girl downstairs and questioned the innkeeper and his wife about her. All he learned was that she had come with a man--whom they assumed was the father--but the man had left the day before and not returned. They feared that he had abandoned the child or been killed.
Looking down into the girl's trusting blue eyes, Alric knew that he could not leave her as her father had. When he left he made a detour to his home, Carmanor Castle, to tell his wife of the new addition to their family. The baby was received with much "ohhing" and "ahhing" by his wife and children. She was now one of them. They named her Cleo.
At the Moon Palace, a distraught Queen Serenity wept over the fate of her kidnapped daughter and only heir, Princess Serenity. Her advisors and guardians told her to keep heart and pray to Selene that the princess would be found, but the queen felt an overwhelming dread that she would never see her daughter again.
Author's Note:
Please tell me what you think of my story so far. Should I continue? Is it confusing? Should I change anything? Anyway, I'd like to hear some responses so I know I'm not writing this for no reason. I love hearing from you all! ^_^