A green winged fairy fluttered by, a frown on her countenance as the Crown Princess landed upon one of the flowers. By her side a blonde fairy man in green armor, "Roland, what do you see in that scatter brained spoiled child of royalty?"

"Sweetheart, ya know I'll be King one day by marryin' her. Isn't that what ya wanted?"

She smirked, pointy ears twitching as she smiled revealing a pair of long sharp canines, "Yessss," she hissed, her tongue forked. "You'll get an army. I know how much you enjoy playing at being a general."

He grabbed her in his arms, hugging her close, "Not just playing. And once I've got an army, I'll be able to help you and we can take over the Dark Forest, the Fly Kingdom, the Pitch Cave and all the others."

"We'll rule the world. Light, Dark, Gray, Rainbow. All of them."

"Uh huh."

She wrapped her arms around his neck as one of his hands moved to touch her cheek the other at the small of her back. Their lips met.

Neither noticed they'd been spotted and overheard by the Crown Princess of the Fairy Kingdom - at first.

Roland looked up and noticed. No other fairy had a wedding dress on and no other fairy had those colored wings save for the late Queen.

"I am so... not getting an army."

"Just say I used a love potion on you and that its worn off... after a couple full moons."

"Do they wear off?"

She shrugged, "How should I know? I doubt anyone else knows." She moved back form him, hands rubbing together in front of her, "And I have the perfect plan."

"What?"

She rested on hand on a hip and the other played with a strand of Rolands' hair. "Now, you just let me worry about that. I was saving it for later, but it seems we've got to up our game a bit if we're both going to get what we desire."

He smiled, "Well now, buttercup..."

She shushed him by placing a palm over his mouth. "You're certain you're not in love with that?" She flung her other hand in the direction the brunette with purple wings had gone.

He nodded and kissed her palm. "I"m certain. You're the only one I love. I wish I was marrying you today."

"But our plans wouldn't work. Just be sure you remember that." She stared at him with hard dull eyes. With the tips of a single finger she touched his chin, "You don't want to mess with me."

"Of course not, buttercup."

"Do you even know my name?"

"Lady Lamia."

She smiled, "Good. Now go act like a love sick fool. Show up at the altar as if this moment never happened. But do not forget the plan. I'll take care of everything else, my dear sweet Roland."

He nodded and watched her fly away before turning to his squirrel mount, Chipper, "We've got a wedding to get to." But Princess Marianne never showed and he was left at the altar.

Marianne had taken to wearing darker colors and taking up the sword again - brushing up on skills that were a bit rusty after the two years she'd not set hand upon one, save for Rolands' that day she was supposed to marry him. As if. The cheating pig.

Removing her blindfold after a good training session, she turned to see a somewhat familiar looking fairy. At first she couldn't put a finger on it, nor did she know the other womans name.

"Pardon me, Princess, I hope I'm not disturbing anything."

"No, not really. I was just finishing."

"Do you have no one to spar with besides the little sprites?"

"No one dares after my father forbid it."

"Ah, well, how about you spar with me?"

"Do you have a sword?"

"No, but is there something wrong with hand to hand combat?" She held up a jug of what looked to be nothing more than water. "Pretend this is a potion and I'm trying to drench you with it and that you've lost your sword and have no recourse but to use your hands and feet. It was a gift, so try not to break it."

Marianne arched a brow, "Why?"

She shrugged, "Well, if you don't want to," she turned away, about to put the little bottle back in her satchel.

Marianne held out a hand toward her. "Wait!"

The green winged fairy turned around, "Yes?"

"I'll do it!" She dropped her sword on the ground.

The other fairy charged at her, uncorking the vessel with the clear liquid. She ducked and landed a blow with her fist into the other fairies stomach, but not too hard since it was a friendly spar session. Or so she thought.

Several times she was nearly hit with the liquid, but dodged. The green winged fairy managed to tug on her hair and land a kick that sent her falling to the ground. But she'd rolled away before she could get hit with the pretend potion.

When the other fairy was panting for air, Marianne asked, "Should we take a break?"

"What? Oh... yes, that's a good idea."

Marianne picked her sword up and as she was sheathing it into its holster, the other fairy gave a shrill shriek, "Watch out!"

She turned to see what was going on and it looked like her spar partner had tripped and sent the bottle flying - uncorked. She tried to ward it off with her sword, but doing so shattered the bottle and the liquid hit her in the eyes.

With a scream she fell to the ground, sword clinging on rock as she placed her palms to her eyes.

"What!? Are you okay Princess? Did glass get in your eye?" She sounded worried.

Marianne didn't think any of it had been on purpose, but she also didn't see the small smirk for her eyes hurt too much to open.

"I'll go get help."

Several moments later, Marianne staggered up still rubbing at her eyes and heard her sister.

"Marianne! Marianne?" First was a far away shout and then a closer worried question. "What happened?"

"My eyes. They burn."

"Come on, we'll go to the healers."

Later, her eyes were wrapped in banadaged she couldn't see.

"I'm sorry your Highness, but your daughter will most likely never be able to see again. Water infused with iron can kill. She's lucky to get away alive."

"But, there is a small chance she'll be able to see again?" Dawn asked with a small hiccough.

"It's so small a chance as to be no chance at all. Lady Lamia is beside herself that it was her bottle, gifted to her by one of her numerous suitors, that caused it. She was in hysterics. I do hope she wont be punished unecessarily for something she didn't know."

"No, no. But I do hope they find the one responsible. My poor Marianne."

"Marianne isn't poor father!" Dawn said with a huff and Marianne was certain she had her hands on her hips. "This wont keep her down. You'll see."

"Thank you, Dawn. I can take care of myself. Its just something new that I'll have to get used to."

A voice she hadn't wanted to hear was like brittle glass scraping against sharp craggy rock.

"Sire, Marianne can't see, how will she be an effective Queen on her own now? I would still take her hand in marriage, if she'd only but have me."

"Roland! Why of course..." the aging King was interuppted by the one they were discussing.

"No! I will not marry Roland! I'm strong enough alone."

"But Marianne, I don't want you to be alone."

"Nor do I," Dawn whispered, "but I also want you to be happy."

"And Roland does not make me happy."

She was sure Roland was frowing and trying to think of a way to turn things to his advantage, but she wasn't about to let him. She got up, using her hands to find things and people. "I promise if I find someone who takes my hand and doesn't make me want to hit them, then, I'll consider it. But that guy doesn't exist."

"Maybe if you got out more," her father started.

Roland, "Theres' no one who loves Marianne enough."

Dawn frowned, she could hear it in her voice if not actually see it, "Yet." She'd never see her beloved sisters expressions again.

Marianne grumbled and walked toward the door, finding the handle only by making sure she used her hand to find things and the toes of her shoes slow and careful as was possible.

She could fight blind folded with a sword and so her sword she went to find. The sprites could help her bathe and change into fresh clean clothes and makeup.

Maybe what Roland said was true. Blind, she could not be an effective Queen. But there was another princess.

Once outside, refreshed with the help of the sprites she kept to the ground, too afraid to fly sightless as yet.

"Marianne!"

"Sunny! Just the elf I was hoping to find."

"Yeah?"

"I need you to do something for me?"

"Oh? What?"

"Watch and protect Dawn for me. Don't let her marry Roland or anyone like him."

"But I thought... Roland was after you?"

"He is... he was. But I'm leaving the Fairy Kingdom for awhile. Dawn will be a better Queen. What use am I to our kingdom if I can't see?"

"Don't talk nonsense Marianne. Wait!? What? What do you mean you can't see?"

"I've been blinded. An accident. Something meant for the one it was gifted to. Now please, promise that you'll help Dawn?"

"Always."

"And..."

"And?"

"Don't tell anyone that I've gone. Don't mention you've seen me. You may tell Dawn, but swear her to secrecy first."

"You're not going forever, are you?"

She shrugged, "I don't... I don't know."

"But, where will you go?"

She turned to where the cooler air came from, toward the shadows and lifted her sword and pointed toward a place that no other individual in their kingdom ever dared to go.

"The Dark Forest!? Are you crazy!?"

"I can only see darkness now Sunny. I'm not afraid of them. I can still take care of myself. It might be a little harder, but with all the blind fold practice this past year, well... I'm pretty good. Don't worry. Just take care of Dawn for me."

"I will."

"And tell no one."

"I won't."

"Swear Dawn to secrecy. I know you two can't keep a secret from each other, but you're good at keeping them from everyone else."

"O-kay!"

With that said, she flew off toward the darkness where she could no longer feel the warmth of the sun wash over her. She'd always longed for adventure, but not like this, not for this reason. But her life lay in ruin, so there was nothing left to lose.