Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice. All rights belong to Higuchi Tachibana.

Author's Notes: This is my first story.

The Thief Princess

By: Green Mirth

Chapter One: Life of Thief

"Sumire, did you make sure that you put the poison in their drink?"

I nodded. That's Nonoko. Her alice saved us a lot of work. Just ask for a potion and she had it. If she didn't, then she'll make it. And she formulated any type of potions. I meant it. Anything. Once, we needed to impede a whole army of soldiers that serve the evil lord. We simply planted one of her poisons in their water source and Alas! Problem solved.

"But it should've started affecting them a minute ago" I clearly saw worry etched all over her face. If the poison didn't work, we're dead. Good thing we're well hidden now by Yu's illusion. But I don't guarantee it'll hold up forever.

"Don't worry Nonoko, I'm sure they'll start showing up soon. Besides I can still hold this illusion." Yu comforted. Yu's alice served as our safety gear. He created illusions that don't just look real; you can also feel and touch them. But just like all things on Earth, his alice had limitations and he's about to reach the end of it. I just knew.

Now, now, you might be wondering what this talk was all about. First, we all attained the title of being a thief. Not those lowly thieves who get caught. We were highly skilled and trained thieves. With or without alices, we can still manage.

Second, we did this for the poor people of this kingdom - Yes, just like Robin Hood we gave them away - anonymously. Fine (to be honest) we did take something for ourselves too, but hey we're human like them. We needed it, the way they do.

And lastly, our mission focused on stealing this troupe's gold bars, silver coins, jewelries and anything that got worth. That was our plan. But it looked like these mongrels will give us a hard time.

"Hey, seems as though these thugs won't show any signs of being affected by the poison anytime soon. What are we going to do?" From above Kitsunume, our fourth and last member, asked. He had the alice of flying. It proved to be very useful when we have to track down people, find food and know if anyone followed us. He trained to be a great archer which made him a deadly spy.

"Guys listen, Yu's illusion can't last forever, which means we have to either fight them or stand by and let them kill us. Surely you guys don't want option number two. So we'll fight. Yu, keep us all hidden until we start to attack. Nonoko, give Kitsunume another vial of the poison." Nonoko took out a green vial from her satchel and handed it to Kitsunume.

"Kitsuneme, do the usual poison your arrows, go up there and be our eyes."

"Aye, aye" He flew up and positioned himself (in a sturdy oak branch) away from their victim's prying eyes.

"You ready Nonoko?" I asked.

"Hai." Her simple response as she took out her swords.

"It's time to show them what we got."

This was how I live. Steal, give some of it away, run from pursuers, hide from pursuers, sleep, eat and breathe till the cycle repeated over again. There were times I questioned myself if I'm really living or I just merely exist.

So, if I'm given the chance to choose my fate, I would definitely accept and change everything. From the evil lord, that ruled this land down to the poorest peasant who thrived in the very same land.

But, there never was a choice, much less a chance.

If I had known the future or knew who I really am, I wouldn't be thinking this way. I don't know if it's bad that I didn't.

"Mama, why is papa so sick?"

"Your father has a frail heart Sumire."

"Is that why he's always lying in a bed and bad-smelling healers come to our house."

"Yes dear but they're not that bad. It's the medical herbs they use that stink."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. Now go to sleep."

"Mama, am I just a child?"

"You're only six, of course you're a child"

"You're lying. Grandma told me I'm a cursed child. And that papa is not really my papa. She told me I'm

the reason why her son is suffering."

"Sumire, don't believe in whatever your grandma says. He is your papa. You are not cursed. You are special. Remember that sweetie."

"But why am I different? Nobody likes me!"

"Don't cry baby. I like you, your papa likes you too. Even Cheslie likes you so much."

"You are my parents and all parents like their children. And Cheslie is our cat. How could you tell me she likes me when animals don't speak? See Mama you're lying again."

"I'm not. And when you like somebody it doesn't mean you have to shout it aloud or even say it. You just have to let them feel it."

"That's it?"

The sun went past the mountains already. I feel tired. And the bruise on my left arm stung a bit. I got it earlier from the sluggish mongrel that still did put up a fight when all his comrades left him in fear of us.

As I said earlier we're not lowly thieves. We're highly skilled and acquired a bit fame too. We're not the best but I'm sure we're part of the upper bracket.

Maybe his comrades didn't tell him who we are, I feel sorry for him. Well, in the end Nonoko's poison did work and killed the stupid mongrel. We got the goods, now labeled as stolen goods, currently spent by the peasants who live in a small settlement we passed.

"Hey Sumire, we're going in the river. Nonoko needs some kind of tree sap and water for her potions and Kitsunume and I will go get some water, you coming?"

"No, I'll just guard our things." Yu took a tree branch and strolled towards the river.

"Okay."

I looked at the sky. It's darker now so the moon's visible together with some stars.

Stars

It's a five letter word that goes along with a lot of meanings. To stargazers, it's their world. Without it, they'd just be gazers (Gazers of what?) See? That's why it's their world.

To the elders who study them, it's a massive ball of heat-giving stone. And the twinkle we see at night is merely a reflection of the light they gave off thousands and thousands of years ago. In fact, they even said that the star you see at night might already be dead, sucked up by the black hole and reduced to nothingness.

To the farmers, they served as their calendar for planting and harvest season.

For the lost people of the earth, they acted as maps. To those who knew how to read them that is.

And for five-year-olds, they glimmered like diamonds in the pitch black canvass of the night sky that would grant a wish as it fall. Hence they called it a wishing star.

And since I was a five-year-old once, I did wish every single time I could catch one falling. So, as it painted a silver line at the black canvass, I uttered my only wish.

My one single wish…

But, it never came true. No. Not even close.

In the deepest part of the forest, in a cave that held all that time had lost, a young lady sat with her eyes aglow. Her faint but audible voice was heard. As clear as the fresh memory of a child, who's eyes saw all that has been prophesied.

"Tonight, as the sun disappears,

the six thousand five hundredth moon appears."

Indistinct murmurs of the woods hindered anyone from hearing her but the Evil Lord who sat in his throne, miles away from this cave, seemed to know what she said and chanted with her.

"Dreadful night comes closer," he uttered with an evil glint in his eyes. He looked downright scary that his officials and servants shifted from their position.

Hi I'm new here (kind of). I'm a silent reader if that's how you call a person who reads other person's stories and just read. But, now that a new madness is going on I got inspired so tell me what you think. If my story is boring or not or writing a story doesn't fit me. Anything, as long as you review my story. Pretty please? MAY MADNESS is the reason why this story is published. You should reason it too and publish your story. Have a great day!

-G. Mirth