The Bunny Princess
Prologue
A long time ago there was a beautiful kingdom known as Lunaria. It was a pure land of peace and tranquillity and was known for its beautiful crystal like buildings and white cherry blossom trees. Another thing that this land was well known for were its rulers, the noble King Helios and his fair Queen Selenity who were respected and adored by their subjects and they were described as the greatest rulers of their generation.
King Helios was a great leader as well as a very wise and intelligent man. He was tall and strong, with golden blonde hair and eyes of cerulean blue that showed his great wisdom. He had sun kissed, golden tanned skin and wore his kingdoms colours of silver and white with pride as his pearl and diamond-encrusted crown sat graciously atop his head. His Queen Selenity was a complete contrast to her beloved king when it came to physical appearance. Whereas Helios was a tall, well built, handsome man, Selenity was slender, grace and poise all rolled into one. Many had described her as a Goddess that descended from the heavens and she had the looks to prove it. Her skin was as white as fine alabaster porcelain and was like silk to touch.
Selenity's hair was of the purest silver and was tied up in the traditional royal style they called "bunny ears" it consisted of two neat buns atop her head with the rest flowing in two long streams of shimmering silk waves down her back just brushing the floor with a fringe and tendrils of delicate silver curls framing her lovely angel like face. Her eyes were a mix of silver and soft lavender and her body was very slender with petite, slender hands and feet, fingers and toes as well as delicate curves in all the right places for a lady. Just as her King did, Selenity wore her kingdom's colours of silver and white with pride, wearing gowns of the purest white silks and silver satins that clung to her ethereal like figure in all the right places as well as wearing her crown of pearl and diamond encrusted silver atop her head. Another unique, defining feature that the Queen had was a small silver crescent moon in the middle of her forehead that shimmered with its own ethereal glow as if to give a hint to an inner power known to no one other then the Queen herself.
Together they ruled fairly and justly gaining much respect and many friends in the process. Although the great king and queen had everything their hearts desired there was still one thing that they so desperately wanted. They longed for a child to call their own, not only to be their next heir to the throne but to love and cherish together as a family. Alas as many times as they had tried the poor Queen had still not conceived a child of her own and often prayed to the Goddess of their fair land to grant her wish "Please almighty Selene hear my prayer!" Selenity sobbed on autumn night before bed "I know you have blessed Helios and I with so much but I beg of you, please let us have a child of our own, I will ask for nothing more of you I would just like a little child to love and call my own"
Finally in summer of the following year, Queen Selenity's prayers were answered when she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Princess Serenity. The entire kingdom rejoiced as the King and Queen stepped out on to their grand palace balcony to present a little princess with silver curls and white alabaster skin like her mother's with the same small silver crescent moon in the centre of her forehead but the cerulean blue eyes of her father. The King and Queen adored their beloved daughter and spent every moment of their spare time showering her with their utmost love and affection but their happiness was not to last.
Somewhere to the south of this glorious kingdom of enchanting beauty, magic and peace was the land known as Shadonia, a dark and desolate kingdom full of black magic and wicked sorcery that could cause the greatest of peril. This kingdom was under the control of its, evil ruler Queen Metalia, a twisted and bitter woman, who was known as the darkest most powerful sorceress of them all. She prided herself on her keen thirst for power and wanted nothing more than to gain the powers of her neighbouring kingdoms and become the most powers ruler in the world.
The only thing the evil Queen wanted more than great power was to have King Helios of Lunaria as her very own King. She had grown a deep and dark obsession with him and despised the fair Queen Selenity for claiming what she felt should have been hers. Determined to destroy, Selenity's happiness and gain everything she strived to achieve, Queen Metalia spent most of her time locked away in her dark palace of shadows, conjuring up a wicked plan to over throw Queen Selenity's happy life style once and for all.
Two years went by and little Princess Serenity was the spitting image of her mother with the traditional royal "Bunny ears" hairstyle that at the moment looked like small buns, as her hair wasn't quite long enough yet and had those ever-adorable blue eyes that her father was so well known for having. It was coming for the child second birthday and the Queen had taken a brief trip across to the neighbouring kingdom of Terra. Her Governess and trusted adviser Luna accompanied them in order to keep an eye on Serenity, who was curiously taking in the plush greens and blues of the Terran lands, pointing every now and then gasping excitedly, saying " Luna lookie"
Ascending the Terra palace steps, Queen Selenity, Lady Luna and little Serenity were greeted at the door by King Damien in royal colours of green blue and gold with a crown to match. He had ebony black hair, purple eyes and he was also strong much like Serenity's father was but a little taller and a golden tanned complexion.
Beside him was his beautiful Queen and Selenity's dearest friend Queen Gaea. She was a beauty with long flowing black hair with a crown of precious gold, emerald and sapphires upon her head, deep cobalt blue eyes and light olive toned skin. She was slender and petite in the same ways as Selenity was in her kingdoms colours of green blue and gold. Beside her were her small son Prince Endymion and little girl Raye. The little boy was about four years old with midnight black hair and cobalt blue eyes like his mother in a deep blue dress shirt, black trousers and dress shoes. The little girl was about Serenity's age with long flowing black hair that shimmered purple in the sun, her eyes were amethyst purple much like that of her father's but had the skin tone of her mother dressed in a lovely little red dress.
Queen Selenity greeted the awaiting Queen with a big smile and embraced her like a sister "Gaea it's so good to see you again"
"The feeling is mutual Selenity, we really need to see more of each other" Gaea chuckled hugging her friend.
Selenity turned to the King and asked "And how are things with you King Damien?"
"Very well my dear Queen, and where may I ask is your King?" Damien asked with a welcoming smile
"I'm afraid he had some matters of state to attend to but he sends his regards to you Damien and he promises to come straight here once he is finished" Selenity chuckled as she embraced her friends.
Just then Selenity caught a glimpse of her little princess out of the corner of her eye. She was hiding shyly behind Lady Luna whilst her curious little eyes wondered around the Palace surroundings. King Damien and Queen Gaea couldn't help but smile as Prince Endymion approached the little princess to say hello only to have her hide behind Luna completely.
Queen Selenity smiled as she linked arms with Gaea and said "So shall we continue what we were discussing in our recent letter, dear Gaea?"
"You mean the betrothal plans" Gaea smiled as she watched her son coax the little princess out and start to play a little game with her and his sister Raye "I couldn't think of a better idea myself"
With that they disappeared into the Terran palace to finalise the plans and draw up a betrothal agreement.
Just as they had finished dinner King Helios arrived and greeted his wife and dear friends in their drawing room.
"It is good to see you my dear friends has everything been arranged" King Helios asked as he gave his wife a loving kiss
"Yes everything for the betrothal has been settled now all we have to do is wait for the time to come" King Damien chuckled as Gaea sighed "Oh I can't wait I wish it would come now"
"Patience, dear Gaea you're wishing their childhood to pass by too soon" Queen Selenity laughed "They are but mere babies at this time"
"Yes but time does fly fast and we'll have plenty of time to get them to fall for one and other" King Helios chuckled as he heard the little giggles from behind their couch "Right now though I can hear this funny noise coming from somewhere"
The Queen heard them too and played along with it "Really Helios what is it?"
Damien and Helios snuck around the couch that Queen Selenity was sat on and said "Well I'm not sure darling but if I had to guess I'd say it was" just then both Helios and Damien scooped up two giggling little princesses in their arms "Two little girls up passed bed time"
Gaea let out a surprised gasp as Prince Endymion jumped out from behind the couch she was sitting on with a loud shout "Rawr!"
Catching Endymion in her arms, Queen Gaea proceeded to tickle her son "It seems we have a little Prince out of bed too darling"
"Ok little ones it's time you were in bed asleep!" Lady Luna said sternly as she entered the room.
Queen Selenity chuckled "It's alright Luna, we'll put them to bed"
"Not so fast!" said King Helios, pulling a little box out from behind his back "I have a little gift for our darling little daughter"
Handing the small box to Queen Selenity, the Queen opened the little box to find a beautiful little silver pendant that consisted of a large moonstone with a silver bunny at the centre of it, on the back was inscribed with the words "To our beautiful precious treasure and we will love you always"
Tears of happiness began to form in Selenity's eyes as she gave her King a loving kiss "It's beautiful, Helios she will love it"
"It is just a small display of the love I have for both of you" King Helios said taking Selenity into a loving embrace as he continued on to say "And of course I did not forget you my darling"
Pulling out another small box, Helios opened it and presented his queen with a stunning ring with a magnificent silver crystal at its centre encircled by a small crown of pearls. Within the small crystal there was a small white cherry blossom embedded inside. Queen Selenity smiled lovingly at her King and said "You do not have to shower me with gifts every time you go away on business"
King Helios chuckled "Don't have to but like to my love"
Little Serenity let out an audible yawn as the King and Queen were about to kiss again. The all laughed at the little princess's timing and with that Selenity took Princess Serenity into her arms and set off towards the children's bed chambers followed by Gaea, Endymion and Princess Raye.
All ready for bed in her cotton night gown and clutching her beloved stuffed bunny, King Helios placed a sleeping little Serenity in her bed, Queen Selenity open a small golden star locket that played a soothing little melody that put the little princess straight to sleep as King Helios placed the pendant around his little girl's neck and gave her a loving kiss on the forehead whispering gently "Goodnight my angel"
"Sweet dreams my little bunny" Queen Selenity whispered as she placed a kiss on her daughter's head.
Thinking nothing but loving thoughts of their daughter and the future they had planned for her, King Helios and Queen Selenity retired to their bedchamber dreaming of the wedding that would one day take place.
What they didn't know was that a dark figure was aiming to destroy their happiness.
The next morning Lady Luna entered the room to wake the sleeping Princess. Opening the door to Princess Serenity's bed chamber, Luna proceeded to call in "Morning little Princess, it's time to join your parents for breakfast"
Looking at the bed Lady Luna panicked when she found Serenity was not in her bed. As she looked under and around the bed Luna kept calling to the princess but received no answer. "Please little bunny this isn't funny anymore, where are you?" Luna called out worriedly when she suddenly felt a breeze of the morning's chilled air brushed passed her. She turned to find the balcony doors had been smashed down and a piece of black fabric and a piece of cotton from Serenity's night gown were found hanging on one of the jagged pieces of glass. Fear rose in her heart as Lady Luna raced down to the royal dining room rushing over to the Queen "The Princess…the princess is gone!"
Frantically the fair Queen rushed to her baby daughter's bedchamber calling her name. "Serenity? Serenity, darling where are you? Please come here to mama now"
King Helios looked out on the balcony where the glass doors had been smashed through. He looked around to see any other signs of outside entry when something caught his eye. He picked it up and went inside to his wife as fearful tears fell from her eyes she cried "She has to be in here, we left her sleeping right here" Selenity tearfully gestured to the bed.
King Helios sadly pulled out what he had found on the balcony as he said "All I found of her was this"
Selenity took what Helios had found into her hands. It was the silver pendant that King Helios had given to her just last night before putting her to bed. Holding it tightly to her, Selenity cried out painfully as both she and her King realised their dear daughter was gone.