Snow White and the Seven. . .CURSED!?
Shadow Knight
Chapter 1:
Disclaimer: I don't own the wonderful work by Rumiko Takahashi. . .she does. ^_^
~
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful land that had. . . let's cut to the chase. . . .
~
"Kimiko. . . you're as beautiful as ever my dear," whispered the raven haired king to his beloved wife.
Reaching a hand to her large belly, she rubbed it lightly, smiling up at her husband. "Soun. . .don't worry. The baby will be here soon. I know it."
Sighing, Soun ran a nervous hand through is hair. Looking back to his queen, he smiled. "Of course. I have to go tend to some affairs, but I'll be back soon."
"I'll be waiting dear," sighed Kimiko as gave Soun a light peck on his cheek.
As he left her chamber, she frowned sadly and turned back to her sewing, slowly running the needle through the sheet, her mind distracted. Because of her disturbance, she wasn't looking where the needle was coming up through.
"Ouch!"
Looking down at her thumb, she saw a swell of blood spurt from her finger and fall down outside the window. Peering over quietly, she saw that her cut had stained the snow outside in a dark. . .
"Scarlet. . Wait a second!" Jumping up slightly, Kimiko smiled happily. Looking down at her stomach, she rubbed it tenderly, knowing the child that laid inside her womb. "Akane. . that's what I'll call you. Akane Tendo. ."
Happy with her new name for her child, she resumed sewing. She couldn't wait to tell Soun what his new princess' name would be.
~
2 months later. . .
Soun wringed his hands anxiously as he paced around the stone floor, his shoes clicking in the silent corridor. Sitting back down in the wicker chair, he was immediately up once again, relentless in his pacing. Under his breath he continued to mutter, "Kimiko" as if it were a mantra.
Just when he couldn't take it anymore, the brown skirt of the nurse peeked from behind the heavy wooden door. He nearly jumped and pulled her out from behind the door, his excitement barely contained. Pulling the nurse's small hand into his large, clammy ones, he looked into the woman's eyes, his enthusiasm barely contained.
"Well? How is she? How's my baby? Is she okay? Is Kimiko okay? Please tell me? Please? Woman, talk! I must know! Fine, if you won't tell me, I'll go see her myself."
Just when he was about to pull the wooden door open, the nurse suddenly latched onto his arm, her grip tight and fierce. He looked down, shocked. Not from her clasp, but rather from the fact that a peasant woman such as herself would dare to touch royalty.
Yet, as he looked into her eyes, he knew that something was wrong. He could tell from the fear that stained her normally bright eyes. He was surprised when he saw tears brim over the edge of her eyes, pouring down her cheeks. "Please sire," she whimpered, "don't go in there. Please!"
Calmly, he took hold of her tattered clothed shoulders. Looking her directly in the eyes, he gulped and whispered, "Why? What's the matter?"
The nurse sputtered and bit back a sob, choking her voice as she spoke to him. "The baby. . the baby is fine. . but. . .but."
Bursting into tears, she slid out of his grasp and onto the floor, a horrible cry clawing from her throat. Soun felt his hands fall to his sides. Deftly he looked down at the nurse, writhing at his feet, hiccupping with broken cries. Silently, he raised his numb fingers to the door and opened it, ignoring the clasp at his ankles from the nurse, trying to hold him back.
No one could miss the screams of agony came from Tendo Castle.
~
5 years later. . .
"So this is the Princess Akane I've heard so much about. She's. . .darling."
Staring through her honey colored eyes, the little girl glowered at the older woman. She tried to flinch away from the lady's cold grip as she clutched her jaw in her hand. But she was stronger than a five-year-old girl.
"Yes, this is my only daughter. She's my pride and joy."
Akane slipped out of the woman's grip as her hold slackened. As quickly as her small legs could carry her, she ran over to her father and clutched his robe, hiding behind the folds of material. She glared hatefully at the woman.
Suddenly, strong, warm arms snagged her up. She giggled and wiggled, knowing exactly who her captor was. Snuggling close to his chest, she breathed in the forestry scent of her father, enjoying the essence of pine and the wind.
Suddenly, she found herself back on the ground, standing on her feet and faced forward toward the cold lady. Looking at her father, she reached her hands up, wanting to be held, away from this awful woman.
When her father shook his head lightly, she sighed and looked evilly at the woman, her arms crossing against her chest. She wasn't going to let this woman steal her daddy away. Clasping her shoulders lightly, she heard her father rumble out, "Well, I hope that I will see you again sometime Ms. Ninomiya. It's been a pleasure."
With a sly smile Ms. Ninomiya held out her hand to Soun. Bowing down he kissed it lightly as any polite gentleman would. Akane simply stuck out her tongue in disgust. How could he touch her?
"I'm sure we'll be seeing each other _much_ more often."
Akane pulled her eyelid down and stuck her tongue out at the woman's retreating back. Hugging her father's legs, she smiled. Good riddance to that lady, she thought, I'll never see that witch again.
How wrong she was.
~
11 years later. . .
"AKANE!!! Where's my bath water?!"
"I'M COMING!" Yelling at the top of her lungs to the high window of the stone tower, the young girl rolled up her ragged sleeves and began pulling the well's rotting rope. Slowly, but steadily, the well's wooden bucket made its way up, sloshing full of water. When it finally reached the top, Akane grabbed the bucket and hauled it over the stone rim, careful not to spill any of the precious water.
Quickly she made her way up to the tower. When she finally reached the top step, she dumped the water in the steel tub sitting by the wall. Then, as speedily as she could, she grabbed the bucket and ran down the stairs in blinding speed.
Jumping out the door, she pressed her back to the wall and listened carefully. Suddenly she heard a high-pitched shriek issue from the high window. She began to snicker to herself, patting her back for her great ruse.
"Akane! Get your ass up here you spoiled little brat!"
Akane's eyes widened and she ran across the stone courtyard and behind a nearby tree. She held her breath and closed her eyes for a moment, knowing that her stepmother, Queen Hinako Ninomiya (Ranma and Akane's morphing teacher at school. . ) was looking for her. She felt a drip of sweat roll down her forehead as she felt the burning gaze on the tree, as if she were piercing through it.
"Stupid brat. I'll find that retched girl and show her how funny that was."
After a few moments, Akane peered out from behind the tree. Seeing that the queen wasn't there, she sighed and slipped out. Combing through her long hair with her slim fingers, she went and sat on the stone steps of the courtyard. "I'm so tired of this," she whispered to herself, "I shouldn't be afraid of that woman. And I wouldn't be if. . if Dad was still alive."
Raising a hand to her face, she swiped at a tear. She couldn't let that witch see her tears. They showed her weaknesses. She dug into her pocket and pulled out her only possession that her stepmother hadn't stolen and burned. She had kept it hidden.
It was her mother's locket.
Clutching it close her face, she pressed her lips lightly against its smooth surface. She had never known her mother, but she still loved her. Opening it, she smiled at the two faces inside. One side held her mother, while the other held her father's broad face. Both were beautiful and wonderful to her.
Closing the locket, she tenderly placed it back in her pocket and grabbed her rag from her pocket. Grabbing the forgotten bucket on the steps, she walked to the fountain. "I've got a lot of work to do, so I better get started," she mumbled to no one.
With her water bucket full, she got on her hands and knees and began scrubbing the stone ground. Scrubbing away at the stones, she began to whistle to herself, trying to break the silence. Yet, because of her whistling, she didn't notice the two blue-gray gray eyes that watched her calmly from behind a bush.
~
Henceforth began this young girl's adventure and that of the many friends she met.
~
Yeah! I'm done! Oh, don't worry, this will get funnier. I guarantee it! ^_^ I just had to make the first chapter kind of sad and all cause that's the way it starts. . . but it will get funny!
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it! This is a new idea inspired by another fanfic author who is doing something similar. . . but different. Please review if you liked it! That's what's going to keep this story going. I'm going to try to include ALL of the characters. The main ones, of course, but the minor, I'll try.
Well, I'm out of things to say. Ciao. ^_~
Shadow Knight
Chapter 1:
Disclaimer: I don't own the wonderful work by Rumiko Takahashi. . .she does. ^_^
~
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful land that had. . . let's cut to the chase. . . .
~
"Kimiko. . . you're as beautiful as ever my dear," whispered the raven haired king to his beloved wife.
Reaching a hand to her large belly, she rubbed it lightly, smiling up at her husband. "Soun. . .don't worry. The baby will be here soon. I know it."
Sighing, Soun ran a nervous hand through is hair. Looking back to his queen, he smiled. "Of course. I have to go tend to some affairs, but I'll be back soon."
"I'll be waiting dear," sighed Kimiko as gave Soun a light peck on his cheek.
As he left her chamber, she frowned sadly and turned back to her sewing, slowly running the needle through the sheet, her mind distracted. Because of her disturbance, she wasn't looking where the needle was coming up through.
"Ouch!"
Looking down at her thumb, she saw a swell of blood spurt from her finger and fall down outside the window. Peering over quietly, she saw that her cut had stained the snow outside in a dark. . .
"Scarlet. . Wait a second!" Jumping up slightly, Kimiko smiled happily. Looking down at her stomach, she rubbed it tenderly, knowing the child that laid inside her womb. "Akane. . that's what I'll call you. Akane Tendo. ."
Happy with her new name for her child, she resumed sewing. She couldn't wait to tell Soun what his new princess' name would be.
~
2 months later. . .
Soun wringed his hands anxiously as he paced around the stone floor, his shoes clicking in the silent corridor. Sitting back down in the wicker chair, he was immediately up once again, relentless in his pacing. Under his breath he continued to mutter, "Kimiko" as if it were a mantra.
Just when he couldn't take it anymore, the brown skirt of the nurse peeked from behind the heavy wooden door. He nearly jumped and pulled her out from behind the door, his excitement barely contained. Pulling the nurse's small hand into his large, clammy ones, he looked into the woman's eyes, his enthusiasm barely contained.
"Well? How is she? How's my baby? Is she okay? Is Kimiko okay? Please tell me? Please? Woman, talk! I must know! Fine, if you won't tell me, I'll go see her myself."
Just when he was about to pull the wooden door open, the nurse suddenly latched onto his arm, her grip tight and fierce. He looked down, shocked. Not from her clasp, but rather from the fact that a peasant woman such as herself would dare to touch royalty.
Yet, as he looked into her eyes, he knew that something was wrong. He could tell from the fear that stained her normally bright eyes. He was surprised when he saw tears brim over the edge of her eyes, pouring down her cheeks. "Please sire," she whimpered, "don't go in there. Please!"
Calmly, he took hold of her tattered clothed shoulders. Looking her directly in the eyes, he gulped and whispered, "Why? What's the matter?"
The nurse sputtered and bit back a sob, choking her voice as she spoke to him. "The baby. . the baby is fine. . but. . .but."
Bursting into tears, she slid out of his grasp and onto the floor, a horrible cry clawing from her throat. Soun felt his hands fall to his sides. Deftly he looked down at the nurse, writhing at his feet, hiccupping with broken cries. Silently, he raised his numb fingers to the door and opened it, ignoring the clasp at his ankles from the nurse, trying to hold him back.
No one could miss the screams of agony came from Tendo Castle.
~
5 years later. . .
"So this is the Princess Akane I've heard so much about. She's. . .darling."
Staring through her honey colored eyes, the little girl glowered at the older woman. She tried to flinch away from the lady's cold grip as she clutched her jaw in her hand. But she was stronger than a five-year-old girl.
"Yes, this is my only daughter. She's my pride and joy."
Akane slipped out of the woman's grip as her hold slackened. As quickly as her small legs could carry her, she ran over to her father and clutched his robe, hiding behind the folds of material. She glared hatefully at the woman.
Suddenly, strong, warm arms snagged her up. She giggled and wiggled, knowing exactly who her captor was. Snuggling close to his chest, she breathed in the forestry scent of her father, enjoying the essence of pine and the wind.
Suddenly, she found herself back on the ground, standing on her feet and faced forward toward the cold lady. Looking at her father, she reached her hands up, wanting to be held, away from this awful woman.
When her father shook his head lightly, she sighed and looked evilly at the woman, her arms crossing against her chest. She wasn't going to let this woman steal her daddy away. Clasping her shoulders lightly, she heard her father rumble out, "Well, I hope that I will see you again sometime Ms. Ninomiya. It's been a pleasure."
With a sly smile Ms. Ninomiya held out her hand to Soun. Bowing down he kissed it lightly as any polite gentleman would. Akane simply stuck out her tongue in disgust. How could he touch her?
"I'm sure we'll be seeing each other _much_ more often."
Akane pulled her eyelid down and stuck her tongue out at the woman's retreating back. Hugging her father's legs, she smiled. Good riddance to that lady, she thought, I'll never see that witch again.
How wrong she was.
~
11 years later. . .
"AKANE!!! Where's my bath water?!"
"I'M COMING!" Yelling at the top of her lungs to the high window of the stone tower, the young girl rolled up her ragged sleeves and began pulling the well's rotting rope. Slowly, but steadily, the well's wooden bucket made its way up, sloshing full of water. When it finally reached the top, Akane grabbed the bucket and hauled it over the stone rim, careful not to spill any of the precious water.
Quickly she made her way up to the tower. When she finally reached the top step, she dumped the water in the steel tub sitting by the wall. Then, as speedily as she could, she grabbed the bucket and ran down the stairs in blinding speed.
Jumping out the door, she pressed her back to the wall and listened carefully. Suddenly she heard a high-pitched shriek issue from the high window. She began to snicker to herself, patting her back for her great ruse.
"Akane! Get your ass up here you spoiled little brat!"
Akane's eyes widened and she ran across the stone courtyard and behind a nearby tree. She held her breath and closed her eyes for a moment, knowing that her stepmother, Queen Hinako Ninomiya (Ranma and Akane's morphing teacher at school. . ) was looking for her. She felt a drip of sweat roll down her forehead as she felt the burning gaze on the tree, as if she were piercing through it.
"Stupid brat. I'll find that retched girl and show her how funny that was."
After a few moments, Akane peered out from behind the tree. Seeing that the queen wasn't there, she sighed and slipped out. Combing through her long hair with her slim fingers, she went and sat on the stone steps of the courtyard. "I'm so tired of this," she whispered to herself, "I shouldn't be afraid of that woman. And I wouldn't be if. . if Dad was still alive."
Raising a hand to her face, she swiped at a tear. She couldn't let that witch see her tears. They showed her weaknesses. She dug into her pocket and pulled out her only possession that her stepmother hadn't stolen and burned. She had kept it hidden.
It was her mother's locket.
Clutching it close her face, she pressed her lips lightly against its smooth surface. She had never known her mother, but she still loved her. Opening it, she smiled at the two faces inside. One side held her mother, while the other held her father's broad face. Both were beautiful and wonderful to her.
Closing the locket, she tenderly placed it back in her pocket and grabbed her rag from her pocket. Grabbing the forgotten bucket on the steps, she walked to the fountain. "I've got a lot of work to do, so I better get started," she mumbled to no one.
With her water bucket full, she got on her hands and knees and began scrubbing the stone ground. Scrubbing away at the stones, she began to whistle to herself, trying to break the silence. Yet, because of her whistling, she didn't notice the two blue-gray gray eyes that watched her calmly from behind a bush.
~
Henceforth began this young girl's adventure and that of the many friends she met.
~
Yeah! I'm done! Oh, don't worry, this will get funnier. I guarantee it! ^_^ I just had to make the first chapter kind of sad and all cause that's the way it starts. . . but it will get funny!
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it! This is a new idea inspired by another fanfic author who is doing something similar. . . but different. Please review if you liked it! That's what's going to keep this story going. I'm going to try to include ALL of the characters. The main ones, of course, but the minor, I'll try.
Well, I'm out of things to say. Ciao. ^_~