Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit work of fanfiction. Princess Resurrection/Kaibutsu Oujo is owned by Yasunori Mistunaga, Del Rey Manga, Kodansha, and Studio Madhouse. Please support the official release!

Author Note: Hello guys, long time no see (so to speak)! It's me Raza and I'm back bringing with me my Princess Resurrection spin-off! Hooray! Bet no one saw that coming huh? Haha!

Okay, so first things first. For those of you who didn't know, this is actually a rewrite of the first chapter I uploaded because honestly, I felt like the first two updates didn't quite capture what I had in mind—chapter one in particular was a bit of a disappoint. It just felt kind of slow and, at times, a bit mechanical. With any luck, this rewrite will be a whole heck of a lot more fluid, epic and enjoyable to read. I certainly hope you guys think so and as always sorry for the delay. Leave me a review if you can and let me know if I did any better, especially if you're a returning fan! Thanks guys! Enjoy! Oh and HAPPY 2016!

Princess Rising:

Chapter One: Enter Princess of Misfortune:

By: Raza Stanza

Opening Theme: Murder Princess Opening OST—Hikari Sasuhou by Back-On

Location Unknown, Era Unknown…

"The enemy is flanking!" Kubo screamed as a cannonball whizzed past his head. "Phoenixes be praised!" The young man gasped brushing a bloody hand through his muddy hair.

BAAAAAAANG! The ghastly shot blew up behind him.

"DAMN IT!" Kubo howled falling to his knees. He tossed his head over his shoulders. He shouldn't have done that. It was a reflex sure, but he shouldn't have done that because there he saw his men, the young brave rookies he'd all but held in his arms not two days ago as the cannonball meant for him took them instead.

One of the boys, Glor, son of the great warrior Glim, was a peculiar redhead of a werewolf. He had an odd tendency to pick his nose whenever he belched and sing nursery rhymes whenever he peed. He took the cannonball head-on and half of his rib cage was gone. Just gone, before he could even transform, before he could even shout, just gone… like it was never even there to begin with…

Kubo threw up. Mostly stomach acid since he hadn't eaten in days, and the last thing he had eaten was half a rotten potato. It didn't help that he knew the boy, even kissed his knuckles for good luck—a great blessing in that day and age, for a werewolf at any rate.

"P-Phoenixes!" Kubo trembled spitting up phlegm as he looked around for something to drink, just something to take the awful taste out of his mouth. Unfortunately a gunshot the night before yesterdays had torn a hole through his water pouch. He hadn't had a good drink since.

Up ahead he saw a muddy puddle stomped into the ground in the shape of a boot. It wasn't ideal, but he was thirsty and so moving quick-quick, he cupped his hands and drank what little he could before more ghastly sounds caught his attention.

"DEVIL KNIGHT!" He heard a snarling voice barrel toward him. He looked up and this time he saw an enemy werewolf running through the ranks. He was badly wounded, a fresh cut hole where his right eye ought to be, but he didn't slow down as he charged Kubo head on.

"Tsst!" The young man scuffed as he, even in his semi-delirious state, sidestepped the warrior's claws with ease. Then, with unnatural dexterity, he went right into his enemy's (literal) blind spot plunging his sword deep into his spine.

"GAH!" The werewolf gurgled crashing to his knees. "For m-my son—!" He tried to say, but Kubo didn't let him finish as he moved his sword with ruthless precision and sent the wolf's head flying off into the battlefield.

The young man then sank to his own knees still choking on the vomit he hadn't quite spit up while doing his best not look back at his dead men he rather wished he hadn't seen. That's how his last few days had been going—horror after horror, tragedy after tragedy, enough misery to bankrupt a small nation.

The worst part about it was, he didn't have time to grieve. He didn't have time to cry, to just give up and die. There weren't enough hours in the day and tears were a luxury, kind of like food or water, or even a blanket to keep him warm at night when the battle was still raging on in the hills. No, all the young man could really do was move forward, and so move forward he did. Dusting himself off, though what little good that did, the handsome knight with his muddy black hair and his bloodshot brown eyes spat out the remaining bit of stomach acid he had in his mouth, and took off into a jog.

"C-Charlotte…" He muttered groggily as he clenched his sword tight. All around him, the world was up in arms. There was dirt beneath his feet but no roads. Perhaps there once was a path, but it had since faded beaten to a pulp by the sheer amount of footsteps that had trod upon it. Worse yet, and the air around him was foul. There was a perpetual stench of death about him, like something decaying had been set on fire. It was thick and oily, that even years from now after a hundred showers, Kubo could never hope to get that scent out of his skin. For now, he was more concerned about getting it out of his eyes. It burned him to the point of tears and it seemed to get worse the further he went.

Were it not for his supernatural sense of direction and that elusive spark few men have—luck as they call it—he would have failed to stop short of a lethal cliff. But he did stop, he did.

It was then that the sun in all its radiant splendor decided to grace the field with its presence. Breaking through it's cloudy prison, it brought with it sweeping winds and passing rain. The relief it provided Kubo as it entered his lungs and pitter-pattered across his face can only be described as a dream. Unfortunately, it quickly turned sour. That's when he saw it. A valley. Or at least that's what it should have been. Why? Because that's what his map said, that's what they told him was over here, that's what it was ten days ago, a valley… only, when his eyes finally adjusted, it was a sea he saw, not a valley.

A literal sea of people, their bodies clashing like waves, their swords echoing like thunder. Every time one of their formations broke or a line was routed, their movements were as the tide. It would have actually been quite breathtaking if not for the fact that thousands were dying every second. Kubo of all people knew that well. Worse and he knew that years from now, if he should survive the day, he would never be able to sleep again. He'd never truly escape this battlefield, here at the end of the World.

Yet all that quickly became secondary to the poor knight as his stare fell upon that which he feared most.

"Charlotte…" he thought weakly as there, on the far side of battle, the young warrior was forced to watch in horror as his Princess's war tent went up in flames. What once were proud free-flowing banners that stood for peace were now black trails of smoke that sent miles of toxic ash into the sky.

"Oh phoenixes no! Oh phoenixes no! CHARLOTTE!" Kubo screamed as he dove down a nearby slope and cannonballed into the sea…

Modern Day…

"Fuga? Fuga?" Flandre called as she entered into a very large room. The space was empty… or rather no there was no one there for the room itself was quite filled. In its middle for example, perhaps even its center; there lay a long beautiful mahogany table that sat sixteen though thirty two could fit. Fine wood panels and ornate Chinas lined the corners and painted the room. Yet to the sides and up the walls, the little maid looked all this over carefully as if inspecting for a very specific clue. She seemed to find what she was looking for as her eyes finally settled on an antique chair that'd been pulled out ever so slightly. "Fuga." She nodded before pushing the chair back into place. Giving one last look around, the cute little robomaid turned on her heel taking care not to spill the tea set she'd been balancing on one hand. She then exited the room closing the door behind her.

And so she went, down along a long bright corridor filled with many thick and glossy windows. The hallway was empty too, almost eerily so, that despite how large and decorated it was, as if it were meant for droves and droves of people, the only sounds the little maid heard were her own footsteps echoing quietly back to her.

Yet, for all that, it was not unnerving, not at all. It was actually kind of pleasant, quaintly so. There was a peace here, one that seeped its way into the floor and in your bones. A kind of restful waft filled the air. It thickened the dust, it closed your eyes, and just outside, as if in sync, the afternoon Sun blanketed the world in a sleepy orange hue.

"Fuga." The cute little maid cooed as she turned her head to look outside for even she had to notice. And indeed, even Flandre had to notice; that just below the swift sunset on the rolling hills and mountains, there in its white marble magnificence lay a courtyard of stone. Dots of people, or what must have been people, moved like ants from one side to the next and a few clouds blocked the view below potentially masking the many more, the people, as they went about their day winding down to the swift cooling rest that beckoned from the night. And then there were lights. Oh yes there were lights, the kind that glittered with glamour, that sparkled even in the presence of the Sun as the metropolis below lit up far into the desert before it.

A peaceful wind suddenly gusted by gently rattling the windows not doubt trying to cater to the needs of the face. That even up here at this elevation, the like that mountains could not reach, atop the World living in this Castle made for Gods, where a light frost clung permanently to the four corners of the windows, the wind blew gently as if out of respect, and it would be a comfort to any and all who felt it—like it was built and arranged by the grand architect that was Nature for the sole purpose of making you gasp.

Were it that the little maid had more time to process. Alas she had work to do. She always did but she never minded and so, getting back to it, she panned her head from side to side as she continued down the hall. Eventually, she came across the sound of paper being turned and the soft creasing of fabric beneath a fragile body. "Fuga." She called as she slowed up coming to the source—a slightly open room. She waited for a response but none ever came and so she did the only logical thing. She walked in anyway.

"Fufu… is that you Flandre?" A familiar female voice rang the instant the little robomaid made her way inside. Sure enough, there was the lady herself, there was Hime sitting all comfortably and beautifully at the center of the room. And she was beautiful; she was indeed. The years had been very kind to her though arguably they would never be against her. Such was the nature of her people after all. That even after all these years, even after all of her battles, not a single scar could be found anywhere on her body to say nothing for the lack of wrinkles, bags, and crow's feet that refused to comment on her face. She had, on the other hand, changed in one noticeable way. She had taken on a more mature figure having grown a bit in proportion and becoming a bit taller—the latter of which helped to accent her previously subtle curves.

Add to that her prim and proper posture mixed in with her usual indifferent smile and she gave off an overwhelming aura of wisdom, far more than she ever did before, and it showed in the room itself—like everything was touched and made better by her simple existence there.

To that end, all around her everything seemed to glow. There were stacks upon stacks of gilded books, some on the tables, some on the floor. They all just stood as proof of the time she spent pouring over them; in that room whose walls had shelves built into shelves of literature stretching up and upward toward a glass dome ceiling that appeared to touch the sky.

"Fuga?" The little blonde maid questioned as she walked over to pour her mistress a cup of tea, her voice and footsteps echoing as she moved across the great library.

"Nothing really." Hime responded as she finally glanced up. "I was just reading… that's all. It's been awhile since I've had a vacation… and it's given me time to read again. I'd almost forgotten how large father's library was—or rather I should say our library now…"

"Fuga?"

"Fufu nosy aren't we Flandre?"

"Fuga!"

"Now now, there's no need to get so defensive. I was only teasing, but if you must know, I was just reading up on some history…"

"Fuga?"

"That's right… history. After all…" Hime smirked as her gaze shifted back toward her maid, almost as if what she was about to say next was so damn important, it required direct eye-contact. "I am the King." And so it did. Hime said that. She said that so casually, and yet the way she smirked right afterward, the honest way her eyes narrowed, hell even the way Flandre blinked a few times with a satisfied glint in her robotic purple pupils… it was like a great roar that threatened to shake the heavens, rumble the castle on its way down for all things were resonant with those words wishing to reaffirm just how true they really were. "And so," she continued, "as you're King, I need to be aware of all of our affairs, past and present. Yet even saying that, there are things I still don't know… about this Kingdom… about the Phoenixes… about the beginning of the many different wars and grudges that we now have to contend with… like for instance did you know that there was a time when the werewolves and vampires weren't always at war?"

"Fuga?"

"I know shocking isn't it? Try telling that to Riza and Reiri. Fufu! But I digress." Hime chuckled reeling herself back in. "Perhaps more importantly, did you know that there was a time when the phoenixes were slaves? When there was no such thing as the Kingdom, and humans walked amongst us? Our world and there's, one in the same? Fufu… did you know there was even a time when Royal War wasn't always so… civilized?"

"Fuga Fuga?"

"Yes that is the word I meant to use. 'Civilized.' I understand if you don't know what I mean. I doubt the Professor installed a complete history of the Kingdom in your database. There are parts that even he doesn't know, that even the world has forgotten, but yes, we didn't always get to line up so nice and neatly just to kill one another…"

"…Fuga…"

"You think so? Perhaps that was rather callous of me… though maybe that's how it has to be… it is war we're talking about here… it's not exactly amicable even if it's sometimes necessary… yet even then, that's not always easy to see, and things get complicated…

So I'll admit I've never run from a fight. I'll even admit that there was some degree of order in the madness… our war was planned, assets were divided, servants were assigned, areas of neutrality and truces were agreed upon… our War was brutal, I will never deny that…" Hime trailed off as a swift melancholy washed over her. She quickly shrugged it off as she looked back at her staring maid. "But back then," she said as the lighting of the room seemed to change. "The Royal War was hideous. There were no standards you see. No rules that the King had to abide by… far less the juveniles fighting over their Forebears' throne. So armies were raised and armies were destroyed. And nations, great countries, some of which spanned hundreds of miles and thousands of years, they were razed to the ground… just like that, gone in a few short months.

Whether by the sword, or famine, or disease, death came to all.

Sure, there were Golden Ages, time in which the phoenixes could rebuild the world they just destroyed, but even so, the Royal War just a few centuries back… it's a wonder there's anything left to rule…

And then came the Great War… the so-called Final War… In those years, and I mean years because this War lasted several, the fighting was at its worse… can you image Flandre?" Hime sighed as she reached to take a sip of her tea all the while her maid just stood there quiet and listening no doubt captivated by how talkative her master was being. "And so you see? Things had to change… The Royal War had to change. Rules had to be set in place. Restrictions had to be laid out. For the first time… the War needed to be controlled. Then, only then, did it finally start taking on its modern form; the form we now know. That was less than a thousand years ago… Such was the scope and scale of the horrors committed back then… horrors said in this ancient book of holy fire to have rivaled those of even the greatest of all our Wars… at the dawn of time… with the birth of the first true member of my ancestors…

Hmpf. It's ironic… this War was so meaningful… so abysmal… and yet just this morning I knew next to nothing about it… Why is that?" She asked still staring at Flandre not really expecting an answer. "If this was the War that set the precedent for all other Wars then why hide that fact? Why not teach us about it instead of keeping it locked away? Why the secrecy?

One day soon (well soon by my standard of time) I will have to step down from this throne and a new heir will take my place… it could be in fifty years, maybe even a hundred… but soon enough… there will be another King… and so logically there must be another War…

Is that the only way?

And that's what this is all about, that's why I've been pouring over these old books trying to understand. It is the only way that I, as the King, can educate myself enough to act in the interest of my people, of all our people… of my… future children.

It isn't easy of course, even with these books, these primary sources… even being a full-fledged phoenix. So much of our history is still shrouded in secrecy. Perhaps my ancestors mean me to find the answers on my own. The certainly haven't offered any aide. Or maybe they themselves do not know. This answer to the question of peace that has been asked for so many years. But we cannot go on like this. Not if we intend to achieve true peace one day, not if we intend to bring an end to the Vampire-Werewolf War… not if we intend to see our children live…

To that end, I think for us to start making sense of all this, we must begin with the story of one very specific princess from a far away land… and the armageddon that consumed her… and nearly consumed the world itself…

Her name… was Charlotte… The Last Princess of Dunhauer…"

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE:

To his Majesty's successor who may be reading this, the following account has been translated numerous times as commissioned by each successive Lord of our Realm. This is the latest version in a long line of translations spanning back several hundred years. While the authenticity of this account, being a translation, may yet be called into question, I, as the leading historian of my time: Sir Gamback Henchey, assure you that, wherever possible, this work and the primary sources it references were translated word for word. If you should still have any doubts, I implore you to seek out the other editions for comparison which, among them, the first, should be available to you, the King, in this, the library of your Forebears.

If you for some reason are not the King, I sincerely hope you will heed this one and only warning and PUT THIS BOOK DOWN IMMEDIATELY. It's contents are enchanted to only be comprehended by the mind of a fully-fledged Phoenix, or at least one blessed into a similar state of existence by them. Continuing to read any further may result in dire (and self-inflicted) consequences…

Now that that dreary business is out of the way, I feel like I should emphasize that this translation is one of a kind. Only one such tome was created to assure the utmost security in the matter, as I'm sure you understand. Its value cannot be measured in gold or lives lost, and while all our past Lord's know of the contents within, it is customary to keep books like this on record for the knowledge of the current King.

In that regard, this book is written as if the language used to converse was Modern English. This, of course, was not the case. English was simply selected by the previous King on the grounds that it was easily understood and part of the curriculum taught to his children. As for the events described herein, they took place in a land, nay a world, where the English language as we know it never truly existed—not until much later as English is a language from the Human World.

Despite this, the actual language of the time through an extraordinary coincidence of fate, bared striking resemblance to Early Modern English. That is the transitional language bridging Middle English and Modern English during the timeframe of about 1400 to 1600 AD (in the Human years of things, so to speak).

It would be perfectly possible, (though very difficult,) for speakers of Middle English, and Modern English for that matter, to understand this language which has now become known as Evinish—Bosq being its name for itself. The key difference and main source of confusion would be in the grammar which followed something akin to Modern Spanish, and the few unique words that existed nowhere else in time but in that language, during the years of its use.

The same goes for other languages of this Era which unsurprisingly had the same sort of grammatical complications when pitted with their human counterparts, if any. Dunish, for example, the legendary language of Dunhauer as you will soon read about, bared striking resemblance to an early form of German. Galigan, the language of Gale was akin to Modern day Welsh. And still Ginish, an ancient language used even to this day in some remote parts of our World… was very close to an older form of the Yiddish human language.

All that said, I sincerely hope you find this work easy to read and accessible. Take care now, and long live the Phoenixes!

Hundreds of Years Ago…

"Princess Charlotte! Princess Charlotte!" A nervous voice rang as the sound of footsteps echoed throughout the hall.

"Hmm?" Responded an indifferent voice from inside one of the hall's many rooms. "Over here." It called lowly like it didn't want to be found, yet it proved loud enough, just barely, as the footsteps down the hall came to a skidding stop before rushing back.

"There you are," sighed an odd looking maid as she appeared glistening with sweat in the open door. And she was odd, she was indeed, but she wasn't ugly. She was actually quite beautiful to look upon. Her face was very smooth and her eyes were very bright—a sleek sort of purple with a twinkle in each iris. She had, however, rather red skin which when threatened glowed unnaturally—almost like there was gold flowing through her veins. If that was true then there must have been silver lining in her hair for that glowed too illuminating the long horns above either side of her forehead.

"I found you." The maid huffed as her eyes finally settled on the beautiful princess she had been searching for.

This girl now, in a sentence, was the embodiment of all that beauty aspired to be. Such was the extent of her majesty, a characteristic shared to her by her people though she took it further to some extraordinary degree. That all those passing by would have to stop and stare if only to stop and stare because her beauty was the axis on which the world turned about… and all the royals and all the gods ever before been or ever after come would be held up to her esteem, to her glory, as if she were the timeless example of what all should hope to achieve.

Not to mention she was young. Bless the phoenixes she was so young! She couldn't be over twenty years of age, more likely sixteen or seventeen, eighteen at the oldest, though it was hard to tell for her face held no mark or crease. Yet for all that, she did have distinct features, noticeable qualities that could be used to describe her. She had hip long gold hair with a bushel of bangs that hung loosely over her right eye. She seemed to see just fine regardless. Her eyes were powerful in their own right, those red-silted gemstones that were at first cold, all notion of emotion hidden behind their porcelain like clarity, but then loving, a great capacity for good bubbling up inside that would prove too much for any one monster to endure…

Her clothes didn't help the situation either for they were just as overwhelming as she was. That they, being finely made, were as a testament to her sense of value and her sense of style. To that end, she wore a pure white blouse which seemed to shine immaculately amidst the backdrop of her perfect alabaster skin. Green stitches tangled like vines around her arms and her torso weaving in and out allowing rose petals to bloom. A red and black corset with vertical strips was used to hold it all together. It was loose enough to keep her breathing, but tight enough to keep her clothes from bagging. Below her waist she donned a kilt, one that reached her shins. It's checkered diamond pattern were of black, white, and red design. There were frills too, at its end, that if she took off dancing, they would be the wind beneath her feet. On that note, her shoes were the final piece of the equation that made her truly beautiful from head to toe. Her shoes were hand-made, but they were better for it, the brown leather showing the careful stitches that only hinted at the time it took to make them. It showed the barest amount of skin, but it was beautiful at that, and it was practical. The young princess made it so with a pair of steel shin guards that could deflect any arrow and stop any spear.

"Lady Charlotte I was calling." The beautiful maid scolded. "Did you not hear me? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No I'm fine Serana." The angelic princess said frisking through a crop of her sunny gold hair. "I was just thinking…"

"Well that's fine, but please don't daydream! I know I don't need to tell you how important today is! We need to get you to your seat! The Summit is about to convene!"

"Yes yes…" Charlotte said waving her hand as her maid helped her out of her chair. "Oh, and about my parents?"

"They're already in the observation booths. Patricia is looking after them. She'll be along shortly so come on!"

"Riiiiiight…" The fair princess exhaled as she fell behind her energetic maid who all but bustled past her leading the way. "With the fate of the world at stake," she mumbled, "I suppose the least I could do is show up on time…"

"Did you say something my lady?" Serana called looking back.

"I did… but you'd just scold me if I said it again…"

"I don't doubt it…" The maid said and the two of them cracked a smile, though Serana tried to hide hers… rather unsuccessfully as Charlotte caught glimpses of it off the corner of her mouth. "A-anyway the meeting hall is right through here!" She pointed as they came upon a set of large handcrafted double doors the width of ten men and the height of three stories.

"I'm well aware Serana. I've been here twice already (you and Patricia were with me both times)…"

"Well… it doesn't hurt to be reminded." Serana joked as she clapped her hands and the massive doors opened by themselves with a heavy set of creaks, like the machinery that must have been powering them was old and needed oiling.

"Serana…" Charlotte muttered as the doors opened and an instantaneous bright light that would have blinded any normal person shun through. "The chamber is empty…" The great princess frowned as she walked inside and the massive room shifted into focus. She walked along the bright red carpet at the foot of her heel as it lead inward to the edge of a small balcony. On either side of her person were winding gold staircases gated by three sets of horizontal golden rods all polished to a platinum sheen. Just below, or rather several stories under, there lay rows and rows of mahogany desks and dark cherry-red seats with a few groups of people scurrying about looking as busy as can be. "What happened to the summit is about to convene?" Charlotte twisted up her mouth as she dug into her pocket for her watch.

"It is!" Serana said holding up a hand as she too walked in. "Just a temporary setback, look! Some of the royals are already in the court with their servants!" She pointed down below and sure enough there were several very distinct blurs of people among the others that could just barely be made out from the elevation above. It was almost as if they had their own aura about them, that in a crowd of people, they stood out best—the familiar blonde crop of the back of their heads also helped of course. "I'll have you set up in a second." Serana said as she turned back toward her princess. "I just didn't want to look for you when we actually needed to find you…"

"Ah I see… clever… you've gotten quite clever haven't you?"

"Well… with all due respect my lady… having to take care of a princess like you? Since birth? I needed to be far more than clever to survive…"

"Fufu… I take no offense at all…" Charlotte said rolling her eyes but she couldn't help but chuckle as Serana just shook her head with another smile making toward the stairwell. "I'll be outside Serana… I'm sure I'll be spending enough time in this room today… I'd rather get some fresh air while I still can."

"If you insist then very well. I'll come get you once the arrangements are in order, but please, till then, don't stray too far!" She called back almost in a begging voice as Charlotte turned around.

"…No promises." The fair princess mumbled exiting the room. The double doors closed behind her with the same set of heavy creaks until it was just her and the lonely hall.

"Huh…" She heaved standing there in place. She took two fingers and gripped her nose trying to relieve the tension in her brow. "Huh…" She sighed again almost in the same exact way like there was some terrible burden on her chest. "Come off it." She whispered to herself. It was meant as encouragement but it didn't seem to give her any. She just shrugged her shoulders as she walked back down the hall.

"Ah if it isn't Charlotte of Dunhauer!" Called a voice from down a nearby corridor and the young princess shook her head. That voice… why that voice? She lamented as she turned around anyway to meet who she feared. "Cesare… Lucrez…" She said coolly as she stared at the two blonde haired royals before her. And what a sight they were to see. One could tell immediately that they and Charlotte were family, but it was the way in which they carried themselves that differed. They were finely dressed, or perhaps far too finely dressed, even by royal standards, what with their red matching capes and their diamond studded rings. Numerous stones of precious merit were lined and intertwined with the fur of their clothing as they smiled pompous smiles arm in arm like they were touring the world.

"Fancy seeing you here!" The man of the duo mocked as he dislodged himself from his sister. "I figured you'd have run off by now given how hopeless your situation is." He smiled a crooked smile through his baby pearl face. "But please…" He clasped his hands together. "Please don't tell me that you're here yet again to spout that ridiculous nonsense…"

"Nonsense? Why, whatever do you mean?"

"Hmpf, playing dumb! Did you think we would have forgotten dear Charlotte? The uproar you seem to like causing at these Summits? Oh yes! 'Savior Charlotte!' 'Charlotte the Messiah!' The champion of peace and postponing the war! 'The Rose and Wine' turned 'Prophet and Priest!' Ha! I can't even take your lies seriously anymore—"

"I speak no lies Cesare." Charlotte responded sharply. "I am quite different from you in that regard." She jabbed giving a fine glare that caused the young prince to cringe a little. "I seek that which is best for my people… and for all people… so that the world we share might benefit. If not for morality, then for prosperity. Or is that really so hard to believe?"

"Oh! Oh! You hear that Lucrez? She asks if that's so hard to believe! Haha, here let me answer that by asking you some questions cousin. What would you have us do? For this peace of yours? Hmm? Would you have us live out the rest of our lives as lowly Lords under the beck and call of our ancestors? How would there be any succession then? How would we choose the next King? You see? I need not go on, you're way of thinking goes against the very foundations of our species. It doesn't make sense, so you'll have to forgive me if I do not buy into your little act."

"This is no act Cesare… but honestly," the princess sighed just about fed up already. She restrained every desire she had to scream and instead put on a weak, almost taunting smile. "Talking to you, being here again?" She nodded. "I can see how what I have to say means very little to your ears." She could have ended it there and walked away, but the fair princess just couldn't help herself when she added. "I feel sorry for you." She whispered with genuine pity. It drove Cesare mad.

"Oh ho ho! Charlotte my dearest…" Cesare jeered as he walked right up to caress her cheek.

"Don't touch me." She said as she glanced at him, her words cutting like a knife. It was such a simple statement, yet the way Cesare flinched right afterward, the look in Charlotte's eyes, the fire, the strength, for a second Cesare looked like he'd seen a ghost as he took a step back. His sister gave a concerned look in his direction before going back to glaring at Charlotte.

"You don't look so good Cesare." A new voice suddenly boomed from behind them and Cesare once again looked like he was about to piss his overly expensive pants. He whirled around only to find himself face to face with the buttons of a fine red tailored coat.

"D-Daniel?!" The gawking Prince choked as he and his sister strained themselves to look up at the young imposing Royal now standing behind them.

"Cesare. Lucruz." The mountain of a Prince said looking down from one to the other. His gaze caused them both to cringe as Lucruz did her best to stay true but the minute her eyes came in contact with this newcomer's, she had to look away practically begging the ground beneath her feet to swallow her up whole. Cesare on the other hand was sweating bullets as he sized up the great tree of a man. He noticed him look back, snatching a glance at Charlotte. He hated that.

"You don't have anything better to do Daniel? Always coming to the rescue of everyone's favorite little peacemaker?"

"She doesn't need any help from me Cesare…" Daniel responded almost proudly. "And also," he called as he looked straight into Cesare's eyes, "if you're going to start insulting someone in a conversation with another… might I recommend you speak to that person face to face… after all…" He started whispering coming in close by bending his back almost as if he was trying to get on Cesare's level. It was too low for him to reach. "She's standing right behind you."

"Don't bother." Charlotte cut in seizing the moment. "I've said all that I care to with this lot. I'll save my breath for the debate so till then… Cesare. Lucruz. Why don't you take your seats? It'd be a shame if you had to sit in the back again…"

"Tsst… very good Charlotte… we'll let the court decide!" Cesare snarled as his sister rushed to his side wrapping an arm around him. She glared one last time at Charlotte while completely ignoring Daniel before turning to brace her brother, catering to him like he'd just been in a fight—one that he'd lost. Charlotte and Daniel for their part did not let the siblings out of their sight. Only after the summit doors opened and closed with the same set of iconic creaks and cracks, did the duo finally ease up blinking.

"I see our cousins from the South Isles are just as… pleasant as ever…" Charlotte exhaled breaking the silence.

"Oh I don't know. They're too busy worrying about their next party and counting their gold to be friendly with anyone other than themselves… we're all beneath them after all."

"Oh please… pedigree isn't everything…"

"Yet it seems enough to separate us from the so called commoners… we decide what's best for them and they accept our words like good little sheep… I had no idea people's lives were so easily directed when we ourselves are so free… I suppose that's what it really means to be a phoenix…"

"You're talking philosophy now?" She smirked as she turned to fully face the tall handsome man who walked forward to meet her. "Daniel…"

"No… principle!" The man said and then he gave a great roar of a laugh, the kind that echoed regardless of where he was, the kind you'd expect from a mead hall, or a place of frequent intoxication, an honest and hardworking laugh not unlike the one that men give right after telling an obviously exaggerated story, like he was a man's man. It wasn't something you'd expect from such a pretty face. His stature more than made up for it though. It balanced him and all his qualities, and somehow it worked. So yes, he was an odd ball of something furiously pleasant, and he could make any man smile even as he called them an arse. Such was the power of his booming voice. It made people stand at attention, even if he looked too damn pretty for such a grizzled old father-type tone.

"You always did like to play on words."

"You as well! Though I guess we get that from each other, having been raised together. It's not ironic now that we find ourselves on the same side, arguing the same point."

"I guess the same thing can be said for those who oppose us."

"Haha! Well… maybe… not Cesare though… no… no… I don't believe that one, no… you specifically seem to attract all of his attention…"

"I can't imagine why."

"Oh I think you know."

"Alright, let me rephrase that. I'd rather not imagine why…"

"Hehe! Agreed… he's just use to his females being quiet and submissive… you are not and so you intrigue him… you bother him… hell quite frankly… you piss him off…"

"Lucky me…" Charlotte said but she couldn't help but chuckle at that as Daniel moved in for a hug and she returned his embraced. Of course, perhaps 'returned' was the wrong word to use. She tried to give him a hug wrapping her arms around his shoulders while he practically knelt down to reach her. Her head ended up resting on his chest and her arms got around just barely touching the side of his epaulettes. Still, it was a nice firm squeeze—a great warmth was found between them as they greeted each other dearly.

"How have you been?" Charlotte sighed getting lost in their embrace. "It's been about 6 months hasn't it? Daniel."

"Ah just Daniel?"

"Hmm?"

"I miss the old days when you used to call me big brother!"

"Fufu… those were better times cousin…"

"They were indeed." Daniel beamed as they slowly dislodged from one another.

"You haven't answered my question." Charlotte scolded giving him a look.

"Haha yes yes I've been fine! Mother has been good too… well… as good as she can be all things considered. She couldn't make the trip though. Not this time…"

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine… it's just… the Eastern Sea. It isn't really helping her as much as it used to, you know? Not since Father passed away…"

"I'm so sorry." Charlotte whispered as Daniel's gaze shifted to the ground.

"Bwa!" He scuffed stopping himself mid-frown. "What about you? What about you cousin? How have things been up in the North? How are Viktor and Jezebel? Barrow still keeping the old man in line is he? Haha!"

"Mother and Father have been well. Barrow's good too though he keeps his hand on his sword and the guards at attention."

"Wise man considering the times."

"Yes well… other than that, everything else is good I suppose. Serana and Patricia are with us here, Marnie and Clovis too, we can't complain."

"Really?"

"Yes yes."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure…"

"Because from what I hear, you still haven't taken any steps to protect your kingdom cousin."

"Oh not this again." Charlotte turned away with a flick of her hair.

"Charlotte." Daniel sighed calling her back. "Charlotte." He said as he bent down to grab her shoulder. "Look… I know you hate talking about this, but what kind of ally would I be if I didn't say it again?"

"A less annoying one."

"I have to say it again."

"Then the answer I gave you before I too shall give you again…"

"Charlotte…" Daniel exhaled sharply as he shook his head, his voice suddenly becoming rather serious. "The likelihood of us succeeding… of us convincing the court to postpone the War any longer… it's—"

"Second thoughts?" She said throwing him an indifferent glance.

"No… I'm here where I stand, right alongside you… I've always got your back… we were born apart but we were raised as family. Charlotte you know this. When my family was exiled from Gale, only Dunhauer offered us aide. When my father died, Viktor and Jezebel were the ones who took me in as a son. And when you were born, you saw me as a brother… not as an outsider.

Charlotte, greatest of all my cousins, I owe you more than I can possibly repay, so believe me when I say I'm with you. I also believe you aren't wrong on this… but Charlotte… I'm just speaking logically…" he said and the minute he said that Charlotte looked away as if she knew what was coming next. "Make a pact with me… join me in an official alliance… we need to prepare for the worst…"

"I refuse."

"Charlotte!"

"One cannot champion peace while preparing for war."

"But if the champion of peace is first to fall then what does that say about peace?" Daniel cut-in rather harshly to which Charlotte glared at him. "It's a nice ideal Charlotte…" He apologized holding up his hands. "Believe me… I understand… it is perhaps that ideal alone, and your stubbornness, that we even have a chance at this final debate. But even so… to completely keep your domain demilitarized? Listen to me. Besides your royal and city guards… to barely have a standing militia to protect your populous and patrol your lands? It's insane! You don't even have a single blood warrior—"

At that point, Charlotte's gaze got really nasty and Daniel shut the hell up. "I know how you feel about the subject and I know I shouldn't have mentioned that last part seeing as though I myself have none… currently. But cousin, this is something that even you must abide by. It's part of our heritage! It's our power, it's our protection!"

"If that's the case, were it that I could live without protection…"

"Think about your people."

"I am, and my people do not worry."

"That's because they're blinded by their love for you! Don't you see? Few can make such a boast. You are loved. Your father is loved. Your mother is loved.

Your mother? She's a vampire! A vampire Charlotte! Of all the insanity, and yet the people of Dunhauer love her! Your grandfather was loved and his father too! No monarchy has ever been so popular for so many generations. Why squander that power simply to make a point? Your people are completely unaware that for all intents and purposes we are going to lose today at that table."

"So now what? You're accusing me of lying to them?"

"Charlotte!" Daniel snapped. "Stop being so damn difficult! That's not what I'm saying! Look…" He quickly calmed down. "I love you like a sister… and I'm not saying you're lying to your people! I'm saying they're in denial because they love you so much! They believe in you so adamantly… how then can you use their trust in this way? Even if it's for this noble goal… how can you sacrifice your people's safety for the benefit of the world?

Phoenix's… keeping your entire zone demilitarized… I mean if a tree grows in a forest and that forest catches flame, how then can that tree refuse to burn? How then can you complain about the fire if it doesn't take steps to protect itself?"

"But if those steps are what cause the fire in the first place, why bother taking those steps? Why not argue against them? And also I don't think trees can do that…"

"Okay okay fine! It's an imperfect analogy but I still have a point! Our brothers and sisters have been hard at work… I hear Julius of Manihart has already gained control of the Eastern Passage by way of a sizeable navy… William of Sedda has made it abundantly clear he has the favor of the Werewolves… and William III of Gorack, Theodore of Mindoir, and Christopher of Spigal have formed an alliance…

Charlotte… see what is before you. I implore you! The War has started, official or otherwise… please just join me… I can extend my wings to protect you… send a small battalion to your lands… it doesn't have to be an army, and at the end of the day… no one would look down on you for it. No one could criticize you or call you a hypocrite because those forces are my own… I'll sign whatever treaties you want, I'll give in to any stipulation you make but so long as we just call those troops mine and they fly my flag, then the rest of the world shouldn't have a problem. We can come up with a public reason for it as we go… what we can't do is a damn thing until you say the word!

That's where we stand. That's the only thing stopping us from having a valid back-up plan if we fail today. Just you. You and your word."

"There's more to it than that Daniel and you know it."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean think about it. If you protect me, you will only weaken yourself."

"…"

"Even if it's just a battalion, consider this." She said holding her hands up. "We have very few of our relatives planning on the vote to postpone the war today… all of them know… all of them can feel which way the winds are blowing… we have been sympathetic to each other's causes so we would make the most obvious choice in allies… yet who would ever want to be in an alliance with two kingdoms, one of which has no standing army and the other is stretching itself thin to protect a population more than twice its own… Just a battalion? Don't insult me Daniel… I know the politics, I see the details… there's no need for both of us to go down with this sinking ship…"

"Your people will suffer if we lose at this table!" Daniel boomed with an exhausted sigh like that was his last ditch effort, his last line of defense, yet Charlotte just gave him a long hard look.

"Daniel." She began tenderly, and her eyes glazed a bit then. "If we lose at this table… the people of the world will suffer."

"The world…" Daniel repeated.

"See what is before you…"

"Hmph… you just had to go and quote me! Phoenixes be praised… I don't agree with you. I don't. I can't. I don't accept your reasons or even your point. It just doesn't make sense to me… but… I can see that I cannot dissuade you… and while I really don't know how it is that you got these silly thoughts inside your head, mark my words… whatever happens today and whatever happens tomorrow, my port, my Kingdom, it's open to you… you are forever welcomed in my halls… even my people agree…"

"Hmpf… couldn't stop yourself from saying that much huh?"

"Not a chance."

"I suppose stubbornness runs in the family… I understand… Big brother…"

"Then shall we? Little Char…"

"Don't push your luck…" she muttered and Daniel just laughed as the two of them walked along that bright corridor back toward the massive double doors just as Serana's voice came ringing in their ears.

The summit was about to begin…

Ending Theme: Nurarihyon no Mago Opening 1 OST—Fast Forward by Monkey Majik

NEXT TIME: War seems to be brewing as over one hundred Royal juveniles come together from all corners of the Monster Realm to have their summit! Tensions are festering, alliances are forming, many are antsy but few are ready.

Find out what it all amounts to in this strange world with its hidden past as we follow our brave new heroine, Princess Charlotte, on an adventure that would shake the world for generations to come. Brace yourselves folks. The statement, 'this is only the beginning,' has never been truer. All that and more next time on Princess Rising!

End Note: Alright! How was that for a rewrite? I hope you guys don't mind the few tweaks I made to the story—there were only a few things that I changed from the original besides the general rewrites. I hope you guys enjoyed it, and if you're a returning fan who decided to brush up on chapter one before hitting the others, then I hope you found this an improvement over last time. Feel free to skip past chapter two if you read it already as it has very minor changes by comparison. Anyway, thank you guys for giving this story a chance! Hope to see you in chapter 3! And 4, and all the ones that come afterward haha! I'm working on them right now! Hopefully that won't mean a year! Anyway, see you guys! Stay gold out there! Raza out.