Author's Note: Hello everyone! To returning readers...yes, I do realize I have other stories to update so don't kill me! To new readers, this is the first installment in this series and I hope you enjoy it! Feel free to helpfully critisize, leave a smiley face or a review letting me know your likes/dislikes of what I have given so far! I have several chapters typed out already and an outline in place so I won't get stuck in the typing of this story. The updating dates will be every Monday and if I'm feeling nice from all the reviews (hint, hint;) then I may update twice in one week. All that said, please enjoy this first chapter.

Rating: K+ - Suitable for more mature children, 9 years and older, with minor action violence without serious injury. May contain mild coarse language. Should not contain any adult themes.

Word Count: 1, 730 (Only taking into account the words of the actual story. A/N's do not count or anything else outside of the story.)

This story starts as most do…with a Once Upon a Time there was a girl named Princess Aziza…

Chapter One

"Great…Mother…Goddess…" The breathed words escaped her without permission as she stared at the poufy hair belonging to a visiting noble from Tortall and a moment later, the muffled, immature snickers of her father, Kaddar Gazanoi Iliniat, the Emperor of Carthak rang out into the silent courtroom. Her mouth snapped shut and a mortified blush swept over her smooth golden cheeks, lingering baby fat hiding cheekbones that she wistfully hoped she had inherited from both her father and mother.

The lords and ladies of the court were staring, shocked at the escaped words from the youngest child of their rulers.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the child turned her head to where her mother was seated upon a golden throne. Her mother's brilliant sapphire eyes were carefully composed, coal black hair twisted and braided into an intricately done style on her head, small red mouth smooth but carrying the unmistakable purse that said she was in major trouble.

After a moment, Empress Kalasin Iliniat, named Kally only to her family and closest friends, rose from her throne. She stood with elegant grace in the gentle curve of her neck and the demure way her lashes swept to hide her eyes. She was dressed in a pale blue under robe with the purest white silk robe over it, sapphire petals embroidered on the hem and sleeves of the over robe. Light blue slippers trimmed in dark blue and white peeked out from the hem of her robes as she began to walk over to her youngest daughter, holding out her hand as she passed by.

Not wanting to incur her mother's wrath anymore than necessary, the young girl placed her smaller hand in her mother's; shooting one, desperate, pleading look to her only other sibling, her older brother, Binur Asim Iliniat, or, Nuri as she fondly referred to him. Beside him was seated their cousin, Lianokami of Conté, Lian, who was visiting them for their bi-monthly visit.

Lounging elegantly back on a smaller but no less impressively golden throne, Nuri shot her a twinkling look of merriment from blue-green eyes, the most curious mix of their mother and cousin's sapphire eyes and their father's eye color of the palest, cat-like green. The message was clear- she would get no help from him, despite the fact that he had been in on it (also known as making fun of visiting nobles) from the beginning.

Beside Nuri, Lian's shoulders began to shake with silent laughter and she turned away to hide it from her aunt and uncle, the Emperor and Empress. All that could be seen was a mop of coal-black hair and shaking sapphire clothed shoulders.

A scowl forming between her eyebrows, she shot them a vengeful look from identical blue-green eyes as she reluctantly followed partially behind and partially beside her mother, who was sweeping imperiously towards the doors.

"You must excuse us, it seems my daughter, the Arch Duchess Aziza Kafele Iliniat, needs a refreshment on her manners." Empress Kalasin spoke, her voice light and melodic. Her beauty shone in the way she smiled out at her court- just moments before she exited the large room with her daughter in tow.

"Mama-" Aziza began, in a last effort to placate her furious mother.

"Hush." There harsh rebuke was not unearned but the girl winced and lowered her gaze to the floor all the same.

Empress Kalasin glanced down at her young daughter and silently sighed before speaking once more.

"This is not a conversation to be held where many ears can hear. You will wait to speak until we are in our private quarters." Kalasin said, softer this time. Her daughter shot a careful, questioning look up at her from beneath dark lashes, a slightly pleading shine to her liquid blue-green gaze.

Kalasin immediately diverted her gaze ahead of her, well aware of her daughter's clever tactics that have gotten her out of trouble in the past.

They continued in silence, sweeping through the elegant hallways, golden statues adorning the walls as they passed. The ceilings were high and arched, painted like the sky with golden starts twinkling down below. It created a feeling of open space and security that had comforted the Empress ever since she moved to Carthak to marry a man she knew she had already begun to love.

Walking past a lord and lady, Empress Kalasin spared a moment to nod to her nobles before taking a sharp turn that would lead out into the Imperial Quarters- that were, in actuality, more like an entire wing or two in a traditional palace.

The floors changed from gold-flecked marble to soft, black, fluffy rugs. The walls began to be covered in childish drawings, tapestries of ancestors, paintings of different lands and- family portraits. The small family of four seemed so normal in their portraits.

There was no posing, simply each of them being as they naturally are.

In one portrait, Aziza and her older brother, Nuri, had their heads thrown back in laughter, leaning shoulder against shoulder as they pointed at their parents- who just so happened to be covered in feathers and oil. Though they are not twins and are, indeed, separated by three years, the two siblings are close and because of their looks, are often referred to as, 'the Twins'.

The Twins have a habit of…ahem…merriment making- or, in the terms of their mother, taking after the Trickster God in causing chaos through mischief and pranks.

In another portrait, Nuri and Aziza, affectionately referred to as Ziza by her family, was curled up in her father's lap while she sleepily tugged on her brother's hair. She was eight years old and Nuri would have been around eleven at that time. He was dressed in the University robes that he had proudly shown off earlier that day- right before his 'bratty' younger sibling managed to pour milk all over them. As a result, he sported a rather uncharitable scowl in the portrait while his mother hide an amused smile behind a delicately raised hand, sapphire eyes twinkling with amusement at the family joke.

Empress Kalasin followed her daughter's gaze to the portrait and allowed her scowl to soften the slightest bit as she swept into the family living room.

A large fireplace lined the far wall with throw pillows, blankets and stuffed toys piled around it to emphasize where the family spent their time together. There was a family table made of elegant mahogany and gilded with more gold centered in the room, four chairs placed just so around it. On the table were important documents well protected by the Imperial Mages so that none other than the immediate Imperial family could read the documents.

Kalasin pulled out a chair and turned it, silently gesturing for her daughter to take a seat.

Aziza did so with a downcast expression, settling into the seat. Her pale pink under robe peaked out from under the hem of her soft golden over robe where it rode up the slightest bit around her ankles.

~LeopardessFierce~

"Now, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Nuri hurried past his father and favorite cousin, eager to see how big of trouble his younger sister managed to get herself into this time.

Maybe she would get her pony taken away?

Or she could have been restricted to her schooling classes and then coming right back home to their family quarters.

Perhaps she was grounded from seeing her best friend, Sagira Nassar? That last one seemed a little harsh though…Nuri pushed the doors open and entered, stopping dead in the doorway at the sight that greeted him.

"What is it, cousin? Let me see!" Lian demanded, shoving her way past her older cousin. The cousins are separated by two years but still manage to be the best of friends- when Nuri's friends are not around.

He stopped stock still, sapphire eyes wide as he took in the scene.

Behind them, Kaddar huffed, pulling off his crown and setting it to the side on a stand made especially for carrying the Imperial Crown. He turned pale green eyes upon the room and a bright, booming laugh escaped him when he saw- not his daughter being scolded as they all expected- but mother and daughter curled up by the fire drawing on a sheaf of parchment with colored inks spread around them, some streaked on their faces from where they carelessly brushed their fingers against their skin.

"Papa!" Ziza cried, hopping up and hurtling herself across the room and into her father's arms. "Mama and I created a picture of Skysong! Come look, come look!" Aziza demanded, shooting a smug look at her brother and favorite cousin.

Exchanging long-suffering looks, Nuri and Lian turned to the lounging couches and flung themselves down. They truly should have known better than to think Aziza would get into trouble, she was notorious for creating the worst trouble and then wiggling her way out of any and all punishments.

"Amazing, my daughter!" Kaddar exclaimed to the picture, switching from the Carthaki tongue and speaking in the more comfortable Common tongue.

Skysong was a young dragon in the kingdom of Tortall, which, on a map, lies across the Inland Sea and to the north. Skysong was found by and is currently being raised by a famous Wild Mage, Veralidaine Sarrasri.

Beaming with pride up at her father, Aziza looked down at the picture of the dragon with beautiful grayish blue scales and sly, slanted eyes.

"Papa, have you and Mama decided yet?" Aziza asked, looking beseechingly at her parents. They both avoided her gaze and her smile slowly faded as she hopped down from her father's arms. Crossing her arms, she narrowed her blue-green eyes and raised her chin.

"Uh oh!" Lian whispered to Nuri, who nodded in agreement as they both watched the scene avidly.

"Now we know for sure she's going to get her own way. If she pulls out the, "I know what I want and you will not deny it to me" pose, our parents cave every time." Nuri whispered back. "My little sister is going to be a force to be reckoned with in Tortall- if she does get her wish to train as a Lady Knight."