Azure stayed inside of her room for days. She didn't want to speak with anyone, and didn't want anyone's sympathy. She refused to eat in the dining room, and she didn't let anyone into her bedroom. She was having one of her stubborn streaks, as her father used to say.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Azure, are you still in there?" A male voice asked.

"Go away, Indigo!" Azure shouted from her place in the closet she was currently cleaning, for the sixth time.

"Azure," Indigo pleaded, "Please let me in. How can visit if I can't talk to you?"

"You can talk to me, you talking to me right now." She snapped.

"You know what I mean, Azure. Face to face."

"Aaaggghhh," She groaned, "Indigo, why do you have to be so annoying! Fine, I'll let you in, but just this once."

After she walked over to the door and flipped open the lock, glaring up at the green eyes of the tall vaporeon before her, she stepped aside and allowed him entry.

Indigo, chuckling at her outburst, walked into the room that he had practically grown up in. Azure's bedroom wasn't exactly spacious, but then again, she hadn't ever been pampered. It was round and had cobblestone walls, the stain glass window with a sun emblazoned upon it was in the left curve of the room, the long, rounded purple dresser was snuggled up to the wall on the left of the door, the closet full of old playthings was by the bed, and the bed was a foot away from the dresser and next to the closet. Everything was in its usual place, except it was spotless. Azure's room was barely ever spotless.

"So," He whistled, "I see that you've been doing some cleaning."

She just continued to glare at him. "Indigo," She snapped, "You know how much I hate it when you comment on my room."

He smiled. "Exactly."

"With best friends like you, who needs enemies?" She retorted.

He just stared stupidly back at her, a goofy grin on his face.

She sighed in defeat, knowing he could keep that up for days, and walked over to the window, looking out over the city below.

"What if I'm not ready?" She whispered

"Huh?" Indigo said, joining her.

"What if I'm not ready?" She repeated, louder this time.

He turned to her, ready to say something funny, but paused when he saw the serious look in her eyes, the grin slipped off his face.

"You'll be fine." He spoke, hugging her instead.

"But what if I'm not?" She replied, pushing away to look him in the eyes." My mother died when I was just an eevee, so I've never been trained by a queen, my father died last week, so I can't ask for his help, and I'm going to be married. Married! That means I'll never get to be myself and never get to have fun." She started to pace, her eyes gleaming with held-back tears that only Indigo would notice, "And it's not like I'm getting married to an honorable prince. NOOO! I've got to get married to the freaking prince of darkness!" She was shouting now, the tears forgotten, "I'd rather get married to a stinking murkrow!" She fumed in the middle of the room, seeming to steam.

"Ya know what," Indigo said, walking over and putting his paw over her back, "Lets go and visit the townspeople. You probably haven't roughhoused with the street kids in forever."

She nodded, seeming to lose some of her agitation, and let him lead her out of the room and down the stairs.


King Cimmerian sat upon his throne in his dark castle, his blue rings contrasting greatly with his murky surroundings. There was a long, red carpet that descended the obsidian steps of his throne and ran straight forwards through a long chamber with black pillars lining the walls. The throne itself was black with a red cushion, and it was straight-backed with curled horns that sprang from the top. Behind the pillars there was nothing but darkness, and the occasional glint of red eyes. The room was lit by a dim, sinister red light that pulsed from small torches hung beside the throne and the double-door.

An adolescent umbreon entered the room. He held his head high, his black chest puffed out, superiority clearly written on his expression as he passed several of Cimmerian's servants. All of that melted away as he approached the king. He didn't bow, but he nodded his respect and didn't make direct eye contact before taking his place on the steps before the throne.

"Good,good," Cimmerian barked, the nicest tone you could truthfully get out of him, "I see that you have taken well to your classes on decorum, son."

"Yes, father. I have." Stygian looked up at Cimmerian, still not making eye contact.

Cimmerian roughly patted his son's back, and laughed evilly.

"Soon, son," Cimmerian rumbled in his deep voice, "Soon we will have the kingdom in our paws. You will be married to that little queen," He rolled his eyes, "Azure. She will make a lovely bride, but don't get soft on her. No doubt she is just dying inside and will do anything to save herself. That girl never was a good leader." He ended snidely.

Stygian couldn't help himself. He was just too curious as to who this Azure was. "Father," He asked, "Who is queen Azure exactly? What does she look like? How does she act?"

Cimmerian snickered. "She is a vaporeon who is beautiful by their standards, but merely pretty by ours. She is a fool who lacks the brainpower to keep herself in check. That is all you need to know."

"She doesn't sound pleasant." Stygian growled, gripping his claws on the steps.

"She isn't." Cimmerian snapped.

"By the way," Stygian inquired, "When will she be arriving?"

Cimmerian gave Stygian a half smile. His yellow eyes glinting with a new plan. "Well," he sneered, "Why don't we invite her over. She needs to see our hospitality, and she's got to have a look at her new home. Doesn't she?"

Stygian nodded and smirked at the thought, knowing that Cimmerian would be anything but hospitable.

"Messenger!" Cimmerian roared. A scrawny, anxious umbreon came forward. He was shaking, but he still bowed before the two.

"You needed me, master?" He asked.

"Yes," Cimmerian growled, annoyed, "I want you to go to the vaporeon kingdom and fetch queen Azure. Tell her that King Cimmerian requests that she spend the rest of her time prior to the wedding at my castle. By no means is she to deny. MAKE her come if you have to."

"Y-y-yes your highness." The messenger stammered, still bowing.

"Well then, GET MOVING!" Cimmerian bellowed.

The messenger stumbled to his feet and ran.

Cimmerian turned to his son, and they both burst out in maniacal laughter.


Authors note: I looked at the traffic graphs and saw that more people look at my stories than review on them. I just wanna tell you all that reviews are great. In fact, I check my account everyday for new reviews, and it's like Pinkie-pie and the mailbox for me. No matter how often I check, they just don't seem to show up. Please review what you think. Reading what you viewers have to say makes my day. Oops, rhyme. LOLZ. Well, if your reading this, please review more often.