The group set off, with the blessing of Queen Kaoru, before dawn the next morning to Animal Kingdom which was next to Fire Kingdom. The princess, who didn't have any skills on riding, rode with the prince. Thus, their quest began…
"Stop moving or I will throw you off," Natsume said annoying.
"But I'm not feeling comfortable sitting this way."
"You think I'm very comfortable?" He glared at me.
After some many years being locked up in a tower, I couldn't even fully appreciate the blue sky above me, with this prince nagging next to me.
"Hotaru, I want to ride with you." I turned to her and pouted.
"However, I don't want to."
"How much longer do we need to go? I don't like riding especially with this prince."
"I will really throw you off," Natsume threatened. "We will reach the castle this afternoon."
We had been on the road for the last few days. Hearing this news really cheered me up that meant I didn't have to face this annoying prince very soon.
"Stop, don't throw me of… ah!" Natsume threw me off without waiting me to finish the line. "I said I could get off myself. It hurts." I rubbed my back.
"I don't have duty to follow your words, follow me." He stomped into the palace ground like he owned this place. The soldiers really recognized him and came out to greet him.
"Natsume, why didn't you tell me you're coming?" someone with blond hair shouted as he ran towards us.
"Ruka." Natusme waved his hand briefly at Ruka.
"Why do you come? Wow, you have friends with you this time?"
"They are not my friends. Is King Narumi here? Let's talk inside."
"Well it may not be a good time. My father is quite busy. The King of M Kingdom and his personnel are staying here at the moment, for a business deal. Who are they anyway?"
"Let's talk in your room."
"You're being so secretive. Please follow me."
Ruka seemed to be the prince of this kingdom. He was so polite and gentlemanly. This was how a prince should behave unlike that prince who threw a princess down from a horse.
"Well, Natsume, please introduce me to your friends here."
"As I've told you, they are not my friend," Natsume gave a sideway glance to both Mikan and Hotaru. "Ruka, you should keep this a secret. I'm very serious."
"I give my words," Ruka said seriously and looked Natsume in the eye.
"This is Princess Mikan of Yukihira Kingdom and Lady Hotaru."
"Yukihira Kingdom? Isn't the princess locked up in a tower?"
"I rescued them from the tower on Mother's command."
"How… There will be retribution from them, we can't risk that. Who knows what they would do…" Ruka ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Why didn't Queen Kaoru speak with us or other first?"
"You know Mother. I have no choice."
"Then why did you bring the princess here?" Ruka sneaked us a glance and back at Natsume.
"Prince Ruka, sorry for interrupting, we are here for an important and secretive mission. Please excuse us for not being able to disclose anything to you before an audience with the King, your father. Could you please arrange it for us?" Hotaru spoke up next to me.
"Why… why should I?"
"I'm sure your Kingdom does not want to suffer from any further threats from Luna and Kuonji. This is the time to get rid of them, once and for all," Hotari said in an icy tone and looked straightly into Prince Ruka's eyes.
"It's true that we don't want to be threatened by them anymore, but you still can't …I…" he trailed off. "This is not a good time for you to be here. The King from M Kingdom is here."
"That will be great, right? We can persuade two kings at once," I pointed out.
"No, Mikan." Hotaru shook her head and looked at me as if I was an idiot.
"Idiot princess, didn't you hear what Mother told us before we left?"
"Eh? I'm sorry…" My voice trailed away. "I'm focused with the sky at that time since I haven't really seen the sky for a long… I'm sorry."
"Queen Kaoru said we should go to the three other kingdoms, but not the M Kingdom."
"Because we are not sure which side the King is on. This will be a problem for us once we have persuaded the other three."
"Queen Kaoru is right. He is a bit shady. You shouldn't stay here right now. What if he sees you? You guys still haven't convinced me, but I will give you a chance when the King has left. I will tell Father about it."
"Thank you, Ruka." Natsume put his hand on his shoulder.
"That's what friends are for. Now, please go. Before matter goes out of hand."
Natsume nodded. "We will find a hotel in the town."
"Oh, today is the day of the festival. You will find a lot of people in the town."
"Festival? You mean the one I read in books. I haven't been to one before. Can we go? Hotaru? Natsume?"
Hotaru sighed, "You are a princess. How can you go roaming the town? What if someone wants to hurt you?"
"No matter how stupid you are, you are still the princess of Yukihira Kingdom. Mother asked me to protect you, so you can't go to such a place. Do you want me to get into trouble?" He stared at me.
"But… but…"
"But what?" he demanded. "Stop stuttering."
"But why would people in Animal Kingdom know I'm the princess? I have been locked up for almost my entire life. People in my kingdom wouldn't even know I'm their princess."
Hotaru chuckled. "You are really smart when it comes to play. Hey, Prince Natsume, what do you think? I'm fine with her going to the festival."
"You're sure no one will recognize her?"
"No one has seen Princess Mikan since she was 9 and that was 7 years ago. Luna and Kuonji didn't even bother to come to see us in the past 7 years. What do you think?"
"I think you are being over worried. Based on what I've heard from these two ladies, no one will recognize them."
"That's right. You even mistook me as a servant."
"That's because you look nothing like a princess."
"Hey! What do you mean?"
He shrugged, "Think about it yourself. I will go find a hotel for the night. I will meet you at the clock tower at 6. You know how to protect yourself?"
"Yes," said Hotaru, "I have this." She took out a machine that looked like a gun, but much larger.
"Where, where did you get that?"
Natsume and Ruka took a step back.
Hotaru brandished her weapon and smiled contentedly, "I made it with the materials Queen Kaoru gave me."
"You made this? Hotaru, you are marvelous. How come you know this much? You stay with me in the tower the whole time with no one to teach us anything!" I exclaimed.
"That's my magic," Hotaru said proudly.
"I'm sure Lady Hotaru can protect Princess Mikan with this," Ruka said with a smile.
The festival began with the beginning of a new chapter in this fairytale and the meeting of someone unexpected.
Hope you enjoy this chapter. Who do you think will they meet? Who is the King of M Kingdom? What does M stand for?
Tell me what you think.
(I will post the next chapter with more reviews or followers.)