Chapter 3: Blooming Love
After the introductions everyone started dancing and enjoying the music and food as the party ran without a problem. Raph desperately pushed through the crowd, searching for the one his heart desired.
Princess Leona of the Cloud Empire.
He then saw her sat at a table with her father and lady-in-waiting April O'Neil. They noticed him approaching and Yoshi glared at him. The young prince bowed before the princess and took her hand.
"Princess Leona, would ya honour me by joinin' me for a dance?" He asked a loving smile.
"The honour would be mine your grace." Leona smiled in a voice of sweet silk as she stood up and they walked into the centre of the ballroom. Everyone watched as they glided across the floor.
The two turtles were joined by other dancing couples soon after.
As the party continued Raph and Leona snuck out the ballroom, but unbeknownst by them Yoshi saw them and motioned for his most loyal soldier to follow them...
Raphael lead Leona into the dark, empty library not far from the ballroom. He lit three bright candles nearby and the two sat at one of the tables.
"Your library is much bigger than the one of my home." She said, looking around the mountains of books.
"Yeah, it's tha biggest one I've ever seen." Raph chuckled nervously.
"I don't understand, are you not a prince of Ketsueki?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh, not always." He admitted. "My dad was given the crown after he killed 'The Shredder."
"He was my uncle." She suddenly said.
"H-He was!?"
"Not by blood. My Grandfather, Hamato Yuuta, adopt Oroku Saki after he killed his father, Oroku Keiji for treason. He took pity on his now orphaned infant and raised him as his son and a prince of the Cloud Empire." Leona explained.
"Did you know him well?"
"No. When I was an infant Saki was crowned king of Ketsueki. All I know about him is that he and my father fought over my mother before her death." Leona sighed.
"I'm very sorry ta hear that, it must have been hard on ya." Raph said as he gently took her hand.
"I was only 2 weeks old when she died so I didn't really know her. Neither did Karai, she was only a year old." Leona sighed. But then she gave a soft chuckle. "My father always wanted a son. Our family doctors assured my parents that I would be a boy. My father was going to name me Leonardo and he had everything prepared for the birth of a male heir."
"I can't imagine his face when ya came out a girl."
"Yes, he was very disappointed, especially when his wife died. Not only had lost the love of his life but now he couldn't have a son. He blames me for my mother's death and hates that I wasn't a boy." Leona sighed.
"It shouldn't matter if yer a boy or a girl, yer father should love ya unconditionally." Raph growled.
"You don't understand. Princes can continue the royal line and secure the kingdom while princesses, such as myself, are used as a bargaining chip with other kingdoms, normally through marriage. A woman's destiny is control and determined by her father and her husband. Even my sister will only rule as her husband's wife, not empress." She explained with a sad look in her eyes.
Raph gave her hand a light squeeze.
"If I ever had a daughter, or any kids, I would let them choose their own path." He declared and this rose a laugh from Leona.
"Well then you'd be the first royal. By then again I guess you and your future children will have the choice." She pointed out.
"What do ya mean?"
"Well, you're not next in line for the throne, your brother is. So you don't have to deal with the pressure of ruling a kingdom."
Suddenly Raph gently lifted her head to face him, his face close to her's.
"Leona, I-"
"Please, call me Leo."
"Then call me Raph. Leo, I would never do anything ta harm ya; if it were up ta me I would take ya ta paradise." Raph stated boldly.
"And I would never hurt you Raph, so... let's... stop..." She faintly whispered as Raph was slowly closing the gap between them. The second before their lips touched however, the library doors suddenly swung open and the two quickly pulled away to see who it was.
It was Yoshi's most loyal soldier and Leo's presonal bodyguard, Miyamoto Usagi.
Usagi was a 28 year old white, anthropomorphic rabbit, with an old scar on his left cheek. His ears were tied back with blue material in the shape of the traditional samurai topknot. He wore a blue kimono and had the embroidered crest of the Cloud Empire on his chest.
The same sign was also carved from wood and attached to his sash. His hakama were navy blue. He also wore white socks with waraji straw sandals. He carried two swords, a traditional katana and wakizashi.
"Oh, Usagi! What brings you here?" Leo asked with a slight nervous energy in her voice as Usagi gave her a respectful bow.
"My lady, the Emperor sent me to make sure that you are well." He replied, not even acknowledging Raph's presence in the room.
"Thank you Usgai." Leo smiled before turning to Raph with a sad smile. "I'm sorry for this but it's late and I will retire for the evening. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening Raph, it was a pleasure."
Raph smiled before taking her hand and planting a soft kiss on it.
"The pleasure was all mine, me lady. Good evenin' Princess Leo." He said at her before let go of his hand and left the library with Usagi following her; but not both sending Raphael a threatening glare and slammed the door shut.
Leaving Raph alone in the giant library with a smile on his face...
After the party had ended and all the guests retired to their rooms Raph sat alone in his room thinking about Leona. Suddenly the door swung open and his older brother Slash waltzed in, slightly drunk.
"Hey there lover boy." He slurred with a laugh.
"What are ya talkin about now?" He growled.
"Duh! Leona! I've seen the way you look at her, Dad's seen it to."
"And what does he say?"
"He's happy that ya've found something to love. But he sad be careful, we're on very thin ice with the Cloud Empire right now." Slash warned before giving Raph a folded up piece of paper with a small smirk. "I managed to get you this, don't lose it." He said before leaving.
Raphael unfolded the piece of paper and smiled softly.
It was a painting of Princess Leona...
Leona sighed happily as she slumped into a chair in her first room. She had changed into a silk nightgown and was writing in her diary when her lady-in-waiting, April O'Neil, stepped in.
"My lady, the Emperor is here to see you." She said. Leo took a deep breath before standing up and tiring around just as her at her stepped in.
"Father." She eth a respectful bow.
"Leave us." He said firmly and April quickly walked out the room, closing the door as she went. The two mutants stood in silence before the rat spoke.
"You are never to speak to Raphael again unless I am present. Is that clear?" He ordered, still not looking at his daughter.
She didn't answer.
Yoshi gripped his cane tightly as he turned to his daughter with a terrifying glare. "Leona, I forbid it!"
"Oh stop it Father, You will give yourself a nosebleed." She sarcastically replied.
She gasped in sudden fright as her father roughly grabbed her face and forced her to look at him, his eyes full of rage.
"This is not a game child! Have forgotten what his father did to our family, to my brother?! They ripped off his head and stole his crown like the thieving bastards they are! There is not an ounce of royal blood in their veins! They're all just a family of traitorous bastards!"
"Do not speak of Raphael like that! Shredder was a deranged monster!" She cried out in everything sudden was silenced by the sound of a sharp crack.
Yoshi had just slapped his daughter in the face, hard.
"Know your place girl. When I tell you to do something you do it, is that clear?!" He bellowed in fury, daring her to defy him again.
"Y-Yes father." She muttered as she held her now cut lip.
"No. Until you win back my respect you will address me as 'Sire' or 'Your Majesty', is that clear?"
"Yes your majesty."
With that Hamato Yoshi left his daughter's room and slumped to the floor, shaking slightly. She quickly pulled out a piece of paper.
When he kissed her hand the library he also passed her a note.
Meet me at the palace gates after breakfast, don't wear royal clothes.
-Raphael
She quickly put the note away. Tears started to gather in her eyes as she placed a shakey hand against her bleeding lip...
