Hi everyone. I didn't realize that I already have an Edward in Karen's story so I am going to change Coco's youngest brother's name to Edwin. I'm very sorry for not updating for a long time. My schedule to update was suppose to be on Monday, but the first two day did not work out so I settled for Wednesday. However, that did not work out as well, so now here we are. Sorry for the long wait and I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 38: Cursed

-Leya Palace-

In the kingdom of Leya, Queen Mimi was making her "presents" for her step-children. She was well aware that King Charles will never love her, so instead, she plans to make him more broken hearted.

"With these white cloaks, it will secure my throne." Mimi thought out loud.

-Tree House-

Inside the tree house, Coco is preparing food until she heard one of her brother shouted.

"Father is here!" Momo exclaimed.

"Father is here?" Makoto questioned.

All the princes ran towards their father. Only to reveal that it is their evil stepmother.

"Where is father?" Rihito asked.

"Charles? I figured that since he doesn't love me, I should make him suffer even more. And to do that, I'll have to get rid all of his children. The only family he has left." Mimi explained.

"But how? Only father knows of this location!" Daichi demand.

"Did you think that I'm foolish enough that I let your father take you somewhere so easily?" she questioned them. "Anyway, I have a present for all of you!" she added.

She throw six white cloaks onto the six princes. As soon it made contact with them, their arms become wings and then, they have became swans. Mimi was delighted at her success and ran back to the castle. However, she has forgotten about Coco, who was still in the tree house. The six swans are forced to fly away because the curse made them unable to stay near the palace.

"Rihito, Ryo, Daichi, Momo, Makoto, Edwin, where are you?" Coco asked when she saw none of her brothers. All she saw was swan's feathers.

'What should I do? I can't return home but I don't know what to do..." Coco thought. Throughout the day, the young princess cried, unable to think of a solution. She then heard someone.

"Coco!" her father's voice called out.

"Father!" Coco cried. She ran to her father and hug him really tight.

"I'm sorry, dear. I couldn't come in the afternoon, your stepmother kept me busy. Coco, where are you're brothers?" Charles asked.

"I don't know. They said that you came in the afternoon and when I went out of the tree house, all I saw were these feathers." Coco answered, showing the king the swan's feathers.

"This is very serious, dear." Charles replied concernedly.

"What should I do?" Coco question.

"It may be difficult, but you must stay here, Coco." the king told her.

"Hai." replied Coco.

"I'll try to play along with the queen's plan. When I am through with her, I'll come get you and help find your brothers." the king told her as he took her inside the tree house. He then left her, hoping that she will be alright.

-Leya Palace-

In the palace, the king saw Mimi being in a good mood. He tried to avoid her, but she saw him.

"King Charles." she called out. "Is something the matter?" she asked.

"My sons...I can't find them." he briefly answered before walking away.

However, Mimi sensed that the king is not entirely broken hearted. So she went into her room to check on the royal family tree. She was then irritated.

"Oh, cursed that little princess! How could I have missed her?! Well, I'll make sure she'll never step a foot in this castle again!" Mimi screech in determination.

The next day, the queen ordered the palace guards to find Coco. They found her in the tree house and brought her in before the queen. In the morning, the queen locked the king in his room so he doesn't find out about her plan.

"Princess Coco, you are to be banished from this kingdom!" Mimi told the child in a strict tone.

"But why?" the little princess asked, feeling frighten.

"For the death of your brothers. You were with them, but only you are alived. In other words, you are responsible for their deaths." Mimi answered.

"You're wrong! I would never do that!" Coco cried.

"She's right! The princess has always been a good girl. She would never do a thing like this!" one of the guards countered the queen.

"Then who did it princess!?" Mimi remained calmed on her plan. If she were to messed up, then everyone will know that she is the one who is truly responsible for the princes' disappearance.

Coco frighteningly pointed a finger at her stepmother. "Y-you. You did something." she answered trembling.

"Are you trying to frame me, the queen!" Mimi demanded. Coco wince quietly.

"Princess Coco is not at fault here!" another palace guards exclaimed.

"Silence! Coco, since I am a queen, I have power over you. You will do as I say or else I'll locked you up in the dungeons." Mimi said harshly. More gasps and whispers came from the guards and people. "You are to leave the kingdom and never come back." the queen coldly replied.

Coco have no choice. If she is locked up, then she wouldn't be able to find her brother. However, she couldn't just leave her father, right?

"Alright, just let me go to my room to take my stuff." Coco replied sadly.

"You have an hour to get everything and leave. If one hour has passed and you're still here, then you will be immediately be thrown into the dungeons." Mimi replied coldly.

"Hai." whispered Coco.

-Coco's Room-

Coco went to her room to get some of her belongings which includes: a basket, a photo of her family, some clothes, her first doll given to her by her mother, and her favorite treasure of all, a golden heart locket. She put on her locket before taking one last look of her room. She then closed the door behind her, leaving a letter on her desk.

-Leya Palace-

The princess left the palace, and was at the gate. She looked one last time at the home that she is force to leave. Before she could exit the gate, a palace guard should up.

"Princess Coco! Where are you going?" he questioned

"I'm no longer a princess. Therefore it is best for me to leave." Coco answered sadly before going through the gate.

She then walked for miles to a place where she should stay, and that is when she found a beautiful forest. The forest is filled with many fruits and there is a beautiful lake at the center of the forest.

'I could stay in the forest. After all, the queen won't bother me here. She only know the forest that is inside the palace, not out.' Coco thought.

-Six years later-

Six years have passed, and Coco become twelve years old. During those six years, the princess took refuge inside a cave, where she have wondered about her family.

"I hope my brothers are all right. I don't know where they are. And father! It has been six years. What could have happen to him during those many years?" Coco whispered to herself. She then realized that she was getting thirsty and went out of her cave to a near by lake. Coco is wearing a plain yellow dress that she packed with her on the day she left the kingdom. It was a present to her from her parents, though back then she was too little to try it on.

"Well now that I'm grown up, it does fit me." Coco told herself.

-Lake-

At the lake, Coco cupped her hands together and scoop up the water in her hands. She then drink it, feeling the cool, clean water filling her up. As she was about to drink more, she heard the sound of six swans flying to her. They all seemed very happy to see her.

"Could it be?" Coco began.

How was it? Did you enjoy it? Let me know in the reviews. If you have any questions for me, write it down in the reviews or PM me. The next chapter will be called, The Cure.