Fairytales Volume I
Funnycoat
A Sailormoon Fanfiction by Nishikaze.
Chapter 3: What's in a Name? (revised version)
"One Earth year, Your Majesty. If my bride does not show by then I will declare war upon your kingdom. Until then I demand that my guards remain in your castle. If the princess is found I want to be the first to know."
"As you wish…"
"Are you sure that was wise?" Prince Diamond had long since left the queen after his announcement when a young man approached the prince. He was nearly as tall as the prince and though their faces bore a strong resemblance, he was dark where the prince was fair. The young man was Sapphire, the prince's younger brother and he was clearly troubled by the prince's agreement with the queen. "Brother… I still do not understand why we do not attack now. To wait is folly! Surely you can see that. The longer we wait, the longer they have to prepare! Why is this princess so important? The Moon is yours for the taking! Forget the princess and let us attack now, while we have the chance."
"I want the princess and I will have her." Diamond's eyes were cold.
"But my brother, surely you see that…"
"I WANT THE PRINCESS!"
"Now, now my prince, please calm down." The vizier came between the brothers, his voice soothing as he attempted to calm his regent. "Do not let your brother's foolish talk upset you. He is young and fool-hardy and does not know what he says. He is too young to know better than to question the will of his ruler." The vizier turned to Sapphire and his tone turned dismissive. "Your brother was just leaving anyway, we have much to discus."
Sapphire looked to his brother his eyes full of hurt. Diamond's gaze was cold, "The vizier is right brother… leave us."
Sapphire clenched his fists, but turned his back on the two and left without argument.
The prince brought the young woman disguised as a she-beast to his castle and gave her over to the head butler, who was to assign her to a job in the castle. So it came to be that the beast was given the task of washing the floors in the castle's lower levels, where the prince and the noble visitor's did not go, hiding her from the eyes of the noblemen. She was shown how to draw water in the kitchen gardens and how to scrub the floors until they gleamed. She worked as hard as she was able during the day and at night she retreated to a tiny room where she slept and hid her treasures. Autumn became winter and the little she-beast served the prince in his household.
The floors of the kitchens were part of her responsibly, and because of the constant dropping of food-stuffs it was a daunting task to keep them clean. Much of her time was spent on her hands and knees scrubbing the ever dirty floors of the kitchens, keeping them clean and free of debris. The cooks could be very cruel and would mock her and kick the clumsy little beast around, because of her odd appearance. It was the head cook that started to call her 'Funnycoat', and soon it came to be that all the cooks and servants would refer to her by the name. She never spoke out against this abuse and while clumsy, she worked hard and fast and most of the cooks stopped their taunting after a time, having grown used to her being there. The name, however, stuck, for no one knew what else to call her.
One winter's evening, she had taken her nightly meal out to the little kitchen garden to gaze up at the moon that was once her home, was it really so long when she sensed, rather than heard, a presence with her. It was a tiny white rabbit searching for food in the snow small and shivering. "Hello, there," She said softly. The rabbit looked for a moment as if it would dash away but she spoke to it again. "It's alright, little one, I will not hurt you. Here…" She said, as she broke off a piece of her bread and crumpled it up, sprinkling it on the snow. "Eat. I know you must be hungry. It's alright."
The little rabbit looked at her cautiously, but carefully hopped toward the food and ate as Funnycoat watched her. "There you are, feel better now that you have a full belly?"
"I would imagine she does." The voice startled the rabbit as well as Funnycoat and as the rabbit dashed away back to its den, she snapped her head around.
It was the young prince, looking at her with wonder in his eyes. "Don't be afraid, I am sorry I startled you."
"My lord, I am not afraid, only surprised. Is there something I can do for you?" Funnycoat quickly bowed in the presence of the prince.
"No, I merely was out for a walk when I found you. You may continue as you were."
"I was just finishing my lord, I will not bother you further." She picked up her ever present bucket and cleaning brush and began to make her way back into the castle.
The prince raised his hand, "No… wait. Stay. I wish to speak with you a moment."
The Funnycoat's heart skipped a beat. "Me, my lord?"
"Yes," He said, with kindness in his voice, "You. That is if you will allow me?"
"Of course I will," Funnycoat answered quickly, "What ever you wish."
"I wish for you to swear to always tell me the truth. Will you do that for me?"
"Yes, of course my lord."
He walked to a small bench in the garden and sat down. "So tell me how has your time of service been? Have you been treated well in my home?"
Funnycoat paused for a moment and considered her words. "Well enough, I suppose."
"Well enough? You mean no one mistreats you because of the way you look?" Instead of lying to the prince Funnycoat did not answer.
It was her lack of an answer that alarmed the prince. "You are being mistreated, aren't you? I will order it stopped at once."
This answer distressed her, "No sir, please don't do that. I beg you."
The prince was startled by the vehemence in her request, "Why not? I would not have you or anyone mistreated in my home."
"Forgive me my lord if I sound forward, but you can order them to stop teasing me, but you can not order them to change their opinion of me. If you were to say something it would only make them hate me more." She bowed her head. "Please let me win them over in my own way."
"You are being forward," The prince sounded firm for a moment, but then his voice changed, "But you are right. I have no power over the human heart, they would stop teasing you if I ask, but they would never learn to trust you." He moved closer to her, watching her closely. "You are an odd one She-beast. You look like an animal, do the work of a peasant happily, but you talk like a well-bred lady and you have an understanding of the human heart like no one else I have ever met before." He knelt down into the snow before her. "Please, will you do one last thing for me this night?"
"Of course, my lord."
"Will you honor me with your name? It occurred to me that I have never asked you your name."
The she-beast looked down, "The kitchen help call me 'Funnycoat'."
The prince's brow furrowed and he looked angry for a moment, but her remembered her words before and asked, "But that is not your name. What is your real name?"
The beast did not look up, but she was clearly distressed, "I am sorry, I have no name I can give you."
The prince sensed she was uncomfortable and said, in a cheerful voice, "Well then, we will have to give you one."
He got up and sat back down on the bench. He looked around the garden, deep in thought when he noticed the rabbit tracks in the snow. A thought struck him. "I know. I will call you 'Usagi'."
Funnycoat razed her head, "My lord?"
"What is the matter, do you not like the name?"
"It isn't that, my lord, I just don't understand what it means."
He smiled, "It means 'rabbit', and I think it suits you."
Funnycoat raised her head and laughed, "It is a funny name, but I like it my lord."
"So be it Usagi." He sat back and grinned looking at the moon. "I would very much like to have a friend name Usagi."
"Oh, my lord, that can never be."
"Why not?" He asked, hiding his disappointment.
"Because you are the prince, and soon to be king and Usagi is a servant," He could not see her smile, "But if I knew a man like you, my lord. Just a normal man, with a normal name, I could be friends with him."
The prince caught on to the game, "So then, you must give me a name, and when we are alone in this garden I will be just a normal man. Outside this garden, however, you are again 'Funnycoat' and I am the prince."
Usagi nodded her head and thought for a moment. "Why did you want to protect me from the bullies so much?"
"Because my mother taught me a long time ago that everyone has a purpose in life and a job to complete, be it a lowly peasant who tills the fields or a noble knight who rides for the king. A nobleman's job is to protect all those who look to him for land and employment. As prince my job to protect is compounded. I protect everyone who swears me fealty."
"But I think for you it is more than that. You are a kind man, who hates injustice." She stood before the prince, "What is the word for 'Protector' in the language you named me?"
"There are many, but 'Mamoru' would be the most popular."
"Then I dub you 'Mamoru'."
Mamoru laughed and patted the seat beside him. "Usagi, my friend, please sit and tell your friend Mamoru of your days here at the castle."
Usagi's heart filled with joy, "I would be glad to."
A long chapter this time, the story will really start to pick up speed now.
Thank you to all those who have had the courage to review my story. They are all appreciated. I hope you continue to read and enjoy and that my story continues to meet your expectations.
