Fairytales Volume I

Funnycoat

A Sailormoon Fanfiction by Nishikaze

Chapter 4: The Gown of Golden Sunlight (Revised)


Speaking to Mamoru, her friend was surprisingly easy. While she did not see him every night, the two would meet in the kitchen garden often and would talk about everything from the day's events to more personal topics. The two had even made up a story for Mamoru, how he was also in service to the prince, doing whatever the prince and his noble's needed to be done, but when it came time to talk about himself, he spoke fondly of his long-dead parents, especially his mother. Usagi never knew her father but only ever said of her mother that she was still alive but she was far away and that Usagi was unable to see her. Mamoru never pressed the issue, knowing the topic caused her stress. While the two spoke often there were times when they would sit in silence and just look at the moon, comfortable in each other's presence. It was the quiet times that were often the most dangerous to Usagi's heart. She could feel herself falling in love with the man.

So it came to be that winter passed and spring began to take hold and the little garden by the kitchen began to come to life again, and soon the castle was buzzing with news of the prince's oncoming coronation and the many balls that would take place before to help the prince find a queen and consort. The more Funnycoat overheard of this, the more she knew that she must be present at the balls. She must speak to the prince, not as his friend, the strange beast, but as an equal and perhaps win his heart.

When the night of the first ball came, she knew she had to make her move. Although she was kept very busy in the kitchens, she begged the cook for a bit of time and the head cook, softened by her hard work and kind demeanor, allowed her to go. "But only for a little while after the main meal has been served. I'll need you here until then."

Usagi's heart skipped a beat, she didn't have much time, but it would have to be enough. When her time came she dashed back to her tiny room and pulled her precious bag from under the bed. She cast off the funny coat of fur and used a bit of clean warm water she had saved from her floor-scrubbing to at last cleanse her hands and face of the soot that covered them. She then used the comb that could cleanse hair, returning her long golden locks to their original splendor. She looked into the mirror then and saw the princess she had once been staring back at her in resolve. She quickly dressed in the gown of golden sunlight, one of the three enchanted gowns given to her on her birthday and pulled her cloak of fur over herself to hide the dress. She then ran to the ball, careful not to be seen by the staff.

The sound of music was the first thing to greet her as she drew closer to the grand ballroom and she almost lost her nerve. Her heart beating fast and her palms sweaty she peeked inside a side door and got a look at the prince, dancing with a lady of stature and breeding in the center of the dance floor. He looked so handsome and so politely miserable that it gave her courage and she cast off the cloak of many furs and hid it behind a statue. She was the princess once again. Back straight and head up, she entered the ballroom.

Silence filled the room instantly and the princess could feel every eye upon her. She felt like running in that moment but the prince, enchanted by her incredible beauty, stepped forward offering his hand. "Please my lady, might I have this dance?"

The princess' look of fear softened into a shy smile, "Yes my lord, I would be honored."

The musicians struck up a waltz and the two danced for some time, all eyes in the room following the striking couple. He was the dark and charming prince, the fantasy of every little girl, and she was the golden goddess of beauty who glowed like the sun itself. After a few dances the rest of the nobles continued as they were, dancing and talking amongst themselves. "I wonder if this lovely lady might speak to me." The prince's eyes had never left her face.

She looked up at him, "What do you want me to say, my lord?"

"Tell me who you are and where you come from." He spun her into a circle, "Tell me everything about you."

"I am sorry, my lord, but there is nothing I can tell you." The prince looked disappointed at the answer but he was distracted by an elderly gentleman with an auburn-haired girl on his arm. The girl looked at the princess with spite in her eyes. She must fancy the prince.

It was then that the princess heard the clock chime. She loathed leaving the presence of the prince, especially to a woman so filled with spite, but the princess could not forget her promise to the cook and while the prince was distracted, she slipped away and out of the ballroom. Several of the prince's men followed but they did not see Funnycoat, hiding behind the statue by the door. Funnycoat waited for a moment before dashing down to her little room. She cast off her gown hiding it in her bag. She rubbed dirt on her hands and face and once more donned her cloak-of-many-furs. She then ran back to her post in the kitchens before anyone grew the wiser.

Her mission accomplished for the evening, she reflected on her brief time with the prince, vowing that she must try again at the next ball. Her people and her mother were waiting for her and she could not let them down.


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For all those who wish to read the original fairytale you can look it up. There are many places on-line that post translations of the Brothers Grimm's' works. Remember, fairytales weren't originally meant for children and some can be gruesome. (Especially the original Cinderella).