Fairytales Volume I
Funnycoat
A Sailormoon Fanfiction by Nishikaze
Chapter 5: The Crystalline Gown of Starlight (revised version)
A solitary cloaked figure stalked down the halls of the silver palace, nodding once to the guard as he entered his private chambers. Entering his inner sanctum, the vizier's eyes swept the room, as if searching for someone. Seemingly satisfied, he pulled a clear crystal ball from his robes and concentrated, gazing deep within the center of its mass. Soon a vision appeared in the ball of a woman, the image hazy in its crystalline depths.
The woman spoke, "You summoned me Master?"
"Have you found her yet?"
"No sir… But rest assured, I and my retainers are searching night and day for her."
"And the Earth?"
"… Will be hand delivered to you by the time the princess is found."
"Excellent… Carry on." The vision in the globe faded and the ball was quickly stowed back into the robes of the vizier. Satisfied, he left the room.
He never noticed the hidden figure in blue.
Usagi had been sitting alone in the garden for some time before Mamoru came to her the night after that first ball. "I didn't think you were coming." She said softly.
"Why not? You must know I treasure our talks." He sat down beside her on the bench and leaned back.
She smiled at that, part of her felt flattered, "I mean... the prince must be keeping you busy with all those balls."
"Yes, but I managed to sneak away while he wasn't looking." They both laughed and after awhile his face grew serious.
She stopped laughing and her voice filled with concern. "What is the matter?"
"You know that I… That the prince must marry soon, and that is the reason for all the balls."
Usagi's heart grew heavy. "Yes, I know."
"Then you must also know that when that happens I will not be able to spend time with you, that I may have to stop seeing you altogether." He wasn't looking at her but she knew pain filled his eyes.
Usagi held her emotions in check, even though she could feel the tears build in her chest pressing, against her heart, "Yes… I know."
He turned to her and, for the first time, touched Usagi, taking her hand. "I have to tell you something, in case I never get the chance to do so again. I meant what I said; I do treasure our time together. I always will. No truer friend have I found in this world and I will miss you." He stood up and released her hand. "I have to go."
As she watched him leave, she released the tears that were building in her eyes, and a sob escaped her lips, "And I will miss you Mamoru."
One month passed and again the castle prepared for another ball. Funnycoat spent her daytime hours as she always did, scrubbing the floors of the lower levels, but every night she took her evening meal out to the garden in hopes that Mamoru would come. He never did, but Usagi could not give up hope.
The one happy circumstance in Funnycoat's life in those days was the budding friendship with a young soup cook in the kitchen. She was a young bride and very kind, and she was with child. She taught Funnycoat how to make soup and would tell her about her husband, a gardener and her excitement over the birth of her first child. It was the only real friendship Funnycoat had, other than Mamoru and she would make any excuse to talk to her, drawing her water and slicing her vegetables.
On the night of the second ball, Funnycoat once again asked for a bit of time, and the cook, distracted by the servers gave it too her. She ran to her tiny room and closed the door, pulling out her bag of treasures. She pulled out the mirror and comb and a gown of incredible beauty and once again she prepared herself for the ball. So excited was she that she missed a spot of dirt on her arm as she washed the soot from her body and face. She slipped on the gown, made from crystalline starlight, and pulled on the cloak of fur to disguise it. She quickly made her way to the ballroom, where once again she cast off the cloak and hid it behind a statue by the door. She took a few breaths to calm her nerves and opened the doors to the ballroom.
All eyes turned toward her, as they had before and the same thought entered the minds of everyone in the room, who is this beautiful creature? As the princess walked delicately across the entryway and into the grand hall. The prince spotted her instantly, crossing the room to meet her. Without words, he took her hand and led her to the dance floor.
After a moment, he spoke. "I thought you had been a figment of my imagination; that you had stepped out of my dreams. Now here you are again."
"I am no figment, my prince; I am flesh and blood, as you are."
"Are you? You look more like one of the fairy-folk or even an angel fallen to Earth. You disappeared so quickly I thought I had imagined you."
"No my lord, I am real and I am not an angel or a fairy." Her cheeks flushed at his complements and he drew her closer. It was then that he noticed the smug of dirt left on her arm. "But what is this? Dirt?" He pulled out a hanker-chief and gently wiped the spot away, "Such a thing should never be on one as beautiful as you." He handed her the handkerchief and she tucked it away.
Her silver-blue eyes met the prince's cerulean gaze. "You flatter me my lord."
"It isn't flattery." He said as he continued the dance. "I only speak the truth."
"I must confess something to you," He spun her out gracefully before drawing her back into the circle of his arms. "I have never felt this strongly about anyone before and I don't even know your name. I know nothing about you and yet I feel as if we have known each other for a hundred years."
She looked sadly up at him knowing the timing was not right to reveal her secret. She still had many enemies and they most assuredly had sent out spies to find her. The dance ended and the prince led her off the dance floor. "My lord prince, I am sorry but I must go now."
"No," He said tightening his hold, "Not until you tell me your name and where you are from."
"I am sorry, my prince but I will tell you soon, but I must go for now. Please trust me." She said again, growing desperate.
"My lord prince," It was another hand and another silky, seductive voice. The hand rapped itself around the prince's arm. It was the same auburn-haired woman from the last ball, with those same spite-filled green eyes. "You promised you would dance with me."
Her interference was all the distraction princess needed to sneak away again, and as before the guards were unable to find her because only Usagi, Funnycoat was left in her place, hiding behind a statue and then running back to her tiny room. Once again she applied dirt to her hands and face, casting off the dress and pulling the cloak of many furs back on. Once again the princess became Funnycoat.
Yes, gentle readers, there is one more dress and another chapter is in the works.
Thank you again to all my readers and reviewers, your patience with me will be rewarded soon.
