Fairytales Volume I

Funnycoat

A Sailormoon Fanfiction by Nishikaze

Chapter 6: The Silver Gown of the Moon (revised version)


The next day the castle was buzzing with rumors about the identity of the strange and beautiful princess. Even the kitchens were filled with wild tales of whom she was and where she disappeared to. Funnycoat's friend, the soup cook couldn't stop talking about it, and for a short time was distracted from the excitement of her coming baby. She was due soon and work was becoming an ever increasing burden for her.

Through out the stories and speculations, Funnycoat held her tongue continuing her work as usual. Every night however, she would still go to the garden and gaze at the moon, even though she knew Mamoru would not be there. She would then pull out her treasure, the handkerchief of the prince, perfect white with a single streak of grey marring its surface, and remember.

The time for a third ball came quickly, for the prince was anxious to see if he could coax the strange princess out of hiding again, and soon the kitchen help was too busy to bother with more talk of her identity. The time was coming for the prince to find a bride, for his coronation was fast approaching and he needed to marry before then. Funnycoat's heart was racing, the time was coming soon, and she simply could not hide any longer. If she was to have any chance of winning the prince's heart she had to act fast, and she was running out of time.

When the time for the third ball came she did as she had done twice before. She left the kitchens for her room and cleansed herself. Taking extra care, she dressed in the last and most beautiful of her gowns, the dress made from the silver light of the moon. In addition to the gown, she wore her golden ring with the crest of the Silver Millennium. At last she was not just a mysterious unnamed princess with no kingdom but man's imagination, she was Serenity, future queen of the Silver Millennium. That night she would reveal herself and her identity, she would tell the prince who she really was and of her plight.

This time when she entered the ballroom it was as if she had been expected. Every eye was upon her and the princess's heart filled with resolve. The crowd parted for her as she made her way to the prince. He had been dancing with that same green-eyed woman as before but as soon as he saw Serenity enter the room, he left the woman and met Serenity, taking her hand and leading her once more into a dance.

"I almost wished you would not come this time, but deep in my heart I knew I would see you again." The prince's eyes were filled with many emotions, longing and pain and Serenity's heart began to fill with dread.

"Please tell me what pains you so, my prince. Do you not know I would do whatever I could to give you joy? Why do you think I continue to come and see you in this way?"

"If that is so, then why do you disappear as quickly as you arrive? Why will you not tell me your name?" He held her closer, his eyes searching her face, "Why hide from me, when all I want is to know you?"

Serenity's eyes filled with pain and anguish. "Because my lord I have many enemies who would see me killed and I could not tell you who I was until now. I have traveled a long way, but I have enemies everywhere, and for the sake of my kingdom and yours I had to remain anonymous."

The prince stopped dancing, he looked deep within the eyes of the princess, his hands still held her, rapped around her upper arms, "Who are you?"

Serenity hesitated, her hands coming up to her breast, where her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. "I…"

"Did you tell her yet, my husband?" The Auburn-haired woman approached the couple, taking the prince's arm.

Serenity's heart skipped a beat, "Husband?" She felt dizzy and weak as if she would collapse. He was married? There was no announcement of a wedding.

He turned to Serenity with pain in his eyes, "We are not married yet but the announcement was to be made tonight. I am to be married by the end of the week. That is why I wished you would not come, but I had to see you again, my fiancée insisted. She needed me to tell you not to come again. I am so sorry, if only…" But Serenity could not take any more, she tore herself from the prince's reach and spun away, running from the room. Her heart broken and her spirit defeated she once again dressed in the cloak of many furs.

So wrapped up in her pain was she that she did not take care to go back to her room with out being seen. The head cook spotted her in the hallways and pulled her into the kitchens, "Where were you Funnycoat? I needed you! The soup cook has gone into labor and I have no one to make the bridal soup for the prince's banquet. He's made his choice for a bride and now we have to make a special feast! I know the soup cook has taught you and everyone else is busy. But I'm warning you Funnycoat, no hair in the soup or it will be your head!"

He pulled her into the kitchen where everyone was so busy; they did not see them enter. The cook left her to make the soup, and Funnycoat did so without thinking. Pain filled her heart but she vowed to make the soup cook proud and made the best soup she could for the prince. So intent was she on the soup that she did not notice her ring as it slipped off her finger and into the pot.

When she was finished and the dishes were whisked away to be served to the prince and his guests, she excused herself and went out to the kitchen garden, her heart too numb to even cry, the pain too great. She had failed herself and her people and she had no one to turn to for help.

It was there that the head cook found her. "Funnycoat! Have you gone mad! I told you, but you didn't listen… well now there's nothing to be done for you now."

The cook's words summoned her from the darkness surrounding her heart. "What are you saying? Is something wrong?"

The cook grabbed her arm and pulled her into the castle and up the stairs. "Yes something's wrong! The prince summoned you! Didn't I tell you not to get hair in the pot! Now you'll have to pay the price." He pulled her down the hall and into the prince's private study. Only the prince and his four closest friends were there and the prince was not looking at the door. He stood in front of the fireplace his head down. The cook left her and the doors were closed behind him.

Funnycoat was filled with fear and confusion. What was this about? And why wouldn't the prince look at her. Did she indeed get hair into the pot?

"The cook told me you made the soup today for the feast, is this true?" She could not read the emotion in his voice.

She hung her head, "Yes I did, my lord."

"You and no one else."

"Yes my lord."

"It was delicious. The best I have ever had."

Funnycoat looked up her brow furrowed with confusion, "My lord, I am glad you liked it."

"I finished every drop and as I got to the bottom of the bowl I found something." He turned toward her holding something out for her to see. It was a ring. Funnycoat's eyes widened and she lifted her hands. Her ring with the crest of the Silver Millennium was gone from her finger, and now the prince had it.

The prince did not miss her reaction. "Where did you get it? Did you steal it?" Disbelief filled his voice.

"I… no… It, It is mine." Panic filled her voice; she wanted to run from the room, from his presence.

"Yours?" He stepped forward, "How can it be yours? Did you steal it? Who are you? Tell me now I demand to know." He grabbed at her as she stepped back and caught the edge of her cloak in his hands as she stepped away. The cloak that had hid her identity for so long fell off her and on to the floor.

Serenity, in all her glory stood before the prince at last, free of the self-imposed prison of her disguise. The dress of moonlight highlighting her beauty fully, she glittered like the moon itself. The prince gasped, "It's you! What… How is this possible?"

"I am sorry for the deception my prince, I have longed to tell you for some time. I am Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, the Silver Millennium and that ring is mine." She stood proud and waited for his answer, whatever it might be. At last she was no longer in hiding, free to be whom she was meant to be and come what may the truth of her identity had finally been revealed.


The room was dark, but she was used to the darkness. Darkness was familiar; it surrounded her like a friend. Without lighting a candle she crossed the luxurious bedchamber to the small dresser that sat beside the bed. The woman pulled a key from the boddess of her dress and opened a small locked drawer in the dresser. Inside lay a small crystal ball on a bed of velvet. She picked up the ball and sat down on the edge of the bed, holding the ball in the palm of her hand.

Looking deep within its depths, she could see a face there barely visible and hear a voice in her head. "Do you have news for me?"

"I do," Answered the woman.

"Then tell me. If it useful you will be well rewarded."

The woman smiled, her lips curling bitterly, "Oh, I'm sure you will find it quite useful."

The voice hardened, "Do not toy with me woman, remember who put you in your position."

"I remember and I will tell you," The woman's green eyes gleamed, the dark eerie light of the crystal ball twisting her features. "I have found her."


Author's note:

I'm sorry for the delay on this chapter but I need to take my time. I couldn't rush this chapter, it's all down-hill from here after all. There is still a lot of story to tell, and I really think you all will like the next chapter. It will be a large change of pace for the story.

Now, to answer my reviewers…

This is not really an action story. That being said… Keep reading. I can't reveal more without spoiling the events to come. J

As for the rest of my reviewers, thank you from the bottom of my heart. This chapter is dedicated to all of you. Enjoy.