Chapter 2 – Orochimaru
As the moon rose over the Moon castle that evening, Naruto sat slumped on her bed while beside her Luna played with the princess's jewels.
"How could my parents do this to me? Especially on my seventeenth birthday?" cried Naruto. With a sad sigh, she went out on her balcony to watch the falling snow. She could hear lively music playing beyond the castle walls. A party was going on nearby – at the frozen pond!
Naruto made a quick decision. Putting finger to her lips, she gestured for Luna to remain quiet.
The little bear nodded in understanding
"Come now, Luna," whispered Naruto. "Let's go to a party"
it didn't take long for Naruto to find where her father had out her ice skates. The she snuck out of the palace and hurried to the village pond. Soon she was happily gliding around and twirling with the friendly villagers. It was the best birthday of her life!
The fun didn't last long. A harsh wind blew through the trees. What was that cold light shooting across the sky? Everyone backed away as they saw a dark, winged creature flying toward them – with a mean looking man riding on it's back! The man held a magic wand that glowed with an eerie blue light.
The man and the scary creature --- a griffin, with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion – landed right in front of Naruto. She tried not to cover in fear as he blocked her from escaping.
"Allow me to introduce myself" said the man, bowing to Naruto with a wicked smile. "I am Orochimaru – your future husband" he pulled a big, gaudy ring out of his pocket. "I'm offering you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be my bride"
Naruto was so frightened, she could hardly breathe. "Your bride?" Naruto gasped.
At that moment, the king and queen rode up in their carriage, surrounded by their royal guards. They had seen the strange blue light in the sky and knew that the evil wizard Orochimaru was near. When they'd discovered that Naruto was missing, they knew she must be at the village party.
"Let her be Orochimaru" ordered Inuyasha
"Please spare her!" cried queen serenity
Orochimaru sneered. "Are you telling me what to do?" he asked. "Maybe you have forgotten what happened to your other daughter."
Naruto shook her head in confusion. "What other daughter?" she asked her parents
Neither Inuyasha or Queen Serenity didn't answered Naruto's question. "Go Orochimaru" Inuyasha insisted instead. "You already have a wife."
"I did. Three wives in fact" Orochimaru said
"Now Naruto is the lucky girl. Marry me!"
"No!" cried Naruto
Orochimaru became furious. Raising his wand, he fired a spell at Inuyasha and Queen Serenity. "Petrify them!" he shouted
A flash encircled Naruto's parents. Instantly they turned into marble statues! As Naruto screamed, Orochimaru raised his had again and made the entire village and all the people in it as hard and cold as stone. A creepy silence hung in the frigid air.
"Your next" Orochimaru told Naruto "Unless to marry me"
"But –" stammered Naruto, feeling despair. What could she do now? She was trapped in the wizard's evil plan.
That's when a beautiful flying horse wearing a crown soared down from the sky. The gorgeous creature avoided the griffin and landed between Naruto and Orochimaru. "Grab on" the horse told Naruto
Desperate to escape Orochimaru, Naruto grabbed o the horse's neck while Luna clutched Naruto's feet. Away they flew, faster than the wind.
Orochimaru watched angrily from below surrounded by the frozen townspeople. "Three days!" he thundered. "You have three days to marry me, or these people stay like this … forever."