Pentos, Essos

Danerys

Three years ago

The little blonde girl ran for her life down the winding alleyways of the Pentos slums. The neighborhood youths were coming after her once again, throwing stones and fists and mean words. "Liar!" They shouted, "You're no princess! You're a nobody!"

They were all big, stupid dummies. They knew nothing. What did they know about her, about her family? She was a Targaryen. So was her brother Viserys, and her cousins, and her mother and her auntie. They had an entire kingdom waiting for them, and one day she'd be Queen, when she grew up. That's what mommy told her, and what she told her was always true.

But that didn't help her now, as she found herself getting lost in the winding paths of the old city. One bad turn led to another, and another, and soon she found herself trapped in a dead-end alley, nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Turning around, five Pentosi boys blocked her escape.

"We caught you now, little girl!" The lead street urchin growled, grinning cruelly.

"You better leave me alone!" She warned, standing as tall as she could, trying to look braver and stronger than she felt. "You're all going to be in big trouble!"

"What trouble?" The leader's short, chubby lackey sneered, "You're no one. You're a street rat, just like all of us. If you think you're better than us, then we need to put you in your place."

Dany's heart was racing. At her family's estate, she was protected by guards and her brother and mother and auntie. But not here. Out here, where her mother told her not to wander, she had no guardians watching over her.

Or so she first thought.

Above them all, something jumped. In the space between Dany and the boys, a hooded figure landed. They stood up, and she wondered if they were a child like them. They were short, barely taller than the boys and the Princess herself. He had a sword on his back, almost as big as he was. He drew it, holding it with one black-furred paw as he pointed at them.

Leave her alone, The stranger ordered, the words heard in their minds rather than their ears, Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of, if you value your lives.

The boys just stared at him, shocked by the brazen display. Dany couldn't see the stranger's face, but she heard something hum, and the sword began to glow a bright blue.

Now.

The boys turned and fled. The stranger held his pose until the last one turned the corner, and they were out of sight. He lowered his blade, sheathing it on his back again. He turned around, and Dany saw a muzzle on his face. A blue-black canine face looked at her - one eye covered in a patch, the other a bright red.

She heard enough stories to know who and what he was.

"Ser Luc!" She cried, moving forward and seizing the canine in as big a hug as her small frame could give. She felt something hard poke her chest through his cloak, right where the chest spike would be, but she didn't care. A Knight was here. A real knight, valiant and true.

Hello, Little Princess, The Warrior Reborn greeted, giving a gentle hug back, It's good to finally meet you. I haven't seen you since you were but a babe.

Dany gasped. "You watched over me on the way to Essos?"

Indeed I did, Little Princess, Luc told her, rubbing her hair affectionately, I've been keeping an eye on your family for a long time now. Part of a promise I made to your auntie.

"Are you here to help us?" Dany asked earnestly, hopping up and down, "Will you get us our throne back?"

Luc's expression dampened. Oh, sweet child, He said gently, I've already been sworn to King Robert. It is all I can do to make him leave you alone.

The Princess looked sad and confused. "But… But we're Targaryens," She said, "We're the rightful kings and queens of Westeros."

The Warrior scowled. Did your mother tell you about your father? About what he did?

"My father was King," She explained, a bit reluctantly, "He was betrayed by the Baratheons and-"

King Aerys, Luc explained, calm yet with a tinge of anger, Was neither a nice nor a good man. He killed many men who didn't deserve death, and caused a war that nearly broke the Realm. The rest of your family are far better than him, but that doesn't mean Westeros is begging for you to come back.

"But," She started to say, "But Aegon's supposed to be King."

The Warrior sighed, ruffling her hair. I've troubled you too much with adult concerns, He said, You should be getting home now.

"But… But I don't know where I am."

The Lucario smiled. Before she realized what was happening, he picked her up in his arms, holding her like a babe (or a bride), and leaped up onto a nearby rooftop. From there, he began running and jumping from rooftop to rooftop, heading in the direction of her home. Dany looked up at him as he ran, watching the sun shine between his ears, his dreadlocks flapping in the breeze, his strong arms holding her as his steely red gaze held firm on the horizon.

Dany would remember that moment long after she returned to her mother. She would remember it long after she went back to Dorne, and her Uncle Oberyn, and those beautiful gardens.

Dany would remember it for the rest of her life…