Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice but I do own this fanfiction.

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Cera: Rise of The Lost Princess

by: Sorrowful Princess

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-x- Cera -x-

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The scent of Earth awoke me. The feel of moistened soil disturbed me. And the breeze... it was too cold, carrying the sound of chirping birds to my ears. I opened my eyes, stood from the ground I was lying a little while ago, and looked around me as my eyes popped open wide. Where am I?!

The last place I remembered I had been was none other than the dusty attic that now, actually, was super clean. But where was the attic? I looked at my feet. They stood flat on soil, brown and kinda moist, with a little grass and moss coverings. I shifted my gaze straight ahead, where tall, big, enormous trees scattered maddeningly. I looked up. The sky was cloudy, no hint of any sun rays, leaving the whole place in a cool, blue shade. The whole forest. I placed my hand in my head and began clutching my hair like a crazy ass. Where am I?! I asked myself again.

Wait, wait, wait. Maybe I should reminisce what happened before I, uh, was drifted here?? Let's see. My mom pleaded for me to clean the attic. I agreed, because there's no way I could not. She'll spank me if I did. I cleaned it all up, clean as a cloud, not a single thing out of place. I remember being tired, and hungry so I went for the door. Then I stepped onto something hard and round. I bent down and held it in my hands. It was a medallion----

Shit! The medallion! That must be it! I remembered the medallion with the strange carvings on it! I flipped it over to the other side and read the strange words aloud. And then weird things started happening to me. My surrounding whirled, and I burned while that happened. Then I can no longer see, hear, feel, or smell anything. My senses were cut off. I blacked out. Maybe that was---

No! Of course not! You think the medallion sent you here, Mikan?! Grow up, man. That can't possibly happen. Stop being so stupid. This must be a dream. No, not a dream. A nightmare, perhaps. I don't like it here. Yes, that must be it. A nightmare.

I pinched myself hard, hoping that I would wake up and these strange things would instantly disappear. I've never been so desperate to wake up from a dream before, but this was way too different. I wanna wake up, because everything here felt so real. I wanna wake up, before I found out that all of this was really real. And so that's what happened. I only ended up hurting myself with the pinch, but not waking up. I pinched again... again and again, until my skin looked like it was attacked by bees or something. I pinched myself once more, and this time tears were on my eyes, ready to fall any time. I felt pain from the pinch, no doubt. And that meant I was absolutely and definitely awake. No, this can't be. No, no, NO!!!

Where's my house? Where's mom? Dad? And Brix? Where's my home? Where's my school? Where's my world?!

"WHERE THE HELL AM I?!!!" I shouted to no one, and the forest just ended up echoing my words, returning it to me. 'Where, indeed?' I held my head again, clutching my hair. I must be crazy. That's the only explanation I could think now. I must be hallucinating. Oh, God, help me! I don't wanna be like this! I still have a life, you know!

The words. Yes, the strange word carvings on the back of the medallion. After saying those out loud, like chanting it, weird things started happening. So maybe... maybe If I said it one more time, things will go back to normal. Yeah, like the functions of an off-and-on light switch. Yes, that's it! I could go home! I just have to say it! Mu-mutila E-Eszprata? or Mutila Eszprads? or Mutila Eszpoli? Mustila Eszprati Cugara? Or Curaga? No, no. It's... something like Curila, I remember. Mu-Mutila--- argh, damn it!!! I can't fuckin' remember! WaAaAahhh!! I can't remember! I can't go home! I'll be stuck here forever! I would grow old in this forest! I would die with these insects and trees, and moss, and owls mourning at my funeral!

"NO!!!" I screamed, expecting the forest to echo it back to me again but, my voice was not the one who reached me. It was someone else's. And not only that. Not only voices... but also... something like gallops? Galloping sounds?

I snapped my head to the direction of the sound, and there, my assumptions were correct. Three men covered in heavy-looking armors and head gears were approaching each other coming from different directions. The first one who reached the clean spot (spot with no trees, grass or anything. Just plain earthy soil.) had an enormous body size. Those muscles looked terrifying. Enough to shock an old lady, to scare a child. Lucky enough I'm a teenager so I think I could handle the sight. I couldn't see his face, for it was guarded by the head gear. Only his mouth was visible, considering all the metal and stuffs that was decorated in his head. His armor has silver trimmings and linings on it, and it looked expensive enough to buy a continent. I wonder how much that costs. But that's not the point here, so never mind. The lower part of his body, his legs, also was covered in silver. But it doesn't look like silver pants. It was more like of a... skirt? A silver skirt with slits? Gosh, I just don't know how to describe it. The man just looked like oldie warriors I happened to watch in T.V. That's it. Something was carved on the middle of his armor. But I couldn't make sense of it. Not with a 22 meter-distance between us.

The two other men finally reached the same spot as they halt their horses. Yes, horses. They rode on it. I was right. They are what I think they are. Knights.

"The boundaries?" I heard the man in silver spoke in a deep, terrifying voice in the far distance.

Before answering, the other two saluted first, a sign of respect. Their armors were no different from the silver man, except that theirs were covered in bronze. So I assumed that the silver one was the one in charge. The one in authority, since he was the first to ask, to speak. Since he was the one the others saluted.

"Clear." The 2nd man in bronze said.

I saw the silver one nodded in response, as the 3rd man pulled something from behind him. It looked like a scroll. It was a scroll. He handed it to the one in charge. The silver man took it, and the 3rd man bowed in response, and read it silently, just for himself. A minute or two, he was finally finished, and he gave the scroll back to the 3rd man. He cleared his throat, and in a gruffly, hard voice he said:

"Litsda!" Huh. As if I could make sense of that. What the hell does that mean?

Then something hit me. What if they see me here, standing like an idiot, staring at them? Would they think I'm some kind of bandit? I just wished they won't see me, 'cause my legs aren't moving. It doesn't want to run away. It was glued to the ground. How unfortunate.

"Drila mutasa koelda supra!" The silver man spoke again, with so much power in his voice. And in an instant, the other two saluted again and motioned their horses to start working. They ran at full speed in the south part of the forest. (I'm on the north part, I think.) And after a while, the leader did the same but went at the west part. They went separate ways and I was, once again, left all alone in the forest, in the verge of insanity.

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I wandered blankly at the nearest village I found with no particular thing on my mind except for going home. That's all I want now. Home. But how in the world am I going to do that?! How am I going to send myself back there? And those knights, why did they all look so stressed? Like something bad was happening? Well, my being sent here was already bad, but of course they can't possibly know that, so I suppose there's another reason for their distress.

This village looked kinda oldie to me. Hello, you can't blame me to make such remark, can you? I was born to live at 21st Century, and this scene was a total---argh! Anyways, I used the wrong word a little while earlier when I described this place. It was not a village. It was more like of an oldish market. There were wooden stalls everywhere, selling different kinds of stuffs and.. and... food! Just then, I caught the smell of an oh-so-delicious-smelling food and my stomach growled in response. I haven't eaten a thing yet since I was in the attic and I am really, really, insanely hungry. I wonder where the heavenly was scent coming from.

I traced the scent by sniffing. Ah, how helpful noses could be when you inhale something good. Really good. I bumped to other people as I made my way. Gosh, wasn't it crowded in here?! Of course, it was. It was a market, for crying out loud. A lot of shoppers are here. They were all looking at me, making low murmurs but I couldn't make sense of the words. So it seems, alien language was their universal language here, huh?! Great. I wonder if they could understand me. Well, they should.

I understood why their eyes were all on me. For them, I looked strange, weird, as much as they look crazy to me. Our clothes were just one of the factors why I looked strange. I wore a pair of khaki pants, with a white t-shirt for a top. In front of my T-shirt were the printed words: Keep off. Too expensive to touch. I like those words so much. Very meaningful, indeed. On the contrary, their clothes were completely opposite with mine. Theirs were too oldish, just a cloth rolled over their body to cover the parts and that's it! Even the men here wore that kind of thing so... they look kinda girly, as if they're wearing a dress. Girls' hair were tied up like a ball in the middle of their back-head while men just let it where they may, even though some were already at back's length. They were bare-footed. Very traditional. It makes me sick to my stomach. Where are the good backless tops and flingy skirts and black stuffs and chains and gadgets, decorations for the body?! I miss my 21st Century! I miss my world!

I finally reached where the scent was coming. Just like any other else here, it was on a wooden stall. A lady, about 35 years old, was standing behind it and I believe she was the owner. The seller. I looked over to her product, wondering why it smells so good. It was round, toasty brown. Tender meat, with some spices and veggies on top of it. It was as big as a fist. It was the first time for me to see something like this, but I don't care. It doesn't just smell good, it also looks delicious enough to make my mouth water. I stuffed my hands on my pocket, fumbling. I know I still got a few bucks. That would do. I would buy some. The lady smiled, seeing my reaction towards her food. I must have looked pathetic.

"Sporica?" she said suddenly. I looked beside me, just to make sure I was the one she was talking to and no one else. When I was sure, I smiled in return.

"I'm sorry, but I can't understand you. What did you say?" I asked.

In response, she cocked her head to the side. She, too, was confused. Great. What an awesome conversation we have.

I sighed. I pointed to her food, and held up a finger trying to make her understand that I want one of her product. She smiled and nodded, seemingly knowing what I meant with my gestures. Thank God. She knows sign language. She then handed me the food, and I took it with so much gratitude. I was so hungry that I forgot everything else besides the food the moment she handed it to me. I took a full bite, chewing it slowly and with feeling. Ah, heaven. Undoubtfully delicious. I began to bite more and more, until there was no more left to bite. I was not totally full, but I was at least satisfied to have something inside my growling stomach.

"Thank you." I said to the lady, and she smiled again. Then she stretched her hand towards me, her palm waiting expectantly.

"Oh, right." I said and I, once again, stuffed my hand on my pocket. I need to pay her. Of course. I just forgot. When I finally got the money out, I put it in her palm and smiled. I expected her to smile back but she just stared... not at me, but at the money. She held it in front of her face, examining it. And then, she suddenly furrowed her eyebrows and began shouting unintelligible words, her friendly expression gone. Uh-oh.

"Paedra suga limosi tadris!" she threw the words out, pointing an accusing finger at me.

In an instant, angry faces snapped at me. Everyone was glaring at me. Oops, what did I do wrong? They were now walking towards me. Men and women. All mad. What should I do? Run. But my legs, stupid legs! It was glued again on the ground! Oh God, with the way they look, I'm sure they're going to kill me. Oh, how lucky I was. I urged for my legs to get to work.

'C'mon! Don't just stand there! If this leg won't work right here, right now, I'll cut it myself when I get the chance.' I thought to myself.

They were getting closer and closer and then...

And then I was running... running away from them. I didn't know how. All I remembered was that someone grabbed me and now, I was running with that someone. I watched him from behind. Yes, him. He was obviously a guy. I should've known. They do not acknowledge the kind of money I have. And so they would think I'm some kind of a thief, bandit, or something worse. The mob chased after us but the guy who was still holding my hand was way faster so, not long enough, we were free. When we finally stopped running, we were already inside the forest, beside the lake that looked so astonishing because of its beauty, cleanliness, and purity. The guy let go of my hand and bent down to scoop some water with his palm. He drank it with a loud gulp escaping his throat. He looked at me and motioned for me to lie with him on the grass. I obeyed, knowing deep inside that I was safe with this stranger.

He looked above, to the sky, and I did the same. It was still cloudy, but at least, there was a little hint of warmth for the sun had managed to slip some of its rays beyond the cotton-thick clouds. A very relaxing breeze washed all through me and I smiled with the feeling of nature. I have always loved nature. Just never showed it. I closed my eyes, enjoying it all, forgetting about my home for just a second, and discarding all my worries for a moment. I was so still and I don't mind being like this forever. It was just so peaceful.

"You loved it here, do you?" A friendly voice suddenly said and I opened my eyes, totally relaxed, not a bit startled with his approach.

"Yes," I smiled. "So beautiful."

"Indeed," he replied and he turned to look at me. "You look strange. I've never seen anyone like you in my life. Wearing clothes like that."

I nodded. "You're right. That's because I do not live here. You must realize that you also look strange to me, as much as I look like that to you."

"If you do not live here, then where? Why are you here? Or rather, how did you get here?"

"I lived somewhere else. To another world. I just got here an hour ago and I have no idea why. I believed I was drifted here because of the stupid medallion I happened to stumble the last time I was still in my real world. And now, I wanna go home." I wonder why I could speak about my worries like they're not that much of a big deal. Isn't it because of this stranger's presence? I'm not sure. Aren't I supposed to be screaming and crying and begging for him to help me find a way home?!

"Medallion?"

"Yeah. A very weird stuff. It has some weird bird carvings on it. And on the other side, three strange words took place. I read it aloud, and before I knew it, I was already here. I just can't remember what were the words. I've already forgotten." I said very calmly.

"Interesting," he said blankly, his thoughts somewhere else. "Mutila Eszpits Curaga..." he whispered but not to me. More likely to himself. I suddenly sat up, wide eyed.

"T-Those! Those were the words!" I said, my voice a little higher. "H-How did you know that?!" How did he know that? Could it be that... this stranger could actually help me find my way home?

He, too, sat and for the very first time in our conversation, he smiled. What a very beautiful smile. It looked so perfect. Not to mention his ragged clothes. But all in all, he looked fine. Well, better than fine. Now that I thought of it, I didn't really get the chance to look at him closely and examine his features. He had blue eyes, high nose, perfect lips, blond hair which adds more to his appeal, and a fair skin complexion. His skin looked perfectly smooth, even with dirt on it. His body suited him just fine, with a couple of muscles where they should be. At least, he's not at all bulky like everyone else. He looked about my age, or maybe, just a year older than me. But, unfortunately, he was dirty. He looked dirty.

"I just knew it. And, like you, I don't know how. It just popped on my head." he said. And I creased my brows. "But I know something else."

"What do you know?" I asked too quickly that the words seemed like a buzz.

"Why don't you ask? I'll try to answer your questions. I'm sure you're dying to have some answers."

Just then, the knights flashed on my mind again.

"The knights..." I murmured.

"Yes?"

"I saw three knights the first moment I got here. They looked so stressed and... troubled? It was as if something bad was going on, but I couldn't make sense of their words. Their using a different kind of langua---" I stopped short, as something obvious hit me. "Hey! How come you can talk and understand me? How come you know my language?!" I suddenly snapped.

He suddenly laughed and I don't know why. When he can finally speak again, he said, "I'll answer your question about the knights first. Let's leave the language thing for later." Then he was suddenly serious. "You're right. Something bad was going on here. Those knights were sent off to check the boundaries, see if there's an attack coming."

"Attack?"

"Yes. You told me you just got here, right? But I suppose you do not know that you came here while the country was in the middle of a war."

"WAR?!" My eyes popped open wide. How could this be? No, no, NO!!! Wars meant armies. Armies meant weapons. And weapons meant death. DEATH! Holy crow, I don't wanna die! I stared at him for a long moment, mouth hanging open.

"This world you were suddenly drifted was divided into 5 Kingdoms. Miura in North, Lila in West, Drana in East, Gohla in South, and in the middle of it all, lies Cera." He gestured at the soil beneath us. "This land belongs to that place. You are in Cera."

I touched the soil and felt the moist texture of it. Cera... So I was drifted in the middle of Four Kingdoms.

"The Five Kingdoms were all living in prosperity and harmony, each having perfect ally relationships with others. When something bad happens to one of the kingdoms, like a nature calamity for example, the Others do not hesitate to help, to give them the supplies they need and to reinforce them with whatever necessary force for the moment. But of course, you must be wondering what kept them in that organized manner. Cera, being the middle and the most powerful kingdom of all, took responsibility for all the Other Kingdoms' actions. Our King kept constant communication and compromise with the Other Kings and because of his profound wisdom, this World had lived in peace and serenity." He took a deep breath.

I waited for a moment before speaking. "So, what stirred the war?"

"I'm getting there," another deep breath. "This world had lived in peace and serenity... until something unexpected happened."

"What happened?" I asked, too absorbed with his story-telling.

He gritted his teeth and a smirk formed on his lips. "The Miura betrayed us, and not only that, they also stole the Cerica."

"Cerica?" I repeated, having no idea what it was.

He nodded. "I told you that Cera was the most powerful Kingdom that time, didn't I? There was a source for that power. But the King kept it in control, not using it if not for necessary things, because he believed that any power used in the wrong, abusive way would just bring forth destruction. Not that he was thinking of abusing it, he was just being cautious. He loved this world very much. Much more than his life. Cerica was a very precious treasure, one that wasn't supposed to be on evil's hands. It looked like a gem, actually. An emerald, with the symbol of Cera Kingdom carved in the middle of it." he spoke of Cera with a sudden gush of pride and loyalty. This man here beside me, loves his country more than his life. I could tell as much. "And then those demons stole it from us. They had launched a surprise attack, and many lives were lost with the sudden ambush. Including our King's and Queen's. The war began. And the Other Countries refrained from helping us, for Cerica was already in Miura's hands. They left us just when we needed them most."

I shuddered with the thought of it all. Of blood. Of death. That Cerica must be so powerful for Countries to fear for it. No wonder why Miura stole it. They want the power for themselves.

"Still wondering why I can talk to you using your language?" he suddenly asked, looking intently at me. I nodded blankly, still not myself. Still musing.

He reached out for my hand, the same time he spoke: "Then come with me."

I took his hand, trusting my fate and life with this stranger, and together, we walked deeply into the forest.

"By the way, I'm Ruka." he said, smiling. Oh, right. We haven't introduced ourselves yet, but I didn't notice. He just felt so familiar to me that I didn't even dare ask his name. Ruka... so that was his name. I smiled back.

"M-Mikan," I told him shyly, wondering if he'd find my name weird like anybody else does.

To my surprise, he grinned. "I know," he said, and I twitched my brows in confusion. I know? What does that mean? Did he already know my name? How? Why?

I watched his face, trying to read it to figure out what he meant but his face gave nothing away, and it just made me frustrated, knowing that no matter how hard I stare, I'll find and get nothing. He looked at me and saw my frustrated face. He pursed his lips, trying to hold back laughter. Laughter? Why does he want to laugh? Is there something funny on my face? Yeah, I know. I looked like a clown, but he doesn't have to show that I really do, you know. I never liked clowns, in the first place. They make me sick.

"I'll explain everything later, when we get there." he suddenly said, sensing that my frustration was because of his words which made no sense to me. Yet. Explain later. Right. I don't need explanations, though my curiosity wants some. I need a way. A way back home. That's all. I sighed. Where are we going, anyway? Can't he explain everything right here? What's wrong with this place? I sighed again.

He held my hand tightly, squeezing it gently with his warm, soothing grip. He smiled again, his face brighting up a little. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Mikan." he said in a soft voice, and my eyes widened again.

What the hell does that mean?! An honor to finally meet me?

Oh God, help me. I do not understand anything anymore!

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to be continued...

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A/N: That's the real first chapter for you guys, but I guess it still isn't enough to spark your interest... or am I wrong? Maybe you should submit me a review so that I'll know what your thoughts are. C'mon, a simple review wouldn't hurt, would it? Just press the Review stuff and say everything you want. Help me feel motivated, alright? I'll be counting on you guys.

Thanks for reading. Ja!

Lovelots,

-Eurice-

PS: Thanks for those who reviewed on my previous chapter. I really appreciate it!