Soorrry!!!!!! I know I haven't updated in aaaages. My excuse is that I was getting used to VCE (and all it's homework :S) but I should be updating more regularly now :D
And sorry to all those peopl who PM'ed me, I'm not sure if many of them read this story but whatever, I'll get around to you :D
And, to all the people who wish I'd updated 'Drowning out the Echoes' (and there probably are a lot of you -.-) well, I've already half finished that chapter, but I felt like updating this one :D
And this is dedicated to all those who reviewed, because reviewers make people happy ^^
Vampire princess Mika
jazziscool
Lanel
bluechibi
CARohanne
Thank you all very very very much!
The Usurper
chapter II
Usurper
"Mikan, wake up!" Mikan opened a couple of blurry eyes and blinked confusedly.
"Huh? Jii-chan? What's wrong?"
"Remember, you'll have to be ready to leave soon." Mikan's eyes snapped wide open.
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?!" She struggled to get out from under her sheets.
'He tried, but waking you up is a pretty difficult task. I thought that even in sleep, a princess should be a dignified lady, not a drooling log.'
"ARROW! SHUT UP!!" Mikan called out to the nearby building. She ground her teeth when she heard a distant amused whinny. The stable master looked up puzzled. Mikan noticed this and hurriedly tried to explain her outburst "Nothing, it's just Arrow being an arse as usual." He chuckled.
"Make sure no one hears you saying that word, I'll get in trouble if people find out that I've been teaching you how to cuss (swear)."
"Don't worry, it's our secret!" Mikan's smile faded. "Jii-chan, I'll miss you, I really, really…" Mikan burst into tears and wiped her eyes with her blanket. "I'll really miss you, so much!"
"Mikan…don't cry. C'mon, you've got to get ready."
"No! I mean, just let me say this. I'll really miss you, because you've always been there for me, and because you've taught me so many things! Remember how when we first met I was a stuck up snob?" The stable master cringed at this description. "Well you taught me that everybody's equal! It's thanks to you that I could make so many friends…if it weren't for you, what sort of horrible person would I be?"
"Mikan…you could never be a horrible person." He tried to hide his tears. "Now come on, or you'll be late!"
"But…"
Everybody was already assembled at the front gate when Mikan arrived, riding Arrow. She spotted Shiki, her mother's advisor and closest friend.
"Shiki! Where's ka-chan?" Mikan called out, riding over.
"Sorry, Mikan. Something came up and she's stuck in a meeting." Mikan's face fell for a moment before she forced it into a smile.
"I guess that she has to fulfill her duty, so, did you come to see me off instead?"
"Even better, I'll be coming with you." He smiled inwardly as Mikan's spirits rose.
"Really?!"
"Yup, you don't think the queen will allow you to go off with just some guards and a maid? And plus, I'll be in charge of negotiating the treaty."
"Thank god, At least there'll be another friendly face when we reach the fire kingdom."
"Only until you settle down, then I'll have to return."
"Still, it's better than nothing!" Mikan smiled before spotting Luna a distance away. But there was something different about her
"Luna, your hair! It's brown!" Mikan dismounted and started to run her maid's hair through her fingers.
"Yeah, I dyed it last night." Luna's eyes were downcast.
"But why?"
"Well, my blond hair stood out a little too much. I heard that blond hair is rare at the fire kingdom, and I don't want to go around advertising that I'm from the water kingdom." She looked hesitant for a second before continuing. "You should be careful too. Our two kingdoms have been at war forever, it would be…unwise to do anything too rash. Dangerous…"
The sky didn't look promising. A blanket of grey was obscuring the sun, drowning out the light and darkening the city. The frigid morning air was blowing fiercely, the abrasive sound of flapping cloth in Mikan's ears. She sensed Arrow's unease at the weather; it was the type of weather that gave birth to storms. The royal party wound their way through the waking city. Despite the early hours, women were already queuing up at the wells, hoping to have their business done before the storm arrived.
"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" Luna said formally, wary of the presence of others. She was riding a grey gelding at Mikan's side, and was looking, concerned, at Mikan.
"Yes, I mean, I'm not sure." Mikan sighed "See the storm clouds on the horizon," She motioned ahead "that is a bad omen, especially on the first day of our journey. It makes me uneasy." Luna examined her mistress, concerned, before her eyes softened.
"It'll be alright, Your Highness. I believe that peace will come, and that an alliance will be formed." At this, Mikan laughed bitterly.
"You sure are optimistic, to believe so strongly that everything will work out. There is much enmity between our country and the country of fire. There is a high possibility that I will not be accepted."
"Perhaps, but I don't think that'll happen. Because I believe in you." Mikan opened her mouth to reply but soon closed it again. They rode in silence for a few minute before Mikan spoke.
"Thank you."
Mikan looked back as they left the outskirts of the city. Of her city. The city that she had never left before in her life. And now she had to leave forever. Forever. She waited for the impact, for the realization that things would never be the same again. But it didn't come, she was just...numb. A flash of light lit up the city, throwing it in sharp relief. Then the deafening boom of thunder crashed down upon them, heralding the rain that abruptly poured down.
Utterly soaked, Mikan turned back to her companion's worried faces and gave a bright smile.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. Let's just continue and try to get as far as we can today!"
Shiki nodded his assent.
After 5 hours of hard riding, Mikan was regretting her words. The rain hadn't let up once, only varied its intensity. Riding through the muddy forest proved slow; if they went too fast they would slip. She had, countless times, considered ordering the party to stop and wait for the rain to pass, but her pride wouldn't allow her to go back on her word. And plus, the sooner they reached the Fire Kingdom, the sooner a peace treaty could be formed.
She tightly gripped her pendant and continued without a word, her mouth set in a grim line.
'You seem tired.' It was Arrow, a hint of amusement tingeing his thoughts.
'No, I could go on like this forever.'
'Only you would try lying to your familiar and actually think you could get away with it.'
'Huh, lying? Of course not, I'm FINE! I bet you're the tired one!'
'How can a moron like you be a princess? Your maid is more princess-like than you.'
'Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore. You only ever say mean things!'
'Well, technically we're not talking.'
'Fine, then I'm not communicating with you anymore.'
'Really?'
'…'
'Just admit that you're cold and hungry'
'Never'
Arrow abruptly bolted forward, passing all of the guards, and then lay himself down on the road.
'You idiot, what are you doing?!' Mikan mentally roared. Arrow just flicked his tail.
"Are you alright, Mikan?" The guardsmen were hurriedly dismounting; it was disrespectful to look down on the princess.
"No, Shiki! Arrow just, sat down!" Shiki smiled.
"Maybe Arrow thinks you need a rest."
"No, this, this is nothing! I could ride forever." Mikan defended animatedly. Shiki just raised an eyebrow.
"In any case, everyone has already dismounted, we may as well stop, and it's just about lunch anyway." Mikan sighed; she could tell that Shiki didn't believe her. Nonetheless she dismounted and handed her reigns to a guard, glaring haughtily the whole time.
The guardsmen took turns to stand guard as the others rested, sighing in relief. Shiki stood alert, surveying the surrounding area for any possible ambush points; not everyone would be happy with the arranged marriage.
"Do you like riddles?" Shiki turned around to see the princess' maid addressing him.
"Well, I used to love them in my youth, but when you get older you've heard most of them already." The young maid nodded sympathetically.
"Hmmm…I think I've got one you wouldn't have heard before…"
"I doubt it."
"No, my father was a scribe, so I took an interest in them. This is one I made myself. Just listen:
One who takes what's more than gold
Not a thief, yet twice so bold
Will seize the crown for new to hold
Whilst bathing in the blood of old
A visage that I take, I'm told
So, heard that one before?" Shiki was impressed, he hadn't.
"No, actually." He narrowed his eyes, "Is it correct to assume that this riddle is in reference to yourself?"
"Perhaps, well, most likely actually. Come ask if you can't figure it out within a day." She walked off and approached the princess, leaving Shiki deep in thought.
Mikan quickly looked around when she saw Luna approaching, before smiling when she saw there was no one looking.
"Thank god, Luna, I thought I'd have to sit here by myself!"
"What about Arrow?"
"That donkey doesn't count!"
'Don't you dare compare me to a donkey!' Mikan ignored Arrow's intervention, instead opting to devote her full attention to what Luna was saying.
"…a small lake up ahead, do you want to go?"
"A lake?"
"Yes, it branches off the river. I've already asked Shiki for permission, he said it would be fine." Mikan's spirits lifted once she heard these words, immediately agreeing and urging up Arrow.
'YAY! We're going to a lake!'
'So now you talk.'
'Communicate, not talk. C'mon, just follow Luna!'
Luna led the way out of the temporary camp, pausing to explain their destination to one of the guards men. After 5 minutes of riding they came to a stop on the banks of a river. The sound of gushing water was almost deafening as the ferocious river rapidly made its way North, where it would eventually find itself at the bay of reconciliation. The trees on the far side could only just be seen, and looked like blurry dots of green. A wood and rope bridge stretched out apprehensively.
"Wow! Is this-"
"Yup, this is The Great Divide. Prepare yourself, once we make this crossing we'll find ourselves in the Land of Fire."
Shiki was still puzzling over the maid's riddle. There were many things it could be, but most of them were unlikely when applied to the girl. Many of the words would be metaphors, and there should be a heavy use of parallels…perhaps he should just give in? His eyes scanned the camp for her, but he didn't see her. He scanned again and realized that the maid wasn't the only person missing.
"Where is the princess?"
"Huh, I saw her leaving with Koizumi half an hour back."
"WHAT?"
"She said you gave permission to go to a nearby lake."
"No I…" And then it clicked in his head. The answer to the riddle.
One who takes what's more than gold
Not a thief, yet twice so bold
Will seize the crown for new to hold
Whilst bathing in the blood of old
A visage that I take, I'm told
The maid was a usurper.
Yup, I really didn't want to make Luna the bad guy in this, but I figured she would be easier to remember that some random, although I will point out that in the manga Luna is actually Mikan's mothers' age.
AND...BONUS 500 word deleted scene. However, I don't want to just put it in this story, because in the end I decided that it was pretty unecessary, hence the 'deleted' part. So I've decided to make this profitable on both our parts :D If you review, I'll PM you the bonus chapter. No, it's not blackmail, merely bribery ^.^