Disclaimer: I still don't own Princess Tutu...

Thank you for your kind reviews Chrysanth Florence and James Birdsong! ^^

Thing don't always turn out the way you expect them to..."Happily Ever After" just got put on hold...it's time to see who sinks and who can swim ;3 (Please don't hit me with fish...italian food is fine, but please no fish...)

Here we go...

Chapter 1: Roxanne

"MAMA!" a young girl screamed, kicking at the covers as if her life depended on it.

Another young girl, in the bed beside hers, sat up with a start, and looked her way with wide and worried eyes, "Roxanne?"

A little boy jumped up in a similar fashion in his bed across from theirs, "R-Roxi?"

"MAMA!" the girl wailed again, tears streaming from her closed eyes as she fought an imaginary foe.

A pair of maids hurriedly lit the lamps as a man and a woman rushed in. Seeing the girl in her fit, they quickly ran to her side.

"Roxanne?" the woman called as they grasped the girls arms to keep her from flailing about, "Roxanne!"

At the sound of her voice, Roxanne opened her big blue eyes, "M...mama?"

The girl was shaking as the woman pulled her into her arms, "Darling, what's wrong?"

The man took a seat beside the woman, and wrapped his arms around them both, his golden brown eyes watching over them almost anxiously.

"A nightmare?" he asked softly as he stroked the trembling girl's fiery orange hair.

The other young girl and the little boy both slipped out of their beds to join them on Roxanne's bed; concern for her made clear with the looks on their faces. The girl had white hair, like the man had, porcelain skin like the woman, and violet eyes. The boy had black hair like the woman had, golden brown eyes like the man had, and freckles like Roxanne had.

"M-mama..." Roxanne sobbed against the woman's chest, "You...I saw you...dressed in black feathers..."

The man and woman shared a look of surprise, the woman's garnet eyes showing a flash of horror, but neither made a comment.

"I...I couldn't move...she wanted to kill me, mama...she was going to-"

"Roxanne, look at me," the woman pulled the stricken girl up so she could face her, "It was only a nightmare. I would never hurt you, do you understand? I would sooner kill myself than even think of hurting you. The same for Veronica and Alfonse, because I am your mother."

Roxanne wiped her nose on her sleeve, "I know, mama. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize for that," the dark haired woman said, containing her earlier panic so as to not upset her daughter more. She pulled a handkerchief out of her nightgown pocket and began wiping the girl's face, "And what have I told you about wiping your nose on your sleeve?"

The little blue eyed girl blushed, "You told me not to..."

The woman sighed, rolling her garnet eyes toward the heavens, "Honestly, Roxanne..."

The little boy suddenly snickered, "Roxi's sleeve isn't a hankie."

"Alphonse!" the violet eyed girl hissed, "What has mother told you about talking like that?"

The boy blinked and tilted his head innocently, "Like what, Roni?"

The pale girl turned red, "Why you little-!"

The boy laughed as she chased him around the room, "Get back here Alphonse!"

Their mother was about to scold them, but she was distracted by the now giggling girl in her arms. Seeing Roxanne beginning to recover from her nightmare, the woman instead hugged her daughter and leaned into her husband's chest. Her husband smiled, and kissed them both on the tops of their heads. Roxanne giggled when he did. Alphonse grinned at the scene, but didn't let that distract him from dodging a frustrated Veronica. Fortunately for him, though the young Veronica was graceful, she was clearly terrible at playing tag.

"I love you mama, and I love you daddy," Roxanne said, snuggling into the warmth of her parents' arms.

"Veronica, Alphonse," the man spoke, his voice gentle but stern, "Come here."

The two were swift to halt their game of tag and obey their father. Soon they too were caught in the circle of their parents' arms. Though Veronica sneakily pinched Alphonse's cheek in revenge. Being the little hero he was, he didn't dare ruin the moment by whining about it. He could always get back at her later.

Seeing that peace had returned, the two maids silently stepped outside. They waited near the door, ready for if they should be called on.

The elder of the two sighed, "Her Highness used to have a similar nightmare, before The Princesses were born...if I remember correctly."

The younger maid's eyebrows went up in surprise, "Queen Rue dreamed her mother was going to kill her too?"

The first maid gave her a weird look, but then shook her head, "No, that's not what I meant. I meant the part about the black feathers. It only happened a few times, but Her Highness would wake up screaming something about ravens coming to get her...perhaps someone spoke to the Princess about that time, and that's why she had that nightmare."

"Oh dear," the younger maid gasped, "How terrible...but at least that would explain it. There hasn't been a raven in sight since His Highness returned to us. Only tales remain."

"Hmph," the elder maid raised her nose, "You'd think people would take care not to speak of them. Especially around the children."

The younger maid nodded in agreement, "Especially His Lordship, Autor. He doesn't know how to watch what he says...just the other day he told Princess Roxanne that if she ever went into the West Tower, a horrible monster would get her. The poor girl looked terrified. Princess Veronica scolded him for it though. You should have seen the look on his face."

The elder maid cracked a small smile, "The Princess Veronica is a very strict mistress, just like Her Highness. I would hate to find myself on her bad side."

The younger maid chuckled in agreement.

For a moment, there was silence, but then the younger maid made a face.

"What is in the West Tower anyway?" she asked.

The elder maid thought about it, "I...I don't have the slightest clue."

The two brooded over it in silence, but neither could think of what could be hidden away in the West Tower.

Till The Next Chapter...

...again, please no fish...and no rocks...PLEASE...I don't want to suffer trama, or death...so...yeah ^^;