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Cherri was running through the halls, dress flowing behind her as she watched maids and butlers carry things about the halls. She had just come from the prayer room, giving offerings to the gods for her special day. She had asked the Universe, the Stars, the Moon, the Sun, and the Void to help make her day perfect. Cherri hoped that with the offerings, blessings would come soon.
She had just turned thirteen, a very important age for any royal really. Cherri was allowed to be happy about it! Her dad was holding a banquet for her after her real birthday.
Cherri was super excited! Who wouldn't be!? There hasn't been a true Solunian styled banquet held for ten whole years! Yeah sure, there were some parties and the yearly festivals, but a coming of age banquet!? And not to mention, one for herself? Cherri was beyond ecstatic.
She wasn't really paying much attention to where she was going, mostly just hopping and prancing around with no rhyme or rhythm. Her hair was done into a beautiful half up-half down that let her eyes not get bothered by her hair. Wavy hair was no joke when it came to eye irritation.
So of course she bumped into someone. “Auk–” Cherri’s face got a facefull of pants. Not a very pleasant experience might she add. She fell onto the floor with a thud!
“Oh my stars, I’m so sorry, I wasn't paying attention-!” Cherri had started but was cut off by who she ran into. His royal highness, King Ren Skylí-Kókkinos of Soluna.
“Father! Oh, thank the Sun! How wonderful it is to see you! May I enquire on why you wished to visit my quarters today?” Cherri said with a quick bow, one hand lifting her dress to not get it too ruffled up. Her father smiled down at her, hands going to grab her face.
Cherri had to look up really high to see his face, but she would never regret the slight strain on her neck when she sees her fathers smiling face. One full of pride, happiness, and contentment.
“My dearest Cherri, I believe that formal talk is meant for formal business, is it not my child?” Her father asks with a teasing look.
Cherri huffs, looking away and crossing her arms to hug herself, “But however will I learn to speak formally if I don't do so at home?” She then lets herself fall dramatically into her father, him catching her easily, "It's almost like father wishes me to fail at my etiquette class! Oh the horror!”
She rests the back of her hand on her forehead, pretending to faint and falling onto her father once more like a fair maiden. The king grabs the princess by her underarms, haling her up and over his head and firmly onto his shoulders. Cherri laughed in delight as she moved the rest of her dress away from the king's face so he could see.
“Adventures await for no one, my daughter! Onward!”
Her father then started running down the hall, the princess shrinking with joy as she grabbed onto his head. Maids and butlers stop for very few moments to witness the pure joy of a happy family, the king and the princess running about the halls with smiles and laughter.
After some running around, Cherri’s father sets her down in her room gently. Cherri pops up instantly, grabby hands up in the air towards her father. “Again, again!”
“Dearest, I think my back can't handle another run.” He chuckles, grabbing her nose and pinching it. Cherri glares at her father, a smile gone with a pout in its place. “Oh my Void father, are you calling me fat!?”
“What! Of course not, I’m just getting old-”
“Father is saying I'm too heavy to carry! Oh, the shame! The misery!” Cherri falls onto the floor, dramatically pretending to die. She flops around on the floor as her father watches her ‘pass away’
The king huffs, crossing his arms with a smile attempting to reach his face. The princess stops for a moment, removing her arms from her face to look at her father. He looked… shocked?
“Father?” Cherri asks, looking at him in confusion. Her father blinks rapidly, shaking his head slightly. “It’s nothing dearest, I thought I had seen something strange on your face but I must have been imagining it.”
“Ah..” Cherri nods. Just to make sure however, she looks at herself in her mirror hung near her balcony. She studied herself, bright blue eyes studying each and every bit of her dress. She didn’t see anything out of place so she moved on with an uninterested shrug.
The princess looked back at her father, a smile present on her face once more. “Father, may we look at the banquet hall once more? I wish to examine the maid’s handiwork.” The king raises an eyebrow, deep in pretend thoughts. “Perhaps, if the lady of the house wishes it so. It is your special day afterall. I shall await you outside your chambers.”
“Very well, father. I shan't make you await too long for my presence.” Cherri bows deeply to her father, still slightly wobbly from how new the action was. She doesn't really bow deeply often, mostly slight head tilts of acknowledgement or small bows of any other duchess or people will lower royal status.
Cherri still hasn't quite met someone she needs to bow down to, only her father who is king. And she only recently learned she needed to bow to him. She also usually ignored the whole bowing thing unless other people were in the room.
The door closes, Cherri running to lock it after. She’s a woman now, she doesn’t need any of the maids to help her change!
Cherri walks to her walk-in closet, looking around as she studied each and every gown. She had kept ones from her childhood, maids refusing to throw away adorable mini gowns and butlers in awe as she had taken her first steps in a full ball gown at sixteen months.
The further in she got, the larger the clothing became, simple dresses came from being nineteen inches long, to twentynine inches tall. More whites, golds and reds slowly took over the soft pinks and pastel purples.
Cherri’s favorite dress was one from her first few years, one of the few dresses placed in a case. It was an old thing, used by her mother and passed down to her. It was made for someone of small size, both Cherri and her mother used the dress when they were around three months old.
It was yellowed with time, currently being around forty years old. It was a beautiful off-white princess dress, flaring out near the baby-sized mannequin's thigh. Little red flowers were splattered on the dress sporadically. Some off-white stockings matched with it, as well as small shoes.
Scattered around the mannequin's base were little dolls. They used to be the ones baby Cherri used to munch on, bought from her maid. When Cherri had gotten older, she had demanded them to be thrown out. The same maid saved them and placed them in the display with the dress.
Seven year old Cherri was mortified, but the now thirteen year old Cherri loved the display. Sadly, the dress had yellowed far too much to be taken out in public by a princess where the people of Soluna could see. Cherri kept the dress and its display in a dimly lit area, making sure it doesn’t rot too fast now that the maid who created the display had passed away.
Cherri looked away, now wasn't the time to get nostalgic. It was to be her birthday banquet soon. Cherri walked farther into the closet. She watched as her simple shirts and two panel dresses turned into much more complex designs, lace and floral mixing in with stockings and bows. All too soon, it ended. On the rack hung her dress for the day.
It was a beautiful strawberry red, the gown shimmering as all satin does that seemed to catch the sun's rays from Cherri’s window. The dress flowed seamlessly as she spun around, admiring herself in the mirror, had stitched detailings all over the dress in forms of small flowers and leaves, having the slightest train on the floor.
The square neckline framed her collarbones, as all of the younger ladies had nowadays and had her puffed sleeves tightly gathered. As she put on her dress, she reached into her drawer and grabbed recently picked flowers from one of her maids.
Roses and baby breath were all bunched up together into a flower crown. She had requested it so from her head maid, Cherri loved it. For her hair, she wanted a rather simple half up-half down. Cherri brushed her hair gently, making sure each and every curl was properly brushed out.
She then looked through her vanity, searching for a ribbon to fasten off her hair. Cherri’s eyes landed on a blush pink ribbon hidden away from sight. It was perfect.
As soon as she finished, Cherri basically ran to her door. She was only slightly disappointed to see her father not there. It made sense however, it had clearly been over thirty minutes. Personally, Cherri also wouldn't wait for someone for that long other than her father. It seems she would have to see the maid’s work on the banquet during the banquet.
Perhaps her father thought the same. Ahh, how alike her father and her are. Cherri walks into her room to grab her heels, she had forgotten to wear them.
Although she also needs someone to put them on, her dress was much too big to bend over and put on her heels. The floor of the palace was clean, carpet fully steamed each and every morning with the floor under it mopped right before any royal could see.
She had put on stockings right before the dress, so she wouldn't be walking out with her feet touching the floor where shoes had been. She steps onto the hardwood floor. It was….cold. Cherri didn't like it. She went off to search for a helper.
Most of the maids and butlers were still preparing for the banquet, adding last minute decorations. Cherri simply couldn't bother them, they were busy! Perhaps she should bother the knights? What a splendid idea! She mentally patted herself on the back.
☾ ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗𖤓
The knights were very good at standing still. Cherri had tried asking, but she got ignored!. She had vague memories about knight training, on how if on patrol, they must only patrol and nothing more. Cherri guesses the knights are ignoring her specifically today because of all the guests that will arrive soon.
Cherri disliked being ignored, but a Moon Knights duty is to patrol, serve, and defend. Not helping Cherri put on her shoes. She goes off to look for someone else to help her.
Perhaps she could actually bother the maids? She would feel bad however, they are rather busy setting up her banquet.She would ask her father, but a king such as himself should never bow to a princess. Mayhaps she could find the chancellor? No, he is much too busy with writing lessons currently.
Then perhaps she could find the laundress or one of the chambermaids. Ah, yes! A splendid idea. She once again mentally patted herself on her back. Off to the laundry room!
Cherri pivoted directions, walking towards the main doors. In order to get to the laundry room she must go outside. Wait- go outside!? Her cerulean blue eyes widened.
Cherri halted, stepping outside with no shoes on!? Surely she is jesting herself, the whole point of this trip is to find someone to assist her with her shoes! She will not be getting her stockings and dress dirty! It seems she will be bothering the chambermaids then. Red dresses are very hard to remove dirt from.
Cherri once again pivots directions, only to fall upon the floor.
“Oph-! Owch..” Cherri mutters to herself. Her left eye felt a small sting, hair falling down to cover it. “My deepest apologies, your highness! I didn't- I jus- I’m really sorry!” A white gloved hand offered itself to her. Cherri looked up to see crimson eyes-
☾ ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗𖤓
Crimson eyes looked into cerulean blue, “Surely, you jest my lady?” Says the crimson eyed one. The cerulean eyed one mocks being offended. “I never jest! I am very serious, most indeed! You must be the one who jests!”
The crimson eyed one gasps dramatically, one hand over her mouth and the other over her heart. They stare at each other in silence for just a moment. The Lady In the Red armor snickers. Laughter then breaks out, music to both of their ears.
“Oh how could I ever insinuate such a thing? Of course my princess never jests, she is very earnest." The Lady in Blue agrees instantly, folding as fast as a house of cards. The Lady in Red nods very seriously, smiling struggling to be put down. “Yes, I, as the one and only heir to my father’s throne, am very serious!”
“Of course you are, Princess Cherrifire.”
The laughter dies down once more. The two women stared at each other with love in their eyes. A scarred hand reaches to cup the right cheek of Cherri. Gently, the scarred hand moves the mahogany hair away from the princess's eye and tucked it behind her ear.
There, shown in all its glory, laid a beautiful mark. A simple apple surrounded by swirls of fire and unknown ancient tomes. Sparse dots and lines circled the apple, covering most of the princess's eye. The knight’s hand matched hers almost perfectly, with the only difference being the apple changed into a cherry.
The Lady In Blue gently touched her soulmate’s face, soulmark reacting to said touch. Golden light illuminated the surrounding area with warm colors as glass shards reflected off each other. Six pairs of eyes looked around in wonder and curiosity, with a kitten even attempting to play with the reflected light. It wasn't often soulmarks were seen, much less to a crowd of people met very recently.
The Red Kingdom cheered as the lights glowed brightly in place of the torn down fountain. The cat jumped off the tree, stopping their attempt to catch the beautiful lights spread across the ground. “And with that,” Their monarch, the empurror, with her outfit being in green with a large yellow feather in his hat started, “I start the spring festival! Huzzah!”
Seven cheers echoed after, red banners in some of their hands. Many of the knights and mages took out their weapons, Princess Cherrifire of Soluna took out a sword, flame emerging from the blade with sparks flying through the air.
She held the sword in her left hand, high up in the air while the Lady In Blue, knight of both the Red Kingdom and Soluna held out her spear in her right hand. Many of the other people took out their own weapons, some wielding their books while others wielded swords, shields, and spears. One of the mages wielded a scythe, all black and red. The princess really liked it, it reminded her of one of her castle healers from back home.
People started placing down banners and putting away their weapons. War wasn’t likely to happen during crownings of new monarchs out of simple respect. While the Red and Blue Kingdoms hated each other, they almost always kept calm on the first day of monarchs being crowned.
The Red Kingdom all spread out into small groups, some people farkled while some started dancing with no music. The knight challenged the princess into a farkle match as people ran around and watched in fax horror as her princess beat her.
The Lady In Red whispered, “I love you, my loyal knight.” She held out her hand to her knight. The Lady In Blue whispered back, “I love you too, my princess.”
The new ruler of the Red Kingdom started playing their guitar, stringing cords as more of the Red Kingdom members started to dance with each other. The Lady in Red looked at her partner “Care for a dance, m’lady?”
“Anything for you Princess Cherri. You look as if you were blessed by the Moon and the Stars tonight.”
The Lady In Red- Cherri, smiled back at her knight. “Shall I lead you? From what I am aware of, knights don't usually get dance training.” the princess said in jest. The knight smirked, all beautiful and mysterious as ever.
“Perhaps you thought wrong, m’lady. I am a well trained knight, even if I never officially got the title.” The Lady In Blue led her princess to a secluded part of the festival, behind a rather large rock that was close to their temporary home.
☾ ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗𖤓
“-Princess Cherri?”
“Sorry?” Cherri blinks. What had happened? It seems she had daydreamed, how embarrassing.
“I asked if you were alright, You seemed unwell.” The other girl stated. They seemed to be a Moon Knight in training, around Cherri’s age and with the standard blue armor and cape all Moon knights wore.
“I'm fine-! Actuallyyy…” Cherri started. The Moon Knight stood at attention, crimson eyes drawn to Cherri and analyzing. “Could you help me put on my shoes?”
“...Put on your shoes, your highness?” The Moon Knight looked confused. “I can't bend over in the dress, the corset I put on under is too hard. And the dress is much too puffy to bend over properly.”
“Ah, if that is the case then I shall help you, m’lady.” The knight bowed down onto the floor. Cherri handed her her heels and grabbed all of the dress the knight gave her to hold. The Moon Knight’s hand was gloved, as was standard and professional. Cherri felt the coldness of the armored hand on her skin under the small layer of cloth.
She, surprisingly, didn’t mind it. Cherri usually hated the cold but the touch felt nice. Like eating ice cream. Cherri liked ice cream, her kingdom had the best icecream. Her favorite was strawberry ice cream.
…
What childish thinking. She has been taught better.
“I’ve finished, your highness.” The knight strapped her lace into a simple bow. Cherri couldn't see it with the dress's puffiness but it was appreciated. Cherri moved the fallen hair back into the rest of her hair.
The knight looked at her in horror, eyes blown wide and gloved hands covering her mouth. “Your highness! Are you okay- oh I’m so sorry!”
“Whatever do you speak of, Moon Knight? Is something perhaps wrong?” Cherri looked down at her dress, slightly ruffled but otherwise okay. Other than the sting on her left eye, she felt perfectly fine.
Despite that, the knight moved to remove the armor on their hand in one fluid motion. She, without asking, touched the princesses left eye with a white cloth. Cherri could feel the heat radiating off the knight, the soft warmth of a normal human’s heat. It had felt rather cold to her however, fire being within one's blood would do that.
“We must find you a healer, your highness! Please allow me to accompany you to the nearest medic, I don't wish for your injury to worsen.” The knight looked at Cherri with worried eyes, offering her arm to hold.
If Cherri were in any other state, she would have insisted she didn’t need an escort. The knight seemed to have done something to her. Now that she thought of it, her face did rather hurt…
Perhaps that's why she took the offered arm with no hesitation. The Moon Knight held both the cloth and guided Cherri to the infirmary.
Cherri let the Moon Knight do her job without much complaint. Before long, the knight and princess had reached the infirmary. Cherri almost knocked before she just decided to look in by peeking through the door.
She looks through the window, just in case of another staff member being inside. Cherri didn’t see anyone so she allowed the kind Moon Knight to open the door for her.
“Lady Lucinda? I require assistance.” Cherri peeked into the infirmary, the knight off to her side. “Your highness? What are you doing outside your chamber, I had thought you to be getting ready for the banq-”
Lady Lucinda looked at the princess in shock, mouth left agape. The three stood there until the Moon Knight shuffled her armor, making the healer snap out of their trance. “Oh my, princess! What happened!? Please, come and lay at once!”
Lady Lucinda was one of the best palace healers, being a mage who mostly studied healing, enchantments, and curses although she studied as much as she could with any other subjects. She had bright apple red eyes that always looked two seconds away from falling asleep. Her apricot colored hair was always down unless studying or attending an injury.
As she was a mage, her spell book was always near her. Lady Lucinda almost always kept hers in a messenger bag, as was most common. She had her magical weapon in her bedchamber, a scythe that only was usable if the person had magic. If not, the scythe was just a really pretty looking stick that could be used as a baton or something.
Despite having such good potential to be a war mage, she still chose to become a healer. Cherri admired that about Lady Lucinda.
The Moon Knight escorted Cherri to the bed, gently letting go once Cherri fully sat down. “ I…,” Cherri started, Surely telling someone about the pretty knight and running into her would get her fired, right? She wouldn’t want that! “...I tripped.”
Lady Lucinda conjured ice magic into her palms and pressed a cloth between the hand and her highnesses eye. “You… tripped? Pardon me, your highness but that's not very common for you to fall.”
She thought about how she had just run into her father that very morning and smiled, “Perhaps today isn't a lucky day for me, Lady Lucinda.” Lady Lucinda gave her a look but Cherri simply ignored it. SHe sighed and removed her ice spell, instead using her healing spell. Cherri felt the warm magic spread within her from her eye and all down her body, covering her in a blanket of warmth.
Cherri blinked a lot when Lady Lucinda pulled her hand away, she and the Moon Knight stifling their laughter upon seeing the action, with the knight being much more successful. “Very well then, please make sure to retrieve your medicine that will be ready by dawn. Enjoy your celebration.”
“Thank you Lady Lucinda!” Cherri replies cheerfully with a slight bow. She heads towards the door hastily. The Moon Knight goes to follow her out, holding the door as soon as she notices where her princess was going.
“Your highness?” Cherri looks back at Lady Lucinda. “Happy birthday.”
“Thank you.” Cherri leaves the infirmary, heading to the banquet hall at last with the knight right behind her.
☾ ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗𖤓
By the time Cherri arrived at the doors of the banquet hall, the Moon Knight had been called by her elders to leave. She believes it might have been her father’s personal guard, but she wasn't paying much attention. Cherri had forgotten to get her name, she strangely felt much too upset for a minor issue. She found it strange, but moved on before long.
She had a father to greet and a banquet to start. Cherri walked around the banquet hall and silently walked up the stairs into the viewing deck. As the princess with this being both her formal introduction in society and it being her technically but not really birthday party, she had to announce the start of the banquet with her father.
How… joyous. Being in front of a large crowd full of nobles who love gossip and still don't know how her mother died. Most delightful indeed.
Oh who was she kidding?
Cherri arrived at the door, knocking twice before simply opening the door. She never really waited for her father to open the doors when she was just as capable, plus her father never minded. “Father?”
The King of Soluna stood near the viewing deck, looking as regional as always. He was usually a man of simple clothing when around the castle, not really caring if his servants saw him dressed improperly. When Cherri had heard from her father that he was going to dress exactly the same as usual for her birthday banquet, she nearly flipped a table.
Cherri had instantly demanded that her father at least change his usual white dress shirt for something more flashy. He had originally declined, but after much begging and bribery of ditching a lesson to spend time with him, Cherri had been allowed to choose his clothing for the night.
Cherri choose not to be mean and give her father ten million different layers. He was a simple man by the end of the day, even while being king. Cherri let her father have all of what he usually wore, she just added more accessories, like more flowers. In Soluna, it was very common for people to wear flowers, from kings and dukes to housewives and peasants.
It was mostly due to the amount of flowers in and around Soluna. No one bothered to even sell them, why would they when every pathway had hundreds of them for free? Soluna people who wanted to show off their wealth just got their flowers from outside the kingdom, like Middlemist's Red Camellias, Ghost Orchids, Crown Imperials and Sea Hollys.
Cherri personally liked Kadupul Flowers and Middlemist’s Red, they both matched well with anything in her and her father's closet. The Gardeners have a fully grown garden of both flowers because they were really pretty.
She was only slightly upset about the fact they are pretty rare because people not replanting. Despite that, Cherri made a flower bouquet of both flowers for the two. Cherri had a large amount of flowers in a basket with many different flower types to throw off the balcony. It was another tradition for a coming of age banquet, representing the blooming of womanhood or something.
She also had another basket full of flowers to hand out, it meant that there were friendships blooming now that she was of age, although it was now considered more of a good luck charm. It was also common to give flowers out at coming of age banquets, although nowadays everyone had to get a flower at the banquets or it would be insulting. Cherri hoped she had enough.
“Are you ready, my daughter?” Her father asked. Cherri looked around the small room, only meant for the royal family to have access to the viewing deck. The door to the banquet was closed, although she could hear the start of people and musicians getting ready for her and her fathers entrance. She nodded as seriously as she could to the king.
The Red King patted his daughter and stepped out of the room, most likely to inform a servant to start the royal music for their entrance. Cherri looked down at her basket of flowers and petals with shaky hands. Just for tonight, she thought as she waited for her father to return.
She almost felt… nervous? No, that's impossible! Cherri snapped her head up just as the music had started and her father was about to be introduced. “You will be loved by them, don’t worry my dearest daughter.”
“I’m your only daughter, father. Unless you had a bastard while you were in the White Sea.” She tried to jest. It came out flat. Despite the attitude, her father smiled at her.
“And now, we gather here today to see his majesty and her highness of Soluna,” They both startled as they were being introduced. “You’ll do great out there.” He promised as he stepped out.
“His royal highness, The Flame, King Ren Skylí-Kókkinos of Soluna!” Cheers and claps erupted in the banquet hall. Cherri knew her cue was next so she looked at herself one last time in the mirror.
She was ready.
She stepped out of the dark room into the light of the other.
“And her royal highness, The Sun, Princess Cherri Fotiá-Kókkinos of Soluna!”
Cherri stepped out to the viewing deck, light blinding her as her eyes had grown used to the darker lighting of candles and torches. She held her head up as she gracefully walked to the right of her father’s side.
It was finally when she looked down. Below, hundreds of nobles cheered and looked up in respect. Cherri’s stone cold face melted into a smile as she waved down. She grabbed a handful of flowers from the basket and threw them down, hundreds of petals and dozens of flowers scattered throughout the air.
Men and women alike all reached for them, smiles and excitement of the first real royal banquet that many people were experiencing. Cherri set down the basket and smiled while standing, mostly watching as people started celebrating.
“They look rather happy down there, don't they?” The king asked the princess. Cherri stayed looking, watching as maidens and gentleman danced around while others mingled and gossipped.
The Sun watched as its people ran about in its kingdom. The Flame smiled down at its daughter, knowing everything was okay. Her royal highness, Princess Cherri Fotiá-Kókkinos of Soluna, The Sun, and the one to save them all. The one who will have the strongest magic of all, being born on the summer solstice.
“Yes. They do, father.” The princess saw two princesses ask each other to dance at the same time, hitting their heads together when they both asked. The girls both shot up and apologized before the girl in white got bold enough to ask again. The other girl took her hand and they made their way to the dance floor.
“Then why aren’t you down there with them? This is for you afterall.” Her father looked at her questionably. “I had thought we only go down to pass flowers, do we not?” Cherri asked, also looking slightly confused.
“Technically, yes. I do also have a separate dress I accidentally ordered to your exact size and have a mage at the ready that specializes in illusions. All accidental and pure coincidence, of course.” Cherri finally looked away from the happy people celebrating her and looked at her father.
“Really? You promise?”
“I double promise. I think you should go before I notice you leave.” Cherri’s father winks, a smirk prevalent on his face for just a few seconds. Cherri took that as her out, rushing to the doors hiding inside. Before the closed the door, she saw another girl right next to her father, same gown, hair, and crown.
Awesome!
Cherri admired the fake Cherri before running off into the halls once more. She quickly went down the stairs and very sneakily got into her father’s room. Hiding wasn't really needed as most, if not all, servants of the castle should be at the banquet but the thought counted.
The room was rather basic, not having much personally because of how little the room is really used. The king was usually seen in his office or nearby his daughter, why would he decorate? The office was much more homely, it even had its own bed.
Cherri snuck inside, closing the door as quietly as possible. The door made a click, and Cherri let out a shaky breath. Score! She looked around the room and saw it on the bed. A very simple dress, blending in perfectly with all the other dresses.
It was a red strapless princess style that faded into a red-orange. Under the dress was a off-white poet shirt. Compared to the other dress, this was very simple and nice and Cherri rather liked it.
Although, she would first have to find a place to hide her dress from the maids. She locked the door behind her, just in case. Cherri looked around the room again as she grabbed the new dress. She looked around the room one more time, nervously as she walked around and tapped her foot on every floorboard.
Creak CreakCreakCreak Creak-!
Cherri’s face lit up, Oh void! She thought to herself as she placed a feather on the floor board. Cherri quickly took off her dress and undergarments that were for the dress and placed it on the bed.
She did leave the petticoat however, it would look nicer like that. Cherri also left her shoes, they were too difficult to remove and put on again. She was not getting a knight to put on her shoes again.
She then grabbed the poet shirt, buttoning it up all the way and smoothing down any creases. Tucking the shirt into the petticoat, she grabbed the red dress and slid it over her head. The dress setted itself perfectly, needing no adjustment. Cherri laced her dress up tightly and tied a bow to secure the knot.
Cherri looked at a mirror happily. She looked great! Although she did mess up her hair. One quick look and she grimaced. Cherri quickly pulled out her ribbon and undid the bow, letting her hair fall down. She sadly didn’t have a brush so Cherri had to leave her hair down. At least it was pretty looking. Her hair reached down to her waist, dark brown curls wildly bouncing everywhere.
Looking at the mirror once again, she still felt like she was missing something. She looked around her father’s room, and there she saw it. A dark red sash was in the closet, one of the things she had taken out for her father’s current outfit and forgot to put away.
Perfect.
Cherri grabbed it and tied it around her waist. She tied a small bow and turned the sash until the bow was on the side. She looked better! She turned the sash again, not quite liking the bow and looked up.
Cherri posed for the mirror, she looked amazing! She then looked at her other dress, all beautiful with its flowers. As much as she liked her original dress, she thinks she now understands her father’s love for simplicity.
She grabbed the original dress and her bow, placing them in a bag. She then sat on the floor and pried the floorboard with the feather. She grabbed the bag again and tied it, placing it in the hole of the floorboard and closing it.
“Perfect! Now I just need to get outta here without getting caught.” Cherri looked around in the hall as she opened the bedchamber door. No one was in sight.
Cherri quietly escaped the room and sped walked down the hall. After close watching, Cherri made her way to the main gate of the palace, using the underground tunnels in the main palace.
Cherri got out using the false wall, ensuring it was well covered once more and walked back to the main gate. After more careful consideration, she walked out the leaves and brushed herself off. “And what are you doing out here?” A voice from behind her asks. Cherri yelps. She turns around to see-
Moon Knight Alistar, her father’s favorite knight.
“Mister Moon Knight Sir-! I was just- um- well-!” Cherri stutters. What should she say? Should she lie? Should she speak the truth? She could feel her palms gather sweat so she hid them behind her back. Unseen, unknown of something like that.
“Whatever are you doing out here, your highness?” Alistar bent down and whispered in her ear. Cherri looked up in shock, eyes widening. “How did you know!? I was so well hidden!”
“Your highness, you simply have a less formal dress and have your hair down. You do not differ much in appearance when it comes to it.” Alistar looked at her widened eyes, a small smirk playing on his face. “And there is no other lady quite as magnificent and stunning as you, m’lady. I could recognize your beauty from afar, as any good knight should for their monarch’s daughter.”
“Aww thank you Alist- wait! Any of the knights could recognize me!?”
“Oh no no no, your highness!” Alistar backpettled instantly, “I simply meant that I, as a great knight to the kingdom of Soluna, would be able to recognize you and your greatness. Also none of the other knights have ever seen you, but that's besides the point!” Alistar laughed, saying part of his sentence under his breath.
“So we need new knights? I’ll inform my father of this new development after the banquet!” Cherri cheerfully says in full sarcasm, saluting to the knight. The Moon Knight nodded very seriously in jest, “Ah, but of course. Would you like me to escort you to the hall? I imagine you are doing what most ladies of the house used to do.”
Cherri took the offered arm, accepting it. “What did the ladies of the house do?” Cherri was curious. The questions would help her ignore the strange symbols appearing on her right eye right after she met that beautiful knight. Anything to ignore the small stars and the crescent moon right above her eye. Anything.
Alistar chuckled, “Your mother had her connotation here, and during her afterparty she convinced a mage to use a spell to make an illusion of herself. Your mother then ran off and danced the night away, as did your father’s mother, aunt, and one of your cousins.”
Cherri and Alistar arrived at the front gates, still having their arms linked as the Moon Knight led the princess. “How did you know that?”
“Your father quite enjoys my company and gossips quite a bit. I had also escorted your mother on that night, although I was a knight in training at the time. Not that being a knight in training means anything to me, I am spectacular at my job, ha!” Alistar walked Cherri down the path, flowers dancing in the air as decorations flew about. Cherri was mesmerized, intently listening as Alistar started recounting stories of her mother. Tales of adventures and whispers of magic gone wrong.
Knights and Moon Knights parted ways and opened a clear path for them as they recognized Alistar. A short, crimson eyed Moon Knight in training watched in annoyance as she watched one of the most important Moon Knights.
“You’re following in my footsteps, hahaha! I must be so amazing and woah am I a great role model or what!? Anyway, go get my spear and then drop to give me 50 push-ups.”
The small Moon Knight watched as her princess, the princess she very clearly knew from earlier in the morning, despite the change of clothes, followed the older Moon Knight happily. The girl smiled, her princess was happy and that was all that matters. Even with the strange feelings in her chest. Apokuna ignored the thump-thump-thump of her chest because as long as it didn't impact her performance and duties, it didn't matter.
One could hope, however. The idea of a princess and a measly knight falling in love. How… strange. Apo quietly snuck off to the upper stairs, walking into one of the smaller and unused banquet halls the King didn't like for some reason.
Apo rather liked dancing. It also let her think about what had happened earlier that day. When she and the princess had skin contact, Apo had felt a vision appear right before her eyes, one she didn't quite understand. It was one of herself and a fair maiden in red.
☾ ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗𖤓
“Knight!~” A woman in a red dress walked beside her. The Moon Knight sighed, “Yes m’lady, Kaite the brave is very brave.”
The knight and the lady walked along a path, walking from a kingdom with statues onto a bridge, although they hadn’t quite reached it yet. The lady in the dress was carrying her adopted child, who was all blue and hummed to himself. The Allay was drifting in and out of sleep.
“No, not that. Even though Lady Katie the brave is quite brave, I was thinking more about the prince.” The lady gestured to the blue child in her arms. “I’m… a little bit scared for him. What if Lady Eloise wants full custody? What if someone tries to assassinate my prince!? I wouldn't mind having split custody but what if? Scott seemed much too eager to have Prince in the Blue Kingdom…”
The Knight guides the Red Queen in the gate of the Red Kingdom. “No one will assassinate the prince. You are currently the Queen of this prosperous kingdom, might I also add that you and the Blue Queen have a good relationship currently? I swear I shall protect you both with this spear, if it is to make you feel reassured."
The knight takes out MoonPiercer, a long sharp silver spear with golden edges on the blade. It was a spear that was spasically used during war time, the gold resembling the fact. The Moonstone stood out slightly less, but still just as important.
The Lady in Red looked at her knight in blue with relief, as if she wouldn’t protect her princess and current queen. “Thank you, knight. I hope you are able to keep your word, I have… a bad feeling for the elections of new monarchs. I heard the frouge was running for it as well as the cat.” The Red Queen gossips, dropping her voice down into a whisper.
“Kitty? I feel they would make a great ruler! Why are you worried?” The knight asks her queen. “It's not the cat I worry about, he would make a great king! I moreso think of the frog, he is…. rather..?”
“Negitive?”
“Yes! Very good Lady Apokuna, very good! That was the word I was looking for. I fear that Frouge the rogue as the king wouldn’t do well. He is an addict who keeps on gambling in farkle and I fear for the economy!” The Red Queen huffs, clutching her child closer as the three of them walk to the palace.
The knight- um, Apo understood what her princess-queen meant. She also thought that the frog as the king wasn't a great idea. She also knows that the idea of the frog ruling wasn't what worried her princess. Apo wasn’t quite fond of Frouge, he liked to tongue her whenever they crossed paths.
Despite the Princess in Red’s worries, the election rolled around after a few hours. The knight followed her monarch and watched while she laid down her child into his bed. “Sweet dreams, my prince.” The Red Queen muttered to her son, covering him in soft blankets. Apo just watched as her princess quietly watched over her son.
Her queen stayed still, looking at her son’s chest rise and fall repeating. “Chu!” The prince sneezed, startling the princess and the knight. Silently, the child woke up again and stared his beady eyes at his mother. Prince reached out his chubby hands while looking directly at the Red Queen.
“Chu?” The prince looked slightly red in the face, it had seemed that he had gotten a cold from the Blue Kingdom’s lake he had been in earlier that day. “Oh, my sweet prince… Lady Apokuna?”
Apo looked up in attention, “Yes, my princess?”
“Could you get me some mushroom stew? It seems my sweet little prince has gotten a cold…” Her highness never once looked up, simply hugging her child to bring warmth. The small prince hugged back, shivering as he murmured to himself.
“Yes, your highness. I shall do so at once.” Apo bowed and rushed out the door to the prince’s tower. A slight jog to the kitchen had Apo looking through cabinets and doors. Where had she left the mushrooms? She could have sworn she placed them in the high shelf in the basement, but they had not been there.
As she made her way back into the kitchen, she noticed a large pot on the furnace. In two quick strides, she opened the pot and the missing mushroom laid there with veggie broth, aromatics, carrots, potatoes, and tomato paste, as well as some other ingredients she wasn't familiar with.
It seems she had found the mushrooms.
Apo grabbed a bowl from one of the upper cabinets and poured in some of the warm stew. Grabbing a spoon for the prince, she walked right back to his tower and up the spiral staircase.
Knock knock!
She waited until she heard a soft ‘Come in!’ from her monarch. Gently, Apokuna opened the door and held out the mushroom stew. “Thank you, Lady Apokuna.”
“Anything for you, your highness.” She responded in whispers, seeing as her prince was unwell. After the Red Queen gave her prince the stew, they both watched as the prince hummed contently against his pillow.
“Goodnight, Prince.” Apo’s princess quietly broke the silence. The prince sang a happy tune and covered himself in his warm blanket. Apo’s princess gently got up and backed away from the bed, keeping her footsteps soft to not awaken the prince. Apo silently followed after her princess, there was no need to protect the prince now that he was slumbering. He was safe.
The Red queen gestured to Apo to open the door. In two quick strides, Apo opened the door and followed her right on out. They both walked out of the prince’s tower, silently walking down the spiral staircase and closing the door. They then looked at each other, it was time for a new monarch. Apo led her lady out of the temporary home, and they both made their way to the castle.
The castle was quite small, Apo thought to herself. It wasn't as grand, or as beautiful as Soluna but for something made in around a short month? It was quite impressive. Apo gilded her queen to the circle of Red Kingdom people, six other people awaiting for them both.
After some chatter, the Queen got Kitty and Frouge to stand in a circle of the castle, surrounded by the Red Kingdom members as The Red Queen held out a coin. “Kitty, heads or tails?” The Queen in Red asked. Frouge looked annoyed at not being chosen but Kitty looked at the coin intently.
“Tail. I used to have one of those."
“Yes Kitty, very good. Do you know how heads or tails work?” The Red Queen gently asks the cat. Kitty put on a thoughtful expression and shook their head as Frouge sighed dramatically and loudly. “She doesn't need to know how it works, just flip the damn coin already!”
“It’s quite alright, my queen. I’ll learn some other time about the shiny coin game.” Kitty purrs.
The queen nods, “Very well then. I guess all that’s left to do is flip it.”
Flick-cling! Smack!
It landed on head. Apokuna watched as her queen- no, her princess gave her crown to the new monarch with a strained smile as he shouted in cheer. Apo didn’t have a good feeling about the new ruling, but who was she to fight over it? She was just a humble knight. All she had to do is swear her spear for her princess now.
It was a simple job in essence, protecting the princess. Apo would not be helping the new king, her lady had clearly made her thoughts clear. Even if he was royalty, Apo was only loyal to Soluna and its residences, not this faraway kingdom in ruin and unsuitable for her princess.
☾ ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗𖤓
Apo didn’t know where she had gotten that… vision… from. As soon as she touched the princesses face with her bare hands, she had gotten the vague memory of herself and another woman of royalty. She didn’t know how to feel about her make believe fantasies, especially when they came from touching the face of someone so important.
She didn’t know how to feel. And a lover? From another kingdom no less? And royalty? And a woman? She doesn't know if her king would approve of such a thing. While he is a kind ruler, King Ren still must have some rules about sinful thoughts such as these.
Nonetheless, Apo was much too busy to think of such things. She had knight training, spear training, formal training, etiquette training, first aid training, common necessities training, horsemanship training, physical training, archery training, and dance.
Dance was very important, no matter how much she secretly chose it because of her love of the activity. It helped with… balance and some other stuff. Maybe…
Oh well, it doesn't matter. She got all of her basic training plus her one class choice and she believes she had chosen well. Dancing helped whenever she was nervous as well so she does it. Apo heard the downstairs music stop rather abruptly so she quickly but quietly rushed down and pulled out her trainee spear.
Just in case.
Apo watched as the Solunian King made a speech, toasting to his daughter’s age and wishing for many more banquets to come. Truthfully, Apo didn’t pay much attention to her king’s speeches, as much as it pained her to say as a knight. Any grand speeches usually went through one ear and out the other.
Apo was mostly focused on the princess, the real princess in the crowd and not the one next to her father. It was likely the work of a mage, but a mage could never replicate the princesses radiance and beauty. It was honestly next to impossible to think the imposter looked nearly as divine as the real princess. It was like comparing the moon and the sun or comparing fire and water.
No one could replicate how utterly out of this world the princess of Soluna truly is. Apo watched as her princess walked around with Alistar. She frowned as she saw the two together. They were making it rather obvious that Princess Cherri was of great importance in her disguise, not many had a Moon Knight to personally escort them to banquets, much less stay with them throughout the night.
It would show that her highness was of great importance. Good. It was best that way, such a thing would deter any nastiness of other princesses and ladies that had come to the banquet. Apo could ignore the strange burn in her left hand, the strange pattern of symbols of fire and suns wrapping around her calloused hands that had appeared quite some time ago. It had seemed the Stars had cursed her for her sins.
It didn't matter. Not anymore. Even if she knew what the symbols and the soft glow they emitted meant. It would never happen, love blossoming between a measly knight such as herself and a princess of one of the most important kingdoms would never happen. It’s just not possible. It wasn't realistic.
Apo was a planner at heart, one who needed to write down her thoughts and review what she would do written down. She wasn’t meant for the unpredictable life of a princess such as her highness. The universe and the void had created her to be a woman of routine, always to be a follower.
Apo was never made to be the prince that would carry Princess Cherri away from mythical beings. Apo wasn’t a man, her highness would never be as damaged as herself for a sin so unforgivable. May the Void and the Stars guild her, but she knows her gods would banish her to the void for her unholyness. She wasn't religious, but even she knew she had gone too far.
It… didn’t hurt. Not really. Not anymore atleast. As soon as Apo realized what the marks on her hand meant, she put on her glove and armor, vowing to never remove them near someone ever. It would eat her up inside however, never knowing how her soulmate would smile at her. Apokuna would never get to be with her soulmate, it just wasn’t possible. A princess and a knight. A woman with another woman. A love made up from sin.
What a joke.
She could see that written in a romance book. No matter, Apokuna had a job. It was a simple yet complex one. Protect her princess and her king. It’s what she’s vowed her life for, some markings on her skin would never change her reason for life. Not when she doesn't even deserve her perfect life.
Not when Apo got lucky and saved by her king while others starved on the streets. Apo should be grateful really, how disgusting to be so ungrateful for something she doesn't deserve.
Nonetheless, Apo stood at attention diligently as her king harped on his wonderful daughter. How perfect and wonderful and blessed he was to have her. Apo could see her princess, her real princess, blushing as Alistar rubbed her back while teasing her.
She looked radiant in her dress. Stop looking, Apo.
Princess Cherri looked happy as her father praised her in front of hundreds of guests. It will never happen Apo, stop thinking about it.
Apo saw as her royal highness let out silent tears of mixed emotions, joy and embarrassment. Apo only wished she could be the one to hold her as she cried. Don’t let yourself down now, Apokuna.
Don’t be a sinner.
Apo looked away. Her prefrontal cortex had started hurting from her focus. Despite the hurt, she was still able to see the King waving his hand at the end of his speech. Hundreds if not thousands of flowers flooded the air, all rushing down gracefully in clusters as maids and butlers threw buckets from above. Each flower spun and danced with grace through the air as it looked for a place to land.
Many shades of colors reached the royals gently, fully blossomed flowers landing in outstretched hands of ladies and gentlemen. Apo watched as people traded flowers and made flower crowns together.
“Hey, you got something in your hair, newbie.”
Apo looked up at one of her elders. “Thank you for telling me.” She nodded and bowed. The other Moon Knight simply shrugged her off and walked away. Apo reached into her hair and found it. A Royal Catchfly, otherwise known as Silene Regia had landed right on top of her head. She wondered if her goddesses were telling her something. No, that would be silly. It would be unlikely, her goddess wouldn’t speak to someone as insignificant as her.
The flower’s bright, bold, and fiery colors reminded her of Princess Cherri. As curious as she was, the Solunian princess was a trouble maker at heart. She kept that particular thought to herself. It’s best if no one else knew about how abnormal she was.
Another flower landed on her head, coincidentally right on top of the royal catchfly. A morning glory shone with its blue petals. Apo grabbed the two flowers and gently twisted their stems together.
Apo then gently grabbed the new stem and weaved it through her ribbon holding her ponytail as she looked out the ball room’s skylight, watching as the Moon looked down at its subjects. Apo wondered if her goddess was looking at how shameless and sinful she was being. Maybe the Moon would tell her sisters on how one of their creations came out wrong.
Apo looked down at the blooming flowers that had mostly reached the floor by that point, petals still perfect because of the soft hands grabbing them out of the air. Not one flower was crushed by shoes. Every single flower that had been thrown was now in someone's possession, gently held as if they were of real value.
Apo would be sure to get the flowers professionally pressed during her 1 hour break on sunday. She loved how beautiful the red and blue looked together.