by Richard A. Rowell
“The Princess” is the fourth chapter in the “Dawn of Luna Starlight,” a story set in the CRONOKAI Universe. Read the other chapters here.
The Princess
Today was a big day, and Persephone couldn't wait to get it started. The princess awoke with a jolt as soon as she came to consciousness. She had quite a surprise for her sister, the Queen Phoebe Dawnstar. Two, actually...
Persephone had a very slight frame, with big blue eyes and long eyelashes, easily her best feature. Her long golden blonde hair was worn with fluffy bangs in the front and was clipped back around her ears, cascading down her back nearly to her waist.
While her hair was naturally curly, Persephone took plenty of time to straighten it, as she liked the way it looked straight and sleek instead of the often tangled mess that it would have been.
She often slept in the nude, so when Phoebe came to visit her as she did on many mornings, "Percy" as many called her, had only thrown on some underwear.
Phoebe was a black beauty, with black fur and even darker hair that was tied back in a severe ponytail. Worn down, her hair was only about chin length, but with a little extra bulk and length in the back to be able to wear it up more easily. Her bright green eyes were just like her mother Cleo's, except they were nowhere as cold and calculating as her mother's became. Phoebe's eyes were soft, serene, and affectionate.
She did wish that Persephone could get dressed a bit faster, though.
Before she turned around to face her sister, Percy threw on a skimpy bra. It was more than enough to mostly cover her modest breasts, leaving minimal cleavage. That seemed to be enough for her.
"Good morning, Percy," Phoebe said coolly. She rarely had any emotion in her voice, not just as Queen, as she had been for some years now, but ever since she had been a kitten.
"Morning, sis," Percy replied gleefully, "You look amazing today, my Queen."
Phoebe raised an eyebrow, "Thank you, Percy." The Queen looked herself over. She wasn't exactly dressed regally herself. She had on her dark violet leggings that were part of her royal outfit. But on her top, she only had her royal blue breastplate which supported her legendary breasts.
It was a shame she would never have a chance to milk her offspring, though, as she herself was cursedly barren. "I would seem to have neglected to dress properly," she said blankly.
"We're sisters," Percy said dumbly. She loved to state the obvious for whatever reason. Phoebe was used to it, although her little sister's habit did annoy her. But she was a good molly, and the mother of the only true heir remaining in the Royal Luna family, little Lumina.
"How's Lumina?" Percy asked, as if she hadn't seen her daughter in days, when in fact she'd only seen her the very night before.
"She's well," Phoebe said. What else was she supposed to say?
"When I get dressed, I'll go meet her in the nursery."
"Sounds like a plan," Phoebe said with a false smile. Percy threw on some light pants and a halter top and left the room practically skipping.
"Cya, Pheebs!" she announced as she hopped down the hall. Phoebe watched her incredulously. It was as if she'd never seen her sister act this way before. She had, but she seemed awfully excited today. Did she know something that the QUEEN didn't?
Phoebe shadowed her for a moment before deciding that it was well within her rights to simply summon her later at a moment's notice.
MOMENTS LATER...
Lumina was a plump little thing, but adorable in her own right. She had her mother's eyes and hair, except hers was kept curly and much shorter, about lip-length, and cut shorter in the back. The stout little princess was also even dimmer than her mother, but sweet and friendly. If she had to be queen, at least she would be nice to look at.
Meanwhile, Princess Lumina had just learned a particularly sad piece of news, at least, for her future... It was delivered by her good friend Mindy Mews.
Mindy was Lumina's oldest best friend. Lumina had a lot of best friends, but she'd known Mindy the longest. Mindy was barely past being a kitten, but she was a wispy little thing, flat-chested and not all that pretty. Her fur was short, and her hair seemingly even shorter. Without her light blue eyeshadow and long eyelashes over her not particularly feminine brown eyes, she would've been easily mistaken for a wimpy tomcat.
"Milady, I bring troubling news," Mindy said with a respectful bow.
"What's up, Mindy?" Lumina asked in her pleasant, childish voice.
"There's another..." Mindy trailed off as if the last word she had to say would earn her a trip to the gallows.
"Yes, my dear? Another what?"
"Another... princess..."
Lumina chuckled, "Of course, you silly! My mum is a princess, too!"
"No, milady. She's a Darklight."
Lumina's smile immediately reversed into an ugly frown, contorting her usually pretty face in anger. "Excuse me?"
"Her name's Twilight. And she looks an awful lot like you."
Lumina stood up quickly, much faster than one with her girth would seem to be able. "How do you know what she looks like?" she snapped.
A small figure walked in behind Mindy. She was very shy, and all you could see of her were her ears and bright emerald eyes behind Mindy.
"She's behind you, isn't she?" Lumina asked obviously.
There was a soft mew as the visitor revealed herself. She did look a lot like Lumina. Her hair was a bit longer, about chin-length, and her curls were heavier. Also, her eyes were green to Lumina's blue, and her eyelashes were heavier and longer. "I'm, M-M-Mina," she whimpered.
"Where did she come from!?" demanded Lumina.
From me, said a voice. A tall, lanky, but gorgeous Felona walked in, flanked by two of Luna's Royal Guard. Lumina recognized her immediately.
"Aafie Darklight!" Lumina screamed, "Why in the Seven Hells are you here!?"
Aafie knelt before Lumina, "To quell your troubles, my humble princess," she said in a mocking tone.
"Watch your tone!" Mindy roared.
"Excuse me, child," Aafie said to Mindy, "You must be the Mews girl."
"You have me at a disadvantage," growled Mindy.
"Twilight, child," Aafie smiled, "Give your regards to the Princess."
Little Mina Twilight limped up to Lumina. It wasn't quite clear why the little kitten was limping. She appeared physically fine. Perhaps, it was the anxiety. "Hi, P-P-Princess," she stammered.
Lumina sighed, her frown retreated to a thin line. She couldn't be angry at this pathetic little thing. Or was she as pathetic as she looked? Lumina felt a strange power emanating from this seemingly harmless kitten.
The Royal Guards stepped forward and flanked Princess Lumina. The two tomcats were expressionless and stoic, but Lumina could feel them tremble beneath their extravagant uniforms. She wasn't particularly intelligent, but her hunting senses were as sharp as any molly's. She could sense fear in anyone, no matter how well they tried to hide it.
"Why did you bring her here, Lady Aafie?" Lumina asked.
"To learn from you of course!" Aafie said with an evil grin, "She needs the royal experience."
"What for?"
"In case we win, of course!" Aafie winked.
"Win what?" Lumina wondered. The Darklights were not friendly to the Throne, but they were hardly at war anymore. What was Aafie talking about?
"I am surprised you would be so bold," a voice said from behind them. It was Queen Phoebe's.
"Yes, my dear Phoebe," Aafie said as she wheeled about. "I am here to call a truce."
"After two hundred years?" Phoebe said with a frown. "I highly doubt it."
"Our two houses should be joined!" Aafie insisted, "There is no need to keep our lovely daughters apart any longer!"
"Even if she's a product of incest?" Phoebe asked flatly, completely defying the seriousness of her accusation, an accusation she knew to be completely founded. A high-born like Aafie would not resort to having a child with any commoner, or even a fellow highborn just to make a child.
No, this child was borne of her own brother. Phoebe could see the eyes of Aafie's brother, Rustin, when she examined the little princess Mina. But these eyes were full of fear, but fearing what she could not be certain.
Something began to glow behind Phoebe's back. As the Queen reached for it, she unsheathed the mightiest sword any of them had ever seen, the legendary Vampyrika, which glowed a bright white.
"LUMINA!" she screamed, but it was too late. Mina touched her niece and they both vanished. The Royal Guards made a move for Aafie, but lightning shot from her finger tips and incinerated both of the guards almost instantly.
Phoebe made a swipe at Aafie with her great-sword, but Aafie snapped her fingers and vanished.
"My Queen!" Mindy shouted. "Where have they gone!?"
"When did Aafie get that sort of power?" Phoebe asked no one in particular as the guards rushed in far too late. Accompanying the guards was Phoebe's Aspect of Justice, Ruby Skyfire, and her Aspect of Hope, Jacklyn Mews, Mindy's mother.
Jacklyn was the far more feminine version of her daughter, Mindy. Her hair was short, but much more voluminous, and stuck out under her small helmet. She was just about as wispy as her daughter, but her chest was stouter and her hindquarters firmer and rounder. She was deceptively strong and her voice was loud and booming, "Reporting for duty, My Queen."
"A bit late, I suppose," Ruby said sadly.
"What has become of our Princess!?" Jacklyn suddenly realized.
Phoebe tried to feign completely stoicism, but couldn't help but let off a little sigh. "I didn't even realize that Aafie had come."
Then Percy came hopping in, "Is she here? Is she here?"
"Who, Percy?" Ruby asked, visibly annoyed with Persephone's mere presence. The Aries Fire-cat was the very daughter of the traitor Arie Starr. Unlike her mother, however, no one could question this Ruby's loyalty to the throne. She had even been a loyal servant to the most notorious tyrant in the System's history, the Empress of the Stars, Cleopatra Starr.
While she was over half a century old now, Ruby was still a fierce warrior, and she adored Phoebe with all of her heart. She could've lived without Percy being born, however.
"Hmm, where did Lumina go?" Percy asked dumbly.
"GONE!" Mindy cried, "That little weasel stole her away with a touch!"
"How did we let this happen?" Ruby wondered. "How did AAFIE DARKLIGHT manage to get in here?"
"Worst of all, she was brought in by Royal Guard!" Phoebe said, "She must have cast a spell over them..."
"If she can simply appear whenever she likes," Jacklyn offered, "How can we stop her? If our wards aren't strong enough, she could appear and disappear at will!"
"Get the Zodiac Priestesses on it!" demanded Phoebe, "We're not letting her come back. I'll deal with her myself. Ruby, power up the Catspaw!"
"But, My Queen," Ruby protested, "I should be leading our defenses!"
"Jacklyn can handle it," Phoebe said, "Mindy, help your mother. Ruby and I will get Lumina back."
Persephone tapped Phoebe on the shoulder. "Um, sis?"
Phoebe's eyes filled with rage as she stared at her sister, although the rage wasn't really meant for her, "WHAT!?"
"Um, I had something to tell you."
"What? About the little girl that made your daughter disappear?"
"Mina Twilight."
"You know of her?"
"Yes, but that's not what I was going to tell you."
"What is it, then?"
"Fanton Fantalica..." she trailed off.
"What about him? He's been missing for months."
"No, sis..." Persephone made a heavy sigh. "He's right behind me."
And the greatest hero in the history of the world was indeed, quite alive, a snow-white leopard Felona with a top hat, none other than the infamous League Agent, Fanton Fantalica...
At least one of Percy's surprises hadn't come to be a tragedy!
Or had it?
Today was a big day, and Persephone couldn't wait to get it started. The princess awoke with a jolt as soon as she came to consciousness. She had quite a surprise for her sister, the Queen Phoebe Dawnstar. Two, actually...
Persephone had a very slight frame, with big blue eyes and long eyelashes, easily her best feature. Her long golden blonde hair was worn with fluffy bangs in the front and was clipped back around her ears, cascading down her back nearly to her waist.
While her hair was naturally curly, Persephone took plenty of time to straighten it, as she liked the way it looked straight and sleek instead of the often tangled mess that it would have been.
She often slept in the nude, so when Phoebe came to visit her as she did on many mornings, "Percy" as many called her, had only thrown on some underwear.
Phoebe was a black beauty, with black fur and even darker hair that was tied back in a severe ponytail. Worn down, her hair was only about chin length, but with a little extra bulk and length in the back to be able to wear it up more easily. Her bright green eyes were just like her mother Cleo's, except they were nowhere as cold and calculating as her mother's became. Phoebe's eyes were soft, serene, and affectionate.
She did wish that Persephone could get dressed a bit faster, though.
Before she turned around to face her sister, Percy threw on a skimpy bra. It was more than enough to mostly cover her modest breasts, leaving minimal cleavage. That seemed to be enough for her.
"Good morning, Percy," Phoebe said coolly. She rarely had any emotion in her voice, not just as Queen, as she had been for some years now, but ever since she had been a kitten.
"Morning, sis," Percy replied gleefully, "You look amazing today, my Queen."
Phoebe raised an eyebrow, "Thank you, Percy." The Queen looked herself over. She wasn't exactly dressed regally herself. She had on her dark violet leggings that were part of her royal outfit. But on her top, she only had her royal blue breastplate which supported her legendary breasts.
It was a shame she would never have a chance to milk her offspring, though, as she herself was cursedly barren. "I would seem to have neglected to dress properly," she said blankly.
"We're sisters," Percy said dumbly. She loved to state the obvious for whatever reason. Phoebe was used to it, although her little sister's habit did annoy her. But she was a good molly, and the mother of the only true heir remaining in the Royal Luna family, little Lumina.
"How's Lumina?" Percy asked, as if she hadn't seen her daughter in days, when in fact she'd only seen her the very night before.
"She's well," Phoebe said. What else was she supposed to say?
"When I get dressed, I'll go meet her in the nursery."
"Sounds like a plan," Phoebe said with a false smile. Percy threw on some light pants and a halter top and left the room practically skipping.
"Cya, Pheebs!" she announced as she hopped down the hall. Phoebe watched her incredulously. It was as if she'd never seen her sister act this way before. She had, but she seemed awfully excited today. Did she know something that the QUEEN didn't?
Phoebe shadowed her for a moment before deciding that it was well within her rights to simply summon her later at a moment's notice.
MOMENTS LATER...
Lumina was a plump little thing, but adorable in her own right. She had her mother's eyes and hair, except hers was kept curly and much shorter, about lip-length, and cut shorter in the back. The stout little princess was also even dimmer than her mother, but sweet and friendly. If she had to be queen, at least she would be nice to look at.
Meanwhile, Princess Lumina had just learned a particularly sad piece of news, at least, for her future... It was delivered by her good friend Mindy Mews.
Mindy was Lumina's oldest best friend. Lumina had a lot of best friends, but she'd known Mindy the longest. Mindy was barely past being a kitten, but she was a wispy little thing, flat-chested and not all that pretty. Her fur was short, and her hair seemingly even shorter. Without her light blue eyeshadow and long eyelashes over her not particularly feminine brown eyes, she would've been easily mistaken for a wimpy tomcat.
"Milady, I bring troubling news," Mindy said with a respectful bow.
"What's up, Mindy?" Lumina asked in her pleasant, childish voice.
"There's another..." Mindy trailed off as if the last word she had to say would earn her a trip to the gallows.
"Yes, my dear? Another what?"
"Another... princess..."
Lumina chuckled, "Of course, you silly! My mum is a princess, too!"
"No, milady. She's a Darklight."
Lumina's smile immediately reversed into an ugly frown, contorting her usually pretty face in anger. "Excuse me?"
"Her name's Twilight. And she looks an awful lot like you."
Lumina stood up quickly, much faster than one with her girth would seem to be able. "How do you know what she looks like?" she snapped.
A small figure walked in behind Mindy. She was very shy, and all you could see of her were her ears and bright emerald eyes behind Mindy.
"She's behind you, isn't she?" Lumina asked obviously.
There was a soft mew as the visitor revealed herself. She did look a lot like Lumina. Her hair was a bit longer, about chin-length, and her curls were heavier. Also, her eyes were green to Lumina's blue, and her eyelashes were heavier and longer. "I'm, M-M-Mina," she whimpered.
"Where did she come from!?" demanded Lumina.
From me, said a voice. A tall, lanky, but gorgeous Felona walked in, flanked by two of Luna's Royal Guard. Lumina recognized her immediately.
"Aafie Darklight!" Lumina screamed, "Why in the Seven Hells are you here!?"
Aafie knelt before Lumina, "To quell your troubles, my humble princess," she said in a mocking tone.
"Watch your tone!" Mindy roared.
"Excuse me, child," Aafie said to Mindy, "You must be the Mews girl."
"You have me at a disadvantage," growled Mindy.
"Twilight, child," Aafie smiled, "Give your regards to the Princess."
Little Mina Twilight limped up to Lumina. It wasn't quite clear why the little kitten was limping. She appeared physically fine. Perhaps, it was the anxiety. "Hi, P-P-Princess," she stammered.
Lumina sighed, her frown retreated to a thin line. She couldn't be angry at this pathetic little thing. Or was she as pathetic as she looked? Lumina felt a strange power emanating from this seemingly harmless kitten.
The Royal Guards stepped forward and flanked Princess Lumina. The two tomcats were expressionless and stoic, but Lumina could feel them tremble beneath their extravagant uniforms. She wasn't particularly intelligent, but her hunting senses were as sharp as any molly's. She could sense fear in anyone, no matter how well they tried to hide it.
"Why did you bring her here, Lady Aafie?" Lumina asked.
"To learn from you of course!" Aafie said with an evil grin, "She needs the royal experience."
"What for?"
"In case we win, of course!" Aafie winked.
"Win what?" Lumina wondered. The Darklights were not friendly to the Throne, but they were hardly at war anymore. What was Aafie talking about?
"I am surprised you would be so bold," a voice said from behind them. It was Queen Phoebe's.
"Yes, my dear Phoebe," Aafie said as she wheeled about. "I am here to call a truce."
"After two hundred years?" Phoebe said with a frown. "I highly doubt it."
"Our two houses should be joined!" Aafie insisted, "There is no need to keep our lovely daughters apart any longer!"
"Even if she's a product of incest?" Phoebe asked flatly, completely defying the seriousness of her accusation, an accusation she knew to be completely founded. A high-born like Aafie would not resort to having a child with any commoner, or even a fellow highborn just to make a child.
No, this child was borne of her own brother. Phoebe could see the eyes of Aafie's brother, Rustin, when she examined the little princess Mina. But these eyes were full of fear, but fearing what she could not be certain.
Something began to glow behind Phoebe's back. As the Queen reached for it, she unsheathed the mightiest sword any of them had ever seen, the legendary Vampyrika, which glowed a bright white.
"LUMINA!" she screamed, but it was too late. Mina touched her niece and they both vanished. The Royal Guards made a move for Aafie, but lightning shot from her finger tips and incinerated both of the guards almost instantly.
Phoebe made a swipe at Aafie with her great-sword, but Aafie snapped her fingers and vanished.
"My Queen!" Mindy shouted. "Where have they gone!?"
"When did Aafie get that sort of power?" Phoebe asked no one in particular as the guards rushed in far too late. Accompanying the guards was Phoebe's Aspect of Justice, Ruby Skyfire, and her Aspect of Hope, Jacklyn Mews, Mindy's mother.
Jacklyn was the far more feminine version of her daughter, Mindy. Her hair was short, but much more voluminous, and stuck out under her small helmet. She was just about as wispy as her daughter, but her chest was stouter and her hindquarters firmer and rounder. She was deceptively strong and her voice was loud and booming, "Reporting for duty, My Queen."
"A bit late, I suppose," Ruby said sadly.
"What has become of our Princess!?" Jacklyn suddenly realized.
Phoebe tried to feign completely stoicism, but couldn't help but let off a little sigh. "I didn't even realize that Aafie had come."
Then Percy came hopping in, "Is she here? Is she here?"
"Who, Percy?" Ruby asked, visibly annoyed with Persephone's mere presence. The Aries Fire-cat was the very daughter of the traitor Arie Starr. Unlike her mother, however, no one could question this Ruby's loyalty to the throne. She had even been a loyal servant to the most notorious tyrant in the System's history, the Empress of the Stars, Cleopatra Starr.
While she was over half a century old now, Ruby was still a fierce warrior, and she adored Phoebe with all of her heart. She could've lived without Percy being born, however.
"Hmm, where did Lumina go?" Percy asked dumbly.
"GONE!" Mindy cried, "That little weasel stole her away with a touch!"
"How did we let this happen?" Ruby wondered. "How did AAFIE DARKLIGHT manage to get in here?"
"Worst of all, she was brought in by Royal Guard!" Phoebe said, "She must have cast a spell over them..."
"If she can simply appear whenever she likes," Jacklyn offered, "How can we stop her? If our wards aren't strong enough, she could appear and disappear at will!"
"Get the Zodiac Priestesses on it!" demanded Phoebe, "We're not letting her come back. I'll deal with her myself. Ruby, power up the Catspaw!"
"But, My Queen," Ruby protested, "I should be leading our defenses!"
"Jacklyn can handle it," Phoebe said, "Mindy, help your mother. Ruby and I will get Lumina back."
Persephone tapped Phoebe on the shoulder. "Um, sis?"
Phoebe's eyes filled with rage as she stared at her sister, although the rage wasn't really meant for her, "WHAT!?"
"Um, I had something to tell you."
"What? About the little girl that made your daughter disappear?"
"Mina Twilight."
"You know of her?"
"Yes, but that's not what I was going to tell you."
"What is it, then?"
"Fanton Fantalica..." she trailed off.
"What about him? He's been missing for months."
"No, sis..." Persephone made a heavy sigh. "He's right behind me."
And the greatest hero in the history of the world was indeed, quite alive, a snow-white leopard Felona with a top hat, none other than the infamous League Agent, Fanton Fantalica...
At least one of Percy's surprises hadn't come to be a tragedy!
Or had it?
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