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Once upon a time forgotten
At a legend's home, in a land far away
A strong prince and a lonely dragon
Never dreamed that Love would have its way.
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**Part One**
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A cool breeze teased his soft, should-length, lavender hair as his calm blue eyes gazed out to the sea horizon. The day was new and fresh. There was still morning dew on his mother's balcony rose bushes. He welcomed the playful breeze with a deep, refreshing breath. The quiet, 21-year-old lad closed his eyes enjoying the serenity of his surroundings.
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"Does� something ale you this morning, sire?" spoke out a voice from behind.
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The tranquil prince turned to see the curious gardener holding his watering can as he stood by a rose bush.
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"Why, not at all, Christopher," The prince chuckled, "I was just enjoying the birth of a new day."
"I see sire." Said Christopher, relieved that his master was not troubled. "But if there is ever anything that keeps his majesty from being happy, I shall always do what I can to bring back his most loved smile."
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The prince smiled to the servant as he continued tending to the plants and then returned his gaze outland once more.
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The castle in which the prince dwelled was the center of a great kingdom, which was ruled by a strong and powerful king. A king who ruled with an iron fist. He was a proud king, indeed, but even though he seemed to be a heartless tyrant at times, the city dwellers knew that he made the choices he did for the better of the kingdom. To those who did not understand the ways of the great and powerful king, he would appear to be cruel and inconsiderate. Yet the kingdom was a great power of Zyron in its entirety. There was only one other kingdom with great power and influence in all the lands. But King Vegiita ruled Valon as a greatly respected king by his followers, honored by his people, and loved by all who knew him, such as his beloved wife who ruled at his side.
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Her highness, Queen Bulma, was said to be the fairest in all of Zyron. She was a very compassionate queen who cared much for the people of her kingdom. Even though she would sometimes get caught up in herself, she would never do anything to hurt the people of Valon. She was known, not only for her splendor, but also for her very own acts of kindness and displays of compassion towards the populace of Valon.� Even so, the turquoise-haired queen had also been known to become as stubborn and demanding as her beloved husband.� There were moments when Bulma would become proud and conceited. She would become full of herself and go all out. Usually this happened when she was in a quarrel with Vegiita. When that happened, everyone stayed clear of the two. Even their children.
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Yes, the prince and princess knew when things were beginning to get chaotic between their loving parents, and knew when to stay clear. Even if the arguments were very hectic, everything would turn out normal again. The king and queen loved their children, and were very proud of the both of them.
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The queen would still be known as the most beautiful if her daughter were never born. The princess Bra now held the title of the fairest in all of Zyron. Her mother, of course, was greatly pleased with this. The princess's magnificence would attract suitors from all across the lands of Zyron. Even though the young lady was only 12, many princes from the far kingdoms had come to gaze upon her loveliness and also to try for her hand in marriage. Knowing the king, he would request the suitors to complete impossible tasks, for he was very reluctant to give up his only daughter. Princess Bra did not mind though, for no matter who came from how far, there was still the task of winning her heart. That task, all of the past suitors had failed accomplish.
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The great prince, Trunks. A young mad who claimed some of the stunning features from his mother. He was very popular among the women of Zyron. They were constantly out on the streets when he left for his daily escapade through the forest. They would stand there admiring his handsome manifestation as he walked by. Even though his disposition was the most noticeable feature of the prince, he was also greatly admired by a great deal of men in Zyron for his outstanding swordsmanship. That prince was a great warrior. Many said that he was the mirror image of his father. Other said that he was even greater.
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The prince glanced at the mountains to the east and brought his stare back out to the south at the sea once again.
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"What are you doing out here? You're usually out." Stated the princess as she stepped out of the throne-room and on to the balcony.
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"Gazing." Trunks replied.
"Bemused are we?" she inquired.
"No. Just admiring." The prince answered as he rested an open palm on the stone balustrade.
"The ocean? What interests you in the ocean?" the princess asked as she pulled her silk shall over her bare shoulders.
"Nothing really. I'm only searching for what interests you so much. There is nothing but endless water. What keeps your gaze pulled toward the sea? I find nothing worthy of note." Trunks explain as his sister walked up beside him.
"Exactly." She stated blatantly
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Trunks looked at Bra, waiting for her to continue her explanation.
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"You don't see anything but mindless waves that sway back and forth with the rhythm of the winds. But what is beneath the mesmerizing movements of the surface? That's is what keeps me impassively gazing outward at something so familiar�" She explained. "What is hidden in the sea? Possibly another world? A divine treasure? All I'm sure of is that it's something I can't have. It's too far out of my reach. I want it, Trunks. My whole life I've been able to get what I want. Half of the times I needn't even lift a finger. This is a challenge for me. Something like the ocean I need to fight for to gain as my own. The ocean holds a secret from me and I want to know what it is. It taunts me with its hidden treasure� Just as the forest does to you, my brother." She ended her story there and looked towards her elder sibling.
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The prince returned a confused look at her and began to think to himself.
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The forest does me? How? What hidden treasure does the forest have to taunt me with? I don't understand�
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"Why do you think you keep wanting to return to the forest everyday?" the princess smiled, and, like clockwork, an ocean breeze blew by. "It draws you in just as my ocean does me. You are just able to search for it, where I can only wait for my answer to come. Go, Trunks. Go to your forest and find your what that secret is�"
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The prince looked out to the endless water stretching to horizon and then back the princess. He smiled.
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"So I shall." He replied, "I will go to my forest as I do everyday and search for my hidden treasure." He kissed Bra's forehead and started his way to the forest. Bra smiled as she watched Trunks leave, his red cloak drifting behind him.
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The sun was now in the sky, away from the horizon. The primordial colors of yellow and orange had now vanished and the skies were a light blue. The city bustled with the usual business of bartering, buying, and trading while little children played. Trunks smiled as he watched a group of young boys run by, laughing.
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"Good day, your majesty." Greeted an elder stall keeper.
"Well, good morning to you too, Jared." The prince said with a smile. "You have new pieces today." He added while looking at the knives, daggers, and swords.
"Yes, I do. Would you be interested in a knew sword?" Asked Jared to his best and favorite customer.
"Maybe when I return later today." Suggested Trunks.
"Yes, prince, of course." Agreed the craftsman.
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The two were interrupted by a loud yell.
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"What's going on over there?" Trunks thought out loud as he tried to see past the moving crowd.
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~*~
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"Let go of me you sick barbarian!" Yelled the girl as she struggled to free herself from the young man's grip.
"Oh come now. Must you call me such things? All I wanted was a little kiss." Tease the man with a grin.
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She gave him a sickened look and then punched him with her free hand. Surprised, the man let her go and held his throbbing jaw.
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"It's people like you who make me sick to be human!" She stated with the corner of her upper lip raised in disgust.
"Ungrateful harpy!" Yelled the assaulter as he backhanded her.
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She fell onto the dirt ground with a hard thud. While she was still stunned, he drew his sword and thrust it into the ground trying to sink it into her shoulder. She came to her senses quick enough to roll away from the attack just cutting her arm. A few people began to gather around to watch the fight. The girl got up to her feet and drew the dagger that hung from her belt. The man held his sword over his head and tried to slice her in half, but she was too agile. Again the cold steel met nothing but packed dirt. The girl swung her dagger at him but missed as he backed away. He came at her once more but she kicked him back. Nonetheless, he managed to shove her into a stall. Fortunately, she caught herself on the table. Too late. The cold blade of this man's sword was about to meet warm flesh. Just then, a loud clang was heard. The girl opened her eyes, and then turned to see the blade of her attacker stopped by the blade of another sword only inches away from her.
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"How dare you draw your sword on a lady in this kingdom!" stated the new voice.
"Lady?! That is no lady! She is not a lady of any sorts!" yelled the man looking at the girl while he withdrew his sword.
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She was now standing upright and gripping her left arm, which was now covered in blood trails.
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"Yes� For all you know I could be some evil and vicious sorceress who will summon goblins to devour you alive in your slumber!" she retorted from behind the extended arm of her protector.
"Why you demonic wench! I'll ki-" He began to charge at her once more, but stopped cold in his tracks before his neck met the end of a double-edged sword.
"That will be enough!" Demanded it's possessor. "Leave this woman be. And if I ever catch you laying a finger on anyone else in my kingdom, I will have you head!" stated the lavender-haired swordsman.
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The man sheathed his sword and bowed respectfully. "Yes, Prince Trunks." And with that he walked into a nearby tavern.
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Trunks watched as he did so and covered his own blade. He turned and spoke to the owner of the stall.
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"Please, get me a wet cloth to clean her wound and a dry one to wrap it with."
"Aye, sire." Answered the feeble businesswoman and did as he said.
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Trunks looked at this unfamiliar girl. She looked to be about his age, a year less maybe. She was dressed in an odd way for a woman. She wore dark brown pants and a dark green shirt. Over her shirt, around her waist, she donned a black leather belt from which the scabbard for her dagger hung from. Her long black hair was tied in a tail and dangled behind her, but a few loose strands hung about her face. Her clothes and face were covered in dirt from the quarrel and her hand was now covered in blood as she examined her injury. It wasn't deep, but still had to be treated before if got any worse.
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The stall keeper had returned with what the prince had requested and gave them to him.
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"Thank you. Here, let me help you�" Trunks said as he took the girls wrist and extended her arm. The girl said nothing and just watched as he wiped away the blood on her arm with the damp cloth.
"Tell me� do you have a name?" Trunks asked as he continued to nurse her arm.
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The girl flinched as he cleaned near the slash on her arm. Trunks smiled at her stubbornness to show how much it hurt.
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"I do�" she finally spoke.
"Well� will you tell it to me?" he asked still smiling.
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She had still never faced him, but only watched the movement of his hand on her injured arm.
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"It's -" she began, but when she did a girl who seemed about her aged walked up to them and interrupted.
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"Your highness, that was very brave of you to rescue her." She said trying to get the prince to notice her. She was dressed a bit better than most of the other women, which meant she was probably the daughter of a rich nobleman of some kind.
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The wounded girl rolled her eyes at the other's attempt to steal the prince's heart.
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"Thank you, -" Trunks began.
"Celeste." She interjected.
"Thank you, Celeste. But I'm sure that any other decent man in this kingdom would have done the same." He replied.
"Well, aren't you going to thank his highness? He did risk getting hurt to help you!" The nobleman daughter pointed out.
"I didn't ask for his help." Said the bleeding fighter.
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Trunks just listened to them argue and began to wrap the cut on her arm.
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"That doesn't matter! He gave you his services and you must show your gratitude towards him for it! You're lucky he even helped you! After all he is royalty and was not in any way obligated to even lift a finger in your favor!" argued Celeste.
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The stranger flinched as Trunks tied off the wrapping. She grasped her arm once again and let out a short, brusque "Thanks."
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Aghast by this, the higher classed girl became angrier. "What kind of a 'Thank you' was that for a great prince!?" she yelled
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The two glared as each other and Trunks didn't know what to do or say to stop them from arguing more.
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"Well!?" Celeste demanded
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The bandaged girl smirked then turned to Trunks. "Oh your pinceship!!" she began.
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She threw her arms around Trunks's neck and practically hung on him. Her voice became deeper and she was trying to act as sexy as possible. Trunks was caught off guard by her sudden personality change.
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"You saved my life your royal handsomeness. What can I ever do to repay you? That terrible man would have killed me," she continued as she ran her finger across his chest. Trunks figured out that the girl was mocking Celeste and couldn't help but smile in amusement, "And I surely would have bled to death if it weren't for you." She started to toy with his long hair and gave him a seductive look. "If there is any I can do for you� anything at all�" She ran her fingers through his hair and stopped her hand behind his head. She pulled him closer and then kissed him right on the lips. Trunks was shocked by the action and could only stare wide-eyed at the girl he saved, after the kiss was broken. Celeste's jaw practically hit the dirt ground. "Please, let me know." She finished with a pat on the prince's chest, her voice and attitude returned to the way they were once before.
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She stared to walk toward the city gate. Trunks was still in shock from the not-so-short kiss. The girl stopped next to Celeste and threw a glance at her.
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"You know, he's not such a bad kisser," she smirked, "too bad you'll never know!"
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Celeste clenched her teeth and the girl laughed.�She continued to walk out of the city limits and once she crossed the drawbridge she turned and disappeared from sight behind the walls. When she left, Celeste couldn't hold it back any longer.
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"You moronic, disrespectful woman!" Celeste screamed while shaking a fist in the air. She continued to yell out in ferocity to nothing but a blank wall.
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Trunks paid no mind to her bellows. He was lost in thought as the visions of the kiss kept playing in his mind. Over and over again, he could hear her deep voice and feel her fingers in his hair. And the kiss, with the thought of it he brought his fingers to his lips. He could still feel it, the way her soft lips gently pressed against his. It was so new to him. He had never kissed or had been kissed by anyone like that before. Bit by bit, a small smile crept onto his face.
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**End Part One**
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