Chapter Text
It was a joyous day in the far away kingdom when every noble and knight, every gentleman and sir, every lady, dame, and child was invited to the celebration of the new princess. The King and Queen have longed for a child for years now and finally they were blessed with a little bundle of joy. A baby, whose strands of hair resembled the colour of the morning sun, as well as the autumn and maple leaves, that’s how her name, Kaede, came to be. She was the King and Queen’s pride and joy who made sure to celebrate her arrival accordingly.
Colorful flags decorated the horizon as the army of guests marched towards the castle. The throne room was filled with excitement, whispers, laughter and the faint scent of alcohol and roasted meat adorned with rich spices. The royal couple had a soft, warm smile on their faces as they looked into the little crib, adorned with wooden carvings and lace decoration.
”I came to congratulate you, old friend,” a familiar voice made the king avert his attention from his daughter and look up to see his trusted ally, the ruler of the neighboring kingdom, and head of the Nanami dynasty.
”Glad you could make it,” answered the King while giving him a firm handshake.
”Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” King Nanami sounded more diplomatic than heartfelt, however, he knew the importance of the event. King Amasaki and his wife were waiting for an heir, while Nanami himself had children to spare, which was linked to their different views on marriage. In contrast to King Nanami, who felt it was necessary to keep mistresses to ensure he had enough heirs in case of early child death by a sudden sickness or by an assassination attempt; his neighbor, King Amasaki was adamant that he will stay faithful to his wife.
Seems like the endless waiting finally paid off. Nanami sighed to himself as his eyes wandered to the Queen who was looking at her newborn with adoration. Her beauty was undoubtable, but the small wrinkles on her face and strands of silver in her autumn hair would indicate that in the eyes of many, she had already passed her prime. King Nanami looked away quickly and cleared his throat.
”Francois brought gifts,” the King looked at the short servant with light brown hair which was made into perfect curls. In Francois’ arms there was a small boy with golden blonde hair and intense brown eyes that curiously roamed around the throne room. Next to them stood the elder brother who preferred to keep his head down in an attempt to mask his nervousness.
”Naturally, I wished to share some high quality garments with the princess as well as effective herbal medicine to ensure her good health,” Francois gave a soft smile to the parents and waved their free hand to the basket next to them, which was filled with silk blankets and baby dresses, some of which were warm enough to give comfort even in the coldest of winter.
”Your generosity and attention to details is admirable as always, Francois,” King Amasaki said with a grateful smile on his face.
”Happy to assist, your majesty,” Francois bowed his head and looked at the Queen with their attentive sapphire eyes. “As I noticed, your excellence hasn't found a nursemaid for the princess as of yet. I would be honored to assist you with little Kaede, assuming that me and young prince Ryusui are welcome in your castle.” Before she could answer, King Nanami exclaimed.
”That would be a splendid idea! Our children would have the chance to grow alongside each other before marriage.” This detail seemed to be the one your majesty cared about the most: politics. His son, Ryusui squinted his eyes with suspicion and a frown on his chubby face as he looked into the crib, stretching his neck to get a glimpse of his future bride, who was already betrothed to him. Thanks to his father’s quick decision making skills, he already secured Kaede to Ryusui in order to establish an even stronger relationship between the two kingdoms in the future.
”I would gladly accept your help, Francois,” the Queen responded to the servant, rather than to Nanami, while trying her best to mask her opinion regarding his political chess game.
While the conversation between the adults continued, the little princess suddenly laughed excitedly, kicking her small feet under the cover, when she saw the twinkling ray of lights cascading down slowly from the ceiling. Some guests gasped in awe as they too realised the arrival of the fairies, which was undoubtedly the highlight of the celebration for many.
”Their most honored excellencies, the three good fairies!” the announcer spoke as they slowly became transparent, then clearly visible, while gliding down from above. “Mistress Minami, Mistress Ruri, and Mistress Kohaku.” All three of them had blonde hair; elegant, long dresses, a pointy hat secured by a veil under their chin; and of course their long, dazzling fairy wings.
”Look at this little angel!” Kohaku jumped in front of the crib immediately, completely undermining the royal protocol of humans. “I want to pinch her cheeks!”
”We are honored to receive your invitation, your highness,” Ruri bowed before them with a soft smile, while the others followed her example.
”Each of us will bless the child with one gift; no more, no less. Allow us to use our magic in her favor.” On that note, Minami whipped out her simple magic wand from under the sleeve of her red dress and started the spell. “Little princess… my gift will be the gift of beauty. You will radiate it, as well as have the eyes to find it around you.” Her wand emitted rose scented shining sparkles around the baby which made her giggle.
”Dear Kaede, my gift will be… the gift of song,” Ruri spoke next, while green shine flowed above the crib. “To bring you happiness and connect you with people.”
”Tiny princess… my gift shall be—,” But just as Kohaku was prepared to give her blessing, a strong wind swept through the halls and made the fairy snap her head in the direction of green flames that appeared in the middle of the throne room. And from that flame a tall and dark figure emerged. “You!” Kohaku’s turquoise eyes filled with hatred and rage as she was ready to attack him in a split second. Ruri caught her sister’s shoulder with a warning look on her face, calculating their next move instead.
The fear which Ibara brought with him seemed to amuse the powerful wizard. He was draped in a long black cloak with shoulder armour and a strange headdress, both of which were decorated with sharp, thorn-like parts with poison green edges. He had a long, wrinkly face with a braided dark beard and a thin, spiral mustache. In his right hand he carried his staff with a peculiar, twisted shaped stone that had an eerie green glow to it. On his left shoulder, his trusted black raven shapeshifter croaked, still in his bird form, which indicated that Moz didn’t feel the need to prepare for an attack. This could have meant two things: either Ibara came without any ill will, or he was confident in claiming a fast victory. However, knowing this man, Ruri and her sisters didn’t have hope for the first option to be the case.
”What a lovely little celebration!” Ibara finally spoke as the flames disappeared. “Shame I wasn’t invited.”
”You weren’t wanted,” Kohaku hissed with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
”Not wanted?” the man chuckled, giving his attention to the fairy in the blue gown. “I would have sworn that the breaking of your protective spell around the castle was an invitation in itself. …Or don’t tell me dear… that was just you getting weaker?” Minami had to restrain Kohaku not to jump at him. His words cut deep as well as the realization that they have been too careless to notice the cracks. The celebration made them negligent, even though the three of them were able to renew the spell for decades now. Maybe they were stupid enough to think he had given up. That he would finally move on and let this old grudge go.
”Lovely to see you again, my darling,” Ibara grinned with an unnerving glint in his eyes, as he looked at the pale Queen. Her hands were slightly trembling by his sight, needing all her effort and willpower to stay —or at least appear to be— calm and collected. “I have to say, I’m still heartbroken over your little stunt. Leaving me so hastily…,” he tisked. “How ungrateful. Even though I gave you everything you could have ever wanted.” The mother looked at the wizard with both fear and hatred in her eyes. Her throat was dry, she had to collect herself before she could speak. However, her husband beat her to it, standing directly in front of her, as in an attempt to shield her from his gaze.
”You don’t get to speak to her that way. You don’t even get to look at her,” stated with a cold voice.
”No need to be so hostile, I have no desire to look at her anymore,” Ibara chuckled. “I had my fun… but now that she’s nothing more than a withered flower, I hold no resentment towards you, my good king. You can have her.” His words were more comforting than cruel to the Queen, who has never been so glad to be deemed undesirable by a man. But she wasn’t calm, she could never be in his presence. And she was certain this wasn’t the reason he came all this way.
”Leave,” Amasaki ordered, his voice growing louder and angrier now. “Go back to where you came from.”
”I’m afraid I’m not leaving without a proper gift. That would be just unexceptable,” Ibara turned his head towards the crib which was guarded by the three fairies. With the wave of his wand, he tossed them out of the way, while growing a thin layer of stone on their wings to slow them down, before stepping closer. “Yes, the princess will grow up to be adorned by beauty and grace, but it will be short lived as a flower that withers away. For I cast a spell that she will prick her finger on a spindle of a spinning wheel before the Sun sets on her 17th birthday and drop dead!”
”No!” the Queen cried out with tears in her eyes as she finally snapped out of it, but it was already too late.
”Seize this evil creature!” shouted the King to his guards, but nobody dared to get close as the wizard’s green flames rose again. Ibara laughed as he disappeared among the flames with his raven following him.
”This is all my fault,” the Queen picked up the baby in her arms, while crying softly. “Why would he punish her instead of me?”
”He won't get a way with it this easy, your majesty,” Minami spoke as she and her sisters freed themselves from Ibara’s paralysing spell.
”You mean to tell you are able to get rid of this fearful curse?” the King looked at them with hopeful eyes, while putting his hand on his wife’s shoulder who was comforting their crying baby.
”I fear not, my lord. Ibara’s powers are far too great, a curse like this can’t be broken by our magic… But it can certainly be overwritten,” Ruri explained and looked at her little sister at the end. “Kaede hasn't received a gift from Kohaku yet.”
”You’re right,” a hopeful and confident smile appeared on the youngest fairy’s face who then proceeded to step closer to the wailing baby. Just as she took a breath for her spell, the two fairies put their hands on her shoulders to make her wait.
”Hold on just a second, Kohaku...,” Minami looked at her with doubt in her eyes.
”Care to share your plan before you actually commit to it?” Ruri smiled at her with slight concern.
”Uhm well, I was going to give her the gift of strength,” Kohaku said, with less certainty than she planned to.
”Are you insane?! That won’t work in a million years!!” Minami raised her voice with an ‘I can’t believe you’ expression on her face.
”Hey, what’s wrong with it?! I’ll give her super strength and train her! She’ll have a chance against that asshole at least!” Kohaku snapped back at her, a little offended, trying to defend her gift of choice.
“I have a better idea,” Ruri dragged Kohaku away a bit to whisper something in her pointy ear. “So that… could be our only option.”
”…You’re kidding. This sounds worse than mine,” Kohaku declared but tried to keep her voice down, not to alarm the already nervous parents.
”Trust me, it will work. Ibara’s magic is rooted in hatred and control. The only thing powerful enough is love. …Come now, dear, you got this,” Ruri smiled back at her confidently. Being somewhat convinced, Kohaku sighed and stepped in front of the baby again and rolled up her sleeve.
”Sweet princess. If through this wicked wizard’s trick, a spindle should your finger prick, a ray of hope there still may be... The gift I give to you, not in Death, but just in Sleep, the faithful prophecy will keep. And from this slumber you shall wake, when True Love’s Kiss finds you, the spell shall break.”
But King Amasaki, still fearful of his daughter’s life, ordered that every spinning wheel in the Kingdom shall be burnt right then and there. As the long flames ate away the wooden tools while stretching up into the sky, the three fairies came together in a secluded area to think of a plan.
”Dear sister, please sit down with us,” Ruri looked at Kohaku who was flying around, left and right, because of the pent-up frustration. “Have some tea,” she took a small sip from the teacup she just teleported there with magic.
”We can’t just sit around, we have to do something!” Kohaku raised her voice, taking down her pointy hat angrily to run her fingers into her hair, which was tied up in a tight, short ponytail. “Ibara won’t be stopped with a bonfire!”
”Of course he won’t be. This is just a spectacle for the humans, to make them feel calmer and more in control of the situation, I suppose,” Minami murmured. “Can you really blame them for it? This is the best they can do at the moment.”
”Maybe them, but we can fight back!” Kohaku took the third little teacup that was floating in mid air to drink its content in one gulp. Chamomile tea. It’s said to be able to calm your nerves, but Kohaku hasn’t noticed the effects.
”Ibara’s powers are far too great, our magic is no match,” Ruri stated the obvious with a calm voice.
”I’m not talking about that!” Kohaku responded with a serious look on her face. It looked as if she was the only one actually worried about the situation, and her sisters’ seemingly careless behaviour irritated her. “Seventeen. We have seventeen years to protect her from the curse… and train her to fight!” Minami rolled her brown eyes with a sigh.
”I know you can’t be serious. You can’t possibly expect the little princess to fight off Ibara with us. She’d be dead quicker than the curse would take effect.”
”…Kohaku has a point,” Ruri spoke, her face focused, indicating she had a plan in mind.
”She does?” Minami raised an eyebrow.
”Of course I do!” Kohaku chimed in, although a little surprised herself.
”Not entirely… But she has to be taken away, be kept somewhere safe and secluded… with no connection to the outside world,” Ruri explained as she slowly rose from her seat. “She will be raised by three peasant women, deep in the forest.”
”That’s awfully nice of them… Oh God, this will be us, am I right?” Minami buried her face into her hand, trying to process Ruri’s crazy plan.
”Wait… does that mean we get to raise her?” Kohaku smiled excitedly.
”It means we’re taking her away from her family for nearly two whole decades! This isn’t going to work,” Minami protested. “We don’t know anything about taking care of a human!”
”Come on, we’ll just have to learn! Time will fly by quickly, I’m sure.” Now Kohaku sounded like the careless one.
”Not if you’re a human!” the fairy in the red dress raised her voice. “They won’t even recognise her!”
”Exactly,” Ruri’s calm voice cut through the argument. “And he won’t either,” her voice carried a certain tone that showed seriousness and determination. “…We can’t let Ibara have her. The Queen suffered enough, she will understand... It will pain her, but she’ll understand it more than anyone.”
”I’m sure we can tackle this,” Kohaku nodded with a smile. “With our magic there to help us, we’ll be the best mothers.”
”Oh no, no magic will be used,” Ruri quickly declared their first rule while transforming all three of their gowns into simple clothes that would be worn by villagers, in their respective colors. “And no flying either,” she made her own wings disappear and fell down onto the floor, landing on her feet. She made sure to tuck her small, pointy ears neatly behind her hair and simple, sage colored veil.
”But what if there is danger? What if we need them?” Kohaku protested, as the severity of this decision reached her mind, not wanting to just hand over her wand.
”We’ll manage,” Ruri made the two other pairs of wings disappear with her magic. “Come on, hand them over. We’ll put them in a safe place. They will wait for us in case we really need them,” the woman in the now simple, green dress and apron held out her hand, waiting for the other wands to be placed there. Minami gave hers away with a heavy sigh.
”This will surely be an interesting new life, these 17 years…”
So the King and his Queen watched with heavy hearts as their precious possession, their only child, disappeared into the night.
Kohaku tucked the baby carefully into the blanket, shielding her sleeping face from possible watchful eyes and hugged her closer, under her dark, azure blue cloak.
We’ll keep you safe. I promise.