The Sapphire Dragon

Chapter 1

     Frantic footsteps were heard through the palace. Maids and butlers tidying it up more than usual. The princess was in her room reading, her pink and purple hair in a ponytail, blue irises focused on her book. She was still in her nightgown as her handmaid was running a bit late. The princess looked at her cat, its black fur shimmering from the light of the candle. She smiled as she petted the cat's sleeping form. While she continued to read, her bedroom door burst open with her handmaid rushing in with the princess's outfit ready to be worn.
      "I'm so sorry I'm late, princess!" the handmaid exclaimed. She hurried over to the princess's changing spot. The princess closed her book and chuckled, "It's alright, Ōkami. You don't have to apply for being late." The princess went to the spot to get changed. Ōkami, the handmaid, fastened the princess's corset and dress. She put her heels on and finally brushed out her hair.
      "What hairstyle would her majesty like today?" Ōkami asked with a smile.
      "Ōka, I told you not to call me 'her majesty'-" the princess grumbled. "But I think I want it down today."
      "Alright, alright!" Ōkami chuckled. "I'm just teasing, Akira." She picked up the tiara and set it on Akira's head. Ōkami stepped back to admire her work. Akira turned, her blue dress following her as she smiled and asked, "How do I look?" Ōkami replied with, "Perfect!" There was a knock at the door.
      "Enter," Akira said. One of the queen's royal guards opened the door and said "Her royal highness requires Princess Akira's presence." Akira nodded with a thank you. She looked at Ōkami with a smile and walked out to follow the guard.

-

      The sound of Akira's heels clicking against the marble flooring of the palace was heard through the hallways. As she walked, guards and butlers bowed and maids and chefs curtsied. They arrived at the throne room, the big doors closed, showing off the sapphires on the doors. The 2 guards at them opened the doors. There they were. The queen, king, and little prince of the kingdom. The queen saw her daughter and smiled.
      "Good morning, my little heeler," the queen said ad she stood. She walked to her daughter as she asked "How are you feeling?"
      "I'm doing excellent, mother. How about you?" Akira asked. She heard the king scoff and say "Darling, please cut to the chase of why we called for your daughter. I have an important meeting to attend soon."
      "Of course, my dear," the queen smiled at her husband. She looked back at Akira and said "Akira. As you know, we are allies with the dragon kingdom."
      'Here we go again...' Akira thought to herself. She listened.
      "Unfortunately, ever since Queen Mitsuki and King Masaru have passed and their son has ruled, our alliance with that kingdom is fizzling out," the queen explained. "And since the new king of the dragon kingdom and you are both 18, the perfect age to be king and queen, you will be betrothed to him!" Akira's jaw dropped and her eyes went wide with shock.
      'WHAT?!?!' she thought to herself. "Mother, you're kidding right??" The queen laughed as she said "Of course not! Why would I kid about something so serious?" Akira looked at her mother in disbelief. Her mother's smile faded and she told her "Look, I know it may not seem fair but, it's for the good of the kingdom! Come." The queen started to walk to the big balcony with Akira as the king and prince left to let them have their privacy. The mother and daughter looked at their kingdom from the balcony. The mother spoke, "Look at our kingdom. We have everything we'd ask for yes but we've been at war so many times, we've lost so much. This marriage will be best for us. For the kingdom."
      "Mother-" Akura started. The queen continued, "And besides, you'll be safe! There's going to be dragons and strong knights, soilders and guards to protect you!"
      "Mother-"
      "But I will say, I'm going to miss your soft laughter anytime you and Sora played together. It was so sweet and-"
      "MOTHER!!" Akira shouted, finally getting the queen's attention. "I don't want to marry the new dragon king! I-I've never even met him!!"
      "I know dear but you'll be able to meet him tonight! And I hear he's quite a catch for everybody, regardless the gender! Just like you!" the queen said.
      "But marriage?! At 18?! You and my REAL father married at 25! Why can't him and I wait until then?!" Akira asked. The queen scoffed and said "Oh Akira. You're being ridiculous. It's just marriage, not the end of the world." Akira looked away from her mother and ran to her room.

-

      That night, Akira had her things packed and in the carriage. She was getting her earrings in when she heard her door open and then close. She looked in the mirror and saw the king - her step-father.
      "Hello, Akuma..." she sighed.
      "You whiney little brat," Akuma spat. "You're just as naive as your idiotic mother." Akira said nothing, as this was a normal routine. Akuma continued saying "You're going to marry that king whether you like it or not. Or you can kiss your title as princess goodbye." He walked out of her room and Akira just sat there and teared up.
      'Dad... What am I gonna do?...' she thought to herself.

-

      The ride there was... quiet. Once they arrived, Akira saw how there was dragons in almost every cave and almost everyone in the village had a small or medium dragon. She winced at the fact of being surrounded by those things. Once they arrived at the palace, Akira was amazed at how normal it looked. Of course, there were caves in some parts for dragons but other than that it was relatively normal. She saw guards - 3 men and 1 woman. Akira tensed up a bit as she got scared. However, she got out and walked up the stairs with the guards assigned to her.
      "Woah! Bakubro's got himself a looker!" the blonde guard exclaimed with a smile. That earned him a wack in the back of the  head from the pink female.
     "Denki! That's no way to act around a princess!" the female scolded the male. She looked at Akira with a smile as she bowed and said "Welcome!" The other guards also bowed.
      Akira just looked down and nodded. Then, something broke the silence as there was a grumbling voice saying "Oi! What the hell's going on here?!" Akira saw who the voice was coming from. She was impressed by the way he looked - ash blonde hair in spikes, a red cape draped over his shoulders, no shirt to show his pecs and abs, jeans fit perfectly around his hips.
      'That must be the new king,' Akira told herself. She looked at him and he made a "Tch" sound.
      "You've gotta be kidding me. This is the person I'm supposed to marry?!" the king said. Akira squeaked softly as she looked down again. She looked up a bit and saw the red headed guard go to the king and say "Don't be rude, man! Let her inside the castle!" The ash blonde scoffed and shouted "She can let herself in!!" He turned and the guards followed him.
      "Don't worry bout him!" the black haired guard said with a smile. "He's not all that bad. I promise."
      'Yeah right,' Akira thought. She followed the king and the guards inside.

-

      Akira admired the decor of the palace, the dragon statues a nice little touch to the white walls of the palace. The king stopped as grumbled "Oi. Pinky. C'mere." The pink guard obliged with a smile and asked "Yes?"
      "Show the blue princess here where she'll be staying," the king ordered. The guard nodded and grabbed Akira's hand softly as she said "Let's go!" and led her upstairs. Akira followed and asked "W-what's your name real quick?"
      "Oh! I'm Mina! Mina Ashido!" the guard happily replied. Akira smiled softly as she thanked Mina.
      'Maybe this won't be do bad,' Akira thought.

-

      The room was beautifuly decorated. The one thing Akira didn't like was how there was no bookshelf. Other than that, it looked really comfortable.
      "If you need anything, let me know and I'll have a maid go to you!" Mina said with a smile. "Dinner's in an hour!"
      "Thank you," Akira said. She then asked "Uh real quick, is there a library in the palace??"
      "Oh yeah but the only one allowed in there except the king," Mina replied. "No one knows why. But ever since he became king, he forbid anyone else to go in the library. There is a library in the town but no one really goes there." Akira nodded. As Mina left the room, Akira sat on the bed as she thought 'How am I gonna survive here?..." Little did she know, her world was gonna get turned upside down.

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I was in a fantasy AU mood-
Shush-

I hope you guys will like this series :3