Once Upon A Twist: Tales Reimagined.

Story One, Part Five- In Which Aurelius Tries Again

Part Five- In Which Aurelius Tries Again

"You really think this would.. work?" Aurelius says, as his best friend Nicholas smears dirt on him. It was the next Sunday, when Lunaberry would be at the market.

Nicholas, a son of a noble from the King's Court, was called the Town Genius, as he was crafty and intelligent. Aurelius instinctively liked him on sight and the two became best friends.

Presently, Nicholas was helping Aurelius go incognito in the village to see Lunaberry.

He'd smeared dirt all over his shiny coat, making his fur look dirty and common. He'd taken off his royal robes and put on instead a pair of rugged farmers trousers and bandana. They'd decided he'd be called Rico.

Aurelius licked his paw and messed up his previously perfectly groomed whiskers.

"Perfect," Nicholas stifled a laugh, handing him a canvas satchel full of flowers, barn hay and rare raspberries. (And of course, a few gold coins)

Feeling disgruntled,  Aurelius hastily set foot for the journey to the marketplace.

The chefs and maids stared at him through while he passed through the extensive burrow, clearly recognising him. He gestured to keep quiet and quickly headed forth to the market.

After a while, he reached the bustling Town Square and was overlooked like a common flea on a chinchilla. (This made Aurelius rather happy, not drawing attention to himself.)

Aurelius squeezed through the crowd, looking for Lunaberry's stall, totally unused to crowds as people usually made way for him.

A few moments later, he saw Lunaberry, kindly reading a story to a small kit: The Tales of Pipsqueak Whiskers, while carefully arranging flower petals.

He approached the stall, his eyes lighting up with excitement at the sight of gardenias and petunias, freshly plucked and able to replant.

Aurelius almost stopped himself from sniffing them, when he remembered he was in disguise- so why not?

He tenderly examined it, momentarily forgetting about Lunaberry.

He was so engrossed in staring at the gentle periwinkle colors of the petunia that he didn't notice Lunaberry smiling at him, happy to see a plant loving customer.

"Hello sir! Are you interested in my petunias?" She brightly says.

Aurelius grins to himself, "Yes! How much? I absolutely adore gardening and oh! Is that the Tales of Pipsqueak Whiskers? I loved that story as a child!" He points to the book that the kit is holding. (Aurelius actually did read the book as a child)

Lunaberry's face lit up as she rambles, "Yes! That is the Tale of Pipsqueak Whiskers! And wow- I have certainly not met a buck who likes gardening!" She exclaims, "And oh my- those are the finest raspberries I've seen! Wow, you must be rich, sire, to have such lovely berries," she points lustily at the berries in his bag.

Excited to please her, Aurelius takes out a small leather pouch and scoops up a generous handful of the berries and hands it to her, silently thanking Nicholas for being so smart to give him this.

Lunaberry gasps in delight and her smile turns supernova, "Thank you!"

"No problem, you are a very intelligent, unique and beautiful young doe. Now.. about that petunia.." Aurelius says enquiringly.

"Before that," Lunaberry starts, coming round the countertop to peer at him, "What is your name? I haven't seen you around here before, but yet you seem so.. so familiar,"

Aurelius bit his tongue in surprise and said, "I- I am Rico, from the Willowville Hills. I've come to visit for around one moon,"

Lunaberry sighs wistfully, "I do wish you could stay longer, I'd love to get to know you. Oh- silly me, I'm Lunaberry by the way,"

"Lunaberry," Aurelius breathes with anticipation. "What a lovely name.."

Strangely, she averts her eyes and changes the topic, "Willowville Hills you say?"

"Yes,"

Lunaberry's face crinkles with distaste as she says, "Where that arrogant Prince Aurelius's mother came from. I liked Aurorhilla, but her son is a perfect menace... well.. he's very overconfident and prideful."

Even though Aurelius had expected that, it still felt like a sharp thorn in his chest. "I suppose, yeah,"

"He tried to talk to me the other day, you know?" She confides. "I think he was making fun of me. Getting all the females who already despise me, to hate me more."

"I-I'm sure he meant no harm," Aurelius felt shocked.

"Oh, you see the good in everyone," Lunaberry beamed.

Aurelius felt uncomfortable and wanted to go home and ponder how to fix this.

Luckily, he was saved by a sweaty looking Nicholas, frantically gesturing from across the marketplace for him to come back.

Aurelius faltered and turned to Lunaberry, who was gazing at him with interest and longingness.

"I have to go, see you next week?" He says.

"Next week?" Lunaberry looks horrified, "What about tomorrow? Same time, but at the Enchanted Lake?"

"I thought you were only free on S-" Aurelius stops himself, realising that Lunaberry didn't tell it to Rico but to Aurelius.

"What's that?" She says.

"Nothing, nothing, see you there," he smiles at her.