The Next Erased Title for Security Reasons

Chapter 1: The Missing Princess

The Royal Palace, Merdane, Capital of Meltinzer

One fine spring morning, the princess was celebrating her fifteenth birthday. King Naffsetar and his secretary, Amanda, were descending the West palace, after the birth celebrations. Midway downstairs, Amanda heard a soft hum. "Sire, there is a bee in the passage."

"Kill it." Naffsetar waved his hand.

But then the buzzing grew louder and more metallic. The top of the Royal Lotus Tower exploded. Even the air shook.

Cannon fire. Naffsetar's mind drew at a blank.

Another explosion. And another. And another.....

Amanda ran upstairs to the Princess's chamber. Pappillia was not running around in fear. This meant one of two things: Either she had been kidnapped, or she was lying lifeless beneath the rubble.

A thorough search revealed that she was not the palace grounds. The staff breathed a sigh of relief. As soon as the ransom demand came, the princess could be saved. Unless..... unless, she was with the rebels, which obviously meant she would never see the light of day again.

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When Princess Pappillia woke up on the wing-boat of the Eighth Fleet of the Federation of Anarchy, she was astounded. A young rebel soldier took her up, to the heliostat on deck. A large battleship was anchored to the forest below. He signalled them, and they signalled back. He flew the wing-boat smoothly into the loading deck of the ship. A pair of giant iron doors opened, and they walked through a series of doors and corridors. An officer stood expectantly at the ship's bridge. The young soldier saluted respectfully:

"This is our hostage, Alpha General, Sir! I believe she is the mysterious reason that King Naffsetar visits the West Palace's Royal Lotus Tower every now and then."

An eagle, with retracted claws, paws, cat eyes and bird-of-prey feet for hind legs stood upright  in a highly decorated uniform. Pappillia blinked. The officer adjusted its spectacles and looked sternly at her. "I see. The Behemoth will verify that. I will take her up. You are dismissed."

"YES SIR!"

Then, without any warning, this ave-feline crossbreed used a claw to hook her collar, and pulled her up. She threw herself at the soldier, who was about to leave, and gazed at him with pleading eyes. She looked like a damsel in distress, and the crossbreed officer, the wicked monster. She begged the rebel soldier to be her knight in shining armour. The feline-ave officer smirked: "Obviously, you read too many fairy tales, young lady."

A soft smile crept across the lips of the mysterious hooded figure who was watching the drama from a distance. He then glided to the ship's cabin. The captain bowed respectfully.

The Alpha General entered the cabin, with Pappillia dangling from his claw. It threw Pappillia at the hooded figure's feet. The General knelt. "My beloved Prince."

That must be it. Pappillia thought. This man must be the enemy, the so called 'Prince' that kept her father so unhappy. The 'Prince' gave a strange smile. "Princess Pappillia, I presume? I apologise for the rough treatment. Finesse, was impossible under the.....ah......'circumstances'. But since you are now officially our hostage, I will ensure you a royal lifestyle, for the days you spend with us. However, you are absolutely  not to leave the ship. That is all. Then....shall I take my leave, princesse ?"

Pappillia was bewildered. The man was cloaked in an old, fading greyish green robe. His hood covered his face, revealing nothing except for his enchanting smile.