ARC 1: Catalytic Complications [Gwynn]

[Harusame]

Freedom ...

The Princess had heard these words a thousand times, and dreamed of its feeling, a thousand times. They were the words of the people who rebelled against her father, and probably the last thought her sister had before she left the world. Connie had laid on her bed, night after night in the room she had been locked in, dreaming of it's feeling. And praying that she wouldn't die not tasting freedom, that maybe if she was lucky she could escape her life and once and for all be ... happy.

Her prayers had been answered.

She looked up to the sky that she had fallen from just a few days ago, and emotions welled in her belly. Tears stinged her eyes and she blinked them away, hoping she wouldn't start crying. Even though she had prayed, and hoped, Connie could never admit that she ever truly believed she would be here, almost untouchable to her father. She quite literally was bought 'down to Earth'.

She smiled to herself and wiped her eyes quickly. This was a happy moment. She had to enjoy herself. And with that she hoisted her training sword onto her shoulder, and balanced the weight of the bag tied on it onto her. Looking around, her eyes hungrily ate up the environment. The Blues... She thought.

The Runaway had grown up hearing legends of this place. Some would say that it held islands of wonder and amazement that would make your mind simple buzz with excitement. But her father had always told her the blues were hell. That she had to stay in her room and never leave Esclair no matter what.

What a liar.

There was this simplistic beauty of the island that Connie loved. The houses and building weren't covered in gold, nor did they shine like silver, but everything fit in its place perfectly.

She gazed at the words atop some buildings and saw things like 'tailor' or 'pet shop'. But one particular building caught her interest as she saw a big guy slump into it, a frown on his face. And deep inside, Connie felt that it was almost her duty, as a future Queen, to help that guy feel better. This was like a test from a higher being to see if she was truly worthy. So gripping the sword tighter and setting her face, she marched off to the establishment, ready to do whatever good she could.

Ready to become a true Queen.

[Vio]

Warm rays of the golden sun beat down upon the path, bathing the road in a welcoming light from the clear blue heavens above. The weather was fine, the temperature nice and warm yet not too humid, a perfect summery day. The women who strolled through the town were dressed in summer clothing, tank tops and skirts and the like. Gwynn Everett, however, was quite content to be clad in her usual garb. A suit of dark armour marked with golden orange trim, not the most practical of outfits and certainly one that stood out amongst the rest. Her fiery orange locks lay gently over her shoulders, emphasising the healthy mocha complexion which she possessed as eyes of richest honey gazed forwards, never once daring to look behind her.

A low grunt emanating from her left, a dark silhouette cantered softly alongside the medieval woman. A tall and mighty looking stallion with shining hair of darkest black, his mane and tail just as fiery as the hair of his would be rider. Certainly an impressive specimen, the name of this beautiful beast was Byakuya. Upon his back rested a saddle of black and white, and hanging from that were several satchels in which supplies - both for himself and his 'master' - where carried. Of course, the most impressive items which this stallion carried were a shield and jousting lance, the properties of Miss Everett, both matching the colours of her armour.

"What's wrong? Hungry?" Having known Byakuya since he was born, Gwynn was certainly well aware of the mannerisms that her trusted steed displayed. Everything from his posture to the sounds he made, even the look in his dark eyes, she could recognise what was wrong. They possessed a strong bond, one that had carried them through thick and thin, and it was unlikely that said bond would be broken any time soon. Allowing the stallion to step a little ahead of her, the fiery-headed femme flipped open a pack upon the horse's flank, reaching inside with a gauntleted hand and withdrawing a shiny red apple. Holding the fruit in the palm of her hand, she stepped forwards again and held it in front of Byakuya, who gently tapped it with his nose before gripping it between his clean front teeth.
"One of these days, you'll get fat..." Taking in a deep breath of fresh air, the Dark Knight commented on her steed's obsession with eating. She could not blame him, of course, for a horse of such size needed to eat constantly in order to maintain his health and energy. It was an unusual truth that the bigger you are, the more you had to eat in order to stay alive. Watching out of the corner of her eye as Byakuya happily munched away upon the crunchy and sweet flesh of the fruit, Miss Everett's eyes were quickly drawn towards an approaching figure. A man, quite tall and with short brown hair, dressed in rather average garments that one would expect of the people of Baterilla. As he passed by, both she and Byakuya stared cautiously.

"Eh? Nice horse!" Giving a gentle pat to the stallion, the stranger seemed otherwise harmless to most. Of course, as far as Gwynn was concerned, he was a threat to all. But, her hatred for people of the opposite sex had certainly passed onto Byakuya in the time she had spent with him. Defensively, the dark horse spat out what remained of his apple onto the floor and let out an aggressive grunting. Lowering his head, the horse kicked with his front leg, bashing the shin of the somewhat innocent passer by before stamping on his foot. An overreaction? Maybe. However, that was just the way Byakuya was. Incredibly territorial and often one to pick a fight against anyone who dared do something out of place towards him or his owner.
"Oi! What do you think you are doing!?" Having skirted around to the other side of Byakuya, Miss Everett now stood in front of the male as he winced in agony. Voice raised and a fire in her eyes, her fists were clenched and resting upon her hips as she stared viciously into the now watering eyes of the 'aggressor'. Definitely not what he had expected, instead of an apology he was instead getting an earful from the fiery-headed female as Byakuya grunted and neighed, shaking his head in an aggressive manner as if telling him to get lost.

"Wh-wha? All I did was pat him! Then he kicked me and stamped on my foot!! You should-" Thwack! Interrupted before he could finish what he was saying, the man quickly found a female fist socking him in the jaw and causing him to stumble backwards a yard or two. Just to add insult to injury, he found his foot sitting in a piece of chewed-up apple. Certainly not the best of situations to find yourself in, but alas the unfortunate soul had no idea exactly who he was dealing with. That said, very few did until they were on the receiving end of Gwynn Everett's fiery fury. Little more was said. His pride broken, the shamed male simply turned and walked away, the hairs upon the back of his neck prickling as he felt the woman's cold gaze upon him...

[Harusame]

The Princess followed the tall man into the building, walking through the doors and looking around for him. When she identified him amongst the crowd to her left, she gave a resolved look, stood up a bit straighter and walked elegantly towards him. Her barefeet swiftly moving towards him and her posture every bit as royal as she was. When she reached the spot where he was sitting, she coughed to make her presence know and gulped as his head lifted towards her. She began to speak, feeling a little shy at what she was doing. "Um, e-excuse me sir, but may I sit?" She pointed at the chair opposite him. He gave her a puzzled look before nodding slowly. She smiled and climbed atop the chair, putting her training sword aside and cupping her hands together. She now noticed that the man had one of his feet bandaged and the side of his face looked badly bruised, as if he was punched.

She gave him a sad look. "Who did that to you?" The nervousness was gone now, replaced by genuine, pure concern of what happened to the guy. She felt bad for him and really wanted to help. But he gave her another odd look and shook his head. "Who are you kid?"

She blushed, not realizing that she had forgotten to introduce herself. I'm so stupid. She thought, mentally beating herself up. The Princess wasn't use to talking to normal people and others tended to introduce themselves instead of vice versa. She never really needed to tell someone who she was, so this was a new experience. So clearing her throat, she began: "I'm Connie Re-" and she stopped. Why was she introducing herself with her full name? Sure there might not be any harm in it, but Con felt as if she was still honouring her father. As if by stating that she was Requess Apollonia, he would still have a hold on her. And with that she felt a fire burn in her chest. Never again would he control her. Ever.

"Just Connie." She finished. Feeling more relaxed. The man cocked an eyebrow and shrugged. "Den Fisher." He said, nodding his head in a friendly matter. "But why are you here?" At first Connie felt her face heat and her chest clutch because in her mind, she thought he meant here in the blues. Running away from your father and your people. Going against everything you grew up with. But she realized he meant the seat as he gestured towards it, giving another cock of an eyebrow.

Connie let out a withheld breath she didn't knows she was holding, her chest seemed to ease and she stuttered still affected by that little scare. "I-i just wanted to know what's wrong." She sighed. The constant stuttering, her awkward socialism. This was going to take a while.

[Vio]

Was Gwynn Everett in a bad mood? Yes. Was everyone else giving her a wide berth? Definitely. Citizens stared at the armoured woman as she marched down the street, rich honey-coloured hues captured in the tropical breeze flickered like a fire, spitting searing sparks of rage towards all around her. What had been a rather peaceful day had quickly turned into something horrid, and as such the Ilusian woman was now seething with a rage whose heat far surpassed the warmth of the sun that hung in the crystalline sky. Wary eyes watched her as she strutted along, every man and woman making sure to leave substantial space whenever she drew close.

What the hell was that guy thinking? He should keep his hands to himself! For any normal person, previous actions would have been more and overreaction to what was an innocent situation. Of course, had it been a woman, neither Miss Everett nor her beloved steed would have cared, likely taking the compliment and being grateful of such appreciation. But that was not the case. Men were disgusting. Men were useless. Men were idiots. Men were, in the eyes of the dark knight, an amalgamation of everything negative in the world. To be fair, she would not have minded if it had been a young boy, but the subject of her hatred was a grown man. The worst kind.

Of course, Byakuya was at least unlike his 'master' in one respect. And that was not the fact that he was a horse. Rather, the stallion failed to see the point of holding onto a grudge once the situation had passed. Though, that may have also been because he was a horse, more focused on what was happening at that very moment than what had or might. He simply cantered along beside the fiery headed femme, stopping every few yards to familiarise himself with his surroundings or use a post to scratch an itch before sauntering back towards Gwynn.
Why do men have to be such pains in the ass? A couple of hours had passed since she had punched the 'attacker', and only now did her rage begin to quell. Finally stopping her march, the dark-skinned dame exhaled loudly, her stance loosening a little as she relaxed her muscles. Nearby, the familiar sound of grinding metal seemed to soothe her temper, though honestly not by much. As she stood there, eyes closed, Byakuya took the opportunity to nuzzle her cheek. Responding without words, she knew full well that he was simply trying to comfort her, the loyal steed having resorted to this same behaviour for so many years. It seemed to be natural, though she had never seen any other horse - foal, mare or stallion - use this method.

"'Scuse me, Miss?" A voice quite deep, yet with the slightest whistle, captured her attention. Male. Just that lone fact made her blood run cold, then boil up again as fiery eyes snapped to the right. An elderly gentleman, or at least in his early sixties, stood a few yards away. His skin a dark and shiny bronze and clad in dull white trousers, despite his age this man had a spectacular physique that most young men could only dream of. Toned muscles on full display upon a hairless chest, only the wrinkles of his pronounced brow and jawline really gave away an approximate age. A bald head covered by a black bandanna showed naught but an inquisitive look in his dark eyes as he scanned the suit of armour which the woman wore upon her body.
"Beggin' yer pardon, but I couldn't help but notice that there equipment yer carrying!" A smile on his face as Gwynn stared loathingly towards him, every 'S' sound that escaped his lips was followed by a sharp whistle from the narrow gaps between his yellowed teeth. For a moment, Miss Everett eyed the thick brown woven sack he carried over his shoulder, broken sword blades and other weapons protruding from its opening.

"What of it." Speaking with a harsh tongue, the dark knight remained firmly rooted to the spot, fists clenched as her fiery eyes remained focused upon the elder. Through virtue of being a man, she had already forged an innate hatred of him, but at least he was not overstaying his welcome, so to speak. He had made no attempt to approach either Byakuya or herself and seemed quite content just standing where he was, maintaining a conversation from what she at least thought to be a 'safe' distance. For him, that is.
"Eh? Well. My name is Arthur. Arthur Wayland. I'm a travellin' blacksmith, ye see? I travel around fixin' weapons and such fer a livin', and I got an eye for detail. That armour of yers just ain't a good fit fer yer physique." For a split second, all the honey hues of Gwynn saw was red. Arm reaching out to Byakuya's side, the warrior's fingers wrapped around the shaft of her jousting lance, pulling it free of the straps that harnessed it to her steed's saddle. Thrusting forth with the weapon, Gwynn's intent was obvious, her arm only stopping once she hit her maximum reach. Why would she lash out at such a simple comment? Well, for one, she was already enraged by previous events. Two, she was somewhat self-conscious about her weight and usually believed that any man's comment on her physique was to do with her being fat. She was not overweight, of course, but the matter still stood.

"Weiheiheiheihei!" Having not budged an inch, Mister Wayland simply stood and laughed a distinctive laugh. The point of Miss Everett's lance had stopped just a centimetre short of his flesh, the weapon shaking subtly as she tried to hold it steady. Just an inch or two more and the weapon would have pierced his chest, but she simply did not have sufficient reach. Her gaze still fixed upon the eyes of the blacksmith, the cavalier expressed an unusual mix of surprise and hatred. Anyone else would have tried to evade or defend against her attack, probably without success, but the elderly gentleman did little more than laugh it off. That was humiliating, but at the same time quite respectable.
"Interestin' choice of weapon, I gotter say! Sorry if I offended ye, Miss. Didn't mean to hurt yer feelings!" His free hand gently guiding the point of Miss Everett's weapon off to the side, the foul tempered femme quickly withdrew the lance, its head scraping the dirty ground gently as it came to rest beside her. Byakuya grunted behind her, the stallion also eyeing the smith with questionable intent. That said, Byakuya was unlikely to strike a man unless surprised or ordered to by his rider.

He didn't even move. He just laughed at me! Bastard. He might be old, but he's not like other weak men... Her opinions somewhat mixed, the warrior woman remained in place, her stance stoic despite the feel of humiliation that now simmered alongside her boiling wrath. It was unusual, but the strong-willed woman actually had a degree of respect for this Arthur Wayland character, regardless of his gender, age or occupation. He was right about his earlier comment, which was probably where this mix of hate and respect was emerging from.
"You're right... It isn't mine... It is, but it isn't..." Raising an eyebrow, Arthur listened to Gwynn's confession quite patiently, perhaps stitching together further opinions of the malicious madame. It was unlikely that he would be able to work out the whole story, but at least she was willing to give him some insight as to the armour's origins. She considered it a small reward for him being able to guess correctly. Nobody else had ever commented on it before, and she had to admit that the blacksmith she had paid to do the work originally had been forced to do so rather hastily. While he had done a decent job, even he had commented that a complete reconstruction would have taken longer.

"So. It belonged ter someone else? And ye took it, I'm guessin'? Had a blacksmith reshape it, maybe? Reshapin' armour just ain't an easy thing ter do, Miss, but I'll have ter admit that whoever did the work was no pushover!" Stroking the fine grey hairs of his moustache and chin, the blacksmith ran his eyes over the harness of black and orange once more. The average man would probably have less innocent thoughts when examining a woman's body from afar, but the eyes of the travelling smith were entirely focused on the armour rather than the body it concealed.
He's a little too good at guessing... He can tell all that just from a few words and looking at the armour from a distance? Never once taking her eyes of him, the warrior's fingers retained their firm grip upon the shaft of the jousting lance, ready to swing it like a sword if ever necessary. One had to admit, Miss Everett's physical strength was superior to most men, even if she had yet to reach her peak, or even surpass it. Becoming stronger was her goal, but she still longed for a decent challenge since leaving the Kingdom of Ilusia.

"Weiheihei! Well, I'm going ter do ye a favour, Miss! The smithy's just over yonder. That's where I've bin workin' the last few days," Pointing in the direction from which the sound of grinding metal had been coming from, Mister Wayland began to walk onwards steadily, the sounds of iron and steel gently clinking together inside the sack he carried. Gwynn watched hesitantly as brown leather boots caressed the dirt beneath the blacksmith's feet, unsure of what to do. "So foller me an' I'll fix up that there suit of yers. No charge! I can't promise yer it'll be perfect, but I'll damn sure make it the best fit I can!"

[Harusame]

He was crying.

It had been an intense and emotional few hours since Connie had first began talking do Den Fisher, and now as they sat there, he cried like a child. A mix of female customers and waitresses sat by him, rubbing his back and giving him sympathetic hugs as he cried on. And standing right beside the table was a large crowd of customers who gathered to see the 'session', all of them also covered in tears. Connie smiled at the people who came sympathized with the injured man. It seemed that when someone went to tears, especially after what Den Fisher told her, everyone felt extremely bad.

But it wasn't over. She looked at Den with a stern but soft glare, motioning for him to continue.

He nodded, stifling a sob and continuing. "I-I mean, how could I be anything great, when m-my own m-mother thinks I'm shit!" A sob cracked through but he held on, taking a moment to stop the irregular breathing before continuing. "Have y-you ever felt that if y-your parents had a chance, t-they'd switch you w-w-without a second thought?"

And Connie felt her heart thump in her chest as that thought crossed her. The King obsessed over her to much, trying to keep his daughter in the castle, did he ever wish he could've ... had a different child? Someone besides her? But she swatted the thought away and shook her head at Den, implicating she didn't know how that felt.

"Well it's crap. I-I was like crap to her. I mean, how could I ever do anything ... be anything great?"

Connie gave him a almost pitiful shake of her head, and answered him. "By being great." Everyone turned to her, confused at her statement. And maybe a few hours ago she would've shied at their glares but now, fixing this problem, she felt confident and strong. So she gave a look over everyone, and continued on. "If you let one person who didn't believe in you, cause you to give up on everything, then you'll never succeed." The Future Queen stated. Images of her father as he locked her up in that tower flashed in her mind, quickly followed by The Knight holding up that note pad, and starting her destiny. And as The Knight entered her thoughts, she smiled. "Trust me Den, I know. You must forget your mother. You need to worry about you. Do whatever you want to do and do it not for your mom or anyone else. Do it for you." She pointed at him, trying to stress that fact. "And you cannot be pushed around anymore. You need to step up, and show that you won't take people's bullets. Because there will always be people who will try to hurt you but ... you can't let them." She shook her head. "You have to be ... strong."

Den looked at her with a somewhat shocked expression, then it quickly turned into a smile.

"Y-you're right!" He got up, gently moving the girls who were comforting him aside. "I need to be strong! I-I'm not taking crap from anybody anymore! Look at me, crying, it's time to become a real man!" Connie giggled at the way he changed from teary eyed to manly. But then he looked down at Connie with a soft expression.

"Thank you." And the next thing she knew he was waddling out of the restaurant on his bandaged leg, going off to do something.

The men and woman around her began to applaud. She looked around, a little taken aback as she realized they were clapping for her.

"What a gal."

"She's a genius!"

She was being coated in compliments and she began to blush. She couldn't take too many of these words so she picked up her sword, her work being done, and began to leave the establishment. Though as she left, the customers began to chant Connie over and over and she smiled back, waving at them before leaving. As she exited, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was refreshing to help someone else instead of someone help her for a change. And as Connie began to walk down the street to no particular location, she gave a short laugh. It had only been a few days, but she had gone so far. It felt like centuries since she left that castle in the sky. And being apart from it for just a few days, it ...

Bought her down to earth.

[Vio]

Sitting on the ground, legs crossed, Gwynn Everett was currently in a state of 'nudity'. That is, she was not currently clad in the suit of armour which she seemed to move about so very comfortably within. Rather, she wore more simplistic garments; form-fitting black leather trousers of three-quarter's length, and a black cotton top of similar length sleeves and tightness. These more pratical garments complimented the dark harness that she would normally be seen wearing, and indeed they were worn as the foundations of said armour. Still, while her garb was certainly different to the norm, the expression on her face was so very familiar. A stubborn look of hate was the current visage she possessed, rich honey hues staring into the blacksmith's workshop and focusing intently upon the smith at work.
That old bastard better not ruin my armour. Hawkish hues barely blinking as she maintained her line of sight, Gwynn's hands rested neatly upon her jousting lance, which presently lay across her lap, right hand keeping warily close to the shaft. On the same side, Byakuya sat beside her, snoozing patiently as the duo waited for the results. The fiery woman had most definitely have her reservations about accepting the offer of Arthur Wayland, but there was something unusual about him that begged respect, even from the cold man-hater herself. The way he had simply laughed off her lunging attack just a few hours ago made it seem as if he had no fear, and it was that trait that she admired. Not much, of course, Mister Wayland was still a man, and such status docked a lot of respectability points from him in the eyes of the warrior woman.

"Don't ye worry, Miss! I'm almost done! Weiheihei!" The distinct whistling voice of the elderly metalworker clear in her ears, Miss Everett continued to watch the gentleman at work. The rhythmic pounding of a blacksmith's hammer upon metal plate rang across the shop as the local smiths went about their own business, an orchestra of metal that reminded her so dearly of the sounds of a thrilling jousting match. The clinking and clanking of armour, the hissing of red hot metal being quenched reminiscent of horses hooves sliding upon the dirt and gravel. It made her feel at home, somewhat, but at the same time said cacophony forged bitterness alongside weapons. Of all the smiths here, four of them including Arthur, not a one was a woman! Just another example of the sexist world that seemed to prevail. Such labour was considered the work of men, while women were supposed to be confined to domestic chores such as needlework? It made her burn almost as hotly as the iron emerging from the forge.
"Alrighty... That should do it. Ye should try this on fer size!" Huffing between words as he regained his breath, the heat of the forge itself was unbearable to most. It had to be, else it would never be hot enough to turn metal malleable enough for manipulation. Of course, for the bronzed blacksmith who now approached her, heat was no issue. He barely even seemed to have broken a sweat, despite the constant swinging of hammers in order to bend the metal of her suit. A toothy smile present between the white fuzz of his upper lip and chin, Arthur carried an assortment of black metal pieces in his arms, laying them neatly on the straw-covered ground upon which Gwynn and Byakuya sat. Armour there, cuirass and all, showed little noticeable differences to what she had previously been wearing, and it made her sceptical about the smith's offer. Blacksmiths of high calibre often called for high payment, but this man had made her exempt of any usual fees, for whatever reason that might have been. He could just as easily have destroyed her armour and used it for other things, but he had not done so.

"You'd better not have damaged it..." Getting to her feet, the fiery-headed femme rested her polearm against the wooden wall, her stallion looking up at her with curious eyes as she did so. Squatting down, she picked up the cuirass and began the steady process of dressing herself in armour, piece by piece secured to her body. Immediately she noticed a difference. The harness seemed to conform to her body far more easily than it had done beforehand, her figure finding comfortable space where previously there had been none. And yet, at a glance, there was no apparent difference. While it definitely weighed the same, it also seemed lighter. All this together caused a small smile to replace her usual grimace, albeit only for a second or two. Now clad in the full suit, she felt a little more mobile, or at least a little less confined.
"Weiheiheihei. So, what do ye think? Much better fit fer yer figure, eh?" Clenching her fist a little as he spoke, Gwynn could not help but agree, as much as she disliked doing so. While it was still a little too tight in some areas, the armour was a lot more comfortable than it had previously been. Her mood even lightened up a little bit, perhaps grateful for the effort of this strange man who most certainly seemed to have a gift. Clearly Mister Wayland had been in the smithing business for most (if not all) of his life, and his experience definitely showed. Taking up her lance once more, Miss Everett looked towards the bald-headed stranger before giving a quick ticking sound, to which Byakuya responded by standing up with due haste.

"Thanks... I guess you aren't so bad." Not exactly brimming with gratitude, the black knight once more strapped her lance to her steed's flank, barely even looking at the smith as she spoke. Still, Gwynn was always one to call a spade a shovel, so to speak. If she ever said anything to you, she meant it, even if she were reluctant about it. Arthur seemed to understand that, smiling toothily as he watched the dark skinned woman leave the smith's shop behind, mount following closely behind her.
"Weiheiheihei! Thank ye kindly, Miss!" The whistling exclamation emerging from behind her as she progressed back into town, Miss Everett's mood had at least calmed somewhat in comparison to the earlier displays of temper. Things had brightened up a little for her, and that was usually a good sign to those around her. The expression on her face was now far more neutral as she once more entered the middle of the settlement, but the unusual events of today had yet to truly end...


"Eh? What is it this time, Byakuya!" Attentions garnered by a sudden grunt from her travelling companion, Gwynn hurried herself around the front of the equine in order to see what exactly had startled him. Whatever it was, it was not something too large or threatening, else he likely would have reared up upon hind legs and made his strength known to all. Instead, orange ovals settled upon a more petite entity that had collided with the stallion, a young girl with flowing golden hair...

SPOILER: Click to show

I assume this is alright for opening up our meeting?

[Harusame]

GRRRRRR...

Connie held her stomach and groaned as it gurgled. She didn't regret one second ever leaving her father, but when she was 'up there' she had food available to her like air. Now though, as she wandered around the blues? She was lucky to get a pity apple or a glass of water. She could've used her charm in the restaurant she just left to get something good for herself but she knew she wouldn't forgive herself if she started taking advantage of people. It wasn't ... how a Princess acted.

And so, she continued on the road, her stomach crying to be filled with food. Though even though he was hungry, she still held herself like royalty, swiftly but elegantly walking through the streets. The truth was though, she had no destination. She couldn't really see where she was going or where she was going to be. And in truth ... it was exciting! Princesses should have a set of destination. They should know their kingdom and it's people. But that was just it. She was starting from the bottom. So even if she could t see clearly now, she knew the road ahead would one day begin to shine.

Though it got pretty dark in a few seconds.

She wasn't paying attention and try next thing she knew, she bumped into a large black mass and fell on her bum. She felt a little dizzy and rubbed her bottom as she looked at the spot that hurt the most. From above she heard the grunt from the mass she collided with and a fiery woman's voice sound. So getting up, she gave a look at the thing in front of her and to her surprise, saw a horse.

Back on Esclair, she had seen a lot of horses and honestly, Connie loved them. She would sit at her window, watching knights and other people gallop around with their stead. And she felt envious. She wanted that for herself one day, to ride that beautiful creature.

Hesitantly her hand came up to rub the horses face, and she smiled. "I'm sorry. Didn't see you there~" Though as she turned to look at the horses owner, she felt a blush on her face.

The fiery orange locks cascaded down her mocha skin, and her equally fiery eyes gazed with a intensity and power Connie believed she never saw in a woman. And the black armour she donned, it made her power and appearance even more breathtaking. And the next thing Connie knew, she was muttering "You're beautiful ..." Though as she realized what she was said, she cringed and felt her face heat up ten times more. "I-I mean, sorry for your horse! I w-wasn't paying attention!" She smiled. Then, giving out her hand to shake like the gesture she had seen many of the locals do, she introduced ed herself. "Connie!" She blurted.

[Vio]

Oh? It's a girl... Taking in the appearance of the youngling before her, Gwynn Everett's rich honey hues gathered in the information that presented itself. A girl now getting to her feet rather hastily, her wavy blonde locks cascaded down the length of her back, save for a small unlury cowlick that protruded from her crown. Definitely in the innocence of youth, this girl looked like a princess straight out of a fairy tale, her skin a soft shade of pale and wearing the flowing folds of a pink dress, though there were a few other features that captured her eye. Tufts of feathers protruded from the sides of the little lady's head, resembling the wings of a small dove, but there was no obvious sign of a headdress. Furthermore, she seemed to lack footwear, which was not exactly a crime, but it was unusual considering how prim and proper she looked at first glance.
"I'm sorry. Didn't see you there..." Byakuya too had taken an interest in the little girl, more so out of curiosity as to what had collided with him, only to be greeted with a gentle rubbing of his face which he seemed to enjoy. Quite the contrast to how he had reacted only a few hours ago, but this little incident was neither intentional, nor involving a human of the male gender. As such, the black stallion simply accepted the apology of the youth, making sure to push his head a little closer so that she could thank him more easily. Afterwards, the girl's eyes locked with Miss Everett's, glorious emeralds sparkled in the sun as the little princess seemed to blush, muttering a mostly audible compliment that caused the dark knight's own cheeks to redden slightly.

"I-I mean, sorry for your horse! I w-wasn't paying attention!" Attempting to apologise rapidly before Gwynn could say anything, the girl's face now possessed a hue reminiscent of beetroot as she blurted out her words with a nervous stammer. Despite her nerves, the girl was surprisingly well spoken, her accent clear and easy on the ears. Holding out a small and delicate hand, the girl identified herself by the name of 'Connie', the redness of her cheeks now fading and replaced with a friendly smile.
"Oh. Nice to meet you, Connie! I'm Gwynn." Accepted the offered hand, the fiery femme now seemed to take on a completely different persona. A side of herself so often hidden away from others, despite her earlier displays of voracity and aggression towards such innocent acts, the lady from Ilusia's vengeful flames had transformed into a warmth like that of the sun's rays. Her own gauntlet-clad hand somewhat dwarfing the delicate digits of Connie, she gave a firm yet gentle shake of acceptance, accompanied by a soft and welcoming smile that had completely overwritten her previous expressions. Nobody, however, was likely to notice such drastic changes of personality, aside from Byakuya, who was probably used to such behaviour anyway. Speaking of Byakuya, the impressive steed was now persistently nuzzling the little princess's cheek, trying to garner yet more attention from the innocent blonde.

"Mm. And this attention seeker is Byakuya." Nodding towards the rather extroverted stallion, orange ovals then took heed of a slightly more interesting feature of the little girl. Likely not even into her teenage years yet, it was unusual to see such a delicate flower carrying a weapon along with her. Well, not exactly a weapon, but one that would steadily lead her into the use of one. A wooden sword, the kind used for practice at schools and Dojos, was held in the youth's free hand, upon the end of which a bundle of fabric was tied, likely holding her other possessions. This in particular piqued the warrior woman's interest, such a feature was usually a sign that said person had run away from home. But, what would a girl who seemed to have been raised so well want with running away? Normally one could see the despair in appearance of a runaway, but such sadness was not immediately present in Connie.

"Connie?" She asked, squatting down so that her eyeline was close to equal with that of the youth, a worried and questioning look now present on her face. Admittedly, this was not a situation that the mocha madame had ever had to deal with before, so she was somewhat uncertain of what to ask, or indeed how to ask it.
"What are you doing out here?" Trying to sound a little more friendly and lively, Miss Everett posed a rather simple question to the little girl. Indeed, she could just have been out playing with friends, or perhaps running errands for her mother? Gwynn always travelled alone between stables and home back in the Kingdom of Ilusia, even before she had become a woman, but Connie did not seem to share the same 'rough and tumble' attitude that she had all those years ago. To be fair, it around midday now, not that she often kept track of time, but the sun was now high in the crystal blue sky.

[Harusame]

She noticed the woman almost study her for a few moments as the horse nuzzled closer to Connie. The young Princess giggled as she tried to keep a grip on her training sword, feeling a little ticklish as fur brushed upon her skin.

As the woman accepted her hand and introduced herself, Connie felt her cheeks warm up yet again. Partially because the metal that encompassed her hand had a lingering warmth to it, as if it had been heated maybe by the sun. But, the woman gave her such a warm and welcoming smile, it made her features a thousand times more elegant and beautiful. Although this time, the Blonde Girl didn't blurt out words, and instead focused upon the enchanting name. "Gwynn," She nodded with a innocent smile. "What a cute name. It suits you~ Nice to meet you too Gwynn!"

The blush slowly subsided as she finished her statement, and continued to giggle at the playful horse who rubbed along her cheek. She giggled and rubbed his face more as she couldn't help but get attached to the adorable creature. So when Gwynn introduced her 'attention seeking' horse, Connie laughed. "Hi Byakuya! I'm Connie~" She nuzzled her own face into the horses and enjoyed his warmth and love. Though as she was playing, she felt her stomach lurch and remembered her hunger. And the next thing she knew, it was gurgling again.

GRRRRRR...

She winced for a moment but quickly smiled again at the horse and Gwynn as she regained her composure. She did need to get food. The last time she had a good meal felt like ages ago and she had been living off the kindness of a few inhabitants for the few days she was on the island.

Though all thoughts of food ceased as The Orangenette called for her. Turning to the older woman as she squatted down, Connie noticed a hint if ... worry in the Armour Clad Woman's features. "Hm?" Connie responded, waiting for the question.

"What are you doing out here?"

And Connie felt herself freeze up. Maybe the woman thought she was a runaway? Or maybe the woman thought she had lost herself or something? Whatever the Mocha Skinned Beauty thought, she seemed concerned with what exactly Connie was doing all by herself. And Connie knew she couldn't tell her "Oh I fell from the sky to run away from my dad who's a king!" She would sound like she was telling tall tales. So instead, she took the question to a literal sense and answered as age averted her eyes back to the horse. "I'm ... taking a walk." She responded as she continued to rub Byakuya head softly.

SPOILER: Click to show

I deeply apologize for the abundance of my spelling errors.

[Vio]

There was an air of embarrassment emanating from Gwynn Everett by this point. The young girl, Connie, had given more compliments to the fiery woman in the last minute than any other had given her all day. She had practically been insulted, several times, by Arthur Wayland, and everyone else seemed too intimidated to even think of approaching her. But Connie, first she had called her 'beautiful', and now she was saying that her name was cute! The innocent smile upon the youth's face suggested honesty, only serving to bolster the complimentary statements and add to the embarrassment that the armoured woman was feeling.
Grrrrrr... Well, at least one thing was obvious. While she tried to hide it from prying eyes, masking her troubles with a smile, Gwynn Everett was rather familiar with the rumbling sound that emerged from little Connie's stomach. Hunger. Had she not eaten recently? That seemed to be the case, at least, her face showing no signs of sickness of disease. In fact, the princess in pink seemed to be the picture of health, signs of a good lifestyle. Still, there were more pressing matters at hand, such as finding out why this girl seemed to have run away from home. It was just an assumption, of course, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

"I'm... taking a walk." Normally such a response would have been taken for what it was, but the odd tone in which Connie spoke seemed to demonstrate slightly worrisome thoughts. Tilting her head a little, Gwynn smiled curiously towards the little girl as she stood up once more, wondering what she was hiding, but at the same time respecting her privacy. She seemed mature enough to warrant such leniency, her manners impeccable and her appearance pristine. It reminded the dark-skinned dame of her own youth, always so self sufficient and never wanting help for the petty troubles that plagued her mind.
Better if I don't pry... Placing a hand on the side of Byakuya's face, Gwynn clicked her tongue off the roof of her mouth, a simple command which caused the lovable horse to relent from his pursuit of affections. Trotting forwards a little so that his flank was now beside his mistress, the steed waited patiently, allowing the orange eyed woman access to the satchels that were strapped to his saddle. Reaching inside, she retrieved an apple, holding her hand out towards Connie and offering the shiny red fruit. Simple thinking on her behalf, if the dark knight could not solve one problem, then she might as well help solve another.

"Here. If you're hungry, you should eat this!" Perhaps one could consider it a peace offering? Or, if she was able to gain enough trust, perhaps she could find out exactly what was the matter with this girl? A gentle nudge to her back, however, turned Gwynn's friendly smile into a slight frown of disappointment. The black stallion, well aware of what was being offered, obviously wanted some for himself.
"Byakuya... You've already had an apple. I'm not giving you another!" Trying her best not to be too harsh on her trusted steed, the knightess continued to sustain persistent nudging, her words having little effect. Byakuya had most likely understood her, but this was just the stubborn personality that he had gained, inherited from Miss Everett's own mannerisms. Much like a child, Byakuya always seemed to learn or inherit something that his owner did not want him too, which was slightly irritating but also inevitable.
"Ugh. Fiiine... You can have another apple." As tenacious as she usually was, there was perhaps only one being in the world whose persistence could pay off against her, and that was Byakuya. Had it been an actual fight, the stallion was more likely to back down first, but this was a war of attrition won by the most annoyingly persistent of participants. Extracting a second apple from the bag, she paused for a moment, recognising the reflection of her own beautiful face in the shining red skin of the sweet fruit. Connie was right; Gwynn was indeed a stunningly beautiful woman, but where the youth saw aesthetics, fiery eyes saw the need to become stronger. Eyes narrowed a little in thought before she brought herself back to reality. Or, more precisely, an impatient horse brought her back to reality.

"Say. Connie? Would you like to feed Byakuya?" Considering the unusual friendliness which Byakuya had first displayed to the child, Miss Everett opted for a different approach. Offering the second apple, perhaps allowing Connie to participate in such a simplistic 'ritual' of feeding a horse would aid in gaining her trust. Yet again, it reminded her of her past when she worked at the stables, feeding the horses and even having to clean out their stalls. The latter was certainly not the most pleasant of tasks...

[Harusame]

Even though Gwynn smiled genuinely and issued a presence if warmth, The Princess could tell she was concerned with her state. She could see it in the fiery orbs that watched her, a hint of worried curiosity. And it wasn't uncalled for considering she was a thirteen year old girl walking around with a training sword with a bag strapped to it. Who wouldn't be concerned with that? And although Connie appreciated the fact that Gwynn seemed to veritably care, she was more grateful for the fact that The Orangnette didn't pry or try to force Connie. Even after Connie gave her such a insubstantial response to her query, The Charming Armour Clad Woman simply smiled and tilted her head. And Connie was extremely grateful for that.

She saw as Gwynn palmed the side of her steed and made a clicking sound with her tongue, causing the equine to cease his affections and trot forward, giving his Mistress access to the satchel on his back. And when Gwynn reached inside the pack and pulled out a apple, offering it to her, her cheeks heated up again, not expecting to be offered the treat. And, as she eyed the red prize, images of her father came back, telling her not to eat food from other people before letting one of the guards taste it for poison. And it was extremely annoying having five men jump in paranoia and snatch food from the kind people who simply wished to give a good gesture.

Though now, as The Woman offered her the fruit, there were no annoying guards, and no dad to lecture her. It was just her and her choices. And she preferred this way to the end of her days.

So she made to accept the food, about to say thank you before she noticed Gwynn move forward a bit, her face turning into annoyance as age nudged by the horse behind her. And Connie giggled a little as Gwynn expressed how he had already eaten and that she would not give in to his desires. Though after a few moments, the Orange Haired Beauty gave in to the steed. It was cute the way Gwynn and her horse were. And it bought amusement to Connie, causing her giggles to continue for a moment before turning into a smile.

Though, the next thing she knew, Gwynn was taking out a second apple, offering it to Connie and asking if she wanted to feed Byakuya. And Connie began to blush looking a little dazed at the question. All her life, she wanted to have a horse of her own. To feed it, to watch it grow, to ride away from her father on it. And here she was, offered simply to feed a horse, and she felt like she was asked to become a bride. All these emotions welled in her and she smiled at Gwynn, happy and excited beyond belief. "Yes! Thank you~" She took the fruit and made her way to Byakuya, smiling at the horse as she stood in front of him with the treat. Putting the apple under his mouth, she waited for him to enjoy his meal. And pretty soon, his giant mouth was chomping down on the apple and she laughed, amused at the way his teeth bit on the prize. Being this close to a horse on truth was like a dream to Connie. She smiled up at Gwynn with the innocence and happiness of a little child. "I've wanted to feed a horse my whole life!" She exclaimed.

[Vio]

"Yes! Thank you~" Chirping happily as she accepted the second fruit, Connie seemed rather enthralled as the prospect of feeding a horse, her child-like innocence appealing to whatever maternal instinct Gwynn Everett may have possessed. As she watched the act unfold, Byakuya lightly nosed the shiny red apple which the little princess held in her open palm before wrapping around it with clean teeth, happily munching away upon the sweet reward. The excited laugh emerging from little Connie's lips drew forth another smile upon the face of the mocha madame as she remembered those early days in the stables. Indeed, the first horse she had ever treated in such a manner was the very mare that had given birth to the handsome stallion that stood with them now.
I can't believe it Opportunity, but your child is exactly like you when it comes to apples... Giggling slightly, the dark knight stepped back in time for a moment, remembering the beautiful golden horse who had mothered the black steed with which she now travelled. Despite their blood relations, neither horse shared any particular similarities, save for the fiery mane and tail which seemed far more vibrant in the case of Byakuya. Aside from that, Byakuya had always been rather boisterous, while his mother was always extremely placid. While Opportunity was timid towards most and would rather back away, Byakuya was far more up front about things. Strange differences, but they both held a place in the heart of the warrior woman.

"I've wanted to feed a horse my whole life!" Exclaimed her desire now that it had been fulfilled, the blonde babe spoke as if such an act had always been out of reach. That in itself seemed a little odd, but then again, as common as the equines were, not everyone had exposure to them on a regular basis. Perhaps Connie came from such a place? But, she recalled seeing other horses and stables upon the island, so surely she could have visited them at some point? On top of that, Connie was clearly aware of what a horse was. Again, there were things about the young girl that eluded Miss Everett, but she was at least beginning to piece together some of the facts to paint a picture in her mind.
"Oh? You mean you've never fed a horse before? Well, there's a first time for everything, right?" Smiling still, the fiery-haired femme spoke wise words and she gave the little girl in pink a gentle pat on the shoulder, attempting to provide the youth with a little extra encouragement. It was always good to try new things, and for some reason it seemed as if Connie had lived something of a sheltered life. Perhaps, if she was a runaway, that was the reason? It was an unnervingly similar situation to that which she herself had faced. Being treated well and looked after attentively was one thing, but people needed time to themselves, and sometimes parents or partners could smother their loved ones, preventing that independent experience that they sought.

I'm guessing she's run away from her father... Poor girl, he must have been horrible to her... It seems her mother did a great job of raising her, though... Now having woven together a rather incomplete and somewhat inaccurate tapestry of Connie's life, Gwynn plucked out an apple of her own from the satchel strapped to her steed's side, closing the bag and making sure to buckle it shut. Unfortunately, due to some degree of greed on Byakuya's part, they were down to only two apples, one of which the dark dame now held in her hand. Taking a bite out of the crunchy skin and savouring the sweet crispy flesh, the knightess spaced out a little as she looked towards the clear blue skies above.
I should just ask her straight up. But, we've only just met... If she's troubled, it's best to leave her be for a while until she opens up... Snapping out of her trance, orange hues once more settled upon the pretty little face of Connie, her warm little smile easing her slightly. It was an oddly charismatic trait she seemed to be in possession of, but the innocence of youth always seemed to have that kind of effect. The world was a harsh place at the best of times, but for the likes of Connie and - at this very moment - Gwynn, it seemed to be awfully welcoming.

"So, what shall we do next?" Half-eaten apple still in hand, Gwynn looked down and smiled at Connie, curious as to what kinds of things this little girl was interested in. She seemed the type to enjoy life as it came to her, though that could have just been yet another assumption at the hands of the female fighter. In truth, she knew barely anything of the little girl. Where did she come from? Where was she headed? So many questions piqued the curiosity of the mocha madame, but she was not planning on asking them. Rather, she was going to wait for Connie to strike up that end of the conversation, at which point she would likely feel more comfortable about it.

[Harusame]

Connie nodded as Gwynn pieced that she had never fed a horse before. And when she said there was a first time for everything, the little blonde majesty's lips curled from end to end, accepting the pat on her shoulder. Gwynn was extremely kind and pleasant around Connie and it made her happy. It had been a long time since she had a womanly figure around her, and having Gwynn around her for just that small amount of time had already lifted he spirits. Though for a moment, the memories of her sister and mother flashed by and her face was downcast in a sad smile. Nevertheless, as fast as it had happened it was over, and she was patting Byakuya's head with her now apple-less hand. "Was it good Byakuya?" She grinned at the equine, showering him with warmth as she softly nuzzled her face into his. His strong warm breath breezed onto her and she could feel the power and love in the horse. It was such a beautiful creature and Connie wished she had me to e sooner.

Though in her cuddling, she felt her stomach lurch and she stood straight up from her position, still holding the apple. Rubbing her belly she raised the fruit to her lips only to have Byakuya eye it with passion. She giggled. "This ones for me buddy~!" Sge exclaimed, patting his head and taking a bite from the sweet treat. Taking time as she chewed, she savoured the taste sighed. There was something about eating a fruit for once that she hadn't seen be plucked by a bloody bruised man, that gave it a satisfying taste.

Connie noticed that Gwynn too had gotten herself a treat and she looked up at her friend with a please t expression, giving a thumbs up to her gift. Though, as Gwynn asked what was next and The Fallen Princess was about to take another bite, she felt someone bump into her, causing her to drop her food and to fall flat on her face. "Oof!" She pulled herself up and looked at her 'assailant' for a moment. But was shrouded in a black hooded cloak so she could see nothing but one thing. His cold, ice blue eyes and the right one having a star shaped tattoo under it. And the next thing she knew, he was gone. Somehow moving through the crowd, he had disappeared from sight. And for the first time since Connie had come to the blues, she felt her heart beat fast and quick.

Something wasn't right.

[Vio]

Chewing on her apple, Gwynn Everett stood with her usual posture as she looked down towards Connie, who was about to take another bite of her own sweet fruit. Of course, such things were never to be simple, the unexpected always happening when, well, you least expected it. A cloaked figure was amongst such mysterious things, quite suddenly appearing within the view of the mocha madame as he rushed past, knocking the princess in pink off her feet as he did so. A small glimpse of the figure's face was all that she managed to get, but that was enough to distinguish the person's gender.
"Oof!" Crashing face first onto the floor, the bare-footed child ended up dropping her apple into the dirt, as well as being greeted by a face full of dust. Hers, however, was not the only fruit dropped; Miss Everett herself released the grip on her own delicious treat amongst the suddenness of the events. Making a few steps in pursuit of the hooded form, the fiery-headed femme tried to grab the assailant, but such an attempt was quickly thwarted as he vanished into the crowd. He seemed to vanish, almost as if he had never been there in the first place.

"Oi! Watch where you're going!!" Shouting after the ghostly attacker, Gwynn opted out of an attempted pursuit in favour of tending to the victim, who was now scooping herself up off the floor quite elegantly as she stared into the crowd. Squatting down again, once more the dark knightess found herself offering a gauntlet-clad hand towards the youngster, lending her support. Women should support one another, after all, else they will always be oppressed by mankind. At least, that was her somewhat selfish belief in the matter.
"Are you okay, Connie? Not hurt or anything?" Helping the little girl to her feet, the warrior woman did a quick scan of her body, checking for any cuts or scrapes that may have occured due to her fall. Fortunately, it seemed that the lengthy gown she wore had protected her from any injuries, the worst afflictions being a dirty face and hands. Nothing a quick wash could not cure, so solace could be found in that. Whoever the cloaked figure was, he was no longer of any importance. If he showed up again, however, he would have to answer to Gwynn.

"Eh?" The loud sound of chewing coming from beside them, the armoured lady turned to look at her steed with eyes the colour of richest honey. A disappointed look on her face, Byakuya had ended up doing exactly what she had expected of him and was in the process of 'cleaning up' after the two women had dropped their apples. Having already consumed the apple that Connie had dropped, the dark horse now gazed innocently up at his mistress as he munched upon the sweet red fruit at her feet. Not the most pleasing of sights, to be sure, but the horse knew all too well that he could get away with it without too much trouble.
"You can be a real pain sometimes, Byakuya... C'mon, we might as well go and have a proper meal!" Turning from her trusted steed and back towards the little princess, Gwynn smiled again, suggesting an option that was far better than just eating apples. A proper meal was what they both needed, really, for no apple could sate the hunger of a growing girl. That, and she only had one left, which would probably end up in her horse's mouth at some point anyway. He just loved fruit too much, but there was nothing she could do to change that. Maybe she had spoiled him? Perhaps. Perhaps not. With that, she turned to walk down the street, clicking her tongue once more to pull Byakuya in while she gestured to Connie to follow.

[Harusame]

Connie shook her head, attempting to shrug off the feeling she got from the hooded man. She was aware that her father was far away from her and could t reach her. And she had been so happy these past few days. But when that guy had bumped into her, she had this ... intuition. As if she could sense that her father was closer than she thought. And it scared her. She wanted to be as far away from that mam as possible.

Though, when she saw Gwynn come to her defence, trying to chase the disappearing man, a smile replaced the spooked expression on her face. There was nothing she needed to worry about. Now she had friends to help her. But then again, Connie didn't want her new found friends to get involved in the complicated family drama that she was in. Her life would just be too weird if she told Gwynn. Hi, I'm a princess from the sky who escaped my maniac father with the help of a mute knight. He put me in tower for most of my life ... So what does your father do?

As Gwynn once again offered The Little Girl her armour clad hand, Connie accepted it with a thankful smile. Though she noticed Gwynn immediately was concerned for her, asking if she wasn't hurt and was okay. "I'm okay Gwynn. Just a little ... caught off guard." She trailed off ominously.

But their convo was cut by the sound of apples crunching. Tilting her head to look behind The Orangeyte, Connie smiled at the scene of Byakuya eating the fallen apples. Putting her hands on her hips and trying her best to make a grumpy face (though she just ended up pouting), Gwynn shook her head at the horse. "Byakuya! You already had yours ~" She giggled, wiping the dirt from her face.

Nevertheless, the horses master seemed annoyed, but almost expectant of the situation. So instead of wrestling dirty half eaten apples from her horse, Connie heard Gwynn invite her to a proper meal. And at first, she felt a little shy to say yes. She had never sat down with whoever she wanted and just had a normal meal before. It was always either family, or her fathers guards. But deciding that her father wasn't going to make her decisions anymore, Connie smiled and skipped along beside Gwynn, following the two to a restaurant.

---

The hooded man watched from a distance, eyeing Connie with a conviction that's intentions could not be good. His ice cold eyes almost pierced the air around him. That was his target. That was who he was after. And nothing was going to stop him.

"I'm not going to disappoint him. After all, The King gets what The King wants."

SPOILER: Click to show

You may start on the restaurant or whatever you choose.