*CHAPTER ONE

LOCATION; MOON

Scarlet stared at her reflection in the mirror as her maids dressed her up. She wore a long sleeveless straight gown. A beauitful diamond shaped necklace was resting around her neck. Her curly black hair was packed into a perfect high bun. And her light makeup fitted her, bringing out her beauty.

One of the maids made to grab her tiara from the dressing table, but Scarlet raised her hand to stop her from doing so.

"You may all leave now." Scarlet ordered in her most calm voice.

The three maids bowed their heads to her before they left. Scarlet stared at her reflection for awhile before she let out a low sigh. She took her tiara from the dressing table and placed it on her head.

Scarlet stood up and made her way out of her chambers and to the hallway. Two bodyguards followed her as she walked the hallway, and towards the dinning room. When Scarlet got in front of the dining room, the two bodyguards at the door. Opened the door for her to get in.

Scarlet walked in to see her uncle, Damian. Already sitting in the dinning. He stood up when he acknowledged her presence. Scarlet came forward and one of the guards pulled out a chair for her to sit which she did.

"Good morning Damian." Scarlet greeted without glancing to his direction.

"Good morning Scar, how was your night?" Damian asked, trying to study her every move.

"Peaceful." She replied dryly.

The maids at the corners of the dinning room came forward as they dished out the meals.

"We have a council meeting, shortly after breakfast." Damian said as he chewed on his food.

"Must I be present?" Scarlet asked, her gaze fixed on her meal.

"Of course Scar. You are going to be the crown queen in a couple of months. So your presence is highly recommended, it will help you when you finally assume the throne." Damian said and Scarlet huffed silently that Damian didt hear.

"Ok." Scarlet replied dryly, as she contiuned eating.

They ate in silent in the rest of the breakfast.

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After breakfast, Scarlet followed Damian into the meeting room. The meeting was so long and so boring for Scarlet that she felt like sleeping. After the meeting which took hours to end, Scarlet and Damian went to the throne room to hear what the people of the kingdom wanted. That was another boring session for Scarlet.

After a few hours of hearing from the people, it was noon already. And Damian took Scarlet to the study room to go through some piles of report.

Scarlet began going through it for a few minutes when she suddenly placed the file away, drawing Damian's attention.

"What's wrong Scar? Feeling tired already?" Damian asked, observing Scarlet through his reading glasses.

"Yes. I'll just go for some horse ride." Scarlet said and stood up.

"Ok. Just make sure you take some guards with you." Damian said when Scarlet turned to leave.

"Am not a child." Scarlet said as she angled her neck to Damian.

"But you are royalty, which makes you a prey to our unforseen enemies. So its an order Scar, do not leave the palace without a guard." Damian said, and Scarlet felt like yelling at him in frustration of not having freedom.

Scarlet walked out of the study room, and towards her chambers. She plans on doing what her mind set to do for once in her life.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

Scarlet got dressed in her plain black leather trousers, a long sky blue satin shirt which was tucked into her pants, and a riding heel boot. She packed her hair to a loose bun before leaving her chambers.

Scarlet came to where her already prepared horse was wanting for her.

"Hey girl, missed me?" She asked her milky color horse, while she pat her face. "I missed you too." She added with a smile.

Some sounds of horse drew her attention and she turned back to see three bodyguards on horse, coming towards her.

"Yes?" She asked them when they were finally infront of her.

"We were ordered to escort you on your ride." One of the guards answered.

"I wish to ride alone, you may leave." She replied as she contiuned patting her horse.

"Am sorry my princess but we were ordered and, can't disobey the order." One of the guard replied sharply.

Scarlet angled her neck to the guard that spoke.

"And as your princess and your future queen of the Moon, i am giving you an order!" Scarlet half yelled over her shoulder.

"As you wish my princess." The guards chroused, and they all rode back.

Scarlet huffed as she climbed onto her horse, she hit the horse, and her horse raced out of the palace gate and into the woods.

Scarlet raced through the woods. She freed her mind, and her thoughts away from the palace and away from her kingdom. She raced for another hour before racing towards the lake, where she stopped.

She stared ahead. She enjoyed how peacefully the water moved back and forth. Suddenly she heard a horse sound, but she didt move a muscle till she felt the presence of a horse and its rider beside her.

"How did you know I will end up here?" Scarlet asked as she angled her neck to look at her handsome best friend, and chief guard.

"I told you, am always in your tiny head." He teased with a smirk, and Scarlet glared at him in a playful way.

"Ok. Fine, I picked up your trail." He said.

"How did you know I went missing from the palace? Everyone seems to be watching my every move." Scarlet said dryly as she stared ahead.

"No Scar."

"Damian sent you?" She asked again, still staring ahead.

"Yes." He said after taking in a deep breath.

Scarlet smiled sadly which he knew why she smiled like that.

"Scar-"

"Am not some child anymore, why doesnt he gets it. Ryan? I think being a princess is more like being a prisoner." Scarlet said.

"No Scar, that's where you are wrong. Your uncle loves and care for you, that's why he's worried about you and wants to keep you safe from danger." Ryan tried to make Scarlet understand.

"Which I dont need." Scarlet said as she looked at Ryan.

"I want to be a free person, Ryan. You know, I so wish I wasnt a princess." Scarlet said and raced towards home, leaving Ryan by the lake.

Ryan sighed deeply before running after her.

Ryan has been Scarlet childhood friend and not just her chief guard. They shared their happy and sad moments with each other. But as time went by, and as they grew up. Ryan's feelings grew out of the 'friend zone'. He was scared to open up to Scarlet about his feeling, cause he thought it will bring an end to their long time friendship, so he decided to hold on to the right time he can be able to open up to her*.

"*It was still wrong of you to have disobeyed your uncle, your reasons doesnt count." Gwen stated to Scarlet, as she packed her clothes into the closet.

Gwen is a maid, and of the same age mate with Scarlet, but Scarlet liked her from the first day she was employed in this palace. Apart from Ryan, Scarlet also share alot of things with Gwen. She thinks of her as her sister and so does Gwen.

"Are you taking his side?" Scarlet asked with a frown.

Gwen walked to the bed where Scarlet was sitting, and sat by the edge.

"Am not taking sides here Scar. But in whatever fights you and your uncle have, dont try to put yourself at risk like you did just now." Gwen said and Scarlet rolled her eyes.

"If you roll your eyes at me again. I swear to the goddess, I will pull them out." Gwen warned, as she stood up from the bed.

"And then you will be hanged for doing so. Dont forget, am still your princess and your future queen." Scarlet smirked with a wink.

"Goodnight now Scar." Gwen said as she head to the door.

"Goodnight to you too. Sweet dreams of me in all of them." Scarlet said with a chuckle as she lie on her bed.

"I sure will my princess." Gwen said, playfully before turning the lights off and she left.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

The following morning, Scarlet was dressed up quickly for a meeting that morning. She tried protesting with Damian on not going, but Damian gave her a mean look and she had to succumb.

The meeting lasted for some hours which was boring for Scarlet. After that session was over, she went into the study with Damian to go through the piles of reports like they do everyday, like a daily routine.

Scarlet spent three hours going through all the report till she finally gave up on going through it again.

"Where are you heading to?" Damian asked when he noticed Scarlet had stood up, but he didt look up at her.

"Horse riding." Scarlet replied dryly.

"Ok, go with some guards cause I won't want you out there alone." Damian stated, his eyes fixed on the paper.

"When on earth will you stop treating me like a child? Am 22 and I can take care of myself." Scarlet growled, making Damian to look up at her through his reading glasses.

"And you are royalty! I won't like to repeat myself twice, do not leave this premises without a guard." Damian stated.

Scarlet glared at him before walking out of the study. Scarlet went to her chambers and got dressed for her ride. Once she was done, she came to where her horse, and some guards where waiting on their horses for her.

"Come on girl." Scarlet mumbled to her horse before patting her so hard that she started running, and out of the palace with the guards behind her.

Scarlet plan of running faraway from the guards, so she ran as fast as she could into the woods where the guards practically dont know but they followed her anyways.

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Gwen packed all of Scarlet clean clothes, and was making her way to Scarlet room, humming a song. But then, she almost pumped into Ryan when she was about turning to the next hallway.

Gwen couldnt help but stare at him. Gwen picked a liking to Ryan from the day she got employed here, when she was 11.

She do see him and Scarlet together, and gets extremely jealous. Not till when she found out what they shared were just mere friendship. It made her feelings for Ryan grew more, but she was afraid to admit to him because of her status.

"Am sorry." Ryan said and Gwen nodded without looking into his black eyeballs that makes her heart race so fast.

Gwen gave way for him to pass which he did, but then he stopped and turned back to Gwen.

"Have you seen the princess today?" He asked.

"Yes. She went for horse riding." Gwen said, trying her best not to look at him.

"Ok, thanks." He said and walked away.

Gwen let out a breath she had no idea she was holding in. She smiled shyly to herself before she contiuned her journey to Scarlet room.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

Scarlet successfully made her guards lose trail on her. She ran more into the woods and towards the lake. She made her horse stop suddenly when she saw something that was in front of her.

It was a huge dark blue light, it looked like a portal. Scarlet wondered what that could be, as she haven't seen this here before. She came down from her horse and slowly made her way to it.

When she was four inches close to it, she tried placing her hand on it, but her hand passed through it instead, and she pulled out her hand immediately.

She looked down at her hand and back to the portal.

"What on goddess name is this?" Scarlet thought to herself.

The feeling of curiosity to go into that portal, and find out what's in there grew in her. She glanced back at her horse before looking back to the portal. She took a deep breath before entering into the portal.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

Ryan walked into the study when Damian urgently summoned him. He came in to see Damian pacing.

"Sir, you summoned me." Ryan said with his head bowed to him.

"The princess went riding with some guards but the guards returned without her, saying she made them lose trail of her. I want you to go fetch her here, immediately!" Damian ordered in anger.

"Ok sir." Ryan said and left.

Ryan was worried too and promised to reprimand her when he sees her. He rode into the woods, he went deeper and to the areas he knew Scarlet would be, but there was sign of her.

He became more worried, and wondered where she could be. He wondered in more into the woods, he made his horse stop when he sighted a horse like figure from a distance.

He made his horse walked towards the figure. He frown when he saw it was Scarlet horse, but she wasn't on it. He came down and glanced around, but there was no sign of her.

"Scar! Scarlet! Scar! Scar!" He yelled, but there was no response, apart from the echoes of his own voice.

Ryan became tensed on the thought that maybe one of their enemies must have taken her. He climbed on his horse and rode back to the palace, along with Scarlet's horse*.

*LOCATION: EARTH, ZOKAI KINGDOM

A man stood in his terrace at sunrise. Guards were standing beside him. A male maid approached him and pulled his royal night robe without letting his hands caress his skin.

After the male maid had pulled the robe, the man fell to the ground and started doing push-ups with one hand. He kept doing it for the next one hour before he stood, and was guided to the bathroom to take a shower.

He came out of the bathroom after a long shower. His male servants wiped his wet body with towel and started putting on his royal outfits. After they were done getting him ready, a woman dressed in a cooperate outfit walked and stood behind him as he buttoned his dress.

"You have meeting with the council by 1:00pm. You also have a meeting with princess Athena at 3pm." The woman read out his schedule to him.

"Is breakfast ready?" He asked.

"Yes my lord." She replied and gave way as he made his way to the dining area.

The guards opened the doors of the dining room and he walked in. An older woman, dressed in a royal outfit is seated already at the dining. He walked up straight to the woman, took her hand.

"Good morning my queen." He spoke softly and kissed her hand.

"How was your night son?" She asked as he settled down at the head chair.

"Very well mother. Yours?"

"Splendid." She replied with a small smile. "You know, after so many years you will be speaking one on one to your betrothed today."

"That, am aware of mother. I will handle everything well, you dont need to worry." He spoke and she smiled.

They ate their breakfast while discussing issues of the kingdom.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

He attended the council meeting which took much time than expected. When he was done with the meeting, he came out and got into the back seat of the car which his guard opened for him.

The car started heading straight to the palace. He was looking out the window, enjoying the atmosphere when suddenly the car came to a stop.

"What's the matter? Why did you stop when we are not in the palace?" He asked the driver.

"Am very sorry my lord, but a body is lying ahead of the road." The driver spoke.

"What?!" He exclaimed. He looked ahead and sighted a lifeless body ahead.

He opened the car door and came down. His guards in the other car behind his, came out of the car. He walked up to the body and he saw it was a woman, her hair covered her face. She's putting on leather jeans and satin top and riding horse boots.

He squatted and touched her wrist, he found out that her pulse is beating which means she's still alive. He stood up and turned to his guards.

"Pick her up and put her in the car, she's breathing." He ordered his guards as he made his way back to his car.

One of the guards picked her up in his arms and placed her in the other car his guards were in. The journey to the palace contiuned.

LOCATION : MOON

Damian is going through a scroll in the throne room when the door of the throne room went open and Ryan walked in, he bows to Damian.

"Were you able to find her?" Damian asked, his focus still on the scroll.

"S-Sir, i-i couldn't find her." Ryan said to the surprise of Damian.

"What are you saying?!" Damian exclaimed.

"I couldn't find her anywhere sir. I only saw her horse, but no sign of her." Ryan explained more with sadness in his heart on the sudden disappearance of Scarlet.

Damian threw the stroll to the wall in anger. "I warned her to always go with guards but she's so disobedient! Now our enemies has taken her! Ryan, prepare your men for a search party for their queen. Immediately!" He ordered.

"Yes sir." Ryan bowed and rushed out, still worried about Scarlet.

Gwen was by the door, evasdropping on their conversation. She hide herself when the door opened and Ryan came out in a haste.

"Scar has been kidnapped. Oh my dear goddess!" Gwen exclaimed with her hand on her mouth, she ran away towards her room.

LOCATION : EARTH, ZOKAI KINGDOM

"Call a doctor to attend to her and guard her well." He ordered a guard who placed the woman in a guest room.

He made his way to his room and called in his male servants to get him ready to meet princess Athena. When he was done, he was guided to the throne room where he saw his mother standing there already.

He walked to her and took her hand, kissing it softly.

"How did the meeting with the council?" She asked when he stood beside her.

"Very well mother." He replied.

The door of the throne room opened and a woman as beauitful as ever, to the surprise of Authur on how beauitful she was, walked in. She's dressed in a beauitful royal gown. Her hair, packed in a royal bun. Her accessories is one of the top in royals.

She gently strolled to where Arthur and his mother stood. Arthur took three step forward and brought his hand to her. She placed her hands in his and he kissed the back of her hand.

"Its a pleasure having you in my kingdom, princess Athena Craft." Arthur said after kissing her hand.

"Pleasure is all mine, my king." Athena said with a bow. She turned to Arthur's mother and gave a bow.

"Its a pleasure appearing not only before the great king of Zokai, but before the great queen mother of Zokai who ruled beside the great king, king Blake Crossfield the fourth."

"All pleasure is mine. Welcome to my kingdom." Queen mother replied with a sweet smile.

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Scarlet opened her eyes. First, everywhere seemed to be blurry. She blinked her eyes couple of times before she could see properly. She sat up quickly on the bed, she looked around the unfamiliar room she was in.

"Where am I?" She thought out loud*.