Hello Readers! It was brought to my attention (Thank you, Kasia24!) that I should link to part two, so here it is! It's titled "The Troubles from Monsters and Men" is here:

www . fanfiction s/12703006/1/The-Troubles-from-Monsters-and-Men

*Note please remove the spaces!

Disclaimer: I, Immergladsss, do not own The Little White Horse nor the Secret of Moonacre nor the characters from either of those stories. Nor do I intend to claim them as my own. I am simply writing a story of how I wish a sequel to The Secret of Moonacre could have gone.

...I think I can only take credit for characters that are introduced chapter 3 and forwards...

I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1: A Non-Threatening Moon

Maria Merryweather, the Moon Princess, had just saved Moonacre Valley from a curse. A curse that would have ended everyone's life with the moon crashing down into the valley, had it not been for Maria's selfless sacrifice of her own. For despite what Robin De Noir claimed, breaking the curse had not been an easy thing to do. In fact, it had never been easy and Maria was the first Moon Princess to do it.
This, she believed was because of Robin's help in finding the magical Moon pearls and protecting her from his father, as well as encouragement from Loveday De Noir, who had been the previous Moon Princess but was unable to break the curse herself.
It was Mother Nature's love for Maria that brought her back to her family, safe from any harm.

The moon, no longer a catastrophic size, lit the way back to Merryweather Manor. It was a silent walk, filled with deep contemplation by everyone in the group. At Loveday's and Maria's request, her uncle, Sir Benjamin Merryweather, was left no choice but to invite Robin and his father, Mr. Coeur De Noir, to spend the night at the Manor. The De Noir Castle was after all too far out of the way. This made him and the two De Noir men very uncomfortable.
Just this morning, the two families had fought hard to carry out a family feud. Yet Maria's sacrifice, brought a new perspective to the families. The sudden change in plans left the two grown men, who had devoted their entire lives to hating one another, at a loss as to what to do next. Neither knowing how much to trust nor how to behave.

Maria blamed their awkward behavior on pride. She shook her head at the thought and wondered how much longer until they got home. This though brought a smile to her face. When she first arrived, she had hated Moonacre Valley. But now, she couldn't see herself anywhere else. It was growing on her.

With every step Maria began to feel fatigue creeping up her body.

Well, it was only recently that I jumped off a cliff and sacrificed my life. Maria couldn't help suppressing a giggle, one that did not escape Robin's keen ears.

Without thinking, he walked over to Maria's side, "what's so funny, Princess?"

"Oh, I'm just thinking about how worried you must have been as I plunged off the cliff," Maria responded jokingly.

Robin furrowed his brow.
An awkward silence fell upon them, Robin did not know how to reply. For reasons unknown to him, Maria's comment just tugged the pit of his stomach. His thoughts were interrupted as Maria stumbled, quickly he reached out his arm and caught her.

"It seems your plunge off the cliff wasn't enough, now you're ready to fall through the earth too." Robin laughed at his own little joke but Maria quickly straightened herself out, a blush creeping up her cheeks. Maria couldn't help it; her feet were losing strength. How desperately she wanted to get home.

Robin offered Maria his arm for support. She eyed him suspiciously, but was met with a sincere smile. Grateful for the assistance, Maria took his arm and found that with support on one side by Robin, and the other by Loveday, she could continue her way home.

Loveday looked to Robin and shot him a sly smile. He rolled his eyes and averted his eyes. Though he forced himself to maintain his eyes forwards, he couldn't stop himself from sneaking looks at Maria.
He only wanted to make sure she was doing okay. Nothing of what Loveday was thinking.

Before they realized it, the manor came into view and Maria was filled with a spontaneous energy. Wrolf quickened his pace and began running towards home. Maria laughed and began running as well, pulling Robin along as Loveday loosened her hand and fell behind to walk besides Sir Benjamin.

Maria and Robin made it to the large wooden doors, hand in hand. Maria stumbled but this time, landed in Robin's open arms.

"Oh. Thank you," Maria quietly responded, blushing. She pulled herself up next to him. They leaned with their backs against the door, catching their breath. "It's a beautiful night Robin, just look at the moon!"
Turning to him, she noticed his puzzled look.
"What?" She asked.

"Yes, well now that the moon isn't about to kill us, I guess I too can appreciate it," he responded sarcastically. "It's interesting, your life was in danger only a few moments ago, by the very moon you now admire."

"All the more reason to appreciate it! Besides, it's not the only thing that tried to kill me today." Maria returned while Robin made a mocking face, aghast at the possible implication that he, Robin De Noir, would have been the one to do that. Both laughed at the ironic turn of events.

"I see you two have been getting along!" Loveday chimed, a large smile on her face, walking next to a very annoyed looking Sir Benjamin and apprehensive Mr. De Noir.

Maria's blush reappeared, noticing her close proximity to Robin. She took a step to the side away from him.

"Don't worry princess, I promise I won't bite." Robin winked at Maria, deepening her blush. He chuckled in response and moved out of the way to let Sir Benjamin and Digweed get to the door.

Maria looked annoyed.

How can he be so unaffected by Loveday's comments? A proper lady would never see herself alone with a new acquaintance, much less at such close proximity.
Maria couldn't understand what was happening. She was still young after all, almost turning 14 come by the end of summer, and Robin was the first boy she came to know.
I must compose myself as a proper lady, otherwise I'll have Ms. Heliotrope lecturing me for days!

But exhaustion had other plans.

Sir Benjamin led the party to the sitting room, where Maria quickly plumped down on the nearest sofa. She sighed with content at the immense relief her body felt at no longer having to carry itself.

"Maria! That is no proper way to behave, haven't I taught you better?" Ms. Heliotrope scolded, embarrassed that her pupil would conduct herself in such a manner.

"I'm sorry Ms. Heliotrope. I am incredibly tired."

"Then off to bed you should be going, young child!" Ms. Heliotrope commanded sitting herself down in an armchair and pointing towards the door.

Indignant at being called a child, Maria cried out, "oh no! I'm perfectly ok, not tired at all." Looking around for Robin and mustering all her energy, she sat herself up.
Satisfied, Ms. Heliotrope focused her attention on the guests.

Loveday and Sir Benjamin sat together on another sofa, while Mr. De Noir took an armchair opposite Ms. Heliotrope. Robin, the last in the group, had nowhere else to sit but besides Maria. Loveday watched them both, biting a smile that reappeared on her beautiful face.

The adults maintained a polite conversation, Loveday doing her best to bridge a connection between Sir Benjamin and her father. Ms. Heliotrope seemed distracted, occasionally stealing glances at Digweed as he walked around the manor, readying the extra rooms.

Maria did her best to engage in conversation, asking Robin about what he did when he wasn't out kidnapping young girls.

With a smile, he told her about the forest. How he spent most of his days with his gang hunting and trapping. He told her about his friends, Henry, Richard, and David, and how he trusted them with his life. Robin mentioned he thought they might like her too but this sentence Maria failed to hear.
Sleep began to take over Maria. Although she nodded and smiled at Robin, her mind was elsewhere, thinking of her bed, and the warmth of her blankets.
Without control, Maria nodded off to sleep and nestled comfortably on Robin's shoulders, distracting him from his explanation of the various lessons he had to learn from his tutor. Robin looked down at the sleeping princess.
Beautiful, he thought with a smile as he admired her shapely eyebrows, small nose, and her rosy lips.

Sir Benjamin cleared his throat, snapping Robin out of his thoughts. Loveday was now beaming with glee. Robin's ears burned with embarrassment, he was relieved his hat and curly hair hid his ears.

"Well it seems our moon princess must be put to bed!" Loveday whispered with mischief as she stood up. "Robin, please help carry Maria up to her room, Ill lead the way."

At this Sir Benjamin spoke, "That won't be necessary, I can take her —"

"Nonsense, you know you can't fit through that small door! But Robin can." Loveday interjected, leaving behind a disgruntled uncle.

Left without a choice, Robin carefully stood up and hoisted Maria into his arms. Noticing how much lighter she was in this dress that resembled Loveday's, than when he had tried to capture her in in her London dress. Maria stirred but didn't wake, instead she wrapped her arms around Robin, the burning sensation creeping down to his cheeks.

"This way little brother," Loveday led the way with a light gait at her feet. She was clearly enjoying herself.

"Loveday! What game are you playing at?" Robin angrily whispered.

"Huh?" Loveday innocently asked, but no one was fooled by that false smile.

"You know I'm already not in the best graces with either father or Sir Benjamin. This will make things worst!" Robin continued, his cheeks now flushed with anger and embarrassment.

"My dear brother, you're worried! Is it because their disapproval will hurt your feelings? Or is it because their disapproval may restrict a friendship with Maria?" Loveday squealed with delight.

Clearly, she was of no help to Robin.
He grumbled under his breath and focused on Maria, making sure not to wake her. As they neared her tower Robin began to wonder how he was going to get their two bodies through that tiny door. He climbed up the stairs and opened the small door. Carefully, he turned Maria to face his chest, Robin smiled as Maria inhaled a deep breath.
He braced himself and with all his strength and just managed to get through the door. Stepping lightly, he placed Maria on her bed, and gently moved some copper ringlets off her face. As he was walking away, he felt a tug at his hand. A sleeping Maria had managed to grab a hold of his finger. He gave her hand a soft squeeze and pulled from her hold, then walked out the room past a gushing Loveday.

"Shut it!" Robin commanded, not wanting to hear another word from his dearly beloved sister.

Down the hall the two De Noir siblings came across Digweed and Sir Benjamin, who were in the process of showing everyone their rooms. Robin's room was across the hall from Ms. Heliotrope's. Before he entered, Loveday gentle pulled him aside.

"Robin," Loveday placed a soft hand on his cheek. "You've grown so much. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you," Loveday said, sadness and tears filling her beautiful blue-grey eyes.

Robin gave a soft chuckle and looked off to the side, "don't worry about it Loveday. We all know how father is…" He trailed off.

Loveday pulled him into a loving embrace. "Thank you, for helping Maria. You did what I couldn't."
Loveday released Robin and left to catch up with the others.

He hung his head and turned towards the door to his room, letting out a deep, long sigh.
Were it not for his hair and bowler hat that shielded his eyes, a passerby would have noticed the forlorn look that painted his face and struggled to keep tears at bay. Before Loveday had left her De Noir family to marry Sir Benjamin, she was all that he had next to a mother figure. Loveday had always been the one to defend him from their father's anger. She was the only family he felt he truly had.
When she left, he was heartbroken and angry, and his hatred for the Merryweathers intensified. He blamed Sir Benjamin for taking away his sister and leaving him to deal with his father's fury. He blamed the Merryweathers for all of the pain he was forced to endure.
For the first time in a very long time, Robin had his sister back, and there was the possibility that he had even made a new friend too. One that only a few days ago he would have imagined impossible due to his Merryweather hatred.

Robin glanced down the hallway and stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. If someone were to ask him, why he helped Maria today, he wouldn't have been able to answer. He himself did not know. Robin was not a person to disregard instinct, and his instinct told him to help Maria, so that is what he did without reason or thought.

Robin placed his hat on the frame of his headboard and looked around the room. It was composed of simple yet elegant chestnut wooden furniture. His four poster bed was large and inviting and gave off a cozier feel than the coldness he was used to from the De Noir Castle.
Quickly taking off his jacket, shirt and trousers, he jumped on to his bed which had been warmed, feeling a sense of hope he hadn't felt in a long time. He looked down his torso and saw his young body nicked with scars, over his left chest and right side, from the many brawls he had taken part in. When his father was in a bad disposition, Mr. De Noir would take out his anger on Robin. Then there was the matter of the general violence that surrounded the De Noir clan. Brawls over status, property, and women were too common. Moreover, despite being the De Noir heir, Robin was not immune to challenges from those who deemed him unworthy. More than twice he had been forced to accept these duels in order to prove himself to the clan. Other times, he had to jump into a brawl to stop it when it got out of hand.

Maybe now with Maria and the peace she's brought, this whole valley will calm down, he thought to himself. Just earlier today he was determined to capture Maria, and now he was in her home sleeping, with thoughts of reconciliation.

Curious of what the future held, he welcomed sleep.

Meanwhile, in a tower down the hall, up the spiral stairs, and past a tiny door just big enough for a Moon Princess, Maria was fast asleep. Her thoughts lingered on dreams of the forest, where she was walking alongside Wrolf and Periwinkle, her white pony, surrounded by a familiar scent of pinewood and earth.

Hi! Thank you for reading this! I recently saw the movie The Secret of Moonacre on Netflix and then read the book The Little White Horse. I was still a bit unsatisfied with how Maria and Robin's story ended so I decided to write something up. This is my very first time writing fan fiction so any constructive criticism is welcomed! I want to improve and write a good story so I can happily put this one away. Let me know what you think! –Gladsss :)