Prologue: Off to War We A Go…

~On the Road to the Battle of Agua-Feu (BorderLine)~

The sky was clear, with few wispy clouds floating along in the crisp air. Two war horses plodded along the dirt road, knights in shining armor sitting upon their backs. Both of them appeared fairly young, and very different. The one knight had fiery red hair and was covered in freckles, his dull brown eyes staring straight ahead. The other knight was far more animated, with short, almost spiky dark brown hair that looked auburn when the light caught it just right, and dark hazel eyes that were clearly furious about what it was he was ranting about…

"I mean come on! What's so wrong with wanting to be a blacksmith?! But no… Father says that as the future king I have to fight in the war myself…just like he did….and his father before him…and his father before him. It's annoying really. I mean, next thing I know he's gonna be telling me who to marry. Oh no! What if he orders me to marry Lady Marsha!? I don't even like her!" Panic flared in his eyes as he reached over and grasped the ruby studded hilt of his broadsword.

His companion glanced over at him, clearly exhausted from just listening to the rant the young prince had just subjected him to. "My prince…please. The king, your father, only wants what is best for the kingdom."

The boy, for he was barely old enough to be considered a teen, scoffed. "Precisely Rich… he cares for the kingdom. Not me. That and you can drop the formality. It's just us. So you can call me Ray without getting yelled out for disrespecting me."

Richard, better known as Rich, nodded humbly, knowing better than to argue with the furious teen. "As you wish, Ray. But you know that the General is expecting Crown Prince Raymond Forgeron to arrive to join his troops. Not a simple boy named Ray."

"I know that…I just wish that I can just be Ray. No stinky responsibilities." Ray grumbled under his breath, still mad that he had been denied a chance to be apprenticed to a blacksmith.

Richard shook his head, wishing he could comfort his friend, but knowing his family was being to let him be the prince's squire…not a friend. "Come now. We don't want to be late. General Warstin was told to expect us at noon."

With that said, he urged his horse onward, trusting that the prince would follow him…if not reluctantly.

~Inside of the Palace in the Capital of Agua~

"Absolutely not! No daughter of mine is going to be seen fighting in the war!" A furious looking man with sea-green eyes and graying white hair roared as he moved around the elaborate throne room. He was wearing a gold crown and a thick blue cloak that was held up by a gold chain.

His audience was a young, extremely beautiful young teen, barely more of a girl really. She had long, breath-taking, black hair that tumbled down her back in soft waves. Her eyes were a blazing, very angry at the moment, ocean blue, which seemed to stand out even more with her deep blue satin gown that she wore. Expensive jewelry decorated her neck and wrists, a circlet of the finest gems adorning her forehead. "But Father…I want to help with the war! I cannot just stand by and let it happen!"

"Hija… as future queen you must set an example…and girls just don't fight! It is a man's job!" The king glowered at his only child, furious beyond words that she would dare to conceive of such a ridiculous notion.

"If I were a boy you would let me go fight in the war. I want to help…and not by being a pretty face!" The princess spun around in her heel and stormed out of the throne room.

The king groaned as he sank back down into his plush throne. "I know you are there Niñera." A tapestry of two men valiantly battling each other shifted slightly, before an elderly woman with kind baby blue eyes stepped out. She had gray braids hanging down the sides of her head, and was wearing a drab gray dress made of rough wool. She silently curtsied to the king, waiting for him to speak first. The king sighed again as he reached in his pocket and pulled out a small, pocket sized, portrait painting of his daughter. "Where did I go wrong with her? She used to be the perfect princess…but now…"

"She has grown; your highness." Pausing she looked over at the tired king. "May I recommend a compromise? One that might satisfy her need to help, but keep her out of harm's way?"

"And what might that be?" The King glanced over at his servant, slightly curious as to what she might be proposing.

"A field nurse. We always need more and they work behind the lines, away from the fighting. Truthfully I believe that seeing how the war endangers are young men will make her want to come home earlier." Niñera stated calmly, crossing her fingers behind her back that she was right about that.

"Hmmm, very well. Send for the princess. Tell her that I have thought over what it was she said and have come to a safe decision on the matter." The king said by way of dismissing her.

Curtsying to her superior, she backed away to the hidden door behind the tapestry again. "Right away your highness."

….

Maya couldn't believe her luck. Her stuck in the mud father had agreed to let her go help in the war. Of course she was to have at least four guards on hand at all times…and she was not to leave the military's encampment at all. She also wasn't allowed to talk to strangers…but that was a no biggie for her. She readjusted herself on her pony, a frown briefly flashing across her face as she noticed the height difference between her horse and the war horses her escorts rode. Pushing that thought to the back of her mind, she picked the reins up in her soft, silk gloved hands, excitement thrumming through her. She was off to help her people.

~Back with Ray~

Ray felt sick as he scanned the camp that his father's army had set up. There was a pigsty filled to the brim with farm animals, smoky fires that made the air stink like nuts and his eyes water, and there were way too many field nurses tending to the wounded. Not only that, but he also noticed something that he definitely hadn't expected. War prisoners from the evil Agua Kingdom. A shiver rippled through the young prince, before he turned his attention to the man giving him the tour of the camp.

General Warstin was a hard man to please, though he did try his hardest when dealing with his superiors. What little hair he had left was as white as snow, while a thin mustache the color of coal peeked out from under his nose. Turning to face the prince suddenly, he pointed to the biggest, most important looking tent in the entire camp. "This here is your tent my prince. I sure hope it is up to your standards."

Ray felt like rolling his eyes. He could tell just by looking that it wasn't up to his standards at all…not unless he had his father's standards. "Thank you General. I will appreciate it if my squire can stay with me. If that is alright with you?"

"Of course! I will go find him and send him on over right away, my prince." The general hurried off, unaware of how Ray wrinkled his nose every time he called him prince.

~Line splits between screen to show both of our heroes, Maya uncomfortable with how close her guards are watching her, while Ray is disgusted by the war itself.~

"I hate being Royalty."

A/N: Done! Hope you enjoyed meeting Ray and Maya! And thank you Acecove, Master Jarrus, Nya fan girl 731, ArtJunkyard, and last but not least, TheNinjaOfArt! I got all of your reviews! And since you are all interested in my Romeo and Juliet AU for Ninjago, here it is! Please enjoy the official story!

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SkyTalon