Artistic Differences

By theladyknight

Summary: Medieval AU fic. Princess Sora has attracted lots of suitors for her hand in marriage but has yet to fall in love. When her father the king decides the castle needs a new look, he hires the Ishida family, the greatest artists and architects in the kingdom to fix it. What happens when she falls in love with one of the artists?

Disclaimer: Digimon is not mine!

Chapter 1: Why?

A girl of nineteen was lying on her gigantic bed watching the stable boys take the horses out for a ride. She sighed, wishing more than anything she could be out there as well instead of confined to this dreadful place she called her room. How she wished she could be outside instead of stuck indoors.

She got up off her bed feeling depressed. Most girls would die to have the luxuries and the life she lived while this girl, Sora, could care less about it most of the time. She was a princess, heir to the throne of her father's kingdom, and expected to act like one.

Sora wasn't your typical princess either. She loved horseback riding, playing games with her friends in the outdoors, swimming, running, and jumping. Dresses were not her idea of dress clothes. To her, a respectable shirt and pants would work just fine, though the royal designer and her mother would not allow her to wear them if they could help it. Other princesses loved how a servant always seemed to be within arms reach and would appear with a ring of a bell. Sora, however, would rather do things on her own and do them herself instead of having someone do things for her.

While she hated the lifestyle, being queen was actually something Sora wanted to do. Queens held power in the kingdoms and could improve life for the better, one of the things Sora knew she could make happen. Yes, Sora believed the role of the queen was something she was destined to have. With the exceptions of having to wear dresses, deal with some unreasonable royalty from other lands, and of course the biggest one of all…

If she were to become queen, Sora would have to get married. Her parents had set this rule when she was first born to entail the kingdom would stay in with their family for more than one generation.

Now Sora was a beautiful girl. Crimson hair, ruby orbs and an enchanting figure drew people to her. She could get any prince she wanted, well if she had wanted to. But Sora didn't. From her experience with men, particularly of royal background, she had decided marrying was something she may wish for but would never happen. The only problem was convincing her parents.

Sora was quite a fighter. She was strong, both emotionally and physically, quick-witted, and well educated. Sora was everything the king and queen had hoped her to be except for the fact she hated every courtier brought in for her. No, Sora did not hate men in general. She was friends with quite a handful of them. Heck her best friend was a guy. She just hated the nobles who made their way to the court each and every week attempting to woo her and win her hand in marriage.

This was almost enough to make Sora give up on the idea of love forever, but there was one reason, a very special reason, she held hope for it. On the night of her sixteenth birthday, her mother gave her a necklace in the shape of a heart.

"This is the crest of love, dear," the queen said, fastening the chain around Sora's neck.

"The what?" a baffled Sora responded.

Her mother laughed. "Let me explain. When I turned sixteen my mother gave me this. It is a family heirloom from her mother and so on. This crest is almost like the crest ourkingdom bears. It signifies that you are a member of royalty the same way the Takenouchi crest shows you are a member of our family. But it also serves the special purpose of bringing love to its beholder. Two years after my mother gave me this, I met your father. It was love at first site for both of us. I believe, yes even you Sora," her mother knew of her thoughts of noblemen, "will find love, maybe from somewhere or someone you would have never thought."

Sora fingered the necklace. Well, mother, it's been three years, and I can't say I've found love yet. If I could just meet a guy different then the rest. He'd be strong-willed, independent, and confident in everything he does. Good looks wouldn't hurt. He'd be someone who is not afraid to voice his opinion yet always offers an ear to listen. I wish I would meet a man like that. She sighed closing her eyes, not noticing the faint red glow emitting from her crest. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Sora called.

One of the servant boys came in. "Princess Sora, your father and mother ask your attendance in the main dining room."

"Cody," she smiled at the younger boy, "how many times do I have to tell you not to call me Princess."

The thirteen-year-old boy shook his head smiling back. "And how many times have I told you that I am required to call you Princess?"

She rolled her eyes. "You win for now. But believe me, I will break you of the habit someday, Cody." She left the room and headed to the main corridor. Wow this castle could really use some fine-tuning. It's pretty old and not in the best shape. Maybe I should tell mother and father what I think.

The ruby haired girl reached the main dining room. Two other servants bowed to her and opened the door to the large room. Sora found her mother and father sitting in chairs awaiting her arrival.

"Father, mother," she said curtsying. "Cody said you wanted to talk with me."

"Please sit down, dear." Her father began. "Sora, you're mother and I are not getting any younger. You however are at your time of flourishment, your peak. Something may happen to us in the future and we want to be prepared if the worst does happen. You will make a fantastic ruler someday, young lady, but before you can become queen, well, I think you know what has to happen."

Sora twirled a strand of her red hair. "I have to get married." She answered in a bored tone. Not this talk again!

"Yes. Don't give me that look. Your mother and I are concerned that you haven't yet found the right person but you will need to be married soon. Therefore we are holding a ball in two months time, in which we are inviting princes, lords, and other noblemen from all over to give you a chance to meet those you have been turning down."

"Father, why!" Sora exclaimed. "They're all the same. Each one of them wants to marry me only because of my looks and so they will have the title king. I just want to marry someone who loves me for me!"

"Taichi…" her mother began.

Sora stood up. "Mother, Taichi and I are too close of friends to ever think about getting married. That would be like marrying a brother. Do we really have to have this ball?" she asked desperately.

The king nodded. "Yes, Sora. It will not be as bad as you think. I'm willing to bet you will find love there."

Sora had one last chance to convince them not to have it. She would have to make it good. "But the state of the castle! There is no way we could host a party here. The castle is nearly in shambles and falling apart!"

"We have taken that into account. The reason the ball will be in two months time is because we are hiring some very famous artists and architects to fix up the place. They will be staying here in the castle with us and staying for the ball."

"What's their name again, dear?" the queen asked.

"Ishida." He answered. "Malcolm and Nancy. And their two sons Matt and T.K." he added. The king called in a servant and asked for the time. He nodded to his wife and she got up and left. "Sora, they will be arriving quite shortly. Go change into your new gown and meet back down here in half an hour. We will be having supper with them and greeting them tonight. And I expect you to be on your best behavior. You are dismissed."

Sora curtsied and left the room. Great. A ball for me to find prince charming at. How terrific! I'd better go change so I don't get in trouble. I've never heard of these people. The Ishidas. I wonder what they're like…

A/N: So what did you think of it? Please review and tell me your thoughts. A new chapter will hopefully be up soon!

Theladyknight