Odette/Derek: Nice to meet you
Lion3: pleasures all mine. I loved you guys growing up! Anyways, in this story, like the summary said, Odette and Derek meet a talking lion under the power of the forbidden arts
Odette: So we will meet someone I can relate with?
Lion3: Yep, that's actually a focus of the story
Derek: Please tell me I don't have to fight a great animal again.
Lion3: maybe, but probably not in the way you think.
Derek: ?
Odette:*giggles*
Lion3: read, comment, and review!
Odette: Remember, Lion3 does not own the Swan Princess, or us. Just this story.
(See the end of the work for more notes.)
Chapter 1: The circus Chapter Text
Prologue
The twisted, wild, and dangerous streets seemed to close in on a 6 year old girl running for her life. She didn't understand why she was in so much trouble. It had only been a few coins she had stolen, nothing of importance. 'Now I've done it.' she thought as terror clamped around her neck. Suddenly, she found herself at a dead end. She turn to see a man around the age of 50 closing in on her. "You know," he said. She could her the malevolence in his voice. "Thieves deserve to be punished." She knew it was over. The guards would be there any minute to take her away. "But where's the fun of punishing someone if you don't do it yourself?" He raised his hand up, a glowing orb of light shone on his palm. He began to chant strange words. Without warning, a white flare of pain shot into the back of the child, throwing her to the ground. She cried for help that would never come. Her bones twisted and shifted as darkness took her over. The last thing that could be seen was her cobalt eyes shutting.
Ch 1 The Circus
Odette woke up in shock. She had had that same dream for 2 weeks. No one knew why or could explain it, but Odette knew it meant something. She couldn't help but wonder who the man and the cobalt-eyed child was. Putting those thoughts aside, the princess turn to kiss her husband awake, as she did every morning only to find him missing. "Strange," she said to herself. "Derek never is up before me." The Swan Princess rose out of bed and got ready for the day. As she left the room to search for her prince, her wrist was clamped on by another hand, spinning Odette around to face Derek himself. Before she could let out a single word of protest, Derek's lip were on hers, successfully banishing any anger in his wife's mind. "Good morning, dearest," he chanted in a smooth tone. Playfully, she slapped him on the chest. "Don't scare me like that!" She reprimanded, not fooling him for a second though. He knew she was only joking. He gave her an apologetic look that usually worked. Taking her arm in his, he asked "Breakfast?" "That would be nice," she replied.
As the 2 lovers finished their breakfast, Derek's childhood friend, Bromely, and the royal conceller, Lord Rogers, entered, bickering as usual. "I think it would be nice for them to go!" Brom growled at the older man. "Just to get out of the castle for a day!" Rogers roared back, "There is simply too much work to be done! You may go alone, but Odette and Derek must stay!" Before the two could continue, Odette, who usually played peacemaker between them, asked, "What is it you two?" Brom promptly replied, "The Circus has come to the village and I thought it would be nice if we all went. Just for one day!" Derek agreed with his friend. It had been a long and hard month filled with work. What was worse was that he didn't get to spend much time with Odette Rogers shattered his thoughts by saying, "There is still too much work! I'm not denying the fact a day off would be nice, but the kingdom must come first!" To Derek's surprise, it was Odette who said, "Oh come now Rogers, I think one day to ourselves would hurt anyone." Rogers tried to protest, but everyone knew that, as she always was, Odette was right. Bitterly, Rogers surrendered and prepared the carriage for the 4 of them. "Oh well," Rogers thought. "One day at the Circus won't change our lives." Little did he know how wrong he was.
Circ Marloo seemed like any normal circus. There were games, prizes, and shows all around. Derek greatly enjoyed spending time with Odette. He quickly won a prize for her at every booth. After he won an archery competition (no surprise there), the couple were approached by a red hair man with a small goatee. Bowing he said, "Your Majesties, what an honor it is to have you at my humble Circus. Permit me to introduce myself, I am Mr. Marloo, the owner and ringmaster." Derek shook Marloo's hand and introduced themselves. Odette however remained silent. His voice was very familiar in a way. Where had she heard it before? "I hope you can join us for our animal performances, it's the best and my personal favorite part of our circus," the man said with a grin on his face. Derek, being a hunter, was always interested in animals, so he happily said they'd be there. Marloo departed, leaving Odette unsteady
The 2 monarchs were escorted to a private section for the show. Odette and Derek were delighted to see the performing animals. There were a variety of animals such as balancing elephants, galloping horses, and even a juggling hyena. However, Odette couldn't help but sense a certain sadness in the animals. Finally, Marloo stepped into the center of the ring. "And now!" He announced in a loud voice." Ladies and gentlemen! For our final performance of the evening, Circ Marloo would like to introduce the star of our Circus!" Drums suddenly began playing, growing louder with each second. "From the deepest part of the Arabic jungle, the rarest of all animals. The Queen of Beast! We asked you to remain calm as we introduce: The White Lion, Elysa!" A small roar broke out and from the darkness of a cage, a small white lion cub leaped 20 feet ahead. It let out another roar, both delighting and shocking the crowd. Derek and Brom stared spellbound. "I've never heard of a lion whose pelt was white! Have you Derek?" Bromely asked. "Never!" Was all the prince could reply. Odette to was shock, but not by the color of the lioness's pelt. All Odette could look at were the big cobalt eyes of the cub staring at her. It was the exact color of the eyes of the child in her dream. A sudden crack broke the silence. "Ladies and gentlemen! Do not fear! The beast will not harm you. She is the mighty beast of the far east. A legend among the Persian people! She is also the wisest and most intelligent of the animals! Watch!" Slowly the trainers asked the lion, "Elysa! What's 4 times 2?" the lion raised her paw.
Bump,
Bump
Bump
Bump
Bump
Bump
Bump
Bump
Eight times. The crowd cheered at the animal's intelligence. "She is also the fastest of any of our own! Bring out the wild dogs!" the trainer cracked a whip and chased the cub into what look like a racing track. Several different types of dogs, all caged, were brought to the same track. Both the prince and his wife were mortified. Odette whispered into Derek's ear, "They wouldn't…" a siren went of as the dogs took off after the white cat. Elysa, however easily outran the dogs, who were eventually rounded up. The trainer then return to chase Elysa to a small arena. "Finally! Watch as the Queen braves the field of fire and emerges unscratch!" the field below the platform Elysa was standing on caught on fire. Women screamed, children cried, and men gasped. Odette felt her heart break for the cub. Elysa went on with her performance. The cub jumped 10 feet into the air and bit a metal ring hanging above the center of the field. Oos and ahhs could be heard from the crowd. Expertly, the cub swung back and forth until launching herself on a ball on the other side. Next, she rolled the ball carefully down a small slide and through the rest of the flames. Finally, she backflipped off the ball, landed perfectly on a star stand, and let out a roar. The crowd cheered and threw roses at the paws of the lion. With a crack of the whip, the lion raced back to her cage. "Thank you ladies and gentlemen! We hope you enjoyed the show, now it's time for us to go!" (Kirby reference!) Derek, Odette, and others stood up, not knowing what to feel. Quickly, Marloo arrived in the section of the royals. "I hope you enjoyed our show!" Brom jumped up, " It was amazing!" Even Rogers let out a bark of excitement. "I must agree with Bromely, it was impressive! How did you ever train that lion to perform those tricks?" He gave a smirk. "Elysa is a highly intelligent creature. She knows what we want and how to do it." Odette felt disturbed by Marloo's description of Elysa. "You know, I don't usually do this, but why don't your Majesties take a closer look at the animals?" Before anyone could object, Odette said, "We'd love to!"
Odette allowed her hand to glide over the hide of a zebra as everyone else looked at the animals. "All these animals are simply beautiful!" her husband exclaimed. However, there was one animal in particular his princess was looking for. A flash of white quickly cuaght Odette's eye as she hurried to the back of the room. In a small cage was Elysa. The small animal noticed her visitor and looked at her with sad eyes. Odette felt pity enter her heart. "You poor thing. You don't like it here, do you?" The animal shook her head lightly, confirming Odette's suspicion of the animal being able to understand her. She suddenly felt soft fur against her hand. She was shock to see she had put her hand through the cage and cat was know nudging her, purring softly. "Odette!" Derek bolted and jerked his wife away from the cage. "What are you thinking! It's a wild animal!" Odette nuzzled against her husband. "She doesn't mean any harm, Derek. She doesn't like it here. Besides, the nudging sort of tickled!" They both let out a laugh. "Let's go," he said. "we can bring Puffin, Whizzer, Speed, and Jean Bob tomorrow to meet your new friend!" Just as the group was about to leave, as small child-like voice called out to them. "Please, don't go," The two stop dead in their tracks. "Brom, did you say something?" Derek asked. Brom shook his head. Again the voice pleaded with them. "He didn't say something, I did!" Odette knew exactly where the voice was coming from. She turned around to only have her suspicion confirmed. "Please, you must help me! He has us under a spell! Help me escape, kind rulers!" Those were the pleading words of the lion cub. Elysa was talking.
Notes: Lion3: so you 2, what do you think?
Odette: Looks like we're in for a world of trouble
Lion3: Right you are!
Elysa?: can someone please get me out of the cage!?
Lion3: Oh be patient!
Derek: Oh leave her alone!
Elysa?: thank you, Derek
Lion3: We're in for some major plot twists next time! See ya around!
Read, Comment, Review!