The Blue Fox and the Lucky Snake

A small white snake approached a little blue fox, coiling around its body. The blue fox wriggled. The snake swooped his head to be in front of the fox's, looking directly into its red eyes. The fox stopped wriggling as the snake rested its head on top of the fox's. The animals that appeared to be playing out in the garden, had begun to slowly transform. The two were just young children. A blue haired boy, Ainosuke, who still had his fox ears, tail and paws and the white snake, Tadashi, whose body had white scales and his tail was still wrapped around Ainosuke. Tadashi had his arms around him, his eyes closed. The two sat for a while. Tadashi opened his eyes and smiled at Ainosuke. "Prince Ainosuke, we should go back inside before your parents realise you've been out of bed, it's almost morning!" "I should carry you inside." He pointed out as he could see the sky getting brighter. Ainosuke stopped smiling. "Tadashi, I wish I didn't have to leave you, can't you stay until I fall back asleep?" "Okay, but only until then." "I can not stay longer or the guards will find out." Tadashi snuck Ainosuke back into his room, staying by his side. "I would love if you could sing for me, but I know you probably shouldn't." Ainosuke sighed. "Goodnight." "Goodnight Ainosuke." As requested, he stayed until he was asleep, even though he was feeling rather sleepy too. Tadashi slid back out the way he came. Shortly after, turning back fully, his scales and tail had too disappeared and he walked his way back to his own room. Tadashi wished he too could stay by his side, but Ainosuke's family would not approve. Ainosuke's family had plans for him to spend time with some of the other families' daughters, so that one day, when he grew up, he would be able to marry the right one for him. Ainosuke was next in line to be king, and would one day rule over their land. Tadashi on the other hand, was training to become a knight. He would do anything to protect the prince, to be by his side. Tadashi wanted to be like his father who was also a knight. The world they lived in had been cursed. Every day at midnight, human beings would turn into animals, monsters and mythical beasts. Nobody knew how, or why it happened and eventually grew to live with these mysterious transformations. As a knight in training, Tadashi didn't only have to train how to use a sword and shield, but also, how to take control of when he would transform into a snake. It was one day discovered, a long time ago. Somewhere all over the land, particular items also had mysterious properties within them. Granting the holder new abilities. Tadashi's family had one of these special items, a card which resembles an ace card. There were others like it scattered about the land. They once had all of them, but then the rest were lost, a thief had taken them, thinking he could sell them for a high price. The thief had been captured, but they never got their cards back. The card Tadashi's father still had gave them an ability to burrow holes. The cards' abilities could be used twice in a day, but to use it again would take time. Markings of the cards would disappear and appear on the holders body. A black ace would appear on the forehead and a red one on the back. Once the time was up, the symbols would go back to the way they were. The day Tadashi would become a knight is when he would be awarded with this card, but would in the meantime learn how to use it. Ainosuke woke up again after having a few more hours of sleep. His family had arranged for him to meet with some of the other children today. He was dressed smartly in a dark blue suit. He went out with his father, Aiichiro. Who took him to a house party. All the adults went to have tea in one of the rooms whilst they left their children to spend time together. "Good morning Prince Ainosuke!" "Good morning!" He greeted politely. "I'm happy we get to spend more time together!" "Ah, yes, of course." "I too have been very much looking forward to spending time with all of you lovely, wonderful girls." Ainosuke was nervous, and sounded a little robotic. He didn't want to be rude towards the girls, he just never found interest in wanting to spend time talking with them weekly. Maybe if I acted stupid I could go home. I'd much rather play some games right now. Ahh, but they'd still take me to these stupid parties some other time.... Aww... Ainosuke thought as he was already bored. He decided to attempt to look interested in what the girls wanted to do. "Okay, I am happy to do that with you." He continued to talk monotonously. Barely paying attention to what was said to him. "You're funny!" One of the girls he was talking to said. She giggled. Some of the others whispered. "Maybe he's just shy." "Would you like to share some cake with me?" "Cake?" "Oh, I'd be delighted!" He said more cheerily. After having some cake, Ainosuke tried to be more social for the rest of the party. As the party was coming to a close, the girls took turns giving farewell kisses. "It's ashame you have to go now!" "We all enjoyed your company today and look forward to seeing you again!" "As do I!" He said, trying to be polite. "Perhaps next time, we shall dance and have more cake with tea." "And um, other nice things..." They all giggled. "Thank you for today, we will miss you!" "Goodbye!" "Yes, goodbye ladies!" The girls blushed. Bleegh, having to say all these nice things to sound like I care... Peh, I wanna wash my face! Kissing is so gross... "Come Ainosuke." "Yes father." Phew, good to be back home. I wonder how Tadashi's knight training went today! "Father, can we watch the knights train some day?" "I'd love to watch, to see how they serve our country!" He somewhat lied, as his only interest was being able to see how well Tadashi does. Aiichiro sighed. "There is no need for you to do that, but perhaps we could arrange for you to see the knight ceremony." "Oh thank you father!" "When will that be?" "Three more years from now." "What?!" "Three more years?!" "Yes!" "Right now they're still just boys, by the time they are teenagers, is when they'll be ready." "If you want to watch one sooner, you can always watch the adults ceremony." "But I assume you want to watch the younger ones, correct?" "Yes." "Then you will just have to wait then." So Ainosuke did just that. Three more years went by. Ainosuke was sixteen and Tadashi, was eighteen. For the three years Ainosuke continued to meet with the girls. His family thought it was soon time for him to start dating. The girls fought over him, the older they got. As they all wanted to be with the young prince. Although, whenever they got together, they pretended none of that happened as to how unladylike they would seem in front of the prince. Today Tadashi was finally going to be able to take part in the knight trials. They would then chose a victor from who gets the best score. Since Ainosuke was becoming more busy as the years went by, he didn't get a lot of time to see Tadashi. The two hadn't met in a long time. Dressed in armour, he almost didn't recognize him. Ainosuke had seen him as he was about to go in. "Wait, Tadashi!" He called out and Tadashi turned to look. "A,ainosuke!" "Good luck!" "I'll be watching, cheering you on!" He yelled. Tadashi grinned. "Yeah!" Tadashi felt even more determined now after seeing the prince. "Thanks, I will, I will show you!" He yelled back. "I'm gonna win and then when I do I'll come back to find you!" Tadashi headed in and Ainosuke went to the top row above everyone else. He could see everything from there. Tadashi and the rest of the knights were challenged to four different trials. A display of their sword fighting skills, where they would need to protect pretend villagers. Their horse riding skills, archery and finally, a joust. "Let the trails begin!"