The Knights of Yellowrose & Chara: Episode 1, A Whole New World

>Seven feet in the air, you fall through the sky, and land down on the dirty ground.
>Colliding with the soil, a shrill shriek leaves your lips following the gut-punch of pain.
>Pounding your palms with the grass, you push yourself up and spot a wooden cabin ahead. Just as the document said.
>At least she kept her word.
>A tear threatens to escape your eyes, but you put them at bay.
>After all, what was it your told Azzy?
>”Big boys don’t cry.”
>Rising to a run, you race through the house and find the Master Bedroom’s shower.
>The water’s warm, comforting as you bask in it to try and wash away your sins.
>Once finished, you check your room for fresh garments.
>Drats.
>Nothing.
>You suppose that item didn’t mention a thing about attire. Should’ve read the fine print.
>Resigning yourself to your dirtied garments, you say aloud to yourself with a bratty tone,
>”I’m a prince damn it! I deserve better than this filth!”
>All in a bid to entertain her. Put on a great performance, Chara. Remember it. Your life depends on it.
>If you can call this living.
>Setting out from this house on a quest to get fresh clothes and some spare garments, you leave your house and follow the dirt road. The shining sun illuminating your silhouette as you reach the hill’s highest point.
>A fork in the road, a three-way split with no signs in sight. No doubt a product of how remote and rural your humble house is.
>Such a downgrade from living it up at the capitol’s royal palace.
>You sigh, such is life.
>Especially when you shouldn’t even be alive. You worthless freak.
>Taking the (eastern) path to your left, you come into a forest clearing.
>You spot her. She’s beautiful, her body blessed with lush white fur. Her stubby tail wags behind her, an acoustic guitar strapped across her arm as she strung together a harmonious melody.
>Suddenly, she notices your footsteps, and turns around to face you. Screeching with fright.
>Poor little bunny.
>The relief from seeing her inhuman beauty was washed away by the fear on her face.
>You hold your pal to your chest, drawing deep breaths. Awkwardly, you slur your words,
>”I– uh–”
>Interrupting your failed explanations, the bunny girl grasps her cheeks and shouts,* “I-It’s a hairless ape man!”
>Oh. Humans must not be common here.
>Ideal. Even if it’s to your shame.
>She crosses her arms together, backing away slowly, “P-please don’t hurt me, ape man! I-I–”
>Luckily, you’ve got a trick up your sleeve.
>”Oh, you’re mistaken. I’m not a hairless ape..”
>You said with a poker face.
>”You’re not?”
>”Not at all, or at least, not usually.”
>You sighed, “I was cursed! Cursed, I say!” raising your hands into the air. Exasperated.
>Cursed was an understatement.
>”And I mean no harm, promise.”
>You held out an open palm.
>That earned a curious gaze from the bunny standing across from you, “What would be your true appearance then?”
>”I’m a capper tine!” You stumbled your words, the correct pronunciation lost on your lips.
>It’s caprine, idiot.
>You were none the wiser and seemed like quite the fool.
>She looks completely bewildered at your screw up, never having heard such a term before. Her head leaned to her left as she asked you, "What's that? I'm afraid I haven't heard of that one before."
>She placed her paw ahead of her mouth as she giggled to herself, probably imagining a 'capper time" as a type of sardine.
>You opt to take advantage of her curiosity to segway into your cliched plot,
>"W-well, you know how cursed princes take d-disgusting forms until kissed...'
>Your composure collapses, stuttering your words and twitching as you speak.
>A bottomless pit is where you SOUL should be.You don't deserve this, not one bit. To be kissed by an elegant & playful bunny-girl is a privilege. One you lost the rights to for your stupidity. You should be six feet under. The whole world would have been better if you died in that labyrinth's halls years ago.
>Witnessing your suffering, she mistakenly assigns it to the "cursed" form that you're under and takes upon her responsibility to help the innocent.
>She hops off the ground from the tips of her toes, her arms spread wide as she embraces you. Her lips meet yours.
>You feel something strange wash over you.
>Relief.
>A luxury not afforded by the void and the regrets of a broken SOUL
>It feels familiar. Like the embrace of another, a family you once knew. But it’s different.
>Your heart flutters, light and soft.
>What is only mere seconds is perceived as a whole minute by your love-stricken heart.
>You snap out of the haze, realizing you must follow through on the cover up.
>Clasping your hands together behind her back, your palms are imbued with flares of magical aura.
>Two beams of light shoot from your palms, dancing to light a spark that spews out the Delta Rune as a magical fire work.
>The light comes surging through you, brisking through her figure and engulfing yours entirely. A surge of might flows through you.
>You’re now a goat, just as you wrote in ink. A cute anthropomorphic one, but a goat nonetheless.
>You instinctively close your palms into fists, feeling out your new form first hand.
>The process of your transformation isn't exactly painful, though it is strange. Nothing feels like it had before. Fur sprouted all over, your legs gained considerable height, & your appendages' ends have transformed into paw-padded counterparts.
>You sigh from the emotional & mental exhaustion over the ordeal.
>The youthful rabbit-girl gasps at your transformed form in awe, breaking the kiss.
>With her palms pressed together, she asks you a seemingly simple question,
>"So, 'prince'. From which realm do you hail?"
>You hadn’t thought that you would have to answer the tale that your words begged to be told.
>This natural consequence was never explored in any childhood fairy tale you knew.
>Most of the time, it was presumed the prince was someone of importance or established as such many pages prior.
>You’re, as you specified in the document, a “drop in”.
>You’re practically an orphan all over again in this world, something which just now dawns on you as your snout lowers with shame for the first time.
>You feel so terrible for leading her on. A lie doesn’t dare leave your lips.
>You just sare. Blank. Caught off guard by her piercing gaze for a solid two seconds.
>Luckily for you, just as she began to open her mouth, a figure rose from the bushes behind her.
>It’s a large grizzly bear. He towers two feet over your figure. He reaches to grasp her in her claws, his eyes filled with an insatiable hunger.
>Your heart shakes. It’s only been a day since you were last hopeless to save someone you cared for, and you aren’t gonna let yourself be paralyzed again.
>Especially without him holding you back.
>You furrow your eyebrows. You're overcome with rage as you confront the vision that's taking over your mind.
>You can't stand to watch her torn in two by that towering behemoth, you scream, "Watch out!" as you slap the bunny aside, taking the grizzly beast head-on.
>He unleashes his claws, poised to strike. A ferocious roar reverberates throughout the forest clearing,
>She watches in horror as you confront the large beast from a few feet away, frozen at the sight of the spectacle.
>The bear pounces towards you, tearing through your shirt with his claws.
>The pain, dear god, the horrifying pain, your skin feels like it is on fire, and you're lucky the savage hadn't cut through your organs.
>Feeling the adrenaline rush through your veins, you plunge your claws ahead and up, slicing through the bear's torso. Your claws tear through his flesh, digging deep into his guts.
>The beastly bear lets out a dreadful growl as it recoiled in shock from the unexpected blow to its hide.
>You heavily pant in pain and with shock at the sudden pace during this lightning-speed day.
>You gaze upon the beast with a wicked smile, delirious given the constant change of pace and injuries sustained.
>You charge at it while you maintain the initiative.
>The beast's eyes widen in terror as it sees you charge towards it, spreading its arms in a bid to wrestle you down once you engage.
>You pay no-mind to the beast's threat, pouring everything you have into this fight as you let your blood-thirsty nature overcome your better nurture.
>You aim your fangs at the bear's jugular vein, slicing through his neck with a crunchy chomp.
>Your claws slice through the beast's organs, rupturing its heart.
>The defeated bear in its last moments of life slams his arms against your body, attempting to crush you under his weight.
>You feel your energy fastly fading.
>You openly cry, letting out your emotional and physical torment over this ordeal.
>The bear's body collapses back onto the ground, dead.
>You fall forward with it, collapsing on the bear's desecrated carcass.
>You struggle against the bear's dead arms holding you against its torso.
>Pondering it for a mere moment, the scene reminds you of watching action-adventure movies on a warm Saturday night, cuddled up under a blanket with your younger brother.
>A half-hearted chuckle escapes your throat, soon morphing into a fit of unhinged laughter in the face of the absurd sight.
>Your head rocks back and forth during your fit as the beast's arms prevent you from moving its corpse's grasp.
>The woman, the bunny-girl who foolishly hadn't left when she should've, watches your struggle.
>She bites her lips, her nerves and fur on edge from the gruesome sight. She rushes towards you, using her well-rested strength to push the dead bear's arms off your body.
>You roll over, collapsing onto the grass next to the bear's carcass.
>You grasp your bloodied chest, moving your shirt down so that its fabric may cover your wounds.
>Pressing against the shirt, you hope that the wound closes so that you can avoid a blackout from the blood loss.
>You sigh in relief, the nightmare finally over for now.
>The rabbit-girl exclaims in awe,
>"Prince... You saved my life!"
>She’s totally starstruck.
>"I-If you weren't there, I would've been..."
>She stops herself from saying the word.
>The obvious implication hangs in the air.
>Your heart feels a sting, similar to the one you feel over your entire torso's skin, as you hear her call you that silver-tongued word. It might as well be a lie on this world.
>For a moment, you want to reveal the truth. To tell her that was a mere parlor trick, but you don't feel like you have the energy, emotional or physical, to bear that at the moment.
>You briefly mutter to the girl, as she stares at you with her beautiful blue eyes,
>"I-I know..."
>She smiles at you, offering you her hand for support.
>Her ears perk up and she reassures you,
>"Let's get you patched up at the palace, prince."
>Offering you a place at her side for now.
>You take her hand, getting to your two feet.
>You ask her questioningly, not expecting her to be affiliated with royalty,
>"Palace?"
>She's surprised by your lack of recognition.
>Her face lights up, realizing that you aren’t familiar with her status.
>"Oh, that's right. You don't know who I am, do you?"
>You admit honestly through your hoarse words,
>"No... no, I don't."
>She playfully bats her free hand around in the air, proclaiming,
>"I am Princess Elizabeth! The rightful ruler to be of all of the Kingdom of Yellowrose!"
>You think aloud to yourself like a dork, a blush clear on your face.
>"That sounds awfully... important."
>She cutely tilts her head, her eyes down at yours as you walk together, each with an arm wrapped around the other, she asks,
>"Well, oh-so mysterious savior prince! What is your name?"
>You tell her,
>"My name is..."
>Your voice shakes as you answer her,
>"Chara,"
>You pause, not sure of how to continue from here.
>You could use any last name you wanted in this world.
>You internally debate over coming up with something new like you're the city of Petersburg, using your family's name, and briefly humor that last name.
>You consider if you're even worthy of using this name. If they would even accept you as one of their own, knowing the truth of what you did.
>Reluctantly, you force these words out from your mouth,
>"Chara Dreemurr."
>She giggles, holding her free hand in front of her mouth,
>"That's a peculiar name, prince Chara!"
>The two of you walk for a long while. She helps you keep your balance until you arrive at the capital of the Kingdom of Yellowrose's interior, the city of Lutetia.
>The city has remarkable mixed development. A series of residential, housing, & industrial areas, with the main market street leading straight towards the city's castle.
>You gasp in awe at the distant castle, towering over the rest of the industrializing city's buildings.
>You haven't seen such a gorgeous city before in your life.
>Sure, there was new home… but it was never blessed to bask in the light of the surface.
>The city's sight outshines that of the slums you were born into, the golden sunset radiating throughout.
>You can't hold yourself back from saying aloud,
>"T-This... This place is beautiful, Liz."
>She replies, "I know, right? The main street's gorgeous at this hour!"
>The two of you traverse through the city, hand in hand as your strength returns to you. Replenished by the grace of this place.
>Your walk has improved from the limping of the hill-side path. You're now walking with a proper posture.
>A local shop owner, Remy, glances at the sight of you, an injured youth two years the Princess's younger, being accompanied by her, with disapproval.
>The Princess ignores the rude gesture, and asks you with curious delight,
>"What cuisine is common in your realm?"
>You answer her with a smirk,
>"Well, there's all kinds of food where I'm from, but I'm a bit of a sweet-tooth."
>She giggles before responding joyously, "Oh, really? I am too!"
>Eventually after a short walk of small talk and hand holding, the two of you arrive at the bronze-forged gates of the castle.
>Before your eyes lie the castle of Yellowrose, a sturdy stone fortress of the country's entrenched nobility, with six towers piercing for the heavens, blue tips contrasting the beige below.
>The princess of the keep, Elizabeth, haughtily yells, "Guards, your princess has arrived! Let me pass!"
>You hadn't expected that. Previously, she behaved quite timidly.
>The gates to the castle are raised, letting the two of you pass.
>As you walk past the canine guards of the castle, the iron cladded brown hard men have an expression of terror across their faces.
>Your grip on the rabbit-girl's paw subtly shakes over your uneasiness in her sudden shift in behavior.
>You turn to face Elizabeth, asking her in a state of disbelief,
>"What was that?"
>She lifts her free hand, shaking it nonchalantly and toying her paws inward,
>"What was what?
>You hastily respond, not one to drop issues easily,
>"How you treated the guards! Their duty is to protect you! You should treat them with the respe-"
>Your speech is interrupted by the bratty bunny,
>"Why, Chara! I can tell the blood loss must be driving you mad if you’re thinking like that! Only nobles deserve the respect of a ruler!"
>You feel the warm and fuzzy feeling that has burned hard in your chest since your first kiss burned to a crisp in light of this unforeseen brattiness.
>Not wanting to press the matter further, you reluctantly agree with the princess, adjusting your torn shirt's collar you spit,
>"You... You're right, princess. Let's just get to the bedroom..."
>The princess smiles with a look of victory plastered over her pristine face,
>"I'm glad I could help you to see the light, Chara!"
>You bite your lips at the selfish princess, nervously laughing in false agreement with her.
>It's been hours since you've gotten yourself settled in the bed.
>The room is filled with wealthy decor and accommodations, the pattern of roses carefully carved into the wooden furniture and other floral-inspired decor adorned the palace. From stained glass to potted roses.
>But, despite that, the only thing you feel is a giant hole where your heart should be, no, not the physical kind, though the pain is beginning to wear you down, it's the kind of pain that stings on a psychic level.
>You ruffle the sheets off of your troubled torso, stumbling out of the royal guest bed.
>You tiredly tumble to the wooden desk, situated in the leather desk-chair, you arc your bruised spine against its leather-clad back.
>You let out a sigh of half-hearted relief, leaning your arms on the desk's wooden surface, your hand trembling as you reach for the quill under the moon's subtle grace.
>You wrote to yourself, using a script only known to yourself in this lonely world, a year sheds down your cheek as you pen the address.
>"Dear mother, I have embarked on a terrifying journey today. I found myself in a new world, a new house, with new creatures, not so dissimilar to you in nature. Though I learned that their nature was far more terrible than your kind could be after sustaining wounds while protecting the princess of this realm, she called herself Elizabeth, a name that seemed so distant yet familiar. She was ignoble & demanding, so far from a proper noble. Needless, I digress; I have been granted a terrific power from my magical tormentor, to cast aside the dreaded form that you had so readily accepted. I look more like you in this form, or rather my brother, my poor sweet gullible-"
>Your hand twitches, tears fall down your face, wetting your sorrowful cheeks, in sync with the rattling rain outside.
>"brother. But that's beside the point. The gift to live a life that I do not deserve has been gifted to me, once again, after I tossed my last into the gutter. I shouldn't be thinking- or doing- such things, should I?"
>"Mother, I'm sorry. - Chara."