As said above, this is sort of the beginning to a story I wrote a long time ago as an assignment in a high school english class, and, while it didn't seem like a bad idea at the time to try to continue it, I never got around to doing so and it is now left as the prelude to a much more grandiose fairy tale that most likely will never happen. Still, what I do have is able to stand on its own as a short story, so perhaps you will find it worth reading. Hope you like it. ^_^

This one always reminded me of an anime series... no one in particular. But it sounded like it would, indeed be from an anime.

It's a pitty... it seems this threads been up for like, 3 days and no replies. Guess they don't like you anymore, SK.

*pats on head*

eesh... ¬___¬

or maybe i wasn't here. don't tar me with any brushes thanks, Lantis.

... heh. i enjoyed reading. your heroine was similar to your usual line in heroines, but interesting enough all the same. i found Ashton a pretty interesting character, and he symptomised one of the things i enjoyed most about the plot; there seem almost to be questions and suspicions there to ask and raise as you (or at least as i) read. like whether Ashton really got his aged face from 'missing a few days sleep', or what would happen with the mercenaries the princess intended to recruit.

... it provoked the imagination, actually, i ended up thinking about what would happen next.

well written, as always; you have a knack for using language descriptively within a narrative that is a great skill to have.

... it's kind've a shame that it ends there, tbh. but it was good enough to read as it is, and iunno... i actually had fun imagining what came next ^^;;;

so yeah. thanks for posting it. ^_^

(and sorry for the delay in posting. i had an exam today... figured i might be in trouble for it, instead it went well. ^^)