Miniature Wars *By Invite Only*

ANNABELLA

I glared down at the little shoes, arms crossed. No way was I wearing shoes. I was a mouse for crying out loud! What use did I have for the objects?

The maid harumphed and mirrored my crossed arms, her frown by far worse than my own. "Your mother has told me that you can't walk around barefooted forever. Mouse or not, she demands you wear shoes," she stated coldly.

The maid's name was Liki, and we had never seen eye to eye on anything. Anything. "And if I want to run?" I demanded stubbornly. "As if this bloody dress isn't enough!"

Liki scowled. "Don't curse."

"Bloody isn't a curse word Liki."

"It is as far as I'm concerned. And besides, a princess shouldn't be seen scampering around."

Gosh this blasted mousette was as stubborn as I was! Fine, she wanted to play like that...

I turned on my heel and stormed out of my room, glowering. I didn't know where it was that I planned on going, but I was headed in the direction of that locked chest in the hall. The locked chest that contained a cloak that was my saviour. Time for princess Annabella to pull another disapearing act.

Of course, it would have been time. It would have been time for me to disapear, play theif a bit... except for when I turned around I bumped into a certain mousette. Celine, one of our knights-in-training. And good Lord I was holding the red robe... I cursed silently and folded the robe, trying to hide what it really was.

"Sorry about that," I murmered.

ZEILAN

"Absolutely not! Not in a million years will I ever allow it!" I shouted, pounding my fist on the table. The guards jumped back, obviously startled by my outburst. They were trying to tell me that they should dethrone my father now, as there was no hope for him.

The only flaw with their thinking was that there was hope. And if it meant sending out every single one of our knights to find a cure, so be it! I didn't care, this was my father we were talking about!

"Your highness, please," one of the guards-Ruben-was trying to calm me. I wished him luck.

"Please what? Let my father die when there are plenty of perfectly capable healers in the city? Not on your life!"

"But your highness, there is no cure! We can't find what your father's ailment is, and so we can't heal it! You taking the throne would be the wisest choice for us now," Ruben insisted, voice steady. I hated that. Hated how his voice could be so calm, so even, when my father was up in his room dieing. Dieing, and the kingdom didn't even know yet.

"I'm going to go let our kingdom know what's happening. Does Bella know yet?" Bella was my little nick-name for our sister. As far as I knew, everybody called her Anna or simply AnnaBella. Well, those who called her by her first name anyways.

Ruben shook his head. "Only your mother, you and those present right now know sire."

"Don't call me that."

"I beg your pardon."

I sighed and turned, leaving the room.

SNORKS

Bird auction, in the palace. Perfect for a near-death-bored-mind like myself; even if I wouldn't be buying any of the birds. It was certainly better than spending my break wandering aimlessly around the halls.

I brushed past a few other knights who were mingling about things I hardly gave a snuff about. Something to do with a new method of watering the fields in the middle of our famine. I cared deeply about the famine, but my mind was elsewhere, and I really didn't feel like chatting about what we could or should be doing. No, I say that talking about it is one thing. Actually getting out and doing it, well that's a whole other story.

Okay, so the real reason I was there was this, if you must know, and I know that you all must know. It wasn't sitting around watching birds be sold, I had mice to catch up with. Assuming that mousette was actually here...

I scanned the crowds, eyes squinted just slightly. A grin spread across my face. That was her alright. I shoved my way past a few more knights and nobels, grin broadening. "So Laken, care to tell me when the auction starts?" I asked, hands clasped behind my back.

Snorks was so short!!

Laken~

Laken jumped, her fur standing on end. The scarlet cardinal she had a hold on flapping its wings wildly, a sign showing that he believed their were too many mice around him. Laken looked over at Snorks and rolled her small blue eyes with a smile, her tiny fingers running down the cardinal's beak to calm him down. "Easy there," she said softly, the beating of wings slowing to a stop. Laken let go of the reigns on the war bird and turned to face Snorks. Without even waiting a grin broke out across her face, and she hugged the bigger mouse to her excitedly. "In ten minutes actually," she sighed, shaking her head. The silver hoops around her fuzzy ears clinked together as she shook her head, throwing her hands to her hips and looking up at Snorks.

"So, what have you been up to recently?" Snorks smiled as the cardinal behind Laken rubbed its fringe against her cheek, causing the small mousette to laugh softly.

Laken smiled and ran her fingers down the bird's beak again, looking up at Snorks. Goodness, did he get taller again?! She decided to stay quite about her shortness factor, and shrugged slightly. "Dad's been sick, so we haven't been auctioning a lot recently. Birds are still in great condition, if not better, but that old man's been so ill, I haven't left the farm for months. He's recently began to get up and take care o' himself, but I can't lollygag 'round here, just because I have to get back home soon."

"Ah, I'm sorry. I'm a knight now," he smirked, pointing out his armor and knighthood badge." Laken just chuckled and shook her head.

"My dad would to see you Fr-" Snorks threw his paw up, covering Laken's mouth. She giggled under his hand, a smile evident on her face. When he removed his paw, her smirk grew.

SNORKS

I removed my paw from around Laken's mouth slowly, watching the smirk spread across her face. Had it been anybody else, I would have started yelling at them at the top of my lungs. But, this was Laken, and I couldn't help but grin a little. "You, you just hush," I murmured.

There was a reason I didn't tell anybody my name. A very, very good reason. My mother had given me this scrunched up look when I had told her that I had changed my name to Snorks. Then she said something along the lines of how is that any better? It was better because it had the wonder of a heroic tale tied to it. That's how.

I cleared my throat, shifting my eyes as far around the room as I could. Nobody seemed to be paying attention. Good. "I didn't think your father was overly fond of me, has the man changed his mind so quickly?" I asked, recalling the time I had caught him mumbling about how I was stealing his daughter away from him. He hadn't seemed so happy about that.

"'Course he liked you. But you know how fathers get."

I grinned and reached out a hand to flick Laken's earings. I didn't really know why I had done that, but it was something I used to do all the time. It seemed suiting to the moment. "Aye, I suppose fathers get a little protective. I remember my sister..." I chuckled to myself. My family had either fled the owls or been killed by them, and as far as I knew, I was the only one of them left in the kingdom. It was sad, but I tried not to think too much of it.

"Well, anyways, I'll umm... I'll let you finish setting up. I'll have to leave soon for my shift, but I should be here for the last part of the auction."

Bonnie

When I entered the stables, the birds were awake, itching for a ride. Chuckling, I went down the rows and gave them their seeds. When I came to Dawn, I slipped the wheat seed in and ran my hand down her beak. She immiadiately went for it, and before I knew it, it was gone. Noting that I was running befind, I hurried and gave the rest their seed. As I came up on Ember, a red-crested Cardinal, I heard pawsteps. My left ear swiveled back, and my head soon followed. Standing there, there was a tall, dark, and handsome young mouse, who looked to be a whisker younger than me. He had a dark brown coat and a tan underbelly. A bright red feather came out from behind his left ear, and he held a needle sword on a small belt. His eyes were a light, caramel brown. Of course, he noticed me staring, and I quickly looked down, feeling my face turning red. He smiled a little, and I managed a small smile back.

And then I tripped.

The birdseed spilled everywhere, and I quickly hurried to collect it. I ducked my head close to the ground, sure to get all the smaller peices. I then bumped into his side, and saw that this mouse, Luka, was helping. He turned to look at me, his nose inches from mine. I chuckled nervously, and got back to work.

It was a while before we got it all up, but it was faster with Luka helping. Oce we had it all, I thanked him, and he smiled again. When he spoke, his voice was husky and flawless, filling the space.
"Need me to help you get Ember ready?"

Name: Alex
Age (mouse years) 12
Gender: male

Personality: Honest and forthright, Alex speaks his mind and considers himself
a "gentlemouse".

Appearance: Light gray with a sooty nose. Long, curling tail.

Skills: He's good at talking to other animals, and has even learned a bit of Owl.

Weakness: Absolutely no head for heights.

Occupation/rank: Head of the armory.

Other: Hardly ever seen without his "shadow," Reisa

Up for love? He's rather fond of Reisa, but "We shall see."

~Celine~

"I win, again!" I said, putting my sword away. Daniel, my component, smiled at me, shaking his head. I was on a roll, though this shouldn't surprise me. I won in every battle now. It was nice to be the smallest, and the only moussette knight.

"You can't be beat, can you?" he asked, smiling wider. I shrugged. We both knew that was a lie. I hadn't met any mouse yet that could beat me, but I doubted no one could.

"I'm not bragging," was all I could say. And I wasn't. I wouldn't rub it in his face that I could beat him any time he fought me.

"I bet I can find a mouse that can beat you," Daniel declared. I nodded, smile wavering. I wasn't sure how being beat would roll over for me. Maybe I'd laugh it off.

"Deal!" I nodded as we shook paws. "Now, you go do that." I turned him around and pushed him forward a little. Laughing, he left to find someone to fight me. I didn't move until I saw that he was safely out the door, then I slipped out and down the hall to the kitchen. Only the people in the kitchen knew my love for food. They greeted me, smiling as I grabbed a piece of bread and dipped it in the soup, tasting it. I tuned back around and put a little pepper in it, dipping the bread back in it and tasting it again. I nodded, finishing off the bread.

"That's good. Don't forget to stir," I added lightly. One of them smiled and began to stir the soup. I began to help them out with cooking and then I did some of the dishes, humming joyfully.

Alex

"I'll bet you a coin that stew's Celine's doing."

Reisa said nothing, though her smile widened with the first sip. She pointed
to the clock on one wall.

"Yes, I have the armor ready. Bonnie expects us in about twenty minutes." With a wink
he added, "Or at the hour appointed. Right, my lady?"

Laken~

Laken smiled softly, sadly up at Snorks. "I guess you should be on your way, aye Sir Snorks?" At those words that had come from her own mouth, Laken let out a bark of laughter, smiling wildly at Snorks, who was glaring playfully. "Aww, I'm sorry Snorkie, did I offend you?" Now his glare had intesified. "I'm just kidding, sheesh," Laken gave him a one-armed hug and reached up slowly, pulling his ears out. "Still though, I think your actual name would suit being a knight much better. Sir Fr- Well you get the point." She cut herself short with the name.

A mouse on the stage called out the warbird's number and Laken hugged Snorks one last time before walking towards the front of the stage. He had turned his back and begun to walk down the stairs. "Oh! And Snorks," he turned around, "My father says you're welcome any time now. He's missed having another mouse to talk to other than me and the stablehands."

"Alright Lake, I'll see you later. Maybe I'll take up that offer." Laken simply nodded, with a smile, and stepped out onto the stage to begin the auction. More eyes were on her than the bird until he let out a blood-chilling screech and flapped his crimson wings, demanding everyones attention.

Luka~

Luka smiled softly at the stable runner, Bonnie. She was awefully pretty, but he wouldn't make any advances. Well... not any that she'd think were on purpose. Feeling the heavy silence, Luka finally spoke. "Do you want me to help you with Ember?" He asked, his embarassingly deep voice filling the air. Everyone had said that for a mouse, he sure had a deep, rough voice. Many had even thought he was the old dog down the street when he had first spoke to them, because he voice was just that deep!

On another note, Bonnie was... wow. She had to be only one year his junior, but god she was something else, appearance wise. He had only known about her through the other soldiers, so really this was the first time he'd ever met Bonnie. What the soldiers had said, however, was actually extremely true. God dang!

[Whoever plays Daniel, could Moxie be the mouse you find to beat Celine? By the way sakin, she's not the only moussette knight. There's also Moxie!]

Really? I didn't know...my bad!
Anywho! I was going to play Daniel, if that's OK with everyone,
though I'd only be including him in posts about Celine,
but they're around each other all the time. So, I'll make a
profile if that's OK for everyone!

Snorks

I sighed sadly and turned. My next shift was only an hour or so, but sometimes an hour could be too long, especially when you get bored as easily as I do. But, after that hour was over, I had the next two days off and I would be bored spitless. Unless of course I went to visit Laken.

I would most certainly take her up on that offer.

You know, I never really did get guarding the palace. Well, I got guarding it, but I didn't get why I was the one who had to do it. I was a knight, didn't they have palace guards to do that sort of thing? Well, obviously not. It was a boring job to be honest, nothing exciting ever happens here.

I ran a finger over an old table, pulling it away dustless. "Dust inspection, complete," I muttered. Of course, that wasn't really part of the job, I was just horribly bored. As usual.

It was then that Prince Zeilan stormed around the corner, angrily, might I add. Anger was strange...he was usually so peaceful. Either way I snapped to attention and bowed respectfully.

Zeilan

I dipped my head at the knight--Snorks? Ridiculous name, but he was loyal and strong. He'd have to help me deliver my message. "Snorks, how would you like an assignment?" I asked, trying to push the anger from my tone.

He looked up, eyes flickering. "What sort of assignment your Highness?" he asked, ear twitching excitedly.

"A grim one."

"Continue..." he said, frowning slightly.

I took a deep breath and scratched behind my ear. "I need you to help me deliver a message. My father--your king--is gravely ill. There's no cure we know of for his ailment. And leave this part out, but I need somebody to confide in. Can I confide in you Snorks?"

He nodded hesitantly.

"They want me to take the throne immediately. I refuse to take it."

Snorks sighed. "Well, that decision is yours. Can't you hand it to your sister?"

I shook my head quickly. "Annabella is... it's not in her interests to govern a kingdom. At all."

"I see. Well, I'll go...deliver the message. I have arrangements in an hour, that should be long enough?"

I arched an eyebrow and nodded. Without another word, I turned and walked away.

ANNABELLA

Now, the hard part about my little disapearing acts was actually getting out of the palace. So far I had made it to the front entrance, but glory be, there were guards at the doors. Now, getting past them would be the slightly difficult part. The really hard part was managing to get the robe on outside, without being noticed.

Good luck to me.

I slipped around the corner quietly and approached the guards, who each bowed. It was so irritating, having them bow before they spoke. Waste of time in my eyes.

"Guards quick!" I said, trying to make my voice wound delicate and panicky.

"What is it Princess?" the first asked.

I took an over-dramatic deep breath. "Oh...there are some beastly looking men in the halls! They were whistling at me! It was absolutely terrible! One of them even tried to take hold of my wrist, but I managed just to slip away! Please, do go find them!" I pleaded.

They nodded and took off. So very gullible. Stupid of them really to leave the door unguarded like this. Somebody might get in...or out.

I opened the door a crack and squeezed through, scanning the city. The thing I loved about the front entrance was that it was near impossible for anybody below to see you. Too much rope for getting up and down in the way. I grinned and shrugged into my robe.

Rulio

I groaned and thunked my head against the wall repeatedly. Why had I joined up as a palace guard again? Oh, right, the mouse Mafia had decided I had to pay for whatever inexcusable crime my dad had committed. Blast you, Pops. BLAST YOU. So, now I was trapped in a boring, one-tone castle in the loft. I had heard the princess was being all 'you-can't-control-me!' again, and I was, quite frankly, extremely irritated with the fact. Hun, you ain't gonna get nowhere by fighting. Stealth and manners, being silvertongued and insufferably sleek- that's what got you far in the world.

Or master bedroom. Whichever you preferred.

So, being a young female mouse with nothing else to do, I began chattering to myself. "Ruls, you have to get out of this. Maybe go work for the frog racers? Bird breeders? No, the Maf visits them a lot. You'd get found out on your first day. The castle really was a good choice, except the fact that you're, you know, a civilian with a bad past. Not trained, no bloodline linking you here. What were you thinking? You might as well've joined a nunnery."

"Well, Ruls, I don't have much of a choice, do I? It's either stay here, be bored out of my mind, and be safe, or be on the streets, be completely in my element, and die by five tonight. Farming wouldn't work any better, no... So, Ruls, might as well get used to the place, however many bratty royal offsprings there may be. Maybe you could get moved to kitchen duties... now there's a thought!"

Taking a break from my charming conversation... with myself, admittedly, I smiled rather smugly to myself. I may be a criminal, but I was a smart criminal, you had to give me that.

Bonnie

As the evening set, I was working in the barn with Dawn. She enjoyed her wheat seeds, and was now munching on some regular bird seed. Sighing, I thought about Luka. He seemed different... Just then, there was a knock at the stable door. I scurried down the long hallway and opened it, to find a mouse I'd never met before. He was gray, and when he met my eyes, he bowed his head and said: "Good evening, miss. I'm here with the steed armour." I did the same gesture, then tipped my head sideways. It was strange..he was so polite! I opened the door wider and he stepped in, pulling a large cart with his delivery items.
"Where should I put these, miss?" He asked, and I led him to the tack room. He nodded and began to unload the cart. I watched him as he carefully did his job. Noticing how awkward I must look, I backed away and ran into another mouse. Gasping quietly, I whipped around, only to find Luka standing there, a crooked grin on his face. I tipped my head again and he took my paw and headed for the door.
"Come on," He said, his voice filling the space. "There's someplace I want you to see."
"But--" Luka slapped his tail over my mouth when I protested, and I shook my head and let him lead me wherever he wanted me to go.

~Celine~

I had spent most of my day in the kitchen, cooking, cleaning, all of the things I wasn't obligated to do. I was still letting the stew I had created simmer on low while I chopped some carrots up to put in it. I dumped them in the pot, stirring it a little then tasting it. I narrowed my eyes. Something was missing. Something needed to be added.

"Could you hand me some basil leaves?" I asked, not looking to see who handed me some. I finely chopped them, before putting them in the pot too, then mixed it again, taking a spoonful once more and tasting it. "Perfect," I murmured to myself.

"I want a taste of that," I heard someone say. I smiled and sat the spoon down, stepping back.

"Go ahead," I announced, watching as they gathered. I was happy that I could accomplish something good through my other talent. The talent no one knew I had unless they worked in the kitchen. They were my friends, my family. The kitchen was my home, but I wanted to prove that, just because I was small, didn't mean I couldn't fight. I had to make sure everyone knew that my size didn't keep me from being who I wanted to be. I wanted to be a chef, that would have been nice, but I wanted to fight, that would keep my family's name alive. So I was a warrior, not a chef.

Snorks

Mission complete with five minutes to spare. It wasn't that hard really, all you have to do is dig out the biggest gossips from the streets and let them do the work for you. Easey peasey. Now, the trick was to get back to the auction in the next five minutes. A knight keeping a lady waiting (even if this lady was Laken) never looked good on his reputation.

I scampered down the halls, having to stop at least every two seconds to adjust the bloody feather that was sitting on my ear. Stupid thing... Such a pain sometimes. Of course, I would never dream of taking it off. It held too much sentimental value for that.

Finally, I was at the doors that led to the auction room. I could hear Laken's muffled voice making what I prayed was the last sale. I would have to wait here until it was over.

Zeilan

I was rounding the corner, quite honestly not paying attention to anything. I was too confused, too horrified to pay attention to my surroundings. My father was dieing, and according to the servants and guards, Annabella had disapeared. Again.

Troubling thoughts. Troubling thoughts that seemed to like to pick at me until I felt like breaking down and bawling like a child. It would feel good...crying. When was the last time I had done that?

And it was because of my blurred vision (from those legendary things called tears) and those horrifying thoughts that I couldn't see where I was going. And it was because of the fact that I couldn't see where I was going that I ran straight into one of the guards. One of our female guards. Now there was something you didn't run into every day.

"Excuse me, I'm...dazed. Are...you alright?" I asked quietly, offering my paw to help her up.

She took it hesitantly and I helped her to her feet. "I...really am sorry."