"Long ago, the kingdom of Yawen used to be called the kingdom of Don and was ruled by an evil tyrant by the name of Kai, Kai was a kung fu master who was later corrupted by his own greed. Pillaging and taxing its citizens for years, and many suffered under his cruel dictatorship. Until one day when a young male peacock by the name of Aiguo took a stand. He was the son of a scribe who worked for Kai and saw the mistreatment of those around them and started an uprising. He went into town and preached convincing the people to rise up against their oppressor and take back their city for a better life.

Slowly he accumulated a following and it slowly grew into a full scale revolution. Gaining the support of Gongmen city they fought tirelessly, and after five years of war Kai was finally banished from the land and the people placed Aiguo as Yawen's first king. After that day the city was officially renamed and was forever ruled by the nobel peacock family of the west. For many years it was the strongest nation in the world with many natural resources and spiritual outlets. The King now, is known as the Fair king and was beloved by his people. But some say that Kai will come back to collect his throne if he ever gets the chance. Meanwhile others say he will do nothing while we are allied with the Gongmen house.

"Right, amazing rich history." I said sarcastically. I wanted to be done with my history lesson for the day. "Can I go now?" I asked in a very whiny tone to my history tutor, Jin, a young tall tiger with broad shoulders, well-built arms, and a muscular frame. He was in his late twenties. His eyes are narrow and hazel colored eyes with a hint of mischief that shows how caring and warm he was.

"Yes, Your Highness." Jin stated and bowed to me.

"I already told you to stop calling me that and no bowing. I'm just like you." I told him.

"Well, yes, of course, you Hi-" he cleared his throat, "(Y/n)."

"Better." I said with a smile, usually only those with royal blood could address a member of the royal family as such but to me he did feel like family. No it's not like I'm the only one to break the rule as well as I was not the oldest nor the youngest of my siblings. In fact, I was child number seven of ten but the second female child to be born in the family. I was supposed to be someone special but really I was just another peacock.

"Now, then," I stated, "Go get yourself a wife, Jin. Being a handmaiden to a little girl must be boring. Get a wife or husband, have some fun and-" I begin before getting cut off.

"Okay, young (Y/n), run along." He told me with a nervous sigh shooed me away. jumping out of my chair I quickly enveloped him in a hug before running. I went through the large palace halls ducking and dodging around workers to the garden as it was the fastest route. By now they were all accustomed to my rambunctious behavior, I am eleven after all and that didn't stop them from not being prepared when I was around.

"Watch out!" I yelled to warn them as I weaved through the servant's, careful to keep my feathers from being stepped on. They all laughed in amusement and greeted me as I smiled softly. successfully making it outside I saw my older brother of two years, a yellow and gold peacock named Feng, struggling to shoot his arrow in the center of the target. All my brothers were out here for their archery lesson. sneakily I grabbed a bow and arrow from my elder brother's hand and shot my arrow past him and to the center of the target.

All five of them turned their heads to see the origin of the shot. My brothers were all smiling and clapping for me while Feng pouted. I bowed as they applauded as I learned archery on my own. Jin helped me sharpen my skills. I came closer to all of them and put down my bow.

"How are you so good at this?" Feng whined. "It's this thing called 'being good at it'." I teased grabbing a throwing knife and tossing it into the center of the target while facing him."You know what?" He said before he started chasing me. I ran away from him to my oldest brother, Han. Han was a dark blue and gold peacock of twenty years old and the heir to the throne. I quickly ran behind him hiding in his robe when he realized Feng was chasing me. Laughing Han held up his hand to make Feng stop.

"Calm down, Feng." He told him. "You're trying your best and that's what counts and (Y/n) stop teasing him." He asked all too accustomed to our behaviors.

But Feng didn't have it. He kept trying to reach for me but Han protected me, handing me to Isamu The fifth oldest brother who placed me on the floor before turning back to the scene. "Good job, Feng! That was a better attempt than last time." Han complimented with a laugh. "Yes, a truly good job." My mother's voice rang through the training grounds with a laugh making me freeze. My mother's voice was gentle but firm and demanded your attention.

"And as for you young lady." She said, referring to me. She was a beautiful red peacock with gold tiled feathers and an incredibly regal present that you couldn't help but pay attention to her. Her poise and her grace demanded respect, making me hide behind Han again. He picked me up and placed me right in front of Mom. Giving me her signature mom look I give her a simple nervous smile making her roll her eyes.

My mother and father ruled the empire known as Yawen. My father, known as the fair king, was a very caring man and an even better father to me and my siblings. Working very hard every day with my mother to run the Kingdom. "You have betrayed me, brother." I dramatically exclaimed as he handed me off to Mom who then dragged me back inside. I don't blame him though, No one had the guts to double cross Mother. She took me back to her room and sat me down on the chair in front of her vanity, crossing my arms I pouted.

"Now, now, don't pout. You don't want to be eleven with wrinkles do you." She teased with a smirk grabbing a silver brush from the stand and began to gently brush through my purple feathers. "How did you like showing off?" She smirked again making me recross my arms to prove my point. "Oh, not talking to your mother, I see... Fine then stay silent, Maybe I'll tell Jiang that you stole his Ruby encrusted dagger he's been so eagerly searching for..." she poked with no note of remorse.

"You wouldn't!" I yelled, my eyes widening in shock. "I knew it." She said, with validation in her voice "how did you know!?" I asked with a pout slumping down in my chair.

"Come now darling, it wasn't all that difficult to figure out." She laughed, making me only sink deeper into the chair. "Just please don't tell him?" I ask, making her giggle. "Don't worry I won't. I promise..." she smiled, helping me sit up with a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder. "Now would you like to explain to me why you were out in the field during your history lesson?" She inquired.

"Jin let me go since I've gone a full week without messing up." I say proudly puffing out my chest "Already." She said, astonished. "Then we'll get you in sewing lessons with your sisters." She said with conviction. "Sewing? Are you Sure I couldn't do something more... fun?" I asked hesitantly "oh you mean something like.... Hmm I don't know. Sword training!" she exclaimed and pretended the brush she was using to brush my feathers was a sword. She got into a stance and started acting as she spoke.

"You're on the battlefield and the enemy is not giving up. You won't get hurt because you're so strong. But you turn her head to the left and oh no! Feng got his arm slashed by a sword. And ah, blood! Lots and lots of blood, ah! What are you going to do? let him bleed to death?" She asked dramatically.

"Yes!" I yell jumping up and down in excitement. "No!" She scolds, smacking me upside the head with the brush. "You're going to take down the enemy in front of you and take down your brother's enemy to avenge him. And you're going to use the sewing skills you learned to stitch up your brother's arm. And you're going to say, 'My mother was so smart, she provided me with all the necessary skills I needed." She said mimicking my voice and went back to brushing my feathers.

"Fine, I'll do sewing lessons." I agreed with a sigh. "Good girl, they'll be right after your sword training." Mom informed me with a smile and a kiss on the forehead. "Really!?" I asked getting up from my chair "Yes," she then laughed with a smile. "Now your friends are waiting for you." Mom said shooing me from her room. walking down the large hall I spotted four familiar faces. Those of a young rhino named Kiran, a cheetah named Kiyoshi, a monkey named Munni, and an elephant named Chan Ming.

***

"Hey guys! What do you want to do?" I ask running up to the four excitedly. "Well I was thinking we could go down to the river!" Chan Ming exclaimed with a smile. "That sounds fun!" I beam back, grabbing her hand and beginning to head that way. "Now we could do that but we have one problem!" Munni chirped up. "And what problem would that be?" I am confused. "Adviser hong's office...." Kiran said, making us all look in understanding. "Oh..." we all simultaneously in dread.

"Well I guess that's now out of the question." Kiyoshi sighed leaning against the wall. "Oh come on guys! We can still go! we just need to be really quiet..." I suggest with a small chuckle. "And how do you suggest we do that?" Asked Kiran. "Well we'll just sneak!" I say proudly with a smile. "Hmm nope it's too risky!" Chan Ming stuttered, shaking her head from side to side. "She has a point you know!" Munni agreed.

"Where's your adventure guys! Let's have some fun!" I asked, making the four of them look at me unamused. *sigh* "Ok, all I'm asking is that you trust me." I say extending my wing to them. The four of them look at each other in hesitation before agreeing with me.

***

"Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap!" I utter as Kiyoshi and I run away down the hall. "Come back here you brat's!" Advisor Hong shouted as we ran. "Why is he even mad?! All we did was try and cross by his door!" I shout making Kiyoshi shrug. "I'm just glad that our escape plan worked!" She shouted back with a smile. "You and me both!" I replied in excitement. "All right! We're free!" I exclaimed, lifting my hand to my chin pridefully as we arrived at the river.

"Oh I hope the others can make their way out ok?" But I am a genius if I do say so myself!" I sigh as Kiyoshi starts to walk off, but pauses and looks back in disgust. "Hey, genius, it was my idea." She boats with a scoff. "Yeah, but I- '' I started gesturing to myself with one wing. "pulled it off."" I say smuggly. "With me!" Kiyoshi yelled back in annoyance. "Oh, yeah?" I ask before throwing a pair of practice throwing knives at her which Kiyoshi easily dodged before tackling me, rolling on the ground Kiyoshi pins me to the ground. "Ha!" She laughs in triumph. "Pinned ya!"

"Hey, let me up!" I shout shoving her off. She starts to walk away, chin raised smugly. When a smile comes across my face before pouncing on her again, making the both of us roll down the hill laughing. When Kiyoshi pins me on my back again.

"Pinned ya again." She smirks again, getting off me. Rolling my eyes at her statement I sit myself up as she offers me a hand. Taking it graciously she hauls me up to my feet as I begin dusting off my dress. "Kiyoshi? (Y/n)? Where are you?" Asked the voice of Munni. "don't hit her Kiyoshi!" Kiran yelled in my defense. "Why do they always say that?!" She asks, looking at me in frustration. Shrugging we see the three figures come around the corner as Kiran ran up and asked me if I was okay.

"Kiyoshi you can't hurt her, imagine what the king, what the queen and not to mention what her fiancé would say!" Chan Ming said worriedly, making me flinch. Which didn't go unnoticed by Kiyoshi who rolled her eyes and moved her position in front of me and stared into my eyes, "You're not fighting back as hard as usual..." She stated. "Why?" I looked at her confused. "Um Sorry." I asked. "I don't want an apology. I want to know what's wrong?" She said concerned. "It's nothing, it's just that.... The whole fiancé business.

It's been going on for so long and for what?." I said. "Every time the betrothal is mentioned, Mom gets excited and Dad gets really serious. And the worst part is, once I'm married I'll never see any of you guys again and honestly, I'm not ready." I sigh.

"Then talk to your family." Kiyoshi simply stated.

"How?"

"I don't know, but don't think it should be that hard." She said. "Hmm, guys can you smell that?"
"Strawberries?" Munni asked. "No, the smoke is coming from (y/n)'s brain." Chan Ming stated with a laugh. "Oh, I get it. you're so funny." The three of us laugh. "Stop being mean to (y/n)." Kiran said.

"Mean? Never. Truthful? Yes." Kiyoshi simply replied with a smirk making us all chuckle. The rest of the day we spent enjoying each other's company playing around the river. Kiyoshi would usually keep to herself by reading a book. Kiran was the nicest one among us, as he used to be my partner to practice my sparring.

Chan Ming always broke it up so I wouldn't hurt him. Muuni would attempt to help Chan Ming and Kiran by giving them tips. But he always failed miserably and Kiyoshi would call him an idiot and correct him which caused him to blush. When suddenly it was time to go when Jin came to get me.

"(Y/n), it's time to go. Dinner is waiting." He called out to me, making the four of us sigh in sadness. I nodded, bidding my friends a quick goodbye and grabbing the basket full of flowers that I had picked and I left with Jin. excitedly telling him everything about my day and he listened attentively while smiling.

***

I laid in bed staring out my window in thought. How am I going to talk to my mother about this?
Mother came to my room to wish me a good night.

"Mother? Do you really wish for me to get married?" I sat up and looked at her.
She softly smiled at me, "I don't quite know. I do know that I want you to be well taken care of. I do know that I wish for you to be happy. But as royals we can't always have what we want. Your marriage was arranged the moment you were born and sadly it cannot be undone.

Trust me when I tell you I never wanted this sort of life for you but I do hope you will make the best of your situation like you somehow always seem to do ." Mother explained placing her forehead against mine with a small sad smile. "Why don't you dream of a perfect solution for me, hm? Good night, Darling." She stroked a piece of hair away from my face and kissed the top of my head.