Prologue
The palace gates were never meant to be opened by a princess alone, "Your Highness, please don't wander outside the palace grounds." The head maid repeated the same warning she had given countless times before, "There are forests beyond the walls. If you become lost, no one will be able to find you."
Young Princess Luna pouted, she was only a child, full of curiosity and far too cheerful to understand why everyone worried so much, "I'll stay inside," she said with an innocent smile.
The maids smiled back, well they believed her.
...
They shouldn't have, later that afternoon, while the palace was busy preparing for the evening banquet, Luna quietly slipped out through a small side gate, she giggled to herself as the cool breeze brushed against her face, "So this is what it's like outside..." Everything felt new, the flowers were brighter, the birds sang louder, even the air smelled different.She wandered along a narrow path just beyond the palace walls, stopping every few steps to admire butterflies dancing above the grass.
Then...Something red bounced across the path, a small cloth ball, luna blinked, "Hm?"
The ball rolled farther ahead before stopping beneath a tree, she looked around, "Hello?" No one answered, she picked it up, before she could wonder where it came from, a gust of wind pushed the ball from her hands again.
It rolled deeper into the forest, "Wait!" Laughing, Luna chased after it, again...The ball rolled away. Again...
She followed, without realizing it, the palace had disappeared behind the trees, the cheerful sounds of birds slowly faded, the forest grew quieter, luna finally stopped, she looked around."...Where am I?"
Every tree looked the same, every path led somewhere unfamiliar, her smile slowly disappeared, "M-Mother?" Only silence answered, she turned one way, then another, nothing, tears began filling her eyes "I... I'm lost..." Just as panic settled into her heart, she heard footsteps. "Luna."
Her head shot up, "Mother!" The Queen stepped out from between the trees, her elegant robes stained with dirt. Luna's fear disappeared instantly. She ran toward her, "I found you!" The Queen immediately knelt and pulled Luna into a tight embrace, "Oh, Luna..." Her voice trembled. "You shouldn't be here" Luna looked up in confusion.
"But I was looking for the red ball." The Queen forced a gentle smile despite the worry in her eyes, "Luna... listen to me, you must leave." Luna blinked. "What?"
Her mothers voice become shaky and soft "You remember how I always tell you to be brave?" She nodded. "I need you to be brave one more time, you have to go." The little girl shake her head, "No." she cried, clutching her mother's sleeve. "I'm staying with you!"
The Queen gently wiped away her tears, "My little moon...l'll always be with you."Before Luna could ask what she meant-Voices echoed through the forest, "They're over there!"
The Queen expression changed instantly, "Luna, run!" Several shadowed figures emerged from the trees, the royal guards aproached the queen, with the crown prince, till a group of people launched over while the gaurds drew their swords, steel clashed against steel.
The peaceful forest was filled with shouting, luna froze, she had never seen a battle before, she didn't understand what was happening, she only knew everyone she loved was standing between her and the strangers, her brother looked back one last time. "Luna."
While her mother, smiled, it was the same warm smile she always gave her, "Live" Then she turned away. A maid suddenly wrapped both arms around Luna. "Forgive me, Your Highness." The maid lifted her into her arms, "No!"
Luna reached toward her family, "Mother!, brother!" She struggled with all her strength.
My princess we need to go!" The maid ran, branches whipped past them, luna screamed until her voice became hoarse, she stretched out her hand toward her family-But they grew farther away, their faces disappeared behind the trees, the sounds of swords slowly faded, then...Silence.
...
When Luna and the maid finally stopped, the little princess looked back toward the forest, there was nothing, no voices, no footsteps, only the wind, "...They're coming back..." She whispered those words over and over, "They promised..." But no one came.
Days later, the kingdom announced the deaths of the Queen, and the Crown Prince, people called it a tragedy, some called it an assassination, others whispered it was a conspiracy, no one knew the truth.
Luna blamed only one person, herself, if she had obeyed the maids...if she hadn't chased the red ball...if she hadn't insisted on staying...Would they still be alive?
Years passed, the cheerful little princess who smiled at everyone disappeared, in her place stood a quiet young woman, she hid her face beneath the plain clothes of a low-ranking servant, from that day forward... She would answer to only one name, Chang'e.
She entered the Crystal Empire not as royalty...but as an ordinary servant, because somewhere within the endless lies, hidden behind noble smiles and palace walls...was the person who had stolen her family.
And Chang'e would not stop searching until the truth was finally revealed.
