Okay, I'll admit it: this part is way too short for my health.  But 

it's just a prologue!  Likely, you could read and understand the 

story without reading this part at all -- but I wouldn't recommend 

it!  Anyway, I spent a whole day trying to figure out how to 

properly go about this prologue, so I hope that you'll at least try 

it...  Trust me, chapter one more than makes up for the length (or 

lack, thereof) of this part.

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                     White As Snow by Mira Moon

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+ PROLOGUE + 


In the middle of winter, when the broad flakes of snow were falling 

all around like feathers from the heavens, a Queen sat working at a 

window whose frame was made of fine black ebony. 

   She was a beautiful, young Queen, as lovely as a lone rose 

blossom in a garden of bristles and thorns, and much loved by all 

for her kindness and generosity; it was no wonder the King had 

fallen head over heels in love with her, despite her former lack of 

wealth and titles. And now, with the recent birth of their 

violet-eyed daughter, their family was complete and the kingdom's 

rejoicing knew no boundaries. 

   The Queen smiled with unhindered contentment at the thought of 

her infant child; she was like a ray of sunshine, brightening the 

lives of the King and Queen with her innocent, gurgling laughter and 

had been named accordingly. So distracted by images of the newborn 

princess was she that the Queen grew careless and, as she stared 

dreamily across the ocean of reflective whiteness, her embroidery 

needle slipped and pricked her finger, thus startling her out of her 

reverie. 

   Three drops of blood fell upon the desert of ice crystals. 

She gazed thoughtfully at the red drops that sprinkled the with 

snow, and said, "Would that my little daughter may be as white as 

that snow, as red as the blood, and as black as the ebony window 

frame!"

   And the Queen got her wish. The little girl grew, and her skin 

was as white as snow, her lips as red as the blood, and her hair as 

black as ebony. And her mother lovingly dubbed her Snow White. 

For seven wonderful years the kingdom lived in perfect harmony... 

but it was not to last. One day, in the dead of winter, the Queen 

decided to go out riding. She'd only just entered the forest when 

her horse, for a reason that was never discovered, suddenly bolted 

onto the ice of the lake where they both fell through into the 

freezing currents. 

   By the time the Queen had been retrieved from the icy waters, it 

was already too late; her spirit had taken flight towards the 

heavens. 

   In an effort to quell his grief, so that he might be a pillar of 

strength for both daughter and kingdom, the King remarried. 

And a shadow fell over the land. 

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Comments?  Suggestions?  Direct all email to miramoon@sailormoon.com 

and please visit my web site @ http://www.angelfire.com/comics/moon!

Special thanks to my editor Crescent Moon!

                                                     (Fin. 06/11/01)