The Unwanted Prince

Prologue Part 2: The Legend Begins

6 weeks later...

A young Avocato scaled down the palace wall, his paws bandaged. He could barely hold a pencil without pain shooting up his arm, but he managed to create two sets of claws attached to exoskeleton gloves and he was using them to keep himself from falling to his death.

He couldn't help but watch as his parents gave his older brother a new set of clothes. He sighed to himself and looked down at his own clothes. Compared to his family, he was dressed in rags. Rags that his brother Purrprika had said that they weren't fit enough to wipe his ass but were fine enough for Avocato to wear.

Like their parents, Prince Purrprika looked down on his younger brother. He detested Avocato and constantly belittled him. Their parents avoided him as much as they could, and when he was able to see them, they reminded him that he was an accident and that they never wanted him. His brother pushed him around and hit him, while he mocked him.

Avocato was certainly a bit envious, but he was sure his parents still loved him deep down. He was eager to make them proud. So he joined the Royal Ventrexian Academy, where they trained the best of the best soldiers on the planet. He had already taken the test to get in and passed with flying colors. He was going for his first day of classes and to pick up his official uniform.

He took a deep breath before continuing to slide down the wall, jumping off and doing a backflip right before he landed on all fours. He couldn't help but wince as his fore paws hit the ground. "Fudge... ughhh... my paws... why wont they heal?... Toughen up Avocato. Whining and crying isn't befitting of a prince or a warrior. Maybe now Mama and Papa will be proud of me and tell me they love me," He said to himself as he stood up and dusted himself off.

Before he left, Avocato looked through his satchel to make sure he had everything he needed. "Pencils? Check. Notebooks? Check. First aid kit? Check. Hair ties because my hair is out of control? Check. Lunch? No check. Snack? Nope again. Erasers? Check! Looks like I have everything I need for today. Hopefully someone will share their lunch with me. I'm so hungry. What did I say, Avocato? No whining! You're better than that! You're Prince Avocato of the Royal Pawberry family of Ventrexia! Second in line to the throne! The pain only makes you stronger, and to be a warrior you have to be the strongest! You got this! And you're talking to yourself. Again. And the books you've read say that talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity. But, again, I'm the only one who listens... Chin up Avocato! It's time for school!" And with that, he ran off to the academy.

The poor kid. Not only was he practically raising himself, he was so lonely that he often talked to himself. All he wanted was to have a fraction of the love his parents gave his brother. To have a decent place to sleep instead of sleeping on the floor of the musty old palace tower. To have his parents comfort him whenever he had a nightmare. To not have to take scraps of food from the kitchen so he wouldn't starve to death. He just wanted to have what his brother had. What most children had. He's not even seven and he was fighting to stay alive in the hopes of finding out that he is as loved as his brother. He was a simple kit. Love is all he wanted...

10 YEARS LATER...

It's been 10 years since Avocato's first day at the academy, and even after all this time his home life hasn't gotten any better. No matter how hard he tries, his family still despises him. By this time, he's given up on that but it doesn't mean he still doesn't long to hear his family say, "We love you Avocato." To be fair, he's a lot more focused on one upping his rival and long time friend and getting to be #1 in his class. And he's sparring against her right now, while promptly getting his ass kicked.

She pinned him to the ground, a paw around his throat. "Nice try, Cato. You almost knocked me down this time," Apricat smirked, blood coming from her nose and dripping off her chin.