For those getting tired of Sailor Moon related art, fret not. This is the last one. Also, be prepared for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG description. Sorry!

This was done for *Heavenly-Princesses fairytale princess contest - the concept was to draw a character or characters from Sailor Moon dressed as fairytale royalty. I chose Haruka and Michiru, because they're probably my favourite anime couple ever.

For starts, let me give you a few notes on the design for those who are only interested in that and have no intention of reading the fairytale that'll follow:

The first questions on your mind may involve the colour of Michiru's hair/eyes and Haruka's curls. This is easily explained. This is a scheme that Naoko used for Michiru more and more frequently as the manga progressed, and towards the end of the series, Naoko changed Haruka's hair, possibly to distinguish her from Mamoru. As for the clothing, it's fantasy, but based on traditional Armenian/Russian fashion, as the fairytale I chose was originally Armenian, and I decided to make their outfits the same colour as their fukus to make it more obvious who they were. The tack on the horse was inspired by traditional Georgian (which I assume is close to Armenian) riding gear. The horse itself was referenced from here: [link] .

And now it's story time, kiddies, because this is a lesser known fairytale. As I said, it's originally Armenian, but I based mine on the later Andrew Lang retelling (which can be read in all it's full and rather confusing glory here: [link]), because in his version both the girls are princesses, and the rules of the contest required all characters to be royalty. Because his is very long and I'm sure therefore that most of you would prefer something condensed, here's my version, edited for length and some very random plot points:

THE GIRL WHO PRETENDED TO BE A BOY

Once upon a time, there was a king who in his youth was a great warrior. For long years, he kept his country safe, but in the twilight of his life, it came to pass that a great conqueror became the king of a neighboring country, and began to win himself a great empire. This conqueror let it be known that any kingdom wishing to surrender itself to him could do so and come to no harm if one of the princes agreed to enter the service of the conqueror. Any who did not would be considered by the conqueror fair game for conquest. Now, the old king had seen many battles, and he wished that he and his country could enjoy a time of peace. Alas, however, while he had three lovely and intelligent daughters, he had no sons to send to the conqueror. This naturally saddened him greatly, and his discomfiture was not lost on his daughters, who also guessed the reason for it. It happened that the youngest, who was his favourite, was also a very brave girl who had convinced a knight in her father’s service to teach her the art of combat. One day, unable to bare her father’s gloom any more, she went to him begged to be allowed to go to the conqueror’s court in disguise and present herself as her father’s son. After some thought, the king agreed, and in addition, presented to his daughter the secret of his own success, which was his favourite horse. The old king explained to his daughter that it was a magical horse, and if she always did exactly as it told her, she would be safe and happy. His daughter thanked him profusely, and soon rode out in the guise of a prince, after taking an affectionate leave of her family.
After the she-prince and the magical horse had been travelling for some time, they came across a long and lovely lock of hair by the side of the path. The she-prince inquired of her steed whether she should take the lock or not, and the horse replied that in its opinion, she should. Therefore, the she-prince tied the lock of hair around her neck and continued.
After a few days of riding, the she-prince arrived at the castle of the conqueror and presented herself. Immediately the conqueror’s eyes fell upon the lock of hair around her neck. “Surely this lock of hair belongs to the that particularly lovely princess who vanished some months ago, and surely that means you know where she is! Very well, I accept your service, and as your first task, you will bring her to me, for I wish to see if she is really as lovely as all that.”
In vain did the she-prince attempt to explain that she had no idea where this princess was. Distressed, she went to the magical horse and explained the problem.
“She has been stolen by a demon who has taken her to his castle with the intention of wedding her,” said the horse, “However, being clever, she has set him the task of finding and catching her herd of mares, whose milk has magical powers and who are, more importantly, as fast as the light itself, before she will marry him. Therefore, she is at the moment guarded only by the demon’s mother. I can take you to the castle, and if you are brave and do as I say, you can bring her back.”
So the horse and the she-prince set off for the demon’s castle, and the two found the princess wandering the castle grounds. Approaching the princess, the she-prince explained that she had come on a rescue mission. Surprised and grateful, the princess allowed herself to be swung up before the she-prince on magical horse’s saddle, and the three rode off.
Unfortunately, upon realizing what had happened, the demon’s mother flew into a rage and gave chase. Terrified, the she-prince asked the magical horse what was to be done.
“In my left ear,” replied the horse, “You will find a stone. Throw it over your shoulder.”
The she-prince did as she was instructed, and immediately a mountain sprang up behind them. However, the demoness simply climbed over it. Again, the she-prince asked her steed what was to be done.
“In my right ear.” replied the horse, “You will find a comb. Throw it over your shoulder.”
No sooner was this done then a vast wood sprang up behind them, but the demoness razed it with ease.
“Throw the betrothal ring of the princess over your shoulder,” instructed the horse.
The she-prince did as she was told, and when the demoness stepped on the ring, a great cage erupted around her and she was unable to escape it.
The she-prince, the princess, and the magical horse continued their journey unmolested, and the she-prince and the princess became fonder of each other with each passing day. Finally, they arrived at the conqueror’s palace and the she-prince rather reluctantly presented the princess to the conqueror. Finding her even more beautiful than he had expected, the conqueror bowed before her and asked for her hand. However, the princess did not much like the look of him, and in fact much preferred the she-prince, so she told him that she would only marry him if he completed the task that she had set her previous suitor - to find and catch her herd of extraordinary mares. The conqueror agreed, but passed the mission on to the she-prince, who thought this very unfair, but departed.
The magical horse took her speedily to the mares, and with one whinny called the herd, who followed the horse and it’s rider back to the conqueror’s palace.
But the princess told the conqueror that he had not completed the task himself, and that if he wanted her for his wife, he would have to kill the demon who had kidnapped her.
The conqueror merely laughed, and told her that if one of his vassals did it, it was as good as if he had done it himself, and without delay sent the she-prince off in his stead. However, seeing that the princess was upset, the conqueror declared that as a reward, the she-prince would rule his kingdom after his death.
So again, the she-prince had to set out, and again, the magical horse guided her unerringly. The demon was still searching for the princess’s herd of mares, and was in a terrible rage, but between the she-prince’s skill with the sword and the horses skill on its feet, he was defeated.
As the she-prince rode away, however, the demon uttered with his dying breath what he thought was a terrible curse, “If the one who has defeated me is a man, let him become a woman, and if it is a woman, let her become a man.”
But upon finding herself a man, the she-prince, who was now a prince, was delighted, and rode back at speed to the palace. To the prince’s surprise, when he arrived at the palace, he found the princess at the door waiting for him and smiling.
She had not been idle during the she-prince (who was now a prince)’s absence. Enraged at the injustice of the conqueror, she had commanded her mares to be milked and bade the conqueror bathe in the milk with her. It has already been said that the milk of the princess’s mares had magical properties, and they were these: if a good-hearted person bathed in it, it gave health and vitality, but if an black-hearted person bathed in it, it gave only death. Therefore, when conqueror stepped into the bath, he had died on the instant.
“I will have you for my husband and no other,” said the princess, and the two were wed and lived happily ever after.