The Secret Princess

“She’s adorable, isn’t she?” said the evil witch, looking at Amora lying on her tattered bedspread.

“Poor little girl… born a princess, made to live a slave. And now, after many years, she will finally be mine. She will be a princess again, a princess who serves me!!”

“But, what if the Queen finds out that she’s gone, Mistress??” said her pet cat, Lady Evan.

“Well. She can’t cry over what has been long dead, can she? If she does, it would seem like the horror of her daughter’s death finally overcame her, and she would be locked up just like her daughter”.

The High Queen was the symbol of Royalty. But her magic was gradually deteriorating. Because of the curse, the Queen was not able to perform any magic, until…. her eyes fell on her daughter. The Queen declared her daughter dead and used her magic reserve. Every time the Queen cast a spell, she would refill her magical reserve by draining her daughters’.

Amora, now 118 years old, never saw the outer world. Her only pet was Fairy, a dragon Fly. The Evil witch was her maid, who Amora trusted far more than necessary. She was 2 years old when the dungeon became her new world. Occasionally, her mother would visit her, to ask her for a little ‘help’. Amora’s heart ached for her mother. Being the High Queen, she was expected to do impossible things, even if she were sick. Amora, wanted to be a part of the world, to help her mother, to use her powers, instead of her mother’s. But her mother had talked against it.

Amora had a visitor. She introduced herself as Lady Evan and that she was rescuing her. Amora, who had forgotten what leaving meant, stood there… transfixed.

“We have to leave before the Evil witch arrives”. When Amora didn’t show any signs of moving, Lady Evan pounced on her.

“If you don’t leave now, you will never be able to leave this wretched place again. This is your only chance. I’m your only chance. Please come…” pleaded Lady Evan.

“You might not remember me, but before you were captured, we would meet every day at the meadow and play. Later, when my mistress, the Evil witch came to know about your fate, only then did I know you were still alive. I swore that at the first opportunity I get to relieve you from this cursed hole, I would help you“

As Lady Evan talked, brief fading pictures made their way into Amora’s memory. She faintly remembered being in the meadow, the trees, the sunlight, the mist slowly lifting through. Lady Evan begged again. Slowly, with every step, Amora felt her freedom seeping in. But the Evil witch had appeared. With one look at things she knew what was happening. She lunged at Amora. About the same time, Fairy, inserted a poisoned needle into the witch’s neck. The witch collapsed. The three flew the dungeon.

Lady Evan carried little Amora on her back. She took her through the outside walls of the palace, through the meadow... all the while thinking, planning. Fairy’s little stunt would not keep the witch down forever, but it gave them time and…. hope. She knew she wouldn’t be able to protect Amora for a longer time. It was a risk Lady Evan was ready to endure. A risk that would end her life. A risk that would endanger Amora. But it was worth it. A little freedom to Amora was worth it. Amora was worth it.

The Right To Hope

My story is quite simple. The evil wanted to rule the magical kingdom. The good fell on the way. Last survivors were our Hero and a mighty dragon.

Prince Acquereus:

Anger blazed in Acquereus’s eyes as he sat on the high pillars of the Pantheon, looking over his dismantled kingdom. The Evil magicians had raided and trashed the kingdom. They had captured the dragons alive, killed the mortals, and left the dead to their pets. They burnt everything they saw. Living had turned into powders of grey. The kingdom that once stood tall and proud, now lay burnt in ashes, ashes of his people, people who he had to save. Instead he had abandoned them. The high priest had forced him to flee. To leave and return when he was a trained warrior, when he was ready. And now he had returned. Returned to claim his kingdom, claim his right to the throne…to claim his father.

All along, he had waited like a brave soldier alongside his pet dragon, Rider, to reclaim his kingdom. But he also had another duty, a duty to his dragon. Rider was being attacked by few of the frail magicians, when Acquereus had stepped in and rescued Rider. Since then Rider was his only living mate. But that was not the reason he felt the responsibility over the dragon. Rider had shown him the palace where his father was held captive. It was a labyrinth. Not many details could be made out of the vision, but it at least gave him hope. Along with the vision, he had sensed confusion inside the dragon’s mind, a sense of struggle, between hate and trust. Acquereus swore that he would end everything and find an answer to the dragon’s questions… and his

Rider:

The old master had visited him. But he was pale, very pale… Rider could see right through him. His master was just a shadow of his mortal figure, stranded few feet above the ground. Rider knew something wasn’t right. His master had told him to leave the safety of his home and travel. Travel far, where nobody would find him.

“Leave and never turn back, for you have a greater duty to the kingdom. Never be captured, or my death would go in vain. You have to find a new master. You have to help each other in order to find what is lost.”

He had left. He had travelled. He had found a master, or rather… masters. After travelling far, a series of tragedies had continued, everything ending with either betrayal or death. The outer world is more treacherous than you realize Rider. It is not what it seems. His master had told him many times, but Rider had refused to believe.

After several years, he had found Acquereus.  He had never trusted him at first. They both had fought over trust issues. He had complained a lot, babysitting a dragon, he had called. Rider later learnt of Acquereus’ past. His struggles, and his loss… his father. Rider had shown him the palace where the king was held captive. Acquereus had soon reacted. He made plans. He trained harder. Probably that is why his master had saved him. But how can he help Acquereus? He was just a simple dragon. Rider had never understood his master’s riddles. Why was he saved, while all the rest were taken? Why did his old master provide him the sole responsibility of the one being responsible to bring the old kingdom, back to its standing glory? Why was he the one last hope?