ã€ŠThe Empty Throne and the Legend of the Nameless Kingã€‹


 prologue

    Even in the presence of a bright light, darkness is never too far away. It lurks around every corner, hides behind every object and every nook and cranny. Like a phantom waiting for its moment.

    For Sonia, the darkness was always waiting for her, even after she fell asleep. It was always there, ever pressing down on her lonely heart. Even now, she laid in her bed, hungry, cold and alone. The darkness thrived in her misery.

    ¡°Whether here or there, night or day, no matter where I go, the darkness never goes away.¡±

    The sad little girl curled herself into a shivering ball of sorrow, weeping until her weary mind was too tired to stay awake. Tears rolled down from her purple, swollen eye before she soon slipped away into sleep, where even there, she would not find peace.

    Sonia often had dreams in which she existed as a tiny spec floating in an endless void of painful solitude, where familiar voices casted insults and harsh words at her, reminding her of how wretched she was and how wretched she would always be. They were words that she had heard over and over before. A painful reminder indeed. She was an unwanted child that would grow to be an unwanted adult, ever longing for the comfort of love and acceptance. But she didn¡¯t deserve it, did she?

    Just like so many times, the endless void stretched out before her, a vacuum of endless space, sucking all light into its hungry depths. The atmosphere was quiet and still, causing her anxiety to swell with anticipation. For she knew what came next.

    Before the voices could speak, she shouted into the void. The darkness swallowed her words, making her voice sound strangely muffled. The darkness responded by assaulting her, pressing in on her, as if to swallow her up also. She continued.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything. I already know.¡±

    Even in her bed, unconscious and asleep, her cry came out with a moan.

    ¡°I know, I know. ¡°

    ¡°I am worthless. ¡°

    ¡°I am stupid. ¡°

    ¡°I cry too much.¡±

    ¡°I am selfishly needy.¡±

    ¡°I am a bad girl.¡±

    ¡°I know that I¡¯m annoying, and¡­and¡­I ruined my mommy and daddy¡¯s life.¡±

    The musty pillow on which she slept was stained from the tears of countless lonely nights. The pillow, worn and dingy, became wet as she wept.

    This was her life.

    What an awful existence. Night after night, she prayed to any god that would listen, that someday, she could change her life.

    A gentle light shone through the tiny window of her tiny room. It shone like the soft light of the moon. It silently drifted from the window to the floor as silver sparkles emanated from its glow. The air was still and silent, but the soft light continued to move along the floor to the rickety bed where the little girl slept. It moved as light that spilled from an open door, casting its sparkling glow on everything in its path until it reached the sleeping child, and once its light casted itself onto her sleeping form, it reached out like a hand and cradled her bruised face.

    The girl rarely dreamed of anything worthwhile. Instead, her dreams were mostly nightmares or nothing at all. Though, she preferred nothing at all. Tonight, however, she dreamed of something different, and she wasn¡¯t sure at first if it was a good thing. The endless void that stretched before her changed and formed into a flowing grassy field. The landscape, dotted with tulips and daisies, were blown gently from the wind that tussled her dark brown hair.

    She took a long deep breath. She could taste the clean air, and feel the cool breeze in the sunny atmosphere, and hear the birds chirping in mid flight.

    ¡°What is this?

    Sonia¡¯s wandering gaze searched cautiously as she tiptoed lightly through the grass. The ground was soft and warm beneath her feet.

    Sonia stopped abruptly, her breath caught up in her throat. There was a figure standing unmovingly in the distance. Not knowing what to do or say, she stood there, watching as the figure stood on a high hill overlooking the landscape below.  The woman stood with her back facing Sonia. She wore a long white robe that flowed in the wind along with her platinum white hair. The mysterious woman turned to face her with a gentle smile.

    ¡°Hey you, come and join me. The view is breathtaking.¡±

    Sonia stood there for a long moment, wondering if she should approach the woman or run away. She looked around at her surroundings and realized that with such an open field, there was nowhere to hide.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Sonia asked.

    ¡°You already know my name, but that¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t remember. Someday you will.¡±

    ¡°I know you?¡± She asked, looking down at herself with her fingers to her chin.

    Come and join me. Stand by my side, my dear friend.¡±

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Friend?¡±

    Sonia stepped toward her. With one trembling foot at a time, she made her way to the woman¡¯s side.

    There was so much about this woman that drew her in toward her, like a mysterious magnetic power that led the girl¡¯s feet to where the woman stood.

    There was something about this woman that melted the fear within her, and she wasn¡¯t sure what it was, and she wasn¡¯t sure what it was about this woman that drew her in. Was it the sound of her voice or her gentle smile? Or perhaps, was it the glowing radiance of her brilliant blue eyes?

    Sonia stood on the high hill that overlooked the landscape below, facing the mysterious woman, who in turn, faced the lonely girl.

    The two girls stood toe to toe with one another in silence as the cool wind tossed their clothes and grassy flowers in a swirl. The little girl looked up at the beautiful stranger who looked down at her with her gentle smile. The little girl was waist-height, looking up at the woman with apprehension. The friendly, unblinking gaze made her feel nervous and so she looked away, looking out into the open field below them. The massive span of golden yellow and burnt orange flowers blew in the wind like waves on the sea. It truly was breathtaking.

    The woman reached out her hand and caressed the girl''s face. She flinched with the sudden contact.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I won¡¯t hurt you. I promise. I¡¯ve been watching you for a little while. I¡¯ve seen what you did today. ¡°

    The little girl bowed her head in shame.

    ¡°I got into trouble today. But I was only trying to help!¡± She said, snapping her head up in defense. The woman laughed.

    ¡°Oh, I know. I¡¯m not here to punish you, silly. I know that what you did was for the benefit of another person. You meant well.¡±

    Sonia bowed her head once more.

    ¡°Yeah, but the other girl pretended like she wasn¡¯t being bullied. I got in trouble for fighting. It¡¯s not fair!¡± She cried.

    ¡°I know, Dear. It certainly isn¡¯t.¡± Said the woman, gently stroking Sonia¡¯s hair. ¡°The world as a whole is unfair and cruel, Isn¡¯t it? Do you regret what you''ve done? Would you do it again if you could?¡±

    Sonia thought for a moment. Would she do it again? That was a good question. The bully that had attacked that poor and defenseless girl had landed a punch to Sonia¡¯s eye, and in the end, the girl being attacked, in order to protect herself from further bullying, had pretended like she was not involved, making Sonia out to be a liar. Would she do that again?

    ¡°I think¡­That I would¡­Do it again. I don¡¯t think I could possibly look away from such a thing. I have to help. I will always help people.¡±

    Sonia grabbed hold of the woman¡¯s hand that was still caressing her face, and pushed it away.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have anyone. I am alone, and I know what it¡¯s like to have no one on your side. I won¡¯t let anyone else be lonely or unloved. Not if I can do something for them. I have no regrets.¡± Sonia clenched her teeth in a stifled cry. ¡°But¡­It still hurts so much. I came home and was immediately punished and sent to my room. It doesn¡¯t matter where I go or who I talk to. No one loves me. No one cares!¡±

    The mysterious woman, moved by the little girl¡¯s tearful words, grabbed hold of Sonia and pulled her into a full embrace. Sonia¡¯s face sank into the woman¡¯s clothes as her arms wrapped around her tightly.

    The girl could feel the woman¡¯s tears soaking into her hair. Sonia, though she was only a child of ten years, instinctively found herself patting the woman¡¯s arm in a comforting manner.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to make such a fuss. I¡­¡±

    ¡°I claim you.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Sonia said. Shocked and confused. The woman raised her voice in a powerful affirmation.

    ¡°I tell you this day, I claim you. You are mine! And I will love you with all of my heart!¡±

    Sonia didn¡¯t just hear the words, she felt them, being completely enveloped in a sparkling aura. First her hair faded into a platinum white, and then her eyes, chestnut brown, shined with a divine blue. She now bore a resemblance to the woman holding her.

    ¡°I claim you. You are mine!¡± She repeated. ¡°And from this day, you will bear my name.¡±

    The woman knelt down and lifted the girl into her arms.

    ¡°I knew it when I first saw you. This is right!¡±

    Sonia didn¡¯t understand what was happening and she honestly didn¡¯t care. A woman was holding her. Something she rarely ever received, and she loved it. She returned the woman¡¯s embrace and together, they held onto one another as the world around them disappeared in a blinding white light. And when the light faded, she was in her room, being held still by the mysterious woman who had claimed her.

    The woman sat the girl on her bed and knelt beside her,  cradling her face with both of her hands.

    ¡°I only regret that I won¡¯t be able to see you like this for such a long time.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t trouble you with the details, love. You still have a very difficult road ahead of you, and you will, at times, lose your way. But I will always be there with you, even if you forget. There will be times when you will lose faith, but even then, I will always be there with you, though you can¡¯t see me.¡±

    ¡°Are you dying?¡±

    The woman was silent.

    ¡°I see. The world truly is cruel, isn¡¯t it?

    ¡°It is indeed. But in you is where I put my hope. Yes, both my hope and my future. You will be a beacon for my people, someday.

    ¡°Are your people being bullied?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and they are in need of your help. Will you let them suffer? They need a friend and someone to love them.¡±

    ¡°Of course I¡¯ll help them! I will love them when no one else will. I will be there for them.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you will. You are an amazing girl, and someday, you will be an even better queen.¡±

    ¡°Queen?¡±

    ¡°I have to go, my love. I cannot stay here much longer. I won¡¯t see you again for a long time, but I will miss you.¡±

    ¡°Do you have to go?¡±

    I do.¡± She said with a kiss on the girl¡¯s forehead. ¡°Be good for me, and never stop loving others.¡±

    With that, she stood up and vanished into the light.

    The door busted open and an angry woman came through.

    ¡°What¡¯s that racket!? Girl, I tell you what. If I hear another sound, I¡¯ll¡­¡± The woman¡¯s eyes went wide.

    The tiny room was filled with an ethereal light that normal human¡¯s eyes could not penetrate. When the blinding light that filled the room faded, it was the eyes that the surrogate woman saw first, followed by pale white hair.

    ¡°Sonia?¡±

    ¡°Yes, mother. Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I think I drank too much.¡± She said as she closed the door, leaving the blue eyed, white haired girl alone.

    For days to come, she didn¡¯t mind being lonely. Her dreams were never the same after that encounter. They were filled mostly with adventures with the white haired stranger, which always ended with the mysterious woman telling her ¡°I love you.¡±

    It took some time for her hair to regain the normal color of dark brown, but her eyes, though normally a dark chestnut brown, always held a glint of divine blue at just the right angle, always catching people by surprise, which they shrugged off as a trick of the light.

    Though the darkness was never too far away, the light that the woman gave her, imparted a special resilience that would aid the girl for all of her days. A light that would never fade.

 Chapter 1

    The slick black sedan raced down the deserted highway alongside a beautiful orange colored bay, the sunset dipped low into the horizon. The clouds above the bay resembled long slender arms that almost seemed as if they wanted to reach out toward the young woman seated in the passenger side as she gazed at the clouds in a trance. Shades of brilliant orange, reds, and pinks, light up the slender arm-shaped clouds as if the gods were mourning something that mortals, in their selfish, busy lives, were too ignorant to pay attention to or to understand.

    Already late to the party and dreading the teasing nature of his mother, the man gripped the steering wheel in frustration as he flicked his cigarette out the window. Sonia watched through the side mirror as the red glow of the still lighted cigarette skirted helplessly along the road and couldn¡¯t help but to compare her own life as she skirted helplessly along the bumpy road of life. Sparks from the cigarette as it hit the pavement complimented the orange colored atmosphere.

    ¡°God, I hate cigarettes. Could you have possibly developed a worse habit?¡± Sonia said, leering out the window toward the bay. Thick black sunglasses hung large on her face, covering the bruising on her eye from the night before. Sonia couldn¡¯t count the many times her eyes held that color, and she began to think of it as a permanent part of her. Of course, John, her boyfriend, apparently couldn¡¯t remember inflicting the bruise.

    The man glanced at his passenger before huffing in anger, pulling out another stick and lighting it up, he puffed its smoke in her direction.

    ¡°Deal with it. It¡¯s your fault we¡¯re running late to begin with.¡±

    ¡°Oh? I thought it was because you picked me up late. My bad, and besides, it wasn''t my fault my heel broke. I hate wearing high heels anyway.¡±

    The man twisted his grip on the steering wheel, making a leathery creaking sound from the friction.

    ¡°Just remember to mind your P¡¯s and Q¡¯s around my mother and her guests. This is not like the backwater events you go to.¡±

    ¡°Right, I forgot that I¡¯m some backwater peasant. I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Should I bow like a moron or curtsy?

    The man sighed and said no more.

    The rest of the trip was mostly silent, amidst the hum of the engine and roar of the wind from the open windows.

    They were on their way to some gala event that John¡¯s mother firmly invited them to attend. It was not something they were able to refuse. The thought made Sonia¡¯s stomach knot up with worry. Sonia wasn¡¯t good at meeting new people. Her anxiety, developed through many years of abuse and neglect, always got the better of her. It didn¡¯t matter how she rehearsed it, she was sure to choke on her words and humiliate herself infront of his mother and her family. Why did she decide to date a man with such a lavishly rich family? Actually, how she ended up with him at all was an even bigger mystery. She never saw herself as someone that could attract such a person. Unfortunately, every week spent with him made her question her taste in men.

    When she had met him, he was a gentle and good natured man, and he seemed, at first, to be exactly the kind of man she had always wanted. Not to mention his gorgeous blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. She had to admit to herself that his looks might have possibly made him seem better than he was. Love is blind, they say. She certainly felt blind. It wasn¡¯t long after she moved in with him, that she started to see his true nature. He was a rude, angry, and violent man. At least he was when he was drunk, which was often.

    Sonia was deep in thought for quite some time and hadn¡¯t noticed that they had already passed the large iron gate to the multi million dollar estate and were slowing to a stop in front of the mansion.

    Sonia¡¯s jaw dropped at the sight of it.

    My god! Your family live here?¡±

    Taking the key out of the ignition, John turned and spoke quietly to her before stepping out.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch anything, and don¡¯t talk to anyone. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± She said with a slight astonished giggle.

    ¡°Don¡¯t open that stupid mouth of yours. Do not embarrass me.¡± He said firmly.

    ¡°Wow, okay I won¡¯t.¡± She conceded. ¡°It¡¯s not like I have anything to say to them anyway.

    Sonia stared at him incredulously, open-mouthed and exasperated as he left her in the car.

    ¡°Why am I even here? Why do I even bother with this man? Oh, that¡¯s right, because I have nowhere else to go. Yay me.¡±

    She got out of the car one weary foot at a time and sighed before closing the door. Her dress, with which the shoes didn¡¯t match, was simple black. Business casual was what he had recommended and she hoped that he liked her choice. She didn¡¯t have many options, and she wasn¡¯t exactly a fashion guru. The shoes and the other hand, was a quick decision after the heel of one of her shoes had broken. One foot out of the door and it snapped. It honestly didn¡¯t take her that long to put on a different pair, but he used that moment to blame her for their tardiness. She knew he was under a lot of pressure, so she didn¡¯t want to argue with him that much, but why should she have to put up with someone else¡¯s mistakes? It was annoying, honestly.

    He waited for her at the bottom of the stairs leading to the entrance. The look on his face was telling her to hurry the hell up, so she picked up the pace and together they greeted the attendants and stepped through the front door.

    The house that Sonia grew up in wasn¡¯t necessarily poor, but wasn¡¯t necessarily rich either. They were successful enough to get by comfortably, but supposedly they were counting on having a boy in which to groom into a successful heir to their business, which is why they mostly ignored her. They tried again and got the boy they wanted, leaving Sonia to be treated as an afterthought.

    Sonia¡¯s childhood house was a nice one, but this residence, if you want to call it that, was more like a shiny museum than a house. It was no wonder why she was told not to touch anything. Everything seemed like it was worth millions, just sitting on display, as if to brag to anyone visiting of their success. Small statues, busts, and paintings were all made and set in gold. Some were placed in cases of glass and some sat on hanging shelves and small polished wooden tables.

    A woman approached them, and Sonia recognized right away the blonde hair and blue eyes that John had inherited. She wore a maroon colored silken dress laced with gold. She also wore a matching gold bracelet and necklace. Her name is Margaret, and she is known to be shrewd and cruel, and Sonia didn¡¯t like her. But then, she didn¡¯t like Sonia either.

    Margaret grabbed her son and kissed him on the cheek, her earrings chiming as she moved from one cheek to the other before pulling him along, leading him down the hall by his arm, chatting happily as she led them to a large open dining room, all the while, paying Sonia no mind.

    ¡°My estranged son, you never call, write, or text. Am I that unbearable?¡±

    ¡°No, Mother, of course not. I¡¯ve just been busy. How have you been?¡±

    The woman¡¯s sharp eyes took on a teasing expression.

    ¡°You would know the answer to that if you visited more often, my dear boy. Oh, do you remember Charles, the Chief of Staff at your Father¡¯s business? His son just recently scored a striking deal with a foreign competitor, creating a billion dollar partnership. Isn¡¯t that wonderful? That¡¯s why we¡¯re celebrating tonight, and here you arrive late. Honestly, I couldn¡¯t be more embarrassed, but I¡¯ll let it go for now, for the sake of the guests.¡±

    She took an empty glass and poured a bottle of wine and handed it to her son.

    ¡°I asked you to come here tonight so that we could discuss a possible position in this deal. Wouldn''t that be nice?¡± She asked him. Even though the words she spoke to him were polite and  nurturing, it was her body language that spoke something else entirely. Something about the way she held herself. The sharp eyes and crooked lips said something like, You don¡¯t have a choice in this.

    ¡°God, this woman is scary.¡±

    Turning toward Sonia, a look of shock flashed across Margaret¡¯s face. ¡°Oh my goddess, where are my manners? I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s okay, ma¡¯am, I¡­¡± Sonai started. The woman brushed past her without a second thought , totally disregarding her as she took the coat of the woman behind her. Sonia stood there, blinking in confusion and embarrassment.

    Should I be upset about this? I mean, I was told not to talk to anyone. I shouldn¡¯t complain if they make it easy. But on the other hand, would it kill her to at least nod at me, or look at me for that matter?

    Sonia followed behind, using her best smile and did her best to giggle at the right moment and tried her very best to support her boyfriend all without speaking as much as she could. The evening went smoothly for the first couple of hours, to her surprise.

    The main dining hall was full of family members and guests eating, chatting, and sipping on expensive wine. She would have tried some of the food if she could identify what they were.  The cheese and crackers were the only things she could confidently eat, which she did.

    She found herself a tiny plate on which she collected various varieties of cheeses she had never tasted before.

    She decided that the best way to enjoy her time was to step away and allow the awful people to have their awful conversations.

    She snatched an abandoned bottle of wine and took a seat at a little table nestled away in the corner where she quietly nibbled at the cheeses she neatly placed on her plate. The wine was dry and bitter, which made her mouth pucker and cough.

    ¡°This wine is awful.¡± She said as she choked on the bitter drink. ¡° How can anyone drink this? Do they drink it just because it¡¯s expensive? Rich people are weird.¡±

    A stifled, snorting laughter interrupted her thoughts, which came from the direction of a short, fair-skinned girl with flaming red hair, tied back in a ponytail.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am.¡± The redhead said quickly. ¡°That was rude of me. Is there anything I can get for you?¡± She said with a sudden expression of worry.

    ¡°Rude? I didn¡¯t think you were rude. It¡¯s only natural to laugh at something silly, especially at the expense of rich people. By the way, I don¡¯t suppose you have a bottle of wine that doesn¡¯t activate my gag reflex, do you? The wine here  is terrible. But maybe it¡¯s just my peasant tongue that doesn¡¯t appreciate the expensive stuff.¡±

    The redhead grinned. Her buck teeth protruding just passed her bottom lip. She was an adorable young girl that clearly stood out from the rest of the people in the room. Her green eyes held a kind expression, and Sonia was compelled to hold her gaze.¡±

    ¡°Why, yes. I have just the thing. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    The girl turned on her heel as she grabbed hold of her black dress and twisted it aggressively as she spun, like a dancing stage performer, her dress flung out. The girl giggled at herself as she skipped merrily toward an open door.

    Sonia was reminded of the girls from school that loved girly things, like Barbie¡¯s and fashion. The kind of girls that would later become cheerleaders in highschool. Sonia never fit in with them, but then again, Sonia didn¡¯t fit in well with anyone.

    Just before the girl reached the threshold of the door leading into another part of the mansion, an angry shout attacked her from across the room.

    ¡°Rachel!¡±

    The cheery look she had just moments ago melted into a frown.

    ¡°Yes, Aunty?¡± She said wearily. The green eyes that were once vibrant and happy were now darkened and scared, like a wounded bird, or a deer caught in the headlights.

    John¡¯s mother walked over to the young woman, holding an empty wine glass, which she held out.

    ¡°These wine glasses are not the ones I had asked you to prepare, are they? I believe I asked for a clean, clear crystal. Does this look like clear crystal?

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am.¡± Rachel said with a whisper.

    ¡°What color is this?¡±

    The angry woman thrusted the glass at her, which broke against the girl''s chest, causing what little amount of wine still in the glass to stain her white blouse. The girl took the chipped glass and held it.

    ¡°It¡¯s rose pink, Ma¡¯am.¡± She whispered.

    Sonia looked down at her own glass. It was indeed rose pink. The glass sparked beautifully in the ambient lighting of the dim chandelier.

    ¡°Why, my dear child, have you chosen to disobey me?¡±

    The girl looked down at the glass in her hands.

    ¡°I thought it looked pretty. I thought the guests would enjoy it.¡±

    The angry woman snatched the glass from her hands.

    ¡°You stupid girl! Who cares about what you think is pretty?What do you know, anyway? You stupid, filthy girl. I have half a mind to throw you out right now, you good-for-nothing.You and your father are nothing to this family if it wasn¡¯t for your mother! What do  you know about fashion or proper etiquette? Forget about what you think, and learn to do what you¡¯re told, fool!¡±

    Sonia put her hands to her mouth and turned away from the awful scene that played out for all to see, hiding her tears and her anxiety.

    The woman looked like a demon in her anger. And no one dared to intervene.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Aunty. I¡¯ll go get the proper glasses.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s done is done, you twit!¡± Spit flew onto the poor girl''s face, which she dared not wipe away.

    ¡°I suggest you go to your room at once. I don¡¯t want to see you for the rest of the night, lest you cause further trouble.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Aunty.¡±

    The girl turned away and headed for her room, embarrassed and ashamed. She stopped as she passed the small table where Sonia sat and saw that she had turned her back to her.

    So much for making a friend tonight. She looked like a nice girl.  Now, she must think of me as a fool. I am a fool.

    She ran and fled to her room, leaving Sonia to wipe her tears and gather herself.

    Not moments after the incident had passed had Margaret and her guests began laughing and drinking once more, like nothing had happened. Sonia¡¯s mouth hung open in astonishment. What an evil group of people. Sonia looked around the room and saw no change in anyone. Most of all, Margaret went right back into whatever stupid conversation she was having with a tall English gentleman. He must have said something funny, because she smacked him playfully on his chest.

    ¡°Ewww, suddenly the wine doesn¡¯t seem so bad.¡±

    Sonia abandoned her spot at the table and quietly left the room in search of Rachel, who was undeniably better company, and in need of a friend.

    The sprawling halls of the mansion were long and numerous, and every one of them looked the same. Sonia feared leaving the familiar dining room to venture into the unknown parts of the mansion she wasn¡¯t familiar with, but the guilt of remaining quiet during that awful display propelled her forward. She spent several minutes walking on the same red carpet lined with paintings framed with the same gold paint. She was about to head back when a butler flung open a door behind her.

    ¡°Umm¡­Excuse me sir. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know where Rachel¡¯s room is, would you?¡±

    ¡°Rachel, ah yes. Turn right at the end of the hall. There should be a set of stairs in the next hall that leads to the second floor. Once there, you can¡¯t miss it. Her room is the only one with a silly sign on it.¡±

    ¡°Silly?¡± Sonia asked.

    ¡°Yes, silly. You wouldn¡¯t know she was twenty two from her childishness. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± He said with a bow. The man turned and left, walking briskly down the hall toward the party.

    ¡°Childish, huh? Now I¡¯m curious.¡±

    Sonia had spent many years being thought of as childish, but all she wanted was a friend, when none came for her, she resorted to ¡°childish ways¡±, which were simply games of imagination that kept her from feeling lonely. This, of course, never worked. But, what else did she have?

    It honestly didn¡¯t take much for Sonia to decide that she liked Rachel. She was nice, adorable, and a delight to behold. The few seconds she had with her was honestly the best part of the night. The look on her face when she was being humiliated brought back memories of Sonia¡¯s childhood, and it broke her heart.

    Sonia never could keep her nose out of other people¡¯s business, especially when others were suffering or being bullied. She hated bullies. Something inside her stirred at the site of something so unjust. She just couldn¡¯t help it.

    After much walking, she found the stairs and made her way to the second floor. The man was right, however. All of the doors on this floor were exactly the same, save for a single door that was decorated with glittering sparkles and a sign that read

    ¡°Only magical princesses and dragons may enter¡±

    ¡°PS - Gnomes are welcome too¡±

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    There were stickers dotting along the siding of the threshold. Stickers of dragons, gnomes and princesses. Rachel was definitely a dreamer, and that was okay. A girl as adorable as her deserves to be treated like a princess. She knocked politely.

    ¡°Rachel, are you in there?¡± Sonia asked. The sounds of rustling could be heard before a muffled voice answered.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Aunty. I¡¯ll stay in my room for the rest of the night. I won¡¯t bother anyone.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t sound that old, do I? For your information, I¡¯m only twenty four years old.¡±

    ¡°Sonia?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Sonia, although I¡¯m not going to ask how you already know my name, but yes, it¡¯s Sonia. I would¡¯ve asked for your name if I hadn¡¯t found out in such a terrible way. How are you holding up?

    Rachel approached the door, but didn¡¯t open it. She only rested her head against it, hesitating.

    ¡°You must think I¡¯m a loser, don¡¯t you?

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say a loser, but maybe a little weak. I certainly wouldn¡¯t let anyone talk to me that way. I¡¯ve been talked to like that my entire life. I¡¯m used to it. And I¡¯ve become somewhat calloused to it now. But sometimes, certain things trigger me, like the look in your eyes. It stirred something in me, and I couldn¡¯t bear to watch. I¡¯m sorry that I didn¡¯t stand up for you. I should have.¡±

    The door opened, and the teary-eyed girl revealed herself.

    ¡°You would''ve stood up for me?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Well, in retrospect, I would¡¯ve liked to. But in the heat of things, I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to move from my chair. I¡¯m sorry. I guess I¡¯m a little weak too. But if it¡¯s okay with you, can I  make it up to you by keeping you company for the rest of the night?¡±

    The girl was silent for a time, contemplating.

    ¡°You know, I was sitting alone with not a single friend before you came to speak to me. You made my night so much better in just the short time I had with you. Trust me when I say that you are far better company than the rest of them.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for saying that. If you¡¯re sure, then you are welcome to come in.¡± Rachel said, opening the door, she gestured to a small table, where a single glass of wine sat.

    ¡°Why, thank you.¡± Sonia said as she stepped into the room. She smiled. ¡°Does this make me a princess or a dragon, since they¡¯re the ones that are allowed to enter.

    Rachel laughed with a snort.

    ¡°A princess, of course! I¡¯ll be the dragon. What colored dragon should I be, though?¡± she pondered.

    Sonia¡¯s memory tingled in her mind.

    ¡°I¡¯d say, an ivory white dragon with beautiful golden yellow eyes.¡±

    ¡°Ooooh, I like it!! Where did that come from? That was oddly specific.¡± Rachel said. Her eyes twinkled with amusement.

    ¡°I think it was a dream I had when I was a child.¡±

    Sonia said, trying to recall the details.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right!¡± Rachel exclaimed. ¡°The wine that I was going to share with you, I have some here if you still want some.¡±

    ¡°That would be awesome. We both could use a drink.¡±

    ¡°Amen to that.¡± She said, slumping down onto the pink carpet next to her tiny pink table. She poured wine for both of them into cups of rose pink crystal.

    Sonia took a moment to observe her surroundings. The room was filled with the pastel shades of pinks and blues, with the bed and curtains laced in white.

    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s¡­pretty in here.¡±

    ¡°I know it''s childish, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Posters and drawings of princesses and dragons filled the walls and hanging shelves held figurines of even more princesses and cute dragons.

    Everything sparkled.

    The poor girl bit her lip and fidgeted with her hair as she watched nervously as Sonia scanned her room.

    ¡°Childish might be one way of describing it, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a bad thing. This mansion is filled with way too many adult arrogance to the point of suffocation. This room, however, is comforting. I like it.¡± Sonia said, sitting on the carpet adjacent to the innocent fiery-haired Rachel.

    There were bookshelves lining the walls that were filled with comics and fantasy novels that were, no doubt, tales about princesses and dragons. Sonia had to admit, she also liked Dragons and princesses. She was a girl after all. And tales about a knight in shining armor rescuing a damsel in distress was every neglected girl¡¯s favorite escape, it seemed.

    ¡°You know, when I first heard about you,¡± Rachel started. ¡° I wondered what kind of woman you were, to have attracted a high-standing man such as John. I thought you might be like them. You surprised me, though. You¡¯re nothing like them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll toast to that.¡± Sonia said, holding up the glass Rachel had prepared for her.

    Rachel laughed.

    The two girls raised their glasses and clanked them together in agreement. Sonia sipped the wine and her eyes went wide in delight.

    ¡°Wow! This wine is delicious! What is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a sweet Italian red wine called Lambrusco. It¡¯s a cheap wine, but it¡¯s my favorite. I¡¯m glad you like it. Want another?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d better be careful, missy. It¡¯s easy to get drunk off this wine.¡± Rachel said, pouring another serving for the both of them.

    ¡°Although, I¡¯ve never had a drinking partner, so I¡¯ll have to practice extra self control.¡±

    The two girls sat in silence, sipping on they¡¯re sweet wine and enjoying the silent company with one another. Company, that doesn¡¯t judge or persecute. The sparkling room was a place of safe comfort, but the company of Rachel¡¯s new friend was something far more magical than any of her books could allude to. The girl couldn¡¯t help it. She cried.

    This was the first time she¡¯d had company in her room. No one cared to visit her in any normal circumstance. Sonia was her first guest. Sonia actually cared. She watched as Sonia¡¯s face scrunched with worry.

    ¡°Hey, what''s wrong? Don¡¯t tell me that what the awful woman said to you is still affecting you. Let¡¯s not dwell on the bad things, let¡¯s enjoy the moment we have. Surely it won¡¯t last, but let''s make the most of what we have now.¡± Sonia said, crawling over to Rachel and embracing her.

    ¡°Ouch!¡± Rachel screamed, clutching her chest where the wine stained her blouse.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Sonia asked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you.¡±

    ¡°It''s okay¡± Rachel said as she eased over to her vanity mirror and tore open the blouse to examine herself. She stood silently in front of the mirror for a long moment and cried.

    ¡°Rachel? Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°My family doesn¡¯t love me. I¡¯m so alone in this house. Just one girl in an entire mansion. I know I should be thankful, but I¡¯m so lonely. Would she love me if I wasn¡¯t so clumsy and stupid?¡±

    Fits of sobs interrupted her thoughts as she fought through her tears.

    ¡°Since my mother died, I¡¯ve been nothing but an unwanted, pathetic, subservient niece, who can¡¯t do anything right.I¡¯ve tried so hard. My own family doesn¡¯t care about me or my pain¡± she cried, turning around to face her new friend. Sonia saw the shard of glass that protruded from the skin above her breast, and cried aloud. The red stain on her blouse wasn¡¯t from the wine.

    ¡°Memories flashed in Sonia¡¯s mind. Memories of her childhood, where no one loved her, not even her own parents. They hit her and they neglected her, and there was no comfort for her, save for the dreams she had at night, where a beautiful stranger claimed her as her own.

    Sonia got to her feet. She couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the shard of glass. It stuck out of her flesh like a testament to her lonely life.

    Margaret stood right in front of her. She was even the one that broke the glass. Are you telling me that she didn¡¯t even know that she hurt her? No, that¡¯s impossible! She had to have known. She just didn¡¯t care!

    Sonia wept for her and remembered a voice she had once heard. The words resonated in her soul.

    ¡°Never stop loving others.¡±

    Her lips quivered as she spoke softly. whether she spoke to Rachel, or whispered it to herself as a vocal thought, was unknown, but it was surely a subconscious action.

    She took a step toward Rachel.

    ¡°I claim you.¡±

    The tiny redhead looked at her, not knowing what Sonia was trying to say. She was going to ask her what she meant, if the color of Sonia¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t distracted her first. Sonia had dark features like that of a Hispanic woman, with tan skin and dark brown eyes, but for a moment, Rachel could have sworn Sonia¡¯s eyes turned blue. The sudden flash of color made the girl forget her pain as she started questioning her eyesight. She stood there, and watched Sonia as she approached her.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    Sonia took another step, trembling. She felt something that she hadn¡¯t felt since she was a child. Like an energy that flowed within her. She told herself countless times that it was all just a dream, but this is the first time in so many years that she had felt this way. It was the feeling of authority, like that of royalty in which all laws are firmly set, like a queen. Authority that needed to be proclaimed. It was almost as if her body moved on its own, but Sonia didn¡¯t fight it. She wanted this. She wanted it so much.

    Sonia reached out and grabbed Rachel by the hand, and with the other hand, placed it over the girl¡¯s heart, over the protruding glass.

    Once again, Rachel was about to say something, but it was Sonia¡¯s eyes that stopped her, leaving her frozen in place while Sonia¡¯s eyes changed. Her eyes shone brightly, a divine blue that shone brighter than even the lamp that lit the room.

    When Sonia spoke, it wasn¡¯t just a voice, but a booming proclamation that echoed in the large sprawling room.

    ¡°I claim  you, you are mine. You are not a fool. You are not stupid. You are not a nobody, and you are not alone. You are amazing and far more valuable than any gold or trinket in this mansion. You are mine and I love you.. From now on, you are my family, forever.¡±

    Rachel sobbed as she heard the words. No one had ever said such wonderful things to her in all of her life.

    ¡°Sonia, do you mean it?¡±

    Sonia¡¯s eyes returned to normal, and, as she came back to her senses, began to sway with fatigue. As if the energy had somehow drained from her body.

    ¡°Sonia? Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I think. I¡¯m just tired. Give me a minute.¡±

    Rachel helped Sonia into a chair before kneeling beside her.

    ¡°Sonia, what was that? That was¡­Something.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, honestly.¡±  Sonia said through heavy breaths. ¡°Something just came over me. I¡¯m sorry about that. That must have seemed super awkward. That was weird, wasn¡¯t it? I probably looked like a crazy person.¡±

    ¡°Well, that definitely was crazy, but lovely at the same time.¡±

    The door to Rachel¡¯s room crashed open, and Margaret came stumbling in uninvited.

    ¡°What was that racket? I heard it all the way from down stairs amongst the racket of the drunks!¡±

    ¡°And you just assumed it came from this room? Honestly, there are hundreds of rooms in this mansion, and you didn¡¯t even think to check the obvious one first, like the kitchen, for example. What would we be doing that would cause any kind of racket loud enough for you to hear?¡±

    Sonia¡¯s words came out in a slur as she tried her best to sound normal despite her rolling fatigue. The room spun and blurred to such a degree that Sonia had to grasp the vanity to steady herself. Margaret stepped closer with accusing eyes.

    ¡°Yeah¡­I tried, but I just can¡¯t function well enough in my current state. It all sounded great in my head, but I have no idea how it must have sounded out loud in my tired stupor.¡±

    Margaret¡¯s eyes fell upon the bottle of wine and the two rose pink glasses on the table.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking. Look at you. You¡¯re drunk!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I only had a glass, or was it two? Wait, was it two?¡±

    Rachel giggled at her confusion.

    ¡°Yes, silly, we had two glasses.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t even remember how much wine you drank!¡± Margaret screamed.  ¡°I invite you to such an important event, and this is how you act?!¡± The woman roared.

    ¡°I knew it from the moment I met you. You¡¯re nothing but a lousy gold digging beggar!¡±

    The woman grabbed Sonia by the arm and dragged her over to the door. Her grip was so tight. The strength of this woman was astonishingly strong.

    Holy crap!

    ¡°Ouch! You¡¯re hurting me.¡±

    Sonia stumbled and tripped as she struggled to walk.

    ¡°Let go of me! What is wrong with you?¡± The woman didn¡¯t listen. She whipped Sonia around and out the door where John was waiting, embarrassed. He spoke to her through clenched teeth.

    ¡°What are you doing up here screwing around with the likes of her? I thought I told you not to embarrass me.¡±

    ¡°How do I not embarrass you when it¡¯s too easy to do so? From what I¡¯ve seen, you¡¯re just like your mother. Are you two ever happy?¡±

    He slapped her, causing her to stumble and fall. Rachel screamed at the site of the violent act.The strike didn¡¯t neccessarily hurt her. Her body was still recovering from the event that took place just moments before they entered. She felt drunkenly numb. She laughed.

    ¡°Momma¡¯s boy! You claim to hate her, but you¡¯re so much like her, it¡¯s hilarious. What else are you going to do to me, Momma¡¯s boy? Not even man enough to have the decency to introduce me to your family and colleagues. I¡¯ve been here over four hours and you¡¯ve failed to introduce me to anyone. No one even knows who I am. I¡¯m literally a stranger here. What am I doing here, John?  I should have just stayed home. What was the point of bringing me out here, to humiliate me? You¡¯ve ignored me the entire time we¡¯ve been here. Now you give me attention?¡±

    Sonia slowly got to her feet and glared at him, seething.

    ¡°You¡¯re not a real man. You¡¯re a child just like the rest of them. How did I ever think that you could make me happy?¡±

    ¡°Rachel, never forget the words I¡¯ve spoken to you tonight. I meant every word.¡±

    Rachel gave a weary smile and nodded.

    Sonia pushed past John¡¯s slender frame and walked hurriedly down the hall, stumbling a little as she went.

    She was starting to recover a little from her stupor, but still managed to bump into every wall and corner on her way to the stairs.

    ¡°What in the hell happened to me? Was it really because of the wine? I know I¡¯m not much of a drinker, but damn. I didn¡¯t think I was that much of a lightweight.¡±

    Sonia stumbled ungracefully down the stairs to the first floor and through the throng of people still drinking the night away. Laughter filled the dining hall as haughty drunken guests divulged their money making secrets, which always included ripping off the lower class. Their type made her sick. With so much power and position to help people, they still choose to crush the ones that need it most.

    Once she reached the familiar front doors, she pulled them open and stepped out, resting on the top step as she caught her breath. The night breeze felt great on her tired shoulders. From the top step, she spotted the car and headed toward it. Once inside, she quickly undressed and fumbled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

    ¡°Boy am I glad I brought these.¡±

    She changed into a pair of old sneakers before  grabbing a wad of cash stashed away under the seat, money that she had been saving for this very purpose. She wasn¡¯t necessarily deciding to leave him permanently, but needed some time away. If he loved her at all, he would allow her some time to herself. She stuffed the money into an inside zipper pocket and headed off down the winding, rocky drive. She heard angry screaming from the building¡¯s main entrance and decided that it would be best to keep moving without looking back. What more did they want from here, anyway?

    She said to herself that she wasn¡¯t actually leaving him, but was it so bad that she did? After all, she wasn¡¯t happy. But then, when was she ever? Only when she was dreaming. She dreamed that someone loved her and enjoyed her company. That¡¯s what she wanted for Rachel, for someone to enjoy her company. She promised herself that she would make some time for her in the future. In the meantime, she needed to find herself a place to stay the night.

    ¡°What time is it? Like, ten, maybe? It¡¯ll probably take a while, but I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll find a hotel somewhere. If I stay here for another minute, I¡¯m certain to do or say something I¡¯ll regret.

    The winding gravel drive was loud to walk on, which was good in a way. The loud crunching sound jumbled her thoughts and allowed her to focus on the task at hand, which was to get away from the evil arrogance of the rich snobs which she would have to call family if she ever decided to marry into it. The thought of it made her laugh, surprised that she would even entertain the thought at all. Seriously, was she really happy with her current life?

    The drive was a little too long and winding for no practical reason that Sonia could understand.

    ¡°Would it kill them to make a  straight road?¡±

    Although, she understood that the terrain here was treacherous, with sheer cliffs that dropped off several hundred feet into the surrounding forest. It would take a small fortune to rearrange the surrounding landscape, which the family was definitely capable of.

    She could hear people yelling for her again. During the whole time she was there, she was ignored. Rich people only care about the people or things that make them rich, and anything else is regarded as unimportant, like her and Rachel. Sonia was sick and tired of being treated like she was unimportant. John only showed value in her when he didn¡¯t have her, and then as soon as she accepted his invitation to be his girlfriend, he pulled a one-eighty and changed his tune completely.

    Certain things in the business world lose their value upon obtaining it, or through normal use. A car, for instance, loses its value the moment it''s purchased and driven off the lot. But love shouldn¡¯t be that way. Love is not a commodity to be bought or sold. It¡¯s unconditional and priceless, with an infinite value, or at least it should be. To her, love is something that is meant to be treated as sacred, Kept and honored. But was this concept also a dream, like the rest of her imaginary happiness?

    A car pulled up beside her, and Margaret quickly jumped out of it.

    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, where are you going? Do you honestly care where a lousy gold-digging beggar goes? Are you going to drive me to the nearest hotel?¡± Honestly, that would be nice. If I wasn¡¯t disgusted by the site of you.¡±

    ¡°You watch your mouth, young lady!¡± Margaret spat.

    ¡° Wow, I¡¯m a lady now? When did I get promoted?¡± Sonia¡¯s sarcasm left the woman¡¯s eyes twitching in silent anger, speechless.

    ¡°You ungrateful bitch.¡±

    ¡°Ungrateful?¡± Sonia gasped. She was no longer able to contain her thoughts as she laughed hysterically.

    ¡°Look, woman, I can¡¯t with you right now. I just can¡¯t.¡± Sonia said as she continued down the road, laughing and yelling into the night.

    ¡°This woman has no clue. What a moron! Ungrateful? Does she even know? Her son can¡¯t do anything by himself. He¡¯s useless without a girlfriend, or should I call myself a nanny, because that''s how I feel with him most of the time. Literally, I cook, I clean, I do his laundry, and I¡¯m even the one that reminded him that he had a party to attend, but I¡¯M ungrateful! That woman is a terrible mother, she couldn¡¯t even teach him the basic skills of life. What a waste of good looks.¡±

    Sonia ranted on and on. Not stopping for a moment to consider that the woman that she was offending was behind her, seething in blinding anger. A hand clasped onto Sonia¡¯s shoulder and wrenched her around. Margaret¡¯s face was the last thing she saw before she was clubbed by a large purse, sending Sonia tumbling over the edge of the sheer cliff.

    ____________________________________________________________

    Rachel sat alone in front of her sparkling pink vanity, staring at her reflection. She was told her entire life that she was worthless and stupid. She believed it. She¡¯d never really considered denying those worlds, until today. Why was she considered worthless? The answer to that was shockingly easy. Why was she just realizing it now? Why did it take the visit of a stranger to open her eyes to the truth? It wasn¡¯t because of her abilities or intelligence that made her worthless. She was a half-blood. Figuratively and literally speaking. Her father was not of this family, he married into it. Once her mother died, her father was cut off from the family immediately, leaving Rachel to choose whether she should stay within the family or leave with her father. Of course, she stayed with the family by orders of her father, who insisted that she stay, reasoning that she would have a better life with them. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t an easy life. In fact, it was quite depressing to say the least. She began to think about the possibility of leaving the family behind. Surely she would be much happier on her own, even if she struggled financially, wouldn¡¯t she be more happy? This is what she currently struggled with.

    Rachel stood and started pacing back and forth in deep thought, Sonia¡¯s words echoing in her mind.

    ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not alone.¡±

    ¡°I love you.¡±

    A flood of tears rolled down her face uncontrollably. Sonia¡¯s words wrapped around her like a blanket of emotion, and she wanted to hang onto the memory for as long as she could. For who knows how long it would be before she would see her again, if ever. Today¡¯s events happened like a blur, both good and bad. And it was hard to make sense of it. The night seemed magical, and she didn¡¯t know whether it was the wine or if the magic was real, but assumed it was just the wine. But nonetheless, it was a night to remember.

    Rachel pulled out box after box of comics and fantasy books from under her bed, in search of the first aid kit. She had to do something about the shard of glass sticking out of her chest. She had forgotten all about it in the heat of events, but after spotting a random loose shard of rose pink glass on her carpet, reminded her of it. The realization of possible infection worried her, so she carefully placed the random shard onto her vanity and proceeded to search for the proper tools to not only safely remove the glass, but also disinfect the wound and clean it afterward.

    How many more instances like this would she be willing to put up with before she decided that enough was enough?

    When she finally found what she was looking for, she stood with the kit in her hands, the boxes of her favorite escape surrounded her. These books had helped her deal with a lot of depression, and she still loved them. Her favorite story was that of a princess who had been taken from her family and had gone through many hardships in order to be reunited with them. Wouldn¡¯t it be wonderful if there was a family like that for her? A family that would do anything for her, because they loved her? Again, Sonia¡¯s words echoed in her mind, plucking on her heartstrings.

    ¡°You are my family, forever¡±

    ¡°Forever.¡± She repeated.

    Rachel took a seat at her vanity and placed the kit in front of her. Her reflection in the mirror showed a white face with blotches of red spots from her crying.

    ¡°God, I look awful. It¡¯s her fault, really.¡± She smiled.

    ¡°Now, how should I start this? Let me see. First, I should sterilize the tweezers before I use them. It¡¯s a good thing I have rubbing alcohol in this kit.¡±

    She took a thin cloth from the kit and soaked it in the alcohol, using it to polish the tweezers until she felt satisfied.

    ¡°Right, now all there is to it, is to¡­use¡­the tweezers.¡±

    Rachel sat there, silent. Staring at her bare flesh, where the shard of glass should have been. It was gone, with not even a single clue that it was even there at all. No blood, no scar, nothing.

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡±

    She looked down at the random shard she found on her carpet, and realized that it was the very shard that pierced her.

    Rachel¡¯s confusion sent her reeling into a spiral blur of emotions as the night¡¯s events played out inside her mind in deafening volume.

    The glass as it was angrily shoved into her.  Sonia, who had made her smile and laugh, joined her for a glass of wine. All of it; all of the night''s events played out over and over again, but the one thing that stood out the most in perfect clarity, was Soina¡¯s striking blue eyes as she placed her hand over her bleeding wound. The moment when Sonia healed her.

 Chapter 2

    It was raining when Sonia opened her eyes. She was laying in the mud with her head against a downed tree. The tree beneath her head was sticky with blood, and when Sonia tried to get up, the whole world swam in blinding, disorienting pain. She pushed herself onto her knees in an attempt to gauge her surroundings, but the pain affected her vision. She tried to remember what she was doing in the woods and how she came to lay in it, but the pain was affecting her thinking. All she knew was that she was in a terrible state. The pain was so great, that she vomited, dropped back onto her stomach, and convulsed into shock before passing out.

    She woke up again sometime later, moaning in agony.

    "What time is it? I have to get up. I have to do something. I don''t know what happened to me, but I don''t want to die.¡±

    She didn¡¯t have the strength to stand, so she crawled. Her soaked jeans trailed through leaves and mud along the forest floor. Several times, she stopped and collapsed back into the mud and blacked out into unconsciousness before she awoke once more and continued on, all without a destination in mind. She was delirious, unable to comprehend what had happened and why. She couldn¡¯t tell where she was and where she needed to go. Her only thought was to keep moving, and so she did, until she was too tired to go any further. She laid back onto the forest floor and slept, waking and sleeping as her head injury raged. The wind and rain was cold but felt good against her skull, so she laid there.

    The rain beat down on her tired body. Soaked to the bone and shivering from the cold, she laid there all alone. Once again, her loneliness crept into her thoughts as she remembered her boyfriend and his awful mother. That was her life. One bad relationship after another, and no matter what, she always ended up alone.

    She was cold, wet, and covered in mud from head to toe. She coughed and retched as spats of blood speckled the ground in front of her. She wept loudly.

    Nobody knew, and nobody cared that there was a girl lying in the mud, lost and afraid. And they didn''t care about her battered and bloody face. She was a girl with no future. She was nothing. And she would always be nothing. How did she live for 24 years without a single person noticing the suffering of a girl that only wanted to be loved? She hated this world, and she hated her life in it. She just wanted to die. And this was as good a spot as any.

    There was something about nature she really liked despite the cold and wet ground she laid on. She thought that if she was going to die, why not die here, in her sleep? So she closed her eyes and listened to the soothing sounds of the forest.

    The sounds of the forest were harmonious, like a choir of wind, rain and trees. And she loved it. The rain pattered on every surface it could reach, and the wind tossed it in a swirl. The wind and rain danced together in a symphony waltz of swirling beauty. She didn''t need to see it. She could feel it on her body as the wind pulled and tugged at her muddy clothes while the rain massaged her back. She imagined that they were dancing for her. As if the forest could feel her anguish. The wind blew strongly at the trees, causing them to moan eerily as they swayed violently amongst the blustery storm. She slept.

    It felt like time flowed differently here, as she fell in and out of consciousness. The rain stopping and starting periodically.

    "I must be experiencing a concussion." She thought. She did seem to hit her head pretty hard. She thought this, until she vomited where she laid.

    "Actually, I''m pretty sure I have a cold. That''s not surprising, though. I''ve been screwing around in the rain for quite some time now. I have to get up. Wanting to die, and feeling miserable while it''s happening are two different things, unfortunately."

    She saw what looked like the silhouette of a large building some distance ahead of her. And she could have sworn she saw a shadowy figure running toward it, which looked like a child. But that''s crazy. Children shouldn''t be in the woods at this hour, let alone in this storm. She wanted to run after it to make sure the thing was safe. But unfortunately, her beaten and broken body refused to move for her. The back of her head throbbed and screamed in pain, and her new sickness made her feel heavy with nausea. So she laid there and slept.

    She awoke sometime later, startled by the sound of crashing thunder. The rain was replaced by a blanket of thick white fog. Her head snapped up at the wrathful display in the clouds. Even through the forest ceiling, The sky lit up by a score of raging lightning. The way the lightning played on the thick fog was like something out of a horror movie, and it scared her. At least enough for her to look around and gauge her surroundings. Once again she spotted the silhouette of a large building and, getting to her feet, ran toward it. Well, it wasn''t necessarily a run. It was more like a zombie walk, which is precisely how she felt.

    Lightning flashed around her like a raging battle in the sky. She couldn''t help but be in awe at how fearful and awesome nature truly was. She continued into a wide clearing that revealed a large open field where the mysterious structure stood. Now she could see the sky in its entirety. Gorgeous constellations sparkled down on her from the heavens as massive lightning thundered frightfully down on the earth, the sound of it making her ears ring.

    She continued slowly through the fog. It was a weird sensation wading through the fog like a lake of swirling smoke. She couldn''t see anything below her waist, so she had to step carefully so as to not trip on anything she couldn''t see. The lightning was so powerful that it seemed to light the whole world. Everything around her lit up in a stroboscopic fashion, causing everything to look strangely animated. She couldn''t help but to imagine the thought of ghouls and ghosts emerging from the white smoke around her. It seemed like the perfect setting for a scary movie, where monsters lay in wait for their unsuspecting victims. She reminded herself that she too, just moments ago emerged from the fog herself.

    "My hair and clothes are ruined. I probably look worse than a ghoul." She thought, a half smirk forming as a she waddled through the fog. Though it still hurt to smile, it didn''t stop her from snorting in stifled laughter as she attempted to breath through the pain.

    When she finally reached the building, she noted that the structure seemed old, even ancient. It looked like it was fully made of stone. The style of the structure was ornate and fancy, like something out of a medieval fantasy. It looked vaguely similar to a small castle or large church. She wasn''t sure which one. After trying the front door, it swung open with an eerie creek and it let her in.

    Once inside, Sonia stood motionless near the entrance, waiting and listening for any signs of life. If anyone was here, surely she would have scared them. Her face, though the swelling had gone down, was still covered in bloody mud, as was the rest of her body. She felt that she must look like a crazy person.

    "I am a crazy person. I talk to myself. Regularly."

    No sounds could be heard within the building.

    "Hello! Anyone here?"

    No one answered. She could have sworn she seen someone running around the property. But perhaps due to the storm, she could be seeing things. She shuddered loudly as the wind came through the partly opened door, giving a whistley moan as it rustled her matted hair and wet clothes. She closed the door and barred it for good measure.

    "Wouldn''t want anyone coming in after me." She thought. She wasn''t sure how far away from civilization she''d wondered, and she wasn''t sure whether her boyfriend was willing to come running in after her. Either way, it made her feel safer.

    "At least I''d be safe from zombies." She thought, amusedly.

    The building was certainly old. Mice and cobwebs aside, it had the strong musty odor of a building that hadn''t seen a mop for a very long time. Clearly, it''s been neglected for many years. The main room was spacious and grand. Much too large for your average church. Though, there were two small rows of pews on either side of the enormous prayer hall, with the main central aisle large enough for a bus to drive through.

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    "Maybe even two." She thought.

    From where she stood, she could almost make out a set of stairs leading to a darkened altar.

    There was a series of long, crystal glass windows that lined the walls of both sides of the great hall. The flashing lightning lit the hall in a strobing, eerie fashion. Causing the shadows to dance and move along the walls and floor as the cracking lightning spidered its way across the sky. It lit the room in such a way that gave Sonia pause. With every lightning strike, she could see a group of figures at the end of the hall. They didn''t move, but they were there.

    "Hello. Um. I''m sorry, I''m lost and I''m in need of shelter. Is that ok?" Her voice came out a bit more nasally than normal, due to her stuffed and broken nose. She fidgeted nervously. There was no answer. Not even a slight movement. There was something odd about the way they were holding themselves. She stole herself and decided to walk cautiously down the massive aisle. Doing her best to be as polite as possible as she approached the unmoving figures. Her feet echoed with each wet, muddy step along with her shivering body and chattering teeth.

    The lightning illuminated speckles of dust that floated freely in the great hall, giving the room a mysteriously magical feel.

    Mice and birds retreated for cover as she approached. Or were they bats? She couldn''t tell. The winged creatures made no sound as they flew, but she could somewhat see them as they went.

    After several paces she stopped, resting her hand on the nearest pew. It''s dark polished wood was sturdy, allowing her the brief time to rest as her head throbbed and her vision blurred. She moaned in pain, shook herself off and continued on.

    The closer to the figures she became, the more she was certain that they weren''t people at all, but in order to be sure, she reached out her hand and placed it on one of the figures shoulders.

    "Excuse me, ma''am."

    She was right. It wasn''t a real person, but a life-size marble statue. It was smooth to the touch, save for the layer of thick dust that covered it. There were three that she could immediately see. The one she touched was that of an elderly woman. Sonia felt that she looked about 60 years old. With long braided hair that rested over her shoulder. The old woman was on her knees with her left hand on the floor and her right hand outstretched toward the alter. There were two other statues behind her that looked like children, huddled behind the old woman. A little boy that looked no older then 3 or 4 years old, and a little girl that looked a little older. The look on their faces were that of terror.

    Interesting

    Upon closer inspection, she spotted three other figures scattered around the stairs leading to the alter. Sonia thought that it was odd the way that they were placed. Weren''t statues supposed to be like decorations or some form of art? Some churches also made statues that represented the people that founded it. She imagined that they would''ve been more useful or artistically more pleasing if they were against a wall, or at least not scattered on the floor, blocking the stage. It was an odd choice, indeed. What was the intention? Were the array of figures depicting a story, or maybe a scene from a scripture?

    Despite the fact that this odd structure was old and abandoned, not to mention it was dark and stormy outside, the atmosphere within the building was strangely eerie. It was hard for her to describe it. The air was quiet and still, as if the building itself was holding its breath. Like it was under some kind of spell. Maybe it was the odd figures that gave her the impression.

    She decided to climb the stairs to the alter for a better look of the figures on the floor. A higher elevation, she reasoned, would give her a better view of the rest of the building.

    As she climbed, however, she almost toppled over in frightful panic as a giant pair of legs came into view. She couldn''t believe her eyes. Clutching her hands to her chest, she said only two words.

    "Holy shit!"

    The giant pair of legs belonged to another intimately detailed marble statue of a male figure sitting on a gigantic chair. It was a massive figure. His head reaching up toward the high ceiling. He also had long braided hair, like the woman''s, it lay over his shoulder. He also wore a crown on his head. He was a king.

    Sonia was a little embarrassed for herself, having been startled by an inanimate object. But she had to admit, it was an imposing figure.

    She made her way around the enthroned king, taking her time to examine him properly. He was huge. Standing next to him, with her height, his knees were up to her head. She wondered who he was. Coming full circle back in front of him, she found an etched plaque at his feet which read,

    "The Nameless King - May he forever suffer in silence.

    "Well, that doesn''t seem very nice" She said, looking up at the Nameless King.

    "Why do you suffer in silence? Actually, why do you suffer at all?" She asked him. She looked back at where the old woman knelt, and wondered if she was reaching toward the king. Once again, she asked herself if this was depicting some kind of story or scenario. It looked as if the woman had come before the king and was either being denied or judged. It was hard to say. The king himself had an emotionless look on his face.

    "What kind of king were you?"

    Sonia discovered an equally impressive throne to the right of the king and decided to climb onto it. From atop the throne where she stood, she could see the great hall in its entirety. She stood there for a moment and studied the room.

    The morning sun had begun to rise, filling the hall with soft light. The lightning had stopped, but it continued to rain, which pattered against the beautiful crystal glass windows.

    She noticed that there were more figures speckled throughout the hall. Some of them were sitting in the pews. Some of them crouching near the walls, like they were terrified of something. Sonia didn''t know what to think of this. It looked as if they were all frozen in time.

    Suffering in silence.

    Sonia sighed, taking a seat where she stood on the throne. She was too small to fit into it properly, but still imagined what it would''ve been like to be a queen. To be a figure of power and reverence. If she were a queen, who would dare raise a hand against her? If she were a queen, what would she fear? Nothing.

    "If I were a queen..."

    She looked up at the massive stone king next to her. He had a very handsome face. If he was a real person, she could see herself being attracted to him. She looked out at her subjects, and began to role-play.

    "My people! What can the King and Queen do for you?" She shouted. Her voice echoing throughout the hall.

    "You there" she waved a gesturing hand in one of the figure''s direction. "What can I do for you?" She asked.

    "Taxes!? Ha!" She shouted with a huff, turning her head to the side for her best snooty impression.

    "Next! Hey, you there, in the pew!" She shouted, slapping her hand on the high arm rest.

    "You will not interrupt the Queen''s business! And you! There''s no eating in here! Guards! Take them away!" She said, almost breaking character, giggling at her silliness. Her accent more like a colonial American than a British royal.

    "And you miss, what can we do for you?" She said to the old woman

    "What? You''re poor, you say? You need food, you say? How dare you come to the King and Queen for such matters! Guards! Take!¡ª-

    She paused, holding a shaky finger toward the old woman. She wasn''t sure if it was a somber whisper on the wind, or the expression in the woman''s face that spoke to her, piercing her sensitive heart. Or the fact that she realized that the woman wasn''t reaching for the King. The expression on the old woman''s face was that of a desperate beseeching plead, which instantly broke Sonia''s heart. The old woman''s eyes held a painful anguished cry as she reached toward Sonia, toward the Queen.

    Suffer in silence

    Sonia sprang from her perch and raced over to the old woman, throwing her arms around the marble stone figure, and cried for her.

    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry." She said with short, shaky breaths. It was more then just a cry. She unloaded on the woman, all of her sorrows and all of her pain. And she had years of it. Because no one ever cared to comfort her. So Sonia comforted the woman the way she would''ve wanted to be comforted, sharing her sorrow with her and loving her the way she would''ve wanted to be loved. She cried for a long time, holding the woman until she had no more tears to shed.

    The sounds of echoing sobs could be heard by all in the building, and at the same time, heard by no one. Maybe it was the words "Suffer in silence" that truly resonated with her. For she has been suffering in silence her whole life.

    "No one deserves to suffer in silence" she choked on her words as she said them. She pulled away from the woman to examine her and then leaned in as if to whisper a secret. Her eyes inches away from hers.

    "If I were your queen, I would''ve given you everything. Even my very life. Because you would''ve been mine. What good is a throne if my people suffer. What wouldn''t I do for my own?

    She felt the words welling up, and though it might have seemed silly, she said them and meant it.

    "I love you" She said to the woman. She caressed the old woman''s face and kissed its forehead before getting up and stepping away. The stories she read in book about a love that always wins, was how she wanted to live. That is who she chose to be and no one was going to take that from her. The statue must be depicting a real person, and that was who she chose to love.

    She stumbled and swayed a little as she turned to face the great king. Climbing up onto his lap, she looked up at him and yelled angrily. Her fever, making her delirious and emotional.

    "And you, oh great king. What do you have to say for yourself? Huh?! Look at your people! Why should they suffer for you? What have you done?! She shouted, slapping her hands on his chest.

    Sonia''s head swam with sickness and fatigue. Catching herself from falling, she sat down on his lap and laid in the crook of his arm and fell fast asleep.

    Silence fell over the great cathedral. Silent and still. And though it came unseen and unheard, life was stirring. There was light in the old woman''s eyes. It started dimly and slowly grew to a brilliant divine blue. Tears welled up in them. And then she blinked.

 Chapter 3

    They''re called laugh-lines for a reason. It''s not necessarily a sign of old age, although she was quite old by mortal standards, being alive for thousands of years, but being a creature of immortality, she never technically aged. the lines that are often visible along the sides of the mouth are most prevalent when smiling, which the old woman often did. In fact, she was known for it. The smile on her face was a permanent part of her. It''s just who she was. Her crazy and unusual antics were an enduring quality she decided to adopt for her son, who had led an otherwise stressful and demanding life.

    That''s right! She has a son! And at one time, he was a king over all the realm of Celestia, a divine realm of the gods. He is, by any measure, a natural leader. But after a time, he''d lost heart in the role. He no longer smiled or enjoyed the company of his people, but there was a reason for it, and there was a reason why the throne to his left was empty. He was betrayed by the woman he practically worshiped; a woman who was supposed to be his wife. As soon as he had married her, she had taken so many things for herself, and with them, his spirit. It was like he was dead inside. He no longer smiled, laughed or loved. She just wanted to make him smile. Everything she did was for his smile, but she failed him. And so, naturally, she felt that his curse was her fault. If only she were a better mother.

    For countless years, as she was trapped in a body of stone, she relived the same nightmare over and over. It taunted her, made her feel weak and powerless and unable to help her troubled son. She understood that the purpose of it was to break her spirit, and it did for a time. For so long, her nightmare has made her to be helpless while she watched her son being tormented by his newlywed wife and her knights. But now, memories flooded back into her mind, bringing her back to reality and proper understanding of her role in those events. His wife was evil with a hidden agenda that was revealed after their marriage. It had broken him.

    Tears fell from the woman''s face as she stared with delightful curiosity toward the massive stone king that was her son, and the mysterious young woman that rested upon his lap. A wide smile formed across her face as if it never left. Destiny was brewing, and she could feel it.

    She took a step forward, hesitating for a moment with shaky legs. She was awake! She could walk again, free from the tormenting reality that was crafted to hurt her and her family. She took another step, tears still rolled down her face, tracing along the laugh-lines before pattering onto the floor below. This mysterious young woman had broken through a powerful curse, but How?

    A sudden thought crossed her mind, and her smile widened as she thought of it. If she was able to free just one person, was she not able to free them all? Her mind raced with excitement, stepping steadily up the stairs as she grew, doubling and tripling in size until she was the same height as the massive king. She stood next to him, her eyes glowing with divine light.

    She was filled to the brim with positive, loving emotions. She couldn''t contain her tears. It was like she was under a different kind of spell. One that was mending her wounded heart. What had this girl done to her? She could still feel the girl''s embrace, could still hear her voice and the words she spoke to her, which penetrated the darkness that held her captive.

    "If I were your queen..." She had said. It wasn''t just the words, but the intention behind them where the mysterious power came from, she was sure.

    The old god bent down and kissed the young woman tenderly on her forehead.

    "My dear, sweet savior, This I return to you." She said softly.

    The poor girl was worse for wear, being covered completely in dried mud. With her divine sight, she could see that the girl had several fractured bones and a crack in the back of her skull. If she didn''t do anything soon, she feared the girl could possibly die. This, of course, would certainly not happen so long as the woman had anything to do with it. Producing a small bottle from within her robes, she uncorked it and poured its contents over the frail, broken woman, it poured out of the bottle like liquid light and covered her with a shimmering glow that washed away the dried, bloody mud, revealing the beautiful woman beneath. Satisfied, she flung the empty bottle over her shoulder, which shattered against a wall on the far side of the hall. With a lazy wave of a hand, the shattered remains disappeared.

    The old woman was burning to learn more about the mysterious girl, so she decided to take a peak at her memories. Although she couldn''t remember her own name, she did, however, remember that she was the goddess of memories and dreams, being able to view memories and alter dreams at will. With a gentle sweep of her hand, she removed the hair that was obscuring the girls face.

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    "Who are you, I wonder? And what kind of person are you?" She asked, although, she had a feeling she already knew. But still, she decided to take a peek. A magical sigil appeared on the old woman''s forehead, shinning with green and blue light. Reality twisted, warped, and reshaped as Sonia''s memories were being revealed from deep within her mind.

    The old woman was now inside a tiny room, bare and void of color. There were no pictures or paintings lining the walls. Just cracking paint and splintered wood. There were only two things in the room. A small dresser and a single bed, where a little girl sat.

    Sonia, about ten years old, sat alone on her bed. The woman came to kneel beside her, with a warm and gentle smile.

    "Why, hello there, sweet girl." She said. Sonia gave no response. She didn''t need to. The woman could see the deep purple bruises that covered the little girls left eye, which was swollen shut. She sat on the bed with her hands on her knees, rocking back and forth while she whimpered in pain and loneliness.

    The old goddess had seen enough, with another wave of her hand, the magical sigil appeared once more and again, the room changed. This time, she surmised she was in some kind of classroom, filled with lazy students playing cards, drawing doodles, and some even sleeping.

    The old woman grunted. "Typical youngsters."

    There was a single desk in the back of the room, tucked away in the corner away from everyone else''s. A teenage girl sat there. The woman''s eyes went wide from the site of her. She was unnaturally skinny, and her clothes were much too small. She looked ill, terrifyingly so.

    The teenage Sonia turned her gaze toward the old goddess and their eyes met.

    "Please, don''t look at me." She tearfully pleaded. Her hands tightened their grip on her arms as she wrapped them around herself in a desperate self-hug. Upon hearing her voice, some of the other students threw balls of paper and erasers at her, demanding that she go somewhere to do more drugs.

    "has it always been like this for you, my dear?" Asked the woman. It was worse than she thought. She waved her hands yet again, over and over. Memory after memory. They were all the same. Not a single good memory could be found. This poor girl had always lived in sorrow. It didn''t matter that the old woman and her family had endured hundreds of years of torment, when this poor girl has known only pain. Without any support or love from others, whether friend or family. At least the cursed family has known peace and love for a time.

    The old woman dropped to her knees, her smile faded. Any average mortal would have given up, wouldn''t they? But here she is, sharing her love with an inanimate stranger. To think that after all that suffering she endured her whole life, how could she have enough love left to give to anyone, let alone, a love that''s powerful enough to break a curse. How amazing!

    The old goddess had a mind to do something she knew was very foolish. In fact, she really wanted to do it. As far as she could tell from her dreams, she had no friends or family. So why not make her one of them? By imbuing her with the family crest, she would become part of the royal family, being marked by divine magic. But this has never been done to a mortal, and she would be making a great risk by performing the rite. For all she knew, it could destroy her in more ways than one. It would be a decision she would need to make carefully before going through with it. For now, she would wait, and continue to observe the young woman a little longer. Until then, she decided to make something special for when the girl awoke. She eagerly went to the back of the cathedral where the kitchen was, disappearing into the corridors beyond, humming as she went.

    ¡°Oh, my broken heart!¡±

    The moment she had entered the kitchen, her eyes widened at the vast disarray the once shiny kitchen had become. Dusty cobwebs were strewn about from ceiling to floor and leaves were blown in from the broken window above the sink, which had rusted over time without use. Cabinet doors hung crooked, and dishes had been thrown around as if an angry child had thrown a tantrum, which was quite possible. She could sense a presence from the floor above her. Not a figure of stone, but one that is living and breathing. For now, she would pay it no mind, choosing to concentrate on the task at hand.

    With a wave of her hand, the cobwebs were pushed aside by an unseen force that was magic. Pots and pans were piled up on the ground outside the window. When Gran held out her hand, a single pan leaped up and through the window into her palm. The pan was also in terrible condition.

    ¡°Well, it looks like I¡¯ll have to clean before I can cook.¡± She said. Her smile curled widely.

    It¡¯s a lovely day. Isn¡¯t it? Perfect for a day of cleaning. First was my soul, now my kitchen, and why stop there? Ha! I¡¯ll clean the whole building!¡±

    It¡¯s been a while, but¡­Let¡¯s have some fun.¡±

    She threw her hands up above her head, like a dancer¡¯s pose, and when she did so, Rags, towels, mops, and brooms leaped into the air and waited for their orders. Like a conductor raising their wand, Gran dropped her hands and swung her arms. She twirled and danced around the kitchen, laughing loudly as the rags cleaned the counters and tables. The brooms and mops swept and cleaned the floor, sending clouds of dust glittering through the air.

    With a flick of her hand, the tap turned on and filled the sick. The rag wasted no time as it began to scrub the dishes as they hopped from the floor, and the ground outside, into the sink.

    She hummed, sang, danced, and laughed as she worked the day away, until the familiar presence of her granddaughter wandered cautiously into the room. The young girl watched as objects floated around the room as Gran directed them.

    Gran stopped her dancing, turned and said¡­

    ¡°You silly girl, are you just going to stand there and watch me, or are you going to give your Grandmother a hug?¡± The girl ran to throw herself into Gran¡¯s arms and for a long while, they wept for one another.

 Chapter 4

    It was late at night before Sonia awoke to the smell of something sweet, interrupting the terrible nightmares she was having. Images of her past gradually faded as the sweet aroma roused her from her torment.

    She opened her heavy eyelids and tried to sit up, moaning in pain as her head pounded wildly, it was loud in her ears like the beat of a drum that pounded with each rapid beat of her heart. She waited until her head stopped spinning before she spotted something at her feet. It looked like a small loaf of bread on a wooden plate, which was placed on the king''s knee beside her. She could see steam rising from it as if it had just been pulled from the oven. It smelled amazing. She picked it up and examined it. It was piping hot, having just been freshly baked. She looked around, confused.

    "Hello? Who''s there?" She asked, her voice was weak, which came out like a croak. She doubted that anyone could hear her. She pulled apart the fresh loaf and drooled as the smell of cinnamon filled her nose. It had been almost two days since she last ate, and she was starving. She eagerly ate it, howling in delight as the taste of the sweet loaf filled her mouth.

    "Oooooohhhhh! It''s sooo gooood!"

    She didn''t realize it at first, but soon after that first bite, her head had stopped pounding, and the world around her was in much better focus. She savored every last bit of the first half, and as she happily chewed on the second, she noticed something peculiar. Actually, she noticed a few different things that were quite peculiar, but the most obvious one was the old woman that stood at the bottom of the stairs. The last time Sonia had seen her, the woman had been kneeling before the throne. Now, she was standing straight up and it seemed like she was holding something, a wide and happy smile on her face.

    She jumped down to get a better view of her, and as she landed, she felt a sudden crack in her ribs. she screamed in fright, holding her hand on the spot where she felt it. She felt it again. It was like her broken bones were snapping back into place, one by one. A sudden snap in her hip wrenched her forward, falling to the floor. For a long minute, her whole body was emitting the sound of crackling bones. Her bones, muscles, and ligaments were tingling with activity as the magic from the loaf healed her weak and broken body. The last thing she felt was a tingle in the back of her head where her main injury was. When she reached back to feel it with her fingers, she was amazed that she could no longer find it. It was gone!

    She stood there for a moment, until the cracking of bones and the tingling feeling of pins and needles ran it''s course, and then stood up, slowly and cautiously as she wiggled her limbs and stretched her back until she was satisfied, and then stood facing the smiling woman. The older woman was holding a basket that contained two more loaves of bread. She held it straight out in front of her as if to offer it to Sonia. There was a note inside the basket along with the bread. She picked it up and read...

    "My dear, sweet Sonia. I am leaving this basket here for you to enjoy. This bread is very special, and not just because I made it myself, though I did. All three loaves of bread have a specific purpose. The cinnamon will heal your wounds, the vanilla will heal your sickness, and the chocolate loaf will help you sleep.

    I greatly encourage you to eat and go back to bed, young lady. You need your rest, and in the morning, we will formally meet. I can''t wait to speak with you. I would love to have met in person, but the last thing I would want to do, is to scare you before you''ve had a chance to properly heal. I imagine a stone figure coming to life isn''t something you see often.

    PS: That beautiful hug you gave me was quite lovely, and I would like another.

    -Gran

    "Gran." She repeated with a whisper. She gazed back up at the woman, at Gran, and wondered if it was short for Grandma. It did make sense. for a while, she stared at the woman''s smile, and contemplated the woman''s demeaner. Last night, the woman looked much older then she did now. She remembered the look on her face, which she would never forget, it broke her heart just thinking about it. But, though it was the same figure that stood before her, her demeaner was completely different. And though she was made of stone, she held herself with confidence and wore a comforting smile. The woman was beautiful, and her smile was radiant.

    Sonia grabbed the second loaf from the basket and walked around the great hall while she ate it. There were torches and large candles that lit it up. She also noticed that the place had been immaculately cleaned. The floor shined and reflected everything in the light. The great hall was amazingly beautiful, and she was seduced by its welcoming glow. She imagined herself wearing a beautiful dress and began to dance along the polished marble floor, the effects of the vanilla flavored bread began to set in as she was being filled with overflowing energy. She swayed gracefully to the rhythm of her own music, her feet gliding smoothly across the polished marble floor. The flickering light of the torches and candles cast a warm glow that illuminated the hall, accentuating the intricate designs etched into the stone walls.

    Never in her life had she felt so alive. The effects of the two loaves made her bones and muscles sturdy and strong. She felt like she could run a marathon. Soon she found herself running around the length of the great hall in screaming fits of laughter as she summersaulted and cartwheeled around the hall until the room spun with dizziness. She plopped down onto the floor with a huff and breathed.

    "What in the world am I experiencing? How can two loaves of bread heal my body in such a way that makes me feel like I could do anything? Hell, I feel like a superhero. Seriously, I''m witnessing magic, here! Am I going crazy?"

    No matter how she looked at it, there was no other explanation then magic. Even if the old woman had put drugs into her bread, that still doesn''t explain how it could''ve healed her wounds. It was like a potion from a video game, she had been instantly healed. And then there was the woman. There is no way someone could''ve came in and deliberately changed the statues around while she slept. What purpose would that have served anyway? Not to mention, those statues look like they weigh a ton.

    She sighed. It was magic, real magic. She had witnessed a miracle. Which would mean, if the woman''s words were true, she would see her come to life in the morning. Even if she doubted and didn''t believe it, she was still curious. Wouldn''t it be wonderful if it was true?

    Suddenly eager for the morning to come, she strolled over to the smiling Gran, and reached into the basket for the last loaf of bread. It was dark brown, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

    She looked up at the face of the marble figure and admired her beautiful smile. She remembered her postscript at the end of the letter, which said that she wanted another hug. Sonia flung her arms around her and took a long deep sigh.

    "Thank you so much for the bread, they were amazing and delicious, and you''re amazing for sharing it. It might be silly, but I will choose to believe in you, so I''ll trust that I''ll see you in the morning."

    She let the woman go, and with her new strength and stamina, she leapt up onto the empty throne and made herself comfortable while she ate the last remaining loaf. It was just as good as the others. The woman was a wizard in the kitchen, and she was jealous. She looked over at the giant king next to her, she was becoming drunk with fatigue as the magic started working.

    "You know, you''re also quite beautiful." She said with a giggle. She shouted a declaration to all those in the hall.

    "I henceforth declare as queen, a new law, that there shall be sweet bread made for every supper!"

    The figures throughout the hall became blurry and the light shimmered out of focus as her eyes became heavy, her eyes closed and she slept, sitting on her throne.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    The curse was a simple one, really. While they were in their stony form, their souls were trapped in a never ending cycle of despair as they watched and witnessed their king''s honor being torn from him, his legacy, thrown to the ground. The queen knew his weakness, knew exactly how to best him. As soon as the time came, she took the opportunity and won. Her plan was so flawless, that it lasted for over five hundred years.

    The old woman wasn''t sure exactly how the curse worked, since she wasn''t expecting to be turned back into stone, but either way, she had walked again! Even if it was just for a day, a tiny flame of hope had been ignited.

    Normally speaking, the nightmare had a particular power that prevented her from distinguishing reality from dream, as it altered her memories, but at this moment, she was completely aware. When the nightmare started, it started the same as it always did, but she was prepared. Things were different now.

    She stood before a set of doors, grand and ornate. Their long, sturdy handles were made of pure gold, as was most of the palace. The royal palace consisted of polished white marble, designed with simple gold patterns throughout.

    Her hand rested on one of the handles, hesitating. The way this normally played out, was that she would open the door and be met with a happy king, sitting on his throne before a crowd of servants, gathered together in a grand and spacious hall, all waiting for his bride. She remembered this event clearly. He had called all the people and servants to witness the coronation ceremony for the new queen. The whole assembly waited with baited breath and quiet apprehension, since the new queen had yet to win them over, they were afraid of her.

    She inhaled and exhaled slowly and deeply before letting go of her mental restraints, allowing her body to move automatically as her dream continued the way it was meant to. She opened the heavy doors and stepped through.

    She was immediately met with distinguished men and woman and modestly dressed servants who courtly bowed as she passed. She returned their gesture with her signature smile, blowing kisses at the sharply dressed toddler who held flowers that she assumed were for the queen.

    She walked down the large isle as slowly as the dream would allow, preparing her heart for the spectacle that would unfold as soon as the queen arrived. The coronation would end once the crown was placed on the queen''s head and she''d taken a seat on the empty throne next to her son.

    "My darling mother, thank you for joining us." The king said, beaming from ear to ear as he fidgeted nervously with his braided, blonde hair.

    "Yeah yeah, let''s get this damned thing over with." She said, waving her hand impatiently at her son. The king gave no response to her off-script behavior. Although, it almost seemed like he wanted to, which surprised her.

    She continued.

    "Alright, where''s that bloody crown?" She asked, leaning in toward him, she said, "you know, I could make her a crown, a nice thorny one. Huh? Whaddaya say about that?" She teased, prodding him in the arm with her elbow. The only sound that could be heard from within the great hall was the soft music and a mischievous snicker from the small toddler who just happened to laugh on cue.

    "Ha! See, he gets it!" The old woman''s laughter filled the hall.

    It was subtle, but the corner of the king''s mouth twitched, as if to restrain himself from laughing. Or perhaps he was trying to laugh against the spell he was under. She always wondered if the dream was hers alone, or if it was shared by all who were involved. Was this the real king, or just her imagination?

    The king smiled and gestured for the crown bearer , who came stumbling over, producing a beautifully crafted crown of sterling silver. It''s dominate, middle spike was set with a brilliant blue sapphire crystal.

    "Wait, what is this?" She asked in surprise. This was not the same crown that was usually presented to the queen. In all of the Five hundred years of this dream playing out, the crown had always been a crown of pure gold, speckled with many colored jewels. This one, however, was much more simple, and yet, much more beautiful. It reminded her of someone, but she couldn''t put her finger on it. She picked up the crown and held it in her hands.

    "What is happening? Why is it different? She asked herself, silently.

    "Son, did the queen choose this?" She ask. The King shook his head.

    "No, it was suppose to be gold, but it changed on it''s own. The crown itself chose its form. I don''t understand it myself. The king admitted.

    A light flickered in her memory as she recalled what it reminded her of. There was a well known myth in the family, of a legendary deity known as the Silver Queen, who was said to harness unrivaled power. As the legend goes, she supposedly took part in a massive war, and single handedly prevailed. But that was just a myth.

    It offended her greatly to think that she would have to present a crown with such important meaning to a queen that destroyed her family. She gritted her teeth in anger. But just then, the horns sounded, signifying the arrival of the queen. The woman inhaled deeply once more, and after letting it out slowly, she was finally ready to meet her.

    ------------------------------------------------------

    Sonia wasn''t used to waking up in such a luxurious bed, but here she was, draped in gold and red satin covers and beautifully laced pillows. She had been awakened by a small group of maids beckoning her out of bed and into a bath that was waiting for her. She knew she was dreaming, there was no other way to explain it, but she wasn''t going to complain. It''s not every day you wake up as royalty. But man, what a ridiculously vivid dream it was. The first thing she noticed before she opened her eyes was the scent of sweet cinnamon. When was the last time she recalled having a dream that had a distinct smell? Although, she did eat a cinnamon flavored loaf of bread before she went to bed. So that would explain at least a little.

    The covers were so soft and cool, she found it very hard to get out of bed. She laid there for a time just shifting her legs back and forth under the silky sheets. Even the pillows had a fragrant smell.

    "Did I die and go to heaven?" She asked. The maids giggled at her silly question.

    "The divine realm of Celestia is as heavenly as it''s going to be, I suppose. Come, dear. Time for your bath. You have an important day today. Come on, in you go." One of the maids said, leading the sleepy Sonia out of the bed and into the adjacent room where the bath was waiting.

    The maids giggled at her again as she stood motionless within the threshold of her enormous washroom. Their leader gave them a sharp look of grave disapproval before addressing the awestricken Sonia.

    "Your highness, your mouth is open, is everything okay?" She said with a smile.

    "This is my bathroom?" she asked, gesturing toward what she assumed was the tub, which was more like a large jacuzzi than an actual bathtub. The water was a light pink color, with red rose pedals on the surface.

    "Yes, your highness, this is all yours. May we proceed?" She motioned Sonia in and before she could say another word, they had stripped her of her clothes and lead her into the warm water.

    It was pure bliss. If only dreams like this could last forever. After her bath, they sat her in a chair and proceeded to apply makeup to her face and even did her hair up in a beautiful braided bun. It wasn''t until she was fully dressed and standing before a mirror when she was attacked by her emotions. She had never seen herself look so beautiful in all her life. The dress she wore was a white gown with gold and silver stitching. She loved it, and she wished she could wear it forever.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "Look at me, that''s me!" Her eyes began to water at the site of her.

    "Oh dear, she''s going to cry. quickly, grab the tissues!" The head maid shouted. "Now, now dear. Please control yourself. How can we present you to the king in this condition?" She said, comfortingly.

    "What? Sonia said dully

    "The king, silly. You know, your husband. Said the younger maid, dabbing a tissue on her freshly powdered face.

    "I''m married? Wait, if I''m married to the king, then that would mean that I''m..."

    "Queen." Said the head maid. She placed a gentle hand on Sonia''s chin and lifted her face to meet her gaze. "You are queen and ruler over all the people of Celestia. You are loved and adored by all." Sonia stared into the maid''s gaze, speechless.

    "But, I have nothing to offer to anyone. I have nothing, and I am nothing." She whispered.

    "Is that so? Asked the maid. "I''ll have you know, I have been serving the same evil queen for the last five hundred years, watching in horror as I guided the queen to my king''s destruction. Five hundred years. But today, I get the great pleasure of serving a humble and loving queen. Believe me when I say, that you are more than worthy of our praise." All the maids nodded in agreement.

    "Five hundred years? What do you mean by that?" She asked.

    "That is how long I''ve been turned to stone, along with my fellow maids. And in our statue form, we dream an endless nightmare where we are forced to relive the same day over and over. It always ends in the destruction of this palace and it''s people. Many people died, and many more turned to stone. But ever since you came, you have somehow altered our curse. We don''t know how you''ve done it, but we''re not about to complain. Since you''re here, we might as well play along. Everyone in the palace has been through quite a lot. They deserve a beautiful and gentle queen, don''t you think? Would you deny them that?

    Sonia thought for a moment. "Okay, if you''re sure, let''s go."

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The two woman''s eyes went wide when they saw each other. Gran was still holding onto the silver crown when Sonia walked in, being lead by the group of maids. Upon entry, the room immediately erupted into a dull roar of hushed voices. She heard them utter words such as, Beautiful, elegant, and divine. She blushed as they lead her to the throne, next to the king. The head maid bowed low to the old woman.

    "I present to you, your queen."

    "Thank you, my dear" Gran said, still gawking at the sight of the lovely queen, who to her surprise, was a familiar and friendly face.

    "Gran?" Sonia gasped. It was the first time she was able to see her as a living, breathing person. The color of Gran''s eyes shown brightly, a divine glow that was strikingly pretty. She couldn''t look away from them.

    "Sonia?" Gran responded. "You''re the queen?"

    "That''s what they tell me." Sonia said with a smile. "By the way, thank you so much for the bread. They were amazing!"

    "You liked them, huh? Which one was your favorite? I like the cinnamon one, myself"

    "Yes! the cinnamon one was the best! The two of them shared a moment of happy laughter as the king observed, amused.

    The two woman embraced one another in a firm hug.

    "My dear, your hugs are the very best." Gran said, her tears wetting the clean linen of Sonia''s shoulder. "Sonia, do you know where you are?" She asked.

    "Yes, for the most part. This place is called Celestia. Although, from what I gather, it''s not the real Celestia, but a nightmary version of it that plays on an endless loop. Does that sound right?" Sonia asked. Gran nodded.

    "I take it by now you''re starting to grow accustomed to magic", Gran said. "This is not the way I would''ve wanted to meet you, but this is a very pleasant surprise. " Gran looked down at the beautiful silver crown in her hands and then looked back up at the gorgeous young woman, all dolled up and prepared for crowning. She held the crown high over her head, the room became silent.

    "I do not remember my name," she started. Tears began to well up in her blue eyes. "No one here remembers their name. The kingdom has been stripped of its identity and its pride. For so long, we have suffered much together." She turned to face the gathered crowd, still holding the crown high. "Yesterday, I was able to awake from this nightmare and walk again in reality, breath clean air, and witness a brand new sunset. In part, my curse has been broken, and it is this young woman that is the cause of it. Ever since she sat on the empty throne, she has somehow altered our curse. This moment is proof of that. We no longer gather in fear or guilt. We can smile and laugh together, for this new queen brings us peace and love. Let us all honor her as the light breaks through to a new dawn. Long live the queen!" with that, she placed the crown atop Sonia''s head, the gathered crowd shouted in union.

    "Long live the Queen!"

    "Long live the Queen!"

    "Long live the Queen!"

    The crowd cheered and clapped in a roaring sea of laughter and happiness. Hugs and kisses were shared between the people as the celebration started. Sonia took her seat next to the King, who was staring admiringly at his bride.

    "blonde hair and blue eyes, how typical that I''d marry someone with those qualities." She thought, remembering the last boyfriend she had just recently ran away from, whose family had almost killed her.

    "But this man is absolutely gorgeous." She said, propping her face up with her hand as she stared dreamily at him, who in turn, stared back.

    "Thank you for the compliment, though you are much more stunning than I." Replied the king. Sonia''s eyes went wide with embarrassment.

    "Crap! Did I say that out loud?"

    Sonia would''ve liked to have had more time to speak to the king, but found herself spending most of her time greeting the various people that have lined up to see their new queen. Each person spent their turn bowing and worshiping her one by one. She greeted them and answered any question they had to the best of her ability.

    At first, she wasn''t quite sure how she felt about being a queen. Or rather, she wasn''t confident in her political or administrative abilities. But this was nice. Even if it was just a dream, it was nice to be the center of love and adoration instead of the normal treatment she received from people. In turn, she was able to give as much love as she received. It was wonderful. This dream as a whole has been the very thing that she could only read about in books. To experience it, though, was something else entirely. This was it. This was the kind of life she would do anything for, even give her very life.

    She looked over at the king, her husband. He never took his eyes off of her. He looked at her, not like one who lusted, but one who loved. His eyes sparkled with pure adoration. She wasn''t used to that, in fact, she refused to believe that she deserved such attention. She blushed and looked away, unsure of what to say to him.

    "This is just a dream. It''s not real. All of this is too good to be true. I am not a queen, and I am not loved. That is just the reality of it. But this is so good, and it feels so nice. I just can''t help it. I wish this dream could last forever, but it can''t last forever, so I''ll enjoy it while I can."

    "My dear, what is this look of apprehension in your eyes? is there something I can do for you?" The king asked.

    "I don''t know, maybe just hold my hand. I''m so overwhelmed with happiness that I''m afraid that if I blinked, everything would disappear, and I''ll be left alone again." Sonia''s lips trembled and tears ran down her cheeks.

    The king didn''t hesitate. He immediately stood from his throne and grabbed both of Sonia''s hands, leading her to the open floor where he held her close and danced slowly to the sound of soft music and happy chatter from the people.

    He didn''t say anything to her. He only held her close, allowing her to cry against his chest. At times like these, there is no need for words, but just to live and let be, to make the most of what could be a limited and short time together, and he knew that more than anyone. How much longer would he have to wait to see Sonia again. He too was lonely.

    The people who were celebrating along the great hall were now gathering around the king and queen, delighting in the sight of the dancing couple.

    Gran stood aside from the crowd, observing the celebration. She watched with happy tears as her beloved people smiled and laughed together. And her son, dancing gracefully with a beautiful bride, who cried from her own happiness. Could she ask for anything greater than this moment? She could feel the energy in the room, and it all came from Sonia. It was the same energy she felt the night she awoke from her five hundred year slumber. Love emanated from her, filling the whole room and touching every heart. They were no longer subject to an evil spell, but free to laugh and love. There was a mysterious healing aura about her, one that comforted the people around her, like the gentle spirit of a nurturing mother. She was a perfect queen, and Gran believed with all her heart that Sonia was meant for that role.

    Sonia loved the comfort of the king''s embrace, and loved even more, the low rumble of his soothing voice, especially when he said her name. She stopped dancing and let go of him. Looking up at him, she trembled. It was the way he looked at her. It made her melt and loose focus of the world around her. When their eyes met, it was like they were the only ones in the room. She found herself breathing heavy with anxiety.

    "Why do you look at me like that?" She asked, taking a step back.

    "Because I like you, a lot. I may even love you. Is that so hard to believe? Also, I find you interesting and mysterious. Because of that, I find myself staring. Sorry about that."

    "When did you decide that you loved me?" She asked.

    The king smiled, looking back at his mother, who was looking back at him. She smiled and waved at him before making kissy faces in a silly, teasing way. This made the king laugh, which was heard by all in the room, and maybe even the corridors beyond. His voice was low and booming, which was hard to miss in any normal setting, let alone the deep thunderous laughter around a throng of people.

    Turning back to his queen, he answered her.

    "My mother is my world, and my people are my life. You embraced her and loved her even before you wore the crown, and you addressed and honored my people before you spoke to me. you''re a perfect queen. Today, I am blessed to hold you."

    Sonia flinched at his words of affection. She wasn''t expecting him to say those things. Most men couldn''t answer such a question as to why they liked someone, but he answered it so easily, and it took her by surprise.

    Sonia''s ex boyfriend had once seduced her with his eyes and cunning conversation, but this man was definitely different. When she looked at him, and saw his beautiful blue eyes looking back at her, his gaze felt comforting and clean. It was the most welcoming thing she had ever experienced. She just couldn''t help but to want more of it, though it scared her.

    "Let us just enjoy today." He said. "Maybe we''ll see each other again, or maybe we won''t. Let us not fret about tomorrow. Let us just enjoy today." He said, wiping her tears away with a gentle hand. She leaned back into him. Her face and hands on his chest. She breathed.

    I''m not the perfect one, you are. You''re just too good to be true.

    A loud crack echoed through the great hall, followed by ominous laughter, snapping everyone''s attention to the large open balcony, where a dark rift of purple flame appeared, out of which a woman stepped through, along with two men clad in black armor. The woman wore dark, revealing armor of black and purple, which Sonia thought looked demonic in appearance. She also wore a sinister-looking crown.

    The people coward at her presence, halting all activities. The room was suddenly thrown into a deafening silence. The only sounds were the clicking of the woman''s high heels as she took her time to examine the room, seemingly looking for something. Or rather, observing the people around her.

    "Have the festivities started without me? How rude." She said, her high heels clicking on the floor with each graceful step, slapping glasses of wine out of the hands of people as she passed and shoving people who were in her way as she made her way to the throne.

    "Where''s my jester? she shouted, clapping her hands in mock summon. As she approached the throne, a pair a guards stepped in front of her, blocking her access.

    "Excuse me, Have you forgotten who I am? Move aside, idiots." She said threateningly. The pair of guards crossed their swords in firm defiance.

    "This throne belongs only to the queen. You will not approach it."

    The demonic queen laughed. A shrill that pierced the stark silence that filled the hall. Every eye was on the stranger, who stood before the guards in amused surprise. No one spoke or moved. Sonia was shocked at the powerful impact the woman had on the people upon her arrival. Even the king stood speechless at Sonia''s side, his head hung low. She recognized the king''s behavior as Sonia, just a couple of days ago, had stood numb and emotionless among the violent outrage of an angry boyfriend. Numb to the depressive life she had lived. But she made a promise to herself, and she was never going to forget it. Why should she allow bullies or monsters in her life? Why should they get their way? No. There was no room for such people. She would no longer let people like this effect her or her friends. These people were wonderful, and they were the ones that deserved the praise that they gave her as queen. She hadn''t known them long, but she loved them.

    With clenched fists at her side, Sonia stepped boldly toward the throne, making eye contact with the sinister figure as she passed her, her blood red iris''s glinting with danger. The guards obediently unblocked the way for her, and she sat on the empty throne. The two woman stared at one another for a long moment before Sonia spoke as one with authority.

    "What can we do for you, ma''am? As you can see, we are currently rejoicing in celebration. I would say that you are welcome to join, but it is obvious that you came with ill intention. I would ask that you state your business and leave."

    "How did you get in here?" Asked the stranger, her voice quiet as a whisper. She had a face that Sonia couldn''t read, her purple lips curled in a sneer. "Do you understand that this is a cursed reality that I created? You shouldn''t have been able to enter this place."

    "Yeah, about that." Sonia ran her hands along the polished ornate wood of the throne. "This is a nice throne. Feels good, nice view, and the perks are nice, I suppose. But there is much more to this throne than just simply having the power to be a monster. To sit on the throne is to love the people it represents. A real queen helps carry not just the king, but the very nation to prosperity, don''t you think? Without a nation or people to govern, without a king to serve, what kind of queen would you be?"

    "Listen here..."

    "The answer!" Sonia shouted, silencing the stranger. The sinister woman took a step back in offence. "The answer is that you wouldn''t be a queen at all. And since you''re not interested in being a proper queen, the role has been handed to me. Not of my choice, but by the will of the people who desire a queen that loves them. And believe me, I love them. I declare today that they will be freed from the captivity of this curse, because I will set them free."

    The sapphire crystal on the silver crown shown brightly atop Sonia''s head as she stood from her throne, it shown like a beacon of declaration that washed the hall clean from the blanket of oppression that held them back. Their legs and backs straightened as the weight had lifted from them, giving them the strength and will to rally and shout the affirmation of their queen.

    "Cute, very cute."

    A large and imposing figure brushed passed the sinister woman, and with a genuine surprise, she gasped at the sight of the great king taking his seat next to the new queen.

    "The queen speaks the truth, Breillia. Soon, the world will bow in her honor." Said the king.

    "Do you think that I cannot hurt you here in this place? Dream or no, this is my reality." She spat, a dark and sinister-looking sword appeared in her hand. She disappeared and reappeared again in a blink of an eye, plunging the sword into Sonia''s gut.

    Isn''t this just a dream? You can''t feel pain in dreams, right? But then why am I in pain? A white, hot excruciating pain. It''s almost too much to bare. It''s so hard to breath, how am I still standing? Stubbornness, I would guess. Too stubborn to fall. Or maybe it''s the people that are watching. If they saw me fall, how would they feel? Their king and queen needs to be strong in order for their people to remain strong, and so I must be strong.

    "You''re wrong, this is no longer your reality. You have lost your grip on it. It''s my reality now, and I will do as I please." Sonia said, keeping her gaze locked onto the woman''s red eyes. Sonia can''t explain why she did it, but she held out her hand toward the evil queen in an act to will something into being. It must have been the dream''s influence that made her do it. Or else, how would she be able to know that she had the power to do so. A magical sigil appeared on Sonia''s forehead followed by glowing blue eyes. A shiny and magnificent silver sword appeared in her hand as dust from the hall gathered around her, coalescing into the blade. Her hands gripped the hilt as it came into being, pointing its sharp end directly at the evil woman. "And soon, even Celestia itself will be cleansed from your evil grip and the people will once again walk in the light." Sonia said.

    "Who are you?" Asked the woman.

    "She is the Silver Queen, a great and powerful deity who will bring order back to her nation and courage to her people. She will fight on their behalf and guide them from the darkness. She is the true queen." Gran said from the far side of the hall. She had fell to her knees in a reverent worship, bowing low to the floor. "Your highness, you really have come to us. We are not worthy of you." a tearful Gran cried.

    "Oh please! Give me a break, you fools." The woman spat, pulling the sinister blade free from Sonia''s gut, she turned and walked away, opening another portal. Turning back, she said, "If it''s war you want, then it''s war you''ll get. With that, she stepped through, leaving the artificial world behind.

    Sonia fell into her throne as blood began to rapidly flow from her wound. The King scooped her up in his arms, shouting for his mother''s assistance.

    "We need to wake her up. She''s not safe here!"

    "Right you are, my boy." Gran agreed, sprinting toward her son. She spoke a few incanted words before Sonia was jolted awake in the real world, gasping and coughing as blood began to fill her lungs. She fell from the cold, stone throne and onto the marble floor of the old cathedral. Echoes of her coughing and retching filled the hall. She was dying.

    The sun began to fill the hall with new light, as the sun washed over the stone woman before her. Color began to return to Gran as she came back to life with a sigh. With not a moment to lose, Gran rushed over to where the injured Sonia lay sprawled on the floor. She Held her and kissed her forehead, reassuring her that everything will be okay.

    In truth, the poor girl was dying. The wound that was inflicted was not a normal one, being inflicted with magic, it would take more than powerful magic to heal her. There was only one option, and that was to perform the rite that would not only make her part of the royal family, being imbued with the family crest, but it would also make her immortal. This, in theory, was the dangerous part. It was not often that a mortal was made immortal, and the consequence of it is unknown. But at this point, she would die regardless.

    Due to the sudden noise in the hall, a little girl descended the stairs leading to her room above the cathedral. She immediately spotted Gran hunching over a figure on the floor. The site of it worried her, so she hid and observed.

    "Listen Dear, I''m going to attempt something, something that honestly should not be done. But I believe in my heart that this is right. Please, hang on!" Gran said, caressing Sonia''s cheek in calming assurance.

    The dream had shown her a possible reality that she could not ignore. To think, that Sonia could be the Silver Queen. Not only had she seen the family crest shone brightly on her forehead and the divine glow of eyes that belonged to an immortal, but also the crown and the sword that belonged to only one famous deity. It could not have been coincidence. This was prophesy.

    Nobody in existence knew this rite. She had learned it from her grandmother, who taught it to her so many thousands of years ago. She alone knew how to do it, to transcend Sonia into a god.

    The time of greatness was upon them, and Gran could not contain the smile that shown through from her very core.

    In time, all of Celestia will witness the rise and wrath of the Silver Queen.

 Chapter 5

    I''m floating, unable to move as I remain suspended in a void without sight or sound. Just stillness and nothingness. There is no one here to hurt me or call me names. No violent boyfriends or unloving, abusive parents. There are no teachers or counselors lecturing me about decisions made or irresponsible behavior. Just an empty void full of nothing. No disappointments or heartbreak.

    I remember when I was just a little girl, I wanted nothing more then to be held by my mother. To be held and loved. Shouldn''t a little girl be held? Why was I never loved? What a stupid life. But this isn''t so bad, right? I''ll just stay here like this and just exist as nothing. I was always nothing, anyway, but this nothing is not so bad.

    Is it just my imagination, or did I hear someone whisper my name? Just then, specks of light like stars came into being. I tried to reach out and touch them, but I have no arms or hands. I tried to sigh, but I have no lungs with which to breath. I''m just a tiny speck of light amongst an infinite void of stars.

    Lately, it''s been hard to tell whether I''m awake or asleep, alive or dead. Although, I''m pretty sure I''m dead. Maybe from the sickness I received from running around in the woods. It would make sense to me if I died while laying in an abandoned church, suffering from a head injury and the flu. That would explain my delusions of magic. After all, how can a statue come to life? Am I so starved of love that I would imagine statues coming to life to be my friend?

    "Yes, I am."

    I was never loved. I would''ve done anything for it, though, even pretend that magic existed and statues came to life, even being a queen where I''m loved by a king and his people. What girl doesn''t want to pretend to be royalty?

    I heard it again, the sound of my name rang out from somewhere, even through the stillness of the soundless void. Someone said my name. Though it wasn''t a voice I recognized. It asked me a question.

    "Who are you?"

    "Who am I? I''m Sonia, a sad girl that was never loved. I lived a stupid and pointless life of heartache. But now I''m dead, right? It''s better this way."

    "No, that is not who you are." The voice whispered.

    What? What''s going on? Am I hearing something, or is this just my inner thoughts? If I''m not an unloved Sonia, then who am I?

    The specks of light that once came into being, now became an entire sea of stars that gathered together and became a face that was so big, I was just a speck of dust in comparison. The starry face spoke another question.

    "Sonia, if you had to choose a single desire, what would it be?"

    "What are my options?"

    "Money, fame, power, immortality, to name a few." The starry face smiled, waiting for my response.

    "Okay, I''ll entertain your question, mystery face. Let''s see, I could''ve definitely used the money. I spent all of my life relying on others to take care of me. Isn''t that stupid? If I had my own money, I could''ve just bought my own house and lived there alone without anyone there to hurt me. Fame and power kind of come hand-in-hand though, doesn''t it? Money could give me either of those if not both. Immortality, though." I paused, unsure of what to say. Immortality would''ve been nice to some people who enjoyed life, but for someone like myself who''s lived a mostly unhappy life, would just rather die. Why prolong a crappy life?

    Images of Gran came into my mind. Gran, the King, and all the people. The dream that I had was so real and vivid, that I could still feel the old woman''s embrace when she hugged me. It was so wonderful, for someone to hold me and even cry on my shoulder. Together, we laughed and loved one another. With company like them, I could live for an eternity. For them, I would walk through fire. Just for a chance to be among them, I would do anything. I would die for them.

    I looked up at the giant face. It was so massive in scope that it seemed to fill the entire void. It had a kind expression of satisfied understanding, as it nodded in approval. That''s when I understood. When I spoke, I wasn''t speaking. I didn''t have a mouth, let alone, a voice that could be heard. The great celestial being could hear the thoughts of my heart as it ached for the woman and her son. I''ve only known them for such a short time, but in that short time, I had felt something so profound, and that one thing was love. I had a taste of it, and I wanted more. What must I do for it? Name your price.

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    "Yes, THAT is who you are, and that is why I''ve come to you. Your heart." Said the face.

    "What do you mean? I don''t understand."

    "Sonia, don''t you know where you are? We are within the innermost part of your soul. In this place, you are the one that is in control. The reason there is a difference in size between us, is because of the way you view yourself. You see yourself as so small, but do you know how I see you?

    At first, I was nothing but a tiny little light that drifted in the darkness, and in the blink of an eye, I grew and became a blazing sun that shined its light in all directions. The endless void was now full of light. There was not a single bit of darkness that my light did not reach. It was like I was light itself. I am magnificent. I am glorious.

    "You are not nothing. You are amazing. Your heart is so big, it deserves to be seen by all. And with your light, you will help me give light to my world."

    The giant face exploded into another sea of stars that spread out before me as a shiny black transparent lake. I suddenly had arms and legs as my body came into focus from the darkness of the void. I drifted onto the shiny lake, its cool watery surface felt nice to the touch. The lake seemed to go on forever into an endless starry horizon.

    "Sonia." The same voice called out again as a figure descended onto the lake. It was a woman of striking beauty. Her entire figure radiated the same divine glow that I had seen in the eyes of Gran and her son.

    "Who are you?" I asked.

    "My name is Celeste, and I am the deity and guardian of the land of Celestia. And I have a proposition."

    "Umm, Okay." I stared blankly. "How does this proposition work? Are you going to give me an offer that I can''t refuse? Like, bring me back to life, with a catch?"

    "Yes." She said, simply.

    "Well that was honest of you."

    The goddess laughed a beautiful laugh. I like her. Her presence is comforting. And I feel no judgement from her.

    "So, what''s the catch?" I asked

    "I am the guardian of Celestia. Which means, whenever the realm is met with great danger, I make my presence known in order to bring peace to the land. I do this through chosen vessels, and I choose you, Sonia. Through you, we shall bring peace to the realm."

    "What am I, a Pokemon? How does this work, exactly?" The goddess chuckled before answering.

    "Your friend is reviving you as we speak. Before you wake, I will send with you a piece of myself. With it, you may protect your friends and the realm."

    "Maybe I''m a little slow. When you say, ''A piece of yourself'', what does that mean?" I asked with a cringey, awkward expression.

    "I will bless you with a mark of power that you will claim as your own, if you choose." She explained.

    "If I choose?" The woman nodded.

    "So I can either accept it or deny it?"

    "Yes, though I believe in my heart that you will accept it and use it for good.

    I stood a moment in the dark, crystal water, which came up to my ankles. I swished my leg around in it, deep in thought. There were still some things that didn''t make sense to me, so I asked.

    "You say that you are the guardian for Celestia. I thought Gods didn''t interfere with mortal affairs. Is this true?"

    "Yes, this is true. We do not interfere with mortal affairs. However, Celestia is not a realm of mortals, but a divine realm of gods."

    "But, but. Wait a minute. I just had a dream that I married the king of Celestia. Are you telling me that he''s a god? And what about Gran, is she also a god?"

    "Yes, they are both immortal beings, and more." The woman giggled as she leaned in to speak to me in emphasis. "You were not just an ordinary queen, but royalty even among the gods."

    If my mouth could drop any lower, I''d probably look like a cartoon character. To think that I had married a god. Should I be impressed? Technically, I was quite impressed. But either way, it changed nothing. They were still the same people to me, just on a bigger scope. Gods, wow.

    "So, Gran, the king, and the people, They''re real, right? I didn''t just dream it?"

    "Yes, they are as real as can be. The same as you."

    "What is the nature of their curse? And why are they cursed?" I asked.

    The goddess thought for a moment as she frowned.

    "This is not for me to answer. In time, you will learn of this from your friends. Let them tell you."

    "That''s fair. Thank you for answering me so patiently. I''m sure I have questions to ask, but I can''t think of any more at this moment. Will I see you again in the future?"

    "From this moment on, Sonia, you will be able to spirit-travel anywhere you choose as part of the power that will be granted to you. Whenever you sleep, you will be able to visit anywhere you choose, whether it is to see me, the king, or the vast realm to Celestia. The power will be yours.

    "Wow, well you drive a hard bargain. I still don''t understand what the catch is, though. What''s the downside to all this?" I asked.

    "Well, it all depends on whether you see it as a blessing or a curse. Should you choose life over death, you would be waking up, not as a human, but as an immortal, as a goddess. The task I ask of you is not an easy one, however, if you desire to pursue a life with Gran and the king, it will be a life that you will have to fight for. My world is being threatened by the evil presence of the wicked queen whom you have already met. We must end her wicked reign, and bring love to my world, for my world has forgotten how to love. So now the time has come, Sonia. Which will you choose. To live, or to die. There is no wrong answer."

    "To live a life with Gran and the king? It seems to me that you already know my answer. For them, I would do anything. For them, I will choose to live."

    The great celestial goddess embraced me in a firm hug, to which I returned in kind. As the very reality around me became a blinding white light, she whispered in my ear.

    "Sonia, you are a miracle, even among the gods."

 Chapter 6

    Sonia wasn''t quite sure what the cause of it was. Maybe it was the sun, which seemed to shine just a little brighter through the crystal windows. Or maybe there was something in the air that allowed her to breathe a little more clearly.

    Sonia could hear the ambient sound of wind as it tossed leafy branches of lush forest trees in a dance of nature. Should she have been able to hear that? The trees were a considerable distance away. Nonetheless, she herself felt like dancing. She felt amazing. Alive and healthy. She couldn''t describe how she felt. It was like she had drank several cups of coffee or something to that effect. She wasn''t sure how long she slept, but it felt as if she had slept for days. Was that the reason? Was she just simply well rested?

    As she lifted her head off the stone king''s lap, her head felt weightless on her shoulders. Her body felt as light as air as she leapt lightly onto the stony surface of the marble floor. She took a long deep breath. Everything about her was clearer, brighter, and stronger, and she didn''t know why. She felt that she should know, but she didn''t.

    Sonia examined herself. Her hands, her arms and her legs seemed normal enough. She brushed her hands over her face and felt the clean texture of her soft and perfect skin. Until recently, she had suffered bruises, cuts, and fractures on her face and head. Even her lips, which were once split and swollen, were healed and clear of any trace of injury. She brushed her fingers through her clean, silky brown hair and felt the back of her head, and remembered that it was Gran who had healed her. She was sure that this was her doing. She had awoken, feeling like a million dollars. Or was it more accurately said that she didn''t feel human? She felt more like a dream.

    Her eyes perceived colors more vibrantly than normal, her ears heard sounds more clearly, and her body felt like it was walking on clouds. In short, she felt like an enhanced cyborg, with superhuman strength and senses. It was almost overwhelming. there were a few reasons that could explain why she felt so amazing, but the only one that she cared to entertain, was Gran.

    Sonia approached the stone figure, who was holding her hands modestly at her sides, the same beautiful smile permanently shown on her face.

    "Good morning, Gran. How are you?" Sonia said brightly. She fell to her knees in front of the old stone statue and waited. She believed in her heart that the statue would come to life and greet her warmly as she did in her dream, but the statue never moved. She waited for a long while, basking in the warm glow of the sun and listening to the cheery playfulness of the birds as they flutter joyfully past the windows. But Gran never woke up, and the longer Sonia waited, the stronger Sonia''s anxiety became as her doubt set in. She cried.

    "Do you know, Gran, how many times I looked out my window at night, praying in tears for someone, anyone, to love me. I prayed for an angel to come and take me away; to love me and to hold me, to tell me that everything was ok. I was only a little girl! At an age when the only thing that I should have worried about were the boys at school. I just wanted to be a normal girl with a normal life." Her tears dotted the floor as she recalled her childhood.

    "Home should have been a place of shelter and comfort, but it wasn''t. It was actually the source of my misery. It was always this way. All of the other children had supporting parents that came to school and participated in their children''s lives. Inside and outside of school, actually. My mother never loved me. She only thought of me as a burden. I''ve lived this way my whole life. But you, you and your people accepted me and loved me without judgment. Without even the slightest hesitation. How is that possible?" Sonia looked up at the woman, teary-eyed.

    "I''m so confused. I don''t know what is real and what is my imagination. Ever since I got here, it seems that you were with me, but just beyond my reach. Are you real, or just something my broken heart made up? Did I really eat magic bread that healed me? and the dream I had was so real. Please don''t tell me that it was all in my mind. My heart can''t take it. My heart can''t take this loneliness anymore."

    Sonia stood and embraced the stone woman and cried.

    "Please wake up! Don''t leave me alone. Let me hear your voice and your laughter. Let me feel your loving hugs, because your hugs are the best, not mine. You don''t understand. You are the angel that answered my prayers."

    Sonia''s body trembled as she clung to the old woman, wishing beyond hope for her loving friend to be real.

    As the sun rose higher in the sky and shone brighter through the tall windows, the light, warm and bright, casted it''s sparkling rays onto the stone figure that Sonia held. The clothes and body of the woman became softer as the stone melted into flesh. A heartbeat was felt, and the expansion and contraction of breathing lungs came to life as the arms of the stone figure rose from her sides to embrace the weeping woman in a firm hug.

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    "Oh my sweet child, I am here for you, and I will never leave. Indeed, I am real!" She said with a waking sigh as air filled her lungs, anew.

    "Gran!" Sonia cried, holding the woman tighter. Once again the woman''s eyes shined with the divine blue that she had seen in her dream. It was true! she was real, and so were her striking blue eyes. Even the sound of her voice was the same. Sonia was so happy, she''d forgotten how to function normally as she kept fumbling her words, forgetting how to speak. Instead, her words came out in sobbing fits of choking breaths.

    Gran laughed a hearty laughter. Sonia''s heart was bursting with happiness. This was the happiest day of her life, and she would never forget it.

    "Please calm down, you silly girl. Let us sit for a moment while I wake." Gran said, smoothing out her dress as she sat down on the cool marble floor. She inhaled deeply and slowly as Sonia held her arm in hers. Gran still wasn''t used to the transition of stone to flesh, so it took a little time to adjust. After a time, she turned to Sonia and asked her a question in concern.

    "Tell me, dear, how do you feel? If you can recall, you were on the verge of death.

    "Are you kidding? I feel amazing!I feel like I could do anything, and even more so than when you made the bread. What did you do to me?

    Gran flashed her famous smile.

    "That''s a secret." She said, teasingly. "Do you remember what happened to you the last time we seen each other?"

    "Yes. I was stabbed by a creepy-looking sword. It was scary. I can''t say that I''ve ever been stabbed before, and it hurt like crazy, even if it was just a dream. The pain was a very weird sensation. "

    "Yes, I imagine the pain you felt was quite different than what you''d expect in this world. Most of the weapons in Celestia are powered by magic, and Breillia''s sword, I believe, Hinders the inflicted with the inability to heal. Its demonic nature is deadly even for gods, let alone a mortal. I''m so glad you''re alive and well." Gran said, squeezing Sonia''s hands.

    Celestia. Magic. Gods.

    There was something about those words as Gran spoke them that sparked her memory. They were reminding her of something, but no matter how many times she repeated them, she couldn''t remember it. She shook her head as an attempt to focus on the most important thing in front of her. Gran was here, in the flesh! She was truly real, so why should she care about anything else?

    "Is there anything I can do for you? Do you need anything?" Sonia asked, Gran''s striking blues eye reflected the orange glow of the sunlight, reminding Sonia that this was no ordinary woman. She was a Goddess. Although, she didn''t know how she knew that. The woman''s glowing gaze in the sunlight was like a portrait painted by magic, but as stunning as her eyes were, it could not compare to the woman behind them.

    Gran thought for a moment, looking around the silent cathedral. The sun had fully lit the hall with its light and both of the woman were smiling in each other''s company. It was a beautiful day, full of the promise of a beautiful future. How would they advance from here? What does the future hold for them? Their world was changing, and the possibilities were exciting.

    "Hmm, How about a walk? The day is young, and we have much to discuss. But first, I would like you to meet someone." Said Gran. She stood up so effortlessly that she almost seemed to float up off the floor, unlike Sonia, who had yet to get used to her new body.

    "Meet someone?" Sonia asked curiously.

    "Yes. While you slept, I have discovered that my granddaughter has been awake this whole time, while the rest of our people were turned to stone, the poor girl had been wondering around the damned property for the last five hundred years." She turned to Sonia with a grin. "Well, no use whining about it now." Gran said with a chuckle, taking Sonia by the arm and leading her to a corridor though a door behind the alter.

    "Wait, she''s been awake for over five hundred years? That''s crazy!"

    "Yep, That''ll happen when you''ve only got yourself to talk to for five centuries. She''s probably rightly whacky by now. I guess we''ll see."

    "That''s not what I meant!" Sonia said, wide eyed. "I can''t believe you said that."

    Gran''s laughter filled the corridor as they made their way through dusty halls of carved stone and iron, lit by the thinly shaped crystalline windows, Sonia found herself becoming increasingly nervous. Gran said she was about to meet her granddaughter. How old was she? Was she a child, or was she a teenager? Would she be as nice and accepting as Gran and the others? Sonia hated meeting new people. It never usually went well, but Sonia had to remind herself that in this place, she was no longer under the influence of the awful rumors that plagued her.

    There are several rooms in the back hallway, including a neat, fully functional kitchen. At the end of the hall was a spiral staircase leading to an upper level, which the two woman silently climbed. Once on the top level, Sonia noticed that there were two rooms, which she presumed were intended to be administrative offices, since it was a church.

    They stood outside the doorway to one of the rooms. Gran motioned Sonia over, beckoning her to come closer, but she stood a little distance away, hesitating. Gran could see the scared look on her face, and understood her anxiety. She''s seen the horrible memories that she''s suffered her whole life, and knew that meeting new people wasn''t easy for her.

    Gran took her by the hand and gave a warm, reassuring smile.

    "You have nothing to fear from us, my dear. I am with you always, and soon, all of Celestia will bow to you in loving adoration. You are our future....Your Highness."

    "What?" Sonia asked in shock. "Why did you call me that? I''m not royalty."

    "You are to me. Now, chirk up, sister. We''re going in." With that, she knocked once before opening the door, revealing a beautiful teenage girl within.

    With an awkward stumbling sigh, she greeted her.

    "ummm....eerrr....aahhh.....Hi"

 Chapter 7

    The young princess stood before the mirror the same as she always did, judging her reflection. After so long, she had the amazing opportunity to spend a short time with her grandmother. They spoke of a lot of things. Things that she wasn''t aware of. Things that were admittingly hard to believe. But Gran had come with both good and bad news.

    She decided that the bad news should be first, since her life thus far had been pretty bad as it was. How could bad news be any worse than her current life? She was told that the very night that the curse had been administered, she had been in her room, looking into the mirror. The ceremony was starting and she wanted to look perfect for it. This is why she always awoke each day like this for the last five hundred years, which she already understood. But what she didn''t know was that it was her mother who was responsible for it all. Gran had told her everything about the evil queen and her sinister plot to possess the throne.

    She continued to gaze into the mirror, only this time, she didn''t look upon herself in blameful pity, but in anxious curiosity. She knew that before long, she would meet a mysterious woman named Sonia, who had somehow awakened Gran from her curse, in part of course, but whether it be in part or all together, didn''t matter. This was the good news. This woman had the potential ability to wake up everyone in the cathedral, even her father. And above all, she was no longer going to be alone. How exciting! But at the same time, she wasn''t sure how she would feel about Sonia. Who was she, and why was she here? Actually, HOW was she here? There was powerful magic that prevented people from wondering onto the property, and it also prevented its occupants from leaving. So how did she manage to reach the cathedral in the first place?

    She contemplated the possibility of Sonia being a spy for the evil queen. Is that something that her mother would do? She didn''t think that there be a point to that? Why would she need a spy? There was nobody in the old cathedral that could possibly cause the evil queen any trouble. So the likelihood of Sonia being a spy was rather un-likely, but that didn''t mean that she wasn''t evil.

    The poor girl has spent the past five hundred years thinking about the meaning of evil. what is evil? What does it mean to be evil? Surely it wasn''t just about breaking sacred laws. Everyone knew that it was bad to kill or steal, but what about pretending to be good while harboring ill intentions; to be a wolf in sheep''s clothing; to do good while plotting an evil outcome. Isn''t that the worst kind of evil? It was to her. She was realizing this now.

    She had loved her mother so much; did everything that she asked for and more. How was it possible for her to abandon her family and leave them cursed for an eternity? How could she do that?

    She had to come to terms with the reality that her mother didn''t love her. Even before she came into being as a princess to a god king, the evil woman had plotted to take the throne for herself. Even going as far as to marry and have a child with a man she didn''t love.

    "I know that I''m young and na?ve. I don''t understand the ill intentions of evil people. I can''t even imagine inflicting harm on others, or doing them wrong. I can''t imagine the thought of taking pleasure in the pain of others. I could never! But I do somewhat understand the reason someone would want to marry my father."

    A marriage between gods was more than just a simple ceremony. When gods came together in marriage, the females inherited power from their husbands, but her father was no ordinary god. He was a king. The girl didn''t understand it fully, but knew that marrying the king, meant inheriting his family crest, a mark of magic that granted an individual great power and authority over the people of the realm. To have possession of the crest meant having the power over the realm itself, which, she supposed is what her mother wanted all along. She has now been in possession of the crest for a considerable amount of time. Enough time to do whatever she pleased in her father''s absence. What madness has her mother rought while possessing the family''s name? What do the other families think of all that has been done? She shuddered at the thought. Her family''s name, which once held the most powerful influence in all of Celestia, was now reduced to nothing; the name was nothing more then just a legend.

    But, were things changing now? Who is Sonia, and if she is indeed the Silver Queen, then what does that mean for her mother? If Sonia was also in possession of the family crest, what did that make her? Was she also a queen? Was it possible for there to be two queens? She didn''t understand any of it, and she wasn''t sure if she believed any of it as well, but she would be as patient as she could and wait to see how things unfolded. Anxious curiosity, indeed.

    Laughter rang from down the hall, snapping the young girl back to reality. She couldn''t help but to smile and roll her eyes at the silly old woman that came for her. Her grandmother never took anything too seriously, which was a good thing in a reality filled with anguish. Her loving silliness was welcome.

    A knock was heard at the door, and then it opened, revealing the two woman behind it. The princess could tell that the woman was anxious and scared. But why would she be scared? For a moment, their eyes held one another in an awkward gaze, until Gran cut in and broke the silence.

    "What''s with the blinkless stares? Are we still made of stone?" She scoffed, slapping Sonia on the back. It wasn''t painful, but an unusual force sent her stumbling through the doorway.

    "Gran, give the poor woman a break." The girl said, catching the stumbling woman from falling at her feet. "And you, how old are you? Don''t you know how to walk?"

    "Umm, yeah, usually. My name is Sonia, how are you?" Sonia said, fidgeting with her raggedly torn blouse. The blouse itself was still perfectly white, thanks to Grans mysterious bottled potion that was poured over her when she was unconscious. However, it was torn in a few places, and it was only thanks to her denim jacket that she was able to cover herself.

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    "I know what your name is, you silly mortal. Gran already told me." She said, looking upon the woman in slight disgust at her appearance. "I think before we say anything more, though, you are going to need some better clothes, don''t you think? I feel like I''m speaking to an degenerate. The girl said, leaving Sonia gawping with her mouth open.

    The princess glided over to an old wardrobe and opened it. With a finger on her lips, she looked back at the ragged woman and then at the various clothes contained within.

    "Hmmm, I think you would look quite lovely in blue." She said, producing a baby blue colored sun dress, she held it out in front of her, picturing it on the woman. Satisfied, she handed it to Sonia and waited for her to put it on.

    "Well, what are you waiting for, put it on." The princess chided.

    "You want me to put it on now, in front of you?"

    "What''s the problem, we''re all woman. Or do you have some deformity you don''t want us to see?"

    "No, it''s just awkward." Sonia said. Turning her back, she took off her clothes and quickly slipped into the pretty blue dress, smiling at the feeling of the fabric against her skin. It was super comfy.

    "I love it! Thank you!"

    "It''s lovely on you, you''re welcome." The princess replied. "So what''s the plan for the day?" The girl asked. Gran peered out the nearest window.

    "I think, we all could use some fresh air. Let''s go for a walk. You can show us around." Gran said, beaming at her granddaughter.

    "A walk? That sounds kind of boring." She said rudely.

    "Is that really how you feel? I would think that after five hundred years of being alone, there wouldn''t be anything I wouldn''t do, or no place I wouldn''t go if I was reunited with my family." Sonia said, looking at the princess with shocked disapproval.

    The girl flinched at Sonia''s words

    "Shut up, mortal. I didn''t ask for your stupid opinion." She said, turning her head away from the other two. Inwardly, she was ashamed by her words, but she couldn''t admit to Sonia that she was right. Why was she speaking like this? Sonia didn''t deserve it. For some reason, she couldn''t help but to lash out against this new woman, but why? In any case, she was right. Even a walk would be a wonderful thing accompanied by others.

    "F...Fine, let''s go for a walk. It is rather nice outside, especially after that storm. And besides, I have a lovely flower garden that I would like to share. If...You want."

    "I would love that! That sounds awesome!" Sonia said. The princess appreciated Sonia''s excitement, and before long, the three woman made their way down the spiral staircase and out of the front doors of the cathedral.

    Sonia''s new dress flowed in the gentle breeze, and she couldn''t help but to smile at the site and feel of it. She wasn''t used to wearing dresses, but she couldn''t deny how comfortable and free she felt in it. She didn''t think that her old worn out sneakers went well with it, so she took them off and walked in the cool grass. After seeing her do this, the other two woman followed suit, and together, the three of them laughed as they walked barefoot through the lush green lawn.

    "There is a nice trail that I made that winds its way through the woods and comes out near the river. I''ve walked it many times before, but it''ll be the first time I''ve walked it with others." Said the princess. The tree woman walked arm in arm, with Gran in the middle. The old woman took a deep and long breath. What a wonderful day it was to spend it with such wonderful people. She couldn''t help but to tear up with emotions. Actually, all three woman were filled with emotions, and were expressing it in different ways. Both Sonia and Gran knew that the princess''s rude outbursts were just that. Emotions. The poor girl needed some love, and she would certainly receive it.

    Sonia found out that the start of the trail was actually the area to which she entered the property. Now that it was daylight, she could see the trail clearly. Sonia loved the woods, and now that she was healthy and strong, she was able to enjoy the walk through the lush forest with pleasure.

    Twigs snapped and leaves crunched under the feet of the trio as they made their way around the forest, the light of the sun peeked through here and there through the trees. Sonia could tell where the magic began and where it ended as the plant life changed from earth life to the vibrant vegetation of Celestia. There were plants that Sonia didn''t recognize and she though it best not to touch them.

    "So, Sonia, tell us about yourself. How have you come to stay here at the our cathedral?" Asked the princess. She was burning to learn more about this strange woman who broke a powerful curse.

    "Oh, well...It''s embarrassing." Sonia said, looking down at her bare feet.

    "There''s no need for that here, dear. You''re among friends now." Gran chimed in, bumping her shoulder into hers with a smile. Go on, love. How have you come to grace us with your wonderful presence?"

    It''s true, what did she have to fear? Hopefully, her old life was far behind her. And hopefully, she would never have to see her ex ever again.

    "I was running away from home. You see, my boyfriend and I got into a big fight and he hurt me pretty badly. I arrived with so many broken bones, that it''s a miracle that I''m still alive." Sonia said softly.

    The two goddess''s remained silent, thinking. Gran remembered the condition that Sonia was in before she healed her. Did a man do that to her? Gran''s heart sank at the thought.

    "I''m sorry you went through that, my dear. But those times are behind you. You''re with us now." She said

    The young girl remained silent, not knowing what to say. For a man to inflict harm on a woman, how barbaric.

    "If you ever see him again, we''ll surly punish him, that arsehole." The girl said. The three woman stopped in their tracks, and stared at one another.

    "What?" asked the girl. Gran and Sonia glanced at each other before bursting into laughter. The young princess soon joined them.

    "Hey! I meant it, we''ll surely punish that monster. I''ll write up the wanted poster once we get back. We''ll hang it up somewhere in the cathedral just as a reminder."

    "Sounds good." Sonia said.

    "You know," Sonia started. "I would like to know more about who you guys are, and about this Celestia I keep hearing about. Tell me about it. I would love to hear of it."

    "That would be a long and arduous story, wouldn''t it," the girl said.

    "Indeed, it would." Gran confirmed. "But it is a story that needs to be told, if Sonia is going to help us."

    Before long, the three woman made their way through the forest trails, coming out into the clearing toward the back of the cathedral, where there was a large, gentle flowing river. The young girl ran down to water''s edge and sat down on a sunny patch of grass, dipping her feet into the water.

    "This is my favorite spot on this whole lousy property. Right here." The girl said, kicking her feet in the water. The three girls sat there together , enjoying the sun and the breeze, kicking their feet in the river.

    "Now, where do we begin?" Asked Gran.

    "Tell me about Celestia, and the people that reside there." Sonia said.

    "That, I''ll do. Celestia, the beautiful land of gods."

 Chapter 8

    How should I explain our world? You could think of it as a great and vast tree, where each branch is a separate realm ruled by it''s own king. This is Celestia, and the roots of the great tree is the mortal realm. Each branch is connected to its own root. So, each divine realm has its own mortal world. Does this make sense?" Asked Gran. Sonia''s eyes were glued on Gran as she began to explain the world of gods. Not to mention, she was still very much entranced by the striking blue glow of her divine eyes, which she found hard not to stare into.

    "Yes, that makes sense. There is both mortal and immortal worlds that are connected to one another. But is there a way to travel between each of the realms?"

    "Of course there is, you dolt. Otherwise, how would we know about them?" The young girl answered.

    "Fair point." Sonia said. Gran continued.

    "I''ve been to several realms in my lifetime. Why, when I was young and stupid, I was saved from a terrifying death by a beautiful spider goddess, while I was traveling between realms. Her name was Arecha. She taught me how to spin divine thread and how to manipulate dreams and memories. That is how I became the goddess I am today. A very fond memory. But to answer your question with respect," Gran said, eyeballing the rude girl. "There are specific divine gates that we use to travel between worlds. There are other ways, of course, but they go against the divine law."

    "I see, so it''s like entering into a country illegally. That makes sense. Please continue." Sonia said.

    Are you sure I''m not boring you, my dear? We can stop any time you like."

    No, of course not, are you kidding me? I find all of this very interesting. I''m enjoying it very much. I admit, I thought I would be much more confused than I am, but so far, everything you said makes a lot of sense. The only reason any of it would be hard to believe is because I''ve never seen it, but you two are obviously not from this world, and I see you as plain as day, so I''ve no reason to doubt you.

    Gran smiled and nodded in appreciation.

    "The only thing truly complicated about our world are the various politics within the realms. I''m so glad I''m not among the counsel. What a headache that would be." Gran chuckled, pulling her legs out of the water and watching as it ran down her shins and onto the grassy earth. The sun was warm and bright, and the time they spent near the river''s edge was quite lovely. Gran observed the young woman next to her. Sonia was her name, and she had broken a powerful curse freeing her from a five hundred year sleep, but that wasn''t the miracle. The delightful young woman, who was happy, bright and far loving than most mortals, had endured so much sorrow throughout her life, but it never broke her spirit. She was the miracle. Gran couldn''t help but to love her, and it shown on her smile.

    "What about animals. Are they similar to this world, or are they different?" Sonia asked, excited curiosity shown all over her face, which made Gran laugh as she splashed her playfully. All three girls splashed one another, the sound of laughter rang about the large property, where the old cathedral stood, tall and silent.

    "I imagine the animal life is much similar to what you''re used to." Gran answered.

    "Except the occasional dragon. I have yet to see one of those here." Said the young princess.

    "You have dragons!" Sonia shouted. "that''s awesome! I''d love to see one!"

    "They''re not friendly, stupid." The princess said, splashing her teasingly. "You''d get eaten before you''ve even seen the royal palace. You''re starting to sound like someone we''d have to escort everywhere, just to keep you out of trouble."

    "Yeah, probably. That sounds about right." Sonia admitted. The girls continued their laughter and playful antics, until the sun shown low in the sky. The time to say goodbye for the day was approaching. Soon, the two goddess''s would be turned back into stone, leaving Sonia alone until the next morning when they would come back to life.

    "Hey, didn''t you say that you had a flower garden that you wanted to show us? Where is it?" Sonia asked.

    "Oh, that''s right! I forgot about that. Yes, let''s go see it. We have plenty of time before the sun goes down. Let''s go!" The princess said excitedly.

    They made their way up the hill toward the back of the cathedral. As soon as they reached the top, the garden came into full view. Sonia gasped childly at the site of it. There were so many of varying shapes and colors. Most of them she had never seen before. She assumed they were not of this world. The garden was large and gorgeous, vibrant with whites, pinks, and reds, with a path leading to a circle cut out in the center.

    "Wow, I love this one, what''s it called?" The girl looked at Sonia incredulously with judging eyes.

    "That''s a common lily , you dunce. You don''t know what a lily is?"

    "Oh. I guess I didn''t." Sonia said. Feeling stupid, she refrained from asking further questions. The girl sighed.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    "I''m sorry, Sonia. Look here." She presented her favorite spot in the garden with a sweep of her hand. "This is where I sit and think, sometimes. Well, I used to, that is. Those were the days when I felt the most lonely." The young girl hung her head in slight embarrassment. When she looked back up, her teary eyes caught Sonia''s gaze. Seeing the look in the young girl''s blue eyes, Sonia put a hand over her mouth to keep herself from crying.

    "I know I''m just a stupid mortal, but as long as I''m here, you will never be lonely again. I promise you."

    The young princess half smiled, ushering Sonia into the circle with her.

    "Come, sit with me, and I''ll tell you a secret."

    Sonia joined her in the middle of the garden and sat facing her. The girl grabbed Sonia''s hands and held them tightly, her wet blue eyes dripping with tears.

    "My family''s curse is my fault." She said plainly.

    "No, you silly child." Gran said, jumping into the circle and embracing the vulnerable girl. "This is not your fault. How can you say that? It has always been my fault." The old woman said. "I wasn''t a good enough mother." The two goddess''s cried for each other. It was hard for Sonia to watch, so she cried too.

    "But Mother and Father were happier without me. I ruined everything." The girl cried. Her tears came relentlessly.

    "Who told you such a stupid thing? Huh? Who said it? Gran shouted. The girl was silent for a moment, afraid to say it, in fear that it was true.

    "Mother told me, the night of the ceremony. She said that my father was not the same king that he was before I was born. She said that he changed because of me. It''s my fault. And that is the true reason why I never came down from my room to join you that day. I was ashamed."

    "What could I possibly do or say to these two that would comfort them? What could a stupid mortal do?"

    Sonia felt helpless, not knowing what to say. What else could she do but remained silent and listen?

    "It''s true, you know. You changed him. If only you knew how wonderful that is, though." Gran said, stroking her granddaughter''s hair.

    "How is it wonderful? Was he not happier without me?"

    "He was certainly not. In fact, you gave him more happiness and purpose then he ever felt possible. His true purpose began when you were born. For he was not always a good king."

    "What does that mean?" The girl asked. Gran giggled through her tears.

    "Hmmm, let me tell you a story, my dear. Long ago, there was a great and powerful demon lord, greatly feared by all. This demon conquered much of Celestia, carving a path of destruction in his wake. A great battle took place between the Demon king and the mighty Silver Queen that shook all the realms. The battle raged on for many days, until a child was born. The raging battle halted for a time, but because of the child, it never continued. There was something about the child that melted the evil king''s heart. The once evil king became good and respected god. So, you could say that it wasn''t the strength of the Silver Queen that defeated him, but the love of his beautiful daughter. This is your father''s history. "

    The girl was silent for a long while, contemplating the words that were spoken. Was this true? Was her father a demon? And if it was also true that her existence had a positive influence, then maybe, just maybe, she could live with that.

    "I miss my father." She said.

    "I miss him too, Love. Some day, we will see him again in the real world. But until then, we will have to meet him in our dreams, which reminds me, it is almost time. Let us be on our way." Gran said, helping the child to her feet.

    "It doesn''t matter, really. The stupid curse forces us back into the building whether we want to or not."

    Gran smiled. "Even so, we had a wonderful day, didn''t we? let us have another tomorrow. I can''t wait."

    "You''re right, we have every day from now on. I''m so thankful." The girl said, grabbing Sonia''s hand. "Let us be on our way, and say a proper goodnight.

    They walked back into the cathedral and down the great hall. The candles and torches, filled with magic, began to light one after another, filling the hall with a golden glow. They stopped before the great king and admired him. The two goddess''s missed him greatly.

    "To think that he was a demon, how crazy." Sonia thought. "But if he''s anything like these two, he can''t be that bad, right?

    Upon seeing the plaque at the king''s feet, she was reminded that he was without a name. As the plaque stated, he was a nameless king. And she remembered Gran once saying that the kingdom itself was stripped of its identity. What did that mean?

    "Gran, can I asked you a question?"

    "Other than the one you just asked, certainly." Gran replied.

    You once said that the kingdom had been stripped of its identity. What does that mean, exactly? Did the curse make your people forget their names?"

    "Ah, dear, our names have been erased from existence, never to be remembered again. Everyone I know and knew, no longer remembers the name I once carried. Even to Arecha, who taught me the magic specialty that I love and cherish, I am nothing but a nameless memory. We, at a literal sense, are nobodies. We have come to terms with it, so it is nothing that you need to concern yourself with."

    Sonia was quiet for a moment as she looked upon the empty throne. She thought to herself, that if she was queen, she would grant them a new identity. Would that be possible? Her heart ached for the two goddess''s and their pain.

    Due to Sonia''s sudden silence, the two goddess''s became worried for her.

    "Hey, don''t worry. All will be well now that you and Gran are here. We have each other." Said the princess. "Sonia?"

    "Sonia?" Said Gran. She reached out for Sonia''s shoulder, who turned around to face them. They gasped at the sight of her. Her eyes were radiating divine light.

    "I have a desire for something, and I have decided that it will be so." Sonia said. Not looking back, she jumped high in the air, and seated herself into the empty throne. Immediately, the flames of the candles and torches blazed brighter. With a sweeping motion of her hand, she made a powerful declaration to all in the hall. The family crest shone brightly on her forehead, a shimmering green and blue light. When she spoke, her voice thundered throughout the hall. The two goddess''s fell to their knees in her presence.

    "What''s happening?" the young girl exclaimed. Gran''s smile was wide on her face.

    "The Queen is speaking."

    "Gran, wise and nurturing. You love and are loved by all. Today I bestow onto you a new identity. Your name is Susan.

    "what? My name?"

    Princess, cunning and bright, I feel it in my soul that your innermost desire is the help others. Your love is like the flowers in your garden, beautiful and radiant. All of Celestia deserves to know you and be loved by you, and so I bestow onto you, a new identity. Your name is Sara. Your names are thus and thus it shall be. I have spoken."

    The light in Sonia''s eyes went out, and the sigil on her forehead disappeared, along with the light of the candles and torches. Like a balloon being deflated, Sonia''s eyes closed and her body collapsed in her throne as she fell fast asleep, exhausted.

    The hour struck as the end of the day arrived, and as the two goddess''s looked at one another, the girl shouted as the magic began to pull her away, disappearing into dust.

    "What in the bloody hell was that!"

 Chapter 9

    The Princess''s dream came about in a splash of colors, blending and bleeding into her reality like a watercolored painting come to life. Each Hue was vibrant and alive, painting a landscape of comforting nostalgia. She dreamed of familiar faces whose welcoming voices called out to her, calling her by name. Their beautiful smiling faces bled into existence as if a masterful deity had hand painted them into being.

    The Queen''s mighty command had breathed powerful magic, willing the very fabric of time, commanding her memories to accept her new identity. Memory after memory appeared before her like a carousel of time. Every event, celebration, and experience was presented to Sara in such a way, that it was as if her identity had never changed. Her name was Sara, and it had always been so.

    Sara''s journey through time came to a gradual halt. The vibrant shifting colors painted a scene of a gathering of family and friends huddled together, like a family portrait of the gods. Smiles were worn on their faces, and Sara''s heart filled with joy at the sight of it. These were simpler times, and she missed it painfully. Their playful bantering and gleeful laughter always filled her world with delight. Though her mother was rarely present, she was there among the group of familiar faces, albeit a little unenthusiastic, she stood there next to her father, who looked upon Sara with prideful eyes. Her mother, however, looked as if she didn''t belong, like a puzzle piece in the wrong box.

    She wished that she had had more time to spend with her mother. She longed to be loved and held by her, but her mother never cared for that kind of family intimacy. Her one true love was administering politics, or so it seemed. She had followed her around in those days, Attempting to gain her mother''s approval, but she had always looked upon her with distaste. What would it have taken to make her mother smile or fill her with pride? But, alas, somehow, she was not the daughter that her mother wanted, and so she was left to waste away in a cursed existence. Maybe she deserved it. Maybe she just wasn''t smart enough to understand what it meant to be a proper princess.

    She gazed longingly at the vibrant, watercolored memory of her family, at her mother, and was filled with sorrow. Her mother''s neutral expression was casted on her, or was it annoyance? It was hard to tell. The expression on her mother''s face looked as if she wanted to ask, "are we done yet?"

    She always knew it in her heart, that her mother didn''t love her, but she didn''t care, because Sara loved her so much.

    Gran must have said something silly, because her father''s warm grin turned to an open mouthed smile, followed by silent bellowing laughter, which she could just imagine the sound of through the painting''s lively detail. Her mother''s vacant expression was broken by a sneer of annoyance.

    Something wasn''t right, though. The longer she looked upon the painting, the more the painting began to change. Was it her imagination, or were the colors of her mother''s image moving? She looked at it more intently, looking for the smallest difference. Her mother''s face began to melt and bleed through the fabric of her memory, and it was soon replaced by the image of another woman.

    The cruel, annoying sneer was replaced by an inviting smile as newer paint was being brushed anew over her. The paint was blended, mixed, and remade into a woman that stood next to her father, breathtakingly radiant, with a silver crown atop her head. The woman held out her hands toward Sara and mouthed the words.

    "I love you."

    Sonia?

    ----------------------------------------------------------

    Sara was sure that it wasn''t normal to have a dream within a dream, but nonetheless, she had awoken from her unusual dream into the cursed reality she was used to.

    She took long, heavy breaths, and thought about what she had seen and wondered what it could''ve meant. Surely it wasn''t what it looked like. It looked as if Sonia was replacing her mother. Not just as queen, but the very role, but that''s crazy. Sonia was a nice person, but she doesn''t want to be her mother, does she?

    She could feel it, though. Things were changing. Five hundred years have past painfully slow, the atmosphere always felt like a heavy hand of oppression ever pressing down on them. It wasn''t enough for them to be trapped, forever separated from their homes in Celestia, but for them to suffer a crippling sorrow in addition was too cruel.

    "Why, Mother? Why have you done all this? What is the purpose?"

    The light in their eyes have dimmed long ago, accepting their fate. They spent every single day in anguish. But, the times were indeed changing. For one, Sara''s mind was free to think and feel without hindrance. She was no longer a slave to the curse. Was this Sonia''s doing? She remembered the conversation she had With Gran about how Sonia could possibly free them all from the magical shackles that bound them, which seems to be true. First Gran, and now Sara.

    "And now, I have a name."

    At first, she wasn''t sure how she should feel about it, but it felt right, like it was meant for her all along. She didn''t like how much she liked it, but she did. She really liked it. Sara, her name was Sara.

    The power that Sonia wielded was astonishing! And she could feel the magic working as soon as the words were spoken.

    She didn''t understand. There was no way that she could possibly be a mere mortal. Could she be a demi goddess? But for a lesser divine being, the power that she displayed was unfathomable. Who is this woman? What does she want?

    After another deep breath, Sara turned her gaze toward the door. Since she was no longer subject to the curse, she was free to walk around the palace. Should she go see her father? She could at least walk around and greet the people. How long has it been since she socialized with anyone? It was so nice talking to Gran and Sonia, that she almost craved more social activity from other people.

    She opened the door slightly and stuck her head out before stepping completely into the corridor of polished marble stone, shining with white and gold. There was no one in the large, sprawling halls. No voices were heard, either. It was eerie seeing it this way. In the past, the halls were always full of maids or butlers coming and going throughout the palace. Always someone calling out to another. She could still hear the head maid chastising a bumbling newcomer, who had either dropped something, or had said or did something unprofessional. Sara giggled at the thought.

    Directly across from her room, in the center of the palace was a balcony overlooking the central courtyard, which the very palace was built around, because her father new that it pleased her. It contained a massive flower garden, filled with all of her favorite flowers. She looked down from the high balcony, and saw that her beloved garden had withered away, leaving a depressing sight of decay.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "I''m sorry, your highness. Even the garden was cursed, it seems." A quiet voice sounded behind her left shoulder. She didn''t turn around to face her, but only cried, tears falling from the high balcony into the garden below.

    "She didn''t like it, did she? She didn''t like anything that I liked. I disgusted her, in every way. But," she said, "Father also didn''t like the garden, but because he loved me, he built his entire palace around it, knowing that it would make me happy. How are they so different from each other? I don''t understand!"

    Sara''s cry echoed throughout the vast central space beyond the balcony, her voice resounding all around her. Her shoulders shook as she cried; her head resting against the white stone.

    A hand came to rest on her back.

    "She fooled us all, didn''t she? But it''s ok, your highness, we will survive." The woman said, rubbing Sara''s back in comforting assurance. "A time will come when we will all return to our home in Celestia. And I believe in my heart that it will be quite soon.

    Sara lifted her teary face to meet the woman''s gentle gaze. She sniffed and wiped away her streaming tears. It was the head maid. Sara''s heart melted at the sight of her. What a comforting sight it was to see her. She flung her arms around the maid, pressing her face into the woman''s shoulder and cried.

    My, the women of this palace are so emotional, aren''t they? Why, just recently, I held another weeping woman. You guys are quite the pair.

    "I''ve missed you so much, I''m so glad to see you." Sara said, clutching the sleeves of her uniform.

    "I want to go see my father, will you accompany me?"

    "Of course I will, your highness. It would be my pleasure."

    Sara refused to let the maid go, so she held her arm in hers, pulling her along down the bright, immaculate corridors toward the great hall. She told the woman of her time on earth and of her flower garden that she made and kept all on her own.

    "That''s wonderful, dear. I would love to see it." She said, patting Sara''s arm.

    "You can! After all, your real body is actually in the same place where I am. We''ll just have to wake you up!" Sara was surprised at how simple and casual she said it, she hadn''t given it much thought before, but now the possibility of Sonia''s mysterious gift made her excited.

    "I''ve no doubt you will. My return to reality is only a matter of time. With you, my life is in good hands." The maid said with a smile.

    She stopped, just outside the doors to the great hall and pondered for a moment. The idea of her family and friends waking from their curse was a wonderful thing, but what did that mean for Sonia? What is it that she wanted with her family? Was it power or glory? She already possessed great power as it is. But was it her own power, or did it come from the crest that she also mysteriously possesses? Who is Sonia, and is she truly who she seems to be? Would her father crown her as a favor for lifting the curse? Everything about this seemed to point toward her inevitable reign. She wasn''t sure how she felt about that. She wasn''t sure if she was ready.

    Times were changing, but was it good change or bad? It scared her to think that they would be freed from one curse just to fall into another. Five hundred years was such a long time, even for a god. And she would be damned if anyone would ever deceive her family again.

    A sudden pat on her arm brought her back to reality.

    "I know that things are moving rather quickly in such a short amount of time, but we can only take things slowly, with one foot in front of the other. It will be okay, Princess."

    "You''re right. I just need to breath and continue moving forward." Sara replied.

    "That''s the spirit." The maid said. "Let us keep moving forward, together."

    Sara pushed open the massive double doors, which swung open silently amongst a throng of people. There were a multitude of people holding drinks and talking excitedly with one another. The sounds of laughter and happy chatter filled the great hall.

    Sara wasn''t sure what she expected to see once she arrived, but admittedly, she certainly wasn''t expecting such a lively atmosphere.

    From what she understood, The people were said to be suffering an endless cycle of despair. Did their reality always start this way? She was curious about this, because her curse prevented her from leaving her room, but now that she was able to freely wonder the palace, she was seeing the cursed dream from outside her chamber for the first time. Sara turned to the maid.

    "Has it always been this festive? People seem to be enjoying themselves."

    The maid smiled and nodded in agreement before responding.

    "It has not always been this way. Gradually, the curse is being lifted, and the hopes of the people are being renewed every day."

    "Wow! Is this Sonia''s doing?" She hadn''t meant to ask that out loud, so the maid''s answer caught her by surprise.

    "Oh, you know her? She''s a lovely woman, isn''t she?"

    "You know Sonia? Sara asked. "For me, When the dream ends, I wake up in another world, Sonia''s world. I''ve spent a bit of time with her. She''s nice, but I still don''t know her very well, and I still don''t know if I trust her.

    "That''s fair, given what we all have been through. We would be fools if we weren''t at least a little skeptical ourselves."

    "That''s relieving to hear." Sara said.

    "That is, if we hadn''t witnessed her sacrifice her life after the declaration of our freedom." The maid said.

    "What? What do you mean? How did she sacrifice herself?"

    "Let''s just say she went toe-to-toe with your mother. You should''ve seen her. There''s a mysterious power about her. Some are even declaring her the Silver Queen."

    "Yes, I heard Gran also call her that. What do you make of it? Do you believe what they say?" Sara asked.

    "I''m not sure, honestly, but her power is undeniable."

    "That I agree with. Why, just before we fell asleep tonight, Sonia granted Gran and I a new identity, where before, we had no name."

    "Sara, Are you saying that she named you?" The maid asked daringly, for she never spoke to the royal family on a first name basis. To her, Sara''s name had always been the same.

    "Yes, it may be hard to believe, but this name is new."

    The head maid could no longer hold back her tears. She and her people held onto a tiny flame of hope. Sonia was a mystery, and she brought with her a promise of a bright and loving future. But now, it was plainly seen. Sonia was not a simple flame, but a blazing beacon of which her people could surely rely on. What a miracle!

    "Let us go, your highness. Your father is just inside."

    The gentle maid took hold of Sara''s arm and lead her through the threshold of the massive double doors and through the throng of people. Servants and nobles alike were drinking, laughing and gossiping as if they weren''t trapped in stone in a nightmare reality. This hardly seemed like a nightmare, though. Five hundred years. That''s how long it had been. Five hundred years of bondage that oppressed her people, but you would never have guessed it by the merry making that filled the hall. It felt odd to Sara, and even a little uncomfortable.

    People smiled and bowed as she passed, making way as they moved aside, making a clear path to the throne where her father sat. As the mass of people stepped aside, she could make out a female figure sitting in the throne next to her father. She could see him leaning toward her , a smile wide on his face. Could it be her mother? caught in the moment, she excitedly ran to the throne. She had so many questions to ask.

    "Mother, I....."

    She halted in front of the throne in shock surprise. It''s wasn''t her mother. It was Sonia. How could this be? But then, should she be surprised?

    Sonia was dressed in a dazzling silver and gold dress and wore the same silver crown that she had seen in her dream. Now she knew, it was not just a dream, but an active fulfillment of prophecy.

    Sonia was radiantly beautiful. but above all, there was a powerful aura that emanated from her. When Sonia looked at her, she almost dropped to her knees in respectful worship. Her presence was overwhelming.

    Sonia''s mouth opened with a beautiful smile.

    "Sara, Welcome! It''s so great to see you! Sara? Are you okay?"

    A lip trembled and a tear fell as she backed away from the throne. The woman before her was strikingly gorgeous and powerfully confident, so unlike the woman in reality, but it was the throne; She was seated on the throne, where her mother was meant to sit. She was suddenly full of confusing emotions, and she wasn''t sure which one she was suppose to feel.

    "I''m sorry, but I can''t do this. I just can''t!" She turned around and fled. The great hall in all of its glory, gleamed and shined as it stood in stark silence amidst the fleeing princess. The polished floor echoed each rapid, uncertain step, and the sobbing cry fluttered in the air like moths to a flame. Pictures, paintings, and suits of armor blurred passed her as she ran down the halls of the palace, manic and distraught.

    She knew what was right, but it just didn''t feel right. She knew she should be happy, but why was she so upset?

    She flung herself onto her bed and wept. Scared, afraid, and confused.

 Chapter 10

    Sonia woke up long before the sun shone its light through the crystal windows, her mind heavy with thoughts of her new life and current circumstances. Something bothered her greatly, and she couldn''t sleep comfortably without giving it careful consideration.

    Firstly, she wondered why she always found herself waking up on the stone king''s lap. Does she sleepwalk? She''s never noticed it in all of her 24 years of life, until now.

    The ambient darkness of the main hall was warm and comforting, unlike it used to be, which was neglectfully ominous. The moonlight shone through the windows, illuminating the hall''s floor with its pale light, casting pools of moonglow upon the polished stone.

    Sonia sighed and jumped down from the high stone lap of the massive marble statue of the king of the cathedral. Her landing was soft and light, when it should have been hard and painful. She was different now. Was she even human? How long had it been since she ate an actual meal? Loaves of bread wasn''t necessarily your average three-course meal, but she wasn''t hungry. She felt fine, and maybe a little too fine. She felt great. A perfect balance of energy and strength. Perhaps she really wasn''t human anymore.

    It took a while, but she had eventually regained her memories of her encounter with the guardian deity of Celestia. She remembered what she swore and was still unsure of what it meant, or rather, what exactly she would have to do. Celeste told her that what she had to do wouldn''t be easy. Would she have to fight a demon? Assuming that''s what she was. But did Sonia have what it takes to defeat a powerful being that was able to alter an entire reality? As perplexing as that question sounded, however, that''s not even what bothered her.

    The moment Sonia had stepped outside the large double doors of the cathedral, a soft, cool breeze greeted her as it swept her hair up in a light toss. Bare footed, she walked down to the river, where she sat and gazed into its shimmering current.

    Images of Sara''s tearful cry haunted her.

    "What am I doing here? I''m messing with people''s feelings. Am I really ok with the way I''ve come in and just took over?"

    It was still a little hard to process, these past few days, but it finally sunk in when she saw the look on Sara''s face.

    "Whenever I''m in that reality, I am queen. Respected and worshiped. I got so caught up in how it made me feel, that I failed to consider how it made others feel. Sara has a mother. A mother that she loves, and even if the mother doesn''t love her in return, I can''t expect Sara to forget her."

    The pale light of the moon bathed the landscape in a magical glow. Sonia''s skin looked ghostly white as she sat there, taking in the atmosphere around her. She loved it here. What a wonderful place; safe and warm from the nightmary life she used to live. She''s spent more time here in peaceful respite then she''d ever had in her entire life. In this place, she was truly at peace. She had to stomp through mud and rain in order to find it, but once here, she lived a somewhat sheltered life, being surrounded by an area of enchanted magic. The only thing that scared her was the thought that all good things come to an eventual end. And she wondered what kind of life lay before her, once the comfort of this life ran its course.

    The wind blew with a whispery moan and crickets chirped in the distance as she contemplated her life. The trees danced and swayed like they do every day, as if in reassurance of their protection. They would know all and see all, and Sonia had nothing to worry about. She was ever safe in the arms of the forest and the cursed cathedral.

    "You know what, I''m basically playing the role of stepmom." She said, propping her chin up in her hands. "But am I a good stepmom, or a bad stepmom? I can''t be selfish anymore. Every action that I take from here on out should always be taken with the royal family and it''s people in mind. They''ve been spoiling me, and it''s time I considered their feelings." Sonia said, dipping her feet into the water and wincing in it''s sudden cold temperature.

    "I''ve made promises. Am I able to keep them? Can I truly free them from their curse? After all, even though Gran is able to wake up in the morning, she is still tethered to that reality at night. She isn''t truly free. What would it take to truly free her? I declared the promise of freedom so thoughtlessly, without even knowing whether it was possible. Why did I do that? If I''m not careful, I could end up hurting a lot more people than just Sara, I could hurt an entire nation! And then there''s the king! I''m so stupid. What am I doing?"

    Sonia''s anxiety grew as she thought about the King. She felt lost. She didn''t have the slightest clue what she was doing. She was creating expectations for herself in the eyes of the these poor people. She thought of something, though.

    "Gran and the others have, and continue to refer to me as the Silver Queen. Who is that? And what does that mean to me? I need to learn more about this title. I recall Celeste mentioning that I could spirit travel to Celestia. I wonder, if I traveled there, if I could learn more about this queen. If I could, maybe It might give me some sense of direction, mentally speaking."

    Sonia pushed herself onto her feet and made her way back into the cathedral. The ambient lighting of the moon illuminated the the way before her, as if the building itself could sense her intention. She stood before the empty throne. Celeste had said that she could spirit travel in her sleep. Sonia wasn''t sure how it worked, but knew that it would be possible as long as she sat on the empty throne. She had a strange connection to it. She didn''t understand, but maybe, just maybe if she visited Celestia, she could learn of her role and what is expected of her.

    She leapt high in the air, the rushing feeling she received as she descended lightly on the throne was pure exhilaration. She turned to face the great massive hall, and smiled in excitement.

    "Yeah, I''m definitely not human, there''s just no way. I can''t wait to experiment more with my new strength when I get a chance. Maybe go for a run, or something?"

    She sat down on the throne and looked up at the silent king.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    "I want to be the kind of queen that your people deserve. Though, I don''t know if I can. And, what kind of wife could I be? I have strong anxieties when it comes to men. You''ll see. I am not easy to be with. I''m so scared that you''ll be disappointed. But I''ll do my best. You and your people have been so wonderful."

    Closing her eyes, Sonia took a deep breath and filled her mind with the thoughts of her desired destination. Though she has never been there, her heart longed to see it, and before she knew what was happening, she was already there.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª/

    When Sonia opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by a dense forest. It was night, so she couldn''t quite make it out, but something wasn''t right about the trees.

    She stepped down from what seemed like some kind of ancient stone platform and approached the nearest tree, laying her hands on its black colored bark, she immediately knew what it was. Her hand, as she pulled it away, was covered in a thick layer of black ash. Looking around her, she realized that the entirety of the forest was a graveyard, a scene of death and ruin, having been burnt to the ground. All that was left were bare skeletal trees reaching to the sky, as if begging the gods for salvation. The terrifying forest went on for miles.

    Sonia''s hand, black with soot, was a stark contrast compared to the rest of her body. She was surprised to see that her body was ghostly white and even seemed to glow in the darkness. She wondered if she could be seen by others, or if she was literally a ghost. The tree seemed solid enough. So there was no doubt that she could interact with the world around her. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to continue on. Though, she had no idea where she was.

    "Why couldn''t I wake up in a town or something?"

    Without any sense of direction in her new environment, it was hard to tell where she should start walking.

    "I think it''s time to put my strength to the test. A real test." She said. Kneeling down, she sprang upwards, leaping high into the air as hard as she could. She shot up in the air with such force that the ground beneath her quickly became a distant speck. The wind whipped at her face and hair as she soared. It happened so quickly that she didn''t realize how high she had gone until she broke through a layer of thick white fog. One minute she was on the ground, the next, surrounded by massive blankets of clouds.

    "Oh my god!" She shouted as the realization of her ascent became shockingly clear. Her intention was to jump just high enough to see the surrounding area, but had instead soared thousands of feet above. Not only did she see the direction of the nearest city, but could also see multiple cities scattered around the continent. She could see hundreds of miles in every direction.

    For a moment, she felt as if she were floating as she came to the peak of her accession atop the clouds, the cool night air whirled around her, and the stars bathed her in celestial light. A soothing voice called to her, which she could feel rather then hear.

    "Welcome to my world, my dear friend." It was Celeste.

    With that, she began her decent toward the world below, screaming in pure terror as she fell. And who could blame her, plummeting helplessly to a seemingly painful death.

    "Would it be painful, though?" She thought. "I''d probably die of a heart attack before hitting the ground, and even then, due to the increasing velocity of the fall, I''d die on impact without feeling a thing."

    Sonia tried to clear her head and relax through the frightening ordeal. Her clothes rippled violently as she flailed uncontrollably through the air. She reasoned with herself that if she got herself into this, with her non-human ability to practically jump off a planet, shouldn''t she be able to withstand an impactful landing? She was no longer human, so she should be fine, right?

    As the world rushed toward her in an increasing speed, she braced herself by tucking into a fetal position. Soon, she crashed to the ground, smashing through dead, burnt trees and branches as she went, leaving a large black crater in her wake.

    Black dust permeated the dead forest around the crater she had made. She laid in the center, wide-eyed and panting.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª/

    Gran and Sara stood side by side, staring curiously at the sleeping Sonia, who sat silently on her throne. Her head lay to the side.

    She wore her new favorite dress, a comfortable sun dress of light baby blue. She still wasn''t used to wearing dresses, so she wore a pair of blue leggings of the same shade and a small white jacket to cover her shoulders.

    The site of her made the two goddess curious, because there was something peculiar about the way she was sleeping. For one, she wasn''t breathing, but she had a heartbeat that they could both hear from where they stood. Ordinarily at this hour, Sonia would be awake and eagerly ready to greet them.

    "Is she dead?" Sara Asked.

    Gran inched closer for a better look at her.

    "I don''t think so." She answered,

    "Shame".

    "Oh hush, you."

    Gran''s form expanded and grew to the size of the massive throne, as she bent down to examine the sleeping woman. She laid a hand over her forehead and gasped in surprise.

    "What is it, Gran?" Sara asked

    "Her soul, it''s missing!"

    "What in the bloody hell does that mean?"

    "Her body is here, but her spirit is elsewhere. I''m afraid our friend has wondered off. What a Rebel." Gran chucked.

    "Gran, is Sonia a demi goddess?"

    "Hmmmm." Gran thought for a moment. "In a manner of speaking, yes. But she is more than that as well."

    "What do you mean?" Sara asked, tilting her head to the side In curiosity.

    "I know things have been a bit confusing. I''m sorry about that, my dear. Let''s just say that I''m the one responsible for imbuing her with the family crest, as a result of this, she is no longer mortal. I did this to save her life."

    Sara''s eyes widened in surprise.

    "What?! How could you!"

    "Sara, I know you''re smart enough to understand why I did it. We need her. And she needs us. You''ll understand this in time. For now, let''s not stress over this matter." Gran turned her attention back to the sleeping figure. "I''m more concerned about where she''s wondered off to."

    "Is she in danger?"

    "Oh, hells no. In this moment, she is in her truest form. You see, she is no longer limited by the confines of her physical flesh. She is uncaged and unhindered by mortality. I imagine, wherever she is, she is the most powerful being around. Oh, how I would have loved to have witnessed such an introduction to godhood."

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª/

    Sonia stared into the sky from where she lay, breathless and shaky. The night was silent and still, save for the wind. The dead forest was void of life, where no creature stirred. It smelled of charred wood and soil, but even Sonia, an uneducated earth girl, knew that it was an unnatural fire that burned the forest. It was cursed. The aftermath of a natural forest fire would eventually result in new life that would sprout from the ashes, which would act like a natural fertilizer. But this, this was cruel, wrathful devastation.

    The superhero jump that she performed should have been something that she would''ve enjoyed, in theory. But unfortunately, it was the scariest thing she had ever done. Like riding a terrifying rollercoaster, but worse. If she still had a heart, it should have exploded from fright.

    "I think I''ll keep myself on the ground for now on, if I can help it. One superhero antic is enough for me. I imagine I''ll look back on this and smile, maybe."

    Slowly, she climbed out of the small crater and leaned herself against a tree for support. She breathed.

    Wow, just wow. To think, I am truly immortal. I just fell from sky like a shooting star. From as high as the clouds. I''m a goddess. Really! How wild!

    She looked down at her hands, feet, and her baby blue dress that refused to stain, and smiled at her own divine glow. She remembered how Celeste had looked, and how she radiated divine light. Sonia hadn''t realized it until now, but she was radiating the same kind of light. Celeste was beautiful, with silvery white hair and silvery blue eyes. Sonia probably looked similar to that, in her current form.

    "I just crashed into the ground like a meteor. Just look at that crater! And the only thing even close to pain I feel, is extreme fear. That''s all! No actual pain! I have to try this again when I get back to my world. Well, maybe not to the same degree, but I have to try something.

    As confidence and excitement flooded into her like a rising tide, she raised her head and breathed. In all of her life, She has experienced so many different kinds of pain, from so many people. Whether it was the violent pain of abuse, whether it was loneliness, or starvation. She would never feel those things again. At this moment, she felt invincible.

    "No one will ever hurt me again.

 Chapter 11

    </a>

    ¡°What kind of goddess am I, I wonder.¡± Sonia mused, stepping lightly through crisp, burnt twigs and leaves. The shade of black and gray went on for miles, the dense collection of gnarled black tree remains gave an ominous impression of grave warning. Evil had swept its way through here, and all who witnessed it must have fainted in pure terror.

    Would Sonia run into the evil that did this while she was here? In the case that she did, she would not be swayed so easily as the scared mortal she used to be. After all, she was no longer human, and most of all, she refused to be intimidated by bullies of any form. The life of the scared human girl was far behind her, or so she felt at the moment. At first, she was worried about how she was supposed to fight evil and bring peace to Celestia, being the scared woman she was, but she is a GODDESS!!! After falling to the earth like a human-shaped meteor, she realized just how possible it was. She was curious to see what else she was capable of. The road ahead was unknown, but it didn¡¯t have to be scary. At the moment, it was a wondrous road full of mystery.

    For the last couple of hours, as the sun rose from its hiding place and warmed the cool early morning air, she had walked, skipped, hopped, and ran through the forest, smiling and giggling at her childish excitement.

    Why was she so happy? Was it because of her divine health? Surviving the scary crash from the clouds left her feeling indestructible. Or perhaps it was her magical ability to travel to another world as a mysterious deity. And if she was indeed a deity, what kind was she? What kind of goddess did she want to be? The thought of it amused her. The possibilities seemed endless as they laid before her. What did she want to do? What path did she want to take? There was so much freedom, how could she not be excited?

    But as endless as her choices were and thought-provoking her situation seemed to be, there was always only one desire she has ever had. And only one passion that has allowed her to cling to life amidst an arguably depressing existence . She longed to be a wife and mother. To love and be loved by people she can call hers.

    ¡°What kind of goddess would that make me?¡± She wondered. ¡°Probably a boring one. Being a wife and mother doesn¡¯t seem particularly heroic, does it? But I tell you what, if someone last week told me that I would have the power to magically travel between dimensions as an indestructible being, I probably would have given that person a disgusted look and said something like, ''grow up, buddy, this is the real world.''

    Snap, crackle, crunch.

    The sounds of the dead forest was all that could be heard for miles. There was no life anywhere. Where did all of the creatures go? Were they able to escape this disaster? Or did they all parish in the destruction? Her heart sank at the thought. This forest was massive. The amount of life that would¡¯ve been lost in this disaster had to have been astronomical.

    ¡°This was the kind of evil I was meant to cleanse, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Sonia stopped for a moment and stared at the scene of death around her. Was she really able to stop an evil of this magnitude? She put her hands over her stomach as she started feeling sick with worry.

    ¡°Celeste, can you hear me? How am I able to stop something so powerful? Goddess or no, this kind of power is too much. What am I supposed to do? Where do I even start?¡±

    Sonia¡¯s plea received an answer almost immediately as a light wind tossed her pale white hair, gently bringing her back to reality.

    She breathed.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. I only just started. Even if my body is ready, my mind isn¡¯t. I need to get to know my new form before I start worrying about things I¡¯m not ready to tackle. I need to make contact with someone, and learn the history of this place. Surely someone must know of the Silver Queen, if that is who I am.¡±

    Sonia stayed there for a long while and meditated in peaceful, rhythmical breathing. She had to remember that she was no longer made of mortal flesh, but of an immortal spirit. Shouldn¡¯t she have the ability to reach out her heart to the world around her? Or at least, she felt as if she should be able to. There was not a single soul in sight, but maybe, just maybe, there would be a living, breathing creature somewhere within the black forest. Would she be able to sense their physical life? She took her time, reaching out her heart to the forest. If she could discover life within the forest, she felt that it would give her an immediate relief during her stay in this place.

    She reached out, with all of her heart and listened to the forest, and desperately pleaded for there to be life.

    "Please, is there anyone there that can answer me? anyone! Please answer me!"

    Not a sound came that could be heard, except a gentle wind that reached her ears like a moan on the breeze.

    "It''s not fair," She said as she wept. "It''s not fair!"

    Her tears became black as they dropped upon the forest floor, mixing with the ashy soot and disappearing from sight as it seeped into the cursed soil.

    The wind came again, moaning sadly in her ears in agreement as Sonia wept openly, mourning for the forest and the immense loss that it had endured.

    "Please."

    "Huh"? Sonia snapped her head around in surprise. "Who said that"?

    It was so quiet that she wasn''t even sure of what she heard, but she thought she heard a voice.

    She listened again, waiting to see if she could hear it.

    "Please, if you''re there, please hear my prayer."

    The wind wasn''t wind at all, but a sad, pleading whisper. Sonia didn''t hear it audibly, but she could feel the anguish carried by the wind. She reached out to the source with all her heart, and not even sure of how she knew where to go, began to run in the direction of the prayer.

    Was it a person or a forest creature, she wasn''t sure, but she longed to comfort the anguished thing. She stopped, concentrating again on the source of life, feeling it out with her own spirit.

    "Are you really there? Are you real? Or are you just as fake as they say? Please! Please show me your presence!"

    The pleading cry was painful in Sonia''s heart as

    she could feel the individual''s spiritual pain. Sonia walked cautiously in the direction of the prayer. The closer she walked, the louder and more audible it became, until she could see the poor soul several paces ahead of her, kneeling against tree. It was a young, dark skinned girl with black bouncing curls tied back in a ponytail. She wore a strange metallic mask that covered her eyes.

    Suddenly feeling anxious, Sonia stood there silently, watching the young girl as she prayed. Her sobs reverberated in her mask as she prayed to her god.

    "The world is rampant with disdain as the faith of the people is crushed by fear. Nobody prays to their gods anymore. Their hearts have been broken by prayers unanswered amidst countless bloody wars. But I will not lose heart. My family has worshiped you faithfully for many generations, and I have heard so much of your good deeds, I beg you, my glorious goddess, for you to show us your wondrous power. Please save my people and show them your amazing love. For you are said to be an honorable goddess, full of a love that shines like a beacon of hope."

    "Wow, I wonder what goddess she''s praying to. She sounds awesome."

    She shifted her weight from one foot to another as she stopped to catch her breath. She leaned against a tree as she knelt in black dirt in humble worship.

    "They say that you''re not real, but I know you''re real. I feel it in my heart. My grandmother swears that you are, and she is the wisest person I know." She spat through harsh sobs. Her face, distorted in a sorrowful frown. "Please, answer me! Please! I beg you! Please!"

    "Damn, this is hard to watch. This poor girl''s faith is being seriously tested. Bloody wars, huh? That''s tough. Am I even in Celestia? I thought Celestia was a world of gods, but this girl is clearly mortal. Didn''t Gran say that every divine realm had its own mortal world? I wonder if I''m on the mortal counterpart of Celestia."

    A twig snaps beneath Sonia''s foot, revealing her presence. The chocolate skinned girl snapped her head up in response, gasping through her metallic mask.

    "Who''s there?" She squealed, falling over herself before scrambling back to her feet and holding onto the black tree for support.

    "Nice going, Sonia. You''re definitely not the goddess of silence."

    "I''m sorry, sweetheart, I didn''t mean to startle you. I''ve been walking through this damned forest for hours, I was just happy to hear another human voice. What''s your name?" Sonia asked, trying to sound as sweet and comforting as she possibly could. The girl was clearly terrified.

    "My name?" She asked, hesitantly.

    "I need to be careful.¡± The girl thought to herself. ¡°The others told me that this forest was full of deceptive monsters that prey on people''s good nature. It could be a demon pretending to be human."

    "You first! tell me who you are."

    "Oh, I suppose that''s fair. My name is Sonia.

    "Sonia? She actually answered my question without hesitation."

    The girl relaxed her shoulders.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    "My name is Lucinda"

    "Oh! I love it. It''s a beautiful name! Do you mind if I call you Lucy?"

    "My Mother used to call me that." The girl said, lowering herself into a seating position on the forest floor.

    "Used to? I''m so sorry." Sonia said, lowering herself onto the ground several yards away, keeping a respectful distance so as not to scare the girl farther.

    The young girl shook her head.

    "Don''t be. She chose her death. She died the way she wanted to. And though it is a sad thing, I''m proud of her."

    "I don''t suppose it has anything to do with the bloody war you mentioned, does it?"

    "The nations are always in constant war with each other, as well as the divine world, or so they say. The way the teachings are told is that all of Celestia and the mortal nations have been sick with war for the last five hundred years, following a wedding between the king and his evil bride. It''s also when the gods stopped answering their people''s prayers.

    "Oh yeah, she''s definitely evil. You should see what she wears. It''s ridiculous. You can hardly call it armor with how much skin she shows off."

    "What? Are you saying you''ve seen her?" The young girl asked incredulously.

    "Oh yes. She''s a nasty one."

    "You¡¯ve seen her, and lived? Get out of here, you fibber. I''m not as gullible as you think.¡± Despite the pain in her voice, her laughter echoed through the morning air, a beautiful and delightful sound.

    ¡°I know full well the only way you could have seen her is if you somehow visited Celestia, where she rules."

    "True"

    "So the only way you could have seen her is if you''re an immortal."

    "Also true."

    "Is this girl for real? she just implied that she was immortal."

    They sat for a while in silence. facing each other from several yards apart. The wind howling an eerie moan between them.

    "Maybe it''s a good thing she can''t see me. How would she react if she saw that I wasn''t human?

    "Can I ask you what that thing is you''re wearing on your face? I can''t imagine it being a fashion statement."

    Lucinda sighed. "This year has been a hard one. They''re all hard, honestly, but this one has been especially hard. We''ve had several months without rain, and our livestock are ill with a mysterious fever."

    ¡°Why am I telling her all this?¡±

    "And the people needed someone to blame, didn''t they?" Sonia said, having been the subject of bullying all her life."

    The girl looked down at her lap, fidgeting with her dirty shawl.

    "My family has always seen persecution, because of the goddess we worship. She is said to be the most powerful deity in Celestia, who fights for the weak, and shows mercy to the humble. Every month, the black knights pay a visit and demand payment. Usually, they take the first of our crops, or money from our merchants."

    "But with times being as tough as they are, your people don''t have the usual payment. I see the pattern. What did they do then?" Sonia asked.

    Tears revealed themselves from behind the mask, which ran down and dripped from her pouty lips.

    ¡°They¡¯ve been demanding possession of the children. Every few months, they come and take the one they see fit for the service of the evil queen.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s awful!¡±

    ¡°My family has been in the service of our goddess for countless generations. There are many stories of our family being involved in miraculous adventures and deeds that have always set us apart from other churches. Not because we are better, but because we care. We refuse to take part in politics or trivial, selfish matters. All gods have their purpose. We worship ours because of what she represents.¡±

    ¡°And what does she represent?¡±

    ¡°Familyhood, unity, love. She is our mother, and we are her children, she does not judge or find favoritism. She loves and helps all. Recently, I have done something reckless. And I¡¯m not sure if it was right. But, I feel in my heart that it was something that I had to do. I love just as my goddess loves.¡±

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Sonia asked, comfortingly.

    ¡°I will not say. Please forgive me.¡±

    ¡°No worries, sweetie, please continue with your story.¡±

    Lucinda halted her story for a moment to reclaim her composure, biting her lip in an attempt to hush her cries.

    ¡°The people of this nation have lost faith in their gods. They spit at the thought of them. And mine, above all. I don¡¯t blame them, honestly. No one has come to our aid. Not one!¡±

    Her hands grasped at the black tree once more and pulled herself up onto her feet.

    ¡°They found me in a state of prayer, and according to some, they say that I fell into a trance. They say that my eyes began to glow! They cried that I was possessed by a demon. So, as a response to my devotion, they paid a mage to seal my vision with a magical item. I cannot take it off. And to make matters worse, they drove me into this forest to die, as the demon that I am. Even though I prayed for the safety and wellbeing of my people. Their fear and grief has made them paranoid.¡±

    Sonia remained silent. What could she say? Once again, the heavy-loaded task that was handed to her has begun to feel overwhelming with sorrow.

    Celeste had told her that her world had forgotten how to love, and that with her light, she could give light back to the world. She was beginning to understand the daunting task ahead of her. But instead of wondering where to start, why not start with the one in front of her? Lucy was an amazing girl, and Sonia could feel both her love and sorrow radiating from her being. She wanted so much to comfort her and relieve her pain.

    Sonia didn¡¯t recall getting up from the ground in which she sat, nor could she recall walking or running to Lucy¡¯s side. All she knew was that in the blink of an eye, she had reached out to grasp the poor girl by the hand and held it in hers. The warm connection brought a comforting smile to Lucy¡¯s partly obscured face.

    ¡°Thank you, Lucy, for sharing your story and feelings with me. I know it wasn¡¯t easy. For all you knew, I could have been a demon or a cunning monster. But you found trust in me. Please allow me to guide you back home. Assuming you have a home to go back to.¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you! I do have a home. My grandmother is sick. I am eager to be by her side.¡±

    ¡°Then,¡± Sonia started, pulling her along. ¡°Let us be on our way. I believe the nearest town is this way.¡±

    The two girls walked hand in hand, talking quietly in relaxed voices. They talked about many things along the way, like, what their favorite things to do on a beautiful day. Lucinda, as it turned out, was a musician, who played something that sounded much like a harp. Sonia, on the other hand, enjoyed sitting next to an open window with a lovely book and a hot cup of coffee.

    ¡°I love reading.¡± Lucinda said, tilting her head toward Sonia in couriocity. Lucinda knew that they had started their walk at least two hours ago, but despite the long trek, she didn¡¯t feel the least bit tired, it was as if the stranger¡¯s hold on her had been giving her strength. There was a strange warming current that ran from the woman¡¯s hand, throughout Lucinda¡¯s body. It could just be her imagination. She had suffered so much lately, and the brief comfort Sonia gave her was a blessing from the goddess, she was sure. Her people feared her and her goddess. They feared love.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m not the only one suffering. We all have suffered, how can I be mad at them?¡± I wish my goddess would have mercy on them and show them the hope I know only she can.¡±

    Lucinda gripped Sonia¡¯s hand tighter as she guided the two of them through the dead forest.

    ¡°How are you doing, Lucy? Are you okay? Do you need to rest?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s so kind.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m alright, we can keep going, thank you.¡±

    ¡°I think we¡¯re almost there, there¡¯s a sign up ahead.¡± Sonia said, picking up a quicker pace toward the wooden structure.

    They broke through into a clearing and onto a rocky road. There was a sign with two arrows that pointed in opposite directions. One said ¡°Brighton¡± and the other she couldn¡¯t pronounce.

    ¡°Brighton. Does that sound familiar, Lucy?¡±

    ¡°Yes it does, I¡¯ve been there many times. However, I don¡¯t live there, I live opposite of Brighton, called Maheirron¡±

    ¡°What? How did you say that? Ma hay ron?¡±

    Lucinda laughed.

    Almost. The proper name is Chlarhta-Maheirron. Nobody really calls it that anymore. Apparently, it means Throne of Light in the old language. But most people call it the Sunny City.¡±

    ¡°Interesting. The Sunny City and Brighton. I¡¯m seeing a theme here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, most of this continent was once wholly devoted to the goddess of light. Before the endless war, of course. Now, people curse the gods, and choose to reject anything that resembles or represents them. Sunny City sounds less religious and more natural. Anti religious individuals have already started debating whether the proper title was ever meant to have its roots in religion at all. Stating that the Sunny City is simply implying the city¡¯s sunny disposition.¡±

    ¡°Really? That¡¯s interesting.¡±

    Lucy smiled apologetically and tugged at Sonia¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Look at me, rambling on about boring things. Come Sonia. Which is the way to Maheirron?¡±

    Sonia suddenly realized that being seen in public probably wasn¡¯t a good idea. She started panicking a little.

    ¡°Umm, about that, I don¡¯t think it would be a good idea to show myself in public. It¡¯s kind of hard for me to explain. You see, my face would most likely make people angry, judging by what I¡¯ve learned of your people.¡±

    ¡°Oh, are you sick with the plague? You poor dear! Here, take my shawl and cover your face. We¡¯ll go to my place. You¡¯ll be safe there, I promise.¡±

    Lucinda unwrapped her dirty green shawl and flung it over Sonia¡¯s head, covering her face and shoulders. It was a perfect length.

    ¡°Wow, thank you!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re very welcome, friend.¡±

    With one hand on the shawl and the other clasped in Lucy¡¯s, they ran together down the cobbled road. Lucy, who had been blind for the last couple days, ran without fear together with her new friend, whom she trusted unconditionally. Maybe she was crazy, but she was done with being afraid, so she chose to live in a way that pleased her goddess. She chose to love and trust.

    Sonia was a gift, she was sure of it. A gift from her goddess and an answer to her prayer.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The great beast soared gracefully through a slipstream high above the mortal world. Mighty and majestic. Her pale wings of ivory white, glided effortlessly through the clouds.

    Dragons were the kind of beasts that were sensitive to divine magic, which they were able to sense from miles away. Breshka, however, had sensed a flicker of magic from clear across the continent. What magic could be so powerful as to be felt from such a distance? Magic in which she felt she recognized. She doubted her senses, but couldn¡¯t ignore the nagging tug at her heart. Was it her master? Was she truly back? It had been long since she laid eyes on the Silver Queen. Her return would be a sign of remarkable changes to come.

    She beat her wings hard, pushing her faster through the slipstream, sailing impossibly fast through the sky, until she finally broke through the stream, throwing her wings out, halting in mid flight. Spotting her destination below, she tucked her wings in and dove toward the earth.

    Breshka saw it even before she descended, and couldn¡¯t believe her sharp yellow eyes.

    The world of mortals came rushing toward her and just before reaching the ground, she unfurled her wings, sending loose trees, sticks, and rocks flying as she landed, her ivory talons sinking into the cursed soil of the Black Forest.

    The Black Forest. It had been cursed long ago. For several centuries, it had been a symbol of the evil queen¡¯s triumphant rein. It was a day of sorrow for all, even for dragons.

    Since the start of the mortal¡¯s endless war, it was said that nothing would grow here. It was a mocking sign of death and oppression, however, the ground around her was no longer black. The small crater where Sonia once laid was overflowing with fresh, new life. Vibrant green and yellow flowery vines wound its way up the nearby tree that Sonia had leaned against after her hurtling descent.

    The evil queen¡¯s magic was powerful indeed, and was not something that should¡¯ve faded over time. No entity that would be strong enough to break it. No one, except the legendary Silver Queen.

    Breshka lowered her head toward the lush green crater and inhaled its magic residue. If it was truly her, she would know.

    The great dragon of ivory white, majestic and radiant, swung her head high toward the sky and cried. A powerful roar that pierced the silence of the dead forest and beyond.

    Her queen had returned.

 Chapter 12

    </a>

    post a photo online</a>

    ¡°Ewwwww! Gran, what¡¯s happening to her? She¡¯s rotting!¡±

    Gran and Sara stood before the throne stressed with worry. Well, Gran was worried, Sara, on the other hand, had scrunched her nose in disgust at the corpse that sat on the throne.

    The figure that sat there had begun to rot. The skin was tight and gray, and its eyes had begun to sink into its skull. Even the hair had begun to fall out.

    ¡°Augh, the smell! Should we let her taint the throne like that? We should move her somewhere else.¡± Sara cried, pinching her nose.

    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t think it would be a good idea to move her, or even touch her for that matter. Not only would we risk hurting her, we would also risk severing her connection to this dimension.¡± Gran reasoned.

    Honestly, she wasn¡¯t confidently sure if the connection to the throne was true. At this point, it was just a hunch. But a hunch of safety was better than a reckless choice to move her. She wasn¡¯t sure what she should do. Sonia¡¯s current state was alarming.

    ¡°Besides,¡± Gran said with a grin. ¡°Would you want to put your hands in that?¡±

    The sickening look on Sara¡¯s face was her answer.

    Gran twiddled her fingers on her pursed lips, thinking.

    ¡°She¡¯s taking too long. Her body won¡¯t be able to survive without her soul.¡±

    ¡°But why?¡± Sara asked. As the young goddess that she was, she didn¡¯t understand the nature of mortals.

    ¡°The soul is the true living part of any breathing creature. Without the soul, the body cannot live. The longer she stays away from it, the weaker it becomes.¡±

    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t hurry, she won¡¯t have a body to come back to!¡± Sara realized.

    ¡°Too true.¡± Said Gran. The two women looked on, unsure of what to do and powerless to help.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The sun had just begun to set as they reached the Sunny City. It was much larger than Lucy had made it seem. Perhaps she was used to it, but for Sonia, it was huge.

    A massive river ran through the center of it. On one side was a harbor town ripe with commerce and trade. On the other was a vast farming town with tons of different crops and livestock. Although, the farming district didn¡¯t look much different than the dead forest, and she wondered how much better the harbor district fared.

    Getting into the city was quite easy. The soldiers guarding the gate made no attempt to stop them from entering, which Sonia found quite surprising.

    ¡°Not that I¡¯m complaining or anything, but why did the guards let you in? I thought you were exiled or something.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t necessarily exiled. I was merely expected to fail and die. The condition of my sentence was that if I could survive and find my way back, that I could freely enter, which I did thanks to you.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡±

    Lucinda walked ahead, pulling Sonia along.

    ¡°Come now, blind or no, I know this city well. My home is near the church. Wait until you see it. It¡¯s my favorite part of the city.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re referring to that massive tower over there, I can see it. It¡¯s huge!¡± Sonia gasped, stumbling over her feet as she was pulled along.

    ¡°Hey you, watch it!¡± Sonia cried out. The two girls laughed as one stumbled over the other. One wearing a magically sealed blindfold and the other whose face was wrapped in a dirty shawl, both of them unable to see.

    ¡°Hey! I thought you knew where you were going!¡± Sonia shrieked with laughter, attempting to get up with one hand clutching the shawl around her face, while the other lay beneath a clumsy Lucy, who also seemed to be struggling to find her bearings.

    ¡°Have you forgotten that I¡¯m blind? How could you let me stumble over a potted plant? The shopkeeper should be furious when he finds out.¡±

    Perhaps it was the relief of the city walls that spurred their silliness. Neither girl could contain their happiness. The street was littered with uncontrollable girlish giggles and bursting fits of loud obnoxious laughter.

    Several buildings around them lit up as their racket awoke the sleeping populous.

    ¡°Uh Oh, I think we¡¯re disturbing the public. We need to get out of here before we get into trouble. The last thing we need is to draw attention to either of us.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough.¡± Lucinda admitted. ¡°Come on, this way. We¡¯ll avoid the short cuts for now. I can¡¯t expect you to keep track of every shrub or obstacle. We¡¯ll take the safe route.¡±

    The girls ran down the neat, cobbled streets. Most of the people were indoors preparing for bed, leaving the streets clear and quiet. The tall torches lit up the dark deserted streets like city street lamps, casting shadows at the girls¡¯ feet which skirted along the road with the running duo.

    Each of the buildings were beautifully constructed with brick and glass, giving the city a feeling of rich nobility. From the look of her, you wouldn¡¯t think that Lucy belonged to such a lovely environment, judging from what she was wearing, but then again, she had been wandering around in the forest for god knows how long, so it shouldn¡¯t have been a surprise. But my, how beautiful the city was, and this was only the first of many cities in this new world. She couldn¡¯t wait to see them all.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Soon, the grand building of the church came into view beneath the sprawling tower that resembled a lighthouse. It had a large emblem fixed atop of its high, massive roof that looked like a bursting star. It was easily the largest structure in the city, rivaling that of the Empire State Building.

    Sonia stopped and gawked at its grand and massive appearance. Shocked and awed by the sheer size of it.

    The ancient brick structure was plain in design. There was nothing particularly special about its appearance except, again, for its size. The church, on the other hand, was just as beautifully built and decorated similarly to the rest of the buildings throughout the city. Except, there was something strangely familiar about the church that she couldn¡¯t quite figure out.

    ¡°Come on, Sonia. I can¡¯t have you staying in my home if you''re sick with the plague. Especially with my Grandmother being sick. The church though, will be perfectly safe for you. Nobody visits it anymore. I¡¯ll bring you some clothes and food shortly, but first, let me show you to your bed.¡±

    Together with Lucy, Sonia pulled open the doors to the church and stepped into what felt like a portal back to her home world. The church was an exact replica of the old cathedral where Sonia¡¯s body was waiting for her. Or perhaps the old cathedral was the replica and this one the real one. Either way, they were the same, except there was only a single throne at the end of the hall.

    Unlike the decrepit and unkept nature of the old cathedral, this one was immaculately clean and decorated. The crystal windows that lined the length of the building were colored with blues and greens, although Sonia preferred the normal uncolored crystal over the colored, it was still bewitchingly pretty.

    A carpet of royal green ran down the whole of the isle, framed by polished brown wooden pews.

    Sonia sighed with astonishment.

    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful in here!¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Come on, let¡¯s go upstairs.¡±

    But Sonia wouldn¡¯t move. She was shocked and transfixed on the mural behind the throne. It depicted a woman sitting atop a white dragon, wearing silver-gray battle robes lined with light silver armor. She knew who it was, and it wasn¡¯t the crown on her head that gave it away. It was the sword that she held high. A magnificent silver sword that Sonia once held, herself. It was the Silver Queen.

    Sonia fell into the pew beside her, wide eyed.

    ¡±Sonia? Is everything okay?¡±

    ¡°The goddess that you worship, is she called the Silver Queen?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. The goddess of light. The mother of this nation. All of Pheiren once worshiped her.¡±

    ¡°Pheiren?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Do you not know where you are? You are on the continent of Pheiren, in the country of Kalitos.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s say, for the sake of conversation, that I don¡¯t know anything. What connection does the God King have with the Silver Queen? I was told that they were at war. What happened?¡±

    Lucinda took a seat next to Sonia in the pew and thought for a moment, her hands folded neatly in her lap.

    ¡°Do you mean the demon king? They were at war from what they say. The Queen was no doubt victorious, but something happened to the King that made him have a change of heart. It¡¯s unknown what actually happened, but the Queen took pity on him and let him live. The real mystery after that, is what happened to the Silver Queen. She disappeared and was not heard of again. Believe it or not, they say that she used to visit this church quite often several centuries ago, to converse with her people and spend time among them. How I wish I could¡¯ve seen her!¡±

    ¡°Why do you worship her?¡±

    Surprised by the question, Lucy¡¯s head jerked in Sonia¡¯s direction with a look of confusion. Not knowing whether to be offended or hurt.

    ¡°We¡¯ve always worshiped her. My whole family, for countless generations, have served her. We even run this church. In those days, we served as knights in her service, helping the weak and the unjust. We served as healers and guides. We¡¯ve always devoted ourselves to her.¡±

    ¡°But why do you worship ¡®her¡¯? Surely there are other gods.¡±

    Lucy¡¯s expression darkened, and with a gentle hand on her shoulder, Sonia silently assured her of her sincerity. Lucy sighed.

    ¡°Like holding onto a light in a dark room, I strive to hold onto hope in a loveless world. My life has always been full of hate and sorrow. I just¡­want to make it better.¡±

    Sonia looked straight ahead, and smiled warmly at her friend¡¯s words.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s why you and I got along so easily. You and I are the same.¡±

    ¡°Kindred spirits.¡± Lucy affirmed.

    The two sat in silence for a time. Thinking about their purpose and how their friendship fits into the future.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never had a friend before.¡± Lucy whispered.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nice.¡± Sonia laid her head on her friend¡¯s shoulder and sighed.

    ¡°Sonia, what color is your hair? Since I can¡¯t see you, I don¡¯t know what you look like.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, Sonia started, running her fingers into her hair. She hadn¡¯t given it much thought, but her appearance did indeed change. ¡°White. I have white hair, fair skin, and sapphire blue eyes.¡±

    Lucy laughed.

    ¡°Is that right? You might as well be the Silver Queen, herself!¡± Lucy slapped her playfully.

    ¡°Go big or go home.¡±

    ¡°What in the world does that mean? Who says that?¡±

    After the laughter had ceased and the echoes of the two had faded, Lucy proceeded to the upper room to prepare for Sonia¡¯s bed. The layout of the building was exactly the same. This would have been the room that Sara retreated into at night.

    Lucy left Sonia alone in the church just long enough to grab some food for the both of them and return with two bowls of stew and bread. Lucy carefully set the items on the floor near the bed, laying everything out before tearing a large loaf of bread and handing it to Sonia, who took it thankfully. Even though Sonia didn''t need to eat, she still the enjoyed humble moment Lucy shared with her.

    Sonia ate the bread and washed it down with the salty broth.

    ¡°This is awesome, thank you!¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? I was starving! I¡¯ve been in that forest for almost two days. How long were you in there?¡±

    ¡°I would say two days is pretty accurate. Yeah, I was also there for about two days.¡±

    ¡°What led you into the black forest?¡± Lucy asked.

    ¡°Would you believe me if I told you I appeared there from another world?¡±

    ¡°Of course I would, if you say it was so. There is magic in this world after all, and there are all kinds of people and monsters that appear and disappear all the time, even gods.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief. I¡¯m glad I don¡¯t have to hide anything from you. Yeah, I¡¯m from another world.¡±

    ¡°Well, let me be the first to welcome you here.¡± Lucy said, raising her glass of water before drinking the last of it. Sonia smiled.

    ¡°Let us call it a day. I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯m tired. I¡¯ll come back to visit you first thing. I have chores in the morning, which you don¡¯t have to help with if you don¡¯t want to. Well, good night Sonia.¡±

    ¡°Good night Lucy, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡±

    With that, she turned away and closed the door behind her. The flickering of the lantern on the nightstand casted a comforting glow to the room. Sonia laid there, thinking as the flickering light reminded her of Lucy¡¯s words.

    "To be a light in a dark place. Is that the kind of goddess She is, the Silver Queen? A light? A mother? Sharing love with her people? That sounds too much like me already, in fact, that IS me. I want to be all of those things. That¡¯s the kind of goddess I was to be, but can I live up to the reputation of such a highly revered leader? I don''t know, but Lucy hangs onto the Queen for hope in a world where there is no hope. If I am the Silver Queen, am I able to give her the hope she needs? Again, I don''t know, but I like Lucy so I will do all that I can for her.

    With that, she closed her eyes and willed herself back to her body, leaving The Sunny City and Lucy behind, for now.

 Chapter 13

    Sonia¡¯s eyes cracked open with much effort, and a puff of dust and dried skin and saliva came billowing out as she coughed. She wheezed and dry-retched in a painful struggle to breathe. Everything she did emitted constant pain. Her skin cracked open and a strange looking fluid seeped out when she moved her arms. It didn¡¯t take much, and she didn¡¯t have the strength to lift them very high. She couldn¡¯t even speak. All she could do was moan in agony as she struggled to sweep her gaze around the room.

    It was comforting to see that Gran was still where she¡¯d left her. An expression of painful worry was sculpted on the old woman¡¯s stony face, her hands held over her heart.

    The hall was quiet and dark, and for the first time, she actually properly examined the great hall. Unlike the remarkably beautiful Church in the Sunny City, this one had no carpeting. The floor was polished, but bare. The pews were cracked and faded, with some of them pulled up out of the floor and tossed aside.

    ¡°Why did the evil queen choose this church for the king and his family? After realizing that this cathedral is actually modeled after the Silver Queen¡¯s place of worship, it would make sense that the evil que¡­I think I remember the king calling her Breillia, lets refer to her as such from now on. Breillia obviously became upset about something that had to do with the king and the goddess of light, but what? Maybe the king and the silver queen stopped fighting. I know it has something to do with Sara in some way. Gran had said that Sara was somehow the catalyst for the end of the war between gods. Of course that obviously didn¡¯t last long thanks to Breillia and her selfish schemes. I still don¡¯t know much about all this, but I¡¯m starting to piece at least a little bit of the puzzle together. So far, I know this¡­

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">The King and Silver Queen were fighting, and then they stopped for reasons unknown</li>

    </ul>

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Breillia became furious about something and cursed the royal family as the result of the truce between the king and goddess of light. </li>

    </ul>

    ¡°That¡¯s all I know, at least that''s all that I think I know. Rumors are just rumors until proven true. So until then, this is all speculation. I don¡¯t really know if it was a truce between the king and the silver goddess, but I do know that whatever happened between them, transformed the god from a demon lord to a benevolent king. Or at least it seems that way. It turns out that he¡¯s still referred to as the Demon King according to Lucy. He didn¡¯t look all that demon like when I was with him, but that could just be the nature of the dream he is currently under. At the moment, he¡¯s still subject to the curse and not in full control of himself. So who knows what he¡¯s truly like. But Gran, if he''s anything like his mother, then he should be just as good as he seems.¡±

    Sonia rolled her head in agony back and forth, moaning. There was nothing she could do but to wait until her divine soul naturally healed her flesh, which seemed to be taking a little time to complete. She felt like a mummy coming back to life after thousands of years of sleep

    ¡°How long have I been gone, and why is it that I come back looking like a Halloween prop?¡±

    ¡°You know, now that I¡¯m mentally processing all the pieces, I still don¡¯t know how I fit into all of this. Why me? Not that I¡¯m complaining. Jumping through the clouds was actually quite exhilarating. Who would believe me if I told someone that I could do something like that? But still, why did celeste choose me? And how did she find me? She''s from an entirely different world. Dimension, even! And, if I¡¯m supposed to be the Silver Queen, what happened to the original? Why did she disappear? There are still some unanswered questions, but what else do I have going on in my life but to play godly sleuth? Am I enjoying myself too much? It¡¯s all been a bit too surreal for my head to be grounded in reality.¡±

    First, divine light started showing through the cracks of her skin, as well as her eyes, mouth, nose, and ears, and then her whole body showed with a bright healing aura. Her brown hair and tan skin was restored, and as the light faded, she was whole again.

    ¡°Wow, let¡¯s try not to do that again. How long have I been gone? I thought it had only been a day and a half at least. Would my body really weaken that quickly? That¡¯s nuts! It looks like Twelve hours will be my limit goal from now on.

    Sonia hopped down from her throne and slowly paced up and down the length of the hall, deep in contemplation. When she first realized that she was an immortal woman, she thought hard about what her future would look like. To live for an eternity would be meaningless if it wasn¡¯t filled with something that gave her purpose. What would she do with herself, and what kind of person did she want to be?

    ¡°Trying to figure out what you wanted to be in highschool was hard enough, but to be a goddess with a clean slate is tough to say the least.¡±

    Sonia chewed her fingernail anxiously. Was the slate really that empty after all? All evidence suggested that she was quite possibly an important deity.

    The Silver Queen.

    Why did they call her that? Was she an actual queen? Either way, not only is she worshiped by entire nations, but even gods worship her. Remembering the image of Gran bowing low in her honor was something that made Sonia feel uncomfortable. She didn¡¯t feel like she was worth that kind of attention. After all, she was just a dirty, pathetic waste of space. At least that¡¯s what she was raised to believe.

    Sonia liked what the Silver Queen represented. It seemed to her that she was an incredible figure of leadership that took great pride in her role. She loved and was loved.

    Sonia sighed. To love and be loved.

    ¡°But the Silver Queen was a warrior that fought and earned the respect that¡¯s given to her. I haven¡¯t done anything. I don¡¯t deserve such praise and respect. But,¡± Sonia turned to face the throne. ¡°I have to go back and see Lucy. She has a curse of her own, and who better to help and guide her than her goddess?¡± She smirked playfully.

    ¡°I want to help her, I want to be there for her. I feel as if we were meant to meet. Didn¡¯t she also say that she had a reaction from praying? Could it be that her prayer brought me there? Is that why I arrived there instead of Celestia?¡±

    Sonia ran to the throne and hopped lightly into her seat. If it was the power of Lucy¡¯s prayer that brought her there, then how could she possibly deny her? No, she had to go back. Sonia willed herself to sleep and before long, she was back in Kalitos.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Sonia loved the striking beauty of the Sunny City. Everything about it gave Sonia the feel of a European fairytale. From the cobbled roads and the neat bricked buildings, to the people and their busy lives. Early in the morning, the people silently began their day. The shop keepers set up their stalls, while passersbys walked their dogs.

    Steam drifted from hot mugs and warm breaths while the sun slowly came into view through the Black Forest trees. The city slowly came to life before her eyes.

    Sonia sat on the roof of the Sunny City¡¯s beautiful cathedral, watching as the city roused from its slumber. She sat there, watching and thinking with her knees hugged close to her chest. She hummed a soft tune as she rocked back and forth on her perch.

    She imagined the city during a time before war and conflict, before the great battle between gods shook the world. During a time when the city was ripe with rich success. How much more beautiful would this city be if its people smiled and laughed. How lucky the Silver Queen was, to have been able to be loved by such people, from such a city.

    ¡°Am I the goddess of this city? Is it true that the Silver Queen often visited this place freely? I can¡¯t wait to see and witness what it must have felt like. I hope, with all my heart, to see it come true.¡±

    The people of this great city never smiled, never laughed or sang. Sonia quickly learned that all the people wore a permanent frown. And especially now when their home is threatened by plague. They toiled and labored for what seemed to be for nothing. They struggled to meet the demands of the black knights lest they give them their children.

    ¡°How I wish I could just reach out my hand and wipe away the plague from their land. What should I do? How do I help them?¡±

    Sonia¡¯s slow, rhythmic rocking became more aggressive as her eyes became wet with tears.

    ¡°Some goddess I am. I don¡¯t have a clue what I¡¯m doing, but I can¡¯t just do nothing. What should I do?¡±

    Sonia sprang to her feet upon hearing a voice from the window below her. Rushing over to the roof¡¯s edge, she lowered herself down with one hand, and with the other hand, grasped the window sill. It was Lucinda. She was hunched over the bed where Sonia had been sleeping the night before. Lucy felt around the disheveled blankets with worry, thinking that maybe Sonia had snuck out and left her. She called out to Sonia, her voice cracking with heartache.

    ¡°Sonia!¡±

    Sonia climbed into the window, surprised at Lucy¡¯s heartfelt reaction to her absence.

    ¡°Lucy! It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m here!¡±

    Sonia ran to her friend and threw her arms around her.

    ¡°I¡¯m here, Lucy. Please don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not ready to leave just yet.¡±

    Lucy blushed with embarrassment.

    ¡°Sonia, you must think of me as a weak fool.¡±

    ¡°No, of course not!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just that, you¡¯re the closest thing I¡¯ve had to a friend in all my life. I¡¯m not ready to let you go.¡± Lucy cried.

    ¡°And neither am I.¡± Sonia replied, brushing her white hair from her bright pale skinned face, her divine blue eyes twinkled with tears.

    ¡°And besides,¡± Sonia began,¡°this is the most comfy bed I have ever slept in.¡± She said, leaning back and fanning her arms out behind her, feeling the mattress beneath her hands.

    Lucy looked toward her under raised eyebrows.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what beds you¡¯ve been sleeping in, but that one gives me back aches like you wouldn¡¯t believe.¡±

    Yeah? Well, I¡¯ll take crooked springs over a hard floor any day¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you that.¡± Lucy laughed.

    ¡°So what¡¯s on the agenda today?¡±

    Lucy threw a bundle of clothing at her.

    ¡°After you put these on, we¡¯ll run some errands around the city. Since Grandmother is ill, she can¡¯t go shopping on her own. I hope you¡¯ll like what she picked out for you. I told her your favorite color was blue.¡±

    She unfolded the bundle to reveal an elegant white and blue hooded gown, and after slipping it over her head, she learned that the hood was lined with a soft veil that obscured the face just enough to hide her eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s perfect!¡±

    She rushed over to the mirror, eager to examine her new appearance. It was honestly plain in its design, with long white sleeves and three blue buttons on the white top half, and a light sky blue colored bottom that flowed modestly at her ankles. She pulled over the hood and smiled widely at her veil-covered reflection. The hood itself was form fitting, which stretched over her head comfortably. She couldn¡¯t see her face or her striking blue eyes beneath the light blue fabric. It was truly perfect.

    ¡°I bet you nobody will even remember the dress¡¯s original purpose. This dress used to be worn by those who served within the church, long ago. With it, you¡¯ll be able to walk among the people without the fear of being judged. My grandma also said that you¡¯ll most likely encounter the opposite. She thinks that you may even gain the attention of the boys who¡¯ll see you as mysteriously elegant.¡±

    Lucy held out her hand.

    ¡°Shall we go?¡±

    ¡°Certainly.¡±

    Sonia knew that at night, her skin had a glow to it that would¡¯ve been obvious even with her new clothes, during the day, however, it was hardly noticeable. She imagined she must look a bit eerily pale, but otherwise no one seemed to care, which was relieving.

    For the better part of the day, they had spent walking the streets from shop to shop, purchasing the necessities Lucy¡¯s grandmother required. Lucy held the bags of goods while Sonia led her by the arm.

    Once the sun had reached its peak and casted its golden rays through the clouds, the light that caught the giant crystal starburst atop the lighthouse sent gentle sparkles of greens and blues throughout the city, which shimmered and danced on the building walls and cobbled roads. Sonia had never seen anything like it or even read anything close to it in the books she read the time she spent home alone. She loved it here. The Sunny City was a fitting name. Although, the people were a different story.

    The streets were full for the most part, with people coming and going, but Sonia couldn¡¯t tell if the people were busy with work, or if they wandered aimlessly with no purpose. Nobody smiled, not a single one of them. The sight of the city¡¯s pitiful state, broke Sonia¡¯s heart. And again, the feeling of helplessness came over her as she was forced to walk past the dispirited, broken people.

    ¡°The people, what would it take to make them smile? What would it take to light up their eyes with happiness?¡±

    Lucy halted abruptly, and thought for a moment, squeezing Sonia¡¯s hand tighter as she struggled to say it.

    ¡°The lighthouse.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Sonia asked, looking up at the massive structure in the distance.

    Lucy¡¯s enchanted metallic blindfold glinted in the sunlight. A tear fell from behind it.

    My grandmother told me that the lighthouse would light up whenever the Goddess visited the city. It is said that when it is fully lit, the light can be seen by all the cities in Pheiren, and people from all over would come to see her, even other gods. But, the gods have abandoned us, and none of them answer our call. If the lighthouse was lit, I¡¯m sure it would give the people the hope they need to smile again, for a short time, at least. We still have the plague and the black knights to deal with.

    ¡°I see. Then why don¡¯t we light it up? The lighthouse, I mean.¡±

    ¡°We can''t.¡± Lucy said wearily. ¡°Do you think that I haven¡¯t thought of it? Unfortunately, there¡¯s no way to reach the top. It is literally a tower with no doors to enter and no stairs to climb. No one has ever been up there, except for the Goddess. The lighthouse hasn¡¯t been lit in over five hundred years. There isn¡¯t anyone left alive who has seen its glorious light. If only we could light it, I¡¯m sure it would wake the people from their depression. I love my people and my city. I would do anything for them. If only I could find a way to climb the tower walls.¡± Lucy sniffled and took in a deep breath. There wasn¡¯t a single moment when she hadn¡¯t thought of her people and their pain.¡°Hey, there¡¯s a place I want to go before we head back. A place that serves very fine tea. Would you like some?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes! I¡¯ve never had tea before.¡±

    ¡°Wonderful.¡± Lucy¡¯s voice lightened and her demeanor rose with delight as they set off toward the teahouse, where Lucy¡¯s favorite person serves her favorite cup of tea.

 Chapter 14

    Tessundra held the crystalline glass of cherry rum in the sunlight that spilled into the high window of his office, and sighed. The light auburn colored liquid shimmered unique patterns of green and blue light as the light from the giant starburst sent little beams throughout the city and into the grand teahouse in which he managed.

    ¡°Lord Tess, are you sure it¡¯s an appropriate time for drinking?¡± Asked his trusted assistant, her golden hair tucked neatly behind her ears.

    ¡°No, it most certainly isn¡¯t.¡± He admitted, lifting the glass to his nose and inhaling the scent.

    ¡°There aren¡¯t many things in this life I enjoy, but my, this glass of rum is one of my favorites. What¡¯s a little sip?¡± He said, wetting his lips just enough to taste it before setting it down on the table in front of him. The sound of the crystalline cup clanked loudly on the glass table.

    Tessundra is a gentleman of lavishly noble appearance who, on most normal days,  carries himself proudly with such a divine grace that leaves men and women alike blushing by his mysterious charm, and he loves every minute of their timid and uncomfortable reactions to his playful, teasing nature. His sleek, auburn red hair, which resembled the color of his favorite drink, is pulled back in a light bun, leaving the shorter strands to hang freely down the side of his smooth, unblemished face.

    In the spotlight of the public eye, he gave an impression of royal eloquence in his manner of speech and action, behind closed doors, however, his shoulders sagged and his smile lowered into a frown as the weight of his depression took hold of him.

    He felt that something wasn¡¯t right about his life in the city. Every day was the same, and every day he felt the same nagging weight of something that he just couldn¡¯t figure out. Something was missing, or perhaps something was there that shouldn¡¯t be, or maybe both, but for certain, something wasn¡¯t right.

    Was it the people of the city that was to blame? Or was it himself?

    Certainly he wasn¡¯t the only one that noticed it. Their city was cursed, he knew, but what about the people themselves?

    ¡°Are we also cursed? If we are, to what extent does it go?¡±

    Firstly, it hadn¡¯t rained in months, and even the great river had dried up considerably to the point that the ships couldn¡¯t leave the harbor in fear of getting stuck in shallow waters. The crops in the farming district began to wither much faster than normal, and Tessundra was finding it increasingly difficult to obtain the necessary herbs for his famous tea, forcing him to order his ingredients from across the country. This was an expensive alternative, but what choice did he have? People relied on him for his special tea. His teahouse made many different kinds, the most popular one lately was a special blend that softens the mind and relaxes the weary heart, allowing people to lessen the grip of the depression that oppressed them, and he was proud that he was able to provide this service. He even put on a happy facade for the people while they were in his care.

    He was proud of his role in their daily lives. The only problem he had was that he realized one day that he couldn''t remember his life outside of the city. Was he born there or somewhere else? How old is he? And in fact, how long had he even been in the city? He couldn¡¯t remember anything. Why? How is that even possible? Unless he was cursed. And if he is cursed, how many other people are also cursed? Is it just him, or are there others?

    For the time being, he took each day one cup of tea at a time. But when he wasn¡¯t sipping on rum or seducing the weary populace, he would conduct extensive research about the city and the gods connected to it.

    The greatest mystery in the religious world was that the gods disappeared after some great war over five hundred years ago. Every god was involved in some way or another, after which, they were never heard of again. Every piece of literature that he found or sought after gave some kind of mention about a demon king and his family, but the details of it are so vaguely mentioned that it almost seems as if someone had attempted to erase it from existence. Who is this demon king, and why is he and his family so important?

    There was a single rolled up piece of ancient parchment, tied closed with old, worn out crimson string sitting on his desk. A new addition to his growing collection of religious texts. This one was quite unique as it makes significant mention of a powerful deity, a god among gods. He knew about this deity, of course, as everyone did. But this one contained some unique information that he had never considered.

    He carefully unwound the string that bound the delicate roll of parchment, and gazed upon its text once again. How many times had he read it this morning? There is much written, but the beginning of the ancient article, though so short, speaks so much information, that he could barely contain his interest. He read.

    The forty second year of the honorable reign of King Lothar, son of King Cedric III. I, Breshka Delevania, divine dragon of old, and loyal companion to the great Silver Queen, write this scroll of history with a heavy heart. My powers wane with each breath I take. I fear I do not have much time, so I write this in haste

    The Great War of the Gods has come to an end, and a hundred years of peace have been gracefully granted to the King and his family, who have turned their backs from the way of darkness and have embraced the path of light. The great and dreadful king of darkness is no more. It is as if an angel has taken his place. I have seen this change, and it is good. A hundred years have passed peacefully under his reign, and all those who fought him are delighted with his honorable deeds. But I regret to say that there remains an even greater threat still, one that will wreak havoc on all the worlds, known and unknown. A threat that will spread like a plague. Yes, that is essentially what it is, a plague of darkness that will spread and cover all in its shadow.

    It is my deepest sorrow that my goddess will not be with me for a long time, but I know that when she returns, my power and memory will return to me and also the gods who have lost their way will remember. Make no mistake, they will remember, and they will long to witness the wrath of the Silver Queen. What a day that will be!

    The god among gods. The Goddess of Light, or the Silver Queen, as she¡¯s known, is written about as if she is the most high god. Greatly revered and worshiped by even the kings and queens of the immortal world of Celestia. There is more mention of her than any other god in this world, even over the demon king. There is much mention of him in a multitude of texts, but none of them mention his name. The great war is famously known across the world, but none know of the details. However, This particular piece of history talks about that very war that shook the heavens and the earth as being a war between the demon king and the goddess. Essentially, it was a battle between good and evil. But, and that¡¯s a very big ¡°but¡±, this scroll suggests that the demon king switched sides. In all of the scrolls that mention him, he is said to have been the most powerful evil king to have ever existed. To think that the very same king, who was once a king of darkness, became a king of light.

    But the one thing that truly bothered him, though, was that there was something wrong with the timeline. It¡¯s said that the great war happened about five hundred years ago, which is fine, but this text insinuates that the king lived a prosperous life almost a hundred years after the war.

    Tessundra rifled through the various papers, books, and scrolls of text, searching for an additional clue to this missing piece of time. This missing bit of information could possibly explain the absence of the gods as well as how and why the city was cursed. He had a hunch, and if he was right, then that would mean that there was not just one war, but two.

    ¡°Tanya, darling, do you know of the great demon king?¡±

    ¡°Probably only as much as most people. The king and his family were a family of demons. As simple as that.¡±

    ¡°But is it really that simple? What would cause all of the known gods of this world to completely disappear? What happened to them?¡±

    ¡°Something tells me, Lord Tess, that you have made a discovery with your new scroll.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, I have. Or, at least I think I have. The scroll is incomplete. I think there may be another one like it¡±

    ¡°And you think our contact in the Sparkfrost hills may have found it?¡±

    We can only hope, my dear.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m curious, though, Lord Tess. How do you know if the scroll you¡¯re reading is accurate or trustworthy?¡±

    ¡°That is a very good question, and it¡¯s easy.¡± He said, holding up the glass of amber rum once again. This time, tipping up the full contents of the glass  and swallowing it in one gulp.

    ¡°This one is written in a different language.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What language is that, my Lord?¡±

    ¡°While all of these documents are written in the common language, this one is written in Dragon Tongue.¡±

    Tanya stared blankly at her boss.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Draconic.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you can read Draconic?¡±

    ¡°Yes I can.¡± He said proudly. Tanya, a simple city girl, born and raised in the Sunny City,  stared at him incredulously, and seemingly unamused.

    ¡°...Why?¡±

    With a hand on his hip,Tessundra turned his head away in disappointment.

    ¡°Honestly, I thought you would be more impressed. Oh well.¡± He said, pouring another cup of cherry rum.

    ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t. With all respect, my lord, we do not need you getting drunk so early in the day.¡± Tanya said, snatching the glass from him and placing it carefully into a cupboard for later enjoyment. ¡°Come now, we have guests. She said, heading for the door leading into the open teahouse.

    ¡°Tanya, darling, where were you born?¡± Tessundra asked, looking down into his lap.

    ¡°Well that¡¯s a random question, isn¡¯t it. I was born and raised here in the city. My father is an accountant, and my mother is a baker who works closely with a jolly woman in the farming district. Why do you ask, Lord Tess?¡±

    ¡°From your memory, how long have you known me to live in this city?¡±

    ¡°Always.¡± She said, ¡°You have always lived in this city. Where were you born, my Lord? I don''t think we have ever discussed this before.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I know not of my homeland, my birthplace or my heritage.¡± He looked up at his assistant with eyes darkened by depression. ¡°Even worse,¡± He started, ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about my family. Do I have any? And if I do, where are they? What happened to them?¡±

    ¡°I see, Lord Tess. That¡¯s what this is all about. You¡¯re searching for answers about your family. And because you don¡¯t have any recollection of them, you think you¡¯re cursed.¡± She said, putting a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Come now, let¡¯s try not to dwell on such depressing things and spend some time with your guests. That always makes you happy.¡±

    ¡°But what if the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the gods extends to the people who worship them?¡± He asked, picking up the scroll once more to read it, for the hundredth time that day. ¡°Was I once in some kind of service to a god whose disappearance affected me and my family? I need to know.¡±

    Just then, a small group of employees came through the door into Tess¡¯s office. Dressed neatly with the uniformed robes of dark blue and gold, they bowed respectfully to their boss, who in turn, bowed back. A young man with a blonde, thinly curled mustache handed Tess a piece of paper, trying his best to avert his Boss¡¯s gaze while explaining this day''s shipment.

    ¡°My Lord, today¡¯s shipment has arrived, but I¡¯m afraid to say that the shipment is incomplete.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t say.¡± Said Tess with a teasing grin, taking the sheet of paper from his employee¡¯s hand, he made note of the missing spices he had originally ordered.

    ¡°What a shame. My dear Lucy will have to wait longer for her favorite tea. Though I might have enough for one more cup. Today is usually when I see her.¡± He handed the paper back to the young man with the neat, curly mustache.

    ¡°Dare I ask, my good man, are you new?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Yes, my Lord. Today is my third day. I hope I¡¯m doing well by you so far.¡± He said as sweat ran down the sides of his face, which only made Tess all the more amused.

    ¡°Oh my, why are you so nervous, Joseph, was it?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes sir. My name is Joseph. Thank you for remembering.¡±

    ¡°Three days, you say? I think I know why you¡¯re nervous.¡± Tessundra said with a devilish smile. Didn¡¯t have time to shave this morning? Hmm? Were you hoping I wouldn¡¯t notice? Judging by your averting nature, I¡¯m assuming you were told what would happen?¡±

    The sweat that perspired on the poor man¡¯s face made the man¡¯s unshaven stubble glisten in the sparkling light of the starburst. The two other employees behind him covered their mouths in stifled laughter.

    I¡¯ll have you know that I take my business rather seriously. I need all of my employees to look their best, respectfully. My guests deserve to be treated like royalty while they''re here. Do you understand? And as such, my guests deserve to be served by the most respectable servant-like hosts. Their lives are cruel and demanding as you may know. They rely on us to ease their minds. So, if you can¡¯t do something as easy as shaving, then I will have to shave you myself.¡± He said. The man cursed under his breath as Tessundra laughed aloud.

    Grabbing the front of Joseph¡¯s robe, he threw him into a cushioned chair with unnatural strength.  Tanya, with a snap of a finger,  approached from behind the man and began to lather his face with shaving cream as Tessundra straddled atop his lap. And as a straight razor was handed to him, the look of horror contorted the man¡¯s face. Tessundra laughed in pure delight.

    ¡°Relax, darling. You are perfectly safe in my skillful care. I will certainly not harm a single thread of that glorious mustache.¡±

    Tessundra¡¯s face was so close that the man could smell the cherry rum on his breath.

    ¡°Now sit still. As skilled as I may be, I¡¯m liable to cut you if you move, and you can¡¯t serve my guests if you¡¯re bleeding.

    With a gloriously charming smile of dazzling white teeth, the straight razor glided effortlessly down the man¡¯s skin. Tess cradled his face with his fingers, guiding his face in the right position as he shaved him. The man¡¯s eyes went from pure horror in the beginning, to completely relaxed as the masterly skilled Tessundra took care of him. The whole ordeal took moments before Tessundra whipped the man¡¯s face anew with a clean towel.

    ¡° Now look at you, you beautiful man. My guests will surely love you. Now off with you¡± he said as he hopped off of the man¡¯s lap and handed the man a piece of delicately wrapped candy. ¡°And make sure you shave from now on.¡± He said with a smile. ¡°Unless you enjoyed my special treatment.¡±

    ¡°No! I mean, no thank you, my lord. I mean, I liked it, but. No, what I mean to say is that your hands are very skilled, but¡­¡±

    The two other employees that came in with Joseph eagerly pulled on his sleeve, begging him to walk away. They finally left in haste as their embarrassment became too much to bare.

    ¡°Lord Tess, behave yourself you silly thing!¡± Tanya said through giggling fits of laughter.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t enjoy it.¡±

    And together, they laughed.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The day was long and hot as Sonia and Lucy made their rounds through the city. They were able to get everything that Lucy¡¯s grandmother required. Sonia would like to have said that acquiring them was an easy task, but it wasn¡¯t, sadly. Sonia¡¯s heart sank more and more at the sad state the citizens were in.   Not one of them was glad to see Lucy. In fact, they shunned her savagely. It took an immense amount of begging between the two girls in order to convince the weary shopkeepers to take their money. Some of them were afraid to do business with her in fear of the black knights, and some of them blamed Lucy for their problems. Because of this, the day was much longer than it was supposed to be, and Sonia became worried about the body she left behind in her own dimension.

    Sonia held a bag of goods in one arm, while one hand rested on Lucy¡¯s shoulder. Lucy¡¯s arms were full of various bags of groceries. Several times Sonia had offered to take a couple of them, but the stubborn Lucy refused.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, honestly. We¡¯re almost there. The famous teahouse should be up ahead on the right. Do you see it, Sonia?¡±

    ¡°No, not yet.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll know it when you see it. It definitely stands out.¡±

    Sonia led the blindfolded Lucy through the crowded streets  as people moved aside for them. People pointed and spoke in hushed voices as they spoke about the crazy church girl who was cursed by the city mages.

    ¡°It¡¯s her, that Lucinda girl.¡±

    ¡°Wow, she really was cursed.¡±

    ¡°Can she take it off? I wonder what would happen.¡±

    ¡°I think it looks pretty awesome, like something a hero would wear.¡±

    ¡°Forget her for a moment, who¡¯s that other girl that¡¯s with her?¡±

    ¡°Someone from the church?¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be silly, Nobody goes to church anymore, let alone serve in it.¡±

    ¡°Wait, look! Look what¡¯s happening!¡±

    ¡°By the Goddess! It¡¯s a miracle!¡±

    ¡°Sonia, let¡¯s hurry to the teahouse. The people are making me nervous.¡±

    ¡°You bet. Let¡¯s go.¡± She said, with a tighter grip on Lucy¡¯s shoulder, they made their way faster down the road and away from the crowd. Sonia looked back briefly in time to see them huddled around an old hedge. With her divine sight, she could see much more clearly and farther away than she could when she was human, and what she saw made her eyes go wide.

    Every building, whether house or store were once surrounded by flowers and shrubs that complemented the beautiful bricked architecture, they were all cursed to wither and decay, or so it was supposed to be. The side of the street that the two girls had been walking was bursting with new life as the flowers and shrubs went from black and gray, to brown and green. The flowers were blooming before the people¡¯s very eyes.

    ¡°Wait, did we do that? Is that even possible?¡±

    Sonia was so excited, she could not contain her tears of joy. Was there a way she could help the people after all?

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t the farming district in the same state? Would I be able to work that kind of Miracle? On that kind of scale?¡±

    ¡°Are you alright, Sonia? You¡¯re trembling.¡± Lucy asked, worried.

    ¡°I am more than okay. I could not be happier. Today has been a good one.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it. And here I was worried I¡¯d bore you to death. I can¡¯t wait to sit down and have some tea with you. You¡¯ll love Lord Tess. He¡¯s amazing.¡±

    ¡°Well, the way you keep promoting him, makes me all the more curious.¡±

    She smelled it first before the grand structure was even seen. The smell of perfume carried by the wind reminded her of a cool summer breeze on a hot day, laying in the grass with her favorite book. Though she couldn¡¯t recall the memory, the images came to her as if it happened yesterday.

    ¡°What¡¯s that smell? It doesn¡¯t smell like anything I know of.¡± Sonia asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either, but it¡¯s lovely, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It is. It¡¯s almost like, less of a smell and more like a feeling. It¡¯s hard to describe.¡±

    ¡°I know what you mean.¡± Lucy said with a smile. ¡°Do you see it yet?¡±

    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s beautiful!¡±

    The grand teahouse was large and round, resembling that of a two story pagoda, or gazebo. Incense rose from the center of the red tiled roof, like smoke from a chimney.

    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Its large round walls were made of the same cobbled stone the streets were made from.

    They stooped in front of its large red, wooden double doors and breathed in the sweet smell of the incense before opening them up and stepping through.

    They were immediately met with a group of finely dressed men and women who greeted them warmly with a humble bow upon their arrival.

    ¡°Welcome, friends. Will you be needing a table or a lounge?¡± A woman asked. Her slick black hair beautifully contrasted with her pale white skin. A sparkling clip held her hair back in a tight bun, which seemed to be the standard as all the women who had long hair wore the same bun, except for the one girl in the group of greeters who had what Sonia could recall as a pixie cut. Her red hair and brown freckles couldn¡¯t hide her rosy cheeks as she beamed at them, offering to take their bags, she led them to an open table before bowing and returning to her post.

    ¡°Ummm. They took our bags. Is that normal?¡± Sonia asked.

    Lucinda giggled softly.

    ¡°Yes. I come here every week after shopping. They always take my bags until I¡¯m ready to leave.¡±

    ¡°Wow, talk about service. And also, the smiling warm welcome was super nice. I¡¯m impressed.¡± Sonia said.

    Looking around the room, Sonia was surprised to see not only the employees smiling, but also the customers. So much different than the depressing atmosphere of the city outside the teahouse. Some customers talked animatedly at tables as they were deep in conversation, while others were laying down in what Sonia could only imagine was the lounge that the greeter had mentioned. It was a section of veil covered rooms filled with plush pillows and a hookah in the middle. She could see them smoking deeply from it while an attendant served them with a smile.

    ¡°Wow! What a place!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you like it, darling.¡±

    Sonia didn¡¯t even hear him coming, and was startled into a high shriek. The whole room erupted into fits of laughter as all the people held up their cups and cheered.

    ¡°Welcome!¡±

    Sonia blushed from behind her veil covered face at the beautiful man that stood before her. She fidgeted nervously with her dress as she tried to form words into sentences, but once she realized she could not, she sat in her chair and remained silent. She watched as Tessundra¡¯s charming smile turned to a sorrowful frown as his gaze fell upon Lucy. It was the first time he had seen her since her last visit. He had heard the rumors, but now having seen the blindfold for himself, his heart was filled with anguish.

    ¡°My precious Lucinda, what have they done to you!?¡± He asked, cradling her face before embracing her. ¡°Does it hurt?¡±

    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t hurt at all. Well, it doesn''t anymore. It did at first. From what I understand, it¡¯s a cursed item that¡¯s meant to nullify magic.

    ¡°So, is it basically a magical item that dispels magic? How does that work exactly?¡± Sonia asked, forcing herself to ignore the divinely attractive individual that stole her ability to function.

    ¡°In this world, Sonia, there are three different kinds of magic. There are blessings, curses, and the elements.¡± Lucy answered.

    Tessundra took a chair and sat among them as Lucy instructed Sonia on the ways of the world. This interested him, because there were things that Tessundra himself also didn¡¯t know. More importantly to him, Lucinda was the last patron of the church, which meant that she knew things that most people didn¡¯t, and he had meant to inquire with her about this knowledge. He listened patiently.

    ¡°So a curse is a type of magic? What would it take to break this magic, another curse or a blessing?¡± Sonia asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good question.¡± Lucinda said. ¡°Blessings and curses. You can think of them as the difference between a ¡°give¡± and a ¡°take¡±. Blessings give while curses take. This is why they¡¯re also known as light and dark.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± Sonia started, as she processed the information. Tessundra watched as the mysterious Sonia  pondered. ¡°Because it¡¯s a curse, it takes away your ability to use magic, which includes communicating with your goddess. Would it take a blessing to give back what it takes?¡±

    ¡°Yes, precisely.¡± Lucy answered.

    ¡°My, Lucinda, your friend is rather sharp. Such an inquisitive thinker.¡± Tessundra said.

    ¡°But why would they want to stop you from communicating with your goddess? If the land is cursed, you would think that a blessing would be welcome.¡± Sonia reasoned.

    ¡°I agree¡± Tessundra said, grabbing the cups from the waiter that arrived. Joseph, with his neatly groomed mustache, held a platter containing an elegant looking tea set. After the teapot was placed on the table, Sonia noted that it seemed to be hand painted. Tessundra gracefully poured each of them a cup of Lucy¡¯s favorite tea. And all the while, Sonia had to keep herself from staring at the way the man moved. There was a uniquely divine air about him that made him seem otherworldly.

    He took hold of Lucy¡¯s hand and gently set the handle of the cup into her fingers. Lucy immediately cradled the cup in her hands, and, bringing it up to her nose, she smelled its sweet fragrance and signed as if all the weight of the world was being lifted from her shoulders.

    ¡°Thank you so much.¡± She said

    ¡°My dear friend, you need not to thank me. It is my absolute pleasure.¡±

    ¡°Friend. You two are the only ones to ever call me that. I feel so blessed to sit among you.¡±

    Tessundra looked at the stranger that accompanied his favorite guest. He saw the two girls as they came in, and observed as Sonia led her by the hand to their table. It was a warming sight to behold. And it made him all the more curious to know her.

    Lucinda, dear. Where did you meet your new friend?

    ¡°The Black Forest.¡± She said simply.

    ¡°Oh my. So our new friend helped you navigate out of the forest?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±

    Tessundra didn¡¯t need to ask anything further. He had the ability to read auras, and knew immediately upon meeting her that Sonia was a good friend. Her aura emanated love. There was something wonderfully pure about it, and even seemed to feel familiar.

    He took a sip from his cup, holding it with the gracefulness of a prince.

    ¡°Sonia, darling, it¡¯s not necessarily that they don¡¯t want the goddess¡¯s help. They are afraid of the queen and her black knights, which will punish all those who oppose her, and they have. The people of this city have been through much, and when it comes to worship, apparently, the goddess poses the greatest threat to her, so anyone found worshiping her in any way¡­¡±

    ¡°Will be punished, got it. I suppose they do have their families to think about as well.¡±

    ¡°That, they do, my dear.

    ¡°Lord Tess, if you don¡¯t mind me asking, I¡¯ve noticed that the people here seem to be happy and at ease, how is that possible? The world outside is¡­heavy, to say the least.

    ¡°Yes, there are a couple things in play here. One, would be the incense that I burn, and my tea, which has been infused with magical properties.¡± Tessundra said.

    ¡°What about the tea we¡¯re drinking? Is it also drugged, or enchanted? Sorry, I don¡¯t know the proper word to use.¡±

    ¡°My, such strong words, but they aren¡¯t completely wrong. Rest assured though, nothing I produce here is dangerous, and everything has its limits. That is where some of the magic comes in. No one leaves here under the influence.¡±

    Sonia grabbed her cup of tea, and, lifting her veil just a little, took a small sip, allowing Tess to get a glimpse of her glowing, pale skin. Every moment with this mysterious girl made his heart flutter with burning curiosity.

    ¡°Interesting¡±

    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s delicious. Is this blueberry and cinnamon? I love it.¡±

    Tessundra and Lucy chuckled with delight.

    ¡°Lucinda¡¯s favorite tea is not infused with anything except for my love.¡± He said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s just a simple recipe.¡±

    Sonia took another drink, a deeper one this time, and used the back of her hand to wipe her chin before slipping the veil back in place.

    There was silence between them for a time as each of them sipped their tea, deep in thought. Sonia spoke first.

    ¡°This place is clearly a blessing. If Breillia wanted to punish the people, then how is this place allowed to exist?¡± Sonia said quietly, more to herself than to the group. Lucy snapped her head at the sudden mention of the name. Tessundra raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t allow it at first, honestly. I don¡¯t remember it, but they say that I went on a rampage when they tried to shut me down.¡± Said Tess.

    ¡°A rampage?¡± Sonia asked.

    ¡°Yes. Apparently I scared the populace so much that they dare not talk about it.¡± He said, tucking a loose strand of auburn hair behind his ear.

    ¡°What happened? Why don¡¯t you remember it?¡± Sonia asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to answer that, to be honest. In fact, the conclusion I continue to arrive at makes me seem delusional.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Well, I come to two possibilities, and one of them is a bit far-fetched even for me. But I believe I¡¯m cursed.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, the city itself isn¡¯t looking too good.¡± Sonia said. ¡°But how do you differ from the average person?¡±

    ¡°For one, every few years, it seems I lose my memory, but what¡¯s worse,¡­¡± Tessundra put a hand to his chest and crasp the front of his shirt in anguish.

    ¡°Why am I telling her all of this? What is this power? It¡¯s like all of my mental walls are melting before her gaze. And here I thought my charm gave me the upper hand,  but the power of her aura makes me feel like a babe in a mothers embrace.¡±

    Tessundra tugged on the front of his shirt as his face distorted with sorrow

    ¡°I have this undeniable feeling that something is missing or repressed. It¡¯s like half of me is missing.  I don¡¯t know what it is. I must know! Who am I? I don¡¯t know! Do you understand? Half of me is missing, and it makes me feel mad with anxiety! ¡±

    He took a deep breath before straightening his clothes and taking a nice quiet sip of tea.

    ¡°Well, that was quite dramatic, wasn¡¯t it? By the way, who is  Breillia?¡± He asked.

    ¡°That is the name of the evil queen that punished us. Sonia, how do you know that name? Very few people know of it.¡± Lucy said.

    ¡°Well, I did say that I met her, but you thought I was joking.¡± Sonia said, teasingly.

    ¡°You what?¡± Tessundra asked. His eyes went wide with shock as his hands became sweaty. His mind raced.

    ¡°Wait, what does this mean?¡±

    Tessundra jumped up from his chair and began to pace around the large and spacious room. The people around him and their voices became distant and as his thoughts flooded with questions and possibilities.

    Lucinda met her new friend in the Black Forest, where no one should have been. A place of death and decay that spans for miles, but that is where Sonia was found. Why?

    Tessundra dodged tables and chairs, customers and employees as he walked with his mind in the clouds. People called and beckoned him, but he paid them no mind, unaware of them.

    ¡°Did I¡­say something wrong? ¡° Sonia asked.

    Lucy took another sip of her tea before answering.

    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯d forgotten just what little I know about you. It seems that you are full of secrets. You¡¯re not of this world,  but you know of it, and what¡¯s more, the things you know are also things you shouldn¡¯t, if you were mortal. I have my suspicions, and I¡¯m assuming Lord Tess is also thinking the same. Let me just come out and say it. Sonia, I know you¡¯re not human.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. I don¡¯t know what to say.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything. It doesn¡¯t matter to me. I trust you. You chose to be there for me when no one else would and have proven to be a wonderful friend.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Lucy.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s met the evil queen and knows her by name. What does this mean?¡±

    Tessundra¡¯s mind still raced as he contemplated the burning questions that now haunted him.

    ¡°It¡¯s said that the evil queen is too proud to step foot on the mortal plane. If this is true, then that would mean that Sonia was face to face with the queen in Celestia. Could it be possible that Sonia is an immortal?¡±

    He recalled the brief glimpse of Sonia¡¯s glowing skin as she sipped her tea. Even her aura, when he thought about it, was too clean and pure to be a simple  mortal.

    From across the room, he looked at the mysterious woman with the veiled face, and made a decision. Silently, he walked back to his seat, sat down, and straightened his jacket.

    ¡°My apologies, my dears. That was very ungraceful of me.¡±

    I know I can be a bit of a drama queen at times,  but this woman! Her unusual aura is making me emotional.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. The days have been quite unusual lately.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡± He said,  snapping his fingers, an employee, who almost seemed to appear out of nowhere, handed him both a glass and a bottle of rum

    ¡°I have decided that you two are the most important individuals in all of Kalitos. One, a well of knowledge, and the other, a well of secrets. Unusual but exciting.¡±

    He poured himself a glass and then poured another to offer to the mysterious Sonia, who didn¡¯t hesitate to accept. He held out his glass and made a toast. His dark eyes locked onto the veil obscuring the woman''s face.

    ¡°Five hundred years without the gods and their intervention, without so much as a whisper on the wind. But alas, there is change on the horizon. Isn¡¯t there?¡±

    Sonia nodded.

    ¡°I¡¯ve recently come into possession of a particular scroll. A prophecy, If you will, that insinuates that there will come a time when the Silver Queen will return, and that all will witness her wrath.¡±

    Tessundra noticed Sonia¡¯s hand trembling a bit as she held her glass.

    ¡°Do you know of this?¡± He asked.

    Sonia nodded.

    ¡°The scroll in question was written by an entity called Breshka.¡±

    ¡°Breshka? No way!¡± Sonia gasped. Tessundra¡¯s eyes twinkled.

    ¡°Another secret?¡± He said. ¡°Please, do tell us about Breshka.¡±

    ¡°But it can¡¯t be.¡± She said, ¡°Breshka isn¡¯t a common name, is it?¡± Sonia asked.

    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡± Tessundra answered.

    ¡°Sonia?¡± Lucy said, worried for her friend. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    In all of Sonia¡¯s awful childhood, there was only one person that ever made her happy, and all of this time, she thought of this person to be just a dream. She called this person ¡°Mommy¡±, being the little girl that she was.

    Sonia¡¯s biological mother resented her and refused to give Sonia the kind of love that she desired, except for the beautiful stranger in her dreams, who sometimes spoke about a magical beast called Breshka.

    ¡°Breshka is an ancient Dragon with Ivory White scales and sharp yellow eyes.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Sonia. Remember the mural in the church? The Silver Queen rides her into battle. That is Breshka! Sonia, what¡¯s the matter?¡±

    Sonia¡¯s blue veil suddenly became increasingly wet as tears streamed from her hidden eyes. She put her hands up to her face and sobbed.

    It was like someone had flipped a switch inside her mind as memories started falling into place like pieces to a puzzle. Dots of memories connected as Sonia starts to realize who she truly is. All of this time she thought of the stranger as a figment of her imagination, but she had been real! The woman¡¯s voice rang from within her heart.

    ¡°I claim you. You are mine! And from this day on, you will bear my name.¡±

    Sonia was not the Silver Queen, but in fact, her chosen descendant, Her daughter!

    Sonia sprang to her feet.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have to go!¡±

    But just then, Four dark figures threw open the doors to the teahouse, silencing the busy chatter and happy laughter. They strolled past the greeters and attendants, stopping when they found Lucy and Sonia at the table.

    ¡°It¡¯s them! There they are!¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Asked Lucy. ¡°Who are they?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the black knights. And it seems they¡¯re here for you, my dear.¡±

    Lucy shrieked as she jumped up and took refuge behind Tessundra. Grabbing hold of his jacket, she press her face against his back for comfort.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this? You¡¯d better have a good reason for interrupting my business.¡± Tessundra Growled.

    One of the knights leaned in and whispered into the other''s ear.

    ¡°That¡¯s Lord Tess, we were specifically told not to anger him. We should act with delicacy around him if we want to leave here alive.¡±

    ¡°Oh shove off, you pansy! You shouldn¡¯t believe everything you hear. I don¡¯t believe the rumors for a second.¡±

    The daring knight spat on the floor in disgust.

    ¡°Do you know what the black knights call you?¡± He asked with an evil grin. ¡°They call you a demon. They say that you¡¯ve killed many a knight, but as I stand here now, you look like nothing to me. Just as sad and scared as the rest of them. Now, Hand over the girls, and we might leave here quietly.¡±

    ¡°What do you want with them?¡± Tessundra asked.

    ¡°Nothing you need to concern yourself with.¡±

    ¡°They are my guests, you will not lay a hand on them! Now leave here. You are not welcome.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t make me laugh, you fool. You have no choice in the matter.  Now, do as you¡¯re told. By order of the Queen, hand them over.¡±

    There were four figures in all that dawned black armor. The two in front seemed to lead while the two at their rear remained silent behind them, that is, until they sensed Sonia¡¯s divine aura. Their heads turned in unison to look at her, and then stepped forward passed the two in front of them. Their eyes burned a purple flame. As if as one being, they reached for their swords.

    ¡°The enemy¡± they said with a low rumbling voice.

    ¡°Hey, what are you doing? We¡¯re not actually going to fight them. We¡¯re just here to intimidate them. And besides, we need the girls alive.

    Their haunting eyes burned brighter.

    ¡°Imposter!¡±

    ¡°What? What are you two talking about? Eugene, what¡¯s with these two?¡± The rude knight asked the other.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Ted. They¡¯re not human after all. They¡¯re supposedly cursed to follow orders directly from the queen. I believe their main priority is to eliminate threats to her majesty.¡±

    Eugene, the timid knight, shouted to the patrons and customers of the teahouse.

    ¡°Everyone, leave this place in haste! This may get ugly.¡±

    The order was immediately obeyed as the customers shuffled out the building in fear of their lives. After the last person left the teahouse, Tessundra gave an approving nod.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be this way. We weren¡¯t meant to hurt anyone. We were only supposed to escort them for interrogation.¡± Eugene said, taking off his helmet to reveal a smooth, bald head. ¡°We¡¯re only new recruits, we haven¡¯t been trained in anything.¡± Eugene admitted.

    ¡° We only agreed to this assignment because it made us feel powerful wearing the  armor.¡± Said Ted.

    ¡°Yeah, Ted went full out in character, trying to be the tough guy.¡± Eugene teased. Ted took off his helmet in anger. His black hair, wet with sweat, clung to his face.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t tell them that! I want them to take me seriously.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to get yourself killed, you silly man.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, you fools, how are we going to handle this?¡± Yelled Tessundra.

    ¡°Well, you see, this is beyond our pay grade.¡± Said Eugene.

    ¡°Yup, we no longer have control over this situation, so we¡¯re going to hide like cowards and hope that we¡¯re not dragged into this any more than we are.¡± Said Ted as they ducked behind a counter, out of sight.

    ¡°What a pain, I haven¡¯t even gotten my first paycheck yet.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to be a laughing stock, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    The inhuman black knights pulsated an eerie purple glow, their swords drawn and ready.

    ¡°Imposter!¡±

    ¡°Why do you keep saying that?¡± Sonia shouted.

    ¡°There can only be one queen. One ruler.¡±

    ¡°Okay, and?¡±

    ¡°There are no gods permitted in this world. They have all been banished.¡±

    ¡°But why? What is the reason for that?¡± Tessundra asked.

    ¡°Because they didn¡¯t like Breillia or agree with her rule. They refused to serve her, didn¡¯t they?¡± Sonia asked. ¡°What does that have to do with me? I¡¯m obviously not the queen, nor am I pretending to be.¡± She said

    ¡°Liar!¡± The demonic knights shouted together. ¡°You may veil your body, but you cannot veil your soul. It reeks of divinity. You are a god.¡± They said

    ¡°I knew it!¡± Tessundra thought.

    ¡°Ummm¡­Rude! I¡¯m female, that would make me a goddess.

    The black knights had finally had enough. They lunged forward in unison straight for Sonia, who screamed at their sudden attack.

    Tessundra leaped forward, attempting to block their advancing strike the best he could, but the surprising strength of them knocked him over without much effort. One sword swung at Sonia¡¯s throat while the other down at her head.

    With Sonia¡¯s superior speed, she jerked back, avoiding both knights as their cursed steel grazed her vail, cutting it open. Unfortunately, she still wasn¡¯t used to her new form. She leaped back with a little too much strength, causing her to soar backward across the room, smashing through tables and chairs before crashing into the wall. The cobblestone caved in a little, leaving a spider webbed  pattern of cracks crawling up the length of the wall. The whole building shook upon impact.

    ¡°Crap! This body is like going from a station wagon to a corvette.¡±

    Lucy screamed.

    ¡°Sonia, darling. Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m alright, except for my wounded pride.¡± She said, prying herself out of the Sonia-shaped crater.

    ¡°Thank the Goddess!¡± Lucy said, breathlessly.

    Sonia stood among the rubble caused by her carelessness.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the damage. It¡¯s my fault.¡±

    ¡°Forget about the furniture, you silly girl. You are much more important.¡± Tessundra said.

    ¡°Thank you. That¡¯s kind of you to say.¡± Sonia said, her immortal blue eyes flashed from the torn fabric of her veil.

    ¡°Well, so much for the veil. Hiding my identity was fun while it lasted. I was hoping to be normal for a while longer, but what can I do?¡± She said as she tore off the hood and threw it aside. Her illustrious platinum white hair tumbled to her shoulders and almost held a shade of blue as the glow from her eyes radiated divine light. She was a sight to behold, and Tessundra gasped at the breathtaking beauty of her divinity.

    ¡°Imposter! How dare you violate our queen''s decree! No gods are permitted here.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Sonia asked. They gave no answer.

    ¡°Imposter!¡±

    ¡°¡±Again with that.¡± She said, annoyed. Putting her hands on her hips, she sighed.

    ¡°Wait, I get it. You two were there, weren¡¯t you? In the cursed realm that holds the royal family captive. It¡¯s true. The last time you saw me, I was sitting on her throne. Even then, that awful woman tried to kill me, and failed. What makes you think you can do better?¡± She teased.

    What am I doing? I¡¯ve never fought anyone before. I nearly died the last time I saw them. But I am different now, right? Alright, time to truly test my strength. Just one punch. I really hope this doesn¡¯t hurt. I have bare fists compared to their armor,  but I¡¯m no longer simple flesh and bone. Here we go!

    Sonia crouched into a fighting stance and breathed deeply as she concentrated on the movements she wanted to make.

    Please don¡¯t screw this up, Sonia. One step at a time. Just breathe

    Sonia launched herself forward and in the blink of an eye, appeared beside the black knights. Broken tables, chairs, cups, and various dust and debris blew away in wake of the powerful burst of speed and with all of her strength, she drove her fist into the side of the black knight closest to her. The cursed, black metal was no match for the sheer might of Sonia¡¯s punch as the armor exploded, revealing the demonic creature beneath. The force of the impact was so powerful that the knight beside him was blown away, crashing through the wall and into the open streets outside. Sonia and Tessundra watched as the black knight tore a path of destruction for miles. Holes were made in buildings and structures were completely smashed as the helpless knight flew through them. It flew through the city and into the black forest beyond until it was just a black spec in the distance.

    Sonia and Tessundra stood wide eyed and motionless, their mouths gaped open in utter astonishment.

    ¡°Woman, did you know you could do that?¡± Tessundra asked, his gaze locked onto the broken wall.

    Sonia, her shaking fist still held out in front of her, could not believe her eyes. Even though she hoped for the strength to defend herself and protect her friends from the evil enemies of the king, she was not expecting to possess strength of this magnitude. Just how strong was she? What else was she capable of?

    She was the daughter of the Silver Queen. Her one and only descendant. How was she going to live up to that name? The weight of this realization bore down on her.

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t know. I had no idea that I could do that.¡± She choked. Tears streamed from her blue eyes. ¡°It¡¯s too much. I don¡¯t know if I can do this. It¡¯s all just too much. I¡¯m not worthy of this.¡±

    She dropped her arms and slumped to the floor as she cried aloud.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do this alone. I¡¯m going to disappoint everyone. I¡¯ll only let them down.¡±

    Tessundra ran to her side and embraced her.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, sweety. Just breathe. There¡¯s no need to hold the weight of the world on your shoulders. No one expects you to do anything alone. Not even the gods are perfect, else they would still be here. But as imperfect as you may be,  you are a ray light in this dark world. Please don¡¯t fret. You have friends.¡±

    Lucy crawled from across the room to join her friends, and embraced the both of them.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I love you both so dearly. Anything that must be done can be done together.¡±

    The three of them held one another for a long while as they wept for each other. All of them, who carried the weight of their own burdens, found comfort in their friends.

    ¡°Well that¡¯s sweet innit? Terrifying, but sweet. Good time as any to leave, right Ted?¡±

    ¡°Right you are, Eugene.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe they gave us that assignment.¡±

    ¡°Do you think they knew what they were throwing us into?¡±

    ¡°Not a clue, Eugene. But there is no way anyone can hide this destruction. Just look at this mess. Hey, where¡¯s the pub?¡±

    ¡°I believe it¡¯s down near Baker¡¯s street, next to that big building with the hole in it.¡±

    The two knights walked through the open wall and down the street, their voices became faint as they went.

    ¡°Did you see what that girl looked like? If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d say she looked a lot like the Silver Queen I used to see in story books. Do you think she returned?¡±

    ¡°Well, Eugene, I don¡¯t know anyone else who can defeat two powerful demons with a single punch. In light of this, I think we¡¯re on the wrong side.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Forget the pub. Let¡¯s go to church.¡±

 Chapter 15

    Sonia stared blankly into the dark cathedral, its quiet and spacious hall gave only little comfort to her troubled mind as the weight of expectation came baring down on her. The ominous and secluded atmosphere of the cursed property that housed the old and dilapidated stone structure was a significant departure from the lively city in Kalitos. She loved the Sunny City, but at present, the dark and quiet atmosphere of the old cathedral back in her home dimension, was welcome.

    Sonia reached a bony hand to her face and felt her shriveled skin, shrunken and tight against her aching skull. Most of her hair had fallen out, lying scattered around her among the large throne in which she sat. The throne itself was too big, being the same size as the massive stone king beside her.

    She breathed.

    No matter where I go, I cause problems for others. Can I do anything right? First Sara, and now Lord Tess and Lucy. Heck, I might as well include all the people of the Sunny City. I devastated the city and left Lord Tess¡¯s teahouse in shambles. Most of the chairs and tables were left broken and scattered on the floor. With just a single punch, I left a path of devastating destruction completely through the market district. I didn¡¯t mean to do that. I had no idea that I was even capable of it. God, what a first impression, huh?

    Sonia wept aloud. Her aged voice came out like a wailing moan, which echoed throughout the hall.

    From the time that she had arrived at the cathedral, she and Gran together had pondered the mystery of Sonia¡¯s connection to the throne. How was it possible for her to wake up Gran from her stone prison? How was it possible for her to enter the cursed realm where the king lived?

    There were rumors starting that I was possibly an important deity, and in order to learn more about the role, I traveled to another dimension. And what did I learn? How do I even put it into words, let alone my thoughts? I AM the Silver Queen, or at least I¡¯m supposed to be. I still can¡¯t believe the woman that claimed me as her own was in fact, the Silver Queen of legend. When she claimed me, she did something to my soul. She changed me, and I truly became hers. But¡­

    Sonia turned her head and looked up at the giant stone king beside her, and wept. Tears gathered in her sunken eyes, and fell down her withered cheeks, taut and gray.

    ¡°I¡¯m not worthy to be worshiped or revered. All I do is hurt people. What good is all this power if I can¡¯t use it right? So I woke up Gran, that was the only good thing I¡¯ve done, and even that is pointless if she''s still cursed. I haven¡¯t actually helped anyone. If anything, I¡¯ve hurt them. No, I don¡¯t deserve to be worshiped. I don¡¯t deserve to be loved. I am nothing. No, I¡¯m worse than that. I¡¯m a monster. How many people did I hurt as the black knight tore through the city? How many people died?¡±

    Sonia laid down within the giant throne and curled herself into a frail, helpless ball, and cried herself to sleep.

    The cathedral was quiet for a time, until a mighty voice broke the silence.

    ¡°Oh my dear girl, why do you say such things? The miracles that you¡¯ve made are wonderful, indeed.¡±

    The low, rumbling voice resounded throughout the hall, warm and comforting.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how small. Even if you bring just a glimmer of hope, just a glimmer, is it not a wonderful thing? What a miracle! You¡¯ve brought me so much hope, my heart sings with joy.¡±

    Light spilled into the tall crystal glass windows as evening turned into morning. Light laid over the lap of the great king, whose clothes were fresh and soft. Color returned to his flesh, no longer solid blue marble, but alive, healthy and strong.

    The giant man leaned over and peered into the throne next to him, where the sleeping, frail woman slept. Even his eyes seemed to smile as he admired her. With his massive hands, he scooped her up and held her in his arms.

    Nestled in the crook of his arm, he cradled her, and for several seconds, he witnessed her true form as her soul shone through with divine light, healing her rotting flesh.

    ¡°Look at you.¡± He said. With a large finger, he stroked her cheek.

    ¡°You don¡¯t even know it, but you are the most precious thing in all the cosmos.¡±

    Sonia¡¯s lips trembled as she sobbed in her sleep.

    The tears came, but the gentle king wiped them away.

    ¡°My dear, it is not the strength of your might, that makes you great, but the strength of your heart.

    Your heart is filled with so much love, that it cannot even be contained. It spills out into your aura. It was your aura alone that woke us from our curse. Even if it is just for a little while, you allow us relief from our misery.

    He hummed a soothing melody as he held her close. He looked out into the great hall as the natural light of the sun shone brightly through the windows. His eyes fell onto the woman standing at his feet, who beamed lovingly at her son. The two of them didn¡¯t say anything to each other for a while, until Gran grew and doubled in size until she was the same height as the king, and wrapped her arms around him.

    ¡°Look who finally decided to join us, you dolt¡± Gran said, playfully hitting him on his head with a knuckle before giving him a kiss on his forehead.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t start that, woman.¡± He said with a happy twinkle in his blue eyes.

    Sonia tossed in her sleep, grabbing hold of his blonde, braided beard, snuggling her face against it, and sighed a deep sigh of comfort.

    ¡°Oh, my stars, look at her! She¡¯s so adorable, you wouldn¡¯t even know that she could move mountains.¡± Gran said.

    The king frowned.

    ¡°She¡¯s conflicted, Mother. She had an apparent run-in with the black knights.¡±

    ¡°Already? Wait, if she fought the black knights, then she must have been near Maheirron. Oh, I got goosebumps! The wheel of destiny is so exciting!¡±

    ¡°Yes, the Sunny City. I almost forgot that it was the Silver Queen''s favorite city in all of Kalitos.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a church in the Sunny City that¡¯s been run by the Calistors for centuries. Goodness, if she fought the black knights, she must already be stirring Breillia¡¯s anger.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. However, she ''s still getting used to her powers. The budding of a new goddess is exciting, indeed, but we need to be more mindful of the stress that¡¯s put on her. After all, she¡¯s not just a goddess, but the Silver Queen.¡± Said the king.

    ¡°Yes, Son, you are very right. The weight of the cosmos itself is riding on her shoulders. Let us give her rest. And, we should get to know her a bit more, and ask her about the things that she enjoys and what makes her happy. She deserves to have a day just for her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so happy to hear you say that. Let us allow her to forget her burdens at least for a day. Until then, let us let her rest.¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-//¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    The princess awoke craving adventure, so she put on a pair of sturdy trousers and old worn leather boots. A jacket hung in a closet outside her room that belonged to no one that she knew. She took it also and threw it on.

    ¡°Very nice! Now, all I¡¯m missing is a hat.¡±

    Sara was very pleased when she found the hat she desired in a trunk inside the same closet.

    ¡°What luck! Whose stuff is this?¡±

    She didn¡¯t bother leaving out the front door. She knew her father was awake and the sounds of him and Gran fawning over Sonia made her sick with anger. She jumped out the window from the top floor, landed softly in the grass, and headed for the forest.

    Sara was suffering from conflicted emotions, and wasn¡¯t sure how she should feel. She knew that good things were happening, but she wanted nothing more than for her mother to make everything better again. Maybe she would come to her senses and apologize, lifting the curse and bringing them home. She loved her mother very much, and just wanted to live as a happy family.

    Is that so hard?

    The sky was a mixture of sunshine and dark clouds, raining on and off throughout the afternoon. She didn¡¯t particularly mind the rain. The young goddess didn¡¯t get sick because she wasn¡¯t physical in the same way that a mortal was physical. She didn¡¯t need an immune system to keep her healthy and alive.

    ¡°I¡¯m so glad I wore the hat, else the rain would be in my eyes.¡±

    She wouldn¡¯t be able to go very far into the forest, but the amount of land the curse afforded, Sara felt, was quite generous.

    Sara¡¯s boots stomped through rocks, twigs, and crunchy blue moss as she made her trek through the lush environment. Sara admired the forest. She could tell that the foliage was a mixture between Celestian and earthian greenery. Green vines wound around the trees and crept along the rocks, married by another vine that wound around the other. One red and the other green. Sara didn¡¯t know much about plants to be called an expert, but knew that there were harmless vines and also poisonous ones, and because she was unsure of the nature of the ones she was looking at, she decided to avoid them as much as she could.

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    She wasn¡¯t necessarily afraid of the earthian plants. It was the Celestian plants that gave her pause. There were lots of ways that people fought one another, and biological warfare was common across the cosmos. In Celestia, there were plants as well and animals that could hurt a god. Especially one as young as Sara.

    When Sara found the clearing she was looking for, she took off her jacket and laid it out on a round patch of healthy grass and green moss and laid down, staring into the sky with her brilliant blue eyes. Watching the clouds roll by, she thought to herself as the sounds of the rustling leaves swayed from the treetops by the cool breeze.

    She breathed.

    ¡°Five hundred years, that¡¯s how long I¡¯ve been living here. It hasn¡¯t really been that bad. I hadn¡¯t suffered in any particular way other than a little loneliness, which in all honesty had hurt a little at first.¡±

    One of the clouds that rolled by resembled a person pointing at her accusingly.

    ¡°Okay, so it hurt quite a bit! I¡¯m young. I enjoy the company of others. And I¡­¡±

    She paused, growing increasingly angry at herself as tears began to water her eyes.

    ¡°I especially love the company of my family. All I have ever wanted was to have a complete and happy family. But I never got that wish. And that¡¯s what hurts the most. A lot of my family didn¡¯t get along, especially with my mother. It¡¯s not fair!¡±

    She shouts at the accusatory cloud.

    ¡°And then Sonia comes along out of nowhere and changes things even further. Stealing hearts and gaining everyone¡¯s trust and love. Am I the only one that¡¯s bothered by it all? Stupid Sonia! Why did it have to be her? Sticking her nose where it don¡¯t belong! And to make matters worse, Gran imbued her with the family crest, making her part of the royal family, something that is usually meant for a bride. But if she¡¯s the Silver Queen, did she even need it? Wouldn¡¯t that have made her a goddess anyway?

    But, Mother is very strong. I suppose it would be possible for Sonia to have been killed by her, even if she is the Silver Queen. Perhaps it really was the only way to save her, but it doesn¡¯t make me feel any better about it. She¡¯s not my mother! I don¡¯t want her to be my mother! I don¡¯t need her!¡±

    Sara, frustrated at the thought of relying on an outsider¡¯s help to free them from their punishment, screamed into the jacket she laid on.¡¯

    ¡°Did you say, Sonia?¡± Said a disembodied voice. The sound of it came out strained and breathless.

    Sara looked around, confused.

    ¡°Ummm, yes?¡±

    She heard a rustling of leaves and branches down the small slope from where she was, and saw what looked like a figure wrapped in wicked purple vines. The figure struggled to free itself as the curious Sara approached it. The wicked vine bound the figure¡¯s arms and legs, suspending it in the air above the ground. There were so many vines covering the poor person, that the only thing that was visible was their deep green eyes and firey red hair.

    ¡°Are you human?¡± Sara asked from her hill.

    The figure twisted and wriggled her head until her mouth was freed.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m human, unfortunately.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean unfortunately? You don¡¯t want to be human?¡±

    ¡°You mentioned Sonia. She was gravely wounded when you met her, wasn¡¯t she?¡±

    Sara thought for a moment.

    ¡°Yes, quite. Her skull was cracked and her ribs were broken.¡±

    The figure flinched.

    ¡°My auntie did that to her. I¡¯ve had to live with her all my life. Happiness was a fleeting thing in my household. A flicker of it here and there, but nothing compares to the visit I had with Sonia.¡±

    Sara turned her head in disgust.

    ¡°You don¡¯t even have to finish your story. I know what you''re going to say. She performed some miracle, didn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± The figure said simply. ¡°Which, by the way, you happen to share her beautiful blue eyes. They¡¯re wonderfully mesmerizing.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare compare me to her, human.¡± Sara snapped.

    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t realize you two were at odds. My apologies.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not, honestly.¡± She said, hugging her knees close to her chest. ¡°I¡¯m just sick of hearing about her. It seems no matter where I go, her name follows me like an annoying curse.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense, I would think she would be more like a blessing.¡±

    Sara sighed and said no more.

    The figure wiggled and wrenched against the vines that held her.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be in the mood to help me, would you? As you can see, I¡¯m in a bit of a bind.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a funny one, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sara asked as she got to her feet. She jumped gracefully down the small hill, her old, worn boots slid in the damp soil. Sara now stood face to face with the stranger. How did you get like that, you silly thing?¡± She asked.

    The figure¡¯s eyes lowered in hesitation.

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to hear about her, but it is as you say. She performed a miracle. And I just couldn¡¯t bear to let her go, while I continue to live my life of perpetual sorrow. Even if magic was not involved, she was kind and caring.¡±

    ¡°You came to look for her.¡± Sara said, putting her fingers to her chin in thought. ¡°What I would like to know is how you managed to cross the magic barrier protecting this place.¡±

    ¡°A barrier? I didn¡¯t notice anything on my way here.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the second person to breach the curse surrounding the cathedral. The very soil you stand on is cursed.¡± Sara looked down, remembering the figure¡¯s condition. ¡°Well, the soil below you, in any case. What¡¯s your name, human?¡±

    My name is Rachel.¡±

    ¡±Rachel. I like it. My name is Sara, by the way. I may not look it, but I¡¯m a princess of the realm of Celestia, the land of the gods.¡±

    The figure¡¯s eyes went wide with wonder as she looked into the princess¡¯s brilliant blue eyes that looked like Sonia¡¯s. The princess sighed, already aware of Rachel¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°And yes, Sonia is also a Celestian goddess, before you ask.

    ¡°A goddess?¡±

    ¡°Yes, a goddess.¡±

    ¡°That sounds very neat, but what does that mean, exactly? What is a goddess?¡±

    Sara was surprisingly perplexed by the question, a question she had never thought about before.

    ¡°You¡­don¡¯t know?¡±

    Sara shuffled her boots through the soft forest soil, creating a circular line behind her.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t know,¡± Sara said. ¡°It¡¯s just that no one¡¯s ever asked me this before. What is a goddess? I would think that a goddess is someone worthy of worship, like a leader, but me, I¡¯m not like Sonia. Technically speaking, I¡¯m not a goddess. I¡¯m just simply an immortal. Although, by immortal standards, I¡¯m still very young, only having lived for a thousand years, unlike my father, who has lived over five times that amount. I believe I was meant to become a goddess through training, but my family and I were cursed before I could even consider the option.

    As they were speaking, purple vines snaked their way silently from the bushes along the ground, slithering over rocks and trees without a sound. They gently wrapped around Sara¡¯s legs, who didn¡¯t even feel them as the girls spoke.

    ¡°My goodness! You¡¯ve given me so much information to process. A thousand years? You¡¯ve lived that long?¡±

    ¡°Yes, though half of that was spent here at the cathedral.¡±

    ¡°Your dad is a god?¡±

    ¡°Yes, in fact, he''s the King of the gods, a very powerful deity.¡±

    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s awesome!¡±

    ¡°Thank you. He is awesome.¡± Sara said proudly.

    ¡°And if you¡¯re the daughter of a king, that definitely makes you royalty as well. Wow!¡±

    Sara smiled at Rachel¡¯s excitement.

    ¡°I think I like you, Rachel. Here, let¡¯s get you out of that.¡±

    But as soon as she tried to take a step, the vines that wrapped around her ankles bound tightly as more vines sprang violently from the shadows of the forest that quickly whipped around her waist, lifting her off the ground.

    Sara tried to tear off the vines, but they were terrifyingly strong, binding even tighter around her as more snatched her wrists.

    The vines that held Rachel came to life as it wiggled, twisted, and moved, shifting as it brought the two girls together, binding them from head to toe.

    Before she could even scream, Sara was trapped without the strength to free herself, struggling desperately against its powerful grip. Eerie purple veins pulsated as small, sharp spines protruded from it, which dug into its poor victims. Rachel was the first to scream. She twitched and convulsed from the shock of pain. Sara could feel the wetness of Rachel¡¯s mortal blood as the creature fed on her.

    And then it was Sara who screamed next as it fed on her divine energy. Searing, wicked energy flowed throughout her body like a web of purple veins that robbed her of her energy, her life.

    The two girls hung helpless as the monster devoured them slowly. Rachel cried out in horror every time it pumped its scorching toxin into her body.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Rachel. I could have freed you, but like an idiot, I took too long.¡± She said as she gritted through the pain. She defiantly twisted her body in an attempt to fight her way out when the monster took a mean hold of her legs and wrenched them sideways, breaking them. She screamed a blood curdling scream, and shouted a single word. The word had left her lips without any thought behind it other than her desperation. But maybe, deep in her heart, she knew why she had shouted Sonia''s name.

    Sara¡¯s cry resounded through the forest like a hurricane through the trees. Its gale force blew right through the forest and into the cathedral where Gran and the king were talking, holding the sleeping Sonia. The desperate scream blew the doors clear off the hinges and swept Gran off her feet.

    Like a genie being summoned from its lamp, Sonia¡¯s eyes shot open with blazing blue fire, and her hair became a scorching white flame as her divine power bursted from beneath her mortal flesh. Like a blazing rocket, she sprang from the throne with such force that it left the king reeling in surprise.

    She flew right out of the building and into the forest with blinding speed, paying no mind to any tree or boulder that blocked her way. With her strength, she paved a clear path toward the gale¡¯s source. Coming to a halting stop in front of the girls struggling for their lives.

    Everything in the area blew completely away in the wake of Sonia¡¯s arrival, leaving the area completely bare. Even the grass was ripped from the ground. Only the soil remained. With everything gone, it left only the monster behind, which resembled a giant frog covered in moss.

    The monster screeched in pain as Sonia swung a leg at it, kicking it high in the air, separating it from its tentacled vines. The two girls dropped to the ground with a thud.

    Sonia then leaped into the air and met the monster with a powerful swing of her fist that completely obliterated it. A loud shockwave shook the forest on impact.

    Rachel, bloody and mangled, could no longer feel any pain as the astonishing sight of her friend stole her breath.

    For all her miserable life, only the stories of magical princesses and dragons became her comfort. And now, she found herself surrounded by the very things that she could only read about on mere paper. The glorifying radiance of Sonia¡¯s new appearance left her speechless and in awe.

    Sonia landed lightly on bare soil and ran to Sara¡¯s side. she ripped apart the vines that held her and saw the awkward angle her legs were positioned. She reached out to grab hold of her, but Sara breathlessly resisted.

    ¡°Let go of me. I don¡¯t need your help.¡± Sara said, slapping Sonia¡¯s hand away. ¡°Go check on the mortal.¡±

    ¡°The mortal?¡± Sonia asked. Her blue eyes and white hair lost its flaming aura, but her blue eyes still shone with divine light.

    She walked over to mortal still wrapped into the severed vines. She easily ripped them open, and revealed the bloody body of her friend.

    ¡°Rachel!¡± She screamed, scooping her up into her arms, she held her and wept.

    ¡°Look at you.¡± Rachel said with a whisper. ¡°You really are a goddess. This is the second time I¡¯ve seen those eyes. You truly are something beyond the boundaries of this word, something immortal and wonderful.

    ¡°Hold tight. I¡¯m taking you to see Gran, she¡¯ll be able to heal you. And besides,¡± she said with a smirk, ¡°it¡¯s been a little while since I¡¯ve eaten her delicious sweet bread.¡± With Rachel on one shoulder, she hoisted Sara on the other despite her angry protest, and lept high into the air. The ground quickly became a collection of speckled dots as they broke through a thick layer of clouds.

    Rachel and Sara gasped together as they flew through the sky like birds in flight.

    It was a short flight, however, as they soon made their descent toward the ground below.

 Chapter 16

    It was the first time Gran had seen Sonia in her Celestian form, her true self. She landed softly in the lawn outside the front entrance with two figures in her arms. Her shining blue eyes sparkled brightly beneath platinum white hair. She couldn''t contain her smile as she elbowed the king.

    ¡°You see that, son? Look at her.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mother. It is as you say. She truly is the Queen of legend. But, is she MY queen?¡± He asked. Gran looked at him questioningly.

    ¡°What are you saying? Of course she is. Seeing the two of you together in the fragmented realm was the most heart warming sight to behold. You two are wonderful together.¡±

    ¡°It was just a dream, Mother. There is no more magic manipulating us. How will things differ now that there is nothing holding us back?

    Sonia rushed in.

    ¡°Gran, hurry! These two are injured and in need of healing.¡± Sonia said as Sara struggled to lose her grip.

    Gran immediately took Rachel and pulled out a loaf of sweet cinnamon bread from within her apron. As she fed it to her, the king raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Did she just pull food out of her clothing?¡±

    ¡°Put me down, you jerk! I don¡¯t want your help.¡± Sara said, punching at the arms that held her. Sonia snapped at her in anger. Her eyes a burning flame.

    ¡°Silence!¡± She shouted. The room became quiet and still. Even Gran looked up in surprise. Sara shrieked back from the queen¡¯s word of authority and remained silent as commanded.

    ¡°I will not put you down and I will not let you go. You are in need of treatment, and you will receive it. I will not allow you to be stubborn on the account of your feelings for me. You may hate me or you may love me as your heart desires, but you will be taken care of.¡±

    ¡°But why? Why are you being like this?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°It was your cry for help.¡± Sonia said. Tears rolled down the goddess¡¯s cheek. ¡°A scream that seared my heart. Your cry for help is a sound I will never forget. Now come, let us get you the care you need and make you better so you can be on your way.¡±

    The princess remained quiet as Sonia carried her to her room. After laying her in her bed, she handed Sara a small bottle of medicine.

    ¡°What is this?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°Your body isn¡¯t like Rachel¡¯s. Your wound is a spiritual one, and will take more time to heal. Rachel, on the other hand, is probably already healed and chatting Gran¡¯s ears off.¡± Sonia said with a light chuckle. ¡°Gran handed that to me before we came up here.¡±

    She got up after patting Sara on her head and walked over to the door to leave.

    ¡°I like Rachel.¡± Sara said. Sonia paused and looked back.

    ¡°There¡¯s a charming innocence about her. I suppose you and I were once innocent too, weren¡¯t we?¡± Sara said.

    Sonia gave a warm smile as she walked back to Sara¡¯s side and sat on the edge of the bed.

    ¡°Indeed, we were.¡± Sonia said.

    ¡°Sonia, you¡¯ve changed. Something about you is different. Where did you go when you left this dimension?¡±

    ¡°I...¡± Sonia hesitated, the destruction that her hands caused on the Sunny City was fresh on her mind, and it was painful to think about. But, on the other hand, there were good things that came from her time there. Lucy and Lord Tess were friends that she decided that she dearly loved. What she wouldn¡¯t do for them. But, she did destroy Tessundra¡¯s teahouse with her carelessness, and left the city without telling Lucy. She ran away from her shame. Both of them must be mad at her.

    ¡°I visited a place called the Sunny City. There, I found out the truth about myself. And the truth is, I am the daughter and the descendent of the Silver Queen¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re her daughter? That explains some things. It seems you had quite the adventure, then.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true. I also found out that Breillia is terrorizing the city. I think it¡¯s because the goddess¡¯s throne is located there.¡±

    ¡°It is? I didn¡¯t know that.¡± Sara said, downing the bottle of medicine.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s her favorite city. They honored her by erecting an elaborate throne and built a cathedral around it. In fact, this very cathedral is a mockery of it, being an exact replica.¡±

    ¡°The cathedral is the goddess¡¯s?¡± Sara whispered.

    ¡°Gran spoke about a war between the goddess and your father. Something happened between them that sparked your mothers anger. The details of it are still unclear to me, but this building is indeed a mockery of the building where she used to spend time with her people. Breillia also cursed the city so that it¡¯s hard to grow anything there. The Farming district is in a terrible state of decay, which happens to be the city''s main source of revenue. She also stationed the black knights to guard the city and every month, they demand the people to pay a tax to the queen. Worst of all, the people no longer pray to their gods. They no longer answer the call of their people, so they stopped calling on them. They¡¯ve lost all faith. The only certainty is the presence of the queen and her knights. It¡¯s terrible.¡±

    Sara looked down at her lap and thought for a long moment. Long and hard.

    ¡°Mother, just how far will you go?¡±

    Her shoulders shook as she sobbed in anguish.

    ¡°I have lived here on this property for over five hundred years, and I have never seen that creature before. Not only was it placed here recently, but there is no doubt in my mind that it was created by my mother. And for what? Who was she targeting? Is it you she wants? I could have died! Is that what she wanted? Five hundred years confined to this place, all alone! Have I not suffered enough? When will this madness end?¡± Sara was no longer speaking to Sonia, but had gotten lost in her own thoughts, she cried with her face in her hands, until a gentle hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality.

    ¡°Hey, you and I are more alike than you know, though we are from very different worlds, we both want the same thing.¡±

    ¡°Do we?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°Yes. Sara, can I show you something? You see, I¡¯ve gotten used to spirit traveling. I¡¯ve been to a couple different places. One of the places being my soul. I¡¯d like to take you there.¡±

    ¡°You want me to go inside your soul?¡± Sara said with an uncomfortable expression. Sonia laughed.

    ¡°Yes. Only for a few minutes. Think of it as a way to get to know me a little more. After all, I¡¯m still a bit of a stranger to you. You know nothing of me, but only that I am the Silver Queen. But I wasn¡¯t always a goddess. I was once mortal, like Rachel. That¡¯s the version of me that I want you to see. And then I will let you rest.

    Sara hesitated for a moment, and then gave in.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done so much for me. Giving me a name was a big one. How can I possibly deny you? Okay, how does this work? What do you need me to do?¡±

    ¡°Well, first things first¡± Sonia said as she picked up the young girl, who screeched in surprise. She carried the girl down the stairs to the empty throne.

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    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s completely necessary, but I find that my power works best when I¡¯m sitting on the throne.¡±

    Sonia lept on the throne and positioned Sara in her lap between her legs.

    ¡°So, my mother meant for this cathedral to be a mockery, but in the process of replicating it, did she create a throne that could bridge a connection to the goddess? I wonder if this was unintentional.¡± Sara pondered.

    ¡°Yeah, you would think that separating the king from the goddess¡¯s influence would¡¯ve been the point of bringing him here to this dimension.¡± Sonia said.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m ready.¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Just take a deep breath and close your eyes. I¡¯ll do the rest.¡± Sara did as she was told.

    Sonia wrapped her arms around her and together they breathed. At first, nothing happened, but then, without warning, Sara felt as if she was being sucked into Sonia by her navel, followed by the strong sensation of falling. Sara opened her eyes,  all she saw was blackness. The girl screamed in fright before hitting a hard wooden floor. All was quiet and still. The darkness slowly receded, revealing a small room. When she looked around, she saw only a dark and dirty room with only a bed and dresser that occupied it.

    Sara laid there, wincing in pain. Every inch of her body was aching. The girl moaned, and was surprised to find that it wasn¡¯t her voice.

    What the hell?

    The moment she had hit the floor, she was filled with several emotions that she recognized. Loneliness being among them.

    Sara struggled to get to her feet, but she found her body to be small and clumsy. Her hands were tiny and fragile, with bruises all over her arms and legs. There was a particular bruise on her arm that looked like a perfect hand print, as if she had been violently grabbed. She rubbed the spot and cried out when a sharp shooting pain raced up her arm from the deep purple mark.

    Wow, is it broken? I can¡¯t tell.

    A voice rang out from the very fabric of reality.

    ¡°I was about ten years old back then.¡± Sonia said. ¡°This was right before I met someone very special. Let¡¯s continue. Let the dream play out, and don¡¯t fight it. I promise it will be over soon.¡±

    Sara slowly got to her feet. She swayed a little from dizziness, and then walked over to a mirror. A familiar action for Sara, but it was not a familiar sight, however, as the tiny little girl stared back at her. Sara gasped at her reflection, and wept.

    When Sara reached a hand to touch her face, the little girl in the mirror did the same.

    She¡¯s so young.

    Sara touched the dark, purple bruise on her eye, and traced the cut on her split and swollen lips. Tears fell as the girl cried, but Sara wasn¡¯t sure if she was the one crying or if it was the dream, but whether it was her or the memory, it felt so real.

    Loneliness

    Regret

    Shame

    These were the emotions that she felt. They were strong emotions. It was like an emotional infection that could only be cured by love. But judging by the image in the mirror, no one had had any love to give. The little girl was deprived and starved of it.

    She¡¯s so young

    A thumping sound could be heard outside the door, followed by the clanking of glass. She slowly walked over to the door, and reached for the knob with her frail, shaking hand, and opened it.

    ¡°Mother?¡± The girl said. No one answered. A set of stairs went down into the main room of the home. The room below was fully lit by a hanging chandelier that swayed back and forth. The woman beneath it must have hit her head on it as she was seen cursing at it while rubbing her aching head before the little girl ducked out of sight above the first step.

    Her mother was drinking again. As she peeked again from the first step atop the stairs, she could see the many beer bottles piled onto the kitchen table. The woman attempted to pour another shot of liquor, but missed the glass. In anger, the woman took the glass and threw it across the room. Sara could hear it shatter against the wall.

    Sara could feel the girl¡¯s fear and hesitation as she slowly descended the stairs one step at a time. From the bottom step, she called out to the drunken woman.

    ¡°Mother, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Go away, little girl. I don¡¯t need you.¡± The woman said.

    ¡°Is there anything I can do for you? Anything?¡± The little girl asked, placing a tiny hand on her mother¡¯s leg.

    ¡°You stupid little girl.¡± The woman looked at her with a face that was contorted by anger, beet red, with veins that pulsated, a face of pure madness. The woman got up from her seat and bore down on her.

    ¡°I am an adult. You¡¯re nothing but a stupid little girl. What can you possibly do for me? Are you mocking me? Get out of my sight!¡±

    The woman raised a hand to strike her, but the little girl bolted away, scrambling up the stairs and into her room.

    She leaned against the door with a hand on her heart, and breathed. Her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees. Tears pattered onto the old dry, dusty floor.

    The emotions were so real, that Sara couldn¡¯t tell if it was her or the girl that cried.

    She¡¯s so young

    She could hear the woman scream and yell in blinding anger. The words she spoke made no sense to her. She just rambled on about how the world had wronged her. The sound of things crashing as they were being thrown and broken filled the house.

    The little girl got up and ran to her bed, burying her head in her pillow in an attempt to block the horrifying sounds of her rampaging mother. She cried aloud, her voice muffled by the dirty pillow.

    Why?

    Dreams were a funny thing. They could conjure entire realities and fabricate memories that never happened, but were still real to the one that had them. Sara remembered things that she shouldn¡¯t, because the memories weren¡¯t hers. They were Sonia¡¯s memories. She was not the little girl, but just the same, she knew that every night was the same.

    Where was the caring mother that coddled and cared for her children? Where was the proud and dutiful father? Though it wasn''t her life and her memories, she knew. She was completely alone.

    No one cared for her. Birthdays and holidays were spent in her room, alone.

    An ethereal light shone through her bedroom window that Sara knew wasn¡¯t natural. The light bathed a path from the window to her bed. The little Sonia ran to the window and prayed. No, it wasn¡¯t a prayer, but a begging plea. A heart wrenching cry for help to a god that never listened.

    She prayed for someone to love her. Sara let the dream take her as she cried and cried, begging for a complete and loving family. At this point, their hearts were united by a common desire. They longed for it with all of their hearts.

    It¡¯s not fair!

    It¡¯s not fair!

    Sara awoke from within Sonia¡¯s soul and fell from the throne onto her knees in a sobbing, coughing fit. Tears dotted the cold stone floor.

    ¡°It¡¯s not fair!¡± She choked.

    ¡°Nothing is fair in this world, sweetheart.¡± Sonia said.

    Sara stood up and approached the throne. From where she stood, she saw Sonia. For the first time, she saw her as the glorious woman she was meant to be. Their brilliant blue eyes met, and Sara couldn¡¯t help but to see the scared little girl she used to be.

    ¡°You were so young.¡± Sara whispered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I''ve never truly looked at you. Never even considered you. I¡¯m so selfish.¡± More tears came as the emotions from the dream still lingered on her heart. ¡°It¡¯s true, I love my mother so much, I just wanted her to be more than what she was. I was never enough for her. What more could I have done?¡±

    ¡°Not a damn thing.¡± Sonia said. Love is not a transaction to be bought or traded. It is a free gift. Whether you love me or don¡¯t, it makes no difference to me. I will always love you. You don¡¯t need to do anything for it, because you¡¯re perfect the way you are.¡±

    The princess held Sonia¡¯s gaze, and saw her for who she truly was.

    ¡°For five hundred years, I¡¯ve prayed, and no one answered, or so I thought. I prayed every single day, with all my heart. My mother never came for me. Whether here in the cathedral or in the dream realm, not once did she come for me. Five hundred years, and no one came, or so I thought. The truth is, you came. You answered my prayer, and when I called for you, you came to me without fail, and in a matter of seconds, I was safely in your arms.¡± Tears still streamed down her face and onto her tattered, bloody shirt. She sobbed openly, but she didn¡¯t break eye contact, because for the first time, she truly saw her. She was queen, and not just any queen, she was her friend. A friend she can rely on. A friend she can honor, and a friend she can love.

    A hand came to rest on Sara¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°I bet you also hadn¡¯t realized that your legs are healed.¡± Gran¡¯s soft voice whispered into her ear. Sara looked down wide eyed. No, she hadn¡¯t realized it. She had been so caught up in the moment.

    This woman, she just keeps giving.

    She just keeps giving, and what do I give her? Absolutely nothing. I¡¯ve given her nothing.

    Sara fell to her knees, and bowed low.

    Sonia tilted her head in curiosity.

    ¡°Sara, what are you doing?¡± Sonia asked.

    Gran joined her granddaughter, kneeling beside her, she bowed low before the throne. Sara¡¯s voice croaked as the tears still came.

    ¡°Long live the queen.¡± She said,

    Long live the queen.¡± Repeated Gran.

    Rachel also joined them, kneeling on the cold marble floor. A wide and beautiful smile crossed her face.

    ¡°I knew you were special. I just knew it.¡± She too bowed low. ¡°Long live the queen.¡±

    ¡°Stop it people. You¡¯re going to make me cry. I don¡¯t want to cry.¡± the tears came anyway, sparkling in the divine glow of her eyes.

    A movement caught her attention beside her as the giant stone statue began to move. It got up from its resting place and walked over to the girls. The building shook with each step he took. Stepping over the girls, he too found his place on the cold marble floor, he too knelt and bowed. With a low rumbling voice, he chanted. The words echoed throughout the hall, and who would dare question the voice of the King.

    ¡°Long live the queen.¡±