“Good then. Stay where we can see you and don’t go into the forest,” Han instructed him, then turned to his men, and ordered, “Bulwark and Von, keep an eye on the children. The rest of us shall ride ahead to the village and pick up our supper. We shall be back within the nal.”
“Yes sir,” Bulwark and Von replied.
“This way,” Edward commanded the girl as he scurried through the tall blue-gray grass as if chasing something. “I saw a Prairie Toad. Let us see if we can catch it.”
“Where?” Pluck asked as she ran after him, carrying the prince’s wooden sword. “I don’t see a toad.”
“There!” Edward shouted as he pointed at the imaginary amphibian. He needed to get them closer to the forest then wait till the Guards were not looking. He glanced at the girl. All he had to do was convince her to follow him. He smirked. She was very devoted to him; it might not be as hard as he believed. He told her, “The toad is heading into the forest.”
She stopped and shook her head as she insisted, “We can’t. Han said we’re not to go in.”
Edward also stopped and spoke, “He did, but who is the prince?” He raised his chin, pausing and then said, “Anyway...” A sly grin crossed his face before he stated, “I shall need a Guard to accompany me.”
Pluck’s face brightened as she pointed to herself and questioned, “You mean me?” She motioned back the way they came and asked, “But what about Bulwark and Von?”
The children looked across the prairie to the warriors. The two High Guards were distracted by a traveler asking directions.
“We shall not be gone long. They shall not even know we are missing, so come,” Edward commanded her as he headed into the forest. “It shall be an adventure like those told in stories.”
“I don’t know,” she said as she followed him, searching the trees. “What if Necroms live here?”
“Necroms...” He laughed and then explained to her, “They are only stories told to scare little children.”
“I am a child...” Pluck stated as she apprehensively scanned the forest, gripping the sword tightly. “I am scared.” She bit her lip not wanting to go but did, desperate to protect the prince no matter how frightened she was. Pluck said, “There are reasons children shouldn’t go into dark woods.”
Summer green shrouded the forest as Black Feathered Yaws sang to the new sun’s cycle. Their high pitched shrills echoed across the forest as pine scented the air. Trunk Beetles buzzed about the children as Edward led them down an animal trail. The canopy thickened the farther they ventured. The woods darkened as the sun found little passage into the forest domain and the air grew cool.
“We better go back,” Pluck suggested as she searched the shadows for monsters as misshapen trees frightened her.
“Are you afraid?” Edward questioned as his heart pounded for the excitement, knowing nothing would turn him back.
“Yes,” she admitted. “Please, let’s return.”
“A little farther then we shall. Look...” He pointed to a structure hidden in the vegetation and asked, “What could it be?”
“A temple? Maybe...” Pluck replied as she saw statues of a Woolly Tiger, Fire Lion, Striped Cheetah, and Ghost Panther guarding the overgrown entrance. Their cold stone eyes glared at them, warning them not to enter. She stated, “I don’t think we should go in.”
“Nonsense. There is nothing to be afraid of. There is no one else out here.”
“That’s why I’m afraid,” she admitted as her little hands trembled. Pluck readied the wooden sword as she said, “I’m the only one here to protect you.”
In the distance, Bulwark and Von shouted, “My lord... Prince Edward...” Their cries were frantic as they questioned, “Where are you?”
Pluck started to shout.
“No,” Edward commanded, staring at the temple that beckoned him. “I am not done with my adventure. They shall find us when they do. Come.”
“I think we should let them know where we are.”
Edward turned to her, and his piercing blue eyes stared at her as he asked her, “Do you love me?”
“What?” she replied. His question surprised her.
“Do you love me?” he repeated.
“Yes, I have always...”
“Then come with me,” Edward interrupted, feeling nothing for her. She was an object; the girl was something to own and something to rule. He attacked her heart; it was the one muscle vulnerable to words... to lies... A simple gesture from him, then a smile, and she was his. His mother had taught him well. He told her, “If you love me, you shall do as I say.”
Pluck didn’t answer him only nodded.
Edward rushed into the structure, following a long pale-white hallway. Brass torches lit the stone passage.
“Someone is here,” she said. Everything within Pluck told her to run and flee from this place. She told him, “Someone had to light the fires.”
“Let us see,” Edward said as he steadied himself on a cold stone wall determined to continue. The temple had to protect something and he had to know what it was. Edward told the girl, “This is my kingdom and anyone here is my subject.”
Pluck bit her lip again and then she said, “That doesn’t mean they’ll obey you.”
The hall opened to a large room with a round blue pool. Steam hovered above the water like a ghostly mist. A bush grew from a platform in the middle of the water and on it a single white flower budded.
Edward’s eyes widened as he uttered, “A Mystic Rose!”
“A what?” Pluck inquired and when she saw it, the flower’s beauty awed her.
“A Mystic Rose. It is written they possess great power,” Edward spoke as he licked his lips greedily and deeply breathed, smelling the flower's sweet aroma. “It is said, the Rose was the only magical thing brought to the Fletching Kingdom.” He rubbed his palms as he stated, “I must have it.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t. It belongs to someone,” Pluck insisted as she noticed more statues of large cats encircling the room. “Please, let’s leave.”
“I am the prince. What I want I possess,” Edward declared as he crossed stone steps to the bush. Glittering sparkles surrounded the Rose like fluttering pixies. He carefully grabbed the stem of the white Rose, broke it from the bush, then waited a couple of moments to see if anything would happen, and headed back. Edward said, “See... Nothing... Now let us return.”
Pluck looked around as she held her breath, then she sighed, and studied the Rose as she asked, “May I touch the Rose?”
He thought on her request and then he replied, “You may, but only once.”
She touched the white petals of the Rose with her left hand and slid her index finger down its stem.
“That is enough,” Edward spoke as he pulled it away.
“Ouch...” Pluck said as she put her finger to her mouth. “The flower bit me.”
“Huh?” He examined the stem and then he told her, “It did not bite you. You caught your finger on a thorn. See...” Edward showed her as he said, “There is a little blood here.”
The thorn absorbed the blood as she looked. The Rose’s petals changed from white to blue. Pluck smiled and giggled, and the Rose’s petals turned yellow.
“How pretty,” she uttered as she looked to her index finger, and her eyes widened as magical sparkles materialized. The multicolor lights danced about like fairies and a black dot appeared on her fingertip. Two black lines shot from the circle and split, curving around to the top. The lines joined, and created four separate rings up to her knuckle, then the sparkles faded. Pluck questioned, “Is this magic?”
“No...” Edward answered her and then said, “It looks like a tattoo. Do you not know magic happens only for those with Royal Blood?” He examined the markings. No peasant would receive the power of his Rose. He told her, “The Queen shall not like that you have a tattoo.”
Her faced reddened with embarrassment
and fear, dreading the Queen’s wrath. She said, “It’s your fault I have it. You're the one who stuck me with the thorn.”
“My fault?” he questioned and then told her, “Do not blame this on me.”
Pluck pouted as she said, “I am and I’m going to tell the Queen.”
“My mother!” Edward uttered as he cringed. “You cannot. I command you not to.”
Her face grew stern as she spoke, “You’ll have to do better than that.”
Her disobedience outraged him as he questioned her, “What did you say?”
She folded her arms and then replied, “I want something for my silence.”
“Give you something, hah!” He looked to the yellow Rose and told her, “I shall not give you the Mystic Rose.”
Pluck laughed as she said, “I don’t want it. I want something else.”
“What?” Edward questioned as he looked around the room as if it would be there.
She blushed, before whispering, “The Kiss.”
The Rose’s petals changed to pink.
Edward’s face flushed as he uttered, “My first Kiss, but that is for my betrothed.” He looked her over like she was rabble before he told her, “Anyway, you are not royalty.”
“That’s true, but the Kiss only pledges your heart to the one,” Pluck said as she giggled. “Not that you’ll marry me. I know you can’t marry a peasant.” She fiddled with the wooden sword as she stated, “This is all I want.”
He thought on her proposal. The Kiss was meaningless to him. If it shall buy her silence... He answered, “Agreed. I shall give you my first Kiss and in exchange, you shall not tell my mother it is my fault you have the tattoo.” He then added, “Or that I gave you the Kiss.”
“I agree,” she said as she blushed again coyly. “I’ll ready myself.” Pluck placed her hands behind her back and puckered her lips.
Edward took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and leaned toward her lips ready to meet them. Before they kissed, a howling wind whipped in, chilled the air, and flickered the fires lighting the room. The docile stone faces of the statues magically became angry, and the children heard large cats rage. The Rose’s hue became purple as fear filled Pluck.
“Who dares?!” a woman’s voice demanded like the roar of a lioness. “Who dares steal the Mystic Rose?!” A woman fair as an Angel Dove soared into the room like a white apparition. She pointed a slender finger at the prince as she questioned him, “Is it ye?”
Both children paled.
“Speak up child!” the woman demanded. “Is it ye?”
Edward looked to Pluck and then he stepped forward, replying, “Yes. I took the Mystic Rose.” His fear turned to anger as he declared, “This is my kingdom, I shall take what I want.”
“Curse ye, arrogant one!” she shrieked. “Ye shall regret the sun’s cycle ye transgressed this temple.” She floated above them as she questioned them, “Do ye not know I am Fairah, Protector of the Rose? Curse ye! If ye had only asked, the Rose would have been ye’s.” Fairah hovered to the ceiling as green currants of electricity surged across her body. Her long white hair stood on end as power flowed through her ghostly form as she yelled, “Ye do not deserve the Rose!”
“My prince,” a voice shouted from outside the structure.
“Han, here!” Edward replied, hoping his guards would save him. “I am in danger!”
Fairah raised her hands, forming a ball of electricity in her palms as her solid white eyes glowed green. She told him, “They shall not reach ye in time.” She flung the energy, and the ball hurled toward him.
Pluck’s heart skipped, seeing Edward in danger and she shouted, “My lord!” She rushed toward him and pushed the prince out of the way as she yelled, “Look out!”
Edward landed on the stone floor and rolled to face Pluck as the energy hit her, throwing her back, but she didn’t fall. The power lifted her into the air like a great wind. She screamed as green electricity surged through her tiny body, whipping her brown hair about. Roars of Woolly Tigers, Fire Lions, Striped Cheetahs, and Ghost Panthers filled the room with unbearable noise. Edward covered his ears. A turquoise energy exploded from Pluck, blowing the prince’s black hair. The power shredded her dress, ripping it from her body, and she covered her nakedness with her arms and knees.
“I’m burning!” Pluck shrieked, reaching her hand toward the prince. “Save me!”
Paralyzed by fear, Edward shook his head as he covered his eyes with his hands and screamed, “Make it stop! Han, save me!”
Short beige fur sprouted from Pluck’s body as a long tail formed. Tiger like claws replaced her nails and her canine teeth lengthened. Pluck screamed again, but she sounded like a Ghost Panther and her hair changed to fiery-crimson and grew longer into a full mane. Her eyes changed from brown to emerald green and her legs grew, becoming more cheetah like. The power lowered Pluck’s small frame to the floor. She wept, wrapping her furry arms around her ill-fated form and shivered as tears streamed down her face.
Edward scurried away from the ghastly sight, making Pluck cry all the more. Han, Bulwark, Von, and the rest of the Guards rushed in with their rapier swords readied. Bulwark and Von hurried to the prince and carried him out of the temple as Han rushed toward Pluck then halted.
“By Fletching! What beast is this?” He lifted his sword to strike her as he yelled, “Crell spawn!”
“Do not hurt the child,” Fairah commanded. “She is only cursed.”
“She?” Han lowered his sword, examining the beast more closely as he inquired, “Is that you, little one?”
Pluck turned to him, furry beige face wet with tears and quivered out an answer, “Yes.”
Han pointed his slender sword at the apparition and asked, “Is it a fight you want, witch?”
“No,” Fairah replied and then she told him, “My duty ‘tis over. Ye may leave in peace.”
Han turned to the men who were still with him and ordered them, “All of you out.” They did as commanded, and he removed his red cape, covering Pluck and then ordered the woman, “Change her back.”
His request surprised Fairah and she told him, “I cannot as I said, there is a spell on her.”
“Why?” he demanded. “Why this hideous form?”
“The punishment was meant for the boy, but she pushed him out of the way.”
“But why?” Han repeated.
Why didn't this man know? All of Fletching should know. Fairah answered him, “He stole the Mystic Rose which I am protector of.” She motioned to the bush in the center of the pool and said, “They should have known better.”
“Known?” Han snapped and then he questioned, “Who are you?”
Again he surprised her as she asked, “Ye do not know me? I am Fairah and this last place of magic has been protected by the king’s decree since the foundation of the Kingdom.”
“My dear lady, I am Han, Commander of the High Guards,” he said as he swiped his sword, pointing to the room. “I have not heard that this land is protected. You must have been forgotten by the passing of time.”
“Forgotten?” Fairah uttered as she contemplated the possibility. “Then the boy knew not to take the Rose or that in asking he could have had it.”
Han nodded.
“So I punished him for only being an arrogant child.” Fairah looked to Pluck with compassion as she restated, “Or should I say, I condemned her.”
Han demanded, “Take back the hex.”
She explained to him, “Even with my powers, I cannot but...” Fairah floated down next to the girl as she said, “There is a way.” She waved her hand over the child and spoke, “If she can receive what was promised this sun’s cycle before the Mystic Rose, the curse shall be broken.” She lifted into the air as her ghostly form vanished slowly.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
She paused mid-air and told him, “There is nothing more for me to guard here till another Rose
blooms.”
“What about the child?” Han asked as he felt helpless to comfort Pluck yet alone help her through this tragedy. “I cannot take her back to the castle like this. Since our birth we are told to fear Necroms; we are to despise and kill any we might come across. Look at her.” He turned Pluck to face Fairah and then he continued, “She’s the very embodiment of what we hate. I understand, but the others shall not. They shall throw her in the dungeon or kill her.”
Fairah shook her head with disdain as she said, “This is how they praise heroes now?” She looked around the Temple and then replied, “The child may live here. Few people venture into these woods, so she should be safe.” Fairah looked once more to the girl as more of the realization of what she cursed her to sunk in and then Fairah vanished.
“No,” Pluck pleaded, turning to the High Guard. “Don’t leave me here, not alone.”
Han felt for the girl. Her life had been hard enough, but now with the curse... Han told her, “I am sorry, but you can’t return with us. They shall not understand. Too many in the court still fear the myth of the Necroms.” He left and returned, placing on the floor the supplies they purchased in town. “Here is some food,” he stated and then he started out.
“No! Don’t leave me.” Pluck grabbed his leg as she begged him, “I don’t want to be alone, not again.”
Han’s heart broke as he placed his hand on her furry head. He told her, “I vow as a High Guard I shall return tomorrow.” He beckoned to her, so she would look to him, “Little one...”
She lifted her feline eyes.
“You sacrificed yourself to save the prince, a duty that was ours. I shall not let you be forgotten like the protector of this temple,” Han told her as he helped her onto her new legs, not knowing what to say to ease her pain, then noticed the wooden sword on the floor, and remembered his duel with the prince. “You have proven yourself, so rules or not, I shall train you to become a High Guard. You have earned that right now dry your eyes. Tears are not becoming of a warrior.”
Chapter Two
Time Passes
Fourteen seasons later...
Edward woke, gasping in his bed. He sat up as sweat glistened his slim muscular chest then he looked around the dark room disoriented. A woman lay beside him and rolled over at his cry, returning to her sleep. This wasn’t the first time he’d screamed in the middle of the night.