"Once upon a time there was a lovely Prince. But he had an enchantment upon him of a fearful sort. This could only be broken by love's first kiss. He was locked away in a castle guarded by a terrible fire breathing dragon; many brave knights had attempted to free him from this dreadful prison, but none prevailed. He waited in the dragon's keep in the highest room of the tallest tower, for his true love and true love's first kiss."
A woman read to her child, who watched her with big doe eyes. Her smile becoming gentle as the young child begged her to read it again.
"Keith, this is the tenth time we've read this." She giggled, the woman was figment of true beauty; her name was Krolia Kogane.
"But I like it a lot! The poor prince forever cursed and locked away in a tower. It must get lonely," Said boy replied somberly, before a goofy grin lit up his childish features. "Someday, when I grow up, I'll venture fourth and rescue him myself."
Soft chuckling was heard, and Krolia just lovingly ruffled her son's hair. "That's my boy. You make sure and introduce me you hear?"
He giggled, ears twitching at the gesture. "Yeah, and when I save the prince, I'll ask him to marry me!"
The woman raised a curious brow, smiling. "Is that so?"
"Yep, He's very pretty for a boy." He answered, scrunching up his nose.
"Why yes, he is indeed. Good eye son."
"Thank you, mama!" He huffed with pride, puffing out his chest.
"Now, isn't time you've head off to bed?"
He pouted, but did as he was told. His mother tucked him away in bed, and planted a good night kiss on his temple. "Sleep well I'll see you in the morning."
Keith awoke, inwardly frowning at the dream that now was mere memory. It's been 10 years since he last seen his mother and he had missed her dearly. He could recall the first few months, where he spent his time crying, waiting, and hoping. He let out a low snarl, and went about his day—there was no point in getting emotional. Everyone by now knew about the unfortunate altean prince who had been cursed the moment he was born. Lance was his name apparently, youngest brother to Princess Allura, and son to King Alfor and Queen Rosalyn.
No one really knew what he transformed into. There were rumors ranging from him becoming a hideous tentacle like beast, with many eyes and disfigured face to transforming into some sort of mythical horned creature. None were accurate though and were yet to be confirmed by anyone. Keith scoffed, why did he even want to marry that guy anyway? He only saw him once in his life, and that was when the young Prince was escorted to his new castle, to be locked away. He could remember what the boy looked like quite clearly.
White messy hair, shining deep azure hues, tan skin and light blue altean markings.
Needless to say he became smitten. As a child he imagined being the one who rescue the prince and make him his husband; what a foolish dream it was. He huffed as he began cleaning around his small shack that he called home. Sure it wasn't big as your average elite houses but it held enough room for a family of three. He longingly stared at the photos of his parents on the nearby nightstand. He sighed wistfully, there's no point in getting depressed, and it's already been a deca-phoebe since then.
Keith continued spring cleaning when he was interrupted by the noises coming from outside; his ears twitching curiously.
'What in the world?'
So he proceeded to open the door, his eyes widening at the sudden over populace of several other alien species in his front yard. He frowned—no glared.
"Who the fuck are you guys?"
The chattering died down and everyone stared at him, owlishly and backed away slowly. Of course, it's only been several hundreds of years since the intergalactic war between the galrans and the entire universe yet they still feared his kind. He just rolled his eyes in annoyance, repeating his earlier question.
"I said who the fuck are you guys?"
A meek looking olkariancame up to him and held up a piece of paper. "L-Lord Sendak issued an order of all the non-galran residents be moved to the nearby forest…"
Keith just snatched it out of the alien's grasp and frowned. "What the hell?"
His eyes skimmed through the decree rather quickly. A low snarl emitted from his throat. Everyone else flinched, some shivering, others looking at him warily. His hand bunched up the parchment paper in his grasp. He turned to his new found audience, fangs bared. "I'm going to this Sendak and get my property back so you can all leave me the hell alone."
Abrupt cheers broke out through the silence, everyone waving their arms much to his dismay. He tried to angrily dismiss them but his words falling death to their ears. They were all giving all sorts of goods and throwing some confetti his way. Keith just hissed, and waved them off getting ready to leave until he remembered he didn't know his way.
"Does anybody know how to get to this lord guy?"
Silence ensued before a voice spoke up. "I may be of some assistance."
Keith tore his gaze from everyone, pure yellow hues finding them before a yupper; a talking one no less.
"Well I'll be damned, a talking yupper. So uh, what's your name?"
"I'm Slav." It bowed.
He noticed how everyone sent him pitying looks his way and this caused confusion in the galran. Weirdos. He thought with a shrug and returned his attention to Slav.
"You know your way to this Sendak guy?"
"Yes, it's a 99 percent chance of probability that'll we make it there safely if we take precautions and go to the route I have specifically memorized."
He frowned. "Uh ok, let's getting then…"
Keith began to go his way, followed by a talkative Slav who rambled about alternative realities and some other scientific shit. But paid no mind, choosing to ignore him and subtly give a few mhms and ahhs his way with each sentence.
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Deep within the castle walls of the kingdom of Dabizaal..
"I'll never tell you…" a soft voice hissed.
"Shiro, you're only stalling the inevitable. Tell me where the rest of them are."
"Never…" Said person growled.
"Why must you make it worse for yourself? Guards, prepare for another modification." Sendak barked, and shamelessly playing with the detached limb in his grip, and using to slap the poor man across the face.
"Sire we've found the thing that you were searching for!" another galran came in rushing in, panting.
"Well? Go on and bring it to me Haxus!" He huffed, and watched as his best soldier went to retrieve the magic mirror.
Haxus along with two others pushed the darn thing into the center of his torture chamber, much to a wounded Shiro's curiosity.
The mauve haired man heaved a sigh of relief and tore off the blanket draped over the mirror. A ghostly white face came into view, staring.
"Evening, isn't this the fairest kingdom of them all?"
It replied. "Technically, you aren't a king."
"Haxus…?" Sendak spoke.
Said person brought up a miniature mirror and punched it. It seemed to have gotten the picture, and nervously laughed. "You aren't a king yet b-but all you have to do is marry a princess or prince."
This caught the alien's interest. "Go on…"
"Just sit back and relax my lord, for here are our lucky bachelor and bachelorettes." He did a little spin and three portraits came into view. "Bachelorette number one comes from a shut in kingdom of the balmera. She likes to enjoy sentimental trips and romantic dates. Her hobbies include knitting and painting. Give it up for Princess Shay.
It showed beautiful rock girl whose shining yellow orbs stared deep into his soul. She was very easy on the eyes but she seemed too kind for his taste.
"Bachelorette number two consists of a rebellious woman who's always up for adventure. Living a few kingdoms over of the balmerans, she's a girl who isn't easy to get. If you manage to snatch her interest, you might just find out how this wild child can rock your world. Here we have Princess Nyma!"
Sendak nodded, she was definitely prettier than the last and she seemed just right but not quite. She seemed to be a tall alien with pointed ears, cream and yellow skin or fur, and blonde hair with two brown stripes at her forehead; hair is kept up in four ponytails with dark teal barrettes. She has light purple irises with darker purple pupils and scalera. She was ideal but something was missing.
"Last but certainly not least, bachelor number three we have a sassy and fiery altean from a dragon guarded castle surrounded by hot boiling lava! But don't let that cool you off, he's a loaded pistol who adores milkshakes and a romantic at heart, yours for the rescuing, Prince Lance!"
"So will it be bachelorette number one, bachelorette number two, or bachelor number three?"
Several voices screamed out three and two respectively. Haxus who decided to put his input, said in a hushed tone loud enough for Sendak to hear. "Number three, m'lord."
He frowned, eyeing the two most likely candidates, going back and forth until his gaze landed on the infamous altean prince.
He knew then, who exactly wanted.
"Alright, my choice is number three."
It spoke, "Lord Sendak, you have chosen, Prince Lance."
In the distinct background, Milkshake by Kelis was heard followed by several cheers.
"Yes, Lance. He's perfect." He said in an awed tone. "But all I need to do is find someone who'll rescue him for me…"
"But I should really mention the thing that happens at night, what occurs after the sun sets—"
"I'll do it; silence!" He motioned with his hand for the mirror to stop talking. "I'll make this Prince Lance my husband, and Dabizaal will finally have a perfect king! Captain, assemble your finest men, we're going to have a tournament!"
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For long as Lance could remember, he'd always transform into this hideous beast; sharp ears and teeth, his beautiful tan would become fur which was a deep shade of royal blue and his deep azure morphed into the most unbelievable bright shade of an eerie yellow. His parents desperately went from planet to planet, seeking out the universe's most powerful sorceress, warlocks, witches. But none were successful, as the young prince had an enchantment of a fearful sort, and they were told time and time again, that the only way he'd be free was to receive true love's first kiss. So the King Alfor and his wife, Queen Rosalyn, sent their son to be locked away in faraway castle, that was guarded by a fierce-some dragon.
Many brave knights and others made an attempt to free him from this dreadful prison, but none prevailed. In the end they were all either slaughtered or eaten by the fire breathing creature. So he waited in the dragon's keep, in the highest room of the tower, for his true love and true love's first kiss. How he missed his family dearly, mourning his looks and yearning to be reunited with his parents and sister. Prince Lance just sighed glumly, wandering around in his room and sat on his bed, reaching out for the book nearby that lay on the brown drawer.
Skimming the first couple of pages, he threw the book onto his bed and walked over to the window, leaning against the ledge. His blue hues shining brightly due to the sun's warm rays. Another day has passed. Being imprisoned for 18 years, one learned you could pick up on a few things.
He found himself subconsciously repeating the curse.
"By night one way, by day another, thus shall be the norm till you receive true love's kiss then, take love's true form."
How Lance oh so desired to be set free. Maybe someday, a brave knight would be successful. A dry bitter laugh escaped his lips, "Ha! As if that'll ever happen."
So Lance just found himself staring into the horizon, the silhouette of the dragon in the distance disappearing. He could faintly hear roaring and screaming. He frowned, seemed someone else just met their fate. He sighed, and did what he did best.
Waiting for his true love.