There's a legend. It had been passed down from generation to generation to the people of the kingdom and village of Riverdale. The legend lies with the beast that flies around the town. A huge, purple, scaled dragon whose wings were huge and they flapped around the huge palace and small village. The dragon would grip hard on the cottages and attack the cobblestone statues built. The dragon, dubbed Abraxas from their fiery rage and anger, was a danger to Riverdale. He was always angry. At the people, the town, the kingdom. Some people say that Abraxas attacks is because he feels threatened by the kingdom and the people. Sooner or later, Abraxas would kill someone or hurt the monarchy permanently. The people of Riverdale feared for their lives.
The queen of Riverdale almost left powerless and scared. Queen Sierra was afraid of Abraxas and his power if he had gotten too angry. That one day during his attacks, Abraxas would kill all of her loyal subjects or even worse, kill her precious daughter, Princess Josie. She believed that her days were numbered. Until she had met the lime of her life. A strong knight. The captain of her men. Tom Keller. He was around whenever she was scared of Abraxas and he was there to bring her to safety when the huge, purple beast flew around the palace and the village. Sure enough, Sierra fell in love with that man. And along with him, he fell in love with her. And after a full year of being together, Tom proposed to the queen.
That was the one happy moment in Riverdale. When the queen finally found love that wasn't the egotistical previous king. Everyone in Riverdale was happy about this moment and they were happy that Abraxas didn't decided to attack the wedding ceremony. The ceremony was beautiful. It was held right by the river that Riverdale was named after, with Sierra's daughter as her maid of honor and Tom's only son, Kevin, as the best man. And soon, Tom and Sierra were husband and wife. And Josie and Kevin became brother and sister.
And not even a day into their marriage, the two newlyweds started to making changes to deal with Abraxas and his angry attacks. King Tom strengthened the royal guards that he had been leading. He made sure that the knights were strong and trained to try and kill Abraxas if he came along. Queen Sierra had helped make spears that were thin and sharp enough to pierce the dragon's scaly skin and injury him. It started to work. And after a full month, Abraxas' attacks were short and slowed down thanks to the help of the knights, the king and queen. Tom and Sierra knew that their town and their children would be safe again once Abraxas was dealt with.
But unaware to them, Abraxas was watching and learning. And he knew all about the love that the king and queen had. And he knew the unconditional love towards their children. How important the prince and princess were.
Kevin had originally been a simple village boy who loved to write and bake. Then his father had fallen out of love with his mother and his mother abandoned him and left to live in another village. And then that whirlwinded into his father finding love in the form of his village's queen. And his father getting married. And Kevin earning a new mother and sister at the snap of his fingers. At first, Kevin was overwhelmed. Becoming a prince and becoming a remember of the palace in a matter of weeks scared him. But his father, his new mother and his new sister were there for him. And after a few months of love, care and protection from Abraxas' angry attacks, Kevin became used to being a prince and living inside of the palace. So what he did was sneak around from in and out of the palace. Even though his father would tell him constantly and constantly that he shouldn't leave the palace from fear of Abraxas. But Kevin snuck out of the palace window and was able to go to the palace gardens. It was a place that Kevin felt how he was before he was a prince.
And then Kevin found someone there in the woods that caught his attention. Kevin had snuck out of his bedroom one night and started to make his way over to the garden when he saw someone else there. Kevin stood there watching from the entrance. This man seemed to be a knight, from how his posture was perfect. Kevin watched as his hands moved to sharpen the beautiful looking sword sitting on his lap. Kevin moved over to get a look at his face, that was hidden away from the moonlight, but his bare foot touched a rock and it crunched against his skin and the cobblestone path to the garden. The new prince moved over to hide back behind the marble pillar that was from the entrance. The man looked up. Kevin was relatively skinny, but his blue silk robe was visible from behind. And the blue was the same shade as the palace colors. No other person wore that specific shade of blue, especially in a silk robe. The man knew that it was a member of the royal family.
"Don't be alarmed your highness." the man said, setting down his sword against the stone bench that he was sitting by. "I'm sorry for trespassing."
Kevin slowly moved over from the pillar so that he could look at the man there. He was handsome to say the least. Beautiful. Fair skin with the perfect softness, and fluffy brunette hair on the top of his head. His eyes were a perfect brown, almost like oak tree bark. Kevin found himself turning away from the man to hide the blush that was forming on his cheeks and nose. The man moved forward and stopped, seeing who it was. He noticed that it was the new prince. No one had ever really seen him since Tom married the queen. And he was as beautiful as people said he was. The man in the moonlight moved a step away from Kevin and went down on one knee.
"My prince." the man said.
"Oh um…" Kevin sighed, licking his lips and rubbing the sleeves of his robe.
"I didn't mean to alarm you my prince." the man said. Kevin turned away from Moose, keeping his head down. "It is just that the garden is the most beautiful place in all the palace and I needed a minute to breathe out here when I sharpened my sword."
"It's okay." Kevin said. "I'm sorry if I frightened you as well."
The man leaned over. "Um… why won't you look at me my prince? Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Um… no." Kevin said, looking back up to look at the beautiful man. The man immediately stared at Kevin's eyes. A green that looked like a cloudy emerald. So gorgeous. The man gave a smile.
"Wow." he said. "I'm sorry if I am being so forward my prince, but your eyes are beautiful."
Kevin looked down. He smiled. He moved his hand over and swiped his hair out of his eyes. "Um… you don't have to call me 'my prince'. You can just call me by my name."
The man smiled. "Forgive me. I would but… I am unaware of your name."
"You don't know my name?"
"No. Mostly because no one has seen the new prince since King Tom and Queen Sierra were married."
Kevin nodded. "My name is… K-Kevin."
"Kevin." the man repeated. He stood up straighter and held out his hand. "Well then, I'm Marmaduke. But you can call me Moose."
From that moment on, Kevin and Moose were always together in the darkness and the moonlight. The knight always made his way to the garden to meet the new prince and hold him in his arms. Moose adored the new prince in the five months that they spent together. Moose would always train hard during the day and the afternoon, and then at night all of his time was spent holding Kevin and listening to him read the beautiful stories that he had written. If Kevin ever thought that he would be here in the arms of such a beautiful man, he would've thought he was dying. Kevin found a connection there with Moose. He felt hurricane waves in his stomach whenever Moose held him against his chest, danced with him or brushed his fingers against his cheek. And when Moose finally kissed him for the first time, he felt fireworks exploding in his chest. Moose felt like he was floating when he finally decided to be a man and kiss the beautiful Prince Kevin. And from not moment on, Kevin and Moose felt nothing but pure bliss to one another. An unspoken love.
Kevin watched along the path through Riverdale a wide smile on his face, thinking of Moose and how much he made him feel special.
"What the hell are smiling about?" Josie asked, pulling up her gown as she walked. Kevin and Josie had decided to go out and take a walk along the village. The two of them had been cooped up inside of the palace for so long that they needed from fresh air. Plus, Josie and Kevin wanted to spend some time together that was somewhere outside of the palace.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Kevin said with a smile.
"I know that smile. From anywhere." Josie said. "Now who have you met?"
Kevin chuckled, swing the basket that he held in his hands. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Let's come over here, I want to get some fruits for when I bake for Sierra's birthday."
Kevin moved over to a stand and gave the saleswoman a warm smile. Josie gave a joking gasp and she ran over to her stepbrother. Their guards followed them, standing at the right amount of distance. "Don't try to change the subject!" she cried. "You have met someone haven't you? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"
"How about you tell me about that villager that you've been seeing?" Kevin said, pointing a pear over at her. "And I have proof because I can hear you and that mystery man banging the bed."
"Can we then come to a compromise dear stepbrother of mine?" Josie said.
"No, brother. You know how much I hate the whole stepbrother, stepfather, stepmother crap."
"Fine, fine, fine. Then can we come to a consensus brother? You tell me who you've been seeing and I'll tell you who I've been seeing?"
"Okay, okay." Kevin said, handing a few golden coins to the shopkeeper. "I'll give you a hint."
"As long as I can figure it out. Please tell me, tell me, tell me."
Kevin sighed. He turned over to go over to another stand when he saw said man that he had been seeing. Moose. In the sun, he looked beautiful. His hair was still perfectly ruffled, but now with a shine to it. Moose was standing there by a stand, speaking to was most likely his father. Kevin wanted to run over and hold him. But he couldn't. Moose and Kevin's relationship was a secret. Only to be seen and hold during the nights inside of the palace's garden. They both had reasons for keeping their relationship a secret. Moose was busy trying to live up to his father's expectations and become one of the best knights in the kingdom. While Kevin was busy trying to be loved in a family that had just been created.
Moose turned away from his father and saw the prince standing there, staring. Kevin blushed and turned away. Moose smiled. Kevin always turned away when he blushed, including their nights in the garden. Moose would often just hold the prince and rub circles on his cheek. But now in the sun, in front of his father and with so many people around, Moose was unable to go over and calm the beautiful prince. Moose turned back over to his father while Kevin turned back over to Josie.
"It's… a knight." Kevin said.
"A knight?!" Josie repeated, picking up a huge cookie from one of the stands. She handed the baker some coins and gave him a warm smile, before turning back over to Kevin. "You're seeing a knight? How perfect! Man or woman?"
"Man. A beautiful, beautiful man." Kevin said blushing widely. "I hope you don't mind."
"I would never mind. It doesn't matter. Sounds like a gorgeous love story. A knight courting a prince, it's so romantic! Who is the knight?"
"It's a secret Josie. I told you all that I'm going to say." Kevin said, swinging his basket and turning to another shop tent. "Hi there."
"Hello my prince." the shopkeeper, a sweet old man named Pop, said with a bow. He pulled out a few small bags filled with spices. "Cinnamon, chayenne, pepper, cumin and ginger. The same as when your guards came last month."
"Thank you so much Pop." Kevin said, handing coins over to the man.
"Don't try to change the subject on me oh prince brother of mine." Josie said, pointing a finger before turning back over to Pop. "Thanks so much Pop."
"You are welcome my princess." Pop said with a bow as Josie and Kevin started to walk down the path.
"Why don't you tell me who your secret little lover is?" Kevin said, placing the small bags inside of his basket.
"Fine, fine. My secret lover is a shopkeep, but also apart of a group of rogues." Josie said.
"So, you're dating a criminal?"
"He's not technically a criminal. He's protected under your father's new rogue law." Josie said. "He and a bunch of the other rogues just pretty much a line of defense just in case of corruption in the royal family, criminal activity here in Riverdale or any kind of danger when the knights aren't around."
"Blah, blah, blah."
Josie gave her brother a shove, which made them both chuckle and laugh. The two walked down the path, stopping at a few shops. Moose witnessed from his father's stand, a wide smile on his face. The prince, his prince, looked positively radiant in the sunlight. Moose adored seeing him under the moonlight when he nestled against his chest. But the beautiful golden sunlight made him look even more appealing. A natural highlight on his face. Moose wanted to run over and kiss him. If only his horrible father wasn't there right now in this moment.
Kevin walked over and another shopkeep. Just as he moved to pick up some produce to add to his basket, a loud roar shook through the sky. Josie and Kevin immediately froze, along with a few people. They knew what that was. Abraxas. The guards walking with the prince and princess drew their weapons. Moose, moved over and grabbed his his spear from under his father's stand. A huge amount of knights ran over to the village square, moving a bunch of innocent people to safety. The guards moved over and started to guard the prince and the princess. Kevin grabbed Josie's hand and pulled her close. Abraxas flew down from the sky and roared loudly at the people inside of Riverdale. Josie screamed. Kevin held her closer and started to move on the ground where they should be safer.
Abraxas slammed down on the cobblestone and he roared at the knights. They all bared the spears that were made for this dragon. Moose ran over and took charge. "Aim for the neck!" he yelled at the other knights. "Try to get rid of him this time!"
Abraxas moved over, his tail slapping against some of the knights and knocking them down. Moose moved his spear up and threw it at the huge purple dragon. The spear missed right by Abraxas' eye, before he moved over and slammed his tail against some of the knights. The fell to the ground and were forced back down to the ground by the weight of the scaly tail. Moose pulled out his sword and held it out to the dragon. Abraxas wasn't focusing on his attackers. He was focusing on anything but. He was sniffing out for the children. The children that seemed so important to the king and queen. And Abraxas wanted to break those shiny dressed people. Abraxas sniffed as he roared in the knights faces.
Abraxas slammed his feet down on the ground, knocking the knights down to the ground and knocking down the guards that were standing over the prince and princess protectively. Josie screamed when the beasts eyes met her and her brother's. Kevin pulled Josie behind her. Abraxas roared loudly their way. Moose looked over and saw who the dragon was staring at. The prince. His prince. Moose took off to get in front of the beast and distract him.
"Look over here you overgrown lizard!" Moose yelled, having his sword in the sun to capture the attention of the dragon. Abraxas ignored him, running over towards the prince and princess. "NO!"
"Josie, run! Run!" Kevin screamed, pushing his sister up and pushing her ahead of him.
Josie pulled off her dress and took off running. Kevin was right behind her, running at the same speed. Abraxas took up in the air a bit and thrashed open his huge claws. Moose was running as fast as he could, to get to his prince. To get to Kevin. To save him. Abraxas moved down and grabbed Josie. She screamed in shock. Kevin screamed his sister's name. Abraxas moved down to grab Kevin as well. The prince fell down to the ground and was grabbed by the ankle.
"NO!" Moose screamed, running over with his sword. Abraxas started to take flight. Moose ran faster, his sword raised. Kevin was dragged from the cobblestone to try and get held tighter. Moose screamed as he sliced into Abraxas' back. The dragon screamed and it let go of Josie, but not Kevin. He moved over and held Kevin by the stomach, his claws piercing into his skin and causing blood to draw. Moose pulled out his sword to try and get another hit but Abraxas shot him away with his tail, making Moose fall on his knees.
Abraxas tightened his grip on Kevin, making him scream loudly. Moose got up to try and grab him. Abraxas noticed how he tried to rescue him. He needed to leave. He flapped his wings as fast as he could.
"No, no!" Josie screamed, getting up before falling down from the pain. She had twisted her ankle.
"NO!" Moose screamed, running after the beast as it started to take off in the air. Moose grabbed one of the fallen spears and threw it over at the dragon. He missed. Abraxas was fully in the air. "Shoot him! Throw arrows! Get the beast! He has the prince!"
The knights started to do as Moose ordered, throwing spear after spear. Even knocking some into bows for faster aim. None of the spears hit. Moose ran over to try and reach. Kevin was screaming in the hold of the dragon's claw. Abraxas tightened his grip on Kevin, and he felt a pang through his body. The prince fell limp.
"NO!" Moose yelled as Abraxas flew away far. He threw his sword down on the ground and screamed in anger. The dragon flew away. With the prince. With Moose's prince. Moose kept his eye on Abraxas as he flew away. He watched him as he flew above the woods and into the mountains.
Moose turned over, hearing horse hooves. The knight watched as a few new knights approached. And the gold armor made Moose's blood run cold. The king. The younger man ran over to the fallen princess and helped her stand. Tom approached them, stopping the horse he was riding. "What happened?" Tom asked. He looked over. "Josie. Oh my goodness. Come, bring a physican!"
The knights on the horses got off and they grabbed the princess gently from Moose. Josie was in shock and hysterical. "No, no, no, no! You have to go! Abraxas!"
"It's alright sweetheart." Tom said, hopping off his horse. He turned over to Moose. "You did well Moose. You kept the-"
"Your majesty, Abraxas has taken the prince!" Moose said. "He's… he's taken him."
Tom froze. His son. "What?" he gasped.
