It is said that the garden holds secrets only maze walls whisper and fountains mutter. With each vine and pebble, the path is marked in the arteries of Mother Nature's heart and soul, forever bound by man who dedicates himself to her everlasting beauty. With a garden kept free and alive as this one, one may say it breathes from the earth's magic centuries old. Each flowering bud sees a new generation, each rock holds memories to one's own passionate soul. The garden expanding miles on end across the ever-standing castle that has seen far too many joys and horrors buried beneath the castle walls that not even recorded history books could obtain such graphic detail.

The royal family descended from old kings and queens of the past call this garden, the Gardens of Forevermore. With it living far longer than any king or queen harbored within the castle walls, it has survived to tell tales no one of the 21st century has known. One tale in particular within this vast maze of scented roses and resting rocks remember the story of the long-lost prince Kevin, a man fitted for the crown in marriage to the royal family's princess. He was a rugged, easy-going type with one thing on his mind, a fortune fit for a king and feast the heartiest male could desire.

It was an arranged marriage, destined never to be for the day he turned eighteen was the day his life stood still though yet not in death did he lay, but in stone. Legend goes that the long-lost prince was doomed in curse alone to stand still in statue form within a secret, unmarked section of the Garden of Forevermore. A spirit of the garden entrapped him in stone to teach him a lesson with only one favor in mind to be free:

"Only time within this garden may tell you of your awakened fate,

Doomed forever in stone among the vines and secret gates

Until true love's kiss among soul mates doest thou break

Upon your lips of different eras meet unearth your wake."

Prince Kevin was doomed in stone until his soul mate surpassing the fates of time could free him from his solid slumber. However, only that of true love may break the spell, any other would be forgotten of his tale. Many have come across him over the centuries and yet with knowledge of the curse, they try their luck at freeing him from his state. It was only until the legend softened to the ear that his chances to freedom were possible.

As the centuries flew by, his soul completely aware of the world around him and his eyes never leaving sight of time's graceful erosion and constant evolution of the garden reminiscing view, so did his heart's look on the world. He matured in heart and soul into a true man. A cold-hearted slab of flesh into a warm-welcoming soul of stone he became. He was a gentler man, a more wiser, genuine and respectful lot. He was not after riches and gold, temporary feasts that fed the belly soon to be digested and forgotten, he was truly hoping for a true love, one he neglected in his old life, one he wished he had awoken to then of the beauty of her grace and respected her as his soon-to-be wife. He didn't and he was a fool for neglecting the heart over something foolish as greed, lust, gluttony, and pride. He was a sinner without action, a fool in thought and a terrible excuse for a human being.

He realized, he deserved to be cursed, to be locked away for who knows how long until he was free from the spirit's curse. He grew fond of the spirit who visited him often and spoke with him without a word in return. He would tease the prince, engage warmly in deep, intellectual discussion of the progression of the world. They become buds in spirit and at one time the spirit apologized for his rude behavior, hastily showing him what he deserved. The argument very vivid in their minds.

Kevin had met the spirit by chance and they talked softly about the arranged marriage that was soon to occur within the castle walls. Kevin had gone to the garden to say his last good-byes to what he believed was freedom from being tied down by a woman he did not love. The spirit questioned this thought, marriage without love? Was he truly willing to admit defeat so willingly simply for some selfish desires? Kevin agreed that it was his wish to do and that true love was out of his hands, that there was nothing else he could do and he had given up on the such preposterous notions long ago. It was in that instant that the spirit cursed him and he never once got to say thank you for it. He needed his eyes opened before he truly locked himself away without thinking, he needed that slap to the face to realize that there were other people out there for him, who he didn't necessarily need in order to become a king, the person he loved was his queen because he loved them.

Kevin felt like weeping, to cry to the heavens that he was wrong. Love is truly more important than gold and jewels and stuffed pork. He never wanted to marry a complete stranger simply because their parents told him so. He had locked his heart away only to appeal to the desires of everyone else around him and believed that this was best for him with immense perks on the side. And for the first time since his imprisonment, he cried, a single tear flowing down the jagged lines of the stone he was engraved in. No rain could deteriorate him into a forgotten memory, only his heart.

—

It was a beautiful, sunny day, a cool breeze caressing the cheeks of the youngest prince. He was petite and athletically challenged, his frail limbs as thin as the branches above his head. He was Prince Edd, better known to his friends as Double D or Prince Dee. He was picked on by many of the commoner boys when he ventured out into the townscape that had evolved with the times. They called him names like Tweedle Dee is Tweedle Dumb, the dumbest of the castle halls.

He was indeed smart and took a high interest in reading and his studies. The royal family had evolved with the times, proper etiquette wasn't as astute as it had been and surely not as harsh. He was free to do as he pleased and dress as he liked. He wore a signature hat that he and his older brother Eddward fashioned. It was a black beanie with two white stripes. They got it at a local shop in the town when they were younger as a shared reminder of that faithful day they spent together as one of the happiest times they had as brothers. They told one another that just because we are different in style and personality, we are same by birth, name, and the silly hat on our heads. It was a silly fashion statement but one they never forgot and never neglected.

Dee was walking in the garden alone, his brother practicing his archery in the field pass the surrounding fence of the garden. He had ventured throughout the garden and not once did he find the secret section that he was told was forbidden to go into. Today was that day he found the secret, along with its tenant living there. He was astounded by the statue of a prince, tall, handsome, athletically built and yet somehow he could sense a sudden sadness within its cold, stone. He noticed the single tear escaping from the statue's tear duct, internally believing that it was just the condensation but weird it only appeared near the eyes. He wondered about the statue and was worried that it was sad so he talked to it to soothe its solid presence.

"Don't be sad Mr. Statue, all is well. It is a glorious morning today and not a single darkened cloud in sight." Dee had said as he wiped the tear away and placed his hand on the statue's cheek. "Cheer up, Mr. Statue. You are no longer alone." He said before he noticed the vines and moss on the statue's feet.

He grabbed out a small tiny brush that he used to groom his cat and smiled. "Don't tell Einstein, he'd freak if he knew I was using his brush to clean something other than his dainty fur." Dee had described before he brushed the moss off lightly and pulled the vines off gently from the statues legs, cleaning the platform underneath as well.

"There we go, good as new. Who knows how long you have been covered up with Mother Nature's children." He said before giggling.

Dee sat down on the platform and looked up gently at his companion in solid stone. He enjoyed the breeze and the smell of the garden, admiring the butterflies and lady bugs that flew around the bell flowers. He loved Springtime, the sign of birth and rebirth soothing the soul of a new year. He admired the garden and now he had a new favorite place to spend time with and a new friend's company he could enjoy.

The young prince smiled before he heard his name called out among the garden halls and looked worried about the time.

"Oh dear, lunchtime already?" He said before he stood up and brushed off his backside before standing up on the platform to get closer to his newfound friend. "I am sorry I have to go so soon Mr. Statue. I will come again though. Hopefully, my brother doesn't know about this place already. I would hate for him to hurt you in anyway. He doesn't like cold eyes staring at his own." He said before he heard his name called again "Oh dear. I do apologize, please wait for me later, I promise to return." Dee said before he hugged the statue warmly, almost positive he heard the sound of a heartbeat with his ear pressed up firmly against the cold rock shaped in formal clothes.

Dee jumped down and waved, happy he found the secret section of the garden and having made a new friend he could talk to. He left and hid the secret doorway he came through and made sure it wasn't noticeable and with that bid his farewell to his secret place.

—

Kevin was astounded someone after centuries of forgetting about him and his curse have found him. He wasn't sure how many winters had passed since his last encounter with a foolish damsel dying for her prince, her greedy kiss only souring the earthy taste on his lips. He had met someone who truly believed he was a friend and treated him as the spirit had but without knowledge of his current condition. He found a new heir to the thrown of the castle, this one a young boy about fifteen-years-old. The boy was kind, proper, caring, and intellectual. He was cute too but Kevin wasn't about to admit that, not without first understanding why this new boy was so different from the others. Was it because the legend of his curse had died down over the years? Was it because he was lonely and truly wished for some company? Or was it because he felt something for the boy, something he never dreamed of feeling. His heart had beat for the first time since his entrapment. He felt alive within that hug and he was sure the boy had felt it too. He was almost saddened once more the boy had to leave but the thought of his promise in returning made him feel all the more alive again. He had a friend, one who wasn't afraid to talk to to him without feeling awkward about it, one who wasn't there simply for a selfish desire, one who wasn't afraid to use his cat's hairbrush to clean him off of time's growth of the garden. He made a friend and it made him happy.

—

Dee returned hours later after dark to visit his new friend, Mr. Statue. He didn't tell anyone of his find today since he always dreamt of his own place free from his brother's teasing torment and his mother's nagging orders to study and sit properly at the table. He had read two books since he returned back to his home and finished his studies for the day, had two meals, brushed his cat with a newly-cleaned brush, and made his way back out into the garden for his nightly stroll he took alone. He didn't like having company when he had his free time and yet this time he wasn't alone.

He made it back to his secret place and smiled at his stony friend. He waved and gave his normal gap-tooth smile to Kevin. He was happy to see him and he wondered if his statue friend was happy too.

"Salutations, Mr. Statue! Did you have a pleasant day today?" He asked happily before he came by and jumped on the platform, hugging his new friend. "I brought some stone polish I borrowed from the gardener. Don't tell him." He said with a teasing smile. "I thought you deserved a good, proper cleaning. Perhaps you'll look shinier than my Nana's fake teeth. I hate it when she kisses me." He said shrugging before he could almost sense the statue's laughter.

Dee blushed and gave a sassy pout his brother always teased him for. "Don't laugh! I love her but false teeth is not something I want touching me. She needs to learn to kiss my cheek with her lips not bite it off like a zombie." He said before he realized he was talking to a statue about things that he might not understand. "Sorry, zombies are the dead coming back to life and eating people alive. My friends all love horror movies, especially zombie flicks." He sighed before he started to spray Kevin's arm with the polish and wiping it down with a rag.

"I bet you have lived here for centuries. A lot has changed since your arrival, I bet. For one thing, movies are moving pictures, they are projected into a screen or a box, performing a play of sorts. I can tell by your garments that your era must be that of true royalty, so I am sure you had performers and entertainers in your time. That is basically the foundation for plays, TV shows, and movies but electronically based." He said finishing off one arm before working on the chest.

"Another thing we have now is cars, moving carriages without horses and or the use of a cart. They are more insulated and cushioned like a royal carriage but run on gas and go up to 120mph. Everyone has one, high and medium class. Everyone earns money to almost 15k-150k for a car depending on their financial preferences and some families have more than one. Crazy right? We actually have three limos which are like the royal carriages of today, my brother has two cars of his own, my mom and dad each have three. I find it ridiculous to have so many but they believe the more the merrier. It's absurd." Dee scoffed giving his pout again and swearing he heard the statue laugh as he continued to work on the other arm.

"I know, I must be absurd to even think of turning down such a ridiculous present. They got me a car and a motorcycle, which I am too afraid to ride. I am not even old enough to drive yet let alone have my license. My brother says I should just practice and skip the test that no one really cares if a royal family member is driving without one. But I scoffed at him and told him, rules are rules and neither I nor he are exceptions to that rule. Plus, how would I look if I refused to work hard at what I gain to my people. Sometimes my brother doesn't understand that having everything handed to you isn't always the right path to take. It is fine as presents for special occasions but not if it requires actual skill and knowledge to operate. I swear, people of today are really selfish. They think they don' t have to work hard at what they earn in order to gain it. I wonder if it was like that in your time. You may resemble royalty but did you train to be good at what you do or did you just have everything handed to you like it was nothing?" Dee said sounding a little depressed. He clung to his statue friend and almost felt like crying and he wished stone arms could close and comfort him.

Kevin was aware of the kid's words and emotions and he wish he could reply and offer some form of comfort but he was cursed to never hold anyone again in his own arms until he found that special someone. He tried to hug the boy with his soul and he hoped that it traveled through pass the impossible.

Dee smiled and looked up at Kevin and looked grateful for the silence that shut his blabbering lips. "Thank you. You're comfort is most appreciated." He said before he continued to spray the torso before he came to a dilemma.

"Oh my…" He said before blushing. "Please excuse me for what I am about to do." He said as he sprayed Kevin's abdomen area and hips and started to wipe the nether regions softly.

Kevin could feel his cold cheeks burning red with embarrassment and he was wondering if his soul could feel the touches the boy's hands were caressing. He longed for a touch if not to his heart but to his physical body as well and he knew he was long over-do for a good orgasmic reunion with his hand and his manhood. He blushed at the hand on his crotch as well as on his hips and backside, wishing the boy would not be aware or sense his unnerving urges deep within his soul. He didn't want to take advantage of this boy not even in spirit.

"Sorry about that. Don't tell anyone. My friends would never live it down if they knew if my first encounter with genitalia other than my own was done on a statue. Not that you aren't different from anyone else, just that they would tease me for even thinking of talking to you like I was a ninny with some sort of psychological repression to have someone to talk to about my overwhelming thoughts." Dee paused and slowly looked up at the statue's face with reassuring eyes and a soft smile. "But to me, you are more than just a statue in a garden, you are a person and despite what they say, I am proud to have met you." He said with that gap-tooth smile.

Kevin was almost shocked to hear the boy treat him like no one else had ever done, to say that he was person and not just some rusted, old statue in a garden. Every time this boy opened his mouth, it made him feel alive and warm, happy and ecstatic to be here with the chance of meeting him after impossible lengths of time and age. He knew in his heart, this boy was different and he loved him.

Double D finished polishing the legs and feet and then he went to the face, looking hesitant. "Okay, close your eyes." He said, not wanting to hurt his friend with a toxic spray. He wiped the face clean and smiled, glad he could see the moon reflecting off of the stone now and that it heightened the very confines of Kevin's handsome face.

Dee stared at Kevin for the longest time, not sure what to think of the man in front of him. He was so close he could almost see green eyes and red hair, freckles and the cheekbones of an angel. He melted when he saw Kevin's lips, parted slightly in a small smile, almost a smirk that he could vividly see whispering to him as the garden had done so many times in his youth as if it was alive far greater than any plant, stone, or water fountain could ever be.

Dee found himself slowly closing the gap between him and the male statue, standing on his tip-toes just to reach. Their lips fused together, cold and hot mixing the two as Dee wrapped his arms around Kevin's neck. He was falling for the statue, something that should be impossible but he was sure he felt the man's soul laughing at his silly ramblings, comforting him in his darkest, unnerving thoughts, and smiling at him like they had known each for years. He loved the statue, and he didn't know how much the statue loved him in return.

He held the kiss long and hard, wishing he could go deeper and further than the small gap of parted, stone lips would offer until he suddenly felt hands wrapping around him, the gap growing larger and engulfing his lips with their own and the once cold statue before him grew warm and alive, the sound of two heartbeats pounding frantically in the midst of a moonlit, true love's kiss. He was startled by the hands on his back wrapping around his delicate, petite frame and sudden deepness of the kiss. He assumed it was all a hallucination his mind was creating out of pure desire, his thoughts become daydreams and his body feeling things simply because it wanted to but once he opened his eyes, he could see a skin stone that once was gray, and red eyebrows and green eyes that were now more vivid than they once were behind the stone's flesh. He could see the red hair, alive and blowing in the wind like the roses did in their selective bushes. He was almost pulling himself away when he noticed, the statue had come alive but he knew if it was, it was a dream come true.