Chapter 4: Pet Wolves are Better than People/In Water!
The isle. A two and a half mile long stretch of sand and rocks. The people of Brooklan do not go there very often, and when they do, it is usually the blacksmiths and glass-makers to harvest pure silver or soft sand. The tree nymphs were rumored to live on the far eastern side, with an oasis to keep them well sustained. But other than that, there was nothing but sand. And currently, a princess on her horse shouting for her brother.
"NIKOLAI! NIKOLAI! It's me, Stephanie! You're sister who didn't mean to make you angry and ruin your coronation and cause you to block off Brooklan with a wall of fire! It's all my fault!"
Then, Stephanie began to feel the need to divert the blame away from herself, in case he was still mad. "Of course," She began to herself, "none of this would be happening if he had just told me, right? I mean, he's a-"
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew hot sand into her horse's face. Bucking back in pain, the horse flung Stephanie off of its back and ran off back to the castle. Stephanie was now left alone. She stood up and tried to steady herself on the soft sand, but her high-heel shoes wouldn't let her do that.
Then she smelled smoke. She looked around before finally noticing her dress. She jumped and desperately tried to put out the flame before finally ripping off the burning portion of the fabric. She realized that she had no choice but to make more adjustments to her outfit. She turned her long dress into a mini-skirt, removed her corset, and ripped off her sleeves to get some ventilation going. Then she took the heels off of her shoes and carried onward while muttering to herself.
"Fire. It had to be fire. He couldn't have had magical powers of moderately warm sunlight, or cool water, or… or ice and snow. We wouldn't be having any trouble like this if he had powers like that." She was about to go on when she heard what sounded like two people talking… no, singing to each other. She crept forward, and saw a man and his wolf. The man was tall and well-built, but had a rather awkward face. He held a guitar in his hands and spoke for his wolf as he sang.
Sled wolves are better than people, Sasha, don't you think that's true?
Yeah, people will beat you and curse you and cheat you, every one of them's bad except you!
"Aw thanks, buddy." He said before continuing.
But people smell better than pet wolves, Sasha, don't you think I'm right?
That's once again true, for all except you!
You got me, let's call it a night.
Good night!
Don't let the heat stroke bite.
Stephanie clapped and startled the two. "Nice, duet," She started, "you two should be in show business."
"What do you want?" the man asked a bit rudely.
"Oh! Princess Stephanie of Brooklan." She bowed.
"Huh," he replied slightly impressed, "Jon Ericson of… No place in particular. I'd bow but, I just sat down. So again I ask, what do you want?"
"Has anyone… the king, perhaps… come by here?" He gave her a confused look. "Look, Brooklan has a real problem right now and-"
"You want to talk about problems, lady?" He interrupted, "I sell glass for a living. And with all of this heat, the sand will fuse to glass, and no one will have to pay for it."
"What? Okay, but listen! I know how to fix this. My brother caused this heat, if you help me find him-I assume he's at the farthest end of this isle-I can save your glass business." The man still didn't look convinced. "And… I'll pay you a bag of gold." She added.
"WE'RE IN!" he jumped up.
In a flash, Stephanie was in Jon's sled while Sasha pulled along quickly. Jon saw the concern in Stephanie's expression and tried to make conversation.
"So, what made the king go all fire crazy?" Stephanie looked at him and began to explain the best she could.
"It… it was all my fault. You see, I got engaged, but he didn't like that because I had just met him, you know, that day, so he wouldn't bless the marriage! Anyway-"
"Whoa! Hold on!" he interrupted, "You got engaged to someone you just met that day?"
"Yes, now pay attention," she continued, ignoring his question, "so, anyway, I got mad, then he got mad, and then I grabbed his gauntlet, but I just thought 'hey, maybe he just doesn't like germs,' and then I said some things I shouldn't have, and then he-"
"Wait!" Jon interrupted again, "you got engaged to someone you just met that day?! Didn't your parents ever warn you about strangers?" Stephanie noticed how close they were and scooted back a little before answering.
"Yes, they did… but Markus is not a stranger."
"Oh, yeah? What's his last name?" Stephanie began to awkwardly answer his questions, ignoring that she didn't really know the answers.
"… Oftheeasterndunes!"
"What's his favorite food?"
"Sandwiches!"
"Best friend's name?"
"Probably Bob!"
"Eye color?"
"Gorgeous…"
"Foot size?"
"Foot size doesn't matter."
"Have you even had dinner with him yet," Jon just poured it on, realizing he was making a point, "what if you… hate the way he eats, what if you hate the way he scratches his armpits?"
"Scratches his armpits?" She asked annoyed.
"… and smells it."
"Excuse me, sir, he is a prince." Jon just chuckled to himself before replying.
"All guys do it."
"Ew!" She retorted before going back to defending herself. "Well, it doesn't matter, it's true love."
"Doesn't sound like true love."
"Well, are you some sort of love expert?" This time, Jon bit his tongue before answering.
"Well… no. But I have friends who are." Suddenly, Sasha began to slow down as Stephanie continued.
"You have friends who are love experts? I'm not buying it."
"Be quiet." Jon demanded worriedly.
"No really, I'd like to meet these love exper-" she was cut off as Jon put his hand to her mouth. Looking around, Jon and Stephanie saw dozens of yellow eyes that motioned back and forth on the sand, accompanied by a hissing noise.
"Run, Sasha, run!" Jon grabbed the reigns of the sled and ushered his wolf to go as fast as she could. Stephanie was in full panic, she did not come all this way to be killed by… whatever they were.
"What are they?!" she asked.
"Pythons!" Jon answered. He was desperate, sure this girl was annoying, but he didn't want her to die. In a stroke of luck, he noticed a sink hole up ahead. He grabbed Stephanie, threw her onto Sasha's back, cut the reigns, and jumped with them over the sink hole. The sled and pythons weren't so lucky. Jon looked down and mourned his sled, "… but I just paid it off."
Stephanie looked down the hole and shivered at the long drop. She turned to Jon, who was now lying down from the exhaustion while Sasha licked his face.
"I'll replace your sled," she offered, "and you'll still get your bag of gold… and, I understand if you don't want to help me anymore." She walked off solemnly while Sasha nudged her master.
"Of course, I don't want to help her," he spoke to his loyal pet, "in fact, this whole situation has assured that I do not help anyone ever again." He looked at his wolf and spoke for her as he read her facial expressions.
"She'll die on her own!"
"I can live with that."
"But you won't get your new sled and bag of gold if she's dead!"
Jon looked at his wolf and realized she was right. "Sometimes I really don't like you. Hold up! We're coming!"
"Really?!" Stephanie shouted, not having gotten very far, "I mean, uh, sure! I'll let you tag along!" Jon smirked to himself as Sasha ran to catch up with the princess.
Later they had reached an area of the isle that had multi-colored fires all over the place. Red, green, blue, white, purple, almost every color in the entire spectrum. Stephanie, Jon, and Sasha showed amazement at the beautiful flames dancing harmlessly around them.
"I never knew fire could be so beautiful." Stephanie said in awe. But to her confusion, she heard another girl's voice agree with her. She and Jon looked around, trying to find the girl while the voice continued.
"Yeah, it is beautiful! I just love how it shines! And all the colors! Like red, and yellow, blue, pink, and purple, oh, how about white?... No, not white. Fire and white…fright. Heh heh. Am I right?" Stephanie and Jon looked down and shrieked as they saw what looked like a dog made of fire.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" She said to Stephanie, "Did I frighten you? I'm sorry. Don't worry, I'm lukewarm, I won't burn you. Let me start this over, hi, everyone, I'm Lucy, and I like sweet kisses!" Stephanie's eyes showed shock, but she quickly calmed at the sound of a familiar name.
"Lucy?" she asked, then she remembered the bon fire dog Nikolai made for her all those years ago. "That's right! Lucy!"
"And you are…" the flame puppy asked curiously.
"Oh! I'm Stephanie." She answered before Lucy looked at Jon and Sasha. Quickly, the bon fire boxer scooted back and whispered to Stephanie, but Jon and Sasha could still hear her.
"And who's the ugly mutt over there?"
"That's Sasha." Stephanie answered and Lucy made a quick greeting before going back to the princess.
"Okay, and who's the wolf?" Jon shook his head and looked offended as Stephanie answered again.
"…Sasha."
"Oh! Okay," Lucy said to herself before turning back to Stephanie, "makes things easier for me."
"Lucy," Stephanie asked, "Did Nikolai build you?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Do you know where he is?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Do you think you could take us to him?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I'll tell you why," Jon cut in, "walls of fire have cut off everyone from the bay, so we need Nikolai to take it away. We need moving boats, fresh supplies, water-"
"Water?" Lucy asked excitedly, "Oh! I don't know why, but I've always loved the idea of water, and lakes, and pools, and baths, and all things wet!"
"Really," Jon asked a bit concerned, "I'm guessing that you haven't had much experience with liquids?"
"Nope!" Lucy began again before going to her imagination, "but sometimes I like to close my eyes, and imagine what it'd be like to touch water."
Fish will go blub, kids will take baths in their tubs,
And I'll be doing what fire does
In water.
She danced while picturing a boat ride on a river.
A drink, I shall hold,
Oh, how it will feel so very cold,
If it's true what I've been told,
About water.
I'll finally see a river stream,
Wash away a desert's scold,
And find what happens to the sand when it gets cold.
She then danced around other trees that she imagined looked like her.
And I can't wait to know,
How much hotter my looks will be in tow,
Just think of how much brighter I'll glow,
In water!
She now pictured herself dancing with dolphins to her own attempt at mimicking jazz music.
Da-da, da-doo, a-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-boo.
Fire and water are both so cool,
Put 'em together or you are a fool!
Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-da-da-da-da-da-doo!
Fire's a good thing to bring out a smile,
But give me some water and I'll be an…
She looked down and noticed an ash pile before merrily jumping over it,
HAPPY BON FIRE!
She moved her imagination back to the boat and continued.
When times are tough I like to hold on to my hope,
Of relaxing on a splashing beach,
I'll happily cope.
Oh, the sea, will be clear,
And you guys will be very near…
When I finally endear what fires endear,
In water!
"I'm gonna tell her." Jon stated plainly before Stephanie slapped his arm.
"Don't you dare!"
IN WATER!
With her song finished, Lucy came back to reality and pulled Stephanie to follow her.
"So come on," she begged, "let's go bring back WATER!"
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Stephanie followed with Sasha by her side. But Jon just stood there confused before finally following.
"Somebody has to tell her." He said to himself with a concerned tone.
Meanwhile, everyone was suffering from heat in Brooklan. Prince Markus did his best to see that everyone was given a fair amount of cold water. Suddenly, Captain Newsome and the Duchess of Netabathe approached the Prince and demanded to take action.
"It has been hours since the princess left!" the Duchess started, "I demand that we hunt down and kill the king already!"
"No!" Markus snapped back, "Princess Stephanie left me in command! And I will not hesitate to protect Brooklan from treason."
Captain Newsome was about to push on until a horse appeared in the town square. Markus worriedly recognized it as Stephanie's horse. Fear grew in Markus as he realized that Stephanie needed help.
"I need volunteers to come with Captain Newsome and I!"
"I volunteer two men, your highness!" the Duchess called out. Captain Newsome moved towards the Duchess and whispered.
"Don't worry, Duchess. Your men and I will find the king first, and put an end to him. I'll make sure that that pathetic private, Ancelot stays behind."
With that , the posse went off to the isle.
Next: Life's Too Short!