Ebony woke up after a while to find herself in a dark room, the only light a single lamp in the center of the ceiling. She stirred a bit, realizing she had limited movement as she blinked some. She looked down to see her slimming black gown was torn at her knees, and her ankles were tied together as she found herself on the floor.
She went to move her hands, finding them tied behind her back. Even her elbows were tied together to keep her from moving them apart to break free and run. She struggled against it, trying to see if it was loose or something so she could, but it was no use. It was tied tight.
"Someone help!" She tried to scream, only to hear it muffled. It was then she felt the cloth over her mouth, as well as something inside to keep her from being able to talk.
"Look who finally woke up," a voice spoke, making Ebony look over and see Blaire, sitting in a chair off in the shadows. "I was starting to think I used too much chloroform." Ebony's eyes widen as she saw her cousin stand up and walk towards her, kneeling to her level once she got there.
Blaire's red eyes shined with wicked thoughts as she stared into Ebony's brown ones. "I couldn't let you be found. And what does that Prince-by-marriage do? He finds you in an instant. And then, I couldn't let you have the crown, so what do I do? I kidnap you." Blaire began. "I deserve the crown. You were gone for 18 years, Ebony. The title of queen goes to the next person in line of the throne, if the rightful heir is missing or dead. And so, once your dear mother hears of a unfortunate event...the crown of queen will be mine."
Ebony tried to break free and attack Blaire, but the rope was too tight to even budge. In the end, Blaire just patted her cousin's cheek and stood up straight, making her eyes go back to their blue color. "It was nice knowing you, Ebony...Lockheart." and with that, Blaire disappeared into a puff of smoke, making Ebony scream into her gag as she struggled to break free some more.
XXXXXXXX
Delta was a mess as she sat in the throne room of the castle, a tissue in her hand and a tear falling down her cheek. Damien stood beside her while the guards were busy with their work they were just given. The queen held her daughter's cloak, as she wiped another tear away. Worry clearly was present her actions right now.
"Queen Delta, you have a visitor!" A guard said before Luigi ran in without being introduced.
"Prince Luigi, it's so good to see you alive!" Delta said with a saddened grin towards him.
"Thanks. How'd you know I was alive?" Luigi asked with surprise and curiosity.
"I heard from a source out in town," Damien exclaimed. "She told me she spotted you."
"What source?"
As if on cue, Princess Luna Riamo walked in from behind Delta's throne. "Hey dad,"
"Luna, the heck-!"
"What is it you need, Prince Luigi?" Delta asked with worry still in her voice.
"Who told you I was dead?"
"Blaire," Damien said. "Why?"
"She attacked us! She's a vampire!" Luigi exclaimed with worry. "She's trying to steal the crown from Ebony!"
"That's absurd! Blaire is the sweetest girl I know!" Delta exclaimed with hurt.
"It's true, your highness," Luna chimed in. "My uncle called me when my father hadn't woken up for two days. Blaire had called him as my personal assistant back in Moonview, telling him I went missing. And as any father would, he left to come save me. However, Blaire was in the road, and attacked them."
"What?" Delta was shocked, to say the least. She never expected Blaire to do any of this. Never. To hear that she had attacked a young prince on his way to save his daughter was uncalled for, and it wasn't a regal thing to do. "How so?"
"She said she sold her soul to gain the powers she needed to destroy Ebony and take the crown for herself," Luigi said before he looked at his daughter and mouthed a 'thank you' to her. "She even sent me a note saying that if I told any of you this, that my family would be in real danger."
"I can't believe it," began Delta as she stood up and set Ebony's cloak on the throne. "First Ebony goes missing and then this?"
"Wait," Luigi began, gaining their attention. "What do you mean? Ebony's missing?"
"She was kidnapped from the castle garden," began Damien. "Everyone's working hard to find her."
"No," this knowledge made Luigi start to breathe heavily. He waited too long. He could have shown up before she was kidnapped, it wouldn't have happened. He knew who was behind her disappearance. "Blaire must have her."
"I believe you might be right," began the Dragonie Queen. "And I assign you, Prince Luigi...to go find her."
"What about Blaire?" Luna asked with worry.
"I'll lead her on. Let her think I don't know her motives quite yet. That is, until you find her."
"With pleasure, your highness," Luigi said before he quickly bowed to the queen and blew a kiss to his daughter. He then ran out of the room and out of the castle, grabbing Mario along the way.
"Good luck, dad," Luna said with a smile. "I believe in you."
XXXXXXXX
Blaire appeared in front of the 'Welcome to Dragonie' sign and walked up the castle, putting on a distraught face and expression as she did so. She had made her dress look tattered and torn prior to showing up hear, making it seem like she was in a war.
"Aunt Delta," she called out, making her voice sound hoarse as she did so. Delta rushed out to see her niece, now being held up by a guard at the door.
"Blaire, what's wrong?" Delta asked, putting on the act of that she didn't know her plans.
"Ebony and I," began the vampire. "We went for a walk in the woods, to get her mind off of Luigi's death. And there was this old cabin. We decided to take a break in there. But somehow, the cabin caught fire. I managed to get out, but Ebony got stuck. I tried to help her, but-" she then held up a ring with a silver band and a purple gem on it. "The cabin collapsed on top of her. This is all that I found that was left of her."
Delta took the ring from Blaire and stared at it for a moment, letting the swirl of a mother's fear come out. But she knew this was a lie. So she played along with the story. "No," she spoke distraught. "This-this can't be happening."
"I'm so sorry, Aunt Delta. I tried, really I did!"
"Thank you, Blaire. Guard, take her to the 'guest room' to freshen up. I need to break the news to the kingdom." Delta let a tear fall down her cheek.
"Yes, your highness." The guard said as he took Blaire down the hall towards the rooms. But thankfully he knew what she meant.
"Should we start planning a funeral?" Another guard asked, before Delta put her hand up him as a way of saying quiet.
"No, we don't. She's still alive, for Prince Luigi told me Blaire is a traitor."
XXXXXXXX
The guard took Blaire down to the dungeon and threw her into one of the cells, after placed a waistband around her waist. He closed the door and locked it before walking away.
"Hey! What gives!? I'm the future queen of Dragonie! You can't put me in here!"
"Actually we can," Luna's British accented voice spoke up, making her look at her as she walked out of the shadows. "You see, my father is Prince Luigi, the man you tried to get out of the picture. Well, unfortunately, he finally told the truth of who and what you are."
"Oh, dearie, that was a mistake on his part. Now you and his brother, even Peach, are in danger."
"Oh, love," began Luna with a smirk. "That's what the belt's for. To protect us, and to keep you inside forever."
Blaire just stood there, surprise written on her face, as she tried so hard to disappear in a puff of smoke. But it was found to be futile. Her eyes had turned red once again as she looked at Luna, anger now boiling up inside her.
"You little brat! I will get out of this! I can just take off-!" Blaire reached to take the belt off when it shocked her, making her yelp out.
"Try taking it off...and you're shocked," Luna exclaimed. "Have fun in prison...for all eternity." And with that, Luna walked out of the dungeon and up to the castle as she pulled out her cell phone.
XXXXXXXX
Luigi and Mario ran down the dirt path in the woods of Dragonie, stopping every now and then to take a breather, when Luigi's phone went off on him. He took out of his back pocket and answered it immediately.
"Hello?"
"Dad, it's me," Luna began. "Blaire's been arrested. Go find your true love."
"Thanks, hon," Luigi said with a smile. "I can't wait for you to meet her." And with that, they hung up and he continued to walk the woods with Mario.
"Where do you think Blaire put her?" Mario asked as Luigi put his hand up and sniffed the air. The red clad brother looked confused until he too smelled what Luigi smelled. "Do you smell that?"
"Smoke," Luigi exclaimed before he looked over and saw a little cabin off in the distance, just starting to be set on fire. "There!" He quickly ran towards the cabin with Mario right behind him. "Ebony!"
XXXXXXXX
Ebony struggled against her binds as the smoke and fire started rise up even more around her. This was it. This was how she was going to die and everyone thought she was dead already. She couldn't believe this was happening to her.
"Ebony!" A voice yelled out to her, making her perk up and look around as the fire spread around her. She mumbled a scream out to the voice, telling her she was in there, but the fire seemed to have been crackling to loud for anyone to hear. "Ebony, hang in there! I'm coming!" And yet somehow, he heard her.
The door was kicked down immediately after hearing that said, and in came Luigi, covering his face from the smoke as he ran through the foyer, stopping in the living room when he saw Ebony tied up on the floor as she tried her best to break free.
"Ebony!" He rushed up to her quickly and took the cloth off her mouth and the one from inside her mouth. He immediately started to untie her completely, from her ankles to her wrists and elbows. He then quickly picked her up bridal style and ran out of the cabin, right as it exploded.
Luigi turned to look at the mess as Ebony coughed up some of the smoke she inhaled. "Ebony, are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a bit tired," she answered as she was set down on her feet, but was still in Luigi's arms. Mario right behind them. "Why'd you come for me? I thought we were through."
"I came because I'm in love with you, Ebony," he began, making her look up at him. "I was pushing you away because of your cousin. She threatened my family if I said anything of what she did. But then...I got a sign. I had to save you and to tell the truth. And I'm glad I did."
Ebony just smiled as she pulled him in and kissed him, with Luigi returning it. In this moment, Mario could tell that Luigi really did love Ebony with all his heart. And she loved him back.
XXXXXXXX
Another year passed and everyone cheered as wedding bells rung at the local church in Dragonie. Prince Luigi and his new wife, Princess Ebony, just walked into the ballroom of the castle, as everyone cheered for the union.
"It's now time for the first dance of newly weds!" Delta exclaimed as the song started to play, with Luigi leading Ebony to the center of the dance floor.
(SONG: "A Happy Beginning" – Once Upon A Time)
LUIGI: So, Princess Ebony Riamo. Is this the ending you've been dreaming of?
EBONY: Oh it's more than an ending, Luigi.
LUIGI: What else is it?
EBONY: (Looks into LUIGI's eyes) It's a new beginning.
LUIGI: (Smiles at her)
EBONY: Tomorrow is uncertain/who knows what it will bring
LUIGI: But one thing is for sure, love/with you I have everything
BOTH: And happily ever after/is the way these stories go
EBONY: Used to think that's what I wanted/but now I finally know/there's no storm we can't outrun
LUIGI: We will always find the sun
BOTH: Leave the past and all it's scars/a happy beginning now is ours.
PEACH: We celebrate together/a long time wish come true
MARIO: What makes it even better/today our story starts anew
DELTA: Let villains cast their curses
LUNA & DELTA: We can overcome them all
LUNA: If we all stand strong together
MARIO: There's no way we can fall
EVERYONE: There's no storm we can't outrun/we will always find the sun/leave the past and all it's scars/a happy beginning now is ours/when we're facing endless nights/take my hand and join the fight/past the clouds, we'll find the stars/a happy beginning now is ours!
Na na na/na na na/na na na na.
There's no storm we can't outrun/we will always find the sun/leave the past and all it's scars/a happy beginning now is ours/when we're facing endless nights/take my hand and join the fight/past the clouds, we'll find the stars/a happy beginning now is ours!
Ah ah ah!
A Happy Beginning now is ours!
Luigi looked at his new wife, a smile on his face, knowing that he had found the true love he was looking for again. Ebony then looked at him, smiling as well, as they leaned into each other, and shared a kiss.
Their happy ending, or happy beginning, has just begun.
(End of the song)
~THE END~
