Chapter 2: The Princess
The trio stood wordlessly as the commander approached the King, bowing as he approached him. The other guards told them to kneel down before the king. "Are these the three brave winners of the contest?" The king asked the commander. The king, who was dressed in a royal blue outfit, wearing a golden crown that bore the word 'Bevelle', stared at the commander waiting for the reply. The king's brown hair and the glow in his brown eyes were quite mysterious. "Yes, we found them at the finish line in the middle of the Haunted Forest. They have therefore earned the right to the.prize." The commander replied. The trio looked at each other questionably. "Okay wait, hold up! So, we get engulfed in light, land in the middle of a forest, and we win a royal prize from a contest.AM I MISSING SOMETHING!?" Raushanna whispered angrily at Mr. Piscura and Tidus.
"May I receive the names of the winners?" The King asked. They slowly
rose.
"Uh.Raushanna Lockhart."
"Tidus Zanders."
"Cid Piscura."
"Ah.what interesting names," the King stated, "I am King Louis Cortes
XVI. Now it might help if you knew exactly what the prize is. There is this kingdom about 50 miles from here, and a brilliant elegant guy named Prince Seymour. This lad wishes to take my beautiful daughter's hand in marriage. Plus, this would keep her safe from this place. There is a rumor that there might be war declared against us. Anyway, your prize I am granting you is ten thousand gil, if you deliver my daughter to the other kingdom, Zanarkand."
"Uh.what exactly is 'gil'?" Tidus whispered to the others.
"I'm guessing it's their form of money." Raushanna replied quietly.
"Oh wow what a task.and what a distance to travel!" Mr. Piscura said, "By the time that we're finished we'll be wiped out. Plus, we don't even know where we're going."
"I'll have one of my mapmakers help you out, I already have them working on a map for you all. It'll be ready in a few minutes." King Louis responded.
"King Louis, may I ask, by any chance, how old is your daughter?" Tidus asked with and interested tone. Raushanna kicked his foot forcefully.
"You do-do brain!" Raushanna stated.
"Ah. she just turned the lovely age of fifteen." King Louis commented. "Hmm.here she is now!" All attention turned to the glorious white double doors at the side of the room. What emerged was a slender, short brown hair brown eyed woman, wearing an elegant lavender dress that touches the ground. Walking ever so graceful to the King's side, she bent down to receive a kiss on the cheek from her father. Her glowing blue pendant encased with gold hung gorgeously from her chest. The sight of her brought great shock the trio. The princess that they have laid their eyes on was Maria.
"Maria." Raushanna gasped.
"Please meet my wonderful daughter, Princess Maria Alexandra Leifoh Cortes." King Louis announced with great pride. "Maria, say hello to your escorts to Prince Seymour's castle." Maria looked up from her fathers' face towards them, showing no recognition of them.
"Hello, how do you do?" Maria greeted with a smile.
"Greetings, Princess." Tidus said with a slightly mysterious tone. Mr. Piscura and Raushanna stared at Maria with looks of little trust. At first none of them believed that this was their Maria. They all thought that this lady must be someone who just looks extremely like her, but it was Tidus who brought them all back to reality. "This IS our Maria!" Tidus whispered to the others, "I know that certain shine in her eyes. Trust me on this one."
"Princess, before you leave, please take this bag. It has maps, money, food, and clothes I would suggest you change into so you're not easily recognized as the princess." Said one of the servants.
"I thank you," Maria responded, "but I request one more thing before I depart. Give the others and me.weapons. I would guess that there will be monsters out there, and I need to have the ability to fight." She said proudly.
"Oh, so you want to practice your physical attacks as well as your magical?" The King asked his young daughter.
"Excuse me? Magic?" Maria questioned.
"Oh yeah, that's right, I remember now, you didn't want strangers to know of your gift." King Louis responded.
"Right. Yes, that's it." Maria played along, even though she had no clue what the king was talking about.
"Um, Princess Maria. I need to know what kind of weapons you want you and your companions to have." The servant asked.
"Swords," Maria stated, "for all of us. Thank you."
"We all thank you for your kind service." Mr. Piscura said. The servant smiled and walked off towards the blacksmith area. A few moments later she returned with four shiny swords and handed them all out. Maria had left to change to her undercover clothes, which contained of a simple blue shirt and shorts, and a lavender overcoat. Topped off with black boots, the new sword hanging by her side, and her pendant glowing ever so beautiful.
"Ready?" She asked everyone, as she handed the brown bag for Mr. Piscura to carry.
"We wish you good luck on your journey." Said King Louis. "I love you."
"I love you too daddy." Maria said as she took one last look at the King, and walked out of the castle with her companions.
~*~*~*~*~*~
For the first few minutes of travel the party walked in silence. The group noticed that Maria seemed different from her usual self. She seemed more distant and mysterious, like she didn't feel like she belonged. Mr. Piscura pulled out the map to study it. "Hey, we're going the right way.we'll spend the night here, at this Motel Magic place." He pointed to a small image of a house on the map. "We should arrive there by dark." The noon sun was still shining brightly through the clouds. Mr. Piscura sighed. "We've got a while to go."
"Hey Maria, are you feeling okay? You haven't said a word since we got out of the castle.you.do know who we are.right?" Tidus asked cautiously. Maria just kept staring at the ground, walking slowly.
"Yeah I also got a question, how did you get to be a princess? I mean, how did you land there when we landed in the middle of a forest? This is really strange!" Raushanna complained to Maria.
"Hey guys, just east off of the questions right now okay? I think Maria's trying to figure something out, I know that look of hers when she's trying to solve something." Mr. Piscura glanced at Maria. Maria stopped and sat down on the hill that they were standing on, with the wind blowing her hair around freely. She looked up at the sky.
"Something's.not right." Maria finally said. "Like, something about this whole journey. This might sound kind of ridiculous to all of you, but its like, now I feel like I can sense things that I wasn't able to before. Now, it's like I sense some evil in the air.centered.on me. It's like.the wind is telling me that the person whom I am pretending to be.died.or something.murdered. That we were sent here from our era to solve this puzzle.I think. I.just don't understand clearly right now.I promise you all I'll think this over." The rest of the group nodded in understanding. When the princess rose from her sitting spot, they continued following the trail that was leading to their destination. About when the sky started to slowly darken, Maria looked off in the distance. She spotted what looked like a small and deserted cabin. Clutching her pendant in her hand, Maria made a mental note to find out what it is later, and continued following her friends closely. Finally the group reached their destination, and the first thing they did after they checked in was eat dinner. Dinner was eaten in silence. No one seemed to be in a joyful mood at that moment. Nor wanted to share anything to anybody. Everyone was concerned about what Maria had said earlier, and what she was thinking. It basically seemed like she was.hiding something from them. After dinner everyone went up to their rooms and went to sleep, wiped out by the exhausting travel. Until the next morning they realized Maria took off early, leaving a hastily written note. "I've gone to check something out. I saw a cabin off in the distance about a mile away from this hotel while we were headed here. Don't worry about me; I've already had breakfast. If you are reading this before I return, I would suggest the best way for us to quickly continue our journey is to come to where I am. If not, I'll be back later. Don't continue without me!"
~*Princess Maria Alexandra Leifoh Cortes*~ P.S. Long name, huh?
The trio stood wordlessly as the commander approached the King, bowing as he approached him. The other guards told them to kneel down before the king. "Are these the three brave winners of the contest?" The king asked the commander. The king, who was dressed in a royal blue outfit, wearing a golden crown that bore the word 'Bevelle', stared at the commander waiting for the reply. The king's brown hair and the glow in his brown eyes were quite mysterious. "Yes, we found them at the finish line in the middle of the Haunted Forest. They have therefore earned the right to the.prize." The commander replied. The trio looked at each other questionably. "Okay wait, hold up! So, we get engulfed in light, land in the middle of a forest, and we win a royal prize from a contest.AM I MISSING SOMETHING!?" Raushanna whispered angrily at Mr. Piscura and Tidus.
"May I receive the names of the winners?" The King asked. They slowly
rose.
"Uh.Raushanna Lockhart."
"Tidus Zanders."
"Cid Piscura."
"Ah.what interesting names," the King stated, "I am King Louis Cortes
XVI. Now it might help if you knew exactly what the prize is. There is this kingdom about 50 miles from here, and a brilliant elegant guy named Prince Seymour. This lad wishes to take my beautiful daughter's hand in marriage. Plus, this would keep her safe from this place. There is a rumor that there might be war declared against us. Anyway, your prize I am granting you is ten thousand gil, if you deliver my daughter to the other kingdom, Zanarkand."
"Uh.what exactly is 'gil'?" Tidus whispered to the others.
"I'm guessing it's their form of money." Raushanna replied quietly.
"Oh wow what a task.and what a distance to travel!" Mr. Piscura said, "By the time that we're finished we'll be wiped out. Plus, we don't even know where we're going."
"I'll have one of my mapmakers help you out, I already have them working on a map for you all. It'll be ready in a few minutes." King Louis responded.
"King Louis, may I ask, by any chance, how old is your daughter?" Tidus asked with and interested tone. Raushanna kicked his foot forcefully.
"You do-do brain!" Raushanna stated.
"Ah. she just turned the lovely age of fifteen." King Louis commented. "Hmm.here she is now!" All attention turned to the glorious white double doors at the side of the room. What emerged was a slender, short brown hair brown eyed woman, wearing an elegant lavender dress that touches the ground. Walking ever so graceful to the King's side, she bent down to receive a kiss on the cheek from her father. Her glowing blue pendant encased with gold hung gorgeously from her chest. The sight of her brought great shock the trio. The princess that they have laid their eyes on was Maria.
"Maria." Raushanna gasped.
"Please meet my wonderful daughter, Princess Maria Alexandra Leifoh Cortes." King Louis announced with great pride. "Maria, say hello to your escorts to Prince Seymour's castle." Maria looked up from her fathers' face towards them, showing no recognition of them.
"Hello, how do you do?" Maria greeted with a smile.
"Greetings, Princess." Tidus said with a slightly mysterious tone. Mr. Piscura and Raushanna stared at Maria with looks of little trust. At first none of them believed that this was their Maria. They all thought that this lady must be someone who just looks extremely like her, but it was Tidus who brought them all back to reality. "This IS our Maria!" Tidus whispered to the others, "I know that certain shine in her eyes. Trust me on this one."
"Princess, before you leave, please take this bag. It has maps, money, food, and clothes I would suggest you change into so you're not easily recognized as the princess." Said one of the servants.
"I thank you," Maria responded, "but I request one more thing before I depart. Give the others and me.weapons. I would guess that there will be monsters out there, and I need to have the ability to fight." She said proudly.
"Oh, so you want to practice your physical attacks as well as your magical?" The King asked his young daughter.
"Excuse me? Magic?" Maria questioned.
"Oh yeah, that's right, I remember now, you didn't want strangers to know of your gift." King Louis responded.
"Right. Yes, that's it." Maria played along, even though she had no clue what the king was talking about.
"Um, Princess Maria. I need to know what kind of weapons you want you and your companions to have." The servant asked.
"Swords," Maria stated, "for all of us. Thank you."
"We all thank you for your kind service." Mr. Piscura said. The servant smiled and walked off towards the blacksmith area. A few moments later she returned with four shiny swords and handed them all out. Maria had left to change to her undercover clothes, which contained of a simple blue shirt and shorts, and a lavender overcoat. Topped off with black boots, the new sword hanging by her side, and her pendant glowing ever so beautiful.
"Ready?" She asked everyone, as she handed the brown bag for Mr. Piscura to carry.
"We wish you good luck on your journey." Said King Louis. "I love you."
"I love you too daddy." Maria said as she took one last look at the King, and walked out of the castle with her companions.
~*~*~*~*~*~
For the first few minutes of travel the party walked in silence. The group noticed that Maria seemed different from her usual self. She seemed more distant and mysterious, like she didn't feel like she belonged. Mr. Piscura pulled out the map to study it. "Hey, we're going the right way.we'll spend the night here, at this Motel Magic place." He pointed to a small image of a house on the map. "We should arrive there by dark." The noon sun was still shining brightly through the clouds. Mr. Piscura sighed. "We've got a while to go."
"Hey Maria, are you feeling okay? You haven't said a word since we got out of the castle.you.do know who we are.right?" Tidus asked cautiously. Maria just kept staring at the ground, walking slowly.
"Yeah I also got a question, how did you get to be a princess? I mean, how did you land there when we landed in the middle of a forest? This is really strange!" Raushanna complained to Maria.
"Hey guys, just east off of the questions right now okay? I think Maria's trying to figure something out, I know that look of hers when she's trying to solve something." Mr. Piscura glanced at Maria. Maria stopped and sat down on the hill that they were standing on, with the wind blowing her hair around freely. She looked up at the sky.
"Something's.not right." Maria finally said. "Like, something about this whole journey. This might sound kind of ridiculous to all of you, but its like, now I feel like I can sense things that I wasn't able to before. Now, it's like I sense some evil in the air.centered.on me. It's like.the wind is telling me that the person whom I am pretending to be.died.or something.murdered. That we were sent here from our era to solve this puzzle.I think. I.just don't understand clearly right now.I promise you all I'll think this over." The rest of the group nodded in understanding. When the princess rose from her sitting spot, they continued following the trail that was leading to their destination. About when the sky started to slowly darken, Maria looked off in the distance. She spotted what looked like a small and deserted cabin. Clutching her pendant in her hand, Maria made a mental note to find out what it is later, and continued following her friends closely. Finally the group reached their destination, and the first thing they did after they checked in was eat dinner. Dinner was eaten in silence. No one seemed to be in a joyful mood at that moment. Nor wanted to share anything to anybody. Everyone was concerned about what Maria had said earlier, and what she was thinking. It basically seemed like she was.hiding something from them. After dinner everyone went up to their rooms and went to sleep, wiped out by the exhausting travel. Until the next morning they realized Maria took off early, leaving a hastily written note. "I've gone to check something out. I saw a cabin off in the distance about a mile away from this hotel while we were headed here. Don't worry about me; I've already had breakfast. If you are reading this before I return, I would suggest the best way for us to quickly continue our journey is to come to where I am. If not, I'll be back later. Don't continue without me!"
~*Princess Maria Alexandra Leifoh Cortes*~ P.S. Long name, huh?