Authors Note:
This thing started out as an innocent English project, and ended up being a 27 page double-spaced story by the time I handed it in.:) Now I'm just gonna post it, and see if I can expand on it a little or add on or something. Who knows where it'll go!
Yeah, if I owned these characters, then I would be my own favorite author, but since I'm not my own favorite author, I must not own these characters. Wow… how's that for a dose of logic?
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Roxanne of Pirate's Swoop, named Roxy by her family and friends, looked out over the harbor while pondering for at least the seventh time that day what her brothers and sister were doing. Her eldest brother Thom was the most powerful mage of his time, quite like the uncle he had been named for. Her mother's brother had been the best sorcerer of his time, even better than the king's nephew had been. Her mother had killed the king's nephew after uncovering his plan to kill off the royal family and take the throne for himself. Her mother's brother, Thom, had brought him back to life, however, and in doing so, had corrupted his own magic with the evil Duke's. The Duke had killed him by draining Thom of his power when he tried again, to take over the throne.
Roxy's brother was now following his uncle's ambitions, and was trying to become the best sorcerer ever. He had already reached the Mastery stage, the highest level a mage could become. Even more impressive, he had turned Master at the same age as his uncle, who had been the youngest mage to ever reach Mastery. He was now in the employment of the King, working at the palace wherever there was need for him. And there was always a need for him.
Roxy turned her thoughts to her other brother. Alan was a knight of the realm of Tortall. He had protected the kingdom against raids by the Scanrans, who shared their northern border, and the Tyrans, who shared part of their eastern border. He had fought in the War of the Drell River Valley against the Tusaines. He fought bravely in each fight, and had in turn pushed each country away. Alan had had the reputation as one of the best pages and squires at the palace when he was still in his training. Now, he had the reputation as one of the best knights of the realm.
Alan's twin Alianne was Roxy's only sister. Alianne, Aly to those who knew her, was the spymaster of the Copper Isles, which rested off the western border of Tortall in the Emerald Ocean. She had been chosen by the god Kyprioth to help lead the native people of the Isles, the raka, in a revolution that put them back into power over the luarin, the people who had taken over the raka lands centuries ago. When the raka had won back the throne, the new queen had invited Aly to stay and be spymaster, and one of her close advisors. Aly had accepted the position of ruling over the lands spies and protecting the queen, and in doing so, had left her parents alone, with no more of their children at home.
It was shortly after that Roxy was born. She had grown up admiring her siblings and parents, and listening to stories about them when they had been younger. She liked her mother's and father's childhood stories the best. Her mother, Alanna, had been a young girl of only eleven when she had switched places with her twin brother Thom, going to the castle in his place to train for her knight's shield. She was the first female knight to get her shield in over a century. At the time of her training, no one had known she was a girl of course, since girls couldn't train to be knights. But her disguise worked for her until she had her shield, and she then told the court her true identity. She became the most famous knight of the age, earning her nickname "The Lioness," and when her friend, Prince Jonathon, was crowned king, she was appointed King's Champion.
Roxy's father, George, had grown up in the capital city of Corus with his mother. When he was only seventeen, he had beaten the present King of the Rouge, and became King himself. The Court of the Rouge was the network of spies and thieves that wandered the capital city. He had lasted the longest, out of any King of Thieves, only turning respectable when Jonathon, also a friend of his, became king. He was now second in command of the countries spies.
George worked under Alanna's adoptive father, Roxy's grandfather. Myles of Olau was the spymaster of Tortall. He was a scholarly knight who had taught Alanna, Jonathon, and the rest of their friends when they were younger and training for their shields. He had advised Alanna when she needed advice, and had always been there for her when she needed him.
Roxy thought about her family, and wondered if she would ever become as great as any of them. One day soon, she would have to make up her mind about what she wanted to be. She had always dreamed of being a knight, but wondered if she could follow in the steps of her mother and her brother. They were a hard act to follow. What would people think if she didn't become as good as them? What if she was just a normal person? Or was she destined for greatness like the rest of her family?
Her thoughts were interrupted as her mother walked onto the balcony. "Roxy? What are you doing?" Her mom leaned against the wall next to her. "You've been out here a while."
"I'm just thinking." Roxy had always been able to get along with her mother as if she were her best friend. She loved her father, and thought he was the best, but her mom was different. Her mom really understood her.
Her mother looked at her questioningly. "What are you thinking about?"
"About the future. I mean, how can I know what I want to be? I'm only ten. If I want to start training for my shield, I would have to leave soon. If I want become a court lady, and I would leave whenever I could. And if I want to be a mage, then I would have to leave now. I just don't know what to do. You and Da, Thom, Alan, Aly, you all knew what you wanted to be. From the cradle it seems. I'm just floating around, not knowing what I'm going to do with my life." Roxy looked up at her mother. This had been on her mind for a while; she had just never been able to talk about it before. Now, she needed advice.
"Well, what's your favorite thing to do?" Her mother asked her.
"You know it's listening to your stories about how you got your shield. They're wonderful. I'd love to be able to do half the things you did."
"Roxy, you can. I know you. You have the strength, and the heart to do it. Go out there and make your own stories. Then you can tell them to your kids." Alanna put an arm around her daughter and steered her inside.
"You really think I could do it?" she asked her mother.
"I know you can." Alanna kissed her daughter's forehead, and left her to think about what she had said.
Roxy sat down on her bed and looked around her room. Her desk was covered in papers and half-finished letters to her brothers and sister. An envelope sat on the corner of it containing a letter to her grandfather Myles. Her night table was piled high with books filled with her favorite stories. They were about knights who fought their way through battles, and rescued damsels in distress. They were about mages that saved the land, or helped win wars with their spells. They were about palace courts, balls, and parties. Her dresser was covered in books and scrolls about historic battles and wars. They contained information on Tortall's neighbors and about what life was like in those foreign places. Roxy wondered if she would ever be able to leave home, the place she knew so well.
The noon bell rang out, and Roxy's stomach growled at her. She got up and left her room, heading toward the kitchens. The cook gave her a piece of cold beef, some bread and cheese, and shooed her over to the counter and out of the way. Roxy ate her meal in silence, thinking about what her mom had said. Then, her mind came to a decision.
I'm going to the palace, she thought. I'm going to train for my shield. I'll show everyone that I can be just as good as Mother and Alan. Who knows, maybe I'll be even better!
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That night, Roxy and her parents were sitting in the parlor when she told them of her decision to try for her shield. Her parents looked at her and smiled. Their little Roxy was growing up.
"That's great sweetie! We'll have to start getting you packed up so you can be on your way to the palace to start your training." Her mother hugged her tight, followed by her father.
That night, as Roxy lay in bed, she thought about what her life in the palace would be like. She'd finally be able to see her brothers; Alan spent his time at court when he was off on duty. She knew the training would be hard, but she had finally made up her mind, and was determined to see it through. She would get her shield, and she would prove to everyone that she wasn't just a little kid with an easy ride through life because of her family. She was finally going to make something of herself.
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Authors Note:
Yeah… typical "girl finds herself" story. But gimme a break, it was a Hero Quest project. So I'm gonna see if I can jazz it up a little bit and post it. Here's the first increment, unfooled with because I have no time and because it's the basic introduction. Check out my other story, Hogwart's Mini Melodrama. Also see the works by LeManchotDuDestin, PinkyTheSnowman, and their joint efforts under SiriuslyInsane62442. They're my inspiration, so I gotta give em some credit.
--Starz--