As Lance rode throughout the forest on Blue towards where the cottage was located, he was softly humming to himself. The sun had set so the forest was quite dark as it slowly turned to night. Once they reached the cottage, Lance climbed off Blue and headed to the door. Blue huffed and turned to the small stream beside her and started drinking.
Before he left the castle he had managed to get a servant to get him a fresh set of clothes. Lance had gotten changed in the forest along the way. He was now wearing black pants, a white long-sleeved shirt, a light grey tunic with long sleeves, brown boots, a black belt around his waist, and a dark blue cloak. Lance fixed his cloak and brown hat before knocking on the wooden door and waiting for a reply.
"Come in," a woman's voice called out from inside. Lance smiled and opened the door. Unaware that Haggar had disguised her voice as Nyma's to trick Lance into entering.
"Hello?" Lance called as he walked in, the cottage was dark, almost as if no one was home. Suddenly the door slammed shut behind him and tall figures in cloaks appeared around him. Lance went to grab the nearby candlestick, I mean, it was better than nothing, but was stopped when a purple circle shined from beneath him. Suddenly, thick ropes of magic tied his arms to his sides and pulled him down, forcing him to kneel on the wooden floor.
"Good evening Your Highness," Haggar said from the shadows. Her scepter glowing as she walked towards Lance.
"Your Haggar aren't you?" Lance asked glaring at the ex-fairy standing before him.
"Ah, so you do remember me from all those years ago," Haggar said with a smile.
"Why wouldn't I? After you-" Lance was stopped midsentence when one of the druids used their magic to rope magic around Lance's mouth, acting as a gag.
"I'd say that's enough of that," Haggar said with a smile as Kova hopped off the rafters and onto her shoulder. "Let's be off shall we?" Haggar asked petting Kova's chin. The druids nodded and used their magic to teleport themselves and Lance back to Haggar's lair. Haggar followed after them in a cloud of purple smoke.
Meanwhile, Nyma, Shay, and Florona flew as fast as their wings could carry them through the forest and to the cottage. They just hoped they weren't too late.
"Nyma!" Shay called out. "The door is open!"
As soon as they were outside, the trio ran inside and gasped upon what they saw. The cottage was a mess. Everything from the cupboards was on the ground, and in the middle of the mess.
Lance's hat.
"Who could have done this?" Florona asked. Nyma looked around before noticing a circular burn on the wooden floor.
"Haggar," Nyma growled out glaring at the sense of dark magic.
"She's got Prince Lance," Shay said as she put two and two together.
"And at her lair no doubt," Florona said with a huff.
"At the Forbidden Mountain," Nyma said placing Lance's hat on the table.
"But, but we can't go there," Shay said shaking her head. "It's awful there, she was banished there for a reason."
"We can," Nyma said turning back to the other two. "And we must, we need to rescue Prince Lance."
"This is it," Nyma said as they stopped outside of the abandoned castle which was used as Haggar's lair. Cautiously they turned into their smaller forms and flew inside the castle, stopping every once in a while to make sure they weren't seen.
"Well," Shay said with a shaky smile as they stopped outside of a window. "We made it."
"Do you hear that?" Florona asked softly as they heard celebrating.
"It's coming from inside," Nyma said as they walked to the window and peeked inside. Inside, the druids were circling around an open bonfire that glowed purple and red. Probably basking in the victory of Keith being put under the spell and the capture of Lance. Sitting on her throne of black stone, Haggar was petting Kova who was sitting on her lap and purring.
"What a pity Prince Lance can't be here to enjoy the celebration," Haggar said which caused Kova to open her eyes and look at her mistress with a smile. "Come along Kova," Haggar said as she stood up, Kova hopping off her lap and onto the floor. "We must go to the dungeon and cheer him up."
Nyma, Shay, and Florona watched as Haggar picked up her scepter and started walking towards the dungeons. The three shared a nod with each other before carefully following Haggar down. They watched as Haggar pulled out a crimson black key and unlocked the door and walked in, Kova following after her. The trio swiftly flew down and through the open panels of the window on the wooden door, saw Lance sitting on the bed in the cell with his ankles chained to the wall.
"Oh come now Prince Lance, must you glare so harshly at me?" Haggar asked with a smile on her face. "After all a wondrous future lies before you."
"What do you mean?" Lance asked, his glare softening and confusion replacing it.
"Why, you, the destined hero of a charming fairy tale come true," Haggar said with a smile as she waved her scepter and a glowing double-sided mirror appeared. The clear reflection of Lance in the mirror swirled before showing Queen Krolia's castle. "Behold, Queen Krolia's castle, and in yonder topmost tower, dreaming of his true love, the crown Prince Keith." The image zoomed into the tower and showed Keith, asleep in his bed where the fairies had left him.
"But see the gracious whim of fate. Why, it's the same peasant boy, who won the heart of our noble prince but yesterday," Haggar said with a smile. Lance's eyes widened as he recognized the prince as the boy he met in the forest, and whom he fell in love with. "He is indeed most handsome. Black of midnight in his hair and closed eyes that shame the darkest, purple violet. In ageless sleep he finds repose."
"The curse," Lance muttered as he remembered the curse that was placed on the prince on the day of the celebration of his birth.
"The years roll by, but a hundred years to a steadfast heart are 'bout a day. And now, the gates of the dungeon part, and the prince is free to go his way. Off he rides on his noble steed," the image shifted to show an old elderly Lance riding away on Blue who had also aged towards Krolia's castle. "A valiant figure, straight and tall, to wake his love with love's first kiss, and prove that true love conquers all."
"You're a monster!" Lance yelled, standing up with a heated glare on his face, ready to attack Haggar. However, before he could, black chains wrapped around his wrists and held him back. Haggar let out an evil laugh and bent down to allow Kova to hop on her arm and onto her shoulder. "Come Kova, let us leave our noble prince with these happy thoughts," Haggar said giving Lance a last evil smile and heading out of the dungeon, locking the door behind her.
Once the trio of fairies had come out of their hiding spot and was sure that Haggar was gone, did they fly through the panels of the door and into the cell room, returning to normal size. Lance jumped and went to shout but was silenced by Nyma.
"No time to explain Your Highness," Nyma said as she grabbed Lance's wrists and started using her magic to free his wrists while Shay worked on his ankles.
"You're the fairies from the day the prince was cursed," Lance said as he recognized the trio of fairies. "Queen Nyma, Queen Shay, and Queen Florona."
"Good to see you remembered us Highness," Florona said as she used her magic to sizzle away at the lock.
"I'd thank you properly, but I must go and rescue Keith," Lance said as he went to rush off to find Blue.
"Wait Prince Lance!" Nyma called out grabbing his arm. "The road to true love may be barriered by still many more dangers, which you alone will have to face," Nyma said using her magic to create a sword and shield that placed itself in Lance's hand and on his arm. "So, arm thyself with this Enchanted Shield of Virtue and this Mighty Sword of Truth. For these weapons of righteousness will triumph over evil."
"Thank you," Lance said with a smile.
"We must hurry now," Shay said as she and Nyma led Lance over to the door which Florona had been keeping guard over, in case Haggar decided to come back. Lance followed the fairies outside but the group by Kova who yowled at them and then took of sprinting back to her mistress. She had felt something was off in the dungeons and so she came back to see.
"This way," Nyma said flying towards the other way. The fairies turned small once more and led Lance the other way. Eventually, they found themselves outside the castle. Blue perked up upon seeing her master, she had been taken by Haggar's druids as well when they were ambushed at the cottage. One of her legs was chained to the stone wall and she was unable to free herself.
What Lance and the fairies failed to notice was that Kova had alerted the druids and they appeared from above. The druids shot their magic towards Lance while he was distracted. Blue whinnied in panic which drew Florona's attention.
"Lance watch out!" Florona yelled causing Lance to move out of the way just in time. Florona had also used magic to deflect the magic strike to a few feet away from them instead of right at them. Lance continued on to try and get Blue free so they could escape.
"Behind you!" Shay called out as more druids appeared and shot their magic at Lance. However, Shay blocked the magic by turning it into a stream of water instead.
"Hold on there girl, I'll get you free," Nyma said calmly to blue as she used her wand to sizzle at the chain around her leg. Once she was free Nyma turned to Lance who was being protected by Shay and Florona from the druids. However, they couldn't hold on forever. "Now Lance!"
"Right!" Lance yelled climbing onto Blue. The horse taking off as soon as he got on towards the castle exit. A few of the druids combined their power to strike at Lance again. Nyma, Shay, and Florona saw it coming and combined their powers to turn the strike to dust which fell to the ground, allowing Lance to continue his escape.
Florona stopped when she heard Kova yowling. The fairy turned to see the cat yowling and heading towards Haggar's chambers. Florona turned to Nyma and Shay who had stopped when they seen that Florona wasn't following them.
"Go on, I'll catch up!" Florona yelled and flew after Kova.
"Should we go after her?" Shay asked before dodging a magic strike from a druid.
"She'll be fine, we need to protect Lance," Nyma said as they followed after the prince and used their magic to block the strikes Lance couldn't block with his shield.
In the meantime, Florona was chasing after Kova who was heading straight for Haggar's chambers. The cat dodging the strikes of magic Florona shot at her. It wasn't until Kova lost sight of Florona that she seemed to relax. She reached the staircase to Haggar's chambers and climbed up the railing to the top. She opened her mouth to yowl at the door but was stopped when a blast from Florona's wand hit her in the chest. The next thing she knew, she was a stone statue.
"That ought to shut you up," Florona said with a huff and she turned and flew back to catch up with Nyma, Shay, and Lance.
"Good job Florona," Nyma said with a smile.
"Silence!" Haggar yelled as she emerged from her chambers. She turned to Kova and went to give an order but her eyes widened. "No," Haggar said with a gasp. She turned to see the gate bars closing but Lance had managed to squeeze through, thanks to Blue's speed. "Raise the bridge!" Haggar yelled at the druids who quickly got to work on raising the drawbridge.
"Watch out Lance!" the fairies yelled, using their magic to give Blue an extra jump boost as she jumped off the edge of the drawbridge and onto the stone path on the other side. But just barely.
"Hurry Lance!" Nyma yelled as she glanced back to see Haggar had climbed her way to the tallest tower on her castle. Waving her scepter in Lance's direction, her magic caused the rock archways to crumble above Lance. However, thanks to his shield, he was able to not be crushed beneath them. Blue staggered a little but was able to catch her footing again.
Haggar growled in frustration and waved her scepter again. This time, the path in front of Blue crumbled to the valley below, Blue wasn't able to stop in time and ended up sliding down the hill. However, Blue saw a piece of the cliff that was jutting out and using the momentum of her sliding down, managed to push herself to jump to the dirt path in front of her.
"Good job Blue," Lance said with a smile as he saw Krolia's castle in the distance. He was almost there.
"A forest of thorns shall be his tomb
Born through the skies on a fog of doom!
Now, go with the curse and serve me well!
'Round Krolia's castle, cast my spell!"
As Haggar chanted her spell, a thick fog of black smoke blew past Lance and the fairies and surrounded the castle Purple lightning striking onto the ground, causing a thick barrier of thorns to form.
"We got this girl," Lance said as he could sense Blue's hesitation. Blue neighed back at him and ran into the thorn bush. However, Blue momentarily got stuck in the thick thorn bush. "Hang on!" Lance yelled using his sword to whack at the thorns around them, allowing Blue to be able to push through bit by bit. Eventually, they were able to make it out. Nyma, Shay, and Florona had been following behind and flew behind him as he rushed to the castle gate.
"No, it cannot be!" Haggar yelled and disappeared into a cloud of purple smoke.
"Watch out Lance!" Shay yelled as Haggar appeared in front of them in a cloud of purple smoke, purple flames sparking around her as her eyes glowed a bright yellow.
"Now shall you deal with me, Your Highness, and all the powers of Hell!" Haggar waved her scepter and Lance watched as Haggar transformed into a giant purple and black scaled dragon with glowing yellow eyes. The fairies flinched back, they had not seen this form of Haggar before.
"If you stand before me, then you shall die!" Lance yelled as he and Blue charged towards the dragon.
"Lance wait!" Florona yelled but was held back by Nyma and Shay. Haggar just gave a toothy grin and blew a blast of fire at the prince. Lance was able to use his shield to block the fire but he was launched off Blue.
"Blue go!" Lance yelled at his horse. Blue looked at him for a moment before retreating a safe distance away from the fight.
Lance stood up and jumped back as Haggar shot another blast of fire at him. The blast missing him and hitting the ground instead causing a chunk of the bridge to collapse before him. Lance regained his balance and held his shield up just as Haggar shot another blast, trying to catch him off guard. Lance ended up being pushed back into the thorn bush. He hid behind the thicket part he could find and waited as Haggar pushed her head in to try and snap at the prince.
As her snout came into view, Lance slashed his sword down and cut her snout. Haggar roared back and her jaws tried to snap at him. However, the thicket was to narrow for her snout the fit. With a roar, Haggar blew fire and the thorns caught fire, slowly disappearing. Lance ended up being pushed to the wall of a cliff because of the flames.
"Up this way!" Nyma yelled motioning for Lance to climb. Lance slid the sword into the sheath attached to his belt and climbed up the wall. As soon as he reached the top, Lance pulled his sword out and turned around. Luckily he did because as soon a she turned around, Haggar was snapping her jaws at him. The fairies watched as Haggar pushed Lance back to the edge of the cliff as she climbed up. With one final blast of fire, Haggar knocked Lance's sword off his arm and down the cliffside.
"Come on!" Nyma yelled as she flew up beside Lance's sword, the other two following.
"Sword of Truth, fly swift and sure
Let evil die and good endure!"
As the fairies chanted their spell, Lance's sword glowed light blue and magic swirled around it.
"Now Lance!" Nyma yelled. Lance gripped his sword and as Haggar went for the kill, threw his sword towards her, plunging into her chest. Haggar let out a loud roar of pain and staggered her footing. The cliff starting to crumble.
"Grab on!" Shay yelled as the fairies turned to their normal size and grabbed onto Lance as the edge of the cliff crumbled beneath his feet. Together the fairies managed to pull Lance onto the cliff and out of harm's way. Haggar roared as she fell down the cliff to her death.
Lance shook his head, dazed from the fight, and from the near-death experience. He peered down the cliff to see if Haggar was still there but all that was left was the sword and Haggar's black cloak. The sword's magic fading away.
"It's over," Nyma said with a sigh of relief. She turned to Lance with a small smile on her face. "The battle is won but one task still remains."
"Right," Lance said turned as Blue trotted up beside him. "Keith, well," Lance said as he climbed onto Blue. "Let's go."