Zen and company found their way to the camp. The men were cheering for their partial victory.
"Once we are finally rid of the Evil Queen, I say that we should call this land, 'Clarines', in honor of the kings of old!"
"Aye!" Many men shouted.
I heard more commotion.
"Look! The fog is lifting! What do we have here…?! It's the island, Obi!" The man called out.
Zen's eyes widened in surprise. "The island?!"
I gave my Father a curious look, but he was too distracted.
"Aye! It is!" The men confirmed.
Zen ran ahead and then saw for himself that indeed, an island had appeared in the bay.
Shirayuki stared out to the horizon, absentmindedly. She had tried to find anything that would bring her hope. Then something caught her attention. The fog was lifting! Then the sunlight finally shown through. It was an amazing sight. She missed the light it brought. She saw her arms were bright red, like her hair. She was spotted and the itching didn't quell either.
She saw the beasts howl and roar at the sight of land, on the other side of the ocean. They jumped in and swam towards it, with expectation, completely ignoring Shirayuki.
Shirayuki's eyes then landed on Swethyna, who ran out like a little child, then extend her arms in the air and spun around and around and around. Her eyes closed as she showered in the sunlight's warmth and energy. She giggled and didn't stop.
It brought Shirayuki a smile to see her so happy.
The creatures emerged from the beach and started to attack any man or woman, they came across. Obi and Apollo immediately sprung into action and protected anyone they could, leading their own men in the fight.
Zen turned his attention to the island. "We need to get to that island!"
I suddenly felt all of their eyes land on me at once. What could I do?
"Miko, we need you to make a way for us."
"We could take a ship…" I suggested to avoid what scares me. It had occurred to me that the possibility could arise, where wielding magic might turn me back to the darkness inside. Suddenly, I feared using it again. That is why I hope that they weren't wanting me to make portals or something.
"This isn't a port town. There won't be a ships for miles. You can wield magic. We've seen you do it. I wouldn't ask this of you, if there was any way around it." Zen placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.
I felt the tears well up. "What if I turn evil again? What if I can't control it?"
Desti took my hand in his. "You will control it. This won't be like last time. You are using light magic now."
I steadied my breathing. "Alright. Mother needs us. I will do what I must." I stepped out of the treeline and advanced to the beach. I extended my hand to the waves and they instantly turned to serene glass.
I welcomed my Father and companions to follow my lead and we crossed the ocean tides to the island. I looked through the glass and could see the fish swimming underneath us. I saw a shark too. That was daunting, especially if the glass breaks. It was still nice to see all the ocean life in the water.
Finally we made it to the oceanfront of the island.
Father called out, "SHIRAYUKI!"
As we continued down the shoreline, we came across a woman with ivy and flowers integrated in her body.
Desti froze. "...M-oth-er…?"
The woman turned around, with her long black hair dancing around her. She was smiling like a child, but when her eyes landed on Desti, her face went deep into shock. "...D-eston?"
Desti ran towards her in excitement. He hadn't seen her alive in many years.
"Auntie?!" Kat then joined Desti in a hug with Swethyna.
Tears were cascading down her face. "Who is this?" Swethyna finally asked.
Kat then pulled away. "It's me, Auntie. It's Kat."
"I don't know who you are, dear. Am I supposed to?" Swethyna seemed genuinely confused.
Desti pulled away and then tried to explain. "Kat. She was my best friend when I was six years of age, remember?"
Swethyna cried profusely. "You're from the other world, aren't you?"
"Yes."
Her eyes wandered to us. "Prince Zen?... Prince-ss Mi-ko?"
"Have you seen, Shirayuki?" Zen urged.
Swethyna's expression went cold.
Shirayuki came running out of the rocks, she had been hiding in and stopped at the top.
Zen's heart stopped, when he saw Shirayuki. He panicked at her sight. Shirayuki was spotted and rashed terribly, her eyes were puffy and her lips were enlarged.
Without a word, Shirayuki ran into her husband's arms, hugged him tightly and cried.
"What happened?! Did the Evil Queen do this?! Please, say something!" Zen continued to panic.
Shirayuki shook her head and hugged him tighter.
He held her close, but he was scared for her.
"It… wasn't the Evil Queen…" Swethyna spoke cautiously. "This was my fault… I'm so sorry. I never wanted to bring her harm." Swethyna's expression showed sudden realization. She turned to Desti and Kat, who were now itching their bodies with determination. "I'm not used to being around people I care about…"
"Did the queen do this to you?" I asked.
Swethyna simply nodded.
"What if we used some herbs? Why won't you talk to me?" Zen grew more concerned.
Shirayuki's eyes watered, but then she only shook her head again.
Zen's eyes widened again. "Can you not speak?!"
Shirayuki nodded her head in response once again.
Zen locked eyes with Swethyna. "Please tell me this is only temporary!"
"I don't know. But I know where we might find some herbs that can help." Swethyna tried to be positive.
Zen turned back to his wife. "We will find a way to fix this. I promise you, that I won't give up."
If I could do something, I would. I may as well give it a try. I wasn't going to let my Mother suffer life without being able to speak. I stepped forward and closed my eyes. I placed my palm on her forehead and focussed my mind. "It's not working!"
"Magic can't cure… I'm sorry." Swethyna sympathized.
"You have extensive knowledge of magic, correct?" Kat almost demanded.
"Yes… How did you know?" Swethyna was confused.
"Desti told me that you studied magic for many years." Kat continued.
Swethyna looked at Desti, who was just as surprised as the rest of us.
"Not him. Your Desti." Kat clarified.
"He is alive?!" Swethyna rejoiced.
"Yes. Is it true?" Kat persisted.
"I have. My whole life in fact." Swethyna finally answered.
I was relieved. "Then maybe you can help us?!"
"I can try. You need to know that my ivy can get out of control." Swethyna warned them. "This is its result." She eyes met Shirayuki's figure. "With the sunlight returned, I think they might not be so desperate for nutrients. I feel much better than I have for years. Drawing strength from the beasts, didn't satisfy."
"Let's leave immediately. There is no time to waste." Zen then offered to carry Shirayuki, but Shirayuki didn't want him to worry even more and showed him that she could manage on her own.
I summoned a portal to take us to the other side.
We found camp, but it seemed that the surviving numbers were not very high.
They found Obi, who offered the big tent to Zen. Zen sent a guard out to get Shirayuki another dress. The guard left to the Evil Queen's castle to find a dress fit for a queen.
Swethyna assured them she would return when she found all the ingredients for the solution to heal the rashes and such, that we haunting Shirayuki and the two others.
Zen waited in the tent, pacing back and forth, as Shirayuki lay in the bed, resting the best she could, finding it very hard to resist scratching herself. Zen every once in awhile, would hold her arms to prevent her from furthering her condition. But after seeing the tears forming in her eyes, he couldn't bear to allow her that torture.
Finally, Swethyna returned with a few containers in her arms and a simple white sheet to wrap Shirayuki after the cream was applied.
Zen quickly took it from her. "Thank you very much."
Swethyna pulled out a few vials and handed them to Shirayuki. "Wash your mouth four times an hour with this solution. It should bring down the swelling."
Shirayuki nodded and then received the vials and immediately began the first dose.
Swethyna took her leave after giving Zen a bowl for Shirayuki to spit the vial contents after she rinsed her mouth properly. The tent entrance was then closed and Zen and Shirayuki were alone.
Zen handed Shirayuki one of the containers. "Here. I will take your dress off for you." He helped her untie the intricate tie straps at the back of her dress and found it more difficult than expected. After some fidgeting with it, he finally pulled the dress off of her, revealing her bare, spotted, red skin.
Zen started to apply the remedy to her back and other parts of her body that would be difficult for her to reach. After that was done, he gently wrapped her in the simple white sheet. "Close your eyes for me." After she obliged, he applied the cream to a cloth and lay it over her eyes. He applied the rest to her face and neck. "Please rest. The swelling will hopefully decrease by tomorrow."
She nodded and then allowed the sleep to take over.
Zen didn't leave her side.
Swethyna gave Kat and Desti the cream also and they had someone help them apply it to their infected skin. Their condition was not nearly as bad as Shirayuki, naturally.
Nosuke flew down towards me.
Kat ran towards him, after finishing the applications of the cream. "Nosuke!"
"Nosuke?" I looked at her confused. Nosuke?! It's a bird!
"Miko turned him into a blue jay. We need to find her and change him back." Kat insisted.
No problem. "Stand back!" I whipped my arm towards him.
"That won't help-" Kat was stunned when she saw that Nosuke was returning to his true form in a ball of pure, white light. "Nosuke?! But how?"
Swethyna witnessed it all. "The two princesses share the same magic. That is the only explanation I can think of."
Nosuke looked at Kat in confusion. "You're from another world, aren't you?"
Kat nodded.
"Then I suppose we are friends?" Nosuke asked in curiosity.
Kat subtly fidgeted with the promise ring on her finger.
"Something like that." I answered for her.
Nosuke just smiled and then turned towards me. "I am glad that you have returned to us, but I really need to find our princess."
Zen came up from behind him. "Whatever it is, please share it."
"Prince Zen? Of course, Your Highness." Nosuke bowed and then straightened out. "The Evil Queen was overrun. It seemed as her power was weakened. The problem is that she has left and taken the mirror, Mitsuhide and her child through a portal and I don't know where it leads."
"Her child?!" Zen grew concerned.
"I never actually saw her pregnant. But she has an infant with her." Nosuke explained in nervousness.
"Amari?!" I panicked. "He's my little brother! What does she want with him?!"
Zen waited anxiously for his answer.
"I don't know…"
"I do." Swethyna grabbed everyone's attention. "You aren't going to like it."
"We need to know what she is up to." Zen urged. "If you have any information, please share it."
"I can't… I really wish I could. As you know, I was the Evil Queen's pet. She needed to make sure she could trust me, so she used a spell on me, that prevents me from fighting against her in any way. That includes sharing her plans with you. I would not intentionally withhold it from you, I promise." Swethyna was completely sincere. "You will just have to trust me when I say that having Prince Amari, who I would assume is a product of true love, is going to be very bad for our world and yours."
Zen gritted his teeth and felt like the rage inside might explode. He tried so desperately to calm down, but he couldn't help but worry. He felt so restless, but couldn't leave Shirayuki either. He was also to meet Kiki and Miko here, so staying put was unavoidable. He didn't even have a direction.
Swethyna couldn't bear to see our disappointment anymore and turned to leave, but Kat stopped her. "Desti is the stable boy. He might be around here."
Swethyna's spirits lifted in an instant.
Kat turned to Obi, who was talking with Apollo at the commander's tent. "Obi, where may I find the stables?"
Obi pointed in the direction further down the camp.
Kat accompanied Swethyna in that direction. They saw, on the way, that there were plenty of guards securing the perimeter. They had a bunch of rampaging beasts on the loose, so it wasn't a surprise. Kat found the stables and saw Deston over in the corner crying.
He was alerted to a presence and picked himself up, whipped his tears away and got back to work. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
"Desti, it's me." Kat announced.
Deston turned around and his eyes met Kat's but the woman behind her, grabbed his attention. He grabbed the pitchfork. "Stay back!" He took his stance.
"It's Swethyna, your mother." Kat jumped between them.
His eyes grew wide. "M-om…?"
Swethyna's eyes glazed over with tears. "Deston…"
Kat still took her position in between them. "Resist the urge to hug. You don't want a repeat of last time."
Swethyna slowed down and approach him. Once she stood right in front of him, she gently caressed his cheek. "You're alive. I'm not dreaming, am I?"
"I don't think so." Deston felt the tears in his own eyes. "What did the queen do to you, mom?"
"It's a long story. You and I have a lot of catching up to do." She smiled tenderly.
"Princess Miko… She is in danger. I don't know what happened to her. I'm worried, mom. I was hoping that you could help her, if I ever found you."
She flashed him a knowing smile. "She is very important to you. I will help in any way that I can. This land will return to its former glory, if I have any say in the matter."
A/N: I would love to hear what you think of this story. Please leave your reviews. That would really encourage me to continue writing.