Seeing the prince of the kingdom standing in front of his very eyes made dustfinger nervous.
"P-prince Adeon" he muttered.
Prince Adeon pats his old friend on the shoulders with a smile, "It's been a long time, my friend. You remember Oberon"
Oberon bowed and so did dustfinger. He invited them in his shabby house and saw two girls and the other one looks very familiar. Agi also noticed him, but didn't speak and just stood stiffly beside Meggie.
Dustfinger hurried to their side in nervousness, to introduce them.
"Uhm, Prince Adeon, this are my friends Meggie and Agi" he introduced "Meggie and Agi, this is Prince Adeon and Oberon"
Perfect, just perfect. The man Agi kicked and quarreled with is- the prince. Adeon approached the two beautiful ladies, meggie who almost fainted with his good looks and Agi gulped.
"So the dimwit has a name, Agi" Adeon spoke.
Meggie looked up at Agi and she looked annoyed, "And someone arrogant as you is the prince. I pity the villagers"
"You know I haven't got a thank you yet"
"It's not necessary for it is completely your fault, buffoon"
Dustfinger and Oberon look clueless with what they're talking about and why they're arguing. The two young ones squinted at each other, quite some time, then adeon turned to dustfinger.
"I didn't come here to argue with a dimwit" Adeon said, giving Agi a flash of his amazing smile, "I came here to ask you a favor, dustfinger"
Dustfinger is a bit startled; a prince asking a favor from someone like him? That doesn't happen often. Adeon folded his arms and looks ecstatic.
Roxanne, Farid, and mo just came from the market and bought some food when they passed by the prince. Roxanne suddenly bows and mo followed, forcing Farid's head to bow down since he had no idea who it was. After he passed by, the three of them went to the house to ask dustfinger what the prince needed.
"Is that true?" mo asked dustfinger excitedly after hearing what he just said.
The prince's father, King Primo of Wingsden, is celebrating his wedding anniversary. Adeon asked dustfinger if he could perform tonight at the castle and his family and friends are invited too. Dustfinger took the opportunity so he could do the thing he loves.
Mo looked half as excited as dustfinger, "This could be it. All of the rulers of the kingdom would be gathered there"
"So?" Meggie asked.
"So, they could help us with our problem. I bet they know a way to stop the shadow"
It could be one of mo's greatest ideas yet. Ask the rulers to stop, or even kill, the shadow. But Agi didn't look impressed and butted in with their little excitement.
"What if you already knew how to kill the shadow-" Agi started, taking everyone's attention, "How do you suppose to stop it when Capricorn is going to take it to the real world while we're stuck here in the book?"
The greatest idea turned to dust and mo fell back on the chair, feeling a lot worse. "You're right"
Agi started to feel bad too for bringing their hopes down. She was good at it though, making others feel miserable.
"Don't worry; we'll think of a way" mo finally said and stood up, "Right now, we have to get ready for the king's party"
Everyone turned busy and Agi sank on the sofa, beside Meggie, feeling so bad. "I'm just pathetic. Why do I always have to see the negative side?"
"It's alright, you're just honest. By the way, why does the prince knows you?"
Agi grunted and rolled her eyes just thinking about him, "He's the reason I nearly drowned"
When night came, everyone at the castle finished preparing. There are beautiful violet roses everywhere, great food and of course, the noble guests. The king and queen are at the door of the castle, welcoming their guests/
"King Primo and Queen Viola, congratulations on your 30 years of marriage"
King primo is a tall and beefy man like Santa Clause. But, he is a great and cheerful king. Not some greedy old one, but a down to earth one. And his wife, Queen Viola, is a great beauty. Though she's quite old, her beauty never fades. She's got this long brown hair, brown eyes and a saint's face. Everyone would want to have someone like her.
The servants set out fireworks and Farid looked so dazzled. There are no fireworks where he came from. Dustfinger went ahead to get ready and Roxanne accompanied her husband's friends. They passed by the back of the castle where the chosen villagers go in.
"This is just incredible" Meggie whispered.
"It is" Agi answered.
The four of them sat in the front row at the right side of the king's and queen's throne. Agi takes a seat and saw the prince, Adeon, across them crowded with noble yong woman. Adeon felt that someone was looking at him and he saw Agi, giving her a smile. But Agi looked away. The show started with dustfinger. He used his fire juggling and dragon's breath to amaze the audience and it did. Farid even boasted to the people beside him that he can also do dragon's breath. His act followed more amazing things; circus animals, magicians, musicians, etc. after the show, everyone went to the other room for the banquet.
Farid looked at the great food and didn't know what to get first.
"You look really excited to eat" Meggie pointed out, giggling.
"That's because I haven't seen so many food!" Farid said.
Meggie chuckled and started to eat along with everyone. Mo really loves the lamb and eats it slowly. As he eats he looks at his left; Meggie, Farid, Roxanne, and Dustfinger. He pulled back his chair to see if dustfinger is just covering Agi, but he isn't.
Agi wasn't even in the same room. The two soldiers are standing on each side of the castle's entrance when a young lady came out. The ambiance inside the castle and outside is a lot different. Everyone in the banquet is alive and merry while the soldiers are out on a cold night, warily looking out for invaders.
Agi took a deep breath to relax. She likes it better outside for being quiet.
"Hello"
And it's over. Agi turned around and rolled her eyes when she saw the prince. She pretended not to see him. Adeon walked towards her with his natural smile.
"I noticed you earlier looking at me. Don't tell me you like me?" adeon said proudly.
Agi sarcastically laughed then turned serious, "Shouldn't you go back to those princesses, your royal arrogance?"
"They can wait. Do you want to see the most beautiful girl I've seen? But, you probably be jealous"
"As if"
Adeon took it as a yes and pulled Agi by her soft delicate hands. Just beside the big castle is the stable. The caretaker just opened the light of the lamp and bowed to his highness. Agi looked at the horses excitedly. Some are white, brown, black and mixed. At the end of the stable is a beautiful black horse, which almost looks like black beauty.
"I'd like you to meet fern" adeon introduced.
Agi looked at the beautiful horse and slowly musses her forelock. Fern began to nod.
"I think she likes you" adeon said.
"You think so?" Agi asked with a real smile.
"Yes, she is never this calm when I introduce her to other women"
"Maybe because she doesn't like princesses"
They went out of the stables and decided to sit beside on one of the peasant's wagon. The dark skies are filled with twinkling stars and a full moon.
"So, prince Ad-"
"No more formalities, dimwit" adeon butted in, "Between us, call me Adeon"
"Okay then, Adeon. Are you like any prince, who is supposed to marry a princess your parents like?"
"Uh, no. that's unlikely"
"How about the knight in shining armor who would rescue a damsel in distress"
"So you see me as a knight in shining armor"
Agi got to her feet, ready to leave, when adeon pulled her back. "Okay, erase that. But yeah, something like that. I would want to marry someone that I like"
"Your parents are okay with that?"
"Of course they are"
Adeon decided that it is his turn to ask, "How about you? How are you related to dustfinger?"
"A friend of my friend" she simply said.
"O-kay, How about your family?"
"Ii really- don't want to talk about them"
Her voice turned to a whisper as she looked away. Suddenly, Agi felt something heavy on her head. She touched it and realized that it is Adeon's crown. She looked at him and Adeon smiled.
"You look like a princess. Are you sure you're not one?"
Agi smirked and placed the crown back to its rightful owner, "Words don't flatter me. And I still think you're a buffoon"
"Don't worry, you're still a dimwit"
Agi and adeon was startled when they heard a grumbling sound. The young prince covered his stomach in embarrassment.
"I think we better get back to the banquet" Agi suggested.
Adeon agreed, "Good Idea"
They walked through the gray hallways with the royal family's portraits and antiques all over. Adeon suddenly stopped walking and has a terrified expression.
"What's wrong?" Agi asked.
But she did not need an answer. A group of young maidens came running towards the good looking prince and knocked over Agi. They grabbed adeon away, talking nonsense, as Agi got up. Agi decide to walk on her own, but before taking another step, dustfinger appeared at the end of the hallway. He didn't look happy at all when he marched towards Agi.
"Where have you been?" he asked, like a father scolding a child.
Agi didn't know how to react, "I-I was just outside"
"You shouldn't have done that! You- worried me"
Now Agi couldn't really react. Dustfinger blushed and pulled her as they walk, "The others are waiting for you"