I own nothing all characters are property of Brenda Hampton and ABCFAMILY, only the story and plot of this story belong to me.
IN A LAND FAR, FAR AWAY
This story takes place in a land far, far away in the land GRANT. The story revolves around a prophecy that the kingdoms of Grant will one day be reunited, by the Prince of Boykewich, who will claim the Sword of Destiny from its hiding place and defeat the dark kingdom of Underwood. However years ago the Dark King of Underwood using his dark magic broke the Wall of Prophecy, and sent the story of how to unite the kingdoms to the four corners of the realm. In his stead he also poisoned the beautiful Queen Sarah of Boykewich who was pregnant with her first born son. This angered the King of Boykewich, who was told that in order for one to live the other must die. Being saddened by grief the great King Leonidas could not decide who should be sacrificed, his innocent son new to the world or his lovely wife whom he could not bare to lose. So, in her last breath the Queen begged the Midwife Bunny to save the life of her son and sacrifice hers instead. Grief stricken the Midwife agreed and using all her medical knowledge cut the young infant from the womb of the queen. After the birth of the child the midwife noticed the child's kindness and nobility within his eyes. As a birthmark the midwife noticed he was marked with a star over his heart. However, unbeknown to the mid-wife, the Dark King had placed a spy within the nursemaids, and in the night she switched the young newborn prince with his own bastard son. During the confusion over the loss of the queen Miss Bunny knew nothing of the switch and was shocked to see that the child she had delivered had aged and changed so much in such a short time. To explain this strange event she sought counsel with Michael Fields the Kings advisor who believed that the young prince must have suffered side effects from the poison given to the queen, and her death given that he had loss all the features that Midwife Bunny had noticed on the child when he was born even his birthmark was gone.
During these events however the young prince was taken by the spy and delivered into the hands of Nora, King Bob's mistress. Nora was ordered by the Dark King to kill the child by throwing it over a cliff to ensure it would never be found, and no one would know of its existence. But, although Mistress Nora feared the Dark King she did not wish to bring harm to such an innocent child, especially one that had such a kind heart and face as the one she held in her arms. Unlike her own child whom she had nursed for a year this child was kind and pleasant, not spoiled, arrogant, and fussy like her own. The young babes eyes even held a kindness within them the likes of which she had never seen, save for the eyes she saw on the King and Queen of Boykewich. So she made up her mind that although she could not bring such harm to an innocent, so she pretended to throw the child over a cliff, all the while she tied a rope around the child's bundle and slowly lowered him to the ground. She wished to collect him later and hopefully raise him as her own if the Dark King could be tricked. However, she was unable to return for the child since the Dark King forced her to drink a potion keeping her in a foolish state. This way the Mistress could never reveal her secret to anyone, especially King Leoniadas of Boykewich. He would allow the King to raise his son and when it came time for the prophecy to be fulfilled, and the kingdoms united he would take all the kingdoms for his own through his son.
Even though the young prince lay without anyone to tend him, he did not fuss for that was his nature, it was then a young winch from a neighboring village stumbled upon the child while walking her dog BOB. Bob sniffed the child within the bundle and immediately began to sniff and lick at the contents for although the child had wet himself, he still smelled sweet. When the young winch Betty saw her dog and the bundle she quickly ran to snatch it away from her dog thinking it was some poor workers lost lunch, she was quite surprised to see a young babe wrapped within. It was then she thought this child a gift from God meant for her to replace the child she had lost in child birth, which broke her own husbands' heart, and caused their divorce. She then took the child home to her inn where she worked and revealed him to her boss. Never before had the inn keeper seen such precious and kind child. It was there that the inn keeper who had no family offered to marry the young buxom winch if she allowed him to raise the child as his own. To this arrangement the young winch agreed and they named the child Benjamin the name that she would have given her own child had he not died. It was in this they saw the child's birthmark and decided to rename the Inn Heart Star as a sign of love for their new happiness.
As time moved on the kingdoms of Grant all continued to prosper but, each kingdom also received a part of the prophecy and all wondered how to unite the four kingdoms and defeat the Dark King Bob, of which was growing more evil. King Bob even began to extend his kingdom by forcing war onto the villages that bordered his lands from other kingdoms. The most worried of all the three kings was king George of Jeurgany whose prophecy announced that his daughter would marry the Prince of Underwood and have a son. This worried him since it was unknown if King Bob even had a child or how the child responded to other, or what it looked like, he prayed it did not take on the responses of its father. He made it up in his mind, that the only way to save his daughter from a cruel fate was to have her married to another. He chose the young Prince Richard or Ricky of Boykewich who although was known as lecherous young man, was also said to be handsome and brave. It was also rumored that even though he was raised by such a kind and noble king the young prince seldom resembled his father's good graces. But, he was a good prince and he came from a noble family so he decided that his daughter should marry him. However, in the kingdom of Lee King Reuben had also made up his mind to have his own daughter married to Prince Ricky. For it was written on his kingdom's part of the prophecy that it would be through the union of Boykewich & Lee an heir would come to unite the kingdoms.
However King Leonidas, did not have knowledge of the two prophecies being held by his two neighboring Kingdoms. On his section of the prophecy it was written that his first born son through his virtue, kindness, and courage would find the Sword of Virtue, and rid the land of darkness. But this worried him for although he loved his son, and he had high hopes for him, Richard was anything but virtuous. Ricky, was handsome strong, and somewhat wise but he had no nobility or honor. No matter how much he tried to instill the lessons of a King into his son Richard never took these lessons to heart. He did his best, there could be no doubt as his advisor Fields told him many times, but there seemed to be o hope that Richard would ever be the king he was or his ancestors. Leonidas sat upon his throne with a heavy heart and an aching head, for the crown which sat upon his head was filled with many worries most of which came from his son. Richard never seemed to understand to be a good king, one must carry themselves with honor, respect, and courage. Ricky was courageous true, but honor and respect were something he just did not seem to possess. For although his kingdom gave him much love, Richard never seemed to really appreciate it. He believed that because he was the Prince, his people should just love him despite his actions. His actions which; embarrassed the king, and disrespected his family's good name. Ricky was known for frequenting gambling halls, entering into inns, and pubs without paying, and it was said that on several occasions he had brought shame to many daughters of the nobles, and farmers. His actions almost caused a rebellion within the Kingdom had not his son's friend Sir Jack of Pappas, who was known throughout the land's for his bravery in battle against the Dark Kingdom of Underwood, had not stepped up and defended his wayward friend.
Jack, King Leonidas thought was a true friend and even braver man. For he himself overcame adversity when his father was killed in front of him on the battlefield while saving his life. Jack who was squire at the time even received a blow to his head which left a scar which he wore proudly and some believed added to his beauty. But, Ricky was the opposite he had hardly any nobility or needs of diplomacy, on many occasions he was known for making long winded speeches which only bored the masses, and if they were not tired they would probably have rioted from his speeches. He just seemed to lack all the characteristics that previous rulers of Boykewich seemed to possess. But, now the King came, upon a new and greater worry for his kingdom. "The Prophecy". For if it was true, and his son would unite the four kingdoms and bring an end to the Darkness, then he would need the Sword of Virtue. But, since Ricky seemed to lack all the talents for which went along with virtue then the land was indeed doomed to parish within the eternal darkness forever. But, he thought perhaps he could save, his kingdom, and the land as well as his son through a marriage. Although he did not want to force the issue of marriage on his son, or his son on a woman, it was known that women can change a man. He knew himself how true that can be for he himself was similar to Ricky, when he was younger. Had it not been for meeting his wife Sarah, on one of his many adventures with Jack's father he probably would still be out journeying the land looking for some damsel to, save. So after taking counsel with his advisor Fields, King Leonidas decided to meet with the other two kings, in hopes of finding a bride that was worthy of his son. Or, a woman that was willing to put up with his son.