Chapter 16

The Witch Versus the Princess

Oddly, Aria seemed to know exactly where she was going. She figured it must be something about this world. Normally, if she were in unfamiliar territory, Aria would almost always find herself lost.

Firmly gripping the magic sword, Aria took in a deep breath as she approached Myrtle's tower. She desperately hoped Vanessa was unharmed.

Aria wondered how evil Myrtle really is or how people even became evil in this world. Are they just born that way? According to Adora, Myrtle had been evil long before her birthday celebration, but exactly how long? Aria could not help but feel curious of how Myrtle went from being a gift-giving fairy to what she is now, an evil witch.

As Aria entered Myrtle's tower, she remembered the real reason she came, to rescue Vanessa. Her plan seemed quite simple; find Vanessa and make sure they both get out alive. Unfortunately, Aria had a feeling it would be much more challenging than that. Aria could not help but think how easy the princess had it in the fairy tale story of Sleeping Beauty. All she had to do was sleep and get rescued. Once the kissed her, all her problems were solved. Both the dragon and witch were already defeated and she lived happily ever after with her prince. Aria, on the other hand, had to deal with the dragon and now the witch, and honestly, she had absolutely no idea what will happen between her and Derek.

Aria walked slowly down the dark hallway of the tower. She wasn't sure whether or not to call Vanessa. She didn't want Myrtle to know she's here, but at the same time, Aria had a feeling that she could not avoid a confrontation with Myrtle. Aria just hoped this magic sword would be enough against her.

"Why hello Princess," a man's voice sneered from behind her.

So much for finding Vanessa without being seen, Aria thought. She turned around to see a plump little man. Could this be…?

"Who are you?" demanded Aria even though she had a feeling she knew exactly who this man was.

"You don't recognize the man you once swore you loved," Myrtle jested as she came out from the shadows. "Let me show you."

Myrtle pointed her wand at this man and he transformed into whom Aria remembered as Edmund. As she starred into his dazzling eyes, Aria remembered how she once was in love with him. Now, however, she felt nothing.

Aria raised her sword and looked coldly at Myrtle. "Where's Vanessa?"

"Oh don't worry, I brought her along." Myrtle pulled a candlestick that hung on the wall. At the moment the wall turned and Vanessa appeared chained to the other side.

The second she saw Aria, Vanessa eyes lit up. "Aria, you're okay! Derek actually did it."

"She's okay for now," Myrtle commented dangerously as she approached Aria. "We'll see how long that last."

Aria just starred at Myrtle in disbelief. "Are you really going to kill me just because my parents didn't invite you to my birthday celebration. Do you know how many parties I've never been invited to? Not once did it ever cross my mind to actually kill someone over it."

"Fool! This isn't just about your little party. This is about my revenge on the entire kingdom!" Myrtle looked dangerously in Aria's direction and raised her wand. "Now, Princess. Time to finish what I started."

With a wave of her wand, Myrtle shot out a lightning beam strait towards Aria. Luckily, Aria was able to block it with her sword. The very moment the lightning made contact with the sword, it simply dissolved.

Aria starred at the sword surprised at its power. She looked at Myrtle glad to see that she appeared just as shocked.

"Ed!" Myrtle demanded. "Get that sword from her!"

Ed lunged at Aria, but she quickly dodged out of his path causing him to clumsily slam into wall knocking himself unconscious.

"Ed, get up now!" Myrtle commanded of him.

With Ed still unable to rise to her assistance, Myrtle had no choice but to continue this battle on her own. Aria, who had not a spare moment to free Vanessa, stood her ground, also forced to fight alone.

Determined to end this quickly, Myrtle threw everything she could at Aria. Spells of both fire and lightning were shot in Aria's direction. However, as long as Aria had the sword forged by the wizard Greg, Myrtle's enchantments were useless.

After a half hour went by, Myrtle finally realized that so long as the princess held the sword, her powers would do her no good.

Grasping the sword, Aria approached Myrtle. Still not willing to accept her defeat, Myrtle let out from her want one final blast of lightning. This time when Aria blocked it, the lightning bounced off the sword and retracted back to Myrtle. Unable to act fast enough, Myrtle found herself slammed against the wall, her wand falling out of her reach.

Trying to make herself appear as threatening as possible, Aria pointed the sword at Myrtle's chest and gritted, "You're finished Myrtle."

"What are you going to do now, Your Highness, kill me?" Myrtle looked at Aria with her daring eyes.

As tempted as she felt considering Myrtle did try to kill her when she was just an infant, Aria still could not bring herself to do it.

Quickly grabbing Myrtle's wand, Aria shook her head and stated, "No, Myrtle. I'm not like you. I'm not the kind of person who goes out and takes revenge on everyone who wrongs me."

Aria continued, "Myrtle, I, Princess Aria, here by banish you from the Kingdom of Galatia without your magic. Leave, now."

Without another word, Myrtle disappeared never to return. Aria the immediately went to free her best friend.

Aria raised the sword, ready to cut the chains. "Now, I know I don't normally have very good aim, but I did manage to slay a dragon with this thing so…"

"Aria, wait, wait!" Vanessa stopped her. "Not that I don't trust you, but there's a key over on that counter."

"Oh, okay." Aria didn't blame her.

The second Vanessa was released, the two friends hugged each other tightly, neither of them wanting to let the other go.

Finally after letting go, Vanessa said, "Oh my God, I was so worried. I didn't know if Derek actually would make it to you or if his kiss would even work or if… wait a minute, was it Derek's kiss that woke you up?"

Aria nodded, "Yes."

"So does that mean you two are really in love?"

"I don't know about that," Aria sighed "Besides, I kind of ruined the moment by saying Edmund's name as I woke up."

"Yikes," Vanessa commented and then looked over to Ed as her awakened and stood up. "What are we going to do with him?"

Ed, who still appeared as the charming Edmund looked around the room for Myrtle.

Aria answered his unspoken question, "I banished Myrtle and for helping her, you're banished to from Galatia."

Ed only smiled at her, winked and then bowed stating, "As you wish, my princess." He continued to bow.

What is he doing, Aria thought, trying to charm his way out of this?

"Yeah okay, go," Aria commanded.

"Do I have to go where Myrtle went?" Ed asked.

"No," Aria replied. "Just leave the kingdom."

With that, Ed was gone.

"Don't you think you're letting them off too easy?" Vanessa asked.

"Hey, I'm new at this. Besides, what was I suppose to do, kill them?"

"You could have put them in prison."

Aria realized that this was probably the best solution. "Yeah, too bad I didn't think of that. Oh well, as long as Myrtle doesn't have her wand, she's powerless."

"That's true," Vanessa sighed. "At least she won't be happy about that."

With that, the girls hugged each other once more, and then together walked out of the tower in victory.