The weekend of Saturday soon came as Silver was expecting, for it is the day where the Dream Defenders are finally able to meet his partner Anthony. In the garden of The King's Castle, the two walk down the pathway with Tiffany and Urban following the couple behind.
Anthony dresses casually in this regular basic white t-shirt with short sleeves and pocket on his left chest, the red burgundy overshirt open jacket features a straight cut, white vertical lines design pattern, classic 3 front pockets and rolled up sleeves. Pair of dark denim blue jeans which was held up by an black belt that wrap around his waist feature gold buckle and a pair of red converse shoes. Lastly, his hair is pulled into a ponytail.
Silver, of course, is alway dressed beautifully in this lovely cream color blouse in floral brocade featuring puff sleeves with cuffs, eight closed buttons with only two buttons on top open and a classic collar. Layer on top was this black velvet stays corset featuring a heavily boned front, a delicate scoop neckline, front lacing and two silk black ribbons underneath the straps. On the bottom was this gray-ish purple skirt (in the same floral brocade design) that faded down to this lilac color with gold lining above the hem. On his feet, a pair of velvet flat ballet slippers that matched the color of his corset top.
Pinned on his head is this small low black velvet bonnet with a thin black ribbon tied under his chin, gray-ish purple rosettes decorated on his left side. Last but not least, this plum purple small shawl that wraps around his arms.
"I just know you are going to love my friends, Anthony," Silver beamed in excitement. "They are anxious to meet you."
Anthony smiled warmly at Silver, feeling a little bit nervous but excited to meet his partner's friends. "I'm looking forward to it, Silver. I'm sure they're just as amazing as you are." He reached out and took Silver's hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Silver blushed at the compliment, his heart racing at the touch of Anthony's hand. "Thank you, Anthony. You're alway so sweet and charming." He glanced back at Tiffany and Urban and gave them a nod, signaling for them to stay back as he and Anthony approached the group of Dream Defenders.
As they continued to walk down the path, they finally reached a section of the garden where there's a tallest white gazebo with Greek pillars where five of Silver's guests were waiting for them. Anthony spotted an anthropomorphic Pied Raven bird, a Jaquin creature on four legs, a brunette woman, a man with what looked to be an cyborg arm, and another man with a goatee beard. The group of five individuals, all dressed in various styles of clothing that were unique to them.
The couple stop and turn to look at each other, Silver looks at Anthony, "Do you feel ready, Anthony?" Silver asked softly, his eyes searching Anthony's for any signs of nervousness.
Anthony smiled reassuringly as he took his hand, his heart beating fast with excitement. "I do feel ready, Silver. As long as you're by my side, I can face anything." He met Silver's gaze with a soft smile and a nod, his heart racing with excitement and nervousness. He squeezed Silver's hand gently, reassuring him of his readiness to meet the Dream Defenders.
"Let's do this," he said, his voice steady despite his nerves. Silver smiled at him, a warmth felt spread through his chest at Anthony's reassuring presence. He leaned in and kissed Anthony softly on the cheek, before gently squeezing his hand again and leading him towards the group of Dream Defenders.
"Everyone, this is Anthony," Silver introduced him with a smile. "Anthony, meet my friends, the Dream Defenders."
One of them, a man with black hair, green eyes, and a fashion sense right out of the late 1800s. He wears a pilot's outfit with a jacket covered in various company logos, mostly tech ones, a cream t-shirt inside, along with boots, wedding ring on his finger, and a noticeable robotic arm. He stepped forward and extended his hand to Anthony. "Hey, I'm Adam Jackson. It's great to finally meet you."
Anthony shook Adam's hand firmly, feeling a little intimidated by the man's size but appreciating the friendly gesture. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jackson. I've heard a lot about you from my partner, Silver."
"Oh, just Adam!" Adam suggested. "Calling me "Mr." sound too formal and old."
"Sure thing, Adam," Anthony replied with a smile. "So, Silver told me that you like to travel with your wife, Melanie, around the world. Yes?"
"Absolutely," Adam replied with a grin. "Melanie and I love to explore new places and experience different cultures. We've been to all seven continents, and we're always planning our next adventure." He said. "We're heading to South Korea until somewhere in the middle of July this month."
"That sounds wonderful," Anthony said, impressed. "I've always wanted to travel, but I never seem to find the time."
"You should make the time," Adam said, patting Anthony on the back. "Life's too short to stay in one place. Besides, with Silver as your partner, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to see the world."
Anthony then moved on to the next one.
"This is Toren."
The Jaquin has topaz colored fur with turquoise spots, wearing a crystalline scarf that shone with rainbow colors in the sunlight walking up to him.
Toren then approached him, and Anthony couldn't help but notice the mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Ah, so you're the prankster of the group I assume?" Anthony asked, shaking his paw and receiving a shock from a joy buzzer.
"Ding, ding, ding! That's me! Nice to meet you!" Toren laughed, clearly amused by his own prank.
Anthony chuckled, rubbing his hand to ease the tingling sensation. "Should have known," he said, a smile still on his face. "Silver has told and also warned me about many of your harmless pranks."
Toren grinned, his tail swishing back and forth behind him. "Ah, so Silver's been talking about me, has he? I hope he's been saying good things," he said, winking.
"But don't worry, I'll come up with something new just for you."
Anthony raised an eyebrow, "I'm not sure if I should be worried or excited."
Toren laughed again, "A little bit of both, maybe. But don't worry, I won't do anything too crazy. I just like to keep things interesting."
Anthony nodded, "I can appreciate that. It's always good to have someone around who can lighten the mood."
Toren's grin widened, "Glad to be of service. And who knows, maybe one day you'll even join in on the fun!"
The redhead chuckled, "We'll see about that."
As Anthony began to walk toward the next member of the group, standing there was this man with brown hair, which is always kept under his red baseball cap, white button-up shirt with two buttons open on the top, dark green pants held up with an brown leather belt featuring silver buckle, pair of brown sneakers on his foot, black sunglasses on his eyes to protect himself from the sun and an watch on his left wrist.
"Logan." Silver smiles as he looks back at Anthony who he nodded back at before facing the man.
"How did you do-"
"What's up man!"
Anthony was taken aback by the sudden interruption, but he quickly recovered and smiled at Logan. "Hello there, Logan. Nice to meet you," Anthony said, extending his hand.
Logan ignored the handshake and instead went in for a bro hug. Anthony couldn't help but chuckle at Logan's enthusiastic greeting. It was a stark contrast to the reserved, formal greetings he was used to back home in the UK.
"So I have been told you have been working at Disney's Wrestling Discipline Center in Animal Kingdom am I correct?" Anthony asks.
"Yeah, it's a great gig. I get to work with some of my most talented students in the business," Logan said, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.
"I can see that you're loving your job, Logan. What exactly do you do there exactly?" Anthony asked, genuinely curious.
Logan shifted on his feet, his excitement palpable, "Oh man, where do I even begin? I work as a wrestling coach, and I get to train some of the younglings who wish to learn. It's a dream come true for me and I've been into wrestling since 2011, you know?"
Anthony nodded, impressed by Logan's passion for his work. He had always admired people who loved what they did and put their heart and soul into it.
"Well then, maybe you can teach me a few moves sometime. I could use a good workout," Anthony jokes, hoping to lighten the mood.
Logan laughed heartily, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder. "You got it! I'll make a man out of you!" he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Did he just quote that from Mulan?" Anthony turned his head to Silver.
"Yup, now let me introduce you to another one of my friends." Silver usher him to the only female of the group.
A woman with tan skin, hazel eyes, and brown hair held in a French braid bottom buns, wearing a chiffon top featuring an off-the-shoulder design, sweetheart neckline, long peasant sleeves, black corset-style belt, dark denim jeans and brown leather both. Rachel also has her claim to fame as a sword mage, the mighty Maleficent's Bane, strapped to her waist in a scabbard.
"And this is-"
"Rachel Goodfrey," She introduced herself with a warm smile before Silver got to finish.
Anthony nodded in greeting. "Anthony Draventon, at your service."
"So, what's it like being a part of the Royal Guard?" Rachel asked, curious about the inner workings of the elite group.
"It's an honor, really," Anthony replied. "We're tasked with protecting the kingdom and its people, and it's a responsibility that we take very seriously."
Rachel nodded, impressed by the dedication that Anthony and his fellow guards had towards their duty. "And what about your mentor?, the Prince? What's he like?"
Anthony smiled. "He's a good man. He takes his role as my Mentor very seriously, but he also knows how to have fun. He's always been kind to me, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to train under him and his guidance."
As they exchanged pleasantries, Rachel mentioned her sword and Anthony couldn't help but ask about it. She proudly showed him Maleficent's Bane, her trusty weapon. He was impressed by her skill as a sword mage and couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
"You must be quite skilled with a sword," Anthony said, admiring the weapon.
Rachel grinned. "I like to think so. And I assume you also have a sword too since you're a member of the Royal Guard?"
Anthony nodded. "Yes, I do have one of my own, in fact, it has been passed down from the first Duke to his heir. This sword belonged to my grandfather before he passed down to my father before he, too, passed down to me."
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. How about the next time we meet, we have a sword duel together?"
Anthony chuckled. "Is that a challenge?"
Rachel smirked. "Perhaps."
"If that's so?" Anthony couldn't resist the challenge. "Well then. It would be impolite of me to decline a challenge from such a formidable opponent," he said, causing Rachel to chuckle.
"Is that a yes?" Rachel asks him.
"I believe you know my answer." Anthony chuckled as Silver moved him to the last member of the group.
"And Gabriel Aquila, the leader of our group." The Pied Raven with black and white feathers, wearing a floral gray Hawaiian shirt over a white T-shirt, tan cargo shorts, a purple dragon necklace, and a pair of blue headphones styled like the Sorcerer's Hat.
"Pleasure to meet your acquaintance." Gabriel shook his head to the redhead young man.
"Likewise," Anthony said, extending his hand for a handshake. Gabriel grinned and shook his hand firmly.
"So, Silver has been telling us all about you when we first visited him by his invitation from the King's Castle. It's great to finally put a face to the name," Gabriel said.
Anthony smiled, "I'm glad to finally meet you, Gabriel. Silver has spoken highly of you and your friends."
Gabriel chuckled, "Well, we try our best. We're a motley crew, but we get the job done."
Anthony nodded, impressed by the camaraderie between the Dream Defenders. It was clear that they had a strong bond and a shared sense of purpose, something that he admired.
"So, what do you do, Gabriel?" Anthony asked, curious about the bird's role within the group.
"I'm the leader of the Dream Defenders with Rachel acting as my right-hand woman slash Co-leader," Gabriel replied with amusement. "Basically, I'm the one in charge of making sure we stay on track and don't get into too much trouble or have crazy shenanigans we end up with."
Anthony chuckled, "Sounds like a tough job."
"It has its moments, " Gabriel grinned, "but it's also incredibly rewarding. We get to help people and make a difference in the magical world, and that's what really matters."
Anthony nodded, feeling a sense of respect for Gabriel and his team. They were doing important work, and he was honored to be able to meet them in person.
"It's a real honor to meet the Heroes of the Magical World." Anthony is eyeing at everyone around the gazebo. "I am sure the last time we met was you guys got caught spying on our first date," Anthony added, teasingly.
The Dream Defenders all groaned, some of them hiding their faces in embarrassment while others chuckled nervously. Anthony chuckled at the sheepish looks on their faces, clearly amused by their confession.
"We were just trying to make sure you were treating our friend right," Toren protested, his ears drooping.
Logan snickered, "Yeah, and we totally didn't get caught hiding behind those bushes that aren't big enough to cover us all."
Rachel rolled her eyes, "We were lucky we didn't cause quite a scene there. And Silver was mortified when he saw us."
Adam chuckled, "I don't think I've ever seen Silver blush that much before."
Gabriel shook his head, "We should have known better. Spying on someone's first date is never a good idea."
Anthony laughed, "Well, it certainly made for a memorable evening. And now, here we are, all friends."
Silver smiled. "Yes, here we are," he said, his eyes shining with happiness.
The group shared a round of laughter, reminiscing about the time they had all first met. It was a moment that would always bring a smile to their faces, a reminder of the bond they shared.
"Now, onto more serious matters," Gabriel said, his tone shifting. "As Silver's friends, we want to make sure that he's in good hands with you, Anthony. So, we've prepared a test to see if you're a worthy partner for him."
Anthony raised an eyebrow, "What kind of test?" He asked, knowing how Silver mentioned them giving him a test in his bedchamber.
Gabriel grinned mischievously. "Well, let's just say that you'll need to channel your inner knight, which involves a ruined castle, and defeat a dragon."
Anthony's eyes widened in surprise. "You're kidding, right? A… castle and… dragon?"
The Dream Defenders all shook their heads, some of them grinning while others looked serious. It was clear that they were not joking.
"A… Are you guys serious?" Silver asked, feeling a little nervous right now. This is not what they did when he was with Staghart and made him scared of pineapple for life. "Like…. like actually serious."
The Dream Defenders all nodded, their expressions serious. "Very serious," Rachel said, her hand on her sword.
"We need to make sure that you're worthy of Silver's love and trust," Toren added to Anthony, his ears perked up.
Adam stepped forward, his hands behind his back. "It's our tradition that we do this for all of our potential partners. It's a way to test their bravery, loyalty, and determination. And of course, it's always fun to watch in our own movie theater."
"Don't worry," Logan stood between them and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. "By the time you get there, the world will freeze until you guys come back and continue where we left off as if you just blink one moment."
Anthony swallowed nervously, feeling a little overwhelmed by this. He had never been one for grand gestures or over-the-top displays of affection. He gulped, never he had ever faced a dragon before, and the idea of doing so was intimidating. But he also didn't want to disappoint Silver or the Dream Defenders and instead was determined to prove himself, both to Silver and to the Dream Defenders.
Silver looked at him with concern. "Anthony," he spoke softly, "are you sure you want to do this? You don't have to do this if you are not ready nor willing to prove that you are worthy to me."
Anthony turned to Silver, a determined look in his eyes. "I want to do this, Silver. Not just for them, but for us too. I want to show you that I'm willing to go to great lengths to prove my love for you."
Silver smiled softly, reaching out to take Anthony's hand. "And I believe in you, Anthony. You don't have to prove anything to me, but if you want to do this, then I'll be here to support you all the way."
He knew he had made the right decision. He turned back to the Dream Defenders, his resolve firm.
"I'm ready," he said, his voice firm.
Gabriel smirks to his friends from behind who nodded at him and he nodded back before facing back at Anthony and Silver, "Good. Let's begin."
The Dream Defenders cheered, patting Anthony on the back and giving him words of encouragement. Gabriel snapped his finger, the sudden wave hit them and like Logan said earlier, the whole world froze. Anthony was shocked when he saw Tiffany and Urban standing there in the distance completely frozen like a statue, the birds from above froze in place in thin air, and the water fountain stopped flowing as well.
"What in the…" Anthony stood in disbelief, he couldn't believe what he's seeing right now.
Gabriel began to summon up a portal using his Fantasia magic, his hands glowing with a bright light. "Alright, Anthony, Silver, step through this portal and it will take you to the location of the test," he said, gesturing towards the swirling vortex in front of them.
Anthony took a deep breath, a little nervous but also excited for the challenge ahead. As they face the portal, Silver squeezed Anthony's hand, a reassuring smile on his face. "No matter what happens, I believe in you."
Anthony felt a surge of love for Silver and leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Silver. I won't let you and your friends down."
And with that, they plunged into the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as they had each other.
February 25, 2009
The four years old Silver giggled at his Papa's storytelling in his room. He sat down on his bed with his parents sitting beside him with his dad on his left and his mother on his right, looking at the book he held in front of him. Silver's favorite time of day was after dinner, in the brief period of time they had before his bedtime to tell him a bedtime story before he went to sleep. There were shelves of books, a few of which belonged to him, toys, and stuffed plushies.
"As the dragon roared and breathed fire, the handsome knight charged forward with his mighty sword held high. With his sword in hand, he heroically defeated the dragon, saving the beautiful princess from the tower and living happily ever after…"
"How handsome is the knight, Papa?" Silver giggled again, leaning back against him, looking up at his face.
"Very handsome," Roberto replied with a smile, "but not as handsome as your old man, right?"
"But Papa, you're old!" Silver stated.
He laughed at him with a dramatic offensive gasp. "Old!? Ack! You are telling me, old!?" He moved his face closer to his son with only their forehead touching each other. "You dare call your old man old!? I'm not old, young man!" He growled, causing his son to giggle.
"No!" Silver smile. "They need to be tough. Like you!"
Roberto gave him a goofy grin. "You bet they do, but I'd have to warn you, it's not as easy as it seems." He flexed and kissed his biceps. "No one can be stronger like me!"
"Well, in any case, the prince isn't nearly as handsome as the princess is beautiful." His eyes lifted a little, to look towards his wife. She briefly looked up to meet her husband's gaze and give him a small smile.
As the story continued, Silver's attention shifted to one page that showed the princess in the tower. "I wish I could be a princess, too," he said, his voice soft and dreamy.
Paula, who had been listening quietly, looked up from the book and met her husband's gaze. They shared a brief moment of understanding, both realizing that their son's innocent wish might be more than just a passing fancy.
"Well, you can be anything you want to be, sweetheart," Paula said, giving Silver a reassuring smile, and brushing the small curl on her son's hair. "You can be a princess or a knight or even a dragon if you like."
"But I want a prince to rescue me, Mama," Silver said to his mom, his eyes shining with excitement. "Just like in the fairytales!"
Roberto and Paula exchanged a look, both feeling a twinge of concern. They had never discussed their son's….. interest… before, but they couldn't ignore the possibility that he might be… something. They decided to tread carefully, not wanting to push him in any particular direction.
"That… uh… sounds like ah.. an um.. wonderful fairytale, Silver," Roberto said, his voice gentle before he cleared his throat. "But remember, it's important to love and respect yourself for who you are, no matter what anyone else thinks or says."
Silver nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I know, Papa. I just like stories where someone saves me and makes me feel special. Just like how you make Mama feel special."
Paula smiled, he was still so young and lovely, but she knew that he would grow up to be a kind and gentle person, no matter what path he chose in life. "Of course, you do mi nieto." She placed a kiss on top of her head. "But you know what else makes the great qualities of a knight?"
"What?" Silver asked, his eyes wide with curiosity. "What is it?" He bounced up and down on his bed causing his parents to giggle.
"Being kind and compassionate," Roberto interjected. "Those are the qualities that make a true hero."
Silver pondered this for a moment, then nodded. "I want my knight to be kind and compassionate too. And brave! And strong!"
Roberto and Paula shared a knowing smile. They were proud of their son, and they knew he had a big heart. As they continued where they left off, they snuggled up together on the bed, where Silver slowly drifted off to sleep, dreaming of a handsome knight who would rescue him from the dragon and whisk him away to a magical kingdom where he could be a princess and live happily ever after.
Silver groans as he begins to regain consciousness.
"Oh, what happened?" Silver asks himself. Opening his eyes, he finds himself laying in a bed in a small stone room, the only light coming from a small gothic-style square window. His eyes began to scan around the room. The walls were made of stone, his brown wooden bed is covered in white sheets with a white canopy. A small wooden table and chair were positioned near the window across from the bed, a tall mirror hanging on the wall and a wardrobe and chest of drawers sat against the wall.
He turned his head to his left and noticed a wooden door, he quickly got up from the bed and began approaching the door with his hand grabbing a black metal hoop handle and began pulling the door only for him to discover it barricaded and locked from the outside and to keep him from escaping.
"Dang it…" He mumbled. "It's locked. Should have known." He said, when he turned his head behind, he could see a window across from him. Curious began filling his mind so Silver slowly walked over to the window with the sound of his heels clicking echoing throughout the room.
Poking his head slightly out of the window, he gasps in shock and finds that he is in the tallest tower of the ruined castle that you might find in a fairytale.
The ancient castle, with its crumbling walls and towers, stands tall atop a rocky pinnacle that juts out from the fiery depths of a volcano. The only way to reach it is by crossing an old stone bridge that spans a moat of molten lava, emitting a pungent, sulfurous scent that permeates the air for miles around. The castle's stone façade is charred and blackened, bearing the scars of countless battles and the ravages of time. Above it all, ominous clouds gather, casting a perpetual shadow over the castle's sinister form, regardless of the time of day.
As Silver was observing the view, he suddenly heard a loud growling sound. He lifted his head and gasped as he saw a dragon approaching the tower. The dragon was a massive creature with scales as black as the midnight sky, its wingspan was easy twice the size of the tower room, the body was long and sinuous (almost as big as Maleficent's dragon form), red underbelly and its eyes glowed with a fierce red light.
Silver's heart raced as he locked eyes with the dragon. The creature's gaze was intense, almost as if it was analyzing him. Silver couldn't move, he was frozen in fear as the dragon slowly approached the tower.
As the dragon got closer, Silver noticed something strange. The dragon's eyes seemed to soften, and its growling turned into a low rumble. It was almost as if the creature was trying to communicate with him.
Silver took a deep breath and cleared his throat, trying to speak to the dragon with his animal communication. "Um, hello there. Do you understand me?" he asked tentatively.
To his surprise, the dragon nodded its head slightly, as if in response.
The dragon let out a low growl, and Silver could almost sense its frustration. But then, the creature seemed to gather itself and let out a deafening roar and spread its wings, taking off into the sky.
Silver was left alone in the tower. Letting out a sigh, he walked away from the window and stared himself in the mirror only for him to let out a gasp. He looks beautiful in this lovely light shade of lilac dress made out of silk that is inspired by Renaissance period fashion. He is wearing this purple jerkin with gold embroidered and matching paned slop pants. This attire has two purple paned sleeves with pink inside, an white stocking in his legs with black shoes. His hair had been cut short, sat on his head was this splendid crown with nine undulating old-cut diamond crests crown with pearl finials, mounted in gold.
"What in the world…" Silver's hand touched the mirror, letting out an awe at the sight of his appearance. But out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted this single letter sitting on the ground.
"Huh, I don't remember seeing this letter before." Curiosity once again filled his mind, he took a step toward it and began to open the envelope and scan over the letter.
"Dear Silver,
We hope this letter finds you in good health. We apologize for the predicament you find yourself in, but we assure you that it is all part of a test for Anthony. He's on his way as you read this to rescue you from the dragon that you just encountered, and we have full faith in his abilities to slay the beast and rescue you from the tower. We wanted to see if he was truly worthy to be your partner, and we knew that if he could slay that dragon and rescue you, then he has proved himself to us and to you.
Please don't worry, Silver. Everything is under control, and we promise you will be reunited with your handsome knight soon. Just chill around the room and wait for him to arrive. We know that he will not fail you and that he will do whatever it takes to make sure that you are safe and sound.
Stay strong, Silver. We will be waiting for your both return.
Good luck!
Your fellow friends,
The Dream Defenders"
Silver let out a groan, rolling his eyes as he placed the letter down on the cold stone floor. "Well, this is just great," Silver mutters to himself, "I'm stuck in a tower with a dragon and I have to wait for my knight in shining armor to rescue me. What a cliché fairytale."
He begins pacing around the room, feeling a bit restless. "I mean, come on, couldn't they have come up with a more original test? Maybe solving a riddle or something?" Silver sighed as he continued to look around the room, wondering what he could do to pass the time. "What am I supposed to do in this boring room?" he muttered to himself.
Just then, he spotted a rectangular box sitting on the table with a letter on top. Strange, that wasn't there when he woke up. "Hmm, what's this?" he wondered as he walked over to investigate. Once there, he slowly picked up another note and began reading it.
"To Silver,
We have left some items in the box for your entertainment while you wait for Anthony to kill some boredom. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
The Dream Defenders."
"Well, that's nice of them," he thought with a chuckle. Silver opened the box and found an embroidered set, a puzzle, some books in there, and more as well.
"Okay," he said, picking up one of the books inside from the box, "at least now I won't have to sit around here, do nothing, and wait for Anthony to come……. Hhhheeeeeyyyyy! My old flute!" Silver picks up the old flute that he used to play. "I haven't seen this one since I was 17 years old!"
March 14, 2009
A young five years old boy named Anthony was pretending to be a knight. He was wearing his favorite pajamas, with a red cape tied around his neck. His wooden sword was in his hand, and he was ready to fight off any enemies that might come his way. His black Rottweiler puppy, Rufus, was by his side, growling menacingly and acting like his dragon.
Anthony was having the time of his life, pretending to be a brave knight on a quest to save someone from the clutches of an evil dragon. He had even created his own sound effects, imitating the sound of a sword being unsheathed and the roar of a dragon.
Anthony charged across his room, brandishing his sword and shouting, "I'll save you, princess!" Max barked and growled, pretending to be a fearsome dragon while guarding a wooden castle block with a stuffed doll princess sitting there.
But suddenly, the blanket slipped off Anthony's shoulders and he stumbled, tripping over his own feet. Max pounced, licking Anthony's face and wagging his tail.
"Max, you silly dog!" Anthony laughed, pushing the dog away. "You're supposed to be fierce and scary, not friendly and cuddly!"
Max barked in agreement, wagging his tail even harder.
Anthony picked up his sword and resumed his quest to save the imaginary victim. He charged around the room, leaping over imaginary obstacles and slashing at invisible enemies.
Then, Anthony's parents, Duke Edward and Duchess Vivian, walked in to tuck him in for the night. They couldn't help but chuckle at their son's antics.
"Goodness, Anthony, what are you up to?" asked Duchess Vivian, a smile on her face while she cradle her pregnant belly.
"I'm saving the princess from the dragon, Mum!" Anthony exclaimed, pointing his sword toward the castle block.
Duke Edward chuckled and said, "Well, it looks like you've got quite the adventure ahead of you."
Anthony nodded in agreement and continued his quest. He charged towards the castle block, yelling, "I'll save you, princess!" Max barked and growled.
Only then, did Duke Edward decide to join in on the fun and began playing the role of an evil dragon to his son.
"Roar!" he yelled, flapping his arms like wings. "You'll never save the princess from me, young knight!"
Anthony laughed from ear to ear, excited to have his father join in on the adventure. He charged towards his Duke Edward, sword at the ready.
The two engaged in a mock battle, with Anthony slashing at his father's arms and legs, and Duke Edward roaring and swatting at his son with his make-believe dragon tail. Duchess Vivian watched on, amused by the father-son bonding moment. Max, on the other hand, looked confused and unsure of who to side with.
In the end, Anthony emerged victorious, slaying the evil dragon and rescuing the princess. He let out a triumphant shout and puffed out his chest in pride.
Duke Edward let out a dramatic groan and collapsed onto his son's bed, pretending to be defeated. "Well done, my brave knight," he said, still playing along. "You have saved the day once again."
The Duchess couldn't help but laugh at them. "Well done, Sir Anthony. But I think it's time for bed now," she said, gesturing towards the clock on the wall. "Besides, your 6th birthday is tomorrow and you must get some rest before your guests arrive."
Anthony let out a sigh of disappointment, he put down his wooden sword and walked over to his bed, with Rufus following close behind. "Awww, do I have to?" He whined.
"Of course!" His mother smiled, slowly walking over to him. "A good knight needs a very good sleep so he can save the princess." As Anthony crawled under the covers, Duke Edward and Duchess Vivian began to tuck Anthony in for the night, pulling the covers up to his chin.
As they were tucking him in, Anthony looked up at them with a serious expression and asked, "Do you think I could be a real knight one day?"
Duchess Vivian smiled warmly at her son. "Of course, my son. You'll be the greatest knight of all."
Duke Edward nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Anthony. With training and practice, you could become a great knight one day."
Anthony beamed with pride, his eyes shining with excitement. "I want to be the bravest knight in all the land and protect people from evil monsters and dragons!"
Duchess Vivian chuckled. "Well, I have no doubt you'll be a handsome knight for the beautiful princess to be saved one day."
Anthony looked up at his parents with determination in his eyes. "I don't just want to save princesses, I want to save princes too!"
Duchess Vivian raised an eyebrow skeptically. "But Anthony, knights don't usually rescue princes. They usually rescue princesses."
Anthony's face fell. "But why not? Why can't a knight rescue a prince? It's not fair!" He exclaimed. "Aren't knights meant to save everyone?"
"Because that's not how it-"
Duke Edward stepped in, sensing his son's disappointment. "-Now now, Vivian. Anthony has a point. Knights are meant to protect and serve everyone, not just princesses." He ruffled Anthony's hair affectionately before placing a kiss on his forehead. "Now, get some rest, little knight."
Anthony closed his eyes, his parents left his room, and turned off the light before closing the door shut. As he drifted off to sleep, he imagined himself riding a majestic horse, wearing shining armor, and wielding a real sword. One day, he thought to himself, one day he will be a real knight.
Anthony hummed when he opened his eyes, he found himself lying on the soft grass in the middle of what looked to be an enchanted forest. He sat up, rubbing his eyes and taking in his surroundings. The trees were tall and lush, with leaves in a vibrant shade of green and some sunlight peeking through the leaves. The air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers and flowers surrounding the forest, a lake can be seen right close to him and the sound of birds singing and chirping could be heard in the distance.
"Woah…." Anthony gasps, "Where… Where am I? And what is this place?"
Anthony stood up and stretched his arms, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin. But as he took one step, a sound of metal could be heard on him, when he looked down at himself, he realized that he wasn't wearing his clothes. Instead, he is dressed in this shining knight armor like a fantasy knight from the storybook. Inside of the armor, you can see a silver chainmail tunic underneath, his breastplate and gauntlets are also made out of shining metal. The armor covers up most of his body with just some parts showing through. There is this burgundy-red cape in taffeta behind him that's attached to his shoulders. He wears a belt around his waist with his sword hanging off of it and in his hand was a mighty shield that had his ancestral family crest in the center.
He frowned, wondering how he had gotten here and why he was dressed like this. "Oooookkkaaaayyy then, that is not something you would expect when you woke up." He said to himself.
But as he took a few steps, he realized that something was missing. He looked around, searching for his partner Silver, but the young glass-wearing man was nowhere to be found. He frowned, wondering where he could have gone.
"Silver?" He called out. "Silver! Silver, where are you?" But there was no answer. He felt a pang of worry in his chest, wondering if something had happened to him. "Okay, Anthony! Don't freak out! Maybe he's around somewhere." He hopes while calming himself down. "Probably sleeping or laying around in the forest."
Just as Anthony was about to start looking for Silver, the sound of hooves galloping caught his attention. He turned around and saw a magnificent Geldlander horse charging towards him, its mane and tail flying in the wind. He stepped back as the horse came to a stop in front of him, snorting and pawing at the ground. It had two saddles on each side in which Anthony took very notice of it.
The redhead young man approached the horse slowly, cautiously reaching out to pet its nose. The horse nuzzled his hand, and Anthony stroked its neck, taking in its beauty and strength.
"Hey there, boy," he said softly. "Who do you belong to?"
The horse snorted and shook its head, as if in reply. Anthony chuckled, feeling a little silly talking to an animal, but then, he is in a magical world so it wouldn't be surprising to talk to animals.
He opened the saddle bag from the horse's saddle and opened it, finding a note inside. He unfolded it and read the words written in an elegant style.
"Dear Anthony,
We hope this message finds you well. You have been transported to a magical realm for your test, where you will face many challenges and prove your worth to our dear friend, Silver. Your quest is to find and rescue Silver from the clutches of the dragon who has imprisoned him in the ruined castle.
You will need to use your wits, strength, and courage to overcome the obstacles in your way. But fear not, for we have faith in you and your abilities. We have left a map and tools along the way to aid you in your journey. Follow the map and trust in yourself. Good luck, Anthony. The fate of our friend Silver rests in your hands.
May the odds be in your favor.
From,
The Dream Defenders"
Anthony slipped the note back into the satchel and took out the map and began analyzing. He looked around the enchanted forest, taking in the sights and sounds. It was beautiful, but he had no time to admire the scenery. He had a mission to complete.
"Alright, boy, let's go save Silver," he said, patting the horse's neck. "Let's call youuuuuuuu….. Rory."
The horse, Rory, snorted and reared up, as if liking the name. Anthony climbed onto the horse's back and took the reins. "Alright Rory, let's go!"
As he set off on his journey, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and joy. He was living out his childhood dream of being a knight, his child version of himself would be screaming in so much joy if he saw him like this and he was determined to make it a success.
The Dream Defenders appeared in a theater room. The walls were painted a deep burgundy, and the room was filled with two rows of movie theater chairs; two at the front and three at the back. A large screen dominated one wall, a food section from behind the seats and a projector hummed quietly in the corner.
Gabriel took a left seat in the front row, grinning from ear to ear. "This is going to be good," he said, popping a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
Rachel took a seat next to him, her sword leaning against her chair on her right side. "I hope Anthony is up for the challenge," she said, a note of concern in her voice.
Toren plopped down in a seat on the other row behind Gabriel, his face filled with excitement. "I can't wait to see how he handles the dragon," he said.
Adam took a seat in the middle, his eyes fixed on the screen. "Let's just hope he doesn't get too badly hurt," he said, his voice filled with worry.
Logan settled into a seat next to Adam, his arm wrapped around the cyborg's shoulders with a drink in his hand. "Relax, Adam," he said. "Anthony's got this."
As the lights dimmed on their own, the screen flickered to life, and the Dream Defenders settled in to watch Anthony's adventure unfold.
Anthony rode on the horse, following the map and looking for any signs of the ruined castle. As he rode, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous about facing a dragon.
"Okay, this is not exactly what I had planned for my day with the Dream Defenders," he said to himself. "But hey, at least I get to live out my childhood dream of being a knight sooooo that is a good part. Can't wait to tell my family all about this."
The horse snorted, as if in agreement, and Anthony chuckled.
"You know, I always thought being a knight was all about slaying dragons and rescuing princesses," he said. "But I guess it's a little more complicated than that."
As they rode on, Anthony noticed that the landscape was changing. The trees were becoming sparse, and the ground was becoming rocky and uneven.
"Oh good!" he said, looking back at the map. "Looks like we're getting close." They stopped underneath the shadows while Anthony continued to look down on the map, it seemed like they'd reached their destination and there were just a few more steps to go. It was a massive and tall volcano of a mountain up ahead with swirling clouds that stood above while it was red in the center.
Upon ascending this mountain, they found themselves surrounded by sharp jagged stones pointing to what was awaiting on the inside, and on the ground below they found themselves surrounded by the ashes of what had dried up in this canyon of sorts with dead trees still standing to this day. The sky had turned dark indigo against the stone and slate blue background and the sky had splintered with dark indigo clouds. While passing by the stone formations, a foul smell filled the nose of his horse, which caused him to rear back abruptly as he snorted.
Anthony steadied the horse, patting its neck and whispering soothing words to it. "It's okay boy!" He spoke in a soft tone. "You're okay…"
Lied beyond this old ruined stone arch and a crack of lightning struck as they walked through under the archway reaching up before stopping dead in their tracks to look at the location before them in front of them:
The Ruin's Castle.
Anthony took a deep breath before he and Rory carefully walked across the stone bridge carefully, the sound of the lava can be heard right behind them and the sound of the horse's foot was made.
Once passing through the front entrance of the castle, Anthony and his horse entered what remained of the main hall inside. There was a dark hole in the wall that was outlined by the red glow of the lava but mostly shrouded in the shadows, next, there was a pair of greaves that stood above but were burned to the bone; followed by the fallen and broken segmented pillar where there was a large and deep ravine in the floor that led below to the lava where steam and smoke rose above. Most of the castle was shrouded in the shadows of the darkness and the two primal dominant colors were a maroon to crimson red where the lava lay below and outside and spruce to denim blue; where the storming sky swirled high above like a vortex that appeared to give off the dark powers of sinister malevolence, what lied within was not seen. Staircases and broken statues were everywhere.
While the two were wandering around, they were not able to see the Dragon sleeping, however, they were able to see the evidence of all those whose remains were now reburied here in these ruins. Aside from the corpses of previously attempted rescue attempts, the area was littered with more than just corpses. As Anthony climbed off the horse with his sword and shield ready in hand, charred skeletons wearing scorched armor sprawled across the floor. Anthony does not know if these were the remains of the other "Knights" who had attempted to save and rescue Silver; however, they met their fate. Anthony's horse was trembling and raving in fear.
"Shhhh," Anthony quickly calms Rory down. "Are you afraid?" He silently asked.
The horse nodded "yes" but Anthony gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry," He said. "Be brave! I know you can."
In order to avoid being caught, Anthony did not want a Dragon to know that they were there. When Anthony veered too far to the right and jumped back from the skeleton Knight, the horse followed him up the stairs and through the hall's east wing.
Unfortunately, due to his distraction, Rory crashed into a pile of dead knights who had dropped their halberds, while an open-faced barbate-wearing skeleton reared back. Immediately after the horse looked back up, the head of the skeleton snapped off, and it further frightened him, so Anthony directed him toward the west. Even though the ballroom still contained a significant amount of bad vibes, he would at least allow his horse to be useful in this situation.
There was a look of puzzlement on the horse's face as he looked in the direction Anthony directed him.
"If I know how every storybook goes, a princess is always locked up in the tallest tower," Anthony explained. "It wouldn't be so hard to find."
While he walked out of the ruined ballroom through the right door, Rory walked off as he continued fantasizing about himself. He did not stop fantasizing, because there was something forbidden within. Walking up to the hole in the wall, he saw a scaly eye emerge from the hole, eager to see who was daring to enter the room. It wasn't until much too late that the horse realized what had happened.
Rachel leaned forward in her seat, her eyes wide with excitement. "Did you see that?" She exclaimed. "The dragon is already awake!"
Gabriel stares with an expression serious. "This is going to be a tough fight," he said. "I hope Anthony is ready."
Toren's eyes glittered with anticipation. "I can't wait to see how he takes down that dragon," he said.
Adam shifted in his seat, his worry increasing. "I just hope he doesn't get hurt too badly," he said.
Logan took a swig of his drink. "Anthony's got this," he said confidently. "He is after all trained by the Prince, and he's not going to let his training go to waste."
As they watched, Anthony and his horse continued to make their way through the ruined castle, encountering more and more evidence of previous failed rescue attempts. The Dream Defenders watched with bated breath as the horse crashed into a pile of dead knights and the scaly eye of the dragon opened to watch them.
"Things are about to get intense," Gabriel said.
"Gabriel, are those dead 'knights' real or just props?" Adam asked.
"Oh they're fake," Gabriel revealed. "I bought them off of Amazon."
Toren grinned. "I can't wait!" he exclaimed. The Jaquin leaned forward in his seat, his eyes glued to the screen. "Come on, Anthony, you can do this," he muttered under his breath.
The Dream Defenders watched on, eager to see how Anthony would fare against the fierce dragon and save Silver from her fate.
[Background Song: I Need A Hero - from Shrek 2, Jennifer Saunders version]
Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the streetwise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Anthony proceeded forward, but the sound of growling from within the walls caused him to pause. He came across the remnants of the castle's outdoor square and soon spotted the tallest tower. It was easy to spot since a yellow light shone from the window above. However, he couldn't shake off the feeling that this discovery might not bode well for him.
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed
Late at night, I toss and I turn
And I dream of what I need
"Well, 'least I know where Silver is at but where's the-" Anthony looked around when he was suddenly cut off by the roaring sound of the-
"DRAGON!" Anthony let out a piercing scream, glanced behind him at the sight of the horse galloping away in response to a fiery explosion erupting from the hole in the dilapidated ballroom.
I need a hero!
Out of nowhere, a thunderous crashing sound echoed from the rear as the doors came crashing down, obscuring the dragon identity but leaving a distinct impression of what it might be.
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
The horse galloped ahead, it leapt over the remains of lifeless knights, while the dragon trampled over them, causing their bones and other debris to fly into the air, accompanied by a cloud of dust.
I need a hero!
Anthony pivoted towards the horse to his right, he noticed the dragon in hot pursuit. The dragon relentlessly chased the equine until it stood upright on its hind legs, unleashing a fierce blaze towards the unwelcome creatures. It was then that the Dragon realized there were not one, but two foes to face.
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
At this juncture, Anthony comprehended that the horse couldn't outpace the predator. Consequently, he nudged the horse aside.
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
"Look out!"
Larger than life
Anthony dodged to his left, the smoke obstructed the horse's vision, causing it to panic. Despite this, the horse continued to run until it was hit by another wave of flames, forcing it to duck. Unfortunately, its tail was badly burned and fell limp.
Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Just as the Dragon was about to sink its teeth into its prey, it suddenly turned around to find that Anthony had grabbed onto its spade-tipped tail with all his might.
"Gotcha!"
Somewhere just beyond my reach
Someone reaching back for me
The Dragon grew agitated and momentarily distracted, which allowed Rory to race up the stairs and onto the catwalk that led to the tallest tower. His plan was working.
The Dragon began to thrash its tail back and forth in an attempt to dislodge the young man in shining armor. However, Anthony was not one to give up easily. With a mighty swing, he held on tight and was propelled into the air, soaring like a superhero.
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
"Ah whoa… whoa… whoaaaaaahhhhhhh!" Anthony flew through the air, he extended his arms forward in preparation for the impending impact. Meanwhile, from below, the Dragon looked up and breathed a sigh of relief that the young man was no longer in its way. However, it still had to contend with the horse that remained a threat.
It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet
Anthony soared through the sky until he collided with the conical rooftop of the tallest tower. "Augh!" He burst through the roof and plummeted down, losing consciousness upon impact.
Anthony's sudden crash through the ceiling was so severe that he remained unconscious, unaware of Silver's reaction as he jerked upwards on the bed, his eyes wide and fixated away from his book. It was certainly an unforgettable entrance.
The horse slowly backed up from the pinnacle he was trapped on, he accidentally kicked a rock off. This caused a growling roar to erupt from below, startling him. Turning around, he called out for his rider Anthony, but received no response. He realized he was alone and vulnerable on the unstable bridge.
Suddenly, Dragon appeared and grabbed him by the tail, rescuing him from the precarious situation. Rory let out a relieved whinny and they left the ruined square, heading back to Dragon's treasure hoard. However, the horse couldn't help but call out for Anthony, knowing he wasn't the bravest animal and feeling worried about his friend's whereabouts.
As they returned to the shadows of the derelict stronghold, the horse's cries for help faded away, unheard by anyone who could have assisted him.
Back with Anthony who regained consciousness and groaned in pain as he tried to shake off the impact.
Meanwhile, Silver felt a rush of excitement as he remembered his childhood dream of being rescued by a knight in shining armor. Seeing Anthony get up and dust himself off after his sudden entrance, Silver couldn't help but imagine wooing him with poetry and heroics. With a thought, he quickly tossed his book aside, adjusted his attire, and positioned himself on the bed with his hands on his belly. After taking one last glance at Anthony, Silver closed his eyes and settled into a peaceful rest.
Anthony had a feeling and turned around to find the light penetrating through the only window that gave all who entered here the yellow beacon of where he slept, Silver lay there appearing as if he was a heavenly vision of wonder. The redhead gotta' thank Dragon for helping him get to this tower and saving him the trouble of climbing up all those stairs and stone bridges.
The handsome knight approached his bed slowly as his eyes narrowed and climbed up the steps. Silver looked so beautiful in this princely outfit, his hair looked so smooth and curled and his face looked so peaceful as if he was sleeping with a small tiny smile on his face.
As Silver lay there "asleep", he could feel Anthony breathing and the sound of his armor clanking with each step he took. He waited for the moment for Anthony to give him a kiss of true love, he could feel his finger brushing away the strand of hair that was on his face. His heartbeat was with excitement and waited for his lip to touch his.
Anthony stares at Silver's beautiful appearance, very much looking like he came out of the storybook with his royal look. So beautiful…. so breathtaking… and so delicate. He placed two hands on his shoulders and then….
"SILVER, WAKE UP!" He awakened him not with a kiss but by shaking him like a maraca. "Wake up, wake up, wake up!" His head bounced against the pillow he lay on, causing his eyes to open.
"Ah! Ayayayayayayayayaaaack!" Silver was not expecting that nor did he want to wake up like this. "Anth-Anthony! Quit shaking me like that!" Silver asked, shocked by Anthony's way of approaching him. "I'm up, I. AM. UP!!!!"
"Oh good you're awake, now let's go!" Anthony's impatience was beginning to leak as he grabbed him by the arm and approached the door, attempting to open the door but ending up breaking the ring to the door that was decorated with some metal-plated designs.
Silver was very much taken by this. "Oh wow," He started getting a slight headache from his head banging against the pillow, " I never thought you would shake me like this. I always thought you were supposed to sweep me off my feet out the yonder window and down a rope onto your noble steed who is waiting for you outside the tower." He suggested as Anthony turned to face him.
"You've… you've thought about this haven't you?" Anthony asked him as he nodded in response, a little too much time to plan how he would be rescued.
"Uh… yeah." He said, getting off the bed and stretching his body. "Then again, it's not every day you get locked up in the tower guarded by a dragon while you are waiting in this room."
With a mighty display of strength, Anthony reared back his arm and shattered the door, sending the broken ring clattering to the floor. After he burst through the doorway, he spotted a spiral staircase to his left. Without hesitation, he snatched a torch from the wall beside the door, admiring its smooth surfaces and the ridge at the top where the flames danced. Turning to Silver, he grabbed his hand and pulled him along as they sprinted down the stairs.
The Dream Defenders continued to watch the action unfold on the screen, their eyes glued to the intense scene.
"Wow, Anthony really knows how to make an entrance," Rachel commented.
Gabriel chuckled. "I think he's starting to improvise a little," he said.
Toren nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's definitely not sticking to the script," he said.
Adam couldn't help but laugh. "I don't think Silver was expecting that kind of wake-up call," he said. "Shaking him like a maraca?" He chuckled. "That must be one way to get an headache."
Logan took another swig of his drink. "I think Anthony's got a bit of a temper," he said. "Breaking down doors and all that."
As they watched Anthony and Silver make their way down the spiral staircase, the Dream Defenders couldn't help but feel a little excited themselves.
"I wonder what's going to happen next," Rachel said eagerly.
Gabriel grinned. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be entertaining," he said.
Toren leaned forward in his seat, anticipation written all over his face. "I can't wait to see what kind of twists and turns the story takes," he said.
Adam nodded. "Me too," he said. "This is like a rollercoaster ride."
Logan chuckled. "Yeah, and we're just along for the ride," he said. "Let's see where this takes us."
The couple ran across the stone bridge that spanned over the sea of lava below outside of the castle, entering the next room before stopping to take a breath.
"This is not how I expect this to go." Silver said before leading his back against the pillar. "So what are you going to do now? I mean… you have already slayed the dragon and-" Right before he was going to say something when they were both startled by the roar of the Dragon who seemingly sensed that Anthony lived, Silver's eyes widened in shock, and very slowly looked at him.
"Anthony! Please… please tell me you did slay the Dragon before rescuing me?" Silver asked in surprise, this is not how the story is supposed to go! Anthony, the knight, is supposed to slay the dragon and rescue him, the prince, from the tower, not the opposite way!
Anthony let out a nervous chuckle before turning to tell him. "Well…. Hate to break this to you but it's now on my to-do list, now come on!" Anthony told him as he realized that his horse must've been taken hostage and continued to run down the hall.
Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
As they hurried down the hallway of the ruined castle, Silver's eyes were drawn to the remains of a barbute-wearing knight. The knight's chest plate was scorched and his greaves and bracers had fallen off, and he lay there with his shield and sword at his side. Both the shield and chest plate bore the image of a lion, and the sword was still stuck in the ground beside him. Looking up at the wall where the knight had fallen, Silver could see a scorched imprint of his body, as if he had been pinned to the wall and burned alive. The force of the flames had been so intense that the knight's sword had been driven into the wall beside him, and little remained of the shield.
Out where the lightning splits the sea
Once they descended into the cellar, Anthony halted abruptly as they came upon three enormous barrels. Without a word, he strode forward and grasped the ringed knobs of the wooden doors ahead. With a slow and deliberate motion, he pushed them open and stepped into the treasure room. From his vantage point on the balcony, Dragon could see Rory, the horse, coiled around its own tail. Anthony stood before the impressive sight, holding his torch aloft.
I would swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me
Anthony couldn't help but notice the chandelier. It was round and resembled a collar, attached to the ceiling above. He leaned his torch against the wall and climbed onto the stone trail, sword in hand, reaching for the chain above him. He was determined to rescue his horse.
With a mighty swing, Anthony propelled himself towards the chandelier. He quickly extinguished the flames and found himself looking up at a reel of chains. They were stopped by a lock, preventing them from sliding. Anthony pulled himself up and forced himself downwards to release the lock. But as he did, the chain began to descend, and Anthony found himself hurtling towards Dragon's tail.
Rory slid down onto the treasure near Dragon's talons. When it looked up, it saw Anthony in front of it. Dragon was furious and roared in irritation, but Anthony had had enough. He released the chain, causing the chandelier to fall and slip through Dragon's snout and down to its neck.
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
The chandelier slipped onto Dragon's neck, turning into a collar, and the dragon was furious. The chains continued to fall, and Anthony jumped off the coiled tail in slow motion, running up the stairs of the balcony.
As Dragon turned to face him, Anthony winced at the sight of the chandelier around its neck. But he had no time to dwell on it as Dragon fired off another billowing flame. Anthony grabbed Roray and continued to run, narrowly escaping the flames that threatened to engulf them both. They didn't stop until they reached the lower platform.
Silver entered through the doors, wondering what was happening, but was unable to speak as Anthony picked him up while running. Both the horse and Silver yelped as they were held on either side of Anthony. They continued to run, determined to escape the wrath of the furious dragon.
And the storm and the flood
With no place left to run, Anthony and his companions were forced to slide down what was once a stone altar. As they slid down, Dragon lunged forward, attempting to bite at them. Silver screamed in terror, and Anthony had no choice but to regain his balance and continue sliding down.
The rough surface of the stone altar caused them to hit several bumps along the way, but they kept going, desperate to escape the dragon's wrath. Finally, they came to a stop, panting and exhausted from their narrow escape.
I can feel his approach
Like the fire in my blood
Anthony, his trusty horse, and Silver scampered down the hall while Dragon gave chase. They leapt over the next chain, causing it to spark and fizzle. Dragon followed along the right side, determined to catch up with them.
Like the fire in my blood
Like the fire in my blood
Reaching the top right, he had to duck under a chain, but it was not tall enough for him to do so. He realized he could have easily hopped over it, just like he had done with the previous one.
Like the fire in my blood
Like the fire in my blood
Their actions were only causing the extended chain to become entangled throughout the corridors and around the altars of the pillars. Anthony ran through the main castle hall, he had not yet decided if he would attempt to kill Dragon or not.
Hero
They soon came across Dragon, who was standing on its talons and shooting a billowing flame in their direction. Anthony and his companion ran to their right, with Anthony jumping over one chain, ducking under the second, and leaping over the third. They were now near the exit and it was within their reach.
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
Anthony quickly grabs Silver by his waist and scoops him up onto the horse saddle. "Okay you two, head for the exit!"
And he's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
Without hesitation, Rory and Silver bolted forward as Anthony grabbed his sword and shield. As they fled, Silver clung onto the horse's neck tightly, fearing for his life.
And he's gotta be larger than life
"I'll take care of the Dragon." He held it as if he was going to slay it just like any other story goes but instead, he did what no Knight has ever done before.
Hero!
Anthony swiftly plunged his sword between two overlapping links of the chains, effectively locking them in place. With the chains secured, he cautiously edged backwards before breaking into a run towards the exit of the Ruin Castle. The castle began to shake violently as the Dragon fought against its restraints, causing chunks of stone to fall from the walls. Despite the chaos, Anthony remained focused on escaping.
And he's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
"RRRUUUUUUNNNN!" Anthony called out to the horse and Silver, who were still galloping at full speed. He had no time to waste and ran after them, reaching the end of the stone bridge. Suddenly, the Dragon unleashed a final burst of flame, which narrowly missed them. Debris from the collapsing castle rained down upon them, with pillars and chunks of stone nearly crushing them. The ground shook violently beneath their feet as they continued to race towards safety.
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
The Dragon was attempting to fly away, the sword that had been used to bind and restrain the dragon broke from its handle. However, the chains that had been fastened around the dragon were still tightly secured to the altar, preventing it from going any further. In frustration and sadness, Dragon let out a mournful cry as the castle and everything around it began to descend into the hot, bubbling lava. All that remained was the stone bridge, a solitary remnant of the once-majestic fortress.
I need a hero!
Anthony and Silver slowly stood on the stone bridge edge, staring down where the castle and Dragon once fell into the sea of hot lava, Silver turned to Anthony, and Anthony turned to him, with a smile beginning to slowly appear on their faces. They cheer.
"You did it! You saved me!" He squeals happily, throwing his arms around him in a tight embrace. "You really saved me!"
Anthony chuckled, wrapping his arms around his waist. "Well, I couldn't let my prince get hurt, could I?" he teased, earning a playful punch in the arm from Silver.
"You know, for a knight, you're not so bad," he said, grinning up at him.
Anthony smirked. "For a prince, you're not so bad yourself," he replied, leaning in for a kiss.
But before their lips could meet, the horse let out a loud neigh, interrupting the moment. The two broke apart, laughing at the horse's timing.
"Looks like someone's jealous," Silver teased, patting the horse's mane. "And I couldn't thank you too for helping Anthony and rescuing me!" He gently placed a kiss on the top of the horse's nose. "Especially you Anthony." He looked over his shoulder.
Anthony grinned, feeling proud of himself. "I know, right? I'm pretty awesome," he said, striking a pose.
Silver rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, yeah, don't get too full of yourself."
Anthony chuckled, jokingly flexing his muscles. "Too late, I'm already the strongest and bravest knight of all."
Silver shook his head, still laughing. "I think you hit your head a little too hard when the Dragon threw you across the room."
"Hey, that hurt." Anthony feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. "But it was worth it to save you, my princess."
Silver smiled, and a slight blush appeared on both sides of his cheek. "You're my hero."
Anthony couldn't hide the smile on his face after Silver's kiss. "Come on, let's go home," he said, mounting the horse.
Silver climbed up behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist. "Lead the way, my knight," he said, nuzzling his cheek against his back.
Anthony grinned, kicking the horse into a gallop. "Always," he replied, riding off into the sunset with his prince by his side.
Silver looked around, confused. "Uuuuuhhhhhhhhow did we get back home?" he asked.
His question was soon answered when a sudden white light hit them causing them to close their eyes really shut.
Once the light died down, they were immediately shocked to see that they had somehow ended up back at the gazebo in the King's Castle garden. Just like Logan mentioned, the whole world is frozen, no one or anything is moving, still like a statue.
"We're….. back," Anthony announced, no longer wearing his knight but instead, back to his regular casual clothes.
Silver's eyes scan around the area of the garden, he is shocked too that they are back. The young glasses-wearing man, back in his regular attire, couldn't believe his eyes.
The Dream Defenders came out from the pillar and erupted into cheers and applause which spook the couple.
"Congratulations, Anthony! You passed the test with flying colors!" Rachel exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
Toren grinned. "Yeah, you really showed us what you're made of," he said. "You have really proved to us and shown us that you're worthy of being our friend Silver's partner," he said.
Gabriel grinned. "Yeah, I think you two make a great team," he said.
Logan nodded. "I never doubted you for a second," he said. "You're a true knight in shining armor."
Adam gave him a pat on the back. "You're one of a kind, man," he said. "Thanks for taking us on that wild ride."
Anthony blushed, feeling a little embarrassed by all the attention. "Thanks, you all," he said, feeling grateful for their support. "I'm glad that I did not fail you or Silver.
Silver smiled at him, "I knew you could do it," he said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
The Dream Defenders continued to chat and congratulate Anthony, feeling happy to have witnessed such a thrilling adventure. Gabriel snapped his fingers, unfreezing everything and everyone that had been frozen during the test. The world resumed its normal pace, people started moving and talking again, birds flew in the sky, and the world was back to normal as if nothing had happened. Even Tiffany and Urban, continuing with their friendly chat, didn't realize that they had been frozen the whole time and were not aware of what just happened.
Logan clapped Anthony on the back. "Now, let's go celebrate your victory. I am kinda hungry right now," he said.
Anthony grinned. "Sounds like a plan," he said.
"A perfect plan indeed." Silver added.
The group made their way to the King's castle, chatting and laughing along the way. Anthony and Silver walked hand in hand, Silver told Tiffany and Urban to have the castle chefs prepare for some wonderful snack in the drawing room.
This was the best test Anthony has experienced and was glad to finally live out his childhood dream.
I must say, the events that have unfolded in this chapter have left me quite breathless. Our dear Anthony, the knight, has proven himself to be a true hero in every sense of the word. From saving his prince and slaying a dragon, he has shown us all what it truly means to be a knight in shining armor and prove us that knight can indeed save the prince.
But let us not forget the Dream Defenders, who have orchestrated this grand adventure and tested Anthony's mettle. Their cleverness and ingenuity have truly shone through and happy to see Anthony has passed his test with flying colors.
Of course, this whole test situation and setting was based on the scene from Shrek's movie where Shrek and Donkey rescue Fiona from the Dragon's Keep and it's no surprise that "I Need a Hero" sung by Jennifer Saunders (even though it appear in the sequel of Shrek 2) will be use as a background song.
Sadly, we will be skipping over to two weeks later in the next chapter as the next one will no longer take place in Cinderella's World. Don't worry, we will see Silver's stay in "A Days in the Magical World".
Next Chapter: Anthony enlisted Silver's bird friends, Nico and Pedro, to help him create a romantic mood so he and Silver can have their first official kiss.