I would like to apologize for the delay. I've been busy as of late and had to write a Shakespearian play for one of my classes. It sucked the creativity out of me. Thanks to those who are reading this and bearing with me with all my long waits between chapters. Jenni4life- thanks for the great compliment, I hope to make a movie out of it some day, but there are other great fanfics out there. So here's the latest installment of the Tenth Kingdom 2: The Story Continues.

The carriage was bumpy as it rose through the lands. The mountains lay ahead. The Queen could feel something pulling her to them. It was the one kingdom she could not conquer. But she would soon. Having the Dwarves under her control would make her so powerful no one could ever stop her. With the Dwarves' Quick-silver magic mirrors, the Queen will be able to do anything.

The mirrors she had were powerful, but they were old, brought forth in the time of the Greats. The Queen even had a small hand mirror so she could see anyone she wanted. Sighing slightly she called to the mirror, "Magic mirror, show me the Princesses." The mirror rippled, went black and stayed black. "What's going on? You stupid mirror, show me what I wish to see!" She shook the mirror. The mirror stayed black. After some moments a faint dot of gold came into view. Soon a wolf boy came into focus, then a bear, the girl who came to her, hawk, and finally…….a blur. "NO!" screamed the Queen, throwing the mirror on the bench across from her. Luckily it didn't break; the last thing the Queen needed was seven years bad luck.

So, the Princess was able to get into the Ninth Kingdom. Well, if she can, so can I. Thought the Queen. She called to her driver, "Head to the mountain! Find the horses they left behind!" To herself she said, "That is where I will get in.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

It was so dark. Alex couldn't see. Kip took the lead using a torch, then Gregory. The two believed if they all were in danger they could fight and protect the group. Alex thought Hawk and his bow should go first, but Hawk agreed to let the others go first. He was probably hoping Kip would be the first to be killed. Hawk stayed close to Alex. He seemed to be in a daze. She didn't blame him, he just found out he was the rightful king out in the body of a very bad man.

Alex was trying to deal with the knowledge that her parents had not abandoned her, but her mother died and her father is in prison. Everything she believed growing up became a myth, and all the myths became true. She wondered at what all she thought she knew, but didn't. Her mother was obviously holding back on her, that much was sure. Could there be secrets about her strange hair? Is there something to explain the wolf? And what was the deal with 'like before?' Had she been there before? What tragedy happened to make her mother never want to bring her back? There were so many questions running through Alex's head she ran into Hawk. She came out of her daze and noticed everyone had stopped, "What's going on?"

Hawk turned to her, "Look above you." Alex looked and noticed a whole in the ceiling. There was a flickering light above indicating a tunnel.

Gregory spoke next, "the rest of the way is sealed. There must have been a cave in."

"Well, what do we do now?" asked Alex.

It was Kip who answered, "Okay, I say we climb out and see what's going on."

"Hold on, who put you in charge? I'm the King, you should listen to me." Hawk came to terms with the fact that he's William, and now he wanted to be in charge.

Kip was ready to get in Hawk's face, "Do you have a better idea? Maybe we should go back and the way we came and get killed by the Queen?"

Hawk was going to take the bait but Alex stepped in. "Stop, we need to work together. My father is in prison in the castle, and up is the only way out, so we go up. If anyone doesn't like it, then stay. I'm not asking anyone to come up withy me, except Tori, I don't want to get separated from her. Gregory, if you could lift Kip up, so he can climb out and help the rest of us out, then we will all help you. Is that okay with everyone?" Alex looked like she would scream at anyone who disagreed. So everyone agreed.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Gregory lifted Kip up, then Tori, Alex, and finally a disgruntled Hawk. Then he went up with some difficulty. When he finally got up and looked around he noticed a slide that went up. "How do we get up?"

It was Alex who answered, "The slide comes from a main cavern. Just over there," She pointed to a small tunnel, "is the tunnel to go up. That is where we will get to the top. The large cavern is so big you could almost fit a castle in it. I …I think…I almost…" Alex scrunched up her face trying to remember something she had forgotten long ago.

She must have been her before, back in the New Golden Age. Gregory thought. Back when Wendell was King and Fair Virginia was around, and the royal family would come and go in these mountains. It would seem natural for her to have come here.

"I've been here, I know the way!" Alex shot off in the direction of the small tunnel.

Gregory sighed a bear sigh, "She has more energy then most young. Let us follow and keep her out of trouble." Everyone followed reluctantly, terrified of the welcome they would receive from the Dwarves.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

She hated climbing like this, but if you want something done right, you must do it yourself. So here she was, halfway up a mountain, looking for an entrance. The Queen looked at her insolent trolls. They were dumb. She made them spread out in search of an opening. The Queen was concentrating on the horses. They would tell her where the princesses were, if she turned then into humans.

The Queen scrunched up her brow, trying to remember the spell. She placed her hands on the two horses' heads and whispered the words. The horses stared to ripple and slowly took the form of two human girls. They were pretty young girls, one with blonde hair and the other with black. They started blinking at the Queen. They looked at each other, then at themselves.

"Hello young ones. You look frightened. Don't worry I will change you back to horses, but first you have to tell me where the two princesses and their companions are."

The dark haired one answered, "I don't like you. You want to hurt them." She looked at the blonde, the blonde nodded, then the dark haired one turned back to the Queen. "We will not tell you where they are. We would rather die then have you hurt them. They will do great things. There is nothing you could do about it."

The Queen was not happy with this answer, "You seem to think you are wise."

"Horses are intelligent creatures. It may take humans awhile to adapt to new places, but not horses. Besides, we can talk to other animals, and humans can't. They tell us great things."

The Queen nodded, "I see what you mean. Well, if you won't tell us what we want, I shall have to take you with me back to the castle. The princesses will come to get you, then I'll kill them."

Four trolls snuck up behind the horses and grabbed them. The horses screamed but were helpless. The Queen smiled slightly then called to the others. "Come! We will return to the castle. Thermic, Resh, Milch! Stay and find the entrance." She turned back to the horses, "I'm sorry you didn't tell me what I wanted to know. I'm afraid I will have to imprison you, then I will kill you. After I get what I want." The Queen turned and headed back down the mountain, the two girls being dragged down behind her screaming.

Three trolls stayed behind, searching. They split off from each other. After some time Resh called to his brothers. "Thermic and Milch, I've found the entrance. I'm at the waterfall." The other two followed their brother's voice.

"Well, look at that." Thermic said, "How come the Queen didn't see this?"

"I don't know, but she will be in our debt when we get the princesses," answered Resh. The three trolls walked down into the entrance and into the white room.