The sound of rain was coming down hard and the sound of the thunder was so loud that it could keep you awake. Alex suddenly opened his eyes and to his shock at first was the lightning flashed until it was gone. He looked around and to see that he was surrounded by trees. He was in a forest only to see that it looks. animated. Almost like at Cinderella's world when he and Madison were there.

He looked at himself to see that he was still human and not his fairy form. And his clothing looked medieval like. Almost like how the fairies were dressed from his home and he was wearing a satchel. But as he looked at his hand, he was holding his girlfriend's necklace. He held it close to him and kissed the gem, hoping that Madison is alright.

Zor popped his head out of the satchel and looked at his master. The Bearded Dragon starts crawling on Alex's top and reached to his shoulder, chirping to him as he looked in concern.

"Don't know where are, Zor." he said to him. "But Maddie is out there somewhere."

The Bearded Dragon nodded his head and hanged on tight as Alex began his search.

"Maddie!" he hollered but there was no reply from his girlfriend or even seen him.

Alex kept on hollering her name so many times and there was still no answer. Not even a silhouette of his dear one or even spark from her magic. Alex was not giving up as the necklace was still in his clutch. Zor was still worried about his mistress as he had his head down, but Alex looked at him and gently petted his head.

"We're not giving up, Zor. She is alive somewhere and we will find her." he said to him.

Zor looked at his master and gave him nod as he smiled a little.

As the two kept on searching for Madison, they stopped as they a voice echoed through the trees.

"Odette!" a man's voice crying from the distance.

"Did you hear that?" Alex asked as he was talking to Zor.

The Bearded Dragon nod his head as he did hear the voice. Alex continued walking as he decided to follow the voice. But also, he started to think that voice sounded so familiar but don't know who it was.

"Hello?!" he shouted. "Is someone out there?"

Alex and Zor waited for an answer but there was no answer. Unless the storm was so loud that nobody could hear him. The two looked at each other and decided to follow the direction where they heard the voice. For a mile or even a mile and a half, Alex spotted something from the distance. It looked like a carriage. Zor squeaked as his tail pointed at the carriage.

"Yes, I saw it too. Maybe someone can help us."

Alex kept on going while Zor hangs on to him. As the two went through the bushes, they finally made to the carriage only to see that it was knocked down. There were no horses or anyone around.

'Must have been an ambush or something.' Alex thought as he looked at the carriage.

Zor was looking at it as well until he spotted something. Or someone. He squeaked softly at his master to get his attention and had his tail pointed at the direction. Alex looked to see a young man as he looked heartbroken in grief and the other man, an elderly one, looked dead. Alex was looked at the young man and slowly walked towards him.

"Excuse me?" he spoke to him.

The young man looked at him as tears were streaming down his eyes but quickly wiped them.

"Are you alright? What happened here?"

"I don't know." the young man answered softly. "I came here when King William's captain arrived at my castle. He was injured and he told me that King William was under attacked by this Great Animal. I quickly arrived here when I was worried about Odette. Only... she wasn't here. And King William's dead. And for the first question you asked, not really."

"Excuse me for asking but... who is Odette?" Alex asked and Derek looked surprised to hear that question.

"Don't tell me you don't know of Princess Odette?"

"Not really. I'm... more of a traveler. This is my first time coming to this kingdom. But for the reason, I'm on a quest. Some flying beast came out of nowhere and snatched my girlfriend away from me." said Alex and showed him the necklace. "This necklace is what left of hers."

Derek looked at the necklace for a moment. It is beautiful but he could have sworn that the gem was glowing. He then looked at his hand as he was holding a heart shaped gold locket with a swan symbol on it.

"This necklace is all that is left to Odette as well. I gave this to her a long time ago when she was a baby."

Alex looked at the necklace for a moment and then looked at the young man.

"Perhaps this Great Animal might be the same beast that took my girlfriend. If we could work together on finding that monster your highness, we'll might find your princess and my girlfriend."

The young man thought for a moment and then nod.

"Very well. Come with me to my home. We'll might find some answers in the library and also some training to be prepared for the beast." he said, and Alex nod his head in agreement. Including Zor. "I'm Derek by the way. Prince Derek."

"I'm Alex. And this is Zor, my girlfriend's Bearded Dragon." he answered and then looked at the dead body of King William. "But what about him? We can't leave him here."

"I'll inform the guards to bring his body over and take him to his ship. They'll may give him a proper funeral at his kingdom." said Derek.

Derek hopped onto his horse and then helped Alex up as he was sitting behind him. Zor carefully hanged onto Alex's shoulder as the horse starts galloping.

"By the way, how did you know I'm a prince before I introduce myself?"

"Well, since you said that this Odette is a princess, I figured that you're a prince. Plus, you said 'castle' which is your home."

Derek nods his head but smiled a little. He started to get the feeling that he might actually trust this new stranger and the Bearded Dragon.

Finally, the three reached to the castle. Alex got a good look at the place. It was a lot different than the one he's been to. As Derek stopped his horse, he quickly got off along with Alex and the two along with dashed off to get inside the castle from the rain. Alex looked to see that they were in a main hall. Alex so amazed to see the beauty of the decor especially how Zor admires the structure.

"This is a very big castle, Zor." Alex whispered and Zor nods his head in agreement.

"Derek!" a feminine voice shouted.

The three looked to see a queen walking straight towards them with a valet by her side.

"Thank goodness you're back, Derek!" the queen spoke as she hugged him. "What were you thinking?! Running off in the rain like this?! Rogers told me everything after King William's Captain came back!"

"I was worried about Odette, and I have to be sure. When I got to the carriage, she was gone and King William..."

"What? What do you mean, Derek?" the valet questioned.

"Is he alright?" the queen asked in concern and Derek shook his head.

"No, mother." he answered softly. "He's dead."

"No..." the queen gasped lightly.

Alex looked at the queen as he could tell that she was heartbroken on hearing the sad news. He wished he could say something but decided to stay silent as he let her have a moment. The valet looked at his queen in grief as he knows how much that King William was her friend.

"Uberta, you should go upstairs and have a moment to yourself." he said to her.

The queen doesn't like to be ordered around but she knows what he meant and nods her head.

"Alright... I'll be in my chambers, Derek."

Derek nods his head and watches as her mother sadly walked away. The valet watched her leave until she was out of sight. He turned around to face Derek.

"If you're asking how the captain is doing, Derek. He's injured but he's lucky to be alive if he hadn't come to the castle after the attack." he said until he noticed Alex. "Derek, who is this?"

"Oh! I almost forgot. Rogers, I like you meet Alex. I met him in the forest after William died. Alex this is Lord Rogers. He's my mother's valet and also a musician tutor."

"Musician huh? Back at the kingdom where I'm from, it's full of music that people enjoy singing and dancing."

"Really? Is that so?" Rogers asked as he smiled, and Alex nods his head.

"Anyone who loves music is welcome in the castle."

"Thank you, sir."

"You must be so tired and wet after being out there in the rain." said Rogers.

"Yes. I was searching for someone. You see, my girlfriend, Maddie, have taken by some beast."

"He told me she's being taken by the Great Animal, the same beast who took Odette."

"The Great Animal?" Rogers questioned. "The one that King William's captain spoke about?"

"I'm afraid so." Derek answered. "Which is why Alex and I decided to do some training to find the Great Animal and to find Odette."

"And Maddie." Alex spoke.

"Training? You can't be serious, Derek? But how would you believe if Odette is alive?" Rogers questioned.

"She is alive, Rogers. And I'm going to find her." said Derek.

Rogers looked at the prince and he still doesn't believe him.

"Wherever Odette is, she's gone forever." he said but Derek shook his head.

"You're wrong, Rogers. She is alive and I know it." he said and then looked at Alex. "Come on, I'll show you to your room."

Alex nods his head and quickly follows Derek as he walked past Rogers. The valet watched the two go until they stopped, and Derek turned around to face him.

"By the way Rogers. I'm going to need a few of your musicians."

To Be Continued...