An icy chill had descended over the group after leaving that chaotic market. It was as if they weighed a thousand pounds, their sorrow and fear cleaving through like stones sinking into an endless lake. They trudge past village after village, forest after forest, field after field, silence following in their wake. Andrea could feel them drifting further away, she felt her bones shake each night as a chill gripped her. She knew this depression couldn't last long - without hope, this quest was doomed.
But Andrea couldn't bring herself to mend what was falling apart. She didn't know Juno or Etherea like she knew her knight, their bonds were flaking. They thought of her as a joke, she was weak and hopeless, a Princess in name only. Juno pulled through for his daughters, and Etherea for her promised reward. Without the incentive, they would be gone in an instant and Princess Andrea would be left alone.
She knew she would fail on her own.
They had buried Sir Jamathon in a nearby village, promising to leave his secret buried with him. But Princess Andrea couldn't leave his sword, unable to let that last part of him go. She wrapped it up in Jamathon's cloak and tied it to her back. She wasn't sure what to do with that heavy burden, Andrea couldn't bring herself to properly mourn Sir Jamathon- her Jam-Jam. It didn't feel real, on those long days and nights through the vast landscapes past Greencourt.
When dusk settled on each day that passed, Princess Andrea often let her mind wander. She imagined that Sir Jamathon was only a few paces behind her, stoic and silent as ever. She would even turn to face him when a pretty flower or ugly squirrel crossed the group's path, but then her eyes would focus. But he wasn't there - and it left her wracked with guilt.
Andrea knew it was her fault. She had put Sir Jamathon on this path, she was the careless one, the thoughtless one, and had forced him on this foolish quest. She was stupid to think she could succeed.
"I don't think I can do this," she whispered.
Etherea turned around quickly, "What was that?" she asked.
The Princess had spoken mindlessly, she shook her head, "It was nothing."
The fairy stopped abruptly, her eyes darkening.
"I think we should camp for the night, the further we move away from Greencourt the more perilous this quest becomes."
"Thank goodness, my hoof's are about to give out" Juno sighed. He had been quiet these past few days, the lack of insults throwing off the usual atmosphere
The group set up camp for the night by a stream. Etherea roasted mushrooms she'd collected during the day on a small fire, while Juno muttered under his breath. Andrea sat still staring into the flames, the wooden logs crackled, crumbling under the pressure.
"Just spit it out Andrea," Etherea sighed.
Andrea started, she looked up and caught the pity marking the fairy's beautiful face.
"What if this is a mistake? What if I can't save Prince William? What if I fail?.." she whispered.
Etherea edged closer to Andrea. "It can be tough, doing things on your own for the first time...".
She brushed Andrea's hair off of her face, "But everyone is faced with this challenge at some point in their lives. We have to overcome the odds and transform into our own person, our true self."
Andrea could feel herself sinking, "But what if my true self is this ugly and pathetic person on the inside that doesn't match the beauty on the outside."
The Princess's voice dropped, "What if this is all I'll ever be?". Tears slid down her cheek, she was a breath away from erupting.
"We choose who we want to be. We choose what battles we face and which ones we run away from, that's what determines our true selves. When we run, we're only really running from ourselves. Take your fate back princess, rise to meet it and everything will fall into place." Etherea spoke as if she was sure she was right, her words marked with the knowledge of a thousand years. Andrea couldn't help but feel like she had stumbled upon a goddess in that tiny spice shop.
Juno snorted, "Honestly princess, you don't think I feel ridiculous on this journey! I know I'm not the strongest unicorn, it's not my own fate pushing me forward, it's my daughters, I'm nothing without them. So I'll do everything in my power to get them back, even if that means becoming more than a unicorn- if that means I'm becoming something entirely different."
Andrea wiped the tears from her eyes, "I don't want to be a burden to anyone, but I know I can't save William as myself, as simply a Princess, but I don't know how to overcome that identity."
"You have all you need, Andrea," Etherea said, "Take out your sword"
Andrea blinked, "Sir Jamathon's sword..." She pulled it into her lap, pulling away the fabric to reveal the silver burning with light from the campfire.
Etherea shook her head, "It's your sword now Andrea. When you wield that blade, you'll do so with Sir Jamathon's heart, his strength and his courage. All you must do is accept it, I can show you the rest".
Andrea stared up at the fairy with wonder, she could see the light, the wonder deep within.
The princess stood up, "I'm not going to stand by any more," she spoke with conviction.
"I'm not going to let anyone else die. I'm actually going to save my prince. I can promise that, I can stake my life on it.". Andrea's heart was beating, and for the first time in weeks she felt warmth, she felt ready.
...
The group moved quicker than before, travelling towards the edge of Greencourt's Kingdom, towards the Outer Lands where the villainess was rumoured to reside. Andrea practised with her sword day and night under Etherea's instruction. Andrea didn't know how Etherea knew the way of the sword, but she had begun to suspect the fairy was much older than she looked.
The landscape shifted away from the forests into spanning planes of grass, and then back into forests as villages started becoming more and more distant from one another. As they moved towards one of the outermost villages, close to the border, they saw black smoke spiralling into the sky.
"A fire..." Juno grumbled.
Etherea shook her head, "It's more than that, it looks like an inferno," she narrowed her eyes at the smoke, "We must be careful".
As they grew closer, a foul scene unfolded.
A town. Or, rather, it was a town at some stage, but not like any Princess Andrea had seen before. Shells of buildings remained- bricks, cogs, springs and screws littered throughout the wreckage as often as there were leaves. As they drew closer to the centre of the ruins, what was left of the buildings grew taller and taller. Shuttle tracks were raised above their heads, ladders leaning against what was left to hold them up.
Ash and smoke stung their eyes, it drifted through the air like a fog, a devastating undercurrent of loss seeping through.
"Do you think it was those people? The ones the villainess sent?" Andrea asked, coughing through the ash. No one could answer as they looked upon the scene with anguish.
Etherea grabbed Andrea's wrist, "Pull out your sword, they could still be here," she whispered.
Andrea did as she was told, but the village was eerily silent. They moved through the destruction keeping a careful eye out for movement.
"There!" Juno said, he rushed through the fog, away from the others.
"Juno wait!" Andrea urged, but he was gone.
They quickened their pace to catch up with the tiny unicorn, when suddenly they heard a wailing, "Stay away from me! Stay away!" It sounded like a child.
When Etherea and Andrea caught up to the unicorn, they could see a small boy crouched in the wreckage, his face was covered in ash and dirt, rosy cheeks streaked with dried tears. He looked no older than ten.
Juno was trying to comfort him, but the boy was terrified, "Please don't kill me, I swear I won't say anything," he sobbed.
"Hush boy" Juno urged, "We aren't here to hurt you, we just got here!"
As if seeing the unicorn for the first time, the boy's eyes cleared, "You people are travellers?" he sniffed. Juno nodded.
"What happened here?" Andrea asked.
The boy's face grew hard, "It was dark magic, old and angry. Our weapons were useless against it - no one stood a chance. It was the witch, the one that lives in the forgotten land, the one they told us about in stories. It must have been her people who came here and did this, they burned everything down. My family, my home, it's all gone."
Andrea was startled, "You're all alone?"
The boy nodded, "Everything I had was here."
The group all turned to one another, unsure of what to do. Juno, who had been listening intently, snorted. "That's just like the villainess. Always causing chaos and destruction."
Etherea interjected, "Yes, yes, she's totally evil and disgusting, we know. We have to find a way to defeat her and put an end to her evil deeds, but what about the boy? We can't just leave him here."
Andrea turned from the conversation, kneeling down to the boy.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"It's Oakley, miss," the boy whispered.
"I'm actually a princess, but that's alright." Andrea sighed, "We're travelling into the Outer Lands, we're going to stop that villainess, Oakley. I can't waste time taking you back to another village, I'm trying to save someone very important. The closest place is too far away. But I can't take you into that dangerous place."
The little boy Oakley straightened up, "Please take me with you! Please let me help, I'm more talented than you think, I can help you defeat her, please don't leave me here!" he cried.
Juno grumbled, "I don't think it's safe for a child to come with us. We don't know what kind of dangers we'll face."
Oakley stood up to Juno, which wasn't much considering the pocket-sized nature of the ball of pink fluff. "I may be young, but I'm strong-willed and resourceful. I can help you, and I won't slow you down."
Etherea bent down to the boy, offering him a cloth to wipe his face, "We won't leave you here, but I can't promise your safety where we are going. If you're to come, you must do exactly as we say, do you understand?".
Oakley nodded quickly, "I just don't want to be alone again."
Juno sighed, "This is a terrible idea..."
"We can protect him," Andrea said firmly as she turned to the boy, "Do you know where the villainess resides?" she asked
Oakley furrowed his brow before shaking his head. "But I know the safest way into the Outer Lands, I can lead you to the farthest place I know, the people there might know where to find the witch."
Andrea nodded, "Let's go then, we shouldn't stay here any longer" The group all nodded in agreement, picking themselves back up to continue. Oakley took a final look at his home, wiping away the last of his tears before he joined the group as they departed.
...
As the sun began to set, the group made it past the border, into the wild land where wickedness ruled and no man was safe. Here, monsters and foul creatures roamed. It was the perfect place for an evil villainess's hideout. Hunger gnawed at their stomachs, and Andrea suggested they take a break to prepare a meal.
As the four of them gathered around a small campfire, Etherea pulled out a pot and some ingredients from her bag. "I have some herbs and vegetables we can use," she said. "We'll make a simple soup to keep us warm and nourished."
Juno, who had been grumpy and silent for most of the journey, snorted. "I don't see why we need to eat. We should just keep moving."
Princess Andrea, sensing the tension, spoke up. "Juno, we need to rest and refuel. We can't keep going on an empty stomach." Juno just grumbled.
As they cooked, the group fell into a sombre silence. The crackling of the fire was the only sound, and it was almost as if the flames were reflecting the dark memories that weighed heavily on their hearts. The group ate in silence until Andrea spoke up, "I'm going to go for a walk, maybe look for some more firewood."
She didn't have it in her to keep the energy high, but if she sat there any longer, she was going to fall back into a dark place.
Etherea stood up quickly, "I'll go too!"
They both left, leaving Juno and the boy alone at the fire.
Oakley, sitting by the fire with his knees drawn up to his chest, had been quiet for most of the day. But now he seemed lost in thought.
Juno noticed the boy's demeanour and walked over to him, horn glowing softly in the dim light. "What's on your mind, kid?" he asked, settling down beside him.
Oakley hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "I saw my parents die in that fire, I heard them screaming for me to run, but I couldn't move. I can't stop seeing their faces or hearing their voices."
Juno's scowl melted. He had seen too many tragedies like this one, too many children left to fend for themselves in the world. "I'm sorry, kid. That's a heavy burden to carry."
Oakley nodded, his eyes fixed on the ground. "I tried to run away, to escape. But there was nowhere to go. They tried to take me, the people that burned my village down. I tried to stop them. I threw all the bombs I'd made at them, but they just... didn't work." He flushed, embarrassed by his failed attempt to save his home.
"My Mum was teaching me how to make things - how to invent and build cool things. But it wasn't enough, I wasn't strong enough. All I could do was hide."
Juno nodded, the grumpy unicorn seemed so much softer. "You're safe now, kid. I'll make sure no one hurts you. I'm here to save my daughters - they were stolen by the evil villainess. We're going to take back all the pain and suffering inflicted on us. I can assure you I'll give it back tenfold."
"I can help!" Oakley said with urgency, "My family said I was brilliant, even at ten. If I can just get my hands on some supplies, and practise a little bit more, I can create fire and explosions which will totally be helpful in defeating her!"
"If that's something you want to do, we can do that," said Juno.
Oakley laid his head on Juno's soft back, "Thank you, Juno... I'm glad you guys found me..." the boy said as he buried his face in Juno's fur. For the first time in a long time, he felt safe. With Juno by his side, he knew that he could face anything that came his way. Together, they would be unstoppable.
...
Andrea and Etherea found themselves walking together on a quiet path through the Outer Lands, their path filled with dead trees and shrubs, but Andrea could see forests on the horizon. The Princess had been feeling lost and uncertain lately, and she had begun to find comfort in the fairy priestess's gentle yet firm presence.
After a few moments of silence, Andrea spoke up. "Etherea, can I ask you something?"
"Of course," Etherea replied, turning to look at Andrea.
"I know this is stupid, and I...I don't know how to say this," Andrea hesitated. Etherea raised a single eyebrow, urging Andrea to continue.
"I love my betrothed, Prince William, I really do, but I feel like something's missing- I have for a while. And we were set to be married soon, but...I don't know anymore, I don't know if it's right."
Etherea listened patiently, sensing the princess's inner turmoil. "Have you considered that you might have feelings for someone else?"
Andrea shook her head. "No! No, there's no one else. It's just...I don't know if I'm ready for this kind of commitment. We would make totally adorable babies and I've heard he's really nice - I mean, he's been nice to me heaps but we've only spoken a few times and..." she broke off, realising she was rambling. "I'm scared, Etherea," Andrea said, looking up at the other woman.
The fairy priestess placed a hand on Andrea's shoulder. "It's okay to be scared. Love is a complicated thing, and sometimes it takes time to figure out what we truly want."
As they walked, Etherea found herself opening up to Andrea in a way she never had before. "I know what it's like to feel like you're not sure where you belong. I'm gay, and it took me a long time to come to terms with that."
Andrea stopped in her tracks, surprised. "You're...you're gay?"
Etherea nodded. "Yes, I am. And I know it's not something that's widely accepted in this world, fairy or human. But I've learned to embrace who I am, and I'm proud of it."
Andrea paused for a moment, thinking. "Does that mean you like girls too?"
Etherea chuckled softly. "Yes, Andy, it does. But just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm attracted to every woman I meet... It's just a part of who I am."
"My um, my Mum told me that that stuff was fake. That people didn't feel that way," Andrea said, almost like a question.
Etherea scowled, "Well, she's not the only one. And, you know, I don't care if it's treason or not, but she sounds like a total bitch."
Andrea spun, eyes wide as saucers. And then she did something she hadn't for a very long time - she laughed.
Wheezing and bent over, Etherea smiled at the very un-regal demeanour of the Princess, a chuckle bubbling up and out of her throat as well.
Once the two calmed themselves down, they walked in silence for a while, before Andrea spoke up again. "I don't know what to do, Etherea. I don't want to disappoint my family or Prince William, but... I don't know..."
Etherea placed a comforting arm around the princess's shoulder. "Listen to your heart, Andrea. Don't let anyone else's expectations dictate your life. You have the power to make your own choices."
Andrea shook her head, "I'm being stupid, I don't know why I'm feeling this way. I love Prince William, we're meant to be together, I think this whole journey has really been messing with me."
"It's okay princess, this isn't something you have to decide now.".
The princess nodded, she felt uneasy, these feelings felt like a drowning weight for her, and she didn't know if she'd resurface.
...
That morning the group stumbled upon a stream, taking turns to bathe and clean themselves up. Andrea had volunteered to go last, she had felt so tired, she couldn't pull herself out of her sleeping mat. Once the others had finished up she wandered over to the water's edge, her boots caked with mud and dirt, without a second thought, she knelt down to wash them. As she stepped into the stream, pebbles beneath her soles, she caught a glimpse of her reflection, she bent down further
But there was something wrong. The reflection wasn't just her own. In the water, she could see the image of a woman blurring with her own, darkening. Soon the image grew clearer, clearer than her own, she was absolutely mesmerised. She'd thought that she had seen beauty all of her life - had been surrounded by it in fact. But this woman was the most stunning person Andrea had ever seen. Swirls of ebony circled her head like a crown before cascading down over her shoulders. Her skin was smooth even as the water rippled and moved, and the eyes that met hers were a deep shade of violet. The image was so clear, it was as if Andrea was staring into a mirror and another face was smirking back.
Princess Andrea's heart began to race. Only one person had this kind of dark power, only one person would want to ruin the semblance of hope she'd created these last few days.
The reflection glimmered with dark magic, and soon the villainess's voice could be heard echoing from the depths of the water.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is. My brave little princess, all alone in the Outer Lands..."