Eleanor took a deep breath as she stepped through the portal, the chaotic throne room replaced by her friends' vibrant realm. The air hummed with industry and innovation - things she hoped to bring to Eldoria.
But no time for sightseeing. With quick hugs, Eleanor parted ways with Shane and Xavier to begin her mission. Eldoria's wounds ran deep, only cooperation and toil would heal them. She had much to learn here.
Meanwhile, back in the palace Prince Vincent seethed as the portal closed, denying him. That upstart girl, refuse his suit? The throne was her duty, just as marriage secured his disputed holdings along the border marches!
Clenching his fists, Vincent retreated to his nearby estate. The council grumbled over Eleanor's "postponement" but he would not let her selfishness spoil his plans. Not when the crown and its power were within his grasp at last...
As Vincent's servants cowered from their master's rage, his eyes turned towards the sealed sanctum holding the magical artifacts meant for Eleanor's coronation. Power indeed awaited still in Eldoria. Power with which to forge his righteous destiny!
Vincent stormed through the castle halls, servants scrambling from his path. How dare that naïve girl deny his offer - without his forces, her throne was vulnerable! The border lords would be circling like vultures now, testing her weak authority.
He flung open the doors to the sanctum, the crown and scepter glinting within. The priest guards stirred, blocking his way.
"The relics cannot be disturbed before the coronation, my prince," one declared nervously.
Vincent stepped forward, eyes aflame. "You forget yourselves! I am protector of these realms in the queen's absence. Stand aside!"
When they hesitated, Vincent drew his blade, relishing their panicked retreat. He had shed blood defending this kingdom - his ambitions were righteous!
The crown felt heavy in his hands. Not Eleanor's to spurn any longer, but belonging to the champion Eldoria needed. Vincent lifted it with destiny's swell in his heart, feeling the ancient power course through him.
Let those fools on the council debate propriety - he would seize what was due! When Eleanor deigned to return from her foolish quest, this warlord prince would greet her instead upon the throne. Then they would see!
The sanctum doors flew open as Sir Gregory stormed in, flanked by priests. "Unhand those holy relics, Vincent!"
The prince whipped around, crown still on his arrogant head. "You overstep yourselves! I secured this kingdom's safety while Eleanor abandoned duty. This throne is mine by deed."
But Gregory's face was stone, authority unquestioned as the late queen's sole surviving brother.
"You secured nothing but your boundless ambition. Return the crown and be gone from this palace!"
Vincent shook with long-denied fury. After years commanding armies in Eldoria's and his kingdom's name, denying enemies at the borderlands, now they sought to exile him over propriety?
"I shall defend Eldoria as is proper, not tinker with baubles in foreign realms like your wayward Eleanor," Vincent snarled back. The priests advanced around him, magic shimmering.
Gregory felt an energy surge from Vincent in warning but held firm.
"Your last opportunity, prince. Relinquish your stolen power and remain in our grace. Or be made an outcast this hour."
Breathing heavily, Vincent glanced between their unmoving faces. With a cry of frustration, he flung down the crown amidst shocked gasps and retreated from the sanctum. They would regret this insult! Once back on his lands, he would raise allies and return on his own terms!
Then they would see if Eldoria thrived under that girl's "restoration" in his absence!
Face burning in humiliation, Vincent hurried from the capital towards his family's southern fortress.
Outmaneuvered by that dog Gregory and his simpering priests! But this insult would not stand - the border lords would flock to his righteous cause in time.
Bursting into the empty hall, Vincent strode for the armory, ready to summon his generals. But a mocking laugh made him whirl about instead.
Lounging on top of the high table, gemstone dagger casually twirling, was his sister Octavia - Gregory's own protege.
"Going somewhere, dear brother?" she purred, beaming with malevolent delight.
Vincent clenched his fists, outrage scalding him at the sight of her smug grin. "Have you come just to crow then?" he spat. "Or does our uncle's loyal hound bring some new hollow warning?"
Octavia paused her spinning blade, smiling wider as she shook her head. "As if you need another - skulking back home after being whipped by trembling old men!" She cackled again at Vincent's indignant rage.
With a snarl, he turned his back on her jesting. The time for words and courtly farces had ended - there were true powers in Eldoria that his whelp of a cousin could never claim! And Vincent would seize his righteous destiny, Octavia's mockery be damned! He had no time to entertain her now.
***
Eleanor was poring over mechanical diagrams in her friend's workshop when her phone rang. The number made her pause - Lady Celeste, a close friend on Gregory's council. Why call so urgently?
She answered, seeing her friends Shane and Xavier glance over in concern as Celeste related alarming news - Prince Vincent had stormed the palace sanctum, trying to claim the crown! Thankfully he had been thwarted, but withdrawn spitefully to his border stronghold now.
Eleanor gripped her phone tightly as Celeste described the aftermath - confusion in the capital, instability along Vincent's disputed territories. This is what she had feared.
Her voice was grave when she thanked Celeste. Shane raised an eyebrow and she related the crisis.
"I knew postponing my coronation may encourage trouble, but not so brazenly!" Eleanor sighed. "Vincent clearly doesn't intend to accept my refusal. And in my absence, he sows chaos I cannot yet quell."
Xavier nodded solemnly. "He believes turmoil will turn support his way. A dangerous gambit."
Comforted by her friends' support, Eleanor considered her next steps. Vincent sought to force her hand, believing crown and country were his playthings to seize.
She would prove otherwise. With skills gained here, then return to Eldoria stronger than he could imagine. No matter Vincent's trouble in her absence, she would answer with the authority of one born to rule - and thrive through cooperation, not coercion!
This conflict was far from over.
Shane slammed his fist on the worktable in response to Eleanor's statement, causing tools to rattle.
"That punk prince tried stealing your crown?! Oh I oughta march right through that portal and show him what's what!"
He began gathering an eclectic array of experimental gadgets and weapons into a sack, face like a storm cloud.
Eleanor reached out to restrain him. "Whoa there Shane, I know you want to help, but we can't go antagonizing the situation further."
But Shane shrugged her off, fuming. "After everything you did saving his kingdom, now pretty boy wants to start trouble? I'll introduce that spoiled brat to some real trouble!"
Checking that his mechanical eye was combat-ready, Shane made for the portal before Eleanor stepped firmly in his way.
"That's exactly what Vincent expects - for us to come charging in to put him in his place," she argued. "It's a provocation, trying to undermine me."
She put a hand on Shane's crossed arms. "We're making real progress here. When I return to Eldoria, it has to be on my terms - with leverage and resources to secure the peace, not more infighting."
Shane's brows knitted in frustration, but he reluctantly lowered his sack of contraptions.
"Fine, we'll do it your way partner. But if Vince tries anything else, diplomacy's going out the window! Nobody messes with us on my watch!"
Eleanor smiled wryly. Shane's brazen loyalty was often an asset, if one needing occasional restraint.
For now though, she'd best accelerate her plans. Vincent was unlikely to tolerate her "absence" for long before stirring more trouble!