It's four years later and the kingdom of Alta are in high spirits because it's the middle of July and everyone is enjoying the summer sunshine.
As 8 year old Princess Hanna was getting ready to go outside and play with the other children, as usual, Queen Patricia came in her room with a smile on her face and said, "Are you ready to go outside and play?" Hanna nodded her head. "Yes", she said, excitedly. After grabbing her satchel and rushing out the door, Queen Patricia called out, "Remember Hanna; be cautious and careful!" Hanna was already sliding down the banister replying, "I will, Mama!"
By the time Hanna was out the door, she strolled around town, watching her surroundings, soaking into the perfume of the summer air.
As she watched the other kids her age playing and running around, chasing each other, she came across an old royal elderly lady from the kingdom of Elysium, who was struggling with two cumbersome baskets of fruits and veggies and bread.
'She might need some help,' Hanna thought to herself. 'She can't carry those heavy baskets all by herself.'
Without another thought, Hanna rushed to the elderly lady and asked politely, "Excuse me, miss, but do you need some help carrying those heavy baskets?"
The elderly lady smiled warmly but she was taken aback. "Oh no, dear, I think I can manage--"
Once a green apple fell from the basket and started rolling away, Hanna raced to catch the apple, cleans it with her dress and puts it back in the basket.
The elderly lady moaned and groaned in pain as she felt a sharp pain in her hip and heard a bone crack. Then she dropped the two baskets and grabs an elixir from her carpet bag and quickly drinks her medicine. A magical blue light glowed and quickly heals the sharp pain in her hip.
The elderly lady smiled and said, "My cottage is farther away in the Quiet Silverbell Forest, like a mile away. Could you please help me?"
Hanna hesitated, but in her conscience, she knew that helping others is very important. She nodded. "Sure, I'll help you."
With that, Hanna grabbed one basket, the elderly lady grabbed the other and they both started walking towards the Quiet Silverbell Forest.
Meanwhile at the Gehenna kingdom, Queen Dorothea was acting a little worried about Aliza's strange behaviour. Whenever Queen Dorothea asked her for help with a chore, Aliza would always refuse. Or another time, when Queen Dorothea would ask Aliza to help her make breakfast, she would cause chaos and break plates and dishes, for no apparent reason. "Crown Princess Aliza Delilah Harrelson!" Queen Dorothea would yell at her daughter, "What has gotten into you?" Aliza didn't always liked her mother yelling at her, but she had to keep this desperate promise to Prince Lucifer or else...she's going to have to face the consequences. Queen Dorothea had enough of her daughter's strange behavior and said, "Aliza, go to yor room, NOW!!
Tears in Aliza's eyes, she ran upstairs towards her room and closed the door behind her, locking it and jumping on her bed, sobbing.
20 mintues later, Queen Dorothea came in Aliza's room to check on her and went over to Aliza and rubbed on her back.
"Aliza, sweetheart, what's the matter with you? You've been acting strange." Queen Dorothea asked her, gently and calmly.
Aliza sobbed and sobbed. Just then, once Dorothea saw her daughter's cuts on her back, underneath her dress, she gasped in shock.
"Aliza, what happened to you?"
Aliza trembled her lips, shaking in fear. "I-I don't know."
Queen Dorothea motioned her daughter to sit up and she held Aliza's hands. "Did someone...hurt you?"
Aliza gulped hard, nervously. "Um..."
"Aliza, honey, I'm not going to yell at you. You're not in trouble. I just need you to tell me the truth." Dorothea said, calmly. "Is someone hurting you?"
Aliza, shaking in fear, slowly nodded her head. "Y-yes."
Queen Dorothea gasped then calmed down and asked, "Who's hurting you?"
Aliza began to sob again, fearful of her answer. "It's-it's Lucifer. Daddy's hurting me. He hits me on my back, giving me cuts on my back and four years ago, he threathened me and made me promise to do something awful." She broke down, crying.
Queen Dorothea felt deep compassion for her daughter and gave her a big hug. She hushed Aliza and said, "It's ok, my daughter. He won't hurt you again.
"I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you again."
Aliza sniffled and then she said, "I don't want to live here anymore, I want to live at another kingdom, at a new home."
Queen Dorothea asked her, "Do you feel safe here?"
Aliza told her the truth. "No, I'm scared, I'm lonely. I want a kind family and a little sister to play with."
When Queen Dorothea heard that, her heart broke into pieces. 'Poor child'. She thought sadly. 'She must be with a kind family, a loving, warm family.'
Queen Dorothea had a determined look on her face and hugged her daughter tightly and said, looking into Aliza's eyes, "My child, I promise, as queen, I will make sure you have a new life and a new beginning. Tomorrow morning, we'll wake up bright and early, pack up our bags and leave Gehenna for good. We will leave your toxic father and my terrible husband behind and start a new life at a new kingdom."
Crying with tears of joy and relief, Aliza smiled and said, "I would love that!"
Queen Dorothea and Aliza hugged tightly and cried joyful tears.
They've decided to leave their toxic lives and start anew with new beginnings.
Meanwhile in the Quiet Silverbell Forest, Hanna and the elderly Elysian lady was on their way to the elderly lady's cottage, strolling in the forest.
After a moment of silence, the elderly Elysian lady asked her, "What's your name, dear?"
Hanna bit her lip, hesitant to answer. After clearing her throat, she said politely, "My name is Princess Hanna Mirabel Maeland of Alta."
The Elysian lady stopped to take a bow in front of Hanna and introduced herself. "Well Pricess Hanna, my name is Lady Carol Kalberg of Elysium."
Hanna giggled and returned the bow. "Pleased to meet you," she said, curtseying.
Once Hanna and Carol walked through the forest, Hanna's stomach growled loudly. She blushed a little.
"Are you hungry, Hanna dear?" Carol asked her, politely.
Hanna clutched her stomach, trying her best to ignore the stomach growls. "A little," she said, sheepishly.
Carol reached in her basket and grabbed a vine of cloudberries and gave it to Hanna and said, "Here sweetie, eat these."
Hanna gratefully smiled and said, "Thank you, Miss Carol." She grabbed the vine and quickly ate the cloudberries ravenously.
Miss Carol couldn't help but smile. "Wow, you were very hungry!" She said, grinning.
After her snack, Hanna and Carol continued their stroll through the forest.
A few minutes later, Carol asked her, "Do you have any siblings, Hanna? Any brothers or sisters?"
Hanna thought for a moment. She'd always wanted a big sister to teach her things and give her advice to navigate life.
She answered, "No, but I always wanted a big sister to love me and play with me."
Miss Carol smiled. "Well," she said, "Maybe that wish might come true."
That made Hanna felt warm inside.
They continued strolling quietly through the forest.
*****💜💜****
Meanwhile, at the Alta Castle, Hanna's wish of having an older sibling might come true because Queen Patricia came in her room to see King Harold one day with a scroll in her hands and a big smile on her face.
"We're going to surprise Hanna at dinner tonight with a huge announcement," she said, excitedly.
King Harold was equally happy. "What's the surprise?" He asked curiously.
Patricia unrolled the scroll, reading it
"Dear Royal Maeland family of Alta, I'm happy to ask if my daughter and I would like to be your new trade partner and we would like to be a part of your small family. My daughter was having a tough childhood and it would mean so much to her and me if we could possibly live with you and start a new life in your magically mysterious kingdom."
-Cherished regards, Queen Dorothea Harrelson of Gehenna.
Queen Patricia squealed in excitement!
"We're gonna be a blended family!" She exclaimed. "Hanna's gonna get an elder sister and..." she paused.
After pausing, she said happily, "I should enroll them into a magic school!"
King Harold, being the voice of reason, interrupted and said hesitantly, "I don't know, Pat. Doesn't this seems...sketchy?"
Queen Patricia calmed down and said, "I know this may sound leery, but think about how happy Hanna would be if she had a big sister who could teach her things and guide her through life."
King Harold walked up to his wife and held her hands and said, "I know you want what's best for Hanna, but we need to think this through before we start preparing things. Don't forget that Prince Lucifer is on His way to reign terror and cause a plague over the kingdom and we still need to help Hanna prepare her for her destiny when she's coming of age."
Queen Patricia welled up in tears. "I-I know, Harold, but- I just want to protect Hanna, like I promised Desideria."
She burst into tears and sobs, now thinking about Desideria and her promise.
King Harold hugged Patricia while she sobbed on his shoulder.
After a few moments of crying, Patricia said calmly, "You're right. Let's not be rash."
King Harold smiled and held her hands and said, "Now, if we become an adoptive family, that would be good for Hanna and her well-being, I have to admit."
Patricia nodded. "Yes," she said, "She would love to have an adoptive older sister."
***💜♥️♥️♥️*****
Back in the Quiet Silverbell Forest, Princess Hanna and Miss Carol were almost there to Miss Carol's cottage. It seemed like they were walking for hours, struggling with those baskets.
Just then. Hanna spotted a nearby cottage house that was surrounded by grass and trees, there was a mystical oasis and there was a tree swing. The grass were growing with magical flowers and plants.
The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.
Hanna sighed in relief. Thank goodness, she thought. Finally, we made it.
When they reached the cottage, Miss Carol chuckled softly. "Oh, thank goodness," she said. "Home sweet home." As she opened the magical door, she said to Hanna, "Thank you so much for helping me get home, Princess Hanna. I greatly appreciate your help. You are such a kind person."
Princess Hanna smiled as she took a curtsey. "You're very welcome".
Miss Carol grabbed a wand from her carpet bag and with a wave of her hand, she magically levitated the heavy baskets into the air and puts them onto the living room table.
As Miss Carol began to step inside her cottage, Hanna stayed outside, noticing that the midnight sun was beginning to rise and it was getting late. She needed to get home, before her parents will start to worry.
Miss Carol came back outside with her hands behind her back, holding a surprise.
She told Hanna, "Thank you again for helping me, sweetie. As a reward for your kindness, I want you to have this."
Miss Carol opened her hands, revealing a Blue Sapphire Cluster Flower Pendant necklace with diamonds on them,, magically glowing.
Stars in her hazelnut brown eyes, Hanna was amazed. "Wow! This is beautiful."
"I will always cherish it, forever." She carefully grabbed the blue pendant necklace and puts it around her neck, an enchanted blue light starts to glow brightly
"This is an amulet," Miss Carol explained, "It gives you white magic; the regenerative healing magic through compassion empowerment."
Hanna thought for a moment. "You mean, whenever I do a good deed, it gives me a magic power to heal?" She asked.
Miss Carol nodded her head. "Exactly."
"This is the Amulet of Benignitas."
Hanna smiled and gives her new friend a hug. "Thank you so much, Miss Carol."
Miss Carol returned the hug and said, "You're welcome, honey bee, and remember: Kindness is a cure."
Hanna smiled brightly. As the midnight sun began to set, Hanna began to walk back to Alta Castle before the moon shone.
Looking back, she saw that Miss Carol and her cottage vanished, without saying goodbye.
Hanna couldn't believe her eyes. Was Miss Carol a witch or a sorceress?
She shrugged her shoulders. Maybe it was just a fever dream.
As Hanna walked back to the Alta Castle, the Aurora Borealis shone its green and blue lights in the starry night sky as the Aurora Faieries guided her home, using their magic.
Meanwhile at the Alta Castle, King Harold and Queen Patricia were making preparations for tonight's dinner. All of the servants took turns cooking dinner, setting the dining hall table in the living room, and puts flowers in a vase to add freshness and beauty.
Queen Patricia sighed, looking at the finished dining room table, with a satisfied smile. "Perfect," she said. "It's almost time for dinner and Hanna should be coming home any second."
King Harold walked up to his wife and gave her a gentle kiss on her cheek. "She'll be home soon", he said, reassuringly.
Patricia gulped. "I hope so."
King Harold and Queen Patricia sat down and patiently waited for Hanna's return.
They waited until 7pm. At 7pm, there was a knock at the castle door. Queen Patricia hurried to the door while King Harold rushed behind her as Lucille, the maid, opened the door, revealing Princess Hanna, wearing her amulet.
Queen Patricia rushed over and gave Hanna hugs and kisses. "Oh Hanna," she said, relieved. "Where have you been?"
Hanna smiled brightly. "I was helping this lady named Miss Carol, walk her home. I'm sorry I took so long getting home."
King Harold gave her a kiss on the forehead and asked, "Are you ok? Are you hurt?"
Hanna shook her head. "No, I'm fine."
Queen Patricia clapped her hands. "Well, time for dinner and while we eat, I have a special annoucement."
Hanna was intrigued. "Oohh, I can't wait." By the time it was 8pm, the family dinner was a quiet affair.
The silence was broken by the sounding of the bell. The queen, Patricia, had an announcement to make.
She said, "Hanna, your father and I were talking and we thought that you should have a role model in your life. Some one you could look up to and navigate you through life."
Hanna lit up with excitement. Patricia continued, "Hanna, how would you like...to have an adoptive big sister?"
Heart rapidly beating, Hanna was euphoric and she couldn't contain her excitement! She jumped out of her chair, forcing it to collapse.
She ran to her adoptive mother and jumped in her arms. "Yes, yes! My wish is coming true!"
Jumping up and down while clapping her hands, she asked, 'When is she coming? When is she coming?"
Just as she was about to answer, a sudden knock disrupted the happy atmosphere.
Feeling joyful, Hanna and her parents raced to answer the door. Lucille, the maid, said, "Your Majesties, may I present to you..."
The door opened to reveal a young maiden and her mother. They looked like they were trying to escape from Lucifer and start a new life.
The maiden's mother cleared her throat and said kindly, "Hello, King Harold and Queen Patricia Maeland of Alta. My name is Queen Dorothea Harrelson and this is my daughter, Princess Aliza Harrelson."
Aliza hid behind Dorothea's legs, shyness coming through her body as she gazed upon the Royal Maeland family.
Queen Patricia and King Harold curtsied in front of the queen and her daughter. Hanna boldly walked at the door and stood still, curtsying at Dorothea and Aliza. "i'm Princess Hanna Maeland of Alta," she introduced herself.
Queen Dorothea whispered softly to Aliza, "Don't be shy, Aliza. Go say hi." Stepping inside of the Alta Castle, the queen and princess looked around and saw that the Alta Castle was a unique and aesthetic place. They knew they were going to love their new lives at a new home with a new beginning.
Queen Dorothea asked Patricia, "Do you think you have enough rooms for me and Aliza to sleep in?" Queen Patricia flashed a warm smile. "Of course. You and Aliza will have your own rooms with your own personal maids and servants and we will make sure that you and her would feel welcome."
Queen Dorothea smiled and hugged her tight. "Thank you, your Majesty!" As soon as she lets go of her, Queen Patricia told her adoptive daughter, "Hanna, please go show Aliza her new bedroom and make sure she unpacks her belongings."
Hanna nodded her head modestly. "Yes Mama." Hanna kindly held Aliza's hand while Aliza held her suitcase handle and they gingerly walked up the long staircase.
As soon as they reached the castle hallways with 27 doors alinged up, Aliza asked, "Where's my room?"
Hanna excitedly showed Aliza her bedroom door and as she opened the door, Aliza stepped inside of her new bedroom and gasped in amazement.
Aliza's bedroom had purple and silver walls, with butterflies and fairies wall stickers on them, a canopy bed with purple pillows, stuffed animals on the bed, purple and blue bed sheets, purple blankets, window seats with cushions, windows with purple curtains with purple butterflies on them, a large desk with a desk lamp, on the ceiling, there was a candle lit chandelir. On the floor, there was a large purple rug, on the corner of the room, there was a toy chest.
On the other side of the room, there was a huge silver bookcase with thousands of books organized neatly. There was a large closet with colored frilly dresses, petticoats, hats with flowers on them, shoes with bows on them in violet and silver.
Aliza sat down on the bed and looked around as Hanna sat down next to her and said, "I can't wait to have you as a big sister." Hugging her, she added, "We're gonna be best friends forever!"
Aliza could hardly breathe, as Hanna was hugging her so tight. Finally, Hanna lets her go and stands up and told her, "If you need any help with anything, my room is just down the hallway, ok?"
Aliza nodded and Hanna kisses her on the cheek, already accepting her and warming up to her. While Hanna left to go downstairs and let Aliza settle in, she didn't know that Aliza was wearing her.cursed amulet and the Needle Ice's dark magic inside of her heart was starting to solidify and bleed to death.
Lucifer's evil spirit was starting to pervade through her body and as she was struggling to get rid of the cruelty in her heart, His voice began to speak through the Amulet.
"Hello, Aliza", Lucifer spoke. "How are you feeling?"
Aliza was startled as she heard her father's voice through her pendant. Although, no one could hear Him outside of the physical world; Aliza could only communicate to Him through her thoughts from her voice.
She gulped as she tried to answer without normally talking aloud.
"Daddy, I'm not speaking to you," she said inwardly through the Amulet.
Lucifer chuckled evilly. "Do you want to disappoint me? Remember your promise..."
Aliza gasped in horror. "W-what do you want me to do?" She asked frightened.
"You're gonna be my servant", Lucifer said, "I want you to do evil deeds and spread cruelty, malice and darkness around Alta.
Steal, lie and cheat; make people cry in pain.
The Frost Flowers and Needle Ice's black magic will only work if you obey and do as I say. Your spread of cruelty and darkness will be my main goal. The fate of the future rest on your shoulders."
Aliza was shocked. "You want me to be...mean-spirited?" She asked.
She could hear Lucifer groan in frustration.
"What do you think?" He said sarcastically.
Lucifer's evil soul began to spread throughout her body as He continued, "It's all part of the plan: the power of darkness shall reign chaos, fear and disharmony throughout the kingdoms.
"Your 1st task: be evil towards your new little sister."
Aliza gasped in horror. "Hanna?"
She couldn't believe her ears. She has to be mean to her little sister? The one who's kind and sweet? Aliza could feel Lucifer pushing her against her bedroom wall as He said, "I am a part of you. I will always be there; every shadow, every ghost. Every person or animal spirit I reincarnate; you become me and with you as my "daughter of darkness", we will rule the kingdom together."
Aliza shouted aloud, "No!" She was already shaking in fear as her evil father tried to persuade her to turn to the dark side.
"I will always be there; every awakening moment, every hour in your life, through the darkest shadows of your mind." Lucifer chuckled evilly. "Do we have a deal, sweetie?"
Shaking in fear, Aliza fell down with a thud and she felt her hands trembling in deep fear as she managed to stand up, but Lucifer magically conjured up shackles and handcuffs on her wrists and ankles, like a prisoner and made her crouch down like a dog.
Nobody could hear her crying in fear.
Aliza began to sob, her heart swelling as the magic began to overpower her.
Suddenly, Aliza's brown eyes began to turn red in anger then it turned black then back to light brown like normal.
Just then, the door burst open and Hanna suddenly walked inside and finds Aliza on the bed, sitting quietly, tears rolling down from her eyes, like nothing had happened.
Hanna, oblivious to Aliza's sad face and awkward position, said cheerfully, "Aliza, Mama and Papa wants us downstairs in the dining hall. They have a huge announcement!"
Hanna grabbed Aliza's hand and the two girls sprinted downstairs in the dining hall.
At the dining hall, Queen Patricia, Queen Dorothea and King Harold were sitting on the chairs, talking excitedly to each other when they saw the two princesses.
Queen Dorothea was the first to speak, sitting up. "Aliza, you're officially adopted! You're a big sister!" Aliza flashed a fake smile and giggled nervously. She wished she was genuinely happy if Lucifer didn't curse her and threatened her to become evil. "That's great." She said, grinning nervously as everyone smiled at her, staring.
Queen Patricia said to Dorothea, "We're gonna take good care of you two and become an adopted Maeland-Harrelson family!" King Harold added, "And, you may call me, "Papa" and my wife, "Mama".
Aliza smiled nervously, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Ok." She nodded quietly.
While one of the servants took Queen Dorothea's suitcase and bags upstairs in her new bedroom, Patricia said excitedly to the two girls, "Hanna and Aliza, I made some arrangements for you two to be enrolled into magic school. You'll be attending Krauxorth Academy, of Magics and learn about magic, specifically magic to help you train and learn how to become true Princesses. Doesn't that sound exciting?"
On the one hand, Hanna was beyond excited! She always wanted to go to school and learn magic and hopefully, she wanted to start making some new friends, impress teachers, study hard, get good grades and most importantly, engage in extracurricular activities that are outside of the classroom.
On the other hand, Aliza was anxious and nervous about attending school.
What if she did something cruel to her teachers or hurt a student? What if she'd make a mistake and the principal might suspend her, or worse, expel her?
She didn't want to cause trouble, especially while keeping her darkest past at bay and trying to keep her promise to her evil father. Although, she wasn't nervous about schoolwork or academics. She did learn magic from Queen Dorothea back at Gehenna and read thousands of books on magic, kingdoms, mystical creatures and flowers in the Gehenna Castle library.
Queen Patricia said, "School starts this Fall, so by the end of August, we're going back to school shopping."
"Yay!" Hanna exclaimed, jumping up and down while clapping her hands.
Aliza bit her lip, while fidgeting her hands.
'Can't wait'. She thought, anxiously.
Later that night, as the Aurora Borealis shone their blue and green lights dancing in the starry night sky, the Alta Castle was quiet and still, getting ready for slumber.
While Hanna was in her bedroom in her pajamas, reading a book at her window seat, she looked up to see the Aurora Borealis dancing in the night sky. She took a deep breath thinking, 'I'm so glad Aliza is a part of our family and now, we start school this Fall. If only Queen Desideria could see us now.' She sighed dreamily, with her hand on her chin.
Meanwhile, in Aliza's bedroom, Aliza was in her nightgown, on her bed contemplating about Lucifer's evil plan and the terrible part? She is a part of His plan!
She crawled in her covers and hid herself, sobbing in fear, anxiety building up inside of her.
Queen Patricia yelled across the hall, "Hanna, Aliza, bedtime! Turn off the lights!"
"Yes Mama!" Hanna responded, usually obedient, turning off the lights and going to bed.
Aliza silently did as she was told and turned off the lights and tried to sleep in her darkened bedroom.
Soon, the whole kingdom of Alta was dark as the villagers were asleep in their cottages and the Quiet Silverbell Forest was as quiet as mice and the Aurora Faieries danced with the Northern Lights in the night sky.